IO9 had an interesting post about the channel formerly known as SCI FI. It lists 10 mistakes the network made over the past several years. While the circumstances leading to those mistakes are not entirely reliant upon that network, I wouldn’t be surprised if a fair share or even a majority of the reasons revolve around Syfy. IO9’s list, followed by my comments:
“1. Canceling Stargate Atlantis.”
IO9 hit the nail right on the head with this one. SGA should have gone on for at least another season. It would’ve been nice to at least receive a miniseries or one or two TV movies to help wrap things up.
“2. Making Flash Gordon non-space-bound.”
I never saw Flash Gordon, except for one episode that guest starred Elyse Levesque from Stargate Universe. I wasn’t impressed with the show but Flash is definitely intended to be a space-bound production. Or, at least, it was once upon a time. There’s no telling who actually made the decision that led to that change.
“3. Abandoning Friday nights as an action-adventure bloc.”
Abandoning Friday nights definitely was a huge mistake. Multiple great shows ended up facing premature d-days as a result of this change. Just as well, shifting some shows away from the summer season contributed to their demise.
“4. Marcel’s Quantum Kitchen.”
As great as some cooking shows are, inserting one into the line-up on Syfy was another mistake. (As was wrestling.)
“5. Making Caprica a Battlestar prequel instead of a standalone show.”
Caprica was always going to be a prequel to the BSG reboot, nothing could have changed that.
“6. Not picking up Firefly.”
It was a colossal mistake not picking up Firefly. For a show that didn’t even last one entire season, it amassed one of the most hardcore sci-fi fan bases in the history of televised sci-fi, so much that it went to the silver screen with Serenity. Currently, hidden in the dark corners of the world, members of the Firefly cult are probably waiting for a revival.
“7. Letting Doctor Who get away.”
I had no idea that Syfy had once considered picking up Doctor Who but, in hindsight, considering the mess that has become of that network, it is for the better.
“8. Not owning space opera.”
Not owning space opera is akin to the network no longer owning science fiction. IO9 made the mistake of confusing certain sci-fi shows with space operas. In most cases, those are two different breeds. Though, Farscape can be classified as space opera; it’s really a bit of both. In any case, it’s a shame that show was given the axe. Farscape could have lived on for at least another season. The miniseries helped wrap things up but it also felt rushed. As bizarre as Farscape was, the meat and potatoes of the stories far exceed that of most other shows of the genre.
“9. The name change.”
The network’s name change, definitely a mistake, and one that will continue to serve as the butt end of jokes until they change it again or until the network ceases to exist. “Imagine greater” provides additional fuel for that raunchy fire.
“10. Canceling Eureka.”
I never saw Eureka, so I don’t know what to say about that.
Putting rants about Syfy aside and taking a look at the big picture of science fiction productions over the past several years, the hay days have come and gone, from the golden age through the silver age. We currently live in the dark age. Let’s hope that a brighter future for sci-fi comes sooner rather than later.
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Divine Diddly 
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