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 boycut sci-fi
I hate SciFi channnel Stargate SG1 is much better than Atlantis and it makes SciFi famous they should not cancel it but im lookin forward to the movies. Anyway thanks mgm everybody who made stargate sg1 and to everybody who kept it going for 10 years and for SciFi channel for airing although i still hate this channel.SciFi should let another channel air the new episodes I also despise them for that. I love this show very much thanks everybody
I believe it was one of the greatest Science Fiction series out there, Stargate SG1 was the series I started watching from the first episode and as then and now I remain a fan, it evolved into a great series and incorporated some brilliant ideas, I can only thank MGM for their efforts in making it all possible, as for the Sci Fi channel for which I pay a subscription, to them it’s all about ratings and building up the series they need and not having to pay anymore for new ones. I know Sci Fi have some good series… Read more »
Stargate SG-1 was one of the few shows worth watching on television, it is the only reason I paid for the Sci-Fi Channel. If Sci-Fi does not bring it back I will just cancel my cable subscription to their channel. The movies are a wonderful gesture but the series is still full of life and deserves a few more season with the season 10 cast. The final episode of season 10 wasn’t even a finale, they left the ori story line open ended and we did not even have a chance to see where the new information from the Asgard… Read more »
NO NO NO NO What in the galaxy do you goobs think you are doing destroying THE one and only palitable series on television. do you think that SG1 would give up on the Universe because half the planet thought it was a lost cause? NO NO NO they would not.If you run a marathon you don’t stop at the first drinks stand because you feel no one cares whether you finished or not, you run to the end, and there is always someone there waiting for you, no matter your time. stargate gives my family quality time together we… Read more »
Hi we here in Australia are mortified that the end is here. We had to wait two weeks to get SG1 10 season as everyone had sold out. Now we get to the last episode, looking forward to next season, discussing what is going to happen and to find out that some cheap ass executive has cut it. There are not enough swear words to express our feelings. Bring back our Star Gate Friends.
I thought at first that season 9 really failed to revive the series until i got it on dvd and a few weeks later i bought season 10 and it was the best season of it all in my opinion. And then they go and end it with one of the worst episodes ever! apart from turning off the tv and feeling like you’ve just been s**t on it ties up no dead ends that have been left lying around and all it leaves u with is a senile tealc and an impossibly good human ship which will now (im… Read more »
The sg-1 series has truly touched me & the rest of the ppl who have grown to love it over the years. I know that all good things must come to an end but I can’t help but feel a great loss. I know I sound like a loser for letting a tv series mean so much to me but I don’t really care. I love the series & I hope that it continues, if only for a little longer
I’m so sorry to hear this.. Makes me so sad and mad at the same time. Why stop other channels picking the series up!? This makes so many people angry. On behalf of a big stargate fan- group of finland PICK UP THE SERIES AGAIN OR LET SOMEONE ELSE DO IT!
ok ho runs the sci-fi are just crazy to cancel. this show is to litle to say that is beeing watch because evrybody is watching him i don’t have a word for that, i don’t realy understend them , i think they should be shout in the legs for that , this is another thing that peaople do it for money and i hate that, when something is so great and evrybody watchit they canceled. i hope u all go to hell if u don’t give it back on air
What a waste keep it going Stargate rocks !!!!!!!!
DAMN NO MORE SG-1 THATS SAD THAT SHOW WAS THE ONLY THING SI-FI HAD GOING IT ROCKD
Si-FI just does not get the idea when a good thing is going, keep it up. SG-1 was the best and longets series ever, and it is sad to see it go. Si-Fi is loosing my business.
Why!
THE ORI MOST BE GODS IR YOU LET THIS HAPIN