TV Tattler: Celebrity Interviews
Amanda Tapping Boasts Decade Of Interstellar Boldness on 'Stargate SG-1'
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Amanda Tapping isn't really a scientist; she just plays one on TV's longest running sci-fi show, 'Stargate SG-1.' But unlike most TV geniuses, Tapping researches all her dialogue so that she actually knows what she's talking about.
In fact, Tapping is well versed in all things 'SG1.' After spending a decade of her life portraying Lt. Col. Samantha Carter, the actress takes great pride in the character, the myths and the worlds she's been exploring. After all, this is the show that was cancelled by Showtime, only to become a hit on SciFi, averaging 2.2 million viewers per episode.
As the show enters its landmark tenth season, Tapping chatted with AOL Television editor Sandy Deane about the new season of 'SG1,' her favorite episodes and villains, missing Richard Dean Anderson and how her show paved the way for 'Battlestar Galactica.'
How does it feel to be a lead on the longest running sci-fi show in television history?
It’s been a fun ride; it’s like being on a roller coaster and not wanting to ever get off. This character (Col. Samantha Carter) has evolved in a really nice way to the point where I really dig her, like I would like to hang out with her. It used to be not so much. I thought that she was very feminist, very hardcore, very linear in her thinking. And now she’s just opened up, she’s so much more relaxed. Wow … like a decade of my life has been spent on this show, and I feel like I’ve come into my own a lot more as a woman.
Did you ever have any idea that you’d spend a decade of your career doing this show?
Dear God, no. Every year is a massive surprise. It doesn’t feel like it’s been ten years.
How did a movie with lukewarm critical reception spawn such a successful, engaging series?
I think that the actual premise was so good that it lent itself to a series more so than a movie. Which is probably why when we started it, Showtime, which was our original network, ordered up 44 episodes, because I think they saw the potential right away. And because of that, we had the luxury of creating these really big story arcs. We knew we had the time to play them out. I think that helped to make the show, the tapestry richer.
We do. Last year, it was more poignant because it was so new and it was like, “How’s this going to play out?” This year, we’re all a little more comfortable with not having him around. We’re a little more comfortable as a team without him, and we’ve got the introduction of the Vala character and Landry is well established now, so it’s a whole different dynamic this year.
Is Sam still pining for Jack?
I think that she always will. I’m proud of the fact that they didn’t go there with these characters because I didn’t want her to be “Jack’s girl,” because she’s so much more than that. I still think it’s an interesting dynamic to play. It’s screwed up that her love life and her track record with adult relationships is not so great. She and Jack are kind of romantically inept. But they have great chemistry. They should get together, have a wild, crazy night of just unbelievable sex and then go, “Wow, that was great. OK, movin’ on.”
No, and I was very adamant with the producers about that. I just don’t want to go there. Then Sam just becomes that girl who falls for the guy all the time.
Does Anderson come back this season?
He’s back for the 200th episode. Everyone had a great time; it was a lot of fun.
Can you spill some beans about it?
It’s fun. If every fan approaches it with the same joy that we approached filming it and that the writers approached it when they were writing it, it’s a big goof. We riff on everything we’ve alluded to in the series. We riff on things the fans have alluded to in the forums, we jump the shark on a million different issues on the show and we have a blast doing it. It’s one of those episodes where it’s just so full of joy. We’ve got everything from puppets to the Furlings, you know, this ever elusive race that we keep referring to.
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