Tagged: ABC

‘V’ is for Vicious Alien Lizards

‘V’ is for Vicious Alien Lizards

The lizards are coming, and we’re not talking about Dr. Curt Connors’ family reunion.

A remake of the 1980s miniseries V is being developed by ABC. The series is written by The 4400 co-creator/executive producer Scott Peters, who will also executive produce V.

"Whenever I mention V to anybody, they still have a lot of good memories about the original movie and series," Peters told Variety. "It’s a science fiction icon and too good to pass up."

The revamped series focuses on "Erica Evans, a Homeland Security agent with an aimless son who’s got problems. When the aliens arrive, her son gloms on to them — causing tension within the family."

Though taking significant departures from its predecessor, the new V will pay homage to the original series. One example includes the ’80s series’ opening with an army of spaceships hovering over Earth’s major cities, which will carry over to the updated series.

V struggled as a weekly series in the hands of people who thought science fiction gave them license to do whatever they please.  It was canceled despite a cliffhanger ending and ever since, Johnson has talked of reviving the property.

So has Warner Bros. and NBC and at one point a revamp courtesy of  J. Michael Straczynski got as far as the script stage.  Then, in 2004, Johnson pitched a remake but NBC asked for a new sequel, set 20 years later, and was given a green light to develop the concept. He finished the four-hour miniseries script for V the Second Generation in 2006 and NBC stalled approving it.

Johnson, to push his case, turned the screenplay into his first prose novel which Tor published in February 2008. All along, he kept hoping NBC would give him the go signal but it never came. Instead, rumblings were that the peacock network was getting cold feet while ABC was expressing interest.

In April, Johnson said, "… since I own the motion picture rights to V, we’re in the process to do a remake of the original mini-series first as a theatrical feature, which I’m so jazzed about because it will give me an opportunity to really realize it and execute it in a way that was impossible to do back then. Then that will lead to the obvious sequel, because it is a franchise, and then we’ll get into The Second Generation and I’m hoping we’ll be able to do two movies, because there’s certainly enough material in the novel to warrant two separate sequels. That’s my goal at this point and that’s what we’re in the process of doing. I just literally came from a meeting, 15-20 minutes ago with a fellow in Beverly Hills who really says that we’re gonna do it."

As recently as Thursday, his website was discounting word the property was headed for ABC and out of his creative control entirely.

Warner Bros. TV is producing the project. Former Warner Bros.’ video game division leader and current HDFilms employee Jace Hall will translate V to other platforms aside from television, including gaming. Previously, the series had been adapted into a series of original novels and an 18-issue comic book from DC Comics. The miniseries and single season of the original were released on DVD in 2004.

McDonnell Leaves ‘Galactica’ for ‘Grey’s’

McDonnell Leaves ‘Galactica’ for ‘Grey’s’

The Galactica Sitrep reports that Mary McDonnell will leave the president’s office aboard the Galactica to join ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy for a mid-season three-to-five episode arc. Episode ten is already filming so this should air after the holidays when the final Battlestar Galactica episodes also air on Sci Fi Channel.
 

Early Review: True Blood

True BloodFor too long, paranormal dramas have been restricted to basic cable where they become weighed down with melodrama and morals that everyday teens can take away from each episode. I’d like to say that [[[True Blood]]] breaks that trend, but, sadly, it does not and with the exception of a few expletives and some exposed body parts, this show could certainly be made for ABC or the oh-so-hip CW.

From the Alan Ball, the creator of the acclaimed HBO series [[[Six Feet Under]]] comes the TV series based on [[[The Southern Vampire Mysteries]]] book series by Charlaine Harris about a southern telepathic waitress named Sookie Stackhouse who solves mysteries involving vampires, werewolves, and other such creatures. Keep in mind, this series was written four years before the nation’s newfound interest in vampires was peaked with Stephanie Meyer’s [[[Twilight]]] series. That said, this still isn’t safe from being called a watered down version of [[[Buffy The Vampire Slayer]]].

There were only a few scenes that were of interest to any fan of the vampire mythos, the rest establishing the faux racism storyline that seems to be the backbone of the show. In a world where vampires have “come out of the coffin” (not my turn of phrase) and are now publicly known, they become the new racial scapegoat for the scared and angry citizens of Southern America to abuse. This storyline borders didacticism by using “vampire” as a replacement for words like “black” or “gay” or even “cylon”. In a world where these immortal creatures walk the earth, why should they care what the clerk at the Quik-N-Stop has to say to them? Unanswered questions like these makes one realize why this series needs to be looked at like a Vampire Romance novel, instead of a replacement for something like Buffy or [[[Angel]]], much like watching [[[The New Adventures of Lois & Clark]]].

Outside of plot holes like that, the other two issues with the pilot were the pacing and acting. The pacing seems to be almost at a torturous level, leaving entire chunks of time where nothing more than a lot of pensive staring goes on. We understand that there is a lot of animosity between the vampires and the “mortals”, but they can rip your throats out, so stop looking like a pissed off toddler. The acting  (I won’t go into how bad the southern accents are) and motivation of characters just came across as inconsistent, as many of them were either set as “angry girl” or “delusional grandmother”. There was hardly any reasoning behind these emotions, and they felt unnecessary and distracting.

The ending left for a good cliffhanger and a want to pursue the next episode, which I encourage. This series will hopefully improve and become slightly more watchable, but this doesn’t seem like another Buffy the Vampire Slayer or even a Twilight, instead just a watered down amalgam of the two.  Rating 6/10

True Blood debuts on HBO Sunday evening at 9 p.m. and has a twelve episode season.

‘The Return’ Arrives at ABC

‘The Return’ Arrives at ABC

Greg Berlanti is rapidly getting busier in Hollywood.  In addition to his work with Marc Guggenheim and Michael Green on the screenplay to the Green Lantern feature film, he’s been working on the second season of ABC’s Eli Stone and Dirty Sexy Money and third season of Brothers & Sisters, all of which debut later this month. Variety reports that he must have a spare few minutes because he’s partnered with Rene Echevarria on The Return.  The science fiction series for ABC has a simple premise: aliens arrive on Earth.

Echevarria is now stranger to the genre having worked on Star Trek: Deep Space 9, The 4400 and Dark Angel.

ComicMix Radio: Nancy Drew Meets Indiana Jones

ComicMix Radio: Nancy Drew Meets Indiana Jones

 That’s how creator James Watson describes his damsel in distress heroine, Paula Peril, who is already making her way from the indy comic series to live action films, as you can see here

We cover the origins of Ms Peril, plus:

  • Spider-Man sells out in less than 24 hours
  • Virgin heads west
  • ABC welcomes Nathan Fillion and more, but when?

Enjoy the Paula Peril trailer, then Press the Button for more!
 

And remember, you can always subscribe to ComicMix Radio podcasts via iTunes - ComicMix or RSS!

 

Sarah Paulson, Bobby Cannavale, Nathan Fillion Back To TV

Sarah Paulson, Bobby Cannavale, Nathan Fillion Back To TV

Before the new television season kicks off next week, ABC is already reloading their larder with five new series.  Among them is Cupid, a revival of the one-hit wonder series from a decade ago.  Created by Veronica Mars’ Rob Thomas, it debuted on September 26, 1998 and starred Jeremy Piven as a man who might or might not be the reincarnation of the mythological Cupid.  Consigned to Earth by Zeus as punishment, he must help 100 couples romantically connect without once using his god-like powers. After a mere 15 episodes, the network axed the show. As Thomas was developing new ideas for the network, everyone kept circling back to the Cupid concept and a fresh approach was approved.

Snakes on a Plane’s Bobby Cannavale and The Spirit’s Sarah Paulson with the actress playing the psychiatrist who is treating his “delusion”.

Nathan Fillion will transition from Wisteria Lane to the Big Apple when he stars in Castle. He’s a crime novelist who winds up assisting the NYPD solve murder cases.

Alyssa Milano returns to the network, starring in Single with Parents, a sitcom about a woman struggling to handle her job, her life and parents, played by Annie Potts and Beau Bridges.

Harold Perrineau Jr. remains free from Lost’s island by starring as part of the ensemble cop series The Unusuals along with Amber Tamblyn, Jeremy Renner, Adam Goldberg, Kai Lennoz and Terry Kinney.
 

Alan Moore Talks About ‘League,’ ‘Watchmen’

Alan Moore talks movies over at Entertainment Weekly, and — surprise, surprise — he remains not so thrilled about the adaptations of his work.

Here’s a particularly good exchange on his falling-out with DC:

Has Warner Bros. tried to contact you about Watchmen?
No, they’ve all been told not to. They get the message…. I don’t want anyone who works for DC comic books to contact me ever again, or I’ll change my number…. And I only started to get upset when I found out they [DC Comics] were trying to rob me of a couple thousand pounds. It was over the Watchmen merchandising back in the ’80s, and they kind of eventually said, Oh, yeah, I suppose you do deserve this money. But by that time the damage was done. The only reason I ended up working for them again, during the ABC period from ’99-’04, [was because] I had already signed the contracts. [Editor’s note: DC Comics President and Publisher Paul Levitz responds: ”We’ve had our disagreements with Alan over the years, but we remain great fans of his talent and would be happy to work with him in the future if he’s ever inclined.”]

It’s a massive interview, five pages, and covers an array of other topics as well film properties. Here’s some background on his upcoming League of Extraordinary Gentlemen: Century, which will be published next year by Top Shelf:

The first book surrounds the coronation of King George, which was also the time The Threepenny Opera was set, a comet was passing overhead, and there was a general feeling of dread in the air. We’re also focusing on the occult fictions written around the time…[like] Aleister Crowley’s [1917] book, Moonchild, where the protagonists are attempting to create a magically produced child that is going to usher in a new era. [Protagonist] Mina and her associates are trying to stop this from happening. The second book [revolves around] that sort of peculiar 1960s melding of pop-star psychedelic lifestyles, fashionable interest in occultism, and to some degree, at least in London, crime. We’ve got it all centered around a big rock concert at Hyde Park. Running all the way through this is the continuing threat of the production of a magical child who, by this time, we are fairly certain, is the Antichrist. That second book ends very badly. And they’re not having a lot of luck. The third part is set in 2008 when, basically, the League is in pieces — barely exists anymore — and this turns out to be the time at which the Antichrist project finally pays off, and this magical child finally manifests in quite a terrifying form.

 

Writer Shares Origins of ‘Batman’ TV Series

The 1960s Batman TV series couldn’t be more different than the current movie versions — Batman Begins and the upcoming The Dark Knight — with the former being campy fun and the latter being dark, psychological action epics.

Variety tracked down Lorenzo Semple, Jr., writer of the Adam West TV version, and printed a lengthy article from him on the differences between the Batman stories and how his version came to be.

As we sat in the garden of that splendid caravanserai, sipping cool sangria, Bill pulled something from the inner pocket of his jacket. For those who never had the privilege of knowing him, Bill Dozier was one sophisticated gent. "This," he said, with a look of humiliation bordering on shame, "is what ABC has given us." It was, as the shrewd reader will have guessed, a copy of the comicbook "Batman." I’d seen this comic from time to time, even read it with amusement, but I was hardly a dedicated fan. Nevertheless. At the risk of pretending to Minerva-like wisdom, I must tell it like it happened: The TV show concept virtually exploded in my sangria-enhanced brain, full-blown. Bill asked me what I was thinking. I replied it was a really terrific idea — trust me and fly back home to Los Angeles, and I would write it. Trust me. …

It was a writer’s hog heaven. I was sent four issues of the comic for plot ideas, each featuring one of the Big Four villains. The Joker seemed the best pilot choice, though I’m not sure why. I mailed Bill the script at Fox. He and his folks loved it. Then I flew back from Malaga to New York for a meeting with ABC, where Bill eloquently pitched the script and its high-camp POW!! BLAM!! WHAMMO!! style, those onscreen graphics already written in. The network was a bit flabbergasted, so different was this from their usual pilot, but they got it. A particular supporter was exec Douglas Cramer, whom I like to think was only exhibiting the same exquisite connoisseur’s taste that has since made him one of America’s leading contemporary art mavens and collectors.

ComicMix Radio: Grab Your Video Camera and Live The Dream!

ComicMix Radio: Grab Your Video Camera and Live The Dream!

Thomas Edison did it, Stephen Spielberg did, too. And following in those traditions is filmmaker Shane Felux, who turned a maxed-out credit card into an Internet film phenomenon. Now, he is producing an ABC-backed, sci-fi thriller just for the web, and we have the story , plus:

— Amanda Conner returns to Power Girl

Gears Of War hits the table top

— And just when you thought you had seen all the lists, how about "The Most Awful Songs From Geek Movie Soundtracks." Get ready to have your head filled with stuff you won’t clear out until Monday!

Press the Button and you can start the argument!

 

 
 
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