Smart, well-crafted television is important. Representation is important. Science Fiction is important. The fledgling FOX network show, Minority Report, has delivered on these fronts. Supporting shows that reflect the kind of media you want to see is also very important and that is what this petition asks of you. 

Despite a rocky opening, Minority Report showed through each progressive episode, a wealth of storytelling potential. Like many shows, it took a few episodes to find its feet and once it did, the creative team charged forward with richly developed characters, engaging episodic stories and a compelling season arc that not only called back to the 2002 film in a rewarding way, but also showed just how much compelling drama this universe has to provide viewers.

Unfortunately, by the time that traction hit, Minority Report was already struggling against some difficult odds. For one, many reviewers didn’t care for the pilot or early episodes, and advised the viewing world at large to not bother with the show. Because of the low early-ratings numbers (a risk that a 9pm Monday genre show must combat) FOX chose to pull the back 3 episodes off of the schedule. Despite the fact that the reduction was not an official cancellation, the media reaction cut into potential and current viewers once again by proclaiming from the rooftops that the show was dead. The Nielsen numbers plummeted. This “news” didn’t help the uncertain science fiction fans ever-wary of the FOX network cancelling shows they fell in love with and yet another group of viewers who would have loved the show opted to tune out to save heartache. As word of mouth spread and numbers could have again gone up, the 13 million viewer averaging “Scorpion” returned in the same time slot on a competing network and grabbed Nielsen ratings by the handful.

This nearly-perfect storm of obstacles is enough to make a good show look to the world at large like a flop. Genre television has to fight to be taken seriously and its draw is generally a smaller, but more engaged and devoted audience, as opposed to the mass pull of formula-driven procedurals and edgy dramas. When this smaller audience is told not to bother, the ratings suffer. Genre fans are also some of the viewers more likely to binge watch as well as use internet vehicles like Netflix and Hulu to watch TV, which pulls away from the traditional live/overnight numbers. However, despite all of these factors, the live numbers for the finale went up, indicating a distinct growth of audience. New fans fall in love with Minority Report every day and post about finding the show on their social media. With support and a second chance, Minority Report will continue to gain traction and loyal viewers and a petition will not be needed a second time.

Many people have expressed desire to see more diversity on television, and rightfully so. Statistics and data have shown the disparity between real population numbers and the correlating presence (or lack thereof) of minority groups in popular media. Representation has the power to validate and elevate, providing role models and normalizing minority groups to the viewing world. Minority Report has delivered on that in front of and behind the camera. The lead is a woman of color, and of the main cast, the only Caucasian actors are playing characters carried over from the film. Guest actors and background are all cast colorblind, creating an integrated fictional world that reflects the real world- and yet a world so often not shown on TV. They say there are no new stories in Hollywood; while that might be true, there are new points of view, or rather, underutilized points of view. Through Minority Report’s diverse cast, they have opened up fresh avenues of perspective and elevated the scope of their storytelling potential.

Science fiction perseveres for various reasons. On the fiction side, scifi often creates a sense of wonder that elevates us past our world without separating from it. On the science side, fiction gives us an avenue to play with the theoretical consequences or benefits that arise from the potential of an invention or a theory. Some science fiction, such as the work of Minority Report writer Philip K. Dick, uses the extraordinary to illuminate unexamined pockets of our own humanity. The Minority Report film did this and the show does the same. Both the film and the TV show have big questions and notions to contemplate that are woven into the framework of storytelling, allowing these notions to be fully present without becoming a heavy-handed soapbox. Minority Report isn’t interested in telling you what to think, but it is interested in inspiring thought, which is exactly why science fiction television is so valuable.

High concept and diversity alone do not sell a show. Creator, Max Borenstein’s, pitch for the show was the first in dozens, presented over many years by many writers, that impressed and moved Steven Spielberg enough to give it the green light. This was because Spielberg could see that this concept had the chops to deliver compelling stories rich with fresh, resonant themes. The writing, acting, and world building of Minority Report are constructed with great care. The cast is a powerhouse of talent and they deliver loaded subtext, complex emotions, and light-hearted amusing moments in every episode (especially as the season progressed). The writing is dynamic, catering slightly to each story being told while still resonating with a strong voice that keeps the show coherent. The future of 2065, from tech to geography, has been crafted by a marriage of the brilliant creative mind of Spielberg and intensive research into the data scientists use to extrapolate our real-life future and our projected technological advancements.

This solid foundation paired with the exponential strength of each episode indicate that a second season of Minority Report would not only find and cultivate a strong audience, but would also have the potential to be a contender for the top tier of quality in genre or even network TV. Minority Report shows clear potential to ensnare a building audience and deliver thought-provoking, diverse, and compelling television every episode. Plenty of shows have had rough first seasons, but when given a second chance stepped up to become successful or even iconic. It would be such a shame to see all that potential snuffed out because of a difficult first season.

So please, consider supporting this cause. Entertainment and media are important aspects of our lives. Hang on to quality. Demand diversity. Make your voice heard. #RenewMinorityReport