Post by Mustex on Feb 2, 2005 21:35:26 GMT -5
Most likely a purist's last-ditch attempt to cope with reality.
forums.battlestargalacticaclub.com/index.php?showtopic=3456
Rumor Control
Wed Feb 02, 2005 7:53 pm
From TwoBrainedCylon (Former Cylon Alliance Owner)
I hope to clear up a couple of things bouncing on the boards.
Sci-Fi will not make a PERMANENT decision on whether or not to press for a second season for quite a while. According to Aaron Douglas, they are waiting until the 18th to make a decision. That doesn't exactly concur with things I've been told but it doesn't necessarily conflict with them either. Its possible that on the 18th, the new series will be given a "GO" to press with the celebrated six more episodes but you can expect those to be hurled in the trashcan the moment the new series doesn't perform according to the now lowered expectations. Ron is very much under the gun to get and keep more viewers and some at Skiffy are very sorry they pissed away the original fanbase as they did. When they made these decisions, they felt we were insignificant and didn't matter. Now, (to them) we form the "swing voters" that could make the difference.
The new shows initial ratings don't amount to much as they were based largely on very aggressive marketing (well beyond Skiffy's normal efforts) and name recognition from the original series. The execs are waiting to see where the show settles ratings-wise. So far, they haven't been impressed. That's partly because of the new series itself and partly because their expectations were very inflated. Whether due to his promises or their own dreams, Skiffy execs expected performance out of Ron's show that I think was probably a little bit unrealistic.
The rumor that a decision would be made after the first few episodes was accurate to some degree in that Skiffy intended to cancel the show if it didn't perform really strongly right out of the gate. So far its ratings are below their expectations but they aren't giving up on it yet. They have other concerns beyond mere ratings that may cancel the show even if the ratings maintain above their "axe level". That's not to indicate that they're hoping to kill the series. Most want to see it succeed. However, like Farscape, when the numbers aren't there they simply aren't there. In the case of Ron's Galactica, the numbers not only need to show that they justify the cost but also that Skiffy can't get the same numbers with another venture that might be cheaper and not alienate viewers they want to court for their other shows. The core of the original series fans were supposed to "come around" and team with the new viewers to form a very strong fanbase. The raw numbers don't indicate this has happenned. This is partly why the ratings may seem strong enough to justify a renewal but may not result in a second season. There are other factors I'm not yet willing to publicly share but which do cause additional roadblocks for the show.
If the new series dies the original may have another chance to get its shot but that chance isn't good. If the situation were pitched to random studios, his series poor performance might sway them against choosing to pursue the original. In this case, TPTB who will make these decisions are well aware of the history of the revival attempts and just how different Ron's show is from what the fans asked to see. However, they weren't enthusiastic about bringing back the original before so I can't see that they've suddenly gained more enthusiasm. Those claiming that Ron's series affects continuation chances are only correct in that while his series is active, the original will not be considered. If his series dies quickly, things go back to the 2002 scenario. If not, and it suddenly becomes a big hit, the chances of the orginal returning drop from slim to practically none. Again, Ron's success doesn't do a continuation effort any good despite the self-proclaimed experts telling you otherwise.
Slim as it is, the best chance for a continuation remains with Tom DeSanto. I announced a few weeks ago that Glen Larson can't make a BSG production. This has nothing to do with funding. Its a legal issue. Glen is making claims he could never support. Richard wants to be a player in this game but, as much as I like him personally, he doesn't have any more sway on bringing back Galactica than Ron would should he suddenly want to pitch to make a continuation. I don't mean to toss water on anyone's camp fire but think everyone should build their houses on something other than a sand dune.
MY PERSONAL OPINION
I personally hope Ron does get at least six more episodes to bring the series to some sort of stopping point. Its in Skiffy's interest to allow him to do that, even if the ratings are just barely getting by. They can replay the series better when it comes to some sort of ending than having something that ends as this one does currently. I'm fairly confident that he'll get to start them but I'm not so certain that he'll get to finish them once they're started but in fairness, since the fans of the new series have seen 17 hours of the thing, they should at least get the story completed to some degree.
Tom DeSanto hasn't given up on Galactica and if Ron fails or even hits a stopping point, his efforts will likely get a far better response. His latest animated series idea was seen by many as a spin on the animated Star Trek series. Tom's idea was far more sophisticated. He wanted to bring forth what I can only call "Final Fantasy on Steroids". He was going to revive the original show in a way that didn't require a 25-years later approach but would marry the original actor's voices with their top-quality animated characters. It wouldn't have been photorealistic but it would have been pretty damn close.
I don't know the details of what DeSanto presented but I'm led to believe that he intended to bring back Adama and Baltar. I've also heard that he expected the animated concept, which was to be presented as a series of telemovies, to transition to a new series or big-screen movie. That later live action feature wouldn't be centered around the original actors but would focus on a new cast that could lead the original concept into a new hit series. Say what you might about DeSanto but he doesn't plan small when it comes to Galactica. (NOTE - The above is based somewhat on rumor and I can't fully certify it as fact. The rumors do fit the few facts I know about it however).
Sandy
www.cylon.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=2294
Wed Feb 02, 2005 7:53 pm
From TwoBrainedCylon (Former Cylon Alliance Owner)
I hope to clear up a couple of things bouncing on the boards.
Sci-Fi will not make a PERMANENT decision on whether or not to press for a second season for quite a while. According to Aaron Douglas, they are waiting until the 18th to make a decision. That doesn't exactly concur with things I've been told but it doesn't necessarily conflict with them either. Its possible that on the 18th, the new series will be given a "GO" to press with the celebrated six more episodes but you can expect those to be hurled in the trashcan the moment the new series doesn't perform according to the now lowered expectations. Ron is very much under the gun to get and keep more viewers and some at Skiffy are very sorry they pissed away the original fanbase as they did. When they made these decisions, they felt we were insignificant and didn't matter. Now, (to them) we form the "swing voters" that could make the difference.
The new shows initial ratings don't amount to much as they were based largely on very aggressive marketing (well beyond Skiffy's normal efforts) and name recognition from the original series. The execs are waiting to see where the show settles ratings-wise. So far, they haven't been impressed. That's partly because of the new series itself and partly because their expectations were very inflated. Whether due to his promises or their own dreams, Skiffy execs expected performance out of Ron's show that I think was probably a little bit unrealistic.
The rumor that a decision would be made after the first few episodes was accurate to some degree in that Skiffy intended to cancel the show if it didn't perform really strongly right out of the gate. So far its ratings are below their expectations but they aren't giving up on it yet. They have other concerns beyond mere ratings that may cancel the show even if the ratings maintain above their "axe level". That's not to indicate that they're hoping to kill the series. Most want to see it succeed. However, like Farscape, when the numbers aren't there they simply aren't there. In the case of Ron's Galactica, the numbers not only need to show that they justify the cost but also that Skiffy can't get the same numbers with another venture that might be cheaper and not alienate viewers they want to court for their other shows. The core of the original series fans were supposed to "come around" and team with the new viewers to form a very strong fanbase. The raw numbers don't indicate this has happenned. This is partly why the ratings may seem strong enough to justify a renewal but may not result in a second season. There are other factors I'm not yet willing to publicly share but which do cause additional roadblocks for the show.
If the new series dies the original may have another chance to get its shot but that chance isn't good. If the situation were pitched to random studios, his series poor performance might sway them against choosing to pursue the original. In this case, TPTB who will make these decisions are well aware of the history of the revival attempts and just how different Ron's show is from what the fans asked to see. However, they weren't enthusiastic about bringing back the original before so I can't see that they've suddenly gained more enthusiasm. Those claiming that Ron's series affects continuation chances are only correct in that while his series is active, the original will not be considered. If his series dies quickly, things go back to the 2002 scenario. If not, and it suddenly becomes a big hit, the chances of the orginal returning drop from slim to practically none. Again, Ron's success doesn't do a continuation effort any good despite the self-proclaimed experts telling you otherwise.
Slim as it is, the best chance for a continuation remains with Tom DeSanto. I announced a few weeks ago that Glen Larson can't make a BSG production. This has nothing to do with funding. Its a legal issue. Glen is making claims he could never support. Richard wants to be a player in this game but, as much as I like him personally, he doesn't have any more sway on bringing back Galactica than Ron would should he suddenly want to pitch to make a continuation. I don't mean to toss water on anyone's camp fire but think everyone should build their houses on something other than a sand dune.
MY PERSONAL OPINION
I personally hope Ron does get at least six more episodes to bring the series to some sort of stopping point. Its in Skiffy's interest to allow him to do that, even if the ratings are just barely getting by. They can replay the series better when it comes to some sort of ending than having something that ends as this one does currently. I'm fairly confident that he'll get to start them but I'm not so certain that he'll get to finish them once they're started but in fairness, since the fans of the new series have seen 17 hours of the thing, they should at least get the story completed to some degree.
Tom DeSanto hasn't given up on Galactica and if Ron fails or even hits a stopping point, his efforts will likely get a far better response. His latest animated series idea was seen by many as a spin on the animated Star Trek series. Tom's idea was far more sophisticated. He wanted to bring forth what I can only call "Final Fantasy on Steroids". He was going to revive the original show in a way that didn't require a 25-years later approach but would marry the original actor's voices with their top-quality animated characters. It wouldn't have been photorealistic but it would have been pretty damn close.
I don't know the details of what DeSanto presented but I'm led to believe that he intended to bring back Adama and Baltar. I've also heard that he expected the animated concept, which was to be presented as a series of telemovies, to transition to a new series or big-screen movie. That later live action feature wouldn't be centered around the original actors but would focus on a new cast that could lead the original concept into a new hit series. Say what you might about DeSanto but he doesn't plan small when it comes to Galactica. (NOTE - The above is based somewhat on rumor and I can't fully certify it as fact. The rumors do fit the few facts I know about it however).
Sandy
www.cylon.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=2294
forums.battlestargalacticaclub.com/index.php?showtopic=3456
)