Primeval: Canada

[Christopher]

^Well, Buffy justified it by situating Sunnydale on the Hellmouth, thus making it a nexus of supernatural forces. But when Angel came along and had just as much supernatural stuff happening in LA, that weakened the premise somewhat.

But really, if there are naturally occurring ruptures in the spacetime continuum, there's no particular reason why they should be limited even to Earth, let alone England.

But then, the anomalies have always been handled a bit awkwardly. I mean, why is it that any time an anomaly appears in the distant past, some kind of prehistoric beastie just happens to go through it within moments? If anything, I'd expect most animals would run away from something that strange, or that if they stumbled through it by accident, they'd immediately recoil from the unfamiliar environment they ended up in and retreat back through it.

 

[Worf2DS9]

The series premieres on SPACE October 29th, per the press release.

I enjoyed the UK version, so I'll definitely tune in to this follow-up.

 

[DWF]

But then, the anomalies have always been handled a bit awkwardly. I mean, why is it that any time an anomaly appears in the distant past, some kind of prehistoric beastie just happens to go through it within moments? If anything, I'd expect most animals would run away from something that strange, or that if they stumbled through it by accident, they'd immediately recoil from the unfamiliar environment they ended up in and retreat back through it.

For the same reason deer run into oncoming traffic, bears invaded people's houses and birds fly into windows? Besides if they didn't wander in to the anomalies there'd be no show. And we have no proof one or the other that the anomalies are opeing up on other planets or just what the wide ranging effects they have on all of space/time.

 

[JD]

I saw the trailer a couple days ago. I really liked the original show, and this looks like a lot of fun too. I liked Niall Matter in Eureka, so I look forward to seeing him as the lead in this.

 

[NrobbieC]

That was a good trailer, Tim Haines is still the exec, original characters popping up, and Titanoboa. I think this spin-off has a lot going for it.

 

[Chris3123]

SyFy and Hulu acquire US rights to Primeval: New World.

 

[Gotham Central]

SyFy and Hulu acquire US rights to Primeval: New World.

WOW! This show must be incredibly cheap if SyFy is picking it up.

 

[Vendikarr]

SyFy and Hulu acquire US rights to Primeval: New World.

WOW! This show must be incredibly cheap if SyFy is picking it up.

It's always cheaper to purchase the broadcast rights in a market than it is to produce the show yourself. Let someone else pour the money into development and production, and you just pay a nice little per episode fee.

This seems to be Syfy's current strategy. They only announced one new series they are developing themselves, everything else they have on the horizon (scripted drama-wise) are international acquisitions. No Austrailian/New Zealand series yet? Aren't they producing any sci-fi/fantasy worth exporting?

 

[Christopher]

It's always cheaper to purchase the broadcast rights in a market than it is to produce the show yourself. Let someone else pour the money into development and production, and you just pay a nice little per episode fee.

This seems to be Syfy's current strategy. They only announced one new series they are developing themselves, everything else they have on the horizon (scripted drama-wise) are international acquisitions.

Better that than more reality shows and wrestling. If they can find a way to put more actual SF/F shows on their network within the budgetary constraints they're under as a basic cable network in the modern media climate, I say more power to them.

 

[Sindatur]

It's always cheaper to purchase the broadcast rights in a market than it is to produce the show yourself. Let someone else pour the money into development and production, and you just pay a nice little per episode fee.

This seems to be Syfy's current strategy. They only announced one new series they are developing themselves, everything else they have on the horizon (scripted drama-wise) are international acquisitions.

Better that than more reality shows and wrestling. If they can find a way to put more actual SF/F shows on their network within the budgetary constraints they're under as a basic cable network in the modern media climate, I say more power to them.

Yea, I'm happy to see them acquiring it. I've been waiting to find out if SyFy or BBCA (Both have carried Primeval original Series) would be picking it up.

 

[Temis the Vorta]

It's always cheaper to purchase the broadcast rights in a market than it is to produce the show yourself. Let someone else pour the money into development and production, and you just pay a nice little per episode fee.

This seems to be Syfy's current strategy. They only announced one new series they are developing themselves, everything else they have on the horizon (scripted drama-wise) are international acquisitions.

Better that than more reality shows and wrestling. If they can find a way to put more actual SF/F shows on their network within the budgetary constraints they're under as a basic cable network in the modern media climate, I say more power to them.

Netflix could pick up the same shows, and no doubt they do, without devoting airtime to them. So we can all see this stuff without SyFy picking anything up, and that's not even counting piracy.

Every show that SyFy acquires means one less original show that they might develop, though with their track record lately, it's not worth fetting over much, is it? I just hope that RHW space opera series isn't dead beause SyFy is too damn cheap to produce practically anything anymore.

You gotta spend money to make money. SyFy's cheapass routine is definitely hurting their brand. They're solidifying a rep as the home of laughable, cheap crap. It's pennywise ans pound foolish.

 

[Christopher]

Netflix could pick up the same shows, and no doubt they do, without devoting airtime to them. So we can all see this stuff without SyFy picking anything up, and that's not even counting piracy.

Not everyone has a Netflix account. No harm in making a show available on multiple platforms for multiple audiences.

Every show that SyFy acquires means one less original show that they might develop...

That's a false equivalency, because it's not a zero-sum game between those two. It's not like there's some fixed, finite number of slots for original programming; rather, they make as many original scripted dramas as they can afford to, while paying the bills for those shows by filling the rest of their schedule with cheaper, sadly more popular programming like wrestling and vaguely genre-themed reality shows and Z-grade monster movies. Imported shows from Canada or the UK fall into that latter category, the stuff that's cheaper to put on the air (since they don't have to pay for producing it) and helps them pay the bills.

So the imported dramas don't take the place of original scripted dramas; they take the place of more stupid reality shows and wrestling and Z movies. As I said, they're a way for the network to get more scripted programming onto their schedule within the constraints of their budget.

You gotta spend money to make money. SyFy's cheapass routine is definitely hurting their brand. They're solidifying a rep as the home of laughable, cheap crap. It's pennywise ans pound foolish.

You're damning Primeval: New World (not to mention Continuum and Sinbad) as "cheap crap" without even having seen it? What's so horrible about importing programming from other countries? PBS does it all the time. BBC America is defined by it.

 

[cylkoth]

Every show that SyFy acquires means one less original show that they might develop...

That's a false equivalency, because it's not a zero-sum game between those two. It's not like there's some fixed, finite number of slots for original programming; rather, they make as many original scripted dramas as they can afford to, while paying the bills for those shows by filling the rest of their schedule with cheaper, sadly more popular programming like wrestling and vaguely genre-themed reality shows and Z-grade monster movies. Imported shows from Canada or the UK fall into that latter category, the stuff that's cheaper to put on the air (since they don't have to pay for producing it) and helps them pay the bills.

So the imported dramas don't take the place of original scripted dramas; they take the place of more stupid reality shows and wrestling and Z movies. As I said, they're a way for the network to get more scripted programming onto their schedule within the constraints of their budget.

I wish I shared your optimism, but the cynical side of me agrees with Temis here. We've been spoiled by having as many as 4-6 Syfy originated, scripted hours on within a 12 month period (plus import Merlin) for the last several years. I just don't see Syfy continuing that scripted push as long as there are as many imported shows that they can acquire for less than making their own.

Reality is firmly entrenched on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, Fridays has WWE occupying 2 hours, and Saturdays the grade Z movies rule so there won't be series introduced there. Thursdays have marathons or movies with Sundays reserved for higher profile films. That leaves Monday as the only viable night to launch a series. With Sanctuary canceled, there was no new scripted hour to take it's place. So Lost Girl, Sinbad and Continuum will very well reduce the network's drive to continue making originals at the pace they have over these last few years.
I simply don't see them trimming the number of hours devoted to reality, given how cheap it is to produce, and the ratings 'pop' they provide each quater.

 

[Christopher]

^Even if that's so, I don't see the problem. As long as we're getting scripted SF/fantasy dramas, does it really matter who made them?

 

[Guy Gardener]

SyFy and Hulu acquire US rights to Primeval: New World.

WOW! This show must be incredibly cheap if SyFy is picking it up.

It's always cheaper to purchase the broadcast rights in a market than it is to produce the show yourself. Let someone else pour the money into development and production, and you just pay a nice little per episode fee.

This seems to be Syfy's current strategy. They only announced one new series they are developing themselves, everything else they have on the horizon (scripted drama-wise) are international acquisitions. No Austrailian/New Zealand series yet? Aren't they producing any sci-fi/fantasy worth exporting?

The new kiwi Scifi Show is called "the Almighty Johnsons".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Almighty_Johnsons

The Norse Gods have been hiding in Human form for the last 200 years in west Auckland, their souls freejacking into human meatsuits each new generation along family bloodlines and exhibiting portions of their once great powers after a ceremony on their 21st birthday which ends the ignorance about their divine origins, however unfortunately slowly growing weaker after each reincarnation because of an unfulfilled prophecy that Odin needs to find his dread wife Frig, make up with her and tie the knot, which is when they all get levelled up.

The actors are adults and it's made for adults which is why the storymatter is full of sex, drugs, drinking, violence, politics, murder scheming and more sex.

So the newly minted "Odin" is on a quest to shag every woman in Auckland hoping that one of them is his "wife" and that order in the universe will be set right so that his family will be restored to full power where they rule the world.

2 seasons have wrapped and it's excellent.

More HBO than SYFY. SYFY would have to edit the shit out of this show to make it tolerable for their audience.

 

[JD]

I'm glad to see them importing shows. I love getting to see stuff from other parts of the world. I'm still hoping that someone other than Hulu might get the guts to start importing foreign language shows someday.
Like Christopher said, it's a good way for them to actually bring in more real SF/F shows, and to me that is a good thing. Besides there really isn't that much of a noticeable difference between American, Canadian, and British shows other than the accents. Hell none of the actors in Lost Girl and the bits of seen of Continuum even have noticeable accents, so if I hadn't known beforehand I probably wouldn't have even realized they were imports from another country.
EDIT: Just watched the Series 1 and 2 trailers for The Almighty Johnsons, and it looks great. I would love to get a chance to see it someday.

 

[Guy Gardener]

Well I just found out that there's a 90 percent chance that there's no season 3.

 

[JD]

That sucks.
Is there anyway to find out if you're DVD player can play non-American formated DVDs? Because if mine is I would be very tempted to order an imported copy of that from Amazon.

 

[Guy Gardener]

Just finished watching the pilot.

It's shit.

monster hunt + mystery conspiracy.

That's fine.

Connor, from the TOS, shows up, not sure what reality we're dealing with if the massive anomaly alignment that happened at the end of the English series didn't out the entire phenomenon? But he's James Bond and Batman balled up into a supercomposite until the poor bastard talks and then this frakk is just another chipmunk all over again. It's what he said, not how he said it, but Deepthroat Connor is not.

The series lead is supposed to be Tony Stark... But he is woefully underconnected to be a billionaire industrialist, and his accent is jarringly different from what he had on Eureka.

Bringing in a Park Ranger into the fold just because she's pretty?

I suppose that is the most Tony Stark thing that this kid did.

The dinosaurs were fantastic.

Raptor versus pterodactyl.

When they had at each other it almost looked like they were doing it.

Too much set up.

Clueless peons meeting for the first time introducing themselves with some pulp boys own annual backstory... So grating, but they had to rip the band off quick so that everyone can seem cohesive next week.

The saving grace?

Because there was a saving grace... Project Magnet.

Laughed my ass off.

I'd almost believe that that Project Magnet was a failed pitch some one squeezed into this new World because they didn't want their genius to rot.

Nice one "borrowing" off Terminator II though.

 

[NrobbieC]

That was pretty flat

The emotional scenes were really underwhelming, their token British guy was a bit too pompous - seriously do Americans not know there is more than just the south? The characters in general were just dull, apart from the main guy, him I like. And Connor was still Connor.

Pteranodon and Utahraptor were pretty, they've always done a wonderful job with prehistoric creatures since WWD. Though the showdown was anticlimactic.