For those of you lucky enough to get Doctor Who... (and why we're not)

[Deja Q]

Be sure to turn in to the episode following "World War III".

I just saw the trailer.

OMG. I am so frigging impatient for next week to occur.

I.

CAN'T.

WAIT!!

Sci-fi channel can take its middle finger and spin on it for all I care; they've lost out by not picking up on a solid series that is easily the best thing on television right now. (oh yeah, some are now claiming no US station will air it because "World War III" has an anti-* reference in it. Purportedly. I've yet to see the episode...

[Deja Q]

1. Kick?

WW III was a great episode and definitely explains why the US won't pick it up. It also doesn't beat around any bushes getting to its point as well.

[Az]

2. Lets use this thread to bash SciFi channel

Got my Dr Who thread working. But you raise a point here. I like to contrast two channels on cable as good/bad examples.

The Cartoon Network and the SciFi channel came around at about the same time. Both seemed like really good ideas. Both were targetting a specific niche with specific fans. But one seems to have gotten it while the other went the route of corporate money maker.

SciFi channel has always gone with which ever route promised an easier time planning the next seasons budget while providing easily predictible numbers to the advertisers.

Cartoon Network has consistantly taken risks. Even to the extent of slaughtering decades of built up product identity of their parent company by allowing extreme experimentation with their characters. You can tell that the programmers behind Cartoon Network are fans of the medium. There is passion and inside jokes shared with the audience. Not everything works but everything seems to be honestly presented by people that care.

This contrasts with SciFi which prechews everything in a commitee. They attempt to hit all the popular hot buttons. They create nothing truly original as that cannot be predicted and therefor presented to the advertisers with set numbers to determine their interest.

[Deja Q]

3. All's fair in bashing and war

I must agree.

Sci-fi also has a knack of re-airing a show come time for a new DVD release. Buck Rogers, all the BSG shows they want to make or air, Knight Rider, their 'reality' shows (:eyes:) and so on... I've seen little that's risky; remakes and 'reality' shows being popular.

But Dr Who has a HUGE cult following. Even the chap at the bookstore was surprised when he heard no US channel would pick it up. Dr Who would be a GIGANTIC moneymaker.

Hopefully Warner Bros, who releases the classic series, will release the new one when it arrives on DVD in November.

[Az]

4. Real SciFi impacts society

I think that is what is so anemic about the SciFi channel. They only play with safe commidities. Anything that might scare an idea or and advertiser is verboten. Cartoon Network meanwhile handed Yogi Bear over to John Krisfoluci (sp?) and let him go nutz.

Of course SciFi is going to stay away from Dr Who. It wasn't even that episode that did it. Dr Who from the past is safe. The issues the show raised were applicable to their time. The new Dr Who is just as edgey and thus dangerous to ideas of this time. Not safe for corporate interests.