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Uh-oh—FlashForward loses another show runner
You don't have to have a FlashForward to know this can't be good news, but the ABC series is facing yet another new show runner in its future. Co-creator and executive producer David Goyer is exiting as show runner of the sci-fi thriller just months after he took over for former show runner Mark Guggenheim, according to The Hollywood Reporter's Live Feed.
Goyer created FlashForward with Star Trek's Brannon Braga. But because Goyer had limited experience running a television series, Guggenheim, who co-created ABC's Eli Stone, took the reins. During the fall, Guggenheim then stepped down, leaving Goyer in charge for the show's back nine episodes.
The series, which is based on Robert Sawyer's novel about what happens when everyone on the planet blacks out at the same time for two minutes and 17 seconds and has visions of their future, started off with big ratings. However, FlashForward has struggled in its first season so far, and ABC removed it from the schedule in early December. The series is due to return to the ABC schedule on March 18 at 8 p.m. ET/PT, with the network planning to air original episodes through the end of the season without repeats or pre-emptions.
It's never a good sign when a series has show-runner trouble, since that key position is basically the captain of the ship, running all the day-to-day operations. There's no word from ABC as yet as to who will take over for Goyer, but the production is still several episodes shy of the show's 23-hour order.
Goyer quickly released this statement: "As my feature projects have started ramping up again, I felt I was being pulled in too many directions. I'm proud of the show and excited about the relaunch. It's in great hands."
Goyer will still maintain the title of executive producer, and still be "involved" in the show, according to ABC sources. The producer wrote The Dark Knight and Batman Begins and directed the films The Unborn and The Invisible.
By divephotog at 11:13 PM ON 02/05/10
Funny how everyone thinks they are the critical cog in the machine, from Producers to Directors to Actors to Cameramen to Gaffers to Caterers and on down to Toilet Scrubbers.
Surely, they will be able to continue on with someone new, and people do migrate jobs in this millenium, instead of taking one until death do they part.
Certainly does not mean the end of the show, just a speed bump to maneuver over or around... -kh
By Vadra at 5:14 AM ON 02/06/10
This is indeed a troubled show and I cannot see how it will ever bounce back considering the mistakes they've made with it. They should just put it out of its misery and cancel it.
By Jimmy at 10:33 AM ON 02/06/10
I've lost interest in this series. They took a great novel by a great science fiction author and completely ruined it.
By Mr. Echo at 11:12 AM ON 02/06/10
Gosh, I thought the show was just getting interesting. I actually hope they amp it up and people give it another chance. We will need another "Lost" now that it has entered it's final season.
By allison&jack at 12:13 PM ON 02/06/10
We do need another LOST, but unfortunately, this show isn't it.
The storytelling isn't there, the acting certainly isn't there, the character intrigue isn't there, and the mystery intrigue is boring and yawn inducing.
I'm all for ABC shooting for the moon again in an attempt to recapture what made LOST so fantastic, they just need to go back to the drawing board one more time.
By Vorlon57 at 1:27 PM ON 02/06/10
We do have another LOST. Its called FRINGE.
By tb83 at 4:33 PM ON 02/06/10
Uh-OH for some reason i dont care. I tried watching this show but it sucks. Moving on to better shows like Caprica, SGU, WH13, Eureka, Dollhouse oh wait that was cancelled
By Kallisti at 4:35 PM ON 02/06/10
Well, don't forget, there is an upcoming episode that is actually written by Robert J. Sawyer. That may be able to reboot the series somewhat.
By Kevin at 5:37 PM ON 02/06/10
It's ironic the number of people who keep saying how uninterested they are. Uninterested people don't haunt message boards.
By cmsctt1 at 7:30 PM ON 02/06/10
I have faith in this show. I think it is an outstanding show and it will gain in popularity as time goes on.
By allison&jack at 2:39 AM ON 02/07/10
@It's ironic the number of people who keep saying how uninterested they are. Uninterested people don't haunt message boards.
You'd have a point if this was a message board about Flash Forward...it's not though. It's a news site about science, science fiction etc, so people throw out a comment here and there after reading a news article about a show they were hyped up to watch, and disappointed by, hardly the same as "haunting a message board".. Again, you'd have a point if we were on a message board dedicated to Flash Forward.
By bf at 4:24 AM ON 02/07/10
Can we get back TSCC and Moonlight instead…Flash Forward seems DOA.
By Seba at 8:38 AM ON 02/07/10
@Vorlon57:
Fringe? Dont think that way ..
By islesfan at 6:09 PM ON 02/08/10
Stop trying to re-boot! They took a pretty decent novel by a mediocre scifi writer and turned it into an excellent series. Just back off and let it run! It isn't Lost, it isn't supposed to be Lost!
With the loss of Dollhouse, we scifi fans are left with very little of quality on network TV. They expect us to follow crap like Finge, while they cancel intelligent fare like Dollhouse. Let's just take what we can get!
By Le Sigh at 9:34 PM ON 02/08/10
Sorry, have no sympathy for anyone who complains about scifi on network tv then bashes a great scifi show like Fringe.
If you want more scifi on network tv, then support the scifi shows that are already on. Otherwise your just blowing hot air.
By scifier at 12:16 PM ON 02/23/10
Funny how many FF bashers in here. The show is quite good, probably better and certainly more intriguing than Fringe which is all over the damn place. Will be a shame if they cancel it. As for whoever mentioned how great the book is, most reviews say it is mediocre at best so I passed on it. The series is much better than the book by all accounts.
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scifier:
Funny how many FF bashers in here. The show is quite good, probably better and certainly more intriguing than Frin...More »