Sunday 8 May 2011

Poll Result: which one-season wonder deserved seconds?

Sunday 8 May 2011

Last week I asked you to select your favourite "one-season wonder" (a TV series that only lasted a year, before it was prematurely axed.) I know it was a very tricky proposition, but the response was fantastic, with 85 people registering their vote. The results are below, with "other votes" marked with an asterisk:

ONE VOTES – 1.09%
Adventures Of Brisco County Jr, Boomtown, FlashForward, Karen Sisco, Kings, Lights Out, Now & Again, Profit, Rubicon, Time Tunnel, Undeclared, Wonderland, Eleventh Hour*, Lucky Louie*, Zen*, This Is Not My Life*, North Square*, Bionic Woman* & Outcasts*.

6. American Gothic, The Dresden Files,
Invasion, Krod Mandoon & Moonlight – 2.17%
An intriguing bunch of shows, two of which come from writer-producer Shaun Cassidy, who was behind small-town horror American Gothic (about a Sheriff who may be a demon), and small-town sci-fi Invasion (about a Sheriff who may be an alien). Can you spot the subtle motif? I'm a little confused by the affection for unfunny medieval comedy Krod Mandoon, and pretty certain the Alex O'Loughlin fanbase gave Moonlight a minor boost. The Dresden Files is a more appealing one-season wonder, particularly as the concept of magic-in-the-real-world is very popular with this season's pilots. Was it ahead of its time?

5. Lone Star, The Middleman & Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip – 3.26%
I didn't expect Lone Star to be this high, but I'm guessing people just hated how it was taken off-air after two meager episodes. Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip was a show I didn't like, growing quickly bored by mid-season and dropping it from review, but I guess Aaron Sorkin has his fans. The Middleman is very much a cult hit that's started to develop an underground resurgence of interest lately. I agree it's a shame that show never got a chance to bloom fully.

4. Ultraviolet – 4.35%
Now we're talking! Ultraviolet, a late-'90s UK vampire drama that was way ahead of its time; modernizing vampires in ways that pop-culture in the '00s would later embrace. It also gave the world Idris Elba, who filmed the pilot for a US remake of Ultraviolet and then decided to stay in America. Whatever happened to him? Also notable for an early appearance by True Blood's Stephen Moyer, again playing a vampire.

3. Terriers, Whites & Wonderfalls – 5.43%
Maybe the success of Whites is more DMD became a little focal point for the 'Bring Back Whites' campaign awhile ago? But still, great to see that recent BBC comedy has its supporters. Wonderfalls isn't a show I've seen, but I always hear good things about it. Terriers, of course, received a lot of attention last year for its critical acclaim failing to translate into actual viewers.

2. Freaks & Geeks – 7.61%
I'm overjoyed this late-'90s geek comedy-drama is still pulling in the votes. Freaks & Geeks was a wonderful drama with real heart to it, reminding me of The Wonder Years. It was also a notable hotbed of talent, with many of the cast/crew going on to great things: Jason Segel, Seth Rogen, James Franco, Busy Phillips, et al.

1. Firefly – 31.52%
Oh, you guys were too damned predictable. Joss Whedon's sci-fi western Firefly was the expected runaway success, despite the fact it got itself a movie. I suppose it's the one show you can easily imagine having a long, productive, fruitful life if Fox had treated it better, and audiences had latched onto it. A part of me thinks audiences had just had enough of the Star Trek model of sci-fi, and were looking for something totally fresh. Firefly wasn't it. Battlestar Galactica was. Thoughts?