James at 15 is never cancelled. It has already been renewed to return this fall as James at 53. 
Alternate histories of TV shows
- Thread starter AltSptHst
- Start date
Sliders (1995-2005), Star Trek: Voyager (1995-2005)
Tracy Tormé and Robert K. Weiss fail to pitch the pilot to FOX, resulting in UPN picking it up instead, resulting in the show airing alongside Star Trek: Voyager as part of a sci-fi block, with both shows' fanbases fueling each-other's ratings. Without FOX's meddling Sliders becomes a pioneer in serialized storytelling, winning multiple Emmys (Emmies?) for Outstanding Writing for a Drama series and being nominated twice for Outstanding Drama Series (losing both times due to the ever prevalent stigma against sci-fi). It's success inspires UPN to allow Voyager to leave the TNG comfort zone of "Situation of the week" episodes and little-to-no continuity or character development, resulting in its fourth season being almost entirely taken by Brannon Braga's "Year of Hell" story arc and being praised as the best season of the show. Afterwards both shows run for ten years, airing their final episodes in 2005. Voyager is seen as the best series in the franchise thus far and the 2006 movie based on it is considered to be likewise one of the best entries in the film series. Sliders in the meantime becomes a pop-culture phenomenon, and spawns a film trilogy which is considered by many to be the Star Wars trilogy of the new millennium, especially when compared to the Star Wars prequel films.
Tracy Tormé and Robert K. Weiss fail to pitch the pilot to FOX, resulting in UPN picking it up instead, resulting in the show airing alongside Star Trek: Voyager as part of a sci-fi block, with both shows' fanbases fueling each-other's ratings. Without FOX's meddling Sliders becomes a pioneer in serialized storytelling, winning multiple Emmys (Emmies?) for Outstanding Writing for a Drama series and being nominated twice for Outstanding Drama Series (losing both times due to the ever prevalent stigma against sci-fi). It's success inspires UPN to allow Voyager to leave the TNG comfort zone of "Situation of the week" episodes and little-to-no continuity or character development, resulting in its fourth season being almost entirely taken by Brannon Braga's "Year of Hell" story arc and being praised as the best season of the show. Afterwards both shows run for ten years, airing their final episodes in 2005. Voyager is seen as the best series in the franchise thus far and the 2006 movie based on it is considered to be likewise one of the best entries in the film series. Sliders in the meantime becomes a pop-culture phenomenon, and spawns a film trilogy which is considered by many to be the Star Wars trilogy of the new millennium, especially when compared to the Star Wars prequel films.
My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic (2011-Present)
Hasbro doesn't start meddling the show thereby not causing Lauren Faust to leave, Twilicorn doesn't exist and a much better humanized ponies spin-off is made.
Hasbro doesn't start meddling the show thereby not causing Lauren Faust to leave, Twilicorn doesn't exist and a much better humanized ponies spin-off is made.
Tatort/Eurocops format for the CSI franchise
For those not familiar with the cultural phenomenon that is the police show 'Tatort' in Germany: The show is a co-production of all major German regional radio/TV networks and has been continuously running since 1970 with typically one 90 minute episode every 3-4 weeks. The main distinction of the show is the way it is co-produced: Every of the participating local networks/studios gets to produce two episodes a year which is then fed into a common pool and shown on all networks as this region's contribution. Hence one episode will play in Hamburg and feature a local North-German police team then the next episode will play in Munich with the police detectives unabashedly speaking in Bavarian dialect. In the 1990's a similar concept was tried with 6 national European TV channels where each country contributed a number of police procedurals -reflecting their own national taste in police shows- into a common pool to be broadcast by all national TV stations of all participating countries.
Of course both Tatort and Eurocops could only exist because the participating broadcasting companies each had their own production facilities and all were equal partners as opposed to the franchise system common in the US...
Still, could more series be made by a cooperation of different regional production companies and be broadcast 'mixed' with each city and cast followed by an episode playing in another city by a different cast? Even in the US?
so here is my rewrite of one of the most popular series franchises of the last decade: Jerry Bruckheimer's CSI...
CSI:Crime Scene Investigation America
Anthony Zuiker and Jerry Bruckheimer developed a show around a crime scene laboratory team early 1999. Early on it was decided that there were enough cop shows playing in LA already and so the show should play in a city that would be 'interesting' enough to add to the flair of the show. Bruckheimer wanted the show to play in Las Vegas, mostly because it was only a short ride away from Hollywood. Zuiker favored New York because of the studio facilities already present there. While the two were trying to reach a decision, the Florida film board offered generous tax benefits if the new show were to be produced in Miami. Several weeks of back and forth followed until both polled composer Jan Hammer if he would be interested in writing the title score. Hammer had earlier written the score for Eurocops and so when he asked about which city the show would play in and Bruckheimer explained they were still deciding between Vegas, New York and Miami, Hammer simply asked:'Why not in all three?' and told them the Eurocops series.... And suddenly a light went off in Bruckheimer's head...
The first episode of CSI aired on Thursday October 6th 2000, featuring William Peterson and Marg Helgenberger as crime lab detectives in Las Vegas. It was followed next Thursday by an episode of CSI-Miami and the Thursday afterwards by an episode of CSI-New York before returning to CSI Las Vegas the next week. The gamble played off. Viewers seemed to like 'getting three shows for the price of one' especially since spreading the show out over three cities allowed for a less hectic schedule on each of the locations with as a result a considerable jump in quality -both in stories as in production- compared to other crime shows of the time. The show was immediately renewed for a second season. A third season saw the original three cities joined by CSI Toronto and CSI Savannah. The first because of a franchise with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. The latter through some ll seed money from the Georgia Film Board. After Georgia, Texas tried its luck, but filming on CSI-Houston was shelved after a real life investigation uncovered scandalous practices at the real life Houston crime lab, including faked DNA testing results and 'lost' exhonorating evidence. Zuiker quickly wrote a revised script that acknowledged the scandal and revolved around a new team cleaning up the lab and in the process clashing with their 'old school' superiors. However due to a clause in the contract, the Texas Film Board told Zuiker that the new script did not paint Texas in a positive enough light and that it had the right to withdraw all funding if the plot was not revised. So Zuiker rewrote the plot... to play in post-Katrina New Orleans instead and left for Louisiana who's film board was a lot more open to critical voices.... And so the next TEN! seasons would alternatively play in each of the six CSI cities: Las Vegas, Miami, New York, Toronto, Savannah and New Orleans until the final episode -again playing in Las Vegas and again featuring William Petersen and Marg Helgenberger-aired in 2015... Almost to the date 15 years after the first one...
For those not familiar with the cultural phenomenon that is the police show 'Tatort' in Germany: The show is a co-production of all major German regional radio/TV networks and has been continuously running since 1970 with typically one 90 minute episode every 3-4 weeks. The main distinction of the show is the way it is co-produced: Every of the participating local networks/studios gets to produce two episodes a year which is then fed into a common pool and shown on all networks as this region's contribution. Hence one episode will play in Hamburg and feature a local North-German police team then the next episode will play in Munich with the police detectives unabashedly speaking in Bavarian dialect. In the 1990's a similar concept was tried with 6 national European TV channels where each country contributed a number of police procedurals -reflecting their own national taste in police shows- into a common pool to be broadcast by all national TV stations of all participating countries.
Of course both Tatort and Eurocops could only exist because the participating broadcasting companies each had their own production facilities and all were equal partners as opposed to the franchise system common in the US...
Still, could more series be made by a cooperation of different regional production companies and be broadcast 'mixed' with each city and cast followed by an episode playing in another city by a different cast? Even in the US?
so here is my rewrite of one of the most popular series franchises of the last decade: Jerry Bruckheimer's CSI...
CSI:Crime Scene Investigation America
Anthony Zuiker and Jerry Bruckheimer developed a show around a crime scene laboratory team early 1999. Early on it was decided that there were enough cop shows playing in LA already and so the show should play in a city that would be 'interesting' enough to add to the flair of the show. Bruckheimer wanted the show to play in Las Vegas, mostly because it was only a short ride away from Hollywood. Zuiker favored New York because of the studio facilities already present there. While the two were trying to reach a decision, the Florida film board offered generous tax benefits if the new show were to be produced in Miami. Several weeks of back and forth followed until both polled composer Jan Hammer if he would be interested in writing the title score. Hammer had earlier written the score for Eurocops and so when he asked about which city the show would play in and Bruckheimer explained they were still deciding between Vegas, New York and Miami, Hammer simply asked:'Why not in all three?' and told them the Eurocops series.... And suddenly a light went off in Bruckheimer's head...
The first episode of CSI aired on Thursday October 6th 2000, featuring William Peterson and Marg Helgenberger as crime lab detectives in Las Vegas. It was followed next Thursday by an episode of CSI-Miami and the Thursday afterwards by an episode of CSI-New York before returning to CSI Las Vegas the next week. The gamble played off. Viewers seemed to like 'getting three shows for the price of one' especially since spreading the show out over three cities allowed for a less hectic schedule on each of the locations with as a result a considerable jump in quality -both in stories as in production- compared to other crime shows of the time. The show was immediately renewed for a second season. A third season saw the original three cities joined by CSI Toronto and CSI Savannah. The first because of a franchise with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. The latter through some ll seed money from the Georgia Film Board. After Georgia, Texas tried its luck, but filming on CSI-Houston was shelved after a real life investigation uncovered scandalous practices at the real life Houston crime lab, including faked DNA testing results and 'lost' exhonorating evidence. Zuiker quickly wrote a revised script that acknowledged the scandal and revolved around a new team cleaning up the lab and in the process clashing with their 'old school' superiors. However due to a clause in the contract, the Texas Film Board told Zuiker that the new script did not paint Texas in a positive enough light and that it had the right to withdraw all funding if the plot was not revised. So Zuiker rewrote the plot... to play in post-Katrina New Orleans instead and left for Louisiana who's film board was a lot more open to critical voices.... And so the next TEN! seasons would alternatively play in each of the six CSI cities: Las Vegas, Miami, New York, Toronto, Savannah and New Orleans until the final episode -again playing in Las Vegas and again featuring William Petersen and Marg Helgenberger-aired in 2015... Almost to the date 15 years after the first one...
Last edited:
A few Star Trek ideas involving character arcs.
1 Wesley Crusher gets shipped off the the academy read written out part way through season 3.
2 Picard goes on sabbatical for a year after Best of Both World's, Riker becomes Captain with Shelby as first officer.
3 Wesley returns in season 6 as a science Ensign, arrogant and obnoxious. Someone gets killed on an away mission and he cleans up his act.
4 Shelby gets command of Voyager in due course.
1 Wesley Crusher gets shipped off the the academy read written out part way through season 3.
2 Picard goes on sabbatical for a year after Best of Both World's, Riker becomes Captain with Shelby as first officer.
3 Wesley returns in season 6 as a science Ensign, arrogant and obnoxious. Someone gets killed on an away mission and he cleans up his act.
4 Shelby gets command of Voyager in due course.
Robbin in da Hood.
Robbin is a gansta living in the South Side of big city USA. Robs from the rich using medieval weapons such a swords, daggers, bows and arrows.
Robbin is a gansta living in the South Side of big city USA. Robs from the rich using medieval weapons such a swords, daggers, bows and arrows.
Yea... Love that. Except for the swords and dagger thingy. I'd still like to see him use a bow and lots of fancy arrows but I'd prefer for him and Little John to use some equivalent of a quarterstaff and maybe use a small dagger to hold against one's throat but not to hurt anyone...
Knoxville Jim
Banned
New Amsterdam / Boardwalk Empire
Does anyone remember a show called New Amsterdam on Fox in 2007? I think it mainly was hurt from the writer's strike and Fox's inability to give anything a chance. I really enjoyed it. I wish it could have been given a chance. Anyone know where if there are anymore episodes out there?
I also think Boardwalk Empire could have gotten another season. It was an excellent show.
I really liked West Wing, it was my favorite show when it was on. I just feel it maybe went on too long. But, I always wished we had Jed Bartlett for POTUS.
Does anyone remember a show called New Amsterdam on Fox in 2007? I think it mainly was hurt from the writer's strike and Fox's inability to give anything a chance. I really enjoyed it. I wish it could have been given a chance. Anyone know where if there are anymore episodes out there?
I also think Boardwalk Empire could have gotten another season. It was an excellent show.
I really liked West Wing, it was my favorite show when it was on. I just feel it maybe went on too long. But, I always wished we had Jed Bartlett for POTUS.
Dallas: Due to declining ratings (which began in its sixth season,) the series was cancelled in 1985.
Knot's Landing: Cancelled in 1984 due to low ratings.
Dynasty: A hit in its first season but quickly lost steam by its second and ABC pulls the plug after its third.
Flamingo Road: A one-season wonder.
Falcon Crest: Doesn't exist.
Family Ties: An hour-long drama on CBS. Runs from 1982 to 1990.
Domestic Life: Gets picked up by FOX (which launches under Ted Turner three years earlier than IOTL) instead of CBS. It is the network's first television series to air in primetime, and it's second series overall (the first being an hour-long five-night-a-week music video program.) It runs from January 1984 to May 1989. It also gets a spin-off in 1988.
Brothers: Airs on FOX instead of Showtime. The series still has a five-year run as IOTL.
It's Your Move: While still cancelled by NBC, the series gets renewed for a second season by FOX, where it runs seven more seasons. David Garrison remains on the show as Norman Lamb until 1990, and never joins the cast of Married with Children as Steve Rhodes (who is played by Charles Rocket.)
Hunter: Doesn't exist.
Miami Vice: Season 3 continues the tone of the first two seasons with a few differences (the Daytona is still replaced by the Testarossa, but however, it wouldn't be until midway through the season.) John Diehl remains on the show as Larry Zito until the middle of season 4. With no Dallas to compete with it, the show is still a top-ten hit in its third season. The series gets a sixth season, which would also be its last.
The Cosby Show: Gets picked up by ABC and airs on Tuesday nights.
Growing Pains: Is picked up by NBC as a reaction of The Cosby Show's success on ABC and airs on the network's popular Thursday night lineup.
Married with Children: Not much has changed except for a few. The series debuts on March 15, 1987 instead of April 5 like IOTL. With David Garrison still on It's Your Move, Steve Rhodes is played by Charles Rocket. The series gets a 12th season as FOX doesn't move it to different slots on different nights, and gets a proper finale with the Bundys winning the lottery.
Roseanne: Airs on NBC instead of ABC.
Coach: Airs on CBS from October 1988 to July 1989 instead of ABC from February 1989 to May 1997, making it a one-season failure (like every other Barry Kemp/Universal sitcom) because it didn't have a big hit such as Roseanne to leech off of, and instead, it follows a declining Newhart (much like the short-lived Coming of Age, which ITTL runs from December 1987 to April 1988, did IOTL.)
Baywatch: Remains on NBC and runs until 1999. The show's original tone is kept and never goes the "all style, no substance" route. Erika Eleniak, Billy Warlock, Shawn Weatherly, John Allen Nelson, Brandon Call, Holly Gagnier and Parker Stevenson all remain, while Pamela Anderson (who stays on Home Improvement,) Alexandra Paul, Nicole Eggert, David Charvet, Kelly Slater, Tom Mctigue, and Carmen Electra never joins. Since NBC wanted another female, former Coach star Clare Carey joins the cast during season 2 (1990-91.)
Beverly Hills, 90210: Premieres in 1989 instead of 1990.
Star Trek: Voyager: With Paramount calling off its deal with Chris-Craft Industries, UPN never launches. Instead of merging with Viacom, Paramount merges with ABC Inc (Capital Cities is butterflied away) and all of its owned-and-operated stations were sold to Chris-Craft Industries. With that said, Voyager will run on ABC from September 18, 1995 to May 19, 2005, making it the longest-running television series in the Star Trek franchise.
Knot's Landing: Cancelled in 1984 due to low ratings.
Dynasty: A hit in its first season but quickly lost steam by its second and ABC pulls the plug after its third.
Flamingo Road: A one-season wonder.
Falcon Crest: Doesn't exist.
Family Ties: An hour-long drama on CBS. Runs from 1982 to 1990.
Domestic Life: Gets picked up by FOX (which launches under Ted Turner three years earlier than IOTL) instead of CBS. It is the network's first television series to air in primetime, and it's second series overall (the first being an hour-long five-night-a-week music video program.) It runs from January 1984 to May 1989. It also gets a spin-off in 1988.
Brothers: Airs on FOX instead of Showtime. The series still has a five-year run as IOTL.
It's Your Move: While still cancelled by NBC, the series gets renewed for a second season by FOX, where it runs seven more seasons. David Garrison remains on the show as Norman Lamb until 1990, and never joins the cast of Married with Children as Steve Rhodes (who is played by Charles Rocket.)
Hunter: Doesn't exist.
Miami Vice: Season 3 continues the tone of the first two seasons with a few differences (the Daytona is still replaced by the Testarossa, but however, it wouldn't be until midway through the season.) John Diehl remains on the show as Larry Zito until the middle of season 4. With no Dallas to compete with it, the show is still a top-ten hit in its third season. The series gets a sixth season, which would also be its last.
The Cosby Show: Gets picked up by ABC and airs on Tuesday nights.
Growing Pains: Is picked up by NBC as a reaction of The Cosby Show's success on ABC and airs on the network's popular Thursday night lineup.
Married with Children: Not much has changed except for a few. The series debuts on March 15, 1987 instead of April 5 like IOTL. With David Garrison still on It's Your Move, Steve Rhodes is played by Charles Rocket. The series gets a 12th season as FOX doesn't move it to different slots on different nights, and gets a proper finale with the Bundys winning the lottery.
Roseanne: Airs on NBC instead of ABC.
Coach: Airs on CBS from October 1988 to July 1989 instead of ABC from February 1989 to May 1997, making it a one-season failure (like every other Barry Kemp/Universal sitcom) because it didn't have a big hit such as Roseanne to leech off of, and instead, it follows a declining Newhart (much like the short-lived Coming of Age, which ITTL runs from December 1987 to April 1988, did IOTL.)
Baywatch: Remains on NBC and runs until 1999. The show's original tone is kept and never goes the "all style, no substance" route. Erika Eleniak, Billy Warlock, Shawn Weatherly, John Allen Nelson, Brandon Call, Holly Gagnier and Parker Stevenson all remain, while Pamela Anderson (who stays on Home Improvement,) Alexandra Paul, Nicole Eggert, David Charvet, Kelly Slater, Tom Mctigue, and Carmen Electra never joins. Since NBC wanted another female, former Coach star Clare Carey joins the cast during season 2 (1990-91.)
Beverly Hills, 90210: Premieres in 1989 instead of 1990.
Star Trek: Voyager: With Paramount calling off its deal with Chris-Craft Industries, UPN never launches. Instead of merging with Viacom, Paramount merges with ABC Inc (Capital Cities is butterflied away) and all of its owned-and-operated stations were sold to Chris-Craft Industries. With that said, Voyager will run on ABC from September 18, 1995 to May 19, 2005, making it the longest-running television series in the Star Trek franchise.
Last edited:
Soccer Saturday
The Sports Channel (BCB 1990-Present Day)
BCB (British Cable Broadcasting is the official IBA selection for multi-channel cable TV. Soccer Saturday is broadcasted from 12 PM to 8PM and shows where possible 1 or 2 First Division matches live as well as updates from the other games. (No stupid 3pm ban) Being available on UK wide cable networks leads to BCB making profits from day 1.
The Sports Channel (BCB 1990-Present Day)
BCB (British Cable Broadcasting is the official IBA selection for multi-channel cable TV. Soccer Saturday is broadcasted from 12 PM to 8PM and shows where possible 1 or 2 First Division matches live as well as updates from the other games. (No stupid 3pm ban) Being available on UK wide cable networks leads to BCB making profits from day 1.
A Walking Dead AH that I proposed in an earlier thread:
Nicer Darabont Departure from The Walking Dead
The Walking Dead has been a show plagued by a rotating list of showrunners, all of whom appeared to have vastly different sensibilities which are jarring when you actually watch the thing side by side. What with the most recent showrunner (Scott Gimple) now apparently on the hot seat I thought it would be interesting to explore a more stable avenue for the show.
From Post-Season 1:
The Walking Dead's Robert Kirkman: Writing Staff Changes Won't Affect the Show
So basically this happens; Eglee gets to be showrunner in Season 2 and for the sake of this story he continues that role into present day.
S2E1: Miles Behind Us
From What Lies Ahead wikipedia page
It's hard to really say where the Season and show would go from there. The episode amount would still be doubled while the budget is halved, still necessitating a more single-location focused story and avoiding hiring too many new main cast members (which means we have to push back Tyreese).
But without any bad blood from Darabont, DeMunn won't ask to be written out of the show which means Dale stays on for at least a bit longer.
Thomas Jane originally wanted to be on the show. Thinking ahead, he might make a fun pick for TTL's version of the Governor.
Looking back at how the season would go - ITTL Darabont hasn't fired the whole writing staff. Chic Eglee appears to be a very character-focused guy. Mazarra we know about - he likes action and is the OG Daryl fan-boy I think we can assume his OTL episodes (writing wise) are about the same. Jack LoGiudice has experience from Sons of Anarchy and wrote passable episodes of both The Walking Dead and Fear the Walking Dead. If we're being wishful thinkers maybe LoGiudice can bring in some good biker sensibilities from his Sons of Anarchy experience - which would work well if we bring back Merle (more on that later). Finally we've got Adam Fierro, who's got credits from 24 and Dexter and his one episode was the CDC one. If I had to guess he has a bit larger scale sensibilities but also intense character focus.
Also, following the formula of Season 1 they can stretch six issues over about four episodes (using filler for the other two). We'll have to move even slower here but it is possible - they totally avoided plot points from Volume 2 of The Walking Dead comic that IMO are low budget enough that we could potentially still use it which cuts down on the amount of time spent at the Farm.
Episode 1 as stated above ends with Sophia going missing.
Episode 2 has the church scene and ITTL I guess making camp at a burned out house (Issue 8 of TWD)
Episode 3 more searching and discussion about Sophia, discovery of Wiltshire
Episode 4 Rick and co hang out in Wiltshire, foreshadowing zombies approaching
Episode 5 Escape from Wiltshire Estates, Carl shot by Otis
Episode 6 OTL's S2E2 where Otis takes Rick to the Farm
Episode 7 (Mid Season 2 Finale) We can have Carl recovering and Shane killing Otis
IMHO this is all pretty low budget; Wiltshire they could just rent out a single suburban home and do a couple of exterior shots for the small zombie herd (which IOTL they were able to do in the beginning and end of the season). Plus this gets us five whole episodes without the farm which means that the ensuing story there can be much much tighter.
Having watched interviews with Eglee on his other shows he is a character dude like I said and I really think he would play up the Rick vs Shane connection just like IOTL. At the same time, Darabont's Governor foreshadowing with the Vatos in S2E1 will also be a factor.
Mazarra is still in here so we still see Daryl's character development which in Season 2 and 3 was actually very interesting to watch.
Season 2 would probably end very similar to OTL with Rick and company being forced off of the farm.
Hopefully more thoughts on this later.
Robot Wars -
Anarchy (a very powerful walkerbot built by the team who made 101) defeats Tornado in the final of Heat G, Series 6. After beating Hypno-Disc in Round 1 of the semis, it is defeated by Dominator 2 in the second round, with Dominator then going on to reach the grand final before being beaten by Razer. Thanks to Tornado being eliminated early again, there is no Storm 2 debacle and the series is renewed for an eighth season before finally concluding in 2005 with Firestorm VI finally winning the UK trophy.
teg
Anarchy (a very powerful walkerbot built by the team who made 101) defeats Tornado in the final of Heat G, Series 6. After beating Hypno-Disc in Round 1 of the semis, it is defeated by Dominator 2 in the second round, with Dominator then going on to reach the grand final before being beaten by Razer. Thanks to Tornado being eliminated early again, there is no Storm 2 debacle and the series is renewed for an eighth season before finally concluding in 2005 with Firestorm VI finally winning the UK trophy.
teg