via press release:
SYFY TEST-DRIVES A NEW APPROACH TO ANIMATION WITH OUTER SPACE ASTRONAUTS
SERIES PREMIERES TUESDAY, DECEMBER 8 AT 9:30 P.M. (ET/PT)
The Five-Episode, Half-Hour Series is Executive Produced By Russell Barrett, Scott Puckett and David O. Russell (Three Kings, I Heart Huckabees)
Premiere Episode Follows Season Finale of Hit Reality Series, Scare Tactics
New York, NY – November 12, 2009 – Syfy continues to expand its horizons with the premiere of new irreverent half-hour comedy series, Outer Space Astronauts. Using the latest in computer graphics technology to meld live-action and 3D animation, the visually innovative five-episode series premieres onSyfy on Tuesday, December 8 at 9:30 p.m. (ET/PT) following the season finale of the hit reality series, Scare Tactics at 9 p.m. (ET/PT). Outer Space Astronauts will continue to roll out every Tuesday night at 9 p.m. (ET/PT).
Series creator and executive producer, Russell Barrett took a complete do-it-yourself / hands-on approach to the creation of the show by developing, executing and editing the series right in his very home. He also enlisted childhood and hometown friends as series stars including, Adam Clinton (Commander Dick Amos), Stephanie Clinton (Lieutenant Sunny Hunkle), Jay Wendorff (voice of Kyle 14) and Dana Kirk (Operations Officer Donna Kennedy).
”Syfy fans have never seen animation quite like this before! The graphics may be basic and simple, but combining them with live-action elements has never been done in a series before. To say that it was a grassroots endeavor is an understatement. Russell literally produced this in his basement for more than a year, and that allowed him to create a unique series with a sharp, sly sense of humor.” said Mark Stern, EVP Original Content Syfy & Co-Head Universal Cable Productions.
Outer Space Astronauts is a futuristic comedy series about eight vaguely courageous, highly distractable military personnel who journey to the far reaches of the galaxy, seeking knowledge, adventure and whatever else they can come up with. On board the O.S.S. Oklahoma, this legion of misfits are led by a lackluster captain who would rather be planning the next “margarita Monday” than leading a mission against evil, much to exasperation of his by-the-book second-in-command. Regardless of being a comedy of errors, this team will surprise even themselves as they navigate their way around the solar system.
“Russell Barrett is a very dry, very funny guy who created his own part animated, part live-action space ship world in a series of episodes using his own style and vision of animation,” said David O. Russell, Executive Producer. “What more needs to be said about outer space astronauts who are in outer space working as astronauts, in outer space?”
Outer Space Astronauts was created by Russell Barrett, and is executive produced by Barrett, Scott Puckett and David O. Russell (Three Kings, I Heart Huckabees).
Meet the series characters:
Captain Bruce Ripley (Russell Barrett) is the worst captain in the fleet with the best reputation. He’s uninterested, bored and sloppy, yet manages to always get the job done.
Commander Dick Amos (Adam Clinton) should be the leader of the ship since he holds the most credentials than anyone, but even with his top performance record, Dick is always stuck behind the eight ball.
Lieutenant Sunny Hunkle (Stephanie Clinton) With a name that equally matches her ‘sunny’ disposition, the sweetest girl in the galaxy gets along with everyone. She doesn’t mind that her ‘secret relationship’ with Dick should remain a secret, she’s cool, calm and easy going.
Intern Jimmy Peck (Peter Burns) has been Captain Ripley’s right-hand man since their college days. A bit simple-minded, or just eternally naïve, Jimmy has a way of coming through just when you thought he was completely useless.
Pilot Johnny Boothe (Benjamin Nurick) shouldn’t be flying or driving anything as he holds the most citations for reckless piloting out of anyone (a record he states proudly!). Boothe’s disregard for safety and his addiction to speed however has saved many a day on board the O.S.S. Oklahoma.
Kyle 14 (voice: Jay Wendorff) is one of the first artificial humans to be given a post on an OSA ship. He’s the most state-of-the-art android in existence and “waaaay better than the Kyle 13 model.”
Chief Weapons Officer Andy Matheson (Laura Valdivia) has saved the life of every crewman on the ship more times than they can count. His enormous stature and history of big time whuppin’ sometimes intimidates his fellow crewman except for Brimley.
Weapons Officer Chad Brimley (Tony Bravo) likes to find other’s weak spots and poke at it with a stick. He has excellent skills, and is highly intelligent in weapons development and ammunition science, but his motivation for work isn’t always top notch.
Operations Officer Donna Kennedy (Dana Kirk) and technology don’t mix. She tries in vain to hide her ‘fear of all things that plug in and beep’ from the crew, but on a ship which functions solely from the latest technology, her technophobia gets the best of her.
Chief Mechanic Pinto (Steve Millunzi) is a human monkey wrench. If something is broken, Pinto can fix it - which is great, because things tend to break quite frequently!
Ka’ak (Jacey Margolis) is from another planet and skilled in all areas of space travel. Despite her super-model looks, her mangled use of English is a good tip-off to her alien roots; not to mention her blood-red skin!
Syfy is a media destination for imagination-based entertainment. With year round acclaimed original series, events, blockbuster movies, classic science fiction and fantasy programming, a dynamic Web site (www.Syfy.com), and a portfolio of adjacent business (Syfy Ventures), Syfy is a passport to limitless possibilities. Originally launched in 1992 as SCI FI Channel, and currently in 95 million homes, Syfy is a network of NBC Universal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies. (Syfy. Imagine greater.)
Well, on one hand, I am a believer in “nothing is new under the sun.” However, the captain and first officer’s description for this series sounds like the captain and first officer in Futurama, to me.
In regards to the cast, WHO?!?
Whoever’s running syfy -cut the lights out when you’re finished.
Can’t be too many folks there, as shoveling crap isn’t that labor intensive.
Used to be the Sci-Fi channel was a must see on Friday nights. Now its just a depressing void to tune in the joyless, hopeless, dark “Stargate Universe” or the less than entertaining “sanctaury”.
The rest of the week on Syfy isn’t any better. Saturdays formula movies suck, monday thru thursday’s reality shows suck.
The syfy brand is like a great sucking wound in the tv schedule.
Go ahead and give it a decent funeral.
SyFy? Try NeoLifetime Channel (in Space). The level of complete Fail here, is horrifying.
1) Don’t let chicks have any say in the SciFi Channel’s programming: they want to watch soap operas and Oprah. News Flash: Guys don’t.
2) De-douche SyFy back to SciFi.
3) Pull your heads out of your asses.
4) Fire a bunch of people. Nepotism isn’t a good thing.
5) Hire a bunch of ***COMPETENT*** people.
Who would have thought a Ghost Hunting show could get nearly three milliom viewers or the low budget simi horror flicks could often break another two million viewers. It will not be what I will watch but if it can get enough of the younger demo it might make them some money. I still believe NBC Universal figures money not spent on programing is money made. It is hard to not understand the plan they seem to be following. I am sick at what they have done to science fiction on the channel, but money is the motivation and they seem to be doing that.
An audience may very well exist for this kind of programing.
Maybe Comcast will bring in new blood after they take over.
This is continuing insult to fans of actual science fiction and even pseudo-space operas (Firefly, I’m looking at you with love) must end.
We know the current Head Honcho of the this basic cable cripple hates the genre it is dedicated too.
The same terrible c-movie horror on Saturdays, the abominable crap through the rest of the week. (Exception being Eureka, and ummm, well, nothing else? Ok, Stargate Universe has good acting, but f* all if I know why or what is going on.). This must be ended.
Please, either go off the air, or quit calling your self anything that even sounds like Sci-Fi, SyFy, or even imagination land. Your programing is crap, ghost hunting and wrestling?
In short, my loosely connected ramble means one thing. I have learned to hate you SyFy channel.
Why do you hate your fans Sci-Fi channel?