With the next season of Stargate Atlantis about to start, a change in the cast is bringing about concern in many fans making them wonder if the show is in trouble. For those who don't know, Amanda Tapping is leaving the show and the new character in command of Atlantis is Richard Woolsey, played by Star Trek Voyager's Robert Picardo.

Now, don't get me wrong. Robert Picardo does a great job playing the character, but this writer has grave concerns about placing the base under that character's command. If the situation is used to cause the character to develop command skills that don't constantly show timidity, hesitation, and extreme caution, then it could be a good move. If it doesn't lead that way, this places the station under the command of a person who will possibly totally hinder them in the performance of their duties.

I'm concerned that this change may cause fan attention to turn away from the show as, if it develops as I fear, the show may have “jumped the shark.” (For an explanation of that term, please visit www.jumptheshark.com ) With the talk about other Stargate movies, a possible third series, and a big screen film, causing the end of the current show like this could be disastrous. Constant changes in the command character causes great disruption in storylines and audience attention.

Then again, I and others could be wrong and this be the exact element to retain the viewers they have and get more to watch. While I'm very doubtful, stranger things have happened. If so, I hope that there will be no further command changes for a while. One of the things that kept Stargate SG1 so steady was the presence of Don S. Davis and his character, General Hammond.

Amanda Tapping's new show, Sanctuary, will be on SciFi Channel as well. She will be playing, Dr. Helen Magnus, a 157 year old doctor from Victorian England, who runs a sanctuary for what are referred to in the show as “abnormals”. We'll talk more about this show as the time of it's premiere approaches.

We do wish Amanda well with her new show. SciFi has ordered 13 episodes. Let's hope it does well and doesn't wind up in the SciFi scrapheap. Also, we will see Samantha Carter appear in some episodes of Stargate Atlantis, in the upcoming Stargate: Continuum, and in other Stargate projects as her schedule will permit. Michael Shanks will be appearing as Daniel Jackson also this season.

Ain't That Weird: Here's one I personally witnessed on television. For the last three weeks, the WWE has been giving away a total of one million dollars each week. All one had to do to win is to answer the phone during the live show, and know the password that was given several times during the show. In the last week of the contest this past Monday on RAW, Vince McMahon, WWE Chairman was calling a potential winner. The person answered the phone and when Vince asked who he was talking to, the caller says, “Wrong number” and hangs up. The guy hung up on $100,000 dollars!

Think about it.

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