TV GUIDE: Ask Matt: Serial-Killer Thrillers, CSI: NY and Criminal Minds Renewals
Apr 8, 2013
by Matt Roush
Send questions and comments to askmatt@tvguidemagazine.com and follow on Twitter!
... Question: A couple of months ago, the great and not-so-wise Syfy network stopped airing Merlin Season 5 in favor of "Rock em Sock em Robots" and delayed the last five episodes until May. I just learned the show will be out on DVD on April 9. Have you ever heard of anything similar happening before, where a show will be available to fans on DVD a month before the network is supposed to finish airing it? I know Downton Abbey fans can get the sets long before PBS even shows the new season, but an arbitrary delay when there's only five episodes left and you can get the whole season before the network is done with it? That's a new one to me. What does this carelessness say to you about where Syfy is as a company that once upon a time graced fans with Stargate, Farscape, BSG, etc? — Scott
Matt Roush: This sort of thing happens when a network acquires a show, often from another country (in this case, England and the BBC) and has no control over its distribution on other platforms, including DVD. Syfy often breaks seasons of its various series into halves, but why it interrupted Merlin this close to the end, after the show had already aired overseas and was heading toward a DVD release, is a mystery. I'd read the situation that Merlin, not being one of Syfy's own original properties, may not have been a very high priority. And at least these final episodes are being shown for the benefit of those who don't want to shell out for the DVDs...
The final FIVE NEW episodes of Merlin season five return to Syfy on Friday, May 3, 2013 at 10/9C.
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