Sci-Fi Storm

In 2005, one of only four known surviving pairs of ruby slippers worn on-screen by Judy Garland in The Wizard of Oz were stolen from the Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Since then they’ve been the subject of rumors and speculation, and several investigations, including from some of our friends featured on their shows – Joe Maddalena from the Profiles In History auction house and Hollywood Treasures and Josh Gates in an episode this past summer on Expedition Unknown. All leads went nowhere, and whoever had them would have loads of problems selling them, given how well known they are and how difficult they would be to hide. There we worries that they might be destroyed.

They’ve been found.

The FBI and North Dakota United States Attorney Christopher Myers reported today that the missing pair were located in an undercover operation in Minneapolis this summer. The investigation is still ongoing, however, as they determine who was responsible.

Syfy’s Hollywood Treasure, which follows collectibles expert Joe Maddalena finding and auctioning pop culture items, returns for a third season on Tuesday, May 22nd at 10/9c – and it will open up with a trip to Middle-Earth with Samwise Gamgee! Or at least, actor Sean Astin’s collection from The Lord of the Rings!

Upcoming season three episodes will showcase the Whitney Houston costume from The Bodyguard; the house in American Horror Story; items from the television series Lost; the General Lee from Dukes of Hazzard; the original camera George Lucas used to film Star Wars and Maddalena’s personal Holy Grail – the lost pair of ruby slippers from The Wizard of Oz.
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Syfy is bumping up its programming schedule this Spring season with more original series and more hours of programming than any prior Spring season. Here are some of the highlights coming up:

March:
Monster Man (NEW ORIGINAL SERIES)
Special Premiere Wednesday, March 14 at 11PM following Face Off season finale; regular time slot Wednesdays at 10PM beginning March 21 — Monster Man goes behind the scenes of one of Hollywood’s most respected monster prop building workshops. For more than 30 years, when studios have wanted a bizarre creature or out-of-this world alien, they’ve turned to Cleve Hall and his very unique family business. Only the horrifying monsters they build match the craziness of this extremely talented family. Monster Man stars Cleve Hall, his daughters Constance and Elora Hall, his ex-wife Sonja Maddox-Hall, best friends Roy Knyrim, Hill Vinot & Johnny Saiko, as well as office manager Cindy Miller. Executive producers are Scott Gurney and Deirdre Gurney for Gurney Productions.
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Syfy has renewed two of its previous unscripted shows, Hollywood Treasure, which features Profiles In History auction house founder Joe Maddalena for 6 episodes, and Haunted Collector (sort of Ghost Hunters meets Friday the 13th: The Series) for 12 episodes.

A new unscripted show was also announced with a six episode order. Called Dream Machines, it follows two brothers who recreate some of the fantastic vehicles seen in movies in TV (think like the TRON light cycles!) as real working machines.

I’m glad Hollywood Treasure is back on – Joe keeps finding things from my childhood! Last week he had Robbie the Robot and a full-size Terminator endoskeleton. This Wednesday night, we see the actual DeLorean from Back To The Future 3!!! Also on Wednesday, catch the new show Haunted Collector, which reminds me a bit of the old Friday the 13th: The Series, except with real people and no scary uncle who made a deal with the devil…this week, they investigate an interesting music box, that seems to have it’s own voice…Haunted Collector airs at 9/8c, followed by Hollywood Treasure at 10/9c.
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Hollywood Treasure returns on Wednesday, June 1st, at 10pm ET/9PM CT…and this episode should be interesting to science fiction fans – because it features Robby The Robot from Forbidden Planet, who also made various cameo appearances on many shows and movies.

Does he still work? Check out the preview below!
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Syfy has just announced a second season order for Fact or Faked: Paranormal Files, a third season for Ghost Hunters International, and 12 more episodes to attach to the current season of Hollywood Treasure.

Read on for the full press release.
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To celebrate the debut of Hollywood Treasure tonight (10pm ET), Syfy is starting up a weekly auction for the next 7 weeks that will include special experiences, props from shows, and more – and to start, the first item is a trip to see Battlestar Galactica: The Exposition in Seattle with exclusive access and a VIP experience not available to the public. Net proceeds go towards KaBOOM! to deliver “Imagination Playgrounds In A Box” So tune in tonight, and then head over to the Hollywood Treasure web site to bid! Read on for the complete details.
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So, what’s all of this reality programming doing on Syfy? Well, to be frank, reality programming is popular – extremely so – on all the networks. And Syfy is not immune to the programming. But they ARE handling it with an eye to the fans that helped them get to where they are – focusing on things related to the genres. Well, maybe with a little divergence…
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