Wonderfalls

TELEVISION Specific Shows
21

Hi. My name is Tim Minear and I write television. Usually. Right now I guess I’m writing SPAM. But I’m not asking you to donate to some shady or even worthy cause. I’m not offering to enlarge any of your body parts (though I haven’t ruled it out), and I make no claims of miraculous cures for exotic diseases. What I can offer you is sixty minutes (really about forty five, minus commercials) of quality entertainment if you do one thing: turn on your TV to Fox this Friday night at nine.

For the last year or so I’ve been working with a bunch of really talented people to make a new show for Fox called “Wonderfalls.” We’ve made 13 episodes so far, and I really want you to see them.

Some of the folks at the network are telling me that “Wonderfalls” is the best reviewed new series they’ve had in ages – maybe ever. I’m currently sitting on a stack of raves from all over the country, from major magazines, newspapers, small dailies, internet sites, etc. They seem to be doing me no good. Also, uncomfortable because of the sitting.

The big brains at the network, while happy with the reviews, tell me that good reviews don’t bring in an audience. Guess they were right. We premiered on Friday, March 12th to less than great numbers.

There are several things stacking the odds against us. Our time slot, charmingly known as “The Fox Friday Death Slot” is quickly living up to its name. There has been much confusion and differing opinion over just how to promote this odd little series. Maybe the unique charm, heart and volcanic snark aren’t coming through. I dunno. Fact is, I have no power over network promotion, I can’t force Fox to air “Wonderfalls” on Monday nights, I don’t have a Nielsen box or know anyone who does.

But I do have this keyboard, my cable-modem and a relationship with genre fans all over the world because of the internet. All of the shows I’ve worked on in the last several years have had loyal internet followings. From “Lois and Clark” to “The X-Files,” from “Angel” to the short-lived but much-loved “Firefly.” Ever since I’ve been associated with genre television I’ve had the extreme honor and pleasure (and sometimes hair-pulling madness) of interacting with fans of these shows via the internet.

And I’m turning to you now because I believe you’re a huge untapped resource.

I know that every one of you is connected to many others that I can’t reach. If you can give a hand here, you might be keeping us afloat long enough for us to catch the tide. Worth a shot, anyway.

I know the network wants this show to work. They’re willing for it to work. And if there’s any way that my plea now will help Friday’s numbers tick up just a touch, I think that would be a tremendous sign to them.

The next new episode of “Wonderfalls” airs Friday, March 19th at 9:00pm on Fox. Please tune in and mention it to someone else. Preferably someone with a Nielsen box.

So anyway, I thought I’d mention it. Oh, also, the network is going to repeat our pilot on Thursday, March 18th at 9:00pm after “Tru Calling.” So if you missed it last Friday, here’s your chance to catch it.

Thanks –

Sincerely,
Tim Minear

22

The real Tim Minear or a rabid fan reposting something he put on another board…?

23

Herc ran the same missive on AICN. It was definitely penned by Minear.

24

Well, if you are the real Tim (and who really knows, except for him I guess) I enjoyed the crap out if the first episode and have told many of my friends to watch on Thur. and Fri. I intend to watch it on Fri. and hope the thankless bastards I call friends do so, too.

25

Quote:
Originally posted by Messiahman Herc ran the same missive on AICN. It was definitely penned by Minear.

Yeah, but it doesn’t mean he posted it here.

26

hopefully this plea works. I really am interested in seeing where this show goes in the next few weeks. When did fox become the hot bed of creative tv all of a sudden? And is it any surprise that both wonderfalls and most likely arrested development will be on the verge of cancellation for however long they last?

27

It’s from Tim Minear although I don’t know if he logged into Chud. It was on the Buffy board. I was actually going to post this for him when I found it already here.

I really loved the “volcanic snark” and will be watching again this Friday. I’m just trying not to get too attached simply because it is in the Fox Friday Slot of Death and Doom. They already stomped by heart flat over Firefly.

28

Quote:
I know the network wants this show to work. They’re willing for it to work.

somehow i just can’t believe that. They would much rather have Forever Eden do well for a few weeks than this hard to promote show. Sex is an easier sell and Fox is all for easy. I hope they are happy with the 13 episodes cuz that’s all they are going to get.

29

Heard the hype, but missed the first episode. Caught it tonight. I liked it. Not brain science, but just a good simple show. I am interested in the character development, and the writing seems solid (reminds me a bt of Dead Like Me in style). I’ll definitely check out a few more episodes.

30

I saw most of this on Friday, first time I even heard of it when I turned it on to Fox. I was just turning the channels when I saw it again tonight (thursday); disappointed it was an encore but I wanted newness. Still its fresh. The preview for the second episode definitely increases my hopes so I wish I recorded this encore as I will definitely tell everyone I know to give this love tomorrow.

31

Caught the encore tonight, good stuff. Waiting for the next episode.

32

as far as having the feel of ‘Dead Like Me,’ it should. Bryan Fuller is the series co-creator, along with Todd Holland. Fuller has also done writing stints on ‘Voyager’ and ‘Deep Space Nine.’

i wonder if, after watching so much of someones writing, you become in tune, so to speak, with it?

33

I can’t really figure out why people are spooging over this show.

34

yeah, i remember when people use to have that attitude about ‘firefly.’

(and for the record, i’m not spooging. i’m curiously interested. unless that’s what spooging means. one never knows with kids lingo these days.)

35

I haven’t seen the show yet, but I’ve heard wonderfall things.

36

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37

Not bad, I was entertained. The monkey saying “I love you” was good stuff.

38

I really, really HATE this show. I’ve tried to give it a chance twice, but I’m never going to watch it again. Unfunny, badly cast, and boring.

39

“…and a sister, 35.”

Left it on as background noise. That joke almost made me a fan.

40

I really liked the 1rst episode. Was looking forward to the second one. Was very disapointed, the episode was almost annoying. The copycat thing was too much, and much too early into a new show when you’ve only just been introduced to a new character, and all of a sudden there is two really annoying versions of her? Bad choice.