Amanda Tapping’s weekend with her fans in the UK is the scene of more breaking news on the cast shake-up in Season 10. An attendee posted their interpretation of Amanda Tapping’s comments on the Gateworld forum this evening:
According to Amanda she recently found out that all the members of the cast had been approached regarding season 10: MS, CJ, BB as well as CB.
To paraphrase Amanda…”She said she called RCC and asked if the fact she hadn’t heard anything meant she should be worried. She was informed that she didn’t have anything to be worried about; they just hadn’t figured out what they were going to do with her character as of yet. According to Amanda, there is a possibility that she will be working on Atlantis and SG-1. She has no clue as to how many episodes she will be on each. All she knew at this time was that she would be doing 20 episodes and that it may be split between the two shows. How it will be split she is not sure, nor does she know what she will be doing.”
Stargate SG-1 is potentially facing the greatest upheaval the series has known, with question marks over the participation of both Michael Shanks (Daniel Jackson) and Amanda Tapping (Sam Carter) at the same time that both of Farscape’s leads sign on as regular cast members, with Claudia Black joining Ben Browder.
In Tapping’s case, there are implications for both Stargate SG-1 and Stargate Atlantis. SG-1’s female lead for nine years, Tapping will be stepping out of that role as Claudia Black steps into it. Nor could she assume that status on Atlantis, which already has its female lead in Torri Higginson, who plays Dr. Elizabeth Weir. It’s hard at this point to see how Sam Carter becoming a recurring or guest character on both shows is to the advantage of her actress or how it can be accomplished without upheaval to both shows and both casts.
We really are going to have to ‘watch this space’ very closely indeed and look to official sources for an idea on how this is to be made to work.
I have to say here that the thought of the writers squaring Sam Carter off against Rodney McKay fills me with delicious anticipation. Now that’s a relationship that promises the same level of snarky fun and sparkling sexual chemistry as combatants Daniel Jackson and Vala Mal Doran. SG-1 was twice the fun with those two going at it and we can expect the same for Atlantis when Rodney is reunited with his favourite ‘dumb’ blonde.
To me this is horrible news. Rodney will never be allowed to have anything like an equal relationship with Carter. He’ll be her drooling sidekick. Carter will be the one to come up with all the answers, save the day, defeat the Wraith, have a show-destroying ship with Sheppard, and generally be worshipped by the entire Pegasus galaxy.
Because tptb believe the sun rises out of Carter’s backside, every other character on Atlantis will have to be reduced in order to accomodate her.
I’ll watch Carter anywhere. The more the better.
Sam and Rodney make ideal collaborators and well-matched combatants. Both actors have really hit the spot in their scenes together. I’d love to see more of that – and no, the characters shouldn’t “get it on” – there are way more interesting things they can be doing!
To me this sounds like they are considering putting Sam on the Daedalus fulltime. That would give her good reason to be spending half her time on earth and half in the Pegasus Galaxy without actually being a part of either chain of command. Maybe they are evn considering giving her command of the ship, who knows?
Either way, this sounds like a good move for the character to me. No series can run for ten seasons with the exact same cast in the exact same positions. it gets dull for the cast, the crew and sooner or later, the viewers. Rather than worry about a little change i’d say wait and see if it turns out to be a good thing.
This mistreatment of Ms Tapping is absolutely shameful, rude, and unprofessional.
AT/Carter drew me to SG-1 and keeps me coming back for more. It boggles my mind that the producers aren’t sure “what to do with” Lt Col Carter when, by all rights, Carter ought to be the sole commander of SG-1.
There are now further posts from the GABIT attendees regarding Amanda Tapping’s comments:
“Coley, s1peed, Kat and Chopin Gal: what we believe we heard directly from Amanda’s lips:
She does not know what ‘s happening with the character
She was not informed about signing on for new season
She had to go and ask RC himself what was up after someone informed her that that MS, CJ, Beau, BB, and CB had already been asked to return. Rob was busy directing when she approached him. Amanda asked Rob “is there a problem?” and Rob replied “No problem; we just don’t know what to do with Sam next season.” That, Amanda said to us at GABIT, seemed to indicate “there was a problem.” It was hinted/suggested that, for the coming S10, she will be asked to appear in both Stargate and SA for the total of 20 episodes. Again, nothing more known by AT nor all of us listening to her. She, as gracious as ever, hinted that she should have taken up golf and spent more time on the executive golf circuit! She’s just received the contract last week but has not yet signed and, again, does not know how many episodes in which manner she will be playing Sam in either show.
She announced that she will be filming a short part in an upcoming movie with Christian Slater and also possibly considering shooting a Canadian series named Whistler in which she will play a lead role and also a part TV movie of the week as bumbling detective who keeps botching cases and has a chip on shoulder because of her mishaps.”
Well, it seems to me this is a promotion of the character as an over-arching one who motivates both shows. Maybe it’s a step down for AT, but to me it could give Carter a boost in terms of new interactions and ways to drive the plots. As for AT being treated badly, well, that’s a lot to infer from some second-hand con reports. JMO. 20 eps is still 20 eps!
I am shocked and absolutely disgusted at this latest move by the producers. I mean…look so far…we’ve lost Janet, Hammond, Jacob, Jack and now, by the looks of it…Sam. I hope TPTB are happy, because the vast bulk of people are so completely pissed at this move, they’re going to stop watching. I sincerely hope Amanda rejects this offer…she’s too good for the show and has been for sometime.
Got to agree with Michelle, because if this is true then the producers ar considering making Carter an active part of TWO television series. Now that hardly seems like mistreating either Sam or Amanda to me.
This show has been running for ten years now. You can’t honestly expect them to stick to the exact same cast and storylines, can you? Do you really want to see yet another year of Jack, Daniel, Teal’c, Sam, Hammond and Janet fighting the Goa’uld. Maybe you would like to see Apophis make another return too? Think back to your life ten years ago. Are you still doing the same job that you were back when SG-1 started? Do you have the exact same friends? The exact sme lifestyle? Doubtful! In ten years things change and that should be true for a television series too or things stagnate and get very, very dull.
Like Michelle said, a lot is being assumed here from a few comments and we have no idea what is going on behind the scenes but if the producers are really considering having Carter be a part of SG-1 and Atlantis then that is far from being a bad thing.
Am I supposed to feel sorry for AT? Sounds to me like she’s doing just fine with a contract to sign and the chance to be on two shows and get even more attention than she does already. So it doesn’t look like she’s being badly treated to me. She’s sure being better treated than MS was when he was told his character’s story arc was over and not to let the door hit him on the way out.