Fellow DU Scifi geeks: Battlestar Galactica greenlit for series!

[Cannikin]

The actor who played the flight deck crew chief Tyrol (Aaron Douglas, center of photo) participates in a BSG message board that I've lurked around. He tells us tonight that the call came approximately 30 minutes before the actors (from the miniseries) contracts were to expire. No official announcement from the Sci-Fi Channel yet.

[The Traveler]

1. Excellent!

Thought the miniseries vastly superior to the original.

[Cannikin]

2. So did I!

I dont understand how any of those other folks really thought the original actors would be brought back. PA-LEEEEZ!

[beevul]

3. Though I liked it...

and I am happy they are doing the series, I don't believe it will keep up with SG:SG1.

I am kind of a purist where movies and remakes go, so I didn't like it as well as the original.

I was highly disapointed with the choice to make starbuck into a female. (no offense ladies) To me, thats something akin to casting Lara Croft as a guy. Doesn't work for me.

A little OT, but if scifi channel wasn't the only scifi channel I wouldn't watch them AT ALL. What they did with FARSCAPE pissed me off almost as much as * does. Grrrr....

On edit:

I didn't expect or wish that they bring the old actors back.

[Occulus]

5. Hear ya about Farscape.

IMO, that was the single best sci-fi series the netweork has ever aired. Quite possibly could have been one of the best series in history in the genre.

I've heard rumors of the show making a comeback since it was taken off the air. The whole ending had an unfinished feel to it.

Maybe the actors wanted to take a break for a season or two to do other things. I know, were I on the series, I'd certainly want it to come back.

[beevul]

6. Right there with you...

"IMO, that was the single best sci-fi series the netweork has ever aired. Quite possibly could have been one of the best series in history in the genre."

I completely agree. Though I like Doctor Who with Tom Baker too, so what do I know...Lol.

Props to SG1 though.

[beevul]

13. Just to...

"I know, were I on the series, I'd certainly want it to come back."

work with Claudia Black, if nothing else.

Wow, shes beautiful. That brit accent...

(sound of a bubble popping)

Naa, My GF would have way too much fun with that.:evilgrin:

[mouse7]

9. Starbuck could not be a guy on broadcast media anymore

I really liked what they did with Starbuck. Given the choice of completely changing the character of Starbuck to PC standards, they did something bold, and changed the character to a female. It was a bold choice, and I liked it.

Using the Lara Croft example is inappropriate. Lara Croft worked because of the complete lack of female action heros. The new Starbuck helps fill a pretty vacant niche in popular entertainment media.

By the way, have you watched old BG episodes lately? It DID NOT age well. Really hokey by today's standards.

[beevul]

11. Please see my sig...

I like hokey!!!

But thats just me...hehe.

As far as the gender change, what can I say. I'm a purist. I wouldn't have had a problem with a ton of female viper pilots, but the change to a pre-existing established character didn't agree with me.

"Lara Croft worked of the complete lack of female action heros."

Perhaps. I am used to alot of them in the comic books though. If they someday decided to remake X-men, and make Storm a guy, I would be significantly bent. See what I'm saying?

[mouse7]

14. Denzel as "Storm"? Works for me :)

Think about it.

[beevul]

15. Nope. I'm too much of a purist, I guess.

I think they could done a better job though, and cast Grace Jones as storm -instead of Halle Berry, she has a better voice for it, IMO.

Or maybe Tina Turner.

Picture either one of them saying "I summon the Full Power of the Storm".


Maybe I think too comic bookish...

[Exultant Democracy]

4. Great, I hope they keep the

same level of quality that they had for the mini-series, and don't cheese it up.

Dear Sci-Fi Channel,
If you have to choose between a bad special effect and no special effect, just say no.

[mouse7]

7. Good... BG mini-series is a lot better than Star Trek:Boobies

I enjoyed the BG mini-series. It's not Shakespeare, but what TV is?

I actually liked it much better than the original. I think the "grim reality" works.

It's also better than the drek that is currently masquerading as the Star Trek franchise.

[beevul]

8. Thats a good point that I agree with.

"I think the "grim reality" works."

Serious grim reality in the new BG. At least so far as we have seen.


On edit: Yeah, what has become of star trek. Nemesis disapointed me almost to the point of a broken heart.

[mouse7]

10. ST got lazy and went formula

They threw out the Star Trek book of what works and tried to mainstream it for mass entertainment. They subtracted about 50 points from the IQ of the material, and went for big explosions instead of good writing and real drama.

[beevul]

12. Yeah, and...

They Killed Data. The bastards!!

[cid]

19. Data is killed in the last one? I quit watching the movies a

few movies ago....

[Enraged_Ape]

16. This is terrible news

Now I'm going to have to break down and actually get cable or a satellite receiver. There's another $40+ a month to contend with.

The miniseries was awesome, and I say that as a huge fan of the original series. I think they made intelligent choices in their changes and still managed to retain the really great aspects of the original series--like the design of the Vipers and the Cylons. I think the new Starbuck is a great character. She simply kicks ass.

Now if we can only save Firefly, the Joss Whedon show which, IMHO, is not only the best science-fiction series ever, but perhaps one of the best hour-long dramas ever.

www.fireflymovie.com

[sweetheart]

17. Cylons are great

I love the red eye that goes back and forth. It reminds me of republicans. ;)

[Gadave]

18. I think of us democrats as battlestar gallactica

We are a rag tag fugitive fleet, fleeing the tyranny of the Cylons (Repulbicans) who are menacing robotlike automatons bent on our destruction.

[Cannikin]

20. hehe...Instead of 'By your command' it would be 'Mega-dittos'

[Gadave]

21. Chimperious Leader?

[Cannikin]

22. ooh...I feel a photoshop op coming up......

[Gadave]

25. I wish I had the energy

I used to do all sorts of doctored photos.

I have an idea for one, but can't find good source images. The idea is to take the cover photo of the video game Resident Evil and change it so that it has Bush's face, and says PRESIDENT EVIL

[Cannikin]

23. 'Apollo' of BSG confirms option for at least 6 episodes.

January 31, 2004 - Greenlight Confirmations from the Cast and Crew - As of 5:45PM PST on January 30, 2004 with only fifteen minutes to spare from the expiration of the actor contracts, the Sci Fi Channel officially picked up the greenlight for Battlestar Galactica as a series for a minumum of six episodes. Lead actor Jamie Bamber who plays Captain Lee "Apollo" Adama shared the following with Battlestar Galactica 2003 webmaster Beth Callaway via e-mail:

"Yes, Beth. To my huge relief I got a call from LA at 1.30 am London time telling me my option had just been picked up. I was surprised since I called my agent just before going to bed and the whole thing was still being hammered out!

As far as I know they still have not decided when they will shoot or even how many episodes other than a minimum of six... That all has to be decided next week; they just went to the wire with the actors and their contracts. Every real detail is still up for grabs!

But one thing is for sure they now have us for 6 eps at least, and hopefully it might be 13!!!

But Kerry and I are thrilled and looking forward to Vancouver and good work.

Loads of love,

Jamie xx"

On the otherhand, Actor Aaron Douglas who plays CPO Tyrol says there will be thirteen episodes and shared the following with Battlestar Galactica 2003's forum members:

"Hey all. Some I know from CF and some I don't so hi. I have just been reminded that I have been here too.Yes it is true. I called Koenig and let him know earlier just after my agent called. They have ordered 13 episodes and it truly went down to the wire. They were negotiating with all of the unions for the past few days and earlier this afternoon I got a call that it did not look good and that it probably would not go due to money. Then at 5:52 I got a call from Grace and she had just heard from her agent that her option had been exercised. Meaning that they were intent on keeping her from doing something else. I then got a call from my agent and he had been informed of the same. The deadline was literally 6pm today for the actor contracts. So there are 13 to start and Tyrol is in all 13 episodes. So yay for me."

Actor Alonso Oyarzun who played Crewman Specialist Socinus also commented on the development at the Battlestar Galactica 2003 forum by saying, "I spoke with Grace today and she also confirms that its a go for the Spring."

Former Engima Art Director Eric Chu who was involved in design process for ships like the Galactica and the Cylon Centurions themselves said excitedly to Battlestar Galactica 2003, "The Cylon God is thrilled to be able to continue wiping out mankind."

More comments to be posted soon on this story as we continue to receive more news from Cast and Crew members of Battlestar Galactica.

[GreenPartyVoter]

24. No Surprise there. the miniseries felt like

the opening movie for a series.

[Cannikin]

26. kick

[Gadave]

27. Really?

I thought they tied up all the loose ends pretty well!