Comments on: The Friday Night Death Slot: Sarah Connor Chronicles & Dollhouse

By: Has the Terminator finally finished off Sarah Connor? | Richard Hartley

Has the Terminator finally finished off Sarah Connor? | Richard Hartley — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 15:04:24 +0000

[...] their stride from season 3 onwards; they need that long to get everyone working from the same page. Official word on the show's future has been vague, but then it always is. Warner Bros has said little more than the show is under consideration; [...]

By: Virtuality’s Ratings Flatline in Friday Night Dead Space - Screen Rant

Virtuality’s Ratings Flatline in Friday Night Dead Space - Screen Rant — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 21:06:20 +0000

[...] Friday night did what it does and bit a chunk out of the ratings for this science fiction drama. Science fiction and fantasy [...]

By: Are Smallville And Supernatural Ending Next Season? - Screen Rant

Are Smallville And Supernatural Ending Next Season? - Screen Rant — Thu, 28 May 2009 15:22:46 +0000

[...] concerned, it’s a place networks put shows they don’t care about. We all saw how Friday night killed viewer numbers for The Sarah Connor Chronicles when it was moved there. And TSCC had more viewers than [...]

By: 790

790 — Thu, 07 May 2009 04:33:58 +0000

Interesting pov Jon.

By: Jon

Jon — Thu, 07 May 2009 04:27:50 +0000

Dollhouse is a show that doesn’t get a happy ending. I’m pretty sure of that. The whole premise is disconcerting to say the least. I mean, how is one to feel about people being taken and wiped clean, only to be bought and paid for to do things? To fulfill fantasies? And when the corporation that controls the house has a vast amount of political influence, how are the good guys going to win? Are they going to kill all of the people involved? That’s going to be nearly impossible, and needless to say is also not a completely happy ending.

Dollhouse and Terminator are shows that have no happy endings. What may seem like a win for the good guys is just a thorn in the bad guys side. Nothing more. The bad guys are too many and too powerful. Nothing can be done to stop them. And that’s why they don’t seem to get the respect and/or viewers they deserve. Give ‘em happy endings and bright lights and a whole manner of other things. I mean, if it meant keeping them on, why not introduce a singing Terminator that gets judged by Simon? Or an Active that is programmed to be on a reality dancing show against a former football player? Just to get the ratings up? I’m surprised Fox hasn’t thought of it. Or have they. . .

By the way, that’s how I’m going to look at it if both shows don’t get renewed. That the bad guys (Fox and the advertisers) are too many and want too many things and that the good guys (the shows) are outnumbered. I want them back!

By: Bruce Simmons

Bruce Simmons — Sun, 03 May 2009 02:56:30 +0000

Hey Ruthann Lariscy:

Wonderful points you make, but yes, no one listens to anyone, but the money advertisers make off of the viewers who want to soak up reality TV.

Grr.

By: Ruthann Lariscy

Ruthann Lariscy — Sun, 03 May 2009 00:22:23 +0000

I know this is Passe—I’m a professor at a College of Mass Comm—and I even Judge Peabody awards many years (but usually in news categories, granted!). But I know, from research I’ve done, that there is a HUGE largely untapped audience for the TTSCC—it is a mixture of the folks who were devoted to X-files, plus a contingent of terminotor-phobes, plus a (granted, smaller) contingent of folks like me—boomers who look to Friday nights as actually a GOOD night for TV—we are totally ignored, and I understand, but the demographic profile is actually wrong. Anyway, it is a GREAT show that deserves at least a decent shot in a good time slot. If it flops then, so be it. But, the folks who watch 24 also will watch (they don’t all do it now because of where it is placed and how it is promoted)if they are led there. Really, really poor programming research—-I have a marketing research firm–Opinion Research Solutions, LLC–and I am a research professor at the University of Georgia–I know no one really listens, but, I wish you would. This is a big error. This show has AMAZING audience potential, it just hasn’t been properly 1) packaged 2) promoted or 3) placed. Thanks for letting me vent, ruthann lariscy, ph.d., UGA

By: tim pyne

tim pyne — Sat, 02 May 2009 17:42:36 +0000

I want a season 3..the show is getting good with lots of twists..moving to fridays was a bad idea.. did the same to FAMILY GUY dvd sales and adult swim save them ..I hope the new TERMANTOR movie will save the show.

By: Bruce Simmons

Bruce Simmons — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 01:11:29 +0000

That’s a good idea Paul C… have Simon Cowell make a guest appearance. What would he do? Criticize the authentic method of how the droids kill.

I can see it now: “That was a great kill. Weaver didn’t kill those people like other terminators. She made the kills her own and didn’t karaoke the part. She stood out!”

Hmm… how could they write that in? Ah! We could have Weaver and Cameron duke it out in the American Idol audience, taking out the stage and equipment, hence, pre-empting the show’s ability to go on, and hence, canceled!

Oh, sorry. We were only supposed to get the viewers to TSCC, not destroy the competing shows.

By: Paul C

Paul C — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 23:34:11 +0000

TSCC aeries 2 was a different animal from S1.
Looking at the fox demographic, it’s mouth breathers with an IQ of room temperature (centigrade)that is their general target audience.
Maybee if they gave Cowell a cameo , more of the droolers would watch.
Making a series with plot twists and a story does not sit well with these people.

I really liked series two , Shirley Manson was a real find.

Fox may be scared that the new movie has a plot line and writing that sucks, lets face it, given all the movie releases this year and most of last years, thats a probability.

The last thing they want is the unwanted child outshining the new cashcow, the hoped mainstream reviver of the Terminator brand.

I really hope that show does not follow Brimstone and Odyssey 5 down the pan.

By: 790

790 — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 10:12:54 +0000

I agree with, Mister Quintana finish the show with some closure FOX. !!!!

By: mister quintana

mister quintana — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 08:43:41 +0000

no disrespect intended but I think anyone who is in a decision making position with respect to the ill fated conclusion to end the sarah connor chronicles terminator series is an idiot! I am a big fan of the series and would hope that it will not be ended because it offers so much in riveting entertainment value. You can’t be seriously considering ending it without bringing it to some good and decent closure unless you intend to undermind every viewers hope of seeing something on tv worthy of using the electricity to operate the tube and as far as that goes I will just opt out of watching fox all together in favor of opb since there I can predict withsome reliability what can be reasonably expected from my viewing experience. well I gotta stop here and just say please don’t let me down ,I am waiting with baited breath for the next episode!

By: Rob Keyes

Rob Keyes — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 16:12:56 +0000

I hope both shows come back,

I’m catching up in Dollhouse and it has gotten exponentially better after the first few episodes now that all the plots are developing.

I love Terminator even though the finale was … strange.

By: Bruce Simmons

Bruce Simmons — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 13:01:36 +0000

And something usually does: Cops, Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader, My Dad Is Better Than Your Dad.

Those are the shows that have been and should be on Friday nights. Their reality drabble.

Longshanks made this list of shows he said came and went on Friday nights. See any you’ve seen or liked?

Brimstone
Millennium
Harsh Realm
Freaky Links
Lone Gunmen
Dark Angel
Wonderfalls
Fastlane
John Doe

Some were destined for the digital DVD archive, but there were a few that could have possibly made it longer than they did if they weren’t slated to Fri nights. At least I think so.

By: Darren seeley

Darren seeley — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 04:03:44 +0000

I would love -and expect- Terminator Sarah Connor Chronicles to return. However, if it does, it will either be a) a “mid-season renewed [re]placement with a short season or b) cancelled on FOX but gets picked up by SyFy/SciFi for a short season run.

I stuck with the show, despite the common annoyances …number #1 being the ENDLESS commercials in between acts. I know folks need to pay the bills and sell cars and mouthwash, but c’mon. Six minute acts of drama vs. twelve minutes of commercials arrrggghhh!!!!

number #2 the “recaps”. You know what I’m talking about.

number #3 the characters save one are always progressing and being developed further. That one that remains one note? As good as the actress is, Lena seems stuck, unable to shine. At least thats how it appears. What’s the show called again?

number#4 some eps were nice, but sometimes the more interesting characters and/or plot threads were AWOL. It’s like being jerked around in some areas, yawning in others. Didn’t happen all the time, but it did happen. Esp. in the first half of this second season.

Now, I’ll say this: the last four eps of the season was stellar.
Shirley Manson was/is fantastic, Garrett Dilhunt playing Cromartie/John Henry, Richard T Jones, Brian Austin Green doing outstanding stuff. The ending of the last ep of this season is perfect.

As for Dollhouse, I never got into it.

As for FOX not liking sci-fi shows? I’ll believe it if, Terminator and Dollhouse are booted, and Fringe moves to Friday Nights.

No seriously, folks. Fox knows Fridays are weak. Something has to fill that slot.

By: JessSayin'

JessSayin' — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 15:06:34 +0000

I started watching TSCC on Hulu a couple weeks ago and I gotta say…It blows! (with the exception of ‘Self Made Man’)
I’ve watched every one.

Except for Summer who could power a small city with just her looks, it’s bad for a number of reasons namely,

1. What’s with always getting little boys who look like they belong on the cover of ‘Twink’ to play John Connor, the LEADER of the human resistance?! Are there no bad ass punks out there that don’t require lipstick and eyeliner to play the part?

2. As beautiful as Lena Headey is why does she always walk around looking like she wants to tell you the worst news ever and then just bites her tongue at the last minute and walks away.

3. Shirley Manson. Even in her 40′s now she’s amazing. I would have liked to seen more of her and less of Lena Headey. (who, incidentally can’t sing the pants right off of me!)

docktorwu was right, the writers and producers killed this one.

(Summer, if you read this, you look absolutely amazing on my cell phone!)

By: Daniel F

Daniel F — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 14:19:39 +0000

What really sucks is I actually was a big supported of TSCC I was an avid watcher and constantly defended it by the last two episodes made me dislike it. I lost all interest and find my self actually partially wanting the show to be canceled. It ended with an epic fail.

By: Andy S

Andy S — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 14:12:53 +0000

If T:TSCC dies on FOX this year, it will really be the beginning of the end for scripted TV. We’ll be getting more garbage like Idol and Dancing. Even Chuck is on the hook right now and that is a wonderful show. I think the networks are getting cheaper and cheaper because they realize that the reality shows are money makers and don’t cost them much to make. I bet if FOX put TTSCC on Sunday nights with The Simpsons and Family Guy the ratings would be huge. Make Friday nights a national sports night. Baseball in the summer and hockey in the winter. LOTS of people go out on Friday nights and usually in bars there are games on. But then, what do I know?

By: K13

K13 — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 11:28:51 +0000

I love TSCC. It’s interesting and it’s Sci-fi. I have no idea why people don’t get it. The story runs deep, it’s complex and it has a mass of great actors. I will be so disappointed if it’s canceled. And another thing I just don’t get. Why are all the series e.g. Greys anatomy- which in my personal opinion sucks- were everyone sleeps with everyone so successful? Why do people fall for a gooey mess like that?

By: Rockandrepublic

Rockandrepublic — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 06:35:25 +0000

Didn’t expect for TXF to be brought up, but since it was, i gotta say that for the firs few seasons TXF was on fridays. By the second season the show’s audience grew much stronger and larger. But that’s likely for various reasons, there was nothing like it on tv, Fox decided to give it a chance, and it worked! Now wtf happened in between then and now that they’re not willing to let these shows breath? I think they’re so caught with themselves with the AI jagurnaut. 3 nights a week? are you kidding? They’re taking viable slots away from these shows.

P.S. Wonderfalls was a hell of a show.