creation of a room

Some time back I ordered new furniture for my study at home - up until now I've been using an old chipboard desk of R's being held together with just one screw. It's precarious. I haven't had a chair at all.

I was quite excited about my new furniture, but because I was ordering it custom, I've had to wait about 16 weeks for it. It finally arrived a couple of weeks ago, and with new furniture come a whole new room! It's amazing what a simple coat of paint can do.

My new desk is a big piece of painted glass on two large blocks of wood which have been "engraved" with a bamboo motif. The chair is pretty and white. Add a few elements, like a new lamp from Thailand, one or two of my favourite vinyl toys, and you have a theme to work with. It still has a few things missing, like a cupboard for filing, and a big fluffy rug, but its a good start. I'll keep posting it's progress...

Not Terminated: Good News for Sarah Connor Fans

According to HollywoodReporter.com, Fox recently ordered the final nine episodes of Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles’ second season, giving it a full season order – despite its modest performance in the ratings…

With a less-than-expected ratings average in its Monday night slot, many might be surprised to see the full season pick-up of Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles. But Fox’s season works a little different to other major US networks – their tide only begins to really rise with the introduction of American Idol to their schedule, so TV execs may be hoping that this second season will benefit from the growth brought on by the hugely popular singing show.

With this order, Terminator is the first 13-episode show from last year’s difficult TV season to receive a definite second season order. Many shows were left floundering after the writer’s strike left them without direction and creative – thus leaving them out of sight and out of mind too long for a TV show’s first year of life. Some have survived, most haven’t; and Sarah Connor is one of the lucky ones.

Other recent pick-ups include Mad Men for a third season, and the quirky courtroom drama, Eli Stone and Sons of Anarchy (premiering on M-Net in November) both for a second season. The popular series about life in the fast lane in Hollywood, Entourage has also been renewed for a sixth season.

Wonders of the Warehouse

Described as part X Files and part Raiders of the Lost Ark, Warehouse 13 is looking to be the ‘funnest’ sci fi coming to our screens this new TV season.

According to HollywoodReporter.com, the Sci Fi network recently ordered a 2-hour pilot of Warehouse 13, the latest project from the creator of Farscape and the executive producers of Battlestar Galactica. Described as part X Files, part Raiders of the Lost Ark and part Moonlighting, Warehouse 13 is an eagerly anticipated dramedy – with sci fi, intrigue, drama, comedy and a little bit of sexual tension all thrown into the mix.

After saving the President’s life, two FBI agents – your typical pairing of a ‘rule-bender’ and a ‘by-the-book ‘– are given a highly classified assignment in the innocuous sounding Warehouse 13. But Warehouse 13 is actually a secret storage facility where the US government has been storing all its paranormal, supernatural and extra terrestrial discoveries and artifacts over the centuries.
Now the duo is touring the country trying to retrieve a number of relics that have gone missing from the Warehouse, while keeping their ears to the ground for any rumblings of new artifacts that may require investigating.

Should the pilot result in a TV series order, it sounds like a recipe for a great character series with a lot of the supernatural built in, as opposed to the other way around. A Fox-Maddie-Indie-Buffy caper if you will!

To Infinity, and Beyond...

After Stargate SG1 was cancelled in 2006 and Stargate Atlantis given its final order for just five seasons, fans of the popular franchise will be thrilled to learn that the story goes on...

Recently, the US-based Sci Fi network gave an order for a full season of Stargate: Universe – the third in the series of the Stargate franchise. The story will be set on the ship originally sent out by the Ancients in a bid to pepper the galaxies with the Stargates – a mission that was never complete. When a band of explorers from Earth come across the unmanned ship, they board it without knowing they cannot use it to return home – for the Destiny has a mission to complete. And it will do so, even with its unwitting crew aboard.

A recent trend on the Sci Fi network, the show will debut as a two-hour movie in 2009 before it begins airing as a regular series not long after – but these episodes are still in development phase.

According to executive producer and writer, Robert C. Cooper, Stargate: Universe "maintains the spirit of Stargate, but opens up a whole new 'universe'." What is different though, is that ‘Universe will not be treated as a spin-off of the previous two Stargates, but will be developed as an entirely new entity. As ‘Atlantis producer, Joseph Mallozzi, stated, ‘Universe aims to "delight veteran fans, but also appeal to newcomers who may not necessarily know the difference between an Alteran and an Asuran". All we can say is thank goodness for that!

For those of us who have missed the previous success of SG1 and Atlantis, it’s nice to know our limited knowledge of Lanteans, Ori and Wraith won’t be a hindrance to enjoying this new series.

Watch Executive producer Brad Wright speak about the “state of the universe”

Fringe Benefits

He’s had audiences around the world “Lost” for years, and now JJ Abrams is back - for “Fringe” benefits…

The creator of hit TV series Alias and Lost is back with a brand new project. Described as a cross between the The X Files, The Twilight Zone and Dark Angel, Abrams threatens to keep audiences glued to their screens yet again – and who can say for how long this time.

His latest creation, Fringe, stars Dawson’s Creek’s Joshua Jackson as the son of a research scientist played by John Noble. Father and son have been estranged since Noble’s character, Dr Bishop, was sent to prison on manslaughter charges after a lab accident 17 years ago.

They’re brought together again by an FBI agent on a mysterious case following “the Pattern” – a series of bizarre experiments happening around the world. She needs to discover their source, and only Dr Bishop can help her – his specialty just happens to be “fringe” science (the study of what most believe to be impossible in the natural world).

Fringe was recently given a full-season order, making its first season 22 episodes long.

Can Abrams weave his hypnotic spell once again?

Eddy and Patsy Take on LA!

Eddy and Patsy are taking on Los Angeles! But in a trend that seems to be sweeping US studios, it’s not the Eddie and Patsy we know and love – they’re now American…

Absolutely Fabulous - the hit five-season British comedy series starring Joanna Lumley and Jennifer Saunders that made Chanel, Dior and Lagerfeld household names, had the world calling each other “sweetie darling” and got the Pet Shop Boys back on to the billboard charts - is crossing the Atlantic.

According to Variety.com, Fox is developing a redo of AbFab that will “retain the basic template of the original, revolving around the friendship of two boozy, over-40 best friends who are desperate to stay hip and youthful”.

While Saunders is joining the project as executive producer, we doubt an American duo of fading fashionistas is going to be nearly as funny as the alcohol-soaked, ex-model, beehived Patsy, and the guru-chasing, kaftan-wearing Edina. Isn’t LA full of those sorts anyway?

The US seem to be looking to their UK counterparts more and more for inspiration – or downright plagiarism - and are even reaching as far as Australia for ideas. The upcoming Fall TV schedules in the US include no fewer than three direct copies of shows from other territories: Britain’s The Eleventh Hour and Life on Mars, and Australia’s Kath & Kim are all making their debut – albeit Americanized.

In the past, remakes of this nature have fallen on both sides of the ratings fence, with Ricky Gervais’ The Office becoming an Award ceremony-hit, while Brit favourites Men Behaving Badly and Fawlty Towers (as “Payne” starring John Laroquette) barely made it out the stable.

It could be another case of “lost in translation” but only time – and ratings – will tell.

job satisfaction

A little bit of minor, but thrilling news... In a shift at work, we've completely changed how we operate and what it is we focus on. In that shift, I remain in management, but I get to write and create stories again - something I haven't done for years. It's a wonderful refuge from daily tasks and keeping track of team work - being able to put on your headphones, ignore the world, and simply create something you hope others will enjoy reading.

I hope you will too, as they'll be making appearances here :)

picnic perfect

Reading a friend's blog the other day, I was reminded that some time back I bought an absolutely adorable table, apparently vintage 50s. Not that I'd forgotten the table, but I'd forgotten that I meant to blog about it at the time and never got around to it - it's one of my favourite things I've ever bought. It's a collection of seven table pieces, each with little moonlanding-tripod-feet for legs and a different colour melamine top, all in the shape of a flower.

We recently spent a fabulous day in our garden having a champagne breakfast picnic, and my little table truly came in to its own. So instead of a table photoshoot, i give you the little flower in action...

hotel everland

Heading to Paris before the end of the year? I have the ultimate experience for you!

Paris museum, the Palais de Tokyo, have installed a one-room-hotel/art installation on top of their building that people can view during the day, or choose to stay in for one night only - the Hotel Everland.

It's been described as a "bachelor pad of an imaginary pop star from 1972" and I see absolutely nothing wrong with that! It's been around since 2002 in other locations, but the magnificent view of the Eiffel Tower it has now makes it a superb location to spend the night with a bottle of champagne - unrivaled!

Take a look at the unique panorama it offers...

kitty manor

I've become one of *those*... Yes, my cat now has her own home - a Swiss ski cabin no less. It has little windows on the side, a chimney, its own porch and a tree. She adores this new hidey-hole just for her, and sits on the porch to watch us getting ready in the morning.

But yes, bottom line is I bought my cat one of those pamper items reserved for the pets of Hollywood starlets and childless matrons. Argh!

It does look a lot better in our room than the old bed though... That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it :)