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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.
Tonight’s Diners: Scott & Miles
Welcome to the Diner.
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On the menu tonight:
On tonight’s science fiction podcast, we have part 2 of our interview with Richard Hatch from Battlestar Galactica. We talk about the defining moments that drew us into SciFi and those of our listeners, how you can win a Star Trek 11 DVD, Our First thoughts on V, Hulu Now NOT charging, Wanna stay in space? Now you can!, Fillion talks about the Beautiful “Horrible” sequel, The Hottest SciFi shows this fall, Gandalf spills the beans on the Hobbit script, our thoughts on Whedon’s Shiny bid to buy the Terminator Franchise, and the best extras on the Star Trek 11 DVD release.
Our Interview:
Starts at 8:33. In our interview with Richard Hatch, we talk about food and survival on Battlestar Galactica, some of things he’s been doing since BSG. He talks about his convention experience as an actor, fan, and teacher. He talks about what drew him into science fiction and how he believes it reflects the world. He challenges anyone to defeat his World Championship status. He talks about he real passion as a teacher and instilling hope. He goes on to talk about the transition that our world is in and give dating advice.
Promos this Week:
“The SciFi 5”
Thanks to Alex Fensen from the New Forest Podcast, we are now starting the SciFi 5 in 5. This is place where listeners (that’s you guys) can send in an MP3 mentioning your 5 favorite SciFi movies, books, tv shows, hairdos etc and in under 5 minutes. We’ll play them at the end of the show.
Listener feedback/questions:
Kevin Bachelder from Tuning into SciFi TV: What was the thing that got you into scifi? Many people have a defining moment, something that turned you onto SciFi. What was yours?
Wooley Mittens from Twitter: I wonder if 90% of your answers will be “Star Wars” 🙂
William Fenstermaker: For Watching: Dad was a Star Trek Fan. For Reading: Lloyd Arthur Eshbach went to our church: http://twurl.nl/w4862c
Herne said he found reality too boring.
Richard Duede: My moment for being turned onto Science Fiction – The first time I watched and then read 2001 A Space Odyssey.
We wanna hear what got you into SciFi. Let us know!
For our trivia question this week: Extended
Submit an iTunes review and copy it to us along with your name and address. All entries get a chance to win either Blu-ray or DVD copy of Battlestar Galactica: The Plan or Star Trek 11. Need to be into us by Wednesday 6 PM EST November 18th. Again we need your address if you want us to send you the prize.
If you know the answer, call us at 1.888.508.4343, e-mail us at scifidinerpodcast@gmail.com, or contact @scifidiner on Twitter with your answers!
Our First Course: Scifi TV:
V became the highest rated sci-fi premiere of the new fall TV season after 13.9 million people watched the pilot episode last night, according to preliminary ratings. That number is still subject to some change, but it looks likely that this will be the biggest show to debut at 8 p.m. since another ABC sci-fi series, Lost.
To put that in perspective, FlashForward was (until now) considered the hit of the season after 12.4 million people watched its first episode. The ratings for V are likely to grow substantially once DVR viewership is added in, since sci-fi shows tend to benefit (or suffer?) most from DVR viewing.
For instance, the FlashForward premiere added nearly 2 million viewers after DVR viewing was accounted for. ABC had planned to give V an indeterminate break after running just the first four episodes, but this will likely make them determine a return date ASAP, which is good news for those who liked the show.
Hulu Follow Up:
Fans of Hulu can breath of sigh of relief.
After rumors sprang up this week that the popular streaming web-site would start charging for content, a source close to the company has told Entertainment Weekly that isn’t the case.
“A source close to Hulu, however, tells EW that the site remains steadfastly committed to free content, explaining that any possible subscription or pay-per-view service has no set timeline and would only build upon what Hulu offers, not replace it,” the magazine reports.
The possibilility of Hulu charging began making the rounds earlier this week when an excutive with the web site said that a free model is a very difficult way to capture the value of [Hulu’s] content,” positing that the site could start charging as early as 2010.
Finally we have something else to look forward to in 2012 other than the end of the world. Thanks to $3 billion in funding from an anonymous billionaire space enthusiast (any guesses as to who that might be?), the Galactic Suite Space Resort has announced that it will begin offering a three-night stay at its hotel in 2012.
CEO Xavier Claramunt, a former aerospace engineer, says that the project will begin with a single pod in orbit 280 miles above the Earth with the capacity to hold four guests and two astronaut-pilots. If you’ve got the bucks, you’ll be able to travel around the world every 80 minutes and see the sun rise 15 times a day.
And even if you’re not yet ready to make a reservation, check out the cool Galactic Suite site to learn all about how to become one of what the company’s calling “Homo spaciens.”
Nathan Fillion updates on Dr Horrible sequel.
“There are plans,” Fillion told MTV News. “The media for the sequel has not yet been decided, but there is a title.”
While Fillion couldn’t spill on the proposed title for the “Dr. Horrible” sequel, he did say that Whedon and the rest of the “Dr. Horrible” creative team—Joss’ brothers Zack Whedon, Jed Whedon and Jed’s wife, Maurissa Tancharoen—already have a few of the songs written.
“Joss, I was talking to him right before we won the Emmy,” said Fillion. “He said that he’s finished writing a song or two. He told me a couple of verses to the song.”
“It’s going to be great,” he said. “I know a bunch of cast members of Dr. Horrible who would love to get back into it.”
TV ratings: Every fall sci-fi show compared by number of viewers:
FlashForward (ABC) Last week’s ratings: 8.98 million viewers
Fringe (Fox) Ratings before baseball: 5.96 million viewers
Heroes (NBC) Last week’s ratings: 5.86 million viewers
Eastwick (ABC) Last week’s ratings: 5.06 million viewers
The Vampire Dairies (The CW) Ratings two weeks ago: 4.19 million viewers
Supernatural (The CW) Ratings two weeks ago: 2.88 million viewers
Smallville (The CW) Last week’s ratings: 2.60 million viewers
SGU: Stargate Universe (Syfy) Ratings from week two: 2.4 million viewers
Dollhouse (Fox) Ratings two weeks ago: 2.15 million viewers
Sanctuary (Syfy) Season premiere ratings: nearly 1.9 million viewers
Our Second Course: SciFi Movies:
‘Gandalf’ has read the Hobbit script and tells us about it
Ian McKellen, whom we expect will put on Gandalf’s gray robes in director Guillermo del Toro’s upcoming Hobbit movies, tells us he’s finally read the script for the films.
And, no, he won’t tell us much about it, except that producer Peter Jackson (who co-wrote the script with longtime Lord of the Rings collaborators Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens, as well as del Toro) wrote it specifically for him.
“As Peter has said, they loved writing Gandalf [for The Hobbit] because they knew who they were writing him for,” McKellen told us exclusively in an interview last week while promoting AMC’s The Prisoner. “There are a lot of characters in The Hobbit, including, crucially, Bilbo, and they don’t know who’s going to play Bilbo. So it’s extremely attractive that this part has been written for me. The other Gandalf was written for, well, just as Gandalf. There’s lots for me to enjoy, in all sorts of ways. And I couldn’t be happier. But I’m sworn to secrecy. I’m not to say anything at all about the script.”
As for del Toro’s input into the new script, McKellen said that he and Jackson speak the same language. “They are the same person,” he said. “They were separated at birth. They’re twins. They have the same attitude. Neither likes working in Hollywood. They’re both fascinated by fantasy and violence on the screen, and gore, and things that frighten you. They like going into the psyche. They’re both brilliant storytellers in very much the same way. And I think the script, because I have read it, plays very much to Guillermo’s strengths, as I’ve seen them. I have seen his other movies, and people act very well in them. So I think it’s all fine. And Peter will always be there.”
John Rhys-Davies will not come back in dwarf form. Rhys-Davies, who played Gimli the dwarf in the Rings trilogy,
William Shatner Unveils Wax Figure Of Kirk – Says He Wants To Be In Star Trek Sequel
We already knew that William Shatner’s Kirk is immortal, but now Kirk has been immortalized, in wax. Today Madame Tussaud’s in Hollywood unveiled its wax figure of James T. Kirk, and William Shatner was there to help. And while he was mugging for the cameras, Bill also talked about the next Star Trek movie. See below for TrekMovie photos and video from the event.
Kirk in Wax!
William Shatner was at the Madame Tussaud’s on Hollywood Blvd to unveil the new Captain Kirk in Wax. They went with Wrath of Khan Admiral Kirk, which a source tells TrekMovie was the preference of CBS Paramount. Here is video of Shatner’s reveal.
Shatner is ready to go (again)
After the unveil and photos, Shatner talked briefly to the gaggle of reporters, when asked if he had plans to be in the next Star Trek movie, the actor stated:
I have no plans, because I don’t make those plans. JJ Abrams has my fate wrapped up in his two little hands. I would love to be in the next Star Trek, if he so thought that would be good for it
Joss Whedon wants Terminator, and what he’d do:
You know how we said the rights to Terminator are up for sale? Well, Joss Whedon has a modest proposal, and we say, game over, give him the reins RIGHT NOW!
Seriously, Whedon—the mastermind behind Alien Resurrection, Buffy and Dr. Horrible—posted this letter and offer on the Whedonesque blog. That is, we think he’s serious.
Dear Sirs/Ma’ams,
I am Joss Whedon, the mastermind behind Titan A.E., Parenthood (not the movie) (or the new series) (or the one where ‘hood’ was capitalized ’cause it was a pun), and myriad other legendary tales. I have heard through the ‘grapevine’ that the Terminator franchise is for sale, and I am prepared to make a pre-emptive bid RIGHT NOW to wrap this dealio up. This is not a joke, this is not a scam, this is not available on TV. I will write a check TODAY for $10,000, and viola! Terminator off your hands.
Before you Terminator-Owners (I have trouble remembering names) rush to cash that sweet cheque, let me give you a taste of what I could do with that franchise:
1) Terminator… of the Rings! Yeah, what if he time-travelled TOO far… back to when there was dragons and wizards? (I think it was the Dark Ages.) Hasta La Vista, Boramir! Cool, huh? “Now you gonna be Gandalf the Red!” RRRRIP! But then he totally helps, because he’s a cyborg and he doesn’t give a s#&% about the ring — it has no power over him! And he can carry it AND Frodo AND Sam AND f@%& up some orcs while he’s doing it. This stuff just comes to me. I mean it. (I will also offer $10,000 for the Lord of the Rings franchise).
2) More Glau. Hey. There’s a reason they’re called “Summer” movies.
3) Can you say… musical? Well don’t. Even I know that’s an awful idea.
4) Christian Bale’s John Connor will get a throat lozenge. This will also help his Batwork (ten grand for that franchise too, btw.)
5) More porn. John Connor never told Kyle Reese this, but his main objective in going to the past was to get some. What if there’s a lot of future-babies that have to be made? Cue wah-wah pedal guitar — and dollar signs!
6) The movies will stop getting less cool.
Okay. There’s more — this brain don’t quit! (though it has occasionally been fired) — but I think you get my drift. I really believe the Terminator franchise has only begun to plumb the depths of questioning the human condition during awesome stunts, and I’d like to shepherd it through the next phase. The money is there, but more importantly, the heart is there. But more importantly, money. Think about it. End this bloody bidding war before it begins, and put the Terminator in the hands of someone who watched the first one more than any other movie in college, including “Song of Norway” (no current franchise offer).
Sincerely, Joss Whedon.
3rd Course SciFi DVD/Video:
The 6 best extras on the new Star Trek DVD/Blu-ray.
The upcoming Star Trek DVD/Blu-ray has some particularly juicy extras on it, which is good news if you were a fan of the J.J. Abrams reboot. The disc doesn’t drop until Nov. 17, but Abrams and screenwriters Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman gave us a preview last month, and we picked out what we think are the six best features for you:
Lets share these and chat about each one:
The Klingons make their debut. The knobby-headed nemeses appeared in an early cut but were excised from the final film. “They were in the movie, and it’s one of those things that I hated to cut, for a number of reasons,” Abrams said. “One of them was that I loved the design, the world and the story, and that moment was really cool. So I’m very excited for people to see these scenes.” The sequence also has more action: You’ll see Nero take down his prison guards, and he fights Romulan-style.
Alias‘s Spy Daddy, Victor Garber, appears. Abrams’ former Alias star had a cameo as one of the Klingons, interrogating Nero (Eric Bana). “Victor Garber, who is one of my favorite actors, played a Klingon, was in the movie, had a ton of makeup and a very heavy, hot costume,” Abrams said. “I had to call him and tell him his scene wasn’t in the film. A huge consolation for me was that it will live forever on the DVD and Blu-ray, so I’m psyched for people to see that.”
See Spock born. In the movie, we see James Tiberius Kirk born while his father dies in a space battle. Orci and Kurtzman wrote Spock’s birth, too, but you’ll only see it on the DVD. “The first scene of the movie was the birth of Spock,” Kurtzman said. “I think that we knew that the way these characters were born was going to define everything about who they would become. Knowing that Kirk was going to be a renegade, knowing that he was going to have father issues, knowing he was going to be lost, knowing he was going to have to come into his own as captain prescribed a series of things that allowed us to think about ‘What would create a man like that?’ Which was a very emotional place to begin.”
Spock Prime explains one of the movie’s biggest coincidences. Perhaps the biggest complaint fans had about the reboot movie was that it was awfully coincidental for young Kirk (Chris Pine) to land on an ice planet only a few steps away from where Spock Prime (Leonard Nimoy) was waiting for him. The original cut of the movie dealt with it, but the explanation wound up on the cutting-room floor. “In the scene where they’re in the cave, there was a sequence that is on the DVD that was cut from the movie where Spock speaks to that,” Abrams said. “He talks about how this is sort of the timeline’s way of trying to repair itself, and it’s as much about fate as anything. The trick in doing any movie, but especially something like this that involves some weird alternate-reality/time-travel thing, is that you don’t want to not explain it, but you don’t want to explain everything.”
The last word on why William Shatner’s not in it. Abrams has explained before that he really wanted the original Capt. Kirk in the movie but couldn’t figure out a way to explain his on-screen death in Star Trek: Generations. Let the DVD be the final word on that, with its featurette “The Shatner Conundrum.” “Essentially, it’s about how do you put him in the movie when you want him in it so badly, and yet the story actually seems in counter purposes with the story you want to tell?” Abrams said.
A gag reel. Among other things, this shows how Zachary Quinto (Spock) flubs his lines. “When you see Zachary screw up and sort of go from Spock to Zachary, Spock to Zachary, the back and forth, is so funny to me,” Abrams said. “He could not be less like Spock, and yet he was so convincing. To have him bounce back and forth so quickly as he screws up just makes me laugh every time.”