CHRISTOPHER JUDGE
Quotes
Quotes
Fiction
Fun Stuff
Interviews:
With Christopher
Part One ~ May 31, 2008.
Part Two ~ June 18, 2008
Teaser ~ July 29, 2007
Part One ~ August 18, 2007
Part Two ~ August 20, 2007
Christopher Judge, Stargate SG-1, as a movie versus a television series: Could you tell the difference as an actor?
Judge: The biggest adjustment is the much slower pace. Because when you get used to working at a certain pace, working slow affects
everything. It's much harder to not eat, it's much harder to ... In TV, you have enough time to shoot a master, some coverage, either you get it
or you don't get it, and you move on. In this format, you can stay there till you get it. Especially for some of our stuff, when we had emotional
stuff to do, to have to do it that many more times is very difficult. And that's all due to the lessening of the time constraints, the lessening of
the money constraints.
The great thing about switching to a different format is that it's so different from the day-to-day grind of doing the series. And we've all had
different time off, and it's not the rush-rush-rush series pace. Let's face it, we've been doing this for—this is our 11th year; none of us are
spring chickens anymore. In fact, I don't think any of us were spring chickens when we started.
Do you think it was the right time to end the series?
Judge: Yeah. I think we told a lot of great stories. And I think it was time to end the series, to be able to move on to something else.
And I think the goal for a very long time has been, not necessarily to end the series, but to move on to a two-hour format. I see a lot of scripts
before they go to distribution—which means that everyone gets a copy—and there's some great stuff that has to be lost because of financial concerns,
time concerns. If you saw our two-parter last year that had the dragon and Merlin—I forget the title of the episodes, because there are only 218 to
remember—some concessions had to be made, just because of pure logistics. And I think that was frustrating to people. A great job was done within
the parameters allowed. But with this whole new situation, you don't have to make those concessions anymore. I think that is alleviating a lot of
frustrations as far as the writers, the directors, because now, if you think it, we truly can shoot it.
Looking back at the series as a whole, what have been the high points or favorite storylines for you, whether as an actor ...
Judge: God, that's hard to say. I always enjoyed the kids' stories, the ones where kids are involved. I think our definitive story was "Heroes."
I think "Heroes" probably captured the true essence of what the show was about from the humorous aspect, from the human aspect; the battle scenes
and stuff were just absolutely feature-quality, and the effects were feature-quality. You can't afford to do a show like that every week, but I think
that so encapsulated everything that encompassed Stargate.
How much influence did you have as an actor have on shaping your character?
Judge: When we started, [the producers] didn't know what Teal'c was. In our screen tests, there were three Daniel Jacksons, three Sam Carters,
three Gen. Hammonds, and there were 10 Teal'cs there. And they were all colors. They were not really sure what they wanted this character to be, so
they allowed me a great deal of influence in the original shaping of the character. And it has continued through the arc of the show, from the way
he talks and the pronunciation of "Ja-ffah" as opposed to "Jaffa," and "Go-a-oould" as opposed to "Goa'uld," and things like that. I mean, that was
all stuff that when we originally did—and I would save certain words, you could see people go like that, and it actually sounds kind of cooler. It
was nice to be involved that much in the building of the character, and [my involvement] continues to this day.
Ten years on the air, with the saga continuing next year: What do you attribute Stargate's success to?
Judge: Well, I think a lot of it was because we came along at the right time. A lot of science fiction has caught up with us, but in 1997,
when we started, there was that new millennium looming over us and there was a lot of wonder, a lot of excitement; and, I think, there was a
resurgence of science fiction at that point. We came along at a time where, not to be disparaging, but let's face it: the Star Trek franchise was
dying out, X-Files had peaked and was on its way down, and we happened to come along where there was a gap in programming. There was the right formula,
there was a movie that had been successful and that could be expanded on, and you have MacGyver and then three other mooks. And then you have a guy
like [longtime writer and executive producer] Brad Wright, who already had success with The Outer Limits [running things], and all the pieces fit; the
timing was right and it just all worked. And we were lucky enough to grab a fan base.
I think the creative possibilities of that are exciting now, because now people's ability to suspend disbelief is much greater; people are more
willing to accept things that you see on the screen that years ago you'd be like, "Oh, that will never happen." Now it's just a matter of when it
will happen.
What can you tell us about The Ark of Truth?
Judge: Nothing. It's the closure for the Ori storyline. And it's big, big, big. It's a great conclusion for that arc. In a series, it would
have taken three or four episodes to tell that story, and we were able to do it in one contained movie. I think that's what's great about the
[show's new] format.
How about the second movie, Continuum, and its time-travel story?
Judge: It was fun, it was fun. It was a fantastic story. But for us around here, fun is always job one. And a lot of it was the fact that Brad
was actually on set every day. Over the years, no one's really gotten to know Coop and Brad, 'cause they've been the guys locked up in the tower
writing the stories. But to have them actually on set, and for people to see that they're funny and engaging and human ...
Beginning of the video - some Jaffa milling about
[I] So Chris, where are we today?
[CJ] Well, we are at the annual Vancouver Santa Claus parade and we are standing in front of the lovely Stargate float as you see, we are
very honored that we were asked to be the Grand Marshals for the parade this year and we're looking forward to a lot of fun. Because
generally that honor is bestowed upon politicians and other people of standing in the community so you can imagine our
surprise when they came to us, but you hear the drums in the background, and I think you can catch a glimpse of people all gettin' all ready
to go, and the wonderful Stargate SG-1 float so we are really looking forward to having a good time.
[I] Who's on the float with you today?
[CJ] Well, Gary Jones, the technician, Gary. And some guy Michael Shanks, I'm not exactly sure who he plays, but I've heard he's been on
the show a couple times, and then a couple times not, and then a couple times. So. Yeah, so and his lovely wife Lexa Doig, and a whole menagerie
of our children.
I, this Christmas, will probably be the bestower of many gifts, and the receiver of none. Which is a father's lot in life. But which is very enjoyable,
I'm gonna spend a nice quiet Christmas with all (turns to his eldest daughter) how many kids, how many brothers and sisters do you have now, fifteen?
(turns back to the interviewer, laughing) with all her brothers and sisters, my brother, my mom's coming up, my brother and his family, and my nephew,
so it's going to be a very traditional family Christmas.
As you know my character, Teal'c, is a Jaffa, who defected, if you will, from his people to come to the aid of Stargate Command. And if you,
if you just pan this way (Christopher points to his left, camera pans that way to show some Jaffa) you'll see that we've all kind of made
up now. These are some fella who I recruited from Chulak to actually come and kind of guide the float down the parade route. So I think we're going to be
in good hands, so, look forward to it.
Later, at about 3:11 in. Christopher is standing with his eldest son and daughter.
[CJ] Hi, we're just about ready to kick off the parade, but before we do I want to introduce my kids, this is Cameron and Katrina.
At 3:23 in.
[CJ] Hi, from the cast of Stargate SG-1 we'd like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas, and I'd like to wish you a Merry Christmas on behalf
of the Jaffa Nation, because you know what... how famous the Jaffa are for honoring Earth traditions. So Merry Christmas!
About Christopher
I had originally wanted a really nerdy loser for the date in the film and it was a tiny one scene role. After the first draft
Jane suggested Chris Judge and then we just howled about how funny it would be if he was to play a loser who resorts to cheap
internet dating websites to meet women. We just thought it was the funniest thing. When we did the reading he blew us all away.
I sat down that night and wrote him two more scenes, he is a comedy God!
[G] “A Dog’s Breakfast” features you and Paul McGillion, but I understand it features other “Stargate” actors as well.
Who else can we expect to see?
[DH] Well, you can see the fabulously talented Chris Judge. When I originally wrote the part, it was a tiny part,
an absolutely miniscule part that there was no way on earth I was gonna offer the role to anyone in “Stargate” because
it just felt like an insult. And then Jane said, you know talk to Chris, because I'm sure Chris would do it, you know he
loves this kinda stuff. So we talked to him, and he sounded interested. When we did the read through of the script, he
did such an incredible job with the reading. I ended up multiplying his part by like 100. All of a sudden he had all these
lines. It was quite humorous - suddenly he had to actually work! On “Stargate” he's got this very specific character, he's very
stoic, that whole unemotional Spock-like thing. And in this, he’s playing a loser who can’t get a date! To me that was
very, very funny. The idea that Chris Judge, of all people, couldn't get a date, and that he'd resorted to internet dating.
And he seems to get a giggle out of it as well. So he's unbelievable, this is Chris like you've never seen him.
And hopefully, you’ll see him like this a lot - the guy could have a sitcom you know, which is so funny, because in
“Stargate” you think “very serious Chris”. I don’t know if you've gone to any of his conventions or that sort of thing but
he's something of a joker!
"I've never done an episode with Teal'c," Hewlett says. "I had to cast Chris Judge in my own movie in order to work with the damn guy.
Because he's always stuck in a Stargate, or something!
"I don't know why I got such a giggle out of this. We were trying to cast this character who keeps getting stood up on dates and so
we thought about all these different types of people, these sad little people, who we could cast in the role and then Jane, my girlfriend,
who's also an old friend of Chris said, 'What about Chris?' I was like, 'Ah, you've got to be kidding me, come on. Like anyone's going
to believe that guy can't get a date!' And then we started laughing about it and we asked him to see if he'd do it and he was just amazing.
He is so funny, like too funny. And too charming, because my sister was all over him. It was really just embarrassing for all of us."
...there were more surprises to come, not least Chris Judge's comic abilities.
"Not to go on and on about it," Hewlett says, "but he has like three scenes in this movie and I wrote the second scene because in the
read-throughs he was just so funny. So I ended up writing a whole extra scene because he's just hilarious.
[DH] Then Chris Judge who, well I know the guy, I've not really worked with him that much on Stargate (SG-1) cause every time I show up,
he's stuck in the gate or something. In fact there were rumors for a long time that Chris Judge and I are in fact the same person
because we're never seen on film together.
[SIA] *sarcastically* Oh. You guys look just alike.
[DH] Yeah, we're very similar. I have the same kind of physical prowess as him. Just not quite as dark a tan. He was kind enough to
come in and do the movie but I was a little nervous because he's an impressive guy, he's got a very big personality and then the crew
said like "Well, he'll come in and need at least half an hour to say hello to the crew," and I'm like "Oh my god, we don't have half
an hour," so we call him in early and he comes in and he's just this amazing presence that I've never--- we wanted somebody who was
going to sort of stand out, who was going be like, this door opens and there's this guy. And Chris Judge just leapt to mind. But then
you have to direct him. And you're like "Um... would you mind if uhh...?" He was just so--- well i didn't even have to direct him that
much cause he pretty much hit it right off the bat. And him and Kate got along way too well. So I'm like, "Stop hitting on my sister.
Stop flirting." It was quite amusing.
[SIA] What is his (Chris Judge) part in the movie?
[DH] This is the other thing that made me laugh. I wrote this part for a loser who can't get a date. The idea of Chris Judge playing a
loser who can't get a date I found very funny. I mean I shouldn't say loser because he actually ends up being much cooler than certainly
my character is, but he is just this guy who keeps getting stood up on dates. He's just very funny cause who the hell would stand Chris
up on a date?
TV Guide ~ February 15, 2008
GateWorld ~ March, 2008
Media Blvd Magazine ~ March 11, 2008
Sci Fi Pi ~ Australian site
TV Crush ~ Summer 2007. Mary McNamara talks with Christopher
about Rage of Angels and Stargate SG-1.
SciFi.com's Sci Fi Weekly
~ August 20, 2007. Melissa Perenson talks with Christopher (and Michael and Amanda) about 10 years of Stargate SG-1.
Video Interview at
The 3rd Annual Rogers Santa Clause Parade in Vancouver ~ November 19, 2006, hosted at the
Stargate SG-1: The Official Video Community Site.
The SciFi World ~ September 10, 2006.
Christopher talks about SG-1's cancellation, episode 200, and his character, Teal'c.
MSNBC ~ August 20, 2006. Christopher talks about having to learn more lines
in recent seasons, gaining weight between seasons, and the humor in the show.
IGN.com ~ July 11, 2006. Christopher talks about what the longest
running sci-fi record means to him, what he hopes the future of the show is, and his personal feelings regarding Teal'c.
TV Zone Special #71 ~ July 2006. Excerpts
of the interview hosted on Stargate SG-1 Solutions.
Radio Nostalgia Network ~ May 20th, 2006.
Christopher talks about Slacktwaddle and Season Ten.
Stargate SG-1 Solutions ~ March/April 2006. Christopher talks to Sharon Gosling of
Stargate SG-1 * Atlantis Official Magazine Yearbook. Excerpts of the interview published in the magazine.
TV Zone Special #67 ~ December 2005. Excerpts of the interview hosted
on Stargate SG-1 Solutions.
Spacecast ~ October 26, 2005. A brief video interview where Christopher talks about how long
the show could go on.
TV Zone Special #64 ~ July 2005. Excerpts of the interview hosted
on Stargate SG-1 Solutions.
2005 Spacey Awards ~ May 29, 2005. Christopher accepts the
Spacey Award for Favorite Canadian TV Series for Stargate, and talks to many of the cast and crew. Hosted on YouTube.
Gateworld ~ May, 2005. "Judgement Day". Christopher talks
about how much fun he is having in Season Nine, his new cast mates, and why Teal'c won't become a wallflower. The interview is also available in MP3 format.
Behind the Scenes ~ January 17, 2005. I've place links to numerous clips with Christopher over on the new
Videos page. They're short, many under a minute.
Gateworld ~ September, 2004. "The Judge Is In". Done at
the Creation Convention in Chicago; Christopher talks about writing, his favorite Season Eight Teal'c episodes, and Teal'c's off base wardrobe.
Virgin.net ~ Sometime in early 2004.
Christopher talks about 'Heros', Michael Shanks, and his favorite on screen partner.
BBC Wiltshire ~ January 29, 2004.
Christopher was in Swindon with Michael Shanks when he spoke with the BBC. There is video of Christopher's interview and audio
of Christopher and Michael's joint interview on that page, and
Stargate SG-1 Solutions has a transcript of the joint interview.
Cult Times #96 ~ September 2003.
Excerpts of the interview hosted on Stargate SG-1 Solutions.
Starlog #308 ~ March 2003. Excerpts of the interview
hosted on Stargate SG-1 Solutions.
SciFi.com ~ 2003. Christopher answers questions from the online audience.
Yahoo TVGen Chat ~ September 9, 1998.
Christopher answers questions from the online audience. Hosted on RDAnderson.com
David Hewlett -
film ick - January 8, 2007
David Hewlett - Gateworld - July 17, 2006
David Hewlett - Eclipse Magazine - November 6, 2006
David Hewlett - Stargate Information Archive - October 6, 2006