SCIFI Channel (US) unveils new programming slate including BSG spinoff

[Granite]

From SCIFIwire

NEW YORK—SCI FI Channel unveiled a full development slate of scripted series, reality programming and late-night shows in a presentation to advertisers here this week, including new shows from executive producers Eric McCormack (NBC's Will & Grace), Freddie Prinze Jr. and Oscar-winning writer Christopher McQuarrie (The Usual Suspects).

The scripted series in development include Blink, from executive producers McCormack and Michael Forman and writer Irving Belateche. The series asks the question: What would happen if you could freeze that moment in time when something you do or a decision you make changes your life forever? A group of Afterlife investigators try to help those about to make the wrong choice, in the blink of an eye before destiny is sealed forever. Bink comes from NBC Universal Television Studio and Big Cattle Productions.

Persons Unknown, which McQuarrie executive-produces with Heather McQuarrie, is a surreal mind game of a series centering on a group of strangers who awaken in a deserted town with no memory of how they arrived, only to realize that there is no escape. Persons Unknown is from Fox Television Studios.

The Bishop, from executive producers Prinze and Conrad Jackson, is a one-hour drama that revolves around a young slacker whose charmed life is disrupted when he discovers that he has a supernatural gift, and he goes on a quest to uncover his secret past. The Bishop is from Brillstein-Grey Television.

SCI FI's reality slate includes Destination Truth, from Neil and Michael Mandt, focusing on one man's investigations of unexplained phenomena across the globe, from the Fire Worm of Mongolia to the Chupacabra of Chile. The show is hosted by Josh Gates.

Late night programming includes Ground Control, from Carson Daly Productions, a half-hour late-night daily show focusing on a wide range of human interest and news topics relating to science fiction and the world of the supernatural, the paranormal and the unexplained. Also in development is an as-yet-untitled sketch comedy series featuring the Ministry of Unknown Science: sketch comics Jason Berlin, Tim Walker, Rico Gagliano and Eric Truheart. Mocking the classic PBS science news-magazine-show format, the show will feature mockumentary segments, sketches, commercial parodies, field tests, interviews and other stream-of-consciousness comedy

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SCI FI Channel unveiled plans for a new limited series, Motel Man, a one-hour thriller called Snap and Chariots of the Gods, a six-hour miniseries based on the best-selling book by Erich von Daniken, the network announced at its upfront presentation to advertisers in New York on April 26.

The eight-hour Motel Man, which SCI FI will air in December, is a cross between The Fugitive and The Twilight Zone and follows a detective who discovers a seemingly ordinary motel room key that opens up a portal to alternate worlds, infusing mundane objects with mysterious powers. Chris Leone, Laura Harkcom and Paul Workman wrote and will co-executive-produce the limited series, from Lionsgate Television. Production will begin in the summer. Motel Man could eventually turn into a regular series.

Jesse Alexander (Lost) will produce Snap, about a federal agent up against a Big Brother-type artificial intelligence.

Chariots of the Gods will be executive-produced by Oscar winner Irwin Winkler and written by John Whelpley. The book introduced the theory that Earth was visited by extraterrestrials in ancient times. The miniseries centers on a soldier returning from his tour of duty, who brings with him an artifact that holds the key to uncovering the secret that aliens have been interfering with human genetics. Rob Cowan and David Winkler also will executive-produce.

And the final story: Battlestar Galactica spinoff Caprica

SCI FI Channel announced the development of Caprica, a spinoff prequel of its hit Battlestar Galactica, in presentations to advertisers in New York on April 26. Caprica would come from Galactica executive producers Ronald D. Moore and David Eick, writer Remi Aubuchon (24) and NBC Universal Television Studio.

Caprica would take place more than half a century before the events that play out in Battlestar Galactica. The people of the Twelve Colonies are at peace and living in a society not unlike our own, but where high technology has changed the lives of virtually everyone for the better.

But a startling breakthrough in robotics is about to occur, one that will bring to life the age-old dream of marrying artificial intelligence with a mechanical body to create the first living robot: a Cylon. Following the lives of two families, the Graystones and the Adamas (the family of William Adama, who will one day become the commander of the Battlestar Galactica), Caprica will weave together corporate intrigue, techno-action and sexual politics into television's first science fiction family saga, the channel announced.

That's all folks...

What do you think?

[Gaumont]

sweet news about BSG. a spinoff show that actually has a direct purpous in adding to the story. not just Atlantis, voyager, CSI Miami, Special Victimes Unit... same things diff location.

[j7wild]

I watched BSG a couple of times and I don't understand why that one guy keeps dreaming about that beautiful blonde; I wish I had dreams like that!!