Syfy Renews 'Stargate Universe' For 2nd Season

MadProfessah is a big fan of science fiction in general, and although I was somewhat agnostic about the television series Stargate: Atlantis and Stargate: SG-1, they were in my DVR and so is the latest version of the NBC Universal franchise: Stargate Universe. Thus I am happy at the news that it has been renewed for a second season, half-way through its first.

Apparently ratings have been good, averaging 2.6 million views (including 7-day DVR views).

And at Hollywood Reporter, there are interesting tidbits on what we can expect to see when the first season resumes on April 2.

With a fall-finale cliffhanger that left the ethically compromised Dr. Rush (Robert Carlyle) stranded on a planet, [executive producer Robert] Cooper said the season's second half will become more serialized and build on the fractures within the show's group of spaceship-trapped castaways.

"The implications of leaving Rush on the planet, the real division that will cause amongst the crew, the judgment of those characters and their actions are going to have a big impact on the show," Cooper said. "We have a lot of things planned for the second half of the season."

The show also plans to have more scenes set on the ship, as opposed to cutting back to drama on Earth, and will introduce a full-bodied alien.

"There is a big story point coming up that does introduce an alien race," Cooper said. "It's more along the line of a "District 9"-type alien. Our interaction is handled in a very "Universe" way; they're not the typical "Stargate" alien bad guys."

Interesting. I loved the alien from District 9. Popular sci-fi author and blogger John Scalzi is a creative consultant on the show, and alerted me to its renewal.

'Outrage' appearing on HBO

Kirby Dick's Outrage (see MadProfessah's A review) will be airing repeatedly on HBO during the month of October:

Oct. 5: 9:00-10:30 p.m. ET/PT

Oct. 5: 2:30 a.m.

Oct. 8: 1:00 p.m., 8:30 p.m.

Oct. 11: 10:30 a.m.

Oct. 14: 4:25 a.m.

Oct. 15: 6:00 p.m.

Oct. 20: 3:30 p.m., 12:05 a.m.

Oct. 24: 6:30 p.m.

Oct. 30: 4:00 p.m.

HBO2:

Oct. 14: 8:00 p.m.

Oct. 22: 12:05 a.m.

Oct. 28 11:00 a.m

It is a must-see film!

Lost's Michael Emerson Wins Best Supporting Actor Emmy!

Michael Emerson, who plays the evil Ben on Lost, probably my favorite television show, has finally been recognized by the Emmy awards for his amazing work on that program.

In other television news, 30 Rock won again for Best Comedy Series and Mad Men (which I have never seen, and probably never will) won Best Drama Series. Happily, Glenn Close won Best Actress in a Dramatic Series for Damages (which is another of my favorites).

Barack Obama Wants You To Watch Him Tonight!

Dear Friend,

As you read this, we are closer than ever to passing comprehensive health insurance reform that benefits American families and small businesses. Despite all the back and forth in the news right now, it is important to understand just how far we've come in this challenging process.

That's why I'm holding a press conference tonight at 8pm ET, and writing to let everyone know where we are, what's ahead, and why health insurance reform is so important.

Let me be clear: although Congress is still debating parts of the legislation we have achieved critical consensus on several key areas:

If you already have health insurance: reform will provide you with more security and stability. It will limit your own out of pocket costs and prevent your insurance company from dropping your coverage if you get too sick. You'll also have affordable insurance options if you lose or change your job. And it will cover preventive care like check-ups and mammograms that save lives and money.

If you don't have health insurance: you will finally have guaranteed access to quality, affordable health care, and you can choose the plan that best suits your family's needs. And no insurance company will be allowed to deny you coverage because of a pre-existing medical condition.

Now, I realize that the last few miles of any race are the hardest to run, but we can't stop now. There's no dispute about it: we cannot control our long-term fiscal health as a nation without health insurance reform. American families and small businesses understand that the health insurance status quo is taking away those things that they value most about health care. The stability and security that comes with knowing that you can get the treatment you need, when you need it. Without reform, we are consigning our children to a future of skyrocketing premiums and crushing deficits.

We have to seize this opportunity and pass health insurance reform this year. You can help by forwarding this email to your family and friends and letting them know what's at stake in this debate.

Thank you,
Barack Obama

P.S. Tune in to tonight's press conference on health insurance reform at 8pm ET on WhiteHouse.gov.

Celebrity Friday: Jill Scott Has A New Baby (and Ex)

One of MadProfessah's favorite singers Jill Scott delivered her son Jett Hamilton Roberts on April 20th at 4:20pm. He weighed 7 and a half pounds at birth. Gee, I wonder if they will give him the nickname "Weed"? The father was her then-fiancé Lil Jon Roberts, a drummer she had been dating since 2007 (pictured above). The two have since broken up.

She tells Essence magazine, "He (Roberts) was there (for the birth) and for a couple of days afterwards while I stayed in the hospital, but John and I are no longer together.

"When you have a baby you're dealing with a lot of emotions and I don't know how much of it had to do with us breaking up, but it happens.

"We definitely love our son and we are co-parenting and working on being friends. I have hopes for (Jett) and I'm sure his father will do his part as well."

However, Scott admits she sympathises with other single mothers, especially youngsters who find themselves bringing up kids on their own.

She adds, "My heart and prayers go out to all single mums because it's tough, and I can't imagine any teenager dealing with a baby and all those hormones raging. I can afford to have this child at 37 because I have a support system... but I don't understand how any mother does it alone.

Jill has been starring in HBO's television series The No.1 Ladies Detective Agency (based on the best-selling books by Alexander McCall Smith) which is set in Botswana (and shot on location). She has done such a good job she was widely thought to be in line for an Emmy nomination, but alas only CCH Pounder received a nomination as a guest star.

VIDEO: Serena Williams on Letterman

Celebrity Friday: Mehcad Brooks

Steaming hot Mehcad Brooks has done the impossible, growing even hotter in his appearances on HBO's True Blood. MadProfessah has been ogling Mr. Brooks since 2005, when he appeared on Desperate Housewives.

Brooks is one of the best things to look at on the intriguing HBO show which is already chockful of hot man flesh. His character's name on True Blood is Eggs Benedict Talley.He has clearly been spending time in the gym and now features what looks like an "eight pack."

What I like most about him is his smile. Really!

Hat/tip to Rod 2.0

SCI FI FRI: Battlestar Galactica Ends Tonight!

Once called "the best show on television," the Peabody award-winning Battlestar Galactica ends its original series run tonight on the soon to-be-named "Sy Fy Channel" (formerly SciFi channel).

VIDEO: New "Simpsons" Opening Sequence

The opening sequence of The Simpsons has changed. (hat/tip Joe.My.God)

Sci Fi Friday: Battlestar Galactica is Back!

With the end of Stargate: Atlantis, the only thing to watch on SciFi Friday is Battlestar Galactica, which some have called "the best show on television." During the gap since the first half of the final season, the show aired some webisodes which explicitly revealed that one of the characters was gay, and Queerty calls the show "gay vague." MadProfessah agrees that BSG used to be the best thing on TV, but now that title has been grabbed by Lost after it's amazing season last year. BSG returns tonight, and Lost returns next Wednesday January 21.

Real World Brooklyn Features Gay and Transgender Members

J.D. (Latino gay man)


Katelynn

MTV's Real World stopped being in my DVR a looooong time ago but I may have to put the 21st edition of the show, Real World: Brooklyn because not only do they have a (cute!) gay Latino man in the cast but also a transgender named KateLynn who (along with a third castmember) all volunteer at the New York City Gay and Lesbian Community Center during this season.

What do you think? Are you gonna watch the show? There's also some dish around JD: He may or may not be Anderson Cooper's ex-boyfriend.