Cool News
Save the "Freaks and Geeks" !!! / "Harsh Realm" goes kerplop !'!'
Glen here...
...with two pieces of quick news:
Freaks and Geeks in jeopardy ???
Sources "in the know" indicate this weekend's performance of NBC's Freaks and Geeks may be critical to the
series' survival.
The show pulled very strong ratings for its first episode, but subsequent installments have under performed. This --
along with F&G's multi-week absence from the airwaves (due to baseball games) -- have made the show a prime
target for extermination by NBC.
There is already a movement underway through which fans can voice their support for the show (and, presumably, help
sway the minds of executives who may be waiting to pull the plug). As such, if you have enjoyed this tale of "freaks" and
"geeks" trying to get along during their turbulent high school years, this might be the time to act in the show's behalf.
For more information about the series, you can jump to NBC's
Freaks and Geeks page, or you can jump to a page carefully monitored by the series' Powers That Be by HREF="http://www.freaksandgeeks.com/home.html">CLICKING HERE!
If you'd rather cut to the chase & voice your support for the series immediately, you can HREF="mailto:freaksandgeeks@nbc.com">click here to send e-mail to the appropriate folks!
BTW - the series premiere will repeat this Friday (October 29), and a new episode of the show will air the next
evening. The amount of audience spill over between Friday's and Saturday's airings might be critical in determining the
future of this show...
Harsh Realm, tough room
On a similar note, Chris Carter's Harsh Realm may soon be visiting the guillotine.
Sources indicate that dramatically falling ratings may result in Fox catapulting Harsh Realm into the netherworld
very, very quickly.
Some reports suggest this could happen almost immediately after Friday October 29's episode airs (to the low ratings it
is expected to garner). Other reports indicate Fox may take a wait and see attitude with this "dude in a virtual world" saga,
although this possibility is seen as dubious because its primary competition (CBS' Now and Again) seems to be
performing quite well, and shows no signs of slowing down.
Glen
If you send a message to the above address & it bounces back to you,
address!
Or call:
(512) 347-1992
Mail can be sent to:
Glen Oliver
P.O. BOX 160812
Austin, TX 78716-0812
USA
P.O. BOX 160812
Austin, TX 78716-0812
USA
Austin, TX 78716-0812
USA
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The essential difference between a show like Freaks and Geeks and the jillion crappy teen shows/movies out there is respect for the intelligence of the audience.
Dawson's Creek is a glorified Noxema ad, trying to seem clever and somewhat subversive, but never so much to estrange a mainstream audience.
Freaks and Geeks is one of the few shows to endearingly portray people outside the social mainstream (I'm talking about the "geeks"). I suspect that there are a fair number of AICN readers who see nothing of their former high school existences in most teen schlock, but see some dose of their past in Freaks and Geeks.
I'm glad someone put my high school memories on television alongside all the Noxema fantasies. Sadly, I guess I'm the only one watching. -
FOX made it official by cancelling it's entire Friday lineup. Expect replacements announced later today (Tuesday). Full story: http://www.backstage-pass.com/fox102699.htm KJB
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Ok i am going to come out and say it. The X-Files would of died in 2 years if it hadn't been for Piper.
Chris Carter has had his head up his ass since day one. He got so damn lucky that he had to put his head to use to cover Gil's pregnancy. Good writers can only last so long before they get bored to tears writing an endless muddled plot that is going in so many directions that it's useless to try and figure it out. I feel sooo bad that it's stars and the wonderful ensemble they've had (and killed off) over the years. The X-Files to me is the old friend who has altimers a tick, and fungus growing out of their ears. You feel bad for the poor thing and want nothing more than to call Mr. Kovorkian(whatever) to do his job. Carter put that poor thing down! Go back to surfing and checking out beach bunnies arses, it's what you do best.
Someone find Darin Morgan and give that man a series!
GE
I am Jack's dead fool. -
"Freaks and Geeks" is an appealing show. I like the writing and it deserves a chance.
I wanted to give "Harsh Realm" a chance, but found myself drawn to "Now & Again".
N&A is doing very well in the ratings. I don't think it will need an internet campaign to save it. It will save itself. -
I can pretty much agree with everything you said in your post except for one thing. FOX isnt cancelling HARSH REALM because its not pulling in the X-FILES ratings, FOX is cancelling it because its ratings were POOR (below average) I watched the first and third episodes and wasnt really "sucked in" to this new series, and I even LIKE D.B. Sweeney!! I liked him in Strange Luck (and Spawn) but Chris Carter didnt realize D.B's true potential. If he HAD, he would have given him top billing and based the show around him because he's a lot more interesting that the other no name actor in HARSH REALM. and yes, Friday nights 8pm to 10pm IS a DEATH SLOT! geesh put your Worlds Greatist Police Chases there and stick HARSH on Monday nights where there isnt any good shows.... --McK
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"Harsh Realm" was boring and derivative, period. Plus it had absolutely the worst casting since "Millenium" (Henriksen and O'Quinn notwithstanding). Carter would have done better if he *had* corralled Nick Lea for the show, but it wouldn't have done anything for Lea's career. It's obvious Lea smelled a stinker and passed -- smart boy.
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The first episode had a brisk pace, a decent hook, excellent camerawork, and Lance Henrickson. All in all a very well put together piece of entertainment, even with all the inconsitencies/suspension of disbelief issues etc. But has anyone else noticed the HUGE drop in quality apparent in the second and third episodes (especially the third)? Santiago is introduced in the first as a somewhat (albeit not very) complicated nemesis. By the third episode he is quickly reduced to the stereotypical, hollywoodized, cliched tyrannical dictator. How boring is that? Terry O'Quinn played a MUCH better, more nuanced "villain" (if that's how you want to characterize him) in the last season of Millenium. Also, did anyone find the third episode incredibly dull and laughably bad at times? The zip fights with the holographic wrestlers? The shot of the real wrestlers being coralled with the rest of the victims designed to evoke sympathy? Whew! This show deserves to be taken off the air after that.
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Oct 26, 1999 12:07:31 PM CDT
Why is the Fox Network sucking TWO WORDS = DOUG HERZOG
by 20th century fox
Yep for some odd reason Fox brought in the guy from comedy cenrtral called DOUG Herzog to run the Network and ever since its happened the network has just fallen apart...Rupert Murdoch or Peter Chernin hell even Bill Mechanic if your reading FIRE HERZOG NOW save your selvs and the studio....
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Oct 26, 1999 12:08:22 PM CDT
Why is the Fox Network sucking TWO WORDS = DOUG HERZOG
by 20th century fox
Yep for some odd reason Fox brought in the guy from comedy cenrtral called DOUG Herzog to run the Network and ever since its happened the network has just fallen apart...Rupert Murdoch or Peter Chernin hell even Bill Mechanic if your reading FIRE HERZOG NOW save your selvs and the studio....
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Man, you start a new station and fill every time slot with good
shows that were killed early, Nowhere Man, Cupid, Cursade,
Strange Luck, etc. etc.
I liked HR, I could see it slowly
building up to the creation of it's own myth-arc. Anyone know how many more episodes they will show? -
I guess it has to do with that Herzog guy. I mean llok at how shows Lke KING OF THE HILL, FAMILY GUY, have just been put out to pastrure (Lets not forget the brilliant PJ's) all because a loser form comedy central (who lucked out with south park) decied to remake fox into comedy central2) Yet were given great pieces of entertainment like ACTION which is unrealisic (I mean in the piolt the main character justs walks into a resteraunt and EXPECTS to have a table waiting for him. Wow! I mean if this guy was so powerful wouldnt he have an assitant make a reservation... but in the mind of Doug Herzog this is funny or it will at least get this Herzog punk some chicks right...) I agree with that fox guy...FIRE HERZOG....
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Oct 26, 1999 12:19:38 PM CDT
At least shed a tear for the Fox Network it was once great until
by bullworth
snifff sniff, This time last year fox was soo cool then they hired this Brian Herzog from comedy central (I remeber reading about it in variety...) and man I dont think there has been a network decline so fast in recent history (it took michael Esiner a few years to kill off ABC) man enjoy fox while it lasts this HERZOG guy thinks action is the best thing since sliced bread even though its ratings are lower per dollar spent thasn Harsh Relm
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A pity that it's going, but it really wasn't that good a show (more tragic because of the talent connected to it... I've like DB since STRANGE LUCK). But it wasn't up to ANY of its short-lived Friday night predecessors (VR5, STRANGE LUCK, BRIMSTONE, THE VISITOR, and certainly not MILLENIUM [and MILLENIUM was really a different show each season, but I liked ALL of them]). Maybe they could start a movie of the week series completing the lose ends from all of the canceled series...
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Oct 26, 1999 3:29:59 PM CDT
Harsh Realm is good, Sci-Fi should pick it up to replace that tu
by drath
Really, I disagree with you people. The third episode of Harsh Realm was NOT bad or boring. Now the last episode of Earth Final Conflict, that sucked alien rocks big time. I couldn't believe the choreography of those fight scene or most of the dialogue, it was unbelievably bad. Bring back Captain Marquett! But Harsh Realm still had its chance to be good. I liked DB Sweeney and Scott Bairstow, who was better than I thought he'd be as the lead. Obviously the rest of you didn't think so, but considering everything else you say, I get that you hated this show before it started. At least it wasn't pulling the "is it VR or is it the real world?" BS that so many other virtual reality shows try to pull. I can only hope the the Sci-Fi channel, in their quest to have actually good shows, takes Harsh Realm when Fox drops it. They should stop with First Wave already, it's already a Chris Carter rip off, why not replace it with a real Carter show. PS, yes, X-Files was a fluke, it sucked as bad as Millenium did in its first and second seasons, so why it wasn't chopped I'll never know).
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I thought some of you might like to know that he's the one who kicked Mystery Science Theatre around the schedule and then off Comedy Central in the first place. At least that's when *I* learned who he was and why to hate him. (Before Comedy Central, he was the genius behind "Let's not show videos on MTV - how about obnoxious Spring Break partiers instead?" You can see what direction Fox is going to go....)
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Fox had been emasculated before he ever showed up. One word: Profit
There was a time when Fox had the guts to stay with a show
until it found it's audience and became a hit (like, oh, I
dunno, X-Files) but apparently ADD is contageous because they
sure came down with a case as bad as any other network... -
The L.A. Times reported today that Fox has canceled Harsh Realm and Ryan Caulfield: YEar One.
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Same goes for that floating turd of a show, Crusade. The Tom Arnold Show, Lois & Clark, Millienium, they all DIE because they DON'T bring in the dough. Artistic creativty be damned folks, its ALL ABOUT THE MONEY! That's the way TV works folks, its the ultimate Harsh Realm.
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That is, I think they should have pulled a "Dr. Claw" routine and only show Santiago's arm in a chair, barking orders at little chronies; Saving the revelation of who he is by revealing his face in the season 1 finale, or somesuch. HR was a decent watch, it had some serious potential to explore the concept of "what is real" further than it was in Matrix, but I didn't foresee Carter taking it down *that* path. It looked more like he was going to go down the "X-Files" path. You know, the protagonist constantly in search of something unattainable. In this case, it wasn't aliens, it was reality. It's just a shame. It had potential.
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To anyone who thinks that a Friday night slot is certain death, I got two words for ya: Miami Vice.
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doesn't cunnilingus kind of sound like a scottish name? like cunnilingus macgrady?
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ok, i like FnG, it is an ok show. But you know what? THEY'RE GETTING RID OF DOYLE ON ANGEL COME MIDSEASON!!!! ARRRGGGGHHH, end that show now before the pain starts! Doyle is the only (THE ONLY) likable character on that show. He is the brain that fills the air in Angel and Cordelia's heads. This guy is cool and should stay dammit! In fact, if he gets cool enough, he and Willow (luscious, red haired, **drool**....) and Spike should all get their own spin off series in New York. Call it "The Under-represented Background Characters Show". Just think, they could go find felicity and her friends and KILL THEM ALL. And once they're done with that, they can find Jennifer Love Hewitt on that GODDAWFUL "Time of Your Life" and fucking KILL HER TOO! And when they're done they can head up to Boston and hook up with the cast from Homicide resurrect that show and the world will live happily ever after.
End of rant.
Iwrite -
Did your ears perk up just now? I bet they did. Now that FoX has deep-sixed pretty much the whole Friday night line-up, we can hope, pray, (and write) that the greenlight is given to a series that just needs to be made: BUCKAROO BANZAI: ANCIENT SECRETS & NEW MYSTERIES! Executives at FoX, this show will give Friday night ratings up the wazoo! Do the right thing, get the BB series on the air and you'll be pleasantly surprised.
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Chris Carter shouldn't drive faster than he can see, it's all in the reflexes and he just aint got em...Harsh Realm cancelled huh, well as a non yank I've never seen the show and now I doubt that I ever will so I can't judge it's quality, what I can do though is bitch and moan about quality shows that get cancelled for no other reason than short sighted glorified accountants want to show off that they have the biggest dick and therefore they can a show (and it's usually much better to cancel quality shows to show what a big shot you are, at least that seems to be these guys credo) before it ever gets the chance to find it's feet or it's audience...of course even if it has found it's feet and an audience they still cancel it in favour of such great tv entertainment as Beverly Hills 90210, The Nanny or The Worlds Greatest Collections Of Stock Footage Part 5. Shows that dare attempt to bring any sort of quality, originality or daring to tv may as well just get in the back of the garbage truck right now and get the fuck off the lot, the only things supported these days are mediocrity (at best) and predictability. It appears that the catch phrase for tv these days is 'if you aint seen it before you won't see it again' so they give the boot to great shows like American Gothic, Millennium, Space Above And Beyond, Brimstone and (to a slightly lesser extent) Nowhere Man for having the guile to try and be both mature and entertaining. Sure they didn't always pull it off but certain episodes of all of the above shows were some of the best tv I've seen in at least the past ten years, and light years ahead of the Aaron Spelling produced crap that litters the tube these days. The way that tv is these days it amazes me that there is ever anything that makes it to the tube that is worth watching, and people are calling for a Buckaroo Banzai show to get the greenlight...how long do you seriously think that would last especially on network tv, remember it doesn't matter if it's good it only matters if it's instantly popular, and Buckaroo will never grab enough of the masses right off the bat to avoid the hammer from dropping...sad, but I truly believe it to be true.*****************As for Chris Carter what's the bet that pretty much no matter what there WILL now be an 8th season of the X-Files, after all Fox won't care if it's good, just so long as it's there, then if it bombs they can get to finally cancel it themselves. Chris carter will co-operate and push it into an 8th season, I'd bet serious money on it, besides if thats what Fox wants then that makes Carters bargaining power that much more potent when trying to get his next 'big thing' off the ground and on the air, and you can bet your ass that he'll take advantage of that fact on a dark and stormy night. By the way, does anybody know how many episodes of Harsh Realm that they have actually completed filming already? Just curious.
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