![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
wraithfodder
http://www.nbcumv.com/scifi/release_detail.nbc/scifi-20080205000000-people039schoice.html
PEOPLE'S CHOICE WINNER 'STARGATE ATLANTIS' BEGINS PRODUCTION ON SEASON 5
Published: February 5, 2008
Robert Picardo To Join Cast
Show Will Hit 100th Episode This Season
SCI FI Channel's recent People's Choice Award winner, Stargate Atlantis, will begin production later this month on its fifth original season. The new 20-episode season will include the series' benchmark 100th episode. Produced and distributed by MGM Television, Stargate Atlantis is filmed in Vancouver, Canada.
As Atlantis speeds toward its centennial episode, the Stargate universe promises new and surprising developments. The status quo is shaken following the events of season 4 (currently airing on SCI FI, Friday nights at 10pm) – some cherished friends are lost, others are found. New alliances are forged while new races are introduced.
Robert Picardo, whom Stargate fans will recognize as International Oversight Committee rep "Richard Woolsey," joins the Stargate Atlantis cast this season as Woolsey assumes command of the Atlantis expedition. The team, led by Lt. Colonel Sheppard (Joe Flanigan), Dr. Rodney McKay (David Hewlett), Teyla (Rachel Luttrell), Ronon (Jason Momoa) and Dr. Jennifer Keller (Jewel Staite), must adjust to his unique leadership style.
Fan favorite Paul McGillion, will return for five episodes to reprise his role as the beloved "Dr. Carson Beckett." Amanda Tapping ("Colonel Samantha Carter"), who remains a fixture of the Stargate universe, will appear as a special guest star in several episodes this season and Stargate SG-1 star Michael Shanks ("Dr. Daniel Jackson") will appear as a special guest in episodes as well.
Stargate Atlantis follows the adventures of an intrepid team of military and civilian explorers who travel the distant Pegasus galaxy by means of a Stargate, a portal created long ago by a highly advanced alien civilization called the Ancients. In their never-ending quest to seek out other technologies left behind by the Ancients, the Atlantis team encounters alien cultures – some friend, some foe.
The series is executive produced by Brad Wright, Robert Cooper, Joseph Mallozzi, Paul Mullie, Carl Binder, and Martin Gero. Mallozzi and Mullie share the reins as showrunners.
(and I snipped off the Scifi and MGM business stuff cuz, well, does anybody really read that? f)
------------------------------
So, is this news good, bad, or what?
Woolsey. Although I think if Woolsey is kept in his present form, it won’t be long before he gets the city destroyed or he ‘accidentally’ falls off a balcony to his death. * cough * I don’t want the buffoonish Woolsey that yes, is amusing in sporadic guest appearances that few and far between, but now he’ll be a regular. He’s got to up the ante, get some backbone, and hopefully, provide conflict. Face it, does anybody on Atlantis go “Wow, Woolsey’s coming back! Can’t wait!” Nope, Sheppard thought little of the guy on his first trip to the city, maybe even less on his next visit. Woolsey, if written properly though, could provide an interesting contrast to the folks already there. He’s got no friends – he’s always been an outsider – the guy who digs and rattles cages to find dirt. He’s like the Internal Affairs Division in a police department. He’s there to ferret out problems, not hand out accolades.I would hope like hell the writers don’t have him being buddy-buddy with anybody for quite a while. It would be unrealistic. For Woolsey, this is a job – and probably not one he wanted either considering his experiences when he has been on Atlantis. I hope that the writers avoid the temptation to use him for comic relief (like they did with Dr. Lee) and instead give him the nitty, gritty administrative headaches that they avoided giving Sam.
The biggest plus in having Woolsey in charge is that he’s a civilian. The military leadership under Carter suffered for basically one reason: it was sorta boring. Sorry, but Sheppard was so A-okay about her taking over that I was wondering if he’d forgotten about Weir at some points. And that’s a problem with some of the writing – having huge chunks of time (sometimes) between episodes where the characters deal with those nasty emotions of loss, etc. But, Woolsey in charge means that he isn’t always going to agree with Sheppard, or McKay (or anyone, probably) and is no doubt going to be the IOA’s puppet – having a civilian special interest group dictate actions in another galaxy- which shouldn’t sit well with those who live there).
And also another plus – Robert Picardo is a very good actor. I’ve been watching his work since China Beach and enjoy his work. I just hope the writers give him good dialogue/scenes when he’s on the show.
Carter? I’m okay with her not being on the show, or showing up just sporadically in guest shots. Alas she didn’t do much in season 4, alas. I do like Carter, but I like SG1 Carter, not SGA Carter. She’s just not the same. I had trepidation her character might be put in the forefront, which didn’t happen and much to my surprise, she didn’t do much at all. She just sort of faded in the background. If they couldn’t write her strong for the limited time they had, then why bring the character on board (besides pushing an SG1 character on the show to draw in SG1 fans)? And I hope Amanda does well with Sanctuary, as it could conceivably lead to bigger things for her.
Carson Beckett back? Yawn. Ha, no, just kidding! Quite honestly I didn’t believe it until the release came out. It’s good news. I’d rather have him back in MORE than five episodes though, and still can’t fathom how he’ll return, but I also believe (and no offense to the great folk at the SCB who did great work) that TPTB left a backdoor for his character to return long before they decided to kill him off, as I suppose they all remember how great the fact reaction was when Daniel Jackson got bumped off. * cough *
Daniel Jackson? Good news, but please use him wisely. In fact, please use any SG1 character wisely. SGA doesn’t need to become the dumping ground for SG1 characters (no offense, I do like that show), but I want to see SGA becomes its own show, with its own character, etc.
Keller. She’s going to be a regular. It’s been confirmed in Joe Mallozzi’s February 5th blog entry. The trouble is that Keller needs some serious character development, and I’m not talking about background but a little more, well, confidence. She’s too meek at times, and I know fans complain she whines (and well, she did a lot of it in “Missing”). We’ll see how well she does in “Trio” and I hope she improves. Alas, with Keller in the regular cast, that means Beckett can’t be, but well, she could get killed off in season 5 and someone else could take her place. The writers seem to have this thing against medical doctors…. And why can’t they get some nice competent battle-experienced surgeons sucked out of the Middle East arena?
Zelenka and Lorne. Not mentioned anywhere, but I sure as heck hope they're going to be on season 5.
And that’s all I can think of for now, but did sorta want to open up discussion on LJ since other boards tend to be far too many one-line responses… so, pro or con, I'm curious as to people's responses.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2008-02-06 02:23 am (UTC)Woolsey is the utterly Last person I'd expect to be the head of the Atlantis expedition. He is so the incompetent political appointee.
no subject
Date: 2008-02-06 02:26 am (UTC):)
As for Woolsey, if the writing matches Picardo's acting abilities, it will be fine, but I have more faith in the actor than the writers ;)
(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:no subject
Date: 2008-02-06 02:33 am (UTC)I'll be back with my thoughts as I'm still trying to gather them :D
no subject
Date: 2008-02-06 02:42 am (UTC)(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:no subject
Date: 2008-02-06 02:50 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-02-06 02:51 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-02-06 02:54 am (UTC)Having said that, I like Robert Picardo and I think he has enough savvy to understand the character challenges. I have faith in his abilities. I also am willing to give writers/producers the benefit of the doubt. Some cast changes I liked, Carter and Ronon, others I didn't, namely Keller. Still, with Carter, they were careful and I liked where they were going. With Ronon, he had to grow on me. I trust they may win me over with Woolsey.
But it'll be an uphill battle.
Keller? They need to give her a bit more umph and Jewel Staite needs to kick it up a notch. Telling us her backstory doesn't automatically make her sympathetic. I have yet to like her at all. I remain eternally hopeful that this will change. I'm worried that there will be two characters to dislike. I hope not.
I am happy that the core team remains and that Daniel will visit (Please, let it be good. Sounds like some scenes with McKay may be forthcoming). It'll be good to see Carson too.
All in all, a mixed bag of an announcement.
no subject
Date: 2008-02-06 02:58 am (UTC)I agree as I mentioned in my long-winded response. She needs to buck up, stop whining, stop the woe is me act and grow a pair. After that, lets see some compassion in her interactions with people, act more like a doctor and maybe I'll like her more.
no subject
Date: 2008-02-06 02:59 am (UTC)As for Keller, as some folks have said of her (and Woolsey). Needs to get 'a set' ;) If Keller vanished, I probably would not notice it. I thought they got her hanging around with Shep's team FAR too early. Ditto with Carter.
Daniel and McKay scenes sound promising!
(no subject)
From:no subject
Date: 2008-02-06 02:55 am (UTC)Woosley.
I think he's pretty cowardly, doesn't have the stones to make good choices and is too rash because his real, actual experience is reports. Which makes him sort of interesting. He's not likable..I mean he's not a jerk and a decent guy, but he's IOA...and will appear to be their puppet. As Joe Flanigan has said, its no fun with 'everyone' gets along and I'm sure Joe/Sheppard will have fun with that increase in tension and drama.
Someone like Woolsey is what I think TPTB wanted all along in that position. A paper pusher, make command decisions, and not the type of guy who went off world. It makes John the expert on military matters and in charge again. Makes McKay an expert on everything techy. I don't think the TPTB ever thought Elizabeth would ever grow as a character and become a fan favorite so when she pushed for more—and it what was beyond what they intended for the role, we saw the result.
Also with needing a Season 5 pick up they went with Carter in hopes of ratings and the fact she's a familiar face and all around wonderful actress. I hope they make use of her appearances wisely when she does come on board, but honestly I fear cast bloat and would be happy with only a few.
Carson.
Yay he's back! I'll take five episodes, wished for more. Honestly ideally they would cut Keller back and give HIM more screen time, but if they both have to share, Id rather have him more prominent role in fewer episodes
Maybe something really bad will happen requiring both Keller and Carson have to team up.
Keller.
If she's staying she needs to be fixed I agree. I don't want more woe is me, background, just make her stronger. And for Pete's sake more compassionate! She's a tin man right now for me. And mousy and weak..I'd like her more if she would get some confidence as you said.
Daniel.
I like him, I do. But I'm already smelling a two-part McKay and Jackson geek fest written my Martin G. Um, let's keep him to a nice two parter, keep it special. I don't want SGA to be the backboard for SG1 people..they had ten years.
With all this craziness and we get nothing on say..I don't know..the TEAM. You know in all my other ensemble casts I always heard what the lead's development and story lines were going to be...I hear crickets.
Sigh.
All this doesn't really bother me if its handled right. They handled season 4 pretty darn well. I love SGA and I'm going to be open and optimistic to all this as I was this year.
As long as the TEAM remains the focus, I'll be find with the support cast.
no subject
Date: 2008-02-06 03:03 am (UTC)I'll admit I think I am more optimistic about season 5 than four because 1) Carson's back, and 2) Carter is now a guest star. And poor Keller, she needs to go to eBay and buy some balls. There, I said it ;)
no subject
Date: 2008-02-06 03:18 am (UTC)Yay, Carson! I love writing Carson. It's why I've been so reluctant to write anything in season four, espeically anything that ends in an infirmary scene :).
And that's all I can really say since I'm still stuck in season three.
no subject
Date: 2008-02-06 03:25 am (UTC)(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:no subject
Date: 2008-02-06 03:49 am (UTC)We'll just have to wait and see. At least he's not military.
no subject
Date: 2008-02-06 10:48 pm (UTC)(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:no subject
Date: 2008-02-06 04:13 am (UTC)Maybe we should leave comments at Joe's blog or otherwise write TPTB letting them know how much we are looking forward to seeing Z&L in s5 and beyond! ;)
no subject
Date: 2008-02-06 01:01 pm (UTC)(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:no subject
Date: 2008-02-06 06:02 am (UTC)Tapping was woefully underutilised this season...but funnily enough As I was dosing this moring I thought, 'How come Daniel has NEVER once visited Atlantis? He so wanted to in episode one...I really like that guy...I hope the SG-1 movies go well for him...What's his name from Farscape is so hot in BDU's...' and things of that nature. So, yeah, timely!
no subject
Date: 2008-02-06 06:09 am (UTC)Keller - I like her and I like that she's a little feeble. It's a nice foil for Ronon's uber-capability. Also she is WAY cute. Keller just has her own girly brand of capable. We don't need another Teyla. We have a Teyla and she totally rules.
Lorne and Zelenka - Could it have escaped their notice that we freaking well love them?! Oh god...No Zelenka?! I can't even conceive of it. Although he is the kind of Character they like to kill off for shock value. I will cry for weeks. And Lorne? Too hot. Must stay.
(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:no subject
Date: 2008-02-06 09:47 am (UTC)My thoughts.
I don't mind Carter leaving. I mean she's listed in the credits, yet she's hardly ever on the show. And you're right, SGA Carter isn't the same as SG1 Carter.
BUT... WOOLSEY!!!??? What?! When he's on the show, I sit there and want to stab him in the eye along with the rest of the SGA team. He's a character the writers make you feel annoyed by. They need to do some serious re sculpting of his character if he's going to be in charge next season.
Keller... bleck. She has no heart, no drive (accept towards Ronon) and her head seems as empty as a tin can. She seriously needs a rewrite too. I wouldn't mind if they sacked her next year.
Ooo I love me some Daniel, but like you said, use him wisely.
And I love Beckett. I want him back!
no subject
Date: 2008-02-06 11:04 pm (UTC)I do want Beckett back because even with his own brand of whining ;) he was a good doctor. Poor Keller just isn't being written very well.
As for Woolsey, if they do him justice, he'll work fine. It's just a matter of hoping the writers know what they're doing...
no subject
Date: 2008-02-06 10:15 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-02-06 10:57 pm (UTC)(no subject)
From:no subject
Date: 2008-02-06 11:17 am (UTC)Woolsey has potential because as others have commented, Robert Picardo is an amazing actor who does a likeable gruff/cranky/awkward character.
no subject
Date: 2008-02-06 09:26 pm (UTC)(no subject)
From:no subject
Date: 2008-02-06 03:32 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-02-06 10:58 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-02-06 03:45 pm (UTC)I mean we have Sam returning in at least two episodes, Daniel in two episodes, maybe more, Carson back for five while Keller is now full time. We have a new commander in Woolsey who’s going to need a lot of new exposition to get him going. We have a completely new character Alison Porter whom they don’t even know how they’re going to utilize yet. And though it hasn’t been fully mentioned, we get Weir for an unspecified number of visits.
I thought it was a dumb move to replace Weir with Carter who’s been practically a ghost this season. She didn’t get one iota of character development in any of her episodes. It was kind of embarrassing.
And maybe that’s my biggest fear; that in their quest to find the perfect guest-stars add new additions and make all aspects of fandom happy, the producers of Atlantis forget its core cast, the team of Sheppard, McKay, Teyla and Ronon – not to forget Lorne and Zelenka! IE…all the reasons I watch. I don’t want to look back on season five and think that any of them were underused like Carter. But honestly, right now, twenty episodes seems like ten too few.
no subject
Date: 2008-02-06 10:56 pm (UTC)Yeah, I'm not at all fond of the constant SG1 guest stars. The show is cancelled, there are movies. It's time to let go and move no and let SGA be its own...
(no subject)
From:no subject
Date: 2008-02-06 10:47 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-02-06 10:52 pm (UTC)(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:no subject
Date: 2008-02-06 11:00 pm (UTC)The SEW folks - he won't even acknowledge their efforts. He doesn't like Weir, refuses to bring her back. (It's a Boys Only Club, don'cha know, that us "women folk" don't know how to write, direct or produce. At least, that's how JM & PM view it - they don't have any female writers on staff or female directors.)
Woolsey - yeah, like Keller, he needs to change more in order to fully take command of Atlantis. He's proven that he's not totally the IOA's toady in the start of S3 when he tells Elizabeth what his report's going to say - not the truth, but what the IOA will want to hear as the truth.
SGA Carter - she was gone more than she was there, so what was the whole point of bringing her over? (Apparently only because Torri was pushing too much for her character to be more involved, so they had to kill her off. I repeat what I said before - it's a "boys only" club and the actors don't know anything - esp. the ladies.)
Keller - nothing against Jewel, who is just like the sweetest person, but can we move past the whining? She's changing, but is still totally a whimp. At least Carson grew and had more backbone when it came to fighting back when threatened. I like how they're hinting at Ronon/Keller, but do the GUYS have to be so damn obvious about it? (Of course, we're talking about a bunch of guys here who don't think that subtle is a word in the English language. :-p)
Am I sarcastic and not expecting a lot out of S5? Hell yeah. :-p I am queen of sarcasm here and I truly wonder just why they can't bring back characters like Cadman instead of this Porter gal? Cadman is quite sarcastic and intelligent in her own right and the actress - Jamie Ray Newman - is the lead singer of a band and has a fairly decent voice. (Check out her page - she's got music links up.)
I continue to hope for the central team being unaffected, but it's going to be affected now matter what, and I guess it's up to us fic writers to fix what the writers do wrong. :)
no subject
Date: 2008-02-07 12:03 am (UTC)(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:no subject
Date: 2008-02-06 11:41 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-02-06 11:59 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-02-07 12:15 am (UTC)Woolsey is going to get them killed. Maybe Sheppard will have enough of him and get out his 9-mil. . . ;P
The tears are still flowing over Elizabeth Weir! It's SUCH A GOOD THING that Carson is coming back or I would be totally heartbroken. Maybe things will lighten up and Keller will get a backbone, Woolsey might have an "accident", the team won't change, Teyla have her baby in peace-wait a second, do you think that Woolsey will say something about Teyla having her baby??? If he does. . .is he a "if youre not from earth, you don't belong" kind of guy? If he is, I might have to petition the writers. Nobody messes with Teyla. If he does, he'll be knocked silly by Sheppard! :D
Now I have to read the rest of the report. . .
no subject
Date: 2008-02-07 12:21 am (UTC)Keller as a regular? One step closer to being a red shirt, if history repeats itself. *cough*
Yeah, i wonder what will happen with Teyla and the baby. I think we can ask till we're purple in the face but won't find out.
(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:no subject
Date: 2008-02-07 05:07 am (UTC)1) When I first read that Woolsey was going to be in charge, I was shocked. A good shocked. Why? Because he is so /not right/ for the job. I want conflict. Even if Carter was on Atlantis (because, seriously, she ought as well still be with SG-1 or something. If she wasn't in the opening credits, I'd forget she's there), I don't think she'd cause much conflict. Like the writers have said, she's got the military and science background, plus the experience, she knows how to handle things and has the respect of her peers.
Woolsey on the other hand... does anyone even like him on Atlantis? I'm assuming he's there as a pawn first and foremost. I don't think that will go over well at all. Hey, like
2) On Keller and Beckett: I know I'm in the minority, but I never cared when Carson was killed off. Honestly, I was more upset with the fact that I was spoiled about his death since it was plastered all over with the SCB campaign. I miss him now, because Keller is just so... ugh. Him being back for five episodes? Well, if they are going through the trouble of bringing him back in the first place (which, I'm against since I don't have faith that they'll do it right) he should be a full time cast member again. Ditch Keller, completely. Let her go back to Earth.
Keller does NOT need to be a regular. I loved Jewel SO MUCH on Firefly, but on Atlantis? It just makes me sad. I didn't mind her much in Missing, but after Quarantine I just feel no love or desire to see her in any scenes. She's not a doctor to me, she sure isn't someone I'd want to go do if I was hurt.
3) As for Carter having a reduced role... I'm guessing they want to leave the door open for her to come back to Atlantis if the need arises, but I'm hoping things work out with Sanctuary. I wasn't opposed to her being on Atlantis, but now I am, as it just doesn't work. Or rather, they haven't given it a chance to work. Having her as a guest won't help that either.
Oh, wow, this is a bit much. I think I'll stop here. :)
no subject
Date: 2008-02-07 11:30 pm (UTC)series 5
Date: 2008-03-11 09:25 pm (UTC)Re: series 5
Date: 2008-03-12 02:10 am (UTC)