Welcome to SaveCarsonBeckett.com
Dr. Carson Beckett, the Scottish Heart of Atlantis, was written out of Stargate Atlantis in Season 3's 17th episode "Sunday." Read more here to learn how you can help save him!
Fans Not Fans of "Sunday"
08.Jun.07 by astrumporta | Category News |
Fan response to “Sunday” has been large and loud here at SaveCarsonBeckett.com. Our visitor statistics showed a 600% increase last Friday, the day “Sunday” aired in the US.
The stats also show most visitors came to us via Google, so it’s likely they watched the episode and then went on line looking to find out what the heck happened to Carson. We’re glad we were here to tell them!
Also in the past week, we’ve had 150 comments posted here on our various blog entries. More important, we’ve had 140 letters submitted to our letter-writing page, and that likely means hundreds more were mailed to the addresses we list. Finally, our Yahoo! group has 38 new members, for a total that’s rapidly approach 400!
These US viewers were no happier with the outcome of “Sunday” than were fans around the world. And our visitors’ own words show a sophistication of reasoning that might surprise those who made the decision to write Carson out. One fan named Joshua wrote in a letter we excerpt here:
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The death of the character called Dr. Carson Beckett has moved me to do something I’ve never before done–express my frustration and sadness through a letter-writing campaign to secure his resurrection. I recognize that death is a vital element in the life of a television series, and I’ve shared with you my general distaste for resurrection as a means of apologizing to fans. However, I must ask that you forgive me one small hypocrisy today.
…Dr. Beckett’s death appeared to be senselessly random and meaningless. I cannot believe that such a powerful character could be discarded in such a pointless manner–the manner in which guest stars are conveniently written out of further obligations.
TV viewers no longer respond to character death with a few tears and a kudos to the production for a moving episode. They simply put that show into the bin of shows whose characters they won’t get too attached to, if they continue watching at all.
Unfortunately, Atlantis is not a show that can afford to lose any viewers. As Joe Mallozzi pointed out in his blog entry yesterday, the US ratings for the final three weeks of Season 3 will be crucial to whether the show gets renewed for a fifth season (Season Four won’t start airing until after the renewal decision needs to be made).
Carson will be “resurrected” as Joshua requested, but only for two episodes. An announcement of a full-time return would certainly have lessened the impact to the viewing habits of Carson’s fans, but sadly such news as not yet come our way. Which is why we’re still here!
We hope Atlantis continues on for years to come, and we truly believe it needs Carson Beckett back to do so. Fan response this week has only deepened that belief.
23 Comments »
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Comment by Judy | 09.Jun.07 @ 12:04 am
Carson Beckett was a much needed counterbalance to the team of male characters on SGA. His kindness and humanity were refreshing. It seems a gross miscalculation to remove such a popular character. Is this budget cutting so transplants from the cancelled Stargate SG-1 can be brought on board? Whatever the reason, I don’t think this has helped the show at all, and I’m not looking forward to his replacement.
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Comment by susan malcolm | 09.Jun.07 @ 4:09 am
Atlantis did well to have so many non-American characters.
David Nykl is brilliant and so is/was Paul. It is such a shame that they felt the need to kill off such a vital character.
I have heard rumblings of the possiblity of there not being a fifth series. It would be a great pity if this were to be true. The programme is brilliant - pure escapism with flawed, thus realistic, characters. I will continue to watch the programme as long as it is being made - but I would enjoy it more if Carson/Paul were to return.
Of course he may get a better offer elsewhere - and I wouldn’t blame him if he took it.
Hopefully all this publicity will help his career.Paul made Carson real due to his acting abilities so with this talent he deserves to go far.
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Comment by Janet | 09.Jun.07 @ 10:00 am
I totally agree with the paragraph about fan reaction to a popular character’s death. I can feel myself dissengaging from the program. Why get involved if the powers that be are capable of such harsh decisions? I get through an episode that may not be the strongest one they’ve ever aired on the strength of the characters and the actors who portray them. The episode itself was very bad and Dr. Beckett’s death completely pointless. I don’t invest in my favorite show to get a mess like that.
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For me Carson Beckett was the character I most looked forward to seeing each week. He counter balanced Rodney MacKay’s sarscasm and caustic wit with kindness and gentleness. Who will be there to Rodney in line now? None of the current characters have the personalilty to accomplish this task believably.
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Comment by John C. | 09.Jun.07 @ 3:50 pm
It was bad enough that the producers wish to shake
things up by offing Dr. Beckett… then in the follow up
episode are remiss in bringing up Carson at all after his
very untimely death. The writers appear to be somewhat blase’ about the whole issue. What an odd
way to treat a major character. Its like have all the
pieces to a puzzle then deciding to toss away one of
the pieces away to make the puzzle fit together better.
What a most peculiar way of thinking…go figure. -
Comment by Cindy | 09.Jun.07 @ 11:21 pm
Frankly, I think “Sunday” was one of the lamest and laziest episodes ever. It was a complete copy of the episode when Teryl was killed off as the doctor in SG-1. What is this, Stargate doctors have a target on their chests? If the writers think killing off a character, and a popular one at that, will increase interest - think again. I also feel myself disengaging and probably won’t continue watching. Already I simply TIVO it and watch it when I have nothing else left to watch. The writers need to get more creative. I watched the episode and was completely pissed off, even though I knew Carson was going to die.
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Comment by Kim | 10.Jun.07 @ 8:10 am
I’m boggled that the writers believed killing off Carson, a popular character and one of the scant few on SGA with layers, was going to *improve* ratings. “Shake things up”? Oh yes, it did, but certainly not the way the producers had hoped, that’s for certain.
I’m trying not to be bitter, but hearing that the ratings are down after Carson wasl senselessly killed off the show didn’t disappoint me. Nor surprise me.
The fans have spoken and are still speaking, PTB. If you want to retain your audience, you would do well to pay attention to what they’re saying.
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Comment by Erynn | 10.Jun.07 @ 9:07 am
So Joe wants the people the show disappointed to keep watching? Oh yeah, there’s logic for you. I cancelled my cable after I heard and didn’t watch Sunday, nor do I plan on watching any of the other eps unless and until Carson is in them. If there’s no season five, we’ll know that it was bad writing and idiot decisions that brought the show to that fate, not Carson’s fans.
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Comment by Lyle Schroeder | 10.Jun.07 @ 9:41 am
This is beginning to to turn me off on the Stargate franchise…First the cancellation of SG1, now one of our favorite characters gets offed…I recorded this show and was only able to watch it last nite….I`m pissed off..Whats going on with the decision making process over at the studios.I like a good shock event now and again, but killing off favorite characters draws the line…BRING BACK THE DOC!!!!
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Comment by Tony | 10.Jun.07 @ 11:49 am
Beckett was killed off just like that scene in Grey’s Anatomy, the silly one where there was a mortar inside a guy. As Grey hands it off to the bomb squad, it blows and kills the guy, but she lives. In this case, Beckett dies, but it’s almost a dead on copy of the scene, so that’s pretty lame. He was a good character to have, and I don’t feel he died in a worthless way. He risked his life to help save someone else, and it showed his character exactly how we think of him. Very sad though.
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Comment by Alex | 10.Jun.07 @ 8:06 pm
I wholeheartedly sympathize with all of you in your anger towards the writers of “Sundayâ€. It is terribly discomforting to think that after 10 good years of SG-1 and 2 great years of SGA the SCI-FI writers that we have come to trust could do something of this magnitude! I watched “Sunday†on Saturday June 2nd 2007 and after seeing that miserable excuse of an episode the rest of my Saturday was considerably depressing knowing that SGA would never be the same without Carson Beckett’s Scottish Charm. I can not emphasis the importance of posting comments and/or anything else that brings attention to the disheartening situation that we are all facing. My heart goes out to Paul McGillion as he suffers through this unfortunate time and I really do hope that he finds work because he is such a great actor and he certainly seems like a very good person as well.
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Comment by maya | 11.Jun.07 @ 12:05 pm
hey there,
there is still hope …
i just got back from Fedcon In Bonn in Germany and Paul was one of the guests and in his penel he said. His caracter Becket is COMING BACK at first now for 2-3 eps … then then they will see.
He will fly to Vancouver and shoots those scripts in 3 weeks from today on 10. June 2007.
Isernt this cool !
YEAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHnot sure how they gonna bring him back from the dead … but we can speculate and hope!!!!
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Comment by Starla | 15.Jun.07 @ 9:02 pm
I had no idea that they were killing Carson off before watching this episode. I can’t even imagine what would possess them to do that! We were watching it, and my boyfriend said “he’s going to die” (I don’t know if he was guessing or if he already knew), and I said “no, no, no, they’re not going to kill off Dr. Beckett… they can’t do that… that would be stupid… he’s one of the best characters.” And then BOOM, he was gone. And the second that happened, I realized I was wrong — he is the best character. What am I supposed to do now? I’m trying to watch the next episode and all I keep thinking is “why did they kill Carson off?” I’m saddened, and I truly believe it was a horrible decision!
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Comment by Katie | 16.Jun.07 @ 1:40 pm
I’m wonder if you know if this 600% increase last Friday will have a impact on the question ”Will be a season 5?”
You don’t have the number of people who watched or when we will know about the season 5? because if they is another season, maybe the chance to bring Beckett as principal caracter^^
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600% increase is the traffic to the site aka the hit count when through the roof, and we get a pretty good hit count without that so it was huge after ‘Sunday’ airred.
We just dont know about season 5 right now, Joe Mallozzi said they would get a renewal notice between the end of season 3 in the US (which airs this Friday) and the start of season 4 in the US…which we dont have a date for as of yet, but sometime in autumn.
Which is why we all need to push hard and keep writing NOW so that when the decision is made, it will include Beckett/Paul back on the main cast! IF they get a season 5 that is….
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Comment by Becca | 26.Jun.07 @ 7:00 am
I watched it once off the internet and I cried. When It aired in the US i refused to watch it at all!. It’s amazing how many people feel this way and yet they still killed him off. But he’ll be back, and so we’re a few steps farther than we were when we started.
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Comment by Shal | 07.Jul.07 @ 7:40 pm
I’ve been a big fan of SGA since its inception, and had no idea that they had killed off Carson till now. (I’m a bit behind in my television viewing…) I’m frustrated, and while I fell in love with the other characters, I don’t think I’ll continue watching the show, unless they choose to bring him back. It was like when Richard Dean Anderson decided to retire from SG-1…seemed like a good idea, but the show didn’t survive. I hope they bring back Dr. Carson Beckett’s character because he balances out Mackay’s neuroticism (eventhough its lovable).
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Comment by krismcsherry | 16.Jul.07 @ 1:24 pm
Erynn: “So Joe wants the people the show disappointed to keep watching? Oh yeah, there’s logic for you. I cancelled my cable after I heard and didn’t watch Sunday, nor do I plan on watching any of the other eps unless and until Carson is in them. If there’s no season five, we’ll know that it was bad writing and idiot decisions that brought the show to that fate, not Carson’s fans.”
Wow. Almost exactly what I did, except I didn’t cancel the cable. I just handed the remote over to my family on Friday nights when SGA is on. I personally don’t believe the writers care a whit. It’s all business to them at this point and the hierarchy of employees, actors included, is alive and well as it is in any business organization.
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Comment by Save Carson | 10.Aug.07 @ 9:28 pm
I hope with all my heart that you manage to save beckett. It will be a great day for all of us.
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Comment by Emilie | 21.Sep.07 @ 12:51 pm
I was in tears watching this episode!!!
I love Paul McGillion and really want him back-Stargate:Atlantis needs him! -
Comment by JAMES FINBORG | 17.Oct.07 @ 3:06 pm
IT WAS A SAD THING TO SEE CARSON DIE PLEASE BRING HIM BACK. WE LOST ONE SCOTTY LETS NOT LOSE ANOTHER PLEASE. THANK YOU, A LOYLE FAN. JAMES
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Comment by Haggy | 27.Oct.07 @ 10:03 pm
Coming from Scotland it was refreshing to see that we as a little nation were included in the vast scheme of things and that the exploration of the Pegasus galaxy wasn’t just done by American and Canadian pioneers. Carson’s character was that of a quietly compassionate and brilliant doctor who *cared* about all those around him. I agree with other comments that his character grounded Rodney’s. Rodney needed, sorry NEEDS someone who wouldn’t fly off the handle at him when he was in a flap and Carson did it wonderfully.
I too wonder at the logic of killing off key characters in a show. I listened to an interview recently given by DH and he said to the fans “give the new kids a chance”. He didn’t sound convincing and I honestly got the impression he was not that enamoured by the changes made.
We get involved with the characters, we watch their lives develope in front of our eyes, we get fond of them. It was madness to kill of a character so dearly loved by fans all over the world and then not even have the other characters on the show acknowledge that he had ever been ther in the first place in later episodes.
It will be interesting to see how they bring Paul back into the fold…God forbit he walks out of the shower and the whole of Atlantis has been having a bad dream!
Note to the writers of the show. please don’t try and fix whats NOT broken believe me you will be cutting your own throat because fans will just stop watching. -
Comment by Paul | 03.Nov.07 @ 12:26 pm
COming from New Zealand it is very hard to keep up with all that happens with the Star Gate franchise, due to inadequate tv coverage. My wife and myself have been fans of SG1, owning all the series on box set and we are happily doing the same with Atlantis. Having been completely disappointed with SG1 season 10 finale, the decsision to pointlessly discard a crucial character in Atlantis is hard to swallow. Carson has the best qualities of many of the characters from both series that we all have come to know and love and we wholeheartedly want him back!
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