That's a good one. There was MASH too, IIRC there was a spin-off called AfterMash reuniting several of the main cast (basically, those that didn't want the show to end). Hmmm, hold on, that sounds familiar. .. :shock:
I don't know if this is the same thing though. In some ways I'd like to see the whole cast back, in a lot of other ways I don't. Seeing the ratings for Battlestar Galactica come back as a moderate success I know that Legend of the Rangers, if it hadn't been for the damned football game, would have got good enough ratings to at least give some power to the argument for a series.
I know what I would like to see, but as a fan I'm paranoid about upsetting the JMS applecart. I know he doesn't come here, but there is a long standing story about the 'Beep-beep' from the Babylon Five pilot, and how that got ruined by a fan posting about it.
Either way, it may mean more stuff from Mongoose, and that's not a bad thing. Well, it might be for my wallet, but not for the fanboy appetite :wink:
I don't know if this is the same thing though. In some ways I'd like to see the whole cast back, in a lot of other ways I don't. Seeing the ratings for Battlestar Galactica come back as a moderate success I know that Legend of the Rangers, if it hadn't been for the damned football game, would have got good enough ratings to at least give some power to the argument for a series.
I know what I would like to see, but as a fan I'm paranoid about upsetting the JMS applecart. I know he doesn't come here, but there is a long standing story about the 'Beep-beep' from the Babylon Five pilot, and how that got ruined by a fan posting about it.
Either way, it may mean more stuff from Mongoose, and that's not a bad thing. Well, it might be for my wallet, but not for the fanboy appetite :wink:
When I first read that info, all I could think of was either a new tv movie, or a theatrical release movie.
Now THAT would be something!
I think he's nearly burned all his bridges for qualified networks to air his ideas. TNT burned theirs and he had to take his ball and go find another playground with Crusade.
SciFi Channel..well, nothing can be said that hasn't already been said about their programming.
Who's left that wouldn't meddle in his story or production values?
He did mention that it was 'phase one' of a project....hmmm
We'll have to wait and see what comes up after the 15th.
Two weeks away! Hot dang!
I hope to be a little more active on this board, I have so many that I tend to, some get lost in the shuffle.
Now THAT would be something!
I think he's nearly burned all his bridges for qualified networks to air his ideas. TNT burned theirs and he had to take his ball and go find another playground with Crusade.
SciFi Channel..well, nothing can be said that hasn't already been said about their programming.
Who's left that wouldn't meddle in his story or production values?
He did mention that it was 'phase one' of a project....hmmm
We'll have to wait and see what comes up after the 15th.
Two weeks away! Hot dang!
I hope to be a little more active on this board, I have so many that I tend to, some get lost in the shuffle.
pmvanova said:
Well, there are the cable networks airing Andromeda and Mutant-X. Sure, the production alue on those often leaves much to be desired, but i think JMS could take the budget that they give him and give it a good go. I also wouldn't rule Scifi out. I agree that their programming leaves a lot to be desired, but you also have to look at the situation they're in. They haven't been pulling the kind of ratings they need except on a couple programs such as Stargate SG1. They need at least one more show that will bring viewers with it, and the unexpectedly brisk sales of the B5 DVD sets prove that B5 has the audience built in. That would give them a strong incentive to bring the show back. Then there are some relatively unlikely candidates like UPN, FOX, and the other networks, but I have no faith that it would last any longer than half a season there, where all shows that don't rank #1 in their timeslot are cancelled.
LoneStranger
Mongoose
Sci-fi does sound like the last, best hope for JMS. :wink:
Fox and sci-fi shows don't get along too well. (Firefly)
UPN has Star Trek so they won't be interested.
Syndication is too iffy, no one competes for that "vital" 2 AM Sunday time slot.
I just hope it works out for him.
Fox and sci-fi shows don't get along too well. (Firefly)
UPN has Star Trek so they won't be interested.
Syndication is too iffy, no one competes for that "vital" 2 AM Sunday time slot.
I just hope it works out for him.
there is a reason Sci-fi channels ratings sux becauce 99% of the night time shows are crap heres the reason i say that (Tremmors the TV show, Black Scorpion, Scare Tacticts etc....) .. and for some INane reason they seem to way to play there new shows on fridays.. when everyone normaly goes out.... there great shows are and where Stargate SG1, Farscape (cancled due to money), Invisable man (cancled due to money)... I think i see a pattern here....
but on the B5 front we shal have to see around the 15th of this month...
but on the B5 front we shal have to see around the 15th of this month...
Vonbloodbath
Mongoose
My money is on a miniseries on the Telepath War...2 or 3 2 hour long episodes, like the recent Dune and children of Dune ones...
VB.
VB.
Vonbloodbath said:
Its interesting that you suggest that. I was just thinking about how quality science fiction can exist in the world of television these days. We're talking about a period where Star Trek is finally dying out and there hasn't been a successful new scifi show launched on the air for several years now. This, compared to the era of the mid-90's when there were a proliferation of new scifi shows that actually stuck around for a while, including the X-Files, Babylon 5, Earth: Final Conflict, DS9 & Voyager. There were a whole host of other, less memorable shows, but I think I hit the main highlights.
So, in this day and age of cheaply produced reality series getting the highest ratings, shows like B5 wouldn't stand a chance, which is unfortunate. The alternative is a series of miniseries. The new Battlestar Galactica mini was a pilot, but suppose that it spawned further minis rather than a full-blown series. Actually there are several advantages for doing this: less of a time commitment from the viewer, fewer episodes with higher production value, a more focused story that can avoid much of the mediocrity of series TV, less money invested. It seems like a decent way to go, and Scifi has proven that the miniseries can get excellent ratings.
Anyway, that's just my 6 in the morning thoughts as I sit and wonder whether or not they're closing my office today because of the snowfall in this area.
psyclonejack
Mongoose
Of course I only bring this up to add to your list as a die hard scaper . . . .
Farscape stuck around for 4 years, they dumped it, someone bought the network and now they are filming a mini-series to test the waters again . . . .
PsyJack
Farscape stuck around for 4 years, they dumped it, someone bought the network and now they are filming a mini-series to test the waters again . . . .
PsyJack
psyclonejack said:
I'm guessing that the purpose of the miniseries is simply to finish off the story, given the way they ended the series. I mean you don't just run a show for 4 years and then leave things hanging like that. I don't think Scifi is seriously looking at reviving the series, and in fact I've heard rumors that the mini won't even be shown on the Scifi channel. Its embarrassing if you ask me.
A
Anonymous
Guest
I'm no production exec, but i'm very much more in favour of miniseries.
In ANY long-running TV series, you get a number of episodes which should never have been made - waste of money time fillers. (OK, I have a hard time thinking of a B5 episode I dont like however.....)
With a miniseries, you have absolute control over the plot, cast, etc in the same way as you would with a movie. If you plan a set of miniseries, you can double your benefits!
Sales wise, I suspect that even though the B5 DVD has sold *very* well, other DVDs of TV series are not doing quite as well (what does that say?!) however buying a mini series is a far lower investment of cash and time so sales should generally be higher.
I have seen mini series done very badly - one hour worth of story turned in to 3 - but Dune, Children of Dune, Dinotopia and many more show how well it can be done.
Having said that, how about making mini series for the big screen? Lord of the Rings proves it can be done *very* well indeed, and the three-hour format is becoming generally accepted once more (ahh for a return to the era of the epics!)
DVD-wise, the B5 DVDs are approaching perfection - just the right level of Easter Eggs, extras, commentaries, just the right price, and all contained in a single almost VHS-sized box (I used to own ALL the videos - they are on indefinate loan, while I consider renting out the shelf space they used to occupy
In ANY long-running TV series, you get a number of episodes which should never have been made - waste of money time fillers. (OK, I have a hard time thinking of a B5 episode I dont like however.....)
With a miniseries, you have absolute control over the plot, cast, etc in the same way as you would with a movie. If you plan a set of miniseries, you can double your benefits!
Sales wise, I suspect that even though the B5 DVD has sold *very* well, other DVDs of TV series are not doing quite as well (what does that say?!) however buying a mini series is a far lower investment of cash and time so sales should generally be higher.
I have seen mini series done very badly - one hour worth of story turned in to 3 - but Dune, Children of Dune, Dinotopia and many more show how well it can be done.
Having said that, how about making mini series for the big screen? Lord of the Rings proves it can be done *very* well indeed, and the three-hour format is becoming generally accepted once more (ahh for a return to the era of the epics!)
DVD-wise, the B5 DVDs are approaching perfection - just the right level of Easter Eggs, extras, commentaries, just the right price, and all contained in a single almost VHS-sized box (I used to own ALL the videos - they are on indefinate loan, while I consider renting out the shelf space they used to occupy
Jal
Mongoose
it`s just to tie up loose ends and give closure to the series, a finished series has greater value to a company than a nearly finished one, it will help with the series distribution and tempt people (like me) to finally fork out all the money for the completed item. :roll:
sci-fi (may their executives suffer from eternal kidney stones!) slit their own throats when they cancelled it.
thankfully they have nothing to do with the 4-6 1hr episodes being made down under.
i think the executive who made that decision got axed themselves sometime later, payback`s a bitch ain`t it. :twisted:
A
Anonymous
Guest
In all respects I never really got into Farscape. But if JMS is going to continue with his Babylon 5 Series. I would like to see it be with the Legends of the Rangers. The pilot was awesome, but somethings I would like to see changed were one the uniforms, and it has a lot of potential if given the chance to blossom. But anyways if he does anything I rather see Legends of the Rangers.
psyclonejack
Mongoose
Baraendur said:
It might be a way to finish off the story, but i tend to believe it is both to give some closure as well as open the story up for future serier/minis. I would agree it is embarrassing for Scifi to cancel a show that had the second highest ratings, of any of the scifi shows they aired. A show that won various awards accross a wide range of thresholds. But since scifi was sold, they just have to eat crow and go along with the new bosses. Especially if you believe the rumors that the mini is gonna air on prime time. When is the last time a scifi show aired on prime time? Makes me wonder if they networks are trying to get the 16-30 year old male viewers back in front of the tube since they lost them all with unreal 'Reality' shows. And the rest of the girl power shows that are dominating the TV industry. I mean come on name more than one show in which the lead male isn't a blundering idiot that has to have a woman save his ass?
In regards to anything by JMS. I am there. His writings and inspirations have more successes than failures, so it would be a good bet that a quality production can be made. lets just hope some people use common since and don't put it up against a bowl game or a season finale of another show. If you are gonna test the waters, that is not the proper way to test.
Just some thoughts,
PsyJack
Good thoughts, PsyJack. I agree with you on JMS, being a reader of the Amazing Spiderman again after a break for a couple of years.
For his failures, there have often been additional pressures or issues. Of course, sometimes things in Babylonia happen that defy all reason, but you've just got to roll with them.
The US television market appears different to what it was ten years ago, at least to me over here in the UK. A B5 show with an all female, 18-30 cast would do wonders on most English-speaking networks. But, as you infer, it would be pants. Intelligent TV has taken a real downturn of late, and I count myself lucky there are still gems like ER, the West Wing and anything that Stephen Poliakoff does to challenge my brain.
The situation with science fiction on TV is getting quite depressing. It almost seems like anything SF is considered a gamble, which is a shame because as we all know B5 came in under budget, time and time again.
For his failures, there have often been additional pressures or issues. Of course, sometimes things in Babylonia happen that defy all reason, but you've just got to roll with them.
The US television market appears different to what it was ten years ago, at least to me over here in the UK. A B5 show with an all female, 18-30 cast would do wonders on most English-speaking networks. But, as you infer, it would be pants. Intelligent TV has taken a real downturn of late, and I count myself lucky there are still gems like ER, the West Wing and anything that Stephen Poliakoff does to challenge my brain.
The situation with science fiction on TV is getting quite depressing. It almost seems like anything SF is considered a gamble, which is a shame because as we all know B5 came in under budget, time and time again.
LoneStranger
Mongoose
Well any show can come in under budget and on time as long as the production crew knows what it's doing, the directors keep production moving along smoothly, and the cast truely enjoys what they're doing and don't get too full of themselves.
It's entirely a team effort.
It's entirely a team effort.
