This makes me sad. Here's a list of U.S.-produced television series whose essential nature is "Captain + spaceship + crew". Years represent the U.S. television series year, which begins in September and ends in June of the following year.
| Star Trek: The Next Generation | 1987 - 1994 |
| Star Trek: Deep Space Nine | 1993 - 1999 |
| seaQuest DSV | 1993 - 1996 |
| Babylon 5 | 1994 - 1999 |
| Earth 2 | 1994 - 1995 |
| Star Trek: Voyager | 1995 - 2001 |
| Space Above and Beyond | 1995 - 1996 |
| Sliders | 1995 - 2000 |
| Stargate: SG-1 | 1997 - 2007 |
| Crusade | 1999 |
| Farscape | 1999 - 2003 |
| Andromeda | 2000 - 2005 |
| Star Trek: Enterprise | 2001 - 2005 |
| Firefly | 2002 |
| Battlestar: Galactica | 2004 - 2009 |
| Stargate: Atlantis | 2004 - 2009 |
| Virtuality | 2009 |
| Stargate: Universe | 2009 - 2011 |
| Terra Nova | 2011 |
Is there one coming up for 2012 that I've missed? Because if there isn't, 2012 will be the first year without such a series since 1987. Yes, I'm aware of Red Dwarf. But it's not U.S.-produced.
EDIT (12/Jul/2012): Ciar Maera and ChinookHK both reminded me of Falling Skies on TNT, which technically fits into the same framework (well, at least as well as Sliders does anyway). Thanks for the reminder! I'll have to check it out.
Terra nova as captain with spaceship? Have not finish watch the show but I'm sure IIRC there was no space ship
ReplyDeleteMy bad I did not read the whole sentences. Have you watch Alpha by syfy?
ReplyDeleteThankfully red dwarf will be UK produced. However there very lose rumours that space above and beyond and firefly might be making a return with joss Weldon taking the helm (pun intended) again
ReplyDeleteBabylon 5 is more of a space *station*
ReplyDeleteThe premise I'm looking for really comes back to using "exploring strange new worlds" to actually explore the human condition. B5 definitely counted.
DeleteI'd have to disagree on the Stargate SG-1 and Atlantis. The only one of them about captain + spaceship + crew is Universe.
ReplyDeleteOr, alternatively: you missed V (2009) & V (1984–1985), an iconic sci-fi series and its (unfortunately) shortlived remake.
Yeah I have to agree there. As much as I love the Stargate franchise, SG-1/Atlantis really aren't "ships".
DeleteWell Atlantis technically *is* a spaceship...
DeleteFor story purposes, the Stargate itself is a spaceship. The purpose of a spaceship in a sci-fi TV series is to carry the main characters around to places where things happen to them. The stargate serves this purpose admirably.
DeleteWho gives a shit if its US produced.
ReplyDeleteDoctor Who is awesome and it falls into the Captain + spaceship + crew motif. Give it a watch, unless British accents somehow ruin it for you. :)
Dr.who!?! Thank god it isnt US produced. If it wasn't for the amount of Fandom around it, it would be dead years ago. That show has so many plot holes you could drive a couple of buses through it.
DeleteYes THANK GOD it isnt US produced or it definitely would have died years ago. The one time america got involved (Dr Who Movie)it was horrible!!!!! BTW its only been running for 40 odd years so the "fandom" you refer to isnt exactly a passing fad.
DeleteEureka could fall into the captain (Sheriff Carter) + spaceship (Global Dynamics) + crew motif, if you stretch it a bit.
ReplyDeleteAnd its last season is this year. So, a 2012 series, if fits your criteria.
So, you may have until 2013 to continue your streak.
Defying Gravity - kind of like Merlose place in space and busted after just 13 ep.
ReplyDeleteI think it has potential, but the sound stages are destroyed now... :(
@ jetcord
ReplyDeletealphas you mean? heroes meets ehm...pokemon? (gotta catch them all)
dumbest fiction show this year....
can we argue futurama to substitute this gap?
i wish HBO would produce a sci-fi....since syfy is turning into shit
they even cancelled sanctuary :(
Yes, I'm aware of Red Dwarf. But it's not U.S.-produced.
ReplyDeleteIf you allready know the answer why do you pose the question?
Its not like we watch these shows on television?! Right?
Also since you include sliders, you can include Falling Skies.
Yeah, Falling Skies counts.
DeleteBSG Blood and Chrome is supposed to be coming out sometime in the nebulous...future. And Steven S DeKnight just recently announced his new series called 'Incursion' which is probably as close to a TV version of Old Man's War as we'll get...but that will be a few years.
ReplyDeleteWhat about Falling Skies?
ReplyDeleteYou know, I first encountered this one in a sort of commercial at the movie theater in front of Prometheus, and was surprised that I hadn't heard of it. Thanks for reminding me of it. Reading the premise on Wikipedia, I'd say this one probably qualifies.
DeleteThanks!
Star Trek?
ReplyDeleteIt was intended to show a continuous list from as far back as I could go. V was 1984-1985, but I couldn't find anything for 1986. ;-)
DeleteJester it's the sign of the times. Remember, USA can't even put a man in space right now with out the Russians help. So any new TVs shows produced by us would be total fiction.
ReplyDeleteAnd then there was little known but much lauded 'Quark' (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quark_%28TV_series%29) waaay back in 1977.
ReplyDeleteIs it sad that I own 15 of those series on dvd/blu-ray?
ReplyDeleteHonorable mentions for Space 1999 and Blakes 7.
ReplyDeleteThe series Lexx shown between 1997-2002, which might be a better fit than SG1. Though not 100% its american.
ReplyDeleteI heard Blood & Chrome didn't get greenlit. There was talk about a web series for it, but haven't heard anything further.
ReplyDeleteI am crying at the thought of an American version of red dwarf, American shows are great but I'm sorry they just cant do British comedy and every time they try they butcher it.
ReplyDeletewell, they tried Top Gear for america and it's pretty much on the butcher's chopping block
DeleteI'm interested in knowing which of these series most closely resembles EVE. i'd pick "Firefly" in a heartbeat.
ReplyDelete