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Archive for the 'Television' Category

Christmas in July: ‘Doctor Who’ special hits iTunes

July 3rd, 2009, 2:15 pm by Jayson Peters

David Tennant Doctor Who iTunes Apple BBC iPhone iPod video

If you missed it on BBC America — or, like me, miss watching it on the lower-tier Sci Fi Channel — the 2008 Doctor Who Christmas special is now available to download from Apple’s iTunes Store. “The Next Doctor” costs $1.99 and presents the itinerant Time Lord with an interesting dilemma: meeting himself. Read the rest of this entry »

2-minute Syfy promo tops any Sci Fi Channel Original Movie

July 3rd, 2009, 12:01 am by Jayson Peters

The Sci Fi Channel has launched a two-minute “brand film” that the cable network says reflects the look and feel of its new identity “Syfy,” which launches Tuesday. You can watch it here: www.syfy.com/imaginegreater

The video features talent from various network shows, including Sanctuary, Eureka, Stargate Universe, Destination Truth, Ghost Hunters, Scare Tactics, Warehouse 13 and Caprica.

It’s a peppy, pretty little thing that won’t make you feel like your life is being sucked into a collapsing star — unlike many of Sci Fi’s original fare. But the title, “House of Imagination,” does nothing for me — how can it possibly compare to the nomenclature of Sci Fi Channel Original Movies like “Mansquito,” “Frankenfish,” “Death Bed: The Bed That Eats” and “KAW”? (All real.)

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Syfy goes to Comic-Con

June 30th, 2009, 11:12 pm by Jayson Peters

Hot off the NBC Univeral Media Village press site, here’s Sci Fi Channel’s schedule of events for Comic-Con International, July 23-26 at the San Diego Convention Center:

SCI FI FEATURES FAN FAVORITE SERIES AND STARS AT COMIC-CON INTERNATIONAL 2009

New York, NY – June 30, 2009 – In keeping with its longstanding tradition of hosting some of Comic-Con’s most popular, crowd-pleasing events over the years, SCI FI Channel will once again feature some of its biggest hits – as well as its highly-anticipated new series – at this year’s Comic-Con International, held July 23-26 at the San Diego Convention Center. Fans will have the opportunity to see their favorite SCI FI stars and get the answers to all their burning questions at each of the Channel’s star-studded panels, including Warehouse 13, Eureka, Sanctuary, Stargate Universe, and Caprica/Battlestar Galactica: The Plan.

In addition, SCI FI will take over a restaurant at the Hard Rock Hotel, re-branding it as Eureka’s “Cafe Diem” for the duration of the convention. The fictional local hot spot heavily featured in the popular dramedy, Cafe Diem will be the hub of all SCI FI activities during the week.
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‘The Simpsons’ honor Michael Jackson

June 28th, 2009, 8:41 pm by Jayson Peters

simp_bartsingle08_fSo The Simpsons on Sunday night got into the act of honoring Michael Jackson — who, you might have heard, died on Thursday.

The venerable primetime cartoon didn’t air the 1991 episode in which Jackson — uncredited — provided the voice of an obese white man who was institutionalized because he thought he was Michael Jackson. Instead, it aired the planned encore episode “Wedding for Disaster,” but replaced the opening couch gag segment with the 1990 rap music video “Do the Bartman” – which references Jackson several times. This was followed by a dedication to Jackson, with an image of the character he voiced in the aforementioned episode.

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Is television more valuable online?

June 25th, 2009, 8:24 pm by Chris "KeL" Adams

Online broadcasters Hulu and TV.com are charging more for commercials online than during traditional network showings. Television advertisers usually pay $20 to $40 per thousand viewers. Hulu charges $60 per thousand viewers for a commercial during online broadcasts of “The Simpsons“. It makes sense given the rise of home digital video recorders that allow viewers to easily skip over all advertising. Online viewers are much more of a captive audience and thus more likely to actually watch the commercial.

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Rebranding ain’t pretty business, folks

June 23rd, 2009, 5:08 pm by Jayson Peters

jabbathehuttrotjDid you hear the one about how Pizza Hut is going to change its name to simply “The Hut?”

Well, it isn’t true. At least, it isn’t the whole truth: The company has been test-marketing a secondary brand, dropping the word “Pizza” from its logo in some cases as it expands its menu and tries to appeal to a younger, more mobile generation. Mobile as in mobile phones. As in texting.

When will executives be able to embrace technology without being so totally in awe of it that it must define everything they do? Read the rest of this entry »

Just when it seemed ‘Iron Man 2′ couldn’t get any better …

June 20th, 2009, 3:38 am by Chris "KeL" Adams

munnaschun

If there’s one thing geeks like, it’s two things geeks like combined into one, see Reese’s Peanut Butter cups and pretty much every super-hero team-up in comics. Now we’ve got another to be excited about: Nerd goddess and Attack of the Show co-host, Olivia Munn has announced on her blog that she’ll be joining the cast of 2010’s Iron Man 2.

Due to contractual obligations, it remains unclear what her role will be in the film. Regardless of the size of her spot in the movie, it will certainly give fans one more reason to impatiently await next summer.

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‘Merlin’ materializes Sunday on NBC

June 19th, 2009, 12:39 am by Jayson Peters

NUP_132937_3309

NBC picks up a hit BBC drama series when it debuts Merlin on Sunday. The series, which has earned a second season in the U.K., has been compared to Smallville for the way it took an established mythology and turned it on its head.

In the series premiere, the character of Merlin is a far cry from the wizard of legend:

With a letter from his mother revealing his innate ability to practice magic, Merlin (Colin Morgan) arrives in the city of Camelot to find Gaius (Richard Wilson), the Court Physician. Gaius takes Merlin under his wing to keep him out of trouble. Eager to discover his new surroundings, Merlin sets out to see the sites of Camelot and meets Arthur (Bradley James), a young bully who challenges him to a duel. After being thrown in jail for standing up to Arthur, Merlin attracts the attention of others in Camelot, including Gwen (Angel Coulby), Morgana’s (Katie McGrath) young maid, and most importantly King Uther Pendragon (Anthony Head, Buffy the Vampire Slayer), who will forever change the course of Merlin’s destiny.

See also:

‘Terminator’ foe goes metal in ‘Smallville’

June 18th, 2009, 10:40 pm by Jayson Peters

Enter Metallo.scc_20-brian-silver_1474_ly

Smallville, AKA the show that just won’t die, has picked up Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles refugee Brian Austin Green.

When the Superman prequel’s ninth season begins this fall, the former Beverly Hills 90210 star will play a kryptonite-powered cyborg from the DC Comics universe, according to TV Guide.

See also:

‘Smallville,’ ‘Supernatural,’ ‘Vampire Diaries’ dated

June 17th, 2009, 5:44 pm by Jayson Peters

The CW announced today that the new series The Vampire Diaries will debut Thursday, Sept. 10, followed by the season premiere of Supernatural.

Based on the best-selling book series from Alloy Entertainment, The Vampire Diaries focuses on the battle between two bloodsucking brothers — one good, one evil — who compete for the love of the same young woman.

Smallville, which had traditionally preceded Supernatural on Thursdays, will now air on Fridays, starting Sept. 25. The adventures of a young Clark Kent and Lois Lane will be followed by reruns of America’s Next Top Model.

Oh, and Melrose Place, the successor to the ’90s primetime soap of the same name, joins 90210 on Tuesdays, starting Sept. 8.

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Guess ‘Who’s’ coming to Comic-Con?

June 17th, 2009, 10:49 am by Jayson Peters

Via Outpost Gallifrey:

doctor whoJust announced: Special guests at this year’s San Diego Comic-Con include new Doctor Who series creator Russell T. Davies and the show’s lead actor, David Tennant (pictured). They will join former executive producer Julie Gardner and director Euros Lyn on a special panel on Saturday, 26 July, 10:00 am - 11:00 am.

Doctor Who spinoff Torchwood is also returning to Comic-Con, with star John Barrowman appearing on a panel also featuring Davies, Gardner and Lyn. Sharing space at that panel will be the new BBC America series, Being Human. Creator and writer Toby Whithouse plus lead actors Russell Tovey, Lenora Crichlow and Aidan Turner, talk about the inspiration for the show and what it’s like to play three twenty-somethings with secret double-lives – as a werewolf, a vampire and a ghost.

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‘Fringe,’ ‘Dollhouse’ premieres dated

June 15th, 2009, 2:35 pm by Jayson Peters

fringedoll

Fox announced today that Fringe will premiere Thursday, Sept. 17. Dollhouse will premiere the following night, Friday, Sept. 18.

Also noteworthy: Sunday, Sept. 27 will mark the season premiere of The Simpsons, followed by the series premiere of The Cleveland Show and the season premieres of Family Guy and American Dad.

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