And So It Begins...

Above is a photo posted to Twitter by SyFy exec Mark Stern of a Blood & Chrome production meeting. You can see David Eick to the immediate right of the frame. (click to embiggen.)

And here's the new rookie viper pilot William Adama, call sign "Husker" to be portrayed by Luke Pasqualino:


Entertainment Weekly broke the casting news:

Syfy has cast Luke Pasqualino (Skins — U.K.) as Adama. While Ben Cotton (Hellcats, Riese) is the other lead, playing Adama’s commanding officer.

First, here’s some official character descriptions that give you some new details about the show:
Pasqualino will star as the young, talented fighter pilot William Adama, a recent Academy graduate who finds himself assigned to the newest Battlestar in the Colonial fleet: the Galactica. Full of ambition and in pursuit of the intense action that the Cylon war promises, Adama quickly finds himself at odds with Coker (Cotton), the battle-weary officer to whom he reports. With 45 days left in his tour of duty, Coker desires an end to battle just as much as Adama craves the start of it. Though they clash at first, the two men forge an unlikely bond when a routine mission turns dangerous and becomes a pivotal one for the desperate fleet.

Blood & Chrome is set during the 10th year of the first Cylon war. The show will debut with a two-hour pilot on Syfy, executive produced by David Eick.

Several sites have read the script for Battlestar Galactica: Blood and Chrome either in full or in part, and if you click on the following links you will find spoilers here at, io9, Trek Web, and Spinoff Online. Readers are reacting positively to the storyline as Charlie Jane Anders wrote:

The best thing I can say about Battlestar Galactica: Blood and Chrome is that it feels like BSG. More than the BSG TV movies, more than Caprica, this feels like the gritty, intense show about real characters in impossible situations that we fell in love with. Of course, this time around, we’ll know how everything turns out in advance — but the journey may actually be pretty gods-damned compelling, judging from these pages.

In other news....

Check out this highly detailed map of the Twelve Colonies that you can order from Quantum Mechanix.

Ronald D. Moore's original Series Bible for Battlestar Galactica has been leaked online, and reveals the original shape of the show and the plans for the first season. (Or is this the real show Bible?)

CNN profiled Jane Espenson.



Katee Sackhoff and Tricia Helfer were recent guests at the Women of Sci-Fi Expo in Texas where they talked to fans and did an Acting Outlaws live stream.

And Jamie Bamber has a new BBC show, Outcasts which looks to have some BSG qualities. Watch the trailer here.

Sponsor Katee and Tricia

This weekend Katee Sackhoff and Tricia Helfer are participating in AIDS Walk Los Angeles, Sunday October 18th.

New trailer for BATTLESTAR GALACTICA: THE PLAN

LA Times blog The Hero Complex had the honor of premiering online the new trailer that was shown earlier this month in LA. Naturally it got premiered on a Friday Night -- embrace the death slot, knuckledraggers.


This is such fun:

 

I'm very much looking forward to finding out more about this particular version of Number Six...

Caprica Paley Video

The Paley Center has video from their Caprica event.











Much more from daphnesadventures's YouTube Channel.

See also a preview from PlayStation Pulse.

Around the Horn

Tahmoh Penikett - who played Karl 'Helo' Agathon on BSG - has been cast in new TV SyFy Channel movie Riverworld.

Joining the 33-year-old is fellow Canadian star Laura Vandervoort, 24 - who played Supergirl in Smallville. Penikett has also appeared in Smallville, as two different characters.

In Riverworld, Tahmoh will play war correspondent Matt Ellman, who is killed along with his fiancee (Vandervoort) but awakens in a mysterious world populated by everyone who has lived on Earth.

Alan Cumming - known best to geeks as the teleporting Nightcrawler in X-Men 2 - is to guest star as the Caretaker; Jeananne Goossen and Mark Deklin also have been cast.

World Screen reports that Ronald D. Moore, the writer and executive producer of Battlestar Galactica, has been added to the Master Class speaker lineup at the Banff World Television Festival, which is celebrating its 30th edition this June 7 to 10.

Recently Sci-Fi Wire reported that writer Eric Heisserer has been hired to rewrite Ronald Moore's script for The Thing, a prequel film to John Carpenter's 1982 horror movie of the same name.

World Screen also reported:

Battlestar Galactica's Tricia Helfer has signed on to star in The Dealership, a new original series pilot for Canwest that will be distributed by FremantleMedia Enterprises.

The one-hour pilot will feature Helfer in the lead role of Rachel Carson, the tough-as-nails sales manager of an auto dealership founded by her father Frank, played by William Devane (Jesse Stone). Also on board for the show is Patrick J. Adams (Friday Night Lights) as Rachel's younger brother. The pilot is a production of Verite Films.

Tricia was recently on Chuck, and Maureen Ryan reports on efforts to save Chuck. (Mo also suggests that if Fox kills Dollhouse, Joss Whedon needs to find a home on HBO, AMC or Showtime.)

From Proggrrl's Tweet, we find out that Michael Ausiello reports that James Callis will play a "charismatic sociopath" on the May 15th NUMB3RS season finale.

SFX interviews Romo Lampkin actor Mark Sheppard. Newsrama reports on Astronaut Garrett Reisman's BSG cameo appearance. Jamie Bamber and Tricia Helfer's print ads for PETA. Complex on BSG's hottest women.

A new comic book explores the back story of the Final Five. io9 notes:

The Final Five - written by Battlestar TV writer Seamus Kevin Fahey (The man behind "Faith" and "The Face of The Enemy" webisodes) and co-writer David Reed, and illustrated by Nigel Raynor - flashes back to thousands of years before the TV show to show us a backstory of the Final Five that will either explain it all, or confuse and screw up continuity once and for all. And what does it have to do with Starbuck's death?

Also recently released is Battlestar Galactica: The Manga -- Echoes of New Caprica (v. 1).

The DVD for Caprica provides more confirmation of BSG coming to Blu-ray.

Battlestar Galactica makes the list of best series dramas of all time.

SF Crowsnest and UPI report on the upcoming BSG prop auction.

All of the Battlestar Galactica scenes from Robot Chicken provided on Adult Swim.

Check out this concept car the Hyundai Nuvis that looks vaguely Cylon.

Convention appearance updates via the Battlestar Blog.

A BSG crossword puzzle. Geeksugar's BSG quiz roundup. io9 points to this BSG fan anthem.

A PROGRAM NOTE: I'm pleased to formally announce that writer Sam J. Miller has joined the Sitrep team. His work has appeared in literary journals such as Fiction International, Strange Horizons, AlterNet, and The Minnesota Review—who nominated him for a Pushcart Prize. Unabashedly obsessed with the re-imagined BSG, he's the author of “Battlestar Galactica vs. Star Trek,” available at mental_floss. Previously Sam provided us with his essay on BSG's use of Laura Roslin's eyeglasses. Sam will be posting an insightful and interesting essay on the Sitrep with his commentary on the series finale, Daybreak, shortly. So, keep an eye out for that.

Tricia Helfer on Chuck

Tricia Helfer was recently on an episode of Chuck in "Chuck Versus the Broken Heart".



Various photos of Tricia on Chuck.

News You Can Use

The full video of Katee Sackhoff's appearance in Portland last Friday with KUFO's Cort and Fatboy is now up:

Katee took to the stage with Cort & Fatboy and fielded questions from the audience for 45 minutes. Enjoy the videos below which cataloged the evening. It's one for books...

Part One of Kate Vernon's Q&A with Sci-Fi.com is online.

The latest Video Blog features Bear McCreary working on the set for Someone To Watch Over Me. On his blog, Bear reports in great detail about the exciting Prelude to War ballet in Germany based on his BSG score. And instead of a detailed breakdown of the music in Daybreak Part One, Bear this week provides an entertaining quiz. Test your BSG music acumen!

Maureen Ryan, reports on SyFy channel's presentation in New York City where Daybreak Part 2 was screened for the press.

On Monday, the Sci Fi Channel hosted a press screening of the “Battlestar Galactica” finale, which airs Friday. Ronald D. Moore, the show’s executive producer, made the assembled media types raise their hands and swear not to reveal anything that happens in the show’s final two hours. And I surely don’t want an angry Centurion coming after me for even hinting at any developments in the finale.

But I was able to wangle a bit more information about “Caprica,” “The Plan,” “Eureka” and other upcoming projects on Sci Fi, which changes its name this summer to Syfy (doesn’t that sound like the name of a cream that your doctor would prescribe for a skin rash? Ah well. I said it before and I'll say it again: Sci Fi should have embraced real change and just named the channel after its famous cinematic opus, "Mansquito").

Tricia Helfer talked to Deadbolt.

Screen Rant and Access Hollywood wonder what's next for the cast of Battlestar Galactica.

meshel73 notes that the SciFi Australia website has posted some video interviews with the cast. Also check out the Battlestar Starfury: Saturday talks with some cast members.

With BSG ending, various publications have articles looking at the end. Discover ponders some ending solutions. UPI talked to Ron Moore. Rolling Stone and SFX have articles on the end of the BSG era. Users of the Battlestar Live Journal blog discuss what they want to see resolved. Writer Bill Harris wants people to write to him and let him know what's special about BSG. (Be nice.)

Brad Templeton has an interesting article on naked singularities.

CelebStoner (uh, yep) observes Roslin and Adama passing the smoke in Cottle's sickbay on BSG.

Graeme McMillan, for io9 offers up 5 suggestions for BSG spin-offs. My favorite, "Sherman Cottle, M.D.":

The high concept speaks for itself; it's House in space. Galactica's chain-smoking, ornery doctor has been an oddly calming presence throughout the show's history, never failing in his ability to speak bluntly and make even the worst situation just a little bit bleaker. This is what I'm suggesting - An hour-long drama about Cottle moving to a new hospital ship where the boss hates him but also has a crush on him, he has three flawed geniuses as assistants, and John Hodgman's brain surgeon is his long-suffering best friend. Sneak it onto NBC as a replacement for er and Emmies await, I'm telling you.

BSG Gallery

More behind the scenes photos of the BSG cast photography for TV Guide.

Note: Michael Hogan, in background behind MM and EJO

TV Guide Feature Scans

Via Spoiler TV, here are scans of the TV Guide BSG feature. Logan read the piece, and tells me it does have some spoilers which I, and some of you out there, probably do not want to read.
Tread lightly...

TV Guide Shoot

Tricia Helfer, Katee Sackhoff, James Callis, Edward James Olmos, and Mary McDonnell of Battlestar Galactica at their TV Guide Magazine Cover shoot. Issue on newsstands March 11, 2008.

Mega News

In convention news, James Callis and Tricia Helfer recently attended MegaCon in Orlando, Florida. Battlestar Galactica fans also had Jennifer Halley (Seelix) and Luciana Carro (Kat) also attending were Dirk Benedict (Old Starbuck) and Herbert Jefferson (Boomer) from the classic series. Here's a short YouTube clip of Dirk Benedict and James Callis on the Battlestar Galactica panel discussion. And Jennifer Halley (Seelix) was interviewed by the Fandamonia Podcast.

(In other convention notes, Wil Wheaton posted a clip from YouTube of a panel at Phoenix Comicon that inclued Wil, Yuri Lowenthal and Aaron Douglas. And Dean Stockwell has cancelled his appearance at the Leap Back Quantum Leap convention.)

Tricia Helfer has also recently done a number of interviews discussing the season finale Burn Notice and the finale of Battlestar Galactica. io9 wonders if Six could get her own BSG spinoff.

MediaBlvd. talked to Alessandro Juliani.

Donnelly Rhodes (Doc Cottle) was interviewed by The Vancouver Sun.

BSG co-exec producer Mark Verheiden reports that he's writing a feature project for DreamWorks Pictures called Quatermain.

There are a number of interesting essays and observations on BSG:

The Guardian and The Ampersand write about Battlestar Galactica revealed as the new Virgil's Aeneid.

The science of BSG is studied variously... The Next Big Future looks at the effects of nuclear war on the 13th Colony. Galactica Science examines the star and constellation patterns in Someone to Watch Over Me.

Discover takes a look a real world self-repairing materials, like the Cylon goo slathered onto Galactica's beams.

Brad Templeton, Chairman of the Board of the EFF does a deep examination of Cavil's plan, and the history of the Temple of Hopes (Temple of the Five.) See also: This.

Cristoph Mark of the Daily Yomiuri writes that Women are at dark heart of Battlestar Galactica. Southern Voice ponders stereotypes, as relates to the portrayal of Gaeta.

TV Editor, Rob Owen, for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette observes that Battlestar Galactica defies youth demographics:

Sci Fi Channel's "Battlestar Galactica" has always been more interested in politics and religion than it has in ray guns and spaceships -- call it "The West Wing" in outer space -- but what's become increasingly obvious in the current season is the writers' resistance to demographic-based storytelling.

Networks, catering to advertisers, generally prefer stories that put younger characters front and center, but "BSG" has done the opposite in its final batch of episodes that ramped up political intrigue and character drama in a tense, action-packed mutiny storyline.

...Viewers don't usually see 60-something action heroes in prime time, but that's what "BSG" viewers saw when Adama and Saul Tigh (Michael Hogan) took up weapons to protect an airlock while Roslin escaped.

And when it comes to love stories in prime time, it's rare for viewers to see characters outside the 18-49 demo getting kissyface. There hasn't been a more touching, scripted scene on TV this year than Adama with his arm wrapped around a bald, cancer-stricken Roslin as the pair slept.

Even though the older characters have been getting the most face time and best storylines this season, ratings are up among young viewers, with the show scoring its best ratings since its season two premiere in 2005. Imagine that.

Hear that, network execs? It's not about the age of the cast, it's about the writing and performances. Young viewers will watch shows with older characters. And right now there's none better than "Battlestar Galactica."

In other news...

My Roommate the Cylon has made its web debut. John Manalang reports:

Giving much respect and salute to the sci-fi series, this comedy spin-off revolves around the story of three roommates Bennett Jacobs (played by Alex Enriquez), Pjeter Odama (Tyson Turrou) and Dale McKinney (Kenny Stevenson). The catch? Well, after receiving a letter from a mysterious sender, one of these guys apparently had a skinjob—nothing gross or raunchy, it just means that one of them could potentially be a Cylon who wants to eradicate the human civilization.

While the inside jokes and silly references to BSG in My Roommate the Cylon may tickle fans of the series, it may not even put a grin on others. The classic slacker humor adds another comedic perspective to the new web series, thanks to the stars of the show. So don’t worry about brushing up on some BSG knowledge to enjoy it—it is indeed pretty frakkin’ funny.

In other bits of humor... BSG cast members are among the insane crossovers of Jedi Celebrity Chefs. Continuing with food, how to make a BSGLT with the BSG toaster. (HT Proggrrl's recent tweet.)

Duane Dudek of the Journal Sentinel ponders Felgercarb Toothpaste.

When things get tough, think about Life Lessons from BSG: How to Take It Like A Man from Jaxz's Frakin Fandom blog.

Comic and manga news.

The Battlestar Wiki keeps good track of Ron Moore's smokes and drinks for his podcasts.

And David Eick will be at the National Association of Broadcasters:

'Battlestar Galactica' Creator and Executive Producer David Eick to Present Keynote at NAB Show

Battlestar Galactica Co-Creator and Executive Producer David Eick will present an afternoon keynote address entitled "The Making of Battlestar Galactica" at the 2009 NAB Show on Tuesday, April 21st in Las Vegas. The Super Session will focus on how to launch and produce a hit TV franchise that breaks the traditional mold seen in many television program storylines.

Eick's presentation will be followed by a sit-down discussion with Battlestar Galactica co-supervising producer and writer David Weddle. Weddle's credits also include supervising producer of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, and author of 2001's critically-acclaimed biography "If They Move, Kill 'Em! - The Life and Times of Sam Peckinpah."

Open Thread: #419 Someone To Watch Over Me

Please read our spoiler policy before you post on the open threads.

Past 4.5 open threads can be found in the index on our blogroll rightside column. If you know of other fun sites or forums that are having lively non-spoilery episode discussions, please feel free to post links here as well.

EPISODE 419: SOMEONE TO WATCH OVER ME
Writers: David Weddle & Bradley Thompson
Director: Michael Nankin

iF Magazine has an interview with Michael Nankin up today. There is also this interview with Katee Sackhoff, this one with Tricia Helfer, this one with Michelle Forbes, and SciFi Wire is taking fan questions for Kate Vernon until March 2. As she does every week this season Maureen Ryan will post an interview with the ep's writers, look for it sometime tomorrow morning on her site.

ETA Mo Ryan's excellent interview with David Weddle and Bradley Thompson.

Cylon Intrigue

The new David Eick video blog explores the nature of Cylons and the real development of Posthumans is pondered.

From Jimmy Kimmel Live, Tricia Helfer:

Clip from No Exit + Helfer Info.

h/t SevorTB.

Also of note: Tricia Helfer is scheduled to appear on Friday's Jimmy Kimmel Live, Friday the 13th at 12:05 a.m. on ABC. (Thanks for the tip, jenforthewin.)

Helfer on Bonnie Hunt Show

[If you're interested in reading more about Tricia's off-the-grid home-building project, see TriciaGreen.com.]

Helfer on Chuck

More Auction Stuff

Access Hollywood has this up:




Battlestar Blog found video of a Hollywood 411 piece from the Auction.


Melody Muse was blogging the auction here and posted a nice flickr set of her photos from the weekend.


Don't forget the eBay auction is up for another 7 hours...


ETA: Thanks to reader Jack for two more great auction links: a really fun video up on EW.com's BSG HQ, and this SciFi Australia article that runs down the selling prices of a lot of the major items -- apparently the auction raked in over A MILLION DOLLARS this weekend...

Off the wireless

[photo: LA Times]

The first season 4.5 videoblog is up…"The Fifth Is Among Us."

The Los Angeles Magazine waxes poetic about BATTLESTAR GALACTICA this week. The Star has 10 Tips for The Battlestarved (great new word!). This blogger penned a thoughtful essay. And this gentleman at The Atlantic twists the knife one last time – yet I couldn’t stop reading his piece. Maybe because he likes to complain about TV shows that “become the culture’s homage to vertigo—to the suspicion that we live in a universe of surfaces, pointlessly arranged, whose invitations to depth or transcendence are all red herrings, shaggy dogs, wild goose chases, and decoy ducks.” ...Does he know something that we don’t?

Time Out and Live@7 interview Katee Sackhoff.

Access Hollywood interviews Tricia Helfer. (Yeah Tricia, I'm gonna be a soppy mess too, when it's over.)

IGN interviews James Callis and Katee Sackhoff.

Comic Book Resources and Cort and Fatboy interview Mark Verheiden.

The New York Times Syndicate and FanCast interview Jamie Bamber.

SyFy Radio interviews Jane Espenson.

The L.A. Times interviews Michael Hogan and Rekha Sharma.

Tahmoh Penikett, with two shows about to go on air, has been interviewed recently by The L.A. Times, TV Guide, and Watch With Kristin.

Fear.net interviews Bear McCreary.

The Space podcast interviews Alessandro Juliana and Nicki Clyne, and in this other show, claims to have director Andrew Stanton revealing a WALL-E/BSG connection.

Slice of SciFi interviews Aaron Douglas.

Darth Mojo has begun blogging again, and has put up a very cool post about VFX radiosity, including a ton of great renders of BSG ships that I’m sure we’ve never seen before. Well, OK – maybe only SOME of you guys are with me on how cool this is. The rest of you, move along.

The UGO TV Blog posts an explanation written by auction CEO Alec Peters of why there are TWO arrows of Apollo on auction.

The Star and Wired’s Geekdad blog mark geek territory as they proclaim the crucial nature of BSG’s final season for geeks everywhere. Duh.

Entertainment Weekly has a Guess Who’s the Final Cylon bracket game up…and has put the BSG 4.0 DVD (and the return of 4.5) on this week’s Must List.

There is apparently a BSG-themed rollercoaster being developed for the Universal theme park in Singapore (see 12/3 & 12/8 entries).

The Hero Complex blog things J.J. Abrams’ STAR TREK owes a massive debt to BSG and STAR WARS for its battle scenes.

You can watch Rekha Sharma guest starring on SANCTUARY here.

If you have a Tivo DVR or a Windows PC, you can watch the film MY NAME IS BRUCE, written by Mark Verheiden, on Amazon VOD.

In this Vancouver Sun piece, Ron Moore discusses how fraktastic the Vancouver BSG crew is and how they helped the show excel. Moore also confirms that BSG Production Designer Richard Hudolin is working on the CAPRICA series. Thank the gods!

The Straight has some updates on CAPRICA casting in Vancouver.

For those of you who enjoyed the “Battlestarbook” this week…the fan who created it is going to do more.

Trying to get your friends hooked on BSG? Show them this fantastic primer written last year by Salon, just before the start of 4.0. Combine it with these vids, for the perfect prep session.


[Thanks to readers Kate and Stu for tips]

Friday is Webisode Day

Maureen Ryan of the Chicago Tribune posts this reminder about the BSG Face of the Enemy Webisodes, and showcased the new BSG season 4.5 poster with Starbuck seen above.

Mo Ryan also has gone on her own Galacticathon re-watching Battlestar Galactica from the beginning, her observations and thoughts are here and here.

Also, not to long ago, Ryan talked to the Daily Show's Resident Expert, John Hodgman who is a huge BSG fan, and who has a cameo role in season 4.5.

Time Magazine lists Battlestar Galactica as the 8th best show of 2008 on their top ten list, and ranks the episode Revelations as the 6th best television episode of the year. And Apple includes Battlestar Galactica in their best of 2008 iTunes selections.

Michael Hogan talks about coming to Galactica's end with DreamWatch's Total Sci-Fi.

In other news, Tricia Helfer is to appear in an episode of Chuck. Check out some set photos from Michael Trucco....Interviews with Tahmoh Penikett....And Michelle Forbes talks about working on True Blood, In Treatment, and Battlestar Galactica.

Here are the latest Catch the Frak Up primers, first the previous one, and then the second one which encapsulates all of season 4.0:

BSG highlights from freelancerxo02:


Roslin14's Desolate Earth video:


BSG Teen Spirit by dfktyjr

Auction to benefit Helfer's charity

Thanks to reader Ben Lehre, who also happens to be the President of one of Tricia Helfer’s favorite charities, the Los Angeles-based Kitten Rescue, for the heads-up on this auction:

Tricia has adopted three cats from us (including Mr. Nix, formerly "Phoenix", a cat that was survived a house fire with serious burns, and who was featured in her PETA ad) and supports us through the auctions she does on her website as well as in other ways. Basically, Tricia is a crazy cat lady trapped in a supermodel's body.

She recently presented NVISION 08, a conference hosted by NVIDIA, and while there she autographed a CPU that was tricked out in a Battlestar theme. NVIDIA's charitable giving people have put it up for auction and the proceeds are going to support our organization. The auction site (with photos & info) is here…

So please everyone -- especially you Cat People out there -- go support this great cause. Isn’t Ron Moore a cat person as well? I believe he has mentioned it on several BSG podcasts…

My kitteh Pyewacket, a rescue cat herself, has approved this message.