Category: tv

Posted on

G4 cancels Attack of the Show, internet shrugs

While I can’t I was ever much impressed with Attack of the Show after the horrific, embarrassing mess Kevin Pereira and Olivia Munn made of the SDCC Star Wars Spectacular back in 2009, but the news that G4 is canceling the show has made some minor waves in geekdom. Gaming program X-Play is also getting the axe as G4 looks to move into “a more upscale, sophisticated guy TV space.” Uh-huh.

Between them, the two shows helped defined the G4 network as one of the few places on TV regularly highlighting ‘mainstream’ geekdom. However, as The Mary Sue’s Jill Pantozzi points out, that void is already being filled online by people like Felicia Day and Chris Hardwick. Perhaps we’re all better served that way.

Posted on

TV report: CW aims Arrow for a full season

Oliver Queen fans, take note: The CW has picked up Arrow for a full season of 22 episodes. The show’s premiere was the network’s most-watched show in three years, and the best premiere since Vampire Diaries in 2009. The CW also picked up three more episodes of their Beauty and the Beast remake, which stars Smallville alum Kristin Kreuk.

Moving onto less basic broadcast news, Neil Gaiman confirmed on Tumblr that the new Doctor Who episode he wrote (announced at the Hugos, where he won for ‘The Doctor’s Wife,’) will be the 12th of the current season.

And finally, it’s hard to read a genre news site and not trip over news and pictures from Game of Thrones as they shoot S3, but if you’ve somehow managed to miss them, try Winter is Coming. As always, possible spoilers!

What genre shows have you been watching this year?

Posted on

Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back of fan bases?

Or is it Attack of the Clones? Well, I suppose that depends on your certain point of view…

Earlier this week, Vulture posted a massive list of what they’re calling the most influential fan bases, and Star Wars came in number 2 – pretty good, all things considered. Occupying the #1 spot is Game of Thrones, which I can’t really be all that bitter about seeing as they’re peaking right now. (And, well, I’m a fan, if not technically in the fandom.)

It’s an interesting series, but one major qualm with the Star Wars listing: Warsies? Dude, no one with an actual clue uses that term. It’s not even a Trekker/Trekkie situation: No one uses it.

The Harry Potter, Doctor Who, Star Trek, Joss Whedon and Lord of the Rings fandoms also made the list. It’s all part of a week-long series, which also covers things like naming your fandom (don’t,) psychology and the crazy shit fans buy.

They’ve also profiled several influential fans, including the Leaky Cauldron’s Melissa Anelli, The One Ring’s Erica Challis and TFN’s Dustin Roberts.

Posted on

46 years of boldly going: Happy Birthday, Star Trek!

Star Trek is 46 today: ‘The Man Trap,’ debuted September 8, 1966 on NBC. We here at CJ have a lot of love for Trek – in fact, being raised by casual sci-fi fans, I hazard to say it was more a part of my childhood than Star Wars was, by virtue of actually being on TV.

Google celebrated the series by debuting an interactive Google Doodle yesterday. Tor.com has an interesting look back at turning points in the franchise’s history, while Hero Complex talks to Michael Dorn about The Next Generation, which turns 25 this month. And, from earlier in the week, io9 has 8 ways judges have cited Trek from the bench.

Looking forward, Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto have been dropping hints about the franchise’s next installment, the still-untitled (or is it?) sequel to 2009’s Star Trek.

What’s your favorite Trek memory or moment? I remain partial to the one with the whales, myself.

Posted on

Doctor Who is back this Saturday!

Don’t forget that the new series of Doctor Who starts up this Saturday with “Asylum of the Daleks”. The Doctor, Amy and Rory are back, and this time they’re headed to a place that even regular Daleks fear. For those in the US, Doctor Who starts up on BBC America on Saturday at 9pm/8c. Helping get us back into the timey-wimey mood, BBC has been posting a series of fun shorts, called Pond Life, focusing on Mr. and Mrs. Pond since we last saw them.

  • Pond Life – Part 1 – Voice mail from the Doctor
  • Pond Life – Part 2 – A late night visitor
  • Pond Life – Part 3 – A new houseguest
  • Pond Life – Part 4 – Living with the houseguest
  • Pond Life – Part 5 – Things take a turn

What does writer and producer Stephen Moffat have to say about writing his first Dalek episode? RadioTimes has his episode guide.

Also celebrating the start of series 7, Nerdist Channel has a few programs related for their Doctor Who-eekend: For wacky fun, the Doctor Who cast and crew takes on Chris Hardwick, Wil Wheaton and more in Chris Hardwick’s All Star Celebrity Bowling on Friday (preview here – “Bowling is cool”). On Saturday, check out the Doctor Who Premiere Q&A at 10pm/9c, with Chris Hardwick talking with Matt Smith, Karen Gillan and Executive Producer Caroline Skinner after the premiere.

EDIT: BBC America just put up a new Her Universe Doctor Who shirt for sale, combining the logo and the Amy Pond introduction. Go check it out / buy it!

Posted on

Stargate Best-Lock toys imminent

Club Jader Michelle gives a heads up about incoming toys for the Stargate franchise.

First spotted on the Sears Canadian website, GateWorld has confirmed with the company, Best-Lock, that they will be releasing four sets to Canada and the US late fall 2012, just in time for your holiday wish list.

Compatible with Lego brand toys, these sets will allow you to build scenes from Abydos and pretty much any other world you’d care to pretend for what appears to be a far lower price point.

It also appears that this company is pursuing licenses with other franchises, so your building fun might not be limited to just Stargate. More announcements are expected at the Dallas Toy Fair in October.