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If "Heroes" is going to survive, apparently it will need a new big-time baddie. And it seems producers have already found him.

Robert Knepper has been offered a regular role in the fourth season of the show has he plays what The Hollywood Reporter described as an "evil Earth-moving ringleader" of a carnival. Knepper had originally signed for just six episodes, but apparently will now be a fixture for the full season when the show returns this fall on NBC.

Knepper was part of the cast that showed up at San Diego Comic-Con last weekend, and the carnival story element was played out to visitors of the annual event with a carnival built by NBC across the street from the convention center.

Knepper isn't the first "Heroes" bad guy to go from a short-stint to a full-time job on the show. Zachary Quinto was only meant to play a short-term villain in "Heroes" before his popularity pushed him into becoming one of the series' stars.

"Heroes" will need a lot of help this season. With ratings continuing to erode, there is plenty of speculation that without some sort of significant improvement this season, it may be the last we see of our superpower cast of characters. -- [The Hollywood Reporter]

Star Trek beaming to Blu-ray: Paramount may not have gambled on the right side of the HD-DVD/Blu-ray war, but it's trying to set things right now.

The studio is releasing all of the films in the Star Trek franchise, with the exception of the most recent 2009 production, on Blu-ray beginning Sept. 22 as well as the second season of the original "Star Trek" series that originally aired on NBC in the 1960s.

For some of the Star Trek films, this is the first time it's been ever made available on Blu-ray and will include a number of special features, including a 70-minute roundtable discussion hosted by Whoopi Goldberg and including William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, Patrick Stewart and Jonathan Frakes.

The Season 2 Blu-ray set includes all 26 episodes of that season as well as "The Trouble with Tribbles."

All of this is ahead of the DVD release of J.J. Abrams' reboot film, "Star Trek," which hits store shelves Nov. 17. -- [Airlock Alpha]

The Trouble With David Gerrold: Speaking of Tribbles, the little cuddly, reproducing creatures creator David Gerrold has some great video from the recent San Diego Comic-Con online at CBS-BDLive.com.

Gerrold goes from scriptwriting and author to online journalist at Comic-Con, interviewing fans, celebrities and even Gary Lockwood, who had a guest role in "Where No Man Has Gone Before," the second pilot of the original "Star Trek" series.

Let's hope he didn't bring any live Tribbles, otherwise the Klingons might get upset.-- [Airlock Alpha]

This fall on Syfy ...: Syfy has announced its fall schedule, and whether you're anticipating it or not, just remember one thing: Anything is better than wrestling.

First off, "Stargate: Universe" makes its series premiere with a two-hour telemovie Oct. 2 beginning at 9 p.m.

"Sanctuary," starring former "Stargate SG-1" star Amanda Tapping, returns for its second season Oct. 9 at 10 p.m. -- [Variety]

Maybe he thought they were Mandrakes?: It's pretty certain that Professor Sprout would take points away from Slytherin for this.

Jamie Waylett, who plays Vincent Crabbe in the Harry Potter movie freanchise, was sentenced to 120 hours of community service in London for growing marijuana.

Police found 10 marijuana plants growing at the house of Waylett's mother in London.

But it could've been worse for the actor. Growing pot could result in 14 years in a British prison. But Waylett wasn't sharing, and thank goodness, too, because he got off with a slap on the wrist instead. -- [Associated Press]

Harvey Frand remembered by longtime partner: Airlock Alpha received an e-mail Tuesday from Bill Bowersock, who was the domestic partner of Harvey Frand for more than 32 years.

Frand, as you may recall, passed away last week. The one-time line producer for "Battlestar Galactica" had his life celebrated by many of the cast and crew of the show at San Diego Comic-Con during a Bear McCreary concert at the San Diego House of Blues, according to Airlock Alpha reporter Katie Sawyer.

Bowersock said there is an online memorial for those who would like to share their thoughts about Frand, and read what others -- especially those in the "Battlestar Galactica" community -- have to say about his partner. It can be found by clicking here.

Bowersock is asking for donations to be made in Frand's memory to the Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles' Alive Music Project, which promotes acceptance and fights bullying in Los Angeles area high schools. -- [Airlock Alpha]

Where is Inside Blip?: The last time we chatted here in AlphaBits, we had expressed hope that our brand new television industry entertainment news site, Inside Blip would be up and running right now.

Sadly, it's not. But it's close!

Shane Churchman, creative director for Quantum Global Media Inc. -- the parent company of Inside Blip and Airlock Alpha -- tells me that there was a need to work out some more technical aspects of the site, and it just couldn't be done at the same time we were spearheading coverage at San Diego Comic-Con.

However, we are expecting to get the site launched by the end of this week to early next week. Just in time for me to go on vacation (how is that for timing?)

Speaking of Comic-Con, we have many more stories to come from the event. We sent five reporters including myself, Shane, Katie Sawyer, Tiffany Vogt and Bryant Griffin.

We will be updating with stories and lots of video over the next few weeks. If you would like to keep track of anything Comic-Con related, there is one place where you can find all of the news we've been reporting (and will continue to report). Just bookmark this link.

Also, I've received no less than 100 e-mails in the last couple days asking when we will announce winners to the 2009 Portal Awards. As always, we take about a month or so to announce winners, and plan to do it this year around Aug. 25. -- [Airlock Alpha]

Have a news tip? Don't wait, send me an e-mail right now at mhinman@airlockalpha.com.

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