Seattle

At Seattle’s Experience Music Project & Science Fiction Museum (EMP/SFM), Battlestar Galactica has finally returned to Earth. From Saturday October 23, 2010, until March 4, 2012, the SFM will play host to a brand new exhibition of Galactica props and memorabilia.

Final Comic-Con Schedule Is Out

Here is a full list of all the BATTLESTAR GALACTICA and CAPRICA related events announced for San Diego Comic Con from the official event schedule. Still no sign of Ms. Sackhoff; those of you that need to know should keep an eye out. If you are going to San Diego this year, check out the terrific personal scheduling app available for SDCC for the first time. It works on smartphones, you can sign in using Twitter, FaceBook or LinkedIn, and share your panel-going plans on social networks.

ETA: now there is a rumor that James Marsters will attend the CAPRICA panel. No confirmation yet...


THURSDAY

12:00-1:00 Caprica, Battlestar, and Beyond— Hosted by actor/author Richard Hatch (Tom Zarek, Capt. Apollo, So Say We All), this panel features composer Bear McCreary (Battlestar, Eureka, Caprica), producer/writer Michael Taylor (Battlestar, Caprica, Star Trek), science consultant Kevin Grazier (Battlestar, Eureka), and special guests. Richard and the panelists will proide reviews, discussion, and Q&A of Caprica, Battlestar Galactica, and the upcoming BSG movie, including trailers. Room 6A


FRIDAY

10:15-11:15 Hawaii Five-O: Aloha, Earth! — Lost castaway found! Battlestar Cylon becomes human! Star Trek writers return from space! A supernatural force has drawn some of sci-fi's giants back to Earth­ -- and they're all gathering on a beautiful and mysterious island in the Pacific. It's Hawaii Five-0, a modern-day reimagining of one of television's most beloved and iconic classics. The epic series, one of the most anticipated new shows of the season, will explore the origins of the Five-0 team and build on an already rich mythology. Executive producers Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci (Star Trek) and Peter M. Lenkov (24), director Len Wiseman (Underworld), and stars Daniel Dae Kim (Lost) and Grace Park (Battlestar Galactica) present an exclusive sneak peek at the series and an in depth discussion on how they plan to marry their genre sensibilities with a classic police procedural. Room 6BCF

11:30-12:30 Caprica— Syfy presents an exclusive glimpse into the future of humanity. Featuring Alessandra Torresani (Zoe Graystone), Sasha Roiz (Sam Adama), James Marsters, Ronald D. Moore (co-creator/executive producer), and David Eick (executive producer) and moderated by Geoff Boucher of the Los Angeles Times. Ballroom 20

2:15-3:15 The Cape: Sneak Peek and Panel Discussion— One man can make a difference...When Vince Faraday, an honest cop on a corrupt police force, is framed for murder and presumed killed, he assumes the identity of his son's favorite comic book superhero -- The Cape -- to reclaim his name, family, and his city from the ruthless ARK Corporation and the masked villain known as Chess. Join the cast and creators including David Lyons (ER), Summer Glau (Terminator: The Sarah Conner Chronicles), Dorian Missick (Six Degrees), James Frain (True Blood), Keith David (Gamer), Vinnie Jones (X-Men: Last Stand), Martin Klebba (Pirates of the Caribbean), composer Bear McCreary (Battlestar Galactica), creator/executive producer Thomas Wheeler (Empire), and showrunner/executive producer John Wirth (Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles) for this sneak peek at the pilot episode and panel discussion. A limited collector edition of The Cape comic book, with a cover by superstar artist John Cassady (Astonishing X-Men), will be given away at the panel. Room 6A

3:15-4:15 Spartacus: Blood and Sand— Andy Whitfield (McLeod's Daughters) makes his Comic-Con debut, along with Lucy Lawless (Xena: Warrior Princess), John Hannah (The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor), and Viva Bianca (Bad Bush). Executive producer Stephen S. DeKnight (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) joins the cast to discuss the upcoming prequel, titled Spartacus: Gods of the Arena, expected to air on Starz in January 2011, and the exclusive content found on the first season Blu-ray discs, available September 21. Room 6BCF

4:45-5:45 Falling Skies— They're coming. Get the very first look at Steven Spielberg's new series that envisions a world where aliens have invaded and the fate of humanity lies in the hands of a few survivors. Noah Wyle (ER, TNT's The Librarian movies) and Moon Bloodgood (Terminator Salvation) join co-executive producer and writer Mark Verheiden (Heroes, Battlestar Galactica) for a Q&A on the new series. Falling Skies premieres on TNT next summer. Room 6A


SATURDAY

3:30-5:00 Warehouse 13 and Eureka— Don't miss two of Syfy's biggest hit series in one exclusive event. Catch back-to-back Warehouse 13 and Eureka panels, featuring Warehouse 13's Eddie McClintock (Pete Lattimer), Joanne Kelly (Myka Bering), Saul Rubinek (Artie Nielsen), Allison Scagliotti (Claudia Donovan), and Jack Kenny (showrunner/executive producer) and Eureka's Colin Ferguson (Jack Carter), Salli Richardson-Whitfield (Allison Blake), Neil Grayston (Douglas Fargo), James Callis (Grant), Jaime Paglia (co-creator/executive producer/writer), and Bruce Miller (executive producer/writer). Room 6BCF

6:30-7:30 Her Universe: Shining The Spotlight on Female Fans— Ashley Eckstein (Star Wars: The Clone Wars) brings together some of today's leading women who are movers and shakers in the various fields of sci-fi and fantasy. Looking at science fiction through female eyes, the panel will discuss what kinds of entertainment female sci-fi fans want to see more of, what strides have been made, what has been missing up to now, what kinds of merchandise female fans want to see, and what female fans can do to encourage more of all of this. Panelists include Jane Espenson (producer/writer, Battlestar Galactica, Caprica, Buffy The Vampire Slayer), Melinda Snodgrass (author, The Edge series; story editor Star Trek: The Next Generation), Erika Kennair (director of development and current programming, Syfy Channel), Cat Staggs (artist, Star Wars sketch cards, Marvel card sets), Bonnie Burton (content developer, Lucas Online, official SW Blog), Katie Cook (artist, Star Wars, comics, webcomic Gronk), and Mary Franklin (senior events lead, Lucasfilm Ltd.). Q&A with audience members, too! Room 24ABC

ETA: Information on signings and some new CAPRICA merch!

Alessandra Torresani, Jane Espenson, and Bob Harris from CAPRICA are all doing signings at the Entertainment Earth booth over the weekend (schedule here). Mark Sheppard and Richard Hatch are doing signings elsewhere at SDCC booths. And...

NBC Universal will debut "Beyond Caprica - A Visitor's Pocket Guide to the Twelve Colonies" ($10) and an all-new Caprica T-shirt ($20), available for purchase at Entertainment Earth's booth. Here's your chance to own a piece of the hit Syfy channel drama set in the Battlestar Galactica universe.

CAPRICA & BSG at Nerd Prom (aka Comic-Con) 2010

Maureen Ryan has confirmed with SyFy they are bringing CAPRICA to San Diego Comic-Con this year.

Starz has announced that Lucy Lawless will attend the SPARTACUS: BLOOD & SAND panel, and there is a rumor that James Callis will be attending with the EUREKA panel (he has joined the cast for the new season, which premieres July 9, to play physicist Dr. Grant).



The HAWAII FIVE-O panel will include co-star Grace Park. Writer/producer Mark Verheiden will be there for a panel about his new series FALLEN SKIES, co-produced by HEROES' Greg Beeman and executive produced by Steven Spielberg.

If any of you hear about additional BATTLESTAR GALACTICA alumni at SDCC this year, shout it out in the comments.

For the first time ever I am going to SDCC myself, and will cover as much as I possibly can from the TV and Film worlds over at my new site The FemmeBot. Come check it out!

Battlestar Galactica: The Exhibition

The Science Fiction Museum at Seattle's Experience Music Project has announced a very special exhibit coming this October:

Experience Music Project|Science Fiction Museum (EMP|SFM) is proud to announce its latest exhibition, Battlestar Galactica: The Exhibition. Organized by EMP|SFM and in partnership with Universal Cable Productions and Syfy, Battlestar Galactica features three stunning, full-size prop spaceships, iconic costumes, new exhibition films, music and other props from the original and reimagined series. Battlestar Galactica opens to the public Oct. 23, 2010 and runs through March 4, 2012 at EMP|SFM in Seattle.

“The museum is honored to be organizing the first exhibition devoted to both series,” said Brooks Peck, Curator of Battlestar Galactica: The Exhibition. “Battlestar Galactica is one of those rare science fiction shows that appeals to a wide range of people because it combines high adventure with very personal drama. It explores what it means to be human, and has a lot of fun doing so.”

Opening weekend (Oct. 22-24, 2010) will include museum member and public events with some of Battlestar Galactica’s most popular personalities.

"Over its four season run on Syfy, Battlestar Galactica became an iconic series that not only entertained, but fulfilled the promise of all great science fiction. It provoked us into examining our world and ourselves through its politically-charged, socially-relevant, religious and technological themes," said Mark Stern, Executive Vice President, Original Programming, Syfy, and Co-head, Original Content, Universal Cable Productions. "It is an honor for us to partner with EMP|SFM in this one-of-a-kind opportunity to experience BSG in an up-close and personal way."

The exhibition will be presented in the Milestones Gallery on EMP’s third level. Battlestar Galactica will become a traveling exhibition in 2012 after its premiere at EMP|SFM.

For any of you who were at the prop & costume auctions, and felt that thrill of being up close with actual materials from the series -- or for any of you who wished you could have been there -- this sounds like a fantastic event.

Since it is apparently a travelling exhibit, let's hope it has many other stops after Seattle!

You can read more about the details of the exhibition content here.

An Evening With Caprica

Those of us who made it to the CAPRICA panel event at the New York Paley Center tonight got an unexpected treat: advance screenings of both this week's new episode and next week's mid-season finale! Unfortunately for me, I was late and only got to see the latter (written by BSG alum Michael Taylor btw). It was... astoundingly action-packed, with cliffhangers galore! Also, you get the unique joy of seeing James Marsters say the words: SO SAY WE ALL. Frak yeah.

The Q&A panel after the screening with Ron Moore, David Eick, Syfy's Mark Stern, and castmembers Esai Morales, Sasha Roiz, Alessandra Torressani and Magda Apanowicz was a lot of fun and quite informative. Those Adama brothers are a hoot...

A couple of highlights gleaned at the panel:
- No one would say exactly when the second half of CAPRICA season one will air (although SyFy has apparently told the press October 2010). And despite the rumors from earlier this month, no one mentioned CAPRICA getting renewed, or any other new BSG spinoff ideas. Keep your fingers crossed.
- Ron Moore confirmed that we will visit two other colonies in the next set of episodes after the hiatus: Gemenon and Tauron.
- When asked if an ending has already been worked out for this series, Moore and Eick say they have not done that yet, it is too soon. They see around six organic endpoints, each is a landmark event within the timeline between the current present on the show through to the events of the BSG miniseries.
- Esai Morales says that big changes are afoot for Joseph Adama in the back half of the season, following some crucial developments we saw tonight in the mid-season finale.
- Sasha Roiz got his role as Sam Adama after auditioning for the role of Tomas Vergis (Graystone's business rival). James Marsters was being considered originally for the role of Vergis as well... but his unique talents seemed much more suited to Barnabus.
- To answer a question I got this evening: NO, Michelle Forbes does not have a cameo in CAPRICA 109. That's just someone who looks like her a bit.

OK I'm tired. Goodnight for now -- meanwhile, for the rest of you who attended tonight, please leave your (NON SPOILERY) thoughts in the comments. Did you enjoy this week's new episode? Did anyone post panel video on youtube yet? Etc.

ETA Thursday AM:

The Paley Center did a great livetweet of the event last night.

At the Syfy upfronts this week, Esai Morales elaborated further to io9 about "the wringer" Joe Adama will go through in 1.5, and says that CAPRICA's renewal is still up in the air:

We don't know when we're going to get picked up, so my choices are limited – I can't go out for pilots, but I don't want to because I really enjoy [Caprica]. I enjoy doing television for people with brains. ...I like that the show makes you think, and it sells ideas. It sells questions. It sells perspectives. Do you believe in one god or many or none? There's no good or bad – there's good or bad deeds. As they say in the Bible, God loves the sinner, not the sin. ...This show makes you think. If you want to scratch the surface, you'll get something more than backdrop.

Paley Center announces NYC CAPRICA event

The Paley Center in New York City has just announced a CAPRICA panel! Finally something for us folks on the East Coast. Here are the details:

Wednesday, March 17, 2010
6:30 pm ET, New York

Appearing In Person:

Ronald D. Moore, Co-Creator and Executive Producer
David Eick, Executive Producer
Paula Malcomson, "Amanda Graystone"
Alessandra Torresani, "Zoe Graystone"
Magda Apanowicz, "Lacy Rand"
Sasha Roiz, "Sam Adama"

Syfy’s new Battlestar Galactica prequel—more futuristic family saga than space opera—is a provocative, superbly crafted drama that, like its predecessor, tackles complex, highly resonant themes, such as religion, race, terrorism, technology, love, and the very nature of humanity. Like all quality drama, Caprica is not just emotionally and intellectually gripping, but also compels viewers to confront their own reality, even as they are swept up in this visually arresting, preapocalyptic world of sentient robots, avatars, and interplanetary travel.

The Paley Center will preview an upcoming episode from Caprica’s first season, followed by a discussion with members of the cast and creative team.

Paley Center Members: $15, tickets on sale now.
General Public: $25, tickets on sale Wednesday, February 24 at noon.

The BSG roller coaster at Universal Studios Singapore

Pretty frakkin' clever. Field trip anyone?

(Hat tip to Jeebs83.)

Comic-Con 2009

The beautiful madness of The Geek Prom, aka San Diego Comic-Con, began last night.

There is a ton of stuff going on that we BATTLESTAR GALACTICA and CAPRICA fans will enjoy hearing about soon enough...not to mention a ton of other things in film and television both. I'm sure a lot of fans who attend will leave their thoughts, photos, videos and love over at the siffy forums and the livejournal community.

A great frakkin tee shirt spotted at Comic Con Wednesday afternoon by own-the-sky

Our first look at Lucy Lawless rocking a red toga in her new TV series SPARTACUS: BLOOD AND SAND

Cyborgs on the Horizon: A Reportback from the 92nd Street Y

Cyborgs on the Horizon:

A Sitrep Reportback

Friday night, I crowded into the 92nd Street Y with hundreds of other BSG fans for the World Science Festival event "Battlestar Galactica: Cyborgs on the Horizon." In the lead-up to the event I had conducted interviews with panel participants Hod Lipson , Kevin Warwick , and Mary McDonnell, so I was prepared for a lot of the topics of discussions... and it was still shocking and eye-opening and exciting to be so close to these marvelous people and hear about the work that they're doing, and their perspectives on these issues.

Please see below for a list of a bunch of my favorite moments. I know there were other Sitrep readers in attendance, so I hope people will post their additional favorite moments in the Comments field! All photos used in this post are © Dawn Garizzo for World Science Festival. For a full slideshow of official photographs, click here.

Event highlights included:

Nick Bostrom saying that the definition of human-level artificial intelligence is "sort of a moving target," and that "we keep moving the goalposts." "Many things that were once considered paradigmatically human, and evidence of our superior intelligence - like playing chess - we stopped considering them signs of intelligence once a computer could master them."

Michael Hogan saying that "During the miniseries, I said to myself a number of times 'man, am I glad I'm not playing a cylon!'"

Mary McDonnell saying "NOBODY gets a bigger trailer than Eddie."

Kevin Warwick telling us about a robot brain that he built out of rat brain cells, and how he hooked it up to a machine and it was able to control it, and ultimately learn not to bump into walls, and as it learned they could observe the growth of pathways among the brain cells, which is how learning happens in human brains.

Michael Hogan saying that the research for Saul Tigh was a lot of fun because it just involved "drinking a lot, which I'm good at," and Mary McDonnell saying "He really is."

Mary McDonnell saying of the episode "Epiphanies" (in which fetal stem cells from Hera save Roslin's life): "part of the reason for writing it was to address the resistance to stem cell research in this country."

Michael Hogan saying that he initially "vehemently disagreed with the idea that Tigh would go down to live on New Caprica at the end of Season Two," but "look at the arc they wrote for me in Season Three as a result - I am so proud of the work that we did, and so honored."

Hod Lipson showing a scary video of a robot that he built, teaching itself to walk, and my friend Manny turning to me and saying "this is the beginning of the end."

Mary's shock and excitement mirroring our own as we all learned about the work that Prof's Lipson and Warwick are doing.

Kevin Warwick scoffing at the idea that we would be able to control robots once they achieve super-intelligence: "Do we really think they're going to say 'I'm more intelligent than you, but I'm going to do what you tell me to do?' I mean, how stupid are humans?" And that "People tend to say 'oh, we can just switch it off if it gets too scary...' but think of the internet. It's just not possible to switch off the internet."

Mary saying that Ron Moore was "wise enough to realize that there was a co-creative aspect to the show, in his interactions with the fans. A lot of these hearts and minds (here she gestured to the audience) were very engaged in the direction the show took."

Nick Bostrom saying that once we had developed truly sentient robots, we would have to extend human rights to them, because "It ultimately doesn't matter if you're a carbon-based intelligence or a silicon-based intelligence. It makes no more difference than the color of your skin."

Kevin Warwick telling about his experience becoming a cyborg - a chip was implanted into his nervous system in his arm, and then hooked up to the internet, and he was able to control a robot hand on an entirely different continent. "I could feel that I was gripping something." "Your brain can adapt to perceive new stimuli. If we want new senses, we've got the technology to do it."

When asked what BSG taught her about being human, Mary said "If we can begin to think our way into a place that's more creative and less fearful, so many of these things we want to do can be done. I no longer suffer from the illusion that we have a lot of time. On a spiritual and political plane, I'd like to be of better and more efficient service, because it really feels like we're running out of time." And we all got chills.

When asked whether AI should be regulated by the government, Hod Lipson said it should be "something open, and not regulated, but the discussion cannot just be scientists publishing jargony articles in scientific journals no one reads - it needs to be an open discussion among everyone. This can't be something that only scientists - or anyone - has control over."

But when asked the same question, Kevin Warwick said that "The goal in military circles is 'no bodybags by 2020.' I'm personally scared by that scenario. We're developing these machines that are programmed to destroy something, usually something human, and I do feel that with that kind of destructive potential the people - whether or not it's through their governments - should have some say in how it's developed."

And finally, an audience member asked Mary if she was surprised to find out she wasn't a cylon. She said she wasn't. "It could have been an interesting cruel joke, seeing as how I'd killed so many... But I was pretty sure that Laura Roslin had to remain on the human, fearful plane - her karma was about completion of some kind of responsibility, a very blood-and-guts, cancer-ridden experience, and I just couldn't imagine that they'd want to throw all of that out."

--Sam J. Miller

New clips from THE PLAN

Last night BATTLESTAR GALACTICA fans were treated to two different sneak peaks at the upcoming telefilm THE PLAN, which promises to revisit the events of the BSG timeline from the cylon perspective.

SciFi previewed a new clip of Cavil talking to Ellen last night on air, and we at the Sitrep are not against aiming the frakkin' Flipcam at the TeeVee now and then for your pleasure:



ETA Sunday: SciFi has posted the official clip now:



Meanwhile, at the World Science Festival panel last night in New York City another exclusive clip, of Cavil with Boomer, was screened for the audience. Uberfangrrl and friend of the blog prolix_allie was nice enough to write up a description of it for us. In honor of our more spirginal readers, we are putting that info in the comment section of this post.

For a bit more footage of THE PLAN, here's the trailer released a few months ago:

92nd St Y Tickets

Hey, Galactica Sitrep readers... I've always thought we have the best readership in all of BSG fandom. And now, you finally get rewarded for reading this little website. This just in from our friends at the 92nd St. Y:

We want to offer a discount ticket to your readers - 20% off. Tell them to use the code "SI20" when they order.

So, when you order tickets at this link, to get your discount enter "SI20" into the coupon code box.

I'm getting that tingly feeling again...must be time for Comic Con rumors!

RDM playing nice in the halls of Comic Con 2008...

First bits and pieces of Comic Con 2009 panel info, both rumored and officially announced, have begun to trickle onto the blogosphere this past week for some of the TV and film projects. I'll be tracking a lot of both over on FanGrrl Magnet if you are curious.

But to the question that you dear readers most want here at Sitrep...what about BATTLESTAR GALACTICA and CAPRICA?

Nothing has been announced by Sci Fi/NBCU yet, but Seat42F says all nets and studios have had their Comic Con meetings and made their decisions. I've been poking some sources hoping for more info. It's a bit soon to do a CAPRICA panel, given production is starting next month, the cast and crew will be busy, and there wouldn't be any new footage in time for the Con.

My money is on a panel for THE PLAN, which airs this September November on SciFi.

Watch this space...



[Speaking of cons and plans, did you know Ron Moore is the announced Guest Of Honor at this year's London MCM Expo? And that Olmos recently said this about THE PLAN?]

Envelope Panel Coverage

A few links are starting to trickle out: Flick Cast correspondent Chris Ullrich posted his experience, as did Fan Cast's Julia Diddy.

The Envelope Emmy series official site has begun posting video excerpts just like they did last year... for more video I assume you will have to hunt the youtubes...

Let us know if you find any other good coverage.

Mega Con

Video from MegaCon via Codebreaker2001.

Ron Moore Says...

Chicago Tribune Watcher Maureen Ryan talked to writers David Weddle and Bradley Thompson about their work on CSI's BSG/Trek/SF themed episdoe, 'A Space Oddity'.

More on the CSI episode from Omaha Examiner, Entertainment Weekly, and Zap2it.

Screencaps from the episode showing the cameos from Ron Moore, Grace Park, and Rekha Sharma at Triny's World.

The Battlestar Wiki Blog reports on this upcoming event with Ron Moore:

AN EVENING with RONALD D. MOORE
Tuesday, May 5 - 7:30-9:30pm - At the Writers Guild Theater (135 S
Doheny Dr., Beverly Hills, CA 90211)
Light reception included

Join us for this unique opportunity to learn from the writer, developer, and excecutive producer of BATTLESTAR GALACTICA… one of the most successful sci-fi series in a frakkin’ long time. Ronald D. Moore is one of the most successful writers of television science fiction working today. He is writer/executive producer of Battlestar Galactica. Previous writing and producing credits include Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Good Vs. Evil, Roswell, and the acclaimed HBO series Carnivale. He is the winner of two Peabody Awards, an Emmy (plus many nominations) and a Hugo Award, as well as a WGA nomination.

Purchase tickets online here or call 800-838-3006

Prices:
$20 General Public
$15 WGA members
$10 Student with ID
(prices slightly discounted online)

Viva La France

Jamie Bamber, James Callis and Mary McDonnell will recieve the Jules Verne Award Sunday, April 26, at Paris Grand Rex theatre as part of the Jules Verne Film Festival. And guests will have the chance to see projection on the big screen of the episode of "Finale Saison" Daybreak. (And let me say, seeing the finale on the big screen is the way to go.)

The festival also has an advance screening of J. J. Abrams' Star Trek later that Sunday. A big day for SF fans in Paris. (And Trek Movie's Anthony Pascale has a mostly spoiler free review of Trek here.)

Emerald City

Michael Hogan attended the 7th Annual Emerald City ComicCon April 4th & 5th, 2009 held at the Washington State Convention & Trade Center in Seattle, WA along with Aaron Douglas, and Tahmoh Penikett.

erradient from the LJ Battlestar Blog has a convention report.

David Crosman, Contributing Writer for Comic Book Resources, has a detailed report as well.




Video from wrathofdon







Video from klozzocity

Michael Hogan will also be at the Polaris Con in Toronto, July 10-12.

Edward James Olmos and other BSG guests will be at this years DragonCon, September 4-7 in Atlanta, Georgia.

Also of note, the Paley Festival is hosting Battlestar Galactica / Caprica: A Look Back and a Look Ahead April 20th at the Arclight Cinerama Dome in Hollywood:

In Person:

Ronald D. Moore, Executive Producer
David Eick, Executive Producer
Jane Espenson, Executive Producer
Paula Malcomson (Amanda Greystone, "Caprica")
Eric Stoltz (Daniel Greystone, "Caprica")
Esai Morales (Joseph Adama, "Caprica")
Alessandra Torressani (Zoe Greystone, "Caprica")
Magda Apanowicz (Lacy Rand, "Caprica")
Tricia Helfer (Number Six, "Battlestar Galactica")
Grace Park (Sharon/Athena/Boomer, "Battlestar Galactica")
Special Guest Moderator:
Seth Green (Robot Chicken, Buffy The Vampire Slayer)

“This has all happened before. And it will happen again.”

Now that Battlestar Galactica—itself a reimagined version of a 1970s TV space opera—has dry-docked, we turn our attention to Caprica, a BSG prequel scheduled to debut on DVD in April and on Sci Fi Channel in 2010. Set fifty years before the nuclear apocalypse that opened Galactica, Caprica follows two families—the Graystones and the Adamas (particularly Bill’s “old man” Joseph)—as they feud over the creation of cybernetic life forms, marrying artificial intelligence with mechanical bodies, aka, Cylons. Like BSG, Caprica is executive produced by Ronald D. Moore and David Eick, plus Remi Aubuchon.

This event brings together cast and creative team members from both shows and features a premiere screening of Caprica.

For other upcoming conventions with BSG and Caprica guests the Battlestar Blog is keeping track of it all.

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."

Cons: Starfury and New York Comic Con

For those of us who can never make it over to the UK for Sean Harry's fantastic Starfury cons, a fan known as hobbitofkobol has done us a lovely favor and transcribed the sessions at last month's Q&A sessions with Tahmoh Penikett, Nicki Clyne, Jennifer Halley, Michelle Forbes, Katee Sackhoff, James Callis and Mark Sheppard. Terrific photos (some of which we've borrowed here) provided by fan benelie. BRAVO.

By the by if you are in the neighborhood and can get to one of Starfury's events, every fan I've talked to about these cons just loves them. The next BSG one is Mission Starfury in November 2009. Go if you can!

Speaking of good conventions: the New York Comic Con is coming up Feb 6-8. As you can see from their official schedule (and this blog by con Director Lance Festerman) no official BSG panels seem to be happening, which is a shame. Though the con does say: “Most Movie and TV Panels are Still Not Announced – And Will Be Revealed Closer To NYCC.”



There are some BSG-related events on the books: a ton of BSG comic book related panels; Tahmoh Penikett at a DOLLHOUSE panel with Joss Whedon where they will screen part of the first episode and giveaway some posters; Mark Sheppard at the SEGA booth promoting THE CONDUIT; there is a panel about the web series EMMISARY, which co-stars Aaron Douglas. SuperBSGfan Seth Green and his ROBOT CHICKEN posse are doing a panel as well. Last year's RC panel was the best thing I saw at NYCC last year other than the all-cylon BSG panel, make sure to be there if you’re attending!

If you live in Portland, Oregon...

...I want to punch you. j/k


Via friend of the blog anno-superstar:

Cort & Fatboy (who I keep telling you to go listen to on a daily basis) have some great news for you PDX BSG lovers! Every Friday at the Bagdad Theater in Portland, OR, starting January 16th, Cort & Fatboy are gonna have a big, free, Galactica viewing party on the big screen. You gotta be 21 and over to attend because the Bagdad Theater is a brewpub.

Will anyone step up in NY or LA and do this? We shall see.