JMS CompuServe messages collected by The Green Meddler . Subj: Pirate Warning from jms Section: Babylon 5 To: David Henninger, Friday, September 01, 1995 1:13:02 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#318703 Simplest way to tell: if it has the PTEN copyright notice, it's usually authorized, same for any other product by other shows. If not, not. One-offs, paintings of characters, that's one thing, but if somebody's selling mass-produced stuff like links, PPGs, patches without any kind of ID on them, you can be sure it ain't legit. jms Subj: Pirate Warning from jms Section: Babylon 5 To: Mark Slater, Friday, September 01, 1995 1:19:03 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#318706 Just so we're clear, the problem isn't getting WB moving on licensing; ever since we got started here, I've been dragging my feet on licensing stuff, because I've seen merchandising become the tail wagging the dog on TV shows. I don't want that to happen here. So as stuff comes in, I approve only a few things, selectively, that I think can be done, and done well. Re: the UK videotape situation...that's something that I have no input into whatsoever, as it falls under the jurisdiction of another country, and the approval steps are several steps removed from me. jms Subj: Pirate Warning from jms Section: Babylon 5 To: Alan Katz, Friday, September 01, 1995 11:01:20 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#319178 I've been involved in approving the comics, the micromachines, the novels, the screen saver, the Fleer cards, and other stuff. jms Subj: Pirate Warning from jms Section: Babylon 5 To: Stephen Burrow, Saturday, September 02, 1995 9:33:00 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#320089 As with the disks, eventually we'll have tapes out, it's just a matter of convincing WB that there's interest out there. jms Subj: Pirate Warning from jms Section: Babylon 5 To: Anne L. Warner, Sunday, September 03, 1995 7:20:08 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#320985 It's a different division of Warners, run by Jim Cardwell at Warner Home Video, that makes the decision about cassettes. jms Subj: Pirate Warning from jms Section: Babylon 5 To: Tom Knudsen, Friday, September 01, 1995 11:01:23 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#319179 If someone comes to us with the right package, I'm sure we could work that out. jms Subj: Foul Ball Section: Babylon 5 To: Benoit Langevin, Friday, September 01, 1995 1:13:04 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#318704 The B5 baseball cap is available by phone order from Creation Entertainment or at any Creation convention. As for the sound mix...yeah, we put a great deal of work into that aspect, for the surround effect. If you fire up "Race" there's a LOT going on in that one. It takes a great deal of time, but it's worth it. jms Subj: Foul Ball Section: Babylon 5 To: Benoit Langevin, Friday, September 01, 1995 11:01:17 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#319176 Alas, I don't have their number right at hand, but if you call 818 area code information, for the Creation Entertainment offices in Glendale, you'll get the info. jms Subj: Pirate Warning from jms Section: Babylon 5 To: Blackadder, Saturday, September 02, 1995 9:33:31 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#320088 Eventually it'll be done, but there's no target date for that now. jms Subj: B5 vs. Trek fans Section: Babylon 5 To: Sam W, Sunday, September 03, 1995 7:32:16 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#320995 BTW, someone should point out to the "ST doesn't use CGI" crowd that, from what I saw, LOTS of the Voyager stuff was CGI last ep, including that shot where the legs extend from beneath. jms Subj: B5 vs. Trek fans Section: Babylon 5 To: Louis H. Levinson, Sunday, September 03, 1995 7:32:14 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#320994 There are limits to what the healing device can do, for starters; it can't repair physical damage to the body, mainly it works with disease and basic low-energy stuff; also, bear in mind that it was a device used for *capital punishment*...meaning that to save one person's life, another must sacrifice his or her own, if it's that far along, so it's not really something you can trot out everytime somebody gets nailed. jms Subj: What's legit? Section: Babylon 5 To: Glen Guenther, 71163,75 Monday, September 04, 1995 3:21:18 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#321904 T-shirts are available from Creation and All-U, with caps and mugs from Creation (and there's a GREAT new mug with the station on the obverse side), along with a great jacket with the station embroidered on the back. There are 4 micromachine sets out now, with 2 more to come. And the trading cards from Fleer are due out in about a week or so. jms Subj: Pirate Warning from jms Section: Babylon 5 To: Jeannette Fornadel, 76371,3057 Monday, September 04, 1995 3:21:21 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#321905 Sheridan's obsessive streak may be the only thing that gets them out of this alive. And as far as I know, the kid hasn't been born yet. jms Subj: Pirate Warning from jms Section: Babylon 5 To: Mark D. Smith, 70254,107 Monday, September 04, 1995 3:21:24 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#321907 Novel 3 is due out now, or in a week or so. jms Subj: Pirate Warning from jms Section: Babylon 5 To: Anne L. Warner, 71513,1177 Monday, September 04, 1995 10:16:20 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#322437 Yes, that's the correct address. jms Subj: Pirate Warning from jms Section: Babylon 5 To: Anne L. Warner, 71513,1177 Tuesday, September 05, 1995 11:18:14 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#323593 Yeah, thanks, we're finally starting to get some attention on the show; I think we've come to that annoying point where it's just about impossible to keep ignoring us.... jms Subj: Pirate Warning from jms Section: Babylon 5 To: Mark Slater, 100600,3605 Monday, September 04, 1995 10:16:21 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#322438 I've always said...the day I approve Babylon 5 Underoos is the day you'll all know I've sold out.... jms Subj: Pirate Warning from jms Section: Babylon 5 To: Bob Perse, 75310,3312 Wednesday, September 06, 1995 11:52:19 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#324597 Naah...the whole nation would be struck blind, and I don't want to be held accountable for that. jms Subj: B5 vs. Trek fans Section: Babylon 5 To: Carl BUSSJAEGER, 102065,1635 Monday, September 04, 1995 3:21:22 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#321906 The two machines would only be distantly related. jms Subj: B5 season Three Section: Babylon 5 To: Rae Augenstein, 72752,1653 Monday, September 04, 1995 10:16:24 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#322439 New sets: yes, and we're creating situations in which we can see more of Earth, Mars, our other local planets, plus Narn, Centauri, Minbari and one other major world. As the Shadow War cranks into gear, you're going to need a place to meet in security and plan for it, so we're also building that. We'll see more of Draal's place on Epsilon 3. And there's one other major set that we'll see in the first episode, and quite a bit thereafter. New characters: well, there's Marcus Cole, a Ranger assigned permanently to Babylon 5, played by British actor Jason Carter; we'll see Lyta Alexander more this year; and Theo...what can I say about Theo...well, perhaps better to let you see for yourself. jms Subj: B5 season Three Section: Babylon 5 To: Anne L. Warner, 71513,1177 Tuesday, September 05, 1995 11:18:13 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#323592 Theodore. jms Subj: B5 season Three Section: Babylon 5 To: SysOp Dupa T. Parrot, 70040,104 Wednesday, September 06, 1995 11:52:20 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#324598 No, since Theo is a fictional character and Theo Bikel is a real person, and they're two different things. jms Subj: B5 Comics Section: Babylon 5 To: Jeffrey Martino, 73477,1506 Wednesday, September 06, 1995 2:45:03 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#324077 Yeah, as I understand it, because the book will be published on something other than a monthly basis, subscriptions don't apply, that's exclusively for their regular, monthly titles. jms Subj: Cast & Crew view eps? Section: Babylon 5 To: Z. Michael Milutinovic, 71532,2231Thursday, September 07, 1995 10:19:00 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#325449 Not really, no...sometimes, one or another cast or crew person will ask to screen an episode, but it's very spotty; we don't provide personal copies until after the episode airs, and only to direct cast and crew members. jms Subj: Cast & Crew view eps? Section: Babylon 5 To: Jeannette Fornadel, 76371,3057 Friday, September 08, 1995 2:29:01 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#325901 Well, though they haven't seen the eps, they *have* read the scripts, so they do know what happened in those eps. jms Subj: B5 move in SF Section: Babylon 5 To: Thomas McDonough, 73641,474 Thursday, September 07, 1995 10:19:02 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#325450 Well, I'm not surprised, in that stations generally don't run promos when the show is in reruns; we'll see what they do closer to debut. jms Subj: B5 @ Emmys Section: Babylon 5 To: Rae Augenstein, 72752,1653 Thursday, September 07, 1995 10:19:03 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#325451 No, I won't be there, due to work. The noms we've gotten are in hair, makeup and cinematography. They're up against stiff competition, though, so we'll see. jms Subj: John Shuck Section: Babylon 5 To: Mojo Jones, 71555,271 Friday, September 08, 1995 2:29:02 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#325902 Same guy. jms Subj: B5 makes "Jeopardy" Section: Babylon 5 To: Richard P. Manny, Friday, September 08, 1995 11:04:03 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#326352 Actually, it's a repeat of an earlier Jeapordy. jms Subj: The Vorlons Section: Babylon 5 To: Daniel M. Upton Friday, September 08, 1995 11:04:04 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#326353 What, I should begin catering to prurient interests? Broadcasting picture postcards (likely French) of Vorlons in provocative poses, in lingerie? A terrible thing, that a nice young man such as yourself should be asking about. Does your mother know you're out here doing this? Good heavens. And who said they reproduce anymore? jms Subj: The Vorlons Section: Babylon 5 To: Jeannette Fornadel Saturday, September 09, 1995 6:33:27 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#327062 <"Wouldn't that Minbari bone be awfully hard on the mother?"> Like elk antlers, they grow after birth. jms Subj: Walter on QVC Section: Babylon 5 To: Richard M. Perry, Friday, September 08, 1995 11:04:05 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#326354 What's this fascination with underoos and sheets and uncut something or others...? Have you started rooming with Daniel or something? Sigh...y'know, I remember when this was a clean place to hang out, kids could play in the streets, mothers could take their babies out in strollers, you could hang out on the front stoop and talk to people...now it's all underoos and nudie cutie Vorlon pictures. What's the world coming to? jms Subj: Fury landings Section: Babylon 5 To: Kenneth Porter Friday, September 08, 1995 11:07:15 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#326355 We have shown, in other episodes, including "Survivors," that the starfuries come back in via the central docking bay, and are lowered into their proper bays from there, where they are recharged and repaired. jms Subj: Theo Section: Babylon 5 To: Jeannette Fornadel, Saturday, September 09, 1995 6:33:27 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#327061 , but what sort of character is this 'Theo'?> Here's a hint: he arrives with about a dozen of his brothers. jms Subj: Theo Section: Babylon 5 To: Daniel M. Upton, Saturday, September 09, 1995 10:51:06 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#327315 Nope, not a technomage. jms Subj: Theo Section: Babylon 5 To: Bruce D. Sinclair Sunday, September 10, 1995 4:25:22 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#327850 > Nope. jms Subj: Theo Section: Babylon 5 To: Lynn Dimock, Sunday, September 10, 1995 11:09:01 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#328201 He's definitely human. jms (Suddenly this has become "What's My Line.") Subj: Theo Section: Babylon 5 To: John McAuley Sunday, September 10, 1995 4:26:02 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#327853 Nope. jms Subj: Theo Section: Babylon 5 To: Tom Knudsen, Sunday, September 10, 1995 11:09:02 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#328202 Nope. jms Subj: The Dodgers Section: Babylon 5 To: Randall A. Schanze, Saturday, September 09, 1995 6:33:29 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#327063 Actually, much of what's been reported is misconception or actors who somewhat...misremember things. Bill was never considered a one-shot as Lennier. It was always a recurring role. That's what we put out in the casting breakdowns that went to agents, and that was the understanding when we did auditions, and when we negotiated with Bill, and did the main titles. Pat Tallman's character was *never* intended as a male; at one time, I'd considered making Delenn male to start with, then female after emerging from the chrysalis, but Lyta...never. So there really hasn't been as much divergence as might seem. jms Subj: OTHERSYDE Section: Babylon 5 To: Raggedy Ann Sunday, September 10, 1995 4:25:25 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#327851 Thanks. Characters, for me, are the point of a novel, and any good story. Long after the plot becomes fuzzy in memory, you remember the people...you remember Ahab and Michael Valentine Smith and Charles Dexter Ward.... Re: not having adjective/adverb disease...there's something funny there you wouldn't know about. See, when I was in high school, they had Career Day for the tops in various areas (dance, acting, athletics, whatever). I ended up in the Writing group. It was held at Southwestern College down by San Diego. I was stuck in this little room, and nobody came by, because who wants to see writers when you can see athletes and dancers and mimes? Finally, a short fellow with salt-and-pepper hair wandered in, and went down the line of manuscripts-with-writers, paused at my table. (I was writing stories in the Lovecraft/dark horror vein at the time.) Took one of my stories, walked off, sat in one of the lawn chairs, read it through. Came back, returned the story, took another. Read that one over. Put it back. Looked at me for a long moment. Then he said: "You have a great and substantial talent for your age. Two pieces of advice: one, don't ever let them stop you from telling the stories you want to tell; two, cut every third adjective." Then he walked off, and as soon as he was out the door, the faculty advisor came running at me at warp nine. "What did he say, what did he say, whatdidhesay?" I told her. "Don't you know who that was?" she asked. I said no, though there was something kinda familiar about him, and remember it's always different when you see somebody out of context. "That was Rod Serling," she said, "he's here to speak at the college later today." Had there been a gun within easy reach, I would almost certainly have put a bullet into my brain. By the time I ran out, he was gone. That was one of three weirdnesses in my life involving Rod. The other two...are stories for another day. So when you say I've managed to keep the adjectives down... I'm very pleased. jms Subj: About your lighting Section: Babylon 5 To: David Corbin, 75663,623 Tuesday, September 12, 1995 11:02:27 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#330433 They look cool....? jms Subj: OTHERSYDE Section: Babylon 5 To: Linda Woeltjen, 76711,1142 Tuesday, September 12, 1995 11:02:03 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#330438 I'm not sure some days if this is what I was *meant* to do...or if I'm simply incompetent to do anything *else*.... jms Subj: Joe's name plagiarized Section: Babylon 5 To: Jerry D Bookter, 75453,2257 Tuesday, September 12, 1995 11:02:30 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#330435 Actually, I think I once ran into him hereabouts...small world.... jms Subj: The Dodgers Section: Babylon 5 To: Philip Hornsey, 74053,2101 Tuesday, September 12, 1995 11:02:00 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#330436 Yeah, it did, and I'm kinda surprised by it, since Bill should really know better. jms Subj: 'Convictions' ep title Section: Babylon 5 To: Elyse M. Grasso, 70302,3304 Tuesday, September 12, 1995 11:02:13 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#330443 As it happens, yes, it kinda refers to both. jms Subj: B5 Story Line Static? Section: Babylon 5 To: Hugh Kennedy, 70042,710 Tuesday, September 12, 1995 11:02:16 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#330444 I'd be a fool not to build in trap doors all over the place, so that the story can continue no matter what happens to individuals...in the same way that the story of WW II continued, even though some lived and some died before the end. jms Subj: Nowhere Man/Prisoner Section: Nowhere/DeadlyGames To: Rob Wu, Monday, September 18, 1995 10:10:00 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#336538 I approached the show with great hopes, but have stopped watching. It just stretches credulity; this is a nationally famous photographer... have they eliminated/co-opted his publisher? Every bookstore in the country that carries his books (which doubtless also have his photo), every library, every person who's ever seen his work, sent him a letter...it's just too big and too improbable. jms Subj: Marshall Teague/Narn? Section: Babylon 5 To: Elyse M. Grasso, Monday, September 18, 1995 10:10:01 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#336539 Yes, it's the same character, and his name is Ta'Lon. jms Subj: Query about Shadow Ships Section: Babylon 5 To: Mark Sloan, Monday, September 18, 1995 10:10:03 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#336540 They have alternate means of flipping into and out of hyperspace. jms Subj: Baby 5? Section: Babylon 5 To: Rae Augenstein, Tuesday, September 19, 1995 10:14:14 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#337813 Doesn't really bother me. Bombings, ships sinking, mortar fire, *that* bothers me...the rest...ehh. jms Subj: Nowhere Man/Prisoner Section: Nowhere/DeadlyGames To: David Farsaad, Wednesday, September 20, 1995 8:13:25 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#338847 "In real life they do it all the time." Really? What was the last famous author/photographer/celebrity who had his identity removed and then couldn't find anyone in the continental United States who knew who he was? jms Subj: Season Three Section: seaQuest DSV/2032 To: Rob Wu, Friday, September 22, 1995 1:17:10 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#340342 Haven't seen it, can't comment. jms Subj: Query about Shadow Ships Section: Babylon 5 To: John M. Kahane, Friday, September 22, 1995 1:17:12 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#340343 I can imagine there'd be different kinds of technology that can accomplish the same goals, yes. jms Subj: Section: Babylon 5 To: Michael Zitaglio, Saturday, September 23, 1995 4:40:11 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#342223 "Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it." jms Subj: Section: Babylon 5 To: Michael Zitaglio, Sunday, September 24, 1995 4:15:28 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#342827 Thank you, son. Now clean up your room before your mom gets home. jms Subj: Narn v. Centauri? Section: Babylon 5 To: Paul Sulkowski, Saturday, September 23, 1995 4:40:10 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#342222 The colonies mainly came during the Centauri occupation, first with Narns transported there as slave labor or as convenient penalty (a la Australia's early history). jms Subj: Mira Furlan in LA Play Section: Babylon 5 To: All Sunday, September 24, 1995 6:01:02 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#343703 Mira Furlan, best known here as Ambassador Delenn, is currently starring in a production of Sophocles' classic play ANTIGONE. This modernized version is directed by Mira's husband, Goran Gajic, and adapted by Deanne Stillman. It's a chance to see Mira out of makeup, and in a very different kind of role than you've seen before. The play is currently running at the Hudson Guild Theater, 6543 Santa Monica Boulevard, in Hollywood. Performances are Thursdays- Saturdays at 8 p.m., Sundays at 7. Tickets can be acquired by calling 213-660-TKTS. jms Subj: Pirate Warning from jms Section: Babylon 5 To: Kevin J. Goulding, Monday, September 25, 1995 2:34:22 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#344181 Eventually, yes, but no clear indication at this time of when that might happen. jms Subj: Random Queries Section: Babylon 5 To: Anne L. Warner, Monday, September 25, 1995 10:34:18 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#345526 <1. Will the WB-Turner merger affect you and B5? 2. Will we see Sarah (General Hague's messanger) again, or is Live Shot taking all of Wanda De Jesus' time? 3. Rewatching All Alone in the Dark last night,rom: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#345687 I haven't actually gotten a copy of that issue of Foundation yet; are there any other articles or essays in it mentioning B5? I sent James an email, but so far, no reply, on getting a copy. jms (First time I ever wrote for a nominally "literary" publication; hope I didn't come off as too much of a doofus.) Subj: Random Queries Section: Babylon 5 To: Scott Orwig, Tuesday, September 26, 1995 10:36:29 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#346921 Dunno...it's all beyond my ken. jms Subj: Stunned by B5 Section: Babylon 5 To: Neville White, Wednesday, September 27, 1995 1:45:10 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#347493 Thanks. There does seem this odd rule that when a new viewer tries out the show for the first time, it's invariably one of our few dorky shows; but if you stick around, the next one is usually dead-on. What do *I* want? To finish this story. jms Subj: Mira Furlan in LA Play Section: Babylon 5 To: R-Laurraine Tutihas, Wednesday, September 27, 1995 1:45:13 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#347494 That I don't know; I imagine how long it runs will be a function of how many show up. Best to call the phone number given and ask what they are currently projecting. jms Subj: Major B5/ST News Section: Star Trek To: All Thursday, September 28, 1995 12:46:11 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#348451 Before you hit the *kill* button...a thought or two in your general direction. First, if you're eager for the actual news part of this message -- and it is kinda important -- it appears at the end of this message. If you've got a second, stick around. In every interview he's given on the subject, Walter Koenig has spoken glowingly of BABYLON 5, as a show he feels is fighting for genuine quality SF in television, with serious, mature stories for fans who grew up on STAR TREK and are looking for more of that quality...none other than Majel Barrett Roddenberry has gone on record at conventions, including Toronto Trek and the recent Wolf 359 convention, as saying that BABYLON 5 was "the only other intelligent science fiction series out there" besides the ST shows, and urged ST fans to support it. If you've tried the show, and it wasn't to your tastes...fair enough. No one should be expected to like everything. If you'd like to give it another shot, that's fine, but there is no need to defend your opinion; we respect it. Not every show works for every viewer. If you *haven't* tried the show...if you liked the original ST and the work of Majel and Walter and Harlan and others involved in it...if you like the work of Peter David, who has written for B5 and supports it...you may want to give it a shot in October/November. The final four episodes from year two will be broadcast starting the week of October 11th, with the new year three episodes beginning the second week of November. These nine episodes in a row contain some of the best work we have ever done. Acting, writing, directing, effects...we stand behind all of them. (The year two Final Four were held back from earlier broadcast to lead into the debut, so these are new to the US, although they have already aired to substantial praise in the UK.) If perhaps you have been turned off by some of the more vigorous messages from B5 viewers, I'd only ask that you consider those comments in light of the fact that Paramount (NOT the people doing ST, but the studio itself) has done everything possible to hinder the progress of B5, which engenders certain reactions from everyone; and that to a man or woman, virtually all of the more vigorous posts have come from those who have long considered themselves fans of STAR TREK, voicing many of the concerns which are stated right here in this forum by current viewers...which they had long before there was a B5... as well as some of the praises found here. The ironic thing is that there is no problem between those who make B5, and those who make ST..Jeri Taylor is a friend, Majel supports the show, when ST does an episode with great EFX we call them, when we do a good one they call us...it's almost entirely a matter of perception. So for what it's worth, direct from those of us who make BABYLON 5, if you haven't checked out the show before, or if you're curious to see where we stand now...I would like to personally invite you to check out the new batch of episodes starting around October 11th. If you want to give us all nine episodes, that's great; if less, that's fine too. If not at all, that's also fine. Over a late dinner with Majel, I observed that after the original STAR TREK, which for the first time presented truly *human* characters, with all their flaws and frailties and bravery and nobility, in a science fiction series, the ball was dropped, and no one picked it up again for years. She agreed with this...and it is my hope that you will find this coming season of BABYLON 5 to be that show. Because it isn't an either/or, sum/zero game...one can watch, and enjoy, BABYLON 5 and STAR TREK equally, for different reasons, since their approaches are very different. And this is the perfect time to come into B5, since these episodes encapsulize a lot of background, and will take you quickly into the background, the universe and the characters. Which is why, I'm pleased to announce, Majel Barrett will be appearing as a guest star on BABYLON 5 this coming season...a gesture of support from her, and a gesture of respect from all of us at B5. The deal has been signed, it's a done deal...she'll be appearing in episode #9, "Point of No Return," as Emperor Turhan's third wife, Lady Morella. We're very much looking forward to her appearance in the B5 universe. For all these and other reasons, I hope you'll give BABYLON 5 a try. jms (P.S. For the Internet gang...please don't repost this on the 'net until after Jeannette has broken the news; I promised I'd let her make the announcement there, after she heard about it at Wolf 359 in the UK, and agreed to keep this secret for the last week at my request.) Subj: B5/ST News Section: Babylon 5 To: All Thursday, September 28, 1995 12:46:12 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#348452 Suggest you check out the "Major B5/ST News" thread over on the ST forum. Majel Barrett Roddenberry has signed to do a guest appearance on B5's third s eason as a gesture of mutual respect. ms Subj: Major B5/ST News Section: Star Trek To: Mr. Laser Beam, Thursday, September 28, 1995 1:20:16 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#348928 Actually, we make as sure as possible that every episode contains the information required to follow it; any needed background is restated or contained within the episode. You can see some, all or any other number of episodes and be able to follow them...in some countries, they're running the show *completely* out of order, except by season overall, and it seems to be doing okay. jms Subj: Major B5/ST News Section: Star Trek To: Ted Wilcox, Thursday, September 28, 1995 1:20:14 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#348927 "He was nasty to the people in the crowd who tried to support ST. He literally tried to make them look like idiots and talked them down." I'm sorry, Lisa...I hate to say you're exaggerating, or being less than truthful, but this never happened. I don't know if you're remembering it this way out of some defensiveness, but this never happened, and there were plenty of other people at that panel who can confirm this. I have made it a very deliberate point, in any public appearance, not to put down *anyone* for watching ST. Never have, never will. I don't know if you're attributing comments made by others to me, or simply going off your emotions of that panel, but it never happened. I know that Shane Shellenbarger (noted SF fan/writer based in Arizona) was there that day videotaping the panel, and I'll drop him a note asking to check the tape and verify this. (I also remember very distinctly at that panel that I kept trying to change the topic to non-B5 shows, but kept getting yanked back to it by the other panelists and the audience...in large part because a) I wanted some info on the other shows, and b) I didn't want to blow the info that I'd come to use at the big presentation at a small panel, thus eliminating any sense of drama and becoming redundent.) jms Subj: Major B5/ST News Section: Star Trek To: Ellen Fuscellaro, Thursday, September 28, 1995 11:50:09 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#349855 Ellen: thanks. As for the episode in question, it's entitled "Point of No Return," and the role of Lady Morella was written specifically for Majel. I hustled to get it finished prior to the Wolf 359 convention, where I gave her a copy of the script. She read it overnight, and fell in love with the story, the character, and what it was going to do with and to the BABYLON 5 universe (to wit: start turning it upside down). Next morning, she said "I'm in." And she is. Yes, it's a jms script, and is one of the most pivotal of this season, episode #9, which with the one before it, "Messages from Earth," builds to a major turning point in #10, so it should be a very popular, intense and memorable episode in every respect. jms Subj: Major B5/ST News Section: Star Trek To: Anne Davenport, Thursday, September 28, 1995 11:50:10 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#349856 I *think* B5 is shown in San Diego on Saturdays or Sundays around 5 or 6; not entirely sure. Likely somebody else here who lives down there can give you the info; also, I believe there's a station list in the library which may have this info. jms Subj: Major B5/ST News Section: Star Trek To: Charles Olsen, Thursday, September 28, 1995 11:50:13 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#349857 Thanks. To me, emotion is the *core* of drama...an episode, a story, should leave you feeling something...make you worry, or think, or get mad, or laugh. So the stories tend to proceed very much from an emotional core. Thanks for jumping in. jms Subj: B5/ST News Section: Babylon 5 To: Jeannette Fornadel, Thursday, September 28, 1995 4:21:27 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#349188 She'll be playing a Centauri female, the Lady Morella, Emperor Turhan's third wife; also a prophetess and seer. jms Subj: B5/ST News Section: Babylon 5 To: Jeannette Fornadel, Thursday, September 28, 1995 9:34:22 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#349702 I often work on more than one thing at the same time; on B5, in addition to the producing jobs, I'm outlining one script, writing another, editing a third.... Prior to B5 (which is all-consuming), I'd often be in somewhat lower pressure jobs (standard writer/producer, not exec), and would be writing the episodes, plus a novel, plus stories, plus a screenplay, plus other stuff, all pretty much at the same time. The key, though, is to FINISH what you write. Otherwise it's useless. jms P.S. You misspelled "weird." Subj: 3rd Season opener... Section: Babylon 5 To: Peter David, Thursday, September 28, 1995 11:50:07 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#349854 I won't comment on a joke I told you first.... We must now go to the WGA and arbitrate this. jms Subj: Major B5/ST News Section: Star Trek To: Jeannette Fornadel, 76371,3057 Saturday, September 30, 1995 1:03:23 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#351142 Yeah, "Messages from Earth" came out quite well as a script; can't wait for it to roll before the cameras. As it happens, episodes 8, 9 and 10 ("Messages," "Point of No Return," and "Severed Dreams") are kind of a triptych, linked at the hip and designed to pull together/blow out several major hanging plot threads once and for all, and send the show spinning off in an entirely different direction. The hardest one to write was 10, because it's a very emotional episode for the characters, and for me. And next is #11, which I begin to write this weekend...and #11, year three, is the *exact* midpoint of the 5 year story. This is the hump, the dead center of the journey. It took so long to get here, and suddenly we're halfway finished. jms Subj: B5/ST News Section: Babylon 5 To: Jeannette Fornadel, 76371,3057 Saturday, September 30, 1995 12:43:07 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#351131 Nothing's crammed; it all fits where it fits. jms Subj: 3rd Season opener... Section: Babylon 5 To: Anne L. Warner, 71513,1177 Saturday, September 30, 1995 12:43:04 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#351130 As Fred Allen said, "Imitation is the sincerest form of television." jms Subj: Major B5/ST News Section: Star Trek To: Colin Knowles, 72152,201 Friday, September 29, 1995 1:16:13 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#350385 Re: "No Mrs. Troi on B5," I remember the comments when we mentioned for the first time that we'd have Walter Koenig on the show. "Oh, lord, Chekov on B5." Then they met his character, Mr. Bester...and nobody said that no more. He instantly became one of our more popular, interesting characters. The role Majel's going to do for us is very different than what she's done before...otherwise, what's the point? jms Subj: Major B5/ST News Section: Star Trek To: Bette A. Loukakis, 102513,3065 Saturday, September 30, 1995 1:03:24 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#351143 All that can be done is to write your local station. My hunch, though, is that this will settle down when the new episodes come on; reruns they invaribaly mess with. jms Subj: Old Messages Section: Babylon 5 To: Michael Detlefsen, 70156,1636 Saturday, September 30, 1995 12:43:03 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#351129 Thanks; yeah, that show was a hoot. So was HOUR 25 in general. But in time it just became too much of a conflict of interest. I couldn't keep doing a show about SF, including media, and make a product FOR SF media. jms Subj: Wolf 359 Update 1995/96 Section: Babylon 5 To: BRIAN COONEY, 100551,1656 Saturday, September 30, 1995 1:03:27 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#351144 Ah, Brian...now that you've appeared in public, allow me to give you one good-natured, but quite solid thump to the head. Remember when we were leaving the hotel the morning after the convention, and you and your associate gave Kathryn and myself two wrapped gift boxes? Well, as you recall, we were in a hurry, so we thanked you politely, put them in our bags (carry on only, no check through), and hurried to the waiting cab. We got to the airport, and were about to go through the scanners, when we remembered the boxes. First rule of international travel: no matter WHO gives you a package, always open it before going on board, because they'll ask you. So we opened the two boxes. Which contained letter openers. About half a foot long. Reasonably sharp. In other words....KNIVES! We were about to go into an international airline with KNIVES in our carry-on bags. Do you know, Brian...can you *imagine* the hassle those knives cost us on the flight? The conferences with security, the long explanations, the checking and cross-checking of passports, the knives taken away by security, then returned in the plane later...then going through the whole thing all over again at the stop-over in Chicago...having to provide passport and other ID, getting a Chicago airline security person who happened to know the show to vouch for me and sign the knives back over to us.... We had such *splendid* things to say about you during all this, Brian. You should've heard them. We were half-tempted to leave the bloody things at the terminal. You may want to tell your people next time to THINK before they give someone a package for international travel. I can just imagine what would've happened if we HADN'T checked the boxes before going through the scanners. "Are you carrying any weapons or any kind?" "Nope." "Then would you care to explain these items, sir?" CLANG! They'd throw away the key. That said...if you're still up for having me at the Encounter, depending on terms and times, I'm up for it. But please...no parting gifts.... jms Subj: Midpoint Section: Babylon 5 To: Elyse M. Grasso, 70302,3304 Saturday, September 30, 1995 1:04:03 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#351145 Yeah, I just noted that elsewhere...at episode 11, we're over the hump. Strange to think it'll be over in just another couple years. jms Subj: Major B5/ST News Section: Star Trek To: TazDevil, 102671,2161 Sunday, October 01, 1995 4:23:15 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#352360 Except, of course, that there wasn't "a quick directional change by offering a new enemy" (in second season) because that enemy - the Shadows -- was in there right from the git-go, in season one...in "Chrysalis," which we shot #12 even though it was aired #22 as our cliffhanger, and in "Signs and Portents," short shortly thereafter. So it was always there, and has always been there...they're the primary antagonist, in a philosophical sense, throughout a major part of the story. "...and the mutation of another primary character." This, also, was in the outline of the story from the very first episode onward; it's *important* to the story, and wasn't done for any of the reasons you cite. (The only change here was that Delenn was originally planned to be a male character, if androgynous, which emerged female from the chrysalis, but we couldn't get the male-altered voice to sound right, so this was dropped, though we kept the more-human aspects.) You seem to determine "the maturity of the show" by not offering real or substantive changes; but this show is *about* change, and the choices we make that create those changes. There's this notion that if someone's the captain, he has to stay the captain all the time; which is the element that many ST fans criticize in TNG as to why Riker stayed first-officer for seven years, which would kill any other career. So it's not a reset, it's an advancement of the storyline...look at Londo as we first saw him, and now; ditto for G'Kar...we're talking here major, substantive changes. That aspect is at the very core of the story. You really can't look at this as you would a regular episodic drama in that one respect; "Oh, they just changed characters, so they're just starting all over again." That's not the intent at all. "the show (TNG) stayed with its basic core of characters and followed a similar structure...B5 episodes seem to detract from this formula." Which is precisely the intent. I don't like formula, or predictability, or to lock down a structure and never change it...that's not life, and I try to make this show emulate life. People change, die, get promoted, demoted, transferred, corrupted, redeemed...change, for me, is the *drama* of the story; to stay static and unchanging the reverse of that. It's *process*, and I find process fascinating. "I guess patience is a virtue." Well, I have to say that if you're waiting for B5 to settle down into a predictable, unchanging formula, you're going to have a long wait ahead of you, because that's not in the cards. The changes and developments only pick up greater speed and ramifications the deeper we go into the storyline. jms (PS...as for "all or some of the credit" for the new SF shows going to ST, much as one might wish that were true, it isn't. Otherwise you'd've had a lot more of them in the last 30 years. I've been in meetings with network and studio execs, and one reason it took us 5 years to sell B5 was because, as we were told verbatim, "There's no market in TV for SF other than Trek; the market won't sustain more than one SF show like that; people don't want SF, they want ST." It was used, repeatedly, to justify why you couldn't do these kinds of shows...and I'd point out that B5 is the FIRST SF show in 30 years, since ST, to be set in the far future, with mankind as a spacefaring civilization, and with a fully worked out cosmology of other races, politics, and governments...and particularly one of the very few to go past two seasons in general. Now you're getting more SF on the air because the networks have finally seen that ST does NOT have a death-grip on TV SF, and other shows, like B5 and X-Files *can* survive. (Certainly it was never ST's intent for this to happen, and I'm not saying that it is or was; but this has definitely been the result, and the ST shadow has been something for other SF shows to overcome; it has not made the process easier, only more difficult. How many American-made space SF series have gone past 3 seasons other than ST? It's after 4 seasons that the networks/studios begin making back their money, and since the answer to that is "virtually none," you begin to see why they've been reluctant to do more than stick their toes in over the last three decades.) Subj: B5/ST News Section: Babylon 5 To: Jeannette Fornadel, 76371,3057 Saturday, September 30, 1995 10:49:14 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#352249 I don't tend to leave out things in my stories, particularly B5, as much as morph them into something else if I feel it'd work better a different way. For any writer to be so hidebound to stick to every single tiny element of the outline, once one is at the script stage (or the novel writing stage) is foolish, and I can't think of anyone who doesn't diverge to one degree or another. For me, an outline is basically a series of directions on a map; get here, turn *right*, take highway 407 to here, get off and proceed south. But if you get into a part of your trip, and suddenly see that there's a fork in the road you hadn't anticipated that'll cut hours off your trip, you'd be foolish not to take it. Non-writers never understand that; they only see the work when it's done, not the process, which is alien to them. If you make a course correction, you have to make sure everything still tracks with your goal, natch, or risk getting lost along the way...but to the "experience" part of your question...that's the instinct that keeps you ever heading toward your destination. That comes only with time. And I've been at this a LONG time. jms Subj: Wolf 359 Update 1995/96 Section: Babylon 5 To: SysOp Dupa T. Parrot, 70040,104 Saturday, September 30, 1995 10:49:17 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#352250 I had exactly 90 minutes in Chicago, 87 of which were spent explaining to security people why I was carrying these knives in my carry-on luggage.... jms Subj: Midpoint Section: Babylon 5 To: Jeannette Fornadel, 76371,3057 Saturday, September 30, 1995 10:49:23 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#352251 Well, of course, in the best case scenario, after the series has run its course, the theory is to try and get *out* of TeeVee and back into novels and plays. jms Subj: Harlan 'tooned Section: Babylon 5 To: Ray Pelzer, 70475,1263 Saturday, September 30, 1995 10:31:26 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#352240 Harlan is a *huge* fan of Pinky and the Brain. As it happens, I know the actor who does one of the two voices (I can never remember if he's Pinky or the Brain...I think the Brain...Maurice LeMarche), and had him call Harlan as his character. They did competing Brains. jms Subj: Majel Barrett on B5 Section: Star Trek To: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644Saturday, September 30, 1995 10:31:31 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#352241 Thanks. What's compelling, for me, is that the reason the original Star Trek worked so well is that the actors did a great job portraying those characters...and ended up becoming tagged as being those characters, so in the long run were hurt because they couldn't get other work. But they were able to make these characters work so well *because they were terrific actors*. So if you give a Walter Koenig or others another kind of role, they'll do just as excellent a job with that as with what went before. So the part for Majel will, as stated, be quite different. Glad you like the final four; "Inquisitor" is also very much a favorite of ours, and even though it has far fewer effects than the episodes on either side of it, lots of folks here consider it possibly our best episode. And yes, the impact of "Twilight" is pretty much what you describe...just sort of a stunned silence, and lots of people have said they didn't want to talk about it for a while afterward, being very moved by it. Re: the decision to hold back the final 4...creatively, it was a pain in the ass, because I wanted them out in July, so people could consider the implications. But WB felt that it would give us a leg up on the third season debut, let us build some momenum with 9 eps in a row rather than just 6-7. There's an element of truth to that. So I guess it's a wash.... jms Subj: Majel Barrett on B5 Section: Star Trek To: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644Sunday, October 01, 1995 4:23:05 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#352358 That's weird...I'd sent this to Mary Taylor, and it ended up being sent to myself...I think I used a wrong commmand in Tapcis.... jms Subj: Origins of Hokey Pokey Section: Babylon 5 To: John M. Kahane, 102664,773 Saturday, September 30, 1995 10:49:02 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#352252 <"The Hokey Pokey" dates back to slavery; is its use in "A Voice in the Wilderness" related to that?> I've actually heard several variations on what the song means; my guess is that the real origins have been so reinterpreted and made-up over time that we may never know the actual basis...what you heard is as valid as just about anything else. jms ******************************************************* * SPOILERS FOR FINAL FOUR SEASON-TWO EPISODES FOLLOW. * ******************************************************* Subj: Section: Babylon 5 To: Dinie Kloosterboer, Friday, September 01, 1995 1:13:06 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#318705 Well, they're organic technology, so they can feel, but only after a fashion. jms Subj: <> Section: Babylon 5 To: Rae Augenstein, Friday, September 01, 1995 11:01:18 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#319177 It's an area for helping secure ships while being offloaded into the zero-G cargo bay right behind it. jms Subj: <> Section: Babylon 5 To: Robert Miller, Sunday, September 03, 1995 7:20:02 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#320983 Repairs will be visible being done in the first episode. jms Subj: Section: Babylon 5 To: Daniel M. Upton, Sunday, September 03, 1995 7:20:04 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#320984 The Vorlons aren't yet ready; they can't take on the shadows by themselves, and must bring together other forces. And in each case, re: Kosh, what they saw was not the *head* of their belief, but in essence a supporting being of light; it wasn't G'Quon, but G'Lan that G'Kar saw, which was a being that story tells us served G'Quon. So you wouldn't see the head of the religion, since there can only be one of those, and lots of Vorlons, but each tends to have a supporting cast, for lack of a better term. Those are what we perceive the vorlons to be. And remember, we didn't see any other human's POV of Kosh but Sheridan's. jms Subj: Section: Babylon 5 To: Tom Knudsen, 72347,1626 Tuesday, September 05, 1995 1:33:09 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#322589 No, she wouldn't. Again, you don't see the *top* of the echelon of any belief, because there can be only one of those; it's the servants of light you see (and even the Old Testament makes reference to such things). jms Subj: Section: Babylon 5 To: Eric Baker, 76600,2605 Wednesday, September 06, 1995 5:36:27 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#324201 Orson Bean. jms Subj: Section: Babylon 5 To: Michael Zitaglio, Friday, September 22, 1995 11:14:10 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#341404 Thanks. Yes, there's a WW II parallel, not in terms of justifying one or the other -- one can make compelling arguments for and against the use of atomic weapons to close the war, but I leave it to those who were there to have made the right decision, because they had to live with it -- but in terms of strategy and wartime logic. jms