This week was a week of number twos on a variety of fronts. In the US, Joe Biden became Barack Obama’s new sidekick, while in Australia, the minor parties in the Senate geared up to take on their new roles as second fiddles. Meanwhile, in the entertainment world, ‘Stargate Atlantis’ was cancelled and replaced by ‘Stargate Universe’.

Earth discovers that the Stargate’s mysterious ninth chevron can be utilized to gate directly to the Ancient ship, the ‘Destiny’ opening up literally the whole universe to explore. But the team will soon discover that they have no way back to Earth, and must ride the ship on its programmed course. The show will go to air in 2009.

Assuming that the SCI FI Channel eventually picks up ‘Stargate Universe’ as a television series, executive producer Brad Wright told GateWorld that the Stargate franchise will be stronger than ever with four “brand” legs to stand on: ‘Stargate SG-1′ and ‘Atlantis’ in the movie format, Universe on television, and the upcoming video game ‘Stargate Worlds’ reaching into yet another medium.

The SCI FI Channel is calling it quits with ‘Stargate Atlantis’ — or at least in its current format — the network confirmed today. The ‘Stargate SG-1′ spin-off series, which began in 2004, will conclude in January with the current, fifth season, finale. It will be closely followed by a 2-hour Atlantis movie, to be aired on SCI FI and released on DVD by MGM.

Although ‘Stargate Atlantis’ has been a solid ratings performer for the SCI FI Channel — and was its highest-rated original program ever when it premiered in July 2004 — in recent years series like ‘Eureka’ have supplanted it in the “Live” ratings. The show will go on, though, with a 2-hour movie written by executive producers Joseph Mallozzi and Paul Mullie that will air on SCI FI in 2009, and then be released on DVD by MGM.

After four full seasons of stories, enemies and changes in the main cast, David Nykl (”Dr. Radek Zelenka”) remains a phone call away in supporting the mantle of technobabble carried by McKay and his science team.

The Numbers has Stargate: Continuum debuting in the number three spot, behind Harold and Kumar and 21. Continuum is estimated to have sold approximately 276,677 DVD units in its first week, earning about $4.8 million.

The ‘Stargate SG-1′ and ‘Stargate Atlantis’ director is up for recognition for his work on the Atlantis Season Four episode “Trio.” Wood also directed the recent direct-to-DVD release of ‘Stargate: Continuum’, which featured unprecedented Arctic footage, as well as the raising of a Los Angeles-class submarine.

The Cheyenne Mountain Division became operational in 1966 and is located more than 2,400 feet below Cheyenne Mountain. Its current mission includes providing warning of ballistic missile or air attacks against North America, and it assists the air sovereignty mission for the United States and Canada.

GateWorld recently spoke to ‘Stargate: Atlantis’ writer Carl Binder about how the production team is raising the bar to best Season Four, which was praised by many fans for its willingness to take more risks.