Due to my recent computer problems, I’ve been able to get around to posting some pics I’ve taken over the last couple of weeks. For instance, some snaps from that dinner with Golden Boy Marty G. at Fuel on the night following the SGU season one wrap party…
As usual, we went with a five course menu and left the actual dishes up to Chef Belcham. Among the highlights was THIS –
Crazy-good! Actually, crazy-phenomenal. The best pasta dish I’ve had this year. Sadly, it’s not on the menu however.
Then, onto the mains – all equally terrific…
Damn. It was just like old times. We ate, shared some laughs, ate, caught each other up to date, ate, and ate, and ate. After dinner, I dropped him off at the airport so he could catch his flight back to New York where he was scheduled to begin work on the second season of HBO’s Bored To Death.
Well, I decided to set aside the day to set up my new Macbook. Not that I would need all day to do it – but just in case. And so, after lunch, I sat down, unpacked the box, plugged in my sleek, new laptop, and turned it on. I was greeted by a beautiful welcome display that smoothly segued to the Setup Assistant. After choosing my language (I opted for English) and country (Canada), I was prompted me to make a wireless connection…which, for some reason, proved impossible. So, after many repeated attempts, I literally had to pack it in. Hmmmm. Is this some sort of sign from the tech gods? I’m bringing the laptop in to the office tomorrow where I’ll try again. Or, rather, if the going gets tough, have resident SGU tech guru Lawren Bancroft-Wilson try again. In the meantime, my Blackberry continues to give me all sorts of problems. I’m thinking of switching over to the iPhone. Or just selling all of my crap and moving to some beach in Thailand.
More mailbag:
Ponytail writes: “Well Joe, I gave it a shot, but it is time to change the channel.”
Answer: Didn’t I say the next three episodes were the best of the first half. At least tune in and watch Time. You’ll be glad you did. Unless it freaks you out so much you can’t sleep for days.
Paloosa writes: “Do Telford and Young always have to swap with each other, or can they swap with someone else?”
Answer: Had Young initiated the stone moments earlier, he would have switched with Peter DeLuise – and gone on to direct the rest of the episode.
Platschu writes: “If you are spinning for season 2, is it mean SG:U is picked up for s2?”
Answer: Not yet, but I’m hoping soon.
Platschu also writes: “Will we learn more about the gate network?”
Answer: Yes, we’ll be touching on this in future episodes – Lost in paticular.
Plastschu also writes: “Will you mention other religions among the Destiny’s crew?”
Answer: And we’ll be touching on the topic of faith in a back half episode titled, appropriately enough, Faith.
Cherriey writes: ” I first noticed the compact communication panel adaptded from the rather cumbersome device developed by the Ancients that (though beautiful in desgin) was far too big and resembled a violent melon juicer. Was the development of said panel by the SGC (or whoever) affected because they had plans to use them with a specific mission (i.e. for wherever the 9th chevron sent them) or was it for more general purposes?”
Answer: This version was developed by the gang in Research and Development at Area 51 who have been working on all of the off-world tech the various SG teams have brought back over the years. It was “put in play” for situations just like this – a communications of last resort in the event Stargate personnel are otherwise cut off from Earth.
Cherriey also writes: ” The above being said… has any protocol been developed in an official format concerning the use of the stones?”
Answer: You do see this in Air and Earth, scenes in which Homeworld Command personnel are one standby in the event communication via the stones is attempted.
Cherriey also writes: “In Peter Deluise’s cameo when Telford relieves him from his position in the chair next to the stone panel did you actually have a character written in called ‘Peter/Pete’ or did you just decide to throw that fun bit in there just because?”
Answer: Nope. In the script, he was referred to as Handsome Fella #1 and Peter naturally felt he was perfect for the role.
Cherriey also writes: “Now that I think about it that leads me to another question concerning the stones. I had always assumed (I know, I know) that the person whose body you jump to is the one to touch the stone last.”
Answer: That is a correct assumption. Telford would have been the last to touch the stone on Earth’s end for Young to trade bodies with him.
DasNdanger also writes: “Therefore you are assured of my continued viewership through the first half of the season. And yup, though I can see straight through you and your devilish, tricksy ways, I am still gonna jump right into your little trap…just ’cause you set it!”
Answer: Nope, no. No trickery here. Just saying – if the next three episodes up to the hiatus don’t do it for you, I’ll be surprised – and sad you won’t be watching any longer. Especially since the first episode back after the break is mine, Space, and it’s filled with all sorts of action and aliens and ship to ship battles.
JohnnyE! writes: “Hey Joe, quick question…the web stuff that shows Eli going around with a Kino showing the ship and others…is that scripted or off the cuff.”
Answer: All scripted. I wrote Apple Core, Riley’s Letter Home, James’s Birthday Surprise, and Park’s Kino Mishap – no doubt your very favorites.
vvv0472 writes: “Is there a possibility of a Goaul’d on board the Destiny?”
Answer: Nope.
Cheryl writes: “It seems risky to bring out the good stuff at the end of party rather than the beginning, but, since I’m giving the show a half season to excite me, fine.”
Answer: It’s not like we were holding back, more a case of hitting our stride.
Mary writes: “I find myself bristling when you comment about “square-jawed heros” when referencing your work on SGA. Did you really have such a low regard for that series?”
Answer: You misinterpret my take on the difference between the characters as a slam against Atlantis, which it wasn’t. I enjoyed SGA’s character dynamics, but you can’t deny Sheppard was a hero in the truest sense of the word – dashing, cool under pressure, and rarely if ever given to making mistakes.
Jedman67 writes: “McKay is earths foremost expert on Ancient Technology, and is in no patron’s pocket – he’s loyal to himself and his friends. Would it not make sense for him to make at least ONE guest appearance…”
Answer: Given the timeline of the Atlantis movie and its repercussions, McKay would not be in a position to do so. He’d have his hands full dealing with “other issues”.
Dunatos writes: “Just wondering if there is any site, you can recommend on getting my daily Stargate fix.”
Answer: http://stargate.mgm.com/
Jedman67 writes: “In SG-1 and SGA, the stargates “puddle” was shot with a greenscreen backdrop, and a digital puddle added in post – i recall hearing that a new system was being used in SGU, involving a “projected” puddle or something, cant rember exactly. Can you explain this please?
Answer: We switched to a practical puddle a couple of years back and its look has definitely improved over time (I uploaded a video of the projected puddle a couple of months back if you’d care to track it down and check it out). Green screen is still used for puddle pass-thrus.
JES writes: “First, why would the audience assume any of this, since there is no indication that they should?”
Answer: Either way, you’re making an assumption. All I’m suggesting is that you go with the more logical one.
Michael writes: “I’ve been looking around the Internet and I’m confused what the full name of the IOA leader, Strom, is.”
Answer: I believe it was Dale.
Echelon writes: “Wasn’t the SG1 movie slated for around now? Did economic conditions push it back?”
Answer: Yep. No word on either movies for a while now.
Melendwyr writes: “If Telford didn’t know that sex was a possible outcome of lending his body… and there’s the possibility that he’s carrying an STD that we can’t cure or easily prevent yet. Did either Young or his wife think of that in the imminent throes of passion?”
Answer: Because of the many people complaining about the sex scenes, the shot where Young’s wife puts the condom on her husband ended up on the cutting room floor.
Simon writes: “First off, LOVED ”EARTH”, was the reaction on Lou’s face during the ‘malfunction’ written, or added in by Lou himself?”
Answer: They were scripted, but the reactions themselves were all Lou.
DasNdanger writes: “Joe, what’s your favorite nut??”
Answer: To eat on their own? Cashews.
Candace writes: “…only got a couple chapters left in A Game of Thrones….and got Clash of Kings waiting right next to my bed…IT’S SO GOOD!!!!”
Answer: It IS great, isn’t it? I love the series too.
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