11:42pm ET, 6-Mar-98
SF TV Swept Away In February
Mid-February was a slow time for speculative fiction TV as several genre shows were preempted for movies or other specials during the period between Feb. 16-22. The networks were hoping to boost their ratings during that Nielsen sweeps period by shuffling their lineups, so NBC's normally strong shows The Pretender and The Profiler were missing from our usual SF TV list, as were Fox's Millennium and CBS's Early Edition.
In fact, the absence of those key contenders left only 19 shows to compete for this week's Sci-Fi Wire Top 20 SF TV list. Meanwhile, several of the shows that remained in their normal timeslots gave back the impressive ratings they earned earlier in February, including a 1.1 loss for both Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Earth: Final Conflict.
Below is our complete Top 20 list for the week ending Feb. 22, based on the Nielsen Galaxy report. The HH Rating is the average number of households tuned in to a particular show, expressed as a percentage of all television households.
| RANK |
NETWORK/
SYNDICATOR |
PROGRAM |
HH RATING |
| 1 |
Fox |
The X-Files |
12.0 |
| 2 |
NBC |
3rd Rock |
11.8 |
| 3 |
Universal TV |
Xena |
5.8 |
| 4 |
Universal TV |
Hercules |
5.3 |
| 5 |
Paramount |
Star Trek: DS9 |
4.8 |
| 6 |
UPN |
Star Trek: Voyager |
3.9 |
| 7 |
WB |
Buffy |
3.5 |
| 8 |
Tribune |
Earth: Final Conflict |
3.5 |
| 9 |
Tribune |
Nightman |
3.5 |
| 10 |
Buena Vista TV |
Honey, I Shrunk the Kids |
3.2 |
| 11 |
MGM |
The Outer Limits |
3.1 |
| 12 |
UPN |
The Sentinel |
2.2 |
| 13 |
Universal TV |
Team Knight Rider |
2.2 |
| 14 |
Paramount |
Viper |
2.2 |
| 15 |
Rysher |
F/X |
2.1 |
| 16 |
Rysher |
Highlander |
2.0 |
| 17 |
MGM |
Poltergeist: The Legacy |
1.8 |
| 18 |
Eyemark |
Psi Factor |
1.6 |
| 19 |
20th Television |
Tales from the Crypt |
1.4 |
| Source: Nielsen Galaxy 2/16-2/22. Nielsen data subject to qualifications to be supplied upon request. |
7:13 pm ET, 6-Mar-98
Boris Assembles Creature
Oxford Blues director Bob Boris will write and direct the $10 million feature Creature for Barnholtz Entertainment and Licht Mueller FilmCorp, according to Variety. The horror/SF flick is said to be a cross between Scream and Predator, and will focus on a monster dubbed the "Chupacabra."
The story involves a group of college students who travel to New Mexico hoping to disprove the existence of the Chupacabra. The film is expected to begin shooting in September.
6:59 pm ET, 6-Mar-98
Fox Wants Groening's Futurama
The Simpsons creator Matt Groening is close to signing a deal with Fox to produce 13 episodes of an animated science fiction series called Futurama, according to Variety. Details on the deal are scarce, but Futurama is reportedly set around the year 3000 and will be "both futuristic and nostalgic."
Fox hopes to air the series midseason next year and is also interested in giving Groening a film commitment based on the concept. Fox has reportedly been trying to sign Groening to do another animated series ever since The Simpsons became the network's most profitable comedy franchise.
4:25 pm ET, 5-Mar-98
Gray Gets Nutty II
Set it Off director F. Gary Gray has agreed to helm the sequel to Eddie Murphy's 1996 surprise box-office hit, The Nutty Professor, according to published reports. Gray will begin shooting Nutty II with Murphy in August for an unspecified release date.
Murphy revitalized his sagging career with his portrayal of Sherman Klump--as well as six other lesser roles--in Nutty, which was a remake of the 1963 Jerry Lewis science fiction comedy of the same name. Murphy's version took in an estimated $129 million in the domestic U.S. box office and $270 million worldwide.
8:43 pm ET, 3-Mar-98
Psygnosis Prepares Vendetta
Psygnosis is taking its hit PlayStation space combat simulator Colony Wars and making everything better for the sequel, according to Videogamespot. The sequel, dubbed Codename: Vendetta, will feature new ships, an improved artificial intelligence system, a new physics engine, all new graphics, new weapons, new bad guys and, of course, a new plot.
Vendetta will also allow players to customize their ships, letting them choose between various weapons and performance upgrades, and also giving them the ability to change the color of their ships or add decorative decals. As before, the game will include 19 separate story acts that lead to six possible endings. Psygnosis expects Vendetta to be in stores by Christmas.
2:00 pm ET, 3-Mar-98
Dorsey, Link Earn Tiptree Awards
Candas Jane Dorsey and Kelly Link were named co-winners of the 1998 James Tiptree Jr. Award, which honors works of science fiction or fantasy that expand or explore gender roles. This year's awards, which include a $1,000 cash prize as well as quite a bit of chocolate, will be presented at Readercon 10, which will be held July 10-12 in Westborough, Mass.
Dorsey was honored for her book Black Wine, which was published in 1997 by Tor Books and which also received the 1997 William J. Crawford Memorial Award for best first fantasy novel. Link earned the Tiptree for her short story "Travels with the Snow Queen," which appeared in the winter 1996/1997 issue of Lady Churchill's Rosebud Wristlet. It was only the third work of short fiction to win a Tiptree in the award's seven-year history.
"I think there were just some very strong short stories this year," said Elizabeth Hand, one of this year's five judges and a past Tiptree winner. "Kelly Link's 'Travels with the Snow Queen' was a terrific discovery, and I think there was--for me, at least--a real thrill in recognizing someone new."
10:09 pm ET, 2-Mar-98
Besson Honored With Cesar
French director Luc Besson was honored with a Cesar Award for his work on the science fiction film The Fifth Element, according to Reuters. Besson earned his Cesar for Best Director, while The Fifth Element was also honored for Best Cinematography and Best Design.
The Cesar Awards are France's equivalent of the American Oscars. They were handed out during an elaborate ceremony held Feb. 28 in Paris.
UPDATED 8:59 pm ET, 3-Mar-98
DNA Takes Over Weird Tales
DNA Publications Inc. has added the classic magazine Weird Tales to its lineup and will take over production of the title beginning this summer, according to publisher Warren Lapine. George Scithers and Darrell Schweitzer will continue as editors of Weird Tales, which will be published quarterly.
Today's announcement by Lapine comes as Weird Tales prepares to celebrate its 75th anniversary, although the magazine has undergone numerous deaths, rebirths and revisions since its founding back in 1923. Since 1994 the magazine has been known as Worlds of Fantasy and Horror due to licensing disputes, but Lapine said he was able to relicense the Weird Tales name when he took over publishing duties.
Weird Tales primarily prints dark fantasy and light horror stories, and can be found in most major bookstores. The magazine will continue to take fiction submissions at 123 Crooked Lane, King of Prussia, PA, 19406-2570, and all previous subscriptions will be honored in full. DNA also publishes the SF magazine Absolute Magnitude and the horror magazine Dreams of Decadence.
9:37 pm ET, 2-Mar-98
Hulk Movie Stopped By Money
In the comic book world not much can stop the Incredible Hulk, but in the real world it seems he's got financial problems just like everyone else. Looking at a $100 million price tag for its feature film version of Hulk, Universal Pictures has decided to put the angry green giant on the back burner for now, according to Variety.
Hulk was written by Jonathan Hensleigh (The Rock, Armageddon), who was also set to make his directorial debut on the project. Hensleigh is reportedly at work rewriting the script to try to trim costs, and he still hopes to go forward with the movie.
12:06 pm ET, 27-Feb-98
Felder May Join Love Triangle
Director Gary Felder may helm "Imposter," the second segment of Dimension Films' three-part anthology movie Alien Love Triangle, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Felder is best known for his work behind the camera on Paramount Pictures' Kiss the Girls, the surprise hit film that has pulled in more than $60.5 million at the box office.
As its title suggests, Alien Love Triangle is a film about unusual relationships between humans and extraterrestrials. The first segment of the film recently finished shooting under the direction of Danny Boyle. That segment stars Kenneth Branagh, Courteney Cox and Heather Graham.
11:20 am ET, 27-Feb-98
Soldier Starts Shooting
Principal photography began last month on Soldier, the new science fiction flick starring Kurt Russell and helmed by director Paul Anderson (Mortal Kombat, Event Horizon). The film is about a 21st century veteran soldier named Todd (Russell) who is rendered obsolete by a new breed of specially engineered warrior, led by Caine 607 (Jason Scott Lee).
Caine defeats Todd during a combat test, and the older soldier is left for dead on a remote garbage outpost near the edge of the galaxy. Todd is gradually nursed back to health and begins to learn what life without war is like, but then he is called upon to defend the outpost from Caine and his squadron of high-tech killers.
11:53 pm ET, 26-Feb-98
Gibson Eyes Cruise For Fahrenheit 451
Mel Gibson is reportedly interested in having Tom Cruise star in his next directorial project, a big screen adaptation of Ray Bradbury's classic SF novel Fahrenheit 451, according to Variety columnist Michael Fleming. Gibson had originally planned to star in and direct the film--a la his double duties on Braveheart--but he decided that he'd rather concentrate his efforts behind the lens and find someone else with star power to play the lead.
According to Fleming, inside sources say the two box-office stars are talking seriously about the deal, although Cruise is also interested in starring in the upcoming Mission Impossible sequel. Gibson is directing Fahrenheit 451 for Warner Bros. based on a script by Terry Hayes.
7:30 pm ET, 25-Feb-98
Terry Farrell Leaving DS9?
Terry Farrell, the actress who plays Jadzia Dax on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, said she declined a take-it-or-leave-it offer from Paramount to return for DS9's next season, and she does not expect to be back in the show's lineup. Speaking to dismayed fans at Creation Con in Manhattan, N.Y., on Saturday, Feb. 21, Farrell said she hoped that DS9's producers would not kill off her character, although she admitted that having Dax killed would present a great deal of dramatic potential.
A Paramount spokesperson confirmed that Farrell had not signed a contract for the next season of DS9 but added that she had until approximately mid-April to do so. The spokesperson added that as far as Paramount is concerned, there will not be a definitive decision on the situation until the current season of DS9 completes shooting in April.
IN OTHER NEWS, TV Guide's Daily Dish reports that rumors about the death of Star Trek: Voyager have been denied by the Voyager's executive producer, Brannon Braga. Responding to a story in the New York Post that a final, "stand-alone" episode of Voyager was in the works, Braga reportedly said, "I have no idea what she's talking about. I don't even know what a 'stand-alone' episode is."
5:05 pm ET, 25-Feb-98
Jersey Films Takes On Titanisphere
Actor/director Danny DeVito's company Jersey Films has acquired the TV rights to Creative Capers Entertainment's science fiction drama, Titanisphere. Jersey and Creative Capers will co-produce the series as a one-hour, syndicated drama, although there is no time frame for when the series might air, and no distributor has been set.
Titanisphere takes place in an alternate world that was nearly destroyed by war and weapons of mass destruction. The survivors agree to end war altogether and instead settle conflicts in a colossal arena called the Titanisphere. Creative Capers is also developing an interactive game based on the property, which will be produced in conjunction with the TV series.
4:36 pm ET, 24-Feb-98
Final Nebula Ballot Announced
The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America Inc. has announced the final ballot for the 1997 Nebula Awards. The Best Novel and Best Novelette categories include seven nominees instead of the usual six due to three-way ties for fourth place during the preliminary ballot voting.
Novels (3-way tie for 4th)
- A Game of Thrones, by George R.R. Martin (Bantam, August 1996)
- Ancient Shores, by Jack McDevitt (Harper Prism, April 1996)
- Bellwether, by Connie Willis (Bantam, April 1996)
- City on Fire, by Walter Jon Williams (Harper Collins, January 1997)
- King's Dragon, by Kate Elliott (DAW, February 1997)
- Memory, by Lois McMaster Bujold (Baen, October 1996)
- The Moon and the Sun, by Vonda McIntyre (Pocket Books, September 1997)
Novellas
- "Abandon in Place," by Jerry Oltion (F&SF, December 1996)
- "Chrysalis," by Robert Reed (Asimov's, September 1996)
- "Loose Ends," by Paul Levinson (Analog, May 1997)
- "Primrose and Thorn," by Bud Sparhawk (Analog, May 1996)
- "The Funeral March of the Marionettes," by Adam-Troy Castro (F&SF, July 1997)
- "...Where Angels Fear to Tread," by Allen Steele (Asimov's, October/November 1997)
Novelettes (3-way tie for 4th)
- "The Copyright Notice Case," by Paul Levinson (Analog, April 1996)
- "The Dog's Story," by Eleanor Arnason (Asimov's, May 1996)
- "The Flowers of Aulit Prison," by Nancy Kress (Asimov's, November 1996)
- "The Miracle of Ivar Avenue," by John Kessel (Intersections, Tor, February 1996 Asimov's, September 1996)
- "The Undiscovered," by William Sanders (Asimov's, March 1997)
- "Three Hearings on the Existence of Snakes in the Human Bloodstream," by James Alan Gardner (Asimov's, February 1997)
- "We Will Drink a Fish Together," by Bill Johnson (Asimov's, May 1997)
Short Story
- "Burning Bright," by K.D. Wentworth (Aboriginal SF, August 1996)
- "Itsy Bitsy Spider," by James Patrick Kelly (Asimov's, June 1997)
- "Sister Emily's Lightship," by Jane Yolen (Starlight, Tor, September 1996)
- "The Crab Lice," by Gregory Feeley (Alternate Tyrants, Tor, March 1997)
- "The Dead," by Michael Swanwick (Starlight, Tor, September 1996)
- "The Elizabeth Complex," by Karen Joy Fowler (Crank 6, April 1996)
The Nebulas are voted on annually by the active members of SFFWA. This year's winners will be announced at the Nebula Awards Ceremony, which will be held from May 1-3 in Sante Fe, N.M.
