I would be remiss if I didn’t report on Friday’s quasi-successful lunch, especially since I went to great lengths to detail Carl’s general unhappiness with his previous day’s order (just run a search for “curry cartilage” if you’re all that interested). Friday, we ordered from the Jagerhof Schnitzel House and while it wasn’t exactly a home run (I direct you to a pic of the prisoner portions) it was a solid double (the schnitzel was very good, the accompanying spaetzle not so much). My father would occasionally quote from some unknown source “You should always leave the table feeling hungry” (which was kind of ironic given that dad never actually put this theory into practice. Well, not intentionally anyway.). I was reminded of that saying as I finished off my very last shred of red cabbage, all the while eying the slow-eating Alan McCullough’s lunch order. Perhaps sensing my intentions, Alan pulled his meal closer and picked up the pace. Two hours later, because production was pushed, we were able to scurry down to the truck like a bunch of hobbits and enjoy “second lunch”: lamb, baked brie, and an ice cream sundae.
On a totally unrelated note, I seem to be putting on a little weight of late. Sure, I’m still the lightest guy in the writers’ room, but I think I may have to increase the intensity of my morning work-outs. It may be that my body has grown accustomed to my present routine or it could just be my metabolism slowing down with age. I’m not sure.
Incidentally, here is a boxful of macarons Fondy picked up for me from Granville Island. My favorite flavors in descending order: pistachio, chocolate, green tea, caramel, raspberry, and lemon.
Speaking of eating – since my sister-in-law and her boyfriend are in town, we decided to hit the Richmond Night Market yesterday. Well, it’s a step down from previous summers. Sure, you can always be assured of going there and finding yourself a pair of Japanese cartoon character pyjamas (Like my Mashimoro PJ’s. No, I‘m not kidding.) or an iFarted t-shirt, but the once varied food stand selection has been reduced to octopus balls, sausages, and squid. What happened to the okinomiyaki or the Korean spicy noodles? I circled the place three times and ended up settling for a Bavarian dog with fried onions. Not exactly the Asian feast I was looking forward to.
Finally, our friend Paul William Tenny over at MediaPundit.net offers an interesting editorial on the plight of writers working in Hollywood titled “Why Does Hollywood Hate Writers?” (http://www.mediapundit.net/2008/07/why-does-hollywood-hate-writers.html). It’s not that Hollywood “hates” writers. It’s more that they’re indifferent toward them, often disrespectful. It’s nothing personal.
Today’s mailbag:
Amz writes: “So you do watch Dr Who! You know the commentaries for the second (recent) series talk about Stargate, right?”
Answer: Nope, wasn’t aware. I haven’t checked out the DVD extras on the second series. Who said what?
Katie writes: “I mean even the mid season two parter seems heavy on McKay and Jackson. And “Remnants” doesn’t could for Shep since that’s only 1 of a 3 tier plot line that includes McKay.”
Answer: I’m afraid you can’t have it both ways. The McKay-Daniel storyline is one of three separate storylines in the mid-season two-parter, just like Sheppard’s storyline in Remnants is one of three in that particular episode.
Thornyrose writes: “I have one major gripe with the episode though. I know it’s nitpicking, but it was something jarring enough to bring me out of the story and start screaming at the tv set. Namely, the medical treatment of Sheppard after they tested the antidote on him.”
Answer: Perhaps we need to update our on-set med tech?
Fan writes: “Also why didnt the tendrils attack him as they had ronon the moment he got out of the jumper?”
Answer: In the case of Ronon, he was a direct threat to them, firing at the wall of tendrils and causing some sustained serious damage. In Sheppard’s case, it is the jumper that causes the brief but sudden damage. By the time the ramp has lowered and Sheppard has stepped out into the room, HE is no longer perceived as a threat – until he delivers the cure.
Fan writes: “what is up with carson becketts hair? is it a wig? and his makeup makes him look like he has had a facelift. is this a deliberate choice to separate his look *the clone* from the original?”
Answer: The make-up is no different. The hair is a bit of an issue. There was no attempt on the part of the production to differentiate his look.
Fan also writes: “there were so many people on the planet for S$R, how could they confine so many of them and have guards posted outside their rooms? wouldnt it have been smarter to just put them in one place?”
Answer: The idea was they were confined to quarters, not imprisoned.
Fan also writes: “if all the people who were on the planet got infected, then this includes Col Carter,do they explain this in the new SG1 movie coming out in a couple of weeks?”
Answer: Carter was quarantined back at the SGC for the duration of the events taking place on Atlantis.
Wonderingbrit writes: “Speaking of Dr.Who… If you had the opportunity to have a hand in that production – would you improve upon?”
Answer: I don’t see that it needs any improvement. It’s a good show.
Moms2398 writes: “First, I felt disappointed that we didn’t see any REAL reaction to the news that Carter was being replaced by Woolsey.”
Answer: Given that this episode takes place at least 3 weeks after the events of Search and Rescue (given the time it would take for Woolsey to arrive on the Daedalus), the team would have already had these discussions.
Moms2398 writes: “Where’s Chuck?”
Answer: Oh he’s still around. He’ll be popping up again over the course of the season.
Angelus writes: “How did Sheppard flying a Wraith Dart to safety with a baby in his arms and the team in the transport buffer after which the Daedalus blew the crap out of Michaels Hive ship suddenly lead to Teyla mentioning having spoken to Kanaan? Were not all of Michaels followers blown up with the Hive ship?”
Answer: Nope. You’re assuming that Teyla, McKay, and Ronon were the only ones stored in the transport buffer.
Paloosa writes: “I was also wondering, as you get notes back from the network and studio: (1) Has it ever happened that their comments conflicted in any aspect of a script (structure, dialog, etc.)? (2) If so, how do you resolve that? (3) Do the network and studio each have a dedicated executive or story editor for the show? (4) Who has the final say on the script before it goes into production?”
Answers: 1) Yep. 2) We try our best to address the notes without compromising what we have intended for the script. 3) Yes, they do. In the case of the network, it’s Chris Sanagustin. In the case of the studio, it’s Deb Curtis. 4) Fortunately, it has been a very collaborative season and never once reached the point where anyone has had to draw a line in the sand.
PG15 writes: “Well, since I’m here, I might as well beg you to reveal the line in the spoiler poem that relates to The Seed.”
Answer: “The city assailed by mutations infective”.
Morjana writes: “In next week’s ‘Broken Ties,’ is that Ty Olsson speaking with Shep, McKay and Teyla in what appears to be another off world bar (scene was in the MGM Stargate trailer).”
Answer: Nope. That is actor Sean Campbell who is reprising his role as former Satedan Solen Sincha (last seen in Trinity).
Shawna Buchanan writes: “One little bit did catch my interest, though, and that was when they were talking about Michael escaping the hive ship before it exploded, saying how someone had stolen a jumper, then Woolsey (was it?) pointed out that someone would have to have the ATA gene to pilot a jumper.”
Answer: Carson was a guest of Michael’s for quite a while. Let’s just say that this won’t be the last of Michael’s surprises in that respect.
JoJoB writes: “Was the name of the drug, The Phage, a homage to ST Voyager and the Vidian plague of the same name?”
Answer: No. A phage is a virus with a bacterial host.
Ykickamoocow writes: “In a recent interview Jason Momoa refered to the fact that Ronon and McKay are not friends. I was just wondering is this something the writers planned or is it something which just happened over time?”
Answer: I’m sure Jason was simply referring to “friends” in the traditional sense. While Ronon and McKay aren’t exactly best buddies, that doesn’t mean there isn’t an unvoiced camaraderie and mutual respect there.
Alexandra writes: “Why doesn’t Teyla have a problem with Kanaan being a Wraith/Michael-collaborator?”
Answer: She has more of a problem with the fact that Kanaan, as well as many other Athosians, were transformed into hybrids. They weren’t collaborating with Michael of their own free will.
Alexandra also writes: “Also that baby does not look like he could be Teyla and Kanaan’s child. Any chance there is something Michael-induced going on with his DNA/parentage and Kanaan is not actually his father?”
Answer: Nope. Kanaan is the daddy.
Kanadra writes: “I was wondering if the baby is Rachel’s real baby?”
Answer: No, it isn’t.
Deb writes: “If you haven’t read it allready, check out the classic “The Moon is a Harsh Mistress” by Robert A. Heinlein.”
Answer: I have read it and it’s one of my favorite classics (and Mike one of my favorite SF characters).
Aeon writes: “Hi Joe, I noticed you’ve written ‘Ripple Effect’ and I have a little question: In the AU where Janet and Martouf came from, Sam was on maternity leave, was she married to Pete?”
Answer: Nope. She was married to Jack.
MajorShipper writes: “ 1.Who’s idea was it to have the Keller/Mckay thing?
……Answer: In real life, Kelly, love aint so easy. There are times when two people may share a mutual attraction but be unable to get together due to circumstances.
2. Kindalike the Sam/Jack relationship?”
Answers: 1) Not sure where to give credit/assign blame on this one. I know that back when we were spinning season four, I pitched out the idea of Ronon and Keller because I thought that Ronon’s lost love who was also a medical practioner (see Sateda) bore more than a passing resemblance to Jennifer. I think we got our first hint of the possible McKay-Keller ship in Trio, so I’d say it was probably Marty G. who first floated the idea.
M writes: “It is well past time for SGA to stop trying to push Sheppard/Teyla. It’s immoral, it’s sexist, it’s racist, it subverts everything that’s been established about these characters, and it has no place on this show.”
Answer: Sexist and racist? How so? Also, the fact that Teyla is presently in a relationship doesn’t preclude the fact that she may have once had feelings for John.
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