Re: "Sci Fi Channel" to change name to "Beyond"....skiffy's final defe
I think the problem with the Scifi Channel is that it is currently run by people who have no idea what the genre is about. That god-awful Flash Gordon series is proof. Their reluctance to embrace a true scifi series is another. And by 'true' I mean series that is not afraid to actually include ships, aliens, etc.
If Scifi wants viewers, then they should provide decent scifi entertainment. And since for the past 30+ years that scifi has been one of THE top earning genres, one would think that this would not present such a big challenge to the Scifi channel.
Some ideas for improvement could include:
- Continuing to 'share' and develop programs with its parent company (NBC?). This gives the Scifi Network some more budget to work with not to mention the chance to expand its viewing audience.
- Use NBC's clout and run a DVD movie night and show more recent box-office hit films (Spider-man, Ironman, etc.)
- How about instead of running one series into the ground (Stargate SG1 is the prime offender here)- why not spread the wealth with other series and/or feature other syndicated shows? How about more Trek (at a decent hour), B5, MST3K, and so forth? Syndicated shows have always been big money to TV. There are a lot more out there than just Stargate.
Truth!
but that's my point: they're afraid to run "actual science fiction shows"....and seem to be dancing around it like a teenager afraid to lose their virginity. "ooh, um....oh geez, I dunno, maybe just a little"
I'm terribly sorry to use such a metaphor, but it really reminds me of "will they won't they" type reluctance you'd see on Dawson's Creek or whatever.
They're a "scifi channel" that is afraid that running "actual scifi" will "scare away mainstream viewers"
okay....what was "Iron Man"? What was "The Dark Knight"?
What are "Heroes" and "Fringe"?
I'd love it if Scifi Channel tried to make a new show in a similar tone to "Fringe" even.
They, who should be the guardians of quality science fiction TV programming, literally believe....the bad stereotype of what "scifi" is that I complain about the main networks holding:
That its "just for kids" or "a family show" and about "Bigfoot and ghosts"
ugh
Tell me: is Fringe, a show that starts with a plane full of people melting from a flesh-eating bacteria, a "family show"? I'm not even that big of a fan of Fringe nor do I think its very groundbreaking, but dang it, at least it can get the basics of an at LEAST half-way decent series right!
These are people who don't even believe in Science Fiction as a real art medium or social commentary.
its not a matter of "well what you think is "good scifi" is niche programming that will only gain a cult following of arthouse film fans, and the "unwashed ignorant masses that give us high ratings" don't want that".......Hey: if its a quality show, it will attract an audience. Trying to make shows "more accessible" on purpose, only lowers their quality.
(sigh)
at least they're running more anime that Cartoon Network does anymore....but this "Ani-Monday" thing is really just them grabbing one or two series and running them; they don't really promote it well or anything; I mean....the vibe I get is that its just them running an experiment and the execs in charge are ignoring it as part of their actual "programming"
). They do have a much better mix than Sciffy currently has. And I like the idea of those weekly shows-- Sciffy used to have a show like that on Sunday mornings that I really liked.
