Gabriel McDow. And the Man Behind Him.

Zap2It has a new James interview: James Callis: The Man Behind Gabriel McDow! I must say I really like this title, and it makes me all proud again that James got to play this particular character.

He says he was "looking very rough". Well, I wouldn't say rough so much as ludicrous... but it does fit the character. Shocker: the outfit and accent were HIS idea.

"I was a very different kind of character," Callis says. "I was very protected by the glasses and the baseball cap and whatever it was. Initially they said, 'It's just you, wearing a mac, and we love the way you talk.' I'm like, 'That's going to seem so odd.'

Okay, so the outfit is silly, but it really fits the character. He's not supposed to look like he's all there, and James in a mac would look... just like a normal guy in a mac? He can do a lot with his facial features, but nothing wrong with huge jeans, tiny coat and TAPED WALKMAN. I can't get over that walkman. The accent has divided opinions, but I personally am impressed with his work there.

What impresses me the most is that he got the role on a very short notice, deep-thought it over and decided what works and doesn't work for the character. This is why they want him. I'm so proud of him.

"I've seen videos of Kim Peek, the guy who 'Rain Man' was based on. He's the original savant. These people, they're truly brilliant, but they're slightly askance."

As I expected, he sounds intrigued by this kind of character. As am I. There's something fascinating about autism, because you can't know how these people experience the world.

Apparently they all want James at the same time, so that he didn't really have time between this and Eureka:

"Pretty much," Callis says, "'Eureka' was the same thing. 'Do you think I could have some time?' 'Nope, that's it, Monday morning.' There's a lot of crazy push and pull. It's exciting.

"I would have done more ['FlashForward'] episodes if 'Eureka' hadn't come along. They wanted me to be in a season arc and maybe longer."

*groans* OK, I'll get over it. I really like him on FF and wish he could have done more episodes, but there's still hope of a second season, and James thinks Gabriel could return. I'll probably like Eureka a lot once I see him on it.

He's been working hard for a long time, and many actors never reach a level where there's push and pull in all directions. It's great that his talent has been acknowledged at last.

Then on the latest FlashForward episode: he was fabulous! (L) (L)

A GUSHY PICSPAM

Episode 18, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road. (Spoilers)

Gabriel shows up at Olivia's house. No one knows how he got there. Spooky...

Long story short: he tells her she was supposed to be with Lloyd, not her current husband. Gabriel's been watching her for a while and trying to stop her. He seems well-meaning, but acts all kinds of creepy.

Later, we find out he's an autistic savant who was used in experiments. The patients got flash forwards, and Dyson Frost asked them to write down everything they remember of the future. He (Frost) used this information when he caused the global blackout. Frost is now dead, but what does Gabriel know that can help the investigation?

He was listening to his walkman!! It's unbearably cute and funny!

I love his tummy! (L) OK, I know, he's slouching in a thick coat, but still. *snuggles so hard* The little boy look is also... (L)!!! What an adorable character.

Gabriel reminiscing stuff he's not supposed to know about. Creepy... yet somehow cute.

Olivia (Sonya Walger) realizes Gabriel knows a lot about her life. Understandably, she runs away, but Gabriel still has some things to say...

"The truth of the pudding is in the eating!" Um, Gabriel, maybe you should try and sound less crazy, if you want her to believe you.

How would you feel if you found him in the pictures of your old scrapbooks? It's like that scene in The Grudge where it becomes apparent that Kayako is in every one of Peter's photos. Actually, this is creepier, because Kayako was not looking straight into the camera with craazy eyes. *shudders*

So Gabriel has been involved in Olivia's life for a while. Is he a benevolent guardian angel who needs to set her life straight? Or a bad guy who's trying to destroy Olivia's life? We don't know.

Olivia unwisely goes to investigate Raven River, the mental hospital in Arizona that Gabriel keeps mentioning. Of course, he's there as well, and tells them about the experiments. (It's a bit nightmarish how he keeps showing up - how did he get to Arizona AND her house? He looks like a hobo - but you kind of expect it so he can deliver the necessary exposition.)

"Lloyd and Olivia sitting in a tree, K-I-I..." (they cut him off there - our savant can spell, right? Right? :D)

"Kitty likes tuna". Gabriel stops to contemplate on the more pleasant memories of his flashforwards. And ends up looking like a happy James again. It's a bit odd to see him smiling in this benevolent, childlike way, because it resembles his own smile so much.

When he was done, Dr Frost wanted to have them killed. Gabriel doesn't tell us how he escaped though - perhaps the memory is too painful. Note James' expression. Beautiful.

"Dyson Frost" is a name Gabriel does not want to hear. He looks like a scared child. Don't worry, Gabriel! Let me hold you! *snuggles* (I know, he'd just go "Can't touch this!" :D)

Dyson Frost is dead. "The early worm catches the bird! I have waited..." Slightly creepy reaction. But he seems too hapless to actually kill anyone. Honestly, I can't see this guy as a villain. He's not a villain, right? Right?

Gabriel tells Olivia he needs to correct her course, because she's going the wrong way. (Actually, next week's episode is called Course Correction, so maybe we'll see more of this storyline?) "Harvard was a fork in the road", he says. Olivia was supposed to go to Harvard and be with Lloyd, not go to UCLA and be with Mark.

While I find this idea of parallel realities and possible futures very interesting, I also have a problem with it. There are two children involved here: Olivia and Mark's daughter Charlie and Lloyd and his ex-wife's son Dylan. Were they not supposed to exist? Or would Lloyd and Olivia have produced the exact same children, only with each other? Only that's not possible if Charlie has half Mark's genes and Dylan half Lloyd's ex's... Am I already thinking too hard?

Either way, very intrigued about what else Gabriel knows and if Olivia can really correct her course. Can't wait for next week!

Kitty Likes Tuna.

Aka "James Callis in FlashForward, part something", but I'm tired of having such long titles.

Tonight: more James Callis on FlashForward! Are you excited? I'm excited. Here's a preview clip with James. There are more clips here, and James also appears briefly in the fourth one. (I'm not commenting on that one because he's so briefly in it, and I don't really understand the significance - I think he was predicting Olivia's future in some way and she's only beginning to realize that he knows stuff.)

In the first clip, Gabriel is leading Olivia and, um, an FBI guy into a warehouse, saying they did the experiments here. He talks awkwardly, like he's scared of the memory.

"I never knew where I'd end up. Sometimes it was a short.. trip... I was eating a tuna sandwich... Cat jumped on the table... Kitty likes tuna. (smiles) Sometimes it was a long...trip... He watches from there. (points)"

I love the way he talks, because it's so childlike. You're telling a story and get sidetracked on a cute detail - kitty likes tuna - and smile a bit, then remember where you are and resume telling the story. He sounds like he's scared of the doctor who was watching.

Other brief notes:

-It BREAKS MY HEART to see Gabriel scared and sad. The closeups of his face are especially endearing. (L)!!!

-His accent has been praised and bashed. I think it's partially that Gabriel talks very awkwardly. His speech patterns are not the typical American speech; he stutters a bit, pauses, and emphasizes things differently than others. "I never knew where I'd end up" sounds totally American, while "This is where they did it" sounds kind of Irish. But it might be because he's just recalling it and there's pain in his voice there. In other words, it could be intentional, not James lapsing into a British accent. Either way, this is a really demanding role, so for his accent to sound better while doing it is quite an achievement. Respect!

-Love the luscious hair billowing out of the cap.

-The cap is in fact not the same blue as the coat - it is green. So they don't go together. They're just the same faded shade so they look like they do. Bwah!

-The chubby is beginning to show here, maybe because there were closeups this time. Whew! I was worried he'd only look chubby to me, and only in the promos and not on the show. I feel less nuts now.

James Callis on FlashForward, part 5: Muy Caliente.

(callis.. caliente.. callisent.. no... I know, my titles suck, but you gotta have a title.)

Look how pretty!!!! These are from The Negotiation, so a few weeks away. Different coat, longer hair, no cap = gorgeous. Also, he's listening to the walkman, which is somehow hilarious. I wonder what he has on the tape? MC Hammer?

His expressions are soo... *hood on, points with a crazy look* *excited little boy look* *huddles sadly like he needs Mommy to comfort him* (L)!!! (Tell me, how can this guy be a villain? Was that someone's misinterpretation or is this all an act and he'll turn out to be some evil mastermind? I can't decide if that would be a huge disappointment, since I already like Gabriel and feel for him, or epicly awesome since he'd get to do two characters in one. But we'll see.)

And: he is chubby! I knew it! He is SO CUTE right now, I could just eat him. Hope he kept it on for Eureka. (L)!!!

I'm not sure if I can handle all the cute at this point. And such a great role so far! It's all too good to be true.

Major thanks to M for finding the photos.

James Callis on FlashForward, part 4: It Was Frakking Awesome.

OMG, this is awesome! Many loving thanks to Nicole.

Quick bulletin points:

-He is adorable. I just want to cuddle and snuggle him. Look at Gaby-Waby trying to save the day - he is so gonna fail!

-The verdict is still out on autistic savant/Asperger's, but either way he's doing a great job portraying it. And funny. "Can't touch this! Can't touch this!" How does he do this?

-The outfit is hilarious, but him wearing it and being all fateful and frakked up is even more so.

-That is a decent American accent! He doesn't sound fake at all. Awesome!

-This really is unlike what he's done before. I'm so excited!

He is going to be in four episodes, so three more to go. He'll be more prominent next week. Can't wait!

Edit: So um... I'm not sure if I should be timid and try to not gush too much, or be just like before? I feel a bit timid still, but then, that may just be my own bullshit. James didn't ask me to stop gushing. Everybody else is gushing... So frak this. EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE Fangush!!!! (L) (L) (L) JAMES!!! (L) :D :D :D OK, I feel better.

Somebody make a fanvid of "Can't Touch This" with Gabriel. Please.

I hesitate to say way too much before we see more of Gabriel McDow, but I'm totally having multiple FanForwards over this. (Sorry for the pun, couldn't resist.) I was sure I'd be a little disappointed after the hype and expectations, but it's quite the contrary. I'm beginning to feel more and more excited and can't wait for next Thursday. There's something different about this role.

For one thing, I'm really surprised he's autistic/Asperger's/remains to be seen. We knew he was quirky and socially awkward, but I didn't realize it was in this way. This is truly something new for James, and I'm just proud of how we'll he's portraying it. After seeing the photos, I was very amused indeed, but also a bit worried they might just do a really broad nerd stereotype. But this makes the outfit totally appropriate, even serious - yet he's still also hilarious and adorable in all the right ways. It's just so good.

A very good sign: I'm already fascinated with this guy. I want to know more about his condition and how he sees the world, in a way that isn't only related to the plot. I hope they make something of it and give us some view into Gabriel's head. I'd also be very curious as to what kind of background work/mental preparation James did to get into this character. As Gaius' narcissism and Guy Curran's (Going Wrong; I'll write about it someday) obsession were fascinating, this is fascinating in a psychological way. It may be one of those characters who stay with you.

Jessika Borsiczky, a producer of FlashForward, is on Twitter and she just came out as a total James fangirl. Eeee! She promises that James will be doing four episodes all in all, and that episode 20 is his biggest one. Also that "he steals" the next episode - as if he didn't already!

His American accent has improved since I last heard him use it. It's always been OK, but sounded like he's putting it on - it hasn't sounded very authentic. This time, it sounded authentic to me. It might have to do with the rhythm of his speech here and the way he talks dramatically, but I wouldn't guess by this that he's British. I'm so proud of his development as an actor. *gushes even further*

More fan reactions at Nicole's LJ here and here.

Last night, I had to go to bed not knowing what his role was like. Had a nightmare where he was in a church, looked more like Sylar with a very calm/evil expression, said dark stuff about God and painted a childlike altarpiece that was yet somehow very frightening. Then he turned into an old, fat, bald guy. (Serves me right for joking he'd be bald for the role!) All through the dream, I was wondering, "Why did people say he'd be adorable/funny? This is frakking depressing!"

All I'm saying is, it's not easy being a fan who lives in Finland. Without illegal downloads, I'd have to wait two weeks to see this. Thank gods for copyright law infringements!

(Um, I'll have to see more of him to determine if he's actually chubbier or not. Maybe the coat is just tight enough to make it look so. I'm sure no one really cares though, but it's important for ME as the foremost expert on the topic. Either way: ADORABLE.)

James Callis in FlashForward: The First Pictures!

They really made him an über nerd. Taped glasses! A WALKMAN! A horrid-looking, too tight jacket! A dusty old cap! And I must say he still looks cute, albeit in an awkward, clumsy kind of way. I won't comment more today, but enjoy!

Pictures here. They're from episode 1.18, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.

James Callis on FlashForward, part 3: James Is a Villain?

(In case I tagged it badly: "Comic Timing Essential" was update part 2.)

It's been confirmed that the episode James first appears on is episode 17, The Garden of Forking Paths, which will air in two weeks' time. The press release is on many sites, here at SpikeTV.

Of even more interest is this link with SpoilerTV quoting TV Guide: a fellow BSG fan is asking about his role in more detail.

MICKEY: How the frak are ya, Romy? Here's what Sonya Walger says about him: "He's this curious person who seems to know an enormous amount about Olivia's future. It turns out that this guy has had multiple flash-forwards, so he becomes incredibly important and significant to her and, in time, to the entire investigation." The bad news: He's not a good guy. In fact, he's going to make D. Gibbons look like a walk in the park full of unconscious people.

Hmm. So he's the villain again? I'm a bit disappointed. I was kind of hoping he'd be more like Lloyd Simcoe - someone with an important part, who's essential to the story without being the enemy, and yet manages to be a bit complex and imperfect.

But let's be honest: some of the show's "good" guys - including Mark Benford, Demetri Noh and Aaron - aren't particularly interesting characters. What's happening to them is interesting, but they haven't managed to get my sympathy throuhgout most of those events. There's something wrong with this show and "good guy" roles, and in that framework, I want to see James as a complex, strange, highly intelligent bad guy. Simon has been the most interesting character for me so far, and he's not really a good guy at all.

What I do worry about is that James is now going to be the bad guy every time, because Gaius was the bad guy. This is annoying because

a) he wasn't, at all;

b) on some shows, the bad guy roles are really black and black evil; and

c) James is such a kind guy in reality - it would be nice to see him exhibit that on shows as well.

But the actors always say that playing the villain or antagonist is the most interesting role. That's the role they want. I remember Jamie Bamber saying that Apollo was a limiting role, because he had to be good, and he sometimes envied James the more varied Baltar. The bad guy gets more leeway.

It's also a question of how James plays the part. He's really only played the eevil villain once, on One Night with the King, where he really was just bad bad bad. (And I doubt that, as a Jew, he'd like to play a Jew-hating bigot with much compassion.) Generally, though, James seems to bring some kind of understanding or nuance or compassion into the part he plays.

The reason actors want to play the villain is probably not that they want to be eevil and swirl their moustaches and cackle in a corner. They want to portray the darker side of human nature, which exists in all of us, but which we usually have to control. It may be liberating to let that part of you go and just get to do bad stuff for once. But if it's not done with complexity and psychological insight, it's just boring and cartoonish.

So let's hope for a complex character most of all, be it a hero or a villain. (Or a weird mixture of both, like Gaius Baltar.)

Oh James Why. :(

You know, I was actually feeling pretty good today... and then I found this:

"Callis goes bald for FlashForward". Sniff!! (There's no picture, so I can't say how bad it is.)

You know, I have been fearing this since that Galactica Quorum interview! We so should have made that petition that he not touch scissors for a year (Artemis_Neith's idea).

At least he knows we love it:

"I know my fans love the hair," says the hirsute actor. "But don't worry, girls - it grows back!"

....

"You know, I always wanted to know what it feels like to be bald," Callis says.

So how did it feel? "Cold."

Callis promises that the hair will be back by his Eureka role. "They pretty much insisted on it," he laughs.

Damn! I knew Dominic Monaghan was bald on the show, but James?

And I was so excited about this role! Oh well... at least we knew in beforehand so it won't be a big shock when we see him.

Random Thoughts o' the Week

I'm always dubious to call anything "weekly", because I probably won't end up writing every week and it looks silly. But let's just say these are random thoughts of this week, regardless if the thoughts ever come back or if they rush out into the darkness never to return.

Small personal update: I'm a bit more depressed lately, but having my meds adjusted and getting more therapy, so hopefully I'll have more energy for this blog and the LJ rewatch community soon. I feel like my writing is sub-par for now, but maybe that's just the depression talking. I'll be reporting on the news as soon as I see them, either way. If I sound lacklustre, it's because of my brain chemistry, not because I've lost interest in James.

A reader asked about James' glasses. I have no idea, but there's a thread at the Unofficial Website on the topic. Apparently it would be a Ray Ban model that someone identified. Read more here. It's interesting that his glasses fascinate people. Maybe also try having his hairdo (the long one)? Chicks dig that.

Still no con bookings for this year. Shooting Eureka in Vancouver, James is probably just too busy and not where the cons are. But who knows, maybe he'll be joining something on a shorter notice? I'll keep you posted. Looks like I won't be able to go to any con this year, judging by my finances, but it's always nice to hear about other people's experiences. Honestly, it is. I'm not envious AT ALL that you people get to talk to James and hug him and all that. (Grr.)

FlashForward: turns out we're only two weeks behind the US, and Revelation Zero, part 1 aired yesterday. Whoa! I'm going to see James soon, no doubt! I'm very excited about that - except that the pace of the show is still sssslllllooooowwww. I enjoy the premise and am still excited James will be on this show, but jesus. It may be an ABC thing, because I think the same is true of Lost. I didn't watch it when it first aired, partially because it's so painfully slow. Now, on DVD, I'm hooked on it, but only if I fast forward a lot of the scenes. There are characters I really care about, and characters I don't care about at all, and all of their back stories are expanded, so it's slow going. I have a feeling I'll love FF on DVD, but for now, we only have the slow-paced episodes. I just hope James will have some killer dialogue and great scenes that won't feel like watching paint dry. (Well, at least watching him and his subtle expressions is still interesting, no matter what's in the scene.)

Poll-wise, people seem pretty unanimous that they will watch James' episodes only, if a show he appears on is not something they'd otherwise watch. In fact, 100 % voted for that. I must admit I did peek at Eureka season one, but felt no need to watch the entire show, because it's apparently more of a sitcom type thing, not really a story with a plot you must follow. So I'm one of the "just watch his episodes" fans. You don't have to be a fan of the show to enjoy James' episodes. I hope.

I was looking through the archives, and looks like I have an anniversary coming up - one year of obsessing over James+donuts! I expected it to go away but, um, it hasn't really. It's been a juicy year. Mmmmm, donut gut. (L)!

A softer side of James. All cuddly and sweet. Plus: Tricia. I'm not sure which one turns me on more. *drool*

Speaking of James' physique - some people apparently felt uncomfortable with the James' body poll, so I've removed it. Let me know if I sound annoyingly objectifying or disrespectful or whatever. I probably wouldn't enjoy a poll asking ppl if they prefer me muscular, chubby or skinny, and maybe James wouldn't feel very good about it either. Sorry, James. It wasn't a serious thing for me. I love you just as you are (and also chubbier).

It's becoming harder and harder to google anything James-related, because there is a shocking amount of spam. I don't get it. Is it because people are googling James so much right now? Or because some spambots are creating spam based on your search? "James Callis shirtless" amuses me, but the day it turns up "james callis donut porn james callis donut eating contest james callis donut gut james dunkin donuts" type stuff, I will freak out. And can I just, once again, frown upon the "james callis alexander siddig" crap. People, they look nothing alike. Nothing at all. I do not see the resemblance, and I've spent a fair amount of time staring at James Callis pictures. I have nothing against Mr Siddig, but every time his face turns up in a James search, I get a bit annoyed with him. I wonder if Siddig fans feel the same way about James, coming to think of it.

That's about it for now. More James news hopefully soon.

Comic Timing Essential

M found this intriguing casting call for FlashForward, episode 17:

[GABRIEL MCDOW] Late 40s, Male, Race Neutral. Odd, quirky, a bit socially awkward. Highly intelligent, he seeks out a stranger who he’s convinced can help him and won’t take no for an answer. Comic timing essential...GUEST STAR. RECURRING

That sounds like a great role. A bit older than James - I thought he didn't want to play late 40's? - but right up his ally: intelligent, comic timing, quirky, and somewhat mysterious. Great! I'm really looking forward to this.

(does "race neutral" mean he can be any race, or that he must be white? It doesn't specify if he's American or British or whatever - one character is specified as "Latin, no accent". I didn't know they were that particular.)

A couple of amusing points in the casting call:

[DOUCHEY GUY] 30s, open to all ethnicities. Drives a Cadlilac Escalade with thumping bass. Lost in his own world, he talks on a cell phone, his own self-importance distracting him from some major action happening right in front of him...CO-STAR

It's a pretty detailed description, yet he doesn't even have a name! "Douchey guy"! Hee.

[RUBY] 17, drama student, histrionic, a real diva. Attractive in an off-beat, artsy way. Girlfriend of a band member...One line

A name, all that detail and... one line? It reminds me of that sketch in Goodness Gracious Me where the Indian woman goes for an audition, the casting director gives her all this jazz about who her character is, including "can you try a Scottish accent?" and then she auditions with "arrrrghhhhh" and that's her only line.

I suppose James has auditioned for things like "Douchey guy" in the past. Now he's doing the recurring co-star roles. It's kind of touching to see his career move upward like this - I know, I've only been around for a short time, but still. I'm proud of him and glad I joined at a time when he's doing so many roles. Maybe in a few years' time, he'll have his own show?

Fan Guide to: FlashForward

I know some fans are planning to watch only the James-relevant episodes of FlashForward. However, that might get confusing, so here's a little guide to things you MUST know about the show to get what the frak is going on.

Edit: If you want to see a somewhat more detailed article, read here. However, I must warn you that there is a woeful lack of CAPS compared to mine...

The Most Essential Stuff

-There was a big BLACKOUT during which EVERY PERSON in the world LOST CONSCIOUSNESS. They all had a "FLASHFORWARD" which means they saw a flash of their own future.

-Everyone saw the same moment of the same day, and the visions match. (For example, if you saw yourself with someone, that person also saw you.) Nobody knows WHY this happened, and whether people can CHANGE their future or if it's set in stone.

-The FBI starts to INVESTIGATE the issue. The investigation is very painstaking, slow, and frustrating. Also for the viewers.

-The main characters are FBI investigator MARK and his wife OLIVIA. Mark is in charge of "Mosaic", the investigation of the blackouts. Olivia is a doctor. James' character will meet her first, so pay attention. Olivia looks like this.

-James' character is called GABRIEL MCDOW and he has had MULTIPLE FLASHFORWARDS, which is unheard of.

-Two people were AWAKE during the flashbacks, but nobody knows who they are. There's blurry video footage of one of them, known as SUSPECT ZERO.

-In her flashforward, Olivia saw herself in love with another man, the amusingly-named LLOYD SIMCOE. They hadn't met before the blackouts. Lloyd is British. He has an autistic son Olivia has been treating. He also believes he is somehow RESPONSIBLE for the blackouts, but this has not yet been explained. Olivia wants to save her marriage and not fall for Lloyd, but it's not going very well.

-Mark's flashforward had him investigating the case, and the clues from the vision keep showing up in the present. Also, he was talking on the phone with Lloyd, saying there will be ANOTHER BLACKOUT. Dun dun dun!

-Mark doesn't care about THE RULES and that's why he is SUSPENDED from the FBI. (He's also BROODING and ANGSTY, so what else is NEW?)

-There are lots of DRAMATIC CLOSE UPS and CLIFFHANGERS at the ends of episodes.

More Details Which May or May Not Matter for James' Character

-Mark, a recovering alcoholic, saw himself DRINKING in his vision. Oh yeah, and he was about to be killed, but the drinking has been more of an issue.

-Mark's AA sponsor AARON saw his dead soldier daughter alive in the flashforward. Then the daughter TRACEY showed up at his house, asking for protection. She's being chased by some organization. Aaron is also in DANGER.

-Lloyd has a buddy called SIMON who comes from England to be sarcastic and threaten him. Simon doesn't like the fact that Lloyd told people about their experiment. Simon is a doctor.

-Mark's work partner AGENT NOH didn't have a flashforward. He later found out he will be KILLED soon, and is trying to figure out the murder. Then they find out Mark is the one who's going to KILL him. Uh oh.

-Mark and Olivia have a daughter called CHARLIE. Her flashforward was "no more good days", but this hasn't been explained. Charlie recognized DYLAN, Lloyd's son, when she saw her at the hospital. Dylan, the autistic boy, is so far NOT PSYCHIC or anything.

-There is also a lesbian agent called JANIS who saw herself PREGNANT in the flashforward and an intern called BRYCE who has stage 4 CANCER and was going to kill himself, but decided to live because he saw a mysterious Asian woman in his vision. (Logically enough, Janis is looking into SPERM DONORS adn Bryce took a trip to ASIA.)

I think that's about the most important stuff. I'll edit with any new details, so people can KEEP UP. (Sorry about the CAPS but once you start talking like THIS, it's very hard to STOP.)

James On FlashForward: Update!

Oo, exciting! Sonya Walger, who plays Olivia on FlashForward, tells us a little about James' role in this link.

There's this man who's had multiple flashforwards. So he becomes a big part of unlocking what's happened, both in global terms and in terms of Olivia.

Ee, so exciting! I'm so glad they will have scenes together, because I love Sonya Walger.

In fact, it sounds like it could be one of the most important characters yet, so he will probably have scenes with all of the main cast. This could go anywhere at this point - hero? Villain? Mysterious stranger of unidentified role?

Something more here - they're obviously being very tight-lipped, but his character's name is Gabriel McDow. His scenes are being filmed now.

ETA: Crave Online reports that Gabriel is a "quirky scientist" who comes to Olivia for help.

We know the sort of psychological damage that comes from having just one flash-forward, what kind of problems - mental and otherwise - might emerge when you've had several.

That's really interesting. It also sounds like it might be a fun character, depending on what kind of "quirky". It doesn't sound like anything at all like a typical villain character. Great!

How could someone have multiple flash forwards? I'm really intrigued now.

James Callis to Join FlashForward!

I'm really excited about this. James will be joining ABC show FlashForward! And they specifically wanted to work with him from the start.

SciFi Wire article (interviewing the show's producer).

"When I watched Battlestar, every time he wasn't in a scene I couldn't wait for him to come back," said Borsiczky. "And I really wanted to have an opportunity to work with him. Honestly, since the show was ordered, we've been excited to work with him. And I so just cast him in our show. He's playing a big role in some of the final episodes this season, and it was for that very reason."

*beams* I'm so glad someone specifically wanted him onboard a big network show like this. Great exposure in the US, and a show I actually watch!

To be honest, I've been a bit bored with some of the FF episodes and characters and was about to abandon the show. But it's a fascinating premise, and who knows how the rest of the episodes turn out. Needless to say, I'm back on board and curious to see what kind of character James will play!

Look forward to more news on this as the previews come in.