31.Oct.09
Posted in Press Watch, Universe at 8:34 pm by michelle
We tweeted this already, but for those who don’t follow us there (shame on you!), Michael Shanks was interviewed this week about his playing superhero Hawkman on an upcoming two-parter of Smallville. In an attached blog post, the journalist, Jenna Busch, also spoke with Michael about his role on Sanctuary, and his views of Stargate Universe so far. Michael had very interesting things to say on all the topics! Here are a few excerpts, but we recommend you read the article and blog post too, since there is lots more to enjoy.
On the creation of Hawkman’s winged costume:
I have done five fittings. Yup! Yesterday was my fifth. I do believe there will be more. I have yet to shoot a frame of film on this episode. This is what I’ve been doing the most of, is going for fittings and you know, talking to the producers about the character and discussing the elements of the voices. But mostly it’s been focused on the costume and the logistics of the costume. Again, it’s a necessary thing. I really appreciate the reverence that these guys have. [...] I said to James Marshall yesterday, ‘I want to take this home for the weekend. Just to get used to it.’ [laughs] Yeah, the character will fly and the logistics of that are pending. How we’re going to make that work without looking too silly.
Regarding his view of Stargate Universe so far:
It is different. I mean, it’s a completely different taste palate than the previous Stargate incarnations. It’s more realistic. The characters are much more dimensionalized. The visual of it is far more aesthetically pleasing and stunning. The camera work is more interesting. The visual effects are amazing. [...] I just had a little…I just watched the first three episodes, and I just had a little issue with some of the drama. [...] When I watch it, I’m really transported to the world that they’ve created. It’s really three-dimensionalized. I’m just not quite buying all of the mistrust elements and the tension elements just yet. But I think they’re one strong story from hooking me and turning the corner on that.
The strange thing about his career and the Letter “S”:
My speech therapist…we had a little sit down and he told me that, in order to get past my fear of the letter “S” I may only appear on shows that start with the letter “S” so I can build up my resistance to it. So yes. Smallville, Stargate, Sanctuary. I’m looking for some others. If you can reccomend any other shows that start with “S” that I could pitch myself out to that would be great.
On the likelihood of him joining “Twitter”:
Oh, uh, never. That’s that one. Let’s get that out of the way. Michael Shanks twittering is not going to happen. Let’s just go down that road. [Laughs] Although apparently I might. I made a bet with my wife and she had to choose what I would have to do if I lost the bet. She said, because she knows how much I don’t like the notion of twittering, if I lose, I have to twitter for a week. So that will be probably be the only way you will catch me twittering. I’m just not that guy.
Let’s hope Michael loses the bet with Lexa and has to tweet for a week! Read the article and blog.
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30.Oct.09
Posted in News, Press Watch, Universe at 5:04 am by DeeKayP
Young and Scott search for “Water”
“The episode ‘Water’ takes place on an ice planet as they are looking for water,” executive producer and co-creator Robert C. Cooper told SFX Magazine (reprinted by Sci Fi Pulse). Sounds simple, right? But you’ve got to know by now, nothing is that simple when it comes to Stargate.
What complicates things more than the severe environment of the planet “Hoth” (pop culture reference of the icy planet from Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back) is that, according to TV Guide, “the crew attempts to snare an intruder,” too! See, it’s never that simple!
“Water” will be shown tonight, October 30, on the Syfy Channel (US) and Space (Canada) at 9 PM ET and 10 PM ET, respectively. The episode will be broadcast by Sky One (UK) on Tuesday, November 3, at 8 PM, and finally, on Friday, November 6, on the Sci Fi Channel (Australia) at 8:30 PM.
After viewing, you’re invited to return to the site to vote in the episode poll on the main page and discuss the episode here (in the comments), in our on-site forum, or at our LiveJournal Companion.
Guides to the Season One episodes can be found in our Stargate Wiki. And don’t forget the episode chatter that’s bound to take place from the actors, writers, producers, and the press that you can read from our Stargate Twitter Superfeed.
Last Week’s “Light” Ratings
“Though this episode ["Light"] was down,” reported TV By The Numbers, “it was the same as the Live+SD ratings for the series finale of SGA in January.” The episode ranked third for Syfy’s week of broadcasts, with 2.015 million viewers, down from 2.099 million from the previous week’s episode, “Darkness”.
On Sky One in the UK, Digital Spy reported, “The latest instalment of Stargate Universe pulled in 677k (3%) during the 8pm hour for Sky1 last night, according to early viewing figures. The Robert Carlyle-fronted sci-fi series was up slightly on last week’s episode, which drew 635k (2.9%) over the same period.”
Even though word on an official renewal “could be as late as December,” creative consultant Joseph Mallozzi has reported in his weblog that the writers are already spinning stories and assigning scripts. He wrote, “More spinning today in the writers’ room and more headway made on those first ten episodes. We ended up discussing the details of episode 1 (Paul will be doing the honors on this one), talking about the what’s and wherefore’s and, most importantly, answering Brad’s burning question: “How the hell are we going to get out of this one?!”. Carl has requested Episode 5 while I’ve cast my lot with Episode 2. Brad’s idea falls in the four slot, so he’ll take that one, which means Rob will be jumping on 3. What fun! One more day of broadstroking stories and arcs and then we get to breaking. If all goes as planned, we’ll each have a story in hand by the end of next week, meaning we won’t have to come back to the office in December…”
[Images from MGM.]
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27.Oct.09
Posted in Merchandise at 8:40 pm by michelle
The Official Stargate Magazine, produced by Titan Publishing in the UK, is offering a special edition of the magazine as a free download:
FREE! Stargate Magazine: Special Download Edition
Get a taste of the official Stargate Magazine with an exclusive free download edition. Check out our guide to the new show, go inside the writers’ room, read interviews with stars Robert Carlyle and Louis Ferriera, and much more! Either print it out or browse on screen.
To download this Stargate Magazine: Special Download Edition, visit:
http://www.titanmagazines.com/stargate
The special edition is 23 double-width pages long, PDF format, in full color, with many photographs from all three series. It includes interviews with Michael Shanks and Ben Browder, which are not new, and interviews with Robert Carlyle and Louis Ferreira.
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Posted in Press Watch, Universe at 3:02 pm by michelle
Stargate Universe is wrapping up principal photography of its first season of production this week. Numerous tweets reveal the actors who are wrapping each day, packing up their trailers, and heading to wherever they call home. Here are a few relevant tweets from the past 2 days (follow them all here!)
AmandAlexander last week of shooting, slowly we are saying goodbye to some of our actors as they finish shooting
MingNa Well, I’m wrapped! What a truly remarkable & talented group! I want 2 thank every person who’s contributed 2 #SGU ‘09! All ROCKSTARS! xoxo
LouDPhillips Bittersweet. Finished my last day on #SGU 4 this season. Will miss this cast & crew terribly. Keep watching! We need YOU to get to Season 2!
alainahuffman Cleaning out my trailer today 
BOO!
AmandAlexander so today we said goodbye to Robert Carlyle and Louis Ferreira, and as a treat Louis served the crew lunch today….surf and turf
Of course post-production will continue for months on the second half of the season to edit, score, and add effects to the episodes. The first half is “in the can” according to John Lenic, who tweeted on Oct 23: “JGLenic All 10 episodes in the first half of Season 1 are now finished and on their way to @Syfy.” The airing date for the second half of the season has not yet been announced, but expect a break after the first ten have completed.
As for a Season 2 of SGU, the prospects seem good based on the overall ratings performance of the show, including the “+7″ numbers, meaning inclusion of those who play back the show on their DVRs within 7 days of original airing. Joe Mallozzi said the writing team would start spinning Season 2 this week. Also, Syfy has had a great October according to this press release:
New York, NY – October 27, 2009 – Extending its summer ratings surge into fall, Syfy smashed yet another viewership record with its most watched October prime in history among total viewers (1,452,000), Adults 18-34 (308,000), Adults 18-49 (733,000), Adults 25-54 (797,000), Women 18-34 (141,000), Women 18-49 (356,000) and Women 25-54 (378,000).
Syfy jumped to #3 in A25-54 and #4 among A18-49 versus all basic cable entertainment networks – its second best monthly ranking ever in these demos behind December 2002 when Steven Spielberg’s record-setting Taken premiered.
The record October performance was fueled by strong ratings from Stargate Universe and Sanctuary — which both premiered this month – Ghost Hunters and Destination Truth, the two highest-rated paranormal investigative series on television, along with the annual 31 Days of Halloween spook-a-thon.
Syfy also reported that in the Third Quarter, $75K+ A18-49 delivery increased by +21% vs. 3Q ‘08.
October Syfy Ratings Highlights (includes full viewing data)
- The current 5th season of Ghost Hunters is shaping up to be its best ever in key demos and marks the best season ever for any Syfy original series in A18-49.
- Ghost Hunters is averaging a 2.1 HH Rating, 3.0 million total viewers, 861,000 A18-34, 1.86 million A18-49 and 2.0 million A25-54.
- The first season of Stargate Universe is averaging a 2.1 HH rating, 2.85 million total viewers, 1.5 million A18-49, and 1.7 million A25-54. Compared to the last season of Stargate Atlantis, SGU is up +59% in A18-34, +41% in A18-49, +33% in A25-54 and +36% in total viewers.
- Destination Truth is also on track for its best season ever. Season three thus far is averaging a 1.7 HH Rating, 2.2 million total viewers, 684,000 A18-34, 1.35 million A18-49 and 1.4 million A25-54.
- The second season premiere of Sanctuary delivered a 1.8 HH rating, 2.4 million total viewers, 493,000 A18-34, 1.25 million A18-49 and 1.5 million A25-54. This marks a series high performance in A18-34.
- The Fall 2009 season of Scare Tactics is averaging a 1.1 HH rating, 410,000 A18-34, 818,000 A18-49, 825,000 A25-54 and 1.56 million total viewers. Compared to the Fall 2008 season, Scare Tactics is up by +29% in A18-34, +37% in A18-49, +33% in A25-54, and +42% in total viewers.
- The original movie premiere of Megafault on October 10 delivered 2.6 million total viewers, Syfy’s best original movie premiere in over two years (April 2007).
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26.Oct.09
Posted in News, Press Watch, Universe at 10:35 am by DeeKayP
TV By The Numbers has published a new press release that states that Stargate Universe’s Live+7 numbers boost the ratings for “Air Part 3″, which were the show’s highest thus far, to reflect nearly 3 million total viewers!
SYFY’s STARGATE UNIVERSE REACHES NEW SERIES HIGH WITH LIVE +7 DATA
Episode Two Audience Grows To Three Million Total Viewers and Continues as Most Watched Stargate In More Than Four Years
New York, NY – October 26, 2009 – The second episode of Syfy’s Stargate Universe on Friday, October 9, reflecting full Live +7 DVR data, became the most watched Stargate since March 2005 when its reached three million total viewers (2.99 million), along with a 2.1 HH Rating, 1.7 million Adults 18-49 and 1.85 million Adults 25-54.
Among Adults 25-54, it is the best performance for the franchise since July 2005 and is the best performance for a Stargate telecast in Adults 18-49 since July 2004. The episode also drew the most total viewers for any Stargate since March 2005.
The preliminary ratings for “Air Part 3″ were reported by Sci Fi Wire as “just shy of 2.5 million.” The show also continues to do well in Canada, the UK, and Australia.
The next new episode to air on Syfy is “Water” on Friday, October 30, at 9 PM ET. Check your local listings for airings in your area.
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23.Oct.09
Posted in News, Press Watch, Universe at 5:57 am by DeeKayP
The stranded attend a lottery (image from MGM)
“Light”, picks up where last week’s “Darkness” left off: with the Destiny apparently on a collision course with a star. There were three planets nearby that the stranded crew thought might be inhabitable, but without power, they’ll have to rely on the Ancient shuttle to reach one, rather than use the power-hogging Stargate.
But this solution presents a very serious problem: the shuttle can only accommodate a certain number of people. Who chooses?
According to TV Guide, the one to select the crew will be Chance: “With the Destiny on a collision course with a star, the crew considers abandoning the ship. A grim lottery is held to choose 17 passengers to escape in the Destiny’s only working shuttle.”
If things were pretty bad among the fractured crew before…
“Light” will be shown tonight, October 23, on the Syfy Channel (US) and Space (Canada) at 9 PM ET and 10 PM ET, respectively. The episode will be broadcast by Sky One (UK) on Tuesday, October 27, at 8 PM, and finally, on Friday, October 30, on the Sci Fi Channel (Australia) at 8:30 PM.
After viewing, you’re invited to return to the site to vote in the episode poll on the main page and discuss the episode here (in the comments), in our on-site forum, or at our LiveJournal Companion.
Guides to the Season One episodes can be found in our Stargate Wiki. And don’t forget the episode chatter that’s bound to take place from the actors, writers, producers, and the press that you can read from our Stargate Twitter Superfeed.
Last Week’s “Darkness” Ratings
Last week’s episode, “Darkness”, showed a slight decrease in the ratings from the week before, but still managed to be Syfy’s second-watched show of the week, according to TV By The Numbers. The episode’s “Live + SD” (Live Plus Same Day) number was 2.099 million, which was down from 2.447 million from the week before.
SGU actor Brian J. Smith commented on his Twitter, “Wow, a 1.6 on a baseball friday? 2nd place ratings slot for SyFy? It’s awesome, you guys. Sorry, can’t put a negative spin on it folks.”
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21.Oct.09
Posted in Atlantis, News at 4:22 pm by DeeKayP
Congratulations to Brad Wright for his 2009 Gemini Award for “Best Writing in a Dramatic Series” for his Stargate Atlantis episode “The Shrine” and to Todd Masters, Leah Ehman, Holland Miller, Brad Proctor and Kyla Rose Tremblay for the “Best Achievement in Make-Up” award for the episode “Vegas”!
Visit the Official MGM Stargate website for more details.
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19.Oct.09
Posted in Press Watch, SG-1 at 6:33 pm by michelle
IGN TV posted exclusive news today that Michael Shanks will be playing Hawkman in an upcoming episode of Smallville, currently filming its 9th season. Hawkman is one of the superheroes of DC Comic’s Justice Society, and he has a complicated history. He wears a harness fitted with artificial wings made of a special metal that enables him to fly. SG-1 fans will enjoy this description of the most recent incarnation of the character, from the wikipedia article:
In the late 1990s, the JSA series untangled Hawkman’s continuity, establishing him as Carter Hall, a man who – along with Shiera – had been reincarnated dozens of times since his life in ancient Egypt, and whose powers were derived from Thanagarian Nth metal, which had been retroactively renamed from “ninth metal”.
It’s also important to note that, with the exception of the harness and wings, Hawkman is shirtless at all times.
Also announced is that Brent Stait (Major Ferretti) will play Doctor Fate. So it’ll be a Stargate reunion.
This episode of Smallville, called “Society”, is expected to air in January.
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17.Oct.09
Posted in Atlantis, Press Watch at 5:49 pm by michelle
SGA’s Jason Momoa told fans today at the Austrialia convention Armageddon Expo that he’s won the role of Khal Drogo in the upcoming HBO production of the fantasy novel Game of Thrones. The news was first posted here, then confirmed by Chicago Times TV critic Mo Ryan, here.
Jason said this about the role, according to a fan who was there:
He’ll be filming in Morocco and doesn’t like horses, so isn’t looking forward to the horseback scenes. He also said that it’ll be his first nude scene and first sex scene.
Ryan also reported Jason said he has hired a trainer to see about bulking up for the role.
Game of Thrones is the first book in the popular “A Song of Ice and Fire” series of novels by George R. R. Martin. Four books have been published. HBO has committed to filming the first, but not yet the sequels, according to Ryan. Casting news for the movie has been a hot internet topic, with such noted actors as Sean Bean and Peter Dinklage chosen so far (IMDB entry).
Khal Drogo is an important character; according to this wikipedia article (!warning, major spoilers!), he is
a powerful khal, or warlord, of the Dothraki people, a tribal nation of expert riders and raiders in the steppes beyond the Free Cities. He is an accomplished warrior and has never been defeated in battle.
Filming is set to commence October 24, 2009, and will reportedly include locations in Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Morocco. We wish Jason the very best with the challenges of filming the role. Perhaps Joe Flanigan can give him some horsemanship lessons before he leaves.
For more news on the HBO production, visit Winter is Coming. HBO doesn’t yet have a site for the show.
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16.Oct.09
Posted in News, Press Watch, Universe at 5:46 am by DeeKayP
The Kino navigates in “Darkness” (image from MGM)
“Darkness”, written by Brad Wright, saw the return of Peter DeLuise to the Stargate franchise as its director. The original episode, “Fire”, ran long enough that the producers decided to split it into two and include some scenes that were part of the original script but had been cut because of time considerations.
After seeing the two-parter, “Darkness” and “Light”, Joseph Mallozzi wrote, “One of the things I’m really loving about the new series is the colorful cast of characters: Rush, Young, Armstrong, Scott, Telford, Wray, Eli, Chloe, T.J., Greer, James, Brody, Franklin, Volker, Park, Spencer, Kane and Riley. I told Brad that Darkness and Light do a wonderful job of offering the viewer insight into these varied individuals thrown together by circumstance, glimpses of their respective personalities only the kino can capture.”
TV Guide describes the episode, “When the Destiny’s power reserves drop to a critical level, the crew is ordered to use power for essential services only, but the rationing isn’t enough to keep Rush from announcing that all on board will die within days.”
“Darkness” will be shown tonight, October 16, on the Syfy Channel (US) and Space (Canada) at 9 PM ET and 10 PM ET, respectively. The episode will be broadcast by Sky One (UK) on Tuesday, October 20, at 8 PM, and finally, on Friday, October 23, on the Sci Fi Channel (Australia) at 8:30 PM.
After viewing, you’re invited to return to the site to vote in the episode poll on the main page and discuss the episode here (in the comments), in our on-site forum, or at our LiveJournal Companion.
Guides to the Season One episodes can be found in our Stargate Wiki. And don’t forget the episode chatter that’s bound to take place from the actors, writers, producers, and the press that you can read from our Stargate Twitter Superfeed.
Last Week’s “Air Part 3″ Ratings
Last week’s episode, “Air Part 3″, had a larger audience than the premiere on Syfy! The numbers were reported by SCI FI WIRE: “The second week of Stargate Universe did substantially better than the series premiere, according to Syfy, bucking the usual TV trend of shows dropping off after their debut episode. Universe showed a modest 4 percent growth in total viewers with just shy of 2.5 million people watching. But it made a huge gain of 22 percent among viewers ages 18-49 and 13 percent in the 25-54 age range.” These numbers don’t include the “Live + 7″ data that will certainly up the scores.
And the report coming in from Digital Spy on the second week on Sky One in the UK is just as encouraging: “Stargate Universe continued to perform well for Sky1 last night, according to early viewing figures. The third episode of the Robert Carlyle-fronted sci-fi series, which aired during the 8pm hour, logged an impressive 765k (3.6%), making it the most-watched programme on the multichannel stations.”
Creative consultant Mallozzi commented in his weblog recently, “The ratings for the first three episodes have been solid, so solid in fact that thoughts are now turning to a prospective season two. We’ve started to pitch story ideas and vague notions with the aim to getting five scripts in play before we head off for our hiatus. … The game plan: 1) discuss the repercussions of our shocking finale, 2) confirm our general season arc, 3) establish our individual character arcs, 4) break some stories, and, most importantly, 5) come up with some good two word titles.”
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