Paul McGillion (Carson Beckett) returns to Stargate Atlantis (press release + articles)

[wraithfodder]

Well, everybody sorta knows it, but in one of those *gasp* moments, SciFi actually drew up a press release. Shocking! 

Anyway, the press release on The Return of Carson Beckett (it deserves bold and underscore) is under the cut, along with various news organizations' spin on that news.

Skiffy, via NBC/Universal (http://www.nbcumv.com/release_detail.nbc/scifi-20070808000000-paulmcgillionretur.html), put out the following press release today…

 

PAUL MCGILLION RETURNS TO 'STARGATE ATLANTIS'

 

Fan Favorite Returns for Two Episodes Torri Higginson and Christopher Judge Also Guest Star in New Season

 

NEW YORK – August 8, 2007 – Reports of Dr. Carson Beckett's untimely demise last season on SCI FI's Stargate Atlantis have been greatly exaggerated…or have they? Paul McGillion will reprise his role as everyone's favorite Scottish physician in a two-episode arc during the series' fourth season, which will premiere on Friday, September 28 at 10pm ET/PT.

 

It was the fan cry heard 'round the Pegasus galaxy when Dr. Beckett was unexpectedly killed in an explosion at the end of season 3. His return to Atlantis promises to be every bit as shocking.

 

In addition to McGillion's return, Atlantis viewers can also look forward to season 4 guest appearances by Torri Higginson ("Dr. Elizabeth Weir") and Stargate SG-1's Christopher Judge ("Teal'c").

 

Stargate Atlantis is executive produced by Brad Wright, Robert C. Cooper, Joseph Mallozzi and Paul Mullie. The series is currently in production on its fourth original season in Vancouver, BC. with Mallozzi and Mullie sharing the reins as showrunners.

 

The Stargate legacy continues to burn bright on SCI FI with the fourth original season of Atlantis. Amanda Tapping, one of the most beloved stars in the Stargate universe, travels to the Pegasus galaxy to join the Atlantis cast by reprising her role as television's most adored astrophysicist, Colonel Samantha Carter. Firefly's Jewel Staite also joins the cast this season as "Dr. Jennifer Keller." Taking the torch from SG-1 as television's most thrilling adventure series, Atlantis, promises to up the ante this season by introducing a powerful new race, welcoming new cast members and mourning the loss of some beloved friends.

 

The press put their own spin on it (relevant passages cited):

 

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/entertainment/orl-sl-stargate080807,0,2860744.storylink

"Stargate Atlantis" fans wanted it, and thus it shall be. At least for two episodes.

Dr. Carson Beckett (played by Paul McGillion) will be back for two installments of the Sci Fi Channel show. … That's a shrewd way to tease fans. And there's more from Sci Fi: "It was the fan cry heard 'round the Pegasus galaxy when Dr. Beckett was unexpectedly killed in an explosion at the end of season 3. His return to Atlantis promises to be every bit as shocking."

Make of that what you will. But it's a way to keep fans talking.

Sci Fi Channel said the series also will feature guest appearances by Torri Higginson and Christopher Judge.

 

http://www.multichannel.com/blog/1300000330/post/470012847.html

This isn't the first tiime that Stargate producers have nixed a favorite doc., however.  Fans are still stinging from the death of another well-liked Stargate physician, SG-1's Dr. Janet Frasier (Teryl Rothery).  Beckett's demise touched off an on-going and well-organized protest headquartered at savecarsonbeckett.com

…….

McGillion was a critical favorite too.   I thought he added great warmth to the ensemble cast.  Chicago Tribune's Maureen Ryan called the move to kill off his character "boneheaded."  (Nevertheless, "Sunday" was one of Stargate Atlantis' better episodes.  It was an intimate look at the Atlantis crew on a rare day off, written Rashomon-style by Martin Gero.)

…….

In a nice nod to the fans, SCI FI Channel acknowledged the viewer effort.  "It was the fan cry heard ‘round the Pegasus galaxy when Dr. Beckett was unexpectedly killed in an explosion at the end of season 3.  His return to Atlantis promises to be every bit as shocking," stated the net in their press release.

…….

Recently, I bumped into an acquaintance of mine - a thirty-eight y.o., highly paid political consultant from Oakland.  He broached the subject of Atlantis, then carried on.  Unbeknownst to me, he's a big Atlantis fan.  He had no idea that Carson Beckett was being offed and he was upset.  "I watch that show for the ensemble," he complained, "and relationships develop among all the characters.  They're screwing with the dynamic.  When you slice out that character, you disrupt the dynamic.  It starts to fall apart."

So there you have it - from the cherry demographic.  Young male, high income.  It's not just us ladies.

 

http://www.zap2it.com/tv/news/zap-paulmcgillionstargateatlantisreturn,0,3955868.story?coll=zap-news-headlines

In the Season 3 episode titled "Sunday," Beckett had unsuccessfully tried to dispose of an explosive tumor he had removed from a patient.

When the fans vehemently protested his undignified death, the producers reconsidered their action and figured out a way to bring him back in the flesh, and not as a flashback or a Beckett from the past or an alternate universe. According to executive producer Joe Mallozzi, a late Season 3 episode offers a "clue" about Beckett.

Click on links for full articles.

Comments

[forcryinoutloud.livejournal.com]

Oh them getting renewed isn't my worst fear. ;) I ADORE SGA. I want them back for many years to come, I just don't want Carter in the rest of the series. It's bad enough she's taking over for season 4, I don't know if I could handle her for more than one season. I stopped watching SG1 mid S8 because of her and I'd hate to do the same with SGA but I simply despise the character. I think Tapping is adorable but Carter is one of the worst female roles I've ever seen.

I'd love to see Beckett back! Weir is far from a favorite character but I'd much rather her than Carter on SGA.

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

Well, I don't quite see Carter as one of the worst female roles, but some of the writing they've done for her character is pretty bad.

I'm okay with carter on SGA (don't really have a choice) as long as she's support only. If Carter gets as stuck in the background as Weir, that's fine. I mean, why should Carter get any more air time than Weir did? (Although the writer DO love her, so I'm willing to bet she'll have more dialogue, etc than Weir had in all three seasons).

One thing I worry about with carter on SGA is that SGA fandom could get saturated with the more rabid S/J shippers (who in turn will probably want to ship Shep with somebody).

I'd love to see Weir back, but I'm figuring the writers will get rid of her like they got rid of Ford. Out of sight, out of mind :(

[forcryinoutloud.livejournal.com]

They could have done SO much with the character and they dropped the ball big time. I can't think of another female character written quite as badly as Carter.

Initially I would have been fine with her being background but I know that won't happen. I've seen Mallozzi spouting too much of the 'Carter fits in EVERYWHERE' crap to believe they would ever leave her as a secondary/background character. She was only supposed to be in a "few" episodes, then in fourteen but still background and now she's taking over the entire expedition. If I was an optimistic person (which I am not) I'd still hold out hope that it wasn't going to be the Carter hour but everything I've seen interview/panel/blogging wise suggests her role is going to be huge, MUCH bigger than Weir's.

*sigh* The J/S shippers were why I left SG1 fandom. I stopped watching the show because of Carter and ran screaming from fandom because of the shippers. I'm not looking forward to seeing the rabid Carter fen/shippers coming over to SGA.

Torri is going to be "guesting" *snort* which will probably be little more than her in an infirmary bed handing over the reins to Carter who is, of course, so much better suited to run the show. [/sarcasm]

I don't mind changes but too many changes at once never bode well for a show. I want SGA to last more than 2 more seasons. I don't want it to be another SG1 thing where everything gets changed around, the show lasts two years, and the writers couldn't care less because they're working on something else (the movies, the third show in the franchise, sanctuary). They're trying to do too many things at once and instead of giving SGA the REAL chance of standing on its own two feet, they're bringing in AT and CJ and I wouldn't be surprised to see BB or CB brought in as well. Other than AT being signed on for the rest of SGA's run, my next biggest fear is that it's just going to turn into Pegasus: SG1.

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

eeeuuu, Pegasus: SG1. Yeah, that would be scary. The writers/producers/fans should realize SG1 as a show is gone, dead, cancelled, it's had its time. SGA was meant to take over, but they can't seem to do that.

I'm reserving judgment (been hard) on just what Carter will do on the show, but I am quite tired of half the ads and the press all being about CArter. Hello? There are all the other cast members on the show who have been there since day one. How about a little PR on them?? Aieee...

Alas, I've seen some familiar monikers/names of rabid ship fans popping up in SGA forums where they never were before. I don't want, several years down the road, having to listen to some fans whining incessantly about 'when are we going to get Shep/whoever ship'. I mean, ten years now with SG1 and you still see that question.

[forcryinoutloud.livejournal.com]

::nods:: Exactly! I loved SG1 when I loved it but it was dead for me ages ago. It's time to move on and stop clinging to the freaking past. *sporks Mallozzi*

I'm going to give the season a chance but seeing those ads and all the press and it being just about her and there never being any mention of the ACTUAL main characters is disheartening and has me panicky that the chocolate drips are going to ruin my favorite show. *sigh*

*ugh* I despise Jack/Carter and have been thankful that the ship on SGA hasn't been so blatant or so SHOVED DOWN OUR THROAT *coughs* sorry ;) but I worry that all that is going to change this season. Mallozzi and Mullie came in in S4 of SG1 and stuck their claws into the barely there underlying UST between Jack and Carter and turned the whole thing into a pathetic mess. I really, really don't want to see that happen with them taking over on SGA. There's been hints at Sheppard/Teyla and Sheppard/Weir and Rodney/Katie and we already know they're running with the Rodney/Katie bit I hate to think of what they're going to do to "het" Sheppard up the way they attempted to do the same to Jack. My biggest worry though is that they'll screw with the John/Rodney dynamic (and I'm not talking from a slasher POV here, just as a fan) because eeeewwww boytouching or they're too close or Mallozzi's favorite pass time of making Rodney look like a freaking moron! *tears out hair* Sorry sorry--I get ranty and upset and incoherent whenever I think about Mallozzi and Mullie doing to SGA what they did to SG1.

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

Well, as I recall, they said they weren't going to do 'ship' on SGA. Perhaps they learned from their mistakes on SG1, because once you start, you can't resolve it, because if you do, the audience leaves, etc. One thing that attracts me to the show is the Shep-McKay banter, which vanished for a while but fortunately came back. If I want romance, I'll tune into a soap.

[forcryinoutloud.livejournal.com]

Well--they also said that SG1 and SGA wouldn't crossover and that SGA would stand as its own show. *sigh* That didn't quite work out as promised. I'll still keep everything crossed that we don't get Pegasus: SG1 and I will give S4 a chance, I'm just not getting my hopes up--not with Mallozzi and Mullie running things.

[timespirt.livejournal.com]

Hey,

I don't want her around either, I got sick of her as well. I watch for the guys, cool stuff and the dynamic of the crew anyway, but we still have to have a few of the girls around and I happen to like Weir and Teyla very much. Hate the new Doc, want the old one back. I copied SG-1 from 8 on, but was not paying a lot of attention as I was focused on SGA anyway.

[forcryinoutloud.livejournal.com]

I don't like Weir but I'd much rather her around than Carter. I actually really like Teyla and while I am not at all happy that they got rid of Beckett and replaced him with 'Kaylee', I'm willing to give her a chance. I already know that I hate Carter *shrugs* there's no need to give her a chance, especially as it's the same two idiots that ruined her in the first place writing her for S4 of SGA. *sigh*

I bought S8 and S9 and will buy S10 of SG1, more because I'm a little OCD and need to finish off the set than that I actually think any of those seasons were worth buying. :P

I'll give S4 of SGA a chance because there's a lot about the show, and the characters that I LOVE and so much so that I'm willing to ignore Carter--as long as she's not in every bloody scene and being written as little Miss Perfect. If they write her like the big Mary Sue she is and then sign her on for a S5 I don't know if my love of the other characters would be enough to keep me around. *sigh*

[timespirt.livejournal.com]

I can ignore her no matter what. I didn't watch SG-1 for her and I guess I have to just be creative about getting past her in SGA, I just hope she isn't the new focus of the show. We didn't really see that much of Weir (even though she was in charge, but like I said I liked her in this group)because most stuff was off-world so I hope we will see less of their new and only MarySue this season coming up. I have collected all the SG-1 seasons and all the SGA. I liked the addition of Ben Browder to SG-1 as well as Claudia Black (old fan of Farscape).

[forcryinoutloud.livejournal.com]

I wish I could ignore her, at least then I'd have finished watching SG1. ;) If she's in it the same amount or less as Weir I'll be able to happily ignore her but considering the fact that her salary is most likely the highest of the entire cast, I can't see them paying her that much and not using her to death--not to mention the fact that Mallozzi and Mullie are both professed rabid Carter fangirls. I'm hoping for the best but expecting the worst. We'll just have to wait and see.

[timespirt.livejournal.com]

The word BLAH comes to mind!

[forcryinoutloud.livejournal.com]

*snerk* Most definitely. I can't think of anything more blah than an entire season of Mary Sue Carter.

[timespirt.livejournal.com]

Me neither.