Was TV simply the wrong medium for Firefly?

POSTED BY: VTbrowncoat
UPDATED: Monday, February 13, 2006 20:05
VIEWED: 4421
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JOSSISAGOD

Monday, February 13, 2006 5:43 PM

Jonus,
I agreed with you on all counts. Then I realized something. If FOX HADN'T aired "Firefly" in the first place there would be at least one less Browncoat at the start, because when it aired I didn't have cable. I would have sorely missed "Firefly" having been an avid Joss Whedon fan at the time.

well, Thats my two cents,

JOSSISAGOD,

And I'm STILL an avid Joss Whedon fan to this day!

JONUS

Monday, February 13, 2006 5:46 PM

That's true. If it hadn't aired on Fox the people that don't have cable wouldn't have seen it. Sci-Fi should've picked it up after it was cancelled.

Attack me, not my opinion.

DATALESS

Monday, February 13, 2006 6:00 PM

I think the real flaw with the orignal airing of Firefly is simple, How many Sci Fi series have ever survived on Network Television? The cost of any sci fi show is too great for Network TV. What shows have done well? X-files? That was just two character (lowering cost) traveling around the US solving crimes (even if they are of a supernatural nature.) They shot in or around Vancouver and had few visual or special effects. So though X-files is a sci fi series it doesn't have a spaceship flying around space. It cost less that most series (untill it was a hit and then the major cost was the actors. Just like ever other network series.) If you were paying for something you thought would made you money but the return was no where near the cost and didn't see an end to the loss of money, what would you do? Also if the X-files were releaseed in the same Television environment as Firefly then I think X-files would never have made it either. With cheaply made reality TV Fox's decision to cancel the very costly Firefly became easier. I don't think anyone at Fox ever watches any of their shows. If they did shows like Reunion, Wonderfalls (A special effects intensive show) and Family Guy would have ever been canceled. The avarage rating for Firefly was about 3.3 for X-files the lowest was 4.4 (this was in the last season) and the lowest in season 1 was 5.4 (that stays the lowest rated episode untill the last season), the highest for Firefly was 4.9 that episode was The Train Job. The First episode aired (as we all know). The X-files had an average rating of about 10.0.
http://home.insightbb.com/~wahoskem/firefly1.html (the Firefly ratings)
http://x-files.host.sk/nielsens.php (the X-files ratings)
So no Sci Fi series should every be on network TV but if you put Firefly on Sci Fi, USA or syndication, a place where they can let the show grow a fan base it would have done much better at least that's my opinion. The DVD's would still be released so fans that don't have cable would have gotten to see the show.

SNAP

Monday, February 13, 2006 8:05 PM

Direct to DVD also means that there is little to no risk to a network when it picks it up to air it. Look at Sci-fi showing Firefly marathons, etc. The Episodes are already made. The DVDs have made money. The network can pay a smaller licensing fee to air it instead of the huge production costs.

I think Firefly would do very well on a Direct to DVD model. Add in other options like iTunes and it would rock.

The ONLY downside I can see is that there might need to be a break between seasons for the cash from sales to build up enough from the previous season to fund the next season.

We have done the impossible and that makes us mighty.
http://www.joss.whedon.youaremighty.com/

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