tv guide and stargate [Archive]

Susana

07-22-2003, 05:42 PM

So, I go into work Monday morning, and what do I see waiting for me but a stack of TV Guides, with Stargate plastered all over them. What did they say? Paraphrasing here, that "stargate is scifi's hottest series". Well, I guess since they cancelled Farscape. I was so mad, I flung them against my case, but I still had to deliver them. I got over it though, until I got home and checked my mail.

Guess what I got?

A Stargate TV Guide.

Bah!

:grr:

Jeff O'Connor

07-22-2003, 06:52 PM

Yeah.

I have to say, SG-1 isn't THAT atrocious. It's pretty good... Really.

But, compared to FarScape...

What the frell.

Susana

07-22-2003, 09:16 PM

Well, I tried SG-1, and I couldn't get into it. I was even a big MacGyver fan, and it didn't help. But, to each his own, I suppose. But the article still aggravated me, especially this part:

"A lot of other science fiction series either become too complicated or start to take themselves too seriously," says Sci Fi Channel president Bonnie Hammer. "Sometimes shows are too smart for the audience. Stargate is smart, but it doesn't make people do homework."

Hmm... I wonder which too smart show she's referencing here?
:wstupid:

Babsies

07-23-2003, 12:11 AM

uuuh, I dunno--guess I ain't so smart :smash:

y'know, I kinda sick :pissed: of people assuming what my intelligence level is--to simplify this for Ms. Hammer, I ain't stupid--I get it!!!!!

Sorry--it's late, and I'm tired--gotta go get some :snore:
--thanx for letting me vent.

Regards,
B :coffee:

Digger

07-23-2003, 06:10 AM

TV Guide prints about 6-8 responses a week to the articles in their magazine. Here is the address to send it to by email:

cheersandjeers@tvguide.com

And here's what I sent them this morning after reading the entire article last night (the on-line edition only has part of the article).
******************

Regarding Bonnie Hammer's comments in your article "Ace in the Wormhole" I don't know who should feel more insulted, (a) fans of those shows she says are "too smart for the audience", (b) non-fans of these shows, who are by implication not smart enough to get them, or (c) all sci-fi fans when her channel's "signiture" show is "more action adventure than straight sci-fi." I guess SciFi is no longer sci-fi, and wonder just who they want to watch their network.

Susana

07-23-2003, 08:02 AM

:applaud:

shamecube

07-23-2003, 09:40 AM

what I wrote:

I'm sure you get comments on your covers all the time, but a mediocre series that resides on a network that thinks sci-fi fans are stupid will not replace Trek. However, with the way Braga ran it into the ground, ALF can replace Trek nowadays.

Selena1

07-23-2003, 10:01 AM

I saw that today at the store....and I really have to admit, I was tempted to pull out my black pen and draw in the old moustache, goatee and horns....

But then I took a second and thought about it and came to the conclusion that it would result in nothing but myself being embarassingly escorted out of the store...lol

No offense to anyone that likes SG...I tried it...several times actually...and it just wasn't for me.

PrairieScaper

07-23-2003, 12:11 PM

Originally posted by shamecube
However, with the way Braga ran it into the ground, ALF can replace Trek nowadays.
:rollin:

:aok: Digger. Short and very to the point. I like it!

AnnieBW

07-23-2003, 06:22 PM

I like SG-1. Or, I did, until it jumped from Showtime to Skiffy. Now it seems like it's been dumbed-down so much that it makes the seventh season of ST:TNG look intelligent! I read the article nonetheless, because I still have a good many friends who are Gaters. Frankly, if I was a Gater, I'd be damned insulted by the implication that it's not for people who think! I mean, you have to know something about ancient Egyptian and Norse mythology just to get the point of the Gou'a'uld and Asgard! I don't know how the Gaters are reacting to the article, but I can bet that they're not happy. Then again, they just got an 8th season, so they can afford to not be happy.

- Annie

Stoker

07-23-2003, 08:34 PM

I noticed the dumbing up of Stargate too. They (Sci-fi) totally ignored the fact that O'niell and Tealk had gotten very educated on a certain episode. And now he's even too stupid to be a Colonel. They had trashed Sliders (even more than FOX did) instead of keeping some logic to the "science" fiction.

Stargate- I have been watching since day 1. Farscape, I came into on the end of the 1st season, but I have caught up due to the reruns (many of such at that time). The animatronics are/were fantastic. I've watched Rigels face very closely and believe the "work" was terrific.

The good thing about both shows, both have not stuck on the main basis or storylines. They would have shows that were totally unrelated to thier basis. ie: Farscape- Running from Peacekeepers (not all shows were they running, they had adventures) Stargate- Fighting Guaold...uh, the worms. (They would/will have shows of exploring and adventure too.)
I like that.

Eve11

07-24-2003, 10:28 AM

I kinda like Stargate. Bummed I didn't get to meet Amanda Tapping at ComicCon. But AnnieBW's right, I like the early eps better than the later ones.

Well, I'm sure there's plenty of people who say that about Farscape too.

"A lot of other science fiction series either become too complicated or start to take themselves too seriously," says Sci Fi Channel president Bonnie Hammer. "Sometimes shows are too smart for the audience. Stargate is smart, but it doesn't make people do homework."

:hork: A lot of other science fiction series... right. Plug in here "Farscape and anything that wacko Straczynski sends us"

shamecube

07-24-2003, 10:42 AM

So I re-read the article and now I see why Bonnie made those statements about not having to do homework.

"It's like black musicians in the '50s," says Christopher Judge, who plays the Jaffa warrior Teal'c, the aforementioned bald guy. "We had to go to Europe to make it big, and the reverberations are just now hitting North America."

Yeah, Chris, it's just like that. This is the exact opposite of taking yourself too seriously. Is there a word for it?

AnnieBW

07-24-2003, 10:54 AM

Having just seen Chris Judge at a con, I can tell you that he's the LAST person that would take himself too seriously! He was a riot!

- Annie

palascaper

07-24-2003, 11:05 AM

I've loved any kind of sci fi since reading "Lucky Starr" in the 5th grade, and watching the original ST in the 60s.

But SG1? Yuk! And that was way before I discovered FS.

Can't Stand:

Amanda Tapping's Technobabble.

Stone faced Chris Judge--wish they'd let him be himself and have more facial expressions and humor.

Can't stand the voices of the Goauld.

Can't stand the Colonel. I want to smack all of the above people.

However, the guy who just came back (name escapes me) is cute!

shamecube

07-24-2003, 12:04 PM

Originally posted by palascaper
However, the guy who just came back (name escapes me) is cute!

:lolpost:

Ok I am sorry for saying bad things about Stargate and Chris Judge. While I believe that FS has spoiled me, it has not done the same for everyone else. I have a friend who can watch Farscape and Mutant X! Egads!

JRyde

07-24-2003, 12:57 PM

Originally posted by Susana
Well, I tried SG-1, and I couldn't get into it. I was even a big MacGyver fan, and it didn't help. But, to each his own, I suppose. But the article still aggravated me, especially this part:

"A lot of other science fiction series either become too complicated or start to take themselves too seriously," says Sci Fi Channel president Bonnie Hammer. "Sometimes shows are too smart for the audience. Stargate is smart, but it doesn't make people do homework."

Hmm... I wonder which too smart show she's referencing here?
:wstupid:

I believe she is referring to her own I. Q. or lack thereof...and just expects everyone else to be a ...uh lesser lifeform:ejest: . I mean really, how does the scifi channel even call itself science fiction anymore? I've seen more intelligent programming on the cartoon network lately:smash:

AnnieBW

07-24-2003, 01:26 PM

Speaking of "stone-faced" Chris Judge - one vendor has a t-shirt called "the many faces of Teal'c", and nine identical shots of him with different "emotions" above it. The gag is that Teal'c always has the same facial expression. He gave one to Chris, who LOVED it! (He also had a similar one for Angel. David Boreanaz, unlike Chris Judge, was NOT amused by it. :grr:) I'm sure that we could never do that with any character on Farscape, except for maybe Pilot.

- Annie

Babsies

07-24-2003, 10:08 PM

I dunno--I've seen Pilot get pissed, and he looked :pissed:!!!

Regards,
B :coffee:

CookieCat

07-24-2003, 10:32 PM

I like SG-1, but...

Isn't it kind of pathetic that a character portrayed by an actor has less facial expressions than a puppet? :)

Stoker

07-24-2003, 10:36 PM

Actually, I've noticed that the facial expressions have changed over the years. He used to frown all the time. In recent years, he started developing a grin. I bet he'll actually laugh on the last show.

Rigel has a big damn smile, then you have to watch your back. I don't think I've seen Pilot smile at all.

CookieCat

07-24-2003, 11:11 PM

"Actually, I've noticed that the facial expressions have changed over the years. He used to frown all the time. In recent years, he started developing a grin. I bet he'll actually laugh on the last show."

Oh, I know; I was exaggerating a bit. I just recently watched an early Season 3 ep where he told a joke AND laughed. The other characters in the scene just stared at him. I'm not sure if they didn't get the joke or were dumbstruck by his behavior. Maybe both!

Deanna T

07-25-2003, 02:25 AM

Hey, I just received the latest newsletter from Multiverse, the SciFi Club for our city. Here's an excerpt I was shocked to read....

STARGATE KEEPS GOING: Stargate SG-1 will go into an 89th and most likely final season. MOST of the cast will return and there will be some major (if not expected) changes to enhance the last season. [GateInfo]

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!! The Horror! Oh, Dear Gosh no!
~ Catches the next Leviathan off the planet ~

But I gotta give Dean Anderson credit. I didn't think he had 89 more years of acting in him!

;) ;) ;)

DZ_Crasher

07-25-2003, 02:34 AM

Come on lets give Chris Judge a break. He's a decent actor, look at the obligatory body switching ep "Holiday" where he had to act as O'Niell, and did it 10 times better than RDA did Teal'c. The guy can act, the writers just don't give him a chance.

As for Pilot. Pilot, my darling pilot *Snaps back* Oh right, where was I? Pilot and Rygel are simply awesome. I've never seen puppets with so much emotion. Honestly, its a credit to the creature shop and the puppeteers that I always forget that they're puppets and not just actors under several layers of makeup.

mjwillia

07-25-2003, 07:52 AM

This is the not I sent TV Guide:

Subject: Bonnie Hammer's comments in your article "Ace in the Wormhole"

Excuse me: "What? Some SciFi series gets too smart for the TV viewing public?"

Bonnie Hammer must be trying to say one of 3 things:
1. I (the viewer) am stupid.
2. She wants to produce a SciFi series that does not require regular viewing in order to keep up with the show's plot. (Gee that's odd - this plan has been working for Soap Operas for years!)
3. It is cheaper to produce a mediocre TV series than it is to produce a 5 time Saturn Award winning TV series (including best Actor).

Ms. Hammer if you are reading this please take note: "It may have made financial sense to cancel Farscape but you cancelled the SciFi channel's only hallmark award winning original series -- something SG-1 will never be able to fulfill for you."

Sincerely,

Stoker

07-25-2003, 09:04 AM

.89th and final season? There's two seasons to a year, right? Okay, I can handle that. However, I'll miss the last episode. I'll be dead. But I'm not complaining.

I agree that the puppets are so lifelike too. It's easy to slide into the fictional world and believe they are alive. It's an integral part of the show that makes it so facinating. Gotta love it.

CookieCat

07-25-2003, 10:05 AM

Let me clarify that my comment comparing Teal'c and Pilot was a joke. I love Teal'c! I wasn't criticizing Chris Judge. In fact, I think he deserves a lot of credit for being able to keep his face so expressionless when his personality seems to be the exact opposite of Teal'c. And as Stoker pointed out, Teal'c has been allowed to show more emotion in the later seasons.

PicassosLaughing

07-25-2003, 11:01 AM

Stargate used to be my favorite Sci-fi program, and I watched it religiously, on Sunday reruns. Then I saw Farscape and it took over the top spot, for me at least, but I still liked Stargate, too. I was excited when Sci-Fi channel picked it up and I even went to huge effort to be sure that I taped Sci-Fi Fridays, so that I could watch both shows at a later time. It is nearly impossible for me to watch TV on Friday evening. But I watched all the reruns of both series back to back as often as I could, nightly.

Then Farscape was cancelled (waaahhh) reruns of both shows taken off late night (arrggh), and Sci-Fi Friday now consists of crap, Stargate, and more crap. I actually fear accidently seeing a bit of Scare Tactics, when I tried to tune in Stargate (wow, I guess that show really works.. because yeh, I am scared). I don't even feel the urge to video tape Stargate anymore. I have seen only the first episode of this season and found myself rather disinterested in the show. In effect, Skiffy has ruined Stargate for me, and I've lost my favorite show, Farscape, too. Has this scenario played out for anyone else? Am I pummeling a deceased stallion?

I'd like to know.

AnnieBW

07-25-2003, 07:20 PM

Originally posted by PicassosLaughing
I don't even feel the urge to video tape Stargate anymore. I have seen only the first episode of this season and found myself rather disinterested in the show. In effect, Skiffy has ruined Stargate for me, and I've lost my favorite show, Farscape, too. Has this scenario played out for anyone else? Am I pummeling a deceased stallion?

I'd like to know.

Yup. We got really disillusioned during the last half of last season. We watched the premiere 2-parter, and got even more disillusioned. It used to be such a good show! And I can't say that my love for Farscape had "spoiled" me on SG-1. I'd faithfully flip (and do a quick tape-change) the channel between Skiffy and Showtime at 10:00 in time for SG-1. It's just since it moved over to Skiffy that it's gotten really stupid. I guess that's what Bonnie and Co. wanted. An established show that could be dumbed-down for their teenaged-boy audience. :P

- Annie, watching a baseball game rather than SG-1.

Stoker

07-25-2003, 08:41 PM

OOOOO-WAy-Oh Home-var-ray

What about Lexx? Sure, it was often stupid, but it's just a point of how Sci-fi loves to cancel things.

Has

07-25-2003, 08:45 PM

Originally posted by Stoker
OOOOO-WAy-Oh Home-var-ray

What about Lexx? Sure, it was often stupid, but it's just a point of how Sci-fi loves to cancel things.

I don't think Lexx was cancelled, I remember reading somewhere that the actors wanted to move on and that the 4th season would be its last.

Babsies

07-25-2003, 11:36 PM

PicassosLaughing
...I actually fear accidently seeing a bit of Scare Tactics...
I DID accidentally catch the end of a bit on Scare Tactics--when the guy was asked "Are you scared!?", he answered "yes-ok-yes I am!!" with the conviction of a bad actor playing a Vulcan. It seemed as real as the WWF.

Regards,
B :coffee:

PicassosLaughing

07-28-2003, 09:31 AM

Originally posted by Has
I don't think Lexx was cancelled, I remember reading somewhere that the actors wanted to move on and that the 4th season would be its last.

I read that too at the LEXX website. I think. But I thought to myself, "yeh sure", and wrote it off to positive spin. I sometimes liked LEXX, but to me the theme song was the best part, OH WAY OH.

I figured it was probably cancelled too, but there really isn't anyway of knowing but taking peoples word for it.

Shows come and go on Sci-Fi channel as fast as guano through a long necked ornithoid. I often think Farscape would be better off with another more loyal network.

But I guess I've gotten a little off topic of this thread. My apologies.

frellyou

07-28-2003, 09:46 PM

Teal'c is one of the best characters in scifi. His expressions are priceless.

grapeshot

07-28-2003, 10:30 PM

another more loyal network.

oh? which network would THAT one be???

<<methinks the term "loyal network" is something of an oxymoron.>>

PicassosLaughing

07-29-2003, 08:11 AM

Occasionally I've heard of a network supporting a show despite poor ratings if they have critical...., but Farscapes ratings were always good, and, but... what about Buffy and ..maybe...well, oh, o.k., you're right.

RustySlinky

08-16-2003, 04:48 AM