IT'S ALL IN THE GENES! 'ALPHAS' SEASON TWO RETURNS TO UK HD

The Super Seven are back. ALPHAS Season Two. Image: SYFY CHANNEL.

Making a final farewell on the UK's SYFY Channel HD this week, from Thursday evenings, the second thirteen episode season of the supercharged, superhuman character drama ALPHAS, originally created by Zak Penn and Michael Karnow, proves a hit and miss affair after a previous, generally positive debut in 2011. Last season's well developed, escalating civil war between the our Alpha heroes (helped by their vulnerable human security back-up) against the wannabe world-changers, Red Flag, ended in tragedy, but critically saw in the emergence of a new enemy power player: Stanton Parish (a creepy but engaging performance from Jon Pyper-Ferguson), the mysterious, long living leader of a far more dangerous terror cell with a grudge against humanity. In the midst of this, kindly non-powered leader of the Alphas, Doctor Lee Rosen (the always excellent David Strathairn), breaks his silence about the existence of Alphas to a shocked world, and has suffer the consequences of his actions. So far so, so good, right? Follow on events in the second season opener prove interesting, as our broken up heroes have to reassemble, in not the best of personal circumstances, to rescue two of their own from a Guantanamo Bay-esque prison for people with unique skills. But from there, it strangely takes a while for the show to get back up to speed, slightly bogged down by several additional new characters and secondary plot developments that ultimately prove unnecessary (yes, Azita Ghanizada (playing senses charged Rachel, rapidly becoming less insecure about herself and her abilities) is lovely and looks terrific in lingerie, but her slightly comedic romance with non-Alpha security officer John Bennett (Steve Byers) is pretty time wasting), whilst other characters deserving of more screen time and development have little to do, like the intriguing "pusher" Nina (Laura Mennell) and weighty Bill (Malik Yoba), who, at the start of the season, has an addiction linked to a kind of underground fight club for Alphas- a clumsy plot strand that ultimately goes nowhere and soon disappears.

Trailer: Alphas season 2 New Trailer - YouTube

Emerging characters Danielle Rosen (Kathleen Munroe) and the vengeful Stanton Parish (Jon Pyper-Ferguson)

Behind the scenes, I think the loss/disappearance of Season One producer Ira Steven Behr and series co-creator Zak Penn, both of whom have a strong ability to write and fuse character drama and action, were keenly felt this year, and I think too many new behind the scenes cooks were trying to make their mark on an evolving series that really didn't need to have the rug pulled form under it just as it was finding its feet with audiences...

Fortunately, the antagonism between Rosen and Parish, with the latter's daughter Danielle (played by Kathleen Munroe) caught in the emotional crossfire, helps pick the the story and series up half way through, making it worth staying the course, backed up with some solid guest stars like Sean Astin and genre favourite Summer Glau. Events then lead to a genuinely enjoyable cliffhanger finale set in New York, now never to be resolved, which makes you wonder why the hell SYFY axed the damn show, and whether there are any real life Alphas out there capable of making them change their minds!

Season One of ALPHAS is now available on UK DVD: Alphas - Season 1 [DVD]: Amazon.co.uk: David Strathairn, Ryan Cartwright, Warren Christie, Azita Ghanizada, Laura Mennell, Malik Yoba, Erin Way: Film & TV

GAINING MOMENTUM. 'STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION' SEASON TWO HD ARRIVES ON UK TV

Firmly into the Final Frontier. The cast of STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION. Images: PARAMOUNT.

Those technology acquiring terrors, The Borg, make their stunning HD TV debut on the UK's SYFY Channel soon, as the exclusive first run transmissions of the painstakingly remastered STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION boldly go into their second exciting season from tonight at 7pm. As well as the Borg, there were many other firsts this year, namely the introduction of several new characters to the U.S.S. Enterprise under the stern command of Jean-Luc Picard: playing Doctor Beverly Crusher the previous season, actress Gates McFadden sadly departed the show after behind the scenes tussles with then stubborn Co-Executive Producer Maurice Hurley, who replaced her with Diana Muldaur, another talented actress who already had links with the original CLASSIC TREK series (with two episodic appearances), as the newly arrived Doctor Kate Pulaski: a dedicated and passionate physician just like Crusher but whose crusty personality and way of dealing with patients is very familiar to fans who loved DeForest Kelly's wonderful and iconic performance as Leonard McCoy, sparring with Data (Brent Spiner), whom she is at first wary of, in a way not unlike "that old country Doctor" did with his highly intelligent and honest Vulcan antagonist, Spock. Celebrated film actress Whoopi Goldberg, at the peak of her career, also joins TNG for welcome special appearances from Season Two onwards, playing the ships other counsellor in many ways, as barkeep of the new Ten Forward bar/recreation area of the Enterprise, where the crew can get to unwind and the writers can develop our heroes off-duty personalities a bit better-a clever idea added to the show by Roddenberry, who still had a firm producer-ship hand on his baby at that point in time, of which the revolving door of incoming and outgoing writers still gained momentum, though Maurice Hurley remained the creators most successful storytelling ally. A lifelong fan and admirer of the original landmark TREK, Goldberg subtly shines as Guinan, becoming an essential part of the new shows continuing success, of which her scenes with Patrick Stewart as Picard shine brightly, especially in this first batch. Further adding to the show, series regulars Michael Dorn and LeVar Burton get new and improved job positions (Lt. Worf now security officer, and Geordi La Forge in charge of Engineering-finally a trusted pair of hands with the ships dilithium crystals!) and costume changes. Plus some mild and deserved set re-designs here and there, too. Even a new shuttlecraft!

Star Trek: The Next Generation on Blu-Ray - Season 2 Trailer #01 - YouTube

Picard (Patrick Stewart) defends Data (Brent Spiner) as a sentient being in The Measure of a Man. 

Klingon couple: Worf (Michael Dorn) and K'Ehleyr (Suzie Plakson) are reunited in The Emissary.

Data and Geordi (LeVar Burton) are the new Holmes and Watson in Elementary, Dear Data.

Creative and character improvements are noticed quickly, but opening episodes do start off a little shaky, due to a crippling writers strikes in 1988, which forces the production team to adapt unused scripts from the aborted seventies TREK series: PHASE II. But things pick up near the mid-point, as the season finally launches into its delayed creative stride. Old villains the Romulans, re-introduced at the end of Year One, continue to make a mark, as do the Klingons, building on a fine return as a now bearded Riker (Jonathan Frakes) becomes one of their officers in A Matter of Honour. Data (and his real-life alter-ego, Brent Spiner, having a good run of stories to play with this time) is put on trial by Star Fleet for reasons of ownership in the award-winning and intelligent The Measure of a Man, Picard meets his future self in the chilling Time Squared, and looks into the death of an old friend, and the discovery of a long lost time travelling civilisation, in Contagion, whilst Worf (Michael Dorn) meets his old flame, the striking K'Ehleyr (memorably played by Suzie Plakson) in near season ender The Emissary. Oh, and then there's that aforementioned Borg episode, the stunning Q Who? , originally planned as the Season Two premiere but delayed due to the strike, as the insidious and craftily omnipotent alien Q (the always wicked John de Lancie) sends the Enterprise light years across the galaxy to their first unsettling encounter with the assimilating foes, and paving the way for an epic Season Three adventure that will send the series into the stratosphere of critical acclaim and viewing figures.

Season Two of STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION was justifiably starting to prove itself as its own unique series, and was now, most definitely, here to stay...

Season Three of THE NEXT GENERATION in HD arrives on the UK SY FY CHANNEL sometime next year.

The first two seasons of STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION are also available on Blu-ray. Get them here:

Star Trek: The Next Generation - Season 1 Blu-ray Region Free: Amazon.co.uk: Film & TV

Star Trek: The Next Generation - Season 2 Blu-ray 1988 Region Free: Amazon.co.uk: Patrick Stewart, Jonathan Frakes, Brent Spiner, Michael Dorn, LeVar Burton, Marina Sirtis, Diana Muldaur, Wil Wheaton: Film & TV

OUTER SPACE GRIT! 'BATTLESTAR GALACTICA: BLOOD & CHROME' BEGINS...

World War Cylon. The new BATTLESTAR GALACTICA saga BLOOD & CHROME begins. Image: SYFY CHANNEL.

The war between man and machine far out in the Twelve Colonies of Mankind is renewed, but it's back to the beginning for the modern re-imagined saga of BATTLESTAR GALACTICA with the fast paced launch of it's exciting prequel web series BLOOD & CHROME, overseen by series veterans David Eick and Michael Taylor, directed by Jonas Plate, and planned for US SYFY CHANNEL transmission as a likely one-off TV-movie in February 2013.

Airing in taster instalments on Youtube, BLOOD charts the career of the GALACTICA's legendary commander, William Adama (Luke Pasqualino), in his younger persona as a Viper pilot fighting the Cylon menace, years before becoming military custodian to the last remnants of the human race. Visually it looks terrific-mixing the worlds of GALACTICA and its one-off season successor CAPRICA- and full of gritty action/adventure adding to the series mythos with new characters and events, during a time when the mighty Galactica was a top of the line ship-of-war carrier, that will surely keep fans of the modern incarnation thoroughly entertained...

"Episode 1" - Battlestar Galactica: Blood and Chrome - YouTube
"Episode 2" - Battlestar Galactica: Blood and Chrome - YouTube
"Episodes 3 & 4" - Battlestar Galactica: Blood and Chrome - YouTube
Battlestar Galactica: Blood & Chrome episodes 5 and 6 | SciFiNow
"Episodes 7&8" Battlestar Galactica: Blood and Chrome - YouTube

'STAR TREK:THE NEXT GENERATION's UK FIREWORKS DAY RETURN!

Back at warp speed: the Season One cast of STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION. Image: CBS PARAMOUNT.

For die-hard fans completely drained of their money (and probable life savings!) by last week's fun but ultimately rip-off DESTINATION: STAR TREK LONDON convention (so expensive I'm surprised attendees weren't charged for breathing air!), probably unable to buy the recent Blu-ray high definition release of Season One of STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION, there's some good news on the horizon, as the entire remastered first season of Gene Roddenberry's late eighties phenomenon will now be getting it's exclusive premiere on UK digital satellite TV, courtesy of the SYFY CHANNEL, from 7pm November 5th onwards-probably the finest home you could get for the show these days, and an actual sci-fi series for the channel to screen that it is actually pure 100 per cent genre! Additionally, SYFY have also purchased the other modern TREKs, strangely bar ENTERPRISE, for exclusive airtime, of which, despite their non re-mastering (at the present time), they'll also look the best you can get them in HD. For TREK rerun addicts who can never get enough, and for new generations of fans-to-be tuning in, the 24th Century has never looked brighter or more streamlined...

Season Two of STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION, with its super episodes like the Data on trial The Measure of a Man and the Borg introduction QWho?, makes it's debut on Blu-ray from CBS PARAMOUNT in December.

Star Trek: The Next Generation on Blu-Ray - Trailer Season 2 - YouTube

Get it here: Star Trek: The Next Generation - Season 2 Blu-ray Region Free: Amazon.co.uk: Film & TV

IT'S IN THE GENES... 'ALPHAS' SEASON TWO

A brave new world continues for the ALPHAS. Images: SY FY CHANNEL.

The cat was spectacularly out of the bag in the closing moments of the premiere season finale of the popular SYFY channel's original superhuman/human drama series, ALPHAS, as our small band of diverse and complicated characters watched in shock and awe as their non-powered leader, Doctor Lee Rosen (the kindly looking character actor David Strathairn), revealed the once secret existence of the next stage of biological development to a surprised world of homo sapiens in a bid to try and stop a long gestating, quickly escalating war against humanity by their sworn ideologically opposite enemies, Red Flag, led by the mysterious long-lived Stanton Parish (John Pyper-Ferguson), of which a prior opening salvo between man and super-man had led to tragic consequences...

Dr. Rosen (David Strathairn), Bill (Malik Yorba) and Gary (Ryan Cartwright) are hostages in the opening episode Wake Up Call.

Now, as the 13 episode Season Two continues its run in the US (though no UK airdate yet-presumably September 2012 on the 5* channel), its a time of dangerous instability for our separated and fragile, emotionally pulled back team (comprising strength enhanced FBI agent Bill (Malik Yorba), voice controlling "pusher" Nina (Laura Mennell), agile hyperkenetic Cameron (Warren Christie), super senses linguist Rachel (Azita Ghanizada) and young autistic telecommunications tracker/transductor Gary (Ryan Cartwright), who quickly reform when two of their own are captured in the opening episode, and continue their on/off pursuit of Red Flag, along the way helping save the lives of innocent and incredibly powered Alphans whose latent talents are only just emerging, and whom soon prove themselves vulnerable to manipulation or exposure without their help. Upcoming episodes include the team discovering a FIGHT-CLUB like environment for young Alphans, an individual possessing incredible super-speed, and another capable of causing hallucinations. There's the discovery of an intriguing device capable of enhancing Alphan powers ever further, whilst, on a personal level, Rosen's complex relationship with his wayward but gifted, empathic daughter, Dani (Kathleen Munroe), takes a turn for the worse when she dates Cameron, whilst her allegiance to the new "vision" of Red Flag under the Svengali-like Stanton Parish grows. Meanwhile, Gary tries to shake the pain of guilt and loss felt by his friend Anna's death-and their once shared bond in unique power- from the end of Season One, in a mourning process ultimately leading him into discovering a new part of his humanity and individualism...

Season Two trailer: Alphas - Season 2 Trailer - YouTube

Spunky new heroine Kat (Erin Way).

A welcome addition to the group and the series comes in the fast and loose young form of partial amnesiac Kat, as played by Erin Way: a soon kick-ass and vital recruit possessing the ability to absorb any skills she can see or read, whilst other great guest stars for this season include THE LORD OF THE RINGS Sean Astin as an Alpha with incredible brain power, SOUTHLAND's C. Thomas Howell, and NCIS's Lauren Holly as a shady politician with ties to our heroes. Season One guest star, and cult TV and film favourite, pixie-like Summer Glau, also returns for three episodes as the quirky Alphan scientist/tech wizard on the run, Skylar Adams. In the critical behind the scenes area of the show, previous season producer Robert Hewitt Wolfe returns, working with new producer Ben Miller, to keep the series travelling the right road, along with co-creator Michael Kernow; the trio deepening the character relationships, spicing up the action and delivering an all-round better produced new run that forges its identity away from early Stateside criticisms that the show was just another version of HEROES.

Long may the super powered TV adventures continue for these particularly intriguing and likably developing heroes...

HIGH DEFINITION HEROISM! 'HUMAN TARGET' AND 'ALPHAS' RETURN!

Motorway madness! Mark Valley returns in HUMAN TARGET. Image: FOX

Good action heroes never go out of style, and especially not Christopher Chance, played with dependable charm and physicality by the likable Mark Valley in the popular US adventure/light comedy hybrid HUMAN TARGET. The shows unnecessary second season revamp may have ultimately killed it off with viewers, but this first season, back in HD reruns on the UK SYFY Channel from tonight, was a promising debut that's often great fun.

A new breed of heroes: Season One of ALPHAS. Image: SYFY.

Finally being shown in HD after some very iffy picture quality in its premiere digital run on the FIVE USA channel last year, tonight SYFY also welcomes its first season screening of the humans with superpowers series, ALPHAS, an intriguing new variant on the kind of ideas seen in the X-MEN films (if a little more realistic, and without the leathers), which will be a nice primer for the upcoming second season later in the year.

If anyone out there reading this hasn't seen either of these shows, they're well worth a look-in...

A IS FOR 'ALPHAS'

Unpredictable heroes for an unpredictable world. The cast of ALPHAS. Image: SYFY CHANNEL.

Just because you have superpowers doesn't make you any less human-that seems to be the motto and ethics to the flawed but likeable heroic characters of the quiet but building success that became the SYFY Channel's hit series ALPHAS, created by Zak Penn and Michael Karnow, about to launch into what promises to be a story and character arc advancing second season in the US this summer, though its first set-up year is now available for viewers old and new to catch up with starting today, and every Saturday, on the FIVE USA channel in the UK.

Danger in New York for Dr. Lee Rosen (David Strathairn) in the show's third episode.

With a solid and exciting pilot episode that showed promise beyond what could have easily been a charmless rip-off X-MEN/HEROES format idea, the show is by no means original but has managed to create its own universe and format structure that's very enjoyable. It had a couple of slow early episodes, too, but confidently gained momentum in its second half, developing an ultimately interesting and reactionary story arc that gave our once everyday people turned heroes, led by the quietly dignified Dr. Lee Rosen (David Strathairn), a revolutionary terrorist force of equally powered baddies to fight against, whilst the government, working in conjunction with the Alphas to contain the escalating new biological situation, showed increasing strain in its relationship with their evolutionary raised band and the dangerous new super powered humans that seemed to be constantly springing up to endanger general homo sapient life. It seemed like a new kind of underground world war was inevitable by season one's end...

Brent Spiner makes a fine addition to the series guest star cast in the episode Blind Spots.

The series, with violent, often unexpected deaths, and intriguing surprises in places, also had some very good Cult TV guest stars in the form of THE BIONIC WOMAN's Lindsay Wagner (who might return to the series), FIREFLY's Sumer Glau (as a gifted, on-the-run techno-freak), STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION's Brent Spiner as a clever Hannibal Lecter-ish foe, without the cannibalistic tendencies but possessing an intriguing sonar-like ability, and LOST's sexy English babe Rebecca Mader as a mostly invisible assassin. Storyline/ episodes contributed by show producers Ira Steven Behr and Robert Hewitt Wolfe, who also brought dramatic impetus and flair to many great episodes of later STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE seasons, would make the duo ALPHAS ultimate, well deserved custodians for the rest of its premiere season, of which the show was all the better for their presence as they pushed its format boundaries and increased the character inter-action.

New destinies for our cast in Season Two?

There's no information as yet on the anticipated Season Two and its possible new story/character arcs and changes, apart from the fact that there is a new producer: Bruce Miller, who has been involved in several other SYFY CHANNEL hits including EUREKA, and other popular series like ER, but KOOL TV is hoping for even bigger, better things to come for our unique heroes and villains within their intriguing alternate reality world. Watch this space...

KOOL TV BABE OF THE WEEK: "ALPHAS" LAURA MENNELL

The new persuader: the lovely Laura Mennell, starring in the popular new sci-fi/action series ALPHAS. Image: SYFY CHANNEL/FIVE.

Blessed and cursed at the same time with the abilities to "push" people into doing whatever she asks of them, the lovely Canadian actress Laura Mennell, in her guise as Nina Theroux, one of the new team of super powered human beings in the popular sci-fi adventure series ALPHAS, is one hot lady who I'd certainly take orders from whether I was under her spell or not! Probably best known as Janey Slater, the doomed wife of Billy Crudup's Doctor Manhattan in the epic film adaptation of the WATCHMEN graphic novel, Miss Mennell has carved out a fine and lengthy career in popular TV series including SMALLVILLE, MILLENNIUM, THE 4400, EUREKA, SUPERNATURAL and FRINGE.

Laura's character of Nina is just one of six uniquely gifted people comprising the Alphas of the title (whose skills include heightened instincts, superhuman strength and the ability to intercept electronic signals), once individuals who come together and pull their incredible resources to investigate and fight crime for the government, headed up by Academy Award nominated character actor David Strathairn, who plays their equally talented, if "normal" leader,  Dr. Lee Rosen. Following on from such modern day hits as MARVEL COMICS film translation of X-MEN (of which this new series was created by one of the writers of its third hit film: Zak Penn, with Michael Karnow) and Tim Kring's HEROES, it's going to be interesting to see just what new ingredients its maker can bring to the premiere season show table in order to make it different, and also standout, from what has gone before- we've already seen and enjoyed the drama and problems of everyday people trying to survive the great hurdles and responsibilities that having these powers bring for the last ten years.

Trailer: Alphas Trailer - YouTube
Alphas Trailer - New Series - YouTube
Alphas - Full Trailer - YouTube

Receiving its UK transmission premiere on FIVE STAR next Tuesday night at 10pm, the series original States-side premiere episode, in which the team look into a shooting at a police headquarters, shown on the SYFY Channel, was quite low key at first, though reviews for its opener were generally positive. It has since gone on to gain further improved press reaction and enthusiasm from TV audiences over the next ten episodes, as well as second season renewal.

Impossible is what they do best! Our unlikely group of  heroes assemble. Will the world ever be the same again? 

So, it looks like the New Testament's meaning for the word "Alpha" shows continued promise for the series beyond its mere title!

Look out for more on ALPHAS on KOOL TV in the not too distant future...

THE FALL GUYS! THE UNFORTUNATE DEMISE OF "HUMAN TARGET"

Breaking point for Christopher Chance (Mark Valley) and the cast of HUMAN TARGET? Images: FOX

There's a very old and wise saying out there that says, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." Sadly, no one in film and TV executive land in Hollywood seems to be either aware of this saying or understand what it actually means, especially at FOX and with the producers of the second and now final season of the once popular action/adventure series HUMAN TARGET (which ended its UK run on the SYFY Channel this week), which underwent a major shake-up to its format that was both undeserved and unjustified in my opinions-the changes for the worse and certainly not for the better!


That the series terrific and stylish opening title theme by modern BATTLESTAR GALACTICA's Bear McCreary was gone -replaced by a mis-step wishy washy new re-arrangement by Tim Jones, whose incidental music for the new series as a whole was totally out of step and seemed more like something from an OCEAN'S ELEVEN movie, lacking the required excitement and drama- was the first of the bad omens. But more was to come with the ultimately unnecessary changes brought in by the network/writers (the Executive Producers seemingly taking a step back in the creative process and un-resistant to the changes, presumably going with the flow in the hope that it'll be successful enough to get the show a new season?) made to the actual overall format of the series, now over-tweaked, damaging the already fine cast dynamic to include two new characters (Indira Varma, as their new billionaire boss Ilsa Pucci, and Janet Montgomery as streetwise criminal, Ames) that the series, now TEAM TARGET rather the singular, seemed strained and over burdened, and resulting in our original cast of lead Mark Valley, Chi McBride and Jackie Earle Haley's screen time and plot-lines being diluted ever further. I'm assuming the introduction of the two female leads (presumably instigated by FOX and their dreaded "audience research" information) was designed to bring in the interests of hormone charged younger male teens and to open up the action showcased series to a larger female audience. In the end, the way the duo were written and developed as the series went on remained appeal-less and failed to win over or impress either sections of the audience the series producers hoped to gain.

Chance (Mark Valley) protects his new boss, Ilsa Pucci (Indira Varma) in one of the later episodes.

A shame, as Indira Varma is a good actress (you only have to see her work in ROME and early TORCHWOOD to see examples of that), but here she was wasted in a role that, despite a strong start, soon became cliched for the majority of the series, as Ilsa became the obligatory long-term love interest for Chance, resulting in it all becoming a tad too will they or won't they: of course they will! MOONLIGHTING'ish for my personal tastes. I would have preferred it better if Pucci had been an occasional contributor to the series rather than be in every episode and steal valuable story time from our original trio of stars, what with her hackneyed plotline over the run where we find out what happened to her murdered billionaire husband. Some of the writing/comedy shoe-horning in of Ilsa into the plots seemed forced and over the top, resulting in her character acting like a silly little girl out of her comfort zone, also seemed a little too much at times. Sorry to say, but fellow Brit Lucy Montgomery's addition as bolshy Hustler, tech-savvy Ames also proved pointless for the most part, despite the occasional fun apprentice learning from the master moments with Guerrero (Jackie Earle Haley, who managed to remain consistently excellent throughout the series and its script problems).

Jackie Earle Haley remained consistently good throughout the series changes as Guerrero.

Despite an enjoyable season opener (which saw a retired Christopher Chance brought back into the fold to help Ilsa Pucci), the early episodes that followed seemed strangely out of sync, formulaic and predictable, often thinly plotted and with a lack of edginess and identity for the most part, with fewer strong guest stars this time around to supplement them, and the return of popular characters from the previous season whose appearances this time out (like Lennie James) didn't have the same allure they once had. Later episodes improved, and there were some brave attempts here and there to incorporate more invention and humour into the series, alongside the occasional spark/chemistry moments reminding us as to why we all enjoyed that original first season of the series so much, like the episode with the hit woman out to kill her husband so as to get his military contract secrets (which included a superbly staged house/kitchen fight between her and Chance). The siege episode at the opera, with a guest appearance from 24’s Carlo Rota as a baddie, and including a fun scene with a terrorist captured Guerrero restrained and sporting a Hannibal Lecter mask, was also noteworthy. The series overall action (hand to hand fighting, gunplay and explosive stunt work) also remained as well directed and exciting to watch as ever, with good money pumped into ambitious adrenaline charged moments, but if you haven’t got great stories built around them, it all becomes a tad irrelevant and this soon became apparent with the decreasing audiences, especially worsening when FOX changed the series viewing time slot at the mid-point.

Chance races to protect Ilsa in the season finale.

In the end, not even the intelligence, charm and action agility of the always likable lead star, Mark Valley, as bodyguard supreme Christopher Chance, could save this show from entering the TV autopsy room. At times watching this season, it looked as if the humorous twinkle of making the show seen in Valley's eyes had diminished greatly-perhaps he knew that, with all the shows new format changes, Lady Luck's gift of renewal wasn't to be on his side this year.

So, with cast and crew now embarked on new assignments, it's goodbye to HUMAN TARGET. Your second season may have been tarnished by some ultimately unwise behind the scenes creative decisions, but your premiere year will be fondly remembered by fans for its welcome blending of action, danger, excitement and comedy for a long time to come...


KOOL TV OVERALL SERIES RATING: 2.5 out of 5

FROM BOY TO (SUPER)MAN: THE END OF "SMALLVILLE"

Earth's greatest hope! Tom Welling in SMALLVILLE. Image: WARNER BROTHERS

Tom Welling's admirable ten season stint as the Superman-to-be Clark Kent in the very popular CW network series SMALLVILLE comes to a close with a final season that will surely keep viewers glued to their seats packed full of exciting dramatic incident, action and iconic legends to be realised-many elements of which are more firmly rooted in the DC comics universe/series than ever before, but re-imagined with a modern take. Showing in the UK on the E4 channel from tomorrow evening (7th June 9pm) expect the ultimate judgment of Jor-El (as played by SUPERMAN movies ex-villain Terence Stamp), the return of V's Laura Vandervoort as Kara (Supergirl), James Marsters as Brainiac 5 (he's in everything these days! And he also has directing duties on the show this season!), Supe's girlfriend Lois Lane (Erica Durance) meeting the legendary Egyptian goddess Isis, plus the butt-kicking return of her military daddy, the original V's Michael Ironside, as Sam Lane, plus a trip back concerning the alternate universe with Clark Luthor and the dreaded eternity prison known as the Phantom Zone (with the re-emergence of General Zod as a physical force (now played by Callum Blue). What about that series favourite since its beginnings, Clark's personal nemesis, Lex Luthor (as played by the popular Michael Rosenbaum)? What trouble will his return bring in its wake?

All this and we haven't even gotten round to talking about the Apokolips yet!

Trailer: YouTube - Smallville Season 10 Trailer. (Comic Con 2010) HD

As the mighty John Williams SUPERMAN movies theme returns, and the Fortress of Solitude reveals clues to Clark's destiny, might the series ultimately end with the legendary last son of Krypton donning the famous red and blue costume? Well, if you haven't already seen Season Ten, I'm not going to tell you!! You'll just have to see it for yourself...

Other guest stars in this final year include Michael Shanks, Alessandro Juliani, and Lexa Doig, whilst directors include Jeannot Szwarc (who also way back made the only and only SUPERGIRL film with the lovely Helen Slater), the series lead star himself, Tom Welling, and HEROES Greg Beeman.

Wedded bliss to come for Clark and Lois (Erica Durance)?

The heroic legend may be coming to an end on one channel, but it's re-commenced on another, as the UK's SYFY CHANNEL HD returns to SMALLVILLE from its meteor crashing start today (Monday 6th June 5pm), for those who've never seen it and for all those die-hard fans who want to re-live the fun and adventure of the world's most enduring super-hero once again...

SECOND HELPINGS OF "V"

Anna (Morena Baccarin) gets her chomps out in the Season Two V episode Red Rain. Image: WARNER BROS.

It's an absolute bummer that the re-imagined V series was recently cancelled by the short-sighted network idiots as ABC TV-the show had greatly improved and was finally embracing many of the past elements from the original eighties mini-series, created by Kenneth Johnson, that had made it so recognisable and beloved to viewers. Still, despite the chop, and in celebration of all the hard work by the series cast and crew, who loved working on the show, head over to the UK's SYFY channel this weekend starting at mid-day pm today (Saturday) for a chance to see back-to-back episodes of both seasons in terrific HD. Re- watch and enjoy all the betrayal, murder, action and rodent munching of the glossy alien invasion series- as well as a star-making performance from Morena Baccarin as the evil Anna- all over again!

While there's life there's still hope, though, and dedicated V super-fan Ilana Rapp has set up a growing FACEBOOK campaign, PROJECT ALICE, to try and get the series renewed for a third year. Head over and give your support here: Project Alice | Facebook

Season One of the re-imagined V is on DVD and Blu-ray, whilst Season Two is expected at the end of the year.

KOOL TV BABE OF THE WEEK: "V"s LAURA VANDERVOORT

The ultimate V recruitment officer! Laura Vandervoort as Lisa in the re-imagined V. Image: NBC

Certainly no stranger to playing distinctive females who've come from another galaxy, first as Superman's cousin, Kara (aka SUPERGIRL), in nearly five seasons of the very popular hit series SMALLVILLE, and now playing Lisa, the reptile in human skin daughter of the evil Anna- overbearing, totally dominant leader of the Visitors and their secret armies in the re-imagined V series, the very pretty young Canadian actress Laura Vandervoort is certainly a bright and shiny star on the literal rise, as she adds another fine and subtle layer of character depth and drama to the popular series, as human emotions begin to take shape within Lisa as her love for sappy human shuttle pilot Tyler Evans continues to develop. No longer the temptress of Season One, under orders from her mother to lure Tyler up to the mothership for a life amongst the V's, Lisa has actually started to love the human male, and, in aiding the Human Fifth Column, ready to do anything to protect him, scared as to what will happen to Tyler now that the final phases of Anna's plan for the subjugation of humanity is nearing completion- of which his unique DNA may soon prove to be one of its vital components biologically. And then theres Lisa's discovery of her Grandmother, Diana (Jane Badler), not dead as she and the rest of the Visitor race had been led to believe by Anna, merely imprisoned by her angry daughter for twenty tears. Discovering  this new member of her "family", Lisa's loyalties and dedication to Anna and the Visitors cause is thrown into even more doubt and emotional flux-whatever actions she now chooses, Lisa has now literally become the ultimate decisive pawn in the game.

In the final three episodes of the series all of these intriguing angles, including her increased and thorny relationship with her mother, so nastily and manipulatively played by Morena Baccarin (and great fun to watch), will soon come to a head in a generally very satisfying way by the shows final episode, which is a real heart-stopper and full of exciting and grossly shocking sequences in its second half.

And we haven't even mentioned the "other" Lisa waiting in the wings....

As Kara, a very shapely new SUPERGIRL, in the popular SMALLVILLE series. Image: WARNER BROTHERS

V's future as a third season is still currently in doubt, though many of the shows cast are hopeful that a final decision in favour of renewal will be made soon by ABC. Let's hope that both Lisa and Laura Vandervoort (currently adding her voice to a talented crew on FAMILY GUY) will continue to play an important role in the series future, too...


V: SEASON TWO continues on the SYFY CHANNEL during May, as do repeats of SMALLVILLE.

A NEW DIRECTION TOWARDS THE "HUMAN TARGET"

He won't let you go! Christopher Chance, as played by the dependable Mark Valley, in the always enjoyable HUMAN TARGET. All images: fox.

Change is in the air for the selflessly heroic bodyguard Christopher Chance and his reliable team of Winston (Chi McBride) and Guerrero (Jackie Earle Haley) in the new action packed thirteen episode second series of HUMAN TARGET, finally coming next month (Thursday 26th May) to the UK SYFY Channel (with a much welcome series one repeat lead-in prior to that, too!). This year, not only does the trio have a new boss, the lovely British actress Indira Varma (currently making a big impression in the US TV industry) as billionaire philanthropist Ilsa Pucci, now in charge of their money kitty and worldwide assignments, but theres also another new girl on the block: Ames, played by another great looking Brit, Janet Montgomery, a master thief often joining shady Guerrero in his anti-hero ways, whom actor Haley behind the scenes has described as being like a "Mini Guerrero"!

TEAM TARGET: The new line-up for Season Two. L-R: Ames (Janet Montgomery), Guerrero (Jackie Earle Haley), Chance (Mark Valley), Ilsa Pucci (Indira Varma) and Winston (Chi McBride).

Great preview trailer from the original series: YouTube - HUMAN TARGET "CHANCE MOMENT" PROMO

Season Two trailer: YouTube - Human Target - Official Season 2 Trailer

Stories this year are mainly linked around new character Pucci and the mysterious situation regarding the death of her husband, but theres also the return of Chance's ex-partner and renegade hit man, Baptiste (Lennie James), and protection plot lines involving such baddies as a South American dictator, Russian Spies, and even a hostage takeover at an opera! On the behind the scenes side there's also been a bit of a shake-up on the writing and production front which has caused some mild controversy from fans and critics state-side, and, most notably with the slight format change, the series has sadly lost its great season one theme tune, with a new replacement score YouTube - Human Target New Season 2 Open (much to the immense chagrin of many loyal die-hard viewers (lets hope that, when series three does eventually come, it reverts back to the excellent original version from composer Bear McReary! YouTube - HUMAN TARGET - Intro Credits 2010)).

Ready to make a difference: Mark Valley as Christopher Chance.

Seeking the truth, Indira Varma as Ilsa Pucci

Guerrero (Haley) gets in on some action in the sixth episode of Season Two.

Sadness and consequence in the Season Two finale.

Whatever the future for Chance and his partners in TV adventure, one thing's for sure, the often high octane action, great stunts set pieces, and actor and character camaraderie, especially from audience friendly lead Mark Valley, will surely capture audiences imaginations. This is one HUMAN TARGET that often hits the spot!

Look for more on HUMAN TARGET on KOOL TV in the not too distant future...

ON THE PRECIPICE: "HEROES" SEASON FOUR

HEROES to the end. Images: NBC UNIVERSAL.

They've survived the veritable demise of their normal everyday lives, have faced guilt and loss over the death of their family and friends, been forced to deal with betrayal from foes old and new, and even from parties within their own core distinctive group, overcome terrible hard-ships and life-threatening adversity, and, more recently, escaped from the clutches of persecution as underground fugitives from a mutant-phobic world's political powers and a cold sentence of isolation and control/experimentation on a Guantanamo-esque island, and now our HEROES, from the series created by Tim Kring, face the complex and bizarre new threats, consequences and further challenging actions, for good or bad, emanating outwards from the arrival of a mysterious travelling carnivale and its weird and wonderful inhabitants, led by the mysterious and dangerous Samuel Sullivan (PRISON BREAK/STARGATE SGU's distinctive Robert Knepper) in this, the fourth and final season, of the once acclaimed HEROES, showing exclusively from today (every Monday) in glorious HD on the SYFY CHANNEL.

Leader and disciple: new characters Samuel Sullivan (Robert Knepper) and the lightning fast Edgar (STAR WARS Ray Park) make their mark on our heroes.

It's by no means a perfect ending to the series; its pacing and structure very much all over the place in certain episodes, and key moments of plot development, as well as the appearance and use of the often isolated main characters, seem stretched out over the series run further than they should have been, but you have to hand it to the shows creator and his producing team for bravely, and against much criticism, continuing to develop, experiment and stretch the envelope of the series format and its dramatic presentation as best they can and try to win the hearts and minds of old and new audiences, with a few great and genuine exciting moments still remaining here and there amongst the nineteen episodes comprising the run that strive to remind us all just how good and unique the series first was when it started, and how it never really recovered from the 2007/8 writers strike which hit it in its all-important, and sadly abbreviated, second year. HEROES R.I.P. - your mark in KOOL TV has been made...

Check our our previous blogs on the series.


All four seasons of HEROES are available on DVD and Blu-ray from NBC UNIVERSAL.

FAMILY FEUD! "V" RETURNS TO UK TV

Mommy dearest! Anna (Morena Baccarin) and the hybrid V baby that will undoubtedly change the destiny of humanity forever. All images: ABC TV.

Great news for UK V fans as the word is in that the SYFY channel (and HD) will be showing the second season of the re-imagined series, made in the US by ABC TV, every Thursday from March 24th onwards at 9pm. Fans old and new will enjoy this new season-a great improvement over its premiere year, which features not only Jane Badler from the original series but also, in its season finale, the welcome return of Marc Singer, playing a mysterious new character, and resistance fighter, Lars Tremont (pictured below).

Marc Singer returns to fight the grip of the Visitors on Earth.

Look for our season review in the near future...

KOOL TV BABE OF THE WEEK: "VERONICA MARS"/"HEROES" KRISTEN BELL

Pretty against pink: Kristen Bell. Image: ULIKE.

Literally bringing psychological and physical sparks to the second and third series of HEROES (now showing on the UK's VIRGIN TV CHOICE and the SYFY Channel) as the cute but electricity bolt shooting Elle Bishop, lovely actress Kristen Bell has certainly made an impression since first coming to major TV prominence in the hit Teen detective series VERONICA MARS in 2004. Turning down a major part in LOST's Fourth Season, Bell, whose early acting roles normally showed her as spoilt teen brats with daddy issues, soon turned out to be HEROES most noteworthy gain when she first appeared with her innocent, butter wouldn't melt in her mouth looks which soon displayed a toying, fiery and destructive temper (and which, despite the odd guilty moments as a goodie working alongside her ex-Company man father (Stephen Tobolowsky), eventually saw her her confused soul hanging out with the villainous Sylar (Zachary Quinto) before her characters sad demise). With an advancing and highly mixed bag of movie material (from thriller (David Mamet's excellent SPARTAN) to high comedy (FORGETTING SARAH MARSHALL), and especially impressing STAR WARS fans with her appearance in the Kevin Spacey produced comedy drama FANBOYS (and looking great in a Princess Leia slave girl outfit, I might add!)) plus appearances in commercial blockbusters-to-be like SCREAM 4 (alongside fellow HEROES actress Hayden Panettiere), as well as continuing high profile TV work, this is one young actress whose commercial voltage looks set to keep the screen alight for a long while yet.

BACK TO THE WAR! "V" SEASON ONE

Visitors and Humans, friends and foes, prepare for a deadly new tomorrow in the re-imagined V. All images: ABC TV/WARNER BROTHERS 

After its prior very successful first transmission run on the UK's SYFY Channel (though boo! for trimming some of the various episodes action scenes down after the watershed!), V's re-imagined first season, based on the series originally created by Kenneth Johnson, returns for a well deserved repeat run on the digital broadcaster, presumably acting as a warm up to their some point soon showings of the ten episode second season (which began airing last month in the US). If you haven't seen the show, check it out, it's well worth a look.

And as for Season Two, having seen the first five episodes, I can tell you that the series gets even better-in fact, giant leaps better. Its faster paced, more dramatic and incident packed. And, of course, it has original eighties series returnee, the charming actress/singer Jane Badler, back, in an equally re-imagined way, as the alien Visitor leader, Diana. We won't spoil how she comes back into the series, but here's a great screen grab below as to what to expect from her!

It's all red in V's second season!

V: THE ORIGINAL SERIES and Season One of the re-imagined V are available on DVD. The latter is also available in stunning Blu-ray.