Category: tv

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It’s Friday! Let’s Boogie!!

In honor of our Slacker Friday the 13th here at Club Jade, I give you some sci-fi-related time wasters:

Alrighty.  Thanks for playing.  Dunc will probably wake up soon.  And we expect James out of quarantine sometime in the next week or so.  (Or maybe he’s just trying to marathon Star Trek?)

In the meantime, go and play on our open post.  Let us know what you’re up to on this wacky day of days.  And go support sci-fi tonight.  There are plenty of offerings on tap.

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Cancellation demon finally catches up to Dollhouse

"Thank you all for your support, your patience, your excellent adverts. See you again"The Hollywood Reporter broke the news, and Entertainment Weekly confirmed… Dollhouse has been cancelled by Fox. The network will air the remaining episodes in December. Here’s Joss Whedon’s statement on Whedonesque:

I don’t have a lot to say. I’m extremely proud of the people I’ve worked with: my star, my staff, my cast, my crew. I feel the show is getting better pretty much every week, and I think you’ll agree in the coming months. I’m grateful that we got to put it on, and then come back and put it on again.

I’m off to pursue internet ventures/binge drinking. Possibly that relaxation thing I’ve read so much about. By the time the last episode airs, you’ll know what my next project is. But for now there’s a lot of work still to be done, and disappointment to bear.

Thank you all for your support, your patience, your excellent adverts. See you again. -j.

Whedonesque is arranging a thank you to the cast and crew.

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Gate Geek – This n’ That

Tonight’s episode of Stargate Universe is Earth.  The cast are all a-Twitter about it; calling it one of their favorite episodes to shoot.  Joe Mallozzi says that Telford finally plays his hand.  (I am highly suspect of that character.)

In related news, another interview with actor David Blue who is doing his first con ever this weekend.  Be kind to him, UK!  (I always hear good things about Chevron, though.  I bet he’ll have a great time.)

By the way, have you been watching the Kino segments on the official site?  Intriguing stuff.

And finally, the lovely, charming and much-beloved Amanda Tapping has started a new charity drive called Sanctuary for Kids.  (Get it?  She stars in Sanctuary.  Sanctuary for kids?)  And to kick it off, there’s a really cool auction (just in time for your holiday gift-giving).

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The Clone Wars returns early next week – on Wednesday!

The next episode of Star Wars: The Clone Wars is coming two days early next week! ‘Landing at Point Rain’ will be airing on Wednesday, November 4 at 8 PM, according to Leland Chee’s twitter feed and TheForce.net. Dave Filoni gave the Today show several online interview pieces, some of which tie into the episode:

Meanwhile, Newsarama takes a look at the stealthy revival in Star Wars, thanks to The Clone Wars helping to give the prequel era the feel of the original trilogy, and looks at the push and pull between Dave Filoni and George Lucas. Meanwhile, Hollywood Outbreak asks Lucas why behind The Clone Wars?

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Gate Geek – Scandal Rocks the Franchise

Whether or not you watch Stargate, you’ve probably heard that Stargate Universe is a very different entry for the franchise.  This has been met with both extensive praise and much gnashing of teeth. 

WB didn’t do terribly much to help their cause when they insulted the existing fans with their press release announcing a new demographic was being targeted.  Oh.  And did we mention this came out the day after they cancelled Stargate Atlantis?  This started a wave of angst at levels not previously seen in the franchise.  (And fans are capable of some great levels of angst.)  One can assume (or at least hope) this was not intended as an insult, but that’s how it was received.

The cast and crew have done quite a bit to reach out to the fans with a whole-sale assault on Twitter and Facebook.  But unfortunately, the segment of fandom who can’t seem to phrase an opinion without a personal attack have gone after these folks in a major way; forcing one of the main actors (Brian J. Smith) to decide he’s stepping away from an online presence.  (Definitely for the hiatus.  Possibly longer.)

Producer Joe Mallozzi, who has long allowed people to express a certain level of these opinions on his blog, has spoken out about this.  He stands up for his cast and crew (and their families) and reminds people that you don’t have to like a show, but you don’t personally attack the Stargate family.

To that I say “Bravo.”  Enjoying the anonymity of being online is no excuse for not behaving with civility.

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Battlestar Galactica: The Plan comes together… or falls apart…

Yesterday marked the release of the direct-to-DVD Battlestar Galactica: The Plan, directed by Edward James Olmos. Remember when the Cylons had a plan? Now you can see the events of BSG (especially seasons one and two), from the Cylon point of view. Here’s what the reviewers are saying:

  • Wired says not to put too much hope in this mediocre coda, which would more aptly be titled A Tale of Two Cavils.
  • Geeks of Doom loves the inner struggles among the Cylons, but feels that the flow is a bit off. However, they totally agree with Olmos’ proclamation that after seeing “The Plan”, you’ll want to re-watch BSG again to see how it all fits in. They also have a giveaway contest for “The Plan” DVDs.
  • Ellen Gray at philly.com likes when the Cylons try to be human… but wishes there was more of that.
  • Alan Sepinwall of the NJ Star-Ledger likes Dean Stockwell’s and Grace Park’s performances, but overall says, “As one small bit of bonus material tied to a classic series, it’s fun, but it doesn’t really stand on its own.”
  • FilmThreat calls it “a mess” that ends up with epic fail, but also closure for Boxy.
  • The Salt Lake Tribune gives it a brief C+, saying that diehard fans will enjoy it, and that’s about it.

Hyping “The Plan”, PopStar gets a few questions with Dean Stockwell about playing against himself and his views on a Quantum Leap reunion. UGO has a contest where you can win dinner with Admiral Adama, Edward James Olmos.

Overall, most reviews feel like “The Plan” is more like a series of deleted scenes than a coherent story.

Battlestar Galactica: The Plan is released today on DVD and Blu-Ray. Several reviewers note that it is unrated and contains sex and nudity, which will most likely be cut for the Syfy broadcast of it next year.

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Gate Geek – Let there be Light

Stargate Universe is back tonight with the episode “Light.”  (As opposed to last week’s episode, “Darkness.”  Seeing a pattern?) 

Ratings were down 14%, but it was considered to be okay as it was in competition with baseball and a new horror film.  We’ll see if they’ll still be happy if the ratings are that way this week; although I think there’s more baseball.  Still, November will be critical as Dollhouse will be off the air.  I think they’ll be expected to gather some eyes from that audience.

At any rate, one of the more interesting parts of SGU are the Kino diaries.  The Official Site is now starting to post them.

In other Stargate news, Atlantis won two Gemini Awards.  One for makeup in the episode “Vegas,” and the other for writing in “The Shrine.”  (One of my favorite episodes ever.)  SG1 alum Amanda Tapping’s series Sanctuary won for VFX.

And finally, as reported on our Twitter feed, Jason Momoa will be in HBO’s Game of Thrones series.  (Women everywhere rejoice.  Nude scene!)

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Gate Geek – Someone gets SGU!

Well, judging by the ratings, Stargate Universe is off to a fine start.  However, there are some folks still not decided on whether or not they want to start watching a Stargate show.

Alasdair Stuart does one of the most interesting character analyses I’ve seen yet on the show.  I suspect this might convince some of you to start watching.

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Genre TV – Where things stand

It’s a cut-throat world out there in TV, these days.  So even though we’re only in the first few episodes for most of scripted TV’s fall season, we already need to be watching the numbers.

So how is genre TV faring this year?  I crawled through TVbytheNumbers to see what I could piece together.

  • Eastwick – Not lookin’ too healthy right now,  but still holding on.
  • FlashForward – A fairly solid hit, as long as they keep everyone interested in the story.  (Although, can this show go beyond one season without getting annoying?)
  • Ghost Whisperer – Still doesn’t pull in big numbers, but they’re loyal numbers.  So if they want to keep going, it’s looking good they will.
  • Big Bang Theory – The network’s ratings winner amongst scripted shows.  They will be hanging around in all their geeky glory.
  • Vampire Diaries – Proof that the vampire phenomenon still reigns supreme, even if they don’t sparkle.  This is the highest rated scripted show for the CW.
  • Supernatural – Still huge.  Not going anywhere.
  • Smallville – Wow.  Still going strong.  (How far are they going to take this show, anyway?)  It’s the most-DVR’d show, as well, so folks are still interested, if not primarily loyal.
  • Heroes – Still way down from their series high.  But this website still thinks they’re strong enough for a renewal.  (Of course, it’s not as if NBC has much to offer, anyway, right now.)
  • Sanctuary and Stargate Universe have made SyFy the #3 cable network.  I suspect that means they’ll be hanging around.
  • Dollhouse – Much beloved by those by DVRs.  Per this website, it’s looking like Fox will cling to those happy numbers and keep the show.  But they’ll have to continue getting some live eyes to really solidify this.
  • Fringe – It’s hanging on the edge.  If it can start to inch back up, it could have a chance.

Hopefully the networks will continue to think that genre TV is worth pursuing.  It could be a very different landscape come next fall.