Sci-Fi Storm

Primeval: Volume 3 was released on both [sfs=1192]Blu-ray[/sfs] and [sfs=1191]DVD[/sfs] ([sfs=1189]Volume 1[/sfs] and [sfs=1190]Volume 2[/sfs] are only on DVD) from BBC Video in the U.S. a couple of weeks ago, and consists of what in the U.K. were considered Series 4 and Series 5 of the program, a total of 13 episodes. We reviewed Volume two back in 2009.

With Connor (Andrew Lee Potts, Alice), Abby (Hannah Spearritt, Seed of Chucky) and Danny (Jason Flemyng, X-Men: First Class, Snatch) trapped in the past at the end of Volume Two, the ARC has had to find new recruits to take their place. Matt (Ciarán McMenamin, Jericho, Demons), the new field leader, is an ex-soldier with a secret which he keeps hidden from his team. Unconventional and highly efficient Jess (Ruth Kearney, Gracie!) now runs operations from the ARC Control Center. Charismatic businessman and scientist Philip Burton (Alexander Siddig, Clash of the Titans, 24, Syriana, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine) has become part owner of the ARC after the government lost faith in Home Office official James Lester’s (Ben Miller) ability to run such a dangerous and expensive operation on his own. Once Philip gained half ownership and privatized the ARC, the fine line between saving the country and creating scientific history became blurred. Will greed outweigh the true danger of the anomalies?
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There are some things that seem to go together, one one seems to be that SF fans are also fans of Monty Python, and can recite any scene from Monty Python and the Holy Grail spot on…I’ve even been explaining to my kids how if a woman weighs as much as a duck, she’s made of wood, and therefore a witch…ahem. So no wonder I got giddy when I heard about Absolutely Anything, a SF farce comedy being directed by former Python Terry Jones, who also directed Life of Brian and co-directed Grail, and already has John Cleese, Terry Gilliam and Michael Palin signed up – Eric Idle is in negotiations – potentially bringing the five surviving members of Monty Python together again (the sixth member, Graham Chapman, passed away in 1989 from cancer). Add in the voice of Robin Williams and just sit back and laugh…

The story, being developed by Jones and Gavin Scott (The Mists of Avalon, The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles) and combining CG and live action, is about a group of aliens (voiced by the Pythons) who grant the power to do anything to a human – and watch how he screws up everything. Williams will add his voice as a talking dog named Dennis, and they are hoping to use him in a live role as well.

Fox still hasn’t announced its intentions regarding Fringe, although a lot of people are expecting the network to cancel the show after entertainment president Kevin Reilly’s statement that “We lose a lot of money on the show.” But Joshua Jackson, who plays Peter Bishop on the show, thinks it could live on after cancelation. “They’ve talked about maybe going off network with it, too,” he said of the possibilities. “The TV landscape is a different place than it used to be, so it might not be death.”

The TV landscape is VERY different. Gone are the days where a big budget show might survive in first-run syndication, and cable networks don’t seem to be quite up to the same level for production costs, although they are closing in. But if your loyal fan base is strong enough, there still seems to be alternative media outlets, including the Buffy route: tell the rest of the story in comics.

This video aired on the CBBC last year, but I hadn’t seen it until now…it’s a moving tribute to Elisabeth Sladen called “My Sarah Jane”, featuring bits from the stars of Doctor Who and The Sarah Jane Adventures, along with clips of Sarah Jane Smith.
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In this preview for next Monday’s Being Human, we see Josh, Nora and Sally in a vacant storage unit where they discuss their location for their next werewolf transformation. Josh’s plan for them to be video taped during the process has Nora skeptical but assures Nora that he’s only trying his best to find out how they both can be treated and be cured from this werwolf disease. Watch and all-new sneak peek of Being Human and see as the couple confronts their first werewolf change together. Tune in at 9/8c Monday, January 30th on Syfy.
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In this preview for the upcoming episode, “Aithusa”, Merlin, Arthur and the Knights of Camelot are under the attack by an unknown enemy. One of his men gets hit in the leg and the army struggles to find a plan of attack, when suddenly Merlin spots the attacker over the ledge above. He signals Arthur and quickly makes a move while Merlin uses magic to throw the enemy’s weapon out from his hands. Tune-in to an all-new episode of Merlin this Friday at 10/9c on Syfy as an enigmatic stranger appears with a magical secret that could change Camelot forever.
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Dick Tufeld, who many will remember as the booming voice behind the Rambler-Crane series B9 Robot in the original Lost in Space series and the 1998 movie, passed away yesterday at the age of 86.

Tufeld’s voice wasn’t only heard by Lost in Space fans – he started in radio in 1950 for the American Broadcast Company and an announcer, and went on to become a familar narrator and voice actor as well, often providing voice over talents on many programs for Disney and other studios and networks, and even doing TV news for a time.

Bill Mumy, who along with Jonathan Harris played against the Robot frequently, said on Facebook, Dick Tufeld was a really cool guy. He’s reunited with his wife Adrian now. R.I.P. Dick. You will be missed bigtime..

One last, “Danger, Will Robinson…”

[sfs=1188]Merlin: The Complete Third Season[/sfs] was released on DVD by BBC this past week, just as the fourth series picks up on Syfy. The third series picks up a year after Morgana disappeared and the Great Dragon had ravaged Camelot before Merlin’s newly gained Dragonlord powers stopped him. Morgana’s disappearance has left Uther distraught while all his forces look for her. She is found, and appears to even forgive Merlin – but her schemes have not changed, and if anything, are more daring as she attempts to take the throne for herself with the help of Morgause (who we see more in this series). In the meantime, Arthur sees more in Gwen, which could be dangerous for her, while Lancelot returns and we are introduced to Gwaine, Percival, and Elyan (Gwen’s brother) who become Knights of Camelot. Throughout the season, we see Morgana and Morgause plot and scheme to take over Camelot, but others also have plans to murder Uther and take the crown.
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Following up on last week’s news that the CW was developing Green Arrow, tonight Deadline reports that the CW has given it the green light to go to pilot. Also given a green light is a reboot of the 1980’s cult favorite series Beauty and the Beast from Jennifer Levin (Without A Trace) and Sherri Cooper (Brothers And Sisters).

In its first pilot order since 2010, Syfy has ordered a two-hour pilot called Rewind, and action-thriller from Justin Marks (Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea: Captain Nemo), BermanBraun and Universal Cable Productions.

BermanBraun also produces Alphas, which was one of the pilot orders from 2010, along with Three Inches, which was described in Syfy’s Spring 2011 development slate, but did not get to series.

Update: From the press release:
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