STARSHIP FARRAGUT: THE ANIMATED EPISODES

I was a fan of Star Trek: The Animated Series, which was produced by Filmation in association with Paramount Television and ran for two seasons from 1973 to 1974 on NBC, airing a total of twenty-two half-hour episodes.

I'm also a fan of the many Star Trek fan films made over the last decade or so. I just discovered a new Star Trek fan film that is animated and it looks like a real labor of love.

NEO f/x (in association with Farragut Films) has released two  episodes of Starship Farragut: The Animated Episodes. They are based on the original Star Trek animated series and they have the same look and feel of the original animated series from the 70's.

Here is a synopsis of the first episode:

The Needs of the Many - Stardate 6047.1: The Farragut takes on a special visitor as they return to Cestus III, the site where Kirk and the Gorn fought on stardate 3045.6. As fate would have it, Carter and crew encounter the same rogue Gorn, looking for revenge against the Federation. Time will NOT be on Farragut's side!

The voices are:

John Broughton - Carter
Michael Bednar - Tacket
Holly Bednar - Smithfield
Paul R. Sieber - Prescott
Tonya Bacon - Moretti
Bob McDonough - Galway
Jason LeBlanc - Glenn
Amy McDonough - Holley
Hetoreyn - Taylor
Ralph M. Miller - Computer / Gorn
Chris Doohan - Thelin / Scotty
Chase Masterson - Renata/'Commodore' Johnson/Assistant #2
Vic Mignogna - Shealar/Assistance #1
Tim Russ - Dr. Tumar

For more information on Starship Farragut: The Animated Episodes go to http://www.farragut-animated.com/index.html

Here is the first act of "Power Source" which was released July 20th, 2009. Enjoy!

ZOMBZANY AND MAJOR MANIAC’S SCI-FI MARATHON - PART 1

This video of Zombzany and Major Mac Maniac is from sometime in the late 1980's. Zombzany and Major Mac Maniac's relationship goes back to the 1970's when both of them were late-night movie hosts at different UHF TV stations. Zombzany, of course, ran old 1930's and 1940's horror movies on KARP-TV and Major Mac Maniac ran "classic" sci-fi movies from the 1950's and 1960's on WARP-TV. Despite the differences in their shows and the distance of their respective broadcasting partners, somehow Zombzany and Maniac developed a rivalry with one another. At the end of the 1970's, both of them found themselves out of work, as most UHF TV stations at that time cut back on their local programming in favor of syndicated shows.

Apparently, sometime in the 1980's, both of these former TV movie hosts began supplementing their meager broadcast TV income by hosting prerecorded sci-fi and horror movie marathons for various fan groups. In this video, Zombzany is sitting in an obviously mock tomb set, reading his favorite classic horror film book; while Bill E. Bones sits beside him reading a zombie comic book. The phone rings and it is Major Maniac calling from his "space station" to ask Zombzany for a favor. When Zombzany finds out that this favor is to host a sixteen hour sci-fi movie marathon in the Major's stead, he initially refuses. However, Major Manic calls in a "marker" and Zombzany reluctantly agrees to the hosting appearance, after haggling with Maniac over his cut of the payment for the gig.

Enjoy Part One of Zombzany and Major Maniac's Sci-Fi Marathon!

TRAILER TUESDAY! SUPERNATURAL SEASON SEVEN STARTS FRIDAY ON THE CW!

Supernatural is entering its seventh season! I have followed this show since season one, episode one and have always found it to be a solid supernatural horror series. The idea of making the two leads of a genre show brothers is unique. The strength of Dean and Sam’s relationship and how their distinctly different personalities create both a bond and tension between them, while they maintain their enduring battle with the all the supernatural evils of the world is what keeps the show interesting even after six seasons.

This past season, Dean and Sam faced insurmountable obstacles: Sam returned from Hell without his soul, and Dean risked everything to get it back for him. The power struggle between good and evil raged on, with the new King of Hell, Crowley, ultimately emerging as their adversary. Shockingly, Crowley had made a secret deal with Sam and Dean’s closest friend, the angel Castiel, who became a desperate freedom fighter on the losing side of a post-Apocalyptic civil war in Heaven; together, the uneasy allies sought to open a door to Purgatory, where a great untapped well of souls lie waiting to be used as the ultimate form of military power. Sam and Dean reeled from the betrayal by their friend — and raced to stop the angel and demon before they opened that dangerous, otherworldly door.

Now, in season seven, the Winchesters will find themselves at odds with Castiel, who has declared himself God and his using his new found power to right some perceived wrongs in the world. It looks as though Dean and Sam may have to stop yet another Apocalypse on Earth and this time they won’t be able to rely on supernatural beings for help, but will have only themselves to rely on!

The series stars Jared Padalecki as Sam Winchester, Jensen Ackles as Dean Winchester and Misha Collins as Castiel. SUPERNATURAL is from Warner Bros. Television in association with Wonderland Sound and Vision, with executive producers McG (“Charlie’s Angels,” “The O.C.”), Robert Singer (“Midnight Caller”), Sera Gamble and Phil Sgriccia.

The first episode of season seven entitled “Meet the New Boss” premiers Friday, September 23 at 9pm. Enjoy the trailer for season seven of Supernatural!

ZOMBPETTO'S JUST SAY F-U TO DRUGS PSA

This is a Public Service Announcement against drug abuse that was recorded by Zombzany in the early 1970's.

Zombzany began a children's show in the late 1950's titled Zombpetto's Puppet Palace. It featured Zombzany as Zombpetto, who wore a clownish outfit and stood on a minimalist set that featured a puppet palace and little else. In the early days, Zombpetto's puppet pals were two simple sock puppets; one black sock name Meany and one white puppet name Weany. I have one rare kinescope video copy of this show somewhere, which I hope to upload sometime.

Evidently, Zombpetto's Puppet Palace was fairly successful as the show lasted into the mid 1970's. It seems Zombzany liked to tap into the trends of the times for his puppet show and in the 1970's Zombpetto's Puppet Palace starred two hairy hippy puppets named Leach and Bong. I'm amazed at some of the drug references that Zombpetto got away with on this show! Perhaps this anti-drug PSA was a way for the station that aired Zombpetto's Puppet Palace to demonstrate that it was in no way supporting or condoning the casual use of drugs or narcotics of any kind. It's ironic that Zombpetto's Puppet Palace was most likely written by, directed by and produced by the very drug using hippies that this spot is denouncing.

Zombpetto's Puppet Palace is one of my personal favorite shows featuring a nom de plume of Zombzany, because this character's dress and personality are the complete opposite of his own. Just that red ball nose is enough to crack me up every time I watch one of these shows! Enjoy this video of Zompetto's Puppet Palace anti-drug PSA!

TRAILER TUESDAY! TERRA NOVA: NEW SCI-FI ON FOX TV!

Science fiction has not fared well on network TV in the last few years. The only current SF program on one of the four major networks is Fringe on FOX, which remarkably is about to begin its fourth season.

Most SF shows don't even seem to last a full season. Examples of network science fiction shows in the past few years that were pulled prematurely were: Firefly (FOX), Threshold (CBS), and Invasion (ABC). Other notable science fiction shows that were given at least two seasons, but still not supported by the networks were: Dollhouse (FOX), Dark Angel (FOX), and Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles (Fox). Of these six programs, four of them were on FOX. I bring all this up, because the new and only science fiction show to come to TV this fall is Terra Nova, which is on FOX TV. So while I am looking forward to Terra Nova, I am curbing my enthusiasm somewhat because of the short runs of so many other SF shows on FOX in the past. It has been reported that FOX has already ordered 13 episodes of Terra Nova. I have also read that due to the extreme length of time to produce the special effects for the show, that would likely be all the episodes for season one.

Here is the press release (which is somewhat spoilerific) on Terra Nova:

From executive producers Steven Spielberg, Peter Chernin, René Echevarria and Brannon Braga comes an epic family adventure 85 million years in the making.

TERRA NOVA follows an ordinary family on an incredible journey back in time to prehistoric Earth as a small part of a daring experiment to save the human race. In the year 2149, the world is dying. The planet is overdeveloped and overcrowded, with the majority of plant and animal life extinct. The future of mankind is in jeopardy, and its only hope for survival is in the distant past.

When scientists unexpectedly discovered a fracture in time that made it possible to construct a portal into primeval history, the bold notion was born to resettle humanity in the past – a second chance to rebuild civilization and get it right this time.

The series centers on the Shannon family as they join the Tenth Pilgrimage of settlers to Terra Nova, the first colony established in this beautiful yet foreboding land. JIM SHANNON (Jason O’Mara), a devoted father with a checkered past, guides his family through this new world of limitless beauty, mystery and terror. Jim’s wife, ELISABETH (Shelley Conn), is a trauma surgeon and the newest addition to Terra Nova’s medical team. JOSH (Landon Liboiron) is their 17-year-old son who is torn to leave life as he knows it behind; upon arriving at the settlement, he finds himself instantly drawn to the beautiful and rule-breaking SKYE (Allison Miller). MADDY (Naomi Scott), Josh’s endearingly awkward 15-year-old sister, hopes Terra Nova will give her a chance to reinvent herself. Although Elisabeth’s medical training secured the family a spot on the pilgrimage, a secret involving their five-year-old daughter, ZOE (Alana Mansour), soon endangers their place in this utopia.

Upon the Shannons’ arrival, they are introduced to COMMANDER NATHANIEL TAYLOR (Stephen Lang), the charismatic and heroic first pioneer and leader of the settlement. Taylor warns the travelers that while Terra Nova is a place of new opportunities and fresh beginnings, all is not as idyllic as it initially appears. Along with blue skies, towering waterfalls and lush vegetation, the surrounding terrain is teeming with danger – and not just of the man-eating dinosaur variety. There is also a splinter colony of renegades led by the battle-hardened MIRA (Christine Adams), who is vehemently opposed to Taylor and his leadership.

Even more threatening than what lies outside the protective walls of the colony is the chilling possibility that something sinister is happening inside Terra Nova. The Shannons will come to suspect that not everyone on this mission has the same idea of how to best save mankind; in fact, there may be forces intent on destroying this new world before it even begins.

TERRA NOVA is produced by 20th Century Fox Television, Chernin Entertainment, DreamWorks Television and Kapital Entertainment. Steven Spielberg (“Saving Private Ryan”), Peter Chernin, René Echevarria (“Castle”), Brannon Braga (“24”), Jon Cassar (“24”), Aaron Kaplan, Katherine Pope, Justin Falvey (“Falling Skies”), Darryl Frank (“The Borgias”), Craig Silverstein (“Nikita”) and Kelly Marcel serve as executive producers. Alex Graves (FRINGE) directed and serves as executive producer of the series premiere.

FOX has obviously spent a lot of time and money on Terra Nova, so I hope it is as good as this trailer makes it look and that FOX will give it at least a few seasons to tell its story. Terra Nova premiers September 26 at 8pm. Enjoy the trailer!

TRAILER TUESDAY! DEATH VALLEY: HORROR AND COMEDY MEET ON MTV!

Death Valley is a new half-hour scripted horror-comedy show on MTV. It follows the nightly routine of police officers in California’s San Fernando Valley filmed in the documentary style of "Cops"; only instead of bad boys these cops deal with vampires, zombies and werewolves. Two episodes have aired so far and the violence is as hard-core as any R-rated horror film, so this show is not for the squeamish. Being a fan of Zombieland, Death Valley shares some of that film's satiric elements, if with somewhat less subtly. If you like your horror-comedy loud and low-brow, with lots of gore, then Death Valley is for you and I qualify it as a definite “guilty pleasure”!

Death Valley's characters are:

Captain Frank Dashell is as crazy as he is dim-witted and spouts nonsense passing as instruction to his officers.

Officer Joe Stubeck  is a family man who tries to keep his younger partner Billy in line and often tries too hard to do the right thing.

Officer Billy Pierce is  a tough young cop who enjoys killing zombies a little too much and is as likely to have his mind on food and sex as he is the job at hand.

Officer Kirsten Landry is the rookie of the staff and is a little leery of the Captain who has taken her under his wing. She is tough and capable and seems slightly out of place among the rest of the somewhat crazy officers.

Officer Carla Rinaldi is a streetwise beat cop, who takes her job protecting the innocent from monsters as seriously as she would from ordinary criminals.

Officer John "John-John" Johnson is the young-tuff of the crew and has is partner Rinaldi's back.

Here is the press release for the show from MTV:

                                                                                                             

Viewers will be taken to a place they’ve never been before, with MTV’s new horror-comedy “Death Valley.” The scripted series follows the ‘Undead Task Force’ (UTF), a newly formed division of the LAPD, documentary-style, as they capture the monsters that roam the streets of California’s San Fernando Valley. In a world where vampires, werewolves and zombies live freely, “Death Valley” is a fun, comedic non-stop thrill ride featuring chases, hardcore kills and bizarre encounters.

“Death Valley” stars Tania Raymonde (“Lost”), Bryan Callen (“The Hangover”), Caity Lotz (“Mad Men”), Bryce Johnson (‘Sleeping Dogs Lie”), Texas Battle (“Final Destination 3”, “Dragonball,” “Coach Carter”) and Charlie Sanders (Funny or Die’s “The Big Dog”). “Death Valley” is executive produced by Eric Weinberg, Austin Reading, Julie Kellman Reading and Tim Healy. Spider One is co-executive producer of the series. Tony DiBari is Executive Producer, MTV and Matthew Parillo is MTV executive in charge of production.

Take a look at the trailer for Death Valley!

ZOMBEATNIK’S PSY-QUICK CAPPUCCINO COMMERCIAL!

Zombzany the Necromancer, being a zombie himself, has lived a long undead life. It seems that even immortal necromancers need to make an un-living as Zombzany has had many professions over the years. Despite his seeming distaste for the medium he refers to as a televisual travesty, Zombzany has certainly dipped his dead toes into the electronic-media muck on many occasions. Zombzany has appeared on TV as himself from time to time, but in most instances he usually appears before the cameras as one of his many aliases. I can only hazard a guess as to why he has created such a plethora of assumed identities, but I suspect that Zombzany wishes to hide his immortality from the unwashed masses of humanity. I also think he’s embarrassed that he has had to debase himself by appearing on the “moron machine” with such frequency.

 
In my ten years of being Zombzany’s neighbor, I have had many confrontations with the Necromancer Supreme. Most of the time, I feel lucky to have escaped Zombzany’s cemetery alive. In fact, one time I didn’t even manage that. That, however, is a story for another time. What little leverage that I have had with Zombzany over the years, has come from my pilfering his collection of his vast video recordings of his many TV appearances. It would seem that Zombzany’s head is as inflated as his waistline, because why else would he save so many of these recordings that he considers to be so embarrassing? I still possess many of these tapes and I will gradually share all of them with you here on Guardians of the Genre!

Sometime in the early 1960's, Zombzany was apparently attempting to cash in on the Beatnik craze of the previous decade. Somewhere in my collection, I have an actual episode of Zombeatnik the Hip Psychic, which was a call-in show where people called in asking for advice from the Hip Psychic. In this recording from the mid-60’s, Zombeatnik evidently managed to acquire a licensing partner and he is hawking an instant cappuccino with his name and picture emblazoned on it. I think it is ridiculous to think that Zombzany as Zombeatnik thought anyone would be stupid enough to buy his Psy-Quick Cappuccino, but you do have to admire his enterprising spirit. Enjoy this commercial message for Zombeatnik’s Psy-Quick Cappuccino!