13.24 IS DUE FOR A RETRO-FIT NEXT SEASON 
    24 is likely to be renewed for a second season but will undergo a format change. Although the show received considerable critical acclaim for its unique format in which the protagonist, played by Kiefer Sutherland, is followed for 24 hours in 24 separate episodes, that format may have put off some viewers, according to Co-Executive Producer Joel Surnow. "We all love the format, but there are problems with it," Surnow said. "It asks a lot of the viewer. It asks them to tune in every week to follow a story. And that is not typically what research says are the viewing habits of the American public." As a result, each episode next season is likely to have a more traditional format, although it is likely to concentrate on a single day in the life of Sutherland's character. 
    That will certainly make the show easier to sell to syndicaters, who prefer episodic fare so they can air re-runs in any order they want. It remains to be seen if this will gut the show to the point that it won't produce enough episodes to make it a syndication target. 
14.A DEGREE IN "BUFFY" 
    Do you love BUFFY, THE VAMPIRE SLAYER? If you do, you might want to kick it up a notch by checking out an Online magazine called "Slayage." It touts itself as being "The Online International Journal of Buffy Studies." You'll get to read articles with titles like “Killing us Softly?: A Feminist Search for the Real Buffy," “The Outsiders’ Society: Religious Imagery in Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Every Night I Save You: Buffy, Spike, Sex and Redemption."
15.JOSS WHEDON SEES SEASON SEVEN AS CLASSIC BUFFY 
    Joss Whedon said that the upcoming seventh season of BUFFY will return to the show's roots. The current sixth season has featured darker storylines, including tales of addiction, kinky sex, disrupted marriages, kleptomania and disillusionment. "This is where we wanted to go . . . into the dark of the woods," Whedon said. "But next year is going to be very different. We're going back to our original mission statement. Back to the positive view of the joy of female empowerment. This year was about adult life and relationships - and making really, really bad decisions. Next year will still be scary and different and strange, but it will be more of a positive outlook. People will stop abandoning Dawn. Willow won't be a junkie anymore. Buffy won't be dead." 
    Next year's theme will be "Buffy, year one," Whedon added. "It's let's get back to the joy of this very simple concept, that this silly woman no one takes seriously is actually the most powerful woman in the world." As for the show's future, Whedon said, "We basically plot every year as a natural ending point of the show. I loathe stories that end in the middle, so we wrap it up at the end of the year. Every year. So next season, we've figured out the whole arc - who the bad guy is, what the general message is. Next year will be the end. And if there's another season, that will be the end, too." BUFFY airs "Two to Go" and "Grave," the two-part season finale, on May 21.
16.STAR TREK: THE TEMPORAL COLD WAR? 
    Brannon Braga recently revealed the Temporal Cold War story arc on ENTERPRISE could have sustained its own series. "I thought that it could be a great series on its own," he said. "The idea of a cold war being fought on different fronts, and each front is in a different century." 
    Braga said the series could have switched settings each episode. "It would be great to do a show that takes place in a different time period every week, and you have these sleeper agents in all different time periods." In the end, Braga and co-creator Rick Berman decided the concept could form part of ENTERPRISE. "It's a very cool idea, but we decided to work it into ENTERPRISE instead and I think it's working out well so far." 
    Although ENTERPRISE has focused mainly on the 22nd century, Braga said some future history will be slipped into the series. "As the cold war keeps developing, you're going to get little glimpses of the STAR TREK that is yet to come." But the writer hasn't yet decided how long the arc will run for. "It depends on how long we can sustain it," he said. "It will certainly go on for a while."
17.BRANNON BRAGA AND THE ATTACK OF THE CONTINUITY PORNOGRAPHERS 
    Brannon Braga is a little testy about fan attacks on ENTERPRISE. He and Rick Berman have taken a lot of heat from hard-core STAR TREK fans. "I do read the [Internet message] boards, but people who log onto these boards represent a small part of the show's audience," he said. "They are, however, an audience. And they are fans of the show, so I'm interested to hear what they have to say. . . . If you try to track everything, you'll go crazy. Some of these people are vicious. It can really bruise your ego. They get personal. And some of them are 12 years old, but you don't know that." 
    Braga also said he sometimes feels pressure to maintain TREK continuity. "We're very aware of that, and we try very hard," he said. "We have made a few mistakes, but nothing major. I read all these things on the Internet, these 'continuity pornographers,' as I like to call them, though I didn't invent the term. These people honestly think that Rick and I are morons! Of course we know that the Ferengi didn't make first contact with Archer. They made it with Picard. The only people who see the Ferengi are Trip, T'pol and Archer, and they never find out who they were. They were 'those weird-looking guys,' and they never see them again, so you can have fun with continuity." 
    Brannon, my boy, there's an old show biz' adage about never reading your own press. You're never as good or as bad as you're being made out to be.
18.SOMETHING TO DRIVE THE CONTINUITY PORNOGRAPHERS NUTS 
    Rick Berman said that the Romulans may appear in an ENTERPRISE episode next season. Berman said that he'd like to enlist John Logan, who wrote the screenplay for STAR TREK: NEMESIS. "Yeah, he would love to do that, and we would love to give him that chance," Berman said. "It's all going to have to do with his time. He has three huge movies that he is working on now. We'll see what happens. But there will be no Romulans involved in this first season of the show, so it would likely be next season." 
    Bringing Romulans into the universe of ENTERPRISE would be tricky. That nasty old continuity holds that Romulans didn't make first contact with humans until the time period of the original STAR TREK series.
19.GALLACTICA LIVES ON 
    After a couple of years with teen aliens in New Mexico on ROSWELL (which has its series finale on May 14), Ronald D. Moore is ready to head back into space again. A writer and/or producer on the first three STAR TREK spin-off series and a couple of the TREK movies, Moore has signed on as writer for Sci-Fi Channel's upcoming four-hour miniseries version of the '70s cult science-fiction show BATTLESTAR GALLACTICA. 
    You might remember that Universal Studios went with a concept from X-MEN director Bryan Singer. When the success of that film, and its impending sequel, caused Singer to drop out late in 2001, the project changed hands again. The current executive producer is David Eick (AMERICAN GOTHIC, SPY GAME), with Moore writing and Breck Eisner (TAKEN, THE INVISIBLE MAN ) attached to direct. Moore says the new BATTLESTAR GALLACTICA will function both as a miniseries and as a pilot for a proposed series. "I was a fan as a kid," he says. "I was right there in the '70s, watching along with everybody else. I remember everybody was talking about it." 
    Moore isn't doing a sequel, but instead is re-imagining the concept from the beginning. "I'm going to go back and retell the origin story, and that will form the basis of the miniseries. There will certainly be changes. I'm trying to just take a different approach to the material. I want to keep the underlying myth of the show, which is what makes people remember it, and update a lot of it." 
    "In the broadest strokes, I don't want to do STAR TREK and STAR WARS all over again. There's a certain style of filmmaking associated with those shows, which is a very romantic, glossy approach to science fiction, with big, lush, orchestral scores, etc." 
    "I've been wanting for a while to go in a different direction with film science fiction, and we're doing it with GALLACTICA. We're going to try to make it, for want of a better word, more real, a real place, down and dirty, with a sort of 'You are there' feel to it." 
    "It's going to be - and this is a bad phrase - a 'down to Earth' sort of place. It's going to be more about the people aboard the GALLACTICA and the ragtag, fugitive fleet than it will be about aliens of the week, planets of the week or anything like that."
20.CASTING NEWS FOR CHILDREN OF DUNE 
    The Sci-Fi Channel's big time sequel, CHILDREN OF DUNE, will cast the Oscar winning actress, Susan Sarandon, in the lead role. The original DUNE set audience records for the channel. 
    Sarandon will play Wensicia, a princess who will do anything to restore her family to power. CHILDREN is based on the second and third books of Herbert's DUNE series. 
    Several cast members of the original production will reprise their roles, including Julie Cox (Princess Irulan Corrino), Barbara Kodetova (Chani), Alec Newman (Paul Atreides) and Ian McNeice (Baron Harkonnen). Also in the cast are Edward Atterton (THE MISTS OF AVALON), Jessica Brooks, James McAvoy (BAND OF BROTHERS), Daniela Lunkewitz and Steven Berkoff. 
    Look for CHILDREN OF DUNE to premiere sometime in 2003.
21.MUNSTERS GO HOME! 
    What would you do if you had a quarter million dollar budget to build the home of your dreams? What would it look like? What would it have in it? Well, if you were named either Charles or Sandra McKee and you lived in Waxahachie, Texas you wouldn't have to think twice for the answer. You'd be building a replica of THE MUNSTERS house. 
    The McKees say their house will echo nearly every detail of the Munster mansion. When they are done (they hope the house is livable by fall) the two-story, 5,825-square-foot home will mimic the exterior and interior of the TV-show house. A dungeon, occupied in the show by Grandpa (played by Al Lewis), will open from the den. Secret passages will snake around upstairs. The middle of the staircase will feature the TV-show house's trademark feature: a trap door leading to the quarters of Spot, the McKees' German shepherd pooch, named after the Munsters' fire-breathing dragon. "You bet we're gonna have that," said Sandra McKee, pointing to the black marks where the trap door will open via a hydraulic system. "It wouldn't be the Munster house without it." It also wouldn't be the Munster house, Charles McKee said, without a revolving suit of armor that leads to a secret room. Or the mazes of hidden passages. Charles, a 46-year-old plumber, said he's even going to get a street sign with the Munsters' address: 1313 Mockingbird Lane. 
    Copyright laws and other legal wrangling go along with such turf. But contractor Steve Wilson said Universal Studios, which owns rights to the show, has been supportive. "I called Universal Studios and said, 'Is there gonna be a problem?' And they said no, because all you see on the show is the front of the house. The inside of that house was not used in the show. That was a set. So they said, 'We can't copyright something that doesn't exist.' Plus, they said, if it'll make people talk about The Munsters, great." 
    It's hard for me to believe that anyone would waste their time and money to build a replica of a house featured in a TV show that ran from 1964 to 1966. It just doesn't make sense. Now a replica of THE ADDAMS FAMILY mansion - now that would make sense!
22.MUTANT X WILL GO FOR SEASON TWO RE-WORKING 
    Season two will bring about some casting changes in the syndicated series MUTANT X as Tom McCamus, who plays evil villain Eckhart, takes some time off from the series, and a new big bad takes on the good guys. Michael Easton will guest star in the season finale as new bad guy Gabriel Ashlocke, "the first child of Genomex." Easton will become a regular recurring guest star next season, and he has been signed for several episodes. 
    "Gabriel is going to be an antagonist to the Mutant X team." according to a spokeswoman.  He is Patient Zero, the very first new mutant, and as a child he was captured and neutralized by Genomex because he was so powerful. "His new mutant abilities were in flux, so Genomex put him in a pod. He has this following called The Strand, and The Strand is sort of an alternative to Mutant X. He's sprung from his pod by one of these followers. He has super mutant powers, and he could be the most dangerous new mutant ever." In fact, Gabriel has all the new mutant powers, and "his new mutant gifts are off the meter." 
    McCamus, who is starring in the play Richard III, will return to the series next season as a regular recurring guest star.
23.ROSWELL'S CANCELED 
    UPN brought months of rumors and speculations to a close with the official declaration that it will cancel ROSWELL. The network will air the series finale on May 14. "I would like to thank 20th Century Fox Television, UPN and especially our fans, whose combined efforts helped get us a third season for ROSWELL," series co-creator Jason Katims said in a statement. "[Executive producer] Ronald D. Moore and I had the fans very much on our minds when we were writing this final episode. We felt they deserved a great ending." 
    ROSWELL has averaged three million total viewers a week - ranking it 151st out of a total 186 series that have aired on the six broadcast networks. Among the target demo of 18 to 49-year-olds, it has only managed to average a 1.4 rating/3 share on a weekly basis. 
    ROSWELL's fate has been in doubt all season as the series' ratings have dropped against stiff competition from The WB's SMALLVILLE; Fox's 24; and other shows. ROSWELL wrapped production on the current third season in March.
24.THE SHIELD THRIVES IN ADVERSITY 
    FX channel, which boasts that its TV series THE SHIELD smashes many sex and violence content barriers for basic cable, is now seeing advertisers pulling out of the show as a result. Following protests by the family group Parents Television Council, such advertisers as Burger King, Anheuser Busch, Tricon Global Restaurants (Kentucky Fried Chicken, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell), Office Depot and shoemaker New Balance have exited the show. A Tricon spokeswoman is quoted as saying, "We want programming that appeals to our consumers and reflects our brands. ... We've asked our media-buying representatives to make sure that our commercials don't air on the program." However, a spokesman for the channel said, "While a handful of advertisers have opted out of the show, new ones have come in to replace them." 
    Despite the heat FX hasn't hesitated to renew the show. THE SHIELD is the highest rated original drama on basic cable. It's also the most-watched original series in FX's eight-year history. In addition to pushing the boundaries of ad-supported broadcasting with frequent profanity and occasional nudity, THE SHIELD is also unique in that its lead character lives in a morally ambiguous world. This is definitely a show for grown-ups.
25.MATT GROENING RILES FANS BY CONTEMPLATING AN END TO THE SIMPSONS 
    A story got out recently that Matt Groening was considering "winding up" THE SIMPSONS. The animator was quoted as saying that much depends on whether the show wins an Emmy for best animation this year. Groening added that Fox wants to "wring every last penny" out of it. He was quoted, "I think we are closer to winding it up. What happens generally if we win the Emmy for Best Animation Show, is that that gives us another couple of years to run it into the ground." 
    Fans were furious. Angry calls, letters, faxes and e-mails started cascading in. Groening quickly reassured fans that the show won't be ending anytime soon. He explained, "I was misquoted and misunderstood. I don't want anyone to think I am predicting the demise of THE SIMPSONS. They will live on with new adventures for years to come. As long as there are things to make fun of we will be around. . . . I am always asked how much longer can this go on. I just said that given the fact the we just finished our 300th episode, I would guess we are closer to the end of our life than the beginning. At the end of our 100th episode (one of our writers) said we were halfway home. Now we think the show will last, our ratings are better than ever."
26.STAR WARS SPECIAL TO AIR ON THE SCI-FI CHANNEL 
    Director and STAR WARS fan Kevin Smith (DOGMA) will host a Sci-Fi Channel original special on the saga at 8 PM May 12 in anticipation of the May 16 release of STAR WARS: EPISODE II: ATTACK OF THE CLONES. In the one-hour special, entitled THE OFFICIAL STAR WARS FAN FILM AWARDS, Smith will present a collection of fan-made, STAR WARS-themed spoofs and documentaries, each competing to win a STAR WARS Fan Film Award. 
    Categories will include the Young Jedi Award (films made by directors under 18), animation, Audience Award (selected by Online viewers) and a special George Lucas Selects Award, which will be announced by the STAR WARS creator himself. The special will also feature clips from EPISODE II.
27.FANS WILL GIVE THE X-FILES A FOND FAREWELL 
    Parting is such sweet sorrow, but fans of THE X-FILES hope to sweeten the pot come May 10. That Friday, a group of highly organized supporters will take out six full-page ads in the Hollywood Reporter's final special issue for the show, thanking some of the key individuals who have made the series appointment viewing for millions. Each black-and-white ad costs $2,485 and will pay tribute to one of the five main leads over the years (Gillian Anderson, David Duchovny, Annabeth Gish, Robert Patrick and Mitch Pileggi), as well as a general cast and crew kudos. 
    Extra funds collected will be donated to a charity that is close to the actor associated with the contributions, including the Buskaid Soweto String Project (Anderson), the Children's Hospital of New Mexico (Gish) and the Muscular Dystrophy Foundation (Patrick). The extra proceeds for the cast and crew ad will more than likely go to the Jim Engh Memorial Fund. Engh was a crew member who was accidentally electrocuted in an accident on the set that injured six others in 2000. 
    At this writing over $20,600 has been collectively raised. Donations are still being accepted. Anyone interested can find out more at any of the sites linked above.
28.CARTER TALKS THE X-FILES FINALE AND COMING MOVIE 
    Chris Carter said that the X-FILES series finale would provide a good measure of closure to the show's mythology arc, while setting the stage for proposed X-FILES movies. "There was a lot of talk about what we needed to put into [the finale], what ground we needed to cover, [and what] answers we needed to answer," Carter said. "We realize that we can't answer every single thing, because there are too many threads to tie, but some of the bigger answers will take care of the littler questions." 
    Speaking of the movie, which will likely reach theaters in 2004, Carter said, "The movies are not going to depend on this finale, although there are important things in there. We are always going to be true to the characters, but we really see the movies as taking the best parts of the series - the Mulder [David Duchovny]-Scully [Gillian Anderson] relationship and the X-Files franchise--and doing stand-alone movies that are not dependent on the mythology [and that] are not dependent on the series. They are now their own thing: good, scary stories the way we've been telling them now for nine years, but for the big screen and with a lot of movie stuff in them." The X-FILES finale, "The Truth," will air on Fox May 19.
29.CREDITS MAY GET CANCELED 
    The roll of credits at the end of programs may become a thing of the past on Discovery Networks if the cable network gets its way. Naturally, some of the people whose names are in those credits aren't too happy with the idea. 
    Discovery Networks - which owns Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet, Discovery Health and the Travel Channel -- has been meeting with producers in recent weeks to get their OK on removing closing credits from shows on its networks. Discovery has found that audiences are about 30 percent more likely to stay with a channel between shows if credits are eliminated. 
    The idea has rubbed some producers the wrong way, and the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences may take up the issue. "Credits are the currency of Hollywood, and to the people who have them, they are worth their weight in gold," according to Television Academy CEO Bryce Zabel. He says that while the Academy doesn't have a formal position on closing credits, it may take one in the near future. "The credit [crawl] is what we are accustomed to and will be very unwilling to surrender," he says. 
    Discovery, which calls the plan "a work in progress," would move show credits to its web site, where they would remain for 60 days after a program's initial broadcast. Discovery would continue to honor current contracts that stipulate closing credits be run on specific shows, but all new contracts would would eliminate such clauses. 
    Credit scrolls have been speeded up, shrunk and moved to split screens in recent years. The latter practice, initiated by NBC to give space onscreen to promote upcoming programming, drew fire from several producers but has become a common practice on the broadcast networks.
30.ARE YOU A THIEF? 
    Do you have a VCR or Tivo unit that has the ability to skip over ads? Well if you do, according to Turner Broadcasting chief Jamie Kellner, you're a thief. Kellner explained, "Your contract with the network when you get the show is you're going to watch the spots. Otherwise you couldn't get the show on an ad-supported basis. Any time you skip a commercial . . . you're actually stealing the programming." Asked about viewers who go to the bathroom during commercial breaks, Kellner responded, "I guess there's a certain amount of tolerance for going to the bathroom. But if you formalize it and you create a device that skips certain second increments, you've got that only for one reason . . . to make it easy for someone to skip a commercial."

    BALTICON 36 will be held Memorial Day Weekend, May 24 - 27 at the Wyndham Inner Harbor Hotel in Baltimore. They offer activities and guests for a wide range of interests for science fiction fandom. Their literary programming will feature philosophical debates, story crafting tips and ideas, author readings and book signings. There will be separate poetry, academic, literary and media tracks, including an writer's workshop. Their science program continues with the kind of briefings you see for industry, academic and government leaders. Topics include NASA and space industry planning, launch systems, paleontology, DNA research and more. There will also be special sessions about art, costuming and children activities for kids 4-12. There'll be filking (science fiction-oriented folk music), a masquerade, a large dealer's room, a gaming room, a computer room, L.A.R..P. (Live Action Role Playing gaming), a gaming room and live theater (a LORD OF THE RINGS parody). Tickets are $40 until 3/17, $45 until 4/30 and $50 at the door (children 6-12 are $20/$23/$25). For tickets or answers to questions contact BALTICON 36/ P.O. Box 686/ Baltimore, MD., 21203-0686 or phone (410)JOE-BSFS [410-563-2737], e-mail: BSFS@balticon.org, fax # 410-879-3602 or go to the above link. 

    CREEP CON takes place at the Baltimore Convention Center from June 7-9. Guests include Anthony Head (Giles on BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER); Adam Busch ("Warren" on BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER); Robert Hall (Special Make-Up Effects for BUFFY, ANGEL and BLACK SCORPION); Warwick Davis (LEPRECHAUN, STAR WARS and WILLOW); Virginia Hey (FARSCAPE, THE ROAD WARRIOR); Kane Hodder ("Jason" FRIDAY THE 13th films); Alexxus Young (scream queen, star of the upcoming ARACHNIA); Muse Watson ("Fisherman" from I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER), David Carradine (KUNG FU); Ben Chapman (THE CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON); Bill Moseley (TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE 2); Linnea Quigley, Miguel Nunez, Jewel Shepard, Beverly Randolph Hartley, Jules Brenner, Brian Peck, John Philbin,Don Calfa, Kenny Myers and William Stout (all from RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD); Leonard Lies and Marty Schiff (both from DAWN OF THE DEAD); Brian Penikas (special make-up effects artist); Jerome Blake (STAR WARS: EPISODE II - ATTACK OF THE CLONES); Mike Quinn (RETURN OF THE JEDI); Michonne Bourriague (STAR WARS: EPISODE I - PHANTOM MENACE); Shannon Baksa (STAR WARS RPG model); Debbie Rochon (NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD); Dick Durock (SWAMP THING); Edwin Neal (TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE); Reggie Bannister (PHANTASM series); Kevin Summerfield (director SLEEPY HOLLOW HIGH 1 & 2); Velvet Chain (L.A. band that's appeared on BUFFY); Darling Violetta (California band that did the theme for ANGEL); Frank Cho (comic artist); Virgil (WWF Superstar); Remy Marks (model and Playmate) and Nicole Wood (Playboy Playmate, Miss April 93). Scheduled events include a special Friday Night, Creep Con Opening Ceremony at The Vault on Baltimore St. The show is limited to only 200 Tickets. It starts at 6:00 and continues through the night. There will be open bar and food available. Doors open Saturday and Sunday at 10 AM for VIP ticket holders, 11 AM for everyone else. General admission at the door is $20 per day, or $30 for the weekend. General admission in advance is $15 per day, or $25 for the weekend. V.I.P. Gold are $125 each. These passes give you admission on Saturday and Sunday 1 hour earlier than the general public, access to the Friday Night Creep Con Opening Ceremony, one free autograph from most guests appearing on stage and best seating in the auditorium for the guests Q&A sessions and special events at the show. For further information or tickets either click on the link at the beginning or (for you snail mailers) contact FOD Entertainment/ C/O Creep Convention/ P.O. Box 2139/ Glen Burnie, MD 21060-2139. 

    ASIAN FANTASY FILM EXPO 3 is being held on June 15 & 16 at the Holiday Inn & Conference Center in Saddle Brook, New Jersey. This is THE convention for people who like their monsters large, aggressive and Japanese. Guests include  Shusuke Kaneko (director of GODZILLA • MOTHRA • KING GHIDORAH: GIANT MONSTERS ALL-OUT ATTACK), Teruyoshi Nakano (special effects director of Godzilla films in the 70's and 80's), Shinichi Yokokawa (with Bandai, creator of Japanese monster character toys), Carl Craig (the American Boy Scout in DESTROY ALL PLANETS), Bob Eggleton (America's leading Godzilla artist) and Remy Marks (fantasy model and Playmate). One day passes are $10 in advance, $12 at the door. Two day passes are $18 and are available only in advance. Children age 5 and under are free. To order click on the above link or contact P.O. Box 1614 Fort Lee, NJ 07024/ 201-587-8112/ fax: 201-587-8114. 

    SHORE LEAVE 24 is being held July 12, 13 and 14 at the Marriott Hunt Valley Inn in Hunt Valley, Maryland. Their interesting assortment of guests range from show business celebrities to writers to scientists. Their show biz guests include John Billingsley (Dr. Phlox in ENTERPRISE), James Marsters (Spike in BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER), Richard Biggs (Dr. Stephen Franklin in BABYLON 5), Julie Caitlin Brown (Na'Toth in BABYLON 5), Jason Carter (Ranger Marcus Cole in BABYLON 5), Dee Wallace Stone (the mother in E.T.), Richard Herd (V's Supreme Cmdr; guest in TNG/VOY) and Spice Williams (Vixis in STAR TREK V). The author guests include Jim Butcher, Greg Cox, Ann C. Crispin, Peter David, Keith R.A. DeCandido, Kevin Dilmore, Michael Jan Friedman, Dave Galanter, Robert Greenberger, Jeffrey Lang, Marco Palmieri, Roberta Rogow, Dayton Ward, Howard Weinstein and Joan Winston. The science guests include; from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center astrophysicists Dr. David Batchelor, Dr. Kirk Borne and Dr. Dan Delaney. JPL-NASA Solar System Ambassador Dr. Loretta McKibben will be there. From Hubble astrophysicists Dr. Keith Noll, Dr. Sean O'Brien, Dr. Massimo Stiavelli, Mr. Ray Villard and Dr. Mark Voit. Finally astronaut and shuttle pilot and commander Richard A. Searfoss will be there. Other guests include f/x wizard Adam "Mojo" Lebowitz, musical group The Boogie Knights, science fiction cartoonist and satirist Tye Bourdony, artist Gayle Freyman and comedy act Luna-C. Among the events are a special Klingon Feast with Spice Williams, a special benefit concert given by Julie Caitlin Brown, a special meet-the-pros party to mingle with writing and science guests, a filk concert, a Saturday evening masquerade, dancing in Ten-Forward, the Prometheus Radio Theatre performing Episode 7 in their continuing series, "The Arbiter Chronicles," a Sunday Evening Showcase Theater by The Not Ready For Paramount Players, an art show and, as you'd expect, a large dealer's room. They'll be fan panels, special workshops and special science programming. If this looks good to you, and you want to pre-register, you'd better hurry. Pre-registartion ends May 31. At that point it's $50 for adults and $12 for children 5-12 (under 5 is free). After May 31 it'll be at the door only and the costs will be the weekend for $60, Friday only for $15, Saturday only for $35 (includes Masquerade and Ten-Forward), Saturday evening only for $10 for admission to the Masquerade and Ten Forward only, Sunday only for $30 and children (5-12) will still be $12 and under 5 free. For more information you can click the above link, drop a line to Shore Leave 24/ P.O. Box 6809/ Towson, MD 21285-6809 or you can call 410-496-4456. 

    OTAKON 2002 will take place on July 26, 27 and 28 at the Baltimore Convention Center. This is a very large anime' convention. Their guest list is pending. Activities include the Otakon Gameshow, Live Action Role-Play (LARP), the Otakon 2002 Masquerade and costume contests and fashion show, an anime' music video contest, karaoke and a karaoke Gong Show, workshops and lots of video gaming. Admission is $40 until May 4 and $45 until July 8. For more information either click on the above link or contact Otakon 2002 Registration, 491 Baltimore Pike #689, Springfield, PA 19064-3810.

    MAY 17: STAR WARS: EPISODE II: ATTACK OF THE CLONES continues the epic story of the fall, and eventual redemption, of Anakin Skywalker. Anakin (Hayden Christensen) has grown into the accomplished Jedi apprentice of Obi-Wan (Ewan McGregor), who himself has transitioned from student to teacher. The two Jedi are assigned to protect Padmé (Natalie Portman) whose life is threatened by a faction of political separatists. As relationships form and powerful forces collide, these heroes face choices that will impact not only their own fates, but the destiny of the Republic. The movie was once again written and directed by George Lucas (with a script polish by Jonathan Hales). 

    MAY 24: INSOMNIA is the English-language remake of (of all things) a 1997 Norwegian film-noir that starred Stellan Skarsgard. In this version a big city police detective (Al Pacino) is sent to a small Alaskan town to assist with the investigation of the murder of a small girl. He's punch drunk from lack of sleep (he's there during the period of 24-hour sunshine). He accidentally shoots his own partner (Martin Donovan) while trying to apprehend the suspect (Robin Williams). Instead of admitting his guilt, the detective is given an unexpected alibi, but this "solution" only multiplies the emotional complexity and guilt over his partner's death. He's also still got a murder mystery to solve, in addition to the blackmail and framing (of an innocent bystander) being orchestrated by the man they were chasing. There's also a local detective (Hilary Swank) who is conducting her own personal investigation of his partner's death. Will it all come crashing down on him? See for yourself. The movie was directed by Christopher Nolan (MEMENTO). The screenwriter is Hillary Seitz, making her debut. 

    MAY 31: THE SUM OF ALL FEARS debuts Ben Affleck in the role of Tom Clancy's hero, Jack Ryan (previously played by Alec Baldwin and Harrison Ford). European neo-Nazi terrorists get their hands on a lost nuclear device, and set about on their plans to use it at the Super Bowl. The plan is to disguise the attack as being caused by Russia, in the hopes of rekindling the Cold War. Luckily, young CIA analyst Jack Ryan is on the case. Also in the cast are Liev Schrieber playing a CIA operative, Bridget Moynahan who plays Ryan's girlfriend, Morgan Freeman playing Ryan's mentor; James Cromwell as the president and Alan Bates as the main villain. The director is Phil Alden Robinson (SNEAKERS, FIELD OF DREAMS). The screenwriters are Akiva Goldsman (BATMAN & ROBIN, LOST IN SPACE) and Paul Attanasio (DONNIE BRASCO, DISCLOSURE, QUIZ SHOW). 
    The Muslim terrorists of the novel have been modernized for the film to be European neo-Nazi terrorists. Prior to September 11, there was a move away from portraying Muslims as stock terrorist villains, partly because of protests by Arab-American groups. But now, after 9/11, Islamic terrorists don't seem quite so "worn out" as villains. This movie, in a way, is sort of a time capsule of our former innocence. 
    Also in the novel, Ryan is already CIA Director at this point, but to allow for the younger Ben Affleck to start this franchise anew, Jack Ryan is being de-aged to just being an analyst (and single, as well). This young version is closer to the version of Jack Ryan that Alec Baldwin played in THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER than Ford's.

    Damon Knight; author, editor and founder of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association of America, died April 15 at Sacred Heart Hospital in Eugene, Ore., after a long illness. While many will remember him as a ground-breaking science fiction author, it may be the field of science fiction criticism will serve as his greatest legacy. 
    Before Knight science fiction was considered a light-weight piece of popular culture - utterly disposable and forgettable. Patrick Nielsen Hayden, his editor at Tor books, said Knight "was the first person to take the serious trouble of reviewing contemporary science fiction and hold it up to the standards of intelligent mainstream fiction in various magazines in the late '40s and early '50s." It was for his 1956 book of critical reviews, entitled In Search of Wonder: Essays on Modern Science Fiction (which is still in print and is considered one of the important works of science fiction criticism), that Knight won his only Hugo Award. An argument could be made that, without a reviewer and scholar the likes of Damon Knight taking science fiction seriously STAR TREK, STAR WARS and the many other big budget sci-fi extravaganzas of the last several decades, would have had a tough time getting off the ground. 
    His best-known short story is "To Serve Man," which was published in 1950. It got turned into one of the most memorable TWILIGHT ZONE episodes of all time in 1962. He was very proud of it. Last Christmas, he had the original story printed on linen paper, encased it in a plastic spine, and gave signed and numbered copies to 17 family members. 
    His passing leaves a gaping hole in the field of science fiction. Many well-known authors writing today got key help from him when they were coming up the ladder. We can only hope that they'll carry on his passion for excellence in a very maligned field. Damon Knight was 79. 

    Amelia Bacheler, died. Don't strain yourself. You don't know her name. But you've seen her hundreds, maybe thousands of times. A job she took in 1936, for which she received $25, assured her of the record for appearing in more motion pictures than any other individual. She's the actress who held the torch aloft in Columbia Pictures' logo. She died on April 15 in Santa Monica, CA at the age of 94.

FRI. 3: MOVIE - SPIDER-MAN premieres 
           TV - DARK ANGEL 90 minute season finale 

SAT. 4: EVENT: Free Comic Book Day 

FRI. 10: TV - SABRINA, THE TEENAGE WITCH season finale 

SUN. 12: TV - ALIAS season finale 
            TV - THE OFFICIAL STAR WARS FAN FILM AWARDS airs on Sci-Fi 

MON. 13: TV - MUTANT X season finale airs this week 
           TV - GENE RODDENBERRY'S ANDROMEDA season finale airs this week 
           TV - GENE RODDENBERRY'S EARTH FINAL CONFLICT series finale airs this week 

TUE. 14: TV - ROSWELL series finale 

THU. 16: MOVIE - STAR WARS: EPISODE II: ATTACK OF THE CLONES premieres. 
            TV-  CHARMED season finale 

SAT 18: ICS MEETING 

SUN. 19: TV - THE X-FILES series finale 

MON. 20: TV - ANGEL season finale 
           TV - RELIC HUNTER season finale airs this week 

TUE. 21: TV - BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER 2 hour-season finale 
           TV - 24 season finale 
           TV - SMALLVILLE season finale 

WED. 22: TV - ENTERPRISE season finale 

FRI. 24 - MON. 27: EVENT- BALTICON 36

FRI. 24: MOVIE - INSOMNIA premieres 

MON. 27: TRACKER series finale airs this week 

FRI. 31: MOVIE - THE SUM OF ALL FEARS premieres