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Everything you need to know about every sci-fi TV show this week
Last week saw several television midseason finales (or winter finales, or we're-going-into-reruns-and-we-want-to-call-it-something-fancy finales). However, it's not the end of original programming this year, folks. This week there are a couple of premieres (Better Off Ted, Outer Space Astronauts), original episodes of some favorites (Fringe, Sanctuary, Dollhouse) and lots and lots and lots of ghost shows.
Here's what we have to look forward to on sci-fi TV this week:
Alice (Syfy), Monday, 9 p.m.
The second half of Nick Willing's oh-so-adult version of Alice in Wonderland sees Alice (Caterina Scorsone) attempt to find her way out of the looking glass. Unfortunately, that nasty Queen of Hearts (played by the wonderful Kathy Bates) is after the Stone of Wonderland, which controls the portal that would allow Alice to go home.
Better Off Ted (ABC), Tuesday, 9:30 p.m.
Season premiere
Finally, finally, finally! The funniest show on TV, and one that's got more than a little science and fiction in it, is back for its second season. On "Love Blurts," Veridian Dynamics plays genetic compatibility matchmaker for its employees. Despite themselves, Linda (Andrea Anders) and Ted (Jay Harrington) are immediately attracted to their matches, and since Linda's match is played by hot-guy-who-deserves-his-own-show Taye Diggs (Day Break), I'm hoping that match lasts.
As for boss-from-hell Veronica (Portia de Rossi), she'll be back and dealing with her own boss. "This season, she's a little bit more developed," de Rossi told TV Guide. "She really has more of a relationship with the characters in the show. She shares more of her personal life. ... She also has a boss this season, so you're seeing who she has to deal with."
Dollhouse (Fox), Friday, 8 and 9 p.m.
Alpha returns
We're double-dipping Dollhouse this week, with a couple of key mythology episodes. First, on "Meet Jane Doe," Echo (Eliza Dushku) finds herself Dollhouse-free but alone and confused when her multiple personalities battle each other. Meanwhile, Matthew Harding (Keith Carradine) makes his move against Adelle (Olivia Williams), and Topher (Fran Kranz) discovers how dangerous the Dollhouse technology really is. Rumor has it Firefly's Alan Tudyk, who played psycho doll Alpha last season, will be popping up on this one, likely as a teaser for the next episode. And on "A Love Supreme," when Echo's past romantic clients end up dead, Alpha becomes the main suspect in the murders. Meanwhile, the Actives turn against their handlers. Tudyk guest-stars.
Egypt's Animal Mummies (Animal Planet), Thursday, 8 p.m.
All you've got to do is put "Attack" in the title and you'll have a Syfy Saturday night movie. Actually, I just can't help but add this one. The thought of mummifying baboons, bulls and crocodiles just leads the imagination into interesting places.
Fringe (Fox), Thursday, 9 p.m.
Leonard Nimoy's back!
Fringe's last original episode of the year, "Grey Matters," offers up a little impromptu brain surgery in a mental hospital. (Ouch! That's going to leave a mark!) After watching the surveillance tapes, Olivia (Anna Torv) comes to believe the leader of the shapeshifters might be involved. Leonard Nimoy returns as William Bell, along with Roger R. Cross (First Wave) as Smith. The big news, however, is that we'll finally get to meet Frozen Head Guy, aka Thomas Jerome Newton (played by the non-frozen Sebastian Roché). We're assuming the attachable body worked out.
Ghost Hunters (Syfy), Wednesday, 9 p.m.
The TAPS team investigates an 18th-century farmhouse in Willow Grove, Pa., and the Old State House in Hartford, Conn., in "Unexplained Phenomena." And in one of the investigations they won't even get the lights out before the spirits come a-calling.
Ghosts, ghosts and more ghosts
While other shows are winding down for the holidays, the ghost business is booming, and you can find original reality ghost programming all over cable.
On the newest ghost entry, Syfy's Ghost Hunters Academy (Wednesday, 10 p.m.), it's "The Blame Game" when the cadets investigate Florida's St. Augustine Lighthouse.
On Discovery's Ghost Lab (Tuesday, 10 p.m.), ghost-hunting brothers Brad and Barry Klinge take on Alcatraz Island.
And if that's not enough ghosts for you, try E!'s Psychic Hollywood: Search for Truth (Wednesday, 8 p.m.), the Travel Channel's Ghost Adventures (Friday, 9 p.m.), Bio's Ghostly Encounters (Saturday, 9:30 p.m.) and Celebrity Ghost Stories (Saturday, 10 p.m.), TLC's Ghost Intervention (Saturday, 9 and 10 p.m.) and Animal Planet's The Haunted (Sunday, 10 p.m.).
Legend of the Seeker (Syndicated) whenever
In "Fury," when Richard (Craig Horner) tries to teach peaceful people how to protect themselves, an uncontrollable rage is unleashed that threatens his students and the Seeker himself.
MysteryQuest (History), Wednesday, 10 p.m.
Like a little history with your mystery? Experts hunt for the truth about the Amityville Horror house and explore whether the spirit (or spirits?) might have returned using equipment designed especially for this investigation. And they look into why similar phenomena are happening in a new location.
Outer Space Astronauts (Syfy), Tuesday, 8:30 p.m.
Series premiere
Out with the old scares (Scare Tactics) and in with the new goofiness as a crew of outer-space astronauts "journey to the far reaches of the galaxy, seeking knowledge, adventure, and whatever else they can come up with." In "Diplomatic Hat," Capt. Ripley (Russell Barrett) invites aliens aboard the O.S.S. Oklahoma, but the pizza isn't the only thing his new "friends" want. Can't wait till Tuesday? You can watch it online right now on http://www.syfy.com/outerspaceastronauts/.
Sanctuary (Syfy), Friday, 10 p.m.
Michael Shanks guest-stars
Hate Kate? "You will see a side of Kate that will actually change your mind," promises creator Damian Kindler. We'll find out more about her past in "Penance," which reunites Stargate SG-1 stars Amanda Tapping and Michael Shanks. In the episode, Helen (Tapping) enlists her Abnormal friend Jimmy (Shanks) to transport an elemental Abnormal to the Sanctuary. However, when a local gang attacks the team, Kate (Agam Darshi) and Jimmy end up on the run and discover a common history.
Santa stuff
While you may just want to "bah humbug" all the sappy Christmas stuff, here it is anyway. CBS's Yes, Virginia (Friday, 8 p.m.) may be taking over the Ghost Whisperer timeslot, but since Jennifer Love Hewitt voices in the animated half-hour special about a little girl who's looking for Santa, we guess it's okay. Neil Patrick Harris also voices.
And in ABC Family's Santa Baby 2: Christmas Maybe (Monday, 8 p.m.), Jenny McCarthy reprises her role as Santa's daughter. When her pop, Santa (Paul Sorvino), goes through a late-life crisis, it's up to Santa's little girl to save Christmas. Danger ... sugar high warning ... watch at your own risk!
Scare Tactics (Syfy), Tuesday, 8 p.m.
Season finale
The finale episode of the third season offers up a Borg-type scare when a man confronts a crazed scientist who's trying to create the ultimate weapon.
And now for the non-sci-fi show of the week with a sci-fi connection ...
Men of a Certain Age (TNT) Monday, 10 p.mSeries premiere
Scott Bakula (Star Trek: Enterprise), Ray Romano (Ice Age) and Andre Braugher (Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer) star in this dramedy about three male friends who are 50ish and dealing with everything from prostate exams to relationship issues. Great cast, but fellas, come back to the dark sci-fi side. We need you, and you won't have to talk about your feelings at all!
By lostandconfused at 10:03 AM ON 12/07/09
Nimoy's back! And by the way, what the frak does Men of a Certain Age have anything to do with sci-fi aside from the fact that it stars Scott Bakula (whose best sci fi role btw was as Sam Beckett in Quantum Leap not Capt Archer on USS WasteofTime)
By JaTal at 10:36 AM ON 12/07/09
It has as much Sci Fi as Ghost Hunters or Scare Tactics. (or Wrestling)
By Obi Window Washer at 10:38 AM ON 12/07/09
I had no idea their was so many Ghost themed shows on TV. Seems a long way to go for something that "Doesn't really exist" (despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary)!
I find it funny that some of the most popular shows on cable deal with areas of "Fringe Science" such as Parapsychology, Cryptozoology and UFO...ology(?). Leads one to believe that attitudes associated with the fantastic are changing, but that's just my opinion.
By Dave at 10:53 AM ON 12/07/09
Cant believe you mentioned Travel Channels Ghost Adventures, that show is an obvious fake. I also have to agree with lostandconfused Men of a certain age actually gets a mention here? But also have to agree with JaTal Scare Tactics and and certainly wrestling or no where near sci-fi either.
By lenamoster at 11:01 AM ON 12/07/09
Outer Space Astronauts looks utterly ridiculous. I can't tell you how sick I am of the promos for it! They've been popping up nearly every commercial break on SyFy for the past week. Yuck! I'll stick with Venture Bros, thanks.
By Nyarlathotep at 11:51 AM ON 12/07/09
I dont see any sci-fi shows there at all, just crap. The shows look as unimaginative as the people that watch them
By Alan at 12:17 PM ON 12/07/09
Nyarlathotep wrote: "I dont see any sci-fi shows there at all, just crap. The shows look as unimaginative as the people that watch them"
Oh, yeah? Your mother wear combat boots.
By Praetor ShinzonII at 12:25 PM ON 12/07/09
lostandconfused-you are that, now go off to a corner and play with yourself.
By UnRiel at 12:28 PM ON 12/07/09
I gave up on any "Ghost" shows long ago. Maybe they show some tangible evidence now, but I found them to be frustratingly anti-climatic, dragging you along to force you to watch commercials to reveal NOTHING. Let me know if they've provided more than empty drama please.
By mykl at 12:42 PM ON 12/07/09
It is amazing how all the other genre shows are interesting and then you have Syfy with… nothing really, just reality shows and some crap animation show. “Sanctuary” is OK at best but nothing great just like all the other original show this lame channel produces. Get on the ball Syfy and save “Dollhouse”, bring back original episodes of “Farscape”, “Pushing Daises” and just drop all these reality shows you have involving ghosts, journeys to mysterious lands and lame pranks.
By ctmm at 1:50 PM ON 12/07/09
Scott Bakula was great as Captain Archer in Startrek;
ENTERPRISE that Show got destroyed by the same people that tried to trash the new movie STARTREK
the star trek franchise was hurting way before Enterprise came along. Would like to see them bring it back With same cast and crew showing the Romulan wars .Most sci fi now on tv just plain suck.
By UnRiel at 2:04 PM ON 12/07/09
I just watched the new Star Trek on DVD last night and was hungry for more, but Bad Robot is still pondering stories for the sequel.
We need a new video media outlet. TV depends on commercials and great shows are canceled due to lack of audience or improper marketing. Movies are so expensive and have too much intrusion in the creative process by investors and producers and the sequels more often then not end up awful. Internet venues like Dr Horrible may be leading the way, but for a good sci fi channel I'd pay for it like I do HBO.
By Former Sanctuary Fan at 2:28 PM ON 12/07/09
To Damian Kindler: Yes I hate Kate and NOTHING you can do will make me hate her less. She could be Ashley in disguise and I would still hate her. This is a badly written and ill conceived character. Not attacking the actress, I think she's doing all she can with what she's been given.
By TC at 4:14 PM ON 12/07/09
@mykl - I hate to burst your ego centric American bubble but Syfy does NOT produce Sanctuary.
@DamianKindler - how about you treat your fans like they have some intelligence? The Kate character sucks, you trade a unique character with lots of potential (unrealised potential because you didn't bother doing any character development) for a Hana Solo wannabe??? Yeah, real original.
By M at 4:35 PM ON 12/07/09
Only thing that's been done "ghost related" that I've been able to stomach is the dead-on treatment that South park gave to it (they spoofed those very suggestible yahoos, the so-called investigators from one of those ghost shows) in a recent episode.
By Uncas at 4:53 PM ON 12/07/09
First Damian says he knows that most people hate Kate, but that he intentionally wrote her that way, and that after this episode, 99% would like her.
Now he says we'll all change our mind about her after this episode.
I've never seen a producer/creator so blatantly state that the audiences are being manipulated. Sure, to a certain extent all writing intends to move an audience one way or another, but this is so open and obvious.
It smells like damage control to me.
By muahaha at 3:38 PM ON 12/08/09
Ok i never thought id say this but the last 2 episodes of Dollhouse have actually been pretty decent. I think the show owes most of that to the addition of Summer Glau as a guest star. Also now that were not trying to figure out who Echo is for each particular episode you can start to actually invest more in the characters. We get to see alot more of the other characters and much less of Eliza..I think if someone made a chart and compared her screen time to the ratings each episode received im sure they would find these two to be in direct proportion. Another factor improving the show is the storyline the show is now on. Unfortunately this storyline leads to the shows climax. I hated about 80 percent of dollhouse. Its sad that in its twilight the show actually became something better. I guess thats what happens when theres no pressure and you just have fun making a show. On your next show Joss, try having fun before you get canceled. Also please remember Eliza is not a "lead" actress shes an amusing ancillary at best.
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muahaha:
Ok i never thought id say this but the last 2 episodes of Dollhouse have actually been pretty decent. I think the s...More »