A New Sci-Fi TV Show, Anyone?

[KobayashiMaru13]

I was thinking about this the other day. There are hardly ANY SciFi TV shows out there that are new. We've got Trek that's all re-runs and only two series, we've got Firefly, Doctor Who, and other such re-runs also, and BSG and Stargate--but if you haven't been a loyal follower, most people don't want to take the time to go through that whole series.

But what about something new? Keep in mind, right this moment, I myself have no ideas, so that's why I'm bringing it to you. We could throw around ideas for the moment, until we get something solid, and if there are any script-writers floating around, or we could just get the ficcers, we could get an actual pilot script fleshed out.

But that's not even an option yet. Right now, I want to know: Is there anyone who would be interested in taking part in this? Any suggestions? Is this possible? It's completely open to anyone and any idea Sci-Fi related. Not that I don't like them, don't get me wrong, I'm just tired of watching either a cop show or a reality show or a medical drama. Those are about your only options other then comedy, and its hard to come across a comedy you really enjoy.

So, that's it. Any takers to this, or am I just on my own?

Sorry if I rambled a bit.

 

[Warped9]

I'm not watching anything with any sort of regularity for almost a year now. I'd love a new SF series, particularly something space adventure, but I ain't holding my breath.

 

[The Wormhole]

Oh fuck, a good space opera show would be very welcome at the moment. It's a shame, really. The Stargate franchise was the last hold out of actual sci-fi. But Atlantis was losing steam, and things have finally caved with SGU practically being a soap opera. Still, it's the only North American program left that takes place on a spaceship.

Mind you, we still got Doctor Who. Pure sci-fi, and quality too. Unfortunately, it's only 13 episodes a year, and a Christmas special.

We need more sci-fi, definately.

 

[Temis the Vorta]

So is this thread about the sci fi shows that are in development (or stand a good chance of it) or is it a wish list of the shows we wish were in development?

 

[Biggshow]

There's a practical problem with your idea of tossing ideas around for development purposes in a BBS; who does the finished idea belong to?

That's one of the reasons why actual franchise writers are loathe to frequent BBSes. Plagiarism lawsuits. I think if there were a tacit understanding that whatever gets thrown out is up for grabs with no expectation of monetary reward except by the person that actually writes it down, pitches it and sells it to a network or studio, you might have something.

Anyone want to throw their gold into the net winds?

 

[Tom]

Yeah, new spaceship type shows are at a low level these days, thats for sure. SGU seem to be all we have right now (and doctor who). This would have been the best time for that live action Star Wars series, but no.. its in development hell.

 

[Temis the Vorta]

There's a practical problem with your idea of tossing ideas around for development purposes in a BBS; who does the finished idea belong to?

Ooooh that's more of a theoretical than practical problem. Even if any of us had one iota of clout, ideas are a dime a dozen. Case in point, FX has just greenlighted a Star Trek parody called Alabama that sounds effectively identical to a proposed show from about a year ago called Going Boldly Nowhere (which I think was FX, too?) even though the creative teams are completely different. Is anyone going to get sued? I doubt it. A Star Trek parody isn't the world's most original idea to begin with, and details can be altered enough that it's not a copy.

I think if there were a tacit understanding that whatever gets thrown out is up for grabs with no expectation of monetary reward except by the person that actually writes it down, pitches it and sells it to a network or studio, you might have something.

I think this site operates under that tacit assumption already. Since all the ideas generated by this thread will have a net value of zero, I'm certainly happy to share all my ingenious ideas even though the last time we did this, I tossed out an idea that I later saw implemented on TV as Heroes and look how that turned out. I deny all responsibility for the craptastic shows that might be generated by anything I say.

Here's the sci fi show I want to see, which is being kicked around in a thread here: a TV version of Inception, which I think would be fantasic TV material. It's simple: a police procedural of sorts, but in dreams. The main characters are cops who "interrogate" suspects via dreams, or maybe they fight nefarious types who invade people's dreams for fun and profit, or maybe both, and more besides. It's good to come up with a range of cop-type missions to send these folks on, so things don't get repetitive too quickly.

Focus on the psychological aspect of dreams so that clever writing can make up for the much smaller SFX budget. Give episodic show fans the procedural aspect to keep them interested and bring in the "reality vs dream" aspect as the larger plot arc. Or come up with a different arc - maybe the allure of staying in a dream and being able to play with reality forever. Who'd be happy with reality?

 

[AviTrek]

I was thinking about this the other day. There are hardly ANY SciFi TV shows out there that are new. We've got Trek that's all re-runs and only two series, we've got Firefly, Doctor Who, and other such re-runs also, and BSG and Stargate--but if you haven't been a loyal follower, most people don't want to take the time to go through that whole series.

But what about something new? Keep in mind, right this moment, I myself have no ideas, so that's why I'm bringing it to you. We could throw around ideas for the moment, until we get something solid, and if there are any script-writers floating around, or we could just get the ficcers, we could get an actual pilot script fleshed out.

But that's not even an option yet. Right now, I want to know: Is there anyone who would be interested in taking part in this? Any suggestions? Is this possible? It's completely open to anyone and any idea Sci-Fi related. Not that I don't like them, don't get me wrong, I'm just tired of watching either a cop show or a reality show or a medical drama. Those are about your only options other then comedy, and its hard to come across a comedy you really enjoy.

So, that's it. Any takers to this, or am I just on my own?

Sorry if I rambled a bit.

So you're complaining about a lack of new Sci Fi shows? Well let's see...

1) Stargate Universe just finished its first season
2) Caprica is in a break in the middle of its first season
3) Warehouse 13 just started its second season
4) Eureka just started its 4th season
5) Sanctuary is coming back for its 3rd season
And these are all on SyFy channel. Plus you have a whole list of new shows SyFy is working on. Now to move beyond SyFy
6) Fringe is starting its 3rd season.
7) Fox just delayed Terra Nova until fall 2011, but it's still being made.
8) V is coming back for a second season.
9) There is the Noah Wyle Alien Invasion show coming to TNT.

Is that enough new Sci Fi for you? And I haven't even touched the attempted shows that have been cancelled in the past few years.

 

[Temis the Vorta]

Don't forget (and being liberal in my definition of sf):

Airing now-

Futurama - venerable sci fi comedy, reborn (and the sole bright spot in this dreary summer of TV)
Persons Unknown - badly done Prisoner/Lost mashup
Haven - stilted freak-of-the-week show on skiffy
The Gates - show about vampires & werewolves in a gated community and the trials of the local police chief who has to cope with them; shaping up pretty nicely, surprisingly

Coming soon-

Alabama - Star Trek parody being developed by FX
The Walking Dead - Zombies on AMC
No Ordinary Family - The Incredibles for live-action TV
The Cape - a regular guy fights crime in spandex to win back the love of his son (or something like that)
The Event - conspiracy thriller getting tons of good buzz, supposed to be a cross between 24 and Lost (which I guess means the lead actor tortures people and cries a lot)

9) There is the Noah Wyle Alien Invasion show coming to TNT.

They've given that one a name now: Falling Skies.

But overall the list skews too strongly away from space opera and includes way too much crap.

 

[Biggshow]

Temis, you raise some good points. "Theoretical" it is. I suppose what I was trying to say is that if anyone did this in earnest, there might be an intellectual property issue if anything actually came of it.

So far as Sci-fi on TV, yeah, I agree. It's there in a very watered down kind of way. If you're talking about sci-fi with all the trappings (future, spaceships, aliens, etc.), then yeah, we probably have a while before we get another one of those. Most things are going to be pretty earthbound for a while. Or comic-booky. I'm kind of looking forward to "No Ordinary Family". Saw the pilot in San Diego and think it may avoid some of the "Heroes" pitfalls. It may be a bit lighter in tone and not as edgy as some would like but Michael Chiklis and Julie Benz are good in it.

 

[Temis the Vorta]

There are three space operas in development now: Alabama, Orion and Sherwood. Odds are, at least one will make it to series. (I hope it's Alabama, I don't trust skiffy!)

 

[RAMA]

I was thinking about this the other day. There are hardly ANY SciFi TV shows out there that are new. We've got Trek that's all re-runs and only two series, we've got Firefly, Doctor Who, and other such re-runs also, and BSG and Stargate--but if you haven't been a loyal follower, most people don't want to take the time to go through that whole series.

But what about something new? Keep in mind, right this moment, I myself have no ideas, so that's why I'm bringing it to you. We could throw around ideas for the moment, until we get something solid, and if there are any script-writers floating around, or we could just get the ficcers, we could get an actual pilot script fleshed out.

But that's not even an option yet. Right now, I want to know: Is there anyone who would be interested in taking part in this? Any suggestions? Is this possible? It's completely open to anyone and any idea Sci-Fi related. Not that I don't like them, don't get me wrong, I'm just tired of watching either a cop show or a reality show or a medical drama. Those are about your only options other then comedy, and its hard to come across a comedy you really enjoy.

So, that's it. Any takers to this, or am I just on my own?

Sorry if I rambled a bit.

Not compared to the 70s or 80s...there's a LOT on...Warehouse 13, Stargate Universe, Sanctuary, Caprica, Doctor Who, Torchwood, Fringe, Flash Forward, Eureka and V. Lost, BSG, and The Dollhouse JUST went off the air. V, SG Universe, Caprica, Dr Who all take place in space or with aliens, and with spaceships.

RAMA

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

There's a ridiculous amount of sf/fantasy on right now compared to just about any era you want to name. The fact that there may not be much space opera is a different question - it's not more "real science fiction" than non space-based shows, and in some respects is less so.

 

[I am not Spock]

Oh fuck, a good space opera show would be very welcome at the moment. It's a shame, really. The Stargate franchise was the last hold out of actual sci-fi. But Atlantis was losing steam, and things have finally caved with SGU practically being a soap opera. Still, it's the only North American program left that takes place on a spaceship.

Mind you, we still got Doctor Who. Pure sci-fi, and quality too. Unfortunately, it's only 13 episodes a year, and a Christmas special.

We need more sci-fi, definately.

Completely agree with you.

There's plenty of fantasy around these days (True Blood, Merlin, etc, etc) and plenty of pseudo-supernatural SF (Ghost Whisperer, Medium, etc), but what I want is space opera SF. I miss Trek on TV so much right now. Dr Who is filling the void for me, but as you say, its only 13 eps a year, and its already over for this year

 

[Obiwanshinobi]

Julie Benz from Michael C. Hall to Michael C. Hiklis, (Michael C. Hall's joke)

 

[Biggshow]

^^^Hee-hee. Yeah, they talked about that at Comic-Con.

I, too, want a good space opera right now. Kinda looking forward to Alabama, though. Hopefully, it's funny and makes it.

 

[Mr_Closet]

Despite the long lists of sci-fi and pseudo-sci-fi shows that a couple of posters have just supplied, I agree with the OP's general sense that there isn't anything that really ticks the box just now.

What I mean by "ticks the box" is something that stretches your mind, that posits an environment seemingly without limitations that can encompass micro-scale character development plots and in the next episode, take you to the brink of a credible end-of-the-universe, no-really, the-hero-is-not-guaranteed-to-win type situation.

The only ones I can think of within the last ten years (just) that did that were Farscape and Firefly.

I liked Trek (obviously) but we're all thoroughly over-dosed on it now. Time for a crash diet... thank you JJ Abrams for providing the motivation!

I liked Stargate (except for any episode with Jonas in it). Atlantis was good too because characters can be all you really need sometimes, but it aged much quicker than its parent because it wasn't doing anything new. Universe has just lost my interest, which is ironic as it's exactly what I used to think Stargate should be!

I liked the first two seasons of BSG. And that was it. And if that has put some peoples noses out of joint (I'm wearing my flame retardant underwear), then you'll love this... I can't watch Caprica because it's so predictable.

Eureka - bleh. Warehouse 13, read it in books years ago.

But then, isn't that the problem now? We've seen it all before!

I'm ruined and I'm sure I'm not the only one on here who is. Most of us no doubt spent our formative years reading the classics of science fiction literature which collectively contain the very same plot lines that so many writers are busy trotting out today, then patting themselves on the back for being so clever.

Which is why I thought Farscape and Firefly were both such a good effort, because they regularly surprised me in a way that almost nothing else did. Sure, Farscape was intermittently absolute dren and I watched a rerun on FX just a couple of days ago (S4: What Was Lost) that I wouldn't have wiped my arse on, but I saw another one today that I loved every minute of (The Perfect Murder), and so it always was with that show. Flashes of brilliance that were all the brighter for being contrasted with the occasional Friday night job.

And while Farscape was stretching your brain across the cosmos, Firefly was busy engaging you up to the ear lobes in a brilliantly written character-based story with more than enough action to satisfy anyone except maybe those jaded, soulless ratings-whores who run Fox.

So perhaps that's what we need to do! We need to feed Farscape a bucket full of randy molluscs, get Firefly really drunk, then lock them both in a room without access to contraception and see what emerges...

 

[Temis the Vorta]

Zombies and Vampires on NBC (and no, not just in the executive suite).

Zombies vs. Vampires is described as a "fun buddy cop procedural." It is set in a world where zombies are a part of society, controllable with medication. The show's two leads (one secretly a vampire) are cops assigned to a squad specifically formed to deal with "zombie crime".

The other cop is a secret zombie!!! I called it first!!!!

Okay I got the casting:

Vampire Cop - Joe Flanigan
Zombie Cop - Alan Tudyk
Spunky Doc/Love Interest Who Specializes in Zombie Medicine - Jewel Staite
Police Chief Who Can't Decide Which He Hates More, Zombies or Vampires - Ted Levine or JK Simmons

At this point I think we need to declare a moritorium on: zombies, vampires, werewolves, plucky cops who have to deal with zombies/vampires/werewolves, superheroes and washed up genre TV stars playing themselves.

What I mean by "ticks the box" is something that stretches your mind, that posits an environment seemingly without limitations that can encompass micro-scale character development plots and in the next episode, take you to the brink of a credible end-of-the-universe, no-really, the-hero-is-not-guaranteed-to-win type situation.

That kind of rule-breaking-ness is just rare on TV overall, nevemind sci fi. Farscape definitely did that; Lost did too (prompting a lot of complaints; not everyone wants a show to break rules). Firefly didn't have time to prove itself. Even a great show like DS9 didn't really break the rules (and let the Dominion win, for instance, or demand a real sacrifice from Sisko). I'm not sure nuBSG was truly rule-breaking. It was too incoherent for me to decide about that.

Universe has just lost my interest, which is ironic as it's exactly what I used to think Stargate should be!

The Stargate producers apparently know what they should do (ripoff nuBSG) but have no idea how to actually do that. Stargate just needs a total reboot by a completely new creative team. If you want nuBSG, hire the nuBSG writers/producers.

 

[Greg Cox]

At this point I think we need to declare a moritorium on: zombies, vampires, werewolves, plucky cops who have to deal with zombies/vampires/werewolves, superheroes and washed up genre TV stars playing themselves..

Now, now, don't blame the poor vampires and werewolves for the current lack of space opera on tv. Horror creatures have just as much right to be on tv as robots and aliens--and have been entertaining audiences for a whole lot longer.

I wouldn't mind a good space opera myself, but vampires aren't going away anytime soon. They've been gaining steadily in popularity for nearly two hundred years now . . . .

 

[Nerys Myk]

I've really been enjoying Being Human on BBC/BBCA. I like all types of SF&F. A new ship based show would be nice but there's nothing wrong with SF shows set on Earth and featuring guys/gals in suits who carry badges.