I was on my way back to my office when my cell phone rang. I snapped it up, “Hello?” “Hi, this is Rachel from Dr. Hartloper’s office,”said Rachel from Dr. Hartloper’s office. “Are you on your way in?” Awwww shiiiii- I checked my watch. 10:10 a.m. “What time is my appointment?”I asked, wondering if I just might be able to make it (if I drove really fast). “Ten a.m.,”she informed me. (or used that time traveling puddle jumper). “I won’t be making it,”I sheepishly admitted, feeling very much like a toddler who had disappointed his mother.

It had completely slipped my mind. Really. Okay, I’ll readily admit that visiting the dentist isn’t high on my list of “fun ways to spend a morning” (falling somewhere in between playing Parcheesi and eating at a vegetarian restaurant), but my problem isn’t really with the whole dentist experience per se. Not really. My irrational fear stems from those damn stairs I’d have to climb every time I would visit my childhood dentist. Three flights of enormous steps with huge, yawning slatted openings just perfect for claiming misstepping acrophobic six year olds. The appointment itself was never that bad. Far from ideal, but not terrible. My parents would schedule my sister and I back to back so that we would sit together in the waiting room, cooling our heels until the receptionist would poke her head in and ask: “Who’s first?”, precipitating a quick draw response from the both of us: “HIM!”/”HER!” On one occasion, my sister was faster and I ended up heading in for the unenviable first slot, vowing revenge. The opportunity presented itself during the “fluoride treatment”, a procedure that involves biting down on twin trays lined with what can best be described as cloyingly sweet, headache-inducing goop. “You’re in luck,”my dentist assured me on this occasion. “We have a new flavor: Chocolate!” Not bad, I thought. That is until I bit down and, seconds later, ended up dry-heaving into the spit sink. As I struggled to keep my breakfast from rising to the occasion, I was struck with a wicked thought. I had a fairly strong stomach yet was unable to endure the slightest hint of this chocolate-laced toxin. So I wondered how my far more sensitive sister would fair? Well, there was only one way to find out. Once I stepped back out into the waiting room, my worried sister was quick to ask: “How was it?” “Not bad,”I replied. “But when it comes time for the fluoride treatment, try the chocolate. It’s really good.” She headed inside and I sat back down, leafing through a copy of OWL Magazine until, approximately five minutes later, I was rewarded with the sound of my little sister retching her guts out. In retrospect, however, it was not a happy ending for me. Assuming my sister’s “adverse reaction” to be a hyper-sensitivity to saccharine goop, our dentist discontinued the practice of having her endure our annual fluoride treatments. I, on the other hand, was not so fortunate. Karma’s a bitch.

In any case, my deep-seeded fear of visiting the dentist had nothing to do with today’s missed appointment and one apology and cancellation fee later, I had rescheduled for 10:00 a.m. tomorrow morning. Somebody, please remind me.

Spent the day re-reading my rewrite of This Mortal Coil to the point where I want nothing more to do with it. And that’s when I know it’s ready to go out to the rest of the writing department.

Writer/Producer favorite Nora O’Brien of the SciFi Channel dropped by this afternoon to give us to say hi and give us last Friday’s ratings. A very slight uptick for both shows (and from what I understand Atlantis was the #2 non-sports cable show of the evening) in a mystifying soft couple of weeks for t.v.-viewing in general. Although, in all fairness, we were up against the weekend opening of Kickin’ it Old Skool and the big Madison, Wisconsin Poetry Slam.

Finally, dropped by set today on my way home to prep for tonight’s SciFi celebrity cast dinner at – you guessed it! – Don Francesco’s, and presented David Hewlett with his birthday gift: a copy of The Ghost Brigades, the sequel to Old Man’s War (I stressed this was not to reward his rapping abilities which are suspect at best). He has just finished reading one of John Scalzi’s other books – The Android’s Dream – and LOVED it.

Today’s pics: Fab director Andy Mikita looking kingly in the thorny throne from the upcoming The Seer (thorny throne compliments of equally fab Set Decorator Mark Davidson), a first go at the Reunion map, James Robbins’s proposed probe from that other episode, the possibly new and improved rail gun, Nora O’Brien drops in on John Lenic, camera-shy (and/or flash sensitive potential vampire) Director of Photography Peter Woeste.

Some quick Q&A’s before dinner:

Hitman Jr. writes: “Is it normal behavior for a Pug to get upset by someone leaving? Every time I leave it starts going crazy and tries to block the exit.”

Answer: You’re lucky. Maximus used to take it out on Fondy’s new shoes.

Lizzyshoe writes: “ You said you’re not allowed to read fanfiction for legal reasons, but what about published Stargate books (like the Fandemonium series)? Would there be similar legal dilemmas in reading these?”

Answer: No because those are the property of MGM Television.

Anonymous #1 writes: “But I was there, as where several other people who I told what was said immediately after it was said.”

Answer: So in other words you have several other people who can confirm that you told them what you claim to have heard. Okay.

Jason writes: “My question is what was the norwegian cheese Mitchell was referring to in his omlette recipe?”

Answer: Gjetost.

Lady Dulcinea writes: “I wonder how many other universes the “universal remote” actually works in?”

Answer: Only one and, sadly, it aint this one.

Just Jess writes: “ So how was the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy?”

Answer: Loved it. It’s been some 20-25 years since I first read the series.

DM writes: “I’m making an Indie and say I wanted to hire Hewlett to act in it, or you as a script-advisor.”

Answer: You could try writing to the Bridge Studios but, in all honesty, we’ve been turning down work because we’ve been so busy with Atlantis.

Smiley Face06 writes: “ What are your favorite episdoes to write? Comedic, dark, stand-alone…”

Answer: The most satisfying are those that accomplish all three.

Roxanne writes: “So, are the writers in the process of writing scripts for the back half of season 4, or are you still pitching ideas around?”

Answer: Yup.

Nik of lala land writes: “Who came up with “If you immediately know the candlelight is fire then the meal was coked a long time ago”?”

Answer: Blame Robert Cooper.

Namiko writes: “Could you confirm a rumor I heard coming from you-know-who’s mouth about some actor at such-and-such a place? Thanks loads.”

Answer: Yup, it’s true!

66 thoughts on “April 30, 2007

  1. Joe,

    Did Ms. O’brien give any indication of how Scifi feels about the show’s performance? Or is everybody just chalking it up to a couple of bad weeks and hoping things improve in a couple of episodes?

  2. Joe, here’s a post from a board that sums up a lot of fans’ feelings and just might explain SG-1’s demise:

    “A bit of history. I work in a video store. End of history. Anyway, today, I was going out to stock some of our catalog videos (the ones that have been out on DVD for a while) and noticed a customer at the video desk and a fellow employee looking like he needed some help. So I went over and asked what I could do.

    Turned out the customer wanted to buy the first five seasons of Stargate SG1 and was just waiting for season two. Coolness! We got into a brief discussion about the show. Well, anyway, the customer said he didn’t really want to get Seasons 9 and 10 because they broke up the original team and it wasn’t the same.”

  3. Judging by the upturn in ratings for irresponsible, yet the general hate for the episode, we can discount that the ratings are being hit by downloads. Because if they were, then i doubt people who had already seen Irresponsible would watch it again, and thus I would expect horrible ratings for it. 😉

    OK, OK, that may be a pretty poor argument, but you get my drift …
    Please, please – don’t think that people like Lucius because the ratings went up. It is one of the most critised episodes I’ve ever seen – in fact, neither of the “Irr” eps in Season 3 went down well. I’m sure Richard Kind is a wonderful chap … but his character isn’t.

    So, can you confirm that you have no intentions of bringing Lucious Lavin back in Season 4 or beyond?

  4. Hiya Joe,

    Couple of things – those pugs of yours and Fondy’s are just gorgeous. Do they all have very separate personalities???

    And please keep the pics flowing – I really enjoy the glimpses.

    Q:
    I’m curious – have you seen David Hewlett’s latest rap endeavour and what do you think of it if you have?

    I was scared initially as I wasn’t sure what to make of it – but he certainly manages to make a rap geeky! Then I couldn’t stop laughing. It also illustrates that he really can talk that fast. I wonder if he took any breaths while talking?

    Take care,
    M

  5. Dear Joe,

    On what planets do the following episodes take place:

    Reunion, The seer, tabula rasa

  6. Hey Joe,

    Hope all is going well, I’m off to Jamaica tomorrow for vacation.. I’ll have a couple Appleton rum and cokes in your honor and the rest of the Atlantis team. Have a good summer, talk to you in September.

    PS: If the Concordia officials write you please email me..thanks

    your montreal fan

  7. At least you have a good reason to be apprehensive of the dentist! I always liked the dentist– good kids got toys after their appointment.

    Have you watched Heroes? I just watched it, so I thought I’d ask.

  8. Good luck with the dnetist! I have had enblessly bad experiences with them. When their assitants come in the room with the dnetal equipment and quietly place it them on the table adjoining the chair, it is pure torture. I always (vainly) hope that at least some of the tools will not be necessary.

    Hope it goes well,
    Royal

  9. Hi, Joe,
    I had the pleasure of watching the season one marathon of Atlantis that Sci Fi showed today and was reminded of something that I’ve been wondering for quite some time: What was Sheppard really going to say in “38 Minutes”?

  10. Great looking Rail gun.

    You’ve mentioned a few times that you (and the studio) will be just as busy this next season as the previous ones. Where is all the extra time being spent that is no longer being funnels into the 20 sg-1 eps?

  11. you said for someone to remind you, so here you go…

    Dentist Appointment at 10 am on May 1st

  12. I never tried the chocolate, but the bubble-gum was always good for a case of the dry heaves on the walk home. ‘Love how they’d tell you not to swallow it as it’s dripping down the back of your throat.

  13. This is a friendly reminder from your local dentistry office. We are commenting to remind you of an appointment you have maid with us on Tuesday, May 1st, 2007 at 10:00 AM. Thank You

  14. Tehheee!
    No questions for you today just to say I understand. I’ve not actually ever had aprehension at dentists, but it DOES bring back the horrid represed visions of the FIVE YEARS of orthadontal work I had to have done. Held captive by the nefarious Doctor NoseHair….

    hehe have a good one 🙂

  15. I, too, was always nearly sick because of the flouride. Terrible stuff. Bubble gum was always the worst. In my final years of treatment, though, they came out with Dr. Pepper flavor and while it didn’t taste like the soda, it didn’t make me want to be ill, either. Now, though, you can buy flouride-laced water. I’m not sure if it’s better or worse.

    And then let’s not go into the nightmare of the weird cement gunk they use for the plasters of your teeth prior to getting braces. Urgh.

    Love the throne chair! It reminds me of the one Gaston sits in, in Beauty and the Beast…

    Tell David that the fans love his rap. I fully expect a rendition of “Pretty Fly for a White Guy,” next.

  16. Ah, yes brotherly love. With 3 older brothers I learned at a very young age to ignore any an all advice from them. Or to do the opposite of what they said, both are equally effective. Thanks for answering my question!

  17. hello

    one of the pictures is a possible new railgun so the upgrades the oddesy gets in unending will not be on the other ships still no beam weapons on the ships in atlantis.

    and can you tell some more about sams new ship, becouse on gateworld it was said the gets a new ship it was mentioned in a interview that she would arrive in her own new ship so want to ask more about it.

    good luck with new episodes for season 4-5-6-7-8-9-10 (used a time travel puddlejumper)

  18. Don’t forget your dentist appointment! 😉

    Just so you know, your blog is not helping to quell my impatience for season 4.

    When things happen to cast members that really can’t be helped, but are very obvious, (like say, having to get a limb amputated, or someone geting pregnant[which is more exciting than losing a limb if you ask me]) is it usually very difficult to work that into the script? If you have things planned out ahead of time, does it really throw a wrench into your plans, or do you guys try to keep the storylines flexible enough that things like that can be worked in without too much trauma to the story?

    Take care of yourself,
    Ayla McKay
    Nova Scotia

  19. Hey Joe

    Just a couple of questions:

    1)Have you read anything by Greg Bear? I’ve been reading ‘Darwin’s Radio’ and I recommend it. 2)Have you read any of the Fandemonium SGA books? Are they considered cannon?

    Thanks for answering fans’ questions, and I can’t wait to see This Mortal Coil. I’m sure that it’ll turn out great. Happy writing! -Lauren

  20. My godmother’s my dentist, so at times, it’s a bit hard to say I don’t want to go to the dentist. And at times pretty much means most of the time. It’s just one of those things where I’d rather not go because, honestly, I’d rather do my homework than go to the dentist. Or sit through an hour of detention with the deans. Bleh. & your experience with your sister, the whole ‘HIM/HER’ thing, I went through the same with my sisters. & of course, as I was the youngest, I always lost, even if I said ‘THEM’ first.

    BTW, I think, anime-wise, you might enjoy “Bleach” & “Death Note.” Maybe the latter more, but as I haven’t started on it yet, I heard it was good & what I’ve read about it, it sounds pretty awesome.

  21. Answer: Gjetost.

    Bless you.

    You mentioned that SG books are property of MGM. Do you get some sort of input or say as to what goes in each story? It must be frustrating to spend so long writing a series only to have someone else write something ‘official’ without the screen-writers’ approval.

    DON’T FORGET YOU HAVE A DENTIST APPOINTMENT!

  22. To Anonymous (in the second comment),

    What about season 6, though? I mean, Daniel was pretty much absent from that season, and the team was reorganized. And I’m pretty darn sure there was also bitching before that season aired about how the PTB were killing the show by excluding Daniel, who was the greatest character ever, and his absence from SG-1 would totally lead to the demise of the SG-1 franchise, and, and, and.

    Season 6 is, in my opinion, one of the best of the SG-1 seasons, and I, for one, was pretty disappointed when Jonas departed and Daniel returned. The team with Jonas was new and interesting and I wanted to see more of it. So, I don’t think losing lead characters is entirely to blame for the cancellation of SG-1.

    YMMV

  23. Sweet, I just checked my junk mail, and I just won 1 Million US Dollars in a lottery sponsered by the Candian goverment for the promotion of the 2010 World Cup which will be held in South Africa.

    Apparently the total prize pool is 130 Million US Dollars, 130 people win.

    The funny part is, the lottery was held in the United Kingdom. Indeed, a global event of sorts.

    I just need to contact the corresponding agent in South Africa. I guess I should call…

  24. May as well follow the crowd: you have a dentist appointment at 10 am!!!

    With all the recent SGA rap phenomena from Zac and DH, any chance you could write in a rap scene?

  25. Hi Joe, first off, I love Stargate and the work you guys have done over the years! I’m not sure if this has already been asked or not but it’s been bugging me for a while. Regarding the Asurans, why didn’t the Ancients just dispose of them the same way we disposed of the Replicators in the Milky Way? It’s already been shown that the same technology works against the Asurans. Cheers.

  26. Yo Joe

    Something I’ve always liked about Atlantis was the international aspect of it but now I can’t help but feel this has faded significantly.
    This is mainly because at the moment the only member of the foreign accent brigade left is Zelenka because the other 2 prominent not American/Canadian characters have died to show a situation is serious and make me feel sad.
    Is there any reason for this or am I just being paranoid?

  27. As someone who has been going to the dentist since the age of two for an average of five cavities per visit? I totally understand the dislike you have.

    Ironically, I threw a rather substantial fit when I was five that got me sprung from those horrible flouride trays. I’d much rather let them paint it on and try not to swallow for five minutes than live with those trays. ::shudder::

    So when are we going to see your rap effort? I’m sure you’d love to “go gangsta” on some of the more aggravating fans.

  28. Hi Joe:

    How much input do the actors have regarding their characters development and have you ever taken any suggestions they might have offered and used them in the show?

    Cheers 🙂

  29. The last four episodes of SGA season 3 were some of the best yet. Keep em’ coming! A few questions; 1) Any chance of seeing Lt. Ford in season 4/ever? or has his time passed? 2) Besides SG-1 what was your favourite sci-fi show that was cancelled too soon? 3) Have you ever visited Australia?

  30. OK I don’t normally beg but please please please keep writing David lots of dialog or at least write him into the background of every scene. Never ever ever leave him alone for 5 hours again!

  31. (Forgive me if you get this twice, and let me know if you get this one — otherwise I’ll try again later! ^_~)

    The interview is live: http://www.sequentialtart.com/article.php?id=512

    Let me know if you need any corrections.

    Also, on the off-chance you’re reading this before it’s scheduled, don’t forget your dental appointment! ^_~

  32. “Mel said…
    Hi, Joe,
    I had the pleasure of watching the season one marathon of Atlantis that Sci Fi showed today and was reminded of something that I’ve been wondering for quite some time: What was Sheppard really going to say in “38 Minutes”?”

    And in case you don’t know, what could be the intention of the writer, making John say that to Weir?

  33. Anonymous said…
    We got into a brief discussion about the show. Well, anyway, the customer said he didn’t really want to get Seasons 9 and 10 because they broke up the original team and it wasn’t the same.

    Joe,

    I seem to remember one of TPTB mentioned that there was some consideration of changing the name of the show to something like “Stargate Command”.

    I think you should have done it.

    With two new characters coming in, RA gone, AT unavailable for the first 5 episodes, a new all-powerful enemy, a new commanding General and an external multinational committee to oversee the Stargate mission… it was a new show.

    I think leaving the name SG1 led people to think they would see the same old team continuing to battle the bad guys of the universe.

    When that turned out not to be the case and the SG1 “team” was there but looked different then the battles started (eg. Why him?, Why not Sam?, Vala shows to much , Daniel is not meek anymore, etc).

    Then some of these battles got turned into items in the script like co-command and looks between one of the original team and Sam to see if they should do what Cam just said.

    As an example of how it might have worked.., Stargate command could have moved the original team members in and out of an operational team (consisting of the new characters) as needed on TDY from their “real”job elsewhere.

    I know it all makes no difference now but I am curious.. What was your position on the renaming issue?

  34. To Iamza
    I’m not the same anonymous person that you were responding to but would like to give my opinion to what you have said. I started watching Stargate towards the end of season 7. Since my husband and I do not watch much television I had never heard of Stargate or the original movie, but one night we were flipping channels and saw the preview for Heroes. I remembered RDA from his Macgyver years and decided to tune in. After watching Heroes 1&2, I was not only loving the show but the characters of Sam,Daniel and Teal’c. I was able to catch up on all the older episodes and it wasn’t long before I wasn’t watching for Rick anymore but for the interactions and friendships between the original team.

    I didn’t care to watch much of season 6. The original team was gone,the science twins were gone,the interaction between Daniel and Teal’c was gone and the bantering between Jack and Daniel was gone. I’m a huge fan of the original team and the natural chemistry that the actors have on and off screen.

    Sometimes the original is the best and sometimes it needs to be changed. I can’t speak for Atlantis because season 4 isn’t here yet but as far as Sg1,for me, the original will always be the best.

  35. Hey Joe, I was wondering whens the rest of the worlds countries going to get a ship, I mean russia had one but, why haven’t the others? I an understand why the countries with smaller land masses can’t (you can’t really hide a Deadalus-class in Britain, people might get a tad little suspicious…) But China, Canada and Australia, whats stopping them? (apart from possible funding problems)
    Anyway, thanks for taking to time to read this…or not. Good luck with the series’.

  36. Hey- the third picture down looks like the pedistal from SG1’s the light… is that intentional?

  37. hi, joe,

    a slight rant ahead (but not at you :p)

    when i saw the coming attractions for ‘the shroud’, and NO mention was made of jack/rda being in it, that disappointed me greatly. then i bought the new tv guide (which has an little interview with amanda :D), and again, no mention in either amanda’s piece or the write up for the ep itself that jack/rda was in it.

    rda is popular and it’s known he brings in the ratings, so why the hell isn’t scifi letting it be known that he’s in the episode!?

    k, done with my rant. 😉

    sally 🙂

  38. you said in your interview from here – http://www.sequentialtart.com/article.php?id=512

    least fave moments:
    “200” — Creepy invisible O’Neill spies on Carter in the shower.

    i ask, what was wrong with that segment? the jack we saw in that segment wasn’t the real jack. even with how much jack is attracted to sam, the *real* jack wouldn’t have done that to her, joking or not. i just took it in the flavor i felt it was intended; farcical.

    your feelings/thoughts on the segment?

    sally 😀

  39. Hi Joe, I’m curious about something, by now we know your pet peeves, we know your passions, but what about your guilty pleasures? I have a feeling that the fans of the SG shows is up there on the list… you do love the fans, don’t you? but what else?

  40. I’ve got to agree with those here saying that “the original SG-1 (Jack, Sam,Daniel and Teal’c) was the best”. Seems that perhaps people in charge at SG-1 got caught up in the old myth that things have to change after time – why?? If something works and attracts fans in growing numbers over 8 years why does it have to change??

    Change would have happened naturally to SG-1 with RDA leaving and the other 3 remaining to tell SG-1s continuing story – the changes that apparently everyone at Bridge thought were necessary obviously didn’t work. When you have classic original why mess with it to make an obvious, lesser quality imposter?? – because someone somewhere said that after time everything has to change?? Please, that’s just bogus bunch of hooey.

    You should have made Stargate Command for real and not wrecked SG-1s good name by making Stargate Command and trying to pass it off as SG-1. You could have gone out on the high notes of Season 8 instead you go out with some of the lowest ratings in a long time and that’s what people will remember about seasons 9-10 (or should I say seasons 1 and 2 of the “new and improved” show)– kind of sad really.

  41. an Anonymous said: “I didn’t care to watch much of season 6. The original team was gone,the science twins were gone,the interaction between Daniel and Teal’c was gone and the bantering between Jack and Daniel was gone. I’m a huge fan of the original team and the natural chemistry that the actors have on and off screen.”

    i’m a big fan of season 6, because i felt it was the last great ‘season’. while seasons 7 and 8 had *great* episodes, i just felt that season 6 worked as an ‘entire’ season. granted, daniel/michael aren’t my favorite, so i wasn’t predisposed to not enjoying it because of grieving. s7, to me, herald in the problems (writing) that i felt plagued the show from then on. just an opinion.

    sally 🙂

    ps – did i use ‘herald’ correctly in that sentence?

  42. Hi Joe … hope you remembered the Dentist because I clean forgot to remind you.

    You’re right, DH’s rapping skills are suspect to say the least – the man is dangerous left with time on has hands! However you have to admire anyone who can manage to use the words ‘bombastic’ and ‘hubris’ in a rap … really the man’s a genius – but does he ever switch off?

    A propos the (now abandoned?) McKay becomes a Daddy storyline, for your amusement, I penned this little offering:

    Someday …. Maybe

    Yes, yes, I know that we once children were.
    But really ’tis a time best left forgot.
    The adult world I really much prefer,
    so please don’t face me with some snot-nosed tot.

    Maybe they should remain inside a cage
    To save them from themselves, you understand,
    Until they’ve gained more suitable an age
    to pay their way and lend a helping hand.

    But here is one that greets me with such glee,
    and as I look down on her upturned face,
    her little arms wrapped tight about my knee,
    that look of love fair makes my poor heart race.

    That tiny hand in mine does not feel bad,
    Know what? I’d someday like to be called … Dad

    by Amararti

    P.S – enjoy The Android’s Dream – it must be your turn to read it by now.

    AMx

  43. Just wanted to say The Road Not Taken was excellent! Makes me even more excited to see Carter on Atlantis.

    Irresponsible- meh. I thought the team moments were excellent, but I’m not a huge fan of Lucious and thought Kolya deserved a better send off. Though I have to say, 19 out of 20 eps have been great or better.

    Any ideas about the second half of season 4? Can’t wait to hear!

  44. majorsal said…
    ps – did i use ‘herald’ correctly in that sentence?

    Nope. Sorry. 😉

    Your friendly neighbourhood grammar nitpicker

  45. *waves*

    Hiya Joe, with S4 still months away *stomps feet impatiently* the whumping crew are beginning to do crazy things with straight jackets! 😮 Anything you can do to make the waiting that much more bearable? *flashes Joe her most brilliant smile* :o) Some yummy spoilery things perchance? Maybe? Please? Do I need to beg? It’s really not pretty… :o)

    Oh and before I forget, I love going to the dentist, but only because they sedate me beforehand. That way you can drift off to your happy place without having to worry about the drills, the metal implements, the yucky stuff…I’m not helping am I? Going now….good luck. :o)

    Thank you Mr M, you’re a very wise and kind man. Fingers and toes crossed that the ratings keep rising, that way if shirtless Shep doesn’t make an appearance in S4 *snorts at the absurdity* 😉 then at least we might get a chance in S5 :o) and to see JF’s script.

    I did warn you I go off on a tangent…oops, sorry, don’t forget your dentist appointment. :o)

  46. Anthony said…
    I just need to contact the corresponding agent in South Africa. I guess I should call…

    – +27 21 10111 That’s the number of the South African Police.

    The problem with this type of spam email is the fact that it more than likely never originated in South Africa at all.

    Try Nigeria or the Ivory Coast.

    No Stargate here at the moment, so thanks to Joe and his Blog for keeping me sane…

  47. Thanks for responding to my question the other day! Have you heard the conspiracy theory that flouride is unnecessary and is only given to us to prevent some sort of evolutionary change to our body?

    I’m not sure how I feel about this, but if it gives me a reason to avoid that procedure, then sure I’ll go for it. Although it does seem like something that came out of a scifi ep.

  48. Possibly there’s something wrong with me, but I really loved Season 9 and am really loving Season 10 of SG-1. So Mitchell isn’t O’Neill? Fantastic, because he was really getting boring with the dumb act, imo. Ok, Landry’s not Hammond but it’s not Beau Bridges fault he’s not got the Texan twang. And the Ori are way, WAY scarier than the Goa’uld.

    In the last few days I’ve rediscovered why I take next to nothing to do with online fandom. What a bunch of ignorant, ungrateful whiners some of them are! I’m not talking about people who didn’t like S9 & 10, to each his own, but the people who seem to forget that everything you guys do, right or wrong, you do in the belief that it’s the best thing for the show. Some people actually seem to take your decisions very personally, as if tbtb were out to upset them on purpose!

    As always seems to be the case, a vocal minority overshadow a very pleasant majority who simply want to chat to other fans about some great shows, including perfectly normal and reasonable discussion of aspects they didn’t like. Reasonable being the operative word.

    Plus, I don’t like the McKay bashing. How on Earth (or anywhere else) could anybody not love Rodney? 😉

    No more forum surfing for me.

    Oh and I hope the dentist went ok.

  49. Anonymous #1 writes: “Joe have you ever read any Terry Pratchett books?”

    The first one I read was “Reaper Man” it totally switched me on to Pratchett, but saying that I would go for Carpe Jugulem or Maskerade.
    I want to be Granny Weatherwax when I grow up.

  50. I sat a 3 and a half hour exam on Athenian Law this morning, it was hell by the way, but I realised while revising yesterday, so much of the Tollan law system from the episode where Klorel and Skaara go on trial, including the terminology, was stolen from the Athenians, i.e. The Arkhons.

    Anyway, more important stuff, as the rings are ancient technology, are we ever going to see them in Atlantis?

    Thanks.

  51. “Seems that perhaps people in charge at SG-1 got caught up in the old myth that things have to change after time – why?? If something works and attracts fans in growing numbers over 8 years why does it have to change??”

    Wondering the same thing now, considering what they’re doing with Atlantis. Except in Atlantis’s case they don’t even give the show 8 years, they’re trying to change it even before giving it a chance. Why?

  52. To Majorsal
    Sorry Sally but I don’t think that you read all of my post or maybe just jumped to conclusions. I said that I started watching for Rick at the end of season 7. Nowhere did I mention grieving for the loss of Daniel. Nowhere did I say that he was my favorite. I said that I quickly fell in love with the interactions between the original team. Since I loved the original team, then as you can imagine, when Daniel was replaced with Jonas we no longer have the original team. I prefer Jack,Sam and Teal’c interacting with Daniel not Jonas. I also wouldn’t want Sam replaced because I prefer to see Sam interact with Jack,Daniel and Teal’c then some unknown brought in to replace her.

    Although I started watching for Rick, season 8 had the team consisting of Sam,Daniel and Teal’c with Sam leading and Jack as General. I would have preferred to have kept a three man team and just brought in a new General for season 9.

    When I watch a show one thing I pay very close attention to is the chemistry between the actors. In my opinion, the best script in the world can not be saved by bad acting or a lack of chemistry between the cast and at the same time I think that a bad script can be made better by good acting and great chemistry between the cast. I feel that Rick,Amanda,Michael and Chris have great chemistry off screen which shines through on screen. That is why I love the original team and thanks to them fell in love with Stargate SG1.

  53. Afternoon Joe!

    DON’T FORGET THE DENTIST APPOINTMENT.

    Just wanted to say how cute the puppies are! Thanks for sharing the pics.

    I was wondering if you got a chance to see Shanks on “24” last night.

    Oh….and the local video store here actually has SGA S-2 in stock! Imagine my surprise when I went in there and turned around to see Joe Flanigan looking back at me. With his P-90 pointed at me….but still, there he was! They don’t have any of SG-1 however. Gotta start somewhere. I’d rent them but I already own both seasons.

  54. Last Friday I was supposed to go to my Spanish class, but I called my teacher to tell her I couldn’t make it because I was sick. I was totally lying. I just didn’t want to have to tape the new episodes–I wanted to watch them “live.” How ridiculous is that for a grown woman?

  55. laz said, “No more forum surfing for me.”

    Listen, there are places on forums where discussions go on without all the rancor and whine. The threads exist, believe me. I’m occasionally having some really good rounds. You know what I mean? Sometimes you want to go off on a tangent, just have a blast digging around in some show-related topic that no one but another long-time, knows-all-the-ep-names fan would understand. Hey, we’re out there.

    I’m more angsty about the mean-spirited stuff than the whining. It’s the mean-spirited stuff that blows me away. My son tells me that’s fandom anywhere. I’m inclined to agree. On the up side, I get to see a lot of mean-spirited, behavior health-challenged people in my day job, so the less charming sections on the forums kind of look familiar.

    No, no, that last part was a joke … er, um … really.

    Don’t give up.

    EC

    PS: Joe, you have an appointment tomorrow with the dentist.

  56. To Anonymous, who isn’t the Anonymous to whom I first responded:

    “I didn’t care to watch much of season 6. The original team was gone,the science twins were gone,the interaction between Daniel and Teal’c was gone and the bantering between Jack and Daniel was gone. I’m a huge fan of the original team and the natural chemistry that the actors have on and off screen.

    Sometimes the original is the best and sometimes it needs to be changed. I can’t speak for Atlantis because season 4 isn’t here yet but as far as Sg1,for me, the original will always be the best.”

    Fair enough. I, too, was a fan of the original SG-1 team, and, prior to watching season 6, did not really want to watch a show that did not include the full team. That said, for me, the revised team in season 6 worked. For you, it would seem it did not.

    One thing that season 6 did not do, though, was kill SG-1, despite the fact that the team had been changed. That was the point I was originally trying (and failing, I guess) to make in my original post.

    I appreciate that this might partly be because many fans either suspected or knew that Jonas was a stopgap character for a year, and were prepared to stick it out until Daniel returned. But still, for me it demonstrates that a change-around in team dynamics need not necessarily signal the impending implosion of a TV series — something that seems to be an unpopular belief amongst a few SGA fans when it comes to recent announcements of cast changes on season 4.

    Best

  57. Hi, joe,

    How come there’s NO mention jack/rda is in the “Shroud”
    Jack is popular and it’s known he brings in the ratings, so why don’t you advertise his presence in it ?? *confused*
    Doesn’t Sci-fi care about SG-1’s ratings anymore now that the show got cancelled ?

  58. Laz said…
    Possibly there’s something wrong with me, but I really loved Season 9 and am really loving Season 10 of SG-1. So Mitchell isn’t O’Neill? Fantastic, because he was really getting boring with the dumb act, imo. Ok, Landry’s not Hammond but it’s not Beau Bridges fault he’s not got the Texan twang. And the Ori are way, WAY scarier than the Goa’uld.
    As always seems to be the case, a vocal minority overshadow a very pleasant majority who simply want to chat to other fans about some great shows, including perfectly normal and reasonable discussion of aspects they didn’t like.

    Millions who left the show post S8 don’t agree with you and it seems to me they’re the MAJORITY !
    So JM I’m pretty sure you’ll get a S5 just so Sci-fi/MGM can get the 100 episodes for syndication ! What do you think ? How good the ratings for S4 have to be in order for us to get a S5?

  59. GeekBoy says if you want, he’ll send you his Pratchett paperbacks. I’d be glad to get rid of them, believe me–he won’t let me sell them to the used book store.

  60. Joe,

    Any chance we’ll get more natural disaster episodes in SGA season 4? It occurs to me that nearly all of my favourite SGA episodes feature natural disasters of one sort or another (what with solar flares, supersized storms, supervolcanoes, and chaotic physics resulting the demise of 3/4 of a solar system — though I guess technically that this particular incident was more MacKay’s fault than anything).

    So, next season, will there be mudslides, quakes, sandstorms, avalanches, firestorms, or blizzards on the way for Sheppard and Co.? Giant sinkholes, erratic wormholes, or crazy man-eating vegetation in the Pegasus version of the little shop of horrors?

  61. JG said :”Please, please – don’t think that people like Lucius because the ratings went up.”

    OMG, you people and your propaganda.

    I LOVED both episodes with Lucius. I think they were great and very fun episodes. Richard Kind is awesome.

    Now notice, I said that *I* loved the episodes. I didn’t say “We” “Everyone” “Fans” “People” I took ownership for my opinion and mine alone. Its easy to hide behind anonymous or waves of unknown “people” and “fans” It means nothing if you don’t have the fortitude to speak for yourself.

  62. Mr M.,

    I understand Travelers will revolve in part due to Sheppy’s strong ATA gene and another race wanting the use of said gene. (I hope I got that right). I’m curious to know if we will get more exploration of Shep’s strong ATA gene in S4 and could it put him in possibly more perilous postions either with the city, Ancient technology or with other races?

    Thank you for your time.
    Gate Geek

  63. Purp said…
    OMG, you people and your propaganda.
    I LOVED both episodes with Lucius. I think they were great and very fun episodes. Richard Kind is awesome.

    Now notice, I said that *I* loved the episodes. I didn’t say “We” “Everyone” “Fans” “People” I took ownership for my opinion and mine alone. Its easy to hide behind anonymous or waves of unknown “people” and “fans” It means nothing if you don’t have the fortitude to speak for yourself.

    Finally a voice of reason. We can only hope more people recognize, understand, and practice this point.

  64. Hi Joe..

    I justed wanted to point out how sick i am of all the negative opinions about the addition of Col. Carter to the Atlantis team.

    you must know that there are a lot of us, who know that the decisions you make, are the best for the future of the show. It is you and your colleagues, who made the show as fantastic as it is … And i personally love the idea of Sam as the leader of the expedition …

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.