ep, the Golden Age of series genre television is over. Sure, we'll still have the occasional special, movie or miniseries pop up, and of course we can always turn to cable for a sci-fi fix, but things have changed.
Once-healthy network shows (Smallville, Enterprise) are not healthy any longer, and only The WB's aging Charmed and ABC's Alias appear to have a future. And both of those shows have another year or two, tops, considering that the stars involved have other opportunities. As for sophomore show Tru Calling, it's been moved to midseason, and its situation is perilous.
Only Joan of Arcadia, also in its sophomore season, has a bright future. A significant new trend is bubbling up here, largely due to the success of this show. Like ABC's Lost and Jack & Bobby, Joan features marginal sci-fi or fantasy elements. I believe we'll see more of these types of shows that don't rely on special effects and aren't labeled with the sci-fi or fantasy handle.
Sci-fi and fantasy shows are expensive to make, especially when they are up against dirt-cheap reality shows and non-action drama. However, if you take a show about a girl who talks to God, and God is played by a bunch of guest stars, and there are practically no special effects, then it's possible to get around the big budget. Joan of Arcadia has masterfully used fantasy to make the show unique, while staying steeped in well-written family drama. Less is more when it comes to successful network television these days.
The exceptions for network television are the miniseries and made-for-TV movie formats, which often get the Hallmark stamp and have either (or both) Robert Halmi Sr. and Jr. involved. Be it SCI FI's Farscape, NBC's Hercules, Hallmark's Frankenstein or ABC's The Five People You Meet in Heaven, this father-and-son team have made a impact and touched nearly every significant miniseries of the past few years.
So, no, science fiction and fantasy aren't dead. Certainly in film, genre movies continue to be the top earners. That alone will drive the development of future sci-fi and fantasy television series. However, the networks are concerned about ratings, which bring in money. When CBS's Survivor and Fox's American Idol draw 20 to 30 million viewers for the hour and a genre series can manage only 3 or 4 million, why take the risk? Too often even the worst reality show can out-draw the best genre series.
Which brings us to cable. The ability to offer alternative television is one of the reasons the SCI FI Channel and USA Network have become so popular. So, yes, we've lost syndication (and Mutant X). And yes, network television is evolving into a more marginal area of the genre that the genre-phobic folks can appreciate. However, the list below of upcoming projects, movies and miniseries holds great promise.
As for USA Network, the summer run of The 4400 was a ratings success, and The Dead Zone has been renewed for another year. Other cable channels with sci-fi or fantasy interests include TNT, Lifetime, Showtime, HBO, The Cartoon Network, The Hallmark Channel, MTV, Court TV, BBC, Nickelodeon, The Disney Channel and Bravo. That's not a bad list. And these cable channels know something that the networks have just figured out: You can put on good television any time of the year and people will watch. Maybe not 20 or 30 million of them, but enough to do cable proud.
Last week's 2004 Fall SF TV Preview: Part I had the scoop on all the new shows, canceled series and kids' shows.
Season three ended with another big cliffhanger in a series that appears to have an endless repository of possibilities when it comes to torturing its characters. Lauren died (probably), and Sydney and Vaughn ended up together. Probably. Nadia and Sloane went off to find the Sphere of Life and Rambaldi's consciousness. Meanwhile, Syd went to find "the truth" in Box 1062 at the Bank of Wittenberg. But Papa Jack has been hiding something from his daughter, and their relationship will be hurt by the revelations in the two-part season-four premiere. In future episodes, Sydney and Nadia will become roommates and Syd will have to come to terms with her feelings about Sloane. Also, Sydney and Vaughn will have some challenges because "they've been through a lot and it's not going to be as easy for them as they thought," said co-executive producer Jesse Alexander. "It is essentially a new pilot. They're not going to be working in the rotunda anymore. There's going to be a big twist that happens that sets the premise of the show in a very different and unexpected direction." However, Alexander promises that "what we've done is completely in keeping with the universe."
The Outlook: It was another Emmy-nominated year for Alias and its two stars, Jennifer Garner and Victor Garber. While the ratings haven't been outstanding, several factors keep this show coming back. They include Emmy nominations and having movie star Garner in a powerful role, while creative asset J.J. Abrams comes up with outlandish and exciting stories. This season, Alias will timeslot-share with freshman series Desperate Housewives, meaning it won't premiere until January. However, once it's off and running, Alias will air its season without a rerun as it heads at a breakneck pace for what will no doubt be a pulse-pounding conclusion. That means you won't want to miss an episode. Fox's 24 is in the same situation, and both shows should be served by the new schedule, considering how much they suffer with disruptive scheduling and reruns that pad out the season. There's little doubt Alias will have a complete season, since most of the episodes will be finished or in production by the time the series airs in January. However, whether this will be Alias' last will depend on Garner and ABC.
Andromeda
SCI FI and Syndication, Friday, 7 p.m. Premieres Sept. 24
After trying to help the inhabitants of Arkology fight off a Magog Worldship, all appeared lost for the crew of the Andromeda. Trance told Dylan that the crew would never be together in the same way and that only he had a chance to escape through the Route of Ages. In the Andromeda two-part season-five premiere, Dylan finds himself in a different universe, on the planet Seefrah, completely stranded. He will eventually find the members of his crew; however, they've all been shuffled in space and time, and they will all be changed in some way. The first part of the season will focus on getting the crew and the ship back together. Early in the season Brandy Ledford (Invisible Man) will join the cast as Doyle, an android Harper has built.
The Outlook: The future looks very bright for Andromeda. SCI FI is doing nicely on its mission to acquire strong identifiable shows and mix them with new shows from familiar universes (Stargate Atlantis, Battlestar Galactica). Andromeda has already built a nice audience and topped the ratings charts as a scripted drama for syndication throughout its run. The move to SCI FI should increase the show's audience to a level that will make SCI FI very happy. Beyond that, Andromeda is pretty much starting fresh in many ways, and the two-part season premiere will allow plenty of opportunity to reintroduce these characters and this world to new viewers.
Charmed
The WB, Sunday, 9 p.m. Premiered Sept. 12
It was another big season finale for Charmed, and once again the Charmed Ones had big events to deal with. With new baby-on-board Chris, all the characters are still reeling in one way or another. Leo will continue to struggle with his moral compass and whatever appears to be haunting him. Piper will continue to try and help him. Meanwhile, Paige's mission will continue to be magic school, while Phoebe continues to have reservations about Les (Nick Lachey). In upcoming episodes, Grams will cast a wayward spell that has the sisters bickering like teenagers, and the girls will have to deal with pirates. Angel's Charisma Carpenter will guest-star, and a new recurring character, a federal agent with his own agenda, will be added.
The Outlook: Early ratings look good for Charmed, which may just have found a companion show with Jack & Bobby. That's a good thing, considering the overexposure the series faced last year with two episodes often airing back to back to keep viewers from changing the channel. Despite the fact that Charmed is in its seventh season, it hasn't developed the same chinks in the armor that other shows its age often develop. The stories are fresh, and the characters have been allowed to grow in natural ways (well, as natural as a show about witches can manage). I like Charmed's chances for an eighth season.
Carnivàle
HBO Premieres January 2005
Before the series ever aired, the producers of Carnivàle promised they wouldn't be in any hurry to tell their story, and they kept their word. This series, set in the Dust Bowl during the Depression, follows a traveling carnival and in the first season dug deep into the characters of two men with special powers, one evil and one good. By the end of season one, the two had never even met. In season two, Ben (Nick Stahl) and Brother Justin (Clancy Brown) will finally collide, with disastrous consequences.
The Outlook: The second season of this beautifully produced HBO series won't be aired until January, more than a year after the first season ended. For anyone who followed this richly crafted story, that shouldn't be a problem at all. No show on television looks like this one, and no series has a world so filled with people. This wasn't a big ratings winner for HBO, but once the show's dedicated audience settled in they were there for every episode. I don't know whether Carnivàle will have a long life, but I'll take what I can get with a second season.
Dead Like Me
Showtime, Sunday, 10 p.m. Presently running
Dead Like Me's second season has continued to explore the matters of life and death and reaping. George will reel from the failed romance of her first serious relationship, and she continues to haunt her family. Daisy finds herself attracted to a character played by Will & Grace's Erik McCormack, Mason will have a falling-out with Rube, and Roxy will continue her journey as a police officer. And singer/songwriter Gavin DeGraw will guest at the end of the season playing a street musician whose soul is reaped.
The Outlook: There's no word yet on whether Dead Like Me will be picked up for another season. In the world of premium cable, they tend to decide far in advance whether a series is an asset, so we should find out any moment about the show's fate. It's a quirky little show with some seriously good actors. I've got my fingers crossed Dead Like Me will make it, and judging by past performance, it's got a good shot.
Dead Zone
USA Network On hiatus
It was another good season for Johnny Smith as The Dead Zone finished up season three over the summer. As the season ended, Johnny's life was at risk due to the toll his psychic visions were taking on him. And he and his new love, Rebecca, were desperately trying to discover who killed her sister and whether nasty Greg Stillson was involved. Meanwhile, Reverend Purdy admitted he lied to get Johnny out of jail. The fourth season will continue the themes that have already been established as Johnny attempts to develop a deeper relationship with his son and recommits himself to stopping Armageddon.
The Outlook:The Dead Zone has just been picked up for a fourth season, with an order of 22 episodes. There are no specifics on when the new season will premiere. While USA's seasons for the show have been done in an unusual way (with odd amounts of episodes being ordered), it looks like the network is finally fully behind this series, which consistently gets good ratings. Creatively, The Dead Zone is continually pushing the characters in interesting ways. My psychic abilities tell me The Dead Zone will have a nice long future ahead.
Enterprise
UPN, Friday, 8 p.m. Premieres Oct. 8
With a big move to Friday nights, where Smallville isn't, Enterprise is headed back to basics with stand-alone episodes and shorter arcs, away from season-long arcs. Last season, with a little help from their Xindi friends, the crew of the Enterprise were able to destroy the Sphere network and the superweapon that was on its way to take out Earth. However, when they return home they find themselves on a Nazi-occupied Earth. Indeed, someone's been messing with time, and the events of World War II were altered. In the fourth-season premiere, the crew of the Enterprise must take on the one who altered Earth's past to save Earth and time itself. Early in the season there will be a visit from Brent Spiner (Star Trek: The Next Generation), who will play Dr. Arik Soong, an ancestor of the man who created Spiner's alter-ego, Data. The three-episode arc will bring a genetic superman left over from the Eugenics Wars back into action. Remember the group led by Ricardo Montalban in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan? Well, some new members of their race are making trouble again. In other episodes, T'Pol will consider marriage and the Orion race will make an appearance.
The Outlook: For the first time in more than 25 years, we're looking at the possibility of a world without a Star Trek future. In order to keep Enterprise on the air and ensure enough episodes for syndication, the licensing fee was dramatically cut. UPN agreed to keep the series on the air but shuffled it off to Fridays. That doesn't seem like much loyalty, considering that another Star Trek (Voyager) is believed to be the series that launched a network. That's right. Voyager premiered in 1995, putting brand-spanking-new network UPN on the map. But that's all history, and Enterprise took a hit last year, to some extent because of its competition with Smallville and to a bigger extent because the Star Trek franchise has finally run out of steam. The fans who fell in love with the original series, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine or the early movies have too often found themselves disappointed with Voyager, Enterprise and the recent movies. The magic has vanished, and one spatial anomaly looks like another. That's not to say that Enterprise hasn't had its moments. The producers have tried new chancy things, such as a season-long arc with the crew of the Enterprise up against overwhelming odds, and they've taken their characters to hell and back. Never before have Star Trek characters changed this much, and it's only been three years. So let's not blame Enterprise if this is truly, finally Star Trek's swan song. That's a song that's been coming for a long time.
Joan of Arcadia
CBS, Friday, 8 p.m. Premieres Sept. 24
In last season's devastating season finale, Joan came to believe her conversations with God were delusions caused by Lyme disease. As the second season opens, Joan has just returned from "crazy camp," and she's absolutely convinced she did not have any real conversations with God. Over the summer break, Adam has been working hard to pay the bills after his father's injury. He has come to believe that maybe Joan actually did talk to God, something she doesn't even want to think about. Meanwhile, Helen is considering becoming confirmed in the Catholic Church, and Luke has continued his secret relationship with Grace. However, what will bring Will and Grace to the breaking point is a lawsuit that's being brought by the family of the boy who was responsible for crippling Kevin. Guest stars this season include Six Feet Under's Sprague Grayden as a girl from Joan's crazy camp, Cloris Leachman as Helen's aunt and Annie Potts as Will's new boss.
The Outlook: The show and its young star, Amber Tamblyn, were nominated for Emmys in the first year out of the gate, along with guest star Louise Fletcher. Beyond that, the series had solid ratings and won the "death" timeslot on Friday nights. That's not bad for a show about a girl who talks to God. Without a doubt, the subject of God and faith is handled in a completely original way, which makes Joan of Arcadia unique. However, it's the outstanding family drama and superior acting that have catapulted this show above the rest. Joan isn't just for the religious, and that's why so many viewers have embraced it. Look for Joan of Arcadia to have a long, long run and become a fixture on CBS Friday nights.
With a move to Washington, D.C., new F.B.I. agent Jess Mastriani's (Caterina Scorsone) psychic powers have developed to a point where she doesn't have to take a nap to find missing people. That's a good thing, considering she's still getting used to her tough new partner, Nicole Scott (Vivica A. Fox), and their higher-profile assignments, making the stakes higher than ever for her. In upcoming episodes, a senator's 5-year-old daughter goes missing, the ladies end up facing an assassin, and a rock star gets involved in a missing-persons case. Singer/actress Mya plays the rock star.
The Outlook:Missing has been vastly improved this season, and the series is more exciting to watch. Fox has been a good addition to the cast, and the writers have calmed down her character a bit, which makes her more believable. While the ratings haven't been earth-shattering, they are stable and may just be strong enough to earn another season.
It's an all-new season with a brand-new host. Actor Stephen Baldwin provides new blood as he takes over for Shannen Doherty to introduce the scary bits. Baldwin, who views the show as "ridiculously hilarious," promises to offer "the Stevie B. equation." The third-season premiere offers up partygoers who cross paths with "vampire bikers," workers cleaning a "piranha-filled pond" and exterminators who are called to a house to inspect a "little" disturbance. Other episodes will feature a "mass murderer" who preys on unsuspecting carpenters, a "mad scientist" who melts his human suspects in an experiment and a "lake monster" that stalks members of a construction crew.
The Outlook: With Mad Mad House history, Scare Tactics moves on with a new season on a new night (Wednesday) airing after the new reality shows Proof Positive and Ghost Hunters. Baldwin's energetic personality could well add a bit of spice to the mix, and that "Stevie B. equation" might prove an asset. It's too early to predict a fourth season, but all Scare Tactics has to do is hold its own to stay on SCI FI's schedule.
Smallville
The WB, Wednesday, 8 p.m. Premieres Sept. 22
All right, last season's finale wasn't a tornado, but it might as well have been one, considering all the wreckage that was left behind. Clark discovered Lex's secret Super Clark room and testified against Lionel. Lionel went to prison, Lex apparently drank poison, Lana left for Paris, the witness protection house Chloe and her father went into blew up, and Jor-El forced Clark to go into a white light after threatening to kill Jonathan. As season four takes off, look for Clark to finally fly. He returns to Smallville reprogrammed as Kal-El. Martha turns to Dr. Swann's emissary, Bridgette Crosby (who is played by former Lois Lane Margot Kidder), to save her son. Lana returns from Paris with a new boyfriend, and Lois Lane comes to town to investigate her cousin Chloe's murder.
The Outlook: When The WB moved Smallville from its cushy timeslot on Tuesdays last year to butt heads with Enterprise, it must have seemed like a good idea for them. Unfortunately, both shows suffered, with Enterprise running off to Friday nights and Smallville managing only a fraction of its former audience. However, even with Enterprise gone, Smallville is in trouble. This is a make-or-break year, and it seems unlikely The WB will continue the show if it has another marginal performance. Creatively, it's still fascinating to watch, especially Michael Rosenbaum's captivating portrayal of Lex Luthor. Producers promise that this year he'll move toward the dark side in a big way. I can't wait. But friends, enjoy it while you can. I'm not optimistic about Smallville's chances past this season.
Stargate Atlantis
SCI FI, Friday, 10 p.m. Season one resumes January 2005
As season one of Stargate Atlantis got under way, the team from Earth made some friends and some enemies in the Pegasus Galaxy. But the worst of it was the awakening of the life-sucking Wraith, intergalactic vampires who chow down on whatever local population is at hand. They were supposed to stay in hibernation for decades, but the Earthlings accidentally took care of that. In the midseason finale, the new Atlantians discover an enormous storm is headed their way, which may destroy the city. They realize they have to gate offworld. Unfortunately, the Genii discover their plan and seize the facility, taking Dr. Weir and Rodney hostage. When Maj. Sheppard kills two of the bad guys who were sent to kill him, Weir is about to be executed in retaliation just as the storm bears down on Atlantis.
The Outlook: In many ways, Stargate Atlantis revisits the early days of SG-1, when the team was still more busy exploring and getting into trouble than it was fighting intergalactic wars and saving the Earth. Both shows are doing very well for the channel, and Atlantis should have a nice long life ahead of it. That is, assuming Weir doesn't get shot and that nasty storm doesn't wipe out the city. Oh, and that Sheppard manages to kick bad-guy butt and take Atlantis back. He just might be able to do that, you know. He's not quite Jack O'Neill, but he's working on it.
Stargate SG-1
SCI FI, Friday, 9 p.m. Season eight resumes January 2005
After his big promotion, Brig. Gen. Jack O'Neill has been getting settled in his new job running the SGC. He has to meet with aliens and the president while his old team gets to have most of the fun and go on missions. In the midseason finale, Jack even had to tell the president that the Stargate had vanished. Lt. Col. Carter and Dr. Daniel Jackson leapt into action to hunt down the missing gate, while Teal'c was trapped offworld, only to discover that millions of Jaffa had been killed in separate attacks with some sort of weapon. It seems The Trust, those nasty rogue agents from the NID, hijacked the gate, cooked up some symbiote killing gas and used a missile to attack. Fortunately, Carter, Daniel and Teal'c managed to save the day and get the gate back where it belonged. In the second half of the season, look for The Trust to cause more trouble and for Jack to figure out a way to go on a mission or two.
The Outlook: In its eighth season, Stargate SG-1 has been getting big ratings, which have only been outshined by the new upstart Stargate Atlantis. While I'd like to see the series be a little less Earth-bound than it has been in recent weeks, it's still good to watch these old friends and their Stargate adventures. So will there be a ninth season? There's no doubt SCI FI will want one. Look for Stargate to continue as long as Richard Dean Anderson wants to do it.
Tripping the Rift
SCI FI On hiatus
This animated comic saga about a crew of misfits who live, work and play on the starship Jupiter 42 will continue with even more irreverent and lusty tales about the neurotic A.I. Spaceship Bob, Captain Chode, pilot T'Nuk, robotic chief engineer Gus, teen slacker Whip and, of course, sexy android Six. And just to make sure they don't have enough problems, the Dark Clowns and the Confederation will continue to pursue these blundering antiheroes throughout the galaxy.
The Outlook: SCI FI has confirmed that Tripping the Rift will indeed be picked up for another season. No word yet on exactly when it will air, but most likely it will be in March or June.
Tru Calling
Fox Premieres midseason
At the end of the first season, Tru discovered that Jack shares her special power, if not her mission. He's trying to keep people dead, not save them. Even worse, Tru's own father appears to be helping her new archenemy. This season will open a couple months after the finale took place. Despite her knowledge about Jack, Tru has decided to make the most of her own life and she's taking medical classes again. She's determined to have it all and, if she can, help the living and the dead. Tru's relationship with Jack will evolve in "unexpected" ways, says executive producer Jon Harmon Feldman. Also, Harrison will attempt to go straight, and he'll find challenges in that direction, and there's a potential new love interest for Tru.
The Outlook: Well, it looked about as good as it could for Tru Calling. The show had been picked up to premiere in fall with an order of 13 episodes. Last year, the series did pretty darn well, considering it was the show's freshman season and almost everyone on the planet was watching Survivor and the last season of Friends. It seemed to make sense that the series would get a pickup, even if it was a tentative one. However, this week Fox announced it was going to delay the premiere of Tru Calling, which was originally planned for Nov. 4, until midseason. Worse yet, they may also cut their original order from 13 to 6 episodes. This is very bad news, and it doesn't bode well for Tru's future. While the six episodes will probably make it on air, additional episodes would be unlikely this year once the decision to cut the order is made. More likely is cancellation. And since the producers had planned on 13 episodes, it means fans will probably be left high and dry without a real ending for the series or any kind of a logical stopping point. Once again, the Fox network will likely disappoint fans and penalize loyalty for their programs. Of course, I could be wrong. However, I don't have to be a time traveler to see the future writing on the wall.
Picking up where last year's popular "revisionist" miniseries left off, those pesky humans continue to flee from the Cylon tyranny. Edward James Olmos, Mary McDonnell, Katee Sackhoff, Jamie Bamber and Tricia Helfer as Number 6 are all back to reprise their roles for the new series. "We're still very much dedicated to the idea that we're going to try to do a different kind of science-fiction series, that we're going to continue this sort of documentary style of photography and character dynamics, de-emphasizing a lot of aspects of traditional science fiction on television. We're going to just make a human drama in a realistic setting and play all of that forward," says executive producer Ronald D. Moore. SCI FI has ordered 13 episodes.
BoondocksCartoon Network, midseason
Based on the popular newspaper comic strip, this new animated series will be added to the network's Adult Swim lineup. The series follows the adventures of Riley and Huey, two boys who move from inner-city Chicago to live with their grandfather in the suburbs. Fifteen half-hour episodes have been ordered.
Buffy: The Animated SeriesTo be determined
She's back! Well, maybe in an animated way. This long-awaited project, which seemed stuck in development hell forever, appears to be moving forward. Several of the Scoobies are on track to voice their characters, including Alyson Hannigan, Nicholas Brendon and Anthony Stewart. Giselle Loren, who voiced Buffy for the video game, will take on the voice of our favorite vampire slayer. Joss Whedon has several scripts ready to go. However, there's still no network attached.
ConfidenceUSA Network, To be determined
Reality guru Bruce Nash takes a look at what might have been if the South won the Civil War with this six-hour limited series. This alternate history dabbles in the possibility of what might have been if Union general Ulysses S. Grant had died an early death. In the present day, both the North and South have presidents, and just as they are about to ratify unification, external forces attempt to interfere.
Doctor WhoBBC, 2005
Christopher Eccleston takes on the lead role as the eccentric Time Lord 14 years after the original show was canceled. Even better news is that BBC finally came to terms with the estate of writer Terry Nation, allowing the mechanical baddies, the Daleks, to appear in the upcoming series.
The Family GuyFox and Cartoon Network, 2005
Little Stewie Griffin has resumed his plans for world domination. After premiering in 1999 and getting canceled in 2002, The Family Guy became one of the best-selling television series on DVD last year and ended up on the Cartoon Network's Adult Swim. That led Fox executives to an unprecedented decision. They uncanceled the show, and it's set to re-premiere on Fox sometime in 2005.
Greg the BunnyIFC, to be determined
Seth Green and Sarah Silverman will reprise their roles from the very short-lived 2002 Fox comedy, which was originally based on a character that was created on IFC. The series, about a fabricated American (or puppet) who works on a kids' show will come back as a half-hour special and pilot for a possible series. Two years after Greg's series ended, he's humiliated and hanging out in Las Vegas with fabricated friends Warren the Ape and Count Blah. Guest stars will include Adam Goldberg, Lou Ferrigno and Jon Favreau.
Global FrequencyThe WB, midseason 2005
Survivor's Mark Burnett makes his dramatic series debut with Warren Ellis' Global Frequency, based on the graphic novel. The mysterious Miranda Zero (Michelle Forbes) starts a top-secret worldwide spy organization utilizing ordinary individuals as agents to fight the forces of evil. Catwoman's John Rogers is also attached to executive producer.
Hef's SuperbunniesMTV, to be determined
It was probably only a matter of time before Hugh Hefner became animated, and now comic-book legend Stan Lee is turning him into a superhero. The pajama-clad Hef and his "specially trained" Playboy Superbunnies fight evildoers in their spare time. Hefner may even voice his alter ego for this pilot for a possible animated series.
Krypto the SuperdogCartoon Network, Spring 2005
When Superman's dad, Jor-El, sends a test puppy to Earth from the planet Krypton, the fully-grown dog finds a friend in Kevin Whitney. The super-powered dog and his best bud team up to fight anyone who threatens the people and animals of Metropolis.
MediumNBC, midseason
She sees dead people and knows what they're thinking, too. Patricia Arquette stars as a soccer mom who uses her psychic abilities to solve crimes. Jake Weber co-stars as her husband, and Miguel Sandoval plays her district-attorney boss.
Medium has an eight-episode order and is executive produced by Frasier's Kelsey Grammer and creator Glenn Gordon Caron.
RevelationsNBC, midseason
This drama of biblical proportions will take over The West Wing's Wednesday timeslot come midseason. Scientist Bill Pullman teams up with nun Natascha McElhone as they fight to prevent Armageddon. Eight episodes have been ordered. Jeff Zucker, president of NBC Universal Television Group, promises the new series will be more in the style of Indiana Jones than a heavy-handed drama as the main characters search to discover whether the prophecies in the Book of Revelations are true.
SCI FI Channel projects in development
The following previously announced projects are still in development at SCI FI:
1,000 Days
Clive Barker's The Evil One
The Divide
The Forever War
Ghost Monkey
Graveland
Kim Stanley Robinson's Red Mars
Painkiller Jane
Quantum Leap
Sasquatch (formerly called Idaho Creature Incident)
A Tale of Two Cities
The Twelve
Total Eclipse
Additional previously announced projects that are no longer in development at SCI FI include: Dead Lawyers, Lab Rats, Legion, Life on Mars and Suture Girl.
Untitled Seth Green projectCartoon Network, to be determined
Busy guy Seth Green is also working on a new stop-motion-animated series that satirizes popular culture. Twenty episodes have been ordered, and plans are set to air it in the network's Adult Swim.
The 100 Scariest Movie MomentsBravo, Thursday, Oct. 28
Trick or treat! Here's a little Halloween present from Bravo. Clips of some of the scariest movie moments of all time populate this five-hour limited series, which will run over consecutive nights. The documentary will include interviews with Bruce Campbell, Peter Jackson, Tobe Hooper, Robert Englund, Tony Todd, Clive Barker, Wes Craven, Joe Dante and Don Coscarelli.
Alien BloodSCI FI, to be determined
After an alien army invade Earth they demand the sacrifice of one million humans. It's up to a small group of human prisoners to rebel against overwhelming forces. The two-hour movie is produced by UFO Films.
The Andromeda StrainSCI FI, to be determined
Ridley Scott and Tony Scott take on Michael Crichton's first novel. In this four-hour miniseries, a killer extraterrestrial virus infects the inhabitants of a small town and scientists must stop it from spreading.
Anonymous RexSCI FI, Saturday, Nov. 13
Sam Trammell takes on the lead role of private investigator and evolved velociraptor in this adaptation of Eric Garcia's series of novels about a society of dinosaur descendants who secretly live among us. Using shape-shifting technology, the modern-day dinos are able to co-exist with humans. The two-hour movie also stars Daniel Baldwin, Faye Dunaway and Isaac Hayes. The screenplay was directed by Julian Jarrold and written by Joe Menosky, based on the Anonymous Rex prequel Casual Rex.
OK, it doesn't appear to feature any sci-fi or fantasy, but it's considered a disaster film, so I guess that's good enough for SCI FI's Saturday-night action movie night. An avalanche expert tries to convince the townsfolk of a small Russian ski village that an impending avalanche is about to hit. Starring Adam Croasdell, Andrew Lee Potts and Jessica Kate Brooks.
Boogeymen II: Masters of HorrorSCI FI, Sunday, Oct. 31
This sounds a whole lot like Bravo's Scary Movie Moments and many of the same people are involved. Bruce Campbell hosts the two-hour special, which features some of horror's greatest movies and the directors who brought them to the big screen. Interviews are featured with Wes Craven, John Carpenter, Guillermo del Toro, George Romero, Dario Argento and Tobe Hooper.
A Christmas CarolNBC, Sunday, Nov. 28
Frasier may have left the building, but Kelsey Grammer is back on NBC with a musical version of the classic as Scrooge. Joining him in song are Jason Alexander as the ghost of Jacob Marley and Jesse L. Martin, Jane Krakowski and Geraldine Chaplin.
A Christmas Without OrnamentsCBS, end of 2004
Peter Falk returns as Max the angel for a third original movie. In the holiday film, Max is reprimanded by a supervising angel (Katey Sagal) for contacting the wrong family in need. Also starring Tammy Blanchard.
ChupacabraSCI FI, to be determined
When a mythical beast believed to be a chupacabra is captured, it's smuggled aboard a cruise ship headed to America. When the creature escapes, Navy SEALs attempt to destroy the monster. Regent Films produced this two-hour movie.
Dead RailSCI FI, to be determined
Brian Smith, the founder of SCIFI.COM's Seeing Ear Theatre, wrote this two-hour film about a detective on board a bullet train who discovers that hostile aliens with evil intentions are aboard the train's inaugural run to Las Vegas. Produced by Glow Worm.
The Dead Will TellCBS, to be determined
Based on psychic readings by James Van Praagh, The Dead Will Tell centers on a soon-to-be-married woman, played by Anne Heche, who begins seeing visions of a beautiful young woman after she is given an antique engagement ring. Seven Days star Jonathan LaPaglia plays Heche's fiance. Oscar nominee Kathleen Quinlan also stars, and Stephen Kay directs.
EarthseaSCI FI, December 2004
SCI FI's big fall miniseries this year is based on Ursula K. Le Guin's award-winning Earthsea novels, about a youth named Ged (Shawn Ashmore) who is destined to become the greatest wizard in the land. But first he must master his magic with a little help from a legendary wizard named Ogion (Danny Glover). The four-hour mini also stars Kristin Kreuk and Isabella Rossellini. Rob Lieberman directs from a script by Gavin Scott.
Farscape: The Peacekeeper WarsSCI FI, Sunday and Monday, Oct. 17-18
If you love Farscape, do not miss this four-hour miniseries event. When last we saw John Crichton and Aeryn Sun, they'd been crystallized after Aeryn told John she was pregnant with his child and he asked her to marry him. Needless to say, it wouldn't be much of an adventure if they stayed in that condition. Before you can say frell, they're back in the action, along with all the major players. While the newly engaged and expecting couple would like nothing more than to head off and hide on a planet somewhere, the galaxy is in the midst of a terrible war between the Scarrans and the Peacekeepers. Both sides want John for his wormhole knowledge, believing he knows how to make a wormhole weapon that could destroy the other side. He's one popular guy, but all John wants is to have his child grow up in a universe that isn't embroiled in war. As events begin to escalate, there will be plans that backfire, sacrifices and a deeply satisfying conclusion to one of the greatest sci-fi series of all time. Farscape: The Peacekeeper Wars stars Ben Browder, Claudia Black, Anthony Simcoe, Gigi Edgley and Wayne Pygram. The mini was written by Rockne S. O'Bannon and David Kemper and directed by Brian Henson.
The Five People You Meet in HeavenABC, Sunday, Dec. 5
Oscar winners Jon Voight and Ellen Burstyn star in this adaptation of Mitch Albom's best-seller. Eddie is a bitter war veteran who works as a repairman at the Ruby Pier Amusement Park. When Eddie tries to save a little girl from a fall, he wakes up in heaven not knowing if the little girl lived or died. He discovers that he must talk to five people who affected his life, be it people he loved or those he hardly knew existed. Five People also stars Jeff Daniels and Michael Imperioli and is directed by Lloyd Kramer. Robert Halmi Sr. and Robert Halmi Jr. executive produce.
FrankenfishSCI FI, Saturday, Oct. 9
And you thought snakehead terror was over! Not a chance. The quiet waters of the Louisiana bayou offer a fertile smorgasbord for a massive, genetically engineered, man-eating snakehead fish. It's hungry and, by land or by sea, it can hunt anywhere humans might run. Local authorities have the unfortunate task of trying to corral this carnivore. Frankenfish stars Tory Kittles, K.D. Aubert and Tomas Arana.
FrankensteinHallmark Channel, Tuesday, Oct. 5, and Wednesday, Oct. 6
William Hurt and Donald Sutherland star in this faithful retelling of Mary Shelley's classic novel. The four-hour, two-part miniseries tells the tale of a scientist who is rescued by the crew of the ship Prometheus in the 19th century. The scientist, Victor Frankenstein (Alec Newman), tells an incredible story about what happens when man "violates the laws of God and science." Luke Goss plays the creature, and Nicole Lewis and Julie Delpy co-star. In case there was any confusion, yes, it's Hallmark and yes, one of the Halmis is involved. Robert Halmi Jr. and Larry Levinson executive produce. Hallmark's Frankenstein is directed by Kevin Connor from a script by Mark Kruger.
FrankensteinUSA, Sunday, Oct. 10
Looks like it's a "Franken" time of year. Based on characters created by Dean Koontz and, presumably, Mary Shelley, USA's Frankenstein takes a modern look at the classic. In New Orleans, detectives Carson O'Conner (Parker Posey) and Michael Sloane discover something's not right about a series of murders they've been investigating. They find themselves embroiled in a plot to replace the human race. Mad scientist Victor Helios and a creature known as Deucalion have survived through scientific manipulation for 200 years. When Victor decides it might be a good time to manufacture a new race of people, Deucalion joins forces with Carson to try and stop him. The two-hour movie also stars Vincent Perez, Adam Goldberg and Thomas Kretschmann.
GargoylesSCI FI, Saturday, Oct. 30
Michael Pare and Kate Orsini star in this Saturday-night special about two CIA agents on assignment in Bucharest. When fire-breathing gargoyles raise hell in the city, it's up to the agents to stop them. But how exactly do you kill fire-breathing gargoyles?
Halloween Movie MarathonSCI FI, Sunday, Oct. 31
With 20 hours of movies that go bump in the night, SCI FI mixes a couple of classics with some of the not-so-classic. Kicking off with the David Soul version of Stephen King's Salem's Lot, SCI FI offers up Halloween II, Halloween III: Season of the Witch, the vampire flick Out for Blood, Thirteen Ghosts, Boogeymen II: Masters of Horror, Candyman 3: Day of the Dead, I Still Know What You Did Last Summer and the 1968 zombie classic Night of the Living Dead.
HammerheadSCI FI, to be determined
When are these scientists going to learn they should never experiment on anything with teeth? While working on stem-cell research, a scientist's test experiment, a you-know-what, gets transformed into a mutant shark-beast. Nu Image produces.
HerculesNBC, mid-2005
Hercules gets the miniseries treatment from miniseries king Robert Halmi Sr. The four-hour mini will follow the life of the Greek hero who, after killing his two sons and two of his brother's sons, must perform 12 labors to repent. British newcomer Paul Telfer plays the title role. The cast includes Sean Astin, Elizabeth Perkins and Timothy Dalton.
Karroll's ChristmasA&E, December
Tom Everett Scott stars in this updated version of the Charles Dickens classic A Christmas Carol. When the ghosts of Jacob Marley and Christmas past, present and future accidentally visit a greeting-card writer who is down on his luck instead of his Scrooge-like neighbor, he must help the neighbor redeem himself. Dennis Dugan directs from a script by Drew Daywalt and David Schneider.
LarvaSCI FI, to be determined
This one sounds like a true horror story. A dirty meat-packing company sells meat contaminated with larvae. Yummy. It doesn't take long before the larvae starts growing inside the customers. No doubt those customers will be bursting at the seams before the end of the first hour. The big question is: What are they larvae of? Produced by Nu Image.
The LibrarianTNT, December 2004
When the evil Serpent Brotherhood steals part of the Spear of Destiny, it's up to The Librarian to leap into action and stop them. Noah Wyle stars in this action/adventure two-hour movie about the man, Flynn Carsen, charged with protecting the repository of humanity's greatest secrets, which is hidden beneath the New York Public Library. Unfortunately with one piece of the Spear in the hands of evildoers, Carsen must recover the other two pieces before the Brotherhood can find them. It will all come down to an epic battle of good against evil. The Librarian also stars Bob Newhart, Kyle MacLachlan, Sonya Walger, Olympia Dukakis, Kelly Hu, David Dayan Fisher and Jane Curtin.
MansquitoSCI FI, to be determined
Those pesky scientists are at it again. This one is trying to find a cure for the West Nile virus. Unfortunately she turns herself and a junkie into mutant mosquito creatures. Wouldn't she be a Womansquito instead? Another one from Nu Image.
The Muppets' Wizard of OzABC, to be determined
Jeffrey Tambor will play the Wizard in this Muppet tale about an aspiring performer Dorothy Gale (Ashanti) who gets caught up in a tornado when it hits a small Kansas town and sweeps up her trailer. Muppets Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy take on two of the characters that Dorothy meets in Oz. Queen Latifah plays Auntie Em, and David Alan Grier takes on the role of Uncle Henry. Several musical numbers are included in this Wonderful World of Disney presentation. The Muppets' Wizard of Oz is a tentative title and may be changed.
Puppetmaster vs. Demonic ToysSCI FI, to be determined
This long-delayed film brings the two cult-movie franchises Demonic Toys and Puppetmaster head to head for a knock-down drag-out fight. When the great-nephew of the original Puppetmaster, Robert Toulon, and his daughter Alex start messing with puppets again, trouble can't be far behind. A group of fiendish toymakers set out to steal Toulon's reanimation formula so they can unleash their evil toys on the world. P vs. DT was written by C. Courtney Joyner. Somehow, it seems like Chucky should be included in this one.
SlipstreamSCI FI, to be determined
A rogue scientist working for a secret government program can lead to nothing but trouble. When the FBI gets worried he might leak classified info, they tail scientist Stuart Conway (Sean Astin). The only problem is that he's invented a time-travel device that allows him to leap back in time 10 minutes. He wisely decides to test his invention in a bank, leading to Stuart and the FBI agents getting caught in the middle of an attempted bank robbery. Slipstream also stars Ivana Milicevic and Vinnie Jones.
Species IIISCI FI, November
The third installment of the sexy alien-looking-for-a-mate movie series features an even sexier and deadlier alien, played by Sunny Mabrey. On the loose in a small college town, the alien is on the hunt for a way to continue its genetically superior species. It's up to a college professor (Robert Knepper) to take on the alien and decode its DNA before it can mate and populate the world with its own kind. Original Species star Natasha Henstridge co-stars.
The ThingSCI FI, to be determined
The talented Frank Darabont (The Green Mile) will take on a remake of The Thing in this four-hour miniseries. The members of an isolated scientific outpost in Antarctica find themselves facing an alien parasite that preys on the living. It will be hard to top the John Carpenter version, but if anyone can do it, it's Darabont. NBC Universal Television Studios will produce.
ep, the Golden Age of series genre television is over. Sure, we'll still have the occasional special, movie or miniseries pop up, and of course we can always turn to cable for a sci-fi fix, but things have changed.
