If there is one thing this television year is teaching us, it's to never underestimate the power of fans.
While the networks were unveiling their new fall schedules this week in New York City, a couple of announcements proved that if fans shout loud enough, they will be heard.
UPN, which was on the fence about whether to bring back its tent-pole program "Star Trek: Enterprise," decided to renew the struggling science fiction series for a fourth season despite tepid ratings.
In fact, the show has been declining in ratings since it debuted, and a new season-long story arc about a superweapon hurtling toward Earth upped the viewership only a tad.
The show's feverish fan support harks back to 1967, when devotees of the original (and much better) "Star Trek" launched an aggressive letter-writing campaign to save the show after its second season.
Gene Roddenberry's landmark 1960s series lasted another season on NBC thanks to that devotion, not only extending the program's life but helping create one of the biggest science fiction franchises in history with spinoffs and movies.
In a slightly different way, FOX's brilliant sitcom "Arrested Development" is eliciting the same devotion, though not from as many people.
It was the television critics, myself included, who trumpeted that show. The hilarious half-hour about a dysfunctional family coping with the patriarch being in jail has had dismal ratings all season, even with a prime slot on Sunday nights.
But viewers who loved the series, a small but enthusiastic bunch, were dedicated to spreading the word. Critics weighed in heavily. I wrote a whole column begging people to watch it (and I don't like to beg). Similar articles were published by Esquire, USA Today and TV Guide. Even some of my co-workers were pleading with people to watch it.
FOX listened and renewed the show for another season against all odds, even while NBC, for example, canceled higher-rated sitcoms such as "Whoopi" and "Happy Family" (and we're eternally grateful for that).
Now that "Arrested" is back, here's hoping FOX executives don't tinker with the show in an attempt to draw more viewers.
The science fiction series "Farscape" is another example of successful campaigning. The SCI FI Channel is bringing it back in a miniseries after an obsessive effort by fans from across the Internet.
"Farscape" also shows that the Web, a communication canvas that wasn't around at the time of the original "Star Trek," can be a powerful tool for the TV-show supporter.
Rabid fan support has been fruitful in another way this year. Shows such as "Family Guy" and "Firefly" are getting second lives fueled by strong DVD sales.
"Family Guy," the animated sitcom that was canceled by FOX two seasons ago, is coming back next summer with new episodes based on the success of the older episodes on DVD and reruns on the Cartoon Network.
Joss Whedon's science fiction series "Firefly," which lasted less than one season on FOX last year, is returning in a new feature film to be directed by Whedon. Brisk DVD sales are the reason for this revival, too.
So if you love a series that's in trouble and want it to stick around, don't feel shy about letting network executives know how you feel. It just might help.
Don't expect miracles, though. Fans of "Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman" are still trying to bring her back.
Written by TV Columnist Vince Horiuchi at The Salt Lake Tribune |
