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Hulu Finally Streams its Way to Xbox
Posted by Tim Sheehy on May 3, 2011 in Television
Those of you who’ve been waiting patently for Hulu on Xbox Live! are in luck. Last week, Microsoft launched support for Hulu’s service Hulu Plus, which delivers select content — mostly network television sans the CW, complete with commercials — to customers willing to pay $7.99 a month. To be honest, it’s not too unreasonable. Read more… Sam & Dean To Keep On Kicking
Posted by Tim Sheehy on Apr 27, 2011 in Television
Don’t worry, you can breathe a sigh of relief. According to IGN, the CW has announced plans to renew Supernatural for a seventh season. While I haven’t followed its ratings since series creator Eric Kripke handed the reins to Sera Gamble, it’s nice to know the network has confidence in her performance so far. From what I’ve seen of the sixth season, it’s not terrible, but I can’t honestly call it their best to date. While the episodes have been entertaining, the story arcs have seemed a bit rushed. Then again, Kripke had planned the series three seasons in advance while eventually stretching those plans to fit five. Given the age of the series, I’m not sure Gamble has that liberty. Still, season seven — that’s something. Man Made, Portal 2 x Mad Men Mashup
Posted by Tim Sheehy on Apr 26, 2011 in Television, Videogames
It’s not as nifty as crafting your own Portal 2-themed Easter egg, but this little crossover video by YouTube user Prefim is pretty cool. The video takes the intro to Mad Men and thrusts it into the world of Portal 2 with some stunning results — it almost seems natural. Within a day of being posted, the video shot to 32,000 views. Impressive, right? Shatner’s TekWar Hits Netflix
Posted by Tim Sheehy on Apr 21, 2011 in Television
For those of us still waiting for our favorite Trek series to begin streaming this June, Shatner’s TekWar hit Netflix this week. I honestly don’t think it’ll fill the void, but you’re more than welcome to give the series a try. I love Bill Shatner, but sometimes I find myself asking why they let that man direct anything, let alone publish novels. Like The Final Frontier, I’ve found that TekWar serves as a prime example of why the man should never step behind the camera. Read more… Game of Thrones Already Renewed
Posted by Tim Sheehy on Apr 20, 2011 in Television
I knew the premiere of HBO’s Game of Thrones, based on the best-selling fantasy novel by George R.R. Martin, would be a hit, but I’m not sure anyone was expecting HBO to announce plans to renew the series for a second season — at least, not so soon. The first episode aired last weekend opposite the NBA playoffs, yet still managed to snag solid ratings with 2.2 million households tuning in for the debut airing. The re-airings that evening captured an additional 1.2 million viewers on top of that. It’s no surprise that HBO would be pleased with the performance, not to mention all the praise the series has garnered in the press. Still, renewing it after only one episode? That’s a lot of confidence, espeically when most shows end up having to wait on pins and needles for that kind of good news. If the series turns out to be as good as the novel, I’m sure the investment will pay off. Ye Gods! HBO to Produce a Gaiman Favorite for TV
Posted by Michael Sacco on Apr 15, 2011 in Television
If you’re a genre reader, you’ve probably read Neil Gaiman’s work, whether Good Omens, his fan-favorite book with Terry Pratchett, or his recently-a-motion-picture kids’ tale Coraline. And if you’re a fan, as most of his readers are, then the news that HBO is in talks to pick up his bestselling novel American Gods to produce as a TV series will likely excite you to the very core. The source material — a battle between the old gods from various countries and faiths and the new “American gods” of technology, consumption, and celebrity — is perfect for HBO, and even better for a TV show. No worrying about it fitting in a single film or even miniseries. As long as it can avoid the fate of a certain other fantastical HBO show, anyway. Read more… The Doctor’s Lost
I can’t really say this would make for an awesome t-shirt but I really can’t pass up a chance to comment on this nifty work by artist and designer FFTKrazee. A clever little crossover between two of our fanboy favorites, Lost and Dr. Who, the design depicts Desmond, Faraday leaning up against a DHARMA-brand TARDIS. I never really thought about it until someone mentioned it in the comments for the shirt, but Jeremy Davies always looked like a sad Keanu Reeves. Read more… Don’t Expect a New Star Trek TV Series Any Time Soon
Posted by Michael Sacco on Apr 9, 2011 in Star Trek, Television
You’d think with the sudden re-popularity of the Star Trek series that someone would be rushing to put the series back on the airwaves after a six-year absence, but not so, according to Jonathan Frakes, who played Riker on The Next Generation. He said he developed a new Trek series for TV, but the suits at Paramount turned it down, along with previous ideas from William Shatner and Pushing Daisies‘ Bryan Fuller, saying that they didn’t want to oversaturate the media with it like they had in the past. Honestly, it’s probably a good thing that they think that way now, since it’ll let the movies breathe a little and reestablish the fandom. Not that I wouldn’t love a new (and this is important, good) Trek series on the tube, of course. A Treasure Trove of Retro Cosplay
Cosplay isn’t a new phenomenon — for pretty much as long as there’s been fandom, there’s been cosplay. These retro cosplay photos, posted on 4chan’s cosplay board, prove it! We’ve compiled the best here for your perusal, from events ranging from WonderCon to WorldCon from the 70s to the 80s. You’ll notice some patterns — Red Sonja was a very popular cosplay choice for ladies back then, and Vulcans and Elric of Melnibone were popular for men. You can even see cosplay mainstays like Orion slave girls. It’s almost comforting to know that people have been dressing themselves up like fantasy and scifi characters for this long — it means that there have always been incredibly nerdy people in the world. Read more… What Do Your Action Figures Do When You’re Not Watching?
Play Pac-Man, apparently! Among several other surreal activities, as captured by photographer Thurston Roscoe. How he managed to fool action figures of normally quite astute characters with a rudimentary hidden camera is a mystery, but I think the discovery speaks for itself. Who knew He-Man was so good at arcade games? And who knew Uhura was into Eternians? These photos will undoubtedly help us further human-figure relations for decades to come. Read more… Ridley Scott Brings Sci-Fi to Cinemax
Posted by Michael Sacco on Apr 2, 2011 in Television
You might know Cinemax (or “Skinemax,” in the vernacular) for a lot of things, but original series aren’t one of them, especially original sci-fi series being helmed by Ridley Scott. As part of the channel’s plan to rebrand as a hub for male-oriented television and movies, Cinemax is teaming up with Scott to produce The Sector, a one-hour drama that’s being called a spiritual successor to Blade Runner. In fact, the plot — about a cop that tracks down either androids or genetically-enhanced humans, depending on who you ask — is almost identical to Blade Runner. But you don’t see me complaining about that! Read more… Wonder Woman Gets a Wardrobe Change
Posted by Tim Sheehy on Mar 31, 2011 in Comic Books, Television
It would appear that NBC’s Wonder Woman has had an official wardrobe change. Apparently, enough people complained about the bright blue vinyl to make a difference. In addition to ditching the shiny pants in favor of a darker spandex, it looks as though they’ve decided to do away with her glossy red lipstick, and blue high-heels as well. While the changes are arguably for the best, I can’t help but feel the costume still seems a bit off. Perhaps I’m just not used to seeing Wonder Woman in anything but shorts. Maybe it’ll grow on me. Read more… Fringe Division Keeps Their Jobs
Posted by Michael Sacco on Mar 25, 2011 in Television
In a parallel universe, the internet is mourning the loss of some of the best sci-fi ever seen on television. But not in this universe! Despite worries about ratings and a much-dreaded move to the “Friday night death slot,” Fringe has officially been renewed for a fourth season. And it gets better: a full run of 22 episodes has been ordered, not a “we’re worried about this show’s chances” 13-episode run. Fox seems to be of the mind that an established show will do better in the Friday night slot than a new one, and they’re probably right. Either way, great news all around. Read more… Sexy Vampires: A Pointed History
The image of a vampire licking their blood stain lips after feeding, or bearing their fangs may or may not send a shiver up your spine, but for viewers these are possibly a quintessential appearance of a vampire. Vampires was first mentioned in literature around the 1700’s, but until Bran Stroker’s Dracula was published around 1897, the other vampire works weren’t as definitive or influential. Now the usage of vampires is a very common tool. Viewers can easily see vampires in contemporary series like Twilight, True Blood, or The Vampire Diaries. But consider these vampires in three different categories, Movies; Television; Comics, and see if you want to be bitten, if they have their focuses on you. Read more… Your First Look at TV’s Wonder Woman
Posted by Michael Sacco on Mar 19, 2011 in Comic Books, Television
Yes, this Wonder Woman TV show thing is really happening. It’s happening so hard that Entertainment Weekly was able to release the above sneak peek at Adrienne Palicki in full Wonder Woman kit. I’m not really sure how I feel about it — Palicki is certainly lovely and statuesque, but something about the costume just seems off. Maybe it’s a little too shiny. Maybe it’s the fact that seeing an actress in the costume means the show, whose script failed to impress, is actually getting made, which is possibly the most distressing fact of all. Vintage Japanese Commercials Starring George Lucas
Posted by Linda Yau on Mar 14, 2011 in Star Wars, Television
Another Superhero TV Show on the Way, Courtesy of FX
Posted by Michael Sacco on Feb 27, 2011 in Comic Books, Television
2011 is truly the year of superheroes, from the salvo of superhero moves being launched from Hollywood to the several superhero TV shows either being planned or already on TV. And now cable is getting its own shot at the genre — FX has ordered a pilot of Brian Michael Bendis’ comic series Powers. The series, starring an ex-superhero who works as a police officer in a department that investigates superhero-related homicides, is a great fit for a TV-MA channel like FX, so let’s hope that they handle the IP with the respect it deserves. Read more… An Almost Life-Size Serenity Poster
Posted by Michael Sacco on Feb 26, 2011 in Television
Firefly fans just can’t seem to let the show go, even this many years after it was canceled. Nathan Fillion mused that he’d like to buy the rights to the show and make more of it. But right now, the closest you’ll come to the starship Serenity is an absolutely enormous wall sticker of it! 48 inches diagonal, in fact. It’s made by Quantum Mechanix, and it’s based on the original 3D model of the ship from the film of the same name. You can even peel it off of one enormous wall and re-stick it onto another wall. You might call it Verse-atile. Yeah, I went there. Read more… Want to Work on the Doctor Who MMO? Better Move to Wisconsin
Posted by Michael Sacco on Feb 25, 2011 in Dr. Who, Videogames
Fans of Doctor Who may be quite pleased to hear that a free-to-play MMO based on the Doctor’s exploits is in development! Called Words in Time, it’s set to be a “fun and easy” online game for fans of all ages in which you assist you the Time Lord himself, going on missions and vanquishing classic foes. Those with software engineering skills may be even more interested in the game, because its developer, Three Rings, is hiring! The catch is that you have to live in Madison, Wisconsin. Maybe it’s not as bad as it sounds, though — their office is pretty darn cool. Read more… To Boldly Stream What No Service Has Streamed Before
Posted by Tim Sheehy on Feb 24, 2011 in Star Trek, Television
Last Tuesday, Netflix reached a landmark deal with CBS to stream what no other service has streamed before — at least, without charging an arm and a leg for individual episodes. By now you’ve probably guessed it, but they’ve secured the license to stream every Star Trek series in their entirety, along with a whole catalog of classics like Cheers, Family Ties, and one of my personal favorites, The Twilight Zone. As far as Star Trek is concerned, this may be a first as I don’t recall any other service to date offering all six shows — that’s assuming they’ll be getting access to the animated series with this deal. Meet the New Wonder Woman
Posted by Tim Sheehy on Feb 17, 2011 in Comic Books, Television
Various outlets are reporting that Friday Night Lights star Adrianne Palicki has been cast as Diana Prince in NBC’s upcoming Wonder Woman television series. The joint venture between writer David E. Kelley and Jeffrey Reiner had a bumpy start, but after being passed on by a number of networks, NBC finally came to the rescue. Unfortunately, like rival network Fox, NBC is often quick to pull the plug if a show doesn’t hit the ground running. We’ll just have to hope that Palicki has the skills to match her striking looks — after all, anyone can dye their hair black, but handling that Lasso of Truth? Well, that remains to be seen. Nine Ways That Space: 1999 Surpassed Star Trek
Posted by Michael Pinto on Feb 14, 2011 in Star Trek, Television
Heroes of Space and All That Wibbly-Wobbly Timey-Wimey Stuff
Sure, one crew travels in Starfleet’s best ship, and the other travels in a phone booth, but they’re both credited for saving the universe several times over. And now, here they are, together at last: Kirk, Spock, the Doctor, and Amy Pond, ready to kick some Klingon tail! And Dalek tail, and Cyberman tail, and Romulan tail. What, only four evil races? Against these guys? The bad guys don’t stand a chance. Great work from Summerset over at DeviantArt. Read more… D&D Has Me Sold On NBC’s Community
Posted by Tim Sheehy on Feb 9, 2011 in Fandom, Television
I’ve been a big fan of NBC’s primetime programming — at least, what’s left of it — for awhile now, but Community hasn’t exactly been on my list of must-see programming. Perhaps it was last season’s slow start or the fact that I adore 30 Rock so much that I hold everything to that standard. To be honest, I probably shouldn’t. There’s probably plenty of reasons the network has been trailing, and until last week I felt Community might be one of them. Boy, was I wrong. |
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Prior to the availability of Youtube, there is little to no chance that viewers can see foreign commercials that well known people can be involved in. Certainly in the United States, unless with a right fee, you really wouldn’t catch popular and established celebrities selling commercials. However if you are in a country like Japan, you’ll see many celebrities selling Japanese products. Like Bill Murray in the movie Lost in Translation. You can see Arnold Schwarzenegger selling instant cup ramen, Leonardo DiCaprio selling a car, Brad Pitt selling a cell phone, with enough money, the choice is clear. Consider these following commercials starring George Lucas. 
In hindsight over 40 years later Star Trek is clearly the most successful science fiction television series of all time — but that wasn’t always the case. In the early 70s (before Star Wars) it was looking like Star Trek was pretty much dead. The only sign of life the series was in 1974 when Filmation ran a well done but poorly rated Saturday morning animated series. But then on September 13th, 1975 sci fi fans had a new option, and for this fanboy Space:1999 captured my heart for the next two years that it ran. Here are nine reasons why I think the show deserves some respect in the 21st Century: 
