Family Ties

| Production | Fan Reviews

Earth provides sanctuary for Vala's estranged, con artist father after he provides intel about a Jaffa plot to attack the planet.

RATINGS SCORECARD
OUR RATING -
FAN RATING - 7.34 
NIELSEN - 1.2 
EPISODE #1018
ORIGINAL AIR DATE: 06.08.2007
SYNDICATION AIR DATE: 04.28.2008
DVD DISC: Season 10, Disc 5
WRITTEN BY: Joseph Mallozzi & Paul Mullie
DIRECTED BY: Peter DeLuise
GUEST STARS: Fred Willard (Jasec), Gary Jones (Walter Harriman), Bill Dow (Dr. Bill Lee), Lexa Doig (Dr. Carolyn Lam), Martin Christopher (Major Marks), Fulvio Cecere (Colonel Davidson), Paul Wu (De'vir), Lillianne Dieuique-Lee (Kim), Robin Richardson (Trader), Dan Shea (Sgt. Siler), Doreen Ramus (Hazel)
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PRODUCTION NOTES

  • "Samantha and Vala have a couple of moments in an upcoming episode called 'Family Ties' so it would be nice to have a little bit character development there." (Actress Claudia Black, in an interview with The Scifi World)
  • "We usually write the script first and then cast the role. In rare instances, we may hear an actor might be interested in the role, in which case we will write the part with him (or her) in mind. This was the case when Fred Willard played Vala's father in 'Family Ties.'" (Executive producer Joseph Mallozzi, in a post at his blog)
  • "The SG-1 family had officially learned its fate during production on 'Bad Guys' so, at this point in the season, we already knew we were done. I'd already broken this story, a fun romp that offered up a little back-story into the Vala character (in addition some insight into to Landry and Lam's past), and couldn't really deviate – but since I was in the process of writing the script at the time, a little foresight did give me the opportunity to include a few subtle (?) references to the cancellation, in addition to one of my favorite endings in Stargate history. This episode was also memorable for the hilarious performance of guest star Fred Willard who played the part of Vala's incorrigible father.

    "We open with Mitchell and Siler heading down the corridor, catching them in mid-conversation. The first words out of Mitchell's mouth: 'They cancelled it? Really? I didn't even know the new season had started' echoed the online comments of many a fan when they discovered SG-1 had been canceled. And, later in the episode, Jacec in conversation with Carter: 'That's too bad. Because after all your Stargate program has accomplished for this network ... of planets, I would think the decision makers would show it the respect it deserves.' There were a couple of other references, but I was asked to lose them for the final draft.

    "Surprisingly, something that no one asked me to lose was the final scene in which Teal'c unwittingly attends a reading of The Vagina Monologues (Sorry. Virginia Dialogues). I put it in the first draft, fully expecting to be told, 'Very funny, but you've got to lose it.' Surprisingly, nobody asked me to take it out. Oh, I'm sure some thought about it, or assumed I would make the decision to take it out myself before the episode went to camera, but the scene went over so well with everyone else that I elected to keep it." (Executive producer Joseph Mallozzi, in a post at his blog)
  • "What's better than a fast-talking, disorderly hustler? How about two fast-talking, disorderly hustlers? Especially if the second is played by the hilarious Fred Willard. We get Vala backstory, off-world adventure, some not-so-subtle digs at the show's cancellation, and one of the most memorable endings in Stargate history." (Writer / producer Joseph Mallozzi, in a post at his blog)