Sci-Fi Storm

The Hollywood Reporter’s the live feed has an article about all the fall TV pilot projects in the works. Read More for the Genre-ish projects…

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I first learned of plans to bring Red Dwarf back to the small screen for a few episodes and specials last October. The BBC has finally announced when it will happen – Easter weekend (April 11/12), nearly 10 years after the last episode aired. There will be a two-part story, “Red Dwarf: Back to Earth” which will then be followed by a “no holds barred” special – no sets, special effects or autocue (teleprompters to us Americans), and then a “making of” special. So if they go “Back To Earth”, will it be full of trash? Or did Wall*E steal that idea? No word on if it will see an outlet in the U.S. Update: I missed the fact that it will NOT air on the BBC itself, but on the UKTV digital channel Dave.

As a followup to this report, ABC has ordered a pilot for a new V series to be produced by Scott Peters (The 4400). Only a tiny bit more of the new plot has been revealed: that it will center on a female Homeland Security agent.

Michelle Ryan, who recently starred in the short-lived NBC Bionic Woman reboot as well as Jekyll and EastEnders, and British comedian/actor Lee Evans (There’s Something About Mary) have joined for the first of four Doctor Who special episodes airing this year, titled “Planet of the Dead”. Eyan will play Lady Christina de Souza who encounters the Doctor on a bus trip. Also returning is Noma Dumezweni, who plays UNIT Captain Erisa Magambo, who appeared in the episode “Turn Left”.

Another bad week for the genre…veteran actor/stuntman Bob May, who donned the metal suit of Robot B9 (primarily know as just “Robot” for most of the series), passed away earlier today from congestive heart failure at the age of 69.

PumpHunter writes “Former Quantum Leaper and Enterprise captain Scott Bakula has been cast on the NBCs comedy Chuck, as Chucks father. Chuck finds him bitter and paranoid living in a trailer, beliving that Chevy Chases character has gotten rich by stealing his ideas.”

Sorry for the delay – there was a problem getting webisodes 4 and 5 due to some confusion, but I finally have them – along with 6 through 9. You can find them all on our YouTube Channel. They may not be in perfect order, however because of how they got uploaded. I’d embed them, but NBC Universal loves to mark these as “copyright infringing”, even though their promotion company supplies them to me for this purpose. Until the “dispute” is resolved, I can’t embed them, but at least parts 4 and 5 are below if you Read More. I’ll add the rest when possible. Update: The three parts of “The Top 10 Things You Should Know” are now available as well below. Update 1/13: I’m afraid I’ve failed you. Well, my non-US readers at least. Apparently because of their “exclusive” relationship with Hulu, NBC Universal is not allowing me to post all of the videos – even though it was allowed in the past and they didn’t say anything this time. Not even sure why they provide the files then. Webisode 7 has already been stricken, and I expect 6 and 8 to go as well. No idea why 4, 5 and 9 haven’t been tagged. So I’m afraid I’m done with them. Update again: I am pulling the webisodes from my channel. SCI FI is supposed to upload these to their own channel for the non-US viewers shortly.

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Just a reminder that the series finale for Stargate Atlantis airs tonight at 9pm ET on the SCI FI Channel.

Ian McKellan, who plays Number 2, the controller of The Village in the upcoming AMC The Prisoner miniseries, talked a bit about the role and the show to some journalists. He talks about the approach to the role, about the show itself and how things will actually be explained, contrary to the original, and a bit about street surveillance. The Prisoner will air next November.

26-year-old Matt Smith, who appeared in the British series Party Animals, as well as alongside Who companion Billie Piper in The Ruby in the Smoke and The Shadow in the North as well as an episode of Secret Diary of a Call Girl will be the next (and youngest) Doctor, according to the Doctor Who Confidential special which just aired on BBC One. Such a young actor has an uphill battle in front of him…