We’ve been discussing our experiences about the Stargate Universe premiere in our review and discussion thread on Friday’s episode and I’ve been enjoying the different perspectives and thoughts on the premiere..
Now, we finally have some ratings numbers for the newest chapter in the Stargate franchise and they prove interesting at best.
Stargate Universe overnight numbers drew in just over 2.3 million viewers, helping the newly renamed Syfy network continue its trend of hitting worthy ratings numbers for a … for cable outlets.
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From these estimated 2.3 million viewers, 1.1 million viewers were adults 18-49. That’s less than half of the estimated total viewers out there that are between 18-49. That leaves a lot of numbers outside that bracket!
What has been noted is that this premiere was the best performing Stargate franchise season premiere since the 2nd season of Stargate Atlantis in 2005.
I found it interesting that in the Syfy press release, they tossed out there that SGU’s 2.3 million viewer numbers beat out Dollhouse’s 2.1 million viewers for Friday night. As it stands, the 2.3 million mark from Stargate Universe (Starring Robert Carlyle) overshadowed previous premieres of Stargate SG-1’s 10th season & Stargate Atlantis 3rd, 4th & 5th season premieres. Of course, those were continuation premieres of established series’ as opposed to this being a brand new chapter for the franchise.
My presumption is that these premiere numbers for SGU included franchise fans and new, curious fans. Now, we wait and see how the show does in holding those 2 million viewers over the next several weeks.
Source: TV By The Numbers
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77 Comments
Anonymous Exec
Thanks for the reply, SG1 could continue with Ben Bowder & Claudia Black, and only 1 or 2 origanal members the first year.
If cast members are not interested in returning, then the present Universe will kill the franchise on TV, may be best to let the gate franchise die, I hate to say that as much as I love SG1 and Atlantis, but Universe sucks, and I have no desire to watch it anymore.
Rumors are begining to fly about Trek returning to TV, If this happens that may satisfy our needs for a Good weekly scifi series!
SG1 really can not be resurected. The Ark of Truth completed the Ori story arc and Continuum completed the Goa’uld story arc with the death of the System Lord Ba’al. Continuum’s ending kept the Stargate story continuing which is why the movie was titled Continuum but not with SG1.
Stargate Atlantis had many problems with their character drama stories which led to viewer rejection of the series. The first critical change was making the origins of the Wraiths, Alterans, bitten by a bug with their DNA changed where the Alterans were changed into Wraiths. This directly conflicted with what the female Alteran in the holo room gave the SGA team the history of what happened to them. This was done to give the character Dr. Becket a major role in the stories and was done for the Michael story arc. As the Alteran said in the holoroom, they came to Pegasus Galaxy and encountered the Wraith, a race that rivaled them.
From there the series stories suffered from a lack of credibility with the viewers. Franchise fans, used to SG1 not using ancient technology, baffling even the countries top scientists, rejected SGA seemingly easy use of it. An aspect the writers felt viewers would overlook in favor of character drama. This resulted in viewer backlash against the character Rodney McKay and later the resurrected Dr. Beckett. All resulting in the series being cancelled after the 5th season.
The return of Atlantis to Earth is where the storyline for SGU is derived from. It is the study of Atlantis and the information in the Atlantis database, by the scientists that the knowledge of a 9th chevron, the seeder ships and “Destiny” as well as what these ships are for is learned. The Alterans quest for Ascension and how they studied the evolutionary path of life towards Ascension.
This is where the Stargate Franchise sits right now. SGU is really about a scientist’s quest for answers to the fundamental questions of life that brought them to the Destiny ship with a unwittingly and reluctant group. The writers had hoped that the character stories about the individuals on Destiny with the series story arc backdrop of the Alterans of quest of Ascension through the understanding the evolutionary path of life. Character drama of the conflicts between a diverse group of people who stand on the deck of a ship which seeks the answers to fundamental question of life and though that Ascension [which is supposed to be the same conflicts encountered in earths many and varied religions beliefs of what path if the right path to Enlightenment and Ascension].
SGU imo, failed to make clear to viewers, that this is what SGU is all about thus the viewers can watch that story unfold through character drama and want to watch where the writers take us as that story unfolds.
All press releases billed sg1 going out on top, and the same for atlantis!
Thats why the majority of fans were outraged at both cancelations, Atlantis was doing very well, and was cancelled to make room for the pet project Universe, Aug 20th 2009 Atlantis cancellation, Aug21st 2008 Universe green lit.
Either show could come back, but when Universe dies, I think MGM will let the franchise die.
Sg1 had a contract for season 10 and 11, both years were renewed at the same time at the end of season 9, but SG1 was cancelled after 10th season, a huge fan campaign insued, after a few weeks we were promised 2 to 3 direct to dvd movies a year, with the first 2 to come out summer & fall 2007, we did not get either one till 2008, and none since, by now we should have had 6 to 9 at the promised rate of 2 to 3 a year, 2007, 2008, 2009, and now 2010 looks empty as well, MGM just lied to the fans in an attempt to shut us up, inspite of how we have been treated, we would become loyal viewers again if either series was to return, otherwise the franchise is headed for death.
Well tonight was episode four. Does the show strike out? No big deal how it ended. I think it was funny how the cast basically rated their own episode at the end!
I loved all the Star Trek series, then along came the Stargate movie. I was so happy as were many others that they made a series SG-1. Ten seasons and was stronger than ever to me but along came Atlantis and I was slow to receive. Once I got used to it and the characters I began to enjoy it. Right when I am most into it bam, it’s gone and now SGU which like with Atlantis I will give a chance for a while. There is nothing else and I don’t want the whole thing going down a dark hole. jim
Oops, I meant episode 5. Hey David James why didn’t you catch that?
If I understand Anonymous Exec we can look forward to more character drama and development and the adventure can be found in this aspect of the story line. Sounds like a soap opera in space to me and except for the run in with the star we were still watching character angst of the type found on soap operas and frankly they are the most boring things on tv. I do keep watching but it reminds me of a movie I watched when I was young. I didn’t like the movie but no one spoke in it. I kept watching it to see if any one ever said anything. I keep watching this to see if it might possibly have something good in it. If it is planned as a space opera especially one as dark as BSG I think I will have to give up.. By the way The star encounter was totally predictable. It was the outcome I figured would happen. I mean what else? It was an ancient’s ship and had been flying for thousands of years. Of course it would know how to regenerate itself. Someone said the science was what is missing from this show. Well, in part, yes, but where oh where is the wit and humour of sgl and to a lesser degree sga. There is no wit, no humour and not a lot of intellegence in this series. Ho hum. Hope it gets better before I forget where it is on my tv.
I watched last night at 12pm I set the recorder for it, with SG1 and Atlantis I couldnt wait and always watched it live first run,
I only watched to see if I guessed the show from the 30 second preview from last week, the ship headed for a star, disater was billed, but I immeadatly thought no just a solar recharge, yep I was spot on, the acting continues as weak and lame, lack of adventure. I cant even remember the preview for next week, so it must have been lame, I have deleted the weekly record command from my DVR. I think I am done with this show.
Yah, just watched the latest episode, just as dumb as the rest of them so far… Should I bother to keep watching? Oh, decisions decisions…
I suspect that the ship has an AI that learns. How much they allow it to learn will set the adventure value of the show. They could have went for some short term attention by leaving the shuttle behind. Perhaps upping the drama as the star ship crew tried to make it go back. But they’ve chose to leave the audience in the dark a little longer as to how much control these people have over the ship and their lives. As you say Brenda the story is getting soapy. They risk one sector of the audience to try to interest another. Keeping people waiting for this show to payoff is kind of selfish. Maybe it would be better to let it go and watch it on rerun? Bruce will keep everyone clued in as long as we keep coming to ScreenRant right??
Yes, this show is realy boring. I have also watched all SG1 and Atlantis and I don’t like this Stargate release. I wish to watch SG:Atlantis (Stargate: Extinction) movie instead. They should cancel Universe series and do continue Atlantis or do some more actionfull series in Stargate world.
If they brought Sg1 back we wouldn’t like it (at least not at first) because it wouldn’t be the show we know and love. I’m not sure about Atlantis but if the actors changed drastically it would be the same story. WE can’t help comparing that which is with what was and since we loved those shows they are hard act to follow. So we have one most of us agree misses the mark. It’s boring us to death. But could it be good? Could the mad Doctor get over himself and start teaching others what he knows of the ancients and maybe let others have a little input on things.
The kid is obviously a lazy genius. Could he be sparked to actually do more. Although I must say he has done the most so far. He hasn’t learned yet the balls are probalbly the intellegence gatherers for the ship and once they have gathered all their intellegence the ship will start doing what it needs to make the inhabitants comfortable and find places for them to explore. WE can hope they put the personal drama as secondary to the action that we know is going to happen when they start finding places to explore. SG1 had lots of personal drama it just didn’t dominate the story lines. Maybe they could find on one of their stops a person to bring life to the party. Claudia Black helped a lot After Richard Dean Anderson left. While the other actors were really great they just didn’t have that spark and she helped revive that. Cut the drama and start the action. We’re bored out here in viewer land. Save our Gate World.
I’m going to give this show a little more time. They need to get rid of this BSG feel, IMHO, and have Eli do more genius stuff. Maybe they can have some episodes about other ships that have malfunctioned and had some type of identity crisis or something. This soap-opera crap is going to loose me if they keep it up.
I did not watch last week, I have quit, as I was not entertained by the show, SG1 and Atlantis were very adventurous and fun, I miss that in the franchise.
This show is amazingly boring. Star Gate is going down the drain.
I will never watch the scifi channel again until SGA or SG1 is brought back PERIOD!!!
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