ABC’s new Lost-esque mystery TV series, FlashForward – about a global blackout lasting 2 minutes and 17 seconds, in which time the entire human race gets a vision of their future six months ahead – has been impressive so far. The initial high concept is a whopper, enough (evidently) to bring in 12.4 million viewers for its pilot last month. And ABC is obviously confident in the series with the recent news that it has (thankfully) been picked up for a full first season.
Oh, if only things were as rosy as the ratings make them look… But don’t worry, FlashFoward hasn’t been suddenly canceled or anything of that sort! Put those pitch forks away, people! The Hollywood Reporter is reporting that one of FlashForward’s main players – co-showrunner and executive producer Marc Guggenheim (Eli Stone) – is stepping away from the series, leaving the job solely to the show’s other showrunner and executive producer, David S. Goyer.
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The move follows a similar switch-up at another new ABC show, The Good Wife, when showrunner and exec producer Dee Johnson departed the show, handing it over to co-creators and exec producers Michelle and Robert King.
Ain’t It Cool News reports that the reasons for Guggenheim’s departure from FlashFoward remain “muddy”, but evidence seems to suggest that execs were unhappy with, “the quality of the show’s post-pilot storytelling.” The ratings have dropped from 4.1 at the premiere to 3.1 at its fourth episode. However, THR’s report says that Guggenheim was brought on post-pilot to, essentially, mentor Goyer who has limited TV experience. As stated, Goyer will go it solo for at least the rest of FlashForward’s first season.
THR says that Guggenheim will focus on development with ABC under his overall deal with them. I’m assuming that means he’ll be working on other ABC shows, and won’t be (directly) involved with FlashForward, but you never know…
So this “Guggenheim leaving FlashForward” news is not really cause for as much (if any) alarm; Sounds to me like he was just brought in to help show Goyer the ropes, and now that Goyer knows them pretty well, Guggenheim has stepped away to let him do his thing. Simple enough to understand.
What do you think of Marc Guggenheim stepping away from ABC’s FlashForward? Have you been following the show? And if so, has it been living up to its initial promise or has it gone downhill?
Episode 5 of FlashForward’s first season – entitled “Gimme Some Truth” – airs on ABC tomorrow, Thursday, October 22nd @ 9:00pm.
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11 Comments
its amazing that a few million viewers mean so much in the never never land world – and if its NOT the next Lost then bye bye. who cares? just put it in the 10pm slot and trounce jay leno. best move for nbc to make to allow other networks to profit over that stupidity.
I liked the book, enjoyed the pilot but it seems to be taking a turn towards aliens causing the blackout at which point the story became frustrating. Why does everything have to be aliens. Don’t get me wrong, aliens are cool, but the book was based on a science experiment gone wrong. The show should try to keep that premise in some way.
Aliens? What’d I miss in my review last week?
@mShannon
Why are you spoiling the rest of us what happened? Now i know what it is and i’ll enjoy the show less. Thanks you VERY musch.
Much!
The pilot was quite enjoyable but I do hate how much they changed the story from the amazing novel. I’m still watching of course and I’m sure Goyer will do just fine. Just please don’t let us get too bogged down in the marriage of the lead character. The book had no aliens and should little green men appear in the TV adaptation I will be tuning out, and no I will not be turning to Leno.
Love this show, it’s intelligent and well written, so like other shows that make a person think, I’m sure it will hit the crapper soon. Didn’t catch any alien reference, but a science experiment gone awry? Ooook….
They stopped repeating it on Friday which sucks for my family, but I found it on the website.
@ Huggybear not spoiling anything for anyone it was my view of what happened in the final scene of the third episode. It appeared to be a cloaked alien ship over the town where all the crows had died but now with the other revelations that have happened I may be wrong, we’ll see!
to mShannon,
There are no aliens.
You need to buy glasses, your looking at a shockwave emanating from the tower, its further explained in subsequent episodes, which i wont spoil the readers here with.
it’s aliens for sure. different timeline though. check the spoilers
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