Cripes, just now casting? I was hoping this would be hitting in the Spring. Are we looking for Fall at least? I've got high hopes for the series, even if it's "procedural" as they say. Could still have some good ongoing plots, probably a little like Farscape.

Fall of 2011 seems plausible for the pilot to air. I somehow doubt it though and am thinking the pilot will air early next year.

I have no problem with a show being procedural (ie stand alone stories) as long as the stories and characters are interesting. After all, I'm sure a lot of us here are fans of the Star Trek series which all had predominantly stand alone episodes.

They can shoot it in June and have it ready for October (which seems to be when SyFy likes to toss new stuff up).

Or, they can shoot it in June, have it ready for October, release it on DVD in April 2012, then decide to greenlight the series and start producing later that year, for us to see the pilot in just 2 years from now! That's the SFC we all know.



The Jedi Master

LOL! God I hope that doesn't happen. **sigh**

...only to discover they cancelled the show one week before the pilot airs...

That's what happened to the Babylon 5 spinoff show "Crusade".

Well this sucks. I dont know if Nico Cortez wasn't available but if he was, they should have stuck with him.

http://insidetv.ew.com/2011/01/26/battlestar-galactica-blood-chorme-cast/

Hmmm... well, I guess we will see how it plays out. But initially, I am not happy about it.

Yeah, well, they seem to be pretty good at casting, so maybe will turn out OK. I thought Nico was great though.

This guy is probably more age appropriate due to being right out of the Academy, but still, I don't like seeing kids on these shows.
The other guy has a lot of small roles in sci fi all over the place. Maybe this will be his big break, he'll probably make the most of it.

Absolutely. I am most eager and anxious to see the 2 hour pilot.

**fingers crossed**

If most of the other characters are older, it can work. By having characters that are the parents or uncles or grandparents of BSG characters or children or cousins or whatever of Caprica characters, they can build is some continuity.



The Jedi Master

Urgh, but there's nothing worse than forced continuity. Look at the awful, awful mess Lucas generated with 3P0 and R2D2 in the Starwars Prequels (and lets not mention Chewbacca; why, why were you so defiled).

Nothing wrong with a new cast of characters, the franchise is more than strong enough.

R2 was fine, he had to come from somewhere and Naboo was as good as any, but the 3PO-Anakin link was definitely over the top.

Again, it has to be done right. For instance, Cain's father could be a captain or admiral.



The Jedi Master

While I'm happy that Blood & Chrome is being made it still makes me a bit disappointed that not enough people tuned in to Caprica. I guess Caprica didn't have enough big BOOMS and EXPLOSIONS for them.

Agreed.

But I am not worried about these guys screwing up like Lucas. The only major misstep I think they made with BSG was "The Plan" which was awful. But CAPRICA, even though it started out slow, was handled very well at the end. So, I am optimistic.

I dont want to seem like a BSG fanboi but I saw nothing wrong with "The Plan". However, I do know a lot of BSG fans didn't like it. One major complaint seems to be how the new footage from "The Plan" was mixed in with stock footage from previous episodes.

Some better info,

http://airlockalpha.com/node/8219/brit-actor-takes-on-adama-in-blood-chrome.html

What is with this new spelling of "fanboy?"

And the entire pulling back the curtain of the cylon "plan" showed that it should have been called "the on the fly plan based on the failure of the initial plan."

Stupid. You don't deconstruct 4-seasons of what seemed like a well organized cylon enemy by retconning their entire war waging paradigm. Plus, the movie wasn't even well executed. Most of the actors seemed to be mailing it in, outside of Michael Trucco.

You forgot about Dean Stockwell. There is no WAY he was phoning it in. He did an outstanding job as always.

I agree. I didn't like it, for me it's in the same unnecessary post-series hangover category as that Six/Baltar Angel New York scene which I could live without seeing ever again.

Razor I enjoyed.

I'm interested to see whether the colonies (especially Tauron, post-Caprica) get more of a look-in in BSG:B&C.

Cheers, Spinner

Razor was utterly outstanding in every way but that has a lot to do with me being amazed by Michelle Forbes in her portrayal of Admiral Helena Cain.

Did they ever go into detail about what happened at the other colonies? We know all about Caprica, but not the others. I assume they were all attacked similarly and the fleet ships probably came from them, seems like they mentioned that from the mini series, but I wish they had shown them.

Not much at all. I recall a couple of episodes from early season 2 when Starbuck is on Caprica and Sam Anders mentions something about how there were very small resistance movements on the other colonies but that they weren't making much headway. So what I infer from that is that probably a few hundred thousand humans survived from each colony but they were eventually killed by the cylons or they died from starvation, radiation exposure and other causes.

Which is a good reason to be hopeful with casting on B&C. I remember hearing about her being cast as Cain and thinking no way, too young, etc, but she was great. Of course it was a new (reimagined) character being established. Adama we know really well already via EJO, so if who they cast just "feels wrong" then they are in trouble.

I must admit the guy being a Brit seems odd considering it was already established he looked Hispanic and that lots of Taurons did as well.
My guess is this was fueled by his age being right, a good audition, and the fact that he's a nobody making him cheap to hire!



The Jedi Master

Emphasis on the third point.

Well Jamie Bamber is about as British as you can get so I suppose it keeps it in the Adama family!

Brit but he's got Italian parents, so he definitely looks like a Tauron.

I will reserve all judgement on this new young actor until I see the 2 hour pilot. It does worry me a bit that Ron Moore isn't really involved in the production of the pilot. At least David Eick and most of the writers from BSG are still involved though.

Interestingly enough I've just discovered via the wonders of the interwebs that Jamie Bamber is married to Kerry Norton, who plays medic Layne Ishay on Battlestar.

They appeared together in several episodes, and she even saved his father at the start of season 2. Aww.

I wonder what she thought of porky Lee around the time of Exodus I & II. Anyone else think the makeup team went slightly overboard with the fat-suit there?

Hehe, I don't know if you've listened to the Ron Moore episode podcasts but there's a great story behind the "Fat Lee" era. Apparently the writers thought it would be a great idea to show Lee gaining weight during the year of peace that they had on New Caprica as a symbol of him getting soft and complacent but then later on they had no idea where to go with it after Exodus hence his really sudden weight loss an episode or two later.

I watched the end of the Fat Apollo era just last night. I love it when he goes to his dad's office.
"gotta date with a jump rope, I've dropped half a stone."
Adama says
"keep jumping"

LOL

I get the idea behind Fat Aollo, but it was a bad choice, just not believable.
I liked the Exodus pt 2 ep though, really good.

Ishay never got a big role in an ep, she was always sort of the Nurse Ogawa on TNG.



The Jedi Master

A few times I've popped the dvd in my bluray player to just watch the amazing space battle in Exodus Part 2. When I see those first shots from the Pegasus come from off screen I get chills every time.

Exodus Part 2 was nominated for a best directing, writing, and sound editing Emmy and won for best special effects.

It is still one of those episodes that gives me chills (as well as the season 3 finale).

It's hard to pick among all of the excellent season finales of BSG but I'd say that the S3 finale is my favorite. Just so many things going on with that one. 4 of the Final 5 revealed, Starbuck back, Baltar innocent, etc.

That two-part season 3 finale is still my favorite episode(s?) of the series.

It is followed closely by the Cain arc. The whole montage of the two battlestars getting ready for the fight with both captains ordering the execution of the other is some of the most brilliant writing and editing I have ever seen.

Commander Adama: After the attack is completed, and you've accounted for your pilots, I want you to land your bird on the Pegasus to report directly to CIC. You'll take Lee with you; he'll watch your back.
Admiral Cain: Position marines in key areas throughout the ship, and keep a squad posted just outside CIC.
Commander Adama: There'll be the normal chaos and emotional high after the attack.
Admiral Cain: They'll be slapping each other on the back, celebrating the victory.
Commander Adama: That'll keep their guard down.
Admiral Cain: Security will be lax.
Commander Adama: I will ask for you over the wireless.
Admiral Cain: I will call you directly, and when I have you on the line, and you hear me give the command "Execute Case Orange",
Commander Adama: When you hear me say "Downfall",
Admiral Cain: You are to signal the Marines to terminate Adama's command. Starting with Adama.
Commander Adama: I want you to pull out your weapon ... and shoot Admiral Cain in the head.

GOOSEBUMPS!!!!

And then, as that incredible music is playing.... the two executioners pass each other while going on to their respective tasks, having no idea that they are both on similar but opposing missions.

Colonel Fisk: Good hunting, captain!
Captain Thrace: You too, colonel!

Graham Beckel did a fantastic job as Colonel Fisk. He seems to be a quite down to Earth guy too from the few FB conversations I've had with him.

I love the scene with him and Tighe where he's telling him the execution story, and then just starts laughing pretending it was a joke.

Yup. Too bad we only got two of those scenes with Tigh and Fisk as the fellow XO drinking buddies. They definitely worked extremely well off each other.

They did away with Fisk too quickly... sigh. And in such a horrible episode.

If I had been running BSG instead of Ron Moore, what I would have done is kept Fisk around until the "Captain's Hand" episode and have him sacrifice himself for the crew of the Pegasus and hence redeem himself. The Garner character was pretty bland and annoying.

I didn't like "The Captain's Hand". I know most people do, it just did nothing for me, and didn't like or buy into the Garner character.

Did you at least like the final scene in the episode when Lee was promoted by his dad to command the Pegasus? That was a great moment from the series IMHO.

Ditto! It really put you in Tigh's place. You didn't really know if it was true since it was so outlandish, but who would make that up?
I liked that character too, the "black market" episode was a disappointment, although the outcome made some sense. Out of place after the steady ongoing series of events preceding that episode.

Yeah, I liked that part, just not that fond of the episode as a whole.

If you haven't done it already, listen to the most epic Ronald D. Moore podcast ever... the commentary for Black Market, where he trashes the episode for 43 minutes.

http://media.syfy.com/battlestar/downloads/podcast/mp3/214/bsg_ep214_FULL.mp3

Hell, listen to ALL the episode podcasts... seriously, it is some of the best stuff you will ever hear from a show runner (and sometimes his wife... and the cats).

He only did a few episodes at the end of season 1 but he did ones for pretty much the rest of the series (including Razor, and the writers meeting which is a must listen for anyone interested in understanding the whole process the writers room goes through).

http://www.syfy.com/battlestar/downloads/podcast.php?seas=1

I have enjoyed his podcasts immensely and I appreciate how frank he is. It gets tiring listening to so many commentaries that are basically a "pat on the back" fest and everyone is thanked for doing a perfect job and not a single critical comment is made. The worst offenders that I can think of are the commentaries for the Star Wars prequels. Rick McCallum FTW! LOL

I haven't listened to Ron's writer's retreat podcast though. I'll definitely check it out.

I can safely say I will never listen to Rick McCallum's commentaries. However I wasn't aware these Ron Moore podcasts were available, thanks guys - I'll probably have to watch "Black Market" now to marry the words and the pictures!

The podcasts are great, some very entertaining, when the guy blowing leaves has to start when he starts the podcast, or the garbage truck comes by.

I so miss friday nights and a new episode, I really looked forward to those, and a good scotch to go with.

Sigh... memories.

My only minor disappointment is that a precious few of the commentaries and podcasts had cast members on them. One of the podcasts for "Unfinished Business" had Tamoh Penikett and Grace Park and EJO did the commentary for one episode plus The Plan. Oh right, and Mark Sheppard was on the podcast for the final three episodes of season 3 that he was in.

See, I am a jaded Hollywood professional now... so, I find actor commentaries mostly a waste of my time.

They are not the show creators. To borrow a quote "You are a movie star! Nothing more!"

I think it's nice to get the actor's perspective once in a while. They'll often talk about things that a director or producer won't ever bring up. Mark Sheppard was great in his podcasts.

It depends on how extensive the actor's role was in the episode. I would love to here Mark Sheppard's commentary on "The Son Also Rises".

You eventually will on the bluray set! I believe that commentary has Sheppard and the writer of the episode who I think was Michael Taylor.

Awesome!

Brian Markinson, aka "Agent Durham", is going to play Silas Nash, Galactica's first commander. (At least that's the rumor).

I hope that turns out to be true. He's a very good actor and he was excellent in Caprica.

I like.

Latest updates on Blood & Chrome,

http://comingsoon.net/news/tvnews.php?id=74076

Partial cast list already established!

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1704292/

So they'll be bringing back Agent Duram and Tomas Virgis from Caprica!

Since they're not playing the same or even related characters, I'm not sure it can be called "bringing back."



The Jedi Master

I was speaking metaphorically. I felt referring to them by their former Caprica character names instead of the real actor names would be more catchy.

Just get on with it already!

B&C is already in production in Vancouver. Let's hope it has a Summer airing.

GET ON WITH IT!

Summer 2012, yes.




The Jedi Master