February 7, 2008

Hey, look at what arrived in the mail today. Books - and lots of ‘em. In addition to my shipment from amazon.com, I also received a couple of titles from D. Rose, and a few more from Sulien. AND a chocolate assortment compliments of Amy Lynn. Thanks to everyone. Sulien, if you remember to remind me, I’ll make the Butcher book one of the nominees in our next fantasy BOTM vote. D., I have to admit to date I’ve started two Turtledove books I never got around to finishing. Hopefully, third time’s the charm. Amy - the Spicy Maya was a pleasant surprise, but that Noir au Grue de Cacao rocks! The hot sauces were great as well.

Another reminder that this month’s book of the month discussions will commence on February 18th when we will kick things off with the scifi selection, Fast Forward 1: Future Fiction from the Cutting Edge. Editor Lou Anders has kindly agreed to swing on by and field our questions so, as my old grade two teacher Mrs. Vowels (I shit you not) used to say: “Put your thinking caps on!”. We’ll follow the next week with Neil Gaiman’s Smoke and Mirrors which I just started last night and was unable to put down until way past my bedtime. I’m a little over halfway through and should finish up tonight.

As I mentioned yesterday, prep is finally underway on episode #1, Search and Rescue. Construction has already started in the VFX stage, and the baby pictures are making the rounds. We’ve pulled the trigger on Porter - who may well be in for yet another name change - casting an actress who had a blink-and-you’ll-miss-her part back in season 3’s Tao of Rodney but did a bang-up job and caught our attention. “We should bring that actress back,”I suggested at the time. And now we have. Rachel dropped by the production offices and we had a little chat about what’s in store for Teyla this year. She was not only happy but, admittedly, quite relieved with the creative route we’re taking.

To those of you asking about the Fan Fuel dinner - the only reason I’m reluctant to organize the event is because the restaurant is fairly upscale and may well be out of the price range of many fans. That said, if there are some of you who do have your hearts set on dining there the night of April 1st, then I’m sure Marty G. and I could make ourselves available.

Today’s pics: Books and chocolates and behind-the-scenes pics from this Friday night’s episode, Midway. For more behind-the-scenes pic, follow the link -

http://josephmallozzi.blogspot.com/2007/08/august-26-2007.html

Today’s video: At Fondy’s request, I’ve uploaded yet another vid of Lulu in action. Either scroll down or click on the link -

http://s230.photobucket.com/albums/ee164/BaronDestructo/?action=view¤t=SnowLulu3.flv

Today’s blog is dedicated to RachelCooper and birthday boy bugguy.

Today’s mailbag -

Jon K. writes: “Any Chance we will be seeing the Travelers in season 5, most notably Larrin?”

Answer: Yep.

NCC-72452 writes: “When you say “story in place” regarding Weir, does this mean 1 episode? 2.71828 episodes? 3.14159 episodes? Also, did Robert Picardo and Jewel Staite’s relative star power in the world of sci-fi influence your decision to bring them on?”

Answers: Story in place refers to 1 episode. While their crossover appeal is nice, the reason Bob and Jewel are on the show is because they are immensely talented individuals.

Flyingdog147 writes: “ Is there a difference between “Special Guest Star” and “Special Guest”?”

Answer: Nope.

Elizabeth writes: “Have you ever seen the Disney movie Atlantis: The Lost Empire?”

Answer: I haven’t.

Enzo Aquarius writes: “Very random question, do you like funnel cake?”

Answer: I don’t know. If I had to guess, I’d say - yes.

Sarah writes: “My husband did not like the original Battlestar Galactica series, he says it annoyed him. Do you think he would like the new series? Would you recommend any other scifi series for him?”

Answer: I have no idea what your husband would like so I’m reluctant to make any recommendations. Although I haven’t watched the new BSG, I’ve heard good things about it. Be warned though. It’s apparently very grim. I watched Farscape with Fondy and we both found it fun and very inventive. Of course, your enjoyment may depend on your willingness to embrace its various puppet characters. I was a little leery at first but, about six shows in, one of the puppets - Rygel - became my favorite character.

Narellefromaus writes: “How’s the state of the house with Fondy away?”

Answer: It’s actually a little tidier now as I’ve been able to put the extra free time toward filing and general organizing. This weekend, I plan to shampoo the rug and sort the recycling. If I have time, I may even take down the Christmas tree.

Rachel writes: “Todd is my best friend’s absolute favorite character (he’s a close second to McKay for me); will we be seeing him again at all in Season 5?”

Answer: Yes, Todd will be making an appearance in season 5.

Breeze writes: “Have you guys started think about SGA 100th episode?”

Answer: We have an idea.

Susanthetartanturtle writes: “Any chance that you will be at Dragon.con this year?”

Answer: Alas, no. But I will be hitting Comic Con in July.

Jean writes: “ Happy Chinese New Year! Here are some interesting if extraneous tidbits about the Chinese Lunar Cycle…”

Answer: Very cool. I’m going to have to share these with Fondy. She’s a tiger.

Thefamousseccles writes: “If all five episodes have been written, and a sixth brilliant idea comes up, is there any possibility of more than five Beckett episodes?”

Answer: Of course.

Emily writes: “My favorite was when I was shopping in the shoe department at Macy’s wearing clothing that in no way resembled a uniform of any kind and had a purse, etc. A lady came up to me and rudely asked me to get her a particular size of the shoe she was holding. She then got all pissed off when I told her I didn’t work there. That was weird.”

Answer: And there was the time I was hanging around the appliance section of my local department store when a middle-aged woman walked up to me and asked about a certain washing machine. I told her I couldn’t help her because I didn’t work there. She walked off, muttering “Then what are you doing standing there?” I wanted to reply “Waiting for my wife, ma‘am.” but she was already gone.

Yazid writes: “Why take Dr Keller in Sheppard’s team and not Major Lorne?”

Answer: There are no plans to put Dr. Keller on Sheppard’s team.

CheekylilDevil writes: “Okay Mr M, would you say the chances of bringing back Kolya are slim to none, or better with bribery?”

Answer: As I’ve often said - This is scifi. Anything is possible.

Dovil writes: “How does it feel to commit television genocide? Washing the nonexistant blood of fictional people from your hands? Hearing the silent screams of those that don’t exist as they are written out of existance?”

Answer: It feels alright I guess. Paul was the one who noticed as we were reviewing season 4 - Holy crap, we killed a lot of people last season! I think we broke the standing record and it’s going to be very hard to beat it this year. But we’ll give it our best shot.

Dovil also writes: “ How do you live with yourself making choices that I might not agree with? Did you not once think to consult me? Did you think for some delusional reason that your creative decisions might hold more weight than mine do?”

Answer: Actually, I had intended to get you to sign off on the creative decisions, but I think I only have your old email address and by the time I got around to realizing it was, unfortunately, too late. There is still, however, time to choose a cake for the big Zelenka birthday episode. So, what’ll it be? Sacher Torte or Black Forest?

Dovil also writes: “After all at the end of the day you’re just the Executive Producer and writer for the show, I on the other hand spend 45 minutes a week slumped on the couch with a bag of potato chips watching this. If anyone knows how to run things around here, it’s me.”

Answer: Point taken. While we’re at it, there are a couple of people working on the show who are on the bubble (ie. Antonio the potlight wrangler’s drive and determination have waned over the course of last season. And I know you’ve already gone on record as expressing some displeasure with his insistence on wearing those clunky, lurid blue plastic sandals.). I’m sending the names your way. Just weigh in with a yay or nay. You sure you don’t write comedy?

Asmoothlie writes: “Also, based on the beginning of BAMSR, is it correct to say that there are still nanite particles floating around in space from the attacks Caldwell and Ellis made, waiting to be re-activated?”

Answer: No, that is incorrect.