sf/f TV development news - 2013

[Christopher]

Re: the state of sf/f TV development for 2012-13

Right. Even the canonical Hulk has been interpreted many different ways by different creators. It's already a series of distinct creations that derive from and reinterpret their predecessors, no matter how much it pretends to be a continuous story. So it's silly to say there's anything wrong with finding different ways of exploring the concept and characters in adaptations.

 

[CorporalCaptain]

Re: the state of sf/f TV development for 2012-13

Besides Mr. Hyde, the Hulk was also inspired by Frankenstein's monster.

 

[RJDiogenes]

Re: the state of sf/f TV development for 2012-13

^^ That's true as well. My favorite era was when Hulk was misunderstood and childlike.

As you say, writers throughout the ages have been inspired (both positively and negatively) by other or prior writers; most of them have used that inspiration to create something original.

Actually, no. That's completely wrong. Throughout most of recorded human history, the normative pattern was to retell pre-existing stories, whether classic myths or legends, historical events, or the like. Keep in mind that the vast majority of human history took place before the printing press, before literacy was widespread, before it was easy to propagate a single version of a story. For most of the time our species has existed, the only way to keep a story alive was to retell it, and it's the nature of oral history and lore in any culture that it changes with the retelling, adapted to suit the tastes and inclinations of its teller and audience. Look at all the classical Greek and Roman plays that are based on mythology, or all the various different, evolving versions of Arthurian legend from Geoffrey of Monmouth to de Troyes to Malory to Tennyson to White. Retelling and reinventing old stories is the way humans have done things for most of the history of creativity.

The cultural practice of creating mostly new stories rather than retelling old ones is a fairly recent innovation in our society. There's a reason why novels are called novels, meaning "new" -- because at the time they started to come out, it was a distinctive thing for stories to be new rather than retold. It wasn't something people were used to seeing.

Maybe so. I might research that later. But this is the modern era-- I'd rather see something original.

Forbidden Planet was inspired by The Tempest, but it was neither slavishly derivative nor did it recycle names and terminology.

And Malory's Arthur is not "slavishly derivative" of de Troyes' (or whatever his other sources were), and indeed it reinterprets the lore considerably and adds a lot of new elements to it, but it definitely recycles names and plot points, just like every other iteration of Arthurian legend or every Greek play or most of Shakespeare's canon. For that matter, The Tempest itself, while just about the only thing in Shakespeare's canon that doesn't have a single clear source it's adapted from, definitely draws from a variety of other sources, such as the traditions of commedia del'arte, the writings of Montaigne and Strachey, and the like. One of Prospero's speeches is cribbed almost verbatim from a passage of Ovid's Metamorphoses. They didn't have copyright laws back then.

It's a straw man to say that the only two options are total originality and "slavish" imitation. That's so obviously false that I shouldn't even need to call you on it. Many works of fiction, including the one we're talking about, combine adapted elements with original elements.

It may be a straw man, but since I never said it, it doesn't matter.

If the producers of the original Hulk TV show wanted to combine the theme of the inner demon with The Fugitive, they should have created something original.

They did, by any legitimate and reasonable definition of "original." Anyone who knows jack about creativity knows that originality is in what you do with the ideas, not where you get them from.

And I categorically and emphatically reject any argument based on what creators "should" be prohibited from doing. That way lies censorship. It's a hideous notion. Creators need to have the freedom to try whatever they feel is appropriate. There's no guarantee it'll work, but who the hell are you to seek to impose limits on what they're able to try?

And now you're totally off the rails. I never said anything about censorship. You live in a strange world if you think advocating creativity means advocating censorship.

 

[Christopher]

Re: the state of sf/f TV development for 2012-13

^Saying that creativity "should" only be approached in a certain way is advocating censorship, or at least it's the first step in that direction and should be guarded against carefully.

Your problem is that you're defining originality in a very narrow and illegitimate way, as being solely about making up new character names or settings or whatever. That's complete rubbish. Like I said, originality is in what you do with the ideas, not where they come from. There are countless examples of creators taking pre-existing characters and plots and doing wildly original things with them, and there are sadly even more examples of creators inventing new characters and situations and doing painfully unoriginal and cliched things with them.

 

[Temis the Vorta]

Re: the state of sf/f TV development for 2012-13

Rare genre comedy sighting.

Ghost Ghirls (SyFy) - executive produced by Jack Black, Ghost Ghirls is a comedic take on popular paranormal procedurals like Medium and Ghost Whisperer about two women - Heidi, who has self-proclaimed psychic abilities, and Angelica, who is a tech wiz - who attempt to solve paranormal mysteries each week while trying to prove to themselves and their customers that they are competent ghost hunters.

 

[RJDiogenes]

Re: the state of sf/f TV development for 2012-13

^Saying that creativity "should" only be approached in a certain way is advocating censorship, or at least it's the first step in that direction and should be guarded against carefully.

No, advocating creativity is advocating creativity. But feel free to diligently guard against it if you like.

Your problem is that you're defining originality in a very narrow and illegitimate way, as being solely about making up new character names or settings or whatever. That's complete rubbish. Like I said, originality is in what you do with the ideas, not where they come from. There are countless examples of creators taking pre-existing characters and plots and doing wildly original things with them, and there are sadly even more examples of creators inventing new characters and situations and doing painfully unoriginal and cliched things with them.

Yes, a lot of people have done well with somebody else's ideas.

 

[xortex]

Re: the state of sf/f TV development for 2012-13

^Saying that creativity "should" only be approached in a certain way is advocating censorship, or at least it's the first step in that direction and should be guarded against carefully.

Your problem is that you're defining originality in a very narrow and illegitimate way, as being solely about making up new character names or settings or whatever. That's complete rubbish. Like I said, originality is in what you do with the ideas, not where they come from. There are countless examples of creators taking pre-existing characters and plots and doing wildly original things with them, and there are sadly even more examples of creators inventing new characters and situations and doing painfully unoriginal and cliched things with them.

This doesn't mean you can rip off a premise or a plot situation. Reexpressing the concept is one thing as ideas can't be stolen except for their ultimate expression.

 

[jefferiestubes8]

'Real Humans' remake for UK

not for the usa market yet. but maybe it will get picked up here too:

LONDON -- U.K. shingle Kudos Film and Television is to develop a remake of what it hopes will be another high-profile Scandinavian TV drama, Swedish sci-fi skein "Real Humans."

Both the format and international rights to "Real Humans," produced in Sweden by Sveriges Television (SVT) and Matador Films, have been acquired by Shine, which owns Kudos.

The 10-part "Real Humans" is due to bow on SVT in early 2012.

Story focuses on a new generation of robots, so-called "Hu-bots," so advanced it is almost impossible to distinguish them from people.

Created and written by Lars Lundstrom, "Real Humans" is helmed by Harald Hamrell and Levan Akin.

Kudos to remake 'Real Humans'
Swedish sci-fi skein to bow on SVT

 

[Jetfire]

Re: the state of sf/f TV development for 2012-13

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/syfy-booster-gold-greg-berlanti-261801

Syfy is looking to bring Booster Gold to life on the small screen.

The story will center on Booster Gold, a washed-up athlete from the future who travels back to the present in hopes of becoming the greatest super hero of all time. Instead of chasing criminals, however, his main priority is chasing fame and money. But Booster Gold discovers that being a hero takes more than just a megawatt smile, and that the future doesn’t happen without first protecting the present.

You can also talk about it here; http://trekbbs.com/showthread.php?t=151862

I like the character so I am excited about this and hope something becomes of it.

 

[Temis the Vorta]

Re: the state of sf/f TV development for 2012-13

Thanks for posting that - I've been following Deadline but they appear to be ignoring SyFy development. Is sci fi really that icky and beneath their dignity?

 

[RJDiogenes]

Re: the state of sf/f TV development for 2012-13

Yes. Yes, it is.

 

[Temis the Vorta]

Re: the state of sf/f TV development for 2012-13

I guess Nikki Finke is still bitter about Farscape's cancellation.

 

[Temis the Vorta]

Re: the state of sf/f TV development for 2012-13

Here's something interesting:

The Walking Dead executive producer Gale Ann Hurd developing Area 51 drama.

From zombies to aliens. The Walking Dead executive producer Gale Anne Hurd and her Valhalla Entertainment have optioned Annie Jacobsen’s book Area 51: An Uncensored History of America’s Top Secret Military Base for a potential TV series. The hourlong project, which will be taken out to the networks shortly, will be written by feature scribe Karl Gajdusek. It will follow two men working on the base who are thrust into danger when they uncover secrets that the government will protect at any cost.

Two men? Not trying for the Mulder & Scully thing? Then again, there's no reason they couldn't, with two guys. Time to start taking risks! Especially if this ends up on cable, where it needs to be.

I'll add it to the Big List when & if a network picks it up. (I wonder if AMC might be interested - but they already have an aliens-on-Earth show in development.)

 

[AviTrek]

Re: the state of sf/f TV development for 2012-13

not for the usa market yet. but maybe it will get picked up here too:

LONDON -- U.K. shingle Kudos Film and Television is to develop a remake of what it hopes will be another high-profile Scandinavian TV drama, Swedish sci-fi skein "Real Humans."

Both the format and international rights to "Real Humans," produced in Sweden by Sveriges Television (SVT) and Matador Films, have been acquired by Shine, which owns Kudos.

The 10-part "Real Humans" is due to bow on SVT in early 2012.

Story focuses on a new generation of robots, so-called "Hu-bots," so advanced it is almost impossible to distinguish them from people.

Created and written by Lars Lundstrom, "Real Humans" is helmed by Harald Hamrell and Levan Akin.

Kudos to remake 'Real Humans'
Swedish sci-fi skein to bow on SVT

I bet BBCA picks up the US rights.

Here's something interesting:

The Walking Dead executive producer Gale Ann Hurd developing Area 51 drama.

From zombies to aliens. The Walking Dead executive producer Gale Anne Hurd and her Valhalla Entertainment have optioned Annie Jacobsen’s book Area 51: An Uncensored History of America’s Top Secret Military Base for a potential TV series. The hourlong project, which will be taken out to the networks shortly, will be written by feature scribe Karl Gajdusek. It will follow two men working on the base who are thrust into danger when they uncover secrets that the government will protect at any cost.

Two men? Not trying for the Mulder & Scully thing? Then again, there's no reason they couldn't, with two guys. Time to start taking risks! Especially if this ends up on cable, where it needs to be.

I'll add it to the Big List when & if a network picks it up. (I wonder if AMC might be interested - but they already have an aliens-on-Earth show in development.)

I bet AMC takes a look at this too. Given their production approach it wouldn't shock me to see them look at a bunch of different alien pitches and then pick the best one to go to pilot.

 

[Hugo Rune]

Re: the state of sf/f TV development for 2012-13

If it is still in development, my "show for 2012" (other than Powers) is Chew. Back in April this year it was bandied around that the comic book, Chew, was in development by SHOWTIME, which is frankly a great fit for such a bizarre and idiosyncratic funny book.

http://screenrant.com/chew-tv-series-showtime-yman-107681/

The award winning series follows FDA agent Tony Chu as he investigates bizarre, food-related crimes by means of the psychic visions he receives after consuming any kind of food – including human flesh. Known as a cibopath, Chu and his partner Mason Savoy navigate a world where chicken, and all other bird-related meats are considered contraband, after a devastating bird-flu epidemic kills 23 million Americans.

The first edition was one of the funnier and most inventive comics I read this year and the series holds this quality level up. The intention of SHOWTIME turning this into a Weeds-like 30 minute dramedy seem perfect and I hope this will make it onto the air.

Given Temis is not a fan of procedurals as a rule, I found the "spin" on the genre in this book to make the entire thing fresh, funny and brilliantly wacky, and might give her pause


Hugo - can you pass the beets

 

[Temis the Vorta]

Re: the state of sf/f TV development for 2012-13

That might, indeed, give me pause. I'll add it to the list.

Given his name, the lead character is Asian? That would certainly be a departure from practically every show on TV, where it's hard to find a lead character who isn't white. Ken Leong (Lost), Ian Anthony Dale (The Event) or Reggie Lee (currently being wasted in a nothing role on Grimm) would be at the top of my list.

 

[Temis the Vorta]

Re: the state of sf/f TV development for 2012-13

ABC's suburban-alien comedy goes to pilot.

The project, which will be produced by ABC Studios, centers on a family that moves into a highly desirable gated community in New Jersey only to discover that the entire neighborhood is made up of aliens disguised as humans.

Sounds fun. Sci fi comedy is just as scarce as space opera nowadays so I'm happy to see more of either.

Also, AMC wants more braaaaaiiiinnns.

AMC Networks CEO Josh Sapan told analysts at the UBS Annual Global Media and Communications Conference that he’s “exploring changing the mix of content on AMC” based on the recent success of its zombiefest The Walking Dead – and four non-fiction series he plans to introduce beginning next year.

Well, okay, he doesn't mean more zombies or even necessarily more sci fi, but what is making TWD such a monster hit is the combo of grownup, serious draaahma in an over-the-top fantastical setting that amps the tension up to a 12. If AMC were to sub in, say, aliens or newly sentient robots for zombies, I think that could work very well for them and tap into the same market.

 

[Temis the Vorta]

sf/f TV development news - 2012

It's still officially the New Year's holiday, but the news is already rolling in, and it's off to an auspicious start!

Two really hot looking guys cast in NBC's Beautiful People.

James Murray (Chaos) and Patrick Heusinger (Royal Pains) are set to co-star in the NBC drama pilot Beautiful People. The project, written by Michael McDonald, is set in the near future in a society where humans co-exist with mechanical androids that look like people but are treated like second-class citizens. It centers on the very wealthy Lydia whose late husband founded the firm that makes Mechanicals. Murray will play her son, a handsome and very successful attorney who’s lived a rich and privileged life but makes a name for himself by publicly suggesting that Mechanicals might have civil rights — a notion that’s largely scoffed at. Heusinger will play a family man employed as a servant in Lydia’s home who is in fact a Mechanical, but after one of his daughters is killed in a car accident, he proves to be “defective” as he’s plagued with forbidden emotions like grief and loss.

Okay it sounds corny but sort of interesting. Very reminiscent of Caprica in some ways. A broadcast-friendly Caprica - more formulaic, less complicated, more direct - could be worth watching.

I saw Murray in Chaos - he was good as a snarky Scot. Don't know about the other guy, but he has the right look for the "soulful Data role."

I'm a little confused by the description - do the androids have the ability to have offspring in some natural way a la BSG, or does the android factory assign them android babies or what?

Since this is the time of year when news like this starts rolling in, I'll keep this going as an ongoing thread.

 

[stonester1]

Re: sf/f TV development news - 2012

Eh.

 

[V]

Re: sf/f TV development news - 2012

I'm mostly looking forward to Young Justice season 2 and Avatar: The Legend of Korra.

Plus Archer season 3 and Delocated season 3.

Delocated counts as scifi; it had an extended parody of that movie "Face/Off"!