TVSquad

Good news everyone. It seems that this whole movie thing is working out quite nicely for the folks over at Sci Fi. Executive VP of original programming for Sci Fi, Mark Stern, now also counts himself as co-head of the newly formed Universal Cable Productions. Why should we care? Because at the end of the day that means a little more Battlestar Galactica.

The success of Razor is a big part of this. Stern describes it as doing "phenomenally well in the international and DVD market." It's led to a whole new way of financing and creating entertainment for the network. The new Battlestar project will air after the series completes its run next year. Edward James Olmos is on board to direct, and he'll have a script by Jane Espenson to work with. Both nice choices. Casting is still up in the air at the moment. So far, Michael Trucco (Anders), Aaron Douglas (Tyrol), and Dean Stockwell (Cavil) are confirmed.

The story is prequel-esque. It goes back to just after the Cylon destruction of human home worlds. We'll follow the Cylons as they deal with human survivors, aboard ships as well as on planets. There is also a hint that the movie will focus specifically on two of the Cylon agents.

Last night, SciFi aired the first promo for the upcoming Battlestar Galactica movie and today it's up on YouTube. We all know Battlestar Galactica: Razor is about the Pegasus and what happened to it between the time the Cylons started a war and it met up with the Galactica.

Our favorite characters (Starbuck, Admiral Adama, Apollo) are also in the movie so it appears to start as the war with the Cylons begins and then the Pegasus somehow gets separated from the rest of the group. Of course, the promo doesn't reveal much, but it was enough to wet whet my appetite for some new BSG. I'm particularly anxious to see another side of Admiral Cain, who was pretty rotten once she appeared on BSG. Also... notice all the female soldiers on the Pegasus.

Battlestar Galactica: Razor airs on Sci Fi in November.

Video is after the jump:

First I thought this would be a summer filled with possibly watching one or two summer series, and then catching up on the growing stack of books in my "to be read" pile ... but somehow it's morphed into the "DVR + TV shows on DVD Summer of Rock " *fanfare*. It's actually not that dramatic, but I like to stick fanfare in whenever I can. Theme songs are one thing, but fanfare can pepper mundane events with joy. "Here's your latte, sir." *fanfare* See what I mean?

This afternoon I listened in on a conference call with Battlestar Galactica Executive Producers Ronald D. Moore and David Eick, announcing news regarding the series' fourth season. Just as mentioned earlier in the month -- and as many had already figured out -- the forthcoming season of the show will be the series' last.

Highlights from the call after the jump.

It's official! Just as the rumor mill predicted, the best show on television (Battlestar Galactica) has been renewed for a fourth season. Production on another 13 episodes resumes this summer with a premiere date in January 2008.

SciFi apparently was waiting to renew to see how BSG would do in its new 10 pm Sunday night timeslot, and apparently the network is happy with the numbers. As it should be. Ratings actually went up 8% when it moved from Fridays.

Although the SciFi announcement doesn't mention it, this should mean that there will also be a Battlestar Galactica movie sometime between the end of this season and the beginning of next season. Back in January, producers David Eick and Ron Moore said they'll be making a straight-to-DVD, stand-alone flick if they get a fourth season.

[Thanks, Fullman!]

I thoroughly enjoy Battlestar Galactica. I feel that the special effects (when shown) are fantastic, the scripts are well-written, and the characters are all multi-dimensional. I have especially been enjoying this season, and I have yet to miss an episode. That being said, I do have one tiny issue with the show . . .

I can't hear a frakking word they're saying!

I have never seen a show with so many low talkers. They speak quietly everywhere: crew quarters, active hanger bays, planet-side. They even speak softly in crowded, noisy bars (as seen in this week's episode). I am constantly raising and lowering the volume on my TV just to catch a fragment of what they're saying. It's almost like I'm watching a British sitcom! Now I know why this show hasn't been nominated for any type of award. It's because the judges get so frustrated adjusting the volume up and down that they just give up and turn off the TV.

A blogger over at Wired thinks that Battlestar Galactica is headed in the same direction as Lost: downhill. He wrote his post after last week's boxing episode where Kara and Lee beat the holy living crap out of each other. In particular, he didn't like the "barfy romantic flashbacks". He thinks BSG is headed in a dangerous direction and lists 10 reasons why, including Cylon threesomes, dangling subplots (Helo & Sharon's baby), and side projects that are keeping BSG creators busy.

Even though I disagree with him, I think the post is well-reasoned. I, too, have been wondering what the hell is going on with the Cylon/human baby that the Cylons managed to capture before they fled New Caprica. But, I adored last week's boxing episode that explains just how messed up Kara and Lee's relationship is. He doesn't like entire episodes being devoted to words like "genocide" and "torture", which I found to be thought-provoking.

I do agree on one point, though. Give Admiral Adama something to do other than just monologues. Edward James Olmos is a great actor and all he's getting are speeches.

I was going to use the title "Battlestar Galacticakes," but Boing Boing beat me to it.

A fan named Matt had a 31st birthday recently, and he decided to make a bunch of cakes as a tribute to Battlestar Galactica. I'm not that familiar with the show, actually, so I'm not sure if these are to scale or not, and I'm not sure if he has all the technical specifications right. But they look delicious. Check out all the cakes in his Flickr set.

I think we should start making cakes and other desserts based on other TV shows. How about some Nip/Tuckcakes? Or maybe Boston Cream Pie Legal? Or maybe a Lost cake? That would be pretty cool.

[via Boing Boing]

Everybody's wondering whether BSG is going to suck this year since the season finale seriously altered the direction of the show. You can get a sneak peek of the season three premiere (which airs on Friday) over at SciFi's website and decide for yourself. The first 13 minutes of the episode, or the "First Act", is available for viewing. It basically answers the question, "What will happen next?" You'll see how the humans and Cylons are living/interacting on New Caprica. I'll just say that everybody seems to be working on their own method of survival... and Starbuck seriously kicks some ass.

Based on just those 13 minutes, I'd say BSG fans don't have anything to worry about. Then again, I liked the turn the show took at the end of last season and I like what I see so far.

*The video played for me in Internet Explorer, but had trouble with it in Firefox.

[Thanks, Akbar!]

In an article in today's New York Daily News, Lorraine Bracco talks about some of the circumstances that sent her into a deep depression a few years ago. Among the issues: a nasty custody battle with ex-lover Harvey Keitel over the daughter they had together, a divorce from her husband Edward James Olmos, and a large amount of debt that compelled her to file for bankrupcy. Jeez, that's enough to get anyone depressed, much less someone who's played intense roles like Dr. Melfi on The Sopranos and Karen Hill in the movie classic Goodfellas.

Anyway, with the help of therapy and Zoloft, which she is now paid to endorse, she is healthy and in control of her life. She discusses her depression in her new book On the Couch, which is why she is making the publicity rounds. The most interesting tidbit? That Bracco, 51, is currently involved with a 32-year-old driver for The Sopranos. Not a bad trade-up; we've all seen Edward James Olmos, right?

Now here's an opinion that's sure to get the comments field going: author John Kenneth Muir really loves the new Battlestar Galactica. He thinks that the show deserves all of the accolades and awards and popularity that it has garnered in the past couple of years. But here's the thing: he doesn't think it should be called Battlestar Galactica:

"...my problem begins and ends with the fact that it's called Battlestar Galactica. The original series has been used as a 'brand name' by Ron Moore to do something totally new, something unfaithful, something he wanted to do. That's fine, and some people obviously like what he's done very much. But it shouldn't be called Battlestar Galactica."

Readers?

[via Lee Goldberg]

As Battlestar Galactica wraps up its second season tomorrow night with a 90-minute finale, its cast is just about to start shooting season three. Just to keep all of us fans sane, Sci Fi has already announced that Galactica will return to its Friday night timeslot in October, although a specific date has not been revealed. The network has ordered 20 episodes. We already know that Lucy Lawless will return as cylon for a 10-episode arc next season. It looks like we'll get to see most of the major cast members again next season, too. Filming of season three of BSG starts in April in Vancouver, B.C.