Logo

Cool News

ANDROMEDA Co-Creator Wolfe Exits!!

Published at:  Nov 23, 2001 8:22:31 PM CST

I am – Hercules!!

Robert Hewitt Wolfe is no longer showrunner and head writer for “Andromeda,” and apparently hasn’t been for close to two months.

Wolfe, the 35-year-old writer-producer whose pre-“Andromeda” credits include stints on “Star Trek: The Next Generation” and “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine,” decided to confirm his departure following the publication of this short item in “Cult Times”:

There's just one month to go until filming on Andromeda's second season wraps, but it's been one heck of a ride this year. The phrase 'Change is in the air' springs to mind as some seriously significant differences have swept into being. First off, co-creator and executive producer Robert Hewitt Wolfe departed for pastures new, leaving the way clear for a whole new approach. one which executive producer and star Kevin Sorbo welcomed with open arms, "Robert is a genius, but was developing stories that were too complicated and too clever for the rest of us to understand. What we now have is a team of very talented people who write standalone stories that can, on occasion, blend together to form a story arc. That simple 'turn-up-tune-in' attitude was what was missing. Now we have that, I really feel we're on track towards making Andromeda an outstanding show."

On Friday, Wolfe posted the following to slipstreambbs.com :

Thank God that's over.

I mean, here I've been, being a good boy, keeping my big mouth shut under the advice of my agent and my lawyer (who are very nice people and very smart and who very rarely tell me what to do), and now Kevin's let the cat (or in this case, the Thanksgiving turkey) out of the bag.

Finally. So now I can say it.

I am no longer the head writer and executive producer of Andromeda.

Ah. That's better. Someone please change my Slipstream gold letters to "Show Developer" or "Former Head Writer" or something. Maybe “Head Waiter”

Okay, so, you're probably wondering, what the hell happened?

Short Answer: Television happened.

Long Answer: As you can tell from Kevin's "too clever" and "too complicated" comments, he, Tribune, and Fireworks wanted to go in another direction with the show. A less clever, less complicated one, no doubt. Basically, they want the show to be more action driven, more Dylan-centric, and more episodic. They also want more aliens, more space battles, and less internal conflict among the principal characters.

Also, they want a lot less continuity so as not to confuse the casual or new viewer with too much backstory.

And finally, they wanted to rework the visual signature of several of the characters, most especially Trance and Rommie, but also Dylan (less uniforms, more civvies).

Anyway, I was trying very hard to work with them and incorporate their changes into the show in a way that would make them happy but not alienate our core audience. After all, it's not like we haven't compromised before, and some of the changes requested by Tribune, Fireworks, and/or Kevin have been good ones. The new production designer, the new sets, and the new costume designer have all worked great. And the way I saw it, my job was to execute their instruction, though never blindly and never without a thorough discussion of the implications of such changes. Unfortunately, they apparently felt that it was better to just let me go and implement their new vision without me.

Like I said, that's television. Fireworks pays the lion's share of the budget, Tribune provides the US stations and has their creative control mandated into all their contracts, and Kevin is the star. The show probably wouldn't exist without him.

So I'm gone. Truth be told, I've been gone since the end of September, while we were working on episode twelve, Ouroboros.

Ironically, it's the episode in which I'd implemented several of the changes Tribune et al wanted, and in which they'd implemented others over my objections. So there's a pretty clear delineation. Pre-Ouroboros is me; post-Ouroboros is Kevin, Tribune, and Fireworks.
I leave behind (left behind? This is more confusing than a time travel episode) a very talented writing staff, now being run by Matt and Joe. I also leave behind a very talented cast and crew up in Vancouver, under the capable leadership of Allan Eastman. My hope is that you'll take a look at the remaining episodes (which won't even air until February) with an open mind. If you like what you see, keep watching, tell your friends, and make the show an even bigger hit than it already is. If you don't, change the channel.

And as always, I encourage you to express your opinions about the episodes here and in letters and emails to Tribune, Fireworks and Kevin.

Anyway I definitely hope you'll tune in for the rest of the episodes I supervised. Home Fires, Into the Labyrinth, The Prince, Bunker Hill, and Ouroboros are good episodes and I'm quite proud of them.

Finally, it was my intention to give Christian an interview about all this after production wrapped in late December, since I wanted Slipstream to get the scoop. I'm sorry it didn't work out that way. But instead, I'll give the exclusive interview to the Slipstreamers. You ask, I'll answer, as best I can. Fire away.

Robert

Not to drop names, but your pal Herc was lucky enough to meet Wolfe and the rest of the Andromeda crew, apparently about 10 minutes before Wolfe and the show parted company. If we learn more about this surprising turn of events, we will forward details.

I am – Hercules!!









To order boxer shorts adorned with the image of a green, handicapable “Buffy” fanatic, click here.



    + Expand All

    Readers Talkback

  • Nov 23, 2001 8:27:48 PM CST

    Thanks for the update

    by tbrosz

    And thanks for at least acknowledging that Andromeda even exists. I was beginning to think from this site that Buffy and Angel were the only non-reality shows on TV.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 23, 2001 8:42:44 PM CST

    tbroz, to view AICN/Coax's many, many prior stories about An

    by hercules

  • Nov 23, 2001 8:56:45 PM CST

    Sorbo's Hilarious

    by street legal

    "Robert is a genius, but was developing stories that were too complicated and too clever for the rest of us to understand."
    What??? Haha- that's some funny shit. I thought Andromeda was a decent show- I can't say that I went out of my way to watch it, but when i caught it, it was at least watchable. Not much else to say- hopefully they'll be able to keep those who consider themselves "fans" around when they go for the big "dumb down." Wolfe said it best when he said "television happened." Yup!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Well this explains a lot, I found first season well done for a first season(the bar is set at Farscape and so far imho no one's touched it), the season finale was good, the second season started and the episodes were still good sure a few clunked along and sure a too much of the special effects were re-used (playing the drinking game in one episode from season 1 you'd be out cold before the end credits). It stinks that they didn't see eye to eye maybe it will get better maybe it'll get worse...least it's still on the air....

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 23, 2001 10:02:43 PM CST

    Up till now it's been TOO complicated? Hunnawhuzzah?

    by village idiot

    Sweet home Alabama, if the show was any less complicated, it'd be the Teletubbies.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 23, 2001 10:39:26 PM CST

    Sorry, Herc, nothing personal

    by tbrosz

    But there are some shows where you never miss an episode with your detailed and excellent reviews, often before the show airs. So far, as far as I can see, you have only done two season 2 Andromedas. Okay, you're only one person, and nobody can watch and review EVERY new show. And of course, you are probably not given preview access to every show either. I guess I was just a little jealous of the detailed every-single-new-episode treatment that some vampire-related shows have been getting.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 23, 2001 11:40:05 PM CST

    Well, I'm done (a damn shame, too)

    by tornado_jackson

    Allright, for all you folks who don't know the diffrence between this Wolfe guy and the rest of the writing staff, lemme put it to ya' simply or in lamens terms if you will: Think of any of the episodes that you actually liked or might've given up your precious time to watch, (The cool Time Travel one, not the one with Hunt's/ Sorbo's no talent wife, but the one with alot of shit blowing up, The Magog attack cliffhanger episode-all the good ones, Wolfe wrote those puppies and now that he's gone so am I.
    That's right, I aint whistlin' dixie, I'm handing in my fan club badge today and never looking back.As far as I'm concerned Andromeda has now officlaly joined the ranks of such saturday morning syndictaed shitfests like The Lost World, Sheena , Queen of Swords, and The Immortal etc. etc. oh and cant forget Mutant X.
    Why, am i done, you ask?
    Because the only reason I watched the show has now left.
    Robert Wolfe-the only good writer on the show. Lemme tell you, getting a steady job writing aint easy. Andromeda has been renewed for 5 years this means Robert Wolfe would have been employed without worry for 5 smooth years guranteed, writers never get the chance to have their own shows and get steady employment but this guy had both plus was making a heck of a lot of cash to boot, but seemingly aware the show is a sinking ship, he's left to go join the unemployment line, then again, he did kind of have no choice.
    To tell ya' the truth me and my buddies gather around every saturday and laugh our asses off at this cheesfest. I find 'Dromeda funnier than any of the major networks new sitcom offerings, this ritual has become a tradition of sorts in my household. You just got to try it wourself the stink just seemingly radiates right off the screen its amazing. watch this show! The so bad its funny eps. are the ones that weren't penned by Mr. Wolfe (a we do this right after getting home from our hot dates, of course) This year I slowly was gaining respect for this show, it was getting its act together but now that he's gone its back to treating this show like the black sheep of scifi televison it really is. This is the 2nd producer to quit the show in 3 months (First Rodenberry's decrepit old bitch, Majel flew the coop, and now so has Robert). Don't know about you, but this is never a good sign. Without Robert Wolfe as the head producer/writer this means now Kevin Sorbo is completely in charge of the entire show on his own.
    This can only mean one thing.
    The show is destined to get worse. I don't know about you, but me and my buds cant wait.
    Let the laughter ensue for 5 more years!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    P.S. RH Wolfe, if your reading this- now that you're free of this mess join a franchise actually worth your talents, mix things up on Enterprise, Join the soon to be staff of the B5 Rangers series, or heck even get a gig as coffe boy for Farscape -its nore respectable than having your name posted all over this festering piece of el cheapo Buck Rogers Excrement. Distance yourself from this show as fast as you possibly can, best thing for you to do.
    Join a biker gang, get a tatto, start banging Ellen degeneres- do ANYTHING to drwa attention away from your involvement with this embarassing mess.

    Reply to Talkback

  • This is the problem with Hollywood, the actors and executives are morons and they think if they don't get it we won't get it. Andromeda isn't even complicated. I can only imagine where it will go from here.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 24, 2001 12:43:09 AM CST

    Andromeda's rating probably hurt itself...

    by sethshandor

    Now, I'm no big Andromeda fan, in fact, I hate it, but... as TV mucking around goes, Andromeda's rating probably hurt whatever chance at creativity it had, which from the looks of it was this writer. Why? Well, from what I gather, Andromeda is actually a pretty highly rated sydicated show. (Go figure tastes, Mutant X -gag- is doing quite well too, but what should one expect from the V.I.P. audience? Although Leah Lail, mmmmmm) So, the powers that be were probably shocked the show did as well as it did, most likely expecting it too be another languishing Final Conflict type affair. So, after seeing the big ratings, and potential profits, what do they do? EVERYBODY sticks their hands in trying to catch a bit of the credit, money and success. Actors get egos and non-writers think they know what the audience wants (I'm personally of the mind that a lot of the general movie and TV audience DOESN'T know what it wants, until it sees it, so "focus groups" and surveys don't really help. After all look at all the god awful fan fiction out there. THIS is what the audience thinks it wants, and it sucks.) If the rating sucked or were timid at best, no one would care what they did. It's only syndication. Network shows are almost the opposite. A big ratings winner will many times get to coast hands off a while, people afraid of even touching the golden goose, however still waiting for the first wavering to swoop in and "retool" and "refocus" a falling once popular show that should have been canceled but is still languishing on (X-files, Murphy Brown, Cosby Show.) instead of bowing out while still preserving a bit of dignity (Seinfeld, Cheers, Carson). While ratings losers are constantly reworked over and over despite a bad concept to start with in an attempt to wring a few more rating points, a few more episodes closer to syndication, and a few more bucks recouped from the delevoping costs put into a turkey (Suddenly Susan, Jesse, Naked Truth, John Larroquette). Just my thoughts.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 24, 2001 12:52:11 AM CST

    When good shows go bad

    by xander cage

    I will keep on watching, if nothing else to wait and judge if it turned into a heaping pile of monkey trash or if it can turn into something better then Farscape.

    Looking at the interview and the comments made by Wolfe, underline text is, ratings were down, Sorbo wanted the show to be more focused on him. I've seen every episode since the show has aired and it has deviated greatly from a captain heading up a rat-tat crew to re-create a long lost commonwealth. It slowly moved from the main character in every episode to focusing on the supporting cast. At this point the great lines and the great scenes are going to everyone BUT Kevin Sorbo, usually when an actor takes on the Executive Producer role it is ensure that he gets the better lines and he gets the better product, after all its his paycheck. I think it was a power play by Sorbo to ensure that the show is focused more on the Dylan Hunt character. Wolfe mentioned it in his comments, probably as a side note to prevent him from any legal problems.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 24, 2001 1:43:00 AM CST

    If that guy was Andromeda's guiding light....

    by horus

    I hate to think the depths this show's going to sink to , with him gone!.I didn't think it could get any cheaper and cheesier!Rev Bem's make-up budget certainly can't get any lower!He's like something, from the old Lost in space tv series.Talk about a skid row production!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 24, 2001 1:58:45 AM CST

    My buddy and I were wondering...

    by sod off baldric

    ...if it was just us who feel that the Magog look like pissed off Ewoks? How much of the budget for this show goes toward brown shag carpet?

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 24, 2001 8:19:47 AM CST

    Sigh. The Dummies win again.

    by drath

    This is exactly what happened to Earth: Final Conflict(although it was genuinely messed up before they dumbed it down), and it happened to Star Trek with Voyager. In fact it's happened to everything with Roddenberry's name on it. I guess a creator, someone with artistic control, is really the only protection from this bull shit. Without someone who actually CARES and has the power to keep things the way he wants, the suits can dumb the show down so that casual viewers who think ping pong is a serious sport will understand with minimal effort(and theoretically, they'll then watch), abandoning all sense of vision or relevance. Well fine, I've given up on most TV sci-fi anyway. Let Andromeda turn into Buck Rogers with Kevin-god-I-can't-act-but-I-played-Hercules-with-my-pecs-Sorbo. If memory serves, the 70's Buck Rogers also suffered from a pompous lead who drove away the talented writers. I'd mention the whole "fail to learn from history and you're doomed to repeat it" thing, but that's probably too complicated for these schmucks.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 24, 2001 9:31:24 AM CST

    Drath is right fucking on.

    by sith lord jesus

    If you're getting into the TV business, if you have a little dream which the suits are interested in turing into a show with you as producer or executive producer, just remember two little words: "creative control." It's what made BABYLON 5 the masterpiece of science fiction that it is rather then a tepid TREK-clone. It's also what enabled JMS to pull the plug on CRUSADE when TNN or TNT or whatever short-bus network it was wanted to turn his show into "Alien WWF in Space." As for ANDROMEDA, I will probably not bother with it anymore. Just say "no" to dumbing things down, and shout "YES!" to excellence.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 24, 2001 11:34:18 AM CST

    HUNKS IN SPAAAAACE!!!!....

    by wungolioth

    Never wanted to watch it, sorry, I took a look at the muscle-bound captain, the muscle-bound black guy running around almost shirtless and it totally turned me off.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 24, 2001 11:39:43 AM CST

    I'm glad that they're taking away all of my reasons for

    by gromnoth

    It's a pity. RHW had his fingerprints all over the good parts of this show.

    One can't help but wonder if this was some sort of power grab in the absence of MJB.

    Ahh well. Guess I'll have to go and do something productive with my Saturdays.

    Reply to Talkback

  • I don't think some of the other Talkbackers said it clearly enough so (ahem): Farscape Farscape Farscape Farscape Farscape Farscape Farscape Farscape Farscape Farscape Farscape Farscape Farscape Farscape Farscape Farscape Farscape Farscape Farscape Farscape Farscape Farscape Farscape Farscape Farscape Farscape Farscape Farscape Farscape Farscape Farscape Farscape Farscape Farscape. So yeah, now I feel better! BEST SCI-FI PERIOD! Andromeda had enough potential there to keep my interest in a guilty pleasure way. That must have been the "too clever" and "complicated" parts. Gee, I feel like a SUPER GENIUS! Either that or these Cannucks are really slow on the uptake! Anyway, just ONCE I want to see a Farscape article on this sight! Or at least Charmed, that show is as good as Buffy. Zubalove out!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 24, 2001 1:33:50 PM CST

    While I hate to support the great stupification of the masses...

    by kitanoisgod

    ... but in this case I have to think it's a good move. Persnally, I'm a fan of long, drawn-out, big-story-arc, complex character sci-fi drama ala B5, late seasons of DS9, and Farscape for examples. And while the general ideas behind many of the attempts on Andromeda to create 'cerebral' episodes and deep characters were laduable, the execution was just plain pathetic. The acting abilities, Lucas-esque 5th grade dialogue, and budget constraints just wouldn't let this show be what Wolfe - and whomever else - may have intended it to be. I mean, come on, this crew of actors could barely hold their own in a Roger Corman flick. I think going light and episdoci, with a bent on humor and cheesy one-liners - i.e. Hercules in space - is a much better fit for this competent cast. They just seem so akward trying to pull of any scenes of character development that is beyond skin deep. Please, I CRINGED thru most of the dialogue and performance in the Rommie/A.I. bigot episode. Again, cool concept, BAD script. And anything to dump the Maggog backstory so we don't have to look at the Planet of the Apes rental costumes is just fine with me. Again, nice idea - but sorry you just ain't got the bucks or cast to do it, so do something else. I love Sorbo when he's basically doing his impersonation of Bruce Campbell, but not when he tries Patrick Stewart. I think this could be good and fun news.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 24, 2001 1:59:24 PM CST

    Sorbo Showing His No Talent Ass Again

    by yes, i am a perv

    Sorbo did the same crap back in his Hercules days, but he went up against stronger competition (Xena's husband, no less) and was smacked down for his troubles. He wanted more of the stories focused on the wonderful Hercules and less on the support staff (too bad for him that most of the supporting players could actually act and had more than two facial expressions). I'm sorry to see Wolfe go, not because Andromeda was all that good, but because it's nice to see some of the old, great Trek writers still drawing paychecks.
    I guess now all of us sometime Andro watchers can expect a healthy heaping of Sorbo's man bosoms every week, followed by deep meaningful showcase episodes featuring his talent-free better half. And the dumbing down of sci-fi continues on and on.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 24, 2001 2:27:51 PM CST

    Ah Come ON Now.. You KNOW things are gettin bad when...

    by doggydaddi

    A series TOTALLY changes their into in both TONE and CONTENT as well as EXECUTION. Personally.. I LIKED the bagpipes and the intro style. It was short, introduced the characters, and gave you the necessary info needed to follow an episode WITHOUT leading you by the hand onto the 'Short-Bus'. I Don't know about anyone else, but I am so TOTALLY fed up with folks thinking 'short', 'episodic', & 'easy to follow' are GOOD terms to be using when trying to write good Sci-Fi. Guess what troops.. they arent. I was pissed off when O'Hare was pulled from the series in B-5 and everything he was supposed to do was instead given to the 'younger' & 'appealing' BoxBrightner :(. I never made it thru a single episode of Hercules, Buffy, or Roswell. I think the current 'badguy fo the week' on Smallville, coupled with its constant lack of ANY kind of continuity (ever notice how the season changes week to week? Summer, then dead of winter, then summer/fall again? The damn kids would have graduated by now and we are only 4 eps in!!) will kill it to. Guess what TV guys.. we LIKE a running plot line that is spiced up OCCASIONALLY with the 'plot complication of the week'. At least now the program will be relegated to VCR instead of live viewing.. if its going into the dumper like we all know it will, (any time a series has adopted the Quantum Leap style intro to explain things you know they are going down), then its not worth my time.. I would rather be playing Alien vs Predator 2 and smoking da peeps anyways ;)
    **
    **

    **
    **

    PEACE!!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 24, 2001 6:39:25 PM CST

    Another show into the dump.

    by xaz3qrten

    I was so engrossed in this show that I couldn't remember when it was on. However, when I did manage to watch it, it was somewhat entertaining. Well, it won't be much of a loss. As for talking down Sorbo's acting ability, you can't really talk down something that is non-existant in the first place. I wondered how long before this show did an 'Earth: Final Conflict'. Now I know.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 24, 2001 7:17:59 PM CST

    The dumbing-down of America continues...

    by electric_monk

    Somehow, after reading this statement from both Wolfe and Sorbo, I'm reminded of Ellen DeGeneres' comment on the Emmy's about network executives. I also think Kevin Sorbo insulted the fans of this show (and a whole crap load of TV viewers who think TV should more than a mindless babysitter). While I always enjoyed the work of Robert Hewitt Wolfe from his Star Trek days, I tried to watch this show. Unfortunately, I was disappointed with it, and now I know why. Of course, what Tribune, Fireworks and Sorbo are saying actually equates to the empty rhetoric of a defeated show. Andromeda may be a hit, by syndicated standards, so for some, they will say the show is still good. However, the departure of Wolfe, who has become like most of the most talented writers of Star Trek (Ronald D. Moore, Ren

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 24, 2001 9:15:08 PM CST

    I don't watch the show but that never stopped any around her

    by renonevada2000

    OK, Andromeda wasn't much my cup of tea. Still, I'm sorry to see sometihing like this happen to a writer who was trying to push the envelope of his craft a little bit. Back in college, I played trumpet in our university orchestra. There was one or two players to each part and every part was important to the overall piece we were playing. But there was no stand out star or soloist. If the trumpet players wanted to play the William Tell Overture and not Mozart's "Overture to the Magice Flute" we didn't stage a coupe and overthrow the conductor. We trusted him to help us all create something enjoyable and memorable. It's a pity that more people haven't learned such a simple yet immportant lesson about working with others.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 24, 2001 9:17:15 PM CST

    First it was Crusade...

    by eudaimonia

    And then it was E:FC... And now Andromeda... The morons march on. :(

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 24, 2001 9:57:31 PM CST

    I'll still watch,

    by burninbullwinkle

    ...but I was only watching for Trance Geminai in the first place. Nothin' like a purple cat-babe. I gotta say I'm dissapointed. I was never really impressed by the writing, but once and a while I was surprised. Of course they guy that wrote those episodes is leaving. Well, I hope the cast at least doesn't get screwed in the deal. Except Kevin Sorbo. Dork.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 24, 2001 11:53:28 PM CST

    Crusade was Going Somewhere

    by doggydaddi

    go to bookface.com, and read the unproduced scripts.. the story was about to unload a HUGE bomb that never got a chance to go off. The stories are fantastic.. and if they had done it right.. would have MORE then made up for all the weak ass shit B-5 and Crusade had pulled during their airings. :( Oh well.. [sigh]

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 25, 2001 5:18:44 AM CST

    Christ I'm a genius

    by niaiserie

    I figure I must be since I never found this show to have an inkling of complexity or cleverness, but apparently all this time it had too much of it.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 25, 2001 8:41:42 AM CST

    Oh Brother.....

    by mr. exlax

    With the news of Robert H. Wolf leaving the show fills me with dread I just shudder at the thought on what will happen next I can just picture this show getting dummied down so much for good writing for this show good luck Mr. Wolf in your future endeavours your efforts will be sorely missed on this show.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 25, 2001 8:58:45 AM CST

    Left turn at Albuquerque ?

    by xaz3qrten

    DarkHawke; DoggyDaddi is telling the truth about the Crusade scripts on bookface.com before it folded. I read them. What would have been the season one ender was right out of left field. Imagine you are the coyote after the roadrunner, and you are wondering how the road runner went into the train tunnel you painted on the canyon wall while riding a work car(has see-saw handles for locomotion. As you are looking at the painted train tunnel, a fast freight hits you from behind. Since I don?t think they will ever see the light of day again, here is on gem of a spoiler. The ?Shadow? ship that destroyed Gideon?s first ship was built by Earthforce secret projects on an uncharted planetoid. Gideon, as the script plays out, is in the structure? . Crusade was about to start kicking major ass. Unfortunately, it and Babylon 5 never fitted in with wrestling, just not enough audience crossover. I think it?s interesting to note that TNT is no longer wrestling capitol of the airwaves, or should that be cableways, anymore. They changed programming honchos, go figure.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 25, 2001 9:02:39 AM CST

    This is good news!

    by eyegore

    I like Andromeda, but don't really care if I miss an episode. The plots are often tiresome, and I'm looking forward to seeing a more action packed eye-candy filled version of the show.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 25, 2001 2:54:53 PM CST

    Even Stevens

    by burninbullwinkle

    BTW, whoever noted Even Stevens was a good show... glad to know me and one of my friends aren't the only ones that appreciate it. I tuned into an episode because Savage Steve Holland's name was attached and since then I've been hooked. It's genuinely funnier than almost all "adult" sitcoms on network TV today.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 26, 2001 1:45:57 AM CST

    Can you say Jumped-the-shark?

    by mastershake

    Had to be said.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 26, 2001 4:03:08 AM CST

    Bad science fiction...

    by pseudo

    ...is usually about the action and special effects and not the story. There is an opportunity for science fiction shows to make dramatic social distinctions and commentary, mostly because they have the advantage of allegory. But to take an ensemble show like "Andromeda" and turn it into a mono-character piece of action-fluff undermines everything they've done so far and that the fanbase loved. Doesn't anyone over at Tribune realise that the show is succesful BECAUSE of the writing and story arcs? Does Mr. Sorbo believe that he is responsible for creating the dialogue his character spouts every week? Are they blind to the fact that they've got a working format on their hands?
    Next up, Trance turns red and starts wearing leather. Wow, that's an intellectual leap for the show's fans. Gee, hope they can understand it.
    Let's stick the knife in the heart of this beast and re-name the show "Dyllan, the Legendary Adventures" and be done with it.

    Mr. Sorbo, Tribune, you've screwed up. Fix it.

    Cheers,
    ??Pseudo??

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 26, 2001 6:05:06 AM CST

    I'm going to wait and see.

    by zenzmurfy

    There has been so much bad stuff as well as good stuff on the show that I don't expect that only one guy was responsible for only the good stuff while having nothing to do with andromeda's problems. I am hoping that they really do come up with something good for Dylan Hunt, but I am pessimistic because he's probably the toughest character to make interesting. He essentially has the same problem as Baron Munchasen, where his helpers are far more interesting than he is.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 26, 2001 10:53:22 AM CST

    Andromeda WAS getting good

    by ctowner

    Actually, if you watched the first few episodes and quit, you blew it. The show WAS getting better- and by the 1st season finale - it showed that it could be Awesome. This season just continued the growth. The average decency of the 2nd season episodes was WAY above 1st season and getting better. There were several stand out episodes (Unas Salas Vitus for one), the writing really did focus on the relationships and tenuous alliances between the characters and all sorts of good stuff had been laid down for future stories. Future stories that, apparently, will never be written. Siiigh. This sucks.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 26, 2001 11:53:32 AM CST

    Please save me from smart sci-fi

    by white_noise

    Ok, that's probably overstating it a bit, but science fiction has always had schizophrenia. If you think back to the 50's and 60's, when SF really found it's way into the mainstream, it took forms that were diametrically different. From the 'Atomic Horror' Saturday afternoon shlockfests to '2001' and it's ilk. I personally enjoy a more action packed, allegorical type (think Trek TOS) of SF to the (IMHO) brain numbing exercizes of the type that is lauded by intellectuals. I'm not defending Andromeda necessarily. At it's finest, it could never be TOS-like because of the limitations of it's cast. That said, it may actually become more satisfying as an episodic 'Buck Rogers' if it's done right. I know it's fashionable to hate a show like this, but it still has more potential to please my tastes than 80 percent of the other offerings of the networks and cable. I've seen what the media and the critics think is smart and I'd rather be stuck watching Kevin Sorbo mug and flex than Sela Ward cry and moan.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 26, 2001 11:55:02 AM CST

    Oh, and by the way.....

    by white_noise

    Even Stevens does rule. My son and I watch it every day

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 26, 2001 4:24:44 PM CST

    Crusade was going somewhere???

    by gpl racer

    The broadcast episodes of Crusade were so execrably bad that they could have supported a whole season of MST3K. If there were good scripts, which I seriously doubt after the fifth season of B5 (particularly the incredibly trite and mawkish final episode which JMS has said was his favorite), not to mention all the followup movies, they should have shot some of them earlier. The worst episode of Andromeda has been orders of magnitude more enjoyable than any episode of Crusade.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 26, 2001 8:00:50 PM CST

    ctowner hit the nail directly on the head...

    by buckna

    This show had the potential to be the next Babylon 5. I should of known not to trust a Tribune show after what they did to E:FC though. Looks like I'll be dining on only Farscape from now on. A damn shame...

    Reply to Talkback

User Login

Forgot password? Retrieve it here

or register as new user

Quick Talkback Form

Please login to post talkback