Between our trip to Vancouver in March, a 4-month-old baby, and a 50-page paper, we’ve been a little busy lately. Buckle up as we catch up on the world of
Stargate news! Thanks to everyone who has (and continues to) send in news tips.
We have some fun things cooking for the weeks to come, in addition to a full, site-wide redesign this spring!
On with the news …
The Waterkeeper Alliance’s recent auction of lunch with the stars of Stargate raised $50,000 U.S., the organization told GateWorld! Joe Flanigan’s lunch on the set went for $10,000, as did Ben Browder’s lunch at the studio. Lunch with Richard Dean Anderson and Amanda Tapping went for an astonishing $30,000. “Everyone here at Waterkeeper Alliance is extremely grateful to the generosity of the Stargate fans and wish to thank Richard Dean Anderson, Amanda Tapping, Ben Browder, and Joe Flanigan, the rest of the Stargate SG-1 and Stargate Atlantis casts, as well as the entire Stargate production company for their incredible support of our fundraising efforts as we work to protect, preserve and defend the waters of our planet,” Waterkeeper trustee Karen Lehner told GateWorld. SCI FI Channel has announced a May 29 Memorial Day Stargate marathon! From 10 a.m. to Noon, SCI FI will air Season Nine’s mid-season two parter, “The Fourth Horseman.” Starting at noon, get caught up on the second half of Stargate Atlantis’s second season. The 10-episode marathon will run from “The Lost Boys, Part 1” through “Allies.” Finishing up the marathon is Stargate SG-1’s “Stronghold” at 11 p.m. and “Arthur’s Mantle” at midnight. (All times Eastern and Pacific) Zombies in “200!” Fangoria Magazine has published a photo from the set of Stargate SG-1‘s two-hundredth episode, featuring a trio of gouls. SCI FI has confirmed that the landmark episode will air on August 18. Stargate has been nominated for Favorite TV Show, Best Ensemble Cast, and Best New Characters (“Lt. Col. Cameron Mitchell”) and (“Vala Mal Doran”) in this year’s fan-voted Spaceys. “Viewers Choice Voting” is now open for the SPACE network’s fourth annual awards. Canada’s only sci-fi and fantasy television awards show has opened the seven categories for voting until May 8. SPACE’s annual celebration of genre entertainment will air in Canada on May 27. Check out the official nominees at: SPACECAST.com. Look for an interview with Stargate composer Joel Goldsmith at The Scifi World! Goldsmith talks about his point of view on SG-1 and Atlantis, and tells the site that with Sony’s approval he hopes to release more music from the shows on CD in the future — beginning with the complete score from “Children of the Gods.” The composer has recently released four pieces of music from Stargate on his Web site. SCI FI Channel is currently showing new ad spots during the Monday night SG-1 marathons, featuring the cast talking about various aspects of the series. “I strongly believe that the success of the show has been about good storytelling and the chemistry of the original cast, and it’s never going to be the same as the original group but we don’t want it to be,” actor Michael Shanks said in one of the interview spots. “That was it’s own puritanical, wonderful thing. And this group — what is the most important thing is the audience needs to care about these people. If they don’t, then all the explosions and things blowing up is for naught. I mean these people are in jeopardy; you really have to worry ‘Are they going make it?’ because I care about them, and the characters care about each other, then the audience will too.” Rachel Luttrell talks about her work on Stargate Atlantis, the rest of the cast, and Season Three stories in an interview at Sci-Fi Brain. NBC Global Networks and Spain’s Sogecable have signed a deal for SCI FI Channel to launch June 1 in Spain on Sogecable-owned satellite platform Digital Plus. Since SCI FI Channel began in the U.S. in 1992, it has put international versions on screen in the U.K., Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and France. SCI FI Spain’s initial programming lineup will include the Spanish debuts of Stargate Atlantis and Tremors, Seven Days, American Gothic, The Sentinel, Battlestar Galactica, Earth 2, The Incredible Hulk, and The Invisible Man. The Hollywood Reporter reports in more depth about this new agreement. PRODUCTS
Get a peek at the new 1-inch thick, slimline Stargate SG-1 DVD sets at TVShowsOnDVD.com! The first eight seasons will be rereleased in North America on June 13 at a new low suggested retail price of $49.95. (We’ll have full-sized images to show off soon.) The 5-disc sets will include the same episodes and bonus features as the current editions. The newest volume of Titan’s popular Stargate SG-1 reference book series is now available for pre-order! “Stargate SG-1: The Official Companion (Season 9)” is written by The Official Magazine editor Sharon Gosling, the book includes a behind-the-scenes look at every episode in the show’s most recent year. Pick it up at Amazon.com or Amazon.co.uk and support GateWorld with your purchase. The book will be available September 30. Also coming from Titan is “Stargate Atlantis: The Official Companion (Season 2)”, also written by Gosling and due July 30. Preorder the 176-page book at Amazon.com or Amazon.co.uk. Avatar Press, publishers of the popular Stargate SG-1 comics, has several issues due out this month. The covers are re-solicited but the stories are new! Some of the covers are from previous months such as the SG-1 2005 convention special. To check out and order the newest comics, visit the Avatar Press store. The release dates have arrived for the new seasons of Stargate SG-1 (Season Nine) and Stargate Atlantis (Season Two) on Region 2 (Europe) DVD: SG-1 Vol. 44 – 27th March (episodes 901-904)SG-1 Vol. 45 – 24th April (episodes 905-908)SG-1 Vol. 46 – 22nd May (episodes 909-911)SG-1 Vol. 47 – 19th June (episodes 912-914)SG-1 Vol. 48 – 17th July (episodes 915-917)SG-1 Vol. 49 – 14th Auguest (episodes 918-920) Atlantis Vol. 2.1 – 10th April (episodes 201-204)Atlantis Vol. 2.2 – 8th May (episodes 205-208)Atlantis Vol. 2.3 – 5th June (episodes 209-212)Atlantis Vol. 2.4 – 3rd July (episodes 213-216)Atlantis Vol. 2.5 – 31st July (episodes 217-220)
Digital Voice and Media will acquire Perception PTY, GamesIndustry.biz reports. Perception was developing the video game Stargate SG-1: The Alliance, which has been unofficially cancelled. EzyDVD in Australia is now selling the first two seasons of Stargate SG-1 in a new series of special collector tins. The DVDs are PAL formatted for Australian viewers, and will be available July 24. Check out the Season One and Season Two tins at EzyDVD.com.au. Far Sector has published an interview with Martha Wells, author of the new Stargate Atlantis novel “Reliquary.” ACTORS
In an interview with “Eclipse Magazine”, Michael Shanks (“Daniel Jackson”) said the success of the “Women of Sci Fi” calendar has highlighted the need that the product has met. “Oh, we’d start the Men of Sci-Fi calendar, that’s for sure,” he said. “And hopefully within a relatively decent timeline be able to kick off, even mid-stream, the next Women of Sci-Fi calendar. It’s possibly due to the demographic of the live audiences that we’ve seen, that is mostly female, that there seems to be an overwhelming enthusiasm for the Men of Sci-Fi Calendar!” Shanks confirmed that he will definitely be one of the subjects for the Men of Sci-Fi calendar.
“We love the quality of the product. We didn’t want to make some $9.99 piece of crap,” Shanks said. “We really wanted to make something that we ourselves would be proud of. We are very pleased with the end result.” Read more about Chris Judge’s camera work, why their business is called “Slacktwaddle,” and the whole project at Eclipse Magazine.
Congratulations to Stargate Atlantis guest star Jewel Staite (“Ellia”), who has been nominated for a Gemini Award for her performance in Season Two’s “Instinct”. “The Geminis are sort of the equivalent to the Canadian Golden Globe, and I’m absolutely thrilled,” Staite said on her Web site. Connor Trinneer (“Michael Kenmore”) will guest star in an episode of NCIS. The episode called “Jeopardy” will air May 2. Richard Kind (Gary Meyers from the original “Stargate” movie and Lucius Lavin in the upcoming Atlantis episode “Irresistible”) and Matthew Glave (Colonel Paul Emerson of the Odyssey) have joined the CBS comedy The Angriest Man in Suburbia. The show is about a family man (Mitch Rouse) fed up with all of life’s everyday annoyances. Glave will play the neighbor of Kind’s character. Read more at IGN Film Force. Michael Shanks’s movie “Swarmed” is now available on DVD! Order it at Amazon.com and support GateWorld. Ernie Hudson (Commander Pernaux in “Ethon”) recently received the Indie Supporter Award in a special ceremony at the eighth annual Method Fest, a film festival honoring acting in independent film. Alexis Cruz (“Skaara”) is joining the new CBS law drama Shark. Cruz will play a young district attorney. Spike Lee is directing the pilot, starring James Woods. Read more at IGN and The Hollywood Reporter. According to the Hollywood Reporter, Jaime Ray Newman (“Laura Cadman” in Atlantis‘s Season Two episode “Duet”) has been cast in four episodes of NBC’s E-Ring. She will play Army General Hughes’s (Bob Gunton) daughter. In addition, Newman is appearing in two episodes of Related. The actress also recently landed one of the title roles in ABC’s drama pilot Hollis and Rae. Robert Davi, who guest starred as Genii Commander Kolya in three episodes of Stargate Atlantis‘s first season, has a new movie in post-production called “The Dukes,” a heist movie set to 50’s rock and roll. The Dukes, a doo wop group, were on top of the world when they were 17, but now in 2005 they struggle to help their friends and family while holding on to the dreams of the past. J.R. Bourne’s (“Martouf”) new movie “Six Figures” opened March 17. The movie set in Calgary is about striving 30-somethings living the yuppie dream. But their dream turns to nightmare when Bourne’s Warner loses his job and his wife Claire finds herself on the receiving end of a blunt object. The disgruntled husband is the prime suspect — but did he do it? Read more about the movie at Straight.com. When she’s not on the set of Stargate Atlantis, Torri Higginson (“Elizabeth Weir”) keeps busy with Alzheimers charity work using therapy pets. In fact, she uses her own dog Sedge to visit seniors. Torri’s dog is a rescue animal that goes to retirement facilities and homes for abused kids. “We go to Alzheimer’s or old-age homes or abused kids’ resource centers. It’s something so simple, but the reaction that you get is extraordinary,” Higginson told the National Ledger. “I first got involved in volunteer work when I moved to Los Angeles because it’s a hard city to move to. It’s very lonely and isolated. I felt pretty sad the first year I was here, and I started feeling a little sorry for myself. I thought, ‘I need to get out of the house and remind myself that I’m lucky.’ It made me feel good about myself. It got me out of my rut. So my impulse was extremely selfish, but I think it’s important for everyone to give back. There’s no difference in human beings. We all need the same things.”
Beau Bridges was one of the 2006 award winners at the eighth annual Method Fest Independent Film Festival on Friday, April 7, 2006 at the Carlson Family Theater in Calabasas, California. The Corona Award for the Best Ensemble Cast was presented to the cast of “Debating Robert Lee,” which includes Beau Bridges, Daniel Letterle, Billy Kay, Kaley Cuoco, Rachel Nichols, Brian Kerwin, and Melinda Dillon. Erica Durance (“Krista James”) has a new movie in production called “The Butterfly Effect 2.” The sequel to the 2003 cult movie tells the tale in which a person can change the past via remembering their forgotten memories due to blackouts. Durance will attend Wizard World Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on Saturday, June 3. For tickets and information check out the event’s Web site at WizardUniverse.com. Colm Meaney (the Genii leader “Cowen” on Atlantis) has a new movie out called “Covert One: The Hades Factor.” Written by Robert Ludlum, the film also stars Stephen Dorff, Mira Sorvino, Anjelica Huston, Blair Underwood, and Danny Huston. “The Hades Factor” is a story about a deadly virus that threatens millions of Americans. A disease specialist tries to locate the source of the pandemic in time. Corin Nemec (“Jonas Quinn”) has a new film out, shot in India but told in English. “Parzania” tells the stories of the recent Gujarat riots from the point of view of an American who witnessed the state-sponsored violence. The film showed at the fourth Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (IFFLA) on April 23. New U.S. network The CW has greenlit Flirt, a half-hour comedy starring Wayne Brady (“Trelak” in SG-1‘s “It’s Good To Be King”), Variety is reporting. Peter Williams (“Apophis”) is in a new movie called “G-Savior” in a small role in the beginning of the action flick. Catch the review at Toon Zone. CONVENTIONS
Amanda Tapping (“Sam Carter”), Carmen Argenziano (“Jacob Carter”), Connor Trinneer (“Michael Kenmore”), and Corin Nemec (“Jonas Quinn”) are among the stars confirmed to attend the July 7 to 8 Shore Leave 28 event at Marriott’s Hunt Valley Inn, Baltimore, Maryland. Visit Shore-Leave.com for info and tickets. Starbase Indy lands in Indianapolis, Indiana November 24 to 26, 2006. Starbase Indy will feature special guests Christopher Judge (“Teal’c”), Gary Jones (“Walter Harriman”), Alexis Cruz (“Skaara”), and more. The guest line-up for Best of Both Worlds – The Reunion currently includes Dan Shea (SG-1 stunt coordinator and Sergeant Siler), Dan Payne (Kull warrior on SG-1, a Wraith and (Lt. Reed) on Stargate Atlantis, Ivy Isenberg (casting on SG-1 and Atlantis), and Sonny Whitelaw (Stargate novel author). The event will be held in July 2006 at the Carlton Hotel in Australia. Check out the BOBW Web site! Timeless Destinations will take place from July 31 to August 8. The event offers many activities, including studio tours, luncheons, and picnics with the stars, charity auctions, a costume ball, workshops conducted by the stars, a banquet, photo sessions, and other activities. Stargate-related guests include Christopher Judge (“Teal’c”), Rachel Luttrell (“Teyla Emmagen”), Jason Schombing (“Robert Rothman”), Battlestar Galactica’s Tahmoh Penikett (a humanoid Replicator in SG-1‘s “Unnatural Selection”), Alex Zahara (“Michael” from 1969, (“Eggar”), and many other roles), Andrew Jackson (“Per’sus”), Blu Mankuma (“Sheriff Knox”, director David Winning (“Childhood’s End”), visual effects supervisor Bruce Woloshyn from Rainmaker, Dan Payne (Kull warrior), and many other familiar names and faces. The event will be held at the Best Western Richmond Inn, in Richmond, British Columbia. Check out the complete guest list at Timeless Destinations. Amanda Tapping returns to the U.K.! Gabit Events’ AT2 is set for November 17 to 19, 2006, a weekend-long event for Amanda Tapping (“Samantha Carter”) and her fans in London. The weekend will include question-and-answer sessions, photographs with and autographs from Amanda, a charity auction, and other events in a relaxed atmosphere. Tickets are limited to approximately 300. To learn more or to book tickets, visit AT2. Constellation Con 5: Orion confirms Stargate actors for the May 6-7 convention in Paris. Guest stars on hand will include David Nykl (“Radek Zelenka”), Dan Shea (“Sergeant Siler”), and Colin Cunningham (“Major Paul Davis”). Visit Constellation Con 5’s Web site for tnformation and tickets. Trek Expo 2006 arrives in Tulsa, Oklahoma, June 23 to 25. Stargate-related guests include Marina Sirtis (“Svetlana Markov”), Aaron Douglas (Anubis’s Jaffa in “Redemption, Part 2,” better known as Battlestar Galactica‘s Chief Tyrol), and Connor Trinneer (“Michael Kenmore”). A guest from Stargate Atlantis is also yet to be announced. Check out the Web site for the full guest list. The Moonlight Rising Convention will take place June 2 to 4, 2006. The Northeast convention devoted to the television shows created by Joss Whedon will feature Nathan Fillion, Adam Baldwin (Colonel Dave Dixon from SG-1‘s “Heroes”), Amber Benson, James Leary, Camden Toy, Kelly Donovan, Stacey Scowley, Mark Metcalf, and Ken Feinberg. The convention will take place in Bushkill, Pennsylvania. Toronto Trek will be held from July 7 to 9. It’s a weekend event featuring all genres of science fiction and fantasy, including film, television, literature, art, anime, music, models, gaming, and all related hobbies. Special guests include Michael Shanks (“Daniel Jackson”) and Lexa Doig (“Carolyn Lam”). The event will be held in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Dragon*Con will be held September 1 to 4 in Atlanta, Georgia. Special guests include Christopher Judge, Don S. Davis, Rainbow Sun Franks (“Aiden Ford”), Adam Baldwin (“Dave Dixon”), and many others. FKM Events will host a convention for German fans November 3 to 5, 2006. Guests will include Torri Higginson (“Weir”), Craig Veroni (“Peter Grodin”), Colin Cunningham (“Paul Davis”), and David Nykl (“Zelenka”). Reporting by Livi Dolgin, Sharon Fetter, and Darren Sumner.
(Thanks to Morjana, Sekh, Lee Jamilkowski, AeloraLane, Jason Van Horn, Nathaniel, Dana Jeanne, Shaun Farrell, Sue, Mary, Jamieson, 10ks, Mark K., workerb, Ian Mullen, Peter Gao, Morgyn, Gilder, BJ McG, Mel, Kees K., rich, Sue Jackson, Ron Wolfe, Andrew, White Knight, Andrew Gorgi, Megan, Ben Knight, and Donna Christenberry for contributing)