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ABC flunks 'Science' of attracting viewers
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More from TelevisionLast August, ABC announced an ambitious new anthology series, "Masters of Science Fiction," as a midseason entry.
Well, it hasn't shown up yet, and an ABC representative says it's likely to appear as part of a no-repeats approach to summer.
"The network is looking to fill its schedule with original series year round," ABC spokeswoman Ellen Gonzales said, "and this show was ordered for a summer air date in mind."
Series creator Keith Addis said ABC officials informed him "Masters of Science Fiction" tentatively was to air Saturday nights in August, with only four of the six completed shows to be televised.
That's just awful.
"No-repeat" summer strategy notwithstanding, you can't bury a new series deeper than on a Saturday night in August. "Masters" is much too good for that, and certainly worlds better than "In Case of Emergency," "Notes From the Underbelly," "October Road" and other midseason junk from ABC lately.
I've seen all six first-season episodes of "Masters of Science Fiction," and four are terrific the modern-day equivalents of classic episodes of "The Twilight Zone," "The Outer Limits" or "Thriller."
One of the writers who scripted one of those classic, original "Outer Limits" episodes, Harlan Ellison, contributes to these stellar new "Masters of Science Fiction" entries as well. "The Discarded," based on an Ellison story, stars Brian Dennehy as the ruthless leader of misfits exiled in space. John Hurt co-stars, and it's one of those intriguing, intelligent stories that you'll remember long after you turn off the TV.
"Little Brother" features Kimberly Elise and Clifton Collins Jr. in a tale about a man accused of murder in a "Matrix"-like future.
Only "The Watchbird," starring James Cromwell, falls below the mark.
In other words, the batting average for "Masters of Science Fiction" is so high that its absence from midseason is baffling.
ABC has time on its spring schedule for "National Bingo Night," arriving May 18, but not for this?
Imagine, if you will as Rod Serling might say a TV universe where that wouldn't have to happen.
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