I've always been a science fiction fan (50s and 60s). I remember the original Star Trek was being run (in advance of its first network viewing) on all of the "new" colour TVs at a technology display at the Ottawa Exhibition while on holidays. I was floored at the "special effects"! I watched that same episode two or three times. The fact it was in colour made it even more attractive!!
The only Trek I wasn’t crazy about was the first couple of seasons of NG. Even DS9 and Voyager were interesting once you got into them. The last one was my favourite. It was the most interesting for explaining the progression for all the things that were to come later.
Stargate was much the same. The movie was a little on the dark side, and the first season was a little stilted, but quickly came into its own. My wife and I loved Atlantis and were actually pissed when it was cancelled. I expect Universe will be as good as the other two once we get into the characters. The only problem I see is what has happed to all “network” shows no matter how good they are. There are so many networks (unlike the three in the 60s) that the market has become fragmented. To get a couple of million watching a science fiction show isn’t enough to support the cost of producing or running it anymore. The numbers of episodes of even a successful show decline each year in an attempt to cut costs. The cast members are all made executive producers to get them a little more money and eventually some suit in the network blows it away because of the cost, and they don’t have “high enough ratings”.
Stargate Universe may be the best of the franchise, but I’ll bet it doesn’t last as long as Atlantis for all the wrong reasons. Bean counters have their hands on the switch!
[/rant]
CKA Super Elite 
