From: sallylb@netcom.com (Sally Smith)
Subject: Re: Is QL science fiction? (was Re: QL: Highlights of Don's talk)
Organization: Netcom Online Communications Services (408-241-9760 login: guest)
Date: Thu, 28 Jan 1993 01:53:43 GMT

>In article <108476@bu.edu>, mab@buphy.bu.edu (Michael Burstein) writes:

>>In all seriousness, I would like to pose a question to the net. Begging
>>the question of whether or not QL is SF, did anyone else out there
>>besides me start watching it because you consider it SF, or did you just
>>not take that into consideration?

I started watching it because the opening credits said, "Created by
Donald P. Bellisario". The genre of programming made no difference.

>> I'd really like to know, because no
>>matter what the producer may think, the category a show, book, or movie
>>may fall into sometimes does boil down to the fans who enjoy it.

Rebuttal #1:

Since when? We're supposed to tell Don, "No, I'm sorry, Mr.
Bellisario, we took a poll and it's been mandated that you are
completely wrong about the show you created and have devoted the past
4.5 years of your life to -- you've been outvoted."?

Hey, the majority of people in various places used to think that the
earth was flat, that rockets wouldn't work in space, and that blacks
were inferior creatures to be used as slaves. Just because none of
those things are true, didn't keep the majority of people at the time
from believing them.

Rebuttal #2:

I postulate that this poll is too biased to be of any use. It's only
of people on USENET. The fact that you're reading these words proves
that you are at least moderately computer literate, and also that
there's a strong chance you are a science fiction fan.

But science fiction fans do NOT comprise QL's audience -- I'd be
willing to bet they are in the *extreme* minority! Most people who
watch the show wouldn't read/watch science fiction on a bet -- I know,
I've been asking lots of these people over the years as I meet them.
Either they react violently to the whole idea, or they've tried some
SF and really don't care for it.

If you mentioned to them that QL is science fiction, they'd be
horrified and deny it immediately -- and they'd say that they'd never
have started watching a TV show that was. And if you were able to poll
all of *them* they would say, no, QL isn't SF -- and all of their
votes would outweigh all the SF fan votes. And they are just as much
and as loyal of "the fans who enjoy it" as any SF freak.

[Michael and I will now argue over how many angels can dance on
the head of a pin. :-)]

In article <1993Jan27.204214.12116@iscnvx.lmsc.lockheed.com> baylor@NEBULA.SSD.LMSC.LOCKHEED.COM writes:

>Of course I did! I LOVE science fiction, and I ESPECIALLY love
>time travel stories! After watching QL, though, I have a good
>idea why Belsario doesn't want to call it science fiction.
>It just isn't GOOD science fiction, for all that it "has the 
>elements of SF" and is a very good TV show. The usual standards
>for judging science fiction include consistancy and credibility
>(in context), which QL almost totally lacks. On the other hand, 
>the stories are well written, the characters are clearly developed, 
>and the "chemistry" is super!

Yeah, ditto all of that for me too.

Sally



-- 
Sally Smith (510)790-0608  sallylb@netcom.com (I was sally@tardis.tymnet.com)
I'm unemployed--these opinions *must* be mine!
"Don't investigate this too closely." -- Don Bellisario, re: "Quantum Leap"

Xref: sparky rec.arts.tv:26121 rec.arts.tv.uk:7551