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…”
extremaly disipointed i just learned that u want to stop the series with is the dume’s thing i have ever heard i love stargate it keeps getting better and better i got seasons 1-10 and just looked on the net to buy season 11 and found out the disiponting news if the scifi channel dosent want5 to make any new episodes then let anothere chennel and i will get the cable for that channel i will stoping me subscripion of scifi and happy to hear u making a game all my friend will be buying it thats 30 – 40… Read more »
what a predictable boring finale. it was a bad as sopranos and enterprise. why did they have to comeup with such a lame ass ending. have such a good story line, and end it with a half ass thought. dam that was a bad ending. couldnt they come up with something better then just the same ol time trick as used in most or all sci fi shows. i was hoping for something better and original
HELP…..HELP!!! I missed the series finale….is there a website i can watch the entire episode on the internet or will it air again anytime soon on tv?
It really does make you wonder where they get their results saying the ratings are slipping. The number of fan sites opened in name of Stargate SG1 should say it all. Stargate SG1 is by far the most gripping series I have ever had the pleasure to watch. I guess all attempts to re-fund the show are now futile, nonetheless I will buy all the stargate sg1 DVD sets anyway. Farewell Stargate SG 1
They wrecked this show ages ago when they added Ben (Browder), Claudia (Black) and Beau (Bridges). They just don’t fit and they can’t act. The scripts for them can’t have been that bad for them to continually act so bad. What’s up with direction? Every flinch, word was perfect every episode before these guys came in and wrecked it all. Sam, Jackson and Tilc were the only thing that kept me watching it, and of course, to see what would happen next. Gawwd, you would see me cuss every time Browder spoke. Because it was written exactly the way I… Read more »
THATS WAS A GREAT IDEA!!!
a guy said to merge atlantis and sg-1! atlantis is a space ship that needs to be preserved if they brought it to earth and make that the NEW “SGC” than sg1 shouldnt have to end at all it could go throug but then together with atlantis… GREAT IDEA,, lol that guy is smarter then the producers, no avence guys:P
I’m from Italy and this is the best series that I’ve ever seen!!! Damn i hate this bullsh*t… scifi must close!
all i have to say is that sci-fi chanell must have been infiltrated by the ori
Son of a b****!!
Canceling SG-1 is the biggest mistake ever made!
almost everyone knows, and loves the show !! 😐
scifi are clowns,they should all be fired for canceling sg1 there is ah world outside america clowns the best ever….
Im shouting from sweden! This is by far the best show ever seen on tv and im so sad season 10 is the last =(
I just finished watching te last episode of season 10.. I’m reporting my tears of sorrow and anger! All I can say is that that ending was so depressing it was worse than being accused of my best friends murder again! That is all short of me saying just generally how pissed off.. this.. right now is WORSE than when ifound out my mother was on crack.. I hope your’e happy MGM & Sci-Fi.. you’ve just made an enemy of one of your most temperless-former-fans.. Good day to all and may the Ori roll in their graves due to this… Read more »
I hope the advitisers on sci-fi are reading this, I watched the other Friday night shows only because of Stargate, there will be a significant decrease in my Friday night viewing of Sci-Fi.
A message to the Sci-Fi channel. Sci fi get over yourself. I think of you as a pig headed piece of sh*t that deserves nothing less than a good bankrupsty or major decline in all ratings and profits. If your not going to show the series then let someone else. Its really selfish of you to restrict heaps nad heaps of fans from viewing the SG1 series. Not only that but by doing so, you have stopped the production of new seasons. This is what really ticks me off. You have really upset everyone. Good luck with your ratings because… Read more »
Clowns. tv ratings are no longer the way to measure number of viewers. Its about time that these companies worked it out and realised that they are now reaching a world audience not just a US one. I cant get over how Scifi has also made it so that no body else can pick the series up. Good job SciFi keep acting like children and you will get what you deserve – a long awaited kick up the arse.