SCI FI CHANNEL TEAMS WITH TOP HOLLYWOOD TALENT INCLUDING MARK BURNETT AND LYNDA OBST FOR EXCITING NEW SCRIPTED SERIES AND MINISERIES DEVELOPMENT
Focus on Broad Appeal Entertainment Fare Commitment to Developing Late Night Programming
PASADENA, Calif. -� July 13, 2006 �- SCI FI Channel unveiled an innovative slate of original series and miniseries, and also announced plans for an aggressive foray into late night programming, it was announced today by Mark Stern, EVP, Original Programming, SCI FI Channel at the Television Critics Press Tour in Pasadena, California. The newest slate from the channel, known for highly acclaimed series such as Battlestar Galactica, takes imagination to the next level and showcases partnerships with the industry's top creative talents.
Miniseries
Outpost, the sweeping adventure series from executive producer Lynda Obst (Contact, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days), centers on a group of private explorers in the near future that takes over an abandoned NASA research base after the government has abandoned space exploration as too expensive. The intrepid explorers travel to a distant planet in our solar system to establish a potentially lucrative off-world colony. But when they discover an ancient artifact buried deep beneath the planet's surface, the real adventure begins! This epic miniseries is written by Eric Jendresen (Band of Brothers) and produced by astronomer David Grinspoon.
Scripted Series
From Executive Producer Mark Burnett and Dreamworks Television comes Devil's Advocate, a one-hour conspiracy thriller from EP/Writer Jonas McCord (Earth: Final Conflict) about a theology professor who is thrust into the world of secret societies, religious espionage and genetic research. Hired by a global corporation, but motivated by his own personal search for the truth, our professor forms an eclectic team of 'devil's advocates' who are charged with deciding whether bizarre cases can be explained naturally, or whether there are larger, more supernatural forces at work. Darryl Frank and Justin Falvey are Executive Producing for Dreamworks Television. Devil's Advocate is from NBC Universal Television Studios.
From Ben Edlund, the creative force behind the comic book series The Tick, comes "Witch Doctor," a dramedy that mixes the worlds of medicine and the supernatural with warm human comedy. As David seeks alternative treatments when traditional western medicine cannot cure him, he stumbles upon a little-known doctor with remarkable healing powers. His suspicions that the doctor's powers extend into unknown realms are confirmed when David is unexpectedly imbued with the doctor's powers. Suddenly able to see the supernatural world that exists unseen all around us, he reluctantly takes over the clinic and a secret medical network for the magical world. Teaming with a female healer, David investigates the bizarre, to help those that traditional medicine cannot, all while navigating the world of the supernatural!
From Jeff Kline (That Was Then, Jackie Chan Adventures), Stoner takes place in a Los Angeles where superheroes really exist and are afforded all the trappings of fame and celebrity. When a "normal" slacker named Greg Pincus is mistakenly thrust into the limelight as the newest superhuman on the block, he must make a decision: reveal the truth about his lack of actual super powers and return to safe obscurity, or figure out a way to continue the charade and live the high-life� without getting himself killed.
Late Night
George Noory - George Noory, host of the most-listened-to overnight radio talk show, "Coast to Coast AM," is heard by millions of listeners on approximately 500 stations in the U.S. and Canada. After years of captivating listeners with his explorations into the world of the paranormal, George brings his unique insight to the TV screen for the first time.
Alien Invasion is a hilarious and innovative computer-animated comedy from Dave Goetsch (Executive Producer/Showrunner, 3rd Rock from the Sun, Creator/Executive Producer, Game Over.) Blending CG animation with live-action backgrounds, this half-hour comedy tracks the exploits of two hapless aliens and their attempts to take over the world from their home base in Venice, California - a place where they aren't even close to being the strangest folks on the block.
From Mark DeCarlo (Curb Your Enthusiasm, Jimmy Neutron) and game/reality show host Mark Walberg (Antiques Roadshow), Prove It, hosted by DeCarlo, is a light-hearted panel discussion attempting to prove or disprove speculative and often outlandish sci-fi based theories.
SCI FI Channel is a television network where "what if" is what's on. SCI FI fuels the imagination of viewers with original series and events, blockbuster movies and classic science fiction and fantasy programming, as well as a dynamic Web site (www.scifi.com ) and magazine. Launched in 1992, and currently in 85 million homes, SCI FI Channel is a network of NBC Universal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies.
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