THE ZOCALO TODAY - January 18, 2009

HAPPY NEW YEAR
This is the first e-mail newsletter of the New Year. I hope that you all had a
great holiday season and that 2009 will prove to be a safe and happy year for
all of you.

WHAT'S NEW

JMS NOMINATED FOR BAFTA AWARD
From the B5 moderated news group:
Just found out I've been nominated for the BAFTA award for Best Original
Screenplay for THE CHANGELING. For those not familiar with BAFTA, it's the
British
equivalent of the Oscars.

Let's hope that JMS finally gets the recognition he deserves. BABYLON 5 was one
of a kind -- a story based on a space ship, but a story that could have been
presented
with any backdrop. The story was wonderful -- the characters even better.

JMS AT NEW YORK COMIC CON

UPDATE: With JMS having been nominated for the BAFTA, he may not be able to
attend the
New York ComicCon. I'll post information as soon as I see it.

From the B5 moderated newsgroup, January 10, 2009:

I got an email from the convention saying that they were going to be charging
for autographs, and limiting it to 100 VIPs who bought tickets.

I emailed back to make it clear that that's now how I roll (as the kids say).

What was explained back to me was that the VIP guests generally don't want to
sign for too long, so they limit the tickets to 100 and charge for the tickets.
But
again...that ain't how I work.

So after talking to the convention president, the answer is no, there won't be
tickets for my signings, they're free as always, to as many folks who show up in
line. When
I'm at a convention, and I only do one or two a year, I'm there in the service
of the fans,
not to get an early break.

The only stipulation, as ever these last few years, is a maximum of ten items at
a time. The person can get back in line at the end of the line again for the
next batch, but
it's just ten at a time.

Check out the interview at MediumAtLarge.net with JMS.

LARRY DI TILLIO HONORED
Variety writes that TV writer Larry DiTillio ("Babylon 5") has been tapped to
receive the Writers Guild of America West's Morgan Cox award for service.
DiTillio will be
honored at the WGA's ceremonies on Feb. 7 at the Century Plaza. Previous
recipients
include Fay Kanin, Mel Shavelson, George Kirgo, Del Reisman, Hal Kanter, Frank
Pierson,
Daryl G. Nickens and Don M. Mankiewicz. DiTillio, who was the executive story
editor for
"Babylon 5," penned many episodes for the sci-fi series. Other credits include
animated
series "Beast Wars: Transformers," "He-Man and the Masters of the Universe" and
"She-Ra:
Princess of Power." He's been a WGA member since 1973 and served on committees
including age awareness, freedom of expression, new members, officers
nominating,
social activities, strike study, tellers, work exchange and writers craft
conference.

CAST INTERVIEWS ON-LINE
Ranger Michael conducted an interview with Julie Caitlin Brown on December 28.
Here is a
link to the interview -- in German and English: Julie Caitlin Brown interview
can be found
at http://eguide-online.de/babylon5/index.php?seite=artikel&aktion=show&id2=359.
PS: It's Julie's birthday on January 27! HAPPY BIRTHDAY JULIE!

While you are there, don't miss the other Babylon 5 interviews with Claudia
Christian and Bill Mumy.

BABYLON 5 BIRTHDAYS

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

NEWS AROUND THE WORLD OF SCIENCE FICTION

HEROES
On Thursday, HEROES creator Tim Kring promised that the new volume of HEROES
"starts
us pretty much from scratch." Adding that "there is almost nothing that the
audience
needs to know from the previous volume in order to follow the storyline."
Kring's statement sounds similar to the message he delivered to Entertainment
Weekly at
the end of the strike shortened second season, where he apologized to fans and
professed
his desire to give the show "a clean slate."

FOUNDATION
According to Variety, Columbia won an auction late Thursday for screen rights to
FOUNDATION, Isaac Asimov's ground breaking science fiction trilogy. The film
will be developed as a directing vehicle for Roland Emmerich. Originally
published as a
series of eight short stories in Astounding Magazine beginning in
1942, FOUNDATION is a complex saga about humans who are scattered on planets
throughout the galaxy, living under the rule of the Galactic Empire. A
psycho-historian who can scientifically read the future sees an imminent empire
collapse,
and sets to work preparing to save the knowledge of mankind.

ZOMBIELAND
Variety writes that Emma Stone (Superbad) is heading to ZOMBILAND, signing on to
star
alongside Woody Harrelson and Jesse Eisenberg in the horror/comedy for Columbia
Pictures. According to the trade, Ruben Fleischer will direct the film, which
centers on a
band of survivors who team to fight the living dead in the post-apocalyptic
Southwest
after a zombie plague ravages America. Paul Wernick and Rhett Reese penned the
screenplay. Gavin Palone is producing the film, which begins shooting in Atlanta
in
February.

WATCHMEN WEBSITE
Warner Bros. Pictures has launched the excellent new website for director Zack
Snyder's WATCHMEN, opening in conventional and IMAX theaters on March 6th. The
site
features new bios on the characters along with dialogue and soundtrack music by
Tyler
Bates. You can access the 'Menu' for more about the movie, trailers, downloads,
the
gallery and the production diary.

COWBOY BEBOP
The Hollywood Reporter writes that Twentieth Century Fox is bringing the
Japanese anime TV series COWBOY BEBOP to the big screen, with THE DAY THE EARTH
STOOD STILL star Keanu Reeves attached to star as a bounty hunter traveling
through
space in 2071. One of the big titles in anime, BEBOP is set in a time where
"astral gates"
make interstellar travel possible. Humanity, decimated by a lunar explosion
resulting from
a gate accident, spread out across the solar system, as did crime, which gave
rise to the
use of bounty hunters.
Reeves would play Spike Spiegel, a bounty hunter and former member of a crime
syndicate. Spiegel, along with Jet Black, a fellow bounty hunter and former cop,
are the two pilots of the spaceship Bebop. Peter Craig is writing the script.
The show,
which first aired on Tokyo TV and on satellite broadcaster Wowow during the late
1990s,
was strongly influenced by American music, even featuring action sequences—both
space
battles and mano a mano—timed to U.S. melodies.

STARGATE UNIVERSE
According to the Hollywood Reporter, Justin Louis, David Blue, Brian J. Smith
and Jamil Walker Smith are set to co-star opposite Robert Carlyle on SCI FI
Channel's new
original series STARGATE UNIVERSE. The series, from MGM TV, follows a group of
soldiers,
scientists and civilians left to fend for themselves when forced through a
Stargate after
their hidden base comes under attack. The survivors, who emerge aboard an
Ancient ship
missing in the far reaches of space, are led by Dr. David Rush (Carlyle), who
works to
unlock the ship's mysteries and return the group to Earth. Louis (Hidden Hills)
will play
Col. Everett Young, an experienced Stargate team leader. Blue plays Eli Wallace,
a slacker
who just happens to be an utter genius with anything he puts his mind
to—everything
from mathematics to video games. Brian J. Smith is Lt. Matthew Scott, a junior
member of the Stargate team thrust into the role of leader well before he's
ready. Jamil
Walker Smith plays Sr. Sgt. Ronald Greer, a Marine with a temper.
STARGATE veterans Brad Wright and Robert Cooper are writing/executive-producing
the
series, which will debut in the fall as a two-hour movie and will be distributed
by MGM
Worldwide TV Distribution.

JERICHO MOVIE
Executive producer Jon Turtletaub ("National Treasure") has confirmed that he is
developing a feature-film version of the short-lived Skeet Ulrich-starring
series. "We're developing a feature for JERICH," Turteltaub told IF magazine.
"It would not
require you to have seen the TV show, but it get into life after an event like
this on a
national scale. It would be the bigger, full on American version of what's going
on beyond
the town in Jericho."
JERICHO focused on the residents of the fictional town in Kansas in the
aftermath of nuclear attacks on 23 major cities in the U.S. JERICHO, starring
Skeet Ulrich
("Scream") and Ashley Scott ("Walking Tall"), was one of the
great television stories of 2007, becoming un-canceled after irate fans planned
a clever protest--something that doesn't happen often in this day and age.
Unfortunately,
the victory was short-lived and the show was canceled after a short second
season.

TWO PASSINGS OF NOTE - Thursday

PATRICK McGOOHAN
Patrick McGoohan, an Emmy Award-winning actor who starred as a British spy in
the
1960s TV series "Secret Agent" and "The Prisoner" and was known for playing
various
villainous roles in films and on television, has died. He was 80.
THE PRISONER ran on CBS in 1968 and 1969, but became a cult classic. THE
PRISONER starred McGoohan as a British agent who, after resigning his post, is
abducted
and held captive by unknown powers in a mysterious village, where he known only
as No.
6. McGoohan created and executive-produced the series, which ran for only 17
episodes.
He also wrote and directed several episodes. A remake of the series, which had
McGoohan's blessing, will air later this year on AMC. Among the memorable
villains he
played on screen was England's sadistic King Edward I in Mel Gibson's 1995 film
"Braveheart." As a guest star on TV's "Columbo," McGoohan won Emmys in 1975 and
1990.

RICARDO MONTALBAN
Ricardo Montalban, a MGM movie star of the 40s and 50s who went on play the
mysterious Mr. Roarke on ABC's "Fantasy Island" from 1978-84 died Wednesday
morning at Los Angeles home. He was 88. For STAR TREK fans, Montalban was Khan
--
one of the best villans to confront Kirk, both in the original series (1967
"Space Seed") and
later in STAR TREK II: THE WRATH OF KHAN.

STAR TREK MEETS STAR WARS
A longtime member of the STAR TREK family is crossing over into the world of
STAR WARS. George Takei, an original Star Trek cast member as Sulu, is
providing a voice
in upcoming episodes of Cartoon Network's STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS. In the
episode
"Defenders of Peace," Takei is providing the voice of Separatist General Lok
Durd, who
commands a hostile mission that could spell doom for the Jedi. Takei, 71,
appeared in
several episodes of NBC's HEROES over the last two season as Hiro's father. His
animation
credits include Mister Fixx in BATMAN BEYOND and Wong in SPIDER-MAN. "Defenders
of
Peace" will
premiere on Friday, Jan. 23.

OBAMA MEETS SPIDER-MAN
On Jan. 14, Marvel Comics is releasing a special issue of Amazing Spider-Man
#583 with Barak Obama depicted on the cover. Inside are five pages of the two
teaming up
and even a fist-bump between Spidey and the new president. For a look at the
first few
panels 'Amazing Spider-Man #583', go to
http://www.usatoday.com/life/gallery/l090107_obamaspidey/flash.htm?
gid=842&aid=3995.

CONVENTION CALENDAR

January 24, 2009
Naruto Trek Events
Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country
Hosted by Christopher Plummer (General Chang) Time: 10:00pm - Cinema Paradiso
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
All seats $5
For more information, go to www.fliff.com

February 13-15, 2009
FARPOINT 2009
Place: Crowne Plaza Hotel
City: Timonium, Maryland
Guests: Alan Tudyk (Serenity), Harve Bennett (Star Trek producer), Phil Weyland
(actor,dialogue coach)
For more information, go to http://www.farpointcon.com/.

February 27-March 1, 2009
Megacon 2009
Place: Orange County Convention Center
For more information, go to http://www.megaconvention.com

That is about it for now.
Be safe,
Sandy

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