Hey, you know who has a GREAT attitude? NOT me. No, I'm easily offended, temperamental, and a notorious grudge-holder. As one of my friends once put it: "Joe is the type of guy who, years later, will remember that pencil you stole from him in high school - and finally exact his revenge." While not…
July 26, 2014: For the kid who has everything! How about…terror?!!
Next to clowns, furry spiders, and old timey pictures of twins, there's nothing quite as creepy as a porcelain doll. I discovered this several years ago, on my first trip to San Diego, when I stayed at a turn-of-the-century hotel that thoroughly freaked out my ex. I attribute her response to a few things: the…
July 25, 2014: 11 down! 2 to go!
Wow! We're unstoppable! Five stories in five days brings our grand total to eleven out of thirteen. And, as one writer pointed out: They're all great! There's not a single episode I'd happily pass on to someone else. I want to write them all. They're a lot of fun, chock full of action, humor,…
July 24, 2014: 10 down! 3 to go!
Today, we finished breaking episode #10 of my new SF series. It's a little rougher than the preceding stories with a few TBD's, but it's great fun and ends with a jaw-dropping sequence that will no doubt have this blog buzzing when it eventually airs. Can't wait until next year? Want a hint as to…
July 23, 2014: My favorite spaceships!
While we're on the subject... SUPER DIMENSIONAL FORCE MACROSS ANDROMEDA ASCENDANT STARBUG SERENITY THE BATTLESTAR GALACTICA SPACE BATTLESHIP YAMATO VORLON CRUISER MOYA STAR DESTROYER ASGARD SHIPS THE BEBOP ANCIENT AURORA CLASS BATTLESHIP THE ARCADIA THE USS SULACO THE MILLENNIUM FALCON THE DESTINY USS ENTERPRISE NCC-1701 THE NOSTROMO KLINGON BIRD OF PREY ROMULAN WARBIRD
July 22, 2014: On ships and such!
Another day down, another story done. That makes 8 out of our 13 first season episodes broken in less than three weeks. I feared today's episode would prove tricky, but I got in early this morning and hashed out a rough outline. My writing partner, Paul (aka Captain Logic) had surprisingly few problems in the…
July 21, 2014: An update and a mini mailbag!
Hurrah! The writers' room is back on track! Today, we tackled episode 7 and, while it was touch and go in the early goings, we did manage to finish breaking the entire story (tease, five acts, and a tag, natch), this despite a sluggish morning, an impromptu visit from an old friend and colleague, and…
July 20, 2014: Eat your (expensive) fruit!
Tired of the same old apples and bananas? Looking to top your corn flakes with something really special? Well, cash in that 401k and fly on over to Japan to sample these unique fruit: YUBARI KING MELONS A hybrid of two cantaloupes (Earl's Favorite and Burpee's Spicy), the Yubari King Melon hails from Hokkaido, Japan where…
July 19, 2014: Friends, food, and space suits!
To those asking: Yes, you'll be able to watch my new show when it premieres in 2015. Unless you live on the moon of course. Which, I suspect, some of you do. But fear not. I'm sure they'll have found a way to stream it to your base by then. Today, I finished a revision of…
July 18, 2014: The Highs and Lows of the Writers’ Room!
The thing I miss most about my days on Stargate is the writers' room: the camaraderie, the laughs, the heated discussions and, every so often, the occasional creative accomplishments. Don't get me wrong. It was hard, sometimes frustrating work but, when all was said and done, they were productive sessions that generated some great television.…
July 17, 2014: Top 10 Surprising Things I’ve Never Seen or Watched!
I say "surprising" because, whenever I mention I haven't seen or watched one of the following, I am always met with equal parts distress, dismay, and disbelief: 10. E.T. 9. FRIENDS 8. STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION 7. THE GOONIES 6. THE BIG BANG THEORY 5. AVATAR 4. THE WEST WING 3. STAR TREK (reboot) 2. STAR WARS EPISODE 1: THE PHANTOM MENAE 1. FERRIS…
July 16, 2014: My Top 10 Stargate Atlantis Memories!
Stargate: Atlantis premiered ten years ago today. I'm celebrating with a look back at my Top 10 favorite SGA memories. In no particular order... #10. RODNEY MAKES THE CUT. BUT JUST BARELY! Production on the new Stargate spinoff was fast-approaching, but we were scrambling to cast one crucial role: the part of the intrepid, dedicated…
July 15, 2014: News of Note!
I knew it! http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/greenpolitics/10965887/People-who-claim-to-worry-about-climate-change-use-more-electricity.html http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2014/07/15/thor-is-now-woman/ On the one hand, it makes a hell of a lot more sense than Thor Girl. On the other, I'm sure hugely disappointing for fans of the existing incarnation. Making Cheesesteaks with Joe. God Bless America! Glassholes abound: http://nypost.com/2014/07/14/is-google-glass-cool-or-just-plain-creepy/ Three hanky alert! http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/07/14/dog-last-day-robyn-arouty_n_5585074.html?1405362504&ncid=fcbklnkushpmg00000063 Today's entry is dedicated to blog regular gforce.
July 14, 2014: Mailbag! And Grey Poupon!
Hey, it's been a while since I've done one of these! Time to answer your hard-hitting questions... Airelle writes: "What did you do with all the blueberries??" Answer: I set aside a containerful for my houseguests, then froze the rest. I'll use them in my breakfast shakes. Tam Dixon writes: "That picture with Lulu &…
July 13, 2014: The weekend highlights!
Food Truck Alley at the Kitsilano Day Festival. The French have foie gras, Americans have hot dogs, and we Canadians have the the beavertail. Working the takoyaki stand. This would have been my summer job had my show not been green lit. An obviously inebriated Grimace is escorted off the premises. Akemi: "I don't like…