The science fiction blog Io9 has a chart up at their site that tracks the themes that have been used on sci-fi TV shows since 1970. How many shows have been about time travel, robots, aliens, space travel, and/or mutants? Is there a trend to the themes of sci-fi shows over the years? (Here's the complete list of shows they looked at to create the chart.)farscape-related stories
Io9's sci-fi chart: possibly the geekiest post ever
The science fiction blog Io9 has a chart up at their site that tracks the themes that have been used on sci-fi TV shows since 1970. How many shows have been about time travel, robots, aliens, space travel, and/or mutants? Is there a trend to the themes of sci-fi shows over the years? (Here's the complete list of shows they looked at to create the chart.)Continue reading Io9's sci-fi chart: possibly the geekiest post ever
Dance your cares away, the Fraggle Rock movie's closer every day
I didn't have cable growing up, so I was only able to catch Fraggle Rock when I was catting around town at all the cool kids' houses. As a long time lover of anything Muppet, I was fascinated by these Fraggles and Doozers and Gorgs, and it all looked just so wonderful. My earliest memory is Junior, a giant Gorg, holding up one of the Fraggles and saying "I caught a Fwaggle!" I thought he was wanting to eat it the way Gargamel tormented the Smurfs.Way back in 2006, we told you a Fraggle Rock film was in the works. Now, Brian Henson tells MTV that a Fraggle Rock movie is inching closer. He also indicated that they're expanding the film "to be more accessible to a wider audience." I recently had the opportunity to watch Fraggle Rock, and while it did touch my nostalgia button, I can see where Henson's coming from here.
Continue reading Dance your cares away, the Fraggle Rock movie's closer every day
Farscape cast, creators reunite to celebrate DVD - Comic-Con Report
It's hard to believe the live-action-meets-puppeteering sci-fi series Farscape is a decade old, but that's the occasion that brought Brian Henson and stars of the show to Comic-Con International Friday to announce a new complete series DVD set.As unveiled to a full, if partially groggy Comic-Con crowd during one of the day's first events, the DVD collection will include every episode of the show, more than 90 minutes of extra footage and 29 episode commentaries.
Henson joined series creator Rockne O'Bannon with stars Ben Browder and Claudia Black to unveil the comprehensive set of the show Henson repeatedly referred to during the panel as "psychotically ambitious" because of its mix of live-action, muppet technology, and then-state-of-the-art visual effects.
Continue reading Farscape cast, creators reunite to celebrate DVD - Comic-Con Report
Ten unfinished sci fi/fantasy series ... and I'm dying for resolution
Sure Lost is a bona fide hit, but who remembers Invasion? In fact, none of the sci fi series premiering that year (Surface and Threshold) made it beyond a single season. And yet, as Brad reported, ABC is developing The Return, a series focusing on how the world handles an "alien landing." You know, like the classic V mini-series of the '80s. In fact, the last episode of V: The Series was called "The Return." Maybe this is a secret code name for the long teased V return!But that announcement got me thinking about all those sci fi and fantasy shows that never finish on television. It's a phenomenon us long-time science fiction/fantasy fans have learned to live with. We jump on any new genre show on television hoping against hope that the ratings will be strong enough that we'll get the whole story. Alas, we know that more often than not the plug will be pulled mid-stream and we'll be left wanting. And for every Joss Whedon who continues Buffy and Angel in comics, there are tons more who don't.
Continue reading Ten unfinished sci fi/fantasy series ... and I'm dying for resolution
What shows had the best seasons of the past 20 years?
August has been a slow month for these "Best XXXX of All-Time" and "Worst XXXX Sitcoms of the Decade" lists, but here's an interesting one: the 20 best seasons of the last 20 years.It's an interesting subject for a list because TV fans can often agree on what shows are generally good or bad, and we can generally agree that even the best shows have bad seasons if they run long enough. But if you think about the shows that you've watched over the past 20 years (and watched all of the seasons, not just episodes here and there), what seasons stand out to you? Off the top of my head, before I even read the article, I thought of either season 2 or season 3 of The West Wing (the list writer picks season 2) and I would obviously pick a season of The X-Files or The Simpsons, though it would be hard to pick one season (he picks season 4 of the former and season 4 of the latter). Also on the list: season 2 of Buffy and season 1 of Deadwood. The first seasons of Friday Night Lights and Firefly? Really?
The list is for the past 20 years, but it leans heavily towards shows of the mid-90s and the 2000s. How about season 2 or 3 of NewsRadio? Or how about shows like Lost, The Sopranos, Mad Men, 30 Rock, Friends, or Seinfeld? They explain their methodology but it seems a little lame to me.
Farscape going to comics
Add another television show to the list of those heading to the comic-book afterlife. The Jim Henson company has just made a deal with BOOM! Studios to create several four-issue series adapted from Farscape. The series of books will take advantage of webisodes that will be featured on SciFi.com, created by Rockne S. O'Brannon, the original series creator.I know at least a few people who are huge fans of Farscape. It's one of those shows that, I have to admit, I never even attempted to watch. At first glance, I didn't like the idea of crazy-looking aliens and thought it would just be too, I dunno, silly to get into. I know -- this coming from a guy who thinks Buffy is one of the greatest shows ever. Now that the show is gone and sci-fi fans still speak longingly about the series, I keep thinking I need to get the DVDs (all four seasons are, incidentally, already available). Might make a cool Retro Squad series here someday, no?
Stump the King - Jericho
Well, it's now official. Jericho is done.
You have to wonder, was it all worth it? I mean, sure, we got a few more episodes and I, personally, am grateful for the upcoming series finale but I'm curious if those of you who spent time and money on peanuts feel like you made a difference.
Continue reading Stump the King - Jericho
Fraggle Rock and Farscape now on iTunes
As reported by TUAW, properties from the Jim Henson Company are available on iTunes. Sadly, this does not include The Muppet Show, which was sold to Disney in 2004.Among the shows available are the first seasons of Fraggle Rock and Farscape for $1.99 per episode. The article mentions that Farscape is difficult to find on DVD due to difficulties over home video rights (although it has been released previously).
I remember Fraggle Rock from my youth and I always enjoyed it. I remember being scared over the episode with the Terrible Tunnel. As I think about it now, I think Mokey Fraggle had the exact same voice as Rizzo the Rat from the Muppets.
So, for those who use iTunes, here is the chance to indulge yourself and purchase the first few seasons. Or, in the case of Fraggle Rock, you could just buy the DVD.
Stargate Atlantis: This Mortal Coil
(S04E10) We've all been waiting for it since October, and this week we got the return of Dr. Weir. Kind of. If that wasn't enough to capture your interest, the SciFi channel was also running promos all week letting you know that this was the last episode of 2007. Surely they wouldn't go into the break without a big episode, right? Kind of.
Gallery: Stargate Atlantis
Continue reading Stargate Atlantis: This Mortal Coil
Farscape to become Web series, along with webisodes of Battlestar Galactica
Some cool news for fans of Farscape: the series is coming back in the form of ten new webisodes. As of this moment no actors and writers have been attached to the project, nor have any storylines been announced. According to the Post Gazette, if the Web series is successful enough, the series could return to television. I'd say that's quite a long shot (the series went off the air in 2003), but I certainly wouldn't complain if it came back. I was late getting into Farscape, but I thought it was fun and imaginative.
Continue reading Farscape to become Web series, along with webisodes of Battlestar Galactica
Classic TV on DVD, cheap!
I can't be the only one that sometimes suffers an attack of sticker shock when shopping for TV on DVD. Farscape and The Sopranos, well... anything by HBO for that matter, come to mind. So I was thrilled to find, while walking through my local Half Price Books, the TV Time Comedy Collection. This 12 disk set contains The Andy Griffith Show (16 eps), Hal Roach's Rascals (9 eps), Dick Van Dyke (6 eps), Petticoat Junction (4 eps), The Lucy Show (19 eps), The Beverly Hillbillies (20 eps), Ozzie and Harriet (18 eps), Burns and Allen (10 eps), and the Rescue From Gilligan's Island movie. All for the low low price of $9.98, new in box. It's a fun collection. While I wouldn't be in the market for season sets of any of these shows, with the possible exception of Dick Van Dyke, it's nice to have them around when the networks go all repeat on us. And finding a twenty-something Dennis Hopper guest starring as a beatnik poet on an obscure Petticoat Junction episode makes it funny in a whole new way.
Unfortunately, I can't seem to track down this exact set anywhere online. Amazon does have a similar set from the same company with a slightly different mix of episodes, and minus the Gilligan movie, new for $23.99, and used for $10.97. Still not a bad deal.
Battlestar Galactica invades Dilbert
Everyone's favorite swear words get the sci-fi treatment on television so they can sidestep around the censors. On Farscape we had "frell," Battlestar Galactica has "frack," and Firefly gave us a whole slew of Chinese swear words like "tzae gao" and "ta ma de." Bilngual swearing, FTW! You know a sci-fi swearism has reached the mainstream when it's being used by a character in Scott Adams' "Dilbert" strip.Although, come to think of it ... I'm not even sure if Captain Kirk ever said "damn." One thing is for sure, I'd really like to see Spock bust out the f-word. Just once. You know he got fed up with McCoy at some point, broke all of his Vulcan training and cold logic and just let him have it. Plus, while we're on this rant, why didn't anyone ever tell Doctor Smith to shut the f*ck up on Lost in Space? The guy earned it, for sure.
Now we can get onto the real conspiracy: is Dilbert a Cylon? Maybe he's the only human left, and everyone around him is a Cylon. We may never know the true story.
Stargate, Atlantis, Painkiller Jane coming in April
We've already mentioned that Battlestar is moving to Sundays on January 21st. It will be joined by the highly anticipated new series The Dresden Files. Now comes word that Sci Fi Friday's will return in April with the final ten episodes of Stargate, the continuation of the current season of Atlantis, and the new show Painkiller Jane. The press release also mentions new episodes of Ghost Hunters, the new season of Who Wants To Be A Superhero?, and 24 'pulse-pounding' original movies. It's good to have a date for the Stargate return, but i am among those that just doesn't get what Sci Fi is doing with their scheduling. TV Squad reader Mack pointed out that the new Atlantis episodes are already airing in other markets, and a quick check of some torrent sites reveals that they are out there to be had. I didn't like the long break in the season when they did it with Farscape, and I don't like it now. With the serial nature of these shows, big breaks just don't work. 24 got it right.
New Stargate movies coming on DVD
After it was announced that Stargate SG-1 had been cancelled there was word from MGM that this wasn't the end of the Stargate franchise. Much of that sounded like typical PR speak to be taken with a grain of salt, but MGM wasn't just jerking our chains. They have ordered two Stargate SG-1 movies which will be released direct to DVD, with the possibility of also being shown on cable TV. Plans call for a fall 2007 release.Executive Producer Brad Wright comments that they are "not big budget" which makes me think that they will be more or less prolonged episodes. But there's nothing wrong with that. The first of the two movies will tie up the current Ori storyline while the second is reported to be about time travel. The Gateworld article also mentions the possibility that the movies could be used as a launching pad for a third Stargate series.
Continue reading New Stargate movies coming on DVD
Stargate SG-1: 200
(S10E05) The 200th episode of SG-1 had to be a party to make, because it's friggin' hilarious. Right after the little 'previously on stargate bit' (which worked better this time) meet the furlings... and they're wearing little furry costumes... Wait a minute. The crazy story lines start up right from the beginning.
As SG-1 reads scripts and discusses plots, we're treated to all sorts of possible story lines. The changes are usually pretty obvious, but they keep us on our toes with sneaky cuts from actual show to campy scenes. The whole episode total unadulterated fan service - I loved it.
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