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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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

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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“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 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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Bionic Woman’s Michelle Ryan begins an arc on the new NBC series Merlin. It’s another double feature and here’s how it all plays out:

“THE MARK OF NIMUEH”
A beautiful witch, Nimueh (Michelle Ryan) casts a spell with a monster that poisons Camelot’s drinking water, spreading a terrible sickness throughout the city. When Gwen’s (Angel Coulby) father falls ill, Merlin (Colin Morgan) disobeys Gaius’ (Richard Wilson) orders and desperately tries to help. As the monster poisoning the water grows larger each day, Merlin is caught between saving his friends or himself.

Then, at 9:00, it’s The Poisoned Chalice

Posing as a servant girl, the witch Nimueh (Michelle Ryan) enters Camelot seeking revenge on Merlin (Colin Morgan) with a plot to poison him. Meanwhile, Bayard and the Knights of the Western Isles are welcomed to Camelot to celebrate the union between the two kingdoms. Unaware of Nimueh’s true identity, Merlin saves Arthur (Bradley James) from drinking from a poisoned goblet by drinking the potion himself, which puts him in a deep coma. Gaius (Richard Wilson) discovers the origin of the poison and needs to make an antidote to save Merlin. Arthur disobeys Uther’s (Anthony Head) commands and sets off on a quest to save Merlin.

What do you think of Merlin? Great summer fun or just ho hum?

Photo: Katie McGrath as Morgana — NBC Photo: Todd Antony

Primeval 3.7

June 27, 9:00 p.m. on BBC America

An anomaly opens in the middle of a huge junkyard and a dinosaur from the Cretaceous era comes through. The Dracorex is wounded, which only makes it more aggressive. The team is trying to force it back when, suddenly, a medieval knight on horseback gallops through the anomaly, chasing what he thinks is a dragon. The knight decides the modern world must be hell and his only chance to make it to heaven is by slaying the creature—this is his quest. The team finds itself in the unusual position of dealing with, not only a dinosaur on the loose, but a deranged medieval knight who is convinced he is a latter-day St. George.

Photo: Impossible Pictures / BBC America

“From the moment I took over [as the Doctor, the U.K. tabloids] were all saying, ‘Well, who’s going to be next’” in the role, said David Tennant in a phone interview with the Chicago Tribune. “One of the names that always came up was David Morrissey, so it was nice to be able to play with those expectations a little bit.”

In a clever ploy that allowed the series to run for so many years, The Doctor has the ability to regenerate — taking on a new face (as in a new actor) every few seasons. But this time around, it’s not a new body for The Doctor, but another Doctor all together (or is it?)

Here’s how the BBC describes Doctor Who: The Next Doctor:

It’s Christmas Eve in 1851 and Cybermen stalk the snow of Victorian London.  When the Doctor (David Tennant) arrives to investigate a spate of mysterious deaths, he’s surprised to meet another Doctor (David Morrissey, State of Play, Viva Blackpool), with his own sonic screw driver.  How could this be possible? Could this Doctor be a future regeneration?  But if so where are his memories?  The two must combine forces to defeat the ruthless Miss Hartigan (Dervla Kirwan, Law & Order UK, Ballykissangel), who is the Cybermen’s human ally.  But are two Doctors enough to stop the rise of the CyberKing?

It’s the first of five Doctor Who specials, with the next one, Doctor Who: Planet of the Dead airing on BBC American on July 26. Planet of the Dead was the first special shot in HD and it will help launch the new BBC America HD channel along with Torchwood come July 20.

But for tonight, it’s Doctor Who: The Next Doctor, Saturday, June 27 at 9:00 on BBC America.

Photos: BBC

Here’s a nice new cast photo from Warehouse 13 along with a roundup of interesting scifi tweets from Twitter!

Craig Engler Nice interview with Saul Rubinek from Warehouse 13, talks about his love of sci-fi (Asimov & Bradbury fan) – http://bit.ly/XxT5X

Craig Engler 12 real-life locations used to film various sci-fi/fantasy films like Blade Runner & Terminator: http://bit.ly/1g4Vht

True Blood Net True Blood vs Twilight The Battle Is On! http://bit.ly/14I5Yp

Comic Con 09 Zombie Walk in San Diego at Comic Con! @sdzombiewalk http://www.myspace.com/sandiegozombiewalk

NathanFillion Spent the evening at Bungie playing ODST. Bungie, and ODST, are everything I dreamed they would be… and they had pizza.

MSiega Three more shooting days left on Dexter then I am off to Atlanta next week to start prepping Vampire Diaries.

sepinwall New blog post: ‘Doctor Who: The Next Doctor’ review – Sepinwall on TV http://tinyurl.com/kpwdln

MishaCollins Just woke up & I’m still groggy. I see it’s 11:27PM and the calendar says it’s the 24th of June. Looks like I’ve been sleeping for 5 days.

WAREHOUSE 13 — Pictured: (l-r) Saul Rubinek as Artie Nelsen, Joanne Kelly as Myka Bering, Eddie McClintock as Pete Lattimer — SCI FI Channel Photo: Justin Stephens

Stargate Atlantis fans known him as Doctor Rodney McKay, the self-absorbed (but loveable) genius who helped keep Atlantis going strong. This week, David Hewlett takes on a entirely different character as he assumes the role of FBI Agent Jerry Moore in TNT’s police drama The Closer.

The episode, which airs Monday, June 29, is called “Walking Back the Cat.”

Brenda and her squad are temporarily deputized into the FBI when a missing person case turns into a full-blown murder investigation involving drug trafficking at gay dance parties. The case gives Brenda and Fritz the chance to work together again, but her investigative tactics don’t exactly fit FBI protocol.

Hewlett thoroughly enjoyed his time on the series, calling it (by way of Twitter) his best guest star experience ever. The actor is a frequent Tweeter, talking often about his young son, parenting and his life in the business.

Photo: Karen Neal / TNT