Originally posted by: C3PX
A one hundred episode contract is quite a commitment too. If I am not mistaken contracts are usually for a number of episodes or a season, not the full run of a series, once the show becomes successful then they renew the contract for a longer period. Just to put this into perspective, Star Trek the Next Generation ran for 178 episodes over the course of 7 seasons. A 100 episode contract would be about five years. I am pretty sure this whole thing is fake, do we have evidence that Rick really said these things? Even the thing about the wait for the next DVD being for the format war to end, this is what many have been speculating, but if this had really officially be announced it seems like it would be all over the place.
I believe McCallum mentioned that before (someone posted it in another thread). He said they were waiting for the format war to end and if it didn't that they might just go forward with digital distribution (ie HD downloads).
Originally posted by: C3PX
Of course with the whole 50 episode thing with the CG Clone War thing, I guess I couldn't put it past them to be arrogant enough to think their series could last 400 episodes before ever airing. This series could be great, it could last ten years for all we know, it could have great writing and be nothing like the PT at all. It could have great writers and great actors and be outright fantastic. But this is not the way a TV series is usually done, if this is true it is hard to believe people that have been in this business for so long.
A one hundred episode contract is quite a commitment too. If I am not mistaken contracts are usually for a number of episodes or a season, not the full run of a series, once the show becomes successful then they renew the contract for a longer period. Just to put this into perspective, Star Trek the Next Generation ran for 178 episodes over the course of 7 seasons. A 100 episode contract would be about five years. I am pretty sure this whole thing is fake, do we have evidence that Rick really said these things? Even the thing about the wait for the next DVD being for the format war to end, this is what many have been speculating, but if this had really officially be announced it seems like it would be all over the place.
I believe McCallum mentioned that before (someone posted it in another thread). He said they were waiting for the format war to end and if it didn't that they might just go forward with digital distribution (ie HD downloads).
Originally posted by: C3PX
Of course with the whole 50 episode thing with the CG Clone War thing, I guess I couldn't put it past them to be arrogant enough to think their series could last 400 episodes before ever airing. This series could be great, it could last ten years for all we know, it could have great writing and be nothing like the PT at all. It could have great writers and great actors and be outright fantastic. But this is not the way a TV series is usually done, if this is true it is hard to believe people that have been in this business for so long.
That's just it, they haven't been in the TV business. I'm starting to wonder if they really do know how it works. You are correct though. Shows usually start as either a mid season replacement (12 or 13 episodes) or a full season. Some shows don't last that long though (Vanished and Justice were both cancelled about halfway in, with Vanished finishing the story on MySpace). So there isn't really a "contract" per se. The networks order a certain number of episodes based on how well they think the show will do and when they plan to start it. If the ratings don't pan out early on, the show gets axed. This is why Heroes got a full season. They had stellar ratings for the first few episodes, so NBC ordered a full season. Then they got renewed.
That's how TV works. The fact that Lucas already has 100 episodes ready (5 seasons worth) shows that he doesn't have a clue how TV really works. Sure, he's got enough material for 5 years, but so did JMS (Babylon 5) and look what happened to that show. If it's horrible, the network will kill it. If it's great, they'll want more.
I'm starting to think that the only way this show will see the light of day is direct to DVD or by download (or both). If it's a free download, I'd take a look at it. If it's pretty good, I'd want it on DVD with extra features. If it's crap, it won't be worth the time.