Warehouse 13 - Pop Culture Zoo: Lindsay Wagner Interview

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Lindsay Wagner On ‘Warehouse 13′, ‘The Bionic Woman’ And Self-Help

By Joseph Dilworth Jr.
Published August 16, 2010

Transcription provided by Katrina King. Katrina is a bionic writer, except without the bionic parts.

Lindsay Wagner rose to prominence in the 1970s after acclaimed roles on Marcus Welby, MD and The Rockford Files lead to her being cast as Jaime Sommers on The Six Million Dollar Man. Originally written as a one-off character, due to overwhelming positive audience response, Wagner not only returned in a subsequent two-part story, but also starred as Jaime Sommers on the spin-off series The Bionic Woman. Since the series’ cancellation in 1978, Wagner has gone on to co-star with Sylvester Stallone in the film Nighthawks and most recently has appeared in the movies Thicker than Water, Buckaroo: The Movie and Four Extraordinary Women. She has also developed a series of workshops and techniques called “Quiet the Mind & Open the Heart”, which help people study their experiences and changing perspectives and how those have affected their lives and happiness. This week, Lindsay appears on Warehouse 13 and Joe talked her via telephone about her new role.



A brief excerpt:

PCZ: Were you aware of Warehouse 13 prior to getting the role?

LW: Actually, I wasn’t, but I think that’s probably a good sign in reference to my career, because I didn’t know about the Six Million Dollar Man either! That show was huge, just like Warehouse 13 is, so maybe that’s a good karmic thing. I just have been so busy doing other things that I’ve been doing for the last few years that I don’t watch much of anything. But when I mentioned it to my son, I said, “Have you ever heard of this? I got a call from this thing called Warehouse 13?” He goes, “That’s a really cool show!” And I went, “Oh good!” So I pulled it up on the internet, ’cause they were off season, and watched a couple episodes, and I thought that’s really fun! what a great concept! I loved the concept, it’s really fun. The performance is there, the writing … the wit … it’s really wonderful.

Warehouse 13 - Pop Culture Zoo: Allison Scagliotti Interview

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Searching For Artifacts With Warehouse 13′s Allison Scagliotti

By Joseph Dilworth Jr.
Published July 3, 2010



Allison Scagliotti has been acting for nearly a decade now, appearing in high profile roles on series such as ER, One Tree Hill, CSI and Smallville. In 2009 she was cast in the recurring role of Claudia Donovan on the Syfy series Warehouse 13. The show quickly became Syfy’s biggest hit series and Claudia became a hit with fans. Warehouse 13 begins its second season on Tuesday, July 6th with Allison returning as a full-time cast member. Joe caught up with Allison recently to talk about how she got the role, shooting in Toronto and little bit of what’s to come in season two.

A brief excerpt:

PCZ: Are you at all surprised at the fervor Warehouse 13 has garnered?

AS: Yeah, in the best possible way. From the beginning it took me by surprise, I had no idea what to expect. For one, I started acting professionally when I was eleven and the first three things I did were TV pilots that didn’t get picked up, so I got used to working without anyone seeing it and so I could go to a mall and not have my shirt tugged on by a little kid. When I joined the cast of Warehouse it was sort of the same thing. I expected to go and work with amazing people and have a great time, but I had no idea what kind of fan universe explosion I was going to get into. It was really evident at Comic-Con last year! Fan fervor is nothing to shake a stick at and it warms the heart, really. Every time I go to a convention, and I haven’t been to a lot of them, but the two that I’ve been to I love. I think that the whole fanboy culture, for all of the jokes one can make about it and it is screaming to be joked about, I think it is incredibly healthy. It warms my heart to see cosplay people running around because it’s this group of people coming together to geek out over something they all really like, it’s super positive and a great way for people to connect and meet new people who are into the same things and I like it a lot.

But in reference to the show, as actors we’re really removed from the whole distribution machine. We shoot these episodes months before they air, then they go through the editing process and things are cut or reworked and improved with special effects and music and what comes out in the end is very far from where our heads were when we were making it. One can never tell what someone’s response to it is going to be so it was such an incredible surprise to have the show embraced as much as it was last year and I hope we get the same response this year. I think we will. We seem to have hit our stride, I really, truly believe that. The writers have found the groove and have found out what works. We definitely have the average four million viewers to thank for our season two pick up and the massive product campaign that’s going to be enacted this summer...

Sanctuary - Pop Culture Zoo: Amanda Tapping & Damian Kindler Interview

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Catching Up With Amanda Tapping And Damian Kindler



Director Martin Wood, Creator Damian Kindler and Amanda Tapping

By Joseph Dilworth Jr.
Published March 23, 2010

Transcription by Katrina King. Second rule of Katrina King is you do NOT talk about Katrina King!

Season Two of the hit Syfy series Sanctuary brought several changes to the show as well as putting our favorite characters through the emotional ringer. Like many viewers, I had a few observations and questions regarding what went on. A few weeks ago I got the opportunity to catch up with Amanda Tapping and Damian Kindler, two of the creative forces behind the show. We talked about what has gone before, teased what is to come and also talked about the foundation the two have set up with Jill Bodie, “Sanctuary For Kids.”


A brief excerpt:

PCZ: And so, going into this third season, you of course have seven more episodes to do. How does that throw your production schedule out of whack?

DK: Well, it’s a real champagne problem, right? I mean, it may play a bit of havoc with the production schedule and all that, but you get to tell some very deep, longer stories, and setup stories, and get some interesting character and story arcs into the show, finally, that make more sense to do with twenty than we could do before with thirteen.

AT: It just means that we have to take more vitamins. And eat better.
(laughter)
DK: Yeah, you need both of those things.

AT: It really does. We need to get more sleep, eat better, and take more vitamins.
DK: And exercise.

AT: And exercise! There’s not enough time!
DK: Nope.

Stargate Atlantis / Firefly -Jewel Staite - Pop Culture Zoo: Emerald City ComiCon

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ECCC 09: Emerald City ComiCon Is Fast Approaching

By Joseph Dilworth Jr. - February 22, 2009

In just a little over a month and change, the biggest comic book convention in the Northwest returns to Seattle. The weekend of April 4th and 5th sees the seventh annual Emerald City ComiCon returning to the Washington State Convention and Trade Center. Just like last year, Pop Culture Zoo will be covering the Con with all the breaking news, panel reports and a long box full of interviews. Here’s a brief rundown of all the coolness lined up so far:



...Media Guests

Jewel Staite (Firefly, Stargate Atlantis)
Tahmoh Penikett (Battlestar Galactica, Dollhouse)
Ray Park (Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace, G. I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra)
Wil Wheaton (Star Trek: The Next Generation, Author, Uber-Geek)
Noel Neill (The Adventures of Superman)
Bruce Timm (Batman: The Animated Series, Justice League: Unlimited)
Doug Sneyd
Gris Grimly
Mike Mignola
Tim Sale



There are many, many more guests from the world of comic books. Check here for the constantly updated list!

This year’s show is already shaping up to be bigger than last year. Keep checking back with PCZ and we will have more leading up to the show as well as our full coverage during the weekend. Stay tuned!

Stargate: Universe / Sanctuary - Pop Culture Zoo: October '09 Premieres on SciFi Channel?

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Catching Up With Amanda Tapping

By Joseph Dilworth Jr. - January 26, 2009

Now that Sanctuary has been renewed for a second season, we thought it was time to have another chat with Amanda Tapping. This time around we discuss season one, where production is on season two and what it was like shooting the final episode of Stargate Atlantis.



... PCZ: When do you start shooting?

AT: We’re still waiting on word, ideally the beginning of March so that we can deliver for early October. SCI FI wants us to air October 9th. We will run concurrently with Stargate Universe. I think they premiere with a two-hour episode and then the following week we will run together. Anyway, that’s the plan. We’ll hopefully start shooting at the beginning of march at the latest.

... PCZ: My favorite part of the final episode was the little tribute to Don Davis and General Hammond. I think it speaks highly of the cast and crew that even in an episode where so much needs to get done, room is made to have a scene like that.

AT: Something had to be said that’s such a show of respect for an incredible man who…here come the tears…but something had to be said. I remember we were at Don Davis’ memorial and I was standing in his kitchen with his wife, Ruby, and Joe Mallozzi said “We’re naming the ship the General Hammond.” And we all just lost it. “Of course you are, thank you.” It’s a subtle, simple tribute, which is exactly - Don was a simple, beautiful man so that’s how they did it, it was lovely. You can’t overplay it, you’ve just got to say it. As an actor you wonder how you could possibly do justice to it. It one line and it’s so huge. So, it was just keeping it simple and lovely ...

Sanctuary - Pop Culture Zoo: Amanda Tapping Interview, Part Two

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The PCZ Interview with Sanctuary's Amanda Tapping: Part Two

By Joseph Dilworth Jr. ⋅ November 7, 2008


In Part Two of our interview with Amanda Tapping, we talk about the relationships on Sanctuary, some things that are coming up on the show and her other work, including Stargate. Part One can be found here.

PCZ: I noticed you are playing up in the early episodes the easy-going relationship between Helen and her daughter Ashley, which is obviously leading up to Ashley finding out who her dad is, and I'm assuming a fairly big falling out. Is that something we get to see before the end of the season?

AT: Oh, definitely. There's an episode coming up called "The Five" (airing 11/14 - ed) that actually explains a huge part of the mythology of the show and a lot of things are blown wide open. There's a cool twist with one of the featured characters [and] Ashley finds out a lot of information. It ties together a lot of the mythology that we're weaving right now and the relationship between Ashley and Magnus is so interesting both before and after. It's a mother-daughter dynamic in the truest sense in so many ways, but then it's also completely off the map when it comes to how they deal with each other.

... Thank you again to Amanda Tapping for taking time out of her busy schedule to talk to us! Sanctuary airs Friday nights at 10PM on the SCI FI Channel.

Sanctuary - Pop Culture Zoo: Amanda Tapping Interview, Part One

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The PCZ Interview with Sanctuary’s Amanda Tapping: Part One

By Joseph Dilworth Jr. ⋅ November 3, 2008

Amanda Tapping is easily one of the nicest people in entertainment. Her humor and natural ease at speaking are traits that serve her well in the comedy troupe Random Acts, which she co-founded. Amanda is very generous with her time and is a supporter of several charities, such as The Canadian Cancer Society and the Waterkeeper Alliance. She has appeared on several TV shows and a few films over the years. For ten seasons, Tapping starred in the television series Stargate SG-1 as Samantha Carter, a role she continued over to sister show Stargate Atlantis. Currently she is both the star and Executive Producer for Sanctuary on the SCI FI Channel. I previously spoke to Amanda and her co-star Robin Dunne at San Diego Comic Con back in July. More recently I talked to Amanda by phone about Sanctuary and her other projects. In Part One of this interview we talk about some of the technical aspects of shooting in front of a green screen, the style of the show and a little bit about one of its more mysterious characters. Check back on Friday for part two where we’ll talk a little bit about what’s to come on Sanctuary as well as what else Amanda has going on in her very busy career.



... PCZ: So, to start off, I think there’s big congratulations in order for the success of Sanctuary on SCI FI.

AT: Thank you, yeah. Fingers crossed, every week we’re like “Ok, let’s watch the ratings.” Never a relaxation moment for us.

PCZ: I’m sure. The premiere was a huge smash so that’s gotta be…

AT: It did very well. We knew there would be a drop the second week, but we were actually really happy with the numbers. The thing with SCI FI, too, that’s good to know is that it’s one of the most TIVO-ed or DVR-ed networks and their Friday nights are traditionally heavily taped. So they add a lot more to our ratings after the fact knowing that and that helps. We hope to find out in the next couple of weeks whether or not we get a pick up [for a second season].

... PCZ: I have to say I think one of the standout characters and performances on the show is Ryan Robbins. My background being a computer geek, it’s just great seeing the cool, wisecracking computer guy.

AT: (laughter) He’s awesome. I was just watching a mix of one of our upcoming shows and he’s got amazing comic timing and just sort of this wry view on things. You ‘ll see a lot more of the Henry [Foss] character and lot more of Ryan as the show progresses.

Sanctuary - Pop Culture Zoo: Talking ‘Sanctuary’ With Amanda Tapping And Robin Dunne

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Talking ‘Sanctuary’ With Amanda Tapping And Robin Dunne

By Joseph Dilworth Jr. - September 15, 2008

At this year’s San Diego Comic Con I had the pleasure of speaking to both Amanda Tapping and Robin Dunne about their new web series turned SCI FI show, “Sanctuary.” Amanda plays Helen Magnus, who was born sometime in the Victorian era and through an as yet undisclosed accident became immortal. In the present day she hunts various terrifying monsters that lurk in the dark. In the pilot she encounters Robin’s character, Will Zimmerman, a respected psychiatrist who eventually becomes Magnus’ assistant. Though he aids her in her battle against the supernatural forces, Zimmerman still holds to a scientific explanation to all mysteries. “Sanctuary” premieres on October 3rd. Check back for our follow up interview with Amanda Tapping and possibly others in the cast and crew in mid-October. For now, here’s what we talked about back in July:

Amanda Tapping



...PCZ: Yeah, definitely. So, with “Sanctuary”, you’re Executive Producer still? Are you also involved in doing any of the writing? Maybe possibly directing?

AT: I’m the go-to director. So, for example, Martin was away at a television festival and I directed Sanctuary while he was away. As far as writing, I’m involved in the white-boarding of a story, and the concepts, but I leave the writing up to the people that are good at it. I don’t have the time and I don’t have the aptitude for it. I really enjoy the concept and sitting down and going “Okay, but then what if this happened, and what if this happened.” And then I let other people flesh it out.

Robin Dunne



PCZ: Can you talk a little bit about how you became involved with “Sanctuary”?

RD: Absolutely. Actually it’s a very integral part to the show I think because - you know, Martin Wood called me, we’d worked together years ago. He called me and said “Look, there’s a script, we want to shoot some scenes. We don’t know what it is.” I read the script, I said, “Look, this is great. I’d love to be involved.” We shot, like, a promo. And we waited, you know. We got to do some webisodes. We did a bunch of webisodes and took the show to the next level. After that we waited, and waited, and kind of hung in, and turned down other work because we all really wanted to do this show. Now here we are lending it the perfect home – SCI FI Channel. It really is a dream come true, but more importantly it really galvanized in us a feeling of believing in the show. Really recognizing that this is something different, that this is not just your average job that you get as an actor or director, that this is something different. Hopefully, that feeling, that excitement that we all have – we’re working on the show, but we’re huge fans as well, and for me the excitement of talking about it that I’ve experienced this really cool thing and I can’t wait for you to as well. Hopefully that’s a feeling that comes through and people can - it’ll transcend and people will hook into it as well and say, “Hey, this is different, this is something..” because that’s how we see the show and that’s what we believe in.

Stargate Atlantis - Pop Culture Zoo: SDCC 08: ‘Stargate Atlantis’ Conversations

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SDCC 08: ‘Stargate Atlantis’ Conversations

By Joseph Dilworth Jr. ⋅ August 15, 2008

At this year’s San Diego Comic Con we caught up with Stargate Atlantis cast members Joe Flanigan, Robert Picardo and Jewel Staite in the press room for a brief chat.

We first spoke with Joe Flanigan (Lt. Colonel John Sheppard) who started things off by asking about the device I was recording with, my Creative Zen (look for my review of the Zen soon). He’s into gadgets and thought it was pretty cool. I asked him what he thought of the con, but he said that he just got there and was told he wasn’t allowed to go to the floor, but if he did he would buy out his own action figures. He recently received two boxes of his own action figure and one of the most satisfying things in his career so far has been to send his action figure to his friends and god-daughters. He joked that is what everyone gets from him for Christmas. “I can’t think of a more beautifully self-involved gift then to send someone your own action figure.”

I asked him if he had any idea what he was getting into when he signed up for Atlantis a few years ago. He answered, “Vaguely, not really…no. I didn’t expect it to run as long and as strong, having done a lot of TV and seeing the nature of the television industry. It’s rare when an audience comes out with so much passion. It’s doesn’t seem to happen in the television business all that often. It’s been a really nice surprise...”

Stargate: Continuum - Various articles on Continuum Screening at Comic Con

A variety of web sites are reporting on the special screening of Stargate: Continuum Thursday night at the San Diego Comic Con. Many of these articles also have photography from the event.

Following is a list of links to these articles. I'll try and update this list as more become available, so please check back later in the day for updates.

Associated Content: The San Diego Comic-Con Unveils Stargate: Continuum


Cinema Blend: Comic Con: Aircraft Carrier Premiere Of Stargate Continuum

dryope live journal: Stargate Continuum Screening - July 24, 2008

Film School Rejects: Comic-Con Red Carpet: `Stargate' Continues with Continuum

IGN: SDCC 08: Stargate: Continuum Red Carpet

iO9: See Stargate SG-1's Beginnings In A Shiny New Light Plus New Stargate Movie In The Works

Pop Culture Zoo: San Diego Comic Con 2008: `Stargate: Continuum' World Premiere

Publishers Weekly Blog: Comic Con: Star-STUDded Day

Web Petals live journal: I love the X-Men, but Jack O'Neil and Sam Carter? DUDE.

TV Guide Online: From Comic Con 2008, Stargate: Continuum Premieres on the USS Midway

TV Verdict: Comic Con: Day One



VIDEO

Barbara Vey - Publishers Weekly - with Richard Dean Anderson



Barbara Vey - Publishers Weekly - with Christopher Judge

Stargate: Continuum - Pop Culture Zoo: Photos from Comic Con Continuum Screening

With many thanks to Anais for the heads up!

From Pop Culture Zoo:

TEN pages of photos from the screening of Stargate: Continuum at Comic Con on the USS Midway.