Now, I realize that I’m getting to be a fairly old man, but are we really on the 20th season of MTV’s “Real World”? I can say with all honesty that I haven’t tuned in for at least the last 10 or so, but jeez is that a lot of moment for such a foolish show.

And, in one other random observation that hit me that dawn, I guess it’s good to see that Americans aren’t the only ones who manufacture movies about being tortured by evil foreigners. Bold Films is apparently working up something called “Into Hell,” which is - and I couldn’t possibly manufacture that up - about a group of British soccer hooligans who go to a match in Turkey and, of course, get framed for a political assassination. I’m certain the Turks will be just thrilled with that title alone …

And finally, before I really get started, on the subject of me being old; anyone who comes here regularly may have noticed that I seem to prattle on about the same subjects a lot, namely lately sci-fi and “How I Met Your Mother.” Well, I guess in that way I’m just a lot like Nixon in that, I may not know a lot about movies, but I certain know what I like (and that’s a warning that my “HIMYM” and Robin Sparkles and “Battlestar Galactica” obsessions will indeed return later today.)

So, finally, here goes …

Rudy, say it ain’t so

Remember Rudy Huxtable? I used to have a co-worker who went to Spelman with her, a k a Keshia Knight Pulliam.

Well, Rudy’s definitely all grown up now, and she - as I supposed all actresses probably have to do at some point in their careers - gets to play a prostitute. On the upside, I guess, at least its for Tyler Perry.

Rudy has been cast in Perry’s “Madea Goes to Jail” along with one of my favorite actors, Derek Luke, who will play an attorney.

Now, I’ve made it clear that I love Tyler Perry, but Madea is definitely my least favorite of his creations. He’s at his best when he lets actual women be the id in his movies, rather than trying to do it himself. As a warning about more possible guys-in-fat-suits-and-drag: Madea will apparently protect Rudy from another prisoner named “Big Sal.”

And, in no shock to anyone who saw his latest, “Meet the Browns,” the very funny husband-and-wife team of David and Tamela Mann will plus be returning for that one. I enjoyed “Browns” mostly on the strength of Angela Bassett’s performance, but you could definitely tell that Perry was coasting a bit and just setting up Mr. Mann, in specific, for other projects (perhaps it would help whether he slowed down to directing just one movie a year instead of two!)

One more nugget on that before I move on - the prostitute’s name: Candy, of course.

Galactica’s Moore signs with UA for big-screen trilogy

OK, I probably should have lead with that, given how much we need smart sci-fi at the movies, but there are

really just the scantest of details so far.

The facts, however, are these: “Battlestar Galactica” mastermind Ronald D. Moore, along with working on a new series called “Virtuality” for Fox, has now signed up with Tom Cruise’s studio to create a new trilogy of sci-fi movies.

The Cruise connection? Moore apparently additionally wrote the script for “Mission Impossible II,” which I can’t say was a terribly impressive feat. However, whether that’s what got him that rather cool gig, I’ll take it.

And that means that, rather than spending my Friday doing my actual job, I’ll be able to think instead of what Mr. Moore might just be cooking up for us now.

“Dollhouse” adds Amy Acker

For a show that only has - so far - a seven-episode commitment from Fox, Joss Whedon’s “Dollhouse” is certainly acquiring an impressive cast.

It started, of course with “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and “Angel” veteran Eliza Dushku as one of the “dolls,” agents who have had their personalities wiped clean so they can be imprinted with any number of new personas for different assignments.

And now to today’s news: Amy Acker, a k a Winifred “Fred” Burkle on “Angel,” has joined the “Dollhouse” in a recurring role as Dr. Claire Saunders, a member of the crew who tends to the dolls. Here’s what Mr. Whedon himself had to say about it at Whedonesque:

Hi campers. We’re having the read-through of the script today. Why would I be nervous? YOU’RE nervous! Anyhoo, I just couldn’t resist letting you know that the recurring roles have actually been cast for some moment now. I’m shocked that any part of our casting process hasn’t been leaked somehow. And though I’m a fan of secrets, I’ll give you the last two pieces of that specific puzzle:

November (who will be recurring but does not seem in the pilot) will be played by the luminous Miracle Laurie.

Dr. Claire Saunders will be played by… yet another name I’m gonna have trouble remembering how to spell… Amy Acker.

So, let’s see … on the serious babe front, that makes at least three with Dushku, Acker and the simply radiant Olivia Williams (I actually typed “Olivia Cross” first, considering I just can’t get Rosemary Cross out of my mind.) And on the cool dude front, at least one: “Battlestar” vet Tahmoh Penikett, better known to at least some of the world as Helo, will play Paul Smith, a FBI agent tracking the “Dollhouse” project. All I can really say about all that is cool!

A snippet of Robin Sparkles’ new video

Thanks to the heads up from always-welcome reader Neel Mehta on that preview of the Robin Sparkles video that will air on next Monday’s “How I Met Your Mother.” I guess I should have suspected with a title like “Sandcastles in the Sand” that it would be incredibly sappy, and it surely is, but here’s hoping the full video will be pretty damn funny as well. Have a great weekend. Peace out.

Original post by Reel Fanatic