Has the SciFi channel abandoned Scifi?

[Captain Smith]

The other day I was looking at the schedule for the SciFi channel.

What I found during prime day for the most part was:

1. Wrestling
2. Schlock 'reality' shows about ghosts, scaring people, exorcism
3. Trashy kill all but the virgin made for TV movies

There was very little Scifi - a touch of anime, perhaps.

The unique series like Eureka have limited runs. Harry Dresden was cancelled, Flash Gordon stunk. The Star Gate franchise was sunk with the end of SG-1 and the development of Atlantis - a poorly plotted ripoff. Now we have a Lost in Space, Voyager, BSG clone coming up. Sanctuary so far is so-so. Typical X-files monsters and a vast conspiracy - that's a new idea.

BSG will end - maybe Caprice will take its place?

However, most of the air time is just crap. If I had to pay specifically for this channel - I'd pass and just rent the series DVDs.

It's time for an actual scifi channel. :biggrin:

[Royal]

Yes. Theres rumors going around that they're going to rename it Fantasy or Imagine or something like that.

[SUPERECWFAN1]

The other day I was looking at the schedule for the SciFi channel.

What I found during prime day for the most part was:

1. Wrestling
2. Schlock 'reality' shows about ghosts, scaring people, exorcism
3. Trashy kill all but the virgin made for TV movies

There was very little Scifi - a touch of anime, perhaps.

The unique series like Eureka have limited runs. Harry Dresden was cancelled, Flash Gordon stunk. The Star Gate franchise was sunk with the end of SG-1 and the development of Atlantis - a poorly plotted ripoff. Now we have a Lost in Space, Voyager, BSG clone coming up. Sanctuary so far is so-so. Typical X-files monsters and a vast conspiracy - that's a new idea.

BSG will end - maybe Caprice will take its place?

However, most of the air time is just crap. If I had to pay specifically for this channel - I'd pass and just rent the series DVDs.

It's time for an actual scifi channel. :biggrin:


Niche channels like Sci-Fi , G4 and others are changing because its hard compitition out there to lure ratings. The most popular rated show on Sci-Fi currently ? Its a pro wrestling show...so whats that say about the channel ?

Your gonna see a lot of channels like Sci-Fi change. Even Court TV changed once its programming had psyhics and meduims on the channel. As well as reality tv car chases....that channel became "Tru TV" .

[Ontir]

The reason it's hard to get the ratings it that with the exception of "Dune," "Farscape" and "BSG" they've only produced crap! Make something that doesn't suck and sci fi starved fans will flock to it!

[kalorama]

Hardcore science fiction is a niche market that's probably not big enough to support the network financially on its own. Plus, their budget for original programming is presumably relatively small, meaning they can't pony up for the kind of lavish FX eye-candy that might draw in the casual viewer. Cable TV is a business and they have to go where the money is.

[SUPERECWFAN1]

The reason it's hard to get the ratings it that with the exception of "Dune," "Farscape" and "BSG" they've only produced crap! Make something that doesn't suck and sci fi starved fans will flock to it!

Hardcore science fiction is a niche market that's probably not big enough to support the network financially on its own. Plus, their budget for original programming is presumably relatively small, meaning they can't pony up for the kind of lavish FX eye-candy that might draw in the casual viewer. Cable TV is a business and they have to go where the money is.

Pretty much why they are paying Vince McMahon $2 million a year for ECW. They don't have to produce or film it. Or pay the stars. They just air it and for 50 weeks outta the year they get that magic 1.0 that a lot of cable networks would give their balls for.

Its a reason why many of the shows have been cancelled . Sci-Fi has little budget. But they will continue to pay likely for Doctor Who....and hey ...since Who seems to be a success for the network ..they could pay the BBC to air the entire library thats out there of Dr.Who. If I was in charge I would...

[noh-varr]

They run Dr Who too that is sci-fi. Plus of course Tin Man is supposed to come back as a series and it was the highest rated thing on Sci-Fi ever or something. As you mentioned there is still Eureka which is a good show.

What I wish oh so wish they would do, is cut out those stupid inane original movies that suck 99% of the time and use that money to fund two more series a year. Do like Eureka, SG1, and BSG and have something smarter. Some of the biggest shows last few years on network tv are Lost and Heroes both huge sci-fi origins. The network can do better but until then it's just a niche channel and should be happy with that. That's what cable is supposed to be about instead of running the SAME syndicated show on 5 different channels (Scrubs, King of the Hill, Reno 911, Family Guy, etc).

[SUPERECWFAN1]

They run Dr Who too that is sci-fi. Plus of course Tin Man is supposed to come back as a series and it was the highest rated thing on Sci-Fi ever or something. As you mentioned there is still Eureka which is a good show.

What I wish oh so wish they would do, is cut out those stupid inane original movies that suck 99% of the time and use that money to fund two more series a year. Do like Eureka, SG1, and BSG and have something smarter. Some of the biggest shows last few years on network tv are Lost and Heroes both huge sci-fi origins. The network can do better but until then it's just a niche channel and should be happy with that. That's what cable is supposed to be about instead of running the SAME syndicated show on 5 different channels (Scrubs, King of the Hill, Reno 911, Family Guy, etc).

I'd take 5 steps to fix Sci-Fi Network....

1. Establish your 5 days a week shows. USA Network at the moment has its Monday , Thursday , Friday and Sunday lineups that signal a strength. Once they got Law & Order CI it only added more strength to the networks programming.

Thus far Sci-Fi has only 2 days that are powers for them currently...and its Tuesday and Friday. They need to look at trying to establish more days that showcase the channels best. And perhaps it means rolling the dice and signing shows that may have shelf life in them...

Shows like Jericho which could likely have more life in them and signing it and the stars will cost money but its an investment on what it could do.

2. Cut back on the original movies. You don't need to keep pumping out shows like Frankenfish I , II , & III. At some point cut back on these since you already have a film library of so much crap. Save up the money and do 2-3 big prime-time Sci-Fi/horror special mini-series a year. You can amp up the budgets and lure a primo cast to these which should attract ratings.

3. Look at more programming choices for your network. You know whats not shown on TV much anymore ? Hitchhiker (the horror series that aired on HBO back in the 1980's) Old Doctor Who from Britian and who knows what else is out there. Your airing Anime shows now and with Cartoon Network ending Toonami , here is a chance to raid and start airing Anime TV series like Robotech and others...

By going out and getting these shows and showing your gonna program new things it only can help your network.


These things can help Sci-Fi ...

[Young Avenger]

Thus far Sci-Fi has only 2 days that are powers for them currently...and its Tuesday and Friday. They need to look at trying to establish more days that showcase the channels best. And perhaps it means rolling the dice and signing shows that may have shelf life in them...

You forgot Monday. Sci-fi has the Ani-Monday animation block

[Serik]

Reminds me of how the History Channel rarely shows history programs these days.

[Ontir]

Hardcore science fiction is a niche market that's probably not big enough to support the network financially on its own. Plus, their budget for original programming is presumably relatively small, meaning they can't pony up for the kind of lavish FX eye-candy that might draw in the casual viewer. Cable TV is a business and they have to go where the money is.

They could show things like Primer, which is great sci-fi but has no real SFX at all. "Sci Fi" isn't synonymous with ray guns and space ships.

[G. Wayne]

The other day I was looking at the schedule for the SciFi channel.

What I found during prime day for the most part was:

1. Wrestling
2. Schlock 'reality' shows about ghosts, scaring people, exorcism
3. Trashy kill all but the virgin made for TV movies
...


1) I got nothin' for ECW on SciFi. *shrug*

2) The SciFi Channel has had a lot of sci-fi and horror programming from day one. That, and it's October and Halloween is right around the corner.

3) I'm with you there. I'm dying to know how much money they can possibly make off that crap and if there's -anyone- out there that actually likes the SciFi Channel made for TV "movies."

[drwho]

I dont see anything wrong with scifi having fantasy and horror things on it. Also many of the movies they show arent that bad. They were recently showing the movies from the horrorfest festival from a few years back. Those movies were surprisingly good quality. Also you may not believe but Stargate Atlantis is considered popular so it didnt kill the Stargate franchise. I have also noticed that scifi has been upping the gore factor a lot on their movies recently where in the past they seemed over edited.

[mattx110]

Step One: Write check for million dollars
Step Two: MST4K

[kalorama]

They could show things like Primer, which is great sci-fi but has no real SFX at all. "Sci Fi" isn't synonymous with ray guns and space ships.

To real sci-fi fans, no. But, as I said, they can't sustain themselves based solely on the patronage of "real sci fi fans." They need to draw in casual viewers who have no ingrained automatic interest in or attraction to something based simply on the fact that it calls itself science fiction. A little razzle dazzle, some shiny tech, some explosions, and a monster or two helps capture their attention (ask Michael Bay). That kind of stuff takes money, which the Sci-Fi channel is in short supply of, it would appear.

[Toreador]

Sci-Fi Channel should make use of the vast history of sf movies and series that have been made the past 50 years or so. They should be cheap to get a hold of and run during the day and save their block of shows for one or two days a week. There are a lot of material that isn't being aired at the moment that Sci-Fi could be using.

[kalorama]

Sci-Fi Channel should make use of the vast history of sf movies and series that have been made the past 50 years or so. They should be cheap to get a hold of and run during the day and save their block of shows for one or two days a week. There are a lot of material that isn't being aired at the moment that Sci-Fi could be using.

Depends on which movies you're talking about. If you're talking old B&W classic sci-fi from the 50s and 60s, they probably could air lot of that stuff. The question is, would anyone watch? Not enough to keep them in business. More recent sci-fi blockbusters aren't really up for grabs because, after HBO and Showtime get finished with them, they get locked up by the basic cable channels that are affiliated with one of the various film studios or TV networks and/or have more money to spend on rights than Sci-Fi. There's a lot of stuff in between they could get, but most of it is stuff that not's going to get any better ratings than the stuff they're airing now.

[Slappy san]

I remember being shocked when I noticed ECW on Sci-Fi. I shouldn't have been I guess. Look at all the niche channels that show stuff having nothing to do with their name.

[Legato]

I remember being shocked when I noticed ECW on Sci-Fi. I shouldn't have been I guess. Look at all the niche channels that show stuff having nothing to do with their name.

Like Cartoon Network showing live action movies now.

[SPAfreak]

Step One: Write check for million dollars
Step Two: MST4K

They already have free access to all of their own movies to mock.

It's win-win!

[Howard Allan]

Let them bring back Red Dwarf. I loved that show. It was a howl. Do it. Either as reruns or new material.

[SUPERECWFAN1]

I remember being shocked when I noticed ECW on Sci-Fi. I shouldn't have been I guess. Look at all the niche channels that show stuff having nothing to do with their name.

When ECW 1st started in 2006 the order was it had to have 1 sci-fi element a show. So , Heyman put a vampire and witch on the show. To have that sci-fi thing the show wanted there.

But its dissapeared as time passed ...

[Toreador]

Depends on which movies you're talking about. If you're talking old B&W classic sci-fi from the 50s and 60s, they probably could air lot of that stuff. The question is, would anyone watch? Not enough to keep them in business. More recent sci-fi blockbusters aren't really up for grabs because, after HBO and Showtime get finished with them, they get locked up by the basic cable channels that are affiliated with one of the various film studios or TV networks and/or have more money to spend on rights than Sci-Fi. There's a lot of stuff in between they could get, but most of it is stuff that not's going to get any better ratings than the stuff they're airing now.

AMC, FMC and TCM still seem to be hanging on. And there's the 70s era that doesn't seem to be shown on those channels. Not old enough to be considered classics yet I guess. And campy old is probably better than the spanky 'brand-new-car-smell' camp trash that Sci-Fi puts out every Saturday.

[the goddamn batman]

Has the SciFi channel abandoned Scifi? I hope so. Now they can finally stop sullying the good name of "Sci-Fi".

[Kid Kamikaze10]

All I heard was "Tin Man may become a series"...

Awesome. More Azkadellia goodness....

[kalorama]

AMC, FMC and TCM still seem to be hanging on. And there's the 70s era that doesn't seem to be shown on those channels. Not old enough to be considered classics yet I guess. And campy old is probably better than the spanky 'brand-new-car-smell' camp trash that Sci-Fi puts out every Saturday.

They're "hanging on" because they serve a broader audience. None of those channels are narrowly pitched to a relatively small demographic centered around a single genre. Which, of course, was exactly my point. The only way for the Sci-Fi Channel to survive is to appeal to a broader audience than just sci fi fans. Showing Logan's Run and Omega Man 5 times a day won't cut it.

[Toku King]

Step One: Write check for million dollars
Step Two: MST4K

What he said.

[[]D[]/\/\[]D @ Nite/So-tite]

The reason it's hard to get the ratings it that with the exception of "Dune," "Farscape" and "BSG" they've only produced crap! Make something that doesn't suck and sci fi starved fans will flock to it!

They also have the Stargate franchise and Eureka. Those are pretty good as well. So was The Invisible Man.

[jesse_custer]

Not sure, but I abandoned the Sci-Fi Channel.

[Sean Walsh]

I remember being shocked when I noticed ECW on Sci-Fi. I shouldn't have been I guess. Look at all the niche channels that show stuff having nothing to do with their name.

Cases in point: Conan O'Brien reairings on CNBC a few years back, or any reality TV on Bravo, or most movies aired on AMC.

[SUPERECWFAN1]

I am shocked that with having Who on Fridays , why Sci-Fi doesn't try and pay BBC to air the classic old Dr.Who series and air it on Saturday & Sunday mornings in a block of 4-6 episodes.

[LordEd1976]

Step One: Write check for million dollars
Step Two: MST4K

Only if I can be the next Dr Forrester.

[Libaax]

Sci-Fi Channel today is beyond sad.

For SF fan it was golden to watch SG1,Farscape,BSG etc

I wish they were smart enough to make new shows survive too. To be like HBO making new,original shows that survive.

Now it feels like SF on tv is pretty much dead. What else new is there ? Fringe ? Thats more like mystery soap ala Lost....

Battlestar Galactica and SG1 showed that there are fans if the shows are good enough.

[yamiangie]

The old Who is most likely too old for them too draw weekday ratings to play for ad time to cover costs or not being leased out for syndication. They do say that viewership is drooping across the board. With the advent of DVD many companies might be looking to release their back log of shows on disk.

[Chris Lang]

There's a term for what has happened to the Sci-Fi channel and so many other cable channels.

That term would be Network Decay (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/NetworkDecay) (thank you, TV Tropes for providing this term that perfectly describes it). There are many reasons why it happens. But I think the main reason is that the people in charge don't think the 'niche programs' the channel was originally designed to carry bring in enough ratings.

[Joey Deadcat]

Why does it seem the higher up the ladder one is the more likely they are to be clueless? I swear, execs never seem to bright despite their postions. On the other hand, I gotta thank the suits for my not watching as much television these days.

[GRANT!]

I wish they were smart enough to make new shows survive too. To be like HBO making new,original shows that survive.

HBO has money. And it's not basic cable, it doesn't need advertising to survive.

[david r]

I think the funniest case of this was when the History Channel showed 1968's Planet of the Apes. I still don't get how they could explain showing that.

[Gaastra]

Here's a list of shows sci-fi aired over the years.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Sci_Fi_Channel_(United_States)_programs

Sci-fi used to be great. From lost in space to saturday anime.

Now they air ecw and law and order.

[david r]

Law and Order? You're kidding me!! :eek:

[lou-bert vs. q-bert]

Sci-Fi Channel, usually the garbage network, has had several moments of brilliance. The Saturday morning anime and the weekday morning cartoons were awesome. Some original live action shows like The Chronicle and The Dresden Files, etc. were terriffic, but then stupidly cancelled. The acqusition of Mystery Science Theater 3000 was genius, and then it was stupidly cancelled. Even repeats of entertaining but cancelled sci-fi shows were a good idea. The uncut Star Trek episodes with Shatner hosting were absolutely incredible!

Then there are gems like Eureka and the new Battlestar Galactica that seem fly under the radar of NBC/Universal and given the chance they deserve.

However, they continue to make many more mistakes, like cancellling good shows, showing shitty direct-to-video movies and these reality shows (except Who Wants To Be A Superhero, too fun to knock). Sci-Fi has for the most part, been mostly pure crap.

[Chris Lang]

Law and Order? You're kidding me!! :eek:

I wish I could honestly say that WAS a joke. But Law and Order did air at least once on the Sci-Fi Channel. It's only a matter of time before the Sci-Fi Channel is truly in the 'total abandonment' stage of Network Decay.

Sci-Fi Channel, usually the garbage network, has had several moments of brilliance. The Saturday morning anime and the weekday morning cartoons were awesome. Some original live action shows like The Chronicle and The Dresden Files, etc. were terriffic, but then stupidly cancelled. The acqusition of Mystery Science Theater 3000 was genius, and then it was stupidly cancelled. Even repeats of entertaining but cancelled sci-fi shows were a good idea. The uncut Star Trek episodes with Shatner hosting were absolutely incredible!

Then there are gems like Eureka and the new Battlestar Galactica that seem fly under the radar of NBC/Universal and given the chance they deserve.

However, they continue to make many more mistakes, like cancellling good shows, showing shitty direct-to-video movies and these reality shows (except Who Wants To Be A Superhero, too fun to knock). Sci-Fi has for the most part, been mostly pure crap.

I've said this elsewhere, but I have a suspicion the reason they cancelled MST3k is because Sci-Fi's own original movies weren't really much better than the movies being riffed on by Mike and the bots. MST3k might have been exactly what they didn't want -- something calling attention to how badly done their movies were.

That being said, MST3k made the jump to the Sci-Fi Channel under Bonnie Hammer's predecessor, who at least tolerated the show. But the whole 'chase' storyline in Season 8 was the Network's idea, not the idea of MST3k's creators. The Brains (as the creators are sometimes known) didn't want to do an ongoing multi-part storyline in their host segments, as episodes of MST3k are almost NEVER re-run in order (partly due to having to renew the rights to certain movies), but the Sci-Fi Channel execs insisted.

They tried to make the best of it, but when Season 9 came around, Pearl Forrester and the sidekicks she'd met in the previous season moved into Castle Forrester, and things pretty much settled down to being similiar to the old formula.

Then, of course, Bonnie Hammer took over, and she apparently didn't think very highly of MST3k. So of course she had it cancelled.

Since then, the Sci-Fi Channel has pretty much gone downhill, with only a few notable exceptions. The new Battlestar Galactica of course divided Galactica fans (some of whom never warmed up to what they refer to as 'GINO' meaning 'Galactica In Name Only', and still haven't), but at least it was sci-fi. Which is more than can be said for a lot of the content of the channel these days. These days, we get stuff that's either VERY loosely associated with 'sci-fi' (i.e. stuff about psychics, paranormal, and so on) or stuff that has nothing to do with it but the USA Network's other channels were all filled up (the WWE ECW show).

(But don't get me started about USA Network. Is it just me, or is it the 'All Law and Order/NCIS' channel during the daytime nowadays?).

[Gaastra]

This used to be sci-fi channel.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gJU-MKky20

Speaking of usa network

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHtEJhXXlYk

[JDogindy]

The thing about Sci Fi is that it cannot be a niche network today as it was several years ago. I mean, there are more and more channels, and on top of that, the channels that seemingly fit a certain theme are put in the more expensive tiers, and I know Sci Fi to be in the basic cable tier most of the time. Sci Fi is just trying to find other ways to meet viewers, as are other networks. SuperECWfan is right about CourtTV.

Now, as far as some of the shows on the first post go, let me state that ECW isn't really bothering anybody, as WWE's PG rating has it to a normal show (so it's not as violent as it was before, now it's just kinda stupid :biggrin: ). And those shows where they look at abandoned places looking for poltergeists has a tiny bit of science fiction in, even if it just borders mostly on the paranormal.

As far as one of the more popular ideas in this thread, I think, for starters, they should just start showing the reruns of MST3K again. Even though that would only constitute 46 of the episodes, a lot of them are fan-favorites (including some of mine, like The Incredibly Strange Creatures Who Stopped Living and Became Mixed-Up Zombies and Puma Man), and take two hours. If that starts to get more ratings than ECW, then maybe you should go on with Phase 2: Try to create your own movie-riffing show.

[Major Comma]

Sci fi channel Is One of NBC/ universals cable networks .
NBC Airs Law and Order .

[crazyredlady]

Thank goodness I don't get cable:rolleyes:

[Elegance Liberty]

The only things I watched on Sci-Fi Channel recently were Doctor Who and Gurren Lagann.

That's just sad.

[Ugoff]

Stopped watching Sci-Fi a while back. I don't watch and never will again.

[Ugoff]

The reason it's hard to get the ratings it that with the exception of "Dune," "Farscape" and "BSG" they've only produced crap! Make something that doesn't suck and sci fi starved fans will flock to it!

Maybe also if every show didnt have a white male lead/female lead character or cast maybe more people would watch. Sci-fi is supposed to be about the future and most times a more enlightened society(Star Trek). Where are the gay, lesbian, transgender lead heroes? Or maybe an all African American cast? You have to be bold now a days. Look at F/X as an example.

[a. non]

Law and Order? You're kidding me!! :eek:

I remember the promos for that: it was a horror week type deal, and they were portraing real-life monsters -- serial killers -- and aired 4 or 5 episodes of SVU.

[Goblin King]

The other day I was looking at the schedule for the SciFi channel.

What I found during prime day for the most part was:

1. Wrestling
2. Schlock 'reality' shows about ghosts, scaring people, exorcism
3. Trashy kill all but the virgin made for TV movies

There was very little Scifi - a touch of anime, perhaps.

The unique series like Eureka have limited runs. Harry Dresden was cancelled, Flash Gordon stunk. The Star Gate franchise was sunk with the end of SG-1 and the development of Atlantis - a poorly plotted ripoff. Now we have a Lost in Space, Voyager, BSG clone coming up. Sanctuary so far is so-so. Typical X-files monsters and a vast conspiracy - that's a new idea.

BSG will end - maybe Caprice will take its place?

However, most of the air time is just crap. If I had to pay specifically for this channel - I'd pass and just rent the series DVDs.

It's time for an actual scifi channel. :biggrin:

How can you say a show like Estate of Fear isn't scifi or scifi-related but anime is scifi? Not all Japanese cartoons are scifi.

[Toonimator]

I don't pay too much attention to Sci-Fi's "original movies", either the titles & logos or the content unless my gal's watching some... but I caught the commercial for one premiering next weekend called "AVH: Alien Vs Hunter". With William Katt.

Sure enough, it looks like an AVP ripoff with bug aliens and an armored hunter thing, but worse to me was the title AND logo design being so similar to AVP.

Gah. If this is Sci-Fi, no thanks.

...but I do enjoy Eureka, love Battlestar, and try to watch Doctor Who whenever it's on (Sci-Fi OR BBC America).

[GHalecki]

The AVP blatant rip off had me shaking my head in almost disbeleif every time I saw the commercials for it.

Count me as one who was a huge fan of Stargate Atlantis. I thought that it was a great spin off of the original series. It kept some basic elements but was diferent enough not to be redundant. It is probably the only show that ended over the last decade or so that I actually miss watching. The whole Stargate franchise was everything that was great about SciFi.

Overall, some of the original movies that they do are pretty decent. Maybe not great, but worth watching. There were a few staring Michael Schanks (from SG-1) that I enjoyed a lot. (I also just saw him guest starring on the newest episode of Burn Notice, and it was fun).

I don't mind them putting on wrestling one night a week. I can live with it. But enough already with the Ghost Hunters already. BORING!!

[Chiasm]

Maybe also if every show didnt have a white male lead/female lead character or cast maybe more people would watch. Sci-fi is supposed to be about the future and most times a more enlightened society(Star Trek). Where are the gay, lesbian, transgender lead heroes? Or maybe an all African American cast? You have to be bold now a days. Look at F/X as an example.

You mean like these current shows:

1) Battlestar Galactica - Adama is played by a hispanic.
2) Heroes - ensemble cast with its share of minority characters (Mohinder, Hiro, Ando, and the soon to be returning Micah aka Rebel)
3) Dollhouse - Echo's handler, arguably the 2nd main character on the show, is black. The other main Doll is some sort of mixed race asian.

As to the gay / lesbian / transgender lead characters - its simple demographics. This only represents 5-10% of the viewing public and an even smaller demographic in the key 18-49 demo that Sci Fi and all types of these shows covet. When your that small of demographic your not going to get primary roles in very many shows. Instead shows are going to cater to their viewing audience which means your going to get lots of white people. Not to mention most shows screw it up when they throw gay characters in for the sake of throwing a gay character in and that characters story becomes dominated by the fact they are gay. Buffy is one of the few shows I've ever seen that did it right (until season VII anyway) - Willow was still a witch who happened to be gay instead being a gay who once in a while did witch things. But thats a rarity and instead you too often get things the Ellen show where the show stopped being a comedy about Ellen the person and instead became a show about being gay.

[noh-varr]

Eureka has a mixed cast ethnically too, btw.

I would just like more original shows out of Sci-fi myself. Would have loved if they would have picked up Amazing Screw On Head cartoon. Also swore they were going to make Tin Man into a longer series since it was so successful, anyone know what happened to that?

[Gothos]

Sci-Fi Channel should make use of the vast history of sf movies and series that have been made the past 50 years or so. They should be cheap to get a hold of and run during the day and save their block of shows for one or two days a week. There are a lot of material that isn't being aired at the moment that Sci-Fi could be using.

As Kalorama says, a lot of that material won't draw big audiences. In its early days, Sci-Fi did just that, and it didn't keep the channel from morphing into its current state.

Also, if they air their own movies, they can pay themselves for them!

[americocaine]

There's SciFi on its just be more liberal with the term. The Saturday night movie at least is in that same realm covering Fantasy and mostly Horror.

However, most of them seem to have sucked these past few years. I can't remember the last time I sat down and watched one all the way through.

[Chris Lang]

As Kalorama says, a lot of that material won't draw big audiences. In its early days, Sci-Fi did just that, and it didn't keep the channel from morphing into its current state.

Also, if they air their own movies, they can pay themselves for them!

Now, if only they aired more movies that were actually good! :evilsmile:

[Gothos]

Now, if only they aired more movies that were actually good! :evilsmile:

That too is one of my pet peeves, which I relate to the boom of cheap SF movies from the 1950s, born of the "SF craze."

Now, a lot of these movies are mediocre or outright bad, no question.

But one can usually enjoy things like "Invisible Invaders" or "The Spider" on the level of cheese, if nothing else.

Even the worst movies of that era had to try to come up with some arresting selling-point, because they were trying to persuade theater-goers to give up their hard-earned dollars.

Now there's no impetus for any of the SCIFI channel movies even to be different from one another. They're as alike as sausages, nine times out of ten.

And though they get pressed into DVDs, I can't imagine any renter being hard up enough to rent a Scifi Channel movie, even if all the renter wants is cheese.

[Gothos]

There's a term for what has happened to the Sci-Fi channel and so many other cable channels.

That term would be Network Decay (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/NetworkDecay) (thank you, TV Tropes for providing this term that perfectly describes it). There are many reasons why it happens. But I think the main reason is that the people in charge don't think the 'niche programs' the channel was originally designed to carry bring in enough ratings.

With due respect to TV Tropes' excellent writeup, I think one of the posters on these boards (whose name I forget) put forth a better term:

"Cable Rot."

Sort of the audiovisual version of "jungle rot."

[Chris Lang]

I sure enjoy the Eureka series but the network's lack of support for the series, though it was popular, is baffing.

Hopefully they will get back to their focus on what made them who they are - Sci-Fi.

Well, as if there was ever any doubt that the Sci-Fi Channel has been moving further and further into the Total Abandonment stage of Network Decay (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/NetworkDecay), those doubts are now gone. They're now re-spelling it the SyFy channel. Apparently, the people that run the channel are actually embarrased by its association with sci-fi, and don't want to be associated with the insulting stereotype of science fiction fans as basement-dwelling freaks who would like to get laid but can't.

(shakes head and sighs).

Of course, Cartoon Network's example of Network Decay is even more baffling. I mean, it's not like cartoons are a very narrow niche like Court TV or something. Cartoons are not just one genre, but a whole bunch of genres...

[Legato]

Well, as if there was ever any doubt that the Sci-Fi Channel has been moving further and further into the Total Abandonment stage of Network Decay (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/NetworkDecay), those doubts are now gone. They're now re-spelling it the SyFy channel. Apparently, the people that run the channel are actually embarrased by its association with sci-fi, and don't want to be associated with the insulting stereotype of science fiction fans as basement-dwelling freaks who would like to get laid but can't.

(shakes head and sighs).

Of course, Cartoon Network's example of Network Decay is even more baffling. I mean, it's not like cartoons are a very narrow niche like Court TV or something. Cartoons are not just one genre, but a whole bunch of genres...

Ditching anime was really baffling concerning the CN. Remember back when CN had a large anime block? Now you only see about one or two anime shows on adult swim but those shows would come on late at night.

When Cartoon Network cancelled Toonami that should have been the first clue on how far Cartoon Network has fallen.

Right now I dont even see the point of the network calling itself the Cartoon Network. They are not showing cartoons 24/7 anymore and you would see more live action programming than you would animated programming on the network.

[Crowforge]

I think the funniest case of this was when the History Channel showed 1968's Planet of the Apes. I still don't get how they could explain showing that.
That movie is history. They were going to show Andromeda Strain but all agreed it was boring.

[Chris Lang]

Ditching anime was really baffling concerning the CN. Remember back when CN had a large anime block? Now you only see about one or two anime shows on adult swim but those shows would come on late at night.

When Cartoon Network cancelled Toonami that should have been the first clue on how far Cartoon Network has fallen.

Right now I dont even see the point of the network calling itself the Cartoon Network. They are not showing cartoons 24/7 anymore and you would see more live action programming than you would animated programming on the network.

Indeed. I think this comment on the TV Tropes Network Decay (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/NetworkDecay) page sums it up nicely:

What makes this really sad is that Cartoon Network was one of the few basic cable channels that could have avoided their decay. Because while, in all honesty, most cable channels have premises that limit them to a small niche (come on, the Golf Channel?), Cartoon Network was a channel about animation, a highly broad and flexible concept. You can make animated shows about anything due to the fact that animation is a type of film-making, not just a flat-out genre (or strictly for kids, as the Japanese have proven with anime). The fact that the CN executives feel that the channel needs live action shows is proof of how short-sighted they are.

I don't know who wrote the above paragraph, but he or she hit the nail right on the head.

It seems clear to me that the Cartoon Network was dumped into the lap of some executive who just didn't get what it was supposed to be about. The CN executives behind the decay probably don't really understand, or even care, that animation is not just a small niche genre like music videos or golf. They just want ratings, and they think live-action shows will bring in more ratings than either original animated series or reruns of classic cartoons.

As for anime, I'm not sure what the story is there. But really, what CN really needs are executives who get it. It needs to be run by people who understand just how versatile animation is, and how it encompasses a wide variety of genres. Animation ranges from comedy to drama, from fantasy to sci-fi, cops and robbers, Westerns, martial arts, and a whole bunch of other genres I can't think of right now. Can't any of those shows get ratings?

Really, there are hundreds of channels showing live-action shows right now. Would it really cost the parent company of CN too much money to have the Cartoon Network be about animation?

[Julusnc]

I miss the old days when the channel first started airing on my television. I enjoyed watching the 1970's Sci-Fi/Adventure/Fantasy shows I grew up with like The Six Million Dollar Man, The Immortal, Doctor Who (Tom Baker era), and Kolchak The Night Stalker.

There are tons of shows that people would tune in to to watch from the 1950's - 1990's. I dont know if the programs are to expensive but when the local PBS can afford some of the same American and British programs it makes one wonder if the Sci-Fi Channel has even tried.

[Legato]

Indeed. I think this comment on the TV Tropes Network Decay (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/NetworkDecay) page sums it up nicely:



I don't know who wrote the above paragraph, but he or she hit the nail right on the head.

It seems clear to me that the Cartoon Network was dumped into the lap of some executive who just didn't get what it was supposed to be about. The CN executives behind the decay probably don't really understand, or even care, that animation is not just a small niche genre like music videos or golf. They just want ratings, and they think live-action shows will bring in more ratings than either original animated series or reruns of classic cartoons.

As for anime, I'm not sure what the story is there. But really, what CN really needs are executives who get it. It needs to be run by people who understand just how versatile animation is, and how it encompasses a wide variety of genres. Animation ranges from comedy to drama, from fantasy to sci-fi, cops and robbers, Westerns, martial arts, and a whole bunch of other genres I can't think of right now. Can't any of those shows get ratings?

Really, there are hundreds of channels showing live-action shows right now. Would it really cost the parent company of CN too much money to have the Cartoon Network be about animation?

A long time ago Cartoon Network had the perfect blend. In the mornings that showed classic cartoons that was considered cartoons for kids. The afternoon when Toonami came out it was considered cartoons for both kids and teenagers. Adult Swim is for the grown ups who enjoyed animation..

Things were going good back then so I dont know what executive thought that adding live action shows would boost ratings. The sad thing is the live action shows that they show aren't even good to start with. If you are going to show live action shows then atleast bother to make a tv show that is actually watchable.

However Cartoon Network can bounce back from this if they get their act together. Now Disney on the other hand have reached a point of no return.

I miss the old days when they show disney classic cartoons, now the only chance I would get to see cartoons that feature Donald Duck, Mickey, or Goofy is when I buy a DVD containing their old cartoons.

Back in the day the Disney channel used to have the Disney Vault that would show old Disney movies. The Disney Channel used to blend in classic disney cartoons with the modern ones pretty well too.

Now you hardly see anything good on the Disney Channel or Disney XD as they call themselves except the Spectacular Spider-Man.

Nick is gradually making a comeback, however it still have a long way to go before the Network returns to it's former glory. Still I say they have been producing better shows than both Cartoon Network and Disney combined

[Crowforge]

Flapjack is awesome.

[RonnieThunderbolts]

Now you hardly see anything good on the Disney Channel or Disney XD as they call themselves except the Spectacular Spider-Man.

The Disney Channel and Disney XD are two completely different channels running simultaneously. Disney XD used to be Toon Disney, where they replayed Disney Afternoon era cartoons like Tailspin, Darkwing Duck, Ducktales, and more modern Disney One-Saturday-Morning fare like Tarzan, as well as all sorts of old and new Disney cartoon movies in the evenings and on weekends. It was great, and with the Disney channel having moved away from that and towards tween programming for a long time, it served a real purpose, but in recent months the change to Disney XD from the Toon Disney channel has made it virtually indistinguishable from Disney Channel proper, or Cartoon Network. All in all the channels have lost any unique identity and become bottom-of-barrel, lowest common denominator fare.

My six year old niece prefers reruns and DVD's of Inspector Gadget and Jetsons to the current crop of crap.

[Charles RB]

Right now I dont even see the point of the network calling itself the Cartoon Network. They are not showing cartoons 24/7 anymore and you would see more live action programming than you would animated programming on the network.

It's demented. I watched the Cartoon Network a few times in the past, and then again in 06 (when on holidays) - it was a real surprise seeing the 06 version was the same fucking cartoons over and over, and ads for classics being on another channel.

When your remit is to show cartoons, you should never run out of stuff to show - you're got decades and the entire Earth to get material from.

[Kaos]

Over here we have Angel on sci fi

[Mistwell]

I had a longer conversation with one of the stars of one of the SyFy shows while at Comic Con.

Most of that conversation is private. But based on a couple of things this person said, I think it is safe to say that the SyFy network is attempting to expand its audience by increasing the amount of non-hard-sci-fi content.

In addition, both the Stargate Universe panel and the Caprica panel used language similar to "appeal to a wider audience". Both stressed that they were "character driven" shows, not event driven shows. Both emphasized "drama". And, I know for a fact that the Sci-Fi network panel members are given talking points before they start the panel (or at least they used to be, and I assume the practice continues to this day).

My guess is these were talking points each panel was given, and that it reflects the company message they are trying to send, which is similar to the private conversation I had with that person from the network.

So while I do not feel the network is abandoning science fiction as a genre, I do think they are reducing it's prevalence, and trying to expand its audience by appealing to people less interested in science fiction and more interested in character driven dramas that have themes that appeal to a wider audience.

[RolandJP]

This can be fixed by two things:

Return MST3K to the channel.

And a Saturday night double feature of cool B movies. They must include Monsters and/or Aliens. Lasers. Demonic possession. Dinosaurs. Slime. Buxom heroines and Handsome heroes.

[Stony]

This can be fixed by two things:

Return MST3K to the channel.

And a Saturday night double feature of cool B movies. They must include Monsters and/or Aliens. Lasers. Demonic possession. Dinosaurs. Slime. Buxom heroines and Handsome heroes.

How well do they rate?

[Jared]

I think the new name looks incredibly stupid, but you still say it like "sci-fi", so how different is it, really?

I think things are somewhat blown out of proportion. Warehouse 13 is plainly at least as much of a sci-fi show as Eureka. Hell, from the ads I thought it wasa spinoff.

Battlestar Galactica always touted itself as a serious drama first, with robots and spaceships being secondary.

I don't care what they say about the new Stargate, it will be fluff space adventure, just like its predecessors.

Although it's technically a reality show, I figure Ghost Hunters counts as sci-fi/fantasy. If it was just about them doing rat-exterminations, that'd be another story.

As noted, they're not letting up on the B-movies they air on weekends.

On the other hand, yesterday I noticed they were showing the movie, Alexander. Gah! I'd almost grant them King Arthur, given the original subject matter.

[Sighphi]

This can be fixed by two things:

Return MST3K to the channel.

.

As long as Bonnie Hammer is in charge of the channel, i think it might just recently changed?, MST3k wont be on the channel.

She canceled the show just because it didnt "fit" with the new view of the channel. It actually had good ratings when it was taken off.

[Charles RB]

In addition, both the Stargate Universe panel and the Caprica panel used language similar to "appeal to a wider audience". Both stressed that they were "character driven" shows, not event driven shows. Both emphasized "drama". And, I know for a fact that the Sci-Fi network panel members are given talking points before they start the panel (or at least they used to be, and I assume the practice continues to this day).

Wow, characterisation and drama in science fiction. That's never happened before except all the times it did.

[InSovietRussia]

Wow, characterisation and drama in science fiction. That's never happened before except all the times it did.

To be fair, it's never happened in a Stargate show before. :biggrin:

[Sighphi]

Wow, characterisation and drama in science fiction. That's never happened before except all the times it did.

You dont know the new lingo dude.

Characterisation - People Emoing all over the place.

Drama- People sleeping with each other then fighting about it.

[Chris Lang]

You dont know the new lingo dude.

Characterisation - People Emoing all over the place.

Drama- People sleeping with each other then fighting about it.

Sounds a lot like certain comics I could mention.

Anyway, I think the flaw in the TV Tropes article is that they don't have a section covering the middle ground between 'Starting to Slip' and 'Total Abandonment'. There's still hope for Cartoon Network to turn around, even though it seems to be heading toward Total Abandonment. But I don't think it can be quite in the same category as the original MTV just yet. (But it's clearly not for lack of trying on CN executives' part).

[Charles RB]

To be fair, it's never happened in a Stargate show before. :biggrin:

*high fives* Well played, good sir.

[Chris Lang]

Some amusing items from TV Tropes discussing the Sci-Fi Channel and its recent rebranding as 'SyFy'.

** In China, the word Sy Fy translates to "Ass Juice". So really, they just lost the respect of every Chinese person everywhere. Way to go.
** And by commenting that the original SciFi's fanbase is a bunch of basement dwelling retards, they pretty much lost the respect of everyone else who ever liked the channel.

I couldn't help laughing out loud at the first one. But anyway, I just have to shake my head and sigh.

If those running the Sci-Fi Channel don't want nerds or geeks (whether they be basement dwellers, or people who actually have their own places or maybe even actually have dates) as their audience, then they're clearly running the wrong channel. They should resign and go to work for, oh, ESPN or something. Maybe Spike TV, which is supposedly the 'male stereotype' channel.

[Sighphi]

Sounds a lot like certain comics I could mention.

Is it the Nu-BSG comics?

[Daemon]

Some amusing items from TV Tropes discussing the Sci-Fi Channel and its recent rebranding as 'SyFy'.



I couldn't help laughing out loud at the first one. But anyway, I just have to shake my head and sigh.

If those running the Sci-Fi Channel don't want nerds or geeks (whether they be basement dwellers, or people who actually have their own places or maybe even actually have dates) as their audience, then they're clearly running the wrong channel. They should resign and go to work for, oh, ESPN or something. Maybe Spike TV, which is supposedly the 'male stereotype' channel.

Where in China is this true? I speak mandarin and I dont think I've ever come across anything that sounds like SyFy that translates as Ass Juice.