Stargate is the fastest growing franchise in American science fiction. It began life as a major motion picture in 1994 starring Kurt Russell as Col. Jack O’Neill and James Spader as Dr. Daniel Jackson. A giant structure found in the desert has been studied by various scientist for nearly fifty years but are nowhere near discovering what it is. Until Daniel Jackson, a language expert deciphers its markings and reveals that it's an interstellar transport device called a Stargate. He also discovers how to make it work. Now a group of soldiers led by despondent Colonel Jack O'Neill go to the planet that the Stargate is connected to. Accompanying them is Jackson, the one person with any chance of reactivating the Stargate to get the team back home. However, they cannot locate the symbols Dr. Jackson needs to find in order to operate the 'Gate. It appears that they are trapped. And if that isn't enough, some aliens arrive and capture them who also have nefarious plans for Earth.

In 1997 Stargate was transformed into a television series, Stargate: SG-1, with Richard Dean Anderson cast as Col. O’Neill and Michael Shanks cast as Dr. Daniel Jackson. The new show introduced the characters of Capt. Samantha “Sam” Carter played by Amanda Tapping and the Jaffa warrior Teal’c played by Christopher Judge. General West was replaced with General Hammond played by Don S. Davis. The show takes place one year after the events of the movie. Stargate Command has been formed and has created several teams of specialists who use the 'Gates to explore new planets and meet new alien species to ally with us in an effort to defeat the Goa’uld who, we have discovered, came to Earth many, many years ago and took on the role of our gods. They enslaved humans and took them to other planets as slave labor. Until the humans of Earth rebelled, drove the Goa’uld away, and then buried the Stargate.

The series ran on Showtime for five years. After Showtime dropped it, it was picked up by the Sci-Fi channel.

At the end of the sixth season Michael Shanks left the show and his character was replaced by Jonas Quinn, played by Corin Nemic. At the beginning of Season 8, Michael Shanks reprised his role of Dr. Daniel Jackson and Corin Nemic left the show.

In 2002, an animated spin off was launched, Stargate: Infinity. “In the near future, a veteran of the Stargate program, four cadets, and a mysterious alien are prevented from returning to Earth by a traitor. The heroes must use the Stargate network to find another way back home while keeping one step ahead of their enemies.” Stargate: Infinity lasted one season. There has been some discussion of it returning, but nothing has developed yet.

In 2004, Stargate: Atlantis, a live-action spin-off, was launched on the Sci-Fi Channel. This proved to be the highest-rated debut ever for the Sci-Fi Channel of a new show, and was their highest-rated show of the season, even over the original, Stargate: SG-1.

Stargate: SG-1 is now the longest-running science fiction show ever on American television. As the show starts it’s 9th season in July, 2005 there are many changes ahead. Richard Dean Anderson will be leaving and will be replaced by Beau Bridges playing General Landry and Ben Browder playing Lt. Col. Cameron Mitchell. The new season will also feature Claudia Black in 5 episodes and Louis Gossett, Jr. in a recurring role.

With the announcement in October 2005 that both series have been renewed for additional seasons (Atlantis for a third, SG-1 for a staggering 10th) the future of the Stargate franchise seems to be in good hands and will be around for a long time to come.

—Dave Slaughter, Stargate Atlanta

Stagate Atlanta: http://www.stargateatlanta.com

GateWorld: http://www.gateworld.net/

The official MGM site: http://www.stargatesg1.com/

Stargate: The Alliance: http://www.stargate-thealliance.com/ A new computer game, single- and multi-player; this is an extremely beautifully-designed site, worth the visit

The Sci-Fi Channel: http://www.scifi.com/ Home of the Stargate worlds

SG-1's Sci-Fi Site: http://www.scifi.com/stargate/

Atlantis' Sci-Fi Site: http://www.scifi.com/atlantis/