Amanda Tapping as Col. Samantha Carter on STARGATE ATLANTIS.
© SCIFI Channel

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Sanctuary Finally Coming to TV

When looking for alternatives to the run of the mill TV series, there are some interesting online options. For us science fiction fans, the best has been Sanctuary, an online series from the creators of Stargate and starring Amanda Tapping from Stargate. You may remember many many TV Wastelands ago me raving about this series. It’s not just some silly You Tube thing, this show has all pros behind it and a multi million dollar budget. As far as special effects go it looks as good as anything on the SCIFI Channel and rivals shows from other larger networks. 

The creators took a real chance with the series by throwing so much money behind it but it was a success and even got funding for more episodes after the first batch hot the web. The reason I’m bringing the series up again is, in a no brainer move, the SCIFI Channel has optioned the series for broadcast.

The network has committed to a full 13 episode season of the series that follows the exploits of Dr. Helen Magnus (Tapping) who, along with a team of experts, hunts down and help intelligent non-human creatures living on Earth. Along with Tapping, all of the original cast from the web based series will be moving to the network version of the series. The series was shot in high definition and it utilized the virtual set CGI used for major motion pictures such as Sin City and 300. In other words the entire show was done on green screen. Fear not if you haven't been watching the online version of the series, because it will debut on SCIFI with a two hour special that introduces the characters to those new to the series. Enhanced footage from the online version of the show will be used in this first season to make the transition from web to TV feel seamless. 

Thursday is the big day this week with LOST, Smallville, and Supernatural all being new. LOST started with a bang and I have high hopes that it will continue on this new reinvigorated path. Supernatural is just a staple for fans of good TV and Smallville, while it’s less consistent it was cool to see just how bad Lex could be. Monday isn’t bad either with Prison Break and Sarah Connor Chronicles both coming back new.

Monday

PRISON BREAK (FOX, 8PM EST) UNDER AND OUT

Michael begins a new effort to tunnel out of Sona, joined by Lechero, Whistler, Mahone, Bellick and T-Bag. They are a team in name only. Then the weather causes a change in plans, requiring some last-minute assistance from Linc and Sucre. In Panama City, Susan B. threatens Sucre with the worst thing he can imagine. She also wants to see Sofia.

TERMINATOR: THE SARAH CONNOR CHRONICLES (FOX, 9PM EST) HEAVY METAL

John becomes separated from his mother and Cameron while the trio search for stolen cargo. Amid the chaos, he discovers the future may be bleaker than he imagined. Meanwhile, Agent Ellison's murder investigation turns up a new lead.

Tuesday

HOUSE (FOX, 9PM EST) DON’T EVER CHANGE

A former music producer who had recently---and suddenly---converted to Hasidic Judaism collapses at her wedding, and House suspects that the reasons behind her sudden conversion might also have something to do with her mysterious illness. Meanwhile, Wilson is dating a woman whose personality is a lot like House's.

DIRTY JOBS (DSC, 9PM EST) CRANBERRY FARMER

Mike learns how to make bricks by hand in South Carolina, then heads to Oregon to try his hand at farming cranberries.

Wednesday

MYTHBUSTERS (DSC, 9PM EST) JAMES BOND

Adam and Jamie investigate James Bond-inspired gadgets, getaways and guns.

GHOSTHUNTERS INTERNATIONAL (SCIFI, 9PM EST) FORTRESS OF FEAR

Rasnov Citadel, a 13th-century fortress in the Tara Barsei region of Romania, is investigated. The site has frequent reports of paranormal activity, including sightings of dark moving figures and unexplained shadows.

Thursday

LOST (NBC, 9PM EST) CONFIRMED DEAD

The survivors begin to question the intentions of their supposed rescuers when four strangers arrive on the island. Miles: Ken Leung. Daniel Faraday: Jeremy Davies. Charlotte: Rebecca Mader. Frank Lapidus: Jeff Fahey.

SMALLVILLE (CW, 8PM EST) SIREN

Chloe runs afoul of the Black Canary (Alaina Huffman) when she procures one of Lex's project files for Oliver. Lex suspects the Green Arrow and retaliates, while Lois discovers Oliver's secret.

SUPERNATURAL (CW, 9PM EST) DREAM A LITTLE DREAM OF ME

Bobby is poisoned with a dream potion and lapses into a deadly coma, so Sam and Dean take the potion themselves to enter the dream and save him, but to do so they all must confront their own personal nightmares. Bela Talbot: Lauren Cohan.

Friday

FLASH GORDON (SCIFI, 8PM EST) REVOLUTION

Conclusion. The first season closes as Azura brings warriors to help Ming stave off the attack launched by Deviate forces. Meanwhile, a short-lived Gordon family reunion commences on Mongo after Flash and the gang free Dr. Gordon from the mind prison. Bruce Dawson, Craig Stanghetta.

STARGATE ATLANTIS (SCIFI, 10PM EST) TRIO

A subterranean drama unfolds when Col. Carter and Doctors McKay and Keller become trapped in a defunct mining facility during an off-world mission

Saturday

JEEPERS CREEPERS (SCIFI, 7PM EST)

Good, ghoulish fun. Choosing to take the long way home for spring break, Darry (Justin Long) and his older sister Trish (Gina Philips) find themselves driving Trish's vintage Chevy through the heart of Nowhere, USA, on a highway that's loaded with bad juju. Twenty-three years earlier, a couple from Darry and Trish's high school disappeared on the very same highway; legend has it they never did find his body — or her head. After a scary encounter with a rusted heap of a truck (shades of Steven Spielberg's DUEL), Darry and Trish catch a glimpse of a hulking figure outside an abandoned church, unloading what appear to be bodies swaddled in bloody sheets from the back of the killer van and stuffing them down a culvert. Darry insists they investigate — what if someone needs help? — and convinces his sister to lower him down the pipe by his ankles. He panics, she loses her grip and Darry tumbles down the hole and straight into a chamber of horrors, owned and operated by one very nasty character.

TORCHWOOD (BBC, 9PM EST) TO THE LAST MAN

Tosh falls for a handsome soldier---from World War I---when parts of 1918 make their way through the Rift and land in an old hospital.

Sunday

KING OF THE HILL (FOX, 8:30PM EST) Trans-Facism

The Arlen city council bans trans fats, raw oysters and rare burgers, so Buck Strickland starts a lunch truck that sells the banned foods illegally, with Hank as the driver. Yeah, I know it isn’t as good as a new The Simpsons, but we’ll take what we can get.