lurkers-guide/ftp/CompuServe/cs96-01

Subj:  B5Convention           Section: Babylon 5: General
  To:  The Jawa / Jawa #2  Monday, January 01, 1996 7:15:16 PM
From:  J. Michael Straczynski       #424182

      {regarding how long it took to get the "Kosh scene" just
       right}

     It took, literally, months of trial and error, design and
redesign, which is why  we did it as the last episode of that
season.

       jms


Subj:  Talia/Control Nitpick  Section: Babylon 5: General
  To:  John Van Aken    Tuesday, January 02, 1996 1:28:18 AM
From:  J. Michael Straczynski       #424358

      {regarding referring to Control as "he"}

      You always refer to agents in the single "he" form to
avoid giving away  identities.

      That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

       jms


Subj:  JMS at Necrnomicon?    Section: Babylon 5: General
  To:  Richard P. Manny   Tuesday, January 02, 1996 3:35:07 PM
From:  J. Michael Straczynski       #424585

      {regarding when Necronomicon is}

     October sometime.

         jms


Subj:  Tonight's repeat episode  Section: Babylon 5: General
  To:  Rob Carr         Monday, January 01, 1996 9:50:14 PM
From:  J. Michael Straczynski       #424288

     BTW, if you're really looking for something around which
to base a sermon,  read Mark Twain's "The Man Who Corrupted
Hadleyburg," available in most of  his anthologies.  I think
the operative point will come through without my having to
spell it out here.

       jms


Subj:  Official Fanclub       Section: Babylon 5: General
  To:  Keith R. Nelms   Monday, January 01, 1996 7:15:14 PM
From:  J. Michael Straczynski       #424181

      <Quoting Keith R. Helms to JMS>:

      >is there someone somewhere we can write, call, fax,
      >email, etc.?

     Nope, it's been tried, without success, so we may attempt
doing the videos  ourselves on a limited-edition basis.

         jms


Subj:  ST Book from J Friedmann  Section: Star Trek: General
  To:  paul wood        Monday, January 01, 1996 3:03:27 AM
From:  J. Michael Straczynski       #423942

     At last count there were only a few copies of Ellison's
CITY ON THE EDGE OF  FOREVER limited-edition hardcover,
containing various versions of the script,  outlines, essays
by Nimoy and Takai and Koenig and Kelley and others.  You  can
order one by calling 1-800-528-3310.  They're $75 plus $5
shipping and  handling.  (And they're gorgeous, well-made
books, btw, well worth the money.)

        jms


Subj:  ST Book from J Friedmann  Section: Star Trek: General
  To:  GREG LASH        Monday, January 01, 1996 7:15:13 PM
From:  J. Michael Straczynski       #424180

      <Quoting GREG LASH to JMS>:

      >I understand that the trade hardcover edition of THE
      >CITY ON THE  EDGE OF FOREVER has been cancelled. What's
      >up with that?

     Borderlands Press will not be doing the trade paperback
because it did not  have the final rights to do so, and other
problems during the production of the  book -- the high number
of typos and errors made that delayed the book's  publication
-- led to the rights being taken elsewhere.

      jms


Subj:  Upcoming:B5 Ep         Section: Babylon 5: Upcoming
  To:  Daniel M. Upton  Monday, January 01, 1996 7:15:17 PM
From:  J. Michael Straczynski       #424183

      <Quoting Daniel M. Upton to JMS>:

      >Speaking of Trek/B5 crossovers did you notice that the
      >Star Fleet Admiral who is  apparently involved in a
      >conspiracy to take over the Federation government 
      >because it isn't taking the Founder/Gem Haddar threat
      >seriously enough is  played by the same actor who does
      >Gen. Hague?

      Yeah, I caught that, and the description in TV
Guide...y'know, this is really  starting to bug me....

      jms


Subj:  Upcoming:B5 Ep         Section: Babylon 5: Upcoming
  To:  Philip Hornsey   Tuesday, January 02, 1996 3:35:09 PM
From:  J. Michael Straczynski       #424586

     "Imitation is the sincerest form of television."  Fred
Allen

         jms


Subj:  Bester PsiCorp Shadows ?  Section: Babylon 5: General
  To:  Jeffrey Martino   Monday, January 01, 1996 9:43:10 PM
From:  J. Michael Straczynski       #424280

     No, it wasn't Bester at the Senator's office.

         jms


Subj:  The Gathering: Garibaldi   Section: Babylon 5: General
  To:  SysOp Dupa T. Parrot     January 01, 1996 9:50:13 PM
From:  J. Michael Straczynski       #424287

     No, it was intended to be chemically inoffensive...I
think the props folks just  put out drinks on the table and
didn't think too much about it.

       jms


Subj:  Hello!                 Section: Babylon 5: General
  To:  Neil Blevins     Monday, January 01, 1996 9:54:04 PM
From:  J. Michael Straczynski       #424289

      <Quoting Neil Blevins to The Jawa/Jawa #2>

      >You're  a Jawa and not a Jawaette. Are there male
      >Jawas? I know so little about your  species.


     Jawanettes?  Jawaninas?  Jawanesses?  Jawarinas? 
Jawanatrix? 
Jawatress?

        jms


Subj:  Last of the Dilgar ???   Section: Babylon 5: General
  To:  Gerard Keating (Ireland) January 02, 1996 3:35:04 PM
From:  J. Michael Straczynski       #424584

      <Quoting Gerard Keating to JMS>:

      >"Have we seen the last of the DeathWalkers race, The
      >Dilgar?"

     They're dead as doornails.

         jms


Subj:  Upcoming:B5 Ep         Section: Babylon 5: Upcoming
  To:  JULIA            Monday, January 01, 1996 3:09:03 AM
From:  J. Michael Straczynski       #423943

      {Regarding Majel Barrett Roddenberry going back into 
       acting}

      I'd just like to say that Majel did a great job for us
on B5, and we are hoping  we can come up with other opportuni-
ties for the character to return.  I know that  Majel is
interested in pursuing other acting gigs outside ST, and I
wish her all the  best.  I think other shows would do well to
utilize her abilities; everyone had a  great time working with
her, and she should be recognized for work other than  ST.

       Perhaps folks should let the producers of other shows
know that she's  available now, and interested, and that
they'd like to see her appear on other  shows from time to
time.  (Maybe someone could drop the folks at X-Files of 
Space a note in their forums....)

         jms


Subj:  From jms: info         Section: Babylon 5: General
  To:  Pat Russell      Tuesday, January 02, 1996 1:28:19 AM
From:  J. Michael Straczynski       #424359

      <Quoting Pat Russell to JMS>:

      >Walter is doing a great job with Bester.  Understand we
      >will  see him again this season.  Looking forward to
      >it.  Tell him he does "rotten" well.   

     Yeah, Walter's doing a great job with it.  So far we're
going to see Bester twice  this season at least, which I'm
very happy about.

         jms


Subj:  From jms: info         Section: Babylon 5: General
  To:  Joe Salemi [ZD Net]    January 03, 1996 4:22:14 PM
From:  J. Michael Straczynski       #425082

     Walter is also in "Ship of Tears."

      jms


Subj:  From jms: info         Section: Babylon 5: General
  To:  Joe Salemi [ZD Net]    January 04, 1996 2:47:08 AM
From:  J. Michael Straczynski       #425352

      {regarding B5 being one of the top rated shows on WDCA}

     That's good to know; WDCA has been very supportive of B5
from the very  beginning, hence the show is, as you quote,
"one of (their) highest rated  programs."  Those that treat
the show well, find it *does* well.

       jms


Subj:  The One                Section: Babylon 5: Upcoming
  To:  Mark Koro        Tuesday, January 02, 1996 8:31:13 PM
From:  J. Michael Straczynski       #424747

     Careful...you're straying into concrete story ideas
here....

       jms


Subj:  Dr. Seuss version of B5.   Section: Babylon 5: General
  To:  JMS,             Tuesday, January 02, 1996 8:28:15 PM
From:  C Clark                      #424744

This Message, by Kevin Freels, was posted to the RASTB5
newsgroup a few  days ago and I repost it here with permis-
sion.

If Dr. Suess had written for Babylon 5....

(...Intro music starts up when 
we see the network of P-TEN...)

We live here on Bab'lon 5
to keep our last great hope alive.
So far, it seems, since Season One,
The war of Shadows has begun.
So victory now is what we need
if Bab'lon Five is to succeed!

This Minbari, she's Delenn.
She speaks in riddles now & then.
She has a bone upon her head.
She'd rather have some hair instead.

Delenn:
"Hi there! Ho there! My old friend!
It's nice to see you once again.
Come, let's talk of Councils Gray,
And Crystal candles as we pray.
I live here on Bab'lon Five
To keep our last great hope alive."

This is Delenn's friend, Lennier.
You may ask, "Why is he here?
He looks familiar! I know his face!
He used to be on 'Lost in Space'!".
Just like her, he's real verbose,
And smells like fish-heads when you're up close.

Londo:
"I am Londo, tall and proud!
(though some might say that I'm too loud!)
I'm Centauri, so you see.
My hair defies all gravity.
We Centauri will someday rule.
(Actually, we're just a tool.
The Shadows really run the game.
Alas! Such is the price of fame!)
I like women, game, and drink.
I drink and drink 'till I can't think!
I live here on Bab'lon Five
To keep my ego hopes alive.

This is my assistant, Vir."

Vir:
"I would like--"

Londo:      "Get out of here!"

This green lizard is G'Kar.
He has come from very far.

G'Kar:
"I'm not a lizard! I'm a Narn!
Time is crucial! I must warn!
We're all in danger! Londo's nuts!
His henchmen shadows kicked our butts!
They've driven us down to our knees!
Send lawyers, guns and money, please!
Ion cannons! Ruby lasers!
Even dusty Star Trek phasers!"

This is Kosh. He gives me creeps!
He barely speaks, just whirrrs & beeps.

Kosh:
*clakkity* *clakkity*!! *whirrr* *buzz* Beep!
"You've always been here!" *ka-chunk* *gleep*!

He always says that in fog-like scenes.
I still don't know just what it means!
He wears that suit to hide from us.
Does he wear it on the bus?

Garibaldi:
"They're all guilty! Every one!
I'll bust 'em up to have some fun!
I'll bring in those bad beserkers,
All those liars, thieves and lurkers."

He's my Chief Security.
Testosterone flows in him free.
He's pretty edgy. I know why.
Since Mars was home, well, he's been dry.
He's really hyper, so I think.
But imagine if he had a drink!

This is Susan--

Ivanova:
             "As you were!
I'm Ivanova! And call me 'Sir'!
I'm delicate, on one small side,
But touch me and I'll tan your hide!
And though to you I might appeal,
I once faked sex to clinch a deal.
So stand your post and keep your ground,
Or, I promise, you I'll pound."

Meet the Doctor. He stays up late,
And works for forty hours straight!

Dr. Franklin:
"I heal aliens, those are my jobs.
Humans and Martians, Reptiles and Blobs! 
Wozzles and Snangles and Bug-eyed Kertunkers!
Yellow-faced insects with Red-winged Dondunkers!
Centauri! Membari! Vorlons and Narn!
I'd even help creatures made out of yarn!
So I will stay living on Bab'lon Five
To keep all these strange little creatures alive!"

Talia's a telepath.
She once followed in our path.
But a time-bomb in her mind
Has made her evil and unkind.
It's doubtful she can be our friend.
Our trust in her is at an end.

The Psi-corp has a man named Bester.
He could be labled "Mind Molester".
He's evil, mean, and nasty, too!
He can read the thoughts of you.
We must give him credit, tho.
He drove a starship years ago.

Bester:
"I've known your kind and what to do.
So I'll be back. Be seeing you."

This man Morden, standing here.
He is one that you should fear.
He has shadows for his brothers.
He doesn't play so well with others.

---

So that's my story. It's lonely here.
We're so far out, there is no beer.

I'm stuck out here on Bab'lon Five
To keep our last great hope alive.
I'm stuck out here, it's just not fair!
It's all the fault of that Sinclair!
He bailed out, I took the fall,
And now he won't return my call!

But...

It could be worse, it's just five years.
Or I could have Ferengi ears.
And when all is said and done,
I'm not Harlan Ellison!
--
...kevin


Subj:  Dr. Seuss version of B5.  Section: Babylon 5: General
  To:  C Clark    Wednesday, January 03, 1996 12:26:02 AM
From:  J. Michael Straczynski       #424821

     Too, too, too weird....funny, though....

        jms


Subj:  ARRRRRRRRGGGHHH!       Section: Babylon 5: General
  To:  Lynn Dimock      Wednesday, January 03, 1996 2:49:15 AM
From:  J. Michael Straczynski       #424857

      <Quoting Lynn Dimock to ALL>:

      >I'm sorry, I know this is thread drift, but my team is
      >getting its butt whopped at the  Fiesta Bowl and I am
      >ready to scream. It's not so much the score as the way 
      >three Florida guys have had to be hauled off the field
      >so far (how many football  players do you hear of with
      >dislocated *hips* for crying out loud), and the general
      >attitude of the Nebraska players. And yes, if my guys
      >were acting like that I'd still  be upset (though, to
      >be honest, not as much).

     You are not ready for victory.

         jms


Subj:  Bester PsiCorp Shadows ?  Section: Babylon 5: General
  To:  J. Michael Straczynski    January 03, 1996 8:56:22 PM
From:  John Van Aken                #425236

<<No, it wasn't Bester at the Senator's office.>>

This is probably one of those Questions Which Will Not Be
Answered, but...

..any reason why?


Subj:  Bester PsiCorp Shadows ?   Section: Babylon 5: General
  To:  John Van Aken    Thursday, January 04, 1996 2:47:06 AM
From:  J. Michael Straczynski       #425351

     Yes.

 jms



Subj:  Bester PsiCorp Shadows ?  Section: Babylon 5: General
  To:  Tom LeCompte     Thursday, January 04, 1996 2:56:20 AM
From:  J. Michael Straczynski       #425354

     "To define is to kill; to suggest is to create." 
Mallarme.

       jms


Subj:  THANKS FOREVER BOOK    Section: Star Trek: General
  To:  paul wood        Thursday, January 04, 1996 2:47:10 AM
From:  J. Michael Straczynski       #425353

    Actually, the reruns aren't skipping the season 3 opener,
only (for some  reason) the season 2 closer; the first one of
year three just aired here in LA  tonight, in fact.

     And thanks....

         jms


Subj:  ITS OVER               Section: Babylon 5: Upcoming
  To:  James A. Du Bois Thursday, January 04, 1996 2:56:21 AM
From:  J. Michael Straczynski       #425355

      <Quoting Jeff Frank>:

      >Just to pick a nit that drives me up the fraggen wall: 
      >The millennia doesn't end  on December 31, 1999, but on
      >December 31, 2000.  There was no year 0 so the  end of
      >the first thousand years occurred on December 31, 1000.

     Funny thing is, some mathematicians disagree with this
assessment; no,  there was no year 0, but there was a year 10
and 20 and 30 and so on (though  all, as you note, assigned in
retrospect).  So some of them have taken the  position that
the first century was simply short one year, rather than
rolling every  other century back one year.

         jms


Subj:  Legacies Question      Section: Babylon 5: General
  To:  Michael Guenther Friday, January 05, 1996 1:52:28 AM
From:  J. Michael Straczynski       #425833

      <Quoting Michael Guenther to JMS>:

      >I just saw Legacies last night and I have a question
      >for you concerning the young  Telepath introduced in
      >the story. Now that  Alison and Sinclair are on the
      >Minbari  homeworld has Sinclair met her since then? 
      >Will we see more of her?  I'm sure  a P10 would come in
      >handy for the coming struggle...

     There are no current plans for that character, no.

         jms


Subj:  B5 Aliens Streib       Section: Babylon 5: Upcoming
  To:  Bert Johnson     Friday, January 05, 1996 1:52:29 AM
From:  J. Michael Straczynski       #425834

      <Quoting Bert Johnson to JMS>:

      >I have been going throught the AVI files in my new B5
      >screen saver and came  upon the Streib.  Are they named
      >in recogntion of Whitley Streiber's aliens in his 
      >books?  They look the same.

     It's a nod, yes; and the comics were/are meant to be
complementary, within  the B5 universe but not required to
follow the show.

         jms


Subj:  B5 Aliens Streib       Section: Babylon 5: Upcoming
  To:  The Jawa / Jawa #2  Friday, January 05, 1996 3:46:10 PM
From:  J. Michael Straczynski       #426115

      {regarding a new B5 novel}

     Yes, there's another novel due out fairly soon, within
the next month or so.

         jms


Subj:  Official Fanclub       Section: Babylon 5: General
  To:  Susan Law        Friday, January 05, 1996 1:52:31 AM
From:  J. Michael Straczynski       #425835

      <Quoting Susan Law to JMS>:

      >Saw your post on rastb5 a couple of days ago - enjoyed
      >it.  Anyhow regarding B5  merchandise that you're
      >considering - how about the Ranger pins -  any chance 
      >of those being available?  I'd sure spring for one.  

     Not a bad idea; those would be expensive to make, though,
so I'm not sure if  it'd work.  We'll see....

         jms


Subj:  B5: Promoting B5       Section: Babylon 5: General
  To:  peter  stathis   Friday, January 05, 1996 2:10:31 AM
From:  J. Michael Straczynski       #425841

      <Quoting Peter Sathis to ALL>:

      >Just curious, but I was wondering why none of the cast
      >members have done the  talk show circuit? It couldn't
      >hurt. I also heard that when Harlan was on Tom 
      >Snyder's show he made no mention of B5 at all.

     Once again you make broad statements: "none of the cast
members have  done the talk show circuit."  Not correct. 
Bruce has done the Stephanie Miller  show, showed up on the
Tonight Show, the Mike and Maddie show (same there  for Jerry
Doyle, who's done other talk shows including several network
morning  shows, such as the the FX cable network show),
they've all done various national  radio shows, and other talk
shows.

     So for starters you're not correct; they're doing some,
and we're working on  doing more.  The problem is that most
talk shows want major, recognized stars  from hit network
shows, and syndication doesn't get a lot of attention there.

         jms


Subj:  Official Fanclub       Section: Babylon 5: General
  To:  Asha DeVelder    Saturday, January 06, 1996 12:20:21 AM
From:  J. Michael Straczynski       #426399

     We literally just signed the contracts; we now have to
get a space for the  fanclub operations, set up the www page
(which we hope will be up during the  next batch of episodes),
hire the people we've selected to run it, and then we can  put
the word out.  As with everything else, we always make sure
we're prepared  before going forward with anything.

         jms


Subj:  Minbari Military       Section: Babylon 5: General
  To:  Paul Owen        Saturday, January 06, 1996 12:20:18 AM
From:  J. Michael Straczynski       #426396

      <Quoting Paul Owen to JMS>:

      >As we are waiting for Season 3 here in the UK I was
      >just wondering why are the  Rangers here at all?? where
      >is the Minbari military in all of this , ? Is this
      >another  twist in an already superbly convoluted
      >plot???.  Is this going to become clearer in S3

     This is one of the things that's better gone into in the
show.

       jms


Subj:  "Survivors" question...  Section: Babylon 5: General
  To:  Neville White    Saturday, January 06, 1996 12:20:19 AM
From:  J. Michael Straczynski       #426397

      <Quoting Neville White to JMS>:

      >I hope you don't mind me asking, but I was wondering
      >the other day whether  there was any come-back on the
      >woman from Garibaldi's past that we saw in  "Survivors"
      >back in series one... security for president Santiago,
      >yet he got  assassinated at the end of series one...

     No, we haven't established what happened to her, but we
will in time.

         jms


Subj:  "Survivors" question...Section: Babylon 5: General
  To:  Gerald Himmelein Saturday, January 06, 1996 6:13:18 PM
From:  J. Michael Straczynski       #426857

      <Quoting Gerald Himmelein to JMS>:

      >{Well, we'll be waiting for her reappearance (or will
      >she only appear in a  "throwaway line" like the
      >resolution of the situation on Ragesh 3 in Season 1?).}

     No, if we go into what happened, and where she is, it
kinda behooves us to  show her.

        jms


Subj:  Midnight in the ...    Section: Babylon 5: General
  To:  Sharon Foster    Saturday, January 06, 1996 12:20:20 AM
From:  J. Michael Straczynski       #426398

      <Quoting Sharon Foster to JMS>:

      >Forgive me if this has been asked a dozen times by now,
      >but a friend of mine  wants to know if Harlan's story
      >in next month's Fantasy & Science Fiction, called 
      >"Midnight in the Sunken Cathedral", is a Babylon 5
      >story and if so, is it canonical.   He says it was the
      >working title of an episode that never got made.

    No, it's not a B5 story; he liked the title, and used it
there instead.

         jms


Subj:  Grand Admiral          Section: Babylon 5: Upcoming
  To:  Charles Agius    Saturday, January 06, 1996 12:20:25 AM
From:  J. Michael Straczynski       #426400

     Knowing Bruce, *every* charity is his favorite charity. 
Any one you pick will  likely be fine.

         jms


Subj:  Famous "Who Are you?"  Section: Babylon 5: General
  To:  Phillip A. Cochran     January 06, 1996 6:13:13 PM
From:  J. Michael Straczynski       #426855

      {regarding the question "who are you?"}

     Yeah, that's one of the primal questions, isn't it?  And
one that we are too often  distracted from considering.

         jms


Subj:  <Ship of Tears> Stuff  Section: Babylon 5: Upcoming
  To:  John M. Kahane   Sunday, January 07, 1996 7:21:12 PM
From:  J. Michael Straczynski       #427668

      <Quoting John M. Kahane to JMS>:

      >is there  more that you can say about this episode and
      >the Bester role?

     Could, yeah, but I'd rather let that episode reveal
itself...there's not much I can  say about it that wouldn't
spoil it for people.

         jms


Subj:  Tonight's repeat episode  Section: Babylon 5: General
  To:  Rebecca Eschliman  Sunday, January 07, 1996 7:21:15 PM
From:  J. Michael Straczynski       #427669

      <Quoting Rebecca Eschliman to JMS>:

      >Whether Centauri, Narn, Minbari, Drazi, Vorlon, If  one
      >stops to think about the fact that these civilizations
      >have not developed  against a background of human
      >interactions it is a lot more difficult to assign a 
      >morality to their actions.  Therefore one has to
      >examine one's own ethical beliefs  is contrast to
      >whatever reactions we have to your other civilazations
      >and one  hopes, to think about why we believe what we
      >do.

      I think it's not enough just to *have* non-Earth
civilizations.  First you have to  explore them, and set them
up as real, individual forces. Second, it becomes  easy to
say, "Well, I don't have to think about this particular issue,
it's just an alien  thing.  Isn't it interesting that they
should feel this way?"  It's more effective in  some way to
make the *really* challenging issues ones that directly
involve  humans...it doesn't leave us as much wriggle room to
avoid considering the  issue.

         jms


Subj:  KIDIST REMARK IN "TKO" Section: Babylon 5: General
  To:  The Jawa / Jawa #2  Sunday, January 07, 1996 7:32:24 PM
From:  J. Michael Straczynski       #427671

      <Quoting The Jawa/Jawa #2 to JMS>:

      >This is a catastrophe of immense proportions!!
      >IVANOVA MADE A KIDIST REMARK IN "TKO"!
      >The scene: father's memorial.
      >The remark: "...pouting in that way that only 13
      >     can..."
      >I don't know what to do.
      >Ivanova seemed so *decent!*
      >Joe, Joe, how could you let that slip PAST??
      >What should we do?

     Point One: the script was written by Larry DiTillio, not
me.

     Point Two: the comment is essentially correct; ain't
nobody can pout like a 13  year old.

         jms


Subj:  A question about Morden   Section: Babylon 5: General
  To:  Michael Milutinovic  Monday, January 08, 1996 1:41:22
From:  J. Michael Straczynski       #428074

      <Quoting Michael Milutinovic to JMS>:

      >Are the Sheridan, Garibaldi and the others keeping an
      >eye on Morden?

     They do when he's there, or at least they try to, but
he's not there a lot, and  when he is...well, see for your-
self....

       jms


Subj:  Another oldie query...   Section: Babylon 5: General
  To:  Neville White    Monday, January 08, 1996 11:56:07 PM
From:  J. Michael Straczynski       #428578

      <Quoting Neville White to JMS>:

      ><snip>
      >Lennier revealed to Sheridan et. al. at the start of
      >series 2 the issue of  discovering Minbari souls in
      >(some?) humans as the reason for surrendering at  the
      >climax of the war.
      >
      >My question is:- does Sinclair know this too? Do the
      >Minbari know how much he  knows, and if so do they mind
      >now? If this all gets sorted out in the much  antici-
      >pated series 3, you can just say "it's in series 3" if
      >you like!

     Sinclair knows now.  And the triluminary mark is an
implant, which reacts that  way in the presence of shadows or
their direct "employees."

         jms


Subj:  "And Now a Word..."    Section: Babylon 5: General
  To:  William H. DiPaola     January 08, 1996 11:56:08 PM
From:  J. Michael Straczynski       #428579

      <Quoting William H. DiPaola to JMS>:

      >I seem to recall in the episode from last  season
      >titled, "And Now A Word..." that G'Kar's name was
      >misspelled with in "H"  in place of the "K" when he was
      >being interviewed(G'Har).

     No, I'm pretty sure it was spelled right; it may just be
the typeface used that  makes a K look a bit like an H.

        jms


Subj:  B5 Novels              Section: Babylon 5: Upcoming
  To:  John M. Kahane   Monday, January 08, 1996 11:56:14 PM
From:  J. Michael Straczynski       #428581

     There are two more novels coming out after "Clark's Law,"
one by Neal Barrett  Jr. and the other by S. M. Stirling.

      jms


Subj:  B5 Novels			Section: Babylon 5: Upcoming
  To:  Mark D. Smith, Wednesday, January 10, 1996 11:40:03 PM
From:  J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#429807

     His novel is about Babylon 5.  You were expecting talking mice?

     (To say more is to give it away; suffice to say that Stirling's 
book has some really nice stuff with Garibaldi, Londo and Ivanova in 
particular, though the other characters are treated nicely as well.)

                                                                 jms


Subj:  Our Official Name      Section: Babylon 5: General
  To:  Rowan Kaiser,    Tuesday, January 09, 1996 2:57:22 AM
From:  J. Michael Straczynski       #428643

      <Quoting Rowan Kaiser to ALL>:

      >What's our official name?  Star Trek buffs are 
      >"trekkies", X-files fans are  "X-philes", MST3K fans
      >are MiSTies, so what are we?

       PITAS.

       Persons of Infinite Taste And Sensibilities.

         jms


Subj:  <FoN: Scarves>         Section: Babylon 5: General
  To:  SysOp Dupa T. Parrot   January 10, 1996 3:59:17 AM
From:  J. Michael Straczynski       #429310

      <Quoting SysOp Dupa T. Parrot to JMS>:

      >In "The Fall Of Night", in the fighter jock's locker
      >room we see Keffer wearing a  blue scarf with white
      >stars. Meanwhile, "Mitch" is wearing what looks like a
      >white  scarf with red stars.  Is the scarf a squadron
      >thing or something else?

     I do believe they relate to squadrons, yes.

       jms


Subj:  <Ship of Tears> Stuff  Section: Babylon 5: Upcoming
  To:  John M. Kahane   Sunday, January 07, 1996 7:21:12 PM
From:  J. Michael Straczynski       #427668

      <Quoting John M. Kahane to JMS>:

      >Isn't this the one that  has Shadow ship and stuff in
      >it?  I don't know all that much about it, but is there 
      >more that you can say about this episode and the Bester
      >role?

     Could, yeah, but I'd rather let that episode reveal
itself...there's not much I can  say about it that wouldn't
spoil it for people.

         jms


Subj:  "Survivors" question...  Section: Babylon 5: General
  To:  John M. Kahane   Monday, January 08, 1996 11:56:16 PM
From:  J. Michael Straczynski       #428582

      <Quoting John M. Kahane to JMS>:

      >I have always thought that Lianna Kemmer  was an
      >important person in the life of Michael Garibaldi, and
      >"Survivors" left a few  threads hanging.  It'll be good
      >to see or at least find out what happened to Lianna  in
      >the aftermath of Santiago's death.  If nothing else, I
      >don't think she was on  board Earthforce One when it
      >blew, since she'd be doing the work on Io station 
      >proper, right?

     That's correct; as with her arrival at B5, she would've
been handling the  advance work on Io prior to Santiago's
arrival.

       jms


Subj:  <Ship of Tears> Stuff		Section: Babylon 5: Upcoming
  To:  John M. Kahane, Thursday, January 11, 1996 12:33:05 AM
From:  J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#429846

     I'll say one thing about one of those eps, but I won't say which 
one; when people hear what it appears to be about, the immediate 
reaction is going to be "Oh, god, they're not doing THAT are they?" 
and there'll be a lot of sarcasm and head shaking...until the 
episode airs, and folks see that what it's about...is *not* what it's 
about...and I think it'll be a very popular episode thereafter.

                                                            jms


Subj:  B5 Novels			Section: Babylon 5: Upcoming
  To:  John M. Kahane, Saturday, January 13, 1996 2:00:20 AM
From:  J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#431161

     What happens is that the company waits until they know if the 
series is picked up for the next season before issuing more books; 
once we're picked up, they assign more books to writers, so 
there's always a delay.

                    jms


Subj:  <Ship of Tears> Stuff		Section: Babylon 5: Upcoming
  To:  Tom Knudsen, Thursday, January 11, 1996 11:57:05 PM
From:  J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#430516

	<<"Oh, god, they're not doing THAT are they?" and there'll be
a lot of sarcasm and head shaking...until the episode airs, and folks 
see that what it's about...is *not* what it's about...and I think 
it'll be a very popular episode thereafter>

	So the episode we see will not be the episode we see, nor
will it be the episode seen by anyone else???>

     Go to your room.

                  jms



Subj:  A question about Morden		Section: Babylon 5: General
  To:  Nigel Nixon, Thursday, January 11, 1996 3:11:08 PM
From:  J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#430246

<Just a thought, but was the bod who supplied The Eye in Signs and 
Portents one of the Shadows little helpers?>

     If you mean Morden, yes.

                         jms


Subj:  Another oldie query...		Section: Babylon 5: General
  To:  Robert Miller, Friday, January 12, 1996 2:54:28 PM
From:  J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#430797

<>>And the triluminary mark is an implant, which reacts that way in 
the presence of shadows or their direct "employees."

In that case, why did it appear on Delenn's forehead during 
Sinclair's interrogation at the Battle of the Line?  And why was it 
on the Grey Council member's forehead at the end of "And the Sky 
Full of Stars"?>

      It's also the insignia of the Grey Council, given its long 
tradition of safeguarding.  They use it at certain times and under 
certain conditions.

                jms


Subj:  Fan club				Section: Babylon 5: General
  To:  Gary Weinfurther, Saturday, January 13, 1996 2:00:21 AM
From:  J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#431162

     Like I said, we've barely gotten the paperwork signed; we're in 
the process now of initiating a web site, getting the incorporation 
papers, so we're still doing all the business stuff at this point.

                                                               jms


Subj:  Ellison voice of comp?		Section: Babylon 5: General
  To:  Brian A. Thomas, Saturday, January 13, 1996 2:00:22 AM
From:  J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#431163

     Yes, Harlan does the voice; where did you get the notion that 
he was going to be less involved?

                              jms


Subj:  Ellison voice of comp?		Section: Babylon 5: General
  To:  The Jawa / Jawa #2, Saturday, January 13, 1996 8:28:01 PM
From:  J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#431581

     Harlan does whatever Harlan wants.

                                    jms


Subj:  Ellison voice of comp?		Section: Babylon 5: General
  To:  The Jawa / Jawa #2, Sunday, January 14, 1996 4:53:12 PM
From:  J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#432052

	<So basically he stands there and says, "I like that...
that's good...I like that...<whack> Joe, what were you thinking?--
that needs to be redone completely!"
	Then he tells you how he thinks you should do it.
	Am I close <G>?>

     Not bad.

          jms



Subj:  Opening credits season 3		Section: Babylon 5: General
  To:  Morris L. Gavant, M.D., Sunday, January 14, 1996 4:53:11 PM
From:  J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#432051

<Is their any significance to the fact that only half the cast is 
turning their heads on the opening credits?  I believe it's 
Garibaldi, Zack, G'Kar, and Vir.  Does that indicate that their 
stories "turn" this year also or that the story turns around them?>

     No, I don't think even I could ever manage to be that obscure.

                                                                jms


Subj:  "Star Lost" TV Series		Section: SF/Fantasy TV
  To:  Jeff Kuzma, Monday, January 15, 1996 1:27:02 AM
From:  J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#432326

     "...never once did he (Harlan) disown that effort (`City 
on the Edge of Forever')...."

     The only thing wrong with that statement is that it 
isn't true.

     Harlan only kept his own name on City after Roddenberry 
pleaded with him to do so; further, it was Harlan's *original* 
script, not the rewrite, that earned the Writers Guild of 
America award that year...and, in fact, he has *always* 
maintained in print, and in every interview that he's given, 
that he is in no way responsible for the televised version.  
You are, basically, repeating a canard that Gene repeated at 
cons, that was not in any way, manner, shape or form the 
truth.

     If you want to get the documented facts in this case, not 
the mythos that's grown up around it, I suggest you get the 
Borderlands Press version of "City," which includes memos, all 
versions of the script and outline, and afterwords by Nimoy, 
Kelley, Koenig, Takai and others involved in the episode.

                                                      jms

Subj:  Matters of Honor			Section: Babylon 5: General
  To:  T.N.Tumbusch, Monday, January 15, 1996 7:52:25 PM
From:  J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#432789

<I was watching "Matters of Honor" last night. In the scene where 
Londo is telling Morden to "disappear," there is a Minbari in the 
background who I could swear is Lennier. Has Delenn's aide been 
shadowing the shadow man?>

     Nope, not Lennier.

                    jms

Subj:  B5 Novels			Section: Babylon 5: Upcoming
  To:  John M. Kahane, Tuesday, January 16, 1996 6:30:00 PM
From:  J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#433351

     <Mind you this does bring a question to mind:  Will there, 
assuming the series reaches the end of Year 5 on tv, and there are 
novels during this period...will there be novels in the B5 universe 
*after* the series has come to its end?  Is this something that you 
wouldn't mind, or is it sometning that you wouldn't want to see, 
because of the continuity headaches and the creation of new material 
that likely would fall outside the context and scope of the series 
and the "B5 Bible"?>

      It's something I really haven't had time to consider at this 
point.

   jms

Subj:  Babylon 5 Movie !?!?!?!?		Section: Babylon 5: General
  To:  Laurence Moroney, Tuesday, January 16, 1996 6:30:03 PM
From:  J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#433353

     There've been discussions about a DTV project, a one-off, but 
nothing's set yet.  The ratings are doing well; the reason some 
(not many) stations have time-shifted the show to later hours is 
that independent stations only have 2 hours per night of prime 
time, 8-10 p.m., doing news at 10.  More and more they're tied up 
with pre-set agreements with Fox, UPN and WB, so anything else has 
to get put into later slots.

                         jms


Subj:  Babylon 5 Movie !?!?!?!?		Section: Babylon 5: General
  To:  Laurence Moroney, Wednesday, January 17, 1996 4:05:11 PM
From:  J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#433899

      Well, any time you move to a later slot it's going to affect 
the numbers.  As for WB moving the show into later slots for 
purposes alleged in a fanzine...for starters, WB has *zero* control 
over where the stations run the show.  It's all determined locally.  
So for starters the story is bogus. Second, on the "expensive" 
line, our episodes cost just under $900,000 per, as opposed to $1.2 
to $1.6 million per episode (or more) on DS9 and Voyager. Work it out.

                                                                   jms


Subj:  Babylon 5 Movie !?!?!?!?		Section: Babylon 5: General
  To:  SysOp Dupa T. Parrot, Thursday, January 18, 1996 1:02:09 AM
From:  J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#434213

     Seasons one and two both came in slightly under budget; we're 
still into this season, but three is shaping up about the same.

                                                            jms


Subj:  B5 Studio			Section: Babylon 5: General
  To:  Michael  Zitaglio, Thursday, January 18, 1996 1:02:09 AM
From:  J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#434212

	<I'll be taking a business trip to LA next week and Ill 
have tuesday afternoon to look around.  I was wondering if the 
Warner Studios were open then for a visit?  I dont get to LA very 
often, It is usually San Diego. I just thought I would ask.   
Thanks.>

     We don't shoot on the Warners lot, so it's kind of a moot 
question (the facilities we do have, across town, aren't set up for 
tours, I'm afraid).

                jms


Subj:  B5 Hankies?			Section: Babylon 5: General
  To:  Bill Hayes, Thursday, January 18, 1996 1:08:17 AM
From:  J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#434229

     You just have to brace yourself for the work, and burn through 
it by being somewhat monomanaical and obsessive.  It takes a toll, 
but in the end, it is or should be worth it, otherwise why do it?

     I've gotten used to handling work and deadlines, so it really 
doesn't bother me too much, unless I'm really under the gun.  Thus 
far, I've written something like 170 *produced* TV scripts, maybe 
a bit more, and by the end of this season will have written 49 B5 
scripts.  This season, in writing 22 episodes, not counting first 
drafts and revisions which would double the figure easily, I'll 
have written about 1,000 pages in less than 10 months. That's two 
full-sized novels.

     I try not to think about that too much....

                                            jms


Subj:  B5 Hankies?			Section: Babylon 5: General
  To:  Philip Hornsey, Thursday, January 18, 1996 1:17:14 PM
From:  J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#434507

      I've been on as much as usual; sometimes I have more to say, 
sometimes even *I* get tired of my own "voice" after a while, and 
figure everyone else must as well.

                               jms


Subj:  B5 Hankies?			Section: Babylon 5: General
  To:  The Jawa / Jawa #2, Friday, January 19, 1996 1:44:17 PM
From:  J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#435143

     Not only did "Messages From Earth" come out as well as I'd 
hoped or thought it would, it came out *better*.  It is, 
potentially, either one of the best or the best thing we've ever 
done in the whole series to date. There are some episodes that 
come close this season, like "Point of No Return," "A Late 
Delivery From Avalon," "Sic Transit Vir" (for absolutely different 
reasons), and parts of "Dust to Dust," but so far -- at least until 
the CGI for "Severed Dreams" is finished, which has at least a shot 
at knocking "Messages" out of the box -- "Messages" is as close to 
perfect as we've ever come.

     Like "The Coming of Shadows" there's a real sense of a *story* 
being told, and major events happening at breakneck speed.  It's 
just a joy to watch.

                 jms


Subj:  B5 Hankies?			Section: Babylon 5: General
  To:  The Jawa / Jawa #2, Thursday, January 18, 1996 1:17:15 PM
From:  J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#434508

      I use Movie Master for my scripts, Wordstar 7.0 for prose.  
None of the files are very big individually, only en masse.

                                                        jms


Subj:  Quick Q about Mindwiping		Section: Babylon 5: General
  To:  Gerard Keating (Ireland), Friday, January 19, 1996 1:44:15 PM
From:  J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#435142

   <I've seen messages where you explained what your position is on 
the Death Penalty versus Life Imprisonment. I was wondering, if the 
technology of Mindwiping was available, would you be in favour of 
it?>

     I actually don't know how I'd stand on that...to render the 
argument correctly in the show, I've had to "convince" myself on 
both sides of the issue.  When it happens for real, I'll have an 
opinion.

     jms


Subj:  Q: Laurie Anderson		Section: Babylon 5: General
  To:  Gerard Keating (Ireland), Friday, January 19, 1996 11:05:05 PM
From:  J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#435436

    <I was listening to Laurie Anderson's CD ("The Ugly one with the 
Jewels") this evening, and a few references cropped up which made my 
wonder if you had the CD, or had heard it??
    Apart from the weird voice modulation (not too unlike Kosh) which 
she calls her "Voice of Authority", she also recounts a story where a 
little girl is told by her nutty/psychic/religious aunt that doomsday 
is coming and that the world will end "In Fire!". (These two words 
being given in the musical 'Voice'.) There may have been a few other 
oddities, but these stuck out.
    Isn't co-incidence a strange thing?>

     Haven't heard the CD; yeah, some themes keep coming up in odd 
places.

    jms


Subj:  GROPOS question			Section: Babylon 5: General
  To:  John Hardin, Saturday, January 20, 1996 6:01:27 PM
From:  J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#435808

<[Posted on behalf of <IndyCCTX@aol.com>]

In "Gropos" Garabaldi tells Dodger of all the weird stuff that's been 
happening to him, and most of the references I recognized from events 
on the show, except when he mentions meeting a lady, "the kind a guy 
like me normally doesn't have a chance with" (paraphrasing from 
memory).  Who is he talking about?>

     That would be Talia.

                      jms

Subj:  UK B5 20/1/96 CITV		Section: Babylon 5: General
  To:  Nigel Nixon, Saturday, January 20, 1996 6:02:02 PM
From:  J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#435810

<A childrens show over here has just featured a set visit to B5, 
what episode was being made while they were there (A clapperboard 
has the director as John C. Flinn III and the date as 11/14/95)?>

     That would be Ceremonies of Light and Dark.  What else was shown?

                                                                   jms

Date: 21-Jan-96 15:35:07
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Nigel Nixon <100666.2174@compuserve.com>
Subject: UK B5 20/1/96 CITV

 Nigel Nixon <100666.2174@compuserve.com> asks:
> Ou est la mauvaise Filles?

     All an extra does is walk across a room, that's all.  There are
no lines, no performances, just standing in a room or walking across. 
There aren't a lot of requirements for that, it has nothing to do with
the story, so I don't quite understand what's got you so exercised
about this.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 21-Jan-96 21:47:28
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Nigel Nixon <100666.2174@compuserve.com>
Subject: UK B5 20/1/96 CITV

 Nigel Nixon <100666.2174@compuserve.com> asks:
> Ou est la mauvaise Filles?

     Basically, whether the show is a new one or an old one, it
doesn't much enter into it...as a syndicated show we take any PR we can
get.  We didn't go to them, they came to us and said they wanted to do
it.  We said yes. That was kind of the end-all and be-all of it.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 22-Jan-96 15:27:59
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: John Hardin <74076.22@compuserve.com>
Subject: Military Questions

 John Hardin <74076.22@compuserve.com> asks:
> I am very interested in the military in B5, what they are doing?
> Does the Earth Alliance military simply follow the President, or
> does the Admiralty have its own mind? Will the EA do anything that
> the Senators and President says? What does the EA military feel
> about the loss of its telepaths? What does the EA military think
> about the station B5? You basically said the Manbire military is
> under the control of the shadow (rather simple view I know) is
> the earth military the same way?

     1.  I am very interested in the military in B5, what
     they are doing?

All kinds of things.  Some good, some not so.

     Does the Earth Alliance military simply follow the
     President, or does the Admiralty have its own mind?

Any military must respect the chain of command.  You can't have the
military setting its own agenda.  The president proposes, the military
disposes.

     Will the EA do anything that the Senators and President
     says?

Well, the EA military must obey the President as Commander in Chief. 
The EA government is always quibbling.  They're like that.

     What does the EA military feel about the loss of its
     telepaths?

The EA military hasn't lost any telepaths that I know of.  Don't know
what this refers to.

     What does the EA military think about the station B5?

"Cushy job.  And they're a bunch of loose cannons over there.  Maybe
we better see if we can help straighten things out."

     You basically said the Manbire military is under the
     control of the shadow (rather simple view I know) is
     the earth military the same way?

No, I never said that, and the Minbari are NOT under Shadow control.

     My next question is on getting your show on military
     T.V.  The network is called AFARTS, Armed Forces
     A(something) Radio and Television something something.

     Anyway, AFARTS does not show commercials. After not
     seeing stateside commercials for over 5 years, you
     actually start missing them, anyway, they don't do
     advertisements, and basically ask for the show.  DS9,
     Bay watch etc. either give it to AFARTS or gives it to
     them for next to nothing.

     I was wondering if you were even willing to enterin the
     ideal.  If so, we have to start a write in "beg
     campaign" to get worthless AFARTS (actually they are
     O.K., but it is a sailors right to complain) to talk to
     someone.  Last big thing was getting the Rush Limbaugh
     show, on the radio, that had to go to congress, before
     the FoB plants/sympatiers in the pentagon/Admiralty
     would allow it.

I'm up for it, we've talked to Warners about it, but it's their call,
not mine.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 23-Jan-96 00:12:17
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Barbara Pfieffer <72302.2453@compuserve.com>
Subject: New eps & summertime

 Barbara Pfieffer <72302.2453@compuserve.com> asks:
> Would Warners do that?
> Or are you afraid they'll do the same thing they did to us (and
> you) last year?

     I haven't yet been apprised of the air schedule past February, so
I'm as much in the dark as anyone else just now.  I'm hoping for the
best.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 23-Jan-96 00:12:18
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Tom LeCompte <76711.572@compuserve.com>
Subject: Military Questions

 Tom LeCompte <76711.572@compuserve.com> asks:
> If you don't mind, could you clarify the role of telepaths in the
> EA military? And certainly CDR Ivanova lives in perpetual fear
> that she'll be found out and kicked out - or is her sin in the
> eyes of EA more in *lying* about her telepathy than in having it? 
> (Which brings to mind something else - where do the people who
> are "not even a P-1" end up?

     The military uses telepaths on a loan-out or special intelligence
basis, rather than within the core units of soldiers and officers.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 23-Jan-96 00:12:19
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Joe Salemi [ZD Net] <72631.23@compuserve.com>
Subject: COS <-> MOH connection?

 Joe Salemi [ZD Net] <72631.23@compuserve.com> asks:
> Would that happen to be the same planet the Rangers were chased
> off of in "Matters of Honor"?

     Could be.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 23-Jan-96 11:38:06
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Joe Salemi [ZD Net] <72631.23@compuserve.com>
Subject: COS <-> MOH connection?

 Joe Salemi [ZD Net] <72631.23@compuserve.com> asks:
> Or not, right?

     You'll love it.  You'll be creeped out by it, but you'll love it.
It's a great film.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 23-Jan-96 11:38:07
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Philip Hornsey <74053.2101@compuserve.com>
Subject: Military Questions

 Philip Hornsey <74053.2101@compuserve.com> asks:
> When the soulhunter said "You would do such a thing?"
> to Delenn when he peeked into her soul, was he referring to the
> change she made in Chrysalis or *something else*? I know Neroon
> detests Delenn, but is he likely more friendly to Ambassador
> Sinclair? May I assume that you approved having G'Kar butcher a
> zillion people (was 10 billion a misprint?) in the Prologue? If
> so, should we have *any* sympathy *at all* for the Narn (I now
> don't) and will you bring up something in the show to grey them
> up?

     You'll hear the soul hunter's line again this season, in a
flashback, that may illuminate this; and there's more about Neroon as
well this year. As for G'Kar...people do things in war they can always
justify.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 23-Jan-96 11:55:43
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Elaine E Brown <100353.3702@compuserve.com>
Subject: B5 tapes in Aus

 Elaine E Brown <100353.3702@compuserve.com> asks:
> Do you know how many will be released and at what intervals?

     I actually don't know the release situation vis a vis the
Australia tapes; what happens in international distribution is always a
surprise to me, and frankly this is the first time I've heard of it. 
I'll try to find out, though.  And thanks, for the words, and the news.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 23-Jan-96 11:55:46
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: All
Subject: New Stuff

       As y'all know, next week the latest batch of new episodes
begins to air.  The first one up, "Voices of Authority," is an absolute
hoot; if you've been looking to bring in other viewers, that's a good
one to start them with, because it sets up a lot of what's going to
happen in this episode, it has a lot of background, and it's a lot of
fun.

       The next two are somewhat more straightforward, stand-alones
(to some extent; there's some arc stuff there, however, which becomes
more important later).  Then the last two in this batch represent some
of the best work we've ever done, "Messages From Earth" and "Point of
No Return."  They follow directly on the footsteps of "Voices," so
those three together would be great for new viewers.

       Second, today is Michael O'Hare's first day of shooting here on
the B5 stages for the two-parter, featuring his return to the station
from Minbar, and propels him into the center of attention for most of
the two parts. Everyone's having a great time so far, he and Bruce have
been hanging out a lot, and the episode should be a real toad-strangler
when it's finished.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 23-Jan-96 17:37:08
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Barbara Pfieffer <72302.2453@compuserve.com>
Subject: New Stuff

 Barbara Pfieffer <72302.2453@compuserve.com> asks:
> Toad-strangler?????
> What on earth is a toad-strangler?

     A toad-strangler, a barn-burner, a doozy...it's a good thing.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 23-Jan-96 17:37:10
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: The Jawa / Jawa #2 <76371.3057@compuserve.com>
Subject: New Stuff

 The Jawa / Jawa #2 <76371.3057@compuserve.com> asks:
> ("What do you think of these new uniforms?"
> It'd be like war stories, but only they could understand them.)
> After those...six (I count six, but I'm failing Algebra), are we
> back to repeats?

     Yes, then repeats after sweeps.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 23-Jan-96 17:41:36
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Kathleen E. Ross <102747.3373@compuserve.com>
Subject: Information Sought

 Kathleen E. Ross <102747.3373@compuserve.com> asks:
> Can anyone confirm or deny this runor?
> Does anyone know how this rumored demise will effect Bablon - 5
> (and Kung-Fu: The Legend Continues)? Does anyone have knowledge of
> an existing still?

      PTEN is being restructured; if it should cease to be, WB
domestic syndication will take over all shows like B5 and Kung Fu.

      I'll try to put up a white star gif soonish...there may be one
here now.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 23-Jan-96 21:57:19
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: SysOp Dupa T Parrot <70040.104@compuserve.com>
Subject: Information Sought

 SysOp Dupa T Parrot <70040.104@compuserve.com> asks:
> Does this mean such shows will continue to be syndicated
> independantly of the WB Network?

     Yes, syndication is a completely different entity from the WB
Network.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 24-Jan-96 12:49:01
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Chad Underkoffler <102512.1310@compuserve.com>
Subject: Garibaldi/Talia ?s

 Chad Underkoffler <102512.1310@compuserve.com> asks:
> 1) [Out of Story] Did you, as chief cook and bottle washer,
> decide against persuing the G/T relationship too far because
> Jerry and Andrea were married out here in the Real World(tm)? 2)
> [In the Story] Did the unTalia "shunt" Talia v.1.0 away from
> Garibaldi? If so, why?
> Fear of discovery?
> Optimum choice of targets?
> 3) [In the Story] Did Talia v.1.0 just genuinely dislike Michael?
> 4) Some combination thereof?
> BTW, has the Orkin man paid a visit to n'grath?

     Basically, the answer to all of the questions is "no."

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 24-Jan-96 12:49:02
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Joel Hilke <102354.1702@compuserve.com>
Subject: New Stuff

 Joel Hilke <102354.1702@compuserve.com> asks:
> Is this more a Warner Brothers thing or a Babylon5 thing?
> How many episodes away is this 2-parter?

     The web as it currently exists is more of a Warners thing.

     The two-parter covers episodes 16 and 17 in the schedule.  So far
we've aired 4.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 24-Jan-96 12:49:04
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Joel Hilke <102354.1702@compuserve.com>
Subject: New Stuff

 Joel Hilke <102354.1702@compuserve.com> asks:
> Or do sitcoms go to reruns as often as B5 and the treks and I
> just don't notice since, well, they are moronic sitcoms and B5
> isn't? Oh well - what's the run-down on the reruns - season 3 I
> assume?

     I don't know the rerun schedule yet; they tell me this stuff as
late as possible to keep me from going ballistic, I think....

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 24-Jan-96 12:49:05
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: John Sheridan <70700.345@compuserve.com>
Subject: Warner B5 Web Page

 John Sheridan <70700.345@compuserve.com> asks:
> Downloaded a few of the character .AVI files (What?
> No backup ?

      Yeah, the preview ain't too bad, actually, considering how some
of them have gone.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 24-Jan-96 12:49:06
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Philip Hornsey <74053.2101@compuserve.com>
Subject: Military Questions

 Philip Hornsey <74053.2101@compuserve.com> asks:
> Why was Lennier chosen to serve Delenn, what set him apart?
> Was Knight One's comment about "Maybe we're still inside"
> something we should worry about, or just the ravings of a damaged
> mind? What ever happened to the Home Guard?
> Why did Jack (Garabaldi's aid not Sebastian) say "I've never met
> a Psi Cop before" to Bester when we know he was up to his neck in
> the Conspiracy? Lastly, what is Bester's first name?

     Home Guard found other venues.  Bester's first name is Alfred. 
And Jack was speaking correctly; his contacts were not psi-corps in
nature.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 24-Jan-96 12:49:08
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Gerald Himmelein <100417.3703@compuserve.com>
Subject: Information Sought

 Gerald Himmelein <100417.3703@compuserve.com> asks:
> Is that a Good or a Bad thing?
> Will it affect the video tape gridlock in some way?

     No, it'll have no effect on the videos either way, and is
probably neither a good nor a bad thing; it should be a wash.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 24-Jan-96 12:49:10
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: John R. Finnan (Ireland) <100012.3073@compuserve.com>
Subject: Q: Error in Pilot show?

 John R. Finnan (Ireland) <100012.3073@compuserve.com> asks:
> Well?
> Can you tell us what it was?
> Or has it disappeared from memory?

      It's the overhead shot of the courtroom; we didn't have a second
establisher, so we used the one of Kyle even though Sinclair was on
the stand.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 24-Jan-96 21:35:39
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Phil Koltko <71604.2145@compuserve.com>
Subject: Clark's Law

 Phil Koltko <71604.2145@compuserve.com> asks:
> How did you coordinate the book's storyline with the neighboring
> episodes and the overall arc? Did you put together the story and
> then give it to Mortimore to build a novel around? Did you just
> give him a concept and some inside info he could use? Is this the
> level of quality writing and series/book storyline integration
> what we should expect from the next few books?

     In most cases, the writer sends in a proposal to the book
company; they then send these proposals to me to see which a) I like,
and b) fit in with the storyline one way or another.  When the book is
commissioned, I work with the writer to one degree or another in
keeping things very much on track.  In the case of this book, I
actually did very little until the actual manuscript came in, at which
time I made my notes and suggestions. So the lion's share of any 
compliments here must go to Mortimore.

     And yes, in my view, the other coming two books are just as good.

                                                               jms

------------------------------

Date: 24-Jan-96 21:35:42
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Joel Hilke <102354.1702@compuserve.com>
Subject: New Stuff

 Joel Hilke <102354.1702@compuserve.com> asks:
> Is that not so?

     No, only once has that been done, running "Hunter, Prey" in this
last batch to set up the new ones.  The rest of the time, reruns are
set up so that the stations have new shows to run in the sweeps periods
(February, May, (sometimes July), and November).

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 24-Jan-96 21:35:42
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: David DeRubeis <75221.2351@compuserve.com>
Subject: New Stuff

{original post had no questions}

     I've suggested it; doubt if they'll go for it, but hope springs
eternal.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 25-Jan-96 23:47:44
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Gary Weinfurther <71521.2352@compuserve.com>
Subject: Opening fly-by

{original post had no questions}

      Thanks, yeah, it's a great sequence.  Overall, I'm very happy
with how this season's main title sequence came out.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 25-Jan-96 23:47:47
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Jon A. Bell <74124.276@compuserve.com>
Subject: Gethsemane Praise

{original post had no questions}

     Thanks.  It is a very moving scene, because of what it says about
us, and the sugject, whether one believes it or not.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 26-Jan-96 11:58:09
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Kenneth Porter <76161.3013@compuserve.com>
Subject: Chess boobs

 Kenneth Porter <76161.3013@compuserve.com> asks:
> How can you have a surprise checkmate with two apparently
> chess-knowledgeable onlookers? BTW, how many of the cast and crew
> have played chess?

     Actually, I play chess, though not as much as I used to...and
believe me, there are *many* times I've been surprised and ambushed by
a move I absolutely did NOT see coming.  (I'm also a sucker for a
fool's mate.)

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 26-Jan-96 22:10:21
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Rowan Kaiser <74160.473@compuserve.com>
Subject: Opening fly-by

{original post had no questions}

     Because we have to make the season 3 title sequence *very* early
in the shooting process; we need shots to go out in the first episode
title sequence, but we've only shot a few episodes by the time we need
to deliver. So most shots tend to come from the preceding season.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 26-Jan-96 22:10:23
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: John Hardin <74076.22@compuserve.com>
Subject: Scheduling in UK

 John Hardin <74076.22@compuserve.com> asks:
> Should the same situation recur, can you please encourage Warner
> Brothers to adopt the same solution? Are the Vorlons connected
> with the Illuminati?

     You're assuming I have *any* sway with WB/PTEN about scheduling. 
I don't.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 27-Jan-96 15:33:20
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Elaine E Brown <100353.3702@compuserve.com>
Subject: B5 tapes in Aus

{original post had no questions}

     Yup, that's Harlan for you....

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 27-Jan-96 20:28:19
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Robert Miller <71501.3042@compuserve.com>
Subject: Military Questions

 Robert Miller <71501.3042@compuserve.com> asks:
> Will Jack be appearing again, or will he be mentioned again?

     He'll be mentioned again, yes, in the very next episode, in fact.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 27-Jan-96 20:28:20
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Antony Jackson <100025.2004@compuserve.com>
Subject: B5 Action Fig. - 'ish!

 Antony Jackson <100025.2004@compuserve.com> asks:
> What is this I hear that Henry Unger Associates have been
> licenced to produce Babylon 5 statuettes? Can you tell me a bit
> more about what they will be doing, planned release date etc.? 
> I understand that the same firm also do action figures for other
> licences, if they were to ask (and you are happy with their work
> on the statuettes) would you allow them to produce action
> figures?

     I haven't heard about this yet, so can't comment.  If it does go
ahead, I'll be involved in consulting on it, so I'll have a better
sense of this at that time.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 27-Jan-96 20:28:21
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Cherns Major <75026.3723@compuserve.com>
Subject: COS <-> MOH connection?

{original post had no questions}

     Wow, what a great line-up; almost makes me wish I was in NY.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 27-Jan-96 20:28:25
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Michael Zitaglio <102545.641@compuserve.com>
Subject: Bruce B. on E.T

 Michael Zitaglio <102545.641@compuserve.com> asks:
> Did you have any luck syndicating?

     Bruce was on ET...?  Gotta check that.

                                                               jms

------------------------------

Date: 28-Jan-96 14:23:33
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Randall A. Schanze <74724.762@compuserve.com>
Subject: Atlnta Scheduling Change

{original post had no questions}

     Ah, well....

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 28-Jan-96 14:23:34
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: David Cerreta <72630.3433@compuserve.com>
Subject: <Voices of Authority>

 David Cerreta <72630.3433@compuserve.com> asks:
> That is what I've always assumed, but my wife wonders if they
> might not actually be a cross purposes to the others? You really
> used the entire cast, didn't you?

      Thanks...we keep working to make the show better each season.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 29-Jan-96 00:27:20
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Les P. George <76162.1250@compuserve.com>
Subject: Time Change in Atlanta

 Les P. George <76162.1250@compuserve.com> asks:
> Does PTEN have any type of contractual say so with individual
> stations as to when to air the episodes?

     Yes, I've heard this; we've always had trouble with that station
in terms of air schedules and availability of slots.  There's nothing
anyone can do about it at this end; only local pressure can make an
impact.  (And some of the worst offenders do the "low rated" argument
to cover the fact that they just have too many prior commitments to
other networks like UPN and/or FOX or WBN...or that they just don't
like the show for one reason or another.  Some shows have actually been
bought by stations and *shelved* because they didn't want to air it,
but at the same time didn't want anyone else in the market to air it
either.  (This happened to us on Twilight Zone on several occasions.)

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 29-Jan-96 00:27:22
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Rebecca Eschliman <76072.2345@compuserve.com>
Subject: Organizing B5 Details

 Rebecca Eschliman <76072.2345@compuserve.com> asks:
> How do you keep it all straight as you're writing new episodes?
> Do you have some sort of an external memory-jog like an erasable
> marker board (with different colored markers) or an industrial
> suppy of Post-it notes? Or are all the details of the B5 universe
> maintained on strictly internal storage?

     As I make the changes, in large measure I just keep it all in my
head, though a few things get written down and put on post-it notes
around my home office monitor.  It's like a number-cruncher program;
you make one change, hit return, and it incorporates all the
permutations of that change down the line. That's kind of what I do in
my head.  I change one item, let the ramifications ripple through it
all, and now it's all there.  By doing this every time I make a slight
modification, it lets me see what impact it may have down the line, so
I can avoid making any changes that seriously conflict with the larger
storyline.  It's a headache -- figuratively and literally -- but the 
effort of doing so keeps me on track.

     After that, it's mainly a process of remembering what happened; I
treat this as the history of the Babylon station.  This is what
"happened" in the universe I created in my head.

     Problem is, this occupies all the available RAM my brain seems to
contain.  I have zip memory for anything else that I can consider even
remotely expendable, like appointments, remembering to pick up dry
cleaning, bringing a magazine to a friend's house who'd requested a
copy of something, on and on.  If it ain't involved with B5, it just
slides outta my brain.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 29-Jan-96 12:54:58
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Gerald Himmelein <100417.3703@compuserve.com>
Subject: Organizing B5 Details

 Gerald Himmelein <100417.3703@compuserve.com> asks:
> Bad news for John Ostrander, then?
> Or will you make some room in your brain to fit that project in?

     No, I wouldn't be doing the Grimjack project until *after* I'd
finished this season's scripts in late February.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 29-Jan-96 12:55:01
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Gerard Keating (Ireland) <71154.3423@compuserve.com>
Subject: <Voices of Authority>

 Gerard Keating (Ireland) <71154.3423@compuserve.com> asks:
> Will Marcus's "French" comment be change for the French Language
> Version???

     No idea....

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 29-Jan-96 23:43:37
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Mark D. Smith <70254.107@compuserve.com>
Subject: bk 4 question

 Mark D. Smith <70254.107@compuserve.com> asks:
> Is this true?

     I haven't read the book since the galleys, and don't have a copy
of the finished book yet, so this will have to wait until it arrives. 
I don't recall the exact specifics of the paragraphs in question.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 30-Jan-96 15:57:43
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Mike Biracree <71776.3456@compuserve.com>
Subject: <Lyta in "Clarkes Law"

 Mike Biracree <71776.3456@compuserve.com> asks:
> Is this true?

     I don't know how that would've gotten past me...I don't recall
seeing that in the draft...either I was tired when reading, or it was
added later.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 30-Jan-96 15:57:45
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Joel Hilke <102354.1702@compuserve.com>
Subject: Personal request

{original post had no questions}

     Done and done.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 30-Jan-96 15:59:54
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Paul Owen <100331.2357@compuserve.com>
Subject: Divided Loyalties

{original post had no questions}

     It's a moment of transition and awkwardness, more than anything
else, I think.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 30-Jan-96 21:36:27
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Tony Scarpelli <71535.306@compuserve.com>
Subject: <<We need a mind wipe>>

 Tony Scarpelli <71535.306@compuserve.com> asks:
> Can you please get your people to put the name of the episode at
> the end? Can they, or we, other humans, forgive such a creature?

     Thanks.  The only problem with putting the title at the end of
the episode, in the closing credits, is that many stations chop off the
end credits altogether.  So it's best to have them in the beginning.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 30-Jan-96 21:36:28
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Sharon Foster <76360.301@compuserve.com>
Subject: Richard Biggs

{original post had no questions}

     Ah...so it's out then?  I'll have to get 15 copies for the stage.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 30-Jan-96 21:36:30
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: John McAuley <100260.412@compuserve.com>
Subject: Where do baby narn come

 John McAuley <100260.412@compuserve.com> asks:
> Is this true?

     Yes, John, it's true.  Now finish your brussel sprouts.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 31-Jan-96 11:42:53
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Sharon Foster <76360.301@compuserve.com>
Subject: Richard Biggs

{original post had no questions}

     I'm not getting *near* this one....

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 31-Jan-96 11:59:51
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: PETER STATHIS <103417.3702@compuserve.com>
Subject: B5: Run Around

{original post had no questions}

     "57th out of 75 shows."  Just to correct you: that figure is from
the Christmas period rerun, which was low for everybody, and second,
it's not out of 75 shows, that's usually just the top batch they list,
it's 57th that week out of 275 syndicated shows.  Usually we do in the
40s out of 275, which puts us in the top 20% of all syndicated shows.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 31-Jan-96 11:59:53
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Neil Blevins <102226.3566@compuserve.com>
Subject: <Voices of Authority>

{original post had no questions}

     The other part, I think, is that they were kind of amused to see
this dinky little ship getting in their face, when they *knew* the
First Ones could blast 'em to bits....

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 31-Jan-96 11:59:55
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Gary Weinfurther <71521.2352@compuserve.com>
Subject: <Voices of Authority>

{original post had no questions}

     Who said they didn't recognize it?

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 31-Jan-96 15:34:30
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Philip Hornsey <74053.2101@compuserve.com>
Subject: B5: Run Around

 Philip Hornsey <74053.2101@compuserve.com> asks:
> How are we among syndicated dramas?
> How happy is WB?

     Usually we're in the top ten of all syndicated dramas; WB is
making money on the show's advertising, which is their main concern, so
insofar as I have heard, they're happy.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 31-Jan-96 15:34:37
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: John McAuley <100260.412@compuserve.com>
Subject: Where do baby narn come

 John McAuley <100260.412@compuserve.com> asks:
> Where does she carry the baby?
> Where does it come out of?
> Is it a proper baby or is it a wriggly octopussy thing that turns
> into a humanoid later? How big is it?
> Do they live in water?
> Do baby boy Centauri have to wear wigs?

     Ask your mother.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 31-Jan-96 21:37:49
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Tony Scarpelli <71535.306@compuserve.com>
Subject: <<We need a mind wipe>>

{original post had no questions}

     You can't do that; you can only have the title card once, because
SAG, DGA, WGA and other unions have rules that regulate where their
workers appear in relation to the title of the episode.  If you have it
twice, you mess that up.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 31-Jan-96 21:37:50
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Michael Zitaglio <102545.641@compuserve.com>
Subject: Marketing B5

 Michael Zitaglio <102545.641@compuserve.com> asks:
> Any luck in Las Vegas marketing B5 for syndication?

     Haven't heard yet.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 31-Jan-96 21:37:53
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Brian A. Thomas <75231.1122@compuserve.com>
Subject: Richard Biggs

{original post had no questions}

     Yes, we'll have a female PA pick them up.  (I don't have the
heart to tell anyone that they're usually in the Gay Men's Magazine
section....)

                                                                  jms

------------------------------