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Shape up or ship out

E!Online reports that “Star Trek: Enterprise” is going where no Star Trek series has gone before: into an early demise. It’s the first Star Trek spin-off that hasn’t had seven seasons on air.

UPN and Paramount announced Wednesday that Enterprise will be phased out in May after four underwhelming seasons. Arguably of even more significance was what was not announced: Another new Trek series.

If Paramount doesn’t come up with a Starfleet-staffed show for the fall, and there is no indication one is the offing, it’ll be the first time in a decade that an outgoing Trek series has not replaced by an incoming Trek series.

Couple that with the franchise’s space-docked big-screen program, and Star Trek, in the words of one Federation expert, “may have run its course.”

“We believe in the show creatively, but the ratings just weren’t there,” a UPN spokeswoman said Wednesday.

Reportedly ordered to shape up or ship out last spring, Enterprise is averaging 2.9 million viewers on Friday nights this season. Of late, the show has dipped so low–2.5 million for last week’s episode–that it’s being matched, sometimes even surpassed, in its time slot by Sci-Fi Channel’s Stargate SG-1.

Ironically, Enterprise’s Jolene Blalock has guest-starred on Stargate SG-1 as the leader of the Ha’ktyl warriors and Teal’c’s love interest Ishta.

This is good news for Stargate SG-1 fans, particularly with all the cast changes to come in Season 9, but we can all feel for the fans of Enterprise, losing their show.

E!Online An Enterprise Lost article

UK ratings update to 18 Jan 05

The official UK rating for “Citizen Joe” have been published.

Stargate SG-1 ratings
05/10: 0.94m viewers, placed 3rd (New Order Part 1)
12/10: 1.19m viewers, placed 2nd (New Order Part 2)
19/10: 1.00m viewers, placed 2nd (Lockdown)
26/10: 1.03m viewers, placed 3rd (Zero Hour)
02/11: 0.92m viewers, placed 2nd (Icon)
09/11: 0.88m viewers, placed 5th (Avatar)
16/11: 0.93m viewers, placed 4th (Affinity)
23/11: 0.89m viewers, placed 4th (Covenant)
30/11: 0.82m viewers, placed 5th (Sacrifices)
07/12: 0.80m viewers, placed 8th (End Game)
14/12: 0.80m viewers, placed 6th (Gemini)
21/12: 0.74m viewers, placed 3rd (Prometheus Unbound)
04/01: 0.68m viewers, placed 4th (It’s Good To Be King)
11/01: 0.79m viewers, placed 3rd (Full Alert)
18/01: 0.71m viewers, placed 5th (Citizen Joe)

Atlantis ratings
12/10: 1.28m viewers, placed 1st (Rising Part 1)
19/10: 0.99m viewers, placed 3rd (Rising Part 2)
26/10: 0.97m viewers, placed 4th (Hide and Seek)
02/11: 0.86m viewers, placed 4th (Thirty-Eight Minutes)
09/11: 0.76m viewers, placed 10th (Suspicion)
16/11: 0.86m viewers, placed 6th (Childhood’s End)
23/11: 0.73m viewers, placed 9th (Poisoning the Well)
30/11: less than 0.72m viewers, not in top 10 (Underground)
07/12: less than 0.78m viewers, not in top 10 (Home)
14/12: less than 0.76m viewers, not in top 10 (The Storm)
21/12: 0.71m viewers, placed 4th (The Eye)
04/01: 0.65m viewers, placed 5th (The Defiant One)
11/01: 0.72m viewers, placed 6th (Sanctuary)
18/01: less than 0.64m viewers, not in top 10 (Hot Zone)

Richard Dean Anderson update

Anderson’s Commitment
Dreamwatch #126, February 2005

The addition of Ben Browder to the Stargate SG-1 cast reflects the smaller role set to be played by Richard Dean Anderson. “His character [Jack O’Neill] is going to remain very much alive in the Stargate universe,” says Robert Cooper [Executive Producer]. “He is going to be integral in commanding what goes on at the SGC.”

Reports have suggested that Anderson may return for just four episodes in Season 9, but negotiations are ongoing.

“We are very hopeful that Rick is going to agree to participate in a number of episodes,” reports Cooper. “But I have no idea as to how many or when that will be resolved.”

Farscape producers wish Ben Browder well

Rockne S. O’Bannon, Farscape creator/executive producer

“That’s great news for Stargate. When I heard about it, my first question to Ben was: ‘Exactly how many fan conventions do you think you can do in a year, anyway?’ For the record, though, the first time Ben’s character uses the word ‘Frell,’ my lawyers are going to be all over his ass!”

David Kemper, Farscape executive producer

“When Ben told me about his new role, three things sprang simultaneously to mind, all being mutually compatible. One: the wonderful folks at Stargate are getting one hell of a talented actor. Two: Ben is joining an exceptional show that should afford him plenty of chances to spread his wings and captivate everyone who watches. Three: the fans win all around.”

“I am, however, troubled that he insists on gaining 100lbs to play the part. I keep thinking that when they said he’d be a ‘military heavyweight’ in the show, they had something else in mind…Maybe I’m wrong. Either way, I’ll be watching.”

Richard Manning, Farscape co-executive producer

“I’m delighted – Ben’s got steady work. This is always something to celebrate: doubly so for someone as talented as Ben… It’s a shame any time he’s not working.”

David Bassom, Dreamwatch #126, February 2005

Prometheus Unbound ratings

SCI FI Friday (Jan. 28 @ 8-11pm)– the biggest night of sci-fi on television — continues to build.

SCI FI Channel took the #1 spot in cable for the 3rd consecutive Friday prime time (8-11pm) among P25-54 and M25-54, and came in #2 among P18-49. SCI FI also had the Top 3 programs of the day in cable for M25-54: Battlestar Galactica (1.5 million), Stargate Atlantis (1.3 million) and Stargate SG-1 (1.1 million).

Here’s a breakdown of the night.

8pm STARGATE SG-1
Boosted by the appearance of special guest star Claudia Black (Farscape), SG-1 beat Star Trek Enterprise in head-to-head competition, with more overall viewers. SG-1 delivered:

2.1 HH rating
2.5 million P2+
1.7 million P25-54
1.3 million P18-49

Versus last week, SG-1 is up +6% in HH ratings, +3% in P2+, +10% in P25-54 and +2% in P18-49.

9pm STARGATE ATLANTIS

2.4 HH rating
2.9 million P2+
1.9 million P25-54
1.4 million P18-49

Versus last week, Atlantis is up +12% in HH ratings and +10% in P25-54.

10pm BATTLESTAR GALACTICA

2.5 HH rating
3.0 million P2+
2.1 million P25-54
1.7 million P18-49

Versus last week, Battlestar is up +8% in HH ratings, +6% in P2+ and +2% in P25-54.

Claudia Black on Shanks, Vala & S9

Welcome Black!
Cult Times #113, Feb 2005
Extract from an interview with Claudia Black by Thomasina Gibson

Asked how much fun it was to slap Michael Shanks around on the set of “Prometheus Unbound,” Claudia Black hoots with laughter and says, “You know what? He [Michael Shanks] was such a good sport. He really was and he came out with a lot of those original little beats and ad libs that made the whole thing such fun. Michael went in and blocked a lot of those scenes to his character’s detriment and he really was so generous with the scenes. He was really trying to find the best way to interpret each scene and we both trying to make the most of the scrupt because they wrote such a beautiful script and such a wonderful character for me. So Michael put in his own inclination to be playful. He was such a great sport about it [playing it for the gag]. It was fantastic.”

“One of the nicest things is that Vala just has a lot of potential. She is just a very interesting material character. I’ve never played anyone that unpredictable before. Vala is very like Chiana from Farscape in that she is amoral, and that is a really interesting arena in which to play.”

And what was her experience of filming? “They are an extremely happy crew on Stargate, so a lot of that first day tension recedes immediately when you’re welcomed by everyone as I was by them. I had had a very quick chat with Andy Mikita on the phone beforehand and loved him straight away. It was the same with Michael.”

Claudia Black has been invited back to fulfil a five-episode arc in Stargate’s staggering ninth season. Even better news if the fact that Ben Browder will also be joining the team. “I’m delighted for him,” announces his friend. “Delighted. I really don’t think they realise what a gem they have with him. He’s amazing. I am so delighted that they appreciate him enough to invite him on to the show because he gives his all.”

Is Black going to be working with her former Farscape co-star? “I think it would be too much of a delicious opportunity to ignore. I haven’t spoken to the producers about it since Ben officially came on board, althought I did see something online where Robert Cooper said something about if there was an opportunity to put us both together on screen they would take it. I would love it if it happened.”

“I think I’m only coming in for a short time and I really want to work with all the other directors because you learn so much working with different people but I really want to work with Andy again because he was just so gorgeous.” Black is looking forward to working with all the Stargate stalwarts, including Peter DeLuise – she’s a huge fan of 21 Jump Street – and that noted sweetheart Christopher Judge, whom she socialises with.

“Sadly,” says Black, “Although I have met Amanda Tapping, I don’t think I’m going to work with her because I think my function is to be there whilst she is attending to a very significant event in her life.” Tapping’s baby is due just as Season 9 goes into production.

You can buy Cult Times #113 online and read much, much more of this fantastic interview!

Michael Shanks welcomes Ben Browder

Shanks For The Memories
Dreamwatch #126, February 2005
Brief extract from the interview by Ian Spelling

In all his time in the sci-fi universe, Michael Shanks reports that he and Ben Browder have only crossed paths twice in the past.

“Claudia Black was on Stargate and she and I had many conversations about Ben,” he says. “The first time I met Ben and talked to him we’d run into each other at the airport. I do know that he’s got a great [drama] training background. We seem to have a common thought process about how you can squeeze artistic notions inside a sci-fi television show, and you could see that he was working towards that on his show [Farscape] before there was even a twinkle of him being on our show. I think he’ll bring great sensibilities.”

“I don’t know much about his work but I’ve heard it’s excellent. So I’ll look forward to that. He seems to be a team player in that regard as well. I’m looking forward to a really positive, artistic and cohesive team atmosphere.”

Buy Dreamwatch issue #126 from the UK

Chicago Tribune reviews Prometheus Unbound

Cast chemistry keeps `Stargate’ appealing
By Maureen Ryan
Tribune staff reporter

Some older TV shows — and we’re too kind to name names here — settle into a state of suspended mediocrity, puttering along and recycling old stories as they wait for someone to cancel them.

“Stargate SG-1,” which is in the middle of its eighth season, is not one of those. The episode airing at 7 p.m. Friday on Sci Fi is a treat, and it should be as much fun for “Farscape” lovers as for “SG-1” fans.

Claudia Black, the steely Aeryn Sun of Sci Fi’s canceled cult series “Farscape,” guests as Vala, a wily woman who manages to hijack a spaceship that belongs to Earth’s secret Stargate program, which battles various baddies across the universe. When not shooting at him or otherwise trying to take him down, Vala also attempts, with some success, to seduce “Stargate” scientist Daniel Jackson (Michael Shanks, at his bemused best).

Given the chemistry between Black and Shanks, things should get mighty interesting next season, when Black is set to appear in at least five episodes of “SG-1.” Not only will the delightfully devious Vala return, but Ben Browder, Black’s love interest on “Farscape,” joins the cast of “SG-1” next season as well. Is it any wonder that some sci-fi mavens have jokingly begun to refer to “SG-1” as “Fargate”?

The truth is, “Stargate SG-1” has always had a good measure of what made “Farscape” such fun: an irreverent attitude, a sprinkling of pop-culture references (watch for an amusing Han Solo mention) and a cast whose chemistry is almost palpable. And though the long-running program may not often show the wild inventiveness of “Farscape” at its best, clearly the “SG-1” producers know when to mix things up — heck, even the desk-bound Gen. Hammond (Don S. Davis) has some commando-style adventures on Friday’s episode.

Read the review at Chicago Tribune online
Discuss Prometheus Unbound at SG1Solutions Forum

EXCLUSIVE! Beau Bridges cast as SG-1's new general

A Solutions source has revealed that a new candidate has been given the role of the SGC’s commanding general for Season 9 of Stargate SG-1: Beau Bridges.

A Hollywood Walk Of Fame alumnus (2003, with his star next to those of father Lloyd and brother Jeff Bridges), the 63 year-old actor, director and producer Beau Bridges has had a long and critically acclaimed career in film and television. In film, he is best known for “The Fabulous Baker Boys” with brother Jeff and Michelle Pfeiffer, while sci-fi fans will recall his leading role in the two-hour “Outer Limits” episode ‘Sandkings’.

Bridges’ prestigious awards include an Emmy and a Golden Globe award for the 1992 TV movie “Without Warning: The James Brady Story;” an Emmy and a Golden Globe for 1993’s “The Positively True Adventures of the Alleged Texas Cheerleader-Murdering Mom;” an Emmy for the 1997 miniseries “The Second Civil War” and a National Society of Film Critics Award in 1989 for “The Fabulous Baker Boys.” He has been the recipient of countless other award nominations.

President of the environmental group “Ventura CoastKeeper” in his native California, recently Bridges has been working alongside Daniel Day-Lewis on the film “The Ballad of Jack and Rose,” which opens in March. He joins established stars Michael Shanks, Christopher Judge and Amanda Tapping, plus newcomers Ben Browder and Claudia Black for Stargate’s pivotal 9th season. As Stargate Command’s new general, Bridges will follow in the footsteps of fan favourite Don S. Davis who played General George Hammond in Seasons 1-7, and star Richard Dean Anderson, Brigadier General Jack O’Neill in Season 8. It’s not yet known if Bridges will be part of the regular cast or a recurring guest star.

Beau Bridges at IMDB
Beau Bridges at TV Tome
Discuss this article at SG1Solutions Forum
Vote in the SG1Solutions Poll: how do you feel about the casting of Beau Bridges?

UK ratings update to 11th Jan 05

The official UK rating for “Prometheus Unbound,” “It’s Good To Be King” and “Full Alert” have been published.

Stargate ratings
05/10: 0.94m viewers, placed 3rd (New Order Part 1)
12/10: 1.19m viewers, placed 2nd (New Order Part 2)
19/10: 1.00m viewers, placed 2nd (Lockdown)
26/10: 1.03m viewers, placed 3rd (Zero Hour)
02/11: 0.92m viewers, placed 2nd (Icon)
09/11: 0.88m viewers, placed 5 th (Avatar)
16/11: 0.93m viewers, placed 4 th (Affinity)
23/11: 0.89m viewers, placed 4 th (Covenant)
30/11: 0.82m viewers, placed 5 th (Sacrifices)
07/12: 0.80m viewers, placed 8 th (End Game)
14/12: 0.80m viewers, placed 6th (Gemini)
21/12: 0.74m viewers, placed 3rd (Prometheus Unbound)
04/01: 0.68m viewers, placed 4th (It’s Good To Be King)
11/01: 0.79m viewers, placed 3rd (Full Alert)