Dearest Sci-Fi,
Why are you not way more awesome?
Don’t get me wrong, when you’re good—like with Battlestar Galactica or Eureka (and I’ll even give you credit for Doctor who, despite that being a BBC show you just imported)—you’re a phenomenal destination network. But let’s be honest here, there’s not a lot of "good" on your schedule. The Stargate franchise is stale, Flash Gordon (left) is a derisible, stillborn remake, and ECW Wrestling is…wrestling! (And I swore an oath never to speak of Who Wants to Be a Superhero again.)
The thing that infuriates me is that you have so much potential. We’re living in the Age of the Geek, where pop culture has finally come around to our way of thinking. Where the most-watched shows on TV are geek-nip like Heroes, Lost, and Bionic Woman; where we buzz about movies like Pan’s Labyrinth, Spider-Man, I Am Legend, and Iron Man. The audience could not be more primed for this material, so why are you offering them Ghost Hunters International and crappy "original movies" like Mansquito?
Again, why aren’t you more awesome? After the jump, some friendly advice.
Why aren’t you adapting more classic sci-fi texts—like you did withDune—into miniseries events? (Ones that, hopefully, will fare betterthan Tin Man.) Where’s the Foundation saga, or Ender’s Game, orFootfall, or The Man in the High Castle, or The Forever War?
Why aren’t you engaging today’s premiere purveyors of genre materialand giving them ten episodes to do whatever the hell they want? I’dwatch contained, BBC-style series from folks like Neil Gaiman, WilliamGibson, John Scalzi, Cory Doctorow, Warren Ellis, Charlie Huston, NealStephenson, or China Mieville. The names alone would attract viewers by the truckload. And even if what they produced were failures, they’d be interesting failures—marked by reaching too far, instead of not far enough.
Why don’t you try a daily sci-fi soap opera? Airing late at night, sopeople could actually be home to watch it—or DVR it. Why can’t the samekind of serial storytelling that’s worked for 50 years on shows like GeneralHospital be marshaled to create compelling science fiction? (Actually,I’ve got to give Evan Narcisse a tip of the hat for this one. BecauseI’m just that kind of bloke.)
Mark Harris was right when he said that science fiction needed to ditchthe nostalgia if it’s going to reclaim its integrity. Lucky for those of us who love sci-fi thatthere’s a whole network devoted to it. I just want them to fulfilltheir mandate.
Imagine that. (No, seriously. Get to work imagining.)
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Hear, hear! Perhaps it’s money that holds SciFi back. Prime example of squandered opportunity: Dresden Files. Those books are awesome, Butcher is a gifted writer of dialogue, character, and action scenes. Yet the TV series so altered his work that it was unwatchable. The plots were borderline, the characters completely different from Butcher’s vision, and the SFX were totally low budget. Every time I read a Butcher novel I think, “This would make an awesome film/TV show.” Yet the TV series’ dismal quality soured that potential over and over. SciFi: you gotta SPEND money to MAKE money. Suck it up and make the effort or you’ll never run with the big boys.
I’m still part of the camp who thought Sci-Fi should’ve adopted Firefly.
And yeah, the idea behind and casting of the Tin Man mini were awesome but the execution was just…blah.
Mark Harris is wrong that nostalgia is the problem. The problem is that sci-fi movies and TV right now are stupid. A faithful adaptation of “I, Robot” would make a great TV movie, but the version we got on film had all thought removed.
My fervent hope is that, as the cost of special effects goes down, we’ll see more and more ‘independent’ sci-fi films and TV – low budget sci-fi that concentrates on ideas, with decent-enough special effects to keep us from groaning.
Why didn’t Sci-Fi save Firefly and Journeyman? Those would have been right at home there.
While I agree with almost everything you say, Stargate Atlantis has been consistently solid over the course of its run.
And amen to whomever said SciFi needs to pick up Journeyman!
Also, why not a “canceled too soon” type of thing where they can run shows like Strange Luck, Brimstone, Cupid, Now & Again and so many other great genre shows that were killed before they had a chance?
Yes Firefly would have been a great addition to a channel that needs an infusion of quality. The Sci-Fi channel has been around long enough to realize it’s mistakes, but sadly it hasn’t.
It keeps churning out crap made-for-tv-movie after another. If they were to pick up a handful of good and great shows that were brimming with quality and possibilities, then we could be seeing the premiere channel to watch great Sci-Fi and Fantasy shows that people in this day and age truly want to watch.
I agree with everything in this open letter. Stop wasting time making crap and start making something we don’t roll our eyes at (after watching it for five minutes) and turn the channel to something better(usually anything)
My dissapointment w/the SciFi Channel is one of the reasons I cancelled my cable. I can NetFlix everything sooner or later adn I never have to see ads for wrestling. Or MANSQUITO.
I’m also with Laura, Court, and Steve. There are plenty of recent sci-fi shows the Sci-Fi channel could, and should, save. No wonder all of the science fiction films lately are remakes! Almost everything that’s been new and original has gotten canceled.
A sci-fi soap opera would be freaking awesome!
Oh, and Jennifer makes another excellent point: the d— banner ads! Nobody wants to see an ad on top of the show they’re watching. Cut it out!
Am I the only person who finds watching low-budget horror films like Sasquatch Mountain hilarious? I mean, I’m not going to rent them, but if they’re on SciFi I stop for a few minutes, catch some bad dialogue and a poorly done special effect, chuckle, and move on.
I would agree over all although I think B/Z grade movies have a place, they just shouldn’t dominate the lineup. Everyone on the Sci-Fi staff who thought ECW was a good idea should be fired immediately. They have no idea what the network is about.
Over the summer CBS ran some sci-fi shows adapted from classic novels. They didn’t promote them, and aired them in some dead zone, but I thought the idea was good. And I wondered why Sci-Fi channel didn’t do it, but then promote it properly. I think Sci-Fi channel gets science fiction confused with the “big rubber monster” genre. But really, they are not the same.
Marc,
While I agree whole heartedly with you regarding Flash Gordon and ECW — dude, seriously, you have NOT been watching the same Stargate Atlantis as I have.
Stargate Atlantis is a quality, suberb, excellent, marvellous and entertaining television series.
SciFi Channel is blessed to have this series. We’re (as in the royal fans “we’re”) blessed to have this series.
For penance, please watch the amazing “Be All My Sins Remember’d” which repeats this Friday at 9pm, followed by the NEW episode, “Spoils of War,” at 10pm.
On the SciFi Channel!
Morjana
The Sci-Fi Channel did have a soap opera a decade ago with the FTL Newsfeed. I’d love to see a revamped FTL Newsfeed return.
There is so much great science fiction out there that could be adapted into shows, mini series or movies Why hasn’t anyone ever done “Stranger in a Strange Land”, for example? That’s just one great novel that could be adapted. They could be showing “The Man that fell to Earth” which I just Tivo’d off one of the HBO or Showtime channels the other day. There are other great scifi movies including animated ones that they should be showing and are not. This channel could blow our socks off if they really wanted to.
Nostalgia is not the problem.. There will always be a place for Star Trek fans on any channel that’s dedicated to sci-fi. The problem is the assinine programs that are being force fed to us now. And yes, I do mean MANSQUITO and made-for-TV movies with laughable plots (or no plot at all) and even worse acting. At least the nostalgia shows have a charm all their own. I’d sit through an old original Star Trek but not through some of this newer tripe!
The ORIGINAL ECW idea was something that Sci-Fi could have gotten into, this was wrestling that didn’t insult its viewers intelligence and gave grown up, multi-layered stories surrounding the action.
I don’t defend (or watch that often) the watered down cack that the new ECW is but anything that gives CM Punk a wider audience than to the 14 of us who bought his run in ROH, can’t be a completely bad thing.
On topic, Sci-Fi really needs to take risks in its programming.
Who wouldn’t love an ADULT Sci-Fi show for example Watchmen would have made an AMAZING miniseries (I fear how much the movie will have to ignore) I would love them to go through the movies that were awful compared to the source material, V for Vendetta, LXG or From Hell.
Thats before you even think of classics like 1984 or Fahrenheit 451.
Hell I wouldn’t even mind a couple of kid-friendly shows to pay the bills if they took the chance and were willing to fail.
Battlestar Galactica, while a great show in and of itself, has largely ruined the presentation of sci-fi on television. Every new show that is a “reimagining” now becomes dark, “realistic” and conspiratorial. Flash Gordon is a disaster. Even Bionic Woman is just warmed-over X-Files/Alias/BG. Wouldn’t it be fun to be able to run 100 MPH and lift several tons? You wouldn’t know it from that depressing POS.
How did wrestling ever get on sci-fi. With one notable exception I agree with almost everything you said. I happen to love Stargate:Atlantis and is consistently an enjoyable show to watch.
Just an FYI, Texas tornados more often than not look more like the intense, swirling air as depicted at the first of the episode than the huge, dark behemoths that storm chasers seek out. They often just swoop down, tear up a building or two and then disappear back into the clouds. Aside from showing Tim’s protective nature it also set up the premise for the other school to invade the locker room and field so it wasn’t just some cheap special effects expenditure at all. What a breath of fresh air this ep was after so many reruns and holiday fillers!
I’m still mad at the people running the sci-fi network over the whole “Sliders” debacle. Since then, I don’t expect much from them, and they’ve never disappointed. It’s odd that the people running a channel dedicated to sci-fi don’t seem to get it at all. (Yeah, I know- Battlestar Galactica, Eureka, etc. – but they seem to be lucky mistakes.)
I don’t get it either, Marc. You’d think innovation would be their hallmark, but no–
I’m glad I’m not the only one disappointed in the SciFi channel’s offerings. Outside of Battlestar Galactica (which is like a soap opera in a way) there is very little to tune in for. Even the recent Twilight Zone Marathon was better than the made for TV crap the channel offers. They actually had better shows 10 years ago. Come on guys, get with it!
I think there’s room for both nostalgia sci-fi and some new stuff. After all, how do you have a “Sci Fi Channel” and not have Star Trek on it? Anyway, I agree it’s the extreme low quality of what they’re showing and for God’s sake, get “ECW” the hell off of their schedule!! What’s it doing there in the first place? They really need to start using their heads because fans like me are sick of being force fed garbage like their original movies (what crap!!) and want to see productions that will actually stir the imagination once again. It CAN be done, people. Let’s get to it!!
Agreed. But stay away from Ender’s Game! That franchise deserves better than a made for TV movie.
The problems with Sci-Fi (the channel) start at the top – and a network head that amazingly, doesn’t like sci-fi. That’s why there’s wrestling. There are times of the week (mostly late night) that you can find shows that don’t belong there as well.
Add writer S. M. Stirling and Harry Turtledove to the list of carte blanche creators. Their alt-history universes would be a welcome new addition to the SciFi channel line-up.
Really! I mean Sci-Fi is part of The universal family, you know USA, NBC, Bravo and Telemundo. Why not take canceled shows like the 4400 and Deadzone from USA and move them to SCI-FI with new episodes. Just a thought.
Sorry, it took me two full minutes to stop laughing at the world “Mansquito.”
Seriously though, Marc is absolutely right in that the Sci-fi channel is NOT reaching its potential as far as delivering interesting programming more consistently in its schedule. I realize it doesn’t have the budget bigger networks do, but it doesn’t have to be around-the-clock awesomenes…just a little more inspired awesomeness would be better.
As funny as something like “Mansquito” is, I’m perfectly happy to just have a good laugh at the title. There’s no way I’d actually sit down to watch it. Even the original movies aren’t as fun as they used to be. They’re kinda boring now.
Let’s spice things up and have a little fun, Sci-fi channel.
more drama & more gritt Nuff Said!
Hm… I think I agree with what you are saying, bar the bit about Stargate, which in my opinion is consistantly great. You only have to watch last weeks episode Be All My Sins Remembered to see that, even after 14 years the franchise has still got it. Great acting, character moments, an epic resolution to one of the shows main enemies, a massive twist at the end, and a space battle which was probably the best I’ve seen since the last Star Wars film.
They should have kept Stargate SG-1 and gone back to their old routine of airing the two Stargate shows and BSG on a Friday night. They CAN get it right, I don’t know why they don’t get it right more often? Sci Fi is a genre that allows you to do great things and create amazing and inspiring shows and movies, it’s a shame the big execs won’t put more trust in it…