Stargate Universe: I’m Back For Season Two
Posted on February 23, 2010 Posted by John Scalzi 47 Comments
I’ve been sitting on this news for a bit and suddenly realized that, hey, there’s no reason to be sitting on it: I’ve been asked, and have agreed, to continue as the Creative Consultant for Stargate: Universe for the show’s second season. Indeed, I’m already looking at scripts and chatting with producers and giving notes, and the season is already shaping up to be very cool and interesting and that’s all you’ll get out of me about it. Go on, torture me! You’ll get nothing!
(Note: Please don’t torture me.)
I’m very glad to continue in this gig because on a personal level it’s one of the most fun gigs I’ve had. Krissy has noted to me that when I talk to her about what I do on the show, the expression I get is almost exactly like that of a ten-year-old boy talking about a favorite toy. I won’t deny it, although maybe I’d quibble that it’s not a toy, it’s a seekrit club I belong to, in which we build spaceships out of cardboard boxes and aliens out of stuffed animals and then go zoom zoom zoom around the neighborhood.
By which I mean: One of the things I like most about it is that it is actually collaborative. Most of what I do is largely me sitting off by myself, so doing something where I get work from others, do my part and then send it off to someone else is a good creative experience for me. Especially when I really like the end result, which I have with SG:U.
Speaking of which, I’m supposed to have notes to the show today. Excuse me, please.
Note: for those of you who want to generally discuss SG:U, remember that there’s an SG:U permanent discussion thread for you to do that in. This comment thread should probably be confined to discussion of my role on the show. Thanks.
Congratulations on your success! Can’t wait to watch more episodes!
Good to hear. I’ve enjoyed SG:U so far, but it felt like it dropped off the map. Glad to hear it’ll be back with you in tow!
Kudos, sir.
I missed getting on this particular boat, but I may yet jump on board. The first two eps dropped off of TiVo before I got to them and I never found a way back on.
I heard that it’s female characters didn’t fare too well. Is that just internet nonsense?
I hope you get to write some of the episodes as well as consult for them! :)
Congratulations on your re-enlistment! Have you retaken your oath yet?
Someone should Sweede Old Mans War in response to your sekret club.
Also, glad you’re still with them.
The second half of the first season will start airing on April 2nd on SyFy (including a marathon of the first ten episodes starting at 11 am that day). They will also be airing some repeats before then, including the first two episodes at 7 pm on Feb 26th.
So do you folks do collaboration using WebEx (or something similar)?
In my work on the 787 Dreamliner, we use it frequently for meetings, reviews, brainstorming and such.
It’s reduced my travel-time (especially given that Boeing is some 3000 miles from my place of employment) and increased my productivity enormously.
Just wondering.
Agent to the Stars 2: Creative Consultant to the Stars
Fantastic. I rather imagine that I have seen a bit of your fingerprints here and there in the show (although who really knows)
Either way, congrats and keep up the good work.
Congrats John! I kind of assumed you’d be back, but it’s nice to hear that they explicitly re-signed you.
Are the new shows that begin in April (?) the second half of season 1 or are they season 2?
Congrats!
Cassie–second half of season 1 starts in April.
WizarDru–I’ll give you an opinion in the SG:U thread.
OK, quit beating around the bush.
When’s the OMW movie going to appear on SyFy?
And please don’t let Ron Moore do it. I liked his reimagined BG, but he’s too dark for the OMW universe.
Congratulations! You were obviously doing something right in season one.
Since you will now be getting a “season two crew jacket”, may I have your jacket from season one?
How about if we torture you with the comfy chair?
I’m very happy to see this – I’ve been thrilled with how Universe has come together thus far, and I can’t wait to see what’s happening next.
Very cool indeed, John. Congratulations . . .
Just one question (okay two):
Who are the main alien baddies going to be? And did they let you give a hand in creating them so that they’re going to be really cool baddies?
Okay, we won’t torture you. Are Enhanced Interrogation Techniques okay?
eviljwinter@15:
I think Old Man’s War needs to be on the big screen. Some things just need to be seen larger than life – like Jane kicking alien butt.
Now John and Jane in a domestic sitcom – that I could see on SyFy. I’d love to hear some of their dinner time conversations.
Good to hear that you and it will be back. I have to say I’ve enjoyed the show, I probably wouldn’t have watched it, if you hadn’t clued us all in that you were a part of it.
Up til I gave SG:U a try, I can’t say I was a fan of the SG series.
And I’m happy to know there will be a season 2.
Congratulations! I’m glad that there will be a season 2 and that they are pleased with your work and want to continue the relationship. And there is truly nothing like having a job you love.
I totaly agree with most of y’all that omw would be a great movie but it would only look cool if James Cameron did it with his avatar tech. Nothing else would capture the little green men the way they deserve. Then again I may be baised because I read omw right after seeing avatar so all of the CU personel looked like green navi acording to my brain.
That is so cool! Congratulations!
“in which we build spaceships out of cardboard boxes and aliens out of stuffed animals and then go zoom zoom zoom around the neighborhood.”
Can someone please get this on video & upload it to YouTube? I should very much like to see this. Especially if the participants were all SF writers.
If we promise not to tell where we got them, can you post some scripts for all of us, your wonderfully devoted fans? No? Drat…
Congratulations. Never watched the show but perhaps I will give it a try knowing you have a hand in it. Is season one a must to follow the second season?
WizarDru@4:
I heard that it’s female characters didn’t fare too well. Is that just internet nonsense?
No it’s not, but based on John’s previous form in writing interesting, nuanced female characters who don’t fall anywhere on the Madonna/Whore or Chicks With Dicks scales he gets a season pass.
I’m sure John will correct me if I’m wrong, but I think being in the writers room doing doing a “dude, what the $#@! are you thinking?” smackdown on sexist b.s. is way above a creative consultant’s pay grade.
I am so pleased! I really enjoyed the first season, and this guarantees a strong season for Season 2! Yeah!
hugh57, will this? I mean, unless you want to get all old skool Torquemada here.
Glad to hear it and I’m glad you’re having a blast! I watched the first half of season one a couple weeks ago and am digging it.
The job title and your enthusiasm make it sound like an interesting job … for those who missed it the first time… what exactly does a Creative Consultant do?
I will go to SYFY.com and watch the full episodes available….
Well they need someone to count the bullets and the total number of possible characters on the ship.
Wait, we’re not allowed to torture you? I’ve been withholding Coke Zero from you for years. Indeed, entire decades have gone by without my providing you with a single drop of that
revoltingambrosial beverage. Was that wrong?The first episode of SG:U will air in Germany right this evening!! I´m all on edge and wouldn´t want to miss it for anything!
Congratulations. I’m enjoying the show and looking forward to the new episodes which are slowly approaching.
My favourite thing about your post though, was the Calvinesque feeling it created when I read it. If only all things in life were so exciting.
Congratulations, it would be a sweet gig. I am looking forward to the 2nd season as I think there are tons of good stories based off of Rush being left behind.
@Jonathan
No, I don’t think season one is necessary. But, if you could some how watch the first and last episode that should be enough to get you 80% of the way.
/me tortures Scalzi
Congratulations, John — they’re smart to keep you around.
Congratulations! Maybe we will get to see an original Scalzi-written episode next season?
I wanna be in da seekret club….
But even though I can’t (pout), it’s a rilly rilly cool seekret club.
I started watching SG-U before I got into your books…Very cool to hear you’re back on it!
Congrats on return for Season 2. Looking forward to you helping the suits and the fruits get things down right. :-)
Congrats, have fun, keep up the stellar work, etc!
And remember how painful it is for us commoners who are counting down the days,hours, and minutes until we get to see episode 11 of season 1.
(sidenote: I assume everyone is well aware of ThinkGeek’s periodic bacon tshirt?)
John,
Congratulations.
-A
John,
Congratulations on the job!
I was wondering if you knew of a submission process for a spec script/storyline for SGU’s writer’s room.
Marcus