Sci-Fi Storm

The SCI FI Channel has announced another 13 episode season of the original series Eureka. The show, about a hidden town with the smartest people on Earth running their experiments which always seem to go wrong, has an enjoyable comedic bent to it, but for some reason SFC limits it to 13-episode runs.

NBC Universal, whose initials perhaps should mean “Nothing But Clones”, announced the next re-imagining of an old series – Knight Rider. After the success of Transformers (for which they’ve already announced a preliminary release date of June 26th, 2009 for the sequel), NBC wants Doug Liman (The O.C.) to come up with a new version of the 1980s David Hasselhoff vehicle (literally). No word on actors at this point, but they are planning a two-hour backdoor pilot, and wish to explore the “evil car” aspect more. Makes me think that the cars may have some other-worldly origin, instead of just technology.

A special effects technician working on the upcoming Batman Begins sequel, The Dark Night, was killed in London when the camera platform truck he was driving during a practice run struck a tree.

It’s the start of the 2007-2008 season, and we’re loaded for bear. We even get started with NBC tonight with Chuck (probably not really SF, but we’ll see), the sophmore Heroes, and Journeyman; Nothing new on Tuesday (second to last episode of the season for Eureka, with special guest Michael Shanks); Wednesday brings us Bionic Woman; we get Thursday off, and then Friday brings us the next season of Stargate Atlantis, with the return of Colonel Carter to the franchise, along with a new episode of Flash Gordon. Speaking of Flash, I’d like to hear some opinions. I think its decent, but I can see they are keeping mostly Earthbound, which keeps budgets low – which may limit the storytelling for a bit. And where are the spaceships…

In the second part of an interview for TV Guide, George Lucas talks about the two upcoming Star Wars TV series. For both Clone Wars and the unnamed live-action series, he hopes to write and film 100 episodes of each – whether the series have been sold to an outlet or not.

The new web site for the next Doctor Who spinoff, The Sarah Jane Adventures, is now online. The new show, aimed as a children’s show and featuring Elizabeth Sladen as former companion Sarah Jane Smith, debuts on Monday, September 24th, on BBC One. No word on whether BBC America or another network may pick up the show in the U.S. Torchwood is now airing on BBC America, as is the 2nd series of Doctor Who while the SCI FI Channel has the 3rd series, and I only just learned that a local PBS station (WENH in New Hampshire, always friendly to Who fans) just completed airing the 1st series.

The Producer writes “The television crew from Sci Fi Central have just returned from an unprecedented tour of Lucasfilm and Skywalker Ranch where we have filmed segments for our new TV series.

We have filmed Star Wars actress Bonnie Piesse who hosts our show, plus DJ interviews Skywalker Sound?s Matthew Wood (the voice of General Grievous) and Producer Rick McCallum.

We had a fantastic 45 minute talk with Rick in which he talks about everything from his early career as a Producer to the prospect of George?s son Jett Lucas coming up with his own story ideas and whether Darth Vader may or may not be in the television series.”

Read More for a snippet.

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George Lucas, as part of an interview for TV Guide, mentions that Sean Connery will not return as Indiana Jones father in the new movie – and it’s a good thing. “No, in the end, it turned out better. In the beginning, he was just in a little bit of it, and I think with the strength of Sean Connery, people would’ve wanted him to go all the way through the whole thing, and the story really didn’t work that way. And so I think there would’ve been some disappointment that [his character] dropped out partway through the movie.” Instead, the part was transferred to a new character, which I presume is the role to be played by Jim Broadbent (The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe).

The Dark Crystal – 25th Anniversary Edition came out last month on DVD. Haven’t gotten a copy yet, but I need to – after having listened to the The Dark Crystal – 25th Anniversary Original Soundtrack and realizing how familiar the music was for a film I haven’t seen in almost a quarter century. Read More for a brief review.

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Robert Jordan, author of The Wheel of Time book series, passed away yesterday afternoon after battling a rare blood disease (primary amyloidosis with cardiomyapathy). He first announced he was suffering from it last year, but he had an excellent attitude in the face of the fatal disease.