The new JJ Abrams drama Alcatraz is coming to M-Net starting on Tuesday 29 May at 20:30 on the pay TV broadcaster after a bit of will-they-won't-they? scheduling.
Very hot still a few weeks ago, Alcatraz also fizzled out. After a first season of 13 episodes which just concluded the show is not expected to return and is another show and another example of where M-Net acquires shows but simply takes too long to start showing them (given what other countries and other pay TV operators do these days).
Just like Terra Nova - if M-Net started showing it earlier - the pay TV broadcaster would have gotten more press and more buzz than once a show suddenly flames out and dies.
Here's (just one reason) why it's a good idea for M-Net to seriously look at it acquisition, scheduling and distribution system: In hindsight, once TV critics know a show is done for - like now with Alcatraz - a broadcaster simply don't get the same amount of exposure, stories, and the show being highlighted as when its shown in close proximity to the American broadcasting date and it's still possible to join in and be a part of the hype.
If M-Net started showing Alcatraz even last month in March - because there were no definite news yet about possible cancellation - more would have been written in a bigger way about the show. By the end of May when Alcatraz finally starts, don't expect a lot of press. If M-Net do away with low-brow bubblegum programming such as Wipeout which doesn't really belong on a premium pay TV channel, there will be enough timeslots to show great TV when it's still carries a fresh rating.
Alcatraz revolves around a group of convicts in the 1960's who "escape" from the unescapable prison (you'll have to watch and follow to slowly find out how), and appear in modern-day San Francisco, but looking exactly like they did when they vanished. Time travel? Some other "device"?
A team of agents are tracking them down not to just recapture them, but to also find out how it happened.
Although Alcatraz' viewership numbers have been disappointing, the show is actually above average good. If you like a show like Fringe, you'll like Alcatraz.
