sci fi channel-related stories
Posted Jul 8th 2009 4:35PM by Jason Hughes
Filed under: Other Sci-Fi/Supernatural Shows, Episode Reviews, Reality-Free
(S01E01) The creators titled this "Pilot," but I'm going to dub it "Another Reason I Want
Brothers to Fail on FOX." CCH Pounder is such a talent I really prefer her on a good show. With
Battlestar Galactica gone, there's going to be a lot of scrutiny on the network's new offerings, and while this doesn't seem to have the depth and complexity of
BSG, it's a perfect companion to shows like
Eureka and
Sanctuary.
It even channels a lot of the latter in that it deals with ancient mystical forces, albeit in the form of artifacts instead of creatures. It also has a huge facility to house and protect them, and the world from them. To take it one step further, CCH Pounder's Mrs. Frederic may be much older than she appears, and my money's out on Leena having a similar genetic disposition and possibly being Mrs. Frederic's daughter. These mysteries are barely touched on in the pilot which means there's layers. But how does the show stack up on the surface?
Continue reading Warehouse 13: Pilot (series premiere)
Posted Jun 22nd 2009 1:13PM by Mike Moody
Filed under: Battlestar Galactica, Video, Reality-Free
"Let's get this genocide started!"
That Cavil is one evil bucket of bolts.
Sci Fi's new trailer for
Battlestar Galactica: The Plan is making the rounds and drumming up anticipation for the TV movie, which premieres this fall.
The Plan will portray the events of the Cylon attack on the twelve colonies through the perspective of the Cylons. It's directed by Admiral Adama himself, Edward James Olmos, and written by
BSG and
Warehouse 13 scribe Jane Espenson, who also helped craft the
BSG Web series the
Face of the Enemy.
Continue reading New trailer for Battlestar Galactica: The Plan
Posted May 29th 2009 12:03PM by Mike Moody
Filed under: Battlestar Galactica, Stargate, Celebrities, Casting, Reality-Free
With
Battlestar Galactica and
The Sarah Connor Chronicles now gone, I'll be looking to
Warehouse 13 for my summer sci-fi fix. Thankfully, it looks like a pretty cool show. I like the concept, and I'm digging the Whedonesque vibe of the Sci Fi Channel's latest
preview clip and the
show's official trailer.
Now I have another reason to tune in. Actually, I have four more reasons. The show will be
loaded with great geek-friendly guest stars, including
BSG's Michael Hogan, Tricia Helfer and Whdeonverse vet Mark Sheppard.
Stargate Atlantis alum Joe Flanigan will also appear on the show.
Continue reading Battlestar, Stargate cast members heading to Warehouse 13
Posted May 26th 2009 1:09PM by Mike Moody
Filed under: Battlestar Galactica, Celebrities, Reality-Free
No, that's not Neil Young or an angry Jesus at the top of this post. It's James Callis as Merlin. Yes,
the Merlin from Camelot.
Battlestar Galactica's Gaius Baltar returns to the Sci Fi Channel this week in
Book of Beasts, one of the network's famously craptastic TV movies.
Battlestar fans might want to program their DVRs for this one. Callis plays the gravelly-voiced heroic lead, the movie is indeed set in Camelot, and the director has been quoted comparing it to
Braveheart! All that plus a heavy amount of booze should make for a great Saturday night for any
BSG nerd/Callis fan.
Continue reading Battlestar's James Callis returns to Sci Fi ... in one of those crappy TV movies
Posted Apr 20th 2009 11:11AM by Brad Trechak
Filed under: Programming, Celebrities, Pickups and Renewals, Reality-Free
To go along with starring in summer sci-fi blockbusters, Will Smith, or rather his production company, will be producing a cop procedural drama for the Sci Fi Channel (I refuse to call them
SyFy until the actual switchover occurs)
called Unfinished Business. It's about a cop who gets "flashes" of memories from the recently deceased in order to help him solve their murders.
I've seen this concept before. I think it was a storyline for the pilot of
Torchwood.
I'm surprised it's taken Will this long to start producing content for the genre. His breakout flick,
Independence Day, was science fiction. His follow-up,
Men In Black, was science fiction. In fact, every movie he's starred in that has done well at the box office was science fiction. If he decides to make a cameo appearance on this show (perhaps as a victim), it could lead to the Sci Fi Channel getting their highest ratings ever.
Posted Apr 7th 2009 2:04PM by Brad Trechak
Filed under: OpEd, Casting, Reality-Free
Sci Fi (or SyFy, whenever that changeover is taking place) has
cast some of its upcoming projects.
Battlestar Galactica and
Dollhouse's Tahmoh Penikett and Smallville's Laura Vandevoort has been cast in
Riverworld and
Desperate Housewive's Ryan Carnes has been cast as the lead character in
The Phantom.
This is either a sign that
Dollhouse is destined for only one season or Tahmoh Penikett's character of Paul Ballard is not going to survive beyond the first season. I'm hoping it is more of the latter than the former.
Continue reading Some cast for SyFy's Riverworld and The Phantom
Posted Mar 23rd 2009 1:01PM by Brad Trechak
Filed under: Programming, OpEd, Pickups and Renewals, Reality-Free
The Sci Fi Channel (or whatever
its calling itself nowadays) is trying to repeat the success of the
Battlestar Galactica relaunch with a few
new versions of old fantasies. The new shows will be revamps of
The Phantom, Philip Jose Farmer's
Riverworld and
Alice in Wonderland.
The Phantom sounds like standard superhero fare and unless someone utterly spectacular is behind it, I see it as another
Flash Gordon. I could only sit through the first ten minutes of the first episode of that fiasco.
Continue reading Sci Fi is trying to repeat the success of BSG
Posted Mar 22nd 2009 1:23PM by Brad Trechak
Filed under: Industry, Programming, Battlestar Galactica, Ratings, Reality-Free
Battlestar Galactica ended with its highest ratings in three years,
drawing 2.4 million viewers for its finale. Granted, these are early ratings for the live viewing and don't take into account things like delayed viewings or iTunes purchases. Still, where were all these people during the run of the series?
Something about series finales tend to draw out people with even a modicum of interest in a show. I guess if they weren't there in the beginning, they still want to be there at the end. Mind you, the ratings of
Dollhouse still beat
BSG with
4.13 million viewers, but there is a world of difference between network and cable. Personally, I used the DVR and caught both.
Of course, this isn't the end of the franchise. Between "The Plan" and the spin-off
Caprica, something has to keep people tuned in and the ratings up while the Sci Fi Channel does something stupid like
changing its name.
Posted Jan 24th 2009 10:00AM by Brad Trechak
Filed under: Battlestar Galactica, Episode Reviews, Reality-Free
(S04E12) "There are days when I really hate this job." - Admiral AdamaRon Moore's directorial debut! It was a good one (although not as good as last week). It probably helped that he also wrote the episode.
A long-nagging question of mine was answered in tonight's episode: if Cylons can't procreate and Tyrol was a Cylon, then how could he have a kid with Cally? The answer was that the kid wasn't his. It does leave the question of Tigh and Six's baby. Can the Final Five procreate with other Cylons? And who is that guy that is the father of Cally's son? I didn't recognize him. Has he appeared previously? This plot point seemed out of the blue. Also, they seem certain that Tigh is the father, but could it possibly be Baltar instead?
Continue reading Battlestar Galactica: A Disquiet Follows My Soul
Posted Jan 20th 2009 5:05PM by Debra McDuffee
Filed under: Programming, TV on DVD, Reality-Free
I didn't jump immediately on the
Moonlight bandwagon. The pilot just didn't grab me, and there was still a bitter taste in my mouth from
Buffy and
Angel being canceled. We Whedon fans don't forgive easily.
Eventually, I couldn't take it anymore and I caught up on all the episodes and fell for
Moonlight. I loved the unique lore, the back story with Coraline and her family was riveting and yeah, Jason Dohring in love as a vampire? Much more appealing than when he's in love
with a little blonde super sleuth.
Well, you can now relive the tragically short
Moonlight experience, courtesy of the Sci Fi Channel. Beginning this Friday night, they'll be showing an
episode of Moonlight every Friday at 9:00, through the entire series.
As if that's not enough, the entire series of
Moonlight has been released on DVD today. I'm just not sure
Moonlight fans could ask for better news than being able to see the series run again. Well, they could ask, but they won't get it.
Posted Jan 17th 2009 3:16AM by Brad Trechak
Filed under: Battlestar Galactica, Episode Reviews, Reality-Free
(S04E11) Note: technically the
Razor television movie counts as the first two episodes of the season, so this is actually episode 13. And what an episode it was! It answered the biggest question from the viewers and in the process created a few more.
FYI, the episode title is taken from the folk song
"Goodnight, Irene", which pretty much fits the theme of the episode.
I really liked Mary McDonnell's acting in this episode. I felt heartbroken at her breakdown upon discovering the remains of Earth and her inability to share the information with the fleet. Whenever things get bad, at least we're not on the run from homicidal machines with our last great hope for sanctuary a radioactive wasteland.
On to the spoilery bits!
Continue reading Battlestar Galactica: Sometimes a Great Notion
Posted Jan 1st 2009 5:29PM by Mike Moody
Filed under: Programming, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Reality-Free
Reason #1: Because the Sci Fi Channel wouldn't be the Sci Fi Channel without those craptastic movies-of-the-week.
Reason #2: Because it might star Marina Sirtis (
Star Trek: TNG's Counselor Troi) and Luke Goss (the pastey prince from
Hellboy II).
Reason #3: Because TV could use more evil mohawk-sporting, Fine Young Cannibal-rockin' punks and medieval mad scientists.
Am I wrong?
Continue reading Why do we need a Doomsday TV movie?
Posted Dec 31st 2008 3:04PM by Richard Keller
Filed under: Other Comedy Shows, Sports, Programming, TV on DVD, OpEd, Festivus, Reality-Free
Being that we eat, breathe, drink, sleep, pee, poop and vomit television here at TV Squad, we like to gauge the pulse of the community once in awhile. It gives us a chance to see what others are thinking and doing as well as see what the new and continuing trends are. Plus, it fills up some white space on the site. So, the question I am tabling is this: What are you going to be watching this New Year's Eve and Day?
It's a strange time of year for television as viewing selections are all over the map. If you are a lover of college football this is your Christmas as the tube is filled with the antiquated Bowl games that constitute "playoffs." For science fiction fans there's the annual Twilight Zone marathon on Sci Fi Channel. Those who can barely move from the couch for fear of talking on the porcelain phone once again, there's plenty of inane marathons to provide ambiance while you try to sleep it off.
Continue reading What will you be watching this New Year's Eve and Day?
Posted Dec 15th 2008 8:28AM by Mike Moody
Filed under: Industry, Stargate, Casting, Reality-Free
Robert Carlyle is a fine actor with an impressive resume (
The Full Monty,
28 Weeks Later, 24: Redemption to name a few), but he'll always be the hard-drinking, C-word screaming, Ewan McGregor-slapping
Begbie from
Trainspotting to me. Which is why it comes as a surprise that he's been cast as
the lead in the next Stargate series,
Stargate Universe.
Carlyle will play Dr. David Rush, leader of a group of scientists and civilians trapped on a ship traveling through space. Word is that Dr. Rush, charged with finding a way to return his crew home, might not be the nice guy everyone thinks he is.
Continue reading Trainspotting's Carlyle to kick Stargate in its biscuit-arse
Posted Dec 12th 2008 5:27PM by Mike Moody
Filed under: Battlestar Galactica, Reality-Free, Webisodes
Pity Felix Gaeta. First, he was almost shot out of an airlock. Then he lost a leg. Now, it looks like he's in for one long, terrible day in "The Face of the Enemy," the 10-part
Battlestar Galactia webisode series that premiered today on
SciFi.com.
Click through for more,
somewhat spoilery, info about the first chapter of "Enemy," written by Jane Espenson and
Seamus Kevin Fahey. You'll also find the full webisode schedule and a larger version of the new Season 4.5 poster featuring Starbuck's, er, chest after the jump.
Continue reading New Battlestar Galactica webisode, poster now online
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