Axiom's Edge Science Fiction and Fantasy

By John J. Joex

Lost wrapped up its six year run this past season and did so on a high note. Though quite a number of people did not care for the series finale, I thought it delivered a satisfying resolution and a decent amount of closure (and you can read more of my thoughts about that at this link). But now that Lost will march off into television history (until ABC assaults us with the inevitable spin-off series or TV movie continuation) where does Science Fiction and Fantasy television go? What will be the next “big thing”? Lost has been the tentpole for the genre on television for more than half of the past decade and it actually made sci fi/fantasy shows a viable commodity on the broadcast networks. I have covered in a previous series of articles how the success of Lost led to all of the networks and cable channels scrambling to replicate that show’s success and has since given us a wide number of genre shows to choose from. But the actual product that followed brought us quite a number of mediocre entries and few candidates to carry the torch now that Lost is gone.

Take a look at this past season as an example. ABC touted FlashForward as the next Lost and had its V remake in the pipeline as well. But FlashForward failed to take advantage of the momentum of its strong debut and meandered throughout the first half of its season leading to a steep decline in its ratings. It got back on track during the second half of the season, but by then it was too late. V managed to survive the cut, but it saw a similar drop-off in its ratings, just not as steep, so it will not go into its sophomore season on solid footing. And the fact is that the show is just not very good. Heroes, once the heir apparent to Lost’s throne, finally got put out of its misery this season as it received the axe following three years of declining ratings and an inability to recapture the magic of its first season. Dollhouse showed a ton of promise on paper and had several stand-out episodes, but ultimately it fell short of expectations. Fringe survived for a third season and probably stands as the strongest genre entry on the broadcast networks heading into the 2010-11. But I would not put that show in the same class as Lost. Sure, when it soars it delivers a first rate Science Fiction show. But it has too many instances where it misses the mark and just looks like an X-Files retread. The cable networks have delivered some decent entries lately like Stargate: Universe, True Blood, and perhaps Caprica, but still none of these have managed to match the quality of Lost or even previous off-network standouts like Battlestar Galactica or Farscape.

So what is the next “big” series or trend for Science Fiction and Fantasy television? I’ve written before that I believe this past decade represented a Second Golden Age for the genre on television, but I would say that era has come to an end with the departure of Lost. And it’s hard to place a label on the era we are ceding into until it has really had its defining moment. So for now, I will just call it the “post-Lost” era and we can ponder what it will bring.

A few trends that I see could give us a hint as to what direction we are heading. First, the broadcast networks (with the exception of the CW) seem to be shying away from Science Fiction and Fantasy with fewer entries on their schedule for the upcoming season than we have seen over the past few years. And this seems to be leading to a greater off-network presence like we saw back in the 90’s with Syfy offering an expanded slate and the pay channels getting into the game with HBO’s True Blood and upcoming Game of Thrones along with Starz’s continuation of the BBC’s Torchwood. And speaking of Great Britain, could we have a sci fi British Invasion on our hands with BBC America offering a serious challenge to Syfy with its genre programming moves (including reruns of Star Trek: The Next Generation)? And then there’s the Dr. Horrible factor. That was a huge internet success last year, so could others try to replicate that formula and possibly instigate a move away from the television platform to web productions (and there are already quite a number of web-series out there)? Personally, I’d love to see a move in that direction because it allows for much greater creator control even if they do have to sacrifice some on the production values.

Any of these directions could suggest where Science Fiction and Fantasy television will go in the coming years or something completely different could determine the course for the genre. In any case, I believe that it will once again have less of a presence on the broadcast networks which does not trouble me at all. They’ve never fully understood the genre or known how to market it and have repeatedly enraged fans with their lack of patience and quick trigger finger when it comes to cancelling Science Fiction and Fantasy shows (Firefly, Jericho, Moonlight just to name a few). Lost helped define an era and change the face of network television, but that chapter is closing now with a new one in the process of opening. So stayed tuned to see what happens!

By John J. Joex

The 2009-10 season is all but over now (Stargate: Universe has its finale this Friday) and now we head into the slow Summer season which typically delivers much less in the way of Science Fiction and Fantasy television programming.  In the past Summers, several of the broadcast networks have had a few entries of interest to genre fans, but this year delivers very slim pickens’ on those stations.  Syfy and BBC America typically have some offerings in the hot months, though, and a few other cable channels have some shows worth check out as well.

As far as series continuing from the Spring, there are three of those that have episodes that will run in the Summer months.  Season 2 of Merlin on Syfy (Fridays at 10 PM EST) will continue through July 2nd.  And on BBC America, Ashes to Ashes (Tuesdays 10 PM) will run through the end of June, and Season 5 of Doctor Who (Saturdays 9 PM) will continue through July 24th.  For those interested, FOX is burning off the remaining episodes of their paranormal procedural series Past Life on Fridays at 8 PM through June 18th.  Apart from those, following are some other shows to look for in the coming months (all times are EST, links are to each show’s page at TV.com):

True Blood (HBO, Sundays 9 PM) – The story of Sookie Stackhouse and all of the vampiric and supernatural characters in her life (though Bill is MIA) continues with the third season of this HBO series which debuts June 13th.  Expect plenty of blood and sex and adults themes, and some decent stories as well.  I’m still trying to get caught up with Season 2, but I’m looking forward to the third season as well.

The Gates (ABC, Sundays 9 PM) – This supernatural series, the only one from the broadcast networks with solid genre interest, kicks off on June 20th.  Basically take some vampires, werewolves, witches, and other supernatural critters and throw them into Wisteria Lane from Desperate Housewives and you have a good idea what this one is about.  It didn’t work so well for ABC last Fall with Eastwick, but this show should be worth a look.

Futurama (Comedy Central, Thursdays 10 PM) – This sci fi spoof returns from limbo on June 24th.  The original cast and creative team is back onboard and promises to deliver plenty of laughs and raunchy moments!

Warehouse 13 (Syfy, Tuesdays 9 PM) – The second season of Syfy’s hit series from last Summer begins on July 6th.  This one follows a group tasked with protecting a secret warehouse that contains a vast inventory of powerful artifacts and will pick up the story from the Season 1 cliffhanger that left Artie’s fate in question (he’s still on the payroll, so I’m guessing he made it).

Eureka (Syfy Fridays 9 PM) – The strangest town on the planet returns for its fourth season on July 9th.  Expect more crazy experiments gone awry as this series returns with new episodes and as James Callis (Battlestar Galactica) joins the cast and Matt Frewer returns as Taggert after being MIA most of last season.  We will also see guest appearances from Jamie Kennedy and Wil Wheaton, and we can only hope that Eureka will recover from the slump it experienced during its third season.

Haven (Syfy Fridays 10 PM) – This one gives us another adaptation of a Stephen King story (The Colorado Kid) and will debut on July 9th.  Emily Rose (Jericho) plays an FBI agent who comes to the town of Haven to investigate a murder and finds that it is a refuge for people with supernatural abilities.  So basically this gives us a supernatural twist on its lead-in series Eureka.

Being Human (BBC America, Saturdays 10 PM) – Season 2 of the BBC series about a vampire, werewolf, and ghost all sharing an apartment kicks off on July 24th.  This one received a lot of attention during its initial run last Summer and promises to pick up where it left off.

Some other series and events of interest to Science Fiction and Fantasy fans may include NBC’s mystery series Persons Unknown which debuts tonight at 10 PM, AMC’s conspiracy series Rubicon which bows on August 1st at 8 PM, and Syfy’s mini-series adaptation of The Phantom which will air in a four-hour block on June 20th.  Sci Fi Wire has the scoop on some more Summer entries which include several reality shows and a number of Syfy’s Saturday cheese-flicks.  You can read about that at this link.

By Sam Christopher

On April 12th, 1961, Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first human into space and the first human to achieve orbit. This, of course, touched off the Space Race, a competition between world powers USSR and USA that would eventually culminate in the US reaching the Moon. This striving to outdo one another would also lead to various other technologies and advances, not the least of which is the computer you’re most likely reading this on. But no matter how many have followed, or what has come from the battle, the fact is that Yuri Gagarin was the first and since the 40th anniversary, in 2001, of his historic mission celebrations have been held around the world in honor of the event. This year, the Escambia Amateur Astronomers Association and the USS Continuum, a branch of the international sf fan organization STARFLEET, decided it was time for Pensacola, Fl. to host such a party. The principles behind the festivities were longtime space exploration enthusiasts Jordan Britt and Wayne Davis of the Continuum, with Dewey Barker and Dr. Wayne Wooten providing most of the support from the EAAA, along with Billy Jackson, who runs the planetarium at Pensacola Junior College. Many would help, but these folks were main thrust for this event’s liftoff.

The Beginning: Jordan Britt first brought this idea to a meeting of the USS Continuum and it was thought to be a good idea. The EAAA was also contacted, as these two groups often work in conjunction with one another and it seemed like an event they could lend some scientific expertise to. Posters were created, and flyers, to be dispersed through the community. There was little time to waste, as the event planning was begun only about six weeks out. Mistakes were made, opportunities missed. Some publicity for the event never came through. Still and all, there was much good that happened.We got in touch with NASA and received a package from Jet Propulsion Labs loaded with educational material and fun stuff—stickers, temporary tattoos, etc.—for kids while Stennis Space Center sent other educational material from there. Meanwhile, planning for the layout of the event was going on, with discussions of what would be shown and where, with the groups flying blind, as it were, having never put on an event of this nature and not having the vaguest notion of how many people to expect. Admission would be free, with the two groups taking on whatever expense there was, but how many would show? Estimates ranged from 50 to 125 people.

The Event: We set up models and rockets and literature and audio-visuals just inside the door to the PJC Planetarium Building, with a crewmember’s extensive Star Trek collection being shown off at the door to the planetarium proper. Down the hall, more ST paraphernalia was set up just at the door to the Geology Room, where we dished out free refreshments and gave out coloring pages and mazes and puzzles to the kids. Inside the planetarium, Billy Jackson went through his “soon to be world famous” Night Sky Presentation, where he highlights some of the main points of interest on the star map along with other planetarium shows. Outside, there was The Chair, a staple at Continuum events of late. Also outside, telescopes were set up courtesy of the EAAA for viewing the places we’d like to be able to go in the future. Mercury was out and very close at the beginning of the night with Saturn coming a little later and an International Space Station sighting as well.

The Upshot: An estimated 250 people attended this event, a considerable overage for what was expected. Considering the shortness of time for preparation, not to mention the fact that few of us had any idea of what we were really doing, we think it came off pretty well. Next year is the 50th Anniversary and we plan to make it very special. With a year to plan and the experience of this event under our collective belt, we think we can do that. Stay tuned for updates as the year progresses and space permits.

By John J. Joex

Part 3 – The Network Explosion

Lost was a phenomenal success for ABC in 2004 and it jump-started interest from the other broadcast networks in the Science Fiction and Fantasy genre. By the time the 2005 Fall season rolled around, three of the “Big Four” networks as well as one of the part time networks had their own shows looking to take advantage of the renewed interest in the genre. ABC added Invasion and Night Stalker to ride on the coat-tails of their home-grown success. CBS debuted Threshold and The Ghost Whisperer, NBC rolled out Medium and Surface, and the WB offered Supernatural. Only FOX and the struggling UPN bowed out of the first found of response to the success of Lost.

Less than half of these shows survived, though (which is still a decent success rate for the broadcast networks). Both of ABC’s attempts faded, which would start a trend with that network that continues today. Threshold on CBS and Surface on NBC also failed to draw large enough audiences to convince their networks to renew them. And actually the wave of enthusiasm for genre shows could have crested in that year and the decade could have progressed differently. Had Lost slipped into a sophomore slump (like Heroes did two years later), the networks might have renewed their apathy toward series of the Science Fiction and Fantasy variety. But that show continued to win in the ratings, matching the success it had from the prior year. And while none of the other networks had managed to equal that show’s accomplishments, the next year would help kick this trend into high gear.

On Monday, September 25, 2006, nearly two years to the day after the debut of Lost, a show called Heroes debuted on NBC. Just like ABC’s hit show, this one grabbed the attention of the Prime Time audiences and also became one of the top “water-cooler” shows of the year. It did not quite equal the ratings success of the first two seasons of Lost, but it did deliver a Top 20 show for its network and immediately generated some positive buzz across the Internet. Also, CBS took another stab at the genre with Jericho which never turned into a ratings blockbuster but definitely attracted a fanatic following. ABC gave another shot at replicating their own success with Day Break, though that one faded fast. That was all from the networks for the 2006-7 season (apart from NBC’s very short-lived Raines), but Heroes along with the continued strong performance of Lost, Supernatural, and The Ghost Whisperer succeeded in legitimizing the trend and assuring a lasting presence for the genre with the broadcast networks.

By the next year, Science Fiction and Fantasy shows exploded across the Prime Time schedule as no less than seven genre shows debuted in the Fall of 2007 along with six returning shows. On top of this, the cable networks also rode Lost’s the wave of success and added even more offerings of interest to genre fans. This pattern has continued each year and delivered at least one “successful” show (that is, it has lasted more than two seasons) to each of the “Big Four” as well as the CW (the network that emerged from the ashes of UPN and WB). ABC has Lost (though no others despite multiple attempts), NBC has Heroes, Medium, and Chuck, CBS has The Ghost Whisperer, FOX has Fringe (recently renewed for a third season), and the CW has Smallville and Supernatural (and Vampire Diaries will almost certainly stick around for at least two more seasons).

The success of Lost provided the defining moment for the era I refer to as the Second Golden Age of Science Fiction and Fantasy on television. Had that show of tanked, or never even made it on the air, the decade would have unfolded differently. Perhaps the success of off-network shows like Battlestar Galactica would have continued the trend that we saw from the previous decade. Or perhaps the genre would have gone into a slump. But instead, Lost proved that the genre could be viable on the broadcast networks and the successful shows that followed it like Heroes and Fringe proved that Lost was more than a fluke. Now, fans of the genre have a wide range of choices of quality shows to choose from on the broadcast networks and across the cable dial.

So what’s next? That’s hard to say and as the previous eras have tended to break at around the decade mark I would say that we stand on the brink of a new epoch. It’s next to impossible to define that, though, with forward-looking eyes. With Lost wrapping up, though, and with a fall-off of successful genre shows over the last couple of years, I’d say a change is definitely coming. And perhaps the Internet will play a part in that. Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along-Blog was a huge success for that medium and the Internet series Sanctuary successfully made the jump to television. Will we see more of that, or some new trend? That’s the exciting part about the future: it’s always changing and bringing us new things (unless, of course, Hiro goes and mucks it up again). We will know when we know, and hopefully we will enjoy the ride to gaining that knowledge.

Previous: Part 2 – Lost for Years, the Networks Find Sci Fi

And: Part 1 – A Change is Coming

Buy Lost Seasons 1 – 5 on DVD from Amazon.com:

By John J. Joex

Part 2 – Lost for Years, the Networks Find Sci Fi

The period from 1959 to 1970 I classify as the Golden Age of Science Fiction and Fantasy on television.  During these years, the genre matured as it moved from the kiddie-space operas that defined the 1950’s to shows that appealed to a more adult audience, though they still continued to draw the younger crowd as well.  Several of the defining entries for the genre aired during this period including The Twilight Zone, The Outer Limits, Star Trek, and The Prisoner (along with several of the infamously bad examples like Lost in Space and Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea).  And many more entries with Science Fiction and Fantasy elements dotted the Prime Time landscape giving the genre significant exposure.  And what’s more, there were many successful shows in the genre during this period, i.e., they ran two seasons or more.  All of this would change after 1970, though, as the networks shifted their focus and began to embrace “fluff” television like The Love Boat, Charlie’s Angels, and Laverne and Shirley.

Science Fiction and Fantasy as a successful genre nearly disappeared from the broadcast networks after 1970.  Despite the fact that Star Trek had become a phenomenal success in syndication, the networks could not replicate its appeal in Prime Time, nor did they put much effort into trying.  Then, after several expensive flops that rode the wave of Star Wars-fever onto the small screen later in the 70’s, Battlestar Galactica and Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, the networks all but abandoned the genre.  In fact, from the early 70’s to the early 90’s the only shows with Science Fiction and Fantasy elements that had any lasting success on Prime Time were those of the superhero / action-adventure / high-tech hardware variety like The Six Million Dollar Man, The Incredible Hulk, Knight Rider, and MacGyver.  And many of these just barely counted as genre shows.

In 1987, Star Trek: The Next Generation helped revitalize the genre which had nearly disappeared from the small screen, but it blazed its path in the syndication market.  More and more Science Fiction and Fantasy shows started to sprout up, but they did so on the same channels that carried STNG or on the cable networks.  In 1993, The X-Files would give Prime Time one of the first successful full-on Science Fiction shows in over two decades.  But then that show only survived because the nascent FOX network paid attention to its positive buzz among the critics and stuck with it despite poor ratings (if only they had done the same thing a decade later with Firefly).  By the second season, the show’s ratings improved and by the third FOX had a bonafide hit on their hands.

But still, FOX was on the outside looking in at the “Big Three” at that time and the other networks were not impressed enough to try and duplicate the success of the new kid on the block (later in the decade there would be a brief wave of X-Files clones that would quickly fade and included entries like Dark Skies, Strange World, and The Burning Zone).  Even FOX had trouble creating another franchise like The X-Files despite repeated attempts.  Chris Carter’s Millennium would come closest, though it never developed as large of a following and was cancelled after three seasons, failing to deliver a satisfying conclusion.  There were a few other shows that managed to stick around longer than a single season on the networks during the 90’s like Quantum Leap, seaQuest DSV, and Sliders, though they fell short of standing out as exemplary entries for the genre (I’m sure quite a few Leap and Sliders fans would argue that point with me, though).

This trend continued into the 00’s as the “Big Four” (FOX had since been invited to the party) continued to shun the genre and actually offered very little to choose from for fans during the first half of the decade.  And of those few that did make it to the Prime Time schedule, rarely did they survive past even a half of a season (with the two part time networks, UPN and WB, providing the only exceptions).  Science Fiction and Fantasy was thriving on cable, on the upstart networks, and in syndication with shows like Battlestar Galactica, Angel, and Andromeda, but the major broadcast networks had not yet jumped on the bandwagon.

Then, on September 22, 2004, everything changed.  An odd little show called Lost about survivors of a plane crash that found themselves on a mysterious island debuted on that evening and immediately grabbed the attention of the network audience.  The pilot drew over 18.5 million viewers, unheard of numbers for a Science Fiction and Fantasy show and the network bosses definitely paid attention.  Now to be fair, the show did skirt around the genre during its early episodes and played up more of the mystery elements than the sci fi elements.  In fact, the producers insisted at that point that a scientific explanation existed for everything we saw including the “monster” (looks like they may have to back away from that claim before everything is said and done, though).  But genre fans definitely flocked to the show along with a much wider audience.

The series succeeded by drawing upon many of the elements present in the better Science Fiction and Fantasy shows that had preceded it over the previous decade and a half.  It delivered sophisticated story-telling and drama, something we had seen in shows like Farscape, Carnivale, and Battlestar Galactica.  It also lured viewers in with the mystery of the ongoing story-arc similar to what shows like The X-Files and Firefly had done.  Lost also delivered an excellent cast and strong writing that mixed intricate storylines with engaging character studies.  One could argue that Lost had wider appeal because it eschewed stronger ties to the genre, but I say that it succeeded because it was a damn good show!

And finally, the networks realized Science Fiction and Fantasy could be successful on the Prime Time schedule.  And within a few years it had become a mainstay for the “Big Four” networks providing each of them with at least one successful entry.

Previous: Part 1 – A Change is Coming

Next: Part 3 – The Network Explosion

By John J. Joex

Part 1 – A Change is Coming

Lost is truly a phenomenon for television and the Science Fiction and Fantasy genre.   It attracted a wide audience and devoted following that extended beyond just sci fi fans and it changed the attitude that the networks previously had toward scheduling shows from the genre.  It also helped define its era and set a new standard for quality in genre shows and on television in general.  But it did not do all of this by itself.  The groundwork was laid in the years that preceded its debut on ABC in 2004 by other shows that demonstrated a similar focus on quality and desire to expand their appeal beyond just sci fi fans.

The year 1999 kicked off an era that I refer to as “The Second Golden Age” of Science Fiction and Fantasy television with the debut of the much-loved Farscape on the Sci Fi Channel (these days known as Syfy).  This era would see the genre reach new heights and would deliver multiple examples of defining and/or game-c hanging shows and that had wide appeal.  However, the onset of this exciting new epoch was not as apparent during its first few years as it’s always hard to see the era before it has had its true defining moment.  Still, the stand-out shows that sprang up from 1999 to 2003 help set the stage for this period as they pushed the boundaries of the genre and helped it grow and reach new levels.

As I mentioned, Farscape helped usher in this era as it delivered a kick in the side to Science Fiction television and offered a previously unequaled visual experience.  This series came from Jim Henson productions and combined human actors with characters brought to life by a technically advanced version of Muppet-tronics.  As far as special effects, the series took that to the next level as well, delivering close to a cinematic experience.  But what really made Farscape special is that it succeeded in giving us a story to match its visuals and also delivered well-defined characters that emphasized the “human” (alien?  Sebacean?  You know what I mean) element to the series.  Farscape gave us a galaxy-spanning Science Fiction epic, though it also created its own, unique universe that set itself apart from similar series that preceded it in the 90’s like Babylon 5 and Star Trek.  The series could be erratic, though, and at times delivered nearly unwatchable episodes.  But when it soared, it stood out as an exemplary show for the genre.

And just a few years later, FOX decided they would take a stab at a Science Fiction epic of their own and lured over Buffy the Vampire Slayer creator Joss Whedon to bring us Firefly.  Just like Farscape, this one managed to avoid the derivative and create a distinctive universe peopled with a human race that had spread its presence throughout the galaxy.  The series mixed Science Fiction elements with a frontier/western feel and also added a mysterious story arc that threaded through the episodes.  And once again like Farscape, this series soared because of its stellar cast which demonstrated that rare chemistry among actors which helped kick the show to the next level.  Unfortunately, FOX never got behind this unique western/sci fi and helped speed it to its demise by airing the episodes out of order and subjecting it to preemptions.  And when the ratings results did not meet their expectations, they quickly axed the show, truncating what most likely would have been the next major franchise for the genre.

But the decade was just starting off and another major event for Science Fiction and Fantasy television would occur in 2003 as the Sci Fi Channel would deliver another significant entry by taking a chance with a reboot and re-imagining of an iconic television series from the late 70’s.  Battlestar Galactica originally hit the small screen in 1978 riding on the wave of the Star Wars frenzy and delivered a family-friendly space epic complete with cute kids and cuddly robot dogs.  The 2003 remake did nothing of the sort, though.  This version kept the idea of the human race on the run from the robotic Cylons who wanted to destroy them, but it took a much darker turn as it focused on humanity’s fight for survival along with the morally questionable decisions that would follow from people in that circumstance.  It also delivered something else not common in Science Fiction television: drama.  Too often the genre veers toward the heady or the melodramatic, but with BSG we received hard-hitting, dramatic stories that bucked the trend and attracted attention from a wider spectrum than just sci fi fans (though it was still ignored by the Emmys in anything other than the technical categories).

Each of these shows helped recharge the genre and push the boundaries of the medium with their advancements in special effects and more sophisticated story-telling.  And, along with other stand-out entries from the first part of the decade like Carnivale on HBO and Jeremiah on Showtime, they would lead the charge for the next wave of Science Fiction and Fantasy shows that would come to dominate the television channels.  These shows would demonstrate higher levels of quality and greater attention to detail than what the genre had delivered over the previous few decades.  But the one thing that these shows failed to deliver was success on the more widely viewed broadcast networks.

While the number of Science Fiction and Fantasy series had boomed over the past decade and into the 21st century, few managed to survive on the broadcast networks.  Star Trek: The Next Generation had led the charge for a revival of the genre beginning in 1987, but that would occur mostly in syndication and on the cable networks as the output in the genre in the 90’s nearly doubled what we saw in the 80’s.  This trend continued at the turn of the millennium, accompanied by the noticeable boost in quality, but the broadcast networks still mostly shunned the shows with elements of Science Fiction and Fantasy. That would change, however, in the Fall of 2004.

Next: Part 2 – Lost for Years, the Networks Find Sci Fi

By John J. Joex

You can’t include everything in a “best of” list, but you can acknowledge those that you considered and then discarded. Over the past two days, I looked at the best shows in the genre from the double-naught decade, so now it’s time to take a look at a few that got cut in the nomination process. First, I have to admit to two toothy omissions from the list as neither True Blood nor Angel made it to my “best of” because I have not seen enough of either of those two shows to consider them Top 10 material. However, I know the buzz surrounding each series and I have it on my “to do” list to catch up with both of them. So maybe at a later point I will reconsider the order.

Here are some others that did not make it to the list. All of them are good shows and I can see arguments for including them in a Top 10 from the 00’s, but they didn’t quite make the cut on my list (Links are to the series page for each entry at TV.com):

Heroes – This show’s first season almost qualifies it for the list. But it has been so erratic since then that I’m holding it off. Maybe as we look back on the show a year or two down the road, the subsequent season will sit better with us.

Fringe – I’m really liking where they are going with this show, but I’d say it’s too early in its run to make a judgment just yet. The series needs to focus more on its unique mythology and break away from the X-Files-clone episodes.

Supernatural – I really count this one more as a guilty pleasure. Great fun to watch and it has a great cast, but it also has plenty of gaping holes in its writing and story arcs. Let’s see how it wraps up, then maybe I will reconsider.

Stargate: Universe – This one has jumped off to a strong start, but half a season is just not enough of an indicator (with Heroes as the prime example of how quickly a show can go south).

Stargate: Atlantis – Many would argue that this one should make the list, but I never got attached to the show. Like its predecessor, Stargate: SG-1, it had plenty of good episodes, but not many great ones. They just never managed to kick this franchise up to the next level (until Stargate: Universe, at least).

The Middleman – It only lasted one season on ABC Family, but this peppy, wit-a-minute romp did a great job of bringing Javier Grillo-Marxuach’s comic book series of the same name to television. Not quite strong enough to make the list, but worth checking out.

Torchwood – I’ve only caught a few episodes of this so far. I like what I have seen, but would not quite count it as Top 10 material. Perhaps a larger sampling would change my mind, though.

The Tick – This short-lived series which showed up briefly in Prime Time on FOX gave us the perfect super-hero parody. You have to believe that Patrick Warburton (Putty from Seinfeld) was born to play the role of the Tick.

By John J. Joex

Now that the double-naught decade has ended, you’ve seen plenty of those “best of” lists covering TV shows, movies, books, etc. that came out over past ten years.  But now it’s time for the definitive list of the best Science Fiction and Fantasy shows from the beginning of the 21st century.  This past decade counts in my opinion as the second Golden Age of the genre on television (the first coming in the 60’s) because of the selection and quality of shows available on broadcast networks and on the cable channels.  Following is Part 1 of my list of the Top 10 (in reverse order) along with a first alternate because one of these shows kicked off in 1999, but actually aired most of its episodes in the 00’s.  And watch in the coming weeks as I provide a full series profile for each of these shows.  (Links are to the series page for each entry at TV.com)

1st Alt. Jericho – This post-apocalyptic series gave us an intense, character-driven tale focusing on a small town in Kansas after a nuclear attack has brought the United States to its knees.  At first it teased us with questions about who started the attack, then it turned its attention to how the nation would rebuild itself.  CBS lost faith in the show after its ratings declined (they have had little patience with Science Fiction and Fantasy shows over the past decade) and cancelled it (twice).  The story couldn’t die, though, and lives on in comics these days.  (DVD Availability: Entire Series)

10. Moonlight – One of the better vampire entries on television of late, this one gave us an interesting twist on the sub-genre with a sexy, sleek look to it.  But it also had well-developed characters and started to expand on its mythology just as CBS put a stake in it after a shortened one season run (despite a nation-wide blood drive organized to show support for the show).  (DVD Availability: Entire Series)

9. Pushing Daisies – This whimsical show from the ever-imaginative Bryan Fuller about a man who could bring people back from the dead for sixty seconds brought a dark, adult fairy-tale to Prime Time and gave us one of the most original concepts to make it to the broadcast networks.  Unfortunately it proved too far-out for network television and ABC gave it the axe after two shortened seasons.  Fuller promises to wrap up the storylines in a future graphic novel, though.  (DVD Availability: Entire Series)

8. Jeremiah – Often over-looked, this post-apocalyptic series showed us the world after all the adults had died from a plague and the children they left behind (and who had now reached maturity) started to piece things back together.  Babylon 5 creator J. Michael Straczynski brought the series to Showtime and wrote many of the episodes.  And while it did stumble at times, especially during its second season, it still gave us an engaging show that at times approached the quality of B5.  Unfortunately, Showtime axed it after its second season, though Straczynski did manage to provide a conclusion of sorts.  (DVD Availability: Season 1 only.  Season 2 .)

7. Eureka – This series about a small town in the Pacific Northwest populated by some of the world’s most brilliant scientists, who manage to regularly cause headaches for the local sheriff, caught audiences by surprise when it debuted in 2006 and it succeeded in making Science Fiction fun again.  Its first two season were its best and it has become somewhat repetitive in subsequent years, but it still manages to deliver some light-hearted fun along with a nice helping of techno-babble. (DVD Availability: Entire Series through prior season)

6. Doctor Who – The infamous Timelord returned to series television in 2004 and the show had something it never enjoyed during its first 25 year run: a budget.  This allowed the writers to take their whimsical ideas to the next level and deliver some fairly raucous (and at times absurd) Science Fiction stories (including a battle against millions of Daleks).  Some may have trouble digesting this very British series, but I felt like it was the perfect 21st century continuation for the beloved character.  (DVD Availability: Entire Series through prior season)

Jericho, Pushing Daisies, and Eureka are available for online viewing.  See out Sci Fi TV Online page for more info.

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