You are the head of a major network: Firefly vs the new Battlestar Galactica

[John Crichton]

False premise: That when I pick one to stick around, it is because I like that one more.

I like both series a great deal. If I have to pick one to stick around, I cannot do so based upon the amount of pleasure it brings me to watch them. So, I would have to pick based upon other criteria: Which of them is likely to stay better for longer? Which of them to my friends like more? Which of them is more likely to drag in vierwers from the general public, and thus broaden the overall audience for genre shows in general?

I could give other criteria as well, but I expect you get the idea. None of the above have much to do with my liking them. When two horses run neck and neck, something other than the basic qualities of the horse begin to show.

Faaaancy way of dancing around the question. Perhaps I should have made it simpler...

Go with this: You get to choose one and one only. Use any criteria and factors you wish but feel free to explain your choice as that is what really makes this fun. The situation (since this is an RPG site) is that you get to play network head for a day and that one day you get to choose which show stays on for another year and which dies. It's a tough choice for sure but there wouldn't be any point if it was an easy call. To me, this type of choice is a wonderful and horrible fantasy. You want to keep both but that's not the situation. And explaining why you won't choose doesn't apply.

As for myself, I plan on making a reply with my reasons but I need to grab a few hours of sleep before work....

 

[Lazybones]

Firefly, absolutely no contest. I would give up the entire television lineups of all of the six main networks for more Firefly. Of course, the only network shows I watch regularly are The Simpsons and Family Guy (and the former is starting to get tired), so such a statement is less meaningful coming from me.

 

[ergeheilalt]

I'd choose Firefly, hands down. I enjoyed the show, the banter was witty, it's new, and (IMO) the most widely accessible for a network audience. You could tune in to any episode and be entertained. There was no huge arc and seeing episode 8 before episode 3 won't spoil episode 3 (ala BSG, which has a short review prior to each episode). Each episode of Firefly is enjoyable in and of itself.

 

[Belen]

Firefly. There is no comparison. It has better actors, better scripts, and a more coherent storyline. It is also not as depressing. I like BSG, but Firefly would win any contest I judged.

 

[Truth Seeker]

Firefly. There is no comparison. It has better actors, better scripts, and a more coherent storyline. It is also not as depressing. I like BSG, but Firefly would win any contest I judged.

Depressing?? I like Depressing...it brings out the best in people.

 

[Flexor the Mighty!]

BSG easily. While it's got some things in the story and writing that I don't like it's a lot better than Firefly IMO. I don't really enjoy the uber-cool "snarky" dialogue that Wheadon's shows are all filled to the brim with. And the shows of Firefly I saw were just not that interesting. YMMV.

 

[Thornir Alekeg]

Using your "network head for a day" I would probably choose BSG because I think the storyline is a little neater in that they have a definite goal.

Now, if I were the network head in a permanent way and wanted to pick a winner for a number of years, I would choose Firefly. I think BSG has a limited run before the show starts to get stale - how long can you be on the run before the idea gets to be too tired (I hope I'm wrong, I do love the show). Firefly on the other hand I think has pretty much unlimited potential.

 

[Welverin]

Hmm, which has less stupidity? I don't really know, they seem about even, so I guess I'll with Firefly since the constant negativity of BG gets tiresome.

 

[LightPhoenix]

Heh, that'd be a tough choice. Personally, I'd keep one and sell the other to a competing network with a clause it can't air opposite my show. I do love Firefly, but personally I'd have to choose BSG. If I were a network exec, BSG is by far and away the safer show to keep.

I don't get the Firefly not getting stale thing. IMO Angel was at it's best in it's third season and started to go downhill from there. From those people I talked to about Buffy, they seem to say the same thing about that show. No reason to think the same wouldn't happen with Firefly.

 

[WayneLigon]

Much as I like what I've seen of BG, Firefly wins hands down with no real discussion.