A wild Bruce Campbell at "Burn Notice," creators drinking shots at the "Caprica" panel and the epic dual delight of Joss Whedon and J.J. Abrams gracing the stage. Over at Hero Complex, they're blowing out the Comic-Con coverage and have some television tidbits worth mentioning.

The "Caprica" panel, moderated by Hero Complex's very own Geoff Boucher, dealt with themes of religion, polygamous marriage and what it meant to be human — all of which were represented in some fashion on the series — with panelists including executive producer David Eick and executive producer and creator Ronald Moore and actors Alessandra Torresani, Sasha Roiz, James Marsters and Magda Apanowicz. Marsters, who received a huge ovation, stopped to chat.

Of course, the deep conversation might have been helped by the fact that Eick and Moore opted to do a couple of shots from what appeared to be a bottle of tequila to kick off the festivities. (Sure, it's early in San Diego, but it's got to be after 6 o'clock on Tauron.)

The first session, which was moderated by series co-creator Robert Cooper, included actors Robert Carlyle, Alaina Huffman, David Blue and Ming-Na. Blue fielded the most questions from the Comic-Con crowd — probably because he was so much like his character, Eli, who was a lot like attendees themselves: a gamer, a fan of genre movies and TV and prone to making ironic pop-culture references.

"There are probably 8 million Elis running around here," said Blue, who acknowledged that he, too, was a big gaming aficionado. "I wish I had more time to play, but I don't want to die," said Blue, a pleading statement directed at Cooper.

"Stargate Universe" will return in January, though it's unclear when new episodes of "Caprica" will make their way to Syfy. As David Eick said, "The network did pick up a third season. We're just still working on the second."

Read more at the Hero Complex

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Joss and J.J. - Two great tastes that taste great together

There may not be two bigger heroes for many of the Comic-Con faithful than Joss Whedon and J.J. Abrams.

The mood was set for most of the crowd as songs from "Buffy the Vampire Slayer's" musical episode and "Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog" played over the Hall H loudspeakers. The announcer rattled off a list of the duo's separate accomplishments, each cheered to varying degrees, but the loudest roar came when Whedon and Abrams walked out to a packed house as part of Entertainment Weekly's "Visionaries" series, answering a variety of questions from the audience and from moderator Jeff "Doc" Jensen.

The pair first met when Whedon was doing "Buffy" and Abrams was working on "Felicity" at the WB. A mutual admiration and respect was apparent, and as they answered questions, you could see their differing styles, their similarities and their defense and championing of the freedom to tell your own story.

Read more at Hero Complex.

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"Burn Notice's" Bruce Campbell: I'm sexy? You're paid ... now where's my TV movie

When Bruce Campbell hands out money from the stage -- in return for compliments from the audience on his sexiness -- you know the Comic-Con "Burn Notice" panel is going well.

That was the case as the "Burn Notice" squad -- including Campbell, director-actor Tim Matheson, executive producer and writer Alfredo Barrios Jr. and series creator Matt Nix -- took the stage in Ballroom 20. Moderated by Chris Vance, who played the villain Gilroy in the show, the panel was lively, mostly spurred on by Campbell's antics.

Breaking news: A "Burn Notice" executive came out on stage to announce that Campbell would be starring in a TV movie that would explore the life of his character, Sam Axe, before he retired, including his time in the military. It was an exclusive because, Nix explained, "We didn't know if we'd even be announcing it an hour ago."

Read more at Hero Complex

-- Jevon Phillips

Complete Comic-Con coverage

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Those of us who watch Syfy a lot are kind of used to the network's midseason shenanigans, but hopefully it's not 2011 when we next hear from the cast of "Caprica" -- because it has hooked many of us. We were worried about the "soap opera" pronouncements. Will it be "As the World(s) Turn"? Will it stay true to what we all know (which is to say not much) to be the historical accounts of "Battlestar Galactica"?  And, put simply, will it be as good? Not as many slow, dramatic zoom-ins, but it has soap opera qualities. With "BSG's" creators driving it, history should be no problem. And as for the whole comparison thing ... it's a very different show, but a good one nonetheless.

In this "End of Line" episode, these are the midseason cliffhangers and tie-ups: Robo Zoe finally escapes the lab after killing Philomon accidentally (probably?) when they decide to erase her chip. Joseph Adama, abusing the Amp drug, finds Tamara, and she says for him to stop looking for her -- then kicks him out of V World permanently. Lacy pretty much joins the STO by pressing a button to kill Sister Clarice. Sister Clarice escapes death because she got out of the car to look at an over-the-edge Amanda Graystone, who's about to commit suicide on a bridge. She's been pushed to suicide because she confronted Daniel Graystone earlier about his theft of the MCP chip and the resultant deaths of two men. He doesn't say yes or no, and earlier in the day decided to sell his beloved C Bucs pyramid franchise to get money for his company. Intercut throughout all of this action, Robo Zoe is on the run in a truck, being pursued by airborne law enforcement. In the end, she crashes the car and it blows up.

The Associated Press had a little sit-down with "Caprica" Executive Producer David Eick and writer/co-creator Ron Moore to discuss the mid-season finale and the evolution of some of the show's characters.

It's interesting to note that Lacy Rand will be more active in the STO. I'm wondering if it's all just to make sure that she gets robo-Zoe to Gemenon: Will she be following a love interest or will there really be a shift in her core beliefs? And the tidbit on Sister Clarice becoming a more physical player over the metaphysical displays that she's shown so far is not surprising, but it is a welcome change. I think we need to see the ugly side of the STO (discounting the train bombing in the beginning).

Just a little something to look forward to.

-- Jevon Phillips

RECENT AND RELATED

- A chat with Ron Moore about the sci-fi soap opera
- David Eick and the history of Caprica
- Magda Apanowicz's Lacy Rand may be the heart of the show
- The music of the master, Bear McCreary
- Talking to Alessandra Torresani about the birth of the Cylons

Dads and the mildly morbid pursuit of their dead daughters' cyber representations is the theme for this "Ghost in the Machine" episode of "Caprica." And although one father is grounded firmly in the tangible, the other is losing himself to a virtual world that he barely understands.

Let's start in Caprican reality. Jumping off from last week's "The Imperfections of Memory" episode, Daniel Graystone's internal inquiries into robo-Zoe finally reach an engagement point. Meaning, he finally starts talking directly to Zoe in the robot body, despite her silence. We were all wondering when or if he'd ever figure it out, but he's a smart guy. Maybe too smart. His psychological probing of what, by sight, is a robot is ... smart, but as we see from Zoe's reaction while talking to Lacy in V World, it could be dangerous to try to rile up the emotions of a teenage girl in a powerful robotic body. "I just wanted to snap him." And she could.

Plans are crystallizing on "Caprica," but the results probably won't be what the planners originally intended as Zoe and Daniel Graystone, Sister Clarice Willow, Lacy Rand and Joseph Adama continue on their single-minded journeys in "The Imperfections of Memory."

Let's go alphabetically. Now we can say that Amanda Graystone is certifiable, and mean it literally. She was in a convalescent home for 2-1/2 years because she "was having trouble coping with reality." She lost her brother, Darius, and now losing Zoe might be making the crazy resurface as she chases down what appear to be ghosts in both her dreams and in reality. And all of this is playing right into Clarice's hands. Now, though, it's not just about stealing the secrets to avatar Zoe, but about befriending and picking the brain of the mother of the doorway to "life everlasting." Drinking and doing drug stuff and evangelizing together ("Which god do I trust?") ... and do you think Clarice switched the pills that the downward-spiraling Amanda is taking? Hmm.

An intriguing foil has been put into play on "Caprica" with the addition of Tomas Vergis, a Tauron business rival of Daniel Graystone's who has now become a personal foe. The ethical implications of his war with Daniel might actually split some viewers, but we'll get to that. 

Sometimes, that's the problem with having so many storylines going: Your favorite, or even the ones you think are strongest, can't be followed every week. I really like NBC's "Heroes," and that's one of the show's downfalls. We were treated to a taste of V World last week, and got to know a lot more about Tamara Adama -- yet this week nothing.  Not a complaint, just an observation. The introduction of Vergis, with his wealth and commitment to his goals, will probably present some interesting twists. Daniel's guilt about the two men killed in the theft of the mcp technology from Vergis is manifesting as those bloody stabbing nightmares, and will probably get to him sooner rather than later.

Joseph Adama, who was trying to put a tragedy behind him, is now about to throw himself fully into V World as Tamara's avatar's existence is dangled in front of him. More on that in later episodes because right now, he has to worry about Vergis as well. A Tauron stealing from a Tauron, which would be the case since he got his bro Sam to take the mcp, seems like it will be problematic in many ways. Sam denies any wrongdoing, but do we trust him?

"Caprica" really is a soap opera, and the "There is Another Sky" episode displays that genre's multiple-plot format really well. Just as viewers started to believe that the plight of Zoe Graystone and Lacy Rand was probably the central and most interesting storyline, in steps a few more pretty good side plots that include Tamara Adama (portrayed ably by Genevieve Buechner) -- the indestructible avatar -- and her adventures through the looking glass of V World.

Tamara the Terminator is sent on a mission to New Cap City, another section of V World, by Vesta, a not-on-the-right-side-of-the-tracks game player, to take out another powerful game player. If she completes this favor, Vesta says she will help Tamara be restored outside of V World. The intrigue, suspense and action of this plot is interrupted by ...

Joseph and Willie Adama. A father trying to reconnect to a son that has been distant since, and probably before, his mother and sister were killed. Uncle Sam is kind of the nexus for both father and son: a connection to a father figure and family for Willie, and a connection to the past, family and tradition for Joseph. There's anger, resentment and a deep-seated need from both father and son to get back to their cultural Tauron roots. Family drama, and just as the kid lashes out ...

In the "Gravedancing" episode of "Caprica," Mrs. Graystone continues to do infuriating things, Sam Adama continues his menace, law enforcement continues moving in and Lacy Rand continues on the path to Gemenon.

Law enforcement officials, specifically Agent Durham, are working a couple of different angles in trying to expose the STO organization. Zoe Graystone may be a major figure in the bombing, but Durham seems fixated on getting into her life and the lives of the Graystones. Durham may only want the truth, but we can't be completely sure yet. On another front, Durham was given permission to search the student lockers at the school. They found nothing, because Sister Clarice received a mysterious tip that the raid was going to happen and was able to get a quick warning to those affected. Conspiracy theory No. 1: I think the mole/informant is Durham's boss.

Durham believes that the school is also a front for STO activity, and he's right. Lacy Rand has hooked on to Keon and will not let go until he helps her find a way to Gemenon with Zoe. This storyline is worth watching as Lacy gets deeper into the organization for her friends' sake.

Instead of the normal full recap of "Caprica," we'll have an abbreviated one and get right to a Q&A with "Caprica" co-creator Ron Moore -- who you'd probably rather hear from anyway.

In this "Reins of a Waterfall" episode, one of the big things we and Daniel hoped to get was an explanation of why oh why Amanda Graystone would blurt out that her daughter was a terrorist in front of the world. No such luck -- apparently "it just came out." We understand emotional, even slightly irrational characters, but that's just downright self-destructive. But hey, it will heighten the tension.

Zoe has figured out a way to "live" in the avatar world, and she and Lacy find Tamara Adama -- then promptly lose her. As they pursue getting to Gemenon and sister Clarice pursues them (Zoe as a savior and Lacy as ... a wife?), this may turn out to be one of the more compelling plotlines to follow.

Those crazy Adamas. Another nugget of wisdom from uncle Sam: You should always go to school!  Wait until they call attendance, THEN skip out. Love how Willie's being influenced.  And Joseph ... with trouble at work and a continued obsession over his daughter's avatar, he finally goes a bit over the line when he sends Sam to take out Amanda Graystone after he and Daniel fail to find Tamara.  And I don't mean on a date.

Those were the high points; now on to Mr. Moore.

With the way the adults are influencing the kids on "Caprica," it's easy to see why there's an escape like the virtual club scene V World, or such a desire to live under a different set of rules (even down to religion).

The big event in this episode of "Caprica" was Amanda Graystone's weirdly cathartic (for her, I guess) blurting out that her daughter Zoe was a member of the STO, was a terrorist, may have bombed the train that everyone was there memorializing loved ones over, and (gasp!) had a boyfriend that she didn't know about.

Her husband, Daniel, and the rest of us, asked her why did she do that, and she replied that she didn't know, that it just came out. Um, no. The speech was too long to just "come out" -- it was a crazy rant by a grieving mother who .. aww, I don't know. To out your dead daughter and spotlight your family in such a public forum? As of now, I'm on Zoe's side in the mother-daughter conflict.

Problem child #1: Speaking of Zoe ... her poor avatar! We've yet to explore how emotions or even an emotional level are transferred via avatar, but she should be scarred. Locked in a van and transported, poked and prodded with foreign-looking instruments, having your mom call you a monster, having to see your parents make out (have sex even?) in front of you -- and then thinking that you look like a boy robot. That's a lot to take in for Zoe, who is still getting used to her robot body. Well, at least she has direction: She needs to get to Gemenon to find her "family". What happens when she does will be a hoot.