"NEMESIS" UPDATE

I haven't been able to find anything concrete on DS9 cameos, Janeway is definitely still in, but it looks like Whoopi may get cut out. They also shot a scene or two with Susan Gibney as Dr. Leah Brahms -- remember her from a few Next Generation episodes? -- but no one's promising they made it into the movie. Worf's part has been severely cut as well, it seems. And Picard's chair was stolen off the set, which happened on the series as well.

MORE ON "NEMESIS"

I'm a little behind on news these days...but it looks as if Wil Wheaton has been cut out of the new movie. Hmph! (Read all about it direct from the source.) Rumors abound regarding DS9 & Voyager cameos, as well as some "very, very distinguished moviemaker and a 'Next Generation' fan". NEMESIS PREMIERE DATE: DECEMBER 13TH

A SECRET ABOUT "NEMESIS"

I recently met Levar Burton & Whoopi Goldberg and he told me something about the movie, and I wasn't sure if it was true, so I checked out some ubernerd sites, and it IS true, and it's a big piece of news. Maybe I shouldn't write it here. If you want to know, write me and tell me. Whoopi and Levar were great, by the way. She was recording dialogue for an animated movie and he was directing her, I was there to shoot some footage for the animators to use. Her acting blew my mind and so did his directing, plus they were both very nice, professional, and down-to-earth. She is VERY funny.

EARTH: FINAL CONFLICT IN ITS FINAL SEASON

I'm pretty sure the confirmation is in: this is the last season of Earth: Final Conflict. It's hardly surprising, since its current timeslot here in NYC is 2:00 a.m. on Sundays. It's pretty stinky too. I just hope they bring back Boone, Augur, and Lili Marquette for the final show. And Da'an. They can leave Liam where he is. And where the hell is Dr. Bellman?

 

MORE ON "NEMESIS"

Ron Perlman, of Beauty and the Beast fame, is going to be in it too. I have no comment, except that I hope Linda Hamilton doesn't show up. I never watched that show but it looked really boring. But here's some good news: Wil Wheaton will make an appearance. Finally the Crusher Boy gets to be in the movies! I used to think he was annoying, but the truth is, I miss him. And it's time for some follow-up on what happened after he left for the next "plane of existence" at the end of the Next Generation series. Whoopi Goldberg as Guinan and Kate Mulgrew as Captain Janeway have also been confirmed to make cameos along with Wesley. Hooray!

 

SPOILER FROM THE NEW MOVIE "NEMESIS"

Apparently Troi and Riker are going to get married in the new movie. I stopped reading after that because I didn't want to know anything else. At the end of Next Generation, they were trying to steer things in a Worf/Troi direction, which I never quite bought, and then he went off to DS9 and married Dax, who died, so I guess that's why they resurrected the Riker/Troi romance. She hasn't had much to do in the movies, so this will give her something, but if it's just getting married, that'll be ridiculous. Also I will be MOST unhappy if she changes her name. As of now, the movie is scheduled to open on the 22nd of November.

 

EARTH: FINAL CONFLICT RETURNS TO THE SCI FI CHANNEL!

The Sci-Fi Channel has finally put the show back into their schedule. Look for it Monday to Friday at 7:00 p.m. starting Wednesday, January 2nd. Woohoo!

NEWS ON THE NEW MOVIE

They have a title -- "Nemesis" -- and a director, who is sadly NOT Jonathan Frakes. His name is Stuart Baird and he seems to be an action thriller kind of guy. Like with Enterprise, they're trying to broaden the audience. That's all well & good, but usually in involves dumbing everything down and making it more generic, so we'll see how it goes. The whole cast has signed on and the Romulans are still a big part of the plan. Hmph. I never found the Romulans all that interesting...I thought the Cardassians were a hell of a lot scarier. The director, by the way, used to be an editor and edited the first two Superman movies and The Omen. The writer is John Logan, who co-wrote the movie Gladiator, among other things. (He also wrote Bats -- and executive-produced it!) The good news is, he's a Star Trek fan, and he's not co-writing it with 50 other people. They start shooting November 28th. No release date yet.

 

EARTH: FINAL CONFLICT LEAVES SYNDICATION...AND MORE

The Sci-Fi Channel stopped their 10 p.m. airings of EFC and posted a note on their website saying it'll come back on air when they figure out the right time slot for it. Argh. Still, a new season starts next weekend (October 6th) on WPIX, and apparently Liam's gone and Boone is going to make an appearance or two.

EARTH: FINAL CONFLICT HITS SYNDICATION!!

The Sci-Fi Channel, bless it, has bought EFC and will start airing it from the beginning on August 6th. Hooray! The first few seasons were excellent. I know I'm the only one watching it, but if anybody out there likes Star Trek (and if you don't you've already hit the back button), check this show out. It's good. I promise. I chrodise. I pronise.

ENTERPRISE PREMIERE DATE SET!
The premiere date for the new series has been set: Wednesday, September 26th. There are pictures of the cast up on the official site (click picture above) as well as photos of the new set. Apparently Entertainment Tonight did a story on them and I missed it. I suck. Fortunately, their website has some of what they aired. I have to say, the ads are starting to hit UPN and they're making me a little nervous. They're playing contemporary music and Scott Bakula. . .I don't know about this Scott Bakula thing. I like having a lead actor I don't really know from other work. I mean, I know Kate Mulgrew did a lot of stuff, but I never actually watched Mrs. Columbo. (Did anybody?) And I never watched Spenser: For Hire OR A Man Called Hawk, so Avery Brooks was cool too. I just hope that Enterprise doesn't try too hard to be cool and contemporary. When you watch old Trek episodes (from any series), the weakest ones are the ones that try to fit in the with the times.
STAR TREK AND IRON CHEF COME TOGETHER!
William Shatner will contribute "his trademark sense of humor and entertaining style to his role as Chairman" in Iron Chef Showdown in Las Vegas, UPN's "all-new Americanized version of the phenomenally successful Japanese show Iron Chef." Staged like a sporting event, Iron Chef Showdown in Las Vegas will feature frenetic culinary battles among the world's top chefs who race against the clock to create outstanding original cuisine. The first one (there are two) will air August 31st.
JERI RYAN'S NEW GIG
Jeri Ryan (Seven of Nine) is joining the cast of Boston Public. They're going to pair her romantically with Billy Zane, according to TV Guide online. Yes, Boston Public is a David E. Kelley show. I'm sorry, there's nothing I can do about it.

 

THE NEW MOVIE

Patrick Stewart and Brent Spiner have both signed on to do the new Star Trek movie. The Romulans will be among the villains in this one -- let's hope they come up with something to replace those pointy shoulder pads they all started wearing in Next Generation. Their outfits seemed kind of bulky & impractical to me, especially next to that streamlined Starfleet spandex. They're also saying that there will be a very scary & cool nemesis for Picard introduced in this one, scary like Khan was in movie #2. Haven't heard word of who's directing it -- my vote goes to Jonathan Frakes -- but there are rumors Kate Mulgrew, a.k.a. Captain Janeway, will make a cameo.

DETAILS ON THE NEW SHOW

The Captain of the new Star Trek show Enterprise is going to be played by Scott Bakula, best known as the star of Quantum Leap. The official Star Trek site has a press release on him, as well as information on the new series, which will air Wednesday nights at 8:00 in the Fall on UPN. Scott Bakula's a good actor, but I was hoping they'd try to find a more interesting type than a Kirk-like white guy, since that's already been done. I'd hate to see them turn the new captain into Zapp Brannigan. According to the official site, Enterprise is "set in the 22nd century, nearly 150 years before James T. Kirk and only 100 years from now, Enterprise introduces us to the pioneering days of space exploration, when interstellar travel is in its infancy, and a universe — and the unknown — portends both danger and awe." Check out the article, it actually sounds like it could be cool.