I woke up this morning to discover an email from Exec. Producer Robert Cooper sitting in my mailbox titled “Help!”. I, of course, assumed he’d been nabbed smuggling snow monkeys again and needed me to bail him out of that prison in Honshu. But, as it turns out, it’s not my help he needs; it’s yours! Rob’s message:
“Sometime in the middle of the night last night I suddenly realized I had agreed to moderate the panel at comicon. Which apparently means I’m supposed to challenge the panel with hard-hitting thoughtful questions. Unfortunately, I’ve been too busy with this whole snow monkey smuggling ring to get around to it. . Perhaps you could enlist your blogashpere to assist me in coming up with the kind of questions fans wish they could have ask.
P.S.: You know what would make a great Christmas gift for someone you love? That’s right! A snow monkey!”
So there you have it. If you can’t be in San Diego for the SGU Comic Con panel but want to participate nevertheless (or will be attending the panel but don’t want to go stand in line to ask a question because the last time you did some guy dressed like Darwin the dolphin from Seaquest stole your seat), start posting your questions for the cast via Robert Cooper.
Also, for those who missed yesterday’s entry, SyFy’s Director of Development and Stargate point person Erika Kennair will be swinging by the blog to answer questions, so if you’ve got something to ask her, here’s your opportunity. Unless you’re Carl in which case you can just wait until the next time you see her.
Hey, guess who I heard from yesterday? No, not Jeremy Piven – I don’t even know the guy. It was Golden Boy Martin Gero – formerly of Stargate: Atlantis and Young People Fucking fame, presently of HBO’s Bored to Death fame – calling to make sure I returned that copy of The Day I Shot Cupid by Jennifer Love Hewitt to my local library and, while he had me on the phone, checking in with things in general. No surprises on his end – busy and in demand. Still, we did discuss the possibility of working together again in the near future – or, at the very least, doing the dinner thing.
Seriously, I’ve got to get myself one of those World’s Best Dog Dads coffee mugs. My pug Jelly went in for the second stage of her stem cell procedure yesterday which involved their injecting her concentrated stem cells into the problem areas: her deteriorated hips and arthritic shoulders and elbows. They had to put her under and she’d been on an IV drip for most of the day so that by the time I picked her up, she was tired and needed to pee. Very and a lot. Last night, she was stiff and languid, and she seems to have acquired a bit of a rasping cough.
She’s doing a little better today but t remains to be seen what kind of benefits she derives from the treatment. Now, to ensure the best possible outcome, my already pampered pooch is receiving the star treatment. In addition to her morning joint medication and twice daily eye ointment applications, she’s also getting Percocet three times daily, Clavamox twice daily. I’m to apply a cold compress to her front and hind quarters for about 5-10 minutes, 2-3 times a day in addition to helping her perform some passive range of motion leg stretches three times a day. It’s like I’m working a dog spa.
I was surprised by the enormous response to yesterday’s blog entry concerning the Atlantis guest appearances planned for SGU’s second season. Show co-creator and co-show runner Brad Wright mentioned it three weeks ago. Clearly some of you aren’t reading your Australian scifi magazines!
Speaking of Atlantis, while going through the production stills from Enemy at the Gate, I came across some wonderful behind-the-scenes shots from those final days. If everybody’s nice, I’ll see what I can do about posting a few in the next couple of days.
Today’s entry is dedicated to JimFromJersey and his finacee Christine. Congratulation, kids!
Mailbag:
Stryse writes: “I think the IOA would have a hard time letting Atlantis leave Earth. I’m thinking Homeworld Command would probably agree with them.”
Answer: Wholeheartedly agree. It wouldn’t be in their interest to have Atlantis return to Pegasus – UNLESS…
Stryse also writes: “I think the Air Force has demonstrated a willingness to help a friend out, so I’m sure one of our battle cruisers would be sent back to Pegasus to return any residents home (assuming they wanted to leave… Earth does have its perks).”
Answer: Hmmm. Debatable unless they were already scheduled to make the trip. And if they were, one wonders which character would choose to go back. Yes, given the choice, I’m sure Todd would make the trip, but it’s unlikely Earth’s authorities would be inclined to let him go. Ronon? Sure, it’s possible he’d want to head back and continue his one-man war against the wraith. Teyla? Possibly, she’s got roots back in Pegasus, but I would think that the Milky Way’s comparatively safer environment would influence her decision. She’s now a mother after all. Kanaan? He’d probably be the biggest fish out of water and the most likely to feel homesick, but given the choice would he abandon his wife and son?
Stryse also writes: “I would be surprised if they were. Some [personnel] probably were reassigned, while others may have had their roles shifted a bit.”
Answer: I think the turnover would be fairly small given that these people were chosen for expedition because they were the best at what they did (I refer to the scientists and technicians). The military personnel could be reassigned but, in general, I think the IOA would be more likely to add support staff than turf experienced/knowledgeable individuals.
Stryse also writes: “Granted they can pop in for those family bbq’s on a more frequent basis, but they’ve not had to deal with being cut off from Earth for some time now.”
Answer: True, but they’ve never had the luxury of being able to go home for the night and returning to work in the morning. Theoretically, yes, with the gate bridge it was possible, but it was more likely they were allotted specific dates rather than the freedom to come and go as they pleased.
JohnMHammer writes: “As for Todd: Didn’t he successfully complete the gene therapy which allows a wraith to eat “normal” food?”
Answer: He did but in Enemy at the Gate we learn that he has reverted back to his former self.
Nate writes: “In the 5th race O’Neill uses Ancient Knowledge and builds a power source to get to the Asgard home world, but in the episode where SG-1 goes to an alternate reality to save earth (the ep. name escapes me) the two Carters get the device working and Carter tells the other Carter the Asgard made the device. So was that a mistake that got by everyone and were they wrote by different writers? ”
Answer: Sorry, Nate, this question was before my time on the show.
Shiny writes: “What pray tell would lovely Lorne be announcing?”
Answer: His candidacy for Congress of course.
Deni writes: “Elway’s in the ER tonight, started having seizures a couple of hours ago.”
Answer: As always, here’s hoping he makes a speedy recovery.
dasNdanger writes: “Previously when Sheppard found din-din for Todd it didn’t set well with some fans. I’m not opposed to capital punishment when the shoe fits (child killers, spree and serial killers, etc), so I had no problem with it, but I don’t know if that’s the route you’d go.”
Answer: I think it’s the route a certain type of person would go if they needed him badly enough.
dasNdanger also writes: “I am a bit saddened that the movie seems even further away now, and that whatever you had up your sleeve for Todd & Co. in Extinction may now all be changed.”
Answer: The crossover in no way effects the timing of the film’s production, only the timing of the story itself. And what I have up my sleeve for Todd &co. remains unchanged.
for the love of Beckett writes: “David Hewlett twittered/tweeted a while ago that he’d had an official visit back at Bridge studios. So there’s one probable down.”
Answer: I’m neither confirming nor deny which characters will be putting in an appearance, but I can say that whatever business David had at the Bridge, it wasn’t with us.
Jim W writes: “Hello, I don’t understand. Is there going to be a Stargate Atlantis movie?”
Answer: Hopefully, eventually, yes.
ytimynona writes: “Hey Joe, is this why you were so reluctant to comment on Extinction’s progress? I mean, if this ep is answering all our questions, the movie will hafta be significantly rewritten, right?”
Answer: I’m not reluctant to comment on Extinction’s progress. There simply hasn’t been any progress to comment on. As for answering all those questions in crossover episode – don’t hold your breath. As I pointed out in yesterday’s entry, some will be answered and some won’t. Gotta save something for the movie, no?
Montrealer writes: “Hate to be contrary folks. But the SGU/SGA x-over is a very bad thing. IMO it means that the SG1 & SGA movies are dead with the current written scripts.”
Answer: That’s a pretty big assumption given that you’ve read neither script. I have and can tell you the crossover episode will only have a minimal effect on Stargate: Extinction (the heart of the story remains unchanged), and no effect on Stargate: Revolution.
Montrealer also writes: “Also it’s another sign of desperation of the TPTB and their attempt to lure back the departed SG1/SGA fans.”
Answer: Ah, what’s a big announcement without a fan conspiracy to follow it? Of course, in order for a conspiracy theory to have legs, it needs to make sense. As I’ve already stated, if this was the desperate bid for ratings you assume it is, we would be doing it in the first half of season 2 given that the show’s fate will be decided on the strength of those first ten episodes. The crossover episode will be episode #15. By the time it airs, we will already know whether or not the show is coming back for a third season.
Montrealer also writes: “Putting SGU in the much more competitive Tuesday night slot will probably result in lower viewer share.”
Answer: A counter argument is that more people watch television on Tuesday nights than Friday nights which could translate to higher Live + SD ratings (as fans are more likely to watch it when it airs rather than recording it for later viewing).
gforce writes: “So, are the points in your post addressed in the episode, or are they just a tease?”
Answer: Some are addressed. Some aren’t.
gforce also writes: “If everything turned out to be best case scenario (not that likely, granted), is it at all possible that they would give the go-ahead for both movies at the same time? And if so, could they technically be produced simultaneously?”
Answer: Sure. More or less at the same time. As was the case with Ark of Truth and Continuum, one would shoot first and the other would immediately follow.
Lance W writes: “Assuming the crossover episode(s) go well, will that boost the chances of Extinction coming out sooner rather than later?”
Answer: It’s unlikely to have an effect.
Pixie writes: “Does your mentions of Kanaan in relation to Teyla mean that they are raising their son together as a loving couple?”
Answer: It certainly does. So far.
Shirt ‘n Tie writes: “The Stargate Magazine…I heard a rumour that it was winding down? I know this isn’t your area but do you know if this is true? Or someone hear might know???”
Answer: Alas, the rumors are true. I looked into it and learned that the magazine felt the same financial pinch experienced by many other similar publications. As more and more people turn to the internet, fewer and fewer magazines are being sold.
kabra writes: “Before I forget…. let me just ask about the Keller /McKay thing, re: where are they now question, wasn’t it in the ep Last Man Standing where Shep was 12,000 years into the future and Atlantis was a desert, Rodney was reminiscing about the past and Keller developed some disease from the Hoffman drug and was dying while he was trying to figure out how to reverse time???? Will any of that change????”
Answer: I suppose it depends when Keller contracted the disease. If it was before the events of EatG then, yes, she will get sick. If it was after the events of EatG, all bets are off because we’re looking at a new timeline.
Michelle writes: “I really, truly hope you don’t describe Atlantis as on/near Earth permanently. For Earth to abandon Pegasus after all the trouble they’ve caused there would be rather unforgivable.”
Answer: Oh, I’m sure there would be many who would want to do the right thing, go back, and continue the fight – but it’s unlikely these conscientious individuals would be the ones calling the shots.
Bailey writes: “What is the difference between a crossover and guest appearences from another show? I ask because this ep is being referred to as a crossover, while the SGU eps with Daniel, Carter and Jack were not?”
Answer: For purposes of this conversation, they’re the same thing.
Gilder writes: “It’s a crossover, IMHO, if two current-season series share a story line. See CSI /CSI Miami, the Law & Order franchise, L&O /Homicide: Life on the Street, NCIS /NCIS LA…and wasn’t there at least one SG1/SGA crossover?”
Answer: Nope, you’re right.
Gabriele writes: “Hi Mr. Mallozzi,
you’ll change the timeline for the movie “Stargate Extinction”, right? So the timeline will eventually be:
1. Stargate Atlantis “Enemy at the gate”
2. Stargate: Revolution
3. Stargate Universe “Seasons 1 and 2″
4. Stargate: Extinction”
Answer: Correct.
VWraithAnne writes: “I don’t really see the big deal in feeding him some lowlife criminal who was already on death row somewhere.”
Answer: I’d have no objection, but some people might.
domdom writes: “Tell me if I’m wrong. I thought sgu was a stand alone show.”
Answer: If, by stand alone, you mean it has nothing to do with previous incarnations then, yes, you’re wrong given that we had three guest stars from SG-1, O’Neill, Daniel, and Carter, right off the bat in the series premiere.
Rolaine Smoot writes: “I’m writing MGM to let them know how I feel about this, just like I’m telling you. It’s a SGA movie or none at all! The word is spreading like wild fire!”
Answer: Great! While you’re writing them, see if you can get them to do a remake of The Abominable Dr. Phibes. I loved that movie!
gategrrl560 writes: “Paul MacGillion was one of the speakers and he stated that he’d definitely be interested if Beckett were included in the storylines.”
Answer: Yes, I like Paul and certainly would be interesting to see two of my favorite Scots share some screen time.
Negolith writes: “I tried watching SGU, I gave it a chance, but I found the characters to be such an unlikeable bunch of irredeemable whiners…”
Answer: Too easy…
Jim writes: “I know you spent a lot of time and energy working on the Altantis movie script but shouldn’t you for the betterment of SGU and the franchise be willing to toss the script and write a new Atlantis movie if or when that ever happens?”
Answer: Why would we do that since the SGU appearances would only necessitate some minor re-jigging to the opening?
Nicholas T. writes: “How many additional years of SGA did you all plan to produce before the decision was made to cancel the show?”
Answer: Hey, Nicholas, it sounds like we have a lot in common. Re: SGA – we went year by year.
Nicholas T. also writes: I have an interesting science paper to share with you concerning human brain development and dreams that very well could be used in some creative way by you and the writers on SGU. I work with the scientist that wrote it. How could I send it to you? It is cutting edge and certainly sci-fi worthy.”
Answer: BaronDestructo@yahoo.com It sounds like something the League of Aliens and Mutants for Evil might be interested in.
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