Sci-Fi Storm

In Part 1 of the Sanctuary season finale, Magnus meets with the captain, whom for the most part has left Magnus and team alone from activities throughout the Sanctuary. Though as she’s escorted through the hangar, she suggests to the captain that things might have to change. As the group walks around the corner, they’re carefully approached by a group of abnormals and the officers quickly draw their weapons. Magnus and a representative confirm that they’re friends of the Sanctuary and that they only wish to speak to the Captain face to face. The officers are ordered to stand down and the Captain is asked for their support for the success of the mission. Tune in to Part 1 of the Season Finale this Friday, December 23 at 10/9c as the team races to prevent the unleashing of a doomsday weapon.
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I know in some cases trailers are so eagerly anticipated that people go to movies they otherwise wouldn’t attend just to see them…but this is the first time that I’ve seen a studio or producer trying to build up heat for the trailer itself…the trailer for Ridley Scott’s Prometheus, comes out on Thursday on Apple’s iTunes Movie Trailers, but out today is a teaser – for the trailer. Here it is…although not a formal prequel of the Alien franchise, it’s definitely got that Alien vibe…

Apollo 18, from Anchor Bay Entertainment and Dimension Films and directory Gonzalo López-Gallego, comes out on [asin=B004EPYZXU]Blu-ray[/asin] and [asin=B004EPYZXK]DVD[/asin] on December 27th. Presented as a “found footage” film (similar to The Blair Witch Project and Paranormal Activity), it documents the ultra-secret Apollo 18 mission to the Moon’s South Pole in 1974 – a mission so secret the astronauts don’t know what they are there for. It stars Warren Christie (Alphas), Ryan Robbins (Sanctuary) and Lloyd Owen (The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles, Monarch of the Glen).
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Can any sci fi and/or horror genre fan not know who Forrest J Ackerman, aka The Ackermonster, is?

You’ve doubtless heard of him – the editor of Famous Monsters of Filmland from 1958-1983, cameos in dozens of science fiction films, collection of sci fi props, posters and other material on display, first at the Ackermansion and then at the Ackerminimansion, one of the three amigos along with Ray Harryhausen and Ray Bradbury.

McFarland has recently brought out a biography of Forry by a long-time friend, Deborah Painter, and The Thunder Child reviews it at Forry: The Life of Forrest J Ackerman.

Steven Moffat is still rather ticked about David Yates talking about a Doctor Who film that apparently ignores him and the current TV production. On the Richard Bacon Show on BBC Radio 5, when asked about the film, he said: “David was talking a little out of turn, there; a very, very brilliant director but no the film as described by him, of course we’re not going to do that. A film that contradicts the television series, it would be a heathen thing to do. I would be beheaded to do such a thing! It would be wonderful to do a Doctor Who film, but when and if we did – and hopefully we will be doing it – it will be very much an offshoot of the television series and we’ll be part of it, and it will star the television Doctor, of course – anything else would be heresy!”

Joseph Henry “Joe” Simon, who created or co-created many comic book characters during the “Golden Age” of comics, and notably Captain America, and member of the Will Eisner Comic Book Hall of Fame, passed away on Wednesday at the age of 98. Often partnered with Jack Kirby, Simon worked at the forerunners of current comic powerhouses DC and Marvel.

I just learned that Logan’s Run – The Series will be [sfs=1186]released on DVD April 10th, 2012[/sfs]. I’ve long thought that this series might never make it to DVD – it wasn’t particularly good and it didn’t last long, but it is one I remember as a kid. But it seems that slowly they are bringing out pretty much everything.

If you don’t quite remember the series, I did a Retro Review of it four years ago. I may just have to get the DVD set and re-review it…

The science fiction and fantasy genre seems to have taken a hit in the latest Golden Globe nominations. It don’t see anything in the Motion Picture awards at all aside from the animated features, which is very surprising given the major buzz about Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2. Harry Potter could still see an Oscar nod as the field is larger there, but it could mean it is a longshot at winning.

On the TV side, however, there were a few genre hits, notably Game Of Thrones receiving nods for “Best Television Series – Drama” and a “Best Supporting Actor” for Peter Dinklage, while American Horror Story also received one for “Best Television Series – Drama” and “Best Supporting Actress” for Jessica Lange.

SF-friendly show The Big Bang Theory saw a single nod for Johnny Galecki for “Best Performance By An Actor In A Television Series – Comedy Or Musical”.

The complete nomination list is available at Deadline.

Time is running out for Amy and Rory. After a screening of the upcoming Christmas episode of Doctor Who, “The Doctor, The Widow and the Wardrobe”, Steven Moffat spoke and let the cat out of the bag: Amy and Rory will be leaving the TARDIS during the next series, and will do so “heartbreakingly”.

Sounds like the next series is going to be very hard to watch. 🙁

2011 may not have been kind to the economy, but it sure was kind to Syfy. With record viewership and double-digit growth in younger demographics, 2011 will be the best year ever for the network.

Fueled by its critically acclaimed popular programming, Syfy is on pace to make 2011 its most watched prime year ever, averaging 1.33 million total viewers – up 10% compared to 2010.

In addition to climbing 5% in Adults 18-49 (569,000) and +1% in Adults 25-54 (633,000), Syfy will also set a new viewership record among Men total viewers (756,000).

Continuing its growth among younger viewers, Syfy surged +14% in Adults18-34 (219,000), +21% in Men 18-34 (126,000) and +7% in Women 18-34 (93,000).
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