Friday, December 29, 2006

BSG, New Baby, Voyager, et al

My sincere apologies for not keeping up with this blog. I've missed half a season of Battlestar Galactica, but I assure I was for a good cause. On December 14th, we welcomed a new baby into our family. Although I never missed an episode of BSG, I just didn't have the time or energy to write about it. It has been 16 years since our last child so I've been super busy remodeling the house, along with my full time job. If you are interested in reading about the new baby the link is http://www.johnsworld.cashhosters.com/autism/art39-newbaby.html, my blog for that is http://johnsautism.blogspot.com/.

This season of BSG has been phenominal. Edward James Olmos really showed how good of a lead actor he is. At critical moments, he steps in and reminds his people that he's the boss. But this thing with Apollo and Starbuck, it's a distraction, it's soap opera stuff. It's the first bad move they've made with the series. Although not the first they've talked about. The producers seem to be hell bent on killing off a main character. Why? So they can be different? Every series has it's main characters, and at the end of the episode, season, whatever, the fans have to know the "magnificant" 6, 7 or 8 characters are coming back, regardless of the storyline.

If they mess with that, they will alienate a slice of fans. Right now BSG is the best drama on TV, science fiction or not. But they need to be careful how much of the status quo they upset.

And whos bright idea is it to move the air time to Sunday Night at 10:00PM? Is this like the kiss of death? To me that's just too late and I will probably miss alot of episodes. I like to wathc the Dead Zone (when it's on), but it's in that same time slot on the USA Network, and I miss alot of them. WHAT ARE THEY THINKING??????

I mean, maybe they looked at the network lineups and decided there was less competition on Sunday Night, I don't know. I just know this is a bad move, and I think viewership will go down in the Sunday Night timeslot.

Christmas was ok. My inlaws were in town and that's always... interesting. Spike TV hosted a Star Trek: Voyager marathon all week long the week before Christmas. But the holiday weekend was a bomb sci-fi marathons. You'd think with 400 channels you could find decent Christmas shows or a good sci-fi marathon just about any day. NOT! I remember a time when a federal holiday meant there would be a decent marathon on, usually something Star Trek.

But, No! And although Spike had a recent spell of Voyager, they have slowly reduced the airing of DS9 and TNG. Spike seems to have this grand illusion that all men love James Bond and the Godfather. The Sci-Fi Channel showed one Star Trek Movie, and I think Stargate was on once. Now if you like the horror and doomsday stuff, well it was feast.

G4 has also reduced it's airings of TNG and added COPS. Their ratings would be better if they just showed infomercials. In fact, is there anything remotely decent on G4 besides Star Trek? I think G4 is the embodiment of the Beavis and Butthead generation.

Spike will be added 2 hours of Voyager beginning January 2nd, 2007 at 5:00 and 6:00 PM. that might work out since the SciFi channel can't seem to have Stargate on very often in it's normal 6:00PM timeslot.

Enough rantings I guess. I hope to have more when Stargate SG-1, Stargate Atlantis, and BSG return next month.

John Crawford

AutismZone

Accokeek Computers

Accokeek Gifts

Mamas Best Recipes

The Cartouche - Science Fiction Reviews

Simple Opportunities

Conquer Your Niche

Saturday, October 7, 2006

Battlestar Galactica Season 3 Premier

This was by far the most anticipated season premier in years. Next to "The 4400", this is one of the best dramas on television. the Scifi channel has been promoting it for months, to include mini episodes only available on the web. The 2-hour season 3 premier, episodes "Occupation" and "Precipice" were everything they were hyped up to be.

Please read the full article at Battlestar Galactica Season 3 Premier

http://accokeekcomputers.com
http://autismzone.com
http://www.sci-fi-reviews.com/
http://mamasbestrecipes.com
http://accokeekgifts.com

Sunday, July 23, 2006

The 4400 - The Home Front - Reviewed

A candid review of the popular hit show "The 4400", episode "The Home Front".

Monday, July 3, 2006

The 4400 - Gone, Part 2 Reviewed

I've written a very lengthy review of the latest "The 4400" episode "Gone, Part 2". Go to The 4400 - Gone, Part 2 Reviewed

Wednesday, June 28, 2006

The 4400 - Gone, Part 1 Reviewed

Gone is the episode we've been expecting for 3 seasons - a genuine cliffhanger and we won't have to wait 9 months to see how it turns out.

See the full article at The 4400 - Gone, Part 1 Reviewed

Saturday, June 17, 2006

The 4400 - The New World

It wasn't the dramatic opening we've come to expect with season premiers. On the other hand, the season 2 finale wasn't much of a cliffhanger. The galaxy wasn't hanging in the balance, so none to be saved in the season opener.

That's not to say it wasn't a good show....

See the full article at The 4400 - The New World

Sunday, April 23, 2006

Mammoth - Men In Black Take On The Blob

By John Crawford

The previews of Sci Fi Pictures Mammoth didn't do it justice, I was expecting a really serious movie. Viewers are immediately made aware of a less serious, almost comical atmosphere during the opening credits. The "Men In Black" theme at the beginning, combined with "The Outer Limits" music, doesn't give serious scifi fans a warm and fuzzy. But it gets better.

Read the full article at Mammoth - Men In Black Take On The Blob

Wednesday, March 15, 2006

Scifi News Links

I've added various science fiction news links. Please check them out at The Cartouche

Stargate In The News
Battlestar Galactica In The News
Star Trek In The News
Science Fiction News
Entertainment News

Return to Camelot?

By John Crawford

It took two television seasons to play out just 9 months of storyline. Then in the last episode they jump a year into the future? Ok, what's wrong with this picture?

Up till now Battlestar Galactica has given us slow, but sizzling drama. You never knew what was around the corner, but you knew the plot would thicken. The season finale, "Lay Down Your Burdens, Part II"...

Read the full article at Return to Camelot?

Sunday, February 26, 2006

A Broken Machine Who Thinks She's Human

By John Crawford

I haven't written much about the second half of Battlestar Galactica's season 2. Not that I haven't been rivoted by the story, or that I don't find it good entertainment. But the story hasn't really moved much since Admiral Cain was killed. They've done considerable character building, but as far as we know the fleet is at a stand still. They're supposed to be searching for Earth, the thirteenth colony, but they have no clue where it is or what direction to go.

Read the full article at A Broken Machine Who Thinks She's Human

Wednesday, February 22, 2006

Lessons From Star Trek

By Steve Pavlina

One of the best examples of the fulfillment of human potential can actually be found in the Star Trek universe created by Gene Roddenberry. Roddenberry was more than just a TV producer — he was a futurist who spoke at NASA, the Smithsonian Institution, and many universities. His vision began to take root in the original series but became far more mature in Star Trek: The Next Generation. After Roddenberry’s death in 1991, the other series and movies drifted from his original vision. So my comments will be focused on the Next Generation series, which originally aired from 1987 to 1994.

Read the full article at Lessons From Star Trek

Friday, February 17, 2006

Will Technology Advances Limit Entertainment Choices?

Hollywood has recently been telling America about the financial trouble the movie industry is facing. In response, Americans have asked Hollywood to start producing movies that are good enough to watch and worth the ten dollars theaters charge! Over the past four years ticket sales for new movies have steadily decreased. Why is this happening? Are movie theaters going away? Will movie studios go out of business and further limit consumer choice? This article will attempt to answer these questions by examining the challenges and opportunities faced by both the entertainment industry and consumers.


See the full article at Will Technology Advances Limit Entertainment Choices?

Thursday, February 2, 2006

Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds

Ok, we need a bit of humor now and again. From the Google Video Of The Day archives, this fanatsic piece of fan art was uploaded at a small company and then promptly removed after the word got out. It is a a brilliant video to one of the oddest covers ever recorded by Captain Kirk. And he recorded a bunch.

Play the video at Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds

Thursday, January 26, 2006

The 20 Movies to Look Out For in 2006

By Patrick Rijnders

Now that 2005 is over and everybody has revealed their top ten list (or at least a preliminary version of it), the time has come to start looking forward to what we will be seeing in cinemas this year. There's plenty of movies coming, and to help you on your way, here is my yearly (only the second time, but still) Top 20 list of coolest upcoming movies!

See the full article at The 20 Movies to Look Out For in 2006

Monday, January 23, 2006

Bermuda Triangle Facts - or Fiction?

By Brian Schmidt
One of the few Bermuda Triangle Facts that can be confirmed is the Bermuda Triangle location. In fact, the location of the Bermuda Triangle is somewhat arbitrary as well. There are no official boundaries. However, the triangle is generally assumed to run from Bermuda to Puerto Rico to Miami and back to Bermuda.

See the full article at Bermuda Triangle Facts - or Fiction?

Thursday, January 19, 2006

Why Star Trek Is Still The Gold Standard For Science Fiction Television

In this article I'm gong to explore why I think Star Trek , and all of it's spin offs, still set the standard for all other scifi television shows.

See the full article at Why Star Trek Is Still The Gold Standard For Science Fiction Television

Thursday, January 12, 2006

Battlestar Galactica: Shoot Admiral Cain In The Head

"This can only end one way, you have to kill her Bill", the President said to Commander Adama. That was President Laura Roslin's assessment after the standoff between the Battlestar Pegasus and Battlestar Galactica ships. Two Galactica crew members (Helo and Tyrol) are arrested, tried and hastily convicted for the death of a Pegasus crew member. There were defending Sharon (AKA Boomer), a Cylon agent, from a brutal interrogation

See the full story at Shoot Admiral Cain In The Head

Tuesday, January 10, 2006

Science Fiction Movie Characters: 10 of the Best

By Joey Phillips

Some of the most memorable movie characters have and continue to come from the Science Fiction genre. The reason is that these characters face extraordinary circumstance and must use extraordinary means to overcome them.


See the full article at Science Fiction Movie Characters: 10 of the Best

Sunday, January 8, 2006

Narnia: The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe

By Judith Brandy

It has been at least 30 years since I read this classic series by C.S. Lewis’ “The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe,” and so imagine my surprise when the characters came to life on the movie screen. I did, however, remember enough of the plot not to feel too damned old to be there, although parts of the movie still seemed new to me. My daughter commented that the movie lacked the depth of the books; granted she’s closer in age to the “reading” event than I am, but for a movie, it seemed a good waste of 2.5 hours.

See the full article at Narnia: The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe