I don't watch much television anymore, at least new ones. I tend to watch Netflix shows on weekends, and I watch the occasional sitcom. However, mostly, I don't have the time to watch television, nor, in some cases, do I have the interest. However, I do follow the news somewhat infrequently, and I am aware of new TV shows. Some of the new shows include anthologies, such as True Detective, or American Horror Story. However, both of the aforementioned series are both season long anthologies, not episode based anthologies. What prompted this article was the announcement of "Scream Queens," another anthology produced by Glee's Ryan Murphy (The announcement included that Murphy hoped to create a new genre "Horror-Comedy", a genre which has existed since the Forties, and has even had modern examples, like "Scream," and "Cabin in the Woods," but that is neither here nor now.) This one is said to be an episode anthology series, meaning each episode tells a different story. This got me thinking: What about science fiction? There haven't been any good science fiction anthology shows in a while. Could there be another sci-fi anthology on the horizon, given the recent interest in anthology shows.
Science Fiction anthologies have been around since the 50's, largely shows like Science Fiction Theatre (remembered primarily for a reference in Back in the Future). However, the show that would forever codify the genre was Rod Serling's seminal 1959 series "The Twilight Zone." In the Twilight Zone, Serling used science fiction and fantasy tropes to comment on social or everyday ills. He made modern-day parables, using strange events to hammer the point. Another show to use similar devices was the 1961 show "The Outer Limits." Whilst never as good as the Twilight Zone, it nevertheless used a similar approach (albeit with monsters and aliens, and primarily sci-fi elements): use fantastic elements to give a moral to the story. And those are just the most famous examples. Britain had "Out of this World," and Journey to the Unknown," several short-lived shows of the 80's and 90's included "Amazing Stories," "Ray Bradbury Theatre", and "Masters of Science Fiction."
So, could a science fiction anthology show be successful? Well, one might say that the Twilight Zone could be revived. That would work... except they already did that. Twice. One in 1985 (ran for three seasons), and one in 2002 (ran for only one season). Whilst neither of those were bad (I actually quite like them), reviving it again might ring out any sort of potential from the franchise. The Outer Limits was also revived in 1996 (and the revival actually ran longer than the original did.) So, instead of reviving old series, why don't we stick to creating new ones? Creating one shouldn't be hard: the effects for tv SF is not the greatest, so the budget can be kept low. The CW can create effects for supernatural tv shows on a TV budget, so a Sci-fi show should fare the same. Also, there are plenty of stories to adapt. There are many science fiction magazines, and fanzines, which publish great stories. So, given these facts, are new science fiction anthologies on the horizon. Well, SyFy is slowly returning to its roots (hopefully abandoning that asinine name as well), making a fairly hard science fiction show "Ascension." Perhaps they could create an anthology show. Or perhaps another channel looking for interesting material, like AMC or HBO. So, will there be another great science fiction anthology show? Only time will tell.
Science Fiction anthologies have been around since the 50's, largely shows like Science Fiction Theatre (remembered primarily for a reference in Back in the Future). However, the show that would forever codify the genre was Rod Serling's seminal 1959 series "The Twilight Zone." In the Twilight Zone, Serling used science fiction and fantasy tropes to comment on social or everyday ills. He made modern-day parables, using strange events to hammer the point. Another show to use similar devices was the 1961 show "The Outer Limits." Whilst never as good as the Twilight Zone, it nevertheless used a similar approach (albeit with monsters and aliens, and primarily sci-fi elements): use fantastic elements to give a moral to the story. And those are just the most famous examples. Britain had "Out of this World," and Journey to the Unknown," several short-lived shows of the 80's and 90's included "Amazing Stories," "Ray Bradbury Theatre", and "Masters of Science Fiction."
So, could a science fiction anthology show be successful? Well, one might say that the Twilight Zone could be revived. That would work... except they already did that. Twice. One in 1985 (ran for three seasons), and one in 2002 (ran for only one season). Whilst neither of those were bad (I actually quite like them), reviving it again might ring out any sort of potential from the franchise. The Outer Limits was also revived in 1996 (and the revival actually ran longer than the original did.) So, instead of reviving old series, why don't we stick to creating new ones? Creating one shouldn't be hard: the effects for tv SF is not the greatest, so the budget can be kept low. The CW can create effects for supernatural tv shows on a TV budget, so a Sci-fi show should fare the same. Also, there are plenty of stories to adapt. There are many science fiction magazines, and fanzines, which publish great stories. So, given these facts, are new science fiction anthologies on the horizon. Well, SyFy is slowly returning to its roots (hopefully abandoning that asinine name as well), making a fairly hard science fiction show "Ascension." Perhaps they could create an anthology show. Or perhaps another channel looking for interesting material, like AMC or HBO. So, will there be another great science fiction anthology show? Only time will tell.
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