Johnny Jay’s 2007-08 TV Season Science Fiction and Fantasy Awards

Best Show of the Season: Lost, Runner Up – Moonlight

Lost – During its first season, I figured that there was no way that the creative team could sustain the quality for more than a season or two. Boy have they proved me wrong. The series just keeps re-inventing itself and continues to presenting engaging, will-written drama.

Moonlight – It was definitely a toss up between this and Pushing Daisies but I chose to stick with Moonlight even though it stepped down a notch in quality over its post-strike episodes.

Best New Show of the Season – Moonlight, Runner Up – Pushing Daisies

Moonlight – Its premise sounded like just another series about a crime fighter with a twist, but it really focused more heavily on the Vampire elements. The development of this mythology across its sixteen episodes helped push it to the top of this list.

Pushing Daisies – This dark fairy tale for adults definitely brought a breath of fresh air to Prime Time television. It will be hard to keep up the quality it demonstrated in its shortened first season, but I will definitely be tuning in when it returns next season.

Worst Show of the Season – Cavemen, Runner Up – Flash Gordon

Cavemen – Not the disaster it could have been, but still it wasn’t very good. Only a handful of the episodes produced made it to the air, and I don’t hear too many people clamoring to see the unbroadcast shows.

Flash Gordon – This one was just plain boring and not too many tuned in for this Sci Fi Channel re-imaging of the iconic character.

Biggest Disappointment – Bionic Woman, Runner Up – Flash Gordon

Bionic Woman – Sorry, but I just expected more from David Eick (Battlestar Galactica). The series experienced a lot of turmoil behind the scenes, probably because NBC did not want the creative team to tinker with their franchise too much. And we ended up with a show that hardly met up to anybody’s expectations.

Flash Gordon – How do you take one of the most colorful Science Fiction and Fantasy characters and make him just plain dull?

Started Strong but Faded – Bionic Woman

Bionic Woman – The first few episodes really showed promise, but that was driven mostly by Katee Sackhoff’s portrayal of a wayward Bionic Woman. When she disappeared from the scene and the series focused on its principals, the sparks just did not fly.

Started Weak but Recovered – Heroes, Runner Up – Journeyman

Heroes – After the first season wrapped up with a bit of a let down, fans (including myself) expected big things for the second season. Unfortunately, the show really stumbled early and could not seem to find its way. However, the creative team pulled it together toward the end of the truncated second season and the show concluded on a high note.

Journeyman – This series started out with a conundrum of contrivances but somehow managed to wrap it all up into a coherent story with its final episode. Unfortunately the series will not get a chance to build on its strong finish.

New Show Least Deserving Cancellation – Moonlight, Runner Up – Journeyman

Moonlight – Hey, this show won its timeslot almost every week. Unfortunately, the graph showing the CBS Friday ratings numbers dipped downward between its lead-in The Ghost Whisperer and its follow-up Numbers. That was all the network execs needed to see to pull the plug.

Journeyman – Sure, it started weak, but it showed a great deal of promise toward the end.

Returning Show Least Deserving Cancellation – Jericho

Jericho – Okay, it was the only returning Science Fiction and Fantasy show that got the axe, but it still didn’t deserve it. Of course, CBS’s commitment seemed tentative to begin with seeing as they only ordered seven episodes for the second season and cast it to the Tuesday night 10 PM death-slot. It still has a chance for new life as the producers are currently shopping it to other venues.

Darkhorse of the Season – New Amsterdam, Runner Up – Sarah Connor Chronicles

New Amsterdam – I never expected to like this show, but somehow I got caught up into it. The creative team managed to breath some life into the stable of clichés that made up the premise to the series.

Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles – Based on the last movie, I figured that this series would deliver nothing more than mindless action/adventure. But it actually focused more on the moral conflicts of the central characters and gave us some pretty engaging stories.

Series Most Likely to Make the Best of List – Heroes, Runner Up – Pushing Daisies

Heroes – If it can prove that last season was nothing more than a sophomore slump and return to the quality of its first season, then this one is a shoe-in.

Pushing Daisies – One of the most original series to hit the air in some time, if it can keep up the quality it showed during its shortened first season, then this will probably also find a place on the list.

Note: Lost is already on the list and is quickly working its way to my top five.

Returning Series Most Likely to Get the Axe Next Season – Reaper, Runner Up – Sarah Connor Chronicles

Reaper – It barely avoided its namesake this year and will only find its way back onto the schedule as a mid-season replacement. If its numbers don’t improve quickly upon its return, expect the CW Network to wrap the noose around it quickly.

Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles – It had marginal ratings in its first season and it’s on FOX. No Science Fiction and Fantasy series is safe there (Mr. Abrams, Mr. Whedon, you have been warned).

-JJJ

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