This week, we learned that Fox will air the pilot for Battlestar Galactica producer Ron Moore's new show, Virtuality, on July 4. I was excited about this news at first. I love BSG and almost everything else Ron Moore has ever produced/written (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Roswell). But now I'm worried.Fox reportedly ordered a bunch of changes to the show last December, hoping to make it more of a mainstream drama. Now, some folks, like our buddies at Airlock Alpha, seemed convinced that airing the pilot on July 4 is a sign that Fox has already given up on Virtuality.
It sorta makes sense. Why would the network air a pilot for one of its stranger, more ambitious sci-fi series on a holiday? I don't think they're trying to gauge interest. It seems like they're dumping it on a night when everyone will be out watching firework displays, eating hot dogs and doing anything but watching a cerebral sci-fi show. So it looks like Virtuality might not make it to series.
It's too bad. The show sounds pretty damn cool. Virtuality is about a group of space travelers who explore virtual, self-created worlds while living aboard Earth's first starship. Things go wonky when a virus enters the virtual system and puts the crew's lives in danger.
At least we can still look forward to Caprica.
TV Squad Ten: Top Ten ESPN shows from worst to first
Andy Richter: The TV Squad Interview
Have any questions for Vik Sahay of Chuck? Ask them here!
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
5-08-2009 @ 3:14PM
Tony said...
Such a shame. I read the reviews and it sounds wonderful. I have to wonder why Fox is not letting this be shopped to syfy or somewhere else? It's a shame it's getting dumped and not sampled on a night where it might have a chance to actually garner some interest.
Of course Fox knows what's best for everyone so they don't even give it a chance to be sampled accordingly. Right.
Reply
5-08-2009 @ 7:56PM
kate said...
What a surprise. Fox takes a great show and messes it up. Like that's never happened before!
Reply
5-08-2009 @ 11:35PM
nattyff said...
FOOOOOOOOOOXXXXXXXXX WHYYYYYYYY!!!
I don't get why they make shows and then they don't even pretend to give them a chance...
Reply
5-09-2009 @ 2:35PM
C C said...
I don't think Virtuality was ever going to be a series. I'm pretty sure the "pilot" for Virtuality was created for a specific reason, which I'm not allowed to disclose at this time. And the fact the "pilot" is going to air on July 4 is no accident. Very funny, Fox.
Reply
5-09-2009 @ 3:44PM
Edward said...
Bring him back to Star Trek.
Reply
5-09-2009 @ 11:09PM
Darren said...
I'm grateful that Terminator: TSCC got a full second season -- due in large part to the writer's strike, IMO.
But FOX is the bane of science fiction programming. Series creators, please stop talking to people in that building. We're waiting for the next brilliant genre show, and FOX seems bent on killing them all as fast as they can.
Reply