Monday, May 17, 2004
My favorite TV Show
Had a few minutes to spare, and I thought I'd plug my favorite (current) TV Show - Stargate SG-1.
Yup, it's sci-fi, and it runs on the Sci Fi Channel, every night, 6pm, and Mondays and Fridays are "marathons" - 4 episodes on both nights. It plays on one of the network channels on Sunday nights ... I think its UPN (?).
You know how many people claim alien visitor theories and conspiracies? Stuff about alien crop circles being navigation aids (which was then turned into the slightly cheesy, and thrilling "Signs"). Stuff about the Pyramids being built by aliens. Stuff about Atlanteans being aliens. Well anyway, SG1 took that and said, well, what if it were true? A movie was made in 1994, starring Kurt Russell (http://imdb.com/title/tt0111282/) ... and a TV Show ultimately spun off of that.
The background of the story is:
- The Stargate "network" consists of hundreds, possibly thousands, of Stargates - alien devices that open wormholes to each other. Think of the Star Trek Transporter spanning galaxies - kinda like that. A person "dials" a Stargate address to open the gate on the other side, steps through his gate, and a few seconds later is strolling on another planet.
- The Stargate was built by an alien species that seems to be extinct. It was "re-discovered" by the Goa'uld, who used it to invade planets. The Goa'uld are parasitic beings that inhabit host bodies, completely controlling the host. The host is granted regenerative powers and great speed and strength. The Goa'uld and host live for several hundred years, but are mortal nonetheless.
- The Goa'uld came to Earth, thousands of years ago, initally to Egypt (ultimately included China, and Scandinavia). There, they took on the personas of Egyptian gods - Ra, Isis, Anubis, etc., taking humans as hosts, and others as slaves. The slaves were transported through the Stargate to other planets. Ultimately, the slaves on Earth rebelled, and the Goa'uld fled. The Egyptians buried the Stargate (and its excavation marks the opening of the movie), making it impossible for the Goa'uld to access the gate ... hence, Earth's inhabitants were left in peace to slaughter each other for shiny stones or racial/religious purity.
- The Stargate program, initally run by the US Air Force (hey, its an American show. Who am I to argue?!), visit planets in order to acquire technology and/or allies. Their use of the Stargate alerted the Goa'uld, who've tried on many occaisions to invade Earth.
Why do I like it so much? Cos it's funny - Richard Dean Anderson (he also played McGyver in the 80's) heads the SG-1 team, and brings a lot of comic relief to what would otherwise be a lot of Trek-ish mumbo-jumbo (I always cringe when I listen to lines in TNG like "Maybe if I inverted the warp engine field coils, I might cause a garvimetric surge in the EPS conduit!"). its also intelligently written, never loses focus, constant action & adventure, etc. etc. etc.
For more info, I'd recommend gateworld.com as an encyclopedia for those who get confused while watching the show. :-) I've been to that website a lot!
Yup, it's sci-fi, and it runs on the Sci Fi Channel, every night, 6pm, and Mondays and Fridays are "marathons" - 4 episodes on both nights. It plays on one of the network channels on Sunday nights ... I think its UPN (?).
You know how many people claim alien visitor theories and conspiracies? Stuff about alien crop circles being navigation aids (which was then turned into the slightly cheesy, and thrilling "Signs"). Stuff about the Pyramids being built by aliens. Stuff about Atlanteans being aliens. Well anyway, SG1 took that and said, well, what if it were true? A movie was made in 1994, starring Kurt Russell (http://imdb.com/title/tt0111282/) ... and a TV Show ultimately spun off of that.
The background of the story is:
- The Stargate "network" consists of hundreds, possibly thousands, of Stargates - alien devices that open wormholes to each other. Think of the Star Trek Transporter spanning galaxies - kinda like that. A person "dials" a Stargate address to open the gate on the other side, steps through his gate, and a few seconds later is strolling on another planet.
- The Stargate was built by an alien species that seems to be extinct. It was "re-discovered" by the Goa'uld, who used it to invade planets. The Goa'uld are parasitic beings that inhabit host bodies, completely controlling the host. The host is granted regenerative powers and great speed and strength. The Goa'uld and host live for several hundred years, but are mortal nonetheless.
- The Goa'uld came to Earth, thousands of years ago, initally to Egypt (ultimately included China, and Scandinavia). There, they took on the personas of Egyptian gods - Ra, Isis, Anubis, etc., taking humans as hosts, and others as slaves. The slaves were transported through the Stargate to other planets. Ultimately, the slaves on Earth rebelled, and the Goa'uld fled. The Egyptians buried the Stargate (and its excavation marks the opening of the movie), making it impossible for the Goa'uld to access the gate ... hence, Earth's inhabitants were left in peace to slaughter each other for shiny stones or racial/religious purity.
- The Stargate program, initally run by the US Air Force (hey, its an American show. Who am I to argue?!), visit planets in order to acquire technology and/or allies. Their use of the Stargate alerted the Goa'uld, who've tried on many occaisions to invade Earth.
Why do I like it so much? Cos it's funny - Richard Dean Anderson (he also played McGyver in the 80's) heads the SG-1 team, and brings a lot of comic relief to what would otherwise be a lot of Trek-ish mumbo-jumbo (I always cringe when I listen to lines in TNG like "Maybe if I inverted the warp engine field coils, I might cause a garvimetric surge in the EPS conduit!"). its also intelligently written, never loses focus, constant action & adventure, etc. etc. etc.
For more info, I'd recommend gateworld.com as an encyclopedia for those who get confused while watching the show. :-) I've been to that website a lot!
