In case you missed the first episode of Salam Cafe — the new, very Aussie, very funny comedy panel and sketch show that debuted on SBS on Wednesday — you can now watch it on the SBS website. I’m guessing all future episodes will be published there as well.

The show is about the funny side of being a Muslim in Australia — which means there’s plenty of Muslim and Aussie humour — but is also about being a Muslim, particularly a young Muslim, in this day and age. Here’s what The Age had to say about it.

So, set your reminders for 10pm on Wednesdays on SBS and have a good laugh.

Want a deeper and most awesome analysis of the recent WGA strike? Read Matt Prager’s essay on Lawrence Lessig’s blog.

OMFG! Adobe Media Player has MacGyver, Twilight Zone, and Star Trek TOS episodes! And it’s not GeoIP locked!

I’m not sure what I was doing today when a snippet of the theme song to The Littlest Hobo floated into my head. Since I hadn’t really researched that show on the web before — even though it was one my favourite shows growing up — I did a quick search and found an incredibly comprehensive website on the show as well as a video of its opening titles:

Ah, brings back memories, that does.

Ah, the science fiction "babe". An elusive creature, if there ever was one — though that trend finally seems to be changing in film and on TV (thanks, Joss!).

Still, Flixster recently posted an article called ‘Science Fiction Film Babes Through Time‘ that lists five decades worth "babes" in order of "babe-itude". It’s a fun read. And though I don’t know a couple of the women listed there, in my opinion, their list is pretty accurate.

Tonight was the last episode of the ABC’s brilliant "small screen side show" television series called, er, ‘The Sideshow‘ (with Paul McDermott). In honour of that:

TV: better than science of philosophy
Better than religion or a charity
Better than being there
Sideshow-o-o-o-o-o
Sideshow-o-o-o-o-o
Sideshow-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

Of course, you’ll only get that if you’re a Sideshow fan.

Ah well. No more Paul McDermott, Claire Hooper, Tripod, Flacco, The Umbilical Brothers, the Threatening Bears, the band, and all the guests that came on the show.

In the words of Paul McDermott, "we’ll miss you like a junkie, when [you’re] gone."

Oh my god! As announced (well, sung) to us earlier tonight, they’re canceling the Sideshow!!! Only three more episodes to go!

YES!!! Joss Whedon, creator of the cult television shows Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, and Firefly – also one of my favourite television producers ever — is back with a new TV series called Dollhouse. The show stars Buffy veteran Eliza Dushku and will air on Fox. Oh, and instead of just asking for a pilot, Fox has gone ahead and approved the first seven episodes of the show. I am a happy, happy man today.

I am, of course, following the upcoming Star Trek movie (referred to as Star Trek XI since its final, official title hasn’t been released yet). It’s a prequel about Kirk, Spock, and the rest of the Enterprise bridge crew as they make their way through Starfleet Academy. As a result, they’ve had to re-cast all of the principal characters. They finalized that just recently and /Film (pronounced slash-film) recently posted a photo-shopped first-look of the crew on their site. The crew looks good so far. Here’s hoping the movie is a good one, too.

The New Humanist Magazine, in its latest issue, has published an excellent article that talks about the rise in popularity of the science fiction genre in television:

No one who likes television could in all conscience have missed Heroes, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Firefly, Angel, Battlestar Galactica, Lost or even, if you’re feeling patriotic, Dr. Who. Supernatural and extraterrestrial television has stopped being only for people who like to dress up with pointy ears, ideally at a convention with like-eared friends, and become the mainstream.

Natalie Haynes argues that sci-fi is becoming increasingly popular these days because programmes set in the real world are becoming increasingly limited in scope and because the nerds (like Joss Whedon) are becoming more powerful. She also talks about why science fiction fans are so loyal.

Anyway, it’s a great article and I highly recommend you read it.