Stargate has had the nefarious reputation of taking actors who were ADORED in other TV series (usually Star Trek) and turning them into loathsome, unlikeable, or annoying characters. Robert Picardo was hillarious in Star Trek, but humorless and tedious in SG1/Atlantis. Colm Meaney is a wonderful character in Star Trek TNG and DS9 as O’Brien, but is made into a thoroughly unlikeable character in Atlantis. The same has appeared to transpire in Jewel Staite’s situation. It appears there is more exuberance in the fact that they get this “big name actors” to play in their show than creating meaningful, likeable characters.

MGM claimed it was getting too expensive to film in Canada. My question is, WHERE are they filming this new show? Let me guess…..CANADA!!!!!

I wish Paul and every else in the cast (except maybe for Jewel) the best of luck and hope to see ALL of them in the Sci Fi movie and the DVDs that follow!

Paulie, we love ya still and we hope to see you in a new series some time soon! We’ll never forget Carson Beckett……..EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Nope, Paul comes back for 5 episodes in season 5 (and 2…well 1 and a bit in season 4). The Seed, Whispers, Outsides, Identity and the final episode of season 5 (not as yet named, its the 100th episode of the series). So technically yes we were successful, not as much as we’d hoped but it was a good result and we’re hoping for more IF there is a season 6.

As for Weir, Torri was offered 1 episodes in season 5 and turned it down. She has reportedly moved on from Atlantis and said in interviews that she didn’t feel the material she was offered honored her character or gave proper closure for the fans.

But yeah, Keller’s such a whiner – how was she even supposed to be believable to be chosen for Atlantis? If she’s SO scared of all this Pegasus galaxy danger, why did she accept the position? I’m still left wondering WHY??? I like the actress but the lines they give her are horrible.

Also, not sure which I feel more sorry for: Ronan or Rodney, bc it seems one of them will be stuck with her. I have to admit, it will be more believable for Rodney to end up with her & I sort of liked them together in No Man’s Land.

The BEST way to really put someone on the spot is to be utterly reasonable, that way they cant use character assassination to avoid the question. Use an short, articulate, calculated, polite and hard hitting question, but do it calmly and you will nail them. If you’re going to ask the big stuff about the cast changes, go back through the interview archive on GW and look for their various quotes and especially look for stuff that contradicts what they previously said, provide ‘evidence’. Hell, treat it like they’re on trial. I.e. for Gero, I would bring up his ‘politics’ line which infered more then it being story related, quote the fact the ratings dropped dramatically after Sunday (at least they did in the UK) and that we know it wasn’t the Network who asked for a ‘death’ (if the execs are there, throw that part at them).

If you’re agressive, or rude (not saying you will be, its very hard to stay calm and focused when so justifiably pissed off) you just look like an idiot and will be dismissed as one of those crazy fans. The execs certainly wont take you seriously!

I for one would love for someone to ask Brad Wright if he goes to Comic Con (didn’t someone say he was?) about Paul/Carson as he has NEVER commented. And if or rather when he tries to deflect the question, politely bring him back on to topic. I’d also point out that fact, that he has never uttered so much as a ‘sorry to see Paul go’ comment in ANY interview ANYWHERE.

In a SciFi interview:
Joe Flannigan, how has the interpersonal dynamic on the show changed in season four?
Flannigan: We’ve lost Paul McGillion, who was a valued member of our team, personally and professionally. So we miss him. We have lost Torri Higginson—my God, this sounds like a funeral—who was also a really valued member of our group.

And in one of many con reports – this is one from Armegeddon in NX October 2008 -
A woman asked about Tori not being around. He said it was a difficult thing. And he clearly doesn’t like how the audience gets invested in a character, and then the producers or whoever, kill them off. He says they think they get ratings spikes with doing that, but he disagrees – it’s shortlived. He encouraged people to write in and tell them how much they like Tori. He referred to Paul, and was rather upset about what happened there. Later on, he says how he loves his actors, he goes and fights for them. It was very sad when they filmed the funeral scene for Carson [...] It was very hard. He wants them to bring Carson back – it’s sci-fi after all. He comes back in Season 4 briefly