On our menu tonight, we interview Christof Laputka from the Leviathan Chronicles.  We also discuss the future of Dollhouse and what is going on with Warehouse 13.  We also discuss the rumors about CN9.  Miles discusses Star Trek 12 and the real Enterprise.  Christof Laputka gives us his top five soundtracks in the SciFi Five in Five.

Tonight we bring you our interview with actress Chase Masterson (from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Yesterday was a Lie.) There is Star Trek Trivia on the docket for tonight and with a chance to win a DVD of the Starship Farragut Animated Episodes. We talk through a list we found on the ten most disappointing female characters in Science Fiction.  Miles talks about Star Trek Tech becoming a reality in his This Week In Star Trek segment. We wrap up the show with our top five Shore Leave 32 moments in the SciFi Five in Five.

Tonight we will be interviewing Dayton Ward and Kevin Dilmore and chatting a bit more about Shore Leave 32.  We reveal the winner of our Star Wars Trivia contest. We have some listener feedback, some news on Dr. Who and Johnny Depp, Stargate Universe goes dark. Miles brings you This Week in Star Trek with Summer Glau and Star Trek 12 News and Wayne and Dan from the Fringecasting with Wayne and Dan Podcast give you their top five Worst Ways to Die in Season Two of Fringe in the SciFi Five in Five.

Tonight we bring you our interviews with author and comic book writer Keith R.A. DeCandido and Media Relations Coordinator Mike Schilling about the Shore Leave Convention and specifically this year's Shore Leave 32.  We obviously discuss the guests of this years con: Edward James Olmos (Battlestar Galactica's Adm. William Adama; Blade Runner's Gaff), Katee Sackhoff (Battlestar Galactica's Capt. Kara "Starbuck" Thrace; 24's Dana Walsh; Bionic Woman's Sarah Corvus), Torri Higginson (Stargate SG-1 and Atlantis' Dr. Elizabeth Weir), Kevin Sorbo (Hercules: The Legendary Journeys' Hercules; Andromeda's Capt. Dylan Hunt), Catherine Hicks (ST:IV Voyage Home's Dr. Gillian Taylor; 7th Heaven's Annie Camden; Child's Play's Karen Barclay), and Dominic Keating (ST: Enterprise's Lt. Malcolm Reed; Buffy the Vampire Slayer'sHeroes' Will).  We also discuss the friendliness of the con, many of the authors that will be there, the multiple charities supported by the con, and much, much more.  You can find out more about Shore Leave by visiting their website.

Tonight we bring you our interview with author and script writer Larry Doyle from Go Mutants! We also share some listener feedback and Star Wars Trivia with the chance to win four, mind you, FOUR Smart Pop books!  We of course share our thoughts on the Stargate Universe Finale, the True Blood season 3 Premiere, Battlestar Galactica Online, the A-Team Movie, the latest news regarding the X-men Origin movie, The Hobbit Movie, Summer Glau News, and Nazis.  Miles talks about Star Trek 12 and Patrick Stewart in his This Week In Star Trek segment and then wraps up the show with his top five fight scenes in Science Fiction in the SciFi Five in Five.

Tonight on menu, we serve up The Yorker's Top Ten Scifi Movies of all time...do we agree? What SciFi can you look forward to this summer, some Star Wars Trivia, The Heroes Mini-Series, Batman, Crow, and Spider-man news, psychologists deem Darth Vader mentally ill,, George Lucas releases yet another version of Star Wars (well at least the Cantina scene), Stra Wars had it in for AT&T, Miles brings you This Week in Star Trek with Nimoy Fringe and Steve Jobs news, and  Scott and Miles give you their top five movies to watch while running on the treadmill  in the SciFi Five in Five.

Tonight on menu, we serve up an interview with Leo Roberts, founder of Temporal Studios and writer of the new Fan Series Star Trek Phoenix. Tons of listener feedback. Announce the winner of our signed Lost print. In news we discuss the Flash Forward Season and Series Finale and why some people thought it failed. The Stargate Universe Finale and what we are looking forward to. We're Abrams fans but are we ready for an Alias Reboot? Guillermo Del Toro QUITS The Hobbit: what does that mean? There's a Logan Run remake in the works, and Neuromancer is finally getting made into a movie. True Blood Season 2 is out on DVD this week. Miles brings you This Week in Star Trek and Jen from New York gives her top five SciFi finales in the SciFi Five in Five.

SciFi Diner Podcast Ep. 61 – Our Interview With LOST And Babylon 5 Actress Mira Furlan

Tonight on menu, we serve up an interview with David J. Williams, author of the Autumn Rain Trilogy. In our trivia, answers have begun to roll in to win a signed Lost giveaway.  Do you have the Geek knowledge to win it? We start off our news by talking about the Fringe, Smallville, and V Finales and share what we're hoping from in the SGU and Flash Forward Finales.  What will we be watching this summer?  We'll tell you that too! Two future shows we're looking forward to: Alphas and Speilberg's Terra Nova. Hitler kills Megan Fox. The Associated Press is Star Wars confused. And for you gamers out there: Mass Effect is being made into a movie.  The Road DVD is out and talks about the apocalypse.  Miles brings you This Week in Star Trek and Scott gives you his top five SciFi crashes in the SciFi Five in Five.

SciFi Diner Podcast Ep. 60 – Our Interview With Starship Farragut; Iron Man 2 Review.

SciFi Diner Podcast Ep. 59 – Our Interview With Science Fiction Author Richard C. White.

SciFi Diner Podcast Ep. 58 – Our Interview With Lee Arenberg from Once Upon a Time, Pirates of the Caribbean and Star Trek.

SciFi Diner Podcast Ep. 57 – Our Interview With Michael C. Dougherty, Producer & Director of Browncoats: Redemption, A Firefly Fan Film.

The SciFi Diner Podcast

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

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 web page 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!

On the menu tonight:

Tonight on the science fiction menu, we serve up a wonderful interview with the beautiful Felicia Day, and, just by answering some trivia, you can win a signed print to boot.  We discuss the Caprica Season Finale, The Guild takes the Streamys, SyFy picks up Streamy winner Steampunk Fantasy Reise, we give you Mile’s Clash of the Titans review (in 3D), we’re gonna discuss Small, what critics are calling the next 2001/Blade Runner, LOTR on Blu-Ray? True Fans are not fans. We’ll tell you why. Since this is a diner, we’ll also talk about a Star Wars AT-AT made of Bacon.  Last we chat about a dancing Storm Trooper in Paris (not because we’re a diner.)

The Interview:

We had the privileged of interviewing Miss Felicia Day, known for her work on The Guild, Dollhouse, Legend of Neil, Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along-Blog, and Buffy.  She also stars in the upcoming SyFy Fairy Tale adaptation complete with Werewolves “Red.” She talks about The Guild and The Guild Comic Booksthat are currently being published.  She also talks about what it is like being a girl gamer.

Show News:

• We are a part of the Lifestyle PodNetwork
• Fringecasting with Wayne and Dan – Fringe has to be one of the best shows out there.
• We’ll be discussing the shows we love (Flash Forward, Fringe, Caprica, SGU, V) more in-depth with the lovely Mary, the DVD Geeks Televixen next week.  Let us know if there are any shows or anything you would like us to discuss. UPDATE:  We will be talking to Mary later in May!!!
• Richard White who wrote "Echoes of Coventry" in the Starfleet Corps of Engineers series for Star Trek, Ultimate Hulk, and Gauntlet: Dark Legacy#1 "Paths of Evil" will be joining us in just a few weeks.

Trivia:

Prize: A signed Felicia Day Guild Print

Question: In Dr. Horrible Sing-Along-Blog, Felicia Day’s Character is called Penny. After she dies, how does the newspaper refer to her?

You will have two weeks to answer this question.  Send your answer with your mailing address to scifidinerpodcast@gmail.com, call us at 18885084343, or DM us on Twitter at @scifidiner.

Podcast Promos:

DVD Geeks

Stranger Things TV

The Main Course:

TV News:

Caprica: Record demo ratings for mid-season finale, scoring 1.7M total viewers. Nice work! Compared to the first 5 eps of Caprica, the last 4 were up 21% in Adults 18-49 & 12% in Adults 25-54. Always good to see!

The Guild:

Felicia Day and The Guild PWN at the Streamy Awards

The Streamy Awards, honoring Web programming, singled out two talents from The Guild—Felicia Day's Web series about an online World of Warcraft guild meeting in real life—at the International Academy of Web Television's second annual awards ceremony, Sunday at the Orpheum Theater in Los Angeles.

Day herself won for best female actor in a comedy Web series for the second year in a row. As the creator and writer of the series, winning acting awards was her plan all along. "It means quite a lot, because I created this role for myself because I didn't see that role out there and I didn't see myself getting that role even if it was out there in Hollywood," Day said. "That's just the way I am. I'm a little quirky. This is for geek girls everywhere. I hope I continue to make content in the future and act in roles in the future that inspire people to go on and create themselves."

The Guild director Sean Becker won for best directing for a comedy Web series, his first Streamy. The show won awards last year for best comedy Web series. Becker was especially proud to win for directing because he's seen the competition get even tougher.

"We had the first Streamys last year and the Streamys this year, and I feel that the competition has gotten so much more intense this year," Becker said. "One good thing about the Guild is that they had come in early, so we kind of got to build a following. Now we're at that level where I believe it's just completely equal ground. To be even nominated, I know that's the cliché to say, but there are a lot of Web shows out there, so to be able to still be acknowledged is just great."

Syfy goes steampunk with fantasy-adventure series Riese

A mysterious wanderer named Riese has been on the run in an online futuristic fantasy-adventure series—and now she (along with her webisodes) has run all the way to Syfy. Syfy Digital has acquired the rights to the entire award-winning 10-part series with an eye toward possibly developing it for broadcast on air, just as the channel did with the Web series Sanctuary.

Here's Syfy's official announcement.

SYFY DIGITAL ACQUIRES RIESE

ACCLAIMED, STREAMY AWARD- WINNING 10-PART FANTASY-ADVENTURE WEB SERIES FOR FALL 2010

Season One and The Never-Before-Seen Season Two To Be Streamed on Syfy Digital With Eye Towards Development for Broadcast

New York, New York - April 8, 2010 - Syfy remains on the forefront of cutting edge fantasy based digital entertainment with the acquisition of the highly acclaimed web series, Riese, it was announced today by Craig Engler, SVP and GM of Syfy Digital. Syfy Digital has acquired the rights to the entire 10-part series - which is distributed by Fireworks International, the television and digital distribution arm of ContentFilm plc - with an eye towards development for a broadcast air. Riese consists of two five-part episode seasons, with season two premiering fully for the first time exclusively on Syfy.com. Season one and two are both slated for a digital launch in the fall 2010.

For web only.

"Riese is a fantastic web series with a lot of room to grow, and we're excited to work with the very talented cast and crew to help them take the show to the next level, backed by the full promotional efforts that Syfy can bring to the table," said Engler. "At the same time we'll be working hand-in-hand with our TV development team to see if Riese has the potential to make the jump to TV, just like our hit show Sanctuary did."

Riese recently scooped the Streamy Award for 'Best Cinematography in a Web Series' with a further three nominations for Best Sound Design, Best Foreign Series and Art Direction. The digital series starring Christine Chatelain (Sanctuary, Fringe), Sharon Taylor (Smallville, Eureka), Ben Cotton (Stargate Atlantis, Haper's Island), and Patrick Gilmore (Fringe, Stargate Universe), was shot in Vancouver, BC, and is created by Ryan Copple and Kaleena Kiff and produced by Galen Fletcher and Nicholas Humphries.

Jonathan Ford, Executive Vice-President, Digital Acquisitions and Distribution at Fireworks International added, "Syfy is highly regarded in the digital community with a fantastic background in identifying and securing the best in new multiplatform content. We are delighted to announce this significant deal for the important US market and look forward to working with the Syfy team on the web series as well as developing Riese for television."

Riese is a fantasy-adventure based web series that chronicles a mysterious wanderer named Riese, (portrayed by Chatelain). A life-on-the-run from a world with a dim future, Riese and her trusted wolf companion, Fenrir flee their dying land of Eleysia in search of freedom as they are hunted by assassins of 'The Sect,' a terrifying religious entity. As she tries to piece together her mysterious past, Riese will take on a life and death journey with the balance and the fate of the world lying in the palm of her hands.

About Fireworks International

Fireworks International is Content Film's international television and digital distribution division with over 3,000 hours of high-quality and commercially appealing programming including an extensive slate of major drama series, non-fiction entertainment, kids live action comedy and drama series, TV movies, mini-series and special event programming. Recent additions include comedic drama series, REPUBLIC OF DOYLE, primetime drama series, THE BORDER and heart-warming family drama series, HEARTLAND; non-fiction primetime documentary specials HUNTING THE LOST SYMBOL and I KNOW WHAT I SAW; U.S. tween comedy THE ASSISTANTS; high definition multi-platform thriller series VALEMONT, GIRL NUMBER 9 and Sci-Fi thriller, RIESE; new children's programmes HALF MOON INVESTIGATIONS, FAMILY BIZ as well as the classic anime series, ROBOTECH; plus over 200 U.S. network mini-series and TV movies; and specials including the Annual U.S. PRIMETIME EMMY AWARDS show. This new product is combined with the large and valuable Fireworks library catalogue, which is complemented by a raft of formidable television shows including Gene Roddenberry's ANDROMEDA, MUTANT X and RELIC HUNTER.

Syfy is a media destination for imagination-based entertainment. With year round acclaimed original series, events, blockbuster movies, classic science fiction and fantasy programming, a dynamic Web site (www.Syfy.com), and a portfolio of adjacent business (Syfy Ventures), Syfy is a passport to limitless possibilities. Originally launched in 1992 as SCI FI Channel, and currently in 95 million homes, Syfy is a network of NBC Universal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies. Syfy. Imagine greater.

Movie News:

Clash of the Titans Review - Miles

Concept art for the film that's the next 2001/Blade Runner

According to Slashfilm, director Carl Erik Rinsch has already completed a full story for a feature film called Small, from which he drew the short movie as a starting point:

I have also learned that Rinsch has met with various nobel prize winning scientists and theorists in designing a world and a narrative that could be scientifically plausible. He's pretty hardcore about creating a world that could actually exist, ala 2001. I've heard that in the past, Rinsch has joked that the project is a mix between 2001, Blade Runner and Doctor Zhivago with a bit of Bourne-style action. Sounds pretty awesome and absurd at the same time (but I think that is the intent).

The Blade Runner link is no coincidence: Rinsch is a commercial director who works for Blade RunnerThe Gift. Rinsch was also the guy that Scott originally tapped to direct his proposed Alien prequel before Fox said Scott himself had to direct. Also, the Philips short movie mentions a unicorn. director Ridley Scott, and Scott is the guy behind the Philips short film experiment that produced

DVD News

Thousands trash LOTR Blu-Ray BEFORE its release!

Man, those Amazon reviewers may be the toughest crowd in Middle-earth! Even before The Lord of the Rings: The Motion Picture Trilogy was released on Blu-ray a few days ago, thousands of angry fans had trashed the product without ever having seen it.

Of the 3,156 customer reviews currently up on the site, an amazing 2,850 of them—more than 90 percent—gave the release 1 star, the lowest rating possible. What possible problem could these users have with a trilogy made up of some of the highest-grossing films of all time, one that won 17 Academy Awards?

Turns out the low ratings weren't because the thousands of Amazon users hated the film. In fact, it was because they loved it.

As C. BURNS put it in his review:

Some confusion among other reviewers that somehow we're obligated to post a five star recommendation for the movie. This is an incorrect understanding of the review process. If I were reviewing the movie itself it would get a five. This review is for the product, as listed--in other words, I DO NOT RECOMMEND BUYING THIS PRODUCT/DVD. This product is being created FOR NO OTHER REASON than to dupe people into buying this movie twice...again. Those of us who were huge fans bought the original DVDs of the theatrical releases. THEN the studio FINALLY released the extended editions, even though they could have released both at the same time. Now that Blu Ray has won the High Def battle, the studios are salivating at screwing us all again the same way!

Please do not let them get away with pretending that Blu Ray can't hold both versions on one disc--it certainly can! A simple menu option would let you watch the Extended Edition when you have time, or Theatrical Edition when you don't.

Their other argument, that "Peter Jackson is busy working on The Hobbit and will work on Extended Editions later" is 100% total BS. He's ALREADY DONE THE WORK--just copy what he did for the regular DVDs onto a new Blu Ray master!

BOTTOM-LINE: The studios will make whatever argument they think will fly to convince us they can't put both versions on one disc, because they want to double their income on this movie. Which has ALREADY MADE THEM A BILLION DOLLARS. Don't play along--let friends know not to buy ANY LOTR Blu Ray that doesn't have BOTH versions on one disc.

So what do you think? Will the fans' fury sway New Line?

And will you be buying the new Rings Blu-ray? Or waiting until something better comes along?

Justice League: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1494772/

Misc News.

Awesome or disgusting? Star Wars AT-AT made of BACON

We were just thinking there aren't enough Star Wars items made out of pork when This Is Freaking Ridiculous posted these images,/

Yes, it's an All Terrain Armored Transport from The Empire Strike Back, made out of bacon.

Here's the official description:

The Bacon AT-AT stands 3 ft tall and is made with over 40 lbs of bacon. The body was made from foam, then the bacon was attached. This beast took 21 non-stop hours to build. If you've ever once thought to cook 40 lbs of bacon in your kitchen in one sitting, I can now personally advise against it.

Kids, don't try this one at home.

Dancing Storm Trooper tours Paris, startles the locals

You may not recognize Danny Choo's name, but his dance moves? Those we bet you'll recognize.

Choo's videos of himself dancing through the streets of Tokyo while dressed in full stormtrooper gear have been seen by millions. (In fact, the one we've embedded on our site has been viewed more than 3 million times.)

Now it looks like Choo has decided to spread the stormtrooper love to a new country—he's invaded France. He just posted images over on his blog and on Flickr from his recent trip to Paris, during which he brought "la Force" to the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe and other famous landmarks.

Scifi 5 in 5

Top 5 (Well 6) SciFi Weapons

M41a Pulse Rifle - The M41A Pulse Rifle is the primary weapon of the USCMC in the Alien movies

Lightsabers

Crysknives - A crysknife is a fictional weapon in the Dune universe created by Frank Herbert. According to the 1965 novel Dune, it is made from the crystal tooth of Shai'Hulud, the giant sandworms that live below the sands of the desert planet Arrakis.^[1]

The Death Star

Star Trek Phaser

The BFG-9000 – from Doom

The SciFi Diner Podcast

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

Tonight’s Diners: Scott, Miles, Kevin, and Keith

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!

  On the menu tonight: This is our first ever SciFi Retrospective looking at shows with cult followings and examining how these shows have influenced SciFi today.  This retrospective focuses in on Farscape and joining us are Keith R. A. Decandido, author of Farscape novels and comic books, and Kevin Bachelder form the Scapecast Podcast.  They both share incredible insights into what made this show great and the impact it has had on current science fiction.  By the way, Farscape turned 11 two weeks ago.  News on Firefly. Show News:

• We are a part of the Lifestyle PodNetwork

Trivia will be BACK in April. Podcast Promos: The Scapecast Podcast Chronic Rift Podcast

The Main Course:

TV News:

Farscape turns 11! Check out the pre-release trailers from way back when - Most of us found Farscape on Syfy, but the show didn't launch there, remember? Those lucky enough to live in a land down under got the jump on U.S. viewers, because John Crichton first went through the wormhole when the series debuted on Australia's Nine Network March 19, 1999.   Courtsey of Billy Fens: in case you hadn't read... The Secrets of Firefly's Shepherd Book Will Finally Be Revealed Shepherd Book, possibly the most mysterious character on Joss Whedon's ill-fated space-western Firefly is to star in in a comic book that will finally let us in on his past. A character with a mysterious past is hardly a new idea for Joss Whedon, by Firefly's Shepherd Book was a particularly good one. Played by Ron Glass, the Shepherd - the term used for men of the cloth on the show - clearly had not been a God's servant all his life, and some pretty high-level connections with the Alliance. What made the mystery extra-potent however was that the show got cancelled, and we never got to find out what his mysterious past actually was. All that is about to change though, as a new comic book, entitled The Shepherd's Tale, is coming out that will finally cast some light on the preacher's colorful life. The book is written by Zack Whedon, and based on a detailed scene-by-scene outline from brother Joss. Zack Whedon said about the book: "You will see Book's full trajectory... How he became the man he was in the show and who he was previous to that. It takes you deep into his past. You really get to see the entire evolution of this man ... Book specifically is a great character to do the origin of because we know so little about it in the show, the little hints that we get are so enticing and his history is very... complicated. It's an intricate set of circumstances that created the man we meet in the show so that is very fun to explore." The Shepherd's Tale comes out in November, as a hardcover graphic novel.

Movie News:

  Courtesy of Dayton Ward: Neil Patrick Harris talks DR. HORRIBLE 2 and Possible Theatrical Release There's been talk about a sequel to Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog for some time now. There's no doubt that the sequel will eventually happen, it's just a matter of how we end up watching it. I serious doubt we'll be watching the sequel online though. There is a strong possibility that the sequel will get a theatrical release. This isn't new news, Joss Whedon and Jed Whedon have been talking about Dr. Horrible 2 getting a feature film release since last year. Here's what they had to say in a previous interview, We've talked about doing an actual studio film. The story we've talked about is pretty big, so it may end up being longer. The one fear they had was that any studio they do the movie with will hold them back creatively. They want to do it their way with no studio influence. In a recent interview with MTV Neil Patrick Harris talked about the project saying that it he hopes they do make it into a feature film. Apparently they're making a 'Dr. Horrible' sequel—a feature film, I hope. I hope they cast me in it—we'll see. That's their plan. I don't know of what scale. They're talking all options, because they made the first 'Dr. Horrible' in five days on no budget at all—that was its intention. I think it would be awesome for this great web series to actually get a big screen sequel, that would definitely be a first. What do you think of this?  What do we think?      

Farscape:

A groundbreaking sci-fi production, FARSCAPE is a global favorite. Named by TV Guide as one of television's "Best Cult Shows Ever" and by Empire Magazine as one of the "50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time," FARSCAPE is known for the overwhelming fan-based campaign that led to its miniseries production, FARSCAPE: The Peacekeeper Wars. The show has continued to find new audiences as it airs in syndication and is available on DVD around the world as well as on iTunes, where it debuted as the top selling sci-fi show. Figurines and plush are also available along with the FARSCAPE comic book series which was entirely sold out five days after its first volume premiered in December 2008.   Firefly was perceived as derivative of Farscape when it hit the scene -- although the similarities were certainly coincidental. But the fact that Farscape had four full seasons and then a very successful mini-series to wrap up the major story arc was apparently not enough for it to get a mention here. Then again, Farscape wasn't directed by Joss Whedon and doesn't have a pending major motion picture. (Hello, Serenity.) When I watch the new Battlestar Galactica, I find it evocative of Farscape in many ways: the pacing, the immediacy, the grime. Trek existed in a genteel, leisurely universe by comparison (although Deep Space 9BSG so great came first in Farscape. approached gritty from time to time). But all the things that make the new Farscape had it flaws, and many of them ("trying too hard" came up often). But its omission from this list is nothing short of egregious. If you've never heard of Farscape before and would like a fairly detailed, one-page intro to the program, here's one I wrote way back in May 2000: Where No Series Has Gone Before, originally published in Bob Furnell's Jigsaw Magazine, by and for fans of science fiction television. In case you were wondering: the best thing about this list? That Farscape's legacy continues, even if it is uncredited, in shows like Battlestar Galactica.   http://www.boom-studios.net/farscape-ongoing-05-cover-a-1.html   Farscape (Ongoing) #05 (Cover B)

Top of Form

  $3.99 Writer(s): Rockne S. O'Bannon, Keith DeCandido Artist(s): Will Sliney The beginning of a new Farscape cracker, “Red Sky at Morning.” The crew of Moya take in all they’ve seen recently. Crichton, Aeryn and especially Chiana will never be the same. But soon it will be another member of the ship thrust into the harsh spotlight. They crew visits…Pilot’s homeworld. A don’t miss issue of the new ongoing FARSCAPE series written by the show creator Rockne S. O’Bannon.    

The SciFi Diner Podcast

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

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!

On the menu tonight:

On this science fiction podcast, we interview David H. Lawrence VII, AKA Eric Doyle, the Puppet Master from Heroes.    Also on the menu tonight we announce the Star Wars Trivia winner, our discision to join the Lifestyle Podnetwork, our Farscape show two weeks from now, Fringe Season 3 is a go, Felicia Day comes to SyFy,  new Tron Legacy and Iron Man 2 trailers are out, Star Trek finally wins and Oscar, Alice in Wonderland breaks the Box Office, the new Aliens will be in 3D, and Jay from Georgia brings us his top five SciFi Classic Movies in the SciFi Five in Five.

Interview:

In tonight's interview, we chat with David H. Lawrence the XVII, who played Eric Doyle (the Puppetmaster) from NBC's hit show Heroes.  We discuss the him being the grandfather of podcasting, his switch from radio to acting, how he landed his role on heroes and why his character  has been reoccurring, and we wrap up by looking at his cameo on Lost.

Show News:

• The SciFi Diner Podcast is now a part of the Lifestyle PodNetwork
• Our Farscape Retrospective in two weeks with Kevin Bachelder from the Scapecast: call in with your thoughts on Farscape, what it meant to you, how you think it impacted the SciFi TV industry - 1.888.508.4343
• Keith RA DeCandido – Thanks for the plug on his blog!
• Congratulations to Chris & Subspace Communique for being on a year. Be sure to enter his 1 year Anniversary Reader Contest! You could wind Captain Kirk and buttload of Tribbles. By the way our friend Chris from Subspace Communique posted our show with another one. He checked before Miles said anything. This guy's on the ball.
• Also, I was mentioned on the last DVD Geeks episode. Mary had asked for opinions on Flash Forward. ABC released the dvds for the mid season. So we got a little air time on their show.

Trivia:

Prize: A signed print of Sam Witwer as Starkiller from the Force Unleashed.

Question: Who was in charge of bringing down the deflector shield of the second Death Star?

Winner: Susan - Her name was drawn out of a hat from all the correct answers.  The correct answer was that it was led by Hans Solo.

Podcast Promos:

DVDGeeks Podcast

Aussie Geek Podcast

The Main Course:

TV News

Cue the exploding heads: Fringe renewed for season 3!

Here's the best news of the day: Entertainment Weekly reports that Fox has decided to renew Fringe for a third season!

Here's what they said:

Though the show isn't exactly blowing the roof off of Nielsen—it's been averaging just 7.6 million viewers and is ranked No. 50 in the all-important adults 18-49 demographic this season—it managed to survive in a tough new time period on Thursdays. The show returns with new episodes—and the promise of more visits from Leonard Nimoy and to the parallel universe—on April 1.

That means we'll get more of the delicious weirdness, more loony awesome John Noble as Walter Bishop, more sexy Joshua Jackson-Anna Torv tension, more mercury-blooded alt-dimension assassins, more Nimoy, more Blair Brown-Lance Reddick action, hopefully more Kirk Acevedo, and lots more 'splodey heads. (And, yes, how could we forget: More of the button-cute, spunky Jasika Nicole as Astrid!)

Can't wait till April 1!

Ultimate sci-fi TV pilot guide: Your favorite shows of the future

ABC

The Gates The supernatural crime drama sort of sounds like an anti-Eureka. It's about "a big-city cop who becomes chief of police in a seemingly sleepy planned community only to discover there's much more to the residents than meets the eye." What could that be, you ask? How about a cardiologist who is actually a "vampire-like creature" in the form of actor Luke Mably. Prison Break's Frank Grillo plays the new police chief, Nick Monohan. Janina Gavankar plays Leigh Turner, a sexy cop with a secret. Chance of pickup: 100 percent. The Gates has a blind 13-episode commitment and will likely find a home during the summer.

No Ordinary Family Could this potential series be the new Heroes? The Shield's Michael Chiklis and Angel/Dexter's Julie Benz star in this drama, which revolves around a typical American family that experiences strange things when they suddenly find themselves with new abilities. Chiklis plays the dad and Benz plays mom, Stephanie, "a gifted scientist who develops a power for superspeed." No Ordinary Family comes from Jon Harmon Feldman (Tru Calling) and Greg Berlanti (Eli Stone). The series also stars Autumn Reeser, Romany Malco, Jimmy Bennett, Kay Panabaker, and Christina Chang. Chance of pickup: 75 percent. Chiklis is a star, and with Heroes certainly at the end of its run this season or next, we're liking No Ordinary Family's chances.

Fox

Terra Nova Steven Spielberg must be getting bored with movies, or maybe he's just missing dinosaurs. He and Peter Chernin are trying to put together a deal for this time-travel drama "about a family from 100 years in the future who travel back in time 150 million years to the strange and inhospitable environments of prehistoric earth." According to Variety, the project would involve sets and special effects that are so elaborate, it would only be cost effective to order it directly to series. That means it's either all or nothing on this one, so there's no actual order for a pilot yet. Craig Silverstein and British writer Kelly Marcel wrote the script based on Marcel's idea. Chance of pickup: 20 percent. It's Spielberg baby! And that means it's really, really expensive, baby!

Torchwood Doctor Who/Torchwood's Russell T. Davies no sooner came to the U.S. than he promptly pitched Fox a U.S. version of Torchwood. There's also been talk that original star John Barrowman might reprise his role as Captain Jack and that the series about a covert group of alien hunters would focus on more internationally-based stories. It's a longshot that this would go through. BBC America still holds the broadcast rights, and, as far as we know, it hasn't been canceled across the pond. That doesn't mean that there couldn't also be an American version, but there's some work to do to make a deal come together. It all sounds too good to be true. Chance of pickup: 20 percent. We'll believe it when we see it, and we'd really like to see it.

NBC

The Cape The other superhero offering is The Cape, about "a former cop framed for a crime he didn't commit who becomes the Cape, a masked hero, to clear his name and reunite with his son." ER'sHuman Target). Chance of pickup: 65 percent. Lyons is a star waiting to happen, and NBC isn't afraid of superheroes. Australian actor, David Lyons, plays the ex-cop, Vince Faraday. The series was created by Tom Wheeler, and the pilot is being directed by Simon West (

Day One Oh, poor Day One. Did NBC screw this one up, or what? Originally, Jesse Alexander's (Heroes, Lost, Alias) "series" was picked up as a mid-season replacement, only to have its order trimmed down until it was nothing more than a two-hour TV movie. The story follows what happens when "an eclectic group of neighbors in a Van Nuys, Calif., apartment building" find themselves on a quest for survival after "a global event devastates the world's infrastructures." Huh? Well, the "global catastrophe" turns out to be an alien invasion, but why NBC couldn't just come out with it? Who knows. Maybe they were scared of ABC's V taking all the alien invasion mojo away from them. All that said, the script is great, and Alexander knows how to write sci-fi television. On the unfortunate side, the "series" stars David Lyons, who's also been cast in NBC's The Cape. Day One's cast includes Adam Campbell, Julie Gonzalo, Catherine Dent, Derek Mio, Carly Pope, Addison Timlin and Thekla Reuten. Chance of pickup: 8 percent. For whatever reason, NBC's turned its back on this one, and it will be lucky even to air as a television movie at this point.

The Event Who knows if there's actually any real sci-fi or fantasy at the core of The Event, but we're liking the chances. From The 4400's Nick Wauters, the pilot is "a thriller with a unique storytelling device that features multiple points of view concerning a decent, regular fellow who battles against mysterious circumstances that envelope a larger conspiracy." The "decent, regular fellow" is played by Jason Ritter, who stars along with Blair Underwood, Sara Roemer, Scott Peterson, Zeljko Ivanek, Ian Anthony Dale, Taylor Cole and Wes Ramsey. Chance of pickup: 25 percent. Well, the summary couldn't be any more vague and reminds us of Day One's "global event." We're thinking this one is a bit of a long shot.

Nine Lives Call this Spielberg 2.0. Originally developed for Syfy, it's been reported that Spielberg is interested in reviving this near-death drama. "Nine Lives unfolds as an epic story of love, exploring the greatest mystery of all ... what happens after you die? The drama focuses on several characters, each grieving over the loss of a loved one. First by accident, then intentionally induced, each has discovered how to reunite with their loved ones in the afterlife through near-death experiences. But each journey to the other side brings closer an unknown evil, which is about to be unleashed on mankind." Written by Taken's Leslie Bohem. Chance of pickup: 15 percent. Bohem is brilliant and Spielberg's a force of nature, but we're not liking its chances.

Undercovers J.J. Abrams' latest takes him back to the spy game as "a domesticated husband and wife return from years in retirement and are re-activated as CIA agents. As they work together for the first time on new cases, they discover new aspects from their past—even as they re-ignite their passion for each other." While this certainly could be a sci-fi-free series, we also know that Abrams loves sci-fi and loves to sell a sci-fi story as spy story, at least based on his work on Alias. The pilot was written by Abrams and Dirty Sexy Money's Josh Reims and features Boris Kodjoe (Surrogates) as Steven Bloom and British actress Gugu Mbatha-Raw (Doctor Who) as his wife, Samantha. The pilot also stars Carter MacIntyre, Gerald McRaney, Jessica Parker Kennedy and Ben Schwartz. Chance of pickup: 80 percent. Undercovers seems to have a good chance considering Abrams knows how to do spy stuff. If he can rein in the Alias-esque bizarre sci-fi plots just a bit, this has great potential.

CABLE

AMC

The Walking Dead You've got to love what happens after a good zombie apocalypse. The Walking DeadThe Green Mile's Frank Darabont, with Gale Anne Hurd and David Alpert executive producer. Chance of pickup: 75 percent. The Walking Dead has a strong crew behind the scenes and let's face it, it's time for a good television zombie apocalypse. follows a group of survivors who travel in search of a safe and secure home. Based on the comic book by Robert Kirkman, "the comic goes on to explore the challenges of life in a world overrun by zombies who take a toll on the survivors, and sometimes the interpersonal conflicts present a greater danger to their continuing survival than the zombies that roam the country. Over time, the characters are changed by the constant exposure to death and some grow willing to do anything to survive." This one is from

TNT

Steven Spielberg's Untitled Alien Invasion Series Steven Spielberg 3.0. We don't have a title yet, but this "untitled alien invasion series" does have star Noah Wylie (The Librarian) playing the college professor who becomes the reluctant leader of "a rag-tag group of soldiers and civilians as they struggle against an occupying alien force." The series begins "shortly after aliens have wiped out most of the human population. The aliens are now rounding up the few people left, but they are met with strong resistance from a group of soldiers and civilians who fight for their survival all while struggling to maintain their humanity." The series was created by Saving Private Ryan's Robert Rodat and is produced by DreamWorks Television. The series also stars Moon Bloodgood, Drew Roy, Maxim Knight, Jessy Schram and Seychelle Gabriel. Chance of pickup: 100 precent. It's already headed to series, and 10 episodes have been ordered.

Network Unknown

Untitled Star Wars live-action TV Series This project's been in the works for years and still doesn't have a title. According to rumors, George Lucas is courting Britain's top writers for pitches, OR scripts have been written, OR casting has started, OR none of the above. The idea is that the series would be set between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope and would focus on minor characters, such as the smugglers and bounty hunters. Lucas would definitely like to do this, and he's said he would write and produce the first season, and then "hand it off from there" and oversee the series as executive producer. Chance of pickup: Who knows? No network is attached, and even though Lucas says he can produce the episodes for $1 million, it's going to take a lot of special effects to pull this one off. Still, he's faced greater odds, like getting Star Wars made in the first place.

Felicia Day comes to Syfy

Felicia Day (The Guild, Dr. Horrible's Sing-a-long Blog) will portray a werewolf-hunting descendant of Little Red Riding Hood in the new Syfy Saturday Original Movie Red, which is slated to premiere in 2011.

Movie News:

Sexy Tron Legacy teaser trailer: babes and light cycles!

Remember that teaser trailer for Tron Legacy we told you about? It's now live and you can view it below.

What did we tell you? Pretty awesome, right?

Tron Legacy opens on Dec. 17, way too long from now.

New Iron Man 2 trailer: Black Widow, Whiplash, War Machine! Try top put trailer in show notes

The new trailer for Iron Man 2, which premiered during the Jimmy Kimmel show following the Oscars on Sunday night, is now online, and you can view it above.

It show us a first real good look at Scarlett Johansson's Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow and more of Mickey Rourke's Whiplash in action against Robert Downey Jr.'s Tony Stark/Iron Man. We also get a better look at Sam Rockwell's rival, Justin Hammer, and Don Cheadle as Rhodey/War Machine.

There's also a taste of the rockin' new action. Iron Man 2 opens May 7, and we can't wait.

With makeup award, Star Trek finally brings home an Oscar

It wasn't a great night for 10-foot-tall blue aliens, but it was a historic night for Star Trek: J.J. Abrams' movie won an award for best achievement in makeup, marking the first time a Trek movie has ever won one of the coveted gold statues.

Backstage at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood on Sunday night, Trek makeup winners Barney Burman, Mindy Hall and Joel Harlow talked about the history being made.

"I think we have a whole new generation of fans," Hall said. "And that was one of our goals. We wanted our Star Trek to appeal to the current fan as well as a new generation, a younger generation, and kind of a younger, hipper Star Trek, if you will. It's fantastic—fantastic for the whole franchise."

Over the years, four Star Trek films have received various nominations (none for directing or acting or best picture), and Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home earned four nominations in 1986, but none has ever won. Until now.

"As a makeup artist I think we all try to make people as believably realistic, whether it's a strength or beauty or some kind of extreme prosthetic makeup," Burman told reporters backstage. "We make them as realistic to the eye as we possibly can. So hopefully we never have to utilize or rely on lighting or editing to help correct our work. So I think the three of us strove for perfection, I think, every day, and with an amazing army of makeup artists that were of like mind, to make things as realistic and believable to the eye as possible. And, you know, and J.J. Abrams, God bless him, he demanded, he wanted to create a world and universe where everybody can live and breathe as though that's a real place, and I think we achieved it."

Harlow was asked about his influences. "It was just sort of a, you know, the Star Trek mythology," he said. "When you talk about the tattooing, I presume you're talking about the Romulans, and that was the mythology of Star Trek, was that the Romulans and the Vulcans sort of began as the same race, and the Romulans followed their more animal tendency and the Vulcans followed their more logical tendency."

Alice is a wonder, breaking box-office records

Oh frabjous day: Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland killed the competition at the March 5 weekend box office, taking in an estimated $116.3 million domestically to set a new record.

Worldwide, the 3-D fantasy movie took in $210.3 million, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Even accounting for ticket-price inflation, that's the biggest-ever (domestic) opening in the first quarter of the year, easily beating the record of $83.8 million set by The Passion of the Christ in 2004.

In the 40 foreign territories where it opened simultaneously, Alice in Wonderland collected an additional $94 million. That's also a record for the biggest foreign opening in the winter or spring, Disney said.

Ridley Scott's Alien will be 3-D and—a trilogy, too?

All the Alien reboot news that's slowly been coming out over the past year has been exciting, but now we're really starting to salivate.

First we learned there was going be a prequel, and that Tony and Ridley Scott would be involved, though neither would direct. Then we found out that Ridley Scott was stepping in to direct after all. And a few months ago, he let slip a few details about the plot—that the film wouldn't deal with the backstory to that giant alien ship the crew of the Nostromo discovered in his 1979 original movie.

But now it all gets even more interesting, because Roger Christian, art director for the original Alien, spilled big news over at shadowlocked: "Ridley's doing the next Alien in 3D."

And in even bigger news than that, the film may turn out to be the first of a trilogy:

Ridley told me some of his ideas when we were here in Toronto. He has a very clear understanding of where this should go. They kind of stopped dead one of the greatest horror franchises there's ever been, and it had legs to go on. So I'm hoping he'll revive another three. The world certainly wants it, and the fans want it—everybody.

Now, perhaps Christian is only speaking for himself and not Scott with his talk of a three-quel. But it does make us wonder whether the two have discussed the possibility, and whether it could be more than just idle speculation.

In any case, even if the trilogy talk is just a rumor, the 3-D sounds solid, so—can you think of any scene better suited for 3-D than an Alien chestburster? Not us!

Scifi 5 in 5

Jay's Top Five Classic SciFi Movies

1. The Day The Earth Stood Still 2. Planet of the Apes 3. 2001 Space Odyssey 4. Aliens 5. Godzilla (The Original Japanese Version)

By the way I said that the original Japanese version of Godzilla, Gojira, was one of my top 5 classic sci fi movies, I just wanted to clarify, because if you played my message on the air I am sure some people will say that it is not a sci fi movie, it is a monster movie. Which is partially true, there is a ton of science in the story where the Japanese scientists are explaining the existence of Godzilla, and the Oxygen bomb kills him, its full of science fiction. Sorry just wanted to defend this.

Thanks Jay from Canton, GA

SciFi Rewind Episode 16 - Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan (30 Years Later)

SciFi Rewind Episode 15 - Terry Gilliam's 12 Monkeys

The SciFi Diner Podcast

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

Tonight’s Diners: Scott & Miles & Tom

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!

On the menu tonight:

On this science fiction podcast, we have with us Keith R. Decandido.    Also on the menu tonight we have Star Wars Trivia, V gets Revealing, July 13 and Warehouse 13, Optimus Prime and Bumblebee get Makeovers, Terminator Salvation: The Machinma Series DVD, Miles is running for the Governer of Florida, Zombies have rights, and a man with too much time on his hands build Minas Tirith.

Show News:

• Shout outs! To Our friends on the Trekcast Forum.
• Shore Leave 32 – the line up.

Trivia:

  Prize: A signed print of Sam Witwer as Starkiller from the Force Unleashed. Question: Who was in charge of bringing down the deflector shield of the second Death Star? You have one week to answer this question (until March 10th).  Send your answer with your mailing address to scifidinerpodcast@gmail.com, call us at 18885084343, or DM us on Twitter at @scifidiner.

Podcast Promos:

DVD Geeks! Podcast and Radio Show Trekcast!

The Main Course:

TV News

V will reveal more spaceship! Lizard skin! Anna's true face! You'll see a lot more of the Visitors' mother ship—and a lot more of their true alien selves—when ABC's V finally returns on March 30. Andrew Orloff, executive creative director/visual-effects supervisor for Zoic Studios, the visual-effects team behind V's spaceships and aliens, revealed his studio's work on the upcoming episodes. (Spoilers ahead!) "It's just more," Orloff said in an exclusive interview Sunday in Century City, Calif., at the Visual Effects Society awards, where Zoic was nominated for its work. "If you're a fan of the show, you see the engine room of the ship in the last episode. We'll keep continuing to open up and explore different rooms and parts of the ship that'll be, I think, interesting for the viewers. It'll drive the story forward, and for us, ... since the entire interior of the ship is virtual, that means more visual effects work for us, for sure." Finally! Warehouse 13 comes back in July Yay! It's about time: Syfy announced that its hit series Warehouse 13 has begun production on season two, which will premiere on July 13. All the main cast members are back, along with special guest star Nolan Funk (Nickelodeon's SpectacularDrake & Josh), who will appear in a four-episode arc. and Season two will consist of 13 brand-spanking-new episodes. Below is the official announcement.

Movie News:

  Transformers 3's Optimus, Bumblebee getting makeovers     As the third Transformers movie gears up preproduction this month, we've learned that Optumus Prime and Bumblebee will get a makeover. The Industrial Light & Magic team is hard at work updating the robots in disguise for their third big screen adventure. "Our two lead characters, Optimus and Bumblebee, needed to be updated for the next chapter in the Transformers series," said animation supervisor Scott Benza in an exclusive interview Sunday at the Visual Effects Society Awards in Century City, Calif., where he and visual effects supervisor Scott Farrar were nominees. "Bumblebee's matured a little bit, so I would just say look for subtle changes to his physique that have him look more mature." Subtlety might not be what you expect from a Michael Bay movie, but Farrar suggested the changes to Prime would be of the easter-egg variety that only true fans would notice. "[Prime will have] little tiny things that maybe the average viewer isn't going to notice but probably the fanboys will," Farrar said. "You actually will run into pieces that are maybe always in the way, and wouldn't it be nice if that part wasn't there? Maybe you make a shift in the shoulder, in the chest or what have you. So it might be proportioning, but it also might be for usability, so [the animators]' task could be easier, too." Benza added that Prime's updates would be badass. "We always want the robots to look cooler than they did the last time, so he's going to look a little more heroic, I would say," Benza said.    

DVD News

  Terminator Salvation: The Machinima Series (2009) $5.95   "My name is Blair Williams. I fight for the Resistance." The resourceful A-10 pilot from Terminator Salvation has her own story in this kick-'bot prequel filmed via the innovative Machinima process that turns video-game elements into a full-blown animated story. Moon Bloodgood reprises her T4 role, providing the voice of Williams as she takes on an explosive mission to track what or who is disrupting comm links during the Resistance’s fierce guerrilla war against Skynet. T-600s emerge, guns blazing. MotoTerminators patrol post-Apocalyptic L.A. Aerostats hover. Hunter Killers rain death. Machinima delivers action and style in a big way. Reboot the future with Terminator Salvation: The Machinima Series.  

Misc News.

Self-described vampire to run for governor of Florida – Miles?

Wasn't there a politician who campaigned on the slogan "Morning in America"? Well, it turns out there's at least one politician for whom morning's not such a good thing. Because gubernatorial candidate Jonathon Sharkey is vampire. Really. Sharkey, a self-described vampire who'd previously announced plans to run for governor of Minnesota on the Vampyres, Witches and Pagans ticket, has called off that campaign, even though Minnesota seems like a state suited to eclectic candidates. After all, it sent a former professional wrestler to the statehouse, didn't it? But Minnesota's loss will be Florida's gain, because Sharkey has now set his political sights on the Sunshine State, according to citypages. "Instead of running for Governor of MN, I will now run in Florida as a Republican for probably a nation position. I have unfinished business in Tampa Bay, too," said Sharkey in his announcement. "I intend on seeking support from my fellow Republicans in the House and Senate to pass federal laws to address child protection and harsh criminal punishment upon those who abuse their children." Guy spends 3 years building Minas Tirith out of 420,000 matches - was he smoking crack?  What to do when your laid…. off…. I don't think a matchstick model has ever had me in lust before, but the painstaking Patrick Acton has pulled it off, by building Middle-earth's Minas Tirith out of 420,000 matches. Just look at that thing! It took Acton, who's been supplying Ripley's Believe It or Not with such models since 1994, almost three years to complete this particular model, which contains hundreds of city buildings and is topped with the Citadel, the Tree of Gondor and the White Tower of Ecthelion. Awesome 'Alien' sculpted from 1,200 lbs. of motorcycle steel Three artists. 4,000 pieces of steel. 1,200 pounds of parts recycled from Yamaha motorcycles. One scary-as-hell 8-foot-tall "Alien Queen." $6,000. Gotta love those numbers. (Well, all except that last one.) But still—we want one! Zombies have First Amendment rights, too, says U.S. court Who knew that zombies were being persecuted? But thanks to an appeals court in Minneapolis—no more! A group of zombies (OK, not actual zombies, but rather several costumed protesters) have been given the OK to proceed with their lawsuit against the police who arrested them for disorderly conduct, Yahoo News reported. At the time of their arrest in 2006, the plaintiffs lurched stiff-legged through a mall urging shoppers to "get your brains here" and "brain cleanup in aisle five" while wearing white face powder, fake blood and black circles around their eyes. They were also carrying audio equipment, including loudspeakers and wireless phone handsets, which police had decided to describe as "simulated weapons of mass destruction."      

Scifi 5 in 5

The Sexiest Women in SciFi TV – according to Mile and what he is watching

1. Jeri Ryan
2. Summer Glau
3. Morena Baccarin
4. Kandyse McClure
5. Elyse Levesque

SciFi Rewind Episode 14 - John Carpenter's "The Thing" 1982

SciFi Rewind Episode 13 - Aliens

SciFi Rewind Episode 12 – Equilibrium

SciFi Rewind Episode 11 – Enemy Mine: A True, Undervalued SciFi Gem

The SciFi Diner Podcast

Please call the listener line at 1.888.508.4343,

email us at scifidinerpodcast@gmail.com

or visit us on Twitter @scifidiner.

Be sure to join our Facebook Fan Page

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!

Everyone can leave feedback – let us know what you think about our discussions and what shows you are watching! 18885084343

On the menu tonight:

On this science fiction podcast, we interview Sam Witwer, Starkiller from the Force Unleashed, Crashdown from BSG, and Doomsday from Smallville.    Also on the menu tonight we have two listener e-mails to share, trivia with a very special prize, what TV shows are coming back, might come back, and have been axed, a New Flash Gordon Movie in the works, DVD news on 2012, Where the Wild Things Are, and Santa Claus Conquers the Martians and find out whether Kirk and Spock would have survived warp speed.  I also give my top 5 SciFi’s Sexiest women in our SciFi Five in Five.

Show News:

• iTunes – you can leave us a review!
• Find out other ways to support us

Trivia: IS BACK

Prize: A signed print of Sam Witwer as Starkiller from the Force Unleashed.

Question: Who was in charge of bringing down the deflector shield of the second Death Star?

You will have two weeks to answer this question (until March 10th).  Send your answer with your mailing address to scifidinerpodcast@gmail.com, call us at 18885084343, or DM us on Twitter at @scifidiner.

Podcast Promos:

The Seeker Cast

Toothless Audiobook Podcast

The Main Course:

TV News

Which of your favorite shows could live, which could die

ALREADY RENEWED

The Big Bang Theory (CBS) Renewed for a fourth season. – Dayton Ward and Kevin Dilmore will love this.

Eureka (Syfy) Renewed for a fourth season.

Stargate Universe (Syfy) Renewed for a second season.

Sanctuary (Syfy) Renewed for a third season.  Give me some more Heyerdahl!

Supernatural (The CW) Renewed for a sixth season.

True Blood (HBO) Renewed for a third season premiering in June.

The Vampire Diaries (The CW) Renewed for a second season.

Warehouse 13 (Syfy) Renewed for a second season.  Oh yeah we’re waiting baby…

Updated:: Dollhouse (Fox) Canceled Eastwick (ABC) Canceled Lost (ABC) Series finale airs May 23.

UP IN THE AIR

Chuck (NBC) For once, Chuck is in the Likely-to-Return category. The coolest superhero nerd show ever is actually the top-rated Monday night drama for NBC, and considering the shambles that NBC's schedule has become since The Jay Leno Show was removed, the network needs good reliable performers like Chuck.

Latest ratings: 6.61 million viewers

Chances of renewal: 80 percent

FlashForward (ABC) Remember all those ratings everyone was all worried about when the series begin last fall? Well, forget about them. They don't matter one bit considering the long, long break for new episodes to return. The good news is that the series has 13 episodes to prove itself. The bad news is that there's been some trouble behind the scenes with rotating show runners. FlashForward is starting from scratch in more ways than one.

TVbytheNumbers.com's Bill Gorman reported: "If FlashForward keeps falling when it returns, it has no future. We'll now have to wait until mid-March to see its next ratings."

Latest ratings: 7.29 million viewers

Chances of renewal: 50-50

Fringe (Fox) Despite low ratings, Fringe has managed more or less to hold its own in the most difficult timeslot on television, Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET/PT. This has been especially noticeable since Past Life has taken over the timeslot to the tune of 2 million fewer viewers while Fringe takes a break. All things considered—the rabid fan base, the terrible timeslot, the excellent showing in DVR ratings—and it adds up to a solid performance.

Latest ratings: 7.76 million viewers

Chances of renewal: 70 percent

Heroes (NBC) Believe it or not, despite terrible ratings, Heroes has a chance at fifth season. The ratings have stabilized, and the series gains another million-plus viewers when DVR ratings are counted in. NBC is trying to rebuild its schedule thanks to The Jay Leno Show debacle, and Heroes at least brings in a loyal audience, it does well overseas and it's a high-profile, original series. That said, a very strong case could be made for the show's cancellation as well.

James Hibberd's Live Feed commented: "This season, Heroes continued its decline and is now at a level—around a 2.0 adults 18-49 rating—that would warrant cancellation under most circumstances. The deciding factor here is NBC's internal balance sheet for the production. Don't be surprised if NBC announces a 12-hour 'final chapter' for next fall."

Latest ratings: 4.41 million viewers

Chances of renewal: 40 percent

Human Target (Fox) This new midseason replacement is finally leveling off to some decent ratings. While it's certainly getting a bump from American Idol, the last couple of episodes have been very entertaining, and the series seems to be finding its feet. And considering the series will most likely do well in reruns, given its episodic nature, we're liking its chances for a second season so far.

Latest pre-Olympic ratings: 8.92 million viewers

Latest ratings opposite the Olympics: 7.14 million viewers

Chances of renewal: 45 percent

Smallville (The CW) When The CW moved Smallville from Thursdays to Fridays, it looked like it could be the end of this reliable performer. Certainly Smallville didn't quite seem to fit with the younger-skewing shows the network was banking on, such as The Vampire Diaries. Then something strange and wonderful happened: Apparently the fans weren't ready to let Smallville die. The producers are still doing fine creative work, and the series has finally given The CW some ratings on Friday nights. While SmallvilleVampire Diaries or Supernatural, it's looking very good for a 10th season, with Super Clark and his friends. And BTW, don't be surprised if it does get another season and we see one or two additional Smallville movies along the lines of Absolute Justice. didn't get an early pickup like

Latest ratings: 2.48 million viewers

Chances of renewal: 90 percent

V (ABC) Those beautiful alien invaders are in the same boat as the FlashFowarders. The series returns on March 30, and it's airing after Lost in the 10 p.m. timeslot, which is a good thing. With Lost in its final season, V's likely to grab a few viewers, which should help its bottom line. But V is pretty much starting over, and it will only have eight episodes to get you caught up in the revolution.

Latest ratings: 9.20 million viewers

Chances of renewal: 60 percent

Movie News:

No Current Movies Cause Movies Suck right now.

New Flash Gordon movie: No Queen, no camp, but 3-D!

Director Breck Eisner promises that his upcoming new Flash Gordon movie won't be a remake of the campy 1980 version or even the Buster Crabbe serials from the 1930s—and he promises it will be in 3-D.

"It's a movie that is in no way a remake or a re-imagining or a reboot of the '80s version or the serial version," Eisner told SCI FI Wire. "No Queen [music]. It is not camp in any way. We're going back to the original Alex Raymond [comic strip] scripts and imagining if he were living today, what would those strips be like?"

Eisner is moving forward on his new movie version of the classic sci-fi story. "Flash Gordon is a movie I've been pursuing for years, and I finally was able to orchestrate it going to Sony from Hearst," Eisner said while promoting his new sci-fi horror movie, The Crazies.

Gordon will also enter the third dimension this time out: "It will definitely be in 3-D, unless they come out with 4-D before then," Eisner says with a laugh. The director adds that he is even testing a new binaural German 3-D sound system that could be employed for the film. "It's supposed to push 3-D to the next level," he says.

Cost is the primary obstacle the space hero will have to overcome. "It's a very expensive movie," admits Eisner. "Do they have and do they want to spend the kind of money it's going to take to pull this thing off?"

For now, Eisner is simply intent on developing the best filmic version of Flash Gordon possible. "It's one that I will be passionate enough about forever and will hope to be able to make," says Eisner. "It's action, it's adventure, it's intense, it's dynamic. It's a strong central character who goes on a dynamic journey. It should be a really amazing movie if we can get it made."

Will you blast off with Eisner's Flash?

DVD News

2012 ~ John Cusack, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Danny Glover, and Woody Harrelson (DVD - 2010) $15.99

Now this is how you destroy the world. Roland Emmerich's 2012 pounces on a Nostradamus-style loophole in the Mayan calendar and rams the apocalypse through it, gleefully conjuring up an enormous amount of Saturday-matinee fun in the process. A scientist (Chiwetel Ejiofor) detects shifting continental plates and sun flares and realizes that this foretells the imminent destruction of the planet. Just as the molten lava is about to hit the fan, a novelist (John Cusack) takes his kids on a trip to Yellowstone; later he'll hook up with his ex (Amanda Peet) and her new boyfriend (Tom McCarthy) in a global journey toward safety. If there is any safety. The suitably hair-raising plot lines are punctuated--frequently, people, frequently--by visions of mayhem around the globe: the Vatican falls over, the White House is clobbered (Emmerich's Independence Day was not enough on that score), and the California coastline dives into the Pacific Ocean. Unlike other action directors we could name, Emmerich actually understands how to let you see and drink in these vast special-effects vistas--and they are incredible. He also honors the old Irwin Allen disaster-movie tradition by actually shelling out for good actors. Cusack and Ejiofor are convincing even in the cheesiest material; toss in Danny Glover (the U.S. president), Woody Harrelson (a nut-bar conspiracy-theorizing radio host), Thandie Newton, and Oliver Platt, and you've got a very watchable batch of people.

Where the Wild Things Are ~ Forest Whitaker, et al. (DVD - 2010) $17.99

Through his handcrafted ode to the trials of childhood, Spike Jonze puts his own unique imprint on Maurice Sendak's enduring classic. In the prologue, 9-year-old Max (Max Records) stomps around the house, feeling neglected. When his mom (Catherine Keener) sends him to bed without supper, Max runs away (something he doesn't do in the book). He finds a boat and sails to a distant land where fuzzy monsters are raising a rumpus in the forest. Since his wolf suit allows him to fit right in, he joins the fray, catching the eye of Carol (James Gandolfini, excellent), who notes, approvingly, "I like the way you destroy stuff. There's a spark to your work that can't be taught." With that, they pronounce the diminutive creature king, hoping he can bring cohesion to their fractured family. After Max comes across Carol's scale-model town, he decides they should build a real one, but the project stalls as Alexander (Paul Dano) and Douglas (Chris Cooper) mope, Judith (Catherine O'Hara) browbeats Ira (Forest Whitaker), and Carol pines for K.W. (Lauren Ambrose), who prefers the company of owls Bob and Terry. Max realizes he has to make a choice: stay with the wild things or return home, where he has to keep his aggressive impulses in check. For readers of Sendak's slim tome, his decision won't come as a surprise, but Jonze ends the story on a lovely grace note. Until that time, the squabbling is a bit much--these monsters never stop talking--but Jonze, cowriter Dave Eggers, the Jim Henson Company, and singer/songwriter Karen O. have gone all-out to re-create the inner world of a child with as much empathy as was mustered for the inner adult world of Jonze's Being John Malkovich. --Kathleen C. Fennessy

Santa Claus Conquers the Martians ~ John Call, Pia Zadora, and Leonard Hicks (DVD - 2010) $9.98

Martian children have become unhappy watching Earth television programs showing Christmas cheer among humans. The wise old Martian Chochem tells the adults that Mars needs Santa Claus to bring fun and joy to their children. A group of Martians arrives at the North Pole and kidnaps Santa, but the angry Martian Voldar wants to get rid of him instead. With the help of two Earth children and the clumsy Martian Dropo, Santa defeats Voldar and brings happiness to Mars!

Misc News

Scientists say warp speed would have killed Kirk and Spock

So you remember how Zefram Cochrane became the first human to travel at warp speed after transforming a Titan missile into Earth's first warp-capable ship in 2063, attracting the attention of the Vulcans and ushering in a new era of peace and harmony that led to the development of the United Federation of Planets and humanity's trek through the stars?

Well, the reality is that he would have fried instantly, and any other Starfleet travelers such as Captain James T. Kirk and the crew of the Enterprise would have perished had they really attempted to travel at faster-than-light speeds.

That's the conclusion of a new research reported in New Scientist:

Kirk, Spock and the rest of the crew would die within a second of the USS Enterprise approaching the speed of light.

The problem lies with Einstein's special theory of relativity. It transforms the thin wisp of hydrogen gas that permeates interstellar space into an intense radiation beam that would kill humans within seconds and destroy the spacecraft's electronic instruments.

Frak me! But there's more:

According to William Edelstein of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland, that sparse interstellar gas should worry the crew of a spaceship traveling close to the speed of light even more than the Borg decloaking off the starboard bow.

Special relativity describes how space and time are distorted for observers traveling at different speeds. For the crew of a spacecraft ramping up to light speed, interstellar space would appear highly compressed, thereby increasing the number of hydrogen atoms hitting the craft.

At faster-than-light speed, the effect would be like standing directly in the beam of the Large Hadron Collider. The fatal dose of radiation for a human is 6 sieverts, but Edelstein's calculations show that the crew would receive a radiation dose of more than 10,000 sieverts within a second.

Edelstein presented his results on Saturday at the American Physical Society meeting in Washington, D.C.

Our guess is he traveled there at less than warp one.

Interview:

We had a phenomenal time interviewing Sam Witwer at the Farpoint Con in Maryland.  Not only has he been in Battlestar Galactica, Smallville, and Star Wars, but he is a fan himself and a video game fanatic.

Scifi 5 in 5

The Sexiest Women in SciFi TV – according to Scott and what he is watching

1. Tricia Helfer - BSG
2. Alessandra Torresani – Zoe Graystone - Caprica
3. Laura Vandervoort as Lisa – from V
4. Summer Glau – Dollhouse, Terminator: Salvation, Firefly, 4400
5. Morena Baccarin as Anna — the manipulative High Commander of the Visitors and mother of Lisa.
6. Allison Mack – Smallville Chloe Sullivan

The SciFi Diner Podcast

Please call the listener line at 1.888.508.4343 and let us know what you are watching,

email us at scifidinerpodcast@gmail.com

or visit us on Twitter @scifidiner.

Also please check out and join our Facebook Fan Page

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!

On the menu tonight:

On this science fiction podcast, we have with us Shane Felux,  the director and producer of the Trenches webisodes.  We also hear from Dayton Ward. We are going talk about the Farpoint Con in Baltimore Maryland, Farscape, the International Space Station is now a Tie Fighter, Heroes Finale, Smallville Justice Society Episode, Planet Hulk DVD.

Show News:

• The Geek Squared Dollhouse Roundtable Podcast is now out. Scott was a part of this.
• Scott also appeared on Podcaster’s Emporium.
• Also check out Scott's other Podcast the Haiti in Focus Podcast

Promos in the Show:

Balticon Podcast

The Signal Season Six Podcast

Our Interview:

WATCH TRENCHES NOW AT CRACKLE.COM Produced and directed by Shane Felux, creator of the internet phenomenon "Star Wars: Revelations" and the award-winning short "Pitching Lucas" (as chosen by George Lucas and audiences around the world), this latest film adventure takes you to a war-torn planet and the soldiers who fight for its control. But when the smoke of battle clears, these enemies find themselves facing a danger beyond their worst imaginings.

TV News

• Scott is watching Season 1 of Farscape. He blames Kevin Batchelder for this.
• Smallville: Justice Society Episode. We liked this two hour movie.
• Heroes' Finale.  Miles loved it.  Scott liked what he read about it.  If you missed it, you can watch it below.

DVD News

Planet Hulk DVD. If you liked the animated series, you will want to check out this latest incarnation of the Incredible Hulk.

Misc News

International Space Station's New Window - Looks a lot like a Tie Fighter, doesn't it?

Scifi 5 in 5

Scott and Miles share their top five moments from the Farpoint Con in Baltimore Maryland.

1. Our interview and later conversations with Sam Witwer were awesome.  I mean, who wouldn't love chatting with Crashdown from Battlestar Galactica and Starkiller from the Force Unleashed?

2. Ello Poppet! We had an awesome time talking about Hollywood and movies with Pirates of the Caribbean actor Lee Arenberg.

3. Who wouldn't love spending time talking to and interviewing Felicia Day?

4. Our time with the Starship Farragut

5. The Location was nice and the Con Staff were phenomenal

SciFi Rewind Episode 10 - Stargate (The Movie): Give My Regards to King Tut...

SciFi Rewind Episode 9 – Matrix Revolutions: Everything That Ends Has A Beginning

SciFi Rewind Episode 7 – The Matrix Reloaded: We Are All Victims Of Causality

SciFi Rewind Episode 6 - The Matrix - Free Your Mind

SciFi Rewind Episode 5  -  The Matrix Has You!

SciFi Rewind Episode 4 - Dark Angel and Charlie Jade Wrap

SciFi Rewind Episode 3 - Dark Angel and Charlie Jade

SciFi Diner and Tuning Into SciFi TV Podcast Viewing Challenge Episode 2: Initial Thoughts 

SciFi Diner and Tuning Into SciFi TV Podcast Viewing Challenge

SciFi Diner Podcast Ep. 30 - We Interview Adrienne Wilkinson from the Force Unleashed and Xena

Scifi Diner Podcast Ep. 29 - Interview with Michael from NeoFX Part 2; District 9, G.I. Joe Reviews and News

Scifi Diner Podcast  Ep. 28 - Interview with Special Effects Animator Michael from NeoFX; Treminator & Wolverine Sequels!

Scifi Diner Podcast Ep. 27 - Interview with Hayden Black and the Cabonauts (Miracle Laurie, John Barrowman, & More.)

Scifi Diner Podcast  Ep. 26 - The Truth About Harry Potter The Half-Blood Prince, The Hobbit Release Dates, and more!

The SciFi Diner Podcast Promo

SciFi Diner Podcast Ep. 25 - Interview with Dollhouse Active Miracle Laurie (November), We become the SciFi Diner & More!

SciFi Diner Podcast Ep. 24.1 - A Shore Leave Special: An Interview with Ed and His Droid

SciFi Diner Podcast Ep. 24 - Are You a Potterphile?

SciFi Diner Podcast Ep. 23 - Transformers 2, Virtuality, Caprica Reviews, & News

Scifi Diner Podcast Ep. 22 - Why Robert Picardo, Ethan Phillips, Miracle Laurie, & Vanessa Angel need you!

Scifi Diner Podcast Ep. 21 - Our Pre-Shore Leave 31 Interview with Mike Schilling; Torchwood, District 9, and More!

Scifi Diner Podcast Ep. 20 - Welcome to the Whedonverse!

Scifi Diner Podcast Ep. 19 - Terminator Salvation & Wolverine Reviews; News on Stargate Universe, BSG, Sanctuary & More

Scifi Diner Podcast Ep. 18 - SciFi Tackles Corporatism; A New Buffy & Tomb Raider Movie, Dollhouse Plus Much, Much More.

Scifi Diner Podcast Ep. 17 -  Our Interview with John Broughton, Captain of the Starship Farragut: Star Trek Fan Films

Scifi Diner Podcast Ep. 16 - The Put Your Brain on a Leash Episode (Also Known as The Attack of the Finales)

Scifi Diner Podcast Ep. 15 - Star Trek is Reviewed, Praised, and Trashed (Well, Not Really) by Scott and Miles

Scifi Diner Podcast Ep. 14 – Heroes Finale, Caprica DVD, Dr. Horrible Sequel, and Star Trek

Scifi Diner Podcast Ep. 13 – Wolverine, Fringe, Star Trek News; Terminator_:Sarah Connor Chronicles

Scifi Diner Podcast Ep. 12 – Star Wars Fan Films; SciFi TV and Movie News; Star Wars Trivia!

Scifi Diner Podcast Ep. 11 – The Current State of SciFi; News in the World of SciFi

Scifi Diner Podcast Ep. 10 – The So say we all! Battlestar Finale, Is Lost Really Lost? Trivia!

Scifi Diner Podcast Ep. 9 – SyFy? Really? More Star Wars Live Action News; Shore-Leave 31 is Coming.

Scifi Diner Podcast Ep. 8 - R.I.P. Battlestar Galactica; News on the Star Wars Live Action TV Show and more.

Scifi Diner Podcast Ep. 8 - R.I.P. Battlestar Galactica; News on the Star Wars Live Action TV Show and more.

A bunch of us (Mile, Matt, Kris, and Scott) went to see the Watchmen opening night.  This episode chronicles our thoughts and feelings about this movie, seemingly contrary to what other people have to say about it. We also talk about the Star Trek and Terminator: Salvation trailer that aired before hand.   Oh, by the way, because of the subject matter in the Watchmen, this episode is mature and we just want you to be aware of that.  See you next Wednesday!

In this episode, Don, armed with cough medicine and a handkerchief, along with Scott, bring you the latest Sci-fi news.  The conversation includes news on Jonah Hex, Fathom, Nick Fury, Star Trek, Sarah Connor Chronicles, and V.  They also discuss some of their favorite shows like Dollhouse, Heroes, Smallville, and Kyle XY.  Inlcuded in the show are looks at the Watchmen, Harry Potter, and Transformers 2.

In this episode Scott along with the Spirit Matt discuss the Watchmen and their pre-movie anticipations and apprehensions.  They also chat about Battlestar Galactica.  In Sci-fi news, they look at Stargate Universe, Futurama, Smallville, the Sarah Connor Chronicles, Eureka, Supernatural and more.

In this show, we focus on the Fringe exclusively.  We are taking a second look at the Fringe and linking the “Pilot” episode to episode 14 “Ability”. We assume that you have watched the show so there is no summary; however, if your think we should do a brief summary, let us know!

In this episode, Don and Scott discuss the future of Stargate: Universe and introduces the concept, the cast, and when the show will air.  They also look at Fringe and wonder where in the heck it is going for five weeks.   Don goes off on a tirade on Star Trek: Next Generation and how it is the best thing since sliced meat was invented.  “Building 26″ and Heroes are discussed and Don is once again dedicated to Heroes (at least for the moment). Don confesses his closet love of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and his hopes for The Dollhouse.

Episode 2

Scifi Diner Podcast Ep. 1 – Hellboy, StarTrek, Heroes, and the Dollhouse