Richard Dean Anderson, Stargate SG-1
While Stargate SG-1 fans are already gathering signatures to petition Sci Fi Channel to pull a 7th Heaven move and un-cancel the veteran series, it probably ain't going to happen, folks. However, there are some signs of life in the show and it's not just the MMO (massive multiplayer online) game that is due out in the fourth quarter of 2007 and that MGM, which owns the Stargate franchise, is sinking $40-50 million into. While executive producer Brad Wright tells TV Guide his "dream is to take SG-1 back to the feature it began as," we are now hearing that MGM may produce a series of TV-movies based on the mother-ship series.
"From MGM's perspective, we don't view SG-1 as a television series, we view it as a franchise, and one with a lot of vibrant life," says studio spokesman Jeff Pryor. "The fan base is fiercely loya
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Benjamin McKenzie and Rachel Bilson, The O.C.
Question: OK, I know a lot of people (myself included) write you asking if a show in danger of being canceled will get a reprieve from another network, and you usually say no. But I do recall that when The O.C. succeeded in its first season, everyone said it was the hit that WB had been looking for. Well, now that Fox is giving up on it, wouldn't the show be good for CW? Or is it just too expensive and/or too old? If it's being overhauled, it would be a perfect time to get a new start on a mishmash, teen-oriented network like CW.
Answer: It'll never happen, but your question isn't nearly as random as you might think. For one thing, The O.C. is produced by the Warner Bros. studio, so there's that sort of corporate synergy to think about (the "W" in CW stands for Warner Brothers, as did WB). And you're also right that this kind of show fits the CW brand to a tee (or should I say wife-beater T-shirt). But the last thing CW needs is yet another past-its-prime show on its schedule, which is
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Question: 7th Heaven scoop, please. Anything!
Answer: Tragedy looms for one of the Camden kids as the 11th season opens. And a younger man is going to cause problems for Lucy and Kevin in Episode 2. Stephen Collins, meanwhile, will lampoon his do-gooder Heaven image in tomorrow's season finale of FX's It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. All I'll say is that he has a surprising connection to Dennis and Dee, and it's one of two major twists in the episode.
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Question: I heard that WB was going to air its entire first season before the merge with UPN. Is there any truth to this rumor? With so little on the air this summer, reruns of the first season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and other classic WB shows would bring some much-needed humor to TV.
Answer: A slight (but significant) correction: what WB is planning to do on its last official Sunday night, Sept. 17, is rebroadcast the first episodes of such signature series as Felicity, Angel, Buffy and Dawson's Creek. (Shows continuing on at CW were not considered for this stunt, which is why 7th Heaven and Smallville aren't on the list.) Believe me, you wouldn't want to watch WB's first season on the air, which mainly consisted of one lousy sitcom after another.
Also regarding the WB/UPN-to-CW switch, Amanda asks: "What exactly will happen when WB and UPN unite? Since I already have both channels, will I have two CW channels?" Not a silly question, because this is an unprecedented situation
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Question: Any update on whether Mackenzie Rosman and/or David Gallagher are coming back to 7th Heaven?
Answer: Still nothing new to report. Here's something else, though. As you know, Haylie Duff is currently appearing on Broadway in Hairspray. Well, the ever-accommodating producers over at 7th Heaven shelled out beaucoup bucks to construct a set in New York so Haylie could shoot her scenes there without having to fly to Los Angeles on her one day off a week.
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Question: I know it's still summer, but have the networks announced tentative dates for their season premieres?
Answer: As of now, the only network not to announce premiere dates is CBS, which will likely launch most of its new and returning shows the weeks of Sept. 17 and 24.
Here's how the others shape up: The season kicks off early on Fox, with Prison Break and Vanished on Aug. 21; then the limited reality series Duets on Aug. 29; Justice and Bones on Aug. 30; House and Standoff on Sept. 5; the comedies 'Til Death and Happy Hour on Sept 7; Nanny 911 on Sept. 8; Cops and America's Most Wanted on Sept. 9; Fox's animated comedy lineup plus The War at Home on Sept. 10; and MADtv Sept. 16. (The O.C. won't return until after postseason baseball on Nov. 2.)
On ABC, 20/20 officially kicks off Sept. 8; Dancing with the Stars returns Sept. 12 and 13; Wife Swap premieres Sept. 18; Grey's Anatomy and Six Degrees on Sept. 21; Ugly Betty and Men in Trees on Sept. 22; Extreme Makeover: Home
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Question: Are David Gallagher (Simon) and Mackenzie Rosman (Ruthie) really leaving 7th Heaven? What's the latest?!?
Answer: The latest is that Brenda Hampton is still trying to get them to change their minds. But as of now, they're done.
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Question: Give us a 7th Heaven 11th-season spoiler!
Answer: Oh, if I must. When the show returns this fall, Lucy will no longer be pregnant.
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Question: As an outsider looking in (I've never seen an entire episode of either Everwood or 7th Heaven) can I attempt to defend [CW programming chief] Dawn Ostroff? I hardly think that she rose to the position of power she's in today by being a moron. Of course episodes advertised as "series finales" are going to have much higher ratings than any given episode, and of course that is to be expected. I think her only fault in handling this has been passing that off as the excuse for renewing 7th Heaven over Everwood. Had she been straightforward and said, "Look, we like both shows and we really like Everwood, but it doesn't get us the ratings that 7th Heaven has consistantly gotten us over the years and we're trying to launch a network here," she wouldn't be getting the lampooning that she so rightfully deserves now. I have no doubt that Everwood is an excellent series, much as I have no doubt that 7th Heaven is past its prime. (After all these years, how could it not be?) But the fact ...
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Question: We were all very sorry to hear about your untimely death. Are you now writing to us from heaven or hell?
Answer: The 7th Heaven "series" finale is being played on an endless loop, so I'll give you one guess. (I said I'd try to be nicer. Didn't say I'd succeed.)
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