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GLOBAL FREQUENCY Loses Signal!! Useless WB Drops TV Adaptation of Warren Ellis' Genius Comic!!
The WB has pulled the plug on “Global Frequency,” arguably the netlet’s most promising show of the season.
“Frequency” was to be an action-adventure hourlong that would deal, as readers of Warren Ellis’ brilliant graphic novel could surmise, with an elite and illegal network of 1,001 intelligence operatives charged with quashing dire and fast-emerging crises as they arrive all over the planet.
A kind of sci-fi “24," it was to star lanky Michelle Forbes (still fondly remembered as Ensign Ro on “Star Trek: The Next Generation”) as Frequency mastermind Miranda Zero. It was to be overseen by screenwriter John Rogers (“American Outlaws,” “The Core”). Its writing staff was expected to include both Ellis and “Tick” creator Ben Edlund (“Firefly,” “Angel”).
The WB announced it as a midseason series last May. The netlet ordered a pilot episode, but apparently had a change of heart about going forward with a series.
The good news? The producers can shop the show in quest of a new home. A Thursday statement from Rogers:
A kind of sci-fi “24," it was to star lanky Michelle Forbes (still fondly remembered as Ensign Ro on “Star Trek: The Next Generation”) as Frequency mastermind Miranda Zero. It was to be overseen by screenwriter John Rogers (“American Outlaws,” “The Core”). Its writing staff was expected to include both Ellis and “Tick” creator Ben Edlund (“Firefly,” “Angel”).
The WB announced it as a midseason series last May. The netlet ordered a pilot episode, but apparently had a change of heart about going forward with a series.
The good news? The producers can shop the show in quest of a new home. A Thursday statement from Rogers:
The good news? The producers can shop the show in quest of a new home. A Thursday statement from Rogers:
You can make it official. The WB has passed on the pilot. However,
they've also been real gentlemen and released it back to the studio to
be taken elsewhere. Many networks hold onto pilots out of spite,
fearing that if it succeeds elsewhere, they'll look bad. Luckily the
WB folk value the product over politics.
On a personal note, everyone -- my fellow producer Mark Burnett, the
director Nelson McCormick, the actors, the DP and his cameramen, the
production design down to the ridiculously hyper-efficient PAs --
worked their asses off and BELIEVED in the project. As executive
producer I owe -- no, I have a deep responsibility it to those people,
to Warren's talent, and to the book's enormous fanbase to run this
bastard out down every road I can, to get this show on the air.
And, frankly, it would be selfish of me to keep to myself the little
chill I get when I hear Michelle say the line "My name is Miranda Zero
... and you are on the Global Frequency."
We're scheduling meetings now between various studio humans to decide
where to take the show from here. Fortunately for us the television
landscape has changed. Midseason and summer launches, 13 episode
runs, genre shows are now no longer longshots but viable strategies.
DC Comics stands enthusiastically behind both the comic and the show,
especially now that they've seen the pilot.
I only ask that when we come back to you and ask you to show the TV
humans that there IS an audience for a smart, hip genre show, you
answer the call. We'll keep everyone updated. The move is not likely to endear the netlet to fans of quality television. The WB canceled its best show, “Angel,” last season in favor of “One Tree Hill” and “Charmed.” This season it launched two more hours of turgid nonsense, “The Mountain” and “Jack & Bobby.”
In any event, fans of Warren Ellis will be heartened to know the writer’s first produced teleplay, an Atom-centric episode of “Justice League Unlimited,” will air on Cartoon Network Dec. 11.
I am – Hercules!!
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Nov 04, 2004 10:22:36 PM CST
Hey, I know many of you Talkbackers are still in mourning over t
by anlashok
But quality tv needs your support, so get to chattering you cookie heads!
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America is for the most part stupid. Well, I'm sure most of the world is, but I've only lived here. Anything Ellis writes is going to be way over their heads. And if they water it down to make it understandable to the general public, then like the mighty Warren would say, the noise would outweigh the signal. Why do you think these great shows get cancelled or never see the light of day and meanwhile King of Queens and Yes Dear still attract viewers? Within the next year the only shows that will be on are reality shows and derivitives of CSI and Law and Order. Was America ready for Twin Peaks? No and it never will be. I doubt Lost will see a second season and I'm surprised that something like that has made it this far on a major network. Screw the WB. Take Global Frequency and put it on HBO so that it could be done how it should.
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Nov 04, 2004 11:21:05 PM CST
"The move is not likely to endear the netlet to fans of quality
by rinse
"The netlet canceled its best show,
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While I completely agree with you that "The Mountain" fits this description(please Mitch Pileggi find something decent for a job next fall or at least dont accept anything from the WB) im gonna have to disagree with your putting "Jack & Bobby" in the same category. While it is not 4 or 5 star viewing it is certainly worth another look. Although the ratings suck enough that the show wont have enough time to find the potential that it does have it is solid television. I mean if I miss an episode I am not gonna be too worked up about it but I will certainly watch it whenever I get the opportunity. It does have some very heavy moments of 'teen soap angst' but also has some light intelligence from Christine Lahti throughout most episodes(her interactions with Bradley Cooper's character have been interesting if for nothing else to wish the guy was back on Alias...but then again I have always been on the Will bandwagon). But just like me you are entitled to you opinion but I think if you spent a few episodes watching this show, which one could argue has some elements that could be considered 'sci fi' with the future interviews that take place throughout each episode you may be able to look at the show a little differently...or not.(http://members.tripod.com/stephensanders/ will show you a sample of the fictional history the show creates from now to 2049)
I would certainly rather be watching Angel Season 6...but the cruel world we live in is one without that reality. One small victory out of this is that both of these shows airing in Angel's old timeslot get ratings worse than Angel did and it is a safe bet neither will get a S2. That certainly doesn't help us figure out what happened to the remainder of Angel inc after "Let's Go to Work" but then again nothing probably ever will. That fucking sucks...im sure we both agree on that.
For what it is worth my top 5 shows on television right now in the first cruel Whedon-less world are...1. Arrested Development 2. Scrubs 3. Gilmore Girls 4. 24 5.tie The OC and Joan of Arcadia...with Smallville finishing just out of the top 5 along with The Dead Zone and Dead Like Me. If Alias comes back anything near the crap that has been since the post superbowl episode I wouldn't care if it got cancelled. If it reverts back to S1 quality it is easily top 5 material for me.
*note* I have not got a chance to see Lost or Veronica Mars because my hopes for them before the season started were so high that I am avoiding them until I know their future status as to prevent another heartbreaking Firefly/Miracles/ARCTU/Angel/ Wonderfalls/Clone High/Futurama cancellation.
I would think I could start in on Lost anytime since it should be around for a while barring a drastic change in current trends. -
Stupid enter key. Don't put it on FOX, it could die there of bad programming.
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Nov 05, 2004 9:30:40 AM CST
GLOBAL FREQUENCY must have had a lot of potential to become a cl
by spyguy
Honestly, when was the last time the WB made a good decision concerning sci-fi/fantasy genre shows? They lost the final two seasons of BUFFY to Fox, cancelled ANGEL after only five, mishandled the execution of the BIRDS OF PREY series, failed to pick up DARK SHADOWS, and now has failed to pick up GLOBAL FREQUENCY. The only glimmer of hope was when they abandoned that pitifully-conceived "time travel" premise for a potential series of THE FLASH. It's like the WB and UPN are deliberately competing for the Suck Cup championship...
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They have two SF/F genre shows left, Charmed and Smallville. Well Charmed is an Aaron Spelling show, no wonder it's still on the air. And Warner Bros. isn't about to admit that the Salkinds did Superman better on both the big and small screen by cancelling Smallville before it reaches syndication numbers. Both shows are popular, but so was Angel, and so might these other shows have been. WB is aborting so many high profile SF/F shows, I'm stunned. These are the guys who put Tarzan on the air? I can't believe Global Frequence, Lost in Space, and Dark Shadows were all worse than that. I can believe they were less than perfect, but WB is getting as bad as FOX.
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The Shield is awesome, put it on FX where they have a little more freedom to show more Ellis greatness.
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That way they can do more mature stories and not dumb it down.
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Nov 05, 2004 2:14:39 PM CST
Though I am personally disappointed, this doesn't come as a big
by prof. pop-cult
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Warren Ellis is a "pretty good" comic book writer. Planetary is usually really awesome, but not always. But fuck, Ellis is by no means a "GENIUS" or produces "GENIUS" work. Let's be real. This word "genius" is thrown around way too haphazardly lately. Its almost as if people don't really know what that word means anymore. Ellis isn't even a "creative genius." Planetary is really great, but genius? C'mon, let's be realistic. Global Frequency, the comic, isn't even that good. Its certainly NOT his best work in comics. And while we're getting this straight, Ellis doesn't hold a candle, AT ALL, to Grant Morrison. Now there's a guy who should get to make a television show!
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I agree with you that GF is not his best work, but Ellis is one of the best comic writers today and is a creative genius. He is constantly looking for new ways to use the comic book medium. Who else out there has the balls to do that. As for Grant Morrison. Well if TV and the general public isn't ready for Warren Ellis, they will NEVER be ready for Morrison. These are two men that write superhero books because they have to. They have to pay the bills. But, when they are allowed to just let it all loose, look out! That is what sets them apart from so many other comic book writers today. I mean can you imagine a The Invisibles television show. They'd never even get to shoot the pilot. The book alone is over the heads of most.
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Agreed, there's no way Invisibles could be anything but a comic book. But I never said Morrison's work should be adapted, I said someone should let him do a television show. He could un-fuck Smallville. Jesus, I'd actually watch Smallville if they let Grant write a couple. I think the big problem with mainstream television/movies/books/comics is that the industry has lost its weirdness. Buffy, Angel, Enterprise, Smallville, whatever, are normal, boring shows. And they shouldn't be. Buffy, Angel, Firefly are all shows about the extraordinary but told in ordinary ways through ordinary characters. This bores me. Same with Smallville, Enterprise, etc. I think it comes from this chickenshit attitude that TV execs have developed where they won't take risks and won't take a chance, therefore we don't get Farscape, or Twin Peaks, or The Prisoner, or what have you. Boring is safe, and sure, I can understand that. But the reason TV is so boring and ordinary nowadays can be summed up by one of your own sentences: "But, when they are allowed to just let it all loose, look out!" Look out? I am, standing here with my arms outstretched! I'm not afraid of the weird. "That is what sets them apart from so many other comic book writers today." I agree, and that's what makes me love Morrison's work so much. I CAN imagine an Invisibles television show. "The book alone is over the heads of most." And herein lies the problem, doesn't it?
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I agree with everything you said. The problem is sometimes people have the talent of writing in different ways. Some great television writers are horrible movie writers. Some great novelists are horrible comic book writers. There are just some things that only work as a comic book. True, sometimes people's work gets so bastardized that it barely resembles what it was based on, but sometimes a story only works well as a miniseries, or a comic book, or a movie. And this is something that the studios need to be cautious about. Just because you fell in love with the comic doesn't mean it will work as a movie or a television show. The Watchmen for example will not work as a movie, it just won't. LOEG is a classic comic by Moore but made a horrible movie. Now this was a case where the final product was so far removed from the orginal material that it was an insult, but I don't think it could carried over into the movie medium in any way. But I do agree that Morrison and Ellis deserve the chance to at least try their hand at television and movies, but the WB should never be the place for them.
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If you'd said to me that ABC would be the channel I watch the most this season, I'd have thought you were nuts. But between Lost and Desperate Housewives... I mean, who knew?
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Warren Ellis is a good COMIC BOOK writer. Global Frequency is a COMIC BOOK. If you are too embarrassed to admit that you read COMIC BOOKS then don't bother talking about them. People who call them graphic novels are generously pretentious psuedo-intellectuals who deep down inside feel they are slummung by reading something with pictures. And Warren Ellis is by no means a great writer. He writes consitently good books but I could name at least 10 others who are more deserving of your praise and idol worship.
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True that. Global Frequency is a comic book. It does indicate one's dedication to comic books as an industry as to whether one buys the issues as they come out, or cheaper after the fact. Speaking of comic book writers, have you read Whedon's Astonishing X-Men? Terrible. Even Claremont's second chance is better.
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Nov 07, 2004 5:43:18 PM CST
Whedon's current run is THE only X book worth reading right now
by xandr37
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Whedon's book has the worst dialogue since Winnick's anything. Uncanny, right now, is better. With Milligan coming to an X-Book, that will be WAY better. Millar's Wolverine is better. Astonishing is only good because of the editorial direction and the awesome Cassaday art. Since Whedon's only contributing the dialogue, and crappy dialogue at that, I'll say the book is better than the Ultimate X-Books, but what's that saying, really?
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Ellis IS a genius, his writing always pushes the envelope. And you CAN make a difference, that's what the Global Frequency is all about for frik's sake. Write to the WB and the Sci-Fi channel or HBO - tell them you saw it, tell them you loved it, tell them you want it, and believe me, if they get enough of that, they will pick it up. Emails don't count, they're too ephemeral. But if you actually make the effort to print your rant, and stick a .37 cent stamp on it, you just might be heard.
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