2008-09 Season Sci Fi / Fantasy TV Awards
By John J. Joex
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The 2008-09 Season is over, so now its time to look back at the good and the bad that the season brought us. Below are my nominations for Best New and Returning shows, Worst New and Returning shows, Biggest Surprise of the Season, and so on. But don’t just take my word for it, cast your vote as well.
Best New Show – Dollhouse (Runner Up – Fringe)
Joss Whedon continues to spin his magic as he brought us a show with an intriguing premise and managed to keep it from descending into formula. Hopefully he can keep up the quality in its sophomore season.
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Best Returning Show – Lost (Runner Up – Pushing Daisies and Supernatural)
I had to think long and hard on this because Lost really annoyed me at times this past season. But overall the show’s fifth season managed to overcome its lapses and still delivered quite a number of really strong, pivotal episodes. Now let’s just hope that the show does not peter out over its last season like Battlestar Galactica did.
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Worst New Show – Knight Rider (Runner Up – My Own Worst Enemy)
Nothing more to say, NBC’s Knight Rider revival was just plain bad. And not meaning to kick this show when it’s down (or maybe I am), but it also won the Hulu Award for Worst Scripted Show on that site.
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Worst Returning Show – Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles
After a really strong first season, this show just lost its way artistically during its sophomore year. It seemed to lack direction and at times the scripts just became incoherent. Quite a shame because the series really showed promise early on.
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Show Least Deserving Cancellation – Pushing Daisies (Runner Up – Kings)
As I have been watching the last three episodes of this show (ABC is only just now airing them), I remember what a ray of sunshine it brought to Prime Time television. Unlike anything we have seen before, Pushing Daisies may have been too original and quirky to achieve mass appeal. If only a cable network like AMC could have picked it up and allowed it to at least wrap up the loose ends.
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Loading ...Biggest Surprise of the Season – FOX renewing Dollhouse
Remember this season because it could mark a turning point in the decision making of network executives when they actually start to look beyond the outdated Nielsen ratings system and begin factor in such things as DVR and Internet viewing, Internet downloads, and perhaps even future DVD sales. We will see how long that lasts if Dollhouse keeps up the same numbers next season, but at least for now it looks like change is in the air.
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New Series that Should Have Sucked but Didn’t – Star Wars: The Clone Wars (Runner Up – Cupid)
Don’t get me wrong here, I definitely did not even consider this one in the best new series category, but I have to admit that it proved much better than I originally gave it credit for. The CGI animation is spectacular for a television series, and it managed to rise above simply being an extended commercial for Star Wars merchandise. I would like to see them put a bit more depth into the scripts in upcoming seasons, but as it is the show at least provides a pleasant distraction.
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Loading ...Guilty Pleasure of the Season – Legend of the Seeker (Runner Up – Reaper)
In its inaugural season, this show gave us more Fantasy clichés, hackneyed scripts, and stock dialogue than allowed by law. But somehow, it still managed to keep myself and a regular stream of viewers coming back. The strong performances of its cast helped, highlighted by Bruce Spence’s stand-out portrayal as the wizard Zed. But ultimately it just managed to be good fun and to provide an enjoyable, throw-away hour of entertainment despite all of its flaws (and rather tepid season finale).
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Worst Series/Season Finale – Battlestar Galactica (Runner Ups – Legend of the Seeker, Life on Mars)
So after all this time they make it to Earth then just decided to ditch all their technology and go native? And Starbuck was really an angel? And Bob Dylan’s “All Along the Watchtower” was originally penned by the Cylons? And you’re trying to tell me they weren’t just making this all up as they went along?
Your Vote (Note that this list only includes shows that had the opportunity to do a final episode for the season/series):
Loading ...Related Posts:
Network Report Cards Part 1 and Part 2
Grading the 2008-09 Sci Fi / Fantasy Season
Why Were They Cancelled? Part 1 and Part 2
