Not start a new season, but finish the first season. Seriously.
I don’t know about you all, but I’m so over this half season per year marketing technique being fed to us by the network brain trust. It started with HBO and THE SOPRANOS. Now HBO does it with just about everything, then Sci-Fi gets into the act and starts chopping up BATTLESTAR GALACTICA into itty bitty half seasons that air a whole year apart.
BSG and THE SPORANOS were extended far past their logical expiration dates. While both shows still had their fans, television had moved on.
Lesser shows would have been forgotten. Remember ABC and PUSHING DAISIES? Okay, that was due to the strike, but the long hiatus killed all the momentum the show had, and it was never able to regain it. They had to start all over. As a result, one of the best shows on TV met a bitter, premature end.
It’s hard to believe that networks would actually do this on purpose. Perhaps they feel that heavily promoting the return of a popular show will boost viewership. Not just a show, but an event, right? Create a craving. Create a rare occurrence. An opportunity. Like how Pink Floyd started coming out with albums every 4 years, instead of every year. Like the Olympics or The World Cup.
But how much longer will this continue to work? At what point will people just start dropping shows? I guess we’re going to find out because some networks seem to be in love with this technique.
And in CAPRICA’S case, will this work at all? Last I read, CAPRICA’S ratings were much lower than anticipated. As I watched, the show seemed to get better and better though. Momentum seemed assured as long as the quality kept coming. Well, now it seems we are going to have to start over with CAPRICA. Most loyal fans will tune in, but casual fans will ask “Oh yeah, what ever happened to that show? Isn’t 20/20 on tonight?”
So what do you guys think? Do you mind the long delays? Does it affect whether or not you remain a loyal viewer? Do you find something else in the meantime? What happens when you like that show better?
Syfy press release:
CAPRICA RETURNS TO SYFY IN JANUARY 2011
New York, New York – July 21, 2010 – Syfy has announced the highly-anticipated return of critically-acclaimed series Caprica. The second half of season one premieres in January 2011 (date TBA), and kicks off with a thrilling pace as the citizens of Caprica deal with the chaotic aftermath of the mid-season finale’s harrowing events.
In season 1.5, the once idyllic world of Caprica – as well as life across the colonies – falls prey to an explosive chain reaction of consequences set off by the characters’ many questionable actions in the season’s first half. Tensions rise, power shifts and the line between reality and the virtual world becomes increasingly blurred as everyone struggles to learn – and conquer – the stakes in this volatile setting. As the season races towards its stunning conclusion, events of each episode lay the framework for the inevitable (and brutal) clash between the newly-created Cylon race and their human creators.
An all-new trailer for season 1.5 will premiere at Caprica’s Comic-Con panel on July 23, and before landing on Syfy.com, it will be available exclusively on Microsoft’s Zune Marketplace on Xbox LIVE and Windows PCs through the Zune PC software available for free at www.zune.net. (July 26).
Caprica stars Eric Stoltz (Daniel Graystone), Paula Malcomson (Amanda Graystone), Esai Morales (Joseph Adama), Polly Walker (Sister Clarice Willow), Alessandra Torresani (Zoe Graystone), Magda Apanowicz (Lacy) and Sasha Roiz (Sam Adama).
Caprica is a prequel to the award-winning series Battlestar Galactica. The series is from Universal Cable Productions, and is executive produced by Ronald D. Moore and David Eick. Jonas Pate serves as co-executive producer and director.
Universal Cable Productions creates quality content across multiple media platforms for USA, Syfy and other networks. A leader in innovative and critically acclaimed programming, UCP is the studio behind USA’s Royal Pains, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Psych, In Plain Sight, Covert Affairs and Facing Kate, as well as Syfy’s Eureka, Warehouse 13 and Caprica. The studio also produced the long-running series Monk and Battlestar Galactica. UCP is a division of NBC Universal.
Syfy is a media destination for imagination-based entertainment. With year round acclaimed original series, events, blockbuster movies, classic science fiction and fantasy programming, a dynamic Web site (www.Syfy.com), and a portfolio of adjacent business (Syfy Ventures), Syfy is a passport to limitless possibilities. Originally launched in 1992 as SCI FI Channel, and currently in 96 million homes, Syfy is a network of NBC Universal, one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies.(Syfy. Imagine greater.)
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