Witness Elena and Stefan’s first meeting, Bonnie’s encounter with her ghostly ancestor, learn about the cool vampire hunting pocket watch, and best of all, revel in actions of the charmingly evil Damon!

Don’t be put off by the high school hi-jinks and the mopey, “we’ll never be together” love story. Under all of that is a great vampire show — put all thoughts of Twilight aside and watch The Vampire Diaries marathon on The CW.

Pictured: Ian Somerhalder as Damon, Nina Dobrev as Elena, Paul Wesley as Stefan Photo Credit: Andrew Eccles / The CW © 2009 The CW Network, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

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Imagine my surprise when I openned my email this morning and found a report from Variety stating that my favorite Fringe star, Joshua Jackson has just been cast as Paul Foster in the feature film remake of UFO.

Cosmic? Isn’t it?

The original UFO came from those brilliant scifi model aficionados, Gerry and Sylvia Anderson. These are the same people that brought us Thunderbirds, Fireball XL-5, Space 1999 and Captain Scarlett. That last series even features a puppet that looks exactly like the star of UFO, Ed Bishop.

UFO was more cerebral than the Anderson’s other shows and it was based on the idea that we had a secret system set up for intercepting and destroying aliens who were constantly trying to land here on earth. Most people remember the girls in the purple wigs, the mod clothing and the fabulous model work but it also had a solid plot, interesting characters and some snappy dialouge.

I can’t wait to see it on the big screen.

According to Variety, the film is due to begin shooting this spring in the UK.

CR: Justin Stephens/FOX

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Peter Davison

Davison stars in the latest BBC Video Doctor Who release, The Black Gaurdian Trilogy. This box set is made up of  ‘Mawdryn Undead,” “Terminus,” and “Enlightenment.”

The Doctor comes into the trilogy with two lovely companions, Tegan and Nyssa but they’re soon joined by Turlough (Mark Strickson), an alien who has been living his life among the humans at a UK boarding school.

As with all of these early Doctor Who releases, the joy is in seeing where we came from. The broad acting, the flat sets, the low-tech special effects (some of which were actually very high-tech at the time) are all part of the charm of the series. So I was very surprised to see that this set offered an upgrade — an option to turn on new CGI effects to replace the outdated ones.

Except in the case of cleaning up video and audio quality, I’m not a fan of upgrades, so I’m glad they give you the option of turning off the CGI effects if you want. I do appreciate the effort that went in to delivering a clean product. You won’t realize how great the film looks until you watch the special features which include un-enhanced deleted scenes and outtakes. These bits are seriously flawed with pops, vertical lines and faded colors.

The special features on this DVD set are plentiful to the point of “I can’t believe they bothered.” I’ll give the BBC credit for trying to preserve the history of Who but many of the included clips, such as the film edits which show the few seconds before and after the scene clapper, are tedious to watch. Same goes for many of the outtakes.

On the other hand, the featurettes are all interesting to watch. They’re filled with behind-the-scenes tidbits from people who were there. It’s obvious that everyone interviewed has fond memories of their time on the show and one actress even goes so far as to say that she’s proud to have Doctor Who on her resume.

A really rare treat is a clip from Russell Harty Christmas Party
that has Peter Davison singing in what the Brits call pantomime. (Please forgive me if I’m not using that word correctly.)

Davison, Strickland and several other actors and writers get in on the commentary. There’s also a “notes” track that allows you to switch on a trivia component that appears like closed captioning. I found this very enjoyable and made it so I could watch and hear the episode while still getting my production trivia fill.

The DVD also sports the usual photo galleries, extended and deleted scenes, and a DVD-Rom library of documentation from back in the day.

The most unusual special feature is a feature length edit of “Enlightenment” with 5.1 surround sound and CGI effects. Sort of their tribute to how the episode would have been if it had been filmed today.

Doctor Who: The Black Guardian Trilogy is another piece of the Who History puzzle. BBC Video has done an excellent job capturing what it was like to be a part of the Doctor’s 20th season. It’s the perfect gift for the Doctor Who fan on your holiday shopping list.

The DVD streeted early in November and is now available anywhere you buy DVDs.

For a more in-depth review, check out Judge James Stewart’s take at DVD Verdict.

Photo: Amazon

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Supernatural Trailer – Win or Lose

The Vampire Diaries Trailer – Squeamish

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But before they go, here’s a quick look at where I stand with the current crop of futuristic, non-realistic, ghostly, ghastly, makes-you-wonder, shows on TV.

Read Part One here.

Dollhouse

What can I say about this one? I’d like to rename it Whedon’s Folly as I feel that the Joss-meister got too wrapped up in his own fantasy and forgot he had an audience to feed.

Dollhouse started off with an interesting concept, a kick-ass set and some great guest stars but even with Joss behind the wheel, this monster kept veering off course. The show was built around two kinds of episodes, the mythology and the fantasy of the week. The mythology was too complex to follow and the fantasies were aimed at men -  that worked wonders for my husband but left me cold. I quickly tired of sexy costume of the week storylines — like a weekly Halloween party at a frat house we had Eliza as a sexy nurse, as a sexy babysitter, as a sexy spy, and let’s not even talk about the dominatrix outfit.

Don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t mind the fantasy sex play if there was some real angst and story to go with it. I simply never saw any except in the finale of last season.

I came into this season hoping for more. I heard about all the great guest stars and I thought they’d pull it off. They didn’t. Two weeks in, I stopped watching. The show is heading for cancellation and I want to miss it, but I won’t. (Cr: Carin Baer/FOX)

Fringe

Fringe is an example of how you properly balance mythology with monster of the week. They’ve been doing a great job handing out morsels of backstory along with juicy monster bits in every episode. I’ve been very pleased to see Peter (Joshua Jackson) step up and take a more proactive role, Walter (John Noble) still cracks me up and manages to make me misty when he slips into remorse and sadness. I like Olivia (Anna Torv) but she’s not why I tune in week after week.

What I didn’t like this season was the shapeshifter assassin storyline that ended in the demise of Charlie. There were plot holes and it all came off a little too neat and then bam, it’s over. Are the shapeshifters all gone? Did I miss something? I do like bowling alley guy and the unique way he has of making Olivia see what’s around her. I still dig Astrid and I hope she gets her own episode soon. She’s a smart cookie and I’d like to see her save Walter or Peter’s life.

The whole AU storyline is interesting, but I tune in for the monster of the week stories and they’ve been terrific this year. Season Two and Fringe is still going strong. The only thing I have to complain about is the 9:00 Thursday time slot, it’s killing my DVR and the ratings. (CR: Justin Stephens/FOX)

FlashForward

The fact that I like the monster of the week episodes on Fringe, will probably clue you in to the fact that I’ve given up on FlashForward. I watched the pilot of this series and found it really compelling, but two episodes in I walked away. I’m not a fan of shows that are all mythology based as was the case with Lost. There were too many stories, too many characters I didn’t care for and what about the kangaroo? Did they explain the kangaroo?

FlashForward is one of those shows that I know is well written, creatively directed and properly acted but I still don’t enjoy it. I’m glad other people do, because it is good TV, just not for me.

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Using the communications stones, Lt. Scott (BRIAN J. SMITH) and Camile Wray (MING-NA) use their time back on earth to visit those they’ve left behind. Camile returns home to spend time with her partner, trying her best to make the strange circumstance normal. Meanwhile, Lt. Scott learns a past relationship might not have ended as he thought.

Aboard Destiny, Dr. Rush (ROBERT CARLYLE) supervises the exploration of new areas of the ship. Looking for resources to make their everyday lives easier, the crew stumbles upon a piece of Ancient technology that carries the promise of a way home. While somewhat familiar with the find, Dr. Rush can’t guarantee the safety of using it, bringing him and Col. Young (LOUIS FERREIRA) to a standoff on what to do.

Pictured: (l-r) Ming-Na as Camile Wray, Reiko Aylesworth as Sharon — Syfy Photo: Carole Segal

Sanctuary: “Veritas”

- DIRECTED BY AMANDA TAPPING

Will (ROBIN DUNNE) goes up against the heads of the Sanctuary Network to defend Magnus (AMANDA TAPPING) who is charged with a shocking murder. But as the evidence stacks up against her, even Will has trouble finding a way to convincingly defend her innocence.

Photos: Syfy

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Air Date: Friday, November 20 at 9:00 on Cartoon Network.

In pursuit of Poggle the Lesser, Jedi Master Luminara Unduli descends deep into the catacombs of Geonosis, where she uncovers an even greater threat to the galaxy.

When Luminara disappears while tracking the Geonosian warlord, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker lead a platoon of clone troopers in search of her. Following her trail, the heroes descend deep into the lair of the grotesque Geonosian queen – Karina the Great – where they discover that the hive is alive and teeming with undead defenders.

Though the episode finds Luminara confronted by agents of evil deep within the darkest bowels of Karina’s underground nest, actress Olivia d’Abo saw her character’s strength reflected by the grave nature of the circumstances. Rather than succumbing to despair, Luminara embodies the teachings of the Jedi Order even in desperate times. Despite her thoughtful and meditative nature, she is nonetheless a dedicated protector of peace and justice – and a formidable warrior when called to action. Faced with the potential escape of her quarry, she doesn’t hesitate to follow Poggle into the heart of darkness. Devoted to her noble cause even at the risk of life and limb, she is the quintessential Jedi Master – brave, strong, sage and selfless.

“Luminara is a Jedi, so she’s always going to have that ability to focus and remain calm,” says d’Abo “I’m thrilled to be playing a role that requires such wisdom and strength; it is really empowering.

Despite Luminara’s seemingly desperate plight, d’Abo relished the opportunity to tap into imagination and celebrate the creative spirit of the “galaxy far, far away.”

“The themes and characters in the [live-action] films have had such a major influence on me and everyone I know,” says d’Abo. “As a child, Star Wars allowed me to fall into another world that was more vivid, more defined, more authentic and so much more exciting. There’s nothing lightweight about the philosophy of the films, and I am finding that The Clone Wars series is just as timeless.”

Though perhaps best known for her role as Kevin Arnold’s older sister in TV’s The Wonder Years, d’Abo boasts a career that has included such iconic genre properties as Conan the Destroyer, Green Lantern: First Flight and Ultimate Avengers.

“I love science-fiction, the fantasy genre, and comic books,” she says. “They tend to stand the test of time because of their marvelous content; these kinds of projects will always capture people’s attention by providing far-away settings we’d like to escape to. I’ve been really lucky with all my roles and projects because I have an innate understanding of what they require. I just jump in and make them my own.”

Photo:
Jedi Master Luminara Unduli sets off in pursuit of Poggle the Lesser in “Legacy of Terror,” an all-new episode of STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS premiering at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT Friday, November 20 on Cartoon Network. TM & © 2009 Lucasfilm Ltd. All rights reserved.

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Air Date: November 19 on The CW

SAM AND DEAN FACE OFF AGAINST LUCIFER

Sam (Jared Padalecki), Dean (Jensen Ackles) and Castiel (Misha Collins) track down the Colt and head off to find Lucifer (guest star Mark Pelligreno) to send him back to Hell.  It’s a hunters’ reunion when the crew joins forces with Bobby (Jim Beaver), Ellen (guest star Samantha Ferris) and Jo (guest star Alona Tal) for what could be their last night on Earth.  Phil Sgriccia directed the episode written by Ben Edlund (#510).

“Abandon All Hope” – Samantha Ferris as Ellen, Jensen Ackles as Dean, Jared Padalecki as Sam, Alona Tal as Jo Beth in SUPERNATURAL on The CW. Photo: David Gray/The CW ©2009 The CW Network, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

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Air Date: November 19 at 8:00 on The CW

STEFAN AND DAMON HAVE SOME NEW COMPETITION

After reading the journal left by one of the Gilbert ancestors, Jeremy (Steven R. McQueen) is inspired to return to his hobby of sketching fantasy creatures, a talent he had abandoned when his parents died. Much to the surprise of their friends, Matt (Zach Roerig) and Caroline (Candice Accola) continue to hang out together. When Sheriff Forbes (guest star Marguerite MacIntyre) tells Damon (Ian Somerhalder) there has been another attack, he offers to track down the killer and learns a startling piece of information about the town’s founding families. Alaric (guest star Matt Davis) steps in to help during an awkward scene with Jeremy, Tyler (Michael Trevino) and Mayor Lockwood (guest star Rob Pralgo). Stefan (Paul Wesley) and Elena (Nina Dobrev) come to a new understanding, but everything changes when Elena accidentally makes a devastating discovery. Sara Canning and Katerina Graham also star. J. Miller Tobin directed the episode written by Kevin Williamson & Julie Plec & Barbie Kligman (#109).
Photo: Quantrell Colbert/The CW ©2009 The CW Network, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

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Air Date: November 19 at 9:00 on Fox

When a peculiar abduction occurs in Boston, the Fringe team uncovers details of the mysterious man known as The Observer. While the bizarre case takes center stage, Walter, Peter and Astrid hit the lab to analyze unusual evidence and deal with Walter’s insatiable appetite for a milkshake in the all-new “August” episode of Fringe.

CR: Michael Courtney/FOX

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