Showing posts with label television. Show all posts
Showing posts with label television. Show all posts
11:09 AM
Listen... to the words of the master!
4:31 PM
What's that I smell??
It's another crop of projects from the SciFi Network! Peee-YEW!
Actually, I shouldn't be so disparaging, but this is the network that brings us live wrestling and movies about mutated farm animals, so any ray of hope is a good one!
AS REPORTED IN SCI-FI WIRE (copyright, 2007, Sci-Fi.com), and commented by me:
(Crapometer scale: 1="Smells like a daisy" to 10="Fertilizer")
Clooney, Others Develop SCI FI Shows
SCI FI Channel unveiled a new slate of programs in development, which includes shows from executive producers George Clooney, Darren Star and Mark Burnett. SCI FI made the announcement Jan. 12 at the Television Critics Association's winter press tour in Pasadena, Calif.
Diamond Age, based on Neal Stephenson's best-selling novel The Diamond Age: Or a Young Lady's Illustrated Primer, is a six-hour miniseries from Clooney and fellow executive producer Grant Heslov of Smokehouse Productions.
When a prominent member of society concludes that the futuristic civilization in which he lives is stifling creativity, he commissions an interactive book for his daughter that serves as a guide through a surreal alternate world. Stephenson will adapt his novel for the miniseries, the first time the Hugo and Nebula award winner has written for TV.
Crapometer Score: 2. Clooney has attached his name to some great projects and has proven himself to be an actor of no little talent. The source material is aces; this is the same Neil Stephenson that brought us Snow Crash and the first envisioning of Virtual Worlds after Neuromancer. On the other hand, he was all over the slow, ponderous and very odd remake of SOLARIS (that didn't need to be done in the first place, as the first version was head and shoulders better). So, perhaps, Science Fiction, in particular Victorian style, may not be George's forte. Still, it's the best of the batch.
Also in development:
Avery House, produced by Burnett and Tagline Entertainment's Kelly Kulchak and Ron West and written by Dava Savel. The series deals with a bed and breakfast in which the innermost thoughts of both guests and owners miraculously come to life.
Crapometer Score: 6. Sounds like a lame and familiar premise to me. Wasn't there a Night Gallery episode similar to this?
Untitled Darren Star/Mike Werb Project, a 90-minute action show from Sex and the City's Star and writer Werb. The show centers on four convicts who are given new identities and technologically enhanced bodies to join a covert wing of the government on a mission to battle threats from science run amok.
Crapometer Score: 8. Darren Starr. Come on, how many times has a variant of this plot line been done? Well, never by the creator of SEX AND THE CITY, you say? And that's good.. how?
Revolution, from creators Ed Redlich (Without a Trace) and John Bellucci, is about a group of pioneers on a remote space colony who find themselves under siege by their homeland, Earth.
Crapometer Score: 3. Good premise, I hope it borrows heavily from THE MOON IS A HARSH MISTRESS, which it should... but it probably won't. Sigh. 3 just for being on the SF network these days.. Unfair, I know, but recent projects have proved me right.
Middletown, from writers Coke Sams and Matt Lindahl, is a two-hour pilot about a small town in Middle America that becomes the final battlefield for Earth when nefarious aliens make the town their Ellis Island.
Crapometer Score: 8. Sniff Sniff... what is that?? Oh, yeah, that Alien Invasion movie they made LAST YEAR with a very similar premise. Even Bruce Campbell couldn't make that turd flush.
Johnny Midnight, from writer John Sullivan and executive producer Howard Deutch (The Replacements), is a two-hour pilot about a slacker who discovers that he has powers that can save the world from malevolent forces.
Crapometer Score: 5. Hey, I know!! Let's call it.. HERO! I love it!!
Starcrossed, from executive producers Jane Loughman and John G. Lenic, is a half-hour comedy behind the scenes of a long-running space opera, with the pilot written by David Hewlett (Stargate Atlantis).
Crapometer Score: 3. IF (and only IF) this is a reference to the famous long-running space opera comic/stage play by Mike Kaluta, this could be an amazing project. Otherwise, I'd need to know a lot more about it to develop enthusiasm.
Witch School is a "docusoap" about a school for aspiring conjurers.
Crapometer Score: 9. Uh huh. Precocious teens with amazing powers in a high school setting. It's NEVER been done before!!
11:04 AM
Back on track!
Standard Spoiler Alert. Not very serious this week.
NOTE: I'm not sure about the episode numbering. I'm seeing references to UNINISHED BUSINESS as being number 308, but some folks are combining EXODUS and counting that two-parter as a single episode.
Much as I liked HERO (last week), it really falls outside of the story arc somewhat; it could have been there or not been there and it wouldn't have any effect on the continuous progression of the BSG story arc. THIS week's episode, "Unfinished Business" definitely falls within the arc of the show. I also think it might be one of the best WRITTEN shows this season. Ron Moore does wonders on a tight budget. I know (from listening to his podcast) that he has a budget that he has to work with and he can't exceed it. MUCH of his season budget went into the incredible effects that were displayed in EXODUS. This episode demonstrates that in the hands of a talented writing staff, a constrained budget and a looming deadline, wonders can still be worked. Almost ALL of the episode takes place in the hangar bay set (again, inside knowledge from Ron Moore). And all of the footage is framed by a boxing match scheduled by Adama. Apparently it's a tradition in the Colonial fleet to have these things-- it relieves tension and allows the crew to "settle unfinished business" without bloodshed (clever, no?). The tension, mostly, is between those who stayed "upstairs" with the fleet during Occupation, and those that went down on the ground. Many flashbacks filmed back when the New Caprica set was intact are intercut in the show, and we see nary a Cylon throughout.
It was a good decision on Moore's part, to reaquaint us with some of the folks that have been on the periphery of the action lately. We learn (almost entirely from flashback) that Adama didn't want to release the Chief from active duty to become a civilian== being softhearted, he caved in, and he resents the chief for creating situations where lives might have been lost. He then proceeds to challenge the chief to a fight in a very memorable line (Hey, Chief, get your lazy fat ass up here!). The chief is cocky, thinking he will go easy on the "old man".. but Adama (who we already know boxes for fitness) knocks him down and almost out with a single punch. The denouement of this sequence is shockingly gory and very well played by that consumate actor, Eddie Olmos.
We also learn that maybe, just maybe, the Admiral and Laura might have a "thing" for each other, as they gaze at the sky, smoking big fatboys from the local New Caprican wacky tobacky and drinking skullcrack whiskey. And maybe, just maybe, they did something about it. Who knows? We definitely see other sides of their characters as they briefly let the masks down (Mary certainly looks fetching in that red dress... but I've carried a torch for her since DANCES WITH WOLVES, sigh...). MOST startling was that we learn the source of the serious Starbuck/Apollo rift. To nobody's great surprise, they admit they love each other (DUH!) but might be repelled by each other (DUH!). They have their wild romp, even though both are "goin' steady" with other people (Duala and Anders). Lee wants to make their relationship an open matter; Starbuck agrees, then wakes up the next morning and runs off to get married... to ANDERS. Lee's hungover, hostile and betrayed. The actor, Jamie Barber, played this one to the hilt, striding up the ramp to the shuttle in whitehot, hungover fury, and then *seizing* Duala and kissing her at the top of the ramp.
So the Anders and Duala relationships are BOTH rebounds, eh? My prediction: some convenient character deaths are coming up in the show. I wouldn't be betting any money on the longevity of the Anders or Duala characters.
The climax of the show is when Starbuck goads Apollo into fighting HER in an incredibly gory, protracted fight sequence. It's obvious that Starbuck, always mentally unstable, sees this as fitting punishment for her treatment of Apollo-- to have Apollo beat the crap out of her. A very complex, interesting and incredibly entertaining episode, right on par with EXODUS, and without the gazillion dollar special effects budget. Just good writing and good acting. I loved it!
7:05 AM
Who would have seen this coming?
In the email yesterday:
Dear Cold Wars Director,
We've noticed that Cold Wars 2007 is coming up this March.
(Congratulations!)
We were wondering if you would be interested in receiving materials
from the SciFi channel promoting the national auditions for the upcoming
season of Stan Lee's Who Wants To Be A Superhero. Among the items are
postcards and posters publicizing the auditions and promoting the
series.
If you are interested, please reply with the name, address and phone
number of where these should be sent (no PO Boxes please), along with the
number of attendees you're expecting.
In order to ensure that you get the materials you want, please respond
as soon as possible so we can order the correct amount. Hope to hear
from you soon!
Sincerely,
Jennifer Johnson, NBC Television
How the staff of a reality TV show discovered HMGS East conventions, I'll never know. But any publicity is good publicity, and I responded:
Jennifer:
Not only yeah, but heck yeah. What a pity you couldn't film this-- I think I can virtually guarantee outtakes that would be nothing less than comedy gold. :-D
COLD WARS is a miniatures gaming convention. That means we reenact historical battles with little metal soldiers. We get between 1800 and 2000 attendees give or take a few. The typical Cold Wars attendee is very educated, probably ex-military, working in a technical or government field, male, between 20 and 50. He probably is in the demographic you are aiming at with your show.
Is there a little chatch or something you could put in our little goodie bag we're putting together? Wouldn't have to be anything special..
I'll store the stuff--
(contact info)
It could be a big steaming pile of crap, or it could be a missed opportunity. I'm taking no chances. Based on my own experience with the television industry, about 90% of what gets promises gets ignored or forgotten, but you never know. It would be cake, primo, WONDERFUL if we could get a camera crew at Cold Wars (what a promotional coup that would be!) but I'll not be holding my breath in anticipation.
10:35 AM
It would seem...
that the <-Embed-> tag no longer works in BLOGGER.COM. Too bad, I enjoy posting youtube embedded video. So here's a direct link to some allegedly "banned" IKEA commercials. I know I never saw them, but that doesn't neccesarily mean anything...
A Child makes a happy discovery...
Young man's romantic plans go hideously awry
She's missing something important...
Enjoy..
12:55 PM
Predictable, but Solid
As I said last week, The folks at the production staff at Battlestar Galactica would have a difficult time topping EXODUS part two, and that proved to be the case. COLLABORATORS was a good, albeit not great, episode with lots of interesting bits in it.
ONLY MINOR SPOILERS FOLLOW
Predictably, those that suffered under the year of Cylon Occupation are now getting their own back against open collaborators with the Cylon Regime. One (minor) character gets "spaced", and the kangaroo court (filled with people you might recognize) sets their eyes on Mister Gaeta, who had worked as Baltar's executive assistant. Predictable stuff happens, and predictably, he gets saved in the last nanosecond.
(Side note: Ronald Moore had better start thinking about HOW MANY PEOPLE IT TAKES to renew an entire human race.. what are we down to now? How many births are have their been? Can they afford to execute people, even scumbag collaborators?) My friend Peter Card (English Peter in BPD) sent me a link on a paper about DNA Sampling and "population choke points" such as is suggested by the show's 41,000 people (they updated the population stats). It makes for interesting reading-- postulating that the human race might have hit a choke point several thousand years back, and we now have so-called "modern man" as a result of the contracting of the gene pool.
My friend, BSG Ubergeek Don Pierce, suggests that perhaps a population explaosion is going on that we aren't seeing. Lots of people, cooped up on small ships with not a lot to do for months on end.. the predictable might be happening but we're not seeing it. I haven't really tracked that little "population statistic" that flashes just before the credits lately.
In any event, my favorite bits were with Baltar on the Cylon Ship, were he is kept under close guard. No longer pathetic, he's back to being a sniveling coward. I hope we see more of Cylon lifestyles in this season. Do Cylons have art? Interior Decorating? It doesn't look like it.
Maybe Gaius can teach them Feng Shui...
Near term predictions: Apollo will miraculously drop 40 pounds (see David Eick's vidcast "Jaime and the Fat Man"), and possibly take the XO spot on Galactica (Tigh is just a headcase right now, and an embarassment to himself). Starbuck will take the pilot seat again, and have trouble reclaiming her top dog status. The Cylon Baby will fade into obscurity again. For a while.
(speaking of predictions, check out the vidcast of the Cast predicting which one of the "Top Seven" will be offed this season. You know, if you are an actor playing a Cylon, it strikes me that you have a hell of a lot of job security on this show. "Oh, let's kill Boomer!.. uh, big deal.."
1:33 PM
Too funny. That's a pumpkin, folks.
11:48 AM
Wow. Simply... wow...
SPOILERS WARNING: IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THIS EPISODE, DON'T READ THIS
Once again, Galactica astounds us with easily the best episode yet (for this season, possibly for the entire run of the show!)
If the production team for BSG doesn't get an Emmy for this episode, then there ain't no justice.
Since COLLABORATORS is airing tonight, I think it's high time to post some ruminations on EXODUS 2. Plot points will be revealed here.
What an amazing finale to the Caprica 2 experience! It was a great, unique setting that allowed for some amazing plot development and great character building, but I'm glad to see it in the fleet's wake. This is a show about a journey ("Exodus" is a fitting title for this episode), not about colonizing planets. Press on to Earth, says I.
In short GALACTICA comes back to take on (they think) two Cylon Base Stars and recover a huge amount of people from the surface. To execute this maneuver, they needed launch keys to get the grounded ships off the planet. We are not privy to how the word spread around the entire human population of Caprica 2, but we have some hints of it when the guerilla forces stage a demonstration to keep the Cylons occupied while the Galactica jumps in.
The maneuver that the Raptors were practicing last week (that Adama Senior bitched out Adama Junior over) was deploying drones. Now we see why. It was to fake out the two Cylon guardships and have them broadcast the signal for two battlestars. While they are ringing their hands in consternation over this, Guerillas on the ground (led by Anders, Tigh, and the Female marine troop from last week) blow up several buildings and engage the toaster Cylons on the ground. This is all a setup for simply the best visual effect I'v ever seen on BSG or maybe any other SF themed show. At one point, Anders turns to Tigh and says "Where's GALACTICA?" And Tigh says something like "The Old Man will be here, don't worry". At that moment, you look waaaaay up in the sky and see a little smudge. It's the Galactica, a ship designed to never enter Atmo, Jumping in about 11000 feet above the compound. And it proceeds to drop like a rock, with air burning off all around it and heating up from friction. That's when the Vipers launch off of all bays (points to the writers for adding the little bit from the thoughtful pilot saying to himself: "Hmm. This should be interesting"..) As the Vipers rush to engage the Cylon fighters, Galactica jumps out to orbit from about 600 feet above ground! Unfortunately, it doesn't appear to be designed to do this sort of thing and we got lots of fizzing, popping, and what not and the jump drive goes down. Uh OH!
At this moment, In jumps two more Cylon base stars. Adama's reaction is perfectly written. "Well, That's it. We can't take on Four. Gentlemen, It's been an honor." What a fantastic little bit that is. He doesn't freak out, he calmly accepts the facts, knowing he's done his duty. At that moment, PEGASUS arrives, guns blazing.. going right into the heart of four base stars. One star goes down... then PEGASUS gets bracketed by three base stars... giving GALACTICA the time it needed to fix its drive and jump away. (Odd note: this is almost exactly a reprise of the OLD series demise of their PEGASUS, if you think on it). The mighty PEGASUS goes down under a hail of gunfire, but not before ramming one star head on and losing an engine nacelle by plowing it into another star, destroying it. What a fantastic ending for the Peggy. I'll miss her, but if you have to go out, it's best to take 3 enemies with you.
Not all the action was 100% sepcial effects. The show began with one of the most heart-wrenching sequences I've ever seen on the series, where Tigh feeds his own wife (who betrayed the resistance, albeit for noble reasons) poison. and holds here while she dies. Quite a tear-jerker. And the little bits with Laura taking "Her ship" over again, and Gaius leaving with the Cylons (where else could he go, after all?) were well done.
It's going to be hard for the BSG creative staff to top the EXODUS PART II episode, but I can hope...
2:53 PM
Lovely Parting Gifts, that's What!
Uber-Intelligent comedian Bob Harris did pretty well on Jeopardy a while back; he has archived his experiences on the show (with a primer for preparing for game shows) in a new book THE PRISONER OF TREBECKISTAN. The book is worth a read! Here's Bob demonstrating what you get when you've been on Jeopardy for 8 weeks:
10:42 AM
I'm getting seriously addicted to ADULT SWIM these days...
1:01 AM
You tell him, Scrotis!
Late at night, in the same timeslot as the Venture brothers, recently appeared a new show that very well might redefine adult (by that I mean mature) animation.
Simply put:
Take 1/4 Ralph Bakshi's Wizards..
Take 1/4 Robert E. Howard's Conan the Barbarian Series...
Take 1/4 Vaughn Bode's Deadbone comics..
Add in a dose of driving heavy metal thrash music
And the rest is the twisted vision of Aaron Springer and
Genndy Tartakovsky-- it all adds up to the violent, hilarious melange that is KORGOTH OF BARBARIA (airing on Adult Swim as a Pilot programme last week).
And I swear, I haven't laughed so hard since I saw Wizards the first time. The creators of Korgoth draw from some remarkably nostalgic sources for their new show about the adventures of the hapless and stoic barbarian, KORGOTH. In the very first episode, the standard day-in-the-life of a barbarian ensues:
Pilot - Korgoth is infected with a deadly parasite by Gog-Ma-Gogg and extorted to steal an item known as "The Golden Goblin of the Fourth Age" from the wizard Specules. He journeys with a group of Gog-Ma-Gogg's henchmen to Specules' castle. Many random fights take place during his journey and at some point he saves a girl chained to a killer tree. He makes this girl his own and continues on. The group reaches the castle considerably smaller than when it had left. The wizard is not at his castle and is presumed dead according to information provided by Gog-Ma-Gogg. Korgoth's posse begins to plunder the castle while Korgoth goes to find the Golden Goblin. In the middle of their plunder Specules returns explaining he was on vacation. Specules uses his magic and kills many of the men and incapacitates the
rest. Then Specules creates a monster made out of gum to kill Korgoth. Korgoth defeats this monster with a little bit of difficulty. Specules uses his magic as a last resort against Korgoth, however he accidentily misses and kills Korgoth's girl. Korgoth takes a two-pronged candle stick holder and impales Specules through the eyes. However Specules survives this by transferring his head onto the dead girl and proceeds to fly out the window. Korgoth returns to Gog-Ma-Gogg with the Golden Goblin and gets the elixir for the deadly parasite, though the elixer comes with a prescription of many more and he is informed the elixir will take many seasons to take full effect.
The voice characterizations, somewhat crude animation somewhat similar to Bode, the subject matter and setting, they all add up to a great time for products of the D&D generation. I can't recommend this show highly enough. If you're a guy who read pulp adventure stories or liked Fahfrd and the Grey Mouser or Conan or the works of Jack Vance or Michael Moorcock, you WILL love this series. Check it out. Go to the ADULT SWIM WEBSITE and leave them an "I want my Korgoth, dammit!" email. You won't regret it.
A little teaser footage:
Check out: The Bar Encounter and the Encounter with Gog-Ma-Gog, Baron of Thieves and the finale at Specules' Castle.
3:33 PM
In case it's not obvious, I dig horror, exploitation and sleaze movies. I have been going to SF and horror fan film conventions since I was a wee sprout (well, teenaged, anyhow). Since the demise of the "creature feature" style show from virtually all networks, I have often wondered when a horror-only cable network would arise out of the ashes and return good old fashioned horror viewing to the airwaves, like the Sci-Fi Network did for science fiction. And why not? There's a network for everything these days-- food, travel, relgion, romance, why not horror?
I've noted the efforts of a dedicated group of individuals to get a HORROR network going in the States. They seem to have stuff out at every horror movie convention I go to. I hope these guys make it, I know I'd subscribe to this.
Right now the American site (more details on this below) seems to be focusing on DVD reviews and recruiting independent movie makers to run things on their network, when and if it gets stood up.
Here's their mission statement
It turns out there's ANOTHER Horror network out there, in the UK!
This horror channel is actually broadcasting, on some satellite networking which I confess I'm confused about. Apparently they are putting out a fairly innovative programme over the BSkyB "free to air" network, broadcasting from "Eurobird" whatever that is.
LINK TO UK HORROR CHANNEL
Their mission statement is similar...
The U.K. broadcast schedule looks fairly ambitious. Many of these are home grown.
In any event, I'm impressed with both efforts and will probably have a greater chance of accessing the U.S. one once it materializes. Looks like horror has a future on cable... soon.
I've noted the efforts of a dedicated group of individuals to get a HORROR network going in the States. They seem to have stuff out at every horror movie convention I go to. I hope these guys make it, I know I'd subscribe to this.
Right now the American site (more details on this below) seems to be focusing on DVD reviews and recruiting independent movie makers to run things on their network, when and if it gets stood up.
Here's their mission statement
Mission Statement
To create the first and only 24-hour cable and satellite network dedicated to the Horror genre and to become the branded television gateway for the underserved Horror fan base.
Creative Advisory Board
Several luminaries of the Horror genre have endorsed The Horror Channel and will be involved in creating original programming for the network.
It turns out there's ANOTHER Horror network out there, in the UK!
This horror channel is actually broadcasting, on some satellite networking which I confess I'm confused about. Apparently they are putting out a fairly innovative programme over the BSkyB "free to air" network, broadcasting from "Eurobird" whatever that is.
LINK TO UK HORROR CHANNEL
Their mission statement is similar...
As the UK 's first channel dedicated to horror, we aim to bring you films and original programmes from right across the genre. Our schedule boasts a heady mix of cult classics, B-movies, Horror-coms, modern box-office thrillers, home-produced specials, series, biographies and documentaries.
The U.K. broadcast schedule looks fairly ambitious. Many of these are home grown.
11.00am - FILM: Killer Bait
A husband and wife are accidentally passed $60,000. He wants to hand it in. She'll do anything to keep it. With Lizabeth Scott as the ultimate femme fatale. B&W.
1.05pm - FILM: Revolt of the Zombies
In WW1, a priest creates zombies to aid the war effort. But after the war, a jealous archaeologist uncovers the secret and uses it for his own wicked ends. B&W.
2.25pm - The Cutting Room - Ingrid Pitt
An exclusive, intimate interview with Ingrid Pitt talking about her life as a star of many horror films. Also an inside look at Hammer Glammer Films with Veronica France.
3.00pm - FILM: Killers from Space
An atomic scientist suspected of espionage claims to have been abducted by aliens who want to take over the world using giant insects. B&W.
5.00pm - FILM: The Gorilla
A rich man is threatened by a vicious serial killer known as The Gorilla and he hires the Ritz Bros to investigate. But did the butler (Bela Lugosi) do it? B&W.
7.00pm - FILM: The Ape
Boris Karloff is a mad scientist who needs human spinal fluid. Killing and skinning a gorilla provides him with the ultimate disguise to go on his mad, murderous spree. B&W.
8.25pm - The Cutting Room - Asylum Night
Behind-the-scenes interview with the creative team that brought you Asylum Night, a superb new comic vampire horror from Revolt Films.
9.00pm - FILM: Deadbolt
Psychological thriller about a beautiful med student whose new roommate falls madly in love with her. But there's a fine line between love and obsession...
11.00pm - FILM: Flowers in the Attic
Adaptation of Virginia Andrews' powerful book of incest, betrayal and murder. Four children, locked in the attic by their mother, are soon forgotten.
1.00am - FILM: Hellblock 13
In a dark and dreary death row cell, a deranged female serial killer seduces her executioner with a series of grisly tales. With Gunner Hansen and Debbie Rochon.
3.00am - FILM: The Dreaming
A young doctor becomes involved in a chain of supernatural events which provoke nightmarish premonitions and even darker realities
In any event, I'm impressed with both efforts and will probably have a greater chance of accessing the U.S. one once it materializes. Looks like horror has a future on cable... soon.
