Universe – Page 7 – Solutions Blog

Stargate Planner: Week of February 21-27

We’ll update this article if something comes to our attention during the week. Also, if you’ve got more to add, please don’t hesitate to announce them in the comment section below.

Calendar

Monday, February 21
Tuesday, February 22
Wednesday, February 23
Thursday, February 24
Friday, February 25
Saturday, February 26	Armageddon Expo in Sydney, Australia, is this weekend. Stargate guests include David Hewlett, Colin Cunningham, Christopher Heyerdahl, and Ryan Robbins. Make sure to visit the website for more details.
Sunday, February 27

News Notes

News Flashes and Brief Follow-Ups

The first track of Rachel Luttrell’s album has been posted on YouTube (and is also available for download from iTunes)! Here it is below:

Stargate Universe News

Franchise – Still no news on the future of SGU or the franchise in general, but recent posts in his weblog by former executive producer Joe Mallozzi indicate that we’ll be hearing something soon. Mallozzi and writing partner Paul Mullie are preparing to join Robert C. Cooper on a new project in Toronto. Executive producers Brad Wright and Carl Binder remain with the franchise.
Robert Carlyle – In an article about writers and prisoners, Carlyle was mentioned as being attached to a new film in Glasgow: Paying for It.

Solutions News Blog Round-Up

Our News Blog posts since the last Stargate Planner (most recent listed first):

Michael Shanks Guest Stars in Lifetime Pilot “Normal”

Solutions LJ Companion Background Articles

Last week, we posted a few background articles in our LJ Companion that you might be interested in. The articles listed in this section don’t have a companion piece in our News Blog here:

Reminders

For news as it happens, make sure to visit the Stargate Twitter Superfeed for tidbits directly from the Stargate stars and production crew. And don’t forget our new feature Beyond the Event Horizon, which consists of “home pages” with dynamic feeds from our LJ and Blog for the stars of SG-1 and Atlantis.

Our LJ Companion has news bites, polls, and glimpses into the lives of the actors that we don’t necessarily cover here in our more formal news blog. Make sure to visit the LJ’s feed on our front page or visit the site directly to see its mostly fun little tidbits.

For the latest in convention appearances, which are subject to change, make sure to visit Stargate Actor Appearances.

Stargate Planner: Week of February 14-20

We’ll update this article if something comes to our attention during the week. Also, if you’ve got more to add, please don’t hesitate to announce them in the comment section below.

Calendar

Monday, February 14	Be looking for Rachel Luttrell‘s debut album I Wish You Love to be released “in time for Valentine’s Day.” Visit Luttrell’s Facebook to obtain the link to the tracks that will be available on iTunes soon. Lou Diamond Phillips will be guest starring tonight on Chuck in the episode “Chuck Vs. the CAT Squad” on NBC at 8/7c. He’s playing villain Augusto Gaez in the story about when “Chuck (Zachary Levi) surprises Sarah (Yvonne Strahovski) with her old spy team, The C.A.T. Squad, leading to a mission in Rio. As The C.A.T. Squad works to settle a score with Augusto Gaez (guest star Lou Diamond Phillips), old secrets and grudges come to light. Back at the Buy More, Morgan fends off the advances of Carina, a former flame and frisky member of The C.A.T Squad.”
Tuesday, February 15
Wednesday, February 16
Thursday, February 17	Richard Dean Anderson begins his multiple episode arc as David Smith in the Fairly Legal episode “The Two Richards” (ha!) on USA network at 10:01 PM ET (that time is according to TV Guide and is not a typo). Synopsis: “A man who was hit by a truck seeks a settlement with an insurance company. But the man’s wife has her own grievance: she claims her husband was forever changed after the accident.” Today is Lou Diamond Phillips‘s birthday!
Friday, February 18	The Basauri Con begins today and runs until February 20. Stargate stars Michael Shanks and Torri Higginson are two of the main guests. The convention has a limited attendance, which the organizers hope will give the event a more casual and friendly atmosphere at the Ibaigane Theatre in Basauri, Spain.
Saturday, February 19
Sunday, February 20	Tonight at 10 PM ET, Beau Bridges begins his multi-episode arc as Brody in ABC’s Brothers and Sisters in the episode “Brody.” The synopsis: “Though Nora tries her best to keep Brody (guest starring Beau Bridges) at bay, she can’t help but feel the long lost connection between them, and Justin reaches out to a homeless vet reluctant to accept help getting back on his feet.” Today is Louis Ferreira‘s birthday!

News Notes

Stargate Universe News

Our SGU Portal has been updated to include the starting dates for Season 2.5, the last ten episodes of the show, for Syfy and Space, March 7 and 8, respectively. Other dates will be added once they are announced.

Solutions News Blog Round-Up

Our News Blog posts since the last Stargate Planner (most recent listed first):

Solutions LJ Companion Background Articles

Last week, we posted a few background articles in our LJ Companion that you might be interested in. The articles listed in this section don’t have a companion piece in our News Blog here:

Reminders

For the latest in convention appearances, which are subject to change, make sure to visit Stargate Actor Appearances.

Stargate Universe Returns to Syfy March 7

MGM Studios has announced via Twitter, “THIS JUST IN: ‘Stargate Universe’ season 2 continues March 7 at 10/9c, only on Syfy! 10 more episodes, starting with ‘Deliverance’!”

March 7 is a Monday: a new night for Stargate!

Syfy’s schedule thus far for the show’s return (10 PM ET, repeating at Midnight ET):

March 7: 2.11 “Deliverance”
March 14: 2.12 “Twin Destinies”
March 21: 2.13 “Alliances”
March 28: 2.14 “Hope”

The schedule doesn’t go any further than that, but if the trend continues, Stargate Atlantis fans should tune in on April 4 to see Dr. Rodney McKay and Richard Woolsey involved in a scientific and diplomatic solution to the energy problem currently plaguing the marooned crew of Destiny in episode 2.15 “Seizure.”

Executive producer Joseph Mallozzi has been updating fans with what’s going on behind the scenes as Brad Wright works with MGM to continue the Stargate franchise. His most recent report: “Still no definite word on the Stargate front. Following a flurry of promising developments, things have gone unbearably quiet. Not a bad sign just… no sign. There’s an anticipation that good news could break any day now – but the longer the wait, the greater the challenge when the time comes. To those holding out hope that this could mean a third season pick-up – alas, this isn’t one of the scenarios in play. Nevertheless, as I said in a previous entry, if and when we finally do get the green light, Brad has some wonderful surprises in store for fans of SGU (as well as fans of the Stargate franchise in general).

“I’ve got my fingers crossed for all involved, even though it’s looking more and more like I won’t be among them.” Mallozzi, writing partner Paul Mullie, and SGU co-creator Robert C. Cooper are apparently going from one established franchise to another as they move to Toronto, leaving Brad Wright and Carl Binder, the team who wrote the script for SG-1’s third movie Stargate: Revolution. Hopefully, the news about the future of the franchise includes updates on the status of Revolution and Stargate: Extinction, the movie that Mallozzi and Mullie penned to continue the Stargate Atlantis story.

For more about SGU’s second and final season, please visit the Season Two index in the Solutions Stargate Wiki.

Stargate Planner: Week of February 7-13

We’ll update this article if something comes to our attention during the week. Also, if you’ve got more to add, please don’t hesitate to announce them in the comment section below.

Calendar

Monday, February 7	Claudia Black returns as Guru Sona in the 90210 episode “All About a Boy” tonight at 8 PM ET on The CW. TV Guide’s summary: “Teddy discovers who’s blackmailing him; Navid learns the truth about Adrianna and her baby; Emily plans to ruin Annie’s audition for a play; Naomi hosts a party in honor of her spiritual guru; Ivy is anxious about returning to the water.” Today is David Nykl‘s birthday!
Tuesday, February 8	Starting at 8 AM ET, Syfy will be having an 8-episode marathon of SGU’s Season Two, beginning with “Intervention” and ending with “Malice.” To complete the Stargate experience, SG-1’s “Forever In A Day” will show at 5 PM ET, and SGA’s “Be All My Sins Remember’d,” at 2 AM ET. Rainbow Sun Francks is part of the regular cast in Season Two of The Listener (as well as SG-1 guest star Peter Stebbings), which premieres tonight at 10 PM ET on Canada’s CTV. The show will be released internationally in March. Visit Francks’s homepage at CTV, which profiles the actor and his character Corporal Dev Clark, a communications expert for IIB. In the Season Two premiere, “Toby Logan is still haunted by guilt over the murder of his friend Detective Charlie Marks and the disappearance of his mother – has resolved to stop fighting against his mysterious gift and use his telepathic abilities to help others. When he revives a woman (Rekha Sharma, V) who nearly drowned, her amnesia gives him the perfect opportunity. But unbeknownst to him, she’s tangled in a case of corporate espionage and murder, and she might not be the victim he presumes. As he sets out to help her remember her past, she’s also being investigated by Sgt. Michelle McCluskey (Lauren Lee Smith) of the IIB, who has taken a special interest in Toby’s connection to the woman and uncovered his more than coincidental history with a number of major criminal cases in the past.”
Wednesday, February 9	Tonight at 8 PM is the Syfy UK premiere of Arctic Blast starring Michael Shanks. There will be repeats on February 10 at 10 PM and on February 13 at 9 PM (Source: MSOL). For more information about this movie, visit IMDb or Imagination LLC.
Thursday, February 10
Friday, February 11
Saturday, February 12	Paul McGillion, Kavan Smith, Chris Gauthier, and Nicole de Boer lead the cast in Syfy’s original movie Iron Invader at 9 PM ET. The storyline: “Alien bacteria brings a giant metal monster alive.” This movie was previously titled Metal Monster and Iron Golem.
Sunday, February 13

News Notes

Stargate Universe Press

SGU’s VFX team didn’t take home the VES Award on February 1 in the Outstanding Visual Effects in a Broadcast Series category. Instead, the award went to the team at Caprica.

Solutions News Blog Round-Up

Our News Blog posts since the last Stargate Planner (most recent listed first):

Solutions LJ Companion Background Articles

Last week, we posted a few background articles in our LJ Companion that you might be interested in. The articles listed in this section don’t have a companion piece in our News Blog here:

Tapping Is Executive Producer for Web-based Shatner Project.

Reminders

For the latest in convention appearances, which are subject to change, make sure to visit Stargate Actor Appearances.

Stargate Planner: Week of January 31-February 6

We’ll update this article if something comes to our attention during the week. Also, if you’ve got more to add, please don’t hesitate to announce them in the comment section below.

Calendar

Monday, January 31	Claudia Black makes the first of three episode appearances as Guru Sona in the 90120 episode “It’s Getting Hot in Here” tonight at 8 PM ET on The CW. TV Guide’s summary: “Emily sabotages Annie’s relationship with her friends when the girls go on a weekend getaway; Dixon interrupts Debbie and Ryan’s romantic dinner; Silver and Navid continue their affair; and Adrianna goes to the tabloids with an exclusive story.” HULU has scheduled today to be the last day to offer all episodes of Stargate SG-1.
Tuesday, February 1	VES Awards are being given out tonight. Good luck to our VFX team!
Wednesday, February 2	Michael Shanks‘s Arctic Blast is being released on DVD for rental in Australia today. The movie is currently airing on Canada’s Movie Central as well.
Thursday, February 3	Jamil Walker Smith‘s 80-minute war drama Make a Movie Like Spike premieres at the Santa Barbara Film Festival at 8 PM. Smith wrote the original screenplay and directed the film. From Little Plow Films: “Armed with dreams that extend beyond their block, Luis and Ronald, two best friends from Los Angeles, videotape their last 36 hours before shipping off to Afghanistan. One hundred days before Obama’s inauguration, these young men have joined the Marines together to face the obstacles and circumstances that seem to overwhelm their passage into manhood. Luis wants to be a filmmaker and Ronald wants to travel the world and raise a family. Through the lens of Luis’s video camera, they capture their friends, family members and places they call home — to remember who they are and where they come from. In their darkest hour, they turn on the video camera for the last time and document the final moments of their journey home. They soon realize that their dreams and promises of a new life mean nothing in a place called War.” For more information about this project, visit its Facebook page or the Little Plow Films‘ projects page.
Friday, February 4	Alaina Huffman returns to Smallville in the episode “Collateral” at 8 PM ET on The CW. The storyline: “The VRA releases Clark, Oliver, Lois and Dinah, who all have flashbacks of Chloe’s involvement in their capture. Trust becomes an issue when Chloe returns to town and Dinah fears she is now a traitor.” Pictures of Huffman in her role as Dinah may be seen at 411 Mania.
Saturday, February 5
Sunday, February 6

News Notes

Solutions News Blog Round-Up

Our News Blog posts since the last Stargate Planner (most recent listed first):

Solutions LJ Companion Background Articles

Last week, we posted a few background articles in our LJ Companion that you might be interested in. The articles listed in this section don’t have a companion piece in our News Blog here:

Ben Cotton Cast in Syfy’s BSG Prequel “Blood and Chrome”.

Reminders

For the latest in convention appearances, which are subject to change, make sure to visit Stargate Actor Appearances.

Mallozzi: Third Season "Less Likely" for Stargate Universe

Executive producer Joseph Mallozzi has been keeping his readers informed about what’s going on behind the scenes in the effort to save the Stargate franchise. His most recent bit of news: “Still no definite word on the Stargate front although I am being cc’d on the various emails concerning meetings, etc. Alas, a third season looking less likely, but there are other scenarios that would allow us complete this incredible journey.”

In the meantime, Robert C. Cooper, Mallozzi, and Paul Mullie are entertaining the possibility of joining an established franchise in Toronto. A third season of SGU would most likely have kept Mallozzi and Mullie with Stargate in Vancouver, but if it is not likely, these long-time writers/producers may be moving on, leaving executive producers Brad Wright and Carl Binder, who penned the SG-1 movie script Stargate: Revolution together, to continue Stargate in whatever form it is likely to take.

The final ten episodes of Stargate Universe are still slated to air on Syfy in the spring (most likely April).

David Hewlett Begins Blogging at Blastr

Rodney McKay in GHOST IN THE MACHINE — David Hewlett as Dr. Rodney McKay (MGM)

Stargate star David Hewlett has joined fellow SGA star Jewel Staite as a guest blogger at Blastr, formerly known as Sci Fi Wire. Visit My ‘hilariously unhappy’ life as Dr. Rodney McKay for his first post.

Highlights:

I thought I might start by introducing myself, but then I realized that if you don’t know who I am (star of film & television—legend in my own mind), then I’m not sure I want you hanging about. The reality is that any highly intelligent, attractive, world-changing, leader-types should already be following me on Twitter!

Then again, who am I to pass up an opportunity to talk about myself …

A lot of hair ago, I showed up on the set of Stargate SG1. Thanks to some fantastic writing and the support and patience of the lovely and talented Amanda Tapping, I became Doctor Rodney McKay. Rodney’s snarcastic genius and lack of social skills seem to have appealed to a lot of people. I like to think that McKay is what a grumpy Grover would look like in the role of C-3PO. Rodney showed up for another episode or two of SG1 and then went on to five wild and wonderful years on the hit show Stargate: Atlantis. During the run of SGA I wrote and directed my first feature film A Dog’s Breakfast. I married my wife Jane (twice in fact). My son Sebastian (“Baz” as we insist on calling him) was born the day after we wrapped season 4 (I was still peeling pieces of 10,000 year old Rodney McKay makeup off my face while Jane was in labour). I am Stargate’s biggest fan for life.

In the hopes of having something to complain about in future blogs I welcome any and all questions (that I like) right here on Blastr. And I also welcome you all to follow me on Twitter, where I do my utmost to make my mind-numbingly dull life sound wildly interesting and potentially life threatening … try me!

Hewlett’s Twitter is at http://twitter.com/dhewlett. Here at Solutions, we have a David Hewlett homepage, and you can always follow his conversations on Twitter via our Stargate Twitter Superfeed. Make sure to watch Stargate Universe when it returns to Syfy in the spring to see Dr. Rodney McKay in action once again in the episode 2.15 “Seizure”.

Stargate Planner: Week of January 17-23

We’ll update this article if something comes to our attention during the week. Also, if you’ve got more to add, please don’t hesitate to announce them in the comment section below.

Calendar

Monday, January 17	Today is David Blue‘s birthday.
Tuesday, January 18
Wednesday, January 19	Today is Rachel Luttrell‘s birthday.
Thursday, January 20	Tonight at 10/9c is the premiere of the new USA network series Fairly Legal in which Richard Dean Anderson will be making five appearances over the first season as David Smith. Fairly Legal is the new title of the series; it was formerly called Facing Kate. The pilot is 90 minutes and the remaining nine episodes will be one hour each. The premise: “Kate Reed (Sarah Shahi) is a firm believer that justice can always be found-even if it’s not always in the courtroom. Once a lawyer at her family’s esteemed San Francisco firm, Kate’s frustration with the legal system led her to a new career as a mediator. Thanks to her innate understanding of human nature, thorough legal knowledge, and wry sense of humor, Kate is a natural when it comes to dispute resolution. Except, it seems, when it comes to conflicts in her own life” (Show’s official homepage). Beau Bridges will be among the hosts at the premiere of the documentary Elephants and Man: A Litany of Tragedy at Sunset Gower Studios in Hollywood. From PR-USA: The film, executive produced by Melya Kaplan and directed by Jacek Kropinski, chronicles the history of elephants in captivity. Kaplan, founder of the nonprofit Voice for the Animals Foundation, contends that zoos and circuses are not capable of properly caring for elephants due to their size and their need for vast amounts of space in which to roam. Many celebrities have joined Kaplan in a campaign to persuade zoos to close elephant exhibits and transfer the pachyderms to larger sanctuaries. The host committee for the premiere of “Elephants and Man” includes Cher, Alec Baldwin, Kathy Griffin, Billy Bob Thornton, Jane Fonda, Robin Williams, Ed Begley, Jr., Paul Haggis, Fisher Stevens, Ric O’Barry, Karen Black, Lainie Kazan, Ken Davitian, Sally Field, Beau Bridges and others. Special guests will include actresses Lily Tomlin and Tippi Hedren, who have been outspoken on the issue of elephants in captivity. They will participate in a panel discussion, which will follow the screening.
Friday, January 21
Saturday, January 22	Today is Jennifer Spence‘s birthday. Robert Picardo will be at the opening review of “Star Trek: The Exhibition” at the Louisville Science Museum, which formally opens January 23 and runs until May 22. This evening review is part of the Museum’s largest fundraiser event, which will include a screening of Quantum Quest, an “animated IMAX movie featuring the voice talents of several Star Trek alums, including William Shatner,” according to Louisville’s Courier Journal.
Sunday, January 23	Today is Richard Dean Anderson‘s birthday.

News Notes

Stargate Universe Press

It should be noted that whenever spoilers come out for SGU, they are placed in the episode guides in the Stargate Wiki without much fanfare here in the News Blog. To keep on top of such updates, visit the main page of the Stargate Wiki to see the “Recent Updates” list of links.

Solutions News Blog Round-Up

Our News Blog posts since the last Stargate Planner (most recent listed first):

Solutions LJ Companion Background Articles

Last week, we posted a few background articles in our LJ Companion that you might be interested in. The articles listed in this section don’t have a companion piece in our News Blog here:

Reminders

For the latest in convention appearances, which are subject to change, make sure to visit Stargate Actor Appearances.

Mallozzi: "Things Are Looking Positive"

Yesterday, executive producer Joseph Mallozzi gave an update on Brad Wright’s attempts to continue the Stargate franchise, which includes SG-1, Atlantis, and Universe:

I was in the office yesterday to watch the Day 1 Mix of The Hunt. Great stuff! Anyway, while there, I talked to Brad. Needless to say, he’s been working hard to ensure we all get the opportunity to work with Mark [Savela, VFX Supervisor] in 2011. Nothing definite as of yet to report but a minor hurdle was cleared. Quite a few hurdles still lie ahead and there’s always the chance it might all be for naught – but right now, things are looking positive.

We spent a couple of hours in the late afternoon discussing the potential game plan if all goes well – and, if all DOES go well, I can assure you that it’ll be very, VERY exciting for all.

More news as it becomes available.

Hopefully sooner than later!

Wright stated that he had not given up on the franchise and that he and MGM were working on a plan to somehow continue the story that they had started. Not only had they planned to have five seasons for Universe, but they also have two scripts waiting for the SG-1 and Atlantis movies, Stargate: Revolution and Stargate: Extinction, respectively, both of which have been delayed due to economic woes.

In the meantime, Syfy still plans to air the final ten episodes of SGU’s Season Two starting this spring (most likely in April).

Stargate Universe Gets VES Nomination

Congratulations to Mark Savela, VFX Supervisor; James Rorick, VFX Producer; Craig Vandenbiggelaar, Digital Effects Supervisor; and Adam de Bosch Kemper, Lead Animator, for their nomination in the Outstanding Visual Effects in a Broadcast Series category in the 9th Annual Visual Effects Society (VES) Awards.

This announcement comes from MGM’s Official Stargate Website, who also state, “The 9th Annual VES Awards will take place on Tuesday, February 1, 2011 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel and will air exclusively on REELZCHANNEL Saturday, February 19, 2011 at 10p ET/PT with encore presentations throughout February.”