Firefly cancelled!

[Whodat]

Okay, things aren’t looking good for Firefly right now. But, hey, Joss hasn’t given up! Why should we? He has a better idea of what he’s up against than anyone else… And there’s still plenty of fight in him.

Here is an actual post from Joss Whedon himself over at Buffistas.

Quote:

joss - Dec 13, 2002 7:49:36 am EST #7717 of 7737 Mark
Kiba owes me her life.

Four AM. Can't sleep. Who'd have thought?

There's a couple of things I'd like to say. And a few things I really can't. First of all, I'm prouder of this show and the people I worked with on it than I can express in words, monkey noises, or hyroglyphics. I believe this has been some fairly great TV. And the experience of making it... I've had crew members who've been working for 20 years say they've never worked around such excitement, support and love. You walk on that set, you're transported. The cast: 9 count 'em 9 incredibly talented actors who are all decent, wonderful people. This phenomenon cannot be explained by science.

Second of all, don't think for a second that I have given up on this show. I think it has been mistreated shamefully, but the Fox network has indicated that they would not stand in the way (which they can) of my finding a new home for the show. That's no easy prospect. But I will do everything in my power, as always, to keep this bird in the air. Of course I'll post if there's any news.

But even if the show goes back up elsewhere, I'm going to lose a good portion of my crew. Production will halt, they'll need to find new jobs. You can't imagine how that feels. How much they brought to the table, how hard and well they worked. And their Christmas bonus is this. As much as the cast, the staff, and my not so secret lover Minear, I honor those guys, and hope to get them back on board.

So for now, I proudly take my place beside Profit, The Ben Stiller Show, the Tick, and Action. But I won't rest until I've found safe harbour (no, not the Gregory Harrison show) for this vessel.

I've got the time.

It ain't like I'm sleeping.

-joss.
==========

End quote:

Here’s the link to the original post… However go there at your own risk! The emotions are running pretty high, and there is a generous use of language that Eric’s grandma would not approve of. You have been warned!

http://www.buffistas.org/showthread.php?thread_id=13&post_id=7711

 

[Villano]

Sci-Fi might be a good fit for the show. While it relies on FX, it's more like Stargate in that it's managable (no lasers and the only major cgi is in the starship scenes). It could fill the niche left by Farscape (remember, the reason that was cancelled was due to the failure to come to terms over money, not the ratings).

Okay, the main reason I want it on Sci-Fi is because I don't get UPN or WB.

Anyway, the last episode pulled in a 2.7, up .3 from last week. It sucks that it's getting cancelled as it's gaining viewers.

In related news, Fox has announced that they are doing a Baywatch reunion movie. Remember, kids, Fox is all about quality programming.

 

[Welverin]

In related news, Fox has announced that they are doing a Baywatch reunion movie. Remember, kids, Fox is all about quality programming.

In bizarro world!

 

[WisdomLikeSilence]

I'd suggest that people who are really steamed about the "hiatus" follow a previous suggestion and check out

http://fireflysupport.com/

Then write a postcard to UPN about how much you love the show.

It may be quixotic, but it's better than doing nothing and it might even work.

Also, I've already had the privilege of viewing the unaired pilot. It's truly excellent television, and what really got me excited about the show. That makes this Friday a great opportunity to get together and have a viewing party. Tell your friends to watch! Tell your acquaintances! Tell your enemies! Just get the audience out.

A large enough audience for the pilot will help convince another network to take the show, or (in the most unlikely of scenarios) give FOX a reason to reverse their decision.

-WLS

 

[Welverin]

A large enough audience for the pilot will help convince another network to take the show, or (in the most unlikely of scenarios) give FOX a reason to reverse their decision.

One problem with this, it doesn't matter how many people watch if they're not Nielson voters. Every person in the country could watch the show, except for the nielson voters and the networks would still think it was a bomb.

 

[WisdomLikeSilence]

One problem with this, it doesn't matter how many people watch if they're not Nielson voters.

True, and I should have paid attention to that in my first post. Still, if we spread the net wide enough we might catch a few voters. And either way, if we get people excited enough they'll write postcards or be primed to watch the show when it appears on another network.

Of course, if this really is the end than getting someone hooked now is just sadistic.

-WLS

 

[sotmh]

The Nielsons are also pretty heavy biased to favor shows targetted to an older audience, since older people are far more likely to participate in the Nielsons than younger people.

Thus, programming that is aimed primary at younger viewers tends to perform poorly in the ratings. A programs actual place in the ratings is ultimately less indicative of it's performance than how the program moves in the ratings from week to week. This will usually tell you whether it's gaining or losing viewers.

Unfortunately, when a show gets preempted regularly, tracking it's progress through the ratings becomes less accurate. Also, viewers will be lost due to attrition when this happens, especially when a show is in it's infancy. All in all Firefly got a pretty raw deal.

This stuff is pretty basic, the kind of thing you learn in second year broadcasting school. I can't believe FOX actually expected Firefly to succeed with all the crap they did to it (lack of promos, showing it out of order, prempting it regularly, putting it in the worst possible timeslot). It's almost like someone wanted it to fail.

sotmh

 

[Welverin]

Of course, if this really is the end than getting someone hooked now is just sadistic.

I'm starting to like this save Firefly campaign more and more.

It's almost like someone wanted it to fail.

I get this impression from them and the other networks all the time.

 

[Mark]

I'd love to see it moved to UPN, placed right behind Enterprise, and then give Twilight Zone a nudge to the hour right behind it. I think the lead in of Enterprise would give it some good ratings and get it off the ground to a level that the execs could respect and no longer deny its quality. That'd be my hope, anyway...

 

[Negative Zero]

i disagree with Mark.i don't think that the fans of Star Trek that still watch Enterprise, will actually like Firefly. they seem to be two completely different animals. i think that playing it after Buffy on UPN would be a good move tho. i can see it now: "UPN's Tuesday night of Joss!"

watching TV the other night, i was appalled at the sheer level of unfairness in the TV world. i mean, c'mon; Enterprise, Twilight Zone and Anna Nicole Smith still have TV shows! and they're cancelling Firefly????????? there just is NO justice in the world.

~NegZ