Sci-Fi TV Sunday: Lost, FlashForward, V, Smallville, Doctor Who, Heroes, Caprica + more | TrekMovie.com
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Sci-Fi TV Sunday: Lost, FlashForward, V, Smallville, Doctor Who, Heroes, Caprica + more February 7, 2010

by Rosario T. Calabria , Filed under: Sci-Fi , trackback

In this week’s edition of Sci-Fi TV we start off with lots of Lost, from answers about this week’s episode through to the finale, plus new previews. We also have news on changes with FlashForward and V, the possibility for new seasons of Smallville and Supernatural, Neil Gaiman writing for Doctor Who, and much more. All that plus the latest television ratings, casting bites, images and videos.

 

GENRE TV NEWS

Lost Producers talk "flash sideways" +  promise to "deliver an ending" (on May 23rd)
In a recent interview with MTV, "Lost" producers Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse said that despite years of unanswered questions, fans should expect — and in fact deserve — for the show to "deliver an ending":

"We can’t deliver a ’sort of’ ending, where [the series finale] could be the ending," Lindelof said. "This is our ending, that’s all we can say."

"We worked so hard to basically do something that we didn’t feel had ever been done before, which is taking a heavily mythologized show and arguing for an end date three years out," Lindelof said. "So we feel like it’s kind of a slap in the face to all of the fans … [for us] to not deliver an ending."

Speaking of that ending, ABC has announced that the two-hour sixth season/series finale will air on Sunday, May 23rd from 9:00-11:00 p.m.  It will be preceded by a recap special from 8:00-9:00 p.m.  In other news, if you’ve seen the premiere, you know about the season’s "different kind of storytelling device" that producers have been teasing for months, and the new "flash-sideways" will take over for the flashbacks and flash-forwards utilized in previous seasons:

"The flash-sideways enable us to return to Season 1’s character-centric episodes," explains executive producer Damon Lindelof. "They’ll show what [the characters’] lives would have been like if Oceanic 815 had landed and how their lives are different from the lives that we knew before." In one reality, the bomb sent the islanders back to 2007 after Desmond had blown up the Swan hatch. In the coinciding alternate reality, "We’ll all criss-cross in very different ways," says Yunjin Kim (Sun). "Certain characters will recognize each other and certain won’t."

Lindelof and Cuse talk more about the creation of the "flash-sideways", and offer several more details about season six, in interviews with EW and TV Guide. Also, here are a few "bites" consisting of episode spoilers and some more bits from other interviews with the cast and crew of "Lost":

Episode 6×03 – "What Kate Does" [more at DocArzt]

Preview clip from episode 6×03 – "What Kate Does"


Watch another clip here

Lost Pilot vs. Season Six Premiere: Oceanic 815 Side-by-Side [YouTube via DocArzt]

Interview with Terry O’Quinn [E! Online]

Watch more cast interviews: Jorge Garcia | Michael Emerson & Terry O’Quinn

David Goyer Exiting As Showrunner of FlashForward
"FlashForward" co-creator David Goyer is stepping down as showrunner, THR Feed reports.  Goyer will remain "involved" with the show, but ABC is looking for a new showrunner.  Goyer released the following statement explaining his departure:

"As my feature projects have started ramping up again, I felt I was being pulled in too many directions. I’m proud of the show and excited about the relaunch. It’s in great hands."

Goyer’s replacement will be the third person to run the series after Goyer and original showrunner Marc Guggenheim ("Eli Stone").  "FlashForward" is currently in production shooting episodes 17 and 18 of its 23-episode order and returns with new episodes on March 18th (preceded by an as-yet-dated recap special).  Check out a casting call for episode 19 at SpoilerTV.

New promo [YouTube]

Smallville: Absolute Justice Hits Season Highs
Friday night’s two-hour "Smallville" TV movie "Absolute Justice" hit season highs, drawing an average audience of 2.77 million viewers and a 1.2 A18-49 rating (according to preliminary fast affiliate data).  The show drew its largest audience during the final half-hour (9:30-10:00) which attracted 3.02 million viewers and a 1.3 A18-49 rating. In other news, here are the upcoming episode dates for the show (note the one-month hiatus after the February 26th episode):

The CW also released an official description for the Feb. 26th episode "Conspiracy" [via OSCK]:

ZOD IS SHOT
Bernard Chisholm, a doctor who died and was brought back to life by the Kandorians so they can experiment on him, escapes and kidnaps some Kandorians in order to prove aliens have invaded Earth. Bernard tries to get Lois (Erica Durance) to write a story validating his claim, but when Lois refuses, he kidnaps her too. In an effort to save his people, Zod (Callum Blue) poses as a reporter from the Daily Planet and uncovers Bernard’s secret lab. Clark (Tom Welling) arrives at the lab just in time to see Zod get shot.

Promo for episode 9×13 – "Warrior" [YouTube]

Report: The CW In Talks to Renew Smallville, Supernatural and Vampire Diaries
The CW is reportedly in "deep" contract negotiations and are in the process of finalizing the paperwork to renew several of their shows, including "Smallville", "Supernatural" and "The Vampire Diaries’", according to SpoilerTV.  According to the site, The CW is expected to make official renewal announcements for the shows sometime later this month.  In related news, both "The Vampire Diaries" and "Supernatural" will be going on a six-week hiatus after the February 11th episode.  On the plus side, when they return on March 25th, they will have no breaks until the season finales on May 13th.

Promo for Supernatural episode 5×14 – "My Bloody Valentine" [YouTube]

Watch a webclip from the episode here

Promo for The Vampire Diaries episode 1×13 – "Children of the Damned" [YouTube]

Watch a sneak peek of the episode here

V Adds Three To Cast + Jane Badler Closer to Joining?
The ABC series "V" has added three actors in new roles. Charles Mesure, who played the Archangel Michael on "Xena: Warrior Princess" will recur as mercenary Kyle Hobbes, "an in-demand black ops expert who forms an unlikely alliance with the resistance" through Erica (Erica Elizabeth), Ryan (Morris Chestnut), Jack (Joel Gretsch) and George (David Richmond-Peck). Nicholas Lea ("X-Files", "Andromeda") will play Erica’s ex-husband in a two-episode arc.  And lastly, Lexa Doig ("Andromeda", "Stargate SG-1") will play Dr. Leah Pearlman, an OB/GYN who is treating Valerie Stevens (Lourdes Benedicto), who recently discovered she was pregnant with Ryan’s baby.  Meanwhile, original series star Jane Badler revealed that she recently had a meeting with one of the shows producers in Los Angeles about joining the show: "Sure hope I am back on V waiting to hear but had a great meeting in LA with producer and I seemed to impress him.. He was
excited about the thought of me on the show so FINGERS CROSSED.." "V" returns with new episodes on March 30th. 

Promotional/cast images [more at VisitorSite]

New promo: "They Return" [YouTube]


Neil Gaiman Will Write Episode of Doctor Who
In his acceptance message for winning Best Comic at the SFX Awards, Neil Gaiman confirmed that he is writing an episode for the second Matt Smith season of "Doctor Who":

"…And while I know it’s cruel to make you wait for things, in about 14 months from now, which is to say, NOT in the upcoming season but early in the one after that, it’s quite possible that I might have written an episode. And if I had, it would originally have been called “The House of Nothing”. But it definitely isn’t called that any more."

In other ‘Who’ news, the latest issue of Doctor Who magazine has revealed the titles of the first three episodes of the upcoming season.  The first two episodes, both written by new showrunner Steven Moffat, will be called "The Eleventh Hour" and "The Beast Below".  Mark Gatiss’ "Victory Of The Daleks" will be the third episode. In casting news, Digital Spy reports that Bill Nighy will guest star as the curator of a Vincent van Gogh exhibition in the series upcoming Richard Curtis-penned episode (episode 10):

"It was a real coup to get Bill Nighy in Doctor Who, especially in Richard Curtis’s amazing episode. Bill plays a van Gogh expert with some similar fashion choices to The Doctor himself," a show insider told Digital Spy.

The best of David Tennant as the Doctor [SCI FI Wire]

Could Heroes Season 4 Finale Be Re-Edited to Serve as Series Finale?
Next week is the "Heroes" fourth season finale and it’s no secret that ratings have been particularly bad this season.  On that point, star Masi Oka (Hiro) told Fancast that the finale could also be edited to serve as a series finale:

"They could probably edit it [to provide closure]," Masi Oka told me. "But whatever the case, I really hope that we get an opportunity to at least give the show a proper ending in one way or another. We want to pay respect to the fans who have been with us since Day 1."

Episode 4×19 – "Brave New World" [more at SpoilerTV]

Sneak peek at episode 4×19 – "Brave New World" [YouTube]

Watch five more clips: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

2010 SFX Awards Announced – Abrams wins for Best Film Director
The SFX Awards were announced during the SFX Magazine annual convention on Saturday.  Courtesy SF Awards Watch, here is the complete list of winners (head on over to SFX.co.uk for list of all the nominees)

NEW VIDEOS

Caprica

Promo for episode 1×05 – "Gravedancing" [YouTube]

Chuck

Sneak peek at episode 3×07 – "Chuck vs. the Mask" [YouTube]

Legend of the Seeker

Promo for episode 2×11 – "Torn" [YouTube]

NEW IMAGES

Survivors

Episode 2×03 [more at Film Review Online]

Episode 2×04 [more at Film Review Online]

TV BITES

CASTING BITES

SCI-FI RATINGS (Based on final national numbers unless otherwise noted) [@TravisYanan]

The syndicated sci-fi drama "Legend of the Seeker" continues its ratings climb. The January 23rd episode drew 2.45 million viewers which was up 4% from the episode prior and a solid 7% from its season low performance on Jan. 9th.  Overall, the current season has averaged 2.42 million viewers (through nine original episodes). [TV by the Numbers]

The news isn’t as welcoming for the Syfy original series "Caprica".  After premiering with a soft 1.60 million viewers and a 0.4 A18-49 rating — which many blamed on the wide availability of the premiere due to its release on DVD/Blu-ray and download sites — week two declined to just 1.41 million viewers (-12%).  However, there was one positive; the show’s performance in the key A18-49 demographic increased one-tenth of a point to a 0.5 rating (+25%). [@TravisYanan]

CHART (1/25/2010 to 1/31/2010)


Follow Russ on his blog: Your Entertainment Now and on Twitter: Twitter.com/YourEntNow.

Comments»

1. CarlG - February 7, 2010

Neil Gaiman? In my Doctor Who? Yes please! :D

2. The TOS Purist aka The Purolator - February 7, 2010

Why is Heroes still on the air? Aren’t all the seasons exactly the same? I gave up after Season 2, because absolutely nothing happened and at the end of every episode, no matter what character development happened, they put things back to exactly the way they were in the beginning of the episode, like a sitcom.

Damn, but that show sucks.

3. smokingrobot - February 7, 2010

‘God did it’. ‘They’re Angels’. ‘Lets throw all our technology into the sun and doom ourselves, our children, and our entire culture to a slow, painful, meaningless death’. So much for Caprica.

4. captain_neill - February 7, 2010

Goyer stepping down half way through first season of FlashForward. Looks less likely it will be getting a second season.

Great to hear Jane Badler might be in the new V, not on in UK yet but loved the original V. Jane Badler was sexy as Diana.

5. Thomas - February 7, 2010

I never got into Heroes, so I can’t personally say how good (or bad) it is, but from all I’ve heard I may have saved myself some trouble. I know more than a few people who loved the show at first but have long since given up on it.

Looking forward to new Doctor Who, though. I still haven’t seen The New Doctor/Waters of Mars/The End of Time yet (I live in the US and don’t have BBC America), but they’re on my Netflix queue. I did see Planet of the Dead, and it was as bad as everyone said it was. I didn’t even finish it, it was so boring.

6. Andy Patterson - February 7, 2010

“V” has gotten me to watching a network TV show again. And that girl is the big reason. Wow!

7. devon - February 7, 2010

Jane Badler rocks! love her! Wish she could play Diana, but would still love to see her in any way,shape, or form!

8. David G. - February 7, 2010

Three words for the CW Network regarding last Friday’s “Absolute Justice” episode of “Smallville”:

“Fall season spinoff!”

9. Imrahil - February 7, 2010

The only Brit Morgan I know of took off her clothes a lot and had sex on camera. Hope it’s her!

10. davidfuchs - February 7, 2010

#5

As someone who watched the first episodes, then didn’t get back into the show until mid-season 3 via Hulu, the quality has gotten dramatically better. I think the problem is that it’s a very different show then what most people expected in the beginning (or even what was promised), and also that they haven’t been able to deliver consistency; some episodes this season were great, but followed up by lots of chess-playing “I can hear the chairs being set for next episode” stuff.

11. RTC - February 7, 2010

“V” has not drawn me in at all as a TV show. But Morena Baccarin … Wow!!!!!!!!

12. Jim Nightshade - February 7, 2010

I dunno bout smallville-daniel jackson as hawkman? I kept thinkin he needs a shave n i kept waiting for the rest of his stargate buds to show up–I think heroes has gotten better this season–the last several episodes have been great-syler is trying to find himself hiros brain tumor got fixed,the evil circus is very something wicked this way comes ish kinda–i hope they git a chance to end the series better than just reediting next weeks show-still quinto is a smart guy-he knew syler may not last 4ever so now hes spock-

13. Captain Hackett - February 7, 2010

Bringing Jane Badler back into V is a very MUST.

14. Chronos - February 7, 2010

Really enjoying Caprica! Great cast, and interesting world-building.

15. 790 - February 7, 2010

The female that plays the lead on V is super hot. Btw.

Thomas, dude you have to hang in there with Doc Who. Planet of the Dead was a fun episode that sets up the finale.
Waters of Mars and the End of Time 1-2, were great! Not to mention, the Next Doctor!
During the last few minutes of End of Time part 2, you get to see the new Doctor. I have to say I was a skeptic, but this new kid is going to be great!!!!

Also congrats on the winners from SFX Awards, Doc Who and Torchwood deserved it!

16. Thomas - February 7, 2010

15. 790

I definitely plan to watch them when they come. I have actually seen Matt Smith’s Doctor; someone posted the last 10 or so minutes of End of Time part II on YouTube. I’m looking forward to seeing where (and Moffett) go with the character.

17. Thomas - February 7, 2010

Sorry, that should say “…where Smith (and Moffett) go with the charatcer.”

18. Zebonka - February 7, 2010

The only reason Heroes is in such poor shape is that they lost sight of what was important – getting Kristen Bell and Hayden Panitierre to kiss each other. Big, wet, lingering kisses. Possibly some panties shots as well.

19. Ro Laren - February 8, 2010

Erica Elizabeth? Her name is Elizabeth Mitchell.

I hope the numbers get better for Caprica!

20. denny cranium - February 8, 2010

Yes Caprica is excellent.
Hope the numbers improve

21. MidMoElMarko - February 8, 2010

One word for “Absolute Justice” episode(s) of Smallville – brilliant! By far the best of the Lex-less episodes. Great to see Dr. Fate live, well done. Even the golden age comics had problems with him (what can he do, why does he do it…..).

Sure would like a copy of that JSA portrait…..hello Ebay?

Wouldn’t it have been cool if the writers had tried to work in the Spectre…..good luck with THAT character. “Smallville presents: The Trouble With Insane Gods!”

Michael Shanks was great as Hawkman….

We old dudes who actually REMEMBER the golden age heroes have to get used to all of the “re-imagining”, “rebooting”, “re-etc”…sometimes done poorly (”meteor freaks”?), sometimes, like in this episode, done well

22. crazydaystrom - February 8, 2010

Heroes needs to be put to its final rest. This season’s been okay but the show’s never been able to regain its first season heat. They saved the cheerleader but obviously cannot save the show. There were some implicit promises made that were never kept, ‘Dark Hiro’ being only one of them. They’ve killed off some of the most interesting characters. And the show became too ‘Syler-centric’!

23. Lore - February 8, 2010

Dr. Fate told Clark that his biggest challange would be with Lex Luther, Clark responded “Lex is dead”. Dr. Fate told us Lex is alive. Could Lex be back for season 10?

24. LordEdzo - February 8, 2010

Syfy, I am *rapidly* losing interest in “Caprica” – and I was a hardcore fan of the reimagined BSG.

I realize that we’ve only seen two episodes (besides the movie) so far, but “Reins of a Waterfall” was just so … tedious … that I couldn’t wait for it to end.

Other than Esai Morales and the Cylon robot, I find *none* of characters and their actors even remotely compelling. The “Zoe” actress needs to pull *way* back on the intensity. Eric Stoltz needs a shot of B12. The “Amanda” actress has gotta go – she’s just … *so* not interesting.

The show needs to stop dragging its feet (a la “Reins of a Waterfall”) and cut to the chase. I want to see *Cylons.” Enough already with the Zoe Avatar … just get the robot assembly line going.

Sheesh … SGU was *way* better and more interesting at this point in its run.

25. Darkwing - February 8, 2010

speaking of SGU, apparently the next half of the season is action oriented, so that should be neat to see, and I’d like to see a fifth season for heroes, or even a half season to wrap it all up properly

26. Eli - February 8, 2010

Looking at the ratings, how is not bringing back “fringe” even a question? It’s one of the best genre network shows on now or ever been!

27. Gary the Gorn - February 8, 2010

I was really looking forward to Caprica but it looks like the SyFy Network is going towards all drama and light on Science Fiction. Look at Caprica and Stargate Universe. They’re just dramas set in a different setting. Nothing cool happens.

Caprica is just a retelling of Frankenstein and SGU almost entirely takes place on the ship.

Neither show has likable characters. All negative and moody. Hope they get better quickly. Adama’s Dad or Grandpa is a mafia hitman. Give me a break.

And give Ghosthunters a rest. Nothing happens on that show ever. I fall asleep every time I watch it. I think there are 3 versions of Ghosthunters on SyFy now. They must be extremely cheap to produce.

How about some new ideas SyFy?

28. nuSpock - February 8, 2010

Regarding the Lost clips: after seeing ‘what Kate did’ i say she deserved to be on the island and i hope the smoke monster gets her!

and #12…keep in mind this form of Hawkman is a much older version in a mental place similar to what Oliver Queen just came out of…the dark, i dont give a f**k attitude that typically comes with mounting facial hair…

and for future Smallville episodes: I WANT WONDER WOMAN TO APPEAR! NOT JUST LOIS IN A WONDER WOMAN OUTFIT!! LOL

29. Dom - February 8, 2010

3. smokingrobot: Go back to your copy of ‘The God Delusion’! I don’t know what it is about you Richard Dawkins fanatics: you make militant Islamists look moderate! If that’s your best interpretation of the end of BSG, clearly you didn’t watch it properly. The series is derived from, among others, the Book of Exodus and the Book of Mormon as well as contemporary events. And really, the Caprica angel has said she’s an angel sent by God from pretty much day one, so why the surprise?

I’ve liked what I’ve seen of Caprica so far. I was wondering, is Graystone’s house Baltar’s house from Battlestar Galactica? It would make sense that Baltar bought out Graystone’s empire eventually!

As someone who really hasn’t liked the most recent incarnations of Doctor Who, I’m crossing fingers for the next season. What I’ve seen and read so far seems quite promising!

30. etsjedi - February 8, 2010

Sorry, but Moore turned a scifi epic into a soap opera with very little scifi in it. I watched BSG through all the pro-tracted seasns and HATED the final episodes in that there will be no more point of the series in that the survival of the colonials cultures. Instead they will become the missing link of mankind. BIG DEAL!
Thank goodness we will have a original style BSG coming out soon.
As for Smallville AJ episode it was great and it followed most of the golden age updated version of their characters. We will probably see Golden Age versions of Green Lantern, Wildcat, Black Canary, The Flash as the seasons continues

31. Canon Schmanon - February 8, 2010

Hm, if those involved in Heroes had wanted to “pay respect” to their viewers, they should have scripted a decent, engaging show. Few programs with such promise have delivered so little.

32. Jim Nightshade - February 8, 2010

nuspock 28 i hear ya bud–i have to admit that michael shanks gave more depth to the character of hawkman than i expected he would–partly fearsome-gruff-then later as he trusted clark the more cerebral side came out–dr fate was pretty kool 2-it musta been a blast fir shanks to play hawkman so different from daniel jackson–tonites heroes was excellent-some of the best writing n acting yet–hiros girlfriend resoulution was touching n sylar helped save the day–i hope heroes gets another season-i like those people n it ended with claire showing the press her powers-great show–

33. Dom - February 9, 2010

30. etsjedi

Again, if you really thought that was all BSG and its ending was about, you missed the point of it. And do you really think a campy sci-fi runaround from Bryan Singer is going to somehow ‘reset the balance?’

It’ll likely be that year’s Battlefield Earth!

34. Dr. Image - February 9, 2010

Caprica has the most irritating cast of characters since Dollhouse – or SGU.
Don’t know how much more I can stand.

35. Big Bill C. - February 9, 2010

Neil Gaiman writing a Doctor Who episode is 1,000,000,000 kinds of cool!!!!!!

36. Mikey1091 - February 10, 2010

Do you guys have something against Star Wars: The Clone Wars, or is it just my imagination that you never, ever include any news about it in these weekly articles?

37. captain_neill - February 11, 2010

seen the first episode of Caprica, its not bad and I would like to watch more.


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