alt title(s): Firefly Effect
The
Firefly Effect refers to viewers being afraid of committing to a new series. "The network is just going to cancel this, so I'm not giving it my heart." This can be a real problem for all the
Lost clones, which are pretty much useless if they don't get more than one season, and especially if they don't get even that (which they often don't).
Even some shows that seemed only feasible over one (22-ep) season anyway (such as
Reunion,
Daybreak,
Kidnapped,
Vanished, and
Drive) suffer from this effect, due to getting shortened to 13. In
Reunion's case, the producers didn't even bother finishing the storyline, because it only made sense over a full 22 episodes rather than the shortened 13.
Incidentally, many of these shows (including the titular
Firefly) were on
Fox.
Coined by
Allyson of
Buffistas Org.
See
Too Good To Last for other examples of shows that have contributed to this effect. Avoiding a show that has ceased its run is
Ending Aversion. Abandoning a show because its plotting has turned out to be crappy is
The Chris Carter Effect.
Examples
- Dollhouse may very well have suffered from this. A show on the infamous Fox by the writer of the Trope Namer, Joss Whedon? Viewers were probably half convinced it wouldn't last half a season even before the Executive Meddling in the pilot was revealed. This may very well have contributed to the low ratings. To everyone's surprise, it was renewed for a second season, so hopefully viewers will be less wary of committing this time around.
- This could be the result of a different sort of "Firefly Effect", as FOX's president of entertainment explained the decision to renew it with the logic that "if we'd canceled Joss' show I'd probably have 110 million e-mails this morning from the fans." Apparently, Firefly's cult status may have shown that even if they never become mainstream hits, Joss Whedon's shows will get enough fans to justify keeping around. (They did cut the budget, however, because they're not going to invest big-hit bucks on what they expect to be nothing more than a cult hit that will hold down a less-than-desirable slot and nothing more.)
- It's worth noting that Whedon HIMSELF was convinced the show was going to get cancelled, in the face of the myriad statements issued by Fox that there was no way it was getting the chop, to the point that the first season's final (unaired episode) is designed to resolve the entire plotline and contains a fourth-wall breaking jab at Fox ("There's butchers in the green room - nothing but dumbshows out here.")
- Oh, and it has been cancelled as of November 11. :( http://whedonesque.com/comments/22328
- Switching networks, there originally was some reluctance over the internet concerning ABC's V, considering it was sci-fi, had an overarching plot, and a remake. Luckily, V still pulled in record numbers for it's premier, and unless catastrophe happens, seems to be well on it's way.
- Flash Forward, on the other hand, seems to be taking a hit from this.
