The folks at Channel Z - The Last TV Station join Dragon*ConTV to try and explain the niche genre of “time-traveling island polar bear smoke monster” television in their video Displaced. There’s drama, suspense, technobabble, water and polar bears … did we mention the polar bears?

When Brian Richardson of Loganville heard the news that a company will launch a line of “Star Trek” colognes soon (as reported March 26 in the AJC), his reaction was, “Wait a minute. Didn’t we already do that?” Indeed, Richardson and his friends did a hilarious video and showed it at DragonCon, the massive Atlanta sci-fi convention, back in 2005. They even used the exact name of one of the real colognes: Pon Farr, the Vulcan mating ritual. Whereas the new Pon Farr is real and costs $30 a bottle, Richardson came up with the same idea while “sitting around drinking and talking about ridiculous ideas with friends.” The fake ad, a spoof of Calvin Klein Obsession ads of years past, stars Jason Wyatt and Michele Levin as the sexy Vulcans.

Now that we’re part of the mainstream media, we expect to be attacked by Rush Limbaugh at any minute. Thanks AJC!

Prime example: when the Sci Fi Channel recently announced their SyFy rebranding, everyone started asking us what we thought of the idea.

Of course people are asking what we think … it’s obviously a bad marketing move. This rebranding is trying to expand the Sci Fi SyFy audience outside of the “nerd demographic,” but it will do little more than alienate the stations core viewing audience (assuming it has one beyond Battlestar Galactica & wrestling).

So it may surprise most readers that we here at Dragon*ConTV salute the move.

Yes, that’s right, we endorse the station’s latest stupid marketing move.

Of course, I shall explain.

In the past we have made hay from the lack of science fiction on the 21st century incarnation of the Sci Fi Channel. Even back in 2006 we saw the shift from “killer scifi shows” to “whatever NBC doesn’t want” … since then it’s been hard to make fun of them for staying that course.

But now … now there’s this new name. There’s all kinds of humor to be found in a name that’s designed to broaden their audience outside of nerd-fandom, but at the same time was picked because it’s easier to send via text message (no, I didn’t make that up, it’s based on a quote from the article).

For the general Sci Fi SyFy audience, it nothing but FAIL. But for comedy writers, and people at Dragon*ConTV that pretend to be comedy writers a few times a year, it’s pure single-malt 24 karat WIN! It’s like a comedy stimulus package that didn’t use taxpayer money … something that appeals to Libertarians and Firefly fans.

So keep up the bad marketing good work SyFy … just make all of your bad decisions in time for Dragon*Con 2009, because we need more ideas for videos.

In this case, it’s Pon Farr Cologne. We made this joke in 2005, but apparently it’s going to be a reality when the new Trek movie comes out later in 2009 …

DCTV fan “Lars” pointed out a story that’s been circulating on Huffington Post & Slice of SciFi about the movie tie-in. We really have no words to describe our feelings about this … it’s all quite terrible, especially since we’re not going to get paid for our astounding vision into this Trek-scented future.

The purpose of this survey is to gather demographic data about geek culture.  I will be collating the data into a presentation in order to introduce geekdom as a subculture to a masters class on intercultural communication.  There are 18 questions; the first 11 are standard demographic info; the rest are specific to geek culture.  None of the questions are mandatory, but I hope that you will answer them all.

Joyce wants to try to categorize the different aspects of the culture created by fans of sci-fi, fantasy, conventions and other flights of geek fancy. It’s an experiment, and we know how much our fans like science

http://www.rejoycing.com/survey.htm

Werewolf, written by Stephen Granade
Music: -Dark dreams- by Waterflame (http://www.newgrounds.com/audio/view.php?id=489978&sub=79250)

Waiting for Panels, written by Stephen Granade
Music: The Final Day by ParagonX9 (http://www.newgrounds.com/audio/view.php?id=198486&sub=3270)

Tongue, written by & featuring Stephen Granade
Music: yako emulator by kenny beltry (http://www.kahvi.org)

Son of Franchises, written by Stephen Granade
Music: grassy tussocks by kesaraporn duangsawan (ccMixter)

Slippery Slope, written by Stephen Granade
Music: soundcrack by tom bragl (http://www.kahvi.org)

Sing-Along Blog, written by Jessica Sheffield
Music: Nuclear Sunset (original mix) by JMD (http://www.toucanmusic.co.uk)

Seven Words. Written by Lissa Potter, Brian Richardson, and Stephen Granade
Music: Synchronization by Shinrog (http://www.newgrounds.com/audio/listen/139808)

Second Life, written by Brian Richardson
Music: Caustick Snake by Peptotrippin (http://www.newgrounds.com/audio/listen/121791)

Room Clearing, Written by Stephen Granade
Music: sts2 by Thomas Rothrock

Robot Evolution, written by Stephen Granade
Music: T3Tech94(8bit) by RaR-SpIdEy (http://www.newgrounds.com/audio/listen/112613)

Remakes by Stephen Granade
Music: Voyage to Pluto (Dreamworld remix) by Prism (http://www.toucanmusic.com/)

Partial Power, Written by Stephen Granade
Music: Da Funkin’ Blooboyz (ft. Arno Doxound) by Opium (ccMixter)

Panel Questions, Written by Stephen Granade
Music: Supernovae by Saelynh (http://www.jamendo.com/)

New Star Trek, Written by Brian Richardson
Music: Chaoz Fantasy by ParagonX9 (http://www.newgrounds.com/audio/view.php?id=198486&sub=85046)

Meal Plan, Written by Stephen Granade
Music: dislocation by SLLID

Making Friends #3, written Stephen Granade

M Night, Written by DCTV
Music: voiceless by tom bragl (http://www.kahvi.org)

Luggage Tetris, Written by Stephen Granade
Music: Memories of Thailand by Risey (http://www.toucanmusic.co.uk)

Lightsabers, Written by John Carroll
Music: As sweet as chocolate by xjordanx (http://www.newgrounds.com/audio/listen/110203)

Inflatable Slides, written by Stephen Granade
Music: Chaoz Impact by ParagonX9 (http://www.newgrounds.com/audio/listen/152047)

Half Races, written by Jason Wyatt
Music: lost city by coax (http://www.kahvi.org/)

Garfield, written by Stephen Granade
Music: Pulse (George Elinas remix) by George Elinas (ccMixter)

Football, Written by John Carroll
Music: Bleeding Heart by B0UNC3 (http://www.newgrounds.com/audio/view.php?id=1084370&sub=25112)

Everquest, Written by John Carroll
Music: 60’s eight bits color by Saelynh (http://www.jamendo.com/)

EFF, Written by Stephen Granade
Music: Borderline by Fantastic Vamps (ccMixter)

DnD 4ed, Written by Stephen Granade
Music: riding the rails by trogdar (http://www.newgrounds.com/audio/listen/108625)

Deep Hurting, Written by Stephen Granade
Music: I’m a Raver (D’nB) by ZeRo-BaSs (http://www.newgrounds.com/audio/listen/145231)