ABC Orders Nine More S.H.I.E.L.D.s

Sci. Fi. Storm is reporting that:

• ABC has given a back nine order for Marvel’s Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D., bringing the series up to a full season of 22 episodes. The show has been the best drama so far this year in the 18-49 demographic, and it was the highest rated debut in nearly four years.

From the Wiki article:

• created for ABC by Joss Whedon, Jed Whedon and Maurissa Tancharoen, based on the Marvel Comics organization S.H.I.E.L.D. The series ... is set in the Marvel Universe, sharing continuity with the films in that franchise.

Warehouse 13 Gets a Half-Heated Renewal

Fans of Warehouse 13 that have been holding their collective breaths wondering if the show would garner enough support for a renewal can rest, well, easier.  I have good news and bad news.  The good is this quirky sci-fi offering has netted a renews, but in the most back handed way possible....only six episodes.  Yep you read that correctly.  The fifth season of Warehouse only garnered six new episodes, and that is the bad.  

This is what Mark Wilson of About wrote after finding this choice piece of crap.

• Syfy honcho Mark Stern nonetheless had the chutzpah to praise the show and its special place in Syfy's heart.

No Mr Stern, I think you mean another orifice presently blocked by another part of your anatomy.....

Here by the way is a link to Mark's article HERE

Lost Girl Good For Season Four

Fans of the fantasy series Lost Girl rejoice!  Mark Wilson over at About.com writes that SyFy has renewed the series for a fourth season.  Production should resume in April 2013 but don't look for the new episodes until 2014. 

Thirteen episodes have been ordered so we can look for a complete season.   No word on what we can expect plot-wise, however executive producer Jay Firestone assures us a roller-coaster ride.  Main character "Bo" alliances will be challenged and everything she thought she knew about her past will be turned upside down.

Fringe, We Gona Mis Ya

Again for those that might have lived in a cavern over the past several years, I am writing about Fox's sf series Fringe. Staring Anna Torv as Olivia Dunham, Joshua Jackson as Peter Bishop, John Noble as Dr. Walter Bishop and a cast that enjoyed many recurring as well as regular appearing characters.  Check out the wikipedia here. 

Fringe is a secret government project that investigates very odd and strange occurrences  that don't make any sense.  This in itself is a twisted plot device.  At first they are attacks from possibly a parallel dimension, but there are other things going on that point to very strange individuals, from someplace even stranger!

What it comes down to is that in it's run, Fringe is and was a very smart program.  Even when there were occurrences the science seemed so plausible  even if it does fall under the general field covered by as Rucker calls bogocity generators (I just LOVE that term!)  

Now a lot of shows did what Fringe did....but no where  did they dare do it all at the same time.  Not that Fringe didn't have plot arcs, because it did, but they were like Russian nesting dolls, one inside another.  

Yes, it was a very smart program and one that I put off ending as long as I could.  For those of you that would like to catch up on fringe you can find it on Hulu and Fox.  If you haven't seen the last season or the last few programs, you own it to yourself.

SyFy Kills More Original SF - More Wraslin To Follow

Michael Hinman over at Airlock Alpha is reporting that after two seasons, "SyFy, according to a network source,  has decided not to renew 'Alphas' for a third season," 

The statement goes on to load on the BS about how proud SyFy was to carry the program and thanked the fans for their support.  (why does that statement make me feel like I just performed a particularly vile and disgusting sexual act?) 

Oh and hey fans of the show, don't be looking for any clean up of plot lose ends, SyFy is really cutting Alphas off at the knees.  

I really don't know how to comment on this.  Am I surprised?  No, not really, the network has a really well developed track record when it comes to science fiction, yep, they like wrasslin.   But I would not put it past them to showcase the newest southern phenom. mudcat hand noodlin.  Mark my word...    

Airlock Alpha article

Fringe Ends Run in January of 2013

According to Mark over at About sci-fi / fantasy, Fringe will end its run in January of 2013.  Fox has set the Fringe series finale: to Friday, Jan. 18, and it'll be a two-hour windup.  

However we know that not everything on Fringe is what it seems and that plays true with the final episode.  The double episode will in truth be the twelfth and thirteenth of the season. It will actually be the last two-thirds of a three-part story arc that starts on Jan. 11.  And as you can guess no new shows during the holiday  season.  

I am sorry, but the rest of the article reads like an obit and that just depresses the crap out of me.  You can read it all HERE

Guess Who's Coming for Dinner

Mark Wilson writing in About SF reports that the SF channel's Lost Girl has been renewed for a third season!  Yaaaaaaaaaaae!

And even better news is that Linda Hamilton of Terminator and Chuck fame will be, as Mark puts it, guesting as Acacia, a ruthless assassin.  So far Acacia is slated for just one episode.  (please let there be more!)

I know, not much to report, but as a Lost Girl fan and also always happy to know that Linda "Sarah Connor" Hamilton is still going strong, was a double payday for me. 

So look for her in an upcoming episode of Lost Girl on SyFy.

COMMENT: Goodbye Eureka

Wow, last episode. I am going to leave the "how

disapointing" or "how disappointed I am with SyFy" and just for a few minutes ponder the loss of another great show. Eureka was always a quaint proposition in the first place. They took their science from the Star Trek school of physics most of the time and often the show was blatant morality plays. But if you were a fan, you were a FAN. The people were easy enough to identify, if you didn't get it right off, our everyman Carter was there to "this is what I do...." But they managed to go out in style, yes a tear jerker at times, I know, but the closed loop at the end?!!! I am SOOOOO loving that.

So not so much as losing a close friend, the feeling for Eureka at the risk of being anthropomorphic, was having that close friend move away.

The sting will fade as it has before with better, far better shows, but if you have enjoyed the years, then you know the characters you have come to enjoy aren't there. TV Science Fiction is plainer for it.

Good bye Eureka

Oh and thanks to Kallamis for the graphic find!  Sweet!

ST:TNG Gets HD Makeover

Topless Robot reports that ST:TNG is getting a high definition remastering for its next release. Later this year ST:TNG will be available in outrageous color and HD. Before all you Trekkers'start foaming at the mouth with the prospect of waiting months for the release, CBS Home Entertainment plans on whetting you appetites, on Jan. 31 they plan releasing three episodes — "Encounter at Farpoint," season 3's "Sins of the Father," and season 5's "The Inner Light" — in Star Trek: The Next Generation – The Next Level on Blu-ray.

You got to see the difference, so here is a side by side example of just how stunning the re-edit really is. Check this video out.

click this link for a demo on youtube of the difference!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eyzc8d3c7_8

Pioneer One tv Series still alive and well.

Back in August of 2010 I reported on this odd little series, a bit more than webisodes but not quite network tv called Pioneer One It had one episode out and, curiously was asking those that liked the show, to help fund it.

The first episode centered around a strange "satellite" that crashes into Edmundton CA. Instead of a satellite however is is a Soviet era space craft containing the lone survivor of a lost Soviet mission to Mars.

The first episode was dark, mysterious and full of political tension. Good stuff, but I didn't hear any more about it.

Well it would seem that Pioneer One is going strong with five episodes ready for viewing and the sixth in production!

So if you like your sci fi dark with lots of tension....check out the Pioneer One website here
Plus if you caught the first one but lost track as I did, you will like how the show is progressing!

Last Gasp and Those That Have Breathed Their Last...

Mark Wilson, from his About.com sci-fi & fantasy blog, gives us the run down of shows that get a small reprieve from the bone yard and shows that they are already shoveling dirt onto as we speak.

Chuck: It would seem NBC has renewed 'Chuck' for a 13-episode, in their words, fifth and final season. I know I will miss this one. The quirky plot-line and even qwirkier supporting characters. Plus we know that NBC has opted out of the Wonder Woman series.

V, No Ordinary Family and The Event have had no such luck with 11th hour reprieves. V barely made it out of the blocks and No Ordinary Family in my opinion shot itself in the foot. I liked the show and after the first couple of episodes it became torturous to see the show self destruct. It might have been No Ordinary Family but it was all to ordinary plot lines. Should she tell, will he tell, damn I never could tell and how could you not tell.....after half a dozen episodes of this and I was damn glad I keep the gun and ammo in different places. - cause it was either me or the tv and I like that tv.......

No Ordinary Family may be on the very ordinary chopping block!

Airlock Alpha is reporting that the cast of No Ordinary family has already started to abandon ship, giving every indication that the show is heading for the chopping block. Julie Benz, who plays the mom Stephanie Powell has already signed on with another project and co-star Michael Chiklis has also signed on for a new CBS comedy. Both have played in trailers for their respective projects. ABC has not made a statement regarding the status of the program yet however.

Airlock Alpha article

The Cape Has Been Cleaned, Folded and Put Away...

Anyone out there watching "The Cape"? The plot is well worn and contrived but in a nut-shell, a cop is accused of committing heinous crimes. To clear his name he must make everyone believe that he is dead, even his wife and his young son. To clear his name he takes on the persona of a comic book character that his son adores called "The Cape", a mysterious masked and hooded vigilante.

NBC has been hosting the series staring David Lyons, Keith David, Summer Glau among others was scheduled for 13 episodes but rather quickly, NBC, reduced the order to 10 and then outright canceled the series. In an odd twist, NBC will not even air the final episode will only be available as an online exclusive.

The weirdest thing to come out of this latest cancellation are fans speculating that Summer Glau has a curse on her! lol I am serious! Glau fans unhappily point out that every show she has been a part of has been canceled! OH MY! lmao!

Read complete Airlock Alpha article

Syfy to Host Sarah Connor Reruns

According to Mark at Mark's SF & Fantasy Blog on About:

• Syfy will start airing (The Sarah Connor Chronicles) on April 7; after the two-hour premiere, they'll air four episodes a week on Thursdays starting at 7 p.m.

SyFy will play all of the series 31 episodes starring Lena Headey, Thomas Dekker, and Summer Glau...

Firefly back on TV

From an article in IO9 I read where the still very popular Science fiction series Firefly will once again grace the "small" screen.

The Science channel has purchased the rights to the series and will begin showing episodes March 6th at 8pm. The episodes then will be shown in proper sequence that was intended, each Sunday there after. The Science Channel is adding HD to the mix to spice things up a bit.

SYFY cancels SGU?! OH COME ON!

After SYFY yanked Caprica, I guess we shouldn't be surprised at any idiocy that comes out of corporate, but pulling the last of the Star Gate franchise, Stargate Universe seems almost like programming has had a break with reality!

For SGU fans:

• According to Deadline, the remaining episodes in the show's second season will air in the spring

The 'Stargate' franchise has been on TV since 1997 but SGU lasted only 2 seasons starting in 2009.

Take heart though....I hear that there is a news smack down cummin fo da wrasslin fanns .... now where did I hide that razor....?

Complete TV Squad article

Review: Dead Like Me: Life After Death

Dead Like Me: Life After Death
tv show credits

Created by Bryan Fuller

Starring Ellen Muth - Laura Harris - Callum Blue - Jasmine Guy - Cynthia Stevenson - Mandy Patinkin

Narrated by Ellen Muth

movie show credits

Directed by Stephen Herek

Written by John Masius & Stephen Godchaux

Starring Ellen Muth - Callum Blue - Sarah Wynter - Jasmine Guy - Britt McKillip - Christine Willes - Cynthia Stevenson - Henry Ian Cusick

Release date(s) February 17, 2009 Running time 87 minutes

In keeping with the season I thought I would step outside the genre a bit and review a macabre comedy tv series and it's follow on movie Dead Like Me

I really didn't take a great deal of interest in the TV run of Dead Like Me. It originally showed on Showtime and since I did not have reliable access I didn't really get into Dead Like Me until it hit Hulu. by then I caught both seasons.

If you are not familiar with DLM, you should let me give you a 2 cent tour. It seems that death is handled by two classes of beings. Reapers which once were living people but now they are tasked with collecting the soul of the about to be departed. The actual death however is arranged by strange almost reptilian beings called gravelings. The main character is Georgia Lass (Ellen Muth) who in life was killed by a toilet seat falling from a defunct orbiting habitat. Her soul is collected by Rube (played by Mandy Patinkin) to join a group of other "Reapers" ( Callum Blue, Jasmine Guy and late comer Laura Harris) who are dispatched daily by Rube to "Reap" the newly departed's souls.

Even though the subject matter is somewhat macabre it is often handled in an offhand comedic fashion that soon grows on you. Patinkin is always good in whatever project he is involved with and you soon find that for the most part the rest of the odd characters become familiar and endearing.

Ellen Muth also does the narration which often added insight into no only what Georgia was all about but often encapsulated the show in a short closing monologue.

After watching two seasons worth of episodes, I was excited to see that a movie had been made of the show, but better yet it picks up where the show left off because you are at this point more than slightly disappointed that the show, even though they did their best to leave the show at the end of season two without too many loose ends, it was still great to be able to step back into the world of the Reapers.

And that is all you can really say about the straight to DVD - if you liked the show and want more....get the movie. Patinkin is no longer at the helm and that is left hanging (maybe hoping for another movie mayhaps?) and the crew is joined by Cusick who seems to be dealing from the bottom of the deck and all points in between. One big surprise is returning cast member Britt McKillip. Britt played Reggie in the tv series but in the intervening time she has grown from a petulant preteen into a beautiful young woman and honed her acting to a fine point. The change was so dramatic that had trouble at first believing that it was the same person. But she falls back into her "Reggie" persona quite easily and you never doubt for a second after that. The character Daisy was retained by was filled by Sarah Wynter which in my mind never really carried it off no matter what people say about how good an actress she is. That's all good and fine, she just didn't "Get" Daisy Adair.

But that wobble aside, the DVD was very enjoyable. I really liked the directors comments on the film. (I will often go right back and watch the same movie with the director's comments on so I can to get a feel for what the director intended) Director Stephen Herek was joined by Ellen Muth and their off the cuff repartee was funny and informative. There is another short extra on how the returning actors feel about rejoining the show. But other than that, the extras really are non existent.

The DVD is just a long tv episode, but if you liked the tv show (watch it on HULU first if you haven't yet) you will love the dvd. For just hitting the mark and enjoyment and discounting that there really isn't anything in special effects that wasn't in the show originally...I would say this is an 8 if you liked the show and don't bother because you will get lost if you didn't see Dead Like Me on tv or HULU first)

Comment: Is Warehouse 13 a Friday the 13th Reboot?

How many of you are watching SyFy's Warehouse 13? Well the first piece of good news is that it will be back again for another season. If you are a fan, like I am, that is indeed good news.

However I did come across a strange co-incidence (hopefully it's just a co-incidence) Last night as I was watching some of SyFy's older programming. Let me set the stage first though. I thought the plot devices that Warehouse 13 was using were inventive and unique. I mean, finding items from history that have developed or were created for the specific purpose strange and often dangerous powers that often lead whoever is using them to outright ruin.

As unique as I thought Warehouse 13 was, I was floored by a program that could have been Warehouse 13 in an earlier incarnation! Let me describe this show before naming it. The series was based around this "shop" which had much more storage space than is apparent. A group of dissimilar people working at this shop are tasked with identifying and recovering objects that have strange and often dangerous powers. These objects often were owned by infamous or downright evil entities throughout history. Sounds almost exactly like Warehouse 13 does it not? The show in fact was Friday the 13th (13...hummmmm wiki says that it's working title was The 14th Hour but they changed it to draw in Friday the 13th fans) the series. I used to watch it often, but just never made the connection, but seeing the two almost back to back, the similarities are it would appear, uncanny!

It's almost like they did a reboot of FT13th but instead of a curiosity shop that could almost be a warehouse, why not just Warehouse ummm 13. They are way to much alike for it to be a simple similar Warehouse.

If you get a chance to see them back to back, check it out! Am I right or what?

SY FY reups Haven for second season

Blastr reports that the SyFy channel has given it's rookie show Haven a second season. SyFy's independent production studio Entertainment One (eOne), has said that the 13-episode season will commence production in Spring 2011 with a possible Summer 2011 premiere.

complete Blastr article

Review: No Ordinary Family pilot

I just got a chance to watch the pilot of ABC's new show No Ordinary Family staring of all people Michael Chiklis of The Shield and Julie Benz.

The premise is the average American family of four, so dysfunctional its difficult to see where the family really starts and stops. Two disconnected adults and two self adsorbed teens. The mother is an over achieving research scientist, the dad is a failed artist now police sketch artist, the teens, a boy failing in school and a girl failing in relationships.

The dad in an effort to reconnect the family takes everyone on a junket to Brazil where their plane crashes in a jungle river. That's when the weirdness starts. We basically have a Fantastic Four & X-Men mash-up. I won't bore with the details, you've seen all the powers before, nothing nrew here...could have and shout have winds up to be isn't and ain't happening.

But the series has some potential. It's not over the top or campy...but then neither was the tv version of the Hulk. I will give it a watch and with only one show to base it on... a reserved thumbs up. Series premieres Tuesday September 28 8|7c

No Ordinary Family abc page