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Longtime fans of Stargate SG-1 and Stargate: Atlantis are familiar with the International Oversight Authority (IOA), a group of bureaucratic busybodies who love poking their noses into our heroes’ comings and goings through the Stargate.

On Stargate Universe, IOA representative Camille Wray finds herself a long way from home on board the Ancient ship Destiny. Given the IOA’s reputation, she is trying to balance her professional instincts and compassionate nature, especially as one of the mediators between the military and civilians. It is not easy, but actress Ming-Na, who plays Camille, is enjoying the challenge.

“The hardest thing when you’re playing a strong female character is not having her come off as a bitch and someone who everyone wants to hate, and being an IOA official, that’s especially important for Camille,” explains Ming-Na. “Robert Cooper [series co-creator/ executive producer] and I had a conversation where I mentioned this, and they decided to change my character’s job with the IOA from accounting to something else. They suggested human resources and I said, ‘Oh, that would be fantastic, because then she’s a people person.’ “I immediately latched onto that.

I think that makes her interesting, because she’s ambitious and you’re not quite sure where she’s coming from, which I love. At the same time, I hope the viewers like her enough to want to keep figuring her out, just as I’m figuring her out.”
For more information and to subscribe visit http://www.titanmagazines.com/stargate

Photo courtesy of Titan Publishing

Post from: SF Universe

On Christmas Day, Friday, December 25, Syfy presents a Stargate Universe marathon during the 8:30AM-5:30PM (ET/PT) time period, followed on Saturday, December 26, by a different twist on the season of giving (that’s the understatement of the year) with Saw I, Saw II and Saw III airing 4:30-9PM (ET/PT).

They save the best for last, and that’s the annual The Twilight Zone marathon which starts Thursday, December 31, at 8AM (ET/PT), and runs through Friday, January 1, ending at 6AM (ET/PT) Saturday, January 2.

They say the theme is “Twist Endings” but that sounds like every Twilight Zone episode to me. I’m guessing they’re going with “No change!” and “It’s a cookbook!”

To make the marathon really special, Syfy will run the episodes uncut and with special interstitials. If you’ve never watched the original Twilight Zone, set the DVR to pick up a few episodes at least – even after all these years, it’s brilliant television.

Pictured: (l-r) Jason Hawes, Grant Wilson — Syfy Photo: Cheryl Senter

Post from: SF Universe

According to the Hollywood Reporter

Neither show was a guarantee pick-up. Sanctuary is a quiet hit on Syfy and Stargate Universe has been the butt of some harsh criticism. Series producer Robert Cooper had a few things to say about that:

“We’re dealing with 15 seasons of expectations with a certain fanbase,” executive producer Robert Cooper said. “Hopefully, as the show goes on, people will appreciate ‘Universe’ for being its own thing.”

The article goes on to say that there will be a shift toward more serialized storytelling.

“The implications of leaving Rush on the planet, the real division that will cause amongst the crew, the judgment of those characters and their actions are going to have a big impact on the show,” Cooper said. “We have a lot of things planned for the second half of the season.”

Cooper also said that there will be less scenes on Earth and a
“District 9″ style race of aliens will be introduced to mix things up in the new season.

Both shows will debut their new seasons in the fall of 2010.

Pictured: (l-r) Robert Carlyle as Dr. Nicholas Rush, David Blue as Eli Wallace — Syfy Photo: Carole Segal

Post from: SF Universe

So here’s a thanks to all of our commenters along with some of the best of what we’ve seen these past few months.

Let’s start with Donald who had a lot to say about how Stargate Universe can be saved:

The story points that MUST change are as follows.
1. WE NEED A HERO. No heroes here to root for. Who is the good guy here?
2. A soap opera plot line. Need I say more? What is this doing here?
3. Wife and boyfriend problems back on earth. These trips to Earth serve little purpose in the story that the audience in really interested in.
4. No control of their destiny (no pun intended) but really they can’t even steer the damn ship! Its nuts the way the writers think that we will support a plot line like this. I’ll grant that it could be a short story arc but it’s gone on way too long.
5. PLEASE FIND SOMEONE WHO KNOWS HOW TO USE A CAMERA! This handy cam/dirty style of shooting does not give the show any gravitas. Someone sold the producers on this idea and they were robbed. Please hear the collective opinion of the viewers, WE CAN’T STAND IT!

Read his entire comment here.

Joe had this to say about Ghost Hunters Academy:

Steve needs to lighten up. He tells of how a former colleague ran out of an investigation and forbids any one else to do so. But yet he runs like a little girl when he sees a spider. Gimme a break…. Susan Slaughter is a hottie…..

Scott was a bit more detailed in his comments:

Concept of show is great. I would have like to see one contestant eliminated after each investigation. Then the last one standing becomes a finalist. Then you bring in a new group of five and do the same thing until you have five final finalists. Then you start eliminating the finalist until you have a winner. The current five you have now are not good. Don’t really want to watch them all doing multiple investigations. That girl who claims to be a psychic should have gone two episodes ago. refusing to go on tours and covering up her ears in the van. She’s on the show to be a paranormal investigator not a pyschic. be a team player or should leave the show and open up a storefront and do psychic readings. The entire group taking her on a second tour of the N. Carolina ship showed a real lack of leadership. Steve tells the group to not forget to tag and what do they do? Don’t tag. I saw get rid of them all or go to the elimination process I suggested. Thanks…

And Mark had even more to say on the subject.

Here’s some of my observations and ramblings…
I am just starting to study the paranormal field and I have shows like Ghost Hunters to thank for that. One of the areas that I find increasingly fascinating is employing the skills of mediums in conjunction with a “scientific” approach to ghost hunting. The case studies I have been reading about actually don’t want the mediums to accompany the investigators when approaching a new client, this might bias her/him, and so they ask them to hang back. Then, after hearing the history and reports of activity they bring in the medium to try and validate what they were told or to sense the presence (or not) of any entities. I have heard the term trance medium mentioned in some case studies, but I am not sure all of them have this ability. Trance mediums channel an entities personality through themselves.

Click here to read his full comment.

Phoenix gives it up for Vampire Diaries

Oh, you’re *so* right about putting “Twilight” out of your mind! I was extremely reluctant to begin watching “The Vampire Diaries” because it looked so much like just another leap onto the massively overpopular vampire bandwagon, but I finally settled in to an online streaming website and watched episodes 1-10 a couple of weeks ago and I’m extremely glad that I did.

TVD is actually a fairly original story — it’s true that the Stefan/Elena relationship (and Stefan himself) at times seems like almost *too* much of a throwback to watching Buffy and Angel’s tortured relationship in season two of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” but it’s just original enough — and just non-”Twilight”esque — to be enjoyable.

Not to mention, for a teen-show villain, Damon is actually rather frightening, if you take his murderously cavalier actions at face value. One thing the show never shies from is the grim reality of how Damon continues living — and thoroughly enjoys it. It’s nice that after so many sympathetic woe-is-me bloodsuckers we finally have a *real* bad guy to root against.

It’s just too bad that the culmination of this marathon is going to be on the same Friday that FOX will start airing the final episodes of “Dollhouse” or I’d rewatch “The Vampire Diaries” from start to finish. Oh, well — thank god for Hulu!

While Mark holds nothing back with his thoughts on the recent Prisoner reboot.

C-R-A-P!

I never got my hopes up with this farce of a re-make. The only thing that almost did was the casting of Jim Caviezel. I quote Tom above: “soul-crushingly disappointing” But now look, whomever says that Caviezel did a bad job portraying no. 6 is not thinking before opening their mouth. Did he not do as good a job as he could have, given that total CRAP of a script and story line by that Bill Gallagher genius? He was given too many dumb lines. Where Patrick Mcgoohan had the great ability to carry the original series with his dry humor and sardonic  wit (Clint Eastwood also comes to mind), not to mention TRUE genius writing and directing skills. But what was given Caviezel, did not make that nearly as possible for him to do. Give him a deserved break huh! I could picture the original no. 6 falling for the old buried childhood momentos in the sand ploy, and having that give him doubts..lol! And standing in front of the Green Dome screaming his head off that he was going to destroy no. 2 …..sitting inside eating some f*#^ing fruit cake (well at least that was quite fitting, given the casting of the actor who played no.2). Can you imagine McGoohan doing that? Or being so CONFORMING and going along with the “brother” lies…..or the going “back” to his bus driving job? Let me guess. It was all part of 6’s plan right? lol suurrrre it was.

You can read his full rant right here.

If you really want to see the mother of all comment threads from the past few months, take a look at this post about the new Discovery Channel Show Ghost Lab.

Once again, thank you to everyone who reads and comments here at SFUniverse. We always welcome your opinions even if we don’t always understand them.

“Never underestimate the tenacity of a reprobate mind.”

—Mark Z.

Photo: Stock.xchng

Post from: SF Universe

Sanctuary: “Next Tuesday”

Air Date: Friday, December 4 @ 10:00pmMagnus (AMANDA TAPPING) and Will (ROBIN DUNNE) are called to make a straightforward retrieval of a rare Abnormal off the coast of Louisiana. With a commissioned helicopter, the retrieval is successful and their cargo securely on board. But as the pair starts heading back to the mainland, something causes the unusual sea creature to break loose. Unable to control the Abnormal and the helicopter simultaneously, Magnus and Will make a crash landing and find themselves entangled in guy wire, precariously dangling over an abandoned oil bore well several feet above the water in the middle of the Gulf of Mexico.With the Abnormal nowhere to be found, Magnus concludes it has made its getaway into the depths of the water. But their solitude doesn’t last long. Not only does the Abnormal return, it’s even angrier than before. And Magnus and Will quickly learn they must escape or become its next victim.

Post from: SF Universe

Using the communications stones, Lt. Scott (BRIAN J. SMITH) and Camile Wray (MING-NA) use their time back on earth to visit those they’ve left behind. Camile returns home to spend time with her partner, trying her best to make the strange circumstance normal. Meanwhile, Lt. Scott learns a past relationship might not have ended as he thought.

Aboard Destiny, Dr. Rush (ROBERT CARLYLE) supervises the exploration of new areas of the ship. Looking for resources to make their everyday lives easier, the crew stumbles upon a piece of Ancient technology that carries the promise of a way home. While somewhat familiar with the find, Dr. Rush can’t guarantee the safety of using it, bringing him and Col. Young (LOUIS FERREIRA) to a standoff on what to do.

Pictured: (l-r) Ming-Na as Camile Wray, Reiko Aylesworth as Sharon — Syfy Photo: Carole Segal

Sanctuary: “Veritas”

- DIRECTED BY AMANDA TAPPING

Will (ROBIN DUNNE) goes up against the heads of the Sanctuary Network to defend Magnus (AMANDA TAPPING) who is charged with a shocking murder. But as the evidence stacks up against her, even Will has trouble finding a way to convincingly defend her innocence.

Photos: Syfy

Post from: SF Universe

But before they go, here’s a quick look at where I stand with the current crop of futuristic, non-realistic, ghostly, ghastly, makes-you-wonder, shows on TV.

V: The Series

We’re only a few episodes in but I’m into V for the long haul (which means waiting until Spring of 2010 for the second half of the season.) I’m enjoying the pace of the reveals, I like the characters a lot and I see Visitors everywhere I look. I think this show is so fitting for the climate we live in today, even more so than when the original was made. The idea of sleeper agents among us, living next door, ready to turn on us at any moment. No one is safe and I really feel that from Elizabeth Mitchell’s character. I’m also very intrigued by the idea of a priest as one of the story’s main heroes. Religion keeps cropping up in all of my favorite shows and that, I believe, is also a sign of the times. (ABC/JEFF PETRY) JOEL GRETSCH, ELIZABETH MITCHELL)

V gets an A

The Vampire Diaries

Damon Salvatore is the coolest, hottest villain on TV right now. His patented mixture of snark and smarm keeps me coming back week after week. It’s kind of like a modern, teen version of Dark Shadows, with Elena as Victoria Winters. I’m glad that Elena learned the truth this early in the run. She’s a bright girl and to drag it out any further would have been unbelievable. Now, how they’re going to keep a vampire story going in one town for a whole season without it getting ridiculous — that’s the big question.

The downside of this series is the teen angst portion. I can barely sit through another one of Jeremy’s pout-fests or the all-girl gossip sessions. I do like the town vampire hunting council and the fact that they’ve taken Damon under their wing. Last week’s unexpected murder of the visiting vamp was a solid stamp that this show is prepared to go for the jugular anytime they want to. (Photo: Guy D’Alema/The CW ©2009 The CW Network, LLC. All Rights Reserved.)

The Vampire Diaries gets a B

Warehouse 13

Currently on hiatus, but renewed for a second season, this series was an early favorite. Yes, I know there are plot problems and it is formulaic, but the characters make up for the flaws. Pete and Myka have that perfect relationship where they compliment each other, filling in where the other lacks. Eddie McClintock gives Pete that goofy smile and that childlike sense of wonder — he’s a character I’d love to spend the day with. . . and can we spend it in the warehouse? Like a softer version of Friday the 13: The Series which cursed objects running amuck, there’s no end to the stories that could be written. Saul Rubinek steals the show each week as Artie and paired with Allison Scagliotti’s Claudia, he’s even better.

What would I like to see in the new season? A little more danger. We got some of that near the end of last season and it helps balance out the more humorous tone of the show. I also hope they stick with objects from actual historical characters. Poe was a great one. Now let’s see H.P. Lovecraft left behind.(Photo: Syfy)

Warehouse 13 gets a B

Come back later this week as I deliver grades to Supernatural, Fringe, Stargate Universe and more.

Post from: SF Universe

Air Date: November 13 on Syfy

Visiting a newly discovered jungle planet, the crew is amazed to recover a Kino by the gate. Downloading the Kino data, Eli (DAVID BLUE) discovers video of the team, which appears to have been shot during an earlier visit. The mystery of the video’s origin becomes a secondary concern as members of the team start falling ill. Unable to return to the Destiny for fear of spreading the infection, the team sets up camp in the jungle to try to isolate the infection there. Little do they know that when night falls, the illness will be the least of their worries.

SANCTUARY: Fragments

Air Date: November 13 on Syfy

Dr. Helen Magnus (AMANDA TAPPING) fights to save the life of one of the Sanctuary’s research scientists who was viciously attacked by a seemingly docile Abnormal. Baffled by the creature’s uncharacteristic behavior, Henry (RYAN ROBBINS) tries to figure out what, or who, caused the domesticated Abnormal to react so violently.

Syfy Photo: Carole Segal

Post from: SF Universe

Air Date: November 6 on Syfy

With the situation on board the Destiny dire, General O’Neill (RICHARD DEAN ANDERSON) and Home World Command orders Col. Young (LOUIS FERREIRA) to execute a high risk plan concocted by the IOA scientists which, in theory, could return the crew to earth. Col. Young tries to buy more time so that he can consult those on the ship whose lives are at stake. While using the communication stones, Camile Wray (MING-NA) is approached by IOA representative Dale Strom (CARLO ROTA) who suggests that she steer opinion on the ship in favor of the plan. 

Eli (DAVID BLUE) and Chloe (ELYSE LEVESQUE) are allowed to use the communication stones to visit earth and their loved ones for what may be the last time. Their homecoming is not what they expected and the two try to drink away their worries at a club (featuring Janelle Monáe), but are unable to ignore the looming fate of the Destiny that they have left behind.

(Pictured: (l-r) Elyse Levesque as Chloe Armstrong, Louis Ferreira as Col. Everett Young, Haig Sutherland as Sgt. Hunter Riley, David Blue as Eli Wallace — Syfy Photo: Carole Segal)

SANCTUARY: Pavor Nocturnus

Dr. Helen Magnus (AMANDA TAPPING) wakes up on the floor of the Sanctuary with no recollection of why or how she got there. Disoriented and bewildered, she discovers her office scarred with bullet holes, equipment broken in pieces and layered with dust and the lab left only with devastating remnants of a horrific battle scene.

With no signs of life to be found, Magnus is completely baffled and shaken. To gather her thoughts, she steps up onto the Sanctuary’s rooftop parapet, but is shocked by the scene before her. Instead of the lights of New City, she looks out to a dark, cratered landscape…the city is decimated.

Magnus fashions a makeshift weapon as her only defense and moves out into the city, determined to find some clue as to what has happened to the world. While surveying the destruction, she is attacked by a ferocious, inhuman creature with an ear piercing shriek as its battle cry. Cornered and near defenseless, Magnus catches a glimpse of her attacker’s face. It is scarcely human with pale skin, soulless eyes and shrieking with fury as it prepares to finish her. Suddenly, without warning, a sonic blast hits the beast from behind, killing it and saving Magnus.

Relieved, she looks up to see two men, heavily armed. Before she can ask any questions, one of the men draws a stun gun and fires it at Magnus, taking her down.

When she awakens, she finds herself in an abandoned warehouse with the same two men. They aggressively hose her down, scrubbing her skin raw and leave her soaking wet, shivering and distraught. Exhausted, she curls up on the floor confused and temporarily defeated. When a third man enters the room, she braces herself for another assault.

But she is both surprised and relieved when she realizes the man standing before her, although hardened and battle-scarred, is none other than her colleague and friend Will Zimmerman (ROBIN DUNNE).

She starts to ask him questions, but he forcefully shuts her down and accuses her of being an imposter. He explains coldly that she could not possibly be who she claims because Helen Magnus… died three years before.

Stunned and with far more questions than answers, Magnus knows only that she must escape from Will and find a way to understand the nightmare her world has become. (Pictured: (center) Robin Dunne as Dr. Will Zimmerman — Syfy Photo: Jeff Weddell)

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Air Date: October 30, 2009 on Syfy

Despite severe rationing and around the clock security, the water reserves on board the Destiny continue to drop. Dr. Nicholas Rush (ROBERT CARLYLE) has no explanation for this latest setback but, if they are to survive, they must find a new water source soon. The only planet within range is a frozen wasteland surrounded by a thin and poisonous atmosphere.

Donning two of the ships deteriorated spacesuits, Col. Young (LOUIS FERREIRA) and Lt. Scott (BRIAN J. SMITH) head to the planet’s surface, hoping to retrieve enough ice to replenish their water supply. But once there, tests reveal that the ice near the Stargate contains traces of highly toxic chemicals. Young and Scott take off in search of drinkable samples knowing they don’t have long before their air will run out and Destiny jumps back to FTL.

Back on board the ship, Lt. Tamara Johansen (ALAINA HUFFMAN) works with the crew to catch an intruder they believe is responsible for the lost rations.

Water” — Pictured: (l-r) Louis Ferreira as Col. Everett Young, Brian J. Smith as Lt. Matthew Scott — Syfy Photo: Carole Segal

Sanctuary: Hero

An unlikely superhero with unprecedented strength and the amazing ability to fly, is thwarting crime – and Sanctuary missions – throughout the city, sparking an investigation into his identity by the Sanctuary team. Magnus (AMANDA TAPPING) and Will (ROBIN DUNNE) are able to trap this costumed man by creating a phony emergency, which he responds to with vigor. The city’s newest hero who calls himself “The Adjuster” is quickly disabled and brought back to the Sanctuary for study.

Convinced that Magnus and Will are actually super-villains who have captured him in order to run experiments on him, The Adjuster AKA Walter (CHRISTOPHER GAUTHIER) is less than cooperative. When a blood test reveals he doesn’t possess the DNA of an Abnormal, Magnus and Will are baffled as to the origins of his super powers. Still convinced he’s in the hands of the super-enemy, Walter manages to escape before the Sanctuary team can confirm the results of any more tests.

While Walter’s efforts to fight crime are commendable, if rather fumbling in nature, he continues to risk the work of the Sanctuary and innocent lives (including his own). But when further test results come back, the team learns that Walter’s health is actually rapidly failing. In order for him to stay alive, they need to find a way to lure him back to the Sanctuary for treatment.

Getting him back to the Sanctuary is not the problem. Helping him accept that he will have to go back to his day job as an insurance adjuster and give up his life as a superhero is another matter altogether. Despite his rapidly declining health, Walter refuses to give up his dream.

Elsewhere, Magnus, Will, and Declan (ROBERT LAWRENSON) investigate the discovery of an unusual eggshell remnant at a construction site; which leads to a search to locate a dangerous creature that has hatched and is now loose on the city. And quickly growing in size.

Elsewhere, Kate (AGAM DARSHI) gets an unexpected call from her brother who finds himself in deep with an organized crime boss. In order to save him, she must risk the security of the Sanctuary, and a new-found trust she is beginning to develop with the team.

Post from: SF Universe