The Great Sci-Fi Channel Deceit?

[amrcanpoet]

This is something that has bugged me for a while, and I finally decided to comment on it (having found the perfect forum).

A scifi.com/scifiwire, the Sci-Fi Channel posts news about genre shows and movies. In addition to this, they also list on the side the Top 10's of shows, movies, and books in the genre field. Here is a sampling of the Top TV Genre shows of the week (it is very well representative of every other week):

1. Stargate SG-1 2.4
2. She Spies 2.1
3. Andromeda 1.8
4. Mutant X 1.8
5. Buffy 1.5
6. Angel 1.4
7. The X-Files 1.4
8. Beastmaster 1.3
9. 3rd Rock 1.2
10. The Outer Limits 1.1

Source: Nielsen Galaxy Report, 1/19/03 - 1/25/03

Notice something interesting? There is a suspicious lack of Farscape in this list. Now, with Farscape not being in syndication, it is easy to understand that shows such as Andromeda, Buffy, and Angel would come out on top.

However, it is not as believable that a show such as Beastmaster and 3rd Rock From the Sun would acrued ratings higher than Farscape (a show that does air more than once during a week).

So, this begs the question, "Is the Sci-Fi Channel purposefully not posting the true numbers of Farscape in order to avoid admitting the cancellation was a ratings coup?"

What do you guys think?

[RescueFarscape]

I believe that it's Nielsen who finds and reports the ratings. But take heart. From what I hear, Farscape's reruns are quite near the top ten. I think the ratings go up the longer Sci Fi has it in one time slot. Of course the doofuses (doofi? ;) ) decided to pull regular airing again. :(

[Darth Buddha]

Unfortunately, given the story arc, Farscape will probably only do well when aired regularly, in a regular schedule, at a decent hour.

It IS tougher to enter a show with so much character development and so complex a story arc. I consider Farscape to be the most extreme example of such short of Fox's "24".

After three seasons of "24" for example, I could see it being aired weekly in a certain time-slot quite effectively. Say, Spike runs it every day a 7:00 PM on weekdays for fifteen weeks. Running it in mini-marathons would never cut it.

Farscape requires the same treatment to draw numbers.

[Frost]

You need to read the chart a bit more closely. The list you posted is the top 10 SYNDICATED shows. Farscape is not in syndication so it does not quallify for that list at all.

Other times the list is for network shows. That list usually features shows like Enterprise, Alias, Smallville, and don't ask me why, Joan of Arcadia, which usually comes out on top. (again, don't ask me why) JoA is nothing more than an updated Touched by an Angel aimed directly at the Bible belt crowd (and obviously they are watching). I have no doubt that if every single element in JoA remained the same except that instead of receiving her instructions from god she got them from alien beings from outer space, the masses would not be watching it. Instead, they'd write it off as "silly" much like the masses did/do with shows like Angel and Buffy.

[grinner]

Hey, Joan of Arcadia is a very good show that actually HAS MORALS... rather than the 'lets see who we can screw with this week' reality shows.

[shamecube]

Personally, I DO think Sci-Fi has a vendetta against Farscape for making it look like the crass low-rent money-grubbing niche channel is has become.

And as far as Joan of Arcadia is concerned, I've never watched it and I probably never will because I am wary of wolves in sheep's clothing.

[MySideYourSide]

"You're watching the SciFi Network: Watch our new reality show! And tune in at 3 in the morning for some good programming! Have you seen Tremors: The Series? Watch our new reality show!"

Well, if that wasn't one of their promos, it would sure fool me. :D

BTW, Joan of Arcadia is surprisingly good. And it hardly appeals to the "bible belt" crowd.

"Watch our reality show!"

[jayelsee]

JoA is nothing more than an updated Touched by an Angel aimed directly at the Bible belt crowd (and obviously they are watching). Say WHAT? I really, really have to take issue with this, Frost! Knowing something about your (good) taste in TV (you like Max Headroom!) I have to ask, have you WATCHED Joan of Arcadia? It is a GREAT show.....absolutely NOTHING like "Touched by an Angel". "Touched" = b-o-o-o-o-ring and moralizing. "JoA" = moves me to tears and laughter, sometimes both at the same time. It is creative, the acting is terrific, it doesn't preach or give answers, it does make you think. And it depicts a loving family whose members nevertheless actually have real problems. I'm about as far from being a Bible belt crowd "type" as you can imagine (well, I do have ethics, but few morals. And I do live in North Carolina :) ). And Joan of Arcadia is, well, just about the only network TV show I watch. Actually can't think of another one. It is GOOOOD!

So if you haven't watched, give it a try. You might be surprised. If you have watched :dunno: you must have seen a different program than the one I'm watching.

Sorry for the rant, back to the subject at hand......:D

[MediaSavant]

Originally posted by amrcanpoet
What do you guys think?

As someone else pointed out, this is the ranking of syndicated shows. If Farscape aired in syndication and its ratings were high enough, it would be on the list. But, it's not.

SciFi varies their list by day. They've been doing it for years that way.

The Monday list is of shows that air on the SciFi Channel. Farscape would be on that list, if its ratings were in the "top ten", but they aren't in the top ten. They were in the past.

There's no deceipt going on here.

[RescueFarscape]

Originally posted by MediaSavant

There's no deceipt going on here.

Nor any deceit.

Sorry, couldn't resist. :P

[Frost]

Originally posted by grinner
Hey, Joan of Arcadia is a very good show that actually HAS MORALS... rather than the 'lets see who we can screw with this week' reality shows.

I don't watch reality shows. What gives JoA it's "morals"? Just because it's about god it's moral?

[Frost]

Originally posted by jayelsee
Say WHAT? I really, really have to take issue with this, Frost! Knowing something about your (good) taste in TV (you like Max Headroom!) I have to ask, have you WATCHED Joan of Arcadia? It is a GREAT show.....absolutely NOTHING like "Touched by an Angel". "Touched" = b-o-o-o-o-ring and moralizing. "JoA" = moves me to tears and laughter, sometimes both at the same time. It is creative, the acting is terrific, it doesn't preach or give answers, it does make you think. And it depicts a loving family whose members nevertheless actually have real problems. I'm about as far from being a Bible belt crowd "type" as you can imagine (well, I do have ethics, but few morals. And I do live in North Carolina :) ). And Joan of Arcadia is, well, just about the only network TV show I watch. Actually can't think of another one. It is GOOOOD!

So if you haven't watched, give it a try. You might be surprised. If you have watched :dunno: you must have seen a different program than the one I'm watching.

Sorry for the rant, back to the subject at hand......:D

No problem with the rant. I had one, so why not you? As for JoA, the show is too saccharine for me. Also, I'm not interesed in anything that has god in it's premise at all. I still maintain that if aliens were talking to her, the show would be getting the same miserable numbers that shows like Smallville, Angel and well, Farscape for that matter, get. The masses seem to like god, not aliens.

[grinner]

Originally posted by Frost
I don't watch reality shows. What gives JoA it's "morals"? Just because it's about god it's moral? no... because it has episodes where if Joan does something good for someone... it goes around to others...
One episode was that lying is wrong. another one was that spreading rumors can hurt people...(the episode where Luke thought that Joan was pregnant)

I didn't bring up God, you did. The show just has strong Moral elements... which is something that is rare on television shows today where it is typical that the characters will lie, backstab, frell whomever... Joan of Arcadia has none of that. It is refreshing.

[SabaceanBabe]

Originally posted by jayelsee
Say WHAT? I really, really have to take issue with this, Frost! Knowing something about your (good) taste in TV (you like Max Headroom!) I have to ask, have you WATCHED Joan of Arcadia? It is a GREAT show.....absolutely NOTHING like "Touched by an Angel". "Touched" = b-o-o-o-o-ring and moralizing. "JoA" = moves me to tears and laughter, sometimes both at the same time. It is creative, the acting is terrific, it doesn't preach or give answers, it does make you think. And it depicts a loving family whose members nevertheless actually have real problems. I'm about as far from being a Bible belt crowd "type" as you can imagine (well, I do have ethics, but few morals. And I do live in North Carolina :) ). And Joan of Arcadia is, well, just about the only network TV show I watch. Actually can't think of another one. It is GOOOOD!

So if you haven't watched, give it a try. You might be surprised. If you have watched :dunno: you must have seen a different program than the one I'm watching.

Sorry for the rant, back to the subject at hand......:D

Hell, yeah! What she said! :D

[SeasonOfDeath]

I'm going to have to agree with the others here about JoA, Frost.

I've watched it..and like it a great deal. I could never stomach "Touched", don't live in the Bible Belt, absolutely abhor sacchariny-sweet over dramatized teenybopper stories and preachy overly religious tales. JoA doesn't appear to be any of those.
In my opinion it's just a well written and acted series about a normal American family dealing with and resolving everyday family problems. The show's hook, that she talks to "God", could be replaced by Joan's own conscience and I would probably still watch it.

In fact it was (and probably still) argued that the original Joan of Arc was either very imaginative, insane or she actually did talk
with God.

[austscape]

I soo agree with some of you, in Aus over here channel 9 plays farscape at a really crapy time like 10:30 :S, and I just think no1 is really giving farscape the air time it disserves, it should be on at 8:30 and if it was I reckon it would have a bigger flowing then the likes of star wars or star trek ;) :P.

Anyway I’m sorta new here and just getting to know the place i think all of you people are doing a GREAT job getting farscape back on the air were it should be, keep up the good work! :)

p.s can't wait to see the mini :D :D :D!!!

[amrcanpoet]

Originally posted by RescueFarscape
Nor any deceit.

Sorry, couldn't resist. :P

Not sure who that was in response to, but it is 'deceit.' Sorry, I'm a grammar whore.

[Frost]

Originally posted by grinner
no... because it has episodes where if Joan does something good for someone... it goes around to others...

Well, that at least explains why it's in the fantasy genre. :D


One episode was that lying is wrong. another one was that spreading rumors can hurt people

It's all just a bit too "Afterschool Special" for me.

[Mirth]

**JoA Hijack warning**

I HATE soapbox shows. I hate the craptacularly bad afterschool goodie goodie shows and never got into the heavily religious shows that have peppered the networks over the years. That being said, JoA is a cleaver, sweet, and dare i say one of the very few shows that has worthwhile substance. Yea, it gets too sacchrine-ie at times, and has its *groan* moments but overall its wonderfully done. I think one of the things that grabbed me when a co-worker recommended it was that for once, I didn't have it all figured out after the first 10 minutes of the show. It twists, turns, and builds on the previous stories (even if it isn't terribly self-referencing, the characters visibly grow and change and continually are effect by the previous weeks events). I though id be disgusted at the religious overtones (not being a 'structured religious' person....my choice, which is by no means is a criticism on others beliefs), but surprisingly, i was all the spirituality presented through the show. It's not about absolute right and wrong, good vs. evil, it's all about choices, and how we can (or don't) deal with them, as well as the repercussions. very well done, and it quickly made it into my "weekly watched" list.

[jayelsee]

The masses seem to like god, not aliens.What about "god-like aliens?" :rollin:

[JrMissToughChick]

Originally posted by jayelsee
What about "god-like aliens?" :rollin: Oh yeah!!! JACK :D