FARSCRAPPED

Posted By: Peter DavidPosted On:

It’s a crying shame about “Farscape” being flushed, but not entirely surprising from what I understand:

1) SFC’s parent company is in deep financial trouble, and I think it’s pretty obvious just to look at it that “Farscape” is not a cheap series to produce. I doubt the actors are making big bucks; the money’s up on the screen. The other aspect is that in TV production, you reach a point of no return vis a vis syndication. You need a certain number of episodes to be able to form a syndication package to allow for stripping (running a show five times a week) which is where the real money is. If you don’t make that number, then the show will likely lose money overall, particularly if it’s an expensive show. I don’t know for certain it’s the case, but “Farscape” might have been reaching that number where they either had to cut their losses or commit to the full number for a syndie package, and they chose the former.

2) I always marveled how “Farscape” was clearly a series where the network was letting the creative folks have their head. Believe me, you can tell: You’ll see shows and something will happen or be said and you’ll say, “Yup, that was a network note.” For the most part, notes from the network exist to dumb shows down, make them lowest common denominator. “Farscape” challenged you to keep up with it. Networks hate that. So I thought it was smart that SFC was being “hands off” with the show. Turns out I was wrong. The series producers simply ignored network notes. This did not endear them to the brass at SFC. From what I hear ’round the campfire, SFC brass hated the series. A series has no friends at a network at its own peril; unless it’s a megahit, it’s vulnerable, as execs will look for any excuse to bag the show. “Farscape” was many things, but a megahit it wasn’t.

3) I also understand the sets have been destroyed. Not stored. Destroyed. If that’s true, if the sets are gone, then any “save the show” campaign is a waste of time. They won’t rebuild the sets. The bulk of initial outlay goes into the sets. The only way “Farscape” comes back (in a two hour film, as has been hoped) is if all shots of Moya, etc., are stock shots and the entire thing is shot on Earth. Which is not impossible, I suppose. But a return of the series ongoing if the sets are gone is slimmer than slim.

PAD

18 comments on “FARSCRAPPED”

  1. I am really disappointed about this whole thing. If the show needed to be cancelled, fine. I can understand that. But at least give the producers advance warning so they can finish up plotlines and create a reasonable ending for the series. This last minute ax is really.. well, rude — to the people who worked on the show and to the fans. Especially when farscape was already signed up for season 5.

    Peter, in an online chat with the Farscape producers and actor Ben Browder the fans were told that the sets were coming down on Friday. If this info. is correct (I don’t know, maybe you have the inside track) I think the “save the show” campaign was worth a shot.

    – Markisan

  2. Good observations on both the politics and finances of television, Peter. I’d understood, though, that the magic number of eps for syndication usually came after three seasons, and that that’s where the real risk came — once there are enough eps to strip, the incremental cash bonus in syndication for more episodes is not as great as the cost of production (unless it’s a wild hit show).

    The rumors I hear are that the sets have been broken down, but not destroyed, based on fan reaction, and that EM/Henson is shopping the show around to another source. But how much of that is wishful thinking is unclear.

  3. What I do know from another list that I am on is that the puppets are being stored and the puppet/make-up workshop is being packed/stripped. The actors have been released from their contracts to find other work.

    That the sets are being dismantled but not destroyed is very good news if we can get conformation on that.

    Kath

  4. The “magic number” for syndication is usually 65. That makes for 13 weeks of shows (also why Saturday morning cartoons have 13 episode seasons), and 4 solid rotations of the series a year. FARSCAPE was short of that. The three season mark usually works for syndication because network shows have 22 episodes a year, and that gives them 66.

    -Augie

  5. In regards to the number of shows, Farscape has already aired 77 shows and will hit 88 when SciFi finishes out the run.

  6. This was the show I always looked forward to on Friday nights. The last two cliffhangers have been the best..

    So we aren’t going to see how Crighton gets out of his latest problem?

    I do recommend “Monk” for Friday nights.

  7. It’s really sad that this happens to shows of this quality. Farscape was one of the few shows that was consistant in all aspects of it. I hope that the fan support will help to continue this show in some way, shape, or form.

  8. I’ll really miss the crew of Moya. As long as Stargate SG-1 sticks around awhile, I’ll be happy. I thought those 2 shows really complimented one another.

    On the bright side, at the rate shows I like to watch are going away, I’ll have more time to write.

  10. The episodic sets were dismantled as is the norm at the end of the season. The creatures are being stored, as is the norm, the big sets are fine – they have just been stored.

    The actors are looking for other work, but hopefully doing nothing that will preclude them from returning. They want to do the show. FARSCAPE can return, MUST return … WILL return.

  11. Considering their commerical ties, there is always the Hallmark Channel as a possible new home for FARSCAPE. But unfortunately, very few basic cable outlets (at least around here) carry it.

  12. Such a shame; always looked forward to this show.

    I appreciate Peter’s brutal honesty, but hope everyone at least TRIES something to save the show (at least sign the petitions…or let people know on forums).

    Hey, at the very least, any of the folks ON Farscape might read something and know their work was appreciated!

    (I’ll second that Monk recommendation…a VERY fun show).

  13. You are right on a lot of topics. SciFi probablly had to make a hands down financial decision and axed the show that pìššëd them off any way.

    But the destruction of the sets were halted according to DK. They did start it and I don’t know how far they got (Pilot was dismantled and packed away, for sure) but the network has reopened negotions and therefore decided to halt it FOR NOW. Of course talk is cheap and nothing is certain, yet. So the campaign may very well do some good.

    Also from what I heard in the past the execs always had a great working relationship with Farscape. They did let them ahve free reign because they trusted them and realized the prestige it brought to the network. It was a recent change in power that brought in people who decided that Farscape was more trouble then it was worth.

  14. It’s my fault! Every time I get interested in a SF show, it gets cancelled. It happened with QUANTUM LEAP, and now it’s happened with FARSCAPE. I rented the pilot episode two weeks ago. Now I find out it’s being cancelled. I think I’ll skip THE DEAD ZONE now.

  15. I would like to hear stuff from “THE HORSES MOUTH” I dont really like all the second-hand information. I for one think this is a very well thought out (and crule) marketing ‘ploy’ togain massive exposure and free advertising for FARSCAPE. Its my own opinion, but I think FARSCAPE will return under a cloud of “THE FANS SAVED THE SHOW” when in reality, TPTB are presently getting exactly what they were hoping for

  16. Actually in the movie business nothing is for certain and anything can happen. Who would ever have thought that there might be another Rambo movie? But it is under discussion. Or even another Star Trek movie? Not that I will watch either but it is an interesting point. So many good shows have been canned but brought back by popular demand. We just have to wait and see what happens in the next week. That time will tell. In the mean time there is a chance. And email Bill O’Reilly, he love to talk about how the networks are screwing up!oreilly@foxnews.com

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