Yes, yes, and yes: it's been quite some time since I've done a Daily Launch post at SciFiHistory.Net ... but what can I say? I've been very, very busy aligning a lot of graphic changes to the site, and that has taken up a considerable amount of time, far much more than I predicted. I guess it's just all part and parcel of trying to be one of the busiest sites in the world of genre entertainment, so all I can ask is that you please bear with me. I'll do what I can to keep you as up-to-date with the greatest and the latest SciFi and Fantasy trivia imaginable as time permits.
In any event, I'd like to let you know the three very best reasons to #CelebrateSciFi for May 12th, so let's get started ... shall we?
In any event, I'd like to let you know the three very best reasons to #CelebrateSciFi for May 12th, so let's get started ... shall we?
I've mentioned before that I took the long way to get to Babylon 5. When it aired originally in the television line-up, I was simply too weighed down with life to take on another series in my entertainment diet; and having unsuccessfully tried a few times to catch up with it on DVD I ended up setting it aside.
Then a birthday Tweet I sent out to series' regular Jerry Doyle actually drew the actor's attention, and he Tweeted back after reading my post about struggling to 'get into' his show. He encouraged me to give it another go ... and, at his advice, I did. I'm not convinced that my opinion of it changed much over the years -- it's good, has a great cast, has an incredible series' long arc for almost every character, but beyond its character I just didn't feel drawn to the program in the way I have other shows -- but you know what they say. Different strokes for different folks.
But actor Bruce Boxleitner certainly did his part to elevate the show across SciFi and Fantasy fandom. His 'Captain John Sheridan' brought some of the best traits of leadership to the station, tying his Fate to that of the galaxy in a war that was destined to take place despite the best intentions of everyone involved. He built a great center to the program's talented ensemble, and I think it's a role worth exploring again and again -- the way we do some shows -- as it offers plenty of reflection for those who like that sort of thing in their entertainment.
Of course, I was already familiar from his work in the 1980's aboard the popular TRON franchise, and it's great that that entity have already put him on the genre map as I'd argue that his work on Babylon 5 probably encouraged folks to investigate what he'd done before. And the actor has continued to work in genre since the end of the Michael Straczynski space saga, only making fans love him all the more.
Then a birthday Tweet I sent out to series' regular Jerry Doyle actually drew the actor's attention, and he Tweeted back after reading my post about struggling to 'get into' his show. He encouraged me to give it another go ... and, at his advice, I did. I'm not convinced that my opinion of it changed much over the years -- it's good, has a great cast, has an incredible series' long arc for almost every character, but beyond its character I just didn't feel drawn to the program in the way I have other shows -- but you know what they say. Different strokes for different folks.
But actor Bruce Boxleitner certainly did his part to elevate the show across SciFi and Fantasy fandom. His 'Captain John Sheridan' brought some of the best traits of leadership to the station, tying his Fate to that of the galaxy in a war that was destined to take place despite the best intentions of everyone involved. He built a great center to the program's talented ensemble, and I think it's a role worth exploring again and again -- the way we do some shows -- as it offers plenty of reflection for those who like that sort of thing in their entertainment.
Of course, I was already familiar from his work in the 1980's aboard the popular TRON franchise, and it's great that that entity have already put him on the genre map as I'd argue that his work on Babylon 5 probably encouraged folks to investigate what he'd done before. And the actor has continued to work in genre since the end of the Michael Straczynski space saga, only making fans love him all the more.
I know, I know, I know: the BBC's long-running Doctor Who SciFi serial has had a great run with some very impressive companions for the singular Time Lord from Galligrey, but I was never much a fan of 'Donna Noble' as played by the fabulously funny Catherine Tate. Hear me out! Hear me out! I'm just not that much a fan of the 'screwball comic character' as it's appeared in SciFi and Fantasy; and as much as I thought her performance was definitely spot on I still cringed from time-to-time at the all-too-obvious humor of it.
That said, I've always championed storytelling that takes the seemingly dunderheaded amongst us and turned them into heroes. I think the screenwriters and Ms. Tate herself did the best they could with that type of person with her run on Who. And it'd be foolish of me to deny that she had some on-screen chemistry with David Tennant as the two of them arguably made as clever a pairing as did the original Abbott and Costello when it came to delivering the laughs.
Plus, I think Tate came along at a time in Who's overall history that made the desire for a bit of comic relief a needed addition to the show. As Tennant's run in the Doctor's shoes wore on and it became clear that his own professional clock was winding down, the injected laughs helped to soften the blow every viewer knew was on the horizon anyway. Dare I say I can't think of another talent who could've performed so winningly in that capacity?
The actress is on to other things at present, but I suspect that she'd be willing to suit up again if the right opportunity and script presented itself. After all, never say never again ... am I right?
That said, I've always championed storytelling that takes the seemingly dunderheaded amongst us and turned them into heroes. I think the screenwriters and Ms. Tate herself did the best they could with that type of person with her run on Who. And it'd be foolish of me to deny that she had some on-screen chemistry with David Tennant as the two of them arguably made as clever a pairing as did the original Abbott and Costello when it came to delivering the laughs.
Plus, I think Tate came along at a time in Who's overall history that made the desire for a bit of comic relief a needed addition to the show. As Tennant's run in the Doctor's shoes wore on and it became clear that his own professional clock was winding down, the injected laughs helped to soften the blow every viewer knew was on the horizon anyway. Dare I say I can't think of another talent who could've performed so winningly in that capacity?
The actress is on to other things at present, but I suspect that she'd be willing to suit up again if the right opportunity and script presented itself. After all, never say never again ... am I right?
Argh. The JJ Abrams / Kathleen Kennedy Star Wars Sequel Trilogy was not to my liking. I didn't find it a let down the way so many others did; I just didn't find it all that engaging as it really brought nothing new to the entirety of the franchise. As Star Trek showrunner Rick Berman had said in an interview previously against managing that enterprise, there's always a risk of going too many times back to the well ... and I think that The Force Awakens, The Last Jedi, and The Rise Of Skywalker pretty much found that well dry for all intents and purposes.
Still, kudos on the casting of the fabulous Domhnall Gleeson (a name I've butchered I don't know how many times in typing). His 'General Hux' kinda/sorta interested me as it looked like he was going to become a kinda/sorta young version of Grand Moff Tarkin in the saga's early days; while I liked what they did with him in The Last Jedi, the character was utterly wasted in The Rise Of Skywalker to the point of being irrelevant to the entire trilogy ... a risk to anyone appearing in a JJ Abrams' production.
The actor had already been on SciFiHistory.Net's radar with exceptional work in Dredd (2012) -- a much-needed makeover to a possible franchise previously killed-in-its-tracks by Sylvester Stallone -- and Ex Machina (2014) -- a somewhat predictable but still interesting exploration of Artificial Intelligence. I'm aware that he's pretty much steered into the territory of more conventional dramas and comedies as of late, but let's hope this talented thespian isn't done with SciFi.
So ... in a nutshell ... there are today's 3 Top Reasons to #CelebrateSciFi today! Let's get it trending!
--EZ
Still, kudos on the casting of the fabulous Domhnall Gleeson (a name I've butchered I don't know how many times in typing). His 'General Hux' kinda/sorta interested me as it looked like he was going to become a kinda/sorta young version of Grand Moff Tarkin in the saga's early days; while I liked what they did with him in The Last Jedi, the character was utterly wasted in The Rise Of Skywalker to the point of being irrelevant to the entire trilogy ... a risk to anyone appearing in a JJ Abrams' production.
The actor had already been on SciFiHistory.Net's radar with exceptional work in Dredd (2012) -- a much-needed makeover to a possible franchise previously killed-in-its-tracks by Sylvester Stallone -- and Ex Machina (2014) -- a somewhat predictable but still interesting exploration of Artificial Intelligence. I'm aware that he's pretty much steered into the territory of more conventional dramas and comedies as of late, but let's hope this talented thespian isn't done with SciFi.
So ... in a nutshell ... there are today's 3 Top Reasons to #CelebrateSciFi today! Let's get it trending!
--EZ
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