The political 4400, more insightful than Heroes, link inside

[Muldfeld]

Do you work for TV Guide?

No but I really wish I did. TV Guide usually has pretty bad taste. Just a regular joe fighting for what he cares about and the media that will help us create a better world through more accurate portrayals of human nature and creating understanding of "the other".

 

[Muldfeld]

Episode 7 "Til We Have Built Jerusalem -- the best episode of that season up to that point -- is reairing on USA at 1am Eastern early Wednesday.

It is also making its Canadian premiere on Wednesday at 10pm Eastern and again, a few hours later, on Thursday at 2am Eastern and again at 2pm Eastern.

It was really good -- save a few awkward moments with Maia -- and I gave it an 8.5 out of 10.

The ending is very much reminiscent of Israel's actions, and is why that title is used, but I won't ruin the surprise for anyone who hasn't seen it.

 

[Muldfeld]

Just rewatched "Till We Have Built Jerusalem" and it was great aside from a few Maia moments, which were just okay.

It's going to reair in Canada.

 

[Muldfeld]

WRITER AMY BERG SPECIFICALLY RESPONDED TO A QUESTION I HAD ABOUT WHAT WE COULD DO TO HELP RENEW THE SHOW:

"As for how to help with the show's renewal, from what I've heard snail mail campaigns are the most effective. Network executives don't read message boards. And emails sent to a show's website don't get forwarded to them either. I've met USA's Exec VP of programming Jeff Wachtel on a number of occasions, he's a fan of the show. It's [President of USA] Bonnie Hammer that needs to hear your voices."

So, address those letters to Bonnie Hammer, folks! I sent mine to the same major USA Networkd New York address with her name at the top. I don't know if it's the right way to do it, but she has to be the focus of our attention!

 

[Muldfeld]

"Daddy's Little Girl", which was great and which I gave 8.1 out of 10 will air on USA tonight (early Wednesday) at 1 am Eastern.

The episode will make it's Canadian premiere Wednesday night at 10pm Eastern on Space and then reair at 2 am Eastern (early Thursday) and again at 2pm Eastern.

Please get those letters urging renewal to President of USA Bonnie Hammer! She's also president of Sci Fi and in charge of allowing BSG to end early!

 

[Muldfeld]

Forgot about the US repeat, but "One of US" is making its premiere in Canada tonight (Wednesday) at 10pm Eastern and then repeating at 2am Eastern and 2pm Eastern on Thursday. Amazing episode, and I'll enjoy watching it again.

I gave it an 8.6.

 

[Muldfeld]

Alright. The wonderful episode has some great political commentary alluding to the widening gap between haves and have-nots and differing visions of the good society between socialist equality and materialist, unfettered capitalist hierarchy.

"Ghost in the Machine" airs late night tonight at 1am Eastern early Thursday on USA.

It makes its Canadian premiere at 10pm Eastern on Space Wednesday night, and a few hours later on Thursday at 2am Eastern and again at 2pm Eastern.

I'd give it an 8.6 out of 10.

 

[Muldfeld]

"Tiny Machines" - season finale part 1 of 2 airs tonight at 1 am (early Thursday) Eastern on USA Network. It makes its Canadian premiere at 10pm Eastern tonight (Wednesday night) and a few hours later at 2 am (early Thursday) and 12 hours after that at 2pm. Plenty of chances to see what could be one of the last 4400 episodes!

It's amazing!

 

[LMP]

It's amazing!

 

[Muldfeld]

Oh, yeah? Why don't you watch an episode like "One of Us" I posted in a youtube clips a few pages back and tell me that.

Kicks the living crap out of Heroes and most shows on TV.

 

[LMP]

I haven't been watching much television recently because I've been too busy, Heroes included.

Should I just watch "The Marked!!!" again and see how stupid it is, or what?

 

[Muldfeld]

Showrunner of Battlestar Galactica, Ronald D. Moore, posted a picture from the writers' strike on his blog of my hero and head writer of The 4400 and Star Trek Deep Space Nine, Ira Steven Behr.

http://www.rondmoore.com/Site/Blog/Entries/2007/12/10_Trek_Day_at_the_Paramount_Picket____.html

So cool!

I read in an old interview that apparently Ron Moore offered Ira a job on BSG, but Ira was not interested in doing more space opera drama at the time.

 

[UberBeaver]

So the 4400 is not coming back?

 

[Muldfeld]

So the 4400 is not coming back?

At the time, I would have said no, Uber Beaver, but it looks like it's not now. Scott Peters, the creator posted a message here announcing the cancellation of the show hours ago; I hate life.:
http://forums.usanetwork.com/index.php?showtopic=395858

I was hoping the strike might force NBC to air some episodes and show how reasonably well the show could do with the right network audience available to it. I'm still in shock.

The season finale -- sorry, SERIES FINALE; thanks, USA! -- airs late Wednesday night (early Thursday at 1 am Eastern) on USA.

The Canadian premiere of that same series finale, "The Great Leap Forward" airs on Space at 10pm Eastern Wednesday and a few hours later early Thursday at 2am and 12 hours later at 2pm.

Enjoy the end.

 

[Ira Steven Behr]

Muldfeld, you are a great fan of the show and I'd like to thank you for the support. This has not gone unnoticed by myself and the crew of the 4400.

I do have to say, however, that your view on the show is completely wrong. You flatter me and our cast of writers with our "political insightful"-ness when in reality, we just like making science fiction.

It won't change the world, but it will make good television. We have decided to end the show because we felt the quality was declining and USA did not wish to continue pursuing the show any further.

I'll tell Ron about your views on Battlestar Galactica as well.

Goodbye.

 

[BVS]

 

[Ira Steven Behr]

What did you think of the finale, Muldfeld? On a scale of 1 to 10.

 

[Muldfeld]

Muldfeld, you are a great fan of the show and I'd like to thank you for the support. This has not gone unnoticed by myself and the crew of the 4400.

I do have to say, however, that your view on the show is completely wrong. You flatter me and our cast of writers with our "political insightful"-ness when in reality, we just like making science fiction.

It won't change the world, but it will make good television. We have decided to end the show because we felt the quality was declining and USA did not wish to continue pursuing the show any further.

I'll tell Ron about your views on Battlestar Galactica as well.


Goodbye.

Very funny. I know you're not Ira because he would have responded to me in other ways and not on this site. You're biggest mistake was saying "we felt the quality of the show was declining." No intelligent fan, least of all Ira, would say that. The show had reached its highest level of quality yet. I'll be the first to admit that much of Seasons 1 and 2 were underwhelming as was the start of Season 4 in some ways. But Season 4's last 8 episodes were nothing short of spectacular.

Nice try, Lemon Macphisto. Also, it's obvious from your comments that you haven't even watched the end of the season!

 

[Muldfeld]

Here's what the REAL Ira Steven Behr had to say:
"it's a drag, isn't it"
paul mccartney's response to
john lennon's murder.

what an a$$hole
i remember thinking
when i first saw
the newsclip
of mccartney's
casual reaction
to such an overwhelming
tragedy

but i was
wrong

lennon's death
it's stunning
gut wrenching
impact
was so immediate
so fraught
so
painful
that no adequate response
was possible
no response
was even
necessary
the event
spoke
for itself.

so

what does the death
of a musical/cultural icon
have to do
with the
cancellation
of a tv series?

fair question

i'll try to explain

what i'll
miss most
about the 4400
aren't the actors
though
i have only
warm feelings
toward them all
or even
my co-writers
including
my partner
in crime
craig sweeny
because
the way
the business works
we can always
find ourselves
toiling away
together
on some other
show

no

what i'm going
to miss most
about the 4400
are the characters
because
the characters
have ceased to exist
their stories
are over
they're
done
finished
gone

which is why

to me
it feels like

tom baldwin
is dead
diana skouris
is dead
jordan collier
is dead
shawn farrell
is dead
kyle baldwin
is dead
marco
dead
burkhoff
dead
tess
dead
even garrity
dead
and on
and on
and on

it's a drag
isn't it?

ira steven behr
showrunner




http://forums.usanetwork.com/index.php?showtopic=395909

Anyone wanna help save the show, sign here:
http://www.savethe4400.com/

All other info related to this endeavor, go here:
http://www.savethe4400.net/

And here:
http://www.the4400guide.com

 

[Ira Steven Behr]

I'm gonna go watch re-runs of DS9.

 

[No spoken words]

Here's what the REAL Ira Steven Behr had to say:
"it's a drag, isn't it"
paul mccartney's response to
john lennon's murder.

what an a$$hole
i remember thinking
when i first saw
the newsclip
of mccartney's
casual reaction
to such an overwhelming
tragedy

but i was
wrong

lennon's death
it's stunning
gut wrenching
impact
was so immediate
so fraught
so
painful
that no adequate response
was possible
no response
was even
necessary
the event
spoke
for itself.

so

what does the death
of a musical/cultural icon
have to do
with the
cancellation
of a tv series?

fair question

i'll try to explain

what i'll
miss most
about the 4400
aren't the actors
though
i have only
warm feelings
toward them all
or even
my co-writers
including
my partner
in crime
craig sweeny
because
the way
the business works
we can always
find ourselves
toiling away
together
on some other
show

no

what i'm going
to miss most
about the 4400
are the characters
because
the characters
have ceased to exist
their stories
are over
they're
done
finished
gone

which is why

to me
it feels like

tom baldwin
is dead
diana skouris
is dead
jordan collier
is dead
shawn farrell
is dead
kyle baldwin
is dead
marco
dead
burkhoff
dead
tess
dead
even garrity
dead
and on
and on
and on

it's a drag
isn't it?

ira steven behr
showrunner

I had no idea that Ira Steven Behr was really Deep's alter.

 

[Ira Steven Behr]

Here's what the REAL Ira Steven Behr had to say:

Well, here's the real story.

There are 2 Ira Steven Behr's: one that exists in the real world, and one that exists in the Internet. Yes, I am Internet Ira Steven Behr.

After being struck by lightening while writing for my hit show, "The 4400," Jeff Bridges and I were both sucked into the world of the Internet. Yes, Jeff Bridges.

So, REAL Ira Steven Behr can say what he wants, but Internet Ira Steven Behr (aka myself) may or may not agree.

Look behind REAL Ira Steven Behr's ear... and see for yourself.

 

[corianderstem]

I had no idea that Ira Steven Behr was really Deep's alter.

Ha! That was my thought, too.

 

[phillyfan26]

Guys, do you think that lack of adveritising and not enough budget led to the demise of the political 4400? I do. I also think that had they had more budget money, more of the actors would have stayed, and given the show more flow.

 

[GibsonGirl]

This thread just blew my mind.

 

[LMP]

Real Ira Steven Behr and Internet Ira Steven Behr are both tortured souls.

 

[Dalton]

Here's what the REAL Ira Steven Behr had to say:
"it's a drag, isn't it"
paul mccartney's response to
john lennon's murder.

what an a$$hole
i remember thinking
when i first saw
the newsclip
of mccartney's
casual reaction
to such an overwhelming
tragedy

but i was
wrong

lennon's death
it's stunning
gut wrenching
impact
was so immediate
so fraught
so
painful
that no adequate response
was possible
no response
was even
necessary
the event
spoke
for itself.

so

what does the death
of a musical/cultural icon
have to do
with the
cancellation
of a tv series?

fair question

i'll try to explain

what i'll
miss most
about the 4400
aren't the actors
though
i have only
warm feelings
toward them all
or even
my co-writers
including
my partner
in crime
craig sweeny
because
the way
the business works
we can always
find ourselves
toiling away
together
on some other
show

no

what i'm going
to miss most
about the 4400
are the characters
because
the characters
have ceased to exist
their stories
are over
they're
done
finished
gone

which is why

to me
it feels like

tom baldwin
is dead
diana skouris
is dead
jordan collier
is dead
shawn farrell
is dead
kyle baldwin
is dead
marco
dead
burkhoff
dead
tess
dead
even garrity
dead
and on
and on
and on

it's a drag
isn't it?

ira steven behr
showrunner

Well no fuckin' wonder the 4400 sucked so much ass - Ira took writing tips from Rosie O'Donnell.

 

[Ira Steven Behr]

Rosie was the inspiration for Jordan Collier. Not Jesus Christ, that would be way too obvious.

 

[Muldfeld]

Guys, do you think that lack of adveritising and not enough budget led to the demise of the political 4400? I do. I also think that had they had more budget money, more of the actors would have stayed, and given the show more flow.

I didn't know you were a fan!

I totally agree. The pilot episode has much higher production values in lighting, music. etc. to the rest of the series. The network deprived this show of much-needed funds and then totally failed to promote the show in later seasons, even though it was getting better. I also know that Ira was constantly battling the network over how dark he could make the show. The said one episode "Lockdown" from Season 2 was too violent and cut out lots of violence; Ira feels they never should have done it if not allowed to go all the way. They then felt a more dramatic approach to "Being Tom Baldwin" was too different, so the writers were forced to rewrite it twice and make it more action-driven, but it's perhaps the worst episode that year because it kinda feels formulaic.

I'm pretty darn sure the network was behind the pressure to make more stand alones, which hurt the start of Season 4. There was a big ratings drop off after the 2nd episode, and the network has never accepted the blame for that. The last half of the season was amazing, but no one checked in.

 

[Muldfeld]

To sign the petition to help save the show and other desperate acts, go to:

http://www.savethe4400.net

Rosie was the inspiration for Jordan Collier. Not Jesus Christ, that would be way too obvious.

The Rosie reference is obviously a joke, but the assumption they were only referring to Jesus is very superficial. To the degree he resembled Jesus, it was supposed to be why he was so alluring to so many, yet it may also have been an attempt to point out how historical figures are eventually made into caricatures and that they all have their positive and ugly elements. Jordan's private doubt was often touched upon, and I'm sure even Osama bin Laden has questioned himself. Jordan Collier was referencing many things, including terrorists and socialist revolutionaries like Lenin.

He wanted an egalitarian society to level the playing field between haves and have-nots, so that the Marked (read: the Bush administration and all of us who give in to materialism and individualism over the interests of the community) who wanted hierarchy atop which they'd sit -- buttressed by materialism and unfettered capitalism -- would not rule the world in the future. The coming catastrophe is already here. Just look at the increasing wage gap and lack of funding for governmental programs. In this case the economic power gap was transformed into providing abilities to give the powerless a fighting chance. Yet his vision and methods were never portrayed as easy answers. There was no real fate to be played out -- only what characters chose to believe in.

Ira Steven Behr's writing has always tried to humanize the plight of the poor and disfranchised. (Look at the DVD special feature to the dulll DS9 episode "Past Tense") He's never opted for simple portrayals or given in to simplistic writing; that's part of why he's my hero.

I'm gonna go watch re-runs of DS9.

I can't think of a better way to spend the holidays!

I had no idea that Ira Steven Behr was really Deep's alter.

The irony of that statement is that Deep with his love of a great Sci fi show like BSG and interest in politics would have loved The 4400 had he given it a proper chance, but he gave up after 1 bad episode and failed to really see the show's best stuff or realize it's political content. I don't even think he watched more than a few minutes of that awful teaser. All shows have bad episodes, folks.

This thread just blew my mind.

And your comment just blew mine! Welcome to a world of mutual blowing! (That sounded dirty, didn't it?)