Sci-Fi Storm

Grimm was only renewed for 13 episodes in its sixth season back in April, but there were hopes it could get extended. But when it was left off NBC’s Fall lineup, fears were setting in. But now NBC has confirmed that the sixth season will remain at 13 episodes and be its last when they announced that the “final” season will begin January 6th at 8/7c.

The series, which reached the 100-episode milestone last season, has long been a fan and critical favorite, with the Los Angeles Times calling it “terrific and trendsetting… ‘Grimm’ has become a beacon of solid narrative and a weekly reminder of why monsters matter.” The New York Times said “Grimm” is “engaging, clever, tense, funny and well-paced, featuring a remarkably appealing cast.”

As for events leading into the final season, the nefarious forces of Black Claw have been silenced and Nick (David Giuntoli) faces an all too familiar foe in Capt. Sean Renard (Sasha Roiz). Now in the seat of power as the mayor elect of Portland, Renard is poised to bring rise to his own brand of law and order. Nick must take a stand to protect his city and those closest to him, especially his child with Adalind (Claire Coffee). It will take the full force of Nick and his allies to find a way to bring the peace.

Meanwhile, Monroe (Silas Weir Mitchell) and Rosalee (Bree Turner) grapple with bringing a child into a new and tumultuous world, and Eve (Bitsie Tulloch) faces unsettling identity issues as her former self lurks below the surface.

“Grimm” also stars Russell Hornsby and Reggie Lee.

Did you wonder where Thor was during Captain America: Civil War? Well, now you can see with this little mockumentary from the director of Thor: Ragnarok…he may still be looking for recruits for Team Thor…

This may have flown under my radar, but Family Guy creator and voice actor Seth Macfarlane has a straight-to-series order from Fox for a yet unnamed hour long sci-fi comedy series, in which he will also star and executive produce. Also in the cast are Adrianne Palicki (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.), Scott Grimes (ER, Party of Five), Peter Macon (Friendship!) and J Lee (Family Guy).

Now Jon Favreau, who really got the Marvel Cinematic Universe off on the right track by directing the first two Iron Man installments and has been hitting gold with his latest, Disney’s Jungle Book, has signed on the direct and executive produce the first episode.

Set in space 300 years in the future, the show follows the adventures of the Orville, a not-so-top-of-the-line exploratory ship in Earth’s interstellar fleet.

Anyone else having flashbacks to Quark?

The second half of Syfy’s upcoming Channel Zero anthology series has its title and its star.

Amy Forsyth (Defiance, A Christmas Horror Story) will headline the cast for Channel Zero: The No-End House, which will be based on a “creepypasta” story by Brian Russell, telling the story of a young woman named Margot Sleator (Forsyth), who visits the No-End House, a bizarre house of horrors that consists of a series of increasingly disturbing rooms. When she returns home, Margot realizes everything has changed.

The first part of the series, i>Channel Zero: Candle Cove debuts September 27th on Syfy. Channel Zero: The No-End House will premiere in 2017.

The 2016 Hugo Awards were given out yesterday at MidAmeriCon II, the 74th World Science Fiction collection. Like last year, a group calling itself “Rabid Puppies”, led by Theodore Beale, tried to game the system and encouraged voting for a particular slate of nominees, but like last year were largely ignored by the more than 3,000 votes given.

BEST NOVEL

[asin=0316229296]The Fifth Season[/asin] by N.K. Jemisin (Orbit)

BEST NOVELLA

[asin=0765385252]Binti[/asin] by Nnedi Okorafor (Tor.com)

BEST NOVELETTE

“Folding Beijing” by Hao Jingfang, trans. Ken Liu (Uncanny Magazine, Jan-Feb 2015)

BEST SHORT STORY

“Cat Pictures Please” by Naomi Kritzer (Clarkesworld, January 2015)

BEST RELATED WORK

No Award

BEST GRAPHIC STORY

[asin=1401248969]The Sandman: Overture[/asin] written by Neil Gaiman, art by J.H. Williams III (Vertigo)

BEST DRAMATIC PRESENTATION, LONG FORM

[asin=B017S3OP34]The Martian[/asin] screenplay by Drew Goddard, directed by Ridley Scott (Scott Free Productions; Kinberg Genre; TSG Entertainment; 20th Century Fox)

BEST DRAMATIC PRESENTATION, SHORT FORM

Jessica Jones: “AKA Smile” written by Scott Reynolds, Melissa Rosenberg, and Jamie King, directed by Michael Rymer (Marvel Television; ABC Studios; Tall Girls Productions;Netflix)

BEST EDITOR, SHORT FORM

Ellen Datlow

BEST EDITOR, LONG FORM

Sheila E. Gilbert

BEST PROFESSIONAL ARTIST

Abigail Larson

BEST SEMIPROZINE

Uncanny Magazine edited by Lynne M. Thomas & Michael Damian Thomas, Michi Trota, and Erika Ensign & Steven Schapansky

BEST FANZINE

File 770 edited by Mike Glyer

BEST FANCAST

No Award

BEST FAN WRITER

Mike Glyer

BEST FAN ARTIST

Steve Stiles

The John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer (Not a Hugo Award, but administered along with the Hugo Awards) went to: Andy Weir

The international trailer for Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, shown below, gives us some more scenes and dialog that perhaps reveal a bit more of the story…watch and see…

The first official trailer for Arrival, starring Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner, and Forest Whitaker. Looks like it could be a good intellectual movie with some action…

Opens November 11th, 2016

We were devastated to learn via the BBC that actor Kenny Baker has passed away today after a long illness, just short of his 82nd birthday.

Baker was the man who brought R2-D2 to life, working inside the costume in the first six Star Wars movies and consulting in The Force Awakens. He also appeared in a number of other films, including an old favorite, Time Bandits, as Fidget.

Baker had been cared for by his nephew Drew Myerscough for a number of years, after he had developed respiratory issues, although this did not stop him from making appearances. One of the first actors willing to make appearances at conventions, he was scheduled for his only U.S. appearance later this year at Rhode Island Comic Con. His nephew said, “His fans worldwide kept him going and he loved nothing more than going to conventions and meeting everybody – it really gave him that extra lease of life.”

OK, this is looking GOOD…

In the meantime, it seems that the standalone “Young Han Solo” film may also be getting a young Lando Calrissian…according to a report from The Wrap, the code name of “Chance” has been circling the casting calls, and putting the dice together, people figure this a reference to Han’s and Lando’s past – after all, Han won the Millennium Falcon from Lando via gambling…

Things are getting cray-Z – Z Nation Season 3 is coming soon!