On Friday, we told you about Syfy’s plans to air “Battlestar Galactica: Blood & Chrome," a two-hour spinoff pilot that follows a young William Adama. Executive producer David Eick spoke with The Times’ resident BSG connoisseur Geoff Boucher over on our sister blog Hero Complex about the project. Fans can expect a connection to “Caprica” and “BSG” and loads of new new characters.” Check out the full Q&A session here.
--Yvonne Villarreal
Twitter.com/villarrealy
Photo: David Eick. Credit: Getty Images
Three Reasons Why Syfy Should Re-Consider Giving Caprica Another Season
I have three points about the Caprica series, the rating system flaws, the misinterpretations of some viewers and a comparison of Caprica to the upcoming series Blood and Chrome (as to which series has the most potential of showing BSG history/background).
(1) Rating Flaws - ( Also Checkout This Post - What Syfy Isn’t Telling You About Caprica )
TV companies themselves are actually going to have to create some kind of curve to address this issue. Today's technology and also sales of DVR's etc. are pushing people to use them, and why not they paid for them, so they should be able to use them.
Also people seem to be working longer hours or even two jobs now-a-days and that's why the microwave has gotten so much use over the stove for a good majority of people these days as well....lol. People just want to relax and with DVR's (which thanks to the growing technology age, we have them) people can do just that. This allows them to do what needs to be done working etc. to pay the bills, and then in their own time watch the shows they really like.
Sure this makes it hard on the TV companies, who depend on advertisement to help support the bills and their company, but technology isn't going away, it's only getting more in-depth. The internet itself is a tool that has in the last 10 years or so become a media outlet, where people can share media across nations, internationally etc. It's not just for businesses, it has become, for some a big player in the entertainment industry.
People can get old TV shows, Movies, Music Videos the list goes on. A computer is about one of the cheapest all around devices a person can own. They can even live without TV, because sooner or later the shows will be accessible to them. They just don't have the privilege of seeing as it airs. Actually most shows that air, now today are available within hours after it airs live, on the internet. People can save a lot without having to pay for cable etc., and in the rough times of lack of money, this is just what a lot of people do.
Is it right or just to the TV companies, well not really, but that is what technology brings to the table. Also people, who work second and third shifts, cannot watch prime time TV and have to rely on VCRs, DVRs or even the internet as their source for these shows. They don't have the privilege, LITERALLY, to watch them as they air.
How many businesses do you think depend on second and third shifts to keep their businesses thriving? Well these people that work these shifts should be allowed to have their voices in the TV shows being made and aired. They pay for cable services etc., so why shouldn't their voices count? They can't be counted on live surveys, so actually the DVR ratings are their only voice, for which can be calculated under today's technology, anyways.
Caprica really didn't get it's just review, for cancellation! Based on .890 million viewers for it's premiere airing!
My main point is that the time slot Caprica was put into and the shows that were in the same time slot were already very established shows. I should have put only the 10PM shows that air on the same time/day as where they put Caprica (for the comparison), but I keep the list exactly in the same order as from the site I copied t from.
Also NOT ONE of the shows that aired on that day/time, were making their premiere airing, along with having a sudden schedule change of date/day/time. They ALL had been airing steady episodes for weeks prior to this date and people knew they were on. With the excption of Stargate Universe, which started airing the week before (which didn't do so well in the ratings either)
For instance (2) of the biggest shows that appeared along side of Caprica were 'Teen Mom' (already having a steady 4 + million steady viewers) & 'Sons of Anarchy' (already having just under 4 million steady viewers). These along with the others in the 10PM time slot that Caprica 1.5 premiered on was unfair to Caprica as they were already pre-established shows that had an audience build up already watching their show.
Along with the rush and abrupt schedule change, for Caprica's 1.5 premiere air date, without any real advertising, to really give notice to the viewers that were watching Caprica or even the ones that have actually started finding it having some potential, of knowing the date had been pushed up to October 5, 2010 from the already established January 2011 (which most of the viewers were told it would air and were planning on the January 2011 air date, not a surprise October 5, 2010 release).
I wanted to show exactly what type of shows Caprica was put up against on top on being released in such an abrupt manner. How did Syfy even expect the ratings to be anywhere good for Caprica on this day and time, without proper foreknowledge, that this is how and when they were going to air Caprica's 1.5? As well as the definite strides it took in an attempt to save a show and actually give it 20 more episodes, for far less than Caprica did. Stargate Universe dropped almost completely in half (almost 50%) in viewers watching the show in just 8 episodes (according to the ratings of their Season 1 finale), that were being played out in a proper and just manner, with no gapping in the air dates.
What is fair about this? Don't get me wrong, I like the whole Stargate series, it is one my best shows, but I'm talking about numbers here and profit etc., most people keep throwing out about Caprica's cancellation and that it is all about profit and numbers etc. Well it clearly wasn't the case with Stargate Universe.
For more details on what shows Caprica was placed up against on the Tuesday ratings on Caprica's 1.5 debut on October 5, 2010, checkout the page, containing these details, by clicking on the link below.
Tuesday Cable Finals For Air Date: Tuesday October 5, 2010
You may also want to check out these other pages as well.
How Did Caprica's Mid-Season Look, Using The +7 DVR Ratings, Before The Quick Change In Schedule?
Let Us Put Caprica On A 10 Episode Test And See How Well Syfy Aired Them
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(2) Caprica’s Misinterpretations
The show also had other issues to contend with, which Syfy should consider, as well.
The show has real potential and even though a large amount of people didn't grasp the story line early on, doesn't mean it wasn't there. Everything shown in the beginning episodes, of the series, does have relevance to the overall picture that the plot was painting into the show. Sure, for some it was a little on the slow side and perhaps a bit confusing, with the multi-story line, but a lot of shows, even BSG had the whole multi-story line going.
This particular show, just had some many fronts, that lead up to the creation of the Cylons, that it was a hard issue to contend with, on just how does the show give enough background, into each of the different fronts and stories and yet, at the same time bring them all together and have them all make sense.
I actually enjoyed all the information that was able to be given, with all these separate story lines and I could actually see the ties that they were developing with each other, as they progressed. They went into some great detail behind each story line, which gives fullness to the story, as a whole.
As much as I wish they could have added or did something differently, to address the problem, with pleasing everyone, on this mixed story line and not enough real drama, bring everything together etc. issue, so that the people who were having a hard time doing this themselves, would actually begin to understand and see the excitement that was actually being generated and being built up to, to actually allow them to gain an interest, in the show.
I really, would still have played out this series, in the same way, it had been played out, myself, but perhaps if they did cut the story lines shorter at the beginning and brought everything together, at a much quicker pace, others would have gained an interest into the show. We wouldn't have gained as much insight and information as we did, had it been shortened and done in this way, but perhaps the show would have taken off better.
It was a challenge to actually take and create a show of this magnitude. Having to live up to all these aspects of the BSG genre, and yet create something that is compelling, yet different from BSG, as the series style was. The whole creation of the Cylons is a different style of show from what life on a Battlestar is and constantly running from Cylon attacks etc.etc.
This show was set well before any threat of Cylons existed and had to be treated as such. It needed to be realistic down to earth, so-to-speak, as it did take place on a planet and not in space. It also happened well before most of the known members/crew of the BSG series were even born, which is hard to bring to life, when the BSG genre is so familiar with the existing character base of BSG and wanted to see more of them.
The show really couldn't portray this and still give a full grasp into the creation of the Cylons, realistically, by having the existing members/crew involved at this point and time. This in itself created negativity from a few of the BSG genre. The history was there and being told, but it needed to unfold.
BSG had its own trouble in the beginning, with the changes it had made to the members of the original BSG series, changing Starbuck to a woman, instead of keeping the character a man, as in the original series. This didn't play well with a few of the BSG genre back then, but it was played out so well, it eventually got accepted and for the better in my point of view. The whole story line took a whole different direction, as well, which seemed to have its own drawbacks, from a few of the BSG genre, at the time, but then again, this too was played out well and eventually accepted, for the better as well, in my viewpoint.
So BSG itself also had its own issues to contend with, back when it first started, but one thing it had going for them is, it still had the same basic premise behind it, of being chased by the Cylons and taking place in space. This made it an easier transition for the whole BSG genre to accept. Caprica, on the other hand, had not only the issues it had, but also it was to be set in a completely different environment than that of what the whole BSG series, prior to this, had contended with before. Not an easy task, to overcome.
So yes, there would be errors in judgment, as to just how to bring this all about and still hold to great story depth, which BSG was so good at. So they did take these whole separate story lines and went into depth, with them, keeping up with the whole BSG tradition. This inadvertently didn't work well, because the drama behind them was too slow for some, perhaps wanting more quickness into bringing them all together. Some perhaps had a misunderstanding, of what the show was actually going to be about, others wanted something completely different, whatever the individual cases were, it hurt Caprica and it wasn't an easy process to fulfill in creating the show, as well as pleasing everyone at the same time.
Live and learn I suppose, but I believe Syfy should take all this, into consideration and see what the viewer responses are, to the final five episodes and how the overall view of the direction the show is taking, as well as the viewer attraction and possibly re-think their decision. This was a tough type of show to produce and bring into the whole BSG line. This, in itself should warrant more than the episodes that were used in deciding its fate. With this whole new concept and the known issues that were apparent and needed to be overcome to make this a successful series, a factor of time should have been expected, to really have everyone gain a full grasp, to its potential and where the whole story was heading.
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(3) Caprica and Blood & Chrome Comparison – Which Series Can Give the Best BSG History/Background?
I also had this Caprica/Blood and Chrome Comparison that should be factored in, as well.
I have an interesting point of view to compare the two prequels of BSG, Caprica and the upcoming series Blood and Chrome, as to which of them has the potential of giving the most background on BSG and their characters. There is actually more involved into the background of BSG that can be touched upon, but I am. For this post only sticking with issues that directly relate to the characters of the original BSG (2004) members and crew, and the Cylon creation.
Caprica
Let see, so far in Caprica, they have already have established that the whole story line behind the show surrounds the creation and uprising of the Cylons. This is a given, so this in itself is one major question to be answered as to how the Cylons were created and what brought up their revolt against mankind.
Next we have already seen that it is showing William Adama's life from an earlier age, when his mother and sister died, also how and why they died. This also leads into how this will effect William Adama's personality, having to deal with all this, at such a young age, of 11 years old.
We also see the influence that his Uncle Sam Adama (mob) is having on his life, through showing him the other side of life, the old Tauron ways etc. At the same time we have also been learning about the Tauron people and the Guantraul/mob, as well and their influence/involvement in the creation of the Cylons, as well as how the Cylons are being used.
Then we have Joseph Adama (lawyer), William Adama's father and Lee (Apollo) Adama's grandfather, who was really referred to in the BSG series when Lee decides to switch careers and become a lawyer (following his grandfather's footsteps), and continuing into more of a governmental figure than a military one. So with this we can gain more information behind Joseph being William Adama's father and Lee Adama's grandfather, but more on Joseph's life and involvement in the creation of the Cylons, as well as his lawyer background, which brought him to write the books that Lee Adama was given just before he started working with Romo Lampkin (Baltar's defense lawyer), when Baltar was on trial.
Who knows who else can actually be introduced, from the BSG era and have their story unfold at the early stage in the Cylon creation.
(Note: How far the Cylon creation has already gotten to, at this point and time.
The Cylons have already started being introduced into the public fold, starting with the Guantraul's shipping them off to Gemenon to aid the STO. So I believe that once the consciousnesses can be developed more, the Cylons will actually start being able to have them incorporated into their systems. I actually see three fronts that would carry out this whole consciousness issue. We have Zoe and Tamara, already being of this type of consciousness and from the looks so far seem as though they may start to work together. Then we have Clarice and the STO, in which it seems Clarice has finally discovered Zoe's backup to her avatar program, which will enable her to start creating more avatars with the same quality and consciousnesses as Zoe and Tamara. Thirdly we still have Daniel, who is really getting close to perfecting his own version of avatar consciousness.
I believe that between Zoe and Tamara (whether or not Zoe knows the whole avatar code that created her, which I don't believe she does, because in the flashback when she was first created, she didn't remember making herself and the real Zoe said that she wouldn't remember anything since Zoe's last upload to the program). So Both Zoe and Tamara could be the ones that actually take and transfer the 'V' world consciousnesses into the robots, as Zoe (avatar) has already had experience in one of the robots and knows how they work as well as how they can interact with the 'V' world.
Once these consciousnesses begin to be implemented into the Cylons, they will really start to develop attitudes…lol, which will begin the Cylon's final steps of creation and lead them into self-awareness, in turn leading to the uprising.)
They may be able to bring in Helena Cane before she became an Admiral, as they did show flash backs of her running from the Cylons and hiding leaving her sister out in the open to face the Cylons alone. From the Razor flashback, she was still very young at this point, probably around the same age as William Adama, 11 or 12 years old.
At this point in the series is when we could potentially start seeing the construction of the military crafts, like Galactica, Pegasus and the other 10 Battlestar Class ships for all the 12 colonies, as well as the other types of vessels throughout the BSG era.
Blood and Chrome
At this point and time, the battle has begun, which would suggest that all the Battlestar Class ships have already been built, along with the other types of crafts as well. So we possibly won't be able to see the history behind them, here. We will though, be able to see them in action.
William Adama will have already grown and developed his overall mentality, to which makes him the type of person he is. He will however be able to show what type of Viper Pilot he was. I have heard that a good share of people wanted to see Saul Tigh in the BSG prequels and that this could be done in the upcoming Blood and Chrome series. That assumption would be incorrect. Looking back into the BSG episodes, when he really first met Saul, William Adama had already worked himself up through the ranks to become a Commander of the Battlestar Galactica, when he recruited Saul in the barroom, as Saul was arguing (and actually had one of them locked in a hold) with a couple of people there. William came in and immediately broke up the argument by holding a gun and having everyone involved leave, except for Saul Tigh, at which time, he introduces himself and asks him to join the cause and Galactica. William had to be around his mid 30's into 40's at that time and was played by his same BSG character of the (2004) series. It would be hard to stay within the BSG spirit and have this happened at an earlier time in the story or played by someone else other than the original William Adama. So Saul Tigh is out of the question for any background, at least as far as having any relationship with William Adama.
As with the Caprica show they may be able to bring in Helena Cane before she became an Admiral, as they did show flash backs of her running from the Cylons and hiding leaving her sister out in the open to face the Cylons alone. But during that flashback she was very young and would probably be old enough to have enlisted into the service at this point in time. And from her personality, she was strong minded and could very well be fastly growing through the ranks, to be a person they could show at this point in time, especially with her background with the Cylons at such a young age.
The story may be able to shed more light unto the lifestyle and traditions of the 12 colonies, but Caprica was also already getting to that point as well, so they would be tied on this issue, as far as what they could contribute to the 12 colony background. One point though, in the Caprica era, it would be able to show the lifestyles before or just as the Cylons were being created and started their uprising. Blood and Chrome would be showing the effects during the uprising, as the war has already effected them for 10 years of battle.
There really isn't all that much more this show could add to the background of BSG and how things came about, with the exception of finding out that the Cylons were actually trying to convert themselves in a more human form. The only problem with throwing this into the series would be that the first war ended just after William Adama found the secret lab where the Cylons were doing these experiments. If you watch the webisodes or Razor movie, just as William Adama was relaying this information to Galactica his commander replied that the war is over!!!
So in essence, the upcoming series will basically be an older version of BSG itself, not really being able to show all that much more information into BSG's background. Other than, for the most part what is already known. It will be able to show the battle and ships involved. It also won't have the same effect with the Cylons looking like people, as the BSG series did, which added to its popularity aspect (with the sexy Cylons…lol). These cylons would be older and just a notch above the Caprica U-87's.
Conclusion
If people were actually to look at the latest Caprica episodes, they cannot deny all the ties that are being developed into the personal and characters from the BSG series as well as its background aspect, even with the slower start it had. The shows premise and time era is set at a point where more of the history behind BSG can be unfolded, than that of Blood and Chrome.
With that being said, I believe both series are needed to do a better overall background of the BSG series itself. I can see some of what others have stated about the Caprica series, but it is a show with a lot of potential behind it, as well as a cast of stars that really cannot be compared to in most of the new shows out today. The actor experience is extremely high with the cast that has already been shown to be involved with the series. I f this show was actually given a second chance with the direction it has now laid out, as well as the well known cast involved, I believe it would really start to take off well.
This is not to take away from Blood and Chrome in any way, but at the level and point Caprica has gotten to in the overall story, the two shows would be very competitive in story line and action/suspense. I just feel that given the era of Caprica's story setting, it can show more behind the history of BSG than is possible with Blood and Chrome's limited story line, which traps them in the era it is, by the webisode itself having ended the war as William Adama found that lab with proof of what the Cylons were doing in transforming into people like appearances. From the webisode itself, this was the first glance into this discovery and the war ends. As well as William Adama’s age being that of around twenty years. So anyone involved with the BSG crew/members not old enough at this point, in time, cannot be brought into the series, either.
Sure it can be a great action/war series like BSG, but not give all that much in new BSG historical background. I believe if there is to be more of the history beyond this point, another type of series would have to be introduced, like when the war was over and the military was secretly watching the Cylons and William Adama (as played by his character on BSG) was in command with Saul Tigh and sent Balazar out past the red line and he was captured by the Cylons and tormented etc. This area and time would have glimpses into Cylon conversion from machine to living human look alike Cylons. Also this could entail finding out more on how or if they actually met the original Kobal/Earth Cylons to aid them into this transformation.
Just some insight into why Caprica deserves a second chance for a second season.
Posted by: Wayne Hurlburt | November 20, 2010 at 09:14 AM
Caprica’s Last 3 Episodes And Ratings – See The Real Reason Behind The Low Ratings!!!
Caprica’s last 3 episodes, were not only placed in Syfy’s worst day/time slot, but also were put up against Special Sports Events (during All 3 weeks), along with (2) Special Episodes of Teen Mom & (1) Special Episode of Sons of Anarchy (both shows spread out covering all 3 weeks) as well. I actually put in all the 10PM shows, as well, for comparison. Most of these shows, in the 10PM slot, already had been airing episodes steady for weeks/months prior, with a good audience build-up, as well as their viewers knowing the shows were being aired.
Caprica was lucky if the better part of its viewers even knew Syfy was airing the new episodes.
The top rated shows for October 27, 2010, were NBA: Heat vs Celtics (7:34pm, 172 minutes) with 7.348 million viewers and NBA: Rockets vs Lakers (10:26pm, 188 minutes) with 4.279 million viewers, with a Special Episode of Sons of Anarchy (10Pm, 91 minutes) with 2.674 million viewers.
No wonder a show like Caprica, that was aired by quickly changing its schedule, with less than 1 month’s notice, and lack of proper advertising, could stand up against this schedule.
October 27, 2010
Tuesday Cable Ratings: Heat/Celtics Slam Dunk; ‘Sons of Anarchy’ Steady; 16 & Pregnant, Caprica, Stargate Universe, Millionaire Matchmaker & More
Chopped
- 1.333 million viewers
- 0.8/1 HH
- 0.5/1 A18-49
30 for 30
- 0.712 million viewers
- 0.5/1 HH
- 0.3/1 A18-49
Sons Of Anarchy(10PM, 91 minutes)
- 2.674 million viewers
- 1.6/3 HH
- 1.4/4 A18-49
1000 Ways to Die(10:01pm, 31 minutes)
- 1.304 million viewers
- 0.9/1 HH
- 0.5/1 A18-49
Stargate Universe
- 1.012 million viewers
- 0.7/1 HH
- 0.4/1 A18-49
Caprica
- 0.843 million viewers
- 0.5/1 HH
- 0.3/1 A18-49
Little Couple(10pm)
- 1.150 million viewers
- 0.8/1 HH
- 0.3/1 A18-49
NBA: Heat vs Celtics (7:34pm, 172 minutes)
- 7.348 million viewers
- 4.6/7 HH
- 3.3/10 A18-49
NBA: Rockets vs Lakers (10:26pm, 188 minutes)
- 4.279 million viewers
- 2.8/6 HH
- 2.1/8 A18-49
Rehab: Party at the Hard Rock Hotel (10pm)
- 1.143 million viewers
- 0.8/1 HH
- 0.5/1 A18-49
The top rated show for October 19, 2010 was, TBS ALCS Game 4 (8pm, 257 minutes) with 9.846 million viewers. We have another Special Sports Event, with high viewer content. Teen Mom Check-Up Special (10pm, 120 minutes) with 3.719 million viewers and Sons of Anarchy (10PM) with 2.599 million viewers. As I wonder, yet another time why Caprica didn’t do so well. Even Teen Mom dropped considerably, from its normal ratings (especially considering it was a 2 hour special)
October 19, 2010
Tuesday Cable Ratings: ‘Sons of Anarchy’ Drops; Teen Mom Special Second-Best to Yankees/Rangers; Stargate Universe, Caprica Weaken & More
Parking Wars(10pm)
- 1.398 million viewers
- 0.9/1 HH
- 0.6/2 A18-49
Parking Wars(10:30pm)
- 1.373 million viewers
- 0.8/2 HH
- 0.7/2 A18-49
Chopped
- 1.695 million viewers
- 1.1/2 HH
- 0.7/2 A18-49
30 for 30
- 0.808 million viewers
- 0.6/1 HH
- 0.4/1 A18-49
Sons Of Anarchy (63 minutes)
- 2.599 million viewers
- 1.6/3 HH
- 1.3/4 A18-49
Teen Mom Check-Up Special (10pm, 120 minutes)
- 3.719 million viewers
- 2.5/5 HH
- 2.1/7 A18-49
- 5.2/17 W18-34
- 2.2/11 K2-11
Stargate Universe
- 0.974 million viewers
- 0.7/1 HH
- 0.4/1 A18-49
Caprica
- 0.718 million viewers
- 0.5/1 HH
- 0.3/1 A18-49
TBS ALCS Game 4 (8pm, 257 minutes)
- 9.846 million viewers
- 6.3/11 HH
- 3.3/10 A18-49
Little Couple(10pm)
- 1.136 million viewers
- 0.8/1 HH
- 0.4/1 A18-49
Rehab: Party at the Hard Rock Hotel (10pm)
- 1.031 million viewers
- 0.7/1 HH
- 0.4/1 A18-49
The top rated shows for October 12, 2010 were, MLB Division Playoffs (8pm, 202 minutes) with 6.410 million viewers (another high viewer sports event), along with a Special Episode of Teen Mom (10pm, 90 minutes) with 5.550 million viewers and Sons of Anarchy with 2.853 million viewers. Finally BET Hip Hop Awards (8pm, 122 minutes) with 3.690 million viewers, playing through almost 1/2 of the time Caprica was airing.
October 12, 2010
Tuesday Cable Ratings: ‘Teen Mom’ Finale Way Up; BET Hip Hop Awards, Sons Of Anarchy, Caprica & Much More
BET Hip Hop Awards (8pm, 122 minutes)
- 3.690 million viewers
- 2.0/3 HH
- 1.7/5 A18-49
Being Terry Kennedy (10:02pm)
- 1.711 million viewers
- 1.1/3 HH
- 0.8/2 A18-49
Chopped
- 1.694 million viewers
- 1.0/2 HH
- 0.7/2 A18-49
Sons Of Anarchy(10PM, 61 minutes)
- 2.853 million viewers
- 1.7/3 HH
- 1.6/4 A18-49
Teen Mom(10pm, 90 minutes)
- 5.550 million viewers
- 3.4/6 HH
- 3.2/9 A18-49
- 7.3/21 W18-34
- 3.6/16 T12-17
Stargate Universe(9pm)
- 1.222 million viewers
- 0.8/1 HH
- 0.5/1 A18-49
Caprica
- 0.840 million viewers
- 0.5/1 HH
- 0.3/1 A18-49
MLB Division Playoffs (8pm, 202 minutes)
- 6.410 million viewers
- 4.1/7 HH
- 2.0/6 A18-49
Rehab: Party at the Hard Rock Hotel (10pm)
- 0.950 million viewers
- 0.6/1 HH
- 0.4/1 A18-49
It is just these kind of things Syfy isn’t telling us about why Caprica’s ratings were so low for Season 1.5. It is the shows, combined with the specials that Caprica was placed against in the schedule, for these episodes, along with (of course) their mismanagement of Caprica’s placement, advertising, and lack of many viewers not even knowing they were airing the new episodes.
Caprica’s Season 1.5 was killed by Syfy’s lack of fore-seeing the events that would take place, by them wanting to see Caprica’s Season 1.5 DVD sales, before Christmas and needed to attempt to air Season 1.5, before this.. This is why the big push for the schedule change and they didn’t have time to advertise or promote the change, because of someone’s brilliant idea to bring in more cash flow, if they can push the sale date for the DVD’s up before Christmas.
Syfy won’t admit this, but all the facts are there. They screwed up and needed to account for Caprica’s drop in ratings. So instead of being men about their failings, they blame the show and wash their hands over the whole mess they caused, hoping nobody would catch on.
Posted by: Wayne Hurlburt | November 20, 2010 at 09:15 AM
Syfys Plan Of Not Airing Two BSG Prequels, May Have Caused Caprica's Demise.
Syfy has already stated, in their only statement, since the word of Caprica's cancellation and removal of the last five episodes, that they never had planned to air two BSG sequels, at the same time. Now Syfy decides it has another prequel to BSG, that they wish to produce and air, but they already have Caprica. What do they do? Well, first they need to get rid of Caprica.
They also want to make as much money as possible, while doing so. Next they abruptly change Caprica's pre-scheduled air date from January 2011 to October 5, 2010, with less than a months notice and without proper promotion or advertising of this change.
Now, Syfy places Caprica in a spot that it would be almost impossible to gain any good ratings. Caprica only aired for 4 days, of it's Season 1.5 release and was put up against Special Sports (drawing millions of extra viewers away from regular series and shows) and the two highest rated shows of that date/time slot airing Special Longer Length Episodes (both of which timed it so that each of their special episodes,would not air against the others, airing in 3 out the 4 days that Caprica did).
Even Teen Mom (Is The Highest Rated Show for that date/time slot), fell over 1 million (on their average ratings)for its TWO HOUR SPECIAL, week October 19, 2010. Against the Special Sports Events!!!!!
Caprica wasn't able to stand alone properly without proper advertising notice of a schedule change under a month, in advance. In addition to many of Caprica's viewers were counting on a January 2011 airing, not a surprise October 5, 2010 airing!!!
Even looking around the internet at many postings, you'll see people that were watching Caprica in Season 1.0, DIDN'T even know they changed the schedule or that it was even CANCELLED, until reading it through some of the many SAVE CAPRICA POSTS or other posts stating its cancellation.
All this against pre-scheduled and properly advertised Special Sports Events (airing every Tuesday through Caprica's airing time) and Special Event Episodes of the two Highest Rated Shows in that time/day slot (each of those shows Special Episodes aired so that at least one of the specials were airing on Each Tuesday of the month).
Caprica had only aired 4 episodes and all those weeks had pre-scheduled Sports Events and/or the two Highest rated Shows (airing longer length Special Episodes) of that time slot (even before Caprica was Suddenly moved from its PRE-SCHEDULED AIRING DATE OF JANUARY 2011.
None of the other shows had any surprise schedule changes and had started airing their shows well before the month of October.
Use these pages for ratings references:
Tuesday Cable Finals for Air-Date: Tuesday October 5, 2010
Caprica's Last 3 Episodes And Ratings - See The Real Reason Behind The Low Ratings!!!
How Did Caprica's Mid-Season Look, Using The +7 DVR Ratings, Before The Quick Change In Schedule?
Also when you add up all those additional MILLIONS of viewers (not counting the regular date/time slot series shows) that were watching these Special Sports Events, they had to come from somewhere. Take a total count of a normal Tuesday night ratings (without Special Sports Events).
For instance, last Tuesday night that time slot (including shows that overlapped it) totaled 13.236 million for the (7) shows that aired (without Special Sports Events or shows).
Week of October 19, 2010 (where even Teen Mom's 2 Hours Special dropped over 1 million viewers), had a total of 15.451 million for (10) shows(not even counting TBS ALCS Game 4 (8pm, 257 minutes) with 9.846 million viewers. That is only 2 million more than the week with (7) shows, which would average about 0.600/extra show (not great stats there). Total with TBS ALCS Game 4 (8pm, 257 minutes) with 9.846 million viewers, was 25.297 million viewers.
These extra Millions of people had to come from some where? Especially considering only just over 3% of the viewing population is used for the actual ratings, of these shows.
So don't give me this Caprica couldn't hold it's own, during these 4 days, SYFY. When you placed Caprica up against, Special Sports Events combined with the (2) Highest rated shows for the time/day slot airing Special Longer Length Episodes on (3) of the 4 days, is really a fair way to judge Caprica ratings ( with all the viewer confusing, of not even knowing Syfy started to air them).
COME ON!!!!
The same type of math, with the ratings, can be done with the other 3 weeks as well. I just used this particular week to show that even Teen Mom lost about 1 million viewers (from its normal) during this week, and even against its Two Hour Special.
Syfy even used this trick with justifying themselves for giving Stargate Universe an additional Season with 20 more episodes. Stargate Universest Season finale dropped from 1.8 to 1.3 million and Syfy said that it was because of some Special Event that aired at the same day/time slot.
Well, It definitely shows a double whammy for Caprica here on these 4 days of showing not only Special Sports events, but also the (2) highest rated shows of the day/time slot also showed Special Longer Episodes at the same time with the Special Sports Events...
Think About It!!!!
This even effected other shows that had already been airing steady episodes, for over a month before and ALL their viewers knew that they were being aired!!!
Some people might say that Special Events and Series Specials happen all the time and if a show cannot handle this then its not worth being on the air.
My answer to them woud be, true (to some extent) if the series has already been running steady and everyone knew that is was being aired. Not when it's starts the same day it premieres, with hardly any advertising or promotion that they have switched the already pre-scheduled air date, in less than a months time. And these events run straight through every single episode.
Then I would have to agree with them, but Season 1.0 was actually gaining little by little live viewers ( I'll admit, not much, but some). It was really increasing on the DVR ratings, about 12-15% in each area (18-49 & 25-54 age groups), with each new episode.
Then Season 1.5 airs and Caprica instantly drops 0.300 and more on the live ratings. Anyone would seem to think, that with the sudden schedule change and no real promoting that they were doing this, that maybe a good share of viewers didn't know about the change. Also that these Special Events are actually effecting them.
I believe Syfy actually knew all this and was actually part of the overall plan, in order to bring forth a new prequel to BSG, "Blood and Chrome" as well as making as much profit as possible, with DVD sales of Caprica's Season 1.5. I believe, Caprica's Season 1.5, never actually was going to air for any purpose of adding viewers to the show, as Syfy had already made its decision to do away with Caprica and start on the process of making "Blood and Chrome", but it still needed to get rid of Caprica, before it could gain more popularity (perhap by Season 1.5 being aired in a just and proper way, Caprica could have actually taken off and became a popular series.), but Syfy could take that chance.
They also wanted to make as much money as they could in the process, hence, moving up the Season 15. DVD sales to before Christmas 2010. Next, they had to attempt to air the episodes before the DVD release, to look like they are doing this for the fans (also it is highly irregular to release a DVD for TV shows before the actual episodes air). Syfy, knowing the ratings would be low, by abruptly changing Caprica's air date within less than a months time and no real advertising or promotion, stating that this is was going to be happening, along with the Special Sports Events/ Special TV Series Shows (highest rated of that day/time slot, airing extra long special episodes.), they knew Caprica wouldn't have its full viewer capacity knowing it would be airing as well as the shows (specials - sports/extended length etc.) it would be facing, would drastically reduce its ratings.
Then part 2 of the plan, make as much money as possible. Remove the last five episodes till after the Season 1.5 DVD sale, to increase the want of the DVD's, since it would contain these five episodes.
One thing that Syfy didn't count on, though was that NBC actually own's Caprica's contract and yes, Syfy can stop airing Caprica on its channel, but could not stop Space from airing Caprica there, since only NBC could do this, and NBC didn't want to stop the airing of Caprica and let Space continue it normal broadcasting schedule.
If Syfy had it their way, these last five episodes wouldn't be airing anywhere, to increase the profit potential of the DVD sales. It's all about the DVD sales and the upcoming "Blood and Chrome" series, behind Caprica's demise, planned and executed by Syfy themselves.
Pretty fair, considering they judged Caprica's performance based solely on 8 episodes, upon which only 6 of them were actually aired, without any breaks in its airing schedule.
That is hardly a fair judgment, considering, they even stated that Caprica was only an experiment. LOL...even an experiment would require more episodes to justly evaluate its performance. Something at least to the equivalence of say 10 full episodes, airing consecutively.
With no comment, whatsoever by Syfy or their Administration (since the initial October 27, 2010 statement), regarding these issues, related to all the fan uprising and publicity, behind Caprica's cancelation, leaves this commentator, with nothing else to believe, but his opinion and observations surrounding this article.
Posted by: Wayne Hurlburt | November 20, 2010 at 09:17 AM
This is how Caprica's first part of the season ended on March 26, 2010, before the quick change in schedule!!!
Syfy's Caprica Mid-Season Finale Sets Series Record With More Than One Million Adults 18-49 In Live+7 Data
Taken from TV By The Numbers posting on April 12, 2010 ( http://tvbythenumber...ive7-data/48049 )
SYFY'S Caprica MARCH 26 MID-SEASON FINALE SETS SERIES RECORD WITH MORE THAN ONE MILLION ADULTS 18-49 INCLUDING LIVE +7 DATA
New York, New York – April 12, 2010 – Culminating a premiere season of ratings growth, the Friday, March 26 season finale of Caprica set a series record by delivering 1.1 million Adults 18-49 (including Live + 7 DVR playback data). The episode, airing from 9-10pm, also scored 1.7 million total viewers, 1.16 million Adults 25-54 and a 1.3 Household rating.
These achievements capped off a successful end to Caprica's first nine episodes. Compared to the first five episodes, the final four averaged 1.0 million Adults 18-49 (+21%) and 1.15 million Adults 25-54 (+12%). These programs were also Caprica's top individual telecasts in both Adults 18-49 and Adults 25-54.
For the first season including all DVR playback, Caprica averaged a 1.3 HH Rating and 1.8 million total viewers, including 906,000 Adults 18-49 and 1.1 million Adults 25-54.
Now tell me the show was actually doing that bad, before they screwed up the premiere airing of Season 1.5!!!
These are facts and cannot be disputed!!!
Also prior to the finale, the show was showing momentum and increasing in viewers, which is far more than what Stargate Universe was doing, in it’s first season, before Syfy granted it a second season with 20 additional episodes.
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Updated: March 5th Episode of "Caprica " Sees Strong Growth With Week of DVR viewing
Taken from "TV By The Numbers" posting on March 22, 2010 ( http://tvbythenumber...r-viewing/45719 )
GATHERING MOMENTUM TO ITS SEASON FINALE, Caprica POSTS SERIES HIGHS IN ADULTS 18-49 AND ADULTS 25-54 DURING FRIDAY, MARCH 5 EPISODE ON SYFY
Gains 13% in Adults 18-49 and 15% in Adults 25-54 Versus Prior Week
With Inclusion of DVR Playback
New York, NY — March 22, 2010 — Building momentum toward this week’s mid-season finale, Syfy’s critically acclaimed Caprica scored double-digit increases and delivered series highs in key demos Adults 18-49 and Adults 25-54 during its Friday, March 5 episode with the inclusion of Live +7 DVR playback data.
The March 5 episode, airing from 9-10pm, averaged 1.04 million Adults 18-49 (+13% versus the Friday, February 26 episode) and 1.21 million Adults 25-54 viewers (+15%).
The program also scored a 1.4 HH Rating (highest rating since the January 22 series premiere) and 1.78 million total viewers (highest since January 29).
The level of viewing from 7-day playback vs. same-day playback also hit series highs, adding:
*
o 476,000 additional Adults 25-54
o 436,000 additional Adults 18-49
o 627,000 total viewers
On the vibrant world ofCaprica, in a culture recognizably close to our own, two dynamic families – the Graystones and the Adamas – live separately on opposite ends of society until they are brought together by tragedy. Caprica features the passion, intrigue, political backbiting, and family conflict in an omnipotent society that is at the height of its blind power and glory…and, unknowingly, on the brink of its fall. The one-hour series stars Daniel Graystone (Stoltz), Joseph Adama (Morales), Paula Malcomson (Amanda Graystone), Polly Walker (Sister Clarice Willow), Magda Apanowicz (Lacy) and Alessandra Torresani (Zoe Graystone). Caprica is from Universal Cable Productions and is executive produced by Ronald D. Moore, David Eick and Jane Espenson. Jonas Pate serves as co-executive producer and director. Jeffrey Reiner (Friday Night Lights) directed the pilot.
Posted by: Wayne Hurlburt | November 20, 2010 at 09:18 AM