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I was hoping Americans will like it and maybe a second season will be made. :(
Instead SciFi made sure nobody knows its exists.
It's so true, man. And the audience is totally primed to watch everything online. I'm sure we will see something like this within the next 3-5 years -- but only if someone cracks the big issue: how to monetize the site enough to pay for a big-budget project that Abrams, Whedon or etc. would be willing to participate in.
*Note that it is not actually a $64K question. For that little, J.J. could do it with change from his couch. :)
The cost is much, much less to go direct to consumer, especially on the net, so let's say bye-bye to the studios and get someone with the money and balls to start this new entertainment model! It can be done; the question is who will be first.
And yes, the SciFi Channel is a sewage pit of imbecility. Other than BSG (which I haven't been watching, sorry!) and Doctor Who, I skate in, see a Ghost Hunter ad (or the weekly "SciFi Original Movie") and depart quickly. Half an hour of watching SciFi gives me far more than my daily requirement of cheese.
And I know that most people here will disagree with me, but Doctor Who isn't very good. I can't watch it...at all. It's almost as bad as the Sci-fi movies of the week.
What's sort of funny to me is that they've probably had the ability to actually chase down GOOD shows that other networks dump off and build a nice network. Firefly maybe, Journeyman, Jericho...
I know I heard Fox wouldn't let anyone else have Firefly, and I don't know about Journeyman, but if I was CEO or whatever of Sci Fi, I'd do my best to try and get these discarded gems and put them on my network.
Funny line, but it just sucks overall that it's moving to that time slot. To make up for BSG, it was nice to have a good scifi show on Friday nights.
I know it was a hard show to get into - for me as well - but you're absolutely right when you say that they never actually gave it a shot. And to put it on in the middle of the night... That's just lunacy. I mean, even putting it on outside of primetime at 5 or 6 in the evening would be a better choice....the weekend would be a better choice...Sunday morning at 10 AM would be a better choice. Just moronic.
3am is just...well, that's the time you find yourself taking the ugly home girl from the bar. SciFi sees CJ as *that* girl.
I guess you missed the launch of The Classic Science Fiction Channel - an internet based broadcaster currently offering public domain and creative commons movies, televisions shows, serials and radio programs. (http://www.rimworlds.com/theclassicscienceficti...)
I ranted on this subject earlier this month and if the response from BoinBoing is any indication, there are many, many former SciFi viewers who feel the way that you and I do.
Here's a link to the original screed. http://www.rimworlds.com/csfcabout.htm
If I can find a good email for Josh, I'd show him the responses; you don't get to the coveted demographic by showing them what you think they want, you get to them by giving them what they ask for.
Here's how bad the problem is: I'm pretty plugged in and aware of what's going on both online and in entertainment in general and I *know* there are a ton of things out there of which I've heard nothing. Imagine trying to get that knowledge to people who *aren't* plugged in.
This is why promotion is so very important, and why a budget like the one NBC Uni has for SciFi *could* be helpful.
Secondly, Richard GREAT write-up!!! You got me interested when this first came out, and of course because the show is highly interesting they are gonna move it to where it'll have no choice but to off it due to lack of viewership. Lovely. you are hitting the nail on the head on the promotion piece, as other than you I've never heard of this (and I'm a mega BSG fan who watches their channel quite a bit), which means this was poorly promoted. How dissapointing...
no problem on not finding the site - there's tons of stuff everyone is missing out on simply because of volume.
I'm adding your blog to my blogroll in the hopes that your commentary will help swell the ranks of people who are looking for a real niche SF offering - mine or anyone else's - just as long as we get away from pro-wrestling and the oxymoronish reality shows about the 'spirit realm'
My feeling is that the Scifi channel wanted to look good to us "hardcore" scifi fans so even though they passed on this show months ago they wanted to at least give it a second chance. They know that many of the vocal hardcore fans have DVRs and Tivos so while we don't like the new time slot at least it's still on so we can record and watch it. Not saying I like them doing that but from a cold, corporate point of view it makes sense.
I mean, if they can't promote a SCI FI show, then what good are they? :)
Other than that, awesome article, spot on. I'm glad you're going to continue with the reviews. That's one of the things I was worried about when I heard the news for some reason. I don't have a Tivo so can't record it and I'm definately not staying up until 4am in the morning to watch it. What an idiotic timeslot. But I'll still look forward to stopping by and reading and commenting on the reviews.
The co-creator for the show (a year ago) talked about trying to get a internet distribution deal. TheWB.com is re-launching their old website for internet distribution for old and new shows this coming fall. I don't know if they would be interested in Charlie Jade though. I really wish they could figure something out to work this out so the show could be greenlit for a season 2. I can't express how dissapointing this is. I really hope we hear from someone soon about what's going on.
shown it a few more times.
There is just one thing - the show is at 3 am Tuesday morning.
Try programming your DVR for Monday 3am and see what you get?