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Sci-Fi News and Reviews

Networks Buy Sci-Fi for the Fall

The major US networks have just announced their upfronts for the Fall 2007 season. And, it's pretty heavily populated with Sci-Fi offerings! Here is a listing of all of the Sci-Fi themed shows, along with some comments to help you decide what to put on your 'must watch' fall list.

(Note - all of the 'Premise' lines were taken from Zap2It's excellent 2007 Networks Upfronts site. Check it out for more detailed information about these shows.)


FOX
New Amsterdam
Premise: John Amsterdam in the 17th century and served as a Dutch solider in the colony of New Amsterdam. That makes it really strange that in 2007, he's still working as a New York City homicide detective. Funny what a little immortality will do.

My Take: It's right up my alley, with a "Highlander" feel to the description. You would think John Amsterdam would be very rich by now (instead of working as a cop)...but, if they explain why he didn't put a penny in a bank account 300 years ago, we could have something here.

The Sarah Connor Chronicles
Premise: Filling in the gaps between the second and third "Terminator" films, Sarah Connor and her son John, humanity's future savior, must fight to stay alive in a dangerous world full of threats both from the present and the future.

My Take: I have mixed views on this one. On one hand, it's going to be heavily promoted, as FOX is marking this as one that it will heavily promote. And, I love Summer Glau ("Firefly") and lead character Lena Headley ("300"). On the other hand, the Sarah Connor character was my least favorite part of the "Terminator" movie franchise. It will get watched - but, I predict a typical FOX early cancellation. I should note that "The Sarah Connor Chronicles" will debut in January by design.


The CW
Reaper
Premise: Sam's parents never asked much of him, allowing him to become the best slacker he could be. It turns out, they didn't expect any future for him because they had already sold his soul to the devil, who wants Sam as his new bounty hunter.

My Take: I am interested that this is being classified as a comedy. Kevin Smith is listed among the producers, so it might be something. It will get a short look from me, so the pilot better be good!


CBS
Moonlight
Premise: A vampire for 60 years, Mick St. James works as a private investigator, dealing with the difficulties of immortality, a slew of undead adversaries and his love for a mortal woman.

My Take: "Moonlight" = "Angel" v2. However, I loved Angel and if this show is only half as good as the original, I'll be watching.


ABC
Pushing Daisies
Premise: A man discovers his touch can bring the dead back to life -- but they die again if he touches them a second time.

My Take: From everything that I am reading so far, *this* is the show to see. I hear things like "visual feast" and "fairy-tale quality" and that the show is very original. It's certainly got enough buzz to check out. Of course, this is on ABC...so, it probably means a six episode cancellation. So, don't get overly invested, even if its great.

Eli Stone
Premise: A lawyer becomes convinced he's a modern-day prophet.

My Take: It's not really Sci-Fi, but it has that quasi-religious, speculative tone that puts it as a possible Sci-Fi show. I'll have to see more before I make a judgement, but, right now, it would be a borderline watch show for me. To be honest, I only included it because Victor Garber ("Jack" on "Alias") is in the cast.


NBC
Bionic Woman
Premise: A remake of the 1970s series about a young woman who receives advanced, super-powered prosthetics after a traumatic accident.

My Take: I have high hopes for this series. Katee Sackhoff ("Battlestar Galactica") will play a previous Bionic Woman and the show is produced by another Battestar vet, David Eick. I expect that the original series will be vastly upgraded by the Eick influence. With these connections, it's a must watch.

Chuck
Premise: A tech-support worker becomes the government's newest asset when a massive spy database is embedded in his brain.

My Take: This is more in the realm of geek appeal than true Sci-Fi - but, it sounds like a repackaging of Jake 2.0 (which I really liked!). It's headed up by Josh Schwartz ("The OC") and Adam Baldwin ("Firefly") is in the cast, so I will give it a chance. And, since it's on NBC, it might have a chance to survive.

Journeyman
Premise: A newspaper reporter inexplicably begins traveling back and forth in time, changing people's lives as he does.

My Take: Hmmm...is this Quantum Leap v2 (albeit without the science)? The early buzz seems cautiously good, so it might be worth a watch. I'll give it 1-2 chances before making a decision.


Summary
This is a pretty decent slate of new programming. Nine new shows! I think "Pushing Daisies" and "Bionic Woman" look very promising...but, with the record of Sci-Fi shows on the major networks, I think we will be lucky if even two or three of these survive. Which shows do you think will make it to a second season?

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Posted by Fred on May 18, 2007 12:06 PM
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