Syfy
April 29, 2009: Simul-posting, Stargate, and the SyFy Slant.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009 by Joseph Mallozzi
Several weeks ago, when SyFy (sic?) and MGM first approached me about becoming the official behind-the-scenes voice for the new Stargate: Universe series and simul-posting on SciFi.com (sic?) I was admittedly leery. As someone who has made it a point to post a daily entry going on 2+ years now, the last thing I need are restrictions as to what I can write about and when, and I made that clear. Even though I do love the show and the people I work with, I really think I’d be hard-pressed to produce a Stargate-themed post every day. Sure, at the beginning it would be all thrilling behind-the-scenes snaps and episode teasers but, three or four months down the line when I’m dedicating entries to what I saw actor Jamil Walker Smith eat for lunch or how director Will Waring has been combing his hair differently, we’d all be sorry.
Some people drop by this blog to get the latest info on the Stargates (SG-1, Atlantis, and Universe) while others stop in for our genre-specific book of the month club discussions and guest author Q&A‘s, while still others visit for the restaurants reviews, Baron Destructo’s inspired correspondence with overseas scammers, and the Weird Food Purchase of the Day video installments. But a thoroughly unscientific study reveals that the vast majority of you frequent this blog for updates on the gastrointestinal issues that plague my dogs on a semi-regular basis. So, how to be fair to all the Stargate fans, literati, foodies, voyeurs, dog-lovers, people with nothing better to do, and those who mistakenly stumble upon this blog while surfing the net for funny pictures of hairless chinchillas? Well, the easiest thing would be for me to do what I’ve been doing - keep this blog’s topics fresh and varied enough to ensure that all of the different target audiences are bored and/or offended in equal amounts. The gang at SyFy suggested a compromise whereby only the posts I categorize as Stargate-related would make an appearance on SciFi.com.
All well and good, but what exactly constitutes a Stargate-related post? I mean, take today’s entry for instance. I’m talking about blogging, specifically about blogging about Stargate, but I’m not really blogging “about” Stargate. If, say, over the course of an entry dedicated to an account of the pleasant evening I spent opening every bottle in my liquor cabinet to sniff their various contents (Hey, root beer schnapps really smells like root beer!) and I happened to mention something like the fact that one of Earth’s battleships will be making an appearance in the SGU series premiere or, just out of the blue, post a picture like this -
- Peter Deluise (foreground) directs actor Justin Louis (background) on the Destiny gateroom set (Stage 4).
April 24, 2009: Bon Voyage! (And if not “bon” then at least not “mauvais”). One Doctor Checks In, The Other Doctor Drops In. And, Some Mailbag.
Saturday, April 25, 2009 by Joseph Mallozzi
I walked into Ashleigh‘s office and leveled with her. “I’m worried. All this morning, I was reading about that possible pandemic in Mexico…”
The implication was clear. She was about to head off on a week-long Mexican getaway and the prospect of her flirting with danger was paramount on my mind. No doubt touched by my concern, she nodded, wide-eyed, and said: “And it’s not just me coming down with it. The worst part would be if I came back to work and brought it back with me.”
Deadpan, I informed her: “Uh, yeah. That’s what I’m worried about.”
…Continue reading »April 22, 2009: Director Peter DeLuise Answers Your Questions + Another Upcoming Guest Blogger
Wednesday, April 22, 2009 by Joseph Mallozzi
Some of my fondest memories of my early years on SG-1 involve Director Peter DeLuise - his fast-paced style, his encyclopedic knowledge of the show’s mythology, and , of course, his unrestrained sense of humor. He occupied the office across the hall from Paul and I, a veritable Stargate shrine he decorated with the weirdest collection of curios imaginable: prop weapons, visceral alien design work, a rubber life cast of a swollen belly with a ready-made pocket for extruding symbiotes. A chamber of horrors to be sure and yet, whenever a cast or crew member would bring their child by, they would inevitably gravitate to his office, partly to check out the weird exhibit, and partly for Peter himself who would inevitably put on a private show for the kids. From my office, I would hear him chatting away with them, discusing their interests, after which the conversation would eventually segue into his “Pull my finger” request and cap off with his trademark Barney the Dinosaur impression that never failed to impress. Peter was (and still is) good for a laugh, but he’s also an incredibly hard-working, dedicated, and talented individual who has scripted and directed some of the franchise’s seminal episodes. As SG-1 drew to an end, a show that had been an important part of his life for many, many seasons, Peter decided to take a break from the franchise…
…Continue reading »
Writer/producer Joseph Mallozzi is the ultimate Stargate insider, having been a part of the franchise for almost ten years.
He joined the SG-1 production team in 2000, and would go on to pen numerous episodes of both that series and Stargate Atlantis.
He is currently serving as consulting producer and writer on the upcoming Stargate Universe.
