I think the channel lost its soul when it got bought by a certain company and then changed it's name. What we are seeing happen is that companies plan to alienate all of its viewers and attract a new crowd. Sharktopus was a masterstroke.
This is because they no longer show science fiction, but syence fyction. There's a big difference.
Take this show off SyFy and its still pretty bad and only for one reason: Marcel. He's a little weasel with no personality and zero screen presence. I love the concept of the show, but he is not a good anchor for it.
@Mental Maden @Maden Mental
"....you are now tackle free for life."-ShoNuff
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This can't be repeated enough. I watched Quantum Chef and all I could think of was that this guy needed to be slapped. I understand that reality television is all about people yelling at each other for no good reason, but this ***** goes out of his way to screw people over. I like cooking shows, but why would I want to watch a show starring a guy like that?
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Originally Posted by MentalMaden
Take this show off SyFy and its still pretty bad and only for one reason: Marcel. He's a little weasel with no personality and zero screen presence. I love the concept of the show, but he is not a good anchor for it.
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...
New Webcomic -- Genocide Man
Life is funny. Death is funnier. Mass slaughter can be hilarious.
First I hated Marcel every time he was on Top Chef. However molecular gastronomy is an interesting, high tech way of preparing foods and flavors. Should it be on SyFy, no. Faceoff, the makeup effects reality show at least had some relationship to science fiction/fantasy TV and movies.
Second, SyFy/Sci-Fi Channel has been a part of USA Networks since 1992. Now USA Networks was originally owned by both Paramount and Universal. Paramount was sold to Viacom in 94 and in 97 sold it's rights to USA to Universal. Universal sold it off in 98. In 2000 Universal was bought by Vivendi who bought back USA Networks. In 2004 USA was partially sold off to NBC which which changed USA Networks to NBC Universal.
That's when it started to move away from old sci-fi series and movies into new broader range of shows. The rebranding and name change to SyFy simply gives up any remaining pretext that this is a channel devoted to sci-fi TV, movies and mini-series.
Father Xmas - Level 50 Ice/Ice Tanker - Victory
$725 and $1350 parts lists --- My guide to computer components
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Yeah, I love cooking and am fascinated by molecular gastronomy. But he is the last person to spearhead it to the mainstream. Put Dufresne, Blais or any number of other chefs on a show dedicated to it. Anyone but that little ----.
@Mental Maden @Maden Mental
"....you are now tackle free for life."-ShoNuff
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First MTV stopped showing videos, then the History Channel stopped showing programs about history and now this. Just goes to show that Corporate American can ruin just about anything.
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Originally Posted by Forbin_Project
First it was professional wrestling and now a cooking show. Did SyFy at least focus on how to make Klingon quisine? No! It's Marcel from Top Chef. I have so many fond memories of watching great Sci-fi on that channel and it hurts to watch it's soul get murdered piece by piece.
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(Sometimes, I wish there could be a Dev thumbs up button for quality posts, because you pretty much nailed it.) -- Ghost Falcon
It hasn't been the same since Lexx ended.
"You don't lose levels. You don't have equipment to wear out, repair, or lose, or that anyone can steal from you. About the only thing lighter than debt they could do is have an NPC walk by, point and laugh before you can go to the hospital or base." -Memphis_Bill
We will honor the past, and fight to the last, it will be a good way to die...
That show is lame and syfy sucks....
You know what SyFy series I liked? Face Off, a take on the Top Chef format using special effects make-up. Unfortunately, I was traveling and didn't see how it ended, but they can clearly find things which are similar to other shows but with a sci-fi slant.
The Alt Alphabet ~ OPC: Other People's Characters ~ Terrific Screenshots of Cool ~ Superhero Fiction
It could have a Science Fiction flavor to it by creating very alien dishes shown on SF shows and movies that actually taste good.
The first step in being sane is to admit that you are insane.
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I love the Brunnun-G fight song.|
Originally Posted by DarkGob
It hasn't been the same since Lexx ended.
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wYoq6sovr8Y
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See, that wasn't so hard. Be a lot of blue food, though.
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Originally Posted by starphoenix
It could have a Science Fiction flavor to it by creating very alien dishes shown on SF shows and movies that actually taste good.
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The Alt Alphabet ~ OPC: Other People's Characters ~ Terrific Screenshots of Cool ~ Superhero Fiction
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They could devote a few episodes to the TOS multi-colored play-dough food and Klingon cooking. I, for one, would love to know how to make Rokeg Blood Pie. Not so keen on the gagh though.
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Originally Posted by Ironik
See, that wasn't so hard. Be a lot of blue food, though.
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Goodbye, I guess.
@Lord_Nightblade in Champions/Star Trek Online
nightblade7295@gmail.com if you want to stay in touch
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I think we all agree that we'd give the show a chance if they at least attempted to put a Sci-Fi spin on things.
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Originally Posted by Ironik
See, that wasn't so hard. Be a lot of blue food, though.
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I enjoyed that show as well. |
Originally Posted by Ironik
You know what SyFy series I liked? Face Off, a take on the Top Chef format using special effects make-up. Unfortunately, I was traveling and didn't see how it ended, but they can clearly find things which are similar to other shows but with a sci-fi slant.
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And Conor won, the guy they implied was knocking boots with cute Megan. He was technically the best but he usually constrained his designs to what he knew what he could to in the time allotted so his designs weren't way out there.
I think the last five episodes are up on Hulu. Edit: Nope only episodes 2-6, not the first or last two episodes.
Father Xmas - Level 50 Ice/Ice Tanker - Victory
$725 and $1350 parts lists --- My guide to computer components
Tempus unum hominem manet
Barely anything good on tv, anyway.
Television is furniture. Anything worth watching is going to be on DVD or internet anyway.
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But that's how the business tends to work. Hey, we need an alien design and make up that can be done cheaply and quickly, but it has to look good, and we need it now. He knew his strengths and used them properly instead of trying to reinvent the wheel.|
Originally Posted by Father Xmas
He was technically the best but he usually constrained his designs to what he knew what he could to in the time allotted so his designs weren't way out there.
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You can apply the same philosophy to just about any business, actually.
Arc# 92382 -- "The S.P.I.D.E.R. and the Tyrant" -- Ninjas! Robots! Praetorians! It's totally epic! Play it now!
Arc # 316340 -- "Husk" -- Azuria loses something, a young woman harbors a dark secret, and the fate of the world is in your hands.
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Long before that. Frost. |
Originally Posted by Frostbiter
I think the channel lost its soul when it got bought by a certain company and then changed it's name. What we are seeing happen is that companies plan to alienate all of its viewers and attract a new crowd. Sharktopus was a masterstroke.
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Bonnie Hammer (formerly of MINITRUTH) was very open about her low opinion of the Sci-Fi channel and it's programming (She didn't like the genre because she "didn't get it.") when she took it over in 2001. She began her program of systematic destruc... err... "Mainstream Accessibility" with the cancellation of much of the bulk of it's then classic programing and a increasing succession of new project financing/purchasing cuts.
The acquisition of Universal (former owners of USA and Sci-Fi) by NBC in 2003, further distanced the channel from those few board members that really supported it. Hammer's subsiquent promotion to her current role as President of NBC Universal Cable, was the last nail in the coffin, as Sci-Fi was morphed to the excremental "SyFy" it has become today... a churning morass of reality shows, license-draped dramas, ruined web-series, and they occasional diamond in the rough.
If it wasn't for a handful of roach-like survivors on (such as Eureka, and the Roger Corman films), there's be no reason to watch it at all. It's very much simply USA2 now.
( and yes, I'm still bitter
)
It's 106 miles to Grandville, we got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark and we're wearing faceless helmets
... Hit it ...
... Hit it ...
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Tonight on Quantum Chef: SPOO!
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Originally Posted by Ironik
See, that wasn't so hard. Be a lot of blue food, though.
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It's 106 miles to Grandville, we got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark and we're wearing faceless helmets
... Hit it ...
... Hit it ...
I also liked Face Off, I am also a fan of Being Human and Warehouse 13. Eureka I will watch when it is on, it is a good show too.
Cancel the kitchen scraps for widows and lepers, no more merciful beheadings and call off christmas!
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And the irony with Hammer is that she's done wonders for the USA Network. Their line up of original shows is rather strong. On one hand I want to hate her for what she did to the SciFi Network, and for losing great shows like Farscape and MST3K (the latter was sadly on its last legs, though), but then she's also fostered an environment that's given us "Burn Notice."|
Originally Posted by Jet_Boy
Bonnie Hammer (formerly of MINITRUTH) was very open about her low opinion of the Sci-Fi channel and it's programming (She didn't like the genre because she "didn't get it.") when she took it over in 2001. She began her program of systematic destruc... err... "Mainstream Accessibility" with the cancellation of much of the bulk of it's then classic programing and a increasing succession of new project financing/purchasing cuts.
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I'm so conflicted.
Arc# 92382 -- "The S.P.I.D.E.R. and the Tyrant" -- Ninjas! Robots! Praetorians! It's totally epic! Play it now!
Arc # 316340 -- "Husk" -- Azuria loses something, a young woman harbors a dark secret, and the fate of the world is in your hands.
First it was professional wrestling and now a cooking show. Did SyFy at least focus on how to make Klingon quisine? No! It's Marcel from Top Chef. I have so many fond memories of watching great Sci-fi on that channel and it hurts to watch it's soul get murdered piece by piece.