GWC Podcast #184: Stargate, Part I

Podcasts Galactic Watercooler
#1

As we kick off our Stargate arc we’re joined by Cliff Simon. Highlights: we relate our introduction(s) to 'gate, enjoy how in the Stargate universe humans live by their wits and understanding of culture as opposed to our technology, note that the “non-interference” program only really works when you’re at the top of the technology food chain, enjoy the SGC’s quality leadership, learn from Mr. Simon how he brought ultimate-SG-1-nemesis Ba’al to life, talk origin-of-humanlike-species-around-the-galaxy in sci-fi, and generally get our SG geek on!

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#2

You should’ve got Cliff Simon to do Ba’al and say, Bow before me!… heheh…did you know he’s South African? :cool:

My favourite scenes ever is when o’Neil and Ba’al trade insults and correct each other on proper grammar.

*…it’s who we are…
I remember in one episode, where a rival faction of SG-1 was stealing tech from the asgard, and o’Neil commented at the end of the episode that it was not the tech-stuff but rather the relationships they had with the aliens that counted.

*o’Neil’s campiness
is the voice of reason; yes he breaks the 4th wall by being the voice of the audience. he IS the reason why the show lasted as long as it did! I reckon he’s written as a direct opposite of Jean Luc Picard.

*Goa’ulds
…dang I’m pretty sure I’ve seen these snake props being recycled in other sci-fi shows.

*Daniel Jackson
… have you guys seen his cameo in Burn Notice? That’s when you remember he’s six feet tall!

*Don S. Davis
… I actually felt down and almost cried when I read that Don Davis died some time back. [i]Hammond of Texas[i]? I wonder if he’s from Dallas? heheh…

*The Asgard
…do you know that Michael Shanks doubles as the voice of Thor?

*Daniel Jackson figuring out how the Stargate works…
… I wonder if there’s any tie-in with the flags of the 12 colonies of Kobol… hmm…

*Words are the most powerful weapon
… Brad Wright mentioned in the last Stargate Atlantis movie that the anti-Ori weapon was a metaphor for television… and how television is broadcasted…

*Everybody is non-stereotypical
… kudos to the writing genius of Brad Wright for NOT coming up with any writing tropes. GWC crue, you MUST interview Brad for the next podcast!

*No one is an outsider on the set
…the same vibe is shared on the set of Sanctuary…

*“Star Series”
Have you noticed how many sci-fi shows have the word “Star” in it?

#3

And a South African model, to be more precise. :smiley:

Need to watch Abyss again. That had to be the darkest Stargate episode so far and RDA and Cliff played fantastic against each other.:cool:

#4

In! Cliff Simon / Ba’al ROCKS! Great way to kick off the arc! w00t!!!

#5

Are you guys trying to make the podcasts shorter? This is the first time I can remember that two weeks in a row were less than 2 hours long.

Oh, and here’s a funny gag from the set early in the show.

//youtu.be/tRkexJ-MBCQ

OK, for some reason, that’s not working for me, so here’s a link
Stargate Set Prank

#6

Love the cast.

Daniel did start out as the stereotypical highly educated book worm. Glasses and no way good in a fight. Strangely as years go by he goes to the gym a great deal, looses the glasses, and is more helpful in a fight.

I watched it from the start so I was not as confused as some of the mythology. I enjoy the banter of military v. science. O’Neil often was the audience saying excuse me what the hell are you talking about.

#7

Chuck:
Term for the first few minutes of the show that eluded you:

Teaser?

Great podcast! I’m now looking forward to jumping into a series that up till now I haven’t checked out at all.

#8

I was wondering the same thing. I was waiting for 45 more minutes of entertainment.

Is the Crue okay?

#9

Like the last episode of SG1, I was left wanting more. Lots more. For me, after listening for the last couple of years, this was the most disappointing cast from the standpoint of giving the content the time and coverage it deserves. 10 years of SG1 surely deserves more that this. I hope that, even though the next cast is dedicated to the decidedly inferior and budget-ravaged SGA and the last one to the movies, there is additional discussion regarding SG1.

For the record, it felt weird even posting this. I never expected to NOT enjoy a GWC cast. I figured, though, as a big SG1 and GWC fan, I should provide this feedback. Nonetheless, I’ll be listening - as usual - next week, and the week after that, and until Chuck runs out of money. :wink:

#10

hi Pete from PA : fans like you & me have been watching the show since 1997.

The GWC crue only started, like this week? So I’d give them a break cos they don’t have the kind of viewing history (unless you count Shannon :cool: )

I feel the rest of us who are hardcore fans should give more input on the Stargate arc. :o Just to open up the banter here, y’all…

#11

Indeed. </Teal’c>

:slight_smile:

And I’m really glad you’re getting into the show. There’s no way we can cover “Stargate” in four podcasts (any more than we can cover “Star Wars” in eight), so our goal here is really just to introduce everyone to the series and hopefully entice a few of the people who (like me) waited way, way too long to check it out to give it a go.

The episodes we recommended are nothing more than a sampling. I’ll say it again: I’d watch it all. (In fact, I am watching it all – in order!)

And hey – if any of you would like to add to the discussion, remember the call line. We’ll be adding at least one call show to this arc (so don’t be shy).

#12

There were many great points brought up in this podcast. Many of them the very reasons why I call SG-1 my favorite show. While many of us rally around other shows that on many levels could be argued as better, SG-1 is unique in its ability to entertain. I have scene many post about the rewatchabiliy of shows like BSG and Lost. I feel exacTly the same and while I love both of them I really have to be in the mood to rewatch them on my own time.

SG-1 manager to blend so many thing I enjoy or find entertaining and at the same time never take itself too seriously. The fact that it takes place in our time period gives a unique perspective that is somewhat rare in Scifi. Traveling to other planets (instantly) is so intriguing who would not want the chance? Also the ideas for stories are only limited by ones imagination. Some episodes are funnier than and sitcom I have scene, the drama is more intriguing than BSG, the action is more realistic than a Michael Bay movie (why is it that everything in this script must eventually blow up? -Teal’c), the relationships that form make you feel like part of the family. The fact that they are able to take stories that are part of our own history (Holy Grail, Fountain of Youth, King Arthur, Religious Deities and many more) and give them a spin that is not only creative but plausible (IYKWIM) is also very interesting to me, being a fan of these stories.

If you haven’t caught the bug please give it a try and Audra, please fail everyone in that Humanities class for never hearing about Stargate! This may belong in the “Signs of Our Impending Doom” thread but with Audra’s stories I loose faith each week in the future of humanity. We must redouble our efforts on the plans for GWCville.

#13

Hey, thanks for being concerned! We’re okay, promise! We’re trying to make the cast a little shorter based on feedback over time and we’re hoping to tighten things up a bit and make it easier for people to listen to.

Pete, I completely agree that we need to spend more time on SG-1. This is why I made the guys promise we will come back to it again. Honestly I could talk for a number of casts about this series, so I can guarantee I’ll be pushing for a return. I hope in the meantime that you enjoy the parts we do cover.

#14

Oh please don’t. I love my 2 hour GWC weekly fix. I’d wager that a vast majority do as well. More not less!

#15

I certainly do, and will, enjoy what you do cover, and I look forward to the revisit once you guys get through the whole thing.

SG-1, while having some really weak spots here and there (the drudgery of the Ori arc, loss of O’Neill, the “Pete” arc with Sam Carter… ugggh), had some extraordinary storylines, moments, acting… it really stands out and holds its own against other epic scifi, and does so with a lot of heart and humor.

#16

I agree. I really look forward to the two-hours a week I get to spend with you guys.

#17

You could do years on Stargate, but a good three-episode GWC arc for SG1 might be:

1 Goa’uld plot
2 Anubis plot
3 Ori plot

#18

Yup, also called a ‘cold open.’

#19

Don’t forget a Replicator plot arc. I actually suggested one down in the arc suggestions thread.

#20

More time for Cookies & Beer, right?