23 years of this site still chugging along...
Scotty’s ashes sent to space again…this time to orbit
by Doc on May.22, 2012, under Science, Television
With this early morning’s successful launch of SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket to make the first private space flight delivery to the International Space Station to demonstrate the Dragon capsule, but there was a second container in the second stage – a Celestis canister which contained the ashes of 308 individuals, including Star Trek actor James Doohan and Mercury astronaut Gordon Cooper.
This is the third time the ashes of Doohan and Cooper have been launched towards space. The first time was a suborbital flight in 2007, and then SpaceX attempted in 2008 to reach orbit aboard a Falcon 1, but it failed after launch.
The ashes expect to remain in orbit about a year before being incinerated during re-entry into the Earth’s atmosphere.
Breaking: Syfy officially cancels Sanctuary
by Doc on May.21, 2012, under Television
Syfy officially announced today that it will not renew Sanctuary for a fifth season, according to Mark Stern, Syfy President of Original Content.
“We’re honored to have been part of this incredible series. In addition to garnering unmatched devotion by fans worldwide,” Stern said in a release, “Sanctuary was a bona fide trailblazer, setting new standards with its highly innovative production techniques–including pioneering green screen and RED camera technology–and Emmy-nominated visual effects. It’s been an amazing ride and we look forward to our next project with Amanda Tapping, Martin Wood and Damian Kindler.”
I’m still sure that stars Amanda Tapping and Robin Dunne will find themselves working on something else together, and Space Milkshake is pending release. And I have a feeling that whatever it is will be produced by Damian Kindler and Martin Wood, who have been working with Tapping since Stargate SG-1. Tapping and Wood already working with Sanctuary supervising producer Gillian Horvath on new series Primeval: New World, with Amanda taking a spin as director.
“Doctor in Distress”, a 1985 high-energy pop fundraiser song for Doctor Who
by Doc on May.21, 2012, under Television
I honestly only learned of this just now – back in 1985, when Doctor Who was struggling and was going through an extended hiatus and possible cancellation during Colin Baker’s run, unofficial adviser to the production Ian Levine had a wonderful, brilliant idea (or at least he thought so at the time…afterwards, not so much…) – in the style of Band Aid/USA for Africa, create a song and music video that would serve as a battle cry for fans, but also at the same time raise funds for cancer research.
He got some celebrities, in the form of current Doctor Who stars Colin Baker and Nicola Bryant, along with guest stars Anthony Ainley (The Master) and Nicholas Courtney (Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart). He got some singing talent, mostly middle-level British pop stars, but with a few recognizable names among them, including Justin Hayward and John Lodge of the Moody Blues and Warren Cann from Ultravox. Levine and composer Fiachra Trench (who together did the music for the spinoff K9 and Company) co-wrote and co-produced the song, a high energy synthpop song.
The results were a disaster.
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Video of the “Carbon-Freeze Me” experience at Star Wars Weekends
by Doc on May.20, 2012, under Fun Stuff, Movies
Remember that “Carbon-Freeze Me” experience that we reported would be available at Star Wats Weekends at Walt Disney World? Well, check out the video of the experience from our friend Ricky Brigante over at Inside The Magic:
Haven returns in September; Missick and Kelton join cast
by Doc on May.18, 2012, under Television
Syfy’s hit series Haven finally has it’s return date, and it will return to the schedule on Friday September 21st.
Also announced today are two cast additions:
Dorian Missick (Southland, The Cape) plays “Tommy Bowen,” a street smart Boston detective who comes to Haven investigating a suspected serial killer case. A shrewd, calculating policeman, he’s also a fish out of water, completely mismatched with this L.L. Bean world.
Kate Kelton (Harold and Kumar, American Psycho 2) portrays the spirited and fierce “Jordan McKee.” She’s a waitress at “The Gun & Rose Diner,” and also an influential member of a mysterious organization of “troubled” people whose identity is known by the distinctive tattoo marking its members.
Season three of Haven picks up immediately following the events of the gripping season two finale with Audrey having been brutally kidnapped; Nathan (Lucas Bryant) warned against pursuing a romantic relationship with Audrey; and Duke (Eric Balfour) seemingly engaged in a fight to the death with Nathan after he discovers his family lineage is to kill Haven citizens with troubles.
Haven, based on the novella The Colorado Kid from renowned author Stephen King, follows former FBI agent Audrey Parker, who becomes a cop in the small town of Haven, Maine, and soon discovers the town’s many secrets, which also hold the key to unlocking the mysteries of her lost past.
Watch the first 10 minutes of the Teen Wolf season 2 premiere online here
by Doc on May.18, 2012, under Television
Check out the first 10 minutes of MTV’s Teen Wolf season two premiere below!
After an action-packed end to its premiere season, “Teen Wolf” jumps full force into season two with even more suspenseful drama. Scott McCall, an ordinary teenager with a wild secret, continues to find himself caught in a supernatural war between hunters and werewolves. While navigating the complicated roadways of high school, Scott must keep his forbidden romance with Allison a secret and protect himself from new Alpha wolf Derek. Scott will have to trust his instincts above all else if he hopes to end the war in Beacon Hills and keep his friends and family safe.
Teen Wolf premieres right after the MTV Movie Awards on June 3rd.
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New CBS series: Elementary preview
by Doc on May.17, 2012, under Television
Remember that modern-day retelling of Sherlock Holmes CBS brought to pilot, and made Steven Moffat angry considering it is basically the same concept as his Sherlock series on the BBC/PBS? Well, it’s been picked up for series, and we’ve got the preview for you so you can see if it really is similar. One major difference – Holmes’ (Jonny Lee Miller, Eli Stone) companion, Watson, is a woman! Lucy Liu (Southland) plays Joan Watson, is his “sober companion”, as Holmes is a unpaid consultant for Scotland Yard in New York attending a rehab facility.
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Lost Girl preview: “It’s Better to Burn Out Than Fae Away”
by Doc on May.17, 2012, under Television
In next Monday’s Lost Girl, Bo gets caught between the Morrigan and Vex as things with Lauren get complicated. Tune in at 10/9c on Syfy!
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Previews of two new CW shows: Arrow and Beauty And The Beast
by Doc on May.17, 2012, under Television
The CW has picked up two genre shows for series this fall, both we’ve mentioned before: Arrow, based on the Green Arrow comics, and remake of the 1980’s classic modern retelling of Beauty And The Beast…check out the preview videos below!
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Exclusive: A talk with Star Wars: The Clone Wars star and Her Universe founder Ashley Eckstein
by Doc on May.16, 2012, under Fun Stuff, Movies, Television
Ashley Eckstein, who voices the character of Jedi padawan Ashoka Tano in Star Wars: The Clone Wars, is not your typical SF actor…she’s a fan as well. And as a female fan, she’s trying to change the SF merchandise landscape: one that has been marketed primarily to males, even though females account for half of science fiction fans. That’s why she’s founded Her Universe, which produces products focused on female fans.
Her Universe just launched some of their Star Wars shirts online with retailer Hot Topic, and Ashley begins her job as co-host for Star Wars Weekends at Walt Disney World this Friday, and taking place every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday through June 10th.
I spoke with the always friendly Ashley about Her Universe, Star Wars, and Disney.
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