TVSquad

During the panels for the Sci Fi shows present at Comic-Con this year, we're being given a unique opportunity to have you, our readers, ask questions to the panelists. What shows are we attending and who will be there? Here's the rundown:

• Stargate: Atlantis (Joe Flanigan, Robert Picardo, Brad Wright, Jewel Staite, Chris Sanagustin)
• Sanctuary (Amanda Tapping, Martin Wood, Robin Dunne)
• Battlestar Galactica (Tricia Helfer, James Callis, Katee Sackhoff, Michael Trucco, Ron Moore, David Eick)
• Eureka (Colin Ferguson, Sallie Richardson-Whitfield , Joe Morton, Jamie Paglia, Charlie Craig, Tony Optican)
• Ghost Hunters (Robb Demarest)

Use the comment form below to submit your questions and we'll give the best ones to the moderator to ask. We'll post the answers to those questions and others as soon as we can get to a WiFi hotspot and post away. You've got until this Thursday morning to send in your questions, so ask away!

Hey everyone! This time we've got five copies of Stargate: Atlantis - Season Four on DVD for five lucky, random commenters. The DVD is available in stores starting Tuesday.

To enter, leave a comment below before 5:00PM Eastern, Friday, July 11 simply telling why you'd like to own this set. As always, we'll randomly choose five winners amongst the eligible entries. Some other details:
Click here for complete Official Rules.

After a fairly brief hiatus (only 4 months) Stargate Atlantis returns to the SciFi channel with all new episodes starting on July 11th. Now entering its fifth season, the show is reaching a turning point thanks to a number of off-season cast changes. First and foremost in is the replacement of Amanda Tapping's Colonel Samantha Carter as administrator of Atlantis with Robert Picardo's Richard Woolsey. This is one year after Tapping replaced Tori Higginson on the show. It's an interesting turn of events since Woolsey has not been the most popular of characters in the entire Stargate franchise. And, as the character has never been a people person, there is bound to be some conflict between members of the Atlantis team and himself.

This is Spoilers Anonymous, a weekly column here at TV Squad where we'll supply you with the dirt on some of the more popular shows on the air. We'll never put spoilers up here on the main page in order to help the reformed stay unspoiled. If you have anything to add to the group, feel free to step up and let yourself be heard, either with our tips form or by emailing us at tvsquad at gmail dot com or call and leave a message at (775) 640-8479 - your anonymity is guaranteed, if you wish to remain as such.

This week we have: 24, Bones, Heroes, Nip/Tuck, Prison Break, Smallville, Stargate: Atlantis and Supernatural. (SPOILERS FOLLOW!)

This is Spoilers Anonymous, a weekly column here at TV Squad where we'll supply you with the dirt on some of the more popular shows on the air. We'll never put spoilers up here on the main page in order to help the reformed stay unspoiled. If you have anything to add to the group, feel free to step up and let yourself be heard, either with our tips form or by emailing us at tvsquad at gmail dot com or call and leave a message at (775) 640-8479 - your anonymity is guaranteed, if you wish to remain as such.

This week we have: Brothers & Sisters, Chuck, Heroes, Lost, NCIS, Prison Break, Samantha Who?, Stargate Atlantis, and Ugly Betty. (SPOILERS FOLLOW!)

(S04E20) "This is the most elaborate practical joke of all time, or I'm in serious trouble." -- John Sheppard

And there you have it. Atlantis wraps up its fourth season, its first out on its own, with a little time travel and a big cliffhanger ending. It was a finale that I had heard described as "different." Having now seen it, it's hard to argue with the description. Having 56 minutes of your finale be things that didn't actually happen is certainly not the norm. While we can probably all agree on the different label, the bigger question is, "Was it good?"

(S04E17) First, my apologies for this being so late. Rich and I got some wires crossed and we both ended up pointing at each other saying, "Crap, I thought it was your turn!" Better late than never though, right? Anyway... "Midway" has been one of the brighter spots on the upcoming schedule all season simply because Teal'c was returning. I'm sure that for many fans, the return in and of itself was cause to celebrate the episode. I have no special preference for Teal'c myself, so that didn't totally sell me on the episode, but the story he brought along with him did. With a couple of nagging exceptions, it was very good.

This is Spoilers Anonymous, a weekly column here at TV Squad where we'll supply you with the dirt on some of the more popular shows on the air. We'll never put spoilers up here on the main page in order to help the reformed stay unspoiled. If you have anything to add to the group, feel free to step up and let yourself be heard, either with our tips form or by emailing us at tvsquad at gmail dot com or call and leave a message at (775) 640-8479 - your anonymity is guaranteed, if you wish to remain as such.

This week we have: Greek, Lost, One Tree Hill, Stargate: Atlantis and Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles. (SPOILERS FOLLOW!)

SLIGHT SPOILERS AHEAD! Be aware that I'm just the messenger here.

Remember the time, only a few weeks ago, where a supposed Replicator version of Dr. Elizabeth Weir appeared during the final minute of the Stargate Atlantis episode 'Be All My Sins Remember'd'? And, do you recall the debate that went on here and in the Interwebverse on what that meant? And, didn't it excite you just a bit to see Weir back and being primed for a potential return to the series either late in the fourth season or sometime in the fifth?

Well, as they said in many Shakespearean plays -- tain't happenin'! (That would be Rudy Shakespeare of Pennsauken, New Jersey, that is). That's because Tori Higginson, who portrayed Dr. Weir, has up and quit the show according to an article at the Gateworld website. This announcement especially stinks since Weir was going to be a potential player in a major story arc for season five. That's right! Weir's mysterious appearance at the end of 'Remember'd' was going to be addressed in a future episode which, in turn, was going to become a recurring story arc.

Higginson's reasons for not coming back for another Atlantis season are unknown. A possible reason could have been Weir's removal from the cast list after signing a 6-year contract back in 2004 and relocating to Vancouver, BC. The producers, in what seems like a fairly cold statement, said that they were being quite gracious in keeping on Weir after that happened. Either way, it is unsure at this time if the rogue Replicator storyline, minus Weir, will re-emerge.

For those of you who were gnashing their teeth over Samantha Carter's (lack of) administrative abilities on this season's Stargate Atlantis you can relax your jaws. Well, only for a moment, because you may not like who will be replacing her in the show's fifth season.

According to a press statement released today by MGM and the SciFi Channel, the newest administrator of Atlantis will be: I.O.A representative Richard Woolsey, played by science fiction veteran Robert Picardo. Ah, I see you're gnashing your teeth again. No surprise there, since the members of the Atlantis team aren't too fond of him, either. In fact, the SciFi release mentions that Colonel Sheppard and his team must adjust to Woolsey's leadership style. Look for some friction between the two sides as the season progresses.

(S04E07) So far in season four we've had Ronon, McKay, and Sheppard episodes, so it was high time Teyla got one of her own. If that wasn't enough, she brought along Keller for some much needed screen time and character development. Of course, if Teyla was just heading home for a bit of the slap and tickle with her beau, it wouldn't make for much of an Atlantis episode. Luckily, for the viewers, it all went to hell and the whole gang got involved by the end.

The giveaways continue today! Not only are we giving away five copies of Grey's Anatomy season three on DVD, we've also got five copies of Stargate: Atlantis season three for five lucky, random commenters. The set will be in stores September 18.

To enter, simply leave a comment below before 5:00PM Eastern, Saturday, September 15, stating which episode of Stargate: Atlantis you liked most. As always, we'll randomly choose five winners amongst the eligible entries. Some other details:

• To enter, leave a confirmed comment below stating which Stargate: Atlantis episode you liked most.
• The comment must be left before September 15, 2007 at 5:00PM Eastern Time.
  
• You can only enter once.
  
• The winning entries will be chosen completely at random.
  

And now we present you with the legalities of the giveaway. (Read them. Please.)

Many of you out there were surprised when Dr. Carson Beckett met his untimely demise on the "Sunday" episode of Stargate: Atlantis last season. That surprise turned into anger when the death of his character wasn't truly mourned in subsequent episodes. Perhaps the producers of the show heard your complaints because Dr. Beckett will be returning to the show next season.

The SciFi Channel is reporting that Paul McGillion will be reprising his role of Dr. Beckett for a two-episode arc in the show's fourth season, which will begin on September 28th.

Something I really enjoyed about Sci Fi putting this event on for us was getting to put faces to people involved with other online outlets. SyFy Portal, Gateworld, The TV Addict, DVD Verdict, Monsters and Critics, UGO, and TVaholic, among others (sorry if I missed mentioning you and you're reading this – I'm still recovering.) These were real fans of television, and they were as excited as anyone to be there. What pissed me off, though, was overhearing a few people in attendance say "I never watch TV," yet here they were, covering TV shows. What were they doing there? Lame. That should piss off any fan of these shows, because this was more than an event to be reported on my the media, it was put on for the fans. OK, I'm done my rant.

One thing I would have liked from the event in Vancouver was more time. Somehow Sci Fi was able to cram in three panels and three set tours of some of the most successful science fiction TV shows on TV today. After the Atlantis panel, I couldn't help but approach Dave Hewlett to let him know that I was Twittering the entire trip to the TV Squad readers, since he's an avid user of the technology himself. Very cool guy and very approachable, but because of time restrictions of the trip, I had to cut our talk short.

As promised, here's part two of the Stargate Atlantis panel. I'll have the Flash Gordon panel for you on Monday.

[UPDATE: The stream is working now (below), which includes the entire panel.]