Coming Up on the Sci Fi Channel

[Geekyfanboy]

News From SCI FI Channel Upfronts

We have some news coming out of SCI FI Channel's upfronts meeting that took place last night. Take note that there will be SPOILERS in what follows, especially the news concerning "Battlestar Galactica."

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As already reported the "Battlestar Galactica" prequel "Caprica" was picked up. And, Amanda Tapping's net series "Sanctuary" will be a definite pickup as well. We have been reporting on that one since the end of last year. Tapping was at the meeting.

The comic "Stranded" will be coming to the small screen, as will a miniseries based on the retelling of "Alice in Wonderland." The success of SCI FI's previous miniseries "The Tin Man" was the spark that ignited the idea of an "Alice" redo.

More "reality" TV will be coming to SCI FI. Joining existing skeins "Ghost Hunter" and "Destination Truth" will be a new show centering on a premise for a city wide game of tag.

Clips from "River World" were shown. Our inside source says that an executive for SCI FI told him that there is a good chance a new miniseries will be in the offing for "River World."

Our source also spoke with BSG's Ronald Moore. He tried to get him to reveal just who the last Cylon is, without success, but did say we will know halfway through this final season, which kicks on on April 4. We can expect ten episodes that will be ending with a cliffhanger. The final 12 episodes are scheduled for the fall or possibly as late as January 2009. Several main characters will meet their demise, but none need worry about flying bikes when they get to Earth. Expect Aaron Douglas' character (Chief Petty Officer Galen Tyrol) to go through some tough times and major changes.

Finally, Colin Ferguson of Eureka told our source that he hopes to reprise his podcast season three — possibly on his own website. He said he made all the podcast in season two, but was told that they were not released due to some SCI FI " bandwidth issues."

[Geekyfanboy]

SCI FI Announces Scripted Pilots

SCI FI Channel unveiled a slate of original scripted series pilots, including True Believer, developed in partnership with actress and comic-book fan Rosario Dawson, and The Stranded, the first release under the newly formed joint venture SCI FI/Virgin Comics.

True Believer is a two-hour backdoor pilot based on an original concept from Dawson, David Atchinson (Dawson's co-author on the Image Comics series Occult Crimes Task Force), Matthew Spradlin and Tom Feister. The contemporary dramedy centers on a 20-something comic book nerd who hires a washed-up real-life superhero to be his crimefighting sidekick and to teach him the ropes.

Dawson will serve as executive producer, with Atchinson and Spradlin aboard to write. Feister will consult on the project.

The Stranded is a two-hour pilot based on the SCI FI/Virgin Comics title by Mike Carey, which was released in January. In it, five seemingly everyday people must face a terrifying question: What if your entire life--your childhood, your family, your memories--was a lie? For the stranded--Sisera, Endo, Drum, Tamree and Cullen--that's true. Each of them is from another world called Standfire, and the past is returning to try to kill them.

Other pilots given the green light include Deputized, a two-hour pilot written by Joe Gazzam. The dramedy centers on an average guy who suddenly finds himself possessing special abilities after being accidentally fitted with an alien exoskeleton that cannot be removed. He is enlisted to serve on an intergalactic police force.

Alice is a six-hour miniseries from writer/director Nick Willing and executive producers Robert Halmi Sr. and Robert Halmi Jr. (Tin Man). The miniseries is a modern-day retelling of the classic story of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.

[Geekyfanboy]

SCI FI Unveils Reality Slate

SCI FI Channel announced an ambitious slate of upcoming alternative/reality programming, including a new version of its hidden-camera show Scare Tactics, featuring new host Tracy Morgan (30 Rock).

The network will also premiere extended special installments of Mind Control with Derren Brown.

The network also gave the green light to two new pilots, Estate of Panic and Brain Trust, and ordered up an investigative special called Mystery of the Crystal Skulls.

The new season of Scare Tactics is slated to return this year. It originally premiered on SCI FI in April 2003 and ran for two seasons. Show creators Scott Hallock and Kevin Healey also serve as executive producers under their Hallock & Healey Entertainment banner.

This fall, Mind Control with Derren Brown returns for an all-new second season that will kick off with a special event. Season two will consist of six one-hour episodes in which Brown demonstrates his skills of mental persuasion. Andrew O'Connor and Anthony Owen serve as executive producers for Objective Productions.

Estate of Panic comes from the producers of NBC's Fear Factor and is described as a physically and psychologically challenging competition. In the pilot, millions of dollars are hidden in a massive estate, and seven strangers are invited to find the money. During the hour, contestants will be challenged in different areas of the house to overcome the terrors that await them at every corner. Estate of Panic is executive produced by Endemol USA.

Brain Trust starts with a band of geniuses know as the Trust, who are enlisted by everyday people to help find new solutions to everyday problems. The Trust uses its members' creative and intellectual prowess to strategize and solve the problem, and the solutions are then put to the test. Brain Trust is executive-produced by Dan Taberski for Idiot Box Productions. Production is set to begin in Los Angeles later this month.

NBC News anchor Lester Holt hosts Mystery of the Crystal Skulls, which premieres May 18 at 9 p.m. ET/PT. The investigative special looks at the mythology about and search for the legendary crystal skulls: 13 quartz sculptures discovered amid ruins of Mayan and Aztec societies. Legends say that the skulls may unleash untold energy should they be brought together. The special, timed to the release of the feature film Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, is produced by NBC's Peacock Productions, in association with SCI FI.

SCI FI will exclusively air all three previous Indiana Jones movies on May 18, leading into the premiere of Mystery of the Crystal Skulls.

[Meds]

Wow Kenny so much info i don't think i can take it all in. Kepp it coming though.