Sci-fi takes over the airwaves

“So say we all!”

“Battlestar Galactica” fans will recognize that phrase as the rallying cry heard throughout the recently wrapped, critically acclaimed Syfy (formerly Sci Fi) Channel series.

But lately, it seems as though that same rallying cry is coming from the TV networks, where a few hit science fiction shows (“Galactica,” “Lost” and others) have spawned a wealth of imitators.

ABC’s second-week showing of its new series “V,” a remake of the identically named 1983 original miniseries about reptilian aliens coming to Earth to steal our water, pulled in 10.7 million viewers. Its premiere episode had 14.3 million viewers overall and had the most viewers ages 18 to 49 (a much-coveted demographic) for any 8 p.m. drama since the premiere of — you guessed it — “Lost,” in 2004.

Science fiction TV, it would seem, is hot stuff.

“It’s funny,” said Michael Hinman, founder and site coordinator of popular science fiction entertainment news Web site Airlock Alpha (www.airlockalpha.com). “When we first started the site back in 1998, there was really little on television for us to cover. It was mostly “Star Trek: Voyager,” the end of “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine,” “Earth: Final Conflict” and maybe another show here and there. But in recent years, there has been a sort of explosion.”

Genre shows now on the air include “Stargate Universe,” “FlashForward,” “Warehouse 13,” “Fringe,” “Heroes,” “Ghost Whisperer,” “Eureka,” “Torchwood” and “Sanctuary.” “Dollhouse,” a fan favorite on Fox, was canceled this week but will stay on the air through January to finish its season.

Hinman attributes the glut of new shows to two things: the bottom line and 9/11.

First off, the business side: “‘Lost’ definitely helped the most recent boom of genre television. Once someone strikes oil, everyone else runs to that field drilling holes.” Or, using another analogy, “If apples start to sell more than grapes,” he said, “then all the fruit stands will load up on apples, no matter what quality they are.”

Secondly? “(It’s) mostly because of the 9/11 mindset, as I call it. Not to minimize 9/11, but since then, people have looked for grittier, mysterious (entertainment) and something considered true escapism. Even eight years later. What better escapism is there than science fiction and fantasy?”

Sci-fi fan John Powers, a University of Nebraska at Omaha graduate student in sociology and president of the UNO UFO Study Group, says the sci-fi boom is about something else entirely:

Quality.

Powers cites “Star Trek” creator Gene Roddenberry’s vision of the show being about a “wagon train to the stars,” a description meaning, essentially, that stories must be about something meaningful or familiar to everyone.

“The best science fiction may have lasers and force screens and teleporters,” Powers said, “but it has to center around the people and the way they react to their settings.”

Powers cited “FlashForward” on ABC, a story about the entirety of Earth getting a simultaneous glimpse of the future, played as a way to discuss fate, destiny and free will.

“I think Roddenberry’s ideas about telling stories about us, that address our problems and humanity by shifting the circumstances, are finally really impacting science fiction creators on TV.”

Contact the writer:

444-1339, wesley.taylor@owh.com