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Syfy orders up more 12 Monkeys
by Doc on Jun.29, 2016, under Television
Plague? Temporal anomalies? Hell on Earth? A psychotic group wanting to end the world? Lately I’ve been in a temporal fog, so missed the announcement earlier that Syfy has ordered up a 10-episode third season to cult face 12 Monkeys! This show has grown into one of my favorites of the current productions. A big congratulations to the cast: Aaron Stanford, Amanda Schull, Kirk Acevedo, Emily Hampshire, Barbara Sukowa and Todd Stashwick, along with showrunner Terry Matalas and the entire crew.
Netflix gets Lost In Space – orders 10 episodes
by Doc on Jun.29, 2016, under Television
It’s finally happening! The long, long developing (and awaited) reboot of Lost In Space looks like it will finally take off…we last reported in November that Netflix was at the head of the line for the rights and eyeing a straight-to-series order, which Netflix has now given, ordering up 10 episodes.
The show comes from Kevin Burns, who has been trying to re-launch the Jupiter 2 for years, and his partner Jon Jashni of Synthesis Entertainment, along with Neil Marshall and Marc Helwig of Legendary TV. Matt Sazama and Burk Sharpless (Dracula Untold, Last Witch Hunter) wrote the script and Zack Estrin (Prison Break) has joined as showrunner. Marshall will direct several of the episodes. No casting has been announced yet.
The original, which starred Guy Williams, June Lockhart, Mark Goddard, Marta Kristen, Angela Cartwright, Bill Mumy and Jonathan Harris, and the voice of Dick Tufeld as the Robot, ran for three seasons. Starting out as a serious take on a family stranded on a strange planet in deep space, the character of Dr. Smith, originally a heartless saboteur, evolved into a bungling, inept buffoon character, and stories started to emphasize a campy element and the relationship between Smith, Will and the Robot.
Plans are for the new show to take some of cues from the original, although it is uncertain if they will adopt the campiness of the original, describing it as “a survival story for the ages.”
Cindy Holland, VP of Netflix Originals, said of the show, “The original series so deftly captured both drama and comedy, and that made it very appealing to a broad audience. The current creative team’s reimagining of the series for Netflix is sure to appeal to both fans who fondly remember the original and to create a new generation of enthusiasts around the world.”
Well, we can’t wait!
Third trailer for Star Trek Beyond adds Rihanna track
by Doc on Jun.28, 2016, under Movies
Opens July 22nd!
Nicole Ari Parker joins Time After Time as role is re-imagined
by Doc on Jun.24, 2016, under Television
It appears that execs weren’t happy with some of the test results from the Time After Time pilot, so some changes are being made – although nothing similar to the level of the changes being made to MacGyver.
The role of Vanessa Anders, a philanthropist and collector who is the modern day owner of the time machine and H.G. Wells great granddaughter as seen in the trailer below, was played by Regina Taylor (The Unit) in the pilot. But audiences weren’t as happy with the character as the rest of the pilot, resulting in the decision to rework the character and replacing Taylor with Nicole Ari Parker (Boogie Nights, Revolution).
Does #AprilLive or #AprilDie? Sharknado fans can find out now…
by Doc on Jun.22, 2016, under Television
If you are still wondering if #AprilLives or #AprilDies, and can’t wait until Sunday, July 31st at 8/7c to see it on Syfy, you can find out now via the following video…
In the meantime, the cameo list continues to grow…the newly listed appearances are:
- Andre “Black Nerd” Meadows (YouTube star) as a Train Conductor
- Carrot Top (“Vegas Headliner”) as an Uber Driver
- Chippendales Dancers (“Chippendales”) as themselves
- DeStorm Power (You Tube/Vine Star) as a National Guardsman
- Dolvett Quince (“The Biggest Loser”) as a Trainer
- Erika Girardi (“The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills”) as Tech Frances
- Gilbert Gottfried (comedian) as TODAY Show correspondent
- Seth Rollins (WWE Superstar) as AstroTech Lopez
- Steve Guttenberg (“Colton West,” “Lavalantula,” “2 Lava 2”) as Car Owner
- Hayley Hasselhoff as Supervisor Mary Jane and Taylor-Ann Hasselhoff as Pilot Shaylin
- iJustine (You Tube star) as Supervisor Brock
- Roy Nelson (MMA fighter) as Donnie the Paparazzo
- Stassi Schroeder as Koening and Jax Taylor as a Guardsman (“Vanderpump Rules”)
- Paul Shaffer as himself
They are joining the previously announced potential shark victims:
- Benjy Bronk (“The Howard Stern Show”) as a morning show host
- Corey Taylor (Slipknot) as a Shark World hotel security guard
- Cynthia Bailey (“The Real Housewives of Atlanta”), Robert Herjavec (“Shark Tank”), Kym Johnson (“Dancing with the Stars”), Carrie Keagan (TV host), T’Keyah Crystal Keymah (“In Living Color”) and “Baywatch” stars Gena Lee Nolin and Alexandra Paul as Astro-X rocket scientists and astrophysicists
- David Faustino (“Married with Children”) as a Las Vegas gambler
- Dr. Drew Pinsky (“Loveline”) as a pastor
- Duane Chapman (“Dog the Bounty Hunter”) as a chainsaw dealer
- Frank Mir (MMA fighter) as head of security for the Shark World hotel
- Jay DeMarcus (Rascal Flatts) as manager of the Shark World hotel
- Jedward (Musicians) as Astro Techs
- Jillian Barberie (TV Host) as a train passenger
- Lori Greiner (“Shark Tank”) as a home shopping guru
- Patti Stanger (“Millionaire Matchmaker”) as a reporter
- Stacey Dash (actress and pundit) as the Mayor of Chicago
- Vince Neil (Motley Crue)
- Wayne Newton (aka Mr. Las Vegas)
- Todd, Savannah and Grayson Chrisley (“Chrisley Knows Best”)
Tricia Helfer joins Lucifer as…his mom
by Doc on Jun.21, 2016, under Television
OK, now I’ve got to get caught up on Lucifer, seeing as how my bowling adversary Tricia Helfer (Battlestar Galactica, Ascension) is joining the show as a recurring character for Season 2. Based on the comic book spinoff from The Sandman, the show blends fantasy and police procedural drama where the Lord of Hell, Lucifer Morningstar (Tom Ellis), resigns his throne and heads to LA, where he helps the police punish criminals, partnering with Detective Chloe Decker (Lauren German).
Helfer will play Charlotte, who it turns out is the Queen of Angels, but has been trapped in Hell for thousands of years thanks to he ex-husband, God. She’s now free on Earth, and all she says she wants is to be with her sons again. But there may be more to it…
HotShot Trailer: HBO’s Westworld
by Doc on Jun.21, 2016, under Television
This is looking good…HBO’s upcoming series Westworld, based on the classic 1973 movie about a theme park designed to look like the old West, populated by androids that soon begin to explore their own existence and question reality. Created by Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy, executive produced by Nolan, Joy, J.J. Abrams and Bryan Burk, it stars Anthony Hopkins, Ed Harris, Evan Rachel Wood, James Marsden, Thandie Newton, and more.
Will Arnett will host Syfy Presents Live From Comic-Con
by Doc on Jun.19, 2016, under Conventions
Yet again I won’t be at San Diego Comic-Con (big surprise, but I will be in the Orlando area instead helping to raise money for Give Kids The World, so I have a reasonable excuse), but Syfy will be there with cameras, offering three nights of live coverage, hosted by Will Arnett (The LEGO Movie, The Millers).
The special will broadcast live from the heart of San Diego Comic-Con on the network Thursday, July 21 through Saturday, July 23 at 8/7c. The live broadcast will bring the biggest party of the summer with the biggest stars, action and excitement of the San Diego experience directly into fans’ homes.
“We’re so excited to have Will host our first-ever Syfy Presents Live From Comic-Con,” said Heather Olander, Senior Vice President, Alternative Series Development and Production, NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment, Entertainment Networks. “There is nobody more perfect to host this event than Will, who has created iconic roles for every part he plays, appealing to so many unique audiences. This year we’re thrilled to be able to give viewers at home a live, real-time Comic-Con experience with Will at the helm.”
Arnett, who most recently starred in the Paramount hit Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows, will also be in town promoting the eagerly anticipated Lego Batman movie. Besides the Turtles and Lego Movie franchises, Arnett is an accomplished TV actor with five Emmy nominations from iconic shows such as Arrested Development, and 30 Rock. He also, created, wrote and starred in the Netflix’s original series Flaked and is the lead voice in Netflix’s acclaimed animated show BoJack Horseman.
Each night, Arnett will invite hundreds of fans at Syfy Presents Live From Comic-Con’s outdoor stage to discuss and engage in the Con’s breaking news, insider party coverage, and exclusive content and sneak peeks of the most anticipated films and TV series. Arnett will also conduct interviews with the biggest stars from the hottest franchises during this unprecedented three-night broadcast, bringing non-stop action and fan surprises directly to viewers across the country.
In addition, starting Sunday, July 17, Syfy will kick off a celebration of all things Comic-Con, on-air, online and across its social media platforms, offering fans exclusive content, “digital shorts” and exclusive trailer premieres to fuel their excitement throughout the entire week. SYFY’S 7 DAYS OF COMIC-CON will continue through July 23.
Anton Yelchin, Chekov in Star Trek reboot, 1989-2016
by Doc on Jun.19, 2016, under Movies, Obituaries, Television
Actor Anton Yelchin, who has been playing the role of PAvel Checkov in the three recent Star Trek movies, as well as roles in Terminator: Salvation and Alphas Dogs among others, passed away early this morning in a freak automobile accident at the age of 27.
It appears that Yelchin had exited his car while it was running, and it rolled, pinning him against a brick post next to a security gate, suffering traumatic injuries.
Yelchin was born in St. Petersburg, Russia (back then it was still called Leningrad as part of the Soviet Union), but emigrated with his parents (professional figure skaters ho qualified for the 1972 Olympics but because they were Jewish were not permitted to represent the USSR) to the United States when he was only 6 months old. His parents went on to become skating instructors, but at a young age he showed more interest in acting than skating. He made his acting debut at the age of 10 in a guest spot on ER in 2000. and just a year later earned acclaim opposite Anthony Hopkins in Heart of Atlantis, earning a Young Artist Award.
Stargate reboot still in the plans for Devlin and Emmerich
by Doc on Jun.19, 2016, under Movies
While it’s been a couple years and it doesn’t seem like much movement forward since we reported that Dean Devlin and Roland Emmerich still planned to reboot the Stargate movie franchise, the fact that they are still talking about it is a good sign it might still happen, and it appears they are actively developing it at Warner Bros.
After MGM took the rights and decided to develop a TV series without the duo, also responsible for Independence Day and it’s upcoming sequel, Independence Day: Resurgence – the first sequel that Emmerich has actually worked on, apparently – spawning two additional TV series, the studio now considers the TV franchise as “played out”, sitting idle since 2011, opening the door for the reboot. The various regime changes at MGM likely has helped as well.
“It was taken away from us, and it’s tough to have your children raised by other parents, even if they do a very good job…for us, it’s not putting down what has been done. It’s to let us finish telling our story,” according to Devlin.
Devlin and Emmerich have always talked about how they planned Stargate as a trilogy, but now with over 20 years having passed since the original movie, instead of just moving on to a sequel the two feel an entire reboot would make the most sense. It will be interesting to see – it worked for the Battlestar Galactica reboot.