[geoschmo]

My recollection, and perhaps it's flawed, is that MGM never intended to continue SG-1 past season 8. They only wanted the one series, Atlantis. They were going to have the big whopping battle over the arctic, kill off Anubis, Hammond and O'niell would retire to do some fly fishing, Daniel would stay ascended and Carter would head off to run the Atlantis expedition. SciFi channel was apparently the one that cajoled them into doing another couple seasons of both shows.

To be honest there have been times when the two shows have been a little akward. It might have been better if they had just commited to one. If it meant we wouldn't have had to slog throgh this Ori storyline, I almost wouldn't have minded.