Battlestar Galactica ~ Season 4 Episode 22, Series Finale, Daybreak {Part 2}

"Galactica has seen a lot of history, gone through a lot of battles" ~ Admiral Will Adama

Battlestar Galactica series' finale, Daybreak {part 2}, airs Friday March 20th at 9:00pm on the SciFi Channel. Keep in mind the finale length is 2 hours, so be careful when setting your recording devices of choice, you wouldn't want to miss the show's final hour. But if you should have a mishap, the SciFi Channel website is great for catching BSG recaps and full episodes. Something that i have come to really value. Lately i find that in this bustling information overload prone world we live in, i enjoy the security of knowing that if i'm in need of reminder of who stepped to the starboard side of the tape that Admiral Adama laid when announcing the call for volunteers for what is to be the venerable ol' girl and her crew's final showdown with the bad Cylons---Brother Cavil and the like who've kidnapped little Hera [could she be the true key to guiding all to the promised land?] vs the good Cylons who are willing to lay it all on the line with the humans to rescue the child before she's vivisected or worse.

Even though Daybreak {part 2} marks the series finale for BSG, there is hope for those who can't get enough of David Eick and Ron Moore's work. In June 2009 look for Battlestar Galactica: The Plan. That project is directed by Edward James Olmos. There will also be a BSG pre-quel series, Caprica, whose time-line occurs 50 years prior to the events that lead to Battlestar. "Two families, the Graystones and the Adamas, live together on a peaceful planet known as Caprica, where a startling breakthrough in artificial intelligence brings about unforeseen consequences." Caprica will star Eric Stoltz, Esai Morales, and Sina Najafi. No air date has been announced for the series, but it will be available for DVD purchase for April 21, 2009 shipment. Anybody else think it's weird that there's a date for DVD purchase but none for the show's TV airing? And while i'm on the subject of weirdness---SciFi president Dave Howe issued a press release stating that "Beginning July 7, 2009", SciFi will alter it's name to read as SyFy

Ostensibly the motive for this change is to broaden "perceptions" and embrace "a wider and more diverse range of imagination-based entertainment including fantasy, paranormal, reality, mystery, action and adventure, as well as science fiction. It also positions the brand for future growth by creating an ownable trademark that can travel easily with consumers across new media and non-linear digital platforms, new international channels and extend into new business ventures." What a load of hooey. An interesting bit of information from Warren Ellis: "in Polish, "syfy" has a meaning somewhere between zits, filthy and scum." Uht-oh!, someone in marketing didn't do a thorough world-wide appeal research job. Clearly the reason for the spelling change is a marketing ploy to garner trademark status, as the term SciFi could not be. It also, to those who are not keen on the change [and yes you may count me among the displeased] serves as a not so subtle way of saying they want to distance themselves from those who proudly say, yes, i am a fan science fiction. Distance themselves from those who proclaim they are fans of graphic novels, and of Heinlein, Le Guin, Atwood, Clarke, Ellison, et.al, while simultaneously reaping the benefit of the vast market the fans inhabit. Somewhere Forrest J. Ackerman must be shaking his head in bemusement.

In other bizarre developments, the producers and some of the BSG cast members will participate in a panel moderated by Whoopi Goldberg at the United Nations. Yes you heard correctly, the U.N. i wish i had learned of this sooner. Perhaps the marketing department at Universal would have better spent it's time promoting this event rather than taking the 'new coke' approach to the change in their logo. Anywhoo, Tuesday March 17, 2009 at the U.N. 7:00pm in the Economic and Social Council Chamber. If like yours truly, you were not lucky enough to have acquired press credentials to the event, keep an eye peeled on the U.N.'s YouTube site. i'm hoping in the days to come they will post there.

Remember, the 2 hour Battlestar Galactica series finale, Daybreak {part 2} airs on the SciFi Channel Friday March 20, 2009 at 9:00pm
[please check your local listings]