The chickens are coming home to roost.

[nialla42]

TV by the Numbers:  Are Angry ‘Stargate: SG1/Atlantis’ Fans Partly To Blame For Lousy ‘Stargate: Universe’ Ratings?

I love his take on it, which is summed up by saying "Executive producers and show creators can (and do) play 'Fan Excuse Bingo' too" then uses the latest Brad Wright Quote of Gold, then adds, "Bingo!" The comments are interesting,

Comments

[nialla42]

I think the reason MGM kept the same boys club for so long is because from their POV, it was cheaper. "Experienced" writers/directors/production staff that do more than one job means you don't have to hire as many people. Plus they supposedly know how to run things well because they're always involved with all aspects of showrunning. From my POV, it just led to complacency and burnout which bled through onto the screen.

I think the most annoying aspect of this whole deal is apparently because I have tits and no dick means I'm not to be treated with respect as a viewer. I think it says a lot that the first (and only) female director for SG-1 was Amanda Tapping for one episode, and she had to have it written into her contract, yet they still stalled on it until the very last episode filmed.

I've also been annoyed comments that female viewers are often being blamed by the fanboys for SyFy's "soapificiation" and lack of true sci fi programming in favor of soap operas with a sci fi veneer. Um, yeah, then why were both previous Stargate shows so popular with female fans TPTB didn't want?

[hsapiens]

When SG-1 ruled the Sci Fi roost, it was hard to argue that these guys were poison. And, to be fair, Brad & Cooper penned some excellent episodes -- and Mollozzi was half the writing team of fandom's favorite episode. They aren't entirely hacks but they're writers, not show runners. I wish someone at MGM had been paying attention but I'd guess two successful shows on Sci Fi was all they needed to know they had proven quantities. Maybe if they'd noticed that as soon as Stargate was up against something deeper like BSG rather than MOTW movies that the ratings weren't quite so impressive then they could have headed this disaster off...but probably not. They're studio types and so copying the popular formula with their own franchise and writers who had the writing depth of a shallow puddle makes sense in their world.

I agree with your impatience at being discounted because of our second X chromosome. That cheesed me off to no end. I watched SG-1 to the bitter end because of my love for the characters (however mangled they ended up) and for the actors. I purposefully held SGA at arm's length because I already knew I didn't want to play in this team's world. Sure enough, I heard the exact same complaints about SGA that I had about SG1. I knew, KNEW that SGU would have the same issues. Lo and behold, I read much the same complaints only now it seems the characters are also unlikeable. Shocked. I'm shocked to find gambling complaints here.

Divorcing myself from Stargate turned out to be one of the best things I ever did for my fandom happiness. I don't love my new shows in the same way I loved SG1 once upon a time but I absolutely love that both TNT and USA welcome female viewers. SPN has its gender issues but I've never been told that I personally can go suck a lemon because the show is made for boys.

We get blamed for that soap opera shit all the damned time. Can we at least return the favor and blame SyFyllitic's wrestlification on the boys?

[nialla42]

They aren't entirely hacks but they're writers, not show runners.

That's a very good point that shouldn't be forgotten. They're supposed to be the folks who come up with the script ideas. Too often when they're also given all the tasks of showrunning, I think a lot of ideas are shot down simply because they think it would be difficult and/or expensive to do.

One scene I recall was Sam receiving her proposal from Pete in a warehouse, with Daniel still tied to a chair. IIRC, AT realized how it looked -- Sam did not have the back of her team member by untying him and making sure he was OK first thing. She asked for a minor change and was shot down; too expensive to reshoot a few minutes.

If that's how it is on location, I can only imagine how many good ideas died a quick death in the writer's room. I also remember Joe Flanigan pitching a story idea, and what came out of the writer's room in script form only had the vaguest resemblance. I think they just did it because he was an actor who dared to give suggestions, and he'd better get back in his place.

They've trotted out an interview with David Blue today, and he's repeated the same thing about fans shouldn't hold a grudge and hurt the franchise. [facepalm] I get he's proud of his show, but I'm just not interested. Even if it had nothing to do with Stargate, I still wouldn't be interested. Some people were the same way, some gave it a chance and gave up, some are still watching. Whatever the case, the ratings just aren't there, and banging the drum about it being the fault of fans holding a grudge is totally not helping.

I just love how we went from a piddly group of whiny fans who had zero influence on things because it's the general audience who determines the ratings, to the Big Bad ready to destroy the Gateverse through mind control of Neilson viewers. If I had that level of power, I would have had the guys do more shirtless scenes over the years. ;)