A Different opinion?

[HubcapDave]

While I do respect (and, indeed, understand) people's opinion's here about not wanting to "wait and see", I have to question something.

Now, it is fairly obvious that in the online fandom, the majority opinion is against the miniseries. My question is do you think that the opinion of the online fans translates directly one for one to the fanbase that may not be active online, or only have a passive interest?

The reason I ask is that I'm not so sure that it translates one for one.

Anyway, tell me what you think and why.

[oldwardaggit]

Well I totally respect your opinion on this and I hope if you plan to watch the mini, you enjoy it. I may dislike what they are doing but my opinion is that of my own and I never would disrespect others for feeling different.

Now to your question. There are many Galactica sites out there and most of them don't really favor the mini. I guess most fans were looking forward to a continuation and even some that wanted a re imagined version were disappointed because of the lack of content that the mini has that was in the original. The mini is so different from what made most a fan in the first place so I guess it would stand to reason that most fans would be at least a bit upset.

Does that mean that there isn't any Galactica fans that are out there looking forward to the mini ? of course not because we all feel different about different things and get along a whole lot better if we respect each other and our rights as individuals. :)

We don't know either way for sure but when we look at all the sites and how they feel, Many other sites with casual fans that are still shaking their heads over some of the decisions Ron made, an online petition that we could make excuses for on why it doesn't count and how unreliable online petitions are but the fact is it is there and I have read it and what people have to say. A lot of it is really heart felt and The petition is over 17000 and because of most people not being on the net, I think that represents a much larger number even if a good portion of that is faked.

http://www.petitiononline.com/mod_perl/signed.cgi?bsg2001a

Personally I have seen very few comments favoring this new production and a whole Raft of ones that don't.
I guess it stands to reason that the more you change , the further away you are getting from a connection with the core audience that would normally come with the name Battlestar Galactica.

Is it one for one ? I don't think any of us could know that for sure but just as poles are taken every day for an indication, we can use the combination of the online sites, boards and petitions to give us a rough indication.

Hope I didn't come off sounding harsh and I truly hope that you enjoy Moore's mini if you are watching. :)

OWD

[BST]

Dave,

Welcome to CF!

I would submit that what you are seeing on the various forums can be attributed to the "real world".

Reason: Statistical Analysis

If you have a large enough sample size (take the combined memberships of the various forums - both pro-continuation and pro-mini); delete the duplicate members (i.e., members registered on more than one forum); then, tally their preference.

The results could then be attributed to the general viewing populace, given a typical "error range" (+ or -) of, say, between 3%-5%.

The key with this type of analysis is the sample size. My "very unofficial" estimate of the current memberships across the more well-known forums (not including Skiffy) would be at least 500 different people, probably more, which would be considered a valid sample size.

[Charybdis]

of what will happen will be as Warrior just stated. Most people who are very casual fans of BSG just because they remember it when it first aired will probably be excited that the show is coming back.

BUt, once they tune in and see the mini, my best guess is that they will find the changes pretty bad and they will come away with a bad or indifferent taste of the new mini...

[Stray Viper]

I was thinking along the same lines. I believe that fans who are not online are probably not educated about the new miniseries. But all we can do is speculate here, and it seems very silly to try and decide what people's opinions are out there. It's not like throwing out a number or a percentage is going to influence people to support the mini (or not support it, of course).

We'll find out in due course what people's opinions are. The first part of the mini will probably get the most ratings, and we'll see if they drop with the next one and so forth. Plus, if SciFi reruns the thing to death like they do to everything (remember Children of Dune?) we'll find out if the reruns get lower and lower ratings as well.

[thomas7g]

Every time I mention what's in the plot, people tend to get disgusted about the same ratio as people online.

I think that there will be a big problem with some parts of the show. Notably the changes won't be fondly received. And the abundant sex will probably discomfort most.

The question is, will it bore people?

I can tell you right now, it ain't a masterpiece. But how forgiving are the public? How much do seeing vipers outweigh plot?

[HubcapDave]

I can tell you right now, it ain't a masterpiece. But how forgiving are the public? How much do seeing vipers outweigh plot?

That's a good question Tom. Out of all the ads I've seen, the only ones that has given me a real tingle is the Viper launch they show in the most recent ones.

[thomas7g]

To be honest, if it was like the commercials, I woulda liked it. I love the idea of vipers and battlestars and brave pilots fighting off the evil borglike cylon onslaught.

Now that I think about it, I think the mini would have made a better book than a show. Just my impression. :)

[Micheleh]

Here's a great post from one of the groups about the casual person's reaction:

"Hey, I just had to share my experience from this evening. I live in Indianapolis and decided to take myself to see a movie this evening. Watched "Love Actually" (VERY good, quite the "feel good" movie, except leave the young kids at home) and of course, there were 45 minutes of trailers and commercials before the movie ever started. ONE of the trailers/commercials, was lo and behold, an advertisement for the new Sci-Fi BSG mini-series. It took me by surprise, but the audience reaction got my attention in a hurry. The ad starts out with scenes from the original series, and some dialogue about it, when it aired, the premise etc., etc.

THEN it went down hill from there.....the dialogue switched to derrogatory comments about the original series (from actors and actresses, the director of the "new" one) saying things like "and now we don't have [stupid] tin Cylons with a red light flashing over their eyes.." etc. etc. The audience, at first, was seemingly quite interested in the preview, and I heard a few "yeahs!" and "can't waits" coming from people. Wellllll, the snide comments about the original series didn't set too well with me, and I just shouted, "It SUCKS! The "NEW" BSG SUCKS!" I just came from California and seeing the trailer and this one has NOTHING to do with the original!" One guy shouted "..yeah, where's Starbuck and Apollo??" I said, "they're not in it. You will see nothing that resembled the original series in this sorry
excuse!" That guy muttered aloud - "Oh great..." Several people also followed me out of the theater and began talking about it, saying how they were looking forward to the mini-series, because "they had grown up on it," and/or "liked the story-line and thought it would be interesting to see where the series would be picking up from the original," and one gal said, "I wanted to watch that so badly. I had the date all planned out - no kids, no interruptions, just me and the TV and a show I loved when I was a kid. You have just ruined my night (laughing)." But she was serious.

And THIS is what Richard Hatch, Michael Faries, the various webmasters, Tom DeSanto, and dozens of others have been trying to say......people LIKED the original show - the original show had CLASS and a strong, interesting, potential-laden plot line. If there was to be a BSG in 2003, it SHOULD have been WITHOUT QUESTION (and without posturing Hollywood egos, without total disregard for what the fans wanted, without any consideration for the time, work, effort, and talent that went into the original series) - a CONTINUATION OF THE LAST EPISODE IN 1978....My experience tonight, talking with people who don't check out the sci-fi web sites, don't go to conventions, don't sign petitions regarding tv series, but every day people who REMEMBER and who would have loved to re-experience a fond memory of their past and bring it into their lives TODAY. Honestly.....WHAT don't those Hollywood yayhoos GET ABOUT IT????? Is everything about sex? Is everything about "shocking the audience with something that has never happened before?" Is everything about destroying and burying past successes just so a "new" idea can be flashed on the screen?? Is everything about control and a narrow-minded attitude of "I WILL do it this way because I CAN and CHOOSE to do it this way." Well, I choose to believe that what I witnessed tonight, is just a miniscule section of the general tv-watching audience who would have loved to have seen a Continuation. And those comments I heard this evening, are undoubtedly being repeated all over this country, and indeed, the world - and will be heard even louder as this travesty airs in a couple of weeks. I hope the PTB enjoy their 15 minutes in the limelight here - because after those 15 minutes are over....no one will remember anything, BUT ANYTHING.....but the original Battlestar Galactica."

[HubcapDave]

Interesting point Micheleh,

My first thought was "why the heck were they advertising a TV show in a movie theater?" Then I remembered the time I saw an ad for Alias.

You make an interesting point, though such evidence is anecdotal. You can't really derive any kind of statistical extrapolation from it.

[thomas7g]

everything is going to happen Dec 8th. After this airs its a whole new ballgame. But until it airs its completely unpredictable.

I remember enjoying the crapiest scifi when I was younger. Not because it was good, but because it was scifi. if it had spaceships it was cool!

So who knows. :D

[Commander Cain]

Woohoo !!!!:thumbsup:

[Micheleh]

Statistical what? Lol!

What I derive from it is that the general public is being snowjobbed big time, and are going to be royally p*ssed by the latest SciFi 'Lie Tactics' bait and switch.

[Stray Viper]

Originally posted by conundrum7g
everything is going to happen Dec 8th. After this airs its a whole new ballgame. But until it airs its completely unpredictable.

I remember enjoying the crapiest scifi when I was younger. Not because it was good, but because it was scifi. if it had spaceships it was cool!

So who knows. :D

Yeah, but you wouldn't have been able to watch it if it had all the sex that THIS one has!

[Stray Viper]

Originally posted by HubcapDave
Interesting point Micheleh,

My first thought was "why the heck were they advertising a TV show in a movie theater?" Then I remembered the time I saw an ad for Alias.

You make an interesting point, though such evidence is anecdotal. You can't really derive any kind of statistical extrapolation from it.

That is true, but the statistics don't come until next month either way, when all the anecdotes are added up. What SciFi has done is maybe (MAYBE) buy themselves a potentially good rating for part one with the false advertising. The show's truest test will come after that, see if the viewers "stay tuned" for the next parts and the subsequent and inevitable re-runs.

I wonder if the casual fan will check out the Sci Fi website after that. Is there anyone there pointing fans to sites such as Colonial Fleets where they may be educated about what's happening with Battlestar Galactica? Will we be ready for that challenge?

[thomas7g]

uhmmm... I don't think sex would have been a put off to a young boy. I think I would've cheered. If it had been done in a sexy way.

I just had trouble with it coming out of the blue. :D

My draw kept dropping. I kept doing that shake the head doubletake thing. "HUH?"

;)

LOL

[HubcapDave]

Originally posted by Micheleh
Statistical what? Lol!

What I derive from it is that the general public is being snowjobbed big time, and are going to be royally p*ssed by the latest SciFi 'Lie Tactics' bait and switch.

What I meant is that I don't think you can make a statistical extrapolation form your story as you could from a scientifically conducted poll. IWO, I don't think you can say that your one experience with a few people in a movie theater is an exact (or even close approximation) representation of that fandom at large.

[dvo47p]

Harry the guy that made AICN put it in its place. I wonder if the guy that listed HERE, cylon.org, bsg.com, battlestarpegasus.com sent AICN the DVD, if who ever it was must be related to oh the CEO of Universal?

Just Harry's opening:
Harry checks out the 1st two nights of the BATTLESTAR GALACTICA miniseries
First up was a 2 DVD screener of Sci-Fi Channel’s BATTLESTAR GALACTICA miniseries’ first two nights. I’m not entirely sure why Sci-Fi Channel would be sending the show out in this state. With incomplete visual effects, and incomplete sound and score. What I saw was absolutely unredeemably BORING!

(it gets worse) http://www.aint-it-cool-news.com/display.cgi?id=16490

[Stray Viper]

Originally posted by HubcapDave
What I meant is that I don't think you can make a statistical extrapolation form your story as you could from a scientifically conducted poll. IWO, I don't think you can say that your one experience with a few people in a movie theater is an exact (or even close approximation) representation of that fandom at large.

You make a good point, HubcapDave. But in all fairness, I don't believe Micheleh was trying to convey statistics with her experience; she was simply sharing that moment and her viewpoint that it doesn't look good for the miniseries. All any of us can offer is anecdotal evidence anyway; we're not with Gallup or Nielsen or any other gatherers of statistics. And we can't extrapolate from a scientific poll until there is one that exists. And that comes after the miniseries, when the ratings are published.

The best thing we have to look at is the online community. Whether that translates one to one, who can say for sure. It makes sense to say it is more likely to translate closely with opinions of the online community than the odds it will contradict it.

[Titon]

Welcome HubcapDave.

From someone that had a *small* part in shaping the FX for the new series i can tell you that i have a hard time saying that every day. This show Dave has no feel to it. No sense of urgency in times when there should be. The show begins slow, has it's moments but looses the very essence that was the original. Let me state that differently, doesn't even come close to how the original opened magestically with the site of the mighty Battlestars with one of the most energizing theme songs ever created. You were instantly hooked and excited for the next scene. The mini will not grab you like the original did but at the time the original aired ratings were more critical out of the shoot then they are now. Just look at Enterprise. That show would have been gone in 1978 after 3 episodes.

You see i grew up watching Science Fiction. When Galactica aired in 1978 i was floored at how it looked. From the opening moment i was hooked, with the opening moments of this new mini series i can say that it will be very difficult to watch it through to the end. Scifi is supposed to be just that. When you think of scifi you think of far off worlds, different levels of technological advancement, different types of flying machines. Galactica was that, and more. With the new series you don't have that sense of being wisked away. In short spurts maybe but overall you do not think your in any other place than downtown LA. With the Scifi channel's reimagination you have suit and ties? Airplane rides? Why is everyone in hollywood continuely trying to make realism nowdays? Reality is fine if it's about eating cockroaches for money or worrying about if Tristan will pick the right guy but do we really want *reality* in scifi? Tell me this, if scifi becomes reality based is it truely scifi any longer? The essence that is scifi is missing in the new mini. To me i don't care if the viper is supposed to fly like this or like that, if it looks cool i could care less. Forget that there is no sound in space, if the laser fire sounds cool that's what i want. Forget silence, if i wanted silence i'd just turn the tv off. Give me laser blasts, explosions and heart pounding music to go with it and a bucket of popcorn and i'm there. Give me silence and realism and i'm knapping. It's that simple. Can anyone honestly tell me they'll be happy with just the voice of Katie Sackhoff talking into her helmet? Not me. Some say it's an example of 2001 Space Odessey. Talk about boring! I never did figure out why that show even made it. Well folks this mini has more holes to it than the original ever did. I thought the original was missing alot to the plot but this thing is a nightmare.

In the long run some may like it because of the effects and with the lack of overall science fiction on tv right now alot may give it a chance to develop. Personally i think Moore will have a great opening night only to loose a majority of those folks the next night. That's *if* he can hold those folks until the first hour is over.

One last thing, in the original you seen the cylon enemy alot. In this mini the cylon enemy is a mystery only to be seen once.Personally i'd like to see the Cylons walking in the Basestar, talking to there leaders makeing me realize that they are really an evil machine race. Unfortunately you won't get that out of this mini.
;)

[Last Battlestar]

Titon, It must kill you to be that close to your dream of creating new battlestars for a new BG and to see it all go SO downhill.

As someone who has an equal love for the old girl, it's gonna kill me too come viewing time :( I guess we will always have our models to remind us of the true battlestar.

Cheers mate, Mike

[Titon]

Hey Mike, it wasn't easy but a necessary evil. When you have a chance to expand your career you have to take it no matter what the cost maybe sometimes. It's not like i did this because i loved the way they took this thing, far from it. But again i did get an opportunity to work with some first class people. I also got to visit Zoic Studios which was a hoot itself. Plus i made some very serious contacts while i was there.

To say that Battlestar is done is far from the truth. Hell we've only begun!

;)