• Welcome! The TrekBBS is the number one place to chat about Star Trek with like-minded fans.
    If you are not already a member then please register an account and join in the discussion!

Aftermath’ continues SGU‘s ratings slide

SGU is an interesting case study. Of course its ratings suggest cancellation. But it has some things going for it. First, MGM's financial situation may either help it survive or kill it, as far as I know MGM's movies are largely on hold, and it doesn't have that much of a television presence. The company might fight to keep SGU alive as one of its last still operating revenue streams. Second, the Stargate francise does well internationally and on DVD, offsetting US TV ratings somewhat. Third, SyFy channel has no big name shows in development that I can think of, what would they replace SGU(and presumeably Caprica) with? More wrestling and ghost shows? They'd lose even the pretense of being a science fiction themed channel then.

We will see all of SGU season 2 air, and it has at least a 50/50 chance of getting a third season at this point imo. Especially once they move it to a better night and it isn't going head to head with the major networks new stuff.
 
Harvey said:
Another network might want the Stargate franchise, but I doubt they'd care to pick up this spin-off.
Click to expand...

I Remember reading somewhere that the new Showtime president would love to have the franchise back. After MGM sells maybe someone better can come in and save the franchise.

This is why I thought syndication for SGU was stupid, 40 episodes isn't enough.
 
Yeah, I would think on a series like this you would have most of your principals locked into multi-year contracts from the getgo. The last thing you want is to have a well-oiled show disrupted by one of the leads throwing a hissy fit over contract renewal. Best to lock everyone in right at the start and leave yourself a good escape clause if the show doesn't pan out.
 
The Wormhole said:
Then why did they stick two of their "flagship shows" on a day that would most certainly kill them, and is?
Click to expand...
They thought that because Warehouse 13 (and formerly Eureka) did well on Tuesdays that SGU and Caprica would too, despite them giving very little (barely any) warning on air that the air dates changed.
 
After the first season crap/snoozefest, did anyone really expect SGU to last more than two years? That's what you get when you have a 'dark' series 5 years out of date, with a horribly unlikeable cast and storylines that could cure insomnia.
 
Kpnuts said:
After the first season crap/snoozefest, did anyone really expect SGU to last more than two years? That's what you get when you have a 'dark' series 5 years out of date, with a horribly unlikeable cast and storylines that could cure insomnia.
Click to expand...

I bet your still watching it though:rolleyes:
 
GoldenPumpkin said:
According to this article, Robert Carlyle signed a 6-season contract.
Click to expand...

Robert Maxwell said:
That doesn't really mean anything. If the show is canceled then MGM will have to buy out his contract. It doesn't guarantee that there'll be six seasons or anything.
Click to expand...

MGM won't have to buy him out of anything if the show is cancelled. Most series regulars are signed to multi-season contracts when they begin work, be it for shows that last thirteen seasons or just thirteen episodes. That doesn't mean they'll be paid for episodes or seasons that aren't produced--"pay or play" deals like that are rare in the world of feature films, and unheard of in television, as far as I know.
 
bigdaddy said:
Harvey said:
Another network might want the Stargate franchise, but I doubt they'd care to pick up this spin-off.
Click to expand...

I Remember reading somewhere that the new Showtime president would love to have the franchise back. After MGM sells maybe someone better can come in and save the franchise.

This is why I thought syndication for SGU was stupid, 40 episodes isn't enough.
Click to expand...

Well Showtime's Beyond had started to show two SG1 episodes every Saturday night, they are in thier original 43 minute format and even have the original (egyption guy?) title sequence.

There is really no other Scifi/fanatasy/horror genre cable channel in the the US. If Syfy continues there downfall I hope another major cable entity like Viacom or Fox decides to put out a competing channel
 
MPH said:
Kpnuts said:
After the first season crap/snoozefest, did anyone really expect SGU to last more than two years? That's what you get when you have a 'dark' series 5 years out of date, with a horribly unlikeable cast and storylines that could cure insomnia.
Click to expand...

I bet your still watching it though:rolleyes:
Click to expand...

Of course...

He's watched probably most the last 5/6 years of SG and hated it but never figured out to just simply tune out.
 
Harvey said:
That doesn't mean they'll be paid for episodes or seasons that aren't produced--"pay or play" deals like that are rare in the world of feature films, and unheard of in television, as far as I know.
Click to expand...

I seem to recall reading in the Reeves-Stevens' book on Phase II that Shatner and the cast got pay-or-play for the aborted TV series (unless I'm misremembering and that was for one of the failed films).
 
Harvey said:
Another network might want the Stargate franchise, but I doubt they'd care to pick up this spin-off.
Click to expand...

I wouldn't mind the whole thing being turned over to a brand new crew and given the big old reboot treatment. Fundamentally, there's a always been a good idea behind Stargate, it's just never been used to its potential and the current idiots in charge will never turn it around. They're just digging it further into the ditch.
After the first season crap/snoozefest, did anyone really expect SGU to last more than two years?
Click to expand...
Skiffy just renewed Haven, which is unwatchable garbage, so there's no reason SGU needed to be a ratings failure in addition to worthless quality-wise. If the Stargate producers weren't capable of producing a quality show, and it looks more than ever like they aren't, they at least should have hung onto the mindless but popular muck they'd been churning out, which is wonderfully consistent with Skiffy's style. Once Skiffy cancels Caprica, that's it for the whole damn channel.
 
Ghoul Malakai said:
Harvey said:
That doesn't mean they'll be paid for episodes or seasons that aren't produced--"pay or play" deals like that are rare in the world of feature films, and unheard of in television, as far as I know.
Click to expand...

I seem to recall reading in the Reeves-Stevens' book on Phase II that Shatner and the cast got pay-or-play for the aborted TV series (unless I'm misremembering and that was for one of the failed films).
Click to expand...

I recall an anecdote about Nichelle Nichols being fitted for costumes and exclaiming, "you mean we have to work for the money this time," but I don't recall if that was connected to being repeatedly paid for a movie that didn't get off the ground or the series. But it's safe to say Robert Carlyle doesn't have this kind of deal in place.
 
MPH said:
Kpnuts said:
After the first season crap/snoozefest, did anyone really expect SGU to last more than two years? That's what you get when you have a 'dark' series 5 years out of date, with a horribly unlikeable cast and storylines that could cure insomnia.
Click to expand...

I bet your still watching it though:rolleyes:
Click to expand...

Lol. I still watch in the hope something really interesting might happen to the Stargate franchise. Season 2 opener might have finally persuaded me to give up and watch paint dry
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
If you are not already a member then please register an account and join in the discussion!

Sign up / Register


Back
Top