I’m admittedly the first person to complain about pretty much anything. Well, anything except the weather because, really, at the end of the day, who can you really complain to? Still, given the almost three straight weeks of rain we’ve had to suffer through, I think I deserve the right to at least voice my displeasure. We haven’t seen the sun since late February and I’m getting just a little irritable. Well, even more irritable. And it’s not just me. Our backyard is a swamp, the pugs are refusing to go out, and acutely sensitive L.A. native Carl Binder has been placed on a suicide watch.
Today – more of the same. So what to do on such a miserable day? Well, you could stay home and read or watch dvds. Or, you could motor over to the Richmond Auto Mall and test-drive some cars. We did the latter. And then, since we were in the area, we headed over to the Costco where we partook in one of the most annoying of Saturday afternoon rituals: trolling for parking. Nothing puts me in a worse mood than rolling up and down the various aisles, on the hunt, ready to spring at the first sign of a brake light, or, alternately, following shoppers back to their parking spots, creeping along behind them like anxious stalkers. Recently, however, I’ve discovered an easy solution to this maddening process: get your wife to drive. And just so you aren’t impacted with any of that residual frustration that comes with being a passenger, I’d suggest bringing along some reading material to focus your mind elsewhere.
Well, we finally found parking and headed inside where we joined the hundreds of other zombie shoppers stocking up on shampoo, toilet paper, chicken wings, and bulk peanut butter. Fondy attempted to exchange an item she purchased at another Costco only to be told she’d have to go back to the original branch, making her a tad cranky. As we headed back to the car, I remarked on those people they employ to man the exits and double-check purchases. What purpose do they serve? “They’re there to keep people from walking out with a shopping cart full of stuff,”Fondy curtly explained. “Sure,”I agreed, “but isn’t that what the tills are for? I mean, every store has the same set-up but for some reason, Costco feels the need to go that extra little step. I wonder why that is? It’s like those people are the unsung heroes, the last line of defense against cracker bandits and olive boosters.” Clearly, Fondy didn’t share my curiosity so I shut up.
From the Auto Mall to the Costco to the other Costco where Fondy successfully exchanged the item in question. Then, over to the T&T Supermarket where we picked up some skate wing and crab. Check out dinner.
Catching up on the mail…
Peter writes: “In Season 3 I heard you guys had the goal of doing more character development and focusing more on the team. Do you think you’ve succeeded and is there another goal for Season 4?”
Answer: Character development is something we strive for every season and this year will be no different. As for a specific focus for season 4 – we’re looking for an even distribution of stories amongst the individual team members in addition to a nice compliment of team-centered stories, we’d also like to explore the wraith a little more and kick off some “big events” that I’m not at liberty to reveal.
Misty writes: “I’m reading Frank Herbert’s Dune right now. I saw the movie years ago, but have just recently bought the book. Have you read it and the sequels to it?:
Answer: Dune is on my to-read list as it makes almost every SciFi Top 10 list I’ve seen.
Anonymous #1 writes: “Do you feel famous?”
Answer: No. The day that I walk down the street and people start pointing and whispering “Hey, isn’t that the writer from Stargate?”, I may think differently.
Anonymous #2 writes: “I’m going to have a talk to the concordia officals for the seminar but once its done and all red-tape details have been taken care of, I will need to inform you of the details…”
Answer: You can include your email in a future comment. I’ll take it down and delete said comment without publishing it.
Azar writes: “ I run a fanlisting for Carl Binder […] and there are *no* decent pictures of him around except the ones you’ve posted here in your blog. If you don’t think it would frighten him too much, may I please swipe one or two to put up on the fanlisting?”
Answer: By all means.
M writes: “Do you ever bring your dogs to work and if so do they socialise with the other doggies on set?”
Answer: My pugs can be little bullies if they’re not watched so I prefer to send them to daycare.
Anonymous #3 writes: “…if this were a perfect world and if Hugh Laurie could be cajoled into doing an episode, what sort of character would you write for him?”
Answer: I’d make him the leader of an alien race that possesses the secret to keeping his people safe from any wraith incursion. How have his people survived for so many generations while so many others have perished? For the answer to that – help me convince Hugh to do the show and find out.
Little Raven-Hawk writes: “Will we see you at any of the conventions this year???”
Answer: Nope. We don’t get invited to cons unless it’s the officially-sanctioned con in which case the organizers may feel shamed into inviting a producer or two. Martin and I may be doing the Anime Con at SFU this summer, sometime around August, where we will have plenty of surprises and spoilers in store re: season four.
Lorr54 writes: “Is Larrin the female commnder of the Travellers? Gina Torres – I know it’s not possible, but she is so good at whatever role she takes.”
Answer: She is. And we love Gina Torres and did consider her as a possibility but, alas, she is pregnant and very busy with a burgeoning movie career.
Anonymous #4 writes: “How did the meeting with the Scifi bigwigs go?”
Answer: Alas, they never did make it to the lot.
Monty the radioactive gopher writes: “ So given that when you write for these bad guys in SG1 or SGA, how do you get your inspiration for their evilness?”
Answer: Every villain I write has a little piece of me in them.
Miss H writes: “How do you feel about 100% dark? Does that qualify as chocolate or does it lack the necessary qualities (ie sugar) to count?”
Answer: It’s chocolate but definitely an acquired taste. 90% is as high as I can go and still enjoy the taste.
Shawna writes: “Could it be that you’re already planning to have him in two eps (hence the specific number) and just want to make it seem like you’re making a concession? Could this be the guest actor “pending availability” that you’ve mentioned?”
Answer: An interesting theory but, in all honesty, we have no scripts being written at present that include the good doctor. As for that guest actor I alluded to – the character in question hails from the SG-1 universe (and I don’t mean that literally, science nerds).
Anonymous #5 writes: “You said the travelers found a ship similar to an aurora class that they wanted shepard to activate…”
Answer: No, I didn’t.
Criz writes: “The “I’m with genius”-shirt – was this specifically designed for McKay or did someone just stumble on this in some shop ?!”
Answer: I thought it was something McKay would wear, so wrote it into Home.
Sgeureka writes: “One of today’s photos says the working title of an episode was “Doppleganger”. Have you and the other producers already decided what name/spelling you will use in the end?”
Answer: Doppelganger.
Alipeeps writes: “What kind of car do you drive?”
Answer: I’m driving a Q7 which is really supposed to be my wife’s car. I’m on the look-out for some new wheels. Any suggestions?
SmileyFace06 writes: Honestly? I get most of my best writing done while I’m driving.
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