The Prophecy (2002)
Roger Moore's guest appearance in episode of "Alias"

Here are some bits and pieces preceding Roger Moore's appearance in The Prophecy, episode from the Alias TV series. All the information below were taken from "USA Today", "Associated Press" and "Zap2it.com", Feb 8-9, 2002.

How's this for an Alias: 007. Roger Moore, who played master spy James Bond, will guest-star as a British spymaster on the ABC espionage thriller Alias on March 10. His appearance grew out of hosting ABC's Bond Picture Show, which will broadcast the first of Moore's seven Bond films, "Live and Let Die", on March 9.

Moore, currently volunteering as a UNICEF ambassador, calls the first-year show "terrific."

"The girl is wonderful, Jennifer Garner. I love the style of the show," says Moore, who began work on the episode this week.

"Alias" creator and executive producer J.J. Abrams, a fan of the Bond films, says he had the right role for Moore: Edward Poole, the head of SD-9, the British equivalent of SD-6, the rogue spy agency where Sydney Bristow (Garner) works.

SD-6 chief Sloane (Ron Rifkin) seeks Poole's help in manipulating a vote of the Alliance of Twelve, an organization of renegade intelligence units.

Moore's celluloid spy connection "will bring an added level of enjoyment," Abrams says.

Moore, whose favorite Bond outing was "The Spy Who Loved Me", says he's happy his urbane 007 didn't have to face Sydney.

"I would hate, as Bond, ever to have come across somebody like Jennifer Garner. She's far too pretty, she's far too young and she's far too talented and athletic," he says.

Countering statements made by some in the industry, such as "Law & Order" creator Dick Wolf, that "Alias" is a "cartoon," Moore says he finds the show to be "very realistic."

"I don't think it's silly at all," the actor tells Zap2it. "I think it's a very cleverly made show; it's very well conceived and very well written."

"[With] Roger Moore, ABC actually asked me - says Abrams - If I would be interested and I just laughed. I was like, 'Are you kidding me? That would be my dream, I just would love it.' So we were lucky to get him. When I went to see my first James Bond movies, for me, that was just who James Bond was."

"Well, you see, he's just saying that because he couldn't get Sean Connery," Moore replies. "I think they were trying to drum up a little news that I might still be alive," he adds.

While he's currently only scheduled for the one episode of "Alias," there's a chance Moore could return for more.

"Well, they didn't kill me at the end," Moore says, adding that he would be delighted to return. "Everybody's been so nice to me, of course I would."

In 2002 Roger Moore received a Cult TV Award for his appearance as Edward Poole in "Alias".

The Prophecy

While Sloane finds himself manipulated into assassinating an old friend by SD-6 leader Edward Poole (Roger Moore), Sydney finds herself incarcerated by the CIA after the agency discovers that a Rambaldi prophecy seems to suggest that she will "render the greatest power unto utter desolation."

J.J. Abrams: "Because we got to work with Roger Moore, it was one of the most fun episodes to me. The idea that Roger Moore would be guest starring on our show was just an impossibility."

Read more at the "Alias" fan pages

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