Sci-Fi Goes to Syfy

Get a good look at the logo to the left; it’s about to disappear.

“Huh?”

Yup. That’s right the Sci-Fi Channel is changing up tomorrow to the Syfy or, perhaps, Syfy Channel.

“Why?”

I think it boils down to the idea that Syfy is copyrightable whereas Sci-Fi is not. Here’s a good article of the nuts and bolts of the decision: http://www.wired.com/underwire/2009/07/sci-fi-channel-reboots-as-syfy-with-eye-on-expanding-empire/.

So there you have it. Out with the old and in with the new. Sci-Fi is still Syfy its just that now Syfy can be trademarked. I enjoy some of the programming on the network; I absolutely loved Battlestar Galactica and Ghost Hunters is a guilty pleasure of mine. Who knows what’s next?

Ladies and Gentlemen… set your Tivos!

Battlestar Galactica – Provisos and Predictions

Battlestar Galactica ends its run tonight with a two-hour series finale. I will miss it horribly.

“Why?”

Because it is the best show on TV and I know that writing, producing and performances the likes found on Battlestar Galactica are few and far between. It is not every series that can actually be granted the time to tell a complete story arc before being cancelled. It is not every series with such a epic and sweeping story to tell. If you have not seen it or if your only expectations are gathered from the TV show of the seventies then I am a bit envious. If you are about to start putting the DVDs into your cue to watch from the beginning then you are about to discover something wonderful. A drama of life and death, or war and genocide, and of despair and hope; and, I might add, you will get to do so commercial free.

Now BSG is not for everyone. It is a high intensity drama and if that’s not your thing then that’s not your thing. But hey, that’s ok; that’s why there are so many different flavors of ice cream. Some will hear the words, “science fiction” and run for the hills in the opposite direction. That’s too bad really because if you can look beyond the genre of where the story takes place then you are in for a treat. If you can’t get beyond that then you should probably move onto another blog – everyone will be happier that way.

Still here? Good! I am pleased that you are Gentle Reader but I must warn you I am about to make some spoiler-laden predictions so if you wish to remain unsoiled until you have a chance to catch up and see the series for yourself then you should probably stop right here. See you next time!

STILL HERE? Wonderful. Now then… let’s get down to the business of predictions. Scroll down and you’ll have ‘em.










1. Dr. Gaius Baltar is going to sacrifice his life to save humanity.

2. Starbuck is Daniel; or rather Danielle after Cavil was through experimenting with him/her a few generations back. [NOTE: a friend of mine has a great theory that I have to mention. His idea is that Starbuck is the first human/Cylon hybrid – you know, like Hera? We will see how it plays out tonight.]

3. Anders is going to “JUMP!” the Battlestar Galactica into Cavil’s Cylon station just outside that singularity. Insert CATACLYSMIC BOOM here.

4. Cavil is going to be stranded for all eternity inside that black hole – completely isolated, completely aware. Trapped for all time. [NOTE: this is my friend’s idea. I liked it so much that I’m borrowing it.]

5. The resurrection machines will be able to start the terraforming process on the planet earth and Roslin will be regenerated in the process.

THERE. That’s it. I’m spent. Here’s a link to the Sci Fi Channel’s BSG series end special: http://video.scifi.com/player/?id=1063661.

This re-imagining has been one for the ages. Thanks Mr. Moore.

SO SAY WE ALL!

Battlestar Galactica – The Beginning of the End

On 1/16/09, at 10:00 PM EST, the first of the last 10 episodes of Battlestar Galactica was broadcast. This reimagined rag tag fleet’s journey is coming to an end. The new BSG was the series that I did not want to like (see this: http://evilchickenscratch.blogspot.com/2005/01/how-i-learned-to-enjoy-broccoli-and.html). You see I grew up in the seventies and had the old Glen A. Larson production cemented in my mind as to the way things should be. Back in 2005, Ronald Moore took a sledgehammer to the mold and in doing so helped make one of the finest shows on television. The story is sound, the writing is top shelf, and the characters are viscerally real and skillfully brought to life so that the viewer actually cares about what happens to them and the last remnants of humanity.

BSG is not for everyone; it is certainly not for children but if you have the imagination to look past the spaceships and battles then you’ll be able to enjoy an intense human drama of life, death, and the hope of survival in the face of a genocidal of war. If you can appreciate a good story then BSG is for you. Here’s a 13 minute video to bring you up to speed on the last 4.5 seasons: http://www.scifi.com/battlestar/video/index.php?sub=specials&clip=3. And now you’re ready for the beginning of the end.

As much as I would like to discuss tonight’s episode in a spoilerrific fashion, I will resist. Ask me in person and I might tell you but for now that’s one down and nine to go. My only two complaints are that I detest commercials on regular television and that the questions that were answered only left larger questions – I guess I miss the option of just slipping in the next DVD. The journey’s almost over and the Cylon menace is still lurking somewhere in the cosmos. The only way to find the story’s resolution is to (shock and awe) tune in next week; which is exactly what I’m gonna do.

SO SAY WE ALL!

Loose Ends

I’ve been pretty busy as of late so here are some loose ends that I thought could use some attention.

Eartha Kitt passed away, she was 81. She led a very interesting life which you can read all about here; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eartha_Kitt and here; http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081226/ap_en_mo/obit_eartha_kitt_15. I first discovered Ms. Kitt via the old Batman TV show. She was the best (and dare I say sexiest) Catwoman to date. My kids (and me too for that matter) loved her character Yzma from Disney animated film, “The Emperor’s New Groove” and “The Emperor’s New School” on the Disney Channel. My thoughts are with her family and friends at this time.

The new Doctor Who BBC Special, “The Next Doctor” was broadcast across all of Brittany on Christmas Day. While this was great for Doctor Who fans there it did precious little for fans here in the good ole United States. Fortunately, it’s possible to check it out on Youtube cut up into eight segments. If you’re interested just do a search for “The Next Doctor” and enjoy. David Tennant will be the Doctor for the next four specials in 2009 but that will be it. A new Doctor is going to regenerate in 2010. Tennant stepped into some big shoes when he succeeded Christopher Eccleston in the role; and the wonderful thing is that he was able to keep stride. I will miss Tennant as the Doctor but I’m glad for the specials coming in 2009.

Battlestar Galactica is ending. The story is coming to a close. You can tune into the SciFi Channel on January 16th to see the beginning of the end. If interested, and I’m assuming you are if you’ve hung in this long, in the meantime you can check out the 10 episode web series that bridges the gap between season 4.0 and 4.5 here: http://www.scifi.com/battlestar/webisodes/. So say we all!

Back in August of 2008, I entered a script-writing contest sponsored by Ain’t It Cool News. The task was to write the ending to Star Wars – Revenge of the Sith that you wanted to see. No winner has been announced yet. I believe that the volume of the entries was unexpected by AICN. No news is good news and, to the best of my knowledge, I’m still in the running. Hey, who’s to say? I’ll let you know if my script is in the running.

The world keeps moving… no really; there was an earthquake yesterday between Lancaster and Three Mile Island. It was only a 3.4 but it was enough to get people’s attention. Here’s the details here; http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=news/local&id=6575318 and here; http://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqcenter/recenteqsww/Quakes/ld1023196.php. I’ve never been in an earthquake – at least one that I was aware of – but I’ve got friends who have lived and live in southern California and they have stories to tell. The AP report says that 1,000 people called 911 after the quake. I would have been 1,001. I’m glad that it wasn’t more to the north west of the epicenter since that’s where Three Mile Island is located.

There’s some loose ends tied. Mischief managed.