By Stacey Harrison

Ron Moore certainly hasn’t rested on his laurels since his most famous project, Battlestar Galactica, ended its run earlier this year. Along with the Battlestar spinoff, Caprica, Moore has spearheaded a new space-based adventure that explores the nature of reality.

Virtuality follows the crew of the Phaeton during its epic 10-year journey through outer space. In order to remain sane, the crew has access to the latest in virtual-reality technology that allows them to get away to worlds of their own creation. But for any who are familiar with all those Holodeck episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation, you know there are always complications with this stuff. When a virus is unleashed onto the ship, the crew struggles in deciding how to contain it and complete their mission. Meanwhile, the entire proceeding is being filmed for a reality-show back on Earth.

Director Peter Berg (Hancock, Friday Night Lights) leads a large ensemble cast through the mind-bending sci-fi thriller. Two of the stars — Sienna Guillory (Resident Evil: Apocalypse) and Clea DuVall (Carnivale) — spoke to reporters this week about their experiences on the movie, and its possibilities as a series. Virtuality premieres at 8pm ET/PT tonight on FOX. [Read more →]

Tags: Sci-Fi & Fantasy by sharrison76
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Eric (center) and pals get ready for lunch

By Elaine Bergstrom
Ever since the plans to move Charlaine Harris’ vampire series to television were announced, fans of the books have been eagerly awaiting the arrival of the blond, millennium-plus-powerful vampire leader Eric. I don’t need to guess that they are angry. Vampire blogs have been filled with laments about the bad casting since Eric first put in an appearance last season.

Not that Swedish-born actor Alexander Skarsgard doesn’t have the looks to play Eric. He does and with the right script, he’s be perfect. In his brief moments in Season One, he exuded had a certain menace beneath those golden locks, even if he wasn’t menacing enough for Eric’s legion of fans. This season - with his foiled hair, telling Lafayette that Pam will kill him, etc. – Eric has become a joke, at least so far. When he shows up at the boutique where Bill is shopping for clothes for his vampire ward Jessica sporting newly bleached hair and metro clothing, it’s no wonder that the vamp-smitten saleswoman thinks Bill and the bleached and Eric are a couple. [Read more →]

Tags: Drama, Horror, Sci-Fi & Fantasy by Elaine
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By Elaine Bergstrom
The historical Merlin, as fans of the legend may recall, was a bearded old man, already long in the service of King Uther Pendragon by the time Arthur was born. But what fun would an old man be in a series that is clearly aimed at families with young kids who cut their teeth on the exploits of Harry Potter and need a bit more fantasy in their lives?
And for fantasy lovers willing to forget everything they have read about Merlin and Arthur, this BBC production airing Sunday nights on NBC (HD) is a treat even if it does have some serious shortcomings (read on for these). Here Merlin, Arthur, Morgan and Guinivere, are all young, and Camelot (which legend says Arthur founded) is already a thriving city. King Uther (Buffy the Vampire Slayer’s Anthony Head) rules the city, and has prohibited the use of magic there. [Read more →]

Tags: Drama, Family, Sci-Fi & Fantasy by Elaine
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by Karl J. Paloucek

If I could pick one thing everyone should have in their lives on a regular basis, near the top would be a bit of surrealism. If I could pick a second, it might as well be puppets. (Note that the two concepts rather complement one another.) Well, just in time for summer, IFC brings both your way in a new Internet transplant of sorts, Food Party, premiering June 9 as part of the IFC Automat.

Created and hosted by upload artist Thu Tran and a group of her art-school buddies, the series follows her adventures in and around her colorful, cardboard kitchen, with anthropomorphic plates, baked goods, vegetables and other bizarre bits of leftover nightmares that just want to sidle up next to her … often with some sort of ulterior motive.

It isn’t quite a cooking show, but Food Party does incorporate enough food into its mise en scene that you might think it’s going to turn into one at any moment. Whether we see Tran on a date with a man made of cabbage, carrots and asparagus, giving birth to a pie with a live kitten inside (I told you this was an exercise in surrealism) or gingerly, hesitantly tasting the guts of [Read more →]

Tags: Comedy, Horror, Lifestyle, Sci-Fi & Fantasy by kpaloucek
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By Stacey Harrison

So all of you people who say there’s not enough Leonard Nimoy in current pop culture just need to shut up already. First there was the onslaught of publicity for Star Trek, including appearances on Letterman and SNL, and then the movie itself (which kicks total ass! Go see it.)

We’ve known for weeks now that he would pop up on the season finale of Fringe as William Bell, the CEO of transnational uber-corporation Massive Dynamic, whose been painted as a Bill Gates figure gone evil. He’s also Walter’s old research partner, who spearheaded those long-ago experimental drug trials, which included a young Olivia.

We pick up with Walter having gone missing, following The Observer on some quixotic trip, and Nina Sharp having been shot by armed intruders. She’s OK, though, because it turns out she’s practically half robot. That bionic arm of hers would make the Terminator sweat. It also contained a destructive energy cell, which her assailants procured for truly otherworldly purposes. Though he’s heavily bandaged, the Fringe squad is able to use voice recognition to ID her shooter as Dr. Jones, and Nina reveals that Jones is a disgruntled former Massive Dynamic employee bent on revenge against Bell. And he’s taken the cell in order to kill Bell. More on that later. [Read more →]

Tags: Sci-Fi & Fantasy by sharrison76
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By Stacey Harrison

Nothing like a little spontaneous combustion to start things off. Or at least that’s what it appears happened when a young woman bursts into flames in the middle of the street. There’s just one body, though Olivia sees two sets of charred remains. This is only the beginning of the weirdness for her. She later walks into Broyles office and has an entire conversation with him, convinced that he has rearranged his office, only to snap back into reality and see she has only walked into the room, which is unchanged, with Broyles nowhere in sight. 

Walter tells her it could be a case of deja vu, which stems from the choices we make in our everyday lives, and the ones we don’t. Instead of a straight line, our lives are actually lived in a branched pattern, with each choice we make striking off in a different direction. When we experience deja vu, we are essentially imagining the outcome of those other choices. Never heard it explained that way, but it makes for good TV, so whatever. [Read more →]

Tags: Sci-Fi & Fantasy by sharrison76
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FOX has renewed Fringe, the No. 1 new series among Adults 18-49, with a full second season, it was announced today by Kevin Reilly, President, Entertainment for Fox Broadcasting Company.

“Fringe proved to be a notable addition to our schedule all season and it really has fans buzzing as it builds to a fantastic season finale,” said Reilly. “J.J. and the whole Bad Robot team have been phenomenal partners, and we look forward to years of making great television with them.”

“Fringe continues to gain momentum, creatively and with viewers,” said J.J. Abrams, series co-creator and executive producer. “We couldn’t be more thrilled that Fringe will continue to freak people out for at least another season!”

Fringe has captivated audiences this season, winning its Tuesday time period weekly among key demographics and ranks as the No. 1 new series in primetime among Adults 18-49.

Questions will be answered when the first season of Fringe wraps up with two all-new episodes. First, on Tuesday, May 5 (9:01-10:00 PM ET/PT), Olivia experiences “awake dreams,” Walter divulges key information about the Z.F.T. manifesto and Peter reveals a secret that yields unexpected results in a disturbing case. In the climactic finale airing Tuesday, May 12 (9:04-10:00 PM ET/PT), discoveries are made, loyalties are tested, otherworldly origins are discovered and guest star Leonard Nimoy debuts as a pivotal person of interest.

Photo: ©2008 Fox Broadcasting Co. Cr: Michael Lavine/FOX

Tags: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, TV News & Program Updates by sharrison76
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By Stacey Harrison

So there’s this guy Bob, a smooth-talking British cad who whispers sweet nothings to his faraway girlfriend over the phone as he prepares to walk into a club and prey upon that night’s conquest. Given that this is Fringe, you might expect Bob to be a serial killer, or perhaps possess wings, but there’s an even better surprise awaiting. Once Bob finds a suitable lady friend — one with impossibly blue eyes (that should be a hint that something’s wrong) — the tables turn. As does Bob’s head, doing a complete 180 as the gal twists his neck as though she were unscrewing a lid.

As she gets the call to action, Olivia shares a humorous encounter with her sister as they entertain a couple from “Two Singles Together,” which puts people in a relationship where they still maintain almost total independence — separate vacations, separate birthday parties for their children, etc. So what’s the point? Olivia asks. That seems to stump them. But the fun stops when Rachel gets a call saying her husband is filing for divorce. Honestly, I forgot she was married. I kinda had it in my head the last few episodes that the dad was no longer in the picture. [Read more →]

Tags: Sci-Fi & Fantasy by sharrison76
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"Boa vs. Python" remains a SCI FI original movie "classic"

By Jeff Pfeiffer

Those of you who were worried that SCI FI Channel’s quality of programming would change too much when its name and branding becomes Syfy on July 7 don’t have to be concerned. The network has announced that, along with a very promising new series called Warehouse 13 debuting that day, July will also see the return of favorites like Eureka, Ghost Hunters, Ghost Hunters International and the annual Twilight Zone Independence Day Marathon. So rest easy.

But not too easy. The network also indicated that its infamous slate of original films will likewise continue to “entertain” us, churning out cheap quickie horror and sci-fi flicks based off the freest public domain and news stories money doesn’t need to buy, and filled with just enough of the barest-bones CGI effects needed to make it at least look as if something is onscreen chasing Michael Shanks.

[Read more →]

Tags: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, TV News & Program Updates by RabbitEars
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By Stacey Harrison

It’s one thing to investigate the weird, unexplainable things that go on in the world, but what if they’re happening to you? That’s the dilemma facing Olivia in this whopper of an episode that sheds a lot of light on her past and how it is tied in with Walter’s — and I’m pretty sure it sets a record for most uses of the word “Cortexiphan.”

Unlike most episodes, Olivia pops up in the opening segment, which is usually reserved for the far-flung (OK, mostly Boston-area) events that propel the Fringe team into action. But there she is, pushing an innocent mommy in front of a subway while her toddler watches. Huh? Olivia then wakes up, in her own bed back in Boston, thinking it was just a nightmare. A very vivid nightmare, in which she remembers every detail and even every smell. Then she catches that news item about the mom in New York who committed suicide by jumping in front of a subway car, the very same mom from her dream. She persuades Broyles to let her investigate, but not telling him exactly why she’s so curious. [Read more →]

Tags: Sci-Fi & Fantasy by sharrison76
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