I spoke with the producers and stars of Freeform’s drama Siren . Freeform, Disney’s young adult television and streaming network, has kicked off production on their latest original series in Vancouver, “Siren.” The 10-episode, hour-long drama takes us inside Bristol Cove – a coastal town known for its legend of once being home to mermaids. When the arrival of a mysterious girl (played by Eline Powell) proves this folklore all too true, the battle between man and sea takes a very vicious turn as these predatory beings return to reclaim their right to the ocean.
The 2018 International Space Development Conference welcomes the stars and producers of ‘The Expanse’ to discuss the science of the series. The Expanse is a series that takes place in the future where mankind has conquered our solar system and spread but we learn we aren’t the only intelligent lifeforms after discovering the protomolocule. The series is a mix of humanity, special effects and the use of the true concepts of science and physics. It’s why it’s exciting that they are appearing at the West Coast gathering of the world’s greatest scientist, engineers, astronauts, and space entrepreneurs who have been inspired by science fiction greats from Star Trek to Star Wars to Doctor Who to Battlestar Galactica and future innovators will include The Expanse on that list. SYFY channel did not renew the series but passionate fans have launched a renew The Expanse campaign and have appealed to Amazon Video, Netflix, Hulu, and the Networks.
This year Jeff Bezos will be accepting the Gerard K. O’Neill Memorial Award for Space Settlement Advocacy at the 2018 ISDC hopefully they will cross paths and Mr. Bezos will choose to add The Expanse to the Amazon Prime lineup. The Expanse fandom is looking at numerous streaming platforms to renew the science fiction series with a 100% approval on Rotten Tomatoes the SyFy #1 series is still seeking a new home in our galaxy! If you want to attend the conference or the panel details are below.
The Science of the Expanse panel moderated by Kyle Hill is at 5PM with Naren Shankar, (Showrunner/Creator), Cas Anvar (Alex Kamal), Wes Chatham (Amos Burton), Steven Strait (Jim Holden), Shohreh Aghadashloo (Chrisjen Avasarala), and Cara Gee (Drummer) if you haven’t seen The Expanse (SyFy Network). The series is set in a future which finds the solar system is populated and prospering. The writing team on The Expanse works hard to keep special effects and concepts true to science and physics whenever possible. Cas Anvar, who plays starship pilot Alex Kamal, will join fellow cast members to discuss the science of the show.
When asked about the various social issues the show addressed in the first season, Seth MacFarlane – creator of the Star Trek inspired television show The Orville – stated that “good science fiction should be topical.”
“The reaction to that episode [Season 1 Episode 3 “About A Girl”] initially was… a lot of weird hostility about it. ‘Who do you think you are writing about this stuff?’ The reaction
from the fans was the opposite.”
The Paley Center for Media hosts PaleyFest once a year to honor exceptional television series. Held on March 17, The Orville panel is the second event of the festival, second to Barbra Streisand herself. The panels begin with an episode screening and are followed by a Q&A between the moderator, creators and cast, and the audience.
It’s true that the fan favorite series does not shy away from difficult conversations, having covered religion, xenophobia, sexism, and other touchy topics in the first season. It’s also true that science fiction as a genre was created to entertain intellectually and leave the viewer with questions about societal norms (Shoutout to the Horror, Science Fiction and Fantasy class I’m taking this semester!) “In this genre there really should be nothing off-limits,” MacFarlane concludes, citing The Twilight Zone, which is known for it’s social commentary. My personal favorite of the cast, actress Penny Johnson added that “fans are smarter than people think,” and could, therefore, handle discussion on tough topics. J.Lee,
who plays Lt. John LaMarr said, “I like the fact that we throw a lot of stuff at the wall…we talk about stuff with a camera on that we all talk about anyway.”
The Orville is an endearing series, and the panel was a delightful insight into the casts’ personalities ties and dedication to the series. Here are some key moments:
“More tongue!”
While filming episode 9 “Cupid’s Dagger,” Johnson was told by MacFarlane to do “more tongue,” MacFarlane ended the story with, ”Needless to say, my time was up.”
Chad wanted to sit on the egg
Chad L. Coleman, who plays Bortus’ partner Klyden, asked MacFarlane why Bortus sat on the egg to hatch their child when Klyden was the more traditionally domestic of the pair. MacFarlane
responded, “You’ve thought more about that than I have.”
The Ant Story
Scott Grimes aka Lt. Gordon Malloy told a story about the time when 40-50 ants crawled into Peter Macon’s prosthetic face during a nap, which resulted in a chorus of disgusted groans from the audience. “It was 5 or 6,” Macon corrected, who plays Lt. Cmdr. Bortus on the show. “…and if I rip this [makeup] off I’m ripping my skin off with it, so I had to beat myself in the face to kill the ants.”
The season finale ended with a harsh but necessary breakup for the couple. When asked about the future of the relationship, MacFarlane responded, “Watch. You gotta watch. I’m not gonna tell you,” to boos from the audience.
Sealing the Deal
A fan asked MacFarlane how he was able to bring the show to fruition. MacFarlane said, “I tend to do things that I want to watch and space sci-fi has been kind of neglected for a long time. Everything was serialized and everything was really dark, and I missed the optimistic, hopeful sci-fi that is not necessarily a cautionary tale…it just went from there.”
A Light in the Room
“On behalf of the Catholic church, I’m pissed.” A fan opened his question with this joke about the season finale, resulting in a lot of laughs. He then asked the cast to speak on their power to shape culture. Johnson revealed that as a Christian she’s been judged by her peers for appearing on the show. “What you want to do is present the issues and be generous and loving about them to allow people to make their own decisions…If you’re not a part of being the light in the room, you’re just allowing anything to be talked about. My thing is to always be a light in the room.” On playing Claire, Johnson says, “I find it extraordinary. Seth and the rest of the writers have allowed me to be three-dimensional, and not this one dimension that we get stuck on. I get to do everything, and my God I am so excited because if you don’t see me on television it’s going to be somebody else so I’ll be missing my calling which is sinful anyway.” Do you see why she’s my favorite?
Peter Macon wore a KISS mask for at least a few months
Peter Macon revealed that after the made-for-TV Kiss movie came out in the 1970s, he wanted to be Gene Simmons for Halloween and also all the time. He wore the KISS mask 24/7, including one particular June day on the City Bus with his mom. “I feel for her now being a parent,” Macon says. “I needed to wear that mask. A little black kid in Chicago wearing a KISS mask…I imagine myself as a little kid watching [The Orville] like I watched Battlestar Galactica, and being a part of something that can go into someone’s young consciousness, I see that kid walking around in a KISS mask in June…I wasn’t told that I can’t wear the mask at all. It helped blossom my consciousness and I hope that with this kind of work I can do the same thing for some little kid.”
The Hardest Script for Seth MacFarlane to Write
“Nothing that I’ve found. I’ve been in comedy for years and I’ve never had an easier, smoother time writing than on this show. I was probably in the wrong business.” We can leave it at that.
MacFarlane reveals that there is an episode in season 2 that doesn’t have a sci-fi plot. “It’s all character pieces and that to me is the essence of what a good sci-fi show should be able to do. The character should be so strong that if you want to do a story that is pure drama or pure comedy you should be able to do that.”
What’s the deal with Kermit the Frog?
Viewers of the show know that MacFarlane’s character Capt. Ed Mercer has a Kermit doll on his desk that he idolizes. When asked if his obsession “extends to all muppets,” MacFarlane said, “I love The Muppets. The Great Muppet Caper is one of the best musicals ever made. I’m a big Henson fan. I was always astonished by what he pulled off. Kermit is basically a sock puppet with eyes. There’s so much personality in him and I feel that he never got his due as an actor. There’s so much soul in that character.” I adore Jim Henson praise as -fun fact- he graduated from the University of Maryland-College Park, not far from my hometown. Naturally, the panel ended with MacFarlane’s Kermit impersonation.
Get ready to be ‘Static Shock’ with the release of the complete third season of the beloved animated series. The two-disc package is available on wb.com/warnerarchive and online retailers. It’s a great series that I watched back in the 2000’s and perfect to revisit or introduce to new fans aka kids or new to the geek world before seeing Black Panther <grrr>
“In the third season, everything sort of got spruced up,” recalls LaMarr, known far and wide for his voice performances in Samurai Jack, Futurama and Family Guy, and his live-action roles for MADtv and Pulp Fiction. “The writing was just as good as ever, but they really raised the stakes. Static’s costume went from homemade to a legitimate super hero costume, Richie became his own super hero in Gear, and that meant there was less sitting back at headquarters – we started going on a lot more duo-action adventures.”
Static Shock – Toys in the Hood (S3 E9)
“Moreover, it was so great to finally have a black super hero who didn’t have ‘black’ in his name. I could relate to him. Here’s a kid who is smart, who’s trying to do the right thing, dealing with relatable problems whether it was family or school or friendships. Despite that fact that it was a cartoon that revolved around super heroes, it felt real to me.”
Phil LaMarr starred as Virgil Hawkins/Static for the entire series run and the release of the third season saw a major shift in the show with important guest appearances, upgrade to his tech and integration in the overall universe. Static got a new costume, Richie his BFF/partner-in-crime-fighting became the super hero Gear and the duo fought crime with some major baddies. All of this feels like a direct line to the upcoming Black Panther since Static ‘returned to Africa’ to find his roots, teamed up with the Justice League and Superman. LaMarr & Marsden worked together on the Disney animated series ‘The Weekenders’ which really made enriched their chemistry as friends IRL and animation!
Static Shock & Gear
“Static Shock provided a second opportunity to play partners and best friends – which was great because we were already good friends,” LaMarr says. “Our friendship on the show was authentic. And there’s nothing better than getting paid every week to work with your friend.”
LaMarr’s connection to Static appealed to him in so many ways as a fan and as someone who was once a black teenage boy. “As a comic book guy, Static was a dream come true – a character who really felt real to me,” LaMarr says. “I always thought Static would be what I would be if I got powers as a teenager. I loved Spidey and Bats, but I never wanted to be them. There are tortured souls, and everything they do is informed by that guilt. For Static, the worst problem was having to do his homework.
Static Shock: The Complete Third Season featured numerous guest performances from actors as acclaimed and diverse as four-time Emmy Award winner Alfre Woodard (Miss Evers’ Boys, Desperate Housewives, Hill Street Blues), Emmy Award winner Roscoe Lee Browne (Logan’s Run, The Cowboys), Brock Peters (To Kill A Mockingbird, Soylent Green), Golden Globe winner Terence Stamp (Billy Budd, Superman), three-time Emmy Award winner Jean Smart (24, Garden State), Bud Court (Harold & Maude, M*A*S*H), Dennis Haysbert (24, Major League), Golden Globe winner Ron Perlman (Hellboy), Michael Jai White (Black Dynamite, The Dark Knight), T’Keyah Crystal Keymah (In Living Color, That’s So Raven), Danica McKeller (The Wonder Years), Phil Morris (Smallville), Charles Rocket (Moonlighting), Sean Patrick Thomas (The District), Kimberly Brooks (Mass Effect), Bumper Robinson (The Game), David Faustino (Married With Children), Nicolette Sheridan (Desperate Housewives), David Arquette (Cougar Town), Tia Texada (Third Watch) and rapper Romeo Miller.
Also performing guest roles during Static Shock: The Complete Third Season are the voices of Warner Bros. Animation’s core group of DC Super Heroes, including actors from Batman: The Animated Series (Kevin Conroy, Efrem Zimbalist Jr., Arleen Sorkin, Robert Hastings) and Justice League/Justice League Unlimited (George Newbern, Carl Lumbly, Maria Canals Barrera, Michael Rosenbaum), as well as Phil LaMarr himself as the voice of Green Lantern/John Stewart.
Static Shock, Gear & the Justice League
“The crossover episodes with the Justice League were so much fun for me – it was great to feel like Static Shock was part of the legacy of the super hero entertainment that I grew up watching and reading,” LaMarr says. “Associating Static with the Justice League sort of legitimized our little show, putting Static on the same level as supers like Batman, Green Lantern and all the rest. Plus getting to act again alongside my Justice League acting pals – Maria Canals Barrera, Susan Eisenberg, Carl Lumbly, Michael Rosenbaum, George Newbern, Kevin Conroy – was a blast, especially because now they were coming to MY house. It was actually a little weird because we were sitting in the same chairs as we always did when recording Justice League – but now I had more lines. Of course, I had two different characters – Static and Green Lantern John Stewart.”
LaMarr said the dual role – which put him in the unusual position of recording two characters talking to each other – was the first time he encountered that situation in his career.
“I thought the writers wrote those scenes as a challenge for me,” LaMarr recalls. “At least they didn’t have them singing harmony or something crazy like that!”
Static Shock: The Complete Third Season features an all-star lineup of writers behind the scripts: Paul Dini, Dwayne McDuffie, Len Uhley, Ernie Altbacker, John Semper, Courtney Lilly and Adam Beechen. For the Static-Superman team-up episode entitled “Toys in the Hood,” Semper crafted a story that was written by Academy Award winner John Ridley (12 Years a Slave).
An episode entitled “Static in Africa” saw the Hawkins family on vacation in Ghana, where Static teams with a legendary African folk hero to combat a group of bandits. The episode was particularly important to LaMarr.
Static in Africa
“Static in Africa was a blast for so many reasons,” LaMarr recalls. “It was a thrill to work for the first time with Michael Jai White and Roscoe Lee Browne, as well as my Justice League castmate Carl Lumbly. Carl and Roscoe are guys whose work I’d seen growing up, and to share a studio with them was fantastic.
“Moreover, it was really cool to be able to explore our roots in a Saturday morning cartoon. I had never seen contemporary Africa on Saturday morning – an Africa that was not unlike our own world. We have super heroes, they have super heroes. Africa wasn’t showed as exotica – it was a world where people like us live. And to me, that was a great part of Static Shock. It wasn’t about that Static was black; but he was black. His life, his world – those were real. And that kind of normalization is what’s key to true diversity.”
The Static Shock: The Complete Third Season two-disc set includes the following animated episodes:
Disc One
Hard As Nails
Gear
Static in Africa
Shebang
The Usual Suspect
A League Of Their Own, Part 1
A League Of Their Own, Part 2
Showtime
Romeo in the Mix
Disc Two
Toys In The Hood
The Parent Trap
Flashback
Blast From The Past
Disc Two also includes the Superman: The Animated Series episode entitled “Obsession” (Season 3, Episode 4), which ultimately served as a prequel to the Static Shock episode, “Toys in the Hood” and spotlighted the first meeting of Superman and Static, featuring the voices of Tim Daly (Superman), Nancy Travis (Darci Mason), Bud Cort (The Toyman) and Joely Fisher (Lana Lang).
Warner Archive Collection (WAC) continues to serve as host to some of the most beloved films, television series and animated entertainment in history – and many are now available on Blu-ray. WAC’s canon runs the gamut from restored and remastered Blu-ray classics such as The Americanization of Emily, The Big Sleep, The Great Race, She Wore a Yellow Ribbon, Victor/Victoria and Yankee Doodle Dandy to adored TV offerings such as Longmire (on Blu-ray), Alice and Family Matters (on DVD) to feature-length animated films, including the recent Blu-ray release of Batman: Mask of the Phantasm, to animated TV series headed by recent Blu-ray releases such as Justice League Unlimited, Teen Titans, Batman: The Brave and the Bold and Young Justice, as well as a wealth of classic animated series on DVD including dozens of Hanna-Barbera classics. WAC offerings can be found via wb.com/warnerarchive and your favorite online retailer.
I was a HUGE fan of this series and am so happy it will now be available for me to fangirl as well as introduce to my young relatives. Leave a comment below on your favorite episode and whom you plan to introduce to Static!
I’m ready to be scared for 31 Days of Horror on SyFy this October! I plan to count down the days for Stan Lee’s (The Avengers, Iron Man, Guardians of the Galaxy) original movie The Sandman on Saturday, October 14th at 9PM. Peter Sullivan (Ominous, Summoned) wrote and directed this film perfect for the spooky season produced by Hybrid.
It’s not often Stan Lee produces an original movie but he couldn’t resist The Sandman!The horror movie has an illustrious team of scary movie masters who worked with Lee, Gill Champion, Barry Barnholtz (Leprechaun), and Jeffrey Schenck (Finders Keepers, The Crooked Man).
The Sandman stars horror fan favorites Tobin Bell (the Saw films), Shaun Sipos (The Vampire Diaries, Texas Chainsaw 3D, Final Destination 2), Amanda Wyss (A Nightmare on Elm Street), Ricco Ross (Aliens) and stars Haylie Duff (Napoleon Dynamite, Material Girls) in a role that is unexpected and frightening
Tobin Bell
Shaun Sipos
Amanda Wyss
Ricco Ross
‘Madison’ (Shae Smolik) an 8 year old orphan is sent to live with her ‘Aunt Claire’ (Haylie Duff) a struggling artist after her father is found dead. Claire realizes Madison has a scary boogeyman friend called ‘The Sandman’ who she suspects may have killed her father and other victims across the country. ‘Valentine’ (Tobin Bell) is leading a government agency looking for Madison & ‘The Sandman’ to save or use her supernatural powers of telekinesis. Will Claire and Madison be able to save ‘The Sandman’ next victim and keep Valentine away from the child.
Are you planning to get scared by the Sandman? What’s your 31 Days of Horror looking like?
I had the pleasure to hear about Colony at the 2015 SDCC where I interviewed some of the cast and executive producers of the series. It was a huge mystery since nobody hadseen much of the show (under tight wrap) but I do love a man in uniform with a jaunty red beret.
From the first episode of the show we were trapped behind a wall with an occupation military force that ruled with an iron fist. We had no idea how they had taken over or if we had any kind of government outside of the Los Angeles. We did know that people were resisting (hello Geronomo) but it felt like we were outgunned AND out-teched. I had no idea who was on what side or why. But the pace of the first season had me watching and of course thinking what would I do in that situation (be a mouse hiding in the shadow or a brave lion willing to fight). Really the only think I knew after looking at the occupation tech (those DRONES) was that we hadn’t been invaded by China or Russia and that some Americans were willing to sell out the country for power and money (remind you of anyone you know or may have voted for??).
SPOILER
My theory was finally confirmed with the season finale when we finally saw who was really in charge and where desedents were sent (NOT Kansas). But season 2 took us back to the days before life ended as we know it and I have to say I am incredibly impressed by premier. The pace was fast, we got to know the characters a lot better and also SEE what the heck happened. Even better I got to watch the premier with the cast and two executive producers (one of whom gave me a major clue about the upcoming season) as they and other fans reacted to the big reveals. Will (Josh Holloway) is a pragmatist who’s FBI partner Devon (Carolyn Michelle Smith) might be dirty with kickbacks from Armenian criminals (the mob). Will is loyal so instead of reporting her he plans to ask for a transfer. Katie (Sarah Wayne Callis) is working at the Yonk and meets Broussard (Tory Kittles) for the first time after he returns to LA to care for his sick mother (well to say goodbye really). Well it turns out Alan Snyder (Peter Jacobson) is a low level manager with MAJOR sticky fingers trying to support two households (being divorced in LA is damned expensive) and a daughter that is ‘team Mom’ and is recruited to be in charge of LA.
Mix all of this into an hour and we have some major trouble brewing for S2 of Colony. We finally get to see the cast living normal LA lives in a sprawling city that has strangers that will eventually meet as friend and foe. It was a regular day with the kids in school and the youngest son on a field trip to Santa Monica. The first inkling something is wrong when the FBI office gets reports of people kidnapped/missing. Will and Devon go to investigate and realize that it wasn’t random. They both have the inkling it’s some sort of attack. Now I can’t blame Devon I’d want to get the heck out of dodge too when all the people who are on a secret list to be the first defense to get the country running all come up missing. While Will is concerned with his family and getting everyone in one central location that has food, water and security so he tells everyone to get to the Yonk. While Alan has a meeting with some ‘friendly’ people who like his style of graft and think that he’d be a great addition to the ‘new order’. Watching him meet the alien for the first time was mindblowing since it means this was a long term plan and that they had access to ALL of our databases .. hmm. I love how Alan was told he can
save his family and he grabs his daughter and leaves the ex like dirty dishwater (I don’t think the divorce was amicable!). Now that Will is searching for Charlie how will they get Bram (Alex Neustaedter) out of jail, keep the nutty babysitter from the kids and well stay alive???
I think what makes this S2 premier so effective is that it sets everything up for the season. We find out how the wall went up, that Alan really wasn’t that bad, Will is in Santa Monica looking for his wildling and gets to see his old partner Devon (is she still a friend???). As well as who will be in charge and how everything is going to shake out. I know that Madeline (Amanda Righetti)
hitched her wagon to a new star Burgess (Adrian Pasdar) to keep the insulin flowing to her child while still mourning the loss of her husband. That the rebellin has some hard information and scientists/tech that might finally be able to strike back (Geronimo is NOT dead) of course so will the aliens so might not end that well for Los Angeles. While Will is in Santa Monica how will Beau (Carl Weathers) and the other cops deal with squashing trouble from those pesky humans. I can’t wait to spend my Thursday (dateless) nights with my Colony and see what will happen next.
Leave a comment below what you think will happen this season on Colony?
Are you celebrating 50 years of Star Trek at the Egyptian Theatre? Any fan has to head to hollywood and enjoy the beloved series with Q&A, special giveaways and saying goodbye to Nimoy. It’s been a long time since the original Star Trek films have been on the big screen and thanks to The American Cinematheque, Geek Magazine & Paramount Home Video we can celebrate
STAR TREK at 50
I’m hoping to have the opportunity to talk with Adam Nimoy about his father, Spock and his documentary.
Special Guests, Bonus Featurettes, Giveaways, New Documentary ‘FOR THE LOVE OF SPOCK,’ Booksignings, Photo Opportunity and more surprises!
September 9 – 16, 2016 at the Egyptian Theatre
Space … the final frontier” opened up to television viewers on September 8, 1966 with the NBC-TV premiere of “Star Trek.” Creator Gene Roddenberry had envisioned the sci-fi series as the interstellar answer to the popular Western “Wagon Train” but couldn’t have possibly imagined how long the “five-year mission” of the U.S.S. Enterprise would last – cancelled after three seasons (and an unprecedented fan letter campaign to keep it on the air), the program spawned animated and live action TV spinoffs and an ongoing series of big screen adventures.
In 1979, Robert Wise’s STAR TREK: THE MOTION PICTURE kicked off a mania for TV-to-movie adaptations that has thrived ever since and spawned multiple sequels. To celebrate a half-century of “Star Trek,” we present the new documentary on star Leonard Nimoy, FOR THE LOVE OF SPOCK, and five of the first features following Captain Kirk, Mr. Spock, Dr. McCoy, Scotty, Uhura, Sulu and Chekov across the galaxy. These films embody the ideals of sci-fi’s first franchise that have endured for 50 years; may they continue to live long and prosper for many more.
Read Mark Altman’s appreciation of STAR TREK on our blog.
Join us in the lobby at 6:30 PM, where author Preston Neal Jones will sign his book, Return to Tomorrow: The Filming of Star Trek – The Motion Picture. STAR TREK soundtrack releases will also be available for purchase from La-La Land Records.
The evening begins with a panel discussion including original series story editor Dorothy D.C. Fontana, writer David Gerrold, casting director Joe D’Agosta and others, moderated by Roger Lay, Jr. and Mark A. Altman. Program includes free bonus featurette “Maiden Voyage: Making STAR TREK: THE MOTION PICTURE.”
Co-presented by Alamo Drafthouse Los Angeles and Birth Movies Death
Join us before the show in the lobby, where STAR TREK soundtrack releases will be available for purchase from La-La Land Records.
Discussion following with Adam Nimoy. Program includes free bonus featurette “The New Frontier: Resurrecting Star Trek.” All ticket buyers will be eligible to win a Star Trek The Original Series Soundtrack Collection Box Set, courtesy of La-La Land Records.
Join us before the show in the lobby, where STAR TREK soundtrack releases will be available for purchase from La-La Land Records.
Discussion between films with producer Robert Sallin moderated by Roger Lay, Jr. and Mark A. Altman. Program includes free bonus featurette “The Genesis Effect: Engineering THE WRATH OF KHAN.” All ticket buyers will be eligible to win the new Star Trek: 50th Anniversary Collection blu-ray set.
Join us before the show in the lobby, where STAR TREK soundtrack releases will be available for purchase from La-La Land Records.
Discussion between films with writer/director Nicholas Meyer, producer Steven Charles-Jaffe, actor W. Morgan Sheppard, associate producer Kirk Thatcher and critic Scott Mantz, moderated by Roger Lay, Jr. and Mark A. Altman. Program includes free bonus featurettes “The Dream Is Alive: The Continuing Mission” and “End of an Era: Charting the Undiscovered Country.”
I was perusing the science fiction section of Barnes and Noble looking for a good book and my eyes alighted on this cover. I have to say what first tickled my curiosity is that the woman on the cover is a WOMAN OF COLOR! When I read the description it felt light and amusing a perfect way to wile away a few afternoons in the sun at the park.
Reading this book by Paul Kreuger was a major page turner that I couldn’t put down. I loved how he incorporated Chinese Culture, Chicago and the characters backstory with a mystery within a mystery that a reader can solve on their own. Last call at the Nightshade Lounge had a strong plot of a woman who’s stumbled into the supernatural with a job to tie her over until she gets on track for the ‘real job’ she’s expected to have after graduating from college. Paul weaves recipes of drinks into the story that made me want to head to a bar!
Let me know in the comments below if you’ve had a chance to buy the book and what you think ….
In this sharp and funny urban fantasy novel, booze is magic, demons are real, and millennial Bailey Chen joins a band of monster-fighting Chicago bartenders instead of finding a “real” post-college job.
Bailey Chen is fresh out of college with all the usual new-adult demons: no cash, no job offers, and an awkward relationship with Zane, the old friend she kinda-sorta hooked up with during high school.
But when Zane introduces Bailey to his monster-fighting bartender friends, her demons become a lot more literal. It turns out that evil creatures stalk the city streets after hours, and they can be hunted only with the help of magically mixed cocktails: vodka grants super-strength, whiskey offers the power of telekinesis, and rum lets its drinker fire blasts of elemental energy. But will all these powers be enough for Bailey to halt a mysterious rash of gruesome deaths? And what will she do when the safety of a “real world” job beckons?
This sharp and funny urban fantasy is perfect for fans of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World, and grown-up readers of Harry Potter. Includes 14 recipes from a book of ancient cocktail lore.
I’m just joking Dr. Who doesn’t have any kids yet (that I know of) but we are getting a new spinoff called ‘Class’. They don’t get their own Blue (Police) Box but instead our at Coal Hill School navigating teen angst and the end of the world! The cast will include
“An Unearthly Child”, Doctor Who (William Hartnell) bulletin board Coal Hill School from
Greg Austin, Fady Elsayed, Sophie Hopkins and Vivian Oparah and Katherine Kelly will be the teacher in charge of the kids and maybe the school? I’m curious as a cat and am excited about this new series. I’d always hoped for more Time Lords … or maybe Time Ladies but it’s always exciting to see new adventures in the universe. We don’t have all the details but we do know that the four students will be dealing with major issues as they hide out from enemies as well as dealing with being on a new planet and of course homework (eek), friends, parents and hormones! The Coal Hill School has been part of the Doctor Who universe since time immortal but it’s not the safe haven your high school may have been. This school is smack dab in the middle of trouble with a capital ‘T’ from all the time travel the walls have become thin and a bit malleable so the big bad wolf is scratching at the door trying to blow this school house down. The shadow is hell bent on killing everyone and everything and all that’s standing between total annihilation our four kids and their teacher! I hope they are up to the challenge of fighting the Shadow alone .. or will we get a few visits from a special guy with a sonic screwdriver! I’m excited that the YA series will take place in contemporary London and is supposed to be a bit scary and funny. It’s a peak into the Whoniverse that none of us have seen and should be quite the ride since it sounds as if it’s going to appeal to be geared towards teen and adult fans so it won’t be for small kids like the Sarah Jane Adventures (which I did enjoy). I have my fingers crossed that we might get a K-9 to help out with the adventures!
Patrick Ness the award-winning YA writer is helming the new series ‘Class’ and said “We searched far and wide for this amazing cast, fantastic actors who understand what we’re aiming for with this show. And how lucky we are to get Katherine Kelly! She’s been stunning in Happy Valley, The Night Manager and Mr Selfridge, just wait until you see her here.”
Steven Moffat, Class and Doctor Who executive producer, says: “There’s nothing more exciting than meeting stars that nobody’s heard of yet. We had the read through of the first few episodes last week, and there was a whole row of them. Coal Hill School has been part of Doctor Who since the very first shoot in 1963, but this new show is anything but history. Class is dark and sexy and right now. I’ve always wondered if there could be a British Buffy – it’s taken the brilliant Patrick Ness to figure out how to make it happen.”
From Writer Patrick Ness, Director Ed Bazalgette (Poldark, Doctor Who), Producer Derek Ritchie, and Executive Producers Patrick Ness, Steven Moffat and Brian Minchin, the BBC Cymru Wales production, co-produced with BBC AMERICA and BBC Worldwide, starts filming today. The series will air on BBC Three in the UK.
Meet the cast of Class in 360° on YouTube
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Created in 1998, BBC AMERICA is a hub of innovative, culturally contagious programming like the ground-breaking un-scripted series Top Gear, the top-rated science-fiction phenomenon Doctor Who, and the fan-favorite Orphan Black. The influential network has been the launch pad for talent including Ricky Gervais, Gordon Ramsay, and Graham Norton — all adopted as American pop culture icons. A joint venture between BBC Worldwide (the commercial arm of the BBC) and AMC Networks, BBCA has attracted both critical acclaim and major awards including four Emmy® Awards, five Golden Globes® and 12 Peabody Awards. The irrepressible network has garnered one of cable’s most curious, educated and affluent audiences, with many properties boasting super-fan levels of engagement. Available on cable and satellite TV in nearly 77 million homes, BBC America broadcasts in both standard and high-definition, is available On Demand across all major digital platforms and offers full episodes online at bbcamerica.com. Find out more by visiting press.bbcamerica.com or follow us on twitter.com/bbcamerica.
If you want to give a fun unique gift to impress the geek in your life you can never go wrong with a pass to any number of conventions in the USA. Depending on rather it’s a local convention that is all about Anime, Doctor Who, Supernatural, Steampunk or (the original) Comic Books you can find one that a fan will be delighted to attend. Now I do not recommend promising a high profile ticket (for example) San Diego Comic Con (unless you want to try for 2017) but you should have no problem grabbing passes for the following (once they go on sale):
These are a few that I personally attend are on my list to checkout with a variety of prices and don’t forget if it’s out of town make a hotel reservation early so that your close to all the action. As you can see some are regional and others are one themed but they are all a blast where you can be yourself either dressing in cosplay or wearing a beloved tshirt with people who ‘know’ or just finally getting to meet the cast and crew of beloved tv/movies surrounded by other fans.
military force that ruled with an iron fist. We had no idea how they had taken over or if we had any kind of government outside of the Los Angeles. We did know that people were resisting (hello Geronomo) but it felt like we were outgunned AND out-teched. I had no idea who was on what side or why. But the pace of the first season had me watching and of course thinking what would I do in that situation (be a mouse hiding in the shadow or a brave lion willing to fight). Really the only think I knew after looking at the occupation 
tech (those DRONES) was that we hadn’t been invaded by China or Russia and that some Americans were willing to sell out the country for power and money (remind you of anyone you know or may have voted for??).
SPOILER
Will (Josh Holloway) is a pragmatist who’s FBI partner Devon (Carolyn Michelle Smith) might be dirty with kickbacks from Armenian criminals (the mob). Will is loyal so instead of reporting her he plans to ask for a transfer. Katie (Sarah Wayne Callis) is working at the Yonk and meets Broussard (Tory Kittles) for the first time after he returns to LA to care for his sick mother (well to say goodbye really). Well it turns out Alan Snyder (Peter Jacobson) is a low level manager with MAJOR sticky fingers trying to support two households (being divorced in LA is damned expensive) and a daughter that is ‘team Mom’ and is recruited to be in charge of LA.
Mix all of this into an hour and we have some major trouble brewing for S2 of Colony. We finally get to see the cast living normal LA lives in a sprawling city that has strangers that will eventually meet as friend and foe. It was a regular day with the kids in school and the youngest son on a field trip to Santa Monica. The first inkling something is wrong when the FBI office gets reports of people kidnapped/missing. Will and Devon go to investigate and realize that it wasn’t random. They both have the inkling it’s some sort of attack. Now I can’t blame Devon I’d want to get the heck 
out of dodge too when all the people who are on a secret list to be the first defense to get the country running all come up missing. While Will is concerned with his family and getting everyone in one central location that has food, water and security so he tells everyone to get to the Yonk. While Alan has a meeting with some ‘friendly’ people who like his style of graft and think that he’d be a great addition to 
the ‘new order’. Watching him meet the alien for the first time was mindblowing since it means this was a long term plan and that they had access to ALL of our databases .. hmm. I love how Alan was told he can
season. We find out how the wall went up, that Alan really wasn’t that bad, Will is in Santa Monica looking for his wildling and gets to see his old partner Devon (is she still a friend???). As well as who will be in charge and how everything is going to 
shake out. I know that Madeline (Amanda Righetti)
I was perusing the science fiction section of 
I’m just joking Dr. Who doesn’t have any kids yet (that I know of) but we are getting a new spinoff called ‘Class’. They don’t get their own Blue (Police) Box but instead our at Coal Hill School navigating teen angst and the end of the world! The cast will include 
Whoniverse that none of us have seen and should be quite the ride since it sounds as if it’s going to appeal to be geared towards teen and adult fans so it won’t be for small kids like the Sarah Jane Adventures (which I did enjoy). I have my fingers 
crossed that we might get a K-9 to help out with the adventures! 
