TVSquad

And when I say Sci Fi, I mean the network, not necessarily the content. I'm sure we could easily open up that oldie, but goodie, about what is science fiction and why certain things are ending up on the channel. We'll save that for another time though, as right now we should talk about JAG, with swords. Elliott (JAG) is set to star in Mirabilis. The four-hour mini tells the story of four knights who must come together to save their land, the titular town.

Elliott plays John, a knight seeking vengeance after his family was killed. He'll be joined by Natassia Malthe (DOA: Dead Or Alive. Yes, I watched it) as another of the knights, Perfidia. Perfidia is also John's love interest. The script is by Sam Egan (Jeremiah) and is being produced by Reunion Pictures. If you are wondering about the quality of production, I'll add that RHI Entertainment is involved and they are responsible for such Sci Fi treats as The Lost Empire. To be fair though, they also had a hand in Tin Man, so it could go either way. I'll watch it, but then I'm kind of the Mikey of bad sci fi. I'll watch anything, even SS Doomtrooper. It had Corin Nemec!

(S04E08) After two weeks of waiting, and through several other shows having their season finales, we're back for more frakking BSG, baby. And speaking of season finales, after watching Lost last night with all of its flashbacks and flash-forwards, it almost seemed as though we may be seeing a bit of flashbackery next week to explain what happened to Roslin and the others aboard the hijacked Base Star.

In case you're wondering what the title means, it's a latin legal term, of course.

The final award we're calling for considerations for is one I'm most excited about. The Most Real Unreal Award goes to the show that, during the 2007-2008 television season, displayed the most impressive and realistic example of special effects.

Now, before you go assuming we're limiting this to purely science fiction shows, step back for a moment and consider some non-scifi shows that might be fit for such an award. Lost, though with its scifi elements, is considered a drama series, though it's shown some impressive effects this season. Pushing Daisies is another. How about House or the ill-fated Moonlight?

Take your pick amongst the sci-fi and supernatural shows we cover, and I'm sure any one of them could be a great fit for this category: Battlestar Galactica, Eureka, Stargate. What shows would you like to see nominated and what specific aspects of those shows are the most impressive examples of making the "unreal" look real?

I always get antsy when companies start to go beyond their niche. I mean, does Dunkin' Donuts really have to start selling pizza and sandwiches too?

The Sci-Fi Channel is expanding beyond the worlds of Battlestar Galactica, Star Trek, and sci-fi in general. We've already seen wrestling on the network, and the execs at the network say that more stuff like that is coming. Sci-Fi Channel GM Dave Howe says that the definition of the network is "What if?" As in "What if The Sci-Fi Channel made a bunch of really shitty made for television movies?" This "What If" slogan also includes movies like Field of Dreams. Execs are even thinking about changing the name of the channel.

Needless to say, many science fiction fans aren't happy with this, including members of The Science Fiction Writers of America. TV fans are already upset for TV Land airing more and more reality shows and movies, and now this. What's next? TCM airing cooking shows and auto racing?

(S04E04) I went on earlier today about how a lot of us were cut short in the early viewing of tonight's episode, which made me think perhaps something "big" happens later that they didn't want revealed early. With the exception of one "maybe big" moment, I can scratch that theory.

I wouldn't exactly call this a throw-away episode, though with what we saw in the past three episodes it did drag is places.

A fellow named Simon White is selling his Tardis on eBay. Why? Jesus.

Okay, maybe that's not the best way to put it. According to White, he has been a hardcore Who fan for most of his life, going as far as spending years and years building a K-9, cyberman and Tardis in addition to collecting figurines. After a lot of troubles with bipolar disorder and alcoholism in his adult years, he found God and ceased his self-destructive ways. Despite claiming that his fandom was the only thing holding him together in his rough times, White is now dumping his Who love and toys, calling it a symbol of the "greatest lie that Satan ever told." He'll be selling his entire collection of goodies, worth an estimated £7000, in magazines and on eBay.

Title: Angel One
Original Air Date: January 25, 1988
Written by: Patrick Barry
Directed by: Michael Rhodes
Episode: S01E14
Stardate: 41636.9

Synopsis: The Enterprise comes across the long-lost freighter Odin, which has been missing since Captain Hazelwood crashed the ship into an asteroid seven years ago. Three escape pods are missing and assumed to be on their way to Tatooine, but since the planet Angel One is closer, Picard decides to look there, first. Besides, it's supposedly run by hot babes who like to snu-snu, so Picard can finally dump that load of hats he's been hauling around since "Justice." And -- Science Fiction Cliche alert! -- it's "similar to mid-twentieth century Earth."

After a chilly initial audio-only contact with Angel One's leader, Mistress Beata, during which no one at all asks why the leader has a dom-sub porn name, Picard sends Riker, Troi, Tasha and Data down to the planet to get permission to look for any survivors. On their way to the transporter room, they run into Wesley and Nameless Extra Kid, who are wrapped up in Jiffy Pop suits and on their way to skiing lessons. On the holodeck's version of the Denubian alps. Now, for all the failings in this episode, here are two things it does right: the holodeck doesn't malfunction, and we don't have to watch Wesley and his friend doing their best Suzie Chapstick impression on the icy slopes of Mount Needaplotpoint (part of the majestic Isthisthebestyoucoulddo range).

Picard tells the away team that Angel One could one day be of strategic importance to the Federation, so they'd better be on their best behavior. Riker says, "Dude, is there any planet in the galaxy that isn't going to be of strategic importance to the Federation one day?" Picard responds, "If you keep asking questions like that, Number One, it's going to be fifteen years before you get your own command. Beam them away, Nameless Transporter Chief."

(S02E15) The few people who commented last week seemed to think that episode was pretty disappointing. Man, I hate to think what you thought this week.

It's not that this episode was a stinker, mind you. We did have some advancement with Kyle's and Jessie's powers, which of course could lead to some pretty cool future episodes. But tonight I felt like I was watching more of an after-school special, which is weird unless you're attending night school.

Rather than have you sit through what basically would amount to a more detailed version of the Early Look post I did about Razor last month, I wanted to at least make sure you all had a forum of sorts to discuss the movie. I will, however, mention a few points worth mentioning again ...

(S04E07) So far in season four we've had Ronon, McKay, and Sheppard episodes, so it was high time Teyla got one of her own. If that wasn't enough, she brought along Keller for some much needed screen time and character development. Of course, if Teyla was just heading home for a bit of the slap and tickle with her beau, it wouldn't make for much of an Atlantis episode. Luckily, for the viewers, it all went to hell and the whole gang got involved by the end.

(Continued from Part One...)

After checking in (and eating my own weight in free press-room pizza), I went down to see what there was worth seeing...

(It should be noted that from this point forward I will only be referring to the actors on The Office by their character names and not their real names. You could make the argument that this is disrespectful, but I think that it's actually a testimony to how good the actors on this show are. Even when you're in the same room as them, you're not thinking, wow, look, I'm standing in the same room as Leslie David Baker, you're thinking: hey look, it's Stanley!)

Sci FI Channel has recently announced that they've ordered a new one-hour dramedy entitled Warehouse 13, described as "part The X-Files, part Raiders of the Lost Ark and part Moonlighting." Word is the show should hit cable/satellite waves next summer. Hm... cable/satellite. Cabelite? I mean, come on, do we really call cable/satellite-only shows as hitting the "air waves" anymore? Sorry, anyway...

Jane Espenson is one of the featured writers for the new show, which no doubt excites the hoards of other Buffy fans out there like myself. And for Farscape fans, Rockne S. O'Bannon is also writing for the series.

ComicMix has an interesting comparison of the Warehouse 13 idea and a "Warehouse 23" from an RPG companion book. If you ask me, Warehouse 13 immediately reminded me of the 1980 movie Hangar 18, though only when I initially incorrectly remembered it as Hangar 13. Oh well.

So, you've been enjoying those "Razorettes" we've been posting here lately, have you? Good. Good. There will be more of those in the coming weeks. And... AND... then, the Battlestar Galactica: Razor movie! Woo!

I've also heard some other potentially good news lately regarding our beloved series. It turns out that, due to the looming writers strike and how it could put a halt to new television for a while, there are reports that NBC may consider airing old episodes of Battlestar Galactica... on NBC!

OK, now for the bad news...

The Battlestar Galactica: Razor Flashback videos keep coming in, though this one's a little late. Like I said, this is where things really get good with these "Razorettes" (as they're being called. Sounds like candy). There's no doubt that Adama was and still is one bad ass mofo. Oh, and if the fight looks over to you at the end of this clip, guess again.

Check out the third video after the jump. You can also go back and check out the rest of the razorettes. Mmm, razorettes.

"You are capable of setting aside your fears, setting aside your hesitation ... and even your revulsion. Every natural inhibition that, during battle, could mean the difference between life and death.

When you can be this -- or as long as you have to be -- then you're a razor." -- Admiral Helena Cain, Battlestar Galactica: Razor

Yes, I was as shocked as the rest of you that, when I got to the TV Squad package drop the other day, one of those magical purple binders was waiting for me, emblazoned with a big white "IF", which could only mean one thing -- SciFi Channel goodness.

Before you continue, I will warn you that some of this is a little spoilery. I don't think it's much, but I'd rather warn you now than incur your wrath later.