Stargate Surprises

You may have noticed I'm something of a rabid science fiction fan. So all the following was at least of interest to me. YMMV.

The SciFi channel series Stargate SG-1 has been rumored to be on its last legs since at least its fifth season. Now it has been renewed for a ninth season, with some major cast changes. Ben Browder, lately of Farscape will take the reins as Lieutenant Colonel Cameron Mitchell, the new commander of SG-1. (Amanda Tapping, aka Samantha Carter, the current C.O. will miss half the season on maternity leave.) This news comes on the heels of the appearance of fellow Farscape alum Claudia Black as the character Vala, and the announcement that she will be back for a five episode arc in season nine.

Other changes include the arrival of Beau Bridges as General Hank Landry, the new head of Stargate Command. Jack O'Neill (Richard Dean Anderson) gets promoted to head "Homeworld Security", and presumably Don Davis, aka Lt. General George Hammond sails into the sunset. Anderson has been seeking a progressively smaller role in the series. Lou Gossett Jr. takes a recurring role as a Jaffa leader. Finally, Mitch Pileggi of the X-Files joins Stargate Atlantis, appearing periodically as Colonel Caldwell, the new military commander of Atlantis (?). How do you get replacements when you are marooned in another galaxy?

Meanwhile, Befuddlement Galactica has also been renewed. De gustibus non est disputandum.