'Bioshock,' which became one of last year's biggest console games, is making the expected move to the big screen with Gore Verbinski on board to direct, according to Variety || The last two seasons of 'Lost' will now be 17 hours each instead of 16 hours to make p for time lost because of the Writers Guild of America strike, says The Hollywood Reporter || Common, a rap artist, has decided to take a turn to acting and has been granted a role on 'Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins,' according to Variety || For the first time, SciFi Channel will rerun episodes of the 1987-94 series 'Star Trek: The Next Generation,' joining 'Charmed' and 'Mork & Mindy' on the cable outlet, Variety reports || 'Star Trek: The Experience' may be running out of steam. Cedar Fair, which owns the Las Vegas attraction, says there are no plans to renew its contract with CBS Corp., which could close the event next year, TrekToday reports || 'Bioshock,' which became one of last year's biggest console games, is making the expected move to the big screen with Gore Verbinski on board to direct, according to Variety || The last two seasons of 'Lost' will now be 17 hours each instead of 16 hours to make p for time lost because of the Writers Guild of America strike, says The Hollywood Reporter || Common, a rap artist, has decided to take a turn to acting and has been granted a role on 'Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins,' according to Variety || For the first time, SciFi Channel will rerun episodes of the 1987-94 series 'Star Trek: The Next Generation,' joining 'Charmed' and 'Mork & Mindy' on the cable outlet, Variety reports || 'Star Trek: The Experience' may be running out of steam. Cedar Fair, which owns the Las Vegas attraction, says there are no plans to renew its contract with CBS Corp., which could close the event next year, TrekToday reports ||

'Masters Of Science Fiction' Not Backed By Network

ABC exec claims ‘it’s been problematic’

By ROBIN BROWNFIELD
Source: SciFi Wire
Jul-27-2007

"Masters of Science Fiction," an anthology series of genre stories by notable writers and directors, premieres Aug. 4, but ABC Entertainment president Stephen McPherson has characterized the show that has been shelved for more than a year as "very uneven" and "a little bit problematic."

Narrated by Cambridge University physicist Stephen Hawking, the series tells classic sci-fi tales from writers like Robert A. Heinlein, Howard Fast and Harlan Ellison, and will include directors such as Michael Tolkin, Mark Rydell and Jonathan Frakes, as well as actors Terry O'Quinn, Judy Davis, Sam Waterston, John Hurt, Anne Heche and Malcolm McDowell.

"It was a low-cost initiative that we tried," McPherson told reporters during the recent Television Critics Association press tour, courtesy of SciFi Wire. "We did this series of movies to see if there was a way to spark something different at a really low cost point."

Noting that many networks are going heavy on science-fiction programming, McPherson said that there is a vast universe between space-faring sci-fi, and those more grounded in reality.

"I think there's a difference between real hardcore sci-fi, with 'Battlestar Galactica' and 'Heroes,' as opposed to 'Lost' or 'Pushing Daisies,' which I think have elements and have magical realism and things that I think that people debate whether they're science fiction or not," he said. "Some of the nets I think have gone heavily sci-fi. It will be interesting to see how they perform."

"Masters of Science Fiction" will air Fridays through Aug. 25 at 10 p.m. ET on ABC.

VOTE NOW! The polls are open for the 2007 SyFy Genre Awards! Cast your ballot now!

Talk about this story