Farscape Comes to DVD
July 3, 2009 by Cynthia
Muppets. . . In. . . Space. . . .space. . space. . space. . Okay, so there are also a few humans on board like Stargate stars Ben Browder and Claudia Black, but Farscape will always mean Muppets to me and now it’s going to be a mega DVD.
Farscape ran on SCI FI Channel from 1999-2003 and it developed quite a fan following. The series revolved around a lone astronaut (Browder) who falls through a wormhole and lands in the middle of an intergalactic war. Produced by the Jim Henson Company, the show had two animatronic puppets in the main cast as well as several humans in alien garb, also designed by the talented people at Henson’s Creature Shop.
In honor of the 10th Anniversary of the series, A&E Home Entertainment is releasing Farscape: The Complete Series Megaset. The DVD package will include the entire sereis run along with an amazing amount of bonus features including commentary, interviews, and behind-the-scenes featurettes. They’ll be jump-starting the promotional efforts with a Farscape panel at this year’s Comic Con which will include executive producer Brain Henson, creator Rockne O’Bannon, and stars Ben Browder and Claudia Black.
The DVD release is scheduled for November 2009 and remember, “you gotta know how deep the doo-doo is, if you’re gonna dig your way out.”
24 June 2008 - Universal City, California - Ben Browder and Claudia Black. 34th Annual Saturn Awards held at Universal Hilton Hotel. Photo Credit: Charles Harris/AdMedia
Spend the Weekend at Point Pleasant
Looking for an unusual place to spend this holiday weekend? Why not visit Point Pleasant. It’s a lovely beach town, quiet, quaint — just be careful not to trip over the dead bodies as you make your way around.
It’s a Point Pleasant marathon on Chiller and you’re invited to stay on for five previously unaired episodes which answer all of the questions that were left when the show was abruptly canceled by Fox.
When the story opens, Christina (Elisabeth Harnois) washes up on the beach and is rescued by lifeguard Jesse. He takes her to the home of the town’s doctor (Richard Burgi) where she becomes friends with the doc’s daughter Judy (Aubrey Dollar). Christina has 
no memory of who she is but it soon becomes clear that she’s connected to pure evil and evil wants her back. Grant Show is marvelous as the charmingly devilish Lucas and look for Cameron Richardson, Harper’s Island’s Chloe, playing Jesse’s girlfriend.
Buffy’s Marti Noxon was the show’s executive producer and though it’s a little slow to get started, it really packs a punch in the later episodes. My favorite episode is “Last Dance” which juxtaposes the past and the present as a dance marathon turns deadly.
It all begins on Saturday, July 4 at 11:00 AM on Chiller
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Syfy Asks You To Imagine Greater
July 2, 2009 by Cynthia
With the switch rapidly approaching, the channel formerly known as Syfy has released a charming new promo video that is meant to capture the feel of the new brand.
I’ve always enjoyed SCI FI’s imaginative ads, seeing people and things transform right before your very eyes. This new promo takes it even one step further as some of the network’s stars come out to party in a truly magical castle.
The biggest difference I see between this new promo and the old ones, is the warmth and happy tone. The original ads were cool but always very sterile and simple — truly capturing the feel of modern science fiction. This new ad is full of warm colors and detailed images that are constantly changing and moving. It feels more modern fairy tale and less a trip into space and you gotta love the Escher homage with the cast of Warehouse 13.
It’s all very SteamPunk meets Alice in Wonderland and I can totally get behind that. Click here to watch the House of Imagination video at the new Syfy.com.
I think it’s more fun to spot the stars Waldo style, but if you want a list in order of appearance, it’s under the cut.
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Win Knowing on DVD
July 1, 2009 by Cynthia
We’ve got a new giveaway for five lucky SFUniverse readers, it’s the Nicolas Cage thriller “Knowing” on DVD.
In 1958, as part of the dedication ceremony for a new elementary school, a group of students is asked to draw pictures to be stored in a time capsule. But one of the students, a mysterious girl who seems to hear whispered voices, fills her sheet of paper with rows of apparently random numbers instead.
Fast forward 50 years to the present: A new generation of students examines the contents of the time capsule and the girl’s cryptic message ends up in the hands of young Caleb Myles. But it is Caleb’s father, professor Ted Myles (Nicolas Cage), who makes the startling discovery that the encoded message predicts with pinpoint accuracy the dates, death tolls and coordinates of every major disaster of the past 50 years. As Ted further unravels the document’s secrets, he realizes it foretells three additional events—the last of which hints at destruction on a global scale and seems to somehow involve Ted and his son.
When Ted’s attempts to alert the authorities fall on deaf ears, he takes it upon himself to try to prevent more destruction from taking place.
Would you like to win Knowing on DVD? All you have to do is leave a comment on this post with the name of one of your favorite thrillers, scifi or otherwise.
The contest ends on July 8 midnight PST. US entries only please. Five winners will be chosen at random and notified by email shortly after the closing date. Good luck.
Box art and giveaways courtesy of Summit Entertainment
Alien Nation Reboot in the Works at Syfy
In 1988, James Caan and Mandy Patinkin starred in the scifi version of Lethal Weapon, playing a human cop with an alien partner in the movie 
Alien Nation. But if you ask the average guy on the street, he probably won’t remember any of that, but he will remember Gary Graham and Eric Pierpoint playing those same roles on the TV series.
Though the show was canceled after only one season, it spawned a popular series of TV movies and novels so it’s not surprising that Syfy is looking to the series as its next big reboot.
The original Alien Nation was ahead of its time with its scifi take on the problems of discrimination, immigration and segregation. Smarter than most people remember, the series revolved around the concept of a non-invasive alien invasion. These aliens were all slaves, who end up on Earth when their mothership crashes in the desert outside of Los Angeles.
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Supernatural: Casting, Concert and More
June 30, 2009 by Cynthia
Lots of things popping in the Supernatural world.
– New casting spoiler from TVGuide Magazine about yet another returning character in a shiny new package.
– Ausiello has the scoop on the actor who is making the jump from one mysterious TV show into the role of Lucifer on Supernatural.
– Christian Kane fans who showed up for the Leverage star’s gig in Portland got a huge surprise when Jensen Ackles hopped on stage to sing along.
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Do You Have a Question for Gareth David-Lloyd?
June 30, 2009 by Cynthia
He’s Torchwood’s primo concierge, providing everything from delicious hot coffee, to Weevil retrieval, to a rousing game of strip hide and seek, if that’s what will help get you through the day. He’s Ianto Jones and despite what he seems to be on the outside, it seems there’s something dark and mysterious beneath that perfect pinstripe suit.
Making Ianto walk and talk is Welsh actor Gareth David-Lloyd and he’s going to join me for a chat tomorrow morning! Late notice, I know, but if you have a burning question to ask Gareth, leave it here in the comments and I’ll do my best to get an answer!
Photo: BBC America
Syfy Announces Their Comic Con Schedule
June 30, 2009 by Cynthia
Making the brand change from SCI FI to Syfy, the (insert name here) channel promises a big show at this year’s San Diego Comic Con. In addition to the usual panels, they’ll be taking over the restaurant at the Hard Rock Hotel, and re-branding it as Eureka’s “Cafe Diem” for the duration of the convention. This will act as their convention hub and I imagine that will mean lots of goodies and fun for everyone who stops by. (SCI FI Channel Photo: Liane Hentscher)
They have some great guests and lots of sneak peeks at many of their new TV shows.
Also note that the Sanctuary panel is listed as being at the Bayside Hilton — leading me to wonder if more of the events are going to be held off site to reduce crowding. Nice idea, but getting from there to the Warehouse 13 panel that follows is going to be a nightmare.
Here’s the full listing:
Friday, July 24
10:30 AM-11:30 AM Stargate Universe
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Russell T Davies: Torchwood Touches a Nerve
“We are coming.”
If you’ve been watching BBC America, you’ve seen the promos for Torchwood: Children of Earth. That chilling voice over — Jack, Gwen and Ianto in a panic state. All those dead eyes staring back at you! It’s Torchwood’s creepiest monsters ever — kids!
“They just touch a nerve,” says Torchwood creator Russell T. Davies. “A threat to our children gets a primal reaction out of all of us. But beyond that, I think we can be scared of our kids, too. That they can seem unknowable, unreachable - that’s why a gang of young hoodies can seem more unnerving than an adult gang of thugs.”
It’s a story Davies has been wanting to tell for ages and finally he was given the opportunity when the BBC agreed to a five-part Torchwood mini-series instead of the normal run.
“Underneath the sci-fi and the aliens, there’s something very relevant to the world, I hope. The way we sit in the west, and watch footage of atrocities in different countries, and imagine it’s all so far away, and so impossible here. Which is a nice, comfy lie we tell ourselves. That was the heart of it. I wanted to tell a story in which civilization snaps, in which we turn on ourselves, in which nothing is safe. Plenty of people live like that, on this planet. In this story, it’s Britain’s turn.”
But writing an epic five-part mini wasn’t an easy job, even for a pro like Davies.
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Viz Releases First Japanese Sci Fi Titles
June 28, 2009 by Cynthia
Viz Media has long been known as the premiere publisher of Manga in the United States. This July, they’re moving into new territory with Haikasoru, the first imprint in the U.S. dedicated to Japanese science fiction and fantasy in translation.
Haikasoru launches with two titles, The Lord of the Sands of Time, a time travel adventure that begins in ancient Japan and moves to the 26th Century, and All You Need is Kill which has been called “science fiction for the adrenaline junkie.”
“SF, manga and anime fans will definitely enjoy these debut titles from Haikasoru,” says Masumi Washington, Editor-in-Chief of Haikasoru at VIZ Media. “These novels present science fiction that is engaging, imaginative and exotic and we’re very excited to offer a whole new genre of Japanese literature to readers in the U.S.”
Haikasoru is scheduled to publish twelve books a year with four books coming out this summer. For more information look behind the cut then visit www.haikasoru.com.
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