Has the Stargate franchise reached its “destiny?”

When SyFy decided to cancel Stargate: Universe in December, many Stargate fans were left wondering, “Is this it?” While there a wide range of science fiction franchises have had their share of longevity, but there comes a time when they have to learn how to “reinvent the wheel.” Even long standing franchises like Star Wars and Star Trek experienced their share of creative dry spells.

The Star Wars franchise remained relevant from the time of the trilogy primarily through novels and video games until the saga reinvigorated the surge and interest. Star Wars is continuing to be relevant through the Cartoon Network series, the Clone Wars.

Star Trek became a staple of American sci-fi culture for a good chunk of the 20th century. Following the cancellation of Star Trek: Enterprise, fans wondered if the franchise was on its last legs. As talk geared towards revisiting the original series characters as young cadets, many wondered if the formula would work especially since the pre-Kirk Captain Archer failed to win enough of an audience to keep the show alive to sustain the usual seven seasons its contemporaries had (TNG, DS9 and Voyager). When the J.J. Abrams reboot of Kirk and crew became reality in 2009, Star Trek became a resounding success. While fans were stuck again with the “heavy on action, lack of exploration” that ultimately doomed The Next Generation movie franchise, the execution, character depth and nostalgia overshadowed any problems the movie had. The next Star Trek movie is set to be released in 2012.

Even though the Clone Wars is Star Wars only episodic foray into TV and Star Trek has yet made its return to TV, the two franchises offer Stargate fans some hope. Hell, even Doctor Who fans went through a collective dry spell after the series went off the air in 1989 (after its debut in 1963) and only to see a minor presence in 1996 before coming back in full force starting in 2005.

Without delving into they why SGU was cancelled, one has to ask if there is any place for Stargate left on SyFy. Caprica, prequel to the modern version of Battlestar Galactica, was also canceled around the same time putting the future of that franchise in jeopardy. With recent programming decisions (*cough* wrestling *cough*) and the pressure for sustainability, maybe serious co-creator Brad Wright and executive producer Joseph Mallozzi might want to consider a new home for the franchise. Perhaps FX, Spike, G4 or even USA could be potential destinations. After all, Spike and G4 have aired TNG before.

SGU’s cancellation also puts the question of the status of the SG-1 and Atlantis movies in progress (tentatively titled Stargate: Revolution and Stargate: Extinction). Will they get completed? Will it get shelved? Does it depend on the progress of a fourth television series?

I'm back

Well, I've neglected this long enough. Since my new venture is taking me to Sci-Fi Vanguard, I figure I can start sharing articles I do among other projects I'm working on. Enjoy.

Ron Jeremy on violence vs sex

"At the CES show in Las Vegas in January, I was debating Craig Gross, a pastor at the XXX Church, about the merits of porn.

One point I made was that violent video games are much worse for kids than porn. And then here at Kotaku you guys put up a similar article about the "adult" video game BoneTown where I play a starring role as an avatar who gets laid a lot, but doesn't kill anyone at all. Why do things like this make people so aggravated?

Sex is a natural, beautiful thing and a huge part of life. Medical and psychological experts agree that the act of intercourse and the associated hormones released actually improve happiness and well-being, but American culture shies away from celebrating or even mentioning it. Sex is treated in most of mainstream media like a dirty, evil thing.

In contrast, there is nothing natural or beautiful about violence. Unlike sex, the average person will likely not kill anyone in their lifetime, thank God. And yet the American public glorifies violence on television and in video games.

In most of the popular video games out there today, your character runs around blowing people's heads off or stabbing people to death as sprays of blood cover the screen. Would you really rather have your kids watching this than watching sex?

Many other societies around the world are much more open about sex. And many of them are so anti-violence that they ban video games in which the player can kill other human beings. And these countries, year after year, have much lower rates of violent crime than we have here in the US where minors are playing violent video games and watching violent movies (Dr. Phil did an entire special on this). I am not trying to knock the the video game industry, I am just standing up for the porn industry.

As for those who say porn causes sexual deviancy, according to research there has never been a correlation or a cause and effect of viewing porn and committing sexual deviant behavior. This is evident as far back as the Danish committee of 1978, and much later in the Williams committee of England, the Fraser committee of Canada, and the Nixon/Johnson committee right here in America, which have all shown that watching porn does not lead to deviant behavior. Many similar studies, though, have shown that watching violence can make one's thoughts and behavior more violent.

Two of the most popular industries in America are video games and porn. No one bats an eye at murdering an old woman in a video game, but covering up nipple is every parents group's crusade. Even a game like BoneTown, that is a combination of video games and sex, gets treated like it is a porno movie rather than a video game just because it shows some consensual sex between avatars. They have no blood and no killing, but the game can't even be played on consoles because of its sexual content.

My avatar in the game, as I mentioned earlier, does all manner of…well, you'll just have to play the game for that. But my avatar doesn't kill anyone in the game. Just like in real life, the BoneTown Ron Jeremy is a lover, not a fighter. And is that really so bad?

Ron Jeremy is one of the most prolific and well known adult film stars of all time, having appeared in more than 2,000 adult movies. He is also one of the very few adult film stars to make the jump into mainstream entertainment, with appearances in movies such as Orgazmo, Reindeer Games, Detroit Rock City and The Boondock Saints. He has made his mark on the music industry as well, where, besides appearing in music videos for numerous artists, he released a rap single of his own which stayed on the Billboard charts for 27 weeks. Ron has been a guest star on various television shows, written a memoir entitled The Hardest (Working) Man in Showbiz, and has appeared in multiple video games, including the aforementioned BoneTown."

Honestly, how can you not agree with him? I mean as far as influential behavior goes, violence should be abhorred, yet it's praised. Who do we kill in the realm of fantasy? Most often, not those who have always wronged us. It's usually some basis of the physical or psychological discrimination. I'm talking about mainly those who are of different skin or maybe just share a slightly different opinion on the issues.

Why is it so noble to live a life of violence? I mean I guess it's the psychological need to vent through bloodshed since gladatorial combat's been outlawed and execution is no longer a spectator's event. I'm not just talking about video games.

If picking between the two, I'd rather have my child caught learning sex than just learning how to eviscerate someone who doesn't agree with him. These family groups need to stop and think for a moment as parents, would they rather have their kid being caught having sex or seriously injuring/killing somebody? I mean I love my games and movies but this need to "censor" sex compared to violence is quite hypocritical in nature and needs to stop.

Red Letter Media Looks at Avatar

From the same guy who spent 70 min ripping George Lucas' Phantom Menace, here he demonstrates to you all, the diabolical genius whose name is James Cameron.

The A-Team Trailer

Another iconic, classic TV show gets the modern movie update. Joe Carnahan brings this 80s action show to the big screen starring Liam Neeson, Bradley Cooper(the Hangover), Sharlto Copley(District 9), and UFC/MMA fighter Quinton 'Rampage' Jackson as BA Baracus.

Bioware Announces Dragon Age: Origins - Awakening

I'm totally psyched at this. Dragon Age: Origins is one of the most engaging and quality RPGs out there. Certainly deserves the top of the class honors as top RPG of 2009 from IGN and Spike.

PS3 - Michael Jackson edition

So Sony is releasing a PS3 bundle featuring Michael Jackson's "This is It" in Japan. If it were anyone but the "gloved" one, would we even be having this discussion? This is probably the sorriest excuse to get a game console. Then again, guess this society is just continuing to treat Michael Jackson in death as he lived in life, milking his "franchise" for all its worth. With all the discovered unreleased material discovered at his estate, "This is (far from) it."