If youre reading this, then you realize I am a new columnist for Airlock Alpha. I thought it would be nice to talk to you about who I am, and the subject of future columns.

I am a fan of televised genre programming and I have been since I saw my first "Star Trek" episode at the age of 6 in 1966. I am part of that shrinking breed who saw the show during its original network broadcast on NBC and my enjoyment of that show led me to seek out similar shows.

From that, I fell in love with the genre. I watched the shows, read about the shows, and learned as much as I could about the shows I was watching, as well as the shows I had never seen. As an offshoot of that, I created a site called Sci-Fi on TV, an information site regarding sci-fi, fantasy and horror television of the past 60 or so years.

What I hope to discuss in future columns is both genre television and its fandom. It can be difficult to discuss shows without delving into the people who love them. The love of a fan for his or her show can add new dimensions to a show, or even help the show continue to exist, as evidenced by the recent resurrection of "Jericho."

I may bring up shows that you wouldnt consider genre-related. That, of course, raises the question, What is a genre show?There are as many answers to that question as there are readers, but I tend to take a very broad interpretation of that question, which Ill try to explain.

For me, any program that deals with fictitious events in space, future events, time travel of some sort, or technology advanced for its time period is a genre show. The qualifying category must be a vital part of the show, and not a one-off plot for one episode.

Fantasy is even more open-ended than sci-fi. If a show's central concept revolves around a supernatural ability, being or event, it's fantasy. Supernatural magic as opposed to stage magic, makes it fantasy. The portrayal of gods or their agents makes a show fantasy, whether they are ancient god-myths, or current religious beliefs. I caught flack on some boards for calling the show "Joan of Arcadia" fantasy because it dealt with God - a supernatural being. There are those who said since God is real, it shouldnt be called fantasy. Well without going into a religious debate on the existence of God, I can say the events of the show are fictional, and it qualifies.

Thats how I break it down. As Dennis Miller would say, that's just my opinion. I could be wrong. Let me know what makes a show a genre show to you?

TV Trivia

Star Trek Symmetry
On Sept. 8, 1966, a little show named "Star Trek" premiered on NBC. It ran for three seasons. After the show took off in syndication, the decision was made to bring the show back, this time as a cartoon. That show also was named "Star Trek," and premiered in 1973, also on Sept. 8.

Ed Left is a columnist for Airlock Alpha. He can be reached at eleft@airlockalpha.com.

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