Comments on: Michael Shanks: Beyond the gate

By: spiralamok

spiralamok — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 16:06:11 +0000

hi, me

By: spiralamok

spiralamok — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 15:48:31 +0000

Look; all shows these days are supposed to be about a small town, or a spaceship, or a kitchen. Unfortunately the powers that be are concerned about 2 things. The first is getting people to watch. Once this feat is accomplished, its on to phase two: brainwash. We as humans watch shows not realizing our brain relates similarly to what we see on screen as we would in real life. The bottom line is all shows and movies have become a quiet backdrop of buzz concepts designed to get us to watch, so they can show us a soap opera. SG-1 was like a video game to watch, very technical and focused on the concepts of this reality in which a Stargate exists. It took us there, like the matrix first time in a theater. Stargate Universe is about a bunch of snotty shallow people bickering over each others wants and expectations. Seriously, watch ANY show or movie and you will see, they try to hook you with the concept, so you’ll watch; then they come at you with less than impressive social interations, and for what? So you’ll shout at your TV or the characters in frustration? So you’ll relate to their childish stubbornness in the face of danger unknown to anyone in real life? There is a place for some social upheaval and “character development” in life and in Stargate, but the idiots who thought they could squish the Stargate franchise by letting shallow “Real World” like character interactions dominate the viewer’s attention, well, they’re brillant. And the numbers confirm. Pringles used to taste better too. they get you hooked, then take out the prefered expensive elements, replacing them with carefully scripted social vomit, so we can all grow up to mimic and be perpetually shallow. I guess its a question of role models. Do you enjoy watching SGU’s cast slowly go through what painfully looks like a second puberty; or would you rather wait till they finish building the set before they start filming? Don’t blame the creators, they most likely are running the franchise into the ground like anyone else who gets locked onto years long contracts and is expected to do more and more with less and less (Just ask Kurt). The sooner it goes belly up the sooner the people who believe in doing fine work such as SG-1 can re-mobilize and make a Surrogettes instead of a Nacho Libre.

By: ben

ben — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 01:12:43 +0000

well sgu is finally finished and boy did it suck.

i dont understand, if they want boring story lines, why pick syfy

sgu could easily be based in a office in manhatten. it is that boring.

the whole point of scidence fiction is action and adventure, to see something you cant see every day. i wouldnt walk in a bar if it was as boring as that show. way too much like the remake of battlestar galactica, another decent show butchered by incredibly mind numbing boring people who take themselves far to seriously. In the wrong job

By: TelepathicPebble

TelepathicPebble — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 07:28:54 +0000

SGU is utterly horrible, Shanks has that right

By: marsha

marsha — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 15:55:19 +0000

The way I read it, Shanks doesn’t say SGU is juvenile, the interviewer/article writer does. What Shanks said is “â€œIt is really slick and pretty,â€ â€œ[But] from what Iâ€™ve seen Iâ€™m not on board. â€¦ Iâ€™m not hooked in.â€ â€œTheyâ€™re creating tension, pathos and angst,â€ â€œThe conflict with the characters seems a bit forced.â€ It is an opinion shared by others.
I think SGU is still finding its way – it’s only been a half season. It’s so different from SG-1 that those of us who loved that show for 10 years (or so) find it hard to relate the two, but I give TPTB credit for not trying to reinvent the wheel. It’s definitely not your-mother’s-SG1, but that’s okay.

By: Blast - What the next Stargate SG-1 movie should do - Boston's Online Magazine

Blast - What the next Stargate SG-1 movie should do - Boston's Online Magazine — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 17:34:47 +0000

[...] Blast interviewed Michael Shanks last month, we learned that the new, anticipated “Stargate SG-1″ straight-to-DVD movie [...]

By: daniel4ever

daniel4ever — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:51:32 +0000

Thank you for your clarification.

By: Astrumporta

Astrumporta — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 04:06:17 +0000

Thanks for the update. It’s sad what appears to have happened, but I appreciate reading/hearing that bit.

By: Ann

Ann — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 03:58:26 +0000

Thank you very much for updating the article. Since so much of it was on audio, it was odd to get reporter’s commentary on aspects that weren’t heard. It’s good to get at least some of the context. And thank you for providing the audio Q&A at all for a fuller view of everything.

Much appreciated.

By: timbay

timbay — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 23:22:50 +0000

Thank you for the wonderful interview with Michael Shanks! I loved him in Stargate SG-1. I have never watched Smallville, but I will definitely be tuning in for any episodes with Michael. It sounds like it’s going to be loads of fun!

By: madaboutdanny

madaboutdanny — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 20:15:34 +0000

Thanks It’s nice to see Michael appreciated. Is there a possibility of a transcript of this interview? English is not my language, and the sound is not very good for my englih skill.

By: Wrong

Wrong — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 17:44:54 +0000

More like some people want characters and stories that are actually interesting. HBO shows are much more adult and realistic and their characters are complex and compelling. I loved many of those shows like Wire, Rome, Deadwood, and Six Feet Under. SGU bores me to tears.

By: Blast Magazine Newsroom

Blast Magazine Newsroom — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 06:31:05 +0000

Thanks for the comment. We updated the article due to reader requests:

http://blastmagazine.com/the-magazine/entertainment/tv/2009/11/michael-shanks-beyond-the-gate/

By: Blast Magazine Newsroom

Blast Magazine Newsroom — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 06:29:29 +0000

We updated the post because of reader requests:
http://blastmagazine.com/the-magazine/entertainment/tv/2009/11/michael-shanks-beyond-the-gate/

By: Manuel

Manuel — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 05:11:39 +0000

You’d think FILM would be more accepting of Sci-fi…especially with MARVEL/DC/JJ ABARMS bringing in the nerd into Tinseltown.

By: daniel4ever

daniel4ever — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 04:10:45 +0000

I agree – I would like to know the basis for this info. In previous comments, Michael has said that he has stopped talking about this project so as to not jinx it. His refusal to comment further sounds consistent with that. Too bad that part of the conversation was not recorded.

By: Cleo

Cleo — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 02:54:27 +0000

Not to mention the complete disregard for decent proofreading…

By: sg_betty

sg_betty — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 02:27:14 +0000

He’s mentioned that a lot of them just don’t know anything about it. I don’t think it does him any harm, but it’s not on LA radar, although there are exceptions, of course.

By: knicknac

knicknac — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 01:12:03 +0000

I wonder, is Stargate a problem for those in the industry? Do they see that on his resume and give him a pass? I think the division between TV and film has lessened a bit, but there does still seem to be this divide between SF and non-SF still present.

By: Les Ferris

Les Ferris — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 23:32:26 +0000

@Adam J:

Indeed. I love SG-1, it’s still my favorite show, but SGU is more adult and more realistic. Some people can’t handle it and want the constant ‘running through the Vancouver forest with big explosions and nasty, campy aliens’ that was especially prevalent in the last few seasons of SG-1 and all throughout SGA, after that SGU is a breath of fresh air and, seeing the abortion of an episode that was SGA’s finale, I’ll take slightly too slow paced over far too fast paces any day of the week. SGU is a completely different show, kudos to the Stargate creators for being versatile. People need to get over it and either stop watching, or accept it for what it is.

By: sg_betty

sg_betty — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 18:23:17 +0000

I have real doubts about the reliability of this article. Given what MS said about SGU here, combined with factual errors (Lexa Doig was born in Toronto and is Canadian) and the completely unsubstantiated speculation about his relationship with CJ, I get the impression that this article was written with sensationalism in mind, not as a real interview. It's more of an opinion piece by the author, highly edited, and written to reinforce personal opinion.

By: Astrumporta

Astrumporta — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 18:15:59 +0000

Thanks for this — very interesting podcast! One thing, unless I missed it, Michael never mentioned Chris Judge or their production company in the audio version. It seems like you’re implying a falling-out between them. Or at least, leaving room for readers to do so. Just curious, what is the basis for the production company news?

By: dtheories

dtheories — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 15:37:39 +0000

Thanks, John for your fabulous interview with Michael Shanks. You touched on so many aspects: family, work, ambitions, industry…sports! And *hearing* the conversation rather than simply reading small exerpts explains much and allows for less misinterpretation too. That ‘Daniel’ and ‘Victor’ were performed by the same person speaks volumes about this talent and I am eager to watch what comes next for his career. Thanks again!

By: Adam J

Adam J — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 13:29:08 +0000

“almost juvenile take on the franchise”

It’s the most adult instalment by far, I really don’t understand this comment. SGU is real and gritty, the characters are realistic and actually act like normal people. While I love it, SG-1 wasn’t adult like this, the characters were like action hero’s with a whiter than white moral code, who never really addressed their feelings nor did much in the way of developing relationships either. SG-1 wasn’t a character drama like this though, it was just a pop-corn romp, which is fine, but the juvenile criticism really doesn’t hold water, I struggle to understand how anyone who has actually seen the show could even think that.