which sci-fi show will be a hit? Threshold, Surface or Invasion?

[jbmagic]

which sci-fi show will be a hit? Threshold, Surface or Invasion?



Tonight there premiring Surface on NBC

Invasion will premire next week on ABC

and Thresold premire on CBS last friday.

[DaddyTorgo]

i honestly really liked Threshold. I was watching and pondering starting a thread to see who else liked it. The Exec. Producer is Brannon Braga (ex of Trek) and he knows what he's doing. I hear the premise of the show is going to be used in order to make a significant amount of social commentary.

[Honolulu_Blue]

I missed the first ep, but the reviews for Threshold have been very solid. I shall TiVO it and see what's the what. Though a Friday night time slot is very tough for an hour long sci-fi drama.

[jbmagic]

i honestly really liked Threshold. I was watching and pondering starting a thread to see who else liked it. The Exec. Producer is Brannon Braga (ex of Trek) and he knows what he's doing. I hear the premise of the show is going to be used in order to make a significant amount of social commentary.


i really enjoy Threshold. will continue to watch it.
you should check out The 4400. its pretty good too .


i going to check out Surface tonight and Invasion next week.

[cthomer5000]

Invasion follows Lost, which will be a huge aide. I'll try watching it for that simple reason.

[DaddyTorgo]

4400 is okay. i watched about 1/2 to 3/4 of the first season, but i found that it didn't really grab me as much as i wanted it to.

[MikeVic]

Firefly.

Oh wait.

[sabotai]

Firefly.

Oh wait.
Heheh... (great show, btw. Eagerly awaiting Serenity)

[Honolulu_Blue]

Heheh... (great show, btw. Eagerly awaiting Serenity)
Me too. Can't wait. Speaking of which... Mayhap it's time to bump that old thread.

[kingfc22]

The answers should be:

Lost copy A
Lost copy B
Lost copy C

It's like all the networks trying to copy the reality craze that survivor started all over again. Just this time it sci-fi.

[Honolulu_Blue]

The answers should be:

Lost copy A
Lost copy B
Lost copy C

It's like all the networks trying to copy the reality craze that survivor started all over again. Just this time it sci-fi.
Well, so long as they're quality (not saying they are), I don't see this as a bad thing at all. I'd much rather to see the old network pendulum swing towards trying to make quality sci-fi/supernatural hour long dramas than trying to make a dozen clones of the Bachelor or apprentice. I thought last year was a breath of fresh air for TV, a renaissance if you will.

[kingfc22]

I agree HB. I'm glad there are non-reality shows that I want to watch other than CSI, 24 and Lost. I just find it amusing how all the networks copy each other.

On a side note, congrats to Lost for winning the Emmy for best drama.

[sterlingice]

Actually, a friend and I were having this conversation a couple of days ago after he rented the first season of Lost and it's not that it's sci-fi that people are copying. There's are about as many Sci-Fi shows around as there have always been as it's not a huge segment but there are a few from space-type shows (Stargate, Battlestar Galactica) to Paranomal (Dead Zone). Think about it- even in the heyday of shows like Star Trek: the Next Generation, were there more sci-fi shows? How about the X-Files? A couple of clones popped up and quickly died.

This is less about sci-fi and more about serialization. Name the last big serialized show in the mainstream before 24? Networks didn't trust their audiences to religiously follow shows an entire season but with Tivo and the like (as if a VCR was all that hard to program), they seem more willing to take a chance. Sure, shows like CSI, your standard dramas, have some running storylines but they aren't as deep or reoccuring as something like 24 or Lost that you have to watch every week. Now that a couple have succeeded, a whole new realm of shows that used to be somewhat prevalent is back. A little less reliant on the "everything must return to the same it was at the beginning of the week" crutch.

Anything that gets reality shows out of the way is a good thing in my book. Now, if only we could strike a balance and rediscover good sitcoms that aren't the same old thing but also aren't these little niche ones that cater only to certain audiences.

SI

[Lathum]

which one has the guy from tilt?

[Mr. Wednesday]

Invasion.

(And thanks for reminding me of why he looked so familiar...)

[amdaily]

I thought Threshold was terrible. I was actually unaware of Braga's involvement, so the credits helped explain the plot holes. Most of the cast I don't care for, although Spiner was decidedly less annoying than I thought he'd be outside of the Data role. The writing was terrible, Braga wrote part of the premiere, so surprise. The only decent line of writing was the Klingon joke and then the camera pan to Spiner.

As for Surface, the reviews don't sound promising:


Easily the most insipid of the season's sci-fi crop, this sea-serpent soap was written, created, directed and produced by brothers Jonas and Josh Pate, who do all four jobs poorly.

There isn't a moment of wonder or suspense in Surface, or a single performance or character that is even remotely involving — and that includes the slimy, electrically charged, amphibious monsters.

http://www.usatoday.com/life/television/reviews/2005-09-18-surface_x.htm

[CraigSca]

My wife can't stand SciFI (and I'm not really a big fan either). We're hoping, however, that Invasion is good and doesn't go too science fiction oriented. We like Lost a lot and that has toed the line thus far. However, if Invasion becomes little green men or something, I'll lose my wife...

[Senator]

And I will be sadly oblivious to all three.

[Ksyrup]

"Mommy, you smell different."

[Mustang]

"Mommy, you smell different."

Isn't that a line from 'Taboo' ?

[Bee]

I'll probably enjoy all three shows, but I doubt any of them will be a hit.

[sterlingice]

My wife can't stand SciFI (and I'm not really a big fan either). We're hoping, however, that Invasion is good and doesn't go too science fiction oriented. We like Lost a lot and that has toed the line thus far. However, if Invasion becomes little green men or something, I'll lose my wife...
Serious question: What makes a person not able to stand SciFi if it's wrapped in a drama shell as these are? Does it just take you out of the realm of realism that the show had been in? I guess I understand not liking a genre- for instance, I don't like teen soap opera-y type shows but it's because I feel my intelligence is insulted by the dialog, feel the need to cringe every few minutes when the "actors" have a cringe moment, and get bored by the plots. So I guess I can see where you can judge a whole genre by it's cover but "Sci-Fi" or "Crime Drama" or "Comedy" seem to have so many facets that it's hard I could conceive of not liking any of the three, as a whole.

SI

[Thomkal]

Neither Threshold nor Surface vowed me in its debut, Surface was the weaker of the two I thought. Too much jumping around trying to set up 42 plot points. Threshold was tough to like because many of its characters weren't very likeable in the debut. I did like the lead and the federal agent or whatever he is. Liked the plot twist involving those two and the nerdy young scientist too.

Invasion is the one I'm expecting the most from just because its the closest in appearance to Lost. But it may suffer in comparison too.

[Ksyrup]

Isn't that a line from 'Taboo' ?
What the hell's Taboo? All I know is that's the only line from these repetitive commercials that's stuck in my head. I don't know which one of these shows it is, but it's freaking annoying.

[Ksyrup]

Serious question: What makes a person not able to stand SciFi if it's wrapped in a drama shell as these are? Does it just take you out of the realm of realism that the show had been in? I guess I understand not liking a genre- for instance, I don't like teen soap opera-y type shows but it's because I feel my intelligence is insulted by the dialog, feel the need to cringe every few minutes when the "actors" have a cringe moment, and get bored by the plots. So I guess I can see where you can judge a whole genre by it's cover but "Sci-Fi" or "Crime Drama" or "Comedy" seem to have so many facets that it's hard I could conceive of not liking any of the three, as a whole.

SI
For me, it's just the subject matter. I don't watch "dramas" or "comedies" just because they fit the genre; I have to be interested in the underlying subject matter. And sci-fi doesn't do it for me - never has, never will.

My wife loves Lost, but I haven't bothered watching any of it. In fact, Wednesday's at 8 has turned into my "uninterrupted music hour," which pleases me to no end.

[dunkem]

I thought Threshold and Surface were pretty decent. Couldn't help but feel like I was just watching the first half hour of a sci-fi movie of the week though. I'm glad that they're bringing back some sci-fi shows though instead of more CSI-Los Angeles , CSI-Chicago, or other cop/law show. Bruckheimer is going a little overboard with all these crime shows.

Supernatural on the WB wasn't too bad too. Still has that pretty boy WB touch to it, but still pretty interesting. Considering it's from the same writer as "Boogeyman", I wasn't expecting a whole lot, but it was decent.

I gotta agree that LOST sparked all this again though. Funny thing is though that LOST started losing its "sci-fi" edge and became more of a character drama as the series built.

At least these shows kept me interested enough to consider watching next week.

[Mustang]

What the hell's Taboo? All I know is that's the only line from these repetitive commercials that's stuck in my head. I don't know which one of these shows it is, but it's freaking annoying.

Ahh.. its a 70s porn movie.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Ahh.. its a 70s porn movie.
First porn movie I ever saw was "Taboo 2".

[Ksyrup]

Ahh.. its a 70s porn movie.
Oh, you were making a funny. :)

[Karlifornia]

"Mommy, you smell different."


I got it. The kid's body was invaded by an alien, and the heightened sense of smell results in the kid smelling the mother's menstruation.

[DaddyTorgo]

menstruation
EWWWW...RFUS is talking about menses!!! yech http://dynamic.gamespy.com/%7Efof/forums/images/smilies/eek.gif

[kingfc22]

Just watched Surface on my Tivo. Thought it was alright but I don't see how giant fish falling from the sky will keep me watching for long.

[jbmagic]

anybody going to watch Invasion after lost tonight?

[DaddyTorgo]

i'm watching, more for lack of anything better (normally i'd watch Law and Order, but I just watched SVU last night and I prefer SVU to regular L&O now). I think it's distinctly...useless so far, but I expect the last half hour to be much more "shocking." And I'm looking forward to some actual good old-fashioned alien-boogymen.

[sachmo71]

I enjoyed Invasion. Not sure if it can keep my interest, but the premise was cool. The acting is another story, though.

[Easy Mac]

Wasn't invasion a robert cook book and a tv movie starring luke perry?

And don't sully the good acting name of eddie cibrian. baywatch nights kicked.

[DaddyTorgo]

I enjoyed Invasion. Not sure if it can keep my interest, but the premise was cool. The acting is another story, though.
agreed. premise was very cool. acting quite horrid. interest level...hmmmn. we'll see

[samifan24]

I was surprised at how Invasion didn't hold my attention. The acting was suspect and the writing was off just enough so that I didn't care about the characters.

[cthomer5000]

First porn movie I ever saw was "Taboo 2".
The first one I ever saw was also definitely in the Taboo series. A friend's shady older brother wowed me and a few friends with that one...

[Eaglesfan27]

I'm in agreement that the acting was horrendous, but the story was moderately interesting in Invasion. I'll watch Invasion and Threshold for at least one more week.

[kingfc22]

Another show where things fall from the sky into the water. Couldn't these writers be more original?

[DaddyTorgo]

i do think there's a legit reason for the ocean-falling in all these shows though. it's because to a large extent, the ocean is still relatively unknown and there are a lot of mysterious things that go on in the ocean that we have no idea about. and therefore it's easy to place these events there versus on land. I mean, how long have people known about the "Bermuda Triangle" and yet we still have no explanation for that!

[ice4277]

I thought the first half of Invasion, especially with the hurricane was very poor. I almost turned it off. The last half, though, held my interest.

[sachmo71]

Another show where things fall from the sky into the water. Couldn't these writers be more original?


Did you watch the whole thing? They rose FROM the water, then fell back into the water. :D