If you’re like us, you can’t wait for the return of “Stargate: Universe.” Or maybe you’re curious about the ready-made-for-MST3K feature, “Sharktopus.”
Well, we’ve got good news. You can finally add the dates for the return of “SGU” and debut of “Sharktopus” to your calendars. SyFy has announced its fall schedule.
Unscripted Programming
GHOST HUNTERS — Returns Wednesday, August 25, at 9PM — The fall season of Jason, Grant and the rest of The Atlantic Paranormal Society will feature some of the team’s most thrilling locales, including cases at the famous Philadelphia Zoo and the Baseball Hall of Fame. The crew kicks it off with an investigation at the historic Otesaga Hotel in Cooperstown, New York, where they come away with stunning video evidence of paranormal activity. In addition, the crew will host a trio of special guest investigators at Atlanta’s Rhodes Hall: Bravo’s The Real Housewives of Atlanta‘s Sheree Whitfield, NeNe Leakes and Kim Zolciak. Ghost Hunters is produced in association with Craig Piligian’s Pilgrim Films and Television (Dirty Jobs, The Ultimate Fighter, My Fair Wedding). Piligian and Thomas Thayer, along with Rob Katz and Alan David, serve as executive producers.
DESTINATION TRUTH — Season 4 Premieres Thursday, September 9 @ 9pm (NEW NIGHT & TIME) — Syfy’s hit adventure travel series Destination Truth will return for season four — as anchor of the new Thursday night reality block — with host Josh Gates taking viewers around the globe in eight all-new episodes, traveling to the farthest corners of the earth in search of answers behind some of the world’s most intriguing unanswered mysteries. The crew’s itinerary will include investigations in Madagascar, Tanzania, Guam, Kenya and Cambodia. The team will also conduct the first underwater paranormal investigation when they travel to a remote Micronesian island to search for the spirits dwelling in a sunken fleet. The season kicks off with a trip to Pompeii, where Josh and crew conduct the very first overnight paranormal investigation in the famous ancient city.
Since premiering in June 2007, Destination Truth has grown in viewership each season, and reached an average of 2.2 million viewers per week in season 3.5 (airing Spring 2010), its most-watched season ever.
Destination Truth is Executive Produced by Brad Kuhlman for Ping Pong Productions (1000 Places to See Before You Die, Celebrity Rehab, FM Nation). Bobby Pura and Josh Gates will serve as co-executive producers.
BEAST LEGENDS — Series Premiere Thursday, September 9, at 10PM — The six-part series journeys around the world using scientific data to reconstruct what mythological monsters, from Krakens and Griffins to Fire Dragons, would have been like — if they had ever existed. In each of the hour-long episodes, Beast Legends uncovers historical and eyewitness accounts by zeroing in on archaeological and other physical evidence to assemble the most accurate picture possible of these monsters, from where they might have lived to how they would have behaved. The show then uses the information to create incredibly realistic CG animations of the creatures. Executive Producers of Beast Legends are Pauline Duffy and Elliott Halpern. Series Director is Robin Bicknell. For Canwest: Production Executive Nick Crowe and V-P, Factual Content, Michael Kot. Beast Legends is produced by Yap Films in association with Canwest, Syfy and BBC Worldwide, with the participation of the Canada Media Fund and Rogers Cable Network Fund, and with the assistance of the Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit.
SCARE TACTICS — Returns for Fourth Season Monday, October 4, at 9PM — Hosted by Tracy Morgan, star of 30 Rock. Set-up by friends and loved ones, unsuspecting victims are placed into elaborately staged scary situations involving movie-style special effects and makeup. The horror hoaxes are skillfully designed to tap into the wildest fears of the prank’s prey. Viewers laugh along to the hilarious reactions of the show’s “stars” as they are caught off guard and on camera. Scott Hallock and Kevin Healey of Hallock Healey Entertainment are the executive producers and creators of Scare Tactics. Morgan also serves as an executive producer.
FACT OR FAKED: PARANORMAL FILES — Series Return Thursday, November 4, at 9PM — Fact or Faked: Paranormal Files, Syfy’s new break-out hit summer series, continues with its mission to uncover the truth behind some of the most compelling, mystifying and seemingly unexplainable images caught on camera and posted on the Internet. The series features former FBI Special Agent Ben Hansen, lead scientist Bill Murphy, effects specialist Larry Caughlin, journalist Jael De Pardo, photography expert Chi-Lan Lieu and stunt expert Austin Porter. Their quarry is comprised of all unnatural phenomena including ghosts, poltergeist activity, UFOs, strange creature sightings, and unknown energy anomalies. Fact or Faked: Paranormal Files is executive produced by John Brenkus and Mickey Stern for BASE Productions, and is a co-production with Universal Networks International.
HOLLYWOOD TREASURE — Series Premiere Thursday, November 4, at 10PM — Hollywood Treasure is a one-hour, weekly documentary-reality series about the high stakes world of collecting showbiz and pop culture memorabilia, including science fiction and fantasy props and costumes. The series follows Joe Maddalena, owner of Profiles in History and the world’s largest auctioneer of original movie, television and pop culture collectibles, as he and his crew search for the most compelling, rare, and sought-after Hollywood memorabilia, from the Wicked Witch of the West’s hat and the vintage Chitty Chitty Bang Bang car to Mary Poppins’ carpet bag.
Hollywood Treasure is produced by Shevick*Zupon Entertainment. Jerry Shevick, Mark Zupon and Bruce Toms are executive producers, and co-executive producer is Steve Longo.
Scripted Programming
STARGATE UNIVERSE — Season 2 Premieres Tuesday, September 28, at 9PM (NEW NIGHT) — Stargate Universe returns with 20 all-new episodes for season two. SGU follows a band of soldiers, scientists and civilians, who must fend for themselves as they are forced through a Stargate when their hidden base comes under attack. The desperate survivors emerge aboard an ancient ship, which is locked on an unknown course and unable to return to Earth. In the new season, the team fights to take back the ship from the Lucian Alliance, who transported themselves on board Destiny with plans to take control. The team also discovers their true mission. It’s not about going home, it’s about going further. Season two guest stars include Robert Knepper (Heroes, Prison Break) and Julie McNiven (Supernatural, Mad Men) for a multi-episode arc in which they portray members of the Lucian Alliance. Also, series star Robert Carlyle makes his directorial debut in episode 4, Pathogen. Robert Cooper and Brad Wright, of Stargate SG-1 and Stargate Atlantis, serve as executive producers and writers. SGU is produced and distributed by MGM Worldwide Television Distribution.
SANCTUARY — Season 3 Premieres Tuesday, September 28 at 10pm (NEW NIGHT) — Syfy’s original series Sanctuary returns this fall with an all-new 20-episode season. Season three picks up from the adrenaline-fueled action of season two, which raised the stakes for the brilliant scientist Dr. Helen Magnus (Amanda Tapping) and her team, who use their unique combination of instinct, medicine and cutting-edge science and technology to find and aid a clandestine population of beings that the world refuses to believe exist. In season three, the team will face a host of new and daunting abnormals, embark on adventures with both new and familiar faces and unravel some of the secrets woven through the Sanctuary‘s rich past.
This season will also feature a two-episode arc for guest-star Polly Walker (Caprica, Rome). Sanctuary also stars Robin Dunne as forensic psychiatrist Dr. Will Zimmerman, Agam Darshi as the quick-witted Kate Freelander, Ryan Robbins as tech wiz Henry Foss and Christopher Heyerdahl as the sinister John Druitt.
One of television’s most groundbreaking series, shooting almost entirely on green screen, Sanctuary was the first television series in North America to use the RED camera exclusively. Its stunning visual effects were nominated for a 2008 Emmy Award. Created by Damian Kindler (Stargate SG-1, Stargate Atlantis), Sanctuary is produced in association with Syfy and is distributed by Tricon Films and Television. Season three of the series is executive produced by Damian Kindler, Amanda Tapping, Martin Wood, Keith Beedie and Tricon Films.
WAREHOUSE 13/EUREKA HOLIDAY SPECIALS — Premieres in December — For the first time, Syfy’s two most popular original scripted series will debut special stand-alone holiday episodes. On Warehouse 13, Pete (Eddie McClintock) and Myka (Joanne Kelly) are called upon to hunt down a malevolent Santa Claus — who terrorizes guest star Paul Blackthorne — while Artie (Saul Rubinek) and his estranged father, Isadore Weisfelt (guest star Judd Hirsch), reunite after 30 years.
On Eureka, Global Dynamics staffer Dr. Noah Drummer (Chris Parnell/Saturday Night Live) nearly absconds with a volatile experiment. The halls get seriously decked when Dr. Drummer’s unstable hydrogen crystal starts to grow at a frightening rate. Carter (Colin Ferguson) and Henry (Joe Morton) attempt to deal with the potentially explosive crystal, but before long the true scope of the problem is revealed. Former series regular Matt Frewer also returns as Taggert.
Both series are produced and distributed by Universal Cable Productions. Jack Kenny (The Book of Daniel) is executive producer and showrunner of Warehouse 13. Co-creator Jaime Paglia and Bruce Miller are executive producers of Eureka.
WWE FRIDAY NIGHT SMACKDOWN — Syfy Series Premiere Friday, October 1, at 8PM — The ultimate in imagination-based sports entertainment, WWE Friday Night SmackDown® moves to its new home on Syfy. The two-hour show, one of the longest-running, weekly episodic programs on television, features a star-studded cast of WWE Superstars and Divas including The Big Show, Kane, Kofi Kingston, Jack Swagger, Kelly Kelly, Undertaker®, Rey Mysterio®, CM Punk®, Cody Rhodes®, Michelle McCool®, Kelly Kelly and Layla.
Saturday Original Movies
MANDRAKE — Premieres Saturday, September 11, at 9PM — A group of researchers in search of a mystical Spanish dagger are attacked by a cursed and sentient tree root – the Mandrake. The Mandrake dispatches the researchers one by one and will not be stopped until the dagger is returned to its rightful resting place. Stars Betsy Russell (Saw III, IV, V, VI) and Benito Martinez (The Shield, Saving Grace). A production of Cinetel.
SHARKTOPUS — Premieres Saturday, September 25, at 9PM — Research scientist (Eric Roberts/The Dark Knight, Heroes) and his brilliant daughter develop a secret military weapon — a hybrid shark/octopus that can be controlled by electrical implants. But when the controls break down, the monster goes on a killing rampage at the resort beaches of Mexico. With a trailer that has gone wildly viral over the last month, Sharktopus is one of Syfy Saturday’s most anticipated movies of the year. Sharktopus is produced by Roger Corman and Julie Corman, and directed by Declan O’Brien (Wrong Turn 3, Cyclops, Monster Ark, Rock Monster).
MONSTERWOLF — Premieres Saturday, October 9, at 9PM — On the outskirts of a small Louisiana town, a drilling crew sets blast charges to tap an oil deposit — releasing the Kachinawaya, a Native American animal spirit meant to protect Indian lands from invaders. Stars Robert Picardo (Star Trek: Voyager, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine) and Jason London (Wildfire). A production of Active Entertainment.
FOSSILS (wt) — Premieres TBD — Directed by Colin Ferguson/Eureka. When a novelty store owner accidentally brings life to three dinosaur fossils, the giant dinos wreak havoc on the small town and local university. With the help of some townspeople, the Sheriff fights off the giant beasts. Stars Raoul Trujillo (True Blood) and Steven Brand (The Scorpion King). A production of UFO International Productions.
THE LOST FUTURE – Premieres TBD — Starring Sean Bean (Lord of the Rings), The Lost Future is set in an exotic and dangerous world in which an isolated tribe battles for survival in a landscape overrun by terrible beasts carrying a mysterious and deadly illness. A production of Tandem Communications GMBH.
Omni says
Wow. What a way to absolutely destroy a network.
Dave in NY says
WWE FRIDAY NIGHT SMACKDOWN is a scripted show???
I thought that was Real?
Wow, only three shows worth watching on SyFy this fall…
Kyle Nin says
“Wow, only three shows worth watching on SyFy this fall…”
Two shows, actually. Well … maybe just one. I’ll have to wait and see.
Skiznot says
Can decide if it’s worth upgrading my cable to the package with syfy. Paying for the season of SGU on itunes is actually cheaper and that way I don’t support the “unscripted” garbage.
Paul Wren says
Ugh. This is pretty sad. With Caprica delayed until next year, SGU is all I’ll be watching.
Emily says
Well, Syfy, I guess this is goodbye. I thought we could last a bit longer but we just became two completely different people. I saw the way you were looking at that reality tv show. I saw that little wink you gave to that WWF weirdo. We’ve just grown apart. It was just a fling. I only saw you once a week, anyway. But, don’t worry, I am not hurt. It’s not me, it’s you, Syfy.
Maybe next year, Syfy….but for the fall, I’m just going to have to say goodbye.
Joe Klemmer says
Other than Sanctuary there’s not much I’m looking forward to. Not that Eureka and Warehouse 13 aren’t bad. I just don’t have time to watch all that many shows and I like Sanctuary better.
Alexa says
6 unscripted shows and wrestling. How very disappointing.
I am looking forward to Sanctuary, Stargate Universe, and the Christmas specials.
Tim the Avatarless says
NBC Universal just puts a much different spin on it than the old USA networks.
I guess that now that it is just another cable channel, I will just watch something else, or maybe look for some classic science fiction to read from the used bookstore. What could have been … reduced to SGU and Caprica. So sad. 🙁
Conni Friscia says
Uhh 2 Decent show’s And a Bunch of Reality TV & Wrestling. I used to watch this Station more than any other. Now for Summer it is Eureka, Haven And Warehouse 13 This fall Will be Sanctuary & StarGate –
(Even thou this version is awful should have kept atlantis going)
If this channel goes to the Digital Tiers I will not pay to keep it. Will watch it on Syfy website or ITUnes. Will not watch Reality Garbage.
Khaboom says
Seriously!
I can deal with the non-scripted shows. They are ok to watch when you are bored and there is nothing on the big networks. BUT the WWE? WTHeck?
That’s not sci-fi in any way!???
Dont they have a channel for that sad fake wrestling junk already?
Listen here!
SGU, Sanctuary, Warehouse 13, Eureka (and maybe even Haven) are why I watch this channel. Heck Reruns of old SG and Jericho even make me happy!!!!!!!!!!
I would rather watch that then some low budget (non classic) monster movies and the WWE ANY DAY! You killed sci-fi friday for that?
Get a clue SyFy. You aren’t gaining a new fan base. You are losing the ones you had! 🙁
k9 says
Goodbye SYFY!!!! Asimov is turning over in his grave on what you did with his vision. I love the quote “WWE is the ultimate in imagination-based sports entertainment” What a load of crap- Is it real or imaginary? What is imagination based sports????? I miss the old Sci-Fi with Sci-Fi Buzz and the classic TV shows!!!! Do not even get me started on the Sat Movies———!!!!
Tammy Smith says
“Mandrake”?!! A movie about an intelligent tree root? Wow, how exciting…not.
Will The Computer Guy says
I used to like the Sci-Fi Channel. then they went all SyFy and something changed.
I like SGU, and Caprica, but what’s with this mid-season split? I don’t like this trend in T.V. Keep the series whole Sci-Fi Channel. Keep it whole.
Oh and since you have a moving about a tree root, SyFy, I think you should try to get back to your roots. Good, Well-Written Sci-Fi, Fantasy, and Speculative Fiction. You’ll bring everyone back to the fold then.
Thanks,
Will
Robin says
Well, I’m not thrilled about most of the “reality” shows, but Beast Legends actually sounds kind of interesting.
Definitely looking forward to the return of SGU and Sanctuary, and the Christmas specials. I still don’t understand the delay of the second half of Caprica, though.
Lisa says
I have been watching sci-fi movies since I was a child and I was really excited about a sci-fi channel but really, reality shows on sci-fi, have you lost every one of your marbles. What do people that want sci-fi want? They want and adventure with a hero, outer space and a monster to over come. How hard is that to do. Pick any comic book and make a movie out of it and it will be a winner. Yes we like special effects but if you have good characters and actors it will not matter how little or how much you have. I think Haven has good promise but I watch sci-fi very little now because it has changed so much from shows like farscape, star trek, and other movies that did not look so artifical and stupid. Please try and pick up your A game because this channel is really going down hill fast.
Jim says
I only found 2 shows to watch SGU and Sanctuary. At least during the holiday you added something to watch. with Eureka and Wharehouse 13. I dont know whats happening with you but you are almost off MY radar to watch. And it seems from the above i am not alone.
Sue says
No Caprica? No Dr Who? I agree with the comments above. Maybe its time to get rid of the tv set.
Linda says
I have watched Sci-Fi for years, rarely ever hitting the networks, simply because they weren’t any good. NOW, it looks like I will continue to watch SG-1, SGA reruns. I was hoping SciFi would pick up Persons Unknown, Haven and the Gates.
Sure is funny how cable companies keep jacking up their prices, but the shows aren’t even worth subscribing. I have ditched cable and only watch tv through the internet! nice savings, and can watch what I want, when I want.
patti says
What happend to the ‘sci-fi’ shows? What’s with WWE????? OH! you only want us to watch your channel in the summer when you air Warehouse 13 and Eureka. Bummer.
BRING DEFYING GRAVITY TO THE NETWORK! I need something worth watching this fall. Boy did you guys really f’up when you turned down that show… all because of your egos (couldn’t market it as sy fy original)
I agree with Linda, you should pick up Persons Unknown, Haven and The Gates. You keep letting good shows slip through your fingers and end up showing $hit like WWE!
Go back to SCI-FI and REAL sci fi shows!
Jim says
You have finally broke my SCIFI habit. With only a couple of scifi shows this fall I will have plenty of watching time for OTHER channels. I would rather watch reruns of Dr.Who and Farscape than one minute of the wwf or whatever.
Skip says
WWE is fiction, there is no science in it, was looking for a better line-up, 4 shows not to much to offer, you are getting like all the other networks, bad shows and lots more commericals. Don’t feel bad no one else is offering anything good eather just charge more money and it will all be OK
Elvis says
What happened, did NBC Universal just sell out the SyFy channel to Brittany Spears? Good luck with that new lineup.
G C Newman says
The Syfi channel has only 5 shows I will watch if it really wants to really be a
a channel for science fiction fans than they should at least show old vintage science
fiction movies and science fiction shows from star trek and it’s spin off series like star trek next generation or deep space nine. there are plenty of science fiction TV
shows they could put on the SYFI channel. It’s a shame to see it die as a for real SYFI channel
Joe T says
yall people are nutts……. think about how much shows u were watching on SciFi five years ago and now think about how much shows u watch on SyFy now….. i doubt its that much differnt
alot of people have a problem with the WWE on i dont care so what they need to make money… i dont watch it but im not going to bash the network because they do…
they do have two star trek shows they air
I do wish that they would air Defying Gravity and then if rattings go well make it into a mini and if real well bring it back
anyway the network is fine……….. i do miss the SciFi … IF campain
Rebecca says
Let’s get the Stargate and Battlestar families to move to their own network and let the pitiable remains of SYFY’s un-original programming fall on its posterior and tank. SciFi is very much a viable, large niche market but only if you remember that the fans have brains. Quality programming does not mean conspiracy theories-r-us “reality” shows. Do the execs of this network even read? See what’s selling on the science fiction shelves, people. Get a clue about your own demographics or someone’s gonna do it for you and gut your network (may it be soon!)
Fish says
Like most who have commented, I think the proliferation of “reality” type shows is heinous. Ghost Hunters is perhaps the worst show ever aired; attempting to make more shows of the same ilk is a travesty. When they were changing their name from Sci-Fi, they should have gone with Faux-Sy. SGU and Caprica are decent Science Fiction, and Haven, Eureka and Warehouse 13 are decent fiction with a hint of the supernatural, but the rest of their line-up is just garbage. If they want to do a low budget “reality show”, perhaps they should consider documentary style shows where REAL scientists explain their work.
I can think of half a dozen story lines that could be scripted and shot on a fairly low budget that would truly be Science Fiction, but how could that ever compete with childish antics? lol.TheSyFy execs should watch the Space Channel for a few weeks, they might learn something about programming.
Fish
leon gravely says
There was a time when I could put the t.v. on sci fi channel and watch all day. What happened? Reality shows? C’mon. WWE. Please. I believe the people have spoken. Love S. G. Universe though.
Stan R says
Like most channels, Sy Fy started off great, serving viewers who want sci-fi- then, the channel lost direction- I mean WWE Smackdown!! That should feature sci-fi channel execs who deserve to be pummeled for screwing up this channel!
Bye bye sci-fi…
Alicia says
Pick up the gates! it would be fantastic on this network
Mika says
My SciFy/SyFy brothers and sisters have said it all the best above. Use to be if I could have only one channel it would have been SyFy with SGA, SGU, FarScape and the likes. WWF??? What s*it is this!!!!!
If you want my money, stop showing s*it like WWF… don’t they have a channel for that already? Put it this way… If you want to keep your lights on and make money, I suggest you get back to work running SyFy the way it was and should be.. Other wise.. you lose you SyFy family base (and WE ARE MANY!) You wont have a job and we’ll just watch SyFy TV and what ever else we want for FREE via computer and you WILL NOT have the money we give by keeping your programming!
Reno Dave says
I am a huge Sci Fi Fan, but not of this channel. It used to be pretty good when they stuck to the Science Fiction format. But WWF??? Oh wait, maybe I get it, this show is so phony it is probably classified as fiction without the science! Wake up SyFy and go back to your roots, you are loosing viewership right and left.
kenneth hartman says
I think it’s so sad what the Sci Fy channel has become, somewhere they took a wrong turn and just kept going. More and more reality shows, really ?? Don’t the heads of the channel know that sci fi people are the ones who flock to sci fi to escape the idiot reality shows. ?? I ask the top brass at the Sci Fy channel to at least have the decency to change the name of your channel, change it to The Reality Channel, The James Bond Channel or the Wrestling Channel, whatever, but please quit misleading people with Sfi Fy since your channel has very little to do with Sci Fi…. Thank-You an old exfan