I thought it best I put my personal oppinion of the news and events under the comment section. So not to take from the mix reaction to the news - caue I'm happy for Doug and now even more pissed atthe WB - I know it's not his fault but still the timing of this annoucement really sucks esspecially with the slip of the price tag for making the pilot alone.

$2 million for the pilot - OMG - and then have the nerve to not renew Angel - inlue of what re-make tv programming - yeah this makes perfect sence. let's bring back series from the 60's - that have flopped everytime someone has tried to bring them back - and let's dump the show that had an 11% ratings increase in it's 5th season, strong demographics across the board, a hardcore fanbase, is critcally acclaimed and only cost a little more than the new show - yeah that makes sence. Forgive me but wasn't the orginal lost in space a 30 min sitcom that they are now making into an hour drama - yeah that will work.

RavenU | February 24, 18:04 CET

I know I love Doug too and wish him the best of luck but I will not be watching anything he does on the WB. I feel the networks need to recognize that they can't continue to cancel creative tv just to replace it with reality fanfare or teenage soap dramas. That is why I'm not watching the WB anymore and I hope those who are just as disappointed as I am with the sad state of television right now will do the same. The executives won't listen to one voice but they will take notice to the lose of millions of viewers.

lala | February 24, 18:38 CET

I'm with you lala. I will not watch the WB. Angel is the ONLY show I watch on it anyway. After this season...it's gone from my television. Period. I don't care what comes down the pike for them...I will not watch...unless it's Whedon of course...but we know that won't happen.

Coll | February 24, 18:57 CET

Let's not forget, Whedon is still a business man too. If he has a show to pitch and the WB is interested, I doubt he'll say no out of hand. If Joss dismisses all the viable networks that piss him(and his fans) off, he won't have many left!

But I realize the initial sting is still there. And I think the idea will flop big time. The movie a few years back didn't set the world on fire. But, then again, neither did the Buffy movie. I guess I'll reserve judgement. Not that I plan on watching it, because the idea doesn't appeal to me, but maybe it'll have a shot.

Rogue Slayer | February 24, 19:30 CET

I have to agree with Rogue Slayer. My initial reaction to Angel being cancelled was to boycott the WB. And I also boycotted Fox after they cancelled Firefly, but I also liked Miracles on ABC and they cancelled that so maybe I should boycott them too... okay, get my point.. just about every network now is doing totally stupid moves by cancelling quality television and as someone pointed out to me on this board when I stated I would never watch another thing on the WB (sorry can't remember who) that if I don't watch quality shows that I like, such as Everwood, that might just encourage all these networks to start putting on all crap like all the reality shows.

My point is, if I had boycotted the WB before Buffy had been brought on (and yes I know that Buffy is what put them on the map, but this is just a "what if" scenario) I never would've discovered the greatness of Buffy. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely hate the people who run the WB right now but I also know that Doug Petrie is a great talent and I wouldn't want to hurt him because of them. I don't know if I'll watch that show either, because like Rogue Slayer, it just isn't jumping out at me but if someone was genuinely interested in it before Angel got the axe, they should give it a chance.

Firefly Flanatic | February 24, 19:49 CET

Why should Doug Petrie feel like Judas now? The Lost in Space pilot was picked up ages before Angel was cancelled. I say good luck to him.

Simon | February 24, 20:40 CET

Lost in Space was originally picked as a TV movie for the WB but as of late, within the last month or so, they changed it to an actual series. Thus putting it in direct competition with Angel, and actually may have had a hand in it's cancelation since the WB needed to make room in it's schedule by only 2 hours - Angel being one of those hours.

The original plan by the WB was to have the movie in 2004 season and then come out with the series in 2005 if the movie was a hit. However, something changed in that plan and moved it from a movie to a series.

[ edited by RavenU on 2004-02-24 18:49 ]

RavenU | February 24, 20:47 CET

Doug Petrie was one of my favorite Buffy writers, and i wish him nothing but luck getting this show going. As other people have mentioned, i will not be watching this show, it just doesn't look like a good idea.

I'm still in Angel Cancellation shock, but it is the only show i watch on the WB. What i believe is you should boycott the WB itself, not the affiliates. Alot of the local revenue comes from the news and syndication. So i will not be watching the WB, but i will be watching WPIX, which sounds confusing, but it wasn't like i was watching any WB shows now to begin with. It's just an idea, because i also read the affiliates are in shock as well.

tvmoobunny | February 24, 21:41 CET

No blame on Doug, we all gotta make a living, and the WB's decisions are not his fault. But he probably feels it a little anyway.

But....2 million on yet another Lost in Space pilot??? That show was an uber cheezy Star Trek rip-off to begin with, and as pointed out, every single revamp attempt has failed miserably. The movie was a costly bomb and I never understand why anyone thinks it will work? Let ALONE have a bigger chance than Angel?

The whole idea has always seemed so crappy to me. A cutesy wutesy family is lost, an annoying robot warns of danger and for some reason, the annoying kid is best pals with the cowardly bastard who'd sell them all out in a heartbeat and does nothing but whine. I'm sure they'll revamp it with a new lick of paint, but.....anyway you cut it: yawn.

And I'm not boycotting the WB since it won't matter anyway. I'm not a Nielssen household. But the only other thing of theirs I watch is Gilmore Girls. (It's cute.)

Too bad that when I will gloat and laugh at the WB's new shows going down in flames, I will have to feel sorry for Doug too.

EdDantes | February 24, 22:13 CET

BTW - Ed for the record according to all reports they axed Dr. Smith off this new version.

Basically it's the Swiss Family Robinson in Space

[ edited by RavenU on 2004-02-24 20:23 ]

RavenU | February 24, 22:22 CET

Ugh. Swiss Family Robinson in Space? That's why the WB wants it. It fits in with their whole family drama with photogenic teens profile. I wish Doug Petrie the best of luck, but this doesn't sound even remotely interesting.

There's nothing else on the WB except the occasional Gilmore Girls ep that I find watchable and it's certainly not appointment tv. I'd rather read a book.

punkinpuss | February 24, 23:48 CET

BTW - Ed for the record according to all reports they axed Dr. Smith off this new version

Ah, didn't know that. Not that it matters much. One annoying character down, but also the only one that stood out. Won't make it more interesting.

And yeah Swiss Family Robinson in space. Is there actually anyone who considers that a cool idea? Oy and punkkinpuss is right, it's on the WB, so maybe it's gonna be '7th heaven' in space!

*shiver*

EdDantes | February 24, 23:53 CET

"Lost in Space was originally picked as a TV movie for the WB but as of late, within the last month or so, they changed it to an actual series. Thus putting it in direct competition with Angel, and actually may have had a hand in it's cancelation since the WB needed to make room in it's schedule by only 2 hours - Angel being one of those hours.

The original plan by the WB was to have the movie in 2004 season and then come out with the series in 2005 if the movie was a hit. However, something changed in that plan and moved it from a movie to a series.- RavenU

Sorry thats a flawed history lesson. Initially Lost In Space was intended as a telefilm on NBC as a backdoor pilot in the 2001/2 Season(backsoor means something else that doubles as a pilot, its a cost effective way of doing these things). This idea was scrapped after the death of Johnathan Harris.

20th Century Fox then bought the remake rights to a number of old sci fi series including Lost in Space. This was all long long before Petrie and John Woo became involved. (season 6 of Buffy)

Two Seasons Latter John Woo, Doug Petrie, Sythesis Ent and 20th Century Fox teamed up to pitch the show. This was back in septempber (its one of the earliest shows being pitched). On October the 9th 2003 (barely a week after season 5 of Angel premiered, and the same day that Angel was picked up for the full 22 eps), the WB emerged as the winners of a costly bidding war. At least 3 other networks were also involved, which is why the pilot fee is so hefty. The licence fee is $1.2 million per episode on an escalator scale that rises to the full production cost by the fifth year. (for ref Firefly was $1.3 per ep, and thats considered pricey for a new show). The deal practically guaranteed Lost In Space will be on the fall schedule in 2004.

the scrapped NBC Lost In Space has nothing to do with WB/20th Century Fox Lost in Space, this version has always been a pilot.

ETA - This show has nothing to do with Angels cancellation, asside from the fact that it may possibly take its slot (like any of the other pilots in production for the WB). If you ask me the WB always intended to cancel either Angel or Charmed, only the faillure of their fall shows held them off, and they finally broke through with One Tree Hill (whose survival is linked now to its ratings and how good the 6 drama pilots in production turn out)

[ edited by Ocipital on 2004-02-24 22:34 ]

Ocipital | February 25, 00:15 CET

just me too-ing in here.

gods, i LOVE petrie (we're alumni of the same institution of higher education, yay US!), but EWWWWWWW!!! i can't see how it might be salvageable.

well, at least, it's not Reality TV Lost in Space. Though, if they sent the head of WB out there, we'd all pitch in to get it started, right? :)

leenah | February 25, 00:18 CET

So is Doug Petrie no longer involved in Tru Calling? I can't see how he could do both.

zz9 | February 25, 02:20 CET