Sci-Fi Storm

Actor Carmen Argenziano, probably best known for his role in The Godfather, Part II but better known in these circles as General Jacob Carter, Sam’s father in Stargate SG-1, who became a host for the Tok’ra Selmak to save Jacob’s life.

Argenziano had many acting credits in film and TV dating back to 1969, and was easy to spot in many guest roles, many on procedural dramas but with an occasional comedy, such as an appearance on Cheers as an angry husband who comes to the bar with a gun looking for the man who slept with his wife.

He is survived by his wife and three children.

Here are some of the big and our favorite stories we covered in 2012…

In January, rapidly rising British actor Benedict Cumberbatch joined Star Trek: Into Darkness, while CW’s Arrow dropped “Green” from the name and named Stephen Amell the lead actor.

We lost actor Ian Abercrombie and the voice of the Robot from Lost In Space Dick Tufeld.
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Happy Birthday, Syfy! On Monday, December 10 at 9PM (ET/PT), the Channel will celebrate two decades of award-winning, imaginative entertainment programming during the star-studded Syfy 20th Anniversary Special.

From iconic series such as Farscape, Battlestar Galactica and Warehouse 13 to Ghost Hunters, Face Off and the upcoming transmedia experience Defiance, the special will look back on Syfy’s launch and evolution, and ahead to the future through the personal, behind-the-scenes insights of the creative talent themselves.

Said Dave Howe, President, Syfy & Chiller: “For 20 years, Syfy has been the leader in visionary and provocative entertainment programming. In this celebratory special, the extraordinary talent at the heart of the powerful Syfy brand will talk exclusively about the lasting impact Syfy has had on the media landscape for the last two decades.”
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First it was Captain Jack Harkness. Now it’s Commander John Crichton and Lt. Colonel Cam Mitchell. Actor Ben Browder, who starred in Farscape and later the last couple seasons of Stargate SG-1, and more recently had guest appearances on Chuck and Doctor Who, will join the cast of Arrow as Ted Gaynor.

In the DC Comics universe, Gaynor was a bodyguard working for the Blackhawk Squadron in the Blackhawk comics. In Arrow, he will be John Diggle’s (Queen’s bodyguard) former commanding officer in Afghanistan, now working as a bodyguard with the “Blackhawk Squad Protection Group”, as an apparent nod to the comics.

Actgor and Robot Chicken creator Seth Green has joined the mini-series Delete, which is being penned by Joseph Mallozzi and Paul Mullie, who wrote and produced for all three installments of the Stargate TV franchise. Delete is being directed by Steve Barron (the Merlin mini-series and the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie), produced by Brightlight Pictures and distributed by Sonar Entertainment. No outlet has been announced as of yet.

Delete is about “what happens when the web becomes dangerously self-aware with one systematic purpose: to destroy mankind. Faced with extinction, there is only one way out, to create a second artificial intelligence that’s equally alive, intelligent and dangerous.”

Cast members also include Keir Gilchrist (United States of Tara), Matt Frewer (Watchmen, Eureka, Max Headroom), Janet Kidder (Continuum), Erin Karpluk (Being Erica, Life Unexpected), Gil Bellows (Ally McBeal, Flash Forward) and Ryan Robbins (Sanctuary, Falling Skies).

Gateworld reports several new castings for roles in the Canadian Primeval spinoff, Primeval: New World, which will air on SPACE in Canada but has no reported U.S. outlet yet. Chief among them is Eureka‘s Colin Ferguson (Sheriff Jack Carter), who will re-unite with his Eureka co-star Niall Matter in and unspecified role, along with a number of Stargate franchise alums.

Lexa Doig, who appeared as Dr. Carolyn Lam in several episodes of Stargate SG-1 but is perhaps best remembered as Andromeda/Rommie in Gene Roddenberry’s Andromeda (and in real life is married to Stargate SG-1‘s Michael Shanks), will reportedly appear as a doctor in the two-part finale. She has most recently been playing Sonya Valentine in the Canadian SF series Continuum.

Stargate Universe‘s Louis Ferriera (Colonel Everett Young) will appear in the last three episodes as Colonel Henderson Hall, who will come into conflict with Evan Cross (Matter).

And fellow SGU alum Patrick Gilmore (Dale Volker) will also appear as a local entrepreneur named Blake in Episode 4.

Gateworld is reporting that composer Joel Goldsmith, oldest son of the late legendary composer Jerry Goldsmith, passed away yesterday at the age of 54.

Goldsmith composed the music for all three Stargate series (for which he was nominated three times for an Emmy) as well as many other series and episodes as well as TV movies and films. He also collaborated with his father (well known for his work on the Star Trek franchise since Star Trek: The Motion Picture) on Star Trek: First Contact.

Fancy the idea of taking up arms against some of your favorite heroes from SF film and television? Or fancy a blaster fight with a squad of Stormtroopers led by General Motti? (Hey, at least that last one should be easy…we know how well Stormtroopers shoot!)

Well, you might have your chance at Comicpalooza, in Houston May 25-27!

“The next best thing to being a sci-fi or action hero has to be shooting a sci-fi or action hero with a gun. Or maybe being shot by one,” says John Simons, founder and Chairman of Comicpalooza, the Texas International Comic Con. At least that’s the premise that led to the Badass Celebrity Smackdown, in which fans attending Comicpalooza May 25-27 will get their chance to pit themselves against stars of some of the biggest sci-fi and action franchises in Hollywood while helping US veterans at the same time.
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Hearing from multiple sources – the latest Doctor Who Magazine features an article about the next series of Doctor Who featuring an episode set in the “Wild West” of America, although it is shooting in Spain…but also that Farscape and Stargate SG-1 alum Ben Browder will guest star in the episode!

He won’t be “getting the band back together” though…don’t expect his twice-co-star Claudia Black to be joining him.

Browder was most recently seen in one of the last episodes of Chuck.

We’ve got some more cast and production info for the upcoming Canadian spin-off Primeval: New World, following last week’s news that Eureka‘s Niall Matter will star in the series. And it includes some Sanctuary/Stargate SG-1 relationships as well!

Sara Canning (The Vampire Diaries) will star as a predator expert, opposite Matter’s inventor and hero character. Miranda Frigon (Heartland), Geoff Gustafson (Once Upon a Time) and Danny Rahim (Young James Herriot) will co-star.

And for fans of the original Primeval, star Andrew-Lee Potts will guest star in at least one episode.

On the directing side, Sanctuary‘s Amanda Tapping will join Stargate franchise producer/directors Andy Mikita and Martin Wood and Eureka director Mike Rohl.

Wood and Gillian Horvath, who both produce Sanctuary, will executive produce.