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The Lurker's Guide to Babylon 5
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====
FROM: ESTHER SCHINDLER
DATE: WED 7 DEC 1994 1:00:10
I dunno. My first thought was to wonder how she washed her hair.
--Esther
====
INTEL ON DELENN!?!?
DATE: WED 7 DEC 1994 3:23:27 #48079
Hold that thought for two weeks.
jms
POINTS OF DEPARTURE
DATE: TUES 22 NOV 1994 11:34:16 #36470
On the other hand, it was exactly this kind
of discussion that the show was designed to provoke.
Don't just state what one believes; WHY does one
believe it, and what proof does one offer, and what
level of proof does one require (two different issues).
jms
=======
Q #36092: <will there be any tie-in between Earth religions
and "certain outside elements"?>
=======
NARN RELIGIOUS HISTORY
DATE: TUES 22 NOV 1994 11:15:19 #36434
No real connection, no.
jms
=======
CHRYSALIS - SORT OF
DATE: WED 7 DEC 1994 1:08:05 #47775
Re: "Watch your back," and "You never did know how
to watch your back," yep, that was a bit of deliberate
foreshadowing for "Chrysalis." When the episode aired,
I mentioned at the time that there was something in that
episode that would later be seen to be ironic or ominous,
but didn't seem so at first. One or two caught it, but
most didn't. This show is layered very, VERY carefully.
jms
================
FROM: Robert Miller
DATE: WED 7 Dec 1994 8:54:09 #47899
>>When the episode aired, I mentioned at the time that
>>there was something in that episode that would later be
>>seen to be ironic or ominous, but didn't seem so at first.
What would have been even more ominous is if "TKO" was
actually the last episode aired before "Chrysalis", as
was planned at one time. The "Watch your back" line is
very nearly the last line of the episode, too.
Another scene I'm wondering about was in "And the Sky
Full of Stars", where Dr. Franklin is examining Delenn.
At first I assumed the examination was Franklin's idea,
but now I see it would have been very useful for Delenn
to have her pre-Chrysalis health on record, so that Dr.
Franklin would have a clue what he was dealing with when
she came out of the chrysalis.
Totally off topic, what was the race of that ambassador
in "The Long Dark"?
================
DATE: WED 7 DEC 1994 3:20:30 #40878
I believe that was a Markab.
jms
================
Q #48389: ...have all of us read *too much* into the
episodes, or *too little*.
================
DATE: THUR 8 DEC 1994 1:22:01 #46828
Yes.
jms
DATE: WED 7 DEC 1994 1:11:26 #477779
"It does seem to be a thinking person's program, doesn't it?"
Hey, check out TV Guide for the coming week. Jeff (Mr.
Paramount) Jarvis indicates that Earth 2 is far more intelligent,
putting SeaQuest and B5 in the same ranks and not very intelligent
and derivitive.
jms
BEST SF ON TV
DATE: THUR 8 DEC 1994 1:22:07 #48626
Thank you; we try very hard on the show, and always
appreciate when it's noticed. Like yourself, many people
figured when they first heard about the show that we were
a dumb ripoff...in essence, we paid the price for other
people's shows...which was very hard for a long time, but
I'm happy that as time passes, more folks see us for what
we ARE, not what they think we are.
jms
DATE: FRI 9 DEC 1994 2:54:10 PM #49836
Yes, the episodes to date, with the exception of
"Soul Mates," were shot in the order they're being aired in.
jms
WPWR CUTS OFF B5 CREDITS
DATE: THURS 8 DEC 1994 1:31:31 #48643
Basically, Garibaldi's third favorite thing...is
whatever the member of the opposite sex is having....
jms
B5 QUESTIONS
DATE: THUR 8 DEC 1994 1:29:05 #48635
Re: Ivanova's foot still giving her problems
down the road and needing help....even today, if
it's a reasonable break, once it's fixed, it's fixed.
jms
DATE: THURS 8 DEC 1994 2:46:09
Re: symphonic forms...I think you've just found
the outer edge of my knowledge of this stuff....
jms
==================
Q #35294: Lance = Lance Henrikson (Aliens), Bruce = Bruce Campbell
==================
ACTORS!!!
DATE: TUES 22 NOV 1994 12:24:08
Bruce and Lance are strictly movie actors. (Bruce
was offered many series after BRISCO, but declined, saying
he wanted to do features only from now on.)
jms
ALIENS OR "NON-HUMANS"?
DATE: WED 7 DEC 1994 9:28:08 #48373
Nope. Won't do it. I understand the reason for the
suggestion, but to us, they're aliens. And that's what we
call them. There ain't much room in B5 for PC. But there
*IS* room for fairness...and as a result, while we are
sometimes referred to as humans, more often we're referred
to as aliens by the races. ~~~~~
We don't call them that to their face, and they don't
call us aliens to our face, but among ourselves...that's
what we call each other. (In fact, in one episode, someone
mentions that the aliens call the oxygen-part of the station
the alien sector.)
jms
DATE: FRI 9 DEC 2:54:09 PM #49835
Of course, on the other hand, one of the problems in the
whole PC discussion is that PC has been over-generalized and
often mischaracterized for purposes of debate. Some days it
seems like any attempt at polite behavior is derided as just
more PC. There is a difference between certain kinds of
socialized thought-control and manners. Blurring the line
makes the criticism of the former less useful. One must pick
one's targets or waste good ammunition on collateral damage.
jms
CORTEZ SABOTAGE
DATE: WED 7 DEC 1994 9:28:11 #48375
To get in and out of hyperspace you have to know
where you are and where you're going, otherwise you'll
come out even *more* lost, hundreds of light years from
home; you jump in, and you're even further gone now.
jms
DATE: FRI 9 DEC 1994 2:54:03 PM #49831
I think the word galaxy is over-used, yes, particularly
in the ads. I try to keep it out of the show, but it does
slip in when I'm not looking.
And the Cortez might've been able to locate some stars,
but any fix on its position would only have been within a
few light-years, not nearly precise enough for their purposes.
They'd still be lost.
jms
THE LONG DARK
DATE: TUE 6 DEC 1994 7:13:01 #47387
Well, on the theory that some words won't offend
in 300 years, we could put them in, but our TV stations
of today would bleep them out for the next 299 years,
which seems somehow less than productive.
(Nor do I entirely buy the premise; many of our
swear words, the really effective ones, go back several
hundred years. Check the Oxford English Dictoinary,
and you can see the long history of these words.)
jms
DATE: WED 7 DEC 1994 1:00:04 #47755
Depends on whether it's done as simple invective
or as art form; I've seen some people curse -- whole
long strings of complex syntax, breathtaking terminology,
impossible genetics and even less likely physiological
recommendations -- in a way that is awesome to behold.
And I'd note also that I have an entire *book* of curses
and foul language appearing in Shakespeare's plays, some
of which comes under this heading. "The fall of an ass
is no great hurt;" "Thou whoresome little tidy Bartholemew
boar-pig!" If it was good enough for old Will, it's
probably good enough for me.
jms
DATE: TUE 6 DEC 1994 7:13:03 #47388
Yes, the tugs use grapplers.
jms
===========
Q: What are Londo's appendages called?
===========
DATE: FRI 9 DEC 1994 7:32:07 PM #49960
Tentisticularites?
jms
==================================================
Q #49948: <just read B5 comic #1) What was the One Piece
of Rather Startling Information not revealed thus far
in the series? (other than the numbers involved in The Line)
==================================================
DATE: FRI 9 DEC 1994 7:37:07 PM #49972
It's the info conveyed by the Grey Council member to
Sinclair about someone's permission regarding the mindwipe.
jms
(RE: BUREAU 13)
DATE: FRI 9 DEC 1994 7:37:05 PM #49971
Insofar as I know, there isn't an RPG connection.
Thanks for the good wishes.
jms
SPIDER/WEB
DATE: FRI 9 DEC 1994 7:32:12 PM #49964
Kinda funny how many things in that one issue of
Universe Today have played out into real life in B5,
ain't it? "Is Something Living in Hyperspace?",
"San Diego Still Too Radioactive For Human Occupancy,"
"Did Psi Corps Violate Its Charter By Endorsing
Vice-President?"....
Planning, planning, planning.....
jms
DATE: FRI 9 DEC 1994 2:54:12 PM #49837
Oh, there's stuff going on in their heads, all
right, but there's a sense of timing you have to do
in episodic television; you can't jump too fast. You
have to lay things out slowly in this kind of story.
And when it IS time to pay this stuff off, you have
to kind of clear the decks to do it, or just waste
the opportunity.
jms
COMMUNICATOR?
DATE: TUES 6 DEC 1994 7:13:00 #47386
Okay, let's address this point by point. (And on
the issue of the ST pin communicator...here's something
you can't see, because it's on your chest, and in which
you CANNOT HAVE A PRIVATE CONVERSATION WITH ANYONE; it's
broadcast loud, and you have to speak in a moderately
loud voice in order to be picked up. So much for doing
anything on the QT.)
Now, to ours. The Link isn't just a communicator;
it's also a tie to the B5 computer system, and it's a
powerbook of sorts. There are going to be times you want
to be surrepticious in your use of this item (in fact, we
see one such use in an upcoming episode), and that means
tactile imput. Also, you can generally use an item like this
faster than you can talk. I can hit CONTROL-ESCAPE-DELETE
on my system a hell of a lot faster than I can SAY that.
So to access considerable amounts of data, including
complicated stuff, you use tactile input. So now where
do you put it? You want to put it in a place where you
can see it, where you can manipulate it with just one hand,
and where you can put it close to your mouth or ear if
you wish to speak quietly to someone. That would indicate
either the wrist or, for purposes of great stability when
using the buttons, on the back of the hand. The Link has
a gentle molecular bond that adheres it to the back of the
hand. It goes on and off quite quickly and easily. It can
be plugged into a larger display system. It can be hidden
easily. You can plant it as a bug if necessary, and it's
flat enough not to be easily found.
It's an eminently sensible system; your friend simply
didn't take the time to think it through. It's the ST
communicator and placement that makes no sense whatsoever to me....
jms
DATE: WED DEC 7 1994 #47750
Mainly that's because whatever is done here has to have
a *reason* for its design. We went over this one ad nauseum.
I'm giving some thought to a modification or two to the basic
style of the thing, but without essentially changing it.
jms
DATE: FRI DEC 9 1994 2:34:24 PM #49815
Tracking balls are *already* coming out of vogue; new
notebook computers come with a flat surface which you use by
trailing your finger along the membrane, which moves the
cursor around. If we're going to show 2259 tech, we should
at *least* be equal or ahead of 1994 tech....
jms
RAIDERS
DATE: WED 23 NOV 1994 9:15:17 #37268
The raiders are pretty much kaput just now....
jms
PUSH THE BUTTON, LONDO
DATE: THURS 8 DEC 1994 1:23:20 #48633
We see Conaway a lot, on and off, for the rest of
the season. He's made a welcome addition to the show.
jms
DATE: FRI 9 DEC 1994 2:54:07 PM #49834
The San Diego wastelands was a physical model, yes.
jms
WHAT'S WRONG WITH THIS...
DATE: THURS 8 DEC 1994 2:46:08 #48980
Earthdome looked a little more barren than it should
have; it's actually a fairly pleasant environment. There's
plenty of parts of Earth that're still terrific. Expect
the CD Rom sometime in the summer.
jms
=====
Q #49119: ...the places that aren't still terrific: more
San Diegos or just urban sprawl?
=====
DATE: FRI 9 DEC 1994 2:54:05 PM #49832
Mainly just urban sprawl.
jms
OUT W/THE OLD & IN W/NEW
DATE: FRI 9 DEC 1994 7:32:08 PM #49961
Sheridan is certainly *acting* sunny enough...
question is, IS it an act, and if so...why?
Stay tuned.
jms
MODELS OF SHIPS/STATION
DATE: FRI 9 DEC 1994 7:32:11 PM #49963
As yet there are no licenses for models; a few have
approached, but apparently Warners felt that they weren't
sufficiently big companies, or with solid distribution, to
make the deal. Eventually, though, I hope we can do this
(hell, I want one...).
jms
DATE: WED 7 DEC 1994 9:28:13 #48376
Would love to see a B5 RPG, but so far no one has
licensed one, and that has to come first.
jms
B5 T-SHIRTS
DATE: MON 21 NOV 1994 2:39:07 PM #34877
I've mentioned that All-U is doing some Babylon 5
t-shirt designs, and I've just gotten a new batch. These
are *really* nifty shirts, full color printing on black,
one showing the station and a starfury in foreground,
another with full cast, others. Of all the shirts I've
seen yet using B5, these are probably the best.
So if there are any dealers out there who buy in lots
(and they don't need to be big lots; they come in boxes of
24, 6 shirts per current design), you can contact them at
1-800-424-ALLU, or 518-438-7291. They're spiffy.
jms
DATE: WED 23 NOV 1994 9:15:18 #37269
You can find out your local distributer by calling
All-U at 518-438-7291 or 800-424-ALLU. They're nifty shirts.
jms
THE PRISONER'S SALUTE
DATE: TUES 22 NOV 1994 12:24:03 #35473
It was basically a nod at a predecessor to whom
respect should be shown.
jms
CENTAURI & THE SHADOWS
DATE: SUN 11 DEC 1994 3:22:08 AM #51148
The Centauri weren't directly involved in the prior major
conflict; it just missed them for the most part, though some
among them have some notions about it. And remember that Londo
has a vested interest in putting down any notions of unusual
forces out there just now....
jms
EARTH-MINBARI WAR
DATE: MON 12 DEC 1994 7:30:19 PM #52326
There wasn't a need to wipe out civilian colonies; cut off
the head by eliminating EArth itself, and then you can pick off
the unsupported worlds on your way out again. Mars was left
largely undefended (which pissed them off no end), and the Minbari
skipped past it for Earth. There were military outposts and ships
to take out earlier, but they figured on getting the smaller fish
as they returned from taking out the BIG fish.
jms
DATE: MON 12 DEC 1994 11:55:24 #52631
Any real war takes time, multiplied by distance. You
have to create supply lines, come up with strategies, analyze
the enemy...and in the first part of the war the EA was more
aggressive, until they saw the losses coming in; then they
fought a holding action/retreat. Your opponent may be
technologically inferior, but as the Germans discovered
when they tried to enter Stalingrad, a determined enemy
can slow you WAY down.
jms
=======================================
Q #53187: What did the Minbari intend to do with Earth once
they'd captured it? Extermination? Pacification?
=======================================
DATE: TUES 13 DEC 1994 10:15:24 #53264
Extermination. It was a Jihad.
jms
JUMP GATE PROBLEM
DATE: TUES 13 DEC 1994 12:04:06 #52640
As stated, if a ship is that big, it's probably
jump-capable. But just for the sake of argument,
assuming it's *not* jump capable...look at the jumpgate.
The four segments are not connected. They can move apart
from one another at a coded order from C&C to accommodate
just about anything.
jms
GRAVITY IN SHIPS
DATE: MON 12 DEC 1994 7:20:10 PM #52306
Correct; the Hyperion didn't have a gravity-positive
section.
jms
DATE: TUES 13 DEC 1994 10:15:11 #53262
Yes, C&C rotates. It is in the front of the station.
It is 1/3rd of the way between the *center* of the station,
where the docking bay is, and the hull. So the gravity is
roughly one-third, so a 200 pound person weighs 60 pounds,
as much as a good sized kid, so they won't go bouncing around.
jms
ALIENS OR "NON-HUMANS"?
DATE: SAT 10 DEC 1994 8:48:22
One other aspect missing from this discussion is that
the word "alien" is not in any way pejorative. Alien simply
means different, or other. If you look it up in the Oxford
American Dictionary, the definition of alien is, "a person
who is not a citizen of the country in which he is living;
foreign, not one's own, unfamiliar, a different nature."
You can have illegal aliens, and *legal* aliens. There
is absolutely NOTHING wrong with the word. I noticed people
trying here to come up with a different term, and not being
really able to do so, because the English language already HAS
a perfectly valid word for it. To be alien is simply to be
alien, nothing good or bad about it, except whatever interpretation
one wishes to bring with it, which has nothing to do with the
quality of the word.
To say "alien" is neither PC nor non-PC; it's simply
a description. The problem is the continuing politiciziation
of the English language.
jms
DATE: WED 14 DEC 1994 #53810
"Calling someone an idiot should be seen as offensive."
Ah...obviously you've had little interaction with
major TV networks....
jms
THE LONG DARK
DATE: SUN 11 DEC 1994 9:38:23 PM #51662
"I thought Talia's description of telepaths making love
was one of the most erotic things I've ever heard on television."
I love it when you talk like that....
jms
SPIDER IN THE WEB
DATE: MON 12 DEC 1994 11:55:27 #52633
Universe Today was/is a newspaper seen from time
to time on the station; it's been seen in the pilot movie,
in "Sky Full of Stars," and "Born to the Purple."
jms
DATE: SAT 10 DEC 1994 8:35:00 #50891
Newspapers are *eminently* sensible. They're light,
you can fold them up and put them in your pocket, make
notes on them, and at the end of the day, you drop 'em
in the recylcer.
The way Universe Today works is that you enter in
your preferences, the kinds of stories you want to follow,
and when you wake each morning, there's a newspaper
custom designed and printed to your requirements, which
pops out of your primary system. You rip it and read it
at your leisure.
jms
DATE: SUN 11 DEC 1994 #51679
EA is the Earth Government, and thus has all the
appropriate social and legal powers of any government
to draw upon, so yes, if there were a violent protest
on Earth, they could quash it (though depending on the
country -- some still maintain some measure of independence --
this might be more difficult in some places than others).
jms
A NICE PLACE TO VISIT...
DATE: MON 12 DEC 1994 7:32:25 PM #52327
Most of earth is quite habitable (pollution problems
notwithstanding), it's just that SD got nuked by terrorists
quite some time ago.
jms
SOUL MATES EPISODE #
DATE: WED 14 DEC 1994 #54100
The episode number is permanent, and has to do with
order in which it was produced, not broadcast order.
jms
B5 COMPUTER VOICE
DATE: SUN 11 DEC 1994 3:22:07 AM #51147
It's the voice of our script supervisor, Haley.
jms
STAR WARS: REBEL CODES
DATE: WED 14 DEC 1994 #54101
TO: ALL
On the theory -- tested exhaustively over hours and hours
spent behind the joystick -- that I'm *never* going to get past
even ONE level of this silly game...could anyone out there give
me the passcodes for all of the chapters in REBEL ASSAULT? I'd
at least like to *see* the various levels....
jms
B5 RATINGS INFO
DATE: WED 14 DEC 1994 4:50:11
Since many have inquired, here's a quickie breakdown of
the results of the November sweeps. (A more detailed posting
is available if anyone wants it, and I can find time to type
the darned thing.)
Currently, Babylon 5 is in a tie for second place with
Baywatch out of 16 syndicated dramas among the male 18-49
demographic, the one most prized by advertisers. We're behind
DS9, but far, FAR ahead of such highly promoted dramas as Lonesome Dove.
B5 also ranks third with women 18-49 and households in
general, also an extremely important demographic and rating.
(B5's status of Viewers Per Household in the men 18-45
demographic ranks fifth OVERALLl, including networks...pulling
in a more saleable demographic to advertisers than ER, NYPD Blue,
and Northern Exposure.)
In general, B5's ratings are up 14% to 20% this year overall;
in many markets, though, the increase is even higher. Chicago, up 25%;
San Francisco, up 100%; Washington DC up 50%; Kansas City up 67%;
San Diego up 80%...you get the idea.
Significantly, it appears that the majority of new viewers
are coming in via word of mouth about the show. An independent
survey by a national polling group showed that 59% of those who'd
HEARD about Babylon 5 watched it; the usual percentage of those
who've heard about a show to those who watch it is usually closer
to 34%. So as the word gets out, we add viewers fairly quickly.
We're starting to gather real momentum. The last national
rating we had of 5.2 will put us probably in the top 15-18 of all
syndicated shows (which includes game shows, talk shows and the
like), and keep us firmly in the #2 or #3 spot out of 16-17
dramatic series.
So to those who've been getting the word out...you're getting
solid, concrete results. Thoug we won't get a definitive answer
on a third year until probably spring, this is encouraging for us.
jms
DATE: WED 14 DEC 1994 5:12:09 #53806
The syndication market is going through a LOT of changes
right now; new shows, even some which've performed moderately
well, are dropping like flies. And even if a show is doing very
well, if the markets dry up because the new Paramount Network,
the Warners Network, CBS and Fox have grabbed up all of the
available stations, eliminating possible timeslots...it doesn't
matter how good the show is, you're dead. So believe me, we're
not assuming ANYthing.
jms
DATE: WED 14 DEC 1994 #54123
Insofar as I have ever been told, PTEN and Warners Network
are and will remain separate institutions.
jms
HARTFORD RTGS RESCUE IT!
DATE: TUES 13 DEC 1994 10:15:13 #53263
Thanks. The ratings are up overall in every market where
the show is given proper promotion and a steady timeslot. We're
getting there....
jms
DATE: WED 14 DEC 1994 #54099
Only local residents can bring pressure on their stations;
it's beyond anything I or anyone associated with the show can do.
You may want to coordinate with others for maximum impact.
jms
=========================
FLINT PROGRESS REPORT
FROM: RANDY J ZIMMERMAN 73363,3717
DATE: SUN 11 DEC 1994 4:28:24 PM #51451
jms;
Last Wednesday (12/7) I took in a petition of around 100 names
that were collected from two local comic shops to our local B5
station (WSMH Fox66), which has decided not to show the next
two episodes (Spider and Soul Mates I believe) due to college
basketball. They made this decision after having been deluged
with calls and letters from the last "pre-empting" (where we
missed Points and Revelations). All this dispite the fact that
they are showing first and second year reruns of ST:TNG most
weeknights at 10pm.
In the petition we state our dissapointment over the treatment
they have given B5 over the last year stating that "to say the
least Babylon 5 has been a challenge to watch". Additionally we
ask that they reschedule B5 to be shown more into the middle of
the week (it's currently seen Saturdays at 10, if at all), with
an additional showing sometimes on the weekends giving it the same
exposure that they gave to the two Star Trek series that they carried.
They accepted the petitions saying that they would "pass it on" to
their main offices in Cincinatti for them to look over, and they
reassured me that B5 would be back...but only for the rest of the
year. After that they would/could not give me any further information.
All they would say is that it "WOULD help their main offices in making
programming desicions in the future", whatever good that'll do.
The best thing about the petition is to see who's signing it. I've
asked for name, address (to show that those signing live in the 66
veiwing area) and age (to show that those watching the show have
access to money to buy products advertised on the show). The average
age is around the upper 20's to lower 30's and range from 13 all the
way to 63, and the majority of the signatures are male, though that's
because the majority of signatures were gathered at the comic shops
(mostly visited by males).
We are still continuing to collect signatures, just in case, and
I'll visit them again in a couple of weeks with an updated list.
It would be a travesty (though VERY typical for Flint I'm afraid)
if our local station decides to drop B5 in order to carry the next
Trek franchise.
I'll continue to keep you informed if you'd like.
Zimm.
P.S., by the way one of the signatures I have is from a 49 year old
Lutheran minister who wanted me to tell you that you have produced
THE most intellectually stimulating television show that he has ever
seen, and to tell you "thanks". Just thought I'd pass that along.
=====================================
FLINT PROGRESS REPORT
DATE: SUN 11 DEC 1994 9:51:20 PM #51678
That's great (the Lutheran part in particular). I'm sure
that this effort on your behalf will have some effect. Here's
hoping, in any event. Your support is vastly appreciated.
jms
======================================
FLINT PROGRESS REPORT
FROM: DANIEL UPTON
DATE: MON 12 DEC 1994 7:26:07 PM #52311
Now that you have the names and addresses of B5 fans follow up
with a letter to each thanking them for signing and asking them
to send a note to the corprate offices of your station asking them
to give the show better treatment, and to each local sponsor
thanking them for supporting B5.
FROM: RANDY J ZIMMERMAN
DATE: MON 12 DEC 1994 10:27:26 #52505
Daniel;
Thanks for the suggestion! What a great idea!
That reminds me of something that I didn't mention to Joe, we
actually got a sponsor to request spots on B5. A hobby shop
that usually runs alot of spots on television this time of year
requested that they have their spots run on B5, so you know
what our station did?
Yep, cut out 30 seconds of the end credits just to run their spots.
The shop was going to raise a heavy complaint last time I talked to them.
I think we're in for an uphill battle here. I'll keep everyone posted.
Thanks again for the suggestion.
Zimm.
========================================
B5 -- NEW AIRDAY??
DATE: SUN 11 DEC 1994 3:22:05 AM #51146
I don't know about details of each station, but
in many cases, yes, B5 will be going to Thursdays,
since the Paramount network will take Monday and
Tuesday nights, and Warner Network will grab Wednesdays.
jms
B5 CON SCHEDULE
DATE: WED 14 DEC 1994 #54124
There's apparently going to be a Horizons convention in
England sometime this spring that's nominally a Babylon 5
convention; I think it's either late April or mid-May. I've
committed to be there, and so has Claudia Christian.
jms
<BABYLON 5 COMIC>
DATE: SAT 10 DEC 1994 8:34:22 #50888
Nope. The comic and the series are complementary, but
exclusive; you needn't follow the comic to watch the series
and vice versa. From time to time, though, some information
will be dropped in one or the other that may eventually surface
in the other; it's just a matter of when.
My model for this is Alan Ayckbourn's THE NORMAN CONQUESTS.
It's a series of three plays, meant to be performed on three
nights in a row, all set in the same house over the same two
days. One play is set in the dining room/kitchen, one in the
living room, one in the garden. You can come see any one of the
plays and have a wonderful night. If you see all three, though,
you get more of the whole picture of what *really* happened in
those two days.
jms
SPIDER NOT CAPTIONED
DATE: MON 12 DEC 1994 11:55:22 #52630
The first broadcast was not captioned due to a glitch;
subsequent rebroadcasts will be captioned.
jms
DATE: TUES 13 DEC 1994 10:15:10 #53261
The sound quality is often affected by local stations,
how they treat it after it arrives, and sometimes, yes, by
closed captioning, since there is one more transfer done at
that point, and you drop down another generation in film and
sound quality. Once the episode is out of our hands, there's
little we can do about this aspect.
jms
DATE: SAT 10 DEC 1994 8:35:03 #50892
Actually, originally, the plan was for President Clark
to indeed notify Ivanova in "Points of Departure," but
introducing a new character in the General added some changes
when we shot the scene. But by then it was too late to modify
the comic.
Also, in the comic, Clark doesn't *specify* who's giving
Ivanova the promotion, just that it's being done. (And Sheridan
comments that he put through the paperwork the day after he
arrived, which tracks with this time-wise.)
jms
B5 TECHNICAL BOOK
DATE: MON 12 DEC 1994 11:55:26 #52632
No concrete info now on the tech manual; I think it's
a bit down the road yet.
jms
B5 COMIC, ETC
DATE: TUE 13 DEC 1994 3:20:23 #52742
Great, thanks for the heads-up, I'll look for it.
(BTW, for any onlookers...Babylon 5 producer John Copeland
will be on CNN's Showbiz Today on Wednesday.)
jms
DATE: WED 14 DEC 1994 3:14:18 #53509
And Bill Mumy will be on the America's Talking cable
network, on "Break a Leg," 11 a.m. PST on December 13th.
jms
DATE: WED 14 DEC 1994 5:12:06 #53807
No, I believe that's correct, and Bill's contract
takes him to 22 next season.
jms
====================
Someone apparently had a problem with the CD.
====================
B5 CD
DATE: SAT 10 DEC 1994 8:48:23 #50897
Notify Sonic Images, and they'll gladly send you back
a case AND a CD inside. This is the only instance of this
that I've heard of to date.
jms
NO EVIL TWINS
DATE: TUES 13 DEC 1994 12:04:08 #52641
I will never do an Evil Twin Story.
Yes, you will.
No, I won't.
Yes, you will.
No, I won't.
I've got chocolate.
No, I -- what?
jm(no, I won't)s
==================================
The following section also contains messages from Peter David, author of
the episode "Soul Mates."
==================================
"RACE" PROMO AIRED
FROM: PETER DAVID
DATE: WED 14 DEC 1994 1:11:30 #53415
That would be my luck. "Soul Mates...good episode, but disappointing."
PAD
FROM: SYSOP DUPA T PARROT
DATE: THURS 15 DEC 1994 12:12:09 #54190
> "Soul Mates...good episode, but disappointing."
Author! Author!!
(or is that "Writer! Writer!!"?)
-Dupa T. Parrot [Tech Supp SysOp]
<OS/2 Warp + GCP 2.11>
FROM: PETER DAVID
DATE: THURS 15 DEC 1994 8:41:20 #54378
How about, "Hey! Shmuck!"
PAD
==============
CONGRATULATIONS #55007: <Enough great lines to fill a compendium!>
==============
FROM: PETER DAVID:
DATE: FRI 16 DEC 1994 9:56:11 AM #55213
Or at the very least fill a script.
Thanks.
PAD
SOUL MATES/INQUIRER
===========
FROM: JEFF METZNER
DATE: WED 14 DEC 1994 7:59:31 #53962
Your episode got a nice little blurb in today's (12/14)
Philadelphia Inquirer TV column: "Tonight's episode of
the syndicated sci-fi series Babylon 5 (Channel 17 at 8)
was written by Peter David, a Fort Washington native and
Upper Dublin High grad. It's the first TV work for David,
author of two dozen sci-fi novels."
============
FROM: PETER DAVID
DATE: WED 14 DEC 1994
Great! Thanks for telling me!
PAD
SOUL MATES
FROM: PETER DAVID
DATE: WED 14 DEC 1994 #54166
Y'know...for the past five years I've been writing Trek novels,
and fans kept asking, "When are you going to start doing Trek
TV episodes?"
So here comes B5, I do an episode...and what do the fans keep
asking? When am I going to do a B5 novel.
NYAAAARRRRRRRGGGHHHH!!!
FROM: J MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI
DATE: THURS 15 DEC 1994 4:46:06 #54361
Then I assume a SeaQuest novel is out of the question...?
jms
(Still reading; will advise soonest, he said mysteriously)
FROM: PETER DAVID
DATE: THURS 15 DEC 1994 8:44:21 #54379
Wouldn't want to do that. People have told me they didn't watch
or didn't like STTNG until my books; why feed SeaQuest new viewers
and bury "Lois and Clark" any further?
(You're reading at 5 IN THE MORNING?!)
PAD
FROM: SYSOP DUPA T PARROT
DATE: THURS 15 DEC 1994 11:52:16 #54957
> (You're reading at 5 IN THE MORNING?!)
Peter,
The time stamp on forum messages is adjusted for the
time zone of the CIS node you're using. So adjust that
timestamp based upon your timezone versus Joe's timezone.
-Dupa T. Parrot [Tech Supp SysOp]
<OS/2 Warp + GCP 2.11>
FROM: PETER DAVID
DATE: FRI 16 DEC 1994 9:36:09 AM #55202
Ah. Two in the morning. That's all right then.
PAD
FROM: PETER DAVID
DATE: THURS 15 DEC 1994 8:24:13 #54764
TO: BARBARA PFIEFFER
Well, I was just informed by Joe about half an hour ago that
they'll be going ahead with a second script of mine. It would
air late in the season, I expect.
Except, of course, in those cities where it's pre-empted by
an intermural lacrosse tournament or something...
PAD
======================
CONGRATULATIONS #55127: ...If they do pre-empt it for anything
but a nuclear war, I'll be talking to the station folks, with
Ivanova and Garibaldi as inspiration.
======================
FROM: PETER DAVID
DATE: FRI 16 DEC 1994 9:41:27 AM #55207
You could be cocking and uncocking the hammer of a gun
in the background...
PAD
FROM: LEE WHITESIDE
DATE: THURS 15 DEC 1994 11:52:13 #54955
Congrats on the second script! Fortunately, the lacrosse
tournaments don't interrupt the sat feeds...
BTW, isn't Oblivion reaching video stores this week? I'll
have to track it down since it never made it into any theatres
here in Pheonix.
FROM: PETER DAVID
DATE: FRI 16 DEC 1994 9:36:12 AM #55201
Supposed to be out on the 14th. People could rent it and watch
it right after "Soul Mates" and have a Peter David/Carel Struycken
film festival.
PAD
================
FROM: J PAULSON
DATE: FRI 16 DEC 1994 7:50:07 PM #55544
Garibaldi's a cop, or if you prefer a Chandleresque
sort of figure. He's a recovering alcoholic with a
strong sense of justice and an underdeveloped sense
of "Miranda rights". Frankly he's so New York I wonder
if it's Jerry Doyle's interpretation or it's JMS'
intention. His language is so New York, in particular
the elevator scene in "Spider", where he admits to Talia
about being a "yutz". The way he talks, I mean, he seems
so familiar!
I have a great deal of affection for this character. I
also have a bit of a crush on Ivanova.
-J. Paulson
================
FROM: PETER DAVID
A crush on Ivanova, eh? Brave fellow...
FROM: PETER DAVID
DATE: FRI 16 DEC 1994 9:34:16 AM #55199
My feeling was that it was something that had been building
slowly within her ever since the Ironheart episode. That
although she had been *saying* she was devoted, well...the
difference between the reality of a B5 and the frequent
unreality of STTNG is that folks don't always say exactly what's
on their mind (kind of like the real world.) As it turned out,
my own thoughts on Talia dovetailed with future plans for her.
Daggair was Pestilence. Timov was Famine. Mariel was Death.
Originally I was going to have each of their names reflect their
respective "incarnations," but decided that was too cutesy. The
only holdover from that idea is Timov's name which is, of course,
Vomit spelled backwards.
PAD
FROM: PETER DAVID
DATE: FRI 16 DEC 1994 9:39:02 AM #55204
How funny. Other people who stated flatly that they likewise
knew Londo loudly proclaimed (over on Usenet) that he would
have chosen Daggair. Maybe he's a kind of tough guy to know.
PAD
========================
POST #55859: <poster had no trouble guessing; the actress
playing Timov "was the most well-known actress of them all">
========================
FROM: PETER DAVID
DATE: SAT 17 DEC 1994 10:34:29 #55942
Oh, I don't know. Lois Nettleton's career goes way further back
than Jane Carr's does. Although Jane *is* from the Royal
Shakespeare Company (and yes, she did work with Patrick Stewart.
She's so pleased that now she too has portrayed a bald SF icon.)
PAD
====================
FROM: SHARON FOSTER
DATE: THURS 15 DEC 1994 8:40:24 #54792
The second scene between Garibaldi and Stoner was intense, to
say the least. That was the first time G. has actually _scared_ me.
====================
FROM: PETER DAVID
DATE: THURS 15 DEC 1994 11:09:05 #54929
Tension really crackled between the two of them, didn't it?
In one of the takes, it was so intense that at the end, the
director forgot to yell "Cut." Instead he shouted, "God,
that was great!"
PAD
===============
FROM: SHARON FOSTER
DATE: FRI 16 DEC 1994 6:54:26 AM #55157
It _was_ great. I actually jumped in my chair. For just a
second there, I thought Stoner was going to get seriously hurt.
Thanks for showing us another side of Garibaldi.
===============
FROM: PETER DAVID
DATE: FRI 16 DEC 1994 9:43:01 AM #55210
Oh, the side was already there, in my opinion. I think back
to previous episodes where Garibaldi was all for spacing that
serial killer. When he encounters people he doesn't like, or
have done dirt to people who are Garibaldi's friends, he can
be pretty ruthless.
PAD
==============
FROM: SHARON FOSTER
DATE: FRI 16 DEC 1994 7:19:31 AM #55162
Oh, I also wanted to comment that, right up until that scene, I
still thought that what "Mr. Garibaldi" felt for "Ms. Winters"
didn't go too much beyond simple lust (not that lust is simple).
It is now abundantly clear to me that his feelings run much deeper
than that.
===============
FROM: PETER DAVID
DATE: FRI 16 DEC 1994 9:55:00 AM #55212
As we've seen, Garibaldi doesn't exactly have the easiest time
being demonstrative in his feelings for women.
PAD
FROM: PETER DAVID
DATE: THURS 15 DEC 1994 4:40:07 #54573
He, *I* didn't get "bitch" past the censors. I just put it
in the script.
(What I loved was Daggair's expression on that line. It's
the only time she let her facade slip and she looked like
she was ready to slug Timov.)
PAD
FROM: J MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI
DATE: FRI 16 DEC 1994 2:10:26 AM #55069
"I just put it in the script."
And I just left it there. I figured it was one of those terms
that might red-flag somebody, so just didn't mention it to anyone
outside the stage. It's in the script. What more is necessary?
jms
FROM: J MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI
DATE: FRI 16 DEC 1994 2:11:00 AM #55070
TO: TONI MULLER
What I love best about this is that given the time of year,
"Soul Mates" is basically our Christmas episode.
I mean, are we perverse or what...?
jms
DATE: FRI DEC 16 1994 2:11:03 AM #55071
In addition to Peter's reply, I'd add that when you say
"why wasn't Mariel arrested on the spot by Garibaldi and her
quarters searched," you omit both legal procedure and evidentiary law.
You arrest someone AFTER you have reasonable cause and
sufficent evidence to justify it. You don't need enough evidence
to convict, just to arrest or indict. So the order is reversed
for starters.
Second, what evidence *was* there to be found if he HAD searched
her quarters? She neither brought nor had ANYthing of an incriminating
nature. She bought the figurine in the bazaar...and that's all she had,
and all she used. There WAS no evidence in her quarters to find.
(Believe me, I spent 2 years on MURDER, SHE WROTE, and we
learned a lot about how this stuff works. You can't just go
around arresting people willy nilly, and the evidence must exist,
and be sufficient, and locatable.)
jms
ALIENS OR "NON-HUMANS?"
DATE: THURS 15 DEC 1994 4:40:25 #54574
More and more, it seems that language is used to distance
us from the world, rather than describing the world as accurately
as possible. We lumber it with political vagueness and redundency
("make the character more pro-active"...no, the term is "make the
character more active," the pro is simply redundent and wrongheaded).
George Carlin made the excellent point that if we were still
saying "shell-shocked veterans" rather than "veterans with
post-traumatic stress syndrome," they might've gotten some of the
help they needed a long time ago. Or even "battle fatigue." Once
language pierced the veil to the real world; now it has BECOME
the veil behind which the real world is obscured.
jms
THE LONG DARK
DATE: WED 14 DEC 1994 3:22:12 #53511
Many dictionaries have fallen prey to pressure groups
urging the removal of offensive words.
jms
DATE: FRI 16 DEC 1994 1:43:01 AM #55049
As a kid, I was...shall we say...problematic. And in
one of the schools I attended, discipline was enacted in,
among other things, transcribing pages out of the dictionary.
Verbatim. Which is one reason why I have a fairly extensive
vocabulary...up to the letter N, which is as far as I'd gotten
when we moved.
jms
FAVORITE THINGS
DATE: SAT 17 DEC 1994 3:39:00 #55800
Bugs and Daffy are forever.
jms
=================
FROM: GREG CRONAU
DATE: SAT 17 DEC 1994 10:37:06 #55945
>> Bugs and Daffy are forever.
Heh. In the episode where the Centuari seer lets Sinclair
see her vision of how B5 is destroyed, I have this image
of Garibaldi walking toward the control room saying: "Hmmmm,
I wonder what that RED button really does...."
Gregc
=====================
Since you seem to be the "fount of all wisdom," how about info
on B5 cons in the Philadelphia area. Is there somewhere else
to get the info without bothering "The Maker?"
=====================
B5 CON SCHEDULE???
DATE: FRI 16 DEC 1994 1:43:08 AM #55053
I alas have no information on this...this particular fountain
has, sadly, hit a dry patch....
jms
RTV MUSEUM SPECIAL
DATE: THURS 15 DEC 1994 4:35:26 #54571
No, none of the TZs shown were mine.
jms
DATE: THURS 15 DEC 1994 4:46:07 #54362
What I found funny was being reminded in the SF special
that when Star Trek first debuted, it was slammed roundly by
the critics. Sounds kinda familiar....
jms
BABYLON 5: B5 COMIC, ETC
DATE: FRI 16 DEC 1994 1:43:03 AM #55050
Soul Hunter was the only ep provided by Warners. We didn't
even know about the request at the time.
jms
DATE: WED 14 DEC 1994 5:12:06 #53807
No, I believe that's correct, and Bill's contract takes him
to 22 next season.
jms
DATE: FRI 16 DEC 1994 1:43:05 AM #55051
Delenn already is on a full-22 episode contract for season two.
jms
================
FROM: JASON WONG
DATE: THURS 15 DEC 1994 7:53:08 #54737
Yeah, the line kinda caught me by surprise. It just seemed so
awkward and out of place! I checked my tape and here's the
complete line:
"Well, you could put a bag over his head and do it for Babylon 5."
Weird line... :-) He was either at the casino or that new bar
(anyone have a name for either of them? It wasn't the Zocalo,
that's the one name I know. Did I even spell Zocalo correctly?)
==============
DATE: FRI 16 DEC 1994 2:10:25 AM #55068
The line will make a *lot* more sense once you see
the episode.
And the Earthforce club is named Earhart's.
jms
DATE: FRI 16 DEC 1994 4:29:28 #55376
"In three more years, you mean." Nope. Mid- or late-February.
jms
DATE: SAT 17 DEC 1994 3:39:02 #55802
Earhart's is a new season two set. And I'd rather let folks
discover that line on their own.
jms
DATE: SAT 17 DEC 1994 3:39:04 #55803
Mira is paid for 22 out of 22 episodes, whether she appears in
that episode or not. Same with Bruce, Jerry, Claudia, others. We
use the character only when the character has something to *do*. We
could try to work her into every episode...but then it'd be *working
her in*, and that means adjusting the story and possibly injecting
false notes just to have someone in it. We don't do that. Having her
and other cast members in for 22 guarantees their availability.
jms
===============
FROM: RONALD LEGRO
DATE: THURS 15 DEC 1994 11:13:19 #54933
I've definitely noticed in the past, oh, month or so, an up-tick in casual
acquaintances who seem to have checked into B5, at office and elsewhere.
You know you've broken through when people start using one-offs from the
series in ordinary conversation, e.g., at the coffee pot: "Those donuts
are my second favorite thing in the universe." And yesterday one of the
co-workers surprised the heck out of me by engaging me in a detailed
analysis of the B5 back story. Heretofore this particular Trekker barely
had admitted to even watching B5. It's happening, but one hopes it's not
too late for the pebbles to vote. :)
===============
B5 RATINGS INFO
DATE: WED 14 DEC 1994 5:12:09 #53806
The syndication market is going through a LOT of changes
right now; new shows, even some which've performed moderately
well, are dropping like flies. And even if a show is doing very
well, if the markets dry up because the new Paramount Network,
the Warners Network, CBS and Fox have grabbed up all of the
available stations, eliminating possible timeslots...it doesn't
matter how good the show is, you're dead. So believe me, we're
not assuming ANYthing.
jms
DATE: FRI 16 DEC 1994 1:43:09 AM #55054
That's great; bit by bit, inch by inch, we're being noticed.
jms
DATE: FRI 16 DEC 1994 1:43:13 AM #55056
We don't yet know where and how the whole Paramount network
thing is going to affect us.
jms
DATE: THURS 16 DEC 1994 4:36:18 #54572
"How do you do it Joe?"
By living in a constant state of denial.
jms
DATE: SAT 17 DEC 1994 3:39:01 #55801
Eventually the first season will be rerun, though
I suspect not until after we've finished airing the second season.
jms
SPIDER/WEB
DATE: WED 14 DEC 1994 3:22:14 #53512
No, in one-third gravity, nobody's hair would be
floating around. And in case of a serious situation,
the hair goes back quickly. For most non- combat
situations, *as in the real military*, there's no need
to constantly wear it in a braid. The main requirement
is that hair be kept OFF the epaulets, where rank is
noted. We're maintaining correct military regs as currently
established.
jms
DATE: WED 14 DEC 1994 5:10:26 #53804
Except of course that there's a difference between moderate
to low (one third) gravity and micro-gravity. Even on the moon,
in one-sixth gravity, astronauts functioned pretty much normally,
their hair didn't float around (granted it was short), but the
effect of one-third gravity isn't as extreme as you're indicating.
jms
DATE: WED 14 DEC 1994 5:14:08 #53808
Of course, thus far we have never seen it in any way
interfere with her duties, or the perception of her; I think
in the latter case, males've grown up a little in this respect.
I think she's comfortable enough with herself to wear her hair
any darned way she pleases, knowing it won't be any kind of
problem. (Hell, a nest of angry ferrets in her hair wouldn't
even slow her down....)
jms
DATE: WED 14 DEC 1994 5:18:28 #53811
*Nothing* has been changed in Ivanova's character. The
character has in general gotten a little more comfortable with
her surroundings -- last season began with her very much the
New Kid on the Block, having just arrived there, and not really
knowing anyone, so she was a bit on the defensive side -- but
that's all.
jms
DATE: THURS 15 DEC 1994 4:34:03 #54570
Actually, a few women shuttle astronauts *have*
gone out with long hair, meaning almost shoulder length,
and what it tends to do is stick straight up. But in any
event, again, it's not really an issue in B5 since there's
a good sized gravity there. When she flies a starfury,
her hair is bound and behind her in the helmet.
jms
JUMP GATE PROBLEMS
DATE: FRI 16 DEC 1994 1:43:06 AM #55052
Nope, the gate couldn't be moved under such circumstances.
B5 is in a vulnerable position, and there are no easy solutions.
Mainly because I *hate* easy solutions....
jms
ELLISON DOES WHAT?
DATE: FRI 16 DEC 1994 4:30:08 PM #55377
Harlan does all *kinds* of things. Too many to list here.
jms