The Sci-Fi Channel had a winner on its hands Friday night thanks to the tag-team efforts of “Stargate Atlantis” an “Sanctuary” finales.

For “Atlantis” it was a series finale that, after it’s ratings success, has many wondering exactly what Sci-Fi is thinking in canceling the show. The show scored a 1.5 household rating and drew 2 million viewers.

New series “Sanctuary” also wrapped up its first season with its highest ratings since its premiere bringing in a 1.6 rating and 2.1 million viewers.

With the “Atlantis” ratings up 14% from the previous year it’s a shame the show isn’t continuing. There is definitely some doubt about the concept of the replacement series “Stargate Universe” – but we’ll just have to wait and see how it works out before judging its success.

There aren’t going to be too many new episodes of your favorite shows on TV over the next week, but if you’re looking for some new “Star Trek” – then you have to check out the enormously popular “Star Trek Phase 2″. This amazing fan-made series, has all the quality an production values of the Original “Star Trek” (the only part that suffers at times is the acting…but even that isn’t all that bad).

The current episode is called “Blood and Fire” and deals with some controversial subjects, including homosexuality. If the idea of people of the same sex being treating as equal human beings gets under your skin for some reason, I encourage you to check out previous episodes like “To Serve All My Days” and “World Enough and Time” – these two are amazing episodes, and I’m sure that Gene Roddenberry would have been proud to see his show carried on in this way.

You can check it out here.

Sc-Fi’s next incarnation of the “Stargate” franchise is ramping up production, and the first bit of casting has been released. Robert Carlyle, who was recently rumored to be a candidate to replace David Tennant as the next “Doctor Who” will be playing the lead role of Dr. David Rush.

The series, entitled “Stargate: Universe” will follow a group of soldiers, scientists, and civilians who are left to fend for themselves after they are forced through a Stargate when their base comes under attack. They find themselves on an ancient ship lost in the far reaches of space. They work together to solve the mysteries of the ship, and to hopefully find a way home.

Sure, it sounds a lot like “Lost in Space” and “Star Trek: Voyager” – but the series is attempting to skew younger and attempt to bring new viewers into the “Stargate” franchise. I’m looking forward to checking it out, and seeing where it leads.

You know, it’s amazing what some people can put together if they have enough archive footage and free time. This amazingly edited video combines footage from Star Trek and Star Wars to make a brilliant mash-up.

During the holiday season when all we have to watch are Christmas specials and repeats, sometimes it’s nice to be able to turn to YouTube for entertainment.

Well Sci-Fi is saying good by the “Stargate Atlantis” (as a regular series anyway, tv movies should continue) team next year, but yesterday afternoon they announced that the network isn’t done with “Stargate” just yet.

A third series “Stargate Universe” is going to be launching early in 2009. The premise seems a big…familiar…but we’re going to keep an open mind here at TV Jab.

Basically the series will introduce us to a team of explorers who find an ancient unmanned ship called “The Destiny”. Once on board the ship they find that they are unable to return to Earth, and they will have to fend for themselves aboard the ship which is on a pre-programmed mission taking them to the far reaches of the universe to make contact with each of the previously launched Stargates.

On the surface, the show sounds a lot like the first incarnation of the Star Trek: TNG era “Star Trek: Voyager”…but we’ll give the team the benefit of the doubt. I’m sure they have something interesting up their sleeves.

We’ll first be introduced to “Stargate Universe” in early 2009 via a 2-hour tv-movie. A series will follow in the summer.

The Sci-Fi Channel is going back into the corn, and as is the tradition these days, they’re doing it by going back to the beginning. The “Corn” franchise has 8 previous films under its belt, but this one is going back to the original story.

I’m guessing this will be like Stephen King’s other television remakes where its closer to his original vision, but I can’t confirm that at this time.

What I can confirm, however, is that David Anders of “Heroes” and Kandyse McClure of “Battlestar Galactica” will be starring in the film which beings shooting on Sept. 3rd.

Multichannel News is reporting that “Stargate: Atlantis” will cease production after the conclusion of its fifth season which will end in January.

Like “Stargate SG-1″ before it, however, the series will continue on with at least one 2-hour movie that will air after the conclusion of the final season of the show.

So is this the end of the “Stargate” tv series franchise? If Sci-Fi does not introduce a new “Stargate” in 2009 it will be first time since 1997 that first-run “Stargate” episodes have not been in production. That’s an impressive 12 year run, out matched only by “Star Trek’s” 18 year run of first-production shows.

There is a possibility that the franchise will continue with another series, however. Earlier this year the creative team behind “Atlantis” developed a concept called “Stargate Universe”. Currently the show hasn’t been given a green light, but that might change now that “Atlantis” is off the schedule.