This last week, two sad moments in television marked the beginning of the end for science fiction on the small screen.
First, one of the last science fiction series that fans cared about (though I wasn't one of them), "Battlestar Galactica," closed down for good last Saturday after four seasons.
That sound you hear is millions of Cylon lovers sobbing uncontrollably in their plastic "Battlestar Galactica" cereal bowls. Now there's only ABC's "Lost" to look forward to.
The second thing that happened is the Sci Fi channel changed its name to the Syfy channel, signaling the network's attempt to pull away from the geeky, ultra-nerdy reference to the term "science fiction."
Instead, Syfy (which is pronounced the same) looks like a word to describe a species of lizard. What it is not is an über-hip brand for a television network, which just goes to show what television executives think of science fiction fans.
It's OK for you fans of speculative fiction television to cry. I have been weeping for the state of science fiction on TV since the original "Star Trek" went off the air in 1969. I'm used to such setbacks for my favorite genre.
The fact is, despite fits of good programming here and there over the years -- ABC's "Masters of Science Fiction," the first season of "Heroes," -- truly masterful genre shows have been few and far between.
That's why I argue the reason fans have liked sub-par shows like "Battlestar Galactica," "Stargate," or "Babylon 5" is because they're desperate for anything half-way decent that has aliens or starships in it.
"Star Trek: The Next Generation" stripped away much of the humanity, humor and inter-relationships of the original series, and so did the other failed attempts at reviving the "Trek" franchise.
"The X-Files" mostly just messed with fans minds, never answering important questions to any satisfaction. This season's "Fringe" is just an "X-Files" wannabe full of caricatures instead of real characters. Simliarly, Fox's "Dollhouse" has been a disappointment.
Meanwhile, Sci-Fi -- I mean Syfy -- produces some of the worst series and made-for-TV movies this side of Alpha Centauri.
Can science fiction truly make a comeback on television? Don't expect it anytime soon.
The only notable entry will be "Caprica" this summer, a prequel to "Battlestar." But even the once-diehard "Battlestar" fans I've talked to are not looking forward to this series.
As far as I'm concerned, it's been a long, lifeless drought for science fiction television. Something good better come soon or fans like me will collectively press our phasers to our temples and pull the triggers.
