Comment Sci-Fi change name to B-Movie Horror Channel? (Score 1) 264
For years I've spent too much time on my computer or outside (huh? whassat?) to bother with watching much TV. I've watched ST:NG, DS9 and various other sci-fi/fantasy shows on and off. B5 was the one that pulled me into regular watching, but that was about all I watched. Once I discovered Farscape I was hooked again, but didn't get to watch it regularly until cable modem service was available in my area and I got free basic cable with it. Needless to say, I was excited to have a whole channel devoted to science fiction programming! I also was interested in Discovery, History, Animal Planet, and Cartoon Network, too, but still don't watch them much.
To get down to it, Sci-Fi has been a disappointment in the extreme. I thought it would have lots of quality original programming and a lot of sci-fi movies and worthwhile re-runs of 'classic' sci-fi TV series. But all they seem to have are B-movie horror/thriller movies and middling TV series. And what's up with 'Crossing Over'? Not sci-fi in my opinion.
The only bright spots were Farscape, the occasional special like the Star Wars Fan Film awards, and that program with the weird girl host that showcased independent just-out-of-film-school short movies. I also tape Stargate along with Farscape, but it's not nearly as interesting, though entertaining enough. I loved the one about the scientist geeks that save the team - did anyone notice one of them was the alien doctor from Enterprise.
It certainly would have been nice of sci-fi to give some advance notice to the show's writers so they could have tied up some loose ends before canceling the show. It was great that Babylon 5 got to the end before leaving the air, and that JMS (the writer/creator) wrote each season as if it were the last, but still managed to put them all together as a cohesive whole. Because of these lousy 'economic realities' I think no show that features an ongoing storyline should leave any major plotlines dangling at the end of the season. Cliffhangers only work from week-to-week, not season-to-season. I also think we need more Farscape/B5 type programming out there where things are more complicated, layered, and ongoing, rather than a simple ongoing plotline that only has an adventure-of-the-week.
Last note regarding economics - Sci-Fi definitely could have picked a better timeslot. Works for me in that it runs at 8pm my time. They also could have better provided re-runs to allow new viewers to 'get into' the show before each season (or even during the season). Also, if you have more quality original programming, especially lumped together instead of too spread out, you draw more viewers, and each show gains viewers from the ones before/after it, propping each other up. That's why slots like before/after Friends, X-Files, Simpsons, whatever were all coveted. Well, enough said on this. Comments?
To get down to it, Sci-Fi has been a disappointment in the extreme. I thought it would have lots of quality original programming and a lot of sci-fi movies and worthwhile re-runs of 'classic' sci-fi TV series. But all they seem to have are B-movie horror/thriller movies and middling TV series. And what's up with 'Crossing Over'? Not sci-fi in my opinion.
The only bright spots were Farscape, the occasional special like the Star Wars Fan Film awards, and that program with the weird girl host that showcased independent just-out-of-film-school short movies. I also tape Stargate along with Farscape, but it's not nearly as interesting, though entertaining enough. I loved the one about the scientist geeks that save the team - did anyone notice one of them was the alien doctor from Enterprise.
It certainly would have been nice of sci-fi to give some advance notice to the show's writers so they could have tied up some loose ends before canceling the show. It was great that Babylon 5 got to the end before leaving the air, and that JMS (the writer/creator) wrote each season as if it were the last, but still managed to put them all together as a cohesive whole. Because of these lousy 'economic realities' I think no show that features an ongoing storyline should leave any major plotlines dangling at the end of the season. Cliffhangers only work from week-to-week, not season-to-season. I also think we need more Farscape/B5 type programming out there where things are more complicated, layered, and ongoing, rather than a simple ongoing plotline that only has an adventure-of-the-week.
Last note regarding economics - Sci-Fi definitely could have picked a better timeslot. Works for me in that it runs at 8pm my time. They also could have better provided re-runs to allow new viewers to 'get into' the show before each season (or even during the season). Also, if you have more quality original programming, especially lumped together instead of too spread out, you draw more viewers, and each show gains viewers from the ones before/after it, propping each other up. That's why slots like before/after Friends, X-Files, Simpsons, whatever were all coveted. Well, enough said on this. Comments?
