What should SciFi Channel look like?

[Webster]

After visiting and posting on this particular thread, SciFi Channel Destroying Definition of Sciencce Fiction?, I got to thinking, what do you think SciFi Channel should look like? What should be on it, what programs, what movies, shows, etc.....That is the question at hand; here are a few of my thoughts.........

A couple of ideas came to mind..........(1)borrowing an idea from Bravo, there's a show over there called "Inside the Actors' Studio" with James Lipton, where he interviews guests from most every facet of Hollywood; that's one show that could do well on SFC.............(2)from CSPAN2 comes this idea; on the weekends' they have whats' called Book TV where they discuss all sorts of topics(mostly politics, but also science, culture, the arts, etc.); they also show book signings, readings, etc.....SFC could use, say, Sundays' to air some of these kind of shows(maybe have a weekly book review-type show or an interview w/sci-fi authors, publishers, etc.)...........(3)every year, Speed Channel covers the two major automotive trade shows, PRI(Performance Racing Industry) and SEMA(Specialty Equipment Market Association) with, IIRC, at least 2 hours of coverage the past few years.....Sci-Fi Channel could do something similar with all the sci-fi conventions(maybe a 1hr. show or a highlights show of some sort)..........(4)going back to Sundays', over on AMC there's a show hosted by Peter Bart and Peter Guber, "Shootout", where they discuss the film industry and interview guests during the show; SFC could do a show like that or something similar.................

Anyway, that's just a few ideas................anyone have any other ideas or thoughts?

 

[Tom]

Network consists of 3 to 5 channels

Channel 1= Full length uncut movies- like pay movie channels but with fewer repeats (can you say TiVo) Classic night, new release night, cult night....

Channel 2= dedicated to sci-fi TV series- uncut blocks of 5 one-hour/10 half hour shows, miniseries, specials(the day after)

Channel 3= DvD explorer with narration and weblinks, Movie series back/back,

Channel 4= Sci-fi propaganda television */* Reviews, commercials, director talk shows, featured authors talkshows, website review show, the cutting room floor, Greatest movie mistakes show, Concept movie designs, upcommin movie explorer, Credits explorer show....

Channel 5= Hard sci-fi , soft sci-fi , candy sci-fi, sci-fi parody zone.

ABSOLUTELY NO INFOMERCIALS! (unless someone is selling a flux capacitor or star drive or something like that) {it would go on channel 4 anyway)

I'd pay a special premium for such a package.
let's put sci-fi channel in the archives and get some real sci-fi on the toob!

Channel One:
First show? {The network premier- what movie best says "SCIENCE FICTION"}
Forbidden Planet?

Network Spokesperson? [Who makes you think "SCIENCE FICTION"]
Spielberg?
Asimov?
Lem?

Network Logo? (Sorry but I'm not a graphics artist anymore)
Idea: Supergiant(bright) implosion(colorful) to a blackhole that fades the screen to black and starts the movie/sound of low decible sustained explosion in reverse.
Graphic Idea: Static colorful wormhole (black in center with yellow flame network title inside)

Network Mascot? This IS Sci-fi (real world creature with sci-fi features)
Viperfish?
Rhino Beetle?

Channel One Content: Original/Remake <back2back>
The Thing/John Carpenters The Thing
The Blob/The Blob
...
Are you as insulted as I by the thing called the sci-fi channel?

Channel Two Premier: {The Sci-Fi definnative Television Show}
Taken?
X-Files?
ST TOS?
Werewolf the series?
Buffy?
Voyage to the bottom of the SEA?

First miniseries:
VEE the final battle?
King's The Stand?

First Special:
The day after?
War of the worlds?

Channel Two Graphic:
Buckyballs and carbon nanotubes with chrome assemblers
83 channel spin stops on network graphic
Pressing network graphic button creates Random TV setting for button pusher
Nanites form network graphic and disolve

Spokesperson:
gellar?
robby?
HAL?
king?
ducovney?

HELP ME OUT HERE....
Just think how many people now think the sci-fi channel represents SCIENCE FICTION

Channel Three

Channel Four- commercial paid free cable
Sorta kinda set up like techTV/g4. Network made shows where WE control the content.
Teaching SCIENCE FICTION to the masses.

COMMERCIALS/ADVERTISEMENTS POLICY
Only science and science fiction related commercials. Strict guidelines about content, frequency of showing(max 1 per 1 hour, max of 3 hours then 6 hour break)
run duration time limits(expires in 1 week){new content required after run duration expires} Archival regeneration, Commercial-viewer voteoff at channel website (insultingly stupid commercials voted off channel by the registered viewers), High cost spots to promote high quality commercials
Promotional graphic overlays on the commercials only
Advertisement graphic overlays on commercials
6 hour programming schedule transparent ticker during commercials
max 2 30 sec spots per half hour on the half hour and the hour
...
DirectorTalk & AuthorTalk shows
Live
recorded
archives
posthumas profile exploration

NewMovie & NewShow Review Shows
Trailers
Clips
Critics views
paraphanilia
tidbits of production
news

WebSite Reviewer Show
1 to 5 sites reviewed per show
Check back on previously reviewed sites
popularity polls
SiteBuilding tips

CuttingRoom Floor Show
Deleted scenes
alternate endings
outtakes/bloopers
random cut
polls/votes- best, worst, funniest, most obscure....

MovieMistakes Show
Inconsistancies
props in frame
bad astronomy
bad physics
bad science
polls/votes
viewer submits- rated...maybe prizes, awards, appearances

Concept Movies
Talk about movies in development turmoil
proposed movies on record
viewer submission- ideas, concepts, requests
Viewer submission polls
Writing sci-fi tips

UpcommingMovie Show
progress on movies in production
news
funding challenges
production challenges
Casting
Speculation Discussions by phone/webcam

CreditsExplorer show
In the life of...
Star
Foley artist
ILM
Editor
director
Take new release dvd/video and findout about the credits-in depth

SOL3 The state of Sci-fi on planet Earth
Trivia
numbers
money
books
...
Imagine a sci-fi network set up like discovery network but controlled by the subscribers through phone and web polls.,Sub-Network...Fantasy

Literature Explorer show
Authors view/interview
Sub-Genre Related
Official position on possible movies( Author specifies what constitutes their creation and how Hollyrock is allowed to mutilate it...For the record)
Headliner publisher
Trivia

Narration of specific DvDs by the DvD promoter
Website/Promotor sponsored Coupons on the purchase of the spotlighted DvD available to the subscriber for D/L.
Trivia related to the featured DvD.
Promoter Spotlight segment dedicated to promoting DvD sales using network website and subscribers coupons
The voice of Segment that allows critics on-air time about the featured DvD

Back2back
Complete uncut Nitemare Elmstreet Series-capped with DvD features Exploration
Similar Alien
Similar Back to the Future
Similar */*

Call them marathons, blocks or whatever.
Big blocks of large series should be aired over winter holidays and such,
Use website polls to create the playlists and airing dates.

Remember: Subscriber controlled network...

 

[Tom]

I wrote this on IMdb forums about 6 years ago and I had a heck of a time finding it so I could post it for you.
I have some new ideas now but this is supposed to be a discussion so lets discuss what I have so far...

 

[Tom]

Channel 1= Full length uncut movies- like pay movie channels but with fewer repeats (can you say TiVo) Classic night, new release night, cult night....
Channel One:
First show? {The network premier- what movie best says "SCIENCE FICTION"}
Forbidden Planet?

Network Spokesperson? [Who makes you think "SCIENCE FICTION"]
Spielberg?
Asimov?
Lem?

Network Logo? (Sorry but I'm not a graphics artist anymore)
Idea: Supergiant(bright) implosion(colorful) to a blackhole that fades the screen to black and starts the movie/sound of low decible sustained explosion in reverse.
Graphic Idea: Static colorful wormhole (black in center with yellow flame network title inside)

Network Mascot? This IS Sci-fi (real world creature with sci-fi features)
Viperfish?
Rhino Beetle?

Channel One Content: Original/Remake <back2back>
The Thing/John Carpenters The Thing
The Blob/The Blob

SciFi Prime
Subscriber polled movie blocks - Extended versions, alternative endings and spliced sequals. Imagine watching 8 hrs of Aliens with no interruptions! See an 8 hr block of dragon movies. Spend a day in a block of scifi cheese.
StarWars, StarTrek or Lord of the Rings Movie weekend
Giant Monsters Day
Parody Monday
Double-take Tuesday
Other-World Wednesday
Thriller Thursday
Freaks on Friday
SuperPower Saturday
New Worlds Sunday
Spielberg Week
John Rhys-Davies Week
B-Movie Blowout Block
Alphabet Movie Month
50's Week
60's Week
70's Week
80's Week
90's Week

Run-up Filler - Since we would want our movies to start on the hour we will need something to takeup the space after a movie ends. How about filling in that Run-up time with DVD special features and trivia on the movie that just ended. We would need a host to talk thru the features and trivia. Trailers and Sneak peeks could be shown as well.
Perhaps even a Channel line-up could scroll or something. Anything but commercials.

 

[Tom]

Channel 2= dedicated to sci-fi TV series- uncut blocks of 5 one-hour/10 half hour shows, miniseries, specials(the day after)
Channel Two Premier: {The Sci-Fi definnative Television Show}
Taken?
X-Files?
ST TOS?
Werewolf the series?
Buffy?
Voyage to the bottom of the SEA?

First miniseries:
VEE the final battle?
King's The Stand?

First Special:
The day after?
War of the worlds?

Channel Two Graphic:
Buckyballs and carbon nanotubes with chrome assemblers
83 channel spin stops on network graphic
Pressing network graphic button creates Random TV setting for button pusher
Nanites form network graphic and disolve

Spokesperson:
gellar?
robby?
HAL?
king?
ducovney?

Scifi Series
Season Blocks
Monday is 50's Series night
Tuesday is 60's series night
Wednesday is 70's series night
Thursday is 80's series night
Friday is 90's series night
Saturday is 00's series night
Sunday is current series night
Weekly Mini-series
Cliffhanger afternoons
Daytime Short-series
Genre Mixed Mornings
Nostalgia Series Premiers
Series Based Movies

Runup Time - Since we want most of our shows to start every half hour we could fill in the dead-air time with channel lineups and Scifi Network News.

 

[Tom]

Channel 3= DvD explorer with narration and weblinks, Movie series back/back,
Channel Three

Scifi Realms
DVD Screens Explorer
Pick a movie and run everything available on the dvd for as long as it takes.
Run all movie series in order
Run remakes and related dvds like special features disks and other versions
No runup time or dead air spots - When one is finished its straight on to the next.

 

[Tom]

Channel 4= Sci-fi propaganda television */* Reviews, commercials, director talk shows, featured authors talkshows, website review show, the cutting room floor, Greatest movie mistakes show, Concept movie designs, upcommin movie explorer, Credits explorer show....
Channel Four- commercial paid free cable
Sorta kinda set up like techTV/g4. Network made shows where WE control the content.
Teaching SCIENCE FICTION to the masses.

COMMERCIALS/ADVERTISEMENTS POLICY
Only science and science fiction related commercials. Strict guidelines about content, frequency of showing(max 1 per 1 hour, max of 3 hours then 6 hour break)
run duration time limits(expires in 1 week){new content required after run duration expires} Archival regeneration, Commercial-viewer voteoff at channel website (insultingly stupid commercials voted off channel by the registered viewers), High cost spots to promote high quality commercials
Promotional graphic overlays on the commercials only
Advertisement graphic overlays on commercials
6 hour programming schedule transparent ticker during commercials
max 2 30 sec spots per half hour on the half hour and the hour
...
DirectorTalk & AuthorTalk shows
Live
recorded
archives
posthumas profile exploration

NewMovie & NewShow Review Shows
Trailers
Clips
Critics views
paraphanilia
tidbits of production
news

WebSite Reviewer Show
1 to 5 sites reviewed per show
Check back on previously reviewed sites
popularity polls
SiteBuilding tips

CuttingRoom Floor Show
Deleted scenes
alternate endings
outtakes/bloopers
random cut
polls/votes- best, worst, funniest, most obscure....

MovieMistakes Show
Inconsistancies
props in frame
bad astronomy
bad physics
bad science
polls/votes
viewer submits- rated...maybe prizes, awards, appearances

Concept Movies
Talk about movies in development turmoil
proposed movies on record
viewer submission- ideas, concepts, requests
Viewer submission polls
Writing sci-fi tips

UpcommingMovie Show
progress on movies in production
news
funding challenges
production challenges
Casting
Speculation Discussions by phone/webcam

CreditsExplorer show
In the life of...
Star
Foley artist
ILM
Editor
director
Take new release dvd/video and findout about the credits-in depth

SOL3 The state of Sci-fi on planet Earth
Trivia
numbers
money
books

Scifi Satisfaction
Commercials by policy - Standard television programming grid
All programming strictly science fiction and fantasy

Programming Ideas -
Requirements:

• Studio scifi themed
• Host, hostess or both
• Ability to poll audiance
• All production attributes

Shows and Focus:
Authors Direct - Discussion, news and interviews with science fiction and fantasy authors and writers. Clips of shows and movies discussed. In depth talk about their works and new stuff on the way.
Directors Direct - Discussion, news and interviews with science fiction and fantasy directors and producers. Clips of shows and movies discussed. In depth talk about their works and new stuff on the way.
Acting In-Depth - Discussion, news and interviews with science fiction and fantasy actors and actresses. Clips of shows and movies discussed. In depth talk about their works and new stuff on the way.
Dedicated Fallen - A host or hostess gathers and displays the careers of the genres greats post-humously. A history of sort of show.
Review For Pass and Show - Previews and reviews of current genre media
Web Bank - This show reviews and promotes genre websites and webpages online. It takes you to the site and explores the best of it. Viewers are polled and results are displayed at the end. Emails are read and nominations for future content are held. Each show has a featured file, screenshot or tip.
Trailer Park - Trailers, promo videos, short videos and previews are shown, discussed and ranked.
On The Floor - Deleted scenes, bloopers, runoffs, rewrites and all manner of trashcan fodder discussed and viewed
Just Trivial - Trivia, mistakes, production goofs, equipment malfunctions and continutity blunders are shown and discussed.
The Future is Scifi - Discussing movies in production turmoil, news on movies coming soon and wishing hope-fors. Viewer feedback for movie ideas, series suggestions and needed remakes. Status reports on highly anticipated movies in production.
Sol 3 / Scifi Earth - Genre restricted news, products, dicoveries and developments on our planet right now. Science-fiction becoming science fact, viewer feedback and videos, industry news and cutting-edge technology.

 

[Tom]

Well, I have given some thought to this, now its your turn

 

[Webster]

So, four channels........................
~~Sci-Fi Prime
~~Sci-Fi Series
~~Sci-Fi Realms
~~Sci-Fi Satisifaction


The only points of contention I could think of would be.........................
(1)would there be blocks of programming on Sci-Fi Series besides just what was listed....in other words, a daytime block of shows to go along with the evening blocks' listed;
(2)rather than have three shows as listed under Sci-Fi Satisfaction, just combine them into one "Inside Sci-Fi" show similar to the 'Actors' Studio' idea I mentioned in the first post.......BTW, I love the idea of a sci-fi oriented movie/TV review[I can see it now........"Skirwlinator and Mlittle's Reviews"........ )


Those are the only ones that come to mind at the moment.............

 

[BirdOPrey5]

It should be 1 channel... late night stuff can be old classics that we can DVR/Tivo...

It should make it a #1 priority to have some flagship sci fi shows... they need to bring back/make new a Trek series, get some sort of Star Wars based series...

They should sink "Eureaka" right now...

Bring some sort sci fi comedy series...

The furthest they should fall from true sci-fi would be something like Hercules/Xena... never wrestling...

 

[Kevin]

It should make it a #1 priority to have some flagship sci fi shows... they need to bring back/make new a Trek series, get some sort of Star Wars based series...

It'll be interesting to see where the live action Star Wars series ends up when it airs. And you know if the new Trek movie makes an incredible amount of money then a new series will be soon after.

They should sink "Eureaka" right now...

I must be the only fan of that show.

Bring some sort sci fi comedy series...

Tripping The Rift. RIP.

The furthest they should fall from true sci-fi would be something like Hercules/Xena... never wrestling...

I totally stopped watching around the time they started showing wrestling shows.

 

[mariamosh]

I'm so sad we don't have Sci Fi Channel in Sweden anymore. I had it for a couple of luxurious months in 1998 or 1999 but then it was gone. ARRRRGH!!!!!

Is there any way you can watch it online or somethin?

 

[Tom]

Yes but as individual shows

 

[cyclops]

New Babylon 5 series.

 

[Mojo]

Kevin, I love Eureka. And I'm not sure about a sci-fi comedy series... I think you can incorporate humor into sci-fi/fantasy, but comedy is a genre all to itself.

Hey, as a general rule... is there any reason why the SciFi Channel couldn't bring back one of my all-time favorite shows, Battlebots???

 

[Tom]

"Space Precinct" (1994)


Scifi Comedy

The series was created by Gerry Anderson and was a mix of science fiction and police procedural that combined elements of many of Anderson's previous series such as Space: 1999, UFO and Thunderbirds, but with an added dash of Law & Order and Dragnet. Gerry Anderson was Executive Producer along with Tom Gutteridge.
The series starred American actor Ted Shackelford as former NYPD detective Patrick Brogan, now a lieutenant with the Demeter City police force on the planet Altor. Brogan and his partner Jack Haldane (played by Rob Youngblood) must adjust to living in another solar system, and investigating crimes being committed by aliens as well as humans. Also co-starring was Danish actress Simone Bendix as Officer Jane Castle, Haldane's love interest (Brogan being happily married with a wife, daughter and son who made the move to Demeter City with him). All other major characters were played by actors wearing complex make-up that also included elements of puppetry in order to depict the different alien races.

Officers Took and Castle


The series was one of the highest-budgeted shows Anderson ever produced, and was relatively popular in Europe. However, in a repeat of the situation that UFO encountered 25 years earlier, American broadcasters were uncertain what to make of this series that looked on the surface to be aimed at children, yet actually featured adult-oriented storylines and was usually played straight despite the bizarre storylines and make-up. As a result, Space Precinct was often scheduled in late-night/early morning time slots. It failed to generate sufficient American ratings for a second season to be authorized.

Cover of Space Precinct comic book based on TV series


The idea for Space Precinct predated the series by nearly a decade. In 1986 Anderson produced Space Police, a pilot film that featured Anderson regular Shane Rimmer as Brogan. The series failed to sell at that time and the pilot was never aired.
Space Precinct was released on DVD in Britain but, as of mid-2008, is out of print. It is the last major Anderson production that has yet to be so released in North America.