Select previews of this Fall’s upcoming science fiction and fantasy shows. You can see the full schedule of shows at this link.
Z Nation: Syfy New Series, Premieres Friday September 12th 10 PM EST
Here is the series description from the show’s website:
Z Nation starts three years after the zombie virus has gutted the country, a team of everyday heroes must transport the only known survivor of the plague from New York to California, where the last functioning viral lab waits for his blood. Although the antibodies he carries are the world’s last, best hope for a vaccine, he hides a dark secret that threatens them all. With humankind’s survival at stake, the ragtag band embarks on a journey of survival across three thousand miles of rusted-out post-apocalyptic America.
The good news from this show? It was created by former Eureka executive producer Karl Schaefer, so hopefully he will inject some wit and energy into the zombie genre. The bad news? It’s produced by The Asylum, renowned for their rip-off “mockbusters” (Transmorphers, The Day the Earth Stopped, The Almighty Thor) as well as the two Sharknado films. Does that make Z Nation the cheap Asylum copy of AMC’s monster hit (pun unintended but accepted) The Walking Dead? I hope not, because I am looking forward to this one. Lost‘s Harold Perrineau stars (he’s also a member of the cast of NBC’s Constantine) and D.J. Qualls is onboard as well (loved him as Garth on Supernatural). The trailer (see below) does looks a bit cheesy and over the top, though, so no telling what we will get here.
As far as how well it will perform in the ratings, it’s somewhat hard to tell at this point. Syfy has had little in the way of hits lately, but I’m sure they are hoping that this will pull in some of the zombie crowd that regularly makes TWD the top rated show on television. And I think it can if it doesn’t sink to the level of the typical Asylum production. Plus, the one advantage of its association with that studio is that they know how to produce something on a dime (maybe nickle? penny?), so the same 0.4 rating in the 18-49 demographic based on the overnights that won renewals for Haven and Helix just might suffice with this show as well.
Trailer:
