Subj: B5Convention Section: Babylon 5: General To: The Jawa / Jawa #2 Monday, January 01, 1996 7:15:16 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski #424182 {regarding how long it took to get the "Kosh scene" just right} It took, literally, months of trial and error, design and redesign, which is why we did it as the last episode of that season. jms Subj: Talia/Control Nitpick Section: Babylon 5: General To: John Van Aken Tuesday, January 02, 1996 1:28:18 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski #424358 {regarding referring to Control as "he"} You always refer to agents in the single "he" form to avoid giving away identities. That's my story and I'm sticking to it. jms Subj: JMS at Necrnomicon? Section: Babylon 5: General To: Richard P. Manny Tuesday, January 02, 1996 3:35:07 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski #424585 {regarding when Necronomicon is} October sometime. jms Subj: Tonight's repeat episode Section: Babylon 5: General To: Rob Carr Monday, January 01, 1996 9:50:14 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski #424288 BTW, if you're really looking for something around which to base a sermon, read Mark Twain's "The Man Who Corrupted Hadleyburg," available in most of his anthologies. I think the operative point will come through without my having to spell it out here. jms Subj: Official Fanclub Section: Babylon 5: General To: Keith R. Nelms Monday, January 01, 1996 7:15:14 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski #424181 : >is there someone somewhere we can write, call, fax, >email, etc.? Nope, it's been tried, without success, so we may attempt doing the videos ourselves on a limited-edition basis. jms Subj: ST Book from J Friedmann Section: Star Trek: General To: paul wood Monday, January 01, 1996 3:03:27 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski #423942 At last count there were only a few copies of Ellison's CITY ON THE EDGE OF FOREVER limited-edition hardcover, containing various versions of the script, outlines, essays by Nimoy and Takai and Koenig and Kelley and others. You can order one by calling 1-800-528-3310. They're $75 plus $5 shipping and handling. (And they're gorgeous, well-made books, btw, well worth the money.) jms Subj: ST Book from J Friedmann Section: Star Trek: General To: GREG LASH Monday, January 01, 1996 7:15:13 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski #424180 : >I understand that the trade hardcover edition of THE >CITY ON THE EDGE OF FOREVER has been cancelled. What's >up with that? Borderlands Press will not be doing the trade paperback because it did not have the final rights to do so, and other problems during the production of the book -- the high number of typos and errors made that delayed the book's publication -- led to the rights being taken elsewhere. jms Subj: Upcoming:B5 Ep Section: Babylon 5: Upcoming To: Daniel M. Upton Monday, January 01, 1996 7:15:17 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski #424183 : >Speaking of Trek/B5 crossovers did you notice that the >Star Fleet Admiral who is apparently involved in a >conspiracy to take over the Federation government >because it isn't taking the Founder/Gem Haddar threat >seriously enough is played by the same actor who does >Gen. Hague? Yeah, I caught that, and the description in TV Guide...y'know, this is really starting to bug me.... jms Subj: Upcoming:B5 Ep Section: Babylon 5: Upcoming To: Philip Hornsey Tuesday, January 02, 1996 3:35:09 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski #424586 "Imitation is the sincerest form of television." Fred Allen jms Subj: Bester PsiCorp Shadows ? Section: Babylon 5: General To: Jeffrey Martino Monday, January 01, 1996 9:43:10 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski #424280 No, it wasn't Bester at the Senator's office. jms Subj: The Gathering: Garibaldi Section: Babylon 5: General To: SysOp Dupa T. Parrot January 01, 1996 9:50:13 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski #424287 No, it was intended to be chemically inoffensive...I think the props folks just put out drinks on the table and didn't think too much about it. jms Subj: Hello! Section: Babylon 5: General To: Neil Blevins Monday, January 01, 1996 9:54:04 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski #424289 >You're a Jawa and not a Jawaette. Are there male >Jawas? I know so little about your species. Jawanettes? Jawaninas? Jawanesses? Jawarinas? Jawanatrix? Jawatress? jms Subj: Last of the Dilgar ??? Section: Babylon 5: General To: Gerard Keating (Ireland) January 02, 1996 3:35:04 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski #424584 : >"Have we seen the last of the DeathWalkers race, The >Dilgar?" They're dead as doornails. jms Subj: Upcoming:B5 Ep Section: Babylon 5: Upcoming To: JULIA Monday, January 01, 1996 3:09:03 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski #423943 {Regarding Majel Barrett Roddenberry going back into acting} I'd just like to say that Majel did a great job for us on B5, and we are hoping we can come up with other opportuni- ties for the character to return. I know that Majel is interested in pursuing other acting gigs outside ST, and I wish her all the best. I think other shows would do well to utilize her abilities; everyone had a great time working with her, and she should be recognized for work other than ST. Perhaps folks should let the producers of other shows know that she's available now, and interested, and that they'd like to see her appear on other shows from time to time. (Maybe someone could drop the folks at X-Files of Space a note in their forums....) jms Subj: From jms: info Section: Babylon 5: General To: Pat Russell Tuesday, January 02, 1996 1:28:19 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski #424359 : >Walter is doing a great job with Bester. Understand we >will see him again this season. Looking forward to >it. Tell him he does "rotten" well. Yeah, Walter's doing a great job with it. So far we're going to see Bester twice this season at least, which I'm very happy about. jms Subj: From jms: info Section: Babylon 5: General To: Joe Salemi [ZD Net] January 03, 1996 4:22:14 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski #425082 Walter is also in "Ship of Tears." jms Subj: From jms: info Section: Babylon 5: General To: Joe Salemi [ZD Net] January 04, 1996 2:47:08 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski #425352 {regarding B5 being one of the top rated shows on WDCA} That's good to know; WDCA has been very supportive of B5 from the very beginning, hence the show is, as you quote, "one of (their) highest rated programs." Those that treat the show well, find it *does* well. jms Subj: The One Section: Babylon 5: Upcoming To: Mark Koro Tuesday, January 02, 1996 8:31:13 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski #424747 Careful...you're straying into concrete story ideas here.... jms Subj: Dr. Seuss version of B5. Section: Babylon 5: General To: JMS, Tuesday, January 02, 1996 8:28:15 PM From: C Clark #424744 This Message, by Kevin Freels, was posted to the RASTB5 newsgroup a few days ago and I repost it here with permis- sion. If Dr. Suess had written for Babylon 5.... (...Intro music starts up when we see the network of P-TEN...) We live here on Bab'lon 5 to keep our last great hope alive. So far, it seems, since Season One, The war of Shadows has begun. So victory now is what we need if Bab'lon Five is to succeed! This Minbari, she's Delenn. She speaks in riddles now & then. She has a bone upon her head. She'd rather have some hair instead. Delenn: "Hi there! Ho there! My old friend! It's nice to see you once again. Come, let's talk of Councils Gray, And Crystal candles as we pray. I live here on Bab'lon Five To keep our last great hope alive." This is Delenn's friend, Lennier. You may ask, "Why is he here? He looks familiar! I know his face! He used to be on 'Lost in Space'!". Just like her, he's real verbose, And smells like fish-heads when you're up close. Londo: "I am Londo, tall and proud! (though some might say that I'm too loud!) I'm Centauri, so you see. My hair defies all gravity. We Centauri will someday rule. (Actually, we're just a tool. The Shadows really run the game. Alas! Such is the price of fame!) I like women, game, and drink. I drink and drink 'till I can't think! I live here on Bab'lon Five To keep my ego hopes alive. This is my assistant, Vir." Vir: "I would like--" Londo: "Get out of here!" This green lizard is G'Kar. He has come from very far. G'Kar: "I'm not a lizard! I'm a Narn! Time is crucial! I must warn! We're all in danger! Londo's nuts! His henchmen shadows kicked our butts! They've driven us down to our knees! Send lawyers, guns and money, please! Ion cannons! Ruby lasers! Even dusty Star Trek phasers!" This is Kosh. He gives me creeps! He barely speaks, just whirrrs & beeps. Kosh: *clakkity* *clakkity*!! *whirrr* *buzz* Beep! "You've always been here!" *ka-chunk* *gleep*! He always says that in fog-like scenes. I still don't know just what it means! He wears that suit to hide from us. Does he wear it on the bus? Garibaldi: "They're all guilty! Every one! I'll bust 'em up to have some fun! I'll bring in those bad beserkers, All those liars, thieves and lurkers." He's my Chief Security. Testosterone flows in him free. He's pretty edgy. I know why. Since Mars was home, well, he's been dry. He's really hyper, so I think. But imagine if he had a drink! This is Susan-- Ivanova: "As you were! I'm Ivanova! And call me 'Sir'! I'm delicate, on one small side, But touch me and I'll tan your hide! And though to you I might appeal, I once faked sex to clinch a deal. So stand your post and keep your ground, Or, I promise, you I'll pound." Meet the Doctor. He stays up late, And works for forty hours straight! Dr. Franklin: "I heal aliens, those are my jobs. Humans and Martians, Reptiles and Blobs! Wozzles and Snangles and Bug-eyed Kertunkers! Yellow-faced insects with Red-winged Dondunkers! Centauri! Membari! Vorlons and Narn! I'd even help creatures made out of yarn! So I will stay living on Bab'lon Five To keep all these strange little creatures alive!" Talia's a telepath. She once followed in our path. But a time-bomb in her mind Has made her evil and unkind. It's doubtful she can be our friend. Our trust in her is at an end. The Psi-corp has a man named Bester. He could be labled "Mind Molester". He's evil, mean, and nasty, too! He can read the thoughts of you. We must give him credit, tho. He drove a starship years ago. Bester: "I've known your kind and what to do. So I'll be back. Be seeing you." This man Morden, standing here. He is one that you should fear. He has shadows for his brothers. He doesn't play so well with others. --- So that's my story. It's lonely here. We're so far out, there is no beer. I'm stuck out here on Bab'lon Five To keep our last great hope alive. I'm stuck out here, it's just not fair! It's all the fault of that Sinclair! He bailed out, I took the fall, And now he won't return my call! But... It could be worse, it's just five years. Or I could have Ferengi ears. And when all is said and done, I'm not Harlan Ellison! -- ...kevin Subj: Dr. Seuss version of B5. Section: Babylon 5: General To: C Clark Wednesday, January 03, 1996 12:26:02 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski #424821 Too, too, too weird....funny, though.... jms Subj: ARRRRRRRRGGGHHH! Section: Babylon 5: General To: Lynn Dimock Wednesday, January 03, 1996 2:49:15 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski #424857 : >I'm sorry, I know this is thread drift, but my team is >getting its butt whopped at the Fiesta Bowl and I am >ready to scream. It's not so much the score as the way >three Florida guys have had to be hauled off the field >so far (how many football players do you hear of with >dislocated *hips* for crying out loud), and the general >attitude of the Nebraska players. And yes, if my guys >were acting like that I'd still be upset (though, to >be honest, not as much). You are not ready for victory. jms Subj: Bester PsiCorp Shadows ? Section: Babylon 5: General To: J. Michael Straczynski January 03, 1996 8:56:22 PM From: John Van Aken #425236 <> This is probably one of those Questions Which Will Not Be Answered, but... ..any reason why? Subj: Bester PsiCorp Shadows ? Section: Babylon 5: General To: John Van Aken Thursday, January 04, 1996 2:47:06 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski #425351 Yes. jms Subj: Bester PsiCorp Shadows ? Section: Babylon 5: General To: Tom LeCompte Thursday, January 04, 1996 2:56:20 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski #425354 "To define is to kill; to suggest is to create." Mallarme. jms Subj: THANKS FOREVER BOOK Section: Star Trek: General To: paul wood Thursday, January 04, 1996 2:47:10 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski #425353 Actually, the reruns aren't skipping the season 3 opener, only (for some reason) the season 2 closer; the first one of year three just aired here in LA tonight, in fact. And thanks.... jms Subj: ITS OVER Section: Babylon 5: Upcoming To: James A. Du Bois Thursday, January 04, 1996 2:56:21 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski #425355 : >Just to pick a nit that drives me up the fraggen wall: >The millennia doesn't end on December 31, 1999, but on >December 31, 2000. There was no year 0 so the end of >the first thousand years occurred on December 31, 1000. Funny thing is, some mathematicians disagree with this assessment; no, there was no year 0, but there was a year 10 and 20 and 30 and so on (though all, as you note, assigned in retrospect). So some of them have taken the position that the first century was simply short one year, rather than rolling every other century back one year. jms Subj: Legacies Question Section: Babylon 5: General To: Michael Guenther Friday, January 05, 1996 1:52:28 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski #425833 : >I just saw Legacies last night and I have a question >for you concerning the young Telepath introduced in >the story. Now that Alison and Sinclair are on the >Minbari homeworld has Sinclair met her since then? >Will we see more of her? I'm sure a P10 would come in >handy for the coming struggle... There are no current plans for that character, no. jms Subj: B5 Aliens Streib Section: Babylon 5: Upcoming To: Bert Johnson Friday, January 05, 1996 1:52:29 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski #425834 : >I have been going throught the AVI files in my new B5 >screen saver and came upon the Streib. Are they named >in recogntion of Whitley Streiber's aliens in his >books? They look the same. It's a nod, yes; and the comics were/are meant to be complementary, within the B5 universe but not required to follow the show. jms Subj: B5 Aliens Streib Section: Babylon 5: Upcoming To: The Jawa / Jawa #2 Friday, January 05, 1996 3:46:10 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski #426115 {regarding a new B5 novel} Yes, there's another novel due out fairly soon, within the next month or so. jms Subj: Official Fanclub Section: Babylon 5: General To: Susan Law Friday, January 05, 1996 1:52:31 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski #425835 : >Saw your post on rastb5 a couple of days ago - enjoyed >it. Anyhow regarding B5 merchandise that you're >considering - how about the Ranger pins - any chance >of those being available? I'd sure spring for one. Not a bad idea; those would be expensive to make, though, so I'm not sure if it'd work. We'll see.... jms Subj: B5: Promoting B5 Section: Babylon 5: General To: peter stathis Friday, January 05, 1996 2:10:31 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski #425841 : >Just curious, but I was wondering why none of the cast >members have done the talk show circuit? It couldn't >hurt. I also heard that when Harlan was on Tom >Snyder's show he made no mention of B5 at all. Once again you make broad statements: "none of the cast members have done the talk show circuit." Not correct. Bruce has done the Stephanie Miller show, showed up on the Tonight Show, the Mike and Maddie show (same there for Jerry Doyle, who's done other talk shows including several network morning shows, such as the the FX cable network show), they've all done various national radio shows, and other talk shows. So for starters you're not correct; they're doing some, and we're working on doing more. The problem is that most talk shows want major, recognized stars from hit network shows, and syndication doesn't get a lot of attention there. jms Subj: Official Fanclub Section: Babylon 5: General To: Asha DeVelder Saturday, January 06, 1996 12:20:21 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski #426399 We literally just signed the contracts; we now have to get a space for the fanclub operations, set up the www page (which we hope will be up during the next batch of episodes), hire the people we've selected to run it, and then we can put the word out. As with everything else, we always make sure we're prepared before going forward with anything. jms Subj: Minbari Military Section: Babylon 5: General To: Paul Owen Saturday, January 06, 1996 12:20:18 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski #426396 : >As we are waiting for Season 3 here in the UK I was >just wondering why are the Rangers here at all?? where >is the Minbari military in all of this , ? Is this >another twist in an already superbly convoluted >plot???. Is this going to become clearer in S3 This is one of the things that's better gone into in the show. jms Subj: "Survivors" question... Section: Babylon 5: General To: Neville White Saturday, January 06, 1996 12:20:19 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski #426397 : >I hope you don't mind me asking, but I was wondering >the other day whether there was any come-back on the >woman from Garibaldi's past that we saw in "Survivors" >back in series one... security for president Santiago, >yet he got assassinated at the end of series one... No, we haven't established what happened to her, but we will in time. jms Subj: "Survivors" question...Section: Babylon 5: General To: Gerald Himmelein Saturday, January 06, 1996 6:13:18 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski #426857 : >{Well, we'll be waiting for her reappearance (or will >she only appear in a "throwaway line" like the >resolution of the situation on Ragesh 3 in Season 1?).} No, if we go into what happened, and where she is, it kinda behooves us to show her. jms Subj: Midnight in the ... Section: Babylon 5: General To: Sharon Foster Saturday, January 06, 1996 12:20:20 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski #426398 : >Forgive me if this has been asked a dozen times by now, >but a friend of mine wants to know if Harlan's story >in next month's Fantasy & Science Fiction, called >"Midnight in the Sunken Cathedral", is a Babylon 5 >story and if so, is it canonical. He says it was the >working title of an episode that never got made. No, it's not a B5 story; he liked the title, and used it there instead. jms Subj: Grand Admiral Section: Babylon 5: Upcoming To: Charles Agius Saturday, January 06, 1996 12:20:25 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski #426400 Knowing Bruce, *every* charity is his favorite charity. Any one you pick will likely be fine. jms Subj: Famous "Who Are you?" Section: Babylon 5: General To: Phillip A. Cochran January 06, 1996 6:13:13 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski #426855 {regarding the question "who are you?"} Yeah, that's one of the primal questions, isn't it? And one that we are too often distracted from considering. jms Subj: Stuff Section: Babylon 5: Upcoming To: John M. Kahane Sunday, January 07, 1996 7:21:12 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski #427668 : >is there more that you can say about this episode and >the Bester role? Could, yeah, but I'd rather let that episode reveal itself...there's not much I can say about it that wouldn't spoil it for people. jms Subj: Tonight's repeat episode Section: Babylon 5: General To: Rebecca Eschliman Sunday, January 07, 1996 7:21:15 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski #427669 : >Whether Centauri, Narn, Minbari, Drazi, Vorlon, If one >stops to think about the fact that these civilizations >have not developed against a background of human >interactions it is a lot more difficult to assign a >morality to their actions. Therefore one has to >examine one's own ethical beliefs is contrast to >whatever reactions we have to your other civilazations >and one hopes, to think about why we believe what we >do. I think it's not enough just to *have* non-Earth civilizations. First you have to explore them, and set them up as real, individual forces. Second, it becomes easy to say, "Well, I don't have to think about this particular issue, it's just an alien thing. Isn't it interesting that they should feel this way?" It's more effective in some way to make the *really* challenging issues ones that directly involve humans...it doesn't leave us as much wriggle room to avoid considering the issue. jms Subj: KIDIST REMARK IN "TKO" Section: Babylon 5: General To: The Jawa / Jawa #2 Sunday, January 07, 1996 7:32:24 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski #427671 : >This is a catastrophe of immense proportions!! >IVANOVA MADE A KIDIST REMARK IN "TKO"! >The scene: father's memorial. >The remark: "...pouting in that way that only 13 > can..." >I don't know what to do. >Ivanova seemed so *decent!* >Joe, Joe, how could you let that slip PAST?? >What should we do? Point One: the script was written by Larry DiTillio, not me. Point Two: the comment is essentially correct; ain't nobody can pout like a 13 year old. jms Subj: A question about Morden Section: Babylon 5: General To: Michael Milutinovic Monday, January 08, 1996 1:41:22 From: J. Michael Straczynski #428074 : >Are the Sheridan, Garibaldi and the others keeping an >eye on Morden? They do when he's there, or at least they try to, but he's not there a lot, and when he is...well, see for your- self.... jms Subj: Another oldie query... Section: Babylon 5: General To: Neville White Monday, January 08, 1996 11:56:07 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski #428578 : > >Lennier revealed to Sheridan et. al. at the start of >series 2 the issue of discovering Minbari souls in >(some?) humans as the reason for surrendering at the >climax of the war. > >My question is:- does Sinclair know this too? Do the >Minbari know how much he knows, and if so do they mind >now? If this all gets sorted out in the much antici- >pated series 3, you can just say "it's in series 3" if >you like! Sinclair knows now. And the triluminary mark is an implant, which reacts that way in the presence of shadows or their direct "employees." jms Subj: "And Now a Word..." Section: Babylon 5: General To: William H. DiPaola January 08, 1996 11:56:08 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski #428579 : >I seem to recall in the episode from last season >titled, "And Now A Word..." that G'Kar's name was >misspelled with in "H" in place of the "K" when he was >being interviewed(G'Har). No, I'm pretty sure it was spelled right; it may just be the typeface used that makes a K look a bit like an H. jms Subj: B5 Novels Section: Babylon 5: Upcoming To: John M. Kahane Monday, January 08, 1996 11:56:14 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski #428581 There are two more novels coming out after "Clark's Law," one by Neal Barrett Jr. and the other by S. M. Stirling. jms Subj: B5 Novels Section: Babylon 5: Upcoming To: Mark D. Smith, Wednesday, January 10, 1996 11:40:03 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#429807 His novel is about Babylon 5. You were expecting talking mice? (To say more is to give it away; suffice to say that Stirling's book has some really nice stuff with Garibaldi, Londo and Ivanova in particular, though the other characters are treated nicely as well.) jms Subj: Our Official Name Section: Babylon 5: General To: Rowan Kaiser, Tuesday, January 09, 1996 2:57:22 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski #428643 : >What's our official name? Star Trek buffs are >"trekkies", X-files fans are "X-philes", MST3K fans >are MiSTies, so what are we? PITAS. Persons of Infinite Taste And Sensibilities. jms Subj: Section: Babylon 5: General To: SysOp Dupa T. Parrot January 10, 1996 3:59:17 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski #429310 : >In "The Fall Of Night", in the fighter jock's locker >room we see Keffer wearing a blue scarf with white >stars. Meanwhile, "Mitch" is wearing what looks like a >white scarf with red stars. Is the scarf a squadron >thing or something else? I do believe they relate to squadrons, yes. jms Subj: Stuff Section: Babylon 5: Upcoming To: John M. Kahane Sunday, January 07, 1996 7:21:12 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski #427668 : >Isn't this the one that has Shadow ship and stuff in >it? I don't know all that much about it, but is there >more that you can say about this episode and the Bester >role? Could, yeah, but I'd rather let that episode reveal itself...there's not much I can say about it that wouldn't spoil it for people. jms Subj: "Survivors" question... Section: Babylon 5: General To: John M. Kahane Monday, January 08, 1996 11:56:16 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski #428582 : >I have always thought that Lianna Kemmer was an >important person in the life of Michael Garibaldi, and >"Survivors" left a few threads hanging. It'll be good >to see or at least find out what happened to Lianna in >the aftermath of Santiago's death. If nothing else, I >don't think she was on board Earthforce One when it >blew, since she'd be doing the work on Io station >proper, right? That's correct; as with her arrival at B5, she would've been handling the advance work on Io prior to Santiago's arrival. jms Subj: Stuff Section: Babylon 5: Upcoming To: John M. Kahane, Thursday, January 11, 1996 12:33:05 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#429846 I'll say one thing about one of those eps, but I won't say which one; when people hear what it appears to be about, the immediate reaction is going to be "Oh, god, they're not doing THAT are they?" and there'll be a lot of sarcasm and head shaking...until the episode airs, and folks see that what it's about...is *not* what it's about...and I think it'll be a very popular episode thereafter. jms Subj: B5 Novels Section: Babylon 5: Upcoming To: John M. Kahane, Saturday, January 13, 1996 2:00:20 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#431161 What happens is that the company waits until they know if the series is picked up for the next season before issuing more books; once we're picked up, they assign more books to writers, so there's always a delay. jms Subj: Stuff Section: Babylon 5: Upcoming To: Tom Knudsen, Thursday, January 11, 1996 11:57:05 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#430516 <<"Oh, god, they're not doing THAT are they?" and there'll be a lot of sarcasm and head shaking...until the episode airs, and folks see that what it's about...is *not* what it's about...and I think it'll be a very popular episode thereafter> So the episode we see will not be the episode we see, nor will it be the episode seen by anyone else???> Go to your room. jms Subj: A question about Morden Section: Babylon 5: General To: Nigel Nixon, Thursday, January 11, 1996 3:11:08 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#430246 If you mean Morden, yes. jms Subj: Another oldie query... Section: Babylon 5: General To: Robert Miller, Friday, January 12, 1996 2:54:28 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#430797 <>>And the triluminary mark is an implant, which reacts that way in the presence of shadows or their direct "employees." In that case, why did it appear on Delenn's forehead during Sinclair's interrogation at the Battle of the Line? And why was it on the Grey Council member's forehead at the end of "And the Sky Full of Stars"?> It's also the insignia of the Grey Council, given its long tradition of safeguarding. They use it at certain times and under certain conditions. jms Subj: Fan club Section: Babylon 5: General To: Gary Weinfurther, Saturday, January 13, 1996 2:00:21 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#431162 Like I said, we've barely gotten the paperwork signed; we're in the process now of initiating a web site, getting the incorporation papers, so we're still doing all the business stuff at this point. jms Subj: Ellison voice of comp? Section: Babylon 5: General To: Brian A. Thomas, Saturday, January 13, 1996 2:00:22 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#431163 Yes, Harlan does the voice; where did you get the notion that he was going to be less involved? jms Subj: Ellison voice of comp? Section: Babylon 5: General To: The Jawa / Jawa #2, Saturday, January 13, 1996 8:28:01 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#431581 Harlan does whatever Harlan wants. jms Subj: Ellison voice of comp? Section: Babylon 5: General To: The Jawa / Jawa #2, Sunday, January 14, 1996 4:53:12 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#432052 Joe, what were you thinking?-- that needs to be redone completely!" Then he tells you how he thinks you should do it. Am I close ?> Not bad. jms Subj: Opening credits season 3 Section: Babylon 5: General To: Morris L. Gavant, M.D., Sunday, January 14, 1996 4:53:11 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#432051 No, I don't think even I could ever manage to be that obscure. jms Subj: "Star Lost" TV Series Section: SF/Fantasy TV To: Jeff Kuzma, Monday, January 15, 1996 1:27:02 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#432326 "...never once did he (Harlan) disown that effort (`City on the Edge of Forever')...." The only thing wrong with that statement is that it isn't true. Harlan only kept his own name on City after Roddenberry pleaded with him to do so; further, it was Harlan's *original* script, not the rewrite, that earned the Writers Guild of America award that year...and, in fact, he has *always* maintained in print, and in every interview that he's given, that he is in no way responsible for the televised version. You are, basically, repeating a canard that Gene repeated at cons, that was not in any way, manner, shape or form the truth. If you want to get the documented facts in this case, not the mythos that's grown up around it, I suggest you get the Borderlands Press version of "City," which includes memos, all versions of the script and outline, and afterwords by Nimoy, Kelley, Koenig, Takai and others involved in the episode. jms Subj: Matters of Honor Section: Babylon 5: General To: T.N.Tumbusch, Monday, January 15, 1996 7:52:25 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#432789 Nope, not Lennier. jms Subj: B5 Novels Section: Babylon 5: Upcoming To: John M. Kahane, Tuesday, January 16, 1996 6:30:00 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#433351 It's something I really haven't had time to consider at this point. jms Subj: Babylon 5 Movie !?!?!?!? Section: Babylon 5: General To: Laurence Moroney, Tuesday, January 16, 1996 6:30:03 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#433353 There've been discussions about a DTV project, a one-off, but nothing's set yet. The ratings are doing well; the reason some (not many) stations have time-shifted the show to later hours is that independent stations only have 2 hours per night of prime time, 8-10 p.m., doing news at 10. More and more they're tied up with pre-set agreements with Fox, UPN and WB, so anything else has to get put into later slots. jms Subj: Babylon 5 Movie !?!?!?!? Section: Babylon 5: General To: Laurence Moroney, Wednesday, January 17, 1996 4:05:11 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#433899 Well, any time you move to a later slot it's going to affect the numbers. As for WB moving the show into later slots for purposes alleged in a fanzine...for starters, WB has *zero* control over where the stations run the show. It's all determined locally. So for starters the story is bogus. Second, on the "expensive" line, our episodes cost just under $900,000 per, as opposed to $1.2 to $1.6 million per episode (or more) on DS9 and Voyager. Work it out. jms Subj: Babylon 5 Movie !?!?!?!? Section: Babylon 5: General To: SysOp Dupa T. Parrot, Thursday, January 18, 1996 1:02:09 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#434213 Seasons one and two both came in slightly under budget; we're still into this season, but three is shaping up about the same. jms Subj: B5 Studio Section: Babylon 5: General To: Michael Zitaglio, Thursday, January 18, 1996 1:02:09 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#434212 We don't shoot on the Warners lot, so it's kind of a moot question (the facilities we do have, across town, aren't set up for tours, I'm afraid). jms Subj: B5 Hankies? Section: Babylon 5: General To: Bill Hayes, Thursday, January 18, 1996 1:08:17 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#434229 You just have to brace yourself for the work, and burn through it by being somewhat monomanaical and obsessive. It takes a toll, but in the end, it is or should be worth it, otherwise why do it? I've gotten used to handling work and deadlines, so it really doesn't bother me too much, unless I'm really under the gun. Thus far, I've written something like 170 *produced* TV scripts, maybe a bit more, and by the end of this season will have written 49 B5 scripts. This season, in writing 22 episodes, not counting first drafts and revisions which would double the figure easily, I'll have written about 1,000 pages in less than 10 months. That's two full-sized novels. I try not to think about that too much.... jms Subj: B5 Hankies? Section: Babylon 5: General To: Philip Hornsey, Thursday, January 18, 1996 1:17:14 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#434507 I've been on as much as usual; sometimes I have more to say, sometimes even *I* get tired of my own "voice" after a while, and figure everyone else must as well. jms Subj: B5 Hankies? Section: Babylon 5: General To: The Jawa / Jawa #2, Friday, January 19, 1996 1:44:17 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#435143 Not only did "Messages From Earth" come out as well as I'd hoped or thought it would, it came out *better*. It is, potentially, either one of the best or the best thing we've ever done in the whole series to date. There are some episodes that come close this season, like "Point of No Return," "A Late Delivery From Avalon," "Sic Transit Vir" (for absolutely different reasons), and parts of "Dust to Dust," but so far -- at least until the CGI for "Severed Dreams" is finished, which has at least a shot at knocking "Messages" out of the box -- "Messages" is as close to perfect as we've ever come. Like "The Coming of Shadows" there's a real sense of a *story* being told, and major events happening at breakneck speed. It's just a joy to watch. jms Subj: B5 Hankies? Section: Babylon 5: General To: The Jawa / Jawa #2, Thursday, January 18, 1996 1:17:15 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#434508 I use Movie Master for my scripts, Wordstar 7.0 for prose. None of the files are very big individually, only en masse. jms Subj: Quick Q about Mindwiping Section: Babylon 5: General To: Gerard Keating (Ireland), Friday, January 19, 1996 1:44:15 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#435142 I actually don't know how I'd stand on that...to render the argument correctly in the show, I've had to "convince" myself on both sides of the issue. When it happens for real, I'll have an opinion. jms Subj: Q: Laurie Anderson Section: Babylon 5: General To: Gerard Keating (Ireland), Friday, January 19, 1996 11:05:05 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#435436 Haven't heard the CD; yeah, some themes keep coming up in odd places. jms Subj: GROPOS question Section: Babylon 5: General To: John Hardin, Saturday, January 20, 1996 6:01:27 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#435808 <[Posted on behalf of ] In "Gropos" Garabaldi tells Dodger of all the weird stuff that's been happening to him, and most of the references I recognized from events on the show, except when he mentions meeting a lady, "the kind a guy like me normally doesn't have a chance with" (paraphrasing from memory). Who is he talking about?> That would be Talia. jms Subj: UK B5 20/1/96 CITV Section: Babylon 5: General To: Nigel Nixon, Saturday, January 20, 1996 6:02:02 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#435810 That would be Ceremonies of Light and Dark. What else was shown? jms Date: 21-Jan-96 15:35:07 From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com> To: Nigel Nixon <100666.2174@compuserve.com> Subject: UK B5 20/1/96 CITV Nigel Nixon <100666.2174@compuserve.com> asks: > Ou est la mauvaise Filles? All an extra does is walk across a room, that's all. There are no lines, no performances, just standing in a room or walking across. There aren't a lot of requirements for that, it has nothing to do with the story, so I don't quite understand what's got you so exercised about this. jms ------------------------------ Date: 21-Jan-96 21:47:28 From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com> To: Nigel Nixon <100666.2174@compuserve.com> Subject: UK B5 20/1/96 CITV Nigel Nixon <100666.2174@compuserve.com> asks: > Ou est la mauvaise Filles? Basically, whether the show is a new one or an old one, it doesn't much enter into it...as a syndicated show we take any PR we can get. We didn't go to them, they came to us and said they wanted to do it. We said yes. That was kind of the end-all and be-all of it. jms ------------------------------ Date: 22-Jan-96 15:27:59 From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com> To: John Hardin <74076.22@compuserve.com> Subject: Military Questions John Hardin <74076.22@compuserve.com> asks: > I am very interested in the military in B5, what they are doing? > Does the Earth Alliance military simply follow the President, or > does the Admiralty have its own mind? Will the EA do anything that > the Senators and President says? What does the EA military feel > about the loss of its telepaths? What does the EA military think > about the station B5? You basically said the Manbire military is > under the control of the shadow (rather simple view I know) is > the earth military the same way? 1. I am very interested in the military in B5, what they are doing? All kinds of things. Some good, some not so. Does the Earth Alliance military simply follow the President, or does the Admiralty have its own mind? Any military must respect the chain of command. You can't have the military setting its own agenda. The president proposes, the military disposes. Will the EA do anything that the Senators and President says? Well, the EA military must obey the President as Commander in Chief. The EA government is always quibbling. They're like that. What does the EA military feel about the loss of its telepaths? The EA military hasn't lost any telepaths that I know of. Don't know what this refers to. What does the EA military think about the station B5? "Cushy job. And they're a bunch of loose cannons over there. Maybe we better see if we can help straighten things out." You basically said the Manbire military is under the control of the shadow (rather simple view I know) is the earth military the same way? No, I never said that, and the Minbari are NOT under Shadow control. My next question is on getting your show on military T.V. The network is called AFARTS, Armed Forces A(something) Radio and Television something something. Anyway, AFARTS does not show commercials. After not seeing stateside commercials for over 5 years, you actually start missing them, anyway, they don't do advertisements, and basically ask for the show. DS9, Bay watch etc. either give it to AFARTS or gives it to them for next to nothing. I was wondering if you were even willing to enterin the ideal. If so, we have to start a write in "beg campaign" to get worthless AFARTS (actually they are O.K., but it is a sailors right to complain) to talk to someone. Last big thing was getting the Rush Limbaugh show, on the radio, that had to go to congress, before the FoB plants/sympatiers in the pentagon/Admiralty would allow it. I'm up for it, we've talked to Warners about it, but it's their call, not mine. jms ------------------------------ Date: 23-Jan-96 00:12:17 From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com> To: Barbara Pfieffer <72302.2453@compuserve.com> Subject: New eps & summertime Barbara Pfieffer <72302.2453@compuserve.com> asks: > Would Warners do that? > Or are you afraid they'll do the same thing they did to us (and > you) last year? I haven't yet been apprised of the air schedule past February, so I'm as much in the dark as anyone else just now. I'm hoping for the best. jms ------------------------------ Date: 23-Jan-96 00:12:18 From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com> To: Tom LeCompte <76711.572@compuserve.com> Subject: Military Questions Tom LeCompte <76711.572@compuserve.com> asks: > If you don't mind, could you clarify the role of telepaths in the > EA military? And certainly CDR Ivanova lives in perpetual fear > that she'll be found out and kicked out - or is her sin in the > eyes of EA more in *lying* about her telepathy than in having it? > (Which brings to mind something else - where do the people who > are "not even a P-1" end up? The military uses telepaths on a loan-out or special intelligence basis, rather than within the core units of soldiers and officers. jms ------------------------------ Date: 23-Jan-96 00:12:19 From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com> To: Joe Salemi [ZD Net] <72631.23@compuserve.com> Subject: COS <-> MOH connection? Joe Salemi [ZD Net] <72631.23@compuserve.com> asks: > Would that happen to be the same planet the Rangers were chased > off of in "Matters of Honor"? Could be. jms ------------------------------ Date: 23-Jan-96 11:38:06 From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com> To: Joe Salemi [ZD Net] <72631.23@compuserve.com> Subject: COS <-> MOH connection? Joe Salemi [ZD Net] <72631.23@compuserve.com> asks: > Or not, right? You'll love it. You'll be creeped out by it, but you'll love it. It's a great film. jms ------------------------------ Date: 23-Jan-96 11:38:07 From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com> To: Philip Hornsey <74053.2101@compuserve.com> Subject: Military Questions Philip Hornsey <74053.2101@compuserve.com> asks: > When the soulhunter said "You would do such a thing?" > to Delenn when he peeked into her soul, was he referring to the > change she made in Chrysalis or *something else*? I know Neroon > detests Delenn, but is he likely more friendly to Ambassador > Sinclair? May I assume that you approved having G'Kar butcher a > zillion people (was 10 billion a misprint?) in the Prologue? If > so, should we have *any* sympathy *at all* for the Narn (I now > don't) and will you bring up something in the show to grey them > up? You'll hear the soul hunter's line again this season, in a flashback, that may illuminate this; and there's more about Neroon as well this year. As for G'Kar...people do things in war they can always justify. jms ------------------------------ Date: 23-Jan-96 11:55:43 From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com> To: Elaine E Brown <100353.3702@compuserve.com> Subject: B5 tapes in Aus Elaine E Brown <100353.3702@compuserve.com> asks: > Do you know how many will be released and at what intervals? I actually don't know the release situation vis a vis the Australia tapes; what happens in international distribution is always a surprise to me, and frankly this is the first time I've heard of it. I'll try to find out, though. And thanks, for the words, and the news. jms ------------------------------ Date: 23-Jan-96 11:55:46 From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com> To: All Subject: New Stuff As y'all know, next week the latest batch of new episodes begins to air. The first one up, "Voices of Authority," is an absolute hoot; if you've been looking to bring in other viewers, that's a good one to start them with, because it sets up a lot of what's going to happen in this episode, it has a lot of background, and it's a lot of fun. The next two are somewhat more straightforward, stand-alones (to some extent; there's some arc stuff there, however, which becomes more important later). Then the last two in this batch represent some of the best work we've ever done, "Messages From Earth" and "Point of No Return." They follow directly on the footsteps of "Voices," so those three together would be great for new viewers. Second, today is Michael O'Hare's first day of shooting here on the B5 stages for the two-parter, featuring his return to the station from Minbar, and propels him into the center of attention for most of the two parts. Everyone's having a great time so far, he and Bruce have been hanging out a lot, and the episode should be a real toad-strangler when it's finished. jms ------------------------------ Date: 23-Jan-96 17:37:08 From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com> To: Barbara Pfieffer <72302.2453@compuserve.com> Subject: New Stuff Barbara Pfieffer <72302.2453@compuserve.com> asks: > Toad-strangler????? > What on earth is a toad-strangler? A toad-strangler, a barn-burner, a doozy...it's a good thing. jms ------------------------------ Date: 23-Jan-96 17:37:10 From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com> To: The Jawa / Jawa #2 <76371.3057@compuserve.com> Subject: New Stuff The Jawa / Jawa #2 <76371.3057@compuserve.com> asks: > ("What do you think of these new uniforms?" > It'd be like war stories, but only they could understand them.) > After those...six (I count six, but I'm failing Algebra), are we > back to repeats? Yes, then repeats after sweeps. jms ------------------------------ Date: 23-Jan-96 17:41:36 From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com> To: Kathleen E. Ross <102747.3373@compuserve.com> Subject: Information Sought Kathleen E. Ross <102747.3373@compuserve.com> asks: > Can anyone confirm or deny this runor? > Does anyone know how this rumored demise will effect Bablon - 5 > (and Kung-Fu: The Legend Continues)? Does anyone have knowledge of > an existing still? PTEN is being restructured; if it should cease to be, WB domestic syndication will take over all shows like B5 and Kung Fu. I'll try to put up a white star gif soonish...there may be one here now. jms ------------------------------ Date: 23-Jan-96 21:57:19 From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com> To: SysOp Dupa T Parrot <70040.104@compuserve.com> Subject: Information Sought SysOp Dupa T Parrot <70040.104@compuserve.com> asks: > Does this mean such shows will continue to be syndicated > independantly of the WB Network? Yes, syndication is a completely different entity from the WB Network. jms ------------------------------ Date: 24-Jan-96 12:49:01 From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com> To: Chad Underkoffler <102512.1310@compuserve.com> Subject: Garibaldi/Talia ?s Chad Underkoffler <102512.1310@compuserve.com> asks: > 1) [Out of Story] Did you, as chief cook and bottle washer, > decide against persuing the G/T relationship too far because > Jerry and Andrea were married out here in the Real World(tm)? 2) > [In the Story] Did the unTalia "shunt" Talia v.1.0 away from > Garibaldi? If so, why? > Fear of discovery? > Optimum choice of targets? > 3) [In the Story] Did Talia v.1.0 just genuinely dislike Michael? > 4) Some combination thereof? > BTW, has the Orkin man paid a visit to n'grath? Basically, the answer to all of the questions is "no." jms ------------------------------ Date: 24-Jan-96 12:49:02 From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com> To: Joel Hilke <102354.1702@compuserve.com> Subject: New Stuff Joel Hilke <102354.1702@compuserve.com> asks: > Is this more a Warner Brothers thing or a Babylon5 thing? > How many episodes away is this 2-parter? The web as it currently exists is more of a Warners thing. The two-parter covers episodes 16 and 17 in the schedule. So far we've aired 4. jms ------------------------------ Date: 24-Jan-96 12:49:04 From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com> To: Joel Hilke <102354.1702@compuserve.com> Subject: New Stuff Joel Hilke <102354.1702@compuserve.com> asks: > Or do sitcoms go to reruns as often as B5 and the treks and I > just don't notice since, well, they are moronic sitcoms and B5 > isn't? Oh well - what's the run-down on the reruns - season 3 I > assume? I don't know the rerun schedule yet; they tell me this stuff as late as possible to keep me from going ballistic, I think.... jms ------------------------------ Date: 24-Jan-96 12:49:05 From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com> To: John Sheridan <70700.345@compuserve.com> Subject: Warner B5 Web Page John Sheridan <70700.345@compuserve.com> asks: > Downloaded a few of the character .AVI files (What? > No backup ? Yeah, the preview ain't too bad, actually, considering how some of them have gone. jms ------------------------------ Date: 24-Jan-96 12:49:06 From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com> To: Philip Hornsey <74053.2101@compuserve.com> Subject: Military Questions Philip Hornsey <74053.2101@compuserve.com> asks: > Why was Lennier chosen to serve Delenn, what set him apart? > Was Knight One's comment about "Maybe we're still inside" > something we should worry about, or just the ravings of a damaged > mind? What ever happened to the Home Guard? > Why did Jack (Garabaldi's aid not Sebastian) say "I've never met > a Psi Cop before" to Bester when we know he was up to his neck in > the Conspiracy? Lastly, what is Bester's first name? Home Guard found other venues. Bester's first name is Alfred. And Jack was speaking correctly; his contacts were not psi-corps in nature. jms ------------------------------ Date: 24-Jan-96 12:49:08 From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com> To: Gerald Himmelein <100417.3703@compuserve.com> Subject: Information Sought Gerald Himmelein <100417.3703@compuserve.com> asks: > Is that a Good or a Bad thing? > Will it affect the video tape gridlock in some way? No, it'll have no effect on the videos either way, and is probably neither a good nor a bad thing; it should be a wash. jms ------------------------------ Date: 24-Jan-96 12:49:10 From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com> To: John R. Finnan (Ireland) <100012.3073@compuserve.com> Subject: Q: Error in Pilot show? John R. Finnan (Ireland) <100012.3073@compuserve.com> asks: > Well? > Can you tell us what it was? > Or has it disappeared from memory? It's the overhead shot of the courtroom; we didn't have a second establisher, so we used the one of Kyle even though Sinclair was on the stand. jms ------------------------------ Date: 24-Jan-96 21:35:39 From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com> To: Phil Koltko <71604.2145@compuserve.com> Subject: Clark's Law Phil Koltko <71604.2145@compuserve.com> asks: > How did you coordinate the book's storyline with the neighboring > episodes and the overall arc? Did you put together the story and > then give it to Mortimore to build a novel around? Did you just > give him a concept and some inside info he could use? Is this the > level of quality writing and series/book storyline integration > what we should expect from the next few books? In most cases, the writer sends in a proposal to the book company; they then send these proposals to me to see which a) I like, and b) fit in with the storyline one way or another. When the book is commissioned, I work with the writer to one degree or another in keeping things very much on track. In the case of this book, I actually did very little until the actual manuscript came in, at which time I made my notes and suggestions. So the lion's share of any compliments here must go to Mortimore. And yes, in my view, the other coming two books are just as good. jms ------------------------------ Date: 24-Jan-96 21:35:42 From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com> To: Joel Hilke <102354.1702@compuserve.com> Subject: New Stuff Joel Hilke <102354.1702@compuserve.com> asks: > Is that not so? No, only once has that been done, running "Hunter, Prey" in this last batch to set up the new ones. The rest of the time, reruns are set up so that the stations have new shows to run in the sweeps periods (February, May, (sometimes July), and November). jms ------------------------------ Date: 24-Jan-96 21:35:42 From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com> To: David DeRubeis <75221.2351@compuserve.com> Subject: New Stuff {original post had no questions} I've suggested it; doubt if they'll go for it, but hope springs eternal. jms ------------------------------ Date: 25-Jan-96 23:47:44 From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com> To: Gary Weinfurther <71521.2352@compuserve.com> Subject: Opening fly-by {original post had no questions} Thanks, yeah, it's a great sequence. Overall, I'm very happy with how this season's main title sequence came out. jms ------------------------------ Date: 25-Jan-96 23:47:47 From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com> To: Jon A. Bell <74124.276@compuserve.com> Subject: Gethsemane Praise {original post had no questions} Thanks. It is a very moving scene, because of what it says about us, and the sugject, whether one believes it or not. jms ------------------------------ Date: 26-Jan-96 11:58:09 From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com> To: Kenneth Porter <76161.3013@compuserve.com> Subject: Chess boobs Kenneth Porter <76161.3013@compuserve.com> asks: > How can you have a surprise checkmate with two apparently > chess-knowledgeable onlookers? BTW, how many of the cast and crew > have played chess? Actually, I play chess, though not as much as I used to...and believe me, there are *many* times I've been surprised and ambushed by a move I absolutely did NOT see coming. (I'm also a sucker for a fool's mate.) jms ------------------------------ Date: 26-Jan-96 22:10:21 From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com> To: Rowan Kaiser <74160.473@compuserve.com> Subject: Opening fly-by {original post had no questions} Because we have to make the season 3 title sequence *very* early in the shooting process; we need shots to go out in the first episode title sequence, but we've only shot a few episodes by the time we need to deliver. So most shots tend to come from the preceding season. jms ------------------------------ Date: 26-Jan-96 22:10:23 From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com> To: John Hardin <74076.22@compuserve.com> Subject: Scheduling in UK John Hardin <74076.22@compuserve.com> asks: > Should the same situation recur, can you please encourage Warner > Brothers to adopt the same solution? Are the Vorlons connected > with the Illuminati? You're assuming I have *any* sway with WB/PTEN about scheduling. I don't. jms ------------------------------ Date: 27-Jan-96 15:33:20 From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com> To: Elaine E Brown <100353.3702@compuserve.com> Subject: B5 tapes in Aus {original post had no questions} Yup, that's Harlan for you.... jms ------------------------------ Date: 27-Jan-96 20:28:19 From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com> To: Robert Miller <71501.3042@compuserve.com> Subject: Military Questions Robert Miller <71501.3042@compuserve.com> asks: > Will Jack be appearing again, or will he be mentioned again? He'll be mentioned again, yes, in the very next episode, in fact. jms ------------------------------ Date: 27-Jan-96 20:28:20 From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com> To: Antony Jackson <100025.2004@compuserve.com> Subject: B5 Action Fig. - 'ish! Antony Jackson <100025.2004@compuserve.com> asks: > What is this I hear that Henry Unger Associates have been > licenced to produce Babylon 5 statuettes? Can you tell me a bit > more about what they will be doing, planned release date etc.? > I understand that the same firm also do action figures for other > licences, if they were to ask (and you are happy with their work > on the statuettes) would you allow them to produce action > figures? I haven't heard about this yet, so can't comment. If it does go ahead, I'll be involved in consulting on it, so I'll have a better sense of this at that time. jms ------------------------------ Date: 27-Jan-96 20:28:21 From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com> To: Cherns Major <75026.3723@compuserve.com> Subject: COS <-> MOH connection? {original post had no questions} Wow, what a great line-up; almost makes me wish I was in NY. jms ------------------------------ Date: 27-Jan-96 20:28:25 From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com> To: Michael Zitaglio <102545.641@compuserve.com> Subject: Bruce B. on E.T Michael Zitaglio <102545.641@compuserve.com> asks: > Did you have any luck syndicating? Bruce was on ET...? Gotta check that. jms ------------------------------ Date: 28-Jan-96 14:23:33 From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com> To: Randall A. Schanze <74724.762@compuserve.com> Subject: Atlnta Scheduling Change {original post had no questions} Ah, well.... jms ------------------------------ Date: 28-Jan-96 14:23:34 From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com> To: David Cerreta <72630.3433@compuserve.com> Subject: David Cerreta <72630.3433@compuserve.com> asks: > That is what I've always assumed, but my wife wonders if they > might not actually be a cross purposes to the others? You really > used the entire cast, didn't you? Thanks...we keep working to make the show better each season. jms ------------------------------ Date: 29-Jan-96 00:27:20 From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com> To: Les P. George <76162.1250@compuserve.com> Subject: Time Change in Atlanta Les P. George <76162.1250@compuserve.com> asks: > Does PTEN have any type of contractual say so with individual > stations as to when to air the episodes? Yes, I've heard this; we've always had trouble with that station in terms of air schedules and availability of slots. There's nothing anyone can do about it at this end; only local pressure can make an impact. (And some of the worst offenders do the "low rated" argument to cover the fact that they just have too many prior commitments to other networks like UPN and/or FOX or WBN...or that they just don't like the show for one reason or another. Some shows have actually been bought by stations and *shelved* because they didn't want to air it, but at the same time didn't want anyone else in the market to air it either. (This happened to us on Twilight Zone on several occasions.) jms ------------------------------ Date: 29-Jan-96 00:27:22 From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com> To: Rebecca Eschliman <76072.2345@compuserve.com> Subject: Organizing B5 Details Rebecca Eschliman <76072.2345@compuserve.com> asks: > How do you keep it all straight as you're writing new episodes? > Do you have some sort of an external memory-jog like an erasable > marker board (with different colored markers) or an industrial > suppy of Post-it notes? Or are all the details of the B5 universe > maintained on strictly internal storage? As I make the changes, in large measure I just keep it all in my head, though a few things get written down and put on post-it notes around my home office monitor. It's like a number-cruncher program; you make one change, hit return, and it incorporates all the permutations of that change down the line. That's kind of what I do in my head. I change one item, let the ramifications ripple through it all, and now it's all there. By doing this every time I make a slight modification, it lets me see what impact it may have down the line, so I can avoid making any changes that seriously conflict with the larger storyline. It's a headache -- figuratively and literally -- but the effort of doing so keeps me on track. After that, it's mainly a process of remembering what happened; I treat this as the history of the Babylon station. This is what "happened" in the universe I created in my head. Problem is, this occupies all the available RAM my brain seems to contain. I have zip memory for anything else that I can consider even remotely expendable, like appointments, remembering to pick up dry cleaning, bringing a magazine to a friend's house who'd requested a copy of something, on and on. If it ain't involved with B5, it just slides outta my brain. jms ------------------------------ Date: 29-Jan-96 12:54:58 From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com> To: Gerald Himmelein <100417.3703@compuserve.com> Subject: Organizing B5 Details Gerald Himmelein <100417.3703@compuserve.com> asks: > Bad news for John Ostrander, then? > Or will you make some room in your brain to fit that project in? No, I wouldn't be doing the Grimjack project until *after* I'd finished this season's scripts in late February. jms ------------------------------ Date: 29-Jan-96 12:55:01 From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com> To: Gerard Keating (Ireland) <71154.3423@compuserve.com> Subject: Gerard Keating (Ireland) <71154.3423@compuserve.com> asks: > Will Marcus's "French" comment be change for the French Language > Version??? No idea.... jms ------------------------------ Date: 29-Jan-96 23:43:37 From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com> To: Mark D. Smith <70254.107@compuserve.com> Subject: bk 4 question Mark D. Smith <70254.107@compuserve.com> asks: > Is this true? I haven't read the book since the galleys, and don't have a copy of the finished book yet, so this will have to wait until it arrives. I don't recall the exact specifics of the paragraphs in question. jms ------------------------------ Date: 30-Jan-96 15:57:43 From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com> To: Mike Biracree <71776.3456@compuserve.com> Subject: asks: > Is this true? I don't know how that would've gotten past me...I don't recall seeing that in the draft...either I was tired when reading, or it was added later. jms ------------------------------ Date: 30-Jan-96 15:57:45 From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com> To: Joel Hilke <102354.1702@compuserve.com> Subject: Personal request {original post had no questions} Done and done. jms ------------------------------ Date: 30-Jan-96 15:59:54 From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com> To: Paul Owen <100331.2357@compuserve.com> Subject: Divided Loyalties {original post had no questions} It's a moment of transition and awkwardness, more than anything else, I think. jms ------------------------------ Date: 30-Jan-96 21:36:27 From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com> To: Tony Scarpelli <71535.306@compuserve.com> Subject: <> Tony Scarpelli <71535.306@compuserve.com> asks: > Can you please get your people to put the name of the episode at > the end? Can they, or we, other humans, forgive such a creature? Thanks. The only problem with putting the title at the end of the episode, in the closing credits, is that many stations chop off the end credits altogether. So it's best to have them in the beginning. jms ------------------------------ Date: 30-Jan-96 21:36:28 From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com> To: Sharon Foster <76360.301@compuserve.com> Subject: Richard Biggs {original post had no questions} Ah...so it's out then? I'll have to get 15 copies for the stage. jms ------------------------------ Date: 30-Jan-96 21:36:30 From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com> To: John McAuley <100260.412@compuserve.com> Subject: Where do baby narn come John McAuley <100260.412@compuserve.com> asks: > Is this true? Yes, John, it's true. Now finish your brussel sprouts. jms ------------------------------ Date: 31-Jan-96 11:42:53 From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com> To: Sharon Foster <76360.301@compuserve.com> Subject: Richard Biggs {original post had no questions} I'm not getting *near* this one.... jms ------------------------------ Date: 31-Jan-96 11:59:51 From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com> To: PETER STATHIS <103417.3702@compuserve.com> Subject: B5: Run Around {original post had no questions} "57th out of 75 shows." Just to correct you: that figure is from the Christmas period rerun, which was low for everybody, and second, it's not out of 75 shows, that's usually just the top batch they list, it's 57th that week out of 275 syndicated shows. Usually we do in the 40s out of 275, which puts us in the top 20% of all syndicated shows. jms ------------------------------ Date: 31-Jan-96 11:59:53 From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com> To: Neil Blevins <102226.3566@compuserve.com> Subject: {original post had no questions} The other part, I think, is that they were kind of amused to see this dinky little ship getting in their face, when they *knew* the First Ones could blast 'em to bits.... jms ------------------------------ Date: 31-Jan-96 11:59:55 From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com> To: Gary Weinfurther <71521.2352@compuserve.com> Subject: {original post had no questions} Who said they didn't recognize it? jms ------------------------------ Date: 31-Jan-96 15:34:30 From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com> To: Philip Hornsey <74053.2101@compuserve.com> Subject: B5: Run Around Philip Hornsey <74053.2101@compuserve.com> asks: > How are we among syndicated dramas? > How happy is WB? Usually we're in the top ten of all syndicated dramas; WB is making money on the show's advertising, which is their main concern, so insofar as I have heard, they're happy. jms ------------------------------ Date: 31-Jan-96 15:34:37 From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com> To: John McAuley <100260.412@compuserve.com> Subject: Where do baby narn come John McAuley <100260.412@compuserve.com> asks: > Where does she carry the baby? > Where does it come out of? > Is it a proper baby or is it a wriggly octopussy thing that turns > into a humanoid later? How big is it? > Do they live in water? > Do baby boy Centauri have to wear wigs? Ask your mother. jms ------------------------------ Date: 31-Jan-96 21:37:49 From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com> To: Tony Scarpelli <71535.306@compuserve.com> Subject: <> {original post had no questions} You can't do that; you can only have the title card once, because SAG, DGA, WGA and other unions have rules that regulate where their workers appear in relation to the title of the episode. If you have it twice, you mess that up. jms ------------------------------ Date: 31-Jan-96 21:37:50 From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com> To: Michael Zitaglio <102545.641@compuserve.com> Subject: Marketing B5 Michael Zitaglio <102545.641@compuserve.com> asks: > Any luck in Las Vegas marketing B5 for syndication? Haven't heard yet. jms ------------------------------ Date: 31-Jan-96 21:37:53 From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com> To: Brian A. Thomas <75231.1122@compuserve.com> Subject: Richard Biggs {original post had no questions} Yes, we'll have a female PA pick them up. (I don't have the heart to tell anyone that they're usually in the Gay Men's Magazine section....) jms ------------------------------