TV Show Renewal News

[Mickey Finn]

We should hear something this month or next month.

I've started this thread so you folks can have a place to look (as opposed to the many threads of speculation in the TV section) that's fairly straightforward.

If you have news, feel free to PM me so I can post it here.

For instance, I found this from John T. Folden, which gave me the idea to start this thread:

An article over at The Hollywood Reporter includes reference to a comment from Kevin Beggs of Lionsgate, it says:

Kevin Beggs, Lionsgate president of television programming and production, says the studio has come a long way since he was tapped to start up the TV business in 1998, pointing out that it now has a total of seven scripted series on its slate, which also includes Showtime's "Weeds," USA Network's "The Dead Zone," Sci Fi Channel's "The Dresden Files" and ABC Family's "Wildfire." Lionsgate has seen its TV business grow from $8 million in revenue in fiscal-year 2000 to $133 million in fiscal-year 2006.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/features/columns/tv_reporter/e3i6f25c291d2ee86e6f9d25e4fb9e956c2

Now, this really doesn't have much to do with a renewal directly BUT it's promising that TDF was mentioned as being one of the 7 on the slate.

As he said, it's promising....but also keep in mind that as the show is still in flux, Lionsgate is still going to tout it as in existance to make their numbers look better for a press release. This does NOT mean it's been renewed, and Lionsgate accidently leaked the info first.  But it is promising.


On a side note, hearing other shows on other networks (or BSG on SciFi) getting renewed but no word on Dresden is not a cause for alarm. BSG got an early go ahead, and Blood Ties is a different network with a different demographic. (Also, Blood Ties' "2nd season" on Lifetime is really the 2nd half of the full season in Canada, where the show is from.)

When we hear one way or another, officially, the title of this thread will change to reflect the outcome.

[Mickey Finn]

Side news from crazedrabbit*:

Info from Lionsgate Home Video

DRESDEN FILES SEASON 1 - DVD
Key Selling Points:

• The Complete Season One
• Aired Spring 2007 on the SciFi Channel
• Top 20 (#16) most downloaded TV shows from iTUNES (2/20/07)
• "Dresden is as beautiful to watch as it is intelligent and witty to hear" - The Hollywood Reporter
• "Brooding, seductive and smart" - The Hollywood Reporter
• "Harry Potter meets CSI" - The Christian Science Monitor

Special Features:
• Original pilot episode and specially produced featurettes
• Audio Commentary
• A "Making of" Featurette
• Deleted Scenes

Screen Format: Widescreen
Language/Subtitles: English
Audio: 5.1
Rating: NR
Run Time: 530
CC: Yes
Color: Color
Website: http://www.scifi.com/dresden
Copyright: © MMVII Lions Gate Television Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Pre-Order Date: 7/11/07 (You will be able to order from stores and online stores earlier than this).
Street Date: 8/7/07
SRP: $39.98

*http://www.dresdenfiles.org/


and from Robert Wolfe:

I just did DVD commentaries for "Rules of Engagement" and "Things That Go Bump" with Paul and Michael Grossman the other day, so I'd say DVDs are 99.99% likely.

[Mickey Finn]

May 18:

In exchanging some emails with a SciFi publicity person, I asked if they had any news yet on the Dresden Files.  She indicated that no decision had been made yet.



Lee

[Mickey Finn]

May 22, from chupie:

I received this today:

Thank you for signing the petition, we have received over 5000 signatures
and have now officially sent it off to the producers again, we have
already heard back from them (well their PR person) and they were quite
surprised with the effort.  Still no final decision has been made yet, I
was quoted on mid June for a public launch of the decision.

[Mickey Finn]

It's mid-June. We still don't know.

If anything, that may be good news...if they WANTED to cancel it, they would have done so by now. This suggests that negotiations are still going on.  Back in March, Robert Wolfe said this (and it's the last word we heard on the subject, from anyone in the know):

Not to worry.  All the actors are under contract for Season Two.  We just have to wait for SciFi to go through their normal end of season decision making process.  How many nights are they going to program for?  How many hours of original programming do they need?  What's their budget?  When do they want shows to premiere?  How did their other pilots turn out?  That sort of thing.

I expect we will know something by mid to late June at the very latest.

For all we know, they could have already decided to renew, but have not made the announcement as yet, because they're waiting on one final piece of the contracts to fall in place. There are other contracts than the actors to be concerned about.

[Mickey Finn]

Robert mentioned this on the Ex Isle boards today. This is the quote in entirety:

Still not any solid news. Honestly, things look pretty dicey. We'll know one way or another pretty soon probably.

That's all he said, so far. It's a very vague comment that could mean anything from "they're an inch aware from canceling" to "well, we're having some problems with negotiations, so it's touch and go as to what will happen in the end."

Check the TV forums for potential mailing of items, etc, should it be cancelled. My personal suggestion? Lots and lots of Hammers. But that's just me.

[Mickey Finn]

More from Robert:

Quote from: SwordofCharity on June 18, 2007, 08:49:01 PM

Mr. Wolfe, would you help us help you? We need to know if now is the time to push SciFi. We've got ideas, we just need to know when to go for it.

Also, could you please give our board an update on any schedules or deadlines for the series renewal decision.?

Thanks!

I suppose now is as good a time to push as any, though, honestly, I'm not sure it will help.

The decision was supposed to be made last Friday, but it wasn't, so that's something at least.

[Mickey Finn]

This isn't news, but it is a good point from Guardian 452:

One thing to remember about the TV show is they shot it in Canada.  Now ACTRA, the Canadian version of the Screen Actor's Guild (more or less...it's actually a bit more than that, but close enough) was in the middle of a strike while season one was being shot.  I asked Robert about this, and he confirmed that they had an agreement with the union to actually get season one finished.

I bring this up because a quick look at the ACTRA website shows that a tentative agreement has been reached.  The key word there is tentative...it's possible that various networks need to hammer out their own agreements with ACTRA.

Assuming that season 2 would be shot in Toronto as well, they need to sort that out.  If plans were to shoot elsewhere, that also would have to be worked out before the show was announced.  Of course both of these things would take time, and none of the parties involved could talk about them while negotiations were ongoing.

This could be a budgetary factor influencing Bonnie Hammer's decision.

[Mickey Finn]

From Hawkfu:

this is from Michael Ausiello, the tv guide news and gossip guy:

Question: Sci Fi seems to be dragging its feet regarding the renewal of The Dresden Files. Do you have any info on this?— Kathy

Ausiello: My sources say the show is toast, but a Sci Fi rep insists that no decision has been made. Do with that what you will.

[Mickey Finn]

From Yeratel on July 14:

There's a new thread on the SciFi Dresden Forum saying "expect an announcement next week."
http://forums.scifi.com/index.php?showtopic=2281064