Stargate SG-1 is an American science fiction television series, part of the Stargate franchise, created by Jonathan Glassner and Brad Wright. It begins one year after the events of the 1994 science fiction film Stargate.
It aired in the USA on Showtime (Season 1-5) and SCI FI (Seasons 6-10), from 27 July, 1997 to 13 March, 2007. There are 214 episodes in 10 seasons.
Stargate SG-1 premiered in South Africa on SABC2 on Tuesday 16 March 1999, at 21h30. Only the first three seasons aired on SABC2 - it was not renewed by the channel and was later picked up by DStv's actionX (now M-Net Action) channel, which began broadcasting the third season on 13 December 2005, almost three years after the season ended on SABC2.
The series later premiered on TopTV's Fox FX channel on Saturday 1 May 2010, at 18h15. See "Seasons" below for seasonal broadcast dates and times.
Season 10 premiered on Fox FX on Thursday 28 June 2012, at 17h30. New episodes broadcast daily, seven days a week. There are 20 episodes in the tenth and final season.
Synopsis
Based on the 1994 science fiction movie Stargate, the show is based on the premise that devices known as Stargates exist not only on Earth, but on other planets as well.
By using these devices, travelers are able to visit other planets in a matter of seconds. The primary aim of the four travelers of this show is to venture forth into unknown territory to gather alien technology to help protect Earth against an evil race of alien called Goa'uld.
The action begins when aliens temporarily invade Earth through the Stargate and Colonel Jack O’Neil is called out of retirement to lead an SG-1 team to Abydos, the ancient Egyptian-like world where he left his friend Daniel Jackson years earlier.
Discovering his friend alive and well, O’Neil also learns their old enemy, Ra, was a Goa’uld, one of the many System Lords who uses the interstellar portal to conquer planets.
Employing an elaborate cartouche that reveals an entire network of Stargates, O’Neil and his SG-1 team travel throughout the galaxy in an attempt to save the Earth from the Goa’ulds’ wrath.
Main Characters
General Jack O'Neill
As the commanding officer of the SGC, General O'Neill's assignment is to defend Earth from possible hostile invasion and to explore new worlds and return new technologies to Earth for study and further development.
When he joined the Air Force at 18 years of age, O'Neill proved himself to be an exceptional and gifted airman. Assigned to a special training program for covert operations/infiltration, he was trained in the skills of wilderness survival, special weapons and tactics, assassination, demolition, chemical weapons, the manufacture and detonation of explosives, and is a field expedience specialist.
He resigned from service when his son Charlie died by accidentally shooting himself with O'Neill's gun. O'Neill never recovered from the loss, which drove his wife to eventually leave him.
He was recalled by his former commanding officer to go through the Stargate on the first mission precisely because of his willingness to die. Instead, the mission gave him a new desire to live.
Capt. Samantha Carter
Captain Samantha Carter's assignment is to ascertain possible hostile threats, to continue analysis of stargate technology and to analyze and return materials, technologies and knowledge for further development.
She has served in the Pentagon, was previously a flight officer in the Kuwait theater, and has received special training in the F-117/F16. She in an astro-physics genius, holding a Ph.D. in Quantum Mechanics and is a plasma/particle physics expert.
She is also an expert on gate technology, having read every bit of information known to exist and has studied the permutations of the gate symbols at length. When the plug was pulled on her gate research project and she was transferred to another base, she continued her research in private. She was able to resume her obsessive work with the gate when the SG-1 team was assembled.
Carter is single and unattached. She is fiercely loyal to the SGC, and not only brings her extensive scientific knowledge to the program, but also her military training.
Dr Daniel Jackson
Dr. Jackson joined the SG-1 team on a voluntary basis to study the cultures of other planets. He holds a Ph.D. in Anthropology as well as a Ph.D. in Linguistics, and has prior experience with the culture of Abydos.
He is an expert in ancient cultures and languages in addition to current ones; he speaks over 20 languages including ancient Egyptian. Originally he was contracted by the military to decipher a mysterious hieroglyphic cartouche. His subsequent translation of the cartouche allowed the Stargate to be opened for the first time.
He married Sha're, an off-world human and native of Abydos, after he chose to stay behind on the planet following the first mission, and he became something of a deity to the people of Abydos.
His humanistic, liberal approach is often in conflict with O'Neill's militaristic approach. Some see him as a soft, brainy, clumsy scientist who carries a wide-eyed enthusiasm with him through every mission.
Teal'c
Teal'c is a member of the alien race known as Jaffa, of the home planet Chulak.
Similar to humans in overall appearance, Jaffas have an "X" shaped incision or marsupial pouch in the abdomen. When a Jaffa reaches approximately eight years of age, a Goa'uld larva, the infant form of a parasitic being, is placed in the Jaffa pouch in order to mature.
There is a strong symbiotic relationship between them as the Jaffa is guaranteed powerful healing abilities and immunity to myriad diseases including all viral or bacterial infections for as long as he carries the symbiote. For this reason, Jaffa live to be very old.
Teal'c, although he looks much younger, is actually over 90 years old. After a seven year gestation period, the mature Goa'uld parasite seeks out a new host, (usually human).
All Jaffa have a mid-forehead tattoo or symbol indicating that they carry a Goa'uld symbiote. The Serpent Guards are the elite or royal guard of the Jaffa in service to the Goa'uld Apophis.
They wear the heavily armored "serpent head" helmets. Teal'c had served as the First Prime of Apophis, but after aiding the SG-1 team during their first mission to Chulak, he left his family and culture behind and returned to Earth as a voluntary member of the SG-1 team.
His main reason for joining SG-1 was to try to set straight the misdeeds of his past, and to win freedom for his people from the Goa'uld.
General George Hammond
As the Commanding Officer of the Research and Defense Unit, General Hammond commands the SGC and all SG units.
His standing orders are to analyze the threat potential of alien races, defend Earth from possible hostile invasion, and to analyze and recover technologies for study and further development.
He received decorations for meritorious service in the Kuwait theater and in Vietnam. Special background and previous service include serving with the Project Bluebook Re-Evaluation, and as Commanding Officer of the Groom Lake Operations Facility.
He is a hardened military leader, and a wise man who is willing to do whatever is necessary to defend the interests of his country and all humanity.
Dr Janet Frasier
Dr. Fraiser is a military doctor and Captain. General Hammond hand picked her to work in the SGC because of her expertise in exotic diseases.
Dr. Fraiser's skill and compassion enable her to face the most peculiar cases brought to her by SG-1 and all the other SG teams.
Seasons
Season 1 (22 episodes)
Channel: SABC2 | Premiere: 16 Mar 1999 | Finale: 10 Aug 1999 | Tuesdays, 21h30
Channel: Fox FX | Premiere: 1 May 2010 | Finale: 22 May 2010 | Daily, 18h15
Season 2 (22 episodes)
Channel: SABC2 | Premiere: 2 Sep 2000 | Finale: 27 Jan 2001 | Saturdays, 21h15
Channel: Fox FX | Premiere: 23 May 2010 | Finale: 20 Jun 2010 | Daily, 18h15
Season 3 (22 episodes)
Channel: SABC2 | Premiere: 14 Sep 2001 | Finale: 8 Feb 2002 | Fridays, 21h15
Channel: actionX | Premiere: 13 Dec 2005 | Finale: 9 May 2006 | Tuesdays, 21h00
Channel: Fox FX | Premiere: 21 Jun 2010 | Finale: 12 Jul 2010 | Daily, 18h15
Season 4 (22 episodes)
Channel: actionX | Premiere: 16 May 2006 | Finale: 10 Oct 2006 | Tuesdays, 19h00
Channel: Fox FX | Premiere: 27 Jan 2011 | Finale: 17 Feb 2011 | Daily, 17h30
Season 5 (22 episodes)
Channel: actionX | Premiere: 17 Oct 2006 | Finale: 13 Mar 2007 | Tuesdays, 19h00
Channel: Fox FX | Premiere: 17 May 2011 | Finale: 7 Jun 2011 | Daily, 18h15
Season 6 (22 episodes)
Channel: actionX | Premiere: 10 Jul 2007 | Finale: 11 Dec 2007 | Tuesdays, 19h00
Channel: Fox FX | Premiere: 8 Jun 2011 | Finale: 29 Jun 2011 | Daily, 18h15
Season 7 (22 episodes)
Channel: M-Net Action | Premiere: 11 Mar 2008 | Finale: 5 Aug 2008 | Tuesdays, 19h00
Channel: Fox FX | Premiere: 30 Jun 2011 | Finale: 21 Jul 2011 | Daily, 18h15
Season 8 (20 episodes)
Channel: M-Net Action | Premiere: 28 Oct 2008 | Finale: 10 Mar 2009 | Tuesdays, 19h00
Channel: Fox FX | Premiere: 19 May 2012 | Finale: 7 Jun 2012 | Daily, 17h30
Season 9 (20 episodes)
Channel: M-Net Action | Premiere: 9 Jun 2009 | Finale: 20 Oct 2009 | Tuesdays, 18h00
Channel: Fox FX | Premiere: 8 Jun 2012 | Finale: 27 Jun 2012 | Daily, 17h30
Season 10 (20 episodes)
Channel: M-Net Action | Premiere: 26 Jan 2010 | Finale: 8 Jun 2010 | Tuesdays, 18h00
Channel: Fox FX | Premiere: 28 Jun 2012 | Finale: 17 Jul 2012 | Daily, 17h30