Comments on: SciFi is SciFi not SyFy

By: Tim Travaglini

Tim Travaglini — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 19:00:25 +0000

Changing the name of the channel to “SyFy” is the stupidest thing I have ever heard.

By: Steve

Steve — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 06:09:22 +0000

“Sci-Fi” itself irritated us fans, who have said “SF” since Hugo Gernsback’s original “scientifiction”, abbreviated “stf”, fell out of favor in the 1930’s. No, I’m not *that* old, but I’d voted in two Presidential elections before the first “Star Wars” movie came out. The founders of the Sci-Fi network got complaints, but those founders were pitchmen who didn’t give a damn about anything but finding a way to pitch to people who would rather read than watch celebrity scandal, brain-dead sitcoms or the murder-of-the-week.

By: Ephemeriis

Ephemeriis — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 23:38:59 +0000

It doesn’t matter. Any and all quality science fiction on the Sci-Fi channel is, at this point, pretty much gone.

I used to love the Sci-Fi channel…

I lamented the fact that, when I moved, my new cable company didn’t carry the Sci-Fi channel. I harassed them month after month until they finally started offering it.

These days, however, I hardly ever watch it. They’re constantly airing crap or re-runs. The crap I can do without, and the re-runs I can get many other places.

By: Alex Fayle | Someday Syndrome

Alex Fayle | Someday Syndrome — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 02:00:23 +0000

Yes, that’s right – a tie. It’s a thin stripey thing that I wore for a wedding. It’s purely fashion (and damn I felt fine that day!).

Alex Fayle | Someday Syndrome´s last blog post..The Theory of Suckiness

By: Jamie Grove

Jamie Grove — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 01:06:20 +0000

@Alex It’s crazy isn’t it? Btw, am I seeing your avatar correctly? Are you wear a tie????

By: Alex Fayle | Someday Syndrome

Alex Fayle | Someday Syndrome — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 12:51:38 +0000

I do tend to notice that companies get popular by doing something in their niche really really well, then messing up by trying to expand outside the niche. Better to maintain the niche and its followers and develop a new niche altogether. Why mess with something that works? (Because of the stupid idea that if business isn't growing it's shrinking creating an overcomsumptive mentality that ruins any decent product). /endrant. Alex Fayle | Someday Syndrome´s last blog post..The Theory of Suckiness

By: Jamie Grove

Jamie Grove — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 13:00:07 +0000

@Matt It’s ok. I’m confused too. Not as confused as the SyFy people but confused nonetheless.

@Trish It’s kinda crazy isn’t it? I mean, well, maybe it’s fine in the end. Like Heather says, Sci-Fi used to be cool.

@Heather Well said.

@Jenny Seems to be a trend forming here. I’m starting to think I shouldn’t care either. Still, it was nice to have a reason to use Photoshop to make my logo. LOL

@Karen You know what’s odd is that I’m not a Sci-Fi purist either. I like all the varied elements of the genre. I think what upset me about this is the the fact that they sort of tossed a whole group of people into the rubbish bin. That is, ultimately, the reason for my call for revolution. Like you said, the people cannot remain silent.

@Oso In my comment to Karen, I think I got to the root of the problem. I also wish they’d done something a wee bit more interesting. A fellow I work with suggested SyFi and maybe that works better. Meh. Like you said, a name change certainly isn’t going to change the quality of the programming.

By: Oso

Oso — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 19:16:33 +0000

Why not SyFy? I get the idea, if you Gooogle “Sci-fi”, you get a lot of stuff not relevant to their channel. Now you can find them that much faster. And it goes to the four-letter format that guides like TIVO use.

Is it stupid? Yes. Do I get it? Yes. They should have thought of this the first time. Changing away from “Sci-Fi” to “SyFy” is not going to be popular. Starting out there might explain away better.

Maybe they blamed ambiguous marketing for poor DVD sales of their Sci-Fi Original movies? *stifles guffaw* And no, a name change won’t improve the shows unless it represents a true change in thinking…but I don’t think a change to “improved marketing minds” will help.

I always thought a variation on a Clarion workshop as a reality show would work well on Sci-Fi (SyFy?) in connection with their website. I’d watch it. So would a lot of writers, wannabe writers, and better-than-any-writers out there with a television set. Bonuses for the attendee with the best story rating each week…something like that. No need to vote the worst story home unless you’re just getting a thrill from the meanness of it all.

Okay, I’m supposed to be commenting, not blogging. I’ll stop typing.

-Oso

Oso´s last blog post..the pressure is getting to me

By: Karen Swim

Karen Swim — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 12:33:05 +0000

Jamie, I am not a die hard Sci-Fi fan but even I think the name change is ridiculous. When cable first started the niche channels I was excited that I could turn to a channel, like Sci-Fi and catch Twilight Zone episodes. I could count on that channel to deliver programming in its niche. In recent years however, many of these channels seemed to have stretched the boundaries inserting other programming in, in an obvious attempt to broaden its base. So the Sci-Fi might carry a movie where the lights go off cause you know that could be science fiction. Good on you for the revolution. If we the people stay silent...well you know what happens. Karen Swim´s last blog post..Savoring the Now

By: Jamie Grove

Jamie Grove — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 11:39:20 +0000

I'm thinking that if SyFy wanted to be cool... well, is there a better time than now to be a geek?