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The Lurker's Guide to Babylon 5
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JMS CompuServe messages collected by The Green Meddler <kilgalen@tde.com>.
Subj: Hey! New episodes! Section: Babylon 5
To: Thursday, June 01, 1995 12:41:26 AM
~From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#226576
I imagine they're <<UK Stations>> getting masters sent
directly to them.
jms
Subj: Sounds in space Section: Babylon 5
To: Wednesday, May 31, 1995 9:22:12 PM
~From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#226352
In talking to a number of scientists and physicists
about sound in space, they came back with the realization
that the area isn't as black and white as first thought.
(Did you know that when the Pioneer probe broke the speed
of sound in space, it registered a shock wave across its
bow, a sonic boom that was monitored by JPL? I didn't.)
As for making the starfield rotate...because of the
size of the window in C&C, the starfield outside is about
60 feet by 30 feet. You cannot rotate something that size.
If you put a smaller field nearer the window, it's visible
for what it is. We've gone over this, believe me.
jms
Subj: Was that the Sandman? Section: Babylon 5
To: Friday, June 02, 1995 1:44:04 AM
~From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#227583
No, just an alien breathing device.
jms
Subj: Anaheim con Section: Babylon 5
To: Friday, June 02, 1995 1:44:02 AM
~From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#227582
I thought the Splitting Image folks did a *very* good job;
some of the makeups were a little "flat," in terms of the usual
texturing we do to make it look like actual skin, but that's a
very small quibble. The makeups and costumes were extremely
good, and I was quite impressed. (Stupidly, I didn't recognize
the last as Deathwalker initially, only because it's been so
long, and it was entirely my fault.)
jms
Subj: UK B5: Break in series Section: Babylon 5
To: Thursday, June 01, 1995 6:17:14 PM
~From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#227195
Don't lets be hasty here...they don't have the tapes yet
because they haven't been sent yet, but should go out in a day
or two. There were some additional EFX needed for "Divided
Loyalties," which we're finishing this week, and is the first
of the last batch. "Twilight" is done and "Confessions"<< I
think he meand "Comes The Inquisitor">> will be done mid-next
week, with the final EFX coming in on "Fall of Night" by the
end or so of next week.
So I wouldn't write it off just yet.
jms
Subj: B5 in UK? Section: Babylon 5
To: Friday, June 02, 1995 1:48:01 AM
~From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#227586
Oops...I wuz wrong.
On the off-chance that I might commit an error (I know,
impossible, but there you are), I called around, and the Channel
4 people are out here on business. Some digging ended up getting
the straight skinny on this: yes, there is going to be a break of
a few weeks because the Tour de France is going to be going on
then, and anything else is going to get completely and totally
lost and overwhelmed in the ratings. So they're holding back for
just a bit.
jms
Subj: Local station: "renewed" Section: Babylon 5
To: Thursday, June 01, 1995 6:03:09 PM
~From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#227156
It's nothing to do with quality. WB Network is a different
division of WB, and it's extremely competitive with PTEN. We're
talking here massive, honking corporate politics. They wouldn't
do it. Further, WBN has *fewer clearances* in terms of TV stations
than PTEN, and we'd end up losing many folks who don't have WBN
network stations in their areas.
jms
Subj: Sounds in space Section: Babylon 5
To: Thursday, June 01, 1995 6:03:07 PM
~From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#227154
A canvas painting of a starfield won't work, because the light
inside C&C is so bright that a painting wouldn't register through
the window (it's like trying to look at the stars through the
window of a brightly lit room). We have a star curtain with *fiber-
optic lights* that create the stars. You try and rotate something
with 500-600 delicate fiber-optic lights, and it's going to be
constantly breaking. Also, 30 by 50 is fine *horizontally*; the
second you try and rotate that, you suddenly have something 50 feet
HIGH, and the ceiling isn't big enough to accommodate that. (It's
wider than it is high currently because most of the angles we shoot
in are left/right, not up/down.) If you shorten it for the ceiling,
it won't be wide enough.
Similarly, a projection onto a screen outside wouldn't show
through the glass, either. It would also require a length for proper
rear-projection that would eliminate space badly needed for our sets.
Believe me, we've been over this and over this...there have been
hundreds of suggestions...none of them work. Except for when we blue-
screen in a starfield, there's
nothing else to be done.
jms
Subj: New Big Bang Newletter Section: Babylon 5
To: Friday, June 02, 1995 1:44:01 AM
~From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#227581
I think that if people paid extra for VIP tickets to get
workshops, and those workshops are now free, certainly should be
credited for that. And for anything else that's not delivered.
Re: your question about cast fees...I spoke with Walter
Koenig today,who was supposed to receive the lion's share of his
fee within no less than 30 days of the convention (by contract),
and still hasn't received it.
jms
Subj: Conventions (the making Section: Babylon 5
To: Saturday, June 03, 1995 3:38:24 AM
~From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#228858
Assuming we're renewed (we hope to finally hear next week),
there are plans afoot to unveil an official in-house fan club
operation here at B5, which would handle some convention liaison
stuff for other conventions, and would eventually lead to a proper
B5 convention which we would put together using the very same
folks who make the show. Since there's the benefit of PR, we
wouldn't so much be looking to make a profit as just breaking
even and, most important, having a good time...so the sense of
it would be closer to a fan-run convention in tone.
But be assured, that's at *least* a year down the road.
Maybe more.
jms
Subj: UK B5: Break in series Section: Babylon 5
To: Saturday, June 03, 1995 3:24:25 AM
~From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#228853
Yeah, I get confused sometimes. Here's why:
At any given point, while we're doing the show,
I'm working on thefollowing episodes *SIMULTANEOUSLY*:
I'm writing show #1
I'm getting the director a copy of script #2
We're prepping script #3 for principal photography
We're shooting script #4
The director is editing episode #5
John Copeland and I are doing the producer's cut of
episode #6
We're doing the music/sound EFX spotting of
episode #7
Visual EFX/composite shots are coming in on
episode #8
We're doing the final audio mix of episode #9
We're delivering episode #10 to Warner Bros.
for closed captioning.
In the course of any given day, I run from one of
these to the other,to the other, to the other. After
a while, EVERYTHING blurs.
jms
Subj: Just Say NO! Section: Babylon 5
To: Saturday, June 03, 1995 3:14:18 AM
~From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#228851
No Wesley Crusher types. Ever. It's always a dumb idea.
jms
Subj: B5 Merchandise Section: Babylon 5
To: Saturday, June 03, 1995 3:14:17 AM
~From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#228850
Actually, that mug is available now from Creation
Entertainment; I saw bunches of 'em at the Anaheim Convention
they did.
jms
Subj: Books by JMS? Section: Babylon 5
To: Saturday, June 03, 1995 3:14:16 AM
~From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#228849
I'm almost finished with the revisions on the writing book;
it's been hell because it's a total rewrite from stem to stern,
and I'm adding about 200 pages of new material on top of
correcting all the info that is now out of date. It's a big
honking piece of work on top of doing the show, but it's almost
done.
jms
Subj: Years? Section: Babylon 5
To: Saturday, June 03, 1995 9:08:20 PM
~From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#229647
They would of course be speaking in Minbari terms.
jms
Subj: UK B5: Break in series Section: Babylon 5
To: Saturday, June 03, 1995 9:08:22 PM
~From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#229648
It ain't easy. You basically have to keep all the scenes
and all the stories sort of "uploaded" into your head at all
times, and just jump from one to the other. It's kinda like
balancing 10 spinning plates on sticks.
jms
Subj: Books by JMS? Section: Babylon 5
To: Saturday, June 03, 1995 9:08:19 PM
~From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#229646
My two novels and my anthology are currently out of print;
have also had short stories in Amazing, Pulphouse, Shadows 6
and the like. The book I'm trying to finish is the update to
my scriptwriting book from Writer's Digest.
jms
Subj: New Big Bang Newletter Section: Babylon 5
To: Sunday, June 04, 1995 7:15:22 PM
~From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#230752
I quote your message <<From another poster>> *verbatim*,
word for word:
"I spoke with one of the CMC Organizers today (Harold) and he
said the reason Walter Koenig hadn't received his check was
that he changed his address and didn't notify CMC of the change.
They FedEx'd his check to him and got it back as undeliverable
because the address was no longer valid. Since FedEx doesn't
get address forwarding information like the Post Office does,
they could only return it to CMC. CMC now has received Walter's
new address and the check has gone out (he may even have it now)."
The only problem with your message is that it isn't true.
Walter has never changed his address. What happened (I just
verified this on the phone with Walter about, oh, 3 minutes
ago) was that the deadline for his check passed. He called CMC.
They said it had gone out. It didn't arrive. He called again.
They said there was some kind of mistake, and they'd send it again.
Again, no check. Finally, Walter insisted that if the check did
not arrive by Wednesday, he would have to withdraw from the
convention, and to send the check directly to his home. Now,
finally, under threat, the check arrived.
To say that he changed his address is completely untrue.
To say he didn't notify CMC of a change that didn't happen is a
shameless and transparent fabrication. From reports I've heard,
CMC has a habit of playing "the check's in the mail" with people.
Lying doesn't help.
jms
Subj: UK B5: Break in series Section: Babylon 5
To: Sunday, June 04, 1995 7:15:18 PM
~From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#230751
It varies. Internet alone takes up to 3 hours a day, because
of the nature of my newsreader, and the sheer volume of messages to
wade through (I think you get 200-400 per day just there alone).
CIS is a little faster, thanks to a) Tapcis and b) a smaller volume
of messages. Ditto for GEnie. Basically, if you added it all up,
it would come out to about 2-3 8 hour work days per week.
I don't actually find the time, I *make* the time, usually
trying to slog through it all between midnight and 4 a.m. on
weekdays, afternoons on the weekends, and the like.
jms
Subj: B5 Trading Cards Section: Babylon 5
To: Sunday, June 04, 1995 7:15:16 PM
~From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#230749
The cards should be out from Fleer sometime around September.
jms
Subj: Talia Leaving B5? Section: Babylon 5
To: Sunday, June 04, 1995 7:15:15 PM
~From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#230748
Just for purposes of clarity, what I said in my note was in
response to a message alledging that Warners had influenced us to
drop the Talia character, at which point I noted that this had never,
ever happened, and that they were, if anything, only vaguely aware of
the character in any event. There have never been any discussions of
ANY kind about Talia with Warners.
jms
Subj: Talia Leaving B5? Section: Babylon 5
To: Colin Knowles, 72152,201 Monday, June 05, 1995 2:25:05 AM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#231037
"...you don't have anything up your sleeve, by any chance?"
Constantly.
If I didn't, it wouldn't be Babylon 5.
jms
Subj: B5 Merchandise Section: Babylon 5
To: Pamela A. Beem, 74461,1030 Monday, June 05, 1995 10:02:24 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#232100
EA = Earth Alliance, the government. EF = Earthforce, the main line of defense for the
Earth Alliance.
jms
Subj: What --Persecuted??!! Section: Babylon 5
To: Wednesday, June 07, 1995 10:40:27 PM
~From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#234230
That's probably one of the best analyses I've seen on the
progress and history of the show(s). As Dupa says, you may want
to consider posting this over on ST, though I'd maybe re-emphasize
that this *isn't* a flame (it obviously isn't that in context, but
it never hurts to reinforce it for those who just skim). Certainly
it should lead to some interesting discussions, as long as it
doesn't turn into a "yeah, well MY show is better and yours
SUCKS" fest, at which point it's better left to die of its own
weight.
Certainly Paramount has gone out of its way to make life for
us difficult. Getting Stephen Furst bounced off the Arsenio show
back when it was still around because they didn't want to promote
B5; making sure that Entertainment Tonight mentions it as rarely
as possible; naming their new PI show "Babylon," presumably to
confuse the marketplace even further (suffice to say we encouraged
them to rename it, and that's been done); word that has come to us
from stations that program mangers were told that if they wanted
Voyager they had to drop B5...there are more examples. But that's
what Paramount does.
But we're like Rasputin. Shoot us, poison, stab us, drown us,
hang us...we just keep going.
jms
Subj: Final four episodes Section: Babylon 5
To: Wednesday, June 07, 1995 10:18:16 PM
~From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#234217
Not really. Because even though we still haven't gotten final
word yet, you can't wait until that comes to start writing scripts.
You have to get some in the pipeline ahead of time, or you're screwed
when it comes time to shoot. We like to have 6 or so scripts on hand
the day we start rolling film. So even though I haven't known what
the final disposition is, I've had to keep writing, which is sometimes
hard because you don't know what the deal is yet. But at least I get
to make my own hours a bit more.
jms
Subj: From JMS: B5 Renewed Section: Babylon 5
To: Friday, June 09, 1995 2:16:00 AM
~From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#235292
To confirm word already leaking out via John Copeland on
AOL...yes, we received word that BABYLON 5 has been renewed for
its third season. I got the call this evening, and have spent
the time in-between doing Producer Stuff, and taking care of a
small bug that hit last night, and has thus taken a bit of the
edge off the news.
Nonetheless...we've been renewed. Shooting on year three
will begin around July 31st. This season will put us past the
halfway mark on the series total. Expect Big Things and
some major changes not just in characters, but the structure of
the B5 universe itself.
And now...to work. With thanks to all of our friends on the
nets who have stood beside us through the last two years.
jms
Subj: Books by JMS? Section: Babylon 5
To: Friday, June 09, 1995 2:26:17 AM
~From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#235295
The next novel wouldn't be out until after I finished
the B5 story.
jms
Subj: The Gathering - Cast Section: Babylon 5
To: Thursday, June 08, 1995 6:15:02 PM
~From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#234871
While I'll let the other question slide for the moment,
yes, I'd like to see either Sakai or Takashima again. Some of
what I'd considered for Takashima I recently transplanted into
more fertile ground (he said vaguely and mysteriously), but yes,
I'd love to do it sometime.
jms
Subj: The Gathering - Cast Section: Babylon 5
To: Friday, June 09, 1995 2:26:18 AM
~From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#235296
Some of this, re: Lyta, will be answered this season.
jms
Subj: What --Persecuted??!! Section: Babylon 5
To: Thursday, June 08, 1995 6:15:00 PM
~From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#234870
You have to step back and look at this from Paramount's
perspective. For 27 years, they've had a lock on space-based SF.
A monopoly. They could point to all the other space-SF series
which went by the boards quickly, and say, "See, we've lasted, so we
MUST be better."
If even ONE other show in this genre not only lasts, but
*succeeds*, then ST isn't the Only One anymore; it's just one of
two, or three, or more shows set in this genre. It isn't
unique (fiscally) anymore, and thus they are afraid they'll lose
some of its marketability, the franchise will weaken. If you wanted
something from our future, in space, then for 27 years you had only
one place to go: Trek.
They're *terrified* of losing or softening their franchise.
They're aware that support for DS9 is, in general, fairly soft;
Voyager is still getting its sea legs, and they don't want
anyone else coming up alongside and blindsiding them.
For our part, we have never responded in kind. When we
formed the B5 softball team, playing other shows, we happily
told the folks at ST that we'd love to play them sometime.
Thus far, no response. Can't imagine why.
jms
Subj: What --Persecuted??!! Section: Babylon 5
To: Thursday, June 08, 1995 6:15:04 PM
~From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#234872
Re: imitation is a form of flattery...Fred Allen, I believe,
came up with a great line, "Imitation is the sincerest form of
television."
jms
Subj: What --Persecuted??!! Section: Babylon 5
To: Thursday, June 08, 1995 6:15:06 PM
~From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#234873
RE: SF and ST and the like...actually, there is some
differentiation there to be found. From the reports, and
demographics, and research that has passed over my desk
(most of which I try to ignore), it seems as though there's
a distinction: about 60% of avid ST viewers are also SF fans,
however nominally, in that they watch other SF shows (mostly)
or read SF novels/stories (fewer still). About 40% or so
don't read or watch other SF; they're *specifically* ST fans.
Which is why one should always be careful making the
automatic assumption that if one likes ST, then one is an SF
fan, and thus should give B5 a chance. There is not always a
corrolation.
jms
Subj: What --Persecuted??!! Section: Babylon 5
To: Friday, June 09, 1995 2:37:11 AM
~From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#235301
Here's the funny thing...every, oh, six-nine months or so,
I get phone interviews from major magazines asking, "So, to what
do you attribute this sudden boom in science fiction?"
Each time, I tell them the same thing: "There AIN'T no boom,
nor is there anything to attribute it to. You've got 35 network
dramas on; that's business as usual. You've got 5 SF shows, that's
a *boom*? Further, most of the shows fall by the wayside fairly
quickly, and in a few months you'll be doing articles about "Why
won't SF work on TV?" and calling me on that one."
Not one magazine or newspaper has ever printed that part of
the interview.
jms
Subj: What --Persecuted??!! Section: Babylon 5
To: Saturday, June 10, 1995 12:56:00 AM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#236207
The similarities have receded as both shows have gone off in
different directions.
What was given to Paramount: the B5 bible, artwork, 20+ sample
stories, the pilot screenplay and other material.
jms
Subj: B5 vs. ST Section: Star Trek
To: Saturday, June 10, 1995 12:50:07 AM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#236203
"Paramount HAS increased the avenue of approach for more
SF/fantasy by CREATING the market with TNG."
The only thing wrong with this statement is that it isn't true.
ST creates a market for more ST, nothing else. As one who has
had to speak with just about every network and studio major domo
on this subject, the overwhelming concensus has always been, "The
market isn't big enough to sustain more than one SF series, and
that's Star Trek." From time to time, grudgingly, one or the other
tries it, but almost always half-heartedly.
I heard that line scores of times in the process of trying to
sell B5, which is one major reason why it took 5 years to sell it.
If what you say were true, then there should have been dozens of SF
space series by now. But there aren't. There's only us, and we had
to work hard to overcome the ST-Is-The-Only-Marketable-SF problem,
combined with Paramount's little games (making sure we're relatively
invisible to Entertainment Tonight, getting Stephen Furst kicked off
a guest-shot on the old Arsenio show to avoid promoting B5, and other
little tricks I could go into).
None of which is to say that ST is bad, or that the people who
make ST are bad, this is Paramount stuff.
But we had to fight hard to overcome the stumbling blocks put in
our way that are part and parcel of ST, so you will forgive it if the
hairs on my neck stand up when someone CREDITS the development of
shows like B5 to ST. It is absolutely, positively not true.
jms
Subj: B5 vs. ST Section: Star Trek
To: Saturday, June 10, 1995 2:53:13 AM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#236266
Yes, it is difficult selling anything new to television.
But you do not usually hear, "We've got one hospital show on the
air now, that means you can't sell any others because the market's
full." Yet that has been the case with ST for years.
What will cause *more* SF shows to come is, well, more SF
shows that succeed. Up until now, ST has been viewed (using the
industry term) as a "non-repeating phenomenon." And if you step
back and look at it from a network POV, they're quite correct.
Very, VERY few science fiction series have ever made it past the
second or third year. But you can point to many mainstream shows
that have gone five, eight, twelve, even fifteen years (in the
case of such an abombination as "Hee, Haw"). "Murder, She Wrote,"
which I was a part of for two years, has been on the air...what?
Eleven years? Twelve? Not one SF show has ever done that.
As soon as you have more than one SF show that lasts more
than, say, three or four years, then you might see more. We are
one of the very, VERY few to make it to its third season. And,
consequently, some network and studio types are thinking maybe it can
be done, maybe you CAN have more than one around at the same
time. But they're still edgy, and they still use the line that there's
only room for ST all too often.
I'm not making this up, Don. Even once we got the series pickup,
we were told by a WB exec, "I'm not holding out any hope for
this. It has never been shown that there's any market for SF other
than Star Trek." (That person has subsequently come around.)
And as an SF fan myself...the more good SF on television,
the more I like it. The Morgan/Wong pair from X-Files are doing their
new Space series, and I wish it all the best. The more the merrier;
competition helps the field. I just wish the folks at Paramount
understood that, and took a healthy competition as something good,
not something to be attacked or destroyed in order to preserve a
franchise.
jms
Subj: B5 vs. ST Section: Star Trek
To: Saturday, June 10, 1995 12:55:27 AM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#236206
"Do you think that if, say, Warner Bros was in the same position,
it wouldn't be trying to crush Trek and make sure Bab 5 was the
only SF show on TV?"
That would require organization on the part of WB; hence,
doubtful.
jms
Subj: B5 vs. ST Section: Star Trek
To: Saturday, June 10, 1995 12:50:09 AM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#236204
What I've said, repeatedly, is that I don't believe for a
second that either of the creators behind DS9 would deliberately borrow
*anything* from anybody. What I *don't* know is the extent to which
the development people at Paramount, who did have the B5
material, may have influenced that development without them necessarily
knowing the origin of the notes.
But frankly...it's old news. There were striking similiarities
between the DS9 pilot and ours; however, since then their show has
gone on into very different areas, and the similarity has diminished
further and further until there's almost no remaining comparison.
So for me, that aspect is really not a major factor anymore.
We move on.
jms
Subj: B5 Baseball Team Section: Babylon 5
To: Friday, June 09, 1995 8:50:10 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#236017
We lose as often as we win at softball, but invariably we get a
much larger turnout of B5 people to cheer on our team (anywhere
from 40-60, as opposed to, oh, usually 20), and we have a much
better time, I suspect.
Interestingly, when came time to create our B5 softball
jerseys, we gave them all the same number: 5. So you've got an
announcer saying, "At shortstop, number 5...first base,
number 5...second base, number 5...."
There were some initial complaints, but on checking
the rule books, there's nothing that says the numbers have to be
different. So the 5s stayed.
We had a previous shipment all with #4, but it vanished
mysteriously.
jms
Subj: Plan NOW ! Section: Babylon 5
To: Friday, June 09, 1995 8:50:07 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#236015
If every dedicated B5 viewer got 10 people who haven't
watched/don't watch the show, and got them to just watch the episodes
in October and November, it'd probably have a salutory effect on
our ratings, and given what's in those eps, we'd have them thereafter.
jms
Subj: What --Persecuted??!! Section: Babylon 5
To: Friday, June 09, 1995 11:00:03 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#236144
Night Gallery was vastly under-rated and under-appreciated.
jms
Subj: What --Persecuted??!! Section: Babylon 5
To: Friday, June 09, 1995 11:00:05 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#236145
Yeah, "attempted boom" in the sense that studios try to
figure out what audiences want, and drag out focus groups,
and research, and plug in the "formula" (put in a kid for
the young crowd, maybe a pet as well, make it "campy"
since the networks can't take SF seriously, put in a
young hunk and a babe). Never works.
jms
Subj: What --Persecuted??!! Section: Babylon 5
To: Friday, June 09, 1995 8:50:08 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#236016
Yeah, we've noticed that; there are a lot of parallels
between the early history of ST and our show, all of the
things you noted, plus some hostility from Lost in Space
fans who thought ST was poaching on their terrain, on and on.
Kinda funny....
jms
Subj: What --Persecuted??!! Section: Babylon 5
To: Friday, June 09, 1995 11:00:01 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#236142
On the flip side, virtually *all* of the B5 fans are
also SF fans as well. That's because, ratings-wise, we're
still hitting mainly the hard core SF audience. Where ST
gets its ratings is from the mainstream, non-SF fan community.
Should B5 begin to mainstream out, then that would change.
jms
Subj: What --Persecuted??!! Section: Babylon 5
To: Friday, June 09, 1995 11:00:02 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#236143
That may well be true for audiences at a young age, who
turn onto a show like ST or something else, and seek it out,
but for the majority of people, apparently it ain't the case.
Most of those who seek out a book in the genre after watching
ST to some extent...tend to buy ST novels.
jms
Subj: Babylon 5 Theme Music Section: Babylon 5
To: Saturday, June 10, 1995 7:14:22 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#236754
Yes, we'll change the theme again. The theme and narration
changes with the theme and part of the storyline we're entering.
Some don't like the year two theme as much as the 1st because it
doesn't summon up the same feelings; it shouldn't. It's a
different chapter in the story. I've already spoken with Chris
Franke about my ideas for the music for year three, and I think
it'll be pretty kick-ass.
jms
Subj: Books by JMS? Section: Babylon 5
To: Saturday, June 10, 1995 7:14:14 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#236750
It'd have to wait until the series itself is finished; it'd
take me about a year of dedicated work to write the next novel,
and I can't do that while I'm making this show.
jms
Subj: Third season finale Section: Babylon 5
To: Saturday, June 10, 1995 7:14:07 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#236746
I kinda have to follow the structure of the story as I've
put it together; I can't start restructuring it around airdates,
which may get changed.
jms
Subj: B5 Baseball Team Section: Babylon 5
To: Saturday, June 10, 1995 7:14:03 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#236743
Depends on who's available; some cast play, some don't, some
play sometimes. At various points, Jerry, Bruce, Richard, Caitlin
and others have taken part.
jms
Subj: What --Persecuted??!! Section: Babylon 5
To: Saturday, June 10, 1995 7:14:02 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#236742
We're *slowly* growing to include the mainstream audience.
Mainstream viewers go to ST first because, well, it's ST and a known
commodity. They don't routinely check out other SF shows. Slowly,
though, we're starting to draw in that audience. I'm getting more
letters lately than ever before saying, "I've never watched much SF
before, but now I've started watching B5.' That will likely
continue.
The biggest obstacle in the beginning was the negative
reviews that came from reviewers who expected us to do ST,
and we didn't, and thus they perceived us as somehow doing ST
"wrong." So now it's all word of mouth.
jms
Subj: What --Persecuted??!! Section: Babylon 5
To: Saturday, June 10, 1995 7:14:16 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#236751
I've been to a total of two focus groups for B5. I didn't
want to go. Didn't want there to BE a focus group. I think
they're the tools of the devil. They generally find these
people at the nearest shopping mall; they're people to whom
the $50 to come and do this is important; it's either this,
or sell blood, I sometimes think.
We're talking here Focus Groups of the Living Dead.
At one of these...the last I was invited to...one of
the guys on the other side of the two-way mirror said he didn't
like B5 because it wasn't the way science fiction was supposed
to be, it was lots of character stuff, and he didn't like that.
"So what would you consider good science fiction?" he was asked
by the facilitator.
"Power Rangers," he said.
I nearly went through the glass at him.
jms
Subj: What --Persecuted??!! Section: Babylon 5
To: Saturday, June 10, 1995 7:14:17 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#236752
<Q: Did anyone at paramount know about year 2 stuff?>
No, nobody knew that stuff but me.
jms
Subj: What --Persecuted??!! Section: Babylon 5
To: Saturday, June 10, 1995 7:14:20 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#236753
The problem is the medium. If an artist wants to do art
in the form of paintings, he needs canvas, paint and a subject.
If an artist wants to do art in the form of television, he requires,
oh, about $22 million, give or take. In the case of ST, closer
to $39 million, figuring $1.5 million per show, which is actually
on the low side. That's per season.
When you've got THAT much money riding on it, plus in the
case of ST, literally *billions* of dollars in revenue from
merchandising...well, you begin to understand why things happen
the way they do sometimes.
We're *trying* to set a better example. Many producers
putting new SF shows together have come to us, and we've given them
tours of our stage and facilities, explained how we do what we do,
and many of them are now using the "Babylon 5 Model" in putting
their shows together for the networks and studios. As far as I'm
concerned, the more the merrier.
jms
Subj: B5 vs. ST Section: Star Trek
To: Saturday, June 10, 1995 7:14:12 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#236749
Paramount does not actually *have* a creative side; neither do
most studios. They are business operations that make deals with
creative people who create programs and movies under their unbrella.
Studios are made up of presidents and vice presidents and
directors in charge of media affairs, business affairs, legal affairs,
publicity and promotion, marketing, on and on.
The creative people at ST aren't a problem, any more than we
are a problem to them. When either show does a particularly nifty
looking show, for instance, our EFX people call theirs, or theirs call
us, to say so. I have nothing but undying respect and admiration
for Jeri Taylor and many others over at ST. Whenever there's a
problem it can usually be tracked down to one of the Suits.
jms
Subj: B5 vs. ST Section: Star Trek
To: Saturday, June 10, 1995 7:14:09 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#236747
"Before Star Trek, there had NEVER been any attempt to bring
serious science fiction to weekly television."
Well...not exactly true. THE TWILIGHT ZONE did much to
bring serious SF to American television, as did many episodes of THE
OUTER LIMITS. LOST IN SPACE ended UP as campy, but in the
beginning, in the black and white episodes, there was actually
some pretty decent stuff. Ditto for THE TIME TUNNEL, the
Quantum Leap of its time.
Just for purposes of clarity.
Which is not to devalue ST, nor should it be construed
as such. My sense is that the original ST was kind of like
the Beatles; both were very much products of their time, both
created something of a watershed for the form in which they worked,
both are unique in their respective histories. Every so often,
some new group is held up as the new Beatles; and every so often,
some SF show is held up as the new ST. Both fail to see the
point, or put the source in its proper context. The job is not
to be the "next" ANYthing; it's to be its own creation.
jms
Subj: B5 vs. ST Section: Star Trek
To: Saturday, June 10, 1995 7:14:10 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#236748
Yeah, people are still talking about it <paramount b5/ds9>.
Only reason I chimed in here was because my prior statements on
this were being slightly mischaracterized in your note (unintentionally)
and figured I needed to clear them up.
jms
Subj: Reporter Bias/Democracy Section: Babylon 5
To: Saturday, June 10, 1995 7:43:30 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#236771
"Bill Clinton's involvement in the Whitewater scandal."
Except, frankly, I've now been waiting THREE YEARS to get one,
just ONE definitive statement of what the scandal IS. And what,
if anything, they did. Nobody seems able to find anything, yet
they keep dredging this term up over and over and over. Watergate was
exposed in gory detail within one year of Woodward and Bernstein
really digging in. I've finally had to conclude it's just smoke.
jms
Subj: Plan NOW ! Section: Babylon 5
To: Sunday, June 11, 1995 2:37:20 AM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#237039
<Can PTEN make a station which owns a show run it if it doesn't?>
Not insofar as I know, no. If the fans in the area want the show,
they have to bug the station to show it, or give the rights to another
station in the area. This happens frequently, btw, to other shows.
In some cases, a station might acquire a show not because they want
to show it, but because they don't want the OTHER station to have it,
and since syndication is almost all on a barter situation, they don't
have to pay much to get the show, so they lose nothing.
(This happened to us on the syndicated Twilight Zone, in some cases.)
jms
Subj: B5 Baseball Team Section: Babylon 5
To: Sunday, June 11, 1995 2:43:03 AM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#237041
Actually, the baseballs *were* CGI. Amazes me that they made
such a big deal out of it in "Forrest Gump." We just did it and
threw it away.
jms
Subj: B5 Baseball Team Section: Babylon 5
To: Saturday, June 10, 1995 11:39:13 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#236974
Kosh does color commentary on the game.
"Beauty...in the dirt."
jms
Subj: What --Persecuted??!! Section: Babylon 5
To: Saturday, June 10, 1995 7:43:28 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#236770
Then again, you've got Thomas Jefferson who said, "Given
the choice between a government and no free press, and a free
press without a government, I would choose the latter."
The job of the reporter is to get out the facts that an
informed electorate (emphasis on the word informed) needs in
order to determine who to vote for, what bills to support, what
changes to implement. This is often inconvenient for politicians,
who'd much prefer that they did what they did in the shadows.
Consequently, they paint this picture of the media as a ravening
beast, the "liberal press," when in fact virtuallly every major
newspaper, TV station and radio station in the country is owned
by Big Business, which is invariably conservative in nature.
Politicians and those citizens who fall for the okeydoke
speak of the "media bias," but the media is made up of may disparate
people, from different backgrounds, political beliefs, income levels
and educational backgrounds as, well, the country itself. There's no
such thing as a collective "media bias," there are no secret cell
meetings where the new agenda is established every year. It doesn't
exist except in the minds of politicians who wish to create this
image in order to discredit the messenger when the news is
inconvenient for them.
And the reality is that the American press today is *tame*
considering what it has been like in the past. There was
absolutely NO pretense about journalism, newspapers wore their
allegiances like banners. Editorials and cartoons were vicious
beyond description.
Without reporters, there would be only one source of information:
the government story. Period. Where I come from, that's not only
unAmerican, it's downright Soviet. They may be unpleasant at times,
they may be rude, they may sometimes fall into the unfortunate
realm of the cult of personality, but the system is self-correcting;
such individuals fall from grace pretty fast in journalistic circles...
they may even be impertinent. But the simple truth is, sometimes the
only way to get pertinent information is to ask impertinent questions.
jms
Subj: What --Persecuted??!! Section: Babylon 5
To: Saturday, June 10, 1995 11:39:14 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#236975
At 66 episodes, we will have enough to syndicate, yes, though just
barely. About 100 episodes is preferred. It makes our position both
stronger and more vulnerable: stronger in that we're now a player;
more vulnerable in that, at some point, if somebody gets fed up with
us, they can drop the show and recoup their investment in syndication,
which they couldn't until year three.
jms
Subj: What --Persecuted??!! Section: Babylon 5
To: Saturday, June 10, 1995 11:39:16 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#236976
Of course they always point that <b5 not in syndicated neilsen
top 20> out. They also conveniently forget that the majority of those
20 shows are sitcoms, entertainment newsmags, game shows and the like.
I got the latest ratings summary, and as I recall we were the number
4 dramatic series for the week in question, and the number 6 rated
dramatic series for the year. That ain't bad.
jms
Subj: What --Persecuted??!! Section: Babylon 5
To: Saturday, June 10, 1995 11:39:11 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#236973
The bug is just a touch of the flu that seems to be
making the rounds.
As for making a media "dynasty"...don't want to. Assuming
the B5 story runs its full five years, and assuming we don't do
the possible follow-up story, my plan is to retire from TV
and return to writing novels and plays.
jms
Subj: Centauri Actress Section: Babylon 5
To: Monday, June 12, 1995 12:19:27 AM
~From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#237904
Nope. Different actresses, as noted in the credits.
jms
Subj: RoB5: Reporter Bias/Demo Section: The Promenade
To: Monday, June 12, 1995 12:15:23 AM
~From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#237901
Haven't heard them, but I don't listen to a lot of
radio these days.
jms
Subj: B5 Economics Section: Babylon 5
To: Sunday, June 11, 1995 6:52:17 PM
~From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#237638
Thanks. Yeah, the idea of getting out of this part of
the Biz and back into novels or plays is very appealing.
The pace would be FAR less difficult, you write at your own
pace, there aren't 250 people standing behind you waiting for
pages.
I've been writing, first part-time, then full time,
since I was in high school. Full-time since about 1979.
3,000 pages a year. Writing twelve hours a day, every day,
except my birthday, my spousal overunit's birthday, christmas a
nd new year's. By the time B5 is finished, I think I could well
use a slightly slower pace...maybe sit by a nice, quiet little
stream for a while, feed the ducks....
jms
Subj: B5 Economics Section: Babylon 5
To: Monday, June 12, 1995 12:15:24 AM
~From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#237902
Actually (and this is far more information that anyone
could conceivably want), since it's come up...yes, definitely
more than a few books. The total stands at 12 produced plays, 2
published novels, 1 published anthology, a number of published
short stories, a dozen or so produced radio dramas, something
over 120 produced episodes of television (I'm afraid I've
lost count, could be 130 or so by now), and over 500 published
articles for places like THE LOS ANGELES TIMES, PENTHOUSE, VIDEO
REVIEW, LOS ANGELES HERALD EXAMINER, WRITER'S DIGEST, TIME INC.
and others.
jms
Subj: B5 vs. ST Section: Star Trek
To: Monday, June 12, 1995 1:10:25 AM
~From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#237943
Though your sentiment is good, and your heart is in the right
place, I don't think a treaty will do it, simply because there are always
new people coming and going, and going and coming ("and always too
soon", Blazing Saddles). Also, I'm not sure it's appropriate to
ask everyone to admit to something that has not yet been
demonstrated, whatever my own personal feelings about it might be. Who
would sign it? Who would implement it? Would Japanese car sales be
factored into the equation?
And, fundamentally, as stated, it's old news. At this point,
what matters is not how the series got ON the air, but what they're doing
now that they're ON the air. The marketplace of free ideas is the
only fair and accurate judge of such things.
I think what has you upset, and sometimes upsets me, is
when one does have the occasional member of the ST fan community roll
in and yell about B5 being a ripoff of DS9...when B5 dates back
to 1987, which can be verified in any number of places, including
published interviews and books. So naturally it causes one
to wish to hit back in equal measure. And while I will correct a
mis-statement when someone quotes me inaccurately on this subject,
I'm not really sure that's the way to go.
If I had to turn to the Star Trek community, and express
a concern, it would be only this. Gene Roddenberry advanced the
idea of IDIC. Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations. It is
another word for open-mindedness. Because Babylon 5 is on the air,
it does not constitute a threat in any way to Star Trek. One is
no more disloyal to ST by checking out B5 than one is disloyal to
the original Trek by watching a show using the same name but in
no way created by the creator of Trek (Voyager).
We are not Trek. We have no obligation to be Trek. Nor,
really, do I think anyone would want us to be Trek, because then we
*are* irrelevant and redundent. We are another view of the future.
It's not the same as the Star Trek future, but another possibility...
which of course gets us into philosophical areas, and some of the
objections some ST fans have toward B5 are, indeed, philosophical;
this is how they want the world to be 250 years from now.
Fair enough, and I don't have a problem in the world with that.
I have no problem with ANYone who gives B5 a fair shake, and
then decides it's not for them; anyone who actually *embraces* the
idea of IDIC and practices it; anyone who gives B5 the kind of fair
chance that ST fans wish would've been given to the original show
back in the 60s. Yet all too often, when someone comes into the B5
section on a kamikaze run, after they've dropped the bombs, you
discover that, in fact, they've never seen the series, never seen
more than some promos, or two minutes of a show; the same people
who will, by their own statements, stick with a new Star Trek
series, even though they hate aspects of it, for whole *seasons*
until they figure out how to get it right.
There is NO reason for animosity between ST fans and B5 fans,
for the simple reason that, every day, we gain more fans who
began as ST fans, and in many cases CONTINUE to enjoy that show.
Any hostility is as fundamentally silly as fans of Hill Street Blues
declaring open warfare against anyone who likes NYPD Blue because
they both have the word Blue in the title, and HSB was there
first.
All that anyone wants, I guess, is that the show be given
a fair chance. The lack of that chance was what helped drive
the original Star Trek off the air after two years initially,
and finally after the third. I can't see any reasonable
ST fan, knowing that history, and decrying it, then doing
it to another.
Interestingly enough...I saw Roddenberry once, at a
presentation he gave in either Glendale or Pasadena, around
1983 or so. He screened "The Cage," and spoke afterward.
The one thing he emphasized, over and over, was this:
Follow your dream.
STAR TREK was Gene Roddenberry's dream. His vision.
He labored long years to bring it to fruition.
He galvanized the media fan community (sometimes to
the exasperation of Lost in Space fans).
BABYLON 5 springs from the same roots. Since 1987,
it has been my dream, my vision, to see this story
produced. It's not done by committee, it's not done
by suits or execs. It's done by me, and the breathtakingly
talented people who work for me. It is as pure
and personal a dream for me as Star Trek was for Roddenberry.
Mutual regard in that respect, at least, while not
blinding either side to the genuine flaws or achievements
of either show, would seem to be the way to go. IDIC.
jms
Subj: B5 vs. ST Section: Star Trek
To: Sunday, June 11, 1995 9:38:24 PM
~From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#237784
Nope. Still wrong. Lost in Space preceded Star Trek,
and until it went campy, was exclusively SF (as much SF as
ST was at times, which tended to vary wildly), with the
same characters in the same setting every week.
Just for purposes of historical accuracy.
jms
Subj: B5 vs. ST Section: Star Trek
To: Sunday, June 11, 1995 9:38:25 PM
~From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#237785
Two corrections: there *is* a planet nearby Babylon 5,
Epsilon 3, to which they've traveled before, and will again.
Also, while B5 does not have a wormhole, it does have a
jumpgate beside it. Both nominally function in a similar
capacity, allowing long-range travel.
jms
Subj: B5 vs. ST Section: Star Trek
To: Sunday, June 11, 1995 9:38:28 PM
~From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#237786
"without the benefit of the depth of the established
Star Trek universe it's not as good..."
The Star Trek universe is the end result of 30 years
of history. Do you think it's fair to compare something
that's got 30 years of history against a show that's got
only two, and use age as the primary criterion of quality?
If so, then NO show will ever be as good (by your lights),
and never gives any other show the opportunity. To use that
same logic, then with only two seasons under its belt in
the 1960s, ST could never be any good because at that time
it didn't have the "depth" that it acquired (or, more
correctly, was attached to it) over the following 28 years.
I'd also point out that when Star Trek first hit the
airwaves back then, many media SF fans and critics panned
it as nothing more than a cheap attempt at grabbing some of
Lost in Space's audience (the show was very successful at
the time). They said that LiS had depth, there was a family,
they had strong relations, it was about hanging together...
whereas Star Trek, they said, was just a mindless shoot-em-up
about salt monsters (they generally gave the show a cursory glance).
Star Trek fans at the time felt this was *very* unfair, that
their show was being dismissed by fans of another show without
giving it a decent opportunity, and certainly they wouldn't
do this to another show if the situation were reversed.
But times change, I guess. Or do they...?
And speaking of "depth of the established Star Trek
universe," some questions: who is currently the President
of Starfleet? What's happening back home right now?
Have ethnic fashions survived the ages on Earth?
How much do you *really* know about what's in the "established
Star Trek universe" except what happens on the ship/station?
jms
Subj: Comic boks cancelled??? Section: Babylon 5
To: Tuesday, June 13, 1995 1:13:13 AM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#239116
DC is, we think, acting precipitiously. Current
discussions seem to be moving toward extending the book
another six issues to allow time to find its audience.
More as this is locked down.
Problem is, DC is cutting back titles left, right
and center, leaving mainly the superhero stuff. And the
comic biz right now is in a major tailspin overall.
jms
Subj: B5 in Houston Section: Babylon 5
To: Monday, June 12, 1995 10:08:23 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#238919
Re: hints about next season....
Well, how about a major change in the very
structure of the B5 universe?
How major?
Imagine if, one day, the Enterprise crew discovered
that their ship had actually been constructed by the Romulans,
and that they were morally obligated to go off and serve the
Romulan empire...and that didn't change at the end of the
episode, it *stayed* that way for the rest of the season.
That scenario bears *no* resemblance to what I have
planned for year three, so there's no point in riffing off
it and looking for clues. But that is emblematic of the
Major Event waiting about halfway through the third season.
How's that for a start?
jms
Subj: What --Persecuted??!! Section: Babylon 5
To: Monday, June 12, 1995 10:08:16 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#238916
The others just sort of mumbled.
One other person in the focus group started going on
about how he doesn't like women characters who aren't *women,*
which by his lights meant he felt there should be more
passive, motherly figures, that somebody like Ivanova
shouldn't be running a station, didn't like her at all....
Then there was a THUMP in the room that startled
everyone on both sides of the glass. Without even realizing
I'd done it, I'd picked up the nearest pencil and thrown
it at the glass.
Odd that I haven't been invited back since....
jms
Subj: JMS's books Section: Babylon 5
To: Monday, June 12, 1995 10:08:13 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#238915
Good heavens, that's an awfully long way to go....
Hope you like the book.
jms
Subj: Babylon 5 Theme Music Section: Babylon 5
To: Monday, June 12, 1995 10:08:12 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#238914
I kinda thought it'd be a good idea from the start,
though in theory over time the narratiions should get shorter,
more to the point.
jms
Subj: B5 vs. ST Section: Star Trek
To: 74027,264Tuesday, June 13, 1995 1:22:02 AM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#239119
While I won't presume to speak for DS9, no, in my view,
B5 is not "simply a futuristic version of Gunsmoke."
The mission in Gunsmoke was simple: protect the town from
those nasty outlaws. The marshall wasn't off trying to forge
peace treaties between soldiers and native americans, the
story wasn't constantly being affected by political events
in Washington; the town was isolated, out of context.
B5 is in part *about* context. The premise in "Gunsmoke" is
presented in the first episode, and you never really go
anywhere from there, it is what it is. Not the case with B5.
There are few clearly defined good guys and bad guys.
Londo started out comic relief; he's become a tragic figure...
G'Kar started out as the bad guy, has ended up as a heroic,
possibly doomed figure...in "Gunsmoke," Miss Kitty wasn't
revealed halfway through to be a carpetbagger, but we have
no such boundaries.
jms
Subj: B5 Economics Section: Babylon 5
To: Monday, June 12, 1995 10:08:21 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#238918
I think that figure counts *most* of B5...I think.
I dunno; the only way I can keep track anymore is go back
through all the records and see how many were written for
each show, and add 'em up, and I'm always forgetting
something, somewhere.
jms
Subj: B5 Economics Section: Babylon 5
To: Tuesday, June 13, 1995 1:13:11 AM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#239115
I've only seen one episode of The Tick, and loved it.
Favorite scene: a Bad Guy has a friend, which is really a
sock puppet over his hand, which he operates with minimal
skill. At one point, when the Tick doesn't appear, the
sock puppet says, "He's off sulking like Achilles in his
tent."
(blank stares from all the other bad guys)
"Achilles."
(blank stares)
"Homer. The Illiad. The Odyssesy."
(blank stares)
"READ A BOOK!!!!"
jms
Subj: Babylon 5 Theme Music Section: Babylon 5
To: Wednesday, June 14, 1995 2:50:17 AM
~From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#240267
Yes, the B5 soundtrack is on sale in the UK.
jms
Subj: Initials Section: Babylon 5
To: Tuesday, June 13, 1995 1:22:03 AM
~From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#239120
>> Is it just a coincidence that Jeff Sinclair, John Sheridan
and Joe Straczynski all have the same initials? <<
Probably not.
jms
Subj: <<Talia & Vir>>-Spoiler Section: Babylon 5
To: Wednesday, June 14, 1995 2:50:18 AM
~From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#240268
>>Talia Winters is either getting killed off or thrown in jail
back on earth. She is the one who tried to kill Kosh at very
beginning of show. In real life, the actress who plays her and
the actor that plays Garabaldi are engaged!!! The shadows
attack the Narn home world and do major damage. Vir is getting
killed off.I wonder if their sources are reliable.
We will see..............<<
I'd say overall that's the most breathtakingly jumbled
batch of half-rumors and quarter-truths I've seen. You can
disregard, oh, 98% of it.
jms
Subj: <CoS-Man. Canidate ref?> Section: Babylon 5
To: Wednesday, June 14, 1995 11:31:27 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#241229
No, it's not a Manchurian Candidate reference. There
really is such a thing as psycho-linguistics.
jms
Subj: Why B5 on TV? Section: Babylon 5
To: Wednesday, June 14, 1995 11:15:17 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#241212
Any time I come up with a story, I try to look around
to determine where it would work best. This one *felt*
like it belonged to TV.
More than that, though...I went into this looking to
create a saga for TV. It wasn't so much coming up with the
story, and realizing it was a TV saga, as it was, "Nobody's ever
done a multi-year science fiction saga for television.
As a thought-experiment, can I come up with something that
would work in this medium?" This led me to the structure that
became Babylon 5.
jms
Subj: B5's Military Metaphor Section: Babylon 5
To: Wednesday, June 14, 1995 11:15:15 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#241211
As I responded in private mail, I'm drawing upon a number
of military influences in the show; some from WW I, in the Great
War and how WW I sort of slid into WW II; some tactical and
strategic elements of WW II military; and some of the political
elements that went into the Vietnam and Korean conflicts.
Actual tactics and battles will vary; there's a major battle
setpiece in a later episode that uses more contemporary and
futuristic elements such as long-distance (thousands of
kilometers) tactics, interceptors and the like.
Also as I noted in email...I just learned today from someone
high up in military PR in Washington that Babylon 5 is very popular
with many branches of the military. They call it a "force multiplier"
(morale booster) for naval and air force and ground troops (apparently
the show gets shipped out to bases and to carrier/battleship groups).
It's also very popular with many folks in the Pentagon and the Secret
Service. (In one case, the Secret Service apparently did an analysis
of one of our episodes as an exercise in character analysis of
military persons under high-stress situations.) The Flying Tigers
have also been very supportive of the show, even allowing us to use
their symbol in the series.
jms
Subj: Babylon 5 Theme Music Section: Babylon 5
To: Wednesday, June 14, 1995 11:15:12 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#241210
Everything's fine. But PTEN dropped *all* the ending
voiceovers on their shows, including B5.
jms
Subj: <CoS-Man. Canidate ref?> Section: Babylon 5
To: Thursday, June 15, 1995 10:33:12 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#242363
I was at SDSU, getting my bachelor's in psychology,
the first time I heard of psycholinguistics. Much of the
department considered it basically rubber-science, but they
were all hard-core behavior modification/Skinner types in
any event.
jms
Subj: Babylon 5 Theme Music Section: Babylon 5
To: Thursday, June 15, 1995 10:33:11 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#242362
Actually, there's 35-40 minutes of music in the pilot;
it wasn't wall-to-wall music. I'm not opposed to it, but
at this time, nobody's licensed it. We can't do anything
until somebody licenses it from a record company.
jms
Subj: B5 Military Section: Babylon 5
To: Thursday, June 15, 1995 10:25:12 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#242354
Vorlons/Shadows at the top of the force, Minbari after,
Centauri, with Humans and Narns not that far apart.
Er...what was the suggestion again...?
jms
Subj: Claudia/Takishima Section: Babylon 5
To: Thursday, June 15, 1995 10:25:11 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#242353
I don't offhand know Claudia's age (I forget this stuff
5 minutes after I'm told), and wouldn't invade her privacy by
saying anyway.
Would rather hold back on anything to say about
Laurel for now.
jms
Subj: Delayed Episodes Section: Babylon 5
To: Friday, June 16, 1995 6:39:18 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#243048
Of the four remaining episodes, 1 was delivered about
a week and a halfor two weeks ago (which would air second
in the batch). The episode thatwould air first was delivered
yesterday. The episode that airs third willbe delivered today
or Monday. The final episode will be delivered in in
about 7-10 days.
So to recap:
episode 1 - delivered
episode 2 - delivered
episode 3 - Monday
episode 4 - 7-10 days
And that's all of it.
jms
Subj: <CoS-Man. Canidate ref?> Section: Babylon 5
To: Friday, June 16, 1995 6:39:21 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#243050
Actually, I think the main reason there isn't much
fanfiction is that I've specifically asked for there not
to be any until after we've finished our run. And as is
generally true of the SF fan community, if you ask nice
and respectfully, you will generally be accommodated.
jms
Subj: <CoS-Man. Canidate ref?> Section: Babylon 5
To: Friday, June 16, 1995 11:46:10 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#243270
<On a completely different topic, I understand you have carpal
tunnel syndrome. What was the first thing you notice
that you now know was a symtom? I have been getting shooting
pains up the side of my arm on the side of my left
little finger, I was wondering if this might be a warning sign.>
Sounds like it.
jms
Subj: <CoS-Man. Canidate ref?> Section: Babylon 5
To: Friday, June 16, 1995 6:39:17 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#243047
I never much went in for Skinner. When I went into the
psychology department initially, everything was Carl
Rogers, non-directive therapy, and RET. Then somewhere along
the line Skinner took over, and by the time I transferred to
SDSU, it was all over for everything else. Here's how bad it
was: I took a seminar in "Theories of Psychology." All that
was taught that semester was Skinner. Toward the end of the
term I asked why. "Well, there are many theories of psychology,"
I was told by the instructor (who was also the department
chairman), but it seemed better to teach you the *right* one."
jms
Subj: Claudia/Takishima Section: Babylon 5
To: Friday, June 16, 1995 6:39:19 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#243049
<Just out of curiousity...
Have you or any other B5 people been on AOL lately?>
Was on AOL a few days ago, fairly quiet.
jms
Subj: Fighting Shadows Section: Babylon 5
To: JOHN M. KAHANE, Sunday, June 18, 1995 12:17:10 AM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#244031
You're assuming that the relationship you saw between
Delenn and Sinclair was a romantic one. It was a close one,
on her part in particular, but not based on romance.
We'll explain what that means in year three.
jms
Subj: Fighting Shadows Section: Babylon 5
To: Burhaan Ahmad, Sunday, June 18, 1995 12:26:27 AM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#244035
"It's a rebirth ceremony, all right, which sometimes
doubles as a marriage ceremony."
Amazing how everyone went for the secondary meaning
and omitted the most obvious meaning in presaging the rebirth
Delenn went through in "Chrysalis."
jms
Subj: B5 Military Section: Babylon 5
To: Barbara Pfieffer, Sunday, June 18, 1995 12:22:01 AM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#244034
Haven't made up my mind yet on what to bring to ComicCon.
jms
Subj: B5 Military Section: Babylon 5
To: Charles Agius, Saturday, June 17, 1995 6:07:23 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#243775
Which is all fine, except...who said that Earth was
going to end up fighting the Shadows?
jms
Subj: From JMS: B5 Renewed Section: Babylon 5
To: Mike, Saturday, June 17, 1995 6:07:22 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#243774
<Congratulations! All of us in the Star Trek graphics
department are excited that we'll get to enjoy another year of B5.
Your renewal is good news not only for those of us who are B5
fans, but also for television science fiction in general.
-Mike Okuda>
Thanks, Mike. You (and the whole graphics department there)
have always been a class act.
jms
Subj: Claudia/Takishima Section: Babylon 5
To: Jeannette Fornadel, Saturday, June 17, 1995 6:07:21 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#243773
Sinclair was in his late thirties or thereabouts.
jms
Subj: B5 vs Simpsons Section: Babylon 5
To: Jon A Bell, Saturday, June 17, 1995 6:07:20 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#243772
The Simpsons is *amazingly* well written. I love the show.
jms
Subj: <TCoS> Ducks Section: Babylon 5
To: SysOp Dupa T. Parrot, Sunday, June 18, 1995 12:22:31 AM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#244033
<In the teaser for "The Coming Of Shadows", where G'Kar is
trying to pursuade Sheridan not to allow the Centari Emperor on
board B5, there is a display case behind Sheridan's
desk. One of the items in the display case looks like a duck's
head on a stand. What is it really?>
I think it's a puzzle, but until I can check the tape, I can't be
100% sure.
jms
Subj: B5 VIDEOS (UK) Section: Babylon 5
To: John Denley, Sunday, June 18, 1995 11:01:12 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#244951
"...because they realized that (the videos) are only
in stereo..."
Nope. The master tapes are in full Dolby surround.
jms
Subj: B5 Ratings Section: Babylon 5
To: William H. DiPaola, Sunday, June 18, 1995 6:29:22 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#244733
Bear in mind that that "top ten" includes mainly game shows,
talk shows and the like; only two of them, DS9 and Baywatch, are
dramatic series. In ratings you generally isolate the dramatic
series from the rest, and in that ranking we range between the #4
and #6 dramatic series in syndication.
The main problem is lack of public awareness. Most people
don't know we exist. Those who hear the name assume we're a Trek
show. Roughly 55% of those who hear about the show and sample it
once, stay with it thereafter. The usual figure is closer to 30%.
It's just a matter of getting that word out. Mostly it's word of
mouth. At some point, we'll hit critical mass in the ratings; I
just don't know when that'll happen.
jms
Subj: B5 Ratings Section: Babylon 5
To: William H. DiPaola Monday, June 19, 1995 2:28:06 AM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#245008
<Thanks for the response. I just hate to see a good show like
this underexposed.>
Yeah, well, that goes for both of us.
jms
Subj: B5's Military Metaphor Section: Babylon 5
To: Anne L. Warner, Sunday, June 18, 1995 6:29:19 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#244731
It would get rather redundent and boring after a while if
the same war continued for three seasons, would it not?
jms
Subj: TD: Star Trek Section: Babylon 5
To: Larry Rosenblum, Sunday, June 18, 1995 6:14:13 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#244724
B5 need not bring in huge ratings for some at Paramount to
view us as a threat; in point of fact they've treated us that way
from day one. The ratings overall and support for DS9 are very
soft. They can't afford to lose anyone. But they're aware that
many DS9 fans have tuned out to begin watching B5 because, well,
things *happen* in this show.
jms
Subj: TD: Star Trek Section: Babylon 5
To: Jeannette Fornadel, Sunday, June 18, 1995 11:06:06 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#244956
<A question, unrelated: Did Sinclair ever marry Catherine?
(And who came up with the proposal, you? It was so in-character
it was absolutely perfect!)>
No, he pushed back marrying Sakai when he was reassigned.
And yes, the proposal was mine. If my name is on the script,
every word of it was written by me.
jms
Subj: B5 Military Section: Babylon 5
To: SysOp Dupa T. Parrot, Sunday, June 18, 1995 11:06:07 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#244957
Last I heard, I'd been scheduled for two big presenations,
<at ComicCon> that Saturday and Sunday. There will be one separate
presentation for Michael, possibly two, and a panel or two with
both of us, plus a panel with me, Michael and Peter David.
jms
Subj: B5 Military Section: Babylon 5
To: Charles Agius, Sunday, June 18, 1995 11:01:11 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#244950
"We crave ACTION."
And you shall have it. In abundance.
jms
Subj: Fighting Shadows Section: Babylon 5
To: Jerry D Bookter, Sunday, June 18, 1995 6:29:17 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#244730
<While you're passing out tidbits of info on Delenn, can you
tell us how the obvious romantic relationship she has with
Sheridan is going to be handled?>
How will it be handled? With discretion and dignity and
grace of course. Problem is, this isn't the sort of thing that
collapses easily into a few-line message. It'll have to come out
organically, during the show.
jms
Subj: Fighting Shadows Section: Babylon 5
To: Anne L. Warner, Sunday, June 18, 1995 6:29:20 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#244732
They didn't cancel the tapes, as much as, we discovered,
never had the plans in the first place.
We are, frankly, astonished.
jms
Subj: ITSOZ - Questions Section: Babylon 5
To: Colin Knowles, Tuesday, June 20, 1995 2:45:03 AM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#246115
<Therefore, wouldn't it make sense for the Vorlons, whatever
Rangers have gathered, maybe the Narn (whatever's left - it
would've been better if they attacked before the war started)
and Delenn's friends in the Mimbari (there's got to be some) t
o pound the heck out of the Shadows now, before they're ready?
If someone blew up Z'Hadum, it seems that would deal a serious
blow to the Shadows' plans.>
The forces you describe are not sufficient to take out the
shadows, even at this stage. It's going to take a much larger
force, which is what Delenn et al are trying to gather.
jms
Subj: Fighting Shadows Section: Babylon 5
To: Jeannette Fornadel, Monday, June 19, 1995 10:11:03 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#245956
I think you've confused several things. We're talking
about the events in "Parliament of Dreams" in which a ritual
she goes through with a bunch of other Minbari is referred to as
a) a rebirth ceremony, which sometimes doubles as a b) marriage
ceremony. It was a rebirth ceremony in this case, presaging
"Chrysalis."
jms
Subj: Narn Genus? Section: Babylon 5
To: Bob Perse, Monday, June 19, 1995 10:11:01 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#245955
I've worked out a rough chronology for the Narn evolution,
but nothing nearly concrete enough to want to put out here.
Once I've had the chance to think about it a bit more....
jms
Subj: B5 Military Section: Babylon 5
To: Michael Beemer, Monday, June 19, 1995 10:11:00 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#245954
<>> "We crave ACTION."
>
> And you shall have it. In abundance.
Always giving the audience what it wants, eh, Mr. Dark? <g>>
The moral lesson in the quote being...be careful what
you ask for.
jms
Subj: Whither Na'Toth? Section: Babylon 5
To: Spencer Collyer [UK] Monday, June 19, 1995 10:11:31 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#245953
That's what's negotiated, but an actor may often be used in
fewer eps, as was the case with Na'Toth.
jms
Subj: Cancel Voyager? Section: Star Trek
To: James Ortis, Wednesday, June 21, 1995 3:28:09 AM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#247131
Correction: the first seasons of TNG were not done
cheaply; the budgets set aside were greater than for any
other previous syndicated series, and were equal to or
greater than most network shows.
jms
Subj: ITSOZ - Questions Section: Babylon 5
To: Colin Knowles, Tuesday, June 20, 1995 10:41:20 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#246960
<Since we haven't seen much of this "gathering" so far,
are we going to see it next season?>
That will be part of the next season, yes.
jms
Subj: B5 Laser import Section: Babylon 5
To: Anthony Ho, Thursday, June 22, 1995 12:54:20 AM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#248135
Argh, unfortunately the disk is in storage, and I don't
have the number at hand. You may want to try the Lasercraze
laserdisk sales service here on CIS; they may have it.
I've heard something very interesting about the UK
airing for the final four eps (year three beyond has been
renewed there). I hope to have something very positive to say
shortly.
jms
Subj: B5 - UK Return! Section: Babylon 5
To: Malcolm Pemberton, Friday, June 23, 1995 1:28:29 AM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#249248
That's good to hear. Last I'd heard was the possibility
that Ch4 might air all four remaining year two eps *the same
night* on July 25th, in kind of a B5 marathon. Good in
one sense, though if you miss that night, you miss it all.
Here, spreading it out as usual, is probably better.
jms
Subj: B5 Laser import Section: Babylon 5
To: Brian A. Thomas, Thursday, June 22, 1995 3:20:26 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#248610
< >> (year three beyond has been renewed there) <<
Year three beyond? Do you mean year three _and_ beyond?!>
No, just year three; awkward syntax on my part.
jms
Subj: Effect of story idea Section: Babylon 5
To: Christopher R. Turn, Thursday, June 22, 1995 3:20:25 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#248609
<The Sysops have posted again the warning about story ideas not
being brought up in the forum, along with the reasoning. They
used as an example a storyline about a person who had been mind-
wiped and then recovered his memory which you were (supposedly)
developing but tossed after it appeared in this forum. I was just
curious: was that a "B" story, or did you have to make changes
in the arc to accomodate the loss of the story? Please tell us
what you can.>
It was always intended as a B-story, mainly a character story
about the person who was affected, and how that would affect our
main charactes when they found out about it (it's someone they would
have known for a bit).
jms
Subj: B5 World Section: Babylon 5
To: Charles Agius,Friday, June 23, 1995 9:41:15 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#250113
Remember that the Io mission <in GROPOS> was just a cover,
a red herring, for the actual mission. So there really *was* no need.
As for B5 background, there are some lurker's guides out there
that have more info than anyone could ever want.
jms
Subj: B5 Laser import Section: Babylon 5
To: Jeannette Fornadel, Friday, June 23, 1995 9:41:13 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#250111
<Are there any arc-bending episodes at the end of Season 2?
(I'm not asking what they are, just *if* there are.)>
Yes.
jms
Subj: Drazi Question Section: Babylon 5
To: Jason Wong, Sunday, June 25, 1995 3:25:03 AM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#251122
<Are all the Drazi male?>
Actually, Drazi are asexual, carrying the attributes of
both, with their basic appearance reading to us like males.
jms
Subj: Top Five List Section: Babylon 5
To: Paul Maskens Sunday, June 25, 1995 1:14:25 AM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#251080
It's really sad, but...see, on the one hand, I like filet
mignon, and occasionally lobster, and all the other hoity-toity
foods you're supposed to like and eat when you're a TeeVee
producer, but see...I hate even to admit this in public, but...
I actually kinda *like* McDonald's burgers. I don't know why,
but there it is. I usually end up ducking into one
when I'm by myself, because the explanations...well, you see my
problem.
jms
Subj: B5 World Section: Babylon 5
To: Charles Agius, Saturday, June 24, 1995 5:08:10 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#250730
You can order <The Soundtrack CD> direct from Sonic Images,
via information here on the B5 library. Pegasus Publishing also
does some CD ordering.
jms
Subj: From jms re: Harlan CD Section: Babylon 5
To: All Sunday, June 25, 1995 9:10:31 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#251813
For those interested, Harlan Ellison has a new recording out
via the Harlan Ellison Record Collection, cost $16.50 & $2
postage/handling for the general public, $15 & $2 for members of
HERC (the Harlan Ellison Record Collection, which for a paltry $8
per year you get a newsletter, updates on what's available, access
to his books and prior recordings).
The new CD is his performance/reading of "Paladin of the Lost
Hour," which many of you may remember from its adaptation into
an episode of "The Twilight Zone." It's a *terrific* reading,
very dynamic, and if you've never heard Harlan read one of his stories,
you're missing a lot. (One prior recording was nominated for a
Grammy.)
Checks or money orders can be sent to: The Harlan Ellison
Record Collection, P. O. Box 55548, Sherman Oaks, CA 91413.
jms
Subj: G'Quan's sex Section: Babylon 5
To: Daniel M. Upton, Sunday, June 25, 1995 9:10:28 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#251812
G'Quon was a male.
jms
Subj: Top Five List Section: Babylon 5
To: Dinie Kloosterboer, Monday, June 26, 1995 1:46:11 AM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#251972
We've had fast food on B5, including pizzas.
jms
Subj: Spirituality and Delenn Section: Babylon 5
To: Anne L. Warner, Sunday, June 25, 1995 11:10:27 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#251811
<I heard a quotation that made me think of Delenn, and of her experience in
Confessions and Lamentations. I believe that this was from the Gospel of
Phillip: "Spritual knowledge springs from an awareness of our own capacity
for evil." Does it seem to you that this is meaningful?>
Not bad....
jms
Subj: Babylon 5: Hard SF & B5 Section: Babylon 5
To: Aurora, Monday, June 26, 1995 10:46:05 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#253077
Then please explain to me why it was that, when the
Pioneer space probe passed the speed of sound while in
space, the monitoring station at JPL registered a shock
wave -- a sonic boom -- across its bow?
Also, fuel of any kind that exerts propulsion,
spewing forth substance to push it forward, puts forth
a medium behind it capable of carrying sound. When some
satellites have been launched from the shuttle,
the crew have heard or felt the engine thrust.
Further, a ship carries atmosphere within it. If that
ship explodes, the sound will be audible within the curtain
of the expanding atmospheric bubble created by the rupturing
of the hull.
The idea of *no* sound at all in space is one of the
great shibboleths of SF. But in talking to many leading
space scientists, including some at the High Altitude
Observatory, and none other than Freeman Dyson, who currently
occupies Einstein's chair...ain't necessarily true.
jms
Subj: From jms re: Harlan CD Section: Babylon 5
To: Michael Beemer, Monday, June 26, 1995 10:38:12 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#253059
Insofar as I know, no, none of the TZ2 or 3
<Twilight Zone> tapes are being sold.
jms
Subj: From jms re: Harlan CD Section: Babylon 5
To: Trent K. Johnson, Monday, June 26, 1995 10:38:09 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#253057
Actually, yes, Harlan does sing, and sing quite well;
there's a bit of it on one of his LPs.
jms
Subj: Kosh & Delenn Section: Babylon 5
To: Barbara Pfieffer, Monday, June 26, 1995 10:38:10 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#253058
<When we do finally see Kosh, will we then understand why
Delenn felt she needed to see him before she underwent her
transformation?>
Probably.
jms
Subj: From jms re: Harlan CD Section: Babylon 5
To: Ed Schlotman, Tuesday, June 27, 1995 9:47:05 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#254084
<Is he going to write that Demon w/ Glass Hand follow up
that you mentioned briefly at San Diego last year??>
In the fullness of time....
jms
Subj: B5 Games Section: Babylon 5
To: Charles Agius, Tuesday, June 27, 1995 9:47:06 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#254085
No computer games available at present.
jms
Subj: Trying to Find JMS Section: Babylon 5
To: Anne L. Warner, Tuesday, June 27, 1995 9:52:06 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#254087
<How does Kosh's susceptibility to poison rule out his being
an energy life-form?Were we ever told the nature of the poison?>
The pilot movie showed the poison being analyzed; the
line on the monitor read "Analyzing crystalline structure."
jms
Subj: Chicago ComiCon Question Section: Babylon 5
To: Charles S. Tritt, Tuesday, June 27, 1995 9:52:07 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#254088
Last I heard, I'll be doing presentations both Saturday
and Sunday. If this stays true, your best bet is to come to
the one on Sunday if you can only do one or the other. If
possible, try to verify this with someone as far as the two
presentations are concerned.
jms
Subj: JMS ComicCon Schedule Section: Babylon 5
To: All Wednesday, June 28, 1995 1:24:18 AM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#254239
For those in the vicinity, I'll be putting in an
appearance this weekend at the Chicago ComicCon, Rosemont
Convention Center, Rosemont IL. Here's the schedule:
FRIDAY
3:00 A jms appearance with bloopers and other clips.
4:00 Michael O'Hare leads an acting seminar.
SATURDAY
11:00 a.m. Q&A with Michael O'Hare
1:30-3:00 A special jms presentation. *Be there*
4:00 A jms writing for TV seminar.
8 or 9ish p.m. A casual B5 reception with jms,
Michael O'Hare and Peter David.
SUNDAY
1-2 p.m. B5 panel with jms, Michael O'Hare and
Peter David.
jms
Subj: From jms re: Harlan CD Section: Babylon 5
To: Trent K. Johnson, Wednesday, June 28, 1995 11:54:30 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#255204
Dream Corridor is a great comic, I recommend it heartily.
jms
Subj: Stims & Dr. Franklin Section: Babylon 5
To: Marlyn Bumpus, Wednesday, June 28, 1995 11:54:31 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#255205
<I was wondering if Dr. Franklin's tendency to misuse the "stims"
when he gets swamped in med-lab indicates that they're addictive
-- and is this possibly going to be a problem for him when he
goofs due to diminished capacity under the influence, so to
speak?>
We'll see....
jms
Subj: B5 Games Section: Babylon 5
To: Charles Agius, Wednesday, June 28, 1995 11:54:01 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#255206
There will be a screen saver from Sound Source later
this year.
jms
Subj: Big Bang Convention Section: Babylon 5
To: SysOp Dupa T. Parrot, Thursday, June 29, 1995 12:38:14 AM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#255230
I heard today that, as well as a previous check to one of
the cast members attending having bounced, a *second* check to
one of the major actors has bounced. These guys are amazing....
jms