Looking back at WonderCon 2011, there were sneak peeks, special treats and stars galore. The entire weekend offered a feast of visual delights as fans were invited to preview and celebrate a number of upcoming films and television shows at WonderCon in San Francisco. Considered a mini-version of Comic-Con, WonderCon this year showcased such amazing films as Green Lantern, Cowboys & Aliens, The Three Musketeers, Hanna, Priest and Immortals. On the television-side, there were sneak peeks at the new TNT alien-occupation series FALLING SKIES, the British time-traveling series DOCTOR WHO, the comedy hi-jinks series BREAKING IN, the dino-epic TERRA NOVA, the octane-fueled HUMAN TARGET, and the alien invasion series V. Also bridging the gap between film and television, there was a special screening of the upcoming animation DVD Green Lantern: Emerald Knights and a preview of the upcoming graphic novel Immortals: Gods & Heroes (published by Archaia Comics).
For television and film buffs alike, it was a treasure trove weekend. It is always a rare treat when studios allow the fans an opportunity to mingle with the stars and peek behind-the-curtain at the magic offered by film and television. The invitation to preview special footage specially prepared for the fans made the 3-day event both rewarding and exciting.
Showcasing seven of the extraordinary television panels featured, here are a few glimpses, teasers and hints at what is upcoming on these fun shows.
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Review: V
By: Aleks Chan
V, a “re-imagining” of the one-off NBC miniseries that ran during the 1983 TV season, quickly found itself on my list of the fall’s most promising new shows. Though my impression was only based on seeing very brief clips made available during ABC’s annual Upfront presentation, I distinctly remember latching on to three things: that this could be scary-good as opposed to cheesy-good; whether it was intended or not, this seems allegorical of Obama’s presidential campaign and subsequent presidency; and Elizabeth Mitchell will be on TV for the time being, thank God.
This vision of Kenneth Johnson’s reptilian space invaders is more utilitarian than creepy. It’s all muted ambiance: giant saucers eclipse the sky, hovering over the world’s major cities, rumbling the ground beneath it, sending crucifixes and fighter jets careening down. Millions gather in awe and despair as cable news talking heads chatter in the background.
As the ships ascend the skyline, their holographic, luminescent undersides act as a giant television screens (yes, like Blade Runner), from which we meet Anna, Visitor High Commander, and the focal point for what looks (and this is the case for all the subtexts vying for attention here) to be a cogent, if long, winded, and murky, allegory of Barack Obama.
Review: DARK BLUE
From the beginning, DARK BLUE — debuting tonight at 10 p.m. E.T. on TNT — lives up to it’s title: The opening sequence features extreme torture (or what FOX talking heads would insist on calling “enhanced interrogation techniques”) and is awash in azure tones, and things never really lighten up in any regard during the rest of the hour. In true anti-hero style, our lead, Carter Shaw (Dylan McDermott), is a mess both physically and emotionally, cooked up by someone with a fondness for popular stereotypes: He is a tortured soul who offers redemption to those around him when not squinting and clutching his head to show us the pain he’s attempting to suppress. The pain of his past has, of course, impacted how he views the world around him. As he explains to a would-be recruit, “I see everything that needs to be fixed.”
Heavy, man. [Read more…]
New York Comic Con 2009: CHUCK Panel Live Blog
On Sunday, your very own TV Addict had the pleasure of attending the CHUCK panel at New York Comic Con 2009. Featuring co-creators Josh Schwartz, Chris Fedak and the absolutely stunning Yvonne Strahovski (Sarah Walker) the panel was in a word: Awesome! With serious kudos going out to panel moderator Alan Sepinwall, who offered up his own intelligent questions, kept the panel moving and remembered that first and foremost and for better or for worse, NY Comic Con is about giving the fans their opportunity to interact with their favorites (TVGuide’s Damian Holbrook, who sucked the energy out of yesterday’s FRINGE panel, please take note)
11:30AM: After viewing a spoiler-heavy trailer designed specifically for New York Comic Con that showed Big Mike hooking up with Morgan’s mom, Tricia Helfer seducing Captain Awesome (in what looks to be a stripper cop uniform, naturally), Casey punching out Emmitt and the not-so-super-secret casting of Scott Bakula as Chuck’s Dad and Chevy Chase as some sort of technology visionary (think: Steve Jobs) co-creator Josh Schwartz joked that they may have given away too much.
11:31AM: CHUCK co-creator Chris Fedak on the casting of Chevy Chase, “Fletch and Spies Like Us are very much within the DNA of our show. Zach [Levi] really reminds us of Fletch and Chevy, so when the opportunity came to get a guy who’s Chuck’s spiritual godfather it was an opportunity that was too good to pass up.” Added Josh Schwartz, “We love the 80’s!”
11:33AM: Yvonne Strahovski on her favorite types of scenes, “I love doing the fight scenes but equally loved going back and playing young Sarah — being nerdy, not having to worry about being pretty.” Or as Josh Schwartz sees it, “You know, how Chris and I go through everyday of our lives!”
11:36AM: Attention fans of Fulcrum, in an upcoming episode in which Arnold Vosloo (The Mummy) plays as Fedak puts it, “a super badass,” fans will get to see what it’s like inside Fulcrum Headquarters.
Help Solve the Mystery that is 90210
Now I know what you’re thinking, “Isn’t FRINGE the show that’s supposed to have fans scratching their heads?” Well, yes. But this morning this TV Addict can’t seem to stop thinking about all the surprising mysteries brought forth by last night’s installment of 90210. Here’s hoping that you, my far smarter and better looking readers can help a TV Addict out by posting your theories.
Mystery #1, West Beverly High: Far be it from this TV Addict to judge another high school. But at least where I came from [Toronto’s Forest Hill Collegiate, in case you’re wondering], new kids were not so easily welcomed with open arms like the gang from West Bev seems to have embraced Annie and Dixon Mills. I mean seriously. Unless you were hot, and I mean really really hot. Newbies weren’t talked to for a good month or two! Which begs the obvious question, what is Annie and Dixon’s secret? And more importantly, why did 90210 showrunners Jeff Judah and Gabe Sachs rob fans of that classic first season episode where our lead characters invariably form that best-friends-forever bond after being trapped in detention, an elevator, the library, and/or victims of a school shooting or earthquake.
Mystery #2, Naomi Clark: Do the powers that be seriously expect us to buy that AnnaLynne McCord looks young enough to play a high school student? But Gabrielle Carteris comparisons aside, what this TV Addict is really tiring of is the played out television cliché that money doesn’t by happiness. Who doesn’t dream of the day when your Dad makes up for the fact that he can’t take you to Las Vegas by surprising you with a car.
Mystery #3, Kelly’s BabyFather: While the identity of Kelly’s one night stand technically still remains a mystery, there’s no way that Sammy’s father isn’t Dylan McKay. I’m just sayin’, Jim and Cindy Walsh did no raise Brandon Walsh to be a deadbeat dad!
Random Musings on Wednesday Television
As theTVaddict.com’s technical woes continue [rest assured everything will be back to normal by the weekend] I thought I’d give you all some space to sound off on last night’s television. But before I do, allow me to get a few thoughts of my chest.
DIRTY SEXY MONEY
Let’s just say, with a title as blatant as DIRTY SEXY MONEY, I expected a lot more out of the gate from the new Greg Berlanti series. Yet as the weeks have gone on, this TV Addict, much like Peter Krause’s Nick, is slowly realizing that he can’t live without his weekly Darling family fix. It’s as if the writers finally clued in — television fans need to care about this family. Let’s show that the twins love eachother, that Tripp is genuinely hurt by his wife’s betrayal and that Brian truly wants to save his marriage. DIRTY SEXY MONEY is quietly evolving into an interesting family drama. Which is what it needs to be. After-all, if all we wanted to do was laugh at the stupidity of the uber rich, who needs a television show when we already have the internet.
GOSSIP GIRL
From rich families to rich teenagers, let’s gossip shall we. Could Jenny Humphrey be any cooler? Who’d have thought the unassuming younger sister of lead character Dan would so quickly become this TV Addict’s favorite. In less surprising news, popular book character [So I’m told. No really, this TV Addict draws the line at ‘chick’ lit — it’s all about chick’ TV for me] Vanessa appeared to stir up trouble between Dan and Serena. Why trouble you ask? Well she refers to Dan as “Humphrey.” Which in TV land means, I’m trying to be casual about this, but I’m really still into you. And finally poor Blair. Can this girl not catch a break? She spends undoubtedly days planning the ultimate romantic rendezvous with Nate only to have it backfire yet again. No wonder she’s always in such a bad mood. But let’s give Nate a break shall we. His Dad’s not only hiding some serious financial problems [Clearly Nate doesn’t watch THE OC — or else he’d realize his Dad’s pulling a Papa Cooper!] but also may be hiding a serious drug addiction. Too bad we’ll have to wait two weeks to find out what happens next.
BIONIC WOMAN
If you asked this TV Addict at the beginning of the season what show’s he’d consider “Can’t Miss”, BIONIC WOMAN would have undoubtedly made the top 5. Yet oddly enough, after two lackluster episodes, BIONIC’s gone from “Can’t Miss” to “Can’t Miss PVRing.” While I have yet to tune into the past two episodes, I still seem to be recording them. Was last night’s episode worth watching? Or should this TV Addict give up all together on Jamie Summers.