Back in August, the Sci Fi Channel upset fans of Stargate SG-1 by revealing that the venerable science fiction series would not be renewed for an eleventh season. The series, which once starred MacGiver’s Richard Dean Anderson, has been airing on the Sci Fi Channel for the past five seasons (following five seasons on Showtime). A campaign to save SG-1 began almost immediately and the studio publicly announced its support for the series. Well, all those efforts have paid off.
The ratings for Stargate SG-1 admittedly have been slipping. The show has run for 10 seasons so it was really no big surprise that the Sci Fi Channel pulled the plug. Science fiction shows are expensive to produce — especially shows that have been around for 10 years. Cast and staff members receive raises over the years and that all adds up to big production costs. In truth, Stargate SG-1 was not expected to continue this long. When the spin-off series Stargate Atlantis was created three years ago, it was expected that it would be replacing SG-1. But Stargate SG-1was rejuvenated and did so well that it was decided to air both series concurrently.
The Sci Fi Channel made the announcement not to renew the series on August 26, 2006. But Sci Fi does not own the SG-1show. They purchase the rights to air it in the United States from MGM. So, could the show simply be picked up by another cable station or network? Not a chance. Though Sci Fi doesn’t want to buy any new episodes themselves, they don’t want anyone else airing them either.
Mark Stern, Sci Fi Channel’s Executive Vice President of Original Programming, reportedly told Multichannel, “There is not going to be (a season 11 of Stargate SG-1) on U.S. television. Our contract with MGM prohibits it. It’s done a great job, rejuvenated with the additions of Ben (Browder), Claudia (Black) and Beau (Bridges), but we think we’ve come to the end of those stories. We really felt like it was the right time to segue out, for the show not to overstay its welcome.” (Sci Fi will finish airing season 10 in Spring 2007 and will continue to air the 200+ episodes of SG-1 in reruns for the foreseeable future.)
How about movies or DVDs or even downloadable episodes via iTunes? Possibly. MGM studio spokesman Jeff Pryor said “From MGM’s perspective, we don’t view SG-1 as a television series, we view it as a franchise, and one with a lot of vibrant life. The fan base is fiercely loyal.”
How refreshing to see a studio stand so solidly behind a show though it’s been cancelled. The studio even went so far as to create a special section of their StargateSG1.com devoted to encouraging fans to write, record and campaign to save the show. Fans of the show started their own campaign (SaveStargateSG1.com), wrote letters and bought full-page ads in the Hollywood trade paper Variety.
Well, the diligence has paid off.
MGM has now given the go-ahead for the production of two direct-to-DVD Stargate SG-1 movies. Executive producer Brad Wright told TV Guide that the first film will be “the climax of the Ori story line.” The DVD movie will tie up the loose ends from season 10 (expected to conclude its initial U.S. television run in June 2007) and will be written and directed by current SG-1 executive producer and show-runner Robert C. Cooper. Wright himself plans to create the second film script and said it will involve time travel.
In addition, Wright said, “They’re not big-budget (movies) by any definition, but for us it’s pretty good. As we’ve proven over the years, just give us little more money and we can make pretty good television, or DVDs. There’s a sense of an era for us ending, but at the same time, we’re all positive because of the prospect of continuing forward with movies and the introduction next year of Stargate Worlds, a massive multiplayer online game.”
The Stargate SG-1 castmembers haven’t signed on for the movies as yet, but are said to be “very eager” to be part of the new SG-1 stories. The studio is targeting a Fall 2007 release for both projects — just a few months after the airing of Stargate SG-1 season 10. It’s possible that the movies could be aired on TV (perhaps the Sci Fi Channel) prior to their DVD release.
The producers have expressed interest in starting a third series based on the Stargate world. It’s possible that the second DVD movie might help to set that up.
Stargate Atlantis, meanwhile, has been renewed for a fourth season, and the Sci Fi Channel hopes that the spin-off series can stand alone.
So, the future looks very good for the Stargate world. Could it be that Sci Fi’s cancellation made much of this possible? Hard to say but perhaps there’s truth in the old saying, “What does not kill us, makes us stronger…”
I love SG-1
Sg-1 forever!!! SGU must die…:)))
This was the most amazing TV Series i ever watched.I do not ever tired of watching the show!
But i do not know why the hell they canceled the show!
SG1 should not have been cancelled. A rather petty attitude to stop other companies from airing SG1. Teal’c is one of my favourite characters. Though a warrier, he is a deeply spiritual man. Carter is a loyal friend and so is Daniel Jackson, both of them are very intelligent and skillful in their own field. I was sad to find out that General George Hammond of Texas passed away, well the brilliant man who played him. He stood by his SG1 team and they stood by him. A true leader of men. Yes bring SG1 and the SGC team back.… Read more »
pacat, pacat, pacat ca s-a terminat. cu adevarat unuln dintre cele mai tari sci fi. tare de tot aproape ca poti trai in aceasta lume a filmului, numai ca SG1 din punct de vedere moral este perfecta.
SG1 SG1 …………………………SG1
I have watched Sg1 from the the day it started! I have watched SGA from the day it started! I love them both. I love the very original Sg1 eppisodes, but the show died with the addition of Mitchell and Vala. Jack was the show, no matter what anyone says. SGA was just a cheap knock-off. that is all that Mitchell is, as much as I like Ben Browder, his character is just a cheap knock-off of Jack O’Neill. SGU is amazing! it is incredible! it is vibrant, and new, and mysterious, and it is just as intriguing as Sg1… Read more »
SG1!!! SGA!!! SG1!!! SGA!!! SG1!!!
Jack O’Neill!!! John Sheppard!!!
Stop SGU!!!!
I agree with jason stop SGU and get back to Sg1 with are so many things they could do and have vala in it she made the show even more funny how she just flirted with everyone
stop wasting time on crappy SGU and get SG1 back! LONG LIVE SG1!
I just started watching Stargate SG1. I put off watching it for years because it was not advertisted alot and not many people knew about it. All I can say is wow! It’s the most amazing show I have ever watched. Amazing stories. The cast has perfect chemistry. I have no idea why they would want to cancel it. You could have unlimited stories from this amazing concept. Well I tell all my friends about this show and they have no idea it exists. Maybe if more advertisting was used this show would be so popular it would not be… Read more »
nooooo!!! awww i donnt want it to endd it was suchh a great showw!! nah yeah mitchell is great but i reckonn jack was the best! AWW THIS SUCKS! I WANT IT TO KEEP GOING!!!!
I can’t believe it was canceled. What a bunch of frugal jerks. At the VERY least they could have wrapped it all up in the 11th season. That’s just stupid to leave everyone hanging after TEN FRAKKIN YEARS. (Yes I’m also a BSG fan) God, I just started consistantly watching SG-1 on Hulu (which has seasons 1-8 and more coming soon I guess) and now I learn this?! What a cryin shame. Why the heck would they make the spin off series Stargate Universe if SG-1, the LARGEST part of the series by a long shot, was canceled? That’s really… Read more »
Agreed, how dare they let this happen. COME BACK TO US SG-1 COME BACK TO USSS!!!!
what the ………………….this has only just begun on so many levels . Only true star gate fans know this . the show was mostly at war The playing of concepts and the fact that people like me and I’m sure your many many fans was looking forward to the places that we could only dream of experiencing that only sg1 could take us Your like family in a weird way but family that is taken in a intamite way that other shows couldn’t provide or not any other stargate could provide YOU WILL BE MISSED VALA DANIEL SAM CAMRON AND… Read more »
yea SG1 is the best u cant just cancel it. think about Teal’c and the poor jaffa {not choclates
Stargate SG1 is the best Sci fi series I’ve ever seen. My favorite character is Jack O’Neill. After he is out of the show, it was not so great. Jack O’Neill kept the show running over the years.