SGA This Friday. News at Eleven.

So it looks like a full-court press for Stargate Atlantis, this year. Both MGM and SciFi have been offering up the interviews and press events to get the word out that the new season of Stargate Atlantis starts this Friday at 10pm, Eastern, on SciFi.

A round-up of the coverage:
Amanda Tapping (Samantha Carter) can be found on GateWorld, SyFyPortal and MultiChannelJewel Staite (formerly of Firefly, now Dr. Keller) shares the love with GateWorld.

– And Rachel Luttrell (Teyla Emmagan) shares some broad stroke story tidbits and her surprise at how well the producers took the news of her pregnancy.

Pleasantly surprised by Reaper

With both of last season’s Tuesday night staples (Veronica Mars and the twilight of Gilmore Girls) off the air, prime time seemed mighty uninviting last night. The Food Network came to my rescue at 8 with back to back reruns of Good Eats, but at 9 they turned the channel over to Rachael Ray and that I can not abide. So habit lead me to the CW, and the first episode of Reaper.

Which… did not suck. I’d heard the show compared to Buffy, and while that might not be the most fair comparison, it was entertaining enough. So I agree with EW’s Michael Slezak – try to catch the encore Thursday night. It might not be the next Heroes, but it may at least entertain you.

Gate Round-Up

Have I mentioned, lately, that the new season of Stargate Atlantis starts up this Friday on SciFi? I have? Just wanted to make sure.

In anticipation of this event, there is tons of Stargate news to be had. Please don’t let that deluge keep you from tuning in on Friday, though. I’d like a Season 5, please, and the first few episodes’ ratings apparently will make it or break it.

The highlights:
– GateWorld interviews Jewel Staite who really hopes the fans will give her a chance as she’s friends with Paul McGillion and didn’t think she was replacing him.
Rachel Luttrell is pretty happy with Teyla’s storyline in Season 4
– The men rejoice, Kari Wuhrer has been cast in an upcoming episode
Michael Shanks didn’t manage to completely avoid the cold while filming the upcoming Stargate movies. Plus playing with real F-15’s. It doesn’t suck to be an actor

Stargate actors are doing things outside the series, as well:
Richard Dean Anderson will be hosting the Dublin release of Halo 3. Okay.
David Hewlett‘s movie A Dog’s Breakfast managed to crack the Top 100 on Amazon. Plus now, there’s a soundtrack! Still no Hewlett 2.0, though.
– And there’s still time to bid on a duffle bag signed by the SG-1 cast to benefit an Atlantis crew member’s son. Too late to bid? You can still make donations.