Andromeda (TV series)


Andromeda is a Canadian/American science fiction television series, based on unused material by Gene Roddenberry, developed by Robert Hewitt Wolfe, and produced by Roddenberry's widow, Majel Barrett. It starred Kevin Sorbo as High Guard Captain Dylan Hunt. The series premiered on October 2, 2000, and ended on May 13, 2005.
Andromeda was filmed in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada and produced by Andromeda Productions, Tribune Entertainment, Fireworks Entertainment and MBR Productions. In Canada, the show aired on Global TV and ran in first-run syndication in the United States.
Andromeda is one of two TV series alongside based on concepts Roddenberry had created as early as the 1960s and 1970s; Roddenberry died in 1991, nine years prior the series premiere. The name Dylan Hunt had previously been used for the hero of two TV pilots Roddenberry had produced in the mid-1970s, Genesis II, and Planet Earth, all of which shared a similar dystopian, post-apocalyptic premise.

Premise

Thousands of years in the future, the Systems Commonwealth is a constitutional monarchy based in a distant star system called Tarn-Vedra. Mankind is a part of The Commonwealth. The Commonwealth spans the Milky Way, Triangulum, and Andromeda, with Tarn-Vedra near its core. The Commonwealth is at war with the Magog, a predatory humanoid species with bat-like faces that is dedicated to war. Peace talks led the Commonwealth to cede a key world to the Magog, that of the Nietzscheans; in response, the Nietzscheans secretly attempted to usurp control of the Commonwealth. Dylan Hunt is the captain of the Commonwealth ship Andromeda Ascendant. Its computer is a powerful artificial intelligence which can emit a holographic interface persona in the form of a woman, called "Andromeda" or "Rommie". Caught by surprise in the first engagement of the Nietzschean uprising, the crew evacuates. The Andromeda, with Hunt aboard, is caught at the edge of the event horizon of a black hole, freezing both in time.
Three hundred and three years later, in CY 10087, the crew of the salvage ship Eureka Maru locates the ship. The Systems Commonwealth has fallen, and the era known as The Long Night has begun. Hunt recruits the salvage crew to join him in an attempt to restore the Systems Commonwealth and "rekindle the light of civilization". The salvage crew comprises its leader, Beka Valentine, a con-artist and expert pilot; a super-genius engineer named Seamus Harper who can plug his mind directly into computer systems; Trance Gemini, a mysterious alien of unknown origin whose innocent demeanor hides a surprisingly old soul, and Rev Bem, a Magog who has adopted a non-violent, Taoist-like religion called The Way. The salvage crew's beneficiary brings along an insurance policy in the form of a Nietzschean mercenary named Tyr Anasazi.

Characters

Slipstream

Slipstream is the primary mode of travel for ships in the Andromeda universe, and the only known method of traveling faster than the speed of light. The Vedran discovery of the Slipstream was instrumental in the formation of their intergalactic empire, which became the precursor of the Systems Commonwealth.
Slipstream cannot be navigated by AIs. Only organic pilots can "sense" a way to their destination, and although AIs are fitted on all large ships, they always require an organic pilot for interstellar travel. It is thought to be the process of choosing a path that makes the chosen path the correct one.
A function of slipstream is that apparent objective velocities are extremely variable, as it enables travel across millions of light years seemingly as swiftly as traveling between neighboring stars only tens of light years apart. Further, slipstream is a non-linear method of travel; the best and swiftest way to get from Point A to Point B may very well involve hopping to another galaxy entirely. Also, the more frequently used routes are often easier, faster and more predictable.

Systems Commonwealth

The Systems Commonwealth was a huge utopian civilization, spanning three major galaxies of the Local Group. It was founded by the Vedrans, the first race to discover slipstream, who initially used it to conquer the Andromeda Galaxy. After a long and bitter war of attrition with the major powers of the Triangulum Galaxy, the Vedran Empire was reorganized as the democratic Systems Commonwealth. The Commonwealth served as a peaceful intergalactic government for almost 10,000 years until the Nietzschean revolt.
Dylan eventually managed to restore the Commonwealth. However, the New Commonwealth soon fell victim to internal corruption masterminded by the group known as the Collectors, who were allied with the Abyss.

Major star systems

and Tribune Entertainment began developing series from Gene Roddenberry's archive in 1997. Robert Hewitt Wolfe was brought in to develop the series. Fireworks Entertainment was brought in to co-finance and for international distribution. In early 1999, actor Kevin Sorbo was recruited to star in the series while he starred in '. Sorbo, his agent, Eric Gold, and Majel Roddenberry were to be executive producers and Wolfe as co-executive producer. Bette Chadwick was in charge of casting, while visual effects were initially handled by Lost Boys Studios and Northwest Imaging & FX. By September 9, 1999, Tribune had stations committed for two years in 24 of the top 30 markets with 22 Tribune and 38 Sinclair stations for a 60% national clearance giving the series a greenlight. The show was offered barter terms with an eight national/six local advertising split.
The Andromeda theme song used in the first season was composed by Alex Lifeson, guitarist for the progressive rock band Rush, executive producer Robert Hewitt Wolfe being a big fan.
Andromeda
s first episode was aired in syndication on October 2, 2000 while being carried on Global Television Network in Canada. Tribune Broadcasting station signed on to carry the show in its first season. In January 2002, Andromeda was renewed for two seasons, its third and fourth, having gotten two year deals with stations in 39 out the top 40 markets. By January 31, 2003, the show was renewed for its fourth season, 2003–2004, in 148 markets representing 88% of the U.S. The show was averaging 2.2 rating for the 2002-2003 season, third behind Stargate SG-1. For the 2003–2004 season, the show is one of only four first-run scripted series in syndication along with its Tribune stable mate, Mutant X.
In January 2004, the Sci-Fi Channel made a deal for the show and all its episodes plus fellow Tribune syndicated but discontinued show
BeastMaster. In March, the cable channel would start showing season four episodes which would then be seen in syndication 7 to 10 days later. With the deal, the series was renewed for its fifth and final season. The show began its run on Sci Fi with a re-airing of the 2-hour pilot episode.
On April 23, 2004, CanWest Global Communications announced the closure of Fireworks Entertainment and placing Fireworks' library up for sale. With Fireworks being the primary production company, this was effectively the show's cancellation notice. However two of Fireworks shows were shifted to fellow CanWest subsidiary Global Television, and the fact the show was renewed just in January. Tribune had ordered the show and
Mutant X'' into production for the 2004-2005 season under the show's contract options. Fireworks Entertainment took Tribune to court to get an order releasing them from production and financing the two series.

Home media

By 2003, ADV Films had home video/DVD rights for the show. The company released the entire series on DVD in region 1 between 2003 and 2006. In December 2003, ADV released Season 3, Collection 2. On October 3, 2006, they released a complete series DVD box set known as Andromeda: The Slipstream Collection.
Alliance Home Entertainment has released all five seasons on DVD in Canada only.
In Region 2, Revelation Films has released the first four seasons on DVD in the UK. The fifth and final season was released on November 24, 2014.
On January 26, 2015, Revelation Films released a complete series set on DVD in the UK.
In Region 4, Beyond Home Entertainment has released all five seasons on DVD in Australia. In 2007/2008, they re-released all five seasons in new collector's editions that featured new packaging and all episodes were digitally re-mastered in widescreen format.
A region B Blu-ray release of Season One was released on June 24, 2013 in the UK, with the next two seasons following by the end of that year.
The all-region Blu-ray release of the complete box set of all five seasons was released on September 19, 2016.

Awards

Andromeda was nominated for 39 awards at organizational events spanning the years 2001 to 2006. The nominations comprised six Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA awards, five Chicago International Film Festival awards, eight Gemini Awards, fifteen Leo Awards, and five WorldFest-Houston International Film Festival awards. The show won 18 of those awards.
YearAwardsCategoryNomineeEpisodeResult
2001Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USABest Syndicated/Cable Television SeriesAndromeda
2001Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USABest Actor on TelevisionKevin Sorbo
2001Gemini AwardsBest Performance by an Actress in a Featured Supporting Role in a Dramatic SeriesLisa Ryder
2001Gemini AwardsBest Visual EffectsBruce MacDougall, James Kawano, Geoff Anderson, Tom Tennisco, Joe Farrell, Jim Finn, Darren Marcoux, Roberto Biagi
2001Leo AwardsBest Musical Score of a Dramatic SeriesMatthew McCauleyMusic of a Distant Drum
2001Leo AwardsBest Visual Effects in a Dramatic SeriesTodd Liddiard
2001Leo AwardsBest Visual Effects of Dramatic SeriesJim Finn, Roberto Biagi, Tom Tennisco, Geoff Anderson, Jamie Kawano, Paul Cox, Joe Farrell, Peter Mastalyr, Bruce MacDougall, Mladen Miholjcic, Noel Wright, Jean-Paul LedouxThe Mathematics of Tears
2001Leo AwardsBest Picture Editing of Dramatic SeriesGordon RempelAngel Dark, Demon Bright
2001Leo AwardsEditing, Dramatic SeriesEric HillMusic of a Distant Drum
2001WorldFest-Houston International Film Festival awardsTelevision and Cable Production – Directing – TelevisionDavid WinningThe Banks of the Lethe
2002Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USABest Syndicated/Cable Television SeriesAndromeda
2002Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USABest Actress on TelevisionLexa Doig
2002Gemini AwardsBest Achievement in Make-UpRyan Nicholson, Francesca von Zimmermann
2002Gemini AwardsBest Performance by an Actress in a Guest Role in a Dramatic SeriesKristin Lehman
2002Gemini AwardsBest Photography in a Dramatic Program or SeriesGordon Verheul
2002Gemini AwardsBest Visual EffectsGeoff Anderson, Jim Finn, Roberto Biagi, Tom Tennisco
2002Leo AwardsDramatic Series: Best Visual EffectsJim FinnIts Hour Come 'Round at Last
2002WorldFest-Houston International Film Festival awardsTelevision and Cable Production – Directing – TelevisionDavid WinningDouble or Nothingness
2002WorldFest-Houston International Film Festival awardsTelevision and Cable Production – Directing – TelevisionDavid WinningMachinery of the Mind
2003Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USABest Syndicated/Cable Television SeriesAndromeda
2003Chicago International Film Festival awardsSpecial Achievement in DirectionDavid WinningA Heart for Falsehood Framed
2003Gemini AwardsBest Achievement in Make-UpRyan Nicholson, Francesca von Zimmermann
2003Leo AwardsDramatic Series: Best Visual EffectsJim Finn, Paul Cox, Todd Liddiard, Peter Mastalyr, Robert ApplebyThe Tunnel at the End of the Light
2003Leo AwardsDramatic Series: Best Supporting Performance – FemaleLaura BertramThe Dark Backward
2004Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USABest Syndicated/Cable Television SeriesAndromeda
2004Chicago International Film Festival awardsBest Dramatic SeriesDavid WinningDouble or Nothingness
2004Chicago International Film Festival awardsBest Dramatic SeriesDavid WinningMachinery of the Mind
2004Chicago International Film Festival awardsSpecial Achievement in DirectionDavid WinningDouble or Nothingness
2004Gemini AwardsBest Visual EffectsBruce Turner, Peter Hunt, Simon Lacey, Grant LindsayA Symmetry of Imperfection
2004WorldFest HoustonTelevision and Cable Production – TV Series – DramaticDavid WinningA Heart For Falsehood Frame
2005Chicago International Film Festival awardsSpecial Achievement in DirectionDavid WinningDouble or Nothingness
2005Leo AwardsDramatic Series: Best Make-UpFrancesca von ZimmermannMoonlight Becomes You
2005Leo AwardsDramatic Series: Best Overall SoundJeff Jackman, Michael Thomas, Roger Morris, Gordon AndersonThe Dissonant Interval
2005Leo AwardsDramatic Series: Best Sound EditingJeff Jackman, Chester Biolowas, Roger MorrisThe Dissonant Interval
2005Leo AwardsDramatic Series: Best Visual EffectsBruce Turner, Simon Lacey, Lindsay Grant, Ben Funk, Nick MichaeleskiThe Dissonant Interval
2005Leo AwardsDramatic Series: Best Visual EffectsBruce Turner, Simon Lacey, Lindsay Grant, Ben Funk, Nick MichaeleskiThrough a Glass Darkly
2005WorldFest HoustonTelevision and Cable Production – TV Series – DramaticDavid WinningThe Banks of the Lethe
2006Leo AwardsBest Sound Editing in a Dramatic SeriesJeff Jackman, Chester Biolowas, Rick Senechal, Ian Mackie, Don Harrison
2006Leo AwardsBest Overall Sound in a Dramatic SeriesPaul Michael Thomas, Ken Biehl, Jeff Jackman, Gordon Anderson