Why Fox *really* cancelled Firefly...
POSTED BY: wesleywyndham
UPDATED: Tuesday, October 19, 2004 19:09
VIEWED: 6423
PAGE 3 of 3
I dunno if many of you remember but FOX had a Sci-fi show called "Space: Above and Beyond". It appeared maybe in 1996 I am guessing?
In any case, it was about space marines fighting an alien race. Although I thought it featured alot of guns and space fights, FOX also cancelled it too after a year.
So I guess sci-fi series, with the exception of X-files, just don't work for FOX, lol...
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BikisDad wrote:
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LONG RANT WARNING:
I think Browncoat1 is getting at something that we browncoats all innately know, but haven't overtly stated. The great majority of tv viewers are neither very intelligent nor very well educated - at least not to the level of Firefly fans. Look at the evidence: Really intelligent shows like Firefly, Wonderfalls, and a few others have low viewership and get cancelled quickly for low ratings. Idiotic schlock like Joe Millionaire, etc. has huge viewership, high ratings and stays on tv forever.
Ok, I didn't actually want to come out and say that BD, but it is what I and many other Browncoats feel.
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I know that we like to blame the networks, specifically F*X (and there is plenty to blame them for), but a lot of the programming decisions that are made are, unfortunately, due to the actual wants of the viewing public.
Exactly. The state of the American viewing public gives me concern. We seem to be fast becoming a society that wants to live vicariously through the so called "reality" show antics on television. This mindless, obviously scripted tripe is what has American audiences drooling for more. It is as if people are too ruttin' lazy to even spend the time or effort to keep up w/ a plot line that will make them think, character development, or a backstory.
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Joss's shows are cerebral (most tv viewers are not). They are basically modern day versions of what Shakespeare wrote. In other words, they are way over the heads of most people. The fans who populate this site are obviously more intelligent/educated than the average tv viewer and that shows in your various posts. Most of the really, extremely intelligent people I know don't watch tv at all because of the intellectual wasteland it represents. Think about it. Before Joss came along, what really intellectually stimulating shows can you name that were on tv. Other than Jeopardy, I can't remember anything before Buffy that really made me think, much anyway.
Maybe that is my problem. See, I like Shakespeare and classic literature. Very little on TV holds my interest, save some select Sci Fi, the History & Discovery Channels, and Lost on ABC. I hope that America pulls out of this cultural nose dive.
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And therein lies the problem. When most people watch tv, they don't want to think. They mostly just want mindless entertainment where everything is laid out on a platter for them so they don't have to strain their grey matter at all.
It's very unfortunate (for us, mostly), but shows like Firefly and Wonderfalls are often doomed BECAUSE they are high quality, intelligent entertainment. Most people would rather watch Jerry Springer.
I agree. As I said above it appears that people are most content w/ shows that do not require too much in the way of thought. I personally can't watch a show that does not make me think.
Never understood the fascination w/ Springer. It is so obviously fake. I can't believe that people get so fired up over that show like it is real. Can they really be that naive? I would like to give people more benefit of the doubt, but perhaps I am giving them too much credit.
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"May have been the losing side. Still not convinced it was the wrong one."
Richmond, VA & surrounding area Firefly Meet Up:
http://firefly.meetup.com/9/boards/
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Quote:Well, for better or worse, most nose-dives aren't exactly sustainable.
Originally posted by BrownCoat1:
I hope that America pulls out of this cultural nose dive.
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We applied the cortical electrodes but were unable to get a neural reaction from either patient.
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Quote:
Originally posted by Nywoe:
I think there's plenty for both types of people to watch in Joss's work, and I think that's why he just may blow everyone away when Serenity comes out.
I so very much hope that you're right and I'm wrong. We both know that "Serenity" will be a great movie. However, I'm a little worried about how well that will translate into commercial success.
The only movie that I've seen in the theatre in many years was "Dodgeball", which I went to see to support Alan Tudyk. That movie was an interesting mix of intelligent, Joss-like humor and the sophomoric, Adam Sandler version of "humor" (and I'm using the term very loosely in that instance). One thing I noticed during that movie actually made me worry about the potential success of "Serenity" while I was sitting there in the theatre. When there was a Joss-like, intelligent joke in the film, I was literally the ONLY person in the theatre laughing. After the really idiotic, gross, or just plain dumb jokes, most of the audience was rolling in the aisles while I sat there just rolling my eyes. I don't know whether other people saw that movie and had a different experience. I hope so. It just made me worry some about "Serenity" is all...
Apathy on the Rise. No One Cares.
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SouthernMerc- Wait until Lost has aired for 15 eps, then you can breath easy!
Just having watched Outfoxed- about Fox's relentless ideological drive- I wouldn't be surprised if part of the reason to cancel FF was due to politics. Yup, politics.
I know this was brought up in the previous thread, I more or less dismissed the notion at the time, but I'm beginning to think the notion might be correct. FF is in fact quite political. It explores what human being do to eachother en masse, and if that isn't politics, economics, and religion all balled up into one messy package I don't know what is. Look at it this way- they never really gave FF a chance. It's as if they had decided to kill it b4 it was even aired. I think Fox just couldn't stomach the message.
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