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2848 lines
100 KiB
2848 lines
100 KiB
Subj: Jack the Ripper Section: Babylon 5
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To: Wayne D. Zimmerman Tuesday, October 31, 1995 10:57:19 PM
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From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#389227
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So, in other words, if a historical, real character has been used in
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some other venue, if the use of that same character in another,
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wholly different world/series/show/universe is absolutely, totally and
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completely the right thing for that story,
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one should instead do what's *wrong* for the story and leave it out?
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Sorry. Don't buy it.
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jms
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Subj: <Comes the Inquisitor> Section: Babylon 5
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To: Ray Pelzer, Tuesday, October 31, 1995 11:22:01 PM
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From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#389253
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<Delenn really made Sebastian realize who HE was as well. Was this
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both-sides-of-the-coin intentional, or just happy happenstance?>
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No, it was very much intentional; Sebastian learns quite a bit in the
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course of that encounter about himself...especially when she rubs it in his
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face as she does.
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jms
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Subj: B5 Fans Strike Again! Section: Babylon 5
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To: Fred Miller, Tuesday, October 31, 1995 11:22:05 PM
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From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#389254
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Unfortunately, no suggestions except to note that the more people in
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an area who keep after their stations, the more things gradually change.
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jms
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Subj: <spoiler: Comes the Inq> Section: Babylon 5
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To: Catherine Becic, Tuesday, October 31, 1995 11:22:06 PM
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From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#389255
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Sacrificing oneself happens frequently...but for just one other
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person, AND in a situation where no one else would ever know about it.
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Bear in mind that he wasn't testing people randomly; only those who felt
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that they were chosen of god, fulfillers of prophecy...people who assumed
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that they were part of some grand scheme, and thus to whom an anonymous
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death is an intolerable thought.
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Also, most probably never *got* that far, unable to stand the real
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pain of being placed in this position. Everybody can talk the talk; very
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few can walk the walk. Most probably just yanked off the bracelets and
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split, on the theory that they weren't being sufficiently coddled or
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glorified...or because being a potential prophet isn't as much fun as
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they'd thought.
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jms
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Subj: <spoiler: Comes the Inq> Section: Babylon 5
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To: Daena Hinkelman Wednesday, November 01, 1995 7:23:13 PM
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From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#389981
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"It doesn't fit in with the way the Vorlons have been portrayed. It
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bothered me."
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Good. That was the intended result.
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Part of the reason for the story was to grey up the Vorlons a little;
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one shouldn't fall too easily for what other people *say* they are.
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(One might also say much the same of the old testament god who would
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have Job so severely tested, btw.)
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One should always be cautious of taking *anyone* at face value on B5.
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"...you could consider them a force for good."
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Ah, but what *is* good? And whose *version* of good are we
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discussing?
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jms
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Subj: <Fall of Night> Section: Babylon 5
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To: Michael Beemer Tuesday, October 31, 1995 11:22:08 PM
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From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#389256
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<IT DOESN'T MATTER. THIS PLACE HAS BEEN BLESSED.
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Wow!! I expected this to devolve into a bitter argument
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between different religions.>
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Thanks. I think that, with so many races around, you couldn't go into
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holy wars or jihads at every occasion. In a
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way, what was seen was a validation for many...a moment they all came
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together, instead of coming apart.
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jms
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Subj: <season's end> Section: Babylon 5
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To: Joel Hilke, Tuesday, October 31, 1995 11:22:11 PM
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From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#389257
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<I'm sure you will have no end of congrats on a really fantastic season's
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end. I thought the last show with Jack the Ripper's narration was the
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crowning touch of that show, and now I see this.>
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Thank you. The emotions the show stirs up are, to me, central to the
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whole point of doing it. We can't afford to pull any punches, or the story
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falls by the wayside. It's an *incredibly* difficult show to do, on every
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level, from writing through acting to production and everything that
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follows. But when it works, and people notice, it's all worthwhile.
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Thanks again.
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jms
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Subj: <season's end> Section: Babylon 5
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To: Al Mauroni Wednesday, November 01, 1995 7:32:02 PM
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From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#389987
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<The very BEST television out there - and this confirms it absolutely.>
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Thanks...from your lips to the ears of the TV academy....
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jms
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Subj: Fan club update? Section: Babylon 5
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To: John M. Kahane, Tuesday, October 31, 1995 11:22:17 PM
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From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#389259
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Re: "tennis wrists," or carpal tunnel syndrome...yes, I've got it in
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spades. I have to use the CTS gloves constantly or the arms ache badly
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within a matter of minutes; and even then they only slow down the speed
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with which they begin to hurt. As it is, there's a dull ache pretty much
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all day, and most of the night; and after enough writing, my ring fingers
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on either hand start curling in, and my forefingers get a bit numb.
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Toward the end of last season, the only way I could write was to write for
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30 minutes, ice down my arms for 10 minutes, write for 30, ice for 10, and
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so on.
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No matter what precautions you take, when you write sometimes as much
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as 20 pages per day...it's gonna happen.
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(General note: I've seen virtually every article on CTS, I know about
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the vitamins, the wrist-rests, the exercises, all that; I do what I can
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with those things that help. So while advice is appreciated, it's not
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necessary in this case.)
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jms
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Subj: Fan club update? Section: Babylon 5
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To: Esther Schindler [EXEC] Wednesday, November 01, 1995 1:26:24 PM
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From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#389649
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Unfortunately, for some reason my brain's hard-wired for typing.
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I've tried dictating in the past, to a tape recorder, but nothing comes out
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as crisp or as *right* unless I'm at the keyboard and my fingers are
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thinking for me.
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jms
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Subj: <Inquisitor - Bravo!> Section: Babylon 5
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To: Chad Underkoffler, Wednesday, November 01, 1995 1:26:14 PM
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From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#389647
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On the "Jack sucks" threads, phrased various ways...doesn't really
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bother me. I knew going in that some folks would react well to that, and
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some wouldn't, for an assortment of reasons, some valid, some less so.
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jms
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Subj: <Comes the Inquistor> Section: Babylon 5
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To: Chad Underkoffler, Tuesday, October 31, 1995 11:46:06 PM
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From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#389271
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Re: "...a Vir intensive script."
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Just finished one. Script for episode #13, "Sic Transit Vir." I
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think it's gonna be a hoot.
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jms
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Subj: B5 screensaver Section: Babylon 5
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To: Steve Trease, Tuesday, October 31, 1995 11:46:07 PM
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From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#389272
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It'll be out in time for Christmas from Sound Sources.
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jms
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Subj: B5 screensaver Section: Babylon 5
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To: Steve Trease, Wednesday, November 01, 1995 7:23:05 PM
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From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#389980
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Don't know yet the final release date.
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jms
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Subj: B5 screensaver Section: Babylon 5
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To: Ruth Ballam, 100412,3457 Wednesday, November 01, 1995 1:26:00 PM
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From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#389651
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<Do I dare ask if it will be PC only or Mac as well ?>
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Dunno....
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jms
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Subj: <FON - Nature of Kosh> Section: Babylon 5
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To: John Yuen, Wednesday, November 01, 1995 7:29:23 PM
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From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#389985
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That's the irony, in a sense...what's inside Kosh's biomechanical
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encounter suit...is a *perceptual* encounter suit....
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jms
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Subj: <FON Thot> Section: Babylon 5
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To: Rae Augenstein Wednesday, November 01, 1995 7:30:04 PM
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From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#389986
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From a strictly logical standpoint, a president would not lower
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himself to deal with this personally. When MacArthur and Patton earned
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the disfavor of the president, it was intermediaries who pulled them aside
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and registered this. Also, gradually more authority if being vested in
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Nightwatch and the Ministry of Peace, as that's his arm, and so he'd be
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inclined to use that since he's in most direct control. (Just to explain
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why what was done was done.)
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jms
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Subj: <TLTS & Stuff> Section: Babylon 5
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To: Richard M. Perry, Wednesday, November 01, 1995 11:19:27 PM
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From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#390185
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Alas, actual history courses put me to sleep; reading is fine,
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but to teach history...how bad would it be to see your own prof falling
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over dead asleep at his own lecture?
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jms
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Subj: CD differences Section: Babylon 5
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To: Mark D. Smith, Wednesday, November 01, 1995 11:20:02 PM
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From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#390186
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<I was looking through the book and saw a picture that was the same yet not.
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It's the picture with Kosh, G'Kar, Delenn and Londo standing in front of a
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large fan.
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In the LE CD, Londo looks like he's just been through a month of binge
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drinking. His face is splotchy and his hair is a rats nest. In the GR CD,
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he just looks pained.>
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You caught me. In the limited, they used a photo that I absolutely
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*hate*, for what it does to Londo's hair. So when the general release was
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due to come out, they couldn't change the photo, too expensive, so I had
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them put a different head on it.
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jms
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Subj: <TFON - weightless> Section: Babylon 5
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To: Timothy & Lisa Mitchell,Thursday, November 02, 1995 12:39:11 AM
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From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#390207
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Re: the starfury drop...this has come up before, and some of the
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better high-IQ types have said we got it right. The fighters use
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centrifugal force to be propelled *away* from the station; yes, it's at
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a slight tangent, but the station is also rotating behind them, so it
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isn't that severe. The furies don't actually fire their engines until
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they're a bit away from the station, using the force of the drop.
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The vectors actually work out accurately.
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jms
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Subj: B5 as radio Section: Babylon 5
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To: Sharon Foster, Thursday, November 02, 1995 12:39:12 AM
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From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#390208
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I used to work in radio drama a lot, for ALIEN WORLDS and the MUTUAL
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RADIO THEATER, so sometimes that aspect comes out in my writing. I think
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it's a wonderful, and little used medium.
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jms
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Subj: <Inquisitor - Bravo!> Section: Babylon 5
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To: peter stathis, Wednesday, November 01, 1995 1:26:28 PM
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From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#389650
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"it just didn't pay off in the long run." For you. For others it
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did. Let's not start getting grandiose. You feel this way, that's fine,
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but it's not the ultimate truth. Otherwise you're totally dismissing the
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opinions of others who liked it a lot.
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"Jack...has become a real cliche." So because others have used that
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figure in their work, well or poorly, no one should ever use this
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historical figure ever again in the next thousand years of human history.
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One should not do what one thinks is right for a story because of what
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someone else did in a different story.
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Sorry. I don't work that way. By your logic, I should not be using
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starships or hyperspace or aliens, either, because they've been used a LOT
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more than Jack.
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jms
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Subj: <FON Thot> Section: Babylon 5
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To: Al Mauroni, Thursday, November 02, 1995 12:35:17 PM
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From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#390490
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<You're right re: the joint chiefs. It would be nice to see the formal
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military chain of command in operation every now and then, one of the
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things STNG did rather nicely.
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One can only hope that Sheridan verified the JCS instructions off-line out
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of the camera's all seeing eye.>
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And the really great thing is...you're quite right about verifying
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orders from one arm of the government with another...as we'll see in the
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first third of the coming season. Good call.
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jms
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Subj: <spoiler: Comes the Inq> Section: Babylon 5
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To: Tom Knudsen, Thursday, November 02, 1995 10:55:07 PM
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From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#390895
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<So, did the Vorlons decide to stay back and help out, or were they left
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behind by the other races for some reason?>
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It's good you've been thinking about this.
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'Cause this is one of those questions I'd rather answer in the series
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than here.
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jms
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Subj: RPG? Section: Babylon 5
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To: Robin L. Small, Thursday, November 02, 1995 10:55:31 PM
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From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#390892
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No, not a gamer; I've only been dragooned into trying it a couple of
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times, but basically I prefer making up my own stories. Nonetheless, I
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know a lot of folks who do it, and they seem to have a great time doing it.
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jms
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Subj: B5 Episode List Section: Babylon 5
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To: Kevin J. Goulding, Thursday, November 02, 1995 10:55:01 PM
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From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#390893
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It's definitely at Hyperion.
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jms
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Subj: <<DS9: Rejoined>> Section: Star Trek
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To: Eric Baker, Thursday, November 02, 1995 10:55:04 PM
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From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#390894
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Well, I have a number of feelings about this. First, you'll note that
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it's always an alien that has something "different" than the ST normal male
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or female character...we had the aliens who were all unisexual in TNG, now
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this. And, of course, it wasn't *really* two women falling in love, it was
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someone who was once a male, now in a female body, carrying on with that
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relationship. So there are a lot of ways out of this.
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I also think they somewhat played it for the prurient interest factor;
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we just did it, by developing a relationship over time, and when it came to
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fruition, we didn't make a big deal about it, it's just normal and
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accepted. And it was between two *human* characters. It's personal taste,
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I suppose; I just prefered it the way we did it. Doesn't make it better or
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righter.
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We developed a growing relationship between Talia and Ivanova over two
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whole seasons; paid it off, and there will be ramifications down the road
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from this relationship. Because it *is* a relationship in that sense, not
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just done for one hour, for sensationalism, and then you drop it thereafter.
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jms
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Subj: Londo Talk From TLTS Section: Babylon 5
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To: John M. Kahane, Thursday, November 02, 1995 10:55:12 PM
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From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#390897
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<G'kar says "There is no greater power in the universe than the need
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for freedom." At "need," Londo blinks, and as G'kar says "freedom", Londo
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turns his head slightly to his right and I could have sworn he silently
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says "Yes...", out of the corner of his mouth. Was this my imagination?>
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It was your imagination.
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jms
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Subj: Keyboards and Pain Section: Babylon 5
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To: John M. Kahane, Thursday, November 02, 1995 10:55:13 PM
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From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#390898
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Wish I had some nifty secrets to share on the CTS; but it's just wear
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the wrist braces, take vitamins, do the exercises and try where possible to
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get away from the keyboard. So far, I'm systematic on 1.5 of those 4.
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jms
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Subj: Keyboards and Pain Section: Babylon 5
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To: Marte Brengle, Friday, November 03, 1995 3:02:27 AM
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From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#390978
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Actually, I'm using (at work) a Kinesis ergonomic keyboard, and that
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helps a bit (two recessed wells for the keys).
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jms
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Subj: Keyboards and Pain Section: Babylon 5
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To: Mike Sisk, Friday, November 03, 1995 5:41:26 PM
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From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#391371
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The thing about the Kinesis is that for the first week I was using it,
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my arms and wrists *really* hurt. I thought, "This CAN'T be right."
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I looked in the manual, and found it said approximately "For the first week
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your wrists and arms will hurt." Oh. Then you get used to it.
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Overall, I've gotten quite proficient with it, and the typing speed
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hasn't diminished. There are a few things that could've been done better,
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but overall it's a definite improvement. (Main problem is that I have
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rather long, slender fingers, so I often over-shoot the keys unless I'm
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paying attention.)
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jms
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Subj: <Fall of Night> Section: Babylon 5
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To: Pankaj Mangalik, Thursday, November 02, 1995 10:55:15 PM
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From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#390899
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Liberty is *always* at peril; only the degree of the threat varies
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from day to day.
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jms
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Subj: <Fall of Night> Section: Babylon 5
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To: Pankaj Mangalik, Saturday, November 04, 1995 12:21:19 AM
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From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#391585
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Yes, the Shadows know that the Vorlons are still around, and that Kosh
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is there. That's never been any kind of secret. They're just hoping that
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the Vorlons and anyone who might believe them won't find out that they're
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out and about again until too
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jms
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Subj: <CtI---OK> Section: Babylon 5
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To: John M. Kahane, Thursday, November 02, 1995 11:11:11 PM
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From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#390919
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I think I wasn't clear...the Lennier/Kosh scene *was* filmed; it just
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didn't make it into the final cut of the episode.
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In general, we leave 2-3 minutes per episode on the cutting room
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floor, for various reasons...pacing, structure, whatever. Usually it's
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just line cutting, sometimes it's a small, quick scene here and there.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subj: <B5 Season 2 Finally> Section: Babylon 5
|
|
To: Joe Salemi [ZD Net], Thursday, November 02, 1995 11:11:13 PM
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#390920
|
|
|
|
Yeah, this is the other structure that's kind of a favorite of mine.
|
|
I used it also in "Coming of Shadows." It starts out kind of slow, it
|
|
lulls you into a sense that this is going to be a fairly ordinary story,
|
|
nothing major...allowing me to sneak up behind you in the story and just
|
|
*whack* you real hard when you're not expecting it.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subj: Photo of Marcus Section: Babylon 5
|
|
To: All Friday, November 03, 1995 2:59:07 AM
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#390976
|
|
|
|
For those who've not noticed it...in the 5 library (B5) there is a gif
|
|
image of Marcus Cole, our new recurring character, a resident Ranger
|
|
assigned to Babylon 5.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subj: <Inquisitor - Bravo!> Section: Babylon 5
|
|
To: Bancroft Gracey, Friday, November 03, 1995 3:02:26 AM
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#390977
|
|
|
|
Actually, I think I saw more *annoyance* at Jack being used from the
|
|
UK folks than the US folks, that's the main difference, I think.
|
|
Probably because it's a peaceful, wonderful country which is *still* paying
|
|
off, in the public eye, one particularly nasty creature in their recent
|
|
history. They're probably tired of hearing about him, and to some extent,
|
|
correctly so.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subj: <FON> Section: Babylon 5
|
|
To: Brian A. Thomas, Friday, November 03, 1995 3:07:05 AM
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#390979
|
|
|
|
"who are angelic like"
|
|
|
|
Who says that's what they actually *are*? That's only how they want
|
|
us to SEE them. There's a difference.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subj: <Season 3 #1 > Section: Babylon 5
|
|
To: Rae Augenstein, Friday, November 03, 1995 1:00:24 PM
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#391159
|
|
|
|
A little over a week has passed between the events of FoN and "Matters
|
|
of Honor." The first part of the season is almost in real time.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subj: <spoiler-Fall of Night> Section: Babylon 5
|
|
To: Gerald Himmelein, Friday, November 03, 1995 5:33:04 PM
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#391368
|
|
|
|
There's also a certain amount of McCarthyism inherent in the
|
|
Nightwatch, the emphasis on revealing spies in our midst, enemies of the
|
|
people.
|
|
|
|
The problem with pointing to the Nazis or the Gestapo exclusively is
|
|
that it allows us the safety of saying, "Well, it happened just there, and
|
|
only once, *we* could never fall for that."
|
|
|
|
Wrong.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subj: <TFON - Battle> Section: Babylon 5
|
|
To: Colin Glassey, Friday, November 03, 1995 5:41:22 PM
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#391370
|
|
|
|
The interceptors line refers to the fact that there are so many
|
|
incoming bursts that the interceptors are only knocking down 90% of them at
|
|
this point, meaning that some of them (the incoming bursts) are getting
|
|
through.
|
|
|
|
Janet's busy working on the scriptwriting part of her career, so she's
|
|
not available now, but hopefully she'll be available back to us come next
|
|
year.
|
|
|
|
And thanks.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subj: <TFON - Battle> Section: Babylon 5
|
|
To: SysOp Dupa T. Parrot Saturday, November 04, 1995 12:21:22 AM
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#391586
|
|
|
|
TOT, Time On Target, you launch everything you've got -- fighters at
|
|
close range to the target, long-range weapons firing earlier -- so that
|
|
they all arrive at the same spot at the same instant for maximum effect.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subj: Mass drivers Section: Babylon 5
|
|
To: Richard M. Perry, Saturday, November 04, 1995 12:21:18 AM
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#391584
|
|
|
|
A mass driver is a device which accellerates asteroids and sends them
|
|
hurtling down into the atmosphere where they arrive with the force of a
|
|
nuclear blast. An ugly weapon. It has not otherwise been known to cause
|
|
coughing, hay fever of diptheria.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
Subj: <TFON> Section: Babylon 5
|
|
To: John M. Kahane, Saturday, November 04, 1995 12:32:10 AM
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#391590
|
|
|
|
Bear in mind that Sheridan specifically states that the treaty had
|
|
*not* been finalized yet between Earth and the Centauri, so the attack was
|
|
not a violation of a treaty that hadn't been signed yet. (And very likely
|
|
the Centauri captain was unaware of it *anyway*, just as Sheridan was taken
|
|
by surprise by it all.)
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subj: <spoiler: Comes the Inq> Section: Babylon 5
|
|
To: Mark D. Smith, Thursday, November 02, 1995 10:39:11 PM
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#390878
|
|
|
|
Haven't seen Fall of Night yet, have you...?
|
|
|
|
And there's claiming by inference as well, setting oneself up as a
|
|
benign force on the side of good.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subj: <spoiler: Comes the Inq> Section: Babylon 5
|
|
To: Daena Hinkelman, Friday, November 03, 1995 1:00:25 PM
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#391160
|
|
|
|
Friendly disagreement is always great fun.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subj: <spoiler: Comes the Inq> Section: Babylon 5
|
|
To: Daena Hinkelman, Saturday, November 04, 1995 12:22:00 AM
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#391587
|
|
|
|
"Good is the absence of evil...."
|
|
|
|
Is it? Is it the *absence* or the *opposite*?
|
|
|
|
One might say (to take a christian pov for a moment) that god is the
|
|
absence of evil. But is this the case? Is evil a thing, or is evil the
|
|
potentiality to do acts of wanton destruction?
|
|
|
|
At what point did evil come into the universe, from this pov? With the
|
|
fall of Lucifer? But unless the *potential* for evil existed before this
|
|
act of pride, it would be impossible for Lucifer to fall. The very tenet of
|
|
free will is that there are choices to be made. If there are no choices,
|
|
there is no free will, quid pro quo. Hence, in the garden, the *potential*
|
|
for evil existed before an *act* later described as evil or rebellious.
|
|
|
|
And, hence, the *potential* for evil existed before Lucifer fell. If
|
|
it had not, he couldn't have fallen. (Also, if one takes the position that
|
|
the fall *created* evil, then a fallen angel has creative potential, which
|
|
puts it at an unacceptably high level of power.)
|
|
|
|
It says in the book of Amos, "Is there evil in a city and the Lord hath
|
|
not done it?"
|
|
|
|
If the potential for evil was there from the dawn of creation -- and it
|
|
*must* have been for the actions described later to have taken place -- then
|
|
there must perforce be the potential for evil in its creator. (Unless one
|
|
is willing to posit that in not having the potential for evil, god does not
|
|
have free will, which means god is not omnipotent, and somehow gifted his
|
|
creations with a capacity he himself was incapable of.) This doesn't mean,
|
|
and shouldn't be taken to imply, that god *is* evil, or *has* evil, but
|
|
rather that the *potential* is there, and has always existed.
|
|
|
|
Thus, good is not the *absence* of evil, but the *opposition* to evil.
|
|
To use Mark Twain's example in "The Man Who Corrupted Hadleyburg," you had
|
|
an entire town that had never known temptation, and held itself up as
|
|
righteous... until the first day when real temptation walked in the front
|
|
door, and the whole place fell for it...after which the sign out front of
|
|
the town was modified to read "Lead us INTO temptation," for only through
|
|
temptation, through the exposure to evil, is faith and the good tested and
|
|
made viable.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
#: 399450 S6/Babylon 5: Upcoming
|
|
16-Nov-95 23:12:50
|
|
Sb: Link&Log
|
|
Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
|
|
To: Jon Wolf 76103,2541 (X)
|
|
|
|
It's a floating (air-compression) vidrecorder.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
#: 399452 S5/Babylon 5: General
|
|
16-Nov-95 23:22:47
|
|
Sb: #B5 Magazine
|
|
Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
|
|
To: John M. Kahane 102664,773 (X)
|
|
|
|
Yes, I generally reviewed most of the material; but I explicitly told
|
|
them I don't want it to be a fluff magazine, so there's some hard stuff in
|
|
there from time to time. I think the final schedule of forthcoming issues is
|
|
being nailed down now.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
#: 399453 S5/Babylon 5: General
|
|
16-Nov-95 23:22:48
|
|
Sb: #DL Query
|
|
Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
|
|
To: John M. Kahane 102664,773 (X)
|
|
|
|
Because the longer she was there, the more she'd discover (was about to
|
|
enter into Sheridan's cell group in fact), and the more damage she'd be able to
|
|
do.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
#: 399454 S6/Babylon 5: Upcoming
|
|
16-Nov-95 23:22:50
|
|
Sb: #<Convictions>
|
|
Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
|
|
To: John M. Kahane 102664,773 (X)
|
|
|
|
Thanks; it came out very well, I think.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
#: 399455 S5/Babylon 5: General
|
|
16-Nov-95 23:22:54
|
|
Sb: Sinclair's Warning
|
|
Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
|
|
To: Jimmy R. Kapesis 103156,1634 (X)
|
|
|
|
Maybe a little of both....
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
#: 399489 S6/Babylon 5: Upcoming
|
|
17-Nov-95 00:52:30
|
|
Sb: #Four Cents: Convictions
|
|
Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
|
|
To: Michael Zitaglio 102545,641 (X)
|
|
|
|
The question, of course, is...is a person 100% dark or light? Hitler was
|
|
a monster. He was also a snappy dresser and, to quote The Producers, he could
|
|
dance the pants off Churchill. Look at the war films from WW 2 behind the
|
|
scenes...there's Goebbels and Goering and others having dinner, laughing,
|
|
playing little jokes, listening to music....
|
|
|
|
The monster never sees a monster in a mirror.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
#: 399672 S5/Babylon 5: General
|
|
17-Nov-95 12:05:35
|
|
Sb: B5:The End???!!!
|
|
Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
|
|
To: Michael Ogrinz 71573,3153 (X)
|
|
|
|
Incorrect. Share *is* important on the local level. When you get the
|
|
national ratings on a syndicated program, the final figure doesn't have a
|
|
share, only a rating. Shares come in market by market, and since the show's
|
|
future is determined market by market, that's crucial to our survival. So for
|
|
our purposes, the share per market is *very much* the more important figure.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
#: 399673 S5/Babylon 5: General
|
|
17-Nov-95 12:05:37
|
|
Sb: B5:The End???!!!
|
|
Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
|
|
To: Michael Ogrinz 71573,3153
|
|
|
|
Some stations are shifting to less terrific timeslots; other stations are
|
|
giving us *better* timeslots. There's no one trend. The main problem is that
|
|
each market only has maybe one or two indie stations max, and if that's a Fox
|
|
or UPN station, you've only got 2 prime time hours per night available 8-10
|
|
(nearly all of these show their news programs at 10 p.m.). So first precedence
|
|
for those 14 hours per week is given to Fox or UPN programs (or WB programs,
|
|
depending), plus all the other syndicated shows out there, from talk shows to
|
|
game shows and so on.
|
|
|
|
The market for syndicated shows, and where you can squeeze them in, is
|
|
getting increasingly smaller. Hence the growth of cable.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
#: 399674 S5/Babylon 5: General
|
|
17-Nov-95 12:05:39
|
|
Sb: #New Open!
|
|
Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
|
|
To: Gerald Himmelein 100417,3703 (X)
|
|
|
|
Yeah, and that quote got me in lots of trouble; my original statement was
|
|
that we'd kick their ass, they'd kick ours, we'd kick back, and the ongoing
|
|
competition would guarantee better shows for viewers. Unfortunately they chose
|
|
to use only the first part of that...and thus was a huge fracas born.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
#: 399675 S6/Babylon 5: Upcoming
|
|
17-Nov-95 12:05:41
|
|
Sb: #<Rage'sThots: Cnvctns>
|
|
Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
|
|
To: Chad Underkoffler 102512,1310 (X)
|
|
|
|
Londo and G'Kar no longer really have much to discuss; they're past that
|
|
point, I figure. They hate each other.
|
|
|
|
Re: the Drazi...yeah, I hear that a lot. The most frequent comment: "I
|
|
like the Drazi; they're just nuts."
|
|
|
|
Londo wasn't on Minbar; he was seeing someone off on a ship going to
|
|
Centauri Prime.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
#: 399681 S6/Babylon 5: Upcoming
|
|
17-Nov-95 12:19:30
|
|
Sb: #399553-#Four Cents: Convictions
|
|
Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
|
|
To: Gerald Himmelein 100417,3703 (X)
|
|
|
|
I dunno...I just kinda figured that invading Poland, invading the
|
|
Sudetenland, invading France, invading Russia, bombing Britain, eradicating
|
|
much of the population of jews and gypsies in Eastern Europe, that kind of
|
|
stuff comes as close as I can think of to a definition of a human monster.
|
|
|
|
Granted he fixed the economy, got Germany on a solid economic footing,
|
|
ran a tightly organized Olympics, instituted new fashion sensibilities, and
|
|
created some interesting architectural structures...and you couldn't beat his
|
|
sense of theater and high drama...but I kinda think the former somewhat
|
|
outweighs the latter.
|
|
|
|
Perhaps we are working from different definitions of what a monster is.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
#: 399986 S5/Babylon 5: General
|
|
17-Nov-95 22:58:08
|
|
Sb: #399710-#<Theo>
|
|
Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
|
|
To: Ruth Ballam 100412,3457 (X)
|
|
|
|
Re: brewing ale...is that true?
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
#: 399987 S6/Babylon 5: Upcoming
|
|
17-Nov-95 22:58:10
|
|
Sb: #399751-#Four Cents: Convictions
|
|
Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
|
|
To: Gerald Himmelein 100417,3703 (X)
|
|
|
|
There can be no question that the conditions prevalent in Germany after
|
|
WW I created the climate in which a Hitler could come into power. There was
|
|
great resentment and anger festering over the onerous conditions placed upon
|
|
the German government, the enconomy was in ruins, people were looking for
|
|
someone to blame, and that creates the perfect condition for scapegoats, and
|
|
someone who can take advantage of that.
|
|
|
|
Hitler, however, was able to perceive that, galvanize it, shape it and
|
|
form it. It was Hitler who organized the brownshirts and created the
|
|
krystalnachts, who orchestrated his rise within the government until he was
|
|
finally able to seize the reins of government, and he who was the primary
|
|
architect of the atrocities of that period.
|
|
|
|
Of course he didn't do it by himself; there were those who willingly, even
|
|
happily collaborated; those who opposed and said nothing; those who were of no
|
|
opinion one way or another; and those who resisted. If you're going to blame
|
|
the first group, maybe the first two or three, you still have to recognize the
|
|
fourth.
|
|
|
|
People can be driven by the madness of the crowd, or intimidated by the
|
|
government of the gun into silence. No one is looking to totally exonerate the
|
|
citizenry; though one can make a compelling argument that anyone who spoke out
|
|
|
|
was swiftly arrested, deported, or shot...which tends to discourage the free
|
|
exchange of criticism. Would WW 2 have taken place without Hitler? Possibly;
|
|
the conditions were right. Would it have taken the same shape? Probably not;
|
|
almost certainly not. Thus the blame for *this* war, the way it happened
|
|
*this* time, must be laid at his feet.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
#: 399988 S5/Babylon 5: General
|
|
17-Nov-95 22:58:13
|
|
Sb: #399797-Dr. Franklin's serum
|
|
Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
|
|
To: Jimmy R. Kapesis 103156,1634 (X)
|
|
|
|
I'd forget it for now.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
#: 399989 S5/Babylon 5: General
|
|
17-Nov-95 22:58:17
|
|
Sb: #399799-Bio-tech weapons
|
|
Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
|
|
To: Jimmy R. Kapesis 103156,1634 (X)
|
|
|
|
Could be.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
#: 399990 S5/Babylon 5: General
|
|
17-Nov-95 22:58:17
|
|
Sb: #399848-B5 Magazine
|
|
Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
|
|
To: Alan Katz 74260,3612 (X)
|
|
|
|
I go over the text, yes, but I've advised those who do it to avoid
|
|
turning it into a puff-piece.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
#: 399992 S5/Babylon 5: General
|
|
17-Nov-95 22:58:23
|
|
Sb: #399955-Book of G'Quon
|
|
Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
|
|
To: Jimmy R. Kapesis 103156,1634 (X)
|
|
|
|
The leaf shown is the G'Quon-eth, the plant featured in "By Any Means
|
|
Necessary."
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
#: 400289 S5/Babylon 5: General
|
|
18-Nov-95 14:55:56
|
|
Sb: #400146-#New Open!
|
|
Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
|
|
To: Jason Wong 73302,776 (X)
|
|
|
|
It's my understanding that there'll be a B5 cover in Cinefantastique in
|
|
the next few months.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
#: 400290 S5/Babylon 5: General
|
|
18-Nov-95 14:55:57
|
|
Sb: #400152-G'Quoneth Plant
|
|
Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
|
|
To: Jimmy R. Kapesis 103156,1634 (X)
|
|
|
|
Nope.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
#: 400291 S5/Babylon 5: General
|
|
18-Nov-95 14:56:00
|
|
Sb: #400251-JMS: Questions
|
|
Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
|
|
To: Marlyn Bumpus 75117,3014 (X)
|
|
|
|
Vickery is a british actor, yes.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
#: 400527 S5/Babylon 5: General
|
|
18-Nov-95 21:54:23
|
|
Sb: #400299-#DL Query
|
|
Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
|
|
To: John M. Kahane 102664,773 (X)
|
|
|
|
No, she didn't know who it was, but *whoever* the person was, the longer
|
|
that person stayed where he/she was, the greater the risk. They didn't know it
|
|
all along remember; several people died on Mars getting that information
|
|
out...as soon as they had it, and knew there was a traitor aboard, they had to
|
|
move on it.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
#: 400528 S5/Babylon 5: General
|
|
18-Nov-95 21:54:26
|
|
Sb: #400309-#Kosh Me This
|
|
Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
|
|
To: John M. Kahane 102664,773 (X)
|
|
|
|
It's Screen Actors Guild rules; you can't have a character like this, who
|
|
isn't actually an actor, in the opening credits.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
#: 400531 S5/Babylon 5: General
|
|
18-Nov-95 22:04:09
|
|
Sb: #400358-#B5 rerun schedule
|
|
Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
|
|
To: Jimmy R. Kapesis 103156,1634 (X)
|
|
|
|
That's been the traditional rerun schedule with us; during the christmas
|
|
weeks, the logic goes, most folks are out, not watching TV.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
#: 400532 S5/Babylon 5: General
|
|
18-Nov-95 22:04:10
|
|
Sb: #400397-Quick Question
|
|
Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
|
|
To: Mike Aragona 73641,1353 (X)
|
|
|
|
Yeah, it's fair to say that that's one of our themes.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
#: 400533 S5/Babylon 5: General
|
|
18-Nov-95 22:04:12
|
|
Sb: #400407-#Thanks for a Great show
|
|
Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
|
|
To: David Schirmer 76774,3310 (X)
|
|
|
|
Thank you. I don't think it's a case of hanging out with "the commoners"
|
|
to use your term; I've been here since 1984 or so, and I enjoy the discussions,
|
|
and I'll be darned if I'll change that just because my name appears on a TV
|
|
screen somewhere. I'm basically just another fan of the genre....
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
#: 401026 S5/Babylon 5: General
|
|
19-Nov-95 20:57:23
|
|
Sb: #400665-B5 comic
|
|
Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
|
|
To: Jimmy R. Kapesis 103156,1634 (X)
|
|
|
|
Don't know the exact pub date yet; the issues should be regular sized.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
#: 401027 S5/Babylon 5: General
|
|
19-Nov-95 20:57:24
|
|
Sb: #400668-B5 Costumers win again
|
|
Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
|
|
To: Cynthia and Richard 71561,3255 (X)
|
|
|
|
Thanks, and congrats. We've been in contact with the Air and Space
|
|
people, and when they're ready to do a B5 exhibit, we're there; but we'd rather
|
|
not include B5 props in an ST exhibition.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
#: 401028 S6/Babylon 5: Upcoming
|
|
19-Nov-95 20:57:27
|
|
Sb: #400690-<The Mad Bomber>
|
|
Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
|
|
To: Mark Pruett 74133,3406 (X)
|
|
|
|
That's great to hear, thanks.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
#: 401029 S6/Babylon 5: Upcoming
|
|
19-Nov-95 20:57:30
|
|
Sb: #400691-Four Cents: Convictions
|
|
Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
|
|
To: Mark Pruett 74133,3406 (X)
|
|
|
|
No, insofar as I know, it's an original, composed by Chris Franke.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
#: 401155 S5/Babylon 5: General
|
|
20-Nov-95 01:03:45
|
|
Sb: #401002-#<Franklin's IV fluids>
|
|
Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
|
|
To: Morris L. Gavant, M.D. 74027,264 (X)
|
|
|
|
My sense is that if you're a german ambassador, and you're attacked and
|
|
checked into Cedar Sinai Hospital, the chief of staff there takes care of you,
|
|
rather than bringing in an outsider/german doctor. Franklin's well suited to
|
|
his task.
|
|
|
|
We could probably label the blood bags a little better.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
#: 401156 S5/Babylon 5: General
|
|
20-Nov-95 01:03:46
|
|
Sb: #400660-#B5:The End???!!!
|
|
Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
|
|
To: peter stathis 102477,3046 (X)
|
|
|
|
"...that would mean that it would be near the bottom of the ratings of
|
|
syndicated shows."
|
|
|
|
People who don't know what they're talking about should avoid making
|
|
comments like that. The overall breakdown of syndicated shows runs about 10
|
|
pages of very fine type; usually around 215 shows or more, ranked in order of
|
|
average national ratings. Babylon 5 is always on the first page of that
|
|
breakdown; usually the #4 or #5 dramatic series for that week, sometimes a bit
|
|
higher, never less than #6. We consistently stay in the top ten of dramatic
|
|
series. (You don't include game shows or talk shows in the mix; that's
|
|
comparing apples and oranges.)
|
|
|
|
If you *include* all those other shows, in one typical week, we came out
|
|
as #38 overall, out of 215. That is extremely respectable. Most network shows
|
|
that come in around the top 50 tend to stay around for a good long time.
|
|
|
|
Look, Peter, do me a favor, and get off the ratings, okay? It's clear you
|
|
don't understand them, and the bottom line is simply this: if our ratings
|
|
weren't sufficiently high, we wouldn't be here. It's that simple. We're here,
|
|
so we're getting the numbers. Warners is happy, and we're happy.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
#: 401157 S5/Babylon 5: General
|
|
20-Nov-95 01:03:49
|
|
Sb: #400700-#B5:The End???!!!
|
|
Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
|
|
To: Sharon Foster 76360,301 (X)
|
|
|
|
Local advertisments are bought by the local station, with matching funds
|
|
from WB. If the show isn't being advertised in your local area, the problem is
|
|
your local station.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
#: 401158 S5/Babylon 5: General
|
|
20-Nov-95 01:07:11
|
|
Sb: #401038-#Demon w\ Glass Hand
|
|
Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
|
|
To: Jimmy R. Kapesis 103156,1634 (X)
|
|
|
|
It's something we're still planning to do, in the fullness of time.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
#: 401616 S5/Babylon 5: General
|
|
20-Nov-95 16:53:51
|
|
Sb: #401471-2nd Babylon 5 CD?
|
|
Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
|
|
To: Eric D. Fether 74067,465 (X)
|
|
|
|
The first CD came out and has done quite well; it's in most record stores
|
|
(that can keep it in stock), so it can be ordered through your local Tower or
|
|
Wherehouse, or you can order direct from Sonic Images via their web page, or
|
|
the address given in the B5 library (#5 or #6).
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
#: 401617 S5/Babylon 5: General
|
|
20-Nov-95 16:53:52
|
|
Sb: #401537-B5:The End???!!!
|
|
Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
|
|
To: Sharon Foster 76360,301 (X)
|
|
|
|
I probably should, but I'm a lousy organizer/filer; I know they're all in
|
|
one place, but not indexed or anything. Probably no direct need to get a copy;
|
|
accept the appreciation nonetheless.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
#: 401618 S5/Babylon 5: General
|
|
20-Nov-95 16:53:54
|
|
Sb: #401558-New TNT Info?
|
|
Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
|
|
To: David Nedrow 70004,1273 (X)
|
|
|
|
No, nothing new....
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
#: 401818 S5/Babylon 5: General
|
|
20-Nov-95 21:26:28
|
|
Sb: #401652-#B5 rerun schedule
|
|
Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
|
|
To: John M. Kahane 102664,773 (X)
|
|
|
|
Yeah, I think those are the episodes covered in reruns, though at one
|
|
point they're going to drop in "Hunter, Prey" one more time to set up the
|
|
events to come in the next batch of new eps.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
#: 401819 S6/Babylon 5: Upcoming
|
|
20-Nov-95 21:26:29
|
|
Sb: #401744-#Italian Garibaldi
|
|
Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
|
|
To: Michael Zitaglio 102545,641 (X)
|
|
|
|
Thanks....
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
#: 401820 S5/Babylon 5: General
|
|
20-Nov-95 21:26:30
|
|
Sb: #401786-B5 fan club
|
|
Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
|
|
To: Jimmy R. Kapesis 103156,1634 (X)
|
|
|
|
We've been working with WB on getting the paperwork finished, and it's
|
|
nearly there, so the club should be on line in the next week or two. I'm
|
|
directly involved in running/owning it, with my associate Doug Netter. It's
|
|
not set up to be a big money machine, just doing a few things for the fans, and
|
|
that sort of thing.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
#: 401821 S6/Babylon 5: Upcoming
|
|
20-Nov-95 21:26:33
|
|
Sb: #401790-<ADITS: Ask Kosh?>
|
|
Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
|
|
To: Jimmy R. Kapesis 103156,1634 (X)
|
|
|
|
Because Delenn doesn't know that information offhand, any more than you or
|
|
I would have casual access to detailed scientific information from our own
|
|
world just off the top of our heads; she'd still have to go to her own
|
|
homeworld for the info, as our characters did. And it's not that we didn't
|
|
have it, it was just collating it all. And given how Kosh answers questions,
|
|
would you really want to use his responses in this thing?
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
#: 401830 S5/Babylon 5: General
|
|
20-Nov-95 21:38:28
|
|
Sb: #401708-#<ADITS Episode>
|
|
Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
|
|
To: Bob Fischer 73727,1774 (X)
|
|
|
|
My sense is that Delenn is not a godlike font of information; I don't
|
|
think anyone, alien or human, at the station would just happen to know all the
|
|
information required. How much would Delenn know about molecular biology, for
|
|
instance? (And if you asked Kosh a question about the subject, he'd probably
|
|
come back with "The heart does not sing with its parts." Not exactly useful.)
|
|
|
|
Anyone there would have to go back to their own world for experts in the
|
|
various fields...so you're back where you started. Earth *has* the info, it's
|
|
just getting it, and getting it fast. If you add the overlay of going through
|
|
another government, you're going to run out of time that much faster.
|
|
|
|
Logically, a probe like this would be sent off looking for information on
|
|
the very cusp of technology that could pose a threat. That's why it *didn't*
|
|
go off when the probe presumed them to be a less developed civilization; it was
|
|
looking for civilizations that *are* sufficiently advanced to pose a possible
|
|
threat; Sheridan says exactly that as he walks across C&C.
|
|
|
|
Interesting aside on this, btw, in the "where do you get your ideas?"
|
|
department. The US House Science Sub-Committee held a series of hearings into
|
|
the question of extraterrestrial contact during the 1970s, to determine what we
|
|
should do in the event of contact. The most likely scenario, the scientists
|
|
agreed, was a probe coming into our solar system. So what do we do in response
|
|
to a message asking if anybody's home?
|
|
|
|
Believe it or not, it was the consensus of the Subcommittee that we should
|
|
not respond...in case it was a berserker, just as shown in the episode. That
|
|
is our government's official policy on the subject.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
#: 401916 S5/Babylon 5: General
|
|
21-Nov-95 00:20:33
|
|
Sb: #401886-#Question for JMS
|
|
Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
|
|
To: Antonio Fuentes 103037,2550 (X)
|
|
|
|
That's a lot of questions, but still....
|
|
|
|
I'll go along with little increases in merchandising along the way, but
|
|
nothing major until after we're done. Then, when it can't contaminate the
|
|
show, maybe more.
|
|
|
|
Talia and Ivanova were linked/did have a relationship; and there was a
|
|
camera edit that didn't quite match, two different issues.
|
|
|
|
A book after the fact...will have to wait until I'm done for a decision.
|
|
We hope the show will in time be out on tape/disk, and all of the major
|
|
questions raised during the show should/must be answered during the show, you
|
|
can't leave stuff hanging.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
#: 402169 S5/Babylon 5: General
|
|
21-Nov-95 11:52:16
|
|
Sb: #401933-Whitestar ?s (spoiler)
|
|
Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
|
|
To: Paul Sulkowski 75604,2156 (X)
|
|
|
|
Had a Minbari been running that sensor, he would've nailed it instantly;
|
|
but Ivanova had never actually encountered that ship before, and was running
|
|
off the initial scan reports. (Also it was just phasing in at that point.)
|
|
|
|
The White Star uses local drive engines based on magnetic and
|
|
gravitational principles; in a sense, it doesn't so much push itself toward
|
|
other worlds as *pull* itself or *repel* itself. One side effect of creating a
|
|
powerful gravitational system is the ability to create artificial gravity.
|
|
|
|
That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
#: 402170 S5/Babylon 5: General
|
|
21-Nov-95 11:52:17
|
|
Sb: #402109-Question for JMS
|
|
Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
|
|
To: Eric D. Fether 74067,465 (X)
|
|
|
|
That's when the story ends. You tell your tale and get off the stage.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
#: 402171 S6/Babylon 5: Upcoming
|
|
21-Nov-95 11:52:18
|
|
Sb: #402113-<Alien Probe>
|
|
Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
|
|
To: Bert Johnson 102476,201 (X)
|
|
|
|
Probably not.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
#: 402587 S5/Babylon 5: General
|
|
21-Nov-95 21:32:32
|
|
Sb: #401882-#B5 Entertainment Utility
|
|
Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
|
|
To: Lori Eppright 75113,474 (X)
|
|
|
|
Yep, that's the screensaver I was talking about; it's really nifty.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
#: 402594 S5/Babylon 5: General
|
|
21-Nov-95 21:42:33
|
|
Sb: #402212-#Kosh's lessons
|
|
Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
|
|
To: Jimmy R. Kapesis 103156,1634 (X)
|
|
|
|
Sheridan has fallen away from the lessons a bit; Kosh is going to have to
|
|
have a word with him about that.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
#: 402595 S5/Babylon 5: General
|
|
21-Nov-95 21:42:35
|
|
Sb: #402330-#How much did Kosh know?
|
|
Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
|
|
To: John McAuley 100260,412 (X)
|
|
|
|
Good question.
|
|
|
|
Pity you'll have to wait for the answer....
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
#: 402596 S5/Babylon 5: General
|
|
21-Nov-95 21:42:38
|
|
Sb: #<Gethsemane>
|
|
Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
|
|
To: Tom Knudsen 72347,1626 (X)
|
|
|
|
Two things on the upcoming episode ("Gethsemane")....
|
|
|
|
1) This is episode #5 in shooting order; I'd originally planned to end
|
|
the first batch of new episodes with #4, "Voices of Authority," which is a
|
|
major -- and I mean major -- wham episode. But the EFX requirements were
|
|
pretty hideous (though not as bad as "Messages"), so I moved "Gethsemane" into
|
|
that slot, which is a very strong episode, though not an arc'er.
|
|
|
|
2) On the story question...yes, this was the story that someone else
|
|
(don't want to use names, no sense in blaming anyone) had accidentally
|
|
suggested while I was working on it early in season two. So I had to scuttle
|
|
the script for nearly a year. Finally, very chagrined over what happened, the
|
|
individual gave me a notarized form explaining the situation. At that point, I
|
|
was able to reactivate the story. So no, it's not any kind of "it's okay to do
|
|
this" notion about story ideas; as it is, the story was tied up for about a
|
|
year, and might never have seen the light of day had not the other person made
|
|
great efforts to set the situation straight.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
#: 402598 S6/Babylon 5: Upcoming
|
|
21-Nov-95 21:42:45
|
|
Sb: #402418-Vichy Narn?
|
|
Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
|
|
To: Michael Zitaglio 102545,641 (X)
|
|
|
|
It's any occupied government, really....
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
#: 402711 S5/Babylon 5: General
|
|
22-Nov-95 00:29:34
|
|
Sb: #402677-<ADITS Episode>
|
|
Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
|
|
To: Michael Grabois 74737,2600 (X)
|
|
|
|
I just went through my stuff trying to find it...there was a formal
|
|
report published by the Government Printing Agency in around 1978 or so. I
|
|
think it was entitled something like "Prospects for Contact by Extra-
|
|
Terrestrial Intelligence," and went into the whole CETI issue at great length.
|
|
(Back then, it was CETI, for Contact With Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence,
|
|
changed shortly after the House hearing on the subject to SETI, Search For
|
|
Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence.) Any GPA office should have the report on
|
|
file.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
#: 403072 S5/Babylon 5: General
|
|
22-Nov-95 13:28:21
|
|
Sb: #402823-#B5: Dear Joe
|
|
Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
|
|
To: peter stathis 102477,3046
|
|
|
|
Of course it's your right to say it. You can say any foolish thing you
|
|
choose. My point -- underlined by your own comments -- is that you have
|
|
absolutely no understanding of how the ratings work, where they come from, how
|
|
they are compiled, what they mean, or where we stand in those rankings.
|
|
|
|
If you wish to continue putting out misinformation, botched figures,
|
|
unnecessary panic, and foolish notions that have nothing whatsoever to do with
|
|
reality, well, that's your right. And I'm going to call you on it and if your
|
|
comments are sufficiently stupid or misinformed, get a little testy, because
|
|
that's *my* right. I came back and posted the exact numbers that are made
|
|
available. It's not playing the ratings game except in the sense that the
|
|
ratings are always a game...a game whose rules you don't know or understand.
|
|
|
|
For the week of 10/23 to 10/29, we were ranked #38 overall, out of a grand
|
|
total of 220 syndicated television series, including game shows, talk shows,
|
|
dramas, comedies, and everything else, and the 6th rated dramatic series for
|
|
that week. And our demographics scores put us in around 2nd/3rd position. We
|
|
did better than Highlander, Pointman, Kung Fu, the syndicated Tales from the
|
|
Crypt, and other dramatic series. Outside dramatic series, we did better than
|
|
the Jerry Springer Show, America's Most Wanted, Sightings, Martha Stewart
|
|
Living, Rush Limbaugh, Siskel & Ebert, Richard Bey, and Donahue...all of which
|
|
are considered successful series.
|
|
|
|
Those are the cold, hard facts, the hard numbers as delivered the the A.C.
|
|
Neilsen and Arbitron Companies.
|
|
|
|
If I were currently worried about the show, if I thought the numbers were
|
|
soft, I'd be the first person sounding the clarion call and asking people to
|
|
write letters urging the show's continuance. I'm not doing that, because
|
|
Warner Bros. is happy, PTEN is happy, and we're happy. No one -- *no one* --
|
|
is more concerned about this show's survival than I am, and if I'm relatively
|
|
content with the situation, then we're in pretty good shape.
|
|
|
|
You cite that some stations are moving the show into weird hours. That is
|
|
correct. First, it's only a very few stations out of nearly 200 stations;
|
|
those are, for the most part, Fox stations that have contractual commitments to
|
|
run Fox shows in prime-time, which is 8-10 p.m. Mon-Sun (they generally run
|
|
news 10-11). All that's left in those stations -- and many markets only *have*
|
|
one or two independent stations -- is the non-prime time schedule. That means
|
|
after 11 or before 7.
|
|
|
|
You cite the Indianapolis station that dropped the show. Yes, because WB,
|
|
feeling strongly about the show, pressured it for a better time slot, same as
|
|
in Grand Rapids MI. They were locked in, couldn't give us anything better, so
|
|
the show left...and has not been REPLACED in the Indianapolis market on WNDY.
|
|
So once again your facts are incorrect by omission and
|
|
inaccuracy...Indianapolis DOES have B5 back now, on better station in many
|
|
ways, and we're in negotiations to bring it back to the two or three other
|
|
markets where the same thing has happened.
|
|
|
|
In all the major markets, our ratings are *significantly* up. In
|
|
Charlotte we're up 186% over this same time last year; Cincinnati up 233%;
|
|
Chicago up 133%; San Francisco up 135%...in Portland we blow the doors off
|
|
altogether.
|
|
|
|
In short, Peter, you are absolutely, incontravertibly, dead-ass wrong.
|
|
|
|
"I am only doing a favor to those out there who like the show." No you're
|
|
not. You're trying to whip up hysteria, get people upset, cause a crisis that
|
|
exists nowhere but in your own mind, because that's what you enjoy doing.
|
|
|
|
And you clearly think that while you can come on here and say any thing
|
|
you want, if I come back and say you're wrong, somehow this is wrong, this is
|
|
only wanting to hear from groupies...as opposed to the simple fact that you're
|
|
*wrong*. You want to have one set of rules for yourself (anything goes), and
|
|
one thing for me (shut up, bend over and take it without any backtalk). I
|
|
checked my CIS agreement; that proviso isn't there.
|
|
|
|
Anybody who comes on here and wants to express an opinion, negative or
|
|
positive, about the show is free to do so. Anyone who comes on and offers what
|
|
he thinks are facts, and those facts are wrong, is going to be corrected.
|
|
|
|
There is this little club of people who think that they should be able to
|
|
say anything they want, as addle-headed or inaccurate as may be, and that if
|
|
they're called on it, that's wrong, and that's interfering in their right of
|
|
expression. Well, pal, I have a right to expression too, and guess what? The
|
|
facts are on my side of the argument, not yours.
|
|
|
|
And they always come back with the same thing, "if it bothers you to hear
|
|
it, well, that's just the way things are," and "I am not some groupie or some
|
|
mindless fanatic," thereby denigrating everybody else, as if they are blind
|
|
followers, and only you see the truth, which is I'm sure exactly what you would
|
|
like to believe, and "you might not like to hear it, but I got a right to say
|
|
it."
|
|
|
|
Absolutely. You've got a right to be as asinine and incorrect and stupid
|
|
and ill-informed and prejudicial and hysterical and wrong-headed as you wish.
|
|
|
|
And I've got the right to correct you.
|
|
|
|
Deal with it.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
#: 403073 S5/Babylon 5: General
|
|
22-Nov-95 13:28:25
|
|
Sb: #402871-#Thanks for a Great show
|
|
Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
|
|
To: Paul M. Zukowski 102522,131
|
|
|
|
Yep, they had computers back then; I used to log on on an old Kaypro, no
|
|
hard drive, 64k memory and 128k floppies. Ah, those were the days....
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
#: 403074 S5/Babylon 5: General
|
|
22-Nov-95 13:28:27
|
|
Sb: #403002-B5:The End???!!!
|
|
Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
|
|
To: Bob Danielson 73647,2247 (X)
|
|
|
|
No, no reconciliation there. They want the numbers to improved in season
|
|
three over season two. They are doing this. (Though we're gonna get killed
|
|
tonight by the second half of the Beatles series.)
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
#: 403076 S6/Babylon 5: Upcoming
|
|
22-Nov-95 13:28:30
|
|
Sb: #403020-#$0.04: <A Day in Strife>
|
|
Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
|
|
To: The Jawa / Jawa #2 76371,3057
|
|
|
|
Thanks...and Vir will return to the station from time to time, just as
|
|
Londo said.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
#: 403077 S5/Babylon 5: General
|
|
22-Nov-95 13:28:33
|
|
Sb: #403024-Kosh's lessons
|
|
Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
|
|
To: Philip Hornsey 74053,2101
|
|
|
|
Oh, yes, I'd say so....
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
#: 403078 S5/Babylon 5: General
|
|
22-Nov-95 13:28:34
|
|
Sb: #403034-DL Query
|
|
Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
|
|
To: Alan Katz 74260,3612
|
|
|
|
There was no *proof* that it was her, just a good chance. And the Corps
|
|
wouldn't allow her to be just shipped off. Pluse, she's still a citizen with
|
|
all the rights attendent upon that; we can't just ship somebody off to Russia
|
|
or Singapore if we don't like them. Real life is a lot more complicated, and
|
|
this show is patterned after reality as much as possible.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
#: 403098 S5/Babylon 5: General
|
|
22-Nov-95 14:13:30
|
|
Sb: #403043-#Daily News Dis
|
|
Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
|
|
To: MARK SMITH 102161,2223 (X)
|
|
|
|
One person said, "Critics are paid to be unfair." This piece shows it.
|
|
Too much emphasis on being cute and biting, rather than discussing the merits
|
|
of the show.
|
|
|
|
It's enlightening to see the dichotomy on the show on either side of the
|
|
Atlantic...here the critics tend to dismiss the show, or get cutsie, or deride
|
|
it...but in the UK, publications from Home Entertainment to Time Out to even
|
|
the prestigious Radio Times have lauded the show, calling it some of the best
|
|
SF of the last decade.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
#: 403418 S5/Babylon 5: General
|
|
22-Nov-95 22:33:05
|
|
Sb: #403193-#Fleer
|
|
Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
|
|
To: Jimmy R. Kapesis 103156,1634 (X)
|
|
|
|
The Fleer situation has been mutually pleasing. I think Fleer is going
|
|
to close down or otherwise change, so the cards may end up in the hands of
|
|
another company at some point.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
#: 403419 S5/Babylon 5: General
|
|
22-Nov-95 22:33:06
|
|
Sb: #403277-B5 rerun schedule
|
|
Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
|
|
To: John M. Kahane 102664,773
|
|
|
|
Not too much substantial in this batch...a few things, but to point them
|
|
out would defeat the purpose.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
#: 403421 S5/Babylon 5: General
|
|
22-Nov-95 22:33:13
|
|
Sb: #403349-B5: Dear Joe
|
|
Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
|
|
To: Walter F. Hern 74201,2063
|
|
|
|
To have a Tie fighter come through B5 space would a) break the reality of
|
|
the show, b) make us a pastiche or comedy, people would be too busy noticing
|
|
and laughing at that to pay attention, and b) would be a case of copyright
|
|
infringement, which would get us in a heap of legal trouble.
|
|
|
|
Re: the ratings...you're quite correct. Also, what most folks forget was
|
|
that TOS was considered a ratings flop on every level, and would've been
|
|
canceled after its second year were it not for a huge campaign by fans.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
#: 403467 S5/Babylon 5: General
|
|
23-Nov-95 01:27:18
|
|
Sb: #403451-Explosive Decompression
|
|
Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
|
|
To: Kenneth Porter 76161,3013
|
|
|
|
We've shown one body after spacing, and discussed another; in each case,
|
|
we hewed close to the facts. Dr. Franklin pointed out that, rather than eyes
|
|
exploding or anything of that nature, they freeze, for instance. In any
|
|
event...yes, point taken, and we won't do that, never intended to.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
#: 403468 S5/Babylon 5: General
|
|
23-Nov-95 01:27:19
|
|
Sb: B5 at LosCon
|
|
Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
|
|
To: All
|
|
|
|
Just a reminder...I'll be giving a Babylon 5 special presentation at
|
|
LosCon this Sunday at the Burbank Airport Hilton from 1-3 p.m. As a caveat,
|
|
the seats are usually gone very fast, almost always before the presentation
|
|
begins, so you may want to come a little bit early, otherwise there might not
|
|
be any available seats. The last several appearances have all been SRO.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
#: 403884 S6/Babylon 5: Upcoming
|
|
23-Nov-95 21:07:10
|
|
Sb: #403496-$0.04: <A Day in Strife>
|
|
Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
|
|
To: Lolita . Maddalena 102701,3447 (X)
|
|
|
|
<I loved the way the episode ended almost exactly where it started.>
|
|
|
|
Yeah...right back where we started....
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
#: 403885 S5/Babylon 5: General
|
|
23-Nov-95 21:07:13
|
|
Sb: #403520-#New Open!
|
|
Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
|
|
To: Trent K. Johnson 71020,1052
|
|
|
|
"Why are starfuries firing on starfuries?"
|
|
|
|
Noticed that, eh?
|
|
|
|
Wait and see.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
#: 403993 S5/Babylon 5: General
|
|
24-Nov-95 03:19:59
|
|
Sb: #403915-DL Query
|
|
Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
|
|
To: Philip Hornsey 74053,2101
|
|
|
|
<Up until the coup, was the EA government pretty good? They seem pretty
|
|
non-intrusive.>
|
|
|
|
The EA was fairly easy going, but remember that people are used to a
|
|
heavy governmental hand during the Earth/Minbari War. It's in a way similar to
|
|
the situation we had post WW2; the only way we could make it past that war and
|
|
survive was through strict discipline, following orders, going along with
|
|
rationing, conserving, everything. And it was that positive attitude that
|
|
those who came later would exploit in the McCarthy/Red Scare 1950s, and hit us
|
|
sideways in the 60s.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
#: 404287 S5/Babylon 5: General
|
|
24-Nov-95 18:01:48
|
|
Sb: #404254-JMS: Babcom 96
|
|
Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
|
|
To: Chris Gardiner 100701,3353
|
|
|
|
No, I don't believe I'm slated for Babcom 96, but I will be at the
|
|
Encounter in the UK in April or so. (Details are in the library somewhere.)
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
#: 404288 S5/Babylon 5: General
|
|
24-Nov-95 18:01:48
|
|
Sb: #404272-#B5 Blueprints/Models?
|
|
Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
|
|
To: Brian Deane 100121,26 (X)
|
|
|
|
<Saw an ad for a Starfury model>
|
|
|
|
Nope, this is strictly illegal. Could you send me a copy of the magazine
|
|
at the following address, so we can nail their heads to the wall? Babylon 5,
|
|
14431 Ventura Boulevard, Suite 260, Sherman Oaks, CA 91423. (Send it to my
|
|
attention.)
|
|
|
|
Thanks.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
#: 404439 S5/Babylon 5: General
|
|
25-Nov-95 05:07:07
|
|
Sb: #404351-Pilot Episode
|
|
Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
|
|
To: David Schirmer 76774,3310 (X)
|
|
|
|
Londo does not specify Sinclair in his dialogue; that's the picture at
|
|
that moment, but that doesn't lock us into it.
|
|
|
|
A full explanation for what happened and why is uploaded in the library
|
|
here; do a search in lib 5, I think, for Sinclair, and you'll find it. (Rather
|
|
than recap the whole thing again here.)
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
#: 404440 S5/Babylon 5: General
|
|
25-Nov-95 05:07:08
|
|
Sb: #404365-#B5 Blueprints/Models?
|
|
Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
|
|
To: Chad Underkoffler 102512,1310 (X)
|
|
|
|
Rage needs rest. Rest, Rage, rest.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
#: 404441 S5/Babylon 5: General
|
|
25-Nov-95 05:07:08
|
|
Sb: #404366-#Rage's Thots: Rangers?
|
|
Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
|
|
To: Chad Underkoffler 102512,1310 (X)
|
|
|
|
No, the Drazi was not a Ranger, only a supporter/collaborator (if I can
|
|
use, or misuse that term.)
|
|
|
|
At this stage, the Rangers are exclusively either human or minbari.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
#: 404442 S5/Babylon 5: General
|
|
25-Nov-95 05:07:11
|
|
Sb: #404413-#B5 at LosCon
|
|
Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
|
|
To: Larry Rosenblum 72122,1555 (X)
|
|
|
|
No standing invitations to the area, but we'll see....
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
#: 404763 S5/Babylon 5: General
|
|
25-Nov-95 23:01:18
|
|
Sb: #404483-#B5: Dear Joe
|
|
Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
|
|
To: Rick Sharon 76416,2213 (X)
|
|
|
|
<About a reply to a bogus article about ratings>
|
|
|
|
BTW, you'll notice that young master stathis took a powder after dropping
|
|
his offensive message here, so he wouldn't have to deal with any of the
|
|
responses. Then after a while he'll come back and do it all again. Typical.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
#: 404765 S6/Babylon 5: Upcoming
|
|
25-Nov-95 23:01:23
|
|
Sb: #404542-#$0.04: <A Day in Strife>
|
|
Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
|
|
To: The Jawa / Jawa #2 76371,3057 (X)
|
|
|
|
<Clarification: How much time is missing from Sinclair's memory?>
|
|
|
|
It was 24 hours.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
#: 404766 S5/Babylon 5: General
|
|
25-Nov-95 23:01:25
|
|
Sb: #404554-#B5 Magazine
|
|
Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
|
|
To: The Jawa / Jawa #2 76371,3057 (X)
|
|
|
|
<More magazine issues?>
|
|
|
|
It's my understanding that there will be more issues, yes.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
#: 404767 S5/Babylon 5: General
|
|
25-Nov-95 23:01:26
|
|
Sb: #404574-#Question for JMS
|
|
Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
|
|
To: Tapio K. Fransen 100731,1675 (X)
|
|
|
|
<Will you do another SF show?>
|
|
|
|
Dunno...the plan for now, if B5 runs its full five years, is to get out
|
|
of TV and go back to novels and plays. We'll see....
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
#: 404768 S6/Babylon 5: Upcoming
|
|
25-Nov-95 23:01:30
|
|
Sb: #404614-#<A Day In The Strife>
|
|
Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
|
|
To: Sharon Foster 76360,301 (X)
|
|
|
|
<Sheridan is being set up as a major savior figure, just like Talia was.>
|
|
|
|
Thanks. And for "pulling a Talia" on Sheridan, that's one of the major
|
|
benefits in *doing* the Talia thing to begin with; it makes it very difficult
|
|
to sit back and accept that any character is going to be the key out of this
|
|
story.
|
|
|
|
Agree on the new bumper; and the 5 fades in like a shadow vessel, making
|
|
it even more ominous.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
#: 404769 S5/Babylon 5: General
|
|
25-Nov-95 23:01:31
|
|
Sb: #404637-#Explosive Decompression
|
|
Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
|
|
To: William H. DiPaola 76521,1751 (X)
|
|
|
|
<Didn't the giant Earth ship have artificial gravity??
|
|
|
|
That was the Cortez, and yes, it rotated to create its gravity, as you can
|
|
see quite clearly in the episode.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
#: 404770 S5/Babylon 5: General
|
|
25-Nov-95 23:01:35
|
|
Sb: #404716-Cap'n Power
|
|
Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
|
|
To: Rae Augenstein 72752,1653 (X)
|
|
|
|
<I found an ep of Captain Power at Wal-Mart for $2.00. Should I buy it?>
|
|
|
|
Well, either buy it or burn it....
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
#: 404883 S5/Babylon 5: General
|
|
26-Nov-95 05:07:24
|
|
Sb: #404866-#Explosive Decompression
|
|
Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
|
|
To: William H. DiPaola 76521,1751 (X)
|
|
|
|
<Thanks for clearing that up for me. I don't doubt your word, but for
|
|
some reason I just didn't recall seeing a section of that ship rotate.>
|
|
|
|
Look at the big, round section in the middle of the Cortez, that's the
|
|
part that rotates.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
#: 405279 S5/Babylon 5: General
|
|
26-Nov-95 22:23:13
|
|
Sb: #404889-#Question for JMS
|
|
Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
|
|
To: Michael "GANDALF" Kalus 100265,3065 (X)
|
|
|
|
<So NO Silver Screen Ambitions?
|
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What do you think about the end of SeaQuest? And how good are your
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quotes (if this is the correct word for it)?>
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Nope, no real interest in doing movies; it's really a director's medium,
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so I prefer either television or print, which is a writer's medium.
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What do I think about the end of SeaQuest? Well, it was kind of
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inevitable, wasn't it? If they had left it alone, in the hands of the people
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who first created it, like Rockne O'Bannon, and quit pulling on it in every
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possible direction, it could've been okay. Instead, the Suits got involved,
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and when the Suits get involved...you're dead.
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"How good are your quotes?" Don't know what this means.
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jms
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#: 405280 S5/Babylon 5: General
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26-Nov-95 22:23:17
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Sb: #404923-#John J.?
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Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
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To: Anne L. Warner 71513,1177
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<I've been puzzling in my mind ever since "And Now for a Word," what is John
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Sheridan's middle name? And did you work on Space Rangers?>
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Eek! I had nothing to do with "Space Rangers," feh, feh, a pox, no. We
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went on with our pilots in similar periods, but no, I ain't had nothin' to do
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with that one ever.
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I have two options of what the J stands for; still trying to decide
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between historical reference and personal satisfaction.
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jms
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#: 405281 S5/Babylon 5: General
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26-Nov-95 22:23:18
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Sb: #404974-#B5: Dear Joe
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Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
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To: peter stathis 102477,3046
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"Either answer in a polite way, or don't answer at all."
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Peter, you came in here and started acting like a jerk. Everyone here
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feels exactly the same way about your behavior. I don't have to be polite if
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you're acting like a jerk; neither does anyone else here. Around here, you get
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what you give; if you are polite, and respectful, others will treat you the
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same way. If you come in here, guns blazing, acting like a ditz, then people
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are gonna call you a ditz. Polite ain't got nothin' to do with it. Take a
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little personal responsibility for your behavior.
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jms
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#: 405283 S6/Babylon 5: Upcoming
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26-Nov-95 22:23:25
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Sb: #405198-#<Gesthemene>
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Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
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To: David E. McCloud 102441,2371
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<Of the many excellent episodes you've written, this one's the best so far. It
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left me thinking over its themes long after the show had ended.>
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Thanks. That's really the intent; to get people to talk about the issues
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raised, and to examine the issues. We won't tell you what to think about an
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issue, because I don't have an answer myself...but if it made you stop and
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consider this stuff, and decide for yourself where you fall in the discussion,
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then it's done its job.
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jms
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#: 405345 S5/Babylon 5: General
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27-Nov-95 00:41:24
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Sb: #405288-#B5 Magazine
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Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
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To: Z. Michael Milutinovic 71532,2231
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It's from Sendai; ask your local bookstore to order it.
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jms
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#: 405346 S5/Babylon 5: General
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27-Nov-95 00:41:25
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Sb: #405328-#John J.?
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Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
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To: randall s. cavanaug 102134,760 (X)
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<is there and internet address that cast members can be written to?>
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No, no cast email addresses.
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jms
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#: 405347 S6/Babylon 5: Upcoming
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27-Nov-95 00:41:26
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Sb: #405331-#Synopses/ Transcriptions
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Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
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To: Mike Fitzpatrick 73562,3437 (X)
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<Are the synopses [not referring to the Lurker's Guide ones] too detailed?>
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I do think that sometimes the synopses get *too* detailed, and where they
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transcribe verbatim dialogue, are, I think, legally problematic, yes.
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jms
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#: 405474 S6/Babylon 5: Upcoming
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27-Nov-95 05:55:42
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Sb: #405367-<ADitS> Choices
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Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
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To: Elyse M. Grasso 70302,3304 (X)
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<And Londo's comment "It's nothing personal, Vir" after his appalling
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conversation with Na'Far brought chills with its echo of the bomber's speech
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last episode.>
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Thanks. Yeah, "it's nothing personal" does echo the other theme; those
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who inflict great harm tend to shrug it off that way.
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jms
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#: 405475 S5/Babylon 5: General
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27-Nov-95 05:55:43
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Sb: #405380-#DL Query
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Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
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To: Philip Hornsey 74053,2101 (X)
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<Is gun control on Earth strict enough that a military dictatorship
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couldn't be prevented from forming?>
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I'd like to not reply, as this is encroaching seriously into story
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territory.
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jms
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#: 405476 S5/Babylon 5: General
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27-Nov-95 05:55:45
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Sb: #Synopsis Query
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Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
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To: All
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Fast question...I seem to recall seeing some synopses that began with a
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telling quote from the episode, then a 1-paragraph summation, followed by cast.
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Does this ring a bell with anybody else?
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jms
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#: 405477 S5/Babylon 5: General
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27-Nov-95 06:01:03
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Sb: #405390-Rage's Thots:USENET Rant
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Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
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To: Karen E. Bahnsen 102735,3557 (X)
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Keep that up and you're going to turn my head...in this case, as far as
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Linda Blair's in the Exorcist....
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jms
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#: 405770 S5/Babylon 5: General
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27-Nov-95 17:23:28
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Sb: #405478-#Question for JMS
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Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
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To: Michael "GANDALF" Kalus 100265,3065 (X)
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Ah...what you call quotes we call ratings, and they have been very good.
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Viewer response really had zip to do with the Sinclair situation; you can
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find a detailed explanation in library 5 here.
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jms
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#: 405771 S5/Babylon 5: General
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27-Nov-95 17:23:29
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Sb: #405622-Rage's Thots: Manifesto
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Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
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To: Chad Underkoffler 102512,1310 (X)
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<Is Harlan's Manifesto on SF shows available, or is it an ancient Vorlon
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secret?>
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No, it's not currently available.
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jms
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#: 405772 S5/Babylon 5: General
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27-Nov-95 17:23:30
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Sb: #405630-#Synopsis Query
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Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
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|
To: Richard P. Manny 70762,141 (X)
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|
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No, I checked, and it ain't the Hyperion guide; it's something else I've
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seen, and I just can't put my finger on it.
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jms
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#: 405773 S5/Babylon 5: General
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27-Nov-95 17:23:33
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Sb: #405742-#DL Query
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Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
|
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To: Alan Katz 74260,3612 (X)
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Oh, to be sure, they'd have preferred to have Talia accidentally fall out
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an airlock rather than turn her over to the Corps...but that's cold blooded
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murder, and if they go that route, then there's no difference between them and
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their opposite number.
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jms
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#: 406058 S5/Babylon 5: General
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28-Nov-95 00:17:48
|
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Sb: #405810-#<ADitS> Probe Query
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|
Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
|
|
To: Wendy Shaffer 71201,2200 (X)
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|
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<Is a 500,000 megaton explosion enough to devastate a *planet*?>
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|
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No, it probably couldn't take out a planet, though it'd sure disrupt all
|
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communications in and out for a long time, maybe throw up a dust curtain to
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bring down the temperature quite a bit. Certainly it'd debilitate the planet
|
|
long enough for additional probes to be sent in. If one can do the job, one
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does the job; if more are required, more are sent.
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jms
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#: 406059 S5/Babylon 5: General
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28-Nov-95 00:17:49
|
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Sb: #406016-Question for JMS
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Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
|
|
To: Charles S. Tritt 70254,131 (X)
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<Rockne O'Bannon is one of the few writters that I rember from the new Twilight
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Zone.>
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Don't know what Rock's doing these days.
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jms
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#: 406619 S6/Babylon 5: Upcoming
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28-Nov-95 21:08:00
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Sb: #406267-#<PTG>
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Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
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|
To: Philip Hornsey 74053,2101 (X)
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<I am not even going to ask about that last scene with Kosh and Lyta. Were I you
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I might consider asking folks not to talk about that for the remainder of the
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week. I saw it just as you had intended it to be seen (expecting nothing) and
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had to pry myself off the ceiling.
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That episode really creeped me out.>
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So, in essence, you liked it, then...?
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|
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Re: Lyta...(evil smile)....
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jms
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#: 406621 S6/Babylon 5: Upcoming
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28-Nov-95 21:08:06
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|
Sb: #406404-Vichy Narn?
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|
Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
|
|
To: Fitz Bushnell 76435,165 (X)
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<Enjoying all the historical parallels, and the show in general.>
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Thanks...we try.
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jms
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#: 406622 S5/Babylon 5: General
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28-Nov-95 21:08:09
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Sb: #406579-Reactor Access
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|
Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
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|
To: Clinton Alvord 71470,3665
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<In the episode "Convictions," why did the "bomb squad" have to go out into
|
|
space in order to gain access to the fusion reactor?>
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|
Going in the vacuum door was the fastest way to get a bunch of people in
|
|
there, and presumably get a big object out again. Instead of riding transport
|
|
tubes to the core shuttle, then the core shuttle to the far end, then tubes to
|
|
the bottom...you jump out, get picked up and dumped at the far end. Takes 2
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|
minutes rather than 10 or 15. Remember, this place is five miles long.
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jms
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#: 406727 S5/Babylon 5: General
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29-Nov-95 00:45:09
|
|
Sb: #406702-#B5: Dear Joe
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|
Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
|
|
To: Elizabeth 76202,563 (X)
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|
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<People like to try to annoy writers appearing in public.>
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Thanks, and yeah, having served my time in and running creative writing
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|
classes, I've seen it too. Ah, well....
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jms
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#: 406728 S5/Babylon 5: General
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29-Nov-95 00:45:10
|
|
Sb: #406713-B5 books
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|
Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
|
|
To: Mara K. Malovany 102750,1414 (X)
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|
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<Audio versions of the B5 books?>
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|
|
No one's yet discussed it, I think....
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jms
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#: 406783 S5/Babylon 5: General
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29-Nov-95 03:24:46
|
|
Sb: #B5 Screensaver
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|
Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
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|
To: All
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|
|
Well, today I got my complimentary copy of the new B5 screensaver (aka the
|
|
Limited Edition CDRom Entertainment Untility), from Sound Sources. I have to
|
|
say that I'm extremely pleased with it. (And folks around here know that if I
|
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don't like it, I don't front for it.)
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|
|
I have it running now on both my home computer, and my work office
|
|
computer. On the downside, it isn't exactly intuitive on the installation, and
|
|
there's not much of a manual. You have to figure out some stuff on your own.
|
|
(Like when it says it installs all the wallpaper, it actually installs a
|
|
portion; you then have the option of using the Install aspect to go back into
|
|
the CDrom images area and getting the 150 or so other wallpaper images and
|
|
putting them into your system, and then using the Add and Select menus to
|
|
activate them.)
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|
|
I had a memory/sound conflict on the work computer on a few of the
|
|
modules, but no such problem on the home system (and since they're both nearly
|
|
identical systems, it tells me something's wonky with one of the computers, and
|
|
I have to figure this out.) Maybe it has something to do with running Norton
|
|
Desktop.
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|
|
Those two caveats aside, and they're relatively minor...I love it. You've
|
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got a whole bunch of video clips complete with sounds and/or music, 150
|
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wallpapers, bunches of .wav files, using our actual sound library from the
|
|
show, plus music clips...it's just gorgeous. And well displayed, well put
|
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together. It has what I was hoping for, a sense of a piece of Babylon 5 itself
|
|
in your system.
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As I understand it, there are only going to be 100,000 of these produced
|
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for full national distribution, and apparently the phone and mail orders are
|
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piling up, as are computer store orders. So you may want to get it fast when
|
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it appears, 'cause it may not stay on the shelves very long.
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I don't like to do a lot of merchandise, and when we do, it has to be of
|
|
superior quality; this one definitely qualifies.
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jms
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#: 406784 S5/Babylon 5: General
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29-Nov-95 03:28:56
|
|
Sb: #406729-#<ADITS:Aliens 'R Us>
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|
Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
|
|
To: Morris L. Gavant, M.D. 74027,264
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|
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<What is the name of the race whose member was injured in Franklin's lab?>
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|
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I'll have to go back and check, but from memory I'm pretty sure he's a
|
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Llort.
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jms
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#: 406785 S6/Babylon 5: Upcoming
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29-Nov-95 03:28:57
|
|
Sb: #406771-Stephen Furst
|
|
Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
|
|
To: David Chandler-Gick 73654,2320
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|
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Yes, you'll be seeing more of Stephen. Also, the Misery Loves Company
|
|
show for Fox was dropped, and the appearance on Chicago Hope is apparently only
|
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for 2 episodes.
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jms
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#: 407020 S5/Babylon 5: General
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29-Nov-95 15:13:51
|
|
Sb: #406930-#Rage's Thots: rastb5
|
|
Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
|
|
To: Chad Underkoffler 102512,1310 (X)
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|
|
<Sorry you're withdrawing from Usenet. Thanks for being there this long.>
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|
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No, the thanks, and the pleasure, are all mine.
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And yeah, having to do this is a pain in the butt, no mistake.
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jms
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#: 407022 S5/Babylon 5: General
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29-Nov-95 15:23:53
|
|
Sb: #406889-#Science FictionAge/B5
|
|
Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
|
|
To: S J NICHOLSON 76574,1663 (X)
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|
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Inch by inch by inch...we are taking over the world.
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jms
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#: 407023 S5/Babylon 5: General
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29-Nov-95 15:23:55
|
|
Sb: #407013-#ABC rumor
|
|
Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
|
|
To: John MacVeigh 72467,2141 (X)
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|
|
No, absolutely not true. ABC is doing a series called "Hypernauts" for
|
|
Saturday morning kidvid -- live action plus cgi -- made by many of the same
|
|
people who do B5, including Ron Thornton/Foundation Imaging, with Kevin Cremin,
|
|
John Copeland, Doug Netter and many of our same directors. But B5 has nothing
|
|
to do with it, nor do I personally. This person has confused two different
|
|
issues/shows.
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jms
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#: 407024 S6/Babylon 5: Upcoming
|
|
29-Nov-95 15:23:57
|
|
Sb: #406932-Were are the Shadows
|
|
Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
|
|
To: Randy Upshaw 75464,1275 (X)
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|
|
|
What we're doing in the meantime is plenty. Originally, the fourth and
|
|
final episode in this first batch of four was going to be "Voices of
|
|
Authority," which deals with just this question of preparing for the war in a
|
|
big way, has major developments, gets into the White Star...but the CGI
|
|
requirements of that episode were hideous, so we had to move it to #5 in the
|
|
lineup, moving up "Gethsemane." Once we come back with new episodes, we'll hit
|
|
the ground running hard on all this stuff.
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|
|
Also bear in mind that wars aren't instant; in the real world, you have to
|
|
line up support, get into alliances, move all your pieces around before you can
|
|
get into it. We're taking a similar path here. Also, the term "shadow war"
|
|
refers to more than just the shadows as a race; they refer to what's going on
|
|
back on earth as well, as metaphor as well as plot point, and that's a huge
|
|
part of the next batch of eps.
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jms
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#: 407267 S5/Babylon 5: General
|
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29-Nov-95 21:53:13
|
|
Sb: #407078-#B5: Dear Joe
|
|
Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
|
|
To: Susan Phillips 103044,3337
|
|
|
|
<Do you believe fiction writing can be taught?>
|
|
|
|
The answer is yes and no. I've taught writing classes and workshops, and
|
|
it is entirely possible to take someone with a good command of the language and
|
|
make them publishable in the area of articles and other nonfiction. Virtually
|
|
anyone can be trained. You can also learn some of the basic *techniques* of
|
|
fiction. But there's a quantum jump between what is required of the two basic
|
|
forms.
|
|
|
|
By the time I was done, invariably people would sell in non-fiction. The
|
|
last time I did it, within 6 months of finishing the class, the percentage of
|
|
those who actually pursued it (as opposed to just dropping the ball and not
|
|
trying) and published was close to 100%. Fiction, ah, that's different.
|
|
|
|
When it comes time to make up your own stories, you either hear the music,
|
|
or you don't. (And even if you don't, some folks can sell one or two items in
|
|
their lives.)
|
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|
|
That spark, that way of viewing the world and coming up with stories,
|
|
cannot be taught I think. It's either there, or it ain't.
|
|
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jms
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|
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#: 407268 S6/Babylon 5: Upcoming
|
|
29-Nov-95 21:53:20
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Sb: #407153-#<PTG>
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Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
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To: Philip Hornsey 74053,2101 (X)
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<The Vorlons really aren't the good guys are they.>
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Depends on how you define good.
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jms
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#: 407274 S6/Babylon 5: Upcoming
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29-Nov-95 21:59:39
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Sb: #407141-#<Gethsemane>
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Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
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To: Neil Blevins 102226,3566 (X)
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If the Centauri teep had had more time to react he probably would have
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gone after Garibaldi...but Lyta came in too fast, and she took his attention
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quickly.
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jms*
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(*who is wondering, if he wrote an episode in which Morden was trapped on a
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cliffside, if he could title it "Ridge Over Troubled Wasser"...)
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#: 407444 S5/Babylon 5: General
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30-Nov-95 01:44:03
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Sb: #407311-#<Gethsemene>
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Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
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To: Richard P. Manny 70762,141 (X)
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<In so many ways, you
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remind me of Serling and Lovecraft. Both strove with the gods and the devils
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to produce the best, to tell the story, to turn the word on its ear, to tweek
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the medium for all it could give, and then one more tweek. There's another
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Lovecraftian aspect to you, beyond the story-telling word, its this enormous
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virtual circle of correspondents that you talk to each day. Lovecraft had his
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circle which nutured the likes of de Camp, Long, Howard, and Derleth. I wonder
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who out there in the ether is taking form as a writer by drawing nurishment
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from this circle?>
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I don't think there can *be* any praise higher than to be included in the
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same sentence as Serling. Of my personal pantheon of writers, he's right up
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there at the top. And yeah, we've had to fight the same battles to get our
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respective shows on the air, with the integrity we feel/felt was required for
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the story. But in the long run, the fight is worth it if it produces something
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that lasts.
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About correspondents...I've heard from a number of folks, in the course
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of this prolonged conversation, who say they've had the courage to begin
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writing, or sending out what they write, because they've seen that it Can Be
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Done. A few of them have broken through, most have not, but it's a long
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process, and there's plenty of time ahead.
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If the show can inspire anyone, even one person, to do more, or better,
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then it has achieved its purpose.
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jms
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#: 407445 S6/Babylon 5: Upcoming
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30-Nov-95 01:44:08
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Sb: #407338-#<Gethsemane>
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Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
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To: Mark Pruett 74133,3406
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The absolution scene, based on what used to be called the rites of
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extreme unction, or last rights, is now called the "celebration" of passing,
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and I went to the Catholic church's information office, and got the actual
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text. I made a few adjustments here, condensing it a bit (on the logic that
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Edward didn't have a lot of time), and modifying a few small points here and
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there, on the second logical point that in 250 years, such might have taken
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place (as the current ritual has been adjusted a bit here and there over the
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years). So if it felt right, it was.
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Yours is the second comparison here to Serling. I think perhaps I can die
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happy now. To the "strong moral sensibilities" aspect...there has to be this.
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The story must entertain, first and foremost, otherwise it's useless, because
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no one will watch it. But then there has to be something of substance at the
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core of it, which elevates or ennobles or challenges.
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Re: the use of Lyta to extract the info...this is the main reason why
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there's a Psi Corps, and there are exacting rules, otherwise it can easily
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become deus ex machina. We won't ever do this sort of thing trivially, and
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here it was definitely meant to be a little disturbing...it was a sheer matter
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of life or death, the guy was a creep, and somewhere Edward was bleeding to
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death. Even after so many viewings, and even having written the thing, I find
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that one scene vaguely scary.
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It's the best of the first four, I think. But better is coming....
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jms
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#: 407446 S5/Babylon 5: General
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30-Nov-95 01:44:12
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Sb: #407364-Rage's Thots: rastb5
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Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
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To: SysOp Dupa T. Parrot 70040,104
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Re: the joke about the dumb starlet who slept with the writer...sure, and
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you know why? 'Cause she heard that in Hollywood, EVERYONE screws the writer.
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jms
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#: 407447 S5/Babylon 5: General
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30-Nov-95 01:44:13
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Sb: #407395-Submitted for....
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Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
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To: Ray Pelzer 70475,1263 (X)
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<I feel safe in saying that
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your career is starting to closely parallel all the good aspects of Mr.
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Serling's career (and no, no jokes about doing Schlitz commercials after B5
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ends). I don't think I'll be contradicted - especially in light of tonights
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show - in saying that, when the statues start going up, yours and his will be
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standing beside one another.>
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Wow, that's three...I'm about ready to fall down. High praise indeed.
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Wasn't on the special because, basically, I wasn't asked. Haven't yet
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seen it, but have the thing on tape, and will look at it later tonight.
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jms
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#: 407551 S5/Babylon 5: General
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30-Nov-95 04:44:35
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Sb: #407321-In the Shadow of JMS
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Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
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To: David DeRubeis 75221,2351
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Thanks. This is kinda what I always said...if folks will give us just a
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fair chance, no more, no less, we'll back up the talk with action, and with
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stories.
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You're to be commended for giving us a second chance, and posting this.
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Thanks for giving us the opportunity.
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jms
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#: 407561 S6/Babylon 5: Upcoming
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30-Nov-95 04:55:54
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Sb: #407474-<PTG>
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Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
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To: Michael Grabois 74737,2600 (X)
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<Now that you've finally been able to use the story of a mind-wiped criminal
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|
learning of his past, can you say something about how different the story would
|
|
have been had you been able to do it in the first (?) season as you had
|
|
originally planned?>
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No, no nod to the person who suggested it, since this isn't a
|
|
competition, and the suggestion cost me a year where I couldn't do the story.
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(So I wasn't in the cutest frame of mind about this for a long time, even
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|
though it wasn't really his fault.)
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Basically, it would've been a one-shot, with two monks arriving to scope
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|
out B5 for the arrival of the rest later on. (You'll notice that none of the
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other monks get into the story here; that's a hold-over from the original
|
|
outline, which I saw no need to change at this point.) So this would've been
|
|
folded into an introduction to the order as they come to check out B5's
|
|
facilities.
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jms
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#: 407562 S6/Babylon 5: Upcoming
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30-Nov-95 04:55:56
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Sb: #407550-<Gethsemane>
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Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
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|
To: Burhaan Ahmad 75754,3065
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Not sure he *wanted* to die, as much as he felt it was *necessary* in
|
|
order to atone for the sins of another...his own "other," in this case.
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jms
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#: 407842 S6/Babylon 5: Upcoming
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30-Nov-95 12:21:46
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Sb: #407736-#<Gethsemane>
|
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Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
|
|
To: Tom Knudsen 72347,1626 (X)
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The third Serling story isn't so much strange, as were the other two, but
|
|
interesting, in that after that one first encounter with him, when I was
|
|
working on the new Twilight Zone series, they found an outline by Serling that
|
|
he had never put into script form...and they asked me to do the script based on
|
|
that outline, so here, twent-some years later, I ended up sharing a writing
|
|
credit with Serling on "Our Selena is Dying." A collaboration, much after the
|
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fact.
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jms
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#: 407843 S6/Babylon 5: Upcoming
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30-Nov-95 12:21:47
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Sb: #407771-#<PTG>
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Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
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|
To: Philip Hornsey 74053,2101 (X)
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|
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When you ask a Vorlon a question, you get what you get.
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jms
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#: 407851 S5/Babylon 5: General
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30-Nov-95 12:41:14
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Sb: #407695-#Minbari line in 1st 3 ep
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Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
|
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To: Chad Underkoffler 102512,1310 (X)
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Just putting the gun on the table where everyone can see it before I pick
|
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it up and pull the trigger...as I have done, more subtly, in a whole bunch of
|
|
other places, right through to the first season.
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jms
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#: 407852 S5/Babylon 5: General
|
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30-Nov-95 12:41:16
|
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Sb: #407784-#Minbari line in 1st 3 ep
|
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Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
|
|
To: Jeff Frank 70402,3015 (X)
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|
|
Actually, it was in one of the first four episodes, not necessarily the
|
|
first three.
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jms
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|
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#: 408013 S5/Babylon 5: General
|
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30-Nov-95 17:29:08
|
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Sb: #407923-book question
|
|
Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
|
|
To: Richard L. Long 76562,2757 (X)
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|
|
<Book of the five-year arc?>
|
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|
|
It's something I'll consider when we're finished with it all; right now
|
|
it's too much to even think about.
|
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|
|
And thanks....
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jms
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|
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#: 408175 S6/Babylon 5: Upcoming
|
|
30-Nov-95 22:27:49
|
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Sb: #408027-<Gethsemane>
|
|
Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
|
|
To: Lolita . Maddalena 102701,3447 (X)
|
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|
|
<When the brother died I blew my nose and thought it was over, but then you
|
|
bring the "new" brother to Sheridan and there I go again. Really, it was an
|
|
almost cruel use of beauty. Of course until the gill scene. Eck.>
|
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|
|
"...a cruel use of beauty." What a great way to phrase it. Never heard
|
|
that before. Thanks.
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jms
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#: 408176 S5/Babylon 5: General
|
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30-Nov-95 22:27:49
|
|
Sb: #408104-Kosh Me This
|
|
Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
|
|
To: Daniel Mercure 72470,3713 (X)
|
|
|
|
<Wasn't Twikki in the opening credits of "Buck Rogers?" Why not Kosh?>
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|
|
|
Twikki had a better agent than Kosh.
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jms
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|
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#: 408177 S6/Babylon 5: Upcoming
|
|
30-Nov-95 22:27:52
|
|
Sb: #408142-<PTG>
|
|
Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644
|
|
To: Michael Grabois 74737,2600 (X)
|
|
|
|
<How would they have gotten the info from the Centauri in the original?>
|
|
|
|
They would've gotten the info in a different way, without resorting to a
|
|
telepath.
|
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|
|
jms
|
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