So Joe Straczynski, the certifiable genius of a writer/producer, has been working on a new project proposal for the SciFi Channel called “Polaris.” Sounds like a slam-dunk, right? I mean, how could they possibly turn down an opportunity from the creator of Babylon 5?
With the patented SciFi Channel stupidity, apparently.
On Polaris…we got down to one of three projects of which one or two would be greenlighted for production. It went down to the wire, but finally SFC decided that the premise of Polaris was a little too science fictiony, when they were looking to go for ideas that had more immediate mainstream appeal. So even though they felt that Polaris was the best written of the projects they had in development, they went for a project about intergalactic (not interstellar, intergalactic) vampires called “Bloodsuckers.” It is, to be fair, one of those concepts that, when you hear it, you get it, there isn’t a lot of background needed.
Yeah. Can’t have any of that “science fictiony” stuff on the SciFi Channel, can we? I mean, that’s the real reason we dropped Farscape. We need to go for that mainstream stuff, like all the other “intergalactic vampire” shows out there.
Intergalactic vampires. Yeah, that’ll rock the world.
As Bugs used to say, “Whadda buncha maroons.”
Hey, that intergalactic vampire thing sounds like a show that Doyce won’t record as watched for the Nielson folks.
And the show also sounds like another “from the Mind of Gene Roddenberry” pieces of…..
I actually liked Andromeda — the concept, in particular (the execution … a tad cheesy).
Well yeah, grudgingly, Andromeda has at times been entertaining (guilty pleasure). Though Bloodsuckers sounds a lot like Earth the Final Conflict.
SciFi told JMS last year that they were moving away from hardware-related shows — hence their not buying the Rangers show, and the dumping of Farscape. This doesn’t hold for the 7th season of Stargate, though, which is filming soon, I think (the new eps are the remnant of season 6).
I don’t understand the reasoning, myself. I think they want event shows, like Taken, and Dune, instead of ongoing series.
Dumb, dumb, dumb, considering JMS’s track record when it comes to genre television. B5 is at the pinnacle of genre television, unmatched for depth of story and writing.
SFC are a bunch of maroons.
SG-1 is a decent show, with a good premise and some fair acting, but it doesn’t inspire. The themes are handled in pedestrian ways.
Farscape will be so missed.
Well, certainly there are more varieties of SF than space-opera or space-epic in the B5/Star Trek/Farscape mold (understanding that those shows are very divergent).
But to seemingly jettison any shows of that nature? Shortsighted. It also sounds to me as a budget saving measure. Intergalactic vampires (roll eyes) on Earth is cheaper on visuals than space battles.
*stabs Bonnie Hammer with spoon*
Though I did read a good erotica story about bloodsucking intergalactic vampires. Had to give the author credit…she used the Huff-Hamilton Space Station. 🙂
Plenty of space in the genre (if you pardon the expression) for something other than space opera, Paul. But I agree that there’s almost certainly a budgetary issue involved, especially if SFC feels it gets its real ad revenues from blockbuster events like Dune and Taken.
Man, that’s sad. Sad sad sad. Sci fi channel bums me out. No deep thoughts here, just disappointment.