I have my wireless laptop set up on the island of my kitchen, happily typing in this latest entry as I: a) make a batch of homemade ice cream and, b) dig into a batch of Ben Jerry's "The Gobfather" and Ben Jerry's "Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough". Everyone has their particular weakness. Mine is premium ice cream. So much so that I wake up every morning at 6:00 a.m. and run for 45 minutes to ensure I don't turn into a blimp. On special occasions, I'll make a batch with my homemade ice cream maker. This weekend, I'll be making three flavors: shaved milk chocolate and dark chocolate chunk, Reeses peanut butter cup, and sweet cream and dark chocolate cookie. I'll let you know how they turn out.
I just finished watching volume 2 of Futurama and have started the first season of MI5. The thing I love about BBC shows is their courageous storytelling. They are willing to take chances that most North American series would never take for fear of upending the apple cart. There are more meaningful story changes/character developments in the average 6 episode season span of a BBC show than in 3-5 seasons of your average North American offering. There are exceptions of course (usually on HBO), but they are - well, the exception rather than the rule.
Still making use of my new home theater. I thought Hotel Rwanda was brilliant. Oceans 12, less so. On tap: Intacto, 2LDK, Croupier, 2046, and Kung Fu Hustle. Turns out David Hewlitt is a big fan of horror movies (we both loved Session 9, an under-appreciated gem) and I promised him that I'd have him over once the theater seating gets set up.
As I expected, it was a busy week. We prepped the big mid-season SG-1 two-parter - The 4th Horseman I and II. The show's 9th season continues to add to its already impressive list of guest stars. Watch for ex-X-Files semi-regular William B. Davis to make a couple of appearances as well as the very talented Cameron Bright (who you may recognize from his performaces in Godsend opposite Robert DeNiro, and Birth opposite Nicole Kidman).
We cut Ex Deus Machina (Chris Judge did such a great job that I immediately went down to set after watching the Director's cut and told him as much) and Paul cut Instinct while I started beating out an outline for our next script (tentatively titled "Convergence") that, if all goes as planned, may see the return of a much-loved, sorely-missed character. Over on the Babylon location, Ben Browder continues to impress, insisting on performing his own stunts and taking a beating (quite literally) for his troubles. Over on the Atlantis side, we're putting Joe Flanigan through the ringer in Conversion, an episode in which he gets to experience how the other half lives.
Well, as my grandmother used to say " That ice cream aint gonna make itself"...
Executive producer Joseph Mallozzi has been on the SG-1 writing
staff since Season Four. Along with writing partner Paul Mullie, Joe has
written such fan favorite episodes as "Window of Opportunity," "Summit,"
and "Lockdown." Joe lives in Vancouver, British Columbia. 
>>>This weekend, I'll be making three flavors: shaved milk chocolate and dark chocolate chunk, Reeses peanut butter cup, and sweet cream and dark chocolate cookie. I'll let you know how they turn out.<<
I think you just ruined me for all other men...I mean ice cream.
Too bad it melts in the mail or I'd request a batch ;)
>>Turns out David Hewlitt is a big fan of horror movies (we both loved Session 9, an under-appreciated gem) and I promised him that I'd have him over once the theater seating gets set up.<<
Have you seen Elevated?? If not, ask David to show it to you ;)
MI5? You had me confused there. I love it when a series changes its name between the UK and North America. You'll be talking about "Spooks" then...
If you think the usual US show doesn't do much for story-telling, you should watch german ones. Like "Alarm für Cobra 11", a show about some highway cops - about every episode has the same story! I'd like every US show over this one.
But I wonder which character you'll put out of the box for the show. Personally I'd like to see Daniels grandfather again - this Quetzalcoatl thing should get continued...
And I could use a little ice cream myself, we've got 30 degrees celsius down here in Northern Germany.
So you and David recommend Session 9 eh? Never heard of it...and I am quite the horror movie buff. Off to hunt it down then. Enjoy your ice cream Joe!
yeah, spooks/mi-5 is great, i'm looking forward to what season 4 has in store. i liked season 3 the best by far. i found a great deal on the first two seasons from the uk.
i look forward to season 9. from what i've been reading on gateworld, to me, it will feel like sg-1 v. 2.0.
If you like MI5 (Spooks) watch season 2, episode 5. In my view the best episode by far. And of course being British I would agree that the BBC has fantastic shows.(I recommend "Blackadder" "Red Dwarf" "Bottom" & “Little Britain” on the comedy front). If you get the chance try and get “Casanova” by the BBC. It was a 3 piece period drama/comedy. It was undoubtedly one of the best shows of the years so far and starred the new Dr.Who, David Tennant. It was extremely well written and was a joy to watch
I can sympathise with you on the ice cream. There is no better food to come home to after a tough field exercise, getting only a couple of hours sleep in between fire-fights. Though in truth, after days of "Rat-Packs" and "Boil-In-A-Bags", anything seems like fine cuisine.
With all the talk of the new season of Stargate SG1 I cannot wait for the new season to begin and I hope that the Brits are once again the ones who get to see it first (I hate having to wait for films and show to make their way across the Atlantic). The guest star list looks something special, and the prospect of W. Davis is one I’m particularly looking forward too.
Anyway long may good work continue, and I have my fingers crossed that the ice cream turns out well!
P.S. Any technical jobs going on set this summer? Scottish 17yr old available for 2 months. Large background in Military Operations (marksman on all makes of British Assault Rifles) and 5yrs experience in all aspects of theatre productions (light,sound,pyrotechnics,set manufacture,theatre management for 600seats,etc) Looking for experience of a lifetime and to expand knowledge for possible career in production.
>> b) dig into a batch of Ben Jerry's "The Gobfather" and Ben Jerry's "Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough". Everyone has their particular weakness.<<
I'd also suggest Oatmeal Cookie Chunk - pieces of Oatmeal cookies (no raisins!) and fudge. One of *the* best B&J out there.
>> On tap: Intacto, 2LDK, Croupier, 2046, and Kung Fu Hustle<<
Don't forget "Napoleon Dynamite" - that's a great movie. You'll have to watch it more than once to get everything. My friend likens it to "The Holy Grail"
Wow, I see all kinds of icecream-flavors passing by....
In Holland we only have a few of them... :-((
And I don´t even have an icecream-maker..... HELP!
Session 9 was funny! I'm not a horror fan, thought this was more of a psyco-thriller... but I just couldn't help laugh at Caurso, as great as he is!
@ MatzeNr2000: 'Kommissar Rex' might be one of few exceptions - a great TV series, and better than many Nth American shows!
Can't say much for our Aussie programming though. . .
Love your blogs. Do you watch the Family Guy? Better then Futurama. : )
So was this much beloved and sorely missed character last seen in S7?
Thanks for the updates. : )
(to kate)YES! Rex rules!
As for the blog, yeah, Futurama is cool. One of my faves anyway. And I totally agree with anything ice cream.
"...if all goes as planned, may see the return of a much-loved, sorely-missed character."
She is sorely-missed and much-loved indeed. At least the one character I have in my mind. Heck, I think there is only one character most of the people would think of.
Oh man I want the recipe for the Dark Chocolate Chunk it sounds so yummy and decadent :)
Oh forgot to mention THANK YOU for mentioning Arrested Development, that show is so one of the best going at the mo and I just heard Fox has picked up again for next season YEAH !!!
I also love premium ice cream. I am friggin obsessed with chocolate ice cream. I recently found an Italian chocolate/hazelnut ice cream that is by far the best ice cream I have ever eaten.
Well there is NO italian ice anywhere in the US that tastes anything like the real italian ice in italy...the whole time I lived in italy I was trying to figure a way to ship Serrento Lemons home LOL
But the new Chocolate/Carmel from Dryer's is good :)
You had me confused by MI5 too ... now I know you mean "Spooks". The last season of spooks was excellent quality ... the end of season was so sad, poor danny ...
Thanks for posting ... looking forward to your next post ... and some new Stargate adventures ...
Looking forward to seeing William Davis (the Cigarette-Smoking Man)...!
Joe, I'm curious whether/how the increased interaction with fans via internet threads and blogging has affected how you approach writing the show and/or thinking about the stories.
Thanks!
"if all goes as planned, may see the return of a much-loved, sorely-missed character."
I presume you mean Janet, but even so, the return of any previous storyline/character is always a treat. Speaking of which, I hope -- with the possibility that "Stargate SG-1" might be pressing its luck with 9 seasons -- consider tidying up some of those stories.
I, for one, would like to see a return of Sarah Gardner, post-Osiris, to see how she and Daniel are coping, among others.
In any event, more ice cream! ;)
You know after all this talk of ice cream I am wishing I went food shopping like I was supposed to today...damnit!
At the point now were I am considering going to the 24 hour shop?? But it is thunder and lightning just now so maybe not...
Talking of weather I hope it is really nice and sunny over there in Vancouver as it is 4 weeks tomorrow!! til I trek over from not so sunny Scotland!
Thank you for the information you give to us in these blogs it is really cool to hear what is happening! And I CAN'T WAIT to see William Davis I loved him in the X-Files YEH!
Thanks again
Jenn.x.
Bloody champ mallozzi, keep up the work son
Joe, we want you in France !! for a convention !! we looooove you
Spooks - absolutely fantastic show! It's wierd when they change a show's name for marketing overseas...but I know they show you're talking about.
Loving the Blog so far!
Suz
Can't call a show "Spooks" in the US. It's a formerly-used racial epithet. Bad news.
I hope you're also listening to the futurama commentaries? If anything they're funnier than the episodes themselves (maybe because I know the episodes so well). Along with the simpsons, Stargate (of course) and Spaced (another great UK show) I would say they're my absolute favourite TV show dvds, I loves me some commentaries.
Hey Joe, wha d'ya know.
What's a typical week for you?
1) I have to agree that SG DVDs have the best commentaries. I just offered to let a coworker borrow the DVD for "Wormhole Extreme" so that he can listen to Peter's commentary.
2) I would like to see the return of Janet or Sarah (I think Sarah is more plausible since Janet's kinda dead). But I really want to see Martouf again. I'm bummed that Lantash died in Elliot. I have long thought y'all could just give jr a recurring role on Atlantis as a different character - you did it with the guy who played Weir's boyfriend.
3) I'm both nervous and excited about the casting changes for S9. I hope Amanda gets another chance to direct. Her S7 episode was beautiful.
4) And not that he needs to hear it, but tell David Hewlit that he's hysterical. I adore what he's done with McKay. Leadership indeed.
Frequent Flyer Redemption: Yes YES YES it is atrocious the mileage inflation. Just went to Europe from DC and could get the outbound for the regular amt of miles, but they said it would take the higher rate for the return trip, so instead of costing 50k miles rt, it cost 75k for the ticket. AND...they made me take 3 segments. Nortwest sucks. Sheesh.
have you tried to make the ice cream using nitrogin? We did it one in the lab, messed the room up badly ... but it was worth it. ice cream in 5 seconds.
I am so happy you David Hewlitt is part of Atlantis. Hes so cute and his character is much more sexy these days...CHEEERRRIOOO...I love it.