We're of one mind on this issue. No grudge against Daniel Craig, but I do wish the studio had kept Brosnan for another movie or two.

From my friend Sarah:

Just got done with the Jamie Bamber interview; he is very nice, well-spoken and thoughtful. The English accent didn't hurt, either :)

I couldn't get too much scoop about Season 3, except that [spoilers]

I asked him about his sex symbol status (and mentioned the arm fixation :); I'll post his response when I get the interview transcribed!

Oh, that reminds me, there's a fun article about Jamie Bamber and the queering of sci-fi TV in the latest issue of Out magazine. From the article, it didn't seem like BSG has really done a lot to make sci-fi more queer (I've only seen the very beginning of season 1 so can't comment on that myself); it was basically an excuse to take pictures of Jamie Bamber looking lickable, but I've got no complaints with that! The article did mention Captain Jack (of Doctor Who and Torchwood fame), which got a cheer from me.

Whoo hoo! A friend of mine (a fellow Dr. Who geek) just e-mailed me this:

From Outpost Gallifrey:

Series Two of the new Doctor Who series starring David Tennant and Billie Piper will, by all indication, see its US debut on September 29 on the Sci Fi Channel, along with Series One repeats earlier in the day. The news hasn't officially been confirmed by the channel; however, an NBC/Universal release (in PDF form) for Sci Fi shows that Doctor Who returns to the schedule on the evening starting at 9pm four episodes, the first two of which are marked "new" (and "repeat" at 11pm and 12am, the usual pattern for a premiere night). Outpost Gallifrey was, in fact, told that the series was "almost certain" to return "this October" recently, although no information was forthcoming until this release. Sci Fi's schedulebot does show four episodes broadcast that evening; in late September, there is almost no likelihood of a Friday night airing of reruns.

Will "The Christmas Invasion" be included? Says Benjamin Elliott of "This Week in Doctor Who," "The Christmas Invasion is 59 minutes long without commercials, so it would either have to be a) skipped and shown later or b) have 15 1/2 minutes chopped out of it to fit SciFi's schedule as currently displayed. It does have an extended trailer for Series 2 that could be cut and the credits will always get squeezed, but that still leaves 13 minutes unaccounted for. SciFi has always felt willing to change their schedule at a moment's notice, so things can always change. They could air Christmas Invasion complete and have filler to finish the 2 hours. But for now, we must assume one of the following 2 scenarios: 9pm Christmas Invasion and 10pm New Earth, or 9pm New Earth and 10pm Tooth and Claw. The Christmas Invasion isn't required to enjoy Series 2, but some references (notably at the end of the series) make more sense if you see it, and as David Tennant's debut story it help s establish the kind of Doctor he is." Also noted is the fact that the Daytime marathon on September 29 on the Sci Fi Channel is the last 8 episodes of Series 1, which makes sense to lead into the new episodes.

We'll bring you official word from Sci Fi as soon as it's official, but this matches everything we've been told about Sci Fi's positive reaction to the first series ratings in the spring and the desire to bring the show back with new episodes by the end of 2006.

Update 6 August: Outpost Gallifrey has heard from our contacts that this is indeed Series Two and that it debuts with the two-hour block on 29 September because the third season of "Battlestar Galactica" debuts the following week with a two-hour episode block. Doctor Who and Galactica will air at 9pm and 10pm, respectively, with another series airing at 8pm throughout October and November, with a short break for the Christmas holidays. Our source also believes that "The Christmas Invasion " is being held back in this first block, and will instead be aired as a special in December. More details soon.

(Oooh, Billie Piper on "The Taming of the Shrew" - Shakespeare Re-Told!)

Actually, she played Hero from Much Ado About Nothing, and a Hero-with-a-backbone at that!

Billie was in both Re-Tolds - Shrew and Much Ado. Shrew was this past year, Much Ado a year or two before that.

I see! They've only shown Much Ado so far--next week is Macbeth, which I'm hoping to enjoy.

Just got to see Before I Forget and I loved it better than the pilot. Carter makes a wonderful Linchpin of Common Sense for the whole town.

Loved the Jo/Carter hand slapping thing when she was looking for the camera. They have a great dynamic going on.

They've only shown Much Ado so far

Ah, darn it, I've checked and I got my old authors muddled up. Sorry, my bad. She was in Much Ado and Chaucer Re-Told, The Miller's Tale. That was the role which got her a lot of public notice and acclaim after having disappeared off people's radars for a while.

Doctor Who and Galactica will air at 9pm and 10pm, respectively, with another series airing at 8pm throughout October and November, with a short break for the Christmas holidays.

On Fridays? So do SG-1 & SGA get preempted until 2007, or do they move to a different night? I'm confused. How did they all air last year?

ChUD interviews EJO There is one VERY spoiler question and answer in the interview, so I removed it and reposted below:

CHUD:

Q: Talking to the cast of Splinter, one thing that keeps coming up is that while the film is a thriller and it needs to be exciting, the movie has reality to it. It seems to be the same thing with Battlestar – sure it’s sci fi, but it’s addressing political issues. How important is that to you in your work?

Olmos: It makes all the difference in the world when you have this passion for what you’re doing. You’ve got to have a strong sense of understanding of that. It affects everything. Intent equals content – the intention with which you’re doing something comes out in the content. Everytime. If your intention is to make money, you see it like that in the art. If your intention is to become rich and famous you can see the intention in the choices the person is making and where they’re going. There’s no hiding a commercial artist when you see one. I’ve never been able to do that – and I’ve made commercial pieces of work. They all had the sense of understanding humanity in a way that allowed you to go to the movie and come out understanding a little bit about yourself. That’s what it’s all about.

Q: Do you think the reality is important to the audience as well?

Olmos: Did you see American Me? That’s an ugly movie; nobody should be exposed to that. What the hell do you want to go for two hours and watch that life? Better you should go to The Godfather – at least that’s romantic and you come out humming the theme song.

Q: Life is ugly sometimes.

Olmos: It is. And that’s exactly what [Splinter] is.

Spoilery question and answer removed.

Q: Are you surprised that the show can be that dark and that brutal and yet be so popular?

Olmos: Yeah! Yeah! I’m totally blown away. We won the Peabody, man! Give me a fucking break. How in the world does that add up? Where does that line cross? How does that happen? I get chills. I’ve been doing this for 41 years, man, and Battlestar Galactica wins the Peabody? I’m the fucking guy that did Stand and Deliver! I’m the guy that did The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez. I have used the television medium to the best of my abilities and done stuff that will be lasting forever in the annals of the artform – and Battlestar Galactica gets the Peabody.

Q: How long do you see the show going on for?

Olmos: We’ve been talking about it. It’s hard to write this. These guys are always on the verge of a nervous breakdown because they can’t go in for the flash and the simple, basic sci fi mode. If they do that, they’ll crush everyone.

Q: Everybody expects more.

Olmos: Oh man, they do. And they’re waiting, and they’re anxious. And you know what? I’ll give you my attention, and you are the best show. Now what are you going to do this time? People are dying to turn on the television and see this piece of work. It’s unbelievable. I don’t know what to say about it. I’m blown away.

Q: Adama has to make tough decisions, has to do things that cross the line or could be considered troubling – how important is it that you agree with him, or understand where he’s coming from?

Olmos: As a human being? Me, as an actor? I never get into that kind of psychology. When you’re inside that world, everything is the end of all humankind. Every single day, every single time. We did last week – it was the darkest week I have ever spent in film, ever, in which I am literally going to annihilate, push all the nuclear weapons I have on the ship to annihilate everything. The Cylons, us, everything. It’s all over guys! I have my finger on the button, man! And it’s so brutal. It’s just so brutal what happens, man.

Q: How do you decompress from that?

Olmos: It’s hard. You come home from work worn out. The whole day you spent in this vicious, vicious world that’s self-destructive. I’m in constant conflict with everybody – my son, Tigh, the relationship between me and everybody. It’s tremendously (continued...)