Saving the Dresden Files

Letter to Sci-Fi Channel

2008-06-01T21:54:00.006-04:00

This letter was written by a fellow fan and based on the research efforts of several loyal and hardworking Dresden Files fans! THANK YOU to you all for all the hard work and thought that went into this!!!

Now all of US can do our part by printing this out and sending it to The Powers That Be at Lionsgate & Sci-Fi! Lay the facts out before them and let them know we're still here and the Dresden Files is an excellent idea for the Sci-Fi Channel or ANY channel!

TEN GOOD REASONS TO RENEW/BRING BACK THE DRESDEN FILES

1. Can You Say ‘Harry Potter?” - Just look at the incredible popularity of this franchise! And look at all the knock-offs.... The Dresden Files has been compared to Harry Potter time and time again! “Harry Potter grows up”, "the American Harry Potter”, "The OTHER Wizard Named Harry”... Fantasy, magic, wizards... it’s popular and big business right now! The final Harry Potter book was released last summer and the sixth Harry Potter film comes out this November. Anyone who is NOT aware of the mega-dollars being raked in by anything even remotely resembling Harry Potter these days needs to come out from under the rock they've been living under and take a good look at the market!

And Harry Potter is not the only popular offering in the Magic/Fantasy/Supernatural genre right now. There's a new BBC series of Merlin and in 2009 BBC 3 is doing a show called Being Human, a series about a vampire, a werewolf, and a ghost sharing a place together. (Seems like someone borrowed some ideas from The Dresden Files and wanted to tap into that). The British Sky1 has been airing reruns of the first season of The Dresden Files, giving the show many new viewers.

A fairly recent poll from NBC / Universal asked if people like shows dealing in magic and the supernatural. What better suits this than The Dresden Files? NBC is now starting a new summer horror anthology series called Fear Itself to air Thursdays at 10 PM ET. If this family of channels is really interested in launching supernatural series, why not go with an established hit, like The Dresden Files, instead of taking a risk with a new, unproven show. Or better yet, run both shows. In any event, this is the perfect time to ride the wave of popularity for such a genre and continue The Dresden Files on The Scifi Channel with either a new season, a mini series or made for TV movies.

2. A Family-Friendly Show - With it’s low violence content and limited use of foul language, this was a show the whole family could enjoy. Quality time with a quality show... a rare thing these days! Check some of the threads on your own channel’s Dresden Files forums… You’ll find post after post made by parents who praised the show as one that the entire family sat down and enjoyed week after week, and were greatly saddened by the fact that the show was now off the air.

3. Demographics - A recent article in Variety stated that your network is now courting female science fiction fans/viewers…. The same demographic that you had decided were not worth counting when you decided not to renew The Dresden Files… a show that attracted female fans in DROVES. (By the way, this article garnered 15 “Talk Back” comments, 9 of them in regards to The Dresden Files, pointing out how many women were attracted to the show and were angry it had not been renewed.) It is a wise move indeed for Sci Fi to seriously start courting this particular demographic, considering that the females of the family are usually the shoppers, the purchase decision-makers in most households... a lucrative viewer base for potential advertisers/sponsors!

Additionally, except for the last two episodes, the show was aired opposite Desperate Housewives, which last year had an audience of about 25 million, nearly all of them women. Even when Dresden was pushed back an hour, it was still opposite Brothers and Sisters, another hit show that appealed primarily to women, so for Dresden Files to cut into the female demo at all was a remarkable accomplishment.

4. Ratings - Dresden received ratings comparable to Battlestar Galactica... one of SciFi’s “flagship shows”.

While on the air The Dresden Files was number 3 in the Scifi channel's highest rated shows. And this was for a show that was NOT well marketed and was up against football playoff games! Hey… if that isn’t impressive enough for you… WHAT IS?

DVR was not factored into Dresden's ratings, but if we assume for the sake of argument a 14% jump in ratings, this is what we get: The average rating for Dresden was 1.23. 14% of 1.23 is 0.1722. If we add those two figures together, we get 1.4022.Even with only a 7% jump of 0.0861, you'd still get a total of 1.3161.

According to Squall (one of the Sci Fi board moderators), the average rating of Stargate Atlantis, a much more expensive show, is 1.0-1.1; with DVR factored in, it jumps to 1.4-1.6. Yet THOSE ratings were good enough for your network to renew Stargate Atlantis for a FIFTH season.

Your network aired the two hour version of Dresden Files: Storm Front on March eighth. Though it was shown at three AM there were viewers! Those viewers who had home internet access and were able to log onto the SciFi Dresden Files Forums (which were experiencing major log-on problems at the time and prevented even MORE members from participating) held a live view-in. This view-in generated over 31 pages of posts…. Quite an impressive bit of traffic online at that ungodly hour of the morning!

By the way, there has been roughly a ten percent ratings drop for SciFi from last April to this April. And the key difference in shows from last year to this year? ….the lack of The Dresden Files.

5. DVD Sales - Impressive for a supposed little-known mid-season limited-run show that was never truly marketed/promoted properly... and the DVD was not even promoted AT ALL! The Dresden Files is developing a cult following with very high DVD sales in such places as Best Buy and Amazon. This DESPITE the fact that SciFi has done NOTHING to promote the DVD…. Fan support and word of mouth alone has been fueling the sales! In fact, it has been reported that Best Buys kept selling out the DVDs, which prompted them to double the price!

6. Fandom/Critics Support - Not only did this show have a loyal fan base during it’s airing, but that fan base has only grown exponentially AFTER it’s cancellation. There are literally hundreds of Dresden-based websites, blogs, fan fiction sites.... The Scifi channel's site's Forum for The Dresden Files has 53,465 replies and 1,281 topics. That’s more topic replies than the message boards for Jericho, Eureka, Ani-Mondy, Ghost Hunters International, Destination Truth, UFO Hunters, Charlie Jade, Star Trek Next generation, Heroes, Scariest Places on Earth, Haunted, Scary But true, Scifi Investigations, Mystery of the Crystal Skulls, Firefly, Scifi Drive-In, Mind Control with Darren Brown, Pain Killer Jane, Flash Gordan, Wolf Lake, Tin Man, Bionic Woman, Tru Calling, Conventions, Odyssey 5, Extreme Championship Wrestling, Roswell Confessions, and The Sarah Jane Adventures...

In fact the only discussion boards on the Scifi forum more active than The Dresden Files are: Battlestar Galactica, Doctor Who, Ghost Hunters, Stargate SG1, and Stargate Atlantis…. the shows they spend the most money on producing and promoting.

On an Amazon Scifi Channel store poll for Best Show on the Scifi Channel The Dresden Files is still at number 1 and has been at the number one spot for a full week, beating out Battlestar Galactica, the network‘s acclaimed “flagship“ original series show. As of right now, the totals are 40% Dresden, 27% BSG, and 33% everything else listed, including "other." So Dresden has more votes than every other listed show combined except for Battlestar Galactica.

* 12,178 signatures are now on the online petition to bring The Dresden Files back.

* The Hey Neilson! website has The Dresden Files in it's Top Ten.

* When someone tried calling The Dresden Files the worst scripted failure on the Scifi Channel in Variety magazine, that article got more negative responses than any other article published by Variety this year. The article drew 52 comments, every last one of them castigating SciFi for cancelling The Dresden Files and asking for its return. By contrast, most of the other articles had no more than 4 comments apiece.

* A New York Post review for Moonlight called Moonlight a low rent version of The Dresden Files, making it clear that critic had liked The Dresden Files. A majority of the critics reviews of The Dresden Files were very favorable, and more than a few critics were very surprised to find out the show had not been renewed. They thought SciFi had found a real winner and were amazed they let a potential hit slip away from them.

7. International Appeal/Marketing - Dresden Files fandom goes beyond the borders of the USA. Fans from all over the world are clamoring for more. Countries who have had fans sign the online Renew The Dresden Files Petition include: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, American Samoa, Andorra, Anguilla, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Cayman Islands, Chad, Chile, China, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, East Timor, Ecuador, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Korea, Kuwait, Latvia, Lithuania, Macau, Macedonia, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Romania, Russia, Scotland, Serbia, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom, Ukraine, Uruguay, USA, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam and Wales! How many shows have such a broad appeal in so many countries? The show definitely has a lucrative market worldwide!

8. Based on Jim Butcher's Best-Selling Novels - The new Dresden Files graphic novels/comic books are currently sold out on Amazon with a second printing scheduled very soon. The latest Dresden Files novel, Small Favor by Jim Butcher, is on several best seller lists.

Anytime you have a show based on a series of incredibly popular books, you have an instant fan base/viewership pool ready-made. The better the books are selling (and they are doing VERY well indeed!), the better shot the show based on them has for success. Granted... there will always be those 'purists' who object to every last little detail that doesn't conform to the books, but there are more who are fans of both the TV 'Dresdenverse" as well as the printed version. The author, Jim Butcher is himself an avid supporter of the show, so if it has the creator's blessing, book fans should accept it as well.

9. Potential for Marketing of Peripheral Items - Read any forum thread on any Dresden Files-based website and you will find fans bemoaning the lack of marketing for replica items, such as Bob’s Skull, his manacles, his rings, Harry’s shield-bracelet or pentacle pendant, Morgan’s sword, Murphy’s necklace…. There is the potential to rake in further cash revenues from the sales of such items.

10. We’re STILL HERE! - There is still traffic on The Dresden Files forum – even though the show has been off the air for a year. There are still fans writing you letters like this one, sending you emails, writing articles, commenting on other articles mentioning the show. The DEMAND for this show is legion! What MORE do you want? We your viewers are TELLING you what we crave, what we want to watch…. And it’s NOT more turkeys like “Painkiller Jane” or “Flash Gordon” or your latest awful bug/alien/mythic creature movie of the week!

There is a preponderance of evidence to show that at the very least, this show deserves a second chance…. A second season, a mini-series, a made-for-TV-movie…. SOMETHING! You wasted how much money on such awful shows as “Painkiller Jane” and “Flash Gordon”…. not to mention those dreadful creature movies…. Couldn’t you afford to take a chance and give a show like The Dresden Files, which consistently was produced on-time and on or under budget, a second chance? At this point, what have you got to lose?

Take a good hard look at the facts, the ratings, the countless letters and emails, the critical reviews, and then go look at your network’s current ratings and your woeful lineup of programming. The Dresden Files was a great show that got the shaft from your network from the very beginning. That was unfair and as you can see in hindsight, unwise as well. It’s not too late to correct that mistake. Bring back The Dresden Files. Give it another chance. Give your viewers what they want. We’re waiting.

Sincerely,

Dresden Files 2hr Storm Front & View-In March 8th!!!

2008-03-06T21:56:00.002-05:00

Thanks to our efforts, on this Saturday morning, March 8th at 3 a.m. ET US Sci-Fi is airing the long awaited and much anticipated 2hr version of the Dresden File's Storm Front!!

We WILL be holding a View-In on the scifi.com Dresden Files Forum during the airing and we MUST have an extremely great showing! The Nielsen numbers - if they even cover this time period - aren't going to reflect the actual viewership. Sci-Fi DOES keep track of forum traffic, so this is our chance to show how dedicated a viewership the Dresden Files really has and EVERYONE who wants to see a Season 2 MUST log on to the forum and make their presence known.

We've been having fun with the View-Ins, but this time is crucial. This is the LAST time we fans will have before the Upfront to impress the Execs with our numbers and with our dedication to see Season 2+ of the series. We cannot let Sci-Fi's miserable scheduling plan cause us to fail.

Every single person counts!

Melodramatic? Maybe, but it’s still a fact that each of us has this chance to pitch in and make a difference.

Be heard. Be at the View-In on March 8th 3 am ET.

Why Advertisers Should Want the Dresden Files

2008-02-25T23:13:00.010-05:00

It's obvious that the viewers want more Dresden Files.

But what do the Advertisers want??

It's obvious that viewers love the Dresden Files' excellently written stories, the extremely talented actors, and the the uniqueness and freshness of the show and it's ability to capture the imagination - they're begging for more episodes.

After all, over 10,337 of them have signed the New Home 4 Dresden Petition!

But its the advertisers who pay for the shows to air, right?

SO, what do the advertisers want??

One would think advertisers would want their ads to air in the shows watched by the most possible viewers, giving their ads the chance to be seen by the most possible people, right? Having viewers who come back week after week would mean their products would have even greater chance of being seen, remembered, and eventually bought, right??

Well, there you go!

The viewers and the advertisers want the same thing:

More seasons of the Dresden Files!!

WHY? Because the Dresden Files had an average of 1.23 HH rating - that would put it in 3rd to 4th place on Sci-Fi Channel right now and above Stargate Atlantis! And that's just the average, the Dresden Files finished Season 1 in April with almost the same numbers as the Premier - how many other series can say they didn't LOSE viewership over the season??

Now check out the ratings posted by Sci-Fi on scfi.com for the last two weeks:

Maybe the advertisers should join the viewers in asking for more Dresden Files!

The Dresden Files - a "cult favorite"!

2008-02-03T10:23:00.000-05:00

NBC calls the Dresden Files a "cult favorite Sci-Fi series" and MORE good news!!

Wow. I've never been part of a cult before! Strange...I would have thought it would feel more clanish or secretive or something. Maybe involve a special, secretive handshake...

In any case, with over 9,650 signatures from 68 countries on the New Home 4 Dresden Petition, and with the Dresden Files forum still being one of the most active on Sci-Fi's website, I can certainly see why NBC would say that the Dresden Files is a "cult favorite"!

This little statement is just one of several tidbits that have been discovered in the last few weeks that not only bring hope, but also add to the viability and attractiveness of the Dresden Files series renewal!

Lionsgate makes a deal with the WGA - Lionsgate can now hire writers! Should Sci-Fi renew the Dresden Files now, Lionsgate could hire writers and have the series back on the air while most other Channels & Networks are still airing repeats!!

Lionsgate puts TWO scenes from the Dresden Files in the movie The Eye!!

The Sci-Fi Channel gets a new President - Bonnie Hammer steps out and Mr. Howe becomes the new president of Sci-Fi Channel. Mr. Howe will hopefully listen to his customers and realize the value of the Dresden Files on Sci-Fi!

Write him and tell him congratulations - and ask for Season 2: Mr. Dave Howe, President, NBC Universal/Sci-Fi Channel, 30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10112

Two-hour version of Storm Front scheduled on Sci-Fi - After airing in Canada and New Zealand as well as other countries, and after many e-mails and letters, Sci-Fi is going to air the updated 2 hr Dresden Files Pilot!! It's on March 7th at 3 a.m., but it IS airing!

We'll be holding a View-In on the Sci-Fi Dresden Forum during the airing to let them know we're watching - not all of us have Nielsen boxes, you know. To be impressive, we need EVERYONE to log on! See you there!
People's Choice Buzz Poll for Dresden's Renewal - It's now in the Archives under 'expired Feb. 1'. The Poll ranked in the top 3 pages of the 'Most Voted' polls and ended with 73% of voters wanting the Dresden Files renewed!!
NBC's delaring the Dresden Files a "cult favorite Sci-Fi series" - On their own website!

The Powers That Be obviously know that the Dresden Files is popular and supported. Now we just have to convince them to do something about it!

To do that, we need ALL the Dresden Files supporters and ALL the folks who are tired of being ignored by the entertainment industry to stand up and be heard - all it takes is a few e-mails, a few cards and letters, an hour or so a week at the View-Ins and we CAN make a difference!

Thoughts in December

2007-12-30T19:44:00.000-05:00

It's been pretty quiet due to the Holidays, so I've had time to think about the Save the Dresden Files Campaign, to look back on all we've done in 2007...and to wonder how in the world I got so involved!

If anyone had asked me at this time last year about how I planned on spending 2007, I can say with complete certitude that helping run a campaign to save a television show would not have been on the list.

But then again, at that time I hadn't seen or heard of the Dresden Files TV series or Jim Butcher's book series, either!

Well, I may not have been able to predict it, but I have to say that I've enjoyed parts of it, been annoyed by parts of it, confused by most of it, and angered by a good bit of it.

I've learned things I never even knew that I didn't know. I've learned how to find things that I'd never thought of looking for before. I've learned how to Digg, Blogg, and Forum. I've written more letters than I have in the rest of my life combined, and have logged more computer time than my kids - and that's considerable!

I've read nasty stuff about big businesses and corporations that I wish I'd never learned. Was astonished and aghast that one person with enough power could be selfish enough to allow their hurt feelings to prevent the happiness of thousands. Solidified my previously somewhat vague belief that greed is widespread and virulent, and strengthened my determination to not to turn into one of the people whose actions I despise!

So to sum it up, I've learned a lot in 2007 but most importantly, I've met some of the coolest folks in the country and around the world that I never would have met if it weren't for our shared love of excellent entertainment in general and the Dresden Files in particular! I've learned from them, ranted with them, planned with them, chilled with them, gotten to know them, and chatted with them late into many nights - and for that, I will always be grateful!

Happy Holidays to all Dresden Files Viewers and Fans!

2007-12-26T14:01:00.000-05:00

I'm a little late, but I hope everyone had a wonderful, joyous Holiday!!

I have to admit that it gives me a warm sense of pleasure to see so many Dresden Files viewers still active and not only supporting this fantastic series but also standing up for their right to be respected as customers!

Even with Christmas just days away, viewers and fans still took time out of their busy schedules to join the Dresden Files DVD View-In on December 21st - THANK YOU everyone!!!

We all watched our Season 1 DVD's with Episode 10 - What About Bob winning the Poll to be the episode we watched. We all had a blast with pics posted and plenty of comments shared on this excellent episode!

Murphy orders Harry's Uncle Justin to be exhumed and autopsied, then has to be a little firm with a very, albiet understandably, upset Harry.

An extremely anxious Harry finally receives word of where to find the missing Bob.

SUCH an amazing episode - most definitely one of my Favorites!!

This series is full of excellent episodes!! That's why the Dresden Files is such an excellent series - every single episode is expertly written, acted, and produced! I can't help but believe that common sense - along with a love of profit, of course - will win out and result in a renewall of the Dresden Files in 2008!

68 Countries Support the Dresden Files

2007-12-12T15:57:00.000-05:00

It's fantastic to see that folks from so many countries enjoy the Dresden Files and as of today, there are 68 countries (67 countries + the USA) represented on the New Home 4 Dresden Petition among its nearly 8,100 signatures! Many of these folks have never seen the series on regular television, but have found and fallen in love with the series from the DVD's or from watching it on-line.

We fans here in the US have been campaigning for the return of this excellent series, but we haven't posted any information on country-specific sites other than Spacecast and Sky1, and there hasn't been any advertising from Sci-Fi, so the fact that this many people from this many countries have found the series and found the petition says volumes about the quality and appeal of the Dresden Files series!!

I think it's amazing and I really hope that the execs at Sci-Fi Channel, NBC, and GE - with their desire to globalize their entertainment businesses - look at this as the excellent opportunity that it is!!

RESULTS of the Dec. 7th Dresden Files View-In!!

2007-12-07T23:06:00.000-05:00

Tonight's Dresden Files View-In was once again proof that, despite the fact that we do not have Nielsen Boxes & aren't being counted, the series has extremely strong fan support and an ever-growing fanbase!!

* The Dresden Files Forum had a high of 89 users - 29 members & 60 guests!!

* The “December 7th Dresden Files View-In” thread had high of 35 users - 29 members & 6 guests!!

* The “December 7th Dresden Files View-In” thread had 384 posts and 20 pages in just 1-1/2 hrs!

THANK YOU to every single fan who made it to the View –In!!

------------------------------------------------

Now we must tell Sci-Fi what we want - MORE DRESDEN FILES!!!

Write letters, postcards, cards, Holiday cards to Sci-Fi and tell them

‘Thank You for the repeats, now please renew the Dresden Files!!’

Call the Viewer Comments line, send e-mails.

Do all of the above!!

SciFi Contact Information:

Bonnie Hammer, President
NBC Universal/Sci-Fi Channel
30 Rockefeller Plaza
New York, NY 10112

Dave Howe, Executive VP & GM
SCI FI Channel
30 Rockefeller Plaza
New York NY, 10112

Thomas P. Vitale, Senior VP Programming and Original Movies
SCI FI Channel
30 Rockefeller Plaza,
Floor 21
New York NY, 10112

Mark Stern, Executive VP Original Programming
NBC Universal/Sci Fi Channel
30 Rockefeller Plaza
New York NY, 10112

feedback@scifi.com
programming@ scifi.com

Viewer Comments line: 212-664-3571 - leave a message!

Last Scheduled Dresden Files Episode of 2007

2007-12-01T10:07:00.000-05:00

Sit-In: A form of peaceful protest where protesters sit in an appropriate place and refuse to move.

December 7th is the LAST scheduled repeat episode of the Dresden Files for 2007. Now is THE time for a truly massive, full-scale virtual Sit-In to protest the Dresden Files' non-renewal!

SO for the last time in 2007:

ALL Dresden Files fans are to converge on the scifi.com/Dresden Forum on December 7th at 6:45 PM ET for a full-scale Dresden Files View-In! Please, do not rely on others to be there - EVERYONE is needed!

NOTE: For new scifi.com forum users, it's a good idea to create an account a few days early so you'll be able to post.

We know that the Sci-Fi Channel keeps track of the 'traffic' the site receives. So let's show them the power of the Dresden Files fans and the magic of Harry & Bob!!

This is our last chance in 2007 to actually get to watch the Dresden Files on TV while we laugh, have fun, and trade comment posts with fellow fans, and most importantly, show the Sci-Fi Channel execs and the media, by the SHEER NUMBER of us logged on and posting, that the Dresden Files IS loved & supported by a HUGE fanbase and will continue to be so during Season 2+!!!

The Dresden Files needs ALL its fans with Internet access to come and support the fight!

Curbing Global Warming - By Making Baking Soda?

2007-11-27T19:25:00.000-05:00

OK, it's not about the Dresden Files, but I couldn't believe this when I read it! Could something so comparatively simple actually help clean up one of the country's leading sources of pollution??

According to Joe David Jones, founder and CEO of Skyonic, it can!

Mr. Jones has created a process he calls SkyMine that, according to CNet News:

"...captures 90 percent of the carbon dioxide coming out
of smoke stacks and mixes it with sodium hydroxide to make sodium
bicarbonate, or baking soda."

That's right - baking soda. The same stuff we put in our refrigerators to soak up odors. The same stuff we use as scouring powder and to de-doggify the pups. The same stuff that is now being added to laundry detergents, deodorants, and toothpaste - THAT baking soda!

Plus, SkyMine's solution creates usable products and, according to Jones,

"...also removes 97 percent of the heavy metals, as well as most of the sulfur and nitrogen compounds..."

and

"...the byproducts of the different reactions--chlorine, baking soda, hydrogen (a byproduct from making the sodium hydroxide that gets
mixed with the carbon dioxide), and chlorine--can be sold to industrial
users."

Even better: All this is done using the waste heat from the factory - no additional energy needs to be used!

Besides, did you know that the food-grade baking soda we use today is mined?? This created baking soda is cleaner than the baking soda we buy today and NO mining - which saves energy and prevents land destruction!

SkyMine is being tested on a small scale right now, but Skyonic hopes to install and test a large scale version in 2009. If this proves successful, maybe we can at least stop adding to the mess we've already made of the environment and maybe even start to reverse some of the damage.

TGIF!!!

2007-11-16T16:00:00.000-05:00

Well, it's finally here: Friday, November 16th!!!

I have to say that I was disappointed, though not surprised, that I didn’t get to see Harry, Bob, and Murphy back on TV last Friday, 11/9. The first TDF View-In was successful, and gave us an idea of what to expect for this week, but I was really looking forward to seeing the Dresden Files on the tube, you know?

And yes, I still have a TV with a tube, so the old slang still works for me. By the time I’ll be able to get one of the nifty, huge, flatscreen HD TV’s, holographic TV’s will have been invented. :D

I’m excited about tonight, and a little nervous...

We have such busy lives, most of us, that finding time to sit still for an hour on someone else’s schedule is very difficult. But while TiVo may, DVR won't make any contribution to tonight’s TDF View-In. Fans will have to be at their computers in person and logged on and watching the show in order to make a contribution to this protest/celebration. I hope tons of fans are informed and motivated enough to stay in for a while on this Friday night to support the series.

I guess we’ll all find out in 2 hours and 30 minutes…

Dresden Files Wins Award!!

2007-11-15T23:43:00.000-05:00

The winners of the 4th Annual TV DVD Awards were announced Monday night, November 12th:

As reported in TV Guide: More than 160 studio submissions released between Sept. 1, 2006, and Sept. 30, 2007 were divided into 16 categories. A panel of judges consisting of top DVD critics and journalists selected four finalists in each category with the winners decided by consumer votes.

This ‘blue –ribbon’ panel of judges picked our very own Dresden Files to be one of the four choices in the Best One-Season Wonder category!!

And it WON!!! - * Best One-Season Wonder: The Dresden Files, Lionsgate

Thank you to the judges for their excellent taste in entertainment and to the fans and viewers for the same and for voting for the best series released this year – the Dresden Files!!!

What excellent taste in entertainment the judges have!!

Take a minute and send a postcard or card/letter to Lionsgate and congratulate them on having produced such an excellent series!!

Thanks to captain_average for sharing this excellent news!!

Round 2: Full-Scale Dresden Files View-In - Nov. 16th!!

2007-11-11T12:00:00.000-05:00

Full-scale TDF View-In – November 16th!!

Sit-In: A form of peaceful protest where protesters sit in an appropriate place and refuse to move.

As we know, Sci-Fi's posted schedule was incorrect and the Dresden Files did NOT air on November 9th, but the View-In was a big success with 252 comments posted in 1-1/2 hours!!!

On November 16th, as supported by all the media TV schedules, the Sci-Fi Channel is finally airing the first repeat of the Dresden Files since the end of Season 1 - it's time to form our own full-scale peaceful protest of the Dresden Files' non-renewal!

Since we fans are scattered across the country and the world, our only option for a Sit-In is a virtual one,

SO once again:

ALL Dresden Files fans are invited, encouraged, and requested to converge on the scifi.com/Dresden Forum on November 16th at 6:45 PM ET for a full-scale Dresden Files View-In!

NOTE: For new scifi.com forum users, it's a good idea to create an account a few days early so you'll be able to post.

We may not have Nielsen boxes, but Sci-Fi is paid for ads posted on their website, and therefore keeps track of the 'traffic' the site receives. So let's show them the power of the Dresden Files fans and the magic of Harry & Bob!!

This View-In we'll actually get to watch the episode while we laugh and have fun, trade comment posts with fellow fans, and most importantly show the Sci-Fi Channel execs and the media, by the SHEER NUMBER of us logged on and posting, that the Dresden Files IS loved & supported by a HUGE fanbase and will continue to be so during Season 2+!!!

I hope to 'see' an even LARGER crowd this Friday - and get this: Sci-Fi is airing commercials!!!

November 9th Dresden Files View-In Results

2007-11-10T22:18:00.000-05:00

The Sci-Fi Channel's website has had the Dresden Files scheduled for November 9th and 16th since October, so we trusted them to know what they were going to show on their own station.

But it didn't happen. Sci-Fi did NOT air the Dresden Files on November 9th.

But that's OK because the View-In went on as planned and was GREAT!!

In 1-1/2 hours attendees posted over 252 messages!! Spectacular numbers for a forum that has been averaging about 8 posts per day since we abandoned it after finding out about the non-renewal!

AWESOME folks!!! Meet us all back there next week - November 16 for another TDF View-In!!!

Dresden Files View-In - November 9th, 6:45 pm ET!!

2007-11-07T10:06:00.000-05:00

TDF View-In – November 9th!!

Sit-In: A form of peaceful protest where protesters sit in an appropriate place and refuse to move.

On November 9th, the Sci-Fi Channel is airing the first repeats of the Dresden Files since the end of Season 1 – this is our opportunity to form our own peaceful protest of the Dresden Files’ non-renewal!

Since we’re scattered across the country and the world, we can’t hold a Sit-In in one location – unless we do it VIRTUALLY!!

SO:

ALL Dresden Files fans are hereby invited/encouraged/requested to converge on the Dresden Forum on scifi.com on Nov. 9th at 6:45 PM ET for a Dresden Files View-In!

Sci-Fi Channel is paid by companies advertising on their website, and therefore keeps track of the ‘traffic’ the site receives. So let’s show them the power of the Dresden Files fans and the magic of Harry & Bob!!

We’ll watch the episode, laugh and have fun, trade comment posts with fellow fans, and most importantly – show the Sci-Fi Channel execs and the media, by the SHEER NUMBER of us logged on and posting, that the Dresden Files IS loved & supported by a HUGE fanbase and will continue to be so during Season 2+!!!

I hope to ‘see’ everyone there – and tell your friends & family!

Paul Blackthorne - Harry or Terrence

2007-11-03T11:56:00.000-04:00

Paul Blackthorne as Terrence on ABC's Big Shots (Thursdays, 10 pm ET).

I'm very rarely home to catch this show as it airs, but I always catch it the next day on ABC's website. I apologize to fans of the series, but I don't care for the show or really pay much attention to the stories. I just watch to see Paul breathe life into his character!

The last episode is another example of his talent: with all of 30 seconds actual on-screen time, he still made me feel sorry for him & his up-coming heartbreak!

THAT'S talent! His performance just emphasizes how underutilized his skill is in this series!! He deserves to be back on his own series bringing Harry Dresden to life! Harry is believable as a person with faults and realistic problems like money issues and bills. He fights his darker inclinations, as we all must do, and tries his best to be a decent human being - which some of us could try a little harder to do.

That's why we're still fighting to get the Dresden Files back on - because it's quality television with a little bit of moral conscience without being preachy, with acting of such quality that we can connect with the characters, and all wrapped up in a different premise that sets it apart from all the current grinding clones that make up the majority of TV these days. Why should we settle for mediocrity when there's something so much better?!

THIS is Paul Blackthorne as Harry Dresden on the Dresden Files.

Bring back a series MUCH more worth watching. MUCH more real. Bring back the Dresden Files with Paul Blackthorne!

Digg it - NH4D Petition Info

2007-10-27T16:36:00.000-04:00

Word about the Save Dresden Campaign has, understandably, had a little trouble getting out the last few weeks due to the Fall Premier TV season. So, to help things along, I've submitted the New Home 4 Dresden Petition site to Digg.com.

PLEASE, click on the above link and DIGG the article!!

The more Diggs there are, the higher it rises on the Popular article list! Oh, and sign the petition if you haven't had a chance to yet. :)

HANDSTANDS & BACKFLIPS!!! MORE Repeats!!!

2007-10-21T02:09:00.000-04:00

As I mentioned in my last post, the Sci-Fi Channel is FINALLY, for the first time since the end of Season 1, showing repeats of the Dresden Files!!!

AND NOW the schedule on-line today shows repeats airing on Nov. 9 & 16 AND December 7, 14, & 21!!!

The Save Dresden Campaign has been keeping up the pressure on Sci-Fi to renew the series, so it COULD be the station execs are testing to see if we're serious - if there really WILL be a ratings spike for the repeats.

So, PLEASE WATCH all of the repeats and WRITE feedback@scifi.com and scifiweekly@scifi.com & TELL them THANK YOU for the repeats & to PLEASE renew the Dresden Files for Season 2!!! THEN, do the same thing in a letter or postcard!

We have a real opportunity to prove to TPTB (the powers that be) that the Dresden Files absolutely WILL be supported!!

AFTER the shows have aired - as in Jim Butcher's Dresden Files books, rinse & repeat - Do it all again!

Help save a show that is more than worth saving!!http://dresdencity.orgSign up for News & Updates on the Save Dresden Campaign at New_Home_4_Dresden on Google Groups!

Another piece of excellent news: The Dresden Files is ranked SECOND on Hey!Nielsen - this is tremendous for a little 12-episode, little-advertised series that hasn't been aired since April!! This just underlines the point that the Dresden Files is an unusually high quality show that folks of all tastes, all ages, and all backgrounds LOVE! This is one series that truly deserves to be on the air!

Dresden Back on Sci-Fi: 11/9 & 11/16!!

2007-10-16T18:59:00.000-04:00

For the first time since the end of Season 1, the Sci-Fi Channel is FINALLY showing repeats of the Dresden Files!!!

We've been keeping up the pressure on Sci-Fi to renew the series, so it COULD be the station execs are testing to see if we're serious - if there really WILL be a ratings spike for the repeats.

So I'm asking, ALL TDF fans are asking:

PLEASE WATCH THE REPEATS on November 9th & 16th then

WRITE feedback@scifi.com and scifiweekly@scifi.com & TELL them THANK YOU for the repeats & to PLEASE renew the Dresden Files for Season 2!!!

THEN, do the same thing in a letter or postcard!

We have THIS first, possibly last, opportunity to prove to TPTB (the powers that be) that we absolutely WILL support the Dresden Files!!

AFTER the shows have aired - as in Jim Butcher's Dresden Files books - rinse & repeat!! Do it all again!

We need YOUR help now, please, PLEASE help us save a show that is more than worth saving!!

VOTE for TDF as your favorite DVD!!!

2007-10-09T20:27:00.000-04:00

- VOTE the Dresden Files as your FAVORITE DVD!!!

Winners are based consumer votes and will be announced on Monday, Nov. 12!

Why should we take the few seconds to vote for the Dresden Files?
Buzz, publicity!! The awards will be presented by Home Media Magazine in cooperation with TVShowsOnDVD.com, DEG: The Digital Entertainment Group, and The Hollywood Reporter.

Vote for your favorites from Oct. 15 through 26 at HomeMediaMagazine.com and TVShowsonDVD.com.

Make sure those in power KNOW that this is a series with serious backing and on that is very much worth renewing!!

New Home 4 Dresden!

2007-10-04T13:43:00.000-04:00

New Home 4 Dresden Petition - Sign today!!

MAGIC MONDAY!!! to Save Dresden!

2007-09-09T11:47:00.000-04:00

As both Lionsgate & Mr. Blackthorne have stated that Lionsgate likes the Dresden Files & both are willing to continue with the series, we've decided to let Lionsgate - the producer of the Dresden Files - know EXACTLY how much support they have in the form of fans, EXACTLY how much we love the show, and EXACLT how much we want the show back on the air!

Our objective? To convince Lionsgate to find another channel/network - a New Home - for the Dresden Files!! How?
By overwhelming Lionsgate with LOVE on MAGIC MONDAY - September 10th!!
We need everyone who wants to see the Dresden Files back on the air - and anyone else who is willing to help - to do any combination of the following:
- Write postcards - either Dresden -themed ones from the links below, or ones local to your area.
- Send little skulls
- Send drumsticks
- Send self-designed Dresden-themed items like t-shirts, mugs, etc. to the Executives at Lionsgate & assure them - in one's OWN words:

That Lionsgate did an EXCELLENT job in the production of the Dresden Files - NO bashing here, afterall, it WASN'T Lionsgate that didn't renew! Remember: LOVE! :)

- That the Dresden Files is an fantastic show that deserves a Season 2.
- That the cast & crew selection was spectacular!!
- That we fans will watch the show on whatever channel it is on.
- If you've bought the DVD's, mention it.

CONTACT INFO available on the forums at dresdencity.org & jim-butcher.com.
Remember, we want them to find Dresden & Company a new home, so we want to show them our appreciation for their job of producing the series a job very well done!

Resources:
T-shirt designs available at http://dresdencity.org
Printable Postcard Images:http://forums.scifi.com/index.php?showtopic=2285078

I will also be printing out ALL the current comments from the New Home 4 Dresden Petition either on a giant scroll or on individual postcards & sending them to the Execs at Lionsgate so they can see the large number of fans who have responded so far!

We'll be posting statistics such as DVD sales etc. & there is additional statistical info on another thread on the dresdencity.org & Scifi.com/Dresden forums.

We want Harry & Bob back!! If you do, too, then help us convince Lionsgate how MUCH we want it!!

New Home 4 Dresden Petition!

2007-09-09T11:35:00.000-04:00

New Home 4 Dresden Petition:

http://gopetition.com/petitions/new-home-4-dresden.html

The Petition approved by the GoPetition website on:

Aug 4, 2007 8:51 PM ET US

Thanks to the spectacular fans around the world and for the awesome fans at Dragon*Con & to the recent interview of Paul Blackthorne conducted on August 16, 2007 by Taliesin_ttlg, we now have 3,192 signatures!!!

Interview: http://taliesinttlg.blogspot.com/2007/08/taliesin-meets-paul-blackthorne.html

Dragon*Con!

2007-09-09T11:17:00.000-04:00

As I said before, I'd never been to such an event & was really looking forward to it, though I didn't know what to expect. First, let me just say that the event is HUGE - somewhere close to 60,000 attendees and would you believe it took up most of 3 giant hotels: the Hyatt, the Mariott, AND the Hilton?!!! It made the Yahoo! News: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070902/ap_en_ot/dragon_con

I didn't get to order my ticket before the deadline, so I had to register on-site - that consisted of almost 3 hours of standing in a winding line. Standing that long in line should have been way more boring than it was, but there were SO many folks already decked out in costumes that it was entertaining - though I still wish it hadn't taken so long!

After finally making it through registration & getting my badge, I had a bit of trouble finding the Dresden fan table that was already set up thanks to Shiska Bob. It was listed on the D*C website & in the schedule & info book that it would be in the Mariott, but as the Mariott was still undergoing renovation, some of the tables had been moved. I finally tracked the table down in the Hilton, which was great because it was right in front of the huge rooms housing the Merchants!!

Shiska Bob had an EXCELLENT table banner/swag and totally awesome stickers and bookmarks beautifully printed by themselves and some tiny, little Bob's Skull keychains which everyone LOVED - a total HIT!!! THANKS SHISKA BOB!!!
I'd printed the Raffle & Dresden fliers out in large format & mounted them on foamcore for display, I also had 150 b/w DVD fliers & 150 color DVD filers for handouts, boxes of Harry's 'business card', and also some little hard foam Bob Skulls.

Hundreds, seriously HUNDREDS of fans came by the table!! So many didn't know the show hadn't been renewed & were upset when they found out, and others knew & were PO'd at Sci-Fi for not renewing it, while nearly ALL of them promised to sign the New Home 4 Dresden Petition!! I believe many of them already have as the number of signatures jumped enormously since Friday morning, August 31!! THANK YOU D*C attendees/TDF FANS!!!

I had so much fun talking to everyone that my voice was scratchy at the end of Friday! Friday night at 7 there was a pannel discussion for the Dresden Files over in the Hyatt & after finally finding the room, found a couple of the remaining seats. It was standing-room only - & Sci-Fi was worried about ratings!! HA!!! Unfortunately, for some reason the pannel members were fans of the books & the discussion was more about the series 'failing' because of the differences between the books & the TV version. Naturally I couldn't keep quiet on that & stood up & commented more than once and there were plenty of other TV series-lovers there as well!

There was also a man who commented that said according to 'industry insiders' demographics were the reason that TDF wasn't renewed, at which point this amazing woman stood up & said she was a 40 something single woman with a ton of disposable income that the Sci-Fi should be trying to attract!! She was GREAT!!!

Saturday was just as busy, if not more so, than Friday with folks at the table non-stop! Everyone was VERY supportive and really wanted the show to come back! Many had their laptops in their rooms & said they'd sign the petition while they were at D*C, while others said they'd do it as soon as they got home & asked that Initiative #2 be postponed until they could get home & contribute. So, since the planning hadn't been completed, we rescheduled MAGIC MONDAY!! for Mon, Sept. 10th!!

Unfortunately, I had to leave unexpectedly early - family issues I had to come home to deal with - so I didn't get to attend Sun. or Monday. But, for my first ever Con of ANY type, it was incredible!!! I didn't get to see any of the other happenings (& I was REALLY wanting to see what James Marsters really looked like) but for the TDF Campaign efforts - it was fantastic!!!

And, though I've said it on several other threads & forums, to all the D*C fans: THANK YOU - you are MAGNIFICENT!!!

August 19 - Happy B-Day to me!!

2007-08-19T20:10:00.000-04:00

Well, its my birthday & still no news on the renewal or new home for TDF...Work must continue then. :)
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News for today: my New Home 4 Dresden Petition has over 1,440 signatures and we're back up to 6th on the Most Active Petitions list!!! http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/new-home-4-dresden.html
We're a little behind the 100 signatures per day rate today, but considering how well it's been doing & the fact that many of the places where I had posted information have probably advanced off the main pages, I think we're still doing very well! :)
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Still needing more fans/viewers willing to pitch in & help with the campaign & to buy tickets for the Raffle so we can raise enough money to do some really noticeable advertising/promoting! (http://dresdencity.org/Renewal/Donations/Donations.html)
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If I could have anything - ok OTHER than TDF back on the air - for my B-Day, I'd wish that someone would share some information or give me a contact that would help in this campaign. Bumping around in the dark isn't easy OR fun...Good thing I'm persistent (insert stubborn here). :)
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Plans are going well for attending Dragon*Con on Labor Day weekend. I should have some interesting posts then!! Never been to anything like this, so it should be interesting & fun! :D I'm going to help out with the Dresden Files campaign, of course, but hopefully will get to see a good part of the sites, too. This'll be my B-Day present to myself! :)
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How do you fight a ghost??

2007-08-12T02:07:00.000-04:00

Never in my wildest dreams would I have imagined that I would ever be involved in trying to save a TV show!

Not that there haven't been shows I really liked that were cancelled, there's actually been several. But none I felt the need to fight for.

So, after finding myself neck-deep in the Save-Harry-Just-Renew-It-New-Home-4-Dresden campaign, I had to ask myself WHY I was going to so much trouble??!

OK, I'm not going to deny that I think Paul Blackthorne is hotter than Hades - how could I?!! Just look at the man!! If I even TRIED to deny such a thing, the lightning strike sent as a response would take out half the town! So yeah, PB is one extremely tasty-looking fella.

But it takes much more than a hot cutie to make me want to watch every single episode of a television show & to actually forgo flipping on commercials for fear I'd miss a millisecond of it. So what IS it about the Dresden Files (TDF) that makes it worth it for me to fight for??

I thought about why quite a bit. In fact when I'm frustrated, I STILL think about why I jumped into this! What I've come up with is: it's because TDF manages to put EVERYTHING I enjoy seeing, reading, watching, whatever - into one little package that I got (& WILL again) to enjoy one night every week. One night a week I could lose myself for 45 minutes in a world that made me forget mine. Time flies by and, just like when reading an excellent book, I can't wait to read the next page while simultaneously dreading reaching the end of the story - because I know I'm going to miss it - miss having it to look forward to, miss the suspense, the excitement, the fun.

TDF is rich with wit, heroism, and heart. The stories are so well written with interesting & suspenseful plots and sarcastic, snarky dialog between the characters and totally believable struggles with human weakness/darkness.

Then there're the characters!! It only took maybe two shows for the characters to develop an excellent chemistry - they work so well and react so seamlessly with each other its as if they have been working together for years! Another big plus is the wonderfully talented & expressive acting skills of Paul Blackthorne, Terrance Mann, & Valerie Cruz. They all seem so REAL, believable, engaging.

Put all of this together and the result is an EXCELLENT show that really draws the me in, keeps me there, and makes me want to come back for more! I can't say that about very many shows I've EVER watched. I can count them all on less than the fingers of one hand - and THAT is SAD.

The show is awesome and of such quality & uniqueness that it's worth hording. And completely worth fighting for - and that's why I am.