We here at Screen Rant are here to cater to you, the reader. Now, that doesn’t mean that I’m going to be bringing over any freshly baked ice cream cone cupcakes (remember those? Awesome.), but that does mean that we like to hear from you about what you like, what you don’t, what you watch and what you’d like to see more coverage about.

Over the past few weeks of the fall season premiere, we have played around with reviews and discussions on a variety of television shows – and while some received the expected responses (Stargate, Flashforward, Smallville), others did not (CSI, CSI:NY, Criminal Minds, MythBusters). And then there were some shows that nobody expected to receive the amount of response it did (Ghost Whisperer).

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.

A few weeks back, I was rummaging around IMDB (The Internet Movie Database) working on a small task and I noticed something very interesting.  Actors Amanda Tapping, Richard Dean Anderson and Michael Shanks all have an “Untitled Stargate: SG-1 Project” in their credits.

Now mind you, IMDB isn’t the end all to all information but it’s a pretty decent start to most news.

So I had been wondering about this in the back of my mind because I thought the projects, though approved, were put on hold.  Then I came across a tidbit on Sci Fi Wire where Amanda Tapping says that a new Stargate SG-1 movie could start getting underway as soon as Stargate Universe filming comes to a close.

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.

The results have been revealed for the 2009 DVD Critics Awards, which are presented every year (for the last five years) by Home Media Magazine, honoring DVD and Blu-ray titles from the previous year. The awards are usually held in conjunction with the Home Entertainment Summit, but the latter has been delayed due to scheduling conflicts. Nonetheless, the awards were given out and the critically acclaimed and much-loved Batman film, The Dark Knight, scooped up the most awards.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

Welcome! This is the first rendition of Screen Rants Weekly TV Wrap Up. This is where we pass on some of the TV news we come across, keeping you on the edge of news and updates. Our regularly scheduled day will be Thursday mornings, so be sure to check in every week with us.

When there’s TV news, it will be here!

Stargate: Atlantis is coming to a close – it’s been a great ride. The show took a bit to adjust to, but after a while the characters and new location grew on me because it had the same feel to the writing that we’ve come to enjoy from the Stargate franchise.

It was hard not to know that last week’s episode was the next to last episode for Atlantis. I went into the episode, titled “Vegas” (written and directed by Robert Cooper), not really looking forward to it. I was coming into it with a bit of a dour perspective because it was some alternate timeline story. My thought? “Why would they do this to us in the next to last episode of the series?”

WARNING: If you DVR’d the episode, a bit of an outline spoiler follows the break.

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.

Well Bite me.

Just when I get comfortable with Stargate Atlantis after losing Stargate SG-1, they go and pull the plug on it. Yep, it’s been announced today that this, the fifth season of Stargate Atlantis, is its final season on television.

So the 2008 San Diego Comic-Con is officially over – today feels like coming down from a “high.” Covering the Con is always a whirlwind, but at least this year (my second covering it) I felt like a was a bit more in control.

We did our best to bring you the lowdown on what is relevant to you although we couldn’t cover everything. That’s the problem with the Con – as far as movies and television almost everything is relevant to what we cover here at Screen Rant: Sci-Fi, superheroes, action and a bit of horror.

We managed to cover:

The panel for Stargate: Atlantis was lighthearted and fun to watch.  The actors in the panel were Joe Flanigan, Jewel Staite, Robert Picardo and show scribe Brad Wright and Chris Sanagustin, the VP of Original Programming from the Sci-Fi Channel.

The crowd was pretty animated with the introductions and when Jewel Staite was introduced the energy of the crowd easily tripled.  The Firefly demographic was well represented.

This panel was a follow up to the premiere of Stargate Continuum the night before.

As the Stargate SG-1 cast came in and were introduced, everyone applauded wildly – but by far the big fan favorite (judging by how deaf I went from the cheers) was Christopher Judge, hands down, for this Stargate Continuum forum.

Amanda Tapping talked briefly about her new web-to-TV show, Sanctuary, which has filmed eight of its scheduled thirteen episodes so far.

As for Ben Browder, he’s enjoying some quiet time between acting gigs and volunteering his time coaching pole vaulting at a local high school.

Being a huge Stargate SG-1 fan, it was quite an honor to have the opportunity to attend the premiere of the upcoming direct to DVD movie Stargate: Continuum. I’m still enough of a fanboy to geek out at the opportunity to meet the actors from one of my all time favorite TV series… PLUS I’m happy to report that the movie was excellent! Far better than the previous SG-1 DVD film Stargate: The Ark of Truth.

Dammit – Now we’ve lost Don S. Davis. What a year this has been for losing people in the movie and TV industry…

Don was best known for playing General Hammond on Stargate: SG-1 for 10 years. This will make his appearance in the upcoming DVD movie Stargate: Continuum (which will be released on July 29th) that much more poignant.

On the series he played the role of commander of Stargate Command with a quiet, fatherly strength that made him a fan favorite on the series.

He passed away Sunday morning of a heart attack at the age of 65. In addition to acting, Davis was also an accomplished artist in the areas of sculpture, painting, drawing, and set design – you can view some of his very impressive work at DonSDavisArt.com.

When Stargate SG-1 ended after 10 years, I was surprised to find myself feeling abandoned to some degree. I became comfortable following the familiar characters and the evolving conflicts between humanity and its off-world relationships – kind of like going to work every day. Sure, we have Stargate: Atlantis, but it just isn’t quite the same as Stargate SG-1. Atlantis is like a new job. Same ‘ol, same ‘ol, but a new place to do it in.

But if anyone out there wants to see a new twist on Stargate, there may be some hope for you.

A third live-action series is being conceived by Stargate: Atlantis co-creators Brad Wright and Robert C. Cooper called Stargate: Universe and they are looking to make it an independent storyline of the already established Stargate realm.

I didn’t make it to the Warner Bros. panel, but did get to sit in on the presentation for the upcoming direct to DVD Stargate SG-1 movies. On hand was the cast including Amanda Tapping, Christopher Judge, and Ben Browder along with director Martin Wood and producer Robert Cooper.

There wasn’t too much in regards to new info in these panels… mainly they answered questions from the audience.

Gary Jones who played gate operator “Walter” acted as moderator. He was quite engaging and introduced a trailer for Stargate: The Ark of Truth, the DVD movie that will complete the Ori storyline. It looked pretty epic and like they pulled out all the stops.

As you may already know with the end of Click to continue "Stargate SG-1 To Live On In Direct-To-DVD Movies?"

As Stargate SG-1 rapidly approaches the end of it’s 10 year run, there’s word the producers of the show are developing yet another Stargate-themed series titled Stargate Universe.

There are no details available regarding the show beyond the fact that it takes place present-day like SG-1 and Stargate Atlantis and that it would not have characters from the two existing series as regulars.

The show is in the very early stages of development and has not been picked up for broadcast by any network, including the Sci Fi Channel.

Here’s my advice to the awesome folks who’ve brought us a fantastic series: Give it a rest. Apply your considerable talents to something completely new and different.

Now before you start throwing rocks my way, hear me out…