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In the 1990's to early 2000's there were a wealth of science fiction based television series', many of them spin offs. Some of them were good but alot of them weren't really. Why did they survive so long? Why is it nowadays most get cancelled even if they do show some real promise. Well apart from SG:U, that was garbage lol.... Science fiction/comic book films are still the big winners at the box office so why haven't Televisionland pulled their finger out?

I have more to say on the matter but didnt want to do a Rantish OP...... >Im not looking in anyone's direction..... I totally am lol...

Because it's cheaper to produce shows where houses filled with spoiled 20somethings get drunk and scream and yell ?
...And apparently these types of shows do better ratings wise as well.

True dat dawg. People with ridiculously finely trimmed pencil thin chinstrap beards sipping grey goose vodka is apparently more intersting. I still find it odd that Sci fi is still the most sucessful tyoe of movie though...

For some reason I remember there already being a "What happened to sci-fi on tv?" thread, but that aside, I think we can all agree that tv has devolved into mindless, vapid drivel that isn't worth watching in the slightest.

There are some pretty good things on...
Admittedly there is a lot of crap but there are some gems.

What's even more perplexing is the fact that there is a "Sci-Fi" ( or SyFY or whatever the hell they call themselves now) network that really doesn't take advantage of the fact that they have a built in audience for trying out new shows.

rubiksnoob wrote:For some reason I remember there already being a "What happened to sci-fi on tv?" thread, but that aside, I think we can all agree that tv has devolved into mindless, vapid drivel that isn't worth watching in the slightest.

If you want good tv worth watching...might I suggest USA Network's lineup?

White Collar, Burn Notice, Covert Affairs, Royal Pains, and their two new shows Suits and Necessary Roughness are quite good.

However, when it comes to science fiction--the programming manager on SyFy had a pretty good explanation as to why it's becoming harder and harder to find good scifi shows.

Simply put: it's too expensive to produce and it's too divisive for the fanbases as well.

Kanluwen wrote:

rubiksnoob wrote:For some reason I remember there already being a "What happened to sci-fi on tv?" thread, but that aside, I think we can all agree that tv has devolved into mindless, vapid drivel that isn't worth watching in the slightest.

If you want good tv worth watching...might I suggest USA Network's lineup?

White Collar, Burn Notice, Covert Affairs, Royal Pains, and their two new shows Suits and Necessary Roughness are quite good.

However, when it comes to science fiction--the programming manager on SyFy had a pretty good explanation as to why it's becoming harder and harder to find good scifi shows.

Simply put: it's too expensive to produce and it's too divisive for the fanbases as well.

I saw Burn Notice once and my reaction to it was meh. Never heard of the others, though.

As for the state of television these days, I've never been a big fan of tv anyways, so I may be a bit biased.



The only two shows that I can recall as being very good are Malcolm in the Middle and Spongebob.

Malcolm in the Middle is absolutely the best show on earth, and Spongebob is FUNNY. I don't care what you say, it makes me chuckle every time I see it, without fail.

Depending on when it was, there's definitely been some 'meh' Burn Notice episodes. Those are few and far between though.

White Collar is very much like the Ocean's movies.

Covert Affairs is by the guys behind the Bourne movies, Royal Pains is pretty good albeit kind of a 'Medical MacGyver'(especially notable for having Henry Winkler as a cast member now), Suits is very much like "The Rainmaker", and Necessary Roughness is giving a very "Jerry MacGuire" vibe.

Kanluwen wrote:

rubiksnoob wrote:For some reason I remember there already being a "What happened to sci-fi on tv?" thread, but that aside, I think we can all agree that tv has devolved into mindless, vapid drivel that isn't worth watching in the slightest.

If you want good tv worth watching...might I suggest USA Network's lineup?

White Collar, Burn Notice, Covert Affairs, Royal Pains, and their two new shows Suits and Necessary Roughness are quite good.

However, when it comes to science fiction--the programming manager on SyFy had a pretty good explanation as to why it's becoming harder and harder to find good scifi shows.

Simply put: it's too expensive to produce and it's too divisive for the fanbases as well.

Psych should be in that list somewhere.

Psych is a given, but it's not on right now.

Kanluwen wrote:Depending on when it was, there's definitely been some 'meh' Burn Notice episodes. Those are few and far between though.

White Collar is very much like the Ocean's movies.

Covert Affairs is by the guys behind the Bourne movies, Royal Pains is pretty good albeit kind of a 'Medical MacGyver'(especially notable for having Henry Winkler as a cast member now), Suits is very much like "The Rainmaker", and Necessary Roughness is giving a very "Jerry MacGuire" vibe.

Ah, well I did enjoy the Ocean's movies a bit, and the Bourne movies are, of course, fantastic.

I may give those a try if I can find ze time.

Perkustin wrote:True dat dawg. People with ridiculously finely trimmed pencil thin chinstrap beards sipping grey goose vodka is apparently more intersting. I still find it odd that Sci fi is still the most sucessful tyoe of movie though...

I'm pretty sure horror movies are more successful than Sci Fi because their low production costs allow them to gain higher profits than other genres of film.

SyFy ruined scifi. Come on SyFy. Your new name is stupid

Syfy is stupid.
Stargate Universe does not exist to me.

SYFY has failed in its life now.

LordofHats wrote:SyFy ruined scifi. Come on SyFy. Your new name is stupid

Clearly some "hip and with it" executive discovered that the letter "i" is unpopular among their target audiance.

That and they generally just aren't good at TV. SG-1 was awesome but Atlantis was sub-par, and universe was just... just horrible. Battlestar was pretty good until it hit season 3 and the writers realized they had no idea where the series was going and went into a completely absurd plot line operating under a facade of mystery. Eureka was never all that good, Haven isn't interesting, and I can't say I've been at all interested in any of their other shows they air (Sanctuary, Warhouse 13 blah blah).

They used to show some interesting shows but whether or not they still do I don't know. These days whenever I switch to SyFy Ghost Hunters or some variation there in is on. SyFy has gone the way of the history channel in my eyes.

FITZZ wrote:

LordofHats wrote:SyFy ruined scifi. Come on SyFy. Your new name is stupid

Clearly some "hip and with it" executive discovered that the letter "i" is unpopular among their target audiance.

Actually, it was a branding move.

You can't trademark SciFi--but you can trademark SyFy.

That and the official line was "to show that we're no longer just focusing on science fiction, but rather all realms of the imagination. SyFy--Imagine Greater."

I have to vehemently disagree about Eureka, Sanctuary, and Warehouse 13.

Eureka and Warehouse 13 are shows that are sort of rare in this day and age.

Pretty clean, upbeat fiction that you can watch with kids.

Sanctuary not so much, but eh.

As for the 'reality show phenomenon' on SyFy--it all goes back to ratings and cost effectiveness.

It costs them basically nothing to do Ghost Hunters(International or Original)--and in return, they get pretty high ratings.

As it stands, their most expensive show in the reality tv vein is Destination: Truth--which, again, performs absurdly well considering the subject material.

LordofHats wrote:That and they generally just aren't good at TV. SG-1 was awesome but Atlantis was sub-par, and universe was just... just horrible. Battlestar was pretty good until it hit season 3 and the writers realized they had no idea where the series was going and went into a completely absurd plot line operating under a facade of mystery. Eureka was never all that good, Haven isn't interesting, and I can't say I've been at all interested in any of their other shows they air (Sanctuary, Warhouse 13 blah blah).

They used to show some interesting shows but whether or not they still do I don't know. These days whenever I switch to SyFy Ghost Hunters or some variation there in is on. SyFy has gone the way of the history channel in my eyes.

Ah. So the problem isn't that there aren't shows to watch, it's just that you don't like the shows that are on. Can't please everybody.

SG:U got off to a rocky start, but they were tightening things up by the end. I tend to remember Star Trek:TNG being pretty campy and often cringe-worthy in its first couple of seasons. The difference between then and now is that shows got the chance to work out the kinks before they were replaced by "Reality Program #23094."

Quite frankly, SG:U could have had the tightest show in the world and it likely wouldn't have done well.

It was too much of a radical departure from what the fanbase of SG-1/Atlantis was used to. New things are scary--and this was no exception.

Plus, quite frankly, even when they were tightening things up it was still very 'Meh'.

There will always be scifi shows on the air. Sadly most of them tend to be crappy (Like most TV shows).

Right now I can say I'm pretty pleased with Falling Skies so far.

I'm not sure of the name, but I know I've seen previews at the movies for a new show where the basic premise is that humans have gone back in time to the Cretaceous period for whatever reason and set up a colony. It looked REALLY good.

I don't mind sci fi's shows, some are better than others but overall it's better to me than the 38 different CSI clones out there and the next real world great restaurant in hell's kitchen for the biggest loser's amazing race.

I think the problem with most sci fi kinda shows is they're only designed for the first season because even the producers don't think it'll work, and when it gets picked up for season 2, everyone is out of ideas and the show starts to suck fast. Take Heroes for example.

I think the real problem is people's expectations are way too high, but Hollywood only wants to make shows for stupid people.

bushido wrote:

LordofHats wrote:That and they generally just aren't good at TV. SG-1 was awesome but Atlantis was sub-par, and universe was just... just horrible. Battlestar was pretty good until it hit season 3 and the writers realized they had no idea where the series was going and went into a completely absurd plot line operating under a facade of mystery. Eureka was never all that good, Haven isn't interesting, and I can't say I've been at all interested in any of their other shows they air (Sanctuary, Warhouse 13 blah blah).

They used to show some interesting shows but whether or not they still do I don't know. These days whenever I switch to SyFy Ghost Hunters or some variation there in is on. SyFy has gone the way of the history channel in my eyes.

Ah. So the problem isn't that there aren't shows to watch, it's just that you don't like the shows that are on. Can't please everybody.

SG:U got off to a rocky start, but they were tightening things up by the end. I tend to remember Star Trek:TNG being pretty campy and often cringe-worthy in its first couple of seasons. The difference between then and now is that shows got the chance to work out the kinks before they were replaced by "Reality Program #23094."

actually warehouse 13 is actually a pretty reasonable show....

no one mentions Farscape.......for shame.

not only did it have a really good cast, the story was good, the characters were engaging (come on, who doesn't like the Harvey scenes) and some episodes were probably the most memorable pieces of TV I've ever seen.

but I do have to agree, TV has gone so far downhill nowadays that I don't even watch TV at all any more. Top Gear whenever it shows and mock the week when they pop up, but mostly on iPlayer.

No one mentioned Battestar? That was fairly recent and was the best god damn sci fi show ever made.

I think sci fi shows will always be difficult to pitch because however cool the original premise might sound to us, it will sound nerdish to the person in the suit sitting behind the desk controlling the cash.

I'm not particularly fussy when it comes to TV, so long as the show is good, I don't mind what genre it is. Mad Men, Dexter & The Wire are all outstanding.

What I find odd is that science fiction on space ships seems to have dropped off (SGU and.... anything?) over the last decade, when CGI has gotten so much cheaper and easier.

BearersOfSalvation wrote:What I find odd is that science fiction on space ships seems to have dropped off (SGU and.... anything?) over the last decade, when CGI has gotten so much cheaper and easier.

The problem is that even if its cheaper, its still expensive. I'd also argue that I'm probably in the minority that prefers out in space scifi to shows like Haven/Warehouse/Sanctuary that are more akin to Fantasy than science fiction (that's a thin line of course). These days the more contemporary settings are more popular with audiences it seems. Falling Skies is a good in between.

Sci-fi is one of the most expensive genre's for TV thats why

LordofHats wrote:There will always be scifi shows on the air. Sadly most of them tend to be crappy (Like most TV shows).

Right now I can say I'm pretty pleased with Falling Skies so far.

i will second Falling Skies.

the SyFy/ sci-fi / the LAME channel really did itself in when they added wrestling to their line-up.