TVSquad

Okay, I'm finally back from the New York Comic-Con and I still smell like the Javits Convention Center. Fandom seeps into the deepest layers of one's skin and take at least a few weeks to wash out. It's a scientific fact.

The first panel I attended wasn't even TV-related. Worrying that the Battlestar Galactica room would fill before I could even step into the line, I sat through the preceding panel for Wall-E and Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian to guarantee a seat. As it turns out, the theater is absolutely huge and two big screens were on either side of the stage, so my worry was kind of pointless. I was reminded of what I already knew: Wall-E looks insanely cute, Chronicles of Narnia has a greasy-haired new guy and the Jesus lion again. However, this is when I began to play a game that lasted throughout the entire weekend: Analyze the differing levels of scary devotion throughout various fanbases!

OK folks, I'm a bit jetlaggy and all out of sorts, but this is the best I could pull together for you until I'm back on my game later today. As you know, I'm out in Vancouver at a "digital press tour" thrown by Sci Fi for several of its hits shows, including, of course, Battlestar Galactica. As part of the tour, we were all given DVDs of the interview panels we did for each of the shows (Eureka, Stargate Atlantis and Battlestar Galactica).

I'd like to thank the folks of Sci Fi and of course the guys from Battlestar who took the time to come sit with us for an hour.

Part one of the panel is after the jump. I'll have the second part ready later today. Enjoy!

So I'm watching TV late Saturday night, making one last channel surf before hitting the sack, and I come across a show called Cold Squad. It's about a team of police investigators who solve tricky crimes. The main character is a spunky woman with short blond hair, and the theme song features slight moans. Hmmm...where have I seen all this before?

That's right, Cold Case! I sat there amazed that a show could rip off such a really popular show. What, they didn't think anyone would notice that some low-budget syndicated show wasn't a replica of a hit CBS program?

Then, of course, I did some detective work of my own on the internets, and I discover that Cold Squad debuted in Canada in 1997! And it lasted for seven seasons! Which means it came on the air many, many years before Cold Case! A company finally got the rights to syndicate the show here in the U.S. this year, and the run started this past week. It starred Julie Stewart as Ali McCormick, and cast members during the show's run (several cast members were replaced) included Stephen McHattie, Michael Hogan, Joy Tanner, Linda Ko, and Peter Wingfield and Jim Byrnes from Highlander.

The makers of Cold Squad actually sued the makers of Cold Case a few years ago, but I can't find any information on the outcome of the lawsuit. Readers?