Outstanding Comedy Series

“Curb Your Enthusiasm” (HBO)
“Glee” (Fox)
“Modern Family” (ABC)
“Nurse Jackie” (Showtime)
“The Office” (NBC)
“30 Rock” (NBC)

Outstanding Drama Series

“Breaking Bad” (AMC)
“Dexter” (Showtime)
“The Good Wife” (CBS)
“Lost” (ABC)
“Mad Men” (AMC)
“True Blood” (HBO)

Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series

Bryan Cranston, “Breaking Bad”
Michael C. Hall, “Dexter”
Kyle Chandler, “Friday Night Lights”
Hugh Laurie, “House”
Matthew Fox, “Lost”
Jon Hamm, “Mad Men”

Outstanding Lead Actor In A Comedy Series

Jim Parsons, “The Big Bang Theory”
Larry David, “Curb Your Enthusiasm”
Matthew Morrison, “Glee”
Tony Shalhoub, “Monk”
Steve Carell, “The Office”
Alec Baldwin, “30 Rock”

Outstanding Lead Actress In A Comedy Series

Lea Michele, “Glee”
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, “The New Adventures Of Old Christine”
Edie Falco, “Nurse Jackie”
Amy Poehler, “Parks And Recreation”
Tina Fey, “30 Rock”
Toni Collette, “United States Of Tara”

Outstanding Lead Actress In A Drama Series

Kyra Sedgwick, “The Closer”
Glenn Close, “Damages”
Connie Britton, “Friday Night Lights”
Julianna Margulies, “The Good Wife”
Mariska Hargitay, “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit”
January Jones, “Mad Men”

Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Comedy Series

Chris Colfer, “Glee”
Neil Patrick Harris, “How I Met Your Mother”
Jesse Tyler Ferguson, “Modern Family”
Eric Stonestreet, “Modern Family”
Ty Burrell, “Modern Family”
Jon Cryer, “Two And A Half Men”

Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Drama Series

Aaron Paul, “Breaking Bad”
Martin Short, “Damages”
Terry O’Quinn, “Lost”
Michael Emerson, “Lost”
John Slattery, “Mad Men”
Andre Braugher, “Men Of A Certain Age”

Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Comedy Series

Jane Lynch, “Glee”
Julie Bowen, “Modern Family”
Sofia Vergara, “Modern Family”
Kristen Wiig, “Saturday Night Live”
Jane Krakowski, “30 Rock”
Holland Taylor, “Two And A Half Men”

Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Drama Series

Sharon Gless, “Burn Notice”
Rose Byrne, “Damages”
Archie Panjabi, “The Good Wife”
Christine Baranski, “The Good Wife”
Christina Hendricks, “Mad Men”
Elisabeth Moss, “Mad Men”

Outstanding Host For A Reality Or Reality-Competition Program

Phil Keoghan, “The Amazing Race”
Ryan Seacrest, “American Idol”
Tom Bergeron, “Dancing With the Stars”
Heidi Klum, “Project Runway”
Jeff Probst, “Survivor”

Outstanding Reality Program

“Antiques Roadshow” (PBS)
“Dirty Jobs” (Discovery Channel)
“Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution” (ABC)
“Kathy Griffin: My Life On The D-List” (Bravo)
“MythBusters”  (Discovery Channel)
“Undercover Boss” (CBS)

Outstanding Reality – Competition Program

“The Amazing Race”  (CBS)
“American Idol” (Fox)
“Dancing With the Stars” (ABC)
“Project Runway”  (Lifetime)
“Top Chef”  (Bravo)

Outstanding Lead Actor In A Miniseries Or A Movie

Jeff Bridges, “A Dog Year” (HBO)
Ian McKellen, “The Prisoner” (AMC)
Michael Sheen, “The Special Relationship” (HBO)
Dennis Quaid, “The Special Relationship” (HBO)
Al Pacino, “You Don’t Know Jack” (HBO)

Outstanding Lead Actress In A Miniseries Or A Movie

Maggie Smith, “Capturing Mary” (HBO)
Joan Allen, “Georgia O’Keeffe” (Lifetime)
Dame Judi Dench, “Return To Cranford” (Masterpiece) (PBS)
Hope Davis, “The Special Relationship” (HBO)
Claire Danes, “Temple Grandin”  (HBO)

Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Miniseries Or A Movie

Michael Gambon, “Emma” (Masterpiece) (PBS)
Patrick Stewart , “Hamlet” (Great Performances) (PBS)
Jonathan Pryce , “Return To Cranford” (Masterpiece) (PBS)
David Strathairn, “Temple Grandin” (HBO)
John Goodman, “You Don’t Know Jack” (HBO)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Movie

Kathy Bates, “Alice” (Syfy)
Julia Ormond, “Temple Grandin” (HBO)
Catherine O’Hara, “Temple Grandin” (HBO)
Brenda Vaccaro, “You Don’t Know Jack” (HBO)
Susan Sarandon, “You Don’t Know Jack” (HBO)

Outstanding Miniseries

“The Pacific” (HBO)
“Return To Cranford” (Masterpiece) (PBS)

Outstanding Made For Television Movie

“Endgame” (Masterpiece) (PBS)
“Georgia O’Keeffe” (Lifetime)
“Moonshot” (History)
“The Special Relationship” (HBO)
“Temple Grandin” (HBO)
“You Don’t Know Jack” (HBO)

Outstanding Variety, Music Or Comedy Series

“The Colbert Report” (Comedy Central)
“The Daily Show With Jon Stewart” (Comedy Central)
“Real Time With Bill Maher” (HBO)
“Saturday Night Live” (NBC)
“The Tonight Show With Conan O’Brien” (NBC)

Outstanding Variety, Music Or Comedy Special

Bill Maher “…But I’m Not Wrong” (HBO )
Hope For Haiti Now (Tenth Planet Productions and MTV)
The Kennedy Center Honors (CBS)
Robin Williams: Weapons Of Self Destruction (HBO)
The 25th Anniversary Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Concert  (HBO)
Wanda Sykes: I’ma Be Me (HBO)

Outstanding Nonfiction Series

“American Experience” (PBS)
“American Masters” (PBS)
“Deadliest Catch” (Discovery Channe)l
“Life” (Discovery Channel)
“The National Parks: America’s Best Idea” (PBS)

Outstanding Animated Program

“Alien Earths” (NGC)
“Disney Prep & Landing (ABC)
“The Ricky Gervais Show” (HBO)
“The Simpsons” (Fox)
“South Park”  (Comedy Central)

Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series

“Glee” – Pilot – Director’s Cut (Fox)
Ryan Murphy, Writer
Brad Falchuk, Writer
Ian Brennan, Writer

“Modern Family” – Pilot (ABC)
Steven Levitan, Writer
Christopher Lloyd, Writer

“The Office” – Niagara (NBC)
Greg Daniels, Writer
Mindy Kaling, Writer

“30 Rock” – Anna Howard Shaw Day (NBC)
Matt Hubbard, Writer

“30 Rock” – Lee Marvin Vs. Derek Jeter  (NBC)
Tina Fey, Writer
Kay Cannon, Writer

Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series

“Friday Night Lights” – The Son (DirecTV)
Rolin Jones, Writer

“The Good Wife” – Pilot (CBS)
Michelle King, Writer
Robert King, Writer

“Lost”  – The End (ABC)
Damon Lindelof, Writer
Carlton Cuse, Writer

“Mad Men” – Guy Walks Into An Advertising Agency (AMC)
Robin Veith, Writer
Matthew Weiner, Writer

“Mad Men” – Shut The Door. Have A Seat.  (AMC)
Matthew Weiner, Writer
Erin Levy, Writer

Outstanding Writing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic Special

“The Pacific” – Part Eight (HBO)
Michelle Ashford, Writer
Robert Schenkkan, Writer

“The Pacific” – Part Ten (HBO)
Bruce C. McKenna, Writer
Robert Schenkkan, Writer

“The Special Relationship” (HBO)
Peter Morgan, Writer

“Temple Grandin” (HBO)
Christopher Monger, Writer
William Merritt Johnson, Writer

“You Don’t Know Jack”  (HBO)
Adam Mazer, Writer

Outstanding Writing For A Variety, Music Or Comedy Series

“The Colbert Report” (Comedy Central)
“The Daily Show With Jon Stewart” (Comedy Central)
“Real Time With Bill Maher” (HBO)
“Saturday Night Live” (NBC)
“The Tonight Show With Conan O’Brien” (NBC)

Here’s what we currently know in a nutshell:

1. The show will air in Summer 2011
2. The show will be 10 episodes
3. Both John Barrowman (Capt. Jack Harkness) and Eve Myles (Gwen Cooper) will be on the show, with “Additional key cast, reflecting the more international scope of the series” to be announced soon
4. Russell T Davies will be the showrunner, with Davies and BBC Worldwide Productions’ Julie Gardner as executive producers.

Source: Starz

Legend of the Seeker recently got the news that they were cancelled. This in large part due to their major distributer Tribune/WGN dropping them from their lineup. But the Fans have a plan!

Instead of sending bags of nuts to the studio (Jericho) or buying Subway sandwiches (Chuck), the fans placed an ad in Variety Magazine. One simply stating that this great show needed another distributer. And placing an ad like that is not cheap, so it should get some attention. Lets hope it does. Check out their website and do you part at Save Our Seeker!

From the HollywoodReporter:

As part of a slate of new shows, the “X-Men” creator will co-host “Stan Lee’s Superhumans,” which will find people who have remarkable abilities because of being genetically different. Daniel Browning Smith, dubbed the world’s most flexible man, will host the series with Lee.

“Superhumans” will debut on the network during the third quarter and is joined by five other series and a slew of specials being greenlighted in time for the network’s upfront presentation to advertisers this week.

This may be interesting….it may also be crap. Stan has had some quality products in the past, but most of them have been in the FAR past. I wish him the best of course, he is the Man after all!

The ratings have been poor this season and several of the Tribune Stations stopped carrying the series. I seem to have been amongst the minority of my friends when I was saying this seasons story line really didn’t impress me. Definitely one time I didn’t want to be right.

Here is the official press release:

The Doctor, Amy and some of Doctor Who‘s most iconic monsters will be making a journey from TV to home computers, as the BBC unveils Doctor Who – The Adventure Games, four original “interactive episodes”, which will be made available for free from bbc.co.uk/doctorwho.

These four new adventures will take the form of downloadable computer games available for PC and Mac, in which players assume control of The Doctor and Amy as they embark on new adventures which complement the new TV series.

The episodes will be free downloadable games for the PC and Mac. The script of the game is being penned by Phil Ford and James Moran, who contributed to the Water of Mars, and Children of the Earth storylines for the Dr. Who and Torchwood series. Here is a trailer for the game:

Mike Henry, voice of Cleveland Brown as well as a number of the voices on Family Guy…Deaf Guy, School Counselor, the creepy pedophile and many more is hilarious. And Kevin Michael Richardson, voice of Cleveland Jr and many more is equally funny. Oh, and for the record, Mike is the white guy in the picture.

It seems that they have quite a few good ideas for the upcoming season and have the ratings to keep the show on the air. Including a guest appearance by Kayne West on a couple of episodes.

The guys had a lot of fun with the crowd and were happy to do most all of the voice requests from the audience. They also busted into song a couple of times for the audience, so amazing!

So, your hungry for seeing how Matt Smith is going to pull off being the Doctor…but its still weeks away before BBC America will be sharing him with you. Well…there is a way to do this…and you don’t have to be a computer genius either.

No, this does not involve illegal downloading, and we at Fan Rants would never condone such actions. But it does involve spoofing BBC as to where you live. You see, if you live in the UK, you can watch Doctor Who via the BBC website the day after it airs. But if your outside of the UK, your just outta luck!

The way they know this is by your computer IP address. This number tells where your service is originating. So what you have to do is use a ‘Proxy’ number that is located in the UK. Here’s how to do it!

First, get a proxy number. Head over to XROXY.COM and choose their Great Britain (UK) Open Proxy List. This will get you a slew of choices, just choose the first one you come upon that has a Port of 80 next to it. Others will work, but these tend to work the best I have found. Write this down, as you will need it in a moment.

These steps are for Win7 but should be very similar for XP.

1. Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
2. Click Network and Internet, and then click Internet Options.
3. In the Internet Options dialog box, click the Connections tab.
4. Click the LAN Settings button.
5. To enable the use of a proxy server, check the box for “Use a proxy server for your LAN (These settings will not apply to dial-up or VPN connections)”.
6. Enter the IP address of the proxy in the Address text box (you just got this from XROXY).
7. Enter the port number of the proxy in the Port text box.
8. Click OK to complete the proxy configuration process.

Next step is easy. Head over to the BBC iPlayer and view to your heart’s content!

WARNING! You do not want to leave the Proxy setting on after you have viewed your videos. Just follow the steps back into where you entered the Proxy number and uncheck  the box for “Use a proxy server for your LAN (These settings will not apply to dial-up or VPN connections).

Why you ask? Well if you leave it on it will slow down most of your web browsing as it is having to go to the UK every time you pull up your local Pizza Hut ordering page (example, I prefer Pappa Johns). Also, the Proxy numbers do EXPIRE. So you may have to repeat these steps in the future.

Here’s a run down on what he had to share:

• Venture Brothers will return in August
• Season finale will be an hour long extravaganza in December
• Toyline to be premiered at San Diego Comic Con (previously reported here)
• Season 4 split into two DVD releases, but whole season on one Blu-Ray release
• Publick and Hammer to be at SDCC and Dragon*Con (YES!)

Here are some screen grabs…so pumped yet so pissed that I have to wait till August!!

Simon Sean will be playing a man who finds one of those nasty artifacts and undergoes a physical change. And in a reversal of character types, Kaylee Jewel will play his unrequited love interest. Here is the full scoop from Syfy.

SYFY’S HIT SERIES, WAREHOUSE 13 CASTS JEWEL STAITE AND SEAN MAHER FOR GUEST STARRING ROLES Firefly Alum to Reunite in Upcoming Episode Titled “Mild Mannered”Scheduled to Premiere July 2010

New York, NY – March 10, 2010 – Syfy’s #1 original hit series, Warehouse 13, has cast Jewel Staite (Stargate Atlantis) and Sean Maher (Party of Five), of the acclaimed series, Firefly, as guest stars in an upcoming episode titled “Mild Mannered.” The hour-long episode is scheduled to premiere July 2010. Warehouse 13 stars Eddie McClintock, Joanne Kelly, Saul Rubinek and Allison Scagliotti, along with series guest star, CCH Pounder. The 13-episode, dramedy is currently in production in Toronto and will premiere season two on Tuesday, July 13.

In “Mild Mannered,” Maher plays Sheldon, a quiet unassuming guy whose exposure to a dangerous object brings about shocking physical change. Staite portrays Loretta, the object of his unrequited love. Staite starred as Kaylee Frye and Maher as Dr. Simon Tam in the hit series, Firefly, the award-winning 2002 drama from creator Joss Whedon.

Warehouse 13 follows two Secret Service agents who find themselves abruptly transferred to a massive, top-secret storage facility in windswept South Dakota which houses every strange artifact, mysterious relic, fantastical object and supernatural souvenir ever collected by the U.S. government. The Warehouse’s caretaker Artie (Rubinek) charges Pete (McClintock) and Myka (Kelly) with chasing down reports of supernatural and paranormal activity in search of new objects to cache at the Warehouse, as well as helping him to control the Warehouse itself.

Warehouse 13 became the all-time Syfy leader in total viewers (4.1 million), Adults 25-54 (2.1 million) and Household ratings (2.9), as measured by 7-Day DVR data, making it the most successful series in Syfy’s 17-year history.
Warehouse 13 is produced for Syfy by Universal Cable Productions. Jack Kenny (The Book of Daniel) returns as showrunner.

CBS is running a contest seeking LOST promo’s from the fans. So gear up (you LOST cosplayers know who you are), make a 35 second promo for the last episodes of LOST and head over to the CBS Promo Contest to post your video!

Or, if your not into being in the public eye you should still head over to the contest site as you can vote on all the freaks LOST Fans who have posted videos. Go have fun!

NEW SYFY SATURDAY ORIGINAL MOVIE RED TO STAR FELICIA DAY (BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER, THE GUILD, DR. HORRIBLE’S) IN RE-IMAGINING OF LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD

New York, NY – March 8, 2010 – Felicia Day, star of web videos The Guild and Joss Whedon’s Dr. Horrible’s Sing-a-long Blog, who also played “Vi” in the final season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, will portray a werewolf-hunting descendant of Little Red Riding Hood in the new Syfy Saturday Original Movie, Red.

Scheduled to premiere in 2011, Red is Syfy’s latest re-imagining of classic fairy tales, legends and pop culture characters. The new line of films launched with Beauty and the Beasts: A Dark Tale, which starred Estella Warren, on February 27.

Syfy, one of television’s most prolific producers of original movies, is also developing films around the stories of Aladdin, Sinbad the Sailor and Hansel & Gretel, among other projects.

In the action-packed Red, Red (Day) brings her fiancé home, where he meets the family and learns about their business – hunting werewolves. He’s skeptical until bitten by a werewolf. When her family insists he must be killed, Red tries saving him. Red also stars Kavan Smith (Stargate Atlantis) and Stephen McHattie (Watchmen). Red is produced by Angela Mancuso and Vesuvius Productions in association with Chesler Perlmutter Productions.

In addition to Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Felicia is most widely known for her work in web video. She co-starred in Joss Whedon’s Internet musical Dr. Horrible’s Sing-a-long Blog, which was voted the Best Web TV of 2008 by Time Magazine, Entertainment Weekly and People Magazine.

Currently she stars in the web series The Guild, which she created, writes and stars in. The Guild was the winner of the YouTube, Yahoo and SXSW Best Web Series Awards for 2008. The series has generated more than 50 million views web-wide. Day also has a hugely popular Twitter following, reaching more than 1.7 million fans.

Syfy is a media destination for imagination-based entertainment. With year round acclaimed original series, events, blockbuster movies, classic science fiction and fantasy programming, a dynamic Web site (www.Syfy.com), and a portfolio of adjacent business (Syfy Ventures), Syfy is a passport to limitless possibilities. Originally launched in 1992 as SCI FI Channel, and currently in more than 96 million homes, Syfy is a network of NBC Universal, one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies. (Syfy. Imagine greater.)

Syfy sent a press release today exclaiming that season two of Warehouse 13 would begin July 13th. And keeping in theme, this season will have 13 episodes of wacky artifact fun! The press release:

SYFY’S HIT SERIES, WAREHOUSE 13 BEGINS SEASON TWO PRODUCTION THIS MARCH LEADING TO ITS SUMMER PREMIERE ON TUESDAY, JULY 13

Eddie McClintock, Joanne Kelly, Saul Rubinek, Allison Scagliotti and CCH Pounder

All Return For Second Season Pick-Up

Nolan Funk (Nickelodeon’s Spectacular) To Guest Star In Four Episode Storyline

New York, NY – March 2, 2010 – Syfy’s #1 original hit series, Warehouse 13, commences production on season two this March in Toronto and will kick off the new season with a summer premiere on Tuesday, July 13. Series regulars, Eddie McClintock, Joanne Kelly, Saul Rubinek and Allison Scagliotti, along with series guest star, CCH Pounder, reprise their roles in the series ratings leader for Syfy. The 13 episode, hour-long dramedy is slated to return this summer 2010.

Nickelodeon star, Nolan Funk (Spectacular, Drake & Josh) guest stars in a four-episode storyline in season two. Funk portrays Todd, a tech savvy local who takes a special romantic interest in Claudia (Scagliotti). This budding relationship is put to the test by the secrets they are forced to keep from one another.

Warehouse 13 follows two Secret Service agents who find themselves abruptly transferred to a massive, top-secret storage facility in windswept South Dakota which houses every strange artifact, mysterious relic, fantastical object and supernatural souvenir ever collected by the U.S. government. The Warehouse’s caretaker Artie (Saul Rubinek) charges Pete (Eddie McClintock) and Myka (Joanne Kelly) with chasing down reports of supernatural and paranormal activity in search of new objects to cache at the Warehouse, as well as helping him to control the Warehouse itself.

Warehouse 13 became the all-time Syfy leader in total viewers (4.1 million), Adults 25-54 (2.1 million) and Household ratings (2.9), as measured by 7-Day DVR data, making it the most successful series in Syfy’s 17-year history.

Warehouse 13 is produced for Syfy by Universal Cable Productions. Jack Kenny (The Book of Daniel), returns as showrunner.

Since this is being touted as a ‘big role’ it certainly makes us wonder if he may be the big bad guy behind everyone’s time-lapse. Frankly I am just happy to see James on a great show again. His stint on Numb3rs last year was nice, but just not enough.

The new season starts in England on April 3rd. BBC America has yet to announce when those of us on this side of the pond will be so blessed. I will keep everyone apprised!

Dr. Who New Season Trailer #1:

Spring Teaser Trailer:

This was first tipped off by Lost producer Carlton Cuse. Carlton was the co-creator of Brisco back in the day so if anyone should know it is he. This just makes me giggle inside to see this show being kept alive in such a bizarre way.

For those not familiar with the Riverworld book series, the story takes place on an Earth like planet where humans are resurected after some catastrophy on Earth. The planet is essentially one long river valley with the river starting at the polar north. Everyone resurected here are all approximately 25 years of age and in perfect health. They also encompass the whole of humanity, so there are people from the 20th century intermingling with people from 2500 BC.

The story line is vast and could easily be spun off into a regular series if Syfy gets good ratings. Here’s hoping they do!

My first memory of the Human Target: was from reading some old DC Comics issues of Batman in the 1980′s. It was an interesting character but not really enough to drive his own comic at the time. Christopher Chance, the name he went by but not necessarily his real one, was a master of disguise. When he entered into a contract with a client he would literally become that person. A very sharp mind, skilled martial artist and marksman made him a great bodyguard/double.

Next up, I ran into the character in the early 1990′s in a very short-lived (properly so) TV series starring Rick Springfield. Yeah… that pop singer/soap star was cast as a bodyguard. Well the series, which I still have on VHS if that tells you anything about my packrat problem, only lasted 7 episodes on ABC. The FX’s they used for Springfield doing his makeup was pretty cheesy, but the concept for the show was good.

Now we have the new FOX series, which at this point has had three episodes aired. Starring Mark Valley as Chance, Chi McBride as Winston his handler (formerly from Pushing Daisies) and Jackie Earle Haley as Guerrero the resident geek/brain (he was Rorschach in the film Watchmen).

Frankly the casting is spot on, all solid actors with their own strengths and they thus far have brought solid performances to the show. The main thing they have changed is the fact that Chance is no longer a master of disguise but rather a bodyguard. A highly skilled and connected bodyguard that is.

They have dropped many hints that he may have been a spy at one time, but nothing concrete. What we do know is, he speaks multiple languages, so far Japanese and Russian, knows martial arts, is a master shot and tactician.

I like the show for its action and humor. So far the writing has been very well done and as I said earlier, the casting is very good. They are actually using some quality comic book writers for the scripting, Carmine Infantino and Len Wein have writing credit on the first two episodes. Also they have had some excellent guest stars so far, Tricia Helfer (Battlestar Galactica), Danny Glover, Alessandro Juliani (BSG), Sean Maher (Firefly), and Emmanuelle Vaugier (CSI NY).

I think FOX may have a good show on their hands, if they don’t muck things up like they have with other shows in the past. Over all I give this a 3.5 Stars out of 5!

Entertainment Weekly reports that NBC is passing on the Tennant drama-pilot Rex is not your Lawyer. At least for now:

An NBC rep declined to comment, but a Peacock source insists Rex remains under consideration for fall. “The sets are on fold-and-hold,” maintains the insider. “They will still be available if the show is picked up for the fall.”

This show has been in development, though Tennant has only been on its list recently, for over 2 years. Not a LONG time in Hollywood, but it still falls into the realm of developement hell.

Perhaps we will get lucky and the pilot gets leaked by an NBC Dr.Who fan. Or maybe they will put it on as a made for TV movie. In any case, I look forward to more David Tennant in the future.

According to a recent article in Variety, Adult Swim has ordered 40 more episodes of their great stop-motion animation show. This is a huge order and a major commitment from that studio.

The series has been on the air, sporadically, since 2005 and has brought droves to the Adult Swim late night programming venue. Each episode runs a meer 15 minutes and is generally made up of up to 10 skits. They have also produced several specials, including two Star Wars specials, some of which have appeared on DVD.

If you have not seen the show, take the time to watch a few of the skits. It is definitely up the alley of our reading/listening audience.

This is an excellent comic and I have been hoping they would make this into a TV series since reading the first few issues. From Wiki:

Powers is set in a world where superpowers are relatively common but not mundane. It follows the lives of two detectives, Christian Walker and Deena Pilgrim, police officers in a Homicide department devoted to cases that involve “powers” (people with superpowers). Walker himself used to be a costumed superhero named Diamond, but became a police officer after he lost his abilities. Though stripped of his powers, he still retains his contacts within the superhero community, even becoming engaged to an ex-colleague, who is later killed. In later issues, Walker is offered the chance to become the world’s latest secret Guardian as part of The Millennium Guard, a secret group of intergalactic guardians, accepting the responsibility and the powers that come with it.

Lets keep our fingers crossed that this turns out at least half as good as what I can forsee in my head!

Better Off Ted, for those foolish enough not to be following it (catch up on HULU), is a sitcom about corporate life at a super-duper sized mega corporation, Veridian Dynamics. Its a very funny show, for which a good part of the laughs come from the R&D departments creation of some of the weirdest gadgets. This weeks show had the two primary scientists down in the Verdian storeroom of discarded inventions, when in the back ground you can clearly a Gold Dalek! I guess it was just Davros powered down.

BBC has produced a new version of the 60′s movie and 80′s TV show, Day of the Triffids. It will air on the BBC December 28th and 29th as a two-day event, each part 90 min in length.

Synopsis provided by wikipedia:
“The protagonist is Bill Masen, an Englishman who has made his living working with “Triffids,” plants capable of aggressive and seemingly intelligent behaviour: they are able to move about on their three “legs”, appear to communicate with each other and possess a deadly whip-like poisonous sting that enables them to kill and feed on the rotting carcasses of their victims. The book implies they were bioengineered in the Soviet Union and then accidentally released into the wild when a plane carrying their seeds is shot down. Triffids begin sprouting all over the world, and their extracts prove to be superior to existing vegetable oils. The result is worldwide cultivation of Triffids.”

The original movie is as campy as you might expect from a crazed plant monster 60′s film. And the 80′s TV show is as crappy as you might expect from most 80′s sci-fi no-budget BBC features. But this one has got my attention.

Written by Patrick Harbinson, formerly of ER and Law & Order fame, it stars Dougray Scott, Joely Richardson, Brian Cox, Vanessa Redgrave, Eddie Izzard and Jason Priestly. It’s a good pedigree that they can still screw up if they try, but here’s to hoping for the best. I just can’t wait to see Eddie chasing after man-eating plants…HA!

Magic Missle!

For those of you not familiar with the show, it is the story of a young Merlin as he discovers his powers and abilities while living in Camelot. He is befriended by young Arthur and the show is angled toward family viewing.

I have been watching the show from the beginning and enjoy it. The acting and effects are well done for a TV series and it is well cast. Quite happy that it got picked up for a 3rd season!

Merlin stars Colin Morgan as Merlin, Bradley James as Prince Arthur, Anthony Head as King Uther, Katie McGrath as Morgana, and John Hurt as the voice of the Great Dragon.

Doctor Who Advent Calendar

I’m not sure how I feel about this. I liked Sliders, but that was almost 15 years ago!  Then again, I’m not sure how I feel about the Doctor playing a Chicago lawyer either…

Then again… What if Hulu did go to some kind of a pay model?  I don’t think that’d be a bad thing if it was done properly.  I’ve heard rumors ranging from “pay for individual shows” to “pay per subscription” to “pay for additional, exclusive content”.  These are all just wild rumors, probably not based on any real information.  Pure speculation on the part of anyone with an active imagination and a blog.  HEY…. I have at least one of those things!  Here’s how I think that Hulu could be successful with a pay model:

1. KEEP BROADCAST SHOWS AD SUPPORTED.  Basically, don’t change what’s currently on Hulu.  It’s a good starting place.  I think that a per show/network subscription would end up not making nearly the same amount that is made from ads.  Also, a broad, all encompasing site fee would drive away more people than it would keep around.

2. Charge for exclusive extras.  This wouldn’t make you all that much money, but the shows are making this content ANYWAY.  Bloopers, gag reels, deleted scenes… Think DVD extras.

3. Charge a show based subscription fee for some cable content.  I’d HAPPILY pay $3-5 per show a month for a subscription to my favorite Showtime/HBO/Cinemax/Encore/etc shows.

If the above model were put into place, I’d watch all my favorite broadcast shows for free, and I’d end up paying around $15 a month in subscription fees.  In other words, Hulu would be making fat bank off my (and many other peoples) lazy ass every month.  They would also probably INCREASE their customer base.  What do YOU think?

Perhaps if the shows writers were to kill off the annoying VPOV (viewer point of view, the fat guy) I might give it more business myself! Check the pic, he doesn’t even know his finger isn’t loaded!

According to the books official twitter feed “Deadline Productions will make Pride Prejudice and Zombies into a 6 part television series”.

While I have not read this cult hit yet, I have several friends that have and they rant on and on about how great it is. The concept is simple enough, take a classic piece of literature and insert zombies and ninjas. Sounds like a win win to me!

And really…that Doctor Fate costume is amazing! I hope to see some people trying to recreate it at an upcoming convention.

Here is the info that Fox sent out on the plans for its midseason. Premier date, timeslot, regular airing time:

24: Jan 17 & 18th, 8pm – Two night four hour event – Sundays 9pm EST
American Idol: Jan 12 & 13th, 8pm – Two night event – Tuesdays 8pm EST
Fringe: April 1st, TBD – Thursdays TBD
Glee: April 13th, TBD – Tuesdays TBD
Gordon Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares: Jan 29th, TBD – Fridays TBD
Human Target: (NEW!) Jan 17th, TBD – Wednesdays TBD
Our Little Genius: (NEW!) Jan 13th, TBD – Sundays TBD
Past Life: (NEW!) Feb 11th, TBD – Thursdays TBD
Sons of Tuscon: (NEW!) March 14th, 8:30pm – Sundays 8:30pm

Also of note is the fact that ‘Lie to Me’ has had nine more episodes ordered to round out the season. No date or time yet on those.

Fringetastic

God damn it so much Fox…

According to The Futon Critic, Fox is putting Fringe on a 7 week hiatus starting in February.  They SAY this is so that they won’t have to show any Fringe repeats during 2010, but the buzz has been buzzing that Fringe is “on the bubble”.  While Fringe is hiatusing, presumably on a beach somewhere in Mexico with a pretty girl and a belly full of rum, Fox will present its midseason offering drama “Past Life”, a new series about a pair of past-life detectives who investigate whether what is happening to you today is the result of who you were before.  Sounds lame.  BOO.  And how many times have we heard this line from Fox right before they cancel a show?  In my opinion, Fringe is one of the best shows on TV right now.  It doesn’t deserve to be anywhere near “on the bubble”.  Listen up Fox, don’t even think about canceling this show.

All will be revealed as the Doctor and his companion Adelaide face terror on the Red Planet in one of the scariest adventures yet. Peter O’Brien (Casualty, Neighbours) guest stars as Ed, Adelaide’s second-in-command at the base.

The Waters of Mars is written by Russell T Davies (Torchwood, Queer as Folk) and Phil Ford and directed by Graeme Harper. The executive producers are Russell T Davies and Julie Gardner (Torchwood, Life on Mars).

The remaining episodes, starring Tennant, will air over the holiday season as a two-part special. Airdates will be released in early December. Tennant shot a total of four specials before exiting the role – Planet of the Dead was the first one to air, last July, on BBC AMERICA.

The book looks good and I am planning on picking it up this weekend. Here is the blurb from the publisher:
On an entirely normal, beautiful fall day in Chester’s Mill, Maine, the town is inexplicably and suddenly sealed off from the rest of the world by an invisible force field. Planes crash into it and fall from the sky in flaming wreckage, a gardener’s hand is severed as “the dome” comes down on it, people running errands in the neighboring town are divided from their families, and cars explode on impact. No one can fathom what this barrier is, where it came from, and when — or if — it will go away.

Now this is good news to me, I was a big fan of the Warren Ellis comic back in the early 2000′s. There was even a pilot made for the WB back in 2005, but it got dropped before it even officially got released (it was unofficially leaked to the net that year though, not bad if you can find it, I liked it).

The concept is a good one that can be translated easily enough to the small screen. Essentially its a covert agency that uses smart mob techniques to mobilize its 1001 agents. From wikipedia:
The purpose of the organization is to protect and rescue the world from the consequences of the various secret projects that the governments of the world have established, which are unknown to the public at large.

Now, that last part wasn’t in the TV Guide Magazine article, but I don’t think anyone can watch the show and not have that opinion of the Rush character. Anyway, it is good to see that Shanks will be working on a franchinse that he is heavily endebted to. And its got to be better than putting on fake wings and a copper helmet like he is in the show Smallville.

Edward was best known to me for his starring role in the 80′s TV show, The Equalizer. Here was a man who could express empathy for those hurt and yet instill a fear into those that hurt them. It was a good solid show that appealed to a large audience. Just enough action to keep the guys watching and plenty of drama to keep the women hooked.

He recently appeared in the Simon Pegg comedy, Hot Fuzz. I know he will be missed, but 79 years is a pretty good run these days. I hope he rests in peace.

From everything I’ve seen, this new series isn’t a reboot, but a remake.  Updated technology, updated cultural references, updated hotties.  The new series is already garnering critical acclaim based on a prescreening of the pilot episode, but that doesn’t really mean jack shit.  I’m just wondering how ABC is going to fuck this one up.  There’s already been talk that production has been halted, supposedly due to the Olympics, which while they do occur in Vancouver, I haven’t heard of any other shows fully and completely halting production.  The other rumors I’ve heard (and that I’ll spread like butter on a hookers ass) is that ABC plans to air the 4 completed episodes, then wait for feedback.  If the feedback is positive they will resume production… Maybe. If they resume production it would probably be sometime in the middle of next year.  Thanks a lot ABC.  Now go eat a dick.