Jan. 12, 2021

2021: The Year We Rebuild, We Hope.

2021: The Year We Rebuild, We Hope.

On the sci-fi edition, We're back with news! Disney has isn't keeping up with royalty payments to authors, James Doohan ashes go for secret trip and we remember actress Dawn Wells and others.
 All That and More on the scifi edition of Multiverse Tonight!


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Transcript

Tonight! It’s a new year! On tonight’s show, Disney stops royalty payments, James Doohan’s ashes take a secret adventure and we remember Dawn Wells and others. All that and more on this scifi edition of Multiverse Tonight!


Hello and Welcome to Episode 108 and the first episode of 2021. Let’s hope this year is better than 2020 was. 



Star Wars

The big Star Wars new story initiative The High Republic will have an exclusive story line just for the Chinese market. This is growing out of the partnership that Lucasfillm and Tencent started back in 2019. The web novels by the Chinese writer known by the nom de plume of His Majesty The King will be set during the twilight of the High Republic Era and will have the english title of Star Wars The Vow of Silver Dawn about a young padawan named Sean. According to a video on the Chineses social media platform Weibo, James Waugh, Lucasfilm’s vice president of franchise content and strategy said quote "Sean is a character with a secret. His origins have always been shrouded in mystery," "He ends up being very much torn between his duty to the Jedi Council, to his Master, and to his own interests." unquote their are currently no plans to release the story into english


The release of The  Mandalorians season two finale caused Disney Plus to have a brief outage, fans who started streaming right after Midnight began reporting error messages that said that quote "We're currently experiencing slow internet connection speeds. Please check to see that you are still connected to the internet, and try again (Error Code 76)." unquote. Fortunately the outage only lasted a few minutes and soon, fans were back watching the adventures of Din Djarin . Season three will not arrive till early 2022 after The Boba Fett show.


On the subject of The Boba Fett show, titled The Book of Boba Fett,Variety reports that the series will be set to debut in 2021 and will have the creative team of Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni and Robert Rodriquez. The series will be set during the same timeline as The Mandalorian and will feature Temuera Morrison as Boba Fett and Ming Na Wen as Fennec Shand.


Star Wars writers are up in arms after royalty checks for their work abruptly stopped once Disney took over. According to a report in the wall street journal, The authors claim that Disney has refused paying royalties on book contracts after Disney took over Lucasfilm in 2012. The writers say that Disney has either delayed dealing with the authors or have sent them measly checks that are way short on what is owed. According to The Science Fiction and Fantasy writers of america association, writers of other franchises like Indiana Jones and Buffy the Vampire Slayer have lodged similar complaints.  A Disney spokesman told the Wall Street Journal quote “We are carefully reviewing whether any royalty payments may have been missed as a result of acquisition integration and will take appropriate remedial steps if that is the case.”unquote. 


Kevin Feige’s Star Wars movie has found it’s writer and they didn’t have to look too far. As they chose Loki writer and executive producer Michael Waldron for the job.


Star Wars voice actor Tom Kane has suffered a stroke according to his family. In a statement Tom’s daughter Sam wrote quote Hi everyone! This is Tom’s daughter, Sam. Our family wanted to share why my dad has been MIA. About two months ago he had a left side stroke that gave him right sided weakness and damage to the speech center of his brain. This means right now he cannot efficiently communicate verbally, nor read or spell. He is still competent and very much himself, but can only get out a few words right now. As many of you might know about strokes, it is possible for him to gain these functions back and we have found him excellent care in Kansas City for speech, occupational, and physical therapy, but for now, we have been warned by his Neurologist that he may not do Voice Overs again. Unquote  Kane is best known for voicing Yodda, Admiral Yularen and the narrator on Star Wars the Clone Wars as well as voicing Woodhouse on Archer and Professor Utonium on the Power Puff Girls. And many many more. His IMDB credits are long. He most recently gave voice to Yoda and Qui-gon Jinn in Lego Star Wars Holiday Special. Our hopes are for his recovery.

Star Trek

The rest of the world will finally get to watch Star Trek Lower Decks, the first season of the animated series will premiere on Amazon Prime on January 22nd. Amazon Prime is also the home of Star Trek Picard overseas as well.


The ashes of Star Trek’s James Doohan were smuggled aboard the International Space Station twelve years ago. They were brought aboard by space tourist Richard Garriottt, Mr. Garriott is an entrepreneur and video game developer, he created the Ultima game series under the pen name of Lord British. Garriott came clean about the mission to bring Scotty to space in an interview with The Times saying quote “It was completely clandestine," "His family were very pleased that the ashes made it up there but we were all disappointed we didn’t get to talk about it publicly for so long. Now enough time has passed that we can. As far as I know, no one has ever seen it there and no one has moved it. James Doohan got his resting place among the stars.” unquote Doohan’s family had already been denied twice when they contacted Richard just days before he left for a twelve day visit. James Doohan passed away in 2005 from complications from pulmonary fibrosis. Oddly enough this was not the last time the actor’s ashes have been launched into space, some ashes were sent into space on the SpaceLoft XL rocket for a four minute suborbital flight. And in 2012, an urn with his ashes were placed in a Falcon 9 rocket during the second test flight of the Dragon cargo capsule.


Emperor Georgiou is off to her next big adventure after exiting Star Trek Discovery’s 32nd century in a recent episode. Speaking on The Ready Room after show, actress Michelle Yeoh said about her exit quote "It wasn't always planned this way," Yeoh said. "It came [to] a point where it was necessary if we were to go on more journeys with Emperor Georgiou that some things have to happen.” unqutoe  About the Section 31 spinoff, she was a bit coy saying quote"It is very obvious that Emperor Georgiou’s journey has not ended. It has not come to an end." She goes on to say, "But it depends on her whether it will end abruptly. I loved when she walks through the portal and she realizes, ‘Oh my god, I am dressed as the Terran emperor, and I can see all my soldiers in front of me expecting the badass Emperor.' And you can see in her eyes she has changed dramatically and drastically.” unquote I still question why they brought her to the future in the first place. They stopped the story progress of the season almost dead by having to deal with the dying Georgiou, She should have been left in the past. That being said, I hope that she got dropped off in the time period between the original series and the next Generation. That would give them a time period to work in where they would be no tribble at all.


So what does the season finale of Discovery mean to the future of the show? Comicbook dot com talked with Discovery co runner Michelle Paradise about some things. First off, Doug Jones isn’t leaving the show, he’ll still be around for season four, Burnham’s new role on the show will and won’t make the show feel more like a traditional Star Trek show. There’s more iin this interview but I was trying to stay as non spoilery as I can. 


So now that Season Three of Discovery is over what’s next...no seriously what’s next. Seems like nothing for a while, Picard Season two won’t be out for awhile, same with Lower Decks,Prodigy, Strange New Worlds and the Section 31 show, which still seems to be in its embryonic stage. I guess I should cancel CBS All Access for awhile, sure I could watch The Stand series, but I’m willing to wait till all the epsidoes are out to watch it.  It doesn’t look like we’re anywhere close to their dream of new Trek every week, maybe next year.

  

Geek

Sadly 2020 couldn’t leave without taking a few more famous names, The original Boba Fett actor Jeremy Bulloch passed away on December seventeenth. Jeremy portrayed Boba in The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. He also appeared in Revenge of the Sith as Captain Colton. Jeremy had a long career in other things not Star Wars, between 1958 and 2018, mainly British movies and tv shows. He had a bit part in the James Bond movies The Spy Who Loved Me as a HMS Ranger Crewman and For Your Eyes Only  and Octopussy as Smithers.  He appeared in three episodes of the classic Doctor Who in 1965’s The Space Museum episodes and 1973’s The Time Warrior episodes. He appeared in eight episodes of Robin of Sherwood as Edward of Wickham.  He made frequent appearances at sci fi conventions throughout the world and was made an honorary member of the 501st Legion in 2009. Unfortunately he had to stop in 2018 after his Parkinsons got too bad. He died from complications of Parkinsons in Tooting england. Jeremy Bulloch was 75 years old.


A group of scientists from CalTech, which is a collaboration of Fermilab, AT&T, University of Calgary, Harvard University and NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab have announced that they have successfully transported basic units of quantum information known as qubits over 22 kilometers of fiber between the Caltech and Fermilab Quantum Networks. Not the same as transporting physical matter like Star Trek’s transporter, this achievement could create Quantum Networks that revolutionize the future of computer speed, power and security. In an email statement, Head of the Quantum Science Program at Fermilab Panagiotis Spentzouris wrote quote "We wanted to push the envelope for this type of research and take important steps on a path to realize both real-life applications for quantum communications and networks and test fundamental physics ideas. So, when we finally did it, the team was elated, very proud for achieving these high-quality, record-breaking results. And we are very excited that we can move to the next phase, utilizing the know-how and the technologies from this work towards the deployment of quantum networks.


There are many fronts that we need to push forward. Both in applications of quantum communication and network technologies and in advancing the engineering of the systems. We are already working hard on developing architecture, processes, and protocols for quantum networks and on optimizing along some metrics including rate of communications and range.”


Theaters and other live event venues will be getting some relief with the latest CoVid relief bill that Congress passed, The bill includes fifteen billion for live event venues, independent movie theaters and cultural institutions. The part of the bill that was based on the Save OUr Stages Act will only provide financial support to live theaters and movie theaters including some chains, though larger movie theater companies like AMC and Cinemark will likely have to look elsewhere for financial support as the pandemic continues to impact their businesses. However a somewhat controversial part of the bill also makes illegal streaming for profit a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison. So it’s unknown exactly how this will hurt streamers on Twitch and other platforms in the future.


A new sequel to the Exorcist is in the works, The Hollywood Reporter reports that Halloween film maker David Gordon Green is in talks to direct the movie for Blumhouse and Morgan Creek Films. Green’s Halloween was a box office success making 255.8 million on a ten million dollar budget. Green also has two sequels for Halloween on his plate Halloween Kills, due out in 2021 and Halloween Ends due in 2022.


Critics Choice Awards


BEST ACTION MOVIE:Da 5 Bloods (Netflix),BEST ACTOR IN AN ACTION MOVIE: Delroy Lindo – Da 5 Bloods (Netflix),BEST ACTRESS IN AN ACTION MOVIE Betty Gilpin – The Hunt (Universal),BEST ANIMATED MOVIE Soul (Disney+),BEST VOICE ACTOR IN AN ANIMATED MOVIE

Jamie Foxx – Soul (Disney+),BEST VOICE ACTRESS IN AN ANIMATED MOVIE Tina Fey – Soul (Disney+),BEST SUPERHERO MOVIE

The Old Guard (Netflix),BEST ACTOR IN A SUPERHERO MOVIE

Ewan McGregor – Birds of Prey (Warner Bros.),BEST ACTRESS IN A SUPERHERO MOVIE Margot Robbie – Birds of Prey (Warner Bros.),

BEST HORROR MOVIE The Invisible Man (Universal),BEST ACTOR IN A HORROR MOVIEVince Vaughn – Freaky (Universal),BEST ACTRESS IN A HORROR MOVIE Elisabeth Moss – The Invisible Man (Universal),BEST SCIENCE FICTION/FANTASY MOVIE Palm Springs (Hulu and NEON), BEST ACTOR IN A SCIENCE FICTION/FANTASY MOVIE Andy Samberg – Palm Springs (Hulu and NEON), BEST ACTRESS IN A SCIENCE FICTION/FANTASY MOVIE Cristin Milioti – Palm Springs (Hulu and NEON),BEST VILLAIN IN A MOVIE Jim Carrey – Sonic The Hedgehog (Paramount),BEST ACTION SERIES Vikings (History),BEST ACTOR IN AN ACTION SERIES Daveed Diggs – Snowpiercer (TNT),BEST ACTRESS IN AN ACTION SERIES Angela Bassett – 9-1-1 (Fox),BEST ANIMATED SERIES BoJack Horseman (Netflix),BEST VOICE ACTOR IN AN ANIMATED SERIES Will Arnett – BoJack Horseman (Netflix),BEST VOICE ACTRESS IN AN ANIMATED SERIES Kaley Cuoco – Harley Quinn (HBO Max) BEST SUPERHERO SERIES The Boys (Amazon) BEST ACTOR IN A SUPERHERO SERIES Antony Starr – The Boys (Amazon),BEST ACTRESS IN A SUPERHERO SERIES Aya Cash – The Boys (Amazon),

BEST HORROR SERIES Lovecraft Country (HBO),BEST ACTOR IN A HORROR SERIES Jensen Ackles – Supernatural (The CW), BEST ACTRESS IN A HORROR SERIES Jurnee Smollett – Lovecraft Country (HBO),BEST SCIENCE FICTION/FANTASY SERIES The Mandalorian (Disney+),BEST ACTOR IN A SCIENCE FICTION/FANTASY SERIES

Patrick Stewart – Star Trek: Picard (CBS All Access)

BEST ACTRESS IN A SCIENCE FICTION/FANTASY SERIES

Natasia Demetriou – What We Do in the Shadows (FX),

BEST VILLAIN IN A SERIES Antony Starr – The Boys (Amazon)


Visual effects consultant, supervisor and producer Edward Irastorza, who is known for working with Guillermo del Toro on multiple projects passed away on December twenty first.  Edward has worked on such tv shows as Grimm, Teen Wolf, Xena Warrior Princess and Hercules: the Legendary Journeys and movies like Blade, Sin City , Hellboy, Pan’s Labyrinth and the Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl 3-D.  He was nominated for a Bafta Award, a Gold Derby Award and a Satellite Award for his work and won A Goya Award for Special Effects. Edward Irastorza’s brother posted about his passing on Edward's facebook page saying quote “It is with great sadness that I need to let you know that my brother Edward has passed away," the post reads. "Even though he had been very sick for just over a year we were not expecting him to go when he did. He was looking forward to Christmas as Erik was going to be with us. Unfortunately he didn’t make it.”


“We would like to ask for a favor. As you, his friends, reflect on your memories of my brother, could you write down some of your stories with him and send them to me?," Irastorza’s sister wrote on FaceBook. "We would love to hear them and put together a keepsake for his son. It’s okay if they are not G rated. Thank you all for being his friend. He really wanted to get back to work and be with all of you again. Now he is with the friends that went before him and my dad.” unquote He was 52.




Gilligan's Island co-ster Dawn Wells has passed away. The actress played Mary Ann on the 60’s sitcom about a group of castaways who ended up trapped on a deserted island after a three hour tour, a three hour tour shipwrecked them. Dawn Wells was born on October eighteen in 1938 in Reno Nevada. In 1959, she was crowned Miss Nevada and represented the state in the 1960 Miss America pageant, She soon moved on to Hollywood making her debut in the ABC series the Roaring 20’s , she would make appearances in Maverick, Wagon Train, 77 Sunset Strip, Surfside 6, The Joey Bishop Show and more. In 1964, she got the role that made her world famous as Kansas girl Mary Ann Wells, the exact opposite as fellow castaway Ginger. Tina Louise, who played Ginger on Gilligans Island said about Dawn Wells quote “I was sad to learn of Dawn’s passing, I will always remember her kindness to me. We shared in creating a cultural landmark that has continued to bring comfort and smiles to people during this difficult time. I hope that people will remember her the way that I do – always with a smile on her face.” unquote After the show ended in 1967, she went on to other roles in shows like the Wild Wild West and Bonanza, but nostalgia for the classic Gilligan's Island was strong and the cast was brought back together for TV Movies Rescue From Gilligan's Island, the Castaways on Gilligan's Island, the Harlem Globetrotters on Gilligan's Island  and the animated Gilligan’s Planet, where she voiced both Mary Ann And Ginger. SHe also appeared on The Love Boat, Fantasy Island, and many many more. Beyond acting she did charity work for Bob Denver’s Denver Foundation. She was married in 1962, but the marriage ended in 1967. Dawn Wells died on December thirtieth 2020 at the age of 82 from Covid-19 related causes.


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Thanks for watching the SciFi edition of Multiverse Tonight, We will be back in two days with  a new comic book edition and two weeks with a new scifi edition. Now please exit the universe in an orderly fashion. Good Night!  Multiverse Tonight is a production of Half-Baked Genre Productions. Copyright 2021 All Rights Reserved.