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Originally Posted by Kurn, son of Mogh
Since you're well-versed on the business, why isn't it on SyFy instead of USA. Both are NBC networks. How does that work? Could they move it to retain audience? Not that NBC has never made a bad choice with SyFy like cancelling Caprica.
My guess is that they thought the show would get more exposure if they put it on USA, and that channel is in disarray right now (long string of failures after Burn Notice left...even among the new shows they kept).
You can go back to Alphas and realize how perfect that show would have been for USA at the time, but the sci-fi element had them put it Syfy. So, I think they just put Mr. Robot on USA due to how high profile they want it to be (for long term prospects, that might hurt them but in the short term it's good for the show). Remember, USA's had a ton of Emmy nominations, and that's the highest profile Universal/Comcast channel outside of NBC. All other channels in their group are considered low rent. Syfy could get nominations (see BG), but I doubt they have the marketing budget something like USA has...and USA has pumped the s*** out of Mr. Robot.
One thing about NBC/Universal is that once they pick a channel they don't change their mind unless it's going from the big network to cable (Constantine was rumored to go to Syfy after its failure on NBC, but it didn't happen). So, oddly, it comes down to USA needing a new flagship show, and I think their best chance so far has been Mr. Robot. But that's typically the furthest thing from a flagship show, because it's so preachy and so anti-corp (remember, NBC/Universal is owned by one of the biggest evil empires...Comcast), and often just plain weird. So, that brings it back to the final reason...prestige. I think they think the show is award worthy, and that's why they put it there. Their thinking isn't as delusional as FX's has been with the show The Americans (a show that was Emmy bait but never good enough), but I think it's fairly close because of how far outside the Academy's "likes" it is and how derivative it is. I'm not saying the show can't pick up Emmy noms, but I still think it's a long shot because of what it is more than anything else.