TV gone crazy

What's wrong with TV nowadays? Finding interesting things to watch is starting to get very difficult - I currently only watch two series regularly: Enterprise and Stargate SG-1, and it's looking likely that Enterprise won't be renewed for 4th season. Enterprise being cancelled is a bit sad, but not a huge surprise - while I think 3rd season has been much better than the previous ones, let's face it - no other series would have never been given three years to catch up ratings than a Star Trek one.

And there's the magic word: ratings. Many series are given only couple of episodes to prove that they are the moneys worth before they are cancelled - take Firefly or Jake 2.0. Many channels are betting on reality shows that are not only much cheaper to produce than scripted shows, but also very popular with the big spending target audience of 18-34 year olds. If you ask me, reality shows are just a modern version of gladiator games - people watch it only to see other people's misery. Vote (kill off) the comptetitor that you hate, blood lust is certainly still there.

When new series are commissioned - and Sci-fi Channel is still doing this - they are safe bets, like remake of Battlestar Galactica or spin-off Stargate: Atlantis. Sci-fi (and fantasy) is an expensive genre too: sets, make-up, and wardrobe - all need to be original (looking) and can't be borrowed off the neighbouring show. Big-wig executives get nervous with taking big risks and want to have their say very quickly if ratings are not justifying to costs - whether they know anything about the subject or not (and most often not).

It makes me sad - while I have nothing against Stargate, variety is the spice of life and I'd hate to live on just two sci-fi series. So far I haven't come across any other new series starting in the near future that would catch my interest. The only series I know about is 4400 - alien abductees, no thank you. So where is it all, original good sci-fi? Good home offered here with me.

More reading on the subject: 'Rings' can't work its magic on the small screen from Chicago Tribune. Highly recommended reading.

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