Interests in speculative fiction TV series on the decline? by Haken

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Interests in speculative fiction TV series on the decline?

POSTED BY: HAKEN
UPDATED: Saturday, October 10, 2009 18:44
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VIEWED: 1565
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Friday, October 9, 2009 8:59 PM

Likes to mess with stuffs.

Television is more or less cyclical. After reading Michael Hinman's rating report over at Airlock Alpha for 'Fringe' that also mentions other currently airing speculative fiction series, I'm beginning to think that these type of shows are now on the decline once more.

I'm pretty much a die hard when it comes to speculative fiction series, but the general audience might not be. Are you tired of the genre?

If you want to read Hinman's rating report for Fringe, just go here:

http://airlockalpha.com/node/6759

What do you think? Is it tired?

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Friday, October 9, 2009 9:56 PM

TRAVELER

I'm tired of lawyer shows. And I can't remember the last doctor show I watched. I know about House because they give it a lot of promotion, but all I know is, he limps and is addicted to pain killers.
I do watch Law & Order SVU, but the last police show I really enjoyed was Third Watch. It is reaching a point where I don't watch much TV anymore. There is Fringe, Dollhouse and not much more. I think science ficrion enthusiasts are a minority. I feel that Dollhouse is on its last legs and Fringe will probably go one or two more years. Then we will probably get more reality shows.

Oh joy. They seem to be the trend.

http://www.imdb.com/mymovies/list?l=28764731
Traveler

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Friday, October 9, 2009 11:20 PM

MANGOLO

I actually read an article recent that reality shows are on their way out because the people on they find for these shows are more savvy and demanding salaries similar to top acting talent.

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Friday, October 9, 2009 11:45 PM

HAKEN

Likes to mess with stuffs.

Quote:
Originally posted by Mangolo:
I actually read an article recent that reality shows are on their way out because the people on they find for these shows are more savvy and demanding salaries similar to top acting talent.

Did the article include shows like "American Idol" and "Dancing with the Stars?"

I recently read that Simon Cowell is made a deal with FOX to bring his "X Factor" to the States.

My bet is that if it comes over, it'll probably be placed on Friday nights as Cowell mentioned that it'll be a great weekend talent show for FOX.

The deal is reportedly worth $103 million. That's a lot of money for a talent show and definitely higher than the budgets of Dollhouse and anything I'm aware of that FOX has airing on Friday and Saturday.

Anyway, if reality shows are on the decline, then FOX isn't on board with the idea.

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Saturday, October 10, 2009 1:40 AM

CORNCOBB

I like speculative fiction TV a lot, in principal, but very few shows of that type are currently high-quality IMHO. Time was there were a plethora of science fiction/fantasy based shows worth watching. At the moment, I just like Lost, Stargate Universe and Dollhouse. And even the latter two of these are not in the same league as their predecessors. Most of the recent arrivals have failed to pique my interest, including Fringe. Some have dwindled in quality qand lost my loyalty (heroes & smallville). Most seem overly familiar, many seem like inferior ripoffs of shows that I previously loved and were unjustly cancelled (reaper = Dead Like Me+Brimstone, for example). I used to like Vampire shows, but the current trend for Vampire shows and films seems to be romance-based, which doesn't appeal.Plus Many formerly great shows have recently ended.
In short, I love specualtive fiction, but that doesn't mean I'll watch any old rubbish. My interest is waning because (I feel) the quality is. Conversely, non-genre shows seem to be getting more imaginitive, so they're winning me over (Ugly Betty, House, Dexter etc)

"Gorramit Mal... I've forgotten my line."

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Saturday, October 10, 2009 5:31 AM

ECGORDON

There's no place I can be since I found Serenity.

The majority of shows I watch are speculative fiction. I think the popularity of SF shows may wax and wane, but there is always a good average of that type of show attempted each year. Mainly the networks are hoping for the next long range money maker like a Star Trek or X-Files, but they usually do not have enough patience to nurture a show to get to that point. Most SF shows are expensive, and with the tv landscape as it is today an expensive show damn well better be a certifiable breakout hit or it won't last.

The two this year to watch are Fringe and FlashForward. Fringe performed well last year, but its numbers have dropped because FOX was stupid to move it to Thursday opposite two of the highest rated shows currently running, as well as pitting it against Supernatural, and you know they share a lot of the same viewer base. Fringe should be moved back to Tuesday soon, certainly before American Idol returns.

FlashForward premiered to respectable numbers but has dropped since then, so not the "new Lost" that ABC was hoping for. You know it has to be an expensive show, so how low does it have to go before ABC figures it is not worth it, regardless of how they feel about the story's potential?

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Saturday, October 10, 2009 4:12 PM

FREELANCERTEX

So what exactly constitutes as speculative fiction? (I did look it up, but I'm interested in the general perception of, well, you guys :P lol) What's the difference between 'regular' shows, speculative fiction shows, and straight up sci fi and the like? I'm curious because I've never heard of 'speculative fiction' before.

Quote:
Originally posted by Mangolo: I actually read an article recent that reality shows are on their way out

dear and fluffy lord I hope that's true.

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Saturday, October 10, 2009 6:44 PM

ECGORDON

There's no place I can be since I found Serenity.

Speculative fiction is a term favored by writers such as Robert Heinlein (pretty much straight science fiction) and Harlan Ellison (mainly a fantasist). Basically it describes any fiction that speculates a reality different from what we know, either set in the future or an imagined world. In science fiction it's stuff like "what if aliens exist," or "what if you could travel through time" or "what will happen in the future if we continue a certain course of action." In fantasy it's "what if magic was real"?

I think the main reason they chose to use that term is because science fiction is considered a lesser genre than mainstream fiction, and if you call it something else then perhaps you can escape the stigma.

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