Stargate’s Forgotten Blindspot Crossover Flew Completely Under the Radar

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Stargate Atlantis began as a spin-off from the popular series Stargate SG-1. The show centered on a team of scientists and soldiers who traveled to the Pegasus galaxy in search of the legendary city of Atlantis. The main team was led by Colonel John Sheppard and included the often-difficult, yet brilliant, Dr. Rodney McKay. McKay had previously appeared on SG-1, where he was known for clashing with and making snide remarks to Colonel Samantha Carter.

In a fifth-season episode of *Atlantis*, character McKay went back to Earth for a science conference and unexpectedly met some of his professional competitors, including Bill Nye and Neil deGrasse Tyson. A decade later, Bill Nye appeared as a character on the show *Blindspot*, playing the father of one of the main characters. In that episode, he assists the FBI team as they try to decipher a series of tattoos on a woman known as Jane Doe. In a quick, seemingly unimportant line of dialogue, Nye’s character subtly connects the worlds of *Blindspot* and *Stargate: Atlantis*, suggesting they exist within the same universe.

Stargate: Atlantis Saw McKay Working Alongside Two Legends

Dr. McKay receives an invitation to a formal party and scientific talk, and he brings Dr. Jennifer Keller as his date, surprising his colleagues. The party is hosted by Dr. Malcolm Tunney, played by Dave Foley, who used to compete with McKay. Also attending are well-known scientists Bill Nye and Neil deGrasse Tyson, both playing themselves and also being professional rivals of McKay.

At the party, McKay quickly accused Bill Nye and Neil deGrasse Tyson of stealing both his physics ideas and romantic interests. They playfully mocked him for constantly claiming others took his work, pointing out he hadn’t published any new research in years. While listening to a presentation by Tunney, McKay was shocked to discover Tunney had built upon ideas McKay and his sister developed in a previous episode. Tunney had adapted their Space-Time Matter Bridge to extract heat from their universe and redirect it to another reality as a solution to global warming.

McKay attempts to dissuade Tunney from activating the matter bridge, explaining it’s unreliable and could be dangerous. Tunney ignores the warning and proceeds with his demonstration. Immediately, problems arise, and they can’t shut down the bridge. The facility’s temperature plummets, creating a bizarre and lethal effect called “freeze lightning” that instantly freezes anyone it touches. Keller proposes getting help from the other scientists, which sparks further arguments, including McKay criticizing Nye for not having a doctorate.

Following Keller’s instructions, the scientists devise a plan to create a new space-time bridge and destroy the unstable one. Keller attempts to contact the military for backup, but loses communication and becomes trapped. As she begins to suffer from severe cold, McKay abandons the team’s critical work to rescue her. Even while cooperating to resolve the crisis, tensions remain high between McKay and the others.

A Throwaway Line Put the Shows in the Same Universe

Several years after the series *Stargate: Atlantis* concluded, one of its writers and producers, Martin Gero, developed a new show. It begins with the discovery of a woman, found naked and covered in tattoos in Times Square, who has no memory of her identity or past. The FBI soon realizes that the tattoos are key to solving a criminal conspiracy and stopping a dangerous terrorist group.

I’m totally hooked on this show! It follows an FBI team trying to solve the mystery of a woman known only as Jane Doe, and they’re using the intricate tattoos on her body as their guide. Agent Kurt Weller leads the team, and they get amazing help from a scientist named Patterson. You won’t believe this – in one episode, they revealed Patterson’s dad is Bill Nye the Science Guy! When the team’s database of Jane Doe’s tattoos gets messed up, Patterson knows exactly who to call for help – her dad, of course! It was such a fun twist.

The two scientists, while working together, also talked about some tension between Nye and Patterson’s mother. Patterson shared with her dad that she was worried they were really arguing. He explained that it *was* a serious disagreement, because her mother was collaborating with his professional rival, Dr. Rodney McKay. Patterson didn’t see it as a huge problem, but Nye dramatically described McKay as a lifelong enemy, comparing their rivalry to famous historical feuds like Edison versus Tesla or Newton versus Leibniz.

A short conversation between Patterson and Nye revealed details about Patterson’s personal life. While seemingly about something else, it also included a subtle nod to the show *Stargate*, suggesting that *Blindspot* and *Stargate* exist within the same fictional universe, connecting characters like Dr. McKay and the Stargate program.

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2025-10-11 20:41