Controversial The IMDF Conflict Zone!

Mad-Pac

Member: Rank 5
Hi everyone. Yes, I'm still here and willing to carry on with the Sages. I've read some interesting ideas in this thread. If Mad-pac still wants to make his "Where do we go next?" post we can make formal suggestions and start voting.
Fantastic! From the ashes we rise! I'll post the thread this Sunday.


I wouldn't be averse to doing a longer show on a separate basis when I have more time (still in our busy season at work for now.)
Yes, a long show would be more demanding and then everybody has to be quite sure the show is minimally interesting, otherwise most will drop ou. Personally, I have interest in "Land of the Giants" and "Space: 1999." There might be others which do not occur to me at the moment.
 

michaellevenson

Moderator
Staff member
Ant-Mac has a very good idea, better than my own, that is just nominating season 1 of a longer show , at the end of which take a vote to see where we stand.
That would mean Space 1999 24 episodes, Land of the Giants 26 and Blakes7 only 13.
Myself,AntMac, Dr Omega, Chainsaw Metal 1,have all already stated a keenness for B7 and Cloister56 said the first season only option is one that would be a way to tackle longer shows.
It would be a pity to legislate against even including them on the ballot paper so to speak, particularly as there has been a precedent for this. In the early days of the group I believe Night Gallery season 1 was watched.
 

ant-mac

Member: Rank 9
Ant-Mac has a very good idea, better than my own, that is just nominating season 1 of a longer show , at the end of which take a vote to see where we stand.
That would mean Space 1999 24 episodes, Land of the Giants 26 and Blakes7 only 13.
Myself,AntMac, Dr Omega, Chainsaw Metal 1,have all already stated a keenness for B7 and Cloister56 said the first season only option is one that would be a way to tackle longer shows.
It would be a pity to legislate against even including them on the ballot paper so to speak, particularly as there has been a precedent for this. In the early days of the group I believe Night Gallery season 1 was watched.
Well, if it's going to be a democratic vote, then surely it'll be up to the majority to decide, won't it?

The only thing I would ask is that whatever TV show is finally chosen should be available on YouTube for free, so that everyone who wants to can participate.

However, on a personal note, I hope that BLAKE'S 7 manages to get up - or at least its first season to begin with. I know I'm not alone in this desire.
 

Mad-Pac

Member: Rank 5
Well, if it's going to be a democratic vote, then surely it'll be up to the majority to decide, won't it?

The only thing I would ask is that whatever TV show is finally chosen should be available on YouTube for free, so that everyone who wants to can participate.

However, on a personal note, I hope that BLAKE'S 7 manages to get up - or at least its first season to begin with. I know I'm not alone in this desire.
Surely the best way to procede is one in which we can reach a democratic consensus. In the old times, we had a team determined to maintain the original spirit of the group, so some shows would simply not be included. I'm aware of the fact that now things are likely to change and these are new times. However, when rules were clear, and certain shows could or couldn't even be nominated, we all knew exactly what we were signing up for. This is important, because I think it shows poor sportsmanship if somebody says or acts like "if it goes my way, I'm in, otherwise I'll pass and join next time we vote." That being said, I'm not sure I could commit to a one season viewing.

The thing is that we tend to be obsessed completists. The fun part was learning *everything* there was to know about a show. And there was a certain curiosity to know what went wrong, why was this show cancelled, what could possibly have happened after that. Imagine, say, watching only season 1 of Smallville, with its 10 years of airing! What would we really know about the show in one season? Not much, because it changed a great deal subsequently.

Leaving something in the middle wouldn't be a problem for Blacke's 7 fans, who probably already know the entire show by heart, but it would be a problem for me. There's no way I'm just going to watch the first season. If I start, I'll have to go all the way. At the same time, all the way means an entire year. To me a group that watches first seasons ("Sages of the First Season Only") is like a book club that only reads first chapters.

We've reached that impasse other times, and the consensus was that there were still new and interesting one-season shows we could find. So, long story short, a first season may be picked, I can't guarantee I'll participate. As I said, there are certain shows I might consider watching the entire thing, specifically "Space: 1999" and "Land of the Giants," but brimfin has just mentioned that he'll be willing to try longer shows, but at the present time this is too time consuming because he's busy, so if he's involved, I'll do my best to accommodate him. All in all, when we start voting, I prefer to sign a blank check which is good and anybody can cash and which I'll honor.

I'll post the "where do we go next thread?" thread and it will be more flexible this time. Let's just hope everybody or at least most of us, feel satisfied enough with the result.

As for Youtube availability, this is also a problem with encountered. In our experience, we generally preferred this bold approach of choosing a show first and then doing our best to get it somehow. At times it seemed somebody wouldn't find it, but in the end, we all usually did. Sometimes people bought the DVDs, other times they already had them. In others, we were lucky to find the show streamed somewhere, or the show was available at Netflix or Hulu. Since I don't have access to Hulu or American or British or Australian Netflix, I often used torrents. The way I see things, I don't find much difference between watching on Youtube a show that was illegally uploaded there, therefore giving views to the pirate uploader, who can monetize somebody else's show at least until he gets a copyright strike, or torrenting a show illegally uploaded to the web. So, some way or another we usually managed to find the show. And once when we were talking about a specifically very, very hard show to find, I suggested that I would upload each episode to my Google Drive and you guys could download it as if we were talking about a lending library system. So, I don't see why we should limit ourselves to Youtube.

Anyway, let's keep talking about this. It's becoming productive. But before I make any final personal decisions, I really want to know what brimfin thinks about all of that.
 
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michaellevenson

Moderator
Staff member
Like you I don't have Netflix, hulu or anything like that, just youtube or DVDs. I think youtube available shows only would be fair, that should cover everything. Looking at the suggestions everyone has been careful in mentioning only such shows that are available.
As for length, one episode per week is one per week whatever the length of the series. In return for being a bit flexible and allowing a longer show, we could have a " how-are-we-all-getting -along?" discussion after every FIVE episodes if you like. If anyone especially the head of our group , says "sorry I can't get into this" then we stop.
As Ant Mac says lets put it to the test democratically and see who votes for what.
I certainly didn't know what to expect from Earth 2 or TR 2070 but gave it a go and was pleasantly surprised, you might find unexpected delight in a hitherto unfamiliar (to you) show. We only live once so take a chance!
 

chainsaw_metal1

Member: Rank 8
I think that youtube is probably the best choice. I do have Netfilix and Hulu, but they are weird about the shows they choose to carry. So @michaellevenson when do we choose? Personally, I'm quite looking forward to throwing my hat in for Blake's 7. It's a classic that I think everyone involved will enjoy.
 

Mad-Pac

Member: Rank 5
Like you I don't have Netflix, hulu or anything like that, just youtube or DVDs.
Or torrents. Or one of us uploads the episodes and loans them to the others, as I've explained. In fact I have one show in mind for which we could do just that. Limiting for youtube only shows would seriously limit our choices. If you already have the DVD and the others are willing to get the show from other sources, wouldn't you like to enjoy the DVDs this way?

Looking at the suggestions everyone has been careful in mentioning only such shows that are available.
I don't want to have to be limited to those. Besides, my Internet connection is not very reliable, so long Youtube videos can become a painful experience to me. I'd much rather download the whole thing and be sure I'll be able to watch it instead of having it paused every 15 seconds and seeing that dreadful reloading wheel going round and round and round... Besides, the image quality on Youtube is often horrible. So, even if I can find an illegally uploaded show on Youtube, I'd much rather enjoy it through an illegally downloaded torrent.

As for length, one episode per week is one per week whatever the length of the series. In return for being a bit flexible and allowing a longer show, we could have a " how-are-we-all-getting -along?" discussion after every FIVE episodes if you like. If anyone especially the head of our group , says "sorry I can't get into this" then we stop.
Indeed we already have this "exit clause" through which we evaluate in the middle of the season if we want to continue. But I've learned to see that as a mere formality, because we ALWAYS say we'll continue, no matter what. Not even once ever since I started in 2011 the group said "stop." The Night Gallery incident was an isolated experiment that happened before my time.

I certainly didn't know what to expect from Earth 2 or TR 2070 but gave it a go and was pleasantly surprised, you might find unexpected delight in a hitherto unfamiliar (to you) show. We only live once so take a chance!
Yes, but Earth 2 was only 21 eps and TR2070, 22. And you could watch the whole thing if you gave it a try. Same with UFO, though that was a little lengthier, but I defended it anyway because it was contained in a sigle season. Same with The Prisoner, another show that was deeply divisive, but I supported it.
 

Mad-Pac

Member: Rank 5
Addendum:

I've had a little change of heart. Perhaps we could consider a new category of shows. Instead of just shows that were cancelled after one season (or two short ones), we could have a category for "shows that SHOULD'VE BEEN CANCELLED after the first season." Sometimes the show is made as a single-season story, or a miniseries, but it becomes so popular that the network decides to milk it with five more seasons which just ruin everything! Or sometimes the show starts and it's so terrible, then they change EVERYTHING in the name of ratings and we get this weird hybrid things that is two shows for the price of one. I can think of a couple shows that would fit into that category and I'm ready to justify and explain why only the first season matters, because that's the only part worth caring about. I'll make a list.
 

michaellevenson

Moderator
Staff member
I think that youtube is probably the best choice. I do have Netfilix and Hulu, but they are weird about the shows they choose to carry. So @michaellevenson when do we choose? Personally, I'm quite looking forward to throwing my hat in for Blake's 7. It's a classic that I think everyone involved will enjoy.
Excellent, an American who enjoys B7. It is a show for all to like.
Here is the guy with the coolest voice of all , The King , Elvis , over some B7 clips, it may intrigue some who are in two minds.
BTW Mad Pac organizes the vote not me.
 

Mad-Pac

Member: Rank 5
Where do we go next?


So, fellow Sages of the Single Season, honorary Sages, Sage apprentices and non-Sage guests... like we have always done after a show, it's time to present nominations for the next show.

I'll divide the nominations in two categories

1. Standard SotSS nominations. As always, nominate a cancelled show or miniseries, preferably contained in a single season. 30 episodes or less. With a little change: nominate as many as you wish; the more the merrier. And since we're being democratic and no longer excluding shows, you don't have to limit yourself to shows on Youtube, but it will greatly improve the chances of your show to be picked if you find an alternate source for it.

In order to tell show nominations and chatter apart, please write the name of the show linking it to the show's IMDB page. For instance, if you nominate Total Recall 2070 (which you won't because we've already been there), then you'd write like this: Total Recall 2070.

2. Non-standard SotSS nominations. In this part anything goes. Any one season (Say, season 5 of Lost), or a couple of seasons (seasons 2 and 4 of Game of Thrones), a story arc (like when Michael tried to introduce Dr. Who to the rest of us but did not succeed), even a few episodes or parts of an episode! A show or show fragment may be picked from this category, but you also will have great freedom not to engage if the idea of an extra long show or just part of a show doesn't appeal to you. Again, linking will be extremely appreciated.

My suggestion for this category is that you nominate shows that drastically changed after season 1. maybe they were originally planned as a single season show and were artificially bloated for ratings. Maybe the show changed a great deal to obtain better ratings. It would be interesting to nominate seasons after which there was a dramatic increase or drop in quality.

One last thing. This is a thread for nominations only. These nominations will not count as votes. Votes will be made on a separate thread.
 
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michaellevenson

Moderator
Staff member
I love that video! Thanks for sharing it!

I remember it being shown over here when I was still pretty young, and thought it was great. But I've always been wired differently than most Americans.

And now that I have the straight poop, @Mad-Pac, when do we vote?
Glad you liked it. Benny Hill was big in The States so you may crease up when you see this. B7 with Hill accompaniment. The creator of this vid has been a genius for showing us The Liberator whenever " Milkcart" is sung
 

michaellevenson

Moderator
Staff member
To elaborate a bit;
Blakes7 -first season only then we have a vote to see if everyone is on board still - 13 episodes.
Star Cops - 9 episodes of a really serious attempt to depict life on the lunar colonies , involving NASA in the production thought process.
Catweazle - yep OK a kids show about a wizard from 1066 falling through time and befriended by a farm lad . I honestly cried when seeing the end of series 1 . Two series of 13 episodes each.
 
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