Stargate Universe - TV Squad: Alaina Huffman Interview

At TV Squad:

(Please follow the link for the complete interview.)

Alaina Huffman on the 'Stargate Universe' Season Finale, Season Two, and More

by Mike Moody, posted May 21st 2010



Life is tough aboard Destiny, the wandering spaceship that's home to the crew of Syfy's 'Stargate Universe.' The food is bad, the morale is low, and there's always a chance that a gang of creepy blue aliens will attack the ship or kidnap you from your quarters.

Life is even tougher for Tamara Johansen, aka T.J., played by Alaina Huffman. She's the ship's only medic, she had an affair with her commanding officer, and she's also pregnant. That last storyline came about due to Huffman's real-life pregnancy (she had a baby girl last December), which the 'SGU' team decided to work into the show.

I spoke with Huffman recently about T.J.'s pregnancy, the fan reaction to the show, and about what we could expect from the first season finale and the upcoming second season of 'SGU.' Click through for the goods, and to find out if she plans to slip back into that tight leather costume again to play Black Canary on 'Smallville.'


A brief excerpt:

Are you satisfied with how the season ends and what do you think fans will think about the finale?

AH: "I think they'll be pleased. There's some 'Stargate' mythology, and I think the fans will like that. There's stuff that blows up and there's guns that fire, so I think that will please the fans. And then more than that, I think because we did the work to develop the characters and the relationships, all of those things pay off when things blow up. And when we travel through the gate, it's not just about traveling through the gate. It's about "why are these people traveling through the gate to do this?" And that's the depth you get because we've developed the characters..."

Stargate: Universe / SG1 - TV Squad: Anderson and Shanks to appear in Universe

At TV Squad:

(Please follow the link for the complete TV Squad article.)



Stargate vets Anderson and Shanks to appear in Universe

Posted Apr 8th 2009

by Mike Moody

SyFy's Stargate Universe will kick off with help from two familiar faces this fall. Richard Dean Anderson and Michael Shanks will reprise their Stargate: SG-1 roles in the series premiere of Universe, which is billed as a darker, character driven sci-fi show.

Shanks' appearance will be a one-time cameo, according to consulting producer Joseph Mallozzi. Anderson, however, will make multiple guest appearances in Universe in addition to showing up in the two-hour premiere. The actor said he would make "slim appearances" in the first "half dozen" episodes or so...

Sanctuary - TV Squad: TV's hottest female non-humans

At TV Squad:

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TV Squad Ten: TV's hottest female non-humans

Posted Mar 5th 2009

by Mike Moody

Would I date a homicidal robot? Do I find a one-eyed cartoon mutant attractive? Is kissing a sexy demon worth losing years of my life?

Those were some of the questions I had to ask myself while writing this list.

There are many non-human women on TV – demons, vampires, machines and Real Housewives – but not all of them are hot. And what makes someone hot? I side with Stanley from The Office who once said that a "hot" woman should be healthy, sexy, pretty and strong. I'd also say that brains, maturity and passion should be in the mix -- even if that passion is for killing monsters or blowing up evil cyborgs. Click through for a list of the hottest robots, aliens and "abnormals" currently on TV.



... 9. Dr. Helen Magnus (Amanda Tapping), Sanctuary

A super intelligent, immortal doctor who kicks evil ass and looks good in leather? She might be 157 years old, but Dr. Helen Magnus is definitely hot. I'm sure most Sanctuary fans would agree. Some might not consider Dr. Magnus a "non-human," but a normal person juiced up by vampire blood. But once you inject yourself with enough vampire blood to become indestructible and gain other super-human abilities, you're no longer human, you're an "abnormal."

Dr. Magnus is an admirable leader and she's committed to her cause – helping and protecting the misunderstood abnormals of the world. She's tough, mysterious and she's played by Amanda Tapping, already a geek sex symbol thanks to her years on the Stargate franchise.



... 5. Ashley Magnus (Emilie Ullerup), Sanctuary

Helen Magnus' abnormal daughter has a killer instinct – which she inherited from her pops, John Druitt, aka Jack the Ripper – that comes in handy when she's hunting monsters in tight leather outfits. Ashley has a lot in common with Buffy Summers. She's strong and fearless in battle, but she hides a vulnerable side from her friends and family. She's also a weapons expert and kind of a techie. I'm looking forward to seeing her recent turn to the dark side play out when season two premieres.

Stargate: Universe - TV Squad: Ten: New shows to look forward to in 2009

At TV Squad:

(Please follow the link for the complete article. Embedded video clips [for some of the new series] at the site.)



TV Squad Ten: New shows to look forward to in 2009 - VIDEO

Posted Dec 30th 2008 1:01PM by Mike Moody

Enough looking back already! Let's forget that 2008 was a mostly dismal year for TV and focus on the future. From sci-fi detectives to modern Mad Men, the 2009 TV season has a lot to offer. Here are ten new shows to keep on your radar (listed by premiere date).


1. The United States of Tara, premieres January 18 on Showtime
2. Trust Me, premieres Jan. 26 on TNT
3. Dollhouse, premieres Feb. 13 on FOX
4. Castle, premieres March 9 on ABC
5. Kings, premieres March 19 on NBC
6. Cupid, premieres March 24 on ABC
7. The Untitled Amy Poehler Project, slated to premiere in spring on NBC
8. Sit Down, Shut Up, slated to premiere in spring on FOX

9. Stargate Universe, premieres next summer on Sci Fi

The casting of Scottish actor Robert Carlyle as the lead has me excited about this upcoming Stargate series. So far, creators Brad Wright and Robert Cooper haven't offered many details about Universe. All we know is that it follows a crew of civilians and scientists trapped on an Ancient ship that jumps throughout the far reaches of space. Wright and Cooper are also telling fans to expect "edgier" elements, a young cast and more character-themed storylines than we've seen from Stargate: SG-1 and Stargate Atlantis. Some fans have already tagged this thing Stargate: 90210, but I think we might see something fresh and unexpected with Universe.


10. Warehouse 13, slated to premiere next summer on Sci Fi

I'm also curious about Lie To Me and Merlin. What are you looking forward to watching in '09?

Sanctuary - TV Squad: SciFi Channel panels: Sanctuary - TCA Report

From TV Squad:

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SciFi Channel panels: Caprica and Sanctuary - TCA Report

Posted Jul 21st 2008 7:03AM by Joel Keller

**snippage**

...The producers and stars of Sanctuary met the press. The show's about a 157-year professor, Helen Magnus, played by Amanda Tapping. She investigates and finds the abnormal people who walk among us. The conceit of this show is that it's filmed entirely on virtual sets. "It's not that much different than shooting on a real set once you get over the croma-green headache, which took about three days," said Tapping, who's also an executive producer.

The show started life as a series of webisodes, but the series is what executive producer Damian Kindler called "a complete overhaul, a reboot. It's bigger in scope. I think it's more accessible to a wider audience. We're really proud of it because the concept withstands all that brilliantly. You can do all sorts of things with it and it begins even cooler. Close to four million saw it on the web, and we don't want those people to go, 'Oh, I've seen it. I don't want to see kind of the same thing just on TV.'"

Sanctuary - TV Squad: Need Sanctuary? Sci Fi can help!

From TV Squad:

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Feeling Lost? Need Sanctuary? Sci Fi can help!

Posted Jul 7th 2008 4:41PM by Jason Hughes

**snippage**

...I wanted the parting thing for you to think about is the premiere of Sanctuary. It's taking the place of Stargate: Atlantis, which is also stopping mid-season because ... well, that's what we do. Maybe they fear viewer fatigue, but then how do you explain 24 straight weeks of 24 being such a rousing success. How do you -- [the wife from the other room: "I can hear you typing angry. Remember your blood pressure, dear."]

As I was saying. Sanctuary premieres on Sci Fi Friday October 3 with a two-hour launch. They're billing it as "the first television series to feature live-action actors against primarily virtual sets." I guess they missed Drew Carey's Green Screen Show? Sanctuary started life as a web-only series featuring Stargate's Amanda Tapping. A hit online, it's been retooled for broadcast air and given a 13-episode commitment to find an audience. And it looks like the entire cast will be featured in the newer made-for-TV episodes as well.

I like that Sci Fi is looking to emerging technologies to enhance the television experience. It was a bold move when they launched Sanctuary online, as it was given a much bigger budget than most web series, and managed to create a virtual reality every bit as surreal and captivating as films like 300 and Sin City managed with their green screen techniques. Hopefully, this series can do well and we can see more original programming from Sci Fi that has less to do with wrestling and reality and more to do with science and fiction (together).

Stargate Atlantis - TV Squad: Mallozzi/Picardo on SGA Season 5

From TV Squad:

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Robert Picardo and Joseph Mallozzi on season five of Stargate Atlantis

Posted Jul 3rd 2008 11:01AM by Richard Keller



Rachel Luttrell as Teyla Emmagan and Robert Picardo as Richard Woolsey


After a fairly brief hiatus (only 4 months) Stargate Atlantis returns to the SciFi channel with all new episodes starting on July 11th. Now entering its fifth season, the show is reaching a turning point thanks to a number of off-season cast changes. First and foremost in is the replacement of Amanda Tapping's Colonel Samantha Carter as administrator of Atlantis with Robert Picardo's Richard Woolsey. This is one year after Tapping replaced Tori Higginson on the show. It's an interesting turn of events since Woolsey has not been the most popular of characters in the entire Stargate franchise. And, as the character has never been a people person, there is bound to be some conflict between members of the Atlantis team and himself.

In order to hash this all out, Picardo and Atlantis executive producer Joseph Mallozzi got together with the press to answer some questions about Woolsey and Atlantis, the shows 100th episode, and how Picardo looks in a jumpsuit.

**snippage**

On the passing of Don S. Davis: "Don had a bigger heart and was even nicer than the role he played on SG-1", said Mallozzi. When he came to Stargate during season four, Davis warmly welcomed Joe to the set. Mallozzi added that he is proud to call Davis a true friend. and he will be missed by fans and anyone who worked with him.

Finally...

How Picardo looks in the command uniform: Picardo said wearing the command uniform is a bit of a change for a character who has worn a business suit for the last 30 years. Saying that, he looks okay in the uniform. "It's good to have a trim butt in science fiction."

Stargate Atlantis - TV Squad: Stargate Atlantis season five - An early look

From TV Squad:

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Stargate Atlantis season five - An early look

Posted Jul 2nd 2008 3:19PM by Brett Love

Gallery: Stargate Atlantis: Season 5



I was pretty excited when our friendly neighborhood FedEx guy dropped off the envelope with the promo package for season five of Atlantis. And I remained so even after my DVD player balked at reading the disk. It just served as a fine example as to why it's not geeky to have a computer connected to your television, it's just handy.

As the disk started up I was thinking it would be a good idea to do an early look post about where things look to be heading in season five. Unfortunately, Sci Fi only sent out the first episode of the season, and it's not telling us much of anything about season five, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. The episode plays like S04E21 right up to the last scene, where season five begins to take over. Given where we last left our friends in Atlantis, that was probably to be expected. More, including some minor spoilers, after the jump.

**snippage**

Stargate Atlantis - TV Squad: The Most Real Unreal Award Nominees

From TV Squad:

http://www.tvsquad.com/2008/05/30/the-most-real-unreal-award-nominees-videos/

(Please follow the link for the complete article -- and to VOTE for your favorite nominee!)

The Most Real Unreal Award nominees - VIDEOS

Posted May 30th 2008 4:26PM by Keith McDuffee



At first I was surprised at the low turnout for the call for considerations last week, but it's understandable. Most folks are going to right-out (and, likely, correctly) assume we're talking about purely science fiction shows, and when there are just so many of them, why mention what's already been mentioned a few times already?

The list of nominees follows, along with your chance again to vote for the Reader's Choice award amongst them.

Battlestar Galactica (Sci Fi) --

Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles (Fox) --

Supernatural (CW) --

Stargate: Atlantis (Sci Fi) -- Along with the BSG set visit, I had the
pleasure of checking out the sets of Stargate: Atlantis. Watching an episode and seeing a Puddle Jumper flying along on-screen, the same one I saw last year made of wood, is just awesome. Unfortunately SG1 didn't qualify for this award, as it didn't air this past season.

Heroes (NBC) --

So, there you have 'em. go ahead and cast your vote for the Reader's
Choice and we'll be back next week with a list of all the winners.

Stargate Atlantis - TV Squad: 1st Annual TV Squad Awards - Nominate SGA!

From TV Squad:

http://www.tvsquad.com/2008/05/20/introducing-the-first-annual-tv-squad-awards/



(Please follow the link for the complete article.)

Introducing the first annual TV Squad Awards

We here at the TV Squad offices have been mulling this idea over for years now, and it's finally time we took action. Now that the network upfronts are over and we now know for certain (or, to give some a sliver of hope, near-certain) what shows aren't returning next season, we can start the process of submitting nominations - and then winners - of the TV Squad Awards (or as we sometimes call them internally, The Squaddies).

Over the next few days we'll have posts calling for nominee considerations for each of the twelve award categories. These posts are where you, the readers, should state your case for who or what should be nominated and why. Then, next week we'll post the nominees as chosen by the TV Squad team, along with a poll for the readers. Finally, in two weeks we'll submit the winners as chosen by TV Squad, along with the reader's choice award for each, based on the polls.

<><><><>

AND...a category that would fit Stargate Atlantis:

The Most Real Unreal Award: Call for considerations

http://www.tvsquad.com/2008/05/23/the-most-real-unreal-award-call-for-considerations/

(Please follow the link for the complete article.)

The final award we're calling for considerations for is one I'm most excited about. The Most Real Unreal Award goes to the show that, during the 2007-2008 television season, displayed the most impressive and realistic example of special effects.

**snippage**

Take your pick amongst the sci-fi and supernatural shows we cover, and I'm sure any one of them could be a great fit for this category: Battlestar Galactica, Eureka, Stargate. What shows would you like to see nominated and what specific aspects of those shows are the most impressive examples of making the "unreal" look real?

~~**~~**

There's a comment section at the bottom of the link above where you can nominate your tv show(s).

Morjana

Stargate: Infinity - TV Squad: Contest for Complete Series

From TV Squad:

http://www.tvsquad.com/2008/05/20/giveaway-tuesday-stargate-infinity-complete-series/

Giveaway Tuesday: Stargate: Infinity - Complete Series



Posted May 20th 2008 10:01AM by Keith McDuffee

We've got five copies of Stargate: Infinity - The Complete Series on DVD for five lucky, random commenters. The DVD is available in already available in stores.

To enter, simply leave a comment [at the link above] before 5:00PM Eastern, Friday, May 23 telling us why you'd like to own this DVD set. As always, we'll randomly choose five winners amongst the eligible entries. Some other details:

* To enter, leave a confirmed comment below stating why you'd like to own the Stargate: Infinity - The Complete Series.

* The comment must be left before May 23, 2008 at 5:00PM Eastern Time.

* You may enter only once.

* Five winners will be selected in a random drawing.

* Five winners will receive a copy of Stargate: Infinity - The Complete Series DVD (valued at $34.99).

* Open to legal residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older.

Click here for complete Official Rules.

http://www.weblogsinc.com/official-giveaway-rules/

Stargate Atlantis / Universe - TV Squad: All-female recon team

From TV Squad:

http://www.tvsquad.com/2008/04/14/stargate-news-all-female-recon-team-deboer-guests-on-atlantis/

(Please follow the link for the complete article.)

Stargate News: All-female recon team, deBoer guests on Atlantis, Universe shapes up

Posted Apr 14th 2008 8:24PM by Richard Keller


A few items of interest in the Stargate galaxyA few items of interest this month in the world of Stargate. First, it has been revealed that Nicole de Boer has been cast in an upcoming episode of Stargate Atlantis. Boer, who played Ezri Dax on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Sarah Bannerman on The Dead Zone, will play Dr. Alison Porter in an upcoming episode of the fifth season. Porter will be a "cute nerd" (are there any others) who strikes up a friendship with the guest-starring Carson Beckett.

While we are on the subject of the female sex (get your mind out of the gutter, son) further information has been revealed about the first all-woman recon team on Atlantis. The team will be led by Captain Alicia Vega, portrayed by actress Leela Savasta. Vega will appear during the show's season premiere as a new addition to the city's military contingent and may be a recurring character. Joining Vega on the all-woman recon team will be Janina Gavankar as Sergeant Dusty Mehra and Christina Cox (who has been on Stargate as another character) as Major Anne Teldy.

**snippage**

Battlestar Galactica - TV Squad: Katee Sackhoff talks Battlestar Galactica

From TV Squad:

http://www.tvsquad.com/2008/03/28/katee-sackhoff-talks-battlestar-galactica/

(Please follow the link for the complete TV Squad article.)

Katee Sackhoff talks Battlestar Galactica



Early this afternoon (at least for me here on the east coast), Katee Sackhoff participated in a conference call with reporters, discussing her part as Starbuck in Battlestar Galactica, both in seasons past and the upcoming final season of the series.

A brief excerpt:


* She said this seasons definitely going to shock people and probably ruffle some peoples' feathers. Be prepared to see things not all wrapped up nicely with a bow at the end of the series.

* Originally Starbuck was being cast as being a 35 year-old woman, but then they went with her.

**snippage**