Beginning July 2009, the Sci-Fi Channel will be known as Syfy, in an effort to re-brand the network and expand their genre base. According to Sci-Fi Channel (forgive me, Syfy) president Dave Howe, “Without abandoning our legacy or our core audience, we needed to cultivate a distinct point of view with a name that we could own that invites more people in and recognizes our broader range of programming with literally something for everyone [...] Syfy allows us to build on our 16-year heritage of success with a new brand built on the power that fuels our genre: the imagination.” Continue Reading

A panicked stampede resulted in arrests and injuries at an open casting call for America’s Next Top Model, Cycle 13 in New York City Saturday afternoon. The popular CW reality show recently announced cycle 13’s cast would include only girls 5′ 7″ and under - a great opportunity for shorter models often overlooked because of their “unfashionable” height. Hundreds lined up along West 55th St. for their chance to be on the show and compete for a contract with Covergirl Cosmetics.

According to reports, the girls stood for hours and were denied food and bathroom breaks. They were told if they left the line, they would not be allowed to return and audition.

Disaster ensued, reportedly, after someone from the crowd yelled an overheated car nearby was going to explode. “Everyone got thrown everywhere,” Annina Manttari, 23, told the New York Times . “People were getting run over.” Following the incident, producers departed and the girls were told to leave.