Sci-Fi Storm

David Eick, who has already had a hand in the “re-imagining” of Battlestar Galactica as executive producer, has set the target on another 1970s show: The Bionic Woman. He will work with Laeta Kalogridis, creator of Bird of Prey and currently working on James Cameron’s projects The Dive and Battle Angel.

Heroes has proven a hit so far – especially in the all-important 18-49 demographic – such that NBC has already extended its order for a full season of episodes. Presumably at 13-episode short season was originally ordered.

Eureka, which just finished its first 13-episode season on the SCI FI Channel, has been renewed for a second season of 13 episodes. I am a bit behind on the TiVo, but I have thoroughly enjoyed the show, mainly for the humor – the science is a bit ridiculous. Is everyone else enjoying the show?

So, what happened in the hatch? What about Jack, Sawyer, and Kate? And just what does the Hanso Foundation do? We should find out – maybe – starting Wednesday night at 9PM ET.

After its first season of 13 episodes, Spike TV has cancelled it’s original series Blade, which was based on the movie trilogy of the same name. A DVD set will be released, however.

The SCI FI Channel begins airing the second series of the revamped Doctor Who, starring David Tennant in place of Christopher Eccleston, tonight at 8PM ET with “The Christmas Invasion” followed by “New Earth” at 9:30PM. Update: Time correction, plus I forgot to mention that Who has been listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the TV’s longest-running sci-fi show, although there is some confusion about Stargate SG-1 entry as “Longest running sci-fi TV show (consecutive)”. Doctor Who ran for 26 “consecutive” years. Guinness either means currently in production, or (my theory) that the writer’s strike in 1980 that cancelled “Shada” is considered a break, and the number and length of episodes back then resulted in the total produced time being less than what SG-1 has. Anyone want to do the maths?

SCI FI Wire has posted more information on The Sarah Jane Adventures. Producer Russell T. Davies insists the upcoming special is “a one-off special, not a pilot,” followed by the full series (set to begin filming in April). Also, K9 will in fact appear in the special, but not in the series due to ownership rights. In Britain, it was common for the writer to own the characters, not the production company – much like how Terry Nation owned the Daleks. Bob Baker owns K9, and according to Davies, “He’s been planning his own spinoff series for K-9 for the past 10-15 years. That series is in development right now with Jetix.”

G4 and MGM TV have gotten together and are producing an animated series based on Spaceballs, Mel Brooks’ cult-hit spoof of Star Wars. A one-hour pilot and 13 half-hour episodes are ordered, and will air in the U.S. on G4. Brooks will reprise his roles in voice, and helped write the pilot.

Russell T. Davies is explaining why the Doctor doesn’t get into space much. Despite last season’s two-parter of “The Impossible Planet/Satan’s Pit” being set around a black hole, Davies says about episodes like that, “They’re hugely expensive,” and “The programmes that do show alien planets are not prime-time programmes.” Apparently the BBC hasn’t seen fit to give the show its deserved budget.

The Dead Zone, which some say was unlikely to get renewed due to increasing costs, gets a reprieve, albeit a short one. USA Network has ordered up 13 more episodes.