“Have you ever had your eyelid flipped?”the doctor asked as he fished an impossibly long Q-tips out of a big glass jar. I searched my mind before finally answering: “Not intentionally,”. “Well, I’m going to have to flip it in order to examine you,”he said. “It may feel uncomfortable or even a little painful. Let me know.” Oh, I vowed, I’ll let you know alright. I lay back and tried to feign casual indifference as he tugged the bottom of my hyper-sensitive upper lip and gave it a twist. My body tensed. If pressed to describe the sensation, I’d definitely err on the side of “a little painful”. The doctor hovered over me, giant Q-tip in hand, and hmmmm’d thoughtfully. He straightened and informed me: “You have an infection of your upper lid.”. Yeah, that was my third guess. He sent me on my way with some meds, a prescription for more meds, and a warning to steer clear of fiberglass for the foreseeable future.
I rolled into work ten minutes later and immediately headed into the bathroom where I tried to apply the eye drops I’d been given. The last time I needed eye drops was in elementary school and, back then, mom was kind enough to do the honors for me. Well, mom lives in Montreal now so I was on my own. I leaned way back and, pulled down on the lower lid of my right eye, and kept my left eye on the mirror so I could see what I was doing as I attempted to line up the stopper. My first attempt was too high, landing just above my eyebrow. My second attempt was too low, getting my cheek instead. My third attempt hit the side of my nose but I was able to shimmy like a limbo champion and managed to direct most of it back into my eye. Is there some trick to this I should know about? Short of getting someone else to do it for you?
Well, we actually started spinning today. Yep, Monkey in the Control Room is coming along nicely. We’ve got the general story, the tease, and all four act breaks although, if you ask me, act three is a little skimpy. Of course Monkey in the Control Room is just a working title and could eventually change to something entirely different like, say, Monkey in the Puddle Jumper or Monkey in the Conference Room or, if we’re feeling particularly creative, Dingo in the Mess Hall. Next week, we start breaking what we know will be the first three episodes of Atlantis’s fifth season: S&R, B&B, and KGS BGT BSK KSB.
Today’s pics: Our fantastic meal at my favorite Japanese tapas restaurant, Yuji’s, including Taka-san's creation of the day: The Okinawa Roll (Pssst. The secret ingredient is spam!).
Today’s video: Click on the date and discover a whole new quick and easy way of cooking.
Today’s mailbag:
Susan the Tartan Turtle writes: “It looks like doggy daycare is exhausting poor Lulu. […]
Where is she in the pack hierarchy at home?”
Answer: Jelly is still the pack leader, but Lulu is challenging Bubba for the title of little-hell raiser.
Anonymous #1 writes: “Are those numbers supposed to mean anything to us yet?”
Answer: They should…if your name is either Martin Gero, Carl Binder, or Paul Mullie. Even then, probably not.
Keirberos writes: “Any talk yet on general directions S5 may go?”
Answer: Yep. Marty G. pitched out a great idea with big-arc implications.
Anonymous #2 writes: “Hi Joe any chance of seeing the Joe Flanigan pitched angsty Sheppard episode that was shelved in season 5?”
Answer: Unfortunately, the stories we have done (and continue to do) make that particular story an impossibility.
Indy-D writes: “If you were to weigh all of your infirmities, would they equal, in the opposite, the elation you would experience from a New England Patriots loss?”
Answer: Maybe. A Pats loss certainly would be sweet. Well, we’ll see Sunday afternoon when we all gather at Rob’s for the big game.
Squall78 writes: “Would you ever consider posting on the official Sci-fi.com SGA forum?”
Answer: To be honest, it’s challenging enough blogging every day and answering your questions here.
Gilder writes: “Tell Fondy I'll have to try her beets recipe. I grew up eating them Southern style--sweetened. How do you feel about turnips, both greens and root?”
Answer: Love ‘em. Got any good recipes?
103 comments:
Cooking with a blow torch looks like fun.
How old are the mutts?
You poor thing. When I said I had medical issues as well, it revolves mostly around my left eye. Got to the point where I was putting one in every hour, on the hour. And, I was really weird with my eyesand my parents would litterally have to hold me down to put them in... now I do it by myself. I've come quite a long way. So, don't feel too bad with your eyedrop problems.
Oh my, I am just overly excited about this season, and next! This is so exciting.
Oh, and not to mention Tabula Rasa tonight!! Oh, so very excited.
Goodnight, Joe!
What you could do with the eyedrops is instead of trying to aim into your eye from up high, simply squeeze a little drop out (but not enough to make it drip) and set the drop on the side of your eye (so that its touching your eyeball) and it will go into your eye by itself. I hope this helps and that you understand what I'm trying to say.
good luck
-van
just wondering, what do you have against the Pats? Oh yeah, they will beat the Colts by at least 2 TD.
Sorry about your eye. What a pain. Give them some rest.
Try aiming for the lower part of your eye - just pull that part out a bit and catch it with the bottom of the lid, then blink. Do NOT touch the medicine bottle to the eye - it can just spread the infection.
Really looking forward to tonight's episode! I saw the promos on a couple of websites and I'm already on the couch waiting. Probably will suffer through Flash Gordon first. Sigh.
Have a great weekend. Take it easy!
No trick to eye drops. Get someone else to do them. I can tell you from experience that tring yourself and wiping the drop off your cheek for the fifth time loses any humour it had very quickly.
Doctor visits are always annoying.
"Well, we actually started spinning today. Yep, Monkey in the Control Room is coming along nicely. We’ve got the general story, the tease, and all four act breaks although, if you ask me, act three is a little skimpy. Of course Monkey in the Control Room is just a working title and could eventually change to something entirely different like, say, Monkey in the Puddle Jumper or Monkey in the Conference Room or, if we’re feeling particularly creative, Dingo in the Mess Hall. Next week, we start breaking what we know will be the first three episodes of Atlantis’s fifth season: S&R, B&B, and KGS BGT BSK KSB."
Monkey in the control room? Who's the monkey? Sheppard? He kind of looks like a monkey. S&R? B&B? KGS BGT BSK KSB? WHAT? Is it suppose to mean something?
Please answer my question. Will Jack O'Neill be in season five? Or do you have no idea yet? Thanks.
suhi, yummmm. what's the name of that roll in the second to last picture?
Just a thought - Dr Beckett would have sorted your eye out for you in no time. He would even have put your eye drops in for you as part of the service.
But...alas....
Hey Joe! Couple questions:
1)Will season 5 see more development for Teyla?
2)Is there an episode in season 4 (or 5) that is similar to Tao of Rodney in respect to good ol' McKay snarkiness?
Hope your eyelid gets better, and about the eyedrops--well, can't help much there. I guess it's one of those "practice makes perfect" things. :-)
Hi Joe
Hmmm... I can actually SEE the reaction to having a Dingo in the Mess Hall, everybody'd be going totally nuts about an animal where there is food. (not to leave out the IOA talking about health issues)
anyway, just wanted to let you know that I downloaded Doppleganger from Amazon and have watched it around 40 or 50 times now, it is so very nicely done!
now onto the question that I have, the story wherein you make a cameo is done, Joe F is also in it as well, some locations are made up, and Rachel is mentioned but not seen as i had set the story during the filming of Harmony, and now I'm wondering, since it is finished if I may put it with the rest of my fanfics? or do you want to run it past Rachel and Joe first? (Not the story itself I mean just the fact that a fan writer wrote a story with them in it and wants to put it whereeveryone can read it, I'd even provide a link but my computer is acting really stupid and it needs to meet Mr. Hammer.)
Thanks in Advance!
PS, if I were to send a holiday card to all of the cast (and the writers and yourself) whom would I have to adress it to along with where yto send it? (simply put one card but for everyone)?
All the best
Teyilia
PPS: Are we going to see anything for the turnout of the baby storyline? (if too spiolery you can just say no comment)
Husband had to take eye drops, too. At home I helped him out and when's on the road, he propped his hand on the bridge of his nose and aimed for the inner corner of his eye. He usually cursed a lot in the process, but finally got the hang of it.
Hopefully, no full-on flaming torches are going on while you guys are working through ideas for the show.
How many more season would you like for SGA to go on? Ten like SG1?
Owie. I had pink eye once, so yeah, eye infections are no fun. As for eyedrops... practice makes perfect I guess. I wear contact lenses, so I really don't mind poking things near my eye. Just make sure the bottle's low enough (for easy aiming) and aim for the bottom eye lid you've pulled out so it catches the drop.
Has there ever been any discussion about doing a story where the Ancients actually built the Gates? I've always wondered if we'd see an episode where the team finds what is essentially a Gate manufacturing plant. That would certainly be cool. Especially if they unwisely tried to build their own... :-)
Counting down the minutes to tonight's episode!
If you turn your head sideways and put the drop on the side of your eye it should work much better.
Love the show, keep up the good work.
Hi Joe:
The Scifi channel ran 3 SG1 episodes tonight back-to-back. It was great to see so much Stargate once again on a friday night. I just finished watching "The Ties That Bind" again. It is one of my favorite episodes that you wrote in season 9. Loved it!
More excellent promo pictures from "Ark of Truth" have been posted on G.W. Whatever you do, do not let that photographer escape. He/she does fantastic work. There is one picture where Mitchell is looking down, Teal'c is looking up, Daniel is looking straight ahead, and Sam is looking sideways at Daniel - all I can say Joe is it is extremely artistic. Kudos to the photographer.
Take care of your eye and goodluck with the drops. I suck at it too.
You have just described my worst nightmare anything going towards my eyes makes me feel sick, have you tried using a little eye cup thing you can get in first aid kits.
I read recently that Heroes might be ending season 2 after episode eleven because of the American Writers Guild strike
Will Stargate be affected by the strike?
Also what is your opinion of the strike and its implications? (apparently major network nay be out of new episodes by January)
I find the best way to put in an eye drops is to close my eye put the nozzle of the dropper at the corner of my eye (closest to your nose) then when the medication is in just open my eye and blink a few times. Of course this all works best of you lay down.
The only effective way of using eye drops is to tip the solution into a bucket, remove the eyball from the eyesocket, throw it in, then reinsert said eyeball with twine and a couple of bandaids. You may wish to have the paramedics on speed dial.
I'm so glad that you've decided to add monkeys into Season Five. I didn't want to say anything, but it was something that was sorely missing from my enjoyment of the series. It could be a talking monkey for act one for the humour, and then an ebola monkey for act two for the pathos. Monkeys, when are they not versatile?
Hiya Joe, :)
Poor dear.
My heart totally goes out for you. I know how uncomfortable that must be. Since I have been there and done that...
Hope your eye feel better soon..
And have a wonderful weekend... :)
Susan the Tartan Turtle said...
Just a thought - Dr Beckett would have sorted your eye out for you in no time. He would even have put your eye drops in for you as part of the service.
But...alas....
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
And come to think of it, Weir would have helped you sort out your laundry, Joe!
But...alas...
Mmm. That blowtorched food looked good. I want some.
Okay unless the bottle is of a very weird shape (or very very short), here's what I was taught for eyedrops. (this would be easier to explain with pictures)
-Lie down (until you get the hang of tilting your head parallel to the ground)
-Rest the bottle sideways on the bridge of your nose, with the dropper tip extending out to the centre of, and hovering about an inch above, your eyeball.
-Hold the eyelid open with one hand, squeeze out the required drops with the other hand.
Eventually, you'll get the feel of where you need to hold the dropper and it'll become easy.
Option 2: Bribe someone to do it for you.
Hello again.
You don't have to approve this message, it's just a link I found further detailing the eye drop technique I just sent with other stuff that you probably know but might be useful. Good luck.
http://www.nurseseyesite.nhs.uk/pediatric/advice_following_eye_surgery.html
Oh, sorry about the fiberglass. My brother had an infection from it once and the doctor told him that some people are allergic and have a really nasty reaction. Get well!
Eyedrop Insertion for Wusses 101:
Tip your head back.
Close the eye you're putting the drop in. Put the drop in the corner of your eye by your nose, where your eye naturally forms a little well.
Open your eye and the drops will leak in by themself.
Also, room temp drops are easier to put in.
Neopolydex drops sting less if inserted at room temp.
~crownglass39
aka: the lab goddess.
Hello Joseph,
Humm des sushis c'est tellement bon ! Ça doit vraiment être génial de travailler sur des projets d'écriture et de voir ensuite ses personnages prendre vie à l'écran. Ce n'est pas trop difficile de travailler en équipe lorsqu'on écrit ? Est-ce que vous trouvez vos idées principales en groupe et ensuite vous écrivez seul ? Je me demandais également si une vrai méchante allait apparaître dans la série. Tsé, une vraie méchante qu'on aime hair, genre à la Kolia, mais une femme. J'ai passé la semaine dernière à Montréal, il a fait vraiment chaud et beau presque toute la semaine et dire qu'à Vancouver il a plut. Hooo, que c'est platte !! Hi ! Hi!
Bonne fin de semaine.
I can't stand eye-drops. The way I put them in is to rest the dropper on the bridge of my nose on the little dip right between my eyes. That lines it up perfectly for the up-and-down.
Then you just need to nail the left-and-right, which isn't too hard.
Good luck with the meds and happy writing!!! I can't wait to see where you guys take the show :D
Just finished watching the episode. Loved the teaser and loved the look. I especially liked the last lab shot with Teyla, Rodney, Carter, and Zelenka.
And I loved watching the three main scientists running around together. There was the city's brain trust and none of them knew it!
Great job to all involved. Looking forward to next week's episode!
I loved this episode!!!
You guys gave me a scared with katy brown, that was mean!!!!
How did that come to be? did you guys thought...hmm we should scare them by making them think we are killing characters every other episode? You guys are true villance sometimes!
I'm glad Kathy lived...oh no!! you are going to kill her aren't you?
Tabula Rasa is a home run!!! Way to start the second quarter of season 4. Great story and very well executed. Thanks for the fun.
"Tabula Rasa" might just be the best ever, in my opinion. It was just terrific! Rodney was just so Rodney, and all the Sheppard-Ronon scenes were great.
Congrats to the SGA team on another spectacular episode! I have to admit that I was a little weary at the beginning -- I generally dislike when an episode begins with "14 hours earlier," as it usually seems pretty gimmicky to me -- but you managed to pull it off rather well on this one :)
Kudos on Tabula Rosa. The strongest entry so far this season, so strong I am very curious on how you're going to top it. It was nice seeing Ronan and Teyla being a critical part of the solution to the expidition's problem. Acting and characterization just a perfect bullseye.
Continuing to enjoy your teases on the development of season 5. One tiny request, which I expect is futile but what the hey. Can we please go an entire season without killing off a regular or recurring character? Espcially if they're in the medical field. We fans get it that the Stargate universe is dangerous, but surely one tiny little season without a funeral for a beloved character isnt too much to ask.
thanks again for the great work, good luck on quickly getting over the infection, and one last question. Is there a date already set for the beginning of shooting footage, or is that waiting on further pre-production work?
Hi Mr. M,
So marijuana is the new cure for chicken pox (or whatever other disease kids get without problem that's lethal to adults)? Sweet :)
Amazing ep! Right up there with DG as one of my new favorites!
Best part: Radik taking out Lorne's guy with a metal pipe... as well as everything else that happened over the 60 minute span of the episode. No complaints at all.
Thank you for yet another great installment of my favorite show!
Best,
Jenny
Since JM (not you) will be losing his dreads, will he get a new nickname? If so, will it be Wolvy?
Hey, there. Just saw Tabula Rasa--fantastic episode! Definitely my favorite of Season 4 so far, though I said that after Doppelganger, too. So much love for this episode. I'm not a big fan of Katie (as fantastic as the actress is) and I still think her part was very well-done.
The nurse in me must ask--we hear so much about Rodney's allergies, any chance he'll have an actual reaction to something in season 5? I know a lot of fans would love that (though I know you don't do things just on fan whims.) :)
Having dry eyes I have to put eye drops in every day. I find it easiest when lying down. I keep the dropper close to the eye, but not touching. I also try to aim towards the inner corner of the eye as I find that if I miss or I blink the liquid usually lands in the crevice between the nose, cheek, eye and brow. A little tilt of the head to the outer side and the liquid flows into the eye. Still, I some times do miss completely.
Also, I forgot to say that "Monkey in the Control Room" would make an awesome band name.
Eye-drop trick: place the drop in the corner of your eye (nose side). When you blink, it spreads around itself.
And tonight's episode? Visually stunning. The shadows and half-light kept me on edge for the entire ep. I especially love how Rodney & Radek were lit in the scene where they first stumble upon each other. Hats off to Mr. Wood and especially to your DOP (I apologize for missing his/her name in the credits).
Loved the episode. Great look, too.
Can't say a bad thing about it.
Fantastic work!
in my experience, you should either pull your lower lid out just a little and aim for the center of your eye OR just try to get the drops on your upper lashes or the inside corner of the eye. the drop will (or should) roll in either way. (I must qualify this with the fact that much of my eye medicating experience is horse related, but he gets drops and ointments, and we've gotten pretty good at it by just hitting the inside of the lower lid)
Sorry about the eye thing, Joe. At least it something easily treatable. Speaking of which, the only way I've found of successfully putting eyedrops in my own eyes is by getting a small mirror, tilting my head back, and looking straight up into the mirror to see what I'm doing. Works like a charm!
Looking forward to watching Tabula Rasa later tonight. My friends on the east coast are already squeeing about it, so I'm anticipating another winner.
Tabula Rasa, I'm not sure how other people felt, but I was tense throughout the whole episode. And I thought that Rodney was so very sweet at the end.
Just stopping by to say how much I loved Tabula Rasa. It was great seeing so much of Lorne and Zelenka! Rodney and Katie are adorable together.
Glad to hear that your eye is on the mend and that you survived the ramifications of eating spinach.
We've had some incidents with spinach and lettuce causing food poisoning here in the U.S. Glad to hear your problem was nothing major.
Looking forward to next week's episode! Looks like a Rachel/Jewel-centric eppy. Good for them!
As someone who wears contacts and uses re-wetting drops alot the best advice I can give is to tip your head back, pull up your upper lid and put the eyedropper right above your infected eye. The drops should go right in.
Oh, loved tonight's episode. I was afraid (going by the previews alone) that it was going to be a blatant rip-off of the film 'Memento' after I saw the writing on the arm thing. Glad my assumption was wrong.
Also, I was wondering if the Daedalus will be making an appearance anytime soon. I need my Kirby Morrow fix.
hey joe am mickey long time watching stargate like da new season so far waiting on tabula rasa to watch already seen from adrift to travellers great stories instresting but keep da action oh tell the actor who plays teyla i send me best regards hope she is keeping well
make sure daniel gets a call in season 5 love for a nice daniel arc or sumthing wif him in it
well chat ya laters
hey joe am mickey from northern ireland
long time watcher of stargate like da new season of stargate atlantis
hope ur doing fine
tell the actor who plays teyla me best regards hope she has a nice baby
and is keeping well
i gotta go here c u
and ps u want info just ask
lol hope your eye gets better
i personally hate that feeling when eye drops drop onto the eye, ugh the moistness
I tell my patients to retract the lower lid, look up, and aim the drop to hit on that lower lid. Then blink a few times. I haven't had any bad reports, but people may just be being nice.
Don't touch the tip of the bottle to the eye itself if you can manage it, as the bacteria will get in there.
Glad you saw the doctor and its nothing sinister. Take care.
Hey Joe,
I just finished watching Tabula Rasa. Wonderful episode,I love the darker tone this show has taken. It was wonderfully suspenseful, and I was sitting on the edge of my seat for the entire time! Acting, writing, plot, and even the dicotomy of lighting was awesome. I'm very interested to see what happens throughout this season and next season. Keep up the great work!
- Marisa
Ouch. I hope your eye gets better. I recently went through something like that myself- my upper eyelid was infected.
Be happy, though. They could have given you that gel stuff I was stuck with. I had to pull back an eyelid and make a pocket to put about a quarter inch worth of the antibiotic gel, and close my eyes for about 30 seconds. It left me unable to see clearly from that eye for about 5 minutes and it was the worst process ever putting it in. ;o;
I'd have taken eyedrops in a heartbeat.
But the advice from van is very sound. That's pretty much what I do for eyedrops, and it typically makes it awesome.
...and what on earth is that in the video? It looks *awesome*. For a second, I thought it was going to be something like beef tataki, but it looks like they're cooking it too much for that.
I enjoyed TR...at first I wasn't getting into it, since I'm not a fan of amnesia plot lines and it was a bit slow. But after the first 15 mins I enjoyed the spin on an old plot device, the way the lighting was used, the cutting back and forth.
What a neat little bit with Dr Z, our lost little Czech with a way with clobbering people.
It was nice to see Rodney lost and confused and writing things on his arm to remember everything.
My favorite stuff was seeing a more active role for Teyla, her logic, leadership and calmness.
Loved the Ronon and John scenes. I just think they have great chemistry, Ronon guiding Shep on flying the jumper, trying to remind him about the mission.
I like it when John escaped and got a jump on Ronon..he still has those tactical smarts. But it was that scene between them, Ronon getting through to John, knowing what to say and I adored the bit with the photograph John gave Lorne.
Didn't expect that and it was cute. Overall a nice eppy.
Just wanted to drop by and tell you that I just finished Tabula Rasa, and it was intense to the nth degree (kinda disappointed the episode had to end). Props to you & your team!
I would like to add my wish for a speedy recovery. Eye problems are more than scary.
Tabula Rasa just finished. I loved it. The effect of jumping back and forth in time was very interesting, especially using the lighting to define it.
I am also delighted with the quiet but definite development of Ronon. Jason is doing a lovely, subtle job making Ronon more human and three dimensional.
Bravos all the way around! Thank you!
Wow! Just saw "Tabula Rasa". This is the kind of story I've been hoping to see. The directing and cast were brilliant. And a special kudos to Alan McCullough for a wonderful story, intricately structured and with great character interaction.
Has Alan written any other episodes for Season 4, and will he be writing any for Season 5?
hi, joe,
'tabula rasa' was great! :D
nuff said. ;)
okay, one more thing.
my huge and honking wish for s5: a sam episode!! :D
sally :D
Hi Joe,
My sympathies re: your eye infection. I had the same thing happen to me years ago when fiberglass and drywall particles scratched my cornea. I finally went to the doctor when photosensitivity kicked in. Trying to drive to the hospital while holding open one eye with my hand was fun times.
I loved the character moments in Tabula Rasa so much that I had to come out of lurker mode. With all the life-changing experiences McKay's had over the past few years, I felt that we'd rarely gotten to see the ways they've changed/softened him, so I loved seeing McKay's interactions with Katie. He's come a long way since that first awkward date, and it was sweet without being saccarine.
I also loved seeing Ronon use reason and an appeal to emotion (instead of pure muscle) to work his way out of a situation in the last jumper scene with Sheppard.
Can't wait to see next week's ep! God help whoever/whatever has hurt Teyla's people . . .
Thank you for putting so much time and effort into your blog. It'd be a great read even if I wasn't an Atlantis fan!
Have you ever eaten gimbap/kimbap? The best is chamchi (tuna) gimbap. Mmmmm...
Any ideas yet to bring back Ford, Beckett, or Weir in Season 5? At the very least, Beckett and Weir are probably going to have to come back full-time.
Shaking things up by moving to a new planet, killing off supposedly expendable characters (who obviously aren't that expendable considering how many fans have been pissed off by the move... Rule #1 for running a TV show: Never piss off your fans. They're the ones who keep you on the air.) and adding new characters may have looked like a good idea on paper, and if it had been given sufficient time to develop (which it wasn't), it might have worked and added an interesting new wrinkle to the series. But as the weekly ratings keep coming in, it's becoming clear that it hasn't resulted in the consistent increase in the audience that was hoped for and is now an albatross hanging around SGA's neck.
Let's hope Season 5 isn't too late to undo the damage that's been done so far this year.
I have loved season 4 so far :) It has been absolutely wonderful (tonights episode is going down as one of my favs). Will we see more of rodney and katie together and their developing relationship this season?
As for eye drops I wore contacts for years and always had some trouble with the drops (seemed to land everywhere on my face except my eyes). I used to just try tilting my head back looking up and to the center of the tip and try not to blink or stab myself in the eye with the dropper. You eventually get the hang of it. Its too hard to do if you try to watch it in the mirror, it throws your aim off.
thanks
p.s i love montreal, I used to live in Pt. Claire when I was a kid.
I've just watched "Tabula Rasa" and found it really, really boring.
Just finished watching Tabula Rasa, and it was fabulous!
Alan McCullough needs a promotion and a raise and a pony. Do whatever you must to keep him on staff, because this episode was smart, suspenseful, humorous, and chock full of excellent characterization and believable internal logic. Kudos to Alan, Martin Wood, the entire cast, and absolutely everyone who had anything to do with this episode, because it was top-notch from beginning to end.
I'm looking forward even more to watching The Seer and Spoils of War now.
I guess I'm a week behind, but I just saw the Alex Levine Sci-Fi.com blog from last week on Travelers. He said the Travelers' ship set was originally to be used for a second episode and ended up being a very expensive set for only two acts. What other story were the Travelers going to be in besides Be All My Sins Remember'd? Also, please tell him that Punk'd is spelled like Remember'd in the BAMSR story with a dropped "e" and not Punked! as he spelled it. :-)
It doesn't look like that was a good budgeting decision in hindsight especially how polarizing that episode is with most fans either really liking it or really hating it with the haters being the more vocal. Did you expect the amount of negative comments about Travelers especially with all the publicity it had with it being featured a lot in the Digital Press Tour write-ups?
Also tell Alex that I am jealous of him (and Jason and Ivon) for spending time out drinking with Jill last year when she was shooting Blade: The Series in Vancouver. She is definitely a beauty and appears to be the classy woman Alex described her as.
Hope your eye gets better. I've never been able to do eye drops, which explains why I never got contact lenses.
I will be forever annoyed with my cable company or whoever is in charge of setting times for DVRed things, because my recording cut off in the middle of the big Katie Brown reveal. I'm assuming she lived, but that's just based on half an arm.
Also, I'd like to remind everyone who has pets to give them love whenever you can. My dog Wolfie is 15 and isn't doing well. He lives with my parents and despite his age, I never really thought the last time I saw him (August) might literally be the last time.
Oh I loved TR! Great episode, great story and Shep in scrubs- well what more can you ask :) that makes me very happy indeed! Yummy!!!
It has already been suggested, but if you're having trouble, pull your bottom eyelid out like a pocket and drop it in there. Then blink a few times. Not as effective as dropping it directly on, but a lot easier.
Did they give you a gel to put on your eye for lubrication? I was given that for the last eye infection I had and it became my best friend. It helps with all the irritation.
I hope you feel better soon. How's the shoulder progressing?
And thanks for Tabula Rasa. Another great episode!
Oh did you know that Skyone in the UK has a rap song for Stargate Atlantis that lasts a few minutes, not saying its a bad song but they played it for like forever, the song lasts for like eternity
it talks about the how they found atlantis, and teyla, and ronon and sheppard, heck everyone gets their place in the song
it shows clips for seasons 1 - 4, some of which havent been shown on TV, well some carter scenes
Believe when i say that is ONE LONG FRICKIN ADVERT hahaha
Scifi needs a 5 minutes + rap for atlantis showing clips too LOL
KEEP YOUR GOOD EYE CLOSED. Believe it or not having it open just throws off your aim.
DO NOT USE A MIRROR. It is not possible for your brain (no matter how evolved you are) to adjust the perspective from a mirror image at the same time as telling your panicking eyelids that having a horrible goop dropped in you eye really isn't that bad.
TILT YOUR HEAD BACK enough that you can hold the dropper directly over your eye and about 1 inch away.
USE YOUR THUMB AND FINGER TO HOLD BOTH EYELIDS OPEN. If you try to just drop it inside your lower eyelid your gonna blink and miss.
SQUEEZE GENTLY. You should be able to hold the dropper/bottle over your eye without anything coming out until you have it in place. Then squeeze it gently. It may take a second or two for the drop to come out but be patient. You don't want a stream - just a drop.
Hope that helps.
No question today - I'll ask it tomorrow.
Hey Joe
Absolutely LOVED Tabula Rasa, definately my fave so far! Loved the darkness of it and thought it was great to see teyla and ronon take control!
Keep it coming, cant wait for next week :D
Just watched Tabula Rasa and i LOVED IT!!!!!!!! Thanks for another great episode!!!!!!!
After spending several weeks trying to wear contacts a few years ago, I got over the eye thing. I can pretty much reach in and twirl my eyeball around with my fingers without cringing now. Eyedrops are a piece of cake. I still can't wear contacts though. And I really, really hate bifocals!
I was wondering if the impending writer's strike affects Atlantis season 5 planning? Do you guys skip on that since you're in Canada even though the station is U.S.-based?
Good luck with the eyedrops. So long as you land the drops on the white of your eye, rather than the pupil, you should only experience discomfort, rather than excruciating pain.
Is there support in the writers room for more episodes featuring the Travellers and/or Jill Wagner's character... or are the Travellers destined to follow the Genii into obscurity?
Also, do you ever read the webcomic "Sheldon"? It features, among its cast, a mad pug called Oso, and I was wondering how accurate its portrayal of pugs is.
Girly question Weir/Torri wore nice red wrapover tops a few times. Were these made specially for her or would they have been bought in? They were a lovely colour.
Hi Joe - any thoughts on the pending writers' strike? - Kathleen
ps - GO PATS!
Tabula Rasa was great! Such a smart story, and I loved how the details were dribbled out in fits and starts. Really maximized the tension. And such nice character moments, for example soldiers vs. scientists: both acting perfectly within their characters, both acting for the perceived good, and yet in instant conflict. Nice. LOVED wily Zelenka. Technically, emotionally, and entertainingly very satisfying.
When you (the collective writers "you") were breaking the story, how/why did you decide to use the back and forth in time format? Did you do it straight through first etc?
Loved the episode. Season 4 is awesome and I knew it would be!
Hey, adding to the already quite big list of positive reviews of Tabula Rasa, I wasn't sure what to expect given how many shows have done a 'Tabula Rasa' episode :) But it was very good, I really liked the feel of the episode. The opening scene and subsequence 'Present' scenes reminded me of 1984, with the feel of 'You are alone, you are in a world where everyone's out to get you, and you can trust no one'. I felt cinematically this episode was very well done. And the opening scenes didn't feel like Atlantis (the place), which was done very well as the character Mckay didn't know where he was. So making it look and feel different from what we are used to is a very good decision imo. But overall it was a strong episode, keeping up with the quality of the last few episodes and promising a very good season still. It's good to see Alan McCullough on Atlantis too, I've always felt he produced very strong scripts.
I thought Tabula Rasa was the best episode yet, and I didn't think they could get any better. You're going to have to go a long way to top this season so far.
Will the writers' strike affect your Season Five schedule?
Hi Joe
I LOVED Tabula Rasa - I'm downloading it now from iTunes so I can watch it again while I'm doing cardio at the gym. I read a couple of online discussions and the reviews were for the most part extremely positive.
PS I always enjoy seeing pics of the pooches - have you ever considered a Lulucam(a la David Letterman's monkeycam)?
hi joe
ton blog est super et je voudrai savoir ou au moins une réponse minime sur le fait que daniel et vala pourrai être ensemble ou ce passer un petit quelque chose dans les téléfilms ? merci de me répondre au moin un petit signe
Hey Joe, when does filming for the 5th season start?
bonjoir
juste quelques questions... Pour ce qui est des photos de l'épisode de vendredi soir... C'est Jack et Sam qui pêche sous l'ordinateur? c'est Daniel en Costume du 200eme épisode ? c'est Jack en militaire toujours en dessous de l'ordinateur ?
Les déguisements de vos chiens ... c'est du spécial chien ? ou c'est des vétéments de chien ?
Une poule sur un mur, qui picote du pain dur, picoti picota, leve la queue et.... ????
have a great day Mister Mallozzi
I loved Tabula Rasa. Great story, told in an interesting way. I watched it with a friend and we both found the story compelling!
Please pass on my admiration to Alan M. He did good. Oh, and as for the infirmary scene with Shep towards the end? Oh my, that is the best one I've ever seen! I think AM is good at writing whump anyway, but, wow, he certainly does good Shep whump too! Well, and of course, Joe F. plays it brilliantly.
I really am so happy with Season 4 so far.
I do hope though, that the Sheppy whumpy goodness hasn't all gone now? We've been pretty lucky so far, but I do like it spread out! So to speak...
Anyway, I'm just so pleased so far. :)
Just downloaded Tabula Rasa to see when I've completed my studies for the day. Zelenka attacking people with a pipe? Ronon teaching Sheppard how to fly? Rodney sweet? I can't wait to see what this as all about!
Thanks for your continuing efforts with the show and the blog.
I must be the only person who has no problems with eye drops and whatnot. I have eye allergies to the Texas Juniper trees, so drops are needed. I cannot say there is a "trick" to it, I just tilt my head back open my eye [via the eyelid] with my free hand and just drop in the medication. You can use your had as a base if you place it on the bridge of your nose with the medication directly over your eyes, that usually helps with unstead hands. Hope this helps.
TR was an interesting episode, really interesting. It was kind of, oh, I am not sure creepy is the correct word to describe it, but it was very interesting how the bacteria affected them and the reactions by people. I wonder why the city did not sense the infection and put the city into lockdown. Can you perhaps elaborate on that?
I loved the views of Atlantis, it was beautiful!
hmmm the only "trick" I know with applying eye drops is, to make sure you have the bottle where it should be with the eye you're trying to catch and only then look upwards or downwards or whatever your doc told you to do. This way you hardly ever miss it^^
Worked with me all the time :)
I hope you get well soon!!
LOVED Tabula Rasa last night! Seriously, my 2nd favorite this season so far only to 'Lifeline'! Very VERY well done!
Loved the beautiful moments between Rodney and Katie:).
Is the character Katie Brown slated for any more episodes this season?
TR Rocked! Now on to my guesses for S5:
S&R - Search & Rescue (too obvious, I know)
B&B - Baby & Bathrooms (finally!)
KGS BGT BSK KSB -
Keller gets sick.
Beckett gates through.
Beckett saves Keller.
Keller supports Beckett ('s return)
Some wishful thinking, I know, but do I have any right??
Woo-hoo! Tabula Rasa was excellent!
Kudos to Alan and Martin and cast/crew.
Joe, the SciFi Channel has REVISED their SciFi Friday lineup, beginning Nov. 9 -- to include MORE SGA!
Woo-hoo!
Here's the lineup so far (always subject to change) from TV Guide Online:
6pm Stargate SG-1
7pm Bionic Woman
8pm Flash Gordon
9pm SGA - repeat of Tabula Rasa
10pm SGA - NEW episode Missing
11pm Flash Gordon
MIDNIGHT SGA - NEW episode Missing
1am SG1
The power of the Gate!
Best wishes, Joe. Hope are you feeling better. I lean back and put my eyedrops in that way.
:)
Morjana
*waves*
Glad to hear you're on the mend. How often do the whumpers have to tell you, it's whump shep not self! And talking of which. I just wanted to say how much I loved Tabula Rasa.
I'm a bit rusty, lol. Well, it's been a few days. ;) Sooooooo;
Oh Mr M, I squeed once more,
When Rodney got shot and fell to the floor.
Amnesiac and lost, the team found their way,
and Shep was't the one to have that had to save the day.
Mistrust and good whump,
just filled me with squee,
at seeing our Shep in the infirmary.
I loved the team bonding,
and the plot it had style,
but if I carry on talking i'll be here for a while.
But suffice it to say it was a wonderful story,
And we got to see Atlantis, in all of it's glory.
So please pass on my thanks,
it made my my heart go squee,
cos we got to see shep in the infirmary.
Whumped a little bit, I feel that now I can end my quest,
as I finally got a glimpse of John Sheppard's chest. :P
And although he wasn't shirtless,
I'm sure that'll i'll survive,
especially now that we have the whole of season 5.
So no doubt i'll be questing,
at the end of season 4,
and i'll be keeping my fingers crossed as to what else you have in store.
For now i'll say goodbye, but I leave you all with this,
I'm hugging you all and blowing you a kiss!
:D
Oh and this! Block your ears Joe it's a doozy!
*SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE*
*hugs*
just me again :D Obviously I didn't say enough last time. LOL When putting in eye drops lie flat on the bed or the sofa, then look slightly to the left with the eye pipper hovering just above your eye and squeeze! Trust me, it works like a charm. If you can't be in that positionsit in a chair that doesn't have a hgh back and tilt your head right back and then line it up and fire. :D
Okay i'm definately going now.
*waves*
Mr.Mallozzi
Tabula Rasa and Doppleganger were great episodes but....when actully should we expect the story arc to begin?
What a shame that the city was in space only in two episodes. I think the plot would be enough for four episodes.
I am sure you know as a writer what story arc is? Heroes have story arc. Babylon 5 had story arc. I think I was naive when I have expected something like that but after 5 episodes and still nothing? No connection? All what we have are only three lines about Asuran-Wraith war and that´s all? What about the other 5 episodes? Will they be "fillers", too?
As much as I enjoy new episodes, I really think that it´s the same as in previous years-stand-alone episodes, fill by two/three parters. Sorry.
I would like to ask whether WGA strike begining next monday will affect production of 5th season.
Hi Joe,
Congratulations on a season 5!
After watching Reunion and the part where Sheppard made MacKay get Carter some flowers instead of the fruits, and then when Sheppard actually took the fruits and brought them to Carter, I thought of how funny it would be to see the Atlantis team as children.
I mean, Sheppard would be the kid that took all the other kids toys, and stepped on their sand castles.
Ronon would probably run around with a big toy-gun and shoot at all the other kids.
And MacKay… well, I’d love to see what kind of a kid he was.
Any chance we’ll see such an episode, or at least a flash back?
I really miss Teyla and Sheppard’s bantos-training. Will we see their fights in season 4?
I hope your eye will be well soon!
Just want to say big fan of the Stargate franchise. Are there going to be any Replicator stories next season? And if so would it be possible to name one of the replicators Nick or Tesla in honor of the great inventor who was so influential in pushing for non-organic life-forms?
Hi Joe
I'm looking forward to season 5 already, and I really hope Daniel Jackson will be in it.
Will Samantha Carter still be in Atlantis in season 5, or did Amanda only join the cast for season 4?
Any chance of another "parallel reality" episode? They’re always great fun to watch, and I think there are a lot of possible stories left for such an episode on Stargate Atlantis.
Take care
Hey Joe – here’s a word for you… STICTION. *nods* Yep. I’ve actually seen it in print. (That means it's a real word right?)
I’ve been trying to digest a mechanical engineering text today, and this sentence just made me laugh right out loud; “…they rely on movement between parts that stick together until a critical load is exceeded, colloquially known as stiction; mechanical sensors can suffer from stiction.” *grins* I keep picturing some poor little delicate scientific sensors trying to shake off a mess of strawberry jelly…
Soon I can declare my studies done for the day and watch Tabula Rasa!
BTW, here’s the reference to the quote: Modern Inertial Technology: Navigation, Guidance, and Control, by A. Lawrence, 1992.
Dear Joe, I wanted to let you know that I enjoyed Tabula Rasa. All the actors did a great job and I think it's a good story. Nice twist with the humans being infected with a common childs disease.
Ok.Here's my question. I thought in one post you said we would see who is the father of Teyla's baby early in S4 and before she finds out herself in Missing.
Was I wrong? Was it in something from Season 3 or was it something in a recent ep that I missed?
Thanks and I hope to hear from you.
Arwen,
The majority of the stories are connected, advancing the storyline further. Maybe you need the " previously on stargate Atlantis" clips so you can remember the events of the last weeks' show.
Greetings!
First time ever contacting someone involved with a tv show.
Im a longtime Stargate viewer- both series. Was very nervous about the casting changes for season 4 SGA, as the dynamic worked well between the primary and secondary characters.
I was one of those who was upset at the death of Carson Beckett. I still think Weir should be a regular (though I think Amanda Tapping is great, I prefer her on SG1 because of how well the team dynamic works there.)
However, I have to say there have been some OUTSTANDING episodes this season!
Just as I was getting ready to whinge and moan (I'm British, it's what we do) you and your team give us Doppelganger and Tabula Rasa! Its the last that has prompted me to write.
At last, we see Teyla and Ronon's characters being fully used - brains and brawn! Teyla was fantastic here- congrats to Rachell Luttrell. Please continue to give her character development. The actress has been criminally under utilised in previous seasons. Ronon's dry asides are getting better and better - when he shot Sheppard then murmured 'never gets old' I laughed so much I nearly had an accident. The way Carter,Zelenka and Rodney worked together in this episode...terrific. Really, I'd better stop with the superlatives or readers will think this post isn't real. Again, I say, season 4 is shaping up to be magnificent.
Marsha Prescod
I was just wondering on how you choose directors for episodes?
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