The Sci-Fi Cast

I’ve spent the last few weeks introducing my kids to Star Wars. Doing so has reinforced my own fandom, and prompted me to finally watch the Clone Wars movie. I feel odd about it, and that’s because almost everyone is doomed.

Most of the good guys are destined to become bad guys. Anakin becomes Darth Vader. Vader kills Obi-Wan. The clone troopers become the Stormtroopers. Padme Amidala dies during childbirth. Yoda dies. Meanwhile the bad guys stay bad guys. The bad droids stay bad, as does Dooku, Sidious, General Grievous, the bounty hunters and so on.

A pall of fatalism hangs over the series, as we know heroes like Obi-Wan, Yoda and Anakin are doomed. Especially Ahsoka Tano. Poor Ahsoka. Anakin’s padawan is a dead woman walking. She doesn’t appear in any other movie, nor is she even mentioned. From the moment I saw her, I knew something bad would happen to her. She’ll either die, turn to the Dark Side or go into exile, never to be heard from again.

The question becomes, does Disney have the nerve to pull it off? I’ve heard that the show isn’t listed on Cartoon Network’s roster for next season. Perhaps Disney will add it to Disney XD. Either way, the show is wrapping up and its writers have to deal with Ahsoka.

I’ll keep watching the series as I’ve heard it gets better in the later seasons. But it’s hard to get into a story when you’ve already read the last chapter.

Tell me you don’t want to see Martha Jones in this awesome TARDIS fez. Of course you do.

Ray Cusick, the BBC designer who created the Daleks, has died following a short illness. He was 84. BBC News has the sad story.

“The Daleks became the iconic villains in cult science fiction series Doctor Who, which is due to mark its 50th anniversary with events this year. Mr Cusick, from Horsham, West Sussex, leaves two daughters and seven grandchildren, his family said.”

The Daleks have frightened generations of fans for fifty years, and remain one of the most recognizable sci-fi villains. Thank you, Mr. Cusick. May your creation entertain fans for many years to come.

To Tell The Truth was a popular American game show in the 1970′s. Contestants were presented with a moderately well-known but seldom-seen celebrity and two imposters. The goal was to identify the real McCoy (no pun intended) by asking a series of open-ended questions within a short amount of time. Above is Gene Roddenberry‘s appearance on the show.

If you’re reading this, we assume you spotted him right off the bat.

Legions of Trekkies would love to see Star Trek: The Next Generation in HD, including us. We’ve got good news and bad news for those fans. The bad is that Star Trek: TNG in HD is impossible. The good news is that it’s going to happen anyway.

Here’s the problem. The show was shot at a resolution that’s fine for HD. The actors, the physical sets and so on are good to go. The effects and post-production work, however, was done in standard definition. High def effects shots simply don’t exist. The only way to create a true HD episode of TNG would be to re-do every single special effect by hand.

And that’s exactly what’s being done.

LeVar Burton recently visited CBS to observe progress on the project, and reported that he was “#mindblown” via Twitter. The first release will be a four-episode sampler disc, which will include: Encounter at Farpoint” (1 & 2), “Sins of the Father” and “Inner Light.”  Release is expected “before the end of this year,” so now you know what to put on your holiday shopping list.

One of the most prolific science fiction writers of the last 50 years was the late, great Charles Beaumont. He’s written many of my all-time favorite episodes of The Twilight Zone, including “The Howling Man,” “Prime Mover,” “Miniature,” “Living Doll” and “Number 12 Looks Just Like You.”

Shadow and Substance has a great post on Beaumont’s legacy, that I suggest you read. It’s well written and researched, about one of my favorite writers.

It was only yesterday that we were celebrating the availability of streaming Star Trek: The Next Generation on Netflix. Earlier this week, the first season of Next Gen disappeared. Oh no!

There’s no need to worry, Netflix says. The disappearance was due to a glitch in Brazil of all places. ”The Starship Enterprise has veered off course temporarily because of a blip in the system with the start of streaming in Brazil,” a spokesman said. “We will welcome the Enterprise and her crew back shortly.”

That’s good news. Someone tell me when it’s back. In the meantime, I’ll be in my Ready Room.

Forty-five years ago today, Thursday, September 8, 1966, Star Trek first aired on NBC. Who would have ever imagined what the future held for the Enterprise and her crew? After only two seasons the threat of cancellation loomed large. Fans engaged in a letter-writing campaign, and the network renewed the show. Unfortunately, it was moved to the dreaded “Friday night death slot.” Creator Gene Roddenberry limited his involvement in the third season as a protest, but to no avail. Star Trek was cancelled in its third season.

Forty-five years later, a show that barely finished three seasons is among the most iconic in television history.  There have been six total TV series, 11 feature films (with number 12 in pre-production) and countless books, comics, games, etc. One could argue that Trek created the convention industry and is so entrenched in popular culture — internationally — that you’d be hard pressed to find someone who hasn’t even hear of the show, almost anywhere you are.

Suitably, my favorite episode is the original pilot (which didn’t air as the pilot), The Menagerie parts 1 and 2.

Let us say thank you to Gene and everyone involved in the original series. “Where no one has gone before” indeed.

Monday is Labor Day here in the United States, a holiday where workers kick back, grill some burgers and enjoy the last huzzah of the summer. This wonderfully candid shot comes from the private collection of Leonard Nimoy who posed it via Twitter a while back. Great to see these friends and co-workers enjoying themselves out of context.

If this little Duck Tape company had had the $$$ to run this TRON inspired commercial during the Super Bowl, it would have easily come away with the prize for best ad. All we can hear is “I want him in the games until he dies taping!” Nicely played guys.