Syfy Set to Burn Off Primeval, Sinbad

Syfy Channel has had enough of its weak performance on Saturday nights, and is preparing to burn off the remaining episodes of acquired originals Sinbad and Primeval: New World with day-long marathons.

Sinbad will return to the schedule for a 12-hour marathon on Saturday, August 3 (11 a.m. to 11 p.m.), including five episodes yet to air in the U.S.

The next week, on August 10, Primeval: New World will wrap up with a 13-hour marathon including six episodes not yet seen in the States (10 a.m. to 11 p.m.).  The show counts Stargate‘s Martin Wood among its executive producers, and Andy Mikita and Amanda Tapping on its list of directors.

The series were originally slated to air through August.  But they were never expected to perform all that well on Saturday nights, where its B movies usually do well — but scripted series don’t.

Both shows have already been dropped by their home networks (the U.K.’s Sky1 for Sinbad, and Canada’s SPACE for Primeval).  Though the producers of New World hoped a strong performance in the U.S. might be able to revive the show, things look to be going from life-support to an early grave.

(Via The Futon Critic)