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Editorial: About SOPA/PIPA and why we oppose it
by Doc on Jan.18, 2012, under Editorial
You’ve probably noticed that many sites, from major ones like Wikipedia, to our friends at genre-related sites like Airlock Alpha, have “gone dark” today in protest of the SOPA/PIPA acts now before the U.S. Congress.
Sci-Fi Storm has not gone dark, for two reasons – it’s a lot of work to do it without messing up search engines, etc., and it would also mean lost income (and we barely get any as it is…) But it is not because we don’t oppose these bills. In fact, we are vehemently against them.
Note, we are NOT opposed to copyright laws, or the rights of copyright holders. What we oppose is the lack of due process reflected in the bills that can allow a site to be shut down, cut off, blacklisted off search engines, etc. without much recourse for the site owner. And there are questions as to whether the mere accusations of such infringements is enough for the actions to be taken without proper verification or challenge.
If these bills pass, you will probably see a lot less sites on the Internet with interesting content. Not because they infringe on copyrights, but because site owners don’t want to bother having to deal with it. Open forums and comments sites would likely cease to exist, as they’d have to police each and every post made and somehow verify that it doesn’t infringe on someone’s copyright. That tag line quote you attach to all your posts? Probably infringes on a copyright. That lolcatz picture you shared? Probably infringes on a copyright. Even though some of those types of infringements may be protected forms of speech (parody, etc.), you wouldn’t be given the opportunity to make that case.
We urge you NOT to support SOPA/PIPA as they are currently written, and to notify your Congress critters that you do not.
Here are some recommended links for reading more about SOPA/PIPA:
A technical examination of SOPA and PROTECT IP
Syfy’s multi-platform Defiance gets TV star with Bowler
by Doc on Jan.17, 2012, under Games, Television
Syfy’s upcoming Defiance, a combination TV show and massive-multiplayer open world game being developed between Universal Cable Productions and Trion Worlds, has its first TV star with Grant Bowler, the New Zealander who previously appeared on True Blood, Lost, and Ugly Betty. Syfy’s president of original content Mark Stern said, “Grant’s charismatic charm and his depth as an actor make him the perfect anchor as we build the ensemble for this sweeping adventure series.”
Bowler will play Jeb Nolan, a “boomtown lawkeeper” on an Earth ravaged by war where now humans and aliens coexist, in a sort of western/sci-fi mix.
The TV pilot is being written by SF TV veteran Rockne S. O’Bannon. The game will be available on multiple platforms. No release dates have been set, but a trailer for the game is available at the official web site.
Update: From the press release:
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Being Human preview: “Do You Really Want To Hurt Me?”
by Doc on Jan.17, 2012, under Television
On Next Monday’s Being Human, we see Josh and Nora at a social event and another couple asks both how long they’ve been dating for. With Nora under the influence, she begins denying their intimate relationship and begins to open up a bit about their recent events such as waking up in a pile of leaves, unknown to how she got there. The scene gets rather intense as she discloses a shocking secret that even Josh wasn’t aware of. Tune in to an all new episode of Being Human next Monday at 9/8c to see how Nora copes with the fact that she is now a werewolf.
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Merlin preview: “The Wicked Day”
by Doc on Jan.17, 2012, under Television
In this week’s Merlin, it’s Prince Arthur’s birthday and the town is celebrating with dancers, jugglers and acrobats to entertain the Arthur but he’s not easily impressed. Back in the staging area, we see two circus jugglers discuss their recent delivery of knives which suggests that it might be used for more than just entertainment. Tune in this Friday at 10/9c on Syfy to see if an assassin’s attack on Arthur’s birthday casts the kingdom into chaos.
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Programming reminder: Alcatraz, Being Human, Lost Girl
by Doc on Jan.16, 2012, under Television
Just a programming reminder: Being Human returns to Powerful Mondays on Syfy tonight with the second season premiere at 9/8c, followed by the U.S. premiere of Lost Girl at 10/9c. For more information about Lost Girl, see our preview article from October.
Over on Fox, the two-hour premiere of Alcatraz, from J.J. Abrams and about an investigator who finds evidence at a crime scene that leads to a suspect, who supposedly died in Alcatraz prison 30 years previously, and uncovers an even deeper mystery, airs at 8/7c. Alcatraz stars Sarah Jones (Sons of Anarchy), Sam Neill (Jurrasic Park) and Jorge Garcia (Lost).
Madame de Pompadour to return to Doctor Who – as a companion?
by Doc on Jan.16, 2012, under Television
Steven Moffat LOVES to tease. Especially on Twitter. He recently tweeted:
Right EVERYBODY who follows me, go and follow @SophiaMyles – spin that fireplace. NOW. I’ll explain later. Or not.
Of course @SophiaMyles = Madame De Pompadour from Who, and IS Lady Penelope from Thunderbirds.
He didn’t elaborate. But this has led to wild speculation on the ‘net. And although I do believe we could be seeing Madame De Pompadour in the upcoming season, a lot of it is focusing on the possibility that Sophie Myles could be the next companion for Matt Smith. Myles played Madame de Pompadour in the second season episode “The Girl In The Fireplace”, which Moffat wrote, although it was during David Tennant’s tenure as the Doctor and Russell T. Davies was in charge. But We know he is going to need a new companion, and M. de Pompadour appears to have been a popular character.
AMC orders 16-episode third season for The Walking Dead
by Doc on Jan.14, 2012, under Television
We’re still part way through the second season (with a heartbreaking mid-season finale), but AMC has announced a 16-episode order for a 3rd season of the hit zombie series The Walking Dead at the Television Critics Association press tour. The second season was 13 episodes, following the initial debut of 6 episodes.
The Walking Dead returns for the second half of Season 2 on February 13th.
Syfy orders 7 more episodes for upcoming Warehouse 13 season
by Doc on Jan.13, 2012, under Television
Syfy has ordered 7 more episodes of hit series Warehouse 13 to give the upcoming 4th season a total of 20 episodes. Warehouse 13 remains the network’s most popular series, which follows two Secret Service agents (Joanne Kelly and Eddie McClintock) who track down strange artifacts, under the tutelage of Artie (Saul Rubinek) and with the assistance of a tech wiz (Allison Scagliotti).
CW developing Green Arrow for television
by Doc on Jan.13, 2012, under Television
The CW is apparently spinning off a character from Smallville…according to Deadline, they are near deal for a pilot from Greg Berlanti and Marc Guggenheim (writers of The Green Lantern) and Andrew Kreisberg (Vampire Diaries, Fringe, Warehouse 13), for a series based on the Green Arrow, the DC comic book hero that dresses like Robin Hood and uses a variety of high tech arrows (glue, explosive, tar gas, etc.) to fight as a crusader.
It does not appear, however, that the new series would be directly connected to Smallville. The character was portrayed in that series by Justin Hartley, who is not attached to the new production.
NBC makes script-to-series commitment for Dracula
by Doc on Jan.13, 2012, under Television
NBC still sees money in the eyes (or fangs) of vampires. The network has made a script-to-series commitment (meaning they’ll skip a pilot and go straight to a 13-episode series order if they like the script) for a Dracula series from producers Tony Krantz (24) and Colin Callender (Tsunnami: The Aftermath) and writer Cole Haddon (who appears to be a newcomer, but had a script for Hyde on the 2010 “Black List”, the annual Hollywood list of most-liked but unproduced scripts).
Dracula will be a period “soap opera” style set in the 1890s, and described as “Dangerous Liaisons meets The Tudors“, and will be aimed at both the U.S. and International markets via NBCUniversal’s international channels.