SHE-HULK ATTORNEY AT LAW

Marvel Studios newest television show produced for the Disney+ streaming service, SHE-HULK, has put an emphasis on marketing the Attorney at Law aspect of the character. Beyond being a strong, 6-foot-7 tall gamma powered hulk, Jennifer Walters is a superhero who has passed the Bar Exam. After accidentally being infected with her cousin Bruce Banner's blood transforming her into a she version of the Incredible Hulk, rather than wanting to engage in adventures bashing bad guys she wants to continue having court room battles with criminals as a Prosecutor in the District Attorney's Office. So, how will SHE-HULK: ATTORNEY AT LAW portray the legal aspects within the show of its main character having a focus on being a lawyer.

After watching Episode One of SHE-HULK: ATTORNEY AT LAW, here is this lawyer's analysis of what the show got right and wrong when it comes to legal matters. From viewing the first episode it appears that rather than being a superhero adventure or legal drama, SHE-HULK is taking a sitcom approach to its story telling. The show is more like Ally McBeal than Law & Order when it comes to courtroom realism. That isn't a knock but rather just highlighting a view that the show will be more about Hollywood fun with lighthearted situations and comedy rather than action or plot being the most important elements of its episodes. For those concerned about a lack of realism when it comes to court room etiquette and the rules of law, remember this show is about a jolly green giant of a superhero!

There weren't a lot of lawyer moments in the first episode of SHE-HULK: ATTORNEY AT LAW but here is my legal analysis of the three main moments that featured the character engaged in that career:

1) OFFICE SCENE

The show opens up with Jennifer practicing a closing statement for an upcoming jury trial in front of other attorneys and her secretary/paralegal within her Assistant District Attorney office. The office actually looks quite similar to my own office as a municipal prosecutor so I do give kudos to realism for that set. Additionally, I often practice with cue cards in front of other staff aspects of my opening and closing statements as well as questioning of witnesses so as not to be totally dependent on notes when in front of a jury. This segment was spot on in authenticity!

2) CLOSING STATEMENT AT TRIAL

In a criminal trial, the Prosecutor has the burden of proof being beyond a reasonable doubt. That is a high standard to meet! Therefore, when it comes to closing statements in a trial the Prosecutor gets the first chance to make final remarks to a jury then also can give a rebuttal after the Defendant's attorney speaks so as to get the last word in.

During the episode, the Defense Attorney gives a closing statement to the jury before the Prosecutor. They are going out of order. There is a plot reason for this, but the show is more focused on Hollywood script elements than legal rules of procedure when it comes to conducting a trial. The average person wouldn't even notice this, but most attorneys would roll their eyes about this legal error.

3) COUNSEL TABLES IN COURT ROOM

In court rooms there is the judge's bench with a space next to it for his court reporter and bailiff, a witness stand, a jurors seating box, and counsel tables for plaintiff/prosecutor and defense attorneys. The courtroom is then separated by a barrier, known as the bar, that divides the proceeding area from public seating. The term "passing the bar" is based upon attorneys being admitted to practice law and now being able to move from the public seating to the proceeding area of a courtroom.

Sitting at counsel tables will be attorneys, defendants, and sometimes an Officer in Charge (OIC) of a police investigation. In this episode of SHE-HULK, Jennifer's paralegal is sitting with her at the counsel table during a jury trial. That wouldn't happen in a real trial, but becomes an important plot point for circumstances in the show. This scenario is one that most viewers wouldn't give a second thought about, but will have lawyers wishing they would be hired as advisors to the show's script writers. It doesn't impact the quality of the show, but does highlight the show is playing loose with the legal portrayals in it.

Does it matter to you how legally accurate the plots and story elements of SHE-HULK: ATTORNEY AT LAW are when it comes to enjoying the show? I wouldn't let inaccuracies spoil it for you, but I am going to have some fun pointing them out. Looking forward to more court room battles in SHE-HULK to review their legal accuracy. Stay tuned for more updates!

Nickelodeon is Debuting a New Animated Movie to Celebrate Christmas

I always enjoy watching holiday themed television shows and movies between Thanksgiving and Christmas so the news that Nickelodeon is debuting a brand new original animated TV movie that puts a fun twist on this season was nice to know about. ALBERT is the story of a tiny Douglas fir tree who goes on a journey to become the city’s most famous Christmas tree ever. Premiering Friday, Dec. 9, at 7:00 p.m. (ET/PT), the one-hour, CG-animated holiday tale stars the comedic voice talent of Bobby Moynihan (Saturday Night Live) in the title role along with a supporting cast that includes Sasheer Zamata (Saturday Night Live), Judah Friedlander (30 Rock) and Rob Riggle (21 Jump Street).

Albert has big dreams of becoming Empire City’s most famous Christmas tree. When the search for this year’s tree is announced, Albert believes he has found his calling and hits the road with his two best friends, Maisie (Zamata), the persistently positive palm tree, and Gene (Friedlander) the abrasive and blisteringly honest weed, to fulfill his destiny. With a few prickly situations along the way, and Cactus Pete (Riggle) out to stop him, Albert learns the true meaning of Christmas. The hour-long TV movie will also feature two original songs, “The Best Thing That Can Happen to Christmas” and “Christmasiest Christmas,” performed by the voice cast.



In addition to being able to watch the movie on the Nickelodeon cable network, ALBERT will also be available on Nick.com and the Nick App, as well as available as a digital download on platforms including iTunes, Amazon, Xbox, Google Play, Vudu, Playstation, and Nick On Demand. In addition, an illustrated adaptation by Random House Children’s Books, Albert: The Little Tree With Big Dreams, is currently available.

Barbara Eden, Television's Most Iconic Genie, Gets Animated in Nickelodeon's "Shimmer & Shine"

Tune in to Nickelodeon on Friday, November 18 at 11am (ET/PT) to see Barbara Eden (I Dream of Jeannie) revisits her genie roots and gets animated in a brand-new episode of the television series Shimmer and Shine. In “The Crystal Queen,” Eden plays Empress Caliana, a quirky genie empress and mentor to Samira, the genie princess. When power-hungry sorceress Zeta traps Samira in a magical crystal cave, Shimmer, Shine and Leah team up with Empress Caliana to save the day.  

Shimmer and Shine follows the adventures of twin genies-in-training, Shimmer and Shine. The animated series is meant for preschool audiences and features a social-emotional curriculum highlighting the importance of teamwork, resilience and overcoming obstacles.  While the Barbara Eden episode will debut on Nickelodeon, Shimmer and Shine is broadcast on both the Nickelodeon and Nick Jr. cable channels.  Check each channel's schedules for specific times the series is shown. For more information about the series, please visit nickjr.com/shimmer-and-shine
 

Enjoy Watching Sci-Fi Television Shows & Movies for Free on COMET TV Network

If you are a Sci-Fi fan like me, you'll want to check out the new COMET TV Network that is being broadcast over the air in select markets and is available to stream online for everyone else.  Digital television signals being broadcast through the airwaves now have multiple levels per channel.  For example, here in Metro Detroit our affiliate for the ABC network's television programming is WXYZ Channel 7.  Since the digital broadcast transition, WXYZ in addition to airing ABC programming on Channel 7 also broadcasts two sub-channels as well -- 7.1 Bounce (focusing on programming for an African-American audience with similar shows as on BET) and 7.2 LAFF (a comedy channel that shows movies that will make you laugh and reruns of sitcoms from the 80s and 90s such as Night Court and Spin City). When watching television using a digital antenna, viewers can tune into channels 7, 7.1 and 7.2 and all the programming on these channels is FREE to view.  Most traditional over-air broadcast networks are offering multiple channels that can be viewed by using a digital antenna and COMET TV is appearing as a sub-channel broadcast option for a variety of them.  Visit CometTV.com to use its ZIP Code Finder to see if this new Sci-Fi sub-channel is currently being broadcast over the air in your area and if it is not watch the live stream of its programming over the Web instead.

COMET TV has an incredible array of movies that you simply can’t get with a subscription to streaming platforms like Netflix, Amazon, or Hulu. From wild adventures on Mars to critically acclaimed classics, COMET is the ultimate home of sci-fi and horror… and it’s all totally free, no subscriptions needed.  The network rotates its programming monthly so there is always something new to tune into.

Here are some of the television shows that will be appearing in November during evening prime time hours on COMET TV:

Mystery Science Theater 3000

Sundays in November at 8/7C

Poltergeist: The Legacy

Mondays in November at 8/7C

Dead Like Me

Tuesdays in November at 8/7C

Original Outer Limits (1963)

 Wednesdays in November at 8/7C

Jeremiah

Thursdays in November at 8/7C

What I'm most excited about though is that some of my all time favorite Sci Fi shows will be returning to television as COMET TV will soon be airing the Stargate series.  Stargate Atlantis will begin airing in December with Stargate SG-1 and Stargate Universe following in early 2017.  I'm so geeked these Stargate shows will be back on TV and any true fan will absolutely want to be tuning into COMET TV during the next few months.

In addition to television shows, COMET TV will also be airing cult classic horror and science fiction movies.  Some of the movies airing in November include Babylon 5: The Lost Tales (2007), Imposter (2003), Mac and Me (1988), Mad Max (1979), Red Planet Mars (1952), Red Planet (2000), Return of Dracula (1958) and Species (1995).  Visit CometTV.com for a full listing of television shows and movies they'll be airing throughout the month of November.  It also provides a handy hour-by-hour guide of what is airing throughout each day.

 A Geek Daddy has been invited to be a COMET TV Insider so they'll be providing me with regular updates of what shows and movies they'll be featuring each month to share with you.  Plus they sent me a great welcome package for teaming up with them to help spread the word about this new sci-fi & horror television network.  Stay tuned because I'll also be giving away one of these COMET TV swag boxes soon on the A Geek Daddy Facebook Page.

Nickelodeon continuing popular animated series THE LOUD HOUSE for a second season

After its hugely successful first season debut in May which saw THE LOUD HOUSE dominate ratings as the #1 animated kids' show on television, it didn't take long for Nickelodeon to announce that it was renewing the series for a 14-episode second season.  THE LOUD HOUSE provides a humorous inside look at what it takes to survive the chaos of growing up in a huge family by following the lives of Lincoln Loud and his 10 sisters.  The series debuted on Monday, May 2, 2016 at 5:00 pm (ET/PT) on Nickelodeon and has quickly garnered a large following on the cable network.  THE LOUD HOUSE is inspired by creator and executive producer Chris Savino's life growing up in a family of 10 kids.



In season two of THE LOUD HOUSE, Lincoln remains the man with the plan as he navigates through the chaos of living in a family with 11 kids.  The upcoming season that is scheduled to arrive this Fall will dive deeper into the unique personalities of Lincoln's sisters as well as feature a spooky themed Halloween episode. If you haven't seen any of season one's shows yet, Nickelodeon has a few of the full length episodes available to view at your convenience on its website.

THE LOUD HOUSE is based on an animated short of the same name that was created by Chris Savino for Nickelodeon's annual Animated Shorts Program.  It is the first TV series to be greenlit from that global program which is designed to cultivate a new generation of creative talent for the cable network. THE LOUD HOUSE is being produced at the Nickelodeon Animation Studio in Burbank, California.

For more information, visit nick.com/loud-house

ICE AGE: THE GREAT EGG-SCAPADE

Scrat, Manny, Sid, and Diego from the animated franchise "Ice Age" will be making an appearance on the FOX television network Sunday, March 20, 2016 in an all-new holiday adventure -- ICE AGE: THE GREAT EGG-SCAPADE.  The half-hour holiday television special will air from 7:30 - 8:00 pm ET/PT.  My kids adore the Ice Age movie characters so this is a must view television show for our household.

In ICE AGE: THE GREAT EGG-SCAPADE harried mom Ethel (Taraji P. Henson) entrusts her precious soon-to-hatch egg to Sid (John Leguizamo).  When she recommends him to her neighbors -- condor mom (Wendy Williams), Cholly Bear (Gabriel Iglesias) and Gladys Glypto (Lili Estefan) -- business booms at his new egg-sitting service.  However, dastardly pirate bunny Squint (Seth Green), who is seeking revenge on the ICE AGE gang, steals, camouflages and hides all the eggs.  Once again, with Squint's brother Clint (Blake Anderson) assisting, Manny (Ray Romano), Diego (Denis Leary) and the rest of the gang come to the rescue and take off on a daring mission that turns into the world's first Easter egg hunt.



Watching this Easter special is sure to delight young viewers but don't fret if your family can't tune in on Sunday night because ICE AGE: THE GREAT EGG-SCAPADE arrives on Digital HD the day after the broadcast at iTunes, Google Play, Vudu, and Amazon Video.  Plus because my own kids are such big fans of this franchise, A GEEK DADDY wants to share their enjoyment of this new ICE AGE television special with our blog readers and social media followers so we're giving away a digital download code to one lucky individual.

Congrats to Angie from Oregon who won our ICE AGE Giveaway

To be eligible for this giveaway just follow @Geekdad248 on Twitter and retweet our original contest tweet which is embedded below before March 20, 2016 @ 11:59 pm EST.  Must be a US or Canadian resident to participate.  One entry per person and we'll randomly select someone from all eligible entries to receive a DigitalHD edition of ICE AGE: THE GREAT EGG-SCAPADE.

Follow @Geekdad248 & RT for chance to win ICE AGE:THE GREAT EGG-SCAPADE via DigitalHD (Ends 3/20/16 - US Only) #ad pic.twitter.com/673kMnUhQI

— A Geek Daddy (@GeekDad248) March 17, 2016

 During the special, don't miss an exclusive sneak peek of the upcoming all-new feature film ICE AGE: COLLISION COURSE premiering in U.S. theaters Friday, July 22, 2016.

While waiting for the announcement of our giveaway winner, have some fun with these Ice Age themed activity sheets and coloring pages:

For more information about the television special and to play a free online video game, visit www.iceagemovies.com/greateggscapade

FTC DISCLOSURE / DISCLAIMER:  A Geek Daddy Blog will be responsible for selecting the winner of this contest, but Fox Home Entertainment is responsible for fulfillment and delivery of the prize.  By participating in this contest you waive any liability towards A Geek Daddy Blog or its publisher that may arise from your involvement with this promotion.  Winner must be following the twitter account @Geekdad248 at the time winner is randomly drawn to be eligible and so he or she can be notified.  Must reply to DM within 48 hours of notification or a new winner will be selected. If you win this prize on another blog, you will not be eligible to win again.  Must be a US or Canadian resident over 18 years old. Winner is subject to eligibility verification. Prize will be delivered by UPS or FedEx so no P.O. Boxes are allowed as mailing addresses. A Geek Daddy Blog did not receive any financial compensation but did receive the same gift package that is being awarded to one of our readers for this contest.  A Geek Daddy Blog is hosting this contest as a benefit to our readers. Any opinions in this post are my own. A Geek Daddy is a member of the Fox Home Entertainment Insiders Blogger Program receiving special information and perks as part of its participation. #InsidersEggscapade

Enhance your child's grasp of math concepts by reading a story book

** A Geek Daddy received the featured products for free**

March is National Reading Month and my children's school has been very active in having the students doing a bunch of literary themed projects throughout it.  One of the projects assigned to our kids first grade class was doing a book report.  Another activity involved my wife surprising my daughter's class and me my son's as "mystery guests" to read the selections our kids did their book reports on to all the students one afternoon.  We decided to take advantage of this assignment to work with our children on both advancing their reading skills and reinforcing their grasp of mathematical concepts at the same time be selecting the story books Peg + Cat: The Pizza Problem and Absolutely One Thing.  Both our twins and their classmates were very attentive and interested in these math themed stories and since many kids find that a boring and tedious topic that earns each of these books A Geek Daddy nod of approval.

Peg + Cat: The Pizza Problem is an illustrated adaption of an episode from the Emmy award winning PBS television series Peg + Cat.  Recommended for children 3 - 8, the hard cover story book is written and illustrated by the TV series creators Jennifer Oxley and Billy Aronson.  The book is full of drawings of characters that children will recognize from the popular TV series.  Utilize these activity sheets based upon the story in the book to have a child help Peg + Cat solve their pizza problem.


In Peg + Cat: The Pizza Problem it is lunchtime at Peg’s Pizza Place! Peg and Cat are excited to take their first order — from the Teens! — only to learn that some of their customers want a whole pizza while one of them wants half a pie. How can Peg and Cat make half a pie when they don’t know what half is? Luckily, Ramone and Mac are there to help, with a slice up the middle of the pizza. As more customers come in, things get entertaining, with Peg singing a jazzy song and Cat doing a dance. But soon there’s another problem: four orders, but only two and a half pizzas left. Peg is totally freaking out — until Cat reminds her that when it comes to halves and wholes, it’s all in how you slice it.

Some of the nice touches to Peg + Cat: The Pizza Problem include a book jacket that when flipped over contains the same activity sheets I've embedded above, a ruler imprinted on the front and back covers showing the height of the book's pages, the use of shapes to demonstrate proportions, and how the page numbers are a tally that can be added up continuously through the book.  While my children were at the upper end of the age recommendation for this book it was nice they could read it on their own and it had a message that reinforced their math knowledge.  Plus when we read it to their classes all the students were entertained and got a positive educational message from the story.

The other mathematically themed story book we explored was Absolutely One Thing.  Written and illustrated by Lauren Child this hard cover story book is recommended for children aged 4 - 8 years old.  This book demonstrates that while numbers can appear overwhelming or confusing they don't have to be and can actually be rather simple to understand based upon how you approach them.

Absolutely One Thing is the story of how Mom takes Charlie and Lola to the store and as a treat lets them choose one thing to buy.“One thing to share?” Lola asks. No, it’s one thing each, explains Charlie, or two actual things between two. Lola is nine minutes late getting ready, and on the way, there are ladybugs and birds to count and maybe a squillion leaves on a tree. At the store, Lola says she’ll choose things, or possibly two. “How about no things?” asks Mom. With Lola hilariously bending everyday numbers to her will, the math goes down easy in this charming picture book loaded with visual appeal.

I liked how the book presents numbers so they appear cluttered on some pages which is a nice reflection on how some people look at math problems and become confused, overwhelmed or turned off at first glance but as a reader works through a page they realize that these numbers aren't really that difficult to understand or relate to.  Absolutely One Thing forces readers to delve into its pages and for that they are rewarded with an amusing story.  The structure of the book's layout in telling the story demonstrates that while something may look difficult to grasp at first glance when you take the time to read through something it really isn't that hard to understand after all.  For kids that may be intimidated by the format of math this book provides a positive message through its story telling approach teaching that just because something may have a confusing appearance to it doesn't mean it will be difficult to understand if you put in some effort.  The book does a nice job of addressing topics such as numerical order, addition, subtraction and multiplication.

As a parent who has children that often don't have a good grasp on the value of time, it was also appreciated how Absolutely One Thing discusses the topic including how to read a watch and not being late because it impact things when you need to be someplace. I also learned something new in reading the book - squillion is a real word.  Squillion = an extremely large but unspecified number, quantity or amount.

If you missed out incorporating math into a child's lessons for National Reading Month assignment guess what? You have a second chance! April is National Mathematics Awareness Month which provides another opportunity to combine reading and math through books like these.  For tweens and teens you may also want to take a look at Cy Tymony's "Sneaky Math -- A Graphic Primer with Projects" that A Geek Daddy highlighted on Pi Day to help kids with Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry and Calculus through practical activities and tips.

Nat Geo WILD Cable Channel Launches Kids Programming Block for Saturday Mornings

For decades Saturday morning was prime time for children's television viewing. You wouldn't know that now as television channels are filled with news programs, infomercials, and sporting events aimed at adult audiences in what was once the realm of cartoons, tween sitcoms, and educational programming for kids. So I was pleased to find out that the Nat Geo WILD cable channel is launching a National Geographic Kids themed block of programming dubbed Nat Geo WILDKiDS, on Saturday mornings from 7 to 9 am ET ( 6 - 8am  CT) beginning March 5, 2016.

Nat Geo WILDKiDS will feature natural history, science, and wildlife content. Spearheading the line-up will be two original productions from emerging talent within the WILD family. First, Nature Boom Time is a fast-paced adventure series designed to grab kids' attention and get them psyched about nature. In each episode, young viewers join 2014 National Geographic Expedition Granted winner Charlie Engleman on an adventure across the U.S. Together viewers will join Charlie in exploring some of the nation's coolest forests from a new perspective - literally climbing the tallest trees, flying over vast canopies and studying hidden treasures on the woodland floor.



Another show will feature adventure filmmaker and winner of Nat Geo WILD's second annual Wild to Inspire short-film competition, Filipe DeAndrade, who will document his month-long safari in Africa through video diaries and short vignettes designed to inspire future conservationists.

Saturday mornings will also showcase a collection of popular online series from Nat Geo Kids, including 50 Birds, 50 States featuring an animated rapping bald eagle; excerpts from the "kid on the street" quiz show Real or Fake, and characters from Iggy Arbuckle and the popular virtual world, Animal Jam.



Rounding out the schedule, Nat Geo WILDKiDS will offer exciting segments from some of Nat Geo WILD's and National Geographic Channel's most beloved shows, including: Dog Whisperer, Everything You Didn't Know About Animals, The Incredible Dr. Pol, Vet School, World's Weirdest and Brain Games, among others.

Nat Geo WILD Vet School

The Incredible Dr. Pol

"Kids have so much love for animals and the wild world around us that we wanted to create something totally unique to fuel their passion and natural curiosity," Geoff Daniels, executive vice president and general manager for Nat Geo WILD told A Geek Daddy. "By tapping into Nat Geo Kids' incredibly popular original web series, apps, photography and talent, we'll deliver something that doesn't just entertain but inspires a new generation of digitally savvy kids."

For more information, visit  kids.nationalgeographic.com/videos/wild-kids-blog

A Geek Daddy is a member of the National Geographic Kids Insider blogger program.  Insiders get a behind-the-scenes look at National Geographic’s resources, activities, content and projects for kids and families. They also review copies of books, magazines and toys, and are offered interviews with authors, explorers and editors.

LEGO Star Wars: The Resistance Rises

The other day it was announced that the cable channel Disney XD, which has programming with a focus towards tweens, teens and young adults, was launching a new animated series called THE FREEMAKER ADVENTURES this summer which would combine zany LEGO adventures with the Star Wars universe.  LEGO, Star Wars and Disney XD aren't limiting their creative juices to just that project though!  To wet viewers appetites for the upcoming new show, a series of LEGO Star Wars of short mini-episodes titled LEGO Star Wars: The Resistance will be featured on Disney XD leading up to the premiere of The Freemaker Adventures.  These mini-episodes will chronicle the adventures of Han Solo, Poe Dameron, C3P0, Finn, Rey, and other characters from The Force Awakens shortly before the events of Star Wars: Episode VII in the goofy and wacky manner that LEGO animated shows have a reputation for.

Disney XD broadcast its first LEGO Star Wars: The Resistance mini-episode on February 15th titled "Poe to the Rescue" and promised more are on their way to TV.  In this first story, pilot Poe Dameron, with the help of C3P0 and BB-8, devise a plan to rescue one of the Resistance's most important leaders, Admiral Ackbar, from Kylo Ren, Captain Phasma, and the military forces of the First Order.  Fans of previous LEGO Star Wars shows like Yoda Chronicles and Droid Tales will find these min-episodes are filled with the same tongue-in-cheek humor and slap stick comedy that have made those past series so popular.

If you've missed "Poe to the Rescue" when it has been on television, Disney XD has been kind enough to also post the mini-episode on YouTube.  Check it out!

The Future of Star Trek Television Shows is Online

2016 will be the 50th anniversary of the television show which aimed "to boldly go where no man has gone before" when STAR TREK debuted on September 8, 1966.  It will also mark eleven years since Enterprise was cancelled in 2001 ending an 18-year run of  back-to-back Star Trek television series that began with the revitalization of the brand in 1987 with The Next Generation.  For me these television shows cultivated my interest in science fiction which had been initiated by my enjoyment of Star Wars movies and now faced a void of new content to keep my interest following the culmination of the original trilogy of movies with Return of the Jedi in 1983.  During my high school and college years, Star Trek played a key part in maintaining and developing my appreciation of the Sci-Fi genre.  I would absolutely not be the fan of science fiction that I am today if it wasn't for the 18 year run of Star Trek shows on TV.

Yes there are the new Star Trek motion pictures to enjoy every few years, but the television series were a regular gateway that viewers could depend on each week to transport them to faraway worlds and include them in fantasy adventures.  That regular connection to the franchise is lacking for today's fans.  Aspiring screen writer and entertainment producer Sky Conway is trying to change that though by creating an independent, fan-funded and supported Internet television series.  Conway has teamed up with Star Trek alumni Walter Koenig (Chekov in the original Star Trek television series) and Tim Russ (Tuvok in the Voyager TV show) to create a pilot episode for an online series called Star Trek: Renegades.

Directed by Russ, Star Trek: Renegades is set a decade after the conclusion of the Voyager series (1995-2001) focusing on a team of fugitives who are on the run from the Federation while secretly working for the head of Starfleet's Intelligence Division, Admiral Pavel Chekov (Walter Koenig) and his adviser a Vulcan named Tuvok (Tim Russ) to root out internal corruption and external threats.  This crew of rogues, outcasts, and criminals is led by Lexxa Singh (Adrienne Wilkinson), a descendant of the Star Trek franchise's greatest villain Kahn Noonan Singh (Star Trek II: Wrath of Kahn / Star Trek: Into Darkness ), who has genetically engineered superhuman abilities and is disdained by the Federation and Star Fleet because of her heritage.  In addition to Koenig and Russ, there are a bunch of familiar faces appearing in Star Trek: Renegades including Gary Graham ( Alien Nation / Star Trek Enterprise), Corin Nemec (Stargate SG-1, Parker Lewis Can't Lose), Robert Picardo (Star Trek Voyager / Star Trek First Contact / Stargate SG-1  ), Richard Herd (Seinfeld / SeaQuest 2032 / Star Trek Voyager), Robert Jefferson Jr. (Battlestar Galactica) and Manu Intiraymi (Star Trek Voyager).

While this online pilot episode doesn't have the polish of a big budget studio production, it is rather well done and enjoyable to watch. There are some great space ship renderings and battle scenes in Star Trek: Renegades that are actually pretty impressive to view and could match up with scenes you may see on a broadcast television network or in a big budget movie.  Of course there are also some cheesy scenes, special effects, and plot elements like when a Klingon is vaporized and the "portals" that can cause the impending doom of any planet where a bigger budget may have made a difference in improving the show.

 

Star Trek: Renegades is FREE to watch on YouTube.  Check it out!



Bases upon the positive response to Star Trek: Renegades, Conway, Russ and Koenig have a Kickstarter campaign to fund the production of additional online episodes.  The next two episode story arc promises to feature the final performance by Walter Koenig of the beloved Star Trek character Pavel Chekov.  Also some new Star Trek alumni are joining the cast of Renegades, Terry Farrell (Deep Space Nine), Robert Beltran (Voyager), Aron Eisenberg (Deep Space Nine) and Hana Hatae (Next Generation).



Just as Star Trek: Renegades is starting to take off, CBS Television Studios recently announced that it will be launching a brand new television series in January 2017.  Like Star Trek: Renegades this new show is departing from the traditional television broadcasting of the series and will have an online focus too.  While CBS' new yet to be named Star Trek series will blast off with a special TV broadcast of its premiere episode, subsequent episodes will then be available exclusively in the United States through CBS All Access, the network's digital subscription video on demand and live streaming service.  CBS All Access charges $5.99 per month to access online content from CBS's current and past seasons on demand plus allows subscribers to stream their local CBS television stations live.  That current monthly subscription rate includes access to every episode of all the previous Star Trek television series.  The new Star Trek series will be the first series developed specifically for CBS' online service that can be accessed by smart TVs, computers, tablets, phones, and other streaming devices like Roku and Chromecast.

So it appears the future of Star Trek may not be in outer space but rather in the Cloud.  Television viewing as we know it is changing and it appears Star Trek is leading the way transitioning from over-air and cable broadcasting to online streaming. While I don't know what the future of the Star Trek franchise holds for its fans, I do know that the place fans will be going to enjoy it will be online.

Free Comic Book Promotes Debut of Netflix's "Jessica Jones" Television Series

Following the success of its television adaption of the comic book Daredevil, Netflix is giving another Marvel character a series.  Jessica Jones will premiere with 13 episodes on November 20, 2015.  To help promote the debut of this new series on Netflix, Marvel has released a FREE digital comic book on Comixology that people can download which provides an overview of the show's main character and how she will be portrayed on TV.

The premise of the show is that after a tragic ending to a short-lived super hero stint, Jessica Jones is rebuilding her life as a private investigator who gets pulled into cases involving people with extraordinary abilities in New York City.  In the show, she will be working out of Hell's Kitchen (Daredevil's stomping grounds) and working with Luke Cage (who is the lead character of Netflix's planned third television series focusing on the Marvel comic book universe which is set to be released in 2016).  Jessica Jones was originally the lead character in a 28-issue comic book series called Alias created by writer Brian Michael Bendis and artist Michael Gaydos that ran from 2001 to 2004. Alias won the Comic Buyers Guide award for "Favorite Comic Series" in 2003, and the Harvey Award for "Best New Series" in 2002.  It was also nominated for two Eisner Awards ( the Oscar of the comic book industry) in 2004 for "Best Continuing Series" and "Best Serialized Story."



Alias was produced by an imprint of Marvel called Max Comics that specialized in R-rated comic books that were filled with graphic violent scenes, mature themes and sexual context.  Jessica Jones is based off of the Alias comic book series and will present a darker and edgier version of the Marvel Universe than has previously been portray on television or in the movies.  Jessica Jones will feature Krysten Ritter as the title character, Mike Colter as Luke Cage, and David Tennant as Zebediah Kilgrave.  Kilgrave who has the power to take over other people's thoughts and actions will be an overarching villain in the series and is tied to how Jessica Jones gave up her super hero identity of Jewel and why she now suffers from alcoholism and PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder).

In the free comic book by Bendis and Gaydos -- the original creative team behind Alias -- Jessica Jones has been tasked to hunt down a dead beat dad and finds him laid up in a hospital bed after the thug has had a run in with Daredevil.  The way the private investigator handles the situation demonstrates that she clearly has no problem with a Hell's Kitchen style of justice approach to her job.  This comic book is a nice starting off point for beginning to view the Jessica Jones series when all the episodes become available for streaming on November 20th.  CLICK HERE to download the free comic book from Comixology.

Nickelodeon Conjures Up A Halloween Celebration

Nickelodeon is getting into the Halloween spirit with a month-long celebration throughout October including holiday-themed premieres and specials from its live-action, animation and preschool series. Beginning Saturday, Oct. 12, at 7 p.m. (ET/PT), Nick treats viewers to a fang-tastical TV movie, Liar, Liar, Vampire, starring Brec Bassinger (Bella and the Bulldogs) and Rahart Adams (Every Witch Way), followed by weekly Halloween-themed premieres throughout the month. Nickelodeon also invites viewers to the Halloween Ultimate Costume Party, a 60 minute special debuting Sunday, Oct. 18, at 8 p.m. (ET/PT). Hosted by the cast of Game Shakers, the fest features live music, a costume contest, DIY Halloween tips and tutorials, along with special appearances by the cast of Nicky, Ricky, Dicky & Dawn, Talia in the Kitchen and the WITS Academy.

Throughout October, Nickelodeon’s hit mobile apps get into the spirit with bone-chilling updates including new characters, collectable items and Halloween designs. SpongeBob Moves In will introduce a new character, Lord Poltergeist, new costumes and a Spooky Bikini Bottom skin. Sky Whale, the recently launched app from the new live-action series, Game Shakers, will feature ten new Halloween-themed collectible objects. Preschoolers will also be treated to new updates on the Nick Jr App and Noggin with themed home screens and video hubs, and Halloween-themed episodes of hit preschool series.

Fans can also visit Nick.com/games to access two new Halloween-themed games and a ghoulish update to fan-favorite, Nick Dance Machine. Nickelodeon Trendsetters debuts on Oct. 12, followed by Nickelodeon: OMG, Zombies! on Oct. 19.

Below is a rundown of Nickelodeon’s Halloween-themed premieres: NICKELODEON (all times ET/PT):

MONDAY, OCT. 12

7:00 p.m. – Liar, Liar, Vampire *Original Nickelodeon Movie* (simulcast on TeenNick and Nicktoons) When introverted 17-year old Davis Pell (Rahart Adams/Every Witch Way) switches schools, mega popular Caitlyn Crisp mistakes him for a vampire. His new neighbor Vi (Brec Bassinger/Bella and the Bulldogs) helps him dial up the ruse and his supernatural persona helps Davis rule the school. As word spreads, the truth becomes harder to hide.

SATURDAY, OCT. 17 

12:00 p.m. - Power Rangers “The Ghostest with the Mostest” Bat Monster kidnaps a costumed Ranger teen from a Halloween Party and extracts memories that will allow her to impersonate them. Kendall must ask the teens test questions to identify the imposter before all of the Energems are stolen.

SUNDAY, OCT. 18

 8:00 p.m. - Halloween Ultimate Costume Party (simulcast on TeenNick and Nicktoons) Hosted by the cast of Game Shakers, the 60 minute spooktacular show features live music, a costume contest, DIY Halloween tips and tutorials for kids and families, along with special appearances by the Nicky, Ricky, Dicky & Dawn, Talia in the Kitchen and WITS Academy casts.

FRIDAY, OCT. 23

12:00 p.m. - Blaze and the Monster Machines “Truck or Treat” It’s Halloween in Axle City, and Blaze, AJ and all of their friends are excited to “Truck or Treat.” When Crusher tries to steal all of their candy, his plan goes awry and he sends their treats far away from Axle City. Blaze and his friends must race Crusher to get to their candy first.

12:30 p.m. - Wallykazam! “Dawn of the Zucchini” While helping Gina Giant harvest vegetables from her garden, Wally and Norville meet a garden gnome. His name is Zach, but he doesn’t like his name because he thinks that ‘z’ isn’t a very fun letter. Wally decides to show Zach just how many fun words ‘z’ can make. It’s all going great until Bobgoblin convinces Wally to make a zillion zombie zucchinis who take off with Gina’s vegetables.

 1:00 p.m. - Shimmer and Shine “A Very Genie Halloweenie” It’s Halloween and Leah invites her genies over to join the fun. Since everyone is in costume, no one will know they’re real genies!. Zac is competing in a haunted house competition, but he accidentally ruins his own decorations. Leah makes a wish to make Zac’s house look haunted and the genies turn it into a real haunted house, complete with a real live Frankenstein! It’s a spooktacular adventure as the girls try to stop Frankenstein from smashing every Jack-O’-Lantern in Leah’s neighborhood.

 1:30 p.m. - Dora and Friends “Trick or Treat” When Emma accidentally scares off Abuela's cat Lucky on Halloween, Dora and her friends must travel to a real monster mash to save the kitty from a jealous witch.

 8:00 p.m. - Harvey Beaks “Le Corn Maze…OF DOOM!”/ “Harvey Isn’t Scary” In “Le Corn Maze…OF DOOM!,” After the kids claim that last year’s Halloween maze wasn’t all scary, the Squirrels swear to make this year’s maze the scariest ever. Everyone enters the maze but will anyone ever exit? Then in “Harvey Isn’t Scary,” a Littlebark Halloween tradition involves telling scary stories to keep the boogeyman away, but Harvey can’t seem to scare anyone. If he doesn’t step up his game, they’re all going to be in trouble.

SATURDAY, OCT. 24

8:30 p.m. - Game Shakers “Scared Tripless” Double G has scared Triple G every Halloween since he was a baby. This year, Double G asks Babe and Kenzie to help, but they double-cross him by telling Triple G his elaborate plan.

 9:00 p.m. - 100 Things to do Before High School “Have the Best Halloween Ever Thing!” CJ is determined to fix Principal Hader’s Halloween-hate in time to rescue the school’s cancelled Halloween festivities. Meanwhile, Crispo and Fenwick deal with costume-related crises.

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 28

7:30 p.m. – The Thundermans “Patch Me If You Can” Phoebe babysits her boyfriend's shy brother, but the mild-mannered boy discovers his evil side when he gets his hands on one of Max's inventions.

8:00 p.m. - Bella and the Bulldogs “Sha-Boo! Ya” During Halloween, Troy and Sawyer try to scare the girls at the annual football and cheerleader campout and an urban legend about the school’s old groundskeeper becomes all too real.

Also here's a run-down of Halloween specials on NICK JR:

MONDAY, OCT. 19

6:00 p.m. - Fresh Beat Band of Spies “Ghost of Rock” To save a haunted music theater, the Fresh Beat Band of Spies must help Spooky Spooks, a friendly and energetic ghost who just wants to rock.

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 21

6:00 p.m. - Little Charmers “Spooky Pumpkin Moon Night” On Spooky Pumpkin Moon Night, Hazel and the Charmers go to the pumpkin patch to find the best pumpkins to win the contest.

THURSDAY, OCT. 22

 6:00 p.m. - Tickety Toc “Trick or Treat Time/Spooky Time” In “Trick or Treat Time,” after the twins go trick or treating, they help prepare toffee treats for the Halloween party. In the process, they unleash a giant toffee monster that puts a scare into Tickety Town. Then in “Spooky Time,” while preparing for the Spooky Party, Pufferty is scared by his own reflection and races off into the Spooky Woods. The twins go after him, but they must conquer their own fears to bring him back in time for Chime Time.

Modern Family DVD Giveaway

modern family one of my wife and I's favorite comedies on television right now but it seems as if we never get to watch it anymore because the show airs when we are busy getting the kids ready for school the next day and putting them to bed for the night.  Is it just our family or if your children happen to still be up during prime time hours do they they hijack the television watching cartoons?  So I hate to say it but we missed just about everything that happened during Season 6.  Fortunately, our friends at Fox Home Entertainment hooked us up with the modern family Season 6 on DVD so we can get caught up with the series before Season 7 starts.

Don't worry we're taking care of our A GEEK DADDY blog readers too!  If you want to relive your favorite moments from last season or are like us and want to catch up with what you might have missed before Season 7 starts just follow the following instructions for a chance to win a modern family Season 6 DVD box set.   Must be a U.S. or Canadian resident over 18 years old and submit one or all of the following entry methods to earn up to 3 entries prior to 11:59 pm EST on Friday September 25, 2015:

UPDATE (9/27/2015): Congratulations to Deanna from Orem Utah who was the winner of our Modern Family giveaway.

E-mail thegeekdaddy [at] yahoo [dot] com your name and mailing address plus tell us your favorite character from modern family. Email subject line should be MODERN FAMILY (1 ENTRY)

Visit our Facebook page and on the contest post leave a comment telling us who in your family is most like a character from MODERN FAMILY and why (2 ENTRIES)

All valid entries will be assigned a number in the order they are received and one number will be  selected to determine the winner using random.org.  E-mails will only be used to contact the winner and deleted following the selection of a winner.

So what did happen during Season 6 of MODERN FAMILY? Vote for your favorite family moment:

 About Season Six of modern family

The honeymoon is over, but the laughs continue in Season Six of modern family, ariving on DVD September 22nd! As freshly hitched Cam and Mitch acclimate to the realities of wedded bliss, Phil and Claire find their marriage stressed by annoying neighbors, Thanksgiving dinner gone awry and Claire’s online snooping. Meanwhile, a spy-camera drone wreaks havoc in Jay and Gloria’s backyard and a close call on the highway leads to amusing changes in various members of the Pritchett-Dunphy clan. It all adds up to the funniest season yet of this brilliant and acclaimed comedy.

Remember to add the DVD box set of modern family to your home video library when it is released on September 22nd! CLICK HERE to purchase it today!

DISCLAIMER:  A Geek Daddy Blog will be responsible for selecting the winner of this contest, but Fox Home Entertainment is responsible for fulfillment and delivery of the prize.  By participating in this contest you waive any liability towards A Geek Daddy Blog or its publisher that may arise from your involvement with this promotion.  If you win this prize on another blog, you will not be eligible to win again.  Winner is subject to eligibility verification. Prize will be delivered by UPS or FedEx so no P.O. Boxes are allowed as mailing addresses. A Geek Daddy Blog did not receive any financial compensation but did receive a review DVD for the blog and the prize that is being awarded to one of our readers for this contest.  A Geek Daddy Blog is hosting this contest as a benefit to our readers. Any opinions in this post are my own.  #ModernFamilyInsiders

Shimmer and Shine Whirl onto Nickelodeon's TV Lineup

Thanks to our friends at Nickelodeon, my twins were two of the first kids to be able to watch a brand new animated TV show featuring the whimsical adventures of twin genies-in-training named Shimmer and Shine.  My son and daughter were amused by the first few episodes of Nickelodeon's Shimmer and Shine and found the show to be full of magic, music and misadventures.  Like many of Nickelodeon's shows aimed at young audiences, the show incorporates a social-emotional curriculum within its stories that highlights the importance of teamwork, resilience, and overcoming obstacles.  It is a cute show that is primarily aimed at preschoolers but probably would keep the attention and entertain children as old as Kindergarten or First Grade age as well. The show takes a lot of cues from Nickelodeon's Dora shows and movies which makes a lot of sense knowing that Shimmer and Shine's creator Farnaz Esnaashari-Charmatz has spent the last ten years working as a post-production supervisor for Dora the Explorer and Go Diego Go.

Shimmer and Shine premieres on Monday August 17, 2015 at 7:30 pm (ET/PT) across the United States on Nick and the Nick Jr. channel.  Following its U.S. launch, the series will debut on Nickelodeon's international channels beginning in the fall.  The first season of Shimmer and Shine will consist of 20 episodes featuring the twin genies making wishes for their friend Leah that lead to surprising mishaps but the trio is always able to figure out a way to make the mistakes turn out great.

In Shimmer and Shine, the twin sisters are Leah's secret genies.  Leah always has a dilemma that she needs her magical friends' assistance with, and the genies-in-training are happy to grant her a maximum of three wishes a day to help her out.  Sometimes they misinterpret what Leah wishes for and accidentally grant her wishes she didn't even mean to make.  Each wrong wish quickly compounds into a crazy adventure.  Ultimately through teamwork, the genies and Leah find a way to fix the problem and save the day!

Eleven year old Eva Bella is the voice of Shimmer.  She booked her first professional gig at 6 years old in a Disney Jr. commercial and shortly afterward landed a recurring role on NBC's Parenthood.  Since then, this charismatic young actress has appeared in a variety of regional and national television commercials.  Eva has also provided the voices in a number of prominent animated feature films including Frozen, Despicable Me 2 and Mr. Peabody & Sherman. Despite her focus on acting and performing, Eva has also kept her focus on school and is a straight A student, making her a remarkable role model for children showing you can reach for your dream while staying grounded in the ordinary routines of life.

Shine is voiced by 10 year old Isabella Crovetti-Cramp.  For a young age, she has an impressive list of TV show credits for her acting credentials having appeared on The Neighbors, Jessie, Happy Endings, In Plain Sight, Mike & Molly, It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia, and  CSI: Miami.  Isabella will also be appearing in Colony, a brand-new series on USA Network. She has twin brothers at hime who help inspire her for this role.  It looks like Isabella is a name to remember as she continues developing a career in the entertainment industry.

"The beautiful fantasy world of Shimmer and Shine offers endless possibilities for magical adventures," said Russel Hicks, Nickelodeon's President of Content Development and Production in a press release sent to A Geek Daddy.  "First-time creator Farnaz Esnaashari-Charmatz is a homegrown success story who started as an intern at Nick.  She epitomizes the diverse talent and empowering spirit that comes from Nickelodeon Animation Studio."

The new series will debut with "The Sweetest Thing" on August 17th.  In the episode, Leah wishes for the genies help in making cupcakes for her school bake sale.  Through silly misunderstandings, Leah, Shimmer, and Shine find themselves stuck with a giant birthday cake, some farm animals and no wishes left.  They must work together to fix their magical mistakes without drawing the attention of Leah's curious (and hungry) neighbor Zac.

CLICK HERE to watch a full episode of Shimmer and Shine for yourself before the series debuts on TV.  Enjoy the GENIE TREEHOUSE!