Richard Dean Anderson, who plays Brigadier General Jack O’Neill on the show was interviewed 9 July by Maureen Ryan of the Chicago Tribune “Richard Dean Anderson: Leaving”
On possibly leaving after Season 8.
At this point, right now, with all that’s going on in my life outside all this, it’s very unlikely I’d be able to come back. I know what’s the most important thing right now. I’m very well aware of the fact that that may interfere with a very successful franchise.
Whether the show would go on without me … I think it could. I don’t know whether it will or not. Honestly I can’t answer that question, and it’s silly for me to start conjecturing, not until I’ve had conversations with MGM or Sci Fi.
I do feel as though this is my last season. I know what I have to do right now, given my real-life situation. There is a twinge of . . . not remorse, but I get a little sad about it. It’s been a very unique experience. On “MacGyver” I was flying solo for the most part, but this is a more character driven [ensemble] show.
It’s something I’ve been reflecting on lately more than before. I know how lucky we are to have this kind of camaraderie and rapport. It doesn’t always work out that way. There have been shows that go under because of differences of opinion. The main kids here like each other and we make each other laugh.
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Read the rest of Richard Dean Anderson’s interview at the Chicago Tribune online edition