Sci-Fi Storm

TNT announced that it has given a second season of 13 episodes to Michael Bay’s freshman apocalyptic show The Last Ship, after a strong showing, with a Live+7 viewership of 7.2 million and strong demos in the desirable categories. This could help fill the void that would otherwise be felt when Falling Skies ends, as the the producers of the show have elected to wrap it up with a final 10 episode fifth season, where it has been holding about 5.5 million viewers.

Game Of Thrones was near the top of all Emmy nominations with 16, plus an “Outstanding Interactive Program” nomination for “Game Of Thrones Season Three Enhanced Digital Experience”, coming in second to American Horror Story: Asylum‘s 17.

Other genre-related shows with nominations:

Battlestar Galactica: Blood & Chrome – Outstanding Sound Editing For A Miniseries, Movie Or A Special, Outstanding Sound Editing For A Miniseries, Movie Or A Special, Outstanding Special Visual Effects

Defiance – Outstanding Special Visual Effects

Falling Skies – Outstanding Special Visual Effects

Once Upon A Time – Outstanding Costumes For A Series, Outstanding Makeup For A Single-Camera Series (Non-Prosthetic)

Revolution – Outstanding Special Visual Effects In A Supporting Role, Outstanding Stunt Coordination For A Drama Series, Miniseries Or Movie

True Blood – Outstanding Art Direction For A Single-Camera Series

The Walking Dead – Outstanding Prosthetic Makeup For A Series, Miniseries, Movie Or A Special

Right from the press release:

TNT has ordered a fourth season of Falling Skies, the epic drama produced by DreamWorks Television and executive producer Steven Spielberg and starring Noah Wyle. Currently airing Sundays at 10 p.m. (ET/PT), Falling Skies is averaging 5.8 million viewers in Live + 7 delivery and ranks as basic cable’s #1 scripted series with adults 18-49 and adults 25-54 for the summer-to-date. TNT plans to launch the 10-episode fourth season in summer 2014.

Falling Skies tells the extraordinary tale of life and survival in the wake of a catastrophic alien invasion. Wyle plays Tom Mason, a college professor who becomes an unlikely resistance leader after a massive invasion by an alien force. The series also stars Moon Bloodgood, Will Patton, Drew Roy, Connor Jessup, Maxim Knight, Seychelle Gabriel, Mpho Koaho, Colin Cunninghamand Sarah Carter. Among the guest stars this season on Falling Skies are Gloria Reuben, Robert Sean Leonard, Stephen Collins and Doug Jones.Falling Skies premiered in summer 2011 and ranked as basic cable’s #1 new series of the year. The series returned with strong numbers last year, averaging 5.6 million viewers in Live + 7 and ranking as basic cable’s #1 summer drama with adults 25-54.

In addition to Spielberg, season 3 of Falling Skies is executive-produced by DreamWorks Television heads Justin Falvey and Darryl Frank, along with Remi Aubuchon and Greg Beeman.

Falling Skies returns to TNT tonight at 9/8c with two episodes, but Season 2 was released on [sfs=1316]Blu-ray[/sfs] and [sfs=1317]DVD[/sfs] this past week to help get caught up on events.

[This is a review of the DVD edition. Both editions have the same content]

Warning: Some potentially spoilers ahead, but nothing that should be surprising, and generally all within the first 15 minutes…

The second season of Falling Skies picks up three months after Tom Mason boarded the alien ship in the final scene of Season One. The 2nd Mass has fought in the devastating Battle of Fitchburg, with both sides suffering losses. Tom has been help captive by the Overlord, where Tom learns that the aliens don’t wish to talk or have peace with the humans. He is let go with several other captives, but all the other captives are killed – he however is mysteriously let go, and travels back to meet up with the 2nd Mass. In the meantime, everyone’s favorite renegade Pope is given command of a group of misfits called the Berserkers, an undisciplined group who take on some of the more dangerous missions, tolerated as a necessity by Colonel Weaver but certainly not trusted. Sanctuary fans will recognize Ryan Robbins as a member of the Berserkers.
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Former Battlestar Galactica and Caprica executive producer David Eick is taking over the reins of Falling Skies from Remi Aubuchon as showrunner.

What is somewhat interesting is that Eick is taking over production for Season 4 – which has not been greenlit yet, with Season 3 set to debut on June 9th. Eick is expected to get together a writing squad for Season 4 right away in anticipation of pickup, due to the long production cycle of the show. But it is fully expected to get that Season 4 order, being the top scripted show on TNT with the younger demos, and also being fully owned by TNT, which means TNT gets all the income from international sales as well.

Aubuchon, who worked with Eick on Caprica, is leaving after serving in the role for two seasons.

Also, Season 2 of Falling Skies hits shelves and doorsteps on June 4th on [sfs=1316]Blu-ray[/sfs] and [sfs=1317]DVD[/sfs]. You can also check out our Sci-Fi TV Store for previous seasons and Amazon Instant Video availability.

TNT has given an early pickup order for a third season of hit drama Falling Skies, consisting of 10 episodes to air in 2013. TNT is currently about halfway through the second season of the show, which stars Noah Wyle as a history teacher turned resistance fighter with the 2nd Massachusetts Regiment, fighting off alien invaders while trying to discover what it is they want.

Series stars Noah Wyle, Moon Bloodgood, Will Patton, Drew Roy, Connor Jessup, Colin Cunningham and Sarah Carter will be appearing along with executive producer Rene Aubuchon at San Diego Comic-Con for a panel moderated by Wil Wheaton on Friday, July 13th, at 4:30pm PT in room 6BCF at the San Diego Convention Center if you are attending.

From the press release:
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The long-awaited return of TNT’s Falling Skies down about 24% over it’s debut last year. However, that could be due to the NBA playoffs U.S. Open, given that other networks showing new programming saw similar effects, so no need to worry, there is already talk about an early third season renewal.

TNT and Dark Horse Digital have already made their digital comic for the second season of Falling Skies available at the official web site, and follows what happens to to the 2nd Mass in between seasons 1 and 2, while they are holed up in Fitchburg, Massachusetts. Check out a couple of the images below!

TNT’s epic drama Falling Skies, basic cable’s number-one new series of last year, chronicles the chaotic aftermath of an alien attack that has left most of the world completely incapacitated. Season two will premiere with back-to-back episodes on Sunday, June 17, at 9 p.m. (ET/PT).
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We still need to wait until June for the second season of Falling Skies, but we don’t have to wait until then to get a taste! Check out the first 3 minutes right here!
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Terry O’Quinn, who played John Locke in ABC’s Lost, has signed to guest star in the last two episodes on the upcoming season of TNT’s Falling Skies. He’ll play Tom Mason’s (Noah Wyle) mentor and a former history professor.