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

[duffy-99.livejournal.com]

I was at cons in both Chicago and LA last year, and it was indeed embarassing how few people showed up for the SGU actors. (I peeked in the room; I personally had no interest in seeing them since I never watched the show.) TPTB can tell themselves whatever they want and do whatever they want; I don't give a damn. I'm happy rewatching my SGA dvds and wallowing in SGA fanfic where I know the people writing it actually *care* about the characters. I look forward to watching Joe and David and the rest in their new endeavors. And I hold out a little stubborn hope that the franchise could be rebooted in a few years by some people who know what they're doing.

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

I had heard that the SGU panels were more lightly attended than the SGA/SG1 ones (to be polite). Personally, I probably would have attended as I do like the cast, except I wouldn't know what to ask them as while I do watch SGU, I tend to watch it just once. TPTB need to realize they changed the format, lots of fans didn't care for it, and that's what bumped off SGu.