Sci Fi offers major minis, toon, series

'Battlestar,' 'Firestarter,' 'Rift' among highlights

By JOHN DEMPSEY

Hammer

NEW YORK -- A remake of the TV series "Battlestar Galactica" as a four-hour miniseries, the transformation of the mini "Firestarter: Rekindled" by Stephen King into an hourlong series and an animated sci-fi weekly half-hour based on the cult short film "Tripping the Rift": These were the highlights of the Sci Fi Channel upfront presentation here April 2.

"We're making the most aggressive investment in original programming in our history," said Bonnie Hammer, president of Sci Fi Channel.

Hammer said the impending takeover of Sci Fi Channel by Vivendi Universal has already paid dividends with "Battlestar Galactica," which, Hammer said, is "one of Universal's library assets that we'll be able to re-imagine in miniseries form."

Other miniseries in the works are "Myst," based on the CD-ROM adventure game (from Columbia TriStar TV); "The Forever War," based on Joe Haldeman's futuristic novel (from Alliance Atlantis); "The Chronicles of Amber," derived from the 10-volume epic written by Roger Zelazny (from Tom Patricia's Patriarch Pictures); and "On the Seventh Day," about a corrupt world government in 2850 A.D. (from USA Cable Entertainment).

Miniseries every quarter

The goal of Sci Fi, Hammer said, is to schedule a miniseries every quarter as a tentpole. Its biggest event is the 20-hour "Taken," exec produced by Steven Spielberg, which kicks off in December.

USA Cable Entertainment, a sister company of Sci Fi, is also producing a series for the network: "Scare Tactics," a weekly half-hour reality show that will feature elaborate "Candid Camera"-like pranks.

As a companion piece to Sci Fi's successful "Crossing Over with John Edward," Sci Fi has commissioned Stone Stanley Entertainment to produce "Dream Team with Annabelle & Michael," a five-a-week late-night half-hour that will analyze the dreams of members of the studio audience and call-in guests. The hosts are Annabelle Gurewitch and the dream expert Michael Lennox.

"Tripping the Rift" will be Sci Fi's first animated series. Produced by Cine Groupe and Film Roman, the show is about a misfit group of cabinmates aboard a spaceship. Created by Chuck Austen and Chris Moeller, the series "will have the kind of edgy feel that makes 'South Park' a hit on Comedy Central," said Hammer.

Sci Fi Channel is expecting a strong fourth quarter, said Hammer, because, in addition to all of its originals, the network will start running two high-visibility reruns series: "The X Files," from 20th TV, and "Stargate: SG-1," from MGM TV.