While no one was looking, Stargate SG-1 (starring Ben Browder, Christopher Judge, and Claudia Black) become the longest-running sci-fi series in American TV history, now that SciFi Channel has renewed it for a 10th season. (SciFi has also renewed spinoff Stargate Atlantis for a third season.)
Anyone know what the longest-running sci-fi show on our planet is? (I’m guessing it’s Dr. Who.) And does anyone want to explain to the group what’s behind the longevity of SG-1? My theory: That MacGyver guy can do anything.
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Um, nice theory, but that’s not the MacGyver guy. That’s the Farscape guy who replaced him.
I have never understood the popularity of SG-1. The longest running sci fi show of all time has got to be The X Files, at least stateside…
As for why SG-1 has lasted forever, it follows a simple formula. An unnusual storyline and plot that began as a major motion picture, and a low enough budget helps Sci fi afford to keep it on the air. Plus, Universal (which owns Sci Fi Channel) produces the show in-house.
What I find most interesting about that show is how most sci-files are quick to dis it, but despite an apparent lack of fans, the show continues to excell.
Using this formula, it is surprising that Universal hasn’t purchased the rights to make a Serenity spin off or doesn’t take the opportunity to make more episodes of the much better written and better acted Galactica.
wow, the fact checking is impeccable there. sheesh.
Just like “7th Heaven,” which has also been on for 10 years, I’ve never watched “Stargate SG-1.” The movie was good, but the TV show never looked as good.
How long was Star Trek: TNG on? That had to have lasted at least 7 or 8 seasons? For some reason I thought it had made it to ten.
I’ve never seen either Stargate show, but I know one person who watches it quite obsessively. Having the guy from Farscape makes it appeal a little more, but not enough to make a point of watching it.
And you’re totally right brandonk. This is exactly like 7th Heaven! I know maybe one person who watches each show, yet somehow these shows produce enough revenue to keep them going.
Props to SG-1 for keeping Sci-Fi channel in business over the years. Now they’ve taken it to the next level with Battlestar Galactica.
Is Richard Dean Anderson even on SG-1 anymore?
Star Trek TNG, DS9 and Voyager all had 7 seasons, Enterpise had only 4 and TOS had four. X-files had 9 seasons. I’m amazed by the other comments here, they aren’t exactly helpful or many go off topic.
Stargate’s secret is probably the combination of comedy, sci-fi and action. It appeals to many different groups, but probably not the most hardcore. Personally it is one of my favorites, right after Battlestar Galactica and Babylon 5.
The “NEW GUY” in the Stargate series is Ben Browder From the series Farscape ! ! !
I only started watching when Ben Browder and Claudia Black joined the show… SG1 may be the longest running scifi series… But FARSCAPE was far and above THE BEST.
It’s almost certainly Doctor Who which has had a total of 27 seasons, 3 movies and a tv movie. It began way back in 1963 and ended in 1989 with a number of episodes “lost” along the way. (Although these resurface every now and again through collectors realising they’ve got a missing episode in their attic!) It was picked up again in 2005 with the 27th season starring Christopher Eccleston and Billie Piper and written by Russell T. Davies. A new series is starting next year with a new doctor and we’re also expecting a christmas special very soon and a spin-off for the character of Captain Jack sometime next year.
Star Trek TNG lasted 7 seasons by the way.
I gotta say the X-Files! I like Stargate, but I loved FARSCAPE and the X-FILES and I am only watching the STARGATE shows for CLAUDIA BLACK, BEN BROWDER and MITCH PILEGGI.
‘Nuff said.’
Our bad. That’s not Richard Dean Anderson in the photo — made the fix. Thanks!
Star Trek:TOS only ran 3 seasons.
I keep trying to watch SG-1, but it’s pretty bad. Even though bringing on Ben Browder and Claudia Black helped a lot. Favorites? Babylon 5, Battlestar Galactica (new), and Farscape. Don’t have a clue why SG-1 has lasted so long. After the smashing Farscape, BB and CB deserve a better venue. Hope they get it.
You’ll be interested to know that the longest running sci-fi show in the world (if we’re going on number of episodes) is actually Stargate SG-1. Doctor Who only comes it 180ish eps (I think it’s 187 but don’t quote me) including the new season.
The reason why it works – it has a great cast, who have great chemistry, a well structured arc lacking in most sci-fi and TV shows in general and it’s budget and viewers match up. Expect it to be around for a while longer.
Actually, Doctor Who aired almost 700 individual episodes (making up approximately 160 stories) in its original run from 1963-1989, plus the thirteen that aired earlier this year in the UK and Paul McGann’s TV movie from 1996. Even though the majority of the episodes were only 25 minutes long, Stargate has a very long way to go to beat that!
Er, the show is produced by MGM (now a subsidiary of Sony), Universal is not involved. I’m an old school sci-fi geek, yet I love Stargate. I have absolutely no idea why it gets so much hate. The acting has never hit some of the abysmal lows on some of the… less polished episodes of say Babylon 5, or the insane contrivances of a Star Trek Voyager. Oh well, you can count me as one of those people happy to see the show continuing to be successful (the bulk of season 8 not withstanding).
Congrats to Stargate but I think Simon Appleford needs to be corrected.
“Doctor Who” ran for 26 Seasons in it’s original run and its new run has been promised at least three Seasons.
Currently the show has 709 TV Episodes. With another 28 to come in the next year and a bit.
Plus there are over 300 Radio Episodes.
And Dr Who holds the world record for the number of official books writtten about a single character. The current tally is about 450 books.
There have been two Cinema Films staring Peter Cushing
And the show now has its 2nd Spin Off series.
Not to be a pedantic boob, but according to http://www.ee.surrey.ac.uk/Contrib/SciFi/DrWho/episodes.html, as of the end of the 27th season, there were 172 episodes, since early on the seasons consisted of 8 episodes. Regardless, 28 seasons is one hell of a respectable achievement in the TVverse
I think Steve need to look longer at the link he provides. He has simply misread the website he linked to. It lists about 170 stories but also shows at the end how many episodes that story consisted of.
You see like Stargate, Dr Who told stories over more than one episode. For exanmple “The Daleks Master Plan” shown in the mid 1960s actually consisted of 12 episodes.
In the same way there are many two part Stargate stories. Or does steve think that each episode of the two part Stargate episodes should be counted as just one episode.
In the 1960s there were 40 episodes of Dr Who a year.
In the 1970s and early 1980s there were about 26 Dr Who Episodes a year.
So there are 709 TV Episodes of Doctor Who over 27 Seasons. This is a fact to which there is no dispute.
I know as I have most of them on Video and I can assure you that if there were only 172 episode that my Video Shelves would be a lot more empty than they are.
Does anyone know if stargate atlantis is going to repeat on another chanel. Only just dicovered it has started again and have missed the first three episodes
Those who dislike Stargate watch it more fervently then us fans. It is an excellent show, lasting due to good acting, an excellent storyline and incredible amount of dedication from it’s crew. However before anyone here slams it down for not being hardcore sci-fi, they should define “hardcore” sci-fi first.
As for the better shows: Nothing wrong with Farscape for example but towards the end it got more contrived in it’s stories, missing one episode would seriously affect the understanding of the storyline.
Were it not for Babylon 5, Stargate, Farscape, BattleStar Galactica would not be here. Look how many of today’s popular shows follow their method of creating storylines.
My two cents:
daisyj: The link takes you a Richard Dean Anderson page
SG1/DrWho argument: Dr Who is the *longest* running, having been going on since the stone age. As for episode count, I think that may be open to interpretation.
Ben Browder fans: Sorry, Jack beats Cameron any day.
Do some of you guys even listen to yourself when you speak? (If anybody points out the irony of my last statement, the fact you type and not speak, then I hope it makes your dull little day) The reason Stargate SG-1 is so popular is because it possesses a unique charm, a humane quality, which in today’s modern television, filled with sterile and lifeless programming is sorely missed.
It would be possible to discuss plot lines, special effects, cast etc for eternity, but come on… Why? Stop moaning to other people about your opinions (which, by the way, nobody of any importance could give a damn about) and get on with your life.
Stargate is as much about expanding human intervention and exploration on a metaphysical level as it is on a physical one. It contains humour and drama in perfect balance with science fiction, and this formula appeals to many different emotions equally, thus fulfilling one of the key attributes of an entertainment program. In retrospect, it could be considered to justify the definition of entertainment itself.
I don’t mean to disrespect other shows, sci-fi or any other genre, in fact I wish the contrary would happen. I also don’t mean to disrespect anybody else’s viewpoints either; nobody on this earth should be able to take away your right to have an opinion, however in the grand scheme of things, maybe we should all just appreciate these shows on the only levels we’re capable of. (And get on with our lives)
I like all the Friday shows on Sci-fi and I have nothing to complain about because I like all the actors on all the shows.
The reason this show continues to be made is the ratings, in which I am happy to add to. The reason it is perceived that the show has no fans is the fact that the vast majority of viewers are casual TV watchers who would never bother to go out of their way to dress up like characters, get into indepth discussions on the plausibility of its science, or even stand up for it when it gets dissed. I’ll admit there are some SG freaks out there, it’s just the ratio of freaks:regular people is extremely low compared to any other sci-fi series.
Everyone seems to wonder – “How’d this show stay on while -X- gets cancelled? It was way better!” The answer? This show got the ratings which = more people actually cared enough to tune into this than -X- series. Wouldn’t that mean more people actually prefer this?
I’ve watched every episode of Stargate and still intend to do so in the future.
I’m sure that a lot of people don’t like or even understand the series if they just tune in every once in a while. But for those that have been along since the beginning, there are plenty of original and well made episodes to watch.
The show definitely builds a lot upon past episodes and references. It’s amazing how much hidden humor is in the show. I have found myself laughing out loud at completely inappropriate times because I “got” a phrase in the “last” episode.
When you think about it, it makes sense. You can no longer use the same jokes and ideas you used during the first seasons. So you push forward. But in order to keep the concept going and enjoyable for the older fans you bring in references and backgrounds.
Newer fans won’t catch the drift but they’ll manage, but the older viewers enjoy it so much more.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118480/quotes
Have an hour? Check the link above. It contains a ton of quotes from the show.
For me – a long time fan, it’s full of so much humor it’s impossible to read it through without a laugh even for a tenth time.
I think humour is a key part of the SG success story. Other shows take their Universe far too seriously but SG can swing between humour, action and drama without effort. Shows like X-Files and even the new BSG can’t do that as effectively. I was brought to the show by RDA as I was already a fan of his but I’ve come to love the show and all the characters because they entertain me.
But there is no room for “interpretation” on the episode counts, Dr Who has 696 episodes broadcast in 26 consecutive Seasons between 1963 and 1989. The new Series adds another 13 to that tally. That is a fact, as a Gatehead I wish SG had as many but it’s nowhere near.
i have realy enjoyed watching SG-1 during the past 8 years. and im realy gone miss O’Neal’s caracter. cus he was the one bringing the humer in to the show. i know guy trys to be funny but it just doest feel the same.
some of my favorite quotes:
Jack O’Neill: I just walked in with a handfull of ingredients for my world-famous omelette!
Sam Carter: World-famous huh? What’s in it?
Jack O’Neill: Eggs.
Sam Carter: I don’t think that that actually qualifies as a recipe.
Jack O’Neill: Oh don’t kid yourself, there’s a secret ingredient I can’t tell you what it is or I’d have to shoot you.
Sam Carter: It’s beer isn’t it?
—————————
General George S. Hammond: It costs nearly a billion dollars just to turn the lights on around here.
Jack O’Neill: How about a bake sale? Yard sale? Garage…
General George S. Hammond: This is what I look like when I’m not laughing, Colonel.
Jack O’Neill: Car wash?
—————————-
Ahem… Did someone forget about Amanda Tapping and Michael Shanks? The show doesn’t star Claudia Black (yet), and Browder only joined the series this year.
Not to be nit-picky, but the current actors responsible for the 10-year renewal are most definitely Tapping, Shanks and Judge.