SG-1: What Was The Real Story?

[Australis]

So, I'm in my big SG-1 rewatch, and up to season 7. It was at this point Michael Shanks returned and RDAnderson starteed "pulling back". At the time, I was under the impression there was friction between Anderson and Shanks, and that when one returned the other 'left', though not entirely. It's worth noting the story at the time was Anderson wanted to spend more time with his new daughter.

So from 7 onwards, RDA seemed to be phoning it in, and it was good Browder took over. It did allow the others to step up and have more screen time which was not a bad thing, but it did wobble.

So, what was the real behind the scenes story? What actually happened and how was it ultimately resolved?

 

[ihno]

I have never heard of friction between the two of them. The thing I heard was that Anderson was simply bored with the part after seven years and wanted not to be involved that much any more. So they made him General, which still was too much. So basically the thing you heard too.

Many fans thought and think the late Anderson's performance was a little bored, which would support it.

 

[Mr Light]

I read that Anderson's daughter was getting older down in LA and he wanted to spend more time with her and not be in Vancouver all the time.

I never read of any Shanks/Anderson animosity. Shanks left because he thought he was better than the show, then found out he wasn't

 

[HIjol]

My understanding is that RDA always preferred that SG-1 be more of a group effort than a "one-star" lead show. He had the chance to "be promoted" because the actor in the part previously (Don Davis) had ill health and could then take care of his issues, and HDA could kick back a bit. Also, if memory serves, Canadia was making the working visas of non-Canadians harder to process and maintain, and with more hoops. I had a friend who is rabid for SG Anything, and that is my source!

 

[ihno]

Well, at least his (Shanks) absence served the story well and they did something with it.

Let's face it, guys: Working on a weekly show must be tedious and not every actor noticed this as fast as Denise Crosby.

(Don Davis) had ill health

Oh, I didn't know that this was the reason they let him go. But I always thought: This guy looks like a heart-attack waiting to happen.

 

[MacLeod]

I read that Anderson's daughter was getting older down in LA and he wanted to spend more time with her and not be in Vancouver all the time.

I never read of any Shanks/Anderson animosity. Shanks left because he thought he was better than the show, then found out he wasn't

But I would say the show was better with Shanks than without him. Though Shanks did take part in several episode from that season: "Abyss", "Prometheus", "Unnatural Selection", "Discolsure", "The Changeling", "Full Circle"

Who knows how the series would have played out had they not ascended his character. It did after all afford them some episode opportunities during S6 as well as after he was de-ascended.

 

[Mr Light]

I definitely preferred having Daniel on the show, but S6 was an excellent season anyway because of the stories. S5-6 was the highpoint of the series for me.

 

[Saul]

At one point they were gonna do a movie after season 6 or 7 but instead they just kept going on with the series. I think with that possibility gone and the fact that he is getting on in years contributed to him taking a step back. SG1 and Macgyver were long running shows. I'm sure one could have their fill of those after a while.

 

[urbandefault]

I read that Anderson's daughter was getting older down in LA and he wanted to spend more time with her and not be in Vancouver all the time.

I never read of any Shanks/Anderson animosity. Shanks left because he thought he was better than the show, then found out he wasn't

But I would say the show was better with Shanks than without him. Though Shanks did take part in several episode from that season: "Abyss", "Prometheus", "Unnatural Selection", "Discolsure", "The Changeling", "Full Circle"

Who knows how the series would have played out had they not ascended his character. It did after all afford them some episode opportunities during S6 as well as after he was de-ascended.

I definitely preferred having Daniel on the show, but S6 was an excellent season anyway because of the stories. S5-6 was the highpoint of the series for me.

While Daniel Jackson was gone I kept waiting for Parker Lewis to say "Synchronize Swatches!"

 

[-Brett-]

Oh, I didn't know that this was the reason they let him go. But I always thought: This guy looks like a heart-attack waiting to happen.

Looks can be deceiving. Just so happens that they weren't in this case.

 

[Australis]

Thanks for the contributions, all.

I was under the distinct impression things weren't happy behind the scenes, but it may have been a beat up by the magazines of the day.

I do like the more ensemble feel in a lot of ways of s7 and 8, nie to see the othes being given nore depth, but looking forward to 9 & 10. Ben Browder does bring something to it.

 

[Admiral_Young]

Michael Shanks had left I believe originally to pursue a movie career. He had auditioned and was apparently considered for the role of Shinzon in "Star Trek: Nemesis" but obviously didn't get it and returned to the series shortly afterwards.



I also don't remember reading/hearing about any tension between Shanks/Anderson.

 

[bigdaddy]

At one point they were gonna do a movie after season 6 or 7 but instead they just kept going on with the series. I think with that possibility gone and the fact that he is getting on in years contributed to him taking a step back. SG1 and Macgyver were long running shows. I'm sure one could have their fill of those after a while.

Season 6 was going to end the show with Full Circle. The movie was going to be them finding Atlantis, leading to the spinoff, instead the show got renewed and they made the movie into the season 7 finale.

Jonus at one point was supposed to be a main character on Atlantis.

I'm rewatching Atlantis, I forgot how decent the first season is and how useless the character deaths were and just how bad the show really was.

I never heard of any tension, he wanted to leave to be with his daughter, he talked about that for a few seasons leading up to him fully leaving.

 

[fireproof78]

At one point they were gonna do a movie after season 6 or 7 but instead they just kept going on with the series. I think with that possibility gone and the fact that he is getting on in years contributed to him taking a step back. SG1 and Macgyver were long running shows. I'm sure one could have their fill of those after a while.

Season 6 was going to end the show with Full Circle. The movie was going to be them finding Atlantis, leading to the spinoff, instead the show got renewed and they made the movie into the season 7 finale.

Jonus at one point was supposed to be a main character on Atlantis.

I'm rewatching Atlantis, I forgot how decent the first season is and how useless the character deaths were and just how bad the show really was.

I never heard of any tension, he wanted to leave to be with his daughter, he talked about that for a few seasons leading up to him fully leaving.

I agree with the fact that RDA wanted more family time, and less demanding schedule, so he cut back.

As for Shanks, I originally heard that he had left due to "creative disagreements" with some of the production staff. This seems confirmed by Michael Shanks own biography on his site that he felt that Daniel was underused in the show. A fan campaign is cited as bringing him back to the show, though the film career seemed to be hit and miss.

Regardless, his relationship with fellow actors always seemed positive, and I never heard of any conflict between him and RDA.

Season 6 has some of my favorite episodes, and Jonas is one of my favorite characters but I was glad to see Jackson come back. He and Browder play well off of each other.

 

[bigdaddy]

At the time of season 6 Shanks left to go make movies because he thought he was better than the show (Or so it came off to me.) I was really upset he just came back and everyone acted fine within a few episodes. It's what makes season 7 so "ehh" to me.

While we are talking about things that aren't really there, I heard the fighting between Shanks and RDA was because of the sexual tension they share.

 

[Silvercrest]

I had always understood that RDA's family time was a concern from way back, but became more of an issue later. That's why even in some Season Two episodes he had little or no screen time ("Spirits").

 

[Robert Maxwell]

At the time of season 6 Shanks left to go make movies because he thought he was better than the show (Or so it came off to me.) I was really upset he just came back and everyone acted fine within a few episodes. It's what makes season 7 so "ehh" to me.

In any other industry, people consider attempts at career advancement praiseworthy. Not when it comes to TV actors, though, since apparently any actor who tries to go for a film career is just being a selfish egomaniac who thinks he's too good for TV.

I'm fine with the fact that he came back, whatever the reason.

 

[sidious618]

It's like when Duchovny left the X-Files and people went "HOW FUCKING DARE HE DO SUCH A THING?" Uh, because he wanted to explore other opportunities?

 

[auntiehill]

I saw Christopher Judge at a convention and he went on and on about how close all the main cast were, how much fun they had. Apparently, RDA left to spend more time with his daughter and he also was suffering from arthritis which became more and more severe as the years passed. He wanted to enjoy life and spend time with his kid, while he was feeling well enough to do so. All the main cast are apparently still close, and Michael Shanks & Chris Judge are apparently best-buddies.

 

[Melakon]

Many fans thought and think the late Anderson's performance was a little bored, which would support it.

"The late Anderson"?! I thought he was still alive. When did this happen?