X-Files
Australian Information Kiosk:
October 1999

Mitch Pileggi Goes Bush

X-Files star Mitch Pileggi will slip in to the country this week, and head off on a secret outback adventure.

No sinister FBI plot though - just a brief holiday before he heads back to Syndey to be a guest at the opening of Fox Studios Australia.

The man who plays Assistant Director Skinner in the hit sries has become one of it's most popular stars, with scores of internet sites devoted to him.

If you're keen to talk TV turkey with Skinner, keep Friday, November 12, clear.

Benelong hears that he will be signing videos and other X-Files paraphernalia at the Grace Brothers City store from 12.30pm.
Michael Idato

*** 'Harsh' lawsuit a reality

LOS ANGELES (UltimateTV.com)
- James Hudnall and Andrew Paquette, co-creators of the comic book concept on which the new FOX/Chris Carter sci-fi series "Harsh Realm" is based, are taking some harsh legal action. According to The New York Post, the duo is asking Harris Publications for more than $5 million in damages. They're claiming the publishers sold their comic book concept to Carter and FOX under a contract that took away most of their rights to the virtual reality-based series. Hudnall told sources at the Post, "Harris cut me out of the picture. They didn't allow me to have anything to do with the (Carter/FOX) deal. They got a credit for themselves, but they wouldn't give me any credit."

"Harsh Realm" centers around a soldier trapped in a military-like virtual reality; the original comic book concept, written by Hudnall and illustrated by Paquette, takes place in more of a fantasy world. Carter believes the new FOX sci-fi show is so different from Hudnall and Paquette's original comic books, that any resemblance to the initial concept is now gone. Neither Harris Publishing officials nor Fox would comment on the lawsuit at this time. Hudnall conceived and scripted "Harsh Realm" in 1988 and Harris published the six-book series in 1992. Carter and FOX scooped up the idea for "Harsh Realm" from Harris in 1996. Hudnall and Paquette have received royalties from the deal.

If you thought Tunguska was only an exotic name for an X-Files episode, then tune into this program to see what made Chris Carter so excited. At 7.16am on June 30, 1908, in the skies above the Siberian town of Tunguska, a gigantic fireball exploded. In the aftermath, 2000 sq km of forest caught fire and trees toppled like matchsticks. This fascinating program looks at efforts to determine whether a comet caused the devastation.

Gillian Anderson is looking forward to finally closing the case on The X-Files.

"Physically, psychologically, I don't think I could do another season," says the actress who plays sultry agent Dana Scully.

"I think it would be a mistake to draw it out. You want to go out with a modicum of respect."

Anderson has re-signed for another year, so it remains to be seen just how she plans to disappear from the show.

*** 8th season of 'X-Files' still up in the air

LOS ANGELES (UltimateTV.com) - The truth is out there. But what will it be? According to The New York Daily News, discussions of Chris Carter's sci-fi brainchild, "The X-Files" returning for an eighth season on FOX are already bubbling. But so far there are no definite answers. "There's a lot of talk about it right now," Carter told The New York Daily News. "I try to just keep my eye on the more important creative issues." Carter has implied that he would be interested in pursuing an eighth season for the popular alien-esque series, but he's also suggested that he would not continue without his two main stars - David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson - by his side.

"Sure we could come up with 22 stories," he said. "It's just a matter of doing it with David and Gillian on the show. This is a very good TV show for generating stories," Carter added. "It's one of those lucky, fortunate things that you come across all too infrequently, because good TV ideas are few and far between. I don't want to see this one end before its time, but I also would never want to force it into being if people didn't want to be here telling stories." Legal issues might swamp any hopes of the eighth go-around, though. Carter doesn't have a contract covering an eighth season, nor does Duchovny. Only Anderson's current contract covers a potential eighth run.

Excerpt from Yahoo news archives:
News Corp. plans "significant" changes in its online strategy, but it won't build a portal, according to the newly-announced head of its Digital Media effort, Jon Richmond.

Specifically, expanding News Corp.'s online entertainment options will be a high priority. Richmond said Web sites for Fox television programs like "The X-Files" and "The Simpsons" will likely undergo changes.

"There's a really vital market out there, in particular for entertainment content. We'll be doing lots of work in enhanced television," Richmond said.
Jennifer Mack

Vanessa Williams has edged out David Duchovny and actor Fairuza Balk in a vote for the Sexiest Green-Eyed Celebrity of the 20th Century. Others who attracted votes were Michelle Pfeiffer, Claire Danes and Tyra Banks.