Babylon 5 ISN News: The Zocalo Today
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The Zocalo Today
Welcome and thank you for dropping by. Babylon 5 brought many of us together --
and it remains with us, despite the fact that is no longer in production. The good
thing is that the internet gives a LOT of ways to stay in touch. Don't be shy.
Join in the discussion today or drop by my blog! You can also find me on FaceBook
and Twitter.
If you have questions, drop me a line at sgbruckner@aol.com.
I have a 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, SEPTEMBER 12, 2009
ROBIN HOOD RETURNS ON BBC AMERICA
I was happy to see that ROBIN HOOD was returning to BBC America for their third season, starting
at 9:00pm tonight. This has been an outstanding series, very reminiscent of the ROBIN HOOD I
grew up with. Jonas Armstrong makes a marvelous Robin as are Keith Allan as The Sheriff and
Richard Armitage as Guy of Gisborne. There is a preview episode at 8:00pm for folks who haven't
been following the series.
Otherwise there isn't a lot on the tube for you tonight -- so I have listed a number of movies
you might consider watching. Enjoy.
THE VAMPIRE DIARIES
THE VAMPIRE DIARIES -- The CW's new fall show -- delivered breakout numbers for its premiere
on Thursday night. DIARIES (4.8 million viewers, 2.1 preliminary adults 18-49 rating, 3.0 women
18-34) is the CW's most-watched series premiere ever. In the adult demo, it's the CW's best
series debut rating since last fall's "90210." Since "90210" scored a very close 4.7 million
viewers, the "most-watched ever" claim could change when the nationals come in later today.
As posted last night, VAMPIRE DIARIES scored high on broadcasters' latest internal tracking
"intent to view" polling among the new fall shows.
PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN
Disney announced the title for the fourth "Pirates of the Caribbean" at its D23 expo: Capt.
Jack Sparrow's next adventure will be "On Stranger Tides." The title of a 1987 book by Tim
Powers. The story: a young puppeteer named Jack Shandy is pressed into service as a pirate
and must eventually take on Blackbeard to save his lady love. The book includes voodoo and
the Fountain of Youth, the second of which had already been rumored to be Sparrow's goal in
a potential fourth "Pirates" chapter. Johnny Depp is on board -- he attended the title's
announcement and that Rob Marshall is in talks to direct.
OLD DOGS
Disney is making a lot of news this week as its D23 Expo opened on Thursday in Anaheim.
John Travolta appeared to a standing ovation in the company of his wife, Kelly Preston,
and daughter Ella Blue, to promote the Disney film OLD DOGS, in which the entire family stars.
"I appreciate the audience's love for me," Travolta told the cheering crowd. "I hope they
love OLD DOGS as much as we do, because it's got my baby in it, [Ella Blue], and my other
baby, [Preston]."
This was the first public appearance since Travolta lost his beloved son, Jett earlier in
the year. The family presented a solid unit, holding together in public. When an audience
member shouted "We love you" from the crowd, Travolta mouthed back the words, "Love you too."
OLD DOGS stars Preston as the long-lost lover of Robin Williams' character, who brings two
children to his attention. Travolta plays Williams' ladies'-man best friend. "It was a little
tricky," Preston said. "Robin is wild and hilarious. It was a dream come true, because it's
Ella's first movie, and I got to work with John." OLD DOGS opens Nov. 25.
OTHER WALT DISNEY PROJECTS
Walt Disney Studios chairman Dick Cook made several major announcements about upcoming Disney
films during an address at the D23 Disney fan expo today in Anaheim, Calif., including
surprising details about JOHN CARTER OF MARS and the secret Guillermo del Toro's been
teasing.
MUPPET MOVIE NAMED: The name of the upcoming new Muppet movie will be THE CHEAPEST MUPPET
MOVIE EVER MADE!
JOHN CARTER is a franchise. Cook announced that he expects Andrew Stanton's live-action JOHN
CARTER OF MARS to become a new Disney franchise, after the first film hits theaters in summer
2012.
NEW HORROR LABEL. Disney announced the debut of a new label called DISNEY DOUBLE DARE YOU,
spearheaded by Guillermo del Toro, to make scarier, thrilling movies for the Disney family
audience. Del Toro recorded a video greeting from New Zealand, where he is working on The
Hobbit, saying that he was inspired by the old E-Ticket rides at Disneyland. The first Disney
Double Dare you film will be THE TROLL HUNTERS, based on an original idea by del Toro.
NATIONAL TREASURE 3. During a presentation on THE SORCERER'S APPRENTICE, Cook himself asked
Nicolas Cage to do NATIONAL TREASURE 3. Cage agreed.
FRANKENWEENIE. Cook was also excited to announce the feature-length, stop-motion-animated
version of Tim Burton's early short film FRANKENWEENIE, which Cook said allows Burton "to
expand on the story and take his characters on wildly imaginative adventures."
YELLOW SUBMARINE 3-D. Cook announced that Robert Zemeckis' next project would be a 3-D
motion-capture remake of the Beatles' YELLOW SUBMARINE. "It's true, we are making a Yellow
Submarine," Cook said. "You're going to see the Blue Meanies and Pepperland as never before,
with the greatest soundtrack ever."
SMALLVILLE PROMO SPOTS
Over at MovieWeb.com, you'll find
four new TV spots for the upcoming 9th season premiere of SMALLVILLE. The first episode is
entitled "Savior" -- it airs this Friday, September 25 at 8:00pm ET on The CW. I have posted
one of them for you to preview.
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 BBC America
Robin HoodEpisode: We Are Robin Hood (First Aired: August 02, 2008)
Upon arriving in the Holy Land, Robin tries to warn the King of the Sheriff's threat, but
is treated as a traitor; Marian makes a final plea to Gisborne.
8:00pm on FX
The Devil Wears Prada(2006)
A recent college graduate lands a job working for a famous and diabolical editor of a
New York fashion magazine. Based on the novel by Lauren Weisberger. Meryl Streep, Anne
Hathaway, Adrian Grenier, Stanley Tucci, Emily Blunt
8:00pm on TNT
300(2007)
Sparta's King Leonidas and his badly outnumbered warriors fight to the death against King
Xerxes' massive Persian army at the Battle of Thermopylae. Based on the graphic novel by
Frank Miller and Lynn Varley. Gerard Butler, Lena Headey, David Wenham, Dominic West,
Rodrigo Santoro
8:30 on USA
The Bourne Identity(2002)
A woman helps an amnesiac,who has a dangerous past, to dodge assassins as he tries to learn
about himself. Based on a book by Robert Ludlum. Matt Damon, Franka Potente, Chris Cooper,
Clive Owen, Brian Cox
9:00pm on BBC America
Robin HoodEpisode: Total Eclipse (NEW)
Robin returns to avenge Marian's murder and battle Gisborne; Tuck searches for Robin Hood,
believing he is the only man who can unite England.
9:00pm on Syfy
Lightning Strikes(2009)
A man must save his town from a monster that hides in lightning.
DISCUSSION TOPIC - TV FAVORITES
I don't know about you, but the summer drives me a little nuts. There is so little to watch
on TV in general, but in the summer all you have to select from is reruns -- with a few
exceptions on networks that have new programs out from the regular cycle. (WAREHOUSE 13 has
been one of these and I love this show.) I find myself going to A&E, TNT, USA to watch some
good reruns like Criminal Minds, NCIS, CSI: New York and CSI-Miami. This week ION and SYFY
joins the group adding GHOST WHISPERER to their schedule. ION also has a new show starting
tonight, DUNHAM COUNTY. Haven't heard much about this one, but looks like another procedural
drama. How about you? Are you feeling the same longing for some quality TV? For some of my
favorites, FRINGE and NCIS, the wait is nearly over. For others like SANCTUARY, I will have
to be patient a little longer. How have you spent the summer? Found any good movies,
books or places for good viewing?
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.
SPIDER & JEANNE ROBINSON NEED HELP
Earlier this year Jeanne Robinson (co-author of the Hugo & Nebula Award-winning
STARDANCE trilogy and wife of Spider Robinson) underwent surgery for a rare and
virulent form of cancer. The therapies she needs are expensive and not covered
by Canada's health system.
There are several ways you can help, from donating items to be auctioned off to a
direct donation to simply buying books from the links on Spider's website. Please
check out Jeanne's request for help at
Stardance : : The Official Movie Blog and help spread the word and give if you
can.
REAL GOOD RADIO HOUR WITH BILL MUMY
Bill Mumy is inviting you to check out his brand new weekly radio show, "THE REAL
GOOD RADIO HOUR with your host Bill Mumy".
We'll be listening to many different styles of music and learning about those who
pioneered them.
"The Real Good Radio Hour" will air every Wednesday and Friday at 7 PM both Pacific
and Eastern time.
Some of the upcoming episodes will focus on:
Masters of the Blues
Pioneers of Folk
Architects of Rock n Roll
Heart of the Country
Bringing it Live
Rock Meets Folk
Classic Crooners
The Roots of Reggae
The Real Good Radio Hour debuts Wednesday, September 16th at 7 pm and can be heard
weekly on KSAV.org.
ASKED & ANSWERED: PART 4 - NEW RELEASE DATE: OCTOBER 14
The B5 Books Team is delaying the release of Part 4 of the "Asked & Answered" series
from this month to October 14. This is because of an unusually high number of fans
catching up with the releases they missed this summer while traveling and vacationing.
To let these folks catch up (and to accommodate demand), Part 4 will be released on
October 14. Part 5 will now be released November 18.
See the entire listing of books at
http://www.cafepress.com/b5books.
BABYLON PODCAST
Welcome to Show #171 - Phoenix Rising (Season 5)
Tim and Summer revisit a couple of articles over at io9 that mention Babylon 5,
and again wonder what might have transpired if we’d seen a little more of Harriman
Gray during the series.
Deep Geeking: Tim and Summer discuss “Phoenix Rising”, and the beginning of [...]
Visit Deep Geeking, and if you want to contribute a geeking essay, send an email
to Summer.
To catch up on all the Babylon 5 podcasts, go to
http://www.babylonpodcast.com.
ISN BLOG
Join me on the ISN News Blog at
http://isnnews.blogspot.com. I’ll put in stuff that I think is interesting
for others to read about and I hope you will join in to discuss of the issues --
related to science fiction or not!
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
Pat Tallman - September 4
Cinzia Zanetti - September 5
Robin Atkin Downes - September 6
Mira Furlan - September 7
Walter Koenig - September 14
Paul Williams - September 19
Robert Rusler - September 20
Gary Cole - September 20
Bear Burge - September 23
Jason Carter - September 23
Manny Case - September 23
I love September. It has a number of birthdays for some of my FAVORITE Babylon 5
people, including Patty, Robin, Bear, Jason and Manny. 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.
FRINGE fans can now enter for a chance to win a trip to the set of FRINGE at
www.CompleteThePattern.com.
The grand prize winner will win a trip to Vancouver, BC. The first prize winner
will get a hi-def home entertainment system and five second prize winners will
receive a copy of the Complete First Season on DVD.
You can purchase the Complete First Season of Fringe on September 8th. See more
information down in the DVD section.
Synopsis:
Warner Bros. Consumer Products (WBCP) announces the Scooby-Doo Zoinks Points consumer
rewards program. This first of its kind program offers fans the opportunity to download
and access free, exclusive online content with the purchase of all Scooby-Doo licensed
products. Users will have access to a vast and ever-expanding collection of online and
downloadable content, including custom Scooby-Doo online games, video clips, wallpapers,
screen savers, podcasts and more.
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.”
THE MENTALIST - SEASON ONE
Release date: September 22, 2009
Official website: www.thementalistdvd.com
Synopsis
“A mentalist is a master manipulator of thought and behavior.” The mentalist is
Patrick Jane (Simon Baker in an acclaimed performance), a celebrity psychic whose
wife and child are viciously murdered by an elusive serial killer called Red John.
Devastated, Patrick admits his paranormal act is fake, renounces his earlier life
and uses his astonishing skills of observation and analysis – talents that made
him appear psychically gifted – to bring killers to justice. At crime scenes across
California, Patrick now helps an elite team of detectives break their toughest cases.
But no matter how many criminals he catches, Patrick never forgets his central goal:
Find Red John. And bring him down.
FRINGE
Release date: September 8, 2009
"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.
I have loved this show from the very beginning. FRINGE is a very thought-provoking show that
has a definite grounding in real science. Perhaps that is why I like it so much. While I can
watch some "fantasy" programs, programs that have some basis in reality seem to work better for
me. While some of the stories are pretty much out there, the interaction with the characters
is just perfect. You have Olivia, an FBI agent now assigned to investigate strange occurances,
ala X-Files. You have Walter, somewhat of a mad scientist, but perhaps he is more of a visionary.
His son, Peter, acts as a guardian for Walter, who gets released from a mental institution to
help Olivia, is somewhat of a con-man, collaborator, partner to both Olivia and Walter. The
acting is just top-rate -- as is the writing. Created by J.J. Abrams, you see a tinge of
ALIAS, but only that. The chemistry for all of the characters is wonderful and I am anxious
to see what happens for the upcoming second season. This is like a melodrama that teases you
with clues each week. You don't have to watch each week to enjoy the show though -- but watching
each week increases the enjoyment -- at least it does for me.
The DVD is marvelous. There are extra features on each of the 7 discs included in the package.
You will hear from J.J. Abrams about how he created the series, you will hear from the writers
and special effects genuises who have brought this show to the small screen. This DVD is
definitely one you will enjoy watching on many levels.
CELEBRATE HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH WITH BABY LOONEY TUNES
Warner Bros. Consumer Products and renowned Latina health expert, Dra. Aliza Lifshitz,
partner to reach out to Hispanic mothers and promote healthy, happy babies, utilizing
Baby Looney Tunes as ambassadors for the program. The partnership announced September
1 coincides with the start of Hispanic Heritage Month and will provide new and expecting
mothers with fun, engaging and educational ways to best care for and nuture their babies.
Visit the all-new Baby Looney Tunes branded sections on
www.MomLogic.com and www.VidaySalud.com for more
about the Happily Healthy fun initiative and video tips from Dra. Aliza and Baby Looney
Tunes' downloads for kids:
Follow Baby Looney Tunes on Facebook and Baby Looney Tunes En Español on Facebook.
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.
Warner Bros. has done it again. From the extensive archive comes an OUR GANG collection.
Alfalfa, Spanky, Buck Wheat and the rest of the gang arrive on today on the Warner
Archive in The Our Gang Collection that headlines a stellar line-up of new releases.
This new five-disc DVD set contains all 52 of the “Our Gang” shorts produced by MGM
between 1938 and 1944 in their original, uncut form as first seen in theaters at a
limited time special price of $34.99 only at
http://www.warnerarchive.com.
Among the episodes in the Collection are “Party Fever,” “The Little Ranger,” “Alfalfa’s
Aunt,” “Don’t Lie” and dozens more. Also seen in the cast are Froggy, Porky, and even
little Mickey Guibitosi, who soon changed his screen name to Bobby (Robert) Blake.
This collection marks the first ever home video release of the entire group of the
52 MGM shorts, news sure to be welcomed by the hordes of “Our Gang” fans out there.
The “Our Gang” comedies are the first in a series of monthly Warner Archive Collection
releases to be drawn from a library of classic theatrical short subjects originally
produced by both Warner Bros. and MGM.
Also coming to the Warner Archive in September are the “Dogville” shorts, Wrestling
Ernest Hemingway, Airbourne and many more. Please visit www.warnerarchive to view
the vast selection of wonderful classic titles including treasures from the silent
film era; rarely seen films starring Hollywood legends like Cary Grant, Clark Gable,
Bette Davis; and Sci-fi cult classics like Doc Savage, Countdown and others.
THE ADVENTURES OF ONE ESKIMO
Release Date: August 31, 2009
The U.K.-based band "One Eskimo" and Warner Premiere have created an innovative
new musical experience for consumers that brings a musical album together with
groundbreaking animation and story to offer music fans a fully immersive musical
and visual storytelling experience. The brainchild of lead singer Kristian Leontiou,
"The Adventures of One Eskimo" is a visual album comprised of a series of animated
musical story episodes jointly developed and produced by the band and Warner Premiere,
and will be distributed by Warner Bros. Digital Distribution (WBDD). Warner Premiere
and WBDD envision "The Adventures of One Eskimo" to be the first in a slate of visual
album projects that offer musicians and consumers a new and compelling way to experience
musical albums through the digital medium. "The Adventures of One eskimO" will debut
August 31 on iTunes and other digital channels
http://tinyurl.com/oneeskimorelease.
"We believe there is an opportunity for music and narrative to be combined into a
new category of storytelling for digital mediums," said Diane Nelson, president
of Warner Premiere. "'The Adventures of One eskimO' is a wonderful love story
using adorable characters to tell a story in a truly creative way. We're looking
forward to launching this series in September and working with additional artists
on similar projects in the future."
Produced by Passion Pictures, well known for their award-winning Gorillaz animation,
"The Adventures of One eskimO" takes viewers on an animated journey through an epic
love story starring our hero One eskimO and his band of animal friends that include
Monkey, Giraffe and Penguin. The story begins with One eskimO and the love of his
life Little Feather living peacefully in their igloo home, enjoying life as it passes
by. One evening, Little Feather and One eskimO are torn apart by a dark force known
as Mr. Top Hat who controls the world through his crystal ball. Our forlorn eskimO
mopes around, pining for his lost love, imagining that she has left him for Mr. Top
Hat. Through the help of a wise and brave owl he learns that she is in great peril.
With only a knapsack and an enduring love, One eskimO sets out with his band of animal
friends on an epic quest to rescue her.
A 10 part short form animated series, "The Adventures of One eskimO" will debut
on iTunes and other digital channels August 31. To download the One eskimO trailer
and to pre-order the series visit:
http://tinyurl.com/oneeskimorelease.
Help One eskimO before it's too late! By visiting
www.findlittlefeather.com fans can join One eskimO and his band on a quest to
track down his lost love. Users are confronted with a series of challenges and games
set by the dastardly Mr. Top Hat which they have to overcome if they ever want One
eskimO to see Little Feather again. Each game corresponds to major plot points
from the animations themselves and employs the same unique look and feel. The online
experience allows fans to delve deeper into the story and to feel part of the world
of One eskimO.
For more details on One eskimO and to see their tour schedule with Tori Amos visit:
www.oneeskimo.com.
SCOOBY-DOO WHERE ARE YOU? VOLUME THREE HELLO MUMMY
Release Date: September 19, 2009
Synopsis:
The whodunit format was a daring new frontier for an animated series, but the
members of the Mystery Inc. team have grown to become authentic popular-culture
icons.
REVIEW:
Scooby-Doo is one of the favorite cartoons for many kids around the country. My nephew's
kids will just sit around the tube and watch this goofy dog and his friends for hours!
How good is that? In this collection, you see Scooby-Doo and his friends do what they
do best -- solve mysteries! Heck, I liked watching them as well. Scooby-Doo is fun
for all ages and if you are a fan of this series -- you just have to have the final
release. This two-disc set has wonderful episodes like "Diamonds are a Ghouls Best Friend"
and of course, the Scooby-Doo Christmas - bonus episode. If you are looking for good
family fun, don't miss this one.
SUPERNATURAL: THE COMPLETE FOURTH SEASON
Release date: September 1, 2009
Official website: www.supernaturaldvd.com
Synopsis:
Resurrection. After enduring unspeakable torture, Dean escapes from Hell, rescued
by an all-powerful creature he's never seen before 'an Angel', a warrior of God
who recruits Sam and Dean into Heaven?s battle against Hell. And there are whispers
that a certain fallen angel will soon be freed from his prison deep in Hell: Lucifer.
If Sam and Dean can't stop it -- if Lucifer walks free -- he'll bring on the Apocalypse.
Meanwhile, the Winchester Brothers reunite and hit the road, battling the supernatural
wherever they go. They encounter demons, spirits, Dracula himself and even a drunk,
heavily armed 7-foot-tall teddy bear. All the while, the ultimate war draws them into
its horror throughout this enthralling 6-Disc, 22-Episode Season Four. Caught between
Heaven and Hell, between God and the Devil, the Winchester brothers must battle for
the future of humankind.
SMALLVILLE: THE COMPLETE EIGHTH SEASON
Release date: August 25, 2009
Official website: www.smallvilledvd.com
Synopsis:
There is a new reporter at the Daily Planet: Clark Kent, who shares a workspace
with Lois Lane. There is a new hero in Metropolis, too. No one knows who he is.
But Jimmy Olsen was on the scene of one of the do-gooder's exploits, and he snapped
a blurred photo of the hero in superspeed action -- a hero everyone now calls the
Red-Blue Blur. Red-jacketed, blue-shirted Clark Kent draws closer to his Superman
destiny in the exciting 22-episode, 6-disc Season 8 of Smallville. Another Kryptonian
destiny also takes shape. Davis Bloome begins to realize he is Doomsday. His mission
on Earth: kill Clark Kent. So many new events (will Jimmy and Chloe's marriage last?),
so many new faces (Tess Mercer, Saturn Girl and Cosmic Boy among them!), so many
state-of-the-art effects -- so don't miss a single thrill-packed moment!
REVIEW:
I have been a fan of SMALLVILLE since it began -- wow eight years ago! Where has the
time gone? It has been wonderful seeing the actors grow into their roles. While I miss
John Schneider and Michael Rosenbaum, Kristen Kreuk did come back for a brief period as
Lana Lang. However, Tess Mercer's addition (portrayed by Cassidy Freeman) has brought
new life to the Luther lab and this DVD series may be the best yet. There is plenty
of action and with Clark getting help from Oliver Queen (Justin Harley) as Green Arrow.
Allison Mack has always been wonderful as Chloe and she continues to light up the screen
whenver she is part of it. Can't say I'm a huge fan of Erica Durance. Her Lois Lane
leaves me wanting something more. In some episodes she is added more as an after
thought than as a plot staple.
All in all though, SMALLVILLE fans will have a lot to talk about and with the coming
new season, there are hopes for even greater adventures for Clark Kent.
SUPERMAN: THE COMPLETE ANIMATED SERIES
Release date: November 24, 2009
Are you or your kids a fan of the animated SUPERMAN series? Well now you can bring home
the animated adventures of the Man of Steel in its entirety on DVD this November. SUPERMAN:
The Complete Animated Series will be released on DVD on November 24. This seven-disc set
will contain all 54 episodes of this animated classic and the set will be priced at $53.82
SRP. You can take a look at all the special features below.
Follow the entire history of Superman from start to finish on this long-awaited DVD. Witness
his incredible arrival on Earth, how he finds his place in his adopted home and his realization
of what his powers can truly do for the forces of good. See CLARK KENT balance his roles as
a mild-mannered news reporter and superhuman crimefighter, facing mortal enemy LEX LUTHOR,
while still keeping his day job.
Fans of the comic books and the TV show alike will rejoice as every single episode can
finally be purchased together on this seven-disc collector's set. Additionally, the
exclusive extras deliver even more fun to this already superior DVD collection. Go
"Behind the Cape" with David Kaufman (the voice of JIMMY OLSEN) as he takes you behind
the scenes with the show's creative team, watch an excerpt from the new Bryan Singer and
Kevin Burns SUPERMAN documentary, listen to commentary with Bruce Timm on several episodes
and much more. This complete collection also includes a bonus disc featuring the all-new
documentary The Despot DARKSEID: A Villain Worthy of SUPERMAN. SUPERMAN: The Complete
Animated Series,with hours and hours of DVD entertainment, is the perfect holiday gift.
Special Features:
- Commentary by Bruce Timm, Paul Dini, Alan Burnett, Dan Riba, Glen Murakami, Curt Geda,
Jason Hillhouse, James Tucker, and Butch Lukic on many episodes
- Selectable Pop-Up Trivia Tracks
- SUPERMAN: Learning to Fly - Explores the Creation of the Series
- Building the Mythology: Superman's Supporting Cast- Showcases the Supporting Players in the
SUPERMAN Saga
- Menaces of Metropolis: Behind the Villains of SUPERMAN - The Origin and Evolution of
Superman's Adventures
- SUPERMAN: Behind the Cape - David Kaufman (The Voice of JIMMY OLSEN) Takes You Behind
the Scenes with the Show's Creative Team
- Look, Up in the Sky! The Amazing Story of SUPERMAN - Excerpt From the New -- Documentary
Produced by Bryan Singer and Kevin Burns
- Bonus Disc Featuring the All-New Documentary The Despot DARKSEID: A Villain Worthy of
SUPERMAN.
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!
There are so many DVDs to select from, I have moved some of the other selections
to the DVD page. Please go there for more DVD selections -- and reviews --
DVD NEWS AND REVIEWS .
NEW FAMILY DVDS
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?
October 8-10, 2009 Twilight Convention
City: Anaheim, CA
Place: Sheraton Park Hotel
For more information, go to www.creationent.com
October 10-11, 2009
Hollywood Autograph Show
Place: Burbank, CA
B5 guests participating: Julie Caitlin Brown; Claudia Chrisitan; Mira Furlan; Stephen
Furst; Bill Mumy; Patricia Tallman, Andrea Thompson and Sarah Douglas (Deathwalker)
For more information, go to www.hollywoodshow.com
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 TWILIGHT,
SUPERNATURAL, STARGATE, FARSCAPE, XENA, SERENITY, STAR TREK, 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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ROBIN HOOD RETURNS ON BBC AMERICA
I was happy to see that ROBIN HOOD was returning to BBC America for their third season, starting
at 9:00pm tonight. This has been an outstanding series, very reminiscent of the ROBIN HOOD I
grew up with. Jonas Armstrong makes a marvelous Robin as are Keith Allan as The Sheriff and
Richard Armitage as Guy of Gisborne. There is a preview episode at 8:00pm for folks who haven't
been following the series.
PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN
OTHER WALT DISNEY PROJECTS
THE MENTALIST - SEASON ONE
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
PRIMEVAL: VOLUME 2
SCOOBY-DOO WHERE ARE YOU? VOLUME THREE HELLO MUMMY
SMALLVILLE: THE COMPLETE EIGHTH SEASON
SUPERMAN: THE COMPLETE ANIMATED SERIES
SUPERFRIENDS: THE LOST EPISODES
RED CIRCLE: THE HANGMAN #1 
October 8-10, 2009