Used to be, I lived for Syfy’s Friday night line-up. Not so much, any more. “Sanctuary” is good, and so are “Eureka” and “Haven”, but most of the shows I liked have either been cancelled, in favor of more lame “reality” shows (or wrestling - what’s with that? I know it qualifies as fiction, but science? - not so much) or moved to other nights. Syfy channel deliberately killed SGU by moving it to Tuesday night and not taking the stronger competition into consideration. They don’t even run “Dr. Who” any more.
Sorry for the rant! Guess this strip just touched a nerve. Anyway - Good one, Brian!
The decline of the SciFi / SyFy Channel is tragic.
The several great shows they have presented over the years are, as this cartoon and many comments show, now overwhelmed by movies too bad even to laugh at and by … wrestling! WRESTLING?!?
I’ve never heard even the faintest hint of a reason for wrestling on a science fiction channel. I’m not sure what the SyFy target demographic is supposed to be (though I’m sure I’m not it), but if they think they must appeal to adolescent boys, they should simply show hours of scantily-clad young women running about and cut out the pretense.
(The quality of SGU is a matter of opinion. As a giant fan of SG-1 and SG-A, I could not stand the claustrophia, paranoia, and overwhelming darkness of SG-U. But your mileage may vary.)
Pro wrestling, shark v. python v. anaconda v. octopus v. 80’s pop starlets. Sheesh. They spend piles of cash on these, yet allow a “Dresden Files”, “Stargate Universe” Galactica franchise to die or vanish. It seems like they don’t have a vision for any of their self-developed properties past the 1st 3 episodes, and interfere with the direction or creative processes of these shows until they become unwatchable by their target audience. I hope they don’t allow the upcoming “Torchwood” franchise to die in such a manner. On the plus side, they have had success in putting out less dark, more accessable fare like Warehouse 13, Eureka, Sanctuary, and now Being Human. At times they seem downright bipolar, but at least they haven’t ruined these shows by becoming too dark.
Don’t forget that some of their best properties started out elsewhere★. SG-1 started on Showtime (and thanks to a strong production company, maintained its production standards - except for partial nudity); Sliders started on Fox and went downhill because its producers weren’t as well-backed as SG-1’s. Being Human is a port from the BBC, while Torchwood, Primeval and the new Doctor Who are straight imports. I say, feed the current board to the Saturday night monsters and raid the next WorldCon for some people who really know what SF is all about.
★They also have a lot of nerve adopting or adapting other networks’ stuff and calling it “original”.
I don’t watch SyFy at all. It’s more like watching commercials with some television filler in between. I used to watch the New Year’s Twilight Zone marathin, but now I own the whole uncut series. I exjoy it much more.
I want SciFi back!! Our family counted the down the launch at the very beginning and we miss it a LOT! Ok, there were some schlock shows, but even the worst (Dr. Ruehl’s UFO show) was bettter than WRESTLING, for heaven’s sake.
Brian, I really hope someone sees this strip!! You said it very well.
GROG Premium Member almost 14 years ago
Never heard of that one.
Donna White almost 14 years ago
Used to be, I lived for Syfy’s Friday night line-up. Not so much, any more. “Sanctuary” is good, and so are “Eureka” and “Haven”, but most of the shows I liked have either been cancelled, in favor of more lame “reality” shows (or wrestling - what’s with that? I know it qualifies as fiction, but science? - not so much) or moved to other nights. Syfy channel deliberately killed SGU by moving it to Tuesday night and not taking the stronger competition into consideration. They don’t even run “Dr. Who” any more.
Sorry for the rant! Guess this strip just touched a nerve. Anyway - Good one, Brian!
Colt9033 almost 14 years ago
Well, NBCUniversal/ComCast owns Syfy now, maybe they can undo the bleeep idology the USA Network did to it.
Mary Ann Jones Premium Member almost 14 years ago
I hope they do improve…it USED to be one of my favorite channels. Now…lots of ….nothing I’d want to watch.
Donna White almost 14 years ago
Um, Colt9033, NBC owned SYfy, along with USA. USA didn’t own Syfy. Lets hope, now that Comcast has taken over, that they make some positive changes.
Sugie63 almost 14 years ago
It used to be SciFi and now it’s SyFy. Me thinks it has nothing to do with science fiction any more:-(((
fritzoid Premium Member almost 14 years ago
I Want My MTV Back.
pswhitlark almost 14 years ago
Now that I finally have SYFY, there ain’t nothing on, most of the time. (Darn it all to heck and back)
runar almost 14 years ago
The four most dreaded words in the English language: ”…a SyFy original movie…”
joefish25 almost 14 years ago
I agree with you, catlady1
pschearer Premium Member almost 14 years ago
The decline of the SciFi / SyFy Channel is tragic.
The several great shows they have presented over the years are, as this cartoon and many comments show, now overwhelmed by movies too bad even to laugh at and by … wrestling! WRESTLING?!?
I’ve never heard even the faintest hint of a reason for wrestling on a science fiction channel. I’m not sure what the SyFy target demographic is supposed to be (though I’m sure I’m not it), but if they think they must appeal to adolescent boys, they should simply show hours of scantily-clad young women running about and cut out the pretense.
(The quality of SGU is a matter of opinion. As a giant fan of SG-1 and SG-A, I could not stand the claustrophia, paranoia, and overwhelming darkness of SG-U. But your mileage may vary.)
drhibbitts3 almost 14 years ago
Pro wrestling, shark v. python v. anaconda v. octopus v. 80’s pop starlets. Sheesh. They spend piles of cash on these, yet allow a “Dresden Files”, “Stargate Universe” Galactica franchise to die or vanish. It seems like they don’t have a vision for any of their self-developed properties past the 1st 3 episodes, and interfere with the direction or creative processes of these shows until they become unwatchable by their target audience. I hope they don’t allow the upcoming “Torchwood” franchise to die in such a manner. On the plus side, they have had success in putting out less dark, more accessable fare like Warehouse 13, Eureka, Sanctuary, and now Being Human. At times they seem downright bipolar, but at least they haven’t ruined these shows by becoming too dark.
runar almost 14 years ago
Don’t forget that some of their best properties started out elsewhere★. SG-1 started on Showtime (and thanks to a strong production company, maintained its production standards - except for partial nudity); Sliders started on Fox and went downhill because its producers weren’t as well-backed as SG-1’s. Being Human is a port from the BBC, while Torchwood, Primeval and the new Doctor Who are straight imports. I say, feed the current board to the Saturday night monsters and raid the next WorldCon for some people who really know what SF is all about.
★They also have a lot of nerve adopting or adapting other networks’ stuff and calling it “original”.
fritzoid Premium Member almost 14 years ago
Has SyFy jumped the sharktopus?
bossyheifer almost 14 years ago
RC - ditto! (loved MST3K, have several DVDs)
fritz - how right you are!
pschearer Premium Member almost 14 years ago
Fritz: Excellent joke. Thanks.
mnd0829 almost 14 years ago
I feel the same way about what has happened to the former SiFi channel.
GROG Premium Member almost 14 years ago
I don’t watch SyFy at all. It’s more like watching commercials with some television filler in between. I used to watch the New Year’s Twilight Zone marathin, but now I own the whole uncut series. I exjoy it much more.
ellisaana Premium Member almost 14 years ago
It has never been the same since the wormhole was sealed.
bblosser almost 14 years ago
I want SciFi back!! Our family counted the down the launch at the very beginning and we miss it a LOT! Ok, there were some schlock shows, but even the worst (Dr. Ruehl’s UFO show) was bettter than WRESTLING, for heaven’s sake.
Brian, I really hope someone sees this strip!! You said it very well.
pswhitlark almost 14 years ago
You know, I think it would be better if they move wrestling to the Soap channel. All those wrestling shows have become one BIG soap opera.