the phantom

I have to admit that when I initially heard that Abby's character would be crossing over from NCIS to NCIS: Los Angeles, my reaction was meh. What could they possibly do that would make the transfer of the ultimate forensics goth geek from the cozy confines of her lab in D.C. to the high-tech, touch screen caravan in L.A. compelling?

Well, I tip my cap to Speed Weed (that has to be an alias!) for writing the episode, "Random On Purpose," which struck me as one of the best examples that NCIS: Los Angeles is coming together pretty nicely. I could definitely see now how this show is evolving. More on that and the rest of the episode (including spoilers -- be warned -- after the jump).

Earlier this year we told you about the new version of The Phantom that Syfy (back then it was still called Sci-Fi - remember that?) was making, and now we have our first sneak peek of the miniseries, with Ryan Carnes as the title hero.

I interviewed Bruce Campbell several years ago, and he told me that he auditioned for the role that eventually went to Billy Zane in the 90s version. What a different movie that would have been.

[via io9.com]

Sci Fi (or SyFy, whenever that changeover is taking place) has cast some of its upcoming projects. Battlestar Galactica and Dollhouse's Tahmoh Penikett and Smallville's Laura Vandevoort has been cast in Riverworld and Desperate Housewive's Ryan Carnes has been cast as the lead character in The Phantom.

This is either a sign that Dollhouse is destined for only one season or Tahmoh Penikett's character of Paul Ballard is not going to survive beyond the first season. I'm hoping it is more of the latter than the former.

The Sci Fi Channel (or whatever its calling itself nowadays) is trying to repeat the success of the Battlestar Galactica relaunch with a few new versions of old fantasies. The new shows will be revamps of The Phantom, Philip Jose Farmer's Riverworld and Alice in Wonderland.

The Phantom sounds like standard superhero fare and unless someone utterly spectacular is behind it, I see it as another Flash Gordon. I could only sit through the first ten minutes of the first episode of that fiasco.