"You have to guess what it is,"said my dining companion as my hand probed the contents of the brown paper bag. Inspired by my recent blog posts about sampling new, exotic fruit, Denise had gone through the trouble of picking me up a couple of worthy candidates. I'd failed to guess the first one ,…
March 16, 2010: I finally discover my true calling! Dinner with Erika! Atlantis Missing Memories! One More Episode Title!
Some are born with natural musical ability. Others are gifted with athletic prowess. Still others find their calling in subtler but no less fulfilling pursuits: science, mathematics, literature. Me? I'm really good at hiding shit. Really, really good. I hide things so well that no one can find them. Not even me! Several months ago,…
March 14, 2010: A fitful night’s sleep! Dipping back into the Atlantis archives!
Don't you hate it when you spend hours working out a very complicated script rewrite and head to bed satisfied with a job well done, only to wake up in the middle of the night with the horrible realization that the Volker character isn't where he's supposed to be, thereby throwing a wrench into the…
March 13, 2010: Foodly Adventures! The Art Department Package from Fire! Another Episode Title Revealed! The Return of the Mailbag!
I had stir-fried broccoli for lunch today, using the recipe from the latest issue of Cook's Illustrated as a guide. The first time I made the stri-fry, I used the stated amount of red pepper flakes. The second time out, I decided to go with jalapeno flakes instead. The third time, today, I decided to…
March 12, 2010: Spinning with Syfy! What we’re watching! Production update! Another episode title!
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…
March 11, 2010: The New SGU 1.5 Trailer! Shuttle Specs! One episode title guessed; four to go!
I'm sure most of you have already seen it but for those who haven't, here's the awesome SGU 1.5 trailer courtesy of Grey Munford and the gang at MGM: For more vids, pics, and behind-the-scenes scoops, check out: http://stargate.mgm.com/view/series/3/index.html Now, I believe I promised you some designs and schematics of the Destiny shuttle... Congratulations to…
March 10, 2010: SGU Season 2 Production Day #1! More Art Department Package Peeks from Air 1-3! Icarus Base! Homeworld Command! The Hammond!
According to the call sheet I discovered sitting in my mailbox early this morning, we have apparently started shooting Stargate: Universe's second season. This is exciting for many reasons, the chiefest, of course, being the return of the catering truck. Alas, we're on location until Friday and, thus, won't see our lovable cast and crew…
March 9, 2010: New SGU Trailer Update! Stargate: Universe Art Department Package Highlights for Air 1-3! Guess the Episode Titles – Round Two!
Thanks to all of you who took the time to suggest a possible solution to the problem I've been experiencing with my Audi's power window. Alas, the child lock is NOT on so, in this rare instant, the problem isn't a result of my personal ineptitude but an actual mechanical issue with the car itself.…
March 6, 2010: Actor Jamil Walker Smith wants to hear from YOU! My February Top Reads! And a surprise in the mail!
Yes, you read correctly. Actor Jamil Walker Smith, Stargate: Universe's explosive Master Sergeant Ronald Greer, has kindly agreed to swing by the blog and field your questions - in exchange for my recommending him a couple of good local French restaurants with the understanding that if they fail to impress, he plans to call me…
March 5, 2010: A possible return visit? More items of interest from the Atlantis vault! And an SGU production update!
Poor Akemi isn't enjoying Perth. Following her ten-day vacation in Vancouver (check out what an affable host I was in previous entries), she returned to Tokyo, unpacked, re-packed, then jetted off to Australia for six weeks of intensive English immersion. Well, one week in and neither the food nor the weather agree with her and…
March 4, 2010: The Stargate: Universe Cast Dinner at La Quercia! Check out the new network SGU 1.5 trailer!
BEST - CAST DINNER - EVER! And I'm not just saying that because I ended up sitting at a table with Alaina Huffman, Elyse Levesque, Jennifer Spence, and Julia Benson. Okay - maybe that had a lot to do with it. They were lovely company and, as an added bonus, were completely stuffed after…
March 3, 2010: Hey, look at what I found!
I was going through my office desk today and came across a slew of supporting material from the last two seasons of Stargate: Atlantis - concept art, sketches, designs, schematics, art department packages. I uploaded many over the course of the past few years, but just as many have remained secreted away in my bottom…
February 10, 2010: Actor Patrick Gilmore Answers Your Questions!
Before I turn things over to Patrick Glimore (SGU's Dale Volker), I feel obliged to mention that Carl came by my office this morning and requested I make a public retraction. He took offense to my assertion that he is an American trying to be Canadian. In fact, he claims he has dual citizenship. It's…
January 31, 2010: What was your favorite “story moment” from the first half of SGU’s first season?
I asked. You answered... 20) The race back to the gate (Air III). With time ticking down, Greer rallies Scott and, as both men scramble to get back before Destiny can jump to FTL, Eli buys them time by holding the gate open for them, quite literally risking life AND limb. 19) The Senator's sacrifice…
January 30, 2010: We interrupt the scheduled blog entry for this unimportant message…
Today, I went to Future Shop to pick up a new laptop to replace the one in my home office that keeps doing that blue screen of death thing. I told the sales associate that I wanted something simple. I don't need a computer with games or satellite tracking or face recognition software. All I…