FOX UPFRONTS REACTIONS

R.I.P. Shows : STOP CANCELLING SCI-FI SHOWS FOX!

Dark Angel, Firefly, Dollhouse, Terminator the Sarah Connor Chronicle, Alcatraz, Terranova and now Almost Human. Every year I mourn the death of some of the best sci-fi shows to the hands of Fox’s evil programmers and every year I just see that list grow! The only survivor so far has been Fringe which lasted 5 miraculous [and awesome] seasons. Almost Human was one of my favorite new shows this years and its cancellation was deeply painful for me.

Almost Human 1st impressions HERE

It also annoys me that Almost Human had similar ratings to The Following! The latter was such a hyped show. Not a bad show at all, but it is going down the same road The Vampire Diaries in my opinion: Sacrificing character development in favor of endless plot twists. The Following is basically TVD with serial killers instead of vampires [and an older/more famous cast]. Not necessarily a bad thing… but I think Almost Human was unique and had immense unrealized potential. It wasn’t quite there yet, but I could see everything they were setting up for future plots, much like they did on Fringe. I think S2, S3 and beyond of Almost Human could have been awesome. But, a show about serial killers is more universal than a cyberpunk show, I guess…

My only question is: If Fox is not willing to give niche sci-fi shows a chance to grow… why keep commissioning them!?

I am also a little sad about losing Rake, which was growing on me [and I do love Greg Kinnear], and Enlisted, which I thought had the potential to embrace the quirkiness and become a good comedy. On the other hand, I love David Boreanaz and think Bones is a very enjoyable show, but I think is time for them to go… I really want to see something new on Fox! At least they are not making Bones: LA, Bones: NY and Bones: Space odyssey. You are probably laughing… but you know CBS would totally do it.  

Expectations vs. Reality: I got it right but Fox didn’t

My Fox pick last year was: Almost Human. And it was absolutely my favourite show on Fox and one of my favorite new shows overall. Fringe wasn’t at its prime until season 2 or 3. Remember, we didn’t even find out about “the other side” until the finale of S1 and that was the coolest part of Fringe [who doesn’t love a good zeppelin, right?]. Almost Human was just beginning. So many potential stories we will never get to see. Forgive me while I go cry my geek eyes out for a little while.

2014-15 Season: It will be a year of 10 part EVENTS! Which I think it’s just a fancy way of saying “miniseries”

I am not sure what is going on with FOX yet, but apparently they are going to air quite a few short series (10 episodes) and I am not sure if they are just miniseries or of they plan to renew them for a second series. Knowing how the American TV market works they will probably renew anything that has good enough ratings.

Gracepoint looks really great, but so did the UK original Broadchurch. I never understood why Americans have to remake shows instead of just airing the originals. Paying a licence fee has got to be cheaper than making a show again! I am sure there is a reason and studies about this, but I’d love to know the answer. In any case Gracepoint looks good. Two funny things about this remake 1) The Americans actually cast the original British actor. UK’s big star David Tennant [better known for playing “The Doctor”] 2) They did not cast the original British actress. They replaced her with Anna Gunn (Breaking Bad). Broadchurch’s leading lady, Olivia Colman, just won a BAFTA for best actress [and gave the loveliest acceptance speech]. I haven’t seen Broadchurch, but I plan to watch it this summer and I see a “Who did it Better?” post in my future.

And My Fox Pick of the Year [which most likely will get cancelled] is:

I was torn between Gotham and Wayward Pines, which looks like a darker version of Twin Peaks. In the end I went with Gotham, because I am a geek and I am still confused about this whole “10 part event” thing. Anyway, Gotham… I could be SO WRONG about this one. It could very easily be awful, but… I am excited about it. I love Batman stories and the whole film noir vibe it has going on. I also love Benjamin McKenzie… and I know he may come out as a little boring and too intense… but yeah, that tortured thing totally does it for me. The show is produced by Bruno Heller who has worked on The Mentalist and Rome. If you think about it… if he could combine both styles, Gotham could be a really neat show.

I’ll also watch Empire mainly because of the great cast, but am I the only one who feels Terrence Howard has played that character at least 3 times before? I think I’ll pass on Mulaney [SNL Seinfeld ]and Backstrom [Bones meets The Office meets House?]. Now Hieroglyph… I really don’t know… the trailer looked a little too much for my taste. It was almost like an SPN spin-off, “Egypt Supernatural”. But, let’s be real… I’ll watch it just for Max Brown and his sexy accent. Train scene anyone? No? Just me? OK… 

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