[Update] TCA press tour: 'Stargate Universe' producers aim for 'Battlestar Galactica' quality

"Battlestar Galactica" envy? Maybe just a little.

On Saturday, the Television Critics Assn. named SyFy (formerly Sci Fi Channel) series "Battlestar Galactica" its program of the year, the organization's highest honor. So when the cast and creators of "Stargate Universe," the upcoming spinoff of the long-running "Stargate SG-1,"  took the stage today,  panelists promised a fresh, more "Battlestar"-like take on the space opera. 

"Make no mistake, 'Battlestar' is a quality show, and, yes, we want to make quality too," said creator Brad Wright.

"Stargate SG-1" ran for 10 seasons, "Stargate Atlantis" ran for five, but "Universe" will be something new. "Other than the Stargate [ship], which is still very much the core, a whole lot is different from the old series," creator Robert Cooper added.

Robert Carlyle, Ming-Na, Lou Diamond Phillips and David Blue star.

"SG-1" had gotten too self-referential and too far into their own mythologies, Cooper said, and "Universe" will be broader and more accessible to audiences who aren't just into science fiction. "What's great about 'Stargate' is that it's contemporary and doesn't just take place in a spaceship," he said.

"We're going to tell stories through the characters' eyes and emphasize their perspective," he explained. To that end, the creators hired Rohn Schmidt as director of photography; Schmidt's credits include the gritty look of "The Shield."

But there will be some key difference between "SG-1" and "Battlestar," too. "That show had Edward James Olmos, so we needed a three-named ethnic guy," Phillips joked. Asked about his time on "NBC's "I'm a Celebrity ... Get Me Out of Here," a competition he won in spite of Speidi antics, Phillips said: "I'm scarred for life. Thank you."

— Denise Martin

[Update: The original version of this story said that "Stargate SG-1" ran for 15 seasons. It has been updated to say the show ran for 10 seasons while it's spinoff "Stargate Atlantis" ran for five.]

Comments

[James Smith]

No... SG-1 ran for 10 years. It's spin-off, Stargate Atlantis ran for 5.

[Karen]

WHAT???? so Stargate Atlantis didnt exist for the last 5 years then, wonder what I was watching an enjoying, same as all the people buying the box set now, maybe we not an its all a illusion, do you people go out of your way to insult Atlantis fans! wow and you want me as a fan of Stargate to watch Universe NOT HOPE IN HELLS CHANCE. Bring back Stargate Atlantis, now thats good entertainment. Why watch a sex up bunch stuck up on a ship like voyager with a BSG feel anjut loads of cool effects, NO THANKS. Just because someone liked one of the shows, one being the main the word there never got into SG1 NO Atlantis is the show I liked, an you axe if for this, an then act like it never happened.

How disgusting is that!

[Chucknician]

SG1 didnt run for 15 years you would have thought Robert Cooper of all people would know that, SGA was for 5 season an aired while SG1 was still going. As usual TPTB choose to forget Atlantis even existed, whats with that "huh" . Well they have there nice shinny little new bloody toy Stargate Crapiverse, so why would they want to remember a great show like Atlantis an still NO movie, even though it was promised. This just sucks!!!!!!! But it is what we have come to expect from these very nasty an unpleasant guys.

Stargate Atlantis fan forvever.

[Jay Gordon]

Stargate Universe will have a diverse group of people stuck on a ship searching for a way home, does this sound familiar to anyone? In addition, they will be filming this like a documentary crew is ridding along on the ship. Can anyone say “Battlegate Galactica”? ...Did you catch that, “Battle-gate”?

Some of us, including myself, got tired of BSG's idiosyncrasies, such as watching two old fogies getting drunk on a ship. Now we have “teenie boppers” instead. Oh, and we can't forget the cheesy dialog and sex scenes, followed by more cheesy dialog. I hope SGU is more promising than the trailer led me to believe.

There is a big difference between a show that dies, and two long-running shows that were cancelled (SG-1 and Atlantis), so why would anyone envy Battlestar Galactica? This is more than just envy, it's a copycat.

[BC]

We dont need a Staregate Voyager thank you, Bring Back Atlantis!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[B. Barrette]

"We're going to tell stories through the characters' eyes and emphasize their perspective," he explained.

You're going to turn Stargate into a BSG spin-off soap opera. Another soap opera in space we don't need. I predict SGU will fail miserably.

[Murray]

I loved Atlantis but I think I can now see why maybe, just maybe the powers that be decided to bin it.

The had something else up their sleeve and that was this show.

Stargate Universe un-doubtedly takes a lot from BSG but thats fine by me, so far all the episodes have been fantastic and the general theme and feel of the show has been entirely refreshing compared to other installments.

I look forward to seeing much, much more!

http://www.sciencefictionstuff.com

[peter]

Battle Star Galactica themes to move into a position of who is in whose body instead of a science fiction movie. Stargate universe appears to be taking the same approach and moving away from the real science fiction drama we all enjoy.

Stargate universe plot page must be less than one paragraph out of the standard hundred and 108 pages required script for a 45 minute show. The plots are so paperthin after the first five minutes of the show
you might as well fall asleep for 30 minutes. Guaranteed the same plot will be held for that entire 30 minute of sleep time.
If I wanted to watch soap opera I would watch afternoon television. If you've noticed, you can go watch a soap opera today and they're still with the same plot they had 10 years ago.