By John Ruch
Getting rid of Richard Dean Anderson is always an improvement, but this is ridiculous.
Almost totally absent its founding star, the reformulated sci-fi warhorse ``Stargate SG-1'' is now a far more entertaining show than the deservedly praised ``Battlestar Galactica,'' as both premiere tonight.
And that's not the only role reversal on Sci Fi's mismatched but successful Sci Fi Friday lineup. The third show of the night, ``Stargate Atlantis,'' no longer is the more imaginative spinoff of ``SG-1.'' It's now the grade-Z space shoot-'em-up that ``SG-1'' had become after seven seasons or so.
Never very good to begin with and aging rapidly in its ninth season, ``SG-1'' has wisely recast several roles and returned to its roots in ``Xena''-style campy action. The season opens with a deliciously silly story about Merlin and aliens, and only gets wackier from there, a perfect fit with the show's amiable goofiness.
The talentless and grating Anderson as space soldier Jack O'Neill is reduced to ``special appearance by'' status. What a relief.
He's replaced by Ben Browder of``Farscape'' fame. That may be salt in the wound to fans of ``Farscape,'' a far superior show that Sci Fi canceled in favor of dreck like, well, ``SG-1.'' But it proves to be a fair trade: Browder is blander than Anderson, but also way less annoying.
Where the show takes away fan favorites like Anderson, it replaces them with satisfying new elements - like a British dominatrix played by another ``Farscape'' actor, Claudia Black.
Black's treasure-hunting Tomb Raider character Vala appeared briefly last season and has a bigger role early this season, briefly replacing series regular Amanda Tapping. Black adds great campiness, and, of course, geek sex appeal. Sci Fi could probably score the same ratings by simply airing a still photo of her for an hour.
Series regulars Michael Shanks as Daniel Jackson and Christopher Judge as Teal'c - always somewhat drowned out by Anderson's less-interesting character - become even more prominent, and the likes of Beau Bridges and Louis Gossett Jr. join the cast.
Plus, a new alien race is introduced to further the series' mythos, and there are new worlds to explore - even if they all still look like Vancouver.
Change is good for this creaky old chestnut, and if it hasn't gotten any smarter, at least it's a lot more entertaining.
The same cannot be said for ``Atlantis,'' which debuted last year as an aquatic antidote to ``SG-1'' 's witless war movie approach. The cure is now worse than the disease.
The season premiere is ugly, stupid and dull, an endless stream of techno-babble about failing shields and the like. A 10-year-old with a toy ray gun could improvise a more gripping story.
The sets look like a lumberyard warehouse and the dreadlocked villains' makeup makes John Travolta's infamous ``Battlefield Earth'' 'do seem respectable.
The big twist this time is that heroic Lt. Ford (Rainbow Sun Francks) becomes villainous. Do not wait for the commercial break to go to the fridge during this one.
It also adds a cast member: Mitch Pileggi, who played Skinner in ``The X-Files.'' He sits in a chair and barks orders, just one more way in which this show is too much Capt. Kirk, too little Mr. Spock.
And that awful pink alien puppet still gets major screen time. A few more episodes like this, and a watery grave awaits ``Atlantis.''
"Battlestar Galactica'' also begins its second season, and also does so with a predictable, cliche-ridden war story.
The difference is, that's an atypical disappointment from a series that has proven to be one of the greatest sci-fi offerings ever.
Unlike the ``Stargates,'' it remains a serious show, and deserves faith in its quality. It's never been a series that could be judged solely on one episode.
But this is certainly a flat beginning, appropriately titled ``Scattered,'' with its multiple plotlines stretched awfully thin.
The gravitas and unique special effects remain remarkable. But that makes plot devices like a good computer fighting a bad computer all the more glaringly stupid. ``Battlestar'' was ``reimagined'' to get rid of cliches like that.
"Battlestar'' has set a very high standard not only for itself but for all of sci-fi. We'll see if it's able to live up to its reputation for a second season.
http://theedge.bostonherald.com/tvNews/view.bg?articleid=93870
Getting rid of Richard Dean Anderson is always an improvement, but this is ridiculous.
Almost totally absent its founding star, the reformulated sci-fi warhorse ``Stargate SG-1'' is now a far more entertaining show than the deservedly praised ``Battlestar Galactica,'' as both premiere tonight.
And that's not the only role reversal on Sci Fi's mismatched but successful Sci Fi Friday lineup. The third show of the night, ``Stargate Atlantis,'' no longer is the more imaginative spinoff of ``SG-1.'' It's now the grade-Z space shoot-'em-up that ``SG-1'' had become after seven seasons or so.
Never very good to begin with and aging rapidly in its ninth season, ``SG-1'' has wisely recast several roles and returned to its roots in ``Xena''-style campy action. The season opens with a deliciously silly story about Merlin and aliens, and only gets wackier from there, a perfect fit with the show's amiable goofiness.
The talentless and grating Anderson as space soldier Jack O'Neill is reduced to ``special appearance by'' status. What a relief.
He's replaced by Ben Browder of``Farscape'' fame. That may be salt in the wound to fans of ``Farscape,'' a far superior show that Sci Fi canceled in favor of dreck like, well, ``SG-1.'' But it proves to be a fair trade: Browder is blander than Anderson, but also way less annoying.
Where the show takes away fan favorites like Anderson, it replaces them with satisfying new elements - like a British dominatrix played by another ``Farscape'' actor, Claudia Black.
Black's treasure-hunting Tomb Raider character Vala appeared briefly last season and has a bigger role early this season, briefly replacing series regular Amanda Tapping. Black adds great campiness, and, of course, geek sex appeal. Sci Fi could probably score the same ratings by simply airing a still photo of her for an hour.
Series regulars Michael Shanks as Daniel Jackson and Christopher Judge as Teal'c - always somewhat drowned out by Anderson's less-interesting character - become even more prominent, and the likes of Beau Bridges and Louis Gossett Jr. join the cast.
Plus, a new alien race is introduced to further the series' mythos, and there are new worlds to explore - even if they all still look like Vancouver.
Change is good for this creaky old chestnut, and if it hasn't gotten any smarter, at least it's a lot more entertaining.
The same cannot be said for ``Atlantis,'' which debuted last year as an aquatic antidote to ``SG-1'' 's witless war movie approach. The cure is now worse than the disease.
The season premiere is ugly, stupid and dull, an endless stream of techno-babble about failing shields and the like. A 10-year-old with a toy ray gun could improvise a more gripping story.
The sets look like a lumberyard warehouse and the dreadlocked villains' makeup makes John Travolta's infamous ``Battlefield Earth'' 'do seem respectable.
The big twist this time is that heroic Lt. Ford (Rainbow Sun Francks) becomes villainous. Do not wait for the commercial break to go to the fridge during this one.
It also adds a cast member: Mitch Pileggi, who played Skinner in ``The X-Files.'' He sits in a chair and barks orders, just one more way in which this show is too much Capt. Kirk, too little Mr. Spock.
And that awful pink alien puppet still gets major screen time. A few more episodes like this, and a watery grave awaits ``Atlantis.''
"Battlestar Galactica'' also begins its second season, and also does so with a predictable, cliche-ridden war story.
The difference is, that's an atypical disappointment from a series that has proven to be one of the greatest sci-fi offerings ever.
Unlike the ``Stargates,'' it remains a serious show, and deserves faith in its quality. It's never been a series that could be judged solely on one episode.
But this is certainly a flat beginning, appropriately titled ``Scattered,'' with its multiple plotlines stretched awfully thin.
The gravitas and unique special effects remain remarkable. But that makes plot devices like a good computer fighting a bad computer all the more glaringly stupid. ``Battlestar'' was ``reimagined'' to get rid of cliches like that.
"Battlestar'' has set a very high standard not only for itself but for all of sci-fi. We'll see if it's able to live up to its reputation for a second season.
http://theedge.bostonherald.com/tvNews/view.bg?articleid=93870