For most of this year, I’ve been hovering and watching for any news about any Stargate movies.  Various articles or snippets around the internet suggested one thing or another.

Back in September, Amanda Tapping mentioned that the Stargate SG-1 movie was approved and could start filming after Stargate Universe is done filming.

Now comes news that the working title for the next Stargate SG-1 movie is called Stargate: Revolution and it includes bringing Jack O’Neill back “in a big way.”

Syfy had themselves a record-setting month in October.

The 5th season of Ghost Hunters is averaging 3 million viewers.

The much debated Stargate Universe is averaging 2.85 million viewers, and doing much better than the last season of Stargate Atlantis. SGU is currently bringing in 36% more total viewers than SGA, but then again, it’s early in the season, so I’m not holding my breath on any numbers holding up for the entire season.

Destination Truth’s 3rd season is averaging 2.2 million viewers.

Scare Tactics, though only averaging 1.56 million viewers in the Fall 2009 season, it’s up 42% from the 2008 season.

Last Friday’s episode of Stargate Universe, titled “Air,” came into the ratings market pretty strong for the second week in a row. This second episode actually had a 4% increase in viewers over the previous week’s premiere, bringing the total viewers of the new series to around 2.5 million.

This week, these numbers reflected those who watched the show live, and DVR numbers from the same day it aired. If we take these numbers for granted, right now the show is doing well and may very well march right on to a successful premiere season.

But that’s the domestic front…

This is a short follow up to the second  episode of Stargate Universe (SGU). The 2-hour premiere of SGU was counted as 2 episodes. That’s why last night’s (Friday, October 10th) episode, ‘Air’, is noted as part 3.

Without much character development needed in this episode after what was established in the premiere, the story moved forward and I found the pace of this episode a bit easier and more enjoyable to follow.

If people came back to give the show a second chance, I think they will be pleasantly surprised. I enjoyed the episode this week and thought it was much more engaging and worth my while.

There are some form of SPOILERS following the break, so be warned.

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.

Upfront: Stargate Universe premiered to a lot of hype that wasn’t completely fulfilled.  The episode was dark, as expected, but lacking in the energy I needed to really get hyped about it.  The acting wasn’t stiff, but I think the background music kept things in a very mellow state.

My devotion to the franchise kept me riveted and though I don’t think tonight’s episode was a stellar hit as some would lead you to believe, it delivered an interesting situation that will have me coming back for more… if anything, just to see if things improve or as I get more involved with the characters than I did tonight.

I don’t give everything up, but there are spoilers included below.

Dust off your portal, dial in the symbols and make sure the seventh chevron is locked (sometimes it sticks) because Friday, October 2nd marks the two-hour premiere of the highly anticipated fourth entry into the Stargate series, Stargate Universe.

If you’re a fan of the Stargate series, then I don’t have to persuade you to tune in. You’re probably already donning your Teal’c costume trying to figure out if the gold paint will come off of your forehead (yes, but you have to rub really hard).

If you’re not a fan then you probably haven’t understood one thing I’ve said so far, but if you’re still reading this you might as well tune it, you’ll have fun. I promise. (I can’t guarantee that last statement. I can’t be held responsible If you’re a Negative Nancy.)

A 4 minute sneak peak from the premiere of Stargate Universe has been released by Syfy.

It’s a moment in the show when the attack that forces an evacuation from the base they’re on is taking place and the group of humans whom we will be coming to know in the series are dealing with the attack and figuring out a gate address to dial.

Pardon the upfront ad in the video. It’s not our doing.

Somehow Syfy overlooked me when they sent out their screeners for Stargate Universe, so I have to live vicariously through others.  More importantly, I need to convey to you, the selective Screen Rant readers, what I’ve learned about the show.

From what I’m reading from sites I trust, Stargate Universe is not going to disappoint when it lands in our living rooms.  That does not surprise me, since Robert C. Cooper and Brad Wright have been successfully bringing us 15 years of Stargate.  They know what they’re doing.

So, despite our dour first take on the marketing efforts, we might just end up pleasantly surprised.

For the Stargate fans out there dying to have an ongoing series back on the air to watch, hold on just one more month!

Until then, to help you get your Stargate fix, we have the brand new trailer for the upcoming Stargate Universe series. This one is something you definitely need to see and I think it’ll help bring in fans of old and new to the long-running sci-fi franchise.

Check it out after the jump…

Very few TV shows make it to the magical tenth season; especially those of the sci-fi genre. So, when Stargate SG-1 called it quits after their tenth season, I, along with thousands of fans worldwide, were very disappointed. We don’t even have Stargate: Atlantis to whet our wormhole whistle any more – but the spin offs are hardly ever as good as the originals – notable exception is Torchwood from Doctor Who.

That’s why even though Sony Picture Television and MGM decided to cancel the series after 214 episodes, they knew the sci-fi cash cow wasn’t finished delivering some prime time space milk. To continue pleasing fans and to keep the franchise viable, it was announced that three full length movies would be released. Stargate: Continuum and Stargate: The Ark of Truth have already come and gone and both were fantastic extensions of the franchise. But we were suppose to get a third film and even a fourth based on the Atlantis series but alas, that may not happen anytime soon.

Just a brief update on this Monday: Plan your prime time with the 2009 TV Fall Schedule; Smallville is getting another new guest star; A certain “Foxy” lady might be kicking off SNL this year; Learn how to catch up on all the NBC shows you missed last year (for free!); and speaking of NBC, how about a first-look photo of Jim and Pam getting married on The Office?

And as a bonus (because I love you) I let you know about the government’s “Cash for TV Clunkers” program.

Let’s get to it!

They weren’t kidding when they said they were looking to make webisodes for Stargate Universe (SGU).  Actually, they’re making 30 web episode shorts and they’re all going to be tied into the story line of the show as it develops.

They won’t be deleted scenes, but actual additional footage that adds to what we will be seeing on television.  The webisodes will be available on Syfy.com and other sites, being made available as SGU nears its premiere date.

Despite Stargate Universe utilizing a different format than we’re accustomed to, being a ship centric story and having a different premise around the Stargate itself as well as the inability to get home, Lou Diamond Phillips said recently that the show will still focus on the combination of a civilian and military co-existence, focused on exploration, much like its predecessors Stargate SG-1 and Stargate Atlantis.

The 16th season of the Stargate franchise is coming soon, in the form Stargate Universe.  We’ve been told that one does not have to have watched any other Stargate show to understand this one.  The premise behind the Stargates will be reintroduced to bring new viewers up to speed.

Stargate Universe is a spinoff of the Stargate franchise and it follows a group of explorers forced onto a ship called the Destiny, a ship built by the Ancients. The only catch: The ship can’t return to Earth.

We’ve also been told that the aliens we’ll be seeing in SGU will be truly alien as opposed to the typical humanoid aliens we’ve become accustomed to.

The Stargate Universe panel started much like most, with a great preview of the show that showed completely new material that focused on many different aspects of the upcoming season.

Brad Wright and Robert Cooper came out, and they introduced Jamile Walker Smith, Alaina Huffman, David Blue, Robert Carlyle, Ming-Na, Brian J. Smith & Elyse Levesque.

Brad and Robert started by pointing out that this will be the 16th season of a Stargate franchise with Stargate Universe.  They pointed out that the show will have a different feel and is shot in a slightly different way.

We’ve all been wondering when some of the newest shows will be starting up on Syfy, and now they’ve us a little bit of info on the following upcoming programming:

• Stargate Universe
• Sanctuary
• Scare Tactics
• Destination Truth

Stargate Universe will be debuting with a 2-hour premiere on Friday, October 2nd.  The series will air on regularly on Fridays, starting October 9th.

In this weeks TV Wrap Up, I’ve found  casting news about Stargate Universe, Supernatural, Psych, Friday Night Lights, Smallville, Criminal Minds and Stephen King’s book-turned-tv-series, Cell!

As usual, I have a ratings recap at the bottom, but it’s the Summer Lite edition being as how we’re in repeat mode for the Summer (except for the reality drabble that is intertwined throughout the chart).

Let’s “git ‘er done“, shall we?

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Stargate Universe

Stargate Universe is looking to cast a “name actress” to play the wife of Robert Carlyle’s character.

These will be flashback scenes since she will be dead by the time we see her.

We originally reported on the television panels at San Diego Comic-Con ‘09, we knew about the Sci-Fi panels that were going to be present, we did not have specific times.

Now we do.

As would be expected, We’ll be seeing cast and crew from Stargate Universe, Caprica, Battlestar Galactica: The Plan, Eureka, Sanctuary and Warehouse 13.

With the premiere of Stargate Universe (SGU) headed our way, some are expecting the same-ol’, while others are hoping for something new. Despite the public statements about having a younger cast, they’ve still injected some seasoned veterans in the mix in the form of Robert Carlyle and Lou Diamond Phillips.  That makes for a nice mix to draw various viewing hopefuls into the fray of watching the show.

It seems that it just might be possible that the creative forces behind SGU are concerned with the show looking like all the other shows. To try and keep it a fresh experience, they’ve decided to mix up a few things, including the use of different camera techniques to film the series.

It’s Thursday and I hope that April 15th didn’t treat you too harshly yesterday. Whether it did or not, I’m still here to razz or rant on some stuff that’s happening in and around the tube.

Stargate Universe

As if this is a surprise to Stargate fans, but Stargate Universe will be having a few notable guest stars in the form of a few veterans reprising their Stargate SG-1 roles.

Yep, you read that right.

Stargate Universe (SGU) is coming at us. One week at a time… but it’s coming.

For some, there’s an anticipation to be carried forward in the Stargate mythos, while for others there is trepidation that this show is not going to have the opportunity to head in the same direction the previous shows have taken the viewer.

Regardless of all of our concerns, this is all we have at the moment.

MGM Studios is starting to become active in letting us know about the upcoming new Stargate franchise series called Stargate: Universe (SGU).  Their anticipation of fan support is evidenced in this first group image of the ensemble of SGU that’s been released.

SGU continues the tradition of a series centered around a highly evolved species who left behind a method of transportation called the Stargate.  Stargates connect to each other via a wormhole that is artificially created between two of these “gates” and makes long distance travel a bit more convenient.

As time plods away, more and more members are being added to the cast of stranded humans in the upcoming Sci-Fi Channel series Stargate: Universe.  (SGU)

The latest additions include Ming-Na, Elyse Levesque, Alaina Huffman and Lou Diamond Philips.  Yep, Lou Diamond Philips.

Here’s the second post of our new regular feature: The Weekly TV Wrap Up.

The 2nd half of the 08-09 season is officially underway and I am pretty busy trying to watch so many of the new shows that have come out that my recorder is starting to smoke. This morning it said “EAS” and I had to reboot it. (I have no clue what EAS means.) I don’t think my recorder likes me anymore.

But with all the new shows coming up, there’s still news and events to report on. So let’s get this show on the road and get you caught up on some of the things going on behind the veil of our television glass.

The Stargate franchise has itself a new leading man.

It was announced today that Scottish actor Robert Carlyle will be cast in the lead role of Dr. David Rush in the upcoming new Sci-Fi Channel series: Stargate: Universe. (SGU)

Even though the studio is looking to make SGU a younger and edgier show in tone than the previous renditions of the franchise, Carlyle will bring the depth and complexity only he can to the show, which is what the creators wanted in their lead character.

Yes, that sounds confusing.  It was weird to write also.  Even though we watch Stargate on the Sci-Fi Channel, Sci-Fi does not own the rights to the franchise.  They are allowed to telecast the shows, but they don’t own them.  MGM owns the rights to do with the franchise as they wish.

One of the many theories of why Stargate: Atlantis is ending is that it’s so MGM can take advantage of the potential profits in moving Atlantis to the DVD medium.

I am a HUGE Stargate fan.

The original movie by Roland Emmerich starring Kurt Russell, Stargate SG-1, and even the slow-to-start Stargate Atlantis.

So it pains me to say that I do NOT like the description for the overall concept of the latest addition to the franchise: Stargate Universe.