Wow. This is some letter to SciFi!

[gategrrl]

I *think* I know who the letter writer is, but I'm not sure: Check it out - nialla42, you'll particularly like this - Alix blasts J Mallozzi in a letter to SciFi!

Here's the link:  http://www.scifi.com/sfw/letters/index.html

The letter in question is titled "Karma Will Come For Atlantis Execs"

Comments

[ladyjax.livejournal.com]

whoo, those are some cranky pants!

[graculus.livejournal.com]

Mallozzi likes to stir people up, because he loves to be the centre of attention, so he'll take that kind of thing as proof he's right and people who complain about what he's doing should be ignored because they're loonies.

I'm sorry the SG:A fans are finding out now what we discovered about TIIC a few years back...

[whisper99.livejournal.com]

I'm so very glad JM isn't our problem anymore. Poor SGA fans. :(

[nialla]

I'm sure Mallozzi will see it as proof of fans being terribly naughty bad fans by not liking everything Bridge churns out and we should be asking for second helpings, darn it!

I just wish he'd realize it's not necessarily what he's saying, it's how he's saying it that's the big issue. Maybe I should send him a bag of sugar to coat his words? ;)

[forcryinoutloud.livejournal.com]

I've hated Mallozzi and his god-complex since he first decided interacting with fans online was a good thing. The studio should have neutered him years ago.

But as other have said, those letters will just give him something else to post about, something else to wave around as proof that we're all fanatical. *rolls eyes*

But the thing that stood out from that letter (and has me seriously wanting to strangle someone) is that Tapping is going to be in the credits. *fumes* She's a bloody recurring character, not main cast, and she does NOT deserve a spot in the credits just because she was on a DIFFERENT show for 10 years! *sigh*

Of course, it could just be proof that if the show survives to a year 5 (not looking promising at the moment) the idiotic PTB will be panting after Tapping to join the main cast for Atlantis. I love Amanda, but I despise Carter. She ruined SG1 for me and it seems TPTB are itching to have her leading the cast of SGA. I wonder who will be stepping in to take Weir's place? It certainly won't be one of the REAL main characters. *snort* And who are the writers that have a big ol'hard on for Carter? The two chocolate drips that are this year's show runners. *stabs TPTB*

[whisper99.livejournal.com]

I still get a chuckle when I remember that rant he went on at GW a few years back because writers were never invited to all those gosh darned conventions. :)

[eviljr.livejournal.com]

*nods* word.

[entil2001.livejournal.com]

Maybe I'm missing the point...so the executive producer of a television series is forbidden from deciding the direction and cast of said television series? Or an executive producer must get the approval of the fans before doing so? Other than being unhappy with the creative direction of the show, which is certainly this person's right, how is Mallozzi acting outside of his right and authority?

[graculus.livejournal.com]

"Oh no, the lunatic fans are so jealous of my god-like creative vision they're trying to give me diabetes!" ;)

[gategrrl.livejournal.com]

No...I that's not what folks are up in arms about - at least here, so much. This particular writer/producer loves to stir the fans up - he's like a guy who purposely loves to aggravate the hornets nest every chance he gets - and then minimize their responses, even when the responses are reasons and reasonable.

His attitude toward the fans of his own show(s), Stargate and Atlantis, is about the worst of any who posts online.

[gategrrl.livejournal.com]

I meant minimize and *ridicule* the very responses he engenders.

wow, it sure brings back memories

[ndmzero.livejournal.com]

Not good memories, mind you. More fits of mind numbing rage caused by arrogant execs who were too- arrogant - to just be polite, listen to fans, nod, and then do whatever they wanted to do with their own show.

You know, not that it's relevant, but Eric Kripke, a creator of Supernatural, put an easter egg on the dvd set in which he thanked fans for watching the show.

What a novel concept.....

Thanks for posting the link -- it just shows that some people cannot be taught.

[nialla]

I've lost track of his rants. There are way too many of them.

[nialla]

I'm totally not surprised that Tapping will be in the opening credits. I halfway expected it anyway.

I expect whatever number of episodes Weir will be in will be to shuffle her out the door gate so AT can be the lead actress. Whether she goes back to earth in disgrace, injured or in a coffin remains to be seen.

So while they're saying AT will be "recurring" I think they're using that as a cover for the complaining fans who don't want AT taking over. By the end of the season, I have no doubt she'll be the lead actress and if there's another season, she'll be there full time.

[forcryinoutloud.livejournal.com]

That's exactly what I'm afraid of. *sigh* I was hopeful that while they were saying she was recurring that that would mean if the show somehow survives to a season 5, Tapping would NOT be back and Carter wouldn't be insinuated into yet another place she's not wanted--at least I don't want here there. ;) But now, yeah, I won't be surprised if TPTB are panting on their knees for her to join the main cast of SGA for good. I WILL be surprised though to see the show last much past season 4/5 if they do sign her on as a main character.

[nialla]

As I said upthread, it's not what he's saying, it's how he's saying it.

Mallozzi seems to delight in taking every opportunity to take personal cracks at fans, even to the point of naming names in his blog recently, which I thought was very crass.

I've never, in my over a decade of being in online fandom, seen a member of TPTB repeatedly and purposely aggravate fans like Mallozzi does. Some have accidentally opened mouth and inserted foot (sometimes both feet and gone up to their knees), but they learn from it. Mallozzi doesn't, he seems to think it's the fault of the fans for not seeing him for the paragon of writers he thinks he is.

The more fans complain about his attitude, the more he complains about fans. It's a vicious cycle, and one played out several times before, sometimes ending with Mallozzi mysteriously going offline for a while, apparently muzzled by someone with more pull than he has. But now that he's a showrunner, there's very few who can put a muzzle on him.

[nialla]

I know part of it is that Sci Fi and/or MGM wanted someone from SG-1 to cross over. SG-1 still has a lot of viewers that haven't tuned in to SGA, so they hope to have their cake and eat it too by essentially merging the shows. Now whether TPTB wanted AT and no one else was considered, or if none of the other SG-1 cast members were even interested is a whole nother kettle of fish.

I have a feeling we won't see another season. Too many changes in the show, not to mention Sci Fi doesn't give it much attention because it's not "their" show like BSG is. And even BSG got a short season because it's too expensive for the ratings it's getting. But if it does manage to survive, I fully expect to see AT as the lead actress.

But on the plus side, it looks like many of the actors in the Stargate franchise have a lot of other, non-Bridge projects in the works. I'm really looking forward to seeing some of them get to stretch their acting wings.

[forcryinoutloud.livejournal.com]

Well she actually had signed a two year contract and knew that should SG1 not be renewed for S11 that she'd be doing some SGA. Personally I wouldn't be surprised if TPTB worked it out that way because they make no secret of the hardon they've all got for Amanda and the character of Carter. I would have been more surprised to see them actually NOT cross Carter over.

And it's sad really because I think SGA has SO much potential if the writers would stop clinging to SG1 and give SGA the attention it needs and deserves to become even better than SG1. I loved SG1 for a long time but too many changes happened and I stopped watching mid-season 8. I don't think the show should have lasted as long as it did, and on the opposite end I don't think SGA will be given the chance it deserves to shine and it's too bad for the actors because they've done wonderfully with what they've been given.

I'm happy for the projects they're getting to take part in, but I'd prefer to see them every week rather than once a year in some movie. ;) And I think given the choice most of them would prefer to stick with SGA, at least for a while yet, rather than run off to do these side projects.

I'm going to keep everything crossed that the writers/producers don't screw things up too badly and that SCIFI will give SGA a chance to stand on it's own feet now that SG1 is no more.

[entil2001.livejournal.com]

OK...I see where you were coming from (the plural "you"). I guess I was detecting more disagreement and anger over the substance of the changes rather than the attitude regarding acceptance of the changes. And to me, the showrunner can do whatever he wants. It's up to the audience to accept that or not, you know?

[gategrrl.livejournal.com]

Didn't Tapping fight being on SGA last season? Remember the "rumors" that she spread that she might be on SGA during its third season, instead of being on SG1?

I wonder what's with that. She's using SGA as a lifeboat for a career? Okay, that was catty, but this, combined with the 'upset' from last year - makes me wonder, is all.

[gategrrl.livejournal.com]

Well. Okay, I'm not an Atlantis fan. I watched it for a while and decided many of the stories were not very original, even as far as SF stories go (retreads of their own shows from SG1, for example) and that the characters had it too easy.

BUT there are fans of the show who are resentful and angry about the casting changes. Many fans of the show that *I* know started watching SGA partly because Tapping's Carter was NOT on SGA as a character. That hideaway from her character is now gone. And, there are many opinions (voiced by Alix, that letter writer) that I've heard in agreement with the letter-writer, that Tapping's experience on one show, doesn't translate into another show.

The producers for Stargate have the reputation for not trusting that the hit actors/characters on their show can carry the show - that their shows always need some sort of "magical" rescue. Usually that means bringing in someone from outside the show and letting them get top billing; and then writing the new characters/situations badly.

There's a LOT of resentment in the Stargate fanbase toward the producer/writers for screwing so much up, in the fans' opinions, of course.

[forcryinoutloud.livejournal.com]

Honestly, it seems the PTB keep the actors in the dark about what their plans are. I think she was told that her screentime might be split between SG1 and SGA and though she didn't seem overly enthusiastic about it she didn't really fight it--that old 'I trust the writers' crap that all of them spew whenever rumors start going around about changes.

They've got her under contract for another year. I'm sure she doesn't mind the work, who would, but I'm thinking she was probably hoping for a S11 of SG1 rather than being shipped off to SGA. I mean she's doing the requisite 'I'm so excited' claptrap but after last year I'm wondering just how excited she really is. And really, I don't know why they didn't just work something out that the movies would be considered her 11th year or something like that. I mean she's going to be in the movies anyway but it seems pointless to spread her between two movies and a series, not to mention she's going to be seriously stretched. A series is a lot of work in and of itself but add two movies to that that are supposed to filming while S4 is filming? What the hell were they thinking?

[nialla]

If you haven't been around Mallozzi's comments before, it would simply appear to be fans upset about changes. There is that, certainly, especially with so many in a short amount of time, but if Mallozzi would either answer questions without malice towards fans or simply remain mum if it's something he can't answer, it would solve a lot of problems.

He seems to want to play in the same "fanbox" as fans, and gets offended by those making negative comments and lashes out. Most fans love to nitpick and discuss gripes -- it helps them understand the stories in greater depth. But that's generally not a conversation intended for TPTB's ears. If I was writing something intended for them, I would use a very different style of writing.

From what I can tell, Mallozzi takes fan crit very personally, even while saying fan comments and campaigns don't matter, and wants to dish out insults to retaliate. It's just not what any smart businessman does if they want to keep their customers, and they call it showbiz for a reason.

[nialla]

She's using SGA as a lifeboat for a career?

TPTB certainly used SGA as a lifeboat for a career.

I think TPTB planned for AT to be on Atlantis for quite a while, it was just a matter of when.