Yesterday morning I arrived in Los Angeles for the Television Critics Association summer press tour, an annual rite of passage for TV critics nationwide. Basically, we gather together at the Beverly Hilton for two to three weeks of nonstop press conferences for pretty much every TV show currently on the air. I wasn't able to make it to the first week of press conferences, but I'm here for the next eight days to cover the networks and their affiliated cable channels, and as long as I don't pass out from too much off-the-cuff interviewing of random TV celebs, I'll be reporting my findings here every day. (To catch up on last week's gay-related TCA news, check out Michael Jensen's stellar blog posts at AfterElton.com.)

What happened on Monday? Here's the short version: Mia Michaels, Anna Torv, Lena Headey, Summer Glau, Olivia Wilde, Eliza Dushku and Joss Whedon, oh my! For the long(er) version, read on.

Left to right: Cat Deeley, Mia Michaels, Mary Murphy and Nigel Lythgoe

Today was the first of two days devoted to the Fox television network, and the morning kicked off with a press conference for the unscripted dance competition So You Think You Can Dance. Mia "hot damn she looks like a lesbian (too bad she ain't)" Michaels got grilled on why she's "being so mean" on the show these days. Here's what she said:

I don't think I'm being mean. I'm just being very honest, and we're in the fourth season, and I think as we go, we become more — our true selves come out, and we're comfortable. ... I'm not any different if I'm in a rehearsal studio with my dancers, and if they're not pulling up, they're going to know, and it's very much about tough love. ... I'm Mamma Mia, and they look to me for that tough love actually. So when I say it, America might go, "Oh, my God, that's so harsh.” They're cool with it. They know. They know I only want them to be brilliant.

I have always been an on-again, off-again viewer of SYTYCD, because it seems to repeatedly hammer home traditional gender norms through the judges' commentary that typically derides male dancers who are not macho (not to mention only having opposite-sex dance partners). This is particularly the case with judge Nigel Lythgoe, who always puts down men when he senses the least bit of "effeminacy" in them, while (excessively) praising women who are feminine and submissive. AfterElton.com talked with him after the panel, and Lythgoe essentially confirmed that he's stuck in the dark ages in terms of gender norms. Wake up, Nigel! It's 2008! Seriously, the guy kinda gives me the creeps.

Anyway, after SYTYCD was a panel devoted to the new series from creator J. J. Abrams (Alias), which is called Fringe. It stars Australian actor Anna Torv, whom British readers may remember from her stint playing a lesbian on the BBC's Mistresses. Torv unfortunately was in New York and therefore had to join the conference by satellite, so the stage was populated entirely with men — a theme that quickly came to define the day.

Anna Torv as Agent Olivia Dunham in Fringe

Photo credit: Michael Lavine/FOX

I caught a screening of most of the 90-minute pilot during lunch, and though it started off very promisingly with a mysterious plane full of dead people (think Lost meets The X-Files), around the 40-minute mark it started going off onto a seriously sci-fi tangent. Now, I'm a big sci-fi fan, but this just seemed odd. Like, things didn't connect up. I'm hoping that the pilot will be retooled before it hits prime time this fall to smooth out the rough spots.

On the plus side, Torv delivered what might be the best line of the day when asked to elaborate on her ass-kicking role as Agent Dunham: "I came to the kicking ass naturally." … continue reading

Hello, my name is Ms. Anthrope, and I’m a DVD-aholic. But I’m not addicted to just any ol’ DVD — sci-fi shows with kick-ass female leads are my crack. (You know you have a problem when you already own each individual season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and still couldn’t resist buying the pricey complete-series box set.) I’ve been clean since Christmas when I did some major Battlestar Galactica damage, but I’m about to fall off the wagon — big time. The reason for the relapse? Too many DVDs featuring supernaturally hot TV chicks are hitting shelves this summer! Take a peek at these upcoming cult favorites.

Birds of Prey: The Complete Series
Release Date: Tomorrow

A Plot Refresher: Based on the DC comic, the show centers on three crime-fighting superheroes who are — get this — all women. Even the main villain (Mia Sara) is female! (Uh, why didn’t this show last longer than a season? I blame the totally dull Dinah character; she’s way more culpable than, say, the lowly network.)

Anyway, the biggest bad-ass of the trio is Huntress, the lovechild of Batman and Catwoman. But more importantly, she’s played by a brooding, raven-haired Ashley Scott (think Angelina Jolie’s character from Foxfire, only with superpowers). Her mentor in lesbian subtext is the former Batgirl, who’s now known as the wheelchair-bound Oracle (Dina Meyer).

The DVD Lowdown:

BOP fans have been pushing for the release of the complete series ever since it was canceled way back in 2002. While the wait is finally over, don’t get your hopes up for a big production: The penny-pinching studio didn’t even bother to buy the rights to the original theme song. They did manage, however, to include all 13 episodes and two bonus features. The first one is the complete web series of Gotham Girls, which is probably great if you’re into animation (I’m not). But I did like watching the un-aired pilot extra, mainly because it’s interesting to see how Sherilyn Fenn played the recast role of Dr. Harleen Quinzel. … continue reading

Sarah Connor is taking in the Garbage. Well, actually, the sci-fi series is taking in Garbage frontwoman Shirley Manson as its newest cast member. The masterminds behind Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles have announced the Shirley will join the show for its second season. I’m going to give you all a minute to process the sheer awesomeness of this news. Perhaps a photo will help:

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the Scottish singer will play series regular Catherine Weaver, the CEO of a cutting-edge high-tech firm. No word on whether she will be on Sarah and company’s side or on the side of the machines. But the mere thought of her sharing the screen with Lena Headey and Summer Glau is enough to make me actually squeal with delight. Needless to say, be glad you weren’t sitting near me when I first read the news.

This will be Shirley’s first big foray into acting. I really have no idea what kind of actress she is, but we can only hope that she brings along that sexy Scottish accent. I’ve also always loved Shirley’s tendency to gender-bend. Normally, the news of another singer crossing over into acting elicits disgruntled groan from me. But, in this case, the there might be a groan, but it definitely won’t be disgruntled. … continue reading

So, I guess we'll find out if Cameron makes it out of that Jeep after all. Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles has been renewed for a second season. A whole new season of Lena Headey and Summer Glau running around in tank tops with shotguns while saving the world? Hell and yeah.

The show's strike-abridged nine-episode first season ended on a big bang of a cliffhanger (which, if you haven't seen yet you should stop reading now, but — gosh, that was like a month and a half ago so what's the hold up?). Cameron went kerplewie after starting the family Jeep while on a cake run for John's birthday. The car bomb was planted by internet café owner/sneaky owner of The Turk Sarkissian. So, looks like she is going to need that recipe for fake Terminator skin that Cromartie cooked up earlier this season.

The series has earned a 13-episode pickup. The extended season is good news and means they can flesh out (puns!) the show's deeper themes about identity, duty, technology and the very nature of the human soul. And, given its prevalence, Lena's scowl might as well have its own subplot. … continue reading

By the end of today, the writers' strike should be officially over. I think we can all breathe a deep sigh of relief that the nightmare scenario of MILF Island, America’s Next Top Pirate and Are You Smarter Than a Dog? never came to fruition. Can I get a halle-freaking-lujah? Sure, the strike’s end means we’ll no longer get to see adorable shots of Tina Fey and others on the picket line. But I’ll gladly sacrifice a little photogenic solidarity for fresh episodes of my favorite shows. Pending a final vote today from Writers Guild of America members, scripted shows could begin production Wednesday. Of course, now you’re all thinking, but when? When will my show be back?

Well, don’t get mad when I tell you this, but you’re going to have to be a bit more patient. According to The New York Times, it takes at least of four weeks to get a 30-minute comedy completed from scratch and six to eight weeks for hour-long dramas. So that means, realistically, it will be mid-March or early April when new episodes start to flood the airwaves again. But they are coming. While some shows have already abandoned the rest of their seasons, others will be back for anywhere from four to ten new episodes.

The New York Times and TV Guide have made comprehensive lists of returning shows. Let’s run through some of the AfterEllen.com-friendly offerings together, shall we?

30 Rock: Five to ten more shows to air April/May. Thank God; life without Liz Lemon was one big blerg.

Battlestar Galactica: The first half of the final season begins April 4. Production on the second half could start in March, with an airdate not yet set.

Bionic Woman: According to TV Guide, “No new episodes expected. Ever.” Oh, Sarah Corvus, I think I’ll miss you most of all. … continue reading

Dee and Jenn are back with their vlog now named Come With Me If You Want to Live, thanks to your suggestions, in which they review and discuss the latest episode of Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles (learn more about Dee and Jenn and watch the first episode of their vlog here).

Dee's many animal friends also join in the conversation, with some hilarious results.

Since next week's episode of The Sarah Connor Chronicles is a repeat, Jenn and Dee's next new vlog will be posted on Saturday, February 9th.

You know, I thought that Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles (for which Dorothy Snarker helpfully coined the acronym T:SCC) would make fans of kick-ass females happy. I mean, here's a show that is entertaining, well acted and has not one, but two hot women stars, Lena Headey and Summer Glau.

As Ms. Snarker so delightfully put it, whoever cast those two together "deserves a raise or, at the very least, a large muffin basket."

The series is not perfect, but it's definitely worth watching. And compared to Bionic Woman, T:SCC is beyond brilliant. So, what's the problem? According to some Terminator fans, Headey is too thin. Painfully thin. Emaciated, even.

Huh? That is not an emaciated woman. Thin, yes. Fit, yes. But too thin? I don't think so. Granted, Headey is not ripped like the original Sarah Connor, Linda Hamilton. But who is? … continue reading

Today we're bringing you a new vlog about the Fox series Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, one of my favorite new shows of the TV season.

Submitted by two AfterEllen.com readers, Dee and Jenn, the first episode of their vlog discusses what's happened on the show so far — just in time to rev you up for tonight's new episode of The Sarah Connor Chronicles.

The lighting and production quality of the vlog is still a little rough, since this is their first time trying something like this, but I think Dee and Jenn make up for that with their sense of humor, interesting commentary, and enthusiasm for the show. (And they'll get better at that technical stuff as they go along, just like the rest of us have.)

Jenn (left) and Dee

Here's a short bio of the vloggers: … continue reading

Well, gosh, that was exciting. The two-night, two-episode premiere of Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles (henceforth to be known as T:SCC because, geez, that’s a lot to type over and over again) was an apocalyptic good time.

Was it perfect? Certainly not. Were there continuity issues? Most definitely. But you’d be hard pressed to find a weak link in the acting department (OK, Thomas Dekker’s John Connor is a bit like Zac Efron with an attitude problem) or a show with more beautiful women kicking ass in tank tops. Whoever decided to put Lena Headey and Summer Glau in a series together deserves a raise, or at the very least, a large muffin basket.

Since I’m just a casual fan of the films, I came to the series with fewer expectations in terms of the Terminator mythology. But for those who demand consistentcy, T:SCC takes place after T:2 and before T:3, thus basically negating (or, more accurately, reimagining) the final film. But, again, since I’m a fan but not a fanatic of the movies, I was just looking for a good story that could balance action with emotion. … continue reading

Come with me if you want to live. Sorry, I didn’t mean to get all dramatic. But with all my favorite shows in or entering repeats, you can understand why Sunday’s premiere of the Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles has me all excited about taking back the future from the endless reality wasteland we’re about to enter. Well, that and the presence of Lena Headey, Summer Glau and some really big guns.

The much anticipated, much drooled-over two-night premiere airs Sunday and Monday on Fox. Since I missed the Yahoo! TV stream of the pilot last week (vacation makes you do the wacky, like not log on to your computer for days at a time), I’m looking forward to it with the proverbial bated breath. Though after looking at Summer, Lena and Lena’s mischievously cocked eyebrow at the premiere party this week, I think I may have stopped breathing altogether.

The reasons I’ll be watching are obvious: Lena, Summer, guns, explosions, fights, killer machines from the future hell-bent on destroying the world as we know it. You know, girlie stuff. … continue reading

I would wager that about 80 percent of AfterEllen.com readers are looking forward to the two-night premiere of Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles on Jan. 13–14. Actually, that number may be a little low; it's probably more like 99.9 percent.

Turns out you won't have to wait quite that long: Starting tonight at 9 p.m. PT, the pilot episode will be available on Yahoo TV. The free (and commercial-free) preview features an introduction by Lena Headey.

Swoon — why does she look so good with a gun?! (You can download a wallpaper-sized version of that photo from the Fox site.)

The online stream will be available for only 24 hours, so don't miss it! I can't think of a better way to start the weekend.

I know we’re collectively drooling all over our sensible shoes at the prospect of seeing Lena Headey each week once Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles premieres Jan. 13. But Lena isn’t the only one packing serious heat. Joining her will be the underrated, overly flexible Summer Glau.

But according to a recent Access Hollywood interview, Summer almost didn’t audition for the role of the benevolent teenage Terminator Cameron. In fact, she had never even seen any of the original films in the Arnold Schwarzenegger franchise. … continue reading

Posters for The Sarah Connor Chronicles are all over New York City buses these days. The ominpresence of Lena Headey and her big gun is enough to make you feel like you're living in a futuristic apocalypse. (Frankly, simply walking out the door makes me feel like that, but never mind.)

Well, thanks to the magic of the Interweb, you too can pretend you're in a futuristic apocalypse with Lena. Fox has launched GetTerminated.com, "the site that allows you to become the ultimate terminator." You can upload an image and insert yourself into a scene from the new series.

Here's what happened when I uploaded a picture of Grover from Sesame Street: … continue reading

Like Siege, I'm a fan of pretty posters. Let's take another look at one, just to refresh our memories:

It's hard to imagine how anyone could improve on that, but now you have an excuse to try. Fox has announced a fan poster contest for Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles. Create the winning promotional poster, and you'll win a trip for two to L.A., where you'll attend the premiere party on Jan. 9. Your poster will also be displayed on the show's official website. (And Fox will be forever grateful for the free labor.)

To create your own homage to Lena Headey, visit www.fox.com/terminator to download fonts, graphics and title cards. Apply your mad design skillz and submit your entry via the website by Dec. 14. The five finalists' submissions will be posted on the site, and public votes will determine the winner — so if you get that far, remind us all to vote you into the inner sanctum!

For inspiration, here's a Sarah Connor trailer: … continue reading

Last week I showed you my dream 2008 calendar. Since then, I have been trying to decide what to do with myself until January rolls around so I can officially adorn my cubicle with said calendar. Unfortunately, Bionic Woman, despite Michelle Ryan's abs and Katee Sackhoff's early appearances, is doing nothing to help me pass the time. So I decided to count down the days until the premiere of the next show I can't wait to see, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles.

We've been keeping an eye on this show, and really, can you blame us? What could be better than Lena Headey fighting for the future of humankind?

Wait, I know what's better than that. A little help from Summer Glau certainly can't be worse.

I've found some lovely Sarah Connor eye candy to hang in my cubicle, not to mention a few videos to watch over and over again. This is the poster I'll be hanging up where it might be viewed by other folks in the office. … continue reading