Here is a link to another BB that I found, which does discuss posted information on some Internet news sites.
http://trekbbs.com/ubb/Forum11/HTML/012606.html
Basically, it states the history of Fox dumping shows that require time in order to gain a following. Sci-Fi shows are never ever going to give you a high loyal following right away. They require years of individuals watching in order for them to really become fans. Having the show on Fridays is a definite bad sign, as ever since TGIF bombed, TV watching on Friday nights is one of the lowest. They moved the show 'John Doe' to Mondays, when it was on Friday. The longer that Firefly stays on at 8:00 on Friday, the better chance that it has in dying off. It would have a much better chance in surviving if it was given a place on Sunday night TV, where FOX makes its killing.
Basically, FOX has a history of cancelling shows that do not immediately show financial promise. They have one of the highest rates of TV cancelling, close to ABC, and they have probably the highest rate of cancelling quality TV. Indeed, there is a lot of hype around this show being a good seller primarily because Joss is involved in it. However, it took a long time before Buffy the Vampire Slayer became a hit, and it was primarily a hit because there was nothing else like it, and it was very well written (however, the Last few seasons have been dragging on...). Firefly may be well written, but I don't think it will get enough time in order to develop into a good seiries, given FOX's track record.
FOX basically wants every show to be as immediately popular as comparable shows. When the Family Guy and Futurama failed to meet the same following as the Simpsons, they were cut, even though it took the Simpsons years to get to the point that they currently are. The Lone Gunmen was cancelled when it did not grab the attention of the entire X-Files community, even though the X-Files did not become a major hit until well into its second season.
Recently, I am noticing more and more television shows flopping year after year, with more reruns being put in their place. I think that TV corporations are getting way too greedy in that they expect that if a show is not immediately a hit, it will never be. Most of the great television, especially Science Fiction, requires years of development before they gain a large and loyal audience.
Star Trek the original series, was cancelled after 3 years, primarily because of the same problem that Firefly is facing, it was put in a bad timeslot. Firefly may make it, if they are given enough time to develop, and a better time in which to show it.
It is amazing the number of high quality Science Fiction television shows that we get up here on the Canadian Space Channel, like G. vs. E., Harsh Realm, Third Wave, etc.. that when we get them they were already in syndication because they were cancelled in the US. Seeing what was cancelled by FOX in the past, it really does not give Firefly much of a fighting chance, unless Joss uses his clout to keep the show afloat (however, even Chris Carter, the creator of the biggest FOX moneybag show, was unable to keep Lone Gunmen and Millenium on TV).
[ October 01, 2002, 15:30: Message edited by: Major Tom ]