Self:

What’s Next for “Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles”

April 15, 2009 by Kyle Brady
Tags: "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles", FOX, HBO, NBC, SHO, Terminator, TV, TV Networks
As required by the FTC, a Full Disclosure is available - this piece adheres to the Code of Ethics

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The word on the street is that "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles" has been canceled.  As much as this absolutely sucks and is in line with the entire history of anything good FOX has ever produced, it was semi-expected because FOX is a network that cares more about obscene big-ticket ratings than the value they put out.

The way I see it, TSCC as a collective has three options for their future:

1. Suck up to the FOX execs and hope things change at some point in the near future, maybe coming back in Spring '10. While this has happened in the past (Family Guy, anyone?), it's similar to betting all your money on the exact time and date Jesus returns for the Coming of the Apocalypse.  I'm not saying it's (Jesus) ever happening, but still.


2. Find a bunch of money from a group of rich people, self-fund a full production of Season 3, and release it to DVD. I think this is a great idea, and would pave the way for the further collapse of the TV network paradigm, assuming they could raise enough money to continue the same level of writing, production, special effects, acting talent, etc.  However, realistically, this is improbable.  Unlikely, even.  (Pink Panther nod!)  We're talking about a huge amount of money spent from idea to DVD printing, and the series would sell for $50, at most, per copy.  The number of copies sold would have to be astronomical to even break even.


3. Pull up the tent stakes from the FOX battleground, and shop the idea to other networks. TSCC has proven to have a nothing-if-not-loyal fanbase, just not with the gigantic numbers that could compete with brain-addling crap like American Idol that is so inexplicably popular among the low-to-average IQ range of American citizens.  HBO and Showtime produce shows for a much smaller audience (comparatively), but seem to have no problem doing so, presumably because they produce revenue directly instead of being "OMG we need a larger audience!"-advertising dependent.  Writers, acting talent, and everyone else could move over... as long as FOX will release the rights to its production, which is the biggest "if".

Option 3 is likely the one with the best outcome, and I really hope it happens.  NBC could even potentially be approached for another season, since they have their fair share of violent "speculative fiction" shows already, and have a history of being more tolerant in ratings swings.

Here's the takeaway:

TSCC Crew, please talk to some other networks about immediately continuing production for their network, without any changes.  We will follow you to your endpoint, even if it's FX.

FOX, give up the rights to the show's future.  If you don't want to do another season, at least be reasonable about it, and let someone else who cares about the people that are considered their customers.

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Update (4/15/2009 2:50pm PST): Apparently TSCC's producers are saying it isn't canceled yet, and that the information floating around the 'net is faulty... and the "reporter" has a history of bad-mouthing TSCC.  Let's hope.

Self posts are about me (Kyle Brady), in one form or another.
Kyle can be found on Twitter and MySpace, or reached via email.