BSG, Stargate, and the Scifi Channel

Okay, I’ll admit it. I was getting scared. Was Battlestar Galactica going the way of Lost? Meaning, would it plummet from the heights of storytelling to the depths of regular television? (Sorry Lost fans, but that show has lost – no pun intended – the magic it once possessed.) But I’m pleased to say that BSG has righted the ship.

Last weeks episode, while unusually political for BSG, was a triumph, and Ronald D. Moore has said that the rest of season is going to blow our collective socks off. I expect a long and exciting story arc, building to the inevitable cliff hanger. Very exciting.

Still, I wonder what lies in BSG’s future. The Scifi Channel only renewed the show for 13 episodes, with the caveat that if the ratings are high, they’ll grant them another 7 to complete the season. Harsh language in 5. . .4. . .3 . . .2 . . . 1. . . That’s bullshit. BSG is the best show on that network, and that’s coming from a huge Stargate fan. Yeah, they’ve stumbled with the last few stand alones, but even bad Battlestar is better than most shows put out there.

Besides, when did these problems with the ratings begin? Before Scifi broke up The Big 3, Stargate SG-1, Stargate Atlantis, and Battlestar Galactica usually led the network in the Nielsen, pulling in anything between a 1.8 to a 2.2 any given week. These numbers are what I’ve observed on both Scifi and Gateworld. Then, for some brain-dead reason, Scifi split them up. Each show plummeted to an average rating of about 1.3. This catastrophe led to SG-1’s demise (which is a real fracking shame), and Atlantis and BSG’s begrudged continuation. If ratings don’t improve, I think we can expect both shows to end after their upcoming seasons.

Oh, yeah, and putting BSG at 10pm on Sunday isn’t exactly the height of intelligence either.

If Scifi wants to improve the ratings of their programming, then they might want to try creating more shows like Stargate and BSG (did I mention that Eureka only got renewed after the completion of its season, despite a 2.0 average. So now we have to wait 9 months for it to return, and I can only wonder how many viewers they might lose), and a few less of those Saturday gore fests they try to pass off as cinema. I really don’t need to see Dean Cain in another film, thanks very much.

Those are some of my opinions. What do you think?

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Comments

  1. Sean from DocintheBox says

    I’m listening to LE Modesitt interview, great job man! He’s my favorite author. Glad to see more SciFi readers in Sandy Eggo.

  2. Shaun Farrell says

    Thanks, Sean. Lee actually appears in 2 episodes! Which was a blast. And he recorded bumpers for me for both AISFP and The Silk Code. So, he’s pretty much the coolest guy in the field. Hope you like the interview.

  3. Sean from DocintheBox says

    I’ve chatted with him on his message board, his writing sticks to your brain like glue and he’s very logical about any subject you can name. Looking forward to hearing the second part along with the rest of your interviews. I have a 1500 or so book library of mostly SciFi and Fantasy and am just getting into the scene out here, going to the SF & F dinner meet up on Tuesday for dinner at studio diner to trade some in. Geek I am.

  4. Shaun Farrell says

    1500 Scifi novels?? Man, you’re giving me a run for my money!

  5. Sean from DocintheBox says

    Let me know if you need anything

  6. The Silk Code says

    Oh, you shouldn’t have said that! Actually, if I didn’t buy another book for the next 2 years, I still wouldn’t have enough time to just catch up with what I already have. I’m out of control.

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