What do you mean, where was I? Where were YOU?
Well, to be perfectly honest, between coming up with new ice cream recipes, watching t.v. on DVD, watching movies, going out for dinner, and spending quality time with the dogs, I also write and produce the occasional episode of Stargate SG-1. And, as an executive producer, you are often asked to do a pass on the script you'll be producing. No problem. However, when the scheduled prep on said episode is moved up a week and a half giving you only two days to get the job done, then the weekend becomes a wee bit stressful. I had a week to recharge my batteries, then write the outline for Camelot, the big season finale. A week to write the script and - voila - done! Well, not quite. Paul is doing a pass on my draft and there's still the matter of prepping and producing the episode, not to mention doing our producer edits on The Scourge. But this is the final script of the year and now, the waiting game begins. Contrary to the rumors, we have yet to hear word on the fate of either show - either from confirmed or uncomfirmed sources.
So, what did I miss? Oh, yes, just to show you I wasn't totally out of the loop, I am aware of the the BIG DEBATE that has raged over the past week or so. I've read comments along the lines of "What are they thinking?!" or "What a terrible idea!" and I'd just like to take this opportunity to put all your doubts to rest. The carrot cake ice cream turned out great. A little sweet (I think I'd forgo the sugar next time and just rely on the sweetness of the cream cheese frosting, or just go cream cheese without the frosting and keep the same amount of sugar).
Speaking of ice cream, last week's flavors included a dark chocolate with shaved white Toblerone, toasted coconut with milk shaved milk, chocolate, and the winner - Maple Butter Vanilla.
On the t.v. on DVD front, my wife and I are almost done season 3 of Alias. What the heck happened to Lena Olin? Just finished season 3 of Babylon 5. Vir is fast becoming my favorite character due in no small part to the terrific Stephen Furst. Also just finished the third season of Sealab 2021, a show which first came to my attention when we were contacted by the show's writer/producers about taking a little poke at SG-1 way back in the show's first season. I won't spoil it by giving it away, but if you get the chance pick up the first season boxset and look for the reference. Overall, a very funny series and, I'd dare say, funnier than 99% of the first-run sitcoms on the air right now.
On the anime front, I'm just watching La Petite Fille Cossette. A beautiful if somewhat mystifying series. Speaking of beautiful, I checked out the trailer for Gankutsuou - The Count of Monte Cristo. Talk about eye candy. On deck: Gunslinger Girls, Wolfs Rain, and Read or Die, the t.v. series.
Back to it on Monday as we begin prep on Camelot. Lots to look forward to: holograms and horses, a gathering of allies, hope and despair, death and destruction, and an uncertain future. Peter shoots Arthur's Mantle and Robert continues prepping Crusade (Michael Ironside was in the office on Friday chatting golf). On the Atlantis side, things heat up with Inferno, then explode in Allies. All I've got to say is - if there is no next season, there'll be some major loose ends left dangling.
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. 
I was starting to think we'd run you off with our comments. Good to hear from you. I think carrot cake ice cream sounds darned tasty.
Don't worry Lena is back in S4, and she and SpyDaddy (Jack Bristow) still have more chemistry than a high school science lab. Micheal Ironside, eh? I swear this year has been spectacular on the guest star front.
Did I mention how particularly cruel it was to taunt Hammond of Texas as a plague victim? Me and the scififridayposse were screaming and motioning him off. You've been upgraded to naughty taunter. Kudos also on Prototype, another fantastic episode. Hope that things are rockin' along on Camelot, and have a great 'break'!
>>I am aware of the the BIG DEBATE that has raged over the past week or so. I've read comments along the lines of "What are they thinking?!" or "What a terrible idea!" and I'd just like to take this opportunity to put all your doubts to rest.<<
You're so good to us :p
I'd have to disagree with you though...sweet is not the word I would use.
Perhaps there are some flavours that just aren't meant to be combined :p
Oh yeah, and that kiss in Conversion was pretty weird too..
:p :p :p
Well carrot cake ice cream is a touchy subject, you really can't expect there not to be some controversy. Sheesh.
As far as Alias season 3 goes I almost lost interest in the show that season because of the stuff with Mrs. Vaughn and various other supposed twists but I'm glad that you and your wife are enjoying it.
And in regards to season 10, I somehow don't really feel all that much concern over it's fate. Unless the Sci-Fi channel has some sort of complex which makes them want to shoot themselves in the leg. Of course the WB canceled Angel so stranger things have happened.
Shipperahoy
Really, Joe, horses and holograms? Isn't there any way we can skip that drivel and move on? Season nine has been pretty solid--crazy, cliched, pointy-hat wearing holographic wizards aside. And please, it's not too late; skip the inevitable jousting scene. I'm already having nightmares involving resident chauser(and newly minted "SG-1 Team Leader Cameron Shaft Mitchell) Ben Browder up on a horse gallantly plowing down the falsest knight that ever there was.
Please, how about a little more SGC, Tok'Ra, Jaffa, anything--just chuck the wacky, impossible-to-do-with-any-class-or-dignity, Arthurian stuff. Remember Monty Python? "On second thought, let us not go to Camelot. It is a silly place." I am wonderly wroth.
Hey Joe. Three words. Richard Dean Anderson. Come on, give us something.
OOOOOOOOOO tell us how much you like (or dislike) Wolf's Rain when you get around to it, Mr. Mallozzi! It's one of my personal favorite animes, along with Full Metal Alchemist and Cowboy Bebop!
Sounds like Camelot's really heating up! I can't wait until we see the final product in 2006! You'll have me on the edge of my seat until then!
And can I say that i officially have renewed my faith in the Stargate franchise? You guys kinda lost me in seasons 5-7, with a few exceptions (mainly Daniel's arc of Ascend-life up there-descend- and back to the way things were again) but I have to say, I absolutely love this season. You guys have outdone yourself with Vala and Daniel's arc, and Prototype tops Ex Deus Machina in my all-time fave "non-Vala" Season 9 eps! WOW! Prototype blew me away! Mr. McCullough should be commended immensely for it!
And Michael Ironside? THE MICHAEL IRONSIDE? You're incredibly devious, you know that? not to mention an all out tease ;)
Do you qualify a "job well done" as the times when your audience wants to kill you for witholding information? ;) ROFL j/k!
Keep up the great work! This season has the potential to be the best Stargate Season since the first three!
I've seen the first couple of episodes of Gankutsuou and so far it's pretty interesting. I'm looking forward to the dvds. The art is unique, but gorgeous, and the story seems headed in a similar direction. Well, unique in the normal based-on-a-novel sense.
I have not heard of 'La Petite...', but I think I'll look it up. I've been remiss in my anime fandoms, recently. Very bad of me. I'm afraid I tend to stick with my tried-and-trues...
Oh, just thought I'd say that I'm really enjoying both seasons of both shows! They're what I look forward to on the weekends(plus the whole break from school and work thing.:)
Hmmm... maybe you could give out some pointers for writing scripts so fast... I have to help finish a full-length movie script within a week... Bah!
Sealab is by far, way cool... however- my favorite cartoon Stargate reference is still Aqua Teen Hunger Force. It is the FARGATE! Aha. Pink mohawks rock. Hmmm... I wonder if those writers are psychic????
Maple butter vanilla ice cream sounds awesome. I work at Harry & David, and we have Maple coffee. Hmmm... Coffee Maple Butter Vanilla would be even better. :D
Almost thought you fell of the face of Canada.... glad you got some time off!
Hey Joe, you guys have done an outstanding job on Season 9 and Season 2... don't let any fanatics tell you otherwise, because you know-- there are always people who think your best isn't good enough, right? I've been looking forward to Aurora since first reading Gateworld's spoilers.
Anyway, I'm looking forward to the second half-- can't wait-- so here's hoping for Season 10 and Season 3! Great work to you and everyone else on the team!
Hey Joe, what debate are you talking about? The Crusade spoilers debate, the Carter/Mitchell leadership debate, the Mitchell's place on the team debate, or the Vala/No Vala debate? And better yet, why not end even just one of them? Please don't be indignant at the criticism, but you must have seen most of it coming, right?
Loved Fourth Horseman and Prototype. And don't believe a word of that season 1-3 were the best ever crap. Enigma, Need, Bane, and Holiday aren't anything to write home about either. Every year has its hits and misses. So long as the script elves don't put out any duds like those we'll all be happier, and Stargate will be the better for it. I hate those damn script elves.
Hi Joe,
both Crusade and Camelot sound extremely intriguing and promising, is it January yet? I must admit that after Vala left the scene at the end of Beachhead I drastically limited my viewing sessions of one episode to 2 sessions maximum, while the amount of viewing sessions of eps 1 - 6 is at least 10 times each :) Vala and Daniel, that's what I need. Claudia and Michael's chemistry on this show is as magical as Claudia and Ben's on Farscape. Hope you'll agree with me :)
Hey Joe
We know how busy you are and appreciate that you don't always have time to update but it is good to have you back!!!
Sounds like everyone up there has been working really hard and I can't wait to see the product of this even if we do have to wait till next year!!!
Oh and I love Micheal Ironside, the guest stars on both shows just keep getting better and better!!!
Well keep up the good work Joe
Erin
Regarding Season 10 the fans are already heating up the campaign to TPTB in the hopes that the show will continue.
A petition has been started at the following address for anyone interested in helping the cause!!!
http://www.petitiononline.com/SG1S10/petition.html
Oh yes, because online petitions work SO well! [/sarcasm] ;)
Glad to see you back, Joe. Maybe now a new fandom war will rage over the pros and cons of carrot cake ice cream. Or whether there'll be holograms and horses or holograms OF horses...
Personally, I never liked the Arthur mythos and I think that kind of thing is best left to the ren faires, not a blockbuster scifi TV show, but whatever. I've been told no one gives a rat's ass what I think, anyway. ;)
As far as the ice creams... I definitely like the sound of the bread pudding ice cream better than this week's choices, although maple butter vanilla could be yummy.
But then that leaves it open for movie[s] LOL
Maple Butter sounds yummy...
I've made just Maple Ice Cream, which is excellent.
On the movie front, try to get a copy of a Japanese one called The Audition...freaky but oh so well done....just think Seven.
I am glad to see you back. Thought maybe you had forgotten us. Ha Ha.
Don't worry too much about the debates. Regardless of what anyone says, everyone loves ice cream!
As for the new seasons, well some people are just so set in their ways and resist change, but there are fewer holdouts left than you would think. These last few eps have converted even some of them.
You guys are doing an awesome job. It is inconceivable that there would be any question as to whether or not to prepare for seasons 10 and 3. Of course you need to go ahead and be writing scripts now, cause there needs to be at least 25 eps each in the next season, if not more! (I'm being serious here.)
Oh, did you ever check out 'House'?
Steven Furst was INCREDIBLE as Vir. His story arc was brilliantly acted and written. Even thought of casting him or any of B5's amazing cast on Stargate?
Really loved Prototype!!! It was intense, creepy and had some great Daniel moments.
Am really looking forward to Ripple Effect. I am hoping that it will have a healthy dose of Daniel and a certain other person angst!!!!! : ) : )
Wasn't Stephen Furst also "Flounder" in Animal House (with John Belushi, Tim Matheson, Karen Allen, RDA's buddy Bruce McGill [Jack Dalton from MacGyver], et al)? Have you liked him since then?
Though I've enjoyed S9 better since Sam's return and Vala's departure (and yes, I know I seem to be in the minority), what happened to the "Team! Team! Team!" mantra I was hearing so much about. In 2 of 3 recent episodes, Mitchell's been off on his own the entire episode and Teal'c has been off on Dakara/Chulak most of the time.
Are they actually going to be (read 'stay') "together" any time soon? And are you guys ever going to EXPLAIN anything instead of assuming that every fan of the show - or new viewer - knows to read all the background on the internet?
What do you mean, explain? Don't you get it? Mitchell is best Stargate character ever! Didn't you see him doing that fighting stuff? POW! BAM! BOOM! I can't wait to see what noble warrior he grudingly wins over with his witty, nonaffrontive Southern charm next! And how about that Vala?!! Don't you realize how much fun she is to write for? Come on, how long are we supposed to respectfully treat those stodgey, old, dried up characters from the past eight years? No, SG-1 is shiny and new now. If we could just figure out a way to get some T & A in the story it'd be golden! Yeah, and some more explosions and Bamford special stick fighting! The audience can't really handle dialogue, you know.
Joe, try sticking with what's kept you afloat for nine years--O'neill, Carter, Teal'c, and Daniel. That's what SG-1 really is.
Looks like each of us is watching completely different show, although it's name is the same: Stargate: SG-1. I love THE NEW SG-1, which is: Vala, Daniel, Teal'c, Mitchell and Sam technobabbling on the base.
Yeah, let me know how that NEW SG-1 works out for ya after the immaculate child sinks the franchise. Ooh, maybe the baby is Daniel's! You know, Mihchael Shanks is just so damn virile that he probably impregnates women just by focusing those deep, azure windows to his soul on them unsuspectingly. God, I don't know why we don't just whittle things down to Daniel and Vala full time. Now that would be a show in line with Scifi's other material. It could run along with Tripping The Rift!
Thanks for your input about the "Big Debate". I think you're right about the cream cheese. :-) [But hope there was no true hurt feelings on the real "big debate" for any of the actual people involved. :( I am so not getting into the merits or demerits of any of the SG characters.]
As for the winners, well it probably was the "white Toberlone" that helped the maple flavor win...though it could be that Canada has the BEST maple!!!
As someone who has a "passing knowledge" of the tv industry (heh) you may be familiar with casting issues. JJ Abrams had an extremely difficult time convincing Ms. Olin to return. Took almost two seasons! But, it's worth it. Hmm, think Victor Garber would ever come to Toronto? Spy Daddy could be awesome in the SG universe. Darn budgets and Can/US exchange rates.
Ah yes, the cream cheese controversy. If only it wasn't so overwhelmingly cheesy maybe there'd be fewer concerns about how it'll taste. After all, you wouldn't want folks to choke on it, right? Or then again, maybe you would. ;)
As for those who utter the ridiculously trite dismissal of "people who don't like season 9 simply hate change", I yawn in your general direction. From most of the complaints I've seen, it isn't the fact that things have changed, it's the WAYS in which they've changed that people dislike. Sure, there are always a few who ARE resistant to any kind of change, but it's kind of like saying, "people who don't like carrot cake ice cream simply hate ice cream." People who don't like carrot cake ice cream may like plenty of OTHER types of ice cream (and other types of cake, too, for that matter) and there could be those who love carrot cake... but simply don't want it in their ice cream.
go ahead joe, keep thinking your fans are all morons. so long as we're good little fangirls who love daniel and sleazbag vala the show is great. what about jack? you should have said where he went. you just like the new guys now. to much landry and to much mitchell. i like stargate but its not as good as before. my mom stopped watching because of vala but i kept up. now maybe i'll stop to. sam doesnt do anything. and why dont the same actor play orlin? didnt sam go with jack. you need to tell us more about the caracters we like not the newbies. i read that scifi made you guys do all the new stuff is that true? i dont like it as much :(
Carrot cake ice cream? sounds good to me!
Couple, three anime' films you ought to try: Tree of Palme, The Placed Promised In Our Dreams, and My Beautiful Girl Mari. All are smart, thoughtful, and haunting.
Sealab is great! The whole 'Adult Swim' lineup on Cartoon network is just hilarious -- it's filled with shows like that. They even brought back Bridman as 'Harvey Bridman, Attorney at Law.' No joke. I also have heard that the show Aquateen Hunger Force made fun of Stargate, calling it a Fargate or something, but I have yet to see it.
Looking forward to the midseason finale of Atlantis!
-Caitlyn
Joe! Glad to have you back. I actually resorted to buying vanilla ice cream yesterday because of the long draught of inspiration. :-> The maple butter gives me ideas on how to rectify _that_, though....
You spoil us, y'know? Keeping up with the blog, the forum, the behind-the-scenes pieces for Gateworld, having a life (I'm assuming), & still gifting us with forty hours (minus commercials) of quality sci-fi every year? Have we said 'thank you' lately? And if so, have you passed it along to the rest of the staff & cast? Please do!
I have to ask: General Landry made a remark in 'Babylon' that the injured Sodan warrior hadn't given them 'so much as a decent haiku' in intel. Has someone at The Bridge discovered my all-haiku episode synopses for 'SG-1' & 'Atlantis'? :->
Again, great to have you back! Hope the last few episodes go smoothly. Let us know what we can do to get Seasons 10 & 3 locked in.
Cheers!
Oh goodness. . stick with Bab 5. Vir and G'Kar are the best characters to the end.
I'm going to avoid the cream cheese and the carrot cake. I don't think it is healthy anyway. *LOL*
Just wanted to say I really enjoy season 9. "Prototype" and "4th Horseman" really pulled everything together - I've finally connected with all the newbies and looking forward to season 10.
*whispering quietly*. . .I rather like Vala too. :)
Yeah, I'm not a fan of 'the carrot cake ice cream.' In fact, it nearly made me throw up. But that doesn't mean I didn't like 'Conversion." Great job on the episode overall. You guys are really doing fantastic work with Season two of Atlantis. It's so far better than the first season, which is a feat!
But, uh, please change the flavors your ice-cream, please? Or better yet, no ice-cream. :Nods: No ice-cream is better than the carrot cake ice cream. Always.
Joe,
Give the anti-season nine thread a read. Then give the Mitchell/Carter rank thread a few moments' attention. Then try the What's Mitchell's Purpose threads, any of them. Try listening to some longtime stargate fans and not the latest crop of farscapers here to tout their out-of-work actors as the second coming. Hmm, second coming, now why is that silly story stuck in my head?
It appears that some folks want only the same old vanilla ice cream they’ve had for 8 years or more. And some folks just discovered Joe’s ice cream and want only the triple twist bungee jumping through bourbon sauce bread pudding. Though some find that too sweet.
But apparently all Joe is offering now is carrot cake ice cream... and nobody's interested. Ice cream is a pretty tough gig. ;D
What to do at a time like this?! Happily, TV has the answer: write a show about nothing. It worked for Larry David and Seinfeld.
TO ALL FUTURE POSTERS:
Please utilize that seldom thought of, yet ever niggling little bit of doubt in the back of your minds and refrain from continuing with the now much too imbecilic metaphor Joe so inoccuously began in his blog.
The rest of us, and no doubt Joe himself, will thank you.
Steve
Hey Joe:)
Camelot sounds interetine can't wait to see it.
The flavors of Ice cream sound yummie!!!
Spending time with your dogs
sounds fun, and I think I go
spend sometime with mine!!
Hugs
Shortea
I highly recommend Wolf's Rain and Read or Die:TV Series. Have you tried FullMetal Alchemist? It's new so might not be out in Box Set yet, but also very good.
I have to say that reading your blog always makes me very hungry, Carrot Cake Ice Cream, wonderful idea!!
I think Crusade sounds great. Can't wait to see Vala back. Claudia is an awesome actor.
The ice cream on the other hand just sounds gross. What's wrong with good old chocolate?
I think you should have an ice cream contest -- where to the winner gets a trip to the set plus and ice cream sunday :P
Keep up the great work - Thank you for working so hard on making this show so amazing!
I'm really hoping for Season 10 and Season 3 (and if they dont want to budget that out perhaps 2 SciFi mini series to wrap everything up... But I'd rather some more seasons)
Aqua Teen Hunger force
funniest show on television
I assume you have seen Firefly
(if not, stop everthing and go pick up the dvd)
I was wondering if I could get a little commentary from you on Firefly? Thanks.
It's more a comment concerning one of the questions in "Ask Joe" thread than your blog, but I'm not an active member of GW forum, so this is the best place to protest with full force against calling the most wonderful character of season 9 which Vala is, "Vala the Vulgar" and saying that is "real offense to show families used to watch". What a hypocricy, especially that this person doesn't complain about sometimes too much violence, which definitely isn't for children to watch! Vala is THE BEST thing that could happen to SG-1 in ages and she's not vulgar at all. Saying something like this is offending phenomenal Claudia, who really doesn't deserve it, 'cause her job on this show is more than brilliant, offending her fans all around the world and Vala's supporters, who really don't see ANY vulgarity in the first six episodes of season 9.
Kalliope, go wage your war somewhere else. Other fans have just as much right to voice their opinions as you do and just because YOU don't agree with them doesn't make them wrong. It's called an OPINION for a reason.
Well, now I'm nervous. Last year I was okay with Sg-1 ending -- if it had to -- because I knew that the storyline would be tied together with some lovely closure. For the series to end with "major loose ends" would be torture! [bites nails in fear] I'll just hope we see Sg-1 on the lineup for next year. Even now I can't wait 'til Friday because I know we're getting a double dose with Aurora and Lost Boys.
Mitchell is a nice addition; there were a lot of subtle things(example: Teal'c being slightly irritated with him, eg. rolling his eyes ^_^) that, to me, made him easier to accept. And this is from a person that does not like change. The only thing I truly dislike about the new season is the Ori... but I won't get into that right now.
I have to commend you on Atlantis. Every single episode leaves me wanting more! It's a phenomenal show all around -- the acting, the visuals, the writing. I would be so completely sad if it wasn't back for many more seasons; I see the potential for such amazing storylines. Even now, I'm excited because I know we're getting a double dose this Friday with Aurora and Lost Boys.
I hope putting Mitchell in charge was worth your dignity, Joe. Because that's what it has cost you with all the women who watch this show, your dignity.
Val
Joe,
Add me to the list of people recommending Aqua Teen Hunger Force - I'm surprised that you didn't check that out as well, as the Plutonians did have a "Fargate" (as they said, it wasn't taken from the movie or the successful syndicated series (g)) in "Universal Remonster" (and, yes, I did remember that offhand, although I did double check it). BTW, AS also has great anime - Fullmetal Alchemist, Inuyasha, Samurai Champloo, Cowboy Bebop... the list is long. (g)
ever your servant,
Jennwarp
Joe, are ideas that hard to come by for Atlantis? I just read about "Grace Under Pressure" in the news thread, and it is apparently a blatant rip off of the SG-1 episdoe "Grace". Add this to "Intruder", which has already aired, and the yet to be seen "Epiphany". You know its bad when you yourselves describe the atlantis episode by the SG-1 ep it rehashes. So, back to my original question, ARe things really that bad?
I am a first reader of the comments in the blogs, and frankly,I have been shocked by some of the rude and personal critisisms i just read. (for those whomay argue - calling someones creations 'drivel' is not the politest way to voice a critisism). Remember, this is Joe's own time he is giving up to write for you, and subsequently read your comments.
I appreciate that some people may not like the way the show has changed - living in the UK, I have yet to see it - but, there must be better ways to voice your displeasure. Instead of being rude and dismissive, be constructive. And if you can't do that, don't post at all.
To Joe - thankyou for taking the time toblog, and answer questions on the forum. You've done a great job in the past, and i'm sure i'll enjoy both new series. And how on earth can anyone think up so many ice cream flavours? Creative genius I suppose!
I think a lot of my fears about Grace Under Pressure have to do with a producer's ill-chosen words in describing it as "McKay's Grace." Plus, the fact that Grace is in the title of the NEW ep doesn't exactly inspire confidence that this will be something new and different.
It's a Martin Gero ep, though. I have to keep reminding myself of that. He's one of the best writers Atlantis has, as far as I'm concerned, and he's managed to pull off miracles before. I'm hoping GUP will be another Gero classic.
Otherwise I break out the torches and pitchforks. ;)
But hey, no pressure... if you'll pardon the pun. lol
That's all well said, but the application doesn't quite pan out that way. There's just such a large number of fans who feel rather disenfranchised by TPTB this year. Joe's blog is the one place they know they can go to actually give them some feedback. While there's certainly more civil ways of expressing their displeasure, most fans are simply trying to be heard. What's most frustrating, and what leads to the most vitriolic posts, is the fact that TPTB are pretty much ignoring any criticism or suggestions by the fans. I agree with those above who expressed dissatisfaction with Carter not being in command, and about Vala not really being up to Stargate's level of quality or decency, and about Grace Under Pressure being a ripoff of SG1. And we're talking right down to the Carter snogging part. Haven't we had enough of Sam's soap opera life? It seems that since RDA is no longer around, TPTB have simply started shipping her with every man still living from her past, and have decided to make up whatever difference is left on Atlantis with Teyla/Dex or Shep/Weir.
Anyway, maybe people wouldn't be so angry if they felt like things were getting better for Stargate, not worse. But I'm sure Joe thanks you for your indignation on his behalf. After all, as long as they know there's still fanboys and fangirls out there who think everything is great, then nothing will change for the better. If this is the only means of letting them know how bad they've screwed things up, then it's bound to be ugly. To expect anything else is inhuman.
I object to being called a fanboy - as i mensioned, i had yet to see the episodes yet. If i don't like them, i will say so - just in a politer, less vitriolic way.
Also - quite how you expect TPTB to acknowledge and change due to critisism, when virtually all the episodes have already been filmed is beyond me - they may acknowledge what iswrong, if anything, and then fix it in the next season.
Anyway - if you wish to continue this argument further, there is a thread on the gateworld forum entitled "The comments in J. Mallozzi's Blog". Lets not clutter up more space in this section of the site.
I would ask you not to speak as though you have the authority of the entire fanbase. Personally I think SG1 has certainly changed for the better this season, I think the writers have very much listened to past criticisms and have dealt with some of them and not with others which is their right. I think there have been some misses but many more hits which to my eyes is an improvement on the last few seasons. As it is yours not to like it but please do not try to intimate you are speaking for everyone. This is not the only SG forum on the internet, it is not even the largest. In many other places many fans are enjoying this season just fine and are quite capable of saying so and I think the ratings are supporting the impression that the general audience is feeling the same way. I understand it is disappointing when things are not going your way - I am no great fan of season six myself because I'd much rather Daniel be there than not but unfortunately for those who like to make grand, sweeping statements about what "everybody" likes or dislikes it's more complicated than that and what makes the show better for one fan may make it worse for another. If it's really bothering you so much I'd say it's time to change the channel or pop in a DVD.
Woa! It appears there is a heated debate going on here....
Down to more important things... have you ever thought of using rasberries in an ice cream flavor? Quite frankly, rasberries and dark chocolate can either independently or jointly make anything better. Perhaps a rasberry sherbet or sorbet with dark chocolate flakes or dark chocolate ice cream with rasberries or something?
Season 3 of Alias already! You have been busy. I beleive that Lena Olin's had many scheduling conflicts and they could only rarely get her back so they had to write around her.
Really though, what did you think of the end of season two??? The fight scene with the Francie double and then then when Sydney wakes......
It was the ONLY time I can recall when I actually felt compelled to yell at my TV!
Which comes first, the network renewing the series, or the actors agreeing to do another year?
I'm the "anonymous" who wrote about Victor Garber getting on Stargate. I meant for him to come to Vancouver! Really! I know it's very different from Toronto, LOL. Just had a brain freeze (maybe it was the ice cream).
Signed by a stupid American who loves Canada--and a long time Stargate fan who's not watched Farscape and loves Season 9, especially now the "band's back together."
I have two questions, both of which I cam sure have at some point in time been answered but for the life of me I can't find them.
1. Is RDA going to be doing any more episodes this season? I thought I read that he would be doing 4 but as I said I can't find it now. And yes 'I am one of those people' You know, the ones who want Sam and Jack together...
2. Are we ever going to meet the Furlings?
Joe, Have enjoyed most of the Stargate seasons. However SG1 got better with the return of Col. Sam Carter and the departure of Vala. Please keep it that way! Vala was great for the five episodes she was in for Amanda Tapping Leave but she is NOT part of the team. Take care and Thank you!
Hi Joe:
Just a recommendation, don't know if someone mentioned it before, but if you love anime, you have GOT to see "Steamboy". Directed by Katsuhiro Otomo, it's a very elaborate anime, reto science fiction, set in Victorian England. Just came out in July. Don't miss it!
Joe:
I am writing to hopefully get an answer to a question:
why is a person that:
(1) has never seen a Stargate,
(2) has never been through a Stargate,
(3) has exactly zero, zip, nada, off-world experience,
(4) has never seen an alien, friend or foe,
(5) has no experience with off-world ground combat,
(6) has no experience with alien technology or science,
(7) has no experience with alien diplomacy,
(8) has no experience with alien languages and is shown to be wholly unqualified for the position,
made leader, at least figuratively, of the elite SG1 while the person that:
(1) has 8 plus years of knowledge on all things Stargate,
(2) has been through the Stargate hundreds of times over 8 years,
(3) has 8 years of off-world experience,
(4) has seen, dealt with in great detail and even killed, alien foes and made and dealt with alien friends for 8 years,
(5) has 8 years of off-world ground combat experience,
(6) has 8 years of experience with alien technology and science,
(7) has 8 years of experience with alien diplomacy,
(8) has 8 years of experience with alien language through a teammate
all experience garnered while serving as 2IC of the elite SG1 for 7 years and as its wholly qualified and competent leader for 1 year, is demoted to 2IC of that very same team in favor of person (a) without any plausible or credible explanation?
Please know that those in charge of this show have done a disservice to the character of Lt. Colonel Samantha Carter, women in the military and women in general. In addition, this scenario has summarily damaged any credibility the people in charge of this show may have had with many fans.
Thank you very much for your time.
Have you ever tried lavender icecream? Two straights over from you and a valley and town over from me they have these HUGE Lavender farms and a festival or two. Though I've yet to have the opportunity, I've been told that lavender icecream is just a dream to try. Very light, delicate and refreshing, so they say...
As for loose ends.... When have they NOT had many of them at a season ends? Some that have yet to be answered.....
I would suggest the all you persistant types who keep asking Joe the same question over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over about why Mitchell is leader of SG1 should save us all the aggravation and go and take another look at the credits. See that bit where Ben Browder is in front of AT in the credits order? See where she doesn't have a special indicator like "with" "and" or "as"? That's why Mitchell is leader of SG1. If you ever for a moment believed that it would ever be different... well innocence is a lovely thing but we all have grow out of it at some time. So get over and move on or just move on altogether because I'd say it's never going to change.
So according to AT, Sam and Jack would never have "a long term, functioning relationship"and according to you it was only ever an attraction not a love story and as also according to AT she has a competitiveness but also sexual tension with McKay, wouldn't it be great if she could go to Atlantis full time and give Rodney someone worthy of snarking with?
That may be true, but you've also overlooked a number of other important facts. Ben Browder is a hack. He will always be a hack, and he will never be recognized as anything other than a shoddy replacement for RDA. He's so meek when in a scene with any of the other actors on sg1 its surprising even to me, who expected crap from him. He may be the "lead", but if you feel that any stargate fans are ever going to see him as something other than the new guy or something other than pathetic, you're just stupid. Maybe he'll lead with one of those sticks he keeps fighitng with. That should get him killed quick. I'd sure rather be innocent and right than guilty of stupidity.
I dunno about you guys but I'd like to think that Sam's "sharing" the leadership with Mitchell.
As for Browder being someone who has never seen Stargate... Well, Torri [Higginson] didn't before she got casted (correct me if I'm wrong) and she's amazing!
>>What the heck happened to Lena Olin?<<
*giggles* The reaction of about 99.999% of all Alias fans in season 3. Rumour has it that she didn't want to come back in season 3 in order to have more time for other projects and family.
And I just want to plug that season 4 comes out October 25th.
God, the ice cream sounds heavenly. What I would give to work with you...
Good luck with production and all those other things!
Persistent types who have legitimate criticisms of the show and the direction it has taken are more than likely the fans of Stargate that have watched, and who, btw, have kept this show on the air, for 8-9 years; the ones that don't buy into implausible BS when they take a competent qualified lead character and push them aside in favor of what is written and portrayed as an incompetent unqualifed character simply because of the need for a male lead (as anonymous helpfully pointed out in a message at 6:52 p.m. so succintly). Stargate fans that have watched and followed this show and these charaters for 8 years don't buy into illogical, implausible nonesense that easily.
But, but, but...Ben Browder is the *STAR* of the smash Scifi hit, Farscape. Farscape enjoyed enormous success during it's extremely lengthy run on the Scifi channel and the ratings for the blowout Farscape miniseries toppled even the mighty Pterodactly's numbers. I'd like to see that tired SG-1 last longer or pull better numbers than Ben "The Man" Browder did.
We can't all be wrong about this can we Scapers? Ben is a star, right? He IS the lead, at least on paper. And that's all that matters to us. Sure, the other actor on the show are running circles around Ben, but as long as those cheeky British mags keep touting him as the lead, I'm sure all those unenlightened Stargate fans will come around. I mean, I'd like to see Richard Dean Anderson try to carry a show for as long a time as Farscape ran!
Oh please. RDA is the hack. He's a handsome, nice guy with a bucket load of charisma and the acting talent of a supermodel. He's the only one in the cast who never trained as an actor, has never done stage work or the big screen and has spent his entire career doing action adventure TV fluff and a couple of dreadful movies of the week. He is certainly entertaining and very appealing but frankly he plays himself in just about every role he has and as far as I can see has never had any ambition to do more. There is nothing wrong with that, he is perfectly suited to the kind of work he has done but as far as "running circles around" goes, every single member of the cast has more chops, more varied experience and more training.
Ha ha. That's rich. Tell me another one. Make it about how unfair it all is, and how we'll all recognize ben for the genius he is eventually, but sadly only after his death.
UNBELIEVEABLE! I can't take this anymore! I'm sick of this bitterness and venom. I'm sure I'm troll baiting, but it's driving me nuts. Is it any wonder Joe Mallozzi or other PTB think we're "morons" when such visceral hate drips from keyboards? Is it then surprising when certain individuals at Bridge fight flames with flames and end up insulting fans whose well considered criticism is swept up with the caustic troll posts?
Don't care for someone's performance or writing, fine, criticize...constructively! But calling names such as "hack" or conjecturing as to someone's virility or posthumous acting talent, or basting the flames with vicious sarcasm or imaginatively pitting one actor against another--whether it's Mr. Browder, Mr. Anderson, Ms. Black, Ms. Tapping, Ms. Doig, Ms. Rothery, Mr. Shanks, Mr. Judge, Mr. Bridges, etc.,...or even Mr. Mallozzi--who's blog this is, or the other people at Bridge does a disservice to whatever plotline, character, or actor (present or past) you're trying to defend.
No one hears your point, they only hear your hate...and it drowns out those who have both good or bad constructive questions or comments for Mr. Mallozzi.
The opening credits were negotiated between the cast members, their agents and the producers. Unlike when RDA was in the cast, noone's name (or everyone's name for the ten second version) is ABOVE the title. Whose name is where is their business, it doesn't change our lives as fans a hoot. I think of SG-1 as an ensemble show, and don't think of Ben Browder as the star any more than Chris Judge or Beau Bridges or Michael Shanks or Amanda Tapping (and I puposefully randomly shook up their name order).
Personally I care about the quality of the performance or storyline. Sometimes, like Prototype, I think it's off the charts in greatness--tight story, interesting twists, with interesting developments for all the characters. Other times, like Ex Deus Machina (sorry, Joe), I think the attempt falls flat because it separated the team too much and used too many plot ideas and plot twists. Most times the efforts are somewhere in between.
The same goes for character development. I'm a Daniel fan who loves Sam. I'm a feminist who's remaining cautiously optimistic about how the two Lt.Cols issue on SG-1 plays out. I'm a non-Farscape watcher who enjoys Cameron Mitchell. I'm an anti-shipper who...okay, there's no counter to that, I hate when Joe and the others go that way in stories, and will fanwank my own way though "not exactly" hints if there's any wiggle room at all. But I appreciate there are other fans who enjoy the "ship", and I hate the "us against them" mentality of the fandom--Vala v Sam, J/S v Daniel, Jack v Mitchell, etc.
My point is, I know my opinion is just that. My opinion. Others have different ones, and I respect their right to agree or disagree, politely, contructively, without personal counter attacks to either myself or the story or character I defend or criticize, or further to sweep me up in either the pro- or anti- group of their choosing.
I'm sorry for ranting, and this probably isn't the proper venue, and for that I apologize to GW and Mr. Mallozzi. This has been building to a boiling point in me for a while. Is it any wonder people discuss the ice cream or Alias instead? It seems so much safer. Sigh.
Give 'em long enough and they'll start flaming each other over ice cream and Alias, too. ;)
"Double Dark Milk Chocolate Capuccino Biscotti Crunch??!! OMG! That's so disgusting! Only a brain dead lunatic could love something like that!! You make me SICK!!"
"What do you mean Sark is lame?? SARK IS A GOD, YOU MISERABLE LITTLE ****!!! Anyone who can't see that is an idiot and shouldn't be allowed to post!"
"Joe Mallozzi is an offense to the creators of REAL ice creams! He should have his ice cream maker taken away while he's pelted with scoops of Chunky Monkey!"
Heh. Sorry. Opinions above aren't my own, just random insane examples of what is no doubt to come. *sigh* Except probably less funny. ;)
What a hoot you all are!
The only thing more entertaining than JM's blog (which I really appreciate him writing) are the comments here. You all should write for the soaps on daytime television.
And as I've said to others. If this show/fandom/other is making you sooooo obviously miserable, then get control of your life back and go find something else to do.
Become the producer that signs the writers paychecks. Now that's power!
Jen
I totally sympathize with having too many things to do...
watched Final Fantasy VII : Advent Children a few days ago...its sexy...if you know of final fantasy vii you should check it out...if not...well play the game, then check it out! haha!
I like sweet carrot cake...
Bahaha, I got my morning lol from reading these comments :D Rofl at all the haters in here, keep up the good work.
And I sure hope Stargate keeps going exactly the way it has been for the start of the season. That way I get to watch my favourite show (which is going great!) AND get a lol out of all the people whinging. GG Mr Mallozzi! :D
Agreed, cheers to all the hate in this blog.
And Joe, if nothing else, I hope some of the earnest vitriol being spouted off here at least hammers home just how badly Mitchell has been recieved by many long time fans of the show.
He'd have made a great fourth member of the team, a young Major being groomed for future command of the elite SG-1. But as things are now, he looks like he's been forcefully shoe-horned into the nominal role of SG-1 leader. I don't know if it was the suits at Scifi, you guys at Bridge, or Browder himself, but whoever thought he should be the leader of Carter, Teal'c, and Daniel really should consider a pysche evaluation. Bad idea, poorly executed.
By the way, I agree that Carter, Daniel, and Teal'c(or Tapping, Shanks, and Judge) are really running circles around poor Mitchell. He just can't keep up. And the character acts like he knows it.
Great finales last week! I was on the edge of my seat for the first time in a great while when it comes to Stargate.
Keep up the blog Joe! I check for updates everyday.
Joe, you're such a tease! But I love you anyway. Thanks for keeping us in the loop. Glad you stuck with Alias.
You are a hard worker and very creative!
wow, what a neat thing. Joe, you're super for doing this. My friends and I have been watching sg1 since our junior year in college. we've drifted apart, but always talk about new stargate on IM. What we're curious about is Carter's demotion. Why hasn't it been explained more? And why is Mitchell given command over her? Daniel and Tealc had a hard time with sam not getting command before in an episode who's name I can't remember, so why are they alright with it now?
Keep up the great work, and thanks for all the hours of fun. Oh, and don't let these nutters get you down. Talk about mean spirited!
See, anonymous, what Joe's going to tell you is that Carter hasn't been demoted. I mean, come on, who couldn't get that from what's been shown on screen? She's still there, leading SG-1 every week. Oh, wait. No she isn't. Anyway, don't worry about it. Look away. Try not to think too hard about such things. Hey! Have you seen our new guy yet? He's astoundingly terrific, apparently somewhat of a leader in his own right, and, yep, he's got all the dangly bits necessary to make it as "SG-1 Team Leader".
Nice attitude you guys have up there, Joe. So, if Ms. Tapping has another baby does that mean that Carter gets bumped back to Major?
ROTFLMAO
Ok, I think what no one understands is that RDA is for all intense and purpose GONE from SG-1. It's pretty widly known that once RDA makes up his mind it's a done deal, he's not coming back so get over it and quit bit*hing and deal. If you like the show you like it, but the bottom line in television....
If you don't like a show change the channel, that's the ONLY way the production offices hear what the fans think. Anything else is just whining for the sake of whining.
And in the real military, Sam just might not get the promotion and the military just might bring in someone else to take over who just might be the same rank ect....and she'd lose out.
Usually the new commanding officer brings in thier but kissers and the people who were there before losr out that's just the way it goes sometimes, she could always ask for a transfer....
Personally I think all these nasty anonymous postings are from those people on that other site that Joe mentioned before. They actually think he's listening to thier whining/moaning/complaining...LOL
Sorry, but as a writer/director/producer/actor you learn pretty early on to turn a blind ear to the nasty stuff and blow it off as just nasty for the sake of having a mouth and only give credence to the constructive barbs/whining/complaing LOL
I think the only thing it'll do eventually is to drive any/all the members of the cast/crew who come here to not come here anymore as it's less enjoyable to share, thus thumbing thier nose at the fans and not really caring what y'all think about what they do like the hundreads of other television shows out there. But as the above post, the only thing people in television really listen to are the NUMBERS, if the numbers aren't there the shows turns to dust, so the poster above is right, if you don't like it change the channel.
My, the philosophers on this thread truly possess dizzying intellects. So you're saying that I can actually just change the channel? How does one go about this, this....changing of the channel? Does it involve incantations or ritual sacrifices? What Ancient tome must I scour the globe for to teach me of such marvels?
And, now that it's been brought to the fore, it actually does seem possible, however remote, that Carter would simply get passed over for one of Landry's ass-kissers. Is that what Mitchell is? Hey, it's as least as likely as a crackshot, maverick pilot getting splashed by two mean looking gliders, literally breaking his back, working, persevering, fighting his way back, all for the chance to join the fabled SG-1, to go off-world for the first time, to learn from the best, and then, then to fall into the leadership position above the three most experienced characters in the Stargate universe, right? Ha, ha, "Shaft" indeed.
Finally, I don't think I could stand the ingnominy of knowing that it was comments like these, full of malicious hatred and vitriol spawned from the Devil himself, that drove those Muses of the male persuasion away from thier beloved perch, here at Gateworld. Afterall, where would this site be without them? Thier patronage is a boon to the internet, their noblesse unmatched in this wicked, wild, world wide web. Perhaps the round table can't be completed without the pure, chaste Sir Gero the Seneschal? Perhaps it is Sir Mallozzi that will dare to sit in the Seige Perilous? Nah, it'll probably just be Mitchell. You didn't think Carter, Daniel, or Teal'c could possibly attain the Sangreal, did you?
Perhaps the round table can't be completed without the pure, chaste Sir Gero the Seneschal?
ROTFL! Oh my, what a lovely, lovely image. Pure, chaste Martin. There's just something about that that makes me giggle helplessly. ;) Not that I'm saying he's a lecherous cad, mind you, but I don't think he's spent his life living like a monk, either. Although with his current workload, it might feel that way, who knows. lol
Thank you for that visual. Sir Gero the Pure, gallant knight and unicorn tamer, defeating fell foes and rescuing damsels in distress. I love that. :)
snide comments are unnecessary. i think tptb know they blew it with the command issue, so stop rubbing their noses in it. everyone makes mistakes. this one just happens to crap all over the history of all things stargate
Or gee, maybe they don't think they blew it at all and JM just thinks the butt kissers around here will believe any old cr*p he tosses their way and he wants them to stop whining and start kissing again. His butt's been lonely...
Ah, what the heck happened to Lena Olin? The unanswered question that left the rest of us dangling for more than a year (it was torture lol). JJ Abrams said in an interview that he BEGGED her to come back for S3 and she refused.
The good news--she will be back in S4. The bad news--for S5, Greg Grunberg and Mia Maestro won't. Or at least Mia will be back on a VERY limited basis (I read 3 eps in Dreamwatch).
And yes, I AM a total fan girl. :D
Wow reading through this thing has brought out the cynic in me. I have lurked around GW and other boards for about 4 years and I am really not seeing much new about the rude comments expect who is doing them.
There are very few truly objective opinions--some but not many. Most opinions are based on an agenda--MY character should be the most important or MY storyline should have the resolution that I want. If not, the show is crap, crap, crap.
Interestingly enough, some (not all) of the same people slamming Vala for being too sexual are the same people who go into raptures when Jack says something similiar in front of Sam (swoon); the same people who drag Sam (or Daniel or Mithchell) over the coals for poor judgement will defend Daniel's (or Sam's or Mitchell's) mistakes with their last breath. Some of the same people who are actively campaining against Mitchell are the same who proclaimed loudly in season 6 that anyone who didn't accept the new guy wasn't a real fan. Come on, Trust the Powers that Be. But I guess that only counts if they are doing what you want. ;p
To Joe and the other PTB,
I am enjoyed the show for that last nine years and continue to do so. I haven't liked every single thing but so far the things that I truly like outweigh the negative. I'm just along for the ride and so far so good. Thanks for the fun.
Muppet
Any plans to bring back the Podcast similar to the Atlantis's season finale from Season 1?
Ok, I'm not sure if you'll read this, but I have to rant myself.
I just purchased the season 8 DVD set. Although I own all eight seasons, I was particularly excited to receive this set because, about a year ago, you guys solicited questions from fans that would be answered on the DVD set by yourself and Paul Mullie. Imagine my surprise when I received an email confirming that my question would be answered!
Of course, I pick up the DVD set and bring it home tonight only to find... the special featured profile is NOT on the US Region version of the DVD set, ONLY the UK version.
How does stuff like this happen? Is it a conscious decision? Does MGM expect me to buy a region-free DVD player and buy a region 2 DVD set so I can hear my question answered?
I'll enjoy the DVDs of the episodes (as I always do), but I have to admit that I'm very, very disappointed in this turn of events. I can only hope that you guys enjoyed the question, since I'll never get to hear the answer...
Chad
Savannah, Ga.