Jarett Wieselman at the New York Post: Save ‘Eastwick’ campaign launches

Damn it, just when I thought my fall TV trackrecord was going to remain unmarred by cancellation (“Glee,” “Flash Forward,” “Vampire Diaries,” “Modern Family” and “Cougar Town”) ABC had to go and pull the rug out from under me by snuffing out “Eastwick!”

Adding insult to injury, the campy witch dramedy was also one of my favorite fall offerings thanks to its killer combination of snappy dialogue, sexual hijinks, progressing powers and Sara Rue!

Thankfully I’m not alone and a Save Eastwick petition has already been started!

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via David Bauder at Associated Press: ‘V’ caps a strong development season for ABC

The strong premiere of ABC’s science fiction series “V” caps an unusually strong development season for the network.

Opening week of the Earth-invaders series was seen by 14.3 million viewers, the Nielsen Co. said. That was the second-best new series debut for the season behind the CBS spinoff “NCIS: Los Angeles,” and it was the most-watched scripted show of the week among the youthful demographic ABC covets.

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from John Pavlus at Sci Fi Wire: 4 reasons why V’s motherships don’t make sense

So ABC’s V is here (episode two airs tonight), reminding us for the zillionth time that gigantic, mile(s)-wide flying saucers are THE conveyance of choice for any kind of alien visitors. (See: District 9, Independence Day, the original V, Alien Nation, Close Encounters…)

The trouble is, aside from providing an excuse for awesome “reveal” shots where the giant ship blots out the sun, it’s actually a completely nonsensical way for extraterrestrials to make an entrance. Here are four reasons why huge-ass space discs would be a dumb idea in the real world…

See the list here

via Sci Fi Wire: Star Trek’s Roddenberry finally honored by TV Hall of Fame

It seems that in television, honor—like revenge—is a dish best served cold. Thus it is that the TV Academy Hall of Fame has decided to induct Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry into its pantheon, 18 years after his death and long after he had much to do with the franchise he created.

Roddenberry is only one of several TV legends to receive the belated honor, including the comedy duo Tom and Dick Smothers, Murphy Brown star Candice Bergen, Saturday Night Live and game show announcer Don Pardo, The Price Is Right creator Bob Stewart and Emmy-award winning art director Charles Lisanby.

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from Wired: Scott Brown on Why America Is Finally Ready for Doctor Who

There are nerds. And there are science fiction nerds. And then there are American fans of Doctor Who — those who dare to combine the exquisite dweebery of Anglophilia with the delicious dorkdom of old-skool SF. I’m of that last tribe, a real Who-head. I can tell you what Tardis stands for (Time and Relative Dimensions in Space), and, more important, I can say “Tardis” over and over again — not just with a straight face but with reverence. Bargain-basement BBC production values? Alien monsters made from trash cans and toilet plungers? Anachronous kibitzing with Shakespeare and Dickens? That’s my flavor, mate. It’s the sort of thing that’s hard to find on this side of the pond (especially now that Syfy has foolishly ceded new Who episodes and specials to BBC America).

Before you brand me a Benedork Arnold, let me explain: There’s a fix I just don’t get from mainstream American science fiction, perhaps because of its grinding obsession with the imperialistic (and its depressive sibling, the dystopic), not to mention its wearisome push for ever-shinier effects. Like its not-so-distant cousin American religion, American sci-fi is fixated on final battles, ultimate judgment (particularly on questions of control and leadership), and an up-or-down vote on the whole good/evil issue.

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I never really thought about the differences between American and British Sci Fi, but there’s a difference between American and British comedy, so I’m not sure how I missed that. I love British comedy, so maybe I should give Doctor Who a chance. I’m glad to see Gene Roddenberry finally honored, because he revolutionized television, not just sci fi television. And I’m not sure how the campaign to save Eastwick will go; it didn’t work for Futurama, or Firefly, and it doesn’t seem to be working for The Sarah Conner Chronicles. But maybe that has more to do with the ignorance of the networks and how they handle and advertise the shows than the quality of the shows and the dedication of the fans (I’m talking to you Fox!)

Will you sign the petition to save Eastwick? What do you think of V? Do you think Doctor Who should start airing in the US?

1st Photos from Supernatural: The Real Ghostbusters

It’s a Supernatural convention come November 12 when the CW airs “The Real Ghostbusters,” the title of Supernatural’s ninth episode in the fifth season. Jim Conway directed the episode with teleplay by Eric Kripke and story by Nancy Weiner. For you fans of the show, we’ve got your first look via the photos below! (Is it us, or is this show getting stranger and stranger…?)

Synopsis: Super fan Becky (guest star Emily Perkins) uses Chuck’s (guest star Chuck Benedict) phone to trick Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean (Jensen Ackles) into attending a Supernatural fan convention, complete with fans dressed up as Sam and Dean. One of the activities is a live action role playing game, but things quickly turn sour after a real ghost appears on the scene.

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6 reasons fans of the old V should watch the new one

The cast of ABC’s newly rebooted V say you won’t be disappointed by the new version, which debuts tomorrow night at 8 p.m. ET/PT. (In fact, one character sarcastically refers to the ID4 theft in an aside.)

No one’s saying at this point whether we will see lizard faces, guinea-pig snacks or alien newborns. But the cast members—Elizabeth Mitchell, Joel Gretsch, Morena Baccarin and Scott Wolf—offered up reasons that fans of the original will love the new version.

“Well, nobody’s given birth to alien babies,” Baccarin, who plays Anna, said in an exclusive interview on V’s set in Vancouver, Canada, last week. “You know, let’s hope we run for four seasons, and we can do all of those things. I think that, again, they don’t want to ignore all those things, because those are special and interesting things that you can play with given this premise, but I don’t really know what the plans are for those things yet.”

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The “Doctor Who” Specials Being Shown On BBC America

New York, NY (CNS) – Television’s longest running science fiction series, “Doctor Who” starts its newest season next year, but before that happens BBC AMERICA will be showing a series of specials about the iconic sci-fi series. The first of these shows will be on Saturday, December 19th at 9pm ET/PT.

The special entitled “Doctor Who: The Waters of Mars” is airing on BBC AMERICA on Saturday, December 19th at 9pm ET/PT and stars David Tennant as the man himself accompanied by Lindsay Duncan as Adelaide as they face terror on the Red Planet. “Planet of the Dead” was the first to air last July on BBC America.

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Which Characters Will Die On “The Vampire Diaries”?

Last week, The CW shocked viewers when they killed off one of the primary characters in their new hit “The Vampire Diaries”. Actress Kayle Ewell, who plays (or played) Vicki on the show, was killed off on the Halloween special. Even more shocking? The good vampire, Stefan, is the one responsible for her death. According to exec producer, Kevin Williamson, fans need to get used to these types of events. “Everyone’s going to die on this show. This is a show where characters you love may die, and it’ll be unexpected and shocking, so get ready for it. It’s as simple as that. And Vicki was the first casualty”, he stated. Perhaps this is why viewers have fallen in love with the series so quickly. We never know what to expect!

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V is looking really good. Are you interested in checking it out?

Vicki’s death on Vampire Diaries was shocking. But I guess it’s just the beginning. Who do you think will die next?