Eick will have an exclusive television contract with Universal Media Studios. Not only will that give him more opportunity to work on the “Battlestar Galactica” prequel “Caprica,” but it also will allow him to create and develop other products.

Eick also will take on an adventure series known as “AKA” as well as “Hart to Hart.” Kerry Ehrins, most recently of “Friday Night Lights” is the writer behind “AKA” while Dario Scardapane will be attached to “Hart to Hart” as a writer.

On top of that, Eick also will be asked to do yet another adaptation of an existing property under the control of NBCU, although the title of that property has yet to be released since the studio is still working on finalizing the rights to recreate it.

It’s a shame that he didn’t succeed with BW, but it’s clear that the guy is talented, and NBC can certainly see that otherwise they wouldn’t invest in him so heavily. Although that said, sometimes faith be blind. At least Eick now has the time to craft projects and assemble a quality team around him. He’ll also learn from the mistakes that were made with BW. So whilst his reputation has been damaged slightly, I’ll still look on with interest at what he comes up with next.

“I just felt that the process was so frustrating, and the conditions under which we were making that show never really came to fruition in such a way that I felt like we could make the show well. We just didn’t ever bring it all together like we did with Battlestar. At a certain point, when it becomes that frustrating, I think you’re better off to say, ‘Let’s try again another time,’ and let it go.”

Eick goes on to rightfully defend Michelle Ryan for her part in the shows downfall, whilst unsurprisingly he doesn’t point the finger of blame at the writers, stating that some of it was “good”. He must be referring to the first episode then. Basically it wouldn’t be clever of him to ostracise writers which he may need in the future (the Re-imagining of the Six Million Dollar Man, perhaps? That’d please Lee Majors!).

So, there we have it, straight from the horses mouth – or at least the saddle, since only NBC can officially cancel the show. I just think Eick owes a better explanation than the ones he’s given. It’s amazing that the ball was dropped, especially when i’m reminded of all the hype and promise.

It must be an odd situation for Ryan, who has to promote the show launch in the UK, whilst knowing that it probably wont see the light of day again in the States. Her “big break” left in tatters, some have argued that she’s now left relying on the country she left this time last year to see something positive in BW that America (and online viewers have missed). 
However, she is all too aware that despite having a good premise, the scripting and creative changes are at fault for it’s likely NBC-axing:

“It’s had creative changes; some things didn’t work, but in launching a TV show that’s all part of the process.”

You can bet your bottom dollar that the UK press just love the fact that she’s now back in the UK with her metaphorical tail between her legs. Last year, a few (very) bitter people believed that she was turning her back on the UK by aspiring to be America’s next top star!

Let’s hope BW’s failure wont deter Ryan from future aspirations – it looks like she’s still confident by taking the positives out of her US experience:

“To get six months on air – or even the three that we did – is an achievement. To have a hit show that runs for years… the likelihood is one in a million.”

Ryan also reveals that should a miracle happen and NBC perform a U-turn, she and the rest of the cast will be back on BW in a hot-minute.

Well Ryan, here’s hoping – although it looks like we’ll have to wait until May for a definitive answer.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Well, can they? You know it’s been said a million times by myself and many of you out there, but this show has SO much potential. What a shame that David Eick and NBC dropped the ball! Because ultimately that’s where the buck has to stop – not with Michelle Ryan, not with Isaiah Washington, not with the fans and perhaps not even so much with the writers – who’s scripts have to be sanctioned by, yup, NBC. Of course the writers are to blame for the sub-standard scripts, but ultimately it is the network who gives them the green light or not. Perhaps more time finding the right people to write the show would have been wise?

I’m not bashing NBC (least, that is not what is intended), but they haven’t exactly endeared themselves to their public of late - (apparently) shifting the blame for the shows lack of success onto lead actress Michelle Ryan, stalling over making an official announcement as to the future of the show etc.

Let’s just say that my confidence in NBC has waned somewhat. I hope that they surprise us all by announcing that the show will continue in some capacity (a completely re-tooled one, if possible), but it seems likely that we’ll have confirmation of the shows end any day now.

What a shame, this ‘re-imagined’ concept was so bold, so exciting. It seemed that nothing could get in it’s way – a grown up version of “Heroes”, a show which TV so badly needed. The fan-base was there, all we needed was a good show. Instead it’s now down to us fans to rally behind the premise which excited us roughly a year ago. It’s down to us to sign petitions and do what we can to keep this show alive. This may be a bit early, but if Jericho fans can go “Nuts” for their show, why the heck can’t we!?

..And if NBC don’t want to listen, perhaps another network will see what a brilliant and powerful concept this show has in it’s mechanics? Even if the name ‘Bionic Woman’ was replaced, I wouldn’t be totally opposed to a brand new show being ‘modelled’ on this re-imagining. I expect some stick for saying that, but all things being right (i.e. the script, cast, direction etc), there must be a way to keep the premise alive!?

Over to you NBC.

Vid by Wolfke1979

The Guardian reports:

US drama Bionic Woman, starring former EastEnders actress Michelle Ryan, is not expected to return for a second series after NBC omitted it from its list of post-strike returning shows.

The US network today confirmed which shows would be returning from their post-writers’ strike hiatus, and the superhero series was noticeable by its absence.

US trade magazine Variety reported that the show had been “essentially cancelled”, confirming rumours that have dogged the series for months after its ratings dropped away following a strong launch last autumn

I must say I am surprised. I was one of those confident that no news was good news, in regards to NBC’s tight-lipped silence throught the strike. However, I will wait for official confirmation before taking this news as canon.

The bones of the settlement will not be exposed until the next crop of Hollywood memoirs, but insiders are crediting a 42-year-old scriptwriter called Laeta Kalagridis as the woman who banged heads together.

Her scripts might not have been bonanzas – she wrote Oliver Stone’s horribly miscast Alexander and the gloomy remake of Bionic Woman – but, running her own strike website, she and her agent became a conduit between the union’s tough-guy negotiator David Young and the equally hard-boiled studio pointman, Peter Chernin, chairman of the Fox studios and television interests.

If this is true then good on her – let’s hope her future scripts can save Bionic Woman!

You can check out Laeta’s “United Hollywood” blog here.

Last week I reported on reports that the show had been reportedly cancelled – this week NBC have apparently confirmed that the series will see out it’s full 13 episode quota..that is, when the strike finishes. Apparently, finishing the remaining episodes will be NBC’s ”first order of business.”

It seems that NBC ordered 13 episodes and by Jove they’re going to get 13 episodes! Bravo NBC, that’s the spirit!

So that means we should expect a further FIVE episodes sometime in 2008. Let’s hope those aren’t the last 5 episodes that we see of the show. In this topsy-turvy world of media entertainment, who can predict what will happen with this show? One minute it appears dead and the next minute it has an extended lifespan. No-one can claim to know exactly what is going on except the top-dogs at NBC. As fans we react to the slightest bit of news, and that’s natural. With a show like BW I think many of us have learned to expect the worst, so we prepare ourselves for the worst..but sometimes, just sometimes you get a nice surprise.

Let’s hope this latest rumour is true. If it is, MAYBE the Bionic Woman will be around for longer than we think?

This news is hardly surprising, however it’s so sad that we never saw the show reach it’s potential. In truth, it got nowhere near. How this show failed is a mystery – of course it’s flaws were obvious – but with all that it had going for it, it is truly amazing how this show failed so badly.

This news isn’t official just yet, but as soon as I hear confirmation from NBC, I’ll be sure to let you know.

Some of the comments on the nytimes tvdecoder blog, in particular, leave no doubt as to their feelings regarding MR’s performance. Here’s a sample:

It’s pretty simple: Michele Ryan is a car wreck, and there’s no rebuilding her. She mistakes oogling her giant, expressive eyes for acting. The writing is generally stiff and unengaging. — Posted by Janet V

Michelle Ryan? Bless her heart- awful. Really, just about the worst actor I’ve seen a show built around since Emeril Lagasse. Not many people can make a line that reads as bad as “That saving the world thing? I’d like to give it a try,” and deliver it so it sounds even WORSE. Ryan sunk to the occasion. — Posted by howlless

The problem in a nutshell: Michelle Ryan ain’t no Jennifer Garner. Nor is she a Lindsey Wagner.

— Posted by Phil

Whilst I realise that these views are supplemented with many positive views about MR, from what I have seen a lot of the recent criticisms of the show are beginning to focus on the lead actress. I am surprised that MR is under such attack – sure, she wasn’t outstanding but in my opinion she’s miles better than the entire female cast of ‘Heroes’ and Evangeline Lilly from ‘LOST’ (no offense, Evie), yet I don’t see them getting bashed for their acting ability, not to this degree.

Sorry, but I have to defend Michelle Ryan’s corner because she has shown vast improvement over the course of 8 episodes. Doesn’t that deserve credit? The main problem with BW is the writing – it has been terrible, it has been disjointed and it has been ‘insecure’ – it has tried to please, but has failed to find it’s voice after the first showrunner left. Sure, great actors can sometimes carry a show – heaven knows Jack Coleman has just about carried Season 2 of Heroes – but Ryan is not a great actress, not ‘yet’ (that’s not to say she won’t be). She is a fresh actress, in a new country, with her first breakout series. Yes, she does deserve criticism, as does every person who is judged on performance, but personally I don’t think she should shoulder the blame for Bionic Woman’s ills. Could anyone else really have made the show ‘better’? I’m not so sure they could – not when the likes of Miguel Ferrer, Isaiah Washington and even ‘cult hero’ Katee Sackhoff, have at times, struggled in their own performances.

It’s good, however, that the show is still provoking so much opinion – that’s what it’s all about and that’s what NBC need to recognise. Yes, the show has, by and large, sucked so far, but the show is STILL a major talking point and still has so much in reserve. Let’s just hope that Michelle Ryan and friends get the chance to give the fans something positive to talk about.

C’mon NBC, give us the ‘edgy’, ‘dark’ and ‘captivating’ Bionic Woman we were promised! Remember that? Can’t we, like, just go back to that?

—————–

* I should add, that in regards to the crisitsms being laid at Michelle Ryan’s door, she is also receiving much love from some quarters. Keep your head up girl!

You might also be interested to know that the show currently ranks 41st in the “season to date” league table, which can be viewed here.