AirLockAlpha.com

Starting ... well ... now, I've decided to experiment with the format of my column. Instead of being once a month, the column will come out twice a month. The second installment is a follow-up on the first, plus highlighting emails from readers and adaptation news.

So, I hope you enjoy the new format. Without further ado ...

ACT I ? THE FOLLOW-UP

I don't have much to add except that I missed three other good examples of endings: "Jericho," "Babylon 5," and "Flash Gordon."

Many of you were curious why I didn't mention "Jericho's" season (crap, I mean series) finale. Well, I hadn't seen it yet. But I have now and wow, I can't believe how much they crammed into the episode, but yet it didn't feel rushed. There is still plenty of room for more episodes, but all the major story threads were wrapped up. That, my friends, was an example of a good ending.

"Babylon 5" was under threat of cancellation, so it had a strong Season 4 that was an amalgam of the originally planned seasons 4 and 5 story arcs. The Season 4 finale would have actually made for an awesome ending. Yet, even though Season 5 was a little weak, the series finale was still very strong. The episode takes us 20 years in the future and gives us a highly emotional end to the series.

You may be surprised, but somehow I liked "Flash Gordon." I didn't like it at first, but somewhere near the end they started to find their mojo. Yet, I'm not surprised it was canceled and I did find the ending to be satisfying. I know they got stuck, but it works. Flash and his friends aren't exactly welcome back on Earth and on Mongo they are heroes. After watching "Tin Man" I know they have some creative minds behind this show. I think they just needed a clearer vision of the series before they ever went to camera.

Any time there is a series ending there is often a battle for its return. Often they don't work, but the fans occasional get their way. Although, as we learned with "Jericho," that isn't a guarantee it will stick around much longer after its resurrection from cancellation. Man, sometimes I wonder if the Nielsens and the current system are just broken. With diehard fans like that there must be some way to profit from it, I just think the networks haven't caught up yet with the future.

I just wanted to mention a couple of fan attempts to resurrect shows.

First off, Saving Journeyman! is still fighting for the show's return or at the very least a DVD release (which wouldn't hurt in renewing interest). So if you liked the show, feel free to stop by there.

Of course the Jericho Rangers haven't given up, and as Airlock Alpha reported, there is a slim chance that the show may not be over. Radio Free Jericho is still fighting the good fight.

ACT II ? AND THE AUDIENCE SAYS ...

I get lots of great e-mails from readers with each column. So, I've decided to highlight the best ones and share some of my responses.

Overall this was a good article, I just have one thing that bugs me: When you mentioned "Farcape's" abrupt ending. You do know that the show ended as it did because SciFi Channel pulled the rug out from under them and cancelled the show without warning?

Brian Henson thought they had been renewed for a fifth season only to be told almost as the last scenes were being filmed for the final episodes of the year that they would not be brought back.

Yes, the show ended abruptly and on a terrible cliffhanger, but the writers and producers were not at fault it was all Skiffy. Besides, "Bad Timing" wasn't even the last episodes filmed, "Constellation of Doubt" was. They had the end of the season in the can before they knew the show was over.

-- David

Thanks for writing in, David. I could be wrong, I hear it happens from time to time, but I was under the impression that they had (barely) enough warning to change the ending. You are right that the SciFi Channel completely screwed them over. I remember hearing the announcement from SciFi Channel itself on renewing the show for two seasons, but then it backed out when the time came. What's worse is that they replaced it with "Tremors: The Series" (huh?). I?m not knocking that show (please, no hate mail), but let's just say that it was no "Farscape."

The ending was perfect until the surprise twist at the end that happened to John and Aeryn. Even though they had it filmed, it would have been easy to change either in post with editing or some quick pick-ups that I'm sure SciFi Channel would have let them do.

But, you know what? They took a gamble. I don't think it is much of a stretch to suggest that they were hoping the cliffhanger ending would cause major fan uproar that might force SciFi Channel to rethink their decision. It was a big gamble, but thankfully it paid off. We got the miniseries and now there are Webisodes on the way. But, if that gamble hadn't paid off, "Farscape" would have been one of the worst offenders of the no ending crime.

I really liked your recent "Prepare to Be Adapted." I pretty much agreed with everything you said. However, you mentioned "Preacher." Have you heard anything about the HBO adaptation? I know Mark Steven Johnson is on his way to Rome with Kristen Bell. Did HBO bury the series?

-- Aitch Jae Esse

Ah, "Preacher." What the hell happened? I've been asking around, but things have been very quiet since the writer's strike. I don't want to preach bad news, but things aren't looking good. It has either been put on the back burner for a later release or it is gone for good. I'll keep asking around and will be sure to let everyone know.

Yeah, I love that story about Spotnitz and "Night Stalker." After "The X-Files" and "Twin Peaks" networks are (rightfully so) a little gun shy of shows that promise a series-long mystery. Don't get me wrong; you can't map out an entire series. Think about how boring that would be for the staff writers. But writers should take notes from JMS on how to map out a series in the long run. Except for the part where he wrote most of the show. That would suck, because then I won't be able to find a writing job.

I'm sure you've gotten more than enough "I can't believe you didn't mention _______." messages by now. But I have to throw mine in.

I can't believe you didn't mention "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" in your article about best series endings. The two-hour finale of DS9 is by far the best ending I've seen in any TV series; sci-fi, genre or otherwise. It had action, humor, sentimentality.

By the time the series was done, there was closure to every plotline and character, including most of the recurring guest stars, while still leaving enough open for a continuation via a feature film (if it were to ever happen). And unlike two other series finales (and at least three motion pictures) in the Star Trek franchise, they pulled it off without having to resort to time travel.

-- Sean

You know, I was this close to talking about "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" last time. I consider it (ignoring most of the first two seasons) the best Star Trek series of them all. The Dominion War (which didn't get wrapped up in one episode - surprise), the darker tone, and the recurring characters made for a great show. I think its competition with "Babylon 5" and the great writing staff (Ronald D. Moore, Ira Steven Behr, Robert Hewitt Wolfe, etc.) helped push this series into a new frontier that no Star Trek writer had ever gone before.

But I have mixed feelings about the finale. It wrapped everything up real well, except for Sisko. What the frak was up with that? That was a big loose end that didn't need to be in there. Unless they had a miniseries or movie lined up they shouldn't have thrown that in. Perhaps they were hoping for fans to force a continuation, but they lost that gamble. I don't know why, but DS9 has never gotten the respect it deserved.

Thanks to everyone who e-mailed me. Keep the e-mails coming folks and I'll be sure to post the best ones up here. You can send them to: mpyle@airlockalpha.com.

ACT III ? NEWZ BITZ & BYTES

I can't wait for "Watchmen." Slashfilm has this really cool compare and contrast article showing the sets compared to the panels from the graphic novel. Plus, Superhero Hype has a video journal.

You've got to love those viral marketing Web sites. It looks like "Hellboy 2: The Golden Army" has one of its very own. Check it out by clicking here.

I wasn't all that excited about "Iron Man" when I first heard about it, but the movie clips look sweet. Check out the newest one, called "Run Before You Walk."

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Davis Entertainment ("I, Robot," "Alien vs. Predator") has acquired the rights to Boom Studios' sci-fi comic book series "North Wind." Dan DiGilio, who writes the comic books, will adapt the comic book to screenplay and executive produce. John Davis will produce the live-action movie with Boom Studios co-founders Andrew Cosby and Ross Richie. You haven't read the comic book? You can actually download them for free (legally) at MySpace Comic Books.

As Airlock Alpha reported earlier, "Smallville" creators and executive producers Alfred Gough and Miles Millar announced in an open letter that they will not return for an eighth season. I can't say I'm surprised. I have heard from sources that morale has been running really low this season. Most of the crew and cast just don't want to be there. Perhaps it would be wiser to just do a spinoff?

FADE TO BLACK

Sadly more creators have passed away since my last installment: Jim Mooney and Johnny Byrne.

Jim Mooney is a comic book artist who started in the 1940s. His first gig was believed to be drawing The Moth, a Batman imitation that could be found in Fox Publication's "Mystery Men." That work led to him being hired by DC to actually draw Batman, which led to a long career in comics.

Irish poet, science-fiction author, and film and television screenwriter Johnny Byrne will also be missed. He wrote a bunch of British SF including episodes of "Space: 1999" and "Doctor Who."

Even more sadly, as I was writing my farewell last time to many of these excellent creators that died recently, unbeknownst to me at the time my own grandmother passed away that very day. She wasn't a storyteller, but she was a good mom and a great grandmother. She always encouraged me to follow my dreams and any creative success I have I owe in part to her. Goodbye grandma or Dorothy Pyle as others called you. I hope you are in a better place and that I'll see you again someday.

Until next time ? Marx out.

Marx Pyle is a staff writer for Airlock Alpha, writing out of Vancouver, B.C. He is not a shape shifting alien sleeper agent. He can be reached at mpyle@airlockalpha.com.