BSG fans should check out Monk Friday night on USA Network, as "Mr. Monk and The UFO" is written by Michael Angeli the writer of notable BSG eps such as The Son Also Rises, Six Degrees of Separation, Guess What's Coming to Dinner, Blood on The Scales, and the Emmy nominated Six of One.
In the episode, while driving back from a wedding outside of Reno, Nevada, Adrian Monk (Tony Shalhoub) sees a UFO with his assistant Natalie Teeger (Traylor Howard) when her car breaks down in the desert foothills. UFO enthusiasts descend on the small desert town where Monk and his assistant are staying while the car is being repaired. The Ufologists rabidly search for the landing site and in doing so, find the body of a murder victim. Monk is co-opted by the sheriff (Daniel Stern) to help solve the murder. The Ufologists begin to suspect Monk is an alien, and that he came in the UFO -- from Cylonia. There are a few other BSG references in the episode written by former Battlestar Galactica co-exec producer Michael Angeli.
"Mr. Monk and The UFO" Friday, August 21 at 9/8C on USA Network. Be there!
The BBC is reporting that Variety is reporting that Bryan Singer is confirmed to direct a theatrical version of Battlestar Galactica.
Galactica fandom has been buzzing about this for since February, with much anxiety over whether the new film will take place in (a) the universe of The Original Series, (b) the Ron Moore universe, or (c) an all-new reboot universe. When the rumors started in February, all signs pointed to a Glen Larson/old school version; MTV News seems a little more optimistic that the film might not be a total object of contempt for addicts of the RDM version:
"The project is literally at ground zero right now. With Singer on board, now it's time to find a writer, figure out the course such a project might take. Might Ron Moore step in to deliver a script? Anything is possible."
So... what do we think? BSG fans, weigh in! Pretend our Comments field is going to be read by every executive and artist associated with the film. What do you want them to know?
Personally - speaking as BSG addict Sam J. Miller, and not as an objective Sitrep editor - I like Bryan Singer a lot (enough to forgive him for Superman Returns, which might be the most bored I've ever been at a movie). X-Men and X-2, in my opinion, were way smarter than the average big-budget action movie. His sensitivity to the outsider, to people who are considered monsters, seems to be a pretty good fit for the RDM version's commitment to humanizing the cylons and presenting complicated issues in an engaging way - and is in direct opposition to The Original Series' depiction of the cylons as inhuman and pure evil.
The fact that he's openly gay and has pretty blue eyes has nothing to do with it.
Also Olmos recently made a special appearance in Cleveland at the Screaming Tiki Convention where he participated in a panel discussion on Saturday. On Sunday he sat down with Jamie Ruby of MediaBlvd for an exclusive interview.
Experience the Fight for Humanity's Survival Through the Eyes of the Cylons for the First Time Ever In
Battlestar Galactica: The Plan
Premieres Exclusively on Blu-ray Hi-Def, DVD and Digital Download October 27, 2009
UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif., July 17 - Television's most thrilling science fiction adventure makes a stunning turnabout when Battlestar Galactica: The Plan debuts on Blu-ray Hi-Def and DVD on October 27, 2009 from Universal Studios Home Entertainment. For the first time ever, fans can experience the uncut and uncensored story of humanity's futuristic fight for survival through the eyes of their deadly adversaries, the Cylons. This never-before-seen perspective of the Cylon plan reunites the series' original television cast, including Emmy Award winner Edward James Olmos (Stand and Deliver), Dean Stockwell (JAG), Tricia Helfer (Burn Notice), Grace Park (The Cleaner) and Callum Keith Rennie (Californication). Ronald D. Moore and David Eick return as executive producers.
Battlestar Galactica: The Plan's executive producer and writer Jane Espenson added, "Edward James Olmos was our director on the movie, and he did an amazing job. He also shot some great footage that we are not able to show on TV, so I'm thrilled that viewers can experience it uncut as our director envisioned it."
Battlestar Galactica: The Plan includes the uncensored 90-minute feature and revealing bonus features that take viewers onto the set of the most unexpected twist ever in the intergalactic saga's history. Interactive features available exclusively on Blu-ray Hi-Def include the new Battlestar Galactica Trivia Game, as well as Universal's acclaimed U-CONTROL and BD-LIVE experience. With Blu-ray Hi-Def, viewers can enjoy Battlestar Galactica: The Plan's stunning visuals with perfect picture and the purest digital sound available.
During four spellbinding seasons on the SCI FI Channel (now Syfy), Battlestar Galactica's vivid reimagining of the classic television series earned a legion of devoted fans, as well as unfettered critical acclaim, and Emmy Awards for Outstanding Special Visual Effects in 2007 and 2008 and a Peabody Award in 2008. Battlestar Galactica: The Plan is priced at $39.98 SRP on Blu-ray Hi-Def and $26.98 SRP on DVD.
BATTLESTAR GALACTICA: THE PLAN - BONUS FEATURES Battlestar Galactica: The Plan on Blu-ray Hi-Def and DVD takes viewers deeper into the acclaimed space drama with exclusive bonus features, including:
* EXCLUSIVE TO Blu-ray Hi-Def: o BD-LIVE: Access the BD-Live Center through your Internet-connected player to download more exclusive content, the latest trailers and more! + MY SCENES: Bookmark your favorite scenes from the movie. + BATTLESTAR GALACTICA TRIVIA: All-new trivia game.
* BONUS FEATURES (BLU-RAY HI-DEF and DVD): o DELETED SCENES o FROM ADMIRAL TO DIRECTOR: EDWARD JAMES OLMOS AND THE PLAN - A day-in-the-life with director and actor Edward James Olmos, as he tackles the most ambitious Battlestar Galactica production to date. o THE CYLONS OF THE PLAN - Features interviews with the actors who play the film's key Cylons, including Dean Stockwell, Tricia Helfer, Grace Park, Michael Trucco, Rick Worthy and Michael Bennett. o THE CYLON ATTACK - This featurette takes viewers behind the scenes for the planning and execution of one of Battlestar Galactica: The Plan's major action sequences. o BEHIND THE PLAN - An in-depth look at some stunning visual effects and the role post-production plays in bringing the world of Battlestar Galactica to life. o FILMMAKER COMMENTARY
SYNOPSIS Battlestar Galactica: The Plan: The Cylons began as humanity's robot servants. They rebelled, and evolved, and now they look like us. Their plan is simple: destroy the race that enslaved them. But when their devastating attack leaves human survivors, the Cylons have to improvise. Battlestar Galactica: The Plan tells the story of two powerful Cylon leaders, working separately, and their determination to finish the task.
An inspired, visually stunning reimagining of the 1978 series of the same name, Battlestar Galactica captured the imaginations of a new generation of fans with its gritty realism, compelling storylines and commanding performances. The show garnered numerous awards, including two Emmys and the prestigious George Foster Peabody Award and was recognized by the American Film Institute (AFI) as one of the most outstanding television programs of the year for two years running. In March 2009, Battlestar Galactica's impassioned explorations of today's hot-button issues, including politics, terrorism, treatment of prisoners and religion, even inspired the United Nations to host a special panel to discuss the questions it has raised. The series is from Universal Cable Productions and is executive produced by Ronald D. Moore and David Eick.
BATTLESTAR GALACTICA: THE PLAN Blu-ray Hi-Def Street Date: October 27, 2009 Copyright: 2009 Universal Studios Home Entertainment Price: $39.98 Running Time: 90 Minutes
BATTLESTAR GALACTICA: THE PLAN DVD Street Date: October 27, 2009 Copyright: 2009 Universal Studios Home Entertainment Price: $26.98 Running Time: 90 Minutes
Since Ron Moore was busy in Vancouver directing an episode of Caprica, so the award was accepted by Jane Espenson, with Michael Hogan, Tricia Helfer, Grace Park, Katee Sackhoff, and director Michael Rymer also present. Jane tweeted her thanks.
To keep up with the latest goings on at the TCA's read Mo Ryan's continuos reports on her blog and on Twitter. Mo is running all the voodoo down, just as she did at the recent San Diego Comic Con. (More on that later when I complete a round up of BSG/Caprica news that came out of Comic Con.)
Mo also reported that Michael Hogan will be guest appearing early in the second season of Dollhouse.
'Galactica' producer Harvey Frand dies at 68 Veteran's career began with Rock Hudson's final series
By Mike Barnes
July 29, 2009, 04:54 PM ET Harvey Frand, an Emmy-winning producer who was the "man behind the curtain" on the Syfy hit "Battlestar Galactica," died July 23 in Los Angeles after a brief hospitalization for respiratory problems. He was 68.
Frand's series producing career began in 1982 with "The Devlin Connection," Rock Hudson's final series. Other credits include 34 episodes of the 1985-89 version of "The Twilight Zone"; "Beauty and the Beast"; "The Young Riders"; "The Lazarus Man"; "The Pretender"; and "Strange World." He produced more than 20 pilots and movies of the week.
Frand began on "Galactica" in 2003. For his work on the show, he earned a Peabody Award in 2005, an AFI Award in 2006 and an Emmy last year. This month, he was nominated for a second Emmy.
"Harvey was the Wizard of Oz, the man behind the curtain, the train engineer, the orchestra conductor, the school guidance counselor," NBC Universal executive Todd Sharp said. "He was adored by executive producers and production assistants, studio and network, cast and crew."
Added writer-producer Bradley Thompson: "In addition to finding a way to put every dime on the screen, he was an exceptional judge of material. He knew what we needed to tell our stories and never compromised on that. But he would constantly challenge us to find creative ways to make the piece work within the constraints of physical and financial reality.
"And if he felt we needed that something extra ... say a nuclear explosion or two ... to make the story play, he'd go to the mat to make it happen."
A native of Philadelphia, Frand began in television at NBC News. Later, as an executive at Warner Bros., he oversaw production on "Harry O," the 1973 series starring David Janssen. Frand went to San Diego to check in with the company and, because there was no on-sight producer, stayed to work with the cast and crew. After that, he was hooked on the role of producer.
Frand also produced the 1974-75 Broadway revival of Tennessee Williams' "Sweet Bird of Youth" starring Christopher Walken and Irene Worth, who won a best actress Tony for her performance.
Frand is survived by Bill Bowersock, his domestic partner of 32 years. In lieu of flowers, donations in his name can be made to the Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles' Alive Music Project.
Since this box set (and the BSG Season 4.5 box) are coming out Tuesday July 28th, there will be tons of reviews out there.
But I don't think anyone will give us TrueFans a better rundown of the extras and features of BSG: THE COMPLETE SERIES than Bill Hunt at The Digital Bits. This guy is just a big a fan as we are, and he knows exactly which fan extras we have been fed over the years, and which ones did and didn't make the cut for this huge box.
Bill is reviewing the Bluray, not the DVD, but much of what he says also can be applied to the DVD release. According to the press release earlier this summer, the Bluray is 4077 hours of content and the DVD is 4066 hours total.
A few quotes from Bill's review -
All the series' episodes, the Miniseries and the Razor 2-hour film are included on 20 BD-50 discs, along with over 70 hours with of bonus content. Note that virtually all of the extras from the previous DVDs are in standard 480p here, as they were before (generally presented in 16x9 widescreen). A few of the new featurettes (mostly on Season Four) are in full 1080p. It appears that the first disc of each season starts with the same, newly-shot HD video introduction by Ron Moore himself. He welcomes you to the set, and tells you why he thinks high-def is the way to really fully experience the series. In terms of the special features, most (but not quite all) of the previous DVD extras have carried over here, and there's new material as well. I'll note what's missing and what's new for Blu-ray as we go...
...Unfortunately, the 10-part Face of the Enemy webisode series is missing here for some unknown reason (possibly disc space). We've checked with Universal and the studio IS aware that people want it, so we're told that it will be made available on disc at some point in the future. We'll keep you up to date on this. Sadly, also missing is The Making of Battlestar Galactica: Razor featurette that was available exclusively on a Best Buy DVD bonus disc - that's a real shame because it's pretty great. So if you have that bonus disc, don't get rid of it.
A few other items are missing from the box set as a whole, though they were never available on DVD, including additional Sci-Fi.com blogs and some of the exclusive writer's room and "frak party" podcast commentaries. Also not here are most of the "recap" TV specials (Battlestar Galactica: The Story So Far, Battlestar Galactica: Revisited and Battlestar Galactica: The Phenomenon) and the two finale specials (Battlestar Galactica: The Top 10 Things You Need to Know and Battlestar Galactica: The Last Frakkin' Special). That's a bummer - especially The Last Frakkin' Special, which included a lot of great behind-the-scenes footage and interviews with the cast and crew on the end of the series. It would be great if Universal gathered all those specials up (including the two Lowdown specials that launched the series) along with The Face of the Enemy webisodes and released them on bonus disc of some sort (mail-in perhaps, or a BD-Live online reward?) to accompany this box set. Yeah, I know... unlikely. But still a good idea. A featurette on the show's special effects work (and team) would have been cool too, but what are you going to do? I do have to give the studio a LOT of credit for the new bonus content included for Blu-ray - ESPECIALLY the new deleted scenes and extended episodes. Even if you've seen the entire series as broadcast, the three extended episodes from Season Four essentially include more than an hour of new Battlestar that you haven't seen yet. That's a real treat - like rollin' the hard six!
...Among the new featurettes on Season Four, there are few standouts. The Journey Ends: The Arrival is a retrospective look back at the finale and the series as a whole, featuring the interview comments of many of the show's cast and crew. Evolution of a Cue and The Musicians Behind Daybreak cover the work of composer Bear McCreary - the latter is a very nice glimpse at the recording of the finale score with a full orchestra. The 5-part A Look Back covers a number of interesting aspects of the series, including Moore's original show "manifesto" (that convinced Olmos to join the cast), Richard Hatch's perspective on having been involved with BOTH Battlestar series, and the stylistic contributions of director Michael Rymer among other things. And for those of you eagerly awaiting the DVD and Blu-ray release of Battlestar Galactica: The Plan, which will complete the series later this year (and will be broadcast on the newly rebranded SyFy in November), the ...And They Have a Plan featurette gives you a nice little taste of it.
...One other packaging note: Accessible via a clear plastic lid inset into the top of the case, is an empty space containing a toaster! Well... a replica Cylon Centurion figure at any rate - a nice touch. The figure itself is very nicely detailed and highly articulated too. Personally, I'm thinking about taking the figure out and setting him on my office shelf, then using the empty space to store other discs - the series' soundtrack CDs (from La La Land Records), those bonus DVDs I need to keep, and even DVD-R recordings of the missing content in paper sleeves. (What, like I wasn't going to record that stuff, knowing that it probably wouldn't be on the DVD/BD?! Yes... I am THAT much of a fan.)
As we round the corner into the last few weeks before this year's San Diego Comic Con (which I will be covering on Twitter and at FanGrrl Magnet if you are interested), Wired announced something hilarious. Apparently the STAR WARS folks figured out a great new merch item for SDCC this year... and it looks vaguely familiar...
Says Wired: It’ll be a surprise to precisely no one that Lucasfilm leads the vanguard of Comic-Con must-have gimmicks and gadgets. The marketing machine that put the action in action figures will introduce the Star Wars toaster at this year’s convention. The device turns every piece of toast over to the dark side — burning an image of everyone’s favorite Dark Lord of the Sith onto your Wonder-bread. Where else will you get a chance to smudge jam into Darth Vader’s grill?
Umm...the vanguard? LOL. Well, you know what they say about plagiarism, don't you. ;-)
Meanwhile, SciFi SyFy and NBC have announced that there are six special SDCC 09 swag items going on sale at the NBCU store, including a yet-to-be-announced CAPRICA item, this hilarious OFFICE Schrute Farms watch, a great CHUCK polo shirt...and a new BATTLESTAR GALACTICA Frakkin Toaster with LED. See the demo vid below:
Watch it! Virtuality was one of the best pilots I've seen in a while, written with deep intelligence and given depth with engaging characters. I found it gripping from the start all through the end. The characters are all interesting and mysterious -- you can see that there is more going on with them behind their eyes, in their inner lives.
Perfectly cast, a brilliant music score, and great direction from Peter Berg, the show was engaging all the way through.
"Virtuality" a two-hour backdoor pilot from Battlestar Galactica writers Ronald D. Moore and Michael Taylor airs on FOX from 8 to 10 p.m. tonight.
Writer and co-creator of Virtuality, Michael Taylor was kind enough to sit down for a brief phone interview with me:
Galactica Sitrep: What was your starting point for the idea/concept? What interested you the most about a long term space mission?
Michael Taylor: It started with producers Lloyd Braun and Gail Berman. Lloyd had this idea for a space show about a long space mission, where the ship would whip around the sun and go off on a long voyage. In my back pocket I had an idea for a Mars Colony story. Lloyd then suggested Ron and I get together to work on it. Ron came in and was fascinated with the idea of what astronauts would experience on a long term mission and how they would keep the crew sane for that duration. So, he keyed on the idea of virtual reality. In the show we use the VR for Mission critical skills and training, so that they are able to rehearse and prepare for their mission to Epsilon Eridani all while traveling there. We also show them using VR to control the ship. That became the nub for what the show was about. We see today, contemporary astronauts sending messages home to their families, and doing broadcasts from space for school kids.
Then we keyed on the idea of a reality show. That became the third element. We have the Space mission, virtual reality modules and then the idea of a layer of this reality show they were forced to do, since the reality show is a corporate sponsor of the mission. That crystalized the whole story. It allows us to explore what is real, what is not real? Do things that happen in our mind have as much weight as what happens in real life?
Through VR, we can focus on the inner lives of the characters. The most satisfying thing was writing about people in-depth. Just as in BSG, the most essential part was the lives of the characters. Here we have 12 characters stuck in a test tube, and we get to explore their fantasies and fears.
GS: What was the process like working with Ron Moore to create it?
MT: Working with Ron is like working with a guy who's got a genie in a bottle. He guided the show every step of the way. He guided the script. We had a real partnership. We really wanted to work on new territory together. Ron worked closely with director Peter Berg. We were very lucky to have Peter Berg. We both loved Friday Night Lights, and The Kingdom. He has a great visual style, with a lot of hand held camera and close-ups. Pete is very improvisational. We actually shot ten webisodes while filming the pilot. Only two are online. Those stories were outlined, but not scripted. Pete and the actors got to improvise their webisodes. A lot of the confessional material used in the pilot for the reality show segments, was drawn from the webisode filming, all purely improvised, with Pete Berg prodding them and provoking them to explore inside their characters heads, and inner lives. It gave a vitality to the project, getting us off the page, almost like a theatrical experience. Pete brought a wonderful energy and vitality to the whole project.
GS: What were some of the genre films and TV show touch stones for you and Ron as you developed it?
MT: Ron is even less about influences than I am. Certainly I have been inspired by films like 2001, and Solaris, the original Russian film, as well as the Steven Soderbergh remake, films that explore inner space as much as outer space. With Ron its about leaving those influences behind and moving into new and original territory to move the genre forward. That was the goal.
MT: Actually I read about String theory. The idea that the whole universe and everything in it is a projection or vibration of these strings. So, the universe is a kind of virtual reality. The idea that everything in the universe itself could be a kind of simulation was intriguing to me. If we get deeper into the show we will be exploring what is real, and does it even matter?
GS: You've said you consulted with folks at NASA, what were some of those contributions?
MT: I talked to one NASA person, a wonderful psychologist named Nick Kanas, from tracking him down online. He was helpful in understanding of the reality of long term space flight and the human interactions of the crew. He told me any mission like this would definitely have a medical doctor and a psychologist to monitor the crew's mental health. NASA is exploring these ideas to test isolation effects on astronauts for long term missions.
GS: What was Fox's reaction to the inclusion of a gay couple in Virtuality?
MT: We had no resistance from Fox at all. It just made sense on a whole lot of levels. We wanted to explore all kinds of relationships in a realistic way. Fox was really excited about all aspects of the show really. And the character relationships are the focus of the drama.
We really hope they roll the dice. The climate today in network TV is very knee jerk and reflexive and fear based. The TV business is changing under our feet. But, we're getting great reviews. People are really into it and are gravitating toward it. ABC took a chance on LOST, and it's proved successful. We think there's an audience out there for this kind of show, but people need to vote with their eyeballs on Friday night.
Originally Fox was going to air it on July 4th, which would have given it no chance. But, they've moved it up and Fox Publicity is pushing it like hell and we're getting media attention. And the options on all the actors haven't expired yet. So, I've told the cast not let your heart get broken again. But the material is getting out there. We just need viewers to vote with their eyeballs on Friday night.
GS: You and Ron sketched out some broad strokes of where the show would go in the first season... If the show were to somehow be picked up somewhere would you continue along those lines?
MT: Yeah, we'll be off at a gallop. We really want to do a show full of suspense, action, and drama. It's also a murder mystery. An Existential murder mystery. The pilot episode raises questions. Great SF is always about asking questions. Tune in and we hope to get to provide the answers.
GS: Why will BSG fans like this show? One major source of BSG's strength was its willingness to tackle tough topical issues. What problems and issues, if any, does Virtuality explore?
MT: What I think BSG fans really love is exploring the characters. Through this new show, we're taking SF into a whole new contemporary area. Virtuality does the same thing as BSG in that sense. Here again we are trying to do something new, and take the genre in yet another step further. It's a fresh flavor. We literally have a a new vehicle, the Phaeton, and it takes us into new territory. Ron and I have a lot of new ideas we want to explore. BSG was more political and of its time. It really crystallized during the New Caprica plot line in early season three. BSG examined our political situation over the last eight years. But, Virtuality is a different beast. It's less political and more technological. It's more contemporary in dealing with how technology is effecting us. How we are changing with the internet, spending our time looking at screens, deluged by TV, reality shows, and news media. We are already living in a virtuality, and we have relationships with people online. Like much of SF it is really a mediation of the present, through a futuristic prism. This show resonates culturally, where we live right now, right here, in this moment.
GS: With Earth in peril how is Virtuality's take on the concept fresh?
MT: It raises the stakes of their mission. It's what they are told, and our characters will always wonder what the truth is. What is reality is a central question to the whole story. Certainly 30 years from now, if we don't change our ways, our ecology is in danger. Global warming is changing our lives right now on this planet. In the context of the show, one of our characters says, "We've got bigger problems back home." But, it's certainly a question if they are being told the truth. What is real, what is not.
GS: The Clea Duvall character Sue Parsons seems very reminiscent of Starbuck. How are they similar? How are they different?
MT: Certainly Starbuck was a staring point. Sue Parsons is a pilot, a flyer. She's tough. But, that's just a starting point. You think you are getting a character you've seen before, but you will realize she's very different than Starbuck. Starbuck was a bit of an inspiration a bit of a touch stone, but she's more self-aware and more aware of her baggage from the start, whereas it took Starbuck years to get to that point of understanding.
GS: Can we expect some conflict with the ship's omniscient computer system, as in 2001 or Alien?
MT: Our AI is named Jean, a female, AI. Later on in the show, the crew begins to wonder if something has gone wrong with the AI. But, AI is implicated in a much broader sense. Just as in video games, your actions in the environment effect the game and affect the game's AI. It's something we want to explore.
GS: If a series happens would there be any further overlap of BSG talent - writers, producers, actors?
MT: We'd love to have staff from BSG. Everyone is kinda scattered. Jane Espenson and I are working on Caprica. Michael Angeli is writing pilots. David Weddle and Bradley Thompson are on CSI. But, it would be lovely to bring the team back together again someday.
We begin shooting Caprica in a few weeks. It's a very exciting time for all of us. Ron is going up to Canada and is directing one of the first ones. We have a bunch of scripts were all working on and we're getting our ducks in a row. It's going to be great.
GS: Final thoughts on Virtuality?
MT: Watch it! If you care about good SF and you read great speculative fiction by writers like Philip K. Dick and Frank Herbert, here's your chance to lay your eyes on something new. People need to watch. It's a fun two hours, and it's worth you time. Vote with your eyeballs. Do you have anything better to do on a Friday night?
Indeed, Virtuality bears several trademark Ronald D. Moore stamps: great science, terrific characters, and humanity-driven conflict and desperation. While Battlestar Galactica’s primary science angle focused on Cylon artificial intelligence, in Virtuality, astrophysics, geology and astrobiology take center stage. Especially pertinent amidst NASA’s recent exploratory missions, the Phaeton module employs top of the line physics to propel itself to far reaches of outer space, while self-contained greenhouses and laboratories analyze evolutionary life origins and biological compositions of space. Colorful characters abound on the Phaeton crew, including lead navigator/designer with a painful past Jules Braun (Erik Jensen), aggressive, self-destructive pilot Sue Parsons (Clea DuVall), paraplegic, self-doubting co-pilot Jimmy Johnson (Richie Coster), gay couple Val Orlovsky (Gene Farber) and Manny Rodriguez (Jose Pablo Cantillo) providing an infusion of hope and optimism, and married astrobiologists Kenji Yamamoto (Nelson Lee) and Alice Thibadeau (Joy Bryant) debating the pros and cons of raising a child aboard the confined ship. Compounding the stress and importance of Phaeton’s mission are your basic everyday problems: the ship’s only doctor (Omar Metwally) has Parkinson’s Disease, there aren’t enough medical supplies to sustain a ten-year mission, an escalating conflict of personalities and strategies between Captain Pike and his co-pilot, and the rampant obliteration of Earth by natural disasters. As he did in Battlestar, Moore does an exemplary job of using the scientific questions of our time as a platform to probe deeper into the meaning of life, humanity, and the ethical limits of an imminent fight for survival.
10. Free “Friend of Ron Moore” ball cap (normally only available on “Ron Moore Day” at Dodgers stadium). 9. Get reserved seats at the hottest panel at Comicon next year! 8. Receive your very own easy-to-assemble Starship Phaeton, no pilot’s license needed to operate provided you stay within the solar system and always wear a helmet. 7. What else are you gonna do on a Friday night? Um, okay, so maybe that’s a crappy reason but hey, that’s why it’s up here at number 7. 6. Yes, I know, by asking you to forward this message I’m essentially involving you in a pop culture pyramid scheme. But look at it this way: You’re getting in on the ground floor! So after this letter has propagated for 10 generations, you’ll be able to tell, um, 100 billion people “I told you so” when they write back to say they liked the show! 5. It’ll give my Mom something to brag about. 4. By staying in and watching the show, you’ll save gas and help save the environment! It’s socially responsible! 3. After watching the show, you too will be able to use the word “virtuality” in a sentence! 2. Because if enough people watch the show this Friday, there’s a decent chance it’ll actually get to become a full-blown TV series. And the number one reason to check out “Virtuality” on Friday and encourage your friends to do the same: 1. ’Cause it’s a frakkin’ cool show!
Don’t forget, Virtuality is airing this Friday at 8/7c!
Last week Ronald D. Moore, co-creator of Virtuality with Michael Taylor, did an extensive conference call with members of the media to discuss the show and it's potential future. Angel Cohn of televisionwithoutpity provides a complete transcript. Other reports on the conference call from: Wired, IF, MissGeeky, TV Week, IESB, MovieWeb, The Deadbolt, Daemon's TV and TV Guide.
On the TV side, “Battlestar Galactica” drew three nods: cable-syndicated series, TV actor (Edward James Olmos) and TV actress (Mary McDonnell). “Lost” took network series honors.
THE WINNERS OF THE 35TH ANNUAL SATURN AWARDS:
Science Fiction Film: "Iron Man"
Fantasy Film: "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"
Horror Film: "Hellboy II: The Golden Army"
Action/Adventure/Thriller Film: "The Dark Knight"
Actor: Robert Downey, Jr. ("Iron Man")
Actress: Angelina Jolie ("Changeling")
Supporting Actor: Heath Ledger ("The Dark Knight")
Supporting Actress: Tilda Swinton ("The Curious Case of Benjamin Button")
Performance by a Younger Actor: Jaden Christopher Smith ("The Day the Earth Stood Still")
Director: Jon Favreau ("Iron Man")
Writer: Christopher Nolan and Jonathan Nolan ("The Dark Knight")
Music: Hans Zimmer and James Newton Howard ("The Dark Knight")
Costume: Mary Zophres ("Indiana Jones & the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull")
Make-Up: Greg Cannom ("The Curious Case of Benjamin Button")
Special Effects: Nick Davis, Chris Corbould, Timothy Webber, Paul J. Franklin ("The Dark Knight")
International Film: "Let the Right One In"
Animated Film: "Wall-E"
Television Series: "Lost"
Syndicated/Cable Television Series: "Battlestar Galactica"
Presentation on Television: "The Librarian: The Curse of the Judas Chalice"
Actor on Television: Edward James Olmos ("Battlestar Galactica")
Actress on Television: Mary McDonnell ("Battlestar Galactica")
Supporting Actor on Television: Adrian Pasdar ("Heroes")
Supporting Actress on Televison: Jennifer Carpenter ("Dexter")
Guest Starring Role on Television: Jimmy Smits ("Dexter")
DVD Release: Jack Brooks: Monster Slayer"
DVD Special Edition Release: Stephen King’s The Mist" - 2 disc Special Edition
DVD Classic Film Release: "Psycho" - Universal Legacy Series
DVD Collection: "The Godfather: The Coppola Restoration"
Series on DVD: "Moonlight"
Retro Series on DVD: "The Invaders"
The Life Career Award: Lance Henriksen
The Lifetime Achievement Award: Leonard Nimoy
The Visionary Award: Jeffrey Katzenberg
Also TV GUIDE recently ranked the top 100 television episodes of all time in their June 15th issue. The only BSG episode on the list was Blood on the Scales which came in at #43.
Really, in season 4, the two parter The Oath and Blood on the Scales were the most representative of what BSG is all about.
Blood on the Scales had a propulsive plot, lots of action, but with great character moments. The focus of Michael Angeli's script was really on the relationships between Apollo/Starbuck, Roslin/Adama, Adama/Tigh, and even Felix and Baltar.
Insurgency, religious fanaticism, technology run amok: a few of the themes explored in Battlestar Galactica, the science-fiction TV series about a civilization running for its life from human-like robots. The series has been honored with a Peabody, as well as awards for acting, visual effects and sound design. But its unsung character has been its music — until now.
Bear McCreary composes the scores for Battlestar Galactica. He's conducting a series of summer concerts featuring the show's music — and the performances are selling out.
"It's still dawning on me how many people out there are passionate about the music," he says.
McCreary recently visited the NPR West studios to discuss his compositions with host Guy Raz. He says he draws inspiration from Asian and Middle Eastern music, but he's also influenced by the orchestral traditions of the Western canon.
His compositions bear little resemblance to the sounds typically associated with science-fiction programs. According to McCreary, the show's producers wanted to distance the series from the "orchestral bombast" of movies such as the Star Wars films.
McCreary says Battlestar Galactica differs from other shows in part because its producers encouraged him to keep changing the score.
"That was an extremely exciting creative prospect to me, because it allowed me to evolve as an artist," he says.
