Starz Brings in the Next Chapter of Torchwood

The internet is full of buzz this morning about Starz' acquisition of Torchwood! The US cable network is teaming up with show runner Russel T. Davies and the BBC to produce a 10 episode season to air summer 2011 on both Starz and on BBC One. The new series will star John Barrowman as Captain Jack and Eve Myles as Gwen Cooper along with other new characters.

Finalized Airdate: CoE

Torchwood: Children of Earth has been finalized in the schedule. Finally. Beginning on Monday, July 6 and running until Friday, July 10, CoE will air at 9:00PM to 10:00PM on BBC1. The BBC Press Office has changed their original listing.

The US release date is still on July 20, which coincides with the release of BBCHD. It also begins in Canada on the 20th.

We Are Coming... But when?

Despite the fact that a BBC press release announced that Children of Earth was going to air some time in June, now it's looking like that may not be the case. From the start of Children of Earth's publicity, there was talk of having the mini series simulcast across as many networks in as many nations as possible, especially BBC One and BBC America.

However BBC America has been running teasers, as well as officially announced, that their airdate for the series will be some time in July. Does this mean that the airdate for BBC One will be pushed to July? Or have they just abandoned the idea of the simulcast?

Another article with another "official release" has shown up, saying that July is in fact the month that the broadcast will happen, but after all this back and forth, it's hard be sure. The one date that is known is the special event screening of the first episode slated for June 12th at the British Film Institute, which was sold out to members before it even went on sale to the general public.

Hopefully a solid date will be announced soon, but until then, at least it's safe to say it will air some time before August... We hope.

The show's so vogue

Captain Jack says that "everything changes" - nothing more so than fashion!

As you're no doubt aware TORCHWOOD.tv has dabbled in fashion before - who doesn't want a TW.tv T-shirt?! - but now at last Woodies across the land can rejoice as Forbidden Planet International have on sale an official licensed Torchwood T-shirt (that puts our's to shame, and then some!) that you can get your hands on right now!*

*I admit that's there's been some recent scandal about online buying from FP International, but I'm assured that this has all been corrected now.

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In other news, it looks like BBC America won't be airing Children of Earth the same week as BBC One here in the UK. Instead promotional material indicates that it'll go out some time in July - a full month after its mid-June UK debut.

The Trip Of A Lifetime Begins...

Whereas England is still in the buildup to season two of Doctor Who (expect a press release two weeks from today), America at long, long last has a broadcaster, and so, tonight, after almost a year of waiting, it begins. Doctor Who is coming.

It's going to be interesting to see how the typically british show performs for sci-fi, and its going to be even more interesting to see how the reactions 'across the pond' (for me anyway) will be. Doctor Who is a show I have emense pride in. It's one brilliant journey through time and space from beginning to end, and I see no reason why America children won't fall in love with Christopher Eccleston, Billie Piper and John Barrowman just as much as British, Canadian, Austrailian, French, German, et al have.
But this post could be read my many after the show's broadcast. I could be past tense already! In that case, hello, and welcome to this mad, mad world! It's great to have you here, and both myself and Kurly look forward to hearing from all you guys and gals.

As you are about to see/have seen Doctor Who is something rather special. It's American broadcast is the icing on the cake, and the perfect way to celebrate the show's new found worldwide acclaim. We already have our Stargates, our Gallaticas, our Treks, but ladies and gentlemen, now we have our Doctor Who.

And we're never going to let it go again.

Are we?

America Stands Back to Back?

So no real Torchwood news today, but for any fans waiting with baited breath for the new Doctor Who series on Sci-Fi later this month, some interesting news has begun to surface...

Our sources at gateworld have uncovered an interesting story: Apparently the new, third season of Battlestar Gallatica won't air until October 2006 at the earliest, a full 14 weeks or so after it was intended to air over the summer. What's that I hear you cry? Doctor Who season two is 14 episodes long? Wow, coincidence or what? I think in this case, not. It makes commercal sense for sci-fi to show Doctor Who back to back. Not only does The Christmas Invasion bridge the gap between seasons expertly, but it means the channel won't have to show year old episodes this time next year. No doubt the channel has already lost a hell of a lot of it's Who audience because of the Canadian DVD release, as well as downloads and such. Their showing series two so soon after the British airdates makes this far less likely to happen for the next season.

Also, the show will be doubled up with the mighty Stargate franchise over the summer, and as the two are very 'sci-fi-friendly' it makes sense that they are paired together. The audiences of one are more likely to watch the other too.

Finally there's the case of ratings. The series was a huge ratings success in Britain, but that's not neccesarily the case for America too. By showing the two series back to back, if ratings do begin to drop, sci-fi can advert (spoiler coming!!!) Eccleston's demise/Tennant's rise in The Parting Of The Ways. Think of it as Doctor Who's own sweeps period. But with an army of Daleks on top of that.

Of course, this is all just speculation for now. The 14 week break could be used for another show, or a series of special sci-fi films, but I guess we'll just have to wait and see. If it is the case however, it means America can expect to see Torchwood a lot earlier than expected too...

On assignment

For the next few weeks I will be working for the Manila branch of Torchwood and will be unable to keep up on the news coming out of the Cardiff branch. While I am in the Philippines I'm sure jackharkness will keep you abreast of any breaking news, plus there are all the Torchwood and WHO links we know and love.

Don't forget, for those of you in North America who have been waiting for a Region 1 DVD release of WHO season 27, Amazon.ca just started shipping them yesterday. Amazon.com won't be selling it until after the show has aired on the Sci-Fi network, but it is nearly as easy to order from our friendly neighbors up North. Order the box set from this link and they will kick us out a buck or two for the reference. This page has certainly been a non-profit endeavor, I'm just trying to cover the few costs I do have.

Don't worry, while I am relaxing on a beach in the tropics next week, I will surely be thinking about you.

When will Dancing on Ice be picked up in the US?

In order to get you better prepared for Dancing on Ice I am posting links to some of the coverage of the show that you may have missed: The Daily Record, The Mirror, The Press Association, and Sunday Mail. You have an important vote to make Saturday and you wouldn't want to go into the booth uninformed.

Source:http://www.stakesandstones.co.uk

In other news, JB will be coming to TV screens here in the USA in March. In a shocking turn of events, the Sci-Fi channel will start airing Torchwood before it even premiers on BBC3! Well ok, it won't exactly be Torchwood, but Captain Jack Harkness along with his sidekicks: the Ninth Doctor, Rose and Mickey were on this other little show called Doctor Who which will now be airing in the colonies. Such a shame all of us here Stateside saw the series a year ago.