Nothing too informative, but here it is (via the LAT): Zachary Quinto: Highly logical, for a human

From this year’s BBC Children in Need telethon:

Full explanation here.

Via Reuters: Billie Piper to re-materialise on Doctor Who.

Cool beans.

From the Doctor Who site at the BBC: Billie Is Back!:

Following a series of unconfirmed reports across the media this morning, we’re delighted to officially confirm that Billie Piper will return as Rose Tyler in Series Four of Doctor Who.

Anything you may read elsewhere about when, how or for how long Rose returns to Doctor Who should be treated as pure speculation at this point.

Hopefully it will be for a long stint, but according to some of the rumors I have seen it is for a three story arc, not unlike Captain Jack’s return in the most recent series.

Via the LAT: Adrian Pasdar’s split personality.

Who knew he directed musical theater and was married to one of the Dixie Chicks?

From The Simpsons (via Notes from the Lounge):

Good stuff.

Via the jbannaounce Yahoo groups comes the blurb for the next Harry Dresden novel, Small Favors:

No one’s tried to kill Harry Dresden for almost an entire year, and
his life finally seems to be calming down. For once, the future looks
fairly bright. But the past casts one hell of a long shadow.

An old bargain has placed Harry in debt to Mab, monarch of the Winter
Court of the Sidhe, the Queen of Air and Darkness-and she’s calling in
her marker. It’s a small favor he can’t refuse…one that will trap
Harry Dresden between a nightmarish foe and an equally deadly ally,
and one that will strain his skills–and loyalties–to their very
limits

.

It figures. Everything was going too well to last…

Kewl.

The books comes out on 4/1/08

I have been meaning to give a full review of the Dresden series, but here’s the short version: they are quite good, very entertaining and very much worth reading.

Check out the photo such as it is, here.

Via the BBC: Row delays Harry Potter lexicon.

I fully understand wanting to protect one’s intellectual property, but it seems to me that one is allowed to write books about other books. Indeed, the most prominent the book, the more likely that such books will be written. I may be wrong, but I don’t think that all of the books about Tolkien are controlled by, or even authorized by, the Tolkien estate.

This story reinforces the Craig Ferguson bit about the JK Rowling Show:

Via Reuters: First “Star Trek” captain resurrected for feature:

Bruce Greenwood has been cast as Christopher Pike, the Starship Enterprise’s first captain, in director J.J. Abrams’ “Star Trek” feature.

In short: the 2nd season is likely to be cut in half, and the promise Heroes: Origins mini-series will be postponed until next year (assuming it ever gets made at all).

Via SyFy Portal: ‘Heroes’ Season 2 Could Be Cut In Half:

SyFy Portal was tipped off to a report that production had halted on the set of “Heroes,” and that producers were asked to go back and modify the ending of its 11th episode. That report appears to be true, reports TV Guide’s Michael Ausiello.

“Sources confirm that the show is going back and shooting an alternate ending to the Dec. 3 episode that, if used, would allow the episode to function as a season finale in the event of a strike,” Ausiello said. “Originally, the episode was only supposed to serve as the conclusion of the current ‘Generations’ arc.”

Well, at least the first story will conclude.

Via SyFy Portal: NBC Pulls Plug On ‘Heroes: Origins’

With the writers’ strike looming, “Heroes” faltering in the ratings and uncertainty about anything that’s likely to happen in terms of programming in the next few months, NBC has shelved plans for “Heroes: Origins,” the much-anticipated spinoff series of the once hit show.

Production has been halted indefinitely on the six-episode mini-series, which had attracted such talent directors Eli Roth and Kevin Smith and writer Michael Dougherty (”Superman Returns”). NBC had planned to debut the show in April, while “Heroes” was on hiatus.

The story notes that the strike isn’t the only reason, as support for the show amongst viewers and critics is weaker this year than last, and that the show isn;t totally dead:

Insiders said that “Heroes: Origins” isn’t completely dead and could very well be revived as soon as next season.