Re: [scifinoir2] Networks clamor for foreign TV shows
I hear you, i just find it a bit sad that British people can wade through our cultural differences, yet Americans can't do the same with theirs. One can figure out what a "lorrie" or "lift" is from the context of what's being discussed. But that's egocentric America for you... -- Original message -- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] In a message dated 3/5/2008 9:19:40 PM Eastern Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: What is it so that British and other foreign audiences will often watch original American shows, but American TV so often remakes foreign shows with American actors, rather than just buy and air the original product? Take Torchwood. It has some sexual content you won't see on American TV. So naturally it is edited. I found out today that Americans still get the cut version, which won't fly on normal cable. It is the same with movies. Movies are remade so the viewing audience can understand them. Americans don't have flats, drive lorries or put clothes in a wardrobe. **It's Tax Time! Get tips, forms, and advice on AOL Money & Finance. (http://money.aol.com/tax?NCID=aolprf000301) [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: [scifinoir2] "New Amsterdam" Thoughts
you mentioned the bad guys never win in scifi, but isn't that the way of most fiction, especially that produced in America? It's about the battle of good versus evil, and good always wins. Why didn't you like Richie in "Highlander"? The lady playing a Latina on "New Amsterdam" is in actuality part Burmese, Indian, Persian, and English. So of course she was cast as a Latina! She was in "The Namesake", playing a love interest of star Kal Penn. Good movie, by the way. -- Original message -- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] In a message dated 3/5/2008 9:45:17 PM Eastern Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Why did you hate "Angel"? Did you like its parent show, "Buffy the Vampire Slayer"? Nope. Angel and Buffy always win. What is the point. I would like to see the bag guys win. That is why I hate most sci fi. The bad guys NEVER win. The Methos comparison is probably better than McLeod. Methos was very amoral at times, having done a lot of repulsive things over his three millennia of existence. I remember once, when he killed an immortal female that was stalking McLeod, he chided Mac's reluctance to kill a woman as an admirable but potentially fatal product of his upbringing. When the lady asked Methos who *he* was, drawing his sword he replied "Someone who was born a long time before 'chivalry'" All that being said, the guy isn't as cool as Methos. true. I mess Highlander. "Highlander: The Detective Series" is right! Indeed, most of the entire second season of "Highlander" sucked for that reason. That was after they killed Tessa and revealed that Richie was an immortal. Don't ever mention he who is annoying For a long time, then, Mac ran around saving damsels in distress, busting up drug gangs, solving murders. It was incredibly boring, and really didn't require an immortal's skills. I likened the show at that time to "Renegade" the crappy Lorenzo Lamas show where he rode around on a motorcycle, a bounty hunter for justice. That is anohter name that is banned from scifi noir. "Highlander" was boring until they got back to the*immortal* angle as the primary focus in season three. Forgot about the old sidekick. Another element that felt cliched and wasn't handled well. Even his partner, the lady cop was a cliche. She comes on acting all tough. And of *course* to counterbalance her and the star, there's the more cynical, less enlightened white male cop, the kind of guy you just know probably isn't all that crazy about women, people of color, or new ways of doing things. Cliche. And when the cynical cop said to the lady "wasn't your dad so-and-so?" I just *knew* that was coming! No young lady cop on TV is ever introduced without her father having been a career cop before her. Exactly. She is usually whit or hispanic and is from the street and by the book. **It's Tax Time! Get tips, forms, and advice on AOL Money & Finance. (http://money.aol.com/tax?NCID=aolprf000301) [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: [scifinoir2] Networks clamor for foreign TV shows
Well, I see "wardrobes" on sale all the time, but i get your point. I read a while ago how the original title "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" had to be changed to "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" for American readers.The publisher was concerned--rightfully, I guess--that Americans didn't know what a Philosopher's Stone was. That's sad though: if we could get used to absorbing other cultures more, we'd be the better for it. I used to watch Monty Python when I was only ten years old, and many of the cultural references escaped me then. But my trying to understand them helped me in the long run. Ah well, that's America for you. -- Original message -- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] In a message dated 3/5/2008 9:19:40 PM Eastern Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: What is it so that British and other foreign audiences will often watch original American shows, but American TV so often remakes foreign shows with American actors, rather than just buy and air the original product? Take Torchwood. It has some sexual content you won't see on American TV. So naturally it is edited. I found out today that Americans still get the cut version, which won't fly on normal cable. It is the same with movies. Movies are remade so the viewing audience can understand them. Americans don't have flats, drive lorries or put clothes in a wardrobe. **It's Tax Time! Get tips, forms, and advice on AOL Money & Finance. (http://money.aol.com/tax?NCID=aolprf000301) [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: [scifinoir2] Re: Networks clamor for foreign TV shows
In a message dated 3/5/2008 10:33:54 PM Eastern Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: For example, I'm sure an Americanized Dr Who could be done that's exciting and all that, but the British accents, attitudes, cultural references, etc. are much more interesting to me. What's "The Treatment"? That is one example that needs to stay British. I do remember it was on PBS. I woo young to remember all of it. I guess for most Americans British =Masterpiece Theatre. Upstairs Downstairs was good. I remember when they did Colonial House on PBS. However every America thought it was a reality show to win instead of learning about early America life. I guess Plantation House would be too controversial. **It's Tax Time! Get tips, forms, and advice on AOL Money & Finance. (http://money.aol.com/tax?NCID=aolprf000301) [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: [scifinoir2] Re: Networks clamor for foreign TV shows
I can see in some cases where there are sexual or cultural things that Americans might find offensive. But even then, is that so often, and wouldn't simple editing or omission of some whole eps suffice? I too often find the original British product superiour. If nothing else, it's a different take, and i like that. For example, I'm sure an Americanized Dr Who could be done that's exciting and all that, but the British accents, attitudes, cultural references, etc. are much more interesting to me. What's "The Treatment"? -- Original message -- From: "maidmarian_thepoet" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> So that they can replace the lead actress with a blond, of course. Seriously, so many of the dramatic remakes are worse and don't last long. The comedies seem to make it, but I would imagine--as someone has mentioned--that the comedies do a major rewrite in order to match U.S. comedy styles. That said, I am absolutely hooked on "The Treatment". And it comes on at such an odd time. Often, I have to stay up later and catch the rerun because it comes on in the middle of our prime time. --- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > > > In a message dated 3/5/2008 9:19:40 PM Eastern Standard Time, > [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: > > What is it so that British and other foreign audiences will often watch > original American shows, but American TV so often remakes foreign shows with > American actors, rather than just buy and air the original product? > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[scifinoir2] Re: Getting stranded with the manly men of Lost
Tsk-tsk. I can see the bias. Sayid Jarrah is considerably cuter than Sawyer. --- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, "brent wodehouse" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23451954/ > > Getting stranded with the manly men of `Lost' > > Jack or Locke? Sawyer or Sayid? Which one has the island advantage? >
[scifinoir2] Re: Networks clamor for foreign TV shows
So that they can replace the lead actress with a blond, of course. Seriously, so many of the dramatic remakes are worse and don't last long. The comedies seem to make it, but I would imagine--as someone has mentioned--that the comedies do a major rewrite in order to match U.S. comedy styles. That said, I am absolutely hooked on "The Treatment". And it comes on at such an odd time. Often, I have to stay up later and catch the rerun because it comes on in the middle of our prime time. --- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > > > In a message dated 3/5/2008 9:19:40 PM Eastern Standard Time, > [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: > > What is it so that British and other foreign audiences will often watch > original American shows, but American TV so often remakes foreign shows with > American actors, rather than just buy and air the original product? >
Re: [scifinoir2] "New Amsterdam" Thoughts
In a message dated 3/5/2008 9:45:17 PM Eastern Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Why did you hate "Angel"? Did you like its parent show, "Buffy the Vampire Slayer"? Nope. Angel and Buffy always win. What is the point. I would like to see the bag guys win. That is why I hate most sci fi. The bad guys NEVER win. The Methos comparison is probably better than McLeod. Methos was very amoral at times, having done a lot of repulsive things over his three millennia of existence. I remember once, when he killed an immortal female that was stalking McLeod, he chided Mac's reluctance to kill a woman as an admirable but potentially fatal product of his upbringing. When the lady asked Methos who *he* was, drawing his sword he replied "Someone who was born a long time before 'chivalry'" All that being said, the guy isn't as cool as Methos. true. I mess Highlander. "Highlander: The Detective Series" is right! Indeed, most of the entire second season of "Highlander" sucked for that reason. That was after they killed Tessa and revealed that Richie was an immortal. Don't ever mention he who is annoying For a long time, then, Mac ran around saving damsels in distress, busting up drug gangs, solving murders. It was incredibly boring, and really didn't require an immortal's skills. I likened the show at that time to "Renegade" the crappy Lorenzo Lamas show where he rode around on a motorcycle, a bounty hunter for justice. That is anohter name that is banned from scifi noir. "Highlander" was boring until they got back to the*immortal* angle as the primary focus in season three. Forgot about the old sidekick. Another element that felt cliched and wasn't handled well. Even his partner, the lady cop was a cliche. She comes on acting all tough. And of *course* to counterbalance her and the star, there's the more cynical, less enlightened white male cop, the kind of guy you just know probably isn't all that crazy about women, people of color, or new ways of doing things. Cliche. And when the cynical cop said to the lady "wasn't your dad so-and-so?" I just *knew* that was coming! No young lady cop on TV is ever introduced without her father having been a career cop before her. Exactly. She is usually whit or hispanic and is from the street and by the book. **It's Tax Time! Get tips, forms, and advice on AOL Money & Finance. (http://money.aol.com/tax?NCID=aolprf000301) [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: [scifinoir2] Networks clamor for foreign TV shows
In a message dated 3/5/2008 9:45:30 PM Eastern Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: true, but between the US and the UK? I tend to think more US shows are sent straight to the UK without remakes than vice-versa. Surely Americans can figure out the humour in British sitcoms, the drama in British dramas? I've never had a problem, and often prefer the originals to the remakes I loved British comedy .but not all of it. It can be quite crude. The dramas can be culturally insensitive. The accents can be very hard to understand. It would put a lot of actors out of work and the corporations would not make money if they just ran the original version. **It's Tax Time! Get tips, forms, and advice on AOL Money & Finance. (http://money.aol.com/tax?NCID=aolprf000301) [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[scifinoir2] Fw: World Science: Backward evolution -- back again?
[EMAIL PROTECTED] Interesting science stuff. * Pollution may make birds change their tune: Nothing like a birdsong to remind you of nature's glory, right? Maybe not quite, according to rather creepy new findings. http://www.world-science.net/othernews/080228_birdsong * After jeers, some recognition for "reverse evolution" theorist: A leading scientific journal is set to publish work by a controversial researcher of people who walk on all fours. http://www.world-science.net/exclusives/080303_unertan * Study: media misconstrues blues as "chemical imbalance" An ancient, but unsupported notion about depression still finds its way into many news reports, a study has found. http://www.world-science.net/othernews/080304_depression * Dark energy, or just dust? Findings raise questions: Tiny whiskers of carbon in space may explain puzzling observations usually attributed to a mysterious force, researchers say. http://www.world-science.net/othernews/080301_graphite * Brain workings linked to parental instinct: Infant faces spark a flurry of activity in a key brain region, researchers have found. http://www.world-science.net/othernews/080228_parent World Science homepage Don't forget to visit our homepage for Science In Images; links to top science news from other publi- cations; and other recent World Science stories! http://www.world-science.net World Science archives To new readers especially: you need not miss our ex- citing past stories, though they won't appear in future newsletters. See archives for any year by typing that year after the homepage address: for example, http://www.world-science.net/2007 Invite friends to join World Science! Click here to open an invitation email you can send friends and colleagues so they can join you in sub- scribing to World Science at no charge. Feel free to change the email text (although you might want to leave the subscription instructions unchanged.) More information This is the World Science newsletter. To cancel your subscription, please reply to this email address with "cancel" in the subject line. To subscribe, write to this email address with "subscribe" in the subject line. To change the address where you receive the newsletter, simply subscribe the new address and cancel the old one. Any World Science article may be reproduced on another website, on condition that it is reproduced along with a link to the World Science homepage, http://www.world-science.net. Linking to the page of the original article is optional. No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.516 / Virus Database: 269.21.3/1308 - Release Date: 3/3/2008 10:01 AM [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: [scifinoir2] Networks clamor for foreign TV shows
true, but between the US and the UK? I tend to think more US shows are sent straight to the UK without remakes than vice-versa. Surely Americans can figure out the humour in British sitcoms, the drama in British dramas? I've never had a problem, and often prefer the originals to the remakes -- Original message -- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] In a message dated 3/5/2008 9:19:40 PM Eastern Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: What is it so that British and other foreign audiences will often watch original American shows, but American TV so often remakes foreign shows with American actors, rather than just buy and air the original product? Language Humor that is lost in translation Actors Culture that is lost in translation sex, language etc. I don't see a problem with it. Other countries do it too. **It's Tax Time! Get tips, forms, and advice on AOL Money & Finance. (http://money.aol.com/tax?NCID=aolprf000301) [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: [scifinoir2] "New Amsterdam" Thoughts
Why did you hate "Angel"? Did you like its parent show, "Buffy the Vampire Slayer"? The Methos comparison is probably better than McLeod. Methos was very amoral at times, having done a lot of repulsive things over his three millennia of existence. I remember once, when he killed an immortal female that was stalking McLeod, he chided Mac's reluctance to kill a woman as an admirable but potentially fatal product of his upbringing. When the lady asked Methos who *he* was, drawing his sword he replied "Someone who was born a long time before 'chivalry'" All that being said, the guy isn't as cool as Methos. "Highlander: The Detective Series" is right! Indeed, most of the entire second season of "Highlander" sucked for that reason. That was after they killed Tessa and revealed that Richie was an immortal. For a long time, then, Mac ran around saving damsels in distress, busting up drug gangs, solving murders. It was incredibly boring, and really didn't require an immortal's skills. I likened the show at that time to "Renegade" the crappy Lorenzo Lamas show where he rode around on a motorcycle, a bounty hunter for justice. "Highlander" was boring until they got back to the*immortal* angle as the primary focus in season three. Forgot about the old sidekick. Another element that felt cliched and wasn't handled well. Even his partner, the lady cop was a cliche. She comes on acting all tough. And of *course* to counterbalance her and the star, there's the more cynical, less enlightened white male cop, the kind of guy you just know probably isn't all that crazy about women, people of color, or new ways of doing things. Cliche. And when the cynical cop said to the lady "wasn't your dad so-and-so?" I just *knew* that was coming! No young lady cop on TV is ever introduced without her father having been a career cop before her. -- Original message -- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] In a message dated 3/4/2008 11:13:57 PM Eastern Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: IAlso, unlike those two immortals, I didn't feel that the immortality angle was mixed in very well with the plot of the show. It really came off as two disparate stories meshed together: True. Neither half was scintillating, and the two together weren't that special either. "Highlander" in its first season was mythic and magical. "Angel" was exciting and thrilling. I hateed Angel. I think there is a comparison to Methos. about him never dying until he meets his "one true love", and breathes some magic smoke on him. That sucks. I've been wrong before about shows, and one ep doesn't always tell the story. So I'll give it three or four eps and see what happens. I will watch it again. Anyone else? It felt like Highlander the detective serie, complete with Joe(Omar) the grizzly old man. I was bored with the native American gift. Howmany times can they give gifts. Why would someone want to live forever to **It's Tax Time! Get tips, forms, and advice on AOL Money & Finance. (http://money.aol.com/tax?NCID=aolprf000301) [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: [scifinoir2] Networks clamor for foreign TV shows
In a message dated 3/5/2008 9:19:40 PM Eastern Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: What is it so that British and other foreign audiences will often watch original American shows, but American TV so often remakes foreign shows with American actors, rather than just buy and air the original product? Take Torchwood. It has some sexual content you won't see on American TV. So naturally it is edited. I found out today that Americans still get the cut version, which won't fly on normal cable. It is the same with movies. Movies are remade so the viewing audience can understand them. Americans don't have flats, drive lorries or put clothes in a wardrobe. **It's Tax Time! Get tips, forms, and advice on AOL Money & Finance. (http://money.aol.com/tax?NCID=aolprf000301) [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: [scifinoir2] Networks clamor for foreign TV shows
In a message dated 3/5/2008 9:19:40 PM Eastern Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: What is it so that British and other foreign audiences will often watch original American shows, but American TV so often remakes foreign shows with American actors, rather than just buy and air the original product? Language Humor that is lost in translation Actors Culture that is lost in translation sex, language etc. I don't see a problem with it. Other countries do it too. **It's Tax Time! Get tips, forms, and advice on AOL Money & Finance. (http://money.aol.com/tax?NCID=aolprf000301) [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: [scifinoir2] Networks clamor for foreign TV shows
What is it so that British and other foreign audiences will often watch original American shows, but American TV so often remakes foreign shows with American actors, rather than just buy and air the original product? -- Original message -- From: "brent wodehouse" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> http://www.reuters.com/article/entertainmentNews/idUSN0554362520080305 Networks clamor for foreign TV shows Wed Mar 5, 2008 By Nellie Andreeva LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - If you thought the Academy Awards were dominated by foreigners, consider the shows that might grace TV screens in the fall. Of the five pilots ordered by the broadcast networks last week, four were based on international formats - British drama "Ny-Lon" and Israeli drama "Mythological X" at CBS, and British comedies "Outnumbered" and "Spaced" at Fox. A big reason is the three-month Hollywood writers strike, which ended three weeks ago, said Dana Walden, chairman of 20th Century Fox TV, which produces "Mythological X" as well as ABC's pilot "Life on Mars," based on the BBC series. Walden and her team spent time during the strike-imposed hiatus watching the 11 completed episodes of "Mythological X," which centers on a woman who, after learning from a psychic that she already has dated the man she's supposed to marry, revisits all her past relationships in the hopes of finding him. "You get the great benefit of being able to see the great twists and turns the characters take (beyond the pilot)," she said. "The network also was excited to do a reasonably priced show that is still compelling and has a fantastic character at the center but doesn't have car chases and 85 scenes (per episode)." Most foreign series rely more on storytelling than big production values, which also proves attractive to U.S. studios looking for to cut costs in the wake of the writers strike. Sparked by the success of "The Office" and "Ugly Betty," the rise of foreign-scripted formats came into its own last year when a record eight broadcast pilots were based on British series. With the thick of pilot ordering still days away, that number already has been surpassed this year. Nine pilots ordered by the broadcast networks so far - "Ny-Lon," "Mythological X," "Outnumbered," "Spaced," "Life on Mars," CBS drama "Eleventh Hour" and comedy "Worst Week," and NBC comedies "Father Ted" and "Kath & Kim" - are based on international formats, as is Fox comedy "Don't Bring Frank," which is close to a pilot order. Additionally, Canadian imports "The Listener" and "Flashpoint" were picked up as series by NBC and CBS, respectively; the British-produced series "Robinson Crusoe" set sail at NBC; and NBC is doing a highly publicized adaptation of the 2006 Colombian telenovela "Sin Tetas No Hay Paraiso." The foreign format wave has also reached cable shores, with HBO adapting the Israeli drama "In Treatment" and Showtime acquiring British series "Secret Diary of a Call Girl." "It's like an ever-growing frontier where people are looking for the next big thing anywhere in the world," said Chris Coelen of Pangea, which co-produces "Ny-Lon." The show follows a New York record store clerk and a London stock broker who, after a fateful encounter in the British capital, embark on a cross-continental romance. Pangea is developing several series based on U.K. properties, including "Angel Cake," "Being Human," "Vexed" and "Gone," and is looking at series in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Brazil and Colombia. With networks' appetite for scripted imports growing, format acquisition and packaging has become big business. The major talent agencies are dispatching agents around the globe with marching orders to snatch anything that looks promising. As a result, there are often multiple U.S. producers vying for the rights to some shows. The competition intensifies once the formats hit the U.S. marketplace. One of the biggest bidding wars among networks this development season was over the sci-fi drama "Eleventh Hour," which is based on a sci-fi series that aired in the U.K. in 2006. The remake landed at CBS. And international formats now attract some of the biggest names in American television. David E. Kelley adapted the BBC's time-travel cop drama "Life on Mars" for ABC. Jerry Bruckheimer is behind "Eleventh Hour," while "Charlie's Angels" director Joseph "McG" Nichol is executive producing "Spaced." Of course foreign-sourced reality shows are already a huge part of the American landscape, led by such popular fare as "American Idol" and "Dancing with the Stars." What attracts networks to foreign formats the most is the fact that they have already passed muster with viewers overseas. Rob Pursey, one of the producers behind the original "Ny-Lon," believes that helped a show like "The Office" get a shot in the States. "It's safe to say that if someone had pitched "The Office" cold to the U.S., it would have been a pretty tough sell. Having something to look at mak
[scifinoir2] SNK Drops Comedy Format for Endorsement Format
March 5, 2008 ‘Saturday Night Live’ Abandons Comedy Format to Focus on Endorsements Change in Mission for Venerable Late Night Show Basking in the success of its endorsement of Sen. Hillary Clinton’s candidacy for the Democratic nomination for president, NBC’s late night warhorse “Saturday Night Live” announced today that it would abandon comedy to embrace its new role as a political kingmaker. Lorne Michaels, executive producer of the venerable late night show, said that the election returns from Tuesday night were enough to convince him that the show should stay away from comedy altogether and focus its energies on making political endorsements. “We want to be able to do one thing well,” Mr. Michaels said. “And if it’s a choice between doing comedy and choosing the next President of the United States, we’re going to drop the comedy part.” Mr. Michaels said that the decision to get out of the comedy business and move towards full-time political endorsing should come as no surprise to its viewers: “We’ve been gradually moving away from comedy for years.” The Emmy-winning producer added that NBC viewers who are disappointed by his show’s format change and want to look elsewhere for laughs “can always watch Tim Russert.” Arguing that fans of the show will ultimately be “delighted” by its new mission, the late night pioneer touted what he called “a really exciting” lineup of future guest hosts leading up to the Pennsylvania primary: Hillary Clinton, Bill Clinton, Chelsea Clinton, and musical guest George S. Clinton. Elsewhere, presumptive GOP nominee John McCain accepted a congratulatory call from former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and then immediately changed his phone number. www.borowitzreport.com Waste Someone's Time: Forward to a Friend: http://email.borowitzreport.com/cgi-bin/redir?MCid=mIyh2HDJKq10403ecd0a&[EMAIL PROTECTED]&rec=6841 Sign up today for your own Borowitz Reports, click the link below or paste it into your browser. http://email.borowitzreport.com/cgi-bin/redir?MCid=eM50Y5zl2W10403ecd0a ***Andy in Montreal – April 8*** Andy makes his first-ever appearance in Canada on Tuesday, April 8 at the Jewish Public Library in Montreal. 7:30 PM, 5151 Côte Ste-Catherine; admission free. ***Andy’s Only West Coast Appearance – April 24*** Andy makes his only scheduled West Coast appearance Thursday, April 24 at University of California, Santa Barbara. 8 PM at Campbell Hall. Tickets available at http://email.borowitzreport.com/cgi-bin/redir?MCid=0hnofv1t3k10403ecd0a ***Andy with Susie Essman and Jeffrey Toobin – May 13*** Andy hosts "Countdown to '08" on Tuesday, May 13 at 8 PM at the 92nd St. Y with his special guests Susie Essman (HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm) and Jeffrey Toobin (CNN, bestselling author of The Nine). The Y is located at 92nd St. and Lexington Avenue. For tickets, go to www.92y.org. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - You may unsubscribe from this list by visiting the following URL in your browser: http://list-manage.com/unsub.phtml?id=SyYnmcxgVEc10403ecd0a Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/scifinoir2/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/scifinoir2/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
[scifinoir2] Bush Lets Red Phone Go to Voicemail
March 3, 2008 Bush Says He Lets Red Phone Go Straight to Voicemail ‘Baffled’ By Clinton Campaign Ads, President Says President George W. Bush commented on Sen. Hillary Clinton’s controversial “red phone” campaign ads at the White House today, telling reporters, “When that red phone rings, I just let it go straight to voicemail.” Mr. Bush rarely comments about the Democratic presidential contest, but he said that he had to speak up about Sen. Clinton’s red phone ads because he found them “so confusing.” “If I answered the red phone every time it rang, I would never get any sleep,” Mr. Bush said. “Sometimes it starts ringing at 9 PM, and I am already tucked in by then.” Mr. Bush said that “there’s nothing so important that it can’t wait until tomorrow, or whenever I remember to check my voicemail.” In a rebuke of Sen. Clinton, Mr. Bush added, “If she doesn’t know about letting your calls go straight to voicemail, I don’t think she has the experience to be president.” Campaigning in Houston, former President Bill Clinton took issue with Mr. Bush’s remarks, telling reporters, “When I get a call at 3 AM, I always pick up, if you know what I mean.” Pressed to explain exactly what he meant, the former president said, “Three o’clock in the morning – come on! Odds are we’re talking about a booty call.” Shortly after his “booty call” remark, the Clinton campaign said that they were revising the former president’s itinerary to focus on states that had already voted in February. Elsewhere, Sen. John McCain released a new series of campaign ads, showing him answering a telegraph key at 3 A.M. www.borowitzreport.com Waste Someone's Time: Forward to a Friend: http://email.borowitzreport.com/cgi-bin/redir?MCid=OF47XnuYT210403ecd0a&[EMAIL PROTECTED]&rec=6840 Sign up today for your own Borowitz Reports, click the link below or paste it into your browser. http://email.borowitzreport.com/cgi-bin/redir?MCid=dEz6qdJ8aG10403ecd0a ***Andy in Montreal – April 8*** Andy makes his first-ever appearance in Canada on Tuesday, April 8 at the Jewish Public Library in Montreal. 7:30 PM, 5151 Côte Ste-Catherine; admission free. ***Andy’s Only West Coast Appearance – April 24*** Andy makes his only scheduled West Coast appearance Thursday, April 24 at University of California, Santa Barbara. 8 PM at Campbell Hall. Tickets available at http://email.borowitzreport.com/cgi-bin/redir?MCid=yJqJg46lHM10403ecd0a ***Andy with Susie Essman and Jeffrey Toobin – May 13*** Andy hosts "Countdown to '08" on Tuesday, May 13 at 8 PM at the 92nd St. Y with his special guests Susie Essman (HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm) and Jeffrey Toobin (CNN, bestselling author of The Nine). The Y is located at 92nd St. and Lexington Avenue. For tickets, go to www.92y.org. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - You may unsubscribe from this list by visiting the following URL in your browser: http://list-manage.com/unsub.phtml?id=TRXntMtPu4c10403ecd0a Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/scifinoir2/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/scifinoir2/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
Re: [scifinoir2] Re: Huge Changes Coming To 'Doctor Who,' 'Torchwood'?
The Doctor Who mailing list has not mentioned this. Also an interview post scifi.com says that Own is staying I guess we will have to wait and see. **It's Tax Time! Get tips, forms, and advice on AOL Money & Finance. (http://money.aol.com/tax?NCID=aolprf000301) [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: [scifinoir2] Re: Huge Changes Coming To 'Doctor Who,' 'Torchwood'?
No Owen I like Owen. I don't care much for Jack though. I am not a big fan of Martha Jones either. The personalities are so different so that the original cast gels well together. **It's Tax Time! Get tips, forms, and advice on AOL Money & Finance. (http://money.aol.com/tax?NCID=aolprf000301) [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: [scifinoir2] Re: Huge Changes Coming To 'Doctor Who,' 'Torchwood'?
I'm sure i will adapt, but it seems to me that they built the show around Harkness. Barrowman is a hard act to follow. As much as I like Martha Jones, I believe the show that is left will be a shell of what it was . It is too bad. I think the new season is much better than the first season. ravenadal wrote: > As someone who thinks Naoko Mori is hot and Captain Harkness is a > hoot, suspenders and all, I am not at all excited by this news. > > ~(no)rave! > > --- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, "Tracey de Morsella (formerly > Tracey L. Minor)" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > >> By MICHAEL HINMAN >> Source: Sci Fi Pulse >> Mar-04-2008 >> >> This story contains possible MAJOR SPOILERS for upcoming seasons of >> "Doctor Who" and "Torchwood." This story also contains rumors that >> > have > >> not been independently corroborated by SyFy Portal, so treat them >> > as you > >> would any rumor. >> >> Like "Torchwood" the way it is now? Like its original source show, >> "Doctor Who"? Well get ready for some changes. >> >> Despite the fact that "Doctor Who" and "Torchwood" remain two of >> > the > >> most-watched scripted programs on British television, it appears >> > that > >> BBC is getting ready to make some wholesale changes to both shows, >> including the replacement of both stars. >> >> According to "Dr. Phibes," a source for British genre site Sci-Fi >> > Pulse, > >> both David Tennant and John Barrowman are set to leave their >> > respective > >> programs, along with a number of other cast members. >> >> Tennant, who is about to premiere in the show's fourth season on >> > BBC > >> later this spring, will apparently work through the 2009 specials >> leading up to the annual Christmas episode, where he will >> > regenerate and > >> be replaced by another actor. >> >> According to Sci-Fi Pulse, filming for the "Doctor Who" specials in >> > 2009 > >> is already under way, with a wrap planned for as early as the end >> > of > >> this month. While Carlyle is not signed to play the role as the >> > 11th > >> Doctor, Dr. Phibes says that the BBC is in negotiations to sign the >> > actor. > >> It won't just be "Doctor Who" getting a makeover, however. Remember >> > that > >> experiment BBC Two was doing where it was watering down episodes of >> "Torchwood" to make it more family friendly? If Dr. Phibes is >> > correct, > >> then it seems that they were warming up audiences to a new version >> > of > >> the show which will launch in the third season. So far, only five >> episodes have been commissioned out of the standard 13, and gone >> > are > >> actors Burn Gorman (Owen Harper), Naoko Mori (Toshiko Sato) and >> > Capt. > >> Jack Harkness' John Barrowman. In, however, is former "Doctor Who" >> companion Freema Agyeman, who will join the show full-time in >> > Season 3. > >> Eve Myles, who plays Gwen Cooper, is expected to return as well, >> > and > >> Barrowman is reported to be making guest appearances in the third >> > season. > >> The show itself will lose some of its adult-themed content, and >> > will be > >> geared more toward "Doctor Who" style audiences. The goal is not to >> > have > >> two different series running at the same time, but instead to work >> > as > >> sort of a filler series for off periods of "Doctor Who," which only >> films a handful of episodes each year. >> >> With the changes, "Torchwood" will move to a Saturday timeslot >> > where > >> "Doctor Who" currently airs. >> >> If true, these would be some very significant changes to the >> > Whoniverse > >> by BBC, and a bit head-scratching as ratings for both shows in >> > their > >> current formats have been phenomenal. >> >> Sci-Fi Pulse stands behind its source on this, saying he has been >> accurate in his reports in the past, but even that site warns this >> > is > >> nothing more than rumor, and should be treated as such. >> >> "Torchwood" is currently airing on BBC Two and BBC America, while >> "Doctor Who" is preparing to premiere its fourth season in the >> > spring. > >> http://www.syfyportal.com/news424775.html >> >> > > > > > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[scifinoir2] Re: Huge Changes Coming To 'Doctor Who,' 'Torchwood'?
As someone who thinks Naoko Mori is hot and Captain Harkness is a hoot, suspenders and all, I am not at all excited by this news. ~(no)rave! --- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, "Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor)" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > By MICHAEL HINMAN > Source: Sci Fi Pulse > Mar-04-2008 > > This story contains possible MAJOR SPOILERS for upcoming seasons of > "Doctor Who" and "Torchwood." This story also contains rumors that have > not been independently corroborated by SyFy Portal, so treat them as you > would any rumor. > > Like "Torchwood" the way it is now? Like its original source show, > "Doctor Who"? Well get ready for some changes. > > Despite the fact that "Doctor Who" and "Torchwood" remain two of the > most-watched scripted programs on British television, it appears that > BBC is getting ready to make some wholesale changes to both shows, > including the replacement of both stars. > > According to "Dr. Phibes," a source for British genre site Sci-Fi Pulse, > both David Tennant and John Barrowman are set to leave their respective > programs, along with a number of other cast members. > > Tennant, who is about to premiere in the show's fourth season on BBC > later this spring, will apparently work through the 2009 specials > leading up to the annual Christmas episode, where he will regenerate and > be replaced by another actor. > > According to Sci-Fi Pulse, filming for the "Doctor Who" specials in 2009 > is already under way, with a wrap planned for as early as the end of > this month. While Carlyle is not signed to play the role as the 11th > Doctor, Dr. Phibes says that the BBC is in negotiations to sign the actor. > > It won't just be "Doctor Who" getting a makeover, however. Remember that > experiment BBC Two was doing where it was watering down episodes of > "Torchwood" to make it more family friendly? If Dr. Phibes is correct, > then it seems that they were warming up audiences to a new version of > the show which will launch in the third season. So far, only five > episodes have been commissioned out of the standard 13, and gone are > actors Burn Gorman (Owen Harper), Naoko Mori (Toshiko Sato) and Capt. > Jack Harkness' John Barrowman. In, however, is former "Doctor Who" > companion Freema Agyeman, who will join the show full-time in Season 3. > Eve Myles, who plays Gwen Cooper, is expected to return as well, and > Barrowman is reported to be making guest appearances in the third season. > > The show itself will lose some of its adult-themed content, and will be > geared more toward "Doctor Who" style audiences. The goal is not to have > two different series running at the same time, but instead to work as > sort of a filler series for off periods of "Doctor Who," which only > films a handful of episodes each year. > > With the changes, "Torchwood" will move to a Saturday timeslot where > "Doctor Who" currently airs. > > If true, these would be some very significant changes to the Whoniverse > by BBC, and a bit head-scratching as ratings for both shows in their > current formats have been phenomenal. > > Sci-Fi Pulse stands behind its source on this, saying he has been > accurate in his reports in the past, but even that site warns this is > nothing more than rumor, and should be treated as such. > > "Torchwood" is currently airing on BBC Two and BBC America, while > "Doctor Who" is preparing to premiere its fourth season in the spring. > > http://www.syfyportal.com/news424775.html >
[scifinoir2] Getting stranded with the manly men of Lost
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23451954/ Getting stranded with the manly men of Lost Jack or Locke? Sawyer or Sayid? Which one has the island advantage? By Ree Hines MSNBC contributor Despite enemies, infighting and the occasional smoke monster, the castaways on ABC's "Lost" have it pretty good. The electromagnetically wonky mystery location hosts a conveniently skilled and disproportionately attractive group prepared for any survival needs. And thanks to dude-centric storylines, it's the island's menfolk who take care of the "save the day" scenarios. So, on the off chance those of us somewhat-adept and average-looking individuals ever found ourselves in need of an ideal fellow castaway, which of the "Lost" men would we want by our sides? Survival skills are great, but without leadership, a ragtag band of castaways wouldn't make it long. And just how handy would the habitually shirtless island eye candy be if we couldn't count on him come crunch time? Jack Shephard Pros: Shortly after Flight 815 crashed, Jack played one-man triage machine to all the survivors. Then, when thrust into the leadership role, he rose to the occasion. For all his faults, Jack seems to genuinely care about everyone in his charge and wants to maintain a cohesive group. Sure, he has his pet (Hi, Kate!), but he'll play the hero to all. Cons: Jack rules with a "because I said so" style that's downright annoying. Maybe it's just the requisite doctor's god complex, but he's always certain he knows best. When the rest of the Losties protested Juliet joining their beachfront tent town, Jack held his ground without providing any argument against the pervading "Hey, she's an Other!" logic. Then there's the problem with his hair. Shallow? Yes. But while the island buzz cut causes no offense (though it does beg the question: Where does he plug in the clippers?), the past and the future show a man in constant style crisis. His flashback 'do in season two was bad enough, but a glimpse into his future shows a beard unworthy of Tom's old hillbilly costume. Co-castaway potential: Hirsute hang-ups and god complexes aside, having a doctor on call 24/7 wouldn't hurt. James Sawyer Ford Pros: He may be the island's answer to emo, but the angsty rebel packs a six-pack and he's not afraid show it over and over again. But looking good sans shirt isn't his only skill; there's also his artful plundering routine. When everyone else was shopping through the recently deceased, Sawyer already had a rich stash of booze, medicine and his own little lending library. And recently, he manages to keep a loaded gun on him most of the time. Handy! Cons: Baggage. Sawyer has loads of it. Everyone on the island has a fair share of daddy issues, but Sawyer's so scarred by his parental past, he's just big ol' mess of cynicism. He also sports a "look out for No. 1" outlook, though he might make exceptions for the right person (Hi, Kate!). Co-castaway potential: Easy on the eyes, but Sawyer's actual survival skills are negligible. John Locke Pros: After a quick dose of island healing, Locke emerged as a survivalist powerhouse. Boar killing, tracking and an impressive knowledge of the local flora and fauna made up his early virtues. In time, he took the whole "communing with nature" thing up a notch by actually developing a relationship with the island itself. Then again, that potentially useful proficiency may belong below. Cons: Locke may have mad island skills, but he also has a tendency toward the self-serving survivalist lifestyle. Then there's that wildly fluctuating moral code of his. If ever a man earned a swift dose of patricide, it was Locke's pop, Anthony Cooper. But when the chance to snuff out the kidney-stealing, window-pushing bad dad surfaced, Locke passed the task to an emotionally fragile Sawyer. Days later (in island time), the ghostly visage of tall-Walt gave Locke the lowdown on the freighter folk and, without missing a beat, the man plunged his knife in Naomi's back. Brutally inconsistent! Co-castaway potential: He'll keep you in food and shelter, but only as long as it serves his purpose. Jin-Soo Kwon Pros: Fish, anyone? Jin assumed the role of second-generation fisherman just a day after Oceanic's fiery touchdown. Already a faithful partner to Sun and with a potentially doomed baby on the way, he has more passion than ever before to keep his side safe. And bonus points for being easy on the eyes. Cons: Sun's corporate-crime-boss father groomed Jin to be his right-hand man. It took a while for cutthroat Jin to call it a day. He also tested out his first iffy harvest of sea urchins on a very pregnant Claire. But with a redemption arch fully behind him now, it's hard to hold any of that against Jin. The only current minus in Jin's column is that despite his shady past, he can't handle a gun. When the gang cooked up a scheme to wipe out a group of kidnap-happy Others, Jin was the only shot to miss the mark. Co-castaway potential: If
[scifinoir2] Networks clamor for foreign TV shows
http://www.reuters.com/article/entertainmentNews/idUSN0554362520080305 Networks clamor for foreign TV shows Wed Mar 5, 2008 By Nellie Andreeva LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - If you thought the Academy Awards were dominated by foreigners, consider the shows that might grace TV screens in the fall. Of the five pilots ordered by the broadcast networks last week, four were based on international formats - British drama "Ny-Lon" and Israeli drama "Mythological X" at CBS, and British comedies "Outnumbered" and "Spaced" at Fox. A big reason is the three-month Hollywood writers strike, which ended three weeks ago, said Dana Walden, chairman of 20th Century Fox TV, which produces "Mythological X" as well as ABC's pilot "Life on Mars," based on the BBC series. Walden and her team spent time during the strike-imposed hiatus watching the 11 completed episodes of "Mythological X," which centers on a woman who, after learning from a psychic that she already has dated the man she's supposed to marry, revisits all her past relationships in the hopes of finding him. "You get the great benefit of being able to see the great twists and turns the characters take (beyond the pilot)," she said. "The network also was excited to do a reasonably priced show that is still compelling and has a fantastic character at the center but doesn't have car chases and 85 scenes (per episode)." Most foreign series rely more on storytelling than big production values, which also proves attractive to U.S. studios looking for to cut costs in the wake of the writers strike. Sparked by the success of "The Office" and "Ugly Betty," the rise of foreign-scripted formats came into its own last year when a record eight broadcast pilots were based on British series. With the thick of pilot ordering still days away, that number already has been surpassed this year. Nine pilots ordered by the broadcast networks so far - "Ny-Lon," "Mythological X," "Outnumbered," "Spaced," "Life on Mars," CBS drama "Eleventh Hour" and comedy "Worst Week," and NBC comedies "Father Ted" and "Kath & Kim" - are based on international formats, as is Fox comedy "Don't Bring Frank," which is close to a pilot order. Additionally, Canadian imports "The Listener" and "Flashpoint" were picked up as series by NBC and CBS, respectively; the British-produced series "Robinson Crusoe" set sail at NBC; and NBC is doing a highly publicized adaptation of the 2006 Colombian telenovela "Sin Tetas No Hay Paraiso." The foreign format wave has also reached cable shores, with HBO adapting the Israeli drama "In Treatment" and Showtime acquiring British series "Secret Diary of a Call Girl." "It's like an ever-growing frontier where people are looking for the next big thing anywhere in the world," said Chris Coelen of Pangea, which co-produces "Ny-Lon." The show follows a New York record store clerk and a London stock broker who, after a fateful encounter in the British capital, embark on a cross-continental romance. Pangea is developing several series based on U.K. properties, including "Angel Cake," "Being Human," "Vexed" and "Gone," and is looking at series in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Brazil and Colombia. With networks' appetite for scripted imports growing, format acquisition and packaging has become big business. The major talent agencies are dispatching agents around the globe with marching orders to snatch anything that looks promising. As a result, there are often multiple U.S. producers vying for the rights to some shows. The competition intensifies once the formats hit the U.S. marketplace. One of the biggest bidding wars among networks this development season was over the sci-fi drama "Eleventh Hour," which is based on a sci-fi series that aired in the U.K. in 2006. The remake landed at CBS. And international formats now attract some of the biggest names in American television. David E. Kelley adapted the BBC's time-travel cop drama "Life on Mars" for ABC. Jerry Bruckheimer is behind "Eleventh Hour," while "Charlie's Angels" director Joseph "McG" Nichol is executive producing "Spaced." Of course foreign-sourced reality shows are already a huge part of the American landscape, led by such popular fare as "American Idol" and "Dancing with the Stars." What attracts networks to foreign formats the most is the fact that they have already passed muster with viewers overseas. Rob Pursey, one of the producers behind the original "Ny-Lon," believes that helped a show like "The Office" get a shot in the States. "It's safe to say that if someone had pitched "The Office" cold to the U.S., it would have been a pretty tough sell. Having something to look at makes all the difference," he said. Reuters/Hollywood Reporter
[scifinoir2] [Review] Tripping the Rift: The Movie
S P O I L E R S - http://www.the-trades.com/article.php?id=10084 DVD Review: Tripping the Rift: The Movie by R.J. Carter Published: March 4, 2008 The crew of Tripping the Rift are back, and this time in a full-fledged, full-blown, full-on freakin' unrated movie! What does this mean for Chode, Gus, Six, T'nuk and Whip, now that they can get naked, get violent, get violently naked, and be nakedly violent? Well, it means they get to drop the F-bomb without a deletion. That warning on the back of the box that says "Gratuitous Nudity" - that's pretty much talking about Chode, the purple tentacle headed captain voiced by Stephen Root; and he's naked in the regular episodes anyway! Whither be the nude Six, whom we see having sex with Chode with her clothes on? (And yes, I know it's a silly little wireframe-and-pixel digital cartoon - but behind that silly little wireframe-and-pixel digital cartoon is the voice of Jenny McCarthy! C'mon, don't we deserve to see Jenny McCarthy vocalize a naked cartoon, or... something?) The sci-fi harpooning and lampooning series sticks to what it does best in this film - harpoons and lampoons science fiction. The show opens with a pastiche of "The Terminator," only this time it's a giant, overmuscled robot clown that appears naked in the dead-end alley. It's mission: hunt down and kill Chode. Meanwhile, Chode and company are taking on a job on the planet Slovinia, where everything is black and white. I don't mean that everything is a clear cut decision - I mean that, color-wise, everything is black and white. They've taken on the task of serving as bodyguards to the fugliest princess they've ever seen. If they can keep her alive, they'll be well paid. If she dies, however, they have to pay with their own lives. She dies. Fortunately, the producers have a plan, as they spoof Mel Brooks' "Young Frankenstein," allowing the crew to escape with their necks intact and a new queen - in every sense of the word - sitting on the throne of Slovinia. Thus, the crew - still unaware of the robo-clown on their trail - gets back to the business of business, which in this case involves throwing a birthday party for Chode. It's not his birthday, of course, but he figures by renting out a bar and charging outrageous cover and drink prices, he can rake in a fortune. But the party is doomed - because something is going to happen at that party in the near future that will have repercussions on Chode's present, as the killer clown finally catches up with them all. Will Bobo's new plan to terminate Chode finally work? Or will Chode evade death by hiding incognito on a tranquil subdivision street full of desperately horny housewives - who may or may not have killed their friend Mary Alice? (It's a segment that will have you pausing to look at the blatant symbolism. Does that door really look like what I think it looks like?) Featuring the talents of Maurice LaMarche as the gay robot Gus (and as the Confederation's Captain Quirk), Gayle Garfinkle as the constantly PMS'd T'nuk, Rick Jones as Chode's slacker nephew Whip, and The Tonight Show's John Melendez as Bob the ship computer, "Tripping the Rift: The Movie" does at least get to go where the cable series has never gone before. It's a tad more raunchy visually, and definitely treading in R-rated waters narratively. Double entendres rule the day, except when a straightforward sex statement is funnier. In one scene, as Chode shakingly tries to insert a key into a lock that will open a treasure, Gus implores him, "Come on, Chode, stick it in," prompting Chode to turn and say, "Promise me you will never say that again." If you're a fan of the series, then you already know what you're in for. The scenes play out almost as if they could have been separate episodes with a running subplot of a killer clown on the loose. And that may actually be the film's greatest weakness. Many of the scenes just seem to drag out, not really moving the adventure forward. We spend far too much time in black and white on Slovinia, and far too little time in the Wisteria Lane spoof. This DVD release comes with one bonus feature, the seven-minute "Captain's Log: The Making of 'Tripping the Rift: The Movie.'" The feature is a montage of interviews with LaMarche, Root, Melendez and McCarthy. (I suppose nobody wanted to see Garfinke and Jones?) LaMarche talks about the impressions he gets to do on the show, and Root compares the series to "'Star Wars' meets the porn industry." Meanwhile, McCarthy, the new voice of Six for this adventure, talks about the similarities between herself and Chode's android sex slave: "We're both multi-orgasmic and have heaving breasts." She then goes on to say something or other about how she enjoys doing voice work, but my mind was wandering. Audio on this release is available in English Dolby Surround 5.1 or Dolby Surround 2.0. Previews on this disc include "Highlander: The Search for Vengeance," "Hellboy: Blood and Iron,"
[scifinoir2] Huge Changes Coming To 'Doctor Who,' 'Torchwood'?
By MICHAEL HINMAN Source: Sci Fi Pulse Mar-04-2008 This story contains possible MAJOR SPOILERS for upcoming seasons of "Doctor Who" and "Torchwood." This story also contains rumors that have not been independently corroborated by SyFy Portal, so treat them as you would any rumor. Like "Torchwood" the way it is now? Like its original source show, "Doctor Who"? Well get ready for some changes. Despite the fact that "Doctor Who" and "Torchwood" remain two of the most-watched scripted programs on British television, it appears that BBC is getting ready to make some wholesale changes to both shows, including the replacement of both stars. According to "Dr. Phibes," a source for British genre site Sci-Fi Pulse, both David Tennant and John Barrowman are set to leave their respective programs, along with a number of other cast members. Tennant, who is about to premiere in the show's fourth season on BBC later this spring, will apparently work through the 2009 specials leading up to the annual Christmas episode, where he will regenerate and be replaced by another actor. According to Sci-Fi Pulse, filming for the "Doctor Who" specials in 2009 is already under way, with a wrap planned for as early as the end of this month. While Carlyle is not signed to play the role as the 11th Doctor, Dr. Phibes says that the BBC is in negotiations to sign the actor. It won't just be "Doctor Who" getting a makeover, however. Remember that experiment BBC Two was doing where it was watering down episodes of "Torchwood" to make it more family friendly? If Dr. Phibes is correct, then it seems that they were warming up audiences to a new version of the show which will launch in the third season. So far, only five episodes have been commissioned out of the standard 13, and gone are actors Burn Gorman (Owen Harper), Naoko Mori (Toshiko Sato) and Capt. Jack Harkness' John Barrowman. In, however, is former "Doctor Who" companion Freema Agyeman, who will join the show full-time in Season 3. Eve Myles, who plays Gwen Cooper, is expected to return as well, and Barrowman is reported to be making guest appearances in the third season. The show itself will lose some of its adult-themed content, and will be geared more toward "Doctor Who" style audiences. The goal is not to have two different series running at the same time, but instead to work as sort of a filler series for off periods of "Doctor Who," which only films a handful of episodes each year. With the changes, "Torchwood" will move to a Saturday timeslot where "Doctor Who" currently airs. If true, these would be some very significant changes to the Whoniverse by BBC, and a bit head-scratching as ratings for both shows in their current formats have been phenomenal. Sci-Fi Pulse stands behind its source on this, saying he has been accurate in his reports in the past, but even that site warns this is nothing more than rumor, and should be treated as such. "Torchwood" is currently airing on BBC Two and BBC America, while "Doctor Who" is preparing to premiere its fourth season in the spring. http://www.syfyportal.com/news424775.html Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/scifinoir2/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/scifinoir2/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
Re: [scifinoir2] Re: Dungeons & Dragons co-creator dies at 69
In a message dated 3/4/2008 11:50:35 PM Eastern Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: The cartoon "Dungeons and Dragons" was pretty fun. Typical fare for its time, but still a kick. I bought it on DVD off ebay last year...Always wished the series could have followed those kids for a while. I figured there powers should have grown after years of exposure to their weapons. I agree. It was a fun series to watch. **It's Tax Time! Get tips, forms, and advice on AOL Money & Finance. (http://money.aol.com/tax?NCID=aolprf000301) [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: [scifinoir2] A new, gun-toting Captain America
Ten hour flight??? From where to where? Yeah, I like the Marvel books. I still have some issues about Civil War--mainly, would Cap have that quickly started a resistance movement--but i loved it overall. More than most in fact. And now, knowing the Skrulls have evidently replaced a whole bunch of people? Hmmm...maybe that would explain how some of the former heroes not only gave in quickly to the SHRA, but started doing incredible distasteful and immoral things like cloning Thor and MVP, sending former heroes to that Negative Zone gulag, taking people's children if they didn't register, etc. The callousness some of them (Reed and Hank Pym especially) have shown is shocking in some cases. Skrulls, perhaps? I'm hoping the new FF storylines will get better. That book frankly hasn't been great or widely read since the days of John Byrne, when Franklin's powers came on big team, or when Galactus tried to eat Earth and all the heroes opposed him. What's going on in the Panther books? Haven't read them in six months. -- Original message -- From: "Lockhart, Daryle" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > I just caught up with Cap (and the rest of Marvel) on what became a 10 > hour flight last night. Captain America is a great, great comic right now. > I dare say killing off Steve was the best thing for this story. I read > bunch of Marvel stuff, and for as much as I didn't see how it would play > out...the Registration Act storyline has brought Marvel BACK! Even Bad > Fantastic Four issues (as the current one is) are great because you're > more invested in the characters. > > Speaking of Skrulls, even She-Hulk was more enjoyable to read. I'm not > sure I dig what Hudlin is doing with the Skrulls in Black Panther, but at > least they're there, which makes it interesting. > > > > On Wed, 05 Mar 2008 11:18:27 -0500, wrote: > > > Cap's comic has been really good for a while now. Go back and find the > > whole "Winter Soldier" storyline that helped bring this along. The > > action is good, i love the art work, and Bucky, the Skull and others are > > cool. By making the Black Widow front and center they've brought back > > that Cold War spy novel feeling. Even the Falcon's interesting in this > > book! And Tony Stark--whom some may "boo hiss!" because of his role in > > bringing about the new world of the Superhuman Registration Act--is > > portrayed in an interesting mannger. He keeps fighting his guilt over > > the battle with STeve and Steve's death, but still doing what he thinks > > is right in bringing on this near police-state. Really fun stuff. > > And in April, all of Marvel gets rocked with "Secret Invasion", wherein > > we'll find out how many Skrulls have been impersonating superheroes, > > supervillains, and people in positions of power, and for how long. From > > what the Marvel guys are saying, it's huge! > > > > -- Original message -- > > From: "ravenadal" > > From March 6, 2006 issue of Rolling Stone: > > > > Metaphors for the effects of the Bush Presidency on the American > > spirit don't get any harsher than this one: Last year, Captain > > America, who had been fighting Nazis, supervillians and sometimes his > > own government in the pages of Marvel comic books since 1941, was shot > > dead. > > > > And now, in the series' latest sign of the times, a new, more morally > > compromised character has taken over the stars-and-stripes uniform: > > Cap's former kid sidekick, Bucky, who spent a few years as a > > brainwashed Russian assassin and is now a gun-toting killer. > > > > Ed Brubaker, the former indie-comics writer who's been working on > > Captain America since 2004, sees his riveting version of the comic as > > an "espionage thriller." "It's not meant to be totally reflective of > > the American psyche," he says. "But at the same time, I'm part of the > > American psyche, so maybe there is something of that seeping out there." > > > > In an even more directly relevant plot line, longtime CAp villain the > > Red Skull is now the head of a multinational corporation - and he's > > aiming to destroy the country by foreclosing on mortgages and driving > > up oil prices. Brubaker has been hoping to do that storyline ever > > since the Enron scandal. "How much of our country are we giving away > > to these vast corporations that have no one to answer to at all!" he > > says. "If there's any politics of my own in the book, it's that part." > > > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: [scifinoir2] A new, gun-toting Captain America
I just caught up with Cap (and the rest of Marvel) on what became a 10 hour flight last night. Captain America is a great, great comic right now. I dare say killing off Steve was the best thing for this story. I read bunch of Marvel stuff, and for as much as I didn't see how it would play out...the Registration Act storyline has brought Marvel BACK! Even Bad Fantastic Four issues (as the current one is) are great because you're more invested in the characters. Speaking of Skrulls, even She-Hulk was more enjoyable to read. I'm not sure I dig what Hudlin is doing with the Skrulls in Black Panther, but at least they're there, which makes it interesting. On Wed, 05 Mar 2008 11:18:27 -0500, <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Cap's comic has been really good for a while now. Go back and find the > whole "Winter Soldier" storyline that helped bring this along. The > action is good, i love the art work, and Bucky, the Skull and others are > cool. By making the Black Widow front and center they've brought back > that Cold War spy novel feeling. Even the Falcon's interesting in this > book! And Tony Stark--whom some may "boo hiss!" because of his role in > bringing about the new world of the Superhuman Registration Act--is > portrayed in an interesting mannger. He keeps fighting his guilt over > the battle with STeve and Steve's death, but still doing what he thinks > is right in bringing on this near police-state. Really fun stuff. > And in April, all of Marvel gets rocked with "Secret Invasion", wherein > we'll find out how many Skrulls have been impersonating superheroes, > supervillains, and people in positions of power, and for how long. From > what the Marvel guys are saying, it's huge! > > -- Original message -- > From: "ravenadal" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > From March 6, 2006 issue of Rolling Stone: > > Metaphors for the effects of the Bush Presidency on the American > spirit don't get any harsher than this one: Last year, Captain > America, who had been fighting Nazis, supervillians and sometimes his > own government in the pages of Marvel comic books since 1941, was shot > dead. > > And now, in the series' latest sign of the times, a new, more morally > compromised character has taken over the stars-and-stripes uniform: > Cap's former kid sidekick, Bucky, who spent a few years as a > brainwashed Russian assassin and is now a gun-toting killer. > > Ed Brubaker, the former indie-comics writer who's been working on > Captain America since 2004, sees his riveting version of the comic as > an "espionage thriller." "It's not meant to be totally reflective of > the American psyche," he says. "But at the same time, I'm part of the > American psyche, so maybe there is something of that seeping out there." > > In an even more directly relevant plot line, longtime CAp villain the > Red Skull is now the head of a multinational corporation - and he's > aiming to destroy the country by foreclosing on mortgages and driving > up oil prices. Brubaker has been hoping to do that storyline ever > since the Enron scandal. "How much of our country are we giving away > to these vast corporations that have no one to answer to at all!" he > says. "If there's any politics of my own in the book, it's that part." > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/scifinoir2/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/scifinoir2/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
Re: [scifinoir2] A new, gun-toting Captain America
Cap's comic has been really good for a while now. Go back and find the whole "Winter Soldier" storyline that helped bring this along. The action is good, i love the art work, and Bucky, the Skull and others are cool. By making the Black Widow front and center they've brought back that Cold War spy novel feeling. Even the Falcon's interesting in this book! And Tony Stark--whom some may "boo hiss!" because of his role in bringing about the new world of the Superhuman Registration Act--is portrayed in an interesting mannger. He keeps fighting his guilt over the battle with STeve and Steve's death, but still doing what he thinks is right in bringing on this near police-state. Really fun stuff. And in April, all of Marvel gets rocked with "Secret Invasion", wherein we'll find out how many Skrulls have been impersonating superheroes, supervillains, and people in positions of power, and for how long. From what the Marvel guys are saying, it's huge! -- Original message -- From: "ravenadal" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >From March 6, 2006 issue of Rolling Stone: Metaphors for the effects of the Bush Presidency on the American spirit don't get any harsher than this one: Last year, Captain America, who had been fighting Nazis, supervillians and sometimes his own government in the pages of Marvel comic books since 1941, was shot dead. And now, in the series' latest sign of the times, a new, more morally compromised character has taken over the stars-and-stripes uniform: Cap's former kid sidekick, Bucky, who spent a few years as a brainwashed Russian assassin and is now a gun-toting killer. Ed Brubaker, the former indie-comics writer who's been working on Captain America since 2004, sees his riveting version of the comic as an "espionage thriller." "It's not meant to be totally reflective of the American psyche," he says. "But at the same time, I'm part of the American psyche, so maybe there is something of that seeping out there." In an even more directly relevant plot line, longtime CAp villain the Red Skull is now the head of a multinational corporation - and he's aiming to destroy the country by foreclosing on mortgages and driving up oil prices. Brubaker has been hoping to do that storyline ever since the Enron scandal. "How much of our country are we giving away to these vast corporations that have no one to answer to at all!" he says. "If there's any politics of my own in the book, it's that part." [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[scifinoir2] [Fwd: Launchpad Workshop accepting applications]
Original Message Subject:[CarlBrandon] Launchpad Workshop accepting applications Date: Wed, 05 Mar 2008 08:17:35 -0500 From: KTBradford <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] In case you're all not aware, the Launchpad Workshop is open for applications again. Some info: Launch Pad is a free, NASA-funded workshop for established writers held in beautiful high-altitude Laramie, Wyoming. Launch Pad aims to provide a "crash course" for twelve attendees in modern astronomy science through workshops, guest lectures, and observation through the University of Wyoming's two large telescopes. This year's guest instructor is writer and amateur astronomer Jerry Oltion. Other lecturers include University of Wyoming professors Michael S. Brotherton, PhD and Jim Verley. Applications are now open for 2008's workshop, and will be accepted until March 31st, 2008. Attendees will be notified as soon as possible and no later than April 15th. I attended last year's workshop and it was really, really wonderful. It's basically the science/astronomy class many SF writers wish they had in college. Plus we got to look through some big ol' telescopes and see really amazing stuff. (I've never seen Jupiter through a telescope before. I saw 4 moons! It was amazing.) Writers of every level are encouraged to apply. They're looking mostly for writers who have a publishing track record, but they also consider neo-pros with potential. Mike is also committed to getting female and POC participants (really and for true). Check out the website and apply, even if you think you have a slim chance, because your chances might not be so slim! http://www.launchpadworkshop.org/about.html Tempest [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[scifinoir2] Fears of apocalypse are in the air
www.chicagotribune.com/features/lifestyle/chi-0305apocalypse_fillmar05,1,3829.story chicagotribune.com Fears of apocalypse are in the air By Mekeisha Madden Toby Detroit News March 5, 2008 America suffers 23 nuclear attacks, but one small town in Kansas is spared, and the survivors find the courage to forge together and start anew. This is the overriding theme behind CBS' never-say-die, apocalyptic series "Jericho," which is back for a second season. The timing could not be better for the program, which embodies a feeling of despair that looms over popular culture as of late. With blockbuster hits such as Will Smith's "I Am Legend," doomsday documentaries on cable, such as "Six Degrees" on the National Geographic Channel (which debuted Feb. 10 and re-aired Thursday) and the still white-hot 13-year-old "Left Behind" literature series for youngsters, Americans are feeling as if it's the end of the world as we know it. But unlike R.E.M., we do not feel fine. "Apocalyptic [themes] emphasize a certain sense of futility and human frailty in response to forces seeming supernatural or otherwise out of human control," says John Grayson Nichols, director of film studies at Christopher Newport University in Newport, Va. "The current round of dystopic films emerges from a certain national frustration with the war, Congress, the president and with a global war on terror that strains a sense of what individuals can do. In response, these films, TV shows and books reflect that sense of frustration and offer hope in heroic, almost supernatural individual achievement." In tune with fears Not one to miss an opportunity, Hollywood has its finger on the pulse of the nation's fears. The shaky-camera horror sensation "Cloverfield" has been in theaters for about a month and has already grossed $76 million. In theaters just before Christmas, "I Am Legend" made $253 million. On the small screen, ABC's castaway drama "Lost," which offers a more esoteric take on the apocalypse, attracted 16 million viewers when it returned for a fourth season. This is the largest TV audience the show has enjoyed in nearly two years. It doesn't take Nostradamus to see that the other prevailing emotion that these TV shows, movies and books reflect is distrust. A recent Associated Press/Ipsos poll showed that 70 percent of Americans are unhappy with the current presidential administration and 88 percent are displeased with Congress. If we don't trust the government, fictional characters don't either. In "Cloverfield," the film's young heroes could not count on the government to tell them what the destructive, man-eating creature was. On "Lost," a rescue team has come to the island to help the plane-crash survivors get home, but more than half of the castaways have doubts about their intentions. On "Jericho," covert agent Robert Hawkins (Lennie James) has the nuclear bomb that proves the U.S. government was behind the attacks. The protagonists rebel in all three instances. "I am so glad that 'Jericho' is ... back," says Samuel Allen, a Detroit resident. "It is made for people like me who like good drama and story lines and people who want to escape daily life but don't want to watch mindless reality shows." Allen's feelings and those of other fans reflect our need to allay our social and economic uncertainties, if only through our sources of entertainment, says Elayne Rapping, a pop-culture expert and professor of American studies at the State University of New York-Buffalo. "Pop culture raises our greatest fears or social conflicts and resolves them, sort of like therapy," she says.Nichols says that because the country has been in states of uncertainty in the past, apocalyptic themes have played out in entertainment for decades. The message always comes back to a renewed belief in a higher power, he says. 'Spiritual urgency' "The sense of a lack of human agency is coupled with a renewed spiritual urgency," says Nichols, who also is an associate English professor. "One of the first, Fritz Lang's 'Metropolis,' features an underground workers' movement that is led by a pseudo-Christian female schoolteacher who is able to give hope to downtrodden workers who live beneath the streets of an opulent futuristic city." Biblical virtues such as love, self-sacrifice and faith also prevail in our modern apocalyptic tales. One could argue that all of these characteristics came into place when fans of "Jericho" persuaded CBS not to cancel the series by mailing the network pounds and pounds of peanuts. Peanuts are no match for mustard seeds, but that's good old-fashioned faith all the same. Copyright © 2008, Chicago Tribune
[scifinoir2] A new, gun-toting Captain America
>From March 6, 2006 issue of Rolling Stone: Metaphors for the effects of the Bush Presidency on the American spirit don't get any harsher than this one: Last year, Captain America, who had been fighting Nazis, supervillians and sometimes his own government in the pages of Marvel comic books since 1941, was shot dead. And now, in the series' latest sign of the times, a new, more morally compromised character has taken over the stars-and-stripes uniform: Cap's former kid sidekick, Bucky, who spent a few years as a brainwashed Russian assassin and is now a gun-toting killer. Ed Brubaker, the former indie-comics writer who's been working on Captain America since 2004, sees his riveting version of the comic as an "espionage thriller." "It's not meant to be totally reflective of the American psyche," he says. "But at the same time, I'm part of the American psyche, so maybe there is something of that seeping out there." In an even more directly relevant plot line, longtime CAp villain the Red Skull is now the head of a multinational corporation - and he's aiming to destroy the country by foreclosing on mortgages and driving up oil prices. Brubaker has been hoping to do that storyline ever since the Enron scandal. "How much of our country are we giving away to these vast corporations that have no one to answer to at all!" he says. "If there's any politics of my own in the book, it's that part."
Re: [scifinoir2] "New Amsterdam" Thoughts
In a message dated 3/4/2008 11:13:57 PM Eastern Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: IAlso, unlike those two immortals, I didn't feel that the immortality angle was mixed in very well with the plot of the show. It really came off as two disparate stories meshed together: True. Neither half was scintillating, and the two together weren't that special either. "Highlander" in its first season was mythic and magical. "Angel" was exciting and thrilling. I hateed Angel. I think there is a comparison to Methos. about him never dying until he meets his "one true love", and breathes some magic smoke on him. That sucks. I've been wrong before about shows, and one ep doesn't always tell the story. So I'll give it three or four eps and see what happens. I will watch it again. Anyone else? It felt like Highlander the detective serie, complete with Joe(Omar) the grizzly old man. I was bored with the native American gift. Howmany times can they give gifts. Why would someone want to live forever to **It's Tax Time! Get tips, forms, and advice on AOL Money & Finance. (http://money.aol.com/tax?NCID=aolprf000301) [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
