The reason I'm in Vancouver, aside from having dinner at Fuel last night with Joseph Mallozzi, can now be revealed: I have a new gig as Creative Consultant for the upcoming Stargate: Universe television series. I've been talking to the SGU folks about it informally for some time and flew out to meet the producers and writers, and talk about the ideas and directions of the new series. I also got the tour of the sets, which are still under construction, and which look pretty damn nifty so far. It all went very well, and I liked what they were doing with the show and the people involved, and equally importantly they seemed to like me too. So I was happy to say yes when they invited me onboard.

To answer questions that immediately come to mind: What "creative consultant" means in this case is to assist the producers and directors in shaping the direction of the series, to offer technical writing suggestions and advice, and basically to be useful when they want another point of view on something; it's a background rather than foreground sort of job. No, I won't be writing for the series at this point; hey, I just got the one gig, let me do that first. Yes, I've seen scripts and now know all sorts of stuff about the series you don't, yet. No, I won't tell you anything more than what's already out there; my title is "creative consultant," not "dude who leaks stuff." Yes, the producers and writers are very smart folks who have a definite idea of what they want SGU to be, and I think it's a good and intriguing idea with lots of interesting possibilities, which is why I signed on.

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Don S. Davis is Dead at 65

Don Davis, who played Major General George Hammond on Stargate SG-1, has died of a heart attack. He was 65. Don's representative and his wife, Ruby Fleming-Davis sent this message to fans:

Dear Fans and Friends of Don S. Davis,

So many of you have been touched by not only the work and art of Don S. Davis, but by the man himself, who always took the time to be with you at the appearances he loved, that it is with a tremendous sense of loss I must share with you that Don passed away from a massive heart attack on Sunday morning, June 29th.

On behalf of his family and wife, Ruby, we thank you for your prayers and condolences. A family memorial where Don's ashes will be scattered in the ocean will take place in a few weeks, and should you wish to, please make a donation to the American Heart Association in Don's memory.

Our condolences to his family and friends.

Posted on July 1, 2008
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Stargate SG-1: Continuum Trailer is Here

Here's a short trailer for the upcoming Stargate SG-1 movie, Continuum. Continuum will be the first Stargate movie to be released with a Blu-ray version. We're looking forward to seeing General O'Neill back in action. It will be available for sale on July 29, 2008 from Amazon.com .



Posted on June 23, 2008
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Stargate Atlantis Filming Season Five Soon

Stargate Atlantis will begin filming its fifth season in late February, according to the Sci Fi channel.

Fan favorite Paul McGillion will return for five episodes to reprise his role as Dr. Carson Beckett. Amanda Tapping (Col. Samantha Carter) will appear as a special guest star in several episodes, and Stargate SG-1 star Michael Shanks (Dr. Daniel Jackson) will appear as a special guest in episodes as well.

Robert Picardo, who plays International Oversight Committee rep Richard Woolsey, joins the Atlantis cast this season as Woolsey assumes command of the Atlantis expedition. The team, led by Lt. Col. Sheppard (Joe Flanigan), Dr. Rodney McKay (David Hewlett), Teyla (Rachel Luttrell), Ronon (Jason Momoa) and Dr. Jennifer Keller (Jewel Staite), must adjust to his unique leadership style.

In the fifth season, the status quo is shaken following the events of season four, which is currently airing on SCI FI Fridays at 10 p.m. ET/PT. Cherished friends are lost, others are found. New alliances are forged while new races are introduced.

Season five was picked up for twenty episodes, which is good. The season will include a 100th episode, which is when the writers usually go off the rails with some kind of crazy "funny episode, just for the fans." Please don't let them do that this time. Because it's always awful.

Posted on February 5, 2008
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Sci-Fi Channel Announces Fall Lineup

Sci-Fi Channel has announced its fall lineup and schedule.

The fourth season of Stargate Atlantis debuts on Sept. 28 and will air Fridays at 10 p.m. Atlantis will have a midseason finale on Dec. 7, a finale that will feature the return of Torri Higginson as Dr. Elizabeth Weir. The Atlantis team must ally itself with a known enemy to join forces against an even greater foe.

Beginning in October, SCI FI will air Battlestar Galactica "mini-sodes" entitled "Razor" during episodes of the hit series Flash Gordon, Fridays at 9 p.m. The two-to-three-minute shorts will lead into the Nov. 24 premiere of "Razor," the two-hour Battlestar special TV movie, which will tell the story of Lee Adama's (Jamie Bamber) first mission as commander of the Battlestar Pegasus and will reveal the story of how Adm. Cain (Michelle Forbes) served her ship during the original Cylon attack on the Colonies. "Razor," which airs at 9 p.m., will provide a backdrop to events in the rest of Battlestar, which returns for its fourth and final season in early 2008. "Razor" is written by Michael Taylor and directed by Felix Alcala. It also stars Katee Sackhoff and Tricia Helfer and introduces Stephanie Jacobsen as Kendra, Adm. Cain's protege.

Throughout the fall, SCI FI's summer series will have their finales: Who Wants To Be a Superhero? at 9 p.m. Sept. 13, Painkiller Jane at 10 p.m. Sept. 21, Eureka at 9 p.m. Oct. 2 and Doctor Who at 8 p.m. Oct. 5.

In December, SCI FI will air its original miniseries Tin Man; the exact date and time are yet to be determined

It's a good lineup, except for the fact that The Dresden Files and Stargate SG-1 won't be around. Because we're still ticked off about those omissions. Still, Samantha Carter will be moving over to Stargate Atlantis, so that's good. And speaking of Stargate Atlantis, fans who don't want to be spoiled should be careful what they read online -- there are massive spoilers for the whole season everywhere. Apparently, they've already shown part of the season in Canada, which makes absolutely no sense to us. You've been warned.

Posted on August 16, 2007
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