Tag: Ben Browder

Sci Fi Press Release Details Browder's "Going Homer"

The Futon Critic has provided a copy of a recent Sci Fi Channel press release that details some of the upcoming projects the channel has in store both for television and the Internet. Included is a description of Ben Browder’s new project, Going Homer, which will be shown on the channel as a six-hour miniseries:

The Odyssey collides with the 21st century in this six-hour modern day epic miniseries from Ben Browder (star of Stargate SG-1 and Farscape) and Andrew Prowse (Farscape). Greek and Roman deities walk among us, but only twelve-year-old Homer Ulysses Jones can see them for what they truly are. When Homer and his father are forced to flee a custody battle that would likely separate them, they journey from Los Angeles to the home of their ancestors Ithaca, NY. As they travel through the heart of Americana, Homer’s eyes will be opened to a mystical landscape of capricious Gods; some will help our heroes, some will divert them, and others will try to kill them to prevent them from reaching their ultimate goal home.

To read about other projects Sci Fi has in the works, visit The Futon Critic: SCI FI’S DEVELOPMENT SLATE DELIVERS INTREPID MIX OF INSPIRED FANTASY, MYTHICAL ADVENTURES AND SUPERPOWERED COMEDY.

ETA: SCI FI WIRE reports that Browder will play Homer’s father in the new miniseries:

The new miniseries Going Homer stars Browder (Stargate SG-1) as the father of a 12-year-old boy named Homer, who can see Greek and Roman deities walking among us. Fleeing from a custody battle, the two travel from Los Angeles to Ithica, N.Y., and encounter a variety of gods who help and hinder them along the way.

For additional details about the other projects, visit SCI FI WIRE: SCI FI Development Slate Unveiled.

SG-1 Cast: What They're Doing Now

S10 Cast of Stargate SG-1
Cast of Stargate SG-1 from Season Ten and the two direct-to-DVD movies.

Solutions has gathered together a few pieces of information from around the web concerning what the cast members of Stargate SG-1 are doing to further their careers and family lives now that the filming of the two direct-to-DVD movies has completed.

Ben Browder

Ben Browder did an interview at The Scifi World and talked about what he enjoys doing in his spare time:

Right now… and my interests do change over time… I’m into coaching youth football. Next year I hope to coach the polevaulters at the high school. I suppose it falls into the I like working with young people category. Teaching kids, helping them meet and exceed expectations, watching them grow in the process is infinitely fascinating. And as a parent, I believe that we have a duty to whole of the next generation, not just our own progeny.

He’s also been mentioned as starting up a project for the Sci Fi Channel in a Variety article about NBC Universal’s cable networks:

Sci Fi is developing the six-hour miniseries “Going Homer,” from “Farscape” alum Ben Browder and Andrew Prowse. Taken from the Odyssey, project will revolve around a 12-year-old, Homer Ulysses Jones, who sets off on a journey from L.A. to New York in order to escape a custody battle. Homer is able to see what others can’t: Greek and Roman gods are here on earth, walking among mortals. Some gods will aid his journey, while others will seek to kill him in order to prevent him from getting home.

Look for Ben to appear at the Comic Con in San Diego on the Stargate: The Ark of Truth panel on Friday, July 27.

Amanda Tapping

Amanda Tapping has not left the Stargate franchise as she has moved over to star in Stargate Atlantis in its fourth season, currently in production in Vancouver. Filming for the series will be resuming Monday after the cast’s “shooting hiatus”. Amanda is scheduled to appear in 14 out of the 20 episodes for the season as Col. Samantha Carter, the new commander of the Atlantis Base. Her first appearance in the show will be in its premiere, “Adrift” (spoilers), which will be shown for the first time in the world on the Sci Fi Channel on Friday, September 28, 2007.

Following the end of filming for the fourth season, Amanda will be working on her new on-line serial Sanctuary. She told The Scifi World that she hopes they’ll produce ten more hours starting in October. These ten hours, if produced, will translate into 40 new webisodes.

Look for Amanda to appear in both the Stargate panels at the Comic Con in San Diego on Friday, July 27.

Christopher Judge

Christopher Judge wrote a few episodes for Stargate SG-1 and appeared in the most episodes of any regular cast member during its 10-year run. He hasn’t left the franchise completely either, as he will make an appearance in the Stargate Atlantis fourth season episode, “Reunion” (spoilers). There’s also another cross-over episode coming up in the second half of the season that might give Christopher the opportunity to appear again, but the specific actor crossing over has not yet been identified by executive producer Joseph Mallozzi in his personal blog (spoilers galore).

As far as his own projects, in his farewell interview at the scifi.com website, Christopher stated this about his pilot, Rage of Angels, which was picked up for production by MGM:

I play Gabriel and Shanks plays Lucifer. We’re going a bit against type, I would think. [He smiles.] I wrote the pilot for it. It’s a very dark, sexy, violent show, and I think that’s probably what we’ll be doing next.

Additionally, fellow Stargate actor and writer David Hewlett mentioned Christopher in his blog recently:

Speaking of Judge, I’ve got to get the nerve up to ask him about the latest film role I’ve started writing for him…it’s a pretty different kind of thing for him, but I think he’d be amazing at it and really chew up the scenery…hoping he goes for it… rather than turning on me violently, squashing me like a bug and leaving my crumpled form in the gutter beside some lonely road…happy thoughts, happy thoughts…

This film might be Hewlett’s script Design of the Dead.

Look for Christopher to appear at the Comic Con in San Diego on the Stargate: The Ark of Truth panel on Friday, July 27.

Claudia Black

According to John Stone’s Blog at TVGuide.com, Claudia Black will be appearing in the premiere of NBC’s new dramatic series Life as Jennifer Conover, the remarried ex-wife of the show’s main character, Charlie Crews, played by Damian Lewis. NBC’s description of the show:

Meet Detective Charlie Crews. Behind him sit tough years of hard prison time for a crime he didn’t commit. Ahead of him lie the challenges of a world that’s moved on without him. Now it’s time to walk through the painful cobwebs of his past and re-enter the scorn-filled halls of a job he loves. It’s no easy task, especially when his reluctant new partner is as jaded as Dani Reese. Charlie’s appreciation for life’s details not only offers up unique insights into each crime, it reminds us of all the little things we take for granted.

Claudia is not mentioned as part of the regular cast, and according to The Futon Critic, her appearance in the first episode is incredibly brief, but there’s always a possibility that she’ll be playing a recurring character on the new show. Life is scheduled to premiere Wednesday, September 26, at 10pm Eastern on NBC (see NBC’s Fall Preview webpage for more information).

Beau Bridges

Beau Bridges filmed a pilot for FOX entitled Two Families, but the half-hour comedy was not picked up for the fall schedule. Beau plays a recurring role in the half-hour comedy, My Name Is Earl, which is shown on Thursdays at 8pm Eastern on NBC. In the upcoming season, Beau has been contacted to reappear as Earl’s father, as he mentioned along with his other project recently in an interview with The Scifi World (Stargate spoilers therein):

Well, I’ve done a number of these “My Name is Earl” shows. I play Earl’s father. It’s a half-hour comedy. And I’ll be doing some more of those. I have a movie coming out that I did with Misha Barton, called Don’t Fade Away. It’s about a father who is dying and his relationship with his son. And Misha plays my son’s girlfriend.

Beau can also be seen in the George Clooney movie The Good German.

Michael Shanks

Michael Shanks closed out his TVGuide.com Blog on June 21 as Stargate SG-1 ended its TV run on the Sci Fi Channel on June 22. Since that time, he’s been mentioned in various press articles and has been the subject of interviews in recent sci-fi magazines.

Look for his picture on the cover of Cult Times #142 (July 2007), as well as for an excerpt from his interview entitled “So Long and Shanks” at the magazine’s website. Included in the interview not published in the excerpt, Michael talks about his Sci Fi Channel movie Mega Snake, currently scheduled for its premiere on Saturday, August 25, at 9pm Eastern.

“Oddly enough, it is about a large snake,” he chuckles. “It could be a porn film. I need to clarify that every now and again. Apparently they’ve lost their imagination when it comes to titles; I always hoped that was a working title. It is about a giant snake and I play a paramedic in an Appalachian town who is forced to deal with this large snake running amuck.”

In Issue 17 of the Official Magazine (SG-1 Yearbook), Michael talks about taking time to be with his family, “I’m going to get to know the little pint sized things that live in my house, that I haven’t got to know — I’m going to be a dad for a while! I’m so ready for some family time and some ‘me’ time.”

Michael also is working with Christopher Judge in producing and starring in the pilot Rage of Angels, but there’s been no more new information about how that is going. And their production company’s “The Men of Sci Fi Calendar” appears to be on hold, awaiting their availability.

Look for Michael to appear at the Comic Con in San Diego on the Stargate: The Ark of Truth panel on Friday, July 27.

Browder Farewell Video and More at Scifi.com

Scifi.com continues their tribute to the end of SG-1 as a series at their countdown site. On their “Best Episode” poll, the top 4 were: Shades of Grey, Window of Opportunity, Lost City Part 2, and Abyss. As it so often does, Window of Opportunity took the top honors. The site continues with other contests, such as “Top 10 Moments,” and it’s clear whoever chose those candidates is knowledgeable viewer of SG-1!

In the cast farewells area, video goodbyes from Amanda Tapping and Ben Browder are now up. Tapping talks about her favorite scenes and the evolution of Carter into a warm, well-rounded, fun person. She likes it when Carter makes mistakes, as long as they are honest mistakes. A main thing she learned working on the show was to not compromise yourself. “Nobody’s gonna think you’re a bitch as long as you’re being honest.”

Browder said the moment that best reflects Mitchell was in Camelot when he nearly passed out in the mud from exhaustion. Mitchell is someone who pushes past the edge, although he is learning to dial it back somewhat. He talked about how acquaintances still only know SG-1 as “McGyver’s show”. He said Mitchell will “get his ass whooped” in the first movie and gets to do interesting stuff in the second. He compared Crichton to Mitchell and noted that Mitchell does not have a private life that it more important than his job. Browder seems to enjoy the crazy stuff he gets to do on set.

All of the farewell videos are worth a look if you have a high-speed connection!

Sci Fi Wire: Browder Froze In "Continuum"

SCI FI WIRE talked with Stargate SG-1 star Ben Browder last week in Vancouver, and the actor shared some of his experiences filming in the Arctic for the direct-to-DVD movie Stargate: Continuum.

Browder’s adventurous spirit comes through in his relating of what it was like to share a “plywood box” with other men in the crew, including co-star Richard Dean Anderson: “Me and Martin [Wood] and Richard Dean Anderson and the naval captain of the base and a guy who works for the CIA were in this plywood hut, stacked on bunk beds in sleeping bags, and the bathroom facilities were two port-a-potties. At 35 below [zero], a port-a-potty is an interesting experience.”

Although the experience in the Arctic was full of fun, there were also serious dangers: extremely low temperatures and polar bears. Browder relates how he had to use a flashlight before ever leaving his hut at night, “To look for eyes. You’re looking for polar bears. Polar bears are a real threat up there. They are the top of the food chain, they eat people, and they can outrun you. When they come to town, they’re looking for food, because no one’s outside. We were all inside, huddled up, because it’s 50 below outside.”

Read the rest of Browder’s interview at SCI FI WIRE.

Canada's "The Province" Visits the Stargates

Reporters were invited to Bridge Studios last week and were given a tour of the sets for Stargate SG-1 and Stargate Atlantis. Several of the actors from both shows also got some time in with the reporters, and the some of the cast of SG-1 shared what they’ll be doing now that the two movies have completed filming.

Stargate secrets revealed at last

In this article by Frank ‘Teal’c’ Luba, readers are given a brief description of the various departments and sets involved with the shows’ production. Of course, the tour began in the ‘Gate Room at Stargate Command, and then proceeded through General Landry’s office (decorated with Beau Bridges’ family photos), Atlantis’ Gate Room, puddle jumpers, and the set for Stargate: Continuum (spoilery comments, so beware!). Luba also visits the in-house special effects, set decoration, and props departments.

Luba also mentions Andee Frizzell while she’s being made to look like a Wraith Queen, Jason Momoa as he plays his electric guitar in his trailer, and Joe Flanigan as he zooms by on his skateboard.

Visit Canada.com for the full story.

Stargate cast members ready for new portals

In this article, Frank Luba shares some of his time with the cast of Stargate SG-1 and determines what each will be doing after the filming of Stargate: Continuum completes:

  • Amanda Tapping – She’s now a regular cast member of Stargate Atlantis and comments on the pressure she feels to continue the franchise.
  • Christopher Judge and Michael Shanks – Judge has written a pilot for MGM called “Rage of Angels” that is about “Archangel Michael dying on Earth” and in which Shanks will play Lucifer. There’s the possiblity that the pilot will be shot in British Columbia.
  • Ben Browder – He plans to spend more time with his family after only seeing them for 15 hours during the last five weeks. He might be coaching football and high school pole vault.

As far as Stargate Atlantis stars go, David Hewlett is writing a movie script called “Design of the Dead”, and Luba comments on how the writers cleverly worked around Rachel Luttrell’s pregnancy.

To read the complete article, visit Canada.com.

[Thanks to PG15 for the tip.]

SG-1 Spoilers: Browder on Continuum

Browder talks about working with Richard Dean Anderson

Stargate: Continuum, the second of SG-1’s direct-to-DVD movies, is currently filming in a very unique location. Several press releases have talked about this location, but in the interest of those who are trying to avoid spoilers, here’s a fair warning that this article contains them! 🙂

Details

Ben Browder attended the Sci Fi Channel’s Upfront Press Party held on March 21 in New York City as a representative of Stargate SG-1 and the franchise. This was the first year that Sci Fi had actors from their original programming present at the event. Photographer Peter Kramer of Getty Images captured Browder for some individual photographs that show off his non-Air Force length hair.

Browder might need the extra protection of his longer hair style in the cold of the Arctic as he films scenes for Continuum with Richard Dean Anderson (Gen. Jack O’Neill) and Amanda Tapping (Lt. Col. Samantha Carter) from March 23 through March 29. Their camp will call for very close quarters, the sharing of “hooches” with others of the crew, including Anderson himself. Browder said that he’ll be returning with lots of “Rick stories.”

To read more about Browder’s time at the Party and his trip to the Arctic, visit Multichannel News: Dear Ben Browder: Wear Many Layers

[Thanks to ShardsofGlass for the info.]

Big Update to Interviews Pages

Here’s a big update to our interviews pages, with excerpts of recent magazine interviews.

Richard Dean Anderson

Claudia Black

Beau Bridges

Ben Browder

Chris Judge

Michael Shanks

Amanda Tapping

We’ve also added some links to external on-line interviews to the respective interview main pages.

Cast Reacts to Cancellation News on HypaSpace

Canada’s HypaSpace program on Space Channel aired a nice segment on the cast and crew’s reaction to SG-1 not being renewed by Sci Fi for an 11th season. Interviewed are Michael Shanks, Chris Judge, Ben Browder, Claudia Black, and Peter DeLuise. Interspersed with the interviews are scenes from filming a Season 10 episode that are quite amusing. BenBrowderPortal.com has the video up for downloading (it’s 32MB) — download Hypaspace video here.

Here is a transcript of the interview portions, courtesy of Biblio on AlphaGate:

HypaSpace host:

And speaking of sucking, it really sucked this week for Stargate SG-1 fans when the SciFi Channel announced that there wouldn’t be an eleventh season, and that the episodes currently shooting in Vancouver would be the last. Our HypaSpace crew were on the set this week for the 10th Anniversary celebration and talked to the cast and crew about the decision to pull the plug.

Michael Shanks [Daniel Jackson]

We found out a little bit earlier than the public did, obviously, that the show had been cancelled, and it’s hard to be really terribly upset. You know, cancelled is a really weird word, it’s not – we haven’t been cancelled, that kinda means ‘pull the plug and go home’. This this means we’re not getting renewed and it’s been one of those things that’s been on everybody’s mind for years and years and it’s…the fact it’s reality is just something we have to deal with, and I think we’ve really had a wonderful run, so it’s hard to be terribly sad and upset about it.”

Chris Judge [Teal’c]

What recent announcement? Ohhh, that one? You mean the one that has the internet? You mean the announcement that has the internet all a-buzz. You know it. I believe that the ending of our relationship with the SciFi Network, I think is just that. It’s the ending of doing original episodes for SciFi. We are fortunate that we do have a person at the studio – Charlie Cohen – who is a very innovative thinker, a progressive thinker, so between he, Brad [Wright] and Rob [Cooper] I am confident that they have other machinations of SG-1 in the works, and the Stargate franchise as a whole. So just because our relationship has ended with SciFi, that’s not necessarily the end for SG-1 and I know it’s not the end of the Stargate franchise. So, you know, don’t fret, you may be forced to watch us for more years to come.

Claudia Black [Vala Mal Doran]

I’m not surprised, I think personally that ten years is an extraordinary achievement. I don’t know how the writers, apart from bringing in new characters, I don’t know how you can continue to tell new stories in the same environment with the same people. People’s lives don’t change unless you go through a massive sea change, so I think as a show it would have had to have undergone some kind of major change eventually, and maybe it was occurring with me and Ben and Beau arriving on the show. And it always comes down to economics. I understand. I’ve been down that road before. I was on another little show called Farscape and it’s, you know, 90% business, 10% show.

Ben Browder [Cameron Mitchell]

The immediate thing is, when a show is cancelled, is the disappointment, the fact that you’re not going to be seeing these people you’ve enjoyed being with for all those years. You’re not going to see them on a daily basis, and you have to go out and look for work and… But, you know, given the fact that SG-1 went for ten years and is record-setting in that regard, I think you have to walk away when you’ve been cancelled with great dignity and say “we had a great run”. All the people who did this had a great run. So with class, dignity and grace, you take your bow. All good things come to an end and… this is one of them.

Peter DeLuise [Writer, director, producer, actor]

I’ve directed about sixty episodes, or so… I think maybe even slightly more than that. I’ve kind of lost track. But, I’ve learned so much about directing and visual effects, and diplomacy, and writing and producing that I really do feel blessed. I feel like I’ve been paid to learn, and some of the people that have been on the show since the beginning, even more than me, they have this decade of memories and friendships that they’ve made. I’m pretty sure that all the people I hang on the weekends with are all of the people I hang out with week days, which is strange because I don’t really have a life outside Stargate, so now that it’s coming to a close, I don’t know what I’m going to do with myself. I sound really depressing.

Claudia Black [Vala Mal Doran]

I would like to say to the fans of the show that were it not for you the show would not have gone for ten years. And I know right now that you’re probably sad to hear that Season Ten will be, at this stage, the last season. You should be really proud that you’ve been part of it, and a major reason why you’ve had this show for so long.

Chris Judge [Teal’c]

I really would like to thank the fans for, in all sincerity, for ten years of a wonderful, outrageous, rabid support and with the announcement that I’m sure you all heard very recently, that outpouring of love and support continues, and it’s not taken for granted. It’s taken very seriously, it’s taken to heart, and we feed on it, and it strengthens us and I truly, truly, truly would like to say thank you.

2006 SyFy Portal Genre Award Nominations

Nominations

BEST ACTOR/Television
Ben Browder, “Stargate SG-1”
Christopher Eccleston, “Doctor Who”
Nathan Fillion, “Firefly”
Matthew Fox, “Lost”
Edward James Olmos, “Battlestar Galactica”

BEST ACTRESS/Television
Caroline Dhavernas, “Wonderfalls”
Jennifer Love Hewitt, “Ghost Whisperer”
Evangeline Lilly, “Lost”
Mary McDonnell, “Battlestar Galactica”
Billie Piper, “Doctor Who”

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR/Television
Adam Baldwin, “Firefly”
Jamie Bamber, “Battlestar Galactica”
James Callis, “Battlestar Galactica”
Terry O’Quinn, “Lost”
Michael Shanks, “Stargate SG-1”

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS/Television
Amy Acker, “Alias”
Tricia Helfer, “Battlestar Galactica”
Rachel Luttrell, “Stargate: Atlantis”
Grace Park, “Battlestar Galactica”
Katee Sackhoff, “Battlestar Galactica”

BEST ACTOR/Movie
Christian Bale, “Batman Begins”
Nathan Fillion, “Serenity”
Daniel Radcliffe, “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire”
Mickey Rourke, “Sin City”
Hugo Weaving, “V for Vendetta”

BEST ACTRESS/Movie
Zooey Deschanel, “Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy”
Summer Glau, “Serenity”
Natalie Portman, “V for Vendetta”
Gina Torres, “Serenity”
Emma Watson, “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire”

BEST YOUNG ACTOR
Dakota Fanning, “War of the Worlds”
Carter Jenkins, “Surface”
Malcolm David Kelly, “Lost”
Daniel Radcliffe, “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire”
Emma Watson, “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire”

BEST WEB SITE
Bloody Disgusting
GateWorld
Kryptonsite
SciFi Wire
Whedonesque

BEST SPECIAL GUEST/Television
Claudia Black, “Avalon, Part 1,” Stargate SG-1
Michelle Forbes, “Pegasus,” Battlestar Galactica
Kelsey Grammer, “Death Takes a Holiday,” Medium
Christina Hendricks, “Trash,” Firefly
Connor Trinneer, “Michael,” Stargate: Atlantis

BEST EPISODE/Television
“Dalek,” Doctor Who
“Downloaded,” Battlestar Galactica
“Lay Down Your Burdens, Part 2,” Battlestar Galactica
“Scar,” Battlestar Galactica
“Trash,” Firefly

BEST SERIES/Television
Battlestar Galactica
Doctor Who
Firefly
Lost
Wonderfalls

BEST MOVIE
Batman Begins
Chronicles of Narnia
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Serenity
V for Vendetta

GENE RODDENBERRY LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARDJ.J. Abrams, producer/writer
Gene Coon, producer
Dan Curtis, producer
Stan Lee, comic book creator
Ronald D. Moore, producer/writer
William Shatner, actor

http://www.syfyportal.com/

From Mike at SyFy Portal

Hello, everyone!

This is very unfortunate because we cannot post this on our own site since we’re still trying to recover from the hack, but I’m releasing the SyFy Genre Awards nominees for 2006.

Please note that the voting is expected to start June 25 and last until July 25. However, because of the site hack and the fact that our programmer Leigh Ashton has been concentrating on getting us back online instead of devoting time he had scheduled to get the nomination forms up, a possibility remains that we may have to delay the start of voting.

I can assure you that Leigh is working very hard around the clock to try and get everything back up among all the other things that also have him occupied on his schedule. We know he will do his very best to get this back up.

This was going to come with some trivia notes about the Genre Awards and such, which we included in our all-staff posting. However, in trying to correct the hack, we did a system restore, which cost us several message board posts, including that one. So, I apologize for the lack of trivia.

We will keep everyone updated on when voting begins. But in the meantime, spread the news far and wide who’s been nominated!

For more details on the SyFy Genre Awards including past winners, click here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SyFy_Genre_Awards

[Thanks to Sueb45 for posting at Our Stargate.]

Entertainment Weekly Covers SG-1

Entertainment Weekly has published a short article on Stargate: SG-1 and its upcoming Season 10 premiere in its Summer TV Special. Pictured are Amanda Tapping and Ben Browder.

The author confuses episode 10.06 “200” with the season premiere, but in any event describes one part of the episode:

This season’s premiere practically plays like an SNL skit–one series of scenes has SG-1 members portrayed by marionette puppets as they flash back to alternate realities. “There’s been a number of Wizard the Oz references over the years,” says executive producer Robert Cooper. “We have a sequence that pays tribute.”

The perennial ship question was also discussed:

One hotly debated topic: whether Carter and Maj. Gen. “Jack” O’Neill (Richard Dean Anderson, known to most of the world as MacGyver, is back this season for a few episodes) should meld minds. “It’s a huge issue,” says Tapping. “I don’t want to be just pining away for the lead guy.” Anderson agrees: “I think there’s something sort of rewarding about them maintaining the friendship and comradeship.”

To see a scan of the article, visit BenBrowderPortal.com.