Author: Paula

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JadeCon 2011: The post o’ quotes

We have all gathered here in the suite for our Post-Con Depression Kick-Off Breakfast: bagels, cold pizza, cake, Doritos, stale popcorn and cookies. The breakfast of geeks, baby!

Before we start putting the suite back into place, we thought we’d post our collection of quotes for, well, our enjoyment. Regular blogging will return after we get home and sleep for a few days.

  • “Acknowledge my existence!” – Fen to a cantankerous bathroom water sensor
  • “When will people realize that you just shouldn’t put pictures of your junk on the internet?” – Elizabeth
  • “Or you give it to a man who knows how to work your equipment.”
  • “Luci is a House Elf.”
  • “Enjoy your drink. We’ll pray for you.” – Luci, the Apprentice Bartender
  • “I’m a little short to dress as Darth Vader.” – Helen
  • “Hello, you’re looking down.” – Deet, supportive as always
  • “I’m licking Obi-Wan. It is a good day.” – Beth
  • “She’s Edward, not a man!” – Eliz
  • “Now.. did they get the whipped cream for me?” – Rach
  • “I like to go in there and just inhale, because it smells like books.” – Fen
  • “You don’t want to listen to x-rated fix either, Mom?” – Carly
  • “Well, that was a totally heterosexist clue!” – Carly
  • Kelly: “What are we applauding?” Dan: “My squats.”
  • “Urrr… I am not a clever pirate.” – VJ
  • “Oh my gawd. Callista is Edward. Eww. That means Luke is Bella.” – Caitlin
  • “Spores are comin’, man… woom-baya.” – Nancy
  • “Woooooomb.” – Spontaneous chant throughout the room
  • “So, who be the vendor of choice for blow-up salamanders?” – Tom
  • “Yay! Fluffy boobs!” – Russ
  • “He’s hot… not Gardulla the Hutt.” – J9
  • “Peeing in a grass skirt is harder than it seems.” – Yav
  • “Dunc has gotten into my soul. And that is scary.” – Beth
  • Aaron: “Y’all are pretty deranged.” Dunc: “We learned it from watching you!”
  • “PG actually counts by alphabetizing numbers.” – Dave
  • “As much as I’d like a big red, star destroyer, but I’m probably  better off with a Jedi.” – PG
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Gate Geek: Mallozzi responds to SyFy

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.

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Stargate takes its final bows

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!

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Hopes for Stargate movie gone

Stargate Creator and Executive Producer Brad Wright announced at Creation’s Stargate convention in Vancouver that attempts to finance ongoing movies for the franchise have fallen apart in the wake of the Stargate Universe cancellation.

Given the amount of time that this has been dragging out, it’s not entirely surprising, but still a little sad that the final decision has been made.

Still, you have to give props to a franchise  that lasted fifteen years and produced some truly iconic episodes of sci-fi brilliance out of a movie that didn’t exactly tear up the box office. And there is surely precedent for a franchise to be revived after time has rendered many nostalgic. (Can you say Star Trek or Battlestar Galactica, anyone?)

So dust off those DVD’s and give a salute to a great franchise. See you on the other side of the ‘Gate!

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Can fans help Nathan Fillion buy Firefly rights?

Oh, Nathan Fillion, you should know better than to put something out there as tantalizing as a wish to buy the rights to Firefly.

Just a few days back, he made a comment to Entertainment Weekly that he’d happily buy the rights to Firefly and put new content on the internet if he won $300 milion in the lottery. Now that same wacky spirit that helped the Browncoats get a movie made out of a cancelled series is pulling together to raise the funds. (Smartly, no actual funds are being collected. They have learned from past Trek-related disasters.)

As Entertainment Weekly rightly points out, even if folks could raise the funds, it would be difficult to convince 20th Century Fox to let go of the rights. And then there’s the whole “gettin’ the band back together” problem.

But still. Nearly everyone in the cast and production team have a mighty love for the franchise. And it’s hard to tell a Browncoat something can’t be done. They might be just the people to figure out how to pull off a mass funding of a television/movie production. Ya just never know.

Wouldn’t that be shiny?

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Rick Berman about to dish on his Star Trek reign

StarTrek.com has interviewed Rick Berman, the man who took over running the Trek franchise for Gene Roddenberry (all hail, The Great Bird of the Galaxy!).

Oddly quiet since his departure from all things Trek, Mr. Berman seems to be ready to open up about his controversial reign leading Star Trek.  (For example, was 7 of 9 really necessary? Did DS9 take things away from Gene’s vision?)

And yes, folks, there’s a memoir on the way. This should get folks good and riled! Mr. Berman gives us a preview in Parts 1 and 2, with Part 3 posting tomorrow.

Edit: Part 3 is posted!

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Book review: Introduction to Jedi Knighthood

I have a particular fondness for the independently-published Star Wars philosophy book. People are all over the board in how they see the Force and Star Wars and these books reflect that.

Jedi Manual Basics: Introduction to Jedi Knighthood by Matthew Vossler came across to me, from its description, as a book written for kids (another fondness of mine). But it’s actually a workbook for those wishing to study Jediism as a religion or personal philosophy.

Jediism has been gaining ground as a religion in recent years. This book lets you walk through the basic precepts and examine your own understanding of the Force through a series of studies and writing assignments.

I would have liked to see a bit more actual background over assignments. And the use of URL’s as reading assignments could be problematic as sites go down and change.  As a result, its usefulness in the long term is doubtful. But if you’re at all interested in Jediism, this would be an interesting way to explore it further.

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Rest in Peace, Stargate

It’s official.  Syfy announced on Twitter that it has cancelled Stargate: Universe.  (PopCultureZoo has the full statement.)  With MGM unable to pull together the financing for the SG1 and Atlantis movies, this effectively brings the Stargate franchise to an end.

The Stargate franchise has had a show on-air since 1997.  SG1 had a 10-year run that still does very well in reruns.  Stargate Atlantis had a solid 5-year run, as well.  However, Syfy’s lovely habit of running awesome events for each series and then announcing that series’ cancellation steadily eroded the fan base.

With the darker tone of SGU, the show struggled even more to win over fans of the earlier shows.  However, the second season has shown dramatic improvements and was starting to gain some people back.  Still, it never was able to gain the critical Neilsen live numbers that the advertisers like to see. 

Statements coming in from Twitter-land:

DavidBlue Crap. Just heard the news as well. Apparently, nobody decided to tell us ahead of time. My rep heard it online. Seems they cancelled #SGU…Look out for the back half. Really proud of it. Shame, b/c where they leave Eli is frakkin’ cool. REALLY wanted to see where it went…

JewelStaite The end of an era! So sorry to hear about the canceling of Stargate Universe. And to the cast: You are all FABULOUS. I wish you many jobs!

martingero What a bummer. I thought the second season of SG:U was some of the best Stargate ever. Sad for that amazing team. #Stargate

PeterKelamis What can I say other than Thank You from the bottom of my Heart to all those who supported #SGU Much Love Klam

scalzi To the folks who were concerned: I’ll be fine — I do have that other job writing books, you know. And that’s going well.

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Report: Clone Wars screening in Atlanta (No spoilers)

I just got in from The Clone Wars screening held in lovely downtown Atlanta.  Now Commander Cody (or was it Captain Rex?) said I’m not supposed to share anything with you, so I’ll keep it general.

First off, big thanks to the Georgia 501st and Rebel Legion for providing the atmosphere.  There’s nothing quite like seeing clone troopers standing outside Atlantic Station surrounded by Christmas lights.  It was a great way to kick off the night; not to mention the rather large pile of toys donated to Toys for Tots.  (Alas, no celebrities for our screening, but the gang stepped up for us.)

As for the show itself?  Wow.  See it on the big screen in digital.  That’s a sweet way to watch this show.  Vivid colors. Tons of detail.

Now, I am not a huge fan of The Clone Wars.  I watch it.  I like some episodes better than others.  But these episodes?  These episodes were the first ones to make me go, “This ROCKS!”  I would like Katie Lucas to write more episodes.  She really captures Star Wars.  And I sense a smidge of Carrie Fisher influence in her writing.  If you haven’t been watching the series, I’d recommend these as a great way to jump in.  

My only negative would be that parents of small kids should probably screen this one before letting them watch.  It’s dark.  Not really much beyond what you’d see in Revenge of the Sith, but I wouldn’t let little ones watch that, either.  So precautions should be considered.

But for adults?  Watch it.  You’ll enjoy it.

Also, big thanks to Lucasfilm and Cartoon Network for the free popcorn and drink.  Plus, the swag of a poster and a t-shirt?  Nice.

Oh.  And Club Jade?  There are several times when some of our inside jokes make an appearance.  Luci and I managed to control ourselves, though.