Trek tracks

Four "Trek" series are brought together, at least musically, in GNP Crescendo's "The Best of Star Trek: Volume Two." (The series that is left out, naturally, is the animated "Star Trek" series from the early 1970s. But I quibble.) The offerings on the CD give you the flavor of each series, which is nice. What's not so nice for the original show is that its time and budget really show when played directly before the beefier offerings from its daughter series.

As the liner notes tell us, "Alexander Courage's main title music, especially its opening trumpet fanfare, defined the 'Star Trek' milieu. Heralding excitement, Courage's theme each week lured viewers into a world of adventure and discovery." True, but it's hard to think of any other music from the original "Trek" that hasn't entered the mainstream culture as the butt of jokes. (Does anyone not cringe or smile when they hear the plodding fight music from that series?)

So, it's good to escape into the other series, beginning with "Deep Space Nine," actually the second live-action sequel series and probably the most mature musically. "Voyager" is here, represented by music from it's great "Bride of Chaotica" episode, in which the Voyager crew vamps it up to do battle in a holosuite program gone wrong. Rounding out the CD is music from "Star Trek: The Next Generation," highlighting music from that series' final episode, "All Good Things."

In other news and views

For those of you with children who follow the happy-train series "Storytime with Thomas," Unforscene Music is releasing the soundtrack to Destination Films' "Thomas and the Magic Railroad" August 1. If you ever wanted to hear Steven Page of Barenaked Ladies sing "He's a Really Useful Engine," this is your chance.

Check out the "Sci-Fi Fact of the Day" Web site for a daily dose of SF trivia (and, occasionally, politics) from creator and webmaster Richard Whettestone.

On the newsstands, the July/August issue of academic review Lingua Franca asks whether the 1956 classic SF film "Forbidden Planet" was an allegory for the postwar influence on American humanities studies by European scholars who fled the Nazis. A stretch? Well, note that the magazine article refers to "Mystery Science Theater 2000." Um, it's "3000." The September Starlog includes an interview with actor/writer Walter Koenig, a veteran of "Star Trek," "Babylon 5," and others. He notes that his connection with the science fiction genre has limited him from getting what he'd like, such as "the opportunity to work in 'NYPD Blue,' 'Law and Order,' and 'Frasier,' shows that I respect. But I know that those doors are pretty well shut to me because I'm so specifically cataloged as a genre actor....Now I'm simply out of the loop." Though the best stuff in the August issue of Fangoria may be the interviews with Japanese genre creators, there is a short article of interest to TV viewers. Writer M.J. Simpson talks with Joe Ahearne, creator of the six-episode British "Ultraviolet" television series that updated the vampire saga--but never mentions the word "vampire." That original "Ultraviolet" will begin airing on the Sci-Fi Channel beginning July 31; meanwhile, Fox is planning an American remake of the series as a mid-season replacement.

Sci-Fi Channel's "Sciography" debuted last week with its look at "Battlestar Galactica." The one-hour program included interviews with creator Glen A. Larson, actors Dirk Benedict, Richard Hatch, and others--including the costume designer. In its extended discussion of the fight between Hatch and Larson to produce a new version of the show for film or television, Benedict said it best with his for-crying-out-loud-just-get-together-and-produce-it spiel. On the downside, "Sciography" would improve by toning down the graphics and the cutesy (I thought rude) chatter from the narrator that served only to undercut the people speaking, not to add insight or even entertainment. The effect of the show's presentation was a wink-and-nudge to let the audience know that the producers feel this is a stupid subject. Well, it being a technical full-employment economy, they certainly can choose to do other things than produce documentaries on old B-grade series. If "Battlestar Galactica" is too silly for them, now's a great time for a "Lathe of Heaven" docu.

Twenty years ago, the adult illustrated SF/fantasy magazine Heavy Metal became an animated movie, stringing together a handful of stories into a feature-length film. This month, "Heavy Metal" returns to the big screen — well, actually, its return debuted on the small screen on the Starz movie channel. "Heavy Metal: FAKK2" eschews its predecessor's formula in favor of a single story based on creator (and magazine publisher) Kevin Eastman's FAKK character. A college tour will follow, giving it a limited big-screen exposure, after all. If anyone has a chance to catch it, share with us your reactions.

This week's episodes

All times Eastern. Syndicated episodes are sometimes shown in different weeks in different locations, so your local broadcast may, naturally, differ.

Angel
WB, 9 p.m. Tuesdays; David Boreanaz, Seth Green, and Charisma Carpenter
July 25: In "I Will Remember You," Buffy and Angel fight a demon and in the process Angel gets his humanity restored. (Repeat)
August 1: In "In the Dark," Angel and his pal Oz reunite, but Spike is also there to cause trouble. (Repeat)

Buffy the Vampire Slayer
WB, 8 p.m. Tuesdays; Sarah Michelle Gellar, Alyson Hannigan, Nicholas Brendon, Charisma Carpenter, David Boreanaz, Kristine Sutherland, and Anthony Stewart Head; official site
July 25: In "Pangs," a construction crew unwittingly lets loose an Indian spirit on Thanksgiving. Oh, and it's a vengeful Indian spirit. In the meantime, Angel creeps into town. (Repeat)
August 1: My how the months fly by when you're not having fun. Anyway, August kicks off in "The Harsh Light of Day" with Spike coming to UC Sunnydale in search of a gem. (Repeat)

Cleopatra 2525
Syndicated; Gina Torres, Victoria Pratt, Jennifer Sky, Patrick Kake, Danielle Cormack, Joel Tobeck
Week of July 25: In "Creegan," the heroines get ambushed by Creegan's mutants who are seeking some classified information.

Earth: Final Conflict
Syndicated, Lisa Howard, Leni Parker, Von Flores, David Hemblen, Robert Leeshock, Richard Chevolleau, Anita LaSelva, Jayne Heitmeyer, Peter Krantz, Barna Moricz, Lindy Booth, Sten Eirik; official site
Week of July 25: In "One Taelon Avenue," Renee and Liam look into a space shuttle's destruction and discover a Taelon mind-control scheme. (Repeat)
Week of August 1: "Keep Your Enemies Closer" (Repeat)

Farscape
Sci-Fi, 9 p.m. Fridays; Ben Browder, Lani John Tupu, and Virginia Hey; official site
July 28: In "Look at the Princess, Part 2: I Do, I Think," Crichton has to choose whether to marry the princess or flee from Scorpius. Aeryn takes this time to express her own feelings for Crichton, as if a guy doesn't have enough problems.

First Wave
Sci-Fi, 7 p.m. Sundays; Sebastian Spence and Roger Cross; official site
July 30: "Playland"

Futurama
Fox, 7:00 p.m. Sundays; Billy West, Lauren Tom, John Di Maggio, and Katey Sagal; official site
July 30: In "A Head in the Polls," Richard Nixon hopes to make a belated political comeback after buying Bender's body and attaching it to his head. It's the new, new, new Nixon. (Repeat)

The Invisible Man
Sci-Fi, 8:00 p.m. Fridays; official site
July 28: In "Liberty and Larceny," a former partner in crime tries to get Darien to use his invisibility for crime.

Lexx
Sci-Fi, 10 p.m.; Xenia Seeberg.
July 28: "Brigadoom"

Outer Limits
Showtime, 11:30 p.m. Fridays
July 28: In "Gettysburg," actors portraying soldiers in the American Civil War end up in the real thing.

Roswell
WB, 9:00 p.m. Mondays; Jason Behr, Shiri Appleby, Brendan Fehr, and Katherine Heigl
July 31: In "Into the Woods," locals witness a light in the sky, so Max and Isabel check it out. (Repeat)

Seven Days
UPN, 8 p.m. Wednesdays; Jonathan LaPaglia, Don Franklin; official site
July 26: In "Deja Vu All Over Again," Parker gets caught in a time loop trying to save Talmadge, a victim of kidnapping and ultimately suicide. (Repeat)

Stargate SG-1
Showtime, 10 p.m. Fridays; official site
July 28: In "Divide and Conquer," the Stargate SG-1ers think they're under Goa'uld mind control

Star Trek: Voyager
UPN, 9 p.m. Wednesdays; Kate Mulgrew, Robert Beltran, Roxann Dawson, Robert Duncan McNeill, Ethan Phillips, Robert Picardo, Tim Russ, Jeri Ryan, and Garrett Wang. official site
July 26: In "Virtuoso" some aliens fall in love with the Doctor's singing talents. (Repeat)

Xena: Warrior Princess
Syndicated, Lucy Lawless, Renee O'Connor, Bruce Campbell, official site
Week of July 25: "Chakram" (Repeat)

The X-Files
Fox, 9 p.m. Sundays; David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, Mitch Pileggi; official site
July 30: Imagine an entire town filled with Cigarette Smoking Men. Well, "Brand X" is nothing like that. However, it does feature some evil tobacco companies. Oh, and there are bugs. (Repeat)

The final words...

"We hope you're having a swell summer. Remember to drink lots of water and remember that hornets can sting, again and again!"
—TimmyBigHands.com (a humor site from the folks who brought you "Mystery Science Theater 3000"; watch out, Onion!)