Sci Fi Channel’s current promo for the new run of Stargate SG-1’s Season 8 episodes was filmed with only three of the principles: Richard Dean Anderson (Jack), Amanda Tapping (Carter) and Christopher Judge (Teal’c). Michael Shanks’ (Daniel) exclusion has upset a lot of fans, who’ve been led to believe his absence from the promo means he’s going to be absent from Season 9.
For the record, Shanks was overseas to attend a fan convention at which, ironically, he was standing in for the pregnant Amanda Tapping. Stargate’s fans are not happy the promo is airing without Sci Fi Channel having made the attempt to include the actor in scenes shot at a time when he was available for filming.
And now the fallout from this ill-advised promo has reached America’s TV Guide magazine. Hardly surprising when TV Guide’s Matt Roush was inaccurately touting Farscape’s Ben Browder as Stargate’s new leading man. In his latest “Ask Matt” column at TV Guide Online, Roush attempts to clarify…
TV Guide Online
Matt Roush: Ask Matt column
Monday 7th Feb 2005
Question:
Please tell me why Michael Shanks is leaving Stargate SG-1 and why Ben Browder is taking his place? Sci Fi channel has taken Daniel Jackson out of the Sci Fi Friday ads and you reported Ben Browder was going to be the new leading man. I’m very confused. I watch the show because I love Daniel Jackson, and Michael Shanks is such a good actor. What’s going on, please? — Carin T.
Matt:
Don’t know where you got this idea, but Michael Shanks isn’t going anywhere. Sci Fi confirms he’s signed for Stargate’s ninth season, regardless of his presence (or lack of) in the marketing these days. Ben Browder is coming aboard to add yet another appealing, hunky, humorous character to the mix. Sounds like a win-win to me.