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…”
The greatest show i’ve ever watched ended. I watched Sg1 from it’s first episode to its last and I have to say it’s never been boring. I really hope they will reconsider and make season 11.
ive watched stargate since i was 10 and it has been the most entertaining show ive watched ever its my favourite show of all time and will always be but because off of the stupidness of $$$ money making tv channels and mgm etc im sick of stargate now carson beckett gone wtf? stargate sg1 going wtf? sam carter going to stargate atlantis wtf? why not just ship sg1 to stargate atlantis and f**k everything up 😛 shame on mgm shame on sci-fi channel shame on the people putting their filthy fingers in the pie too bad if there not… Read more »
Yea, cutting Stargate is the worst decision yet. I think that SG1 is better than Atlantis. And getting rid of SG would just ruin the whole thing.
To Jeff Fiedberg: If it bores you change channels then. SG1 also gets money from UK viewers 2-2.5 million viwers per week add this to other europian countries and you can double it. When we get a series in the UK with a large fan base we don’t axe it , could american execs ever dream about about a series lasting 40 years like coronation street, I doubt it, they just dont have what it takes to grow and keep an audience.
HEY U guys are idiots how can u cancel stargate sg1 thats the only things that keeps me happy at home wen i come home all i can here is my parents and my sisters arguing but wen i turn on the tv and watch stargate sg1 it calms me down and all the horribles feelings go way and if u cancel stargate sg1 wat else is going to make my life easier,i know dat dis sounds realy stupid but ive been watching stargate sg1 since ive been nine(9) please dont cancel it dont take my happiness away from its… Read more »
As popular as this show seems to me it bores me to death. Am I the only one? Nothing ever seems to really get going. In other words, despite the FX, the scripts suck, and–say, out of a possible 10–they never seem to get past a 5.5 rating of Happening Stuff. Also, I totally hate SG Atlantis, that REALLY is EL Sucko Grande.
The idea of cancelling Sg1 has got to be the worst decisions you guys have made. Stargate Atlantis is good and new, however Sg1 was the Classic that everyone loved. The Stargate World Began with Sg1 and in my opinion should end with Sg1, however that time is not yet.
Stargate Sg1 was the best Sci fi show ever put out and now its going to be ruined. Even Atlantis won’t make much sense anymore.
Keep Sg1 and you’ll have millions of happy viewers
I agree it prossibly the only show i watch on that channel. They will be loosing a huge fanbase. Furthermore Atlantis will never have the same sucess as Sg-1. Them canceling Stargate has made them loose me as a viewer.
Atlantis cannot stand on its own.
Add some new characters or ideas to SG-1. Anything to keep the show going. Other then that, what does Sci-fi have Enterprise reruns?? because that’s all I will watch if SG-1 is gone.
Sci-fi WHERE WILL YOUR REVENUE COME FROM WITH SG-1 GONE AND ATLANTIS TANKING???????
I love this show with all of my heart and to let it go will sadden me its the only thing that actually lets me release my anger from a day at school *I dont throw the cases about :P* Well Although both stargates will be coming to an end t i hope they can make something leading off of stargate not involving the original cast maybe they appear in it now n then, Well what about a series just involving the deadalus or a new human ship that has been built and explores the galaxys and many others, This… Read more »
“i despise and detest scifi. With the cancellation of sg-1 from scifi, they have eliminated their major money-making show. They are fools.”
i agree they are making a major mistake.
It’s the biggest mistake they will ever make!! one of the biggest series that beeing broadcasted will end that’s just good for less people to see Sci Fi channel and loose more viewers
Kristof D.
(Belgium)
Merging SG-A and SG-1 will be too much of an expense on production side keeping all orginal chars intact. Which in the end will prove expensive for both SCI-Fi network and MGM. As I can see Sci-Fi don’t want anything to do with SG-1 there will soon be taking SG-A off the air. Taking that off the air means taking it off permenantly. There are a few solutions, and one of them is being productive and clever. MGM airing SG-1 on the net. Unforently many of the SG fans do not have the means to see the show live or… Read more »
I look forward to the Ori DVD with much excitement. What’ is Sci Fi Channel going to do after SG1? I hope they have something with just as much appeal as SG1 in store. I used to be a huge fan of LEXX also. lmao … hey maybe after the DVD movie releases they find a reason to bring back SG1!!!
There tens of millions of viewers for stargate sg1 that love this show. This is a big mistake to cancel it.
Alex from Israel