Truth be told, I probably infuriates me just as much as watch more science fiction it did the first time I read these days on BBC America or it. Turner Classic Movies than I I’m not talking about the do on the Sy Fy Channel, writing, nor am I talking Woody Bell, who once ran about the hard work of the Warner Cable in Fayetteville, writers, Sheldon Rampton and told me sometime in the mid- John Stauber, of the Center 1990s that if he had his way, for Media and Democracy. No, Fayetteville cable would I am talking about the story never be offering the Sci they tell, the story of how Channel - as Sy Fy was each of us is shamelessly and known in those day. cynically manipulated by Shocked, I asked him why. I corporate interests who are mean, every science fiction intent on making a profit at fan worth their salt would be all costs, even if truth and flocking to the channel, public safety have to be surely? Isaac Asimov was on trampled in order to do so. their advisory board, for As this book makes clear, we heaven’s sake! all have a tendency to rely Bell explained that he had on “expert opinion,” but how nothing against the offerings often do we rely on this of the channel, but the high opinion without actually amount of infomercials that knowing anything about the ran when there was no actual source of those opinions? programming didn’t make it When we watch scientists worth much of a buy, in his expounding on the news, or opinion. writing in newspapers, or Needless to say, I was aghast. science journals, we want to I would gladly have accepted believe in the sanctity of twelve hours of infomercials science. We don’t want to a day (as long as they were think that men and women of the hours I worked or was science are capable of asleep) as long I got to prostituting themselves or watch watch the Sci Fi their institutions for profit. Channel, damn it! But, as this book makes so Later in the 1990s, the Sci abundantly clear, not only Fi Channel came to are many scientists willing Fayetteville and there was to make any claims for rejoicing in the land. anybody (if the price is Classic TV shows mixed with right), many times they are new offerings. The channel totally unaware not only of seemed a mecca for those who who is paying the bills, but were riddled with creativity. of what exactly they are In recent years, though, the signing their names to. creative folks seem to have There seems to be an been largely banished from underlying belief among those the Sy Fy Channel, and in who would mold public opinion their wake, we find shows that the majority are too about ghost hunters, cute stupid to make up our minds shows that skirt the edge of without “help.” All too often, science fiction (but nothing that help arrives in the form too troubling) and wrestling. of cleverly designed All of this began well campaigns, in the words of before the move to change that great American the name from Sci Fi to Sy philosopher Lamont Cranston, Fy, in an effort to attract “to cloud men’s minds,” in more viewers - hey, we’re order that truth seems less more than just stuff that real than hype, and hype is challenges the mind! We have never doubted. wrestling! Think your emotions are being It’s a strange mix, ranging manipulated daily? There is a from the incredible reason for that. Many Battlestar Galactica reboot corporations employ to reality shows about would- psychologists who give them be superheroes, psychics and advice on the best way to shows where folks scare their “influence” people. “friends” - and people say The use of “third parties” to that public access schedules endorse particular positions, range all over the map! or to attack political or This next season, Sy Fy will environmental activists is be offering viewers a cooking now practically a science. It show. almost seems as though the And the movies! chance of a third party, a Back in the 1950s a lot of “watchdog group” or cheesy science fiction and scientists being truly horror movies came out. Sure, neutral is a thing of the they were bad, but they were past. Today third party fun to watch, and there was “overseers” are often created some honest sincerity in the out of thin air by business film-making of many of them. interests. Like the 1960s Star Trek and Often, they have been either Doctor Who, they did the best handpicked or, in the case of with what they had. “activist” groups which seem The crap that the Sy Fy to echo the claims of Channel runs on Saturday industry, created out of nights (“The Most Dangerous whole cloth, with nary an Night of Television” goes actual citizen to be found. their promotion - well, maybe In the 1990s, 13 scientists if you only have only channel were paid by tobacco and no books to read) is not companies to write letters to in that class. medical journals. In some The films that Sy runs are cases, the letters written by made by producers with “scientists” are actually nothing but the most abject written by public relations contempt for the viewers. And firms. by extension, Sy Fy has the The world of public relations same contempt, because they is one in which only choose to run them. “perceptions” are real; Sharktopus actual truth is considered a Tyrannosaurus Azteca thing of the past. Once you Mega Shark vs Giant Octopus can accept that absurdity, Dinocroc vs. Supergator - almost anything is possible. David Carradine’s last film. As the old saying goes, it’s And lest we forget - all fun and games until Mansquito. This film is so someone loses an eye. It can truly bad that I have often be amusing to read the antics felt that every TV series on of PR firms in their attempt Sy Fy should have Mansquito to delude the public, and guest star at least once - if themselves, that the truth is only to remind us of the only a matter of perception. cruddy network that we are When it comes to the health watching. of innocent people, suddenly There are a few interesting it isn’t funny anymore, and series remaining on Sy Fy, the essentially amoral nature but honestly, if it went out of these PR firms becomes all of business today, who would too patently clear. truly notice? The shows with Yes, this book infuriates me, a real audience would simply because it reveals the deep move on to other networks. contempt so many have for the And then, one day, real average men and women of the channel devoted to science world. Buy this book, share fiction might emerge from the my anger, and then buy it for ashes of the Sy Fy Channel, a someone else. Then, let’s do glorious channel where none something about it. of the executives from the ***** current network would even be Quote of the Day allowed in the doors. Outside of a dog, a book is ****** man’s best friend. Inside of Trust us. We’re Experts! a dog, it’s too hard to read. I recently reread Trust Us, - Groucho Marx We’re Experts! and it rsdrake@cox.net
Tags: Channel, continues, downward, Into, just, Madness, mediocrity, spiral
