Older Scifi Shows...

[Qonundrum]

Or how some tv shows are pimped as 'New Hit Series'... weeks before the pilot aired. The CW is especially guilty of this.

Jaffrey, I know what you mean. I was born in 1979, and most of my references or phrases, I have to explain to people who were born while I was in high school. My wife once said that the phrases I sometimes use make me seem even older.

(I will say, however, that if you looked at me, I could pass for someone in their late 20s. Working in Frozen Foods in one form or another for over 20 years probably cryogenically preserved me somewhat...)

Illogical. It cannot be a hit if it has not yet aired to extravagant ratings that don't dip as the first few weeks saunter by.

Fascinating usage of the euphemism "pimped", by the way.

 

[Farscape One]

I know it's illogical. It's also completely inaccurate, simply because they haven't aired yet.

But I have seen multiple new shows on The CW commercials with those exact words, mostly in the last 3 years or so. I see those ads only because SUPERNATURAL airs there... it's the only series I watch on that station.

Since the demographic of The CW seems to be mainly teenagers and young adults, they probably figure they can get away with such wording. Or maybe there is a lot of buzz online for those upcoming new shows, and they are just stretching the definition to insane proportions.

 

[Christopher]

Since the demographic of The CW seems to be mainly teenagers and young adults, they probably figure they can get away with such wording.

Ohh, no, "New Hit Series" advertising has been around for decades. I'm sure you can find similar extravagant boasts in old movie trailers. It's the principle that people are more likely to want to watch something if you tell them it's already popular. Advertisers aren't in the business of reporting the truth, they're in the business of making things look appealing.

 

[Guy Gardener]

You're not thinking fourth dimensionally.

 

[Greg Cox]

Ohh, no, "New Hit Series" advertising has been around for decades. I'm sure you can find similar extravagant boasts in old movie trailers. It's the principle that people are more likely to want to watch something if you tell them it's already popular. Advertisers aren't in the business of reporting the truth, they're in the business of making things look appealing.

Exactly. All movies and TV show are "Hits" until they open.

Except . . . years ago, I edited the novelization of a certain movie and, of course, I intended to put "Based on the Hit Movie!" on the front cover. But the studio actually objected, admitting that "we don't think it will be a hit." It was clear at that point that the studio had already written the movie off . . . .

We settled on "Based on the Major Motion Picture" instead.

 

[FormerLurker]

Exactly. All movies and TV show are "Hits" until they open.

Except . . . years ago, I edited the novelization of a certain movie and, of course, I intended to put "Based on the Hit Movie!" on the front cover. But the studio actually objected, admitting that "we don't think it will be hit." It was clear at that point that the studio had already written the movie off . . . .

We settled on "Based on the Major Motion Picture" instead.

How well did the movie actually end up doing?

 

[Jayson1]

Someone should try, Only the cool people watch show name. Come watch show name and be cool as well. Jason

 

[Christopher]

Someone should try, Only the cool people watch show name. Come watch show name and be cool as well.

That's basically how all advertising works.

 

[Greg Cox]

How well did the movie actually end up doing?

Oh. It tanked.

 

[Harrison Bergeron]

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Wow! Cool! Thanks for posting this! Nice cover of "Yesterday" by The Beatles. I guess that Firth is mainly known for that production of "Equus", and the "MI-5" (Spooks) TV series.

 

[Harrison Bergeron]

The first time I saw Angry Red Planet was when I realized that the science fiction films of the 1970s were the first to consistently have orchestral scores. For most science fiction before that, the pop music of the day often served as inspiration, and four-piece house bands the execution of science fiction music. There are exceptions, of course, but not many.

...If they remade it NOW, it would probably be re-titled as "Angry Red Placenta".

 

[FormerLurker]

...If they remade it NOW, it would probably be re-titled as "Angry Red Placenta".

Why? The title is a specific reference to the planet Mars.

 

[Harrison Bergeron]

Why? The title is a specific reference to the planet Mars.

...Too many women with JLS (Janice Lester Syndrome) these days.

 

[cooleddie74]

"Angry Red Placenta"? "JLS(Janice Lester Syndrome)"? I...sense issues with women here. So...yeah.

The original V in its first incarnations on NBC remain my second-favorite sci-fi television franchise of the '80s after Star Trek. It was the perfect mix of dark and serious with Reagan-era campiness and to this day I'll watch the original miniseries and The Final Battle if I can find copies of them. Jane Badler's Diana is one of the great all-time sci-fi villainesses and I really love the weapons that the Visitors used, both in look and sound effects.

 

[Farscape One]

I met Jane Badler at DragonCon a few months back. She still commands quite a presence.

 

[T'Bonz]

...Too many women with JLS (Janice Lester Syndrome) these days.

Yep. And run of them runs the place. HA HA HA. Between this and the other crap, wave bye-bye to the troublesome n00b.

 

[Ssosmcin]

"Angry Red Placenta"? "JLS(Janice Lester Syndrome)"? I...sense issues with women here. So...yeah.

The original V in its first incarnations on NBC remain my second-favorite sci-fi television franchise of the '80s after Star Trek. It was the perfect mix of dark and serious with Reagan-era campiness and to this day I'll watch the original miniseries and The Final Battle if I can find copies of them. Jane Badler's Diana is one of the great all-time sci-fi villainesses and I really love the weapons that the Visitors used, both in look and sound effects.

I even loved the weekly series, as dumbed down and weird as it got. A strange mix of the miniseries concepts, The A-Team and Dynasty. However, Dennis McCarthy's weekly scores were amazing. I would love them all in a CD box set.

Between this and the other crap, wave bye-bye to the troublesome n00b.

Yup, I knew he wasn't gonna be here for long....

 

[FormerLurker]

Between this and the other crap, wave bye-bye to the troublesome n00b.

Closest we have to 'wave' emojis.

Based on his terminology, he must have thought we were mostly women here. While I'm happy to see women participate in various fandoms thought to be traditionally mostly male, I get the feeling the boys out number the girls here. Maybe we should start a recruitment drive.

 

[auntiehill]

 

[Farscape One]

I finished BABYLON 5 and ANDROMEDA recently.

I have recently started on LEXX, a series I haven't seen for years. I'm at the tail end of the first season... well, technically called the second, but I always considered the movies to be simply that and not a first season. I actually met all the leads years ago... Brian Downey, Xenia Seeberg, and Michael McManus. Not at DragonCon, but another one... I forget which.

The series is definitely not for everyone. Very bizarre stories and situations, some border on and go past the ridiculous. But it was a fun series. Certainly unique.

Anyone here ever seen it?