Shocky here- with an amazing LIST!!!
Sorry, I forgot the 1.
As someone who has watched some varieties of sci-fi television and movies, has read reviews on sci-fi television and movies and generally takes an interest in them(I am the sci-fi of the trio, after all) and I think, after some thought, I know what you need to do, to make a good one. In no particular order here are 10 steps to making a good sci-fi show.
1. Have a Goal.
Seriously, you have to know what you're doing. You can't make something great if you don't know what you're making. You'll need a concept, which is usually what gives a show its sci-fi name. You'll also need to know what its actually about. Not aliens. Not dinosaurs. Saying your show is about "Super powered Guinea pigs that explore space in a spaceship shaped like a pineapple" does not count. There needs to be themes, and issues the show deals with. Without this, the show won't work.
2. Hire the Right People
Don't get a scriptwriter known for making bad kiddie movies when you want "Super Guinea Pigs in SPACE" to be dark and edgy.
3. PLAN
Writing by the seat of your pants can work, for a while. But once you get to the ending, your twisty plot may disappoint some. You have to actually plan what going to happen in your plot, if the show is plot driven. If its episodic, don't worry too much. Every mystery you have must have a conclusion. However, planning too far ahead can be restricting. If the guinea pigs HAVE to get to the Hamtaro system by going through the sunflower seed belt and past the aliens of Sparkliness for the plot to work, it may be a problem when you find you want to write about something different when the time comes.
4. Put a focus on characters.
Whether your story is episodic in nature or serialized, characters are always important. A character driven episode can be just as interesting as another, if your characters are that strong and interesting. Ensemble are good, if you can write them. Hoards of recurring characters too. But if you only want five guinea pig super space rangers to carry your show make sure they're dynamic. And don't forget that a characters interactions and relationships with the others are just as important. Getting a good cast helps this a lot.
5. Make sure it looks good
Good on a sci-fi means many things. The effects should reflect the tone. If you want puppets, have puppets! If you want CGI go ahead. Sometimes bad effects add to the enjoyment (I'm looking at you, Star Trek) but if the guinea pigs fight with Lizardman needs to be epic, and taken seriously, try as hard for realism. Don't put value on effects over story and plot, just do your best.
6. Sounds Good
One of the best things about Firefly was its theme song. The addition of the right music can do so much.
7. And SOUNDS good
Your show isnt going to last if no one watches it.
So if Super Guinea Pigs in SPACE is written made by Joss Whedon and Ronald D. Moore (this is a show full of SUFFERING and DEATH for sure) and has a recurring character played by Mark Sheppard (because they all do. Seriously.)
TELL THE WORLD. Geeks will come.
No one will come to a show by George Lucas and Brannon Braga with a cast of Justin Beiber and Miley Cyrus will they. Bunch of people geeks hate in a genre that doesn't share a demographic with its stars. This looks awful, obviously, but if you are stuck with this disastrous combination(in which you should give up and die. No one will watch this.) at least don't put those names in the advertisements.
8. Remember your Fans
I have not watched Caprica. Half the fans seem to think its too soapy. The other think its brilliant. The point is, remember who will be watching this. You should never make a show just to please others, but also not just to please yourself. Guinea Pigs in SPACE! will to attract viewers if the only real drama is when the lead can't decide what to eat for lunch. I'm not saying genre mashups are bad. They can be great, just be sure its not with two totally different things. Yes, there a people who love sci-fi. There are people who love Western There are people who love both. You have three potential demographics! You could even get people outside your range, because some just want good tel vision in general! Unfortunately, People who love sci-fi tend to hate teen drama shows, and vice versa. The problem is teen drama shows have what all call smaller conflicts, teen angst and the like. Sci-fi tends to have larger conflict, involving actual danger. These two do not mix. You don't want The Wesley Crusher Show. An epic space battle, or real moral dilemma makes teen angst look trivial. Firefly works because both Westerns and Sci-fi can have bigger conflicts. Also you can obviously mix the visual and story elements. Sci-fi can mix with many genres, but not all.
9. Aim for the Stars
You have a great concept. You've got some great ideas. Try as hard as you can to do the most you can. Don't be afraid to push the limits a bit.And if you try something new and different and its doesn't work, its okay. At least you tried. Not all shows have that honour(cough*Terra Nova *cough). It can get you some respect. And if it does work, and keeps working, you've probably got a stellar show on your hand right there. Just keep it that way. Super Guinea Pigs in SPACE! daringly explored issues of flying around the universe such as crappy uniforms, bad food and what living in close quarter with the same for people for a length of time can do to someone. You could win awards.
Now I want to go into something a bit further here. Sci-fi is generally not a very well liked genre by critics. People consider it silly, shallow or childish. When a sci-fi show, like BSG for example, comes along and manages to be just as great as any of the best normal "drama" shows are and get universal acclaim, people who don't follow the genre start acting strange and finding ways to explain why "silly science fiction" which could "NEVER be taken seriously, all that imagination, and unrealistic stuff and all, hurr hurr, none of its REAL" has risen to such heights. So they don't call ti sci-fi. Its now "not really a sci-fi" or actually a "serious business drama show".
Excuse my language for a second: BULL FRAKKING SHIT.
YES. Sci-fi CAN be just as good, in fact it ALWAYS has the potential. Just because it explores issues with different and often more CREATIVE methods and asks more questions doesn't make it BELOW "normal" media. Yes sci-fi can be positively horrible, but it can also be brilliant. Denying that its sci-fi is just denying the fact the genre shows are getting better and better, and one day, they'll have to acknowledge this fact. Yes BSG is a drama. And a sc-ifi. The thing is, drama is sorta not really a genre. Well yes, there drama compared to comedy but a trillion different genres can go with drama. Half the shows on air aren't pure drama shows, there's no such thing. There are crime dramas and medical dramas and yes a sci-fi drama. Dramas are practically any shows that doesn't fit under Comedy. Really, all genres start with those two, than split into sci-fi and fantasy and horror and the like. The question is, is something stupid and popcorny like Transformers(Oh, another hated director!) a drama. Yup. If the plot is meant to be taken seriously, its technically an Action- Drama. You don't usually apply it because the drama half isn't much there.
This is hwy you can't say BSG is a drama. Its just an excuse.
10. Don't Overdo it
If you have a plot that isn't meant to drag on an on, DON'T. If you have a premise based shows that's getting stale, STOP. If all your cast, or crew are leaving PROBABLY NOT WORTH CONTINUING UNDER THE SAME TITLE. If your show has ran 18 years without any evolution IT IS STALE.
If super guinea pigs in space really only needs 3 seasons to wrap up everything, that's ALL IT NEEDS. The are always spin offs too, just don't clone your show.
and BONUS!
11. Don't be on FOX
You will not last....
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