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Sci-Fi TV Saturday: 2013, Doctor Who, Fringe, Lost, Smallville, V + more November 8, 2009

by Rosario T. Calabria , Filed under: Sci-Fi , trackback

In Sci-Fi TV this week, there’s news on a TV series based on the upcoming film 2012, V premiering strong (and a showrunner change and interviews with the cast), Michael Shanks talking about his role as Hawkman on Smallville, Fringe season two scoops, Steven Moffat talking about the future of Doctor Who and more, including the latest television ratings, casting bites, images and videos.

GENRE TV NEWS

V Premieres With Impressive Ratings + Showrunner Change
The series premiere of "V" Tuesday night drew an impressive 14.30 million viewers and a record-high — for a new series this fall — 5.2 A18-49 rating.  The show grew in each 1/4 hour, peaking from 8:45-9:00 p.m. with 15.0 million viewers and a 5.5 A18-49 rating.  Meanwhile, THR has reported that "Chuck" executive producer Scott Rosenbaum has come on board the new series to serve as executive producer/showrunner. Jeff Bell, who joined the show in June and was replaced by Scott Peters in late August after the show went on "creative hiatus" after episodes two and three were shot, is expected to depart.  Peters will remain on board as an executive producer alongside Jace Hall and Steve Pearlman. In other news, here are some excerpts from interviews given by stars Morena Baccarin and Laura Vandervoort.  Baccarin was asked to respond to comparisons that some in the press have been making about how her character Anna is meant to be President Barack Obama:

"I don’t think we’re saying Anna is President Obama. But she is the leader of her people, and she is coming down to Earth and offering healthcare, and offering cures for diseases, and things that sort of clean out and give people hope, and there are definite parallels to be drawn and our intentions are to create a show that people relate to. And I think this is something that’s been on people’s minds, even before Obama… finding hope again, and healthcare, and finding a leader, and someone who can save us from the hole we’ve gotten ourselves into."

And here’s an excerpt of Sci-Fi TV Zone’s interview with Laura Vandervoort discussing her character Lisa:

You say she’s there for peace –

"I was just going to say, the way you can look at it is she’s been given an order to get humans to join the Ambassador Program, and that’s her task and that’s what she’s there for. She’s very focused, and she’s getting the best possible humans she thinks are appropriate for the job."

Do you think she’s going to develop a more sympathetic side?

"I think so, without giving too much away, I think when she experiences a bit of the hate that’s going on with the Visitors being on earth, and protestors, some of the things she sees impact her more than she expects. She feels more for some of the humans, I think, and I think she’s learning more about dealing with conflict and not being wanted. "

Read the complete interviews at io9 and Sci-Fi TV Zone (plus another with Vandervoort at VisitorSite).  "V" airs Tuesday’s at 8:00 p.m. on ABC.

Episode two – "There Is No Normal Anymore" [more at VisitorSite]

Episode three – "It’s Only The Beginning" [more at VisitorSite]

Promotional posters

Promo for episode two – "There Is No More Normal Anymore"

Sneak peek at episode two

Watch more clips at this link

Fringe Season Two Scoop
"Fringe" returned Thursday night after two weeks off the air due to Baseball and SCI FI Wire has the scoop on some of the threads that remain to be answered for the rest of the second season.  Here’s a selection of some of what’s to come:

Do we meet the alternate-universe versions of Walter (John Noble)? Olivia (Anna Torv)?

"I have that question as well," Torv said. "I’m hoping that there is [an alt-Olivia]. But then I don’t know … which I would prefer if she ends up coming. I don’t know if I would prefer her to be just, like, fractionally off. … I would love to see … she’s completely, you know, 180 [degrees different]. … My pitch would be, and I think that’s what a lot of people are saying, too, … with the discovery of the fact that the Peter here is clearly not from here, then it makes sense that maybe the Walter over there is angry with the Walter here, and that’s kind of the whole thing behind [the Pattern]. But I don’t know. They do sometimes surprise. Sometimes they put these clues in and then they flip it on its head and you’ve been wrong all along. But that’s where I’m going."

Will Olivia meet and confront the Observer?

Yes. "There’s an episode coming up that is called ‘August,’ and it sort of deals with the Observer," Torv says. "It’s a really, really beautiful, beautiful episode, actually, so I won’t say anything more, but that’s actually very soon. Yeah."

Will Walter confront his old partner, William Bell (Leonard Nimoy)?

Count on it.

"We’ve introduced William Bell as a major player now, and Leonard’s been back a couple of times," Noble says, revealing: "I did a lovely scene with him the other day. A very interesting scene which I’m not going to tell you about, but it was amazing. What it revealed. The revelation in that was shocking. It was shocking to me when I read it."

Noble adds: "What we’re dealing with is, we’ve been told that there’s a breach, that there will have to be a repercussion for this breach. And so as we build through now, we’re coming towards what they’re calling a war. … [If you] break the laws of nature, you will pay. That’s going to happen. So we’ll build through season two up to that point. In the meantime, we’ll continue to do stories that are interesting, and we’ve done some, I think some of our very, very best scripts. Last, this year, we’ve done some amazing [things]. Just what we’ve been shooting for the last five episodes is extraordinary."

"Fringe" airs Thursday’s at 9:00 p.m. on Fox.

Set images [more at SpoilerTV]

Episode eight – "August" [SpoilerTV]

Promo for episode seven – "Of Human Action"

Featurette: Scenemaker for episode six – "Earthling"

Michael Shanks Talks about his Smallville Gig
Michael Shanks ("Stargate SG-1") will play the DC Comics character Hawkman in an upcoming episode of The CW’s "Smallville", and the actor spoke with Huffington Post about the role, which he’ll play in the upcoming two-part JLA-focused story arc "Society" and "Legends", both penned by comic book writer Geoff Johns:

OK, I have to jump right in to your guest appearance as Hawkman on Smallville because everyone is freaking out about it. I know you can’t tell me a lot, but what can you tell me?

"Well, I think the cat’s out of the proverbial bag, but a few characters from the Justice Society are showing up in Smallville this season, in an episode which has now been turned into a two-parter. "Society" is directed by Glen Winter, and the second part, "Legends" is directed by Tom Welling. And both written by Geoff Johns, who is the famous comic book writer who also gave rebirth in the DC Universe to the character I’m playing, Hawkman. So what can I tell you about the plot line? Hmm."

I know you can’t reveal much…

"Let’s just say that a few of the Justice Society characters have come out of retirement to meet up with an old foe and happen to cross paths with Clark (Tom Welling) and some of the characters from the Justice League. And let’s just say there are some misunderstandings."

I heard that there may be some sort of fight between Chloe (Allison Mack), Green Arrow (Justin Hartley) and Hawkman.

Yeah, there’s going to be some stuff going on. There’s going to be some stuff going on for sure. There’s going to be some conflict. Both with heroes and villains alike. [laughs] I love doing this dance…it’s one of those things where I was told, when I was originally getting the part, one of my publicists wanted to know what was going on, and just even that, they said, ‘No, we can’t. We have to wait until it’s legally cleared. There’s all this stuff and legal wranglings and we kind of don’t want anyone to know.’ They want to control the information and I get that. But literally the next day, some website thing had it up. All the information. More information then even I knew. And I went, oh, OK, there goes that.

Here are some more "Smallville" ‘bites’:

Episode eight – "Idol"  [more at KryptonSite]

Promo for episode nine – "Idol"

Roland Emmerich Confirms Plans for 2012 Sequel TV Series
"2012" director Roland Emmerich has confirmed speculation about a TV series — called "2013" — that will take place after the events of the upcoming film:

“The plan is that it is 2013 and it’s about what happens after the disaster,” Emmerich said. “It is about the resettling of Earth. That is very, very fascinating. (2012 writer/producer) Harald Kloser and I came up with the idea and we have the luxury of having a producer on the film who is a big TV producer, Mark Gordon. We said to Mark, ‘Why don’t you do a TV show that picks up where the movie leaves off and call it 2013?’ I think it will focus on a group of people who survived but not on the boats … maybe they were on a piece of land that was spared or one that became an island in the process of the crust moving. There are so many possibilities of what they could do and I’d be excited to watch it.”

Here are some more details courtesy CinemaBlend:

As speculated, the new series will be called 2013 and will focus on the aftermath of the cataclysmic events of the film. With the world in disarray, it’s time to rebuild. Emmerich says it’s "not the bright happy future everyone was imagining" when the film ends. Instead, things look bleak. But this is humanity, so of course we can rise up from this.

Emmerich mentiond both Lost and District 9 as models for the tone of the new show, which means epic casts, complex and involved storytelling and a gritty realism. We think that sounds fantastic. You can never get enough post-apocalyptic shows on television, and those we do get struggle to stick around.

Executive producer Mark Gordon has reportedly already entered into talks with ABC to develop the disaster drama (ABC has declined comment).

Lost Producers Talk Season Six
SPOILERS FOLLOW Although the fate [highlight to view] of Juliet has already been sealed ("The decision to kill Juliet was absolutely brutal," says executive producer Damon Lindelof), the actress has confirmed that she will be active in the upcoming sixth and final season of "Lost".  EW chatted with Mitchell and producers Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse about the upcoming season.  Here’s part of the interview dealing with what role Juliet will play in season six:

On the decision to off Juliet:

CUSE: “As the story is now nearing its conclusion, some characters just aren’t going to make it all the way to the end. Even beloved characters aren’t going to make it all the way to the end. And sometimes we have to do things that are really painful, like killing Juliet, because that’s what makes the story feel like the stakes are genuine, and people feel invested that characters who are beloved can actually perish on our show. It was an enormously powerful story that concluded the entire season of the show. So she was sacrificed in service of the story, and I think was hugely responsible for the season being viewed as successful because that was how it ended.… But she will always loom as one of our favorite characters, and even more importantly, favorite people that we’ve ever worked with on this show.”

LINDELOF: “What always gives us pause—especially in this instance—is we just love working with Elizabeth. And she always brings it, she always gives more than we expected, and transcends the material. She has always been so gracious and sweet and lovely…. That conversation [in which he and Cuse delivered the bad news] went the same way that the entire relationship did, which is Elizabeth was completely understanding, sweet, and wonderful. And she was bummed, as were we.”

LINDELOF: “Juliet basically birthed season 6 by the actions that she takes in the final seconds of season 5. She is completely responsible for the endgame of the show. So the character is going to be seen in a slightly different light this year. We gave her that action for a reason, and that’s because she’s so important to the fabric of the story.”

Head on over to EW to read the rest of the interview.  ABC is expected to premiere the sixth season of "Lost" next January.

Set images [more at HawaiiWeblog]

Steven Moffat Talks About The Future of Doctor Who
New "Doctor Who" executive producer/showrunner Steven Moffat was present at the Screenwriters Festival in Cheltenham last Thursday night and spoke about what’s in store for the fifth season, and beyond, of the hit BBC series.  Courtesy Den of Geek, here are some highlights from the chat:

In other news, The BBC has released the synopsis for the upcoming "Doctor Who" special "The Waters of Mars".  The special, the second of four set to air this year, premieres on Sunday, November 15th.  Read the full synopsis at Blogtor Who. Less than a week later, on Saturday, November 21st, the new animated series "Dreamland" makes its debut.  You can read individual episode synopses for the six-part series at Blogtor Who.

"The Waters of Mars" [more at Den of Geek and BlogtorWho]

"The Waters of Mars" trailer

Three-minute clip from "The Waters of Mars"

Watch two more clips here and here

First clip from "Doctor Who: Dreamland"


CASTING BITES

Images from episode 10 – "Abandon All Hope" [more at Chicago Tribune and SpoilerTV]

NEW VIDEOS

Caprica

Trailer, featuring first footage of James Marsters as terrorist leader Barnabus Greely

TV spot: "Control and Power"

Watch more TV spots at this link

Chuck

Interview with Yvonne Strahovski (Sarah)

Eastwick

Promo for episode eight – "Pain and Pleasure"

FlashForward

Promo for episode eight – "Rules of the Game"

Ghost Whisperer

Promo for episode eight – "Dead Listing"

Heroes

Promo for episode nine – "Shadowboxing"

Sanctuary

Promo for episode six – "Veritas"

Stargate Universe

Promo for episode eight – "Time"

Supernatural

Promo for episode nine – "The Real Ghostbusters"

The Vampire Diaries

Promo for episode nine – "History Repeating"

Sneak peek from episode nine

Watch another sneak peek clip at this link

TV BITES

Seven-page Preview [more at MTV]

SCI FI TV RATINGS [Based on final national numbers]

Monday

"Heroes" drew 5.86 million viewers (+2%) and a 2.5 A18-49 rating (n/c).  I know there has been talk about the show being close to cancellation (I’ve said this as well), but it’s interesting to note that even though the show has fallen drastically from its peak highs, it nearly beat the A18-49 rating of "FlashForward" (2.6) and easily destroyed Fox’s "Fringe" (1.7).

Tuesday

As noted above, "V" drew 14.30 million viewers and a 5.2 A18-49 rating.For a bit of historical perspective — which I admit is probably more interesting than it is meaningful — see my post in the comments.

Wednesday

"Eastwick" drew 4.44 million viewers (-12%) and a 1.5 A18-49 rating (-17%).  Those were both series lows.  Again, it’s hard to see a scenario where ABC orders more episodes.

Thursday

"FlashForward" drew a record low 8.57 million viewers (-4%) and a 2.6 A18-49 rating (-4%).  ABC will no doubt highlight expected growth in DVR/time-shifting data, but the slow decline in A18-49 rating for the show is concerning. ABC needs to find a way to shore about that key audience. Meanwhile over on The CW,   "The Vampire Diaries" drew a healthy 4.09 million viewers (-2%) and a 1.9 A18-49 rating (-5%).  "Supernatural" took a bit of a hit, drawing 2.64 million viewers (-10%) and a 1.2 A18-49 rating (-14%).

On Fox, "Fringe" returned from hiatus and drew a series low 4.86 million viewers (-16%) and a 1.7 A18-49 rating (-23%).  Although the show has done well with DVR/time-shifters, the show is struggled tremendously against stiff competition.  Also, Fox did a fair amount of advertising for the show during the World Series, yet it still fell double-digits from its last original episode.

Friday [Nov. 6th episode numbers are based on preliminary fast affiliate data]

"Ghost Whisperer" 7.93 million viewers (-4%) and a 1.8 A18-49 rating (-10%) and "Medium" 7.58 million viewers (-3%) and a 1.8 A18-49 rating (-5%) continue to have a hold on the Friday night competition, but the two shows were a bit weaker than normal.  Meanwhile, "Smallville" hit another season high with 2.76 million viewers (+14%) and a 1.2 A18-49 rating (+9%).  Yes, "Smallville" managed to out-draw "Supernatural" in viewers (2.76M vs. 2.64M) and tie the show in the key A18-49 demographic.  The show’s year-to-year numbers remain down, but it’s doing better than expected which gives me reason to believe it’s 10th season renewal chances are probably better than 50/50 at this point.  Note: Last week the show was affected by preemptions and its numbers went down with the final adjustments.  At the time the numbers represented season highs — 2.60 million viewers and a 1.2 A18-49 rating — but those numbers dropped to 2.42 million viewers and a 1.1 A18-49 rating.  So until the finals are released, take extra note of the preliminary aspect of these ratings.

In cable ratings news, the October 30th episode of "Stargate Universe" drew 1.97 million viewers (-2%) and a 0.8 A18-49 rating (n/c).  Week-to-week there was very little loss, but the viewer figure is a new series low (it tied a series low in A18-49 rating). Lead-out "Sanctuary" drew 1.61 million viewers (-5%) and a 0.5 A18-49 rating (n/c). Note: Ratings for last night’s episodes (Nov. 5th) of both series will be known next week. Meanwhile, Syfy’s Wednesday night (Nov. 4th) pairing of "Ghost Hunters" (2.46 million viewers (-20%) and a 1.3 A18-49 rating (-7%)) and "Destination Truth" (1.92 million viewers (-10%) and a 0.8 A18-49 rating (-11%)) were below average but still managed to outdraw their respective Friday night counterparts.

CHART (10/26/2009 to 11/1/2009)


Follow Russ on his blog: Your Entertainment Now and on Twitter: Twitter.com/YourEntNow.

Comments»

1. Rosario T. Calabria - November 8, 2009

The first part of the original 1983 two-part miniseries drew a 25.4 household rating for Part 1 [#1 for the evening] and a 27.0 HH rating for Part 2 [also #1] when it premiered on NBC (May 1-2, 1983). For comparison purposes, the new ABC series averaged an 8.7 HH rating [#4 for the evening].

A year later on May 6, 1984, “V: The Final Battle” debuted to an equally impressive 20.7 HH rating [#1] with Part 1, and continued to grow over the course of its run; Part 2 (25.8 HH rating–#1), Part 3 (28.9 HH rating–#1).

The eventual 84/85 TV series was weaker, premiering on Friday, October 26, 1984 with a 15.4 rating (tied for third place on the evening). The show ran for 19 episodes, fizzling out with the season/series finale on May 24, 1985 with a 7.2 HH rating (there was a two-month break between the 18th and 19th episodes).

“V” (2009 — series premiere): 8.7 HH rating

“V: The Series” (1984/1985 — series premiere/season average): 15.4 HH rating / 12.5 HH rating

“V: The Final Battle” (1984 — premiere/average): 20.7 HH rating / 25.1 HH rating

“V” (1983 — premiere/average): 25.4 HH rating / 26.2 HH rating

2. Harry Ballz - November 8, 2009

Good stuff!

3. Ahmed - November 8, 2009

V was great, I didn’t think that I would enjoy it that much, hope they keep the story strong in the upcoming episodes.

Fringe on the other hand become boring, not really interested in the monster of the week (MOTW) episodes. They need to come up with a more interesting storyline.

4. Commander Crooner - November 8, 2009

Seriously, Fox, Fringe needs to be moved to Tuesday or Wednesday! There are just too many shows considered good to compete with! Fringe must live!!

Keep Smallville coming, I’m really digging the new season.

I was satisfied with V, continued to enjoy FlashForward, and hope both remain on tv and watchable at least for this year.

Finally watched an episode of Heroes. It isn’t quite the mess it was last season, but it does feel like they are running out of fresh material.

Now, I just really need Lost to get here!!

5. redshirt - November 8, 2009

what’s the point of the “highlight to view” if you state in the next sentence who is dying

6. wickedjacob - November 8, 2009

I get scared whenever I hear the phrase “fan of Cushing”

Am I the only one who can’t bear to look at that trailer for the new horrible computer animated who? It looks a video game cut scene from 15 years ago.

7. shadow - November 8, 2009

I agree with #4, I’m really digging the new season of Smallville too, even if they put the Wonder Twins in an episode… and one of them is the kid from 7th Heaven…

And sadly, I’m still hooked on Stargate Universe, especially after that preview for next week’s episode. I thought this past week’s episode was actually decent and provided me with some hope. That, coupled with the fact that they go off ship next episode, is keeping me just interested enough to keep watching.

Finally, I cannot wait one more week for new Doctor Who!!! The Waters of Mars looks awesome and I’m dying to see it!!! I think it’ll keep me satisfied until The End of Time.

8. Hat Rick - November 8, 2009

I think that V begs the question of which starships would win — the V motherships, or the ones from the movie, Independence Day (let’s assume that they finally spent $40.00 for an antivirus program).

9. locutus - November 8, 2009

new animated dr who looks terrible, the previous animated (Invasion missing episodes and the other tennant episode) were great.

Waters of Mars looks very cool.

10. Captain Dunsel - November 8, 2009

I found V dull, drab and uninteresting. The characters were shallow, pale echoes of some already rather shallow characters from the 1980’s.

I’ll probably give it another episode or two to develop some actual content, but for now, I’d like to get hold of whatevert the reviewers who called this “compelling” were paid or smoked.

11. Dr. Image - November 8, 2009

They jammed a whole season’s events of the original V into the pilot! WTF?
Absurd. Rushed. and BORING.
Anna = Obama? I couldn’t agree more.
The takeover has indeed begun.

12. RTC - November 8, 2009

I have to agree with #9. ‘V’ was very disappointing to me. Nothing new or intriguing at all. I probably ought to give it some time before I make a judgment call, but I’m struggling to find interest in watching even the next episode….

13. joe - November 8, 2009

CANCEL: Fringe, Supernatural, Smallville, Chuck, Jay Leno, Trauma.

The ONLY shows worth saving….EASTWICK and HEROES. The rest are pure and utter crap.

14. Hat Rick - November 8, 2009

I wish people would figure out that some of the most interesting stories can be found in franchise crossover episodes. Suggestion: Have the aliens from the movie, Independence Day fight the ones from V. Humanity fights on behalf of the V aliens, only to discover a chilling secret….

Thank you and good day. I’ll be expecting my royalties any day now. ;-)

15. GARY - November 8, 2009

LETS MAKE A STAR TREK SHOW 5 YEARS FROM KNOW AND WRITE THE SCRIPTS LONG BEFOREHAND AND POLISH THEM OVER TIME… AH YES… IMPOSSIBLE ;-)

16. Gary - November 8, 2009

I want to like Flashforward, but that show is a mess. The plot doesn’t move at all. The show seems obsessed with that very hot female lead’s affair in the future with her not-husband. Please, stop rehashing it, GET OVER IT and move the story along.

17. Losira - November 8, 2009

I highly doubt that Anna is Obama. What I see is another effort from the whiny spoiled corp. Rich to get us serfs back in our place! Remember it was the upper ceos etc that created the mess we are in bow. Or is Madof a victimm too. Sorry don’t buy in to this latest cheap shot! Funny V should be on FOXLOL

18. Klatch - November 8, 2009

WKRN in Nashville TN has replaced V with an interview of the Titans football coach for the next 3 weeks. Supposedly WBAY is the same.

19. Daoud - November 8, 2009

#5 You’re right… it’s funny that the name of the character was hidden, just before there’s a quote from a producer outright talking about the decision to ._._._._. that character!

20. Dom - November 8, 2009

IIRC, part of the reason Fringe was destroyed was that there was no promotion for the new episode and people’s Electronic Programme Guides weren’t updated so their TiVos didn’t record it!

21. Christopher Lee - November 8, 2009

We’re not comparing Anna to Obama. We’re comparing the show to his administration. The propaganda, the media take over, “hope” and “change”, ulterior motives, Scott Wolf’s character is Olbermann. But it’s mostly the original miniseries that’s comparable to today. It’s like they knew.

22. Kent Butabi - November 8, 2009

#1 – the original V came out when most people only had nine channels. Of course the original would have done far and above what is possible today.

23. SarahJM - November 8, 2009

#10 I don’t think it was worth keeping secret that the visitors were reptilian and evil considering that was already revealed 25 years ago.

24. Losira - November 8, 2009

Perhaps if mankind would get their act together and stop behaving so badly with grrd & self centerness and other along with intolerance to othrs wgo are differant you know what? Humanity as a whole would tell the visiters to get lost!

25. davidfuchs - November 8, 2009

Anyone else feel like V jumped the gun? I mean, you learned that they were evil snakeheads, you learned Wash (no idea what his actual name in the series was, go figure) was an alien (that came out of left field), you learned the suave black dude was an alien, you made the woman’s son an unabashed Visitor-lover… I felt like they were moving too fast for their own good, and not teasing us a little. I guess this is going to be heavily resistance-focused, but it would have been nice to have a couple episodes of ambivalence before everyone runs underground.

26. Thorny - November 8, 2009

12… Absolutely keep “Chuck”, an underrated gem. The others can go.

24… Agreed. “V” was much too fast-paced. I still liked it, but did they really need to reveal so much in the first hour? I disagree with the “everyone already knows they’re lizards, so why hide it?” train of thought. See “Titanic”… just because you know the ship’s gonna sink, doesn’t mean you jump straight to the ship sinking. The reveal that the V’s are really reptilian was one of the most shocking TV scenes of the 1980s. The remake made the reveal more about FBI being one of the V’s instead of that the V’s are really reptilian. Bad move.

27. starfleetmom - November 8, 2009

I love it all….even the ones i don’t like.

28. Losira - November 8, 2009

It realy is a shame that people can’t live together in peace and brotherhood helping careing for one another and a good spirit of teamwork can’t exist without such thinking being interpeted as a conspiracy oee a threat. Is not star trek about this? Mankind raising bove uncivilixed behavior. Rihgt?

29. That One Guy - November 8, 2009

I say it every time Fringe is mentioned, it needs to stay around. But with ratings like those, I don’t see how it can. We’ll see the end of Season 2, and that’ll be it.

30. SarahJM - November 8, 2009

#24, 25

I think it is nice to watch a show where events move along. We’ve already got a show where nothing actually happens: Heroes.

Besides, they are not really doing all that much out of the ordinary for a show with a large cast – they just tried to give the audience an idea of who the characters are and the world in which show takes place – ie a world where not all who appears human is human, and that even among the visitors there is varying degrees of humanity.

It wasn’t that big of a reveal.

PS, Why did the writers decide to call the visitors Vs? It makes me worried they just got the gist of the original miniseries without actually watching to the end.

31. Naver Drol - November 8, 2009

We haven’t seen Superman on Smallville yet, but gosh darn it they are adding the Wonder Twins!

/sarc

32. Adam C - November 8, 2009

Whats kind of annoying for me, is that V has barely evolved as a show worth watching. I mean where are they going we know the original story v.well its the same stuff we’re seeing now whats the point are they really getting a new audience watching this? to make it worth while to a new audiance?

I have no idea.

33. devon - November 8, 2009

I loved “V” … the premiere was very good! I am hopeful it will get even better, but hate that it will only show 4 episodes before going on hiatus till March. People’s attention spans are so short today! I am sticking with Stargate Universe although I am watching so far unimpressed, Atlantis was a better show, but the whole point of this is that people don’t really give shows time to develop today before giving up on them! How can people criticize a show like “V” after only one episode? Unless something is utter crap, how can you so quickly determine that the entire series will have no merit? With attitudes like these it is no wonder why most shows( and some pretty good ones) never make it out of the starting gate!!!

34. Thorny - November 8, 2009

29… “I think it is nice to watch a show where events move along.”

There’s ‘move along’ and there’s ‘breakneck pace’. The “V” pilot should have been two hours. So should have been “Flashforward’s”. What happened to getting to know the characters at least a little before they’re revealed to be shallow fame-chasers, or spies, or suicidal, or cheating, or budding Hitler Youth (er, I mean, “Peace Ambassadors”)? It took the (admittedly dreadful) modern Star Wars movies three movies and six hours to turn Anakin Skywalker over to the Dark Side. This kid on “V” did in ten minutes.

Because of the XBox Generation and its 15-second attention span, it seems every show on TV nowadays has to move its story along at the speed of light. Sheesh.

35. That One Guy - November 8, 2009

33,
Hey, now. Not every member of the “X-Box Generation” is a mindless idiot. Albeit most of us are, but some of us have a respect for proper grammar, good story-lines, and even a book every now and again.

V really did move at warp speeds, and that’s why I probably won’t watch it. The same thing happened with Flash Forward, which is why I’ve failed to pick it up as a show.

Fringe is a slower-paced, serialized show where the overall plot is still being developed. I sincerely hope it doesn’t get cancelled. It’s one of the few shows out there that deals with existential questions, science, and reality as a whole.

36. Princess P - November 8, 2009

I’m changing the subject, but saw a screening of “Star Trek IV” (a benefit for California Parks system) at the theater on Paramount Studio’s lot last night, with a fairly long question and answer session afterwards with Leonard Nimoy. He was just as interesting and charming as I already knew that he would be.

A lovely night with my favorite Vulcan.

37. montgomery - November 8, 2009

Fringe is fading because it wants to be cool instead of just being cool. X-Files made it’s own mark, and the Twilight Zone and TNG made their unique marks, too. Fringe is trying to ride off the success of what made others’ great instead of trying to be great itself. Fringe won’t last if it doesn’t smarten up fast. The same will likely happen with Star Trek if the creative team there keeps thinking that using a weird insect which was something cool in TWOK will make their movie cool. It doesn’t. Be your own cool, guys! Define cool. Don’t try to ride on the coat tails of others!

As for Lost, last season and the season before were so boring and uninspired I’m giving it just one more chance this season. I hope I didn’t waste all those hours. The second I start groaning and shifting in my seat begging the for “something to happen, damn it” I’m turning it off and I’m not coming back. Meanwhile, killing people off on shows is NOT a great idea. I know a solid handful of Gray’s Anatomy fans that have walked away from the show because of the deaths at the end of last season. Characters we love getting killed off is cruel and makes death insignificant and callous. Don’t bring this ridiculous mentality into Star Trek. In Star Trek, people survive.

Loving Flash Foward though. V was cool.

That is all.

38. Hat Rick - November 8, 2009

Based on my take on his talks, I think that Leonard Nimoy should do a series of periodic lectures all about his experiences on Star Trek and in Hollywood, his philosphy of life, and his photography. I might suggest a quite compatible type of venue — college campuses, where he could give talks to people who basically will make the future we see in Trek happen.

As for the financial side, it seems that Mr. Nimoy already has enough money, but this isn’t about money. It’s about meaning. He and his wife have contributed financially to the Griffith Observatory, where the Event Horizon multimedia hall is named in his honor. There are probably dozens of venues where he’d pack in the crowds, starting with UCLA and USC.

Of course, we could also see him do this at conventions, and he does do this, I think. It’s just that nonconvention goers would also have a chance to hear him as well.

39. SerenityActual - November 8, 2009

I’m with those who thought V rushed things. I like some of the reveals, like that the V’s had been here already and the resistance had already started, but we should have found this out over a couple of episodes. And Alan Tudyk (sp?) was wasted. He could have lasted a couple of episodes easily.

40. Enterprise - November 8, 2009

If you saw the promos, you see that Alan is back in the second episode.

41. Enterprise - November 8, 2009

36. Many people consider Season 5 of Lost one of the best seasons. Maybe you should just stop watching.

42. popeye - November 8, 2009

V was… okay. I hope Fringe will get better ratings in the future!

43. Captain Dunsel - November 8, 2009

#34 That One Guy “V really did move at warp speeds, and that’s why I probably won’t watch it.”

Actually, the problem with V isn’t that it moved at warp speed, it’s that it JUMPED ahead of itself. They needn’t have taken 4 weeks to build up to the “reveal” but they DID need to lay some groundwork for why the characters find out what they find out. Instead we got the dramatic equivalent of Cliffs Notes.

As far as Flashforward is concerned, it’s starting to remind me of the old joke about the two guys sitting around talking at lunch one day, and one of them mentions the comic strip “Mary Worth”. “Mary Worth?” says his friend. “I haven’t read Mary Worth in 20 years!” “Well,” says the first guy, “Let me catch you up. It’s later that afternoon…”

44. Enterprise - November 8, 2009

42 – Maybe you should go back to Stargate?

45. Mark Wood - November 8, 2009

Ok, using the adults 18-49 demo to discuss Smallville (or for that Matter Supernatural or Vampire Dairies) is frankly misguide at best. The network does not use that demo when dealing with its advertisers. Its the adult 18-34 (and even more specific women 18-34) and in both of those Smallville is doing poorly (but it has improved), while Supernatural is hitting numbers in that demo that it hasn’t hit in over 3 years. It is a shame for fans of either SN or Smalville that its future with the CW 9ratings) wise is largely based on demo’s that aren’t its primary audience.

Luckily both do well oversesa and that Supernatural #1) and Smallville #2) are this years top sellers in DVD’s (and by a large margin) over any other property the CW has.

46. Jeffrey S. Nelson - November 8, 2009

Vampire Diaries and Eastwick both have about 4-million viewers each? Yet, the article calls this a “series low “for Eastwick yet “healthy” for Vampire Diaries? Both are good shows. I think Eastwick needs an earlier time slot. Cougar Town should help it as a lead-in, though.

47. sean - November 8, 2009

#12

Thank god most viewers don’t share your views. Keep Heroes?? And Eastwick??? Yikes. Both shows are trash, but the tragedy is Heroes didn’t have to be. Fringe and Chuck are light years beyond either.

48. sean - November 8, 2009

#36

The best decision the producers of Grey’s Anatomy could ever make would be to kill off every single miserable character on that show. Especially the title character.

49. sean - November 8, 2009

As someone who did enjoy V, I still have to agree that its plot was rushed. I would have liked to have seen a 2 hour pilot that encompassed the same basic story points.

And the Obama stuff is silly. It’s simply a new spin on the old Trojan Horse story. Using a phrase like ‘universal health care’ just ties it into current events and makes the story something the audience can relate to. But of course, people are always ready to read into just about anything.

50. CarlG - November 8, 2009

@45: You forgot Supernatural. :)

@46: Actually, a better idea would be to move it to weekday afternoons — that’s where soap operas belong, after all…

“Dreamland” looks kind of disappointing, but “Waters of Mars” looks sick. Did any of you ever watch “Rome” on HBO? Lindsay Duncan was awesome, I’m really looking forward to her stint as companio, however brief.

V leaves me kind of meh (sorry, Morena!), but I’m really looking forward to The Prisoner. Magneto vs Jesus? I’m so in.
Be seeing you!

51. captain_neill - November 8, 2009

I have just finished V The Final Battle and still have the TV series to watch. I loved the original V and The Final Battle was excellent. It was great sci fi.

I am dubious about another Sci Fi classic being remade but is the new V any good?

I doubt it will be as good as the original but then again no remake ever is. I guess the exception was BSG but to me that was a very diff show from original.

I am tired of Hollywood remaking everything

52. Rastaman - November 8, 2009

Man we need some new Star Trek on television! There are promising aspects to shows like Stargate: Universe and Caprica, but ultimately, these sci-fi shows still pale in comparison to Star Trek.

53. Thorny - November 8, 2009

49… “I am dubious about another Sci Fi classic being remade but is the new V any good?”

Yes, it looks very good and is well acted. The problem is the pacing. At the rate the pilot moved through the story, we’ll be up to “The Final Battle” by the third episode.

54. THX-1138 - November 8, 2009

I’m sorry, I suck. None of the TV genre shows interest me in the slightest. I have tried to get into Fringe but it seems kind of schizo to me. Lost has really faded. Stargate Universe is actually not too bad, it just isn’t something I drop everything for or feel the need to record.

I miss Firefly. I miss Farscape. I miss Star Trek. I miss BSG (although I did get a little treat with The Plan.)

Also…..I guess 2012 really ISN’T the end of the world. Thanks for letting the cat out of the bag, Roland. Good job spoiling your own movie before it’s released. And was I the only one that thought the ships they were building were space ships?

55. Princess P - November 8, 2009

Hi HatRick #37:

The event last night was exactly the kind of setting you were talking about. The tickets for the movie and Mr. Nimoy afterward started at $19, since this was a benefit and he was donating his services.

He has spoken at colleges and universities since the 70’s I believe, and to at least one college crowd this year.

Gene Roddenberry spoke at the University of Illinois in 1976 (while I was a student there), showed “Menagerie” and the blooper reels for a very reasonable fee.

Keep your eyes open for those kinds of events from Star Trek people. Well worth it.

P.

56. MikeTen - November 8, 2009

I can understand remaking “V”, especially after rewatching some of the original episodes on “SyFy” this past week. I can’t believe that I actually liked that show.
Now I can’t believe Universal is considering a continuation of the original Battlestar Galactica. Why?

57. SoulfireX - November 8, 2009

I loved the original V back in the day and I was glad SciFi did the marathon, since I hadn’t seen it in like 15 years. The new V was pretty good but the pace definitely felt rushed, it should have been a 2 hour episode. But it looks promising.

Fringe is still good but needs to get back to the main story.

Heroes is still worth watching for now but nowhere near as good as it once was.

SGU just sucks. It’s ST: Voyager meets BSG and just not very well done.

58. Dr. Image - November 8, 2009

SGU is by far the LEAST offensive of the current crop of shows.
At least it comes off as how VOY should have been done. I’m watching it. I’m intrigued as to where it’s going.

V is going to bomb. Just watch.

59. Enterprise - November 8, 2009

SGU is a hit, because a 1.1 for the Sci Fi Channel is like Superbowl ratings numbers.

60. Sena - November 8, 2009

Personally, I think too many of the new shows want to be like the new Battlestar Galactica but didn’t really understand why what worked, worked.

BSG was a refreshing sort of edgy by incorporating current events and religion whereas other shows shied away from or touched on it just enough to maintain status quo.

Stargate Universe (or as we call it at home Battlestargate) tries so hard to be BSG but got lost with useless characters and meaningless storylines. How many times will Lt Scott be saved from the brink of death? And there is no purpose for Chloe except as the Lt’s secret bed candy and whining.

V tried and failed in that it was so eager to use what it saw as current events but did not understand how to use it effectively. BSG used current events but flipped them so many times that you were never sure how to feel about them from the strange perspective. The good guys ready to commit genocide, the bad guys trying to work for the good of all involved. BSG had 3 sides to the story, where the 2 sides had somewhat valid reasons for doing what they were doing whereas V has already established the black/white, good/bad scenario. Perhaps they should have either started with or waited for the story to progress to shades of gray before inserting politics and current events.

61. Captain Dunsel - November 8, 2009

43. Enterprise -”Maybe you should go back to Stargate?”

First of all, Stargate SG-1 lost me when they lost Richard Dean Anderson. Never really caught on to Atlantis, and haven’t bothered with SG-U.

But second, why do you seem to feel the need to derisively tell people what “maybe they should do”? (Posts 40 and 43) Who made you the Decider?

It would be very nice if fewer people turned criticism of shows into criticism of tastes.

62. Hat Rick - November 8, 2009

54, I’m glad Mr. Nimoy is doing the right thing. He’s always struck me as such a decent, honorable person, and what a privilege it is for Trek fans and others that he’s continued to make himself available to share his experience and wisdom.

He and his wife contributed $1 million to the Griffith Observatory in support of its renovation and mission, and frankly that is far more than most Hollywood celebrities — or most private citizens — have done for the cause of astronomy and space science.

May he and his wife live long and prosper!

63. Andy - November 9, 2009

#36

Dude, they weren’t trying to be “cool” by using an insect in Star Trek. That’s gotta be one of the most idiotic things I’ve ever read. The new Star Trek is simply cool altogether. Paramount was pushing the cool side with their advertising and it worked. Star Trek is back.

And about Fringe. If you haven’t noticed they are trying to do their own thing. Season one had higher ratings on Tuesday night. The show simply should of stuck there. It’s dying in it’s competition. There’s no such thing as a show that beats CSI or Grey’s Anatomy on Thursday nights, FOX should know this but they’re morons.

I’m liking Season 5 of LOST. In fact every season of LOST has added twists that people couldn’t of predicted, making the show interesting.

64. S. John Ross - November 9, 2009

Doctor Who: Dreamland … oh man that’s ugly and awkward. I think my plan is to turn off my monitor, crank up the sound and pretend that Big Finish Productions scored David Tennant for an audio play. I want to watch it, but I don’t want to _see_ it.

V … it’s a way to kill some time. I’ll keep tuning in unless I’m distracted by something else.

Waters of Mars: Eager! EAGER! Gimme-gimme.

65. montgomery - November 9, 2009

#40 – Season 5 was probably the second-best season. Nothing beats season 1. But second best among duds isn’t exactly glowing praise. It was decent, sure. But the same really could have been done in 2 or 3 episodes, instead of the crew stretching a thin story across and entire season. I’ve never ever seen travelers take so long to walk up a streambed as they did in Lost Season 5.

66. Daoud - November 9, 2009

Where’s a show about Aliens v. Zombies? Or where humans, disguised as lizards invade their homeworld?

Where’s the show about the alternate universe Earth that tries to wipe out our Earth’s Hollywood?

Where’s the show about the Witches of V? Or the one about that summer in band camp….

There are only so many basic story ideas. And with television and digital storage of media…. Hollywood is going to be facing a severe content drought before too long (if it hasn’t already). Perhaps TNG’s Data was right about how television died out as a form of entertainment in the early 21st century….

As said earlier here by someone… where’s a Star Trek series? There’s no way in this current environment that seasons 5-7 of Enterprise wouldn’t catch eyeballs. Jump to the start of the Romulan War, bring back Trip, Erika Hernandez as the captain, T’Pol, Phlox… and *maybe* Hoshi. I’d rather watch that than anything described in this article.

Paramount are fools.

67. Capt Mike of the Terran Empire - November 9, 2009

V looks to be a good show. But Ill wait till I see some more Eps before i give my full take. Flash Forward is doiong good. But Im afraid it is starting to go Downhill. 2013. Not sure. But I wish they would do a Series about the aftermath of Independence Day. Of course after the next Movie. Or before. Bring Back Star Trek Enterprise and have it set in the Romulan War and the Star of the Federation.

68. Lore - November 9, 2009

#30 Superman is on the show every week, he’s just not in his underwear. BTW Just be happy GLEEK isn’t in the episode.

69. British Naval Dude - November 9, 2009

ROLAND EMMERICH: Yeah, at the end of my new film “2012″, people go on ships in the oceans to survive.

INTERVIEWER QUIGGLY: What? So, that’s the end of it? It’s not even out yet!!!!! THX is right- you spoiled the movie, you douchebag.

ROLAND EMMERICH: What? I’m just having intelligent discourse on major motion pictures. Like in Citizen Kane, that sled named Rosebud was the one thing a man with everything imaginable couldn’t have loved more. Such simplicity. Oh, Bruce Willis is dead all along in that M. Night Shambala film… (singing) I’m on the road to Shambala- ooooo ooooo ooooo!!! I see hippie people.

BND: I dunna’ care! I just watch tha’ previews anyways…

Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr…

70. Daoud - November 9, 2009

@69 Makes you wonder how he gets around having boocoodles of massive killer tsunamis as he fractures the Earth to kingdom come. I guess they’re building submersible ships? But at least we’re finally getting the prequel to Waterworld! Costner should sue!

71. Captain Dunsel - November 9, 2009

Special Message to Rosario Calabria:

Could you please try to be a GREAT DEAL more circumspect in handling spoilers? …both RECOGNIZING that something *is* a spoiler and how you present it.

Pretty much the entire bit with Roland Emmerich talking about a possible TV series is one big spoiler.

And the paragraph about Lost STILL has visible spoilers in it – even after fixing the glaring glitch that another poster pointed out. There remains a mention of the PERFORMER’s name, and yet another mention of the affected character that performer plays.

Granted, neither of the revealed data points are GIGANTIC suprises (on the order of “I am your father’s brother’s nephew’s cousin’s former roommate.”) But they were both handled in a pretty cavalier manner.

You folks do great work digging up juicy info, but it’s disappointing having the decision to read or not read a spoiler effectively made for you.

72. Enterprise - November 9, 2009

Dude, don’t read the thread if you don’t want to be spoiled.

73. Naver Drol - November 9, 2009

@68 That’s not Superman. It’s “I can’t decide if I want to be a hero or not man.” And there is a rumor that Gleek IS in one of the episodes.

74. devon - November 9, 2009

all of a sudden Star Trek : Enterprise would be considered cool again?
Yeah, I’m all for seasons 5-7 with the Romulan War arc, but where were you people when Enterprise’s ratings were in the toilet? maybe we could have saved it then, but can we resurrect it now? I, too, miss Star Trek and hope it returns in the near future to the small screen. I need my weekly dose of Sci-Fi, but nothing compares to 1st run Trek on the airwaves! I am hopeful for “V” , but am not too sure about Stargate:Universe, Caprica, or anything current filling the void longterm. Fringe, Flashforward are very compelling stories & I hope they last for awhile.

75. Mr. AtoZ - November 9, 2009

Later this season, a major male character on “The Vampire Diaries” will be revealed to be a werewolf…OMG what crap.

76. Lore - November 10, 2009

#73 Its a show about a man who is a hero, and wearing clothes, and what are you, an “Anti-Gleekik” or something? Powers Activate!

77. Lore - November 10, 2009

BTW We’ve already had “KRYPTO” superman’s dog.

78. Captain Dunsel - November 10, 2009

72 – Enterprise “Dude, don’t read the thread if you don’t want to be spoiled.”

You are cordially invited (yet again) to stop telling me what to do.

79. durhamtrojan - November 10, 2009

I liked V also, but I was distinctly surprised to see on my DVR that it was only 1 hour. Maybe not too much info, but they could have built up the reveal of Wash as a bad guy, cause that was a good twist. I think they were in a lose-lose once they decided that they were going to follow the original series and have the Visitors be LIzard-folk. Reveal it too soon and it doesn’t have any impact. Drag it out too much and people would be upset that they built it up only to have it be the same as the original. I’m also finding that I’m having a similar reaction as I did to the original that I have almost no perception of the characters’ names. I just now the faces, and caught myself on more than one occasion explaining things in terms of “Juliet” and “Wash.” I couldn’t tell you a name from the original except John the head alien, same with this one, only Anna really stuck. Poor character emphasis.
And, everybody is just trying to copy BSG. Defying Gravity was the worst example of paint by number imitation I’ve seen. Let’s have space people+faith questions+a conspiracy+ ambiguous character morality and doesn’t that =BSG? No? Why didn’t that work? I don’t get it ;)

80. Brain - November 10, 2009

Umm, about ‘V’:
Yes, I found it pedestrian.

But beyond that: Does anybody here REALLY think that were gonna get a TV show of this ‘caliber’ without the writers succumbing to the obvious political commentary? No, let me allow the writers to get off the hook – why wouldn’t the Visitors (whom have been around for a while, according to the first ep) take advantage of the knowledge gleaned from their observations of us and hit us where it counts?

But wait… it still goes back to the writing. Forget it. ‘V’ will be off the air by summer.

81. Hat Rick - November 11, 2009

Speaking of new movies they should make, they should make a series of movies based on Asimov’s Foundation novels. :-)

82. Captain Dunsel - November 11, 2009

#81 Hat Rick

re: Foundation

There’s a listing on IMDB for Foundation with a 2011 date. However, since they list it “in production” the details are only available on their pay-service, IMDB Pro. So it’s hard to know how real it is.

83. Captain Dunsel - November 11, 2009

#79 durhamtrojan ‘ I just now the faces, and caught myself on more than one occasion explaining things in terms of “Juliet” and “Wash.” ‘

Great point. It’s especially confusing when you consider that the lead female character in the original WAS named “Juliet.” I *do* recall a lot of the names from the original (just have that sort of velcro brain), but it wasn’t until reading your post that it occurred to me I couldn’t name a SINGLE character from the new V, except for Anna. They are all just, “types” – The Stolid FBI agent, The Visitor Gone Native, The Ambitious Reporter, The Conflicted Priest, The Rebelious Kid (someone please eat him soon!)

For drama to be effective you have to know a little bit about and at least somewhat care for a character BEFORE they are put into the hazardous or challenging situation. “North by Northwest” would be nothing if it STARTED with the crop duster chasing Cary Grant across the field.

Yep – I think you’ve hit on a core problem with the show, at least for me.

84. Robert Bernardo - November 13, 2009

I expect lots of V questions when Morena Baccarin appears at the Creation Serenity/Firefly convention in Los Angeles in a few weekends.


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