[dsgtdave]

I thought this was appropriate for Caprica's forums. Some guy asked Craig Engler on twitter about it:

"Q) What are the dis/advantages to having a mid season finale as opposed to just letting an entire season play out

A) Advantages: creatively & promotionally gives you 2 premieres & finales per season, smaller gaps when show is off air, etc.

The only real disadvantage is so-called momentum, but if you research hiatuses, you'll find that's not a huge factors. Shows tend
to do after a hiatus just what they were doing before. Good shows do well, struggling shows continue to struggle, etc."

As much as I personally don't like a long hiatus I can understand the points he is making and I completely agree with the idea that good shows do well, struggling shows continue to struggle. Case in point is Caprica.

[I Voted Baltar]

Its entirely true. I think a mid-season break will do shows like Doctor Who a big favour as theres less waiting time.

[Cylon-Knight]

I read that. But I just heard "blah blah blah."

"Real networks" (oh BURN!) don't do that ... so, SyFy, STOPPIT!

[dsgtdave]

Cylon-Knight, on 16 February 2011 - 07:03 PM, said:

I read that. But I just heard "blah blah blah."

"Real networks" (oh BURN!) don't do that ... so, SyFy, STOPPIT!

It is quite irritating mid season but it doesn't have to be a mid season hiatus. I think any hiatus in general will carry forward where they left off. Take V for example. I'm guessing it will be axed in May.

[Cylon-Knight]

I think, overall, Sci-fi shows just take longer to find their footing. A break of any sort is just a bad idea for a genre that is not a mega ratings winner to start with.

[obsolete toaster]

Frak their 'market research' (typical executive 'suit talk'); long hiatuses KILL shows.
The public has a very short memory. You have to get the shows out there while the iron is hot, so to speak.
Doctor Who's hiatuses are more or less scheduled that way; we KNOW they'll do the Christmas special, followed by a regular season a few months later then a long break. Period.
Easy-peasy.

BSG and Caprica's breaks were much less predictable and shook off (IMO) some potential loyal viewers who just didn't like their entertainment being delivered in such an unstable way.
And as for "V"? Yeah, the latest figures are not good at all. They look more like Caprica #s at this point. I just hope that it makes it to May.....
Science fiction on network TV is always problematic; and these stupid, insanely-long breaks do not help at ALL.
Frak the research; listen to the fans on the street, not frakking focus groups...

[dsgtdave]

I agree with you Cylon Knight.

I also agree with Obsolete Toaster that they should listen to fans but the way they collect their data doesn't really lend the opportunity if you ask me.

The hiatus helped bring down Caprica but it was fledgling prior to the mid season wrap.

I only agree with syfy exec on strong shows will carry themselves through hiatus be it mid season or season to season.

[obsolete toaster]

dsgtdave, on 16 February 2011 - 07:42 PM, said:

I agree with you Cylon Knight.

I also agree with Obsolete Toaster that they should listen to fans but the way they collect their data doesn't really lend the opportunity if you ask me.

The hiatus helped bring down Caprica but it was fledgling prior to the mid season wrap.

I only agree with syfy exec on strong shows will carry themselves through hiatus be it mid season or season to season.

There aren't too many shows that start out really strong right out of the box.
And in the current 'instant feedback' climate, it's very hard for slow-burning projects to develop and find an audience anymore. The same is true of movies (even more so, with the 'opening weekend makes-it/breaks-it' mindset). It used to be that TV shows could take a year or two to find an audience, or movies would be in theaters for months before word of mouth caught on. Not so much anymore.


As for Caprica though, I think the LOOOONG hiatus kind of served a dual purpose; yes, it helped bring it to an early end, but in turn the low ratings and constant threat of cancellation also put something of a fire under it's a$$ and (IMO) helped to bring about an awesome 'final five' set of episodes that had to function as an ad hoc series finale as well. I think if the series had a guaranteed 4 year run, I would've wasted three of them. I don't know if ABC's "V" will be able to wrap things up so neatly, but being on regular network TV (as opposed to a cable network), I doubt it.

Sci-fi ALWAYS struggles on the major networks. Fox's "X-Files" might be the only series that disproved this rule (and at the time X-Files first aired, Fox was kind of a 'fringe' network; not so much these days). But if X-Files debuted today? It would struggle, I believe. "Fringe" (a similar show) is now struggling to get a third year, I hear.
Again, I can't understand why science fiction does so well at the box office (many of the top 20 grossing films of all time are science fiction/fantasy), but struggles and stumbles so badly on TV. I really don't understand that....

[lightning31659]

SYFY needs to go back to Sci-Fi and play fracking Science fiction I like wrestling but smack down needs to find another network,

[obsolete toaster]

lightning31659, on 17 February 2011 - 07:53 PM, said:

SYFY needs to go back to Sci-Fi and play fracking Science fiction I like wrestling but smack down needs to find another network,

Kind of reminds me of MTV not showing music videos anymore...

[lightning31659]

obsolete toaster, on 17 February 2011 - 09:20 PM, said:

Kind of reminds me of MTV not showing music videos anymore...

Exactly!

[sean]

[dsgtdave]

Never going to happen. A ratings and money maker is there to stay for awhile. Wait until the cooking show debuts.

[obsolete toaster]

dsgtdave, on 18 February 2011 - 02:35 PM, said:

Never going to happen. A ratings and money maker is there to stay for awhile. Wait until the cooking show debuts.

A new cross-generation/timeline science fiction cooking show:



STAR TREK: CAPTAIN KIRK'S KITCHEN!
With special guest chef, Capitan Jean-Luc Picard, and his own special brand of French cuisine!


Next week's exciting episode: 1,000 ways to prepare Gagh!

Bon appetit!

[dsgtdave]

Oh I wasn't joking about the cooking show. It premiers in March

It is called Marcel's Quantum Kitchen. Link below. Enjoy!

Marcel's Quantum Kitchen

[obsolete toaster]

dsgtdave, on 19 February 2011 - 11:47 AM, said:

Oh I wasn't joking about the cooking show. It premiers in March

It is called Marcel's Quantum Kitchen. Link below. Enjoy!

Marcel's Quantum Kitchen

Oh sweet Jesus... (facepalm)

Anyway, I think I like my idea better... think I'll pitch it to Shatner on his website; he does everything these days!

[Cylon-Knight]

This thread is on hiatus. WATCH FOR ALL NEW POSTS IN APRIL!

[obsolete toaster]

Cylon-Knight, on 19 February 2011 - 05:23 PM, said:

This thread is on hiatus. WATCH FOR ALL NEW POSTS IN APRIL!

And in the tradition of SyFy channel, it will be April of 2012!

[dsgtdave]

I wonder what is gonna be so sci-fi and sleek about this cooking show? They got food replicators or something?

[I Voted Baltar]

Sci fi cooking show, eh?