hat a difference a couple of years make. In 2001, we covered 31 returning or continuing series, and now in 2003 we're down to fewer than half that number. In fact, combining all the new and returning shows doesn't even add up to that total. While this might look like a sad state of affairs, and it is, there are some interesting trends that may change the way watch TV.
It appears that no series is safe, and we know that because nearly every returning scripted series has gone through big changes. Alias, Andromeda, Angel, Charmed, Enterprise, Mutant X, Smallville, and Starhunter have all undergone dramatic
developments, from major cast changes to exploring a new direction for the series. It's good to see established shows taking chances; however, some of these changes may end up weakening good series. In the end, the shows with a sure hand behind them will no doubt do well by their changes, and time will tell with the others.
What we will see more of this year is stand-alone episodes. Unfortunately, shows with arcs (Buffy, Farscape) have been labeled as "bad" by networks for logical financial reasons. It's tougher to build an audience with a series that takes some effort to get in to, especially when you're trying to pull non-genre viewers into the mix. The mantra of producers these days is to make a series so that viewers can "get" by watching one episode. Bigger audience, more money, renewal. Smaller audience, less money, cancellation. Producers who want to keep working in television are listening.
Even Angel co-executive producer Jeffrey Bell promises fewer arcs and more stand-alone episodes this year. The only holdouts are Alias and Carnivàle. Alias has superstar Jennifer Garner, who runs a lot and wears skimpy outfits often enough to make the non-genre audience forget that there are arcs all over the place. Creator J.J. Abrams said he's "tricked" ABC into not realizing the show is sci-fi, but Abrams is also a terrific writer and the episodes are so fast-paced and exciting the arcs matter only to those who care about them. And because Carnivàle is on HBO, the producers don't care. They don't need a network-sized audience to succeed.
While scripted genre shows seem endangered these days, there's no shortage of big event miniseries (SCI FI's Battlestar Galactica, ABC's Dreamkeeper, ABC's Stephen King's Kingdom Hospital) headed our way. Traditionally, these have done very, very well. But as last year's Dinotopia proved, pulling off a successful miniseries and pulling off a successful series are two very different things. Still, look for ABC to continue to offering minis and anything with Stephen King in the title in the future. If it's a mini with Stephen King in the title, even better.
SCI FI has become a major producer of new television projects, and not just of genre projects. The cable network has a frightening number of movies, miniseries and series in development, some which embrace classic SF (Ursula Le Guin's Earthsea, The Forever War) and some that seem questionable at best (Mad Mad World). As for SCI FI series, Stargate SG-1 has been renewed and another season for Scare Tactics looks likely, while Tremors has been canceled. So, come March, most likely a new series will be pegged to fill the missing slot. SCI FI's first animated series, Tripping the Rift, will be premiering either in January or March next year, but the show is only a half-hour, so we'll have to see how the puzzle ends up fitting together.
SCI FI's big events (Taken, Dune) have helped the network become the fastest-growing cable network on television. Look for more of these miniseries events, a lot more Saturday-night original movies, and more reality shows.
As for the non-SCI FI universe, let's hope one of the new shows is a huge hit, so big that it inspires the networks, cable stations and syndicated outlets to open up their hearts to speculative fiction television once again.
In what has to be the best cliffhanger not only from last year, but for
quite a long, long time, superspy Sydney Bristow shot Francie's evil twin,
getting injured in the battle; Will looked to be DOA; and mom vanished
almost before her eyes. Who wouldn't pass out after all that? But when she
wakes up, Sydney finds herself on the streets of Hong Kong and two years have
passed. A lot of stuff has happened to the Alias gang as they've gone
on with their lives, fearing she was dead. True love Vaughn's gotten married
to somebody else, Marshall the gadget guy has a romantic life, and Sloane is
now a double agent working for them. Don't look for Alias to
slow down a single step. A new evil group called The Covenant will emerge as
the Big Bad, there's lots more Rambaldi stuff, and Vaughn's wife Lauren
(played by Melissa George) will be around full-time as a regular, no doubt to
cause Sydney's heart to ache all the more.
The Outlook: Last year it seemed iffy as to whether or not
Alias would even get a third season. Then ABC decided to air it in the
all-important after-the-Superbowl position. Having emerging superstar Jennifer
Garner model lingerie in the first few seconds of the show before football
fans had a chance to turn the dial was a stroke of genius, and that spurred
interest in the series that has been kept up due to strong storytelling on the
part of the writers. While it's not the breakout hit ABC wants, creator/executive
producer J.J. Abrams and his writing team have produced episode after episode
of unrelenting action and driving storylines that have taken this series into
surprising directions.
A lesser show would have had Sydney be a double agent
working for SD-6 for the entire run. To break that somewhat comfy story apart
and let Sydney have her moment with Vaughn in the middle of the season seemed
an odd direction to go in. Yet it worked, turning the tables on all the
characters involved. As season three begins the action is being driven by
another big twist as Sydney returns from the "dead" after being missing for
two years. It looks to be another big exciting year for Alias that
probably won't get quite the numbers ABC wants, but should do well enough to
hang in there. With two Emmy nominations under her belt for the role of
Sydney, Garner did re-up, agreeing to stay with the series through the 2007-08
season for a big pay raise. Abrams and team are fearless storytellers, and as
long as they keep that up and Garner wants to do the show, Alias should
have a home.
Andromeda
Syndicated Premieres the week of Sept. 29
Keith Hamilton Cobb left the series last year as his character, Tyr, went
off to lead the Nietzscheans, and the Commonwealth suffered a major attack. As
season four begins, Dylan will be consumed with an effort to save the
devastated Commonwealth, Beka will return to her more pirate self, Rommie will
explore sentience, major secrets will be revealed about Trance, and Harper will
get some new toys to play with for the Andromeda. But the big news is that
Steve Bacic, who played Gaheris Rhade, Dylan's traitorous best friend in the
pilot, will become a regular, portraying Telemachus Rhade. And to stir the pot,
Tyr will return, guesting on a few episodes this season.
The Outlook:Andromeda has always done pretty well in the
ratings, consistently ranking as the top syndicated show for adult men. Still,
it's good to see the writers shaking things up a bit. Cobb will be missed,
but they couldn't have picked a better actor than Bacic to replace him. He
makes a good Nietzschean, is someone Dylan will have issues about and is
another appealing action guy. Even though Andromeda has yet to find a
truly consistent tone, the series has managed to turn out fun and
interesting action stories. And things are always more lively when the
universe is in chaos, especially if there is a Nietzschean in the mix. Look
for another season of Andromeda to hold steady.
Angel
The WB Premieres Oct. 1
There've been big, big changes on Angel as the gang has thrown
their hand in with evil law firm Wolfram & Hart. Last season, Angel accepted a
deal to take over the firm in exchange for a new life for his son. While
unconscious Cordelia went MIA and son Conner went on to happier pastures, the
rest of the gang seemed cautiously excited about the possibilities of running
the show at Wolfram & Hart. Of course, we all know there's a catch, and it
should be quite a ride discovering what it is this season. Angel will find
some challenges dealing with modern technology and paperwork, Fred will run
the science division, Wesley is the "James Bond" of Mystical Research, and then
there's Gunn. He'll get a chance to explore an entirely new side of his
personality. And now that Sunnydale's been wiped off the face of the Earth,
look for a couple of Buffy alums to stop by for a regular stint.
Spike,
who sacrificed himself to save Buffy and the Scoobies and the world, somehow
is brought back to life, or at least undeath, allowing James Marsters to join
the cast of Angel. And Mercedes McNab will have a recurring role as
Spike's ex Harmony when she takes a job at Wolfram & Hart. In addition, a new
recurring character named Eve, played by Sarah Thompson, will act as a liaison
between Wolfram & Hart and the unseen senior partners. Co-creator and
executive producer Joss Whedon has written and directed the season premiere.
The Outlook: In the most precarious position of all the network
shows, Angel has squeaked by to get renewed every year, suffering
through its constantly shifting schedule. It finally seems to have a home on
Wednesdays. However, with Smallville as its lead-in, the news could be
very good or very bad. Should Angel be able to hold onto some of the
lead-in audience, it will bode well for the series. However, if the ratings
drop in any kind of dramatic way, the best Angel can hope for is a
shift to yet another timeslot. Smallville and Angel are very
different kinds of shows, and the crossover audience may not be what The WB is
hoping for. Still, the producers have decided that there will be fewer arcs
with more stand-alone episodes, no doubt hoping to make the series more
accessible to the non-faithful. The other unknown element is the new kid on
the block, Jake 2.0, which has been picked by many reviewers as one of
the better new shows. The competition could end up being a big problem for
both shows, as they go after a similar audience. This year could see the end
of The WB road for Angel, which may not mean the complete end of the
road. There are still possibilities that it might make a network move, a la
Buffy.
Charmed
The WB Premieres Sunday, Sept. 28
Opening its sixth season with a two-hour premiere, Charmed will
resolve some of the issues from last season's cliffhanger, while still leaving
plenty of threads to weave this season together with. Leo, who ends up in a
difficult situation in the premiere, will come back with a bit of an attitude.
Because he's an Elder now, Leo and Piper have split, leaving Piper to explore
life as a single mom this season. Baby Wyatt will give the adults some
challenges when he brings a PBS dragon to life and later when he objects to his mom
dating. Phoebe gains a new power, and Paige explores the job market as a temp.
The new mysterious Whitelighter Chris will continue his mission, which may end
up on the side of good or on the side of evil. Look for actor Drew Fuller, who
plays Chris, to guest-star in most of the first 13 episodes, with the Brian Krause
(Leo) and Dorian Gregory (Lt. Darryl Morris) characters recurring.
The Outlook: Having finally found its home on Sunday nights,
Charmed did well last season, with the exception that The WB couldn't
find a show to pair it with. Often, they'd just put another episode of
Charmed in the 9 p.m. slot to keep the audience intact. That problem
looks to be taken care of with the addition of Tarzan (formerly
Tarzan and Jane), which may be a good match. With episodes that
explore the creativity of the universe without leaving behind the emotions of
the characters, Charmed has remained consistent throughout. While there
might be some concern about the addition of Baby Wyatt into the fold, so far
it hasn't changed the tone of the series. A magical baby seems to have only
added another fun, new element for this magical series to play off of. Look
for Charmed to be entering season seven this time next year.
Crossing Over with John Edward
Syndicated and SCI FI Premieres the week of Sept. 15
Who would have thought SCI FI's little talk show with the dead would take
daytime television by storm? Now Crossing Over with John Edward is
headed into its third year, with new co-executive producer Elise Silvestri
joining the production team. This year the series will bring viewers a warmer,
more story-driven format. Edward will venture outside the studio often, giving
viewers a firsthand glimpse at the effect he's had on gallery members. Look
for celebrities to make guest appearances.
The Outlook: No show except Oprah Winfrey draws more of the
coveted female 24-54 audience. Beyond that, Crossing Over airs on an
astounding 98 percent of stations covering the United States, as well as late nights on the
SCI FI Channel. Imitator Beyond with James Van Praagh quickly tanked
last year, proving that Crossing Over is a truly unique success and John
Edward is a star. Undoubtedly his early, more awkward days are long behind him,
and he's grown as a performer, getting more comfortable on stage and in dealing
with people. John Edward has touched on an emotion that all the reality TV
shows and trash talk shows never will—the desire to communicate with those
who have died. He brings with him a respect for those who've been lost and his
sense of humor, and he makes you want to believe. Crossing Over has a
long life ahead of it.
Dead Like Me
Showtime Presently running
With only a couple more episodes to go, Dead Like Me has taught
George all sorts of lessons about being a Reaper. Still to come: Rube decides
the Reapers are due for a day off, and George heads back to Happy Time to see
if she can get her job back.
The Outlook:Update 9/17/03 Showtime just renewed Dead Like
Me for a second season. With a 15-episode order, the series improved
ratings in the Friday timeslot to date by 60 percent and regularly does 45 percent better
than Showtime's primetime average. The series had some early trouble, losing
creator Bryan Fuller to the Fox midseason replacement Wonderfalls,
while actress Rebecca Gayheart moved on to other things and Jasmine Guy ended
up missing several episodes. Laura Harris joined the cast as Daisy Adair. All
that jostling hurt the launch a bit, but things have steadied out nicely. It
is quirky, and there's nothing else on the air quite like it. And it has Mandy
Patinkin.
The Dead Zone
USA Premieres Sunday, June 20, 2004
Johnny Smith has gotten more than a slight glimpse into the coming
apocalypse he's seen in his visions. Since the new season was just announced,
there's no word on what direction the show may take next year. However,
undoubtedly Johnny will continue to dog Greg Stillson, pine for Sarah and
explore the depths of his gift. Karl Schaefer joins the production
as an executive producer.
The Outlook:The Dead Zone has already been picked up for a
new season. Considering the strange clumping of episodes this series has had,
it's tough to know exactly what season we're talking about. However, USA
considers it a third season and has put in an order for 13 new episodes.
Enterprise
UPN Premiered Wednesday, Sept. 10
Enterprise sails into its third season promising a "startling new
direction" for the series. And certainly some things have changed. The
Enterprise has an actual mission to embrace, and T'Pol's had a makeover. Also,
a commando team has joined the crew and is ready to take on those evil Xindi
bad guys who attacked Earth in the second-season finale. And as for the Xindi,
we got to meet them in the season premiere, and they are by far the most
interesting aliens the Enterprise has run into on its journey. The Xindi are
five intelligent species, all of whom claim to be the dominant species. While they
seem to argue a lot, the one thing they don't argue about is finishing a
second, more powerful weapon that will destroy Earth. Their reason: They
believe that in the future the humans will destroy them. So they are bad guys, but
bad guys with a really good reason for doing what they are doing. As the
season pushes on, look for an anomaly or two to pop up in the Bermuda
Triangle-like Delphic Expanse, lots more action-packed scenes and T'Pol exploring her new look (and occasionally taking off her clothes for one really important reason or another).
The Outlook: Even with the drop in ratings last year,
Enterprise was still UPN's top drama. The nosedive (and it was a big
one, with over 2 million fewer people for the season average} led to the
inevitable question of whether it's time to retire Star Trek
altogether. While there's no doubt Enterprise has been inconsistent in
its characters and its storytelling, every modern Star Trek series has
taken two years to come together. And maybe Enterprise never will
"gel." So do we give up on the Star Trek universe and call it quits
after nearly 40 years? I'm not quite ready to do that, even though I can't say
the latest incarnation has given me any compelling reason to watch. Trying to
force sexual chemistry between T'Pol and Archer or T'Pol and Trip is often
just painful to watch, as if they were trying to force sexual chemistry
between Spock and McCoy. Star Trek was never about sex, not even when
Seven of Nine revitalized Voyager. As a busy friend whose only
television viewing is whatever Star Trek series is airing said, "Why do
they keep smearing stuff all over each other?"
My vote is for the writers to go back and watch the original Star Trek episodes and infuse some of
that humor and cowboy mentality into Enterprise. Then the new direction
of the series, with us against the Xindi, should work just fine. As to whether
the show will make it past season three, it is in trouble, but it's not
dead yet. But it also has something it hasn't had before—competition.
Realizing that Enterprise is vulnerable this year, The WB is pulling
out its big guns and putting Smallville opposite it. I don't see both
shows surviving up against each other; however, I don't see either network
canceling its entry without moving it first. So look for one or the other to move
to a different timeslot. And if Enterprise is the loser in that battle,
as it most likely it will be, you may be watching the end of an era.
Jeremiah
Showtime Premieres Oct. 10
As season two begins, Jeremiah and Kurdy are separated after the struggle
with forces from Valhalla Sector. Jeremiah will be reunited with his
mysterious father, who he believed was dead. And many questions will be
answered regarding the secrets of Jeremiah's world. Sean Astin joins the cast
as a colorful character named Mr. Smith.
The Outlook: Very, very dim. Showtime kept Jeremiah on ice
for nearly six months after it had completed filming the entire second
season. Creator J. Michael Straczynski has stated that he's leaving the series
and won't be involved in a third season. Of course, truly excellent ratings
could change everything, but that doesn't seem very likely. Season Two will
most likely be the end for Jeremiah.
Mutant X
Syndicated Premieres the week of Sept. 29
Mutant X is yet another series with big changes going on this year.
When last we left the team, they were literally hanging by their fingertips
after Shalimar's dad blew up his lab. Not everyone will be back, as the series
takes a major shift in the storyline. Lauren Lee Smith, who played Emma, will
not return to the series, and John Shea, as Adam Kane, will change status from
regular to special recurring guest star. In the season premiere, Karen Cliche
will join the cast as Lexa Pierce, a woman with a shadowy past, who has the
power to manipulate light in amazing ways. The remaining members of Mutant X,
Shalimar (Victoria Pratt), Brennan (Victor Webster) and Jesse (Forbes March),
will discover that everything they thought they knew about their world "no
longer applies" and that they are part of a much bigger experiment than Adam
led them to believe. The shift in direction will also be apparent in the look
and feel of the show as it changes to "a darker, grittier, edgier place."
The Outlook: It's difficult to say how this series will do with
such profound changes in place. As the Mutant X team discover that everything
they knew about the world no longer applies, so do we. If we suddenly discover
that Adam is a bad guy, that may be a big problem for the series. If we learn
that Adam is the new Big Bad and everything he told us was a lie, then we've
lost a hero, and not every viewer will want to go there. Most likely the
writers will do a good enough job with the new scenario to keep fans intact.
However, a wrong move at the start of the season may be difficult to recover
from. New regular Karen Cliche is an appealing actress who joined the cast
after the cancellation of Adventure Inc. Let's just hope the writers do
more with this big change than they did with the much-hyped Gabriel Ashlocke
(Michael Eastman) storyline.
Scare Tactics
SCI FI To be determined
With a couple of regular episodes yet to go for the season, Scare
Tactics will also offer a special full-hour Halloween episode to air on
Friday, Oct. 31. This episode promises to "serve up the scariest of the
scary," as host Shannen Doherty takes her friends along for a Scare
Tactics ride. Besides the regular practical jokes, the special will
include some pranks that never made it on the air because the joke went wrong
or the "marks" didn't buy the setup in the first place. So far, producers
have received more than 10,000 requests to set up practical jokes targeting a
friend or loved one.
The Outlook: This reality series has done well on SCI FI, and after
the initial order for episodes the channel ordered more. While it has not
officially been renewed for another season, it's likely the series will be
back next spring or summer.
Smallville
The WB Premieres Oct. 1
Last season's cliffhanger left every relationship in tatters. As season
three begins, three months have passed, and Clark's being a bad boy in
Metropolis on red kryptonite. There's plenty of guilt, regrets and
relationship rebuilding that will have to pass for the characters to go on.
Themes this year will include Chloe's deal with the devil (Lionel), finding
out what the heck happened to Lex, and Clark making a decision regarding his
relationship with Lana. More high-profile guest stars have been signed for
this season, including Rutger Hauer, who will play an underworld kingpin. Also,
it's very likely Terence Stamp will return as the voice of Jor-El.
The Outlook: Smallville tied with 7th Heaven as The WB's most-watched
show last year, and the network felt the series was strong enough to anchor
Wednesday nights. It's a big move for the series, which has done well despite
big competition in the past. However, any move is risky, and this one puts it
up against UPN's Enterprise. The WB is also hoping, no doubt, that
Smallville will help the ratings-challenged Angel. They are very
different shows, so we'll have to see if there's any residual effect from the
lead-in. It seems unlikely that Enterprise and Smallville can
survive in the same timeslot, and I believe one of them will be moved. Both
series are too important to their respective networks to be canceled
outright. This is a strong series creatively and ratings-wise, and
Smallville should see another season.
Stargate SG-1
SCI FI Season continues January 2004
The second half of the seventh season will kick off with the resolution to
"Evolution, Part 1." In part two, the first of eight all-new episodes, Jack goes
off to rescue Daniel, who has been taken hostage while looking for an alien
device in South America. And Carter and Teal'c investigate the origin of the
Supersoldiers. Upcoming episodes will feature the Prometheus, the exposure of
the Alpha site and a film crew seeing a little more than they are supposed to
at SGC.
The Outlook:Stargate SG-1 has already been picked up for an
eighth season, which will premiere in June 2004. It is by far the longest-running sci-fi series on the air, and comes in only second to The
X-Files as all-time longest-running series. At the end of season six,
everyone involved in the series seemed tired and ready to call it quits. But
after getting great ratings with its move to the SCI FI Channel, Stargate
SG-1 seemed revitalized. It's too early to guess whether there will
be a ninth season. However, as long as the ratings stay strong and the fans
stay enthusiastic, it certainly is a possibility. One other note: Stargate:
Atlantis is being developed taking place in the same universe, but with an
entirely new cast. It's uncertain when the new series will come about, but
considering the ratings the original is getting, I wouldn't be surprised to
see this one come about in the next year or so.
Starhunter
Syndicated Premiered the week of Sept. 9
It's a whole new series, with a mostly new cast and a new driving theme.
The original low-low budget season one of Starhunter featured Michael
Paré as a bounty hunter looking for his kidnapped son. Years later, the son,
all-grown-up Clive Robertson playing Travis Montana, is a man trying to find
his father. Along for the ride is the only original cast member, Travis'
cousin Percy (played by Tanya Allen), and a new bunch of motley crew members.
While hunting for his father, Travis has turned to bounty hunting like his
father before him. With producers promising all-new production values, special
effects and a theme song by Peter Gabriel, it looks to be "a major overhaul."
The Outlook: Two years of Starhunter have been ordered, so
the series may be around for a while. However, fans won't find it on
at a reasonable hour next to Andromeda. It generally will air in the
wee hours of the morning. While it's uncertain how "major" the overhaul
actually is for this sci-fi western, it will have a long way to go to match
Firefly in quality. That may not be a fair comparison for a series that
started out with Dr. Who production values, but syndication is
in drastic need of an infusion of strong ratings. If Starhunter can
garner high enough ratings, it certainly won't hurt the syndication market.
And if the overhaul is all that's promised, it might just be a new sci-fi
universe fans can get caught up in.
A man discovers a briefcase with contents that predict his own terrible
murder. Now he has only days to change the course of the future. This six-hour
miniseries will air over six consecutive nights.
10.5NBC, 2004
Beau Bridges and Kim Delaney star in this four-hour miniseries about a
seismologist trying to stop increasingly powerful earthquakes that are hitting
the northwestern coast. When the president orders extreme measures, a small
group of volunteers leap into action, risking everything to stop the
earthquakes. Also starring David Cubitt and Kaley Cuoco.
1,000 DaysSCI FI, 2003
Based on Marvel's Strikeforce: Morituri comic series from the
mid-1980s, this four-hour miniseries tells the tale of a group of supersoldiers who have been engineered to fight evil. The catch is that after 1,000 days
they will die. Matt Holloway and Art Marcum will write the mini.
A&E's Ghost TalesA&E, 2005
In A&E's first venture into the supernatural, they are planning several
original horror movies based on classic literature. Robyn Rosenfeld of Three
Muse Productions is developing the project fresh from a stint executive-producing
Creature Features on HBO. The modestly budgeted movies will be
filmed back to back. Even though the films will be based on classic literature,
some of the movies will be set in today's world.
Anonymous RexSCI FI, to be determined
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.
Brother VoodooSCI FI, to be determined
Yet another project based on a Marvel property (1,000 Days),
Brother Voodoo explores the journey of a psychologist who, after his
brother's death, learns he's destined to become a voodoo priest.
Century CityCBS, to be determined
It's been nearly 20 years since L.A. Law premiered, but rather than
create yet another Law and Order show, CBS takes the legal battles into
the future. Hector Elizondo leads this legal drama, which centers around six
lawyers in 2053 Los Angeles. Also starring Nestor Carbonell, Eric Schaeffer,
Kristin Lehman, Viola Davis and Ioan Gruffudd.
Clive Barker's The Evil OneSCI FI, to be determined
From the twisted mind of Clive Barker, this weekly series about the forces
of good and the forces of evil doing battle often sees the antihero win. Told
through the eyes of an evil demon, who has his challenges getting good help,
the series will explore the idea that it's not easy being the bad guy.
Dead LawyersSci FI, to be determined
When unscrupulous defense attorney Jimmy Quinn
is hit by a bus, he finds himself working at a law firm of other dead lawyers.
Their mission is to redeem themselves by defending all the people they hurt by
their shoddy tactics in the past, righting wrongs and correcting miscarriages
of justice. This one-hour series is based on a story by Christopher Murphy
and Andy Lieberman. From DreamWorks Television.
The DivideSCI FI, to be determined
When a phony radio psychic discovers he really does have psychic abilities,
he finds himself fighting crime with his dead twin sister's ghost and the
local female coroner. This weekly series from Lion's Gate mixes the
supernatural with forensic science. Written by Frank Military and Dean White
and executive produced by Stan Brooks.
Dragon StormSCI FI, to be determined
When alien dragons travel to Earth inside a meteor, two enemy kingdoms
must join forces to defeat the alien dragons before they destroy the earth.
Starring Maxwell Caulfield, John Rhys-Davies and Angel Borris. From UFO Films.
FrankensteinNetwork and premiere date to be determined
Hallmark Entertainment is producing this four-hour miniseries, based on
the Mary Shelley classic. Alec Newman stars as Victor Frankenstein, Luke Goss
plays the Creature, and Julie Delpy takes on the role of Caroline.
Father of the PrideNBC, Fall 2004
There must be something about animated lions this year. A&E is developing
The Pride, and now NBC is planning Father of the Pride, about a
family of Las Vegas performing lions that experience showbiz at the Mirage
Hotel. DreamWorks' Jeffrey Katzenberg got his inspiration for this
computer-animated prime-time series by watching the Siegfried and Roy show.
The lion family work for "wacky boss characters" Siegfried and Roy, who will
be voiced by voice actors. John Goodman leads the voice cast as the father,
while Cheryl Hines stars as the mom lion and Carl Reiner star as the grandfather
lion. No word yet on who will voice the two kid lions, but Orlando Jones will
also voice a character.
FearlessThe WB, Midseason
In this weekly series, a young FBI agent (Rachael Leigh Cook) was born
without the gene for fear. From Jerry Bruckheimer Productions, Fearless
was pulled by the production company after being put on the fall schedule. The
WB agreed and the series was put on hold until they could rework it. Judging from the pilot, Fearless was a cancellation waiting to
happen. The kinks may yet be worked out, so the series is still on the books as a
midseason replacement.
The Forever WarSCI FI, to be determined
It's been a long time coming for this Hugo and Nebula award-winning
classic tale by Joe Haldeman. The Forever War is being developed as a
four-hour miniseries and will follow the story of a young man who enlists to
defend Earth against an alien threat only to find himself falling in love and
trapped in a seemingly endless journey through space and time. Executive-produced by Richard Edlund, a seven-time Oscar winner for special effects.
Game OverUPN, midseason
The Smashenburns are just a normal suburban family who happen to live in
an alternate video-game universe. The computer-animated comedy stars Lucy Liu
as the voice of Raquel, the secret-agent wife and mother, and Patrick
Warburton as Rip, the head of the family, who also happens to be a hotshot
Grand Prix racecar driver. Other voice stars include E.G. Daily as 13-year-old
Billy, Rachel Dratch as sister Alice and Artie Lange as Turbo, the 300-pound
talking creature who is also the family pet.
GargoylesSCI FI, to be determined
No word whether this is a movie or series, but most likely it's another
Saturday-night movie about an evil wizard named Calabos who plans
on taking over the world with an army of nasty gargoyles. Our hero is Marcus,
a magician who possesses a magic ring. But can he stop Calabos and his vicious
gargoyles in time? From producer Chesler Perlmutter.
Ghost MonkeySCI FI, to be determined
When a monkeylike creature goes on a killing rampage on the streets of
India, it's up to a freelance photographer and an American investigator to stop
it. From Promark Entertainment.
GravelandSCI FI, to be determined
In the near future, when the first manned mission to Mars crashes, the
crew find themselves fighting against hostile Martians and rugged terrain to
survive. As they race against time to repair their space shuttle, they
discover the ancient civilization of Martians may just hold the secrets to the
origins of man.
Hef's SuperbunniesNetwork to be determined
This one doesn't even have a network yet, but you've got to love the
Stripperella territory Stan Lee is exploring. The comic-book guru is
working with Playboy to develop an animated series starring Hugh Hefner
as he leads an elite crime-fighting unit featuring Playmates of the Month.
Idaho Creature IncidentSCI FI, to be determined
John Savage and Michelle Goh star in this story of a government experiment gone awry. When an alien creature fails to work out as a weapon, the creature
becomes trapped in a government facility, and it's up to those in the facility
to stop it before it can escape.
Interceptor Force IIISCI FI, to be determined
Third in the Interceptor Force series. In the not-too-distant
future, specially trained government soldiers must protect the Earth from
hostile aliens in their greatest challenge yet.
Kim Stanley Robinson's Red MarsSCI FI, to be determined
Miniseries based on Kim Stanley Robinson's Mars trilogy.
Kingdom HospitalABC, Feb. 5, 2004
Stephen King insisted on writing all 15 hours of this miniseries, which
isn't so mini, before continuing with the project. Based on the Danish
miniseries Riget (The Kingdom), from Lars Von Trier, the story is about a hospital
that was built on ancient burial grounds. Exploring territory that crosses ER with The Shining, the staff and patients try to ignore the strange goings-on. Andrew
McCarthy, Diane Ladd and Bruce Davison star in the series, which begins
with a two-hour premiere, followed by 13 one-hour episodes.
King Solomon's MinesNetwork to be determined
Hallmark Entertainment is presently shooting this four-hour miniseries in
South Africa. Patrick Swayze stars as safari hunter Allan Quatermain. He's
been lured back to the African jungles to find a man who disappeared while
looking for King Solomon's mines.
Lab RatsSCI FI, to be determined
A new reality series does investigations into claims by futuristic
products using its own "lab rats" to see if the products pay off or not.
Looking to separate the scams from the secrets, the series will explore
subjects such as whether you can sleep fat away, regrow hair or make
someone fall in love with you. Produced by Hallock & Healey Entertainment.
LegionSCI FI, to be determined
When a man sells his soul to the devil to save his daughter's life, he
quickly learns that the price he must pay is higher than he ever could have
imagined. Forced to leave his family, he has the power to recognize other
possessed souls. Written by Tony Jordon and executive-produced by Whoopi
Goldberg, Stephen Garrett and Jane Featherstone.
Life on MarsSCI FI, to be determined
Forget Survivor! This reality series takes 12 people and lets them
try to survive in a simulated Mars base. Two teams must deal with physical and
psychological challenges while living in a realistic Mars environment.
Produced by Wall to Wall.
Mad Mad HouseSCI FI, to be determined
What happens when a witch, a yoga master, a vampire, a psychic and a
voodoo priest move in together? As the reality series explores alternative
lifestyles, contestants must compete in challenges to take the grand prize.
Produced by Arthur Smith and Kent Weed from A. Smith & Company.
Painkiller JaneSCI FI, to be determined
This two-hour movie and backdoor pilot is based on the Event Comics
series. When a young marine officer, Jane Browning, is exposed to a
biochemical weapon, it changes her genetically, giving her amazing self-healing
powers. Eventually she becomes an "ultra-covert" special crime-fighting agent,
taking on the bad guys and fighting against those who would attempt to use her
power for evil. Written and directed by John Harrison.
Phantom ForceSCI FI, to be determined
Spinoff from the Interceptor Force movies. This elite military team must
protect the human race from the supernatural.
The PrideA&E, 2004
In a strange coincidence, The Pride offers another animated look at
lions (NBC's Father of the Pride) "who live in human-type
setups." Starring Kate Winslet, Robbie Williams, Helen Mirren and Sean Bean.
Psychic InvestigatorsSCI FI, to be determined
When the police are out of other options to solve a crime, they turn to a
psychic. This investigative series follows real-life criminal cases as a
skilled psychic helps solve the crime. From the producers of The FBI
Files and The New Detectives.
Quantum LeapSCI FI, to be determined
A new two-hour film from series creator Don P. Bellisario is based on the
1989 series starring Scott Bakula and Dean Stockwell that ran for five seasons
on NBC. In the series, time-traveling scientist Dr. Sam Beckett's mind and
mirror image leap from one person to another, "striving to put right what once
went wrong." The reincarnated Quantum Leap will also act as a back-door
pilot for a possible series.
The RipplesNBC, to be determined
NBC Studios and DreamWorks TV have joined together to create a new comedy
starring Adam Arkin and Diane Farr as a couple who have been married for
4,000 years. No doubt the couple have an issue or two to work out.
Stargate: AtlantisSCI FI, to be determined
This spinoff series is based in the Stargate universe and has an all-new
cast. On Earth, buried in the ruins of the lost city of Atlantis, a new
Stargate is uncovered. The discovery leads the team to a distant universe,
where they discover a primitive civilization that is being threatened by brand-new evil bad guys.
Salem's LotTNT, to be determined
Rob Lowe and Rutger Hauer star in the four-hour miniseries from TNT. Lowe
plays journalist Benjamin Mears, who returns to his hometown of Jerusalem's
Lot only to discover nasty head vampire Kurt Barlow (played by Hauer), wants to
make it his home too. Based on the Stephen King novel.
Snakehead TerrorSCI FI, to be determined
A school of large snakehead fish overrun a lake and the land of a small
town in Maryland. The nasty mutants can live out of water, and their new
favorite food is people. When the snakeheads get out of hand, it's up to the
local sheriff to stop them before it's too late.
Still LifeFox, midseason
Here's a drama with a twist. Young Jake Morgan follows in his father's
footsteps to become a cop, and on his first day on the job he is killed. A year
later, Jake watches his family from beyond, narrating his feelings about what's
going on in their lives. Starring David Keith, Susanna Thompson and Morena
Baccarin. Marti Noxon (Buffy) is one of the show's executive producers.
Suture GirlSCI FI, to be determined
This film and back-door pilot is based on the character Gretchen Culver
from the Spawn comic book series. After a beautiful woman is murdered
by a serial killer, she is stitched back to life and given special powers by a
gypsy woman. Becoming the champion for those who cannot help themselves, she
battles evil. Written by Alan McElroy.
A Tale of Two CitiesSCI FI, to be determined
Miniseries adding a sci-fi spin on the Charles Dickens classic.
TaranusABC, midseason
Here's something we haven't seen as a television series. Craig Zadan and
Neil Meron tell the Gladiator treatment to the story of the power struggle surrounding Julius Caesar's death.
The ThingSCI FI, to be determined
In this four-hour miniseries, SCI FI re-envisions the classic. A team of
American scientists become trapped in Antarctica with a creature that can take
any form. Written by Gary L. Goldman.
Thought CrimesUSA, to be determined
One of the most powerful telepaths in the world uses her powers to stop
crimes before they happen. Starring Peter Horton and Navi Rawat.
The TriangleSCI FI, early 2005
Stargate's Dean Devlin and X-Men's Bryan Singer are
developing an eight-hour miniseries that explores the mysteries of the Bermuda
Triangle. The mini will air in four two-hour episodes. Singer and Devlin will
executive produce and develop scripts, and may direct.
The TwelveSCI FI, 2005
Acclaimed filmmaker Martin Scorsese takes on Armageddon in the upcoming
SCI FI miniseries The Twelve. When a rash of strange events are
reported around the world, FBI Agent John Ferguson begins to see a biblical
connection. Ferguson comes to believe that if the biblical prophecies are
true, Armageddon will come on the twelfth day of Christmas.
Tripping the RiftSCI FI, January or March 2004
This half-hour animated series is based on the award-winning short film.
Tripping follows the adventures of a stumpy purple alien named Chode
and his lively crew of misfits aboard a smuggling spaceship called The Free
Enterprise. According to SCI FI, Tripping is an edgy CGI series with
"raucous humor" and "comic sendups." Voice stars include Gina Gershon, Stephen
Root and "Stuttering" John Melendez. From creators Chuck Austen and Chris
Moeller.
Total EclipseSCI FI, to be determined
Greylock is a prestigious college where strange things are happening. New
professor Jeremy Cross arrives to discover the college is a "nexus of the
otherworldly, arcane and supernatural." With faculty IQs rising yearly,
intelligent wolves running through the forest and research that focuses on
everything from time travel to extrasensory perception, Cross is going to
learn a few lessons of his own. Executive produced and written by Steve Aspis.
Ursula Le Guin's EarthseaSCI FI, to be determined
Ursula K. Le Guin's Earthsea trilogy is being adapted into a
four-hour miniseries that will be executive-produced by Kevin Brown and
Lawrence Bender. 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. While this mini is still going forward, the previously announced
Left Hand of Darkness is no longer being developed.
V: The Second GenerationNBC, February 2004
Those rodent-eating reptiles are back. Based on the 1980 television
series, V, this three-hour movie from writer/producer Kenneth Johnson goes 20 years into the future. Humanity is enslaved, and the
Resistance is losing the war. But suddenly a new powerful and mysterious ally
joins their cause. I've also seen this listed as V: Next Generation.
WonderfallsFox, midseason
After a Niagara Falls souvenir shop salesgirl has a psychiatric
breakdown, the trinkets she sells begin to talk to her, guiding her to help
those around her. This "dramedy" stars Caroline Dhavernas, William Sadler and
Katie Finneran. From Dead Like Me creator Bryan Fuller and Todd
Holland.
A Wrinkle In TimeABC, late in 2004
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 miniseries was directed by John Harrison from a screenplay and was
written by Susan Shilliday. Due to reshooting of some the special effects,
there's been a delay in airing of this mini.
Mixing combinations of fantasy, history, pop culture, AIDS and politics,
this six-hour miniseries is based on the Broadway play about two couples
"trapped in premillennial turmoil." Tony Kushner wrote the adaptation of the
Pulitzer Prize-winning play. Mike Nichols directs an all-star cast featuring
Al Pacino, Meryl Streep and Emma Thompson.
The Animated CenturyBravo, Friday, Sept. 26
Bravo takes a look at the greatest animated movies of the past century.
The two-hour special will explore the films from Steamboat Willie to
Shrek.
Battlestar GalacticaSCI FI, Dec. 7
SCI FI's re-imagining of the classic 1978 series takes the basic concept
of the ragtag-fleet-of-surviving-humans-fleeing-from-Cylon-tyranny to a whole
new level. In the four-hour miniseries the Cylons look human and Starbuck's a
girl. No doubt that's only the beginning of writer Ronald D. Moore's inventive
re-imagining of the story. Producers promise it will be edgier and racier than
the original. Starring Edward James Olmos, Mary McDonnell, Katee Sackhoff and
Jamie Bamber.
BewitchedTV Land, Friday, Sept. 19
TV Land, celebrating the Emmys, will rerun the award-winning
Bewitched episode "Sisters at Heart." The 1970 episode, which stands
as an allegory for racial tolerance, was said to be Elizabeth Montgomery's
favorite.
Beyond Re-AnimatorSCI FI, Saturday, Oct. 4
Jeffrey Combs reprises his role as the twisted Doctor Herbert West from
the original cult classic Re-Animator. After being sentenced to 14
years in prison for his experiments to reanimate life, Doctor West manages to
continue his research with a little help from an admirer. Doctor Howard helps
West create a secret research laboratory for the purpose of once again
reanimating the dead. Also stars Jason Barry and Simon Andreu.
The Bone Snatcher SCI FI, Saturday, Oct. 25
When laboratory scientist Dr. Zack Straker is forced into the field to
continue his research, he and his team make a shocking discovery in the
desert. Bodies have been stripped of their flesh, and soon the team learns the
bone snatcher has his/her/its sights set on them. Starring Scott Bairstow and
Rachel Shelley.
Criss Angel: SupernaturalSCI FI, Friday, Oct. 31
Using his special brand of theatrical magic, Magician Criss Angel performs
spectacular illusions in this one-hour Halloween special. His illusions
include "Spontaneous Combustion," "Vertical Building Walk," "Scarecrow" and
"Quarter Through the Skin."
Deadly SwarmSCI FI, Saturday, Sept. 20
Jacob Schroeder travels to the darkest depths of the Amazon rain forest
with hopes of finding a cure for his wife's illness. He believes the cure
exists in deadly wasps, and he manages to extract them from their brooding
nests. When the plane containing the wasps crashes, they escape, and it's up to
Jacob to find them before they do what comes naturally and kill. Starring
Shane Brolly and Kaarina Aufranc.
DreamkeeperABC, Sunday, Dec. 28, and Monday, Dec. 29
This four-hour miniseries about Native American storytelling from Robert
Halmi Sr. uses modern technology to bring ancient stories to life. Sixteen-year-old
Shane Chasing Horse is a troubled teen who reluctantly agrees to drive his
100-year-old grandfather, Old Pete Chasing Horse, to the All Nations
ceremony, an important powwow. During their long drive, Grandpa recounts
ancient tribal stories, and Shane listens. As each tale is told it's brought
to life with over 400 visual effects. Directed by Steve Barron from an
original screenplay by John Fusco.
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. HydeBravo, Saturday, Oct. 18
A retelling of the classic tale using today's special effects.
Epoch: EvolutionSCI FI, Saturday, Nov. 29
In this sequel to the popular SCI FI original film Epoch, Torus,
the towering "substance-structure" has returned to Earth. The entire world is
on the brink of war as Torus hovers over the ground, endangering the planet's
entire life-support system. Once again Mason Rand (David Keith) must come to
the rescue as he races against time to learn the secrets of the strange
structure. Also starring Billy Dee Williams and Angel Borris.
Fang vs. Fiction: The Real Underworld of Vampires and WerewolvesAMC, Wednesday, Sept. 17
AMC takes on the vampire and werewolf legends, using scientists to
"deconstruct" the myths. This one-hour documentary explores the lore behind
these creatures of the night, including whether they might be real. The
special features a preview of the new film Underworld, which tells a
Romeo and Juliet story using the war between vampires and werewolves as a
backdrop.
Invasion at RendleshamSCI FI, Friday, Dec. 12
Following up last year's popular Roswell special, SCI FI explores two
separate UFO incidents in different SCI FI Declassified specials this
fall. Traveling across the Atlantic, Invasion at Rendlesham takes a
look at what happened during one of the most notorious UFO incidents ever
recorded. In 1980, over three days a series of events occurred near an
American military base in Rendlesham Forest, England. Due to the event's
recent nature, many of the witnesses are still alive and have come forward.
With plans for a scientific C.S.I.-type investigation of the site, SCI FI
hopes to uncover the coverup. Hosted by Bryant Gumbel.
The Maldonado MiracleShowtime, Sunday, Oct. 12
When a statue of Jesus begins crying tears of blood miraculously, a dying
town becomes rejuvenated. Actress Salma Hayek makes her directorial debut with
this film, which stars Peter Fonda, Ruben Blades, Mare Winningham and Bill
Sage.
Man vs. MachineSCI FI, November 2003
As part of SCI FI's Declassified series, Man vs. Machine
explores our out-of-control technology. This two-hour special takes a look at
how far we've come and where we're headed in robotics, nanotechnology and
artificial intelligence. Clips from The Terminator, The Matrix
and the new Battlestar Galactica miniseries will feature Hollywood's
vision of the future.
Monster MakerHallmark, Friday, Oct. 31
Movie monsters come to life in this Halloween spoof on horror B-movies
starring Linda Blair.
The New Roswell: Kecksburg ExposedSCI FI, Friday, Oct. 17
The first of two SCI FI Declassified specials hosted by Bryant
Gumbel on UFO incidents, The New Roswell: Kecksburg Exposed
investigates the events that took place in 1965 in Kecksburg, Pa.
Witnesses saw a fireball in the sky make a controlled landing, and the
military later recovered the object. Using C.S.I.-style forensic analyses, new
witness testimony and newly uncovered government documents, Kecksburg
Exposed seeks to uncover the truth behind the 1965 mystery. The special
also includes an update on last fall's Roswell.
Phenomenon IIABC, Saturday, Nov. 1
Directed by Ken Olin with a good cast, this ABC movie ignores the fact
that John Travolta's character died at the end of the original film. In the
original film, George Malley is a regular fellow who sees a strange light in
the sky and then begins to develop strange powers. The sequel has George
(played by Christopher Shyer) moving to San Francisco to start a new life.
What he will discover is that he's not the only person to develop strange
powers after seeing a light in the sky. The film also stars Jill Clayburgh,
Terry O'Quinn and Peter Coyote.
Second ComingBBC America, Saturday, Sept. 20
In the contemporary world, when the son of God shows up he has a tough
time convincing people he is actually the Second Coming. Things really get
complicated when love makes him vulnerable to the Devil's master plan.
Starring Christopher Eccleston as the son of God.
Warrior QueenPBS, Sunday, Oct. 12
ExxonMobil Masterpiece Theatre presents Warrior Queen, the story of
Queen Boudica, Britain's first-century leader who took on the Romans. ER's
Alex Kingston stars as the fierce chariot-driving heroine in a script written
by Andrew Davies and directed by Bill Anderson.
hat a difference a couple of years make. In 
