I recently started watching *Fringe, *and am trying to get caught up on the older episodes. So I set my Tivo to record the show whenever it’s encountered. It’s shown on the Science Channel, and my Tivo dutifully records them whenever they’re listed. The only problem is that the channel does a sort of “bait and switch” with its programming. Though *Fringe *is listed, what’s actually broadcast is old episodes of shows like *How It’s Made. * A few days ago, they listed a lengthy *Fringe *marathon . . . none of which were actually *Fringe. *Why the hell do they do this? Are these other shows really so popular that the bait and switch is actually profitable to them?
Could it be a timezone screw-up?
They’re trying to attract viewers with real science programming like Fringe.
I don’t see how it could be related to the time zone. And if they’re trying to attract the Fringe audience, then why not actually show it? How many people are looking to watch Fringe, but would be satisfied watching reruns of another show?
It may be the fault of your cable provider.
But yeah, it’s like you keep clicking on Great Debates, and end up in MPSIMS.
Next time it happens, see if the same mis-scheduled show appears in a web site that has TV listings like zap2it.com. If the error is there too, the problem is likely poor scheduling management by the Science Channel. If they show the correct listing, then the error is with your cable provider. At least you’ll know where to send the complaint email that will likely be ignored.
I don’t know who your provider is, but I’ve been noticing a lot more errors in Comcast’s cable guide the last few weeks.
They were showing Simpsons reruns as airing on a local station at 11pm even though the station pulled them from that time a few weeks prior (the change had been properly reflected in the guide a while before Simpsons incorrectly showed up again, so there was really no excuse for that), and for the 6pm Simpsons they were at the same time showing completely incorrect descriptions saying they were s23 eps when they were really much more classic eps (not sure which seasons but from when things were still fully hand animated). Now they don’t even list episode descriptions just some stupid generic blurb “Matt Groening’s subversive animated blah blah blah”
There’ve been some other errors, that’s just the one I remember best.
The schedule is correct… in the alternate universe.
That’s what I’ve been thinking. Someone is crossing over and playing with my TV.
Speaking of the Science Channel, I see that there are 2 episodes of the new season of An Idiot Abroad on tonight. Yay! Sure hope DirecTV’s scheduling is accurate, though.
Although the show has even *less *to do with Science than *Fringe *reruns, I don’t care what channel it’s on, since it’s always good for a laugh.
Was it two new episodes or did they replay the season premiere (Venice/Macedonia) because my DVR only recorded one new episode (India (which is a bit off the Marco Polo path, no?)).
How often do you update the Tivo schedule? I’ve noticed that about two weeks ahead of time my Tivo has a Mythbusters marathon several times a month but as time approaches they all evaporate. So it seems like Discovery or Tivo put in dummy shows at least for a day or two and if your Tivo isn’t updating frequently enough they might make it all the way until the present.
It was definitely two new episodes; the second was India. Don’t worry, they’ll be replaying it on Wednesday at 8 & 11pm Eastern.
ETA: On reread, I just realized that you said you did catch India… I didn’t realize that they had already shown Venice/Macedonia previously, and thought it was a double-feature premier.
I had the same thing happen trying to record Fringe - quite pissed. It said it was recording Fringe while it was recording How It’s Made - even had episode synopsis and such, so clearly the schedule thought it was Fringe…