THE ZOCALO TODAY – January 14, 2005

HAPPY NEW YEAR

In this first issue of The Zocalo Today e-mail newsletter for 2005,
I want to wish all of you the most wonderful year ahead. From a
look ahead at the world of science fiction, it appears that we will
have many projects to sink our teeth into – including one that will
extend the Babylon 5 universe.

A CALL TO ARMS - THE MEMORY OF SHADOWS

A letter writing and media campaign in support of J. Michael
Straczynski's THE MEMORY OF SHADOWS is underway. Please go to
<http://www.keepb5alive.com> for samples of letters you can use to
voice your support and encourage Warner Bros. to include the
original cast members in the upcoming movie. This is a call to
action. With production scheduled to begin in April, we need to make
our voices heard now. Write letters -- and include your BABYLON 5
BUCKS -- a way of showing your financial support to the project.
Ask your friends for support. If you are part of a science fiction
club or group, ask them for their help as well. The more people who
get involved, the better! We have supported other write-in
campaigns – FARSCAPE, ANGEL, etc. It's now pay-back time!

DISCUSSION TOPICS

Topic #1:
"Out of all of the Sci-fi TV shows in the last 20 years, which 5
female characters are the most heroic and well-played by their
actors and why?"

Topic#2:
Optional add-on to this: Who are the 2 most annoying female leads in
Sc-fi TV in the last 20 years?

Send in your thoughts and comments to sgbruckner@... and I will
post them on the Discussion Page for everyone to share and enjoy.
See what has come in so far. If you see an old topic you want to
respond to, go right ahead. We enjoy hearing from you.

KEEPING UP WITH CAST AND CREW

ENID RAYE ADAMS:
Tony Tellado is currently running an audio interview with actress
Enid Raye Adams who had a recurring role on JEREMIAH and she shared
some nice behind the scenes memories. Visit
<http://www.scifitalk.com/> to listen to this and other interviews
Tony has conducted with Babylon 5 cast members. Tony covers the
science fiction landscape, interviewing people from STARGATE and
other leading series -- and movies.

DYLAN NEAL:
Dylan Neal (David Martel "The Legend of the Rangers") will star in
CHUPACABRA: DARK SEAS on SCIFI January 29 at 9:00pm. Here is the
description of the movie.

A team of hunters captures a live Chupacabra, a monster said to prey
on livestock and humans throughout Central America. Unfortunately,
their attempt to smuggle it into the United States aboard a cruise
ship goes fatally awry, and a squad of U.S. Navy SEALs is dispatched
to terminate the creature before it turns all the hostage passengers
into hors d'oeuvres. John Rhys-Davies (The Lord of the Rings
trilogy, the Indiana Jones films, TV's Sliders), Dylan Neal (star of
SCI FI Pictures' Babylon 5: The Legend of the Rangers) and Giancarlo
Esposito (The Usual Suspects, the SCI FI Original Miniseries 5ive
Days to Midnight, TV's Homicide: Life on the Street) star in this
creepy man-vs.-monster adventure.

BRUCE BOXLEITNER:
Bruce has landed the role of Captain Duvall, the head of the King's
Musketeers in "Young Blades", a $20 million series from producers
Kirk Shaw and James Shavick ("The (new) Addams Family"). The
action/adventure series follows the exploits of The Three Musketeers
as sword-fighters-in training who will take on the Establishment and
a mystical, evil society as they come of age in 17th century France.
Well known Canadian actor Michael Ironside who has made most of his
career playing heavies has been cast in the role of the evil
Cardinal Mazarin. The series will premiere on January 23 on PAX TV.

STEPHEN AUSTIN:
Our Pak'Ma'Ra Ambassador takes his stand-up comedy routine on the
road. Here is his upcoming schedule:
THE ICE HOUSE ANNEX
Jan.16th, 2005, 8p
Pasadena, CA
www.theicehousecomedyclub.com
WIT'S END COMEDY CLUB
Jan. 19th - 22nd,2005
Westminster, CO
303-430-4242
THE LEGENDARY ICE HOUSE COMEDY CLUB
"Combat Comics" (CD Recording)
Jan. 26th, 2005, 8p
Pasadena, CA
www.theicehousecomedyclub.com
DOMENICO?S
Jan. 29th, 2005, 9p
Arcadia, CA
626-574-7433

BABYLON 5 BIRTHDAYS
January 9 - David Allen Brooks
January 24 - Peter Woodward
January 27 - Julie Caitlin Brown
January 27 - Tamilyn Tomita

Have I missed anyone? If you know the birthday of someone connected
with Babylon 5, pass the information along. We want to include
everyone in our Happy Birthday greetings.

NEW WEBSITE FEATURES

There are a LOT of new DVDs coming out. I have opened a few new
pages to feature some of the DVDs I've had a chance to view and
review. Be sure to stop over to see what DVDs are out – and what
they include at http://www.isnnews.net/zocalo/dvds.shtml.

INSIDE SCI-FI NEWS THIS WEEK:

NEW SCI FI PROGRAMMING:
SCI FI Channel announced that it was developing a slate of new
shows, including several that build on the success of its hit series
GHOST HUNTERS and SCARE TACTICS, and stretch the boundaries of
reality TV. The following project was given the green light for
production:

-Master Blasters, a half-hour weekly documentary-style show produced
by First Television, pits teams of amateur rocket scientists against
each other in a race to design, build and launch some bizarre things
into orbit, from rocket-bolstered La-Z-Boys to fuel-injected Mini
Coopers.

The following alternative series are in development:

-Gordian, a half-hour weekly animated series from First Television,
depicts a futuristic world where humans and robots live side by
side. It centers on ex-video jockey Jake Gordian and his band of
laser-cowboys, robots, animal freaks and talking body parts.

-Mind Game, an hour long weekly series produced by Hallock-Healey
Entertainment (Scare Tactics), is a reality competition series in
which contestants must rely on their powers of observation, recall,
judgment and intuition to collect clues and be the first to claim
the grand prize. The Mastermind, a mysterious unseen figure, will
guide contestants through a series of situations that offer signs to
advance them toward their goal.

-The Gauntlet, a weekly reality competition produced by Reveille and
Hoegl/Singer, in association with Princess Productions, challenges
contestants to navigate an elaborate, futuristic maze over a 24-hour
period, with no sunlight, no rest and, seemingly, no way out.

-Dallas in Wonderland, a weekly half-hour reality series executive
produced by R.J. Cutler, from Actual Reality Pictures, is hosted by
Dallas Campbell, who undergoes a bizarre set of challenges, from
applying to NASA to become an astronaut to asking the Raelians to
clone him.

-Still in Search of (working title), a half-hour documentary spoof
of the original series In Search of ... , from FremantleMedia North
America, is hosted by Jonathan Frankle, who investigates paranormal
phenomena on a shoestring budget, but instead finds trouble with his
producer and crew.

Previously announced alternative series in development include
Monster Smash, which puts a SCI FI spin on competitive wrestling by
introducing fictitious, genetically engineered monsters into the
sport, and Amazing Screw On Head, an animated series about a robot
secret agent charged with defending President Lincoln against a band
of evil villains. The series is written by Bryan Fuller (Dead Like
Me) and Mike Mignola (Hellboy), based on his comic.
THE DA VINCI CODE:
French film star Jean Reno will play Detective Bezu Fache in greatly
anticipated THE DA VINCI CODE movie. Tom Hanks has already been cast
as symbologist Robert Langdon, the man that discovers hidden clues
in the works of the legendary European genius that hint to a great
secret the Church doesn't want revealed. Reno has had major parts in
GODZILLA, the first MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE film and RONIN. The DA VINCI
CODE will be directed by Ron Howard, with filming slated to begin
later this year for a May 19, 2006 release.

TOP SF&F NETWORK SHOWS:
1. Desperate Housewives 8.1
2. Lost 7.5
3. Joan of Arcadia 2.5
4. Smallville 1.9
5. Charmed 1.4
Source: Nielsen Galaxy Report, 12/20/04 - 12/26/04.

BATTLESTAR GALACTICA:
Although Ronald D. Moore, creator and executive producer of
BATTLESTAR GALACTICS for SCI FI, begins it's 13-episode run tonight,
he is already mapping out season two. "The network has asked for
backup scripts for the second season, so we're working on six
scripts right now with the writing staff," Moore said in an
interview at the TV networks' winter press tour in Universal City,
Calif. "I'm deep into what the second season would be. The first
season ends on ... multiple cliffhangers, ... and so it's a lot of
resolving those cliffhangers." The first 13 episodes of GALACTICA,
which have already wrapped production, pick up almost immediately
where the 2003 miniseries left off. The ragtag fleet of human
survivors, led by President Laura Roslin (Mary McDonnell) and Cmdr.
Adama (Edward James Olmos), are trying to hold things together while
continuing to flee the Cylon menace. Moore said he's pleased with
how the first season ended up. "The overall arc has to do with the
relationship between Adama and Laura Roslin, the sort of transition
of both of them from what you think is going to be their roles of
the military hawk and the civilian dove. And starting to realize
that actually that she's a harder-line character than he is, and
that he is the son, not of a long line of military men, but the son
of a civil ... liberties attorney. And that he's actually very
reticent to be her policeman, as he says in one of the episodes. And
that by the end of the season, their conflict would come to a head."
As GALACTICA unfolds, Moore will be posting his thoughts on a
personal blog on SCIFI.COM. BATTLESTAR GALACTICA premieres TONIGHT -
January 14 at 9 p.m. ET/PT.

MORE NEW SF PILOTS:
Variety indicates that both UPN and CBS have given the green light
to SF-themed pilots. UPN has given the go-ahead to TRIANGLE, from
executive producers John Sakmar and Kerry Lenhart, which begins when
the wife of a young doctor mysteriously disappears while they're on
their honeymoon. In order to find out what happened, he stays on the
island and begins to treat the residents and visitors.

CBS has put out a pilot commitment to Paramount's THRESHOLD, about a
female government agent who leads a team of military and scientific
officers to respond to an alien threat. Bragi Schut wrote the pilot
and will serve as co-executive producer, while David Goyer (BATMAN
BEGINS) will executive produce and direct. David Heyman (Harry
Potter) will also executive produce, with Mark Rosen on board as co-
executive producer.

THE ILLUSIONIST:
Variety reports that Edward Norton has signed on to play the lead in
helmer Neil Burger's supernatural movie THE ILLUSIONIST, based on
Steven Millhauser's short story "Eisenheim the Illusionist." The
film is slated to begin shooting in April in Prague. Norton plays a
magician in turn-of-the-century Vienna who falls in love with a
woman well above his social standing. When she becomes engaged to a
prince, the magician uses his powers to win her back and undermine
the stability of the royal house of Vienna.

FANTASTIC FOUR:
The MovieBox.net has posted 20 seconds of the FANTASTIC FOUR trailer
shown on MTV's TRL Thursday.

THE SENTINEL:
According to the Hollywood Reporter, Michael Douglas will headline
THE SENTINEL, a political thriller for 20th Century Fox and Regency
Enterprises with Clark Johnson attached to direct. Kim Basinger and
Kiefer Sutherland are in negotiations to star alongside Douglas, who
is producing with his Furthur Films topper Marcy Drogin. Based on a
book by Gerald Petievich, the story centers on a Secret Service
agent (Douglas) who is having an affair with the first lady. When
another agent assigned to the White House is murdered, the agent
becomes a suspect in a plot to assassinate the president. George
Nolfi wrote the script. Basinger would star as the first lady and
Sutherland as an agent of dubious loyalty. The film first was set up
by Further at Paramount in 2001, with Barry Levinson attached to
direct. The project moved to New Line briefly, but a deal on cast
could not be reached.

TOP 10 SELLING SF&F DVDS:
1. Return of the King extended edition
2. Lord of the Rings trilogy
3. Star Wars trilogy
4. Prisoner of Azkaban
5. Battlestar Galactica miniseries
6. Spider-Man 2
7. The Fifth Element ultimate edition
8. The Village
9. Mary Poppins
10. The X-Files season one
Source: Amazon.com, top-selling genre DVDs, 1/11/04

CHARMED:
According to TV Guide online, Titanic star Billy Zane has signed up
for a three-episode arc on the series, beginning Feb. 13. Zane will
play an ex-demon who falls for Alyssa Milano.

SPIDER-MAN 3:
Variety reports that Sony has signed Oscar-winning writer Alvin
Sargent to write the third installment of SPIDER-MAN, with an option
to write the fourth movie as well. Work has already begun work on
the movie, tentatively scheduled for release May 2007. Sargent won
Oscars for ORDINARY PEOPLE and JULIA and was Oscar-nommed for PAPER
MOON. He is widely credited with whipping a problematic SPIDER-MAN 2
script into shape, but he has evolved into the voice of the
franchise, in much the same way his peer Robert Towne has on the
MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE series.

ELEKTRA:
Veteran actor Terence Stamp plays the blind ninja master Stick in
the upcoming comic-book movie ELEKTRA. In a recent interview, Stamp
indicated that he initially turned the role down. "Oh, I didn't want
to do this. I didn't want to push my luck. I got away with it with
Zod. I don't think I can get away with it again, you know?" he
added, referring to his popular role as the villainous General Zod
in 1978's Superman and its sequel, Superman II. After vigorous
lobbying by producer Gary Foster and director Rob Bowman, Stamp
relented. Stamp added: "I think that the only things that I really
regret in my life, or the decisions that I regret in my life, ...
are films that I passed on for the wrong reasons. And films I passed
on for the wrong reasons were just out of a personal fear of the
project, fear of not being able to do a good job. And with
increasing age, I've learned to kind of become aware of the fear.
And sometimes I choose to go against it, and in this case I
thought, 'Well, maybe it's that. Maybe I don't want to do it,
because I don't want to fall flat on my face again.'" ELEKTRA opens
Jan. 14.
You can hear Stamp's voice on TV's SMALLVILLE -- he is the voice of
Jor El, Superman's biological father.

SUPERMAN:
The Hollywood Reporter indicates that James Marsden (Cyclops from X-
MEN) and Hugh Laurie (TV series HOUSE), are joining the cast of
Brian Singer's upcoming SUPERMAN RETURNS movie. Marsden will play
Lois Lane's (Kate Bosworth) love interest, Richard White. Laurie is
in final talks to play Perry White, editor in chief of the Daily
Planet. The two characters are related, though the studio declined
comment on if they are father and son. Brandon Routh is set to play
Clark Kent/Superman, while Kevin Spacey, who won a supporting actor
Oscar for his performance in Singer's The Usual Suspects, is set to
play Lex Luthor.

TRON:
Variety reports that Disney has hired screenwriters Brian Klugman
and Lee Sternthal to fashion a remake of TRON, the 1982 film about a
computer programmer who gets sucked into the parallel world of a
computer program. The original movie, written and directed by Steven
Lisberger, was considered ahead of its time. Klugman and Sterntha
(Warrior) feel that the world has caught up with Lisberger's
original concept, making it ripe for redo. Sternthal's new conceit
is to have the computer programmer gets trapped in a cyberworld, so
that the film can utilize the Internet. BABYLON 5 fans will remember
Bruce Boxleitner starred in the original TRON movie.

X-FILES:
In a comment to USA Today while attending the Critics' Choice Awards
last evening, David Duchovny provided some new tidbits about the
storyline for the second X-FILES movie. Duchovny said the sequel
will be a stand-alone story not connected to the UFO mythology
prevalent in the series and FIGHT THE FUTURE, the first X-FILES
film. "Mulder and Scully investigate one particular case that has
nothing to do with alien life," said Duchovny. "It has to do with
supernatural stuff." He added that he had spoken with X-FILES
creator Chris Carter earlier that same day, and that the plan was to
start filming on the sequel in late 2005 or early '06.

TOP 10 SF & F SYNDICATED SHOWS:
1. Stargate SG-1 1.8
2. Andromeda 1.5
3. Twilight Zone 1.4
4. The X-Files 1.3
5. Angel 1.2
6. The Outer Limits 1.2
7. Buffy 1.1
8. Mutant X 1.0
9. She Spies 1.0
10. Ripley's 0.9
Source: Nielsen Galaxy Report, 12/20/04 - 12/26/04

NEW SHOW DEVELOPMENT:
INVASION:
According to Variety, ABC has placed orders for three new dramas to
their pilot mix, including an alien-themed project from producer
Shaun Cassidy and another hour from Alias creator J.J. Abrams' Bad
Robot production company. Cassidy's Warner Brothers TV-produced
hour, INVASION, looks at what happens in a small Florida town after
a hurricane. Details are being kept under wraps, but the show's
title hints an alien invasion could be involved. Cassidy (American
Gothic) wrote the pilot and will executive produce.

RUSH
According to the Hollywood Reporter, TNT has given a 13-episode
order to Spelling TV's RUSH from Jorge Zamacona. Starring Gary Cole,
the story will revolve around an elite team of crime fighters from
federal and local law enforcement agencies who forms an undercover
strike force to track down Los Angeles' most-wanted fugitives.

TWILIGHT ZONE DVD:
Writer Alan Brennert says the new six-disc DVD set of the TWILIGHT
ZONEs first season features full, uncut, one-hour versions of the
show's episodes, as they were originally seen on CBS. The episodes
were cut to half-hour installments when the series, which ran from
1985-'88, went into syndication. The upcoming second-season set will
feature lost scenes from Brennert's episodes "Time and Teresa
Golowitz" and "The Road Less Traveled," Brennert said. "I had a
three-quarter [inch] tape of 'Time and Teresa Golowitz,' which had
an entire extra song in it that will see day for the first time on
this DVD," he said. "TWILIGHT ZONEwas the creative high water mark
of my television career, as it was for many of us who worked on the
show, and I hope the viewers of this DVD will come away with some
idea of how much we loved doing it and how seriously we took the
work and the legacy of Rod Serling." Brennert also wrote the fan-
favorite episodes "A Message From Charity and "Her Pilgrim Soul."
Image Entertainment has already released the six-disc DVD of the
first season' 24 episodes, with nearly two dozen commentaries. The
DVD includes recollections by producer/director Philip DeGuere,
directors Bradford May and Wes Craven and writers Brennert, William
F. Wu, Greg Bear, Harlan Ellison, James Crocker and J.D. Feigelson.
The DVD also contains a 14-minute video interview with Craven (A
Nightmare on Elm Street). Actors featured in the series' first
season included Bruce Willis, Danny Kaye, Jonathan Frakes, Dee
Wallace Stone, Gary Cole and Jenny Agutter.

NEW VIDEO RELEASES COMING:
(O) ANDROMEDA Volume 4.4 (ADV) Two-disc set includes featurettes and
deleted scenes.
(O) THE BURIED SECRET OF M. NIGHT SHYAMALAN (Buena Vista) Sci-Fi
Channel documentary on the famous director that "went too far" as
everyone pretends the doc crew exposed too much.
(O) EVIL REMAINS (Universal) A student trying to disprove myths of
ghosts on a Louisiana plantation finds himself proved wrong instead.
(O) THE FIFTH ELEMENT (Columbia TriStar) Two-disc "ultimate edition"
of Luc Besson's dizzy sci-fi adventure that looks like Heavy Metal
magazine come to life. Bruce Willis plays a shiftless cabbie who
becomes a hero when the enigmatic Milla Jovovich drops in on him.
With annotation track, many featurettes and galleries.
(O) HERCULES: THE LEGENDARY JOURNEYS Season Five (Anchor Bay)
Includes commentraks, interviews, featurettes, DVD-ROM and more.
(O) ICE STATION ZEBRA (Warner Bros.) Espionage and adventure at the
North Pole in this 1968 thriller based on the Alistair MacLean
novel. Includes vintage Making-Of featurettes.
(O) IVANHOE (Warner Bros.) Much beloved 1952 version starring Robert
Taylor. Includes a Tom & Jerry cartoon.
(O) KING SOLOMON'S MINES (Warner Bros.) The classic 1950 version of
H. Rider Haggard's epic African adventure.
(O) MONK: Season 2 (Universal) The quirky detective returns, with
featurettes and more.
(O) POWER OF EVIL (Brentwood) Four-movie set includes UNHINGED,
HARVESTERS, DIE HARD DRACULA and GIRL'S NIGHT OUT.
STARFORCE (MTI) Michael Bergin & Amy Weber fight alien commandos on
a mining planet.
(O) THE VILLAGE (Buena Vista) M. Night Shyamalan's suspenseful tale
of a remote community held in fear of terrible creatures inhabiting
the surrounding forest, ruined by an unconvincing `twist' ending.
Widescreen and fullscreen editions include deleted scenes,
featurettes and more.

TOP 10 BEST-SELLING SF&F BOOKS:
1. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
2. The Da Vinci Code
3. Chainfire (Sword of Truth)
4. State of Fear
5. Angels and Demons
6. The Five People You Meet in Heaven
7. The Time Traveler's Wife
8. The Situation Worsens (Lemony set)
9. The Trouble Begins (Lemony set)
10. Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell
Source: Amazon.com, 1/10/05

WAR OF THE WORLDS:
Dakota Fanning turns 11 next month and is already a veteran actress.
She will co-star in Steven Spielberg's upcoming SF epic WAR OF THE
WORLDS and is enjoying playing Tom Cruise's daughter in the film,
based on the H.G. Wells classic SF book. Fanning said in a recent
interview, "[Tom] is so incredibly nice, and Steven is incredibly
nice. That movie comes out on June 29th, and I think it's
wonderful." Fanning worked with Spielberg on SCI FI Channel's
miniseries TAKEN and was approached about her participation in WAR
OF THE WORLDS while she filmed DREAMER, in which she plays the
daughter of Kurt Russell's washed-up horse trainer. "I read the
script [for War of the Worlds] and just really liked it," Fanning
said.

WOLVERINE:
Variety reports that X-MEN star Hugh Jackman has signed a deal to
create musical films for Walt Disney Pictures. Jackman and John
Palermo, who was Bryan Singer's assistant on the two X-MEN films,
have created their own producing company to bring about these films.
Joining them on the Disney projects will be Craig Nadan and Neil
Meron, executive producers of CHICAGO and are working on the musical
version of HAIRSPRAY. Disney could be making as many as three
musicals for Jackman and his producing partners, which the X-MEN
star hopes are all original works (although a remake or two could be
in the cards.) Jackman may also star in the films. Variety also
revealed that X-MEN 3 and WOLVERINE films in development at 20th
Century Fox: Jackman and Palermo will be involved in both films as
producers.

24:
"24" posted strong numbers for its two-hour fourth-season
premiere. "24" brought in an average of 14.8 million viewers and a
6.1 rating/13 share in the adults 18-49 demographic with back-to-
back episodes airing from 8-10 p.m., according to preliminary
estimates from Nielsen Media Research. "24" had a strong sendoff in
East Coast markets from Fox's coverage of the NFC wild card playoff
game that ended with a 31-17 victory for the Minnesota Vikings over
the Green Bay Packers. The 8 p.m. installment of "24" (15.4 million,
6.3/14) ranks as the drama series' most-watched episode. The
Minnesota-Green Bay contest, which ended at about 7:40 p.m. ET,
and "24" combined to give Fox the nightly win in viewers and in
adults 18-49 by a slim margin over ABC.

BATTLE ANGEL:
Director James Cameron's next project will be the feature length 3D
feature BATTLE ANGEL, based on the Japanese graphic novel "Battle
Angel Alita" - "It will be live action combined with CG, and
hopefully will be ready for release in 2007." Cameron said, "It will
be a combination of the 1st and 3rd books." Who will play the main
character of Alita, "A known actor will be cast to play Alita, but
it is not a star driven movie. And most of Alita will be CG."

TOP SCI FI CHANNEL PROGRAMS:
1. Epoch: Evolution 1.3
2. Roswell Crash 1.2
3. Stargate SG-1 1.2
4. Fire: Nature Unleashed 1.1
5. Puppet/Demon Toys 1.0
6. Roswell: Aliens 0.9
7. Waterworld 0.9
8. Invasion, Part 2 0.9
9. Ghost Hunters 0.8
10. Proof Positive 0.8
Source: Nielsen Galaxy Report, 12/20/04 - 12/26/04

THE WITCH'S CHILDREN
Variety reports that Jim Henson Pictures has struck a deal with
Warner Brothers for a film adaptation of the 2001 fantasy children's
book THE WITCH'S CHILDREN by British author Ursula Jones and
illustrator Russell Ayto. CHILDREN started out as a simple picture
book about some misadventures caused when the magic of several
witches-in-training goes wrong. But Henson Pictures producers Lisa
Henson and Kristine Belson (Good Boy!) were taken with a more
sophisticated pitch from Laws of Attraction writer Aline Brosh
McKenna which focused more on what happens when a single-mother
witch decamps from her magical and somewhat morally suspect realm to
raise her brood in the safer, more kid-friendly suburbs.

NEW SCIENCE FICTION PUBLICATIONS

Starburst #330: BATTLESTAR GALACTICA: Galactica's Lt Kara ?Starbuck?
Thrace, Katee Sackhoff tells us why she?s now happy to roll with the
punches. ST: ENTERPRISE's Dominic Keating (Lt Malcolm Reed) is
excited about the show?s future?and discovers that we can put a man
on the Moon, but we can't make a spacesuit that's comfortable.
History of Star Wars - the second of a six-part series brings you
the history of the greatest Sci-Fi saga of them all. Look at the
release of Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back.

TV Zone #185: STARGATE SG-1: Executive producer Michael Greenburg
talks about stories in Season Eight and hints that the best is yet
to come! GALACTICA's Production designer Richard Hudolin discusses
how he created the series? unique retro-futuristic look, in an extra-
long feature packed with production artwork and design sketches.
SMALLVILLE's got Lois Lane and newcomer Erica Durance steps into the
shoes of Margot Kidder and Teri Hatcher to play Superman?s future
girlfriend.

Expose #91: Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events -- zany
Jim Carrey stars as Count Olaf, the evil and multi-faced uncle of
the unfortunate Baudelaire children. He reveals the inspiration for
the many guises his character adopts in pursuit of his nefarious
plans. Also, visit the set of Harry Potter's The Goblet of Fire, to
reveal a shaggier look for Harry, and more stylish togs for the off-
set Hermione.

Cult Times #112: FARSCAPE finally makes it's premiere in the UK and
this issue brings an interview with director Brian Henson, one of
the men who's been determinedly campaigning for the show's return.
Also in this issue: Charmed's angelic Brian Krause tells us about
the changes in store for Leo in Season Seven; WITHOUT A TRACE's
Poppy Montgomery about her role as Agent Samantha Spade on the
massively popular New York-based crime drama and BATTLESTAR
GALACTICA's Jamie Bamber speaks about meeting the original, why he's
not getting romantic liaisons and his hope that the series runs and
runs.

GRAPHIC NOVELS

LOST IN SPACE:
To commemorate the 40th annivesary of LOST IN SPACE, Bubblehead
Publishing, is set to release a 360-page, full-color graphic novel
collecting and completing Bill Mumy's 12-part adventure LOST IN
SPACE: VOYAGE TO THE BOTTOM OF THE SOUL, a story originally
published in serialized form by Innovation Publishing in 1992-93 but
left unfinished when the publisher went out of business.
Current plans call for Bubblehead to release the graphic novel in
July at San Diego's Comic-Con International, to coincide with the
40th anniversary of Lost in Space, the TV series, but advance pre-
publication sales of the book will be available on the company's
internet commerce site www.lisvoyage.com. .
Said Mumy: "I'm working with some great people on this project. I'm
so glad the original team is back to finish "Voyage to the Bottom of
the Soul" properly. For over ten years fans have been asking me how
this huge story ended, wanting me to print the unpublished second
half of the scripts alone, but I didn't want to diminish the piece
that way. Michal's artwork looks great and I'm very excited about
it. I've always been proud of this story. You don't have to be a fan
of the old television show to get into this book but those who are
will especially enjoy it. It really advances the classic arc of Lost
in Space."

COMIC BOOKS

CSI: SECRET IDENTITY #4
Written by Steven Grant, art by Gabriel Rodriguez and Steven
Perkins.
The discovery of a burning coffin in the desert leads to more
questions for Grissom and his team. It also leads to an increasingly
complicated and puzzling murder conspiracy that the CSIs are
desperate to solve before more bodies start piling up. Based on the
top-rated CBS crime drama.
32 pages, $3.99.

SPECIAL EVENTS

RICHARD BIGGS MEMORIAL SHOW
Here's an update on this very special event! A few of Rick's
friends are getting together for a day of remembering their friend.
The guest list for the day is:

Guests attending Breakfast & Afternoon:
Matthew Ashford (Days of Our Lives)
Bruce Boxleitner (Babylon 5, TRON)
Ricardo Antonio Chavira (Desperate Housewives)
Jerry Doyle (Babylon 5)
Mira Furlan (Babylon 5, Lost)
Melissa Gilbert (Little House on the Prairie)
Lisa Howard (Earth Final Conflict, Highlander)
Michael T. Weiss (The Pretender)
Stephen Nichols (Days of our Lives)
Melinda Clark (The OC/Days of our Lives)
Rick Hearst (General Hospital)
George Jenesky (Days of our Lives)
Appearing at the afternoon signing - 12:30 to 4:00pm:
Babylon 5 cast members: Andreas Katsulas, Pat Tallman, Bill Mumy,
Jason Carter, Ed Wasser, Stephen Austin, Bruce Boxleitner, Jerry
Doyle, Melissa Gilbert, Julie Caitlin Brown, Tracy Scoggins
Matthew Ashford (Days of our Lives)
Lisa Howard (Earth Final Conflict, Highlander)
Michael T. Weiss (The Pretender)

Place: The event will be held at the Beverly Garland Hotel, 4222
Vineland Ave., N. Hollywood, CA 91602. The schedule is as follows:
10am to 12pm

Celebrity - Buffet Breakfast
(Including made-to-order omelets)
12:30pm to 4pm

Autograph* Signings
All Proceeds to the family of Richard Biggs. To purchase tickets:
Pay $100 for each breakfast ticket; $25 for each afternoon autograph
session. If both events are purchased the total cost is reduced to
$115, a $10 savings. Visit PayPal and enter email address
Blkcat1067@ aol.com. When paying be sure to enter email address so
that we can send the ticket back.

For mailing checks, make checks payable to: Richard Biggs Memorial
Show
1052 W. Alameda Avenue #350; Burbank, CA 91506
* Celebrities appear subject to work commitments. A charge will be
made for autographs. ALL proceeds to the family of Richard Biggs.

CONVENTION CALENDAR

January 14-16, 2005
THE ONE RING CELEBRATION
Presented in association with TheOneRing.net
City: Pasadena, CA
Place: Pasadena Center, 300 E. Green St.
Guests: Tons of stars from Lord of the Rings
For more information, visit the website at
http://www.creationent.com/cal/one_ring.htm

January 21-23, 2005
OFFICIAL XENA CONVENTION: THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
Place: Burbank Airport Hilton and Towers, 2500 Hollywood Way
City: Burbank, CA
Guests: LUCY LAWLESS (Xena) Saturday; RENEE O'CONNOR(Gabrielle)
Saturday; HUDSON LEICK (Callisto) Saturday; CLAIRE STANSFIELD (Alti)
Sunday and many, many more
For more information, visit the website at
http://www.creationent.com/cal/xebur.htm

January 28-30, 2005
"The 16th Annual Florida eXtravaganza"
Place: Orlando (FL) Expo Center
B5 guest: Walter Koening
Other guests include Marina Sirtis (ST:TNG), David Hedison, several
Star Wars actors, a couple of the Harry Potter kids & Cindy Morgan
(Lora, Alan's love interest in "Tron").
The following website will have more info: www.fxshow.com/index.htm

February 2-4, 2005
THE OFFICIAL STARGATE SG-1 and STARGATE: ATLANTIS CONVENTION
Place: Sheraton National Hotel, 900 South Orme St.
City: Arlington, VA
Guests: Michael Shanks, Christoper Judge, Don Davis, Teryl Rothery,
Peter Williams
For more information, visit the Creation Entertainment website at
http://www.creationent.com/cal/sgva.htm

February 11-13, 2005
Farpoint
Place: Hunt Valley, MD (near Baltimore)
Guests include: Jeffrey Combs, Kathy Garver, Bob Bergen, Tony
Amendola, David Franklin, Wayne Pygram
For more information, visit their website at
http://www.bcpl.net/~wilsonr/farpoint.html.

February 18-20, 2005
VisionCon 2005
Place: Springfield, Missouri
B5 Guest: Mira Furlan
For more information, visit their website at
http://www.visioncon.net/Welcome.htm.

February 18-20, 2005
Gallifrey 2005
Place: The Airtel Plaza Hotel
City: Los Angeles (Van Nuys), California
The Sixteenth Annual North American DOCTOR WHO and Science Fiction
Media Convention
For more information, go to
http://www.gallifreyone.com/gallifrey.php

February 25-27, 2005
Redemption 05
Blake's 7, Babylon 5 and Beyond
Guests: Jason Carter, Jim Mortimore and Mat Irvine
Place: Hinckley, Leicestershire, UK
For more information, visit their website at
http://www.smof.com/redemption

February 25-27, 2005
THE OFFICIAL STARGATE SG-1 and STARGATE: ATLANTIS CONVENTION
Place: Hilton DFW Lakes, 1800 Hwy. 26 E.
City: Grapevine, TX. (near Dallas)
Guests: Michael Shanks, Christoper Judge, Don Davis, Teryl Rothery,
Peter Williams
For more information, visit the Creation Entertainment website at
http://www.creationent.com/cal/sgtx.htm

March 11-13, 2005
Grand Slam XIII - The Sci-Fi Summit
City: PASADENA, CA
Place: Pasadena Center, 300 E. Green St.
Guests: Stars from Star Trek, Stargate, Firefly and more
For more information, visit the Creation Entertainment website at
http://www.creationent.com/cal/stgs.htm

March 19, 2005
Richard Biggs Memorial Show
Place: Beverly Garland Hotel, 4222 Vineland Ave., N. Hollywood, CA
91602
Guests: Matthew Ashford (Days of Our Lives); Bruce Boxleitner
(Babylon 5, TRON); Ricardo Antonio Chavira (Desperate Housewives);
Jerry Doyle (Babylon 5); Mira Furlan (Babylon 5, Lost); Melissa
Gilbert (Babylon 5, Little House on the Prairie), Lisa Howard (Earth
Final Conflict, Highlander), Michael T. Weiss (The Pretender);
Afternoon Only: Andreas Katsulas (Babylon 5, Star Trek)
For more information, visit the website at
http://www.richardbiggs.com.

May 6-8, 2005
TO BE CONTINUED
Place: Chicago Marriott Schaumburg Hotel
City: Schaumberg, IL.
For more information, visit www.2becontinued.com.
Be sure to visit the referenced sites to see if there have been
changes in dates/guests attending. Visit our Convention Calendar for
a full listing of upcoming conventions.

That's about it for now. Be sure to send in your BABYLON 5 BUCKS
today and show your support of THE MEMORY OF SHADOWS – with original
cast!

Have a wonderful weekend.
Take care.
Sandy

Sandra Bruckner
Editor/Publisher
ISN News: The Zocalo Today
http://www.isnnews.net