Am I a bad Stargate fan?
I've been reading a lot of comments on the forums from people who are going to watch the new Stargate Universe show for various reason: it has Stargate in the title; the producers have always made decent Stargate shows so this one will probably be fine too; they want to support the franchise so that we will continue to get Stargate shows; and, they are hoping to see actors from other Stargate shows in some of the episodes.
Now normally I would watch a show by a creator who has made shows I enjoyed in the past but in this case I won't and this is why; Brad Wright, one of the Executive Producers of Stargate Atlantis made some condescending remarks about his show's fans among other things. The cancellation of the Stargate Atlantis was handled in a very poor manner. The show's writers have also written rather snippy comments on their blog in answers to fans' questions about various aspects of their shows and the new show as well. Now, I'm probably feeling my age here, but I don't feel like rewarding that kind of behavior.
You know, most of the time you don't really hear about what's going on behind the scenes of a show you might enjoy unless there's bad behavior on the part of the actors and it makes the news. And I'm not a entertainment/gossip person; I don't really care about what's going on because these folks are all strangers and all I'm doing is watching a show and hopefully, being entertained by the writing and performances. But something about this entire business with Atlantis seems to have struck a nerve. I've never had the creator of a show I like be so dismissive of a fanbase before, in public at least. I'm sure plenty of SciFi/Horro/Fantasy creators (and actors) have gotten headaches from dealing with rabid fans. I'm also sure they've just wanted to pull a Shatner and tell their 'fans' to 'get lives' and quit obsessing over my show, dammit! But most people involved in the alternative programming community shall we call it, (as opposed to straight drama or comedy of most shows), deal with the fans in a much more gracious manner. Perhaps that's what's bothering me about this entire situation; it was handled with very little grace by all the principle decision makers. The main emotions coming across were irritation and annoyance with the fans for making a fuss about the cancellation of the show rather than any kind of warm fuzziness on the part of TPTB that their show engendered such loyalty. Apparently our loyalty and appreciation was fine when they wanted or needed it but now it's become a hindrance and we need to sit down and shut up. We've been schmoozed for their past shows and we're idiots for having believed all the wonderful things the producers and writers said about us when they needed the audience. They still need the audience but I guess they don't feel we need to be wooed any longer.
Now some of the future SGU watchers have told those of us upset about the cancellation and unhappy about the new show to 'get over it' it's TV and producers and channels and studios take off shows that all the time; it's the nature of the beast and they're often rude about it too. But isn't that a bit like having someone call you names or make nasty comments but you keep hanging around because you want to be part of the crowd? It's a little pathetic isn't it? As I said, most of the alternative show creators may feel like their fans are 'geeks' but at least they have enough class not to say so to their faces. When someone starts to let their annoyance or contempt show through then darn it, it's time to stop pretending the partnership between creator and viewer is sound. The Stargate creators and fans have been together for fifteen years and it seems in this case that familiarity breeds contempt. I guess the honeymoon is over and I can stick around or not, it's up to me.
Maybe it's not the lack of grace that's bothering me? Maybe my feelings are much more basic and base? Maybe I just feel dumped? Perhaps the situation is just this simple - papers have been served and I'm expected to be a good sport about the entire thing and not cause a fuss, because 'you didn't really expect us to last forever did you?' Except, yeah, starry eyed me; I sort of did.
Now normally I would watch a show by a creator who has made shows I enjoyed in the past but in this case I won't and this is why; Brad Wright, one of the Executive Producers of Stargate Atlantis made some condescending remarks about his show's fans among other things. The cancellation of the Stargate Atlantis was handled in a very poor manner. The show's writers have also written rather snippy comments on their blog in answers to fans' questions about various aspects of their shows and the new show as well. Now, I'm probably feeling my age here, but I don't feel like rewarding that kind of behavior.
You know, most of the time you don't really hear about what's going on behind the scenes of a show you might enjoy unless there's bad behavior on the part of the actors and it makes the news. And I'm not a entertainment/gossip person; I don't really care about what's going on because these folks are all strangers and all I'm doing is watching a show and hopefully, being entertained by the writing and performances. But something about this entire business with Atlantis seems to have struck a nerve. I've never had the creator of a show I like be so dismissive of a fanbase before, in public at least. I'm sure plenty of SciFi/Horro/Fantasy creators (and actors) have gotten headaches from dealing with rabid fans. I'm also sure they've just wanted to pull a Shatner and tell their 'fans' to 'get lives' and quit obsessing over my show, dammit! But most people involved in the alternative programming community shall we call it, (as opposed to straight drama or comedy of most shows), deal with the fans in a much more gracious manner. Perhaps that's what's bothering me about this entire situation; it was handled with very little grace by all the principle decision makers. The main emotions coming across were irritation and annoyance with the fans for making a fuss about the cancellation of the show rather than any kind of warm fuzziness on the part of TPTB that their show engendered such loyalty. Apparently our loyalty and appreciation was fine when they wanted or needed it but now it's become a hindrance and we need to sit down and shut up. We've been schmoozed for their past shows and we're idiots for having believed all the wonderful things the producers and writers said about us when they needed the audience. They still need the audience but I guess they don't feel we need to be wooed any longer.
Now some of the future SGU watchers have told those of us upset about the cancellation and unhappy about the new show to 'get over it' it's TV and producers and channels and studios take off shows that all the time; it's the nature of the beast and they're often rude about it too. But isn't that a bit like having someone call you names or make nasty comments but you keep hanging around because you want to be part of the crowd? It's a little pathetic isn't it? As I said, most of the alternative show creators may feel like their fans are 'geeks' but at least they have enough class not to say so to their faces. When someone starts to let their annoyance or contempt show through then darn it, it's time to stop pretending the partnership between creator and viewer is sound. The Stargate creators and fans have been together for fifteen years and it seems in this case that familiarity breeds contempt. I guess the honeymoon is over and I can stick around or not, it's up to me.
Maybe it's not the lack of grace that's bothering me? Maybe my feelings are much more basic and base? Maybe I just feel dumped? Perhaps the situation is just this simple - papers have been served and I'm expected to be a good sport about the entire thing and not cause a fuss, because 'you didn't really expect us to last forever did you?' Except, yeah, starry eyed me; I sort of did.