Stargate SG1 / Atlantis - GateWorld: Michael Shanks Audio Interview

At GateWorld:



NEW VOYAGES

GateWorld talks with Michael Shanks

Beware minor SPOILERS for the Atlantis two-parter, "First Contact" and "The Lost Tribe," in the interview [at GateWorld]!

Even after Stargate SG-1's cancellation, and the successful release of the first two in a series of planned SG-1 DVD movies, Michael Shanks continues to remain in the public eye. In addition to his current recurring role in the series Burn Notice, the actor returns to the role that truly launched his career when the character of Dr. Daniel Jackson comes to Atlantis in the mid-season two-parter, "First Contact" and "The Lost Tribe."

GateWorld's Chad Colvin sat down with Michael at the end of August, while Shanks was a guest at Creation Entertainment's Chicago Stargate Convention. In the interview, Michael discusses his final thoughts on Continuum, the Atlantis episodes in which he features, his memories of Don S. Davis, Burn Notice, and Rage of Angels!

GateWorld's interview with Michael runs nine minutes. Listen online at your leisure, download it to your MP3 player, or subscribe now to the iTunes podcast! The full interview is also transcribed [at the link above].


A brief excerpt:

GW: Fans are looking forward to seeing you in the upcoming two-parter on Atlantis with "First Contact" and "The Lost Tribe." How easy was it stepping back into Daniel's shoes after such a long period between the end of Continuum's filming and now?

MS: You know what? Daniel is like a comfy sweater. It's never too difficult. As long as the writers can remember how to write for him, the voice comes really easily to me. It was odd with such a big break to step into that character, stepping into a different world, to not have the usual players from SG-1 there but to actually go to Atlantis after not playing the character for close to a year was a little bit odd. But fortunately, in regards to Daniel's fast talking, David Hewlett managed to warm me up relatively quickly.

David Boreanaz - Bones: Video: 'Fast Healer'

Courtesy of FOX and HULU, a sneak peek from Bones' season four, episode five, 'The Crank in the Shaft,' airing Wednesday, October 1 '08 on FOX. Starring Emily Deschanel, David Boreanaz, T.J. Thyne, John Francis Daley, Tamara Taylor and Michaela Conlin. Guest stars include Ewan Chung, Edward James Gage, Pete Gardner and David Greenman.

Bones - Fast Healer

Current Preview (s.4 : ep.5) |01:02 |

Booth is a natural fixer.

NOTE: This video clip expires on September 25 '08.

Hugh Laurie - House - Video: 'Dying Changes Everything'

Courtesy of FOX and HULU, House's 'Dying Changes Everything,' Hugh Laurie, Lisa Edelstein, Omar Epps, Robert Sean Leonard, Jennifer Morrison, Jesse Spencer, Peter Jacobson, Kal Penn and Olivia Wilde. Guest stars include Bobbin Bergstrom, Paul Haitkin and Jamie Rose.

Eight weeks after the death of his girlfriend, Wilson is still mourning her death.

Twilight - Vampires & Slayers: Audio Interview Stephenie Meyer & Catherine Hardwicke

At Vampires and Slayers:

(You will need to be registered with the site to download the audio interview.)



TWILIGHT AUDIO: 2ND INTERVIEW WITH STEPHENIE MEYER & CATHERINE HARDWICKE

Previously Vampires & Slayers had presented an audio interview with author Stephenie Meyer and director Catherine Hardwicke regarding the film version of Twilight, which was recorded at the San Diego Comic Con back in July. Now we're posting a different interview with the duo that was conducted on the same day.

Alex O'Laughlin - Moonlight - Vampires & Slayers: Audio Interview

At Vampires and Slayers:

(You need to be registered at the site to be able to download the audio interview.)



MOONLIGHT AUDIO INTERVIEW: ALEX O'LOUGHLIN AT NY COMIC CON

Last spring both Alex O'Loughlin and Jason Dohring appeared at New York Comic Con to promote Moonlight, which was yet to return for its final four episodes. At that time, V&S editor Edward Gross caught up with both actors (the interview with Jason has previously been posted here), and what follows is his conversation with Alex O'Loughlin. Note that Jason was sitting next to him at the time doing a separate interview -- and pay attention early on to Alex's discussion about his pizza, which is amusing. The conversation covers a number of topics, most notably the sequence in which Josef turns Mick back into a vampire.

Joshua Jackson - Fringe - Video: 'The Ghost Network'

Courtesy of FOX and HULU, Fringe's 'The Ghost Network,' starring Anna Torv, Joshua Jackson, Kirk Acevedo, John Noble, Lance Reddick, Blair Brown, Jasika Nicole and Mark Valley. Guest stars include Peter Hermann, Lisa Joyce, Donnie Keshawarz and Zak Orth.

Our trio investigates a horrific bus incident in which the dead bodies of commuters are frozen inside.

Eureka - Brandweek: How SciFi Channel Twittered Its Way to 3,000 Fans

At Brandweek:

(Please follow the link for the complete article.)



Q&A: How SciFi Channel Twittered Its Way to 3,000 Fans

Social networking is quickly evolving as a powerful marketing tool for brand managers, though the math is still fuzzy when it comes to metrics, monetization and explaining to the chief financial officer why you have a social network like Twitter in the first place. SciFi Channel saw past some of these challenges and activated a Twitter site in July, several weeks before the third season premiere of Eureka, an original series set in a fictional town inhabited by geniuses. SciFi Channel's ad agency, Fallon, Minneapolis, discovered that Twitter users were talking about the show, and enlisted one of Eureka's characters, S.A.R.A.H., to talk to fans. S.A.R.A.H., which stands for Self Activated Residential Automated Habitat, is an artificially intelligent physical house that is able to communicate. As of Sept. 23, Twitteer.com/S.A.R.A.H. garnered 3,210 fans. Fallon's planning director, Aki Spicer, recently talked with Brandweek senior reporter Mike Beirne about whether the Twitter experience has produced any marketing eureka moments.

...BW: Why wouldn't blogging be enough?

AS: Two things. Twitter is right for our customer in a couple ways. The show is openly 'geek.' We suspected that many of our viewers would be ahead with participating in this medium. So before we even jumped in, we did an extensive sweep of Twitter to harvest conversations around the show. We found there were thousands of conversations that already existed.

Another pattern we saw is with TV shows in general, there are many fake characters already out there engaged and participating—from fake Steve Jobs, fake Borat, to all the characters in Battlestar Galactica, Star Wars and Indiana Jones. People want to connect to these fictional characters.

Suddenly social media arises and should it be so surprising that people want to bring these desires to this new technology? They want to live in this world with these characters that to them are real people. If we're not participating, they will do it without us . . . We want to lead that conversation.

Battlestar Galactica - NBCU: Elite Cylon Raider Available as Replica

At NBCUMV:

'BATTLESTAR GALACTICA'S' ELITE CYLON RAIDER NOW AVAILABLE AS BEAUTIFULLY-CRAFTED REPLICA



Published: September 24, 2008

Fifteen Inch Scale Replica Based On The Emmy Award-Winning SCI FI Channel Original Series Retails For $949.95 and is Available To Order Online Starting September 28

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. - September 24, 2008 - NBC Universal Television, DVD, Music and Consumer Products Group announced today that "Battlestar Galactica's" famed Cylon Raider Tactical Fighter is now available as a beautifully-crafted, scale replica. The announcement was made by Kim Niemi, Senior Vice President, NBC Universal. Developed by Quantum Mechanix through a licensing agreement with NBC Universal, the Cylon Raider replicas will be available online at http://www.scifichannelstore.com and will retail for $949.95.



Measuring fifteen inches long by nine inches wide, these handsome artisan Cylon Raider replicas are based on a computer-generated model and have been designed by Quantum Mechanix, They are assembled and painted at renown special effects company "The FX Company," which is based in Ocala, Florida. Only 500 of these artisan replicas exist and each will contain a unique brass plaque signed by either "Battlestar Galactica" executive producers Ronald D. Moore and David Eick, director Michael Rymer or one of the cast members including Jamie Bamber ("Lee 'Apollo' Adama"), James Callis ("Gaius Baltar"), Tricia Helfer ("Number Six"), Michael Hogan ("Colonel Saul Tigh"), Edward James Olmos ("Admiral William Adama"), Grace Park ("Sharon 'Athena' Agathon"/ "Sharon 'Boomer' Valerii") or Katee Sackhoff ("Kara 'Starbuck' Thrace").

"Quantum Mechanix and The FX Company have created an amazing replica," said Kim Niemi. "The incredible attention to detail in these beautifully-crafted collectibles is sure to delight 'Battlestar Galactica' fans around the world."

"As a huge fan of the science fiction genre and 'Battlestar Galactica' especially, I am really pleased to be able to bring these Cylon Raiders to life," said Andy Gore, President of Quantum Mechanix. "'Battlestar Galactica' has a loyal following and we know that fans of the series and collectors alike will be thrilled with this particular replica."

The "Battlestar Galactica" Cylon Raider measures 15 x 9.5 x 3 inches long, with a total display height of 7 inches. These film quality Raider Ships boast several layers of vivid, prismatic and iridescent metallic paint, which changes hue depending on how it picks up the light. The ships feature custom electronics with light displays including the scanning/sweeping red LED "eye" lights and flaring white engine lights. The Raider's lighting system runs on a 12 volt transformer. The Cylon Raiders are available for order beginning September 28, 2008 at http://www.scifichannelstore.com.

~~**~~**

Quantum Mechanix Image Gallery

Stargate Atlantis - MGM Stargate: Trailer for 'First Contact'

At MGM Stargate:

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

First Contact

0:33 2MB

Tune into Sci Fi Fridays at 10/9c for all new episodes of Stargate Atlantis. This week: "First Contact"




AND...



Stargate: Unlock the Gate Sweepstakes

Just a reminder that the Stargate: Unlock the Gate Sweepstakes is still effective, and will be open through 1/08/09.

At MGM Stargate:

In conjunction with MGM Stargate and Stargate Worlds, the new MMOG game, enter the Stargate: Unlock the Gate Sweepstakes and see yourself in the digital realm of Stargate! You could have your name or likeness incorporated into the new Stargate Worlds MMO Game! Use the gate code from the most recent selected episode to unlock the gate — simply enter it [at the link above] and submit the completed entry form! Tune-in to future selected episodes for an all-new exclusive look inside Stargate Worlds and to retrieve another gate code. Subject to OFFICIAL RULES which contain the dates for episodes that will feature a gate code.

Stargate Atlantis All New Episodes Fridays 10/9c on SciFi - Watch it in Real Time!

Open to legal residents of 1 of the 50 U.S. or D.C., 18+ or age of majority in entrant's state of residence.

Prize includes a 2-night/3-day trip to video game developer on Sponsor-selected dates from Sponsor-selected airport near winner's US residence. ARV of prize: $1,500.



Official Stargate Special Ops member

Paley Center for Media New York: SCI FI Channel Premiere: Sanctuary

At the Paley Center for Media New York:



SCI FI Channel Premiere: Sanctuary

Thursday, October 2, 2008
6:30 pm ET
Paley Center New York
In Person

Amanda Tapping, “Dr. Helen Magnus”/Exec. Prod.; Rob Dunne, "Dr. Will Zimmerman"; Damian Kindler, Creator/Exec. Prod.; Sam Egan, Show Runner/Exec. Prod.; Martin Wood, Dir./Exec. Prod.; Moderator: Michael Logan, TV Guide

Journey with the Paley Center as we preview the SCI FI Channel’s new series Sanctuary, starring Amanda Tapping (Stargate SG-1 and Stargate Atlantis) as the enigmatic, 157-year-old Dr. Helen Magnus, protector of "abnormals" living secretly among us. (Note to the wise: You might want to keep a watchful eye on whomever you wind up sitting next to.) Adapted from the Internet-only show of the same name, Sanctuary premieres on SCI FI on October 3, but we have it first: Join us for a sneak peek of the pilot, plus an exploration of the show’s cutting-edge “green screen” technology, a trivia contest, and so much more.

Tickets went on sale today for the general public. Ticket prices are reasonable.

Sci Fi Channel Premiere: Sanctuary

Thursday, October 02 at 6:30PM

at Paley Center for Media
25 West 52 Street
New York, New York 10019

Prices:

Concourse Theater

MEMBER $15.00
NONMEMBER $20.00
STUDENT $15.00

If you need assistance placing your order, call OvationTix customer service toll-free: 866-811-4111. Do not exit your Web browser.
Customer service hours: 9am - 9pm M-F / 10am - 6pm Sat + Sun (Eastern Time)

Eureka - Video: 'Here Come The Suns'

Courtesy of the SciFi Channel and HULU, Eureka's 'Here Come The Suns,' starring Colin Ferguson, Salli Richardson, Joe Morton, Jordan Hinson, Frances Fisher, Erica Cerra, Neil Grayston and Chris Gauthier. Guest stars include Niall Matter, Vanya Asher, Ever Carradine, Dean Marshall and Margot Berner.

Zoe focuses on the red-hot race for mayor while her science partner inadvertently creates a second sun.

The Colbert Report - Video: August 28 '08 Episode

Courtesy of The Comedy Channel and HULU, The Colbert Report's August 28 '08 episode.

Rick Brookhiser, author of "George Washington on Leadership," tells Stephen about one of our most prominent Founding Fathers.

Journeyman - Video: 'Winterland'

Courtesy of HULU, Journeyman's 'Winterland,' starring Kevin McKidd, Gretchen Egolf, Moon Bloodgood, Reed Diamond and Brian Howe. Guest stars include Paul Schulze, Tom Everett, John Noble, Margo Harshman, Sean Wing, Jake Sandvig and Alexi Wasser.

Dan journeys back into the past to a "key party" where he meets a young hippie girl involved in a deadly crime.

Stargate Atlantis - Cinema Spy: Robert Picardo Interview

At Cinema Spy:

(Please follow the link for the complete three-page interview.)



Interview: Robert Picardo

On 'Atlantis' and playing a cross between Mr. Rogers and Hannibal Lecter

By Robert Falconer | Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Brilliant, neurotic, irascible, funny, brave...musical. These are all characteristics embodied in the performances of Robert Picardo. What's amazing, however, is that the actor brought each of these traits to a single character—that of Star Trek Voyager's holographic doctor (EMH), whom Picardo played every week for seven seasons between 1995 and 2001. This versatility caught the eyes of Vancouver's Stargate producers, who in 2004 hired Picardo to play the recurring role of International Oversight Advisory (IOA) member Richard Woolsey on both SG-1 and Atlantis, ultimately leading him to take command of Atlantis in the series' fifth (and now final) season.

Yet despite his extraordinary versatility, Picardo is about as relaxed and disarming on set as any journalist could hope for, in some ways belying the true range of his acting ability. During a recent press day, CinemaSpy had an opportunity to sit and chat with him about a variety of topics, from contrasting Voyager and Atlantis, to playing a rather weird cross between Mr. Rogers and Hannibal Lecter in his latest film, Sensored.



A brief excerpt:

Question: Was there any trepidation about jumping into another sci-fi show? Do you even think about that?

Robert Picardo: I've been able to do a number of different things since Star Trek ended. I've done several stage shows; Star Trek got me singing again, so I've done three musicals...and I've guest-starred on a number of kinds of shows: sitcoms, procedural dramas—CSI, Cold Case, things like that. I'm happy for the fact that I started outside genre material. China Beach and The Wonder Years were both in very different ways successful, mold-breaking shows, yet not genre shows. It helps you as an actor if you establish a certain credibility before you start working in genre. On the other hand, if it's your first job, then often that can be limiting. I personally think it's unfair that people have a prejudice against science fiction television. Patrick Stewart did a lot to change that. He's such a respected actor; he was just nominated for a Tony for his brilliant performance in MacBeth. So he did a lot to raise the bar as far as perceptions of sci-fi actors are concerned.

Having said that, a sci-fi audience is incredibly loyal. They will follow you elsewhere, wherever you are. They'll come see you on stage, or follow your website to see where you going to appear next, or watch you on other television shows ... so I think that science fiction has been very good to me, and I enjoy doing it, and the season is short enough that I still have the freedom to do other things. At the beginning of this year I did a horror movie. I haven't done a horror film since The Howling. And I just played the lead in a movie called Sensored, that I'm really excited about and that I have a very creepy role in. He's like your neighbor down the street who seems like Mr. Rogers, but who is torturing people in the basement...or maybe he's not. You don't know whether I'm a CIA deprogrammer, or whether I THINK I'm a CIA deprogrammer. Or imagine if Hannibal Lecter ran your local Jamba Juice. I'm a quirky guy who seems like just your regular old neighbor ... so it's a great role, because while I usually play the guy you love to hate, I don't usually play the guy who is going to kill you. And it's the first completed film on a brand new technology called the Red camera, which is getting huge attention, and will garner this film huge attention industry-wise...