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

[sgafan.livejournal.com]

“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."

*blink*

Honestly? I have never seen a more tone deaf, rock-headed group of people in my life. I don't like U, though I did give a fair chance at first. (contrary to what BW thinks about people like me, I actually gave it a chance) But I think the "time slot" etc etc excuses really ignore the simple fact that *people didn't watch it* (at least not enough to get ratings). Excuses can be made for downloads etc, but when reruns of Eureka air a week after U's mid season premiere and post higher ratings, (if I remember correctly, pretty significantly?) well, that says something. ;) And Atlantis faced the same download challenges and still had higher ratings.

They may "love the one they have now" but its pretty clear that fans overall and viewers really don't. The ratings and the cancellation show that. They have a responsibility to their own artistic needs, yes but they also have a responsibility to the franchise that they're stewards of and if they continue to make a product that people don't want, all the creative ideas in the world won't do them any good because they won't have an outlet for them anymore.

At the end of the day, if the franchise is in danger of ending, people like JM and BW can blame no one but themselves. But of course they blame the fans. After telling the fans that they're not a big enough group to have any impact, only to blame them for vindictiveness, and then ask them to support the franchise.

SGA (and the fans and viewers who are... oh, possibly important to the continuation of said franchise...) deserves a movie to at least tie up their storyline, so naturally, the Atlantis movie is shelved. BW is pursuing another SG1 movie and they "love" U so *of course* everyone will be excited to see a movie for that show. *facepalm*

Arrogance, egos and tone deafness by TPTB are what's really killing the franchise, and its regrettable. Its like watching an impending train wreck, you know what's going to happen but you just can't look away. They're jumping off the proverbial bridge and taking the entire franchise with them.

errr.. sorry for the rant... *shuts up*

[naniwahine.livejournal.com]

TPTB can luuuuuve it all they want, but if the fans - US - don't, then they won't watch and they won't buy the DVDs... Hence poor ratings, hence cancellation. For someone working in the business for that long, you'd think he's have a clue... :/