Sci-Fi Graveyard

In this special episode of Sci-Fi Graveyard, host Joseph breaks format to join Stephen and Josh in a roundtable discussion about the sci-fi TV shows they wish hadn't been canceled. The trio deliberately avoids discussing Firefly (because that's too easy) and instead dives into other short-lived gems that deserved a second chance.

The conversation covers Joseph's love for the 2008 Knight Rider reboot, starring Justin Bruening and a Val Kilmer-voiced KITT (a Ford Mustang Shelby Cobra). He laments the show's cancellation just as it was finding its footing and moving back towards the original series' "FLAG" roots. Stephen champions Joss Whedon's Dollhouse, praising its complex premise about mind-wiping technology and the standout performance of Enver Gjokaj. Josh brings Killjoys and Alphas to the table, discussing how Syfy Channel shows often get the axe prematurely despite having unique concepts and strong fanbases. The group also tangents into other canceled favorites like The Dresden Files and Angel, and debates the merits of long-running shows like The Walking Dead and The Big Bang Theory that perhaps stayed too long.

Key Highlights
[01:36] Knight Rider 2008: Joseph discusses the reboot of the 80s classic, highlighting the new KITT (Knight Industries 3000), the connection to Michael Knight (Mike Tracer is his son), and the untapped potential of the KARR storyline.
[37:37] Dollhouse: Stephen breaks down the premise of the Joss Whedon show where "Actives" (Dolls) have their personalities wiped and replaced for missions, noting how it was just getting "bonkers insane" when it was canceled.
[55:41] Killjoys: Josh talks about the Syfy bounty hunter show, praising its inventive world-building and the chemistry between the main trio, wishing it had more time to explore its universe.
[53:07] The Dresden Files: A brief tangent on the short-lived adaptation of Jim Butcher's novels, with the hosts agreeing the books are better but wishing the show had been given a fairer shake.
[01:02:51] The Walking Dead Rant: A heated discussion on when they "checked out" of The Walking Dead (mostly around Season 3 or 4) and how some shows drag on too long while great sci-fi gets cut short.
[01:13:37] Revival Hopes: The hosts share their hopes for revivals, whether as video games (a GTA-style Knight Rider game) or comic books, acknowledging that sometimes a cancellation is final but the fandom lives on.

In this episode of Sci-Fi Graveyard, Joseph, Jeremy, Josh, and Stephen travel back to 1980 (and then 1941) to review the time-travel military sci-fi film, The Final Countdown. Starring Kirk Douglas and Martin Sheen, the movie explores the "what if" scenario of a modern nuclear aircraft carrier, the USS Nimitz, being transported back to the eve of the Pearl Harbor attack.

The discussion centers on the film's impressive realism, thanks to the full cooperation of the US Navy and filming on the actual USS Nimitz. The hosts debate the moral dilemma faced by the crew: should they intervene and change history to save thousands of lives, or let events unfold to preserve the timeline? They critique the film's pacing, noting it takes too long to realize they are in the past, and express disappointment with the "convenient" storm that pulls them back before they can engage the Japanese fleet. The group also analyzes the paradox of Mr. Tideman (played by an older Charlie Sheen? No, actually an uncredited actor, though the character is the older version of Commander Owens) essentially creating the timeline that sends the ship back.

Key Highlights
[01:06] The Premise: A breakdown of the plot where the USS Nimitz hits a storm in 1980 and wakes up on December 6, 1941, near Pearl Harbor. [02:22] Production Trivia: Joseph shares that 48 real Navy personnel were used as extras and the film was banned in some communist countries for glorifying the US military.
[05:46] Realism: The crew praises the use of real F-14 Tomcats and the actual aircraft carrier, avoiding the cheesy special effects common in other sci-fi of the era (except for the storm itself).
[17:49] The Moral Dilemma: A debate on the central question: if you had the power to stop a tragedy like Pearl Harbor or kill "baby Hitler," should you do it?
[40:47] Reboot Potential: The hosts unanimously vote to "Rise from the Grave," suggesting a reboot could explore the alternate history of stopping the attack or use a modern carrier going back to WWII.
[42:42] The Paradox Ending: A discussion on the reveal that Commander Owens, who was left behind in 1941, became the wealthy Mr. Tideman who built the ship, creating a time loop.

In this episode of Sci-Fi Graveyard, host Joseph, joined by Jeremy and Josh, dissects the 1988 sci-fi disaster Space Mutiny. Famous for being skewered on Mystery Science Theater 3000, this film is a treasure trove of bad filmmaking, reused footage, and baffling plot holes.

The discussion highlights the film's shameless use of stock footage from the original Battlestar Galactica for all its space battles, the bizarre set design (filmed in a factory warehouse with obvious windows), and the continuity errors that plague every scene. The hosts have a field day with the main character, David Ryder (played by Reb Brown), listing off the dozens of hilarious nicknames given to him by MST3K, such as "Big McLargeHuge" and "Blast Hardcheese." They also analyze the confusing plot involving a mutiny on a generational ship, the inexplicable presence of hula-hooping space witches (the Bellarians), and the film's obsession with characters falling over railings to their deaths.

Key Highlights
[02:44] Battlestar Galactica Footage: The hosts point out that every shot of a spaceship in this movie is actually stolen stock footage from the original Battlestar Galactica TV series.
[04:06] David Ryder's Nicknames: A hilarious 2-minute segment where Joseph lists off the 40+ muscular nicknames given to the protagonist by MST3K, including "Slab Bulkhead" and "Punch Rockgroin."
[16:02] The Bellarians: A discussion on the baffling addition of the "space witches" who dance around plasma balls and contribute absolutely nothing to the plot, added solely to pad the runtime.
[27:04] Future Tech??: The crew mocks the "futuristic" technology, which includes floor buffers used as polishing droids and 1980s computer keyboards in a ship supposed to be centuries advanced.
[33:13] Railing Deaths: A running joke about the absurd number of characters who die by slowly falling over the flimsy railings in the warehouse set.
[49:50] Bottom 100: Joseph reveals that Space Mutiny is officially listed as one of IMDb's bottom 100 movies of all time, a badge of honor for this "so bad it's good" classic.

In this episode of Sci-Fi Graveyard, host Joseph is joined by Jeremy and Josh to dig up the short-lived 1983 sci-fi cop show, Automan. Created by Glen A. Larson (the mind behind Knight Rider and Battlestar Galactica), the series follows a police computer expert who creates a holographic superhero to fight crime.

The discussion explores the show's obvious inspiration from Disney's Tron, noting the glowing blue suits and digital aesthetic achieved without actual CGI (relying instead on traditional animation and reflective tape). The hosts laugh about the show's cheesiness, from the 90-degree turns of the Auto Car (a Lamborghini Countach) to the main character merging with the hologram to become bulletproof. They also touch on the high production costs ($1 million per episode) that led to its cancellation after only 12 episodes aired. Trivia lovers will appreciate the details about Chuck Wagner wearing 4-inch heels to play Automan and the cameos by Patrick Macnee (voice of Cursor) and Desi Arnaz Jr. as Walter Nebicher.

Key Highlights
[01:33] Show History: A breakdown of the show's production, airing from 1983-1984 on ABC, and its connection to Tron producer Donald Kushner.
[02:23] The Premise: An explanation of the plot: Walter Nebicher, a police computer nerd, creates "the world's first truly automatic man" (Automan) and his sidekick Cursor.
[03:13] Why It Failed: The hosts discuss the primary reason for cancellation: the exorbitant budget of over $1 million per episode, which was massive for the time.
[04:40] Automan's "Ingredients": Fun trivia about how Automan's personality was programmed using the traits of celebrities like Paul Newman, Clint Eastwood, and John Travolta.
[10:52] Technical Limitations: A look at why so many scenes were filmed at night—the reflective costumes didn't look right in daylight, requiring special lighting techniques.
[19:07] 90-Degree Turns: The crew chuckles at the show's signature visual gag: the Auto Car making impossible 90-degree turns that slam the passengers against the door, a direct nod to the light cycles in Tron.

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