Fans USED for controversial media buzz?

[Dean Martin]

Is it possible that Starbuck was changed to a woman intentionally to create a media buzz? Sometimes bad press is better than no press.

Let's face it, Galacatica was not a success in it's original season much like Star Trek it became more successful over the years. So they take the newer one, produce controversy and a couple million people watch that had little interest in BSG to begin with, in ADDITION to the original fans who will watch no matter what.
Like New Coke, Dennis Rodman, and all the other media ploys that failed I think this one will too.

I can't see any other real reason to change this character. And the Irony that Starbuck was a ladies man as well. I see the irony.

[Dawg]

Originally posted by Dean Martin
Is it possible that Starbuck was changed to a woman intentionally to create a media buzz? Sometimes bad press is better than no press.

Let's face it, Galacatica was not a success in it's original season much like Star Trek it became more successful over the years. So they take the newer one, produce controversy and a couple million people watch that had little interest in BSG to begin with, in ADDITION to the original fans who will watch no matter what.
Like New Coke, Dennis Rodman, and all the other media ploys that failed I think this one will too.

I can't see any other real reason to change this character. And the Irony that Starbuck was a ladies man as well. I see the irony.

Um, Deano, just between us, BSG premiered to the highest ratings ever for a science fiction TV show.

It was consistently in the top 20.

Star Trek didn't do so well, and went 3 seasons. It was production costs that doomed BSG, not poor ratings.

Starbuck's gender was changed because nobody associated with this production bothered to try to understand BSG or its characters. They had their own agenda and to heck with everybody else.

That's why the mini is BSG in name only - nothing under that thin veneer of the marquee is related to our show.

I am
Dawg

[Dean Martin]

Um, Deano, just between us, BSG premiered to the highest ratings ever for a science fiction TV show.

That may be so. It also went on to appear at local theaters in Sensurround which also pulled in big numbers. However it was not successful as a weekly TV show and it only went for one season.

Star Trek went on to do two more and we all know what happened after that. It became one of the all time successful franchises. BSG has not.

[Dawg]

You miss my point. It was a successful weekly series, as such things go. The reason it didn't last past the first season is because it was also an expensive series to produce.

ABC was (as is any business) interested in the bottom line; they didn't know they were sitting on a gold mine. Neither did Universal. And, there's the biggest difference between BSG and ST.

NBC and Paramount both knew it had a winner - and the 3rd season renewal proved that (it also proved NBC could kill whatever show it wanted, but that's another discussion).

ABC and Universal did not recognize the moneymaking potential of BSG; even after Star Trek took off on the big screen Universal, for reasons unfathomable to me, didn't look at BSG with an eye for a revival, when it has the potential of being Star Trek's equal in every way. It's an attitude that persists to this day.

It's not BSG's lack that has prevented it from being Star Trek's equal - it's simple mismanagement of the franchise by Universal. Paramount got it right, and Star Trek is a cultural phenomenon 30-some years after it premiered. It's Universal who screwed up.

Am I being any clearer?

Thanks.

I am
Dawg

[Dean Martin]

You're being clear. The point is, as a franchise, regardless of the details it is not a successful franchise.
Anything else is woulda-coulda-shoulda.

I never said it did not have decent ratings. People watched but obviously it was not enough to sustain the high production costs. Either way, one season does not a successful FRANCHISE make.

[jeditemple]

Originally posted by Dean Martin
Either way, one season does not a successful FRANCHISE make.

True, but name some other "one-season" series that have a fanbase this huge after twenty years. BSG was a sleeping tiger and could have been the biggest, most successful remake in sci-fi history. Now Ron Moore and Bonnie Hammer have taken this sleeping tiger and given it sleeping pills...

[RGrant]

Dawg, I think you're taking this into an area that it wasn't meant to go. Dean is asking if anyone thinks it's possible that Starbuck was changed from male to female to purposefully create controversy.

You guys are just taking the line where Dean said the series was unsuccessful and changing the discussion into something completely different. And writing stuff like "Um, Deano, just between us..." just comes off as unnecessarily antagonistic. Do we really need to start a fight every time a fellow fan says something we don't fully agree with? That way lies Languatron.

My own opinion is that no matter how great the ratings might have been, or how beloved the show may be to us, TOS can only be considered unsuccessful. Most people judge a show's success on how long it lasts. That's the accepted definition of a successful show. It doesn't matter who cancels it or for what reasons. It was cancelled quickly and is viewed as unsuccessful by 99.9% of the world.

Dean, to answer your question, I think it's entirely possible that Moore did the gender change to create a buzz, but it's hard to tell given how arrogant he is. He might just think he knows what's best for BG, and that seems to include changing everything. I'm surprised he didn't make space completely white with black stars to further make it clear this is "his" vision of BG.

[Dean Martin]

Rgrant, I agree with your post.
I'm not saying that BSG is not popular. But it was a one season show that never came back exept in the form of Galactica 1980 which was a huge flop.

So based on what PRODUCERS view of this show, ISN'T it POSSIBLE they decided to make MAJOR changes to the shows structure and to generate publicity?

[Domiano]

Okay, big question. Why did it cost 1 million per episode? Production costs, cast and special effects? Can someone break it down to the penny for me?

Budget 1,000,000.00 US Dollars
1. -500,000 for ????
2. -250,000 for ????
3. -250,000 for ????
and so on.

Back in 1978 ABC, CBS, NBC were the only networks. Today we have a lot more main networks. If the original was picked up by NBC, like it was rumored, it may of had a chance. If only we could find Doc Brown and go back in time.

[Dean Martin]

Okay, big question. Why did it cost 1 million per episode? Production costs, cast and special effects?

No computers.

Well theres not alot of web sites on "the Super Train' "Quirk" "Ten Speed and brown shoe" "Hello Larry" and theres more to do with Galactica, then shows that ran longer, Universal. should have- would have - could have
****
Paul

[Dark_Man]

Yeah alot of ppl fail to realise that BSG got good ratings etc etc. Fact is it was canceled because of all the big budget special effects. The "good" ratings just weren't makeing enough money to pay for it. Its would have required "unblieveable" ratings like a Seinfeld type show to keep it on the air.

this is a clasic problem with Sci-Fi type shows. I could name 15 differnet shows that had good fan bases etc but because the costs were to high they got canceled. Look at Farscape. It has more fans than ever but scifi canceled it in favor of the low budget scare tatics and tremors.

What realy makes me the maddest about this whole deal is FINALY someone gave up some cash to make/remake a show worth making yet they turned it over to these two moron's who fubared it up.

I just stop to realy read everyones replies. First off BSG is in no way a fialure. why? cuase even 25 yrs later it still has a HUGE fan base of ppl who want to buy the DVD's see remakes etc. Most other shows that only ran for one season don't have anywere NEAR the enterest that BSG does.

The issue here is simple back then special effects even in there simplest form cost ALOT of money. Throw in a few good actors and your running up your budget fast. Today with new places to make shows like Ne Zeland canada etc plus computers to do special effects etc its posable to make shows like this for far less money.

As far as the origianl posters coments I'd say yes. Its VERY obvious to me that this is ALL about Ron Moore trying to show off how brilant he thinks he is by changeing everyhting cause its better this way. Once the controversy started he was backed into a corner. He can't admit he's wrong cause that would prove what an idiot he realy is. So yes at that point he decided to feed off the controversy.

I mean lets face it TONS of ppl includeing myself are in fact going to watch the mini just to see exactly how horible it realy is. that means ppl WILL be watching thus commercials will be viewsed so in a perfect world money is made etc. the problem is that the rateings are like reverse publicity. All the die hard fans are going to boycot whoever advertises dureing the show. I've already talked to my mom and my brother both of which have agreed to boycot anyone that they can find a competitors product to buy. So the real test of all this is simple will the advertisers REALY see this backlass and gripe t the sci-fi channel about it etc etc. If they do then Moore is going to end up with egg on his face and probibly never be given another project to do. IF tehre is NO back lash at all and no1 at all complains then is were we have a REAL problem. Then we might have to face this ver being made into a weekly series etc etc.

What I'm saying is yes at this point its all just a way to get poblicity. Its up to the fans to put there wallet were there heart is and show the ppl who realy count the advertisers how they REALy feel. If they don't then this farce will go on forever.