Check out the link below for my brand-new interview with Ghost Hunters International’s Barry FitzGerald.
Posts Tagged ‘Supernatural’
CSI: NY’s Hill Harper & Supernatural’s Misha Collins in Syfy’s Stonehenge Apocalypse
June 11, 2010
Hill Harper (as Leshem) in Stonehenge Apocalypse. Photo by Ed Araquel and copyright of the Syfy Channel
In Stonehenge Apocalypse, premiering Saturday, June 12th @ 9:00 p.m. EST/PST on The Syfy Channel, the ancient sandstone pillars of Stonehenge suddenly come to life, shifting along the Earth’s power grid and creating devastating natural disasters around the world. Is Stonehenge really an alien terraforming machine, orginally used to create a fertile, life-sustaining planet? And is its accidental re-activation going to destroy the planet? It is up to brilliant and eccentric radio host Jacob (Misha Collins, Supernatural) to prevent this by stopping a crazed cult leader named Leshem (Hill Harper, CSI: NY), eager for Armageddon. Also starring are Torri Higginson (Stargate Atlantis) as Kaycee, Peter Wingfield (Riverworld) as Dr. John Trousbale and Brent Stait (Andromeda) as Major Peatman.
Jacob (Misha Collins) and Kaycee (Torri Higginson) work together to try to stop the end of the world as they know it. Photo by Ed Araquel and copyright of the Syfy Channel
Leshem is obviously pleased at what his Foreman (Nimet Kanji) and her team have uncovered for him. Photo by Ed Araquel and copyright of the Syfy Channel
As noted above, photos by Ed Araquel and copyright of the Syfy Channel, so please no unauthorized copying or duplicating of any kind. Thanks!
Stargate Universe’s Julia Benson Nominated For A Leo Award
May 26, 2010
The beautiful and talented Julia Benson. Photo copyright of The Promotion People
MULTIFACETED performer Julia Benson is nominated for a 2010 Leo Award in the category of Best Supporting Performance by a Female in a Dramatic Series for her recurring role as 2nd Lieutenant Vanessa James on the hit Sci-Fi series Stargate Universe. The Leo Awards honor the best in British Columbia film and television, with this year’s gala award ceremony taking place on Saturday, June 5th, 2010 at the Westin Bayshore in Vancouver. For more information on the Leo Awards please visit www.leoawards.com
Julia’s popular recurring role on Stargate Universe allows her to play a versatile and engaging character – a woman who embodies a fighter and can hold her own, but also has a softer side and is able to reveal her vulnerability. The series follows a band of soldiers, scientists and civilians who must fend for themselves as they are forced through a Stargate when their hidden base comes under attack. The desperate survivors emerge aboard an alien spaceship, which is locked on an unknown course and unable to return to Earth. The danger, adventure and hope they find onboard the Destiny will reveal the heroes and villains among them. For more information on Stargate Universe visit http://stargate.mgm.com/view/series/3/index.html
Julia has amassed a list of impressive television and film credits throughout her acting career. Her small screen credits include guest-starring roles on the popular CBS miniseries Harper’s Island, the Fox comedy Reaper, the CW hit shows Supernatural and Smallville as well as Whistler and Masters of Horror.
Her recent film credits include the family comedy Mr.Troop Mom starring George Lopez and Jane Lynch. The actress also appeared in the comedy Blonde and Blonder starring Pamela Anderson, the romantic comedy Numb starring Matthew Perry, and the recent made-for-TV movie Lying to be Perfect, directed by Gary Harvey.
As noted above, photo courtesy and copyright of The Promotion People, so please no unauthorized copying and duplicating of any kind. Thanks!
Randall And Hopkirk (Deceased) Coming To Syfy
May 12, 2010THE Syfy Channel has acquired the rights to the classic British detective series Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased) from ITV Studios, Inc. for development as a pilot for a one-hour scripted series to be produced by ITV Studios. Josh Bycel (Scrubs) and Jonathan Fener (American Dad) will write and executive produce. Howard Braunstein of Jaffe/Braunstein Entertainment (The Memory Keepers Daughter/Christmas in Canaan) will also executive produce.
Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased) is based on the popular British detective series from the late 1960′s in which Marty Hopkirk (Kenneth Cope) is murdered in the line of duty. He returns as a ghost, visible only to his former partner, Jeff Randall (Mike Pratt), and assists him in crime-fighting from beyond the grave. The series, which was syndicated in the U.S. under the title My Partner The Ghost, was later revived on British TV in 2000 for two seasons with actors/comedians Bob Mortimer and Vic Reeves in the title roles.
“Josh and Jonathan have found a great way to update the buddy-cop formula with a supernatural twist. We look forward to working with them, Howard and ITV to bring new life to this British classic,” said Mark Stern, Executive Vice President of Original Programming for Syfy.
Julie Meldal-Johnsen, Senior Vice President, Business, Development and Business Affairs, Scripted/Digital, TV Studios, commented, “We’re delighted at the opportunity to develop this proven property for Syfy and are fortunate to have partnered with writers of the caliber of Josh and Jonathan.”
David Winning Directs Todd & The Book Of Pure Evil For Space
May 11, 2010
PRODUCTION is wrapping soon on Canada’s SPACE Channel’s newest original series Todd & The Book Of Pure Evil, which was shot over 10 weeks on-location, in Winnipeg. The result will be a 13-episode, half-hour supernatural comedy that brings the age-old phrase “high school is Hell” to life. First developed for television through the National Screen Institute’s Totally Television Program, Todd & The Book Of Pure Evil was developed by SPACE with the assistance of the Canadian Television Fund. David Winning directed two episodes of the series.
Directing film and television for over 20 years, this production marks Winning’s 21st series. He is a veteran of 13 feature films and over 100 episodes for TV including Stargate Atlantis and the vampire-themed series Blood Ties for the Lifetime Network as well as multiple seasons on Andromeda with Kevin Sorbo. Winning also recently directed a trilogy of monster movies for the Syfy Channel, starring such actors as Robert Englund, Bruce Dern and Kevin Sorbo.
Above photo courtesy of and copyright of David Winning, so please no unauthorized copying or duplicating of any kind. Thanks!
Being Human Returns To BBC America In July
May 6, 2010
Being Human's Russell Tovey (George), Aidan Turner (Mitchell) and Lenora Crichlow (Annie). Photo copyright of Touchpaper TV and the BBC
THE highly anticipated second season of BBC America’s co-production, Being Human, premieres this July. Russell Tovey, Lenora Crichlow and Aidan Turner return as George, Annie and Mitchell, the three twenty-somethings trying to live as normally as possible despite being a werewolf, a ghost and a vampire.
After the death of vampire leader Herrick at the end of season one, the supernatural friends are hoping they can now get on with their lives, but an even greater danger is lurking within the very human world of which they want to be a part. Unbeknown to the trio, the mysterious Professor Jaggat (Lyndsey Marshal) and her cold-hearted colleague Kemp (Donald Sumpter) - religious zealots who have discovered the existence of vampires, werewolves and ghosts – are determined to carry out brutal experiments and destroy them.
While Professor Jaggat and Kemp plot behind the scenes, werewolf George is coming to terms with the fact the he has Herrick’s blood on his hands, and a girlfriend who knows his horrific secret. Turning down the door of death has implications for ghost Annie, but her confidence is at a peak and she’s determined to stand up and be counted in the real world. And, with Herrick gone, Mitchell must appease an out of control vampire world – can he find a way to lead by example?
Being Human first premiered on BBC America last July and quickly won over fans, with a sold out crowd at last year’s San Diego Comic Con. The Los Angeles Times said it, “has not only avoided any sci-fi Three’s Company comparisons, but wound up with a compelling, self-aware and funny story line. Buffy fans – come out of the Twilight and sink your teeth into this import,” while The New York Times noted that, “all three characters are highly appealing, but the charm of the show lies in the delicate balance of engrossing drama and disarming humor; the series is not campy or self-conscious, it’s witty in an offhand, understated way.”
The Being Human: Season 1 DVD and Blu-ray is available from July 20th. It features all six episodes along with over an hour of bonus material including deleted scenes, behind-the-scenes featurettes, video diaries and character profiles. The entire first season is also currently available on iTunes and Xbox LIVE Marketplace. Season two of Being Human premieres Saturday, July 24th, directing following the Doctor Who season finale.
As noted above, photo copyright of Touchpaper TV and BBC, so please no unauthorized copying or duplicating of any kind. Thanks!
Heroes’ Robert Knepper And Supernatural’s Julie McNiven Journey To Stargate Universe
April 2, 2010
Robert Knepper as Samual Sullivan in Heroes. Photo copyright of NBC
THE Syfy Channel’s acclaimed series, Stargate Universe, has cast famed actors, Robert Knepper (Heroes, Prison Break) and Julie McNiven (Supernatural, Mad Men), as guest-stars in the second season of the hit show. Knepper joins the cast for a six-episode arc and will portray Simeon, a member of the Lucian Alliance.
Julie McNiven as Anna Milton in Supernatural. Photo copyright of The CW
McNiven will also join the cast for a five-episode arc, portraying Ginn, also a member of the Lucian Alliance. Production is underway in Vancouver, British Columbia on Season Two of Stargate Universe, which begins airing on Syfy this fall. Meanwhile, the second half of the show’s first season premieres Friday, April 2nd @ 9:00 p.m. EST/PST.
As noted above, photos copyright of NBC or The CW, so please no unauthorized copying or duplicating of any kind. Thanks!
Ghost Hunters International’s Dustin Pari – Let The Spirit Move You
February 17, 2010
Ghost Hunters International's Robb Demarest, Dustin Pari and Barry FitzGerald. Photo copyright of the Syfy Channel
When it comes to job satisfaction, Dustin Pari has no complaints. Since childhood he has been interested in the supernatural, and as a teenager, he and some of his friends would conduct their own paranormal investigations. A chance viewing of the hugely successful Syfy Channel reality TV series Ghost Hunters led Pari to become a member of TAPS (The Atlantic Paranormal Society) and, eventually, the GH team.
In 2008, his investigations went global when he was invited to take part in GH‘s first spin-off series Ghost Hunters International, which has fast become a hit in its own right. Season two finishes airing tonight (Wednesday, February 17th @ 9:00 p.m. EST) and, like the show’s first year, was a joy for Pari to work on. The latter half of GHI‘s second season began with two cases in Argentina, the second of which, Silver Shadow, focused on The Eden Hotel, a 19th century luxury resort once frequented by the world’s rich and famous. This case proved especially memorable for Pari.
“The Silver Shadow investigation is one that became very emotional for me,” he recalls. “I wasn’t expecting it, but the little house and the story of the young child who died there kind of pulled at the heartstrings. Being a father and having children myself, any time there’s a report of an apparition or the spirit of a child being left behind, it’s always something I focus on and see if there is anything I can do to get that spirit to come forward. And more importantly, to urge it to move on from that place.
“As much as I enjoy documenting paranormal activity, I’m not there to leave the place haunted, especially if it’s something like that. When that little shadow kind of stepped out and showed itself, it definitely scared me quite a bit. Again, I wasn’t expecting it and it really startled me. However, I did stay there and try to speak to it further about how to move on.
“The thing is, I look at ghost hunting as more of a spiritual thing, and to have witnessed as well as captured firsthand evidence of some sort of afterlife or spirit world, is especially gratifying for me. Also, on a personal level, to be able to reach out to the spirit of that child hopefully made a difference. I really hope that the little guy found his way out of there.
“It’s funny, too, a lot of people will ask me, ‘How can you speak with the spirit of a child, especially someone who passed away so young?’ I believe the age of this child was around 18 months or so. There are several theories out there about universal consciousness that say after the spirit passes on and we leave our mortal shell, that you tap into something larger than what we are here on Earth. As a result, you’re able to understand other languages for one thing, as well as have a greater understanding of life in general. So in this instance it would be limited to the understanding and vocabulary of a young child, if that’s how old the person was when he or she passed away. So that’s what we keep in mind when we try to make an appeal to a younger spirit.”
Australia was GHI‘s next destination, specifically Quarantine Station, once the first stop for immigrants carrying infectious diseases, and Port Arthur, a 19th century penitentiary known as “hell on Earth” by its inmates. “The cases in Australia were really sweet,” says Pari. “The country itself is fantastic and we had a chance to chase some kangaroos and really enjoy ourselves.
“Of the two cases we did in Australia, Quarantine is the one that really stands out. Obviously there was a heightened probability of capturing [paranormal] evidence just because there were so many locations on the property and such a rich history of people who had been detained there and passed away there. To top all that off was the opportunity to capture that photo of the young boy standing outside the church, which is one of the best photos we’ve captured in a while. I think that they [the show's production company] did it justice, too. When editing the episode in post-production they put a little outline around the image to give it a bit more contrast, because you do lose a little something by the time it gets to TV. Again, though, I think they did an outstanding job of presenting the image as we saw it, and it’s one of those things that makes you think twice.”
Besides Argentina and Australia, Pari also traveled with GHI to Tasmania and Costa Rica for the season two episodes, Tasmania Death Sentence and San Lucas Prison. “In Tasmania we visited the courthouse, which was particularly interesting because it’s not the type of building that we often get to investigate,” he notes. “There were certainly some unique happenings there that we had the chance to further look into.
“Malaysia I found interesting insofar as catching up on the different ways that they perceive paranormal activity as well as their belief systems and how things are structured, so there was a great deal to look forward to there. It was a challenge as well, though, with the language barrier probably being the toughest that we’ve so far come up against.”
It was necessary for Pari to bow out of GHI‘s season two finale trip to Jamaica in order to help out Ghost Hunters while two of its investigators, Steve Gonsalves and Dave Tango, shot the first season of the second GH spinoff series, Ghost Hunters Academy. Pari and GHI teammate Barry FitzGerald subsequently flew to San Francisco, California to make a guest-appearance on the 100th GH episode.
“That was fantastic,” enthuses Pari. “First off, it’s always good to get that old Irishman [FitzGerald] back in the United States and my home territory, and it was terrific to be back with TAPS and work again with the GH team as well. To then go to Alcatraz was incredible. I hate to sound like I’m quoting an old line here, but it really is a paranormal investigators’ dream location.
“The history of Alcatraz is, of course, extremely well-known and there were men of much ill-repute who were held there. There is definitely some sort of essence within the place when you’re walking around it, especially at night when everything is dark. It almost feels like Alcatraz comes alive. It’s amazing, and to be standing there in the cells and looking at the California mainland; imagine the torture that must have been for those prisoners. To be that close and see freedom, but knowing there was no way you could ever get to it. It really was an unforgettable experience.”
Despite their busy GHI schedules, Pari and Barry FitzGerald managed to find time to collaborate on a book, The Complete Approach – The Scientific and Metaphysical Guide, which was released last summer. “The response to the book has been just phenomenal,” says Pari. “We’ve heard from people all over the world, from different groups and at different points in their investigative careers. They found a great deal of information in the book that they’d been looking for, as well as a number of things that I don’t think a lot of people out there speak about.
“So we were very happy to hear the response to the book. We put it out there in an effort to document exactly what it is we do, how we do it, why we do it, and as a reference for people who want to get involved in this field. Barry and I have now taken that a step further with our second book [So My Home Is Haunted, Now What?], which we’re just putting some finishing touches on and hope to get out in the coming months.
“This book is going to speak more to an understanding of the paranormal field and how to deal with hauntings when they happen. We’ve taken a worldwide approach to this and interviewed people in every country that we’ve gone to, from different faiths and walks of life, to see what their opinions are on why these things are happening and how they come about in the first place. Then from there, what steps do they take to deal with such things, based on, like I said, what their faith as well as family traditions have taught them.
“We actually found that there is a lot of common ground from all corners of the globe, and it was quite interesting to see this underlying understanding of the paranormal community and the spirit world. We had the good fortune to work with several people who are very knowledgable and were very kind in sharing their stories with us. We’re presenting all of it anonymously just to protect those people who wanted to share some of the darker side of things, which I think is good because it really allowed them to open up and say what they wanted to say.”
Of all the people he and FitzGerald talked with for this second book, is there one whose information Pari found especially surprising? “We spoke with this one gentleman in Malaysia about an entity that they know and respect very much,” he says. “We would classify it as an ‘inhuman entity,’ meaning that it was never a person like you or I at any point in its existence.
“The way he explained it to us is that these entities are actually here to test mankind out of a duty to God. However, they can be very destructive and harmful, and he has seen them tear apart families and cause a number of problems. Again, he was really kind enough to go into detail about how these things happen, what signs to look for, and ways to clear them out and release them from someone’s home.”
Away from the paranormal world, Pari holds down what he refers to as three “normal” jobs and takes great pride in being a devoted husband and father to three children. While he is looking forward to production starting up this month on season three of GHI, he is, as always, going to miss being away from his loved ones.
“We’re not exactly sure yet what’s going on as far as what locations the team will be travelling to this time around,” he says. “So at the moment we’re all just absorbing those last few precious moments with our families and enjoying the comforts of home before we get ready to start filming again.”
To find out more about Dustin and his paranormal work, check out his website at www.paranormalrockstar.com
Steve Eramo
As noted above, photo copyright of the Syfy Channel, so please no unauthorized copying or duplicating of any kind. Thanks!
BBC America Acquires New Seasons of Being Human
February 15, 2010
The UK's unlikeliest of roommates - George (Russell Tovey), Mitchell (Aiden Turner) and Annie (Lenora Crichlow). Photo copyright of Touchpaper Television and the BBC
BBC America has announced the acquisition of two new U.S. premiere seasons of the BBC America co-production, Being Human. The show’s highly anticipated second season will premiere in late summer, with the third season following shortly.
George, the werewolf...Photo copyright of Touchpaper Television and the BBC
Being Human premiered on the channel in July 2009 and quickly won over fans, with a sold-out crowd at last year’s San Diego Comic-Con. The Los Angeles Times said it, “has not only avoided any Sci-Fi Three’s Company comparisons, but wound up with a compelling, self-aware and funny story line. Buffy fans – come out of the Twilight and sink your teeth into this import.” Meanwhile, The New York Times noted that, “all three characters are highly appealing, but the charm of the show lies in the delicate balance of engrossing drama and disarming humor; the series is not campy or self-conscious. It’s witty in an offhand, understated way.”
Annie, the ghost...Photo copyright of Touchpaper Television and the BBC
Russell Tovey, Lenora Crichlow and Aidan Turner return as George, Annie and Mitchell, the three twentysomethings trying to live as normally as possible despite being a werewolf, a vampire and a ghost. After the death of vampire leader Herrick at the end of season one, the supernatural friends are hoping they can now get on with their lives, but an even greater danger is lurking within the very human world of which they want to be a part.
And Mitchell, the vampire...Photo copyright of Touchpaper Television and the BBC
Werewolf George is coming to terms with the fact the he has Herrick’s blood on his hands, and a girlfriend who knows his horrific secret. Meanwhile, turning down the door of death has implications for ghost Annie, but her confidence is at a peak and she’s determined to stand up and be counted in the real world. And, with Herrick gone, Mitchell must appease the vampire world, but can he find a way to lead by example?
The entire first season of Being Human is currently available on iTunes and Xbox LIVE Marketplace.
As noted above, all photos copyright of Touchpaper Television and the BBC, so please no unauthorized copying or duplicating of any kind. Thanks!
Emily Rose Joins Syfy Channel’s Haven
February 14, 2010ACTRESS Emily Rose (Jericho, Brothers and Sisters, ER) has been cast in the Syfy Channel’s new supernatural drama series Haven, based on the novella The Colorado Kid by renowned author Stephen King. Rose will play the lead role of Audrey Parker, the shrewd and confident FBI agent with a lost past who arrives in the small town of Haven, Maine to solve the murder of a local ex-con. Before long, her natural curiosity lands her in the epicenter of activity in this curious enclave, which turns out to be a longtime refuge for people that are afflicted with a remarkable range of supernatural abilities.
As the townspeoples’ dormant abilities begin to express themselves, Audrey helps keep these forces at bay while discovering the many secrets of Haven – including one surrounding her own surprising past in this extraordinary place.
Production on Haven is expected to begin in Spring 2010, with an eye towards a Summer 2010 premiere.
