BSG "Razor" reviews

'Battlestar Galactica: Razor' gives the saga a sharper edge

By MELANIE McFARLAND
P-I TELEVISION CRITIC

Underneath the explosive special effects, "Battlestar Galactica" examines what it means to be human, in all its facets.

WATCH IT
"Battlestar Galactica: Razor"
9 p.m. Saturday
Sci Fi Channel

Executive producers Ronald D. Moore, David Eick and their co-writers have used the series to explore the sustaining and destructive power of religion, the ways in which crises bring out our best and most deplorable instincts, and how far we'll go to survive.

The will to survive is the story's spine, personified in every episode by the stalwart Admiral William Adama (Edward James Olmos), President Laura Roslin (Mary McDonnell), the headstrong Kara Thrace (Katee Sackhoff) and Adama's driven son Lee (Jamie Bamber).

But Adama and Roslin wrestle with Galactica's priorities more than the others. Their job is to ensure the survival of the human race, but each challenge forces a struggle to maintain their humanity in spite of desperation and temptation.

Thus our second season introduction to Admiral Helena Cain (Michelle Forbes), the ruthless leader of Battlestar Pegasus, shocked the system of "Battlestar" watchers. Cain, whose command at last receives a close examination in the two-hour extended episode "Battlestar Galactica: Razor," was everything Adama is not. She cared nothing about being loved, seeing fear as a more effective leadership tool. She did unspeakable things, without hesitation, to her own people as well as the Cylons.

The darker side of will is a lot of things, but in "Razor" it is fueled by Cain's need for vengeance. Cain, in her limited time on the series, left wounds that never quite healed.

"Razor" does nothing to soften the unsympathetic portrait of Cain. If anything, the episode makes a more permanent cast of her as a cold, unyielding leader in peacetime who exploded into a singularly focused despot after the Cylons destroyed Caprica.

Cain was similar to Adama in one sense, however -- survival was all that mattered. Her priority was to wage war on behalf of a race the Cylons nearly extinguished, and if atrocities had to be committed, so be it. Every war has its collateral damage.

This is what it means to be a Razor. Cain at one point explains to her obedient protege Kendra Shaw (Stephanie Jacobsen), "Sometimes we have to do things that we never thought we were capable of if only to show the enemy our will." Her voice breaks as she adds, "This war is forcing us all to become Razors, because if we don't, we don't survive."

But the chilling truth is that by the end, you'll have a better understanding of why Cain did what she did, both tactically and emotionally.

Shaw survives Cain, but not the toll she took on her conscience. When Shaw becomes second in command to Lee, she continues her former leader's uncompromising legacy while wrestling with her grimmest memories.

"Battlestar Galactica" has presented a number of influential auxiliary characters throughout its run, but none as complex and compelling as Shaw. In spite of the actor's pixielike appearance, Jacobsen believably hardens the office into steel as "Razor" develops. Never a clear hero or villain, she's a tortured shade torn between vendetta and the fear-driven culture of Pegasus and Galactica, with a crew Admiral Adama considers to be family. Shaw's inner turmoil gives "Razor" its tragic bites and crags.

And "Razor's" best service, beyond reminding us why "Galactica" is one of the best television shows on the air, is in filling in the story's historical gaps -- particularly a deeper examination of the lives of the demoralized crew.

In addition to seeing what happened on the Pegasus and getting a first-hand look at a rumored war crime, writer Michael Taylor and director Felix Alcala also segue into the final season by dropping in a nostalgic visual treat that might as well be a red-eyed love letter to longtime fans.

Surely we deserve something for going for a year without new episodes. Season four of "Battlestar Galactica" won't start until April (although "Razor" is, technically, part of it). But it's better to think of "Razor" as a bridge between the seasons rather than a sustaining, hunger-curbing snack. This will not hold you over -- no, not in the least. On the contrary, "Razor's" revelatory conclusion makes the waiting more difficult to bear.

But for "Galactica" fans, it probably goes without saying that "Razor" is not to be missed, even if watching will make April seem a lifetime away.

P-I TV critic Melanie McFarland can be reached at 206-448-8015 or tvgal@seattlepi.com. Follow her TV Gal blog at blog.seattlepi.com/tv

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Posted on Wed, Nov. 21, 2007

TV REVIEW: 'Battlestar Galactica: Razor' will please dedicated fans

By CARY DARLING
McClatchy Newspapers

The fourth and final season of "Battlestar Galactica" doesn't hit the air until April, but diehard fans don't need to wait. In addition to a series of seven mini-sodes that have aired on Sci Fi in recent weeks, there's now "Battlestar Galactica: Razor," a two-hour movie that pivots between last season and next, offering enlightening back story while also providing a tantalizing glimpse of what might be in store.

For the longest time, those on board the starship Galactica and its retinue of smaller ships - on the run across the galaxy from the robot-human hybrid Cylons who've destroyed most of the human race - thought they were the sole human survivors. But they've recently discovered another crew, aboard the Battlestar Pegasus under the command of the coldly brutal Admiral Helena Cain (Michelle Forbes).

"Razor" fleshes out Cain as she's viewed through the eyes of Kendra Shaw (Stephanie Jacobsen), a young officer assigned to the Pegasus on the eve of the Cylons' surprise attack on humanity. Shifting between the Pegasus of the past and the Galactica of the present, "Razor" uses the battle-hardened but conflicted Shaw as a template for a soldier torn by duty and morality.

Of course, Shaw doesn't get along with the equally feisty pilot Kara "Starbuck" Thrace (Katee Sackhoff), though the two ultimately come to an understanding of sorts. But then Starbuck's loyalties may not be what they seem.

Meanwhile, Admiral William Adama (Edward James Olmos) is being forced to relive some unpleasant memories as the fleet runs across a primitive Cylon ship containing the remains of the first human-cyborg experiments.

Though not as rife with the easy symbolism and parallels to contemporary politics as some episodes, "Razor" nevertheless makes the well-worn point that war can offer both hell and redemption. But, for fans of the series, the best part comes in the last few minutes, and it has nothing to do with gee-whiz special effects (of which there aren't that many in "Razor").

It has more to do with Starbuck's fate and a decision that Commander Lee "Apollo" Adama (Jamie Bamber), who has been her lover, has to make.

April can't come soon enough.

BATTLESTAR GALACTICA: RAZOR
9 p.m. EST Saturday
Sci Fi Channel

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'Battlestar Galactica' goes on the search for Earth

Sci-Fi channel to premiere telemovie titled 'Razor'
Fernando Ramos, Staff Writer
Issue date: 11/21/07 Section: Tempo

Don't let the goofy name and the fact that it's a remake fool you. Starting its final season next year, "Battlestar Galactica" is one of TV's great overlooked dramas. While April 2008 seems a long way away, fans can at least satiate themselves with the new "Battlestar" film premiering on Sci-Fi channel, "Razor."

For those unacquainted with the complicated (and in some cases, convoluted) backstory behind the show, "Razor" may prove unfriendly. However, the main premise is surprisingly simple: The remainder of mankind, after having its colonies devastated by the rebellious sentient robots called Cylons, takes to the stars in search of Earth, which has been reduced to a Biblical-style legend.

Within this premise lie characters and stories that are better realized than most major Hollywood productions. Executive produced by fan-favorite "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" writer Ronald D. Moore, this is TV with nuance and texture. It's also worth re-watching to catch all those fine details missed on first viewing.

Also, the show frequently addresses real-life situations through ingenious screenwriting that harkens back to the days of the original "Star Trek" or "The Twilight Zone," when science fiction actually meant something.

"Battlestar" has tackled nothing less than the concept of life when civilization has been reduced to nothing. What is a leader? What is a government? What is God?

It's tense, riveting and chock-full of movie-quality action sequences for those who just can't watch sci-fi without something blowing up. Few episodes go by wasted, instead weaving into each other to form a spectacular storyline.

"Razor," from all reports, will continue this tradition. However, instead of dealing with the so-juicy-it's-dripping cliffhanger that ended the third season, "Razor" goes back in time to the second season onboard the Battlestar Pegasus.

In the series, the Pegasus was run by the seemingly maniacal Admiral Helena Cain (Michelle Forbes), who dealt with her crew with an iron-clad fist, in contrast to the more benevolent Galactica and her commander, William Adama (Edward James Olmos).

Even with Moore being infamously mum on the film (despite several online outlets distributing it illegally), details have emerged, including shedding light on an executive officer named Kendra Shaw (Stephanie Jacobsen) who has a connection with Galactica's pilot Kara Thrace (Katee Sackoff) which may hold grave consequences for humanity's (and season four's) future.

Rent the previous "Battlestar" seasons on DVD and study up, nuggets, because "Razor" is bound to be sharp.

-'Battlestar Galactica: Razor' will premiere on the Sci-Fi Channel at 9 p.m on Saturday.

Chuck Episode reviews

Chuck (Episode Recaps)

by Jeanette Martin (TVGUIDE)
November 20, 2007

Episode Recap: "Chuck vs. the Imported Hard Salami"
Is it just me, or are these episodes getting better every week? The writing is top-notch, the storylines are deliciously deep and complex and the humor is right there. Each Monday I think it can't get any better, and then I am happily and pleasantly surprised.

So what happened tonight? Chuck seemed to have everything going his way: A beautiful "normal" woman (returning guest star Rachel Bilson) was interested in him... really interested, as the sweaty homage to Titanic illustrated. But the Intersect in his brain had to go and ruin it all. He flashed on the name of Lou's smuggler ex-boyfriend, and that lead to a downward spiral of mistake after mistake. He was ordered to wear a wire on a date with Lou to try to get some info, and he was so busy trying to do that that he ended up ignoring Lou. Sarah showing up didn't help either.

Chuck managed to make it up to her with a sexy sandwich order and a bouquet of Gerber daisies, but the intel he gathered the previous night ended up being compromised, and it looked like Lou had tipped them off. They had that incriminating photo after all, and it was just enough to send Chuck into his next big blunder of the night: He confronted Lou when he thought she was accepting weapons, and it turned out to be illegally imported deli meats. Certainly a threat to national security!

Next thing you know, Sarah is once again butting in, and that gets her and Chuck kidnapped without his tracking device. Luckily Casey figures out how to locate them and does so just in time to rescue them and find the real cargo: A very large and mysterious crate that seems to hold a bomb. A bomb that is ticking down very quickly. Just as the timer runs out, Sarah gives Chuck the kiss he only dreamed of. But then the "bomb" doesn't go off. It ends up being a cryogenic chamber that holds none other than Bryce... alive and presumably well.

OK, everyone all at once: "Awww, poor Chuck." He was a day late and a dollar short all evening. It was heartbreaking to watch him call Sarah, thinking he has a future with her (and why wouldn't he after that kiss?) as she opened the chamber and saw Bryce.

The B plot was equally surprising: Morgan and Anna got together. I really enjoyed how that came about. The pieces just seemed to fall into place and it didn't feel forced to me. I am so happy to see Morgan doing something that is not annoying.

The only complaint I have for this episode: no Ellie or Captain Awesome (shirtless or otherwise).

OK, moments worth mentioning:
• Casey saying as many times as possible that Sarah was dumped
• Sarah’s reaction to Lester when he went over to "console" her
• "He had me at pastrami."
• Casey’s reason for the rose. Too bad for Chuck it didn’t work.
• All the obvious little signs that Sarah was jealous and truly did care for Chuck: interfering with his date, telling Lou not to hurt him, sticking up for Chuck to Casey and their Washington contact, and my personal fave, the little catch in her throat when Chuck declared their mission was to make sure he "never had sex again."
• That powerhouse kiss. It was probably the first real moment those two have had.

I know I left out so many good scenes and lines, but I want you guys to share the fun of pointing out the winners from this episode, so let's hear what you all liked!

Be sure to stop in to our Online Video Guide for even more geektasticChuck.

Episode Recap: "Chuck vs. the Truth"
The truth is out there... or was it? Tonight a poison expert (guest star Kevin Weisman) got to Chuck and his crew and exposed them all to some killer truth serum, causing Sarah and Casey to drop the spy act and tell it like it is. Sorta.

Unfortunately Ellie got poisoned as well, and Chuck put her welfare before everything and everyone else. He had one dose of the antidote, and he gave it to her. Not a very spy-like move, but certainly a 100 percent Chuck choice. With time running out, Chuck realized how to track down the bad guy and got the antidote for everyone, but not before he got a painful confession from Sarah: Their fake relationship has no chance of getting real.

And that makes things even more difficult for Chuck, who found someone who could be real, and right, for him. The O.C alum Rachel Bilson breezed into Chuck's life with a broken phone and a deli sandwich named after him — what's not to love? Too bad he already has a "girlfriend" in Sarah. You can't blame Chuck for using the truth poison to find out where he stands. Too bad he didn't know she was trained to withstand the effects of the truth stuff. So was she lying or not?

And I know a number of you out there were thrilled to see Tang get shipped off to the pineapple farm. Any guesses as to who will be named his successor? Someone out there needs to fill the epaulets.... Could it be Morgan? Big Mike seemed to be getting pretty friendly there with him, dropping a big secret like that.

Now on to some of the highlights!
• Chuck’s face while Awesome went through his bike analogy. The poor guy really looked horrified! We saw quite a bit of old-fashioned sensibilities in Chuck tonight, and that is really sweet.
• The picture of President Reagan at Casey’s place. That is so him!
• Ellie’s truth rant, especially the "porno shorts" line and the bit about Chuck’s hair "making funny animal shapes."
• Casey admitting he wouldn’t shoot Chuck and telling him that he respects Chuck for being a nice guy.
• Chuck’s comment that Casey’s chin was carved by Michelangelo.
• Sarah winning the "who is the better lock pick" argument.
•Chuck’s comic-book knowledge allowing him to foil the poison expert.
• Shirtless Awesome! (And lingerie Sarah.) That was some serious fan service.

And the Britney song was a nice touch, I did not mind it at all.

OK, I know I left out plenty of great stuff from this episode, so let's hear what you guys enjoyed!

Be sure to stop in to our Online Video Guide for moreChuck.
Episode Recap: "Chuck vs. the Alma Mater"
I am going to start right off by saying this was a fantastic episode. It wasn't as amusing as some of the others, but it made up for that with a tight story and some really great information that explained so much. It wasn't just another bad guy of the week, it was a solid piece of the whole "Chuck as Intersect" premise.

Chuck learned that the professor who booted him from Stanford is actually an operative, and Chuck was assigned to "bring him in" for protection from an Icelandic assassin with some wicked crossbow skills. That part of the mission didn't go so well, but the road trip to Stanford proved to be very successful in more ways than Chuck imagined. There he found a disc that contained all the intel on the students recruited to the agency, including an entry on himself. Back home he opened his file and learned that Bryce got Chuck expelled to save him from becoming a agent.

I absolutely loved the way this episode tied up some plot points. Turns out it wasn't a random act to send Chuck the Intersect info; Bryce knew Chuck's scores for subliminal pattern recognition, so he had to have known that Chuck would respond the way he did to the e-mail. This sets up a very interesting twist: Bryce the "rogue agent" ended up being a really good guy, so, as Chuck wondered, maybe stealing the Intersect was for the greater good, too. I'm sure we will be seeing more of this storyline later on.

The flashbacks to Chuck's college days were bittersweet. You could tell it meant so much to him to be there, and you could see how much Bryce's betrayal hurt him. At first I thought it was going to turn out that Bryce set up Chuck out of jealousy, that he didn't want someone better than he was brought into the agency. That he did it for Chuck's own good was unexpected and a really nice touch. And it gave Chuck his friend back: through all the flashbacks of the happy times he had with Bryce, you got the feeling he missed Bryce's friendship more than he missed being a Stanford student.

As a break in the action, the Buy More crowd engaged in a power struggle against the overlord Tang. Morgan was actually effective (and annoying only once!). Most of us have worked with someone like Tang, and I admit I get some measure of vicarious satisfaction when he is outsmarted by the others.

I’ll just get right to some of the moments worth mentioning:

• The flashbacks. I already talked about them, but they bear repeating as standouts. It was a great way to shed light on Chuck’s past and fill in some gaps.

• Chuck figuring out Bryce’s hiding spot, then coming up with the plan to call the active student agents for back up. That is what sets Chuck apart from the original Intersect computer: Chuck came up with all that, and I doubt the computer would have devised those actions.

• The look on Casey’s face when Sarah admitted she had only one shot left instead of the half clip she claimed; and the look on Sarah's face when she saw what Bryce had done for Chuck.

• Shirtless Awesome. Need I say more?

I leave the rest of this amazing episode to you guys. Did you like it as much as I did, or think it was a bit contrived? Let's hear what you have to say!

For more Chuck, see ourOnline Video Guide.

Episode Recap: "Chuck vs. the Sandworm"
Poor Chuck: he thought he found a kindred spirit. Instead, the guy turns out to be a psychotic weapons expert on the lam from his handlers. Go figure.

Tonight Chuck discovered a rogue operative, Lazslo, in, of all places, a video arcade, where he and Morgan were having a video-game war. Lazslo made Chuck as an agent because of his watch (which Lazslo invented) and eventually won Chuck to his side by telling him the sad story of how he was kept in an underground facility since the tender age of 11, making high-tech gadgets and weaponry. The poor guy didn't even know about James Bond! Disgusted with Morgan's juvenile behavior, Chuck started to connect with Lazslo. That is, until the guy's twisted desire to blow things up came out. In the end Chuck learned how to disable the bomb and figure out who his real friends were.

Once again Chuck ran into trust issues, and managed to get everything all wrong. He was too eager to believe Lazslo, probably because he saw a bit of himself in the guy. Being right about all the bugs in Chuck's home did not hurt his case, either. Chuck should have realized they were placed there for his protection, but yeah, I would be mad too if Casey was listening in on everything I did. (It was great at the end when he purposely started up the sandwich conversation just to aggravate Casey!) He should have realized that that bit about not knowing anything related to James Bond was a line, too. Come on, how could a spy-toy guy like that not know about Bond?

I found it ironic that Chuck finally had enough of Morgan, but he wasn't all that bad this time. Chastised and feeling jilted, Morgan started questioning himself. That set up the hysterical "makeover" courtesy of Capt. Awesome, who summed up maturity by knowing when it was "time to tuck." He did an excellent job: Morgan cleaned up well. Too bad it happened on Halloween and everyone thought he was in costume.

And speaking of costumes, there were some great outfits. Awesome and Ellie as Adam and Eve (loved the shot of Awesome walking around in the leaf, and Ellie's hair was stunning. She should have it like that all the time). Chuck and Morgan as a sandworm from Dune. The Buy More outfits of the pimp, American Gothic and Catwoman. Tang looked appropriately ridiculous in the old-cowboy getup. Too bad Casey didn't dress up. I wonder what he would have been....

And a few more moments worth mentioning:

• The awkward coverup in Chuck’s room when he was pretending to "get lucky."
• Morgan trying to do the grown-up thing for his friend with the interview. (Anyone catch "Arthur" from The Tick as the HR rep?)
• Lazslo using the "You’re my only hope" line.
• Chuck’s frantic race to find Morgan after he realized he had stolen Morgan’s bike and left his friend in the lurch. I really thought they were going to hug each other!
• The nickname for the sandworm costume Chuck and Morgan dressed in every year.
• Sarah dressing like Princess Leia and taking a "real" picture for Chuck.

What stood out for you guys in this episode?

For more Chuck, see ourOnline Video Guide.

Episode Recap: "Chuck vs. the Sizzling Shrimp"
So far Chuck has been pretty good about keeping his secret spy life from interfering too much with his regular life, but tonight the two collided, and his friends and family lost. Ironically it was Chuck's own personal code of trying to help everyone that got him in trouble. Talk about no good deed going unpunished!

So how many different directions was Chuck being pulled in? Ellie wanted him to spend time with her and celebrate their special family "October Mother's Day," and Morgan wanted Chuck to help him with the sales contest. But Casey and Sarah needed him to check out a Chinese spy, who insisted Chuck help her rescue her brother after he botched her attempt (while being helpful to the wrong person, no less!).

Chuck felt so bad about getting the intel wrong that he was compelled to help the spy... which pretty much messed up everything for everyone. He wasn't there for Morgan or Ellie, while Casey and Sarah got captured on the mission he forced them to take. Of course, he came through in the end, overcoming his fear of fireworks to save his team and the Chinese spy, but that meant Ellie and Morgan had to pay the price. Chuck may have a supercomputer in his head and think at the speed of light, but he can't be in two places at once.

This allowed the supporting cast to have more airtime in this episode, especially Ellie, and I liked that her character was allowed to evolve. Ellie bonding with Morgan and coming to his rescue in the (as it turned out) bogus contest was really sweet. It was nice to see her character fleshed out as something more than Chuck's sister or Captain Awesome's girl. (By the way, the lack of Awesome tonight did not go unnoticed. Let's hope he's back next week.)

The other workers at Buy More got more lines, too, and they all seemed aimed at humiliating Morgan. They did a fantastic job of it, especially after Morgan managed to genuinely help a customer and get her number for his efforts. I did feel sorry for him when that happened, even though he was back to being excruciatingly annoying for most of the night. I know that is his role in the show, but really, a little Morgan goes a long way and there has to be something else he can do besides get under Chuck's (and the audience's) skin.

Chuck seems to be adjusting to his spy role, settling in with the idea of going on missions and not being freaked out or whiny about it. But I am still wondering why he hasn't gotten any training yet. By now he should have been given a crash course in self-defense at the very least. Casey and Sarah cannot always be there to protect him.

OK, now on to the highlights. This episode was pretty tightly put together. I liked how it moved along from one point to the next with some great lines or shots along the way, such as:

• Morgan flashing his geek badge with the line "Help me Chuck, you're my only hope." Yeah, we all know that was paraphrased from Star Wars.
• Chuck's increasingly ridiculous excuses to cover up his spy duties.
• Ordering the shrimp and having it delivered to the stake-out car.
• The way Ellie invited Morgan and Sarah to share the special family holiday.

I'll leave the rest for you guys to point out. Let's hear what you liked!

For more Chuck, see ourOnline Video Guide.

Episode Recap: "Chuck vs. The Wookiee"
I have to admit, ironically enough, that I can't wait for the weekend to be over so Monday night can roll around. The Chuck/Heroes one-two punch is a winning combination, and tonight's episode is a worthy addition to the series.

So what was Chuck up to this time? He got involved with a diamond heist and a sexy, sneaky DEA agent. It was great to see Chuck using his own expertise (spotting all the security tech) instead of simply relying on the Intersect info in his head. Despite the lack of training in fieldwork, he didn't do too badly, slipping through the door before it sealed shut, navigating through the pool area... and throwing the plate at Corina when she tried to swipe the gem from him at his home. But he also got tripped up with his own insecurities (and thankfully it wasn't Morgan's fault this time!). Chuck had more trust issues to work out when he realized that even though he and Sarah did pretty well playing that game of guessing each other's answers, he really doesn't know anything about her, including her real name. And that goes for the audience, too: How big of a surprise was it to hear her friend Corina ask what Sarah's "cover" was this time? I was a little disappointed in Chuck when he chose to trust Corina, a stranger and an obvious loose cannon, over Sarah. But then it was a pretty big lie she fed him about a very touchy topic: Bryce. Chuck seriously needs to get over the whole Bryce thing... quick.

I was happy to see Morgan in a nonirritating capacity this time. I even felt sorry for him when Corina played him the way she did. As a nice change, he was actually useful when he showed up and Corina slipped the diamond into his bag. I'm surprised Casey didn't figure that out. Come on, she was kissing Morgan, after all!

Casey didn't have much face time in this episode, but he made the most of what he was given. So did Sarah, snapping his picture when he was in that "delicate" position (and who out there doesn't want to know what happened in Prague?). He didn't get to beat up as many bad guys as usual, but he sure showed that bed who's boss! The scene in the elevator was priceless, standing there handcuffed to a headboard. At least he got his pants back on. Most importantly, viewers now have an answer to one burning question about Casey: He's a boxers man.

Thanks to Sarah, I have a new home-security tip: Always keep stockings and an extra bar of soap handy to defend yourself when a ninja breaks into your house. Her friendship with Corina was an interesting love/hate relationship. More hate, though, when Corina spilled the beans about Bryce and double-crossed Sarah with the diamond. I thought Sarah should have been more upset with Chuck, but then she was distracted making sure she could get back to the Weinerlicious store before she lost her job. I love the silly touches like this, the super-secret spies worried about their blue-collar covers.

Some other moments worth mentioning:
•Corina putting the goldfish back into the tank in the middle of the fight.
•The various references to the hairy villain. Calling him a Wookiee was hysterical.
•The look on Chuck’s face when Morgan described the kiss.
•The thug blowing smoke in Casey’s face.
•Chuck’s idea to mail the diamond. (I didn’t mind the obvious product placement at all. It made sense for the story and worked well.)
•Chuck noticing that Sarah doesn’t like olives.
•Sarah’s sad whisper that her middle name is Lisa.

There were plenty more: Let's hear what you guys liked about this one!

Visit our Online Video Guide for moreChuck.

Episode Recap: "Chuck vs. the Tango"
So, who out there wants to reach into the screen, grab Morgan by the neck and...? It seems tonight he was working overtime to make up for the lack of annoying behavior in last week's episode. And here I thought they were going to ease up on poor Morgan. I like the character, really I do! He just can't be used for every situation where something needs to go wrong! But wait, I am getting ahead of myself....

Instead of accidentally bumbling into a situation, Chuck was actually sent on his very first mission: The case involved a painting, plutonium and a dangerous arms dealer. Chuck literally framed himself while trying to act cool undercover, and under pressure, at the art auction; he really needs to learn how to keep his mouth shut. He ended up in the hands of a killer but managed to get away, mainly by demonstrating his incredible powers of computer repair to prove he was who he claimed to be, leaving Casey and Sarah to save the day, which they did with style.

Despite the overuse of Morgan-as-scapegoat, I thought this episode was funnier and more entertaining than the helicopter episode. So many great moments in this one! Here are some of the standouts:

• Casey once again was the comedic muscle. The way he delivered the mission message to Chuck (through the window blinds); his inside joke about the tango (was he making fun, or having fun with Chuck there?); his bonsai tree (I think that was the most tense he's ever been!); and the fight with the thugs in the store (which was better — taking out the guy with the microwave, or the punch to the face that left the bad guy's hand hurting?). And it seems there will be at least one thing each episode that Casey will "not kid" about. Last week it was quiche, this week it was about Chuck's life and the tango.

• Sarah once again got physical in a couple of really dazzling fight sequences. Yvonne Strahovski can really dish it out, and it really is her! (See this interview with Yvonne where she talks about her stuntwork.) She also showed her softer side: Could she really be falling for Chuck?

The supporting players had a lot to do this time. It was nice to see the Nerd Herd again. They had some great scenes and they all work really well together. Big Mike is a hoot and it's fun to see everyone, including Casey, jump when he shows up. Captain Awesome had some fancy footwork to contribute, too — who knew he could tango! It was priceless that he taught Chuck the woman’s steps, and Chuck rolled with it. That’s what I like so much about this show: The actors are willing to put themselves in embarrassing situations if that’s what it takes for the story.

Now if Morgan can just dial it down a notch or two. He started out decently, inspiring Chuck’s team to get to work on his behalf (and to keep the dreaded Tang from getting the promotion), but he used up all that credit quickly when he got locked in the computer cage and hounded Chuck to save him, followed by all his annoying antics at the store. I know he isn't aware of Chuck's life as a spy, but why does he have to be the one always getting Chuck into hot water?

The series seems to have found its footing with this episode. The cast came together like old friends and I like the overall direction it is taking. But please, give Joshua Gomez something substantial to work with as Morgan, I'd really like to see that character explored a little more.

What were some of your picks and peeves of this episode? Discuss!

Check out our Online Video Guide for more Chuck.

Episode Recap: Chuck vs. The Helicopter
After that powerhouse pilot, I was a bit anxious the writing would not be able to hold up to that standard. This episode wasn't on the same level, but it had enough going for it that it was still a fun hour.

I'll get the two not-so-fun moments out of the way first. The dinner party scene was almost painful to watch. I am not a big fan of awkward situational humor, so in that respect it was well done because it made me antsy. I was also a bit disappointed with the helicopter situation. Chuck should have figured out the computer-game angle on his own.

Now for the good stuff, and there was plenty. The fight between Sarah and Casey was great. It was so over the top, but that's what made it so much fun to watch. She really handed him his butt, so his ego had to be bruised more than his body, which can clearly take a licking and keep on ticking. There was a good deal of humor based on Casey's tough guy status, such as chasing down the shoplifter, his stealth fighter comment and shrugging off the tranquilizer dart. His customer service training was a riot too. He certainly isn't a people person, and that was what was so strange about Chuck willing to believe him over Sarah. Sure, they did a really good job of making her seem to be the bad guy, but you knew that couldn't be the case. That doctor however: I knew right away he wasn't on the up-and-up. Maybe it was the hair, but I suspected him from the moment he walked in.

I really liked that Sarah was upset when Chuck lost trust in her. She tried to say it compromised the mission, but you could tell she took it personally. And just when you thought Casey might have a soft spot hidden in all that macho-man muscle, he doesn't even blink when he is told what to do with Chuck once the new computer system is up and running. While it wasn't exactly spelled out, it is pretty obvious "what he does best" isn't in the Buy More customer-service handbook.

But if you ask me what the most positive part of the whole episode was, I'd have to say Morgan was not as annoying. Let's hope they keep that trend going. It is too easy to make Morgan the scapegoat for everything that goes wrong and his character seems to be getting pigeonholed. His antics get old very quickly, so I was happy to see them kept to a minimum this time around.

And we finally got a name on Captain Awesome: Devon. Not as flashy, but it works. However, to me he will always be Hank, Sam’s little brother on Passions.

What did you guys think of week 2? Discuss!

Check out more Chuck in our http://video.tvguide.com/Online Video Guide.

Episode Recap: Series Premiere
If you didn’t watch the debut of Chuck, why not? This is one of the smartest, funniest shows of the new season. Couch potatoes and computer geeks rejoice: ou have been given a hero who doesn’t have perfect hair or rock-hard abs. Armed with a pocket protector and deadpan sarcasm, Chuck is an unassuming every-nerd (we all went to school with a guy like this) who finds himself in the ultimate geek fantasy: working with the government to thwart international spies and evildoers.

It was a great choice to open with Chuck’s uncomfortable birthday party. I could feel how out of place he was in his own home when his well-intentioned sister forced him to socialize with "real live women." The scene not only laughed at Chuck’s stereotypical geek behavior, but it laughed with him when he made the joke about working on his five-year plan and just needing to "pick a font."

The sudden cut to Chuck’s former college roommate, "Big Man on Campus" Bryce, who turns out to be a spy (and not an accountant as was amusingly pointed out on screen) made me feel like I was watching a James Bond movie. It was a real thrill for this Firefly fan to see Adam Baldwin show up as tough-guy Agent Casey. Think Jayne in a suit and not as subtle. I loved how he shot first and said, "Don’t move" after the fact. Chuck’s name blinking on Bryce’s handheld was a great way to tie the two together and explain what was happening. All this in under 10 minutes!

The scene where Chuck is hypnotized by Bryce’s image-heavy e-mail was a clever way to show what Bryce had stolen. I don’t know exactly how that was supposed to work, but it was the only leap of faith I needed to take for the show, so I went with it. I’ve watched stranger things, I admit, so this wasn’t too far of a stretch for me.

I was laughing out loud when Chuck and his annoying buddy Morgan went to work at Buy More as members of "The Nerd Herd." The obvious similarity to the real-world electronics chain was brilliant. I also loved the throwaway visual joke of the "Astro Diapers" display at the barely disguised warehouse shopping club called Large Mart.

Now, about that so-called CIA agent, Sarah. She must be the agency’s best operative, because she sure doesn’t look like a spy. She had me fooled at first when she showed up at the store and made a pass at Chuck. But it was a no-brainer later on to see she was the "ninja" trying to steal Chuck’s computer. How funny was that scene? With friends like Morgan, Chuck doesn’t need ninjas to take him down.

I should have felt sorry for Chuck when he went on the ultimate date from hell with Sarah, but I was laughing too hard at the great one-liners and the dance/battle with Casey’s goon squad. The car chase that capped off the evening was extremely well done. Not Matrix level, but that was some fancy driving!

In the end, Chuck saved the day, as only a nerd could: by using a virus-riddled porn site to disable the bomb’s computer. I guess Morgan has his uses after all. But I’d really hate to see him in a sidekick outfit.

A couple points worth mentioning include Chuck’s nickname for his sister’s boyfriend. Calling him Captain Awesome is, well, awesome. Also, suiting up for the date was fun. Chuck was so worried about his shirt button, but considering how the date ended, he should have been more concerned about bringing a clean set of undies.

There were just too many high points to mention here: What were some of your faves?

Find video from http://video.tvguide.com/Shows/ChuckChuck in our Online Video Guide

BSG "Razor" Movie

Check out these recent articles on the new BSG movie "Razor".

Bionic Woman & BSG "STRUCK DOWN"

Bye-bye Bionic, Battlestar

By Tim Surette Published: November 16, 2007 at 11:51:00 AM

Canadian television productions, including Bionic Woman and Battlestar Galactica, shut down as strike hits Canada.

The dominoes continue to fall as a result of the current Writers Guild of America strike. Although some shows, such as The Office and 30 Rock, shut down almost immediately, other programs keep on trucking because they still have a few scripts in the tank.

The ripples of the Hollywood rift have reached far beyond Southern California. Previous reports about endangered Canadian productions have now been confirmed by the Canadian affiliate of the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP). Among the shows presently shuttered are NBC's Bionic Woman and Sci-Fi's Battlestar Galactica, according to The Vancouver Sun.

The two shows, which shut down last Friday and yesterday, respectively, employed approximately 200 people. More employees of the industry working in Canada are expected to be without work as other shows inevitably halt production while the strike continues.

According to vice president of the Canadian branch of the AMPTP Don Cott, the end is in sight for several shows. He estimates that Aliens in America and Reaper will stop production later this month, Supernatural will stop filming in early December, Men in Trees will shoot through mid-January, and Smallville will continue production through January 23. Psych, The 4400, and Kyle XY have all already gone dark.

The rise of the Canadian dollar and simultaneous plummeting of the American dollar are also causing complications. The Canadian dollar was valued evenly with the US dollar in mid-September and has continued to rise, reversing the idea of US studios opting for cheaper filming north of the border.

In response, several companies, such as hotels and equipment renters, are offering a one-for-one exchange rate to studios to keep the cameras rolling.

BSG Razor Review (TV Guide)

Warning!! contains Spoilers

Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Battlestar Movie Special Razor Cuts Like a Knife
by Matt Roush, TV Guide

Returning all too briefly from a long hiatus to remind us how provocative and powerful a science-fiction drama can be, Battlestar Galactica dives headfirst into the moral quicksand of war in an excellent movie-length special titled Razor.
The "razors" referred to here aren't ships or weapons but warriors stripped of fear and all ethical qualms. These "heroes" are asked to commit inhuman atrocities if necessary, in order to vanquish the apocalyptic threat posed by the robotic Cylon menace.

"This war is forcing us all to become razors. Because if we don't, we don't survive. And then we don't have the luxury of becoming simply human again," says the tough-as-tungsten Pegasus admiral Helena Cain (the formidable Michelle Forbes), whose ruthlessness is legendary to Galactica fans. On this unflinching series, women are often the sharpest, deadliest razors of all.

Humanity is among the first casualties in Razor, which unfolds as a flashback 10 months earlier aboard Pegasus, a battlestar separated from the colonial fleet in the immediate aftermath of the Cylon attack. Outnumbered, outgunned and betrayed from within by Cylons in human form, Cain and her crew make unforgivable choices in unforgiving circumstances.

The newest razor in Cain's arsenal is young but hardly naive protégée Kendra Shaw (impressive newcomer Stephanie Jacobsen), who survives Cain's reign to become an officer under Pegasus'present-day commander, Lee Adama (Jamie Bamber). Still haunted by her past, Shaw teams with Starbuck (Katee Sackhoff) on a dangerous mission that revives psychic scars.

Razor is as thrilling as it is sobering and disturbing, a potent combination that leaves us eagerly awaiting Galactica's fourth and regrettably final season next year.

Battlestar Galactica: Razor airs Saturday, Nov. 24, at 9 pm/ET on the Sci Fi Channel.

What da FRAK ?!

According to LA Times and Scifi.com, long awaited Season Four of Battlestar Galactica has been pushed back late March (special recap episode) with the first original new episodes broadcasting in April 2008! Originally new episodes of BSG were to have begun in February.

Good News / Bad News is there is another possibility that Scifi Channel may even split the remaining 20 episodes into two mini season of 10 episodes each (a la "Stargate" style). There's even some thought of extending into a possible season Five.

Stay Tune, fellow BSG fans!

-DB-

Ten Things to know about BSG "Razor"

E! Online

Ten Things to Know About Battlestar Galactica's Razor

Note from Kristin: When a coworker receives a copy of Battlestar Galactica: Razor and shrieks as if she's won the lottery and that John Krasinski delivered the check, shirtless, you gotta let her be the first to see it, right? Such is the case with WWK's resident cult TV expert Jennifer Godwin, who devoured the two-hour movie (I'm guessing more than once), and has this to report back...

Thank gods! Battlestar is back!

Battlestar Galactica: Razor, a two-hour TV movie premiering Nov. 24 on Sci Fi, is meant to tide us over until Battlestar Galactica the series returns in February 2008, and it absolutely delivers the BSG glories we've come to expect, with a little streak of Alien and Terminator 2 thrown in for good measure.

Preview copies were distributed to the press last week, and while we're not at liberty to disclose the entire story, I did feel it was my duty as a fellow fan to check it out and share what I could.

So, for your previewing pleasure, I've distilled Razor down to a list of the top 10 things you need to know. Enjoy!

1. Setting: Razor switches back and forth in time between Lee Adama's leadership of the Battlestar Pegasus and Admiral Helena Cain's (Michelle Forbes) leadership of the Pegasus immediately following the original Cylon attack.
2. Winks at the Audience: Gina's (Pegasus Six) last name is Inviere. Inviere is Old Gemenese for resurrection. Oh, those wacky Cylons and their name games.
3. Characters: Stephanie Chaves-Jacobsen—who plays the heroine of our story, Kendra Shaw—is a star of tomorrow. Casting directors, have your phones at the ready.
4. Mythology: DNA is sooo cool. Just like on Heroes these days, everything is about missing links, evolutionary dead ends and hybrids. Also, maybe a few zombies.
5. Cast: Razor features lots of Lee, Kara, Adama and Gina/Pegasus Six; a smattering of Roslin; Tigh and Sharon in passing; and no Baltar, Tyrol or Helo.
6. Pacing: The first 15 minutes are unforgivably slow.
7. Quote to Remember: "All this has happened before and will happen again."
8. Foreshadowing: Kara Thrace gets another prophecy. Girl's the most heralded thing since Buffy, I'll swear.
9. Themes: Cain, for all her robust leadership, is best understood as a "Don't."
10. Effects: Here's to the creation of the 12 humanoid Cylons for the reimagined series. It was an inspired choice, because as Razor reminds us, the original-recipe toasters really are kind of clunky and dumb.

Feel free to weigh in with your thoughts on Razor below, and send any BSG-related questions to tvdiva@eonline.com. So say we all!

BSG Update

Ronald D. Moore will direct 'Battlestar Galactica' episode
Cylon alert: The executive producer's show will mark the beginning of the series' final run.
By Denise Martin
Special to The LA Times

October 26, 2007

Ronald D. Moore, the executive producer who runs "Battlestar Galactica," is gearing up for the long goodbye by taking on a new task. He will take the director's chair for the first time next season as his dramatic reinvention of the hokey 1970s' space opera treks toward the end. The final 20-episode run will kick off in -- you read it here first -- early April.

Moore's work on the show as a writer-producer landed "Battlestar" its first Emmy nomination in the drama writing category, where he faced off against the writers of "The Sopranos" and "Lost." A veteran of the "Star Trek" series "The Next Generation," "Deep Space Nine" and "Voyager," Moore is also juggling writing duties for the upcoming feature films "The Thing" and the sequel to "I, Robot."

About his directing debut, Moore said, "It's the perfect opportunity to try and do it here with my family -- the cast and crew of the show -- who have been working together for years now.

"For all I know, I'll hate directing, but right now I'm hungry for it."

Last season ended with a stunning revelation: Four of the characters aboard Galactica who have been helping lead the resistance discovered themselves to be Cylons, the robotic race apparently set on destroying humans.

Moore said he's directing an episode set deep in the Cylon world, as well as aboard Galactica. "On Galactica, things have really begun to fall apart . . . and the relationship between President Laura Roslin [Mary McDonnell] and Adm. William Adama [Edward James Olmos] is going to get pretty interesting."

Moore's episode, however, won't air until after the show takes a midseason break and will kick off the remaining episodes in "Battlestar's" four-season run. Sci Fi Channel executives have not yet determined whether the final season will all air next year or be spread over 2008 and 2009.

"I'd probably prefer to see the entire thing air next year to maintain the momentum, to build excitement as it pushes to the end," Moore said, "not to mention it means less chance of spoilers getting out."

Lucy Lawless will be plugged back in as D'Anna, the rogue Cylon who was deactivated last season, for three episodes.

And as for that fifth "chosen" Cylon? "It's definitely been decided who that one is," Moore said, but it won't be revealed early. "I can't say when, but we're certainly not waiting until the last episode to tell you who it is."

In the meantime, the series' fans can get their fix from "Razor," an original two-hour episode that serves as something of a prequel to the existing "Battlestar" mythology. It premieres Nov. 24 on Sci Fi.

New BSG spoilers

Razor, Part 1 & 2; November 24, 2007

10/14/07: Minisode #2 Summary/Analysis Available
10/14/07: Adama sends Pegasus on a rescue mission to find a missing recon crew. From IGN Review
10/14/07: Helo, Tyrol, Gaeta and Dee do not appear. From IGN Review
10/14/07: Based on comments from the article, the Cylon "god" says the ending quote and our latest guess is: "Kara Thrace will lead the human race to its end. She is the origin of the apocalypse, the harbinger of Death. They must not follow her." From Eclipse Magazine Review
10/14/07: In its last 20 minutes, the film features a faction of Cylons who are responsible for protecting the "Guardian." This is something that carries over as a subplot into the fourth season. From Eclipse Magazine Review
10/14/07: The movie focuses on two periods in Pegasus' past: right before the Cylons first attacked the colonies and ten months later when Lee took over command. From Eclipse Magazine Review
10/6/07: Minisode #1 Summary/Analysis Available
-

9/30/07: The mission that Lee sends Kara and Kendra on a mission to destory the "secrets of their enemy." Lee describes it as a legend, but Adama says it's not a legend. From SciFi Channel Previews [We're assuming that it has to do with what Adama saw on the Cylon base long ago... the hybrid?]
9/30/07: Young Adama came across a hybrid and possibly the first humanoid Cylons on the Cylon base that he found during the first Cylon war. From SciFi Channel Previews
9/26/07: Ausiello's claims that the following is spoken at the end/climax of the film: "*a*a ****c* **** **ad t*e ****n **** ** i** **d. *** is the ****** ** *** ***c*l****, the ********* ** *****. **** must *** ****** ***." [We're guessing that this is the hook that ties the film into the events of the fourth season and seems to be prophetic - spoken by Leoben?. Here's our try (well, actually our favorite guesses by others): "Kara Thrace will lead the Cylon/human race to its end/god. She is the mother/source/origin of the apocalypse, the harbinger/protector/destroyer of Earth/Death/Cylon. They/Kara must not follow/escape/reveal her/god.",.. take your pick. ]
9/22/07: Flashbacks will show Kendra back in the colonies and how she ended up on the Pegasus. An accompanying promo pic shows a very wounded Kendra being tended to by Kara. From EW.com [So maybe this is how Kendra's invisibility will be explained... maybe she dies on that mission that Lee sends her on with Kara.]
9/8/07: Bear McCreary's comments from his latest blog: "Much of the score is atmospheric and dark. The fun battle cues really only make up about 15 minutes of music." From Bear McCreary [Doesn't make the telefilm sound too action-packed...]
9/2/07: The Patriot Resource has finally posted information for the DVD, which is set for release on December 4th, ten days following the first airing. From The Patriot Resource
8/28/07: A preview clip shows a scene that starts with Admiral Cain and Kendra Shaw. Shaw reports dozens of Vipers destroyed or in need of repair. Cain comments that they took heavy losses for such a small tactical victory. Shaw reports that "she" - "it" had used the passcodes Shaw had given her to compromise the ship's defenses. It turns out that they are in Gina's cell as Gina is revealed kneeling on the floor in front of them. Cain comments that the greater betrayal was trust. Cain then calls in Lieutenant Thorne and basically orders him to torture "it" every way possible. From SciFi Channel [This clip can be viewed after registering for DVD information which comes up after voting for the DVD cover. The scene clearly indicates that Cain condoned the repeated raping and physical abuse of Gina. It also seemed to indicate that Gina had been highly regarded by both Kendra and Cain.]
8/28/07: A preview clip shows a scene between Admiral Cain and Kendra Shaw. Cain takes out a pocket knife and tells Kendra that she acted like a razor. Cain then says that for them to survive, the entire crew will have to act like razors. From SciFi Channel [This clip can be viewed after voting for a DVD cover. Not really much to this scene, other than hammering away again at the "razor" theme.]
8/28/07: You can help pick the DVD cover art. From SciFi Channel [Not really a spoiler, but give us a break on this one.]
8/16/07: Helo does not appear.
8/11/07: The title comes a line spoken by George C. Scott in the film Patton, "We'll turn these guys into fanatics. We'll turn them into razors." From BSG Comic-Con 2007 Panel.
7/24/07: The film also follows Lee's first mission as commander of the Pegasus. From Chicago Tribune Article [His first mission? So he sends Kara and Kendra out on his first mission.]
7/24/07: The first Cylon will be "glimpsed." The film also follows Lee's first mission as commander. From Chicago Tribune Article
7/17/07: SciFi Channel has announced that there will be an 8-week series of mini-episodes leading up to the November 24th premier. The episodes "will provide a sneak peek into the original Cylon War, when a young pilot named William Adama (Nico Cortez) discovers a dangerous Cylon weapon that will come back to haunt him and his crew 40 years later." These two to three minute long episodes will air during primetime, later turn up on SciFi.com and will be included on the DVD release. [Unlike the webisodes last year, these are being described more like deleted scenes that couldn't fit into the final cut. This news also fits with the previous news that the DVD would include extended content.]
7/15/07: SciFi Channel has now posted the first trailer online.
7/15/07: We've rewatched the trailer and there's still little to be learned, but here's what was shown: Kendra steps off a Raptor onto the hangar deck [Can't tell if it's on the Galactica or the Pegasus]. Cain visits the bodies of her crew in a temporary morgue [Much like Adama in the miniseries]. A sweaty Kara looks back at someone as the airlock closes. Lieutenant Kendra Shaw reports to Cain in CIC for the first time. On the hangar deck, Lee says, "Where the hell did they come from?" as Kendra stands beside him and Kara behind him. Kara tells Kendra that "fear gets you killed and anger keeps you alive," as Marines look to be fighting and retreating down a corridor. Adama says, "those are our people out there. We have to give them a chance." [We're guessing that he's referring to the mission that Kendra and Kara are on.] Gina disarms the first Marine who approaches her and faces down the others. Kendra says, "we are completing this mission. Am I clear, soldier?" Several scenes of the ships taking fire and explosions and one of an even sweatier Kara shooting. Cain closes the trailer with, "War is our imperative, so we will fight." From SciFi Channel
7/13/07: Jurgen Belzen is listed being a Colonel and played by Steve Bucic. From IMDB [Colonel Fisk's predecessor? Or at least the XO who Cain shot?]
7/11/07: The preview aired during the Eureka season premier last night and offered amazingly little. Lieutenant Kendra Shaw introduced herself, sporting an accent. Cain, Adama, Kara and Lee From SciFi Channel [Guess they are holding back the good preview for... ?]
7/8/07: A preview will air during the Eureka season premier on July 10th on The SciFi Channel. From SciFi Channel
7/8/07: As previously known, much of the film follows the Pegasus. This storyline is "framed" by flashbacks taking place during a mission that Commander Lee assigned Kendra (his XO) and Kara. Lee assigned them together because Kara doesn't like Kendra at all and he wants her to get to know Kendra. The mission itself regards learning some intel about the Cylons and apparently takes place around the time of the presidential election and/or the settling of New Caprica. From SyFy Portal [This is unconfirmed material that likely can be treated as more speculative than most tidbits that we post considering the source.]
6/29/07: The DVD release will include at least fifteen minutes of original content. From Film.com [The article assumes that this means an extended cut of the film, but we wonder if this is actually referring to behind-the-scenes or other supplimental material.]
6/23/07: According to Katee Sackhoff, Starbuck is around for about a "quarter" of the movie. [We're assuming that means that about a quarter of the film follows the Pegasus while it's in the fleet and that's the only part of the movie that Starbuck is seen.]
6/19/07: The original (1970's) Cylon Centurions, Raiders and Basestars will be featured heavily in the early scenes depicting the original Cylon war.
6/19/07: Before she was found out to be a Cylon, Gina and Cain were very close.
6/17/07: Gina says, "Trust me, in the end, we're all just human." The discovery that she's a Cylon is depicted. From SciFi Channel Q & A
6/9/07: Gina will be seen acting as a member of the Pegasus crew before she was found to be a Cylon. During the time of Lee's command, Kara leads some sort of mission. From SciFi Channel Q & A
6/3/07: The telefilm will focus on the Pegasus during the Cylon attack on the colonies, after it encountered Galactica and even after Cain was killed. From Lower Hudson Online Blog [This seems to confirm the earlier spoiler that included a scene between Kendra and Apollo.]
6/3/07: Kendra Taggert has apparently been renamed Kendra Shaw. Fisk's appearance also looks to be confirmed. From IMDB
6/3/07: There's a rumor that the original Pegasus first officer that Cain shot has been cast. [This one isn't much of a stretch since the telefilm is supposed to focus on the Pegasus.]
5/19/07: The Kendra Taggert character looks to be focus of the telefilm. Grace Park comments that the character was shooting twenty-four days out of the month long schedule. Grace herself only has one day of shooting. From Grace Park Article on Hollywood.com [For all the time that is apparently going to be spent on this never-before-seen character, we hope she doesn't completely disappear back into the woodwork when Season 4 rolls around. Also doesn't look like we can expect much Admiral Adama or Athena/Boomer/Number Eight in the telefilm.]
5/19/07: Additional guest characters include: Scylla Protestor, Sports Commentator, Op Officers. two teenages, Intimidated Young Marine and Flea. From Casting Calls [Just some extras, although "Flea" at least sounds intriguing.]
5/13/07: Young Adama is a lieutenant and a hot shot Viper pilot during the first Cylon war. He apparently is serving onboard the Galactica by the end of the war. He also ends up in a Cylon base where he finds that the Cylons have apparently been carrying out cybernetic experiments on humans. [The revelation that young Adama had seen the Cylon experiments helps explain why an older Adama at Ragnar Anchorage so easily grasps that Leoben is a Cylon.]
5/13/07: Young Helena in a young girl during the first Cylon war and loses her father and mother to a Cylon attack on Tauron. Her father tells her to look after her sister, but Helena apparently momentarily abandons her and Helena is unable to find her sister again. young Helena turned her fear of the Cylons into an anger.
5/13/07: Kendra was a lieutenant under Admiral Cain and as the Cylon attack first began, she allowed her fear to take hold of her. Later, she turned her fear to anger, which gained Admiral Cain's attention. After Cain's death, Kendra did not get along with Fisk or Garner and ended up busted down a rank and assigned to kitchen duty. When Lee took command of Pegasus, he promoted her to major and made her his XO. [From this info, Kendra is set up to be a younger version of Cain with the circumstances of a Cylon attack evoking fear, which is turned to anger. The question is whether Kendra ends up going down the same brutal path as her mentor.]
5/12/07: Admiral Adama's involvement with be "minimal." From Edward Olmos Interview with IF Magazine [Based on the young Adama role, Olmos is likely referring to his own participation.]
5/12/07: The film is set to air in November. From SciFi VP Mark Stern Interview with Crave Online
5/6/07: Guest characters include: Major Kendra Taggert, Young William Adama, Young Helena Cain, Helena Cain's father, Hybrid, Jurgen Belzen, Bruno the Bartender, Banzai, Hudson, Lucy, Deck Hand and Young Marine. From Casting Calls [Apparently, there will be flashbacks set well before the start of the Cylon attacks. We're guessing that a backstory will be revealed between Cain and Adama and possibly involve her father as well.]
5/6/07: A central character will be Major Kendra Taggert, who served on the Pegasus and expected to be in her late 20's. Her mother is a Quorum delegate who pulled strings to get Kendra on the Pegasus with the expectation that Kendra would one day command the fleet. However, when the Cylon war started, Kendra cracked with fear before turning angry. A young Adama is also described as a guest lead. From FilmJerk.com [Kendra sounds like a young Admiral Cain. One also wonders if Kendra will turn up during season four. Also, FilmJerk.com incorrectly describes the info as concerning the Season four premier when the filming dates coincide with the two-hour movie set for Fall 2007]
5/6/07: Episode title added. The episodes/telefilm is written by Michael Taylor and directed by Felix Alcala. From FilmJerk.com
[The news of Lee and Tyrol appearing simply confirms what was said about the regular cast appearing in the Pegasus-centered telefilm.]
4/17/07: Lee will appear. From Jamie Bamber at Creation Con [The news of Lee and Tyrol appearing simply confirms what was said about the regular cast appearing in the Pegasus-centered telefilm.]
4/17/07: Tyrol will appear as Aaron Douglas said filming starts on May 15th and he expects it to last until March 2008 for the entire season. From Aaron Douglas Interview with Brisbane Times
4/15/07: Shooting is scheduled to begin on May 15th. From Kevin Grazier, Richard Hatch and Bradley Thompson Interview with Military.com
4/15/07: Michael Taylor is writing the script. From Kevin Grazier, Richard Hatch and Bradley Thompson Interview with Military.com
4/15/07: RDM: "It's a separate budget that's not related to our episodic budget. They've set aside a specific pot of money for this release, and it is more than our usual parent show." From Ron Moore Interview with MTV
4/15/07: The script is being written and there have been discussions over having all the "established" Pegasus characters appear. From Ron Moore Interview with MTV [How many actually appear will probably come down to the availability of the actors.]
3/24/07: RDM explained that the Home Video division came to them with the idea of a standalone movie for DVD release in the long hiatus between Seasons 3 and 4. It was originally conceived as a straight-to-DVD project, but SciFi Channel decided to pick it up, so the SciFi Channel airing and DVD release will be nearly instantaneous. From Ronald D. Moore Interview with Salon.com
3/24/07: RDM's response concerning the 2-hour broadcast between Season 3 and 4: "That story will not pick up our cliffhanger at the end of Season 3. The story will be set on the Battleship Pegasus and will take place in the past, relative to where we are in Season 3. But the events set up in that story will then pay off in Season 4. " From Ronald D. Moore Interview with Salon.com [So the Cain/Pegasus prequel rumor has now been confirmed. TPR was wrong that the movie was shaping up like B5's Thirdspace. It's going to be like B5's In The Beginning.]
3/22/07: As part of their announcement about Season 4, SciFi Channel announced that there would be a "special two-hour extended event that will air during fourth quarter 2007 and be released on DVD thereafter." The entire cast is expected to appear. From SciFi Channel [The Direct-to-DVD movie is off, but at least there will be something to fill the long gap between the end of Season 3 and the start of Season 4 in January. Also, just because the entire cast appears doesn't mean that the movie won't be a prequel or focused on the Pegasus or some other 'side story'.]
2/24/07: The Direct-to-DVD movie was confirmed and is expected to center on "side-stories" that could not be fit into the series. Tricia Helfer (Six) and James Callis both expect to appear. From ign.com
2/13/07: SyFy Portal speculates that the storyline indicated by GeekMonthly.com would set the stage for returning character to be Admiral Cain and how the Pegasus managed to escape. From SyFy Portal
2/13/07: The movie might be a prequel set durng the original Cylon attacks. From GeekMonthly.com
2/8/07: The movie would be like a "bonus episode" that brings back a popular character for a one-off. From BuddyTV [Can we please say Billy?]
2/8/07: If the Direct-to-DVD movie is greenlit, filming would take place in March. From BuddyTV
1/28/07: The story is now finished. From Mark Verheiden Interview with Comic Book Resources [Guess that means they just have to wait for the renewal to work out filming the movie.]
1/8/07: The movie "may" include the return of a popular character.Moore/Eick Chicago Tribune Interview [That's pretty wide open... the "major" character killed off later in season 3? Or someone else like Zarek?]
1/8/07: The movie will only go forward if the series is picked up for a fourth season. It will not address the Season 3-ending cliffhanger. If the show were cancelled, the movie would be dead. It's not a backup plan to quickly tie off the series in case of cancellation. Moore/Eick Chicago Tribune Interview
1/8/07: The movie would be set between Seasons 3 and 4. It would explore a backstory that "might" be used later in the series. Moore/Eick Chicago Tribune Interview [So it would be a standalone film... reminds us of Babylon 5's Thirdspace, which had the characters promising not to talk about it as a way of excluding it from the series arc. However, the audience also wanted to forget the movie and its story.]
1/8/07: NBC Universal Home Video is interested in a straight to DVD movie. It might or might not end up airing on SciFi Channel after the DVD release. From Ronald D. Moore & David Eick Chicago Tribune Interview

BSG Season Four Spoilers

BSG Season 4 Spoiler Roundup (SPOILERS) in inviso-text.

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From the title, pretty self-evidently, there will be SPOILERS contained herewithin, taken from different sources. Most of these are of a very general nature rather than specific points (due to the fact that we're still 5 months from transmission) and naturally some or all may turn out to be pure BS:

As of now, the first eight episodes have been filmed, plus the Razor TV movie. The show is now on a brief hiatus and filming will resume in late September on the remaining twelve episodes. Apparently the first 8-10 episodes form the first of the final two 'acts' of the storyline that Ronald D. Moore has mentioned before. It is currently rumoured that there may be a transmission break between episodes 10 and 11 of the fourth season (probably just 2-3 weeks) and there will be another mid-season cliffhanger similar to the Eye of Jupiter/Rapture one from last year.

Spoiler:

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401: He That Believath in Me
402: Six of One
403: The Ties That Bind
404: Escape Velocity
405: Into the West
406: Faith
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General plot points:

Spoiler:

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The Penultimate Four are 'outed' a few episodes into the new season. It's unclear how, or if all of them are outed or just a few, or if it's publicly revealed or made known to a few individuals. Apparently there is a confrontation between Roslin and Tyrol in which she threatens to airlock him.

It is very heavily rumoured that Cally commits suicide upon learning that Tyrol is a Cylon. At least two recurring or regular characters will die in Season 4.

Roslin is fighting her returned cancer with chemotherapy rather than chamalla.

The general feeling from the crew and the fleet is that Starbuck is a Cylon, and her talk of leading them to Earth is just a lure to tempt them into a trap. Adama has major issues with Starbuck starting in the first episode. However, by episode 5 or 6 Adama decides he has to take a risk and has Starbuck lead a scouting mission on the Demetrius (apparently an old military ship in the fleet that has been serving as a refugee transport) to the apparent location of Earth. In a later episode Starbuck faces a mutiny, but gets unexpected help from her 'new allies'. Starbuck and Roslin apparently clash over which of them will guide humanity to Earth. According to David Eick, the significance of what happened to Starbuck in Maelstrom will be revealed, but not until much later. As of filming episode 7 or 8, Sackhoff confirmed she still didn't know what had happened to Starbuck after her apparent 'death' in that episode.

The extant seven Cylon models fall into a civil war once the existence of the Penultimate Four becomes known amongst them. Some of the models use Centurions to attack the others and general mayhem breaks loose. It has been hinted that as many as three models may be boxed or destroyed during the civil war. Eventually the Cylons choose to unbox D'Anna and use her insight to help guide them into making the right decision: to abandon the pursuit of the humans or renew their attempts to wipe them and the Penultimate Four out? Apparently D'Anna's unboxing will play a major role in the mid-season cliffhanger, as will Hera's fate. D'Anna will have a confrontation with Roslin. Lawless has only agreed (so far) to do 2-3 eps at the most, so D'Anna's return will be brief.

The outcome of the mid-season cliffhanger will lead the fleet to Earth a few episodes later. According to the producers, the last few episodes will deal with Earth. The fleet won't just turn up there in the last few minutes of the last episode.

Baltar will continue to be in his 'harem' for the first few episodes of the season at least.

One of the later episodes involves a major fistfight between Anders and Six.

At one point a 'splinter group' in the fleet forms (presumably opposed to Adama/Roslin's command). Apparently Gaeta and Helo are part of this group, or will infiltrate it.

Tom Zarek definitely appears in the first few episodes and will likely crop up later on. He is still Vice-President.

BSG news

« The TV Addict Goes SCI FI

BATTLESTAR GALACTICA Season Four Scoop

Dateline 4:50AM, Vancouver Time. — BATTLESTAR GALACTICA news. Not surprisingly, the cast, crew, costume designers, key grips and anyone remotely related to the show were tight-lipped with regards to what’s in store for fans this final season. I can reveal that fans should expect to see a new ship around episode five/six (called the Demitrius), Michael Hogan is not happy about being a Cylon and Aaron Douglas alluded to the fact that within the first few episodes of the season, his character Chief Tyrol may [or may not] find himself on the brink of being tossed out of an airlock. Presumably when President Roslin finds out about his little secret.

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« BATTLESTAR GALACTICA Season Four ScoopV.C. Andrews Gets A New Life(time) »More BATTLESTAR GALACTICA Scoop

At yesterday’s SCI FI Digital Press panel, BATTLESTAR GALACTICA fan favorite Aaron Douglas surprised the audience by revealing that he knew months prior that his character — fan favorite Chief Tyrol — was indeed one of the final five Cylons.”I found out months in advance, accidently,” divulged Douglas. ” I found a piece of paper lying around that I was not supposed to see.”Of course, when you’re one of twenty-five intrepid reporters desperate for any morsel of scoop with regards to the upcoming fourth season of GALACTICA, the phrase, ‘things we’re not supposed to see’ popped up far too often for our liking. Yet that didn’t stop this TV Addict from gathering as much intel as possible in an effort to uncover any info about the highly anticipated final season.First bit of scoop, episode four or five’s title is “Into the West.” Turns out Aaron Douglas isn’t the only person to see ‘interesting’ pieces of paper lying around the set. In fact, one couldn’t help but notice entire scripts lying inconspicuously around the gritty and cramped Galactica corridors. But rest assured SCI FI executives — not wanting to risk being ejected from the nearest air lock — this TV Addict didn’t dare pick it up. No matter how curious he was to discover what the episode’s title, “Into the West” really meant.

Another piece of intel one couldn’t help but notice was the name of the new ship currently being constructed for episodes five or six. Perhaps a more fanatical BATTLESTAR GALACTICA fan can let this TV Addict know if the ship name ‘Demitrius’ has any relevance?And finally, the massive bullet holes that riddled the Cylon Base Ship were pretty hard to miss. While brilliant tour guides Richard Hudolin (Production Designer) and Doug McLean (Art Director) were tight-lipped on what happened, one can only assume that episode four will include one helluva an angry Cylon. Or, dare we say, a human who isn’t pleased to have recently discovered that he may not be so human after-all.

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July 15, 2007

The Sci Fi Channel says it will air several "Battlestar Galactica" shorts this fall to tide fans over until "Battlestar Galactica: Razor" debuts Nov. 24.

The announcement came Sunday as the network unveiled its 2007-2008 development slate of programming at the Television Critics Association press tour in Beverly Hills.The eight-week, primetime series of "mini-sodes" are intended to whet the appetites of fans throughout October and November, in anticipation of the premiere of Sci Fi's two-hour event, "Battlestar Galactica: Razor."

"Razor" is a special extended installment that will provide a backdrop to events unfolding in the rest of season four of "Galactica."Filmed as part of the extended episode, the mini-sodes will be included in the unrated Universal Home Video release of "Razor" and will also be available on SciFi.com after their on-air debuts.

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July 16, 2007
Battlestar Galactica and Farscape fans will be receiving a gift from SciFi Channel this fall. The network has announced that they will be running minisode seasons for both franchises. A relief for Battlestar Galactica fans suffering a long hiatus, and a pleasant surprise for the rabid fans the Jim Henson company's ill-fated Farscape, which became the target of a revival campaign the Jericho folks would have been proud of.

The minisodes will air first on SciFi Channel, and then will be made available via the channel's web site. The Battlestar Galactica minisodes will feature a young Adama (played by Nico Cortez) as he discovers a Cylon weapon that will somehow have impact on future events. Cortez will also be playing young Adama in the Battlestar Galactica movie “Razor.”Aside from Cortez, it isn't clear if any of the Razor cast will be making an appearance in the minisodes. The minisodes are set to debut in October, a month in advance of the late November premiere of Razor.

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'Battlestar Galactica' "Razor" Preview During Tonight's Eureka

July 10, 2007

Battlestar Galactica fans will be able to get their first look at the highly anticipated spin-off movie “Razor” during tonight's season premiere of Eureka. “Razor” takes place months before the Battlestar Pegasus caught up with Galactica and her rag tag fleet. Returning for “Razor” will be Michelle Forbes as Admiral Cain. In other news, does Forbes contract with the show reveal a possible spoiler of epic proportions? Possibly. Read on.

SyFyPortal.com revealed that in addition to “Razor,” Forbes has been cast to appear in one more episode in the fourth and final season of Battlestar Galactica. Beyond that bit of information, there is nothing explaining why so anything that follows is pure speculation.

On one hand, Forbes extra appearance could be a flash back sequence for any number of characters. In this case, her additional commitment would have no big impact for the show, other than the fact that we might get one more look at Pegasus and Cain.

On the other hand, we still do not know the identity of the fifth and final Cyclon. As SyFyPortal suggests, it very well could turn out that Forbes is set to appear as another Cyclon. Interesting proposition, if totally baseless.

SyFyPortal has been a source of more interesting Battlestar Galactica rumors today with some information that there may be a civil war brewing within the Cylons. Word will make it out that the final five are hiding among the Colonials and the resulting fracas over whether to attack or not will lead to the extinction of three of the humanoid models.

As previously reported, part of this unrest is caused when the mechanical Cylons find out the humanoid models have been suppressing their ability for independent thought. The toasters will remedy that by turning their individuality back on, and turning against the humanoid models.


- Jon Lachonis, BuddyTV Senior Writer
Source: SyFyPortal.com
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Things Get Ugly In 'Battlestar' Season 4
SPOILERS: In-fighting will change the face of the enemy

By MICHAEL HINMAN
Source: SyFy Portal
Jul-10-2007

The following story contains possible MAJOR SPOILERS for the fourth season of "Battlestar Galactica."
Those Centurions have been nothing more than walking/shooting toasters, but apparently it's not because the Cylons were too dumb to make them as smart (and beautiful) as their humanoid counterparts.

Last week, Media Blvd. shared some tidbits about the upcoming fourth season of "Battlestar Galactica" talking about how the Centurions never evolved much because the human Cylons built in inhibitors that prevented higher brain function.

Once that inhibitor is removed, the Centurions apparently open fire on the Cylon base ship, parts of which were seen by those attending the SciFi Channel Digital Press Tour last month in Vancouver, B.C., soon after parts of the scenes were shot.

But who were the Cylons targeting? SyFy Portal dug a little deeper, and a source tells us that the Centurions weren't firing out of anger ... it was actually a calculated political move.

"Word about the existence of the Final Five starts spreading throughout the Cylon fleet," the source told SyFy Portal. "Since they may be hiding among the Colonials, the Centurions -- who are now able to think for themselves -- decide they can no longer fire on the fleet at risk of putting the Final Five in trouble."

Four of the Final Five were revealed in the third season finale, and it's unclear what kind of resurrection abilities -- if any -- these final Cylons have. But keeping a military force is important, and one of the Cylon human models removes part of the Centurion Raiders' brain function to remove that independent thinking to make them attack anyway.

What results is the equivalent of a Cylon civil war, or in this case, a skirmish as the battle doesn't last long enough to be a civil war.

"We're going to lose some Cylons in this battle," the source said. "And I don't mean the toasters. We're actually going to lose some of our humanoid Cylons ... as in lose permanently."

The humanoid models are split on if they should continue attacking with the Final Five in the fleet, and when a vote doesn't go the way one Cylon wants it to, the order is given to completely annihilate three models. Attacking all of them at once, and eliminating their ability to resurrect.

There are unconfirmed reports that this episode also will feature the return of Lucy Lawless to the program, as there is some chatter that the actress has signed up for a similar contract she did in her limited run in Season 3. Also, another source reports that a new "named" Cylon will be introduced early in the fourth season, presenting yet another character for Tricia Helfer to play.

When reporters visited the set last month, the multi-purpose set was designed as a dinner area with pristine white chairs, and some extravagant crystal table settings. The room -- which has doubled as Baltar's holding cell as well as where the hybrid pilots are kept -- was riddled with bullet holes that pierced through pillars, and a wall behind where the reporters were walking through. Debris was strewn everywhere, and "Battlestar Galactica" set crew made sure nothing on the set was disturbed, as it was still a hot set.

Of course, none of this has been confirmed by SciFi Channel or showrunners, so please treat this as you would any other rumor.

"Battlestar Galactica" returns in November with the telemovie "Razor," before making its fourth and final season premiere in 2008.

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'Battlestar Galactica' Season Four Begins to Take Shape

July 5, 2007

In the wake of the recent SciFi Channel Digital Press Tour, various details concerning the upcoming fourth and final season of Battlestar Galactica have begun to circulate the web. Ever since the announcement from David Eick and Ron Moore that season four would resolve the Battlestar Galactica story, for the time being, fans of the award-winning series have been clamoring for even the smallest nuggets of info. Here is a wrap up of some of the interesting twists awaiting us in season four. Be warned, minor spoilers will follow.
SyFyPortal.com is reporting, via MediaBlvd.com, that there may be a shocking turn-about in the Cylon community. Mutterings from the set state that the mechanical Centurion models might rebel against their human-styled counterparts after learning that their ability to develop free will is being oppressed. Plato would have loved Battlestar Galactica, nuff said.

A new interior set is being built for what is described as the submarine like Demetrius. The claustrophobic ship will apparently feature prominently in early episodes of the show, but no specific plot details are known as of yet.

One major revelation in the MediaBlvd piece is that according to series star Aaron Douglas (Tyrol) the mysterious final five Cylons are a completely different critter from the other iterations. In fact, Douglas said the final five were immortal and the equivalent of the Cylon’s Gods. If Douglas’ expose was accurate, the Cylons have risen over the colonists in the past, and the cyclical themes of the show will become a major part of season four.

Douglas surely overstepped the spoiler boundaries, but it is difficult to imagine a vigilant producer or writer resisting the impulse to clap a hand over his mouth. If the info is correct, it very well could mean that the arrival at Earth is also a part of the cycle. On the other hand, lets not forget the hard work the BSG producers put into convincing us that Starbuck would die. Now as to who is number five in the final five…


- Jon Lachonis, BuddyTV Senior Writer
Sources: SyFyportal.com and Mediablvd.com

Additions to the "Heroes" cast

Princess Keriyama? (Miss Universe 2007 from Japan, Riyo Mori)

06/11 - In recounting the assorted opportunities which have come her way since being named Miss Universe last month, the Japan-born Riyo Mori says one "super" job lead might find her on no less than NBC's Heroes, playing Yaeko, a new character whom she describes as a love interest for one of the main characters. "I went to the casting audition and read a script in English and Japanese, and they said it was really good," the 20-year-old dancer tells the Associated Press. "So I hope I can be in the show." Source: TV Guide Online [Note: Our guess is that she auditioned for the role of Princess Keriyama, which will more than likely end up being Hiro's love interest.]

Dania Ramirez has been cast as "Maya". You may have seen her in my blog previously, she played Callisto in "X-Men: The Last Stand"

David Anders has been cast as Kensei (the ancient samurai hero). Anders was previously cast as Sark on "Alias".

Aaaah, now we get to the "real" Feudal Princess Keriyama - Japaness pop princess Eriko Tamura!

-DB-

Smallville Spoiler - Supergirl casted

"Supergirl" Laura Vandervoort

07/11 - Clark Kent's cousin from Krypton is a Canuck. 22-year-old Laura Vandervoort (Instand Star) has been cast in the plum role of Smallville's Kara aka Supergirl. This superstrong - and airborne! - newcomer may prove to be a super pain to her kin, however. "We've wanted a character to shake things up," series creator Al Gough tells People. "She may be Clark Kent's cousin, but that doesn't mean she's going to be the obedient one!" Source: TV Guide Online