SCIFI MAFIA TV DIGEST: FALL 2009 EDITION


This fall brings a whole host of television shows, renewed as well as brand new, to you at home this season.  Here’s a breakdown for to set your DVR by with show descriptions, trailers, and U.S. premiere dates. (Organized in alphabetical order)

SHOW/  PREMIERE DATE/  NETWORK/   TIME

Big Bang Theory–  September 21, Monday on CBS at 9:30/8:30C

Dollhouse –  September 25, Friday on FOX at 9/8C

Eastwick – September 23, Wednesday on ABC   at 10/9C

FlashForward – September 24, Thursday on ABC at 8/7C

Fringe –  September 17, Thursday on FOX at 9/8C

Heroes (2hr premiere) Sept. 21, Monday on NBC at 8/7C

Sanctuary– October 9, Friday on SYFY at 10/9C

Smallville –  September 25, Friday on CW at 8/7C

Stargate: Universe (2 hr pilot) Oct. 2, Friday on SYFY at 9/8C

Starwars: Clone Wars (2 hr premiere)  Oct. 2, Friday  Cartoon Network   8/7C

Supernatural –  September 10, Thursday on CW at 10/9C

V –  November 3, Tuesday on ABC at 8/7C

Vampire Diaries –  September 10, Thursday on CW at 8/7C

Venture Bros – November ? (stay tuned for date and time) Adult Swim

Can’t remember what happened last season or don’t recall what this new show is about? Read on for short summaries:

Big Bang Theory

Show website: http://www.cbs.com/primetime/big_bang_theory/

At the end of season two, we last saw our geeks at the North Pole on a research expedition.  I wonder how intolerable Sheldon is at subzero temperature?  All I know is that it has got to be hilarious!

Dollhouse

Tagline: Anyone can happen.

Show website: www.fox.com/dollhouse

As Whedon fans prepared themselves for yet another “Save [insert Whedon show name here]” campaign, a huge sigh of relief was heard all around the globe as Fox renewed “Dollhouse” for a second season.  This season begins with Paul Ballard, played by Tahmoh Penikett, finally in the Dollhouse, an underground (literally) facility that offers any type of service to meet their clients’ needs by imprinting custom-made personalities onto ‘dolls’.  Paul finds himself as Echo’s (the missing girl that motivated him to seek out the Dollhouse, played by Eliza Dushku) new handler.  Had Alpha’s treatment to Echo changed her permanently?  What exactly is the connection between Echo and Paul?  How will this season lead to the fate seen in the lost ep, “Epitaph One”?

Look forward to other Whedon-alum as well as Battlestar-alum this coming season- Summer Glau, Alexis Denisof, Jamie Bamber, and Michael Hogan.  Keith Carradine also guest stars.

And to catch you up on “Dollhouse” if you’re not familiar with it:

Eastwick (new series)

Show website: http://beta.abc.go.com/shows/eastwick

Be careful what you wish for… This new show is based on John Updike’s book and movie, “The Witches of Eastwick”, starring Rebecca Romijn as Roxie Torcoletti, Lindsay Price as Joanna Frankel, Jamie Ray Newman (Tess Fontana on Eureka) as Kat Gardener, and Paul Gross as Darryl Van Horne.

Flash Forward (new series)

Tagline: Can you change fate?

Show website: http://abc.go.com/shows/flash-forward

What would you do if you saw a glimpse of your own future?  The whole world blacks out and experiences this phenomenon of themselves about six months into the future simultaneously for two minutes and 17 seconds.  How would seeing your own future or lack thereof affect your decisions?

Fringe

Tagline: New cases, endless possibilities.

Show website: http://www.fox.com/fringe

The twin towers still stand… when… or where are we?  Olivia returns from an alternate universe after meeting Spock, er… I mean William Bell, played by Leonard Nimoy.  She is on a mission to save the world.  And after Walter revealed a curious headstone at the close of the end of the first season, what does that mean for Peter Bishop? Or should we start calling him alt-Peter?  Also, Luke Goss (Prince Nuada in Hellboy II) will be guest starring in this season opener.

Heroes

Show website: http://www.nbc.com/Heroes/

Season four continues with the heroes and villains (who is on what side again?).  The show goes by way of the carnies, Claire goes to college, and Sylar is trapped inside Parkman’s head.  Ray Park and Robert Knepper joins the cast this season so maybe “Heroes” will find redemption and capture our interest again?

Sanctuary

Show’s website: www.syfy.com/sanctuary/

This green-screened wonder of a show is back for its second season with more monster hunting with Amanda Tapping’s Dr. Helen Magnus, a scientist and protector of ‘abnormals’.  Almost the entire show is show on green-screen and replaced with a realistic and atmospheric computer-generated background.  It is really marvelous to see this kind of technology every week.

Check out this clip of how the green screen effects weave the background of the show.

Smallville

Show website: http://www.cwtv.com/shows/smallville

The boy becomes the man,… becomes the legend.  Season nine begins with Clark is shedding his human side, but before he can begin training with Jor-El, he must severe all ties with Lois.  Lois returns after vanishing for weeks, but has no recollection of what happened.  Zod, played by Callum Blue, returns.  Brian Austin Green guest stars as a reporter for the Daily Planet… or is he more than that?

Here’s a primer to catch up to season 9:

[Source] Kryptonsite

Stargate: Universe (new series)

Tagline: The only mission is survival.

Show’s website: www.Syfy.com/StargateUniverse

This new SYFY series in the Stargate franchise will be different from the previous two television series spin-offs.  This one is darker- think Battlestar-esque sort of dark.  The crew is lost on the other side of the universe with no clear idea of where they are and where exactly home is, but still the series promises to strap you in the awe of exploring new worlds on their way home with from the looks of the trailer, a side of sexy spacecapades.  The pilot is a special two hour ep to kick off the series.

Star Wars: Clone Wars- Rise of the Bounty Hunters

Show website: http://www.starwars.com/theclonewars/

Season two of this animated series kicks off with a one hour season premiere.  This trailer makes the series look even more cinematic than ever!

The ruthless bounty hunter Cad Bane infiltrates the Jedi Temple and attempts to steal the Order’s most guarded secret. It’s up to Anakin and Ahsoka to stop Bane before he can use the secret to bring an end to the Jedi forever.

[Source] Wikipedia

Supernatural

Show website: http://www.cwtv.com/shows/supernatural

The end is here.  It’s apocalypse now. The Winchester brothers have unleashed Lucifer on earth and there will likely be a showdown between Sam and Dean this season.  Will this be the final season of this series?

V (new series)

Show website: http://beta.abc.go.com/shows/v

How can aliens be bad if they are as gorgeous as Morena Baccarin? This is a reboot of the 80’s original series in which technologically superior aliens come to earth in the guise of benevolence, but what are they really up to?  This show promises to tackle themes of faith and morality.  We’ll see if they deliver!

Show also stars Elizabeth Mitchell of “Lost”, Joel Gretsch of “The 4400”, and Scott Wolf of “Party of Five”.

Vampire Diaries (new series)

Tagline: Love bites.

Show website: http://www.cwtv.com/shows/the-vampire-diaries

Based on yet another young adult series about teens and vampires in love, the CW brings this Twilight-esque show to the weekly masses.  I don’t believe that these vampires glitter, but the bad boy sure sparks my interest!

Venture Brothers

Show’s website: http://www.adultswim.com/shows/venturebros/index.html

The hilarity of Venture Bros speaks for itself. Check out the trailer for season four.


Lillian 'zenbitch' Standefer
Written by Lillian 'zenbitch' Standefer

is Senior Managing Editor for SciFi Mafia.com, skips along between the lines of sci-fi, fantasy, and reality, and is living proof that geek girls really DO exist!