As the Stargate Turns, or the future of the franchise

[wraithfodder]

I couldn’t help but just shake my head and sigh when a tweet popped up about Stargate Universe being cancelled. I wasn’t really shocked, or surprised, well, maybe just a tad bit surprised because SGU had been SyFy’s golden child but then again, the way they shifted it on the timeslot, ignored advertising, etc. did not bode well.

So while SyFy ramped up the advertising for the new golden child, Being Human, SGU got the axe with the how-dumb-do-they-think-the-audience-is explanation of “we’re not making any more episodes.” CANCELLED! An esx-show! Dead as a doorknob, etc.

This reminds me soooo much of when Stargate Atlantis got the axe. However, SyFy seems to be refining how badly they do cancellations by letting some of the cast/crew find out via internet sources (Deadline.com and/or Twitter, etc.). At least the SGA cast got the notice on set (as a I recall) and didn’t MGM tell the SG1 cast ‘adios’ at the 200^th episode party?? Pfft.

I’m not crushed SGU is gone, except that it unemploys a lot of folk who enjoyed working with each other. For that, I’m sad, having done the unemployment bit myself more than once. Otherwise, as much as I tried getting into SGU, it was dark and bleak and not what I enjoyed in Stargate. My brother came into the room on more than one occasion to ask why I was watching Battlestar Galactica and I’d have to tell him it was Stargate and he said, uh uh and would leave. Many of my friends had the same reaction.

Unfortunately even though there are a lot of SGA/SG1 fans who did not like SGU, its demise is something to take notice of because it’s the franchise that is endangered.

http://josephmallozzi.wordpress.com/2010/12/25/december-25-2010-christmas-marty-g-and-the-return-of-the-mailbag/ wrote on Xmas …

“6) What can us fans do to ensure SGU gets another season/movie and that SG-1/SGA gets their movies?”
Answer: Honestly?  Watch the show, pay for your downloads, and purchase the DVD’s if you’re so inclined.
Paloosa writes: “1) How can we fans contact MGM to let them know that Stargate (SG-1/SGA/SGU) still has a huge and lucrative fan base?”
Answer: Again, letters and emails are nice and all but, at the end of the day, the studio is more likely to look at things like iTune and DVD sales when making a decision.
“2) I think you mentioned that if there were another Stargate show, that you wouldn’t be involved?”
Answer: There are no plans to create or move forward on a new series.  We love the one we have now.
“3) If the SGA movie is a go, would you still be involved as the writer and/or producer?”
Answer: I’m sorry to say but the cancellation puts the brakes on whatever progress the SGA movie had made in the past month, shelving it indefinitely.
Mike McGinnis writes: “Is there any chance of the SGA movie anymore if you guys can’t save SGU?”
Answer: See above.  Contrary to what some may think, the cancellation of SGU is very bad news for those looking forward to an Atlantis movie.

And there’s a little more at his blog. It’s a darned shame that the network (SyFy/MGM/whoever) are going to look at the ratings of the last Stargate series to determine the viability of say, an SGA or SG1 movie. There’s still a strong fanbase for those two from what I can see on the web. I won’t hazard a guess on the sales or downloads of the shows, but I do get Google notices all the time about downloading SGA, so, guess there’s still interest in the show!

 

If they had to do movies, they should do SG1, then SGA, and lastly, SGU, cuz face it, you gotta look at the age of the cast. Sgu has the youngest, therefore, you can wait the longest… but if I had my way, it would be an SGA movie FIRST cuz I think that one has the potential for the most entertaining movie. I really haven't looked much more at Mallozzi's blog, so don't know if he's added anything, although I may not care, since he does have a horrid habit of baiting fans.

Comments

[stella-pegasi.livejournal.com]

I agree with you about SGU...it was bleak, humorless, with unappealing characters. I was lost when Eli was introduced in a poor imitation of "The Last Starfighter". I loved that little cheesy movie and if the writers did, they should have made a joke of it, not written into the story as if it really happened. It was ridiculous. I watched only a few more minutes of the show after that and I was done.

Mallozzi...whoever allowed him near a SGA set should be banned for life from any science fiction production. He comes across to me as a bitter, egotistical, bastard. He will never allow an SGA movie to be made If he has anything to say about it. His comment of a few months ago was that that he had a "deep-seeded disdain for heroes" (yes, the quote on Gateworld said deep-seeded). I think he meant John Sheppard (or Joe Flanigan) Anyone who hates heroes will not give the majority of us what we are looking for.

I do hate the SGU cancellation for the fans of the show. SGA fans know all too well how badly it feels to lose a show that you love. But I couldn't find a character in SGU that I could like. I love Lou Diamond Phillips but hated his character. Young was not a hero, he wasn't even an anti-hero. There was just no one to like. Even BSG had it moments when there was some humor, some real life feel to it. SGU missed the mark all the way around.

I could go on...but it's shame...that a bastard like Mallozzi has control. We may have lost the best of the scifi franchises because of him and his need to have a show without heroes.

I hope we get a SGA movie...I miss them so much!!! We all do....

[black-raven135.livejournal.com]

".........bitter, egotistical, bastard....."

Exactly
If the cast is placing blame, then why not direct it where it is deserved???

[alyssa22.livejournal.com]

His disdain for heroes probably comes from the fact that he's a loser nerd and they beat the crap out of him and flushed his head when he was at school.

The guy is just a joke. Of the worst kind!

[stella-pegasi.livejournal.com]

Yeah and he's ugly as sin, too. OMG, he must really hate Joe Flanigan!!!!!

[alyssa22.livejournal.com]

Hehehehe. Yes!!

And someone told me that when he goes out in the rain at the studios, he has someone else hold an umbrella for him! What a wanker!!!!!!

[the-scary-kitty.livejournal.com]

Sounds like a real frakkin' prima donna.

[stella-pegasi.livejournal.com]

I just saw alyssa22 comment in my email and came to reply. I was going to say...add prima donna to the list...

good minds think alike!

[alyssa22.livejournal.com]

I know someone who actually saw him in action. He came out to speak to fans and had someone else holding the brolly for him! Seriously! And I believe he was wearing the full three piece suit at the time. WANKER!!!

[naniwahine.livejournal.com]

LOL! somehow, this doesn't surprise me...

[nialla]

I have hope that MGM realizes they still have a wonderful franchise, as long as they ditch Mallozzi, Wright, et al.

MGM (or actually the company running the reorganized under bankruptcy version) holds the purse strings, not Malozzi or any of TPTB. They may say they want to make an SGU move, but it's not up to them.

Personally, I don't want them involved if there is an SGA movie. They'd only sabotage it. The only Joe I'd want in charge has the last name Flanagan. ;)

[stella-pegasi.livejournal.com]

Amen to that...JF in charge would be great. You know he mention in one of the promo interviews for Change of Plans that he would be playing Sheppard again. Not sure if it was wishful thinking on his part, or my part, or whether he knows something we don't. I just can't see the 'prima donna' ( as the_scary_kitty called him), Jackass Mallozzi allowing that to happen.

Love your icon!!! Amen to that, too!

[nialla]

Depending on the context, he could have meant that his character in Change of Plans was very similar to Sheppard, but one can certainly hope.

I saw him at a con a while back, and you could tell he was very frustrated with TPTB. He tried to give some input (and I think other actors as well, but JF was the "spokesperson" as the lead actor), and were ignored, being told the script was done and it wasn't changing. That and other incidents apparently put JF on Mallozi's Shit List.

A more recent con report had JF outright saying he was talking to some people about reviving SGA without the current "egos" involved. Not sure who he was talking to or if they'd listen, but he does seem to "get it" about the show and the characters.

[naniwahine.livejournal.com]

Oh, boy, don't get me started on Mallozzi. I and a few other Stargate fans have a few theories as to why he's so anti-hero. And you know what? TPTB (with Mallozzi at the helm) made a joke of Sheppard in the last two seasons of SGA, turning him into this juvenile horny frat-boy. IMO, Mallozzi and his complete lack of respect and any affection for SGA verse is the reason the show died. He despises it with a passion and avoids any mention of it like a plauge, unless of course it's to berate its fans.

And now all he can say about cancellation of SGU, as he dines on $150 "casual" lunches in Japan, is that he chooses to concentrate on the positive. Yes, a cancelation and end of the franchise MUST have a silver lining... Oh yes, the $$$ he made on backs of us fans who supported the franchise for years and then were ridiculed and insulted by him. That man is beyond callous and egotistical.

Sorry for the rant. I'm zipping it.

[gelbes-gilatier.livejournal.com]

I so very much agree with everything you said about Mallozzi! Actually, I'm relieved that the SGA movie is shelved because I still shudder at what he thought was a great idea of how Atlantis fared since EATG. I'm just hoping that he never gets to foist his stupid head canon on us now. You're really so right with everything!