Various and sundry

[danceswithwords]

I have taken a day to absorb the bad news, and I think the timing of the SG-1 cancellation announcement on the heels of the wave of squee and love from "200" (and announcing to the cast and crew before their celebration) was crappy, but if this person knows what they're talking about at all, they're filming episode 17 right now and will have time

Comments

[katie_m]

George's mother--whose name I am embarrassed to say I don't remember--and Reggie are breaking my heart.

George's workplace, and in particular Dolores. So horrific. The scrapbooking club, the webcam, the awful, awful office politics.

Oddly, what I kind of like about the workplace scenes is that the writer is not completely disdainful of them. There's a kind of weird, we're-all-in-this-crazy-thing-called-life-thing-together vibe to them, and I like that. I mean, if I had to work with Dolores I would want to strangle her, but given how essentially good-natured she is I'm glad I don't feel like the show is trying to make me hate her, you know? It feels a lot more like they're saying "man. People. Crazy."

[danceswithwords]

I can't remember George's mother's name either, though I remember quite well that she had problems with the word "moist," because that is an excellent telling detail that impressed me with the show's writing right off the bat.

Oddly, what I kind of like about the workplace scenes is that the writer is not completely disdainful of them.I think the writers are disdainful of the situation, but not of the people caught up in it, which is maybe an odd distinction for me to draw. But, yes, it's drone work, and they're all getting through it the only way they know how--by scrapbooking even if it's really not something they'd otherwise do, by running a strange little webcam service, by sneezing on the phones. One thing I think is really fundamental to the show is that people need connections to other people more than they realize, and George's office is a great breedin ground of people who wouldn't ordinarily give each other the time of day forced to spend a bunch of time together and forging these odd connections. Dolores is impossible

[pellucid]

I feel like I'm just going around from post to post with the SG-1 reactions, pointing, and saying, "yes, what you said!" Perhaps at some point I'll have something of my own to say, but by then it will no doubt be incredibly redundant. But suffice it to say that I agree muchly, especially about why I've been enjoying the show this season and why I feel particularly bad for BB and CB.

Of course it's all an interesting indication about how much Farscape has taken over my brain because as recently as a year ago, SG-1 was My Show, though admittedly I wouldn't have been sad in the same way to see it cancelled a year ago. But my mourning now is much more for this new incarnation of the show, not for the one I've been a fan of for years. I think I already put that show to rest.

Is Life on Mars good? I keep hearing things about it, and apparently will soon be in the market for a new show...

And lots of encouragement with regard to the tough week at work! Does not sound like fun. *sends chocolate*

[danceswithwords]

As I told you before, so much of my disappointment over the cancellation stems from the fact that the show really felt like it was taking on a new life.

Is Life on Mars good? I keep hearing things about it, and apparently will soon be in the market for a new show...

I think Life on Mars is a really well-made show, in the writing and the acting and the filming, which is quite beautiful, so I think it's definitely worth checking out. But it's not what I'd call a fandom show.

After Farscape, My Show has been Battlestar Galactica, so I still have that to look forward to, though after a run of sub-par episodes in the second half of season 2 that shook my trust a little. Season 1 of that show is a perfect jewel of television, and lots of Season 2 is very strong too, so if you haven't had a chance to check it out, may I humbly suggest it? I can get you Season 1 if you're interested

[pellucid]

Well, Battlestar is certainly the logical choice of a new show. It's been near the top of the "to watch" list for a while now, so I may as well aim for taking the plunge in October after my exams are finished. My reservation with it tends to be that for all that I know it's a brilliant show, I also know it tends toward doom-and-gloom all the time, whereas I tend to appreciate well-placed crack levity. Still, I'm sure I'll end up watching sooner or later--and probably sooner, now.

[beck_liz]

whereas I tend to appreciate well-placed crack levity.

Well, BSG does have more than its fair share of doom-and-gloom, yes. But it also occasionally sneaks in the crack levity, and believe me when I say that the occasional levity is very good indeed.

[brynnmck]

I am really sorry about SG-1, for your sake, and for Ben and Claudia's, too. As you say, on the one hand, it had an incredibly long run, but on the other hand, it seemed like the actors and at least a part of the audience had been enjoying themselves in a new way this season, and it's sad to see that end so quickly. And, of course, Skiffy's timing was as shitty as always. Bastards.

And I'm sorry that you're stuck at work forever (AGAIN), too. At least there's food! Even food you're sick of (and I totally understand that).

[danceswithwords]

While I'm not thrilled with Skiffy's timing, I do think the business fundamentals were working against the show. Part of the problem is that I think we're in an in-between phase for television revenue modeling, where advertising isn't really working any more thanks to fragmented viewership and DVRs but the networks haven't quite figured out how to factor in DVDs and downloads. And, unfortunately, since MGM makes the Stargates and MGM isn't in the SciFi/NBC/Universal corporate family, I don't know if DVD revenue streams are something they share in at all.

I'm working hard now so that I don't feel guilt on vacation, so it's all good. Or at least okay. Although my god am I tired of Szechuan eggplant, walnut prawns, chicken tikka masala, saag paneer, falafel wraps, and let us not even get into the shitty Thai part of the menu.

[asta77]

I'm torn in regards to Sci-Fi. I see the posts over at the Sci-Fi board where people are talking about how much the network sucks, condeming how they make and market shows, and what they can do to hurt them. Well, this same evil network rescued 'Stargate' from cancelation once and gave folks 4? 5? more seasons. Not to mention, without them would we have had any 'Farscape' or BSG or reruns of short-lived series so they can attract a whole new audiance? And by refusing to watch their product it only dooms *us* to not having any of these shows to watch.

The one thing I will criticize the network for is that when it comes to giving shows the pink slip, they suck. I'm wondering if Ben and Claudia can now sue for emotional distress?

I realize you are two episodes behind in DLM watching, so I shall have to wait before I can leave any detailed comments. I will say that the show continues to build on all the things you touched on and *finally* we had an episode where I really, really liked Mason

[danceswithwords]

I don't see much of a point in sticking pins in SciFi voodoo dolls. I don't think they have always made good decisions, and I think they shot at least the Stargate portion of SciFi Friday in the foot by splitting off BSG (hopefully they did not also shoot BSG in the foot, but the show has critical buzz and outside advertising to drive viewership), but ratings were off 30% this summer and if they can't pay for the show, they can only continue to buy it for so long. I was telling brynnmck that I think we're at a point where advertising only isn't really a viable revenue model any more, and I think that's a problem for shows where the network isn't in the same corporate family as the production house and sharing non-advertising revenue streams (that was certainly a problem for Angel). So, yeah, it sucks, and their timing was TERRIBLE, but I don't think were actively evil here. Even five years is a long run for a show; ten is extraordinary

[rydra_wong]

I think that's a problem for shows where the network isn't in the same corporate family as the production house and sharing non-advertising revenue streams (that was certainly a problem for Angel).

Yeah, absolutely, and there's also been a major shift in the industry regulations that used to rule out a lot of this sort of vertical integration of production companies and networks/channels. From what I've read, Skiffy get a big chunk of the non-ad revenue from BSG, which they don't with the Gates. So even if they got identical ratings, it would still pay Skiffy a lot better to show BSG.

(And yes, this completely screws over independent production companies.)

[danceswithwords]

Do not get me started on media deregulation in the US and corporate news, because... yeah.

BSG is a Universal property, so the corporate parent gets a share of DVD sales, and those are becoming increasingly important as ad revenue dwindles. In some ways, this is just an area where SG-1's age works against it; five years ago, when SciFi picked the show up, DVD revenue wasn't a factor in the equation. It does screw over independent production companies, which is bad, but it also may break the grip Nielsen has on programming decisions, which I think is not so bad. DVD sales are a measurable metric; Nielsen ratings are arbitrary and inaccurate.

[thassalia]

Yes, absolutely to everything SG-1 related.

And as usual, you manage to nail what is so well done about shows re: Life on Mars.

And Dead Like Me. Ah. The first season is good. It grows and shapes itself into something kind of absurdly beautiful and unique. But season two, Season two was so much better than it had to be. I'm so glad you're enjoying it.

[danceswithwords]

I have such a bifurcated attitude toward the SG-1 news because on the one hand, yes, the show is ooooold, but on the other hand, this particular show, the one we're watching now, really just started last year, and is finally finding its footing, and it's such a disappointment that it won't have a chance to continue.

I'm really glad to hear that Dead Like Me keeps getting better. I'm already predisposed to relate to snarky characters who work sterile crap jobs early in life.

[thassalia]

For SG-1, I, irrationally, feel like it's a brand new show (partially because I just started giving a damn, and partially because it really does feel new - new energy, new enemies, new issues), so yeah.

And it took me most of season one to stop wanting to slap George upside the head for being so absolutely... an unfocused adolescent. My sympathies were soooo with Rube. But she won me over.