Katee Sackhoff

When the directors of Sci-Fi Channel's re-imagined "Battlestar Galactica" held an open casting call for the role of Lt. Kara "Starbuck" Thrace, they were looking for a mid-30s actress with a tough military demeanor. But it was Katee Sackhoff, then in her early 20s, who won the part with her high heels and persistence. "Everyone scoffed at the idea of Starbuck in high heels," Sackhoff said, looking back on the role, originally for a 2003 miniseries that became a series in January 2005.

"Lost's" creators had a problem: Hurley wasn't losing weight. He was one of several characters stranded on a remote island, none of whom were getting much skinnier (or rumpled, for that matter) — but fans had honed in and were asking executive producers Carlton Cuse and Damon Lindelof why Hurley was still so burly. "So we wrote into the show that he had a cache of food, including a hidden 5-pound tub of Dharma ranch dressing," Cuse says. Television series were once a story being told to a passively receptive audience, but recently they've evolved into more of a conversation.

Some of this summer's biggest movies feature motorcycles in supporting roles. There's a Harley-Davidson in "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull," an MV Agusta in "The Dark Knight," and multiple customs in the late-summer biker flick "Hell Ride," presented by Quentin Tarantino. While the two-wheel vehicles are all different, the riders are mostly the same. They're men. One in 10 motorcyclists is a woman, but that statistic is rarely reflected on screens big or small.

When the directors of Sci-Fi Channel's re-imagined "Battlestar Galactica" held an open casting call for the role of Lt. Kara "Starbuck" Thrace, they were looking for a mid-30s actress with a tough military demeanor. But it was Katee Sackhoff, then in her early 20s, who won the part with her high heels and persistence. "Everyone scoffed at the idea of Starbuck in high heels," Sackhoff said, looking back on the role, originally for a 2003 miniseries that became a series in January 2005.

Over the summer, Katee Sackhoff, who plays Kara "Starbuck" Thrace on "Battlestar Galactica," received a nerve-racking phone call from Ronald D. Moore and David Eick, the show's executive producers. "David and Ron said, 'We want to start this phone call out by saying that we love you,' " Sackhoff recalled last week. Sackhoff knew she might not like what came next. And she didn't. "They said, 'You're not really gonna die -- but we're gonna blow you up.'

Starbuck is alive. She could be a Cylon. But wait, there's more! Four other Cylons have awakened aboard "Battlestar Galactica," and the humans look stunned in more ways than one. Among the now-aware robots, a mechanical race that appears human but is actually set on destroying the species, are presidential aide Tory (Rekha Sharma) and Galactica's second-in-command, Saul Tigh (Michael Hogan). Then again, the four could be the key to peace between the toasters and the humans.

Leave it to George Lucas to dictate style in space. On the first day of filming "Star Wars" -- as Carrie Fisher writes in her new book, "Wishful Drinking" -- the director told her that she couldn't wear a bra under her white Princess Leia dress because it would strangle her in zero gravity. Hmmm. No doubt, a little jiggle didn't hurt in a galaxy far, far away, either. In fact, it would seem that undergarments have no place in most science fiction movies.

"Lost's" creators had a problem: Hurley wasn't losing weight. He was one of several characters stranded on a remote island, none of whom were getting much skinnier (or rumpled, for that matter) — but fans had honed in and were asking executive producers Carlton Cuse and Damon Lindelof why Hurley was still so burly. "So we wrote into the show that he had a cache of food, including a hidden 5-pound tub of Dharma ranch dressing," Cuse says. Television series were once a story being told to a passively receptive audience, but recently they've evolved into more of a conversation.

A roundup of this morning's arts and entertainment headlines: Elvis Presley's doctor claims the king died from chronic constipation. Eat your fiber! (Fox News) The official site for J.J. Abrams' "Super 8" has launched. (Official site) Meanwhile, the much-buzzed-about trailer has leaked. (Movie Viral) Gustavo Dudamel pulled a neck muscle Thursday night while conducting the L.A. Philharmonic. (Los Angeles Times) The long-bickering actors unions are considering merging.

Are we allowed to mention how lovely and good-spirited a new TV actress seems? We hope so, because we want to say this about NBC's "Bionic Woman," Michelle Ryan. She thoroughly impressed us during the show's panel to promote what NBC is hoping will be a big hit. Ryan appeared at the Television Critics' Assn. gathering in Beverly Hills with the show's producers and fellow cast members Miguel Ferrer, Will Yun Lee and Chris Bowers.

Leave it to George Lucas to dictate style in space. On the first day of filming "Star Wars" -- as Carrie Fisher writes in her new book, "Wishful Drinking" -- the director told her that she couldn't wear a bra under her white Princess Leia dress because it would strangle her in zero gravity. Hmmm. No doubt, a little jiggle didn't hurt in a galaxy far, far away, either. In fact, it would seem that undergarments have no place in most science fiction movies.

Some of this summer's biggest movies feature motorcycles in supporting roles. There's a Harley-Davidson in "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull," an MV Agusta in "The Dark Knight," and multiple customs in the late-summer biker flick "Hell Ride," presented by Quentin Tarantino. While the two-wheel vehicles are all different, the riders are mostly the same. They're men. One in 10 motorcyclists is a woman, but that statistic is rarely reflected on screens big or small.

Over the summer, Katee Sackhoff, who plays Kara "Starbuck" Thrace on "Battlestar Galactica," received a nerve-racking phone call from Ronald D. Moore and David Eick, the show's executive producers. "David and Ron said, 'We want to start this phone call out by saying that we love you,' " Sackhoff recalled last week. Sackhoff knew she might not like what came next. And she didn't. "They said, 'You're not really gonna die -- but we're gonna blow you up.'

Starbuck is alive. She could be a Cylon. But wait, there's more! Four other Cylons have awakened aboard "Battlestar Galactica," and the humans look stunned in more ways than one. Among the now-aware robots, a mechanical race that appears human but is actually set on destroying the species, are presidential aide Tory (Rekha Sharma) and Galactica's second-in-command, Saul Tigh (Michael Hogan). Then again, the four could be the key to peace between the toasters and the humans.

It's a healthy sign when a series as deeply intelligent and entertaining as "The Education of Max Bickford" gets on the air. If the CBS premiere is no fluke, this is one of TV's true quality dramas, arrogant and cranky history professor Bickford striking a different note entirely from the sacrificing high school music teacher Richard Dreyfuss played in the fuzzy "Mr. Holland's Opus."

From "MASH" to "St. Elsewhere" to "The Sopranos" to "Seinfeld," all long-running television shows become myths at some point or another, reflecting, within the confines of their own universes, the disparate nature of human experience. Yes, they're entertaining, but to keep an audience committed year after year, a show must offer enlightenment, even if it's just the recognition that the corruptible nature of power extends to the Soup Nazi.