SciFi Stream

It wasn't too much of a surprise, but Fox made it official. The network known for axing shows like "Alien Nation" and "Firefly" well before their times took a rare step by renewing a science-fiction series, namely "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles." Michael Ausiello of TV Guide reported rumors of the pickup last week, but others say it wasn't too much of a stretch since the show didn't do horribly in the ratings (it did lose 50 percent of its premiere, but that premiere came after highly rated playoff football), and it's attached to a franchise that is preparing to put out its first movie without actor and governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. Fox has ordered 13 additional episodes for a second season of the show, but it's still not clear whether it will move to the fall, or take ...

This story contains MINOR SPOILERS for the upcoming second season of "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles." More action, less drama? Or more drama, less action? It's like a real bad beer commercial, but an important balance the writers and producers behind Fox's "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles" is trying to strike. But yes, expect more explosions, gun battles, car chases and other visual pockets of ecstasy when "Sarah Connor" returns for its second season in the fall. "I think we will be incorporating more action this year," executive producer Josh Friedman told news outlets including SyFy Portal during a telephone conference call Tuesday. "This is something that the network and I have been talking about about how much action versus drama, and versus special effects. ...

My life has been overrun by animals! I’ve done something to offend higher powers, and now I must pay my penance by living in a house where puppies and kittens rule. Since one of my cats vomited on the kitchen table this morning, I began to ponder how Klingons deal with vomiting targs, or how Vulcans react to their sehlats’ peeing on the kitchen floor. Was Picard’s fish the former ruler of a distant planet? Did Spot ever shred Data’s ankles with her claws? Despite some of the exotic animals from different planets that appeared or were mentioned in some version of Star Trek, most of petdom in science-fiction in the past 10 years has been rather mundane. Still, there may be some deeper issues to consider when it comes to sci-fi pets. I present the following list of ten series from the last 10 ...

The see-saw of whether "Wonder Woman" or "Justice League of America" will be made has tipped back into the favor of the woman wearing the bikini and carrying a lasso. With Joss Whedon only a memory in the writers room, producer Joel Silver has brought in Matthew Jennison and Brent Strickland to try and bring "Wonder Woman" back to life, both who are apparently making their debut writing anything for the screen. According to Internet Movie Database, Jennison's only listed credit was as an assistant to Kevin Heffernan in the 2006 movie "Beerfest" while Strickland has some acting credits for films such as 2004's "Soul Plane," but nothing in the writing department. Despite their lack of previous credit, Warner Bros. was impressed with a World War II-based script for "Wonder Woman" ...

The following contains MINOR SPOILERS for the upcoming "Iron Man" and "The Incredible Hulk" motion pictures. The first Iron Man movie hasn't been released yet -- it's due in theaters on Friday, May 2 -- but there is already talk about bringing the Marvel Comics superhero back for at least two more motion pictures, according to IGN Filmforce. I've got another two movies in my head and I'm ready to go and I know the cast feels the same way," said director Jon Favreau during a publicity appearance recently. "Now it's out of the hands of us, of the filmmakers, and it's even out the hands of your readers." Favreau believes the people who can make the difference -- the fans -- will like what they see and will want more. "I know all the people who have been following this for two years ...

This story contains MINOR SPOILERS for remaining episodes of the first season of "Moonlight" on CBS. If and when CBS decides to bring "Moonlight" back for a second season, the network will have to make sure there is much more stability in the showrunner's office. Executive Producer Joel Silver is the third person to take on showrunner duties for "Moonlight" this season which resumes with new episodes on Friday, and he's only doing it temporary meaning when the second season starts next fall -- if it starts at all -- the show will have its fourth showrunner. But as David Greenwalt and Chip Johannessen made their stints on the show brief, "Moonlight" itself is pretty much staying on course in terms of story and direction, said Jason Dohring, who plays the old vampire Josef Konstantin ...

The following contains MAJOR SPOILERS for "The Shape Of Things To Come," the ninth episode from the fourth season of ABC’s "Lost." After about a month-long hiatus, "Lost" returned with an action-packed episode that does what "Lost" does best: It simultaneously provided a few answers while it opened up new mysteries and revealed character motivations. In what is becoming a trend this season, the highlight of the episode was the superb acting of the lead, Michael Emerson. This was a very well-written, well-crafted episode that somehow managed to make Ben more villainous, less trustworthy, and sympathetic all at the same time. I actually felt sorry for him -- for about a minute. The episode also featured a major shootout, an explosion, the death of yet another character. Alex’s death was ...

During the golden years of television, the standard-bearer for quality programming came from the networks like NBC, CBS and ABC. Those were networks that were under close watch not only by advertisers and conservative viewers, but also a very strict Federal Communications Commission. Then cable, and later premium cable, came along and changed the entire landscape, bringing in a whole new wave of expletives, nudity and even sexual situations into serial television, and now the wholesome networks like NBC, CBS, ABC and now Fox are trying to keep up. But are recent moves by some networks and even cable outlets to skirt around grittiness gearing up for a major backfire? Since its debut in 2003, "Battlestar Galactica" has not gone as far as using the F-word expletive on the show (at least not ...

The following contains MAJOR SPOILERS for "Planet Of The Ood," the third episode from the fourth season of BBC’s "Doctor Who." They journey across the stars for one purpose ... to serve. At least, that’s the way humanity are portraying the arrival of the Ood. Who says dark, sinister and complex stories need to be reserved entirely for “Torchwood?” If “Planet of the Ood” is any indication, “Doctor Who” is quite capable of delivering the same fantastic backdrops with a harder-than-normal edge to it. In this case, the second great bountiful Human Empire isn’t quite as noble as the legends would suggest. After setting the Tardis to “random mode,” The Doctor (David Tennant) and Donna (Catherine Tate) arrive on a snow-covered planet inhabited by humanity and also The Ood, whom you may remember ...

Terrence Howard, who plays James "Rhodey" Rhodes in the upcoming superhero movie Iron Man, told SCI FI Wire that he particularly enjoyed an Iron Man in-joke that hints at the character's comic-book tranformation into the character War Machine.

Faran Tahir, who co-stars in the upcoming superhero movie Iron Man, told SCI FI Wire that his character, Raza, is a villain, but not totally evil.