Comments on: Will Defying Gravity defy low Nielsen ratings expectations?

By: John Fredericks

John Fredericks — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 06:15:48 +0000

yes, why is it EVERY sci fi show has to have a variation on the theme of “unknown force affecting crew members” theme? And usually on their 2nd episode no less! Star Trek:TNG did it and now so does Defying Gravity. OH well, at least it looks good in HD.

By: patricia W

patricia W — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 20:15:46 +0000

I liked it! and can’t explain why other than to say that I kept an eye on it Sunday night after the first segment. The production values are great and the storyline involving both male AND female astronauts is intriguing. If ABC can market it properly, it might have legs…

By: chet

chet — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 16:41:50 +0000

i liked it
wasnt what i was expecting with the Greys anatomy thing attched
how did it do?

By: Nick

Nick — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 15:38:51 +0000

It wasn’t bad. I liked it for the most part, though I do see why it’s sort of Grey’s Anatomy in space. Not THAT extreme in the drama department, but it is somewhat similar. I’m interested in the main plot though. And some of the character stories were sort of interesting. I’ll keep tuning in.

By: chet

chet — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 15:21:14 +0000

i liked the show
wondering how it did with the competition and repeats against it
wasnt what i was expecting

By: Bad Robot !

Bad Robot ! — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 14:49:36 +0000

This is a series version of MISSION TO MARS (2000) with a space mission and mysterious alien forces at work mixed with 2001: A Space Odyssey. I kept expecting Ron Livingston to ask the blond if she wants to watch KUNG FU with him. It would have been nice to have the fat dumpy guy be Milton (Stephen Root) wielding his red Swingline stapler. Jennifer Aniston as the blonde would have been better as they could insert a myriad of OFFICE SPACE jokes to lighten things up.

It wasnt bad and could get intesting if they kick up the action a bit. Even so, I doubt this show will have widespread appeal – No lasers, space battles, robots or huge explosions. Seems better suited to USA or anothe cable network.

By: T

Mon, 03 Aug 2009 12:35:15 +0000

just watched the first hour definately not my thing too Lost /Fringe/ battlestar Galactica like for me and i eventually got bored with all those shows

By: Jared

Jared — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 03:26:47 +0000

Just watched the show. Meh. I’ve seen worse. I only really checked it out because I like Ron Livingston. Kinda interesting mythology, but I definitely see why it’s being considered “Grey’s Anatomy in Space.” I doubt the ratings will be very favorable to it. I hadn’t seen anything about this show until reading this article on here, but then I only ever watch Lost on ABC.

By: Drew

Drew — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 20:40:26 +0000

Kevin Killion, I have no clue why. Hot enough to melt lead and pressures that shatter glass. Yeah, sounds like a nice vacation.

By: Kevin Killion

Kevin Killion — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 17:10:37 +0000

Why the hell are they going to Venus?

By: T

Sun, 02 Aug 2009 11:15:21 +0000

I say 7 Million

By: tim

tim — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 09:35:50 +0000

4 million viewers 1.2-0.9 demo!

By: Drew

Drew — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 18:09:57 +0000

Re: Lisa. Sundays during the summer are different than regular season Sundays. (Well, there’s football the first few weeks, but that’s likely a different audience than DW.)

Cable shows tend to be bunched on Sundays and Mondays. On Sunday nights, you have L&O:CI, True Blood, Army Wives, In Plain Sight, and others I’m forgetting.

By: Entertainment Link-Off: Lost in Space « The Lowdown Blog

Entertainment Link-Off: Lost in Space « The Lowdown Blog — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 18:06:34 +0000

[...] Remember the Virtuality pilot that was virtually unwatched on FOX? Well… it’s still cancelled, but there will be another sci-fi space series called Defying Gravity is premiering this weekend on ABC (CTV in Canada). Actually aside from the idea of the show chronicling a lengthy space mission, the similarities between Virtuality and Defying Gravity stops there. Oh and of course the new show is also less “dense”. Anyway, this is another international joint production (this time between FOX Television Studios and CTV)… so that means it could be another case of The Listener or if they’re lucky, it will follow the footsteps of Flashpoint. The show is promoted constantly with the tagline “from the producers of Grey’s Anatomy”. Yes, it is described as Grey’s Anatomy in space with a touch of Lost. I can see how this works… a bit of romance, drama, mystery and sci-fi mashed into one show. Eh why not? If you’re not turned off the the constant plugging of Grey’s Anatomy, that’s great! There will be something for you to watch this Sunday. It won’t exactly be quality programming, but it is something to fill in those gaps during the dog days of summer. I’m a huge sucker for sci-fi, so I’ll give this series a shot. Oh by the way, did I mention that the show will feature zero-gravity sex? (TV by the Numbers) [...]

By: forg

forg — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 05:30:19 +0000

It will be a miracle if they’ll pull a high or even a decent ratings anyway. But I’m open to a surprise because seeing those low numbers during the summer season is boring already haha

By: richard less

richard less — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 05:21:46 +0000

My first reaction to reading the second episode synopsis: ST:TNG’s “The Naked Now”…anyone?

By: Lisa

Lisa — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 04:13:17 +0000

*even* half as good, that is. If it fails, I hope there’s a reasonably good conclusion in the final episode. Would rather not be left hanging.

By: Lisa

Lisa — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 04:10:44 +0000

I hope it’s half as good as Grey’s. Of course I’ll be watching it! How could I not? It’s new programming in summer, and it’s not reality. Seems promising. I don’t even want to speculate about the ratings, though. They could be anything. Though I don’t see Sunday as being a bad night for the show. Desperate Housewives pulls in big audiences on Sundays during the regular season. Why can’t another show possibly do the same in summer?

By: Allen Charles

Allen Charles — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 22:44:07 +0000

I can understand ABC identifying the show with Grey’s and not an SCIFI show, just check the ratings between BSG and Greys. I suspect they expect SCIFI fans will find the show on their own and watch because of the few chances we get to see on a broadcast network an SCIFI show. The program guide just calls it a Drama, no mention of Science Fiction. I search the genre often and seldom find many shows other than on The Cartoons Channel, even Syfy fails to identify several of their shows as SCIFI (example Warehouse 13 or Fringe on Fox).

I will be recording the series and hoping for the best ratings. If the costs are really low maybe, Syfy might have actually been the better fit for the show because three or four million would have been accepted as a big success while these numbers are a loser at ABC.

By: rob

rob — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 22:36:04 +0000

um theres plenty of sci fi shows on the networks.

By: tim

tim — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 22:32:00 +0000

ill pass…..bad idea ABC your not sci fi……oh im sorry syfy

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 22:22:42 +0000

Not only does this show look awful, but by placing it on Sundays (where ABC **STRUGGLES** to get a 1-1.2 demo during the summer) – it’s clear ABC has very low hopes and expectations for this show.

By: T

Fri, 31 Jul 2009 22:01:36 +0000

Heres the plot
In the first hour, “Pilot” (9:00-10:00 p.m.), a team of eight astronauts, embarking on a six-year journey to explore Venus and other planets in the solar system, find their lives and destinies intertwined and carefully directed, not only by Mission Control officials on Earth, but also by an unseen force which is much closer and far more powerful.
In the second hour, “Natural Selection” (10:00-11:00 p.m.), some rocky and intriguing developments confront the crew as they learn to adjust to life on board the Antares, as they find that some past choices, combined with an unknown element in the ship’s mysterious Storage Pod 4, lead to a complex web of dreams, desires and illusions that result in a life-threatening crisis.

“Threshold” The crew is turning up the heat, on ABC’s “Defying Gravity,” SUNDAY, AUGUST 9 (10:00-11:00 p.m., ET). Taboos are broken and lines are crossed as personal and professional relationships aboard the Antares and on Earth continue to intensify, while the unseen power behind the mission begins to create both cellular and psychological transformations among the astronauts.
“H2IK” The crew navigates a series of system failures, on ABC’s “Defying Gravity,” SUNDAY, AUGUST 16 (10:00-11:00 p.m., ET). The crew of the Antares face their first major crisis when the ship inexplicably begins to shut down all of its operating systems, causing the sudden failure of power, heat and gravity controls and plunging everyone aboard into chaos during the desperate search for a solution.
“Defying Gravity” stars Ron Livingston as Maddux Donner, Laura Harris as Zoe Barnes, Malik Yoba as Ted Shaw, Christina Cox as Jen Crane, Florentine Lahme as Nadia Schilling, Paula Garces as Paula Morales, Eyal Podell as Evram Mintz, Dylan Taylor as Steve Wassenfelder, Andrew Airlie as Mike Goss, Karen LeBlanc as Eve Shaw, Zahf Paroo as Ajay Sharma and Maxim Roy as Claire Dereux.

By: T

Fri, 31 Jul 2009 21:58:44 +0000

there is a force on the ship affecting their mental and physical states

By: Vader

Vader — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 21:41:49 +0000

Far be it for me to be critiquing of writing, Robert, but I can’t for the life of me figure out what “though it would not appear the central mystery of the two hour premiere will not remain unrevealed for long.” That may be the only triple negative I’ve ever seen. Are you saying it will be revealed soon or not? :/

By: romo

romo — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 21:39:33 +0000

No.

By: RonMon

RonMon — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 21:12:05 +0000

Anything being compared to Grey’s is a major put off for me, that show is dreadful. But, that being said, I don’t pay attention to what others say so I’ll be watching it and decide for myself. I think it is a flop before it starts but stranger things have happened…Like Dollhouse getting a 2nd season…

By: Bryan

Bryan — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 19:57:35 +0000

well, this looks interesting and i think it has potential but i have doubts about the show.
(1) another grey’s anatomy copy ?? wtf?? there well be a show about detectives similar to Grey’s Anatomy show and now about the space!? I think ABC has now too much shows alike Grey’s Anatomy.
(2) on Sunday?? omg, i think it is better of ABC air it on Monday, whatever
(3) Sci-Fi Series ?? hmm…unusual for ABC, it surely suits better for Syfy or cable TV
however i will watch it. but the ratings may be poor because it’s summer!!! maybe it weill get decent ratings in fall.

By: RJ

RJ — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 19:25:28 +0000

This show looks awful.

By: Drew

Drew — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 19:16:09 +0000

I’m one of those wanting to see it, as I’m an astronomy buff, but there’s True Blood in the same timeslot. I’ll DVR DG and watch it later; True Blood is getting too darn good to miss the original airing and the internet discussion afterwards.

By: MichaelJA

MichaelJA — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 19:05:31 +0000

I’m gonna believe for the best with this show. I will watch and DVR TrueBlood , Hung and Entourage for later viewing. As far as ratings it should be about 8 mil with a demo of 2.5

By: Nick

Nick — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 19:01:29 +0000

I don’t think this is going to do well. I’m kind of put off by the whole “from the producers of Grey’s Anatomy” part…and other people I think will be put off by the whole sci fi part. It looks a bit too soap opera-y. Battlestar Galactica had lots of character stories and dramas, but with them advertising Grey’s Anatomy, something tells me we won’t be dealing with the same kind of stories.

By: Adam

Adam — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 18:51:02 +0000

I think ABC made a huge mistake putting it on Sunday nights.

Look, this show is supposed to be geared for the same demographic that watch Grey’s Anatomy. But the thing is, that demographic will be watching TRUE BLOOD on HBO, if they have cable.

And as mentioned, do Grey’s fans want a sci-fi twist?

I think this show will be doomed.

By: T

Fri, 31 Jul 2009 18:14:47 +0000

I think it’ll do decently for a summer show

By: shelly

shelly — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 18:05:33 +0000

It looks cheesier than Wisconsin from the promos, like Grey’s Anatomy meets Armageddon. Pass!

By: The1337

The1337 — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 18:05:11 +0000

Scifi fans seem to be put off by the Grey’s Anatomy part and normal drama fans might be put off by the scifi part. I’ll watch it for the whole space thing, but I don’t think the ratings will be good.