I remember being fascinated by Sci-Fi on television from a very early age. I watched all of the Sid & Marty Croft shows (like Sigmund & the Sea Monster, The Lost Saucer), The Six-Million Dollar Man, Electra Woman and Dyna Girl, The Bionic Woman, Wonder Woman--heck, even Land of the Lost. I remember devouring the network Fall Preview shows, waiting for any sign of a cool new cartoon or Sci-Fi program. These shows, no matter how dreadful they actually were, lifted my young mind into the stratosphere. They helped me to dream and to explore a world beyond the four walls of my house. 

The reality is, however, that most of these shows were either schlocky, campy, or dreadful (or all of the above). As I grew older, I began to wrestle with this reality. I loved Sci-Fi, and I didn't want to have to settle for shows like Dynasty or Falcon's Crest. I wanted my Sci Fi love, and so I learned to swallow the bitter pill that these shows actually were. I was desperate for Sci Fi--no matter how bad.

I managed to convince myself that bad Sci-Fi was better than no Sci Fi--and this lasted well into my adult life. I put up with dreadful show after dreadful show (can you say Misfits of Science, anyone). Somewhere in my mid 30's, however, I broke free from my slavish devotion to bad Sci Fi. To paraphrase St. Paul: When I was a child, I walked like a child . . . but now I have put away childish things.

I began to recognize that good Sci Fi TV, like any other art form, can ennoble the spirit, probe fundamental questions of meaning and existence, and still lift the imagination (all while having the occasional explosion)! And so, I found myself eagerly anticipating (later) Deep Space 9, (early) X-Files, Millennium (even though I never understood it), Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Battlestar Galactica (Season 1-2), Babylon 5, Dr. Who, Space Above and Beyond, Alias (c'mon the Rimbaldi Device was Sci-Fi), Firefly, Lost, and others.

These shows were like fine wine--meant to be savored. What was I to do, then, with the standard Sci-Fi pablum that Hollywood (more often than not) churns out (shows like Mantis and Buck Rogers)? I came to a decision: While I might watch these shows for their Sci-Fi (or fantasy) elements, I would not give them my heart. Whether they lived or died would be of no consequence to me.

This had become such an ingrained pattern in my life, that I no longer consciously thought about it. I was surprised (and not in a good way), therefore, to read Wayne Hall's call for unequivocal support of any Sci-Fi show, no matter how maddeningly awful it might be, in his column at SyFy Portal. Here is the money line:

What I'm asking fans to consider is this: If you want science-fiction on television, you have to make it worthwhile for the people who bring it to you. It's as simple as that.

 

Now, I’m not saying that criticism of a genre show should be censored. I used to laugh heartily at online jokes about Dr. Crusher's swinging hips knocking unsuspecting ensigns to the ground as she walked by. Or Picard using Turtle Wax to keep that football-shaped head shiny.

But I kept watching the episodes. I bought action figures of the characters I liked. I went to local Trek/SF cons. I supported the franchise.

And that, gentle readers (all 4 of you) is exactly the attitude that continues the ritual cycle of abuse that Hollywood perpetrates on fans of Sci Fi. Having worked inside an industry that produced products for a Sci-Fi/Fantasy audience, I can tell you that many creative professionals have a somewhat "skewed" and biased attitude regarding fans, or "fan goobers" as we are sometimes called. Blindly supporting sub-standard shows is a sure way that marketers and executives will be strengthened in their conviction that fan boys will watch anything that features a pair of boobs and some lasers.

But we are not some goobery, mindless, socially awkward, nebbish, lemming-like constituency. Fans of Science Fiction are often intelligent, articulate, discerning individuals who are just waiting for a show that "gets it," so they can offer it their love and devotion.

We deserve better!

Creating Sci Fi television is an art form, but it is a commercial art form. It should be driven by a desire to deliver what the audience wants. The louder and more successful we can make our preferences known--our demand for quality Sci-Fi television--the greater the chances that we will get what we want. The more we mindlessly follow shows that should be shot dead at the pitch meeting, the more we make it worth the while of executives to "feed us" this drivel. Instead of just throwing energy around to save thoughtful, intelligent shows that are on the chopping block, the Sci-Fi community should also lobby and advocate for the cancellation of super-craptacular shows (Buck Rogers, I'm calling you out)--and at the very least should offer thoughtful, articulate critiques of shows that are poorly conceived and/or executed to the people who are responsible for those shows.

And I'm not just talking about shooting off a vituperative email that says "Flash Gordon is teh suxor!" I'm talking about reasoned, well-thought out points that would be useful for a creative or marketing type to know (if they had a willingness to actually listen).

The time to start sending a message to Hollywood is nigh: We are fans of Sci Fi and we simply aren't going to stand idly by while you shove adolescent, half-hearted mush down our throats.

And if you really feel passionate about good science fiction--stop spending your time supporting crappy shows and start bending your not inconsiderable talents (and treasure) toward the creation of Sci Fi worth experiencing!     

But whatever you do, don't settle for mediocrity and support a show that is just plain bad.

Break your Sci-Fi bonds!

Hat Tip: SFSignal