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Fan movement seeks to bring 'Stargate' back to television
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Joe Mallozzi worked on the "Stargate" franchise for over a decade as a writer and executive producer. - photo by Kurt Manwaring
Stargate fans around the world are preparing to make a very loud noise for a singular purpose: to bring Stargate back to television.

The Stargate television franchise was developed after the 1994 film of the same title starring Kurt Russell and James Spader. Stargate began on Showtime before transitioning to Syfy, but lacked the graphic content familiar to cable television.

I remember arguing quite vocally that there should be no nudity and no swearing, said Brad Wright, co-creator of Stargate.

Three different series appeared on television beginning with Stargate: SG-1 in 1997, Stargate: Atlantis in 2004, and Stargate: Universe in 2009. Altogether, 354 episodes aired before the last series was cancelled in 2011.

I feel like the Stargate world isnt done, said a fan from Utah on Twitter. It just FEELS unfinished. I dont know if that stems from the open-ended ending of (Stargate: Universe), or the unlimited potential for more stories to be told, but it needs to happen.

Bringing a cancelled television show back to life is difficult, but it can be done. From Designing Women in the 1980s to Timeless in 2017, fans have shown an ability to see their favorite shows resurrected.

Joe Mallozzi worked as a writer and executive producer on Stargate for over a decade, and said he regrets a cancellation occurred in the first place. Mallozzi wishes he could go back and be more forceful with studio executives in keeping Stargate: Atlantis on the air.

Im not saying the result would have been any different, Mallozzi told the blog From the Desk of Kurt Manwaring. But at least Id have peace of mind knowing I did everything I could to try and make it happen.

Kelli Zielinski and Tom Gardiner are among the nexus of fans behind the StargateNow movement who hope to bring Mallozzi peace of mind via a Stargate revival.

The crew thats been assembled for StargateNow includes a number of people that are well connected within the fan communities, Zielinski said in a recent interview.

Both Zielinski and Gardiner worked on an unsuccessful effort to revive Syfys Dark Matter after it was cancelled in 2017.

I think well have success with Stargate because, unlike Dark Matter, were dealing with a studio (MGM) that actually wants to continue the story, Gardiner said in an email interview.

Fans see a number of reasons MGM may be interested in reviving "Stargate."

(Stargate) made you think about how (to) treat others that were different from myself, said Ginger White on Twitter. It made me laugh and cry and gave me a desire to learn.

Its often excellently written (sci-fi) and the characters are often like onions! wrote Richard Green on Twitter. You think you figured them out and then another layer comes off!

"Stargate" fans aren't the only ones who support the franchise.

All of the sudden youll meet a girl whos 22 or 24 and shell say, I used to watch that with my dad every single week, Tony Amendola, a "Stargate" actor, said in a recent interview. So you know she was probably 12 or something at the time. It was something that families would do together.

Actor Paul McGillion, who played Carson Beckett on Stargate: Atlantis, said he thinks the drive to revive Stargate is fantastic.

Its a testament to how much Stargate still means to people, he said. I think families watching a show together these days is a rare thing, and Stargate really accommodates that So while theres a big universe to explore, and plenty of stories to tell, why not bring it back?

According to Mallozzi, fans want a fourth in-canon Stargate series written by Brad Wright and Robert Cooper. He's convinced a revival is a possibility.

I know that MGM is considering launching a fourth Stargate series, he said. At this point, its just a matter of when.

The StargateNow movement has gathered more than 10,000 Twitter followers in a matter of days and is issuing a call for support to Stargate fans everywhere. Their goal is to trend on Twitter on March 9 in a manner so unmistakable MGM will move forward sooner than later.

To learn more or get involved, visit StargateNow on Facebook, Twitter, or view announcements on Joe Mallozzi's blog.
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New Medicare cards are in the mail and scammers are on the prowl
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The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has begun mailing new Medicare Health Insurance ID cards. The program no longer uses Social Security numbers to identify people. - photo by Lois M Collins
The federal government is beginning to send out new ID cards to the 58 million Americans who benefit from Medicare. But since many of the people who will receive them don't know they're coming or why, scammers are already gearing up to take advantage.

An AARP survey shows as many as three-fourths of Americans 65 and older have no idea the cards are coming, so some individuals may be duped with claims that they're supposed to pay a fee or provide personal information that will be used, instead, to defraud them.

The new cards are the first reissue in years, and the most striking part of the redesign is that the cards no longer carry the beneficiary's Social Security number. Congress mandated the removal of that number as an identifier for Medicare beneficiaries by next April. Instead, the card has a Medicare Beneficiary Identifier number, an 11-digit combination of numbers and letters.

The new Medicare cards are now being mailed out in batches, starting with the Eastern seaboard and moving west. Most Medicare beneficiaries will receive their cards over the next six months, as long as the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has their correct mailing address. Once the cards are in hand, people can share the new identification number with their health care providers. During a transition period, either card is valid.

The old cards, which used Social Security numbers as the personal identification number, should be destroyed.

AARP recently launched an education campaign to warn consumers about scams related to the new Medicare cards.

The membership organization's "Fraud Watch" consultant, Frank Abagnale reformed con man, scammer and the subject of the movie and book "Catch Me If You Can" tells senior citizens the only time they need to carry the actual Medicare card is to health care appointments. Otherwise, it should be left in a safe place. If they want to carry one in their wallet or purse, he says, make a copy and black out the first seven numbers.

Since the cards were announced, scammers have already:

  • Called seniors and asked for their bank account information so that money on their old card could be returned. There is no money on the old card and CMS never asks for personal information over the phone.
  • Offered to send the new card after Medicare beneficiaries pay a $25 fee to cover expenses related to the card. The card is free.
  • Said the card will be mailed out as soon as the older person verifies his or her Social Security number, mailing address and other personal information. CMS already knows the beneficiary's Social Security number and it's no longer being used in conjunction with health care.
AARP and the Federal Trade Commission will hold a free online seminar about the cards and the fraud attempts they have spawned on Thursday, April 19, at 7 p.m. EDT. Register at: www.aarp.org/FraudWebinar. CMS also offers a "frequently asked questions" guide to the new cards.

The AARP Fraud Watch Network says consumers can sign up for its Watchdog Alert emails that deliver breaking scam information, or call a free helpline at 877-908-3360 to speak with volunteers trained in fraud counseling. Abagnale also hosts a weekly podcast for AARP, called The Perfect Scam.
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