Top 5 Movies/TV Shows about Fanboys-Erin

1) Spaced: From the very beginning the characters in this British TV show quote Star Wars and re-enact scenes from their favorite movies. It blends so seamlessly into the plot that sometimes you don’t even realize they’re references. One of the special features is an “homage-o-meter” that displays at the bottom of the screen what movie/tv show the scene is a reference to.

2) Fanboys: In 1999, a group of friends decide to drive from Ohio to Skywalker Ranch in California to steal a copy of Star Wars: The Phantom Menace 6 months before it hits theaters.

3) The Big Bang Theory: Sheldon wears superhero T-shirts in nearly every episode, they have a comic book night, and Wil Wheaton (Star Trek: TNG), Summer Glau (Firefly, The Sarah Conner Chronicles, Dollhouse), and have Katee Sackhoff (Battlestar Gallactica) been guests stars—making all the boys giddy.

4) Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back: The name says it all! Kevin Smith is a huge fanboy himself, and someday Silent Bob will successfully move something with his mind.

5) Futurama: Nearly every episode features a Star Trek reference, Leonard Nemoy was in the pilot, and George Takei has been in 2 episodes. The cast of The Original Series guest-starred together in a tribute episode titled “Where No Fan Has Gone Before”.

Top 5 Efforts to save a TV Show

Futurama: Nearly 11 years after it’s first episode aired, Futurama returns to the air waves. The original airing included 5 seasons (72 episodes total—what a normal show would do in 3-4 seasons). What resurrected the series was great dvd sales and 4 straight to dvd movies that sold in the millions, convincing Fox (who still owns the rights to the show) to commission a new 26 episode season. Luckily, cartoon characters age well.

Chuck: Fans purchased footlong sandwiches from product-placement sponsor Subway and wrote letters to NBC to get Chuck into a third season. Fan’s vigor got them into a fourth season as well.

Firefly: I still say that mishandling is the reason this show was cancelled after one season, and I think fans agree. Record dvd sales convinced Fox (hmm, I’m noticing a pattern here) to let Joss Whedon make the movie Serenity, which gave some closure for the Firefly characters. More details that would have been flushed out in episodes are coming out in comic form because the fanbase is so strong.

FlashForward: Fans staged a 2 minutes, 17 second “blackout” to protest the cancellation of the show outside ABC offices in the US, Canada, and the UK, as well as sending 20,000 friendship bracelets to executives. Unfortunately, the show wasn’t renewed.

The Sarah Connor Chronicles: After two season, Fox (Fox again) canceled the show. Fans rented movable billboards and created the “Save Cameron” campaign. Shockingly, (eh hem, sarcasm) Fox ignored their pleas

Haven promo gives us a glimpse of new Stephen King on TV

By Scott Edelman at Sci Fi Wire

Syfy aired its first promo last night for Haven, the new series based on Stephen King’s novella The Colorado Kid, and just in case you missed it—here it is!

The series premieres Friday, July 9, at 10 p.m on SyFy

Read More here

NBC’s new series The Event is the feral love child of 24 and Lost

By Meredith Woerner at io9

Even though we highly doubt there will be another Lost-type TV show for some time, NBC’s certainly angling its new series, The Event that way — with a 24 twist.

The Event, which will be on Mondays at 9 PM, has a pretty bare-bones synopsis:

When an average guy stumbles upon a secret so powerful it could change the course of humanity, and a cover-up so big that the President is on a need-to-know basis, answers can only lead to bigger questions.

See More Clips and Read More here

Is the UK capable of truly great sci-fi television? Yeah, but, no, but..

by Martyn Drake

The only exception to this is Doctor Who, and this is being held back by the BBC themselves. They’ve already buggered about with their own policies on marketing (spending a fortune marketing the show in the cinema and TV and using 3D to boot, consequently giving the show itself a tighter budget to work with).

Primeval (ITV) is a dire, tired and useless show where the special effects are not (and feature some of the worst visual effects I’ve seen in a TV show since the BBC decided to give the The Wrong Door a go) and I’m surprised that people like this enough for ITV and it’s advertisers to fund more nonsense. Being Human is promising, but I still rate Neil Gorton’s (Doctor Who, make-up effects to be dire and a mere shadow on the stuff that Rick Baker did back in the 80’s with American Werewolf.

If anybody remembers Space Precinct will recall that we tried the American approach and it failed miserably. The visual effects were fantastic, the creature effects were dodgy, the writing appalling and the acting dismal. Whether we’d truly be able to take an American/Canadian approach to producing good quality sci-fi these days remains to be seen (also bear in mind that our seasons are usually 6-12 episodes and the US/Canada around 22 episodes).

Read More here

Is ‘Slingers’ the Best Sci-fi Show Not Yet on Television?

by Neil Miller at Film School Rejects

Here’s how their official site describes this stylish sci-fi show: “Slingers is anything but just another science fiction show. Think the action of Bullitt, the sophistication of Ocean’s 11 and the humour of M*A*S*H all wrapped in a futuristic package and you have an idea of the potential of Slingers.”

“Slingers is set in the year 2263 A.D., following mankind’s first interplanetary war. Humanity is now clustered into a finite, but still vast section of the universe known as Enclosed Space. Humanity won the war with an aggressive alien enemy, but at a cost. The way back to Earth is now cut off by an impassable barrier – a side effect of the blast that finally pushed the enemy back.”

Read More here

Top 10 Sci-fi Shows

by Blair Marnell at Crave Online

With the recent culmination of “Lost,” some have proclaimed that series to be one of the best sci-fi shows of all time. While we’re all big fans of “Lost,” I have to take issue with classifying it as “sci-fi.”

The term “science fiction” has become wildly overused to include several shows that feature supernatural or adventure elements that aren’t that far away from traditional genre television. For the purposes of this list, we’re exploring ten of the best sci-fi TV series that explored the concepts of space travel and aliens on other worlds.

10. Stargate SG-1: A lot of people tend to forget that the original “Stargate” movie wasn’t really that good. It was a forgettable mix of “Star Wars” and “Indiana Jones” that failed to catch on with the public… until it was adapted into a TV series three years later. Over the course of ten seasons, two spinoff series and two direct-to-DVD movies, “Stargate SG-1″ has become the longest running American sci-fi TV series of all time. And while “Stargate SG-1″ was sometimes criticized for its light tone and occasional mystical overtones, the series  fulfilled the promise of adventure and sci-fi that the original film failed to live up to.

Read More here

I love SG-1, but I love the movie too. I think that’s a pretty good list, there’s only one show I’d never heard of, but I watched a lot of the rest. I was a little irritated at the article about the UK sci fi shows, because they have great ones, but it is true about their budgets (which sucks).

What do you think of the new show previews?

FIREFLY AND SERENITYFANS GET A SHINY NEW BOOK

Source: C. Robert Cargill at film.com

One of my favorite parts of travelling to Minnesota for sci-fi/fantasy/comic book conventions is a room run by the Minnesota Browncoats, a group of diehard Firefly fans who decorate hotel rooms into spot-on replicas of the Serenity galley. They have a beautiful fiddle player who, dressed as a member of the crew, plays the many songs from the Firefly canon as the rest of the crew hands out leaflets with lyrics and leads the visitors in song. It’s a fantastic experience that captures and illustrates both the magic of Firefly and the love present in its fandom. For them, and those of you now wishing you could experience things like the browncoats’ galley for yourself, there is a new book: Firefly: Still Flying.

Firefly: Still Flying is a collection of essays, production art, biographies, and supplemental bits of fun that manages to perfectly capture the spirit and essence of Firefly. The show, a healthy mix of adventure and comedy, had its own sense of style — and, sadly, had far too short a life on television. Getting new bits, even fragments, of that magic is really something special — which is why I am so fond of this book.

READ MORE HERE

June Books: Airships, smart bombs, and a rampaging Kraken!

Source: io9.com

June brings speculative fiction for every taste. Priest returns to the world of Boneshaker, and Miéville offers up a giant-squid epic. And whet your scifi appetite with some adventurous new short stories.

Clementine, Cherie Priest (Subterranean Press)

Cherie Priest returns to the steampunk world of her Hugo-nominated Boneshaker with this new novel about two dangerous, notorious, and thoroughly American characters. Mara Isabella Boyd, a former actress and Confederate spy turned Pinkerton detective, is charged with seeing the airship Clementine deliver its cargo safely, but former slave/current sky-pirate Croggon Hainey wants his property back. But there’s bigger game afoot, and the two quickly find themselves on the same side. Shady postbellum types have been an American trope since Jesse James, but it should be a blast to see what the ultra-sharp Priest does with it.

READ MORE HERE

Are you a Firefly’verse fan? What do you think of the books? What book are you looking forward to this Summer?

Join us in the forum to discuss!

FIREFLY TAKES FLIGHT AGAIN WITH ‘BROWNCOATS: REDEMPTION’

Source: www.wired.com

Sadly, Joss Whedon’s stellar sci-fi western Firefly remains grounded for now. But Trekkie-like die-hard fans called Browncoats are nevertheless taking flight with their own film Browncoats: Redemption. It hits the convention circuit starting with New England’s Granite-Con on May 23.

“Browncoats: Redemption was made by the fans for the fans,” director Michael Dougherty explained to Wired.com by e-mail. “But we view this as an independent film; we had Firefly fans travel from all over the U.S. to volunteer their time as extras and other supportive roles in its production. Without them, this film would not exist, and it will only be successful with their continued help and support.”

Browncoats picks up the story on Miranda, three months after the events of Whedon’s film Serenity, with fans volunteering as cast and crew. It’s not a documentary of Firefly, but meant to be a sci-fi feature on its own based on the world Whedon created.

READ MORE HERE

It’s kind of cool when fandom get together and pay tribute to a beloved TV show like this. What do you think? Good idea? Bad idea? Would you rather see ‘Firefly’ left as was? Would you see this movie?

Join us in the forum to discuss!

FIREFLY’S ORIGINAL WRITERS REVEAL WHAT HAPPENS NEXT

Source: Scifiwire.com

It’s been seven years since original episodes of Firefly last aired on television and half a decade since the feature film Serenity premiered. Yet fans of the space western show, known as Browncoats, are still thick on the ground and ready for any new tidbits about the show.

The new scrapbook/anthology Firefly: Still Flying will be sure to please the hardcore fan simply because hardcore fans are fairly easy to please. (Complaining about the “Worst. Episode. EVER.” is just as much part of the fun as anything else, after all!)

For more casual viewers of the show, Still Flying is worth a skim for the original fiction, but not for much else.

READ MORE HERE

SAY GOODBYE TO SMALLVILLE- NEXT SEASON WILL BE IT’S LAST

Source: io9.com

Tom Welling confirms it: the CW’s putting the kibosh on Smallville after its 10th season. Will Clark finally fly and don his trademark blue-and-red speed-suit?

READ MORE HERE

‘Vampire Diaries’ Star Sara Canning Plays Nina Dobrev’s Aunt, But Feels Like Her Sister

Source: hollywoodcrush.mtv.com

Sara told MTV News that while she plays Elena’s much older guardian on the show, in real life the two girls are only a little more than a year apart. In other words, they’re practically the same age!

“It’s a really funny dynamic you know?” said Sara. “It’s an interesting challenge and stuff.”

We can imagine! While acting 10 years older than her actual age might not come so naturally to Sara, she certainly doesn’t need to rehearse being good friends and roomies with Nina (the two were sharing an apartment the last time we checked!).

READ MORE HERE

TRUE BLOOD SEASON 3: MAJOR NEWS ABOUT THE FIRST 3 EPISODES!

Source: hollywoodcrush.mtv.com

If you had any doubt that “True Blood” is just around the corner — and I’m not sure why you would, given the deluge of preview photos and footage circulating over the last several weeks — then doubt no more: the first three episodes have been revealed!

Well, not exactly. See, HBO has released the descriptions for the first three episodes. It’s not quite the real thing, but based on what we’ve already seen and heard about the third season of “True Blood,” we can gather quite a bit of information from these synopses.

After the jump, take a look at our predictions based on the descriptions!

READ MORE HERE

A Fond Farewell To Cancelled TV Series 2010

Source: film.com

Law & Order may be down — but don’t count it out just yet. After getting shut down by NBC, the veteran series might get a second life in cable, with producers looking at Turner to pick it up for at least one more season. Not to worry — the L&O franchise lives on, and they’ll release one more version for NBC this fall: Law & Order: LA.

But there’s no hope for others during cancellation season. As the networks gear up for fall, let’s bid a fond farewell to these old favorites:

24: With escalating show costs and diminishing audiences, the clock finally stops ticking for Jack Bauer. No need to mourn – Jack’s expected to pop up on the big screen. Unless Jack’s final day ends badly.

READ MORE HERE

I never really got in to ‘Firefly’ I know a lot of people I know stated that it was a show that grew on you – it never grew on me; until I saw ‘Serenity’. Which is funny, because Serenity isn’t exactly my type of movie, either. I’ll blame my sudden obsession with Stargate that endeared me to Serenity and Firefly verse. Anyway – that’s my longwinded way of saying I think it’s cool they are continuing the Firfly verse. I took a big breath of relief to hear that Smallville is coming to an end. I did love the show, but, enough is enough.

What did youthink of today’s tv news? Are you excited for True Blood season 3? What shows are you sad to see are cancelled?

Join us in the forum to discuss!

Supernatural: A Look Ahead to Episodes 16 and 17

by Debi Moore at Dread Central

We know what rabid fans the show has and how they are always looking ahead to what’s in store for them during the rest of the season. So today we have a look at some photos from Episode 16, “Dark Side of the Moon”, along with brief synopses of both that ep and #17, “99 Problems”.

If you’re thinking “Dark Side of the Moon” sounds like an ominous title, you’d be right since it’s an episode in which both Winchester brothers meet their demise: Ambushed by angry hunters, Sam and Dean are shot and killed and sent to Heaven. Castiel warns Dean that Zachariah is looking for them in Heaven so they need to lay low while searching for an angel named Joshua (guest star Roger Aaron Brown), who can help them since he talks directly to God. While searching for Joshua, the brothers run into some old friends and family members.

Read More here

New Promo Poster For ‘True Blood’ Season Three on HBO

via Icon vs Icon

HBO has released the first official teaser one-sheet for its third season of the hit vampire series, True Blood. The new season is set to debut on Sunday, June 13th!

The return to Bon Temps promises more love, action and …werewolves

More Details here

‘Vampire Diaries’: Dial up Stefan and Damon

By Korbi Ghosh at Zap2it

1-919-399-2507

Did you get that?

At the end of Thursday night’s “Vampire Diaries” episode, Elena dialed the phone number above, and yes, kids, it’s a working line.

If you call it up — as we just did four or five times in a row — you’ll hear [a] message left by Stefan (Paul Wesley) and Damon (Ian Somerhalder)…

Read the message here

Interview With a Vampire…Diaries Star, Katerina Graham

Tierney Bricker at The Post Pioneer

Move over, Sabrina, because there is a new teen witch taking over the small screen — just heavy on the power and minus a talking cat (thankfully.)

20-year-old Katerina Graham masterfully plays said witch, Bonnie Bennett, on The CW’s hit show “The Vampire Diaries.” While viewers initially tuned in to get their daily requirement of vampires, they stuck around for the smart storytelling and complex characters; None more so than Bonnie as a young woman discovering and embracing her power. Graham proves that a witch can totally hang in a vamp’s world. Currently filming the final stretch of episodes in Atlanta, Georgia, Graham took some time to give us an exclusive interview:

Were you surprised when “The Vampire Diaries” became so successful so quickly?

I was very happy and always had a lot of faith in the show.

Read More here

Futurama, I Love You, and a To-Do List

by Yvette at Inner Geek

Where were you on March 28, 1999? I was in my apartment, eagerly awaiting and then watching the premiere episode of Futurama. I had a feeling I would like it… but I didn’t realize how much.

After Fox cancelled Futurama (mutter mutter Fox smells of elderberries), there was uproarious fan-demand for the show to be revived—especially after Family Guy came back. …Then totally awesome news from last year’s Comic Con that it was coming back (SQUEE) and would be aired on Comedy Central.

Which brings me to…

My Futurama To-Do List

1. Dig out my 2003-ish era Moore Action Collectibles (still mint in box, of course) to display
2. Re-watch all episodes with the alien language decoder in hand

Read More here

A Spoiler Free Review Of The New SGU

Meredith Woerner at io9

Next Friday, Stargate Universe is back! And if you can’t wait a whole week, check out our spoiler-free review of the next episode. Can the series keep hitting the higher standards it set in the last episode?

Everything we’ve been asking for, plot-wise, is starting to happen. All the complaints of “You’re in space in a massive and supposedly amazing spaceship, why isn’t there more space action?” are getting a response at last.

Here is the official synopsis. Beyond that, I promise I won’t spoil anything besides what we already know… but if you don’t want to know anything at all, stop reading.

…Or Read More here

Has Your Struggle To Save Dollhouse, Sarah Connor Chronicles And Firefly Been Turned Into A Sitcom?

By Meredith Woerner at io9

Is NBC turning our torment into entertainment? Rumored sitcom Our Show pokes fun at our cancelled-show grieving process.

Here’s the premise: “a group of sci-fi fanboys in a small town shoot their own version of a canceled TV show.”

More here

That Futurama To Do list looks a lot like mine….except I’ve already watched all of the episodes and translated the alien language signs. I’ve started my “Home Sweet GoTo 10″ cross stitch, but I don’t have any action figures. And I’m not sure how I feel about the sitcom based on fanboys, but we’ll see how they do it. Maybe NBC is trying to capitalize on the success of the Big Bang Theory?

What do you think of the Supernatural pictures? Have you called the number from Vampire Diaries? What do you think of the True Blood poster?