Last year, a pilot was made for a TV show based on Warren Ellis’ Global Frequency, a series of one-shot stories about a worldwide organization of on-call specialists who take down threats to humanity. JMS would have been involved if it had been picked up. It didn’t make it to the air, though it was shopped around. And a few months ago, the pilot was leaked onto the internet, becoming wildly popular. This morning, Ellis posted the following remark in his email newsletter, Bad Signal:
It’s my current understanding that the bittorrenting of GLOBAL FREQUENCY has rendered it as dead as dead can get as a TV series. It seems that people in high places did not take kindly to the leak. I have no further details, so don’t ask.
Nice going, guys.
Sure, you can put the immediate blame on the suits who didn’t like being proved wrong about the show’s appeal… but it also reminds me of when the creators of Battlestar Galactica practically begged their fans to wait a few weeks and watch it on TV instead of downloading it off the net so that they’d get high enough ratings to be renewed.
For now, the only way to get Global Frequency remains the original, collected into two volumes: Planet Ablaze and Detonation Radio.
WB execs might be pissed about the bittorrenting of GF, but you’re right that what they’re really pissed about is that they screwed up. Buzz on the WB’s fall lineup has EVERY NEW SHOW [including wretched midseason replacement “Misconceptions”] crashing and burning. Add that to the fact that two of its hits– Charmed and 7th Heaven– are past retirement age and its hottest show– One Tree Hill– could collapse in the wake of marital problems between two of its stars. Knowing this, the chances suddenly look less small at the WB won’t find a place for GF next fall.
Yeah, sure, they’re pissed now. But if GF can get more publicity and really get going globally, it’ll be brought back. WB execs may be stubborn grudge-holders, but they’re ulitmately television execs and they know they have to give the people what they want. It’s just up to GF fans to let them know that GF is what we want. I’ll be examining GF’s prospects further soon on my blog, if you’re interested [https://assistantatlas.blogspot.com] But GF ain’t dead. Not until Mo’nique starts singing.