'Terra Nova' fights against extinction

The Los Angeles Times ^ | December 6, 2011

[MinorityRepublican]

Are dinosaurs about to go extinct for a second time?

Fox's "Terra Nova," an expensive drama about a family that travels from the year 2149 to prehistoric times to try to save Earth, is fighting to survive past its freshman season. Because the show is costly and takes a long time to produce, Fox ordered only 13 episodes, the last of which will air on Dec. 19.

Now 20th Century Fox Television, the production studio that makes "Terra Nova" for the Fox network, is starting to lobby for a year two.

On the surface, the ratings for "Terra Nova" are not awful. It is averaging almost 10 million viewers in its Monday 8 p.m. time slot, and it is the No. 1 new drama among male viewers.

However, the pilot of "Terra Nova" alone cost about $15 million, and the show is one of the most expensive in history, so it may be hard Fox to justify a second year without higher ratings. The studio will likely try to make the argument that "Terra Nova" has done well in international sales, but that may not be enough to justify the financial risks of a second season.

Part of the challenge all along for "Terra Nova" was that it was trying to be a show that could appeal to families and kids in a time when the audience is very fragmented. A Monday night time slot probably didn't help it much. Sunday would have been a better fit for "Terra Nova," where it would have benefited from having NFL football as a lead-in and a better chance to grab families.

However, Fox has turned its Sunday night over to animation programming.

[I Drive Too Fast]

To me, the show wasn't that good at the start, but has improved. I like the two male leads. Tonight's episode is one hour and next week's first (and possibly only) season finale will be two hours long. I have already read the teaser from TV Guide about it.

Right now tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com has it rated as - more likely to be renewed than cancelled by May, 2012. I believe Fox will decide sometime in January since it takes a while for the special effects to be included in post production.

[Nevadan]

I had high hopes for it. I loved Jason Mara in “Life on Mars” and was wanting very much to find a new series like Lost or 24 that I could look forward to each week. I watched 2 episodes and couldn't conjure up the desire to watch more. It seemed too contrived, especially with the soap opera story-lines regarding the teens and young adults. Instead of simply telling a good story it seemed to me as if it were being written to appeal to various demographics, particularly the Twightlight crowd. Although the setting was supposed to be fairly primitive since civilization was starting over in pre-historic times, most of the characters looked like they hadn't missed their salon appointments. I found that to be annoying and distracting.

[wrench]

The story would have done well as a full length movie, with a beginning, middle, and end.

As a episodic drama, it is really lacking.

I don’t doubt it is expensive to make, it is a shame they are getting so little bang for their buck.

[I Drive Too Fast]

Oops those figures were from mid October of this year. Right now it seems it stands neutral. It could go either way (renew or cancel). Knowing Fox and their record that might not seem good. Hopefully the ratings for the finale are good.

[mass55th]

I like it too, especially because I’m a Stephen Lang fan.

[chemicalman]

Haven't seen the show. Have seen previews.

Fox needs another 24, or have Fringe on at a better time.

[Washi]

I was excited to see this show when it first started. I stopped watching about 10 minutes into the third episode when I realized it wasn't going to get any better.

Very disappointing show.

[Caipirabob]

I think it would have been better as a miniseries than as an ongoing program.

I think you've hit on the approach for successful television in the future. Hollywood itself can't seem to sustain the talent nor creativity in order to produce a compelling storyline for more than a few episodes.

"Once upon a time" for example, drew my wife's attention, but grew annoying and predictable somehow in only a few episodes. If we thought the story was finite and building to a finale that guaranteed closure, we could deal with it. However in a situation where we're already losing interest and there's no promise of closure, we aren't compelled to invest the time in further viewing.

The Spanish soap opera model may be a preview of what will be necessary to overcome the shortcoming of Hollywood's ability to generate a compelling and entertaining script beyond a season or so.

It may be the only means available to get people interested enough to commit to viewing the entire series.

[Lysandru]

I watch this show religiously-- but it is not that good really. It seems to combine several now-tired memes.

Farscape was cancelled by SyFy Channel a few years ago because of the outrageous expense in making it. And Farscape was a much better show-- truly visionary and unique.

And dare we mention how Fox screwed up on Firefly?

[ToxicMich]

My brain is a bit confused about that show. A part of my brain tells me: lousy, cheesy, foolish, incoherent storytelling. Another part of my brain wants to know what’s going to happen next… So, I watch it, and every time, I wonder why I did…

But seriously, it sucks… It reminds me of really bad Star Trek TNG episodes (or even worse, Star Trek Voyager…)

[ToxicMich]

And dare we mention how Fox screwed up on Firefly?

We should occupy the streets until they bring that one back... Yeah!

[Nevadan]

re: And dare we mention how Fox screwed up on Firefly?

The canceling of Firefly was the most stupid cancelation in all broadcast history!

[Crusher138]

I’m having issues with the central conflict. IF there was a way to go back in time and changes to that time did not effect the present, and resources you could bring back would save the lives of millions, I would be all for it. If a group of a couple hundred people claimed squatter’s right to the past and refused to share, I say clap them in irons and haul them away. I am routing for the sixers.

[ToxicMich]

TRAITOR!!!!

(psst.. I agree with you... let's get rid of those hippies and let's start hauling stuff back home... lol)

[Psycho_Bunny]

This show has all of Spielberg’s worst thematic ideas wrapped up in a tight little ball and set on fire with steroids.

It’s idiotic, unwatchable garbage. It’s so bad I can’t even respect the effort of the professionals involved...which is rare for me.

[LaybackLenny]

The whole cast of "Life On Mars" (U.S.) was great: Mara, Keitel, Imperioli, and particularly (biting fist) Gretchen Mol.

Mrs. LaybackLenny and I really like "Terra Nova", but I've had this sinking feeling for awhile now that it would disappear. The end of tonight's episode just reinforced that feeling...when they promoted not the "Season Finale" but just "The Finale" and said "See how it all ends."

By the way, Michael Imperioli has now appeared in 2 consecutive series ("L.O.M." and "Detroit 1-8-7" that ended way to soon :0)

[Timber Rattler]

I like Stephen Lang. He’s a really good actor in just about anything that he is in, but sorely underrated.

[TomGuy]

US TV probably needs to go more toward the British type scheduling — 4 to 8 episodes per season, more in a mini-series fashion.

I find most regular tv series get to be the same ole stuff. That makes it difficult to find anything really worth watching.

[edpc]

I've never seen it, but here's the impression I get from commercials:

Some idiot leaves the compound alone, knowing it's dangerous after being told not to. A group decides to go find formerly mentioned idiot. They all find themselves in quite the predicament and collectively decide they should never leave the compound.

Next episdode.....lather, rinse, repeat.

[jpsb]

Bring back Caprica! (Don’t change writers)