I started posting on this site on July 18th of 2006. Four hundred and forty-five (445!) posts later, I am still here! So, it's a very bittersweet feeling to say goodbye to something that has been a part of my life for so many years.
Looking back through my posts has been an interesting trip. There were a large percentage of posts on "Supernatural" and "Battlestar Galactica", which makes a lot of sense as they were among my favorite shows over the past 4 years. But, there were also posts on 'Pushing Daisies", "The 4400" and "Doctor Who". You can almost document my change in opinion on "Heroes" from fanboy-ish support to abject disgust.
But, the posts that I am most proud of transcend Sci-Fi. Posts like "Sci-Fi is Dying - Because of Athiesm?" and "Golden Compass Deemed Extremely Dark and Dangerous" pointed out the connection between the Sci-Fi we watch and the real world of religion and religious opinion.
I learned much during my time, too. As I wrote "Expectations", I realized that my enjoyment of a show was heavily dependent on how good I thought the show was going to be. I ended up enjoying "The Middleman" so much more because my expectations going in were so low.
I really enjoyed my time contributing to this blog. I want to offer a heartfelt thanks to everyone who read and commented over the years.
However, this is not the end! Sci-Fi Fodder is shutting down, but Mac has graciously decided to renovate TV Fodder and re-open it for discussion and posting on all things involving TV, News and Pop Culture. I know I will be involved. I hope everyone will check out the new site in September!
If you don't know what I am talking about, here's the Cliff Notes. Comedian Rachel Bloom created a parody song called "F*** Me Ray Bradbury" (this link works, so don't click it at work). The video shows Ms. Bloom turning down a date to read a book...and exhorts Mr. Bradbury to do what her date wanted to do. Wired describes the video as "... Melding bouncy power pop with a string of sexual scenarios involving the aging sci-fi writer and his books, the video shows Rachel Bloom envisioning some pretty explicit escapades." Translated, I think that means the tune is catchy and she is kinda hot - but that's just me talking.
Dennis Rayburn doesn't approve of this video. He has several objections to the video, which he says "goes over the line". He says:
He does note that the song "...has a pleasant tune". I agree - it's still humming in my head.
If Mr. Rayburn had just said that he didn't like the video, I wouldn't be posting. However, I can't buy his reasoning for critcizing this young woman's work. First off, I laughed - she actually *licks* a Bradbury signature in a book. That's funny stuff! And, last I checked, the Avenue Q song is really pretty accurate - the internet has an awful lot of porn on it these days.
No, most of his dislike seems to come from some sort of deference to Bradbury's feelings. Now, I wouldn't want to deliberately anger Bradbury - I consider him one of the greatest Sci-Fi writers of all time (almost up to Heinlein!). However, Bradbury is known as a bit of a Luddite, refusing to let Yahoo put his books on "electronic reading devices" and he has a long standing hatred of "the internets". That stance is part of why I enjoyed the song. Spoofing a torrid love affair with a crotchedy, old, technology-hating writer ON THE INTERNET is pure genius.
So, sure, the song has some NSFW language and is a bit sexed-up. Rachel Bloom accomplished her goal (and made me laugh). I think it is a success.
]]>A biography of Robert Heinlein will be available from Tor Books next week. I haven't read many biographies over the past few years, but Heinein's is a no-brainer. For my money, he's the greatest Science Fiction writer of all time. "Space Cadet" was my first introduction to science fiction novels. I've read "Stranger in a Strange Land" and "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress" three times each, and I've been considering picking up "Time Enough for Love" again (I need some Lazarus Long wisdom, with the end of this site drawing near).
I have also read "Grumbles from the Grave" (...a long, long, time ago), which is an autobiographical sketch of Heinlein, as put together by his wife (Ginny) from his own notes and writings. However, this new biography will be different, as it concentrates on the first half of Heinlein's life, rather than his writing process and correspondence. As such, it should be very interesting to read about how he developed into the Dean of Science Fiction Writers.
"Robert A. Heinlein: In Dialogue with His Century: Volume 1 (1907-1948): Learning Curve" will be released on August 17th, 2010. I will assume that there is a second volume in the works that will complete Heinlein's story, but I haven't seen it announced as of yet.
]]>According to the Wall Street Journal post, “The Legend of Korra” is will be more mature than the original show, but will still have the same sense of fun and adventure. And, it will retain the original creative team of Michael DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko.
The new version will take place seventy years after the events of the original series, after Aang's death. The series will follow the next Avatar, a young girl named Korra - who will need to learn airbending from Aang's son, Tenzin. (And, yes...they did confirm that Tenzin's mother is Katara!). I obviously am stoked to see this.
I also love the attitudes of DiMartino and Konietzko. When asked about Shyamalan's live action version of “The Last Airbender”, they simply responded:
We didn’t head up that film. We’re just happy to be back generating the original content in this mythology, which is what we do.
They have the right attitude - stay above the fray, do what you do best. And they seem to be best at creating really, really good stories. I have something new to look forward to in 2011!
]]>StarCraft II is the long-awaited sequel to Blizzard's highly successful military science fiction real-time strategy video game, StarCraft (released in 1998, and still being played). The game centers on the battle between three species: the human Terrans, the insect Zerg, and the Protoss, a species with psionic powers. This installment focuses on the Terrans, with two planned expansions packs set to focus on the Zerg ("Heart of the Swarm") and Protoss ("Legacy of the Void"). The gameplay involves building up your forces and defeating the other species, which is considerably more hectic that you would think!
There is an excellent, indepth review of the game available at WoodTV, which can be found here. It's really positive, with the reviewer noting that he thinks he expects to still be playing StarCraft II five years from now. He also predicts that "...Blizzard will sell millions of StarCraft II copies."
However, there is some controversy surrounding the release. Not with the game itself, but with the multiplayer infrastructure. Yep - I am talking about RealID.
RealID was a feature that Blizzard created for it's BattleNet multiplayer platform that allows your friends to see your real name while playing. You have to 'friend' someone for them to see your name, but once you do, they can see it whenever they are connected to BattleNet (i.e., whenever they are playing a Blizzard game).
This, in itself, is not that big a deal, although I like the idea of being able to 'hide' every so often and not participate in group activities. (Yeah, I know it's antisocial, but sometimes you just want to game alone, right?)
The real issue came when Blizzard announced that they were going to display the Real ID name when a user participated within the game forums. This created a huge outcry, with a flurry of forum posts discussing the proposed change. As an example of the potential for abuse that could happen with real names exposed, forum members posted personal information on a forum moderator, using information that was readily available on the web. That crossed a line, but it did make a point. Blizzard quickly backtracked and modified their policy, and gamers still retain a certain anonymity on the forums...for now. I think they will have to find a happy medium for commenters to be accountable for the content that they post, yet balance potential abuse via having personal information available in public forums.
None of this should affect the Sci-Fi minded gamer from checking out this game. You are not required to participate in the online community or play the game in multiplayer mode (although, most everyone does!). It really looks to be a future classic.
StarCraft II will be released concurrently on Windows and Mac OS on July 27th, 2010.
]]>"Haven" centers on FBI agent Audrey Parker (Emily Rose), "...who has a lost past, and arrives in the small town of Haven, Maine on a routine case. Before long, her natural curiosity lands her in the epicenter of activity in this curious enclave, which turns out to be a longtime refuge for people that are affected by a range of supernatural afflictions".
The show was inspired by the Stephen King novel "The Colorado Kid". Since I was unfamilar with the novel, I did a cursory search via the wiki. After reading the article, I have to say that the connection is pretty tenuous, unless I am missing something. I suspect that the connection will involve the overriding theme of an unsolvable mystery and the journey of the young agent (or reporter, as in the story). As she grows into her role, she becomes the 'keeper of the secret'. Or something like that
Early reviews are cautiously favorable, stating:
While the first episode...won’t necessarily blow you away, it certainly creates enough mystery to draw you back in for more. And if the writers do their jobs, viewers will soon get hooked to the narrative. But it will take some patience.
From the review and the premise, I suspect it will take a few episodes for the story to catch on. However, as the reviewer said, if the writers do their jobs, it should work. The creative team includes showrunner Scott Shepherd ("Tru Calling", "The Dead Zone"), and I enjoyed both of those shows, so I am also inclined to be cautiously optimistic about its chances.
"Haven" premieres Friday, July 9th at 10:00 PM EST on SyFy, immediately following "Eureka".
]]>Sure, I had some reservations, since M. Night's last few movies ("The Happening", "The Lady in the Water") were not really that good. But, I thought, he wasn't creating a new story here, so his directoral talent should make this a slam dunk, no-brainer, awesome movie - right?
Evidently not.
Roger Ebert savages the movie, saying it is "...is an agonizing experience in every category I can think of and others still waiting to be invented". Dang...that's pretty critical, even for Ebert!
The "Rotten Tomatoes" reviews are at least as bad, with only a 10% favorable rating (at the time of this posting).
Regardless of all of this negative publicity, I will still see this film. I really do love the source material. The story of Aang has a lot of depth, and I think that depth is actually what is causing some of the issues.
There is a ton of material in the first 'book' of the series. M. Night had the task to satisfy the fans of the original series with the nuances of the source material, but also make it accessible to new viewers. From the reviews, it sounds like he might have done the former, but not the latter. My kids and I will likely enjoy the movie more than someone who did not see the Nickelodeon series, just because we will 'get' the storyline. For the uninitiated, the movie will feel (as several of the "Rotten Tomatoes" reviews stated) 'disjointed' or 'choppy'.
I will be at the theater this weekend. Heck, I am obviously an Aang fanboy. Unfortunately, I fear that the whole saga of the Avatar will never be seen, since this version doesn't seem to live up to its animated counterpart.
]]>But, after I started thinking about it in more detail, it's not that bad of an idea to check out the offerings that will be coming our way. Heck, I've been pining for "The Avengers" for years now!
So, without further ado, here is the (much-abridged) list:
That's quite an extensive list. And, unfortunately, I can't say that I actually 'anticipate' many of these films.
Let's start at the top. "Super 8" will be incredibly hyped, but I don't quite get it yet. Sure, I've seen the trailer - and it is cool and intriguing. But, I think I've seen enough 'monsters break out of a government compound and cause havoc films', so there better be more to it that just a simple sci-fi monster.
In fact, there are couple of sleeper movies listed that I would absolutely see before I shelled out the cash to see "Super 8". I really think "Sucker Punch" sounds original and I am a Zack Snyder fanboy. "Cowboys & Aliens" has great source material to work from and a seriously good cast. I am more eagerly anticipating both of these films more than "Super 8".
However, my most anticipated film on this list is easily "Captain America: The First Avenger". I love Cap and have been itching to see his story for a long time. But, the fact that they *have* to get this one right in order to have an effective "Avengers" movie has had me following this film extremely closely. The same goes for "Thor", but I don't think to this degree, since Cap (IMO) is the key to the Avengers. I am not totally sold on Chris Evans as a leader (yet), but I think it might work. If it doesn't, my most anticipated list of 2012 will drop "The Avengers" out of the top spot.
]]>The cast is pretty solid, with Rhona Mitra and Victoria Pratt (I always liked her in "Mutant X") garnering most of the attention in the promos. But, as with all supernatural-themed shows, there is a danger that a good cast can be wasted by silly plotlines. And, there is always the possibility of a quick cancellation, since the show is on ABC (or as people have been calling it, 'Already Been Cancelled').
However, the reviews seem guardedly optimistic. The Seattle PI calls it (very cleverly, I might add!) 'Desperate Houseghouls" and "...a lot more inviting than ABC's DOA Happy Town."
The Chicago Tribune is even more positive, noting "..."The Gates" actually moves along at a brisk enough clip, and though it's bland around the edges, it introduces enough mysteries to keep things more or less interesting (there are allusions to a "code" residents must live by, and presumably that doesn't refer to local regulations on lawn care)."
I'm strangely drawn to the show. Rather than draw 'Desperate Houseghouls' parallel, I am hoping for something like SyFy's "Eureka", with creatures of the night replacing supergenius scientists as the foil of the 'normal' police chief. If it's anything like that, I will be a committed viewer!
"The Gates" premieres this Sunday night (June 20th) at 10:00 PM on ABC.
]]>I make no apologies - I am a huge fan of "True Blood". It's griity, dark, sexy, and the vampires don't sparkle in the sunlight. According to the wiki, "True Blood" has become HBO's most watched show since the "Sopranos". It's really that good.
"True Blood" kicks off Season 3 on HBO this Sunday night (June 13th). There will be a 15 minutes pre-show starting at 8:45 PM ET (which you can probably skip, as it sounds like it will be a long advertisement for other HBO shows). Then, the main event starts at 9:00 PM ET!
The initial episode (which is the 25th for the series), is titled "Bad Blood". Sookie (Anna Paquin) turns to Eric (Alexander Skarsgård) to help her find her love, Bill (Stephen Moyer), who was abducted just after proposing to Sookie at the end of last season. Written down, it sounds like a bad soap opera. In action, it's ridiculously cool. The TiVo has the season pass set!
]]>One of my favorite games of the past year has been "Dragon Age: Origins". The storyline effectively drew me into the dark world of the Grey Wardens, which is the organization your character joins within the game.
Now, it looks like that storyline will be getting a more detailed treatment. According to several sources, BioWare and FUNimation Entertainment will be collaborating on an anime movie adaptation of "Dragon Age".
It will be interesting to see the direction that the creative team takes with the plot. In "Dragon Age", there are several ways to begin the game. Each character is run through an 'origin story', which varies on the race and social standing that you select for your avatar when you begin the game. For example, I chose a city elf for one of my characters, and his beginnings were decidedly dark and vengeful, while the human noble origin was more epic, including an escape from a castle after your family is betrayed.
The origin that the directors choose will (or should) totally affect the tone of the movie. I am hoping that they go all-in for the at-least-PG13 version, since the game itself is rated M (i.e. suitable for 17 or older). There are some very dark themes in the game, and to explore them will make the animated movie unsuitable for kids.
The movie is planned to go direct-to-video in 2011.
]]>Michael Emerson ('Benjamin Linus') was talking to the "Attack of the Show" folks about an unaired clip that will appear on the DVD set. Here's the quote:
“For those people that want to pony up and buy the complete ‘Lost’ series, there is a bonus feature, which is, um, you could call it an epilogue. A lost scene. It’s a lot. It’s 12 or 14 minutes that opens a window onto that gap of unknown time between Hurley becoming number one and the end of the series.”
Now, I don't expect any earthshaking answers from the clip. But, we might get to see how Hurley and Ben interact while governing the island, and maybe a few of Hurley's rules for the island, which I suspect would have been quite different than Jacob's.
I am getting closer to actually wanting to buy this DVD set. I can't imagine wanting to rewatch the entire season right now, but after the TV programming wasteland know as 'Summer', I might be ready.
The "Lost: The Complete Collection" goes on sale on August 24th on both DVD and Blu-ray. Amazon has a pre-order link up here.
]]>Unfortunately, there is a noticable void of new genre programming this fall, with CBS and ABC completely skipping any Sci-Fi themed shows. There are only three new offerings that I could even remotely label Sci-Fi on the schedule ("The Event", "Undercovers" and "Nikita")!
However, all is not lost. There are several midseason shows (in particular, Spielburg's "Terra Nova"), that are 'pure' Sci-Fi, and several favorites have been renewed, including "Supernatural" and "Fringe". In addition, SyFy and HBO have interesting shows on the docket (and I'll report on those separately). The TiVo may be a bit sparce at the start of the season, but by midseason, we should have a full slate of genre programming once again.
So, without further ado, here is the Fall 2010 TV Schedule. Enjoy!
]]>I can't say that I am surprised by the news. "V" debuted stronger and has more brand value (and a much cooler logo). Morena Baccarin is very, very good in the role of Anna, and the rest of the cast works for me. "FlashForward", although it has been better since returning from the break, fails to generate enough interest for me to watch each week. I never gained a connection with the main characters, and Sonya Walger's "Olivia" actually made me want to fast forward past her scenes.
In addition to the "FlashForward" cancellation, Airlock Alpha is also speculating that "Heroes" will not be renewed. The ratings numbers have not been good, with "Chuck" (already renewed, by the way) besting it in the same timeslot. To be honest, "Heroes" has been deteriorating for some time and should be gone.
Strangely enough, I am not upset about these losses. There was a whole bunch of mediocrity on display this season. I like the idea of a 'thinning of the herd' so that a few of the new offerings this fall have room to stick.
It's time for some new Sci-Fi - and I can't wait!
]]>
That deserves a 'wahoo'!!!
Although the renewal is not official yet (NBC will release its new fall slate on May 17th), this is pretty solid news. NBC Entertainment president Angela Bromstad was quoted as saying "...It's our highest-performing Monday night show. We look at it as a very strong player, and it's a show that matches up with our new shows."
To me, that is almost a guarantee of a renewal. The network has already announced that it was picking up the new show from JJ Abrams , "Undercovers", which is about a team of married spies. The fit seems almost perfect with "Chuck", with Chuck and Sarah now living together. What else could prompt Bromstead to say '...it matches up well with our new shows'?
I'll be looking forward to more episodes. Sure, "Chuck" is light fare, but I always get a chuckle or a smile sometime during the hour. And, really, sometimes that's all you need.