SyFy? Really?

Apparently Sci-Fi Channel feels the classic spelling of the genre is “too geeky” and is rebranding itself to appeal to a wider audience. So, they’ve decided on changing their name to “SyFy.” Seriously. I can’t make this stuff up.

I guess geek is no longer chic? Frankly, Sci-Fi or SyFy (or whatever you want to call yourselves), you ceased being geeky a very long time ago and drifted into white trash territory with Ghost Hunters, C-grade made-for-cable movies, and Wrestling. Honestly, wrestling?

If it wasn’t for BSG, I would watch the channel at all, so they’ve got precisely one week left from me. After that? Try and impress me guys, but I think I’ll just catch Caprica on DVD.

Official Word from “SyFy”

18 replies on “SyFy? Really?”

  1. Space: The Final Frontier

    When MTV stopped being a music station and began specializing in bad reality tv (a redundancy, arguably), MUCH in Canada followed suit.

    Space in Canada remains sort-of a SF/Fantasy channel, but I fear the SyFycation of the Imagination Station may not be far behind.

    • Re: Space: The Final Frontier

      When MTV stopped being a music station and began specializing in bad reality tv (a redundancy, arguably), MUCH in Canada followed suit.

      Space in Canada remains sort-of a SF/Fantasy channel, but I fear the SyFycation of the Imagination Station may not be far behind.

      I think the name "Imagination Station" is so cool. I miss Muchmusic. Back in the 80’s and early 90’s Much was my justification for having a satellite antenna. Much had the best VJ’s: Chris Ward, Erica Ehm, even J.D. Roberts (We now know him as John Roberts of CBS Evening News down here in the states. Bah.)

      And Much played the *best* mix of music, because there was virtually nothing they wouldn’t play.

      <sigh>

      I miss Much.

      -Joe

      • Re: Space: The Final Frontier

        When MTV stopped being a music station and began specializing in bad reality tv (a redundancy, arguably), MUCH in Canada followed suit.

        Space in Canada remains sort-of a SF/Fantasy channel, but I fear the SyFycation of the Imagination Station may not be far behind.

        I think the name "Imagination Station" is so cool. I miss Muchmusic. Back in the 80’s and early 90’s Much was my justification for having a satellite antenna. Much had the best VJ’s: Chris Ward, Erica Ehm, even J.D. Roberts (We now know him as John Roberts of CBS Evening News down here in the states. Bah.)

        And Much played the *best* mix of music, because there was virtually nothing they wouldn’t play.

        <sigh>

        I miss Much.

        -Joe

        Much started going when rick C left. I think the age spread of the VJ’s thru its first 15 or so years helped it maintain sanity.

        That being said, Space doesn’t suffer the image problem that Syfy has.

  2. Sci long, and thanks for all the Fi
    I remember looking forward to getting satellite (about 12 years ago now) so I could watch Sci-Fi (UK). I don’t think I’ve watched it once in the last 11 years.

  3. And so it goes.
    I think they insulted their core audience when they passed on Firefly (the first time) because they wanted to get away from ‘space shows’.

    From they way they’ve gone after that, and from the end of Farscape and The Invisible Man, I’m suddenly wondering if FAUX owns them…

    • Re: And so it goes.

      I think they insulted their core audience when they passed on Firefly (the first time) because they wanted to get away from ‘space shows’.

      From they way they’ve gone after that, and from the end of Farscape and The Invisible Man, I’m suddenly wondering if FAUX owns them…

      After reading [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sci_Fi_Channel_(United_States)]Wikipedia’s entry on it[/url] and seeing it’s decline, I have to wonder if the USA networks have honestly just given up on it, and want to use it as ‘USA spillover’. How long before it’s renamed ‘USA and beyond!’ or something?

  4. .
    I haven’t read your linked article but I read another one earlier today that said they were doing it because they couldn’t trademark "Sci-Fi". That makes more sense to me than doing it to be hip :)

  5. SyFy
    This doesn’t surprise me. When I consider their horrible "if" branding I’m rather looking forward to the rattlesnake slinkies and fat faerie firebugs disappearing forever. BiBi SciFi.

    After weekly BSG disappears I won’t care if Sci Fi finishes becoming the fantasy channel.

    -Joe

  6. Eureka, anyone?
    Am I the only person who digs Eureka? It’s not the greatest show in the world, but I find it entertaining enough. Other than Eureka, Sanctuary and Dr. Who are the only other shows I watch on Sci-Fi after next Friday, and I don’t know if Sanctuary will be around very long. The writing is (IMHO) very hit or miss.

    Additionally, I constantly have my Geek membership challenged because….. wait for it….

    I don’t like Firefly.

    • Re: Eureka, anyone?
      I don’t like Firefly.

      HERETIC! WE HAVE A HERETIC IN OUR MIDST!

      Naah not really, but someone had to give the predicted response. :) The amazing thing is that science fiction is such a diverse genre that we can all find something to love. :)

      -Joe

    • Re: Eureka, anyone?
      I don’t like Firefly.

      HERETIC! WE HAVE A HERETIC IN OUR MIDST!

      Naah not really, but someone had to give the predicted response. :) The amazing thing is that science fiction is such a diverse genre that we can all find something to love. :)

      -Joe

    • Re: Eureka, anyone?

      Am I the only person who digs Eureka? It’s not the greatest show in the world, but I find it entertaining enough. Other than Eureka, Sanctuary and Dr. Who are the only other shows I watch on Sci-Fi after next Friday, and I don’t know if Sanctuary will be around very long. The writing is (IMHO) very hit or miss.

      Eureka is a fun little show and considering what else is on for genre choices that night I’m surprised it doesn’t get more love than it does. It just seems a little confused whether it wants to be a dramady or sci-com and that flip-flopping hurts it. I’d rank it as #4 on the list of recent scifi-chan native shows (ie not something that was produced for another channel and rebroadcast).

    • Re: Eureka, anyone?

      Am I the only person who digs Eureka? It’s not the greatest show in the world, but I find it entertaining enough. Other than Eureka, Sanctuary and Dr. Who are the only other shows I watch on Sci-Fi after next Friday, and I don’t know if Sanctuary will be around very long. The writing is (IMHO) very hit or miss.

      Additionally, I constantly have my Geek membership challenged because….. wait for it….

      I don’t like Firefly.

      Nope, you are not the only one. I like Eureka quite a lot, its a fun show.

      Regarding sci-fi channel, this doesn’t surprise me one bit. It has been apparent for quite a while that the sci-fi channel doesn’t want to be the sci-fi channel any more. Like theangrymob mentioned, "wrasslin’" on the sci-fi channel! That will forever blow my mind, no matter how many times I see it. For me, it will go down in history as the all time worst idea, ever, on television. With the advent of reality shows coming a close second.

      Plus, all of the money the channel wastes on "original movies" that would cause even a chimp to throw feces at the television… Wait, you guys do throw feces at the television when you happen across one of those movies, right? Ok, maybe its only me.

      • Re: Eureka, anyone?

        Plus, all of the money the channel wastes on "original movies" that would cause even a chimp to throw feces at the television… Wait, you guys do throw feces at the television when you happen across one of those movies, right? Ok, maybe its only me.

        Come on, are you telling me that classics like Mansquito and Snake Head Terror didn’t just suck you right in?

        • Re: Eureka, anyone?

          Come on, are you telling me that classics like Mansquito and Snake Head Terror didn’t just suck you right in?

          I think you’ve got three extra words at the end of that question.

      • Re: Eureka, anyone?

        Plus, all of the money the channel wastes on "original movies" that would cause even a chimp to throw feces at the television… Wait, you guys do throw feces at the television when you happen across one of those movies, right? Ok, maybe its only me.

        Do they really waste much money on those? I’m under the impression that most of them were made in the hopes of landing somewhere better, and SciFi picked them up in the bargain bin. Maybe not, but that’s how it feels.

  7. SYlly and stupFYd
    It’s things like this that reinforce my belief that getting rid of cable and no longer supporting these companies was a good idea.

    Supporting shows / creators through buying DVDs – it doesn’t save many shows, but it makes me feel better!

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