Here’s an odd story that has come out as news has broken today of Syfy Channel‘s decision to cancel Stargate Universe (story): Many of the show’s cast didn’t learn about the fate of the show until their fans told them on Twitter.
“Crap. Just heard the news as well,” David Blue (Eli Wallace) posted on his Twitter account. “Apparently, nobody decided to tell us ahead of time. My rep heard it online. Seems they canceled SGU.”
“Look out for the back half [of Season Two,” Blue added. “Really proud of it. Shame, because where they leave Eli is frakkin’ cool. REALLY wanted to see where it went. But I appreciate all of your continuing support in all my future works, as well. Hope you’ll come along for the ride!”
News of the cancellation first broke on Deadline.com, and was then posted by Syfy’s Craig Engler via the network’s Twitter account. Thanks to the instantaneous nature of Twitter, fans were offering consolation to tweeting cast members within seconds.
“To find out SGU is canceled first from my tweeps is the power of Twitter,” Ming-Na (Camille Wray) wrote. “I’ll miss my SGU family very much! Thank you for your love and support!”
“David Read from GateWorld called and informed me,” stunt coordinator James “BamBam” Bamford wrote. “Moments later, it appears on Twitter … Much LOVE to EVERYONE involved in the SG franchise. It has been an honor and pleasure working alongside you all.”
Actor Peter Kelamis plays Dr. Adam Brody on Universe. He tweeted: “What can I say other than Thank You from the bottom of my Heart to all those who supported SGU.”
“What a wonderful SGU experience it was,” Lou Diamond Phillips (David Telford) tweeted. “Only sad I won’t see that wonderful cast & crew as often. But I know I made good friends for life!”
With the exception of Robert Carlyle and Louis Ferreira, all of the show’s main cast members are on Twitter, as are many supporting cast members and production team members. (Here’s our slightly out-of-date list.)
Other genre faces and friends of the Stargate crew reacted to the news on Twitter, as well. Stargate Atlantis‘s David Hewlett (Rodney McKay) wrote: “I thought the DMV was about as bad as it was going to get for me today … but I return to find out Syfy cancelled SGU!?” Hewlett puts in a guest appearance on SGU in the back half of the final season, which will air on Syfy this spring.
David’s sister Kate Hewlett (SGA‘s Jeannie Miller) wrote: “So … today marks the end of the Stargate franchise? Very sad indeed if that’s the case. SGU was a damn good show with a kick-ass cast.”
“Ack with SGU being canceled and delicious.com being shut down, today is grim!” wrote Felicia Day (Dr. Horrible, The Guild).
Condolances to the cast and crew of Stargate Universe -- and thanks for a great two years!
“Condolences to all my SGU buddies,” added Eureka‘s Neil Grayston.
“So bummed for my friends at SGU,” Ryan Robbins (Sanctuary) said. “Horrible news. I have no doubt that your next endeavors will be amazing. You guys are awesome. Much love.”
Former Stargate Atlantis writer/producer Martin Gero weighed in, as well, saying: “What a bummer. I thought the second season of SG:U was some of the best Stargate ever. Sad for that amazing team.”
Executive producer Carl Binder said that he learned the news via e-mail, about an hour before it hit Twitter. Calling it “like a punch in the gut,” he capped off the day’s developments nicely, so we’ll give him the final word: “Thanks for all the kind words, everyone. And to the cast and crew of SGU, thanks for making this the best job I’ve ever had.”
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Darren, With no more Stargate what will happen to Gateworld.net?
I think this is just disgusting, these companies cannot be allowed to do that sort of thing. Stargate Universe was a brilliant show, it's not our fault it got bad rating on a bad network on a bad day.
Making an announcement to the world before even announcing it to the cast and crew. Man that is a low blow Syfy!
No more Stargate ???
It's not a reason !!! It's to us, now, to make live Stargate as long as possible !!!
Make know Staragte to all person you know. Go to conventions, make fan-films, make props exhibitions, dess up....
French fans are very very disappointed too for this news... :-(
There has to be somewhere where we can PROTEST this ridiculous decision! We have to get someone to pick this show up. Syfy is STUPID to cancel such an excellent show! What the heck do we do???
Could the show still be rescued the same way SciFi saved SG 1 after Showtime canceled it?
Could it be that the actors weren't told first because MGM may be looking to set up the show elsewhere and they didn't want to create a panic among the talent and have them sign up to do other things?
Say what you want, whether you hated the show or loved it (I loved it) the way SyFy broke the news to the cast and crew is about as low as I've ever seen a network stoop to canceling a show.
The fact that news of the cancellation and how it happened is spreading like wildfire around the internet can NOT be good publicity at all for SyFy, look at how even former Stargate series cast members are reacting like David Hewlett and his sister. I hope that how this happened will really damage SyFy's reputation in the industry and make anybody think twice before putting a new show on SyFy.
I guess this shouldn't be surprising from a network that considers professional wrestling to be a cornerstone of its science fiction lineup.
It'd be great to see some sort of grassroots effort pick SGU up and run with it, without being too focused on return-on-investment and that sort of thing. As always, though, the problem is getting money on the front end to get things started.
i'm starting to hate syfy. farscape, sg-1, sga and now sgu? cmon!