Scifi weaseled out their commitment for season 5:
http://www.farscapeweekly.com/cancelled.htm
This is a sad, sad day. I haven't read the entier transcript (Hate reading those things) but...well...I can't help hoping that they'll find someone else to pick it up.As usual, just because it gets a semi-lukewarm (from what I've gathered) in the US but gets top ratings elsewhere its deemed a failure. Which just plain sucks.
Anyways...angry letter to Sci-Fi time. ^_^
Can you post the address your sending it to? preferably real mail, as opposed to e-mail?
http://www.scifi.com <---You'll find everything ye need on there.
I simply don't get why this is happening. Does Sci-fi prefer reruns of 60s TV shows to new episodes of what is, by far, their best known and most popular show?
I don't get it.
*chuckles*...You just said exactly what I sent to the Sci-Fi crowd but in a slightly shorter way. ^_^
As well as a somewhat cleaner way, I suspect
As SpottedKitty said, it's really hard reading the transcript because it's so bitty. For my own personal use I've edited the whole thing down into the relevant conversations and put all the 'bits' together into coherent sentences. If anyone would like a copy, email me and I'll send you one. It'll be a Word attachment. It also contains several contact addresses for protests to be sent to.
Remember above everything: if you DO protest, be polite, be coherent. Rants will be ignored.
> As well as a somewhat cleaner way, I suspect
Nahhhsss..I'm nice when I wanna be. *meow* ;)
/However/, If you mean in terms of spelling and gammer...your probably right. ^_^
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOO!!!!!!!
That's it!! I officially HATE those guys at Sci-Fi channel! Those bastards! Those jerks! How COULD they! No! No! No! No! No!
(Pant, pant) O.k., rant over. I feel better. I'm still angry as anything though. Why can't network execs SEE a good thing when they have it?
Maybe if these MORONS would stop moving the time of the show and stop having these 5-6 month breaks between episodes, the viewership would grow!
Why are we getting 2 Stargate episodes on Friday now?
Why don't they rerun the episodes daily like they did last year? That's when my wife and I got hooked.
Angry letter time! I urge every fan to do the same.
The official information...
http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/art-main.html?2002-09/09/13.00.sfc
Quote:Farscape To End
The SCI FI Channel confirmed that it will not pick up its original series Farscape for a fifth season. "There are no bigger fans of Farscape than we here at SCI FI Channel," the network said in a statement. "It was one of SCI FI's first original series and quickly became a critical and fan favorite. Unfortunately, despite our best efforts to reach a broader audience, Farscape has been unable to grow beyond its core fan base. That, coupled with the extreme and growing cost of production, has led to the difficult decision to end the series at the conclusion of season four."
The remaining new episodes of Farscape's fourth season will return in January 2003. ADV Films will release "Into the Lion's Den (Part 1)" on DVD and VHS as part of the upcoming Farscape: Season 3 home video release, scheduled for 2003. Previous seasons of Farscape episodes are currently available on DVD and VHS from ADV Films; the newest release, Farscape: Season 2 Volume 2.2, was released last month.
Farscape was created by Rockne S. O'Bannon and produced by The Jim Henson Company, in association with Hallmark Entertainment. The series featured Ben Browder, Claudia Black, Anthony Simcoe, Gigi Edgley, Wayne Pygram and Raelee Hill. David Kemper, Juliet Blake, Robert Halmi Jr., Brian Henson and Richard Manning executive produced the show. O'Bannon served as executive consultant.
Or to paraphrase that "We're trying to be your freinds! We loved the show toooooo, honest! But it wasn't making the kinda cash we wanted it to so we killed it".
Moi, cynical? Never.
I've read in other places that that was waht it came down to. Cash. Sci-Fi didn't want to cough up the money for it so it was put on the kill list...it will now take its place amongst other greats shot down in their prime...
The Sci-Fi channel seems to be the biggest bunch of morons on the planet. Having been at a board about Battlestar Galactica, SF wants to ignore what the fans want and totally reinvent it. Farscape is getting canned. B5:LOTR was never picked up as a series, and from what I hear it's being turned into some extended psuedo X-Files channel.
According to the IMDB there will be a "Save Farscape Now" petition.
Seems like, no matter what, The Jim Henson Company is not giving up on Farscape. Their response to the situation, posted at farscape.com mentions syndication possibilities, the feature film and some sort of anime project... (First The Animatrix, now Faranime?)
http://www.farscape.com/news/index.html
One of the many routes to the "Save Farscape" campaign is for people to write to other networks expressing their disappointment that SciFi have dropped it and gently hinting how popular the network that picked it up would be.
OMFG!!!!!!!!
How could this happen??? HOW COULD THIS HAPPEN??????????
What cruel man decided that Farscape should be cancelled????? It's so UNFAIR!!!
Those idiots at the SciFi Channel! Farscape is (without a doubt) their BEST show. Every other original program that they've ever had has been garbage compared to Farscape. The Invisible Man was probably second, but Farscape was the undisputed BEST!!
It was the most amazing scifi show I've ever watched. It was one of the most amazing shows I've watched PERIOD. I can't believe it will be over at the end of Season 4!!
The only bright side I can see is that Farscape will go out with a bang instead of dragging on for years and into mediocrity. There are also the possibilities for movies. There are so many things to tie up! How are they going to do it in half a season???? They just started something BIG with "Unrealized Reality" and now it's all got to be wrapped up so soon.
Farscape, you will be missed.
See ya later
TUE
As I understand it, TUE, the final episodes have already been filmed, so there’s no question of wrapping the series up - the final episode will end on a cliffhanger and we’ll never know what happened next unless the writers publish their intended plans on the net or manage to get a movie.
If SciFi really must cancel Farscape as a series, would it really have hurt them to have allowed a budget for a two-hour wrap-it-all-up finale following episode 4-22?
--- the final episode will end on a cliffhanger and we’ll never know what happened next----
Ok, that's it, I give up entirely on ever seeing justice in this world. I don't know if I can handle watching Farscape end on a cliffhanger, knowing it will never be resolved. That just SUXS! It is so unfair!! Why, why, why, why, why, why, why!!!????!!!!!
(I'm going to curl up in a corner now and weep.)
On the series ending with a cliffhanger:
"OH FRELL!!!" -- Almost any episode.
"Don’t think I’m going to miss you, any of you! I’m not! Well...maybe a little bit." -- Rygel in "Into the Lion's Den, Part 2: Wolf In Sheep's Clothing"
"You give Moya my love."
"And her love to you....as well as mine."
-- Crichton and Pilot in "Into the Lion's Den, Part 2: Wolf in Sheep's Clothing"
"We’re in the hands of fate now, we have to trust in that. Fly safe. Goodbye, John Crichton."
-- Aeryn in "Dog With Two Bones"
See ya later
TUE
cstadulis
(I'm going to curl up in a corner now and weep.)
Can I join you?!?! 
Everyone!
There may be some good news! Here is an article from Farscapeworld.com about an e-mail address to send messages to and a phone number to call.
Onn the same website, a message was posted that the suits at the Sci Fi Channel will be meeting on Monday to decide the fate of the show. Apparently, they have been moved by the outpouring of fan support. The fan movements have been mentioned in TV Guide, E Online, and CNN. Also, $80,000 has been raised from fans in an attempt to keep the show going.
So, if you are going to call or e-mail, do it NOW as Monday seems to be the drop dead date. Let's hope that the Powers That Be hear the voices of the fans and do the right thing. It would be a shame to lose such a superior show.
Sci Fi post message about Farscape on their website
by Dani Moure - Friday, September 13 2002
As per the message on SciFi.com:
"Dear Scapers:
Thank you for your tremendous efforts in support of Farscape. We have received the many phone messages, e-mails, faxes, letters and flowers that you have been sending. And they are appreciated. (Unfortunately, we will have to return the check for $60 that was sent to help pay for a new season.) Your dedication and devotion to the series makes us all proud to have worked on such a beloved show.
We request that you direct all your e-mails to programming@scifi.com so we can keep track of how much Farscape mail we receive. This mailbox is checked throughout every business day by SCI FI staff members. Also, SCIFI.COM staff members monitor the BBoards every day, so messages posted there will be read. We request that you refrain from sending your comments directly to individual employees, either by e-mail or by phone.
If you'd like to call, you can leave a message on our Viewer Line (212) 413-5679. Although many other numbers have been posted, this is the one to use to ensure that your voice is heard. If the mailbox is full, please try again later, as we listen to the messages every few hours.
Thanks again.
SCI FI Channel"
Follow up:
This is the address for the Help Save Farscape page on the Farscapeworld.com site. Note also that there is an online petition to sign as well.
http://www.farscapeworld.com/helpfarscape.shtml
Hopefully the suits will listen to the fans.
Good Luck everyone!
It's Monday, 16 September, 2002. The 'suits' at SciFi are meeting today to decide if the fans of Farscape can keep the series going much like the third season of Star Trek: TOS. I hope that we will not be kept waiting for the word.
Does anyone know how the actors feel about the program continuing? Do some feel they need to move to other roles or do they like the job they have?
I just read on BBC's Ceefax pages that, while the series has not yet been saved as such, the sets - which should have been destroyed by now - have been kept. This must bring some hope that even if SciFi don't want the series, they may be prepared to hand the sets over if another channel wants it.
Hope continues!
I just bought the end of third season DVD's and after watching them and summarising Farscape in my head, I am wondering, why the hell does stuff like Farscape seem to get cancelled when such mediocrity as Big Brother, Survivor, I'm a Celebrity, get me out of here, god knows how many talk shows etc go on and on.
There was even talk that the BBC MIGHT ressurect Doctor Who, now while I am not a fan of it, what was one answer? Someone wrote into a local paper "Keep this trash buried, Star Trek rules". Well I am sorry, but I feel that Sci-Fi is in danger of descending to gross mediocrity. B5 is ended, Battlestar Galacticas remake plans aren't being received warmly, Dark Skied ended some years ago when it was still good, same with Space Above and Beyond, yet the Trek franchise elbows its way ever onward. Stuff like Andromeda and Lexx keep appearing. The X-Files, HOW is it keeping going?
Sorry, it's a bit of a rant, but I see the genre going down the tubes....
Interesting, it no longer says "Final episodes of FarScape Coming in January 2003" on the SciFi site. It now says "New Episodes Coming in
January 2003"
SF site has a regular review column by Rick Norwood, and he says Farscape will be an anime series in Japan, but he doesn't cite a source.
http://www.sfsite.com/columns/rick137.htm
Here's another article on Farscape at the same site:
http://www.sfsite.com/09b/far136.htm
Could somebody post contact addresses for the advertisers? Shouldn't we be writing to them too?
It seems strange some companies don't want to advertise on sf shows; the assumption seems to be sf fans don't buy food or clothing or appliances or anything.
Kroger, Wal-Mart and Sears don't seem to do much advertising on sf shows, do they?
So, has Farscape been given new life and will continue? Any offical word? Thanks.
Duane, a really good place to look for the very latest news is Farscape World. Unfortunately, there's no news there of a reprieve as yet.
Thank you, Callie, for the site and the news. I will keep a watch out.
Fans Buy Commercial Time to Save Show
Farscape: Sci Fi's Murder by Numbers?
Interesting to see Bonnie say: "If all of those incredible fans who wrote in and sent notes and flowers and [whatnot] had actually watched it every week, we would have been able to [allow the fifth season]."
There are rumours that Sci-Fi may give the show a second look if its ratings for the final episodes justify it.
So it's all up to you, the American audience!
This is kinda what annoys me about some of the US TV corps...no matter how well a program may do in outher countries if it bombs in the US it's cancelled...very very annoying.
The only exception was probably Baywatch which was revived after the success in syndication and certain foreign countries...
Of course, the problem may be that most Farscape fans aren't Neilsen families.
Farscape ANIME? Interesting.... Just... PLEASE don't let it be like StarGate: Infinity!
Interesting news here. I will cut and paste it, too:
http://www.watchfarscape.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=6346
Quote:author: kimrb
subject: What I hear from UPN/Viacom
Hey gang! I want to thank all of you who have emailed or PM'd asking where I've been. I've been lurking. I have decided that the needs of the many out weigh the needs of the one. So I will return to active status.
Now I have to ask all of you to do me a favor. You have to read this post very carefully. The words that appear here mean exactly what they say. Do not try to pick this apart or find some deeper meaning. It is what it is. I'm not trying to be mysterious, I'm trying to avoid any knee jerk or unwarranted speculation.
All of you have manufactured the most unbelievable fan campaign in history. You have created a buzz that is coursing through the entertainment industry like nothing I can remember. Just look at the beating SciFi is taking in the press as well as the number of articles and such that are telling our story. And all of this happening just as our show returns to the air. That deserves a very big and loud HELL YEAH!! Now the numbers game begins and I can't tell you how important it is to get good numbers. Not just for 4.11 but through the month of February at a minimum. We have the industry's attention, now we have to produce the numbers and make them stick week after week. We are on the edge of victory.
Ok, enough prelude. I have to stress I cannot confirm this information but I have heard enough to believe there must be some fact to the information. Please don't go off half-cocked and do something that could damage the cause or the interest of the players. AGAIN, THIS IS UN-CONFIRMED RUMOR.
As you all know, UPN is owned by Viacom. Since the purchase of CBS, UPN has been going through some major changes in upper management and a new focus to programming is being hammered into shape. UPN is still in the game but there has been a shift in focus when it comes to FS. That shift comes in the form of Viacom. Viacom has become the player. Viacom is looking to FS as part of the new science fiction channel they are exploring. Viacom is very interested in purchase of the SciFi channel but there are some other major players in that game and info about progress in that direction is held too close to the vest to pry loose. If Viacom can put a plan together to purchase Skiffy then FS has an excellent chance of rebirth. If the Skiffy deal falls through then FS would still have the same amout of interest with the new channel. If talks fail and plans for the new channel don't happen then of course Viacom's interest in FS will end. Then the focus returns to UPN for FS and we will be back where we were 4 months ago. However this works out, it is beyond our control. Just know that interest by UPN and it's parent company Viacom has not ended and that all the hard work by this fine group of people has not gone unnoticed.
So what does this mean? It means we're still breathing and now the ball is in our court. We have been heard, people know who we are and the right people know what we want. Now we have to walk the walk. It's all about numbers now. Not just tonight, but over the remaining run. I know where I'll be at 8 tonight. Lets hope we've done our job and a host of new viewers come to the small screen to see what all the press is about. I'm convinced the new viewers are in for a treat and will come back for more, every Friday night.
01-10-2003 04:50 PM
Well, I'm just glad to see they haven't nailed up Farscape's coffin just yet. Any hope is better than no hope. I'm glad the network bigwigs payed attention to us.
By the way, does anyone know if videotapes factor into the whole "viewer numbers" game? I work until 10 p.m. on Friday nights, so I always have to tape Farscape to watch later in the weekend (in fact, I still haven't seen "Kansas" yet ) Does anyone know if I count or not?
I don't get it. From what I heard, the sets have been torn down, and I'm guessing that the cast and crew have moved on. Isn't it a little too late for Farscape to be saved?
TUE
What's your source of information?
"Kim" is a reliable source. He or she works at UPN.
I'm afraid you must have misunderstood me. I was referring to TUE's comment about the sets having been torn down.
cstadulis--
Recording an episode doesn't count because most people fastforward through the commercials (the numbers are there to set advertising rates)
I don't recall the source. I think it was Farscape World but I could be mistaken. It's been a while since I've read the article.
TUE
OK, This isn't Farscape but as Odyssey5 doesn't have a board I'm stickin it here because it's gonna be a bit of a rant about show cancellations...
For the last few months I've been dedicating myself to watching Odessy5. When I heard Farscape was over and done with I cursed and cried foul with the rest of you. Farscape was a major loss in the Sci-FI arena…but in my case I thought I’d have Odessy5 to fall back on. “It’ll hang around” I thought “It’s cheap to make as it’s set on Earth and all the ‘enemies’ look human..well, mostly”. I thought it was safe. I invested my time and my dedication into watching each week and having my brain mixed about by it’s ever increasingly complex story. Miss one episode and you’d be OK, miss tow and you’d have to do some serious join the dots. But now, sadly, I learn that it too has had the chop after only one season. At this juncture I’d just like to ask what the *beep*ing hell these TV Execs think they are on. I know they are in there to make money, they are not a charity but they might throw us a bone or two. I’m positively thinking of giving up on the Sci-Fi genre as a whole. I’m tired of all the stories that are neatly wrapped up in 45 min episodes. I’m tired of investing my time and money in shows with decent and strong story lies only to have them cancelled as soon as I care about them. But it seems that the TV execs want shows whereby the audience isn’t required to make the commitment and, just maybe, fire a few neurones and think about what may happen next.
Sure, I enjoy Star Trek. I enjoy Stargate and I enjoy a lot of other shows too…but when a show like Stargate gets renewed when even the stars are tired of playing the characters and shows like Odyssey 5 and Farscape gets cancelled I loose all my faith in the TV Studios and their execs. My last hope is The Dead Zone which has gone to a second series but I’m pondering wither it’s worth investing in as I suspect it won’t make it to season 3 a’la Dark Angel. I’m jaded….someone, prove me wrong. Please.
Well said, Spotted Kitty. I love Odyssey 5. Only about 2/3rds into the first season and it's already as compelling as Farscape. i read that Showtime was going to air the remaining six episodes starting this month but the schedule has mysteriously changed. Maybe the network has had a change of heart regarding the fate of the show? Whatever happens, I really hope that if it makes the jump to basic cable, it's not totally watered down such as GvsE's second season was.
As for Dead Zone, even if USA cancels it after year two (not likely, I hear it's still breaking records) I'd say that the chances of it being revived on Scifi are pretty great, as the networks are so intertwined.
Starting the panic again: This week's episode teaser said "As they begin their final journey..." Does this mean we're leading up to the end? Can we beat them up again and make them renew?
Beat them up /again/? You mean I missed the first time? Dangit! Why does noone tell me these things!
=^_^=
There's a nice article about the Farscape cancellation in the new SFX (Issue 102) mag in the UK. Suffice to say that there is some rather, umm, bitter feelings over what happened to the show by the main producers and cast members after all. My own feelings have gone from blind outrage, to acceptance to a simmering feeling of betrayal over the fact we were promised two seasons more.
David Kemper also lets out a few hints as to what would of happened in Season5. Apparently the titles would no longer contain the words "I'm trying to get home". Crichton’s been there and done that now and his focus has changed to protecting the baby. Apparently Jool would make a comeback and the Arnessk priests she was staying with would have been revealed as having more to do with the Farscape story than previously indicated.
Other than the “official” Kemper idea of having a cross dressing episode SFX also lists a few episodes that they think it’d have been fun to see…here are some of my faves:
The Flashback Episode to Episodes we never saw – A new take on the bottle episode where the crew sit around a table talking about old escapades for most of the episode only for Chi to pipe up near then end that no, actually, she doesn’t remember any of these things. It turns out there’s been an Alien implanting memories for it’s own purposes.
The Japanese Kabuki Episode – All the cast are replaced by puppets except for Rygel who’s replaced by Hugh Laurie.
Hong Kong Action Episode – On a low gravity planet John discovers he can do all those wire-assisted fight moves and running up walls for real.
GOOD NEWS! I've Just heard that Farscape will be on our screens again. A new 22 episode season 5 will begin filming today with the possibility of there being a 6th season. They have been able to finally convince Sci-Fi to pay for a complete new seaso nand they are in the process of getting all the cast members back.
See here for more details - Farscape News
This is so *not* funny....
I enjoyed it. But then, I was quick on the uptake for once...
Kitty, if I could use bad language on this forum, I'd bleedin' well use it now. You utter ... person whose parents never married.
Not funny Kitty!!
GOTCHA! =^_^=
*takes a bow* Thank you, thank you.
OK, It was probably a bit cruel of me but, hey, you'd miss me if I left....wouldn't you? OK, That's rhetorical right now. *grins*
Anyways, Callie, can you please delete the post now. Or leave it up. 'Tis up to you.
No, I think it should be left here to show other people what an evil sonova..... you are.
*half-hearted wink*
Hey, why deny the obvious. =^_^=
Is that Death Gliders I can hear? *legs it*
Death Gliders - hah! That's the sound of a 20-ton prehistoric worm who managed to get fired from a TV series by a kid from Who's the Boss? with big, um...coming to get you.
The only upside of this is that I now have an extra one hour a week to spend with my wife. Jeez, wish I could have won her to Farscape fan-dom.
Now we shall pull the lever and release the 16 ton weight onto SpottedKitty. If that fails, we shall pull the other lever and release the Bengal Tiger. Of course, if that doesn't work, we can always attack SpottedKitty with a banana! (or even a point-ed stick!)
[attacks Scott with a raw chicken]
[Defends himself with some raspberries]
[throw some animals over the castle walls]
[lob all their rescued herring at SpottedKitty]
Kitty, that was really, really evil of you.
Farscape May Return After All, but possibly only as a 4-hour miniseries.
A reserved, fingers-crossed, hoping-I'm-not-tempting-fate WOOOOO-HOOOOOOO!!
It would be nice to have a miniseries. I figured that if it was continued it would just be a TV movie, 2 hours long or something but this is even better, if it actually happens.
Since MGM was planing on buying SciFi channel, it may have been them.
And if anyone's like really hard up for a Farscape fix then try playing the PC game, which you can find for under $15 now, if not even cheaper in some bargain bin, like at Target, where I got it for $4.98 a couple months ago but as yet haven't tried it. Just consider yourself forewarned that it's not exactly a super topnotch kickass game (as the average rating of the reviews in the above link prove), but if you're really desparate enough for something having to do with the show then maybe give it a try, especially again if you find it dirt cheap.
Mark, there’s a page for The Game in The Clamshell, so maybe once you’ve tried it you could let us know what it’s like on that page?
Oops! Silly me! How'd I miss that? I think maybe I need new glasses.
Well anyway, Callie, I'm a snailgamer (a word I'm pretty sure I've coined, AFAIK, and used on some game forums elsewhere), and seeing as how many dozens of games I've got that I haven't even installed yet, let alone gotten around to finishing with those that are, it'll take me awhile before I get around to it, which is why I provided the link for those interested to read some reviews on it.
Anyone capable of playing a Region2 DVD really ought to get the last ever Farscape boxset. The DVD is packed with some seriously wonderful stuff including outtakes, a documentary on the show ending and various other treats. It's well worth the cash, trust me.
On that note, if you use a X-Box as your DVD player be prepared for the DVD containing eps 19&20 not to work. I have tried it on three different X-Boxes and two different DVD dongles and none have worked. It did however work on my friends PS2 and my 5 yearold PC DVD drive so I'm assuming it's the X-Boxes that are at fault.
Hey, if there are any Scapers left, they may want to take a look at this link: http://www.tvguide.com/news/entertainment
Because it's back baby!!!
FANTASTIC news!
Woo hoo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Although after filming finished, didn't they dismantle the Moya sets? With chainsaws
With chainsaws
No, they did it WITH TORTURE!
Can anyone give me a H#LL YEAH!!??
H#LL YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WOO HOO!!!!!
Every once in a while, fortune favors the Scaper.
TUE
Yes, they did. But, they're rebuilding. Or they're already rebuilt. I know at the Burbank Con last weekend, Rockne said that Brian and DK are in Australia "writing hour three."
And the studios down there are going to be in use from December to February.
I'm a little late to the party (I don't get much time to check sites these days) but I just read about this in the latest SFX mag.
Wonderful, wonderful news. =^_^=
I'll add mine.
w00t!
EXCELLENT!!!!! About frelling time!
Man this is great news! I just wonder which channel will show the episode.
The only downside is that I was hoping that another network, like HBO or Showtime, would pick up Farscape and have a Season 5. I'm just glad they are wrapping things up.
Farscape and Babylon 5 are the best science fiction shows I have ever seen. I wish that other science fiction shows like Andromeda or Enterprise would take a cue from these shows.
It is also a shame that the SCI FI channel has gone from being a great channel to a schlocky B-movie horror flim showing piece of dren.....