News, spoilers and updates in the Stargate world
The 2005 Stargate Fan Awards, for fan fiction and other fan endeavors, have been announced. You can see them here. We’re so pleased to see that our sister site, The AlphaGate Archive has won for best fan fiction archive.
Many congratulations to all of the nominees and winners for contributing to a vibrant and amazingly creative fandom for Stargate SG-1 and Stargate Atlantis!
As reported at Gateworld, Diamond Select Toys and Collectibles and MGM have signed a licensing deal for the company to create the first action figures based on the characters of Stargate SG-1 and Stargate Atlantis. The figures will be 7-inches in height and will reportedly feature the main characters of both series. Individual figures will sell for about $15 (US).
There is no word yet on when the figures will become available, but it is welcome news to fans of all ages that the shows will finally have merchandise that other shows produce far earlier in their lives as series!
In addition to the shortened version of “Threads”, fans in North America have been stunned to learn that the five-disk US/Canada (DVD Region 1) box sets for Stargate: SG-1 Season 8 offer much less in the way of special features than the six-disk sets offered in Europe in the DVD Region 2 zone (DVD’s are released with different region codes for different parts of the world).
Here is a breakdown of extras for the North American Region 1 box set now on sale:
Disk 1 Extras:
Disk 2 Extras:
Disk 3 Extras:
Disk 4 Extras:
Disk 5 Extras:
In contrast, the European box sets, such as the BeNeLux Silver Box Set version offered in Belgium, The Netherlands, and Luxemburg, offer these additional features:
European Features
The BeNeLux set does not offer audio commentaries for “It’s Good to be King”, “Citizen Joe”, or like Region 1, “Threads”. It’s not known why this is the case.
While the European box set is not offered at US retailers, there is nothing to prevent North Americans from buying it on-line. For example, the site below offers the BeNeLux version for $55 (US dollars) including shipping to the US:
These DVD’s have a choice of English menus and the original English audio tracks as well as other language choices.
The main caveat for US customers is that you must have a multi-region or region-free DVD player with PAL encoding, or the disks will not play. Such players are typically available on-line for reasonable prices. For more information, go to DVD Hacks. Or simply google “region free DVD player’ to find vendors.
In addition, most US PC’s have DVD players that will only allow you to switch regions a limited number of times. You can get around this limitation by purchasing and installing the software DVD Region Free, available here.
We live in hope that MGM/Sony will come to their senses and offer an additional S8 DVD with the missing extras and the full version of Threads. If not, then consumers do have other choices.
This information was collated from various posts on Our Stargate, sg1_spoilme, and Gateworld. Thanks to all who have provided this information.
We’ve posted excerpts from the July 2005 TV Zone Special #64 interviews with Robert Cooper, Chris Judge, and Amanda Tapping. Check out their early feelings about Season 9 here:
Nine Lives: Robert Cooper
You Be The Judge: Christopher Judge
Maternal Instinct: Amanda Tapping
Enjoy!
The SCI FI Channel reported today that they had their best 3rd quarter (Summer) ratings ever. The Friday line-up of Stargate: SG-1, Stargate Atlantis, and Battlestar Galactica made the channel the number one cable channel for persons aged 18-49 and persons aged 25-54 on Friday nights. In the latter group it had higher ratings even than the WB and UPN networks.
In terms of ratings growth, while the channel did not specify the growth versus the Summer of 2004 for Friday nights, its overall ratings grew by 11% for persons 25-54, 12% for persons 18-49, and 12% for persons 18-34. The growth was much higher for Wednesday nights than these overall numbers.
Networks measure their ratings for various age groups because advertisers often want to target specific demographics. The younger demographics are the ones ‘coveted’ by advertisers.
Here is the full press release, courtesy of Mary McNamara on the Our Stargate Forum:
SCI FI BEATS THE HEAT WITH BEST 3RD QUARTER EVER
#1 Cable Net on Friday Nights
Triple-Digit Increases in Key Demos on Wednesday Nights
Best September on Record
New York, NY (September 27, 2005) – SCI FI blazed a ratings trail this summer, giving the Channel its best third quarter ever. Its SCI FI Friday block of originals cemented the Channel as the #1 cable destination on Friday nights among P18-49 and P25-54 for the entire quarter – averaging more P25-54s than even the WB or UPN. The SCI FI Wednesday block of alternative reality series also scored for SCI FI, delivering double and triple-digit increases among young adults. The Channel’s Saturday action movie franchise added to the ratings bonanza with Pterodactyl (August 27), which devoured over 3.1 million viewers and became the highest-rated original movie in SCI FI history.
SCI FI’s total day (M-Su 6am-6am) for 3Q05 saw an 11% increase in P25-54, a 12% increase in P18-49 and a 12% jump in P18-34 versus 3Q04.
Other 3Q05 highlights for primetime (M-Su 8pm-11pm) include:
SCI FI owned Friday nights during 3Q05, becoming the #1 cable network on Fridays among P18-49 and P25-54. The strength of the SCI FI Friday franchise was proven with its recent summer finales. In spite of stiff competition from network premieres, the Stargate SG-1 finale (Sept. 16 @ 8-10pm) and a new episode of Battlestar (Sept. 16 @ 10pm) were Top 2 cable entertainment programs among P25-54 that night. A week later, the summer finale of Battlestar Galactica (Sept. 23 @ 10pm) drew 2.3 million viewers and became the #1 entertainment program on cable for the night among P25-54 – it was also the only non-news program to finish within cable’s Top 10 among that demo.
Some of SCI FI’s greatest third quarter gains were made on Wednesday nights. The SCI FI Wednesday lineup, led by Ghost Hunters, gave the Channel double and triple digit increases in key demos versus the previous year.
SCI FI also had its best September ever. Averaging a 1.0 HH rating, the Channel was up +17% among P18-49, +12% among P25-54 and +19% among P18-34. SCI FI ranked within the Top 10 cable networks for primetime for both ratings and delivery among P25-54, and P18-49. It also scored double-digit increases among M18-34 (+28%), M18-49 (+20%) and M25-54 (+11%) vs. September ’04. During September, SCI FI Wednesdays grew +102% among P18-34, +112% among M18-34 and 90% among F18-34.
SCI FI Channel is a television network where “what if” is what’s on. SCI FI fuels the imagination of viewers with original series and events, blockbuster movies and classic science fiction and fantasy programming, as well as a dynamic Web site (www.scifi.com
From the Sci Fi Channel Bulletin Board:
Help Sci Fi Magazine Interview the Stars of Stargate
Next issue, the editors of Sci Fi Magazine are giving you a chance to interview the stars and crew of Stargate SG-1 and Stargate: Atlantis. You ask the questions, we’ll get the answers. If you want to participate, simply add your question to the thread. Please let us know who you want us to submit the question to as well as what the question is. The more specific, the better. We’ll select the best questions and print them along with answers in our next issue.
The SG-1 thread for questions is here: SG-1 Q&A Thread
The SG Atlantis thread for questions is here: SGA Q&A Thread
Registration for the forum is required to post, but it’s free and simple. So go forth and ask some good questions!
9.20 CAMELOT PART 2
Summary
SG-1 travels to a medieval village on an alien planet in search of Merlin’s Ancient weapon. The village is known as Camelot, and the legend of King Arthur is alive and well there, complete with a library known to belong to Merlin. The team knows they need to get into the library, but according to the local legend, it is guarded by a Black Knight. Anyone who enters will die.
Details
SG-1 discusses the legend Arthur with Meurik, the governor of the medieval village, Camelot. Meurik is surprised to learn that the legend of Arthur has spread beyond their world. They are joined by Antonius, the village historian. The team learns from them that in their version of history, Arthur triumphed at Camlan rather than being mortally wounded by Mordred as in the Earth version. The villagers believe that Arthur left after his victory to search for the Holy Grail, and that when he finds it, he will return to them. Meurik also believes that the Ori are not a risk to their village.
According to the villagers, Merlin was the product of a human and a demon and therefore was capable of much mischief in spite of being Arthur’s trusted friend.
Antonius tells SG-1 that Merlin left behind a library, his private sanctuary. However it is protected by a powerful curse and a guardian: a black knight.
SG-1 learns about a key to the library from Valencia, a teenage girl who is an excellent swordsman. Once they know about the key, SG-1 is able to convince Antonius to help them get into the library, where they find a secret passageway behind a shelf of books. The passageway leads to a chamber with Ancient technology. However, the black knight has been awakened and must be dealt with.
Guest Characters
Camelot: Meurik, Valencia, Antonius
Production
Written by: Joseph Mallozzi and Paul Mullie
Directed by: Martin Wood
Before Cameras: 28 September – 6 October
We’ve posted excerpts from recent magazine interviews by Ben Browder and Amanda Tapping. They both make for fun and interesting reading! Check them out here:
Joe Mallozzi said in his most recent Gateworld blog entry that Season 10 of SG-1 and Season 3 of Atlantis are not at all confirmed:
“Contrary to the rumors, we have yet to hear word on the fate of either show – either from confirmed or uncomfirmed sources.”
He later said, in reference to the Season 9 cliffhanger now being readied for filming: “All I’ve got to say is – if there is no next season, there’ll be some major loose ends left dangling.”
How ironic would it be if, after several previous season finales tying up loose plot ends in anticipation of the end of the show, SG-1 actually did end forever with a cliffhanger?! We fervently hope this is not the case.
The Stargate: SG-1 catchphrase “It’s what we do” was ranked #6 in the list of top ten TV buzzwords for the year by the California-based Global Language Monitor. For the complete press release go here.
Excerpt:
The Television Buzzword List (TeleWORDS) for the 2004-’05 Season is released in conjunction with the 57th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, to be televised live on CBS on Sunday, September 18th from the Leonard H. Goldstein Theatre in North Hollywood. The complete list, with commentary, follows.
The Top TeleWORDS of the 2004-05 Television Season
TeleWORDS / Show / Comment
1. Refugee
Show: Ongoing coverage of the aftermath of the devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina.
Comment: For millions, the word has now taken on a racial undertone and was subsequently replaced by ‘evacuee’ and others.
Runners-up: Evacuee, displaced persons, Katrinees?
2. Desperation
Show: ‘Desperate Housewives’/The Tsunami/Hurricane Katrina
Comment: Desperate Housewives’ began the television year in good fun, but as the year progressed the world witnessed an on-going war, a tsunami, the death of a beloved Pope, and finally unanswered death and despair on the American Gulf Coast.
3. Camp Cupcake
Show: The On-going Martha Stewart follies
Comment: The minimum security WV facility where Martha did her time.
Runner-Up: Ankle Bracelet
4. Reality TV
Show: ‘The Real World’, ‘The Bachelor’, ‘Survivor Classic’, ‘The Simple Life’, etc.
Comment: Real-world reality bested the manufactured kind by a long shot this television season.
5. Curmudgeon
Show: House
Comment: Acerbic, caustic, antisocial, & mean-spirited; those are socially redeeming qualities of this brilliant physician.
6. “It’s what we do.”
Show: Stargate SG-1
Comment: Stargate becomes the longest running Sci-Fi Series in the history of the medium.
7. Flip Flop
Show: The 2004 U.S. Presidential Elections
Comment: Formerly referred to gymnastic routines, pancakes, and dolphin acts; now transcends politics moving into pop culture.
8. Backstory
Show: ‘Lost’
Comment: ‘Lost’ takes ‘the story behind the story’ concept to the next level.
9. Tsunami
Show: The News
Comment: Before “The Tsunami” took a quarter of a million South Asian lives, most of the viewing audience had only a vague acquaintance with the word.
10. Mobisodes (Not another season of the Sopranos, but one-minute TV episodes designed specifically for mobile media.)
Show: Every ‘hip’ show worldwide.
Comment: Coming soon to a cell phone near you.
Thanks to Elyse at Yahoo! group sg1_spoilme for the tip.