i have a friend who emails me on occasion whenever he does it drives me nuts because for some reason he refuses to make use of punctuation no semi-colons commas or apostrophes not even a period for some reason capitalization is also taboo i cant figure why is it really that troublesome maybe its a time-saving measure im not sure but for every ten seconds he saves im sure i spend ten times as long trying to decypher his bewildering frustrating seemingly endless run-on sentences
BTW, I also have another m8 🙂 who IMNSHO produces emails that prove equally annoying >:) cos they are peppered with kewl internet acronyms. Every time I get something from him, I’m LOL, ROTFL, even ROTFLMAO, or OTOH thinking OMG GAL ASAP! AAMOF, there are times his emails are so confusing 🙁 that I think K WTF, I’d be better off just saying THX CU TTYL8R maybe 2nite or maybe 2M, and actually meet him F2F to get the story. FWIW that isn’t as EZ as it sounds since AFAIK he’s rarely AFK, never a BRB, GTG, or even a BBL from him as he’s always glued to his laptop (IOW never w/o it). :-/.
To be fair, I’m terrible when it comes to sending emails. No, I don’t use annoying shorthand like “Whatchew boyz think? R u sure ur in?” or equally annoying turns of phrase like the reprehensible “Ciao for now!”, but it does take me forever to respond. In some cases, quite literally forever. I’ll read the email, make a mental note to answer at a later date, and then conveniently never do. So I’m amazed that I’m still here blogging away on a daily basis. I suppose there will come a time when I run out of things to write about. So please let me know when it eventually becomes clear that I’m scraping the bottom of the barrel, blogging about things like paper clips, persimmons, and exasperating email etiquette.
Oh. Dear. Lord.
Well, since you’re already here, let me tell you about last night’s dinner. We went to Zakkushi where we had absolutely no problem getting a table thanks to the Ducks-Canucks game. We enjoyed the home made zaru tofu with green salt and spicy, aromatic green Japanese pepper paste, and a multitude of grilled items like pork-wrapped garlic stalks, beef tongue, and every chicken part imaginable and then some: heart, liver, gizzard, thigh although I had to draw the line at chicken skin. For dessert – we came home and continued our week-long chocolate binge. Tonight’s dinner, in contrast, not so memorable.
For all those of you no doubt worrying, I’m pleased to report I survived my visit to the dentist with little more than the wickedest headache I’ve endured in years and the news that I had chipped a molar because I apparently grind my teeth and clench my jaw a lot.
What say we squeeeeeze in a few questions before calling it a night –
Anonymous #1 writes: “Are we allowed to ask just how McKay would have become a father (i.e. what circumstances and with whom)? I’m dying of curiosity!”
Answer: Well, when a man and a woman love each other very much, a special thing happens…
Mags writes: “I enjoyed the poem. I was wondering if you ever write (non-work related) fiction in your downtime. Does writing as your job take away the pull towards creative writing as a hobby?”
Answer: I don’t have time to write non-work related fiction as I spend most of my downtime reading. I’ve wanted to sit down and work on a novel for quite some time but have lacked the downtime. Depending on how things pan out, I might get the chance next year.
AAA writes: “…sounded an interesting history arc to McKay be daddy. Hypothetical, Katie Brown had been the mammy?”
Answer: That’s what we were considering.
JohnManzione writes: “1. […] Any plans for more Hammond in the future?
2. Any plans to finally let us all know whether Jack and Sam are a couple? 3. Any chance the Furlings have been shown but not identified? 4. The Tollans; are they dead and gone?
5. Will the Asguard on the Deadalus (sp) survive or will he/she suddenly disappear as well? 6. Jonas. I think all of us would like to see Jonas again. Any chance?
Answers: 1. No plans for Hammond although I did run into Don’s lovely better half who told me he’s out there somewhere having a wonderful time meeting his fans. 2. No plans for this. 3. Nope. 4. I assume they were wiped out in the goa’uld attack but who knows – Brad and Rob could surprise. 5. That remains to be seen. 6. It’s unlikely on Atlantis.
Marla writes: “A friend and I are headed up your way in June – any good dining recommendations you can give us without breaking our bank?”
Answer: Check out The Memphis Barbecue House, The Sha Lin Noodle House, Bistrot Bistro, Shanghai Chinese Bistro, Ouzeri, Anton’s Pasta Bar, Zakkushi – to name a few.
Anonymous #2 writes: “Qu’est-ce qui vous a poussé à apprendre le francais ?”
Reponse: Je suis né a Montreal, alors j’ai appris mon français dans l’école primaire.
Namiko writes: “On a more serious note, how often are you called upon to balance these real world “challenges” with the overall creative process, and is that part of the fun, or a real headache that you just have to endure?”
Answer: You know that wicked headache I mentioned? My visit to the dentist wasn’t entirely to blame.
Grape Ape writes: “ Wow. I can’t believe you didn’t post my comment.”
Answer: You mean the one way I posted?
Anonymous #3 writes: “Teyla’s story arc, will it be more in-depth than simply her pregnancy and its consequences?”
Answer: Yup.
Anonymous #4 writes: “Anonymous #7 writes: “Teyla’s pregnant? […] It just proves that if you can’t figure out how to develop a female character you off them like you’re doing with Elizabeth or you get them pregnant… ” Wow – hey Joe – Anon #7 giving you a lot of credit there … er, does Fondy know?”
Answer: Okay, I don’t do this on principle but I’m going to have to make an exception here – ROTFLMAO.
Sazzat writes: “Please can you tell us (or just give us a magic 8 ball clue) as to whether we will be seeing Michael in the first half of season 4.”
Answer: Sorry. No Michael in the front half.
George writes: “(1)How long does it take you to write a single Atlantis script, from start to finish? (2)Do you write them one at a time, or are you working on a bunch of them at one time?”
Answers: 1) About a month. 2) One at a time.
Anonymous #5 writes: “That leaves approximately 49 Hives and over 175 cruisers. My question sir, how the hell are our heroes going to flatten those numbers now that the asurans are in the equation?”
Answer: Check out season four to find out.
Maud writes: “You’ve stated that Dr. Keller’s first name is Jennifer, but I’ve seen conflicting claims about her nationality. Is she American or Canadian?”
Answer: She’s American.
Jenny Robin writes: “It seems that Mallozzi’s poem with notes
Has increased the level of some people’s hopes
[..]Will write and produce for us to enjoy
I appreciate your efforts, go get ’em, big boy!”
Answer: Okay. I’m impressed.
Man, it still sucks that the Mckay as a father stuff got shitcanned. That would have been great. Oh well, I guess we’ll just get more less good stuff.
I just literally put this on the 4/25 blog but in case you miss it because you moved on to 4/26 entry here it is again:
Joe quote: “Anonymous #3 writes: “Joe M said “I never claimed the ratings system was unfair, wrong, inaccurate, yada, or even yada.” I know you didn’t and I didn’t say you did.
Answer: Then what were you suggesting when you wrote “if the ratings were still in the 2.2 – 2.4 range like they were for season 8 (32 short episodes ago BTW) would the ratings sytem still be unfair, wrong, inaccurate, yada, yada?””
Okay Joe let’s be honest – I wrote the following in my original post:
Question for everyone out there – including Joe if he chooses to respond:
if the ratings were still in the 2.2 – 2.4 range like they were for season 8 (32 short episodes ago BTW) would the ratings sytem still be unfair, wrong, inaccurate, yada, yada? Seems that when the ratings were up it was all the rage to shout the “great” and fabulous ratings numbers from the rooftops of Bridge and elsewhere – what happened, besides that fact that the ratings tanked, to change your minds that the ratings system is not fair and not an accurate portrayal? There are a lot of companies that pay a lot of $$ for ad time based on those very numbers so if they are so darn inaccurate and unreliable why on earth would any company spend a dime based on them?
Jodi
I was not clear and for that I apologize. My question was directed at those “out there” who are using the terminology/argument that the ratings system is all of a sudden not fair (I shouldn’t have generalized with that ever troubling use of “everyone”- my bad). I assumed, wrongly obviously, that those who used the “unfair” term/argument would know who they are. I added you to the question, in all honesty, as an after-thought to see if you would respond about the use of the unfair argument. By referencing Bridge and “elsewhere” shouting about high ratings I was referring to the fact that when ratings are up in the high 2.0+ range studios, and others, don’t hesitate to shout about it. This was an attempt to show examples of how the “unfair” argument cannot, IMO, hold water when it’s all the rage for studios, and fans, to use the ratings as a gold banner when they are high and then play the “ratings systems are unfair” card just because the ratings are low – it’s the same ratings system after all.
Jodi
Joe,
What do you think the ratings will be for Friday’s episodes?
A month to write a script?
*Thinks*
I could do it, can I get a job? 🙂
May the angels bless you for your first two paragraphs. Sometimes I despair for human language, having seen applicants for graduate school actually write that way in their writing samples.
Is there any possibility Michael could be the father of Teyla’s baby? And if it were so, what repercussions would there be among Sheppard’s team?
Blue Rebecca
Yes, lack of of punctuation and Internet lingo are rather irritating. I used to not capitalize in emails and such, but I have sense changed my ways. How hard is it to press Shift in addition to the letter anyway?
You mentioned persimmons. Do you enjoy them? How do you prefer them? I like them when they’re crunchy, as compared to kind of “mushy.”
Looking forward to tomorrow’s SciFi Friday. I’m rather fond of AU episodes.
A month to write a script, eh?
*Ponders*
I could do it, can I get a job?
Mr. Mallozzi,
1. Can you please put a Moroccan flag patch on a soldier in one eppy of season 4?
thanxs
your moroccan fan
Hey Joe,
Thanks for taking the time to weed through all of this in your blog. It takes dedication to endure this type of Q&A and yet respond with humor, even when some of the subject matter directed can be downright frustrating. Since you read a lot I’d like to recommend “House of Leaves” by Mark Z. Danielewski. It’s a fascinating, complex little story..very imaginative.
Besides “Doubleganger” and “Travelers” can you tell us any more Sheppard heavy episodes to look forward to?
Kristen
Anonymous #3 writes: “Teyla’s story arc, will it be more in-depth than simply her pregnancy and its consequences?”
Answer: Yup.
WOOOHHOOO! Thank you! I knew it!
BTW, have you seen that comercial where the daughter is talking with her mother but using those cell phone acronyms? jeepers, the mother actually understood her! What has this world turned to?
*LOL*
and on the food note, have you tried homemade Mango ice cream….YUM!
Hey Joe,
Will there be more Canadian expedition members in Season 4? Ones that actually have a line or two?
Are the giant aliens from Crystal Skull ascended beings?
Is Jonas dead?
Joe,
I’m still here! Can we please see Jack visit Atlantis in season four? Please! Come on, it would be so great. You know it would. He’d bring the ratings power you need.
Jack Attack
You said:
I don’t have time to write non-work related fiction as I spend most of my downtime reading.[…] Depending on how things pan out, I might get the chance next year.
Does this mean that you think it’s very possible Atlantis gets cancelled (and therefore, you’ll get a chance to write that novel next year)?
🙁
Answer: I don’t have time to write non-work related fiction as I spend most of my downtime reading. I’ve wanted to sit down and work on a novel for quite some time but have lacked the downtime. Depending on how things pan out, I might get the chance next year.
Gads! Bite your tongue, Sir!
Is Teyla’s baby fully human? (Or Athosian, as the case may be.)
Joe,
What are the chances of seeing an SG-1 Movie with just the original SG-1 team? It’s only fair they get there own Movie and only fair for the Season 1-8 Fans.
The abbrieviations for everything frightened me, I could not understand more than half of that, so I feel for you. But little ones like IMO,LOL, and the like aren’t so bad.
Donc, est-ce que c’est possible que vous avez pris tes etudes an anglais et francais? J’ai pris l’immersion francais en Saskatchewan. Est-ce que vous avez appris l’anglais premier?
I expect much more McKay snarkiness and McKay/Sheppard banter in Season 4, is my assumption correct??
-JJ
Mel said…
Ewww, no sheyla please or I will spork my eyes out and that is one less viewer because I won’t have eyes. LOL. I really don’t want to lose my eyes 😉
Ditto.
Joe and Rachel? Zero chemistry.
Joe and Torri or Joe and David? Massive chemistry. We know you’re going to dump poor Elizabeth, so please, turn Shep gay before you go with Sheyla!!
… You made up some of those acronyms, didn’t you?
I just realized how stupid my question sounded. But the ones that I did figure out, I was like “Hey! They make sense!”
… So, you never know. It could be the new Joe-Language.
I actually had a dream many months ago (the night “Common Ground” aired, actually; I remember because I dreamt the team was captured by Kolya, then I told my mom about it the next morning and she said, “That happened!”…except that it was only Shep and not the whole team) where McKay was a dad. Except that it had to do with his time in Russia, an office party where they all got very drunk, and some sort of accelerated aging. He didn’t know anything about it until they got a new shipment of crew/military guys in and one of them’s this 20-something Russian soldier who calls McKay “Dad”. And then it all turns out to have been some Genii plot. (But isn’t it always?)
As for Teyla’s baby-daddy…it’s Michael, isn’t it? You did say we’d be learning more about wraith reproduciton. Ah, Michael/Teyla, the rogue ship (I like to call it “Slappy”, in the vein of “Sparky” and “Spanky”).
I agree with you on the punctuation front. I can’t stand it when people don’t use punctuation. Although I do confess to using the occasional acronym… 🙂
Glad the dentist went okay.
I was so pissed when I first heard the idea of Teyla being pregnant (with the rumor that the baby is some sort of Wraith hybrid) because it was a cliched Sci-Fi obsession that would have been insulting to her character if used as her only story arc since it would be based purely on her reproductive potential rather than her personality… (I hope you like the subjunctive. ;)) But after I heard that Rachel Luttrell really is pregnant and that this was your means of incorporating her pregnancy into the show without writing her off I was so happy. So thank you for keeping Teyla who, to me, is the most respectable female character in Sci-Fi.
Also – screw the ratings. Tell Carl Binder that my family and I LOVED “Echoes” and that’s it’s one of my all-time favorite episodes. 🙂
Slainte!
Hi Joe,
Completely agree with you on the punctuation thing. It gets very annoying!
As for McKay, to be honest, I’m glad he’s not about to become a daddy (at least, not this season), because parenthood often changes people’s priorities and I’d rather have McKay’s priorities lie with his team than with a kid. I really like the friendship aspect on the show (especially the friendship between Sheppard and McKay) and I’d hate for something to mess that up.
Besides, I still want Rodney and Sheppard to save each other’s butts, without Rodney having to think twice about it because he’s a daddy now 😉 I still want them to be in mortal danger every now and then 😉
That said, I think it’s great you’re supporting RL! Congrats to her and her significant other!
Anyway, I do have a question. When you and Fondy go on vacation for more than a couple of weeks, what do you do with your pugs? I mean, do you get family or friends to babysit them, or do you put them up in a kennel?
Thanks! Oh, and good luck with the ratings tonight! I really hope they pick up!
Jenn
i have a friend who emails me on occasion whenever he does it drives me nuts because for some reason he refuses to make use of punctuation no semi-colons commas or apostrophes not even a period for some reason capitalization is also taboo i cant figure why is it really that troublesome maybe its a time-saving measure im not sure but for every ten seconds he saves im sure i spend ten times as long trying to decypher his bewildering frustrating seemingly endless run-on sentences
I feel your pain. The standard of spelling and grammar etc that I see in email and, particularly, on the internet makes me weep. Be thankful you’re not allowed to read fanfic… good lord, these people are effectively “publishing” their writing for public consumption and yet a great many of them can’t even be bothered to use a spellchecker.. and/or, even worse, actually genuinely don’t understand grammar and spelling. *sigh*
Have you read “Eats, Shoots and Leaves” by Lynne Truss? Very interesting, amusing book for anyone with an interest in language and a bee in their bonnet about the improper use of punctuation! 🙂
Joe,
Hi. Clarification question. When you said there are no plans to confirm Sam and Jack are a couple, did you mean on SGA or in the movies too? If there are no plans at all either in Continuum or in SGA then this sucks big time. The Sam/Jack arc was a significant arc in SG1 and it has never received a full resolution. It’s damaging to the Sam character who looks like she hasn’t progressed and dealt with that issue beyond dumping Pete and going on a friendly fishing trip (but with all the team present), it’s damaging to the perceived quality of the writing/production because not to finish a storyline is extremely poor writing, and it’s damaging to the ratings.
Many Sam/Jack fans stopped watching in SG1 S9 not because RDA left but because there was no explicit confirmation in the show that the couple had got their happy ending. If there are no plans to show that happy ending in the franchise, then you guys have really dropped the ball in terms of what the majority of your casual audience wants from the show.
Does Katie Brown have any other function than to be McKay’s occasional love interest or is she destined to be the Nurse Chapel of Atlantis? and how would you reconcile the fact that Rodney’s obvious first choice, Carter,is a strong female character whereas Katie comes across all meek and feeble?
Rebecca said…
May the angels bless you for your first two paragraphs. Sometimes I despair for human(english) language
I second that motion.
No plans to show Sam and Jack are finally a couple, huh? Guess I won’t be buying the movies or watching the show anymore.
For months I’ve been saying to my fellow S/J shippers, ‘keep the faith, TPTB won’t let us down! there’ll be something in the movies to confirm they’re together!’ I’m obviously an idiot.
Hello Joe,
I’ve been rather busy at work and missed your blog until someone pointed out that the Teyla pregnancy. What’s more confusing is that some people have read it as Rachel being pregnant…
And now I hear that McKay as a dad was a plot???
Personally I’d love to have a pregnant Teyla – if only because I think it’s a realistic story arch. I mean, I like the idea of them having kids… And I’m putting my money on the daddy being a tall athletic handsome alien – perhaps an Athosian or someone they met on a mission!
You know when I first started blogging on livejournal, I had to google every internet abbreviation as I honestly didn’t know what anything meant, so I feel for ya. I have a friend who emails like yours and it drives me nuts because sometimes I have no bloody idea what he’s on about.
Oh yes, saw the poem – nice one mate!
Can’t think of a question at this point, so I’ll just say – hope you have a nice weekend.
I actually belong to a Star Wars group that requires that people at least attempt to write in complete sentences with appropriate punctuation and capitalization. The laziness of “net speak” is a very annoying trend that must be stopped.
Sadly, as evidenced by Rebecca’s comment, we’ve already lost the battle.
As for your headaches? You’re probably more susceptible, thanks to your teeth grinding. Might I suggest a rather nice help for this? Find a masseuse who specializes in TMJ. They can help to keep your jaw more loose by massaging key muscles around your jaw, neck and shoulders. (Plus the added benefit of getting to have a massage.)
Hang in there!
I can’t believe there are no plans to confirm Sam and Jack got together. Geez, have you guys ever heard of finishing a storyline?
Please, please tell me you were talking about no plans for Sam and Jack in SGA and not talking about the movies.
Joe, joe, joe. *sighs and shakes head* You do realise that you’ve just pissed off the Sam/Jack shippers now on top of the Terri fans? Aren’t you supposed to be encouraging fans to watch the show rather than convincing them to stay away? Or are you just that desperate to write the novel?
As a S/J shipper who was planning to tune in from now on to see if there were shippy hints for us in SGA, thank you. I know I don’t need to waste my time watching now. Ella.
So if there are no plans to confirm Sam/Jack are a couple on Atlantis is that because the movies will do it? Thanks, a Sam/Jack shipper trying to stay hopeful.
I’ve only just begun to get into online fandom for SG1 but I have always watched SG1 since the beginning along with my friends. We’ve always really enjoyed the Sam/Jack arc and while we were disappointed with the end of S8 and no real confirmation that the couple did get together, I was happy enough that fishing was a big hint even if Teal’c and Daniel were around. I’ve always just assumed all the way through S9 and S10 that the couple are together but that the relationship is ‘off-screen.’ But seeing in black and white that there are no plans ever to show on screen that they did end up together is very disappointing.
I never thought it would be you who sunk the S/J ship. Terri
Very disappointed that there are no plans to confirm Sam/Jack are a couple.
For crying out loud! No plans for Sam/Jack to be confirmed? At all? Sucks big time.
Joe
Isn’t it a wonderful day and isn’t it great to be alive…
“For lo the winter has passed , the rains have gone and the sound of the turtledove can be heard in our land” I’m not quite sure what turtledoves are but I saw two beautiful red breasted robins yesterday..
And YOU WILL BE STILL HERE next year writing for Atlantis and perhaps even the new series..
Anything new on the development of that new series, by the way ?
Have a great weekend
Dori
The ambiguous nature of both the Jack/Sam and the John/Teyla relationships are a good thing, I think. There is more to these characters than their love lives and focusing too much on their relationships would turn it into a soap opera (a genre I avoid). I want to watch a good sci-fi show, not Days of Atlantis or As the Stargate Spins
It’s good to have hints of their personal lives, it makes them more rounded characters, makes us see them as people. But I personally prefer to use my imagination when it comes to their love lives.
I am interested in the pregnancy arc for Teyla, but sincerely hope that none of her team are the father. (I do wonder if you are going to go the Scully route?)
As for McKay as a father, it would be more interesting to find out he has a child he didn’t know about on Earth, than for Katie to be the mom. Part of the charm of that relationship is that he is so unsure of himself when it comes to anything but his work, you aren’t sure if he’d have the nerve to actually kiss her (without Cadman’s help, anyway.)
Sam and Jack sitting on their deck
Wondering when their ship became such a wreck
Ten years and more as a loose end
Is Sam Jack’s lover or still just a friend?
Fishing as the end of season eight
Was just too little to fully show their fate
Happy endings seem so out of sight
When ‘no plans’ is seen in black and white
They and the fans deserve more than this
Come on and give us a big honking kiss
And show us in wild technicolour glory
That Jack is Sam’s guy; end of story.
blogging about things like paper clips, persimmons, and exasperating email etiquette.
Don’t worry. Whenever you talk about paper clips, you can make the obvious transition to RDA, who makes everything interesting ;D.
Oh, yes, the punctuation thing makes me crazy, too! I have some friends who do that. Since my job is being able type with correct spelling and punctuation, and correcting the doctors’ grammar on the fly, it’s become so second nature that it’s almost painful to do anything else. I once typed a really long email after drinking way too much wine, and on later inspection there was only one typo. Not because I’m so good, but because even over the legal limit, I apparently still proofread really well. It took a really long time to get that email ready to send, though. I might be just a little compulsive about it, maybe. The email was quite entertaining, by the way.
Joe,
I just spoilt Season Three and Four for myself while reading this (Tidbit: I’m Australian, and have just finished Season Two awaiting the next one on Cable or DVD). Ah well, my fault. Haha.
I have to spend these couple of lines in this comment to tell you how amazingly awesome I find you and the cast and crew of Stargate Atlantis. I know most of you poor people have had a lot of insults from the event of Carson Beckett’s untimely demise (Told ya I spoilt it) and other Season Three events and I’m not saying that I like it one bit, but that fact aside, I believe most of those comments are ill-advised and bias, especially with the viewers threatening to stop watching the show. Personally, I see this as disloyal to what is now my favourite SCI-FI show. You guys are AWESOME. There would really be no creative, Science Fiction spark without you all, with your awesome directing and writing talent. I guess this is more than a line or two, but whatever. You deserve it.
Anyway, I found this bloggy and realised I have an all-important question to ask you. It has been mentioned in a lot of texts, from various websites and profiles, that you like anime. Perhaps other people have asked you this before, but this is really itching at me…
What anime do you like? Oh, and – subbed or dubbed?
Hope I’m not intruding with my questions and my mindless babbling. Keep up the good work and awesome directing.
That food makes me hungry… xD
Love,
Exangeline
Wow. Provoking the Sam/Jack shippers. You do like to live dangerously don’t you Joe
Hey Joe
So here’s a question. Is Rachel really pregnant and you need to work it into the story?
I know this is beating a dead horse, but…
If they should establish Sam/Jack in the movies, will that cross over to Atlantis as well? I read a post on a forum once where someone mentioned that the change in “status” my bode well for Carter’s character on Atlantis. Dealing with seperation from those the team is close to (and in Carter’s case…knowing “who is on the other end of the “phone”, so to speak”)
Thanks,
T
Teyla’s preggers? Is that why she has been so buddy buddy with Ronan?
Input or elaboration, please: there is much discussion on an SG group about the whales in McKays puddle jumper ep versus the latest whales closing in on Atlantis ep. Was the “Sam(Sam Carter)” in the first episode the whale causing the hallucination or was it McKay’s imagination? It is speculated that because in the second ep the whales caused “Ancients”/hallucinations to run around Atlantis.
The inconsistency comes in regarding communication. “Sam” in the puddle jumper ep clearly had Carter’s knowledge and knew Rodney. In the second no one could understand the hallucinagenic (is that a word???) people because the whales were not good imitators…
Good lord, people! Get some perspective! Seriously, if one particular aspect of a show (be it one character, one “ship, one villain, whatever) is the only reason you watch or would watch the show then unless you somehow manage to buy out the studio making the show or get some really good blackmail material on the writers, you are never going to be happy. Try and bear in mind that for every person out there who is a huge fan of one character/ship, there are plenty of others who don’t like it or like the exact opposite. Flouncing around saying, “I’m not going watch anymore because the writers are doing what I want” seems the height of petulance… especially when you start spamming someone’s personal blog with it.
ssknh said…
Was the “Sam(Sam Carter)” in the first episode the whale causing the hallucination or was it McKay’s imagination? It is speculated that because in the second ep the whales caused “Ancients”/hallucinations to run around Atlantis.
Tha hallucinations in Echoes were “playbacks” of previous events and they happened specifically because the whales were trying to communicate with Atlantis about those events. The whales were effectively broadcasting those images. There is no suggestion in Echoes that the whales are dangerous or cause hallucinations when they are not deliberately broadcasting recorded images so I doubt that Sam the whale was responsible for McKay’s fully interactive hallucination of Sam Carter in GUP.
Hahaha I have to admit I try and steer clear of the acronyms as much as I can, so a lot of those were…lost on me.
Ah, you’re kind of in my boat. I did the same thing but when I went to my dentist I wound up getting a stupid bite plate for when I’m asleep. No more headaches and no more sore, cracking jaw, though.
Gag. I see KFC; I see enough of that at work (as in, enough for me to want to burn it whenever I see it). *evil cackle* Fast food has that effect on me now…
Reading responses from my fellow fans, I can’t help but wonder the allure of having two of the characters “shipped”. Whether it’s SG-1 or Atlantis, the romance stuff just makes me gag (no offense out there, ship fans). Quite frankly, it drives me nuts. The best thing about SG-1 back when Christ was a corporal was the friendship and the interaction without the nausea-inducing “romantic” undercurrents. Same goes for Atlantis–the friendships between the characters is enough for me; they usually get along so well. =P
But that’s just MY two cents.
After watching Sateda where Shep talks to Teyla like a father talking to his teenage daughter (with the nice hand tap no less – my dad used to do the shoulder tap thing to us), the idea of those two having babies is just wrong on so many levels. Please let me know now, so I can switch channels.
Hello Joe, hope this week’s events haven’t increased the teeth grinding. Ahem.
So, I was very excited about season 4. Now, not so much. I loved the idea of Rodney and Katie becoming parents. That could have stayed in the background and been a lovely addition to the show.
Teyla giving birth, however, doesn’t thrill me. Please, oh please reassure me that Sheppard in no way shape or form has anything to do with this. If we end up with Stargate:Young And The Restless, I will weep.
I just know you guys have a clever plan up your sleeves that will reveal something about the Athosian lifestyle and still keep the team intact. Please oh please with chocolate on top.
In the form of a question: Is Sheppard the father of Teyla’s child?
Wow Joe it looks like your blog has been taken over by some Sam/Jack shippers. What bothers me reading alot of their posts is that I get the impression that they really are not fans of Sam or Jack as individuals but only as a couple. To threaten to not buy the movies or not watch the show if Sam and Jack don’t get together, in my opinion, is insulting to the ten years of developement that the writers have given both characters and the actors have played so beautifully.
Stargate as a franchise is not dependent on whether or not Sam and Jack become a couple. Stargate began with the friendships between Jack, Sam, Daniel and Teal’c. Fantastic writing, fantastic acting and the friendships between Rick, Amanda, Michael and Chris off screen, in my opinion, is what led to the great chemistry between the characters on screen. Ten years is a great run and now we have two movies to look forward to.
Could you please pass along my heartfelt thank you to everyone involved.
Tou say: Well, when a man and a woman love each other very much, a special thing happens…
Oh damn, I really thought there would be a chance to see a pregnancy from two (wo)men together, or just a woman, or even better just a man.
I got on to someone on a message board once for poor grammar/leet speak. The response I got was “This is the internet, get over it. You don’t have to be grammatically correct all the time. This is the internet.” I replied something along the lines of, “Everyone has access to a dictionary (most countries to free schooling). Being one of the tragic bovine Americans, you certainly do. There is no excuse for making yourself look dumber than you really are.”
Boy, I wish people realized how STUPID they sound when they fall prey to such “common” practices. As for the other poster who mentioned “Eats, Shoots, and Leaves,” it IS a GREAT study in grammar…pretty funny, too. I bought it for my husband for his birthday last year. I guess the problem is only people who HATE poor grammar will read it. Therefore effectively influencing the wrong people…:(
Tanya C. Anderson
Joe, as a friendly advisor I suggest employing a few armed guards for your personal safety.
Anyway, just wondering but what exactly happened to the Athosians after the Return episodes?
Oh, and if im right in thinking because of Atlantis moving, we won’t be seeing Sam the whale in awhile, will we?
Why are the people who write the show, direct the show, produce the show so reticent to resolve the S/J thing?
Have you all truly lost touch with the fan base? Seems that with what you all provided in seasons 9-10 it was clear to a lot of people that you had lost “almost complete” touch with the fan base and the show is suffereing the consequences of that but is it really that you have lost “complete touch”?
I am not a S/J shipper (in fact I border on anti-shipper) however after seeing how the S/J stuff was dragged out, the fans mocked with it and jerked around with it for 8 years, then to drop it totally like a hot potatoe in 9 and 10 as if Jack never existed and to say there are no plans to resolve it or address it seems rather infantile.
Why not just throw a line in that Sam can say which refers to Jack if you want them to be together or a line that makes clear they are just friends . . . what is so hard about that especially since SG-1 is over (has been for 2 seasons now). Whether it is in SGA or the movies (the 2nd one making sense since that is probably the end of the road).
Not even being a shipper it makes me nuts how you guys have jerked the S/J shippers around for so long and continue to do so when it can be resolved with basically a line that takes 10-15 seconds of your precious air-time. Don’t worry 10-15 seconds to resolve a classic bit of what was a classic show for 8 years wouldn’t encrouch on the fun, fun, fun of Vala’s nonsensical, puerile behavior or on Cam’s ineptitude.
Ok hope you are still enjoying the chocolates. And for my question-I’d hate myself if I didn’t ask.
Any chance either of the crews will be out “on location” Monday? I’m in the area and love to run into you guys. (since you can’t grant me a visit to your office. 🙁 )
And what in the world was that LOUD boom this past Wed. about 10:30 am ish at the studio? About scared me to death!
And that dinner office is stil valid(till Monday at least!)
Best wishes!
amy lynn
Love the blog. I feel the same way that you do about the complaining.
Now a question about tenth season Stargate episode.
Did you have any input into “The Road Not Taken”. I just saw it last night and thought the politics of the episode were great as a current social commentary. Do the networks give you any trouble when the writers head in this direction?
cheers,
from the other coast of Canada!
Is it pathetic that the first place I come to everyday is your blog? It makes me smile. I appreciate you taking time from your extremely busy day to chat with us. And don’t worry about boring us anytime soon.
Good luck with the ratings tonight.
*fingers crossed*
Joe,
Can you tell us if we’ll get to see Bratac in either of the SG-1 movies?
Lady Dulcinea said…
I got on to someone on a message board once for poor grammar/leet speak. The response I got was “This is the internet, get over it. You don’t have to be grammatically correct all the time. This is the internet.” [snip…]
Yup, I see that one all the time too. My response to that is that grammar isn’t an “optional part” of a language, it is a fundamental building block – a language simply doesn’t work as well without it. You don’t get to pick an choose in which context grammar is relevant/required.
Lady Dulcinea also said…
As for the other poster who mentioned “Eats, Shoots, and Leaves,” it IS a GREAT study in grammar…pretty funny, too. I bought it for my husband for his birthday last year. I guess the problem is only people who HATE poor grammar will read it. Therefore effectively influencing the wrong people…:(
I see your point – kinda preaching to the choir, eh? 😉 I must admit, I found myself nodding vigorously as I read the book and, on several occasions, exclaiming loudly, “Exactly!!!” *lol*
Tanya C. Anderson
For crying out loud just toss the S/J shippers a bone and shut the whining up, CSI have established that Sarah and Grissom are a couple without it being in your face the whole time and without the rest of the team knowing about it, surely you can do the same just as tastefully and understated.
Alipeeps said…
Be thankful you’re not allowed to read fanfic… good lord, these people are effectively “publishing” their writing for public consumption and yet a great many of them can’t even be bothered to use a spellchecker.. and/or, even worse, actually genuinely don’t understand grammar and spelling. *sigh*
**hyperventilates**
Don’t talk to me about the standard of grammar and punctuation in fanfic!!!
OMG! (Hee hee!) You should have seen the size of the rant I just typed then deleted. No-one needs to read that, least of all Joe. This is his place for “Thoughts and Tirades, Rants and Ruminations” lol! Sorry about the acronyms, but I only use the well known ones – I didn’t get half of yours!
I clench and grind my jaw during the night and between some exercises and a well nifty splint worn over my lower teeth when I sleep, (and worn away in 3 to 4 months) all my horrendous jaw, neck and headaches are gone. They’re not sexy, I’ll grant you, but neither is the bitching and pill popping that follows a bad night! Unfortunately I have worn my upper canines and premolars down significantly and you REALLY want to avoid that as it can also increase sensitivity quite dramatically. Once that enamel is gone, it’s gone for good. Do whatever your dentist tells you to – trust me on this.
Joe –
As a fellow “teeth grinder” I feel your pain. Like another poster, I too, got one of those attractive “occlusal guards” to wear at night when I sleep.
Despite the inherent geekiness in it – I do think it helps. Of course, I grind my teeth so bad I’m causing fractures in them. I must lead a tense life???
And, I highly recommend the massage that another poster recommended. You would be amazed at the tension you can carry in your jaw. But then again, having to read and answer all of these posts, maybe you wouldn’t be amazed. =)
No question today. Just sympathy for your jaw problems.
SMB_BOOKS
GeekBoy has finished all the Scalzi books AND The Lies of Locke Lamora, so I’ve got to go back and re-read your recommendations for more books to get him. He reads about as fast as you do, I think. He’s up to 34th in the queue for World War Z at the library. He was so desperate for a book to take to school this morning that he took my copy of Scoundrels To the Hoosegow, written by a Missouri county prosecutor. He’ll like it, since he likes to laugh at stupid criminals.
Hi Joe!
Oh dear, I seem to have entered the ‘ship’ zone! (I would say ‘lol’, but you might throw something at me!)
Anyway, my question has nothing to do with romance…well, not that I can see.
I was wondering if the Wraith from Common Ground is definitely coming back in season 4? I know you said you were hoping he would be. So, any good news on that front, or anything you can tell us about a potential story with him in it?
Thank you!!
I thought that taking part in the SCB campaign made me some Sci-Fi extremist or weirdo.
But I must say that I am pretty tame compared to some of the other posters in your blog.
The thought of trying to analyse your vague answers and work out what is going to happen in series 4 tires me out.
As my dad used to say “It’s TV – it’s not real”.
But I still support SCB, us Scots have to stick together!
🙂 Susan, Scotland, 🙂
So a friend recently pointed out to me that there are a lot of space roofies in SG-1 but almost none in SGA. Will we be seeing some in SGA season 4+?
I used to drive past a sign on my way home from work that made me laugh every single time. It was posted at a highway construction area and said “NO UNAUTHERIZED PERSONAL ON BRIDGE!” I guess having 3 out of 5 words correct isn’t bad.
Dear Joe,
Please don’t listen to the pushy nay-sayers who don’t see the beautiful romance you’ve been building between John and Teyla for the past three seasons. I for one would LOVE to see John somehow be responsible for Teyla’s child.
Not that I could stomach “As Atlantis Turns”, but I can see a myriad of possibilites for John and Teyla as they try to figure out what this means for them as a couple- if anything. And how they come to terms with whatever this child might be.
And let me add my voice to those who don’t want to see Teyla’s roll on the team hampered by this new development!
Could you tell us if any of the theories put forth are somewhere close to the truth? Eight-ball me!
Hey Joe, the ZPM in Brotherhood, any chance Atlantis will actually get it?
Second question, do the Atlantis teams have a designated team idetification number like the SG teams have, say like AL1? Just wondering…
Have a great weekend.
It bothers me to wondered what was another 3 languages beside Russian and Latin which Dr. Weir speaks? I’m sure that you would shed a light on this?
TPTB have been building a beautiful romance between John and Teyla for three years? I haven’t seen it. Maybe we aren’t watching the same show.
Say it ain’t so Joe. No soap on SGA!
So, no plans to finish the Sam and Jack storyline? That’s a disappointment for me, but at least I won’t hope to see something like this in the movies. Ah,well, it’s not up to you, is it.
All those acronyms in your second paragraph- that’s a whole different language! Some of them don’t mean anything, right?
I don’t have a real question, just a request again to tell us about the ratings, when you know. I am crossing my fingers, because being a fan, who doesn’t live in USA-that’s all I can do.
JohnManzione writes: 2. Any plans to finally let us all know whether Jack and Sam are a couple?
joe/answer: 2. No plans for this.
me: ever???
sally 🙂
Sanssong said…
And let me add my voice to those who don’t want to see Teyla’s roll on the team hampered by this new development!
Given the discussion of grammar and spelling engendered by today’s entry, that made me laugh.. 🙂
Joe, I’d like to ask: what do you do when you get writer’s block? is there anything you do to try to get your creative juices flowing again?
A friend of mine just continues to write and burns everything she writes during that dry spell.
I tend to just agonize over how I have no muse and my stories are just sitting there doing nothing. (Then I remember I should study or do homework, instead of stagnantly agonizing over a fiction block).
Thanks,
Ayla McKay
Nova Scotia
Alipeeps said…
Sanssong said…
And let me add my voice to those who don’t want to see Teyla’s roll on the team hampered by this new development!
Given the discussion of grammar and spelling engendered by today’s entry, that made me laugh.. 🙂
Oh mercy… *can’t* believe I did that. But in my defense I was trying to post quickly and quietly in a darkened room full of sleeping 3 year olds. *headdesk*
Your blog provides 100% daily of physician’s recommended intake of LOL vitamin.
Excuse me while I hijack your blog, Joe, but I need to answer this one. Rant ahead.
Anonymous said…
Wow. Provoking the Sam/Jack shippers. You do like to live dangerously don’t you Joe
Man, I can’t believe some people. In what way were the shippers “provoked”? Just because the writers of the show have decided against a particular storyline, you feel like you’ve been personally attacked? It’s not like there haven’t been S/J moments. (Window of Opportunity, Grace, Moebus Pt. II etc.) I admit, I love ships and am a Sam/Jack and John/Teyla shipper myself, but that is not the reason I watch Stargate. There is so much more to Atlantis and SG-1 than that. If I want something to turn out my way, I read or write fanfiction, and I don’t attack the writers for every single decision they make. For every S/J shipper, there will be an anti-shipper or a Sam/Cam shipper. The writers can’t please everyone at once, so why not just sit back and enjoy the show for other reasons?
For what it’s worth Joe, I think you’re doing a great job. Sure, there are some things I don’t like, but that’s what fanfiction is for, and I sure as hell won’t be bitching about them to you. I’d like to see some of the people on here try and write 20 episodes of a series on your deadline.
End of rant. 🙂
For future reference, how do you get be a writer on Atlantis?
Do you just jump up and down screaming “PICK ME! PICK ME!” Until somebody screams back, “Ok, c’mon! Just shut-up already!”
Or is it more of a go get yourself famous-ish and pray they notice you?
Motorhead has a song called “Line in The Sand”. Any Motorhead fans over in the office? Or is it just a coincidence?
P.S – if you havent heard that song, Check it out. Its an awesome tune.
I’ve been dragged into a debate about the giant pink elephant of Carson’s Return (dun-dun-dunnnn) and it seems that most people think that Michael is going to be involved in a big way. Say it ain’t so!
Wow, I’ve been gone for a while, and it seems all the exciting suff happened! I agree with you on the punctuation points, and thanks for the updates on the poem too! Can’t wait for the ice cream party either.
Too bad we couldn’t see McKay as a daddy – it would make for quite an interesting story. Now all you have to do is get Carter pregneant too, and the fandom will go crazier than chickens with their heads cut off chased by blindfolded foxes! (The thing about chickens is from a science video seen at school. Does it make sense to you?)
Shawna said
As for Teyla’s baby-daddy…it’s Michael, isn’t it? You did say we’d be learning more about wraith reproduciton. Ah, Michael/Teyla, the rogue ship (I like to call it “Slappy”, in the vein of “Sparky” and “Spanky”).
Hahaha, no wait I think Rodney/Mckay is slappy or maybe it’s snappy, not sure since I don’t venture into slash land. Sparky started the trend of naming every ship in Atlantis with the letter S. And all because we didn’t want Shep/Weir to be called shweir. LOL.
If Ronon is not the dad, then I’m all for Michael being the dad.
And that was supposed to be Rondney/Zelenka. Because Rodney/Mckay would be just, no. LOL.
*headdesk*
Hi Joe,
Do you think not having a clear cut Sam/Jack ship resolution has hurt ratings?
Joe, any chance of letting us know which of John or Ronan (or anyone else) would teyla have a relationship with, so we can finally stop the tension building between the groups of fans who argue over this, please.
Thanks alot.
Many thanks for that poem. I’m rather over excited already about season 4 and I am already sufering withdrawl since the end seasons were shown on sky.
Any chance of an Irish person popping up on the show in the future?
Keep up the great work!
Best wishes
-Anna
If you didn’t have any plans for solving S/J ship then you shouldn’t have killed Jacob ! He was my favourite recurring character on SG-1…
Oh. BTW The reason I stopped watching in S9 is because we didn’t get a definite confirmation on S/J.
Oh my goodness, your one phrase sure has brought the shippers out of their hidey holes. I honestly think they would prefer to give up future DVD movies if it meant Continuum would end with their precious “validation/ resolution/ happy ending”, rather than have more movies that preserve the team with Jack in the chain of command. What a shame.
Hey Joe!
Hope the ratings were okay if not better than last week–
I’ve got 2 questions for you.
1)You said that it would be unlikely to see Jonas in Atlantis, does that mean he could be in one of the movies provided that he isn’t dead?
2) Is Teyla being pregnant going to solidify a ‘ship’ between her and a)Ronon, or b) her and John *shudder* or c)is it a wraith baby??
Joe-
Are we going to see Torri past the four episodes that she’s contracted for?
So Teyla’s pregnant-eh?
Is this going to change anything with Torri and the 4 episodes that she is in because with Rachel pregnant (CONGRATS RACHEL BY THE WAY) I would assume that she won’t be able to do much…what I’m really trying to say is there any chance of Torri being reinstanted as a regular seeing how Rachel could be out of commission for 6 episodes or more…
an anoymouse said:…or Ronan (or anyone else) would teyla have a relationship with..
Please, fandom, if you are going to concern yourself with the fate of a character, LEARN TO SPELL HIS DAMN NAME, OKAY?
<3,
A
As much as I hate it when people email me using internet/text message slang and short-forms, they really seem to hate it more when I write them back, having corrected every spelling, grammar and punctuation mistake in the “Original Message” quote.
I try not to but…I just…can’t…stop myself.
KJC