If you’re an Alphas like me, the show’s home network Syfy delivered some excellent news yesterday, September 7: the original series will definitely return for a second season next year.

Even better, the sophomore run will weigh in at 13 episodes (thus far), which equals two more installments than the current 11-episode first season contains.

The main reason Syfy has enough confidence to continue Alphas is the show’s ratings to date, of course. The network touts how the first season of Alphas has attracted more viewers in certain demographics than other popular basic-cable series, including Memphis Beat, The Killing, and Teen Wolf (all of which are on my Must See list, by the way).

It’s good to have another promising new TV series survive for an additional season. Now if only Syfy would pair the show with a more atmospherically compatible program like Haven instead of wacky dramedies like Warehouse 13. Alphas needed Warehouse 13‘s sizable following to get off on a good foot ratings-wise, but Haven and Alphas back-to-back would be so much more satisfying entertainment-wise.

Alphas viewers definitely have something to get excited about this week: the action drama’s new August 22 episode, “Catch and Release,” features longtime fan favorite Summer Glau. Doesn’t get much better than that on the small screen.

The former star of genre series such as Firefly, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, and Dollhouse plays Skylar during her appearance on the show. Yes, the character is another intriguing person with extra-special abilities, and yes, Team Alpha must protect her from the big, bad meanies.

Skylar’s phenomenal technological skills bring her to the attention of Agent Kathy Sullivan, who assigns Dr. Lee Rosen and his Alpha charges the difficult task of locating her before the wrong people people do. If they fail, Skylar could suffer great harm from those who want to access and control her unique inventions.

The episode gets down to business from the first scene as an ominous group of men in ninja-style black arrive at Skylar’s hideout to subdue her. Thankfully, she’s prepared, but that doesn’t mean she won’t need every bit of Team Alpha’s help to continue eluding the would-be capturers.

Although the episode focuses on Skylar’s urgent dilemma primarily, various subplots also deliver plenty of meaningful personal moments with the team members. My favorite scenes involve ace frequency reader Gary and his understandably protective mother Sandra. It’s always endearing — and entertaining — to watch the youngest and most vulnerable member of the group evolve into a tougher, more independent individual.

Sneak a tense peek at Glau and “Catch and Release” in the following video. The episode premieres at 10pm ET.

Syfy has built up a well-known reputation as the go-to outlet for lighter-weight original science fiction fare that often leans toward the cheesy and low-tech side, and sometimes the just plain bad side (more than a few of the network’s unintentionally amusing original movies spring immediately to mind, for example). Thankfully for viewers, however, Alphas, the latest series to join Syfy’s original lineup, is more promising than trivial, based on the 90-minute July 11 premiere. It also meshes well with good-time dramedies Eureka and Warehouse 13, which precede the newcomer on Monday nights this summer.

An action drama with crime and conspiracy elements, Alphas revolves around a group of Alphas — people with uncommon abilities — who complete urgent missions for the U.S. Department of Defense, or so we’re told. Psychiatrist and neurologist Dr. Lee Rosen (David Strathairn, The Bourne Ultimatum) leads the unit, which includes Ryan Cartwright (Bones) as frequency-reading human antenna Gary Bell; Azita Ghanizada (General Hospital: Night Shift) as Rachel Pizad, who can enhance her senses at will; Laura Mennell (Smallville) as hyper-influential Nina Theroux, who can force certain people to do whatever she tells them to; and Malik Yoba (New York Undercover) as exceptionally strong ex-FBI agent Bill Harken. Sure, none of the abilities seem mindblowing or all that hip, but they are special compared to the average human’s skill set.

The extended premiere introduces the members of Team Alpha right around the time they encounter their newest future colleague, former military sniper Cameron Hicks (Warren Christie, Happy Town). Troubled, estranged from his young son, and living the working-class life while employed at a grocery store, Hicks has extraordinary control of his muscular system, which enables him to do impressive stuff like shoot firearms and pitch baseballs with perfect aim from a great distance … when his mind doesn’t get in the way, that is.

This talent brings Hicks to the attention of another, shadier Alpha, who turns him into an unwitting puppet by hypnotizing him to commit murder in a seemingly impossible manner. And, of course, Hicks has no memory of the deed after it’s done, although the several witnesses certainly do. Enter Dr. Rosen and his not-so-merry band of Alphas, who initially set out to track down and capture Hicks, but end up making room for him on their team after he proves his worth when they need his expertise most.

The Alphas pilot almost lost me and my interest in the beginning as the episode presented the main characters in a series of uninspired, 30-second-ish vignettes designed to quickly acquaint viewers with them and their unique traits. The introductions are too rushed and simplistic, and the unique traits are nothing groundbreaking or captivating, as I already mentioned.

Yet, the outlook for Alphas improves considerably whenever Callum Keith Rennie (Battlestar Galactica) appears too briefly as Rosen’s contact Wilson — regrettably, he’s not a regular also — and whenever the show’s plot reveals its darker underside for a fleeting moment. The second selling point promises viewers more than just a repeated stream of catch-the-bad-dudes antics interspersed with periodic slices of mildly humorous chitchat as the season progresses.

Some might tune into Alphas for that very reason, though — the chance to be entertained with minimal effort or lasting effect. Mindless television works for me, as well, but I’m also going to watch to learn what the premiere’s villain meant when he informed Hicks, “You’re on the wrong side of this.” Could the members of Team Alpha be in for a rude awakening any day now? I can only hope, and the more malevolent the real deal is, the better.

Eager fans will finally get to enjoy the two-hour premiere of new TNT science-fiction drama Falling Skies at 9pm ET tonight, June 19.

The series stars ER veteran Noah Wyle as savvy and determined history professor Tom Mason. The father of three sons becomes an unwitting top dog in a small group of resistance fighters attempting to thwart the unknown plans of a mysterious and scary-looking bunch of invading aliens. His fellow fighters include Moon Bloodgood (Day Break) as compassionate pediatrician Anne Glass and Will Patton (The Agency) as intense resistance leader Weaver.

The first episode takes place some six months after the alien forces — thus far consisting of freaky spider-like creatures dubbed “skitters” and huge robot-like creatures known as “mechs” — have already destroyed much of Earth’s population. Their ruthless, out-of-nowhere takeover forces the few surviving people into a depressing existence dominated by a desolate physical environment, the stress of always impending doom, and perpetual fear of the invaders’ superior battle power, which includes the ability to control the unfortunate humans they capture. Yet, all is not completely lost, thanks to the spirit of the survivors and the bravery and resolve of the resistance fighters devoted to turning the situation around.

Viewers get to tag along as the resistance members do whatever they can and must to figure out exactly why the aliens have arrived and what they intend to do with the planet now that they are seemingly in command. We’ll gradually discover the ultimate goal of the intruders over the course of the ten episodes in the first season, learning new pieces of vital information as the resistance forces do.

Although the two-episode series premiere “Live and Learn” and “The Armory” may move a bit slowly as it relates essential details about the characters and their predicament, the plot picks up quite a bit during the June 26 third episode “Prisoner of War,” at which point the pieces of the story are clearer. Each episode of Falling Skies delivers numerous gripping alien-encounter scenes, however, in addition to lots of drama to help viewers understand the characters and care about their plight. As a result, it should appeal to both science-fiction fans and individuals who simply like TV shows with an intriguing narrative.

Falling Skies airs Sundays on TNT from June 19 to August 7. The series opens and closes its first season with two-hour episodes starting at 9pm, and the remaining six installments premiere at 10pm. Sneak a peek at what’s coming up in the preview below.

Am I ever a happy, happy TV watcher right now. Today, April 7, marks the day that Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, one of my absolute favorite prematurely canceled series, returns to the tube, albeit only in syndication.

Thank basic-cable network Syfy for this appreciated opportunity to catch the futuristic thriller again on the small screen. If you don’t know, the drama — which is based on the film franchise starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and Linda Hamilton — ran for two seasons on Fox before getting axed. It focuses on brooding teenager John Connor (Thomas Dekker, Heroes), his embattled mother Sarah Connor (Lena Headey, 300), and protective Terminator Cameron (Summer Glau, Firefly) as they attempt to prevent the destruction of all mankind by a bunch of super-powered robots.

Syfy will air the series on Thursdays, starting with the first two episodes at 9pm ET tonight. Subsequent weeks will feature four sequential, back-to-back episodes from 7–11pm, at least until Syfy decides to change the scheduling or yank the show all together, both common practices at the network for underwatched syndicated fare.

Check out the series trailer below if you plan to tune in, and remember to do so each week if you want Sarah Connor and her chronicles to hang around.

Television has been on the dull side for me this winter, so I’m more than thrilled that intriguing NBC sci-fi drama The Event — one of my favorite new fall series — will return to the tube in just a few short weeks on March 7. Yay!

To get fans amped up for the end of the show’s too-long hiatus, NBC has recently released a series of sneak peeks and promos for the upcoming action. Check out three tasty clips below and don’t forget to mark your calendar for the chiller’s two-hour, two-episode spring season premiere on Monday, March 7, from 8–10pm ET. Can’t wait.

And, yes, that’s talented Virginia Madsen (Monk, Smith) portraying Senator Catherine Lewis in the third video. Fabulous casting.

Tuesday, January 4, is a really big day for science-fiction fans, courtesy of ABC and Syfy. The first network will present the second-season premiere of the re-imagined V/alien lizard saga at 9pm ET, and the second will burn off the remaining five episodes in the first and only season of canceled Battlestar Galactica prequel Caprica.

The Great Caprica Burn-Off of 2011 will run nonstop from 6pm to 11 pm ET and will feature the previously unaired episodes “Blowback,” “Dirteaters,” “The Heavens Will Rise,” “Here Be Dragons,” and “Apotheosis.” Of course, the entire Caprica series is already out on DVD in two segments, 1.0 and 1.5. So, if you happen to miss the January 4 extravaganza on the tube, you can always catch up on DVD or perhaps even by watching at Hulu for a limited time. So long to another promising, prematurely axed show.

As for V, the entertaining creature-feature drama opens its 10-episode sophomore season with the ominously titled premiere “Red Rain.” The installment features the introduction of new recurring cast members Bret Harrison of Reaper and Jane Badler of the original V series.

Episode One of Season Two starts where the first-season finale ended. In the aftermath of pissed-off lizard queen Anna making the skies all red and whatnot, Erica and her fellow Fifth Column renegades attempt to prevent chaos, war and all manner of alien-related destruction. Bad for them, fantastic for us viewers.

Review what happened before and what’s coming up on V in the following two videos, then enjoy the sci-fi overload while you can.

It gives me great pleasure to note that smart basic-cable network Syfy has awarded goofy dramedy Warehouse 13 with a Season Three pickup.

The series, which just completed its enjoyable second season on September 21, will be back on the tube in 2011 with 13 fresh episodes.

Fans can thank the show’s awesome cast and crew, who helped Warehouse 13 earn strong average Nielsen ratings of about 3.4 million total viewers, in addition to lots of praise from both critics and audience members. As a result, the dramedy is presently Syfy’s top show of 2010 in terms of overall viewers. Well done!

If you’ve been yearning for more of Syfy’s Battlestar Galactica prequel Caprica, you don’t have to wait much longer. The series returns to complete its first season tonight, October 5, at 10pm ET, which is several months earlier than the January 2011 return the network announced back in July.

The first new fall episode is called “Unvanquished,” and it marks Caprica‘s move from Fridays to Tuesdays. While Daniel Graystone attempts to make his ambitious plans for a virtual afterlife a reality, Clarice Willow tries to get her leaders to stage a terrorist attack.

Interested viewers can enhance their midseason-premiere experience by participating in a live chat with actress Magda Apanowicz, who plays high school student Lacy Rand, at 8:45pm ET tonight. Just visit Syfy Connect for the discussion.

Meanwhile, sneak two peeks at “Unvanquished” below, and also review what happened during the first half of the current season in the third video. The series has nine new installments remaining in its 19-episode first season. A fresh episode of Stargate Universe called “Aftermath” precedes Caprica at 9pm.

Syfy dramedy Eureka heads on a midseason break after the September 10 summer finale called “I’ll Be Seeing You.”

When a project at Global Dynamics is stolen, Trevor becomes a prime suspect due to his recent disappearance. But, that’s not the worst thing that happens to the time traveler because Carter and Jo also discover he’s been hanging out, so to speak, with devious Beverly Barlowe. Oh, the many ways that plot can go when the series returns for the second part of its current fourth season.

A sneak peek at “I’ll Be Seeing You” follows, featuring Trevor and Beverly, who’s up to no good again.