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SciFi Diner Podcast Ep. 172a
Agents of SHEILD, Ender’s Game, Renewals, and Much More.
The SciFi Diner Podcast
A 2012 Parsec Finalist
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Tonight’s Diners: Scott, Miles, and M.
Welcome to the Diner.
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Menu:
New Trivia: New Trivia with New Star Trek Related Loot
TV News: Agents of SHIELD: news & teaser, Once Upon A Time renewed, Defiance renewed Orphan Black renewed. Almost Human news, 24 coming back!, Believe news, The Blacklist and More.
Movie News: Ender’s Game Trailer and saving World Z
TWIST: Star Trek Debit Cards. 10 missed opportunities in Star Trek, Quinto/Nimoy Audi commercial
SciFi 5 in 5 : The Five SciFi TV Shows that have the best chance of succeeding this fall.
Trivia:
Trivia Question: Who was the first captain of the constitution class starship: USS Enterprise?
The Prize: All four Countdown to Darkness comic books
Promos:
TV News:
Joss Whedon’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Will Bring Marvel Universe to TV
To the surprise of no one, ABC has confirmed that Joss Whedon’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. has been picked up to series from Marvel Studios, bringing the cinematic Marvel universe to television for the first time… and Clark Gregg’s Agent Phil Coulson back to life, in the process.
Whedon, who wrote and directed last year’s Marvel’s The Avengers in which Coulson was killed, directed and co-wrote the pilot episode along with Jed Whedon and Maurissa Tancharoen, his collaborators from both Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog and the short-lived Dollhouse series; the two will act as showrunners for the new series.
The official ABC description of the series goes like this:
Clark Gregg reprises his role of Agent Phil Coulson from Marvel’s feature films as he assembles a small, highly select group of Agents from the worldwide law-enforcement organization known as S.H.I.E.L.D. Together they investigate the new, the strange, and the unknown across the globe, protecting the ordinary from the extraordinary. Coulson’s team consists of Agent Grant Ward (Brett Dalton), highly trained in combat and espionage, Agent Melinda May (Ming-Na Wen) expert pilot and martial artist, Agent Leo Fitz (Iain De Caestecker); brilliant engineer and Agent Jemma Simmons (Elizabeth Henstridge) genius bio-chemist. Joining them on their journey into mystery is new recruit and computer hacker Skye (Chloe Bennet). From Executive Producers Joss Whedon (“Marvel’s The Avengers,” ”Buffy the Vampire Slayer”); Jed Whedon & Maurissa Tancharoen, “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” pilot co-writers (“Dollhouse,” “Dr.Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog”); Jeffrey Bell (“Angel,” “Alias”); and Jeph Loeb (“Smallville”) comes Marvel’s first TV series. “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” is produced by ABC Studios and Marvel Television.
The first promo for Marvel‘s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., the ABC television show about the comic-book universe’s espionage and law-enforcement agency, has surfaced online.
The 30-second spot highlights Clark Gregg reprising his role as Agent Phil Coulson from Marvel’s feature films, including Iron Man, Iron Man 2, Thor and The Avengers (in which he dies). According to the show’s official site, Coulson assembles a small, highly trained team of agents to “tackle the cases that haven’t been classified yet — the new strange and the unknown.”
It’s not exactly Marvel’s first TV series; the animated side of the company has been running Ultimate Spider-Man and Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes on Disney XD for some time, with the latter show about to be replaced by the more movie-friendly Avengers Assemble and Hulk and the Agents of SMASH series.
‘Once Upon A Time’ Renewed For Season 3 By ABC
ABC’s “Once Upon a Time” has been renewed for a third season, the network announced today.
The sophomore series has fluctuated between ratings highs of 3.9 in the 18-49 demo and lows of 2.1, but “Once Upon A Time” was always considered a safe bet for renewal.
ABC is also working on a Wonderland-focused spinoff that would likely feature Barbara Hershey as Cora, The Queen of Hearts. The spinoff will reportedly focus onAlice (Sophie Lowe) “who has a generous heart but carries the scars of a long hard life.”
Star Ginnifer Goodwin tweeted her excitement when ABC announced the news:
And co-creator Adam Horowitz thanked the fans for the renewal and spin-off pick-up:
Syfy’s ‘Defiance’ Renewed For Season 2
To date, the game has garnered more than 1 million registered accounts while making gaming history as the first online open world shooter to launch on three platforms simultaneously. As the collaboration between show and game continue into a second season, players will have the opportunity to further influence the world of Defiance.
Kevin Murphy (Desperate Housewives, Caprica, Hellcats) resumes his role as executive producer and showrunner. Smallville’s Darren Swimmer and Todd Slavkin return as executive producers for season two and Michael Taylor serves as consulting producer.
Bringing the rich world of Defiance to life has been an incredible team effort. We couldn’t ask for better partners than Kevin Murphy, his amazing cast and crew, and Trion Worlds,” said Mark Stern, President of Original Content for Syfy and Co-Head of Original Content for UCP. “We can’t wait to see where they take us in the second season.”
Set in the near future, Defiance features an exotically transformed planet Earth, its landscapes permanently altered following the sudden – and tumultuous – arrival of seven unique alien races. In this somewhat unknown and unpredictable landscape, the richly diverse, newly-formed civilization of humans and aliens must learn to co-exist peacefully. Each week, viewers follow an immersive character drama set in the boom-town of Defiance, which sits atop the ruins of St. Louis, Missouri, while in the game, players will experience the new frontier of the San Francisco Bay area.
The audience for its April 15 premiere was the second largest series premiere in the network’s history among adults 18-49, making it the biggest in nearly nine years in that coveted demographic, based on Live +7 Data. The premiere also delivered almost 4 million viewers (3,834,000) and has quickly become Syfy’s highest-rated original series this year in adults 18-49, adults 25-54 and total viewers. It has also received unprecedented attention as a transmedia event in partnership with Trion Worlds’ MMO game. Airing Mondays at 9pm, Defiance stars Grant Bowler, Julie Benz, Stephanie Leonidas, Tony Curran, Jaime Murray, Graham Greene and Mia Kirshner.
‘Orphan Black’ to Return for Season Two in 2014! – Thanks Radu for pointing this out.
We’re thrilled to announce that BBC America’s Supernatural Saturday thriller,Orphan Black, will be returning for a second season in 2014! From the official press release:
BBC AMERICA has renewed highly acclaimed original series, Orphan Black, for a second season to return as part of Supernatural Saturday in 2014. The conspiracy clone thriller starring Tatiana Maslany has been re-commissioned with a 10-episode order from Temple Street Productions, ahead of its season one finale on Saturday, June 1.
In making the announcement, Perry Simon, General Manager, Channels, BBC Worldwide America said: “Tatiana Maslany has delivered one of the year’s standout performances. We’re excited to commission a second season from the talented team of Graeme, John and Temple Street Productions, and we can’t wait to see who Tatiana shows up as in season two.”
“We’re delighted with the second season order for Orphan Black and want to thank everyone at BBC AMERICA, BBC Worldwide and Space for their support and commitment to our show,” commented David Fortier and Ivan Schneeberg, executive producers of Orphan Black and Co-Presidents of Temple Street Productions. “We’re thrilled to continue this journey with such a strong team and fantastic cast, led by the ridiculously talented Tatiana Maslany. A huge thanks to the fans for their steadfast support of the show. We’re looking forward to giving every one of them more Orphan Black.”
The innovative series has earned critical acclaim including The Hollywood Reporter saying “It is, flat out, one of the most intriguingly entertaining new series of the year,” TV Guide Magazine calling it: “a tangy, sexy blend of sci-fi and Run Lola Run-style chase thriller.” and the New York Postproclaiming: “If God and the Emmys are fair, at least six Maslanys will be picking up statuettes this September.”
Orphan Black is produced by Temple Street Productions in association with BBC AMERICA and SPACE. The series is co-created by Graeme Manson and John Fawcett, with Manson also serving as writer and Fawcett as director. Ivan Schneeberg and David Fortier are executive producers on behalf of Temple Street. The cast includes Maria Doyle Kennedy (Downton Abbey, Dexter), Jordan Gavaris (Degrassi, Unnatural History), Dylan Bruce (As The World Turns, Unstoppable), Kevin Hanchard (The Listener, Take the Lead) and Michael Mando (Make Your Move, The Colony).
The groundbreaking series launched on March 30 with Sarah (Maslany), an outsider and orphan whose life changes dramatically after witnessing the suicide of a woman, “Beth,” who looks just like her. Sarah takes her identity, her boyfriend and her bank account. But instead of solving her problems, the street-smart chameleon is thrust headlong into a kaleidoscopic mystery. She makes the dizzying discovery that she and the dead woman are clones… but are they the only ones? Sarah quickly finds herself caught in the middle of a deadly conspiracy, racing to find answers.
Excited for another season of Orphan Black?
FOX: Almost Human is picked up for Fall
(FOX ratings fell 20% this past year)
Almost Human — Drama
Produced by Bonanza Productions in association with Bad Robot Productions and Warner Bros. Television. From writer/executive producer JH Wyman, executive producers JJ Abrams and Bryan Burk, co-executive producer/director Brad Anderson and co-executive producers Kathy Lingg and Reid Shane:
And because FOX is really desperate and we NEED more Jack Bauer: ’24’ returning to Fox for 12 episodes, network announces
Jack Bauer is coming back.
Fox executives said Monday that its drama “24” is returning next May for a limited run that will stretch into the summer. The adventure series with Kiefer Sutherland starring as Jack Bauer ended its original run in 2010.
Fox programming chief Kevin Reilly said creators had been thinking about doing a movie with the original cast. But when Fox announced it was interested in doing a big event miniseries, they realized it was the perfect format.
“They always had this idea of maybe someday doing a feature film,” he said. “I think they all agreed 24 being compressed into two hours is not 24.”
Sutherland said he was excited to see his character return to TV.
“The response to ‘24’ is unlike anything I have ever experienced as an actor before,” Sutherland said in a statement. “To have the chance to reunite with the character, Jack Bauer, is like finding a lost friend. The story ideas from [producer] Howard Gordon are exciting and fresh, and will not disappoint…Make no mistake, my goal is to knock your socks off.”
NBC – Believe
Jake McLaughlin (Savages) is set to star in Believe, NBC’s drama pilot from J.J. Abrams and Oscar-nominated filmmaker Alfonso Cuarón. The high-concept project, written by Cuarón and Mark Friedman, is about the unlikely relationship between Bo, a girl in possession of a great gift/powers — which will come into their own in seven years — and Tate (McLaughlin), the man who is sprung from prison to protect her from those trying to hunt her down.
James Spader to Star in NBC’s Spy Drama ‘The Blacklist’
NBC has found its spy guy.
After fielding multiple offers this pilot season, James Spader has been tapped to star in the network’s psychological drama thriller The Blacklist, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.
The pilot revolves around Raymond “Red” Reddington, the world’s most-wanted criminal who mysteriously turns himself in and offers to give up everyone he has ever worked with. His only condition is he will only work with a newly minted FBI agent Liz Keen (Blue Bloods’ Megan Boone) with whom he seemingly has no connection.
Spader will play Red, who is described as a dignified, worldly and magnetic former Army intelligence offer who went AWOL. He doesn’t consider himself to be a spy but instead a facilitator, who brokers deals for criminals and has no allegiance to any country or political agenda — only the highest bidder.
90210 grad Ryan Eggold will portray Tom, Liz’s easy-going husband and the emotional glue that holds the couple together who secretly has betrayed her.
Jon Bokenkamp (Perfect Stranger) will pen the pilot for Sony Pictures Television and executive produce alongside John Fox, John Davis andJohn Eisendrath (Alias), the latter of whom will serve as showrunner.
The casting brings Emmy winner Spader back to NBC, where he most recently starred onThe Office. Spader (The Practice, Boston Legal, Lincoln) is repped by ICM Partners and Ziffren Brittenham.
Movie News:
Paramount Out To Prove Its Zombie ‘World War Z’ Doesn’t Stink
Summer 2013 has many budget busting blockbusters. But also problems that have plagued some during pre-production, filming, and post-production. Not since John Carter and Battleship has a big-budget movie received more advance negative press for its production woes than World War Z,the Marc Forster-directed adaptation of the Max Brooks zombie-apocalypse novel that stars and is produced by Brad Pitt. I was shown the movie, but not in its 3D format, weeks before its June 21 release. And each time the response from industry insiders was a version of, “Well, just how bad is it?” Paramount with these select screenings has just begun the daunting campaign of rehabilitating the film’s battered image. According to Vice Chairman Rob Moore, the studio spent $15M-$20M and 25 shooting days to makeWWZ significantly better. Yet the reward has been worse advance buzz than if Paramount had kept its wallet shut and quietly released the inferior original. I don’t know if I would have penned this post had I hated the movie, but I consider myself a connoisseur of zombie fare, and this stacks up very favorably. I’m no reviewer, but I can honestly say that WWZ is better than good; try a rocking, smart, pulse-pounding big-scale pandemic with raging zombies, palpable tension, and the kind of hero star turn Pitt hasn’t performed in a long time.
You know things are bad when your star mouths off about a troubled film before it even opens.
This Week in Star Trek:
Stardate – 310355.17 (May 10, 2013)
CARD.com has launched the first-ever official Star Trek Visa prepaid cards into orbit with help from StarTrek.com. We thought you and your readers could be the VERY first card-carrying members of Starfleet!
We’d love it if you blog about this card and spread the word! These debit cards are issued from a bank (not gift cards), so you can use them everywhere Visa is accepted. Want to flaunt a Federation Visa, Captain Kirk Visa, or Spock Visa? We have them all!
There is no credit check, no cost to get one, and you should be approved in seconds. For more info visit card.com/star-trek-prepaid-visa
10 Biggest Missed Opportunities in Star Trek History
Zachary Quinto vs. Leonard Nimoy
By Captain Pyke
Is it an ad for Audi? You bet. Is it awesome and full of Spocks? That too. In a brand new YouTube video “ad” Zachary Quinto takes on Leonard Nimoy in a “battle of speed and wits”. Yeah, there’s tons of product placement, but how often do you get to see Leonard Nimoy singing The Ballad of Bilbo Baggins and then immediately parody his TWOK death scene.
Maybe we’re giddy with excitment over the sheer amount of Spocks in this video, but it’s pretty darn funny. Let’s hope they each got a free S7 out of the deal. Check it out below.
Zachary Quinto vs. Leonard Nimoy: “The Challenge”
SciFi 5 at 5:
Top 5 New shows we think are going to make it.
WildCard: About time
5. Agents of SHEILD – Joss Whedon
4. Almost Human – JJ
3. Believe – JJ
2. HELIX – Moore
1. Sleepy Hollow – Directed by Len Wiseman of Underworld fame and produced by Fringe co-creators Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci