By Marla R. Reed
Actor Michael Shanks is a very busy man. When he’s not on the set filming the 9th season of his hit scifi series Stargate: SG-1 along with returning cast-mates Christopher Judge, Amanda Tapping and new comers Ben Browder, Claudia Black, Beau Bridges and Shanks lovely wife Lexa Doig, he’s out on the road meeting fans at the Creation Con 2005 Stargate: SG-1/Stargate: Atlantis Convention Tour.
At the recent Burbank, California leg of that tour, Michael Shanks took a moment at the end of his eventful, high energy Sunday appearance to sit down for an interview to share his thoughts and perspectives on the new characters of this venerable and highly successful scifi series. At the time of this interview, the season 9 premiere of Stargate: SG-1 was a little less than a week away.
“Season 9 is looking pretty good so far.” Michael Shanks says after a friendly hello and handshake. Yet even with that said, Shanks knows that because of the overall cast changes due to the departure of the show’s former star, actor Richard Dean Anderson who is looking to spend more time with his family, that there are going to be those tons of skeptics out there looking to plaster their blood all over the walls, sharpen stakes at both ends and put their heads on them.
After that slightly gruesome analogy, Shanks moves on to discuss the issue of the addition of the new characters to the show and what effect that might have on the continued success of the series. What sort of defines his perspective on all of this, Michael Shanks says is embodied in his response to a question to him earlier in the day during the convention’s ‘Charity Breakfast with the Stars’ in which he was asked that did he really think the bringing in of all these new characters would revive the show?
“Well first of all I didn’t know the show was dead,” Shanks said he responded in surprise at the idea that fans might feel that the show needs some sort of ‘resuscitation’ at this point. However he is very aware of the fact that the series could die and has a clearly defined view on what, in his estimation, it really takes in terms of keeping the show alive and adding entertainment value to keep that from happening.
“Bringing in new characters doesn’t do squat for anything. Bringing in dynamics that create drama, chemistry, entertainment, comedy action and all those things is what we are here for.”
Michael Shanks says that he thinks people will notice very quickly when they watch the new episodes of Stargate: SG-1’s upcoming season 9 that this may not be ‘your father’s Stargate’ however he is quick to point out that at the same time they are going to be entertaining people and that, he feels, is what they are here to do.
“If people are coming expecting the classic, traditional Stargate: SG-1 as they remember it, of course it’s not going to be the same. Richard isn’t there, Amanda is not there for a little while.”
While Michael Shanks freely acknowledges that it’s not the same personnel as before, at the same time he feels very strongly that the heart of the show is still in the right place.
“There is still a lot of great stories to tell and I think this group of people is more than capable of moving forward and telling those stories. I think we can keep them (the audience) glued to the show every week.” Shanks says in all honesty, then pauses as he takes a moment to give consideration to the diversity of Stargate:SG-1’s viewer ship. “But if they want to tune in every week to hate it, I hope they do that too.”
http://www.eclipsemagazine.com/modules/news/article.php?storyid=1
434
Actor Michael Shanks is a very busy man. When he’s not on the set filming the 9th season of his hit scifi series Stargate: SG-1 along with returning cast-mates Christopher Judge, Amanda Tapping and new comers Ben Browder, Claudia Black, Beau Bridges and Shanks lovely wife Lexa Doig, he’s out on the road meeting fans at the Creation Con 2005 Stargate: SG-1/Stargate: Atlantis Convention Tour.
At the recent Burbank, California leg of that tour, Michael Shanks took a moment at the end of his eventful, high energy Sunday appearance to sit down for an interview to share his thoughts and perspectives on the new characters of this venerable and highly successful scifi series. At the time of this interview, the season 9 premiere of Stargate: SG-1 was a little less than a week away.
“Season 9 is looking pretty good so far.” Michael Shanks says after a friendly hello and handshake. Yet even with that said, Shanks knows that because of the overall cast changes due to the departure of the show’s former star, actor Richard Dean Anderson who is looking to spend more time with his family, that there are going to be those tons of skeptics out there looking to plaster their blood all over the walls, sharpen stakes at both ends and put their heads on them.
After that slightly gruesome analogy, Shanks moves on to discuss the issue of the addition of the new characters to the show and what effect that might have on the continued success of the series. What sort of defines his perspective on all of this, Michael Shanks says is embodied in his response to a question to him earlier in the day during the convention’s ‘Charity Breakfast with the Stars’ in which he was asked that did he really think the bringing in of all these new characters would revive the show?
“Well first of all I didn’t know the show was dead,” Shanks said he responded in surprise at the idea that fans might feel that the show needs some sort of ‘resuscitation’ at this point. However he is very aware of the fact that the series could die and has a clearly defined view on what, in his estimation, it really takes in terms of keeping the show alive and adding entertainment value to keep that from happening.
“Bringing in new characters doesn’t do squat for anything. Bringing in dynamics that create drama, chemistry, entertainment, comedy action and all those things is what we are here for.”
Michael Shanks says that he thinks people will notice very quickly when they watch the new episodes of Stargate: SG-1’s upcoming season 9 that this may not be ‘your father’s Stargate’ however he is quick to point out that at the same time they are going to be entertaining people and that, he feels, is what they are here to do.
“If people are coming expecting the classic, traditional Stargate: SG-1 as they remember it, of course it’s not going to be the same. Richard isn’t there, Amanda is not there for a little while.”
While Michael Shanks freely acknowledges that it’s not the same personnel as before, at the same time he feels very strongly that the heart of the show is still in the right place.
“There is still a lot of great stories to tell and I think this group of people is more than capable of moving forward and telling those stories. I think we can keep them (the audience) glued to the show every week.” Shanks says in all honesty, then pauses as he takes a moment to give consideration to the diversity of Stargate:SG-1’s viewer ship. “But if they want to tune in every week to hate it, I hope they do that too.”
http://www.eclipsemagazine.com/modules/news/article.php?storyid=1
434