MOBY March Madness

Outlanderland?

Is this every Outlander fan on the planet, or what?  Can't you just see us all...dressed in 18th century frocks and hanging out together at Pretend Lallybroch, eating bannocks and yelling at everyone...just like Jenny?!  Canna WAIT for Austenland...

Bronwen Lewis - Fields of Gold

Dear Outlander producers,

Please consider recording a song or two with Bronwen Lewis when looking for music for the upcoming Outlander series on Starz.  I don't watch The Voice, but was sent this by Mar_OFan today and wow.  After only one listen...just...wow.

Thanks!
Carol

MOP Chat - Master Raymond Discussion

Is it strange that I've
always pictured Master
Raymond as Paul Williams?  

Thanks to SWilliams for posting the following about the Master Raymond discussion from Monday's Outlander chat here on MOP:

For those of you on chat late last night when we were talking about Master Raymond and the blue light. Guess what I found in the FAQs on Diana's site? 

"Who/what is Master Raymond? What is his significance? (SPOILER)

Well, he’s a prehistoric time traveler. I think he came from somewhere about 400 BC or perhaps a bit earlier (not technically “prehistoric,” but they certainly weren’t using written records where he started out), and the 18th century is not his first stop.

He is–or was–a shaman, born with the ability to heal through empathy. He sees auras plainly; those with his power all have the blue light he has–born warriors, on the other hand, are red (so yes, “the red man” is iconic). He has a rather strong aversion to Vikings, owing to events that happened in his own time; hence his nervousness when he sees Jamie. He’s afraid of them, but he also realizes just what a strong life-force they have–that’s why he makes Claire invoke it (using the sexual and emotional link between her and Jamie) to heal her.

His descendants–a few of whom he meets now and then in his travels–have the blue light about them, too; in large degree or small, depending on their talents. So he knows Claire, when he sees her, as one of his great-great, etc. grand-daughters. And Gillian/Geillis is another–you notice she has Claire’s sense of plants, though she tends naturally to poison, rather than medicines.

We’ll see him again–though not in Jamie and Claire’s story, I don’t think. Master Raymond should get his own series of books, eventually. So in fact, we’ll see Claire, Jamie, and Geillis again, then– but as secondary characters in Master Raymond’s story (you recall, Geillis mentions having met “one other” (time-traveler) in Voyager, but doesn’t tell Claire who it is).

Heaven knows just when we’ll get to that–in about ten years, at this rate–but we will get to it. {grin}"

Outlander Chat TONIGHT!

Outlander Chat Tonight!  9PM Eastern!  See you there!

Carol and Tracey Dish on Tobias Menzies OUTLANDER Starz Casting

TOBIAS MENZIES to play Black Jack Randall AND Frank Randall in OUTLANDER on STARZ

Look at the expression on my face.
I think it's pretty obvious I can play
a complete douche with ease, no? 

WOW.  What a day.  Tobias Menzies of Game of Thrones fame will be playing both Black Jack Randall AND Frank Randall in Outlander on Starz next spring.

I first saw Tobias when he played Marcus Junius Brutus (Et tu, Brute?) on ROME on HBO.  He was fantastic.  He played the character as "a good kid"...but ultimately, as we all know, Brutus became a turncoat and caused the demise of Caesar.  (BEWARE THE IDES OF MARCH!)

I have also watched Tobias play Edmure Tully in Game of Thrones over the last year...and I'm not going to lie to you; I HATE HIM!!! (That's a Game of Thrones spoiler - beware!)

I know this is a man who can play both good - and evil; even on the same show.  Bottom line - if I already hate him...I can only assume I'll love him!

Wondering What STARZ Offers?

Dear Starz,  I love you.  Love, Carol

Holy Lord

Jamie Fraser.  Those rocks.  No one around.  Mmm Hmm...

My thanks to the talented Mark Appleton for the amazing visual.  :)

Hot Scots Drumline

Thanks so much to Jaymie for posting this on Twitter.  WHAT a treat!  I can't believe these guys are in high school!  I'd hire them in a second!

Claire? Where Are You, Girl?

Ron Moore at Comic-Con: Starz: "We Love the Books"

THIS is a fantastic Blastr interview with Ron Moore, taken at Comic-con 2013.  I near about fell off my chair when I read this commentary, direct from the man's mouth:

“We’re at pains to really follow the books,” he says to assure concerned readers. “One of the great things was Starz said to us early on was, 'We love the books, we think they are great so let's make the [show] for the people who love the books. Let’s make it for the fans of the books first and trust that anyone who doesn’t know the material will get swept along in the story like everyone else does.' Nobody ever says that,” Moore laughs. “Typically studios and networks just say, 'Yeah, we don’t really care about the book. We bought it for the cover or whatever…' and then dispense with it very early on [in the process]. This was the rare time when everybody said this is great material and we like the story and these characters so let’s try to get as close to the books as possible in the show and that’s what we are doing.”

Reminded me of my "Please do right by Jamie Fraser" letter from wayyy early on when we just found out about the series.  Something tells me he and Starz are going to do right by us fans.

Congratulations to Outlander's Sam Heughan - E! News HOTTIE OF THE WEEK

Let's Get Sam Heughan Voted as ENews Hottie of the Week on TWITTER

Let's get our new JAMMF, Sam Heughan, voted in as ENews's Hottie of the Week! Head to Twitter and tweet @enews and include the hashtag ‪#‎HottieoftheWeek‬ VOTE EARLY VOTE OFTEN--voting ends Friday! Spread the word!!!

Sam Heughan: Feast Thine Eyes. And Ears.

IT'S OFFICIAL: Sam Heughan Cast as Jamie Fraser in the Upcoming Outlander Series on Starz

The press release, direct from HERSELF, Diana Gabaldon:

IT’S OFFICIAL!

SAM HEUGHAN CAST AS JAMIE FRASER IN STARZ & SONY PICTURES TV’S “OUTLANDER”

New Original Series Based on Diana Gabaldon’s International Best-Selling Novels 

From “Battlestar Galactica” Executive Producer Ronald D. Moore

Beverly Hills, Calif., July 9, 2013 – Starz in association with Sony Pictures Television has announced today that Sam Heughan will play the role of Jamie Fraser in the original series “Outlander,” adapted from Diana Gabaldon’s international best-selling books, which will premiere on STARZ in 2014. The chivalrous young Scottish warrior, Jamie Fraser, has been adored worldwide by fans of the seven-book series that has sold more than 20 million copies and has graced the New York Times best-sellers list six times.

Diana Gabaldon said, “Oh. My. God. That man is a Scot to the bone and Jamie Fraser to the heart. Having seen Sam Heughan not just act, but be Jamie, I feel immensely grateful to the production team for their painstaking attention to the soul of the story and characters."

"From the very beginning, I knew the part of Jamie Fraser would be difficult to cast,” said Executive Producer Ronald D. Moore. “I had no one in mind for the part. I knew that someone would just come into the audition and be Jamie Fraser. And that's what Sam did." 

In “Outlander,” Jamie Fraser strikes up a passionate affair with Claire Randall, a married combat nurse from 1945 who is mysteriously swept back in time to 1743. Armed with sheer grit and enduring strength, he is a strapping young Scottish clan lord with a complicated past and a disarming sense of humor. He is intelligent, principled, and, by 18th century standards, educated and worldly, with a tenderness and compassion that stands out in contrast to his contemporaries. A natural leader of men, he has no political ambitions or desire for battlefield glories. Instead, he wishes to remove the price on his head and return to his family’s ancestral farm. 

Sam Heughan is a graduate of the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, he was a 2003 nominee for the Laurence Olivier Award for Most Promising Performance for his work in the program. Last year, he originated the role of Batman in the DC/Warner Brothers and Waterlane production of "Batman Live," an international tour which opened at the Staples Centre in Los Angeles and went on to tour in South America and throughout Europe. In 2010, he was nominated for a British Soap Award for “Villain of the Year” for his role as Scott Neilson in the BBC soap opera "Doctors." He has also had roles in a range of television series including, "River City," "Island at War," "The Wild West," "Midsomer Murders," and, most recently, "Any Human Heart" as Lieutenant McStay. His TV movie credits include, "Breaking the Mould" for BBC Television, "A Very British Sex Scandal" for Channel 4 and "First Light" for BBC2. He was nominated for a "Grace award" for his performance as Prince Ashton, the son of Sir Roger Moore, in “A Princess for Christmas” for Hallmark Channel. His film credits include the short film Small Moments, and the feature films Alexander the Great from Macedonia and Emulsion. He will also be seen in the upcoming film Heart of Lightness. On stage, Heughan has performed at a variety of theatres in such productions as “King John,” “Romeo and Juliet,” “The Vortex,” “Hamlet,” “Macbeth,” “The Talented Mr. Ripley” and more. At the Royal Scottish Academy, Heughan starred in productions including “Crime & Punishment,” “The Seagull,” and “Prometheus Bound.” He is repped by United Talent Agency in the US and United Agents in the UK.

The series adaptation for “Outlander” will be written by Ronald D. Moore (“Battlestar Galactica,” “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine,” “Star Trek: The Next Generation”). Ronald D. Moore and Jim Kohlberg are executive producers of “Outlander,” which is produced by Tall Ship Productions, Story Mining & Supply Company and Left Bank Pictures in association with Sony Pictures Television. 

The series will begin filming in Scotland this fall.

“Outlander” Online 

Facebook: www.facebook.com/outlandertvseries.starz

Twitter: @Outlander_Starz - join the conversation with #Outlander and #STARZ 

My Outlander Purgatory VIDEO: Carol and Tracey's Reaction to Sam Heughan

Outlander (on Starz) Casting Humor

UPDATE: Starz now says Sam Heughan is "in talks" to play Jamie Fraser in the upcoming Outlander series on Starz

OK so now Starz is saying that someone jumped the gun and they're "in talks" with Sam Heughan for the role of Jamie Fraser in Starz' upcoming OUTLANDER series.

If he's the guy - My Outlander Purgatory is happy.

If he's not - it was fun while it lasted!

PS - TELL me Sam Heughan's people aren't tickled PINK at the leak!  Either way, everyone in the US knows who their client is now!

SAM HEUGHAN has been cast as JAMIE FRASER in OUTLANDER on STARZ!

JAMES ALEXANDER MALCOLM MACKENZIE FRASER has been CAST!

As announced in Deadline Hollywood, Sam Heughan has been cast as Jamie Fraser in Starz upcoming OUTLANDER series, adapted by Ron Moore of Battlestar Galactica.

I can NOT TELL YOU how happy I am with this casting.  Why?

1. Scottish!!!!!
2. GORGEOUS
3. Reddish hair
4. Reddish beard
5. 6'3"!!!
6. Beautiful facial structure
7. Serious acting chops
8. Did I mention SCOTTISH?!?!?

Holy crap.  I don't even think it has hit me yet.  I have one thing to say:

BRING ON CLAIRE!!!!!!

Jamie and Claire Dolls from The Wee Beasties

My apologies to our awesome MOP friend, Sooz, who asked me to post about this eons ago!

You must check out these adorable Jamie and Claire dolls, made by Ellen at The Wee Beasties over at Etsy.  Look how gorgeous they are!  I was blown away when I realized how much work must go into these beautiful creations.  

Cool Louis XV Mistress Fabric Design on eBay

How cool is this?  Thanks to Lesley for the way cool find!

Ron Moore Tweets OUTLANDER

Press Release: Starz Confirms Outlander Series for Spring 2014

Starz Officially Greenlights New Original Series "Outlander" From "Battlestar Galactica" Executive Producer Ronald D. Moore

Network Will Team up with Sony Pictures TV

Series Based on Diana Gabaldon's International Best-Selling Novels

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., June 25, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Starz Chief Executive Officer, Chris Albrecht, announced today that Starz will partner with Sony Pictures Television to greenlight "Outlander," an original series adapted from Diana Gabaldon's international bestselling books. The network has ordered 16 episodes of the series which will begin filming in Scotland this fall. It is slated to premiere in 2014.

The series adaptation for "Outlander" will be written by Ronald D. Moore ("Star Trek: Deep Space Nine," "Star Trek: The Next Generation"). Moore is best known for his work on "Battlestar Galactica," which won him a Peabody Award in 2006. Ronald D. Moore and Jim Kohlberg are executive producers of "Outlander," which is produced by Tall Ship Productions, Story Mining and Supply Company and Left Bank Productions in association with Sony Pictures Television.

"We are thrilled to be bringing 'Outlander' to Starz next year," said Chris Albrecht, CEO of Starz. "Diana has created an incredibly compelling heroine, thrust into a very complex world, not to mention, time. The books weave a fascinating tapestry of history, spirituality, love and honor, not to mention plenty of time travel, sex and warfare. With Diana's stories guiding us and Ron's mastery, we hope to bring Claire and Jamie to life for the millions of fans the world over."

Moore added, "I'm very excited to have the opportunity to bring these books to life. Diana's created a rich and textured world filled with intriguing characters, and I believe that Starz is the perfect home for her story. I think we'll make something that the millions of fans of these books will enjoy and recognize as 'Outlander.'"

Diana Gabaldon's seven-book series has sold more than 20 million copies and has graced the New York Times best-sellers list six times. The eighth installment of the "Outlander" series is slated to be released in the fall of 2013. The "Outlander" series spans the genres of romance, science fiction, history, and adventure in one grandiose tale. It follows the story of Claire Randall, a married combat nurse from 1945 who is mysteriously swept back in time to 1743, where she is immediately thrown into an unknown world where her life is threatened. When she is forced to marry Jamie Fraser, a chivalrous and romantic young Scottish warrior, a passionate affair is ignited that tears Claire's heart between two vastly different men in two irreconcilable lives.

Starz will retain all domestic multiplatform pay TV rights to the original series.

Diana Gabaldon's Outlander Casting in Ireland. So?

Methinks it's time to have a little discussion about some of the Outlander casting fears that are floating around the interwebs...namely the one about the Irish location of the casting company.

As John Cusack once brilliantly said in Say Anything:  YOU MUST CHILL!!!!

Below is a scene from 2011's Camelot on Starz.  (Yes, Starz.)
It was cast by Gillian Reynolds Casting.  In Ireland.  Who was cast?  Let's review:

Jamie Campbell Bower - English.

James Purefoy - More English tremendousness.

Eva Green - French...schooled in London.  And gives me chills. 

Joseph Fiennes - English.

Claire Awesomesauce Forlani - English.

Philip Winchester - American, schooled in England, his mother's native country.  

OK so let's review.  Starz series...cast by Gillian Reynolds...in Ireland.

Hmmm.  Let's take a looksee:

And you know what?  SO WHAT if some of the actors end up being Irish??  They're ACTORS.  That's what they do.  Would you rather they hit up Hollywood and get Emma Stone and Tatum Channing?  Lorddddd no!  (NOT that I don't love both of them...but I'm making a point.)

And you know what else?  I'M IRISH!  So knock it off!  ;)

OUTLANDER Casting Info

Check out this blog post from Maggie, an intern at Gillian Reynolds casting in Dublin, about the OUTLANDER CASTING that is going on RIGHT NOW!!!

ONE Day Only - FREE SHIPPING at the MOP Shop!

This just in...

TOMORROW - June 21st - is International T-Shirt Day and you can get FREE SHIPPING with no minimum order at the MOP shop!  Enter Code: TDAY2013

Here's your chance to get some witty Outlander merchandise before Starz says we canna sell it to you anymore!

Video: Outlander on Starz and Written in My Own Heart's Blood Release Date

Note: Season 3 of Game of Thrones is mentioned verra briefly in this video; be warned.

Hubby Tom's Voyager Update

Tom is reading chapter 50, "I Meet a Priest".  Here are his thoughts (and my own.) 

Doin' a little dishes...
Talkin' a little Voyager.

Claire is hangin' out with the reverend…she got picked up in the mango swamps. (LOL Mangos? Mangroves!)  She was walking thru muck and mud and talking with birds and bees….very Alice in Wonderlandesque - like Willy Wonka.

Then she meets Dr. something or other (Sterne, obvs)...he was obviously an Entomologist.  He brought her back to the hut…and there was the crazy reverend guy and mamasita…but the reverend guy got all stoned on gange and fell asleep…

Mamasita said her dress would never fit a cow like her…thinking Claire didn't know what she was talking about…but obviously Claire speaks Spanish because she speaks every language known to man - including Swahili - because she is Claire Beauchamp in the Year of our Lord, 19xx…  And she's always saying "Hold on, Beuachamp!" 

Remus is the name...
Bugs are NOT my game!

Mamasita keeps speaking spanish and calling Claire  a cow…which makes her one of my favorite characters so far. 

Sterne reminds me of the zippity doo da guy Br'er Rabbit talks to.  (ROFLMAO at this sooooo hard.  How he's picturing a Jewish fellow named Sterne as Uncle Remus is beyond me.)

Even when Claire's ALONE, she's arrogant.  (ROFLMAO)

We are now debating about where Jamie met Sterne.

This has been a very entertaining update for me.  I hope you've enjoyed it!

OFFICIAL American Release Date for Diana Gabaldon's 8th Book in the Outlander Series: Written in My Own Heart's Blood

From Diana Gabaldon's Facebook page:

"Written in My Own Heart's Blood has an official North American release date—March 25, 2014!"

You can preorder on Amazon now!