Sci-Fi Storm

Building on the 10 month old report from Lee Zlotoff about a possible big-screen adventure for MacGyver, apparently the production team is in place, with Raffaella De Laurentiis (Dune) producing with Zlotoff and her stepmother Martha De Laurentiis, and father Dino De Laurentiis executive producing, under Raffaella’s Raffaella Prods. and New Line Cinema. No writer or director has been named yet. And I’m probably the only one that didn’t make a “duct tape and twine” reference in the headline…

Harlan Ellison, who wrote the script for the original Star Trek episode “City On The Edge Of Forever”, has filed suit against Paramount for use of the work without paying him for revenues, mostly on derivative works based on the situations and plot of “City”, and even a Hallmark ornament of the Guardian Of Forever. Also named in the suit is the Writers Guild of America, for failing to act on Ellison’s behalf. And in true Ellison character he says, “I’m no hypocrite. It ain’t about the ‘principle,’ friend, its about the MONEY! Pay Me! Am I doing this for other writers, for Mom (still dead), and apple pie? Hell no! I’m doing it for the 35-year-long disrespect and the money!”

In attempt to “broadens perceptions” and “embraces a wider range of current and future imagination-based entertainment” (and probably a lot to do with trademarks), the SCI FI Channel has announced a name change to “Syfy”, which apparently to someone in their marketing department “…more clearly captures the mainstream appeal of the world’s biggest entertainment category.” Actually, it means we can’t call the channel “Skiffy” any more. Update 3/20: SFC president Dave Howe answers some frank questions.