Robert Carlyle (Trainspotting, The Full Monty), Lou Diamond Phillips (Numb3rs), Ming-Na (ER, Vanished), Alaina Huffman (Smallville), and David Blue (Moonlight) star in this series about a group of soldiers, scientists and civilians, who are forced through a Stargate when their hidden base comes under attack. Instead of coming through on another planet, they find themselves on the starship Destiny which is locked on an unknown course. Hopelessly lost in space (I couldn’t resist) they must find a way to meet their basic needs such as food and water, all the while battling weekly dangers.

And, despite the fact that they’re trapped on a ship in space, they will still run into guest stars such as Grammy nominated recording artist, Janelle Monáe, Amanda Tapping, Michael Shanks, and Carlo Rota. Sounds rather Gilligan’s Island, doesn’t it?

And speaking of Amanda Tapping, Sanctuary returns for a second season beginning on October 9 at 10:00. Here’s the blurb:

Sanctuary follows the adventures of the always surprising Dr. Helen Magnus (Amanda Tapping), a brilliant scientist who holds the secrets of a clandestine population — a group of strange and sometimes terrifying beings that hide among humans.

Joining the cast in season 2 is Agam Darshi as Kate Freelander, a con artist and thief who finds herself in an uneasy alliance with Dr. Magnus. Sanctuary also stars Ryan Robbins as tech wiz Henry and Christopher Heyerdahl as the sinister John Druitt.

Special guest stars this season include Christopher Gauthier (Eureka) and Michael Shanks (Stargate SG-1).

Scare Tactics and Destination Truth will also return this fall along with more new episodes of  Warehouse 13 on Tuesday nights and Ghost Hunters on Wednesday nights. In October, music superstar and longtime Ghost Hunters fan Meatloaf will join the team as a guest investigator in a special episode featuring a home in Thousand Islands, NY, one of last year’s finalist locales in the Great American Ghost Hunt contest.

Photos: Syfy

Pictured: Eddie McClintock; Joanne Kelly and Mark Stern, Executive Vice President, Original Programming, Syfy; Co-Head, Original Content, Universal Cable Productions at the imagination celebration and opening of the Syfy Imagination Park at Rockefeller Center in New York City on July 7, 2009 — Syfy Photo: Heidi Gutman

Post from: SF Universe

For me the most damning thing about taking Jericho off the air was CBS’ replacement show – Secret Talents of the Stars. The current network landscape needs another half-baked, low-budget reality show like the Spears’ siblings need fertility treatments. CBS put that thing out of its misery after a single episode, a fate reserved for only the worst shows.

Photo Credit: ©2008 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved

There’s a lot of blame to go around. CBS could have done more promoting the show. Nielsen’s system needs to adapt and let’s be honest, random samplings are random samplings. TV numbers are no more reliable than political polls as there’s no feasible way to ask every single person’s opinion. That’s how we get Dewey Defeats Truman and Gore Could Still Win the Presidency. And yes, a lot of fans left and never came back. Hard to blame them. There’s nothing that sucks quite like investing 20 hours in a show and then having it yanked away in a rushed series conclusion. Placing the blame won’t bring the show back.

As we’ve discussed, six million is a horribly low number for a network show. In contrast, a show like Battlestar Galactica is considered a runaway hit by pulling slightly over two million on cable. So cable’s the clear way to go. I’d love to see Sci Fi Channel step up to the plate here. They picked up Sliders, for Pete’s sake. That might have worked had they not started casting the entire O’ Connell family.

But kidding aside, they’re losing a major anchor in Galactica. I know the prequel is in the pipeline but even as a BSG fan I’m skeptical. Quick, name me as many good prequels as you can. Star Wars Episodes I-III? Red Dragon? Yeah, you see my point. If Caprica tanks, Sci Fi should have some money burning a hole in its pocket. It if needs more, might I suggest pulling the plug on some of those horrible B-grade movies it makes? TV would be the better for it.

Sadly, I’m almost as certain that won’t happen as I am that Caprica won’t fly. Sci Fi’s going to the regular network model with as much cheaply produced stuff that draws a decent audience as it can find. Who’s ready for that new season of Scare Tactics?

Post from: SF Universe