Bonnie Still At It

[jeffrabb]

The Boston Globe has an article on the new remake of Battlestar Galactica. In it they mention that Bonnie is getting used to severe criticism by the fans: "To be sure, Hammer was prepared for a backlash. Earlier this year, she endured widespread criticism from fans who were upset that the channel had canceled "Farscape," a series some fans called television's best science-fiction program since the original "Star Trek.""
And then she goes on to rehash the old SciFi line of declining ratings in their cancellation of the show: ""Farscape" had suffered from ratings declines, and the channel determined that it was time to move away from traditional space-odyssey science fiction in favor of shows based on Earth. "We are trying to open the door to those people who go to see `The Matrix' and `Harry Potter,' " Hammer said."
Gee, after all this time that we've shown how bogus that line is, they are still still reciting it!:hork:
The full story is at http://www.boston.com/ae/tv/articles/2003/12/07/starbuck_is_a____she/

Jeff

[JrMissToughChick]

Wate a microt isn't BSG a space show?
That's Bull Frell I say, Bull frell.
They wanted to get away From space in order to get people who watch things like the Matrix hooked? Hello Farscape was closer to the Matrix than any other TV show ever made.

Harry Potter? I haven't seen it but that looks like a Kids movie saying they want an audience that Likes both Harry Potter, and The Matrix is like a would be writer that wants to apeal to an audince that Reads both Dr. seuss and Shakespeare. Not Likely.

~JrMTC~

[BillFrugge]

It is becoming apparent to me that Skiffy is playing the BSG mini for all they can get. This is the big hand, and they are going to bet the bank on this one.

If they win, and the BSG mini has high ratings, all of the complaints will vanish.

If they lose, they will know how seriously wrong they were about us.

[Sunderflame]

I'm planning on watching it for at least the first 40 minutes. If it looks any good I should know by then. I won't get tortured again like I was sitting through Taken.....which was basically taken for a ride to no where but endless hell.

[JrMissToughChick]

I couldn't even get through the first part. I didn't Like AI either.

~JrMTC~

[BlackThorn]

I watch the Matrix, Harry Potter, and Farscape, among other things. I wouldn't classify Harry Potter as just a Kids' movie. It's more about the things kids go through when growing up. There are movies for kids, and there are movies about kids growing up. Many adults still enjoy movies for kids. Almost any adult can relate to movies about kids growing up. It's all entertainment. As long as it has that certain spark I'm looking for, I'll watch it.

Bonnie, Bonnie, Bonnie . . . At least she never lets me down.

[Perfect_Tommy]

I don't understand why they think that Harry Potter is anymore realistic then Farscape. Just because something is set on Earth doesn't mean it's any less foreign.

The bottom line in my book is that of all the mentioned movies/shows, Harry Potter is the least realistic. The idea of active magic in a modern world? Atleast The Matrix could, and that's big could, happen. For all we know our reality isn't what we seem.

Farscape, while on Earth is fact based. Once it hits space where it's unknown and for all we know there are worlds just like it. I mean, we can't disprove that there's a leather clad S&M freaky deaky commander out there that wants to develop wormholes.

The problem with the Sci-fi channel is they're confusing empathy to a character and empathy to a situation. Just because something is based on Earth doesn't mean the subject matter is any less foreign. I can relate to John more then I can relate to a character in a sitcom at times. It's all about the characters and how human their traits are. Damn it, that's it! I'm taking over Sci-Fi and I'm doing it right! :D

[JrMissToughChick]

Originally posted by BlackThorn
I watch the Matrix, Harry Potter, and Farscape, among other things. I wouldn't classify Harry Potter as just a Kids' movie. It's more about the things kids go through when growing up. There are movies for kids, and there are movies about kids growing up. Many adults still enjoy movies for kids. Almost any adult can relate to movies about kids growing up. It's all entertainment. As long as it has that certain spark I'm looking for, I'll watch it.

Bonnie, Bonnie, Bonnie . . . At least she never lets me down.
I didn't mean anything by it I was just saying how comparing the two was like comparing Apples and Oranges not to dis Harry Potter I haven't seen it.

~JrMTC~

[justanotherFSlvr]

Originally posted by BillFrugge
It is becoming apparent to me that Skiffy is playing the BSG mini for all they can get. This is the big hand, and they are going to bet the bank on this one.


For one thing, they're fighting a slightly uphill battle with some slightly bad publicity over the changes made to the characters and story line. Even the writer of the original series has said he has doubts about the changes. BSG was never my cup of tea (I guess I just couldn't get the picture of Loren Green on a horse out of my head), but I'll probably give the new version a try, especially since I don't have a stake in the old BSG.

But to back up what you're saying, I saw a spot for BSG last night on NBC. Does anyone ever remember any promos on "the Big 3" for Farscape? Ever? Of course, it's appearance on NBC may have something to do with the NBC merger, although that won't actually be finalized until later in 2004.

[JrMissToughChick]

Well I saw an add for it on UPN during um I don't remember but I was shocked they never advertised on network TV untill Taken I think but only after it won an emmy.

~JrMTC~

[Zegota]

Matrix, down to Earth? Hah! I loved it, but come on. That's about as Sci-Fi as you can get.

[BlackThorn]

Originally posted by JrMissToughChick
I didn't mean anything by it I was just saying how comparing the two was like comparing Apples and Oranges not to dis Harry Potter I haven't seen it.

~JrMTC~

No offense taken. From what I've seen, that's pretty the impression of everyone who hasn't seen it. Kind of like how many people who haven't seen Farscape think it's "Muppets in Space." :D

[NeilGartner]

Regardless how you might feel about the new BSG, the miniseries might do well with the curious viewer tuning in. However, the real test will be if this can be turned into an actual series. I still haven't seen it and being up here in Canada, I won't be able to until mid January of next year. However, I don't care for the changes they made in the reviews in which they gutted the show to the bear bones. They could call it Wing Commander and I don't think anyone here or anywhere else would notice the difference.

Neil

[JrMissToughChick]

Originally posted by BlackThorn
No offense taken. From what I've seen, that's pretty the impression of everyone who hasn't seen it. Kind of like how many people who haven't seen Farscape think it's "Muppets in Space." :D
My brothers Call Farscape, "Puppet Porn," That I think takes the cake.

~JrMTC~

[Nicola]

I like Harry Potter. The symbolism and angst of the lead character is very well written and (so far) has been reasonably well translated to the screen.

And I adored The Matrix - including the last one. Mostly because I 'got' the symbolism the Wachowski Bros. were trying to show the audience (altho, I admit, Trinity's death scene was....painful - for the audience).

I also read Shakespeare (my first degree). I find a lot of Shakespearean references in Farscape, and Shakespeare was nothing if not a master of multi-level discourse.

I happen to love multi-level discourse in movies and TV and live theatre which is one of the reasons why I love Farscape.

But I like Harry Potter and The Matrix for the same reasons I like Farscape. Intelligent, complex, challenging, and they deal with human frailties and flaws pitlessly and compassionately all at the same time (no mean trick).

Maybe Battlestar Galatica will do the same. But I don't think that the executives in charge of programming realise what it is that attracts people like me.... and I don't think that they are going to produce that in BSG. Consequently I don't think I am going to watch.

Maybe in re-runs...if I hear good things.

[Paul Cousins]

Farscape is to the SF Channel as Dark City and Blade Runner is to the Matrix.

Farscape is to the SF Channel as the Lord of the Rings trilogy is to Harry Potter.

Farscape is to the SF Channel as H.P. Lovecraft novels are to slasher movies.

Farscape is to the SF Channel as the original Generation 1 Transfomers Series is to Transformers Armada.

In other words, Farscape one of the best series (not just sci-fi) ever made. :cool:

[Perfect_Tommy]

d00d Transformers Gen1 > all

[Paul Cousins]

Originally posted by Perfect_Tommy
d00d Transformers Gen1 > all

I cannot wait to see the live action CGI G1 TF movie that the guys who made the X-Men movies are working on. :cool:

It is debatable which is harder to wait for; that, the Farscape mini-series or Worlds of Warcraft. :smokin:

[oorat]

the one thing The Hammer never mentions everytime she says that farscape's ratings fell is that, sci fi ran next to NO ads for it. they didnt even air it or mention the show at all for what? 6 months? just under that? can you wonder why ratings for a popular show fall when it looks like it isnt on anymore? when people who dont check the net boards everyday for info on farscape have no idea what happened. i remember during the time between season 3 and 4 the countless posters on the official scifi.com farscape board asking if farscape had been cancelled because scifi channel for all intents and purposes locked the show away and acted like it didnt even exist anymore.
they wanted to cancell it way back then, they orchastrated its cancellation, its obvious with utter lack of advertising they did for it. they can blame it on the fans and fans lack of watching all they want. no matter how much you like a show you wont turn to it and watch it when you dont even know its on. and they banked on that.

[justanotherFSlvr]

Originally posted by oorat
the one thing The Hammer never mentions everytime she says that farscape's ratings fell is that, sci fi ran next to NO ads for it. they didnt even air it or mention the show at all for what? 6 months?

It isn't only that, the months of no Farscape during mid-season and season end breaks didn't help at all. The mid-season breaks were the worst to me, as the interrupt the flow where no interruption is intended, and then let it hang for four months. At least the season endings are designed with a hook to keep viewers interested, but in four month long mid-season breaks, people forget, and lose interest. With no promotion and incredibly poor scheduling, is it any wonder that only those with an almost fanatical interest in the series followed it to cancellation?

[LiLOrion]

In addition to ads for the BSG mini on NBC and UPN (which I didnt see)...they were on Fox as well.

They seem to only advertise shows that they REALLY REALLY REALLY like.

[BillFrugge]

Originally posted by NeilGartner
They could call it Wing Commander and I don't think anyone here or anywhere else would notice the difference.

Neil

Interesting. The people responsible for Wing Commander were involved early on. I believe they were planning to make their version for the theater.

Also, WLS-AM out of Chicago has been advertising the BSG mini quite frequently. I'm getting pretty sick of the advertising...

[NeilGartner]

Originally posted by LiLOrion
In addition to ads for the BSG mini on NBC and UPN (which I didnt see)...they were on Fox as well.

They seem to only advertise shows that they REALLY REALLY REALLY like.

More likely because they feel that the BSG mini is in REALLY REALLY REALLY BIG TROUBLE. This 'remake' is not only taking a pounding by the old series fans but by the critics too. It has been getting nothing but bad word of mouth even before it airs. This is not good for any show in facing such negative reaction.


Neil

[fiona-maria]

I am very doubtful that BSG:TNG (as it were*grin*) is going to be any good.

I will tune in to check it out. I appreciate Edward Olmos, I find him an EXCELLENT actor, and LOVED him in BladeRunner (damn! that was a good movie!).

So, I will check it out. But I am not sanguine.

Fi

[samati75]

New 'Battlestar' veers from old flight plan (http://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2003-12-07-battlestar_x.htm)

Because Sci Fi Channel's parent, Universal, owns the rights to Battlestar, the cable outlet had access to a name "that resonates" in a way few other science fiction properties do, Sci Fi president Bonnie Hammer says. Sci Fi wanted a production that was "a little edgier and a little sexier" and one that reflected current realities such as women in the military, she says.

Um, ok.

Women in the military? Aeryn

Edgier and sexier? Farscape