What has Sci-Fi got in mind after BattleStar Galactica?

So just what is it that the Sci Fi ummm SyFy channel have in mind since Galactica took the big dive into Sol? Well according to James Hibbert's The Live Feed blog, some pretty interesting stuff.

From the blog:

• ...SyFy has greenlighted a trio of miniseries fantasy projects, including two that will serve as potential series pilots, and two of which are based on well-known classic titles.
• a retelling of "Alice in Wonderland"
• a fresh take on the comic-book hero "The Phantom"
• and "Riverworld," from a series of fantasy books by Philip Jose Farmer

Well that grouping sounds "interesting" if not a bit uneasy.

Alice is from the same person who did Sci Fi's highly rated "Wizard of Oz" revamp "Tin Man - Nick Willing, who will be writting and directing the four hour epic.

Phantom will be aimed at fans who apreciate a super hero without super powers - more in the grounded vein of Iron Man and Batman. "It's not a guy in purple tights," says Sci Fi Channel's executive vp of original programming, Mark Stern.

The one that worries me the most though is one of my all time favorite series - Riverworld by Philip Jose Farmer. For those of you not familiar with the series - Riverworld is bisected by a huge river. Bounding that river is unscaleable mountains. On the banks are all whoever lived on Earth. Everyone has been resurrected on Riverworld, seemingly never die as they are resurrected after death again somewhere else on the river. Everyone is fed by mysterious mushroom shaped edifices along the river which dispenses food daily and there is no hint as to why or how everyone came to be in this world, or what is expected of them.

How SyFy plans to bring Riverworld to light in just 4 hours is beyond me, let along develop a plot. Though some of Farmer's sub plots like Sam Clemens riverboat is an amazing plotline all to itself. Maybe that is where they will start much as Farmer did.

All of these have the potential of being a series....the only one with scale enough would be Riverworld, maybe Phantom, Alice would be my guess for 4 and out. I mean, we know pretty much how that plays out, much as we did with Tin Man... Should be interesting.

Read James Hibbert's article by clicking on the article title.

Review: Chase on SciFi

Imagine a game that combines elements from "the Running Man, The Matrix, Terminator, and elements of "Survivor" or the "Great Race" and you get an inkling of the SciFi channel's Tuesday night offering Chase. Players spend a frenetic hour completing harder and harder tasks all the while avoiding suited, dark glasses, cameras and radio wearing (all very Matrix like). It is clear that the producers put some thoughts into Chase. Plus the frantic rushing about of the players will certainly appeal to fans of this type of program. The editing is certainly good enough to keep the action flowing. (add to that some truely odd cuts like one very self serving and confident player commenting on how brilliant he is playing the game only to be disqualified in the waning moments due to an inability to read the provided map- or the female player brought virtually to tears and begging the stone faced chaser to please shake her hand, when faced with immeninent capture.Very very odd moments ) So all the running about, the high tech maps, the noise and tension, you would think that this would be a sure fire reciept for success. However at the end of the hour, watching the preview for next week, I was far from impressed. I remember thinking, maybe "Who Wants to be a SuperHero" wasn't really so bad afterall. It might be me. I am not that taken with "reality TV" most of what I have seen calling itself "reality" isn't, so maybe I am missing something, but I don't see myself watching next week.

SciFi Channel Picks Up 'Stargate SG-1' Movies

According to MICHAEL HINMAN at the SyFyPortal blog: The two direct-to-DVD movies MGM made over the past couple years based on the "Stargate SG-1" universe are coming to the SciFi Channel beginning this spring. "Stargate: Ark of Truth" as well as "Stargate Continuum" will air on SciFi Channel as Sunday night movie events, and could complement the release of the new series "Stargate: Universe," which may come out in July.

<- more ->

German Sci-Fi channel Star Trek Commercials

Via IO9 Trailers for the German SciFi Channel's Star Trek run. There are several on the site, for more than just the original Star Trek, but I have to tell you this is the one that had me laughing:

huh huh? was I right? There are more, click on the article title for the remainder.

From IO9: This video from the Sci Fi Channel explains why the Stargate creation is best left to the professionals.

I echo their sentiment when they say that this could easily be the funniest video promo[s] I've ever seen. The just barely hanging together, spray paint and the cannon?!!! OMG. Of course the total tongue in cheek thing is sprung on us, but it's done with such good humor that it drew even a bigger belly laugh.

And the really fun addition is that IO9 gives us some real home made films that are wickedly inventive!

Check them out here.

"Weirdness" at Eureka

I was reading over on IO9 about the first half season or so of the Sci-fi channels Eureka which read really good about the addition of a corporate mystery woman and the passing of Nathan Stark.

It's worth a read on many levels. But then the weirdness started rolling in. First off it seems the sheriff's home computer SARAH has a twitter site. This message was posted there recently:
Security sensors have detected an alert concerning a Mary Perkins. If you have information regarding her whereabouts, call 202-640-3864. On the Eureka unscripted site you see this message, which is very similar: Have information on her whereabouts? Call us at 202-640-3864.

The phone number works, seems to be hooked to a "cell phone message". You should record it, because it almost incomprehensible. However if you don't have that capability, you can go to this Eureka discussion group and there is a LINK to the recorded file and more talk. There seems to be some speculation that there might be an Eureka ARG (alternate reality game) in the wind.

It working on generating buzz for the program and I think it is working. To bad Sci-fi didn't put more of this effort onto some of the other equally good offerings.

Stargate: Atlantis' Canceled

Wayne Hall writing in the SyFy Portal blog is reporting something that should not surprise anyone that has been watching the Sci Fi Channel any time at all: At the end of Atlantis' fifth season which ends in January of 2009, it will end it's weekly run. This all takes place after word that the first several episodes of the fifth season have attracted more viewers, doubling the fans between the ages of 18 and 49, according to a new Turner Research analysis of Nielsen Media Research data. There is some speculation about movies and direct to DVD material, but honestly that hardly makes up for what is proving to be a pattern for Sci-fi "if its science fiction, if its popular, cancel it, put in a reality show and more wraslin"

<- more ->

****update*** Mark Wilson's Sci Fi/Fantasy blog puts the final nail in the StarGate universe coffin. Mark reports that Joseph Mallozzi, one of the show-runners for Stargate Atlantis, has confirmed in his blog that the show's currently airing fifth season will be its last.

<- more from Mark Wilson ->

Gemini Division Online Webisodes from NBC/Sci-Fi

Gemini Division is a new online Science Fiction available in bite sized (approximately six minutes) webisodes from the sci-fi channel and NBC. Two are currently available.

Set 5 minutes into the future: Anna witnesses her boyfriend Nick's gruesome murder... Determined to bring the people responsible to justice, Anna discovers Nick was not the man she thought - in fact, he wasn't a man at all. Nick Korda was a "Simulant" - a bio-engineered life form - connected to a global conspiracy involving covert military operations, bizarre genetic experiments... and a mysterious organization known as GEMINI DIVISION.

<- Main page ->

We are kind of split on this. I found the listing on QuasarDragon and Wolfkahn had this to say

• I wasn't too impressed by the series so far . It seems half Blade Runner, half really bad soap opera. However, as an early web SF series, it could pave the way for better low budget SF. It's free and the episodes are short so it is definitely worth a watch. If anybody has an opinion about the show please feel free to comment.

The look and feel, well he might be on to something there, but after seeing some of what others were offering...(earlier listing...) I can clearly see the production values shine here. There really isn't anything new here, maybe the way the show sets itself up with conversations through a video cell phone. Anyway, I am will to say, give it a go.

Robert Picardo talks to IO9 about Atlantis

This article in IO9 does a good job of putting a good light on Stargate Atlantis' newest addition, Robert Picardo. Picardo replaces Amanda Tapping who is going on to play lead in the SF Channel's newest show Sanctuary. In the article, we get to see what changes are in store for Pcardo's character Richard Woolsey as well as his earlier work on Star Trek Voyager as the Doctor. Included are the original videos of the interview as well as the text of the meeting. I think you will find it as informative as I did.

<- more ->

Saturday's on CN ratcheting up aminated SF

Robert Sorcher, cco of the Cartoon Network, told SCI FI Wire that the cable network is expanding it selection of animated science fiction for Saturday evenings. In addition to renewing Ben 10, Star Wars: CloneWars and a new animated Batman series called Batman: The Brave and the Bold is coming from Warner Brothers.

The new Saturday night programming is not yet scheduled, but Sorcher said it will debut sometime after the Star Wars: The Clone Wars movie hits theaters on Aug. 15.

Sf Signal muses that they will leave it up to you whether the new additions to the lineup mean that CN has a better Saturday lineup than Sci-Fi, but if you like your Science fiction with healthy doses of animation and anime - Saturdays will be a slam dunk for the CN.

SciFi.com via SF Signals

RIP Don "General Hammond" Davis

On the list of things that make you just say..."oh crap, that just plain sucks!" is the news of actor Don Davis' passing. For years, Davis was the steadying influence counter-balancing the over the top nuttiness of Richard Dean Anderson. Don Davis' most recognizable character was Stargate SG-1's Major General George Hammond which played for 10 seasons on the Sci-fi channel. The General Hammond character was a part of the cast from 1997 – 2004. Curiously enough, Stargate was not the first time Anderson and Davis worked together. Their first pairing was during Anderson's program McGuiver where Davis played a stunt double. Davis of course was no stranger to the "General" persona that he played so well. He played Major Garland Briggs on the television series Twin Peaks from 1990 to 1991. Davis' last Stargate appearance will be in the DVD movie Stargate: Continuum.

<Davis Wiki> <IO9 article>

Charlie Jade after 2 gets sent to the minors....

Remember when I said that the Sci-Fi channel may be on the road to recovery? New shows coming on line with good time slots, stupid one sucking wind and circling the drain? There was hope remember with the advent of shows like Charlie Jade on Friday nights? Well guess what Friday nights doesn't have anymore....oh yeah.

From IO9: The Sci Fi Channel has decided its airings of the South African/Canadian Charlie Jade have been underperforming in the Friday 8 PM slot, before Doctor Who. So they're moving him to the Monday 3 AM slot instead, where he can safely compete with Golden Girls reruns. Because, of course, the Sci Fi Channel has so much great stuff to air during its precious prime time hours.


Wow, Sci-fi is back on daylight mental time for sure. It was bad enough when they were pasting Ghost-Hunter logos all over the screen during Battle-Star Galactica - now all you hear about is Scare Tactics. Everyone is asking what's wrong with Sci-fi......easy - new shipment of crack.

Richard over at Pop Critics had me gasping with this slice: I’m not going to take this opportunity to bash Ghost Hunters. If you enjoy watching retards chase moths and fluttering leaves, that’s fine by me. I am going to bash the SciFi promotions department for failing to advertise or promote Charlie Jade in any way. How many ads for Charlie Jade do you suppose SciFi showed during episodes of top-rated Ghost Hunters?


<IO9 more> <pop critics>

Review: Charlie Jade - Fridays at 8 on Sci-fi

Oh my, I might find myself in a very uncomfortable position! One that would force me to say that the Sci-fi channel may have done something right.

The Wikipedia describes Charlie Jade as a science fiction television program filmed mainly in Cape Town South Africa. It stars Jeffrey Pierce in the title role, as a detective who finds himself trapped in a parallel universe. The show started in 2004 and was aired on the Canadian Space Channel. It premiered on the Space Channel April 16 2005 (which show us all just how the "original programming" bs line that programming big wigs at the Sci-fi channel tried to force down our collective throats when asked why they would not consider adding Moonlight to the schedule)

Politics aside, I had a chance to check out the premiere of Charlie Jade. The show starts off in a truly Bladerunnerish dystopia right down to a rough edged, worn out detective. Weirdness soon begins when Jade is run over by a train that really isn't there. Jade suffers from "visions" of things that can not or have never exsisted. In the mix we have an evil all powerful corporate entity that would appear hell bent on an experiment that reminded me of the 60s "Time Tunnel" I won't ruin it for those who have not caught the program yet, but it would seem that Jade's visions are more than they seem and in the end Charlie may have been thrown into another parallel universe due to a failed experiment. The program is good enough that I am gong to look for the next installment Friday's at 8 on the Sci-fi channel.

Moonlight Fans Look to Sci Fi

You know I have been raving about how schizophrenic programming is over at the Sci-Fi channel. Seems Mark Wilson of the Sci-Fi/Fantasy blog has many of the same opinions, in a round about kind of way, as he was describing interest the Sci-Fi channel might have in Moonlight. He said:

Die-hard fans of CBS's canceled vampire detective drama, Moonlight, are turning their attention to the Sci Fi Channel, which may be considering the possibility of thinking about maybe picking up the show. Or not.

Ahhhhh classic! Sci-Fi has take vacillation to an artform level. But in this strangeness lies a core of truth. Harry Werksman, who is one of the show's writers and executive producers, told Moonlight fans recently that "talks" are under way for season 2, and that if the show were picked up by Sci Fi. But other than that - there is little else to lift from the article.

UPDATE: Mark Wilson now states on his blog that SCI-FI is more interesting in original programming (what a crock - can you say Flash? I knew that you could ... pac ) and will give Moonlight a pass. As Mark reports, Sci-Fi reps said "We do get a lot of requests to pick up canceled genre shows such as Surface, Jericho, The 4400, etc.," "However, we remain focused on our own slate of new original programs in various stages of production and development." As Mark also points out: It's worth remembering that Sci Fi has the Stargate franchise because it picked it up from Showtime. Sci Fi also picked up Mystery Science Theater 3000 and Sliders for new original episodes. So, there you go ... I don't even have to make things up, Sci-Fi continues to step on their own collective d..ks

"What if?" the Sci-Fi Channel became mundane?

Nelson sends in an article from nytimes.com that waffles a bit on the present leadership and the programming of the Sci-Fi network. TIM ARANGO might not go so far as to call the present person at Sci-fi's helm schizophrenic, but does go a long way towards admitting that Sci-fi's Dave Howe may have something less than a clear idea of what science fiction really is. Scii-Fi is now in the hands of Dave Howe, who was promoted to president of Sci Fi from general manager in January. To give you an idea of where he wants to take the network, he has been quoted saying, “It’s not just aliens, spaceships and the future,” “It’s about asking that simple question, ‘What if?’ ”

OMG What if? no....its more of WTF! Where does wrasslin come in according to that scenario?
It's clear that they are trying very hard to expand their market by taloring the product to women. In marketing materials for “Battlestar Galactica,” for example, there are no spaceships, and the story lines try to create more of a balance between action and emotion. Which if you look at that trend, you see that very well may be what happend to BSG in the second season. They may have gained a market share in gender but managed to confuse and alienate fans from the first season.

This quote pretty much sums up my feelings on the present course for the Sci-fi channel: “Generally speaking, the feeling within the science fiction community is that a lot of the shows on the Sci Fi Channel are watered-down versions of the real thing,” said Michael Capobianco, the president of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America.

Thank you Michael...wonder if they will listen...

click title for complete NYT article.



photo by Chester Higgins Jr./The New York Times

Stargate: Continuum Trailer

Some trailers are just ho hum....and them some, like the Iron Man trailer really get your interest.
So, I present, the Stargate Continuum trailer for the DVD movie that will released on July 29th. Being a fan of Stargate and the Atlantis spin-off, I am looking forward to this release and the trailer confirms that fans will not be disappointed.

First Impressions: The Sarah Jane Adventures

Reviews over on SFsignal.com blog put up a really decent review of the Sci-Fi channel's Dr.Who spin-off. I did get a chance to catch the first episode and have to agree with the sentiments of the reviewer. Nothing challenging here for adult viewers, however children might find the fare much more to their liking than some of the other offering on Sci-fi. And in my own opinion, given the choice to watch Sarah Jane or Flash? No contest! So I am not going to duplicate efforts here. I think Sfsignal has it pretty well down. click here for their review.

Stargate Universe Revealed!

Gateworld via Sciframa are breaking the news concerning Sci-Fi's newest Star Gate franchise called Stargate Universe.

“The idea of Stargate Universe is that it is set on a ship that was part of an Ancient experiment that was set in motion probably millions of years ago — one that they never saw to fruition, but that we can,” Wright told GateWorld exclusively. “They got busy with the whole ascension thing.”

The first obstacle that Universe ran into was the writer's strike...next was expense...universe is going to be one of the more expensive shows for the Sci-fi Channel. Finally the writing team of Brand Wright and Robert Cooper are still quite busy and word has it that they don't relish returning to the schedule that requires them to produce 40 hours of television each year, indicating that Stargate Atlantis could share a fate of SG-1. Then again, it could also mean Stargate Universe will be put on hold until Atlantis concludes its run.

Tapping leaves Atlantis for Santuary!

Mike over at SyFy Portal floored me with this one. Amanda Tapping late of SG-1, with one season of Stargate Atlantis tucked away...is moving on. WTF?! The reports have it as "nothing personal" but I would suggest that might be a point of reference. The one good thing about this is that she'll be replaced by former "Star Trek: Voyager" actor Robert Picardo - though I can't say that I enjoy Picardo's character so much the few times I have seen it on SG. I did like him on Voyager. He added depth and pathos to a part that could have been done woodenly and gotten away with. What is being pointed out about Picardo's character, the recurring character of Richard Woolsey, is the very thing that I am put off by. Self serving, aprasive and political. I am really going to find it difficult to watch a show that spends more time with infighting than gate jumpin. Tapping's departure I would speculate has something to do with the Sci-Fi channel picking up the internet based series that she stars in called Santuary. Reports have the show already in production and Tapping may feel that her character in Santuary a bit more fun than her SG persona which has grown a bit long in the tooth. Santuary for those of you that might be living in caves....centers around Dr. Helen Magnus, an immortal protector of aliens in a series that began as a computer-generated world first found on the Internet. SciFi Channel, impressed with the work, greenlighted a series pickup and gave the show a 13-episode commitment as a fall series. The series will be the first television show to use completely virtual sets thanks to green- screen technologies.

SciFi Channel Cancels 'Flash Gordon'

SyFy Portal reports that the SciFi Channel has summarily canceled Flash Gordon. What kinda blows my mind is that Mike seemed to be troubled by the manner in which we had to find out. I guess "fans" got wind of the cancellation by a side comment made by one of the SciFi channels exes to that effect. You know, I have to say that anyone that is suprised by how the SciFi channel does business these days is a bit deluded. I have come to the conclusion that the SciFi Channel for some obsure reason is afraid to excell. That is the only explaination that fits with scheduling that would require us to watch wraslin and Flash Gordon....and now no more Flash.... I had hopes when they upped Anime to two nights....you see how long that lasted. I would hang my head if I were the flagship of telivised science fiction and I was eclipsed by Saturday night on the Cartoon Network. Get a Clue Sci Fi!