Sci-Fi Storm

Pilot season is getting crazy, and thanks to Twitter we get to learn all about the programs we aren’t likely to ever see. But Longmire, a mystery series based on the [asin=0143036424]novel series[/asin] by Chris Johnson about a sheriff in a county in Wyoming, seemed to be a sought-after script. Now through Twitter I’ve learned that both Katee Sackhoff (Battlestar Galactica) and Lou Diamond Phillips (Stargate Universe) have landed roles opposite Robert Taylor (The Matrix).

Watch it right here! This is the first of three “prequels”, video shorts that will lead in to three full episodes through the series. This is the prequel for the first episode, “The Impossible Astronaut”. I left it at full resolution, which gives the site theme a bit of a fit, so you may want to embiggen your browser…

Update: Alas, the BBC no longer serves it to U.S. clients. BBC America does have it though on their site.

News broke late last night (being on the east coast has its drawbacks), but despite it’s move into the so-called “Death Slot”, Fox has renewed Fringe for a fourth season, even with ratings slipping somewhat in recent weeks, mostly due to college basketball and daylight savings time…

TOR.com has an interesting article called Looking Back With Kitsch: 7 Science Fiction TV Shows We Barely Remember, about some relatively short lived series that perhaps we’re better off not knowing. I remember all but one (a rare British SF show I am not familiar with), and I don’t think they were necessarily as bad as they say:
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Just hearing now that Comedy Central has renewed the resurrected Futurama for an additional 26 episodes to air in 2012 and 2013. The remaining 13 episodes from the first order are due to air this summer.

Futurama originally aired on Fox from 1999-2003, when it was canceled. 6 years later Comedy Central brought it back, with great success – Season 6 so far has average 2.5 million viewers.

The Cartoon Network announced at its upfront presentations today that they have renewed Star Wars: The Clone Wars for a fourth season, along with forming a new partnership with DC Comics and Warner Brothers to create a programming block to be titled DC Nation. In addition Jeffrey Katzenberg, Co-founder and CEO of DreamWorks Animation, appeared to announce that CN and DreamWorks will develop a half-hour cartoon based on the hugely successful How To Train Your Dragon feature.

DC Nation will begin in 2012 as a multi-platform franchise, and the exclusive home for DC properties. Although no specific programming is mentioned, it will include an on-air and online programming block populated with event programming, interstitials, exclusive behind-the-scenes of theatrical production and an insider look into the world of all things DC. “DC Nation on Cartoon Network will be the first-ever dedicated broadcast destination to showcase the depth and breadth of the DC Universe,” said Diane Nelson, President of DC Entertainment. “We and our partners at WBTV are thrilled that fans will be able to immerse themselves in DC’s phenomenal stories, experience a wide spectrum of amazing characters and stay up-to-date on the latest happenings of the world’s greatest superheroes and their creators, both on-air and online.”

“DreamWorks Animation recognizes the importance of building brands around great franchises, so you can imagine how thrilled we are to be joining forces with Cartoon Network to bring our newest franchise – How to Train Your Dragon – to television audiences around the world,” said Katzenberg. Dragon has grossed over $500 million worldwide so far.

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Finally! The extended editions of all three Lord Of The Rings movies will be released on [sfs=1121]Blu-ray on June 28th[/sfs]. A whopping 15 discs are included – 6 Blu-ray discs containing the features plus some of the extras (alas, each movie is divided in half – apparently too big for a standard Blu-ray), plus 9 discs for all the other extras (26 hours worth!). As far as I can tell it is pretty much the same extras as on previous releases, but it is hard to tell with so much stuff…

Per TV|Line, the premiere date for Torchwood: Miracle Day in the U.S. has been set for July 8th on Starz. No word if the BBC will match it yet, or will still use the originally rumored July 1st date.

Torchwood: Miracle Day is jointly produced by Starz and the BBC, with the Torchwood team dividing time between Britain and the U.S. Captain Jack (John Barrowman) and Gwen (Eve Myles) return, and this time are being joined by Mekhi Phfifer (ER) and Alexa Havins (All My Children), and the cast also includes Bill Pullman (Independence Day) and Lauren Ambrose (Six Feet Under).

In the next sneak peek clip of the all-new episode of Being Human, Josh approaches Nora while at work in the hospital. He quickly realizes she is annoyed and mad and that she should be because he basically vanished and hasn’t seen her in two days. All he can do is continue to say he’s sorry, but she’s been rehearsing a conversation in her head that she need to have with him, and it tends to not go well. Watch the clip to find out what she’s been wanting to say and tune in on Monday at 9/8c on Syfy to see how if Josh is able to turn things around or if they continue to head south.
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In the next sneak peek clip of the all-new episode of Stargate Universe, Rush and Eli try to distract themselves from the chaos of whether or not a bomb was diffused by playing some chess. Meanwhile, others are discussing favorite songs until they dispatch Colonel Young because they think they’ve finally made contact with Ginn. Watch the clip and tune in on Monday at 10/9c on Syfy to see if they are able to make some headway on allowing her to know exactly where she is and why.

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