Whedon

Joss Whedon is a fan of Battlestar Galactica:

I'm just sneaking in to say I've been continuing to watch BSG, the wife and I are about halfway through season one and gushing isn't gonna cover this one. You guys have heard me gush, so it won't have any real meaning. You have to imagine Pauline Kael bursting into song, Lionel Barrymoore In "Wonderful Life" jumping up and jitterbugging with George Bailey, the Grinch's heart growing three sizes... you gotta start down there to explain what it feels like up here. I'll put it simply. The show is humbling. Not since the Matrix (the first one) have I had such a strong desire to go to writing school. I think it's so passionate, textured, complex, subversive and challenging that it dwarfs everything on TV. Or in theaters. Or boho perfomances spaces. Stuff hanging in the Tate? Not as cool. I'm not gonna go on, because I have to get back to work and because if I really start, this post will crash the internet from sheer length. Only downsides are a) I was already having a crisis of confidence, thank you very much and b) I can't go near any Sci-Fi mags for fear of spoilers. Apart from that, life is to be loved. The Gods are to be praised. Back to the job. -j.

joss | June 12, 21:18 CET

A re-imagined Star Trek?

Back in 2004 writers Joe Straczynski and Bryce Zabel got together and created a 14 page pitch to Paramount on how they would do a new Star Trek show. Zabel posted a pdf of the treatment in his blog.

Interestingly, their idea is not unlike Ron Moore's take on Battlestar Galactica, which was to start over. As we know, Moore took a lot of flack from Battlestar fundamentalists who wanted a continuation series instead. But, Ron correctly saw the potential of doing it over, better. The ratings for BSG, critical praise, Hugo Awards, Peabody Award, and likely Emmy nominations have indicated that his way was wise and correct.

So, it's interesting that JMS and Zabel had a similar idea for Trek, to do the 5 year mission over again, with Kirk, Spock, McCoy, in a "re-imagined" Trek universe with new actors filling those iconic roles. And I think after years of pretty dull Trek like Voyager and Enterprise, fans would have been open minded about "re-boot" of the Kirk/Spock/McCoy Star Trek.

(Oddly enough one of the ideas in the treatment, a sort of DNA quest showing the various Trek races to be related was actually also explored in an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation, that Ron Moore co-wrote called The Chase.)

Anyway, Trek is now in the hands of J.J. Abrams (Lost, Alias, MI3, etc.) and he plans to be doing a kind of re-boot as well, for the film franchise. The rumor is that he's dusting off and revising Harve Bennett's idea of a Starfleet Academy movie, showing Kirk, Spock and McCoy in their college days. Though, another twist on that rumor is that Matt Damon is who Abrams wants as Kirk... And since Damon is a bit older than college age, one wonders if that's actually the idea? Anyway, supposedly Denny Crane himself approves of Damon taking on the role.

I think the JMS/Zabel project had a lot of potential. It could have been kinda fun.

Anyway, bringing this topic back to Battlestar Galactica, Ron Moore and David Eick have shown that doing a "re-boot" or re-imagined version of an established franchise can work very very well, if done right.

Check out the proposed JMS/Zabel version of Trek and decide for yourself.

BSG News

More on Battlestar Galactica season 2.5 coming to DVD in the fall from TV Shows on DVD.

Soundtrack Net reports on a music event that Bear McCreary attended.

Bear McCreary blogs about performing at The Mint recently.

Summertime

You can find sets of the Battlestar Galactica complete season 2 Emmy consideration DVDs on Ebay. Of course, if you happen to know any Emmy voters, besure they watch BSG so the show will get some highly deserved nominations.

There are many BSG fan created Galactica music videos on YouTube, and this one is very well done and polished.

DVD 2.5

Battlestar Galactica Season 2.5 will be out in September, according to TV Shows on DVD, which has a scan of the DVD box art which can be seen in flyer that comes with the BSG season 2 CD.

Cally on TIki

Nicki Clyne, Specialist Cally, Chief Galen Tyrol's favorite deckhand, can be seen on the latest episode of Tiki Bar TV (one of the best video podcasts) playing a pointy eared space alien learning to dance, and drink. Watch it and enjoy...

New News

Check out the webcast of the Battlestar Galactica pannel discussion at the Museum of Television and Radio in New York, with Ron Moore, David Eick, Jamie Bamber, Mary McDonnel, Edward James Olmos, and moderated by TV Guide's Matt Roush.

On Sci Fi Pulse, you can view clips of the Battlestar Galactica team accepting the Peabody Award, watch the creators of South Park praise Battlestar Galactica, and see new deleted scenes from season 2.5 of BSG.

At the MTR event, a season 3 promotional trailer was shown, and The Great Link has a run down of what was shown in it, but with the main spoilers removed.

Tube Socket however relates a few of the spoilers from the trailer and wonders if John Hodgman (seen recently on those neat Mac ads playing the P.C., and on segments of the The Daily Show) is a Cylon.

Finally, a Galactica fan has created a neat opening credits montage for season 3. Maybe season 3's credits will be something similar, though I hope they let Bear McCreary come up with new opening theme. (Since the theme in the U.S. in the first season was different, and in the second season we got the theme that was used in the U.K. and elsewhere, it now kinda makes some sense to change the theme each year, like Christopher Franke did with Babylon 5 each season. There are some impressive tracks on the season 2 score that may even lend themselves to becoming the framework for a new season 3 theme.)

Bear's Music

SoundtrackNet has an excellent review, and preview samples of Bear McCreary's season 2 Battlestar Galactica score.

Emmy Consideration

The Sci-Fi Channel has set up a site to help promote Emmy nominations for Battlestar Galactica.

Music!

Pre-order an autographed Battlestar Galactica Season 2 cd by Bear McCreary from La La Land Records. Hear some samples from the score.

RSVP to attend the BSG season 2 concert in Los Angeles.

Baltar Rocks

Check out this excellent and funny video of James Callis accepting the three Saturn Awards Galactica recently won. (For actor, Callis, Actress, Katee Sackhoff, and Best Cable Series.)

Caprica

Ron Moore and the Sci-Fi Channel are working on Caprica, a prequel series to BSG taking place 50 years before the current events taking place on Battlestar Galactica.

Season 3 Information

Ron Moore, has updated his Battlestar Blog with a new Q&A session. He detailed more about his time in the NROTC and training cruise on board the USS W.S. Sims FF-1059.

Katee Sackhoff reveals to Sci-Fi Wire a few pieces of information for season 3 of BSG, currently filming in Vancouver, Canada. Look for Starbuck to have a major haircut in season 3.

Meanwhile, the Hollywood North Report updates their Galactica site, and posts MAJOR spoilers for season 3. Only read the report if you don't mind spoilers. They also report:

'According to our BSG source, "the plots are topical and relevant to modern day events...and they are some of the best scripts of BSG to date."'

Season 2 Score

BSG News has posted the cover art for Bear McCreary's season 2 Battlestar Galactica soundtrack from La La Land Records.

Updates

Battlestar Galactica has won the Peabody award.
http://www.eonline.com/News/Items/0,1,18736,00.html?fdnews

Listen to Bear McCreary on the Water Cooler TV podcast:
http://www.dtrkprod.com/page15/page15.html

The Golden Toasters are coming:
http://www.goldentoasterawards.hangardeck5.com/

Moore's Blog

Ron Moore has updated his blog quite a bit today. He writes about his speech at the GDC, provides answers in a Q&A, and talks about the new enhanced podcasts, the writer's room podcasts, and future podcast plans.

Read all about it in his blog.

Sci-Fi's Podcast

Ron Moore's Galactica Podcast has been updated this week, with a recording of a writers meeting from July 2005, where Moore and his writing staff hashed out episode 215, "Scar." It's very insightful, as you basically get to sit in on a writer's room meeting. Get it from iTunes or here. (By the way, you can now get an enhanced version of Ron's podcast, with chapter stops and other enhanced features for iTunes and iPods.)

There is more on Ron Moore's talk at the Game Conference here.

And you can see the cover art of the upcoming Battlestar Galactica comic books here and here.

Briefly...

Ron Moore spoke at the GDC and compared and contrasted the old Battlestar with the new Battlestar, and a guy called Zonk took notes.

In other news, the Hugo Nominations for L.A.con IV, the 64th World Science Fiction Convention to be held in Anaheim, California, 23-27 August 2006 have been annouced, and Battlestar Galactica episode 210, Pegasus is nominated for Best Dramatic Presentation (short form).

Moore and Hatch

Ron Moore, head writer and executive producer of Battlestar Galactica, appeared at Creation Entertainment's Grand Slam Scifi Summit convention in Pasadena, California a few weeks ago, and after his appearence on stage he spoke to Pegasus Galaxy about the end of season 2, and prospects for season 3. Among the many interesting things Moore says in the interview, he confirms that Tom Zarek (Richard Hatch) is now Baltar's V.P.

Speaking of Richard Hatch, there's an excellent interview with him at SFX, that took place before season 2.

Message from Bear McCreary

There are a few sites around that have posted links to mp3 files of Bear McCreary's music from season 2 of BSG. Bear wants everyone to be aware that:

These tracks circulating on the internet could have a seriously damaging impact on how well the CD performs. I could tell that these had re-circulated, when I started getting "fan mail" about tracks that I haven't released yet. I have to say it bothers me a lot when fans write me and tell me how much they love the soundtrack and then make it crystal clear that they've never bought any of the albums released.

Please keep in mind that no matter how cool the music is, if the tiny record label (La La Land Records) putting them out can't make enough money... there will be no BG soundtrack albums in the future. Please be aware that downloading these tracks puts future soundtrack albums in serious jeopardy.

I'm in the studio all this month fine tuning and remixing for you guys so that the Season 2 album is going to be even better than the Season 1 soundtrack. Rest assured that you're in for a treat come June. But, please help me out here and stop these files from getting around.

Warm Regards,
-Bear McCreary