Sci Fi Channel’s Dave Howe has recently been flooded with “Save Stargate Atlantis” communications from fans who are reeling from the announcement that their show, after only five seasons, has been cancelled. Adding insult to the injury to many fans was the on-the-heels-of-cancellation announcement that Stargate Universe was greenlit.
“It’s kind of hard to cancel one, but it’s good news to announce a new one,” Howe told Multichannel News on Friday. Apparently, several Atlantis fans would not necessarily agree, as evidenced by an on-line petition to save the show. “There’s no sign of a letup in my e-mail inbox, I can tell you.”
Stargate Atlantis still has 14 episodes of the current fifth season to air, and then the two-hour movie will be shown in 2009. Stargate Universe will have 20 episodes, the first two being the show’s two-hour pilot, and the show will begin to air in the summer of 2009. Universe, as its predecessors, will be produced in Vancouver.
Howe went on to say, “There’s obviously a passionate audience for Atlantis and the characters of Atlantis. And yes, they’re absolutely going to continue in the movie franchise. But people need to mourn for a while and come to terms with it. I don’t anticipate that that will subside quickly. But once Universe is on air and they have kind of their next fix of the Stargate franchise, I think hopefully people will realize that it’s in safe hands at Sci Fi, that we really value this franchise and it’s in our interest and the fans’ interest to let us continue the story and figure out how to retell it for a new audience every few years.”
To read the rest of the article, visit ‘Stargate’ Opens Floodgates. (This is the original article in which the author assumes Amanda Tapping is “a certain gaunt and pallid flowing-locked guest star” for the Atlantis movie, and where fans of the show are quick to correct that assumption as to the guest star’s true identity in the article’s comment section.)
Hi,
Mr. Howe must think us a bunch of mindless morons? Do you think you can replace one show (which was doing fine, thank you very much) with another (Junker with unknowns so you can save a buck!) and we will all follow like a bunch of idiots? Sci-Fi has been trying to do that for years and wasting good money on cheap crap (so many shows that tanked) that doesn’t even last a year, can anyone say Flush Gordon as Flash Gordon came to be known on the net for an example? How about someone try to think about the loyal audience (you already have) that has kept this franchise going all these years, instead of trying to dump us for a new younger mindless audience every few years! When there is no more Atlantis, I’m done; I won’t even bother with Sanctuary now either let alone your new Stargate Universe. I’ve had it with having the rug pulled out from under me every time I get invested in something, and let’s face it; I have been invested in this franchise a long time since the beginning of SG-1. I like both shows, but Atlantis I like better. I’m also tired of my opinion of what I like not being counted because I don’t have some stupid Neilson Box on my TV, which doesn’t reflect anywhere near what real people watch and enjoy! Lots of mindless reality TV, Oh boy! Thank you so much for making my world a whole lot lousier!
Timespirt
I second that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
Despite what Mr Howe believes, I will NOT simply “mourn SGA” and move on to my “next stargate fix”. I will NOT be watching Stargate Universe, nor will I watch anything else this franchise comes up with. Despite what Mr Howe believes, not all fen are sheep, ready to follow this franchise wherever it goes. Throwing the name stargate in the title doesn’t change the fact that what they are describing is little more than Voyager meets Dawson’s Creek. If I wanted to watch that type of drivel I’d be watching the shows already creating it on a weekly basis. SciFi has lost a viewer and I won’t be wasting another cent of my hard earned money on the merchandise for this franchise. Way to go Skiffy! Keep up the STELLAR work. *headdesk*
Howe you must be a complete moron if you think we are going to just say goodbye to Atlantis and welcome Universe with open arms. Forget it. I along with many other have had enough. I have no intentions of watching Universe and now Sanctuary for that matter. I have been watching SG-1 since day one and Atlantis as well. No more you can stick Universe up your a*** and I really hope it is a complete failure then maybe you might regret cancelling the best 2 SCI-FI shows ever.
I can’t for the life of me understand why people would want to destroy something that is working for them simply to suit a younger generation of morons. Let’s face it, that’s exactly what this it about. Pleasing this country’s appetite for sex and dark violence like Battlestar Galactica which is why Stargate SG1 and Atlantis were so enjoyable and a breath of fresh air. These are the kind of shows that you can sit down with you kids and watch together as a family. There isn’t much left out there where you can that anymore and that’s sad. Now here goes another descent show to slip into the past so that we can make room for God knows what kind of intense drama and meaningless relationships among “younger” new characters. Stargate Universe may give you the results you want both financially and with ratings but in the end, you’re just going to be like everyone else who add on to the misery in this world. We already have enough of it in real life.
OH MY GOD!!!!!!!! He did not just put it in those terms did he?? In regards to Mr Howe comments…… Whats wrong with these people?? Arent they supposed to care what the current viewers think? What about all the fans rage? Dont they see a problem in what they did? Or is just about making money on these new projects in regards to the dvd movies… since when did this sort of thing happend anyway? Why do we pay for networks such as SCI-FI anymore then? Basicly what they are saying is screw the watching television, if you like this show so much and it earns rewards we will just take it off the air and the only way anyone can see it is if you order the dvd movies… Ya all know “Vince” from the “Sham wow” product they sell late at night right???? why dont we get that guy from the infor mercials and have him as one of exec’s to these networks??? Why must they always take a great thing and ruin it? There truely will never be anything even remotey close to this show ever again! What happends if the fans protest and say were not going to buy the dvd’s, we’ll just download them from the internet? I betcha they would rethink there killing of the show then right? When its all said and done it comes down to this one simple fact!! It really was never about making a awesome television show, its about money! Sad guys, really sad.. SHAME ON YOU
CRASH- bigpoppabear01@yahoo.com
oh p.s… Im really looking forward to SCI-FI CHANNELS wrestling they air now… (what the hell?? thats science fiction these days) well maybe they can put that on Fidays now…
BAN SCIFI CHANNEL AND NBC NETWORKS AND THEIR PRODUCTS PEOPLE… THEY HURT US NOW LETS SHOW THEM THAT WE DESERVE BETTER…..