The GALACTICA Group: April 2008

Saturday, April 26, 2008

The GALACTICA GROUP Episode 4!

Let this week's episode be known henceforth as "GalactaPalooza." So our usual festivities kicked off early tonight with some armchair discussion and ROCK BAND. Our panelists formed a sort of geeky Fleetwood Mac--rotating members, bizarre behavior, and a goat-like vibrato. No offense to the Stevie Nicks fans of the world...

Anyway, we ordered pizza (thin and crispy style OF COURSE) for sustenance since none of us were into anal cocaine. No offense again to the Stevie Nicks fans.

Now, tonights panel was slightly abbreviated due to two factors. Nikita was unable to attend at the last minute, since she had to appear at a comic book signing. Jarred, by contrast, was stone drunk at 7pm, as every good college student should be. Hell, in my day we sat through classes inebriated, even during finals! Ahh, the bliss of youth...

Anyway, this episode features:

Hylas (me)--your moderator and Lindsay Buckingham
The Illustrious Bananas Foster--Karaoke Superstar and Christine McVie
Jen-Sleep Deprived Mic Fleetwood
Lis-Frantic Stevie Nicks (possibly from anal cocaine)
Jim-The recently wrapped Production Executive and John McVie

And no, Bananas and Jim never dated. Neither did Lis and I. We have, however, woken up in the same bed in various combinations over the years.

So, enjoy the podcast. Leave your comments.

Part I:

Part II:

Part III:

Sunday, April 20, 2008

The GALACTICA GROUP Episode 3!

Welcome to this week's slightly delayed edition of the GALACTICA GROUP! Our apologies for our tardiness, however, we hit several snags on our way to post.

Our first detour consisted of an Alfred Hitchcock double feature: SHADOW OF A DOUBT and LIFEBOAT. Since more than half the panel would have to miss out on Friday night's episode, we decided to postpone until Saturday Morning. Which we did...

The day started with a fantastic brunch, prepared by panelist Nikita. She and Bananas Foster hosted at their West Hollywood condo. The menu consisted of scrambled eggs, sausage, grits, biscuits and banana pancakes, in honor of her roommate (allegedly).

Nikita did have to endure some complaints that the pancakes were supposed to be silver dollar sized as opposed to platter sized. I won't say who lodged said complaint; suffice it to say, the room collectively groaned.

And yes, brunch was spectacular...

After we had sufficiently gorged ourselves, we adjourned into the living room for GALACTICA. Now, Blender -had- violated panel etiquette by watching the episode before the rest of us. It was just as well, since my Cylon brother was unavailable Saturday morning due to his own shooting schedule. We had a brief conversation Friday night via text message...

HE: OMGOMGOMG!
I: What is it?
HE: BSG!
I: Good?
HE: Incredible! I was literally screaming at my TV! How does this show manage to keep surprising me?!
I: Good writing?
HE: Amazing!

Naturally, my interest was piqued.

After the rest of us viewed the episode in one of our most animated sessions, we shuffled back into the dining room for espresso and our panel discussion.

On the panel this week:

Hylas (me)-Screenwriter and civil rights activist. Your moderator.
Nikita-Comic book writer and chef of the day.
The Illustrious Bananas Foster-Voice over director and screenwriter
Jarred-USC Physics Student
Lis-Chef and Actress
Jen-LA Film School Directing student.

Our second delay in posting had to do with technical issues involving data files getting transferred from our recording studio to my office. It took about 36 hours to correct, but we managed. Without further delay, then...

Part One:

Part Two:

Part Three:

Part Four:

Saturday, April 12, 2008

Galactica Group Episode 2!!!

Welcome back to this week's exciting Podcast of THE GALACTICA GROUP!! Our evening started off with Lis' marvelous snack foods again, this time consisting of her world-famous guacamole and her own recipe for snickerdoodles.

Now, I thrived on the guac, but everybody else seemed to love the cookies, in particular Blender who even invented a Cylon Snickerdoodle dance. The snacking and pre-show chat gave way to another great episode of BSG, and after a brief bladder relief break, we jumped right into our round table discussion.

Our panel this week:

Hylas (me)-your host and moderator, acclaimed screenwriter
The Illustrious Bananas Foster-Voice over director and screenwriter
Nikita-Comic book writer and investment banker
Jarred-USC Physics student (Correction from last week)
Jen-LA Film School Directing Student
Lis-Actress and chef
Blender-Cylon (allegedly) TV Producer

Issues discussed this week include:

Starbuck's dementia
Roslyn's declining health and relationship with Adama
The prophecies of Pythia
Boomer's betrayal of her Cylon models
The schism between the Cylons
Baltar's new found faith
Tori Foster's affair with Baltar

Check it out, and as always, feel free to answer the questions in the comments section, or just leave your own talkback!

Part One:

Part Two:

Part Three:

Enjoy!

Wednesday, April 9, 2008

BREAKING NEILSEN NEWS!

So Nielsen research, those fine people that measure who's watching what show, has released the ratings for last weeks BSG premiere. The results?

Galactica, which had its fourth and final season premiere at 10 p.m. Friday, drew 2.1 million viewers, a 19% increase over the series' so-called "Season 3.5" premiere in January 2007.

It also was up in the key demo of adults 18-49 (up 11% to 1.4 million, its best showing since January 2006).

Why is this big news? It shows that Sci-Fi might have botched Season 3 by moving the show to Sundays. This happens in TV: A show builds up a large base audience on one night, and to try and boost ratings, expand the audience or just to fill a hole in the schedule, the network moves it to a different day and kills whatever fan base the show had to begin with. Cases in point: The Golden Girls, Third Rock from the Sun and Murder, She Wrote.

Moreover, persistent rumor has it that the Sci-Fi channel pushed Ronald D. Moore and David Eick to make Season 4 the last for Galactica, blaming lowered (but by no means low) ratings for the show on the complex storyline and lack of "stand alone" episodes. Do you suppose the network might regret that decision?

Stay tuned. For more information about the evils of television, rent the movie NETWORK.

Tuesday, April 8, 2008

Galactarella!?!

So, the Illustrious Bananas Foster sent me this fine image, appearing in an upcoming issue of GQ magazine. It shows our girls Grace Park, Tricia Helfer and Katee Sackhoff posing in gear usually reserved for Barbarella. Now, I hated that movie and have yet to understand its cult status or appeal. That said, I dig the photo. Maybe it points toward a Jane Fonda cameo in an upcoming episode. How cool would THAT be?!

In other news, Ronald D. Moore dropped another tidbit. The final Cylon will not be revealed until the end of the season, possibly in the final episode. Grr. Here's hoping they finish up with filming and Sci-Fi decides NOT to split the season a year apart, if for no other reason but the possibility of spoilers leaking out.

Also, D'ana Biers' return will be built up early in this season. Evidently, the Number 3's knowledge of the final five becomes highly prized information during the Civil War...

Monday, April 7, 2008

Galactica Group Podcast Episode 1!!!

So, season 4 has officially kicked off with a bang, as debuting for the FIRST TIME EVER!!!

THE GALACTICA GROUP audio podcast!

The panel for this week's discussion:

Your Moderator, Hylas (me)--Acclaimed, up-and-coming screenwriter and civil rights activist.
Jen--LA Film School directing student
The Illustrious Bananas Foster--Voice Artist Director and Screenwriter
Dani-Comic Book Writer
Jim--Television Producer and Cylon (allegedly)
Lis--Acclaimed Chef
Jarred--USC Film Student

The evening kicked off with hors dourves, including bacon-cheese-broccoli potato skins, dill and Parmesan seasoned Cheese-its and olive oil and vinegar. Capping the snacks, the ceremonial Galactica Chocolate Mousse, Lis' specialty. We celebrate every season opening with said dessert, and this year was jaw-clenching good. Check out the photos below...

..it tastes as good as it looks. Possibly better.

The roundtable discussion ran a bit longer than planned, but nonetheless covered several important points. Among them...

Starbuck's return and visions of Earth.
Baltar's harem, cult and religious awakening.
The nature of Red Six.
Sam Anders' interaction with a Cylon raider.
The identity of the Final Cylon.

Pull up a chair and take a listen, or watch us along side the episode. Feel free to answer the questions yourself, and leave talkback! Good comments will likely make it into next week's podcast!

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

--Hylas

PS--Now that certain technical problems have been confronted, next week's episode will not take so long to go online. Hopefully, from here on, every podcast will hit within 24 hours of the Galactica Broadcast. And, as always, check for periodic updates on our blog.

Friday, April 4, 2008

The day is TIGH!!!

...Er...

The day is Nigh. But you know what I mean.

So finally, after a bloody year of waiting, tonight comes the premiere of Season 4 of Battlestar Galactica! Expect an update with our new podcast very soon. However, in the interm, I would like to just review a few questions that have plagued my mind for the past twelve months...

Where has Starbuck been?
How did the Cylons find the fleet?
How will the four of the final five react in the long term to their new identity?
How long will Roslyn survive?
What idiot would think Baltar is a prophet?
Who is the final Cylon??

Which questions will be answered tonight? We find out in a few hours. Early buzz on this premiere is fantastic, saying that it leads into the best season on the series. Here's hoping...

See you soon.