sf/f TV development news - 2013

[RJDiogenes]

Re: sf/f TV development news - 2012

There's also a YouTube series that bills itself as a cross between Twin Peaks and The Twilight Zone, but I checked it out and it fell sooooo far short of anything close to that, that I figured I wouldn't bother yall with it.

Well, hype and reality are always two different things. But post a link, anyway. I might as well take a look at it.

 

[AviTrek]

Re: sf/f TV development news - 2012

SF is certainly more metropolitan than Lexington.

Last time I was in Atlanta, according to the hotel's TV schedule, SciFi (as it was then styled) was on the premium cable tier, so there are definitely big cities that aren't as sci fi friendly as SF. I figure it's the Silicon Valley tech worker influence.

I think it has more to do with Turner cable wanting to promote their own stations over Universal stations than any assumption about market friendliness.

At this point I think Universal has gotten SyFy to be basic cable in most, if not all, regions by bundling it with USA, Bravo, and the local NBC affiliate.

 

[Temis the Vorta]

Re: sf/f TV development news - 2012

Here's a story about BlackBoxTV, the YouTube horror channel I mentioned.

And here's the first episode of their Silverwood series. I couldn't make it past the porn-movie-level acting, but maybe some of you will fare better.

[yt]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=caDZNrs5u-Q[/yt]

 

[Temis the Vorta]

Re: sf/f TV development news - 2012

AMC pilots in their annual "bake-off."

One is a genre series, but sounds like an ehhh topic:

Crystal Pines, about a journalist who signs up for a cloning experiment

But this is the one I hope wins!

Turn, about George Washington’s spy ring

 

[RJDiogenes]

Re: sf/f TV development news - 2012

^^ That actually sounds very interesting. I'd love to see a well-done Revolutionary Era show.

Thanks for the BlackBoxTV link. I'll take a look at it.

 

[Caliburn24]

Re: sf/f TV development news - 2012

Hmm, I like the idea of Turn, work in the rise and fall of Benedict Arnold and it could be epic. But unfortunately AMC already has Hell on Wheels(which is at best mediocre) so I doubt they will sign up for another expensive period drama.

 

[Temis the Vorta]

Re: sf/f TV development news - 2012

AMC should be thinking of shows that will interest their huge zombie-centric audience. Hell on Wheels lost a lot of TWD's lead-in, but an exciting historical war story might work better. Or, they could go sf/f - they've got 99 Stories in development, last I heard.

 

[JD]

Re: sf/f TV development news - 2012

I'd be up for a Revolutionary War era TV series, it's not a period you see a lot. That's also part of the reason I'm really looking forward to Assassin's Creed III, but that's a topic for another thread...

 

[Temis the Vorta]

Re: sf/f TV development news - 2012

Now Hulu's getting into original-series development.

The Awesomes...is about an unassuming superhero and his cohorts who battle diabolical villains, the ever-present paparazzi and a less-than-ideal reputation as second-class crimefighters. The series previously was in development for MTV and has been resurrected.

Not a very exciting idea, but it's a start...

 

[Sindatur]

Re: sf/f TV development news - 2012

Now Hulu's getting into original-series development.

The Awesomes...is about an unassuming superhero and his cohorts who battle diabolical villains, the ever-present paparazzi and a less-than-ideal reputation as second-class crimefighters. The series previously was in development for MTV and has been resurrected.

Not a very exciting idea, but it's a start...

After the awfulness of Zombie 911, I shudder to think how bad this must've been for MTV to pass on it

 

[Guy Gardener]

Re: sf/f TV development news - 2012

Apart form being third and fourth class teir heroes that sounds just like the live action version of the tick.

Did anyone contemplate that Captain Victory had gone dark and become Fury Lieka?

 

[Temis the Vorta]

Re: sf/f TV development news - 2012

TV.com's predictions for the best pilots.

But take it with a shaker of salt - they didn't do so well last year. But at least they're being forthright about it rather than trying to hide the evidence. Last year's predictions.

Their enthusiasm for Alcatraz and Playboy Club are embarrassing, sure, but they get a gold star for this comment about The River: "There's a reason horror hasn't worked on TV, and it's usually because it's simply not that good."

Awake (aka REM) is the one show that really stands out as being exactly what I thought (hoped) it would be: a twisty mind-frak that is probably too smart for broadcast.

(I've been hunting around for last years' predictions. I think a lot of sites take their predictions down, those sneaky dogs. )

And as a bonus: pie charts!

The genre chart is really interesting. ABC has become sf/f + soaps; FOX is (unwisely in my view) loading up on cop shows, CBS style. NBC is all over the map (maybe not a bad idea; you could also say that AMC is all over the map, genre-wise.)

 

[Temis the Vorta]

Re: sf/f TV development news - 2012

Update on the buzz.

NBC: Do No Harm and Midnight Sun are looking good; for Beautiful People, "the network was intrigued enough to order re-cuts." The Frontier sounds iffy but I don't see why NBC would consider a modern-day CBS Western to be any kind of direct competition, especially since The Frontier has supernatural elements.

ABC: The genre shows seem to be losing out to the soaps, though the two best-sounding ones - 666 Park Avenue and The Last Resort - are "in good shape."

CW: The Cult, Arrow and The Selection look good. Surprisingly, so does the silly-sounded Joey Dakota.

FOX: The Kevin Bacon serial killer drama looks strong, as has been the rumor all along.

 

[RJDiogenes]

Re: sf/f TV development news - 2012

Now Hulu's getting into original-series development.

The Awesomes...is about an unassuming superhero and his cohorts who battle diabolical villains, the ever-present paparazzi and a less-than-ideal reputation as second-class crimefighters. The series previously was in development for MTV and has been resurrected.

Not a very exciting idea, but it's a start...

After the awfulness of Zombie 911, I shudder to think how bad this must've been for MTV to pass on it

Or, considering how awful their taste is, how good it may be.

 

[Temis the Vorta]

Re: sf/f TV development news - 2012

I stumbled across a different article about the Hulu shows - sounds like Flow is "urban fantasy" which makes it a bit more interesting than the ho-hum description - "an individual's quest for justice and redemption after being framed for a crime."

 

[RJDiogenes]

Re: sf/f TV development news - 2012

Depends on what they mean by "urban fantasy," I guess.

I wonder if I can get my brother on Don't Quit Your Daydream....

 

[Temis the Vorta]

Re: sf/f TV development news - 2012

More Defiance casting.

Starting to sound like a wannabee Deadwood...

 

[Skellington]

Re: sf/f TV development news - 2012

^ That wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing.

The talent seems to be really mounting up for Defiance. Could be something of a sleeper hit.

 

[Temis the Vorta]

Re: sf/f TV development news - 2012

Well SyFy won't allow all that swearing. Unless it's in Chinese.

 

[Skellington]

Re: sf/f TV development news - 2012

王八蛋 (Wángbā dàn)!