Voting for cable or network
POSTED BY: RavenWhyteWing
UPDATED: Wednesday, April 21, 2004 12:26
VIEWED: 3203
PAGE 2 of 2
Quote:
Originally posted by zoid:
Problem is, I think Joss and Tim may have an exclusive development contract with Fox for TV stuff.
Let try to clear this up again. The FOX network doesn't have any exclusive contract with Mutant Enemy! The FOX network lost any rights to Firefly the minute they canceled it! 20th Century Fox Television Productions has an exclusive TV deal with Mutant Enemy. They sell shows to several networks including but not limited to FOX. So, you are right, but also wrong, Joss and Tim may have an exclusive development deal with 20th Century Fox, but they don't have a deal with the FOX network. There is a big difference!
I'd given some thought to movin' off the edge -- not an ideal location -- thinkin' a place in the middle.
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I can't remember what I voted now--I think I voted cable. In a perfect world, Firefly would get amazing ratings and I'd be happy to have it on a network channel. But cable allows shows with lower ratings to continue with relatively little interference.
Think about Deep Space Nine vs. Enterprise. Many fans feel DS9 was a higher-quality show. Granted, there are many factors involved, but one of them is that DS9 was syndicated, while Enterprise is on a network channel. While there were some disagreements with the higher-ups, DS9 writers pretty much had free reign, as long as they kept it under budget. Enterprise, unfortunately, has way too many cooks in the kitchen. Network executives who have no background in storytelling have influence on the show.
I'd prefer Firefly had a set-up similar to DS9: the opportunity for a nice long run and relatively little interference from execs. A network slot might offer a bigger budget, but what good are special effects when Network President Joe Blow is dictating the story?
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Unfortunately, I do not think there is an ideal situation for Firefly on television. I voted for network, simply because I want it to have the highest exposure possible, but with that you risk the high ratings expectations of network execs. But let's remember, there are now SIX networks, not just the three I grew up with. A cable outlet might offer the show more leeway in the ratings game, but the budget would be less, and there is no reason to expect the executives of those outlets to be any less likely to interfere with the show.
Sci-Fi has not had a good track record in this regard. They totally ruined Sliders, canceled Farscape in favor of the god-awful Tremors, they no longer are running Babylon 5, and Star Trek is relegated to the wee hours of the morning or occasional mini-marathons during weekdays. The fact that they didn't seem to care to bid high enough to get the other Trek shows seems to indicate they are not that interested in space related shows anymore, at least on a regular series basis. They have been doing more of that in the mini-series line, which might be a possibility for Firefly as well. Spike will probably not be interested, since they have the rights to three Trek series tied up, and TNT is not likely to go for it after their problems with B5 and Crusade.
Syndication might be the best solution overall, although I think it is as likely it will become a film franchise rather than a tv one.
wo men ren ran zai fei xing.
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