23 years of this site still chugging along...
Return of the Daleks? Maybe…
by Doc on Mar.19, 2004, under Television
The BBC is reporting that they are in negotiations to bring back the Daleks in the new Doctor Who series, but there is no deal yet. Why do they have to negotiate? Apparently in Britidh TV the writers sometimes (often? always? anyone sure?) get copyright on their characters, as Terry Nation did with the Daleks. His estate now owns those rights, so even the BBC has to make a deal to use them….
Picardo may get recurring role on SG-1
by Doc on Mar.19, 2004, under Television
Robert Picardo, best known for playing the Emergency Medical Hologram on Star Trek: Voyager, and recently appeared a couple of times as the initially sleazy investigative lawyer Woolsey on Stargate SG-1 says he has been contacted about more appearances in the next season.
Crash Morgan and the Curse of the Lost Totem
by Doc on Mar.19, 2004, under General News
Ian Wheeler writes “Tuesday 4th & Wednesday 5th May, 7.30pm at the Third Floor Arts Centre, Central Library, Guildhall Walk, Portsmouth, box office 023 9268 8070 & Monday 10th and Tuesday 11th May, 7.30pm at The Lion and the Unicorn, 42 Gaisford Street, Kentish Town, London. Tickets ?6, ?5 concessions The Battered Suitcase Theatre Company presents CRASH MORGAN AND THE CURSE OF THE LOST TOTEM
by Ian Wheeler.” Read More for additional details. Might be worth a visit if you are in England…bit of a commute for me… 🙂
War of the Worlds new Spielberg and Cruise vehicle?
by Doc on Mar.17, 2004, under Movies
After teaming together for Minority Report, Variety is reporting that Steven Spielberg and Tom Cruise will team again to remake the H.G. Wells classic The War of the Worlds, with production possibly starting in late 2005. David Koepp, who with Spielberg, writing the screenplays for Jurrasic Park and The Lost World: Jurassic Park, is reworking the first draft from Josh Friedman (Chain Reaction).
Muppets do Wizard of Oz
by Doc on Mar.16, 2004, under Movies
Hmmm…Kermit as the scarecrow? Fozzie is the Tin Man? Miss Piggy as Dorothy? It could happen, as ABC is preparing a Muppet version of The Wizard of Oz. No word on the actualy roles, but they do say that there may be a human character, possibly Dorothy. And the story will be based on the original book, not the musical we are all familiar with.
Lord of the Rings: The Musical?
by Doc on Mar.14, 2004, under Movies
OK, this is a bit scary. Think Aragorn and Arwen doing a love duet, Frodo and Sam a deep dirge, and Gimli a drinking song. It could happen in London. Kevin Wallace, former collaborator with Andrew Lloyd Webber, is among the producers of what could be the most expensive musical ever produced, and itself rival the movies at three and a half hours long. Perhaps we’ll see Tom Bombadil this time around…
“That Darn Squid God” recipes
by Doc on Mar.14, 2004, under General News
Nick Pollotta writes “GIANT CALAMARI (squid) RECIPES
by Nick Pollotta
(permission to reprint is hereby granted)
Step One: First, kill the colossal, rampaging, squid. This is accomplished by (read the Fantasy/Humor novel, “That Darn Squid God!” by Nick Pollotta and James Clay.)
“ And what follows is a humorous recipe in case you ever find youself stuck with a few tons of rather large squid carcass…
The Wheel of Time optioned for films
by Doc on Mar.13, 2004, under Movies
Although sometime options amount to hot air, Red Eagle Entertainment has bought the rights to Robert Jordan’s entire The Wheel of Time fantasy series for feature films. After Lord of the Rings, I see a lot of studios trying to take advantage of the fantasy theme, but I fear too many will do a poor job and burn out the genre…
Actor Paul Winfield dead at 62
by Doc on Mar.09, 2004, under General News
Actor Paul Winfield, who made numerous appearances and roles in genre movies and series such as Star Trek and Babylon 5, won an Emmy for his guest appearance on Picket Fences, and was nominated for an Oscar for his role in Sounder, died Sunday of a heart attack.
Earlier DVD release for Return of the King
by Doc on Mar.08, 2004, under General News
tchansen writes “According to the BBC News website, the DVD release of the theatrical version of Lord of the Rings: Return of the King will be at the end of May, not in August. The extended edition, which will make the extended trilogy over eleven hours long, will still be released towards the end of the year.” Cool…I may by the theatrical edition to tide me over, but since this is from the BBC, this may apply only to Region 2….whups…just caught on the SCI FI Wire sidebar that Variety is saying the same thing, so rejoice, for the King has returned!