sci fi-related stories
Posted Jul 25th 2009 3:30AM by Jason Hughes
Filed under: Other Sci-Fi/Supernatural Shows, Pickups and Renewals, Reality-Free, Comic-Con
Despite a lengthy hiatus in the middle of its third season due to that pesky WGA Strike, and a shift to Friday nights, it was reported at
Comic-Con that
Syfy has renewed Eureka for a fourth season. And not one of those crappy 12- or 13-episode seasons we usually get on cable. This is a full 22 episodes, for which I say ... well, that would be a bit obvious, wouldn't it?
The good news is that the absence didn't hurt the show at all. It's just as compelling as it ever was. And fun. By fun, of course, I mean for us. Poor Sheriff Carter seems on the verge of a nervous breakdown half the time. Between negotiating a teenage daughter and the geniuses and their dangerously inventive concoctions, it's a wonder Eureka hasn't been blown off the map. Maybe for the series finale.
Even better, if you've yet to add it to your weekly list of stops, you can catch the latest four episodes of
Eureka streaming on Hulu, along with tons of other fun clips.
Posted Jul 11th 2009 11:02AM by Jason Hughes
Filed under: Other Sci-Fi/Supernatural Shows, Industry, Reality-Free
We already know about the in-development
reboot of Alien Nation at Syfy. What I somehow missed in all the hoopla about that is that Syfy is also in talks with creator Don Bellisario about a
possible relaunch of Quantum Leap. Or a sequel or, really, whatever Bellisario would be interested in. Syfy is looking for a great time travel show, and other than
Doctor Who, was there ever a better executed one than
Quantum Leap?
Hell, with Scott Bakula all over our television screens on
Chuck and
The New Adventures of Old Christine among other appearances, and Dean Stockwell already familiar to SyFy's core fan-base, why not just go ahead and do a continuation of the original series with Sam's daughter in the lead role, or something like that?
Continue reading Syfy in talks to try and revive Quantum Leap as well
Posted Jul 1st 2009 1:11PM by Brad Trechak
Filed under: Programming, OpEd, Pickups and Renewals, Reality-Free
Ordinarily I do not do a fanboy squeal when I hear of an attempt at a science fiction program revamp of an old series, but this one has
Battlestar Galactica potential. Tim Minear (
Angel,
Firefly) is taking on a
remake of Alien Nation for Sci Fi or SyFy or whatever they're calling themselves.
The original television series on Fox was one of the cases where the spin-off actually exceeded the quality of the movie it was based on. The only mistake that was made was taking the show off the air after one year (although it did spawn a set of television movies).
Tim Minear is a good choice as showrunner since he's used to sci fi shows that rely on characterization. I have to give props to Sci Fi for this decision. Hopefully it will last longer than its predecessor and be leaps and bounds better than their attempted remake of
Flash Gordon.
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 Jun 18th 2009 5:02PM by Mike Moody
Filed under: Industry, Battlestar Galactica, Heroes, Casting, Reality-Free
You know what? I'm down with all the cast, er, cross-pollination that's going on in sci-fi TV these days. Especially if it means good actors can keep working after their previous shows were given the axe. Earlier today, we reported that Brian Austin Green, formerly of
Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, is
joining Smallville for a two-episode arc. Now it looks like
Battlestar Galactica's Rick Worthy is in talks to join NBC's
Heroes.
On
BSG, Worthy played Simon, the Cylon famous for conducting icky experiments on Kara Thrace. He'll play telepath Matt Parkman's new partner, an experienced L.A. cop, on
Heroes when the show returns this fall. It's still unclear if Worthy's character will develop superpowers on the show, but something tells me he'll be more than just a normal cop before long. This is
Heroes were talking about, the show where
everyone gets superpowers.
Worthy is a sci-fi vet. He's appeared in everything from
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine to
Dark Angel and
Stargate: SG-1. He'll be joining new
Heroes season four recruits Robert Knepper and Madelina Zima.
Posted Jun 15th 2009 12:02PM by Brad Trechak
Filed under: OpEd, Battlestar Galactica, Video, Reality-Free
Someone was pointing their camcorder at their television screen at some point and managed to catch a brief of the upcoming
Battlestar Galactica prequel TV movie
The Plan, which delves into the entire Cylon plan that was the premise of the whole series.
It appears to be a brief scene between Dean Stockwell's Cavil character and Kate Vernon's Ellen Tigh in which Cavil is discussing the concept of resurrection.
While I appreciate being able to see the clip, I wonder who had their video camera aimed at the television at just the right moment this past Friday night? We're far past the age of
Kinoscope. Hadn't they ever heard of DVRs? I'm sure better quality copies will be available soon, if not already.
Seeing the clip does make me yearn for more
Battlestar Galactica episodes, even if some found the series' ending to be disappointing. It's a pity that we have to wait until November.
Continue reading A little bit of BSG's The Plan
Posted Jun 8th 2009 9:02PM by Brad Trechak
Filed under: Programming, Celebrities, Casting, Reality-Free
TV Squad
already reported that the Sci Fi Channel (that
won't be for much longer) is doing an
Alice in Wonderland modern remake a la their previous
Wizard of Oz remake,
Tin Man. For those who didn't know, it's called Alice.
Well, they've
done some casting and it turns out that Kathy Bates is the Queen of Hearts and Tim Curry is playing a character called Dodo (who in the original novel was a
caricature of the author). Given his malevolent smile, I would think Curry would be better suited as the Cheshire Cat.
I'm surprised they didn't give the title character the surname of
Liddell (instead they went with Hamilton). I can only surmise that they wanted to minimize any possibility of litigation.
Frankly it wouldn't surprise me if we learned at the end of the four hour mini-series that Alice was on a bad acid trip. That would be my adult interpretation of the novel.
Posted May 29th 2009 2:02PM by John Scott Lewinski
Filed under: Other Sci-Fi/Supernatural Shows, Doctor Who, Reality-Free, British TV
The new cast of 2010's next full season of the world's longest running sci-fi show is looking a lot like "Jim Henson's
Doctor Who Babies" with the announcement of the new companion for Matt Smith's 11th Doctor.
Twenty-one-year-old Karen Gillan will become the show's first "ginger" companion when the red-head steps into the Tardis for executive producer Steven Moffat next year. When standing alongside 26-year-old Smith, the pair could look disturbingly like a
Twilight book cover.
While it's not fair to say she got the part because she's Scottish, it couldn't hurt that her boss (Moffat) hails from the same part of the world. She studied acting at Telford College in Edinburgh and already has a short list of credits, including
Outcast (a film with
Jekyll star, James Nesbitt).
Continue reading Doctor Who gets younger, redder with new companion
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 22nd 2009 1:03PM by John Scott Lewinski
Filed under: Other Sci-Fi/Supernatural Shows, Reality-Free, British TV
In Hollywood's never-ending quest to locate every single piece of pre-existing intellectual property to make into a movie without actually purchasing an original screenplay, they'll be turning to flying saucers and shiny women with purple hair.
The iconic 1960s
British sci-fi series UFO (right) will be brought to the big screen by an even more iconic producer --
Robert Evans. According to
Variety, Evans will team with
ITV Global to update the Earth vs. aliens premise.
The original UFO featured a secret team of elite Earthlings (SHADO: Supreme Headquarters Alien Defense Organization) fending off a mysterious collection of invading creatures.
Continue reading Evans bringing ITV's UFO to big screen
Posted May 13th 2009 8:09PM by Mike Moody
Filed under: Battlestar Galactica, Celebrities, Casting, Reality-Free
This week, actors
Michael Trucco and
Kate Vernon both hinted that they'd like to appear in
Caprica, the
Battlestar Galactica prequel series.
The former
BSG stars say it's possible for their characters, Sam Anders and Ellen Tigh, to appear on
Caprica, which takes place roughly fifty years before the events of
BSG.
The uncut, two-hour long
Caprica pilot hit DVD last month, but the series won't premiere on Sci Fi Channel until 2010. Should Anders and Ellen be a part of it? (
BSG spoilers after the jump!)
Continue reading Do you want to see these Battlestar Galactica actors appear in Caprica?
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.
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