(no subject)

[gategrrl]

This is a post I wrote on betacandy's LJ.

I suspect that RCC, BW, and the other producer/writers weren't as surprised or 'hurt' as everyone thinks. They did, after all, see the writing on the wall earlier, and left off writing/plotting the final three scripts of the season for exactly this eventuality.

I'm not all that sympathetic to the production staff (the ones that make the big decisions, anyway). They've had ten years on this show, some of them less, and, if you believe some stories floating around the net, they've been trying to kill their own show off for years in the hope of a movie deal or a new series 'franchise'. So, now that they've gotten the Word that their show HAS finally gotten the cancellation notice, it's Incredible News? Pffffft, as they say. Was the timing *bad* for the Incredible News? I suppose so. But SciFi is made up of asshole suits to begin with, from stories I've heard in various CGI studios that make the cheesy movies they show every week.

I dunno. Has everyone forgotten how terribly the producers have treated the actors in the past, how they manipulate them, and (in Tapping's words) make them feel like they're lucky to have a job? Not to mention the circumstances the decided MS to leave the show in the first place? And how hard Tapping had to negotiate to FINALLY get her directing job? And how they threw the HARDEST and most complex episode to direct at MS for his first time directing? No, I think these guys are pretty shitty themselves, even as far as producers go here in Hollywood.

As for the actors - I have a feeling that after ten years of doing the same things over repeatedly, and trying to find something *fresh* in their characters - well, MS hadn't signed any papers, and Tapping has plans in the works for another series, I have a feeling they knew the gig was up.

Comments

[moonshayde.livejournal.com]

I still have mixed feelings. I just want a good ending and maybe some tv movies down the line.

I still think the timing was awful. But I figure they all had a gut feeling anyway. Ten years and all.

I'm not as riled as some people, but I'm not off cheering the show's demise, either. I'm just waiting to see what happens.

But I've always been a middle of the road type person anyway.

[gategrrl.livejournal.com]

I'm not *cheering* the show's demise. But I have to admit some feelings of relief in that, hopefully, the writers won't be able to screw up the characters any more than they already have (even if you've started liking them again).

The only I now fear is that the final two or three episodes will feature at least two weddings, both of which would cause me to never watch it beyond season 6 again (wherein I'd prefer to see Daniel as an Ascended from now on). Those two weddings?

Jack and Sam, and Daniel and Vala. I wouldn't be surprised if the writers had a double gate-ramp wedding. They're that tacky.

[moonshayde.livejournal.com]

I wasn't implying that you were cheering. I'm just saying what I've been seeing. Some of it isn't pretty.

I am afraid of weddings. Afraid. I'm also afraid that someone will think a Daniel and Vala spinoff is a fabulous idea.

[gategrrl.livejournal.com]

It seems like there are more than a few who appear to want a Daniel/Vala spin-off. To me, that wouldn't be Daniel at all. It would some weird AU Daniel.

[moonshayde.livejournal.com]

It seems like there are more than a few who appear to want a Daniel/Vala spin-off.

Yeah, well. I mean someone who counts.

[gategrrl.livejournal.com]

You mean producer/writers? Really? Where've you heard that?

(and if so, that's *Frightening*)

[moonshayde.livejournal.com]

No! Oh, I am havign issue communicating today *sigh* I was being sarcastic. I know a handful of fans want it. But I don't know if that would be a go for TPTB.

I'm hoping not. If so, I'm not watching. I'm going to pretend it never happened.

I mean, I stopped watching X-Files in Season 9 *shrugs*

[aizjanika.livejournal.com]

I'm also afraid that someone will think a Daniel and Vala spinoff is a fabulous idea.

Me too. Eeek! *g*

[graculus.livejournal.com]

I haven't forgiven or forgotten anything that certain people involved with that show did. There's more than one writer whose next job I'd love to be something that involves saying 'and would you like fries with that?'... ;)

[betacandy.livejournal.com]

Well said! I bet we're thinking of the same writers.

[ladyjax.livejournal.com]

Timing was crappy? Definitely. Not knowing it was coming? I'm with you, I'm highly doubtful about it all.

I'm probably more concerned with the "how it was done" part as far as the actors go. "Here you are, you've had this great party and btw, we're cancelling your show." It sort of feels like Angel's cancellation.

Plus, I'm more than a little annoyed at the advertising push that BSG got (and I say this as someone who loves the show) but somehow the Gate properties didn't merit that kind of consideration. That's just tacky in my book but we're talking about network execs here and hey, I'm still holding a grudge about Fox cancelling Space: Above and Beyond well over a decade ago.

What I'm hoping for is a fine send off with more questions than answers and adventures left to be had.

[gategrrl.livejournal.com]

I'm still holding a grudge about Fox cancelling Space: Above and Beyond well over a decade ago.
Ah, yes, S:A&B -- we have the DVDs. From what I heard about *that* series - the two producer/writers for Space (Wong and...blanking on the other guy's name) were also writers for Chris Carter on the X-Files, and were two of Carter's Best Writers. From what I've heard, when Chris Carter then started up Millenium, there were some contractual shenanigans, and Carter ended up convincing the studio/suits that he had to have Wong and partner back. Wong and partner went back to work with Carter, on the condition that their own series NOT be cancelled.

The spin on this story is that Carter was extremely selfish - no wonder I have bad associations with that name on Stargate. And of course, Wong and partner lost out on an excellent series.

[ladyjax.livejournal.com]

Yep, James Morgan (!) and Glen Wong got screwed with S:AAB. Insult to injury: Fox showing the second half of the finale without even really telling anyone it was going to be on.

I'm hoping that Atlantis will get a chance to grow into its own show, with its own mythology like SG-1 one did. Do I want it go for 10 years? Probably not but I'll take a strong seven years or even five with solid storytelling and characterization.

[moonshayde.livejournal.com]

I remember with Firefly, trying to hunt down when they were showing new episodes drove me crazy. And then they just sort of quietly canceled the show. I didn't even know it until I realized it had been an awfully long time since the last ep aired.

And then I used to watch Futurama which was always preempted due to football.

I dislike the industry.

[gategrrl.livejournal.com]

I'm probably more concerned with the "how it was done" part as far as the actors go. "Here you are, you've had this great party and btw, we're cancelling your show." It sort of feels like Angel's cancellation.

Weelll...I know I'm coming across as unfeeling here, but honestly. MS, AT, and CJ have been on the show for ten years (and yes, even when MS was "on hiatus" for a year, he was still there a fair amount). Over the past two years, they've been ramping up their auditions, seeing casting directors, going down to LA, starting up new projects...it's not like they were unaware something was probably going to happen.

Stargate isn't a young show like Angel was (which I stopped watching after the season of Connor screwing Cordelia...ick and repulsive), so the rug being pulled out from under them isn't a full shag carpet; it's an entryway rug, all worn out.

They're actors, and they've had an enormously good run. Lots of actors get suddenly let go when their show goes under. What makes this show so different? Not saying the suits are a-holes: they are. But, it is a part of the business.

[nialla]

Has everyone forgotten how terribly the producers have treated the actors in the past, how they manipulate them, and (in Tapping's words) make them feel like they're lucky to have a job? Not to mention the circumstances the decided MS to leave the show in the first place?

Not everyone has forgotten. Honestly, I'm all for people doing a "Save Stargate" thing if they want, but I just can't myself to protest the cancellation. Why would I want another season of poor writing and bad characterization, which is what we'd get with the same people in charge?

On top of that, I came fully into fandom right around the time TPTB were asking for fan support to get a renewal for season six (which meant moving to Sci Fi). Once that was secured, it was quickly followed by, "Oh, we forgot to mention Shanks isn't going to be on the show anymore. Our bad."

I have a feeling they're using the cancellation with the tacky delivery to whip up fandom into a letter writing frenzy to show the studio they have support for a theatrical movie.

[gategrrl.livejournal.com]

Hmm. Here's a question. Who exactly broke this news? Was it the Bridge crew? Or was it SciFi? Were the Bridge people told *earlier* and then chose to release the news, so that it made SciFi look as unfeeling as it currently does? Or are they merely using it as spin?

[nialla]

The original source is Multichannel News, which is an industry source. It says the news came from "people close to the production" which could mean one of TPTB or any number of cast or crew who heard the news.

I'm more and more convinced the news broke before they had all their ducks in a row. Either that, or the studio was dragging their feet on a movie deal, so someone involved in production leaked the news to stir up fannish ire to prove there's a market for the movie. I mean, come on... GateWorld and Solutions in a united "Save Stargate" site? While their audience does overlap, they're hitting the widest spectrum of fangroups possible with those two sites. You can't buy publicity like that... and they're not. It's all free PR for their next project.

[deej1957.livejournal.com]

You mean Solutions and GW both created the new SaveStargateSG-1.com site?

You've got to be kidding me.

[nialla]

Nope, not kidding. It's a co-venture of both sites.

Pigs are currently at high altitude. ;)

[deej1957.livejournal.com]

Oh my god.

[nialla]

I heard a rumor the flying pigs are involved in an intense aerial battle with the flying monkeys from "The Wizard of Oz," but that's just a rumor. ;)

[aizjanika.livejournal.com]

Pigs are currently at high altitude. ;)

Bwah! *g* I was thinking the same thing when I read that. *g* And I don't even really know all about the past history...just a little.

[betacandy.livejournal.com]

That almost verges on suspicious, it's so unprecedented. *g*

[nialla]

TPTB have gotten something they haven't had in years -- a wide spectrum of fans united in support of the show. Of course TPTB are the reasons for much of the fandom division in the first place, but I digress...

[betacandy.livejournal.com]

Manipulating the audience is where some people think the game is at.

[betacandy.livejournal.com]

I do think everyone on this show is aware it's had a surprisingly long run. They've been expecting cancellation every year since season 4 or so. In TV, you have to plan for job loss - it's the way of things. So while I'm certainly not happy anyone's out of work, I'll save my sympathy for laid-off factory workers in areas where there are no other jobs.

And I must say, if this means they can't treat the cast like shit or screw up the characters any further, that's a silver lining. And I agree with you, some of the cast treatment has been worse than the norm for TV.

I'm really hopeful the actors will go on to do great things. Or at least just be happy with whatever they do. I feel like they gave me a lot of joy over the years, so I just wish them well.

[seanchaidh.livejournal.com]

Did you see this? A message from Michael Shanks