The amazing Ed Left, who not only runs his own Web site called Sci-Fi On TV but also writes a popular column here on Airlock Alpha by the same name, has been a busy guy. As a member of the SyFy Genre Awards Nominating Committee -- an international group of people brought together to pick five nominees in about a dozen categories that you, the reader, can vote on beginning next month -- Ed has been busy trying to keep our eligibility list updated, something I have done over the years, but was gladly to allow someone else maintain.

And boy, is this a long list. Even with 14 categories opening the door for 70 nominees, it's tough to make the choice on who will be nominated and who will be shunned.

Seriously. Our eligibility list right now includes 46 television series, 504 episodes, and hundreds of actors. And that's just science-fiction and fantasy. I have no clue how the heck the Emmy people do this twice a year.

And it's a great list, too. We have returning favorites like "Battlestar Galactica," "Stargate: Atlantis," "Lost" and "Heroes." And we have some real cool new shows as well like "Moonlight" and "Pushing Daisies."

Our nominating committee will begin submitting their ballots as early as next week, and so I have to put together my list of nominees. While I don't have it down to a final list, I do have some great ideas.

I can't put together a list without including the amazing Edward James Olmos and equally dazzling Mary McDonnell in for best acting in a television series. They are not alone on my list from "Battlestar Galactica," which is one of my favorite shows ever. I can guarantee you that Tricia Helfer, Michael Hogan, Aaron Douglas and Katee Sackhoff will be on my final list somewhere, somehow as well.

There have also been some amazing special guests on the show this year, too. Last week, we had Nana Visitor from "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" fame who I would've normally called stunt casting, but I can't imagine anyone ele doing the job Visitor did in bringing to life a short-lived cancer patient friend of Laura Roslin. If she didn't speak, I wouldn't even have been able to see Maj. Kira in her face, and I forgot all about that Bajoran within 30 seconds.

I can't make my whole nomination ballot about "Battlestar Galactica," as much as I would like to. I have to include "Doctor Who" and "Lost" this year. I know there are people who really have lost interest in "Lost" since the first season, but I find this show to be completely fascinating, and the actors to be stunning in their performances. No one impresses me more, however, them Michael Emerson. There's something about him that just tells you this guy is always in charge whether he's leading The Others or sitting in a jail cell.

I think I may have to give another nod to Terry O'Quinn again. While I think he's been underused so far this season, I've still enjoyed what he brings to the show.

"Heroes" will be a little harder to support for me this year, simply because they didn't have that great of a season. It took me until recently to finally get through the second season, and I wasn't all that impressed. I felt some of the storylines were boring, and really did drag on. If I have to hear about ancient Japan one more time, I will cut my own head off with a samurai sword.

I do think that George Takei deserves an acting nod, though. He character was quite elegant, and it was sad to see him go. But Masi Oka's character of Hiro needs to be independent and let loose, and he can only do that by letting go of his father.

I will definitely try to make some room on my ballot for "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles." While I may personally not like Thomas Dekker because of his stupidity in "Heroes" involving the sexuality of his character, you can't deny that he is a strong actor, and deserves some attention. Also, Summer Glau should definitely be considered for some kind of recognition, although I do worry that her character of Cameron is way too reminiscent of River Tam in "Firefly."

I really do like Lena Headey, and I know she can act. But I haven't seen much from her in the first season of "Sarah Connor" except almost a robotic approach herself, so I may have to wait until the second season to see how she evolves before I really consider adding her to my ballot.

I could spread this column out for pages talking about all the possibilities, but I shouldn't. However, I do want to hear some of your thoughts on this. Who do you think should be nominated? Find out how to tell us by clicking here.

SyFy Radio

I wasn't sure how interesting Kevin Manthei, the composer behind the new "Justice League: The New Frontier" direct-to-DVD movie, was going to be this past week, but he was fun. I think I learned more about the composing process in that 40-minute interview than I have ever known before, and I think our listeners really liked it.

If you want to hear the show in its entirety, go right now to BlogTalkRadio.com/SyFyRadio and listen to it now.

Next week, we welcome David Gerrold, the writer of the "Star Trek" episode "Trouble With Tribbles" just before he makes a special appearance at the Oasis 21 convention in Orlando, which I'll also be at.

After that, the mirror version of me -- that's right, me! -- will be the guest. If nothing else, that has to be worth listening to for that alone.

You can listen to SyFy Radio either on BlogTalk Radio at BlogTalkRadio.com/SyFyRadio or subscribing to us for free at iTunes. Simply go to the iTunes store, type in "SyFy" in the search window, and we'll be the only thing that pops up. Write a review when you get a chance, too!

SyFy Radio airs live every Wednesday at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.

SyBits

I answer select letters on the air on SyFy Radio, so write those letters to me, and then listen to SyFy Radio every Wednesday at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT (just click the link above), and see if I share your letter on the air!

Send your letters to mhinman@airlockalpha.com, and maybe you'll eventually read them right here in this very spot, complete with my arcane responses.

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Don't forget to listen to me host SyFy Radio, every Wednesday at 10 p.m. ET (and available to download for free at your leisure after the fact) by visiting www.blogtalkradio.com/syfyradio. You also can subscribe to us for free at the iTunes Store. Simply log in to iTunes, type in "syfy" in the search engine, and ou'll be connected directly to the show's archive.

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Have a great week, and don't be a stranger!

Michael Hinman, a cult leader twice awarded "Best Kool-Aid Drinker," is the founder and site coordinator for Airlock Alpha, writing out of Tampa, Fla. He can be reached at mhinman@airlockalpha.com