- How Can I help? -

September 20, 2002

One of us subscribes to an online newsletter called The Sci Fi Guys(http://www.scifiguys.com/index.jsp). They ask a question each issue that they want folks to write in about and they publish some answers in the next issue.

The current question: "What cancelled series would you like to see brought back?"

AND the Tribe made its voice known big time!! "The Sentinel" is one of only two such series featured in their latest newsletter, and the letter chosen to represent the fandom's voice was from one of your very own SOS sibs - ta dah!

EDITOR: All I can say is, "Holy Cow!" Our question found its way to a Sentinel fan list and we got flooded. Again, many sent in excellent letters and it was hard to pick the one to carry the banner

There you have it, sibs. SOS will forward the news-letter to Bonnie Hammer with a "Heads up, Sci Fi Channel! Demand for 'The Sentinel' is still out there, and we want our show back!" And...this MIGHT just be a good time for such a push.

Back in July, Chris Regina, Sci-Fi's Programming Director told SOS that there were "no current plans" to put TS back on the schedule. Yet barely a month later, he was quoted on SciFi.com's Bulletin Board as saying yes, TS would be back in the fall or in January. SOS called Regina and confirmed the quote. He further stated that it "would most likely be back in January". Yeah, we've heard this before - but this IS a change from Chris's July's comments! Hopeful? Maybe - and we say, jump on it! Take the man at his word and send a couple of emails to the Sci-Fi Channel at:

program@www.scifi.com

AND

feedback@www.scifi.com

Remember, too, that hard-copy has as much, if not more impact than e-mail. Splurge on a stamp and send a postcard or letter to Chris Regina, and/or President

Bonnie Hammer at:

The Sci Fi Channel
1230 Ave. of the Americas
New York, NY 10020-1513

Call Sci Fi at 212-413-5000, ask for the Comments Hotline, and give 'em some comments! ASK if it's true TS will be back in Jan. TELL them we want it back!!

May we suggest that, once you've written to /emailed /phoned the Sci Fi Channel to agitate for the return of "The Sentinel"...you then zip over to our most excellent sib Sandy's (z3magic) Web Count site? She's set this up to keep a running total of correspondence to Sci Fi, and we'd love for her to track your input.

All these URL's should work:

http://www.www1host.net/sentinel/

http://www10.brinkster.com/sandy2/

http://clik.to/sentinel

Let's see those numbers jump!!

August 16, 2001

SOS CAMPAIGN PROPOSAL#1: - The Great Haiku Attack!!

The results of the recent Sentinel Haiku Challenge are now a part of SOS's latest campaign to ensure that The Sci-Fi Channel does not forget The Sentinel.

You may recall that, thanks to the talented sibs of Senad, some 140 haiku commemorating the 65 episodes of The Sentinel were written and compiled. As of last Monday, these haiku are on their way to President Bonnie Hammer of The Sci-Fi Channel.

In the space of eleven weeks, Mrs. Hammer will be receiving a daily dose of Sentinel haiku. The first salvo was fired
Monday, August 6 with the Switchman-themed haiku.
Tuesday - Siege haiku were enroute.
Wednesday - Killers. And so forth.

EVERY DAY FOR ELEVEN WEEKS, A REMINDER TO SCI-FI THAT "THE SENTINEL" VIEWERSHIP IS STILL STRONG!

And now, SOS challenges your poetic talents again. For the final, 66th mail-out, we want to send Bonnie a *massive* number of haiku, all with the theme....BRING BACK "THE SENTINEL"! Imagine a big honkin' envelope full of pro-TS haiku landing on Mrs. Hammer's desk with a resounding THUNK!

Satisfying image, what?

A few examples...

Bereft fans give voice
Ignore us to your peril!
Return our fave show!

The Sentinel, where?
Viewers weep and search, alas.
Sci Fi, please return!

Read collective lips
Want most worthy return, please.
The Sentinel, NOW.

Inspired? Great! Check out the rules of haiku at the Squidge Senku site, and start writing, sibs! Send your "Bring Back The Sentinel" haiku DIRECTLY to Agtspooky2@aol.com . You may, of course, also copy whatever TS list(s) you're on. But make sure Spooks gets 'em
by October 8th!

Hey, we're not saying that Sci-Fi will be so impressed by this outpouring of literary brilliance that they'll immediately rush to put TS back on the air. But this haiku campaign will certainly be a vivid reminder to TPTB that the fans of "The Sentinel" are still out here and are waiting for the return of our favorite show.

We're still a power to be reckoned with...let's make sure they don't forget that!!

SOS CAMPAIGN PROPOSAL#2: POSITIVE FEEDBACK TO SPONSORS!

Take a look at the list of advertisers that have sponsored TS on SciFi in the past.

WRITE A LETTER/CALL/EMAIL A SPONSOR.

Tell them you bought their product to thank them for sponsoring TS. Send a receipt or UPC code to prove it! And while you're at it, think about sending a COPY of your letter to SciFi, so they can see their sponsors are receiving our patronage. As always, be POLITE.

Here is a partial list of the major Sentinel sponsors.

SOS CAMPAIGN PROPOSAL#3: BIRTHDAY CHALLENGE

Send just ONE letter and/or make just ONE phone call every month to Sci-Fi, on the anniversary of your birthday!

As always, should you get any responses or further information as a result of your efforts, please contact SOS and share!
We'll post it to the website as inspiration to the rest of us! Please feel free to contact SOS through our website if you have any questions/suggestions for us!

Thank you from all of us at SOS!

January, 2000

Here is the information SOS received late yesterday afternoon, straight from Ms. Bonnie Hammer herself:

The Sentinel will air through January as scheduled. After that, the show will be placed on a one to two month hiatus, and *may* return in SciFi's regular rotation. This means that The Sentinel will no longer be shown in prime-time. The reason for this abrupt change? According to Sci-Fi, the ratings.

Check back for more info as it becomes available. The ratings referred to above will be posted to the site in the next few days.

December 09, 1999

Here is the state of business at the moment. Brace yourselves.

Periodically, the lists ponder whether The Sentinel's relatively constant 0.9 - 1.x rating is impressive enough to prompt SciFi to order new episodes or a reunion movie. The answer is NO. In a recent conversation with a SciFi representative, it was revealed that SciFi needs to see ratings at least *triple* what they are now before they will even consider ordering additional installments. Although TS is consistently their second highest rated show, ratings will govern it's resurrection.

Translation? We need more viewers WITH NIELSON BOXES! Our letters got their attention (great job!), but now the proof is in the pudding. SciFi *knows* that one dedicated fan can write hundreds of letters, so they're watching the numbers.

So let's get them those numbers!

So, do we stop writing letters because the ratings might not match the perceived demand? NO! But we *have* to do more! The battle *isn't* over!

What Can YOU do to help? See the list of targets below and help us win the fight!

Updated May 26

While UPN announced on May 20, 1999 that The Sentinel will not be returning on the network, the Sci-Fi Channel has announced that it will begin screening rerun episodes of The Sentinel from September 27 1999.

The news of rerun syndication on Sci-Fi is exciting, and is sure to bring the series to the attention of a whole new audience. However, the campaign for THE FUTURE of The Sentinel goes on.

We are therefore encouraging everyone to write firstly to series owners, Paramount Television, as they are the ones who hold the fate of future installments in their hands. We are also targeting the Sci-Fi channel and its parent company, USA Networks Inc, as the ones most likely to be interested in US domestic first-run syndication.

For viewers outside the USA, interest in the show internationally can impact decisions made by Paramount and the Sci-Fi channel which also services international markets.

Try the targets below to demand MORE of The Sentinel.

Paramount

Sci-Fi Channel

One Minute Targets

Target UK

Australia

Paramount Television

Kerry McCluggage
Paramount Television
5555 Melrose Avenue
Hollywood, CA 90038-3197

The Sci-Fi Channel

WRITE: The Sci Fi Channel
1230 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10020-1513
U.S.A.

Address your letters to Bonnie Hammer, President, and/or Chris Regina, Director of Programming

CALL: 212-413-5000. Ask for the Comments Line!
Call: 212-413-5614 to speak to Bonnie's office, or -5831 for Chris. Be brave! Be articulate!

as well as:

USA Networks, Inc.
152 West 57th Street
New York, NY 10019

For viewers in the UK and Europe:

Email: mail@uk.scifi.com

And for those in Latin America:

Email: sabados@usanetworks.com

SABADOS DE SCI-FI, "a channel within a channel", is an all-day Sci-Fi programming block available in dual language (Spanish & English) every Saturday on the USA Network's Latin American channel, available in more than 19 countries throughout Latin America. USA in Latin America launched on April 29, 1994. The SABADOS DE SCI-FI Programming Schedule is not the same schedule as the Sci-Fi Channel in the United States.

Canadian Viewers

While the Sci-Fi Channel is not available in Canada, there is a Canadian equivalent. The details are below for contacting the SPACE station and requesting that they screen The Sentinel.

SPACE: The Imagination Station
299 Queen Street West
Toronto M5V 2Z5
Canada

Australian Viewers

While the Seven Network is still to finish screening the season two of The Sentinel in some cities and has purchased season three, Foxtel is currently in the process of setting up a Sci-Fi Channel for Australia. It's time to let them know that we want The Sentinel as part of their line-up.

Foxtel Programming
PO Box 612
Moonee Ponds VIC 3039

One Minute Targets - Got A Minute? Help The Sentinel

The old "one minute target" idea that we had during the early days of the SOS campaign was very popular with everyone who wanted to feel that they were doing their bit to Support The Sentinel but had limited time. So here it is again, by popular demand.

Below we've collected a series of web-based targets that you can hit RIGHT NOW to help the campaign. Jot a few off at work while you're sitting around. It only takes a minute for a quick email.

You could even create a bit of a "what can you tell me about The Sentinel?" letter and do a bulk send if you are REALLY pushed for time. It's up to you.

Paramount - sentinel@pde.paramount.com
[Tell them we want to see more new episodes of The Sentinel be it UPN, the Sci-Fi channel or somewhere else. Also ask them when we will see some merchandise for the show.]
SCI-FI Channel - programming@scifi.com
[Ask them about The Sentinel screening on the Sci-Fi channel from September 1999]
SCI-FI SERVICE - scifiservice@anotheruniverse.com
[The customer service address for Sci-Fi. Write with queries about possible Sentinel merchandise for the Sci-Fi store and general questions about The Sentinel coming to Sci-Fi]
SCI-FI WIRE - scifiwire@scifi.com
[Contact the news service of Sci-Fi Channel, Sci-Fi Wire and ask about the upcoming Sentinel episodes on the Sci-Fi Channel in fall.]
SCIENCE FICTION WEEKLY - scifiweekly@scifi.com
[Send comments and review requests about The Sentinel. They pick the most requested titles and assign them for review in an upcoming issue.]
SCI-FI ENTERTAINMENT MAGAZINE - sfemag@scifi.com
[Sci-Fi's official print publication, Sci-Fi Entertainment magazine. Ask them to do a feature or a review on The Sentinel, interview with the actors or creators and the news that the show is coming to the Sci-Fi Channel.]
ORBIT - orbit@www.scifi.com
[The Orbit Zone at SciFi features links to fan and official sites that offer information on TV shows, like the stars and episodes. At present they don't have any sites for the Sentinel. Contact them with suggested links and sites about The Sentinel in preparation for the show's debut in fall.]
UPN - programming@upn.com
[Tell them we want to see more of The Sentinel.]
Entertainment Tonight - et@pde.paramount.com
[We want coverage on The Sentinel]
Sky One TV in Britain: - Letters@skytext.bskyb.com
[We want them to buy and screen The Sentinel - Note: Due South has become one of the most successful TV series over there at the moment. Can you say buddy shows?]
TV Zone SciFi Magazine - tvzone@visimag.com
[Thank them for their recent articles on The Sentinel and that we'd like to see more]
DreamWatch SciFi Magazine - dreamwatch@dreamwatch.co.uk
[Ask for more articles on The Sentinel]
Cinescape SciFi Magazine - cinewrite@aol.com
[Thank them for their recent articles on The Sentinel and that we'd like to see more]
Starlog and SciFi Teen Magazines - communications@starloggroup.com
[Sci-Fi Teen has had some recent articles. Thank them for these and ask them about more coverage on The Sentinel, particularly in Starlog]

Surfin' round the net?

Here's a few places to click on now and go and register your support for the show.

Sci-Fi Channel Bulletin Board (no longer active)
Use the "keyword search" facility and type in the word "Sentinel".
Cinescape Forum (no longer active)
There are very few messages at the Cinescape Forum!!! It looks like Sentinel fans have lost interest. Get over there and add to a thread or two.
Celebrity 1000 Favorites Poll
The Sentinel is on the "shows" list, and they have added both Ryf Van Rij and Anna Galvin to their actors/actress polls. You can also vote for Richard, Garett and Bruce. You can in fact vote for up to five people, and you can vote once a day!

Target UK

One of the places we want to focus our efforts is in widening The Sentinel's popularity base throughout the world.

One vast, untapped and potentially very enthusiastic audience is the United Kingdom. Although The Sentinel does not screen in Britain, there is already a groundswell of Sentinel fans there, and a strong media TV fan network ready to spread the word. We want to convince Britain to buy The Sentinel.

Fellow fan Michelle Deeming has offered to lead the charge in the UK and together with other UK fans has formed a base for Sentinel fandom in the United Kingdom. Known collectively as Sentinel Underground UK they have launched a website at: www.oocities.org/Hollywood/Heights/8211/ which contains details on the group and their objectives.

They have also launched a mailing list through Onelist called: Sentinel_Underground. This is open to everyone not just UK/European fans, and any support and suggestions from Sentinel fans all over the world and in every branch of the fandom is both welcome and encouraged.

At this stage we are focusing primarily on:

The Sci-Fi Channel
Sky One Television
TV ZONE Magazine (a sci-fi mag sold all over the world)
Starburst Magazine (also worldwide)
Dreamwatch Magazine (also worldwide)

We need EVERYBODY'S help (no matter where you are in the world) with the email targets (why not click on them and send an email now) and as much help as you can give with the other targets.

Sci-Fi Channel
Email: mail@uk.scifi.com

Sky One
Email: Letters@skytext.bskyb.com

Sky One
6 Centaurs Business Park
Grant Way
Isleworth
Middlesex
TW7 5QD

They have a comprehensive Teletext system, and you can have letters and queries published on that:

Sky Text TV Letters
Welby House
96 Wilton Rd
London
SW1V 1DW

Customer Enquiries: 0171 705 3000
Fax: 0171 599 8971

TV Zone
Email: tvzone@visimag.com

TV Zone covered The Sentinel in their last issue (see archive99)

(U.K addy)

TV Zone
Visual Imagination Ltd
9 Blades Court
Deodar Rd
London SW15 2NU

Phone: 0181 875 1520
Fax: 0181 875 1588

(U.S addy)