sf/f TV development news - 2013

[Temis the Vorta]

Yay, thanks mods!

[RJDiogenes]

Temis the Vorta wrote:

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Psycho prequel in the works from A&E.

Okay, that's not strictly supernatural, but I'm stretching the rules to let it in here.

This could be interesting. Psycho IV actually featured Joe Stefano's version of Norman Bates' childhood in flashback, but it wasn't really that great. And there was another pilot for a show called Bates Motel back in the 80s-- it was about a guy who inherited the property after Norman died, and rebuilt it... only to discover it was haunted (it seems like it would have been a Love Boat kind of show).

[Christopher]

RJDiogenes wrote:

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Psycho IV actually featured Joe Stefano's version of Norman Bates' childhood in flashback, but it wasn't really that great.

I thought it was the only one of the sequels that was worthwhile. For one thing, it was the only one that went for an intelligent psychological examination of the character rather than reducing it to a cheap slasher flick. For another, I very much agree with Stefano's motivation behind telling the story, which was to show that mental illness is treatable and healing is possible, unlike the second and third movies which treated Norman as incurable just so they could imitate the first film.

And there was another pilot for a show called Bates Motel back in the 80s-- it was about a guy who inherited the property after Norman died, and rebuilt it... only to discover it was haunted (it seems like it would have been a Love Boat kind of show).

That was just a pilot? Funny, I could've sworn it was actually a short-lived series.

[Nerys Myk]

AvBaur wrote:

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From the writers of Green Lantern? I think I'll pass.

Babylon Five from the writers of Murder She Wrote.

Just saying

[RJDiogenes]

Christopher wrote:

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I thought it was the only one of the sequels that was worthwhile. For one thing, it was the only one that went for an intelligent psychological examination of the character rather than reducing it to a cheap slasher flick. For another, I very much agree with Stefano's motivation behind telling the story, which was to show that mental illness is treatable and healing is possible, unlike the second and third movies which treated Norman as incurable just so they could imitate the first film.

Interesting. I disagree, though. I thought II was the best sequel, in part because it did show him as cured until the very end, when he was broken down by the relentless persecution. I thought it was a very sympathetic and poignant portrayal of Norman. III was well directed, but lacking in story (although it did have its moments). IV had some good ideas, but was rather bland-- and if I remember correctly, the timeline seemed rather fudged. I did like the "present day" portrayal of Norman, though.

That was just a pilot? Funny, I could've sworn it was actually a short-lived series.

I'm almost positive it was just a pilot, although that could just mean that I only watched the first one.

[Christopher]

IMDb seems to agree it was just a pilot. And I'm no longer sure of my own recollection. Maybe it's just that I read in Starlog about it being developed as a series and what the creators' plans for it were, and in my memory I confused potential with reality.

[Temis the Vorta]

I didn't expect Skiffy's oddball Defiance "interactive-TV" experiment would ever see the light of day, but there's progress to report: the lead actor has been cast. Dunno the guy, but he sure looks like a grizzled old space marine type.

Set on a future Earth, Defiance introduces players and viewers to a world where humans and aliens live together on a planet ravished by decades of war and transformed by alien terra-forming machines. It centers on Jeb Nolan (Bowler), the law keeper in the bustling frontier boomtown of Defiance that is one of the new world’s few oasis of civility and inclusion. Nolan is a former Marine who fought in the alien conflict and suffered the loss of his wife and child in the war. The trauma transformed him into a lone wanderer in the wilds of this new and dangerous world. Defiance seems to be blending Western and alien themes, something that last year’s feature Cowboys & Aliens attempted to do, but the series is set in the future.

Number of pilot orders to expect from the networks this year.

NBC - about 10 dramas (9 already picked up) and 10-12 comedies

ABC - 10-12 dramas (3 already filled), 10-12 comedies (3 already filled)

FOX - 5 dramas (2 slots already filled) and 8-10 comedies with 3 picked up so far

CBS - 7-9 dramas, 7-9 comedies and none of them will be worth watching

CW - between 6-8 dramas and possibly 1 or 2 comedies, all of which will involve teenage vampire love triangles.

[TheNatureRoy]

Temis the Vorta wrote:

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I didn't expect Skiffy's oddball Defiance "interactive-TV" experiment would ever see the light of day, but there's progress to report: the lead actor has been cast. Dunno the guy, but he sure looks like a grizzled old space marine type.

Could be interesting.

http://www.ksitetv.com/10886/the-cw-...-make-the-cut/

Looks like 'Arrow' and 'Beauty & The Beast' will shoot for The CW...and 'The Carrie Diaries'...but that isn't SF/F.

[Temis the Vorta]

Also reported here in its own snarky thread:

SyFy greenlights Rewind pilot.

The thriller revolves around a team of military field operatives and civilian scientists who must use untested technology to travel back in time to alter past events in order to change the future and avoid a devastating terrorist attack.

Not that this gang cares what the CW does, buuuuttt, they just gave pilot orders to Arrow and Beauty and the Beast.

[Temis the Vorta]

Jetfire wrote:

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http://www.ksitetv.com/10886/the-cw-...-make-the-cut/

Looks like 'Arrow' and 'Beauty & The Beast' will shoot for The CW...and 'The Carrie Diaries'...but that isn't SF/F.

BAH! Ninja'd in my own thread?

I really only care about 'Arrow' with no news of 'Deadman'...that I am aware of.

[Enterprise is Great]

More Beautiful People casting:

http://www.deadline.com/2012/01/5-ac...utiful-people/

Andrea Parker, Jud Tylor, Megalyn Echikunwoke, Madisen Beatey and Cody Christian have been added to the cast of NBC’s drama pilot Beautiful People.

Parker will play the wealthy Roberta, whose life is turned upside down when her rebellious teen daughter (Beatey) starts a romance with a Mechanical boy (Christian), the son of Lydia’s Mechanical servant David (Patrick Heusinger) and his wife Susan (Tylor). Echikunwoke will play the boss of Lydia’s other son, attorney Gregory (James Murray)

[Christopher]

Wow, casting Megalyn Echikunwoke in a show called Beautiful People is definitely living up to the title.

[Mistral]

Temis the Vorta wrote:

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Also reported here in its own snarky thread:

SyFy greenlights Rewind pilot.

Not that this gang cares what the CW does, buuuuttt, they just gave pilot orders to Arrow and Beauty and the Beast.

So they are reviving the series Time Cop? Or is that 7 Days?