New series are popping up on television and have surpassed ratings that many thought would not do well. Dead Zone is getting high ratings and Farscape is back for yet one more season. Firefly, John Doe, Birds of Prey are all new and SCI FI Channel's original miniseries, Steven Spielberg Presents "Taken" , was put on the list for best miniseries, the channel's first Golden Globe nomination.

Upcoming productions should give us even more to view in the upcoming months:

Dragon Fighter (Premieres Thursday, Jan. 4, at 9PM ET/PT). Helicopter gunships fight a geneticallly modified dragon. This mythical beast is a very realistic depiction starring Dean Cain of Superman fame.

Control Factor (Premieres Thursday, Jan. 18, at 9PM ET/PT) is a paranoiac thriller about government mind-control and everyday citizens out to stop it.

IF2: Interceptor Force 2 (Encores Sunday, Dec. 8 at midnight ET/PT (early Monday) and Saturday, Jan. 25 at 7PM & 1AM ET/PT). This elite team has to battle a alien capable of shapeshifting which is out to blow up a nuclear facility.

Look for Frank Herbert's Children of Dune (Premieres in March of 2003, only on SCI FI). This long awaited miniseries sequel will continue the saga of Arrakis.

Tremors: The Series (Coming in 2003). The wildlife is really wilder than wild. Based on the movie trilogy.

Riverworld (2-hour pilot). Based on Philp Jose Farmers Hugo Award winning book where after life is explored and there is a place person from every era of humanity has been reborn young and healthy.

And finally, Quotes from George Lucas: "A special effect is a tool, a means of telling a story. A special effect without a story is a pretty boring thing."

"The sound and music are 50% of the entertainment in a movie"

"The script is what you've dreamed up-this is what it should be. The film is what you end up with."

"I am simply trying to struggle through life; trying to do God's bidding."