The reason my wife watched BSG with me

Photo: Liane Chan/Flickr CC

Battlestar Galactica executive producer Ronald D. Moore barred the BS technobabble that made so much of every show after the original Star Trek series aired.

That’s what allowed the epic space opera to come through.

And the guy he hired to keep the show honest has written a book about it:

Grazier – whose new book The Science of Battlestar Galactica finally puts geeks out of their misery by explaining the “hows”, “whys”, and “what ifs” – is blunt in explaining BSG’s success. BSG, he says, was not a technology show.This formula worked. BSG became a cult and critical hit. BSG was the first ever sci-fi show to earn a prestigious Peabody Award for its treatment of contemporary subjects. It won over fans of the 1970s original who were initially suspicious of Moore’s plans for their beloved show, and BSG secured a rarity for any TV sci-fi creation: the nodding approval of members of the science community.

via Shut up, Spock! – how Battlestar Galactica beat Trek babble • The Register.

"Never be apart" from a piece of Lost history

Profiles in History, the same company that auctioned off Captain Kirk’s conn for $250,000, will soon take bids on everything from Dharma Initiative beer to the wedding band that symbolized everyone’s favorite Lost couple, Sun and Jin.

The inscription inside Jin’s ring reads, in Korean, “We will never be apart.”

Of course the two spent a heck of a lot of time apart. From the item description:

When Locke decides to bring the Oceanic Six back to the Island, Jin begins to have misgivings about letting Sun return to the place of “death.” As a result, he gives Locke his wedding ring to give to Sun. This would tell Sun that he had died and would take away her own reason to return. For his part, Locke keeps his promise. However, after Ben strangles Locke and takes the ring, Ben uses it to his advantage and convinces Sun that Jin is indeed alive and that she should return to the Island.

Profiles in History has not yet published estimated values for its Lost auction items. But if Jin’s ring proves too pricey, you might try your luck with the pearl necklace Sun’s previous lover in Korea offered to her. (Sun refused the gift, which the poor guy held in his hand when he jumped to his death.)

via Jin’s Wedding Ring – Lost Auction Preview – Profiles in History.

For sale: Star Trek tablet PC

A red plastic, mock up of a PADD from Start Trek: Deep Space Nine is up for sale, via the folks at Beverly Hills-based Profiles in History. The type on the screen is a decal.

Still, it might be all yours, for about the price of an Apple iPad:

1485. Large Red Federation Starfleet PADD from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. (Paramount-TV, 1993-99) Red cast resin with decal graphics. On the view screen is a summary of the statement of principles of the “New Essentialists Movement.” Seen in the episode, “Let He Who is Without Sin,” being handled by Michael Dorn “Worf” and Terry Farrell “Jadzia Dax”. Measures 8 in. x 10 in. $400 – $600

via Large Red Federation Starfleet PADD from Star Trek Deep Space Nine – Hollywood Memorabilia Auction 40 – Profiles in History.

"V" is very bad, indeed

Christopher Knowles says what you’re thinking, about one of television’s worst sci-fi series:

“This is binary conflict of the lowest variety, really a terrible comedown given the pedigree of talent involved. What an incredible disappointment. I must say I’m not surprised this show lost over a million viewers in its second half-hour.”

via The Secret Sun: TVOD: V jumps the lizard (UPDATED).

ETs not part of futurists' vision

Not in Futurismic's future. (Image: Marcin Wichary/Flickr CC)

Futurismic pays for fiction — $200 for a short story.

But writers with an ET bent (think Romulans, greys, reptilians, and the like) need not apply :

We’re interested in what we can see and develop and control, what’s in front of us and what we need to react to.

The site’s fiction editor doubts we’ve got much to worry about, from beyond the troposhere, or inside our hollow Earth.

via Why we reject stories | Fiction | Futurismic.

James Cameron's Avatar: Fox's Final Cut?

My prediction: Avatar will be the film that finally undoes the reportedly wicked, egomaniacal, James Cameron, who has yet to make a singe, goddamn, good picture. (Hey, I started hating the guy after Cameron was rumored to be calling Kate Winslet, Kate Weighs-a-Lot.)

My Second Life avatar, Oscar Finsbury, will eat his three-cornered hat, if I am wrong:

Executives at Fox, the company which has put up the majority of the money, are “very scared, nay terrified, that it is all going to go wrong,” one movie insider told me.The question is, has Hollywood’s most monstrous genius finally gone mad?

via Has James Cameron, Hollywood’s scariest man, blown £200 million on the biggest movie flop ever? | Mail Online.

Students of film history will recall the Heaven’s Gate debacle, in which director Michael Cimino demolished United Artists with his own, out-of-control film project.

Captain Kirk vs. Somali pirates

kirk

I wonder if the captain engaged his captors in a distracting game of fizbin, before attempting his escape.

MANAMA, Bahrain (CNN) — Richard Phillips, the captain of a U.S.-flagged cargo ship, tried to escape from his captors Thursday night by jumping out of the lifeboat where he’s being held, a U.S. official said Friday.

via Captain tried to escape pirates, U.S. official says – CNN.com.

Now anyone can chill on the bridge

$200 for a bitty piece of wallpaper, but, oh man, I’m tempted.

I’ve been awfully keyed-up over the upcoming Star Trek film, hanging on every scene, in every TV spot.

I hope soon to interview Alan Watt, and other experts on Trek symbolism, to disabuse me of my obsession.

Star Trek Tos Bridge Only Lg Wall Mural is an Urban Collector pre-order. Ever wish you were aboard Captain Kirk’s Enterprise? Now you can with the Star Trek: Bridge Full Wall Mural! Printed on the revolutionary pre-pasted Surestrip material, this extra large, photoreal wall mural puts you in the center of the action, and the backing won’t damage the underlying wall. Measures 6 feet x 10 feet.

via Star Trek Tos Bridge Only Lg Wall Mural at Urban Collector.

ThinkGeek tribbles will give you no trouble

These furry, quivering, cooing, critters are a “must bring” for the opening of the new Trek movie in May.

Here’s a bit I wrote for the Boston Globe this week:

I’ve seen the trailer for J.J. Abrams’s upcoming “Star Trek” prequel about 30 times. I’ve picked through the high-definition video, checking the battle scenes against the starship-size reference charts in my office, and confirming that the license plate on the Kirk family car is from Iowa.

Sadly, I have seen no mention that Finnegan, Kirk’s tormentor at Star Fleet Academy, will be in the new movie. The original series’ famed tribbles, those cooing guinea pigs that love grain and hate Klingons, are rumored to be in the new “Star Trek” picture, however.

via Sharp images, not looks, in ‘cinema’ headset – The Boston Globe.