Battlestar Galactica

CHICAGO – SyFy’s “Alphas” might have been a reasonable excuse for summer entertainment five years ago but we’ve seen too many shows like it in the last few to give this disappointment a pass. Remember the later seasons of “Heroes”?

CHICAGO – The high-def releases for “Battlestar Galactica” have been somewhat baffling. The problem for Universal was that A.) They had started releasing the series on standard-def when Blu-ray took off and B.) They needed a way to milk one of their most impressive cash cows for a bit longer. Consequently, the chance to individually buy all of one of the best science fiction programs of all time didn’t come until 2011. But that day has finally arrived with the release of the impressive “Battlestar Galactica: Season Four.”

CHICAGO – As a relatively new visitor to the “Battlestar Galactica” universe, I found myself utterly enthralled by the inaugural season of “Caprica,” a prequel of sorts that’s garnering generally favorable reviews from fans. Created by Glen Larson in 1978, the “Battlestar” franchise was brilliantly re-imagined in 2004 by Ronald D. Moore and David Eick, who were clearly more interested in ideas than explosions.

CHICAGO – TNT’s hit-and-miss cop drama “Dark Blue” returns tomorrow night, August 4th, 2010 with a great pair of episodes featuring the addition of the always-excellent Tricia Helfer of “Battlestar Galactica,” but the improvements aren’t merely in the supporting cast, as the first two hours of season two hint at the opposite of a sophomore slump.

CHICAGO – How many “Battlestar Galactica” fans don’t already have the excellent third season in some form? The release pattern of “BSG” on Blu-ray continues to surprise this critic as it feels like the niche market who doesn’t own the complete HD series or hasn’t already bought the standard DVD is very small, meaning that the question for most is going to be whether or not to upgrade.

CHICAGO – Where would Thomas Sullivan Magnum had been without his trusty sidekick Rick Wright? Chicago-born Larry Manetti was Rick Wright on “Magnum P.I,” and has just re-released his book of memories with the show, “Aloha, Magnum.”

CHICAGO – Releasing seasons of hit shows that have only been available for a few years in the first place on Blu-ray can be a tricky proposition, especially when it’s not the first. What fan of “Battlestar Galactica” doesn’t own the second season of this great show? If you’re one of the few who hasn’t completed their collection because you’ve been waiting for HD, today’s your lucky day.

CHICAGO – The Blu-Ray Round Up is back with two HD music releases, a beloved holiday movie from a director with a new comedy on the horizon (Richard Curtis, “Pirate Radio”), and a release that’s a must-own for fans of one of the most popular shows of the ’00s. This informative column is designed to let you know synopsis, technical specs, and features for titles that may have slipped under your radar. Pick your favorite.

CHICAGO – When the decade began, who would have guessed that one of the best shows of the ’00s would air on The Sci-Fi Channel? I’m as much of a science fiction junkie as the next guy, but the network known for straight-to-cable movies like “Mansquito” and “SS Doomtrooper” wasn’t exactly the go-to place for quality drama. Until “Battlestar Galactica”.

CHICAGO – The Round-Up is back with a house-cleaning version of our legendary column that brings five titles together that have almost nothing in common other than the fact that they might have slipped under your radar as you were busy spring cleaning. A Bollywood musical, an indie film, a new TV show, an old one, and a foreign one. We’ve got something for everyone.