“Being a pirate would be great,”our office assistant Lawren heard a five year old proclaim as the early evening screening for the latest Pirates of the Caribbean installment let out. “You can just go around stealing stuff and never get in trouble.”
Thank you, Disney.
In all fairness, my pal Carl, a Disney veteran, did once tell us about the time Pocahontas helped a little girl save her brother’s life. Apparently, a boy had almost drowned but was revived by his sister who performed CPR on him, just like she had seen in the animated movie. “Pocahontas saved a kid’s life,”Carl, who happened to co-write the movie, proudly informed us. “Sure,”countered Martin, “but what about all the unreported cases of kids getting mauled after trying to strike up conversations with raccoons and beavers?“ Touché.
But the truth is that modern kids are alarmingly well-insulated against the potentially bad influences of t.v. and film. As someone who worked in the field for many years, I am all too aware of the saccharinization of animation. Remember the good old days when shotguns, cannons and dynamite were both deadly AND hilarious? When plummeting off a cliff resulted in little more than a bruised ego and an accordion body? When electrocution was an acceptable means of getting back at someone? Geez, when did we get so uptight as a society? Somewhere between the 1966 finale of The Flintstones and the 1981 premiere of The Smurfs, television animation lost its soul. Yogi Bear is a perfect example. The original was an arrogant glutton who spent the greater part of his day stealing from unwary picnickers. Fifteen years later, he’s riding around on a magic ark with his buddies “searching for a paradise to call home, a place without pollution or crime” (Wikipedia). I mean, what the fuck? I’m surprised they never did a series about Electro and Doctor Octopus from the old Spiderman cartoon joining forces to travel the globe and teach underprivileged kids the merits of proper hygiene. Along the way, they’ll search for the true meaning of love. And Christmas. And non-GMO soybeans for the big-ass friendship cake they’re going to bake for all the world’s children to enjoy, including those with food sensitivities that preclude them from eating anything containing refined flour, sugar, chocolate, nuts, or any other flavor-possessing ingredient.
Oh, so Evan it is. Evan Lorne. In all fairness to Alan who was anoint everyone’s favorite Major with the Wesley moniker, no one could remember naming the character. But after some not-so-gentle fan prodding, Alex Levine dug up the truth. He was never actually called Evan at anytime, but in First Strike, he did wear a flight suit and said flight suit did require a name. So, Evan it is. Or, rather, Evan it still is. Hey, I can’t recall, but did we ever give Ronon a last name? I’m thinking Vanderberg. Does anybody have a problem with that?
Pics: Yesterday’s dinner of broiled arctic char with a tequila-lime marinade and baked halibut with crispy caper butter sauce, drone schematics, the top secret design for that wraith bench, and (What’s this?!) another script!.
Fire away –
Amy writes: “Have you ever tried Organic Oreos? They are quite delicious!”
Answer: Seriously now. Do they taste any different?
Lorr54 writes: “I am very happy you enjoyed them! Thank you!”
Answer: They truly were delicious. You should start up your own shop. Thank you for sending them.
Anonymous #1 writes: “1. How did the Wing Commander (Flanagan) come up with the script for “Epiphany?” 2. Following up with your last answer, I understand what you mean. I just wish there was a way. 3. My friend is interested in Sailor Moon. If it is your cup of tea, can you recommend any episodes?”
Answers: 1) Actually, Joe was credited with the story, not the script. He came up with an idea that Brad spun out in a different direction than the original idea. 2) ? 3) Not a Sailor Moon fan.
Anonymous #2 writes: “Just thought I’d let you know that there is now an “appreciation” thread for you over on Gateworld. Doesn’t it make you feel special?”
Answer: I always feel special. Now I feel extra special.
Lisa Gabi Marie writes: “How to you feel about livejournal? Do you have a secret blog there? Have you seen any of the Stargate communities?”
Answer: I don’t really know much about live journal.
Primate-Studios writes: “Is there a new direction that you’d like to take with Stargate?”
Answer: The Stargate franchise is Brad and Rob’s baby, so this is a question for them.
Arctic Goddess writes: “As a Canadian writer/producer, is it harder to get accepted as a writer for U.S. television, or are you accepted as easily as an American writer would be?”
Answer: At this point in my career, it doesn’t make that much of a difference.
Anonymous #2 writes: “IMDb claims that Season 4 will air in July. Is this true?”
Answer: Nope.
Jen, the cow hugger writes: “How is all this chocolate getting to you? Where are they sending it?”
Answer: It’s being sent to The Bridge Studios.
Rrmf writes: “ Any suggestions for a 16 year old voracious sci-fi/fantasy reader (my son) looking to cross over from books for “young” readers to more adult concepts?”
Answer: As always, I recommend John Scalzi. Have him check out Old Man’s War and The Android’s Dream.
SueKay writes: “Is that the story where they take the Pig to the Blarney stone so he’ll start to talk and then he won’t shut up?”
Answer: That be the one. Oink!
Atlantisfannew1 a ecrit: “Quel est votre patisserie préféré??”
Response: J’adore les mille-feuilles, les éclair au chocolat, et n’importe quoi avec de la crème de marron.
Stargate groupie writes: “Do the actors have much say regarding clothing or props that their character might wear or use? For example, did Joe decided that Sheppard would wear the black wrist band or was it you guys, also, the stuff in Sheppard’s room like the Johnny Cash poster, was that Joe Flanigan or the set design guys?”
Answer: On occasion, they do. That Johnny Cash poster in Sheppard’s room was a Joe F. request.
Anonymous #3 writes: “Did you do some work for Seinfeld?”
Answer: No, you misread. My writing sample was a Seinfeld script.
Anonymous #4 writes: “I’m better at chicken and sausage gumbo to be honest.”
Answer: You’re in luck! I love gumbo! I’ll let you know when I’m in town.
Anonymous #5 writes: “Do you ever garden or grow your own foods?”
Answer: I don’t but, every year when I accompany Fondy plant shopping, I do pick up a bunch of packaged seeds (ie. Garlic, various basils) that I fully intend to plant and nurture – but never do.
Paula writes: “I’m actually suspecting the green onions at Bishops. They’re notoriously hard to clean and the timing would be about right for the stuff that usually infects green onions.”
Answer: I don’t think it could have been Bishops as that was fully 60 hours after the fact. For much the same reason you’ve put forward, however, I suspect it was the raw sprouts I had with my soup. That’ll teach me to go for the salad.
Tanis writes: “I want to try if it is possible to send my resume to Stargate series, but I don’t know, to who and where I must to send my resume… do you know it? Are you sure that the “gatekeepers” will read all the resumes?”
Answer: It depends on the gatekeepers. In the case of Stargate, however, the gates are locked because we already have a full staff.
Smiley_face06 writes: “Any chances that you’ll make your facebook account so that it is not private?”
Answer: Hmmm. I’m already regretting this Facebook thing. I didn’t realize it would require all this attention and decision-making. I take pride in being friendless and Facebook actually works against that.
Anonymous #6 writes: “What are your thoughts on the craze of foams and molecular gastronomy? Lately I’m of the opinion that while they can create some really interesting tastes and textures, it is just too much hoopla. In the end there is just something missing from the dining experience.”
Answer: If the entire meal were to be made up of foams then, yes, it would certainly be missing a certain je ne sais quoi. No, wait. I sais quoi. Food. I think foams work best as accents to certain dishes.
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