Oops, there goes reality.
Yep, I’m back, and once again I am stuck on reality. It seems like every time I sit behind my computer to pump one of these articles I am either discussing one of my various views on reality in televisions (as opposed to reality TV) or talking about why the Fox network is destroying television. Yet this time its, well… different.
I’ve been thing about this subject for a while. A few months ago I was sitting in the Borders coffee shop reading a bunch of magazines that I had no interest in paying for, when I came upon an interesting article in a Science Fiction magazine. The article talked about how Science Fiction/Paranormal/Fantasy is a dying art in Network Television. The first thing I noticed is that the article was poorly researched and seemed quite rushed, but that is a whole other topic. The question I asked myself, is “non-reality based scripted programs” truly on deaths door.
First of all, why call it “non-reality based scripted programs.” The genres and subgenre’s of non-reality based programing are too vast. We have fantasy, dark fantasy, apocalyptical, earth based science fiction, other wordily science fiction, alternate reality, paranormal, supernatural, super hero tales and many more. I could call it Science Fiction, but that would be a misnomer. So I decided to get all wordy on you and call it “non-reality based scripted programs.” Just to further stretch out the topic of the label, Science Fiction is such a bad label. Technically. you could call ER, and the CSI’s science fiction, but that not what we are talking. We are talking about subject matter that deal with what is not commonly accepted reality.
I grew up of bad, cheesy so called Science Fiction. Buck Rogers, Battlestar Galactica, and Star Treks were weekly and often daily staples of my entertainment world. Even as I got older, shows with an other worldly, or paranormal emphasis always caught my eye. Little known gems of the weird and bizarre always came and went quickly with few people other than myself joining the ride. Shows like Nowhere Man, Strange Luck, and John Doe were one (season) and done shows that barely left there mark outside of my humble abode. There were a few shows that just crashed and burned, like Harsh Realm, Space: Above and Beyond or Firefly, that still kept me glued to my set for well a few episode at least. Other shows that received a longer stay, or critical acclaim like Sliders, Millennium and Dark Angel never really pulled in hit ratings.
Of course we had a few pretty big hits over the past few years. The X-Files had a cult following and were critical darlings and eventually became a certifiable hit. The Star Trek Franchise definitely had its moments. And the Buffy/Angel worlds were definitely hit and cool as well as quite popular with the right demographics. Yet, most of these shows take a while to develop.
The funny thing is that we really haven’t seen a lot of the “non-reality based scripted programs” on the big three networks (ABC, CBS, NBC) Occasionally, we see a limited series or a mid season replacement come in with other worldly or futuristic overtones, but for the most part, the big networks have stuck with realism be it scripted, or unscripted. They play it safe, cops, lawyers or doctors. Sometimes, the take a chance and go with cop doctors, or military lawyers or some twist here or there.
So is fantasy dead on television? Right now, I would say there are four shows that fit into the “non-reality based scripted programs” label currently playing. Only one of them on the big three. We have ABC’s Lost, The WB’s Smallville and Charmed and UPN’s Voyager. Add a few returning shows, like ABC’s Alias (mild fantasy elements), FOX’s Tru Calling (Although it’s status is questionable) and, the cable giant HBO’s Carnivale. That is basically the whole of the major networks emphasis on the quasi-normal.
So, answer the question already, are “non-reality based scripted programs” a dying breed, or could they be the next big thing. Well, Hollywood likes trends, so lets look at them. The Fantasy world is becoming bigger and bigger, both in movies and books. The Lord of the Rings trilogy has been a dominant force in entertainment for the past 4 years, and Harry Potter has made Witches cool again. You would think that TV execs see that trend and may attempt to capitalize on it. The success of Lost, and on some levels, the Desperate Housewives along with last summers hit cable series The 4400, which was teamed on USA with The Dead Zone has shown that the public is hungry for something that isn’t about Cops, Lawyers or Doctors. So are TV execs gonna hop that train.
You betcha.
The upcoming Mid Season is just chock full of “non-reality based scripted programs.” So for those of you looking for some good, old fashion otherworldly, non-reality fun, here are some shows to look forward to.
Medium: NBC
Timeslot: Monday, 10Pm
Premiere Date: January 3rd
Patricia Arquette stars as Allison, a women who sees, and hears, the dead. She uses this gift/curse to investigate crimes as a “research medium and criminal profiler.” Where we often seen people with these types of powers on TV as disturbed loners, Allison has a supportive husband played by Jake Weber and she also has a sense of humor about her special ability. The show will mix her humor with a creepy style and disturbing crimes. Medium is supposedly based on the true life story of Allison Dubios.
Point Pleasant: FOX
Timeslot: Thursdays, 9PM
Premiere: January 20th
FOX surprised a lot of people by calling to a halt production on their soapy North Shore and announcing that a new Drama called Point Pleasant will be taking its timeslot. On the surface, this seems like another stretch on the California beach soap, but this time, it takes place on the New Jersey shores of the Atlantic Ocean. Yet, those of us on the East coast know that if it’s happening in Jersey it’s got to be creepy. Elisabeth Harnois plays a women who mysteriously washes to shore on the Point Pleasant beach. She is taken in by some strangers and searches for her mother who she believes lives in the town. Yet, its the discovery of the true nature of her father that is the shocker. Expect some Omenesque themes.
Eyes: ABC
Timeslot:TBD
Premiere: TBD
Tim Daly stars as, Harlan Judd, the head of Judd Risk Management a 21st century Private Investigation firm. The goal of the PI firm is to make their clients problems disappear, no matter what the consequence. Yet, Judd , is an impeccably scrupulous man, in an increasingly unscrupulous world. Along with Nora, played by NYPD Blue’s Garcelle Beauvais-Nilon, he leads a crack team of investigators taking on some dazzling criminals. With the producers of Fastlane on board, expect a MTV production style with lots of car chases, explosions and pop culture cameos.
Revelations: NBC
Timeslot: TBD
Premiere: TBD
Bill Pullman stars as a scientist, Dr. Richard Massey, whose beliefs are challenged as he sees various Biblical Prophecies that trigger the end of the world coming to light. In order to investigate this he teams up with a Nun played by Natascha McElhone. This series has been promoted by NBC for a while and is just looking for a timeslot. Right now it is billed as a limited series, but there is some indication that success may change this.
In Further, and somewhat connected News The Pax Network has committed to a series based on the extremely popular Left Behind series. This Christian series is about the lives of those Left Behind after God “raptures” all the Christians from the planet. The show is currently being cast with a nation wide talent search.
