I’m proud to announce, after an intense and complicated labor, the birth of a spanking new baby first draft script at approximately 4:29 p.m. on Sunday, April 14th, 2007. Although the due date was not for another week, and despite the fact that the premature little tyke clocks in at a lighter than average 53 pages, I’m sure he’ll be showered with the love, affection, sarcasm, and criticism that will shape him into a fine and outstanding young episode of Atlantis’s fourth season. I’ve named him “This Mortal Coil” after…well, I don’t need to tell you literati. I’ve included a picture of the little fella. Awww, ain he cute?
I’ve also completed work on another major work: finishing Stanislaw Lem’s The Cyberiad. It was an alternately amazing, frustrating, confusing, and highly entertaining work. And what made it particularly impressive was the fact that the version I read was not in the original language (alas, my Polish is a little rusty). Kudos to Michael Kandel for a truly remarkable translation.
Well, one down, one to go. I’m now a third of the way through The Blade Itself and should be making some significant headway. I’ll be picking up the second book in the series, Before They Are Hanged, next time I’m at Chapters. Anybody else familiar with these books, and the similar Lies of Locke Lamorra, and able to recommend similar titles in the same vein?
I’ll spend the next couple of days polishing the script, then switch over to prep for Reunion. Finally! And all this week, I’ll be planning for the soiree Fondy and I will be hosting this Saturday night. I’ve got shipments coming in from all over the U.S. and Canada for the special event.
Let’s see what’s on everybody’s mind –
Suekay writes: “Which episode in the first half of season four are you most looking forward to? And which episodes should fans be looking forward to most for each member of the Team?”
Answer: To be honest, I’m looking forward to seeing all of the first half episodes this season. I think we have an exceptionally strong line-up for season four so far. As for which episodes fans should be looking forward to most for each member of the team – it‘s tough to say only because my opinion could be very different from fan opinion especially when you start factoring in the different fan factions. But, in my opinnion, I’d say: Travelers for Sheppard, Miller’s Crossing for McKay, Reunion for Ronon, Missing for Teyla, The Seer for Carter, This Mortal Coil for Weir, and Missing again for Keller.
Amarati writes: “eww – pasta and raspberry coulis – I can see why that dish would not appeal!!”
Answer: No, no. Overcooked pasta is one pet peeve, raspberry coulis another. Although I agree that having both in the same dish would be the very worst of both worlds.
SMB Books writes: “What do you do and/or where do you go to recharge your creative spirit?”
Answer: Prior to this year, I’d have to wait until my late Fall trips to Asia to recharge my batteries. The fact that we were producing 40 episodes of television – and my own European guilt for enjoying any sort of free time – kept me working pretty much straight through the past few seasons. In fact, I even recall working on scripts while on vacation – specifically, making use of the hotel computer at The Tides in Miami to work on season eight’s Lockdown. Nowadays, with a more relaxed schedule and a more relaxed mindset, I am able to enjoy my downtime usually spent reading.
Anonymous #1 writes: “You said SGA got a 1.68. Is that good and what you guys were hoping for?”
Answer: Given our rocky start and in comparison to other shows, it was downright spectacular.
Siba writes: “My mother was fascinated by your plates- where do you get them??”
Answer: To which plates are you referring exactly?
Joshua Meyers writes: “How long have you been asociated with the shows sga and sg1?
Would you personally like to see 20 episodes a seasons or 22? What is the possibility of seeing more of Chris Judge Michael Shanks and Ricki D in the third series or sga? What are the latest revelations for Stargate Universe?”
Answers: About eight years. 20 is fine. No idea. None at the moment.
LJ writes: “Are you likeing the storylines in BOSTON LEGAL at the moment? do you think bethany is the one for denny? do you think brad and denise will last?”
Answers: Fondy and I are both enjoying Boston Legal. Possibly. Hard to say. Probably not.
Anonymous #2 writes: “If for some strange stupid reason the network does not pickup SGA for a fifth season, will you try to find it another home?”
Answer: That would be up to MGM.
Bugguy writes: “By the way, I hope no one gave Fondy any antibiotics, bronchitis is usually viral. The antibiotics will probably just cause….umm…potty problems.”
Answer: In fact, they did give her antibiotics. But Fondy is not a fan and elected not to take them as she felt her condition was improving. She is much better. I’m am far worse.
Peter writes: “How obvious is this hint about Carson’s return?”
Answer: It’s subtle. And here’s a hint: it wasn’t in Return II.
Vikitty writes: “Several posts back you mentioned that you and Paul had several pilot scripts for new shows ready… do you think we’ll ever get to see any of those?”
Answer: Hopefully when they’re produced.
Anonymous #3 writes: “What are the chances of any other SG-1 stars stopping by for a visit in Atlantis? Say perhaps the lovely and talented Michael Shanks?”
Answer: It’s possible but we have another actor in mind for the big crossover episode that Carl will be writing.
Kevin writes: “Doppelganger/NOAS – Is the doppelganger the “resurrection” of Dr. Beckett? In which case NOAS might be “Never On A Sunday”, referring to the 3rd season episode?”
Answer: Sorry. No.
Anonymous #4 writes: “The production team as a whole are all far too intelligent not to realise that the complete absence of any non-US military personnel in any significant position is unrealistic, especially as Atlantis is supposedly an international mission.”
Answer: McKay is a Canadian civilian while Zelenka, a Czech civilian, runs his own department. The CMO is also civilian.
Anonymous #5 writes: “I wanted to ask what are the chances that we will get to see Dr. Kate Heightmeyer again?”
Answer: Good.
Anonymous #6 writes: “We have an idea of what each episode with a known title will talk about, exept for “The Seer”. Can you tell us a clue ?”
Answer: Check out the poem. The clue is pretty obvious.
Nicolas writes: “Lt Ford will make he an appearance in the season 4?”
Answer: It’s possible.
Obsessed writes: “Out of all of the episodes coming up in season four, which would you say is the most controversial??”
Answer: Hmmm. Well, I suppose controversial in different ways: Lifeline, Reunion, Doppleganger, Travelers, The Seer, Miller’s Crossing, Missing, This Mortal Coil.
Obsessed also writes: “And are we going to see a different side to Sheppard this season?”
Answer: Yup.
Teknikal writes: “If there was one thing you could rob from the atlantis set (apart from the gate) what would it be and why????”
Answer: The puddle jumper so I could beat traffic.
Anonymous #7 writes: “Hi Mr. Mallozzi, on the Gateworld Forum, there is a man claiming to have been casted for SG: Universe, as an alien named Rye. Can you confirm this and/or that casting for the third series has begun?”
Answer: That’s a load of B.S. The script hasn’t even been written yet.
Anonymous #8 writes: “Is there any chance of seeing Robert Picardo back in season 4?”
Answer: A very good chance in The Seer.
Crazymom writes: “Who writes the quotes from the Book of Origin?”
Answer: Blame Robert Cooper for starting the craze.
Lughtigern writes: “NOAS; (a wild guess of my own) National Organization of Aeronautics and Space?”
Answer: Nope.
Lughtigern also writes: “You included a picture of Jason Momoa in an earlier entry. He was brandishing a rubber chicken key fob. Is there a story behind it?”
Answer: I hope so.
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