Yesterday, we received a visit from our friends at Syfy, Exec. VP of Original Programming Mark Stern and Director of Development Erika Kennair, who dropped by to talk travel, television and, oh yeah, Stargate: Universe. We spent the afternoon discussing the first five scripts of season two and beyond – character developments, story arcs, and surprises in store for the not too distant future. It was a pleasant and ultimately fruitful sit-down that yielded some terrific ideas that I was quite excited about… until I sat down in front of my laptop this morning and realized I would now have to incorporate these terrific ideas into the rewrite of Awakening. Don’t get me wrong. I really do like the notions we came up with. They’ll help clarify some of the character motivations and offer up interesting revelations about her heroes. I just hate rewrites. Even more than I hate writing first drafts.
Paul, meanwhile, is hip-deep in prep on Intervention while Rob and Carl have spent the past couple of days on the set, watching Director Robert Carlyle work his magic. Back on the office front, Remi and Linda are hammering out their stories as I try to figure out a sciFIentifically sound idea for my Resurgence outline (thank you, SGU Creative Consultant John Scalzi).
I brought a pear in to work yesterday that has mysteriously gone missing. Either somebody took it, or I’ve really got to clean my desk.
I’m always interested in where the kitchen staff of my favorite restaurants go eat on their days off. In much the same way, I’m always interested in what people who work in the television industry are watching. I’m sure many of you have not wondered what we at Stargate are watching when we’re not watching our own show – which is, admittedly, on very rare occasions. Well, wonder not no more. What follows is a list of the shows we’re watching, compiled in a most unscientific manner: I basically kept a running count of the shows we either discussed during lunch, in our respective offices waiting for a meeting to begin, or over the course of our morning pep talks. So, in other words, the series must have been watched by at least two people. Ashleigh, for instance, may love Gossip Girl, but if no one else watches the show and can engage her in a spirited debate about what exactly Chuck was up to in last night’s episode or those gorgeous shoes Blair was wearing in the premiere, then it doesn’t make the list. These shows, however, did –
House: There are those who’ll claim the show is formulaic, but I’d argue that the medical mysteries of the week, while interesting, are secondary to the show’s wonderful character dynamics. In its sixth season and as great as ever.
Glee: A prime time song and dance show? I honestly thought I’d hate it. How wrong I was. Clever, colorful, and gloriously un-PC.
The League: I’ve yet to check it out but this FX series about a fantasy football league has received a lot of writers’ room buzz.
American Idol: Some seasons I’ll watch; others I’ll miss. This season I’ve decided to skip, but there are a few diehard fans in the office who are tuning in.
The Office: It’s a comedy with heart and boasts a wonderful ensemble cast from Steve Carell’s clueless Michael Scott to Leslie David Baker’s perennially disinterested Stanley Hudson.
Big Love: A show I enjoyed despite the fact that our protagonist is a polygamist, but as the seasons have come and gone, I’ve really grown to hate Bill Henrickson. My distaste for the character and his bizarre choices has reached the point where I don’t know if I’ll be tuning in next season.
30 Rock: The gags fly fast and furious and while a some may not their mark, more than enough do to make 30 Rock show must-see-t.v. And Adam Baldwin is brilliant.
Survivor: I know, I know. It’s reality t.v. and I shouldn’t be watching but I am – an enjoying this season immensely. Go villains!
The Amazing Race: Carl calls it the fastest hour on television and he’s right. Time flies when you’re racing across the globe. Although this season hasn’t captured my interest like past installments, I’m still watching.
South Park: Next to The Simpsons, one of the most oft-quoted shows in the writers’ room. Wickedly funny.
Spartacus – Blood and Sand: Although it lacks the scale of HBO’s Rome (as well as its sense of humor), Spartacus has proven itself a well-written bloody good time.
Oops. No wonder you’ve been having so much trouble guessing the episode titles. I gave you the incorrect number of letters in the first word of episode 6’s three-world title. Oh, and we have multiple winners who guessed correctly on episode 7.
Episode #6: ***A* AN* *R***
Episode #7: THE GREATER GOOD
Episode #8: *A****
Episode #9: ???
Episode #10: RESURGENCE
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