If Richard Hatch (Battlestar Galactica) has his way, the future of great science fiction programming will be user generated, not studio produced.

In an interview with Geeks of Doom, the actor/writer/director says he plans to launch an online network (first reported last year) comprised of original web based series that would not only unleash the creativity and talent in the sci-fi/fantasy community, but also cultivate it.

“So often sci-fi shows are run by people who, I don’t really think, understand Science Fiction. Too many great shows go down way too soon,” says Hatch, who listed Firefly, Babylon 5, and others involving spaceships as just some of the casualties. “They’ve all gone off the air because those networks aren’t set up to serve the sci-fi community.”

Geeks, as the stereotype holds, are said to be socially awkward, freakishly knowledgeable about the obscure and frequently viewed as obsessive — or obsessed with sci fi, fantasy, horror and *gasp* anime. They play card games for hours with no poker chips or money involved. They construct shockingly accurate, intricately detailed costumes from scratch for any fan-related event. They view the same lackluster films multiple times for entertainment and take pride in the stacks of slender white long boxes and unopened action figures lining all four walls of their guest room.

While most might view this behavior as annoying, undeniably weird, and sometimes just #@%!$ strange [who’s pumped about Furry*Con 2009!?] geeks find it infinitely interesting. Apply that logic to a geek’s love life and it’s no wonder the conventions get bigger every year. Where else can you possibly find large concentrated groups of fanboys & girls in which to feel normal enough to pursue a romantic relationship?

The folks who run SoulGeek, a dating network specifically for (yes that’s right…) geeks, have taken notice of the increased attention given to the large conventions and started organizing dating meetups at all the big events (i.e. San Diego Comic Con and Dragon*Con). Yet, rather than wait for conventions, SoulGeek decided to do a monthly meetup for people near the Hollywood, Calif. area, which has it’s fair share of actors and creators willing make appearances. And, in the spirit of convention season, they’ll also be signing autographs, taking pictures, answering questions, critiquing costumes and giving away exclusive prizes.

Valentine’s Day as a geek can typically be described in one of the following ways: 1) A second Christmas in which both people get a present that can only be found inside the pages of a Previews catalog or 2) A somewhat to extremely lonely night of rereading Twilight* for the umpteenth time.

SoulGeek aims to eliminate fanboy (or fangirl) loneliness by offering a dating site specifically tailored for geeks, according to founder Dino Andrade, who started the network after discovering how difficult it was to meet people in his own experiences.

As a seasoned voice actor of many cartoons and video games, it was only natural that Andrade would fall in love with Mary Kay Bergman, famously known for creating and performing all the original female roles on South Park (including the Blame Canada song!!). When she tragically passed away in November of 1999, the two had been married for over a decade.

It took years to recover from the loss, but eventually he decided to get back on the saddle, according to Andrade, who said the most difficult part about it was being a geek.

The time has come for 11 million World of Warcraft subscribers to bid farewell to their significant others, social lives, and good decent hygiene as they embark on a voyage through icy Northrend in the Wrath of the Lich King game expansion. And then, provided they fulfill all the requirements, these players will immediately create at least two Death Knight characters.

Why two Death Knights? Because one will be a serious ‘toon’ you’ll actually strive to play for, while the other will be a mighty Gnome — yes that’s correct, you can now create an ultra powerful tank-like Emo-looking Hero Gnome with hot pink hair. You will name this character something laughable and ridiculous like “Pedognome” or “Dethsneeze” because it’s novel to have an overpowered little person.

For Dino Andrade [“Dinoandrade”], the only thing novel about a Death Knight Gnome is the voice he lent to breath vibrant life into the vertically challenged new Hero Class.