#: 408463 S5/Babylon 5: General 01-Dec-95 13:01:12 Sb: #408316- Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644 To: Joe Salemi [ZD Net] 72631,23 (X) Thanks; eventually I'll get this writing thing figured out.... jms #: 408464 S5/Babylon 5: General 01-Dec-95 13:01:13 Sb: #408345-B5 in Hong Kong!! Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644 To: John Yuen 72466,1621 That's great. My best wishes to all the new viewers down there. jms #: 408465 S6/Babylon 5: Upcoming 01-Dec-95 13:01:15 Sb: #408420-# Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644 To: Colin Glassey 72370,743 I'm not sure I presented it positively; I just presented it, didn't make a moral judgement about it. Some of those in the show did, but then we had Edward saying it *isn't* moral, that it's a monstrous thing to do. Like any form of punishment it can seem fair to those not facing it. jms #: 408466 S5/Babylon 5: General 01-Dec-95 13:01:18 Sb: #408428-#Rod Serling Story III Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644 To: Shelley Marshall 70751,2114 (X) Actually, I just posted it the other day...rather than posting it again, if someone here could point out the message ID number, that would be better. Nothing's more essentially boring than telling the same story twice at a party.... jms #: 408653 S5/Babylon 5: General 01-Dec-95 18:31:45 Sb: #From jms: info Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644 To: All I need a little help here from US netters, 'cause something strikes me as a bit wonky. I've been getting the market-by-market ratings reports, and just today I sat down to really study them, and something doesn't track. The market report doesn't seem to reflect where I *think* the shows are currently being aired. So to the favor...if you're in one of these areas, let me know if the time given here is DIFFERENT FROM the time it actually plays in your area. (This seems especially curious to me since the report shows WTTY Indianapolis up through the past week, and it was my understanding that they had temporarily dropped the show until WNDY picked it up.) New York Fri 8P; Chicago TH 7P; Philadelphia Sat 8P; San Francisco Wed 8P; Boston Sat 8P; Wash DC Thr 8P; Dallas Wed 8P; Detroit Tue 8P; Atlanta Sun 8P; Houston Wed 7P; Cleveland Sat 8P; Seattle Wed 8P; Tampa Wed 8P; Minneapolis Wed 7P; Miami Fri 8P; St Louis Wed 12M; Sacramento Sun 8P; Phoenix Wed 7P; Denver Sat 5P; Pittsburgh Sat 8P; Baltimore Wed 9P; Hartford Sat 5P; Orlando Tue 10P; San Diego Sat 4P; Indianapolis Sun 9P; Portland Wed 8P; Milwaukee Sun 11P; Kansas City Wed 8P; Charlotte Sun 11P; Cincinnati Sat 2P; San Antonio Wed 7P; W. Palm Beach Thr 8P. Thanks for any help on this. jms [NOTE: There have been dozens of replies for just about every area JMS listed -- BKB] #: 408658 S5/Babylon 5: General 01-Dec-95 18:38:12 Sb: #408561-Kosh-ersize Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644 To: Bob Alberti 70764,410 He probably looks a lot like me.... jms #: 408659 S5/Babylon 5: General 01-Dec-95 18:38:13 Sb: #408564-#Video Toaster Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644 To: Roger St. Cyr 73774,3303 Hey, I barely understand this stuff myself.... Besides, I hear they've exported all the software over to DOS platforms anyway, which don't use toasters. jms #: 408661 S6/Babylon 5: Upcoming 01-Dec-95 18:38:15 Sb: #408588-Were are the Shadows Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644 To: WADE R. AIKEN 102012,1764 This question will be dealt with in "Ship of Tears," around mid-season. jms #: 408723 S5/Babylon 5: General 01-Dec-95 20:38:27 Sb: #408680-B-5 Action Figures Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644 To: Les P. George 76162,1250 No, there are currently no plans for B5 action figures. jms #: 408724 S5/Babylon 5: General 01-Dec-95 20:38:27 Sb: #408672-From jms: info Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644 To: Tim Sullivan 76210,1066 Les said in another message it plays in Atlanta on Saturday at 11, not 8. Which is correct? jms #: 408725 S5/Babylon 5: General 01-Dec-95 20:38:28 Sb: #408685-From jms: info Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644 To: Les P. George 76162,1250 Tim in another message said Saturday at 8 for Atlanta; which is the current time? jms #: 408726 S5/Babylon 5: General 01-Dec-95 20:38:30 Sb: #408719-#From jms: info Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644 To: paul wood 102710,3071 Okay, follow-up...was there a period in the new episodes period (October 9 - Present) when WTTY *wasn't* showing the episodes, and it wasn't being shown at all in Indianapolis? I'd thought there was a gap there. jms #: 408756 S5/Babylon 5: General 01-Dec-95 21:14:24 Sb: #408653-#New Twilight Zone Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644 (X) Yes, I was involved with Twilight Zone v2.5, the 30 additional episodes produced for syndication, as story editor and primary writer, doing 11 of the total 30 episodes, plus 1 for the prior network run on CBS. It was, all things considered, a great experience. jms #: 408833 S6/Babylon 5: Upcoming 02-Dec-95 01:00:07 Sb: #408776-<> Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644 To: Toni Muller 75223,1575 Thanks. It's definitely the strongest of the first four, I think. And Pat is nothing less than terrific. If there was any sense of hesitation in her appearance in "Divided Loyalties," it can be attributed to the fact that she had just given birth to her son something like 4-6 weeks prior, if that much, and this was pretty much her first day back in the saddle. jms #: 408834 S5/Babylon 5: General 02-Dec-95 01:00:10 Sb: #408778-the year of the war Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644 To: Bob Danielson 72614,737 (X) I think it's a bit broader than that. jms #: 408835 S6/Babylon 5: Upcoming 02-Dec-95 01:00:11 Sb: #408828-# Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644 To: Jon Wolf 76103,2541 (X) We established in "The Quality of Mercy" that the equipment to handle mindwipes is there on-station, locked away until mandated by a court. A court assigned telepath is usually brought in to do a preliminary scan before it happens and to verify the wipe immediately afterward. In that same episode, Talia was used only because a court teep wasn't available. jms #: 408839 S6/Babylon 5: Upcoming 02-Dec-95 01:07:36 Sb: #408812-# Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644 To: Burhaan Ahmad 75754,3065 (X) "It's pretty obvious, really." Heh, heh.... "Look, over there, an elephant...." jms #: 408857 S5/Babylon 5: General 02-Dec-95 02:15:14 Sb: #408848-#B5 Screen Saver Arrived! Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644 To: Burhaan Ahmad 75754,3065 They're BAF files to include the wav files that accompany each and every image. There's also a large number of bmp files for wallpaper, though. jms Subj: B5 Screen Saver Arrived! Section: Babylon 5: General To: John McAuley Sunday, December 03, 1995 12:52:07 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski #409386 Dunno about the UK availability; someone here has the 800 phone number, which can be used for ordering, though. jms Subj: Section: Babylon 5: Upcoming To: JOHN GRAVES Sunday, December 03, 1995 12:52:08 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski #409387 No, the other brothers aren't mind-wiped. You're mis-remembering "The Quality of Mercy." Telepaths do NOT perform mindwipes. A court appointed teep makes a scan before and after for purposes of comparison, but the wipe is done by a device held under lock and key until ordered out by a court. The only reason Talia did it in QoM was because they couldn't get a court teep there in the required time (which was also stated in the episode). So here the court appointed telepath would have come and gone by now. jms Subj: Garibaldi's arm Section: Babylon 5: General To: Chas T Freund, Sunday, December 03, 1995 12:52:13 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski #409389 Weird thing is that Claudia broke her foot in an episode where I mentioned her foot (the same one, btw), and Jerry broke his arm in the same episode where I have someone say to him, "What, you've got a broken arm or something?" Very, very weird...I've been asked *not* to make any further reference to body parts of our various cast members, and I'm *definitely* not having anything bad happen to any guest cast named Dick.... jms Subj: Section: Babylon 5: Upcoming To: Larry Rosenblum Sunday, December 03, 1995 1:13:03 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski #409395 They were in a pretty distant part of DownBelow, and in B5 you don't have trains or cars; there's just the transport tubes, and the central core shuttle. Even if they gave a damn about what happens to lurkers in DownBelow (and they generally don't), it would still take at least 5-10 minutes to get a trauma team down there, and he was dead within about 3. (I was once mugged half a mile from a police station and a mile from a hospital; took 'em 30 minutes to get there.) Sheridan and Theo didn't *discover* that Edward was using the computer; Theo was concerned that he was looking into it in general. And if they had blocked the computer in his quarters, he would have been able to access one somewhere else. They didn't know he'd actually done it until after the fact. jms Subj: B5 Screen Saver Arrived! Section: Babylon 5: General To: Burhaan Ahmad Tuesday, December 05, 1995 12:48:10 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski #410841 {regarding B5 screen saver compatibility with win95} Apparently the program *is* win95 compatible, at least that's what it says, I haven't yet upgraded, waiting a) for the bugs to get worked out, and b) until I have the time required for the learning curve of installation. jms Subj: B5 Screen Saver Arrived! Section: Babylon 5: General To: John Sheridan Tuesday, December 05, 1995 7:48:09 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski #411367 : >>The learning curve for installing WIN95 is pretty short Joe. >>It's getting all of your software to run *after* you install WIN95 >>is where the learning curve can become quite long....... Yeah, that's the part that worries me. jms Subj: B5 Screen Saver Arrived! Section: Babylon 5: General To: John McAuley Wednesday, December 06, 1995 2:12:12 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski #411911 {regarding the losing of JMS's hair, due to pulling it out over win95} Funny. Very funny. Amerikanski humor. We bomb now. jms Subj: B5 Screen Saver Arrived! Section: Babylon 5: General To: Scott Withrow Wednesday, December 06, 1995 2:00:23 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski #411663 {regarding a Mac version of the B5 screen saver} As I understand it, the company wants to come out with a Mac version in a re-release of the program sometime in the spring. It's just hitting the market and already it's doing quite well. jms Subj: Submitted for.... Section: Babylon 5: General To: Rae Augenstein Sunday, December 03, 1995 12:52:10 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski #409388 Don't know if the new TZs are playing anywhere, actually.... jms Subj: Garibaldi's arm Section: Babylon 5: General To: Elyse M. Grasso Tuesday, December 05, 1995 1:11:19 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski #410873 {regarding rewriting due to broken arm} Actually just took a line or two to cover it, given what happened in the previous episode. jms Subj: From jms: info Section: Babylon 5: General To: Steve Ruud Monday, December 04, 1995 1:54:03 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski #410254 {regarding Tuesday 10pm time slot} This doesn't help me unless I know where it's airing; can you tell me *where* it's airing in this time slot? Thanks. jms Subj: Vorlons and Shadows Section: Babylon 5: General To: Gerald Himmelein, 100417,3703 Sunday, December 03, 1995 8:43:27 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#409877 {regarding Vorlons and Shadows being genetically related} Nope. jms Subj: B5 Questions Section: Babylon 5: General To: T.N.Tumbusch Monday, December 04, 1995 1:54:04 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski #410255 No, no limit on jumps, but you tend to ride the beacon from one jump gate to the next to avoid getting lost. jms Subj: Section: Babylon 5: General To: David Belt Tuesday, December 05, 1995 1:11:05 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski #410866 No, showing a tape to other folks is perfectly legal as long as no admission is charged. So you're welcome to do so, and welcome in general. jms Subj: AETR: B5 Promos Section: Babylon 5: Upcoming To: Trent K. Johnson Tuesday, December 05, 1995 1:11:07 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski #410868 I don't know, but I would imagine WB has something.... jms Subj: Hubble Photos Section: Babylon 5: General To: Rick Shelton [FL] Tuesday, December 05, 1995 1:11:13 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski #410870 Actually I already downloaded the M16 shots from the Hubble web page, glorious stuff. jms Subj: Hubble Photos Section: Babylon 5: General To: Walter F. Hern Tuesday, December 05, 1995 7:48:14 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski #411369 {regarding crescent shaped ships flying near B5} I think those are the ones attacking a Narn cruiser, so they're Centauri mid-size attack craft. jms Subj: Hubble Photos Section: Babylon 5: General To: Philip Hornsey Wednesday, December 06, 1995 2:00:25 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski #411664 {regarding number of Narn casualties} Actually, yes, there are millions of dead; I think that either Vir or Na'Far gets it right in "Strife," and the other misstates the figure in the same episode. jms Subj: Hubble Photos Section: Babylon 5: General To: Philip Hornsey, 74053,2101 Wednesday, December 06, 1995 2:12:07 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#411909 {regarding the question of anyone saying "millions dead"} Just went back and checked the script; Ta'Lon refers to millions in his meeting with Sheridan. (Knew I wasn't nuts....) jms Subj: B5 Screensaver Section: Babylon 5: General To: Jason Wong Tuesday, December 05, 1995 1:11:14 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski #410871 Actually it's hitting stores now. (And there may be a Mac version after the first of the year.) jms Subj: Bill Mumy's show on Nick Section: Babylon 5: General To: Shelley Marshall Tuesday, December 05, 1995 1:11:17 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski #410872 No, there's no conflict at all between our schedule and theirs; he's producing it from here, not acting in it. jms Subj: Minbari Souls Section: Babylon 5: General To: Sharon Foster Tuesday, December 05, 1995 1:52:00 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski #410906 See my other note here about souls, this may clarify a bit. jms Subj: B5 interruptions Section: Babylon 5: General To: Raymond Chuang Tuesday, December 05, 1995 7:48:06 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski #411365 That stuff is entirely in the hands of the local stations. jms Subj: B5 Con#1 & Latvia Section: Babylon 5: General To: Mark Koro Tuesday, December 05, 1995 7:48:11 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski #411368 With Doug...always worry. jms Subj: Section: Babylon 5: Upcoming To: Philip Hornsey Monday, December 04, 1995 2:10:22 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski #410059 There are templates used, with some variations. In a government monitored situation (which this wasn't, they thought he was dead), mindwipes are kept in servile positions, not allowed to achieve, as that would be a kind of reward. Those guys you see along the roadsides picking up trash and putting them in bright orange bags? Mindwipes. jms Subj: Section: Babylon 5: Upcoming To: Paul Maskens (OMRI UK) Tuesday, December 05, 1995 1:11:05 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski #410867 Man has been on Mars for just under 100 years. jms Subj: Section: Babylon 5: Upcoming To: Robert Miller Tuesday, December 05, 1995 1:11:11 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski #410869 One caveat here overall...it's been complimented and commented upon that I would expose a belief system in my show which I do not personally agree with (presenting the face of religion even though I'm an atheist). That I could be this tolerant is apparently praiseworthy. I would just suggest that at some point, when and if I should offer a point of view from another perspective, which one watching might not personally agree with, the same tolerance is given, since the virtue of tolerating divergent attitudes has been deemed praiseworthy...and is something ever to strive for.... jms Subj: Section: Babylon 5: Upcoming To: Daena Hinkelman, 73554,1731 Tuesday, December 05, 1995 1:52:02 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#410907 "The themes of faith and forgiveness were worthy of a theologian. Are you sure there isn't something you'd like to tell us?" Never shoot pool at a place called Pop's. Never eat food at a place called Mom's. The difference between horses and humans is that they're too smart to be on what *we'll* do. And I have lost people. Too many people. Lost them to chance, violence, brutality beyond belief; I've seen all the senseless, ignoble acts of "god's noblest creature." And I am incapable of forgiving. My feelings are with G'Kar, hand sliced open, saying of the drops of blood flowing from that open wound, "How do you apologize to them?" "I can't." "Then I cannot forgive." As an atheist, I believe that all life is unspeakably precious, because it's only here for a brief moment, a flare against the dark, and then it's gone forever. No afterlives, no second chances, no backsies. So there can be nothing crueler than the abuse, destruction or wanton taking of a life. It is a crime no less than burning the Mona Lisa, for there is always just one of each. So I cannot forgive. Which makes the notion of writing a character who CAN forgive momentarily attractive...because it allows me to explore in great detail something of which I am utterly incapable. I cannot fly, so I would write of birds and starships and kites; I cannot play an instrument, so I would write of composers and dancers; and I cannot forgive, so I would write of priests and monks and minbari.... jms Subj: Section: Babylon 5: Upcoming To: John C. Brobston/PRCT Wednesday, December 06, 1995 2:12:04 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski #411907 {regarding when JMS might publish a book on poetry} Never; my poetry really sucks.... jms Subj: Section: Babylon 5: Upcoming To: Mara K. Malovany Sunday, December 03, 1995 4:40:01 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski #409727 And, as I noted in a message just now, maybe he thinks that they might be telling the truth, that maybe something *is* going on. jms Subj: Section: Babylon 5: Upcoming To: Mark D. Smith Sunday, December 03, 1995 5:48:19 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski #409750 {regarding a connection between the Vorlons and our religions} What, you really expect an answer....? jms Subj: Section: Babylon 5: Upcoming To: Joe Salemi [ZD Net], 72631,23 Sunday, December 03, 1995 4:39:27 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#409726 And bear in mind that it's never just a common sense "oh, these guys are lying to me from Nightwatch, they're the bad guys." It's always couched in such a way that it sounds like it *might* be a real concern. That was how McCarthy and others terrorized this country during the 1950s. There were plenty of people who really *believed* that the Reds had infiltrated every aspect of society, as well as those who might've had doubts, but figured that maybe where there's smoke there IS fire. jms Subj: Section: Babylon 5: Upcoming To: Jon Wolf, 76103,2541 Wednesday, December 06, 1995 2:11:12 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#411666 Re: mindwipes no longer considered people...this really is not that much different from prison inmates, who are given numbers, have no real civil rights, and are treated like cattle. (And many of them deserve it; a few deserve worse; a few deserve better.) jms Subj: Section: Babylon 5: Upcoming To: Philip Hornsey, 74053,2101 Wednesday, December 06, 1995 2:12:06 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#411908 On one level, I'm in favor of the death penalty. I think that if someone takes your life deliberately, they sacrifice their own in return. Some might say it's not a deterrent in general...but it sure as heck deters that specific person. *On the other hand*...I take that position mainly because nowadays, when someone is sentenced to life, "life" means about 15 years at best. If life imprisonment MEANT life inprisonment, then I'd happily go for that option above the death penalty (and that certainly does leave room for verdict corrections). jms Subj: Section: Babylon 5: Upcoming To: Greg Munsill Wednesday, December 06, 1995 2:12:09 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski #411910 I just put the mindwipe issue out there, I didn't make a moral judgment about it...in 2260, that's what's done. I just report the news.... jms Subj: Section: Babylon 5: Upcoming To: Carol Williams Sunday, December 03, 1995 8:51:09 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski #409882 {regarding Christ's repenting for the sins of others} Carol: *exactly* the right point. In his earlier talk about Gethsemane, Edward mentioned that old JC had to go through all that to atone for the sins of others; when he sees Theo later, through the grate, he uses the same notion of atonement for the acts of another, in this case, *his* other. The logical parallel parses pretty closely. jms Subj: Section: Babylon 5: Upcoming To: Carol Williams Sunday, December 03, 1995 8:51:08 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski #409881 Yes, B5 has a court system, authorized by the Earth Alliance Judicial System, to conduct trials of this sort (which we've seen before). And in this case, again, there wasn't a trial per se as Ivanova noted; he pleaded guilty from the start, quite proud of what he'd done. So all that remained was the sentencing. jms Subj: Minbari Religion Section: Babylon 5: Upcoming To: Scott Miller Tuesday, December 05, 1995 1:11:21 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski #410874 If there were just one pure and unchanged unvirsal soul running through everything, there wouldn't be any point in breaking itself into pieces and investing itself in different species/people...it would just keep running into identical versions of itself. So the soul form in Minbari is different from the soul form in humans; also, in their view, having been civilized longer than us, their soul form is more elevated, more evolved...and thus the pices are more precious, to them, and to the Soul Hunters. jms Subj: Admiral's Promise Section: Babylon 5: Upcoming To: Charles Agius Wednesday, December 06, 1995 2:00:18 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski #411661 Apology accepted. We move on. jms Subj: B5 Screen Saver Arrived! Section: Babylon 5: General To: SysOp Dupa T. Parrot Thursday, December 07, 1995 2:35:16 AM From: J.Michael Straczynski #412456 Yes, the .avi files play full-motion video and music/sound effects. Check your setup menu to make sure you've selected those files, and that they're in the directory, and that they've been marked to play. jms Subj: Section: Babylon 5: Upcoming To: John C. Brobston/PRCT Thursday, December 07, 1995 2:35:27 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski #412460 {regarding athiest vs. agnostic} If all the things you describe were suddenly to happen, sure, I'd have to give my position serious thought, while turning down Stephen Hawking's invitations to dance and dodging the newly revived dead. Now, when is this supposed to happen? 'Cause it hasn't happened yet, and gives no indication of happening anytime soon. Which is, really, the point. Let me try a different take on this whole agnostic/atheist thing, to see if I can better communicate my position. My agent calls and says, "Listen, the BBC called, and they're interested in signing you up for a two year documentary on the mating habits of clams." To which I respond, "Great, but I'll believe it when it happens." I do not say that the contract may, or may not exist; it either is, or it isn't, and my actions proceed from those two options. Until I get the contract actually in my hand, it doesn't exist. Until someone puts the absolute proof out in front of me of a deity, it doesn't exist. That's the difference; the agnostic says, well, maybe there is, maybe there isn't, who knows? The atheist says, There is currently no proof whatsoever of this assertion, thus I choose not to believe it. There are, really, any number of schools on what atheism is or isn't. Some have taken this to be the notion of anti-religion, which I think is unconstructive. I used to write a humor column for Madeline Murry O'Hare's publication American Atheist back in the 1970s (betcha didn't know that one, did you?). Even did some other writing, articles and the like...until one day I realized that this (American Atheist Organization) wasn't about just providing equal respect and treatment for atheists, it was about knocking down religion and attacking others' belief systems...at which time I resigned the magazine. To get back on track...mine is the kind of atheism you saw most often around the turn of the century, basically accommodational of others, positive in outlook, stressing the basic worth of the individual, and the importance of the individual in building a better society. Because of the more...rigorous atheists out there, atheism has, I think, gotten kind of a bad rap in some circles. And a lot of it is unfair, though I'd be foolish to say that the criticisms were entirely without merit. But when then-President Bush said, as he did in an interview in Chicago during the last election, that he "doesn't really consider atheists patriots, since after all the idea is one nation under god," it brings you up a little short. The founders of this country weren't just believers, they were deists and freethinkers and even the occasional atheist. In any event...I hadn't meant to belabor the point. This is simply what I think. I don't usually get into it, but the question was raised, so I answered it. I don't expect much of anyone else to agree, or to convince anyone to think as I do. And that's fine, and as it should be. jms Subj: Section: Babylon 5: Upcoming To: Tom Knudsen Thursday, December 07, 1995 2:35:17 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski #412457 {regarding athiest vs. agnostic} Yeah, well, I've kinda given it a *lot* of thought over a *very* long period.... jms Subj: From jms: info Section: Babylon 5: General To: George F. Kraus Wednesday, December 06, 1995 8:13:12 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski #412188 Alas, no tapes are currently available. jms Subj: ATTN:JMS Section: Babylon 5: General To: Stephen C. Smith Thursday, December 07, 1995 2:35:14 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski #412455 {regarding Boxleitner taping "B5 Classic" intro} To which they would reply, "Terrific, great idea, but we're not going to sacrifice 15-30 seconds of commercials so you can do this, so you're going to have to go in and cut 15-30 seconds out of the show." That time has to come from somewhere. jms Subj: To JMS Section: Babylon 5: General To: Michael Milutinovic Wednesday, December 06, 1995 8:13:26 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski #412191 No, there's really just the one Minbari religion, and the warrior caste tends to follow it, but not lead it. jms Subj: $0.04: Section: Babylon 5: Upcoming To: Ruth Ballam Wednesday, December 06, 1995 8:28:00 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski #412207 You're saying Sinclair was the chosen one...first, you don't know what he was chosen FOR. Second, if this is entirely true, why would Zathras look Sinclair dead in the face and say "NOT the one"? As for "why would he change his story"...nothing is set in stone; if you were a writer, you'd know that an outline only gets you into the story and the main points. I've had whole novels that I've written abruptly change direction halfway through because of something I discovered midway that was better than what I'd planned initially. You adjust. No outline ever survives contact with the enemy. If, tomorrow, I decided that the rest of this story would be better if Sheridan were transformed into a giant blue space moose, that's exactly what I'd do. jms Subj: Max (Richard Moll) Section: Babylon 5: General To: Melanie Moser Thursday, December 07, 1995 2:35:24 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski #412459 Thanks. At this point, Richard's part was a one-shot, but if we come up with the right role, I'd love to see him again. jms Subj: B5 Screen Saver Arrived! Section: Babylon 5: General To: Tom Knudsen Thursday, December 07, 1995 1:58:06 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski #412731 {regarding the .avi files having video} No, the personnel files don't have them, only the battle, ship and geo files. jms Subj: Section: Babylon 5: Upcoming To: David Cerreta Thursday, December 07, 1995 8:37:04 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski #412951 {regarding quoting JMS's post about atheism} By all means, quote away.... jms Subj: Section: Babylon 5: Upcoming To: Rick Corey /NY Thursday, December 07, 1995 8:37:06 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski #412953 {regarding religion} I guess I'm partly leery of going into my personal views on this stuff too much because I'm very conscious of the position of "celebrity" in our society, even as minor a celebrity as that of producer, of which there cannot possibly be a smaller version of celebrity. It's possible to use one's position as a platform for advancing one's own personal views, or propagating them, and I don't want to do that, or to be perceived as doing that. jms Subj: JMS resigns rastb5 Section: Babylon 5: General To: Robt Martin, Thursday, December 07, 1995 1:58:07 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski #412732 You used to edit Fangoria? So are you currently appealing the conviction...? jms Subj: JMS resigns rastb5 Section: Babylon 5: General To: Robt Martin Friday, December 08, 1995 2:44:26 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski #413113 {regarding Mr. Martin's editing of Fangoria} Actually, the best thing about Fangoria are the conventions.... jms Subj: $0.04: Section: Babylon 5: Upcoming To: Nigel Nixon Thursday, December 07, 1995 2:10:07 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski #412743 And this is quite correct; WB had always wanted a well known actor in that rols, so when we decided to make the change, WB repeated this, and urged us strongly in this direction. Happily, Bruce was known to us through Doug and John who'd worked with him on other projects, and said he was a swell guy in addition to a terrific actor; we met, talked, and that was that. jms Subj: Section: Babylon 5: General To: Michael Guenther Thursday, December 07, 1995 8:37:03 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski #412950 I'd say there's some similarity in the process, yes. jms Subj: Jump Points Section: Babylon 5: General To: John Cissna Thursday, December 07, 1995 8:37:08 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski #412954 No, I'm reasonably sure that the Centauri vessels that came through were considerably larger than the White Star; the problem, of course, is determining size visually in space, where there isn't a reference point. jms Subj: Another B5 Pun Section: Promenade Alpha To: Andrew Diseker Thursday, December 07, 1995 8:37:10 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski #412955 The Nuremberg War Crimes Committee would like a word with you, Mr. Diseker.... jms Subj: Section: Babylon 5: Upcoming To: Tom Knudsen Friday, December 08, 1995 8:28:14 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski #413425 {regarding JMS's celebrity status} Yeah, I don't really buy into the celebrity notion; what I do is what I do, no different than a teacher or an archi- tect; both require varying levels of creativity. Main thing wrong with celebrity is that people start viewing you differ- ently...and Kosh help you if your own view of yourself starts to reconcile too much with that new perception. jms Subj: Rerun Schedule Worry Section: Babylon 5: Upcoming To: Kevin Kenney Friday, December 08, 1995 8:35:19 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski #413430 I don't think I'll be able to change the schedule; my guess is that they'll do a full run of episodes in July, which they did in our first year, but didn't do in our second. jms Subj: JMS resigns rastb5 Section: Babylon 5: General To: The Jawa/Jawa #2, Saturday, December 09, 1995 11:14:08 From: J. Michael Straczynski #414000 We're making 22 episodes this year; interestingly enough, because the ratings have been doing quite well, there have been some informal talks initiated by some folks at PTEN about us doing an additional 2 hours in the form of a direct- to-video movie, something to hold folks over between seasons. So in that sense we'd be doing 24 this season. It's not finalized, but we're very encouraged that they're considering trying this with us. We won't have any final disposition on this until well after Christmas, however. The problem will be in getting all the pertinent WB divisions to work together on this with us, and working with PTEN in the sense that it won't be aired initially until much later, which may be a stumbling block...but we'll see. Still, it's a great vote of confidence. jms Subj: JMS resigns rastb5 Section: Babylon 5: General To: SysOp Lee Whiteside Sunday, December 10, 1995 5:02:23 From: J. Michael Straczynski #414104 {regarding direct-to-video B5 movie} Yeah, it'd have to be kind of like the comics...it would add something to the arc, be complementary to it (like the "shadows past" miniseries was complementary to "Divided Loyalties" and stuff yet to come), but more or less able to stand on its own. Like I said, though, it ain't final yet, still in the talking stages.... jms Subj: JMS resigns rastb5 Section: Babylon 5: General To: Philip Hornsey Sunday, December 10, 1995 7:38:07 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski #414396 {regarding story ideas for direct-to-video movie} I'd advise against suggesting story areas for this, Philip. jms Subj: JMS resigns rastb5 Section: Babylon 5: General To: Neil Blevins Sunday, December 10, 1995 7:38:02 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski #414394 {regarding making videos of B5 episodes} Won't work. Their logic (such as it is) is that if people have already seen the episode on TV, they won't want to buy it...but a direct-to-video supplemental episode, by virtue of *not* having been aired, IS commercially viable. What can I say...? jms Subj: Section: Babylon 5: General To: Felix Ling Saturday, December 09, 1995 11:14:11 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski #414001 Thanks. It's a hard thing to walk the line between not being effective and being heavy-handed...I think it worked quite well in that respect. jms Subj: Section: Babylon 5: General To: Mara K. Malovany Saturday, December 09, 1995 11:14:12 From: J. Michael Straczynski #414002 The sculpture...wasn't exactly what I had in mind, no.... Re: the Centauri...note that Edward wasn't killed where they found him. He was taken and killed elsewhere, in a area they'd more or less secured for that purpose. That was the area he knew about. jms Subj: A couple of Questions Section: Babylon 5: General To: Tim and Laurie Sunday, December 10, 1995 7:38:08 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski #414397 Yes, he had the momentum from his jump, plus that of the core shuttle itself (which is considerable), plus the wind currents toward the center of the station area/garden, which area also considerable. Together that would be enough to keep him moving toward the outer edge of the garden area. No, the Narns do not have artificial gravity, which is why we've always shown them belted into their seats in five- point harnesses. jms Subj: B5: Winter duldrums Section: Babylon 5: General To: The Jawa/Jawa #2 Sunday, December 10, 1995 7:47:18 From: J. Michael Straczynski #414407 {regarding direct-to-video B5 movie} Whoa, whoa, whoa...Jawa, don't mis-state the situation. The deal still hasn't been set, and even if it were, it couldn't possibly be out "sometime after christmas," during the rerun cycle. It might be able to come out *between seasons three and four* is, I believe, what I said. Bear in mind that I'd have to write it, it takes 4-6 weeks to prep such a thing, 15-16 days to shoot it, then another 52 days to finish post. Just to clarify...I don't want this getting picked up and announced as fact yet when it ain't. Still may not even happen. jms Subj: Hague back Section: Babylon 5: General To: Barbara Pfieffer Saturday, December 09, 1995 11:14:05 From: J. Michael Straczynski #413999 You'll be hearing more about General Hague in the next batch of episodes; as for the two-parter, I'm about 13 pages from the end of part one, which I hope to turn in on Monday, and the second part will probably be in after the Christmas break. jms Subj: A couple of Questions Section: Babylon 5: General To: Melanie Moser Sunday, December 10, 1995 11:24:04 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski #414498 {regarding artificial gravity on Narn ship in the novel _Blood_Oath_} Urk...that must've slipped past me (which reminds me, I'd better get back to finishing proofing the next novel). And yes, we'll see more of the Narn homeworld as we go along. jms Subj: Not B5 Section: Babylon 5: General To: Sharon Foster Sunday, December 10, 1995 11:24:03 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski #414497 {regarding a show called "Vanishing Son"} Nope, don't know a thing about it, only heard the name here and there. jms Subj: Harlan Signs in LA/SF Section: Babylon 5: General To: All Monday, December 11, 1995 2:09:10 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski #414554 Harlan Ellison will be signing copies of his new CD-rom game, "I Have No Mouth, And I Must Scream," based on his award-winning short story of the same name, at Tower Video in two locations in the coming week: In Los Angeles on Wednesday, December 13th, at 8801 Sunset Boulevard from 6-7:30 p.m. and in San Francisco from 6-8 p.m. at 3205 20th Avenue, 2nd floor on Thursday, December 14th. jms Subj: Episodes on Tape Section: Babylon 5: General To: William H. DiPaola Monday, December 11, 1995 2:11:10 From: J. Michael Straczynski #414555 We're still trying to work this out. jms Subj: G'Kar Trading Card Section: Babylon 5: General To: Jason Wong Tuesday, December 12, 1995 3:14:17 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski #415066 {regarding G'Kar not being on the card} Is this the one on the actual card, or the promo four- card? I knew it was wrong there, and I'd thought we'd caught it before the finished versions were out. jms Subj: Rage's Thots: Comm ? Section: Babylon 5: General To: Chad Underkoffler Tuesday, December 12, 1995 3:14:18 From: J. Michael Straczynski #415067 Yes, long-distance com systems like StellarCom are tachyon based; communication inside hyperspace to and from normal space is very difficult and problematic due to the differing physics involved; the beacons ships ride in between jumpgates are more or less anchored to the gates at the hyperspace side. That's my story and I'm sticking to it. jms Subj: Rage's Thots: Comm ? Section: Babylon 5: General To: Philip Hornsey Wednesday, December 13, 1995 7:36:14 From: J. Michael Straczynski #415819 {regarding there being physical protrusions into hyperspace} Not that anyone's discovered yet. (Don't read into that more than there is.) jms Subj: ATTN:JMS Section: Babylon 5: General To: Mitchell Schneider Tuesday, December 12, 1995 7:51:15 From: J. Michael Straczynski #415353 "...yeah, I was shooting the breeze with Jon just a few days ago. Jon's going to try and get B2 re-run on my sugges- tion." Er...it's Joe, actually. That aside, thanks for the kind words, and we'll try to get it rerun. jms Subj: Compuserve Name for JMS Section: Babylon 5: General To: Dan T. Davis Wednesday, December 13, 1995 7:41:02 From: J. Michael Straczynski #415822 {regarding picking your own CompuServe name} Actually, I haven't picked any such name...what's the procedure for doing this? jms Subj: ATTN:JMS Section: Babylon 5: General To: Chris C. Franks Thursday, December 14, 1995 2:16:10 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski #415971 {regarding one of the Turner stations running the first season of B5} They'll be playing the entire series, but not until the show has run its full course, so around 1998. jms Subj: I Have No Mouth game Section: Babylon 5: General To: Brian A. Thomas Thursday, December 14, 1995 2:16:11 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski #415972 {regarding "I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream"} Wouldn't hurt to read the story first. It's a great story. jms Subj: Babylon 4 Section: Babylon 5: General To: Michael "GANDALF" Kalus Thursday, December 14, 1995 From: J. Michael Straczynski #416204 Babylons 1-3 were destroyed during the very early stages of construction, so not that much was done. They poured a LOT of money into B4, which was very big...when that one went south, they decided to try one last time, with a stripped- down version, B5. B4 vanished 4 years prior to the first season of B5. jms Subj: JMS: Best party ep? Section: Babylon 5: Upcoming To: Robert Pierce, Thursday, December 14, 1995 2:16:09 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski #415970 {regarding which upcoming episode would be best to have a B5 party for} If you want some fun with your wham, and there's a lot of fun to be had in this one, go for the first one up, "Voices of Authority." If you want serious, serious wham, go for "Messages From Earth." jms Subj: Screen Saver Audio Section: Babylon 5: General To: Shirley DeCarufelFriday, December 15, 1995 12:26:05 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski #416434 Actually, the "cricket" sounds are the identicard scanning sounds used in the pilot movie. jms Subj: Hague back Section: Babylon 5: General To: John M. Kahane Friday, December 15, 1995 5:05:20 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski #416505 At the office, I use the Kinesis keyboard, with two key- wells, not broken lines. Works well. jms Subj: Section: Babylon 5: Upcoming To: John M. Kahane Friday, December 15, 1995 5:05:24 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski #416506 {regarding "Passing Through Gethsemane" ep} Thanks. Adam did a great job interpreting the script on that one, and it's definitely one of our most successful episodes...though today I took a look at another, more completed version of episode 8, "Messages," and *man* is this amazing...just a knockout...trouble is we keep raising our own bar and won't accept anything less...so the pressure becomes quite astonishing after a while. Fun, though.... jms Subj: Babylon 4 Section: Babylon 5: General To: Michael "GANDALF" Kalus December 15, 1995 5:12:27 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski #416508 "wasn't nearly enough time" If you apply 20th century construction models, sure...but we've advanced quite a bit in 250 years. jms Subj: Babylon 4 Section: Babylon 5: General To: Michael "GANDALF" Kalus December 15, 1995 5:38:03 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski #416676 {regarding not enough time...} Except, of course, there's no need to transport steel and other materials from Earth...if that's your premise then it's seriously flawed. You mine ore from the surrounding asteroids, as NASA has described for some time could be done. You could assemble the shell off Earth in pieces fairly quickly, use the jump gate to get it to Epsilon Eridani, and mine whatever else you need there in the area fairly effi- ciently. Bear in mind that building a station like this in 2260 uses many of the same techniques already being used else where...so in many cases it's a matter of slightly converting what's already being mass produced for other reasons. Explorer vessels like the Cortez, for instance, are nearly as long as Babylon 5 (as seen in "A Distant Star"), and its rotating section is nearly as wide. And you've got other big ships, many with rotational areas for gravity-positive sections. This isn't like NASA gearing up to make a one-off of something; this is a matter of adjusting technology already in use. jms Subj: Babylon 4 Section: Babylon 5: General To: John McAuley Saturday, December 16, 1995 1:54:17 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski #416849 {regarding acquiring raw materials to build B5} Aside from the hull stuff which would've been constructed elsewhere and shipped in and assembled, they would've mined the asteroids for most of the raw materials needed. jms Subj: Babylon 4 Section: Babylon 5: General To: John McAuley Saturday, December 16, 1995 9:38:13 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski #417210 {regarding B5 winning a Cult TV award} I know we won one, and I believe it was this past year, yes; a very nice engraved glass award. jms Subj: Kosh and the Shadows Section: Babylon 5: General To: Birgit Kohls Friday, December 15, 1995 5:13:00 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski #416509 {regarding why they didn't kill Kosh} Course, a dead Vorlon would be a major giveaway for them...best to keep a low profile, at least for the time being. jms Subj: Section: Babylon 5: Upcoming To: Colin Glassey Friday, December 15, 1995 5:38:06 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski #416678 Yes, those are pretty much the two interpretations... that the Vorlons *created* the myth of angels, or that they came in and *exploited* it for their own purposes. In my view, the latter seems more logical in some ways. jms Subj: Section: Babylon 5: Upcoming To: Philip Hornsey Saturday, December 16, 1995 9:38:15 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski #417212 {regarding assumption that Vorlon standardized beliefs} On the other hand, I didn't say that was the case in all places and in all cases. jms Subj: What's In A Name (Kosh) Section: Babylon 5: General To: Gerald Himmelein Friday, December 15, 1995 5:38:11 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski #416680 : >two days ago, I finally got around to purchase the >Compact Disc release of The Who's classic WHO'S NEXT >album [remastered, with bonus tracks and new liner >notes... really nice...] from 1971. >When I read through the fine print, I found myself >gasping in surprise. >"Original vinyl sleeve design by Kosh." >This Kosh appears to be a photigrapher and designer, >and he apparently went with just that name, just Kosh. >my question would be whether you were aware of this >designer / photographer talent of the 70's and if his >name became the inspiration for the Vorlon Ambassador. No, I'd absolutely never heard this story before...I'm astounded.... jms Subj: What's In A Name (Kosh) Section: Babylon 5: General To: Gerald Himmelein December 16, 1995 1:54:16 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski #416848 {regarding JMS's taste in music} Basically, I'm a fan of *all* music, except hard-stuff country and opera. jms Subj: B5 Videos Yet Again Section: Babylon 5: General To: Trent K. Johnson Saturday, December 16, 1995 9:38:19 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski #417213 We'd almost certainly go for tapes initially...videodisks would mean remastering all the film stock back to its original aspect ratio, and we're talking major bucks here. jms Subj: Screen saver frustration Section: Babylon 5: General To: Bob Danielson Saturday, December 16, 1995 9:46:03 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski #417222 To get at the files, you have to follow these steps: use the Install part of the setup menu, which takes you to the CDrom. Highlight the files in the Images directory. Then copy them into the correct directory on your hard drive. Once that's done, you then select the images you want. Also be sure that the image categories are toggled on your setup menu (personal info, battle info, images (all vs. selected) and so on. I've found that every once in a while, a video piece will bump into my system. What's weird is that I have two identical systems, one at the work office, one at home...on the work office system, every single image works without problem. At home, one of the images bumps into windows and shuts me down. The best way to find out which is doing this is to individuall select the areas (i.e., first select just Battle Info, or Geological Info, and de-select all the others in the setup menu). Let those run through, and if there's not a problem, try the next one. Since they go in order, you can figure out pretty fast which one is causing you a problem. I did this, and now my system at home works fine, after omitting one of the ship info files that, again, runs just fine on the work system. jms Subj: JMS resigns rastb5 Section: Babylon 5: General To: Richard M. Perry Sunday, December 17, 1995 1:54:19 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski #417309 {regarding using SW and ST doing well as an argument for getting B5 eps for sale on tape} Nope. Doesn't work. They see Star Wars and ST as valuable commodities; they don't see us that way because they *know* us, and we're just a show of theirs, one of many. This is the way it *always* goes, though. On Star Wars, they gave away most of the merchandising rights because they didn't think anybody would want the stuff; on ST they canceled it after 3 seasons and didn't bother to protect the copyright on the stuff for almost ten years (which is why they often don't prosecute stuff based on the first series that gets pirated) because they figured it was worthless. It's only LONG after the horse has left the barn that the suits ever really understand what they've got...or had. jms Subj: From jms: info Section: Babylon 5: General To: Anne L. Warner Sunday, December 17, 1995 10:27:07 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski #417659 Yes, the ratings on WSBK have been up between a half a point and a full ratings point over where it was, now that they've stabalized it. Which is what we've been saying would happen for some time. This is probably the overwhelming problem we've had with the few stations that've been shuffling the show around... they don't give it a stable time slot, constantly pre-empt it, put it on at 3 a.m., and say it doesn't do good numbers. Well, duh. But as soon as they GIVE it a solid spot, even if it's only for a little while, the difference is noticeable almost instantly. And then it *does* do well for them. What're you gonna do....it's Chinatown, Jake.... jms Subj: Chrysalis Section: Babylon 5: General To: Gerald Himmelein Sunday, December 17, 1995 10:27:14 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski #417662 {regarding if Garibaldi's shooting was pre-planned} No, the shooting of Garibaldi was always a very strong part of the story for the end of first season; that line goes all the way back to the pilot, and Laurel Takashima. jms Subj: Ds9 Cancellation Rumor Section: Star Trek: DS9 To: Ted Wilcox Sunday, December 17, 1995 10:47:23 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski #417671 "I agree it is rediculous but JMS reported it at a Comic conference somewhere and I was giving what I consider good advice to all who wish to do something positive in lieu of his negative comment. Read previous messages about the cancellation rumor so you can direct your anger to the proper sources. I did not start this and I will not speak further on this rumor because it is exactly what JMS wants. He loves for us to argue among ourselves. Be careful, he may be reading and enjoying this right now!" Excuse me just one damned minute here. I just found out about this thread, and once again this is being totally and 100% distorted by you. I have never, ever, at any time posted a rumor saying "Hey, DS9 is going to be canceled." If you can find it, and post it, I will resign from Compuserve *instantly* and *permanently*. But you won't, because it doesn't exist. What you, and a few others, do is take what *was* said, throw it out there to cause a firestorm, which gets me in trouble. What I said was this: that at the time all this took place, several months ago, there were several articles published -- in TV Guide, in the Los Angeles Times, elsewhere quoting people like Kerry McCluggage, the head of Paramount, who was concerned that having two ST shows around was cutting into the potential viewers for Voyager. Even one of the exec producers over at ST commented, in the LA Times article, that they may have gone to the well once too often. At the same time as this, there was a rumor floating around town, which is *still* floating around, that Paramount was concerned about the notion of two shows splitting the potential ST audience...an audience that is necessary to Voyager as the cornerstone for the Paramount Network, UPN. There's much to be said for canceling one show, DS9, so that there's only one place to go if you want to see Star Trek...Voyager. Because Paramount has *millions* of dollars more invested in their network than in the standard syndica tion deal for DS9. The *possibility* was being discussed, came the word on the street. And several other people in the industry, who work in post production and sound editing at the other studios around town, came forth and supported this by saying they'd heard much the same. But it's only woolgathering, nothing more, and I never said it WAS anything more than that. But a few people like you and a couple of others have taken that one message, which I posted only once, here, not some "comics conference," and crossposted it to other forums, paraphrased it, distorted it, and changed it around in order to make it look like I posted a rumor that I *never* in fact posted, for the simple purpose of causing me grief. While there's much to commend this electronic forum, what's *wrong* with it at root is that people can come in here, post something like this as if it's true, and then you have to respond to it and chase it down. Knowing folks here, I'm sure *somebody* has my original post filed away somewhere. I'm happy to see that reposted, because it is exactly as I have characterized it. Look, I get in enough trouble for the things I *really* say without other people putting words in my mouth and deliberately distorting it. I have never, ever, at any time, said that DS9 was going to be canceled, or that there was a rumor on the streets that DS9 was going to be canceled. Never happened. Are we clear on this now? jms Subj: Ds9 Cancellation Rumor Section: Star Trek: DS9 To: J. Michael Straczynski December 18, 1995 1:54:05 AM From: Georg Buthe #417721 > Knowing folks here, I'm sure *somebody* has my original post filed > away somewhere. I'm happy to see that reposted, because it is exactly as I > have characterized it. Sure, no problem. People read into messages what they want to read. Human nature. Georg Buthe ------------------------quote--------------------------------- >%: 358451 S2/Star Trek [SFMEDIA] > 06-Oct-95 06:25:18 >Sb: #357994-VOYAGER'S BAD TREK >Fm: J. Michael Straczynski 71016,1644 >To: Mary Taylor 75530,2650 Speaking of TPTB, here's an interesting angle on the whole Voyager/DS9 dynamic. Recently, more and more, the ST execs (people like Berman and Pillar) have been commenting publicly about the factional ization of the SF TV marketplace, and how this has diminished the numbers for the ST shows overall. Most interestingly, one of them commented in an LA Times article this past week that a big problem for them is the factionalization *within* ST...that people may only have time to watch one version of ST that week, and they're being forced to choose. And, of course, there are the debates between the two sides on quality. Which dovetails precisely into the rumor running around town that Paramount is considering giving the axe to DS9 after this season, in order to force folks who want their ST to watch Voyager...because they have more money invested right now in Voyager, particularly in start-up, and they have their hopes for the Paramount network pinned to Voyager as their center. They don't like the idea of a syndicated show out there causing problems for the network on which they've spent millions and millions of dollars. And DS9's ratings have been steadily on the decrease since the debut. So the logic goes: take away DS9, and make those who want Trek go to Voyager as the sole provider of that. Given the sources from whom this has come, I give very high credibility to the notion that this *is* being discussed; whether or not it will be implemented, that only time will tell. If Voyager continues to decrease, threatening the foundations of Paramount's bid for a network, I'd think the chances of this happening will continue to rise. jms >Subj: Ds9 Cancellation Rumor Section: Star Trek: DS9 > To: Georg Buthe Monday, December 18, 1995 3:11:01 AM >From: J. Michael Straczynski #417729 THANK you. As the message said, the topic *was* being discussed, but that there was no indication as to whether or not that step would eventually be implemented. And others confirmed this. Nowhere in that message was it stated by me that the show *is* going to be canceled, or that I'd heard anyone else say that it was going to be canceled. With luck, this will finally put an end to the distor tions that get around, thanks to some people who want to fuel online wars. Thanks again for digging this out. jms Subj: Ds9 Cancellation Rumor Section: Star Trek: DS9 To: Stephen C. Smith Sunday, December 17, 1995 10:53:15 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski #417674 Stephen: check my comment to Ted. jms Subj: JMS: Best party ep? Section: Babylon 5: Upcoming To: Lynn Dimock Friday, December 15, 1995 5:05:19 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski #416504 : >Why does your saying an episode is serious make me so >nervous? I don't know, but it should make you *really* nervous.... jms Subj: JMS resigns rastb5 Section: Babylon 5: General To: Anne L. Warner Sunday, December 17, 1995 10:27:08 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski #417660 >Without suggesting anything that hasn't been clearly >indicated on the air as interesting history, could we >give you our opinions about what "history" we'd like >to see??? >One of my votes would go to Valen and the origins of >the Grey Council. Then you will get your wish, and then some. jms Subj: Section: Babylon 5: Upcoming To: Philip Hornsey Friday, December 15, 1995 5:38:08 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski #416679 : >Did Adam Nimoy direct Messages? No, Mike Vejar directed "Messages." jms Subj: Section: Babylon 5: Upcoming To: Philip Hornsey Saturday, December 16, 1995 9:38:15 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski #417211 {regarding Nimoy doing any others} We're currently working that out. jms Subj: Ds9 Cancellation Rumor Section: Star Trek: DS9 To: Colin Knowles Wednesday, December 20, 1995 6:28:29 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski #419339 {regarding why Paramount doesn't move DS9 to UPN} I don't know for certain, but I'd suspect that there are contractual elements prohibiting this. UPN is an alliance between Paramount and Chris Craft Television; at this point, CCT is paying virtually all the money for developing and airing the shows, with Paramount contractually able to buy 50% of the network sometime in the next year or so. (This per the trades and reports in industry business journals.) DS9 is currently owned exclusively by Paramount. Many of the stations that currently air DS9 are not necessarily part of the UPN network; some are Tribune stations, or other independents. If they made it part of UPN, they would then have to shuffle around a lot of stations, and might end up losing better time slots and it's a *lot* of hassle. And Paramount would have to be willing to turn over partial ownership of DS9 to Chris Craft (here I'm guessing), and they may not want to do that, may possibly not be *able* to do so by contract. It's a very confusing corporate web, not that unlike the situation which basically prevents B5 from going to the WB network. jms Subj: Chrysalis Section: Babylon 5: General To: Gerald Himmelein Monday, December 18, 1995 11:25:03 From: J. Michael Straczynski #418138 : >Meaning that originally, Garibaldi was going to be shot >at by Laurel and since she dropped out after The >Gathering, you used Garibaldi's second in command as >a trap door? Very nicely done. Correct, had Laurel stayed with the station, it would've been she who pulled the trigger on Garibaldi. jms Subj: Chrysalis Section: Babylon 5: General To: John McAuley Tuesday, December 19, 1995 11:05:04 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski #418804 : >Would Laurel have been a PsiCorps-personality-implant- >mole? Yes, Laurel would've been Control. jms Subj: Chrysalis Section: Babylon 5: General To: The Jawa / Jawa #2 December 19, 1995 11:05:06 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski #418805 : >Is it true that for awhile, the traitor was going to be >Ivanova? No, after the thread with Laurel was revealed, lots of people *assumed* that that thread had been passed along to Ivanova. It had never in fact been intended for her, but when it was broached, I simply didn't reply, on the theory that if I said it *wasn't* her, it'd narrow it down to who it *was*. jms Subj: Chrysalis Section: Babylon 5: General To: The Jawa / Jawa #2 December 20, 1995 6:28:22 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski #419337 : >So, like Sheridan, Ivanova wasn't a "replacement" >character? All the characters are unique; there seems to be this bone-headed notion, that I frequently run into, of "Well, Ivanova's just Takashima renamed," or "Sheridan's story is just the same as Sinclair's, same guy just renamed." They're *not* and never have been. The story of one does not devlove automatically upon the other. If you make a change, it's because you have something better in mind...otherwise why make it? jms Subj: Chrysalis Section: Babylon 5: General To: Robert Miller Thursday, December 21, 1995 4:07:15 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski #419589 : >If Laurel had stayed on the show, would she have >received the password by this point in the story? Who >would then have taken over as second in command? If Laurel *had* stayed with the show, by the middle of year two the fact that she was Control would've been revealed via the password incident. At that point, one particular possibility was that her second in command under her -- a rather dour Russian lieutenant named Ivanova -- would've been promoted to take her place, while Laurel was moved off the chessboard. (This was planned because we knew going in that Tamlyn Tomita had a growing film career, and we probably could've only kept her for a couple of years in the best of circumstances. So why not turn that to your advantage?) The position now being occupied by Corwin, Ivanova's second, is the position that Ivanova would've held (though more prominently) if Laurel had stayed on. (And no, Corwin doesn't now have that arc lurking in the background.) See, it's easy to stick to an outline and never diverge if you're writing characters in a novel; in a TV show, with live actors, you have to be flexible, plan ahead, come up with contingency plans, and have threads that weave and interlock in ways to leave you maximum flexibility while still proceeding toward your destination. jms Subj: Chrysalis Section: Babylon 5: General To: The Jawa / Jawa #2 December 19, 1995 11:14:06 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski #418813 "I *liked* Laurel!" Well, yes, that's rather the point; tragedy is only tragedy if it happens to someone you care about and like. jms Subj: Chrysalis Section: Babylon 5: General To: The Jawa / Jawa #2 December 20, 1995 6:28:26 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski #419338 : >Laurel would not have shot Garibaldi, though, right? Yes, Laurel would've shot Garibaldi. The tragedy rule is the #1 rule if you're going to make people care about your characters. jms Subj: From jms: info Section: Babylon 5: General To: Anita Karve Monday, December 18, 1995 11:25:05 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski #418139 {regarding Anita's move from Boston to San Francisco and her adoration of the show} Thanks. (And that's quite a long move, and a different climate.) jms Subj: From jms: info Section: Babylon 5: General To: Bill Sheldon Tuesday, December 19, 1995 4:46:16 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski #418230 : >I was at SDCC for your showing of the TLTS, my >favorite episode to date. I saw a really nice >Duck Dodgers animation cell. Did you get an early >X-mas present from yourself? No, didn't pick up that one, though I thought about it. Problem is there's too MUCH cool stuff at SDCC...which is why I go every year. jms Subj: ATTN:JMS Section: Babylon 5: General To: Jason Wong Monday, December 18, 1995 11:25:07 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski #418140 : >Just curious: is the season 2 ender going to be re-run? >I noticed that it was replaced with the season 3 >opener at the end of this batch of re-runs, and was >curious as to why. Actually, the season 2 opener was "Points of Departure," which wasn't rerun in this batch, but rather "Hunter/Prey," chosen because it sets up some stuff in the next batch of episodes. jms Subj: Looking Back and Forward Section: Babylon 5: General To: John M. Kahane Monday, December 18, 1995 11:25:19 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski #418142 Jeez...where do I even start with that one...? Okay, "how would I evaluate the work that I've done on the series to this point." (I assume this refers to the scriptwriting part of my duties, rather than the producing part.) The first season, I think, was pretty fair. There were some rough spots here and there. There's a thing known to athletes called getting "in the zone," that's when you're absolutely on target, in the groove, whatever jargon you wish to throw in. In any first season of a show, no matter howmuch advance planning has gone into the thing, there's a shakedown period as you find out what really *does* and doesn't work. There was a fair amount of that in year one. I think I only really popped into the "zone" a few times, with the first real such experience being "And the Sky Full of Stars." Once I hit it, I was able to find the target again a few more times that season, with "Mind War," "Babylon Squared," "Chrysalis" and a couple of others. But that was about it. I was trying to find a new way of telling a story for TV, and while I'd been thinking about it for a long time, there was never a chance to get in any *practice* because except for Power, which had a few arc aspects to it, no other show WORKS like B5 in this respect. So there was still a learning curve. Season two, I think, I started to Get It more often, and more consistently. I'd learned a lot doing year one, and was able to apply it. I don't think I could've written "The Coming of Shadows" in year one, I just hadn't yet acquired the skills that ONLY come through practice doing this very unusual style of storytelling. I think I got into the zone a little faster, with the last four in particular being right on the mark, for what I wanted to achieve. And as far as season three is concerned...though only 4 have aired, I'm finishing #17 right now. I usually gauge where things are by the reaction the scripts get around the set...and this season, more than any other, I've had the actors and crew come by just shaking their heads in astonish- ment at what's coming down in the pages. The folks at WB have made it a point to call and say that they're loving what they're seeing in the scripts, and that's unusual. Subjectively -- and this opinion is the least valid, since it's colored by my own perception -- I think that at this moment, I'm doing the best work of my career to date. There's something happening in the scripts that...I can't really define. There's just something *there* that wasn't there before, or was there only sporadically. The scripts are completely taking on a life of their own. (I related elsewhere that something very major happened in "Interludes and Examinations," #15, that was never, ever in the arc, that I hadn't planned on doing when I began the script...but the damned thing just *happened*...and all I could do was watch it unfold on the page.) Out of 17 to date, the only one that's *slightly* clunky is "Exogenesis," because it's just a little too straightforward for my tastes. I'd thought it was going to be something other than what it was; there's a writing phrase, "it's too much what it is." But it has some great character moments in it, and I think that redeems it to some extent. But that's it, that's the only one. "Messages From Earth" may be, in my view, the best thing we've ever done. And the rest are just nifty. I'm pleased and proud and utterly astonished at how well some of this stuff has come out this season. (I *suspect* that part of the reason for the improve- ment this season is that I'm not outlining each episode as much as before. I used to sit down and break out each act in detail, and then stick pretty strongly to that outline. Now I just sit down, knowing where I have to go with the story, and write it straight through, letting the characters take control from time to time. It takes a long time to be able to trust yourself, your ability, and your characters before you can do that in a show; finally I'm there.) "what directions do you see the series going in now, that you might not have considered back when you first started?" Well, it's hard to say, in large measure because of what I've reported in the paragraphs preceding. The series has taken on a life of its own now, and while I know where it's going, from time to time this great big unweildy beast throws me off and goes where it wants. And I'd be a fool if I refused to listen to that, and forced it to comply with what I'd come up with in 1987. Because that's the key thing that I've come to understand. The structure was written in 1987/88...and I'm a much better writer now than I was then. I still intend to reach the destination I'd imagined, but I've found FAR more interesting ways to get there than I could've imagined then. Remember, since 1987 I worked on the Twilight Zone, Nightmare Classics, Murder She Wrote...I've learned a lot of stuff and acquired some tools I didn't have back then. So long answer made short...I think that the main difference is that the rest of the story is going to be more ambitious, more dramatic, more fundamentally *interesting* than I had ever hoped for. And given what was there before, that's saying a lot. jms Subj: Looking Back and Forward Section: Babylon 5: General To: Trent K. Johnson Tuesday, December 19, 1995 4:46:16 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski #418231 : >One of the many, many things I applaud about your >writing is not only the avoidance of technobabble, but >avoiding techno-traps so prevalent in "the other >shows". > >A case in point from "ST: Voyager": A writer (or >writers) comes up with the idea to land the ship on a >planet. (Earhart episode) In a subsequent episode we >then get, "Can't transport. Can't use a shuttle. >Hey! Let's land. Uh, we can't because, uh, yeah, the >ground's too soft. Yeah! That's it!" > > "sigh" indeed.... jms Subj: Looking Back and Forward Section: Babylon 5: General To: Philip Hornsey Tuesday, December 19, 1995 11:05:01 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski #418803 : >we have come to the conclusion, recently, that by the >time it is over, B5 *may* be the exception that proves >that general rule. Yes, it does feel more like a novel now than anything else. (BTW, "the exception proves the rule" is a bastardiza- tion of the original Latin phrase, "exceptio probat regulum" (from memory), which means "the exception puts the rule to the test of proof.") jms Subj: Looking Back and Forward Section: Babylon 5: General To: Tom Knudsen Wednesday, December 20, 1995 6:28:00 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski #419340 : > < (BTW, "the exception proves the rule" is a >bastardization of the original Latin phrase, "exceptio >probat regulum" (from memory), which means "the >exception puts the rule to the test of proof.")> > > You've been getting a lot of use out of that >tidbit of knowledge lately, haven't you? I paid for this college education, and by god I'm going to use it for SOMEthing. Odd that this particular phrase has cropped up so much in recent weeks. Another bugaboo of mine is the use of the word "less" when what the person means to say is "fewer." "There are less people here today." No, "There are *fewer* people here today." There are very few things about which I will actually correct someone in the course of speaking, not wishing to be overly pedantic...but this is one of them. The other is when I see a sign that says FOR "SALE"...well, is it for sale or isn't it? Anal retentive? Moi? jms Subj: Section: Babylon 5: Upcoming To: John M. Kahane Monday, December 18, 1995 11:25:23 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski #418143 Actually, Mike Vejar is directing the two-parter, and I'm absolutely thrilled about it; Mike's been our mainstay for some time, and he's just terrific. (He directed "Convic- tions," and "Inquisitor.") Adam was great in that he's a *very* serious director who sits down and really thinks through the subtext of the episode, the thematic aspects, the underlying symbology, and then sits with the actor and *really* works with them so that they fully understand the nuances of the scene. A lot of TV direction can be rushed...you're always under the gun...so it's rare to find someone who really takes his time and prepares the cast. "Does the pressure come from within, or does it come from without and the reaction of the fans of the series?" From within. There's nothing I've ever seen on any net that's half as critical of this show as what's said by we who make it. If you try to gauge a show, any show, and determine its direction by viewer reactions, you're going to have pudding, because there are too many divergent reactions. It becomes one massive committee...and committees are the death of any creative process. I'm making this show, first and foremost, for myself, on the theory that what I find interesting, others may also find of interest. And I'm a perfectionist. Also a pain in the ass. Also monomanaical. Just getting a show this big, this involved, this visually complex *made* is a task of Herculean proportions...let alone getting it made *well*. I've always been a very driven personality; I try never to settle for second best. If it can't be done just a little better than what we did last week, why the hell are we doing it? There *has* to be constant evolution, constant growth, constant challenge, or you're dead creatively. You've got to be absolutely willing to knock all your support pins out from under you, in the belief that your skills will enable you to land somewhere interesting on your feet. The moment you *stop* taking that risk...you're finished. At least, that's what I feel about it. This show is probably my one real chance to leave a mark that I passed this way, so it has to be as good as I can humanly make it. And nothign will ever get in the way of that. jms Subj: Section: Babylon 5: Upcoming To: Philip Hornsey Tuesday, December 19, 1995 11:05:00 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski #418802 : >>>> I'm making this show, first and foremost, for >myself, on the theory that what I find interesting, >others may also find of interest. > >ROFLMAO! > >Joe... > >I *hate* to tell you this...but worded *slightly >differently...that's a Rush Limbaugh quote... > >I will now flee the country and leave no forwarding >address. Be advised that the only thing standing between you and the abyss is my assumption that you're making this up.... jms Subj: Franklin's Stims Section: Babylon 5: General To: John M. Kahane Monday, December 18, 1995 11:36:19 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski #418145 Stims are a prescription drug, which makes it perfect fodder for abuse by doctors (which includes Drs Rosen and Franklin). And yes, Franklin has been getting increasingly cranky of late for reasons related to stims. jms Subj: Mo Mosely Section: Babylon 5: General To: David Chandler-Gick December 19, 1995 4:46:15 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski #418229 : >What was your initial reaction to finding out about Mr. >Doyle's "embellished" resume, and how did you "deal" >with it? Well, I just kinda figured it fit in perfectly with the character; that's something Garibaldi would've done.... jms Subj: Mo Mosely Section: Babylon 5: General To: John McAuley Tuesday, December 19, 1995 11:05:09 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski #418806 : >Did you find out before you hired him? I found out the day he came in; I looked down and saw on his resume "Dance Theater of Harlem," and said "What the heck is this? Hey you, DANCE." Since then, he's forgotten this, and continues to insist that nobody ever caught onto his little ploy. jms Subj: Thank you, sir. Section: Babylon 5: General To: David Belt Tuesday, December 19, 1995 11:05:11 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski #418807 : >I want to say thank you. I showed my 12-13 year old >deacons "Passing Through Gethsemane" on Wednesday >night. Other than my son (who is an avid fan), none >of them watch the series. In fact, other than my son, >all of them say that they don't like the series at all >(in the less than imaginative and colorful ways that >boys that age have of disparaging that which they have >never tried.) >The other adult present (who had never seen the show) >taught the lesson to the deacons quorum on Sunday and >made several references to the show. It was a great >experience. Then perhaps the next sermon/lesson should be on the sin of prejudging something before actually being exposed to it.... Most interesting, and very encouraging to hear, thanks for passing that along. As an atheist, I'm always caught betwixt and between when I hear about this kind of reaction; as a writer, I'm pleased. So the two of us are going to go out behind the house and slug it out. Film at 11. jms Subj: Questions Section: Babylon 5: General To: The Jawa / Jawa December 19, 1995 11:05:19 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski #418808 {regarding suggestions for Jawa's novel} Technical: if someone who knows scientific stuff said "this character can't do this because it's technically impossible," I'd have to really consider it, if he could give me a good enough argument. (And even there you have wiggle room...what we *think* is impossible now may not be in 200 years. Serious scientists years ago said that if you went more than 60 miles an hour in a train or a car you'd be killed by the pressure. So as long as you can make a plaus- ible argument that it's *possible,* even if it's highly unlikely, you can sometimes get away with rubber science.) If it's a big glaring issue, or in the present where you don't have alternate options, you may be stuck hewing to it. If the person suggested an alternative, and that alternative worked, and kept the science valid, sure, I'd take it. That's what a consultant is for. As long as it doesn't compromise the integrity of the story. Who reads: Yes, do be careful in your selection. Some people will tell you how to write it "better," when they really mean "write it more like *I* would've written it." A really bad reaction to what you've written, from someone you like or admire, can be an absolute soul-killer. And they may not be right. May, in fact, be quite wrong. What you also have to remember is what every writer learns: if you put your work out there, and you ASK for an opinion, suddenly they feel that they *must have* an opinion, and they *must find* flaws...so instantly that tends to skew things toward more negative comments than might be the case if they just picked the book up off a store shelf and read it. If you can find an adult *writer* to look at it, you may consider that...but to go to non-writers for technical advice or reactions or suggestions on writing is often non-constructive. Their reaction to the material may be valid, but they may not have the language or know the writing craft well enough to steer you in the right direction, and may only succeed in muddying up the waters. If I were working to be a draftsman, and finished my first big design, I'd probably show it to another draftsman before I showed it to my Aunt Morgana la Fey. Whoever you turn to for advice, always remember that that advice must always be secondary to what the small, still voice of the writer inside you insists is correct. You have to find your own voice, and if that means not taking the other person's suggestions, then that's what you have to do. Either you'll be right, or you'll be wrong, and you'll hear the same comment from dozens of others, or those in the field, and then you may have to reconsider your position. But initially, follow your voice. Magazine sales: no, your story can definitely be published elsewhere UNLESS the magazine specifically indi- cates that it buys "all rights." Otherwise, it will usually buy other rights. First North American rights are the most common, leaving you free to sell it to other magazines overseas, and to other magazines in the US after a reasonable period has passed, or if it's to a non-competing magazine. It's pretty much unheard of these days for magazines to buy all rights. (Suggestion: go to your local library and pick up a copy of WRITER'S MARKET, published yearly by Writer's Digest Books. They generally explain the various rights you sell in such situations.) jms Subj: DS9 Section: Babylon 5: General To: Elizabeth Tuesday, December 19, 1995 11:14:07 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski #418814 Actually, the limited edition of Harlan's "City on the Edge of Forever" script -- in its various versions, outlines, with postscripts by Nimoy, Koenig, Kelley, Takai and others - is already out, and has totally sold out. There will probably be a trade paperback version sometime next year. jms Subj: Official Fanclub Section: Babylon 5: General To: Matthias Neumann Tuesday, December 19, 1995 11:14:08 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski #418815 We hope to annouce the B5 fan club within the next week. jms Subj: Official Fanclub Section: Babylon 5: General To: Anne L. Warner December 20, 1995 6:28:21 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski #419336 Yes, one thing we've been discussing with the friendly folks at WB is licensing the videos via the fan club as limited editions. I don't know how limited "limited" is yet, it kinda depends on our resources. It may just be a few thousand each as we gear up. (And while we've been told we *can* make the deal, we haven't yet geared up the paperwork, as we've been waiting for the fan club paperwork to come in first.) I'll certainly recommend 2 eps per tape when we do it; any more than that, and you go to 160 minute tape, which is thinner, and breaks and stretches more easily than 120 tapes. (We won't be able to do widescreen until WB authorizes the re-telecineing of the original negative film stock back to its initial aspect ratio, and releases the funds to do that, which are considerable.) jms Subj: Looking Back and Forward Section: Babylon 5: General To: John M. Kahane Thursday, December 21, 1995 4:07:17 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski #419590 Regarding "Legacies," there's one brief blip in there that we're going to see again; I'm not sure I'd call it a clue, but certainly a cue...a hint of something to come. You won't have to wonder what it is; it'll be shown in a flashback in that particular yet-to-air episode. What does the learning curve tell me these days? That I've got a LOT of learning ahead of me yet. Re: season 3 scripts...I'm quite happy with them, and the finished episodes. I'd put on the top of the list for this season (not necessarily in order) Messsages From Earth, Point Of No Return, Severed Dreams, Voices of Authority, Passing Through Gethsemane, A Late Delivery From Avalon, Dust To Dust, and Convictions; they're real favorites of mine. I suspect that Ship of Tears and Interludes & Examinations will also come out *very* well. jms Subj: JMS resigns rastb5 Section: Babylon 5: General To: Anne L. Warner Monday, December 18, 1995 11:25:09 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski #418141 : >Oh, dear! Coming from you, such reassurance (that I'll >get my wish to learn about Valen and the Grey Council >"and then some.") is very disturbing. I'll wait >eagerly. Do I hold my breath? or is this months or >seasons in the future? Figure by the end of this season you'll know a lot more about all this. jms Subj: Section: Babylon 5: Upcoming To: John Yuen Thursday, December 21, 1995 3:32:30 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski #419582 Actually, only 1 in the mini-arc of 3 will remain after the next batch; the final two, as of now, in the January/Feb- ruary period will be "Messages From Earth," the 1st of the three, then "Point of No Return." Only "Severed Dreams" will remain for the following cluster. jms Subj: Chrysalis Section: Babylon 5: General To: Joe Smith, Thursday, December 21, 1995 11:23:08 PM ~From: J. Michael Straczynski #420100 : >Thanks for creating literate science fiction. Thanks. The literary aspect is what appeals to me a lot, and creating parallels to a lot of real-life stuff. Basical- ly...it's fun. jms Subj: Mo Mosely Section: Babylon 5: General To: Trent K. Johnson, December 21, 1995 11:22:24 PM ~From: J. Michael Straczynski #420095 : >I think I recall reading that Mr. Doyle worked at one >of the brokerage houses that was involved in the junk >bonds Was he around during this? If so, I'd >wager he has a story or two... Yes, Jerry was working there at the time, and I believe ended up testifying about what happened. jms Subj: The Encounter (UK Con) Section: Babylon 5: General To: Ruth Ballam Friday, December 22, 1995 2:57:10 AM ~From: J. Michael Straczynski #420149 Actually, looking at my waistline after 6 months of nonstop writing, I think "spread" is *exactly* the right word. jm(who was referred to as "a bit paunchy" by a guy in the UK group and was depressed about it for *days* afterward)s Subj: Section: Babylon 5: Upcoming To: John M. Kahane Friday, December 22, 1995 2:57:11 AM ~From: J. Michael Straczynski #420150 Yeah, perfectionism can sometimes get in the way of the work...which is the point where you have to learn to finally just back off, let it go, and stop tinkering with it. "Art is never completed, only abandoned." jms Subj: Looking Back and Forward Section: Babylon 5: General To: Tom Knudsen Thursday, December 21, 1995 11:23:04 PM ~From: J. Michael Straczynski #420098 {Regarding "For 'SALE'"} Generally, one puts quote marks around something to imply other than what the word means. "Yeah, an `accident,' right." (Usually accompanied by raising both hands and making quote marks with fingers.) Hence, to say FOR "SALE" is incorrect useage. jms Subj: The Encounter (UK Con) Section: Babylon 5: General To: BRIAN COONEY Friday, December 22, 1995 9:10:19 PM ~From: J. Michael Straczynski #420522 {Regarding a request for a 7' bed for JMS} A 7-foot bed, eh? Good, that's just long enough for me and a cat foot-warmer. Does the bed come complete with cat, or is cat considered extra in the UK? (Eight inches should be enough room for a cat, provided it is a medium sized cat; if it is a much larger cat than 8 inches across, we may have to purchase a cat-mallet.) jms Subj: The Encounter (UK Con) Section: Babylon 5: General To: Anne L. Warner Saturday, December 23, 1995 6:09:20 PM ~From: J. Michael Straczynski #420811 An 18 pound kitty is no longer a kitty; it is a geologi- cal landmark. jms Subj: The Encounter (UK Con) Section: Babylon 5: General To: Philip Hornsey Friday, December 22, 1995 9:10:21 PM ~From: J. Michael Straczynski #420524 {regarding final title for this season} Point of No Return jms Subj: The Encounter (UK Con) Section: Babylon 5: General To: Ruth Ballam Friday, December 22, 1995 9:11:00 PM ~From: J. Michael Straczynski #420527 Actually, over long breaks like Christmas I generally tend to *drop* a few pounds. At the stage I eat a big lunch out back with everyone else, then make myself a decent dinner when I get home, and there's always the odd doughnut lying around at the stage catering table (Death With A Hole In The Middle). Whereas at home, I don't generally eat a big breakfast, or any kind of real lunch; just nibble a bit throughout the day, and then make my dinner. jms Subj: Helpful Hints Section: Babylon 5: General To: Ruth Spradlin Friday, December 22, 1995 9:11:02 PM ~From: J. Michael Straczynski #420528 : >Jean Paul Vaudreuil of Thomasville, GA wrote to >Entertainment Weekly: > >"Bruce Boxleitner's worried about Babylon 5's low >ratings? A few helpful hints: 1. Instead of modest >uniforms, squeeze Commander Ivanova into a revealing >bodysuit. 2. Replace decipherable dialogue with >incomprehensible technobabble. 3. Rid characters of >human flaws so they'll be perfect role models. >4. Rather than fascinate us with character evolution, >keep major players static. 5. Merchandise like >crazy: Bab5 toothbrushes, boxer shorts, and an >endless supply of toys. 6. Have the aliens look like >humans with forehead problems. 7. A surefire way to >increase ratings? Put Star Trek somewhere in the >title." >Maybe you should hire this guy as a consultant. ;-) Boy, he really gets it, doesn't he? Exactly correct. It amazes me sometimes to think that, if the words STAR TREK were put in front of this show, and it was *exactly* the same show it is now, we'd get double the ratings, added national exposure, all the rest. Ah, the world of showbidness.... jms Subj: The Battle of the Line.. Section: Babylon 5: Upcoming To: Alexander Shaw Thursday, December 21, 1995 11:23:04 PM ~From: J. Michael Straczynski #420099 : >A major part of series 1 was based around the battle of >the line, and why the Minbari suddenly surrendered.. >Now that we are about to start season three there are >still some things that have not been clarified regard- >ing this.. We know (or at least think) the Religous >Caste of the Minbari stopped the slaughter of Mankind >due to some Prophecy.. It would appear that this >prophecy indicated that mankind would have some major >role in an upcoming struggle/war (The Shadows I >presume). > >Are we ever going to have this confirmed ? Are we going >to find out the exact details of this prophecy ? >Basically is the exact story of the Battle of Line >going to be revealed and cleared up as I still feel >there are some qustions or nagging doubts regarding >it. Yep. I expect you'll have this all clarified for you by end of this season. jms Subj: Chrysalis Section: Babylon 5: General To: Philip Hornsey Friday, December 22, 1995 9:10:23 PM ~From: J. Michael Straczynski #420525 {Regarding Corwin getting more lines and coming out of the background} Gradually, yeah; I like to take an actor who's shown a potential for doing more, and gradually *give* that actor more, testing the limits. So we do a bit more with him as we go along. jms Subj: From jms: info Section: Babylon 5: General To: Anita Karve Thursday, December 21, 1995 11:23:01 PM ~From: J. Michael Straczynski #420097 : >I'm glad Lyta made another appearance on the show. If >you've seen some of the recent threads, you'll know >we're *dying* to find out what's going on with her and >the Vorlons. As it happens, as soon as I finish the two-parter, this week, the next script will get a lot more into Lyta and the Vorlons and all that jazz. jms Subj: The Encounter (UK Con) Section: Babylon 5: General To: Ruth Ballam Sunday, December 24, 1995 6:08:07 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski #421134 Well, suffice to say I'd love to see "A Close Shave." But at the same time, I have to be mindful of copyrights and the like. So, basically, I suppose I'm screwed.... jms Subj: G'kar/Cassandra Section: Babylon 5: General To: Chris Gardiner Sunday, December 24, 1995 6:08:06 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski #421133 : >You're twisted. And I love you forever. Thank you. That's m'job. jms Subj: B5Convention Section: Babylon 5: General To: John Bonavita Sunday, December 24, 1995 6:14:15 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski #421136 Now that the fan club has been officially announced, though the organizational aspects are just now starting, we may try and gear up to hold an official B5 convention in about a year. What we've talked about is the idea of having it here in LA, so we could have best chance of getting as many cast members as possible. We'd also try and run it so that it was as close as possible to a fan-run convention in the feeling it created; and as well as cast members and the like, there would be seminars and presentations by our people in prosthetics, wardrobe, makeup, art direction, props and other areas, so it'd be a real learning opportunity. But, again, that's at least a year down the road. jms Subj: B5Convention Section: Babylon 5: General To: The Jawa / Jawa #2 Sunday, December 24, 1995 10:42:30 From: J. Michael Straczynski #421206 : >B5 is heading in Trek's direction: very low-key while >it's on the air, and then comes it's fame. That's the key, I think; I have a suspicion that, like the original ST, our main attention will likely come after we've finished our complete run. The show was designed to be seen in a stripped (once daily) fashion, that's when you really can see the arc moving quickly. And on TNT, once it hits that distributer, it'll finally have what it has never had before in this country: a national broadcaster and a regular timeslot. Once that happens, I expect that what happened in the UK will happen here finally...it'll be Noticed. jms Subj: B5Convention Section: Babylon 5: General To: Philip Hornsey Wednesday, December 27, 1995 8:31:31 From: J. Michael Straczynski #422232 Starting 1998, the show will appear in daily form on TNT; it's already been sold to there. jms Subj: B5Convention Section: Babylon 5: General To: Philip Hornsey Friday, December 29, 1995 9:16:09 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski #423101 "Nice to see you making money." Well, WB, anyway. I get a net profit on the series, which means after all the costs have been taken out...which in turn means that the show will never show a profit (on paper), so I ain't getting a dime of the TNT sale. jms Subj: B5Convention Section: Babylon 5: General To: Chris Croughton Sunday, December 31, 1995 10:44:26 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski #423906 Re: studios and their income tax situations...puh-LEASE, show some decorum; I deal in science fiction, not fantasy.... jms Subj: B5Convention Section: Babylon 5: General To: Carl Bussjaeger Sunday, December 24, 1995 10:42:00 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski #421207 {regarding how to join the fan club} As soon as those details have been worked out, we'll post them. As it is we just *barely* got the paperwork in hand authorizing us to proceed; now comes doing it. jms Subj: B5Convention Section: Babylon 5: General To: Burhaan Ahmad Monday, December 25, 1995 2:27:24 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski #421255 : >You said you would like to make the tapes yourself, >since WB obviously won't. Does Babylonian have the >resources to pull it off to the quality you desire? >I know little about the industry, but it seems to me >that it would be an expensive operation. Or would you >look to lisence the rights to someone other than WB >(assuming they'd allow it)? That's something we're trying to decide now. If we did them ourselves, it'd almost certainly be on a limited-edition basis, to control quality. jms Subj: B5Convention Section: Babylon 5: General To: Susan Law Sunday, December 24, 1995 10:42:02 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski #421208 {regarding joining fan club, etc} The details should be posted sometime after the first part of the year. Re: Talia...it's okay to be pissed about that; it was intended to have that reaction. Things *should* get us annoyed when Psi Corps pulls a stunt like that. And we haven't heard the last of what happened to Talia, btw. That's the B5 universe for you.... jms Subj: B5Convention Section: Babylon 5: General To: Asha DeVelder Tuesday, December 26, 1995 5:54:05 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski #421573 {still on fan club and convention} We'll have more info on all this over the next few weeks.... jms Subj: New to B5 Section: Babylon 5: General To: Theo Thourson Sunday, December 24, 1995 6:14:16 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski #421137 Actually, what you'll generally find is that if you watch a few more eps, the background is usually included. Besides, in the next batch of new episodes, we kind of redefine the very nature of the series, so in a way this is the best time to come aboard. jms Subj: New to B5 Section: Babylon 5: General To: STEVIE ADAM Friday, December 29, 1995 9:16:11 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski #423102 : >Please, is there any way to threaten Channel 4 In the >UK with a Centauri takeover to get them to show series >3 here before mid 96? I think it'll be spring, not mid-1996; also, remember that they don't break up the show with reruns, they air straight through, and the episodes have to be *finished* in time for them to air them straight through (and I think WB is trying to avoid the problem last time of stuff airing in the UK first). But as yet I haven't heard a final date on this. jms Subj: Publicity! Wow! Section: Babylon 5: General To: Anne L. Warner Sunday, December 24, 1995 10:42:29 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski #421205 : >Here in New England, both WSBK (Boston) and WNDS >(Derry, NH) seem to have decided to try actually >promoting Babylon 5. Thanks; that's good to know, and definitely a welcome change. jms Subj: Section: Babylon 5: General To: Jon Wolf Tuesday, December 26, 1995 5:54:03 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski #421572 : >I just re-watched Coming of Shadows, and I think we got >our introduction to Zack in this show. I'm not sure though that that's the first time we saw Zack; I keep thinking it was earlier...I seem to remember him breaking up a fight as the first time we saw him. jms Subj: * *B5 in New Orleans* * Section: Babylon 5: General To: Philip Hornsey December 27, 1995 8:31:30 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski #422231 : >We just had a *huge* shake up in affiliation down here >(three stations swapped Fox -- ABC -- WB) and I am >afraid to guess at what it did to us. Have you any info >on the state of B5 in the New Orleans market? Dunno how this is gonna shake out yet.... jms Subj: USS Runnymede -Newsflash Section: Babylon 5: General To: Debbie Gardiner Thursday, December 28, 1995 2:55:18 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski #422367 : >The Uss Runnymede is pleased to announce that on 6th >January 1996, Babylon 5's newest cast member Jason >Carter (Ranger Marcus Cole), will be appearing at our >monthly meeting. Then perhaps for the one night Jason's there you could rename the place the EAS Runnymede, which is the standard useage on Earth Alliance Starships, as in the EAS Agamem- non....? jms Subj: Section: Babylon 5: General To: SysOp Dupa T. Parrot December 29, 1995 9:16:16 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski #423104 : >On tonight's rerun of "Comes The Inquisitor", I see you >took the hint from the Brits and fixed the "West End" >dialog. The dubbing job was pretty well done. Once the error was brought to my attention, I just couldn't let it slide. jms Subj: OffLine Readers Section: Promenade Alpha To: Carl Bussjaeger Friday, December 29, 1995 9:30:17 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski #423108 What the heck is HMI anyway? jms Subj: Talia/Control Nitpick Section: Babylon 5: General To: John Van Aken Friday, December 29, 1995 9:30:18 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski #423109 {If Talia was Control, why would she order herself eliminated?} My sense was that the Control part, which sometimes moved at night, reported that the mission could be jeapordized. Then B13 gave the order to eliminate. Nowhere does it say that Control said the second half of the sentence. jms Subj: JMS: Pls Clarify -- Section: Babylon 5: General To: Robt Martin Friday, December 29, 1995 9:30:19 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski #423110 : >At the time you posted this, I took this as an expres- >sion of your regard (or lack of same) for the material >that Fangoria covers, not regarding my ability as an >editor. Unfortunately, your semi-jocular observation >is being parenthetically interpreted as a blast at my >abilities, for global distribution. > >Regarding my work at Fangoria, despite the fact that >the magazine specializes in covering some truly >gawdfawful films, I remain proud of the work that I did >there, which only that magazine's regular readers are >in a position to judge. Given your apparent distaste >for the magazine itself, I think I can safely assume >that you only know of my work as editor with regard to >Sci-Fi Entertainment, specifically my own interview >with you, and possibly also my earlier piece on John >Vulich's work. > >As I said, maybe I am being thin-skinned, but to have >your words taken out of context and interpreted in >this manner is, if not of any real harm to my career, >really, really annoying. Can you please clarify the >statement? > >If indeed you did mean to say that I am a lousy editor, >so be it, but that is not what I thought you were >saying. Yet that is what is being sent about. No, the (regarding Mr. Martin's editing of Fangoria) was mainly just intended as a segue into the note about the conventions being fun, since I've attended several of them. I am not sufficiently familiar with your editing to *have* any opinion whatsoever. Since messages here are discreet, I always try to keep some kind of referential within the message. jms Subj: The Gathering Section: Babylon 5: General To: Gerald Himmelein Saturday, December 30, 1995 9:23:24 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski #423485 : >The "pleasure treshold" line was completely destroyed >in translation, btw. Alas, there's nothing I can do at this end about the translations; it's out of my hands. jms Subj: JMS at Necrnomicon? Section: Babylon 5: General To: Mary-Glynn Myers Sunday, December 31, 1995 10:16:30 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski #423883 Yes, at this point, barring any work-related emergencies, I've confirmed for Necronomicon. I'm looking forward to it; it'll be the first time I've been in Floida. jms Subj: Tonight's repeat episode Section: Babylon 5: General To: Rob Carr Sunday, December 31, 1995 10:44:21 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski #423904 Actually, from my perspective, it was never intended as a shot at Christians at all; it was a warning shot to any breed of fanaticism that does not question itself, that assumes, for whatever reason, that it is right and must impose that rightness on others, no matter the price (usually paid by others). To quote a line from "Infection," "When you become obsessed with the enemy, you *become* the enemy." So I guess you could describe it as a shot at Christianity only if you choose to define it in those terms; if not, then it's not. Certainly, though, it does point to being sure that one is doing what one is doing for the right reasons, and the sin of pride, which we all know has a tendency to goeth before a fall. For me, one of the important things about this show is to make people *think* about what they believe. If they come right back to what they originally believed, that's fine. But they've *considered why* they believe it. In all too many cases, our beliefs -- social, political, religious -- are just sort of *there*, invisible, ineffable and unassailable, as much a part of the universe as the air around us. We don't necessarily think WHY we believe it...we do. Which is why, all too often, when someone is challenged on what they believe, they don't have the tools to defend it in any way other than force or anger. But if you *have* considered your beliefs, and you know why you feel a certain way, you can articulate it, explain it, and be more self-confident in it. It allows you to have discussions rathe than arguments, schisms, or border wars. Like I said, I don't have any answers...all I got are some questions, but they're pretty good questions. Our greatest peril is always the danger of the unexamined life. Re: C.S. Lewis...yes, I've read his stuff, from the Screwtape Letters (which are great fun) to Perelandra and That Hideous Strength and others, including some of his polemics and essays on christianity. He was a good thinker and a facile writer...which was sometimes good, and sometimes not so, because he had a tendency to set up straw-man arguments, which made for more persuasive dogma but not always reasonable discussion. And yes, I've read the bible cover to cover, twice. Some good moral tales, an awful lot of blood and violence, some real slow parts (anyone who can make it all the way through Numbers and Deuteronomy has my unbridled respect), some real potboilers, a few plot holes and an inconsistent hero, but overall, commendable reading. (Though one could argue that any number of later writers did a better job of pure writing than is present in the bible -- no self-respecting writer would stop the narrative so often for a few thousand begats and the discussion of cubits...well, except maybe for Herman Mellville, who had far too many asides on whaling technology as parentheticals in Moby Dick...and one should certainly think that a deity would be at least a good a writer as Pynchon or Salinger or Joyce...still, there are spurts of greatness; the book of Job is possibly one of the best stories ever written, and there's much in Psalms and Proverbs to commend itself to anyone...though best to keep the Song of Solomon out of the hands of kids...some racy stuff there....) jms Subj: Taking up your space Section: Babylon 5: General To: Ray Pelzer Sunday, December 31, 1995 10:44:22 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski #423905 : >Joe: Thanks for letting my take up so much space in >your section with this whole USENET/CIS-censorship >issue. I only considered that many people would read >the nessage if it was in Section 5, but I didn't >consider the impact it was having on B5-related >messages. Now that the ball is rolling, I'm going to >move the messages to Section 19, and thank you again >for your patience with me. No problem. jms Subj: $ to run B5 Section: Babylon 5: General To: mike lovitt Sunday, December 31, 1995 10:44:27 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski #423907 Yes, it's been established that the Minbari and the Centauri both funded B5 early on, and docking fees and other charges help pay for day to day operations. jms Subj: Official Fanclub Section: Babylon 5: General To: Keith R. Nelms Sunday, December 31, 1995 10:45:01 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski #423908 : >What can be done to convince WB there is a market for >widescreen B5 on laserdisc? It would likely take nothing less than an absolute revelation from the heavens.... jms Subj: East End, West End Section: Babylon 5: General To: Daniel Barer Thursday, December 28, 1995 2:58:18 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski #422370 : >I was watching "Comes the Inquisitor" with closed- >captioning on tonight (easier to ride the exercise >bike while watching that way) and noticed that Sheridan >now states (correctly) the murders occured in the East >End, while the captions (and Boxleitner's lips, on re- >viewing) still say West End. Glad you fixed the slip-- >are the captions etched in stone? Y'know, I'd totally forgotten about the captions. Nuts. jms Subj: Shadow Training Section: Babylon 5: Upcoming To: Michael Zitaglio Tuesday, December 26, 1995 10:35:12 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski #421902 {regarding Rangers being trained to fight the Shadows} This is one of those questions that can only best be answered in the course of the series; you'll learn a lot more about this subject this season. jms Subj: Shadow Training Section: Babylon 5: Upcoming To: Susan Law Wednesday, December 27, 1995 4:32:28 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski #421938 Of course, judging from recent episodes, Sheridan seems to have been a bit remiss in continuing his lessons from Kosh...ah, well, there'll probably be a price to pay for that somewhere down the road. Only question is who'll have to pay it. jms Subj: Will Zathras reappear? Section: Babylon 5: Upcoming To: Gerald Himmelein December 27, 1995 8:31:26 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski #422229 Yes, he'll appear; no, not before the two-parter; yes, it'll be the same actor. jms Subj: Will Zathras reappear? Section: Babylon 5: Upcoming To: Lolita . Maddalena December 28, 1995 2:58:17 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski #422369 : >Tell me if I'm wrong, but Zathras has been on the >planet with the old mimbari, hasn't he? Well, that's what Draal said earlier.... jms Subj: Will Zathras reappear? Section: Babylon 5: Upcoming To: Gerald Himmelein Friday, December 29, 1995 9:16:15 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski #423103 : >Comment: Zathras looked somewhat bird-like, much like >an owl, a screech owl (Kauz, in German). Now, Zathras >behaves like a "komischer Kauz" (oddball). So his >behavior and appearance match, at least in German. >Coincidence or cleverness on the creator's part? Coincidence; I ain't that smart. jms