“Originally it felt almost like a new series, and we discussed re-branding it at one point,” executive producer Robert C. Cooper revealed to Stargate SG-1: The Official Magazine. “There’s an inside joke at the beginning of the tease in episode one (“Avalon, Part 1”). The last line Walter the technician says to Colonel Mitchell, ‘Welcome to Stargate Command,’ which was originally going to be the title of the new series, but for a number of corporate reasons, it has remained as Stargate SG-1.”
Holding on to the show’s well-known name may have helped hold on to viewers, rather than having to start over as in some sense a new spin-off. It’s also helped to make Stargate SG-1 the longest-running sci-fi show in the U.S. when it premieres its tenth season next summer.
“We know that the reinvention of the series is going to give it life, hopefully beyond this season,” Cooper said. “It’s going to stop the ‘Will the show be over at the end of this year?’ conversations.”
Look for the complete interview in the newest issue of The Official Magazine (#7, November/December 2005), on newsstands now! All-new episodes of SG-1‘s ninth season resume in January on The SCI FI Channel. Get a peek at what’s to come in GateWorld’s episode guide!