NPR: Let There Be Bike Shorts: A Profile In Comics-Geek Courage

Amusing: The Supergirl Shorts Story.

Over at Darth Mojo’s: bsg vfx: anatomy of an (ancient) cylon.

Via TV Squad: Fox proves its (lack of) faith in Ron Moore

Originally, it was slated for July 4th, but now Fox has moved the pilot for Ron Moore’s new virtual reality series Virtuality into its Friday Night Death Slot on June 26th.

I will admit, the show’s premise (which deals with a deep space mission and a malfunctioning virtual reality system) doesn’t sound too promising, but one never knows for sure. What I don’t get is getting Moore to do a show fresh off the success of BSG and then effectively giving it no chance.

I will confess that the 6/26 slot might actually be a tad better than the 7/4 one. The night of July 4th can’t be a good time to attract viewers, what with Fireworks, cook-outs and the like.

Via Airlock Alpha: David Tennant To Finish ‘Doctor Who’ Run On BBCA | Airlock Alpha

In past years, that bidding war has gone by way of SciFi Channel, which has already aired the first four seasons. This time, BBCA was in the driver’s seat, and is expected to air the most recent Christmas special, “The Next Doctor,” June 27 at 9 p.m. ET, with the Easter special, “Planet of the Dead,” planned for July.

I guess I will have to reactivate that tier of cable…

I have still not seen any word on when/where the next series of the Sarah Jane Adventures will air in the US.

Darth Mojo has some info from a Q&A with the Star Trek’s writers: Trek scribes speak, complaints addressed.

Via Box Office Mojo:Friday Report: ‘Angels & Demons’ Unravels, ‘Star Trek’ Survives

Star Trek notched an estimated $11.9 million for its second Friday, and its tally climbed to $116.5 million in eight days. That makes it the highest-grossing Star Trek movie, surpassing Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home’s $109.7 million. Taking into account the estimated numbers of tickets sold, though, it ranks eighth, topping Star Trek: Insurrection, and is on the verge of eclipsing Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country and Star Trek: Generations by the close of the weekend.

While Star Trek’s 56 percent Friday-to-Friday drop was steep, it was actually a smaller dip than Iron Man, which was off 58 percent to $14.9 million on its second Friday. If Star Trek plays out like Iron Man and comparable titles, its second weekend will land close to $40 million.

It would seem that JJ Abrams was able to do what needed to be done: reincarnate the franchise as a summer blockbuster-maker that will likely be with us for a while.

How long before Paramount decides a new TV show is needed, I wonder?

Via MTV Movie News:‘Star Trek’ Director Open To Sequel With Shatner

It seems to me thats

1) the time for time-travelin’ older characters came and went with the first new film. I am ready to see an entire movie with the new cast in place from start to finish without sidetracking scene with the Shat, much as I would love to see him as Kirk again.

and

2) While I look forward to some re-examination of stuff from TOS, don’t do Khan if anything because STII was about as perfect a movie as one could expect and there is not need to go back to that well again. Somehow Space Seed does not strike me a feature-film length tale in any event.

Via TV Squad: Peter Dinklage starring in HBO fantasy pilot.

Via io9: Star Trek Boldly Resurrects Franchise.

Via Reuters: “Star Trek” launched to robust advance screenings

The big-screen return of “Star Trek” launched into warp drive as it grossed an estimated $7 million from advance screenings in North American theaters, Daily Variety reported on Friday.

That tally, generated from Thursday night showings in most of the 3,800-plus U.S. and Canadian theaters where the film officially opens on Friday, puts “Star Trek” on track to rival or exceed the $85 million debut of the comic book adventure “X-Men Origins: Wolverine last weekend.