Sci-Fi Storm

This just in: Fox has renewed Dollhouse for a 13 episode second season. Reportedly Whedon managed to convince Fox that the show could still be done with quality on a smaller budget – which apparently the “13th episode” (which will be released on the DVD) was used as an example. Update 5/18: It will unfortunately return to Fridays, where it is always difficult to garner strong ratings, but according to Fox scripted shows on Fridays pleases advertisers.

Despite poor ratings for the finale, Dollhouse isn’t dead yet, with Joss Whedon pitching the second season to execs last week. Now they need to make it financially viable. What could boost things is DVD sales, but the DVD doesn’t get released until July 28th (Blu-ray available as well). The DVD will include two big extras – the previously mentioned “missing” episode called “Epitaph One”, and the unaired pilot, “Echo”. Update 5/15: Fox may be leaning towards renewal but it still comes down to money.

The Onion, the tongue-in-cheek news network, “reported” about the new Trek film, and…well, its hilarious.

Just came back from seeing Star Trek, so I’m tossing this together quickly. To put it simply, it was FUN. Some over the top interpretations of the characters, some very different character dynamics, historical references ripped to shreds…and FUN. It also easily won the weekend with a total estimated intake of $76.5m, although this is short of last week’s $81.5m take by Wolverine. Update: Update with spoilers towards the end after a more critical look back…

(continue reading…)

I’ve added some stuff to the Sci-Fi TV Store: The last of Battlestar Galactica (for now) is out with Season 4.5 (in DVD and Blu-ray), along with the Complete Series (DVD/Blu-ray), all released on July 28th (note: at this time Amazon has not updated to give the release date, but that is the date announced); Classic Doctor Who fans will find “The Rescue/The Romans” and “Attack Of The Cybermen” on July 7th and “The Deadly Assassin” and “Image of the Fendahl” on September 1st; and if you are already thinking about holiday presents for your Lost fan, Season 5 is out on December 8th on DVD and Blu-ray.

LOVEFiLM writes tlhIngan maH!
KLINGONS REVIEW THE NEW STAR TREK

Boldly going where no film review has gone before, a pair of Klingons have delivered their verdict on J.J.Abrams’ Star Trek in the world’s first ever Klingon film review.

LOVEFiLM.com the UK’s largest online DVD & games rental service and entertainment website, dispatched General Sol’Rac and General Karloth, High Council members of the Imperial Klingon Expeditionary Forces (IKEF) to watch the film and report back their findings in native tongue ‘tlhIngan Hol’.”

More below.

(continue reading…)

Barbara Peterson writes “Walter Matthew “Matt” Jefferies was the art designer for the original Star Trek TV series, and designed “the most famous star ship in the world,” the USS Enterprise. He also owned and flew a Waco biplane, on display now at the Virginia Aviation Museum, on the grounds of the Richmond International Airport, Richmond, Virginia, and sculpted an absolutely spectacular Enterprise space scene (the Enterprise, a sun, a planet)which is on view there…. and also on view in my blog entry, located here: http://dailyspace.blogspot.com/2009/05/matt-jeffer ies-star-trek-designer.html“

The free fan-made film The Hunt For Gollum had its release on May 3rd…getting nearly 250,000 views in the first 24 hours – and brought the servers down for a couple of hours. Reports are very positive though…now I just need to set the time to watch it myself…

Looks like the success of X-Men Origins: Wolverine may result in further spinoffs of the franchise – and one of the first may feature Deadpool, played by Ryan Reynolds, a wise-cracking mercenary.

Heroes star Milo Ventmiglia’s Agility Studios is setting up to produce a web series called Ultradome, which (tongue-in-cheek) looks to settle some of the greatest (geeky) debates of the Internet generation, like “Who would win a fight: Gandalf or Darth Vader?” But what about the classic argument – “Enterprise or Star Destroyer?”

(continue reading…)