Blade: The Series may be down, but hopefully it isn't out. 197 of you have cast your vote for the networks you think should save our favorite vampire series. Below are the results as well as my take on the different networks.
Which Network Should Pick Up Blade?
SciFi Channel: 50% (98)
FX: 17% (33)
USA: 9% (18)
HBO: 9% (18)
TNT: 5% (10)
Showtime: 5% (10)
TBS: 3% (6)
G4: 2% (4)
Total Votes: 197
It's not a surprise to see the SciFi channel catching most of the votes, but to have 50% of the votes is quite amazing. I was also a bit surprised to see FX as the second spot and thought G4 would have had a better showing (though I'm glad it didn't). Instead of doing just a brief bit on the results, I've decided to compile a list of my thoughts on each network, including why I think they may or may not be a good fit for Blade. They are ordered in the original order of the poll as to not throw in too much bias.
USAThe USA Network has my favorite tagline of all networks "characters welcome" as well as definitely having some potential for being a good home for
Blade: The Series. With original shows like Monk, The 4400 and The Dead Zone, the network has shown to be open to new and original programming. Both The Dead Zone and The 4400 have Science Fiction/Fantasy elements to them that could compliment
Blade: The Series, though Blade is likely too dark and violent for the network.
SciFi Channel The SciFi Channel is my personal pick for the station to pick up Blade. The station has definitely proved loyalty to it's shows, such as supporting the Stargate shows as well as turning the Battlestar Galactica miniseries into a full-blown regular series. While shows like Stargate and the new Eureka are a little lighter in tone, Battlestar Galactica has shown that the SciFi Channel is definitely okay with more mature content. With Stargate SG-1 ending this year, the only real question would be whether or not the SciFi Channel is up for a fantasy show when most (if not all) of their original shows are more science fiction.
TNT "We know drama" is TNT's slogan, and unfortunately it likely means it's not even considering
Blade: The Series. They've got mostly police and lawyer dramas with shows like The Closer and a seemingly infinite supply of Law & Order reruns. However, the network did air Stephen King's Nightmares & Dreamscapes, so perhaps the station
is open to some more horror related shows.
FXThe big original shows that FX airs are Nip/Tuck, The Shield, and the new Rescue Me - all dramas. While that may seem to count the network out as a Blade "pickerupper", keep in mind that reruns of Buffy the Vampire Slayer are aired nearly every morning. Perhaps the station would be able to leverage their existing vampire lovers?
G4I personally really hope
Blade: The Series doesn't end up on G4. The network used to be a gaming network, then a combination of gaming and technology, and now it has become a hodge podge of crap (in my opinion of course). The network rarely airs anything "geek" related (unless professional wrestling became a favorite nerd pastime at some point). With the network trying to find itself, it's been adding and dropping shows like crazy. I don't want Blade to be picked up for a season only to be dropped again because the G4 execs decide to turn the network into a
documentaries only channel. G4 is the closest thing to Spike TV, however, airing similar programming and targeting similar demographics. As such, there's a chance it might think it can do better with Spike TV's leftovers.
TBSTBS really has no shot at picking up the Blade show. I believe they only air reruns and movies as I was unable to find any original programming on the station at all. Even then, just about all reruns shown are comedies so a mature fantasy/horror show like
Blade: The Series would likely fail miserably with their average audience.
HBOHBO has an incredible amount of original programming. From Deadwood and The Sopranos to Entourage and Curb Your Enthusiasm, HBO has a full spectrum of shows. Most shows on HBO are also incredibly well done with a decent amount of support from the network. Besides the problem that the station requires paid subscription,
Blade: The Series just doesn't seem to be a good fit for the channel. The closest show would probably be the now cancelled Carnivale, but even that was a whole different kind of show than Blade.
Showtime Showtime has many of the advantages and disadvantages of HBO though it doesn't really have the same quantity or quality of original programming that HBO has nor does it really have any fantasy/horror type shows. I believe Showtime was the original network to air Stargate SG-1, so perhaps the network does have the capability and willingness to pickup
Blade: The Series.
So there you have it, a batch of networks that could potentially save
Blade: The Series. While I think the SciFi Channel is both the best choice as well as the most likely choice, networks like FX, USA, and HBO all have track records and existing programming that may make Blade a good fit.
[tags]Blade second season, SciFi Channel, USA network, HBO, FX, G4[/tags]