Is Sci-Fi Channel losing it's way?
POSTED BY: bad2verse
UPDATED: Thursday, August 31, 2006 12:51
VIEWED: 16939
PAGE 3 of 7
Quote:
Originally posted by ecgordon:Quote:
Originally posted by Patience:
What's needed here are executives in charge of programming who are in touch with what their audience wants to see. It doesn't take a whole lot to have a few underlings monitoring sites like ours to see what people like, what they enjoy, what they WANT.
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but unfortunately I think their executives do look at what people want. For the past several weeks the ECW shows have had the highest ratings of any of their shows, followed by Eureka.
Now THAT'S scary. I guess I shouldn't be surprised or anything else--have you ever seen an interview with the average bear on the street? I slip back into looking for signs of intelligence among people, and I get disappointed many times. And I guess you're correct when you say that if people are watching crap like ECW, then the execs will put it on.
Kaneman has a good point too. If a premium channel such as HBO picked up Firefly, I can only imagine the possibilities. Look at Deadwood--frackin' EXCELLENT show, as well as Big Love. HBO could do our BDS justice.
_______________________________
You do that, and you'd best make peace with your dear and fluffy lord.
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Indeed, HBO could do the show some BDJustice. But, as CaliforniaKaylee so profoundly explained in the "Time to bring Firefly back, this is ridiculous" thread (Aug 23), Fox is not about to let go of the television rights. They have a no-maintenance property which at some point could reach critical fiduciary mass. What is their incentive?
HBO alas is not a Fox-ish property; they're Time Warner. NBC-Universal could, what, do a SciFi Channel Original movie? (pauses to listen to the entire Browncoat population collectively gag.) Sorry, that was mean. Straight to video? Another limited screen theatical release? Thinking the execs would be skittish at this point: everyone's looking for the PotC grail right now, and while we are mighty, we're still small and for the most part, overlooked.
I haven't given up on the SciFi Channel just yet. I think SG-1 has had a remarkable run. (And let's not forget, it didn't start out as a SciFi Channel show either.) It's time. But the problem is this: there is an abyss of possiblities (from their PoV). By that I mean creative talent to draw upon. Low budget does not have to mean dishing up puke-worthy blather time after time. Did MST3K have an enormous budget? No. It had Quality WRITING. Let me say that again: WRITING. Firefly had quality WRITING. SciFi is blowing its budgets on unconvincing CGI. Qu na. Screw that. Invest in good writers.
Firefly also had the most outstanding cast and crew you could hope for. SciFi can't hope for that brand of lightning to strike twice, but gorrammit! They have had some pretty good shows in the past. The afore-mentioned SG-1 or Farscape anyone? And now we have BSG, which to me seems like a darker version of Babylon 5 (I think I'm gonna get it for that one...) I am also very optimistic about Eureka, but it's still finding its sea legs. There is no dearth of talent out there. It just seems that SciFi jumped on the CGI bandwagon and missed its footing.
The truth is out there, SciFi. Please want to believe.
And yes I heartily agree with Flattop that any rerun I haven't seen is new to me and many reruns are definitely worth multiple viewings. If that's not true we're in a sh*t heap o' trouble as Browncoats, eh?
As for the wrestling, there is an unfortunate overlap I've noticed in the fanbase of comic book readers (of whom I proudly number myself) and the professional wrestling fans. Just call it Men in Tights syndrome. It's the "drama" created by the "subplots" that make the wrestling so "interesting" and ultimately satisfying. (Really, what would boxing be without the trash talking hype?)
"Well, here I am."
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I don't think the problem is limited to just the Sci-Fi Channel. Most cable stations seem to be giving up quality programming for cheap reruns and reality shows. I remember when Dicovery, The Learning Channel and A&E used to show hours of documentaries, now all they seem to show are people building cars, motorcycles and refurbishing houses. Leave these shows on FOX where they can all be ignored collectively. (really, whats on FOX that's worth watching?) So it shouldn't be suprising that SCI-FI is following in their footsteps.
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This is a most disappointing thread. Are we really out numbered by Wrasslin' fans? ECW has better ratings than Eureka? I can't believe this. How great would it be to have a channel that is "chock full" of shows like FF, BSN, Deadwood, etc.., with a sprinkle of History/Discovery in there? Any billionaires out in the 'verse(Sell you my idea.)? We get Hilton and Richie for three years, Brady Bunch family reunions, So, you think you can fraking dance, ECW, Every book killing mini-series Mr. King allows, Pimped out rides, Yo! mama, And gorram Donald trump, as entertainment. Yet, there doesn't seem to be a place for our BDH's. Is this fair? Am I having a nightmare or a dreamscape I can wake from? Are the sales of FF on DVD as good as I think? Does anyone have something to compare it with(sales that is).
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Quote:
Originally posted by Patience:Quote:
Originally posted by ecgordon:Quote:
Originally posted by Patience:
What's needed here are executives in charge of programming who are in touch with what their audience wants to see. It doesn't take a whole lot to have a few underlings monitoring sites like ours to see what people like, what they enjoy, what they WANT.
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but unfortunately I think their executives do look at what people want. For the past several weeks the ECW shows have had the highest ratings of any of their shows, followed by Eureka.
Now THAT'S scary. I guess I shouldn't be surprised or anything else--have you ever seen an interview with the average bear on the street? I slip back into looking for signs of intelligence among people, and I get disappointed many times. And I guess you're correct when you say that if people are watching crap like ECW, then the execs will put it on.
Kaneman has a good point too. If a premium channel such as HBO picked up Firefly, I can only imagine the possibilities. Look at Deadwood--frackin' EXCELLENT show, as well as Big Love. HBO could do our BDS justice.
_______________________________
You do that, and you'd best make peace with your dear and fluffy lord.
Hate to be the bearer of bad news, but tonight is the last episode of "Deadwood". Canceled.
And as a Firefly fan, but one who is not huge fan of other SciFi, watching almost any original programming on the SciFi channel is brutal. The production values are so low!
It's seems somebody is penny smart, but dollar stupid. I think they could get more viewers, if everything didn't look so cheap!
As for wrastlin', I guess you'll never go broke appealing to the lowest common denominator.
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On second thought, Sci-Fi should air FF after ECW. They could get those viewers. I can see the promos now. "Cowboys, Rebels, Whores, and a dirty greasy female mechanic...Tune in immediately after tonight's ECW Rummbleathon". Those fools would all tune in.
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Quote:
Originally posted by Peulsar5:
I don't think the problem is limited to just the Sci-Fi Channel. Most cable stations seem to be giving up quality programming for cheap reruns and reality shows. I remember when Dicovery, The Learning Channel and A&E used to show hours of documentaries, now all they seem to show are people building cars, motorcycles and refurbishing houses. Leave these shows on FOX where they can all be ignored collectively. (really, whats on FOX that's worth watching?) So it shouldn't be suprising that SCI-FI is following in their footsteps.
EXCELLENT point. For the live of me I've wondered and can't see what's so Discovery-ish about a bunch of motorcycle building.
_______________________________
You do that, and you'd best make peace with your dear and fluffy lord.
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Kaylee would watch.
"Well, here I am."
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Quote:
Originally posted by FellowTraveler:
Hate to be the bearer of bad news, but tonight is the last episode of "Deadwood". Canceled.
I know...I'm a very devoted follower of Deadwood. One of the best damn shows on television, AND you can research their story lines and see that they're pretty much taken from the headlines of the Deadwood Pioneer.
One can't deny, though, that for the most part, HBO's original programming is excellent.
_______________________________
You do that, and you'd best make peace with your dear and fluffy lord.
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Quote:
Originally posted by Patience:Quote:
Originally posted by FellowTraveler:
Hate to be the bearer of bad news, but tonight is the last episode of "Deadwood". Canceled.
I know...I'm a very devoted follower of Deadwood. One of the best damn shows on television, AND you can research their story lines and see that they're pretty much taken from the headlines of the Deadwood Pioneer.
One can't deny, though, that for the most part, HBO's original programming is excellent.
_______________________________
You do that, and you'd best make peace with your dear and fluffy lord.
The stream of profanties I used when I read it was canceled woulda' made Al Swearengen blush...
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