n the wake of the terrible tragedy on Sept. 11, the big three networks have postponed the fall season premiere dates for some of their shows. There may well be a ripple effect that will be felt during the entire fall-premiere season, and massive news coverage has already affected CBS's new werewolf series, Wolf Lake, and The WB's Sabrina the Teenage Witch, which are both now scheduled to premiere a week later than planned. However, most speculative-fiction series premieres won't be affected because their premiere dates are far enough away. Still, be aware that all premiere dates listed below may be changed.
However, I have to admit that all this is less important than it was before so many people lost their lives and the world watched as the ultimate drama played out on television. The common storylines used in science-fiction and fantasy television seem to almost always involve the characters of a series saving the world from mass destruction
somewhere along the way, often from the evil deeds of a few, and that doesn't seem as fantastic as it once did.
Inevitability, the next time Buffy saves the world or Farscape's John Crichton saves the universe it won't be as grand an adventure. For many of us, the way we watch the The X-Files, Charmed or Dark Angel will be just a little bit different this season. While we fans will welcome the return of the universes of which we've grown so fond, it will be difficult to truly suspend belief so fully ever again. Gene Roddenberry's nearly idyllic Star Trek future seems far, far away indeed.
In the TV universe, things have changed and stayed the same. UPN strengthened its position dramatically by snatching The WB's popular Buffy and a cast-off (Roswell), and developing a brand-new Star Trek (Enterprise). While the WB proved it could come up with another excellent youth-oriented show (Smallville) and held on to a couple other good performers (Angel, Charmed). Fox moved Dark Angel to Fridays and held on for dear life to the disintegrating The X-Files for its Sunday lineup.
In cable, TNT got into the series game with Witchblade, which performed well during the summer and has been picked up for a second season. Showtime let go of Stargate SG-1 and pretty much said goodbye to its SciFriday lineup. In fact, the only cable station which truly embraced adult
speculative-fiction television is the aptly named SCI FI Channel, which gobbled up The Outer Limits and Stargate SG-1 when Showtime dropped them, and grabbed The Chronicle from NBC, when it didn't pick up the pilot, which was called News From The Edge, at the time.
Syndication continues to be an excellent outlet for SF television, with most series being picked up from last year. Because syndication by its nature gives a series time to develop, shows also have a chance to find a fan base.
Through the two parts of this TV Preview we've covered 127 adult and kids' shows, movies, miniseries, specials, upcoming series and cancellations. That's a lot of television. And it's something we can count on, that speculative fiction television will be around to comfort us and engage us in exciting new adventures where the good guys always win and bad things happen for a reason. That may not be real life, but it's an ideal worth believing in.
Last week's Fall TV Preview: Part 1 has the scoop on all the new shows, canceled series and kids' shows.
This season, Angel (David Boreanaz) will finally fly alone, now that he's been split up from his true love forevermore—as Buffy not only died, but she also moved to another network. Last season, the soulful vamp lightened up a bit, even literally when he visited the sunny world of Pylea. While the gang hung out in the alternate dimension, they managed to free the enslaved Winifred (Amy Acker), who will be a new regular on the series. As the third season opens, Angel is mourning Buffy at a Himalayan monastery. Unfortunately, it's full of life-sucking demons, so he probably won't get a
lot of rest. He will also be hounded by a vampire killer (Keith Szarabajka) who's hunted Angel and Darla across Europe for years. He probably got cranky because they ate his family. But that's just a guess. Don't look for any more Buffy/Angel crossovers. Just about everyone with the show has said that's not going to happen, even though Joss Whedon remains the creative force for both shows.
The Outlook: Not only did Angel lose its companion show, the series lost its timeslot and will now air on Mondays in Roswell's old slot. Last year was a tough year for Angel, as the show went head to head with James Cameron's Dark Angel and was hurt by the
competition. Not as badly as it could have been, but it didn't gain many new viewers. Still, it had a pretty good season creatively and started to break away from Buffy in tone and attitude. Switching to Mondays this fall probably won't help it gain viewers, and it's a rather bizarre companion with the family-oriented 7th Heaven, even odder than Roswell. So how will it do? Probably about the same. The series will lose Buffy as a lead-in, but gain a timeslot without SF competition. The fans are pretty die-hard, but none of this really matters. If The WB feels like canceling it at some point, the hungry UPN has already vowed to pick it up. So Angel is set for at least another season.
BeastMaster
Syndicated Premieres the week of Sept. 30
As Beastmaster comes back for a third season, Dar (Daniel Goodard) runs into Marc Singer, who knows a thing or two about playing the guy with lots of muscles who can talk to the animals in a fantastic land. Singer will have a recurring role as Dartanus, a spirit guide who helps Dar figure out his true origins. Also look for King Zad (Steven Grives) to make a deal with the dark side.
The Outlook: The fans are dedicated and love the show. Now that Xena is over, there's not much out there that competes in the same vein. Look for Beastmaster to remain on the schedule.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
UPN, Tuesday, 8 p.m. Premieres Oct. 2
At the beginning of last season, Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) had been through it all, we thought. Fans everywhere gave a collective groan when it was announced that Buffy would magically gain a little sister named Dawn, but executive producer Joss Whedon managed to pull it off in spades. And when we found out Glory was a god, he had us once again. We were there all the way, even despite the surprise death of Buffy's mom in perhaps too realistic a way, and the horribly tragic events the characters were put through. Whedon gave us yet another brilliant season that led up to an amazing and terrible cliffhanger, where Buffy literally sacrificed herself to save Dawn and the world. So, how the heck does the best fantasy series on television resurrect its hero and move to a new network without missing a beat? Who knows, but whatever happens Whedon won't disappoint us. Last season he let his characters
grow up, and at times in the most painful ways. Xander (Nicholas Brendon) asked Anya (Emma Caulfield) to marry him, and Tara (Amber Benson) got her mind back. As Buffy enters its sixth season, Buffy's two-hour season premiere will feature the Buffybot pretending to be the Bufster. What
happens after that is super-secret stuff. We do know that the season will see Buffy's watcher, Giles (Anthony Stewart Head), return to England, so he'll be on the show only occasionally (Head is working on a Buffy spinoff). Willow (Alyson Hannigan) will become a more powerful witch, Amy will finally get deratted, and the cast will get a chance to sing in an all-musical episode. But most importantly, Buffy isn't likely to stay dead for very long.
The Outlook: Well, the big news was that UPN outbid The WB to snatch up Buffy with a two-year commitment guaranteeing a full seven years of the series, and later picked up Roswell just for the heck of it. UPN promptly scheduled Buffy for its old timeslot and put Roswell right after it, completely reinventing its image and its demographics. With Whedon at the helm and the wonderful cast at hand, the future looks bright indeed. Not many shows have ever been able to go into a sixth season stronger than ever. When all is said and done, Buffy won't
just have been one of the best fantasy series on television. It will have been one of the best shows of all time. Emmy voters should be ashamed of themselves for not recognizing what even the regular, non-genre critics already know. To overlook a series simply because the cast is young and the subject matter is fantasy is more than shortsighted. It's a crime. For those who feel left behind and have never gotten to see what everyone is talking about, here's your chance. Buffy goes into syndication this year on FX.
Charmed
The WB, Thursday, 9 p.m. Premieres Oct. 4
Talk about a cliffhanger. As the demon Shax apparently killed Prue (Shannen Doherty) and Piper (Holly Marie Combs), Phoebe (Alyssa Milano) looked to be trapped for eternity in the Underworld. Of course, the real cliffhanger was happening behind the scenes, as Doherty left the show in a very public way. Unfortunately, they aren't the Charmed ones without the Power of Three, which means season four will bring a new half-sister into the lives of Piper and Phoebe. In the two-hour season premiere, Rose McGowan will join the cast as Paige, no doubt fixing the missing sister problem. However, look for life to be a little more serious for the girls, at least initially, as they attend Prue's funeral.
The Outlook:Charmed remains one of The WB's top-rated series, so look for them to promote it strongly and give it plenty of support. After losing Buffy, the network doesn't want to see this show go anywhere. After all, it isn't every show that could take on about the biggest
competition possible on the top three networks and come away a winner. The loss of Doherty may cause a few moments of concern, especially if McGowan doesn't jell with her costars or with the audience. Mostly likely this won't be a problem. This supernatural series has found its audience, and it will remain
Charmed for another year.
The Chronicle
SCI FI, Saturday, 9 p.m. Presently in reruns with its season continuing Friday, Jan. 18 at 8 p.m.
Tucker Burns (Chad Willett) didn't know what he was getting into when out of desperation he applied for a job as a reporter at The World Chronicle. He thought the reporters there made up the stories. However, what he quickly discovered is that all the stories they report are true. Now
he's suddenly hot on the trail of stories that are bigger than he ever could have imagined, as he runs into vampires, demon babies and killer electric appliances. The only problem is that no one will ever believe him, except the dedicated readers of The Chronicle. Along with staff photographer
Wes (Reno Wilson), alien abductee and reporter Grace (Rena Sofer) and their ever-crusty editor, Donald Stern (Jon Polito), Tucker learns the truth is out there even if it just happens to be reported in the supermarket tabloid.
The Outlook: SCI FI's latest hit was originally developed for NBC as a show called News from the Edge. However, when they passed on it, the cable network took a look at the show and thought it might be a fit. Right they were. With a name change and a new Pig Boy (Curtis Armstrong), the series came together with a nice combination of humor and silliness. The Chronicle has done quite well, and along with The Outer Limits has created a viable new night for SCI FI on Saturdays. That was something The Secret Adventures of Jules Verne and Black Scorpion couldn't do. Those shows are now history. The Chronicle's original order for 13 was extended to 22 to create a full season. Look for the show's second season to begin at the end of the first quarter of 2002, although perhaps on a different day and time, as SCI FI shakes up its schedule.
Crossing Over with John Edward
SCI FI, Monday through Thursday, 11 and 11:30 p.m. (ET/PT); and Sunday, 8 and 8:30 p.m. Presently running
In many ways, he has the ultimate talk show. John Edward "reunites people in the physical world with their loved ones who have crossed over." As Crossing Over with John Edward's popularity grew, his show changed a bit to include celebrity readings. He has seemed to relax since the show first
aired and he seems more natural onstage.
The Outlook:Crossing Over has been a terrific success for SCI FI. In fact, it's been so successful that his show has recently started in syndication on daytime television, where it was the most talked-about and eagerly awaited show on the syndicated schedule. The episodes that will be syndicated have already run on SCI FI, and some may be re-edited. All this leads up to big things for Edward and Crossing Over.
Dark Angel
Fox, Friday, 8 p.m. Premieres Sept. 21
Max, that genetically engineered marvel, ended last season in big trouble. After being shot by her clone, she was believed to be dead. Not so. She was captured and held as a prisoner at the evil government lab, Manticore. As the sophomore season begins, Logan believes Max is dead and finds romance with another. In the meantime, Max discovers Manticore created other types of genetically engineered soldiers, including reptile-human hybrids. A couple of new characters will pop up, including Alec (Jensen Ackles) as a transgenic Manticore loyalist, and Joshua (Kevin Durand), one of the hybrids. Max's discovery will lead to a Beauty and the Beast-type romance with Joshua. She will also discover something about her past that even the Manticore meanies don't know. As if that weren't enough, executive producer James Cameron promises to beef up the action.
The Outlook:Dark Angel really started off with a bang last season and eventually settled in to have a steady audience. The numbers were pretty solid considering the heavy competition on Tuesday nights. However, the move to Fridays was expected, especially when Fox couldn't find another
X-Files to hold up the night. This will be the make-or-break year for Dark Angel. The series would be better off if it were running an hour later, and the early hour will probably hurt it a bit. Still, Friday offers Dark Angel its best chance. If it doesn't improve on its Tuesday numbers, however, look for it to be this Angel's last season. Executive producer James Cameron seems pumped for the new season, so much so that he's talking about the possibility of a Dark Angel movie.
Dead Last
The WB, Tuesday, 9 p.m. Presently running, series ends its run Sept. 25
Consider them the social workers for the dearly departed. This promising rock band ends up getting stuck with an amulet that lets them see and talk to dead people. Once the dead realize someone can actually see and hear them, it's up to Vaughn (Kett Turton), Jane (Sara Downing) and Scotty (Tyler
Labine) to help them with their problems. Now the challenge is figuring out how to solve the ghostly problems and make great music at the same time. Coming up: Scotty helps a deceased cop find his former partner's killer, a dead stalker stalks Jane, and a ghostly bounty hunter recruits Vaughn and
Scotty to help him capture the man who killed him.
The Outlook: Consider this show Dead Gone. No official word from The WB, but it dumped the series off in the middle of the summer without giving it enough time to run all the episodes that were ordered before the new season was set to start. As Smallville takes over the time period, it seems unlikely Dead Last will return. The ratings just weren't good enough. The series was being held as a backup in case the Hollywood strikes hit at the beginning of last summer and dragged through the fall season. That never happened, and the best guess is that the series became "dead weight" that the network needed to unload on the off chance the series would find an audience. It's unfortunate, and the series should have been given more of a chance. It has its moments, and the show can be funny and goofy enough to make it entertaining. However, it never achieved the high quality The WB has come to consistently demand in their new series.
SCI FI wants to see your shorts. Well, your speculative-fiction film shorts, that is. They are willing to air films by anyone. George Lucas, Tim Burton or even you. This film series is wildly uneven and you never know quite what you're going to get when you tune in.
The Outlook: SCI FI hasn't commented on Exposure, so its future is unknown. It may go, or it may not. They are still actively looking for new material, however.
Farscape
SCI FI, Friday, 8 p.m. Presently in reruns, Season Three continues in Jan. 2002
Buffy may be the best fantasy series on television, but Farscape is the best science-fiction series. What the creators of these shows have done is earn our absolute trust, and that is an amazing thing. With Farscape's consistent characterization, imaginative storylines and
the ability to surprise on a continuing basis, this series constantly pushes its characters as far as possible, and then it takes them even further. Few creative teams could manage not only to get away with it, but also to do it so well. Creator Rockne S. O'Bannon and his team have imagined a universe so
rich, it feels like a real place. It's a universe where bad things happen and the choices aren't always clear. The characters aren't even always likeable. In fact, they do bad things sometimes. Even noble hero John Crichton (Ben Browder) can be cranky and has moments of poor judgment. When Crichton was twinned earlier this season it was a brilliant move—as the crew split up in different directions, they each got a version of him. Through that storyline we found out more about our hero than even he knows about himself. No more will be said about what has happened this season, because too many fans haven't
seen the episodes yet. What can be said is that there won't be any new Farscape episodes until early next year. At that time, the season's final four episodes will run, and its fourth season will begin around March.
The Outlook: This 2001 Saturn award winner for Best Syndicated/Cable Television Series continues to be SCI FI's number-one-rated show. Look for this great series to go at least seven seasons, barring contractual problems. Viewers are finally getting a chance to see episodes from past seasons that are being rerun on SCI FI. There's no excuse now for missing this wonderful series.
Futurama
Fox, Sunday, 7 p.m. Premieres Dec. 9
As the fall's last series to premiere by more than a month, the loony and often very funny cartoon adventures of Fry, Leela and Bender will go where no cartoon has gone before. A special episode will feature visitors from another planet who beam down and just happen to have the voices of nearly every
living Star Trek actor the producers can get. The other big actor to get snagged for Futurama is Sigourney Weaver, lending her voice as a HAL-like computer who has a brief romance with Bender. And Leela will also be the first female player in a baseball-like sport. There were also plans to finally run the twisted Christmas episode about the violent robotic Santa, but it seems unlikely to make the schedule this year if it seemed too controversial for last year.
The Outlook: Last year proved a big disappointment for Futurama fans as the series continually was pre-empted due to football. Undoubtedly, this year will also bring its challenges for the timeslot, considering nothing has changed for the series. Regardless, fans have stayed loyal to this wonderfully inventive and original series, and its future looks secure.
Gene Roddenberry's Andromeda
Syndicated Premieres the week of Sept. 30
In last season's cliffhanger, every member of the crew looked like a goner as the Magog took over the Andromeda due to a mysterious mission from the past. There appeared to be no hope. But don't count the restorers of the Commonwealth out just yet. The second season finds all the characters in a perilous situation, especially Harper (Gordon Michael Woolvett), who discovers that he's been infected with Magog eggs. In case you missed last season's episode about the Magog and their eggs, it is not a good thing, considering the Magog young eat their host alive. Look for guest turns from William B. Davis
(The X-Files) and James Marsters (Buffy) this season.
The Outlook: Last year's top new dramatic syndicated series took off like a rocket and settled in to do very well for its first year. While often dramatically uneven, the characters and the universe began to develop a unique mythology. Kevin Sorbo proved he was a better Hercules than a Dylan
Hunt, but that may change this year, as he grows more comfortable in the role. The series began with a 44-episode commitment. Look for it to continue to do well in the ratings and lead the rest of the syndicated pack in viewers.
Gene Roddenberry's Earth: Final Conflict
Syndicated Premieres the week of Oct. 6
As Earth: Final Conflict enters its fifth and probably last year, fans are perplexed. This show has probably had more revolving and now evolving characters than any other show ever. It is the most inconsistent show on television. It's imaginative and has a compelling mythology, but the constant
changes make it nearly impossible to get attached. Over the seasons, the rule seemed to be if your favorite character left the series, just wait. They'd be back, at least for a while. In last season's cliffhanger, several characters went on to follow their destiny in an ancient alien joining chamber, as six Taelons and Jaridians (including the beloved Da'an, played by Leni Parker, and Zo'or, played by Anita Le Selva) merged to become the true Atavii, while Liam Kincade (Robert Leeshock) appeared to give his life to make that happen. Also, the fate of Robert Sandoval (Von Flores) appeared grim, as he seemed to get exactly what he deserved. Season five shapes up this way ... Parker won't return. Leeshock looks to be gone. Le Selva and Flores will be back in a limited way, as may Richard Chevolleau as Auger. The good news for fans of the early Final Conflict—William Boone (Kevin Kilner) will be back for "more than one episode." So who will be the lead of the show now? Probably Jayne Heitmeyer as Renee Palmer, who will leave the corporate world behind to battle the newly combined Atavii, which will turn out to be a very dangerous species. Thanks a lot, Liam. Without your help, the Taelons would be dead and the threat to Earth might well be over. This season, Alan Van Sprang and Guylaine St. Onge join the cast as leaders of the new species, and Margot Kidder will put in a guest appearance as a psychotic pathologist. Also, don't be misled. Taelons and Jaridians might pop up to make trouble, proving that not all of them have transformed.
The Outlook: Since Final Conflict was developed with a five-year arc in mind, look for the story to come to some kind of conclusion this year. The word is that the series finale will provide an important message and resolve the series arc, sending the characters off on a new adventure. So, there's no way to know if the series will end. There is no reason to think the producers will finally get their act together to make sure this series makes sense. Even Majel Barrett has said that there is very little of her husband's (Roddenberry) original vision in the show. A sixth season
is certainly possible. But consider this. SCI FI started running episodes from past seasons of Final Conflict in August during the evening. The ratings were so low, the series was pulled to re-evaluate what they should do with it. The best guess is that this will be the show's last season.
The Immortal
Syndicated Unknown
The Immortal tried hard to mix action and comedy, but never succeeded very successfully. Lorenzo Lamas couldn't quite inhabit the role of Rafe, and the demons weren't used to the extent they could have been to make this series fly. In the first season finale, Rafe (Lamas) sent Mallos back to hell and
saved his daughter's life. However, Rafe is warned by the demon Vashista that his reunion is only temporary. This season, who knows? We have to see if there is a second season first.
The Outlook: The chances for this fantasy series are unknown. At press time, there were "discussions" going on as to whether or not the show would get another season. While it looks like the series may not be so Immortal after all, there is a small chance it could come back at the last minute. No speculative-fiction series had worse episodes last year, and when the show fell flat, it was terrible. However, once in a while it would find just the right note and it could be fun to watch. Look for The Immortal to fade away because it never could develop the audience it needed.
Invisible Man
SCI FI, Friday, 9 p.m. Presently running
The Invisible Man continues to run new episodes for another couple of weeks before going into reruns. Darien (Vincent Ventresca) and Hobbs (Paul Ben-Victor) continue the fight for truth, justice and better perks on the job. In the last original episode, "Exposed," look for a special crossover nod to Ventresca's old series, Prey. After that Sept. 21 episode runs, look for The Invisible Man to go into reruns until the beginning of next year.
The Outlook: After a great start in season one, The Invisible Man slipped a bit this year. In fact, it's been pretty inconsistent in the ratings, which reflects the inconsistency in the show's quality. The writers did an awkward job introducing Brandy Ledford's character, Alex Monroe, the new agent on the team, and it hurt both her character and the series. She has yet to mesh with the rest of the cast, which is a shame because rather than being "one of the guys," she could have been a great antagonist. Ventresca and Ben-Victor continue to have great chemistry, and Eddie Jones (The Official) and Michael McCafferty (Eberts) are entertaining to watch. But the running joke about how poor The Agency is is ridiculous. They have an invisible man. Every government agency in existence would be thrilled to fork over bucks to borrow him. Wouldn't it be more fun and realistic if Darian got
annoyed because he constantly went to the highest bidder? It's probably just growing pains for the sophomore series, but if The Invisible Man doesn't get its act together, it's going to have some problems. SCI FI's not about to let it go yet, but they've undoubtedly noticed the ratings and the honeymoon is over. Look for the series to end up in a different timeslot when the new episodes start up again.
Lexx
SCI FI, Friday, 10 p.m. Presently running
As the fourth season continues, the Lexx and its crew have been hanging around Earth experiencing all the little blue planet has to offer. So far, Stanley (Brian Downey) has tried his hand at adult entertainment, Xev (Xenia Seeberg) has been proposed to, the crew has had dinner with Lord Dracul in Transylvania, and Kai (Michael McManus) is still dead. New episodes continue until Sept. 21, when Lexx takes a break along with the rest of SCI FI's schedule. The season will continue Friday, Jan. 4, at 10 p.m. as the Lexx's crew continues their adventures on Earth with episodes called "A Midsummer's Nightmare," "The Bad Carrot" and "769".
The Outlook: The future of Lexx was certainly in doubt when SCI FI was having trouble getting a second night up and running early last year. However, with the addition of The Outer Limits and The Chronicle, Saturday night flew and Lexx got a chance to go back to
Friday nights after Farscape, where it has done fairly. Lexx has a small group of dedicated fans who'd love to see this show continue. Much will depend on what happens with SCI FI next year, now that Stargate SG-1 has been picked up from Showtime. Whether or not the cable network develops
any additional series and whether they add a new night of programming will dictate Lexx's future.
Moving solidly into its second season, Mysterious Ways will continue to investigate the miraculous as anthropologist Declan Dunn (Adrian Pasdar) and psychiatrist Peggy (Rae Dawn Chong) continue their search for the truth. This season, Declan will get a love life as he dates Emma, a
television reporter played by new cast member Sarah Brown. A condemned man will survive a lethal injection, a fireman will escape a terrible fire unscathed, and a man's imaginary friend seemingly saves his life.
The Outlook: Adrian Pasdar is just great in this series, and his sweet portrayal of Declan manages to offset Chong's too-serious Peggy. The episodes are generally well written, and it's interesting how the miracles don't usually come in the expected places. But, upon occasion, the series
seems to spin off into bizarre directions. Not that that matters. While it's curious why PAX moved the series up an hour, Mysterious Ways is an excellent fit with PAX, and they should have a long future together.
The Outer Limits
SCI FI, Saturdays, 10 p.m. Presently running
The Outer Limits is in reruns until Jan. 4, when it continues the last two episodes of its seventh season. Look for this award-winning anthology show to continue to run powerful stories about technologies and the effect they have on the human race. With well-written scripts and marvelous production values, The Outer Limits has raised the mark for anthology television. Future episodes include "The Human Factor," starring Robert Duncan McNeill as a space commander who must convince an android that humanity is worthy of existence, and "Human Trials," starring Jason Gedrick as a decorated soldier who undergoes dangerous tests for a mysterious mission.
The Outlook: SCI FI has been thrilled with the performance of this new acquisition. The Outer Limits has brought in terrific ratings and helped make Saturday night viable for the channel. With its partner, The Chronicle, SCI FI's new lineup has been a tremendous success. When The
Outer Limits was brought to the cable network, the deal was that several of the episodes would be used as pilots for potential series. That's good news for the viewers.
Ripley's Believe It or Not
TBS, Wednesday, 8:05 p.m. (ET/PT) Presently running
The series that looks at the fantastic, amazing, bizarre and disgusting
joins the The WB to fill out its Sunday night lineup as a syndicated series,
featuring episodes from TBS's first season. Host Dean Cain once again looks at
all things unusual.
The Outlook: When Dean Cain signed up to host this reality show, it
looked like his career was going down the tubes. But the show keeps plugging
away and has gotten very good ratings, no doubt as much because of the
recognizable Ripley's Believe It or Not name as because of Cain's
pleasant style. This looks like an excellent timeslot for this show.
Relic Hunter
Syndicated Premieres the week of Sept. 16
That female action hero Sydney (Tia Carrere) has brains and beauty and can beat up the bad guys without breaking a nail. Along with her intrepid assistant Nigel Bailey (Christien Anholt) she trots the globe in search of missing artifacts. In Relic Hunter's third season, Sydney gets a new secretary (Tanja Reichart). This season we'll find out more about Sydney's past and she runs into Adrian Paul, who just may be a vampire.
The Outlook:Relic Hunter has cut out a path for itself in syndication as an entertaining late-night action hour. Carrere is appealing as a lady Indiana Jones and she can beat up the bad guys with the best of them. She also has nice chemistry with Anholt. Look for Relic Hunter to sail through the year with no problems.
Roswell
UPN, Tuesday, 9 p.m. Premieres Oct. 9
There were lots of exciting adventures last season for the alien and human teens to deal with. They found out more about themselves, Liz (Shiri Appleby) got a visit from a grown-up Max (Jason Behr), and Tess (Emilie de Ravin) and Max got close. A little too close, actually. At the end of last season, the
aliens were ready to go off to their home planet when they discovered that Tess had killed Alex (Colin Hanks) and seduced Max into getting her pregnant. Roswell's third season will bring a romance for Isabel (Katherine Heigl) with new regular Adam Rodriguez. Michael (Brendan Fehr) will get a new job, Max and Liz's parents will actually show up once in a while, and Max will go on the road to find his child. Now it's hard to tell how going on the road is going to help Max find a child who apparently was headed to another planet in the season finale, but maybe it's a really long road trip. Series
creator Jason Katims promises more "relatable human stories" that have that Roswell twist. Maybe we romantic fans will actually get to see Max and Liz finally get together this season, now that Tess is out of the picture.
The Outlook: Since this fine series began, it's been hanging on by a thread. Roswell survived its first season on The WB and then promised to become more action-oriented for its second season. The series kept its word and dug into sci-fi, only to find itself canceled for its trouble. Luckily for fans, UPN wanted The WB's demographics. For the third season, the producers are talking about going back to the show's roots. There's no doubt Roswell is still looking for its identity. It still doesn't quite know what kind of show it wants to be. The writing is very good, but the characters still do things that just don't seem right for them. At this point, UPN appears much more supportive than The WB ever did. Let's hope so. With Buffy as a lead-in, Roswell has a real chance to do well. Of course, there is that pesky problem of Smallville sitting over on The WB in the same timeslot, but I'm liking its chances. Now if only it can find its rhythm and let the teen aliens grow up a bit, Roswell will finally get a chance to come into its own.
Sabrina the Teenage Witch
The WB, Friday, 8 p.m. Premieres Sept. 21
Sabrina (Melissa Joan Hart) finally got a long-awaited kiss from Josh (David Lascher). Unfortunately, her roomies weren't too lucky at love. As the series heads into its sixth season (its second at The WB), executive producer Paula Hart promises to spend less time worrying about boyfriends, with more focus on the family. Caroline Rhea enters her final year as Hilda. This year, Sabrina will intern at a newspaper, Salem will battle Phil the dog, and vampires will show up to cause trouble. Could those vamps be looking for Buffy?
The Outlook:Sabrina may not be a teenage witch anymore, but she knows how to keep the magic going year after year. The WB has the series anchoring an all-new night of shows, and considering her fan base has grown up with her and followed her from one network to another, she will continue to
rule on Friday nights.
Sheena
Syndicated Premieres the week of Oct. 6
Stunt casting looks to be the name of the game, as the babe who can turn into a beast takes on her second season. Sheena (Gena Lee Nolin) and her pal Cutter (John Allen Nelson) will face off against Ron Ely, TV's original Tarzan, as he plays the bad guy who is trying to keep a young, lost
and very rich jungle boy from his vast fortune. Laila Ali, Muhammad Ali's daughter, will also put in an appearance as a Maltakan fighter. In other episodes, Sheena and Cutter will befriend a CIA sniper who is on the run, a jewel thief helps them find a hidden treasure, and a mythic rogue beast is used to steal a government payroll.
The Outlook:Sheena did very well in the ratings last year, and it couldn't have anything to do with her tight-fitting costume. The show is downright ridiculous, but it doesn't pretend to be anything more than it is. Another year should sail by with no problem.
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's The Lost World
Syndicated Premieres mid-October
It was close, fans. At the last minute, Lost World got picked up for a third season. And what a relief, since the season-ending cliffhanger was so confusing fans were watching it over and over again trying to figure it out. It all had something to do with an airship and a curse and a missing member
of the group. No word on what the plans are for the season. Most likely the producers are still figuring it out as they scramble to make the syndication date.
The Outlook:Lost World is certainly the silliest show on the schedule, but it does have the coolest-looking dinosaurs this side of a Jurassic Park movie. The producers have also had to get pretty inventive in figuring out ways to make their characters appear as if they are trying to escape while seldom letting them get very far from Veronica's tree-house home. While the fan base worked diligently to show Lost World their support for a third season, the producers need to give new viewers a reason to tune in or this show won't get a fourth. The writing is on the wall.
Space Ghost Coast to Coast
Cartoon Network, Thursday and Sunday, runs in Adult Swim, which begins at 10 p.m. (ET) Premiered Sept. 2
That cranky cartoon superhero is back in the talk-show-host chair again, with all-new episodes. Only this time, Space Ghost will have to deal with more than the normal supervillains. Now he'll face true evil, in the form of product placement and huge media conglomerates. By his side are the archenemies he enslaved to fill out his crew. Moltar is the show's director, and Zorak is the show's bandleader.
The Outlook: With the Cartoon Network finally realizing that the adult market is significant enough to bother with, Space Ghost is back with all-new episodes that will feature celebrity interviews and music. It's a funny and unique show that is the perfect fit for the network's Adult Swim. Considering one-third of its audience is all grown up, it's about time the network started catering to this audience. Look for Adult Swim to sink some of the not-very-funny shows quickly. However, look for Space Ghost and the equally funny Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law to survive.
Special Unit 2
UPN, Wednesday, 9 p.m. Premieres Oct. 3
These Chicago cops don't chase criminals, they hunt Links. It seems that all those mythological creatures we don't really believe in are real. And thanks to Chicago's finest (that would be Special Unit 2), the Links are kept to a minimum. Detectives Nick O'Malley (Michael Landes) and his partner,
Kate Benson (Alexondra Lee), have the job of hunting down these creatures with an arsenal of high-tech weapons. This season, a xenobiologist (Jonathan Togo) joins the unit, Kate runs into an old flame, and Nick finds out who murdered his former partner. The premiere will feature Lola Glaudini as a thousand-year-old witch who stays young by sucking the years out of others. Other new Links include The Boogie Man, a monster only kids can see, and The Sandman, a creature made of sand who can control victims while they sleep.
The Outlook: Believe it or not, Special Unit 2 with a mere six episodes became UPN's third-highest-rated drama. Now it has the catbird seat, sitting right behind the new Star Trek series Enterprise. That can't help but improve the ratings. While the show isn't as entertaining
as it wants to be, it did fairly quickly develop its own style. Michael Landes is sarcastically appealing as Nick O'Malley, and Danny Woodburn had some terrific moments as Carl the Gnome. It isn't Men in Black by any means. But considering West Wing might be a little more reality than most of us want these days, its chances of survival just got better.
Stargate SG-1
This season: Showtime, Friday, 10 p.m.; season six: SCI FI, no schedule
set Presently running
Led by Col. Jack O'Neill (Richard Dean Anderson), the SG-1 team will continue to explore strange new worlds and boldly go where no go where no worm hole traveler has gone before as they continue their fight against the evil Goa'uld.
The Outlook: The big news is that next season Stargate SG-1 will have a new address at SCI FI. It's no surprise that Showtime is letting this series go after five years. Especially since The Outer Limits (which is also owned by MGM) moved last year. This solidly written
and produced show continues to do storylines that later show up on other series. While it'd be nice if most the planets didn't look so desolate, the series has a rich mythology that continues to grow. That's not to say that it doesn't misstep now and then, but overall, the shows are above average. So, will anything change with the big move? It's too soon to know. The cable network has ordered 22 episodes, which shows confidence in the series. However, it will be several months before SCI FI will be making any more announcements about the series. One thing is certain. SCI FI wouldn't have picked up Stargate unless it was planning on keeping it. And since Anderson is an executive producer of the show, it's unlikely he'd agree to continue unless the deal looked good. Look for at least two more years of Stargate.
Strange Frequency
VH1, Saturday, 10 p.m. (ET/PT) Presently running
Based on the two-hour movie that ran at the beginning of the year, this rock 'n' roll anthology horror television series features an impressive lineup of stars and is hosted by Roger Daltrey. The half-hour episodes feature a blend of horror, rock mystique and mythology. In upcoming episodes, a rocker ends up in a rehab with a perfect cure rate, a fan travels back in time to the day his favorite rock star was assassinated, a working mother sees visions of a rock star's final performance, and a Goth singer's obsession with death becomes a little too real when the Grim Reaper shows up to take in a show. Starring Charisma Carpenter, Ally Sheedy, and Pam Grier.
The Outlook: The anthology series began running in the summer, and there's no word yet from VH1 as to whether or not this series will continue after its run finishes on Nov. 10. There's no way to guess, but you have to wonder if a half-hour series can be worth the trouble. However, they did manage to get Roger Daltrey on board at the last minute to host the series, and that can't hurt.
Touched by an Angel
CBS, Saturday, 8 p.m. Premieres Sept. 22
Last season, an angel named Gloria—who looked a lot like Valerie Bertinelli—joined the cast during the last two episodes of the season. In its eighth season, Bertinelli gets her wings fulltime, joining Monica (Roma Downey), Tess (Della Reese) and Andrew (John Dye) as they do God's work. This season,
Gloria accidentally takes Ecstasy at a rave, the angels will deal with children bringing bombs to school, and Monica will receive the power of revelation.
The Outlook: CBS decided to move the aging show to Saturday nights, where the viewers are younger and hipper. They've also brought in 40-year-old Bertinelli to help bring in the younger crowd. While none of that makes sense, Bertinelli is an appealing performer who should make the show a bit more interesting. Still, the truth is that CBS is ready to dump the show, which has been looking pretty stale the last couple of seasons. This may well be Touched by an Angel's last season, unless Bertinelli can pull off a miracle.
Witchblade
TNT, Tuesday, 9 p.m. Premieres next summer, 2002
Based on the Top Cow comic book, Witchblade left the comics behind as it developed its own style and tone. Yancy Butler dug into her best role ever as New York City cop Sara Pezzini in last summer's Witchblade. She battled bad guys and police corruption, and became one with the Witchblade, a magical gauntlet that helps her fight evil but has a mind of its own. Presumably, next summer Sara will continue with her mission to fight evil as she follows her destiny.
The Outlook After getting great ratings initially, and pretty darn good ratings after that, it was no surprise when TNT announced that they'd be renewing the series for another season. Grim and moody, the show quickly developed a style all its own. While the special effects were either great
or poorly done (there seemed to be very little in between), and the scripts were inconsistent, Butler drove the series with her character much the way the Sara drove her motorcycle, with the determination that nothing would stop her. With Butler in the driver's seat, look for Witchblade to have another successful season.
The X-Files
Fox, Sunday, 9 p.m. Premieres Nov. 4
In the ludicrous last season, the search for Mulder (David Duchovny) led to his being found dead and then later resurrected. Snatched out of his grave after six months, he somehow was still alive, and it had something to do with aliens. I won't mention that Mulder's autopsy and embalming would seem to
make that more than a little difficult to believe. Okay, I will mention it. And when Krycek suddenly decided to kill Mulder for no reason and Skinner nailed him with a shot to the forehead, Krycek fans everywhere gave up on the series (if they hadn't already). What became very apparent, after Scully had her mystery baby and shared a kiss with her former partner, is that the series had reached a new low. Duchovny will not be returning to the series. Smart man. Creator Chris Carter said Mulder's absence will be explained and "it will even make sense." Sure it will. Let's just say that it seems highly unlikely, since nothing in The X-Files has made sense for a long time. As for the new folks, Robert Patrick was wasted last year as the humorless John Doggett, while Annabeth Gish seems promising as Monica Reyes. Also joining the cast in a recurring role is Cary Elwes as Monica's former lover and yet another FBI guy. So what else do X-Files fans have to look forward to for the ninth season? Well, there have been hints Krycek may not actually, really, be dead. The Lone Gunmen don't seem to have anything else to do, so they may put in an appearance or two. And Lucy Lawless will guest-star in the two-part season opener.
The Outlook: Fox simply would not let this nearly dead horse die, and Carter and his creative team have lost any chance of ever making this series make sense. Scully's pregnancy and mystery baby were a big mistake, effectively taking her out of the action and continuing a ridiculous storyline that concluded with the aliens coming to watch the baby's birth and then quietly leaving. What's that about? It's all so frustrating for anyone who liked the series at one time and has been trying to follow it. Executive producer Frank Spotnitz said that "in many ways it's a new series." It seems the plan is to get the show ready for the time Anderson leaves the series, which she will eventually do. So is it at all possible to reinvent The X-Files and give a nine-year-old show a new lease on life? No. While Fox will undoubtedly make sure the series has a 10th season, the true fans simply don't have any reason to trust Carter anymore. He's let us down too often. I used to love The X-Files. Now call me an X-Fan.
Alliance Atlantis is developing this new series for SCI FI based on the award-winning book by Eric Garcia. This hard-boiled detective mystery with a twist involves a secret society of dinosaurs who walk the Earth disguised as humans.
Buffy the Animated SeriesFox Kids, February 2002
Based on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, this animated series takes Buffy back to Sunnydale High School and through her struggles as the teen-age "chosen one." She is joined in her battles by her best friends, Willow and Xander, in adventures that never made the live action series. Executived produced and created by Buffy's Joss Whedon.
Stephen King's The Dead ZoneUPN, Midseason
Based on the Stephen King novel, a young man named Johnny (Anthony Michael Hall) wakes up from a coma to find he has powerful psychic powers that allow him to see the past and the future. The series also stars Nicole deBoer, who plays Johnny's fiancée, and Michael Moriarty as a televangelist.
Originally it looked like this series might be on the fall schedule, but it was pulled and now lives in midseason-land looking for an airdate.
EarthseaSCI FI, 2003
The first three novels in Ursula K. Le Guin's Earthsea series will be made into a six-hour miniseries from a script written by Philippa Bovens, who adapted the Lord of the Rings film trilogy. The miniseries will cover A Wizard of Earthsea, Tales of Earthsea and Tombs of Atuan, and tell the story of an awkward boy who becomes a wizard's apprentice, and what happens to him when he discovers Sparrowhawk is his true name. As he begins his transition into becoming a man, his journey will pit him against an evil that may be connected to him.
FlatlandUnknown
If it finds a home, Dennis Hopper will star in this science-fiction action series that takes place in the fourth dimension. Flatland fancies itself a cross between The Matrix and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Created by Al Ruddy, Andre Morgan and Steve Feke, Flatland is set in the year 2010 in Shanghai. Three Americans (Bumper Robinson, Phillip Rhys and Francoise Yip) become trapped in a fourth-dimensional world where the past and the present come together. Flatland is controlled by a mysterious man called Mr. Smith (Hopper). Twenty-two scripts have been prepared, and if the series flies it will be filmed on high-definition digital video.
GatecrasherMTV
The music channel is developing an animated series based on the Gatecrasher comic book. The series will follow a college student named Alec Wagner, a half-human/half-alien, who works as a secret agent for the Split-Second Squad. Their mission it is to protect the Earth from alien invasions.
Greg the BunnyFox, Midseason
This Fox series was originally set for fall, but at the last minute was pushed off to midseason. The live-action puppet fantasy comedy series will star Seth Green as the roommate of the puppet star from a children's show. Also starring Eugene Levy, Sarah Silverman, Bob Gunton and Dash Mihok. The half-hour series was created by Steven Levitan, Dan Milano and Spencer Chinoy, and has a 13-episode commitment.
Harold and the Purple CrayonHBO Family, The special premieres in December, with the series beginning in January
Based on the book by Crockett Johnson, this series will follow Harold, a four-year-old boy, who decides to go for a walk in the moonlight armed only with an oversized purple crayon. He ends up taking a magical journey and creates a purple world using his imagination and his crayon. Narrated by Sharon Stone.
JeremiahShowtime, Friday, Jan. 11
Luke Perry and Malcolm Jamal Warner star in a sci-fi series about what happens five years after a virus has wiped out everyone who passed puberty. Now it's up to the former children of the world to decide if they want to survive by living off of what's left of the old world or rebuilding a brand-new world of their own. B5's J. Michael Straczynski wrote the pilot and
serves as one of the executive producers.
The Lathe of HeavenA&E, Late 2002
James Caan stars in this A&E original television movie based on the classic novel by Ursula K. Le Guin. Caan will play Dr. William Haber, a psychiatrist who discovers his patient George Orr (Lukas Haas) can alter reality through his dreams. Directed by Philip Haas from a script by Alan Sharp.
The Left Hand of DarknessSCI FI, 2003
Here's yet another adaptation of Ursula K. Le Guin's work to the small screen. In this original four-hour miniseries based on the 1969 classic novel, a human ambassador is sent as an emissary to convince the people of an arctic planet to join a galactic alliance. However, he discovers a society so totally alien that he must overcome his own prejudices and learn to understand this ancient culture, where gender is unimportant.
The Mars ProjectFox
After a conflict with SCI FI over Kim Stanley Robinson's Mars book series, James Cameron decided to do a five-hour miniseries based on a script of his own. He's planning on creating a realistic mini along the lines of Apollo 13 about the first human exploration of Mars.
Outer DimensionFox Kids, Fall 2001
A boy strives to unite the Outer Dimension with the Earth before evil forces destroy both worlds. A live-action series with CGI elements, produced by the Tom Lynch Company.
Red MarsSCI FI
After snatching the rights away from James Cameron, who wanted to develop this project, the SCI FI Channel is developing an original miniseries based on Kim Stanley Robinson's Mars trilogy.
RipperBBC
Ripper is being developed by Buffy creator Joss Whedon, who obviously doesn't have enough to do. Whedon originally called this series The Watcher, because it's based on the Anthony Stewart Head character Giles from the Buffy series. Ripper refers to an old nickname Giles used to have in England. The series will indeed be filmed and take place in England. One of the reasons Head has cut back his appearances in Buffy is because he missed his family. As far as the series goes, it will revolve around Giles' Buffy-less adventures and should have more
adult themes and its own tone.
RiverworldSCI FI, 2002
Based on the classic novel series from Philip José Farmer that began with To Your Scatter Bodies Go. This series will follow the adventures of explorer Sir Richard Francis Burton as he, and a cast of millions who have all been reborn next to a seemingly endless river, search for answers as to what happened to them. Of course, in the novel everyone wakes up naked, so it will be interesting to see how SCI FI handles that little detail. Executive produced by Alex Proyas, Topher Dow, Ralph Vicinanza and Vince Gerardis. Stuart Hazeldine has been slated to write the two-hour pilot for the series.
ShinzoFox Kids, Fall 2001
In this anime series, the last human on Earth is a girl named Yukoma. In her world, mutants rule, and it's up to Yukoma to try to save mankind from extinction. She is helped in her quest by three genetically enhanced Enterrans, as Yukoma searches for Shinzo, the one place that just might help her save the human race. Based on the Japanese anime series Mashurambo.
Tae Kwon DosFox Kids, Fall 2001
Life is anything but normal for these three normal kids, who must battle demons, monsters and warriors, along with the donut shop lady, who turns into an enormous monster covered with sprinkles.
TakenSCI FI, 2002
This 20-hour original miniseries from Steven Spielberg doesn't seem quite so mini. The theme is alien abduction, and Taken focuses on the stories of three families and their experiences over 50 years. Written and executive produced by Les Bohem.
This supernatural thriller based on Robin Cook's novel tells the story of a medical researcher (Chad Lowe) who discovers a mold which he believes might lead to a cure for degenerative brain diseases. The problem is that the mold was discovered in a New England home which appears to have
connections to the Salem witch trials, and when the researcher tries out the concoction on himself and his research team, something demonic is unleashed. Directed by William A. Graham from a script by Michael J. Murray.
Another DayUSA, Tuesday, Oct. 9
A mother travels back in time to relive the last two days of her fiancé's life before he was killed.
America Loves Star TrekTNN, Monday, Oct. 1, 7 p.m. (ET)
TNN celebrates The Next Generations' 35th birthday with Next Gen on TNN, A 5-Day Mission. It all begins with this up-close and personal documentary all about Next Generation, with interviews with cast members, celebrity fans and space experts. After the big kickoff, TNN will rerun episodes of the series during the week at 8 p.m.
B5: The Legend of the RangersSCI FI, January 2002
Babylon 5 fans, take heart. Your favorite universe is back! Set between the events in Babylon 5 and Crusade, this two-hour original movie may lead to a new series if creator J. Michael Straczynski has his way. And we all know the SCI FI Channel would be the perfect home for
such a series. The film features Dylan Neal as Capt. David Martel, one of the first humans to join the ranks of the Rangers, formerly occupied only by a Zen-like warrior caste of Minbari. The Ranger fleet will attempt to restore order to hundreds of civilizations devastated by the Shadow War. That's the good news. The bad news is that according to Neal, the actors are committed only to the movie, which means if it does go to series there might be some recasting.
Barbie in the NutcrackerCBS, Thursday, Nov. 22
The best-selling doll of all time may be 42 years old, but she's managed to keep her figure, so why not? In this animated special, Barbie dances the Nutcracker as Clara and the Sugarplum Princess. Ken gets a starring role himself as the Nutcracker and the Prince. Even Tim Curry pops up to lend his voice to the Mouse King. Choreographed by Peter Martins using real ballerinas to create the footwork with motion capture technology.
The Boys from BrazilTNT
TNT is doing a remake of the movie about Nazi cloning based on Ira Levin's novel. The television movie will be directed by Heywood Gould, who wrote the script for the 1978 movie starring Gregory Peck, Laurence Olivier and James Mason.
Call Me ClausTNT, Sunday, Dec. 2, 8 p.m. (ET/PT)
Whoopi Goldberg stars as Lucy Cullins, cynical producer of a home-shopping network who just can't get into the Christmas spirit. When Lucy hires a Santa (Sir Nigel Hawthorne) for the holiday programming, she gets more than she bargained for. Her fake Santa is actually the real thing, and he's
facing mandatory retirement after 200 years on the job. With time ticking away, this St. Nick must find a replacement before Christmas Eve. Lucy looks like a good choice to him, but convincing her of that may not be so easy. Executive produced by Garth Brooks, who sings two brand-new songs for the movie's soundtrack.
Clive Barker's Saint SinnerSCI FI, 2002
SCI FI partners with horror master Clive Barker in a tale about a 19th-century monk who accidentally unleashes two beautiful female demons upon Los Angeles. Isn't that where all the cool demons like to hang out? The monk must follow them into the future to try and stop the evil creatures. The script is adapted by Doris Egan from Clive's original novel.
Day the World EndedHBO
Day the World Ended is one of five Creature Features from Cinemax, all inspired by the 1950s science fiction and monster movies of Samuel Z. Arkoff and featuring special effects by Stan Winston Studios. While the other films will be shown on Cinemax first, this one will premiere on
HBO. Nastassja Kinski and Randy Quaid star in this film about what happens when the people of an isolated rural town begin to suspect the newly arrived beautiful psychiatrist in a series of gruesome murders. But when they find out who the killer really is, they'll discover something they never expected. Directed by Terence Gross from a script written by Max Enscoe and Annie DeYoung.
DinotopiaABC, May 2002
Based on the fantasy books of James Gurney, this six-hour miniseries focuses on a continent where dinosaurs and humans work and live in harmony together. When the plane of a rich American crashes, only his two sons, Karl (Tyron Leitso) and David (Wentworth Miller), survive to find themselves on the lost continent. The two find themselves among an odd assortment of both humans and dinosaurs. However, when Dinotopia's power source begins to fail, it's up to Karl and David to save this strange new world. Most of the dinos were created using state-of-the-art digital special effects and were created by the Jim Henson Creature Shop in London. Directed by Marco Brambilla from a script by Simon Moore. Executive produced by Robert Halmi Sr.
Earth vs. The SpiderCinemax, Oct. 18, 10 p.m. (ET)
Dan Aykroyd stars in this Cinemax Creature Feature about a mild-mannered security guard and comic-book fanatic who pulls a Frankenstein when he injects himself with a top-secret drug. Suddenly he finds himself changing in all the wrong ways, as he begins to transform into a hungry mutant spider. Probably not the result he was hoping for. Written by Max Enscoe and Annie DeYoung, and directed by Scott Ziehl.
EpochSCI FI, Saturday, Nov. 24, 9 p.m. (ET/PT)
After four billion years, an entity returns to Earth and rises over Bhutan in Central Asia. The United States and the Chinese clash over who has rights to the strange entity. Could the object be causing the massive power disruptions that have stricken the world? A weapons expert, Mason Rand (David Keith), and Dr. Czaban (Stephanie Niznik) are called in to investigate the mysterious entity, but can they solve the puzzle before it's too late for the entity, or perhaps for mankind itself?
Firestarter: RekindledSCI FI, March 2002
This four-hour miniseries, based on the characters and situations from Stephen King's novel, picks up 20 years after the events in Firestarter took place. Now a young woman, Charlene "Charlie" McGee (Marguerite Moreau) begins searching for answers about her past. Unfortunately, she runs into Rainbird (Malcolm McDowell), a nasty government agent who wants to capture Charlie so he can control her powers. Rainbird is using children with powerful psychic abilities to do his bidding. Written by Philip Eisner and directed by Robert Iscove.
Halloween is upon us, so what's a good food-focused channel to do but visit spooky places that serve good food? So take a tour of America's most ghostly cuisine with a little guidance from the people who know about food.
How to Make a MonsterCinemax, Sunday, Oct. 11, 10 p.m.
(ET)
Another one of the five Creature Feature movies from Cinemax. Greedy computer programmers agree to create the ultimate scary video game. However, their game, "Evilution," has a life all its own as the game's indestructible monster hunts them down to kill them. There's a million dollars at stake, if only they can manage to survive. Written and directed by George Huang and starring Clea Duvall, Steven Culp and Tyler Mane.
InvincibleTBS, Sunday, Nov. 18
Billy Zane stars in the made-for-TV martial-arts action film about battling mystic warriors.
Jack and the Beanstalk: The Real StoryCBS
Matthew Modine plays the great-great-great-grandson of Jack. Based on the classic children's tale, this miniseries has quite a cast. Starring Jon Voight, Richard Attenborough, Daryl Hannah, Vanessa Redgrave and Mia Sara.
No Ordinary BabyLifetime, Monday, Oct. 8, 9 p.m. (ET)
Lifetime presents this original television movie which moves right to the heart of the debate about cloning. Bridget Fonda starts in a story about the birth of the first human clone.
Mind Over Mind With Marc SalemSCI FI, 2002
This SCI FI special will feature Marc Salem's unique blend of humor and mind-blowing abilities as his audience asks "Hey, how'd you do that?" Salem will stump the audience and go on location with stunts created to boggle the brain. Salem has built a reputation based on his lectures, talk show appearances and two Off-Broadway shows. Produced by Howard Schultz and Lighthearted Entertainment.
Antonio Sabato Jr. and Eric Roberts star in this SCI FI original movie about a private detective (Emmanuelle Vaugier) with psychic powers who is hot on the trail of a senator's (Michael Ironside) missing daughter. In the pursuit of the girl, she must go up against a psychotic cult leader
(Roberts) who also has powerful psychic abilities. Along the way she will uncover the mysteries of her own past. Let's see, Michael Ironside in a movie about powerful psychic abilities. Does anyone remember Scanners?
Odyssey 5Showtime
In this original Showtime movie, a space-shuttle crew witnesses the destruction of the Earth from orbit. Luckily, they discover a way to go back in time five years earlier. Now the fate of the Earth rests in the intrepid crew's hands. Peter Weller and Christopher Gorham star in the film, which
was written by Manny Coto.
The Pretender: Island of the HauntedTNT, Monday, Dec. 10, 8
p.m. (ET/PT)
Following up the NBC series and TNT's original film The Pretender 2001, Island of the Haunted will bring back all the major players in what may well be the end of Jarod's story. Jarod (Michael T. Weiss) is a Pretender, a genius who was taken from his parents as a child and
raised in a think tank called The Centre. Island of the Haunted will delve into the mysteries of Jarod and Miss Parker's (Andrea Parker) pasts as Jarod continues the search for his mother. As they dig into the past, they discover the location of powerful mystic scrolls that may unlock the answers they seek, perhaps even secrets about The Centre itself. Leading up to the movie, TNT will present a 19-hour "Pretender Marathon" featuring series episodes and the first movie. Island of the Haunted was written by series creators Steven Long Mitchell and Craig W. Van Sickle, and directed by Fred Keller.
Prince CharmingTNT, July, 2002
Martin Short and Christina Applegate star in an updated two-hour movie version of the fairy-tale. Due to an extramarital indiscretion, a fairy tale prince and his sidekick are turned into frogs forever—or until the prince can convince a maiden to kiss and then marry him. Written by Doug Palau.
Santa, Baby!Fox, mid-December
Gregory Hines is a cranky and unhappy composer with writer's block. But things suddenly change for him when a magical bird (Patti LaBelle) turns him into a sidewalk Santa. After that even his cat (Eartha Kitt) takes a liking to him. From Arthur Rankin Jr. and Jules Bass.
She CreatureCinemax, Oct. 4, 10 p.m. (ET)
She Creature is part of Cinemax's Creature Features, which are produced by Lou Arkoff, Stan Winston and Colleen Camp, and like the other four films it is inspired by Samuel Z. Arkoff's 1950s monster classics. In She Creature, a conniving circus owner kidnaps a beautiful mermaid, only
to discover she has a bad side. Trapped on a ship with the monster mermaid, the lady goes on a rampage, taking her appetites out on crew. Stars Rufus Sewell, Carla Gugino and Gil Bellows in a script written and directed by Sebastian Gutierrez.
Sherlock Holmes in "The Royal Scandal"Hallmark, Friday, Oct.
19
Hallmark (formerly Odyssey) continues their Sherlock Holmes series of movies with Matt Frewer in the lead role. In this third movie, the game's afoot as Holmes attempts to retrieve a compromising photograph of a crown prince.
Snow WhiteABC
After his wife dies during childbirth, Snow White's father gets a visit from a representative of Satan granting him three wishes. Executive produced by Robert Halmi Sr. and written and directed by Caroline Thompson.
In this SCI FI original comedy, two thieves are hired to steal the Rock of Lazarus, only to end up with the power to raise the dead. Of course, Biblical bad guy Simon Magus has other plans, which include an army of evil souls under his control. Starring Rod Rowland, Michael Ironside and Brad Dourif.
Stephen King's Rose RedABC, February 2002
This ghostly six-hour, three-part miniseries from "The King" tells the story of an obsessed psychology professor (Nancy Travis) who brings a team of psychics and a 15-year-old autistic girl into a dormant haunted mansion. The building is called Rose Red and was built in 1907 by a Seattle
oil magnate who may have had a secret to hide. What they uncover will unleash the horrifying secrets of past generations. Also starring Judith Ivey and Matt Keeslar. Craig Baxley directed from a script by executive producer Stephen King.
Tales from the Neverending StoryHallmark Channel, Saturday, Sept. 22, 12 noon (ET/PT)
Hallmark is repeating this sneak preview of their new fantasy series about a 12-year-old boy named Bastian Bux whose mother has died, and who must learn to dream once again. When Bastian opens a mysterious leather-bound book, he transported to a magical world of his own making, called Fantasia.
In the amazing medieval land there are both good and evil and all manner of mythological creatures. Now all Bastian has to do is believe. Based on the classic novel, this two-hour "sneak peak" sets up the original series, which premieres Saturday, Oct. 6, at 12 noon.
Teenage CavemanCinemax, Oct. 25, 10 p.m. (ET)
Another movie in Cinemax's Creature Features. This one features a group of rebellious teen-agers who end up fighting for their lives after a great environmental apocalypse threatens to wipe out mankind. As the group searches for a new paradise, what they discover will change their lives forever. Directed by Larry Clark from a script by Chris Gage. Starring Andrew Keegan and Tara Subkoff.
'Twas the NightHBO, Monday, Nov. 26, 7:30 p.m. (ET)
Animated versions of stories like The Night Before Christmas are brought to life with the help of classic Christmas songs by Judy Garland, Louis Armstrong and Nat King Cole.
The Ugly StepsisterABC, October
Stockard Channing stars in this non-magic retelling of the classic fairy tale. In the 17th century, a woman with two children remarries only to end up taking care of the husband's spoiled-brat child.
A Wrinkle In TimeABC
The Wonderful World of Disney will present the Madeleine L'Engle classic children's tale as a four-hour miniseries over two consecutive Sunday evenings. The story crosses the boundaries of time and space when two children, Meg and Charles Wallace, and their neighbor Calvin O'Keefe go on a journey to find the children's scientist father, who has disappeared. With the help of three strange women, the children must travel to the desolate planet of Camazotz, where a repressed society of beings has been enslaved by an evil force. The children and their friends discover it's up to them to rescue their
father. The screenplay was written by Susan Shilliday, and the miniseries was directed by John Harrison.
n the wake of the terrible tragedy on Sept. 11, the big three networks have postponed the fall season premiere dates for some of their shows. There may well be a ripple effect that will be felt during the entire fall-premiere season, and massive news coverage has already affected CBS's new werewolf series, Wolf Lake, and The WB's Sabrina the Teenage Witch, which are both now scheduled to premiere a week later than planned. However, most speculative-fiction series premieres won't be affected because their premiere dates are far enough away. Still, be aware that all premiere dates listed below may be changed.
