Wednesday, March 07, 2007

Goodbye Starbuck, Hello Flash!

So having just watched Maelstrom, the latest Battlestar Galactica episode and the one that leads, according to showrunner Ron Moore in his Chicago Tribune interview, to
"a fundamental and permanent change in the makeup of the show’s cast and of the show itself and how the show operates and what the show is about. It’s a very dramatic change of direction.”
And truthfully I was a little disappointed. The episode was Lost-like and flashback-filled, highlighting the psycological tourments suffered by Starbuck during her youth. The "Let me go/See you on the other side" death was a poor payoff for a character we've invested in, a character with an apparant destiny. I was somewhat expecting (hoping) the closing scene would be Starbuck downloading into her new body in one of those Cylon rebirthing tanks. But no!

"I am dead as far as I know,” claimed Katee Sackoff in her first post-Maelstrom interview (even with 3 years remaining on her contract). But with Starbuck's death Ron Moore may have made "a world class frak up," or at least a jump the shark moment. We'll wait and see!

In other Sci-Fi Channel news, it looks like Christopher Showerman will save every one of us when the cable network's new original series Flash Gordon premieres this July. Showerman is previously best known for his portrayl of George, in George of the Jungle 2, and as the Impossibly Hot Fireman on the now defunct O.C. (a clip of which follows):



And lastly, on NBC's Heroes, we've finally met the mysterious, pot pie eating Linderman, aka Malcolm McDowell, aka the man who killed Captain Kirk.

We know he's been collecting Isaac's paintings, got Niki/Jessica released from jail, and now he's guaranteed Nathan Petrelli an election win, followed by a chance at The White House.

But exactly what this all means... Well unfortunately we won't find out more until Heroes returns April 23rd for the final five episodes of this fantastic season.

Monday, March 05, 2007

Victor(y) at The Arnold

The Arnold Classic is arguably the first real big show of the bodybuilding season (i.e. the show where the big boys finally come out of hibernation and compete). Held this past weekend in Columbus, OH, even Governor Arnold graced the stage at the Veterans Memorial Auditorium (well he should, the show is after all named for him... Hell the whole weekend is held in his honor), presenting overall champion Victor Martinez with a check for $130,000.00, as well as the coveted Most Muscular trophy.

Highly placed competitors from the recent Ironman and Sacramento shows didn't fare so well up against these real big boys. Mark Dugdale, 2nd at the Ironman, placed 11th here. Hidetada Yamagishi, 3rd in Sacramento, only 13th (though his previous placing qualifies him as the first ever Japanese bodybuilder to compete at the Olympia). While Marcus Haley, 5th in both those shows, fell to 12th at the Arnold (though he was awarded Best Poser). Toney Freeman however, first place winner at both previous pro shows, continued to prove himself a force to be reckoned with coming in an impressive 3rd, besting Puerto Riccan Gustavo Badell and previous uber-newcomer Phil Gift" Heath.

That said my two "boys," Branch 'Quadrasaurus' Warren and Ronny 'the Rock' Rockel, didn't fair quite so well either, placing 7th and 8th respectively.

In 2005 Branch took first at the both the Europa Super Show and the Charlotte Pro. Last year he came second at the Arnold and took home the Most Muscular prize. Towards the end of 2006 however, he wasn't able to wow them at the Olympia (12th), although he seemed to have gained a whole lot of additional mass, but was unable to dial it in as well as he had earlier that year. This weekend he continues with the freaky mass monster look, but that doesn't equate with higher placings.
For some time fans considered Ronny an unfairly overlooked bodybuilder. He then won the 2006 Australian Grand Prix, but again fell from favour at that year's Olympia (he didn't even place), only to rebound again during a couple of the later international Grand Prix. This weekend he came in with the complete balanced package, but not as sharp (and as big) as he could have been to place higher.
Up next the New York Pro in May (Victor is sure to be the hometown fav if he competes here), then Shawn Ray's Colorado Pro in June. The Olympia Weekend this year starts on September 29th, once again in Las Vegas, NV.