Category: SG-1

More tidbits on the Season 9 premiere three parter “Avalon” [Robert Cooper] from the appearance of Michael Shanks and Christopher Judge at this weekend’s Grand Slam Creation Convention:

At the beginning of S9, SG-1 is disbanded and everyone has gone their separate ways. Daniel is sporting a beard! In the first 5 episodes SG-1 doesn’t operate so much as a team, but do involve Lt. Col. Cameron Mitchell (Ben Browder), Daniel, Teal’c, and Vala (Claudia Black).

The Vala story arc will last for six episodes [rather than the originally estimated five] but Daniel and Vala, will probably not “get together” in the end.

There is likely to be a crossover story line between SG-1 and Atlantis at about midseason.

Until a grave event reunites them, except not all of them could come back, so Mitchell is put in place as the temporary commander of a newly-formed SG-1. Amanda Tapping, who plays Carter, is currently on maternity leave and is expected to be out of the show until mid-May.

Shanks said that Jack and Sam are not together in response to a question about the two having retired to marry.

Jack O’Neill is at Homeworld Security in D.C. It seems that the SGC has been downsized because of the defeats of the Goa’uld, Replicators, and Anubis.

We don’t know what triggers the reunion, but Vala [Claudia Black, Prometheus Unbound] is in the picture somehow.

Also, there is a female character named Sallis [April Telek] who appears in Parts 2 and 3 of the Season 9 three-part opener “Avalon”.

Lexa Doig is credited in the IMDB database entry on Stargate SG-1 with a guest appearance in the season premiere “Avalon” along with Claude Knowlton as another medical doctor. Her character is credited as CMO Landry [she is General Landry’s daughter] but writer and Executive Producer Joseph Mallozzi told fans that the character was called Dr. Carolyn Lam.

Click here for a complete convention report on the Pegasus Galaxy

The Site Admin at the online BBoard ‘A Galaxy Of Stars’ posted this news for Gary Jones fans on his official message board on 3rd March:

“Walter Harriman gets a promotion to CHIEF MASTER SERGEANT WALTER HARRIMAN!!!!

I hope you will all agree that this is great news, and may be it will mean we see more of Jonesy on-screen!!!!

Jonesy explained that he meets the new character played by Ben Browder in the gateroom and introduces himself as Chief Master Sergeant!”

And then on March 7th, Gary Jones himself confirmed the news:

“walterites:
yes, yes, yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! it’s true. i’m promoted. i’m now a CHIEF MASTER SERGEANT and i still have a name to attach to that: WALTER HARRIMAN.
i’m now in the scripts under: SGT. HARRIMAN, instead of what it used to say: TECHNICIAN.
it’s just great. and i have to tell you all that i’ve been working with ben browder and beau bridges and they’re AWESOME! i watched beau do a bunch of takes and i couldn’t take my eyes off the monitor. the guy is the smoothest. holy moley!
then get this, between takes, he sits down with me and goes, “so, gary, how do you see this relationship between the general and walter developing?” i was stunned. no-one has ever done that.
i think that fans are going to be very happy about the way things willdevelop at SGC. in fact, i’ve hardly sat at my computer these last couple of days. i’ve been up in the briefing room and doing all sorts of other stuff.
it’s going to be a great season, starting with MY PROMOTION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
cheers everyone,
jonesy”

A Galaxy of Stars Bboard

More spoilers from writer and Executive Producer Joseph Mallozzi, courtesy of Gateworld forum:

Q: My questions for you are, what was your favorite episode to write?

A: Honestly – my favorite episode to write was the last one I scripted, The Ties That Bind.

Q: Do you have a preferance in what type of stories you like to write, or what characters you like to write for?

A: I like to write scripts with at least some possibility for humor. As for characters I like to write for – Mitchell and Daniel were a blast to write for in the aforementioned episode.

Q: What is the most difficult part about writing for Stargate?

A: I’ve never been a fan of the “techy” episodes and find those particularly challenging to write.

Q: Will Carter’s new position take her off-world (e.g. working at the Alpha site or on the Prometheus or Deadalus?) or is it an earth-bound position?

A: When season 9 kicks off, Carter will be far, far away.

Q: We know Amanda will be back, but for the characters do they consider Sam’s new position to be permanent or temporary? IOW, will they be surprised when she returns?

A: They could be surprised but, honestly, after everything these guys have seen over the past 8 years, I doubt very much that anything surprises them anymore.

Q: When Sam returns, who will be in command of SG-1?

A: When she returns, Mitchell is leading SG-1. Do you mean who will be leading the team when she re-joins SG-1?

Q: I know I am in the minority here, but I like seeing Daniel in action mode, will we be seeing more of his fighting skills in season 9?

A: Season 9 = more of Daniel fighting, investigating, translating, studying, confronting, blowing his top, getting beat up – and then some.

In a post to Gateworld forum, writer and Excutive Producer Joseph Mallozzi had these Season 9 spoilers to share with fans:

“Well, we started shooting both shows this week and the dailies look great. We’re very excited about the stories we’re telling (and will be telling), and equally excited about the terrific job the casts of both shows are doing (both established and new faces).

Atlantis will kick things off with Siege III, written by Martin Gero, Directed by Martin Wood, and Produced by Brad Wright. The hive ships have arrived and Atlantis is up against it. How the heck will they get out of this one?

Provided the base is not obliterated at episode’s end, we’ll be moving on to Intruder, written by Paul Mullie and Joseph Mallozzi, Directed by Peter DeLuise, Produced by Paul Mullie and Joseph Mallozzi. The events of Siege III are going to have wide-raging effects, affecting both individuals and Atlantis as a whole – new faces, a new dynamic, and…an intruder.

Runner, written by Robert C. Cooper, will introduce a new character to the Atlantis universe: Ronon Dex. Don’t mess with him (I warned you).

SG-1 will start things off with a wee three-parter we’re calling Avalon I, II, and III, written by Robert C. Cooper, directed by Andy Mikita, Produced by Robert C. Cooper. Introducing Lieutenant Colonel Cameron Mitchell, General Henry Landry, a challenge for Daniel on two fronts, a dilemma for Teal’c, the return of an old friend (?), a couple of major revelations regarding the Ancients, a fearsome new villain…to name just a few things.

Then, its The Ties That Bind, written by Joseph Mallozzi and Paul Mullie, Directed by Wil Waring, Produced by Joseph Mallozzi and Paul Mullie which will see Daniel trying to deal with a…uh…annoyingly persistent little problem.

Between the stories we have in the works (and by “the works”, I mean bare bone notions), and the scripts we have in the works, we’ve got a little over half the episodes for each show slotted.

Spanking new writer/co-executive producer Carl Binder has hit the ground running (Don’t believe me? Check out Aurora), old-new writer/producer Martin Gero is already working on his third script (and his first SG-1 scripts after Siege III and Duet). Perennial fan favorite Damian Kindler is working on his first SG-1 script after finishing up work on the Atlantis episode Trinity.

And, of course, the rest of us are keeping busy as well. Some of the episodes that will be seeing the light of day (but some of the episode titles that won’t) include: The Clone/Not the Clone Story, Ex Deux Machina, Remembrance of Things Past, and Beachhead.”

Discuss these spoilers at our SG1Solutions forum

9.04 THE TIES THAT BIND

Episode Summary

Daniel Jackson learns that he and the wilful Vala have been permanently bound together by means of an alien energy field. The ties that bind them can be broken, but only if Daniel and Mitchell undertake a dangerous bartering mission.

Spoiler Snippets

In an alien marketplace, the Jaffa trader Inago is approached by Daniel and Mitchell. When the two tell him that they’re meeting with a mutual friend – Vala – Inago draws his weapon on them, only to wind up in a stand-off when Vala sneaks up behind him. Vala has used Daniel and Mitchell as her distraction.

When she and Inago greet one another, it becomes immediately apparent that Inago is about as fond of Vala as Daniel is. Each has cheated the other in the past, which presents real problems to Daniel and Mitchell, because Inago has something in his possession Vala needs back from him, and Vala had something in her possession that Inago needs back from her. Now, it’s in some very dangerous hands…

Back on Earth, Daniel, Teal’c and General Landry make a pitch to Senator Fisher for extra resources for the SGC to combat the Orii – the evil ascended beings whom Daniel encountered in a trance-like state. Senator Fisher’s counter-proposal is to massively cut SGC funding, stop all new exploration and divert funds into building more ships like Daedalus.

While Teal’c attempts to argue that while the Jaffa are indeed free, the Goa’uld are still served by their human slaves and thus remain a threat, Vala – only present at the hearing because she’s inconveniently bound to Daniel by the alien energy field – decides to give the Senator a piece of her mind.

Her pithy, informative lecture on the, er, over-compensatory nature of big ships and big guns leads to the maligned Senator cutting short the meeting…and SG-1 having to go into dangerous territory to retrieve the technology they must trade with Inago in order to free Daniel from Vala.

Characters

Daniel Jackson, Teal’c, Cameron Mitchell, General Hank Landry, Vala, Inago, Senator Fisher, Arlos.

Credits

Writers: Joseph Mallozzi and Paul Mullie
Director: Will Waring

Discuss the spoilers at our SG1Solutions Forum

More details are beginning to emerge on the Orii, set to be the new bad guys in the Stargate universe in Season 9 after SG-1’s despatch of the Goa’uld and the Replicators. The Orii – pronounced ‘or-eye’- are a group of evil ascended beings.

It appears that in the Season 9 premiere, Daniel Jackson goes into a coma and experiences a vision of the Orii in their distant galaxy. His encounter with these ascended beings leads to one of their number – a prior – coming through the Stargate to the SGC where he extols the religious dogma of the Orii and then immolates himself, burning himself alive without recourse to devices or technology.

Daniel warns doubting politicians on Earth that as ascended beings, these Orii have the appearance of genuine gods – and the Orii priors are beginning to be reported on other planets too.

Whether the actions of the Orii will prompt the ascended beings in our own galaxy – Oma Desala and the Others – to intervene remains to be seen.

Discuss these spoilers at our SG1Solutions Forum

Stargate Command’s new medical officer is set to be played by Lexa Doig

Stargate SG-1 star Michael Shanks (Dr. Daniel Jackson) met his wife, actress Lexa Doig, while guest-starring on her sci-fi show Andromeda in the season 1 episode “Star-Crossed.” Doig played the AI – Artificial Intelligence – avatar of the starship Andromeda Ascendant, affectionately known as Rommie in her android form. When Shanks came aboard Andromeda as the android Gabriel, Rommie fell hard for him, only to discover that he was her enemy, the AI avatar Balance Of Judgement. Gabriel/Judgement returned to haunt Rommie in the season 3 episode “Day Of Judgement, Day Of Wrath,” which also featured Christopher Judge (Teal’c) as the AI Hector, avatar of the Resolution.

Now Stargate SG-1’s producers are returning the compliment with interest, having cast Lexa Doig in a recurring role for the pivotal ninth season of the show after her successful audition. Michael Shanks broke the news to fans during his panel appearance at a Creation Convention in Texas today, joking that he had nothing to do with it and in fact had asked the producers if they were crazy!

Doig is set to play Stargate Command’s medical officer and also the daughter of new character General Hank Landry, portrayed by the accomplished veteran actor Beau Bridges. Her character’s name is Carolyn, surname now confirmed as Lam. Shanks told fans that his wife Lexa would be working very closely with Bridges and was “very nervous” about it and went on to joke about ‘most men’s reactions to the news that their wife would be coming to work with them.’

Doig’s Dr. Carolyn Lam is the first character to permanently fulfil the role of medical officer at the SGC since the death of Dr. Janet Fraiser in Season 7’s “Heroes.” Fraiser, played for seven years by fan favourite Teryl Rothery, was succeeded temporarily by Season 8’s Dr. Brightman in “Lockdown” and Dr. Carmichael in “Avatar.”

With newcomers Lexa Doig as Dr. Carolyn Lam, Ben Browder as Lt. Col. Cameron Mitchell, Beau Bridges as General Hank Landry, Lou Gossett Jr. as a Jaffa leader and Claudia Black reprising her role as Vala, original cast members Michael Shanks and Christopher Judge won’t be lonely while co-star Amanda Tapping enjoys her maternity leave.

About Lexa Doig

Toronto native Alexandra Doig was born on June 8th, 1973, to Filipina mother Gloria and English-Scottish father David. Her parents held season tickets to their local theatre, and Lexa was inspired to begin acting after seeing a production of “Porgy and Bess” at the age of nine. She dropped out of high school in grade 13, did modelling and commercial work, and hosted YTV’s Video & Arcade Top 10 with friend Gordon Michael Woolvett.

Her first professional job came at the age of 19, when she was cast opposite William Shatner and Greg Evigan in “TekWar”. She went on to appear in several projects for both the big and small screens, including CI5: The New Professionals, Jungleground and No Alibi, before landing a lead role in Jason X, the 10th instalment in the Friday the 13th series. Shortly after, she captured the title role in Gene Roddenberry’s Andromeda starring as the Andromeda Ascendant’s sophisticated artificial intelligence system. She has also completed guest stints on several popular television shows, including Traders, Earth: Final Conflict, The Chris Isaak Show. Theatre credits include “Arsenic and Old Lace” and “Romeo and Juliet”.

In her spare time, Lexa enjoys reading, rollerblading and playing RPG video games, “Dungeons and Dragons” being her favourite. She currently resides in Vancouver, British Columbia with husband Michael Shanks, their daughter Mia and two cats.

Links
Lexa Doig.org unofficial fan site
Andromeda official site

Stargate’s fan remain on tenterhooks because in addition to all the cast changes, Richard Dean Anderson has not yet committed to any guest appearances in Season 9. His character General Jack O’Neill will remain an integral part of the Stargate universe, stepping up to command Homeworld Security, even in absentia.

However, much more welcome news has emerged from the official Stargate SG-1 Creation Convention this weekend. Stars Michael Shanks and Christopher Judge made memorable appearances at a breakfast for Stargate fans and then Shanks let slip some spoilers for the new season during his Q&A panel onstage.

While executive producer Joseph Mallozzi shared with fans on the Gateworld.net forum that Season 9 would be kicking off with a three-part episode, Michael Shanks teased con attendees with hints about the major new enemy SG-1 will be facing – the Orii – a group of evil Ascended beings (confirmed for Solutions by a production source). The name of these new enemies is pronounced ‘or-eye’. Shanks also confirmed that Season Nine would be delving deeply into Avalon and Arthurian mythology.

Shanks was also asked how Daniel will react to Lt. Colonel Cameron Mitchell, played by Ben Browder, being his new C.O. In response, Shanks made mention of the fact that he wasn’t really his C.O., and said there was a running joke about his and Ben’s physical similarities.

Oh, and Christopher Judge is threatening to welcome Ben Browder to the set by saran-wrapping the toilet in his trailer…

Shanks also broke amazing news: his wife Lexa Doig, of Andromeda fame, auditioned for a part in Stargate SG-1 and has been cast by producers in a recurring role which will see her working very closely with accomplished veteran actor Beau Bridges, who will be playing General Hank Landry. More on this exciting development in another report!

According to the British Columbia Film Commission, production on Stargate SG-1’s 9th season begins on 28th February and continues until 17th October 2005. This scheduling casts doubt on the ability of Amanda Tapping to participate in fifteen episodes out of twenty in the season as hoped. Tapping’s baby isn’t due until mid-March.

Kawoosh! Productions IX, Inc.
Exec. Producer: Robert Cooper,Brad Wright, Joseph Mallozzi,Paul Mullie
Co-Exec. Prod: N. John Smith
Prod: John Lenic
Director: Various
DOP: Jim Menard,Peter Woeste
PM: John Lenic
PC: Kaayla Ryane
LM: Doug Brons
PD: Bridget McGuire
Casting: Aikins/Cossey Casting
Cast: Michael Shanks, Amanda Tapping, Christopher Judge, Ben Browder, Beau Bridges