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UPN Passes on Firefly
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Posted by: Fleegle

Check out the 1/9/03 post on timminear.net. UPN has passed on Firefly. Personally, I loved the show, but I never thought UPN would pick it up. They'd view it as competition for Enterprise...

Posted by: LoadStar

Well, though I didn't really think about if they would or wouldn't pick up the show, I did think that UPN was probably the best hope for the show. Joss and ME as a whole have a better relationship with UPN than with the other broadcast networks, save perhaps WB. And since WB doesn't really do sci-fi at all, I didn't really think WB would be a strong candidate.

If they want to save the show, they now have to look to a regular or pay TV cable network. It's possible that a pay TV network would pick it up - say, Showtime for example - but I don't see it. It doesn't seem to me to be a pay TV type show for some reason. I could be wrong - they tend to surprise me from time to time.

That leaves regular cable, and there the candidates are networks include TNT, which is a Time Warner network and seems to be setting themselves up to be a "cable WB" with frequent re-purposing of WB shows along with their slate of dramas and movies, so I'm not seeing they'd be too interested.

Sci-Fi is heavily cutting down shows that are not produced internally - see Farscape, so they're out.

USA is the same as Sci-Fi.

And finally, TNN, but they just announced a new chief and a new goal to be the network for guys - Firefly doesn't seem to fit into that goal.

So - as a result, I'm thinking Firefly is dead in the water. Sorry, Firefly fans...

Posted by: murgatroyd

:(

Yet another miserable Friday night without Firefly.

Jan

Posted by: DanT

Damn.

[Silver Lining]
Well, maybe this means we'll get the DVD set sooner.
[/Silver Lining]

Of course, I'd much rather have a few more seasons than a DVD box set in the next year.

Posted by: coldtoes

quote:
Originally posted by LoadStar
It's possible that a pay TV network would pick it up - say, Showtime for example...

I'd been thinking Showtime was Firefly's best (only?) hope. They seem to have a commitment to sci fi, and give most of their original series a decent chance. But I don't know that they would want a hand-me-down series rather than one they originated. (I have been thinking of writing to ask them, though...)

Posted by: Rob Helmerichs

Showtime is getting out of the sci fi business, unfortunately...they dumped Stargate last year, Odyssey 5 this year, and are only renewing Jeremiah for contractual reasons.

Posted by: UnionBuster

Well, if FOX wants to play hardball, they could suggest that if Firefly were picked up, they'd be more willing to keep their 20% stake in UPN affiliates with UPN.

Posted by: Worf

quote:
Originally posted by DanT
Damn.

[Silver Lining]
Well, maybe this means we'll get the DVD set sooner.
[/Silver Lining]

Of course, I'd much rather have a few more seasons than a DVD box set in the next year.

Don't keep your hopes up... shows that crash and burn typically don't have DVD releases... no matter how good they are. I just wish I could get some DVDs of the shows that were cancelled - my TiVo would've erased them already, so all I have are lousy VHS transfers.

(It's even worse when a station covers up the fact that it showed the show... don't know if this will happen with firefly, but...)

Posted by: Otto

Hmm.. I'd consider getting a channel if they picked up Firefly. Showtime, right now, has nothing that interests me in terms of normal programming. And their movies generally aren't any better than HBO's. HBO has a bit more variety. Starz has too many theme channels with that package (like I care about Westerns). But HBO has Oz. And a few other decent series that I like (Arliss is good for occassional viewing, Sex and the City used to be something I watched until I realized that every season was comprised of the same episodes with new titles and other people in them. :p).

A few more series would do these pay channels a world of good. There's just not enough to get them for the series alone. With the Tivo, I can record the movies anytime they're on, so they could cut back on those a bit, and I wouldn't notice.

I guess what I'm saying is the reason I get HBO and not Showtime, for example, is the better series they have available. That's the tiebreaker.

Posted by: murgatroyd

Yeah, I passed on getting Digital Cable because I didn't want to hassle with a cable box again, but I'd have to think seriously about it if it meant I could have Firefly back.

On the DVD set question, I too would like to have DVDs but don't know how likely it is. On the other hand, there are DVDs for Sports Night, which only lasted 2 seasons, so I guess that's some proof that a show doesn't have to have monster ratings to get a video release.

On the other other hand, I have no idea of the numbers involved. If every one of us who liked Firefly ran out and bought DVDs, are there enough of us to make it worthwhile for someone to make any?

I'm assuming that this group of potential customers would include some folks who have missed the show entirely but would be willing to take a chance just because it's Joss (people getting into Buffy now or in the near future due to the DVD releases). But how many? Would there be enough?

Jan

Posted by: Cathy/Vik

*sigh*
:(

*edit*According to www.fireflyfans.net, Joss will try to approach Sci-Fi network with Firefly. Maybe not for a season of shows, but maybe a miniseries or movie.*/edit*

Posted by: Worf

Well that just sucks for Canada... sci-fi doesn't show up here unless we pirate satellite...

Posted by: Family

Too bad.... I thought UPN was the best fit. Doesn't look good. Firefly was a show that had promise, but in an era where there is a station for everything.... there seemed to be none for this show.

Posted by: doom1701

As Otto said, I'd pick up a channel if they picked up Firefly. We don't have any premium channels (stuff is scrolling off the TiVo as it is), but I'd pick up a subscription if it meant we kept this show.

Posted by: sguthrie

I'm really bummed about this - I went into Firefly thinking that it would probably be bad, but maybe we'd get lucky an it would be okay. At first I thought we DID get lucky and it WAS okay. Then as the season went on I found myself thinking that it was actually pretty darn good!

Mabye if they had renamed it "Who Wants to Marry a Space Guy" it would still be on the air. :rolleyes:

Posted by: sschwart

I'm still holding my breath! C'mond Sci-FI, or WB... You know you want it :)

Turning blue in the face.....

-Steve

Posted by: bdowell

Agreed along with everyone else. I can't stand Showtime, since they have virtually nothing that appeals to me, but I'd gladly pay them $12 a month if they'd give Firefly a new home.

It would seem a logical fit. Showtime is part of Viacom, no?

Viacom is parent to UPN (along with partnership with Fox who controls several of the UPN stations).

UPN already has a decent relationship with Joss Whedon and ME through their relationship with Buffy.

So much logic, so little chance (alas) of it actually working, but I say again, I'd gladly pay for Showtime if they'd pick up this show.

The plus side would be that they could add extra time versus that networks that must include 20 minutes of commercials, and/or they could easily cede back up to 20 minutes time to Showtime which they could use to promote other programming that *might* appeal to the fans of Firefly.

Considering the dregs of the programming that Showtime had (at last check), Firefly would certainly be an improvement.

Anything that would let the show get about 90 more episodes done so it would become a nice syndicated repeats smash hit would be great :D

Posted by: stormsweeper

Since Sci Fi has been moving away from space shows, I doubt they'd pick up Firefly.

Posted by: grins

I thought I'd heard some rumors of ME bundling Firefly with another show of their shows...was that just wishful thinking?

t