TVSquad

I've never found the Flash Gordon base story or characters to be particularly interesting. I can't see it succeeding, whether done as a comedy, light drama or heavy drama. There's also the fact that most of Sci-Fi's audience is too young to remember anything about Flash Gordon other than the bad 1980 movie.

I'd rather see them reimagine Buck Rogers. It doesn't have to be anywhere near as dark as the new Galactica, or as campy as the 1970's Buck Rogers TV series. Find a light dramatic medium, perhaps taking a cue or two from both Futurama and Idiocracy for comedic reference. Hell, make Buck a Futurama fan and let him enjoy the irony.

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The fact that the "network brass" thinks BSG's ratings decline is due to its dark tone and not, for example, due to its increased competition against the fall season of the broadcast networks shows just how stupid they are and how little they understand good science fiction. How many of Sci Fi's series have received a Peabody Award? Heck, one of the most successful genre shows on television right now, Heroes, can be quite dark sometimes; I mean, they're trying to stop New York from being nuked! Lest we forget, another hit show, Jericho, is also full of dark themes. Fools! Something tells me we may be seeing BSG careening towards its final hours in Season 4.

As for Flash Gordon, it certainly has potential. There's a lot of material to mine for a weekly series, but if they camp it up then it will fail. Lighter entertainment, Eureka for example, is fine, but every other camped up series Sci Fi has tried to air has been an utter flop. Hopefully they've learned from that mistake, but I won't hold my breath.

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"network brass blamed the decline in ratings of Battlestar Galactica on its dark tone."

Well that is the dumbest thing I have ever heard. Truely shows how out of touch Sci-fi is to the real world. if it wasn't for the dark tones the show would have not gotten the huge press it has gotten, and wouldn't be on the 10 ten show lists for the last few years. They blame the ratings drop on "darkness" not on the simple fact that the ratings for all their shows have dropped. What explains the ratings drop for the Stargates? Are they too dark too?

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I didn't hate the 1980 movie, but then again I took it for camp, which I believe is what they were going for.

I'll reserve judgement for when I see it, but I always cringe at remakes. Battlestar was a success, but remakes wreak of lack of ideas from writers. It couldn't be that the studios think that they are easy money. I mean they must have had focus groups for Miami Vice and Mod Squad to let them know that people just wouldn't want to see them.

Now series that are continuations of the movie are another story. I loved Stargate SG-1 because they continued, though with tweaks, after the point the movie ended.

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As someone who used to watch the old Flash Gordon TV show reruns, this is quite possibly the coolest news I've gotten today. Can't wait to see how this develops.

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There is no reason not to consider a remake. I watched the TV show as a kid and remember Buster Crabbe movies on TV as well.

Flash was created to compete with the Buck Rodgers comic strip. George Lucas used Flash as an inspiration for Star Wars, so why not try to return the favor?

Of course Ming the Merciless needs to be updated a bit. Maybe as a Persian type Shah instead?

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I think it has possibilities - one of the problems with Battlestar Galactica is the dispersed nature of the villian. IOW, there are any number of possible Cylons.

With Ming the Merciless, you have a great bad guy, one that could really chew the scenery. Think Hitler or Sauron - evil and implacable.

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I would like to see them try something original, but there is one advantage for remakes to network execs - it's easier to revive a brand than start one from scratch.

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I loved the Buster Crabbe serial. When I was kid growing up in Milwaukee, a local TV station would play a Tarzan movie followed by one of two Flash Gordan episodes.

I can see Flash Gordon re-imagined, darker...and with a 24-ish real-time serial feel to it.

I have been hoping for that: http://purpleslog.wordpress.com/2006/06/25/other-science-fiction-tv-shows-i-would-like-to-see/

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I think it a great idea. I think done right it could be great for us the veiwers . thomas

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i'm really exicited about this show. . . my only thing is that i hope they keep it light. BSG used to be one of my favorite shows before it became to dark, and confusing. stay away from that!!

my other thing, and this might come as a shock to some of you, i hope they let it be as over-the-top as i could be. Give them crazy costumes, and huge hair, and neon spandex. thats part of what makes this show so great.

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