Joel Goldsmith 1957-2012

It's with regret that I must announce the passing of  Joel Goldsmith, TV, Film and Video Game music composer and eldest son of the legendary Jerry Goldsmith. Goldsmith [54] died of cancer on Sunday, at his home in Hidden Hills, California.

Goldsmith's early work was deep into the electronic range of the late 70's early 80's and he earned his mark as an arranger for composer Richard Band before scoring The Man With Two Brains in '83. His father had him produce Jerry's first electronic score Runaway in '84. Their collaboration included some 20 minutes of additional music for Jerry's sublime score to Star Trek: First Contact in 1996. Among the other movies which benefit from his work are Moon 44 from 1990 which was his first symphonic score and Maniac Cop 3: Badge of Silence ['93] but Kull the Conqurer ['97] with a big, bold symphonic score is probably his best known movie work.

He was one of the first well known movie and TV composers to make the jump to video games when they began to cease using 16-bit audio when he scored the TCN News reports for the cutscenes for Tom Clancy's SSN for Simon and Schuster Interactive. He later scored Call of Duty 3 in 2006.

Later in his career Joel turned to TV scoring having dabbled with The Untouchables series from 1993 and The Outer Limits in 1997. He found his niche and international fame when he supplemented David Arnold's Stargate theme for the Stargate: SG-1 TV series pilot in 1997 and was kept on for 10 seasons scoring 217 episodes between 1997 and 2007. He also composed the theme and episodic music for both Stargate: Atlantis, Stargate: Universe and the Stargate: SG-1 DTV movies.

Joel Goldsmith sadly needed more time to leave the mark his father did on music as a whole but his life was tragically cut short before he could get there. If any of you heard his deeply emotional and atmospheric music from Stargate: Universe you will know he was at a turning point in his creativity and was on the road to true brilliance. Nonetheless he can rest rest in peace knowing that his contributions, especially to science fiction fans will live on. We don't forget people easily.

Dragon*Con 2011

On September 2nd 1864 the forces of Union General William T. Sherman marched  into Atlanta, Georgia, one day after the Confederates evacuate the city. Exactly 147 years later, the people of Atlanta stood aside as a 40,000+ force of fans of Science Fiction, Fantasy, TV shows, Games, Comic Books and Movies descended on downtown Atlanta and literally became an occupying force of five of the largest hotel complexes I've ever been in.

The crowds before rush hour. Photo by Mark Twomey, used with permission.

It was Bruce Russell who demanded that Mark and I fly to Atlanta to join him and his buddies, Jer and Sean, at the 25th annual Dragon*Con. We were joined by Constance who helped us navigate the colossal space invaded by thousands of people just like ourselves. The experience was an assault on the senses, hundreds of attendees, many dressed in sometimes elaborate costumes from all aspects of popular culture from fully armoured Imperial Stormtroopers to scantily clad Anime girls, moved as a crowd like a river of colour through the hotel lobbies, skywalks and convention centres on their way to get their own experiences.

In the Navy! Yes this bloke likes G.I.Joe even more than I. Photo by Mark Twomey

Many celebrities wandered amongst us, themselves seeking hero worship on their way to a panel or a fast buck from autographing pictures. We spotted the muscular Lou The Incredible Hulk Ferrigno riding an escalator, Laura Smallville Vandervoort, who really is as pretty as she is on screen, was walking about with V co-star Joel Taken Gretsch [who is also William Shatner's son-in-law]. A wide-eyed Robert Nightmare on Elm Street Englund and a haggard-looking Lance Aliens Henrickson took a wrong turning out a door into a sea of people and were promptly ushered through another door by quick thinking staff before the stars were too mobbed.

Some less-than-iconic stars like flame haired Felicia The Guild Day and a newly lean David Stargate: Universe Blue mingled after hours in the party-like atmosphere that formed each evening in all locations. There was as much to see at night as there was by day. Drink flowed from many locations catering for thousands, it was even served from an automated BAR-2-D-2 droid. Goth and Steampunk themed bands put on concerts for those who wished to dance the night away - lightsabers in the air. Some retired early however, regenerating themselves for the next hectic day of adventure.

Well holding up cigarette lighters would be a fire hazard.

Several dealers rooms were established where companies and individuals gathered and set up stalls to hawk their much-sought wares. Literally everything imaginable was available; from Superhero belt-buckles to Star Trek costumes, real metal fantasy and anime-themed swords and blades, valuable comic books and graphic novels, DVDs of almost forgotten yet beloved cartoons, trading cards, patches, badges, action-figures, posters, t-shirts and games. There was also an abundance of hand-made unique goods such as corsets, leather-ware, steampunk devices, jewelery and even kilts!

One room, "The Hall of Fame" was set up where you could go to meet the stars present and get a personalised autograph. I met Sean Patrick Young Indiana Jones Flanery, Eddie Warehouse 13 McClintock and the fascinating Richard Battlestar Galactica Hatch. I myself sought only two autographs - those of Michael Battlestar Galactia Hogan who scribbled "Frak Em All" on a Colonel Tigh picture for me and of course Erin Buck Rogers Grey who still looks stunning at 61 and whom I hope I didn't scare with my nervous dribbling. One true gentleman whom I must mention is Tahmoh Battlestar Galactica Penikett who waived his autograph fee on a picture for a friend of Constance who survived cancer.

Bill Shatner having fun. Photo via Dragon*Con

Finally it was the panels themselves that were of most interest. One may have to queue for an hour in the blistering 36°C heat to get a good seat, or what we did was to wait in relative comfort until the queue had dissipated and one could simply sit in the back and listen to the fascinating tales and memories recounted by the likes of William Star Trek Shatner and Carrie Star Wars Fisher. Shatner is doing well for a man of 80 and had some fascinating insight into his work. He also told us that he has discovered that most people in attendance had not come to the con to see him, but to see each other and that he was glad to be a part of that. Carrie Fisher was equally fascinating and a lot more R-rated in her speech than Shatner. She is conscious that her battles with her weight and drug abuse have taken their toll on her star, but she has made it her mission to educate people on such pitfalls.

G.I.Joe / Iron Man artist Tom Feister's panel got way out of hand.

All in all it was a fascinating worthwhile experience and an excellent primer before I dare brave the San Diego Comic Con at some point in the future. I will however look forward to returning to Dragon*Con and to Bruce and the boys in a few years for even more adventures.

What's on TV? Part 1: New Shows

Fall TV as it's known in the states, debuted about 6/7 weeks ago and it's time to examine what's working or what should't be on at all if necessary.

V [ABC]

I'm going to start with something that has just appeared right now on screens accross the globe - [well it was on ABC in the US on Tuesday and was on TV3 here last night] - I speak of the remake of the classic 1983 TV series V. A post 9/11 ultra-paranoid world in the grip of an economic crisis is the perfect time for the Vs to visit us again spreading messages of peace and change and offering universal healthcare [I'm not joking, they actually say it]. It borrows from its progenator in that it's not a special effects laden extravaganza but a fightening warning against misplaced devotion and I'll certainly be paying visits to it's subsequent 3 episodes before it goes to full series.

Starring: Elizabeth Mitchell, Morris Chestnut, Joel Gretsch, Scott Wolf and Morena Baccarin as Anna.

US ABC - Tuesday @ 20:00; EIRE TV3 - Thursday @ 22:00; UK SyFy Jan 2010

****1/2


Flashforward [ABC]

An order for a full 25 episodes means ABC feels good enough about Brannon Star Trek: Voyager Braga and David S. Blade Goyer's unique vision of a world in the aftermath of the greatest disaster in history and has also witnessed it's own future; specifically 137 seconds of what they will be doing on April 29th 2010. In the past few weeks FBI agent Mark Benford has set about uncovering evidence of the cause of the disaster, evidence he knows he will find because he's already seen it in the future, and may even be killed for it.

Starring: Joseph Fiennes, John Cho, Sonya Walger, Jack Davenport and Courtney B. Vance as FBI Assistant Director Stanford Wedeck

US ABC - Thursday's @ 20:00; UK/EIRE Channel 5 - Monday @ 21:00

****1/2

NCIS: Los Angeles [CBS]

Airing right after the stalwart NCIS is its new spin off NCIS: Los Angeles. The series centers on the NCIS OSP - Office of Special Projects who assume false identities and utilise the most advanced technology to go deep undercover to apprehend dangerous criminals that pose a threat to national security. Special Agent: G. Callen is the undercover expert who together with Navy S.E.A.L. Iraq vet Special Agent Sam Hanna and their team put their lives on the line in the field to bring down their targets.

starring: Chris O'Donnell, LL Cool J, Peter Cambor, Daniela Ruah and Linda Hunt as Operations Manager Henrietta "Hetty" Lange.

***1/2

US CBS Tuesday @ 21:00; US UK/EIRE Sky One, Wednesday @ 21:00


SGU: Stargate Universe [Syfy]

The 3rd series in one of the most enduring science fiction franchises ever. SGU is radically different from previous shows in that it's more like the premise of Star Trek: Voyager with the grittiness, darkness and reality of Battlestar Galactica but it's the Stargate setting that makes this work - as unlike Trek or BSG - no one here knows what the fuck is going on or how they're going to get home. 4 weeks in and they've only met one alien, they've not even found a single planet that looks like British Columbia! Brilliant! Big hiatus until Spring 2010 after episode 10 but that's a common thing now with Syfy's shows.

Starring: Robert Carlyle, Louis Ferreira, Brian J. Smith, David Blue, Alaina Huffman and guest starring Lou Diamond Philips as Colonel David Telford.

US SyFy, Friday 21:00; UK/EIRE Sky One, Tuesday @ 20:00


****


The Vampire Dairies [The CW]

Angsty diary-obsessed high school girl falls in love with brooding diary-obsessed vampire. This is everything Twilight seems to be, just on TV and everything True Blood isn't. This is what I was thinking of when I said "shouldn't be on TV at all" above. Avoid.

Starring: Who cares

*

Stargate: Universe coming October 2nd

Oooo, General O'Neill's put on some weight from being stuck behind his desk at Homeword Security - I hope that doesn't happen me after they give me my stars :)

Robert Carlyle to head Stargate: Universe

Dispelling most of the internet fueled rumours about him being the next Dr. Who; BAFTA award- winning actor Robert Carlyle OBE will be playing a lead role in a popular long running sci-fi series but it won't be in the UK - it'll be over in Canada where they will be filming Stargate: Universe!

Carlyle will play Dr. David Rush on the new Stargate: Universe an "edgier and younger in tone" series than the two previous incarnations, "SGU follows a band of soldiers, scientists and civilians, who must fend for themselves as they are forced through a Stargate when their hidden base comes under attack. The desperate survivors emerge aboard an ancient ship missing in the far reaches of space. As they fight to survive, Dr. Rush (Carlyle) works to unlock the mysteries of the ship and return the group home, but evidence of his ulterior motives soon arises." according to the MGM press release.

Many Stargate fans were worried that according to the original casting call, only the series' military commander, a Colonel Everett Young would be older than 25 and the remainder of the cast are in their early 20's. Carlyle is obviously not the colonel however so there'll be at least two characters who'll have some idea what they're doing.

Stargate Universe unveils it's look

SCIFI.com obtained the first concept art for the upcoming Stargate Universe, which reveals the new look and feel of this latest spinoff of the Stargate franchise.

The images show some of the new Ancient vessel, the Destiny that will figure prominently in the show which centers on a simple reconnaissance mission after unlocking the mystery of the Stargate's ninth chevron. The mission turns into a never-ending quest as a new crew of Stargate explorers gates onto the Destiny and discover that the ship is unable to return to Earth, and they must now fend for themselves aboard and will travel to the far reaches of the universe, encountering new races, enemies and adventures and countless planets with foliage like that found in British Columbia :)

SCI FI Channel plans to begin production of the show in early 2009 and debut it next summer with a two-hour premiere.

More pictures here.

Source: Scifi

Stargate Atlantis to be replaced by Universe ***UPDATED***

Atlantis will finish this year but it will live on as DVD movies just like SG-1, and will be replaced by Stargate Universe.

Not long after it's milestone 100th episode. The spin-off Stargate series will end it's episodic run after 5 years. Show runner Joseph Mallozzi noted in his blog that the odds get stacked against a series after five years -- and that the rising Canadian dollar versus the U.S. dollar has made this and other Vancouver-produced series more expensive to make.

As MGM this year released two financially successful straight-to-DVD movies made after Stargate SG-1 ended a 10-year run of first-run cable episodes on Sci Fi; An Atlantis movie was quickly greenlit.

"We're excited to tell Atlantis stories on a bigger canvas,” Brad Wright and Robert C. Cooper, co-creators of Stargate SG-1 and Stargate Atlantis and currently executive producers on Atlantis, said in a statement. “The successes of the two original Stargate DTV movies The Ark of Truth and Continuum have shown us the opportunities that the movie format offers. We have plans for both SG-1 and Atlantis to remain vital as we expand the franchise."

The Stargate franchise as a whole is not finishing new episodic TV permanently however. SCI FI has announced that it has green-lit production on Stargate Universe, the third live-action television series.

Universe will have a 2-hour premiere in 2009, and land in a regular time slot next summer. The Hollywood Reporter said the show will be set on board a previously unmanned ship called the Destiny, and will involve more space-based action than its predecessors. "Unable to return to Earth, the crew must fend for themselves aboard the ship, which has a preprogrammed mission taking them to the far reaches of the universe."

The producers are reportedly looking to cast a known actor for one of the leading roles, and fresh faces to round out the cast. This would follow the pattern of SG-1, which earned a lot of marketability from leading man Richard Dean Anderson when it premiered in 1997, rather than the largely unknown cast of Atlantis. The new series will also be aimed at a slightly younger audience, SCI FI president Dave Howe said. "This is an opportunity to reinvent this franchise and make it relevant to a new generation," he said. "We really don't want to be more of the same. It's going to build clearly off the existing franchise but with a cast that gives it a younger vibe."

"In Universe, we plan to keep those elements that have made the franchise a success, such as adventure and humor, while breaking new ground in the relationships between mostly young and desperate explorers, thrust together and far from home," series co-creators and executive producers Brad Wright and Robert C. Cooper said. "Above all, we believe the Stargate itself remains an enduring icon with infinite potential as a jumping-off point for telling stories."

More soon.

Source: Sci-Fi, Multichannel News, Eamo, Gateworld

2IGTV Episode 59

In this long-awaited episode we open with a discussion on The Dark Knight and Wanted. Other movies include Star Wars: The Clone Wars, a Red Dawn remake, a Clash of the Titans remake, The Punisher: War Zone, Green Lantern, Top Gun 2 and more.

The state of Television is still dire but we observe the return of Stargate Atlantis, Burn Notice and the debut of Flashpoint. We anticipate the return of Chuck, Gossip Girl (Well Mark does), Heroes and the debut of Knight Rider and the upcoming Virtuality.

We also discuss the non-entity that was E3 and some games from that, GPU technology and wrap up with the announcement of our competition winner. All this and much more.

Get the episode here. and Discuss this episode in our forums.

Isaac Hayes & Bernie Mac: Double Obituary

The world lost two talented bruthas' this weekend in the form of hilarious comedian Bernie Mac and the soul legend Isaac Hayes.

Bernie Mac, born Bernard Jeffrey McCullough in Chicago, Illinois was a stand-up comedian before making many notable acting appearances in both Television and the silver screen. Most notable among them were roles in Ocean's 11, 12 & 13 and the multi award-winning The Bernie Mac Show.

Bernie Mac is forever immortalised in the greatest movie of the decade - Transformers where he lends his comedic genius to Micheal Bay as Bobby Bolivia the car salesman that sold Bumblebee to Sam.

Mac went into hospital in Aug 1st with pneumonia. Unfortunately he died as a result of complications on Aug 9th. He was 50.

Isaac Hayes, born Isaac Lee Hayes, Jr. in Covington, Tennessee was a soul and funk singer-songwriter, musician, record producer, arranger, composer, and actor.

His notable acting appearances include, Robin Hood: Men in Tights, I'm Gonna Git You Sucka, Stargate SG-1 but he'll be most remembered in this field for giving life to the soul-singing school cafeteria worker Chef on the long running adult animated series South Park.

Among Hayes' best known musical works are Soul Man (1967) which he wrote with David Porter for the duo Sam & Dave. In early 1971, he composed music for the soundtrack for Shaft for which he won an Academy Award for the Theme from Shaft, and was also nominated for Best Original Dramatic Score. Many years later in 1999 his association with South Park generated a hit song Chocolate Salty Balls (P.S. I Love You), which reached number-one on both the UK and the Irish singles chart.

Sadly in 1995, Hayes embraced Scientology and started to go a bit nuts. He appeared in nut-job Scientology films and created some Scientology music over the years.

On March 20, 2006, Roger Friedman of Fox News reported that Hayes had suffered a stroke in January. Hayes' spokeswoman Amy Harnell denied that Hayes had had a stroke, but on October 26, 2006 Hayes himself confirmed that he did, (this is to be used to confirm universally that everything on Fox News is actually the truth, even if denied).

On August 10th Hayes' wife found him on the floor near a treadmill at his home in Memphis, Tennessee. The cause of death was not immediately known. He was 65.

In what will be seen as one of the greatest coincidences of the 21st century: Both Bernie Mac AND Isaac Hayes will appear with Samuel L. Jackson in the new film Soul Men, due out in November. Spooky!

Hammond of Texas passes on

I regretfully announce the passing of Donald Sinclair Davis, the American character actor known for his roles on Stargate SG-1 and Twin Peaks. He had a massive heart attack on Sunday morning and died. He was 65.

Davis was best known for his portrayal of military characters, among them Major Garland Briggs in David Lynch's surreal series Twin Peaks, General Harlan Ford in Atomic Train, guest appearances as Captain William "Bill" Scully on The X-Files, an Army General on an episode of The Outer Limits, and provided the voice of G.I.Joe's helicopter pilot Wild Bill in the Valor vs. Venom series, but he'll no doubt be most remembered as the officer in command of the SGC during the first seven seasons of Stargate SG-1, Major General George Hammond.

Davis' ability to portray military officers and authority figures is no doubt due in no small part to his real-life experience as a Captain in the US Army who served in Korea before turning to acting. He was also an accomplished painter and woodcarver and his work can be seen on his official website.

One of his final filmed appearance will be as Lt Gen Hammond in the forthcoming Stargate: Continuum, the next Stargate DVD movie available in August.

2IGTV Episode 57

Rick Rolling, MILF Island, Battlestar Galactica's return and Iron Man are discussed. We have reports of Peter Berg making DUNE, Tom Cruise ON drugs and Jason Beghe escaping Scientology. We also speak of Edward Norton vs Marvel and iTunes becoming the bane of Walmart!

Also some rumblings about Austin Powers 4, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles Season 2 and a new Greatest American Hero? And bear witness to Mark rummaging through The Colonel’s DVDs (again).

Epidode 57 Available here. Discuss this episode in our forum!

2IGTV Episode 54

In this, the first episode of 2008 we open with a high tech discussion about Apple, The Hi-Def format war and DRM.

We update you on the WGA strike, Wesley Snipes in court, South Korean pirates, Cruise and Scientology, the years upcoming movies and the US Presidential Election.

We also have exciting news on Star Trek and The A-Team and update you on some happenings in the 2IGTV forums.

All this and much more here.

2IGTV Episode 52

In our first Mega-Monthly episode we've got so much stuff that we'll never fit it all into this post... ...but we'll try:

Bad news for Brett Ratner fans, good news for sane people. God is assembling Star Wars writers to bring his religion to Television. AT&T attempt daylight robbery. Tara Reid ain't stupid like Hilton and Lohan. A release date is set for Wolverine but Bubba Nosferatu falls off our radar. Turok to returns and both the Green Lantern and Max Payne are coming to Hollywood. Stallone to butcher a sacred franchise and more news on the WGA strike and it's bleak future.

All this and much more, PLUS an announcement you've all been waiting for: we've given into your incessant demands.

Grab it here.

2IGTV Episode 47

In this exciting 47th installment: We first deal with our colossal mailbag (which increases with each passing episode). We have movie news in the form of Avatar, World Of Warcraft, Wolverine, The Hobbit, Postal, Thor and Conan. Hot TV news comes in the form of Stargate Atlantis and Heroes.
Hear The Colonel's initial thoughts on pilots for The Sarah Connor Chronicles (right), Bionic Woman and Flash Gordon plus Mark reviews demos of Stranglehold and Heavenly Sword and he gives us word from the HD-DVD / Blu-Ray battlefront.

It's all here now.

2IGTV Episode 44

If you're a fan of Comic-Book movies then you've come to the right place as Mark and I talk about your favourite comic heroes heading for the silver screen from both DC and Marvel comics. In the world of Battlestar Galactica we wonder if there can be a motion picture for the new Galactica? Only with the blessing of Glen A. Larson. We talk Battlestar Galactica: Razor and Galactica reboot creator Ron Moore reveals what he thinks of the idea of a Star Trek reboot.
Lots more TV news this episode for Smallville, Stargate Atlantis, Boston Legal and something called Ice Planet. We also detail a few movies you WILL want to miss in the future.

Get it here.

General O'Neill Will Return

I was expecting Richard Dean Anderson to make an appearence as Major General Jack O'Neill in the series finale of Stargate SG-1 recently, but it didn't happen.

MGM just announced however that he will return in the upcoming DVD movie Stargate: Continuum. Anderson will join cast members Ben Browder and Amanda Tapping in shooting on location in the sub-zero climate of the Arctic, where the production is working in collaboration with the U.S. Navy's Applied Physics Laboratory Ice Station during this week.

"We're thrilled to have Richard join us for Stargate: Continuum," Brad Wright, co-creator of the Stargate franchise and writer/executive producer, said in a statement. "As Jack O'Neill, Richard brings both a sense of history and familiarity to the continuing adventures of the Stargate team. And we all recognize his value as the much-loved hero among the fan base."

Stargate: The Ark of Truth & Continuum

Fans were left stunned when MGM cancelled Stargate: SG-1 on the basis of comments I made last May that the series had run it's course. I broke the news here that SG-1, the longest running Military Sci-Fi series ever was finishing with Season 10, it's current season. However there was a silver lining delivered with this cloud not too long after: news came that the series would continue as at least two movies.

Naturally at that point nothing was known about what the movies would center around, but I can now tell you that most of the cast already has signed the contracts for the two movies, with the first to begin shooting in April and the second in June. The first will wrap up the story with the Ori and the second one will involve time travel and Ba'al.

MGM's press release states that "Stargate SG-1 cast members Ben Browder, Amanda Tapping, Christopher Judge, Claudia Black and Michael Shanks are confirmed to star in both movies. Written and produced by Brad Wright and Robert Cooper, the new movies will feature the latest visual and sound effects, providing viewers with a theatrical movie-going experience." The release didn't state where or when the movies would be airing or if they would be going directly to DVD.

Stargate: The Ark of Truth
As SG-1 searches for an Ancient artifact which they hope can defeat the armies of the Ori, they learn more Ori ships are about to be sent through the supergate to launch a final assault on Earth. Daniel discovers that the artifact, the Ark of Truth, may be in the Ori home galaxy, and SG-1 embarks aboard the Odyssey to find it, and pre-empt the attack. The IOA has a plan of their own and SG-1 ends up in a distant galaxy fighting two powerful enemies.

Stargate: Continuum
While SG-1 attends the execution of Ba'al, the last of the goa'uld system lords, Teal'c and Vala inexplicably disappear into thin air. Carter, Daniel and Mitchell race back to a world where history has been changed: the Stargate program has been erased from the timeline. As they try to convince the authorities what's happened, a fleet of goa'uld motherships arrives in orbit, led by Ba'al, his queen, Katesh, (Vala) and his first prime, Teal'c. SG-1 must find the Stargate and set things right before the world is enslaved by the goa'uld.

That's all I have at the moment, more soon.

Stargate SG-1 to have TV Movies

There was much speculation recently as to whether the venerable sci-fi series Stargate SG-1 would be able to continue in some form. MGM has reportedly been shopping the series around to other networks but there didn't appear to be any takers presently.

However, pretty much all the cast members have said that, while nothing's definite yet, it sounds like there will be several Stargate TV movies produced after the series ends.

The arrangement sounds similar to when Farscape ended, and plans were announced for several movies to air -- only one of which has aired to date, 2004's Farscape: Peacekeeper Wars. Let's hope SG-1 fares better.

The Colonel has Stargate SG-1 cancelled

Sorry folks, as I say in my profile to the right "you've made the wise choice of coming here to benefit from my vast wisdom". Once such person was obviously an overpaid TV executive who read the very last lines of this post in May and has pulled the plug on Stargate SG-1.

(Right: The true SG-1 team)

I'm not surprised I'm being listened to, after all 10,000 hits gets serious attention in the online world. On Monday evening the announcement that Stargate SG-1 the longest running Military Sci-Fi show in the history of the planet, is to cease production with its current 10th and now final season arrived.

SCI FI channel issued the following statement: "SCI FI Channel is proud to be the network that brought Stargate SG-1 to its record-breaking 10th season. Ten seasons and 215 episodes is an astounding, Guinness World Record-setting accomplishment. Stargate is a worldwide phenomenon. Having achieved so much over the course of the past 10 years, SCI FI believes that the time is right to make this season their last on the channel. SCI FI is honored to have been part of the Stargate legacy for five years, and we look forward to continuing to explore the Stargate universe with our partners at MGM through a new season of Stargate Atlantis."

To add to my wisdom and foresight rom May, I noticed that the quality had diminished somewhat with the departure of Richard Dean Anderson at the end of Season 8, but I was further taken aback last month as I began to watched Season 10, by the sub-standard of writing and plot especially when compared with its spin off show Stargate: Atlantis. To be honest, SG-1 should have ended when the Gou'ald were defeated, but instead our heroes go off and piss of a group of powerful jihadist aliens who sprout all manner of religious zealotry, which is fine to the common audience, but for someone like me who has to watch the same type of shit practiced by the more nefarious members of the tea-towel-head brigade through my night vision sniper scope more often than I'd like to: You'd understand why I prefer the more Science-Fictiony concept of alien space vampires in Atlantis' Wraith!

While it is the end of Stargate SG-1 in ist's current form, the producers were quick to say that it wasn't the end of SG-1's adventures, although they couldn't say anything right now. It doesn't take a Marine Colonel to figure out that they're talking about a TV Movie series or a full Motion Picture (which could be somewhat confusing if Dean Devlin puts his plans in motion)

Hey! Maybe I'll pitch my own idea based on my real-life adventures with the Marines of SG-3, Stargate: Jarheads...?

Stargate News

Richard Dean Anderson is back on the sets for several guest appear- ances on both Stargate: SG-1 and Stargate: Atlantis shows, reprising his role as Gen. Jack O'Neill. Anderson's first appearance will be in "200," SG-1's 200th episode, which will air Aug. 18 as part of the series' upcoming 10th season. "It's been a lot of fun to see him again," Executive Producer Brad Wright said in an interview. "He's doing two episodes of SG-1 and three episodes of Atlantis."

Wright said that SG-1 could not toast its 200th episode without its original leading man. "He was so much the face of SG-1 for so many years. We did go on without him and made some fine television, but for the 200th episode there was just no way we could even consider doing it without bringing him back. And, of course, when we called him to ask him to do that, he said, 'Just one?' So it was nice to know that he wanted to come back. And it's actually kind of a testament to the environment we have here. People miss it when they're gone. It's just a fun place to work, and it's a fun show to work on. That's why everybody still works their butt off and why we're still on the air, I guess, because it shows on the screen."

SG-1's 200th episode is a send-up that picks up the story of the show's 100th episode, "Wormhole X-Treme!" and brings back guest star Willie Garson as abductee-turned-Hollywood producer Martin Lloyd.

For the future however, I fear that the plans on the way, may run the Stargate franchise in to the ground. MGM vice president Charles Cohen talked about where the franchise is headed as Stargate SG-1 reaches its 200-episode milestone, saying that MGM has plans to develop a feature film "derived from the series over the last 10 years" to kick off a third Stargate television series. Cohen added that a movie based on SG-1 would "not in any way impair the television run" of the first Stargate show, which was itself based on a 1994 film.

Though Cohen insisted that three Stargate shows on the air at once could be successful, as the CSI and Law & Order franchises have proven, there has been discussion that climbing star salaries may reduce the profit margin for a long-running series like SG-1. The X-Files returned to television after a successful 1998 movie with the original television stars, but for most genre series, like Star Trek: The Next Generation, the move to the big screen marks the end of that show's run on television as the newer series arrive.

Cohen said that the original Stargate show has evolved enough that it can continue to run on television indefinitely no matter what happens with movie plans. "If you look at SG-1 - with bringing in Claudia Black, Ben Browder, and Beau Bridges - we've retooled the series with it still being SG-1," he explained. "I'd like to keep it on forever and keep adding to it."

Personally, I think it's time for SG-1 to end, let them continue with Atlantis and if necessary another spin off to replace SG-1 but not three of them running concurrently! That's asking for trouble.