Editing Jack O'Neill (section)

==Conceptual history==
===Conception===
[[File:Richard Dean Anderson 2004.jpg|thumb|200px|upright|Anderson at the 2004 [[Air Force Association]] dinner where he was recognized for the show's continuous positive depiction of the [[United States Air Force]].]]
John Symes approached Michael Greenburg and [[Richard Dean Anderson]] of ''[[MacGyver (1985 TV series)|MacGyver]]'' fame.<ref name="timeline">{{cite video |people=[[Brad Wright|Wright, Brad]]; [[Jonathan Glassner|Glassner, Jonathan]]; Greenburg, Michael; [[Richard Dean Anderson|Anderson, Richard Dean]]; [[Michael Shanks|Shanks, Michael]]; [[Amanda Tapping|Tapping, Amanda]] |date=2001 |title=Stargate SG-1: Season 3 &ndash; Timeline To The Future &ndash; Part 1-3 | medium = DVD |publisher=[[MGM Home Entertainment]]}}</ref> Although Anderson was never a real fan of the [[science fiction]] genre, he believed the original [[feature film]] to be a good vehicle for a series.<ref name=dailybruin>{{cite news |last=Harwin |first=A.J |url=http://www.dailybruin.ucla.edu/archives/id/14227/ |title='Stargate SG-1' teleports into second season of production |newspaper=[[Daily Bruin|The Daily Bruin]] |date=December 2, 1998 |access-date=October 11, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121003011458/http://www.dailybruin.com/404.html |archive-date=October 3, 2012 }}</ref> Anderson agreed to become involved with the project if his character was allowed significantly more comedic leeway than [[Kurt Russell]]'s character in the feature film, shown especially Anderson's flippant and utter disregard for appropriate military protocol and decorum over the series, which contrasted Russell's "by the book" adherence to protocol. He also requested ''[[Stargate SG-1]]'' to be more of an [[Ensemble cast|ensemble show]], so that he would not be carrying the plot alone as on ''[[MacGyver (1985 TV series)|MacGyver]]''.<ref name=tvzones46_4>{{cite journal |last=Eramo |first=Steven | title=Richard Dean Anderson &ndash; Mr Anderson &ndash; Colonel O'Neill |journal=[[TV Zone]] |issue=Special 46 |pages=4&ndash;9 |date=July 2002}}</ref> Anderson was part of the main cast from season 1 through 8 and played a recurring role in several episodes each season thereafter. He was influential in the development of O'Neill's character and personality from the beginning. While he praised the work done by Russell in the ''Stargate'' film, he said he couldn't be that serious all the time and worked with the writers and directors to give his O'Neill a more lighthearted tone while maintaining the sense of importance the role required. Additionally, he joked that he would never be able to get his hair to stay like Russell's.<ref name="timeline"/> This "double personality" was also joked in the second season, when Jack introduced himself as: "It's 'O'Neill,' with two 'L's. There's another Colonel O'Neil with only one L, and he has no sense of humor at all." Fans have speculated that the transition is due to Russell's O'Neill still being deeply traumatised by the recent death of his son, while Anderson's has overcome the worst of his issues even if he makes it clear he will never forget his loss.

===Development===
In [[Stargate SG-1 season 8|season 8]], Anderson chose to have a reduced role in the series so that he could spend more time with his young daughter.<ref>Gibson 2003, p. 66, p. 117.</ref> When Anderson left the show as a [[Protagonist|main character]] in the [[Stargate SG-1 season 8|eighth season]], the producers were talking about ending the series. Instead, the series introduced two new characters in the [[Stargate SG-1 season 9|ninth season]], [[Ben Browder]] as [[Cameron Mitchell (Stargate)|Cameron Mitchell]], the new SG-1 team leader, and [[Beau Bridges]] as [[List of Stargate SG-1 characters#Hank Landry|Hank Landry]], the new commanding officer of [[Stargate Program#Stargate Command|Stargate Command]]. Anderson continued to appear in a recurring status on ''Stargate SG-1'', albeit with less frequent appearances.<ref>{{cite magazine | author= Rudolph, Ileane | url=http://www.tvguide.com/news/richard-dean-anderson-39758.aspx |title=Richard Dean Anderson Marks ''SG-1''s 200th |date=August 18, 2006 |magazine=[[TV Guide]]|access-date=October 11, 2009}}</ref> He returned for the second [[Direct-to-video|straight-to-DVD]] film, ''[[Stargate: Continuum]]'' in a brief cameo, and was expected to return for the third movie. Executive producer [[Brad Wright]] stressed the importance of O'Neill's presence in the Stargate universe even after the character went on hiatus during the last two seasons of SG-1 when Anderson took a leave from regular acting.<ref name=gw_third>{{cite web|url=https://gateworld.net/news/2008/05/wright-stargate-movies-need-oneill/|title=Wright: Stargate movies need O'Neill|date=May 11, 2008|publisher=[[Stargate fandom#GateWorld|GateWorld]]|access-date=October 11, 2009}}</ref>

Anderson has also had various guest appearances on the two [[Spin-off (media)|spin off]] series' ''[[Stargate Atlantis]]'' and ''[[Stargate Universe]]''. Anderson had several guest cameos scattered over the [[Stargate Universe season 1|first season]] of ''Stargate Universe''.<ref>{{cite web | author=French, Dan | url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/cult/a179640/anderson-may-recur-on-stargate-universe.html |title=Anderson 'may recur on ''Stargate Universe''|date=November 29, 2009 |website=[[Digital Spy]]|access-date=October 11, 2009}}</ref> He is mainly seen in the Pentagon but later visits the Destiny after the revelations about Telford emerge.  In total, he appears in six episodes of ''Stargate Universe'', the most of any main actor from ''Stargate SG-1''.