Yeah, that's right! My very first audiobook is available through Audible, iTunes, and Amazon. Earlier this spring I narrated the novel No Small Bills  from award-winning, best-selling author Aaron Rosenberg, in conjunction with Crossroads Press. What do you get when a cubical office worker with the head of a duck, a hot blonde, a plumber, and an FBI agent walk into a bar? You get No Small Bills and the hilarity that ensues.  No Small Bills is a Scifi-Comedy in line with the satire and wit of Douglas Adams, and let me tell you, it is hilarious.  I can't recall how many times I just laughed when I was narrating the book.  This resulted in much rerecording. I think what made DuckBob, the main character, such an identifiable hero for me is that he is so human, so much like a regular guy, and so me. Eh, so he has the head of a duck. Who doesn't at least feel that way sometimes? After awhile, I even kind of forgot it was there. But it was integral to the story. And then there is Mary...ah, Mary... And that's all your getting. You gotta listen to the book yourself. Below is a synopsis from the Audible.com page.

DuckBob Spinowitz has a problem. It isn't the fact that he has the head of a duck - the abduction was years ago and he's learned to live with it. But now those same aliens are back, and they claim they need his help! Apparently creatures from another reality are invading the universe, and only DuckBob can reset the device that maintains the barrier between dimensions. He reluctantly agrees to help, but how can a man whose only talents are bird calls and bad jokes, and whose only work experience is punching random buttons on a computer in a standard cubicle, be expected to save the universe?

 The best news:  the story doesn't end with this book. Too Small For Tall, the sequel, is set to be released in the coming months. No word yet on whether I'll be narrating it. So if you love audiobooks and haven't read this book yet, what are you waiting for? Get it now from Audible, iTunes, or Amazon. Even if you have read the book in digital or paper format, Aaron and I would love to have you support this endeavor.  Please consider buying the book. And in advance, we thank you very, very much.

Scott Hertzog 

**No Small Bills is the hilarious new science fiction novel from award-winning, best-selling author Aaron Rosenberg, who has written books for Eureka, Star Trek, WarCraft, and many others, and is also the author of the rousing Dread Remora space-opera series for Crossroad Press.

SciFi Diner Podcast Ep. 149

Our Interview with Jane Wiedlin

(The Go-Gos and Star Trek IV)

From Shore Leave 34

The SciFi Diner Podcast

A 2012 Parsec Finalist

Please call the listener line at 1.888.508.4343,

Email us at scifidinerpodcast@gmail.com

or visit us on Twitter @scifidiner.

Facebook Fan Page.

And check out our YouTube channel.

Tonight’s Diners: Scott & Miles

Welcome to the Diner.

If you have listened to the show for sometime, we would love to have you leave feedback on iTunes. We know not all of you use iTunes, but for those that do, it helps us become more visible. If you don’t use iTunes, your feedback is still valuable. Visit our webpage at http://scifidinerpodcast.com and leave a comment on the show notes or email us at scifidinerpodcast@gmail.com We want to know what you are thinking about what we are saying and what shows you are watching.

Menu:

• Interview: Jane Wiedlin (Go Go's & Star Trek IV)
• Trivia:  Win Kate Mulgrew
• TV News: Ratings Highlights,  Fringe Trailers
• Movie News:  New Mad Max Movie
• Podio Book Review: The Heavenfield
• Special Interest: Star Wars Speeder Bike almost a reality.
• TWIST: New Star Trek Pod Cast produced by Rod Roddenberry,  Larry Nemecek releases past interviews on CD
• SciFi Five in Five:  10 Movies we should rewind.

New Trivia:

Trivia: In the context of the episodes of Warehouse 13 that aired on 2/13 and 2/20, what does it have in common with Stargate Universe? (Hint: IMDB is your friend if you don't watch Warehouse 13)

Prize: An Autographed copy of Kate Mulgrew (Captain Janeway)

You will have until September 18th to send us your answers. Please include the code word mentioned in the first 15 minutes of the show. Send your answer with your mailing address to scifidinerpodcast@gmail.com, call us at 18885084343, or DM us on Twitter at @scifidiner. Make sure you include your e-mail with all entries! Only one entry per person.   The SciFi Diner is not responsible for any injuries occurring if you secretly decide to go all shiny and dress in a browncoat and walk into your local bar.

Promos

DVD Geeks Podcast

Cyborgs a Bionic Podcast

TV News:

Ratings

MONDAY

Teen Wolf (MTV)
1.72 million viewers/0.7

As we near its season-two finale, Teen Wolf continues to show consistent strength. It broke even in ratings score this week and picked up a few viewers. We'll see if the finale gives it a boost, but even if it doesn't this show has held steady and is already on its way to a third season.

Warehouse 13 (Syfy)
1.63 million viewers/0.6

After a big dip between weeks one and two, Warehouse 13 broke even in the third week of its fourth season. It's almost half a million viewers down from where it was this time last season, but don't count this show out yet. These numbers definitely aren't weak.

Alphas (Syfy)
1.37 million viewers/0.6

Alphas picked up a tenth of a ratings point and basically broke even in viewers this week. Like Warehouse 13, it's not where it was last year, but that ratings score is definitely strong for a show with a viewership this size.

THURSDAYLost Girl (Syfy)
1.17 million viewers/0.4

Four weeks into its new Friday night timeslot, Lost Girl is doing well. Not only is it putting up higher numbers than it was for many of its recent Monday nights, but it's performing much more consistently. As we near the season-two finale, this looks like a good move by Syfy.

SUNDAY
True Blood (HBO)
4.49 million viewers/2.6

True Blood dropped a tenth of a ratings point but still ruled Sunday night. With just two episodes left (and preseason football to contend with) until it ends its year, we'll see if it can hold on to that crown for the rest of season five.

Falling Skies (TNT)
3.46 million viewers/1.3

Falling Skies broke even in ratings but picked up a few viewers, and its numbers were good enough to earn it a strong third place finish Sunday night. The season finale is next week, and as we look forward to season three we'll also be finding out if this show can pull off a big ratings finish.

MUST SEE: TWO Brand New Teaser Trailers for Season 5 of FRINGE

WOW, four teaser trailers in two days, and from my three favorite TV shows? You shouldn’t have! But thank you, TV gods, thank you! Yesterday was American Horror Story: Asylum, earlier today was Doctor Who, and now we have TWO from our beloved Fringe. And like the other two shows’ teasers, these do not disappoint. The first is for the season in general, the second is said to be for the season premiere:

http://scifimafia.com/2012/08/must-see-two-brand-new-teaser-trailers-for-season-5-of-fringe/

Movie News:

Principal Photography On MAD MAX: FURY ROAD Is Officially Underway

Production on director George Miller‘s long-awaited film, Mad Max: Fury Road began early last month, but the production company has now announced the official start of principal photography on the film, and dropped a press release that includes character names and a brief synopsis from the director.

Check it out below!

Press Release:

Principal photography began 9 July on the dystopian action adventure “Mad Max: Fury Road,” a Kennedy Miller Mitchell production written and directed by “Mad Max” creator and Academy Award(R) winner George Miller (“Happy Feet”). The film will be presented by Warner Bros. Pictures in association with Village Roadshow Pictures. It will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, and in select territories by Village Roadshow Pictures.

“Mad Max: Fury Road”–the fourth in the franchise’s history–stars Tom Hardy (“The Dark Knight Rises”) in the title role of Max Rockatansky, alongside Oscar(R) winner Charlize Theron (“Monster”, “Prometheus”) as Imperator Furiosa.

According to Miller, “Mad Max is caught up with a group of people fleeing across the Wasteland in a War Rig driven by the Imperator Furiosa. This movie is an account of the Road War which follows. It is based on the Word Burgers of the History Men and eyewitness accounts of those who survived.”

“Mad Max: Fury Road” also stars Nicholas Hoult (“X-Men: First Class”) as Nux; Hugh Keays-Byrne (“Mad Max,” “Sleeping Beauty”) as Immortan Joe; and Nathan Jones (“Conan the Barbarian”) as Rictus Erectus. Collectively known as The Wives, Zoe Kravitz (“X-Men: First Class”) plays Toast, Riley Keough (“Magic Mike”) is Capable, and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley (“Transformers: Dark of the Moon”) is Splendid. They are joined by supermodel Abbey Lee Kershaw as The Dag and Courtney Eaton as Fragile, both of whom are making their big screen debuts. Also featured in the movie are Josh Helman as Slit, Jennifer Hagan as Miss Giddy, and singer/songwriter/performer iOTA as Coma-Doof Warrior.

The cast is rounded out by well-known Australian actors John Howard, Richard Carter, supermodel Megan Gale, Angus Sampson, Joy Smithers, Gillian Jones, Melissa Jaffer and Melita Jurisic.

Miller is directing the film from a screenplay he wrote with Brendan McCarthy and Nico Lathouris. Miller also produces the film, along with longtime producing partner, Oscar(R) nominee Doug Mitchell (“Babe,” “Happy Feet”), and P.J. Voeten. Iain Smith, Graham Burke and Bruce Berman serve as executive producers.

The behind-the-scenes creative team includes Academy Award(R)-winning director of photography John Seale (“The English Patient”); action unit director and stunt coordinator Guy Norris (“Australia”); editor Margaret Sixel (“Happy Feet”); production designer Colin Gibson (“Babe”); Oscar(R)-winning costume designer Jenny Beavan (“A Room with a View”); and makeup designer Lesley Vanderwalt (“Knowing”).

Shooting on “Mad Max: Fury Road” is taking place in Africa with the support of the Australian government. Originally slated to be shot in Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia, the production was forced to relocate due to severe flooding, rendering the Australian landscape unsuitable for the film. The rain turned the area into an oasis instead of the post-apocalyptic terrain that is the setting for Max’s world.

Mad Max: Fury Road starring Tom Hardy, Charlize Theron, Nicholas Hoult, Zoe Kravitz, Riley Keough, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Abbey Lee Kershaw, Megan Gale, Hugh Keays-Byrne and Nathan Jones, currently has no official release date.

Special Interest: Video:

Company develops REAL Star Wars speeder bikes hovercraft
Video: Company develops REAL Star Wars speeder bikes hovercraft

Of all the cool tech to pop up in the Star Wars series, the speeder bikes from the epic Episode VI: Return of the Jedi chase scene are some of the coolest. They're fast, dangerous and pure hovercraft fiction. (Well, maybe not that last one for much longer.)

A California-based company called Aerofex seems to think it's figured out how to actually make a two-duct rotor hovercraft work. The design originated in the 1960s, but it was never perfected to provide actual usability for a rider.

Enter Aerofex, who added knee-level control bars to the system, and their prototype has actually worked pretty well in the first round of tests.

The only problem? The company still has a lot of testing to do, and at the moment they've capped human flights at 15 feet high and 30 mph—though the bike can apparently move about as fast as a helicopter in the right environment.

Early stages or not, Aerofex founder Mark De Roche believes the hover vehicle has the potential to be the "next big thing" in personal transportation. He said via Yahoo:

"Think of it as lowering the threshold of flight, down to the domain of ATV's (all-terrain vehicles) ... It essentially captures the translations between the two in three axis (pitch, roll and yaw), and activates the aerodynamic controls required to counter the movement -- which lines the vehicle back up with the pilot. Since [the pilot's] balancing movements are instinctive and constant, it plays out quite effortlessly to him."

So when can you get one of these bad boys and live out your Return of the Jedi fantasies? The company has drone testing scheduled through the end of 2013, so it'll be at least 2014-2015 before these could actually be available to the general public.

But it definitely looks worth the wait:

 Podiobook Review:

Heaven Field - Ian Hulme

This week in Star Trek:

Rod Roddenberry Talks Mission Log: A Roddenberry Star Trek Podcast

A brand new podcast has hit the cyber "airwaves" recently and is set to examine every single episode of Star Trek. The best part about the new show is that it's a Roddenberry Entertainment production. Mission Log, hosted by DVD Geeks' John Champion and "Mac OS Ken" Ken Ray, will start with the TOS pilot "The Cage" and run all the way through the final episode of Enterprise.

With the new episode launched last week, we got the chance to ask executive producer Rod Roddenberry a few questions about the new show.

SSC: It seems that the podcast will be a continuation of the themes explored in Trek Nation.  What else can Trek fans expect from the new show?

RR: In many respects the podcast is an extension of my journey documented in Trek Nation. I always wanted the opportunity to examine the philosophy of each Star Trek episode from the Roddenberry perspective and get to the core of what has been inspiring fans for decades. I’m excited fans will be able to explore these themes with me.

SSC: Will you be hosting the podcast?  If not, who will be, and will you be joining them from time to time?

RR: Veteran podcasters and Star Trek aficionados John Champion and Ken Ray will host the show, and I’m definitely looking forward to being a guest on the show from time to time. John and Ken will offer a balanced yet critical analysis of the underlying themes, metaphors and subtexts intertwined in each Star Trek episode. They’ll dialogue around the plot points, principles and philosophies of Star Trek and how it relates to humanity both during its original airings and today. There will be plenty of wit and humor to balance their analysis. John and Ken are very entertaining, sometimes agreeing and sometimes disagreeing, but always looking at multiple perspectives.

SSC: Can we expect any sound clips or media from the Roddenberry archives?

RR: The podcast will feature items from the Roddenberry archives. I’ve offered up some rare historic resources I found in my family’s archive, such as my father’s handwritten notes on original scripts.

SSC: What can Trek fans expect on each episode?

RR: The podcast will examine each episode of the Star Trek TV series’ starting with the series pilot, “The Cage,” and progress sequentially through the final season of Enterprise and include all animated productions and movies in between.

Be sure to check out the official website for Mission log, where you can download each episode as they're made available. You can also subscribe to the podcast via iTunes.

Larry Nemecek Presents TREKLAND: On Speaker “Future Voices, Passed”

The digital age has brought us a wealth of supplemental material about Star Trek. But no one has spent more face time with the franchise’s actors and creators than “Dr. Trek” himself, Larry Nemecek.

Now, in the first disc of “TREKLAND: On Speaker,” Larry digs into his archives for interviews with Trek luminaries who have since left us. “Future Voices, Passed” offers never-before-heard material with Michael Piller, Mark Lenard, Jerry Fleck, and Bob Justman.

We had the pleasure here at Trek.fm of working with Larry on the project, as our publisher, Christopher Jones, designed the album packaging and worked on the audio along with Ted Peterson.

Larry offered the first disc as an exclusive at Star Trek Las Vegas earlier this month. The special con edition was limited to 50 discs.

For those interested who could not make it to STLV, Larry is making some additional copies available for purchase by mail. If you’re interested in picking up these rare interviews, drop Larry a line of over on his website larrynemecek.com.

For a preview, watch the video below, which we put together for Star Trek Las Vegas.

Sci Fi 5@5:

Jen from NY

And as for my five of five rematch movies you guy's should do is, Galaxy Quest, either Star Trek 3 & or 4, & does Big Trouble in Little China count as a scifi/fantasy movie?!  I guess they have it as Action/Adventure/Comedy?!  Back to the Future or I could be their for Terminator 2!  These are some really tough choices cause they are all so good. I also just wanted to add another Five of Five movie picks, just cause it is so hard to choose from!  But here are some other Sci fi movie 5 of 5; The Fifth Element, Flash Gordon, Space balls, young Frankenstein, & Ghostbusters!

SciFi Diner Conversations 63

Listener's Weigh In On Total Recall 2012,

Zombie's Run, the Falling Skies Finale,

Our Logan's Run Review, Fall TV Series,

Nathan Lowell and More. 

The SciFi Diner Special Edition Episode

Fringe: Endings and New Beginnings - Shore Leave 34

Sunday morning at the Shore Leave 34 Convention in Baltimore, Maryland a Fringe event happened. Scott and Niel helmed a panel discussing Fringe's past season and our expectations for season 5. This is a recording of what ensued.

On this SciFi Rewind, Scott and Miles from the SciFi Diner Podcast and J.P. Harvey rewatch Logan's Run, a masterpiece in the Science Fiction, and share their favorite scenes and delve deep into the facts and stories behind it. The episode is rounded out with listener thoughts and feedback as well. In our next rewatch, we will be rewatching the iconic film Starship Troopers. Be sure to watch Starship Troopers with us and send in your thoughts by September 4th.  If you want to share your SciFi Rewind with us and have us talk about it on the show or if you want to comment on our rewinds, please e-mail us at scifirewind@gmail.com (you can attach an mp3 audio file if you want) or call us at 18885084343.

SciFi Diner Podcast Ep. 148b

Our Interview with LeVar Burton

(Star Trek: The Next Generation, The TV Mini-series Roots,

and The Reading Rainbow) 

Download the Episode here.

The SciFi Diner Podcast

A 2012 Parsec Finalist

Please call the listener line at 1.888.508.4343,

Email us at scifidinerpodcast@gmail.com

or visit us on Twitter @scifidiner.

Facebook Fan Page.

And check out our YouTube channel.

Tonight’s Diners: Scott & Miles

Welcome to the Diner.

If you have listened to the show for sometime, we would love to have you leave feedback on iTunes. We know not all of you use iTunes, but for those that do, it helps us become more visible. If you don’t use iTunes, your feedback is still valuable. Visit our webpage at http://scifidinerpodcast.com and leave a comment on the show notes or email us at scifidinerpodcast@gmail.com We want to know what you are thinking about what we are saying and what shows you are watching.

Interview: LeVar Burton

The Reading Rainbow App

From the site: Hello story lovers! Great adventures are only as far away as the nearest book! Here are two books we’ve found in the Reading Rainbow iPad App that will take you and your child off on some wonderful adventures. In What a Treasure, by Jane and Will Hillenbrand, Mole goes searching for treasure and finds the most priceless treasure of all, a new friend. And then in, Pirate Boy, written by Eve Bunting and illustrated by Julie Fortenberry, Danny wonders what would happen if he sailed away on a pirate ship, and his mother reassures him that she would find him no matter what. Great adventures are only as far away as the nearest book! Open one up and see where it takes you and your child!

Levardis Robert Martyn Burton, Jr. (born February 16, 1957), professionally known as LeVar Burton, is an American actor, director, producer, andauthor.

Burton first came to prominence portraying Kunta Kinte in the 1977 award-winning ABC television miniseries Roots, based on the novel by Alex Haley. He is also well known for his role as Lt. Commander Geordi La Forge in Star Trek: The Next Generation as well as the host of the PBS children's program Reading Rainbow.

Early life

Burton was born to American parents at the U.S. Army Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in West Germany. His mother, Erma Jean (born Christian), was a social worker, administrator, and educator. His father, Levardis Robert Martyn Burton, was a photographer for the U.S. Army Signal Corps, and at the time was stationed at Landstuhl. Burton and his two sisters were raised by his mother in Sacramento, California. Burton was raisedCatholic and, at the age of thirteen, entered St. Pius X seminary in Galt, California to become a priest. He attended Christian Brothers High School and graduated in the class of 1974. He is a graduate of University of Southern California's School of Theatre.

Roots

LeVar Burton rose to prominence in 1977 when he played Kunta Kinte in the ABC award-winning drama series Roots. Burton's audition for the role of Kinte was the first of his professional career. As a result of his performance, he was nominated for the Emmy for Best Actor in a Drama Series. Burton reprised the role of Kunta Kinte in the 1988 television film Roots: The Gift. When asked about the societal impacts of Roots, Burton is quoted as saying, "It expanded the consciousness of people. Blacks and whites began to see each other as human beings, not as stereotypes. And if you throw a pebble into the pond, you're going to get ripples. I think the only constant is change, and it's always slow. Anything that happens overnight is lacking in foundation. Roots is part of a changing trend, and it's still being played out."

Early career

Burton played a role as a visitor to Fantasy Island, was a participant in Battle of the Network Stars, a guest of the Muppet Show's televised premiere party for the release of The Muppet Movie, and a frequent guest on several game shows. In 1986, he appeared in the music video for the song "Word Up!" by the funk/R&B group Cameo.

Burton accepted an invitation to host Rebop, a multicultural series designed for young people ages 9–15, produced by WGBH for PBS.

Burton was host and executive producer of Reading Rainbow starting in 1983 for PBS. The series ran for 21 seasons, making it one of the longest running children's programs on the network. Furthermore, the series garnered several awards over its run, including a Peabody Award and twenty-six Emmy Awards, ten of which were in the "Outstanding Children's Series" category.

Star Trek: The Next Generation

In 1986, Gene Roddenberry approached him with the role of the then Lieutenant Junior Grade Geordi La Forge in the Star Trek: The Next Generation television series. La Forge is blind, but is granted "sight" through the use of a prosthetic device called a VISOR, which is worn over his eyes. La Forge is the USS Enterprise's helmsman, and as of the show's second season, its Chief Engineer. At the time, Burton was considerably better known than Patrick Stewart in the United States, due to the fame he gained from starring in Roots. The Associated Press stated that Burton's role was essentially the "new Spock."

Burton also portrayed La Forge in the subsequent feature films based on Star Trek: The Next Generation, beginning with Star Trek Generations in 1994 through 2002's Star Trek Nemesis. Burton directed the season two episode of Star Trek: Voyager titled "Dreadnought." Burton also directed and appeared in the season five episode of Star Trek: Voyager titled "Timeless" and directed several episodes of Star Trek: Enterprise.

Other appearances

On television, Burton has helped dramatize the last days of Jim Jones's suicide cult in Guyana, the life and times of Jesse Owens, and the life of the nine-year-old Booker T. Washington. He portrayed Martin Luther King, Jr. in the 2001 film Ali. He also portrayed Detroit Tiger Ron LeFlore in the television movie One in a Million, The Ron LeFlore Story.

In 1987, Burton played Dave Robinson, a journalist (sports writer), in the third season of Murder, She Wrote, episode 16 "Death Takes a Dive" starring Angela Lansbury as Jessica Fletcher.

He has also lent his voice to several animated projects including Kwame in the cartoon series Captain Planet and the Planeteers (1990–1993) andThe New Adventures of Captain Planet (1993–1996), Family Guy, Batman: The Animated Series, and Gargoyles. Burton is on the audio version ofThe Watsons Go to Birmingham: 1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis. Burton has been cast as voice actor for Black Lightning in Superman/Batman: Public Enemies DVD.

Burton appeared several times as a celebrity guest on the Dick Clark–hosted Pyramid, from 1982 until 1988. Burton also was the strongest link in the special Star Trek episode of The Weakest Link. He defeated his final opponent Robert Picardo and won $167,500 for his charity, a record for the show at that time and the largest amount won in any Celebrity Edition of the show (it was later surpassed by a $189,500 win in a "Tournament of Losers" episode).

He has made appearances in such sitcoms as Becker.

Burton is the host and executive producer of a documentary titled The Science of Peace, which was in production as of 2007. It investigates the science and technology aimed at enabling world peace, sometimes called peace science. The film explores some of the concepts of shared noetic consciousness, having been sponsored in part by theInstitute of Noetic Sciences.

He appeared in an April Fool's episode of Smosh pretending to have taken over the channel and making various edits at popular Smosh videos.

He makes occasional appearances on This Week in Tech, where he is a self-proclaimed "nerd", and also participated in the Consumer Electronics Show2010.

In 2010, he made an appearance on Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! as the ghost of himself in the episode "Greene Machine".

In February 2011, Burton made an appearance as himself on NBC's Community in the episode "Intermediate Documentary Filmmaking" and the following week on CBS's The Big Bang Theory in the episode "The Toast Derivation".

Directing

Throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, Burton directed episodes for each of the various Star Trek series then in production. He has directed more Star Trek episodes than any other former regular cast member.

Burton is on the board of directors for the Directors Guild of America.

Burton has also directed episodes of Charmed, JAG, Las Vegas, and Soul Food: The Series, as well as the miniseries Miracle's Boys and the documentary The Tiger Woods Story.

His first theatrical film direction was 2003's Blizzard for which he received a "Best of Fest" award from the Chicago International Children's Film Festival, and a Genie Award nomination for his work on the film's theme song, "Center of My Heart."

He also directed the 1999 Disney Channel Original Movie Smart House starring Katey Sagal, Kevin Kilner and Jessica Steen.

His most recent directorial project Reach for Me, in which he also played a supporting role, was released in theaters in March 2008. The film was produced by longtime producer and exec Mark Wolfe, whom Burton officially teamed with in 2010, forming Burton/Wolfe Entertainment. BWE will produce motion pictures, television, web content and more. Says Burton, "We are looking to tell stories everywhere there will be a screen, BWE will be there. That is our plan."

Personal life

Burton married make-up artist Stephanie Cozart Burton in 1992, and in 1994 they had a daughter, Michaela "Mica" Jean Burton. Burton and his wife and daughter currently live in Sherman Oaks, California. A DNA test linked Burton to the Hausa people of Nigeria.

SciFi Diner Podcast Ep. 148a

Reflections on Shore Leave 34;

Thoughts on Looper, and More

Download the Episode here.

The SciFi Diner Podcast

A 2012 Parsec Finalist

Please call the listener line at 1.888.508.4343,

Email us at scifidinerpodcast@gmail.com

or visit us on Twitter @scifidiner.

Facebook Fan Page.

And check out our YouTube channel.

Tonight’s Diners: Scott & Miles

Welcome to the Diner.

If you have listened to the show for sometime, we would love to have you leave feedback on iTunes. We know not all of you use iTunes, but for those that do, it helps us become more visible. If you don’t use iTunes, your feedback is still valuable. Visit our webpage at http://scifidinerpodcast.com and leave a comment on the show notes or email us at scifidinerpodcast@gmail.com We want to know what you are thinking about what we are saying and what shows you are watching.

Menu:

• Interview is with LeVar Burton and will be released as a separate podcast.
• Trivia:  Find out who won Kate Vernon
• TV News: Space 1999 coming back? TV ratings highlights
• Movie News:  Looper Poster & Trailer
• Book Review: Re-Deus by Crazy 8 Press
• TWIST: Trek Nation DVD debuts at Vegas Con, Michael Dorn’s kickstarter project
• SciFi Five in Five:  Top Shore Leave Moments

Trivia:

Question: In the episode of Falling Skies "The Armory": Having captured Tom and the others during the raid on the armory, John Pope gives Tom this nickname. What is it?

The Answer: Papa Smurf

Prize: A signed Kate Vernon Print

Out Winner:  Gary Green

Promos

Trek News and Views Podcast

What the Cast Podcast

TV News:

Latest sci-fi TV reboot: V's producers bringing back Space: 1999

Here comes another sci-fi remake. The folks behind ABC's V (circa 2009) are tackling a new series. Get ready for a revamped version of Space: 1999.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, ITV Studios America and HDFilms have announced plans to unveil a "re-imagining" of the sci-fi series, which will be called Space: 2099.
The original program ran for two seasons (1975—1977) and starred Martin Landau and Barbara Bain. As expected, the story took place in 1999 and followed the inhabitants of Moonbase Alpha, a space research center stationed on—you guessed it, the moon.
HDFilms president Jace Hall (who brought us the new V) claims that Space: 2099 will feature familiar themes taken from the original.
"We are indeed re-imagining the franchise and bringing something new and relevant to today's audiences," said Hall. "I feel strongly that some of the overall tones set by the original Space: 1999television show represent an exciting platform to explore possibilities."
Do you feel concerned? A lot of space-centric shows have come and gone since 1977. How will they make Space: 2099 stick out from the rest of the pack?
Will you be tuning in to Space: 2099? Or will you stick to the original?

Warehouse 13 starts strong, True Blood rules + 32 other genre shows

Movie News:  

Looper Trailer

In the futuristic action thriller Looper, time travel will be invented – but it will be illegal and only available on the black market. When the mob wants to get rid of someone, they will send their target 30 years into the past, where a “looper” – a hired gun, like Joe (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) – is waiting to mop up. Joe is getting rich and life is good… until the day the mob decides to “close the loop,” sending back Joe’s future self (Bruce Willis) for assassination. The film is written and directed by Rian Johnson and also stars Emily Blunt, Paul Dano, and Jeff Daniels.

Joss Whedon WILL be back for Avengers 2 (But wait, there's more!)

It's been three months since Joss Whedon's The Avengers hit theaters and became one of the biggest movies ever, and ever since we saw it we've been wondering if Whedon would come back to bring his particular brand of awesome to a sequel. Well, now it's official—but apparently Avengers 2 isn't the only thing we can expect from Earth's Mightiest Director.
The news came courtesy of Marvel's owner, Disney, when Walt Disney Company CEO Robert Iger announced Whedon's return during a call discussing the company's latest earnings reports on Tuesday. But Iger made it clear this is about more than just a movie. He wants to "leverage the power of the Avengers" as much as possible, and in that spirit Whedon will also be moving to the small screen to develop a TV series for Marvel.
That's right. Joss Whedon's returning to TV in the Marvel Universe.
We don't know yet what exactly this TV project will focus on, or when we'll see it, but this definitely confirms the Marvel collaboration with ABC we heard about last week. And with Guillermo del Toro still working on his own Hulk TV show, we could be set up for a very big TV push for Marvel in the coming years.
Of course, we knew already that Avengers 2 would be headed our way (with more than $1 billion at the box office for the first one, how could it not be?), but the official addition of Whedon to the second flick definitely adds a thick new layer of interest, not to mention a strong built-in audience. And after all the epic badassery Whedon brought to the first film, we can only imagine what he'll do with the second, especially with that awesome mid-credits villain setup.

Book Review:

ReDeus: Divine Tales

The gods came back.

All of them!

The change promised by the ending of the Mayan Calendar in 2012 manifested itself in an unexpected manner. Every pantheon of gods and goddess, from every belief the world over have returned … changing the world forever.

As the pantheons settle into their ancestral lands, they vie for worshippers, gaining or losing power along the way. They find the world of man a bewildering crazy quilt and each wishes to remake their lands in their own image.

Come and meet some of the inhabitants of this strangely familiar world in eleven new tales that explore what it means to worship in this new reality. But while the tales may be new, the stories are as old as time itself.

Chronicling this new tomorrow are David Galanter, Allyn Gibson, Phil Giunta, Robert Greenberger, Paul Kupperberg, William Leisner, Scott Pearson, Aaron Rosenberg, Lawrence R. Schoen, Dayton Ward, and Steven H. Wilson.

This week in Star Trek:

Trek Nation Screenings At Star Trek Las Vegas, Plus Exclusive Documentary DVD

By Captain Pyke

If there are few things in the world that live up to they hype built around them, Trek Nation has got to be one of the shinning examples. We've been writing about the the Roddenberry Productions documentary for years now and after seeing it in November of last year, it was definitely worth the wait. Now, you can check out the film twice at the biggest licensed Star Trek convention on the planet.

That's right kiddies, Rod Roddenberry and Roddenberry Productions will be screening Trek Nation at Creation Entertainment's Star Trek Las Vegas Convention... or as we loving call it... Vegas Khhaaan! August 9th & 10th at 8pm respectively, Rod will be sharing his documentary with the Trek faithful (with a Q&A session August 10th at 4:30 p.m.). If you can't make it, we'll be there live blogging the event. Otherwise, get your Andorian and or Vulcan buns down to the panel.

If that isn't enough, we've got an exclusive, Roddenberry Productions will be offering a special edition DVD release of Trek Nation with commentary from producers Rod Roddenberry & Trevor Roth. Yup, it's your first chance to get your hands on a physical copy of Trek nation... don't miss it!

You can learn more about the special Trek Nation screenings at Roddenberry.com.

Through the Fire - Life After Star Trek

by Michael Dorn

A new film created by and starring Star Trek actors

"Through The Fire" is a romantic comedy about a couple of dazzling New York urbanites who are set-up on the worst blind date ever, only to find out they have more in common than they realize. Despite their professional differences (she is an acclaimed Broadway actress and he is the theater critic who gave her a horrible review) they cannot get each other out of their minds. "Through The Fire" shows what happens in the ultimate battle between the head and the heart.

I am making this movie, along with several of my friends from Star Trek, because we want to get back to the craft of filmmaking. Our formula is simple…. great script, great actors, great crew, and great directing, equals great profitability.

We also want to show the the people who run Hollywood that "sci-fi" fans are not only interested in science fiction, but are multidimensional and a force to be reckoned with.

Directing this movie means "Freedom" for me. All I've ever wanted from the beginning is to have the artistic freedom to choose the projects that speak to me and this is my chance. Why Kickstarter? I love the Internet. It's one of the most useful tools ever invented and we are just starting to see the potential for artists to get their projects directly out to the people. Your help will make this movie a reality and everything you pledge will go straight to toward that goal.

Like Worf, the character I have played for so many years, I have always had a strong "logical/rebellious" or "Logibellious" streak in me. From an early age people have told me what I can and can't do. It was nothing malicious, but my logical mind would look around and see examples of other individuals doing exactly what I was told couldn't be done. I had to ask my favorite question... "Why?"

My favorite answer is "Why not?" Without exception, this has led to great success.

From the film "Field of Dreams," "If you build it, they will come." Together, let's make this dream a reality.

Sci Fi 5@5: Top 5 moments at Shoreleave

In this listener feedback show, Listener's Weigh In On Dark Knight Rises, Alphas, Warehouse 13, the Art of the Celebrity Interview, Future Trailers, and More.

SciFi Diner Podcast Ep. 147

Our Interview with Mur Lafferty

(Playing For Keeps, Nanovor: Hacked!,

Marco and the Red Granny, and The Afterlife Series)

Please call the listener line at 1.888.508.4343,

Email us at scifidinerpodcast@gmail.com

or visit us on Twitter @scifidiner.

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And check out our YouTube channel.

Tonight’s Diners: Scott & Miles

Welcome to the Diner.

If you have listened to the show for sometime, we would love to have you leave feedback on iTunes. We know not all of you use iTunes, but for those that do, it helps us become more visible. If you don’t use iTunes, your feedback is still valuable. Visit our webpage at http://scifidinerpodcast.com and leave a comment on the show notes or email us at scifidinerpodcast@gmail.com We want to know what you are thinking about what we are saying and what shows you are watching.

Interview: Mur Lafferty

2012 John W. Campbell nominee Mur Lafferty is a writer, podcast producer, editor, gamer, geek, and martial artist. She also makes a mean martini. Her books include Playing For Keeps, Nanovor: Hacked!, Marco and the Red Granny, and The Afterlife Series. Her podcasts are many. Currently she is the editor of Escape Pod magazine, the host of I Should Be Writing, and the host of the Angry Robot Books Podcast. She also does a show with her daughter, Mad Science with Princess Scientist. She writes a column for the gaming magazine The Escapist, and in the past she's written for Knights of the Dinner Table, Games Quarterly, Suicide Girls, and Anime Insider.

She runs, practices kung fu (Northern Shaolin five animals style), plays Skyrim, hangs out with her fabulous geeky husband and her nine year old daughter.