Fan Rants

Warner Brothers this week released the first images for their new TV show of the iconic DC comics character Wonder Woman. Starring Adrianne Palicki and premiering this fall on NBC.

Press Release:
Please find attached the first image of Adrianne Palicki starring as the title character in the new NBC pilot “Wonder Woman,” from executive producer David E. Kelley (“Boston Legal,” “Ally McBeal,” NBC’s “Harry’s Law“). The pilot was written by Kelley, who also serves as executive producer with Bill D’Elia (“Boston Legal,” “The Practice,” NBC’s “Harry’s Law”). Jeffrey Reiner (“The Event”) is directing. Based upon DC Comics character, “Wonder Woman” is from David E. Kelley Productions and Warner Bros. Television. (C) 2011 NBC and Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved. Photo Credit: Justin Lubin

Related articles

• “First photo of Adrianne Palicki as Wonder Woman” and related posts (dcu.blog.dccomics.com)

Press release from HBO:

HBO PRESENTS THE 15-MINUTE “GAME OF THRONES” EXCLUSIVE PREVIEW APRIL 3

HBO will present – for the first time – a sneak peek of the first 15 minutes of the first episode of a new series when GAME OF THRONES EXCLUSIVE PREVIEW debuts SUNDAY, APRIL 3 at 9:00 p.m. (ET/PT). Following this one-time-only play, GAME OF THRONES EXCLUSIVE PREVIEW will be available immediately on hbo.com and HBO Go, and will be available on HBO On Demand beginning Monday, April 4.

The HBO presentation of GAME OF THRONES EXCLUSIVE PREVIEW will be followed by the debut of Part Three of the HBO Miniseries presentation MILDRED PIERCE at 9:15 p.m. (ET/PT).

Based on the popular book series “A Song of Ice and Fire,” by George R.R. Martin, the fantasy series GAME OF THRONES chronicles an epic struggle for power set in a vast and violent fantasy kingdom. The ensemble cast includes Mark Addy, Sean Bean, Emilia Clarke, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Peter Dinklage, Michelle Fairley, Lena Headey, Kit Harington and Aidan Gillen. The show was shot at the Paint Hall Studio in Belfast, Northern Ireland, as well as at various locations in Northern Ireland and Malta.

GAME OF THRONES launches its ten-episode season SUNDAY, APRIL 17, exclusively on HBO.

GAME OF THRONES was created by David Benioff & D.B. Weiss; executive produced by David Benioff and D.B. Weiss; co-executive producers, Carolyn Strauss, Guymon Casady, Vince Gerardis, Ralph Vicinanza and George R.R. Martin; producers, Mark Huffam and Frank Doelger.

Directors include Brian Kirk, Daniel Minahan, Alan Taylor and Tim Van Patten; writers include David Benioff & D.B. Weiss, Bryan Cogman, Jane Espenson and George R.R. Martin.

The final Stargate: Universe episodes are premiering March 7th. Sanctuary comes back on April 15th. And the 200th Syfy original movie shows up on Saturday March 26th.

NEW YORK – February 22, 2010 – The snow is melting and it is a new season for Syfy’s spring programming, including original episodes of hit series Destination Truth, Fact or Faked: Paranormal Files, Stargate Universe and Sanctuary. Syfy’s spring primetime schedule will also feature the premiere of the highly-anticipated Marcel’s Quantum Kitchen.

Upcoming popular Syfy Saturday Original Movies include Battle of Los Angeles and Scream of the Banshee. Banshee will mark a new milestone as Syfy’s 200th Saturday Original Movie!

Following are highlights of Syfy’s spring programming schedule (all times ET/PT):

Unscripted Programming

DESTINATION TRUTH – LIVE ST. PATRICKS DAY INVESTIGATION Thursday March 17, at 9PM – Syfy’s hit adventure reality series will celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with the show’s first-ever LIVE investigation! Host Josh Gates will take viewers to Ireland for the Season 4.5 premiere, where he and his team will brave the crumbling ruins of Duckett’s Grove Castle in search of the truth behind the legend of the banshee. Destination Truth then moves to a new night on Tuesday March 22, at 9PM for all new episodes. According to Irish legend, the banshee is a sign of impending death; a female ancestral spirit who wails around a house the night before someone inside is to meet their demise. Today, many County Carlow locals claim to have witnessed hearing the banshee’s unmistakable wail and seeing glimpses of an ethereal woman stalking the grounds of the 200 year-old historic ruins of Duckett’s Grove Castle. Armed with equipment, expertise and, as always, humor, Josh and team will attempt to solve the mystery behind this age-old legend. Josh’s return to Ireland marks the one-year anniversary of the series’ most-watched episode (featuring a hunt for the leprechaun that aired on St. Patrick’s Day 2010). Other adventures this season include tackling claims of spirits in Namibia, a sea monster in Cyprus and mysterious creatures in Panama and Argentina. Then, in another Destination Truth first, the team will trek to Antarctica, where strange phenomena occurring around abandoned research stations have stumped scientists. Now, the Destination Truth crew will brave the elements to conduct the world’s first paranormal investigation on the frozen continent, giving viewers a rare and unique glimpse at this rarely visited landscape…as well as, perhaps, a look into its past. Destination Truth is Executive Produced by Brad Kuhlman for Ping Pong Productions (1000 Places to See Before You Die, Celebrity Rehab, FM Nation). Josh Gates, Erin Ryder and Christopher Lore will serve as co-executive producers.

MARCEL’S QUANTUM KITCHEN – Series Premiere Tuesday March 22, at 10PM – Syfy unveils the future of food with a daring new hi-tech cooking series for the modern age, featuring Top Chef’s Marcel Vigneron, one of America’s most notorious chefs on the cutting edge of the culinary field. Chef Marcel pushes the limits of imagination with his bold style of cooking referred to as molecular gastronomy, which incorporates science into cuisine preparation. Follow Marcel as he embarks on the next phase of his career at the helm of his own catering and event company. In each one-hour episode, Marcel will be hired by a demanding client to produce and pull off extraordinary dishes and celebrations. Based on the clients’ requests, Marcel will have to dream up a menu and a spectacular execution of his ideas. He oversees the entire production, tapping the depths of his imagination and culinary talents to brainstorm everything from the decor to a delicious menu that emphasizes his unparalleled brand of molecular gastronomy. For his first event, a philanthropist hires Marcel to cater an elaborate event to increase awareness for the Wildlife Waystation, an exotic animal refuge and sanctuary. Marcel and his team create an amazing safari-themed party. The menu includes an edible map and “Himalayan Tiger’s Breath,” which is prepared using liquid nitrogen. He and the event planner bump heads over the event d�cor. But he will stop at nothing in order to pull off an evening filled with unforgettable dishes in a truly magical setting. Marcel’s Quantum Kitchen is produced by Mission Control Media. Dwight D. Smith, Michael Agbabian, Andrew Scheer and Dana Leiken Richards are Executive Producers.

FACT OR FAKED: PARANORMAL FILES – Season Two Premiere Wednesday March 23, at 10PM- A new season of Fact or Faked: Paranormal Files returns to Earth, premiering on Syfy on a new night after a brand new episode of Ghost Hunters. The team will continue with its mission to uncover the truth behind some of the most fascinating “paranormal” videos ever taken. The Fact or Faked: Paranormal Files team includes former FBI Special Agent Ben Hansen, lead scientist Bill Murphy, journalist Jael de Pardo, photography expert Chi-Lan Lieu, stunt expert Austin Porter and newest member tech expert Devin Marble. In the Season Two premiere episode “The Real Battle of LA / Queen Mary Menace,” the team investigates the mysterious case that many people believe marked the very beginning of UFO government cover-ups – the historic Battle of LA. Only a couple months after Pearl Harbor – an enemy aircraft was reported over Los Angeles, and the city erupted into a fiery battle that lasted for several hours. But almost seventy years later, no one knows what the military was actually shooting at and the Fact or Faked team is determined to figure out if it was of extraterrestrial origin. Ben, Jael and Devin head to one of the original gun batteries in San Pedro, CA to get the facts before recreating the epic battle using searchlights, grenade launchers and a 50-caliber machine gun. Meanwhile, Bill, Chi-Lan and Austin spend the night on the haunted Queen Mary luxury cruise ship to test theories around the phantom figure that was caught lurking down the main deck hallway. When Austin sees a pair of glowing eyes, the team realizes they’re not alone. Fact or Faked: Paranormal Files is executive produced by John Brenkus and Mickey Stern for BASE Productions and is a co-production with Universal Networks International.

Scripted Programming

STARGATE UNIVERSE – Returns Monday March 7, at 10PM – Syfy’s drama-adventure series returns for its anticipated final ten episodes. The new episodes pick up with the Destiny crew in a battle with a drone command ship and the surprise arrival of the aliens that abducted Dr. Nicholas Rush (Robert Carlyle) and Chloe (Elyse Levesque). The final season culminates with a dramatic conclusion for the fate of the Destiny crew, who face a difficult crossroads when they realize the time has come for them to take a risky stand…or they will be left adrift forever. Guest stars appearing in the final episodes include Victor Garber (Alien, Titanic), French Stewart (3rd Rock From The Sun), Robert Picardo (Stargate SG-1, Star Trek: Voyager, China Beach), Kathleen Quinlen (Apollo 13) and Julie McNiven (Supernatural, Mad Men). Robert Cooper and Brad Wright, of Stargate SG-1 and Stargate Atlantis, serve as executive producers and writers. SGU is produced and distributed by MGM Worldwide Television Distribution.

SANCTUARY – Returns Friday April 15, at 10PM – Syfy’s original series returns with the next all-new 10 episodes of season three! The adventures pick up in the events of the mid-season finale’s cliffhanger, with the team at the mercy of the inimitable Ranna, played by Polly Walker (Caprica, Rome). Sanctuary stars Amanda Tapping as the brilliant Dr. Helen Magnus, Robin Dunne as forensic psychiatrist Dr. Will Zimmerman, Agam Darshi as Kate Freelander, Ryan Robbins as Henry Foss and Christopher Heyerdahl as John Druitt. One of television’s most groundbreaking series, shooting almost entirely on green screen, Sanctuary was the first television series in North America to use the RED camera exclusively. Its stunning visual effects were nominated for a 2008 Emmy Award. Created by Damian Kindler (Stargate SG-1, Stargate Atlantis), Sanctuary is produced in association with Syfy and is distributed by Tricon Films and Television. Season three of the series is executive produced by Damian Kindler, Amanda Tapping, Martin Wood, Keith Beedie and Tricon Films.

Saturday Original Movies

BATTLE OF LOS ANGELES – Premieres Saturday March 12, at 9PM – Hundreds of extra-terrestrial ships swarm Los Angeles, causing death and chaos ahead of an impending alien invasion. A small group of United States military personnel are able to get underground, where they learn the only way to stop the invasion is by destroying the mothership from within. It falls to two determined soldiers to finish the job before the human race is demolished. Stars Nia Peeples (Pretty Little Liars) and Kel Mitchell (Kenan & Kel)

SCREAM OF THE BANSHEE – Premieres Saturday March 26, at 9PM – When a college professor opens a strange, ornate box discovered in the basement of her University, she and her students hear the horrifying scream of a bloodthirsty Banshee. Everyone who hears the scream dies a strange and terrible death. Now the professor and a few stragglers must try to stop the Banshee. Stars Lauren Holly (NCIS) and Lance Henriksen (Alien). This film marks Syfy’s 200th Saturday Original Movie.

FEROCIOUS PLANET – Premieres Saturday April 9, at 9PM – An experimental device enabling viewing of alternate dimensions goes haywire on its first test, dragging the entire test lab (and its occupants) into a dangerous alternate universe. Led by a resourceful Colonel and a tough female scientist, they have to figure out how to get home. Stars Joe Flanigan (Stargate Atlantis) and John Rhys-Davies (Lord of the Rings).

ROADKILL – Premieres Saturday April 23, at 9 PM – Six young friends on a road trip in Ireland run afoul of gypsies who curse them for accidentally running down an old woman. The curse takes the form of a terrifying flying beast that tries killing them all. Stars Stephen Rea (The Crying Game).

Syfy sent out a press release stating that it has acquired all 31 episodes of “Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles” from Warner Bros.

The series will premiere on Syfy Thursday, April 7th.

NEW YORK – February 22, 2011 – Syfy has acquired both seasons (31 episodes) of the acclaimed fan-favorite Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles from Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution, it was announced today by Chris Regina, Vice President, Programming, Syfy, and Tom Cerio, Executive Vice President, Cable Sales, Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution.

With Terminator 3 as the lead-in, the series will join the Syfy line-up on Thursday, April 7 with two episodes from 9-11PM (ET/PT). The regular time slot will be Thursdays from 7-11PM (ET/PT).

Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles brought the blockbuster Terminator movie franchise to television in an action-adventure drama taking place after the events of Terminator 2: Judgment Day. The series reveals what happens when Sarah Connor (series star Lena Headey – upcoming Game of Thrones, 300, The Brothers Grimm) stops running and goes on the offensive against an ever-evolving technological enemy. At the end of Terminator 2: Judgment Day, Sarah vanquished the Terminator sent from the future to kill her teenage son, John. Now Sarah and John (series star Thomas Dekker – Heroes) find themselves in a very dangerous, complicated world. Fugitives from the law, they must evade pursuers from the future and the present in today’s Los Angeles, relentlessly battling to save more than just themselves.

Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles ran for two seasons (2007-09).

Lena Headey, Thomas Dekker, Summer Glau, Brian Austin Green, Garret Dillahunt, Shirley Manson, Leven Rambin and Richard T. Jones starred in the series, from the Bartleby Company and The Halcyon Company in association with Warner Bros. Television. Josh Friedman, John Wirth, James Middleton, Mario Kassar, Andrew Vajna and Joel Michaels served as executive producers.

Related articles

• Syfy Acquires All 31 Episodes of ‘Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles’; Premieres Thursday, April 7 (tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com)

Press release from SYFY:

AARON ASHMORE (“SMALLVILLE“) REPORTS FOR DUTY AT SYFY’S HIT SERIES “WAREHOUSE 13”

NEW YORK – February 17, 2011 – Aaron Ashmore, who portrayed the iconic character Jimmy Olsen in Smallville, will join the cast of Syfy‘s hit series Warehouse 13 as “Steve Jinks,” a young ATF agent with an innate ability to detect when someone’s lying. Jinks is recruited by the all-powerful Mrs. Frederic (CCH Pounder) to be Pete Lattimer’s (Eddie McClintock) new Warehouse 13 partner.

In last year’s gripping season two finale, Myka Bering (Joanne Kelly) abruptly quit her job at the Warehouse after being betrayed by the duplicitous HG Wells (Jaime Murray).

In addition to Smallville, Ashmore has appeared in series such as In Plain Sight, Veronica Mars and Fringe.

The third season of Warehouse 13 will return with 13 new episodes beginning this summer.

During its second season, Warehouse 13 averaged 3.4 million total viewers, 1.5 million Adults 18-49, 1.8 million Adults 25-54 and a 2.4 household rating, based on DVR Live +7 data, making it the most watched Syfy series of 2010.

Warehouse 13 follows follows a team of government agents who work at a massive, top-secret storage facility in windswept South Dakota which houses every strange artifact, mysterious relic, fantastical object and preternatural souvenir ever collected by the U.S. government. The Warehouse’s caretaker Artie Nielsen (Saul Rubinek) charges Pete Lattimer (McClintock), Myka Bering (Kelly) and young apprentice Claudia Donovan (Allison Scagliotti) 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 is produced for Syfy by Universal Cable Productions. Jack Kenny (The Book of Daniel) is Executive Producer and Showrunner.

Warehouse 13 received its first ever Emmy nomination in 2010 with a nod for Outstanding Main Title Theme Music by composer Ed Rogers.

Related articles

• Britt Robertson Joins ‘Secret Circle,’ Aaron Ashmore Boards ‘Warehouse 13′ and More (tvsquad.com)