Sci-Fi TV Sunday: LOST, Fringe, V, Chuck, Doctor Who, Futurama + more

In Sci-Fi TV this week, we have previews, details and spoilers on the finales for Fringe, V and Lost (which has been super-sized). Plus the latest on Chuck’s chances for renewal and tons of previews including Doctor Who, Eureka, True Blood, Futurama and more. All that plus the latest ratings and casting news.

GENRE TV NEWS

LOST series finale expanded by 30 minutes + Three alt endings to air on Jimmy Kimmel special
The "LOST" series finale just has been expanded by 30 minutes:

The producers of ABC’s hit drama have shot so much crucial material for the show’s hugely anticipated series finale that the network has agreed to extend the last episode by an extra half-hour.

When the "Lost" finale airs on Sunday, May 23, the episode will run from 9 p.m.-11:30 p.m. The overrun will push back local news, with the previously announced "Jimmy Kimmel Live: Aloha to Lost" post-finale special now airing at 12:05 a.m. ABC is expected to announce the plan on tonight’s episode of Kimmel.

Don’t forget that ABC is also airing a special "enhanced" (with pop-ups) version of the show’s original two-hour pilot on Saturday, May 22nd and a two-hour recap special will air Sunday from 7:00-9:00 p.m. in front of the 2 1/2 hour series finale. Also, the "Jimmy Kimmel Live: Aloha to Lost" special will feature an exclusive look at three alternative final scenes and several of the shows cast will be on hand:

Kimmel will be joined in studio by Naveen Andrews, Nestor Carbonell, Alan Dale, Jeremy Davies, Emilie de Ravin, Michael Emerson, Matthew Fox, Daniel Dae Kim, Terry O’Quinn and Harold Perrineau, with special appearances by Jorge Garcia, Josh Holloway and Evangeline Lilly and an exclusive look at THREE ALTERNATIVE FINAL SCENES from the minds of executive producers Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse.

In related news, editing on the finale — titled "The End" — concluded Monday night, resulting in executive producers Carlton Cuse and Damon Lindelof sending out identical tweets: "We’re done. Amen." There’s still more work to do including special effects and scoring, but the show is "locked". In casting news, DarkUFO reports that Frank Lapidus is "alive and well". We’ll be seeing him on the island again. And EW reports that we won’t be seeing Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje (Mr. Eko) on the show again. Here’s what’s coming up next week, courtesy E! Online:

Next Week Is Unlike Anything You’ve Seen on Lost Before. Swear. And though we’ve all been told that none of the series regulars appear, that is actually not true. Spoiler Alert: You will see three of the main leads in a very surprising throwback moment that lets you know that the producers totally knew what they were doing as of season one. (Boo-ya!) Allison Janney guest stars, along with two other actors you know, and a few others you don’t. You’ll learn much much more about the history of the Island and the evil, and light, within. Pay close attention to every line Allison’s character says and every line (or lack thereof) on her face. Oh, and DVR it. ‘Cause you’ll need to watch it twice.

Check out some interviews with the cast and crew:

• Calrton Cuse and Damon Lindelof at Vanity Fair.
• Daniel Dae Kim at E! Online, Parade and Fancast.
• Yunjin Kim at TV Guide.
• Evangeline Lilly at NY Mag’s Vulture blog.

Promotional stills from episode 6×15 – "Across the Sea" [DarkUFO]

Promo for "Across the Sea" [YouTube]

Sneak peek from "Across the Sea" [YouTube]

Watch another sneak peek here

Episode 6×15 audio podcast with Carlton Cuse and Damon Lindelof [ABC]

Watch the video podcast with Jack Bender here

Fringe producer talks season finale
Akiva Goldsman is a producer on Fox’s "Fringe", but the Academy Award-winning screenwriter, producer and director has also written and directed for the series and will again serves as director for the upcoming second-season finale "Over There". Goldsman was interviewed by Spinoff Online about the series. Here are some excerpts:

Spinoff Online: This finale — apparently, it’s really big! Would it have been possible without the third-season pickup already, or is it something you could only do because you know you’re having a third season?

Akiva Goldsman: Actually, I think — the scope of [the finale] required the third-season pickup, which is sort of vaguely bold because we constructed it certainly before we had a third-season pickup. But as we laid down the board and really saw what it would take to make it, we sort of had to promise that we would use some of the things we were constructing — which was sort of our idea for this object into the next season. Which is a great concept, but if there had been no third season, I think we would have had to have an eleventh-hour redraft. So, yes, we sort of built it that way, but it was kind of on a wing and a prayer and everything sort of timed out very nicely.

Goldsman also said that while he wouldn’t be surprised by it, he doesn’t expect there to be another flashback episode, ala ""Peter", anytime soon:

No, I don’t think so. I wouldn’t be surprised if we did another flashback episode … but we really had fun talking about who tells when how. You just end up with “Oh my god, it’s all blah, blah for hours.” Then we go, “Well, let’s do it. Can we really do it? Can we go period? How far back? How much framing does there need to be?” I think it’s really useful, and I think there are a couple of places where it will be useful, but fundamentally, no. I don’t think we’re a show that will do a lot of jumping back in time, despite the single hoard of calls for the “Walter’s Grandfather Nazi-hunting” series. [Laughs] But yeah, I think probably not, we probably won’t be doing [flashbacks] that much. But it was fun to do!

Check out the rest of the interview here. "Fringe" airs Thursday nights at 9:00 p.m. on Fox.

Promo for episode 2×22 – "Over There, Part 1" [YouTube]

No "full-on" view of the V’s until season two
"V" executive producer Scott Rosenbaum is confident that the show will be renewed despite average ratings and he tells TV Guide that we won’t see what the Visitors look like until season season two:

"You won’t see the full-on what the Visitors look like underneath [until early in] Season 2," he says.

But we will be seeing Val’s half-Human / half-V baby:

"You’ll see what the baby looks like in the finale. It’s going to be more alien than human. The birth is going to become a big deal because it’s complicated. Also, Anna will have become aware of the birth, so it will not happen behind her back. The birth will not be what you expect it to be, I promise you that."

Rosenbaum also teases that the season finale will set up the first act of the coming war:

"In the season finale, Anna will essentially take the first shot in the war that’s to come," says Rosenbaum, noting that next season will pick up directly where we’ll leave off.

"V" airs Tuesday nights at 10:00 p.m. following "LOST".

Promotional stills from episode 1×11 – "Fruition" [more at serie-v.over-blog.com via SpoilerTV]

Promo for "Fruition" [YouTube]

Watch another promo here

Sneak peek from "Fruition" [YouTube]

Previously on TrekMovie.com: NBC Picks Up JJ Abrams’ Spy Series ‘Undercovers’
We have an update on our Pilot Watch from last week. One of the three pending pilots from Star Trek luminaries has been picked up. Today NBC announced they have given a full season order to JJ Abrams new spy series, Undercovers. Details here.

Chuck’s renewal hopes on the rise…or are they?
It looks like NBC is leaning towards renewing "Chuck" for a fourth season. Here’s what Deadline reports:

Last year, NBC’s Chuck got an 11th hour reprieve, clinching a partial 3rd-season order on Sunday afternoon before upfront week. This time around, its fate will be decided earlier if the show’s producers get their way. Several days ago, creators Josh Schwartz and Chris Fedak pitched NBC their vision for Season 4 and producing studio Warner Bros asked the network for a quick resolution so the series could keep its writing staff. Even with NBC brass happy with their drama development, the spy dramedy’s chances of renewal are considered very good — and certainly a lot better than last year when a sponsorship deal with Subway sealed the renewal. With the show rising in the ratings this week and fans staging rallies tomorrow, Chuck may be one solid ratings performance tomorrow night away from an early renewal.

Unfortunately Monday’s episode drew a 1.9 A18-49 rating, down -10% from the week prior and tying a series low. Deadline also reports that CBS is reportedly close to renewing "Medium" for a seventh season:

"There had been some renewal chatter over the past couple of days and, while the network has not made its final decision yet, signs point to a second season of Medium on CBS following the show’s infamous dismissal by NBC a year ago."

More ratings news below.

Promotional stills from episode 3×16 – "Chuck vs. the Tooth" [more at SpoilerTV]

Season three cast images of Zachary Levi and Yvonne Strahovski [ChuckTV.net]

Promo for "Chuck vs. the Tooth" [YouTube]

Watch another promo here

PREVIEW Videos & Images

Ashes to Ashes

Promotional stills from episode 3×06 [more at Den of Geek]

Doctor Who

Promotional stills from episode 5×06 – "The Vampires of Venice" [more at Blogtor Who and SpoilerTV]

Promotional stills from episode 5×08 – "The Hungry Earth" [Blogtor Who]

Introduction to "The Vampires of Venice" by Arthur Darvill (Rory) [Blogtor Who]

Three clips from "The Vampires of Venice" [Blogtor Who]

Promo for episode 5×07 – "Amy’s Choice" [Blogtor Who]

Eureka

Interview with James Callis [SCI FI Wire]

FlashForward

Promo for episode 1×20 – "Countdown" [YouTube]

Futurama

First image from the new episodes [SCI FI Wire]

Haven

Teaser trailer for the upcoming Syfy miniseries [Syfy]

Smallville

Promotional stills from the season 9 finale – "Salvation" [more at SpoilerTV]

Promo for "Salvation" [YouTube]

Stargate Universe

Promotional stills for episode 1×17 – "Pain" [MGM]

Supernatural

Promo for the fifth season finale  – "Swan Song" [YouTube]

Sneak peek at "Swan Song" [YouTube]

True Blood

Season three teaser poster #7 [Access Hollywood via MovieWeb]

True Blood comic issue #1 [Dread Central]

Mini-sode #2 – "Jessica" [MovieWeb]

Season three voiceover promo [YouTube]

The Vampire Diaries

May sweeps poster [SpoilerTV]

Promo for the season finale – "Founder’s Day" [YouTube]

Watch another promo here

Sneak peek at "Founder’s Day" [YouTube]

Watch another clip here

TV BITES

• Previously on TrekMovie.com: Ron Moore Inks New TV Development Deal With Sony
• The second season of "Being Human" will air on BBC America on July 24 following the "Doctor Who" season five finale. [BBC America]
• Week two of "Happy Town" sank -28% in viewers (from 5.25M to 3.79M) and -29% in A18-49 (from a 1.7 to a 1.2 rating). [@TravisYanan]
• Annette O’Toole (Martha Kent) and Michael McKean (Perry White) say they haven’t been told whether they’ll return for the 10th season of "Smallville": "We’re going to have to see how they approach Season 10 and then we’ll know. We’re not being coy, by the way; we really don’t know," says McKean… [TV Guide]
• …Check out another interview with the two at KryptonSite.
• Mariana Klaveno (Lorena) reveals that season three of "True Blood" will have some flashback sequences featuring her character: "The years and experience add layers into the character. I did a little bit of research and beefed up on world history a bit. I don’t actually know what her history was in every single decade — the writers haven’t filled in all of those blanks, so I’ve kind of had to do my own loose sketch of how I thought she spent some centuries.". [Hollywood Crush]
• …In related news, HBO has renamed the season three finale to "Bad Blood". It was previously titled "Pack of Wolves". [SpoilerTV]
• Fans of "Legend of the Seeker" have raised $10,000 and taken out an ad in Variety looking for a new home for the canceled series. [Bleeding Cool & Save Our Seeker]

• Check out an interview with Robert J. Sawyer discussing the "FlashForward" episode "Course Correction", which he wrote, and his thoughts on the shows chances of renewal. [Digital Spy]
• "The Sarah Jane Adventures" has always been more self-contained than "Doctor Who" and executive producer Nikki Wilson doesn’t expect that to change: "No, I think the format works as it is. Kids enjoy that sort of thrill of the two part adventure and coming to a satisfying conclusion. Obviously our central characters are growing up and things they have learnt in previous adventures will inform future adventures but no, we haven’t got plans to have big serial arcs in the series." [Digital Spy]
• Despite abysmally low ratings, including a series low 1.3 A18-49 rating last week, there is still a chance that "FlashForward" could be renewed because of how well it does overseas. [E! Online]
• The first season finale of "Stargate Universe", "Incursion, Part 1", will air on Syfy Friday, June 4. [Syfy]
• The CW has slated repeats of "Supernatural" to air Friday nights at 9:00 p.m. following "Smallville". [The Futon Critic]
• The CW also announced that they’re bringing back the canceled 2007 series "Moonlight" to air on Thursday nights beginning June 3. Repeats of the canceled series will air at 9:00 p.m. following encore episodes of the first season of "The Vampire Diaries". [SpoilerTV]
• Here are some press releases/synopses from the various shows we cover:
  • "Doctor Who" – 5×08 – "The Hungry Earth". [Blogtor Who]
  • "Chuck" – 3×18 & 3×19 – "Chuck vs. the Subway" & "Chuck vs. the Ring: Part II". [ChuckTV.net]
  • "True Blood" – 3×01-3×03 – "Bad Blood", "Beautifully Broken" & "It Hurts Me Too". [SpoilerTV]
  • "FlashForward" – 1×21 – "Countdown". [BSC Review]
  • "Stargate Universe" – 1×18 – "Subversion". [IGN]
  • "V" – 1×12 – "Red Sky". [SpoilerTV]

CASTING BITES

• Sarah Wayne Callies has been cast as the female lead in Frank Darabont’s apocalyptic zombie drama "The Walking Dead". She’ll play Lori Grimes, "the slowly-unraveling wife of the show’s hero, Rick", who is played by Andrew Lincoln… [EW]
• …Also joining the cast is Laurie Holden. Holden will play Andrea, "a key member of the survivor group who has a proficiency with a sniper rifle and falls for a man twice her age."… [THR]
• Producers of "True Blood" are looking for a someone to play Tony, a recurring character described as "a twentysomething male hustler whose drug addiction and resemblance to bloodsucker Talbot make him easy pickins for the vamp’s obsessed mate, Russell." [EW]
• Scott Bakula will return to "Chuck" in "Chuck vs. the Living Dead" which airs on Monday, May 17 at 8:00 p.m. on NBC. [ChuckTV.net]
• Katte Sackhoff ("24", "Battlestar Galactica") revealed that she turned down the opportunity to play Debbie Pelt on HBO’s "True Blood" to star in ABC’s cop-themeed drama pilot "Boston’s Finest". [EW]
• "Smallville" executive producer Brian Peterson says he’s "very optimistic" that Allison Mack (Chloe) will be back for the shows 10th season. [EW]

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

Last week’s (4/30/2010) episode of "Stargate Universe" rebounded significantly to 1.59 million viewers and a 0.6 A18-49 rating. That was up +21% in viewers and +50% in A18-49 rating from the week prior (series lows of 1.31M / 0.4). The season one average still remains a weak 1.78 million viewers and a 0.7 A18-49 rating through 14 episodes. Lead-out "Merlin" also improved from a series low, drawing 1.27 million viewers and a 0.4 A18-49 rating, which was up +21% in viewers and +33% in A18-49 rating (1.05M / 0.3 A18-49 rating). The current season of "Merlin" is averaging 1.22 million viewers and a 0.4 A18-49 rating through five episodes. [@TravisYanan]

Meanwhile over on Cartoon Network, a new episode of "Star Wars: The Clone Wars" drew 2.76 million viewers and a 0.7 A18-49 rating. That was -3% in viewers, but +17% in A18-49 rating from the week prior (2.85 million viewers and a 0.6 A18-49 rating).

This week’s (5/5/2010) episode of "Ghost Hunters" drew 2.33 million viewers and a 1.0 A18-49 rating. That was down -4% in viewers and -9% in A18-49 rating from the week prior (2.42M / 1.1 rating). [@TravisYanan]

"Legend of the Seeker" increased again, this time jumping 3% to 2.41 million viewers (the week before drew 2.34 million). Through 18 original episodes, "Legend of the Seeker" has averaged 2.38 million viewers. [TV by the Numbers]

A two-hour episode of "Into the Universe with Stephen Hawking" drew 1.74 million viewers and a 0.6 A18-49 rating last Sunday (5/2/2010) on Discovery. The series was down -11% in viewers and -14% in A18-49 rating from the previous episode (1.95 million viewers and a 0.7 A18-49 rating).

The final viewing figure for "Time of Angels", the fourth episode of "Doctor Who", was 8.59 million viewers (8.13M on BBC One and 0.46M on BBC HD). For reference, the prior episode drew 7.82M viewers on BBC One and an additional 381,000 on BBC HD. Also, initial overnight ratings figures for episode six – "The Vampires of Venice" show the episode was seen by 6.2 million viewers (5.90M on BBC One and 240,000 on BBC HD). That’s a decrease from the episode prior which drew 6.87M total viewers in preliminary numbers (6.53M on BBC One and 0.34M on BBC HD). [The Doctor Who News Page, (2)]

CHART (4/26/2010 to 5/2/2010)

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