SciFi Channel Cancels 'Flash Gordon'

Fans of "The Dresden Files" found about the fate of their show when its star was signed on to another series. And now those looking to find out if "Flash Gordon" is getting another season has found out through a passing comment by a SciFi Channel executive more than a week ago.

SciFi Channel president David Howe told trade publication Variety March 21 that the network didn't treat the character of "Flash Gordon" the way he should've been treated, and the network may try to do it again sometime ... just not right now, which reading between the lines means that "Flash Gordon" is no longer on the schedule.

Even with the introduction of Howe to SciFi Channel viewers, who reports to longtime chief Bonnie Hammer, it appears that the network still doesn't seem to think it's worth giving the official announcement on different shows in its program lineup. It's a practice that has frustrated fans, especially those who enjoyed "The Dresden Files," and were writing letters hoping it was one of the Lionsgate shows being considered for a move to another Canadian filming city to help with production costs. Instead, the network implied its cancellation after word got out that Paul Blackthorne was joining the series "Big Shots."

Even then, however, nothing ever came officially from SciFi Channel. Series executive producer Robert Hewitt Wolfe, who many fans recognize from his work on "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" and "Gene Roddenberry's Andromeda," informed fans that the show was indeed cancelled following Blackthorne's exit.

SyFy Portal reported through sources last September that "Flash Gordon" was on the chopping block. However, SciFi Channel responded officially to SyFy Portal that the series was not in trouble, and that while ratings were below expectations, the show's production was a lot cheaper than many of its other scripted series and that it didn't need to generate as much advertising revenue as shows like "Battlestar Galactica," "Eureka" and "Stargate: Atlantis" needed.

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