Sci-Fi TV Tuesday: Fringe, Falling Skies, Warehouse 13, Eureka, Haven, Doctor Who + more

In Sci-Fi TV this week we get you ready for this week’s Syfy premieres of Eureka, Warehouse 13 and Haven. We also find out how many episodes Chuck gets next season, get a look and name for Spielberg’s alien invasion show, casting news for Fringe, details on the next season of Doctor Who, bad news for that Heroes TV movie, and much more including the latest television ratings, casting bites and new images and video previews.

 

GENRE TV NEWS

Warehouse 13 and Eureka return this week + Series premiere of Haven
The summer cable TV season is well underway, but this week features the returns of two Syfy series and the premiere of another. It all kicks off tonight with the second season premiere of "Warehouse 13". USA Today has a feature on the series offering a few details about what to expect in season two:

Season 2 — 12 episodes plus a holiday-themed 13th in December — will delve into the characters’ histories and follow them in new and old relationships. Pete will reconnect with a former flame and agent (Tia Carrere) and start a relationship with a local woman (Paula Garces). Claudia, who will do a crossover episode on Syfy’s Eureka, will fall for a local guy, and Myka will have some trust issues with a former warehouse agent. Artie, whose history will be explored, will have a crush on the warehouse doctor (Lindsay Wagner).

Episodes will feature a comic-book superhero and a visit to the world of high fashion. The series also will venture to "Warehouse 2," one of 12 earlier versions, each storing the collection of artifacts during a different period of history.

"Time Will Tell" airs tonight at 9:00 p.m. ET.

Later in the week "Eureka" returns for its fourth season ("Founder’s Day" – Friday, July 9 at 9:00 p.m.) followed by the series premiere of "Haven" (10:00). The new season of "Eureka" features the addition of "Battlestar Galactica" star James Callis (see the new poster below). Callis gave an interview to TV Guide about his character.

IGN: He’s returned to Eureka, having lived there before. What kind of baggage is he bringing with him?

Callis: He definitely comes with a past. Indeed. But meets Allison and Allison has now become his present and his future, if I can put it that way. Or at least he’d like her to be. And so they’re slowly moving toward that "end." But, he’s a former resident of the town and the town isn’t quite how he remembers it or pictures it. Everybody’s slightly different and there’s this weird guy who’s the sheriff now and Grant wonders, "Is this guy really the sheriff?"

Check out the rest of the interview here and check below for the latest images and video clips from "Warehouse 13", "Eureka" and "Haven".

Eureka

Promotional stills from episode 4×01 – "Founder’s Day" [more at SpoilerTV]

Season four poster [EW]

Haven

Clip [Syfy]

Clip [Syfy]

Watch more clips here

Warehouse 13

Clip [Syfy]

Watch more clips here

Behind the scenes video with Allison Scagliotti [Syfy]

Fringe: Amy Madigan cast as Olivia’s mother
Amy Madigan has joined the cast of Fox’s "Fringe" playing Olivia’s mother. According to EW, Madigan will appear in "roughly four episodes beginning with the season premiere…" The character is expected to reunite with her daughter in the alternate universe. The title of the season three premiere has also been revealed: "Olivia" and lastly, Anna Torv reveals that filming on season three will start on July 8. And lastly, check out our recent article featuring interviews with Lance Reddick and Anna Torv at the Saturns here.

Spielberg’s TNT sci-fi series gets name: "Falling Skies" + New images
The Steven Spielberg-produced / TNT alien invasion series has finally been given a title: "Falling Skies". TNT also announced that the show, starring Noah Wyle and Moon Bloodgood, will be coming to Comic-Con:

The resistance is coming to Comic-Con. TNT is going to give fans the very first look at the eagerly anticipated new series FALLING SKIES, from DreamWorks Television and executive producer Steven Spielberg, starring Noah Wyle. The gripping drama series, slated to premiere in summer 2011, envisions a world where aliens have invaded, and the fate of humanity lies in the hands of a few survivors. Series stars Wyle (ER, TNT’s The Librarian movies) and Moon Bloodgood (Terminator Salvation) will join co-executive producer and writer Mark Verheiden (Heroes, Battlestar Galactica) at Comic-Con for a Q&A panel session scheduled to take place Friday, July 23, from 4:45 p.m. – 5:45 p.m. (PT) in Room 6A. They will also be available for an autograph signing, time and location to be announced.

Here’s the synopsis (and check below for a batch of new images):

In FALLING SKIES, Wyle stars as a former college professor who becomes the leader of a group of soldiers and civilians struggling against an occupying alien force. Bloodgood co-stars as Anne Glass, a therapist who works with the surviving children to help them cope with the traumatic situation. The series also stars Drew Roy (Lincoln Heights) as Hal and Maxim Knight (Brothers & Sisters) as Matt, Tom’s two sons; and Seychelle Gabriel (Weeds) as Lourdes, an orphaned teenager who helps run the group’s commissary. Will Patton (Armageddon, TNT’s Into the West) plays a fierce leader of the resistance.

Promotional stills [more at io9]

Steven Moffat talks Doctor Who season six
Writer/executive producer Steven Moffat teases what we’ll see next season on "Doctor Who" [via Den of Geek]:

"What is that, who is that, who are the silence, what’s coming?" teased Moffat. "The whole point of the silence is next series. Also, River Song … who is she really? That’s what we’re going to find out next year," he said.

Also, Steven Moffat has revealed to Digital Spy just how far into planning series six he is. "Not far enough, I think is the answer to that!" he told the site. "I’ve got lots of plans – plans are not nearly as useful as scripts, I find – so I’d like to have more scripts and fewer plans. We’re not quite as ahead of the game as we were last time. But it’s fine."

Matt Smith, meanwhile, was asked by Digital Spy what actors he would like to work with on the show and he says he thinks Ian McKellen would be make good villain:

"It’s like when people ask you your favorite album. You go, ‘I love music so much I’ve got 20!’. Maybe Ian McKellen would be quite interesting to come and do one. He could be a cool baddie, couldn’t he?"

Smith was also asked if he’d be interested in a multi-Doctor story and he said he wouldn’t be against the idea:

"It would depend on the script," he admitted. "If it came from Steven I would run with it, but it would have to be brilliant. Yes, if it’s a good script."

Here are a few "Doctor Who"-related bites:

  • Neil Gaiman reveals that his episode of "Doctor Who" was only briefly called "The House of Nothing". The episode name is currently unknown. [Neil Gaiman]

  • Veteran costume designer Barbara Kidd will take over costume design duties on the Christmas special and the 2011 season. [Doctor Who News Page]

  • The National Institute of Dramatic Art in Kensington, New South Wales, Australia will offer several short courses for children on the production of "Doctor Who". Details via Doctor Who News Page.

  • Do betters know something we don’t? Betting Companies in the UK have dropped the odds on Matt Smith leaving from 6/1 to 9/2. [SpoilerTV]

Heroes might not get TV movie after all
Looking forward to that potential 2 or 4-hour "Heroes" TV movie that was suppose to wrap up the story? Well according to Michael Ausiello of EW, "don’t hold your breath":

Question: Love your column, and your scoops. I was wondering if there has been any update on the Heroes movie that was being talked about over at NBC. —Scott

Ausiello: Here’s your update: Don’t hold your breath.

Chuck S4 may only be 13 episodes
Season four of NBC’s Chuck has only been picked up for 13 episodes and Zachary Levi and Joshua Gomez say they aren’t sure if they’ll get a back nine episode order. Season four will start filming July 19. Watch an interview with the two — from the Saturn Awards — where they discuss "Chuck" and more embedded below. [Collider]

Return dates announced for Vampire Diaries, Smallville and Supernatural + Nikita series premiere
The CW has announced premiere dates for its fall 2010 lineup, which includes return dates for "The Vampire Diaries", "Smallville" and "Supernatural" along with the series premiere of "Nikita".

Thursday, September 9

8:00 — The Vampire Diaries (season two premiere)
9:00 — Nikita (series premiere)

Friday, September 24

8:00 — Smallville (season 10 premiere)
9:00 — Supernatural (season six premiere / new day and time)

"Nikita" promo [YouTube]


PREVIEW Videos & Images

LOST

BTS clip from the Complete Collection DVD/Blu-ray set [YouTube via The ODI]

True Blood

Season three promotional stills [more at Fangtasia Brasil via SpoilerTV]

Promo for episode 3×04 – "9 Crimes" [YouTube]

Jessica’s video blogs [HBO via SpoilerTV]

Watch more: 1 | 2 |3 | 4

V

Interview with Elizabeth Mitchell [YouTube via The V Files] — back to original position

 

The Walking Dead

Comic-Con teaser poster [IGN]

Set images [more at On Location Vacations]

TV BITES

  • Comedy Central removed the "eyePhone" reference, a jab at Apple’s iPhone, from last Thursday’s episode episode of "Futurama". The dialogue with the joke was missing from a clip the network posted online. Comedy Central later removed the clip altogether from their online site. [Mac Life]

  • "True Blood" creator Alan Balls reveals that we’ll see a lot of "werewolves and vampires throwing down" at the end of the season… [EW]

  • …Check out an interview with Allan Hyde (Godric) at True-Blood.org.

  • "V" star Elizabeth Mitchell has revealed in an interview that filming on the second season will begin on August 12, 2010. Watch the interview here. [via The V Files]

  • The "V" panel at Comic-Con will feature cast members Elizabeth Mitchell, Morris Chestnut, Joel Gretsch, Logan Huffman, Laura Vandervoort, Charles Mesure, Morena Baccarin and Scott Wolf. The cast will be joined by crew members Scott Rosenbaum (showrunner / executive producer) and Steve Pearlman (executive producer) for a Q&A session with the fans. [via The V Files]

  • Check out an interview with "Stargate Universe" star Brian J. Smith at Gateworld.

  • "Reaper" creators Michelle Fazekas and Tara Butters have joined the staff of Fox’s prehistoric time travel drama "Terra Nova". [KSiteTV]

  • Jensen Ackles (Dean Winchester) will reportedly direct two episodes of "Supernatural" next season. [Shock Till You Drop]

  • Michelle MacLaren may direct one of the episodes of Frank Darabont’s "The Walking Dead" adaptation.  [Arrow in the Head]

  • Jeph Loeb, head of the Marvel’s new Television division, says the company will be seeking out the best talent to bring their properties to the small screen. Loeb also says they will be looking to fans for suggestions on what properties to develop. [CBM]

CASTING BITES

  • Jennifer Aspen is currently filming an episode of "Supernatural" season six. [Samantha Ferris]

  • Kevin Alejandro, who plays Jesus on "True Blood", says he’ll be back beginning July 18th with the fifth episode of the season: "…then you see me pretty regularly from there to the finale." [EW]

  • John Schneider will be back for at least two episodes next season on "Smallville", reprising his role as Clark Kent adoptive father. Schneider will appear in the season premiere "Lazarus" and at least one other episode. [IGN]

  • Producers of Fox’s "Human Target" are casting for Ames, "a sassy young thing who’s a bit of a thief, and as such aligns herself for a possible job with Chance’s crew." [Fancast]

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

The second episode of "True Blood" season three ("Beautifully Broken") drew 4.26 million viewers and a 2.5 A18-49 rating. That was a decline of 16% in viewers and 14% in A18-49 rating from the season premiere. Episode three "It Hurts Me Too" increased slightly to 4.46 million viewers (+5%) and a 2.5 A18-49 rating (n/c).

"Futurama" fell to 2.16 million viewers and a 1.1 A18-49 rating last Thursday. That was a decline of 22% in viewers and 27% in A18-49 rating from the episode prior and down even further from the season premiere (2.92M / 1.6 A18-49 rating). The current season is averaging 2.62 million viewers and a 1.4 A18-49 rating.

"The Pandorica Opens", episode 12 of "Doctor Who", drew 7.57 million viewers according to final ratings. The breakdown was 6.94 million on BBC One with 0.635 million watching on BBC HD. The season finale, "The Big Bang", drew 6.12 million viewers on BBC One but rating figures for BBC HD were not yet available. [The Doctor Who News Page, (2)]

CHART (6/21/2010 to 6/27/2010)


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

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Looking forward to the Walking Dead…when are we going to get a new Star Trek series?

surprised the dr who viewing figures are on the low side for the end of series!

Oh no, how will the culture survive without the Heroes TV movie? How I ask you! How?!

The Fringe stuff is pretty cool.

I can’t WAITt for the year 2030, when Steven Spielberg will issue the “Falling Skies – 20th Anniversary Edition” in which all the on-screen firearms have been digitally replaced with cell phones.

Secret government warehouses are just silly :)

Can’t wait for Gaiman’s Dr. Who.

Comedy Central removed the “eyePhone” reference, a jab at Apple’s iPhone, from last Thursday’s episode episode of “Futurama”. The dialogue with the joke was missing from a clip the network posted online. Comedy Central later removed the clip altogether from their online site. [Mac Life]

So… the execs at Comedy Central have no sense of humor?

#7: Either that or a distinct lack of spine :(

Wait a minute, the episode of Futurama I saw had several references to the “Eye-phone”. What exactly did Comedy Central remove?

I sure am glad Smallville is coming back for Season 10 in September!

I can’t imagine living in a world without it! Gosh whiz, no!

yess 9 thony-the whole episode was a spoof of iphones n apple–a very sharp one-i had captions on n eyephone was mentioned a lot-so what exactly was cut? at the end the eyephones turned em into mindless zombies-hah hah—hell with what south park gets away with futuramas iphone spoof was mild but still hilarious—interesting fringe news–spielberg invasion series sounds v-ish–still the taken miniseries was excellent—

@5: But where else are you going to keep the Lost Ark? ;)

@7: Meh. I thought the eyephone gags were too of-the-moment; I think they’re destined to feel really dated really fast. I think Futurama’s funnier when it’s making fun of more general science fiction tropes.

#12: “But where else are you going to keep the Lost Ark? ;)”

That depends on how reasonable we’re all willing to be. All I want is the girl.

I love Superman but never got into Smallville, too Dawson’s Creek like for a comic legend.

ALso from what I read I think it has well and truly proved he is never going to wear the costume.

1-

I would love Star Trek to come back onto TV, the show has its full potential as a TV show but which universe would it be since both are open.

Why not have both open, they have now done that for Terminator, Salvation follows on from Terminator 3 where as the Sarah Conor Chronicles branched off into a new timeline.

#2:

Its simple. The Doctor Finale of season 5 sucked. Even part one of it sucked. hell… almost the entire season 5 kinf of sucked.
Bad Moffat… Bad Moffat…

#2

The weather in the UK has been spectacularly good. No doubt a fair share of people watched it later on the BBC’s internet portal iPlayer. AFAIK these figures do not include iPlayer.

#10

Don’t forget your favorite actress on the show, Harry! We all know how she knocks your socks off!

17

How could I forget! I lie awake at night thinking of what I’d like to do to her!

#7

I think its more a case of them fearing the execs at Apple not having a sense of humor, not themselves.

#15 yeah I agree because the whole series (or season) has been so bad (matt smith has got better as the doctor though, but Amy has not) that’s why people did not watch it

When are people going to get the message CHUCK is one of the best things on TV?! So crammed full of nice extras on every level, seamless, and GREAT music to top it all off.
Well, SciFi fans know some of the BEST shows in history have only lasted 4 seasons or less. Hindsight…well, it sucks, when we’re not gonna get any more of something. Too little too late.

#2

Viewing figures in the UK are always deceptively low. In comparison of Series 5 to Series 1 – They are up, plus, the World Cup being on never helps

Series 5 has been fantastic, much more like the old Who I grew up with rather then the camp dramatic tripe RTD served us

Hi Rosario can you please clarify the EYEPHONE references being pulled on Futurama last week, Because I didnt know anything got cut and there were many eyephone i phone jabs on that episode…you got me curious now what comedy central would cut out since they let south park get away with a lot…

#23: I don’t think anyone’s suggested that they cut the actual episode, just the online content.

Nice to see James Callis back on TV in EUREKA. I guess FLASHFORWARD’s loss is EUREKA’s gain.

Looking forward to FALLING SKIES also.

#21: Good observation. But you do have to remember that great line about “the light that burns twice as bright burns half as long.”

#22: No offense, but I gotta disagree. RTD’s run on DW brought the series back, expanded the fanbase, and made an already great show even better. And while I like Season 5 and think that Moffett has done a superb job, let’s face it…you can thank the “camp dramatic tripe” of RTD for laying the foundation.

But that’s just me. We have different views on this, so…

ohhh thanx for the clarification s john ross—still curious what was cut online tho, wondering why they bothered