There Goes Sci-Friday

If you've been following along you all know I'm a big fan of Stargate SG-1 and Science Fiction. Well, sad, sad news for any of you who are also fans of the show. The powers that be over at MGM have decided to pull the plug.

Updated:2006-08-23 15:08:37
Booted 'Stargate SG-1' Could Live On
By STARGATE SG-1, AP
NEW YORK (Aug. 23) - The Sci-Fi Channel has pulled the plug on "Stargate SG-1," but there still might be life ahead for the long-running series.

MGM, which produces the show, is hoping to dock it on another channel.

"We do have plans," MGM spokesman Jeff Pryor told The Associated Press on Wednesday. "This is not the end of the `Stargate' franchise. This is just the end of (`Stargate SG-1') airing on the Sci-Fi Channel."

Earlier this week, Sci-Fi announced it would not order further episodes of the show, now in its 10th season. The cable channel, however, has booked a fourth season of "Stargate: Atlantis," a spin-off that debuted in 2004.

The final 10 episodes of "Stargate SG-1," which logged its 200th episode Friday, will air next year on Sci-Fi, Maureen Granados, a spokeswoman for the channel, told the AP on Wednesday.

Beyond that, MGM believes "in this new media world there are many more opportunities to continue (the) franchise," Pryor said. "We're exploring those possibilities."

The show, inspired by the 1994 movie starring Kurt Russell as an intergalactic traveler, has a devoted fan base.

"Even though there's been a slight dip in the ratings, there are still nearly two million homes tuning in a week," and up to about 10 conventions held each year, Pryor said.

At least Atlantis will be around for at least another season and Battlestar Galactica will be back. A sad time for Science Fiction TV. I had such high hopes at the beginning of last season, with Invasion, Threshold and Surface plus the return of the Sci-Fi Channel's programming. Now they've cancelled Threshold (not a big loss), Invasion (just when it was starting to get good), and Surface (what the hell? what the hell are they thinking? This was hands down one of the best new shows of last season!). I guess money speaks louder than quality nowadays.