Monkeys Make It All Better

[jackwabbit]

Well, today's the day. The day Sci-Fi becomes SyFy.  As if we care anymore.

I'd manged to forget about this idiot move until a few days ago, when Wil Wheaton tweeted this:

I hate to be the one telling those who don't know, but here it is: SciFi is changing its name to SyFy. Because they hate Science Fiction.

Then I saw a commercial and I re-read the article explaining it because the link was sent to me.  It offended me as much as it did the first time, with things like this: “The name Sci Fi has been associated with geeks and dysfunctional, antisocial boys in their basements with video games and stuff like that, as opposed to the general public and the female audience in particular,” said TV historian Tim Brooks, who helped launch Sci Fi Channel when he worked at USA Network.  And this: “We spent a lot of time in the ’90s trying to distance the network from science fiction, which is largely why it’s called Sci Fi,” Mr. Brooks said.

I got annoyed at this again, despite the fact that it has no bearing on my actual life whatsoever.

Then the TweetStorm hit.

There was much before and after this, but suffice to say that @thinkgeek made it all okay when they tweeted this: Today in Geek History: Sci-Fi Channel becomes Syfy. ThinkGeek follows suit with ThynkGyk. But not really 'cause that'd be sylly.  Thank you, ThynkGyk! I knew I loved that monkey for a reason!

Comments

[shadow2serenity.livejournal.com]

Wait, so the Sci-Fi Channel is a spin-off of USA or something to that effect? I never knew that. No wonder they're being a bunch of assholes. If they wanted to improve their image and thus their ratings, all they had to do was stop making such Godawful original movies (to wit: 'Mammoth' and 'Sands of Oblivion', neither of which could be resuscitated even by a BDH or two in the cast).

There's nothing wrong with being a geek. Look at Joss Whedon. Look at Nathan Fillion. Hell, look at Adam Baldwin - the epitome of Stealth Geek if there ever was one. Someday an enterprising television exec and loyal Star Wars/Firefly/Doctor Who/etc etc etc fan is going to create the Geek Channel, where the spirit of sci-fi, comic, and fantasy geekiness shall be cast in living stone and stand as a monument to the done-the-impossible power of that subcultural phenomenon: GEEKS. Then we'll all leave the StyFly backbirths scratching their heads wondering, How'd they do that?

Know how FOX renewed Dollhouse in a fit of self-kicking for cancelling Firefly? One of these days we'll make SlyFry do the same for dissing its audience so.

[jackwabbit.livejournal.com]

But...but...but...wouldn't using the term "geek" be derogatory? What about the under eighteen demographic?

*sarcasm*

You know, back in the day, when FX first started, they has a "super-hero afternoon." They showed The Green Hornet, Greatest American Hero, Batman, and Wonder Woman. I watched it whenever I could. Hm...Geek Channel. Has merit.

[shadow2serenity.livejournal.com]

Wow! Sarcasm! That's original! :P Didn't you know it's cool to be a geek these days? Computers, movies, TV, phones, other everyday gadgetry....look how much information, communication and entertainment wouldn't exist if it wasn't for geeks. Without the geeks, life could not exist, and we would have no knowledge of the Force. ;) We're justifiably proud of our special geek heritage, here.

[jackwabbit.livejournal.com]

Nah, it's not cool to be a geek. Everyone knows that's crap. I think it's just rhetoric made up by the social outcasts sitting in their parents basements munching Fritos and downing Mountain Dews. I mean, they probably made up Wil Wheaton, and this whole "internet" thing? It's a phase, man.

Note icon, sylly.

[lolmac]

y thynk you've got the best ydea yet -- the Geek Channel yt ys!

[jackwabbit.livejournal.com]

I would just like to say that your icon...well, it's made of awesome.

[poisonyoulove.livejournal.com]

Plus, they can't copyright "sci fi" and they want to sell merch.

Except no self-respecting person would pay money for something with "SyFy" written on it!

[jackwabbit.livejournal.com]

I would...maybe...if it was from SyFy Portal, which, you know, was cool. The only good to come of this is that SyFy Portal (now Airlock Alpha) made money on it. They're good folks, and their name was alright, because, you know, it was a website and not national television and all that. I'll give props to any sci-if site set up in 1998 that is still running.

[lothithil.livejournal.com]

Who in the hell are they trying to target by changing their name? Are they concerned about missing out on the housewife- and- bassfisherman demographic?

What a croc of poo. *eyeroll*

[jackwabbit.livejournal.com]

Nope, the illiterate. That's the general consensus.

'Cause, you know, sci-fi has always been the common man's entertainment. Sheesh.

[phyrelight.livejournal.com]

Okay, I don't normally say stuff like this, but in this instance it is very applicable. SciFi SyFy is really kicking themselves in the balls over this. They're turning away the audience that built the genre this station was originally named after. >:{

[jackwabbit.livejournal.com]

I'll forgive you your language just this once, young lady! *g*

'Cause, um, yeah. Pretty much.

[mishbloom.livejournal.com]

Hmmm...I had to actually stop and think for a minute when I read that.

Females DON'T watch Scifi??? Really?

Well, that's good. Less competition for our favorite men. *evilgrin*

[jackwabbit.livejournal.com]

Oh, that's an excellent point! Well done to point that out!

Out, you other females...out, I say!

Hee, hee, hee!

http://www.sfx.co.uk/page/sfx?entry=blog_this_one_s_for#comments

[mishbloom.livejournal.com]

Absolutely.

Let the idiot network "think" that no females are watching. HA! *MUAHAHA*

*sigh* Unfortunately, this does not bring back SGA.

[jackwabbit.livejournal.com]

Indeed. Nice effing icon, luv. B-E-A-Utiful.

[mishbloom.livejournal.com]

Not mine. I just gakked it off someone wonderful. I've got absolutely no technical skills whatsoever.

[jackwabbit.livejournal.com]

All the same...you're a good fan, Arthur.

[mishbloom.livejournal.com]

*cheesy grin*
I'm an Excellent Fan, Ford--(Mustang, which is what Bumblebee should have been! *wink*).

[jackwabbit.livejournal.com]

42!

And Bumblebee should've been a VW...but don't get me started on that Transformers crap!

[mishbloom.livejournal.com]

Yes, this is true. But Volkswagon evidently had fits about them using their brand/vehicles for "warring robots". And the copyright on Bumblebee was hung up for YEARS because of it. (Matter of fact, that's the only reason he made the movies--'cause they finally settled the whole mess.) *sigh* I love 'Bee though, so I'm glad he got something a bit more souped-up....if anybody deserved a revamp, it was 'Bee. Still the same personality though! LOL

....I've started a list of "42's" that I find....like the one in "A Walk to Remember"....and "The Two Towers"....

[jackwabbit.livejournal.com]

Yes, I know...just sayin, is all.

I do enjoy Bumblebee, and that Camaro is GORGEOUS, but the rest of those movies is such crap that it's hard to be forgiving. The first one was alright-ish, but the second? Total crap. Complete and utter garbage. I'm not usually so harsh on films, but yeah...it was terrible.

My fave 42 is Mulder's apartment number, of course, which CC still says was coincidence. Yeah, right.