Author: DeeKayP

Season Premieres Slated for July 15

Mark your calendars and start the countdown!

The SciFi Channel has announced the new seasons of both Stargate SG-1 and Stargate Atlantis will begin at 8PM and 9PM Eastern, respectively, on July 15, 2005. The premieres are not being shown as two-hour episodes this year, it appears.

Stargate SG-1 begins its ninth season with “Avalon Part 1” which covers the introduction of new characters and team members as SG-1 is rebuilt after all of the victories of the past eight years. These many changes reflect in the program’s casting. The only regular cast members returning for Season Nine are Michael Shanks (Dr. Daniel Jackson) and Christopher Judge (Teal’c). Richard Dean Anderson (Gen. Jack O’Neill) and Amanda Tapping (Lt. Col. Samantha Carter) have been reduced to recurring cast members. New regular cast members include Ben Browder (playing Lt. Col. Cameron Mitchell) and Beau Bridges (playing Maj. Gen. Hank Landry). Additional new recurring cast members also include Claudia Black (Vala from “Prometheus Unbound”), Louis Gossett, Jr. (Jaffa leader Gerak), and Lexa Doig (Dr. Carolyn Lam).

Stargate Atlantis begins its second season with “The Siege Part 3” which answers the questions left at the end of the first season’s cliffhanger. Changes in casting include the addition of Jason Momoa (Ronon Dex) and Paul McGillion (Dr. Carson Beckett; was recurring in first season) to the regular cast, and the reduction of Rainbow Sun Francks (Lt. Aiden Ford) to recurring.

Visit SciFi Channel’s Stargate SG-1 and Stargate Atlantis homepages for further information concerning these premieres.

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[Thanks to Sueb45 for the tip — DeeKayP]

S9 Spoilers: “Ex Deus Machina”

9.07 or 9.08 “Ex Deus Machina”

Episode Summary

When interstellar criminal Ba’al is found to be hiding out on Earth, the search for his whereabouts badly strains the alliance between the Tau’ri and the Jaffa.

Spoiler Snippets

Carter is back at the SGC and has teamed up with Daniel to investigate the disappearances of top executives of the company Sentinel Media Enterprises. They disappeared about the same time as Osiris’ ship was destroyed (8.14 “Full Alert”). That ship was under the control of members of The Trust who had been implanted with Goa’uld symbiotes and attempted to destroy Earth by causing a nuclear war. The fear is now there are several Goa’uld on Earth gaining strength after another executive disappears only a few days ago.

It is also revealed that a Jaffa was found on Earth who had been in the service of Lord Yu. This Jaffa had been sent by Gerak, one of the leaders of the Free Jaffa Nation, to find Ba’al! It seems that Ba’al fled to Earth when he was defeated in the battle for Dakara (8.17 “Reckoning Part 2” and 8.18 “Threads”). Ba’al could have been on Earth for as long as nine months!

Gerak is strongly opposed to any alliance with the Tau’ri and the Tok’ra, whom he views just as bad as the Goa’uld. There are other members of the Jaffa High Council who do not agree with Gerak, including a Jaffa named Tebrash. Gerak sent the Jaffa to track down Ba’al in secret, completely ignoring the alliance that they had with the Tau’ri in the war for the Jaffa’s freedom. Gerak also calls Teal’c’s loyalty into question.

It appears that either the Prometheus or the Daedalus is preventing the Jaffa from entering into Earth’s space to continue their pursuit of Ba’al (which Gerak was doing in secret).

Action locations include Dakara and Earth.

Guest Characters

Updated List: Tebrash, Gerak [Louis Gossett, Jr.], Solvar (Gerak’s lieutenant), NID Agent Malcolm Barrett [Peter Flemming], Ba’al [Cliff Simon]

Credits

Writers: Joseph Mallozzi and Paul Mullie
Director: Martin Wood

Discuss these spoilers on our SG1Solutions Forum

Sneak a Peek at Season Nine

SciFi Channel mixes the old with the new on Stargate SG-1 Mondays

Starting in May, viewers of SciFi’s Stargate SG-1 Monday episodes (starts at 7PM Eastern) will get a sneak peek at what’s coming in Season Nine of Stargate SG-1. The Monday line-up includes reruns of Season One through Season Six episodes (Season Seven is currently in US Syndication).

This announcement was made in the current issue (June 2005) of SciFi Channel’s SCI FI Magazine on page 67.

SCI FI Magazine website
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Sony Group Takes Control of MGM

Stargate SG-1 and Stargate Atlantis continue production under MGM

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. on Friday said Sony Corp and a group of partners have completed their $3 billion cash acquisition of the venerable film studio that was a centerpiece of Hollywood’s golden age of movie musicals.

Sony Pictures, the movie and television wing of Sony Corp., will assume distribution of MGM’s library of some 4,000 movies and 10,000 TV shows, which was a key factor in making the deal. The investor group will repackage old movie titles like MGM’s James Bond movies to cash in on new digital technologies.

The MGM library adds to Sony’s catalog of some 3,500 movies and 35,000 TV shows.

MGM remains actively operating and based in Los Angeles. It will continue to produce television programs and co-produce movies with Sony Pictures.

Its operations will be run by President Dan Taylor, who was formerly the chief financial officer of MGM. He will report to a board which includes executives at Sony and its investment group, Providence Equity Partners, Texas Pacific Group, DLJ Merchant Banking Partners and Comcast Corp.

Joining Taylor in running the company under its new owners will be Charles Cohen, executive vice president, who has been with MGM since 1997.

The company’s television distribution group will be run by Jim Packer. It’s home entertainment division will be run by Blake Thomas, and its MGM Networks unit will be headed by Bruce Tuchman, and consumer products will be overseen by Travis Rutherford.

Read Reuter’s Full Press Announcement at Yahoo! News
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SG-1 Ends Year on Top

Season Finale scores highSeason Finale Scores High

Despite the move to an earlier time slot, Stargate SG-1 held its own and ended on top in the Nielsen Ratings for SciFi Channel’s week of March 21 to March 27, 2005, proving that the eight-year-old series can still cut it. “Moebius Part 2” brought a rating of 2.4 and sealed its spot as Number One in the cable network’s “SciFi Friday” by a wide margin, with Battlestar Galactica and Stargate Atlantis both rating at 2.2, placing them in the third and fourth spots, respectively.

Ratings may be viewed at SciFi.com SciFi Wire page
Season Eight on the StargateWiki
Visit our SG1Solutions Forum and talk about the show with other fans

SyFy Portal: Stargate SG-1 and Stargate Atlantis Nominations

More Nominations for Stargate Franchise

From Michael Hinman for SyFy Portal:

Beginning April 25, for the sixth time, fans visiting SyFy Portal will be able to choose their favorites of television and the movies from the past year in the almost-annual SyFy Genre Awards.

The Stargate series combined for nine nominations, including five for “SG-1” and four for “Atlantis.”

Stargate SG-1 Nominees: “Best Actress/Television” – Amanda Tapping (Lt. Col. Samantha Carter); “Best Supporting Actor/Television” – Michael Shanks (Dr. Daniel Jackson); “Best Special Guest/Television” – Claudia Black (Vala, “Prometheus Unbound”); “Best Episode/Television” – “Prometheus Unbound”; “Best Series/Television”.

Stargate Atlantis Nominees: “Best Actor/Television” – Joe Flanigan (Maj. John Sheppard); “Best Supporting Actor/Television” – David Hewlett (Dr. Rodney McKay); “Best Supporting Actress/Television” – Rachel Luttrell (Teyla Emmagan); “Best Series/Television”.

Voting begins April 25 and runs through May 25, with winners being announced May 31. Visitors to SyFy Portal can vote once per day per e-mail address on our special ballot that is made available during the voting period.

SyFy Portal Website
Michael Hinman’s Article on SyFy Portal Award Nominations

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[Thanks to Sueb45 for the tip — DeeKayP]

S9 Spoilers: Daniel, Vala, and the Ancients

More information is revealed about Daniel’s and Vala’s condition in “Origin”

April Telek announced on her Bboard at “Galaxy of Stars” that she will begin shooting her role as an Ancient named Sallis this coming week. The episode scheduled to be filmed next week is “Origin” (on/about April 4-16).

We announced earlier that Telek was slated to play Sallis in two upcoming Season Nine episodes based on the guest lists for Stargate SG-1 episodes listed on the IMDB website. The two episodes are most likely “Avalon Part 2” and “Origin”. According to her recent announcement, Telek is also slated to return as Sallis in an episode named “The Order”. No further information is available for that episode at this time.

According to Telek’s announcement, “She is an Ancient, and married to Harrid (played by the extremely talented Steve Park), and without warning, their bodies are taken over by Vala and Daniel. Because there is no back story established for Harrid and Sallis, and because Steve and I have basically just had to “mirror” Michael and Claudia thus far, I can’t tell you much more at this point.”

Telek is enthusiastic about filming for Stargate SG-1 and closed her announcement with this “P.S.”: “Regarding the costumes and set…BEAUTIFUL!! They truly are a work of art! I wear a long, very low cut, middle ages style frock, that’s got a boned bodice and laces up the back corset style! It’s heavy (it probably weighs 10-15 lbs) but it makes me feel like I’m definately from “another world”. The sets…to die for, and the cast, EVEN LOVELIER THAN YOU COULD IMAGINE!!”

April Telek at IMDB
April Telek’s Galaxy of Stars Bboard Announcement
Stephen Park at IMDB

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S9 Spoilers: “The Powers That Be”

9.05 or 9.06 “The Powers That Be”

Episode Summary

Vala returns to a planet where she was once worshipped as a god, only to face both the Priors of the Orii and a destructive plague.

Spoiler Snippets

SG-1 and Vala visit the backwater planet designated P8X-412, and meet a village leader named Azdak who is not aware that the Goa’uld System Lords have been defeated. He still believes that Vala (Claudia Black) is still a powerful god, and, once Vala reveals the truth of her history of deception and exploitation, he initiates a trial to condemn her of her crimes.

Daniel, Teal’c, and Mitchell sit with Vala in the Mal Doran, a trial in which the charges are brought before the people who hear both sides of the argument and then vote on the disposition of the accused. While Teal’c and Mitchell are present to lend their support, Daniel stands and speaks on Vala’s behalf.

Vala confessed that she was once the host to the Goa’uld Qetesh. SG-1 explains to the villagers about the parasitic nature of the Goa’uld. When Azdak begins his reading of the charges to which Vala had basically confessed, Daniel reminded him that those crimes were done by Qetesh, not Vala. Daniel said that she should only be sentenced for the crimes she committed once the Goa’uld symbiote had been removed. That was four years ago. Unfortunately, Vala still took advantage of these people after she was no longer a host. The charges against Vala are reduced to planet-wide forced labor. She deceived the people in order to gain access to their naquadah, gold, food, wine, weapons, and clothes, among other things.

The proceedings are stopped when a plague sweeps through the village and Azdak dies, only to be brought back to life by a Prior of the Orii. Other villagers are also healed by the Prior, including one named Vachna, but Vachna turns ill once more.

During the time of their stay on the planet, Daniel tries to figure out why the Orii are asking to be worshipped. The Ascended Beings that he knows don’t care and consider humans so far beneath them that they are insignificant, just like bugs are to humans. The Orii’s need to be worshipped and their do-or-die doctrine go against what he knows about Ascended Beings.

Vala and SG-1 came to the planet to warn the people of the threat the Priors pose. They know that the Priors are bad, but the people seem to accept them as good. The villagers are divided in the decision as to whether or not they will devote themselves to the Orii. Will the Priors eventually show their true nature or will millions of former Goa’uld slaves just switch their devotion from one false god to another?

Characters

Vala, Azdak, Vachna, Prior, Gerak (Louis Gossett, Jr.)

Credits

Writer: Robert C. Cooper/Martin Gero
Director: Will Waring

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Spacey Awards: Viewer voting starts April 1

Stargate SG-1 and Stargate Atlantis are nominees for the 3rd Annual Spacey Awards

The Spacey Awards are given to celebrate the best in the sci-fi and fantasy genre of film and television and were started in 2002 by SPACE The Imagination Station (Canadian).

The Spacey Trophy, in the shape of an alien’s head which looks astonishingly a lot like Thor of the Asgard, is given to the winners. These winners are selected by both votes of the SPACE committee and viewers. The Viewer’s Choice voting begins today, April 1, and ends at 12PM May 15. The award show will be aired on SPACE on May 29.

Viewers can get involved in The Third Annual Spaceys by voting online (your browser must have the Flash plug-in) on their favorites in nine Viewer’s Choice categories. In addition to voting on the web, viewers can also use their cell phones to cast their vote with text messaging.

Stargate SG-1 Nominations: Favorite TV Series, Favorite Canadian TV Series, Favorite Male TV Character (Jack O’Neill)
Stargate Atlantis Nominations: Favorite Canadian TV Series

Stargate SG-1 has been voted “Favorite Canadian TV Series” two years in a row.

Spacey’s Viewer’s Choice Online Ballot (requires Flash plug-in)
London Free Press: Today Section – Spacey Awards voting begins today

“Heroes” nominated for 2005 Hugo Award

Daniel and Janet aid WellsJanet's Memorial ServiceBaby Janet Wells

“Heroes” (Parts 1 and 2) has been nominated for the prestigious Hugo Award in the “Best Dramatic Presentation – Short Form” category. Nominations and voting are all by popular ballot of the members of the World Science Fiction Society. A Hugo Award given in a particular year is for work that appeared in the previous calendar year.

The Hugo Award is named after Hugo Gernsback, the founder of the pioneering science fiction magazine Amazing Stories. The first award in the “Best Dramatic Presentation – Short Form” was given in 2003. The winners will be announced at a ceremony on August 7, 2005, in Glasgow as part of Interaction, the 63rd World Science Fiction Convention.

“Heroes” was written by Robert C. Cooper and directed by Andy Mikita. It tells the story from the viewpoint of a journalist, Emmett Bregman, hired by the President of the United States to profile the men and women of Stargate Command. Although Bregman knows that his documentary may never be viewed by the public in his lifetime, he pursues the assignment with tenacity. While conducting the interviews and living on the base, he becomes personally involved with the lives of those who are on the front line of a war most of the world does not know about. Eventually, his own personal experience shapes the final product after he watches a video recording made by Dr. Daniel Jackson out in the field as he assisted Dr. Janet Fraiser render medical attention to a wounded Airman Wells of SG-13. Dr. Fraiser gives Daniel permission to record Wells as he gives his final farewell to his pregnant wife, thinking that he was about to die. As other SG units hold back the attacking Jaffa, Fraiser and Daniel give aid, hope, and comfort to the young man, trusting that the line will hold. Unfortunately, the line doesn’t hold and Daniel inadvertantly records the instantaneous and brutal death of Dr. Fraiser as she is hit with the deadly force of a staff weapon blast. Bregman’s life and view were forever changed from this event, as well as the lives of those who knew and loved Janet. But, life goes on, and the lives protected by Stargate Command continue, as the birth of Wells’ baby daughter testifies. In Dr. Fraiser’s honor, Airman Wells, whose life was saved by Janet, names his daughter after her.

From light-hearted humor to tear-jerking drama, these 88 minutes of television have been considered some of the best of Stargate SG-1 and of science fiction.

Worldcon 2005 Press Release: 2005 Hugo Award Shortlist Announced
Hugo Award Homepage
StargateWiki Episode Guides for “Heroes Part 1” and “Heroes Part 2”