SciFi Lamely Cancels The Dresden Files…as a Footnote
By stephanie - Monday, August 6th, 2007
The Dresden Files went out with a whimper, with the official cancellation “announced” in a footnote to an article about Paul Blackthorne’s new role on ABC’s Big Shots. In fact, the footnote was apparently appended later, after the article was first put online.
Dresden fans are in a frenzy over at the SciFi boards, not just because their beloved show was canceled, but due to the feeling by some that SciFi is trying to blame Blackthorne (Dresden’s star) on the cancellation. If anything, the method of announcement has apparently only made people hate SciFi that much more.
Rumors have abounded for at least a month that Dresden was toast. The show was not just canceled Friday. So what’s amazing to me is that SciFi had decided to can the show but took at least a month if not more to “officially” announce it…and they apparently only did so when forced to by the news that the show’s star was appearing on another network.
This is once again demonstrating that the Powers That Be at SciFi are completely clueless as to how to properly run a sci-fi network. This whole thing is just a public relations fiasco. Many Dresden fans are vowing to never watch SciFi again – never mind that the rest of us have pretty much left already out of disinterest.
And the questions remains: WHY cancel a decent show about a wizard, and keep wrestling on the air? The numbers might add up more if money wasn’t being spent on crap.
August 6th, 2007 at 10:23 am
Skiffy broke faith with TDF fans big time…so many of us have spent valuable time and money (post cards, stamps and Fed Ex ain’t cheap) in a doomed renewal effort when all along the network knew they were not going to continue on with the show. That is, I believe, the main reason so many fans are incensed and vowing to desert the network.
I don’t really believe the SciFi Wire news release was trying to imply the reason for the cancellation was PB’s fault. I never inferred that for an instant and don’t think anyone else, save for a few, did either. Please convey to him my disappointment that we won’t be seeing him continue on as Harry, but that he did a wonderful job bringing him to life. And I think most of us will continue to follow his career and we wish nothing but the best for him.
Roseb
August 6th, 2007 at 5:21 pm
Cripes. So despite their interest in ‘manly pursuits’ such as wrestling, SciFi execs lack balls, or ovaries. How limp and sad was that announcement?! No wonder NBC is doing so poorly overall.
August 6th, 2007 at 7:17 pm
I have to agree. This whole thing shows exactly why that whole set of Networks is going down the tubes. Incredible. And people are getting PAID to make these decisions. Way to alienate everyone. They seem to forget that maybe a million viewers was way less than they wanted, but it is a big chunk of the only audience they’ve got.
August 8th, 2007 at 11:55 am
I’m disappointed with SciFi canceling dresden. Personally I stopped watching SciFi after they stopped Farscape and Invisible Man. I thought with Dresden files I was coming back to a new scifi channel. I guess not.
The thing that kills me though, has nothing to do with the show itself but, their complete disregard and lack of respect for the cast/crew invovled and their fans.
I mean it boggles the mind how these high level execs treat their fellow human beings. Did these people even go to business school? At this time, they have made every business and PR mistake in the book. I mean seriously, my brain is hurting from the effort of figuring out what they were thinking. Obviously, not a lot of thought that’s for sure.
I’m calling you out on your poor business skills and you deplorable human relational skills SCIFI !
August 9th, 2007 at 1:22 pm
If I could cancel SciFi out of my cable package without losing a few other networks, I would. I have, however, v-chip-blocked the channel.
And as annoyed as I am about this, I don’t think they intended to place the blame on Paul. Perhaps their “announcement” was timed to coincide with ABC releasing info on his involvement in Big Shots.
But they did chicken out of giving us proper notification. With all the fuss we’ve made I would have respected them more if posted even two lines of “we’re sorry but….”
Big ‘ol Bronx cheer to them…
Congrats to Paul on the new gig. Big Shots is my new favorite show. (After 24…)