Sci-Fi TV Sunday: Warehouse 13, Eureka, True Blood, Fringe, Game of Thrones, Star Wars, LOST + more

The regular season is over but there is lots of summer fun to report in Sci-Fi TV this week, with news and previews on summer shows Warehouse 13, Eureka, True Blood, Doctor Who, Futurama, and more. Plus there is news for farther down the road, including the return of Torchwood and news on the Star Wars comedy. We even have another Lost update. All that plus the latest television ratings, casting bites and new images and video previews, including Game of Thrones.

GENRE TV NEWS – Summer Shows

Tahir cast in Warehouse 13 + previews

Faran Tahir (Captain Robau in Star Trek) has been cast in at least two episodes of "Warehouse 13". EW reports that Tahir will play Adwin Kosan, "one of the mysterious and powerful Regents tasked with keeping the Warehouse safe. Adwin, who arrives to handle an escalating crisis, makes a shocking pronouncement that threatens to tear apart the team."

Warehouse 13 returns in July, here are the titles for the first four episodes of season two: "Time Will Tell" (7/6/2010), "Mild Mannered" (7/13/2010), "Beyond Our Control" (7/20/2010) and "Age Before Beauty" (7/27/2010)… [SpoilerTV]

First look at Jewel Staite [SCI FI Wire]

Promo [Syfy]

Watch another promo here

Eureka returns July 9th

Syfy’s other retuning show, Eureka, premieres its fourth season on July 9th. Here are the titles for the first five episodes: "Founder’s Day", "A New World", "All the Rage", "The Story of 02" and "Crossing Over". And a cast image and season four promo:

Season four promo [YouTube]

Watch two more promos (including Warehouse 13) here and here

Doctor Who: Why Eccleston left + more news and previews
Christopher Eccleston reveals that he left the show because he "didn’t enjoy the environment and the culture that we, the cast and crew, had to work in." Eccleston, however, remains pleased with the work they did: "But the most important thing is that I did it, not that I left. I really feel that, because it kind of broke the mould and it helped to reinvent it. I’m very proud of it." [BBC]. Here are more "Doctor Who" bites:

• There have been over 500,000 downloads of the new "Doctor Who: The Adventure Game", "City of the Daleks" in its first two weeks of release… [MCV via The Doctor Who News Page]
• …The second installment of "Doctor Who: The Adventure Game" will be released this Tuesday, June 21. [The Doctor Who News Page]
• …Here’s the synopsis for the season finale of "Doctor Who" – "The Big Bang": "The Doctor is gone, the Tardis has been destroyed, and the universe is collapsing. The only hope for all reality is a little girl who still believes in stars." [Blogtor Who]
• Be sure to check below for the latest "Doctor Who" ratings news.

Promotional stills for episode 5×11 – "The Lodger" [more at Den of Geek]

Introduction to "The Lodger" by guest star James Corden [Blogtor Who]

Watch a set tour and interview with Corden here

Four clips from "The Lodger" [Blogtor Who]

The Big Questions: 10 – Matt Smith and James Corden [Blogtor Who]

Watch #11 featuring Matt Smith and Karen Gillan [YouTube via Blogtor Who]

Promotional stills for episode 5×12 – "The Pandorica Opens" [more at Bleeding Cool]

Promo for "The Pandorica Opens" [Blogtor Who]

Watch two more promos here and here

Sneak peek at "The Pandorica Opens" [YouTube / Blogtor Who]

Introduction to "The Pandorica Opens" by Karen Gillan [YouTube]

Interview with Matt Smith and Karen Gillan [YouTube / Blogtor Who]

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Daleks [YouTube]

True Blood: Could run as long as the books + previews & details
Alan Ball, creator of the hugely successful — click here for ratings info for the season premiere — HBO series "True Blood", says that because of the show’s supernatural element and source material, it has the potential to run for several more seasons [Fancast]:

"I know Charlaine [Harris] just published her tenth book as she has plans for at least three more.  I think it could run as long as [the books] run."

Since the 4th of July falls on a Sunday this year, "True Blood" will be on hiatus that week. HBO has released descriptions for the three episodes set to air this July:

Episode #28: “9 Crimes”

Debut: SUNDAY, JULY 11 (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET/PT)

Other HBO playdates: July 11 (11:30 p.m.), 13 (11:30 p.m.), 14 (10:00 p.m.), 17 (11:45 p.m.) and 28 (8:00 p.m.)

HBO2 playdates: July 12 (8:00 p.m.), 15 (10:00 p.m.), 16 (11:00 p.m.) and 18 (11:30 a.m.)

Sookie (Anna Paquin) joins Alcide (Joe Manganiello) at a raucous engagement party for Debbie Pelt (Brit Morgan), his former fiancée; Eric (Alexander Skarsgård) is given a deadline to locate Bill (Stephen Moyer); Andy (Chris Bauer) gets a promotion and draws Jason’s (Ryan Kwanten) attention; Franklin (James Frain) takes Tara (Rutina Wesley) on a road trip; Arlene (Carrie Preston) is irked by Jessica’s (Deborah Ann Woll) arrival at Merlotte’s; Sam (Sam Trammell) brokers a deal with Tommy (Marshall Allman) and his parents, Melinda (J. Smith Cameron) and Joe Lee (Cooper Huckabee); Bill “procures” dinner for Russell (Denis O’Hare) and Lorena (Mariana Klaveno).

Written by Kate Barnow & Elisabeth R. Finch; directed by David Petrarca.

Episode #29: “Trouble”

Debut: SUNDAY, JULY 18 (9:00-10:00 p.m.)

Other HBO playdates: July 18 (11:30 p.m.), 20 (11:30 p.m.), 21 (10:00 p.m.), 24 (10:00 p.m.) and 28 (9:00 p.m.)

HBO2 playdates: July 19 (8:00 p.m.), 22 (10:00 p.m.), 23 (12:45 a.m.) and 25 (2:00 p.m.)

Alcide and Sookie turn to an alpha-wolf “packmaster” for advice on dealing with Russell’s minions; Tara considers a proposal from Franklin, who’s completed his mission for Russell; Joe Lee breaks his promise to Sam and Tommy; Lafayette (Nelsan Ellis) learns the meaning of patience from Jesus (Kevin Alejandro), his mother’s (Alfre Woodard) orderly; Jason meets his match in the mysterious girl Crystal (Lindsay Pulsipher); an heirloom reminds Eric of his past and his ongoing thirst for vengeance.

Written by Nancy Oliver; directed by Scott Winant.

Episode #30: “I Got a Right to Sing the Blues”

Debut: SUNDAY, JULY 25 (9:00-10:00 p.m.)

Other HBO playdates: July 25 (11:30 p.m.), 27 (11:30 p.m.), 28 (10:00 p.m.), 30 (10:30 p.m.) and 31 (9:30 p.m.)

HBO2 playdates: July 26 (8:00 p.m.), 29 (10:00 p.m.) and 30 (11:55 p.m.)

Spurned by Eric, Sookie fears the worst for Bill, whose fate now lies in Lorena’s hands; fueled by a night of bloody passion, Tara executes a desperate plan to stave off Franklin’s advances; in Bon Temps, Tommy finds it difficult to leave the family nest; Jessica puts Pam’s teachings into practice; Jason’s romance with Crystal hits a snag, as does Lafayette’s with Jesus; after revealing his master plan to Eric, Russell visits Louisiana to put it into action.

Written by Alan Ball; directed by Michael Lehmann.

Check out interviews with "True Blood" castmembers Dennis O’Hare, Grant Bowler, Brit Morgan, Mariana Klaveno, Sam Trammell, Ryan Kwanten, Nelsan Ellis and Kristin Bauer at IGN and with Franklin Mott at TV Guide.

Post Mortem: Episode 3×01 – "Bad Blood" [YouTube]

Promo for episode 3×02 – "Beautifully Broken" [YouTube]

"Oh Sookie" music video by Snoop Dogg [YouTube]

Ultimate Fan Experience Q&A [HBO]

PREVIEWS – Summer Shows

Futurama (premieres June 24th on Comedy Central)

Season six storyboards [more at Comedy Central]

Haven (premieres July 6th on Syfy)

Promo #3 [YouTube]

MORE GENRE NEWS

New season of Torchwood coming to Starz
The BBC has announced a new season of "Torchwood", which will be produced by BBC Wales, BBC Worldwide and US premium cable network Starz. Both John Barrowman and Eve Myles will reprise their roles of Captain Jack Harkness and Gwen, respectively, and series creator Russell T. Davies will oversee production.

We have a long history of working with many U.S. networks but it is incredibly exciting to be working with Starz for the first time, as well as to be reunited with the best of British in Russell, Jane and Julie. Torchwood will burst back onto the screen with a shocking and moving story with global stakes and locations that will make it feel bigger and bolder than ever, said Ben Stephenson, Controller, BBC Drama Commissioning.

In an interview with THR, Davies confirmed the show will be an extension, rather than a new version or reboot, of the UK series (the first episode of the season is actually the same pilot he wrote for Fox):

It’s very much the next step. It’s not a new version, it’s not a reboot. We’re simply moving countries. The show was previously a format show — monster of the week. The breakthrough was "Children of Earth" and that it became one long story. It’s not going to be ‘Lost’ and take 20 years to find out what’s going on. It’s going to have a most remarkable conclusion after 10 episodes.

We’re simply going to tell a good story. I wrote the pilot 7 months ago irregardless of network. BBC1 is a prime-time channel, but a brave channel. I don’t worry about content.

Read the complete interview with Davies and Starz CEO Chris Albrecht at THR. You can also watch a video interview with Davies at BBC.com. EW’s Michael Ausiello further reports that a lot of the show will be shot on location in Los Angeles.

Fringe: S3 to introduce Olivia’s mother + Noble for Emmy ad
The third season of "Fringe" will introduce Olivia’s mother in a story arc expected to last three or four episodes. According to TV Guide, the character is described as "loving, stable and sweet…She dotes on Olivia since her other daughter died at birth". Also set to be introduced next season is a "Powerful Female Government Agent" described as someone who will become "an adversary to our Fringe team". That character will also appear in 3-4 episodes, and the casting sheet says her arc will take place within the first nine episodes of the season. Here’s the complete casting sheet courtesy TWOP poster Rhoswen:

[POWERFUL FEMALE GOVERNMENT AGENT] -35-55. Becomes an adversary to our Fringe team. Possible 3-4 episodes out of the first 9. Starts episode 302 approximately July 19th. Submit all ethnicities. PLEASE ALSO SUBMIT NAME ACTORS.

[FEMALE THERAPIST] – 35-70- She’s trustworthy, comforting, maternal and lovely. Starts approximately July 8. Submit all ethnicities. Possibly recurring.

[INNOCENT MALE STRANGER] – 35-70. Wonderful character actor who is also charming. He gets caught up in action that has nothing to do with him. Submit all ethnicities. Appears in episode 1. Starts approximately July 8th.

[OLIVIA’S MOTHER] -Caucasian. 50-60’s. Lovely and together. She loves her daughter very much and is even more devoted since she lost her other daughter in childbirth. Possible 3-4 episode arc. Starts approximately July 8. PLEASE ALSO SUBMIT NAME ACTORS.

Check out interviews with stars John Noble and Lance Reddick at the LA Times and the Guardian, respectively.

John Noble "For Your Emmy Consideration" Variety ad [SpoilerTV]

Seth Green talks Star Wars comedy series
Seth Green revealed to MTV that the recently announced animated "Star Wars" comedy will be computer-generated and he also revealed that we’ll see some familiar characters as well as new characters in the universe and the timeline hasn’t been finalized yet, although it won’t be set after ‘Return of the Jedi’. Watch the interview with Green embedded below.

More details on the LOST epilogue
Jorge Garcia (Hurley) has revealed new details about the "LOST" epilogue which will be featured on the season six DVD and Blu-ray (releasing August 24). Speaking from the Monte Carlo Television Festival, Garcia revealed to E! Online a few details about the epilogue, which he says will answer a few lingering questions:

"It will address some of the issues, like the food drops, and it will deal with what happened on the island after Hurley took over and how he handled things… It will give you a taste of what took place after Hurley took over as the new number one. There’s a little epilogue thing going on with the DVD."

Previously it’s been reported that Walt (Malcolm David Kelley) would be featured in the bonus content, but Garcia wouldn’t confirm or deny: "There are other people in it, but I’m not going to tell you who."

Check out the rest of the interview with Garcia over at E! Online. Embedded below you’ll find videos of Matthew Fox and Elizabeth Mitchell reflecting on the series finale.

Matthew Fox reflects on the series finale [YouTube]

Elizabeth Mitchell reflects on the series finale [YouTube]

In other news, sl-LOST has a list of all the "LOST"-related Emmy submissions. Submissions have been made for 19 categories including Best Drama, Lead Actor (Matthew Fox), Lead Actress (Evangeline Lilly), Supporting Actor (Naveen Andrews, Nestor Carbonell, Michael Emerson, Jeff Fahey, Jorge Garcia, Josh Holloway, Daniel Dae Kim, Ken Leung, Terry O’Quinn) and Supporting Actress (Yunjin Kim, Emilie de Ravin, Zuleikha Robinson). Episodes submitted for Best Writing were; "The Substitute", "Dr. Linus", "Ab Aeterno" and "The End". Michael Giacchino also submitted for the category of Outstanding Music Composition. Check out all the "LOST" submissions here. The nominees for this year’s Emmy’s will be announced on July 8.

Star Wars / LOST mashup of the Jack/not-Locke fight: "Lost Wars" [Cracked]

Current list of shows appearing at Comic-Con 20100
Here’s the current list of shows — filtered by genre/sci-fi — scheduled to be featured at this year’s Comic-Con (taking place July 22-25 in San Diego, CA–with a preview night on July 21) [viaa THR]:

• FOX: Human Target, Fringe, Terra Nova
• NBC: The Cape, The Event, Chuck
• ABC: No Ordinary Family, V
• THE CW: Vampire Diaries, Nikita, Smallville, Supernatural  
• FX: Archer
• COMEDY CENTRAL: Futurama
• HBO: True Blood
• STARZ: Spartacus
• AMC: The Walking Dead
• TBS: Neighbors From Hell
• DISCOVERY: Mythbusters
• SYFY: Eureka
• CARTOON NET / ADULT SWIM: Adventure Time, Generator Rex, Ben 10 , Unnatural History, Tower Prep, Aqua Teen Hunger Force, Squidbillies, Venture Bros, Robot Chicken, Metalocalypse and Tim & Eric 

PREVIEW Videos & Images

Caprica

Interview with Ronald D. Moore and Esai Morales [YouTube]

Game of Thrones

Teaser trailer [HBO via THR]

Sean Bean as Eddard Stark [via THR]

Nikita

Brief teaser [YouTube]

Smallville

Promo for summer repeats [YouTube]

V

Morena Baccarin answering a question about the impact of human emotions on her character Anna [YouTube]

The Walking Dead

Set images [more at AICN]

Andrew Lincoln as Rick Grimes [AMC]

Behind the scenes [AMC]

TV BITES

• "Voltron Force", a 26-episode animated series, will air next season on Nicktoons. The show is about "five space explorers who pilot robotic lions that combine to form Voltron, an invincible guardian sworn to defend the Universe." [Variety]
• The fourth season premiere of "Chuck" will be called "Chuck vs. the Anniversary". [EW]
• The title of the season 10 premiere of "Smallville" is "Lazarus". [KryptonSite]
• Jensen Ackles will direct an episode of "Supernatural" next season… [TinaCharlesTV via SpoilerTV]
• …Meanwhile Jim Beaver revealed on his Twitter page that he’s returning to the set to resume shooting, which will presumably be the episode that Jensen will direct… [Jim Beaver via SpoilerTV]
• …and the title of episode 6×04 has been revealed to be "Weekend at Bobby’s. [SpoilerTV]
• The writers of "V" have started work on stories and scripts for season two. [The V Files]
• Robert C. Cooper, writer, producer and director, is departing the "Stargate" franchise. Cooper’s appearance at this year’s Comic-Con — to promote the second season of "Stargate Universe" — will be his final Stargate-related contribution. [Joseph Mallozzi]
• …Check out Q&A with ‘SGU’ co-star Julia Benson (Lt. James) at Joseph Mallozzi’s blog…
• …Also, the series won Best Program (dramatic series) at this year’s Leo Awards. It was one of six awards the series won (in addition to Screenwriting, Cinematography, Picture Editing, Visual Effects and Supporting Performance by a Female for Julia Benson). Check out the complete list of winners — "Sanctuary" won the most awards for a drama series with 7 — at the official site.
• J.J. Abrams says "Undercovers" is a "very different show" from "Alias": "It’s definitely in the same genre, but it’s much more a throwback to like the Hart & Hart days of like, really light and fun kind of breezy romantic sexy type show. It’s not heavy mythology at all." [E! Online]
• Check out an interview with "The Walking Dead" writer/director/executive producer Frank Darabont at AMC.
• Nominations have been announced for the "2010 Teen Choice Awards" (airing Monday, August 8, 2010 at 8:00 p.m. on FOX). Competiting in the Fantasy/Sci-Fi category are; "Fringe", "LOST", "Smallville", "Supernatural" and "The Vampire Diaries". Click over to www.teenchoiceawards.com to see the remaining categories, including Choice TV Actor and Actress in Fantasy/Sci-Fi. Fans vote for their favorites at the official website.
• Sci-Fi/Genre TV shows DVD/Blu-ray release dates:
  • "Smallville" season nine — 9/7/2010. [Amazon.com]
  • "Supernatural" season five — 9/7/2010. [Amazon.com]
  • "Chuck" season three — 9/7/2010. [Amazon.com]
  • "Fringe" season two — 9/14/2010. [Amazon.com]
  • "V" season one — 8/24/2010. [Amazon.com]

CASTING BITES

• Mekia Cox has joined the cast of J.J. Abrams’ upcoming NBC spy drama "Undercovers". Cox will replace Jessica Parker Kennedy playing Lizzy, "the older sister of the female lead, who is unaware of her family’s involvement in the CIA". [THR]
• Stephen Collins has been upgraded to regular status on ABC’s "No Ordinary Family". [About.com]
• …Lindsay Wagner ("The Bionic Woman") will also be joining the cast. She’ll appear in the August 17 episode playing Dr. Vanessa Calder, "the official" doctor for Warehouse agents". [TV Guide]
• Vinnie Jones has joined NBC’s "The Cape" as a series regular. Jones will play Scales, "a frightening man with a freakish skin condition that gives him the appearance of green and gold scales. The casting marks his first regular TV role." [THR]
• Jason O’Mara is close to finalizing his deal to star in "Terra Nova": "O’Mara would play the father of a young family from 100 years in the future that travels back to the prehistoric era". Executive producers on the show include Steven Spielberg, ex-Fox chairman Peter Chernin and Brannon Braga. [EW & Deadline]

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

"Stargate Universe" closed out its first season with 1.47 million viewers tuning in for "Incursion, Part 2" (6/11/2010). That was an increase of 25% over the previous episode (which hit a series low 1.18 million viewers). The first season averaged 1.68 million viewers, however the second half was considerably weaker than the first half of the season: 1.95 million viewers vs. 1.45M.

The third season premiere of "True Blood" drew an impressive 5.1 million viewers and a 2.9 A18-49 rating last Sunday. That was a jump of nearly 40% from the second season premiere (3.7M). — back to previous position

Episode 5×08 of "Doctor Who", "The Hungry Earth", increased to 6.49 million viewers with the final ratings (6.01M on BBC One and 0.48M on BBC HD). That was an increase of nearly 2 million viewers from the preliminary overnight ratings. That overnight rating was the lowest number since it returned in 2005, but that’s no longer the case (the final figure beats three David Tennant episodes). We also have ratings for episode 5×09 – "Cold Blood": 7.49 million viewers (7.04M on BBC One and 0.45M on BBC HD) and episode 5×10 – "Vincent and the Doctor": 6.76 million viewers (6.29M on BBC One and 0.47M on BBC HD).

Meanwhile, in preliminary figures, episode 5×11 – "The Lodger" drew 4.56 million viewers (4.31M on BBC One and 0.25M on BBC HD). That’s a new low for the season. However, episode 5×12 – "The Pandorica Opens" averaged 5.9 million viewers (5.4M on BBC One and 0.5M on BBC HD) according to preliminary numbers. Over in Canada, meanwhile, the episode "Amy’s Choice" (episode 5×07) drew nearly 400,000 viewers when it aired two Saturday’s ago (6/5/2010), making SPACE the most-watched channel in the country on that day during its timeslot: "This is a big, awesome deal for us – we are thrilled that so many of you are loving the new Doctor." [The Doctor Who News Page, (2), (3), (4), (5) SPACE]

The first four episodes of "Doctor Who" to premiere in May were the most-requested programs of the month on BBC’s iPlayer — led by the nearly 1.4M requests notched by "Amy’s Choice" — according to BBC iStats. [The Doctor Who News Page] — back to previous position

CHART (5/31/2010 to 6/6/2010)

CHART (6/7/2010 to 6/13/2010)

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