SciFi Weekend: Bad Signs for Caprica and V; Doctor Who Christmas Special Fast-Tracked; Sherlock Premiers; Penny (Big Bang) Meets Dexter’s Frank Lundy; Torchwood Casting Rumors

Razor, a made for television movie prequel to Battlestar Galactica, included a Bill Odama who is older than the child in Caprica but younger than the one in the main series. SyFy had planned on developing an on-line series entitled Battlestar Galactica: Blood & Chrome about Odama during the first Cylon War. They have now decided to order it to be made as an actual spin-off television show to air in 2011 or 2012.

While a decision on renewing Caprica isn’t due until early November, I take this as a bad sign, suspecting they are ordering this show as a replacement. This is all pure speculation, but I would think that the obvious time to  run a show on the first Cylon War would be after Caprica concludes, unless SyFy really thinks that two simultaneous Battlestar Galactica spin-offs would be successful.

I think they made a serious mistake with Caprica setting up so many cliff-hangers and then returning months later. The show returned with far too many plot lines, making it very difficult for any new viewers to get interested in the show. It isn’t even all that easy for returning viewers to remember all the details that went on before in each plot line. Fortunately some were wrapped up last week as Daniel Graystone regained control of his company and the number of characters to keep track of were reduced by some recent deaths.

Things don’t look any better for V than for Caprica to survive. The show was postponed until winter, and now has bee cut from thirteen to ten episodes. The show is still in production and can adjust the storyline based upon the reduced episodes. Hopefully they are writing a good conclusion for the series.

The BBC has decided to “fast track” the Doctor Who Christmas episode so that it will be seen in other markets within days after broadcasting on the BBC. The hope is that this will reduce the number of people who download the show, as commonly happens when there is a delay. I think that the only way to really prevent international fans from downloading episodes is to broadcast shows with large international followings such as Doctor Who the same day. The difference in time zones makes it especially easy for BBC shows to be available on line by prime time in the United States. As long as time permits me to watch, I intend to watch the episode on December 25.

Sherlock

Speaking of downloaded BBC shows, Sherlock began to air tonight in the United States. I will not review a show this soon after airing to avoid spoilers, but for those interested there is a review available here.The final season of Friday Night Lights also premiers this week on Dish Network, with NBC to air it next year.

Ausiello reports that Penny’s dad on Big Bang Theory will be played by Keith Carradine–Frank Lundy from Dexter. Ausiello also has some speculation on who will have roles in Torchwood. One possibility is that Enver Gjokaj from Dollhouse will get the role of FBI agent Rex Matheson.

Fred Johnson For Congress

Fred Johnson is a candidate for Congress in Michigan’s Second Congressional District, fighting an uphill battle for the seat being vacated by Pete Hoekstra. Flipping this district would be a great way to tell those who are predicting a Republican wave that they are wrong. Here is his latest ad:

Getting all those who voted Democratic in 2008 to turn out this year is a good message for any Congressional district.

Johnson has also had an ad directly criticizing the Tea Party agenda. While I’m not sure that was the best way to advertise, as opposed to directly challenging the views of his Republican opponent, you still have to respect a candidate who takes on the Tea Party:

Quote of the Day

“There’s a push to say don’t regulate Wall Street, but do regulate the relationship between a woman and her doctor, do regulate what’s going on in the wedding chapel.” —Fred Johnson, Democratic candidate in the Michigan 2nd Congressional District during a recent debate.

Johnson is in an uphill battle for Pete Hoekstra’s old seat. As I noted on Facebook yesterday, I when I went out to dinner last night the people at the next table over were talking about coming from a fund raiser for Fred Johnson. While he probably has little chance of winning, it is good to see there is some support for Johnson out in the community.