lurkers-guide/ftp/GEnie/jms94-10

This file contains messages posted by J. Michael Straczynski on GEnie
for October, 1994. Postings are copyright 1994 by J. Michael Straczynski
with compilation copyright by GEnie.

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Topic 1         Mon Oct 26, 1992
SF-MARSHALL [Dave ]          at 18:50 EST
Sub: Babylon 5 - The Series  (Non-Spoiler)

Welcome to the Babylon 5 General category.  This is the main topic for  the
hit SF series.  We discuss all general information on the series in this
topic.  Topic 2 is for SPOILERS!  DO NOT POST STORY IDEAS!

643 message(s) total.
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Category 18,  Topic 1
Message 28        Sat Oct 01, 1994
STRACZYNSKI [Joe]            at 01:10 EDT

     Haven't heard any audio king commercials, so I don't know, but I'll try
and keep an ear out.

                                                           jms
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Category 18,  Topic 1
Message 32        Sat Oct 01, 1994
STRACZYNSKI [Joe]            at 04:26 EDT

     The clause serves the stations, which want flexibility.

                                                                 jms
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Category 18,  Topic 1
Message 60        Sun Oct 02, 1994
STRACZYNSKI [Joe]            at 19:00 EDT

     I received a lot of response, as noted above, from scientists (no less
than Freeman Dyson, for instance) who had frankly never really been ASKED
about the whole sound in space issue...and when they put their thoughts to it,
indicated that yes, there *would* be sound, of varying kinds and orders of
magnitude.  I've got it all in a big textfile, and hope to get around to
editing it for space and uploading it one of these days.

                                                                jms
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Category 18,  Topic 1
Message 71        Mon Oct 03, 1994
STRACZYNSKI [Joe]            at 00:39 EDT

     I dunno about Chrysalis parties...mainly because whenever we've shown
anyone the episode, the usual reaction at the end is a long, prolonged stunned
silence.  Might kinda cut into the jovialities....

                                                              jms
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Category 18,  Topic 1
Message 242       Mon Oct 17, 1994
STRACZYNSKI [Joe]            at 01:53 EDT

     T.J.Terru...ah, the famous archeaologist...my regards to Ruby and the
Android Sisters.

     Yes, have been in England, having left a week ago Saturday, and just
returning today.  Will post a longer note about this when I've fully recovered
(vacation, ha!).  We always give cast and crew a week break mid way between
the start of filming and the Christmas hiatus.  Tomorrow we begin shooting "A
Race Through Dark Places," with Walter Koenig.

                                                                   jms
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Category 18,  Topic 1
Message 252       Tue Oct 18, 1994
STRACZYNSKI [Joe]            at 00:42 EDT

     Re: any discussions in Showbiz or elsewhere about O'Hare, which I have
answered and answered until I'm blue in the face, and another new "true story"
comes out two weeks later that I have to deal with...I'll make a deal with
Warren and anybody else over there: I'll be happy to discuss this some more if
they'll give me the names and phone numbers of their last three or four
employers, so that I may inquire and find out the circumstances under which
they left THEIR last employment.  After all, by virtue of being on the nets,
which are public, and published electronically worldwide, they're public
figures as well...if they think this is fair game for others, then it should
be fair game for them as well.

                                                                  jms
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Category 18,  Topic 1
Message 270       Wed Oct 19, 1994
STRACZYNSKI [Joe]            at 00:44 EDT

     There were a lot of ganged repeats due to the fact that we went on the
air in January, and they wanted new shows to stretch to the November sweeps.
Now we're going on in November, and can last fairly easily  through to the May
sweeps with fewer reruns (not as long a stretch), so there may be some relief
here.

                                                             jms
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Category 18,  Topic 1
Message 289       Thu Oct 20, 1994
STRACZYNSKI [Joe]            at 00:21 EDT

      So what was the (non-spoiler) reaction of the crowd at Farpoint to the
"Chrysalis" showing?

     Filming started this week on "A Race Through Dark Places," with Walter
Koenig back as Bester.  Going well.  Late next week we start shooting Peter
David's script, "Soul Mates," guest-starring Lois  Nettleton and Jane Carr as
two of Londo's wives, and Keith Sarabeca (not one of Londo's wives) (and I
think I just misspelled his name).

                                                                  jms
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Category 18,  Topic 1
Message 311       Fri Oct 21, 1994
STRACZYNSKI [Joe]            at 01:21 EDT

     At this point I plan to show "Chrysalis" at the Dallas convention on
Saturday, a few days ahead of its airing there.  And maybe some other
stuff....

                                                     jms
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Category 18,  Topic 1
Message 315       Fri Oct 21, 1994
STRACZYNSKI [Joe]            at 05:38 EDT

     Part of this discussion that intrigues me is the literalness of it.

     When you watch a cop show, and the cop fires his gun, do people really
think it makes that BOOM! sound?  Listen to a real gun; it's usually sort of a
*pop*.

     When a car screeches around the corner, does it *really* make that huge
noise?

     When someone gets punched in a TV episode, and you hear a sharp CRACK! as
fist impacts chin, do people really think it makes that sound, rather than a
kind of barely-audible fleshy *thud*?

     Is the microphone in space, is the microphone enclosed, is the microphone
a person...the microphone *isn't there*.

     Nothing in television is intended as absolute reality, even when it
aspires to that.  The most rigorous of all documentaries nonetheless must cull
quotes.  When we mix an episode, we add in footsteps (because you couldn't
hear them otherwise), we add voices in the background via walla groups that
weren't there in the first place, dub in lines that didn't exist, add the
sound of punches, add the sound of PPGs firing, enhance the sound of a punch,
add bleeps and beeps to machinery...the argument that adding sound to space
isn't real doesn't hold up because *virtually none* of the sound you hear is
real, and again virtually NONE of it is there when the microphone and camera
are present.

     It just seems odd to me to concentrate on this one issue, when in truth
the sound is false throughout *ALL* television.  Why this and not the other?

     One of the researchers I contacted at the High Altitude Observatory
stated the case very eloquently: he said that to date, *no one* has ever stuck
a microphone out into space to see what anyone could hear; and no one has ever
stuck their head out of a shuttle, minus helmet, to find out  either.  It's
*all* conjecture.  So you might as well assume there is  sound of some sort as
there isn't, until someone does the actual experiment.

     Another scientist there at the HAO, Steve Smith, PhD (plasma/
astrophysicist) wrote me saying, "Space is not empty, it's full of plasma
(ionized gas) and full of the plasma equivalent of sound waves.   Since plasma
is ionized and generally contains a magnetic field, there are a lot more types
of waves than just sound waves (usually the only form of atmospheric wave we
encounter).

     But here's a real killer: from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena,
CA, a scientist who worked on the Voyager mission noted that "probes like
Voyager do register bow-shock as they cross the speed of sound in the
interplanetary medium."

     That was *monitored* at JPL.  So if there's no sound in space...what was
that bow-shock?

     There's plenty of evidence that there IS sound in space.  How much, or
little, can't be known until experiments on this have been conducted by
researchers, and thus far this has not been done.  Until it has, there seems
nothing amiss with the direction we've taken.

     I am just intrigued at how much of a bugaboo this is in the SF community,
which swallows the BLAMMMMM! of a beat cop's .38 without ever even questioning
if it would *really* make that sound or not.

                                                                  jms
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Category 18,  Topic 1
Message 321       Fri Oct 21, 1994
STRACZYNSKI [Joe]            at 13:59 EDT

     BTW, this weekend I'll be at Stellar Occasion Convention in Dallas, at
the Executive Hotel in Love Field.  Claudia Christian will also be present.
I'll be giving two presentations, at noon and six p.m. Saturday, including a
showing of "Chrysalis."

     And maybe some other stuff.

                                                                  jms
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Category 18,  Topic 1
Message 419       Tue Oct 25, 1994
STRACZYNSKI [Joe]            at 04:15 EDT

     Every so often, a screwup takes place that is so breathtakingly stupid
that it defies all logic and reason.  I just learned of one this evening, and
I'm still reeling a bit from it.  Consequently, this is address to anyone who
watched the satellite uplink of "Chrysalis" or has seen it in the US in the
last day or so.

     Once we deliver an episode, it goes to two places: Modern Video and CVC.
CVC checks an episode of any series prior to uplink to make sure it's okay.
Though they've had it for four months, they only got around to checking it the
day before uplink.  During this, they found a couple of small audio pops.  The
kind of thing that could be fixed in about five minutes.  But since it was the
evening, Modern Video decided to fix it for us...by *rebuilding the entire
episode*.

     Without calling us, notifying us, or checking with us, when we could've
easily had someone on-hand there to supervise at a moment's notice.

     Well, when they rebuilt the episode...they didn't use all the correct
footage.  Some of what was used was RAW FOOTAGE.  Example: when Londo goes to
meet someone in the Garden, there's supposed to be a great composite shot
there of the interior of the Garden area, and a hedge maze.  (The UK saw this
version of it last month.)  But when the episode was rebuilt, they used the
raw footage segment showing Londo and a partial hedge IN THE SOUNDSTAGE, where
you can see the stage wall, and the pipes, and the EXIT sign.  No composite.
Nada.

     We don't yet know what else has been included incorrectly, because we
won't see a copy until morning.  Suffice to say that this is being taken care
of *our* way overnight, and a correct version will  be sent out via satellite
in time for the Wednesday first airings in most markets, and the reruns in
those markets where it's already aired.

     At this moment, I am preternaturally calm about all this, having passed
beyond anger earlier this evening into a kind of zen state of consciousness,
utterly unable to wrap my brain around the absolute stupidity of something
like this for more than two minutes at a time.

     By morning, this will have worn off.

     I'm looking forward to it immensely.

                                                                jms
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Category 18,  Topic 1
Message 427       Tue Oct 25, 1994
STRACZYNSKI [Joe]            at 15:16 EDT

     John: yeah, you definitely should've said something; we'd never put out
something like that.  As it turns out, we discovered that there were TWO comp
shots missing (including one in DownBelow), and that's how the "to be
continued" got added in at the end.  We rousted our people out of bed and had
them at the Modern Video facility at 2:30 a.m. fixing other people's mistakes,
rebuilding the entire episode so it could be birded out this afternoon.

     BTW, for those interested, Bruce will be on Tom Snyder show tonight.

                                                                  jms
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Category 18,  Topic 1
Message 445       Tue Oct 25, 1994
STRACZYNSKI [Joe]            at 23:54 EDT

     The Minbari in the clip was a one-shot.

                                                                 jms
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Category 18,  Topic 1
Message 488       Thu Oct 27, 1994
STRACZYNSKI [Joe]            at 01:01 EDT

     BTW, I'm pleased to note that Christopher Franke's company has gotten the
contract to do the B5 soundtrack...AND that there will be an effort made to
have a *limited edition* version available ONLY for LosCon over the
Thanksgiving weekend.

                                                                jms
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Category 18,  Topic 1
Message 495       Thu Oct 27, 1994
STRACZYNSKI [Joe]            at 03:15 EDT

     Phil: if you saw TBC at the end of the episode, it was NOT the correct
version.

                                                                 jms
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Category 18,  Topic 1
Message 500       Thu Oct 27, 1994
STRACZYNSKI [Joe]            at 15:42 EDT

     A notice already went out to ALL tv stations.  He may just not want to
exert the effort to put in the correct version.

                                                               jms
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Category 18,  Topic 1
Message 517       Fri Oct 28, 1994
STRACZYNSKI [Joe]            at 00:39 EDT

     What episodes to watch for in year two that are, variously, very
important or moderately important to the storyline....

     "Points of Departure," "Revelations," a piece of "The Geometry of
Shadows" but not all of it; portions of "The Long Dark," "GROPOS" and "A
Spider in the Web," and all of "A Race Through Dark Places" and "The Coming of
Shadows," with the latter two of critical importance.

                                                                     jms
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Category 18,  Topic 1
Message 560       Sat Oct 29, 1994
STRACZYNSKI [Joe]            at 20:16 EDT

     Losing the characters she's come to enjoy?  No.  But the characters are
changing.  That's the point, and that's been the intent from day one.   But
what's the alternative?  I've heard ST fans complain loudly and bitterly that
after 7 years of TNG being on the air, nobody's really changed, nobody's been
promoted into different ships or major changes in responsibilities...they've
had Riker as XO for seven years, which in the real military would mean his
career is *over*.

     Change is the only other option.

     The goal, from the start, was to create an overall story, but which would
also require arcs for every single major character.  They're all going
somewhere.  In many cases, that "somewhere" plays into the larger arc; in some
cases, not.  If a woman is single, then gets married, then gives birth, and
she's your friend, have you "lost her" just because she's gone through these
changes?  Of course not.  She has changed, in good or bad ways, but she's
still the same person.

                                                                  jms
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Category 18,  Topic 1
Message 574       Sun Oct 30, 1994
STRACZYNSKI [Joe]            at 02:24 EST

     I do not believe it...I simply, fragging do not believe it...after all
that, after airing the right version on Wednesday, Channel 13 in LA ran the
wrong Chrysalis tonight at midnight.

     The universe hates me.

                                                                   jms
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Category 18,  Topic 1
Message 593       Sun Oct 30, 1994
STRACZYNSKI [Joe]            at 16:28 EST

     Newkirk...re: post-launch thoughts..."Once ze rockets go up, who cares
vere they come down, that's not my department, says Werner Von Braun...."

                                                                 jms
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Topic 2         Wed Nov 20, 1991
STARR [Arne]                 at 19:41 EST
Sub: Babylon 5 -- The Series!! >>SPOILERS<<

Babylon 5 is moving into a second season of 22 episodes.  This series can be
seen at 8 Pm on Wednesdays, in most areas.  This topic is for SPOILERS only.
Just remember our NO STORY IDEAS rule and we'll let you live. <g>

661 message(s) total.
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Category 18,  Topic 2
Message 453       Sat Oct 01, 1994
STRACZYNSKI [Joe]            at 01:12 EDT

     That's *exactly* what the soundtrack that Christopher has put together
sounds like...he's orchestrated music from all the episodes so that they segue
cleanly into one another, extending some, interpolating a bit here and
there...it's an hour or so of nonstop music, one big symphony.  Lovely,
absolutely lovely.

     (Again, I have one of the very few CDs he made to test this, and it's
terrific.)

                                                                 jms
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Category 18,  Topic 2
Message 455       Sat Oct 01, 1994
STRACZYNSKI [Joe]            at 04:27 EDT

     Should be out in November or December; what exactly it'll be like will
depend to some degree on whether it goes to Chris's company or another.

                                                                jms
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Category 18,  Topic 2
Message 457       Sun Oct 02, 1994
STRACZYNSKI [Joe]            at 03:13 EDT

      I don't see a contradiction there; people I know here who are Jewish
seem to have no problem classifying themselves as Americans.

                                                                 jms
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Category 18,  Topic 2
Message 463       Sun Oct 02, 1994
STRACZYNSKI [Joe]            at 19:02 EDT

     Re: LDS and separation of church and state...tell that to anyone living
in or around Salt Lake City....

                                                                 jms
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Category 18,  Topic 2
Message 468       Mon Oct 03, 1994
STRACZYNSKI [Joe]            at 00:40 EDT

     Personally, despite my ethnic background, I tend to think of myself
mainly as a large left-handed wrench.

     But I guess that's pretty common....

                                                                  jms
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Category 18,  Topic 2
Message 473       Mon Oct 03, 1994
STRACZYNSKI [Joe]            at 04:51 EDT

     Hey...could be worse...could've said Wench...which as we all know is the
feminine version of a Mensch....

                                                            jms
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Category 18,  Topic 2
Message 481       Wed Oct 05, 1994
STRACZYNSKI [Joe]            at 00:13 EDT

     One was an Earthforce atmospheric-capable shuttle; the other was a
Centauri personal transport.

                                                                  jms
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Category 18,  Topic 2
Message 608       Fri Oct 28, 1994
STRACZYNSKI [Joe]            at 03:24 EDT

     It may be wise, about now, to start opening up the cat 19 spoilers topics
for season two, since "Points" goes out on the big bird tomorrow morning.
(And those who downlink it will be among the first to see our rather spiffy
new main title sequence.)

                                                               jms
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Category 18,  Topic 2
Message 614       Sat Oct 29, 1994
STRACZYNSKI [Joe]            at 03:46 EDT

     Generally speaking, Warners/PTEN leaves us alone.  Each season, as with
all TV shows, they tend to get involved in the first couple of episodes,
giving notes and wanting to see early cuts.  Since they have more time to
become involved, they do so.  This quickly phases down; we got a fair number
of notes on the first episode of both seasons of B5; less on the second;
single note on a script or cut since about #3, and we're currently up to #10,
script-wise.

                                                                     jms
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Category 18,  Topic 2
Message 619       Sat Oct 29, 1994
STRACZYNSKI [Joe]            at 20:20 EDT

     There really wasn't/isn't time in PoD to get into the angst everyone has
over Sinclair leaving (though some of that is given to Sheridan, oddly
enough).  But it WILL get brought up in subsequent episodes, especially from
Garibaldi.

     RE: Warner notes...mainly they're in areas of clarification, making sure
that we don't get obscure with some of the arc stuff.  Each episode HAS to be
clear to anyone coming in mid-stream, so they're helpful on that aspect.

                                                                jms
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Category 18,  Topic 2
Message 629       Sun Oct 30, 1994
STRACZYNSKI [Joe]            at 02:27 EST

     Hey, folks said the answers were coming too slowly, now too quickly...
what's a producer to do?

     I said, from the very beginning, that once the series got rolling, no
single primary question could be allowed to go more than about one season
before answering it, otherwise you get into a frustrating Twin Peaks situation
where *nothing* is resolved.  Basically, the events begun in "Chrysalis" bleed
over into three episodes; the Battle of the Line answers were initially only a
couple of episodes further down in my outline, about episode #3.  Making the
change, for one thing, allowed me to move that storyline forward to episode
#1, blow through it and get the story moving in year two faster, rather than
delaying further with loose threads from season one.

                                                               jms
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Category 18,  Topic 2
Message 637       Sun Oct 30, 1994
STRACZYNSKI [Joe]            at 16:33 EST

     Klaatu...I can probably answer your question a little better after you've
seen the second episode of this season.  For now, let's just say this: in
working out the story for year two, Sinclair's main line of connection was to
the Minbari.  But the Minbari storyline was diminishing in ways connected to
the war in year two; obviously we all know what is on the upswing in year two,
certain dark forces.  I needed someone who has a connection to *that* side of
the story to personalize it, and Sheridan brings that connection to the mix,
although he doesn't know it yet.

                                                                   jms
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Topic 5         Tue Nov 03, 1992
T.ORTH [Mr. Rico]            (Forwarded)
Sub: Grid Epsilon Irregulars - News & Info.

This topic is for information about Babylon 5 fan groups, newsletters,
fanzines, get-togethers, B-5 at conventions, and other general fun.
575 message(s) total.
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Category 18,  Topic 5
Message 542       Mon Oct 17, 1994
STRACZYNSKI [Joe]            at 02:05 EDT

     ND = NonDescript (an extra, no one who should be noticeable)

     A/B = Blood types.

                                                                    jms
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Topic 9         Wed Nov 11, 1992
T.RESTIVO [Little Guy]       at 18:27 EST
Sub: Babylon 5 Humor                    

From *Beep Beep*, to Top Ten Lists, to full-blown parodies, this is where to
put your funny bone in writing!
599 message(s) total.
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Category 18,  Topic 9
Message 580       Sat Oct 01, 1994
STRACZYNSKI [Joe]            at 04:29 EDT

     I've told others on the show that you'll know I've really, really, really
sold out the day I approve the licensing of Babylon 5 Underoos.

                                                                 jms
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Topic 11        Sat Nov 14, 1992
J.SHEEN1 [Leviathan]         at 18:09 EST
Sub: B5 Adrift!                         

 BABYLON 5 Topic Drift
 If you feel like talking about it, but it doesn't fit anywhere else... If its
only connection to B-5 is that you thought of it in this CAT...
 This is where to come and get it out.
478 message(s) total.
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Category 18,  Topic 11
Message 462       Sat Oct 08, 1994
STRACZYNSKI [Joe]            at 03:08 EDT

     Nope; never went to school in Cincinnati; never even *in* that state for
longer than required to drive through it.

                                                                jms
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Category 18,  Topic 11
Message 472       Fri Oct 21, 1994
STRACZYNSKI [Joe]            at 14:02 EDT

     At last, someone else who has seen the Leningrad Cowboys movie.  I
stumbled upon it on Bravo one night, about 45 minutes into it, and sat riveted
to the seat.  Literallly did not move, and discovered after a  while that my
arm was aching from where I'd been holding the remote the whole time.  Very,
very weird....

     Liked it.  Not sure why....

                                                               jms
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Category 18,  Topic 11
Message 476       Tue Oct 25, 1994
STRACZYNSKI [Joe]            at 23:56 EDT

     IT'S ON VIDEO!?

     >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>zooooooooooooooooooooom!

                                                                   jms
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Topic 12        Wed Nov 18, 1992
B.WIST [Brad]                at 18:12 EST
Sub: Babylon 5 Sightings                

Post here when you've spotted Babylon 5, whether it be on Television,
Magazine, or somewhere else.  Let us know where we can find it/see it, too.
463 message(s) total.
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Category 18,  Topic 12
Message 441       Mon Oct 17, 1994
STRACZYNSKI [Joe]            at 02:13 EDT

      I believe some of the interviews for FutureQuest were performed in the
B5 central corridor.

     Re: magazines...yes, in the UK there are even some mainstream mags  and
newspapers discovering the show.  The Radio Times gave it a glowing review,
the Times called it superior, the Evening Standard called it
spiffing...Starburst has done one or two covers on the show, as has TV Zone
(to whom I gave an interview while in London).

     In the US, Cinefantastique has given it the cover twice.  Note that
Starlog has not done so once.  Personally, I won't have anything to do with
the magazine, because of their tendency to get stuff wrong, and because
they're primarily a ST/Paramount mouthpiece.  The editor there has told people
that even though they give covers to less highly rated shows like Highlander,
they'll *never* do a B5 cover because it would piss off Paramount.  And they
never have.  (Just one more reason why I won't in any way cooperate; I can't
prevent, and wouldn't try to prevent, my cast from doing so, because it's a
free country and they deserve the exposure.  I  don't think the second-rate
treatment is appropriate, personally.  Just shows you where their head is.)

                                                                   jms
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Category 18,  Topic 12
Message 448       Thu Oct 20, 1994
STRACZYNSKI [Joe]            at 00:23 EDT

     The grey-alien trial scene from "Grail" will be excerpted for a two-part
"Sightings" on alien abduction.

     I'm *still* laughing.

                                                                  jms
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Topic 17        Tue Jan 19, 1993
C.STOBBE [Colin]             at 21:02 EST
Sub: Babylon 5 - Merchandising          

A place to discuss all the neat Babylon 5 merchandising coming out (hopefully)
soon
593 message(s) total.
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Category 18,  Topic 17
Message 568       Fri Oct 21, 1994
STRACZYNSKI [Joe]            at 01:24 EDT

     BTW, for those interested, Chris Claremont is a *major* B5 fan (a man of
impeccable taste); anybody who wants to lean on him to do one of the B5 arcs
is more than welcome to do so....

                                                               jms
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Category 18,  Topic 17
Message 574       Sun Oct 30, 1994
STRACZYNSKI [Joe]            at 02:04 EDT

     Confirmed on the Galoob Micro-Machines.

                                                              jms
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Category 18,  Topic 17
Message 586       Mon Oct 31, 1994
STRACZYNSKI [Joe]            at 02:45 EST

     Insofar as I know, the micros are coming out in sets, I think it's either
8 or 12 to a set.  Don't know about any subsequent group boxes.

                                                                 jms
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Topic 22        Fri Feb 12, 1993
R.FURR [Rob Furr]            at 00:19 EST
Sub: Governments and Trade in B5        

Most SF shows simply posit a government of sorts, and blithely ignore it ever
afterwards. You might see a freighter (with a big "shoot me!" sign on it) but
no other mention of trade. How about B5?
179 message(s) total.
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Category 18,  Topic 22
Message 177       Tue Oct 18, 1994
STRACZYNSKI [Joe]            at 00:44 EDT

     Talia is on retainer with B5, with Psi Corps paying her rent and food,
and taking the majority of money from her commissions, which she generally is
free to select, except in cases where they may insist.

                                                             jms
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Topic 25        Fri Mar 12, 1993
S.SHELLENBAR [>> SHANE <<]   at 08:47 EST
Sub: J. Michael Straczynski Speaks in Public

This is the place to find out where and when JMS will be appearing next.  JMS
has honed his skills as a public speaker and is taking his act on the road.
376 message(s) total.
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Category 18,  Topic 25
Message 359       Tue Oct 25, 1994
STRACZYNSKI [Joe]            at 01:04 EDT

     Johann...ah, was that you?  Should've identified yourself.

     (BTW, I was rather nonplussed when, upon arriving at the con, I was told
that my escort/runner/driver for the duration of the con was a fellow who went
by the nickname Shadow (albeit spelled Shaddo).  Sort of caught me up short,
to say the least (they ARE everywhere).

     Nothing firmed up yet about other cast/crew at LosCon.

                                                                  jms
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Category 18,  Topic 25
Message 366       Thu Oct 27, 1994
STRACZYNSKI [Joe]            at 01:06 EDT

     Johann...you must understand that I have the worst memory for faces in
the long history of mankind.

                                                                  jms
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Category 18,  Topic 25
Message 372       Sat Oct 29, 1994
STRACZYNSKI [Joe]            at 20:21 EDT

                          #9.

                                                            jms
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Topic 29        Thu Jun 30, 1994
B.SHERRIS [Brett]            at 00:03 EDT
Sub: The Master Plan                    

WARNING!  THIS TOPIC MAY CONTAIN INFORMATION THAT IS VITAL TO THE FIVE YEAR
 STORY ARC OF BABYLON 5.  DO NOT READ THIS TOPIC IF YOU DO NOT WISH TO
 POSSIBLY DISCOVER THE PURPOSE OF THE FIVE YEAR STORY ARC!
143 message(s) total.
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Category 18,  Topic 29
Message 139       Sat Oct 29, 1994
STRACZYNSKI [Joe]            at 03:52 EDT

     Granted there is metaphor in the construction of the B5 story, but it's
not point-for-point in any linear fashion.  The coming conflagration will look
a hell of a lot more like a cross between WW II and the breaking of the seals
in "Revelations" than Vietnam.  (Probably the Earth/Minbari War could be made
the closest approximation of Vietnam; "peace with honor" and all that.)  The
point of metaphor, I think, is not to draw a straight parallel, but to tilt
the mirror a bit, shift the focus and see how this change of perspective
illuminates reality.

                                                                 jms
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Topic 30        Mon Jul 04, 1994
D.KAUFFMAN5 [CyberDad]       at 13:14 EDT
Sub: Nods, In-Jokes, and References     

Post any nods, in-jokes, or references you have seen here.  For example,
Babylon 5 refers to the Babylon of ancient Earth; the location of B5 is at
Grid Epsilon 470/18/22, the location of the original B5 topic on GEnie.
267 message(s) total.
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Category 18,  Topic 30
Message 255       Wed Oct 05, 1994
STRACZYNSKI [Joe]            at 00:15 EDT

     Weren't her.

                                                               jms
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Category 18,  Topic 30
Message 257       Tue Oct 18, 1994
STRACZYNSKI [Joe]            at 00:45 EDT

     *What* Piperism?

                                                                  jms
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Category 18,  Topic 30
Message 262       Wed Oct 19, 1994
STRACZYNSKI [Joe]            at 00:49 EDT

      Oh....*that*.  Yeah, that's something we've done, but just because it
seemed right.  Never even considered Piper.  Having met an african american
named O'Reilly, and Irish-born Jews, and the like, it just seems this is gonna
continue.  So we just write the names of the characters, and cast whoever
comes in the door as the best actor, regardless of ethnic background, but
don't change the name.  Gives us some interesting random combinations.

                                                        jms
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Topic 31        Sat Jul 09, 1994
STRACZYNSKI [Joe]            at 20:23 EDT
Sub: Really Stupid Questions from JMS   

Every so often, I need Information.  (You won't get it!)  Technical stuff,
research or reference stuff...and given the brain trust here, I figured this
could be a useful resource from time to time.  With appreciation.
165 message(s) total.
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Category 18,  Topic 31
Message 151       Sat Oct 01, 1994
STRACZYNSKI [Joe]            at 04:30 EDT

     What the hell happened to NVN?  For the last few months, when I try to
log on using the same script and number as ever, it goes halfway through the
process, then just stops dead.

                                                                jms
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Topic 32        Sun Aug 14, 1994
J.DREW [C. Rift 17/6]        at 10:21 EDT
Sub: Babylon 5 Actors in Other Roles    

Post here when you see a B5 actor or guest star in another role, either
television or movie.
43 message(s) total.
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Category 18,  Topic 32
Message 33        Sun Oct 02, 1994
STRACZYNSKI [Joe]            at 19:03 EDT

     Sanderson also did a "Twilight Zone" for me, did an okay job.

                                                          jms
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Topic 35        Sun Sep 18, 1994
R.FELDMAN [Chats]            at 17:15 EDT
Sub: Softball in Grid Epsilon           

Here is where I'll report the results of the Babylon 5 Softball games. As we
have no known Telepaths here, I'll have to wait until AFTER the games have
taken place....
33 message(s) total.
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Category 18,  Topic 35
Message 9         Mon Oct 03, 1994
STRACZYNSKI [Joe]            at 00:44 EDT

     I think this is sorta unconscionable, spiking some poor old nanny at home
base...hell, how could they not win up against a bunch of old  ladies...?

                     jm(oblivious and proud of it)s
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Category 18,  Topic 35
Message 14        Tue Oct 04, 1994
STRACZYNSKI [Joe]            at 03:50 EDT

     Mainly Narns, Drazi and a few Pak'ma'ra.

     Umpires are all Vorlons.  But isn't that what we all kinda suspected
anyway...?

                                                              jms
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Category 18,  Topic 35
Message 18        Wed Oct 05, 1994
STRACZYNSKI [Joe]            at 03:18 EDT

     And Umpire-speak is certainly Vorlonish.

     "Strike."

     "Foul."

     "Safe."

     "Out."

                                                         jms
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Topic 16        Sun Apr 17, 1994
STARR [Arne]                 at 23:42 EDT
Sub: #116 - "Signs And Portents"        

by JMS. Directed by Janet Greek.  Co-starring Gerrit Graham.
291 message(s) total.
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Category 19,  Topic 16
Message 286       Tue Oct 04, 1994
STRACZYNSKI [Joe]            at 00:34 EDT

     Bluescreen.

                                                          jms
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Topic 17        Sun Apr 17, 1994
STARR [Arne]                 at 23:45 EDT
Sub: #114 - "By Any Means Neccessary"   

by Kathryn M. Drennan.
 Directed by Jim Johnston. Co-Stars John Snyder and Katy Boyer.
88 message(s) total.
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Category 19,  Topic 17
Message 86        Sat Oct 01, 1994
STRACZYNSKI [Joe]            at 04:38 EDT

     Correct: B5 is a distribution point, and many objects are stored in the
zero-G area and never brought into the station proper.

     Johanna: reality check.  If I put in all the staff (or even most of the
staff) you suggest, huge diplomatic staffs, trade envoys, political attaches,
military, etc...and did this times 5 ambassadors...even totally leaving out
the League of Non-Aligned Worlds...there wouldn't be any money left to
actually make the show.  You'd have all the cast you suggest, but no money for
film, or cameras, or crew.  Right now we have 14-16 regular and recurring
characters, and another 8 or so who appear periodically (like Lou Welch).
This is the biggest cast ever put together for an SF series, and we're
straining as it is to accommodate all of this.  To have more just to have them
is pointless, and would bankrupt the show.

                                                                  jms
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Topic 26        Mon Apr 18, 1994
STARR [Arne]                 at 00:03 EDT
Sub: #112 - "Chrysalis"                 

by JMS. Directed by Janet Greek.  Season finale.
165 message(s) total.
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Category 19,  Topic 26
Message 9         Thu Oct 06, 1994
STRACZYNSKI [Joe]            at 01:35 EDT

     Arne's seen it.

                                                               jms
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Category 19,  Topic 26
Message 34        Thu Oct 20, 1994
STRACZYNSKI [Joe]            at 00:14 EDT

     It's a weird promo, because if you see it, it makes it look like season
two starts next week (well, that's what it says), showing you Bruce and
others...but if you tune in, you get "Chrysalis."  Weird....


                                                  jms
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Category 19,  Topic 26
Message 46        Fri Oct 21, 1994
STRACZYNSKI [Joe]            at 13:56 EDT

     "Chrysalis" is more questions than answers; the next two episodes are
more answers than questions.

                                                                 jms
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Category 19,  Topic 26
Message 62        Tue Oct 25, 1994
STRACZYNSKI [Joe]            at 00:53 EDT

     We used the LBJ swearing-in photograph in staging that shot; odd
coincidence: the day we filmed that was the anniversary of the day that LBJ
did this in real life.  The mood on set that day was thus *very* weird.

                                                                  jms
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Category 19,  Topic 26
Message 91        Thu Oct 27, 1994
STRACZYNSKI [Joe]            at 03:13 EDT

     Phil: there *is* a parting resolution/explanation for the Sinclair
situation in the first episode of next season.

     In two episodes, you will discover: a) what happened during the 24 hours
missing from Sinclair's memory; b) why the Minbari surrendered at the Battle
of the Line; c) what Delenn has turned into; d) what G'Kar found on his
expedition; e) the fate of Garibaldi...and a bunch of other stuff.

     How's that for starters?

                                                                  jms
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Category 19,  Topic 26
Message 164       Tue Nov 01, 1994
STRACZYNSKI [Joe]            at 00:14 EST

     That's correct.  "Chrysalis" was filmed last November, as episode #12.
We are now, for instance, shooting #8, and will again be shooting around #11
or so in November.  (We started shooting a few weeks later this year than
last.)

                                                              jms
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Topic 27        Mon Aug 29, 1994
STARR [Arne]                 (Forwarded)
Sub: #201 - "Points of Departure"       

by JMS. Directed by Janet Greek.
6 message(s) total.
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Category 19,  Topic 27
Message 5         Mon Oct 31, 1994
STRACZYNSKI [Joe]            at 02:37 EST

     I agree about the theme this year; I kinda wanted it a little on the
ominous side, something unsettling about it.  Chris did a great job.

                                                                jms
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