Monday, May 01, 2006

Survivor: The SF TV Series Edition Part 2

Well, as expected, I have updated the status of the murky fates for our current and possible upcoming SF series. So, here is the “score” so far:

Returning
The 4400, Battlestar Galactica, The Dead Zone, Doctor Who, Ghost Whisperer, Lost, Masters of Horror, Medium, Stargate Atlantis, Stargate SG-1

Canceled
Alias, Charmed, Justice League Unlimited, Night Stalker, Threshold

Status Not Officially Known (With my percentage chance of returning.)
Invasion (75%), Smallville (95%), Supernatural (75%), Surface (20%)

Possible New Shows (With the highest chance, currently, of making it.)
Aquaman (Mercy Reef), Blade, Caprica, Dresden Files, Eureka, Firebrand, Heroes, Jericho, Masters of Science Fiction, Motel Man, Persons Unknown, The Prisoner, Raines, Torchwood, Ultra

So, what do you think? Which of the possible new shows sounds best? (Check out the details on these at: http://scifi411.com/upcomingtv.html).

Which canceled show will you miss the most…or the least?

As expected, but good to hear confirmed, Medium has been renewed. I would be surprised if Surface makes it, but it would be interesting to see where they go after that season finale. I hope that Supernatural and Invasion make it. I have really enjoyed Supernatural and look forward to future episodes. Invasion started out way too slow, but has sped up into a “hurricane” of SF entertainment.

Of the new shows I have to say it is a really good selection this year and I’m sure others will pop up soon. Right now Caprica, Jericho, Motel Man, Persons Unknown, Raines, and Heroes have me most interested. I’ve got this bad feeling that Blade may disappoint and that Dresden Files will meet the usual fate for Sci Fi Channel movie/back door pilots. Caprica was a surprise. Rarely does an SF series get a spin-off, especially so soon. Kudos to Battlestar Galactica!

6 comments:

Grish said...

I have actually stopped watching The 4400 for some reason.

I like the Dead Zone (well liked it better before they turned it into the Freak Zone) what's up with all the future me stuff and world destruction anyways?

Battlestar Galactia is freaking awsome as of last season and I can't wait for more.

Lost is pretty good but the further it goes and the more loose ends they leave the more un-interested I become for some reason.

I've never watched Masters of Horror.

The Stargates are the greatest and I hear Anderson is returning on a part time basis and might guest on Atlantis as well. I miss what his character brung to the show. I still wish they had explained his hiatis better.

Charmed will be missed but it has been just wrong for maybe two seasons anyways.

Justice League was only watched by me in passing from time to time when I found it on. Usually when My kids were watching it.

Night Stalker, I never watched because I figured it was going to be a gonner and didn't want to be left hanging.

I liked Threshold. Better than Invasion and was happy to see Brent Spiner back in the saddle. Going to miss it.

Invasion and Surface are ok but I really wouldn't miss either one 'to' much if I have to choose one from the other though I choose Invasion.

Smallville was the reason I started a blog I felt the 100th episode was uncalled for and still do. I am and will stick the show out because of it being Superman but as of right now I have very little faith in the writers ability to make it stick. I actually felt if they had wanted to cut Jon Kent out so Clark could grow they should have just moved Clark to Metropolis with the occasional phone call from dear old dad or something, like in 'Louis and Clark'. I despise the direction they are going with the widow Kent and Lionel thing, and I think that the Lana/Clark thing should have ended long long ago. I would like to see a lot less of Lana and Louis and more and more of Chloe and one other person for comic relieve (Another Superfriend maybe). Chloe could make up for the absence of both of the other girls and would make the show its own. I also feel that Smallville was somewhat sacrificed for Aquaman (or the new upcoming movie). Just my opinionated opinion :P

I am scared for Aquaman actually. I can't see it making it without some real good writing and lots of storyline. I don't understand why they couldn't just make something like this a joint effort between the two shows and after seeing how it goes spin off then.

Blade...well we'll see I seen some stills and to be honest it looked sorta cheesy. I am hoping it won't be and I am happy to say I have been surprised before. I wonder if they are going to go all gruff or go 'Highlander' on us.

I haven't heard of the rest (Caprica, Dresden Files, Firebrand, Heroes, Jericho, Master of Sci Fi, Motel Man, Persons Unknown, The Prisoner, Raines, Torchwood or Ultra). But am wondering If Caprica is a spin of BSG from the name?

By the way the other bloggers are tagging. The idea is to list six things you find wierd about yourself. Feel free to participate or not:) You've been tagged though if you choose to accept.

Marx Pyle said...

Hey Grish,

I totally agree with you about Smallville’s Lana/Clark(and now /Lex) thing. I now cringe every time I see Lana. It has just gotten really, really old.

You are correct! Caprica is a spin of Battlestar (a prelude to BSG). I’ll have to go back and edit the post so it is clearer.

Torchwood is the Doctor Who spin off. Sort of a British X-Files. Jericho sounds sweet with a post-apocalyptic story starring Skeet Ulrich (Miracles, Scream) and Ashley Scott (Birds of Prey, Dark Angel). Persons Unknown sounds like a neat scifi mystery where a group of people awake trapped in a deserted town, with no memory of how they got there. For more information on these or to follow their development, you can check it out on my page at http://scifi411.com/upcomingtv.html.

Ack…I’ve been tagged. I shall now go back to the offline world and try to decide which six weird things I want the online world to know about.

Grish said...

I will have to check out your other site.

I am still a little confused about Doctor Who and realized just now I didn't include it in my rant earlier.

I love this show. I have loved it since I was a kid. What I am confused about (or maybe just to lazy to look it up) is if it is being produced for the SciFi Channel now or if we will just continue getting the U.K.s re-runs or whatever.

Marx Pyle said...

No, it is not produced by the SciFi Channel. I know it's confusing, because of how they advertise it. They always make it sound like everything they air was made by them.

The second season of Doctor Who is airing right now in Britain. Hopefully we'll get it in the U.S. soon.

Eric said...

I do hope that Surface will return.
Of the new linear format series' out there this is the one that I chose to watch and I was left hanging at the end.
Never started Galactica but Lorraine and I are looking to start the series up via net flix.
It is a crime to remake the Prisoner and the Producers should be hoisted on their own Petards.

Marx Pyle said...

Hi Eric,

I watched every episode of Surface, even though I didn’t really enjoy it until the last four or five episodes. I have this annoying compulsion to try and follow all SF television (“It’s my gift, it’s my curse” - I tell my wife, especially while forcing myself to watch Star Trek: Enterprise), but the finale really made up for the slow start. I won’t shed any tears if Surface doesn’t return, but I’m very curious where they go from the finale. Recently the Surface: The Complete First Season DVD was announced. Notice it says First Season, so there is still a chance that Surface shall return.

Battlestar Galactica is a really great series. That is if you don’t mind two things. First, that it is vastly different from the original. Second, that it is very dark and gritty. If you don’t mind those two things, then it will probably become one of your favorite shows ever. The acting, writing, camera work, and special effects are stellar.

Totally agree with you about The Prisoner, especially after hearing that it won’t have the Village. What the Frak!? That is like having Battlestar Galactica, without the ship Battlestar Galactica.