Daily Archives: May 1, 2014

Almost Human Gets Canceled Is Fox Biased Against Sci-Fi?

Posted: May 1, 2014 at 5:43 am

It feels like weve been here before; Fox unleashes a high-concept look into the future or the unknown onto our television sets, only to pull the plug when said show eventually settles into a grey zone where it draws more than enough viewers to rise above the distinction of being labeled a bust, but well under what it would need to be declared a hit.

Producer JH Wyman worked on Fringe for 4 seasons, so he knows a little bit about that showsconstant struggle to stay on the air. One would forgive Wyman if he had hoped for an easier path to glory with Almost Human -a sci-fi procedural with outstanding chemistry between its stars (Karl Urban and Michael Ealy); a more accessible concept (an authority-bucking cop and his robot sidekick tackle crime in the technologically advanced future); and a broader sensibility. But maybe the show was too accessible.

Lets face it,Fringerequired discipline and dedication. If you missed an episode or a run of episodes, you had to catch up or you would be forever confused by the shows deeply woven twists and turns. In many ways, thats what networks crave appointment TV, like Lost but sometimes that feels like an obligation; and from the outside looking in, it can be imposing to think about giving a show like that a chance as a first-time viewer, when its already in the middle of its run.Almost Human, on the other hand, seemed like something you could miss for a week without getting lost but while that can be good for a viewer, it can also be bad for a show: with so many other options, viewers can lose their way back and forget about a show entirely.

This is all anecdotal, but it would seem like viewers did indeed forget about Almost Human as the season went on, with the show finishing up with a 1.5 rating in the 18-49 demo after drawing a 3.1 and 2.3 rating on successive nights when it premiered in two parts last November.

Its worth pointing out that, on average, Almost Human got better ratings than The Following, and Fox stalwarts like Bones and Glee, but its vital that we remember that each show lives in its own universe that is formed by its cost, momentum, acclaim, ownership, and nearness to syndication. So while its easy to point to Almost Human and think that the show got the short end of the stick by comparison, that determination is often made without examining the full picture.

Yes, The Followings ratings have been trending down all season, to the point where they are on par with Almost Human, butThe Following still generates a lot of buzz,its a season closer to syndication, and it almost certainly has to be cheaper for Fox and Warner Bros. to produce.

Really, despite the complaints that Fox has it out for sci-fi shows (do they, though? As many have pointed out, the network greenlights an awful lot of these shows), this is just business and Fox couldnt risk pumping more money intoAlmost Human only to see the shows ratings drop further, prompting an equally harsh end early next year. Is that kind of risk averse thinking a bit defeatist and do we long for the era when networks would allow shows to grow? A bit and of course, but in this climate, big projects need to get big results and that just didnt happen with Almost Human.

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Almost Human Gets Canceled Is Fox Biased Against Sci-Fi?

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Morgan Spurlock: Inside Man – Futurism – Video

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Morgan Spurlock: Inside Man - Futurism
Morgan Spurlock enters the brave new world of extreme life extension, embarking on a life-prolonging regimen and trying everything from genome hacking, to creating an avatar and uploading his...

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The future of education and degrees. Excerpt from my talk at Future Day 2014. Futurist Speaker – Video

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The future of education and degrees. Excerpt from my talk at Future Day 2014. Futurist Speaker
It #39;s getting to be more important to ask the right questions not just have the right answers:) This is a brief except from my talk at Future Day 2014 in Ista...

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The future of education and degrees. Excerpt from my talk at Future Day 2014. Futurist Speaker - Video

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Jobs 2050 – Morris Miselowski Business Futurist on Sky News’ Technology Behind Business – Video

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Jobs 2050 - Morris Miselowski Business Futurist on Sky News #39; Technology Behind Business
If we #39;re not going to be doing and working the way we are today, then how will we be working and what jobs will we doing in 2050? Nigel Freitas of Sky Business #39; Technology Behind Business...

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Jobs 2050 - Morris Miselowski Business Futurist on Sky News' Technology Behind Business - Video

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Global Futurist and Trend Expert Jack Uldrich to Keynote Nine Events in May

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San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) April 30, 2014

Described as "an extremely knowledgeable and engaging facilitator" and "the hit of the show" futurist Jack Uldrich is crossing the country speaking on topics such as The Internet of Things, How to Future-Proof Your Business, and Unlearning.

Throughout the month of May, Uldrich has nine engagements scheduled across the US, six of which are with Verizon Wireless addressing the topic of "How the Internet of Things will Transform Business." Uldrich's keynotes for Verizon's "Connected Technology Tour" will mainly focus on the opportunity, excitement and potential for new machine-to-machine (M2M) technology that will be available in the next few years. Uldrich will also speak on why future trends demand unlearning to the Utility Supply Management Association and the Produce Marketing Association.

Uldrich's current list of May 2014 keynotes include:

May 6: Verizon's Connected Technology Tour, Kansas City, MO

May 8: Marana, AZ: Fireman's Fund Insurance Companies (Property and Casualty Insurance)

May 14: Verizon's Connected Technology Tour, Houston, TX

May 15: Verizon's Connected Technology Tour, Boise, ID

May 19: Nashville, TN: Utility Supply Management Association

May 20: Verizon's Connected Technology Tour, Memphis, TN

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Global Futurist and Trend Expert Jack Uldrich to Keynote Nine Events in May

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This is Where It All Begins: Futurist Jack Uldrich to Address the Internet of Things and M2M Technology at Verizon …

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Kansas City, MO (PRWEB) April 30, 2014

On May 6, Global Futurist Jack Uldrich will continue his series of keynotes being delivered to Verizon's Connected Technology Tour in Kansas City, MO. Uldrich has been selected to scheduled to deliver a series of 12 keynote presentations across the United States for Verizon Wireless on How the Internet of Things Will Transform Business.

The Connected Technology Tour is "designed specifically for public sector organizations, the Tour will explore how machine-to-machine (M2M) technologies and solutions can enable the transformation of government operations and delivery of services by leveraging the power of cloud, mobility and the Internet."

While the majority of things Verizon is promoting on the tour is M2M technology for use by businesses, the applications of such technology are for every day living as well. And be assured, M2M is where it all begins. As one of their highlighted keynotes, Futurist Jack Uldrich points out: "The Internet of the Future will be all around us and we will need to shift our thinking of the Internet from a place you go to a new and much different paradigm of 'living in the Internet.'"

For more of Uldrich ideas take a look at this recent article on the Internet of Things.

Uldrich, a former naval intelligence officer and Defense Department official, also served as the Director of the Minnesota Office of Strategic and Long Range Planning under Governor Jesse Ventura. Uldrich is a renowned business trend expert and the author of eleven books, including: The Next Big Thing is Really Small: How Nanotechnology will Change the Future of Your Business; and Jump the Curve: 50 Strategies to Help Your Company Stay Ahead of Technology, and Foresight 20/20: A Futurist Explores the Trends transforming Tomorrow. He is also the founder and "chief unlearning officer" of The School of Unlearning - an international leadership, change management and technology consultancy dedicated to helping business, governments, and non-profit organizations prepare for and profit from periods of profound transformation.

Celebrated as a national and international speaker and scholar, Uldrichs recent keynotes have been delivered to the Fiatech, the 2014 ATEA Conference, the American Medical Association, TEXPERS, the Idaho Technology Council, Wells Fargo, the Allan P. Kirby Lecture Series at Wilkes University and The Million Dollar Round Table in Kuala Lumpur.

Other clients of Uldrich include General Electric, IBM, Cisco, United Healthcare, PepsiCo, Verizon Wireless, General Mills, the Young Presidents Organization (YPO), Pfizer, Healthcare Association of New York, Southern Company, St. Jude Medical, Dressbarn, AG Schering, Imation, Lockheed Martin, Fairview Hospitals, Touchstone Energy, The Insurance Service Organization.

Parties interested in learning more about Jack Uldrich, his books, his daily blog or his speaking availability are encouraged to visit his School of Unlearning website. Media wishing to know more about either the event or interviewing Jack can contact Amy Tomczyk at (651) 343.0660.

Uldrich is a renowned global futurist, best-selling author, editor of the monthly newsletter, The Exponential Executive, and host of the award-winning website, http://www.jumpthecurve.net.

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This is Where It All Begins: Futurist Jack Uldrich to Address the Internet of Things and M2M Technology at Verizon ...

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