Wow. My childhood reminiscences so resonated with fans that my blog has been inundated with posts from individuals undoubtedly touched by the fond memories I shared in yesterday’s blog entry. That and the fact that I would be announcing the winner of the first ever 2500 000th Blog Visit Celebratory Flocking Give-Away today. And so, without further ado, allow me to congratulate…
…drum roll, please…
PG-15 for being the first person to post a comment following the 250 000th visit at exactly 5:24 p.m. late yesterday afternoon. As the winner of this contest, PG-15 will receive the super-special one-of-a-kind chunk of discarded flocking from the set of Stargate: Continuum IN ADDITION TO a gorgeous machine-crafted cardboard carrying case AND a secret hidden cryptic Atlantis season four spoiler that PG-15 can feel free to share, torch (but nowhere near the flocking please as it is highly flammable), or keep to her/his/its little self. Again, congratulations to PG-15 and Bon Appetit! (Please do not consume the flocking as it is probably highly toxic as well. Enjoy!)
Well, after my one day off, I was back in the production offices today for the big Digital Media tour. Representatives from various media outlets (UGO, IGN, TeeVee, Shakefire, TV.com, TV Gasm, TV Squad, SyFy Portal, GateWorld, TVAholic, CHUD, Video Detective, ACED Magazine, Twitch film, DVD Verdict, Sci fi Meshes, Monsters and Critics, Media Blvd., Eclipse Magazine, The Movie Reporter, Yahoo, AOL, Below the Line, The TV Addict, and Zap2It – a few of the scheduled guests) were invited to the set to take part in a special Atlantis Q&A panel and crappy lunch. Four of us made up the panel: David, Rachel, Paul and myself. Brad was at the studio cutting Continuum (He invited us to a special producer’s cut screening for this Thursday morning. I‘ll be bringing the popcorn I won‘t eat as I don‘t like popcorn.) and although I invited him to join us (he has, after all, contributed his fair share to the Stargate franchise over the years), Brad respectfully declined, preferring a more spectatorial role in the proceedings.
I got to the office a little after 9:00 a.m.the lovely Rachel Luttrell already there, the equally lovely Leah Ehman (our Atlantis make-up department head) on hand to give Rachel the approving nod and then turn her proficient skills to salvaging what she could of the boys. David, who arrived soon after, was greeted by our publicist with an: “Are you going to change?” “Should I?”asked David. Nah. I thought he looked roguish. Paul rode in on his bike soon after. “What do you need?”asked Leah as I hopped onto the chair. “Make me look like her,”I requested, pointing at Rachel. Well, Leah is an accomplished make-up artist, but she can’t work miracles. Still, a little sponging here, a little brushing there, the application of some of that copper cream and I was camera-ready.
As we headed downstairs, the media began to file in. They were followed by the gang from Sci Fi: Bonnie Hammer, Mark Stern, David Howe, Lana Kim and many, many more. We made our way to Stage 6, the main Atlantis standing set, where the gate room had been magically transformed: media on one side, our foursome panel directly in front of the lit-up gate and flanked by event moderator Mark Stern.
The panel went very well, both Rachel and David offering up some very funny anecdotes – that I won’t go into here, instead allowing you to read all about them when the stories are filed. While Mars, David’s dog, ambled up and around (“Please, God, don’t let this dog sniff my crotch while the cameras are rolling?”), we fielded a bevy of Stargate-related questions.
Afterwards, we enjoyed (?) a catered lunch where I had the pleasure of sitting down and chatting with April MacIntyre of Monsters & Critics (whose 70 year-old father is a dedicated reader of this blog. Hiya!) and Michael Stailey of DVD Verdict. Over the course of our meal, we talked about everything from the rigors of producing a television show to that Sopranos season finale. And then, it was time for them to get back on the bus. They were heading to the set of BSG and I was heading home to write up today’s blog installment, maybe work on my script (but doubtful at this point), and read a little more of Consider Phlebas (more on my reading and t.v. watching tomorrow).
I also hear that we’ve more or less finalized the SG-1 and Atlantis panels for this year’s Comic Con. The panels will take place Friday afternoon and the traditional Sci Fi party will be held on Saturday night. The party, I’ve been told will be a co-hosted by one of our most ambivalent critics, none other than Entertainment Weekly, who are no doubt delighted by the opportunity to fest BSG even at the prospect of suffering our incidental but annoyingly necessary presence. We’ll try not to crowd the bar, guys.
Oh yeah – the ratings. They were great! Here’s hoping that the all-new episodes of Atlantis (premiering only on Sci Fi this September) perform just as well.
Today’s pics: that sassy Rachel, the new Catwoman? Meeeow!, the lovely Leah, veteran producer-panelist Brad Wright offers us sage advice: “Try to make sense when you talk.”, David enjoying a pre-panel coffee, the gang from Sci Fi arrive, David all smiles, Producer John G. Lenic there to keep us out of trouble, Mars – the fifth panelist, the media.
Hmmm. 177 comments and counting. Let’s see what I can do about fielding a few of these questions…
Propagandor writes: “Are those Becketts turtles in McKay’s room?”
Answer: They be them.
Emma writes: “Deep fried mars bars….like ’em, hate ’em, not fussed?”
Answer: Put me down for “love ‘em”.
Imitation Tofu writes: “Joe, do you have access to those numbers? If that’s true then the reported ratings + tivo and dvr later run ratings should = higher, more stable numbers throughout the season. Is that the case or are you going on assumption?”
Answer: The article in question seems to reinforce this assumption. Of course we’re caught in a bit of a squeeze between the entrenched system of gathering ratings numbers and our fast-developing technology that should be forcing us to rethink said system. Throw into the mix the fact that while Tivo and DVR seems to influence ratings, it isn’t a simple matter of factoring in this recorded programming because most viewers fast forward through the commercials, something they can’t do while watching something live.
Anonymous #1 writes: “So the possibility of Daniel doing a guest spot on Atlantis in season 4 – is that an ABA question, a CA question or a we’re not sure yet question?”
Answer: That falls under the IP (It’s Possible) category.
Ltcolshepjumper writes: “Will we EVER see bathrooms, showers, or sinks in Atlantis?”
Answer: I mentioned in an earlier post that Carl Binder was working on the big Atlantis Toilet three-parter. According to Carl, however, he’s “having trouble with part two”.
Bugguy writes: “Any veggies you could see putting in a “stand alone” ice cream?”
Answer: Eeww. None.
Knightowl writes: “In Duet, there is a picture of the cat, but its a completely different cat than the one McKay gave to his neighbour. Has he had more than one?”
Answer: Yes. Also, he was taking to dying his cat for special occasions (like, for instance, the day that particular picture was taken).
PAT writes: “Ant Music or Prince Charming ?”
Answer: Ant Music.
Koreanturtle87 writes: “Have you evern been to Insadong? It’s a korean bbq place on the Coquitlam/Buranby border.”
Answer: I haven’t. Any good?
Dajaje writes: “So how come McKay gets a patio and Sheppard doesn’t?”
Answer: He likes to barbecue.
Cole j writes: “I guess my Man from U.N.C.L.E. photo album got pitched out years ago”
Answer: Both Paul and I loved Napoleon Solo!
IB writes: “Which country would you like to visit, but you never get the chance?”
Answer: I hear Singapore is nice.
Joseph writes: “I know you make ice cream, but what’s the strangest combination you’ve tried that actually works?”
Answer: Vanilla-caramel popcorn.
Anonymous #2 writes: “I found a fabulous post on the TWoP forum that sums up what a lot of Weir fans…”
Answer: With all due respect, all that post does is sum up with said fan feels based on his/her assumptions of what went on behind-the-scenes, nothing more.
Ming writes: “ Have you had the opportunity to visit the Theo Chocolate Factory and take the factory tour in Seattle?”
Answer: No, but I do love their Bread & Chocolate bar.
Andrew writes: “Will iTunes sales have any effect on whether or not we get a season 5?”
Answer: Not form a network standpoint.
Anonymous #3 writes: “And the reason for the 25 year old CMO? Work experience week perhaps?”
Answer: First of all, when we were looking to cast the new CMO, we knew we wanted to cast a woman because we wanted another strong female character on the show. Secondly, when it came time to cast the part, we chose based on talent – and based on everything we’d seen of Jewel, we knew she was extremely talented (and has even exceeded our expectations in season four). As for her age – the entire Atlantis expedition is made up of geniuses, those at the top of their respective fields, yet those with the physical capability and mindset to be able to travel to another galaxy and leave everything they knew behind. Face it. At the end of the day, any casting decision we made (male, female, young or old) would have been met with derision by certain fans. And I’m going to go out on a limb here and guess you for one.
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