Extra special thanks! I want to take a moment to thank theLogBook.com staff writers Cindy Hill, Dave Thomer, Mark Holtz and newcomer Jeremy Benner (now working hard to plug the vast gaps in the Doctor Who novel section) for all the work they’ve done during February. I work in television, so the sweeps month of February is usually heavy for me, and this time it’s been murder due to a shortage of manpower at work. This site’s content would’ve been dead in the water without the efforts of the above people, as I simply haven’t had time to write new content (as last week’s lack of a news page attested). I can’t express enough appreciation for their help – nor for the patience of my wife, who stayed up late every night waiting for me to come home. Thank God for small mercies – ratings are almost over until May.
Another one bites the dust. After much thought on the subject, I have decided to phase out Blackstar as one of the site’s sponsors. I’ve had some success with them, which is remarkable in light of my primary complaint with them: their link system doesn’t work! It’s amazing that I’ve gotten any sales at all through them. Therefore, I’ve begun the arduous task of shifting overseas DVD and videotape ordering links over to Amazon.co.uk’s impressive video store. There is another reason for this: with theLogBook.com’s future so closely tied to the continued existence of Amazon, I felt it foolish to divide up my potential revenue streams abroad. I apologize for any inconvenience this changeover may cause, but I feel it’s in the best interests of both this site and Amazon’s U.K. operation – and I need links that work and generate revenue to keep this site online.
Perhaps they’re hoping to beat that actors’ strike. Word has it that sets have already been built for the fifth Star Trek series on the Paramount lot, pre-production is in full swing, and we can probably expect casting speculation, if not announcements, soon. (But isn’t it telling that fan interest in the casting seems to be at a dismal low, as compared to the sensational events surrounding the casting of Voyager? -ed.) Keep an eye on our Star Trek: The Next Series LogBook, a work in progress that will evolve as news of the new spinoff emerges.
Bryan Singer, who directed last year’s well-regarded feature film adaptation of the X-Men comic, has signed to be one of two executive producers of a new television revival of Battlestar Galactica. The series will run both on the Sci-Fi Channel and its sister cable outlet, USA Network. Glen Larson, the creator of the original Galactica series, is also on board for the revival. (You may recall that Richard Hatch, who played Apollo in the 1970s incarnation of the show – not the Survivor winner – has been trying to launch a competing bid for a movie revisitation of Galactica for some time.) Singer, who may also direct the pilot episode if his pre-production schedule for X-Men II permits, confessed to being a follower of the original show. No casting information or premiere date plans have been announced at this time – nor has any word been heard on whether or not the new series will follow popular fan sentiments in disregarding the continuity of the lousy second season of the show, which aired under the title Galactica 1980.
Warner Bros. will release the first Babylon 5 DVD, containing The Gathering (no word on whether this will be the original 1993 PTEN premiere edition, the 1998 TNT re-cut, or perhaps even both) and In The Beginning, in July in North America. According to a Usenet post from series creator J. Michael Straczynski, it is also uncertain whether these two feature-length outings will be presented in full-frame or widescreen, and as of this writing, there will be no bonus features included. (Hey, if they’re interested, I’ve got a buttload of the original movie and series launch promos on tape.)
Paul McGann, who, until last month, had only a solitary 1996 Doctor Who adventure under his belt, is reclaiming the role with a vengeance next year. The first four Audio Adventures of 2001 feature McGann’s reprise as the Time Lord, but now Big Finish Productions has announced that the actor has returned to record six new adventures for release during the first half of 2002. The titles of the six four-part audio stories are Invaders From Mars (involving the Doctor in the extraordinary events surrounding the Orson Welles broadcast of War Of The Worlds), The Chimes Of Midnight (written by Robert Shearman), Seasons Of Fear (co-written by popular New Adventures novelist Paul Cornell), Embrace The Darkness, The Time Of The Daleks and NeverLand. The last of these will take the eighth Doctor to Gallifrey for the first time in audio form, and it will guest star former companion Lalla Ward as Romana, who is now the Time Lords’ President. Big Finish also tantalizingly hints that NeverLand will involve a parallel universe, and that “nothing will ever be the same” with the series continuity after that story. (Then again, this is a claim that various BBC Books titles have made with such regularity, fandom has learned to take it with a grain of salt.) The last half of 2002 will feature adventures with Peter Davison, Colin Baker and Sylvester McCoy in the title role – and perhaps, if Big Finish can ever get him to sign on the dotted line, Tom Baker as the fourth Doctor.
Though it’s been rumored for some time, only this week did the news become official: Interplay has inked a multi-million-dollar deal with Warner Bros. for video game rights to The Matrix. The Wachowski Brothers themselves have been closely involved with the development of the first game, which is targeted for a strategic release alongside the first of two planned sequel films. (The game is also said to contain elements from the sequels, so don’t expect any story leaks.) That first title is expected to be delivered for the Playstation 2.
This month, Del Ray is premiering the first book of their third Babylon 5 literary trilogy, “The Passing Of The Techno-Mages, Book One: Casting Shadows” by Jeanne Cavelos. This latest triptych (based upon a story outline by series creator J. Michael Straczynski) will feature characters such as Elric, Morden and Galen (of Crusade fame) will be central to this arc, and the final book may largely take place with the Excalibur crew. 
For months, I’ve been guilty of posting DVD picks which were only available in North America. This time, I’m going to turn the tables for the benefit of our British readers. This week we have the new, feature-loaded Doctor Who classic, Remembrance Of The Daleks, starring Sylvester McCoy and Sophie Aldred as the Doctor and Ace. This pivotal four-part story was the first to portray the Seventh Doctor as a dark, brooding, scheming chessmaster, slyly forcing the Daleks into a corner in which they would destroy themselves. The DVD includes raw location session footage, some multi-angle sequences, an isolated music soundtrack, and a running commentary from McCoy and Aldred. U.S. fans, fear not: Remembrance has already been issued Stateside as part of a VHS box set, and the DVD will eventually see the light of day here. 
As you may remember, several months ago we pointed you in the direction of TimmyBigHands.com, a new humor site created by Mystery Science Theater 3000 alumni Mike Nelson, Kevin (Bobo/Tom Servo) Murphy, Paul Chaplin, Bill (Crow/Brain Guy) Corbett and Patrick Brantseg. Sadly, despite the best efforts of an undeniably talented group of creators and some truly twisted and hilarious content, TimmyBigHands is folding, citing that a decent number of hits doesn’t necessarily mean a decent amount of income. There’s no word on what’s next for the former Best Brains.
Despite high praise from stars Sylvester McCoy and Stephen Fry, the BBC radio pilot story Death Comes To Time, which many fans hoped would be the launch of a new regular Doctor Who radio series, has been turned down by Radio 4. However, while the BBC’s own radio division decided to pass on the show, BBC Enterprises is said to be very excited about it, and will most likely release it as part of the BBC Radio Collection’s line of Doctor Who “lost episodes” audio CDs. Producer Dan Freedman is also pushing for a BBC Enterprises-backed audio series in webcast form (which would probably reap a profit from subsequent CD sales), but nothing is yet set in stone.
The original Star Wars novelist, Alan Dean Foster, is writing a new book set in the years between Episode I and Episode II. No title has been announced, but a publication date of February 2002 has been divulged; Foster’s new novel will debut in hardcover. His last Star Wars tome, “Splinter Of The Mind’s Eye”, was the first non-film fiction set in the Star Wars universe (though the later revelations of Luke and Leia’s familial relationship made Splinter decidedly non-canon).
Simon & Schuster Interactive and Red Lemon Studios are hard at work on turning the hit Sci-Fi Channel series Farscape into a complex computer game (with a version also said to be in the works for one of the next generation home video game consoles, which probably means Playstation 2). Plans for the game call for players to be able to choose to be any one of the main characters, with different options, equipment and adventures resulting from that decision. The first public demo of the game is set for this May’s E3, but no firm release date has been set.
22-year-old Marlon Esracio Pagtakhan has entered a not guilty plea in response to his November arrest on eight counts of stalking, threatening letters and attempting extortion. The objects of Pagtakhan’s actions – not to mention numerous bizarrely strident Usenet posts – are Star Trek: Voyager actress Jeri Ryan and executive producer Brannon Braga, who are currently a couple and who took out a restraining order against him. Police reports say that Pagtakhan had been stalking both of them for the better part of 2000. He remains in jail, having failed to make a $405,000 bond.