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“Matt Smith has been named as the actor who will take over from David Tennant in Doctor Who – making him the youngest actor to take on the role. At 26, Smith is three years younger than Peter Davison when he signed up to play the fifth Doctor in 1981. Smith will first appear on TV screens as the 11th Doctor in 2010. ” [Link]

Video: Matt Smith talks about being cast as the new Doctor Who

“His replacement – the eleventh Doctor of the TV series – will be revealed in a Doctor Who Confidential programme on BBC One at 1735 on 3 January. The casting was confirmed over Christmas and filming for the 2010 series begins in the summer. ” [Link]

Next week Sci Fi Channel will run a BATTLESTAR GALACTICA marathon, showing almost every episode aired to date, from Monday March 31 through Friday April 4. The marathon seems to include everything except the Miniseries and the first two episodes of Season 1. [Link]

CBS has nuked “Jericho,” the low-rated post-Armageddon drama that was briefly brought back from the dead by fan demand. The network will air the season finale on Tuesday, one of two that was shot in the event either of a renewal or cancellation. “The March 25th episode of Jericho will be the series finale,” CBS said in a statement. “Without question, there are passionate viewers watching this program; we simply wish there were more. We thank an engaged and spirited fan base for keeping the show alive this long, and an outstanding team of producers, cast and crew that went through creative hoops to deliver a compelling, high quality second season. We have no regrets bringing the show back for a second try. We listened to our viewers, gave the series an opportunity to grow, and the producers put a great story on the screen. We’re proud of everyone’s efforts.” [Link]

Arthur C. Clarke, a visionary science fiction writer who won worldwide acclaim with more than 100 books on space, science and the future, died Wednesday in his adopted home of Sri Lanka, an aide said. He was 90. Clarke, who had battled debilitating post-polio syndrome since the 1960s and sometimes used a wheelchair, died at 1:30 a.m. after suffering breathing problems, aide Rohan De Silva said. [Link]