Club Jade

As reported by GateWorld, Stargate Universe producer Joseph Mallozzi (who is doing a fun review of his favorite Stargate experiences) has a few quibbles with SyFy’s open letter to Stargate fans.

Mostly, it gets down to wanting SyFy to admit the error in judgment in their decision to move SGU to Tuesday’s based on the success of a less competitive summer schedule. Plus, there’s the ongoing discussion about how DVR ratings should affect things that everyone in the industry is trying to figure out; especially around genre shows.

Bottom line, there were business reasons for the show to end. And it’s still sad.

In a big, long letter of “nuh-uh, it was your fault,” SyFy’s Craig Engler explains to GateWorld how the ratings went for Stargate Universe.

Apparently, not so well.

Yeah. But none of this explains why there’s wrestling on a science fiction channel…

The last episode of Stargate Universe is airing tonight. It will be the first time in 14 years that there hasn’t been a Stargate series in production.

There are many Tweets from the cast and crew about their sadness over the demise of the show. But it looks like we’ll have a fitting ending.  In spite of the news of cancellation not coming until after they finished filming, producer Brad Wright feels we’ll find it a good sendoff.

Thanks, Stargate!

Brian Jacob Smith, who plays Matthew Scott on Stargate Universe, has had it with Stargate fans who hate the latest show, yet persist in hanging around to annoy everyone else with how much they hate it.

He took to TwitLonger to let one fan, in particular, know just how he felt.  But, hey, it applies.

Please don’t lurk in the shadows and wait for an opportunity to turn our enthusiasm against us. It’s such a rotten thing to do, and I’m struggling to understand why you think it’s perfectly fine. If you need a good example of why this fanbase is so divided and full of animosity, just refer to your comment.

So far, I’m not seeing a specific groundswell of topics about this over in the wild west of the Gateworld forum, but I’m sure this will strike a note.  It’s been a long-standing problem in fandom and I, for one, am glad to see Brian stand up to it.

Fresh off the Emmy broadcast, the Gemini Award nominations, recognizing achievement in Canadian English-language television, have been released.  And, unlike in the US, they tend to appreciate good genre television.

Stargate Universe did pretty well for itself:

• Best Dramatic Series
• Best Performance by an Actor – Robert Carlyle (Human), Louis Ferreira (Justice)
• Best Direction – Andy Mikita (Air, Part 1)
• Best Original Music Score – Joel Goldsmith (Light)
• Best Photography – Light
• Best Editing – Human
• Best Sound Series
• Best Visual Effect – Air, Part 1

Other genre nods:

• Alice – Matt Frewer (Best Performance by a Supporting Actor, Mini-Series), Andrew Lee Potts (Best Performance by a Lead Actor, Mini-Series), Caterina Scorsone (Best Performance by a Lead Actress, Mini-Series), Makeup, Costume Design, Best Writing Mini-Series
• Sanctuary – Christopher Hyerdahl (Best Performance by an Actor, Guest Role), Best Sound Series

Casey Pugh’s brainchild of collaborative fandom love is up against against network-producted fare for Glee and Dexter for Outstanding Creative Achievement in Interactive Media – Fiction. Big congratulations to Casey and all who participated!

The Emmys are rarely a big deal for genre shows, but Lost is one of the few that have gotten plenty of love – and that adds up to twelve nominations for their final season, including Outstanding Drama Series. (Along with True Blood.) Matthew Fox, Terry O’Quinn, Michael Emerson and Elizabeth Mitchell are all up for acting.

Robot Chicken got two nominations, one for their ‘Full-Assed Christmas Special’ and another for Seth Green’s voiceovers.

As for the other genre nods, Ian McKellen got one for being the only part of The Prisoner remake that anyone liked, while Caprica, Stargate Universe, and V will duke it out with original flavor CSI for special effects.

It’s that time of year when the major networks start to announce their renewals.  Here is what I’ve been able to gather, thus far:

• Chuck – Renewed for 13 episodes.  Not ideal, but not cancellation.
• Heroes – No decision, but Grunny is saying the Fat Lady may or may not be warming up.  (Does this mean a 13-episode, like the others?) [I'm guessing no. - Dunc.]  And the Fat Lady sings….
• V – Renewed for 13.
• Flash Forward – Axed.
• Supernatural – Already renewed.
• Vampire Diaries – Already renewed.
• Smallville – Already renewed.

The SyFy shows don’t tend to announce, yet.  So while we know that Stargate: Universe got the greenlight for Season 2 (they’re currently in production), the fact that MGM is financially shaky makes that tenuous for Season 3.  But, hey, at least we know that wrestling is safe.

One of the complaints original Stargate fans have had about Stargate  Universe is that they miss the whole alien action thing.

Wait no more, people.  (Um.  Spoiler at the links.)  What was a mere glimpse in the 1.5 trailer is now a close-up picture on the official MGM Stargate website.

Season 1.5 kicks off this Friday, April 2nd, on Syfy.

Stargate Universe producer Brad Wright speaks with Show Patrol about Season 1.5 starting this Friday on SyFy.

He admits to a few mistakes, but also asks everyone to give them the chance to show what SGU can do.  Apparently we’ll be seeing a lot more of what “old time” fans loved about SG1 and SGA; including some aliens, some action and more focus on the women characters.

It would be nice to find more peace amongst the fans with a pulled-together show.  Although I’ll always think “Stargate University” when I see SGU.  (See Dragon*Con’s Stargate track for more on how my strange mind contributed to this year’s programming.)

Poor Brian J Smith.  Stargate fans are capable of some major angsting, but he has been on the receiving end of much collective fandom crap for the perception that his character, Lt. Scott, runs around all Captain Kirk-like.  But he asks you to put it into some perspective. 

The article is all about how things went in the first half of Season 1 (conveniently available now on DVD).  And it even includes video of him answering a question from his mom, who just can’t seem to get a copy of the poster of her son used to tease the show.  (Ed. – Someone help this poor woman out!)

For those who are having trouble waiting for the show to start up again, The Hiatus Project is in full swing.  (No haters allowed.)