Stargate Universe Canceled: A Sad Development As The Wormhole Turns – Is An Era Ending?

Hello Stargate Community and Stargate Universe fans,

I would say good morning, but it really is not a good morning is it? We did have other news to post yesterday at 12 PM Pacific time, but frankly I did not have the heart to complete a story that was ready for publication. I realized that the news I had heard at the end of the day Wednesday December 15, 2010, likely to become reality, had in fact occurred.

For the first time in 17 years the MGM Studios “Stargate” franchise that has been spinning and taking us all on adventures to far away lands, planets, galaxies across the universe, the series franchise filled with action, romance, mystery and mythology may sadly be coming to an end.

I can still remember my excitement in 1993 when MGM Studios announced production of Stargate (the movie). I was living in Austin Texas and could not wait to see the film. I and all my friends were even more excited when the movie became the Stargate franchise. Now after 17 episodic seasons it seems to be coming to an end, a potential end of an era of epic movies and series. I only hope that is not the case, but we are sad here today.

We here at WHR are saddened that the announcement was made one year almost to the day that Stargate Universe was renewed for a second season. I believe I can say with 100% certainty everyone here at WHR are saddened. We have had nine reporters over the past two years write reviews about Stargate Universe and visit the celebrities and creators at Stargate Conventions. We are quite sad for the loss of employment for the most talented actors and actresses. In the world of entertainment these are some of the finest human beings you will ever know.

We are sad that wonderful people we have had the privilege to meet and work with at MGM Studios and The Bridge are liable to lose their jobs.

We are sad that the crews, publicists, agents, and perhaps the entire Stargate family of creators who may also lose their jobs, face unemployment. We are sad for fans who have supported the Stargate franchise for 17 episodic years and three Stargate movies. We are sad because there may be only 10 episodes left in what was planned to be a 5 year 100 episode series run. We are sad because the Stargate may stop spinning in 2012 after the last 10 episodes of Stargate Universe in 2011.

Preparing for a long trip driving to Southern California to work, I did not have time to tweet very much. Texting and driving is not something any of us should be doing. I did however have wireless Internet access on my netbook and and looked at the tweet stream as much as possible via Tweet Deck. I also read a couple of articles when stopping for gasoline and food on the road.

I also became very sad for another reason; a group of people running a web site called “SGU Sucks Dot Com” threw a virtual party proclaiming that their 15 month campaign had “paid off”. And no I am NOT going to hyper link that foul place!

Many of these malcontents also tweeted about it and posted on several web sites. Over recent history, this despicable group of people has attacked the actors, the creators, the families and even the news sites which supported and reported on Stargate Universe (including WHR). Each time with foul mouthed glee since their misbegotten effort began in 2009. They also attacked the Stargate fans grabbing tweets and posting them for their hate filled campaign not realizing that they could be part of the end of the franchise for the foreseeable future as we have reported previously. I was sickened by what I read yesterday from these misguided and often hate filled individuals.

I was however on the phone while driving. I was talking with members of the team (both ours and Stargate’s) about the greatest fear of virtually everyone on our team, including mine. Then it was confirmed by a second source: SyFy elected to not renew Stargate Universe for a third season in 2011-2012. I knew I had to drive to Los Angeles and put out a few tweets, one of which in specific seems to have angered some. That tweet was that I knew that Stargate Universe would be canceled. In fact I was not told directly. While I had made calls to certain sources at MGM and SyFy, I was only told “news would be coming soon”. It was the tone of the e-mails and phone calls that lead me to believe 36 hours ago that Stargate Universe was not going to be renewed.

So when I said “I knew”, I erred and I apologize for that tweet. I did not mean to offend anyone. Nor will I  delete it, but leave it there as an indication that I chose the wrong words while on the road to Los Angeles for a reporting assignment.

WHR was not told directly “Stargate Universe” is canceled until the SyFy public statement was released. What I “knew” was that the news of a business decision was “coming soon”. I shared my thoughts privately with few people. Sadly, the cancellation of Stargate Universe indeed seemed to be coming. This was at the end of the day Wednesday December 15, 2010.

Despite the information which seemed to confirm the pending news, it is not the policy nor the job of WormholeRiders News Agency to post rumors. Nor is it our job to initially announce whether a series is renewed or not. We post facts subsequent to reading official press releases and then confirming same from at least two sources. This confirmation came at approximately 11:45 AM Pacific time, some 45 minutes after SyFy made a public statement which they later tweeted as well:

“Syfy will end its original action-adventure series Stargate Universe when the show returns with the final 10 episodes of its second season in the Spring of 2011. The Stargate franchise — consisting of Stargate SG-1, Stargate Atlantis and Stargate Universe — has aired on Syfy since 2002.

Syfy has a slate of new sci-fi/fantasy scripted projects lined up for 2011 including the series premiere of Being Human on January 17, the recently green lit one-hour drama series Alphas and the much anticipated Battlestar Galactica prequel pilot movie, Battlestar Galactica: Blood & Chrome. Warehouse 13, Eureka and Haven will also return with new seasons next year.”

I was reading the public statement (which was sent to everyone at the same time) when Michael Ausiello tweeted the news and then (literally) all hell broke loose. At first I thought that Michael had blind-sided everyone including SyFy, then I checked the time of the announcement. In fact SyFy had informed the actors and crews in advance with their public statement.

The problem is that Twitter in specific exploded before people even had a chance to read the press release. In a way, it would have been nice for each actor and crew person to be told individually. However that is not possible. Why? While I do know that a few did find out officially, most saw it on Twitter first. But even if a round of calls or e-mails were made, the complaint would then become why did “they” inform “that” person or persons first?

Is Stargate Universe season three announced as a series canceled by SyFy? Yes. Does this mean that the Stargate franchise is finished for the foreseeable future? Maybe. A lot depends on you the fans of Stargate. What can you, the fans, possibly do in a positive way to perhaps save the show?

I would suggest that we all take a lesson from Chuck fans. Buy the Stargate Universe DVD’s and Blu-ray disks from MGM and give them as Christmas or other gifts. Download the episodes from legal sources such as iTunes.  Perhaps most critically, when Stargate Universe returns in April get everyone you know to watch the ten (10) un-aired episodes of the series LIVE (NOT DVR).

Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, do not send threats or foul language tweets or e-mails to SyFy. That will do no good. Instead demonstrate that you support the Stargate franchise and maybe, just maybe, the series will be picked up. A bonus for all of the Stargate fans in being professional? You may just succeed and we could possibly get those two Stargate movies that all would like to see!

As previously tweeted, we will complete our reviews of every episode of Stargate Universe and finish adding all of them to the updated menu structure as soon as possible.

As always we appreciate your visiting our news sites at WormholeRiders News Agency. Please feel free to leave a comment or a question here. We will respond to your comment or question as soon as is possible.

If you prefer, click the social media icons below to share this news article or as many of our readers and visitors often do, visit the WHR Team or me on Twitter by clicking the text links or images avatars in this news story.

After a number of tweets thanking the creators, the actors, the crews and MGM Studios, I will see you all soon at the Hollywood Auction 43 and on “The Other Side“! Thank you.

Best Regards,

Kenn