The Sarah Connor Chronicles

[Theta Sigma]

The series has been greenlighted:
http://www.vfxworld.com/?sa=adv&code=3631a5a1&atype=news&id=17838

"Terminator TV Series Gets Greenlight

Wednesday August 30, 2006

Warner Bros. TV has hired David Nutter to helm the pilot for THE SARAH CONNOR CHRONICLES, prompting Fox Broadcasting to officially greenlight production on the TERMINATOR-based project, reports VARIETY. Andy Vajna and Mario Kassar's C2 Pictures, which produced TERMINATOR 3, is producing with Warner Bros. TV. Nutter will also exec produce with Kassar and Vajna.

Fox picked up the script from exec producer Josh Friedman (WAR OF THE WORLDS) last fall.

Casting will begin immediately, with filming set to start early next year in New Mexico.

Nutter has directed pilots for such future series as SMALLVILLE, WITHOUT A TRACE, SUPERNATURAL and James Cameron’s Fox series DARK ANGEL.

"It's important for me to live up, as best I can, to the bar that Jim Cameron set," Nutter told DAILY VARIETY, saying the pilot "has to carry as much of a punch" as possible, even on a TV budget.

The series will center on Connor and her savior son, John Connor, following the events of T2."

 

[Theta Sigma]

Sarah Connor has been cast:
http://www.comingsoon.net/news/tvnews.php?id=17428
"Lena Headey is Sarah Connor!
Source: Variety November 8, 2006

Lena Headey (Imagine Me & You) has landed the plum leading role in the Fox pilot "The Sarah Connor Chronicles," reports Variety.

The project, from Warner Bros. TV, continues the "Terminator" movie franchise storyline by focusing on Sarah and her 15-year-old son John, as they fight attackers from the future in present-day Los Angeles.

Headey takes over the role made famous by Linda Hamilton in the first two "Terminator" films. Josh Friedman will write and David Nutter is set to direct the pilot.

Headey's credits include the features The Brothers Grimm, The Cave and Ripley's Game. She next stars in Warner Bros.' 300."

 

[Theta Sigma]

The John Connor character has been cast:
http://www.mania.com/52996.html

"According to The Hollywood Reporter, Thomas Dekker (Heroes) has signed on to play John Connor in Fox's The Sarah Connor Chronicles. He will join Lena Headey in the cast."

 

[Theta Sigma]

Lena Headey reveals details of the show:
Headey Reveals Connor Chronicles

Lena Headey, who stars in the Fox SF drama pilot The Sarah Connor Chronicles, told SCI FI Wire that the show will begin with a confrontation between Headey's title character; her son, John Connor (Heroes' Thomas Dekker); and two new Terminators: a female model, played by Serenity's Summer Glau, and a male one, which she called Cromartie, played by Owain Yeoman. One is good and one is bad; she didn't say which is which. (Glau's character is named Cameron, an apparent nod to Terminator franchise creator James Cameron.)

The pilot, which picks up the story from the end of the feature film Terminator 2: Judgment Day, begins in the desert, and "it ends with them landing in L.A., having run and escaped. Or maybe not," Headey said in an interview at WonderCon in San Francisco on March 3.

"We just finished [shooting]," Headey (300) said. "We were in Albuquerque [N.M.] for a month. And it was very intense, because TV is crazy. I mean, it's long days. It's like boom, boom, boom. You don't get any respite. But ... I think it's going to be great. I don't know if its going to be picked up, because it's only in pilot stage right now. But I learned to shoot many weapons and how to recognize a Terminator. So it was a good experience."

The pilot "begins, and it's them basically running, hiding, trying to live," Headey said. "Trying to carve out a normal life for themselves, but always being watched and trying to locate Skynet, trying to stop [it]. But there are many, many issues in their way." — [SCI FI Wire] Patrick Lee, News Editor

 

[Theta Sigma]

The trailer and some clips:
http://www.aintitcool.com/node/32722

The trailer is quite good.

I also read on Wikipedia that as of this moment as well as having made the pilot, Fox has ordered 13 episodes of the series.

 

[Theta Sigma]

According to Andrew Mercado in the Sydney Sunday Telegraph on May 27, The Sarah Connor Chronicles will be shown on Australian TV next year and the network that has the show is 9.

 

[Theta Sigma]

Just saw the pilot:
Not bad at all. From its presentation it looks more like a big screen movie than a TV pilot despite it being 45 minutes long.
Good performances from Lena Heady, Thomas Dekker and Summer Glau.
Before making this post I could understand why people did not think this would not sustain as a series with impressions there might be Terminators every week and the plots are constricted due to Terminator 3. However, I just read in Wikipedia about this being set on an alternate timeline with series creator Josh Friedman saying that there will threats other than the Terminators (just like they are enemies other than vampires in Buffy and Angel). Therefore it will be interesting to see what happens next.

 

[Theta Sigma]

To Australian viewers:
Some time ago 9 had shown an ad of The Sarah Connor Chronicles.
During ad breaks for Moonlight a couple of nights ago, 9 showed a new ad for the show this time confirming that it will debut next month (exact date still unknown).

Looks like The Sarah Connor Chronicles will debut on Australian TV before the other Sarah show The Sarah Jane Adventures.

 

[Paulhanselluk]

Just saw the pilot:
Not bad at all. From its presentation it looks more like a big screen movie than a TV pilot despite it being 45 minutes long.
Good performances from Lena Heady, Thomas Dekker and Summer Glau.
Before making this post I could understand why people did not think this would not sustain as a series with impressions there might be Terminators every week and the plots are constricted due to Terminator 3. However, I just read in Wikipedia about this being set on an alternate timeline with series creator Josh Friedman saying that there will threats other than the Terminators (just like they are enemies other than vampires in Buffy and Angel). Therefore it will be interesting to see what happens next.

Just seen the pilot myself, and I have to say wow!, this would have made a much better T3. It is well told (the story), and assumes you only have a passing knowledge of the Termiator story, without treating you like an idiot, based on this 1 episode I have high hopes for the series, and I recomend to anyone if you can whatch this, then do.

 

[Theta Sigma]

To Australian viewers:
The Sarah Connor Chronicles makes it debut on 9 on Tuesday February 12 8:30pm:
TV Tonight: Airdate: Sarah Connor, Monster House, Underbelly

 

[Theta Sigma]

Pilot (aired version):
There are slight differences between this the broadcast version and the unaired version which became available on the net some months ago-
In the dream sequence John was in the library when Sarah picked him up; in the unaired version he was in class about to take a test.
A different actor plays Sarah's fiancee.
The episode ends with Sarah standing outside the house; the unaired version has the small group packing away guns.

Still an enjoyable start to the series.

 

[Theta Sigma]

Gnothi Seauton:
A very good second episode.

Spoiler

Sarah is told about 9/11 for the very first time. Of course having jumped the time track she would not have known about it before. As a viewer I took the knowledge of that tragic event for granted and did not occur to me before, Sarah's unawareness of it.

It seemed very appropriate the surname that Sarah chooses.

 

[Theta Sigma]

The Turk:

Spoiler

So funny when Sarah told Cameron not to kiss her.
Glad that Sarah did not resort to killing in this episode.
Wonder why that girl at school was so upset.

Meanwhile like the other Sarah show The Sarah Jane Adventures, The Sarah Connor Chronicles will also have a second season:
FOX picks up TSCC for 2nd season!!! - Terminator: Sarah Connor Chronicles

 

[Theta Sigma]

To Australian viewers:
The show is not on tonight due to the cricket but when it comes back next week it will be at a different time as the show has been moved from 8:30pm to 9:30pm.

Question is whether the series will remain at the 9:30 slot for the rest of season 1.

There is an upside and downside for my viewing with this change of time.

Upside: It no longer clashes with Gossip Girl on FOX8
Downside: It will clash with Burn Notice on 10.

 

[StarBlade]

I'm still not sure about whether or not I'm a fan of this show.

NO spoilers here.

The problem for me isn't the writing. I recognize some of the writing --Toni Graphia used to work on Battlestar and Ash Miller and Zack Stentz I recognize from the GOOD episodes of Andromeda.

Nor is it the acting. Summer Glau is fantastic as Cameron, sort of like a robo-River. And Lena Headey is really quite the dish, isn't she? I thought she made a lovely Spartan bride, and as an angry mom with a son whose destiny is to save us all.... she re-defines the term 'yummy mommy'.

But to be honest, I'm not sure where they can go in terms of long-term storytelling. Sooner or later John's going to grow up. And in the meantime, John can't be killed. So either Judgement Day happens or it doesn't.

My problem is that certain episodes are so damned intense, and others sputter by comparison. And sometimes the intensity of certain sequences leads to scenery-chewing and spiteful character intrigue in the meantime. I'm really not fond of the male characters on this show-- they're either woefully boring or INTENSE! levels of angsty. There's nothing particularly likeable about either John Connor or the FBI agent. The only halfway-decent male character is Charlie Dixon, and even then, I just feel really bad for him!

Still, any Terminator show is better than nothing. So it's not like I'm complaining. And with a new movie on the way starring Christian Bale as John Connor, at least I know it's heading someplace.

 

[Knight]

i caught "the turk" episode last night. quite enjoyed it actually, looking forward to more of the series, and hopin at some point they'll re run the earlier episodes i missed lol

 

[CaptainKirkFan]

For the most part, I like the show. However, I don't get why they keep doing the "prevent Skynet from being created in the first place" story. You know that they have to fail.

 

[Knight]

well, depends how much theyre trying to keep in content with T3. besides, at that point, they don't know they cant stop it...

 

[CaptainKirkFan]

well, depends how much theyre trying to keep in content with T3. besides, at that point, they don't know they cant stop it...

I meant the viewers know they can't succeed. They've already tried to stop it in T2, and they've got a 4th movie coming out, they're not gonna mess up the continuity right before it's release. Long story short, whenever I watch the show it's enjoyable, but I also kinda feel like I'm wasting my time

 

[Knight]

I meant the viewers know they can't succeed. They've already tried to stop it in T2, and they've got a 4th movie coming out, they're not gonna mess up the continuity right before it's release. Long story short, whenever I watch the show it's enjoyable, but I also kinda feel like I'm wasting my time

i dont know... T3 was disappointing, they could be trying to write that out of continuity, its happened before

 

[CaptainKirkFan]

i dont know... T3 was disappointing, they could be trying to write that out of continuity, its happened before

What does that have to do with preventing Skynet from being created? The whole franchise has been about Skynet and it's war against humanity. If Skynet isn't created it wipes out the whole franchise (including the not yet released 4th film) not just 3.

 

[StarBlade]

i dont know... T3 was disappointing, they could be trying to write that out of continuity, its happened before

They did write it out of continuity. I'd say how, but it was in the first four episodes.

 

[Knight]

They did write it out of continuity. I'd say how, but it was in the first four episodes.

is it this:

Spoiler: Terminator: SJC

in t3, they said sarah connor died of cancer - and the new terminator has advised her of that and shes taking steps not to do so

besides, wasnt the whole point of the first one that they were trying to change history?

 

[CaptainKirkFan]

is it this:

Spoiler: Terminator: SJC

in t3, they said sarah connor died of cancer - and the new terminator has advised her of that and shes taking steps not to do so

besides, wasnt the whole point of the first one that they were trying to change history?

No, they were trying to keep history from being changed. Skynet was trying to change history.

Also that's part of my beef. They are pretty much rehashing the first story again and again. I think 2 should have been about John's childhood (no terminator) and then three should have been about Judgment day and John's years in the Skynet concentration camp, with four being about the resistance, but that's just my opinion.

 

[Theta Sigma]

Heavy Metal:

Spoiler

Very creepy moment when Cromartie as Laszlo meets and kills the real Laszlo.

 

[Knight]

No, they were trying to keep history from being changed. Skynet was trying to change history.

Also that's part of my beef. They are pretty much rehashing the first story again and again. I think 2 should have been about John's childhood (no terminator) and then three should have been about Judgment day and John's years in the Skynet concentration camp, with four being about the resistance, but that's just my opinion.

i thought thats how it started and then sarah convinced ... kyle (?) to help her try to change things, stop skynet ever happening?

 

[Theta Sigma]

Dungeons & Dragons:

Spoiler

We get to see Kyle Reese (albeit played by a different actor) in this episode. Figured he was going to turn up a few moments beforehand. Nice intercutting with the flashback/forward depending on one's point of view.
Very very awkward moment when Charley and Cameron were alone together.
Derek lied about killing Andy which makes me wonder whether he can be trustworthy to Sarah and John.

 

[Knight]

Spoiler

Derek lied about killing Andy which makes me wonder whether he can be trustworthy to Sarah and John.

That one was kind of obvious from the episode before though lol. It was just... you could tell from the scene where that claim was made that it wasn't true

 

[Theta Sigma]

To Australian viewers:
Another change in time for the series again on Tuesday nights as the remaining episodes of the first season will now be at 10:30pm starting April 1. Nine plays April Fools on Sarah Connor.

 

[Theta Sigma]

The Demon Hand:

Spoiler

Funny when Maria said that Cameron danced mechanically. She had no idea how right she was. Absolutely disturbing that Cameron walked out on Dmitri and Maria just before they got killed. Should have known that Dr Silberman would turn up in the series and this time played by Bruce Davison. What a very dazed look that Derek had upon seeing Cameron doing ballet.