Stargate Atlantis - MGM Stargate: Video: Brain Storm Featurette

At MGM Stargate:

(Please follow the link to view the video in its original format.)



Brain Storm Featurette

5:10 21.2MB

Exclusive: Go behind the scenes of Brain Storm with Dave Foley, Bill Nye and Neil deGrasse Tyson!

Stargate Atlantis - MGM Stargate: Close Up: Bill Nye

At MGM Stargate:

(Please follow the link for the complete article.)



Bill Nye

Close Up: Bill Nye

December 1, 2008 (Actors)

In `Brain Storm' Bill Nye helps save the day in under 40 minutes, and that's pretty cool. Plus there's freeze lightening! Come on!

A brief excerpt:

... [Bill] Nye also relished the chance to work alongside old friend Neil deGrasse Tyson in a different capacity. Tyson, an astrophysicist, and Nye have served on the board of The Planetary Society together for almost 10 years.

"Working with Neil was a blast!" Nye exclaimed. "Neil had never really done any acting … I was quite charmed by how seriously he took it, and frankly, what a good job he did. I thought that was wonderful."

Nye insisted he had a blast running around in a tux for a week. When asked about his planetary themed bow tie, Nye exclaimed, "I brought that! And Neil brought his. It's the nerds, man; showing up with our gear."

Tyson and Nye weren't the only guest stars recruited for `Brain Storm'. Veteran comedic actor Dave Foley also came on board to play Rodney McKay's academic nemesis, Malcolm Tunney. Nye was thrilled to work with Foley.

"Oh god, he's a riot!" Nye exclaimed. "I mean, he's Kids in the Hall. He's the real deal. I mean, he's a majorly comic actor. Very professional..."

Stargate Atlantis - Show Patrol: Dave Foley gets geeky on 'Stargate Atlantis'

At RedEye Chicago's tv blog, Show Patrol (Chicago, IL):

(Photos and the SciFi Channel 'Brain Storm' episode trailer at the site. Please follow the link for the complete interview.)



Malcolm Tunney (Dave Foley)


Dave Foley gets geeky on 'Stargate Atlantis'

November 21, 2008

by Curt Wagner

Dave Foley gets around.

The comic and actor, who was a member of the famous comedy troupe Kids in the Hall and starred in the sitcom “NewsRadio,” has been making the rounds as a TV guest star.

He’s done memorable turns on “In Plain Sight,” “Lovespring International,” “Scrubs” and “Will & Grace.” In last Sunday’s episode of “Brothers & Sisters” he appeared as Ron Rifkin’s “disappointing and annoying blind date.”

At 8 p.m. Friday he plays another grating but comical character on Sci Fi Channel’s “Stargate Atlantis.”

“A brilliant asshole—I guess is what my character is,” he told me recently. “It’s fun to play.”

Foley stars as Malcolm Tunney, an old schoolmate and rival of David Hewlett’s Dr. Rodney McKay. Tunney has invented (actually stolen from McKay) a device that is supposed to stop global warming, but once he turns it on it almost kills everybody at a big geek convention, including Bill Nye the Science Guy and astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson — who play themselves...

Stargate Atlantis - Pop Culture Zoo: Talking ‘Stargate Atlantis’ With Bill Nye

At Pop Culture Zoo:

(Please follow the link for the complete interview.)



Bill Nye

Talking Physics, Astronomy And ‘Stargate Atlantis’ With Bill Nye

By Joseph Dilworth Jr.

November 21, 2008

“Brain Storm”, the latest episode of Stargate Atlantis, guest-stars Dave Foley, Neil deGrasse Tyson and Bill Nye. Also known as the “Science Guy”, Nye has shown many people the fun and entertaining side to science. His show, Bill Nye the Science Guy ran for four years on PBS and majorly influenced me in an interest in physics and astronomy. Thanks to SCI FI, I recently had a chance to speak with him about his appearance on Stargate and a whole range of other topics. While this may not read as funny, trust me when I say he had me laughing the entire conversation. Note: there are some mild spoilers below so you may want to read this after you watch the episode.

PCZ: How did you get involved with doing an episode of Stargate Atlantis?

BN: Robert Picardo is on the advisory board of The Planetary Society. I have been a member of The Planetary Society since 1980. Now I’m the vice president and he and I have become really good friends. So he asked me if I’d be interested and he asked them [the producers] if they’d be interested and we converged. It turns out that Stargate-ians are all big Bill Nye fans. It’s cool.

PCZ: Most of the time on a show like Stargate, a fictional show, it’s usually…

BN: Fictional, what?!? Are you kidding? That’s not real?

PCZ: You tell me, how real is it?

BN: I’ll just tell you, [on the episode I'm in] the world almost ends, man. It takes us like fifty-four minutes to keep the world from ending. We really had to focus.

Bill Nye and Neil deGrasse Tyson

Stargate Atlantis - TV Guide Online: Tonight's Hot List Nov 21 '08

At TV Guide Online:

(Please follow the link for the complete column.)



Dr. Jennifer Keller (Jewel Staite) and Dr. Rodney McKay (David Hewlett)

Today's News: Our Take

Tonight's TV Hot List: Friday, Nov. 21, 2008

by TV Guide News

**snippage**

Stargate Atlantis - [Brain Storm]

9 pm/ET Sci Fi

In a misadventure set off of Atlantis, quirky astrophysicist Rodney McKay takes cute blond doc Jennifer Keller to Earth to observe a scientific demonstration designed to help cool off the planet. If you've ever watched a single episode of the series, you already know that most grand experiments tend to go terribly wrong, resulting in our Stargate heroes having to race against the clock to save the day. Kids in the Hall alum Dave Foley and Bill Nye the Science Guy guest star. — Michael Chant

Stargate Atlantis - SciFi Wire: We Peer Into Atlantis' Future + Video

At SciFi Wire:

(Please follow the link for the complete article.)



We Peer Into Atlantis' Future

12:00 AM, 21-NOVEMBER-08

... There are only a handful of episodes left to air--meaning more time to explore Sheppard, McKay and the gang.

According to [Joseph] Mallozzi, the remaining episodes will not disappoint. Nov. 21's "Brain Storm" features a guest turn by Dave Foley (NewsRadio) as a former colleague of Dr. McKay (David Hewlett). In the episode McKay gets an invitation from Foley's character, Tunney.

... In Dec. 5's "Infection," the Wraith Todd returns. "The team receives a distress call from a Wraith hive ship that approaches Atlantis, and they're like, 'What the hell is [a] Wraith hive ship doing out here?'" Mallozzi said. "So they go to investigate, and they find the entire crew in stasis and a message from Todd, requesting their help." It turns out that something has gone horribly wrong with the Wraith, but--more to the point--with the ship. The episode is written by Alan McCullough.

"Infection" offers us one other thing. "In that episode, actually, we finally get to see the big bruiser Wraith, the guards, with the masks. You actually get to see what they look like behind the mask. It ain't pretty," Mallozzi said with a laugh.

After that, there are three more episodes left for Stargate Atlantis and a two-hour movie, which will air later in the year. Stargate Atlantis airs Fridays at 9 p.m. ET/PT. --Kathie Huddleston

Video courtesy of the SciFi Channel and HULU:

Joe Flanigan Q&A - Part 3

Joe Flanigan (Lt. Col. John Sheppard) answers fan questions from SciFi Channel's Stargate Atlantis Forum in this special Q&A series.

Stargate Atlantis - TV Squad: Dave Foley & Bill Nye visit Stargate Atlantis:

At TV Squad:

(Please follow the link for the complete article.)



Neil deGrasse Tyson and Bill Nye

Dave Foley and Bill Nye visit Stargate Atlantis this week

Posted Nov 19th 2008 10:02AM by Mike Moody

Do you know what a dilithium crystal is? Ever use the term "cosplay" when discussing your weekend plans? Own more than two non-Star Wars action figures? If you answered "Affirmative!" to any of these questions, then you'll be staying home this Friday night, because you're a nerd. It's cool. That means you'll be able to catch this week's ep of Stargate Atlantis, with guest stars Dave Foley, Bill Nye the Science Guy and astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson. All nerds, by the way.



Dave Foley

... This episode, titled "Brainstorm," looks to be one of the goofier entries for this final season. And if there's one thing the Stargate franchise gets right, it's goofy. So, take a break from "Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe" on Friday and tune in to Sci Fi Channel at 9 p.m. (8 p.m. Central). Make sure to check out this preview clip first [SciFi Channel episode trailer embedded at the site].

Stargate Atlantis - MGM Stargate: NEW Behind the Scenes Photos - 'Brain Storm' - Nov 17 '08

At MGM Stargate:

(Please follow the link for the view all the photos in their original format.)

16 new behind the scenes photos from 'Brain Storm.'



Writer/Director Martin Gero and Jewel Staite (Dr. Jennifer Keller)



Jewel, Dave Foley and David Hewlett (Dr. Rodney McKay)



Martin, David, Neil deGrasse Tyson, Jewel



Tyson and Nye



David, Jewel, Nye, Tyson and 1st Assistant Director Alex Pappas

Stargate Atlantis - MGM Stargate: NEW Publicity Stills - 'Brain Storm' - Nov 17 '08

At MGM Stargate:

(Please follow the link to view all the photos in their original format.)

21 publicity stills from Stargate Atlantis' 'Brain Storm.'



Malcolm Tunney (Dave Foley) and Dr. Rodney McKay (David Hewlett)



Dr. Jennifer Keller (Jewel Staite)



McKay, Keller, Bill Nye and Neil deGrasse Tyson







McKay, Rodney McKay!

Stargate Atlantis' 'Brain Storm' airs Friday, November 21 '08 at 9pm on the SciFi Channel (US).

Stargate Atlantis - Video: Episode Trailer - 'Brain Storm'

Stargate Atlantis' 'Brain Storm' airs Friday, November 21 '08 at 9pm on the SciFi Channel, and guest stars Dave Foley, Bill Nye and Neil deGrasse Tyson.

Stargate Atlantis - SciFi Magazine Oct '08 Issue - Joseph Mallozzi Interview

From SciFi Magazine's October 2008 Issue, page 28:



TV IN FOCUS

Stargate Atlantis

There's a good chunk of Stargate Atlantis' fifth and final season left before the series signs off in January 2009. As the season continues, "there is more of the galactic power shift," says executive producer Joseph Mallozzi. "With the Wraith weakened, the various planets that have in lived in fear of the Wraith for so long are suddenly able to step up, and they created kind of a galactic U.N."

In "Inquisition," Atlantis is taken to task for wakening the Wraith and "the Atlantis members are put on trial. As a number of fans have pointed out, has the Atlantis expedition done more harm than good in the Pegasus Galaxy?" says Mallozzi.

Then, in "Outsiders," Paul McGillion returns as Carson Beckett in a story about the Wraith's search for survivors who've been exposed to the Hoffan virus. In "The Prodigal," Michael attacks Atlantis in an attempt to kidnap Teyla's baby.

And then in "Brain Storm," Dave Foley (NewsRadio) guest-stars as a successful former rival of McKay's named Tunney. After getting an invitation to visit Tunney on Earth, McKay discovers his old rival is "working on his own green initiative, the means to eliminate greenhouse gases and sending the heat out that way," says Mallozzi. "The only problem is, once the bridge is activated, he can't turn it off, and the temperature drops and drops," creating a dangerous situation that just may force the former rivals to work together.

While Stargate Atlantis will end its five-year run this season, SciFi has announced plans for a two-hour Atlantis movie, which is set to air following the end of the series.

Stargate Atlantis - NEW Video Stage 6 Tour and NEW Photos - Aug 27 '08

At Joseph Mallozzi's blog update for August 27, 2008:



Brad Wright shows off his All-Access Pass. Hey, that's where that ninth chevron went!

(Please follow the link for all 17 NEW photos of the various Stargate related props collected over the past 12 years in their original format. And to view the Stage 6 video tour, Part 2.)

August 27, 2008: Keep it. Keep it. Toss it. Keep it. Burn it.



The goa'uld are moving into their new apartment.

With production on the Stargate Atlantis series slated to wrap in the coming weeks, it was time for a little house-cleaning, so the producers took a trip down to the various lock-ups the other day to decide what should stay and could should go. After twelve years of television, you tend to amass a fair share of curios and, as we walked through the various warehouses and storerooms filled with everything from brass pseudo-Egyptian statuettes to unwieldy anti-replicator guns, I couldn't help but feel a little melancholy - partly because Atlantis but mainly due to the oppressive nature of the storage facilities crammed floor to ceiling with…well, I wouldn`t call it "junk" but I would say "it bears an uncanny resemblance to junk". If
one of those crazy cat ladies ever turned out to be a Stargate fan, I'm pretty sure this is what her place would look like.



Each crewmember is individually sealed and stored away for next year.

We'd taken a similar tour two years ago when SG-1 wrapped, winding our way past Jaffa armor, goa'uld braziers, and the remnants of Dakara, trying to decide what we could get rid of in order to free up some space. The canoe from A Hundred Days? No, no. There's no telling when a future episode might require a canoe. The Ma'chello device? Chances are we won't need it again but we could certainly remodel it and use
it as a base for some future alien tech. Seth's throne? Nope, that one's going up in my office! We faced some tough choices but Producer John Smith was on hand to offer his advice: "Just go from right to left and toss out every second thing, then go back from left to right and throw out every second thing again." In the end, after much consideration, I think we ended up turfing six of twelve phone booths and called it a day.



Hey, remember that episode where the team visits the alien tanning salon?

This time around was just as difficult. We knew that we'd be making Atlantis and SG-1 movies so we would want to keep a lot of the items specific to each series. On the other hand, it made sense to keep a lot of the more generic items like village wear and weaponry for the new series.



This we'll definitely re-use!

Ultimately, when all was said and done, we ended up getting rid of three of the remaining six phone booths.



Pottery Barn opens a store on Abydos.

Today's video: Carl leads us on a tour of Stage 6, Part II.



Awww. It's a furling. Awwww!!! He's been stuffed and mounted!

Stargate Atlantis - NEW Behind The Scenes Photos - 'Brain Storm'

From Joseph Mallozzi's blog update for August 12, 2008:

(Please follow the link for the complete blog update. NEW Stargate Atlantis season five production photos from 'Brain Storm' at the site [in their original format]. Plus two Joe experimentation videos! Woo-hoo!)



Dave Foley

August 12, 2008: Another Yawn Study, Production Update, Let's Talk Cordelia's Honor, Mailbag, and The Weird Food Purchase of the Day

**snippage**

In a little over a month from now, we'll be wrapping our sets for yet another season, preparing for next year, and scattering to the four winds for some much-needed R&R. Before that happens, of course, we have some episodes that need finishing. I am anxiously awaiting a director's cut of Remnants, Marty G. [Gero] is directing his last day on Brain Storm (at the airport shooting the Learjet sequences), Infection has started shooting (infirmary scenes in Stage 6 to start the day, then a move over to the hive ship set in the FX stage), Carl [Binder] is casting Identity, and Paul [Mullie] has reached the fourth act of the still untitled Episode #20.



Jewel Staite (Dr. Jennifer Keller) and David Hewlett (Dr. Rodney McKay) in the center of the audience


**snippage**

Okay, you have one more day to get your questions in for Lois McMaster Bujold. Start posting!

Well, I'm off to Fuel tonight. The corn soup is back!

Tune in tomorrow when special guest blogger and Stargate Director of Photography Jim Menard drops in and answers your questions.



Today's pics: Brain Storm!

Today's videos: A follow-up yawn study and Today's Weird Food Purchase of the Day (Spicy Peanut Butter!) in which I am joined by my eager young assistant.



'Brain Storm' Writer/Director Martin Gero

Mailbag:

**snippage**

Itjustme writes: "If Atlantis were to run through without the long hiatus that it normal takes, does this mean that the season 5 DVD set might come out sooner as well?"

Answer: Probably.

**snippage**



Special Features Producer Ivon Bartok

Stargate Atlantis - NEW Behind The Scenes Photos from 'Brain Storm'

From Joseph Mallozzi's blog update for August 7, 2008:



(Please follow the link for the complete blog update. NEW 19 behind-the-scenes photos from the NEW Stargate Atlantis episode, 'Brain Storm,' including guest stars Dave Foley, Bill Nye and Neil deGrasse Tyson. The photos are available in their original full-size, high-resolution format at Joe's blog.)

August 7, 2008: Road Triiiiip! And The Weird Food Purchase of the Day



ROAD TRIIIIIP!



...We pulled into the parking lot, right behind Special Features Producer Ivon Bartok who was documenting Martin Gero's foray into the dark side of directing, and followed him into the high school - down a flight of stairs, around a corner, and into the gymnasium that - through the magic of television - had been transformed into the Carl Binder Memorial Theatre. Extras milled about in tuxes and cocktail dresses while Marty G. set up his next shot. Jewel Staite looked, well, nothing short of drop-dead gorgeous in her evening best while David Hewlett exuded the roguish charm of a nerdy James Bond in his flash jacket and pants. Sitting by the monitor was former Kids in the Hall/News Radio alum Dave Foley who, for reasons unknown, had been given a way-too-early call and was good humouredly killing time until his first scene. As we were chatting, I received a call from the production offices informing me that a network employee named Averie was a HUUUUGE Dave Foley fan and would it be possible for me to get him to sign something, anything for her? Hearing this, Dave suggesting going one better. So, I phoned up Claire at SciFi who put me through to Averie's cell. Unfortunately, I got her voice mail. "Hi, Averie," I greeted her. "This is Joseph Mallozzi, the show-runner of Stargate Atlantis. I hear you're a big Dave Foley fan. Well, I have Dave Foley sitting right here."

At which point, Dave took the phone and left his own message: "Hi, Averie. This is Dave Foley. How are you? Sorry I missed you but if you have time, swing by set. I'm here all day."

And I capped off the message with: "Doesn't this just call you? If you leave L.A. right now, it'll take you maybe three hours to fly, an hour to clear customs, and then another hour traveling time to get here."

Dave Foley = Class Act.

Equally pleasant and engaging were the sovereigns of science Neil deGrasse Tyson and Bill Nye. They turned out to be a lot of fun both in front of and away from the camera, regaling the rest of the cast and crew with stories of their empirical exploits. They seemed to be as happy to be there as we were to have them.



**snippage**

Thanks to everyone who posted questions for Stargate Atlantis Director of Photography Jim Menard. He is working on them as we speak. And now, on to our next guest blogger…Andromeda's A.I., SG-1's Dr. Carolyn Lam, The 4400's Wendy Paulson, and Michael Shank's wife, the lovely Lexa Doig will be swinging by to answer your questions next week. So if you have anything you'd like to ask her, start posting. I'll be gathering your questions through Saturday.

Also - finish up Cordelia's Honor. Discussion begins on Monday when I'll start gathering questions for author Lois McMaster Bujold who is the guest of honor at the WorldCon in Denver happening NOW until August 10th. If you're in the area, go check it out and report back on the Stargate-14 Boot Camp being held on Saturday
(http://www.denvention.org/index.php).

Today's blog entry is dedicated to husband-to-be Kyle Hanson. Best of luck, buddy.

Today's pics: Brain Storm - A Marty G. Joint.

Today's video: The Weird Food Purchase of the Day - Shrimp Chips. In case the video [embedded at the link above] doesn't play…

http://s230.photobucket.com/albums/ee164/BaronDestructo/?action=view¤t=ShrimpChips.flv



Today's mailbag:

**snippage**

PG15 writes: "1. Chris Judge recently said that it's possible that the 3rd movie might start shooting in January of next year. Is there any truth in this? 2. Any new info regarding the Ancients' war with the Wraith in Season 5? 3. Will the Wraith try to get to Earth again in Season 5?"

Answers: 1) Hey, anything is possible. We're a long way from an actual production date but I'd be VERY surprised if a third SG-1 movie wasn't in production in 2009. 2) Off the top of my head - nope. 3) Wouldn't that be interesting!

Jean writes: "Seems like SciFi is going to air all 20 episodes without a large break as usual after the mid-season cliffhanger. From a producer's point of view, do you prefer this or rather a longer break between the 2 halves of the season? Do you think it impacts ratings at all?"

Answer: Although it is a bit more work for the production, I think running the show straight through is preferable to taking an extended mid-season hiatus. I find that the hiatus tend to break a show's momentum. As for how it impacts the ratings - time will tell.

**snippage**

Smiley_face06 writes: "Thanks for answering my question about Ba'al. It makes me feel better knowing Sam isn't sulking after being relieved of command in Atlantis."

Answer: One of the things we wanted to make sure of was that Carter's being relieved of the Atlantis command isn't seen as a demotion because, as our team pointed out in The Seed, she was actually a victim of her own success. As such, the next time we see Carter (in episode 20), she'll have assumed another command position.

Sandra writes: "First question: What would be the Daniel, Mitchell, Vala, Teyla, and Ronon commercials be for "With a Little Stargate Anything is Possible?" Second: If you could write a crossover episode with any other book or TV show what would it be? Third (and this is new): what, in your mind, happened to SG-1 while Sam was on Atlantis? Now that she's back, will she rejoin the team?"

Answers: 1) Not a clue. 2) Dr. Who. 3) With the Ori dealt with, things were decidedly quiet on the Milky Way front. While not disbanded, SG-1 (made up of Daniel, Teal'c, Mitchell, and Vala) curtailed their off-world exploits.