Flash Gordon

[Insight]

Sci-Fi doesn't develop these shows. They have ZERO say in what happens or how much is spent on development. All they do is buy the rights to show it. Sci-Fi pays a rights fee to the development company and show the product. Sci-Fi doesn't care (or doesn't seem to care in any event) whether or not the show is any good. They have a certain fanbase that will watch whatever they put on the air (have you seen some of the crap shows that appear on that network??? YIKES!)

Don't expect high-budget shows on Sci-Fi. If they do manage to find something that's any good, it's almost an accident.

I'm not trying to knock Sci-Fi at all. It's how they do business. There's nothing wrong with it, but it is what it is. You wouldn't go to Bravo to find sports programming, so don't go to Sci-Fi if you're looking for in-depth, high-budget programming.

Note: I am referring only to the first-run shows that Sci-Fi broadcasts. Obviously, syndicated stuff like X-Files re-runs are good programming (and honestly, far better than Flash Gordon can ever hope to be).

 

[Mistwell]

She was a guest star on an episode of Supernatural (the one with the Wendigo). I thought she did a good job on it.

I think she might be overworked. She's apparently also on some other TV show (that vampire show on Lifetime). Granted, I think both are 13 episode seasons, so probably no overlap, but she might have been a bit rusher and unable to get her bearings.

Let me put it another way. I met her at the Sci-Fi/EW party at San Diego Comic Con, and she seemed fairly vapid.

 

[Mistwell]

Sci-Fi doesn't develop these shows. They have ZERO say in what happens or how much is spent on development. All they do is buy the rights to show it. Sci-Fi pays a rights fee to the development company and show the product. Sci-Fi doesn't care (or doesn't seem to care in any event) whether or not the show is any good. They have a certain fanbase that will watch whatever they put on the air (have you seen some of the crap shows that appear on that network??? YIKES!)

You are wrong. This is a Sci-Fi show, developed by them. I met most of the people surrounding this show. It's made directly by Sci-Fi, just like Stargate SG-1, Atlantis, and BSG. They have a Sci-Fi village in Vancouver, BC where these are all produced.

 

[Insight]

You are wrong. This is a Sci-Fi show, developed by them. I met most of the people surrounding this show. It's made directly by Sci-Fi, just like Stargate SG-1, Atlantis, and BSG. They have a Sci-Fi village in Vancouver, BC where these are all produced.

The people you met weren't employees of the Sci-Fi Network. Flash Gordon is made by Reunion Pictures, a Canadian production company. I can verify this not only from the prodco's website, but also at IMDB and through my subscription to Hollywood Reporter, where I saw the ad for this production a while back.

Stargate SG-1 was developed by Sony Pictures and distributed by Sci-Fi Network.

As was Stargate Atlantis, not surprisingly.

Battlestar Galactica is a co-production of BSkyB and USA Pictures, distributed by Sci-Fi Network.

The Sci-Fi Network doesn't make many shows. They are mainly a distributor, as I stated previously.

 

[Fast Learner]

The bounty hunter/cop looked so similar to the princess that I thought they were clones or something. Once they were together I could somewhat see the difference, but even then it was too close. Bad casting.

 

[jaerdaph]

I disagree -- many currently successful shows work off of the All American/Canadian Charm thing.

I really could use an example because I'm at a loss to think of one.

The real problem here is that, for something inspired by an action-packed serial, it was slow and dull.

We should have had punches flying, daring escapes, car chases with something other than a Winnebago and truly half-dressed alien princesses in the first 30 minutes. Instead we got a tepid soap opera with more exposition than we'd need for a whole serial and the least active Flash Gordon ever.

QFT.

 

[jaerdaph]

The bounty hunter/cop looked so similar to the princess that I thought they were clones or something. Once they were together I could somewhat see the difference, but even then it was too close. Bad casting.

When I saw her, all I could think of was Xena rip off.

 

[Mistwell]

The people you met weren't employees of the Sci-Fi Network.

Uh, yes they were. No, really.

Flash Gordon is made by Reunion Pictures, a Canadian production company. I can verify this not only from the prodco's website, but also at IMDB and through my subscription to Hollywood Reporter, where I saw the ad for this production a while back.

Stargate SG-1 was developed by Sony Pictures and distributed by Sci-Fi Network.

As was Stargate Atlantis, not surprisingly.

Battlestar Galactica is a co-production of BSkyB and USA Pictures, distributed by Sci-Fi Network.

The Sci-Fi Network doesn't make many shows. They are mainly a distributor, as I stated previously.

I think you are both right and wrong.

Various financing companies are used to make the shows (which is what most of those companies you just mentioned are - finance). Sci-Fi controls most of those shows however, in most respects. They own most of the physical infrastructure that those shows, casts, and crew use. They have essential control over the projects. They may use other finance companies to work that end, and they sometimes may play games with paying a production company in Canada to produce something using their assets, but for most respects those are all Sci-Fi shows and not just shows made by someone else with hopes of finding a distributor like Sci-Fi. Trust me, they don't just make those shows on their own. Sci-Fi holds almost all the reigns. The actors and crew consider themselves the Sci-Fi family, and live in the Sci-Fi village in Vancouver.

 

[Nonlethal Force]

I really could use an example because I'm at a loss to think of one.

Well, to borrow an example from TV for youth, Hannah Montana springs to mind. Hannah/Miley is all about Downhome American Charm.

It'd be easier if we could go back to the way television programming used to be. There were bunches of shows on in the 80s that were all about good old fashioned American charm. But, feeling good about your family and who you are as a person is apparently no longer entertaining ... so most shows don't emphasize this as much!

[snyde, sarcasm, and gross generalization]

After all, it is all around better quality TV to watch people insult each other or act violently towards each other ...

[/snyde, /sarcasm, /gross generalization]

 

[Insight]

Uh, yes they were. No, really.



I think you are both right and wrong.

Various financing companies are used to make the shows (which is what most of those companies you just mentioned are - finance). Sci-Fi controls most of those shows however, in most respects. They own most of the physical infrastructure that those shows, casts, and crew use. They have essential control over the projects. They may use other finance companies to work that end, and they sometimes may play games with paying a production company in Canada to produce something using their assets, but for most respects those are all Sci-Fi shows and not just shows made by someone else with hopes of finding a distributor like Sci-Fi. Trust me, they don't just make those shows on their own. Sci-Fi holds almost all the reigns. The actors and crew consider themselves the Sci-Fi family, and live in the Sci-Fi village in Vancouver.

I'm not going to argue with you, since I don't think there's any point. I've proven that Sci-Fi doesn't make these shows, and you still seem to think they do. Oh well.