Babylon 5 ISN News: The Zocalo Today
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The Zocalo Today
Welcome and thank you for dropping by. Take your shoes off, get comfortable and stay a while.
There is a LOT of information here and you won't want to miss any of it.
The Zocalo Today is an interactive newsletter, encouraging readers to join a discussion topic or to send
along letters that can be shared with other readers.
The Zocalo Today is a newsletter for Babylon 5 and science fiction fans everywhere. It is as much YOUR
newsletter as it is mine! I'm just pulling together things for you!
Join our discussion topic. It is just one way you can share with other Z readers. If you see Babylon 5 cast
and crew in other roles, let us know. We enjoy convention reports, photos, etc. Don't miss our back issues.
I hope this will become more than just a newsletter. It's a community of people that enjoy sharing their
experiences and interests. Babylon 5 brought many of us together -- and it remains with us, despite the
fact that is no longer in production. Don't be shy. Join us today!
If you have questions, drop me a line at sgbruckner@aol.com. If
you would like to join the mailing list for our newsletter, send me a note and I'll include you on the list. Or you
can use the subscription block at the left.
Again, WELCOME!
SATURDAY, AUGUST 8, 2009
According to a twitter posting, Sony Pictures has signed Taiwan musician-actor-filmmaker
Jay Chou to replace Stephen Chow as Kato in Seth Rogen's upcoming THE GREEN HORNET.
The 30-year-old pop star recently made the transition to movies and is reportedly
a fan of Bruce Lee, who played the role in the 1960s TV show. Chou has appeared in
three Chinese-language movies. Chow was initially signed to direct the movie and
to play Kato, but dropped out. He joins Nicolas Cage, Rogen and Cameron Diaz in
the movie, which is to be directed by Michel Gondry, with a reported fall start date.
"Jay is incredibly unique and charming and fights like a wild dog!" Gondry said in
a statement. "When I filmed him next to Seth, they had such great chemistry, and I
knew the movie will be great."
"It's an overwhelming experience to take on a role made famous by Bruce Lee," Chou
said in his own statement. "I won't try to be Bruce Lee's Kato—I will try to bring
my own interpretation to the part. Of course, it's a dream role, and I'm looking
forward to the challenge."
Rogen and Evan Goldberg wrote the script, and Neal Moritz is producing through his
Original Films. The movie is eyeing a July 9, 2010, release.
THE GREEN HORNET is based upon the 1960s television serial—which was itself based
on 1940s radio serials—about a masked hero who fights crime.
DOLLHOUSE
When Joss Whedon wrote and filmed the post-apocalyptic Dollhouse episode "Epitaph One,"
it was entirely possible it would be the final episode in the Fox series. When Fox
picked up a second season of the sci-fi series, Whedon instead intended to use the
"Epitaph" storyline as the jumping-off point to drive the new season's arcs. But
the episode ended up only on the season-one DVD/Blu-ray set, complicating any plans
to use it to inform the second season's stories.
Fran Kranz—who plays doll programmer Topher—confirmed that producers still plan to
go there, even though there's a part of the audience who only watched the episodes
that aired on Fox last season. (Possible spoilers ahead.)
"We're really going to move forward towards where 'Epitaph One' ended, and we're
heading towards the apocalypse," Kranz said in an interview Thursday at the Television
Critics Association summer press tour. "It's still going to go according to [Whedon's]
plan." "Epitaph One" takes place in the year 2019 in what appears to be a Los Angeles
ravaged by some kind of apocalypse. Survivors, led by Felicia Day's Mag, discover the
abandoned Dollhouse underground. Flashbacks fill in the period between our time and
2019, suggesting that the technology developed by the Dollhouse has led to massive
mindwipes and identity replacement, culminating in war and chaos.
Though the episode never aired, it will inform the new season, Kranz said. "Felicia,
her character and her world, is in the first episode of season [two]," he said. "So
we're sticking with it. Things could change. We could always play it out a little
differently if we wanted to, but that's the trajectory we're on. My character kind
of loses his mind in ['Epitaph One'], feeling the weight of what he's done—the
technology he invented destroying the world—and he kind of feels bad about it. We're
kind of already heading there in the second season."
Even without jumping ahead, Topher has a lot to answer for when Dollhouse returns.
Dr. Saunders (Amy Acker) learned she was a doll, whom Topher programmed to hate him.
"In season two, we address that pretty much immediately," Kranz said. "Dr. Saunders—
Amy Acker and I, who's the best—we work across the hall from each other, so we can't
avoid each other. All that kind of awkwardness ensues, and it gets pretty dark. I
have to answer to her eventually. That's going to be really exciting. Right now,
Topher's a little down on himself, and he's starting to think like, 'Wow, one of
the most beautiful things I created hates me. Maybe I'm a bad guy.'"
That certainly indicates that Topher is still on a dark path that could lead to the
apocalypse of "Epitaph One." "Look, it's a provocative show," Kranz said. "The
technology, when you really choose to think about it and its consequences, is
really provocative. We're definitely exploring that much more this season."
The second season represents one last chance for DOLLHOUSE to capture a sizable
audience. "It's like second life, and we're really going for broke in the second
season," Kranz said. "It's really going to be out there. It's really twisted. It's
much darker. We're really taking advantage of the opportunity, so I'm pumped. Certainly
it's getting more into the characters. They're no longer really stand-alone [episodes]."
DOLLHOUSE returns Sept. 25 at 9 p.m. on Fox.
AVATAR
As James Cameron provides more information about his long-awaited sci-fi film AVATAR,
we now know that many of the actors are playing creatures called Na'vi, giant blue
humanoid warriors with tails who live on the planet Pandora. CCH Pounder, who plays
a character named Moha, confirmed that her character is the head of the Na'vi.
To embody the new race, Pounder actually drew inspiration from her own immigration
to the United States. Pounder was born in Guyana. In a group interview at the
Television Critics Association summer press tour in Pasadena, Calif., where she was
promoting the TV series BROTHERS, Pounder said, "I was an alien. I only became a
citizen in 1987, so playing an alien was not that complicated, truly."
Cameron has said that Avatar deals with the timeless struggle between militarized
nations and peaceful societies. Only in the future, on Pandora, the Na'vi don't just
stand by and take it. Dealing with such themes, Pounder indicated that Moha brings
gravitas to the story, though she shared the credit for achieving it.
"It's definitely not me," Pounder said. "It's an overall amazing sense of viewing
our emotions in a different life form. That's really it."
Working with the technology that Cameron invented to meld actors with his computer-
generated alien characters, Pounder said that she felt like the out-of-touch elder
on set. "I was definitely the most mature person on the set," Pounder said. "You
know when you tell your dad that there's this thing called the iPhone, and he's going,
'What are you talking about? That's too complicated'? Well, that's how I was on the
set of that, because I got to see all the new technology. I am ready for the 21st
century like that. It was amazing."
Pounder can also been seen in Syfy's WAREHOUSE 13, playing the mysterious Mrs.
Frederic, Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET/PT. AVATAR opens Dec. 18.
SCIENCE FICTION NEWS STORIES:
News from yesterday and the last couple of months can be found in the
News Archive. Check it out
to catch up on all that has been going on in the world of science fiction.
8:00pm on ABC
Finding Nemo(2003)
A fish embarks on a journey to find his son after losing him in the Great Barrier
Reef. Animated. Albert Brooks, Ellen DeGeneres, Alexander Gould, Willem Dafoe,
Brad Garrett
8:00pm on CBS
CSI: Miami-Episode: Rock and a Hard Place (First Aired: May 05, 2008)
Saving Alexx's son has dire consequences when he becomes a suspect in a murder case.
9:00pm on BBC America
Being Human - NEW
Annie discovers she is stuck in limbo.
9:00pm on Syfy
Infestation(2009)
An office worker leads the fight against a swarm of giant insects.
Christopher Marquette, Brooke Nevin, Ray Wise, Bru Miller, Wesley Thompson
17 AGAIN the movie is available ON DEMAND, Digital, Blu-ray and DVD this Tuesday (8/11).
Here is the iTunes link: http://bit.ly/15yfF1.
WARNER ARCHIVES ADDS MORE TITLES
Warner Archives is huge and they are taking advantage of the wide collection to make
available some of the best of the best old movies ever made. New releases include
Sing Sing with Spencer Tracy; Bordertown with Paul Muni; Crime School with Humphrey
Bogart and Razorback with Gregory Harrison and Bill Kerr. Go to
http://www.wbshop.com/New-Releases/ARCHIVENEW,default,sc.html?adid=WACAugNTEml to see
all the movies available.
ASKED & ANSWERED: PART 2
Part 2 (pages 387-778) includes more than 800 missives grouped into the following
topics:
FAN INTERACTION
FIVE YEAR ARC
FUN WITH JMS
INFLUENCES - FILM, TV & MUSIC
INFLUENCES - HISTORY & LITERATURE
JMS ON JMS
JMS ON POLITICS
LAST DAYS & LEGACY OF BABYLON 5
MERCHANDISE OF BABYLON 5
MUSIC OF BABYLON 5
ONLINE EXPERIMENT
PHYSICS & BABYLON 5
PLACES & PLANETS
PRODUCTION OF BABYLON 5
Tim is Tim, Jeffrey is Summer, and Gary is Jeffrey. It’s so confusing…
The guys discuss the “Ten Women Who Get a Really Raw Deal in B5? list, which you
can find at The Completely Useless Guide to B5.
Gary is disappointed that Vol 2 of “Asked & Answered” doesn’t have its own introduction,
but other than that all expectations were met, and he’s saving it for voicemails.
Deep Geeking: Tim and Gary talk about the developments and character shifts from
“Secrets of the Soul”. The first secret revolves around Byron discovering the
extent of the Vorlon’s involvement in the creation of telepaths, and the guys
chat about Byron’s dramatic shift from peaceful resistance to enraged outcast
because of that new knowledge.
The other secret involves the long-held secret of the Hyach and how Dr Franklin
discovers that the results of their actions centuries ago was the instrument of
their own eventual decline.
Feedback: Gary responds to one of his own voicemails, letting us know that he’s
swamped with Parsecs submissions, and leaves us to mull over the “censorship” of
the showing of Centauri female genitalia. Meta Gary Moment!
Halfway Day means we’re halfway through the calendar year… and now we know!
In emails, Brian in NY wonders if a reinvisioning or a rebooting of Babylon 5 be
good enough or if a new storyline would be better; Maureen is still working her
way through the podcast backlog, and wants to know what happened to Jarsto; Michael
comments on Tim and Summer could be missing that B5 had a greater cultural impact
than we realized.
Second Life Info: FarPoint Media’s Second Life space is now part of the village
that encompasses Third Life Books. You can find the village at
http://slurl.com/secondlife/beraudes/203/151/49.
Babylon 5 Information Gathering: If you know of a dead or abandoned B5 related
website that may be in need of a new home, let Summer know! Maybe we can mirror
it here or house it on a sister site.
Visit Deep Geeking, and if you want to contribute a geeking essay, send an email
to Summer.
It has been a while since we talked BABYLON 5 favorites. Let's see what we can come up
with! How about favorite line? I know, this is not easy, but is there one or two lines
that just scream BABYLON 5 for you? I think one of mine would be "Alone in the night."
When you hear that line, don't you hear Sinclair saying it? What is your favorite?
Send in your comments to sgbruckner@aol.com. I'll post your selections our
discussion page for all
readers to share. I'll post some of my comments in my blog -- see below.
ISN BLOG
I have just created ISN News Blog at
http://isnnews.blogspot.com. This is an experiment for me -- and I hope
you’ll join me by entering news you have to share. I’ll put in stuff that I think
is interesting for others to read about and we’ll see how it goes. Join me.
While Andreas Katsulas (G'Kar), Rick (Biggs) and Tim (Choate) are no longer with us,
we will not forget their wonderful personalities and talent -- as well as their
significant contributions to the BABYLON 5 universe. Be sure to visit
In Memory Of for more
information about memorial efforts. Until we met again, in a place where no
shadows fall.
BABYLON 5 BIRTHDAYS
Daneil Dae Kim - August 4
Claudia Christian - August 10
Stephen Austin - August 11
Tim Earls - August 15
Nancy Tarczynski - August 16
Skip Beaudine - August 26
Have I missed anyone? If you know the birthday of someone connected with Babylon 5,
pass the information along. We want to include everyone in our Happy Birthday Wishes.
Old movie lovers rejoice! Here is some news that should light up your evenings.
TCM (Turner Classic Movies),starting Saturday August 1, is offering a one of a kind
film festival starring your most beloved film star and favorite films all from the
comfort of your home!!!
SUMMER UNDER THE STARS dedicates each of its 31 days to one of Hollywood’s most
enduring personalities. Assembled from the network’s library of more than 5,000
films, this one-of-a-kind festival is an opportunity for viewers to enjoy a varied
selection from each star’s body of work, uncut and commercial free.
Featured personalities will include:
* Audrey Hepburn
* Cary Grant
* Elvis Presley
* John Wayne
The 17 memorable performers include six Oscar® winners: James Coburn (Aug. 4),
Gloria Grahame (Aug. 13), Yul Brynner (Aug. 26), two-time winners Gene Hackman
(Aug. 21) and Fredric March (Aug. 24), and honorary recipient Harold Lloyd (Aug. 5).
Other stars getting their first showcases include James Mason (Aug. 2), Marion
Davies (Aug. 3), Dirk Bogarde (Aug. 10), Red Skelton (Aug. 19), Miriam Hopkins
(Aug. 20), Sterling Hayden (Aug. 22), Merle Oberon (Aug. 25), Ida Lupino (Aug. 27),
Jean Arthur (Aug. 30) and Claire Bloom (Aug. 31).
This year's SUMMER UNDER THE STARS also features 42 feature films making their
premiere on TCM, nearly twice as many as last year. Movies making their first
appearance on TCM during the festival include The Grapes of Wrath (1940), An
Affair to Remember (1957), Les Miserables (1935), Mississippi Burning (1988)
and Good Morning, Miss Dove (1955).
TCM's popular franchises THE ESSENTIALS, co-hosted by TCM's Robert Osborne and
Emmy®-winning actor Alec Baldwin, and THE ESSENTIALS JR., hosted by Emmy winner
John Lithgow, will continue throughout SUMMER UNDER THE STARS. Saturdays at 8 p.m.
(ET), THE ESSENTIALS offerings include The Grapes of Wrath (Aug. 1), The Man Who
Came to Dinner (Aug. 8), An Affair to Remember (Aug. 15), The Asphalt Jungle (Aug. 22)
and Lolita (Aug. 29). Sundays at 8 p.m. (ET), THE ESSENTIALS JR. will feature Heaven
Can Wait (Aug. 2), Notorious (Aug. 9), It Happened at the World's Fair (Aug. 16),
Gaslight (Aug. 23) and You Can't Take It with You (Aug. 30).
LEVERAGE: Art of the Con
Last season, fans of LEVERAGE proved themselves worthy of being part of the team
in the “Get Ready to Get Even” game at LeverageHQ.com.
This season, Nate (Hutton) needs their help in an all-new promotional game. Nate’s
laptop, which contains valuable, extremely secret information about each person on
the team, has been stolen. In the life of a con artist, information is the deadliest
weapon. The Leverage team needs game players to recover the files, documents and
photos on the laptop by completing a series of missions. Those who accomplish each
task will be entered in a drawing for a chance to win a multi-city trip to become
an expert in the art of the con. One lucky winner will visit Paris, London and
New York, sites of some of history’s greatest capers. Last season’s edition of
the LeverageHQ promotional game was visited by more than half a million users,
with two out of three respondents to a survey reporting that they watched all of
LEVERAGE’s first season episodes. This game was developed in collaboration with
Lead Dog Marketing.
DARK BLUE: Undercover
Viewers will learn there is a fine line between going under and crossing over as
they engage in a new promotional online game for DARK BLUE. At
DarkBlueUndercover.com, game
players will become members of an elite undercover squad run by Carter Shaw
(McDermott). Each player will get a false identity and weekly missions to bring
down a gun-running ring. The challenges will force players to make some of the
difficult decisions that undercover cops face. Based on these decisions, players
will either get caught by the group they are trying to infiltrate; get “flipped”
and become seduced by a life of crime; or go deeper undercover. At the end of 10
weeks, those who have taken the challenge will be entered in a drawing for a chance
to win a trip undercover in Los Angeles with VIP access to the hottest clubs and
restaurants, a private helicopter tour of the Sunset strip and a ride with a former
undercover LAPD officer. This game was developed in collaboration with Omelet.
MOTION COMICS - SUPERMAN, BATGIRL AND BATMAN
Warner Premiere and Warner Bros. Digital Distribution announced three new
additions to the best-selling Warner Premiere Motion Comics slate. Classic graphic
novels SUPERMAN: RED SON and BATGIRL: YEAR ONE, as well as graphic album BATMAN: BLACK
AND WHITE Collection 2 entered the digital age as Warner Premiere Motion Comics on
the iTunes Store www.itunes.com. Also announced,
for a limited time, you can download the first glorious episode of SUPERMAN: RED SON
for free and see how Stalin’s most powerful weapon swayed the balance of power during
the Cold War http://tinyurl.com/SmanRedSonPR.
Continuing to lead the motion comics experience, Warner Premiere’s Motion Comics
connect comic fans to authentic DC characters through short-form content. The
Motion Comics slate draws on a deep reservoir of source material to bring a visually
engaging experience to life through the use of subtle movements, voice-overs, sweeping
music scores and stunning comic book artwork.
“Last year we debuted our Motion Comics slate and saw the voracious appetite graphic
novel fans had for this digital content,” said Diane Nelson, president, Warner Premiere.
“One of the reasons for our success is Warner Premiere working closely with DC Comics
to determine if a story naturally lends itself to becoming a motion comic. Another
key is the process we use to select the studios that ultimately create these motion
comics. They are very passionate comic book fans so creating these motion comics
really are a labor of love. We’re very proud of our success and look forward to
bringing more titles to comic fans in the future.”
SUGGESTED READING
TOTAL SCI-FI NEWSLETTER
If you are like me, it is hard to keep up on what's new in the world of science
fiction. Totalscifionline.com has
launched its inaugural weekly newsletter today. Pop over and sign up!
TITAN MAGAZINES
Titan has updated their website to include all of their wonderful magazines.
Go to http://mailing.titanmagazines.com/mailing
to sign up for their latest information.
This book is the ultimate for a science fiction fan. It provides a wealth of information
about series -- and many little known facts gathered through interviews and extensive
research.
FARSCAPE: THE COMPLETE SERIES MEGASET
Release date: November 17, 2009
Just in time for its 10th anniversary, FARSCAPE: THE COMPLETE SERIES MEGASET will be
released on DVD on November 17. This huge 25-disc set will contain all 88 episodes of
the series along with 15 hours of bonus material and the set will be priced at $149.95 SRP.
The series stars Ben Browder, Claudia Black, Anthony Simcoe, Virginia Hey and Gigi Edgley.
This series was an imaginative mix of live action, state-of-the-art puppetry, prosthetics
and CGI. FARSCAPE, produced by The Jim Henson Company in association with RHI Entertainment,
featured mind-boggling alien life forms, dazzling special effects, edge-of-your-seat thrills,
irreverent humor and unforgettable characters -- all brought to rich life by the creative
minds at Jim Henson's Creature Shop. Strap in and hold on tight for the extraordinary
adventures of John Crichton, as he finds himself surrounded by hostile aliens and soaring
through the cosmos aboard Moya, a glorious living space ship. Hunted by the relentless
Peacekeepers, he allies himself with Moya's crew -- Aeryn Sun (Claudia Black), Luxan warrior
Ka D'Argo (Anthony Simcoe), azure priestess Zhaan (Virginia Hey), spritely Nebari thief
Chiana (Gigi Edgley), Dominar Rygel, the deposed royal ruler of the Hynerian Empire and
Pilot - to search for a way out of this inconceivably alien world and return home.
Special Features:
- 29 Episode Commentaries, including "Premiere" with Rockne S. O'Bannon, Brian Henson and
Ben Browder; "Jeremiah Crichton" with Claudia Black, Producer/Writer David Kemper, Browder
and O'Bannon; "Bone to Be Wild" with Anthony Simcoe; "Relativity" with Lani Tupu (Crais/Voice
of Pilot) and Director Peter Andrikidis; and, "Bad Timing" which features Browder, Black
and Kemper discussing the series' final episode.
- Multiple featurettes and documentaries including "In the Beginning: A Look Back with Brian
Henson"; "Making of a Space Opera" and "Inside Farscape: Save Farscape," on which fans, cast
and crew discuss the fate of their beloved series.
- Multiple video profiles featuring archival clips and cast/crew discussing their characters
and roles on Farscape.
- Over 90 minutes of deleted scenes.
- Slideshows and archival photo galleries, including character concepts and promo photos.
- Production design galleries featuring screenshots, rough drafts and concept slide shows.
- Behind-the-Scenes interviews with Ben Browder, Claudia Black, Anthony Simcoe, Virginia Hey,
Gigi Edgley, Paul Goddard (Stark), Wayne Pygram (Scorpius) and more.
- Original TV promos and trailers.
TORCHWOOD: CHILDREN OF EARTH
Release date: July 28, 2009
Synopsis:
In this new series, re-join Captain Jack, Gwen Cooper and Ianto Jones, who are still coming
to terms with the death of two of their closest friends, Tosh and Owen. This time the Torchwood
team are faced with their fiercest threat to date - one which throws the future of Torchwood
and the entire human race spiraling into danger. They battle against the odds but do they
stand a chance of saving mankind?
SUPERFRIENDS: THE LOST EPISODES
Release Date: August 11, 2009
Official websiste: www.dcbeyond.com
Synopsis: Powerful super heroes Batman, Robin, Superman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman,
Wonder Twins Zan and Jayna and their rascally blue space monkey Gleek battle evil, protect
humanity and save the world from unthinkable dangers in these 24 action-packed adventures.
These cool cartoon actionfests showcase a gallery of DC Comics heroes and fan-favorite
villains like Brainiac and Mr. Mxyzptlk, plus the Hanna-Barbera-originated hero El Dorado.
Produced after the Super Friends show ended its run, these treasures were ?lost? for more
than a decade until they were shown as part of The Superman/Batman Adventures series.
It's a Deluxe 2-Disc Collector's Set with Bonus Downloadables -- your own pieces of super
hero comic book history!
PRIMEVAL: VOLUME 2
Release date: September 15, 2009
Synopsis:
Monster hit Primeval roars back onto the screens for an extended third series. Still
reeling from Stephen's death and with the depth of Helen's betrayal now revealed, Nick
Cutter must fight to re-focus his embattled team. Cutter's crew are joined by some new
recruits in the form of maverick policeman Danny Quinn, sparky Egyptologist Sarah Page,
and the new leader of the ARC's security forces Captain Becker. But as the anomalies
continue to present an unrelenting series of threats, the task in hand seems almost
insurmountable. It's not just deadly creatures the team has to contend with, they
also face a threat to the future of not just the ARC but of mankind itself. Prepare
for more explosive action as Primeval bares its newly sharpened teeth.
From June 30 - August 11, 2009, Green Lantern Fans Can Enter to Win a PlayStation 3,
40" LCD HDTV, a Copy of Green Lantern: First Flight on Blu-ray and Much More
To promote the Blu-ray and DVD release of "Green Lantern: First Flight" on July 28,
a sweepstakes has been created to get fans involved and give them a chance to win
cool prizes. Green Lantern fans can enter the sweepstakes and learn more about
the fifth entry in the popular DVD series of DC Universe Animated Originals through
a Facebook Power Ring widget.
Once the Facebook Power Ring Widget has been added to a fan's page, they can
"recharge their ring" continuously to keep it powered to 100% and automatically
submit additional entries in the sweepstakes. Additional features of the widget
include a Personality Quiz, Green Lantern IQ Test, Video, News and Updates,
Downloads and Links.
REVIEW:
I got to see an advance copy of this DVD and was totally blown away by it. It tells the
story of GREEN LANTERN in an honest and exciting way. It takes you to the beginning, shows
you how Hal Jordan was selected by a dying Green Lantern and how he had to prove himself
to the others as Guardians of the Universe. The story is good and the animation is
wonderful. The voice actors are marvelous: Christopher Meloni is the voice of GREEN
LANTERN; Victor Garber is deliciously sly and evil as SINESTRO. BATTLESTAR GALACTICA's
Tricia Helfer is BOODIKKA. I loved KILOWOG played by Michael Madsen.
If you love comic books, this version of GREEN LANTERN is sure to please.
There were a few words I wish had been left out of the script and at times there seemed to
be a lot of fighting, so parents might want to watch this one before showing it to more
impressionalbe children.
PUSHING DAISIES - COMPLETE SECOND SEASON
Official Release Date: July 21, 2009
Official website: http://www.pushingdaisiesdvd.com
Synopsis:
This forensic fairytale follows Ned, a young man with a very special gift. As a
boy, Ned discovered that he could return the dead briefly back to life with just
one touch. Now a pie maker, Ned puts his ability to good use, not only touching
dead fruit and making it ripe with everlasting flavor, but working with a private
investigator to crack murder cases by raising the dead and getting them to name
their killers. But the tale gets complicated when Ned brings his childhood sweetheart,
Chuck, back from the dead -- and keeps her alive. Chuck becomes the third partner in
Ned and Emerson's private-investigation enterprise, encouraging them to use Ned's
skills for good, not just for profit. Life would be perfect for Ned and Chuck, except
for one cruel twist: If he ever touches her again, she'll go back to being dead,
this time for good.
Product Description
An aquarium worker with a live shark latched onto him…a blind woman and her guide
companion (a miniature horse!)…a college boy with an arrow in his gut (his fraternity
brothers were aiming for the apple on his head). Gunshot victims. Homeless children.
Cardiac cases. So many patients, so little time. Year 11 of the fast-paced series
brings challenges and changes to the ER. Corday and Chen weigh work and family.
Abby finds that being a good doctor is as tough as being a good nurse. Ray Barnett
– doctor by day, rock star by night – arrives. Carter decides to leave. He’s been
there from the start, a student turned leader who picked up where Greene left off.
He set the tone, provided the example. His impact will endure.
REVIEW:
This is one of those shows that has grown better over time. We've seen George Clooney
launch his career on this show. Season 11 includes Ray Liotta's emmy winning episode
"Time of Death", a real time episode following the final 43 minutes of his character's
life. Also during this season, Alex Kingston, Ming Na and Noah Wyle exit County General.
The show continues to have wonderful guest stars including Red Buttons, Danny Glover,
Cynthia Nixon, Francis Fisher and Sharif Atkins.
While the staff holds many of the plots together, ER includes some of the most
memorable patient storylines. New doc Ray Barnett (Shane West) juggles medicine
and music, Sam and Luka continue their turbulent relationship, and Corday is
punished for performing an illegal operation.
It is good to see that the series are now coming out more quickly. You have less
time to wait to see this favorite series -- on your schedule.
FRIENDS CELEBRATES 15 YEARS
Experience the best moments from this hugely popular Emmy-award winning series with
the all-new BEST OF Collections, now available only on iTunes.
Including the best hand-picked Friends episodes, these collections feature the most
memorable moments of the series, including the dramatic break-ups, the emotional
make-ups, and of course, some of most hilarious scenes that ever aired on TV,
capturing the unforgettable storylines that made Friends a smash hit.
The Complete Series is also now available for the first time on iTunes. Get the
full seasons for the full experience.
PEANUTS 1960s COLLECTION
Release Date: July 7, 2009
Peanuts lovers rejoice. You now have only one DVD to buy to get all the most popular
Peanuts TV specials. The PEANUTS 1960s COLLECTION willshowcase all six heartwarming
TV specials in a two-disc set, as well as all-new enhanced content. These specials
aired between 1965 and 1969, several earning Emmy Award nominations or wins. This
is the first time all six specials are available to consumers in one set. Two of
the specials, HE'S YOUR DOG, CHARLIE BROWN and IT WAS A SHORT SUMMER, CHARLIE BROWN
make their DVD debut. All six specials have been re-mastered for beautiful picture
and sound quality. Here is a list of all the specials included:
A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)
Charlie Brown's All-Stars (1966)
It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966)
You're in Love, Charlie Brown (1967)
He's Your Dog, Charlie Brown (1968)
It was a Short Summer, Charlie Brown (1969)
DVD Special Features include:
The Maestro of Menlo Park - Profiling Composer Vince Guaraldi - This short documentary
film provides a glimpse into jazz musician Vince Guaraldi's life, and how his music
was so much more than just the theme to Peanuts.
THIRD WATCH: THE COMPLETE SECOND SEASON
Release Date: July 7, 2009
The real heroes that keep New York City and its residents safe are back for their
sophomore season. Working the 3-11 p.m. shift (known as the "third watch"), these
ordinary people perform extraordinary feats of bravery on a daily basis. Featuring
an all-star cast including Bobby Cannavale, Eddie Cibrian, Michael Beach, and Kim
Raver, Third Watch portrays the best - and sometimes the worst - of "the city's
finest." Nine years after the second season's TV debut, Warner Home Video is releasing
the highly anticipated Third Watch: The Complete Second Season DVD on July 7, 2009.
Created by John Wells (ER, The West Wing) and Edward Allen Bernero (Criminal Minds),
THIRD WATCH: THE COMPLETE SECOND SEASON is an Emmy® and Peabody® Award winning series
that follows professional rescuers and first responders as they take on crime, medical
emergencies, and blazing buildings in the largest city in America. Police, firefighters
and paramedics all work together as the show explores the intricacies of their relationships
on the streets, in the station, and back at home. Episodes include situations ranging
from dangerous (tracking a sniper who targets cops) to playful (a football match between
fire departments), to the mundane (a frequent 911 dialer). These heroes risk their
lives every day so we can sleep soundly, knowing that we're protected by the "third
watch."
"THIRD WATCH: THE COMPLETE SECOND SEASON contains 22 action-packed episodes that
focus on the unsung heroes of New York City," said Rosemary Markson, WHV Vice President,
TV & Special Interest Marketing. "After the recent event on the Hudson, the world is
increasingly fascinated by these first responders, and Warner Home Video is proud to
present the second season on DVD."
FRIDAY THE 13TH - KILLER CUT
Get ready to re-live the horror when Friday the 13th the extended Killer Cut with
even more suspense, wild times, and more of the infamous killer Jason Voorhees
arrives on iTunes, Playstation Store and Amazon Video On Demand.
$43 Million Opening Weekend Shatters Box Office Records. From the producers of
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, comes a chilling reimagining of the classic horror film.
Searching for his missing sister, Clay Miller heads to the eerie woods of legendary
Crystal Lake, where he stumbles on the creaky remains of rotting old cabins behind
moss-covered trees. And that's not all. Against the advice from locals, Clay pursues
what few leads he has with the help of Jenna and a group of college kids who are up
for a getaway weekend. But little do they know, they've entered the domain of one
of the most terrifying specters in American film history--the infamous killer who
haunts Crystal Lake, armed with a razor-sharp machete...Jason Voorhees.
"FRINGE: THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON features 20 episodes of the most exciting new show
on television, including over six hours of never-before-seen bonus features and
collectible lenticular packaging,” said Rosemary Markson, WHV Vice President, TV
and Special Interest Marketing. “Warner Home Video is ecstatic to release this much-
anticipated science-fiction hit on DVD and Blu-Ray.”
DVD Special Features Include:
Evolution: The Genesis of Fringe featurette - The creators of the show discuss how
the series unfolded and the qualities that make it so unique
Behind the Real Science of Fringe featurette - From teleportation to re-animation,
Fringe incorporates recent discoveries in science. Consulting experts and scientists
who are the authorities in their field address the areas of science which are the
inspiration for the show.
A Massive Undertaking: The Making of Fringe (on select episodes) - An in-depth
exploration of how select episodes came to be made: from the frozen far reaches of
shooting the pilot in Toronto, to the weekly challenges of bringing episodes to air
The Casting of Fringe- The story, as told by producers and cast, of how Anna Torv,
Joshua Jackson, John Noble and others came to be cast in the series.
Fringe Visual Effects featurette - Goes deep into the creation of the shared dream
state with some of the biggest VFX shots of the show.
Dissected Files: Unaired Scenes
Unusual Side Effects: Gag Reel
Deciphering the Scene
Roberto Orci Production Diary
Gene the Cow montage
Three Full-Length Commentaries from writers/producers, including J.J. Abrams, Roberto
Orci, Alex Kurtman, J.R. Orci, David Goodman, Bryan Burk, Akiva Goldsman and Jeff Pinkner
I love this show and have enjoyed all the episodes in this first season. I am
anxiously awaiting season two and SO happy that the DVD will be out with all those
wonderful extras listed above -- and more.
STARGATE ATLANTIS - SEASON 5
Release date: June 30, 2009
Stargate Atlantis: Season Five will be released on DVD on June 30. This five disc
set will contain all 20 episodes of this final season and the set will be priced
at $49.98 SRP. The series stars Robert Picardo, Joe Flanigan and Jason Momoa along
with appearances from Amanda Tapping, Michael Shanks and Paul McGillion.
In this action-packed fifth season, sparks fly when Woolsey becomes the new leader
of the Atlantis team. Meanwhile, McKay faces difficult personal challenges; Teyla
must balance her roles as mother and warrior; Ronan's past returns with a vengeance,
and Keller finds peril, then help, from an unlikely source. A provisional relationship
with the Wraith takes a shocking turn and new adversaries test the team's courage
and resolve like never before.
Looking for movies you can watch with your children? I have moved many of the
family-oriented DVDs to a
Family DVDs page. Here you will find wonderful DVDs you can enjoy with your entire
family -- no matter the age. You will find background information about the DVD, but there
are clips as well from Warner Bros. Enjoy!
For more information on other DVDs that have just been released and reviewed, go to
New DVDs
BABYLON 5 MUSIC VIDEOS AND TRIBUTES
I found this message on the Babylon 5 moderated newsgroup this morning and just
had to post it so that others might enjoy the marvelous music videos created by
John Hudgens.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++
As some of you may know, I was hired by Joe Straczynski back in the
day to create Babylon 5 music videos for him to use at science fiction
conventions, and later to promote the show to networks. Eight were
produced over the run of the series, not including the memorial videos
I did later for Rick Biggs and Andreas Katsulas.
For the longest time, the only way to see these was if Joe or I showed
them at a convention, but now, after numerous requests from fans over
the years, Joe has given me permission me to post these online.
- This is the extended version that I did for Andreas' widow ater the
original cut was released on the net. It's never been seen online
until now.
For those of you who've never seen these, I hope you enjoy them - and
for those that have (and emailed me many times over the years about
releasing them), I hope they're as good as you remember. Working with
Joe on these videos was one of the highlights of my career, and I'll
be forever grateful to him for the doors these have opened for me. I'm
proud to have them on my resume.
John Hudgens
www.zteamproductions.com
RED CIRCLE: THE HANGMAN #1
Written by J. Michael Straczynski; Art by Tom Derenick and Bill Sienkiewicz; Cover
by Jesus Saiz.
J. Michael Straczynski dives into the DC Universe, bringing four of the finest
heroes of the Golden and Silver Ages with him! Completely reimagined for the modern
world from their original appearances in Archie/MLJ publications, these four heroes
will show you a side of the DC Universe you've never seen before! The Civil War
claimed many lives…but one of those lives still hasn't ended! Union doctor Robert
Dickering found himself on the wrong side of the battle lines, and despite his heroic
treatment of a fallen enemy soldier, he also found himself on the wrong end of a
noose! But a shadowy power stepped forth in the twilight moments between life and
death and offered him a deal he couldn't refuse: to forever roam the Earth, saving
the lives of innocents condemned like himself – or hastening the deaths of the guilty!
But in taking the seemingly righteous mission of the Hangman, has he accepted God's
work? Or has he become the vengeful fist of the Devil himself?
August 6-9, 2009 OFFICIAL STAR TREK CONVENTION
Place: Las Vegas Hilton Hotel, 3000 Paradise Rd.
Guests: Just about anyone you can think of that has been associated with the show
August 6-9, 2009CHICAGO COMIC-CON
Place: Donald E. Stephens Convention Center
City: Chicago, Illinois
Guests include Nichelle Nichols from Star Trek, Edward James Olmos, Ray Park
For more information, go to
http://www.wizarduniverse.com/wizworchic20.html
August 22-23, 2009MINI MEGACON
Place: Orange County Convention Center Hall E1
City: Orlando, Florida
Guests: Peter Facinelli, Twilight; Emma Caufield, Buffy; Charisma Carpenter,
Buffy, Angel; Amber Benson, Buffy; Sylvester McCoy, Doctor Who; Arne Starr, Star
Trek, and many more
For more information, go to
http://www.megaconvention.com/#
August 27 - 29, 2009
Mid-Atlantic Nostalgia Convention
Place: The Clarion Hotel
City: Aberdeen, Maryland
Guests: Lee Meriwether (Star Trek guest, Time Tunnel, and Batman), Bob Hastings
(McHale's Navy and The Munsters), James Best (Forbidden Planet and Dukes of Hazzard)
and Celeste Holm (Academy Award winning actress) and more.
For more information, go to
http://www.midatlanticnostalgiaconvention.com.
September 4-7, 2009 Dragon-Con
City: Atlanta, Georgia
B5 Guests: Stephen Furst, Tracey Scoggins, Bruce Boxleitner, Dwight Schultz
For more information, go to www.dragoncon.org
December 4-6, 2009 STEEL CITY CON
Place: Monroeville Convention Center
City: Monroeville (near Pittsbugh) Pa.
Guests include: Ernie Hudson from Ghostbusters I and II, Peter Mayhew
For more information, go to http://www.steelcitycon.com .
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS! Creation Entertainment has a large number of
conventions planned for the next several months. They include stars from STARGATE,
ENTERPRISE, FARSCAPE, XENA, BATTLESTAR GALACTICA, etc. Check out their calendar to
see if one will be in your neighborhood soon. Don't miss their
Videos page as well. It is
full of some priceless video from a number of conventions.
Be sure to visit the referenced sites to see if there have been changes in
dates/guests attending. Visit our Convention Calendar
for a full listing of upcoming conventions.
BACK ISSUES OF THE ZOCALO TODAY
The front page of the The Zocalo Today changes daily, so be sure to check the
back issues to make sure that you haven't missed anything IMPORTANT! I don't want the front page getting too
long so I shift information periodically into the archives. So if you aren't a regular visitor to The Zocalo Today, be sure
to check out the back issues. Just use the button above!
Take care and I look forward to hearing from you. Sandra Bruckner (sgbruckner@aol.com)
Editor/Publisher
ISN News: The Zocalo Today
http://www.isnnews.net
Copyright - SBruckner, 1999-2009
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According to a twitter posting, Sony Pictures has signed Taiwan musician-actor-filmmaker
Jay Chou to replace Stephen Chow as Kato in Seth Rogen's upcoming THE GREEN HORNET.
The 30-year-old pop star recently made the transition to movies and is reportedly
a fan of Bruce Lee, who played the role in the 1960s TV show. Chou has appeared in
three Chinese-language movies. Chow was initially signed to direct the movie and
to play Kato, but dropped out. He joins Nicolas Cage, Rogen and Cameron Diaz in
the movie, which is to be directed by Michel Gondry, with a reported fall start date.
"Jay is incredibly unique and charming and fights like a wild dog!" Gondry said in
a statement. "When I filmed him next to Seth, they had such great chemistry, and I
knew the movie will be great."
DOLLHOUSE
AVATAR
LEVERAGE: Art of the Con
Viewers will learn there is a fine line between going under and crossing over as
they engage in a new promotional online game for DARK BLUE. At
FARSCAPE: THE COMPLETE SERIES MEGASET
TORCHWOOD: CHILDREN OF EARTH
Release date: July 28, 2009
SUPERFRIENDS: THE LOST EPISODES
Release Date: August 11, 2009
PRIMEVAL: VOLUME 2
Once the Facebook Power Ring Widget has been added to a fan's page, they can
"recharge their ring" continuously to keep it powered to 100% and automatically
submit additional entries in the sweepstakes. Additional features of the widget
include a Personality Quiz, Green Lantern IQ Test, Video, News and Updates,
Downloads and Links.
PUSHING DAISIES - COMPLETE SECOND SEASON
FRIENDS CELEBRATES 15 YEARS
PEANUTS 1960s COLLECTION
THIRD WATCH: THE COMPLETE SECOND SEASON
RED CIRCLE: THE HANGMAN #1 
September 4-7, 2009