Sci-Fi Storm

Note that this does not come through any official channel, but from JMS himself via a post on rec.arts.sf.tv.babylon5.moderated: Richard Biggs, who played Dr. Stephen Franklin on Babylon 5, apparently passed away this morning. More details when known. Update 5/25: three days later, but it is front page on CNN.com. No real additional info – all we know is it was sudden, shortly after he got up and said hello to his wife – and I believe his sons are real young. I believe JMS will work a fundraiser – I’ll let everyone know when I know more.

“…leaping from life to life…” I can’t believe I didn’t know about this, but the first (short) season of Quantum Leap arrives on DVD on June 8th. I’ve opened a Quantum Leap section in the Sci-Fi TV Store, and you can go to the official website complete with trailer.

The former home of Buffy and Angel has announced its shows for the new season – and it doesn’t include Lost in Space or Dark Shadows, both shows the WB had ordered pilots for. Smallville and Charmed remain, plus a midseason replacement called Global Frequency, based on graphic novel, a remake of Stephen King’s It, and the broadcast premiere of Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.

Time to catch up on the news. The 30th Annual Saturn Awards were given out on Wednesday, with Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King taking the most awards with 8. Other theatrical winners include X2 and Finding Nemo, and in television Angel and C.S.I. (?!) tied for Best Network Series, and Stargate: SG-1 got Best Syndicated/Cable Series. Battlestar Galactica won for Best Mini-Series, Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers won best DVD Special Edition Release, and Firefly won for best DVD Television Release. See the link above for the complete winners list.

TrekToday has an article detailing some of the extras of the forthcoming box set for the first season of the original Star Trek series, although it is unclear if this will also apply to Region 1 sets. Probable release date is August 30th, but it is not set yet.

So, you’ve seen the original 1983 V miniseries, as well as the 1984 conclusion to the alien invasion, V: The Final Battle? But you herd that wasn’t the end – that there was a short-lived series that picks up where they miniseries ended? Well, now you can pick up V: The Complete Series, and see what you’ve missed – and why.

A. Taylor writes “It’s the Marvel of the Age!
FULL BOOST VERTICAL! is a documentary on the making of Gerry Anderson’s TV series SUPERCAR. The black and white television series followed the exploits of Mike Mercury and the Black Rock Labs team and was produced by A. P. Films for Britain’s Associated Television in 1960. Supercar is considered the first of the true Supermarionation shows by Gerry Anderson.

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Ricky Claydon writes “Guest Columnist – Barry Letts: The legendary Doctor Who producer writes for dreamwatch Magazine!

Legendary Doctor Who producer Barry Letts considers the series? revival and gives his opinion on what makes the show work.

dreamwatch Magazine issue 117 ON SALE 29 APR (UK) 18 MAY (US)”

Want to get a sneak peak of what Darth Vader will look like when Episode III is released on May 19th, 2005? You can…if you pick up the original trilogy on DVD. The DVD will include among other special features a featurette on the evolution of Darth Vader, along with behind the scenes footage of the lightsaber duel that is the cause.

The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America have announced the winners of the 2003 Nebula Awards. The Lord of the Rings – The Two Towers picked up yet another award for Best Script, with Neil Gaiman winning Best Novella for Coraline, Elizabeth Moon got Best Novel for The Speed of Dark, Best Novlette went to Jeffrey Ford for The Empire of Ice Cream and Karen Joy Fowler got Best Short Story with “What I Didn’t See”. Robert Silverberg also was given the Damon Knight Memorial Grand Master Award.