The Hollywood Universe: Television News – 11/29/07

1) Doctor Who: The new season of Doctor Who’s latest incarnation will debut in the U.K. in early 2008. It has been confirmed that Billie Piper will definitely reprise her role as Rose Tyler from the first two seasons and David Tennant will be returning as the Doctor. Rumors also are circulating that John Barrowman may also be revisiting the show. Freema Agyeman will return to the show in the fourth season and appear in the spin-off series Torchwood. Catherine Tate, who did a guest spot in the Doctor Who Christmas special, was expected to return as Donna in the series, but this has not been confirmed officially. Doctor Who’s fifth season will not premier until 2010.

Spin-off Torchwood will return for a second season in the new year 2008 in the U.K. on BBC, and in late January in the U.S. Alan Dale from Ugly Betty will guest for an episode, as will James Marsters, best known for his role as British vampire Spike on Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel. Marsters will play a time agent who forces Jack (John Barrowman) to come to grips with his past.

2) Supernatural: The cult fantasy series about the demon-fighting Winchester brothers gets its own magazine, with the first issue released this month from Titan Publishing. The magazine contains exclusive interviews with the show’s stars, starting with leads Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles, and featuring Katie Cassidy, who plays the demon-possessed double-agent Ruby on the show this season. It also offers behind-the-scenes features and spoiler teasers about the rest of on-going Season 3 from the show’s creator Eric Kripke. 

3) The Andromeda Strain: Michael Crichton’s best-selling SF medical thriller is being remade as a mini-series for U.S. cable channel A&E. The novel, published in 1968 and made into a movie in 1971, is apparently getting a radical up-dating in the new production. The mini-series stars Benjamin Bratt as a hot-headed scientist who must track down and destroy a crashed military sattelite that releases a deadly, mutating virus. Andre Braugher, Rick Schroder, Eric McCormack and Christa Miller also star. The new Andromeda Strain will premiere on A&E in early 2008.

4) Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles: To celebrate the launch of its new SF series, Fox television in the U.S. is inviting fans of the action movies to design a promotional poster for the spin-off series. The winner of the contest will get a trip for two to L.A. and have their poster presented at the series’ premiere party on January 9^th and on Fox’s Terminator website. The show’s pilot episode airs in the U.S. on Fox on January 13th, 2008, and settles into its regular time slot on January 14^th. Contestants for the poster must submit their design by December 14^th, 2007. More information on the contest can be found at Fox.com/Terminator.