Axiom's Edge Science Fiction and Fantasy

Following is the list of Science Fiction and Fantasy shows currently scheduled to air this Summer, all times are EST. These are listed in order of there Debut/Return date and the links are to the entries for each show at TV.com.  Also see Johnny Jay’s thoughts on this Summer’s offerings.

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Pushing Daisies
Returns: May 30th
Where to Find it: ABC, Saturdays 10 PM
What is it: Sadly our beloved show about a pie-maker who can bring people back to life got the axe late last year and ABC pulled it from their schedule before it could finish its run. Fortunately, though, starting May 30th those final three episodes will make it to the air.
Johnny Jay’s Thoughts: Since those of us who are fans of this wonderful, quirky little show have nothing better to do at ten o’clock on Saturday nights, ABC thought it would do us a favor and air the last episodes then. Oh well, at least we finally will have three more visits with Ned and Chuck and Emerson and Olive and the rest of the gang. I will definitely DVR it, and since I probably will have nothing better to be doing, might watch it at ten o’clock anyway.

The Listener
Debuts: June 4th
Where to Find it: NBC, Thursdays 10 PM
What is it: This Canadian produced series follows a young paramedic named Toby Logan with telepathic abilities who decides to use his powers to help others. The show series has actually already completed the run of its first season in Canada and internationally, so we are a bit late to the party.
Johnny Jay’s Thoughts: A word of caution to Toby, if some dude named Sylar stops by for a quick chat — Run! Run far, run fast!

Meteor (Mini-Series)
Debuts: June 7th July 12th
Where to Find it: NBC, Sunday 9PM
What is it: In this mini-series, a giant meteor is hurtling toward the earth threatening to destroy to destroy all life on the planet. Genre veteran Christopher Lloyd stars in the production.  Part one airs June 7th July 12th, part two airs June 14th July 19th.
Johnny Jay’s Thoughts: Wait, wasn’t there a movie from the late 70’s with the same name and plot? Is this a four hour remake of that? Say it ain’t so . . .

Kings
Returns: June 13th
Where to Find it: NBC, Saturdays 8 PM
What is it: This modern day retelling of the biblical David and Goliath story just never found an audience when it first debuted in Spring. Now NBC will give the few fans of the show (including myself) a chance to see the remaining seven episodes.
Johnny Jay’s Thoughts: I really liked this one and wished it could have found an audience. I hear that this was intended for a limited run all along, so let’s hope that the final episode gives us some closure (which does not involve the lead characters finding out that they are on a spaceship to Mars).

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True Blood
Returns: June 14th
Where to Find it: HBO, Sundays 9 PM
What is it: This toothy series based on Charlaine Harris’ Southern Vampire books returns this Summer for its second season. The first season received a lot of positive buzz and the producers hope to keep up the momentum during its sophomore run.
Johnny Jay’s Thoughts: I did not follow this one last year because I was not enticed enough by the first episode (which I saw during a free HBO preview) to shell out the money for the pay channel. However, from what I understand this one continued to pick up steam throughout its first season, so I just may have to pick up the DVD and catch up before Season 2 hits on June 14th.

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Eli Stone
Returns: June 20th
Where to Find it: ABC, Saturdays 10 PM
What is it: This quirky, prophetic legal drama suffered the same fate as Pushing Daisies last fall and still has unaired episodes as well.
Johnny Jay’s Thoughts: I never really followed this one, but since Pushing Daisies will be done by this point and I won’t have anything else to do at this time anyway . . .

Merlin
Debuts: June 21st
Where to Find it: NBC, Sundays 8 PM
What is it: This BBC product tells the story of a young Merlin who finds out that he has a destiny to assure that a young man named Arthur will one day ascend to the throne. The first season of the series, which co-stars Anthony Stewart Head (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) as Uther Pendragon, initially ran on BBC last Fall.
Johnny Jay’s Thoughts: Sounds like Smallville meets King Arthur, but could be worth a look. The good news? We don’t have to worry about NBC cancelling it because it is a BBC property and production of the second season is already underway.

Impact (Mini-Series)
Debuts: June 21st
Where to Find it: ABC, Sunday 9 PM
What is it: A white dwarf star collides with the Moon (?!) which knocks it out of its orbit toward the Earth in the Summer’s second mini-series about a heavenly object threatening the survival of humanity.  Part one airs June 21st, part two airs June 28th.
Johnny Jay’s Thoughts: Okay, they lost me with the part about a white dwarf star hitting the Moon.  Think I will have to pass on this one.

Virtuality (Movie)
Debuts: June 26th
Where to Find it: FOX, Friday 8 PM
What is it: From Battlestar Galactica’s Ronald D. Moore, this movie follows the crew of a deep space mission who have virtual reality to keep them occupied during their journey.  But then something goes wrong with the holo-deck . . . New Amsterdam’s Nikolaj Coster-Waldau stars as Commander Frank Pike.
Johnny Jay’s Thoughts: This was originally intended as a pilot for a series, but FOX executives, who despite ordering changes after first seeing it, chose not to pick it up for Fall.  Moore still thinks it has a chance if it gets good reviews and ratings, but what are the chances of that seeing as it airs on a Friday night in Summer?

Doctor Who
Returns: June 27th
Where to Find it: BBC America
What is it: BBC America will be the first channel stateside to air last year’s Christmas special with David Tennant, then will run the Easter special 0n July 26th.
Johnny Jay’s Thoughts: These will be among the last appearances of David Tennant as Doctor Who before he passes on the reigns to Matt Smith in 2010.

Warehouse 13
Debuts: July 7th
Where to Find it: Sci Fi Channel, Tuesdays 9 PM
What is it: Two FBI agents are assigned to a secret warehouse that houses an assortment of mysterious objects and artifacts in this cross between The X-Files and Raiders of the Lost Ark.
Johnny Jay’s Thoughts: This one takes up Eureka’s old timeslot and could be just as much fun as that one based on the teaser I saw for it.

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Eureka
Returns: July 10th
Where to Find it: Sci Fi Channel, Fridays 10 PM
What is it: Once again, Summer brings us back to the town of Eureka and its wonderful, nutty inhabitants who just may end all life on Earth if they have a glitch in their latest project (and if Sheriff Jack Carter doesn’t save the day). Sci Fi is calling this Season 3.5 because they did not get a full Season 3 last Summer due to that writer’s strike.
Johnny Jay’s Thoughts: Life is always good when Eureka is back on. It’s not a dark, serialized drama that makes your head spin each week (not that there’s anything wrong with that), it’s just good fun.

The Storm (Mini-Series)
Debuts: July 19th July 26th
Where to Find it: NBC, Sunday 9 PM
What is it: In NBC’s second disaster-themed mini-series of the Summer, a man creates a weather machine and, after something goes awry, (you guessed it) a massive storm ravages the planet.  Treat Williams will star in the production. Part one airs July 19th July 26th, part two airs July 26th August 2nd.
Johnny Jay’s Thoughts: Earth just can’t catch a break this Summer, can it?

Torchwood
Debuts: July 20th
Where to Find it: BBC America, Monday through Friday 9 PM
What is it: The Doctor Who spin-off series returns for its third season which only comprised five episodes.  BBC America will air these on consecutive nights on the week of July 20th.
Johnny Jay’s Thoughts: That gives me until late July to catch up on Seasons 1 and 2.

Being Human
Debuts: July 25th
Where to Find it: BBC America, Saturdays 9 PM
What is it: Three twenty-something Brits decided to live together in a house and try to live a normal live.  But they have a few hurdles to overcome: one is a vampire, one is a werewolf, and one is a ghost.
Johnny Jay’s Thoughts: Yet another BBC import, I’ll check this one out but may have already had my fill of young British people with Merlin.

Defying Gravity
Debuts: August 2nd
Where to Find it: ABC, Sundays 10 PM
What is it: This series follows eight astronauts on a deep space mission whose daily activities are filmed and transmitted back to Earth as the subject of a documentary.  Christina Cox (Blood Ties) and Ron Livingston (Office Space) head up the cast.
Johnny Jay’s Thoughts: This one caught me by surprise as I did not see any mention of it on ABC’s schedule at the beginning of the Summer.  Sounds similar to Virtuality which ran earlier this Summer on FOX, but the producers describe it as Grey’s Anatomy in space.  That’s definitely not a strong pitch for me, but I will at least tune in for the pilot.

Survivors
Debuts: tbd
Where to Find it: BBC America
What is it: This post-apocalyptic series is a remake of the 70’s show created by Terry Nation (who also created the Daleks).  It follows the few remaining survivors after a super-virus wipes out over 99% of the Earth’s population.
Johnny Jay’s Thoughts: I never saw the original (not sure if it ever had any exposure in the States), but I love post-apocalyptic stories so I will definitely tune in for this one.

For more Summer viewing, check out TV.com’s preview as well.

Watch your favorite Science Fiction and Fantasy television shows on DVD with Netflix plans starting from $4.99: