Joshua Jackson
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Question: I appreciate how you are one of the few critics who recognizes how good a family sitcom The Middle is. I'm not American, but I can so relate to the Heck family, and they really hit it right out of the park with the family dynamics. Frankie and Mike's 20th anniversary was another terrific episode, and I want to give kudos to Atticus Shaffer's performance when Brick told Axl why books are so important. Strong words that captured a lot from the joys of reading to getting to know the struggles of a kid who's socially inept. I'm happy this show lasted this long and will reach 100 episodes by next season. Now that the show has enough episodes for syndication, do you think The Middle has a chance to grow even more in the ratings? The current ratings are fine and actually lives to up its title, as it's right smack in the middle of the ratings race, not a blockbuster but a self-starter that does solid numbers. But the show is just so good, so I really hope more people will discover it eventually. — Jecoup
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Karen Gillan, Arthur Darvill and Matt Smith
Drop your guns! The Doctor has found his Stetson again.
On the next Doctor Who (Saturday, 9/8c, BBC America), the Time Lord and his companions head back to the Old West in "A Town Called Mercy." Despite its name, the townsfolk don't seem to take to The Doctor all too kindly.
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Matt Smith
The Doctor has donned his Stetson once again.
In the new Doctor Who Season 7 teaser trailer, which debuted over the weekend at the show's official convention in Cardiff, Wales, we see the Doctor (Matt Smith) with companions Amy (Karen Gillan) and Rory (Arthur Darvill) in what looks to be the Old West... with electricity?
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Denis Leary
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Question: I was wondering what you think about this season of Rescue Me so far. I thought last week's episode was one of the best they have done in a while. I like that the show refuses to compromise or tack on happy endings. Just when it looks like Tommy will finally make an effort to be a good father or husband, something happens and ...
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Farscape - The Complete Series
New releases announced July 23:
Farscape - The Complete Series Megaset will be coming out November 17
Murphy's Law - Series 1 will be coming out October 6
Mystery Science Theater 3000 - XVI will be coming out December 1
Paradise Postponed/Titmuss Regained will be coming out October 6
Trial & Retribution - Set 3 will be coming out October 27
Visit TVShowsOnDVD.com for the complete stories on these and other news items.
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Question: I just wanted to let you know that, like you, I am also waiting for a Farscape movie. I think Farscape would translate brilliantly to the big screen. I haven't lost hope, but, like you, I am not holding my breath. Heck, I am still waiting for news about the Farscape webisodes! By the way, you wouldn't have heard anything about them, would you? It has been nearly a year since they were announced, and while I understand the writers' strike slowed things down a lot, we should be seeing/hearing something soon, right?
Answer: Not soon enough, I'm sure. I asked a Sci Fi Channel executive earlier this week, during a NBC-Universal party, if there was news to report on this front, and I was assured that the online Farscape project remains in active development. The problem, I'm told, is in getting all the creative players assembled to figure out the format, the content and to see who's available. No timetable on this one yet, I'm afraid, but don't lose hope. It's probably our las ...
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Question: I just saw that the amazing Farscape has just made its way onto iTunes. The first season is out there for everyone to download and enjoy. Whenever the strike ends and Farscape returns in webisode form, is there hope for Scapers like myself that, with enough buzz about the show, it may return to my TV screen?
Answer: Far be it for me to crush anyone's dreams, but after this much time, it does seem more and more like a long shot. The best-case scenario would be if these webisodes, whenever they occur, were to plant the seed for a movie-length Farscape special that Sci Fi could market as an "event." As dreams go, this isn't a bad one ...
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The Henson cult faves of Fraggle Rock and Farscape have been rescued from nostalgia and added to the modern era of iTunes accessibility. Thanks to a partnership between the Jim Henson Company and New Video, you can now do the "Fraggle Rock Rock" anytime, anywhere (if you dare) starting Jan. 28. For sci-fi fans, all 22 eps of Farscape's first season will be downloadable, as will the first 24 Fraggle shows, for subterranean puppet sing-alongs — no strings attached. — Anna Dimond
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Question: As one of the many Farscape fans eagerly awaiting the new webisodes, I'm wondering how the writers' strike will affect the project. I can only assume that it falls under exactly the type of material that writers are asking to be compensated for. If, as the networks claim, they don't make a profit from online content, why would the Sci Fi Channel even commission webisodes of a series as ambitious as Farscape? Not that I'm complaining! Just confused and worried that after three long years, any new Farscape will again come down to bad timing.
Answer: Not to worry. I've been told that Sci Fi is "very early in the development process" for the Farscape webisodes, and so the strike is having no impact on the project yet. Which means you'll have to remain patient (I have no timetable for when these will be made or shown), and I would think that however the strike negotiations turn out, anyone involved in producing these webisodes will be compensated for them ...
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Question: Should Bionic Woman fail to achieve network-television-caliber ratings on NBC, would NBC/Universal consider permanently moving the show to the Sci Fi Channel? Ratings expectations on a cable network are much lower. The smaller audience that tuned in to watch the show on NBC might be enough to keep the show alive on Sci Fi, assuming the viewers switch over. Furthermore, if we again assume that Universal airs reruns of Bionic Woman on Sci Fi like they did other NBC shows of the genre (Heroes, Surface) and if it does receive decent (cable) ratings, is that a good enough gauge to make a permanent move? I know this seems like a negative assumption about a brand-new show (sci-fi doesn't exactly have a good track record on network television), but I'm just curious if this is something studios ever consider. And if not, why wouldn't they?
Answer: A one-word answer: money. Bionic Woman is almost certainly too expensive a show to produce on Sci Fi's budget, although that's hard to
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