FOX Dooms Sarah Connor Chronicles by Moving it to Fridays in 2009
Sorry, guys, but the FOX network has all but handed The Sarah Connor Chronicles the kiss of death with this announcement: starting February 13, 2009, the network will move The Sarah Connor Chronicles from its regular Monday night timeslot to Friday nights, where it will provide the lead-in to FOX’s new show, Joss Whedon’s Dollhouse. You don’t have to be an industry insider to know that Friday nights is where you put genre TV shows you’ve lost all faith in, and you certainly don’t move a show like TSCC mid-season to another timeslot without actively damaging its already shaky viewership.
Meanwhile, to add insult to injury, FOX’s freshman sci-fi show, J.J. Abrams’ Fringe will continue to air on Tuesdays, where it will have FOX’s juggernaut show American Idol as its lead-in. The point is, had FOX even had the slightest confidence in TSCC, or even had a notion of bringing the show back for a third season, they would have given it a powerful lead-in, either the return of American Idol, or at least kept it on Mondays with the return of 24 as its new lead-in, in an attempt to stabilize its existing viewers and bring in new ones.
There has only been one show that has managed to survive Friday nights on FOX: The X-Files. No show has managed the same feat since. They don’t call it the “graveyard timeslot” for nothing, you know. What exactly am I trying to say here? Basically this: a third season of The Sarah Connor Chronicles is looking very, very grim.
Sorry, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but those are just the facts. Better we get used to it now, and hope the producers provide some kind of closure this season, then have Season 2 end on a cliffhanger that will never be resolved. Do the right thing, producers!
Update: As expected, reactions from our readers have been to blame the messenger. Sorry, guys, but anyone who knows TV knows that Fridays is where FOX banishes their forgotten shows to die a slow death. If you really want someone to blame, email your letters to FOX and get them to move TSCC to any other day but Friday.
- Written by Sam (Admin) in: Sarah Connor Chronicles TV Show News
37 Resistance Fighters Have Spoken Up So Far on “FOX Dooms Sarah Connor Chronicles by Moving it to Fridays in 2009”
#1
¬ MIke
November 7th, 2008 at 12:31 pm
wow well you guys really are optimists aren’t you geez it has been doom and gloom on this site since week 3 give it a rest will you TSCC is not dead and you guys act like nobody watches TV on Fridays you want season three we have not even seen half of season two and there is worry that there will not be a season 3 geez worry about season 3 when season 2 is over we have all been complaining about the ridicules compaction on Mondays and we all wanted a full season not too long ago we got a full season we wanted a full 22 episode season from them and we also wanted them to move the show to different day sure it is not Wednesday but hay at least they are going to move it what more do you want watch the show get any of your friends who are Terminator Fans to watch it too and hopefully the ratings which I guess still suck otherwise I would not be reading this will go up I come here to read about developments on T4 and TSCC not too read doom a gloom geez watch the damn show and try to enjoy it with out thinking about something that has not happened yet if it is going to I am tired of reading things like this
#2
¬ coel
November 7th, 2008 at 12:40 pm
i must agree with MIke. Admin here is sounding way too negative and almost like gave up on the show already.
It’s just too ironic. The saga is all about “No Fate.”
#3
¬ pnutans
November 7th, 2008 at 1:15 pm
Yeah, I think the show will be fine on Fridays. I don’t think it was ever intended to be a long-running super smash hit for years. I think the show needs just one more season after this season ends to finish up the series with a well written ending.
#4
¬ terminatorfan2
November 7th, 2008 at 1:29 pm
The show is amazing! I think with Dollhouse and terminator Fox is giving you probably one of the a best scifi line ups that hasn’t been around in a long time. /assuming Dollhouse lives up to my expectations.
#5
¬ terminatorfan2
November 7th, 2008 at 1:32 pm
Monday nights have been bad for everyone since they moved Danicing with the Stars even Heroes suffered alot. Can’t believe anyone is wasting there time with that reality star crap!
#6
¬ fabrice
November 7th, 2008 at 1:56 pm
too much negative here, too much
fridays are much less competitive than mondays,remember than tscc loyal viewers and they are going to move to fridays with the show
besides 8 pm is too early to go out
#7
¬ Kyle Maloney
November 7th, 2008 at 2:38 pm
There have been petitions trying to get Fox to put the show on pretty much any other night other than Monday to improve ratings. Fridays may actually do the show some good. a worse night I think would have been Sunday.
But even if this is its “kiss of death” frankly the show didn’t have much of a chance of getting a season 3 in the first place. It had a hard enough time getting a full second season.
Since they ordered the full season Ive already been telling myself that this would be it. Just enjoy the season while it lasts, resting assured that at the very least it wont get canceled before its able to have a proper finale. Maybe this is a blessing in disguise: if its killed abruptly at the end of season 2, it wont be allowed to start teasing us with dead ended story archs.
#8
¬ Simmo
November 8th, 2008 at 2:28 am
Let’s be fair, this show is extremely flaky as it is. I mean come on, it’s a show about TERMINATORS, yet they manage to make it boring and cheesy (the fight in the lift anyone?). Just cancel it already and make room for something better.
#9
¬ jonboy
November 8th, 2008 at 5:14 am
if you are a true fan of a show or whatever it mite be. you will always be there to support it. ive been a cubs fan for years. i know some years were horriable. but i stiil was there to watch the games
#10
¬ Jose "T-800" Cornejo
November 8th, 2008 at 8:58 am
This change on the broadcast makes me love more the fridays! a bigger excuse to stay at home at least 4 an hour to sit on my favorite couch, eat a sandiwch and take a cup of coffee watching the series.
I’m a terminator saga fan from 1987, when i saw the terminator movie and rumbles the tv. from that time i never stop to be aware of anything about it.
I love fridays and now I love it more!!!!
I love Summer glau!
Greetings from Chile
the corner of the world!
#11
¬ J Man
November 8th, 2008 at 4:26 pm
The show is one of the better ones on TV. It’s definitely better than Fringe, which is little more than a weak X-Files remake. With that said, if the show goes down at the end of this season, I hope that FOX gives us a good ending or sells the show to another network so that I can keep watching it.
#12
¬ denny
November 9th, 2008 at 11:38 pm
I agree with you about Fringe. I think TSSC is fabulous and Friday night? Great! It makes for a killer line-up - with Whedon’s show after it? All good.
#13
¬ denny
November 9th, 2008 at 11:40 pm
I thought I was at an NBC or CBS forum for a minute there. The admin here seem so down on TSSC. Maybe they should consider writing/adminnning:) elsewhere…
#14
¬ eea
November 11th, 2008 at 3:30 am
bana uyar gayet mübarek bir gündür kendileri :))
#15
¬ dsfs
November 11th, 2008 at 1:43 pm
AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!
“Something better”??? This is FOX we’re talking about, remember?
#16
¬ dsfs
November 11th, 2008 at 1:44 pm
What the-?????????
#17
¬ dsfs
November 11th, 2008 at 1:47 pm
Anyway, if it’s being paired up with Dollhouse - which is a new show - than that can’t be “the kiss of death” - unless Fox is planning to do away with Dollhouse before it’s even aired.
And let’s face it - Mondays have not been going pretty well - mainly thanks to football and dwts. There’s actually less competition on Fridays. Also, if Dollhouse lives up to its hype - the two shows may actually help each other.
A true “kiss of death” would have been Saturday.
#18
¬ Bilge
November 12th, 2008 at 9:47 am
OMG, Joss Whedon’s Dollhouse on FOX!
After Firefly, Joss said that…
Nevermind! It’s just “Hollywood”.
#19
¬ Tiara
November 12th, 2008 at 4:09 pm
I wonder what time it comes on because I watch “The Soup” on “E!” at 10. Also Are you smarter than… comes on at 8 and Don’t forget the lyrics comes on at nine. Family Guy at 7 Seinfeld at 7:30. Simpsons 6-6:30. 5, Tyra. 4, Maury. 3, Steve Wilkos. 2 I’m not home until around 2: 40. From school. So when would it come on? Fox has to big of a schulde ( Can’t spell)
#20
¬ ffff
November 12th, 2008 at 11:07 pm
I agree with what people are saying here. We can\’t give up hope. It\’s totally un-American.
Did George W. Bush quit even after losing the popular vote? NO! Did he quit after losing millions of dollars of his father\’s friends\’ money in failed oil companies? NO! Did he quit after knocking that girl up? No! Did he quit after he got that DUI? NO! Did he quit getting arrested for drunk and disorderly conduct at a football game? NO HE DID NOT!!!
#21
¬ ljubocesicrojs
November 13th, 2008 at 3:08 am
rofl :DDDD
totally agree.
#22
¬ Maya
November 13th, 2008 at 9:21 am
I don’t agree that the Friday night spot is the beginning of the end. It might signify a lack of faith on the part of the network, but what do they know? A lot of us who watch shows like this are semi-geeky and aren’t giving up that much on Fridays anyway. And as someone already pointed out, “X-Files” did just fine on Friday nights for years. I think a Friday night of TTSCC followed by Joss Whedon’s new show might be a good way to relax at week’s end. TTSCC is developing a terrific sense of humor: Cameron’s unique take on things, Cromartie’s attempts at a smile, (both of the terminator’s are so well cast!) the fight on the elevator ending with Cameron turning her opponent into a scrap metal pretzel, the runaway girl who hooked up with Cromartie just to get even with “Allison” and John. So we should relax and enjoy the ride while it lasts. A cliffhanger ending with no followup would be a huge disappointment, I agree. Oh, another thing: Everybody’s broke now because of the mortgage crisis and layoffs, so more people will have to stay home Fridays and watch our show. See how lucky we are?
#23
¬ MIke
November 13th, 2008 at 6:43 pm
finally somebody besides me that thinks this show is not dead who nows the ratings just may go up I for one think they have great chance to do so
#24
¬ Sara
November 15th, 2008 at 5:55 pm
I fail to see why people’d not watch TV on friday. Is it a typical day alot of (younger) people come from school/work and decide to go to pubs/clubs on that specific evening?
#25
¬ Joey B
November 18th, 2008 at 9:49 pm
I’ve been watching Terminator since it’s been aired, and every show seems to get better and more edge of your seat action. The story line is improving. I love it.
On the other hand , how the Hell do they remove TSCC on mondays , and replace it with an gay show Joss Whedon’s Dollhouse. What the hell is that. If they cancel TSCC and not come out with a TSCC season 3 then i’m gonna be pissed BIG TIME.
Please support, TSCC by voting , emailing , joining facebook fanclubs, and of course buying the seasons on dvd or blue ray.
#26
¬ Ghpr57
November 21st, 2008 at 10:42 am
My only worry with TSCC moving to Friday night is if it would be opposite Sci-Fi’s Dr.Who. But then I guess there’s always TiVo…
#27
¬ Heather
November 25th, 2008 at 12:19 pm
everyone should start writing letters to Fox! anyone have an address? this writer is just pointing out the truth! sadly most of the good shows get cancelled….
#28
¬ Jack Shizno
November 26th, 2008 at 3:16 pm
There is one thing everyone needs to consider: Online Distribution.
You can ‘legally’ watch TSCC at hulu.com and fox.com/fod; also TSCC was 3rd on iTunes top 10 episodes.
My point is: we do not know the numbers from these sources
On iTunes as 3rd, is a good sign.
Hulu.com, I heard that they get unique IP visits everyday in the 100 of thousands as day… the episodes are available less than 12 hrs after the episodes air and there are ads for it on the front page. So i bet the numbers are good.
Fox video on demand… who knows.
Besides, with the economy going the way is going, i bet more people will stay home on fridays.
all in all, i think the show is safe
#29
¬ HW
November 30th, 2008 at 12:10 am
WOW, Moving the show to Fridays is not good. It will be lucky to last a month. I will enjoy the show while I can.
#30
¬ tvshowaddict
December 2nd, 2008 at 3:56 am
Hey, watch the newest episode of the Sarah Connor Chronicles on tvlifeline.com
Watch it with no download full screen right away!
#31
¬ mac3
December 3rd, 2008 at 10:48 pm
is not that people lose hope on the show, but Friday’s are days when most people go out and don’t watch tv too much.
#32
¬ Phares
December 5th, 2008 at 12:41 am
Well, yes, doomed by broadcast and cable, but if you can understand that cable and broadcast are the telegraph of today and that you can watch the episodes on Hulu.com in HD and the networks are idiots if they arent tracking watchers there, then I call you a luddite.
When will everyone realize that cable networks are dead fascist paradigms of a dead era? Stations can distribute direct to the consumer via the internet and not have to pay cable networks to carry their channels and generate advertising revenue.
Tivo? VCR? DVD? Primitive, ridiculous given the capabilities of the technology at hand and a waste of your money and time.
#33
¬ the King
December 9th, 2008 at 2:34 pm
IF FOX THINK THEY CAN KILL SARAH CONNOR CHRONICLES THEY´RE WRONG - DEAD WRONG.
The reason for why is because if the Sarah Connor chronicles makers don´t like having the show being distributed via the TV networks on fridays , they can just make a decision on how to calmly arrange for a few more seasons and make those into DVD series that won´t need to come out on TV - that´ll make them so exciting that people are gonna want buy them in far larger numbers than previously.
The producers should therefore consider to move the Sarah Connor Chronicles to myspace.com and enable people to view the series there via subscription and then they won´t need to worry about Fox anymore. I know - Fox may or may not want to kill the Sarah Connor chronicles , but they can´t , at least not in memory. I haven´t seen Sarah Connor chronicles yet but I´m going to. What I know about seasons that get cancelled like Invasion is that the season can suddenly come back through all kinds of bizzare arrangements or deals , just like Flash Gordon got back when everyone thought he wouldn´t make it into the 21st century.
Well here he is in an all out new series. This is the same thing that happened to Battlestar Galactica - it got slowly cancelled off , either because the producers didn´t need to produce it anymore or because everyone felt that when the technology would come the Battlestar Galactica would look so bizzare that for someone to travel from that timeline to Battlestar Galactica´s original timeline would sound insane if that person were to explain the progress in making Battlestar Galactica episodes. So just make new webisodes if SCC gets killed off by Fox , and turn those into DVD shows that won´t require being shown on cable TV.
I mean there is an excellent made for youtube.com only series about a woman who survives some kind of attack upon the United States and it has a lot of an ´I must survive´atmosphere in it that keeps getting denser. Despite the series is only 10 minutes or so each movie , it can´t be killed by Fox because it´s being aired on youtube.com ANYTIME. Go for it Sarah Connor Chronicles producers - if you can´t sell the world of Sarah Connor Chronicles where you want to do it currently , do it at the most auspicious place during the most auspicious moment. Interestingly if I remember correctly the Terminator started originally as a comic book strip , which evolved into a movie and which later became a few movies.
warm regards,
the King in his own world.
#34
¬ the King
December 9th, 2008 at 2:38 pm
In my view in this case nope - this is about money.
When you don´t have enough money to continue keeping The Sarah Connor Chronicles on monday and you need more space and it´s gonna be put on Friday you probably get what I mean.
I think this is all about money. Today´s cable tv networks don´t need to be fascist anymore because of how advanced computer technology has become in managing the production of movies and television series. Remember James Cameron´s Titanic? That´s because he´s kind of like me - having hard times staying around other people and being very moody & bossy and all that - so he uses that and out comes Titanic. It´s even easier with the Avatar movie that´s gonna rock when it comes out.
Already as I speak what we´re saying has no impact on Fox so therefore Fox has no need to use fascist tactics on us.
#35
¬ Jose "T-800"Cornejo
December 9th, 2008 at 7:58 pm
fox must not cancel the show for many reasons:
1.- the need money to save the max payne movie failure
2.- T4 is incoming
3.- The series is becoming more reliable and is the most seen in the world.
and cut the show at the half way could be more a mistake, a big F**k up!
#36
¬ Jack Shizno
December 10th, 2008 at 9:36 pm
tvlifeline.com is very much ILLEGAL, all they do is link to offshore US video hosting sites, away from US copyright laws, the creators and actors of TSCC dont get a dime! do you want to kill the show?
hulu.com has a LEGAL license to stream the show and they have ads which DOES give money to the creators and actors
Fox video on demand is also LEGAL since is hosted by fox THEMSELVES and also has ads so they get paid
iTunes, it is obvious they get paid as well
Support the show, watch it on hulu and FOX VOD for free, and if you want to download it, buy it on iTunes
#37
¬ darryl
December 23rd, 2008 at 6:42 pm
The producers share some blame in the show not doing well. The surreal ambiance of the show was what attracted me to it, but by the 2nd show of the new season, they had taken it way too far. The last show was just too much for me. I’ll still watch when it comes back in the new time slot, but it won’t survive past this season if they don’t make it more accessible.
As far as the change is concerned, he’s correct about the whole “kiss of death thing”, but that’s not in stone; other shows have survived and thrived after being moved there (albiet temporarily). The fans will follow it there; and the lead in will give it fresh exposure. If they can make a few changes in production, the nature of the premise (which is genius; backward and forward in time- unending possibilities)combined with the excellent “brand”; they can pull off a long-term winner.
Leave a reply