With "Forever Knight," trouble began at the end of 1995. After surviving two prior near-cancellations, the program seemed to be in a stable position going into its third season. The show's creative team had completed a solid-looking deal with USA Networks, and production was well under way. Then, just before Christmas, USA announced it was pulling out of the deal. With the season only half over, and with shooting halted, it looked like viewers would be left in limbo. An impromptu fan-letter-writing campaign, and pressure from foreign partners, convinced USA to finish the third season.

But when the final episode aired in early 1996, that was it: fans were left in the lurch. Many who had been discussing the series over the internet immediately organized an effort to bring it back to the airwaves. Dubbed "SOS-FK," the campaign had letter-writing at its core, but its participants also devised a number of creative ways to attract the attention of The Powers That Be (or "TPTB").

Letter writers sent chocolates and other gifts to TV executives. Fans contributed to the show's stars' favorite charities (fans have raised between $60,000-100,000 for charity, according to estimates). A few even folded and sent more than 1,000 origami cranes to "Forever Knight's" production company. The group got the idea from a Japanese legend, which states that anyone who folds 1,000 cranes will have his or her wish granted.

In what was perhaps the most audacious SOS-FK effort, seven fans crashed an annual conference of TV executives. By talking with TV personnel about the campaign and by handing out flyers, the cadre attracted a great deal of attention within the industry to the show's plight. Since the program's cancellation, a soundtrack has been issued, and three Forever Knight novels have been contracted. There has been talk on the internet of some episodes being released on video, and reruns are being shown on the Sci-Fi Channel. TPTB have even reportedly discussed making a two-hour telefilm.

I think the continued enthusiasm and work on the part of the fans has, at the very least, prompted TPTB to keep an eye on us, and to test the waters periodically with new FK products to see if were still dedicated enough to make such efforts profitable, said area fan Stephanie Babbitt, who has put together several FK parties for local devotees.

Series star Nigel Bennett, who played a master vampire, Lacroix, said that the fans' efforts have been wonderful, but probably pointless, as far as obtaining a series renewal is concerned.

"[The producers] have moved on, and I really think that the chance of it returning as a series is almost zero," Bennett said via e-mail. "However, I think the possibility of an FK movie is quite viable, and I would certainly be interested in being involved. You just have to keep hammering at the people who make the decisions."

The recently renewed series Babylon 5 also owes much of its success to an active fan base. The show, like "Forever Knight," had been bounced around on the networks late night schedule, yet it, too, generated its own websites (including one maintained by local fan Dirk Loedding), mailing lists, and viewing parties. When the program was threatened with the ax, its loyal fans have fought to save it.

Every time the season was finishing, there would always be word that the station wouldn't carry it again, said Phaedra Weldon, a fan since 1994. At the end of every season we launched messages not to cancel it.

At the recent DragonCon in Atlanta, Loedding, who was in charge of Babylon 5 events, was given the privilege of announcing to the gathered fans that the show had been picked up by TNT for a fifth season. Fans rejoiced.

Fan campaigns to rescue endangered sci-fi TV programs originated with the granddaddy of all SF shows: Star Trek. When Trek was on the verge of cancellation after its second season, fans deluged the network with more than a million letters, begging for more Enterprise adventures. NBC renewed Trek for a third season, but then cancelled it for good.

Beginning with a 1972 New York convention that drew thousands of fans, the fandom built around Trek has never let up. So far, the push has led to eight feature films, three new television series, books, CDs, magazines and other products.

Today there are at least seven major Star Trek clubs (or ships, as they are called by members) in the metro Atlanta area, according to Eric L. Watts, a Trek fan since the 70s.

There's even a whole branch of fandom that's grown up around the Klingons since the Next Generation came out, Watts said.

Some shows have not been able to generate as much fan support. Though fans continue to buy books and video tapes related to the British TV show Doctor Who, the show's Atlanta fans do not tend to meet on a regular basis, said Robert Ray, who organized a Doctor Who panel for DragonCon.

People don't seem to have an interest in fan clubs now, except on the internet. Maybe they just want to sit at home and watch the shows on tape, Ray said.

DragonCon seems to be a mecca for fans of many of these programs. Its a place to meet and get organized. There were B5, Star Trek, and Doctor Who panels there this June, and Babbitt says she hopes to conduct a Forever Knight panel at DragonCon 1998.