Sci-Fi lets viewers vote for pilots
David
Sci Fi to Preview Series Online
By R. Thomas Umstead
Sci Fi Channel will allow its viewers to play a role in determining
the fate of two possible series when the network puts the pilot
episodes from Amazing Screw-On Head and Garth Marenghi's Darkplace on
its Pulse broadband-video site (www.scifi.com) July 13, two weeks
before they air on the linear channel.
After viewing the shows, Pulse viewers will be asked to fill out an
online survey rating the pilots to Amazing, which chronicles the
exploits of a crime-fighting robot "head" and features the voice of
actors Paul Giamatti and David Hyde Pierce, as well as British cult
series Garth Marenghi.
The results of the online survey will help Sci Fi executives to decide
whether or not to green-light the pilots to series. Both series will
debut on the network July 27.
"The Pulse broadband network gives us a unique way to tap into our
viewers and get their direct feedback in a way not previously
possible," Sci Fi executive vice president and general manager Dave
Howe said in a prepared statement. "Our viewers are passionate about
Sci Fi, and this is another way for us to get them involved with the
network."
Luke Smith
Rhino
"David" <diml...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:p9iqa2h1rhoh8mcig...@4ax.com...
> from multichannel news
>
> Sci Fi to Preview Series Online
> By R. Thomas Umstead
>
> Sci Fi Channel will allow its viewers to play a role in determining
> the fate of two possible series when the network puts the pilot
> episodes from Amazing Screw-On Head and Garth Marenghi's Darkplace on
> its Pulse broadband-video site (www.scifi.com) July 13, two weeks
> before they air on the linear channel.
>
> After viewing the shows, Pulse viewers will be asked to fill out an
> online survey rating the pilots to Amazing, which chronicles the
> exploits of a crime-fighting robot "head" and features the voice of
> actors Paul Giamatti and David Hyde Pierce, as well as British cult
> series Garth Marenghi.
>
> The results of the online survey will help Sci Fi executives to decide
> whether or not to green-light the pilots to series. Both series will
> debut on the network July 27.
>
They will show pilots on July 13, supposedly so viewers can decide which
programs should be made into series, and then show episodes of BOTH series
beginning two weeks later?? How is that supposed to make sense?
Normally, creative people with ideas for TV programs pitch verbal or written
descriptions of their shows to the networks. If their ideas sound
interesting enough, they will be allowed to make a pilot, which is a single
episode of the program. They will show that episode to test audiences to see
if the reaction is sufficiently favourable. If it is, then the network will
order additional episodes to be made, possibly with changes like different
actors or different plot directions. The process of pitching the idea,
making the pilot, getting viewer feedback, then shooting the later episodes
typically takes several months.
It seems _extremely_ unlikely that Sci-Fi could run the two pilots on July
13, take a few days to tabulate results, order episodes of the two series -
perhaps with extensive changes based on the reactions of viewers!? - and
have those episodes ready to show in only two weeks! Frankly, I'd be
surprised if they would proceed to show any episodes beyond the pilot unless
they had 4 or 5 finished episodes "in the can". It seems FAR more likely to
me that both series already have several episodes finished and ready to air.
But that raises the question of why bother with the online surveys? If the
shows have already been made, what are the surveys supposed to accomplish?
It seems impossible that they could re-shoot the finished episodes to suit
viewers comments in only two weeks! Perhaps the survey results could be used
in writing second-season episodes (or even late first-season episodes if a
large number of episodes have been ordered). But then the surveys are NOT
being used to "green-light a pilot", they are being used to guide the later
development of a series that has already been ordered and had several
episodes produced.
> "The Pulse broadband network gives us a unique way to tap into our
> viewers and get their direct feedback in a way not previously
> possible," Sci Fi executive vice president and general manager Dave
> Howe said in a prepared statement. "Our viewers are passionate about
> Sci Fi, and this is another way for us to get them involved with the
> network."
--
Rhino
Mark Nobles
> "David" <diml...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:p9iqa2h1rhoh8mcig...@4ax.com...
> > from multichannel news
> >
> > Sci Fi to Preview Series Online
> > By R. Thomas Umstead
> >
> > Sci Fi Channel will allow its viewers to play a role in determining
> > the fate of two possible series when the network puts the pilot
> > episodes from Amazing Screw-On Head and Garth Marenghi's Darkplace on
> > its Pulse broadband-video site (www.scifi.com) July 13, two weeks
> > before they air on the linear channel.
> >
> > After viewing the shows, Pulse viewers will be asked to fill out an
> > online survey rating the pilots to Amazing, which chronicles the
> > exploits of a crime-fighting robot "head" and features the voice of
> > actors Paul Giamatti and David Hyde Pierce, as well as British cult
> > series Garth Marenghi.
> >
> > The results of the online survey will help Sci Fi executives to decide
> > whether or not to green-light the pilots to series. Both series will
> > debut on the network July 27.
> >
> Huh??
>
> They will show pilots on July 13, supposedly so viewers can decide which
> programs should be made into series, and then show episodes of BOTH series
> beginning two weeks later?? How is that supposed to make sense?
Judging by the schedule for August posted at scifi.com, I'm guessing
that "Amazing Screw-On Head" will get pretty bad reviews and
"Darkplace" will get rave reviews. Only the pilot for Screwhead is
scheduled, while Darkplace has a double-shot every Thursday and Sunday
in August.
And I am so looking forward to Screwhead, too, because it sounds like
JD's Floating Head Doctor from Scrubs.