This file contains messages posted by J. Michael Straczynski on GEnie for October, 1994. Postings are copyright 1994 by J. Michael Straczynski with compilation copyright by GEnie. ************ Topic 1 Mon Oct 26, 1992 SF-MARSHALL [Dave ] at 18:50 EST Sub: Babylon 5 - The Series (Non-Spoiler) Welcome to the Babylon 5 General category. This is the main topic for the hit SF series. We discuss all general information on the series in this topic. Topic 2 is for SPOILERS! DO NOT POST STORY IDEAS! 643 message(s) total. ************ ------------ Category 18, Topic 1 Message 28 Sat Oct 01, 1994 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 01:10 EDT Haven't heard any audio king commercials, so I don't know, but I'll try and keep an ear out. jms ------------ Category 18, Topic 1 Message 32 Sat Oct 01, 1994 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 04:26 EDT The clause serves the stations, which want flexibility. jms ------------ Category 18, Topic 1 Message 60 Sun Oct 02, 1994 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 19:00 EDT I received a lot of response, as noted above, from scientists (no less than Freeman Dyson, for instance) who had frankly never really been ASKED about the whole sound in space issue...and when they put their thoughts to it, indicated that yes, there *would* be sound, of varying kinds and orders of magnitude. I've got it all in a big textfile, and hope to get around to editing it for space and uploading it one of these days. jms ------------ Category 18, Topic 1 Message 71 Mon Oct 03, 1994 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 00:39 EDT I dunno about Chrysalis parties...mainly because whenever we've shown anyone the episode, the usual reaction at the end is a long, prolonged stunned silence. Might kinda cut into the jovialities.... jms ------------ Category 18, Topic 1 Message 242 Mon Oct 17, 1994 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 01:53 EDT T.J.Terru...ah, the famous archeaologist...my regards to Ruby and the Android Sisters. Yes, have been in England, having left a week ago Saturday, and just returning today. Will post a longer note about this when I've fully recovered (vacation, ha!). We always give cast and crew a week break mid way between the start of filming and the Christmas hiatus. Tomorrow we begin shooting "A Race Through Dark Places," with Walter Koenig. jms ------------ Category 18, Topic 1 Message 252 Tue Oct 18, 1994 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 00:42 EDT Re: any discussions in Showbiz or elsewhere about O'Hare, which I have answered and answered until I'm blue in the face, and another new "true story" comes out two weeks later that I have to deal with...I'll make a deal with Warren and anybody else over there: I'll be happy to discuss this some more if they'll give me the names and phone numbers of their last three or four employers, so that I may inquire and find out the circumstances under which they left THEIR last employment. After all, by virtue of being on the nets, which are public, and published electronically worldwide, they're public figures as well...if they think this is fair game for others, then it should be fair game for them as well. jms ------------ Category 18, Topic 1 Message 270 Wed Oct 19, 1994 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 00:44 EDT There were a lot of ganged repeats due to the fact that we went on the air in January, and they wanted new shows to stretch to the November sweeps. Now we're going on in November, and can last fairly easily through to the May sweeps with fewer reruns (not as long a stretch), so there may be some relief here. jms ------------ Category 18, Topic 1 Message 289 Thu Oct 20, 1994 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 00:21 EDT So what was the (non-spoiler) reaction of the crowd at Farpoint to the "Chrysalis" showing? Filming started this week on "A Race Through Dark Places," with Walter Koenig back as Bester. Going well. Late next week we start shooting Peter David's script, "Soul Mates," guest-starring Lois Nettleton and Jane Carr as two of Londo's wives, and Keith Sarabeca (not one of Londo's wives) (and I think I just misspelled his name). jms ------------ Category 18, Topic 1 Message 311 Fri Oct 21, 1994 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 01:21 EDT At this point I plan to show "Chrysalis" at the Dallas convention on Saturday, a few days ahead of its airing there. And maybe some other stuff.... jms ------------ Category 18, Topic 1 Message 315 Fri Oct 21, 1994 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 05:38 EDT Part of this discussion that intrigues me is the literalness of it. When you watch a cop show, and the cop fires his gun, do people really think it makes that BOOM! sound? Listen to a real gun; it's usually sort of a *pop*. When a car screeches around the corner, does it *really* make that huge noise? When someone gets punched in a TV episode, and you hear a sharp CRACK! as fist impacts chin, do people really think it makes that sound, rather than a kind of barely-audible fleshy *thud*? Is the microphone in space, is the microphone enclosed, is the microphone a person...the microphone *isn't there*. Nothing in television is intended as absolute reality, even when it aspires to that. The most rigorous of all documentaries nonetheless must cull quotes. When we mix an episode, we add in footsteps (because you couldn't hear them otherwise), we add voices in the background via walla groups that weren't there in the first place, dub in lines that didn't exist, add the sound of punches, add the sound of PPGs firing, enhance the sound of a punch, add bleeps and beeps to machinery...the argument that adding sound to space isn't real doesn't hold up because *virtually none* of the sound you hear is real, and again virtually NONE of it is there when the microphone and camera are present. It just seems odd to me to concentrate on this one issue, when in truth the sound is false throughout *ALL* television. Why this and not the other? One of the researchers I contacted at the High Altitude Observatory stated the case very eloquently: he said that to date, *no one* has ever stuck a microphone out into space to see what anyone could hear; and no one has ever stuck their head out of a shuttle, minus helmet, to find out either. It's *all* conjecture. So you might as well assume there is sound of some sort as there isn't, until someone does the actual experiment. Another scientist there at the HAO, Steve Smith, PhD (plasma/ astrophysicist) wrote me saying, "Space is not empty, it's full of plasma (ionized gas) and full of the plasma equivalent of sound waves. Since plasma is ionized and generally contains a magnetic field, there are a lot more types of waves than just sound waves (usually the only form of atmospheric wave we encounter). But here's a real killer: from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, CA, a scientist who worked on the Voyager mission noted that "probes like Voyager do register bow-shock as they cross the speed of sound in the interplanetary medium." That was *monitored* at JPL. So if there's no sound in space...what was that bow-shock? There's plenty of evidence that there IS sound in space. How much, or little, can't be known until experiments on this have been conducted by researchers, and thus far this has not been done. Until it has, there seems nothing amiss with the direction we've taken. I am just intrigued at how much of a bugaboo this is in the SF community, which swallows the BLAMMMMM! of a beat cop's .38 without ever even questioning if it would *really* make that sound or not. jms ------------ Category 18, Topic 1 Message 321 Fri Oct 21, 1994 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 13:59 EDT BTW, this weekend I'll be at Stellar Occasion Convention in Dallas, at the Executive Hotel in Love Field. Claudia Christian will also be present. I'll be giving two presentations, at noon and six p.m. Saturday, including a showing of "Chrysalis." And maybe some other stuff. jms ------------ Category 18, Topic 1 Message 419 Tue Oct 25, 1994 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 04:15 EDT Every so often, a screwup takes place that is so breathtakingly stupid that it defies all logic and reason. I just learned of one this evening, and I'm still reeling a bit from it. Consequently, this is address to anyone who watched the satellite uplink of "Chrysalis" or has seen it in the US in the last day or so. Once we deliver an episode, it goes to two places: Modern Video and CVC. CVC checks an episode of any series prior to uplink to make sure it's okay. Though they've had it for four months, they only got around to checking it the day before uplink. During this, they found a couple of small audio pops. The kind of thing that could be fixed in about five minutes. But since it was the evening, Modern Video decided to fix it for us...by *rebuilding the entire episode*. Without calling us, notifying us, or checking with us, when we could've easily had someone on-hand there to supervise at a moment's notice. Well, when they rebuilt the episode...they didn't use all the correct footage. Some of what was used was RAW FOOTAGE. Example: when Londo goes to meet someone in the Garden, there's supposed to be a great composite shot there of the interior of the Garden area, and a hedge maze. (The UK saw this version of it last month.) But when the episode was rebuilt, they used the raw footage segment showing Londo and a partial hedge IN THE SOUNDSTAGE, where you can see the stage wall, and the pipes, and the EXIT sign. No composite. Nada. We don't yet know what else has been included incorrectly, because we won't see a copy until morning. Suffice to say that this is being taken care of *our* way overnight, and a correct version will be sent out via satellite in time for the Wednesday first airings in most markets, and the reruns in those markets where it's already aired. At this moment, I am preternaturally calm about all this, having passed beyond anger earlier this evening into a kind of zen state of consciousness, utterly unable to wrap my brain around the absolute stupidity of something like this for more than two minutes at a time. By morning, this will have worn off. I'm looking forward to it immensely. jms ------------ Category 18, Topic 1 Message 427 Tue Oct 25, 1994 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 15:16 EDT John: yeah, you definitely should've said something; we'd never put out something like that. As it turns out, we discovered that there were TWO comp shots missing (including one in DownBelow), and that's how the "to be continued" got added in at the end. We rousted our people out of bed and had them at the Modern Video facility at 2:30 a.m. fixing other people's mistakes, rebuilding the entire episode so it could be birded out this afternoon. BTW, for those interested, Bruce will be on Tom Snyder show tonight. jms ------------ Category 18, Topic 1 Message 445 Tue Oct 25, 1994 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 23:54 EDT The Minbari in the clip was a one-shot. jms ------------ Category 18, Topic 1 Message 488 Thu Oct 27, 1994 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 01:01 EDT BTW, I'm pleased to note that Christopher Franke's company has gotten the contract to do the B5 soundtrack...AND that there will be an effort made to have a *limited edition* version available ONLY for LosCon over the Thanksgiving weekend. jms ------------ Category 18, Topic 1 Message 495 Thu Oct 27, 1994 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 03:15 EDT Phil: if you saw TBC at the end of the episode, it was NOT the correct version. jms ------------ Category 18, Topic 1 Message 500 Thu Oct 27, 1994 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 15:42 EDT A notice already went out to ALL tv stations. He may just not want to exert the effort to put in the correct version. jms ------------ Category 18, Topic 1 Message 517 Fri Oct 28, 1994 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 00:39 EDT What episodes to watch for in year two that are, variously, very important or moderately important to the storyline.... "Points of Departure," "Revelations," a piece of "The Geometry of Shadows" but not all of it; portions of "The Long Dark," "GROPOS" and "A Spider in the Web," and all of "A Race Through Dark Places" and "The Coming of Shadows," with the latter two of critical importance. jms ------------ Category 18, Topic 1 Message 560 Sat Oct 29, 1994 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 20:16 EDT Losing the characters she's come to enjoy? No. But the characters are changing. That's the point, and that's been the intent from day one. But what's the alternative? I've heard ST fans complain loudly and bitterly that after 7 years of TNG being on the air, nobody's really changed, nobody's been promoted into different ships or major changes in responsibilities...they've had Riker as XO for seven years, which in the real military would mean his career is *over*. Change is the only other option. The goal, from the start, was to create an overall story, but which would also require arcs for every single major character. They're all going somewhere. In many cases, that "somewhere" plays into the larger arc; in some cases, not. If a woman is single, then gets married, then gives birth, and she's your friend, have you "lost her" just because she's gone through these changes? Of course not. She has changed, in good or bad ways, but she's still the same person. jms ------------ Category 18, Topic 1 Message 574 Sun Oct 30, 1994 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 02:24 EST I do not believe it...I simply, fragging do not believe it...after all that, after airing the right version on Wednesday, Channel 13 in LA ran the wrong Chrysalis tonight at midnight. The universe hates me. jms ------------ Category 18, Topic 1 Message 593 Sun Oct 30, 1994 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 16:28 EST Newkirk...re: post-launch thoughts..."Once ze rockets go up, who cares vere they come down, that's not my department, says Werner Von Braun...." jms ------------ ************ Topic 2 Wed Nov 20, 1991 STARR [Arne] at 19:41 EST Sub: Babylon 5 -- The Series!! >>SPOILERS<< Babylon 5 is moving into a second season of 22 episodes. This series can be seen at 8 Pm on Wednesdays, in most areas. This topic is for SPOILERS only. Just remember our NO STORY IDEAS rule and we'll let you live. 661 message(s) total. ************ ------------ Category 18, Topic 2 Message 453 Sat Oct 01, 1994 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 01:12 EDT That's *exactly* what the soundtrack that Christopher has put together sounds like...he's orchestrated music from all the episodes so that they segue cleanly into one another, extending some, interpolating a bit here and there...it's an hour or so of nonstop music, one big symphony. Lovely, absolutely lovely. (Again, I have one of the very few CDs he made to test this, and it's terrific.) jms ------------ Category 18, Topic 2 Message 455 Sat Oct 01, 1994 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 04:27 EDT Should be out in November or December; what exactly it'll be like will depend to some degree on whether it goes to Chris's company or another. jms ------------ Category 18, Topic 2 Message 457 Sun Oct 02, 1994 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 03:13 EDT I don't see a contradiction there; people I know here who are Jewish seem to have no problem classifying themselves as Americans. jms ------------ Category 18, Topic 2 Message 463 Sun Oct 02, 1994 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 19:02 EDT Re: LDS and separation of church and state...tell that to anyone living in or around Salt Lake City.... jms ------------ Category 18, Topic 2 Message 468 Mon Oct 03, 1994 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 00:40 EDT Personally, despite my ethnic background, I tend to think of myself mainly as a large left-handed wrench. But I guess that's pretty common.... jms ------------ Category 18, Topic 2 Message 473 Mon Oct 03, 1994 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 04:51 EDT Hey...could be worse...could've said Wench...which as we all know is the feminine version of a Mensch.... jms ------------ Category 18, Topic 2 Message 481 Wed Oct 05, 1994 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 00:13 EDT One was an Earthforce atmospheric-capable shuttle; the other was a Centauri personal transport. jms ------------ Category 18, Topic 2 Message 608 Fri Oct 28, 1994 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 03:24 EDT It may be wise, about now, to start opening up the cat 19 spoilers topics for season two, since "Points" goes out on the big bird tomorrow morning. (And those who downlink it will be among the first to see our rather spiffy new main title sequence.) jms ------------ Category 18, Topic 2 Message 614 Sat Oct 29, 1994 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 03:46 EDT Generally speaking, Warners/PTEN leaves us alone. Each season, as with all TV shows, they tend to get involved in the first couple of episodes, giving notes and wanting to see early cuts. Since they have more time to become involved, they do so. This quickly phases down; we got a fair number of notes on the first episode of both seasons of B5; less on the second; single note on a script or cut since about #3, and we're currently up to #10, script-wise. jms ------------ Category 18, Topic 2 Message 619 Sat Oct 29, 1994 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 20:20 EDT There really wasn't/isn't time in PoD to get into the angst everyone has over Sinclair leaving (though some of that is given to Sheridan, oddly enough). But it WILL get brought up in subsequent episodes, especially from Garibaldi. RE: Warner notes...mainly they're in areas of clarification, making sure that we don't get obscure with some of the arc stuff. Each episode HAS to be clear to anyone coming in mid-stream, so they're helpful on that aspect. jms ------------ Category 18, Topic 2 Message 629 Sun Oct 30, 1994 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 02:27 EST Hey, folks said the answers were coming too slowly, now too quickly... what's a producer to do? I said, from the very beginning, that once the series got rolling, no single primary question could be allowed to go more than about one season before answering it, otherwise you get into a frustrating Twin Peaks situation where *nothing* is resolved. Basically, the events begun in "Chrysalis" bleed over into three episodes; the Battle of the Line answers were initially only a couple of episodes further down in my outline, about episode #3. Making the change, for one thing, allowed me to move that storyline forward to episode #1, blow through it and get the story moving in year two faster, rather than delaying further with loose threads from season one. jms ------------ Category 18, Topic 2 Message 637 Sun Oct 30, 1994 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 16:33 EST Klaatu...I can probably answer your question a little better after you've seen the second episode of this season. For now, let's just say this: in working out the story for year two, Sinclair's main line of connection was to the Minbari. But the Minbari storyline was diminishing in ways connected to the war in year two; obviously we all know what is on the upswing in year two, certain dark forces. I needed someone who has a connection to *that* side of the story to personalize it, and Sheridan brings that connection to the mix, although he doesn't know it yet. jms ------------ ************ Topic 5 Tue Nov 03, 1992 T.ORTH [Mr. Rico] (Forwarded) Sub: Grid Epsilon Irregulars - News & Info. This topic is for information about Babylon 5 fan groups, newsletters, fanzines, get-togethers, B-5 at conventions, and other general fun. 575 message(s) total. ************ ------------ Category 18, Topic 5 Message 542 Mon Oct 17, 1994 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 02:05 EDT ND = NonDescript (an extra, no one who should be noticeable) A/B = Blood types. jms ------------ ************ Topic 9 Wed Nov 11, 1992 T.RESTIVO [Little Guy] at 18:27 EST Sub: Babylon 5 Humor From *Beep Beep*, to Top Ten Lists, to full-blown parodies, this is where to put your funny bone in writing! 599 message(s) total. ************ ------------ Category 18, Topic 9 Message 580 Sat Oct 01, 1994 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 04:29 EDT I've told others on the show that you'll know I've really, really, really sold out the day I approve the licensing of Babylon 5 Underoos. jms ------------ ************ Topic 11 Sat Nov 14, 1992 J.SHEEN1 [Leviathan] at 18:09 EST Sub: B5 Adrift! BABYLON 5 Topic Drift If you feel like talking about it, but it doesn't fit anywhere else... If its only connection to B-5 is that you thought of it in this CAT... This is where to come and get it out. 478 message(s) total. ************ ------------ Category 18, Topic 11 Message 462 Sat Oct 08, 1994 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 03:08 EDT Nope; never went to school in Cincinnati; never even *in* that state for longer than required to drive through it. jms ------------ Category 18, Topic 11 Message 472 Fri Oct 21, 1994 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 14:02 EDT At last, someone else who has seen the Leningrad Cowboys movie. I stumbled upon it on Bravo one night, about 45 minutes into it, and sat riveted to the seat. Literallly did not move, and discovered after a while that my arm was aching from where I'd been holding the remote the whole time. Very, very weird.... Liked it. Not sure why.... jms ------------ Category 18, Topic 11 Message 476 Tue Oct 25, 1994 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 23:56 EDT IT'S ON VIDEO!? >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>zooooooooooooooooooooom! jms ------------ ************ Topic 12 Wed Nov 18, 1992 B.WIST [Brad] at 18:12 EST Sub: Babylon 5 Sightings Post here when you've spotted Babylon 5, whether it be on Television, Magazine, or somewhere else. Let us know where we can find it/see it, too. 463 message(s) total. ************ ------------ Category 18, Topic 12 Message 441 Mon Oct 17, 1994 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 02:13 EDT I believe some of the interviews for FutureQuest were performed in the B5 central corridor. Re: magazines...yes, in the UK there are even some mainstream mags and newspapers discovering the show. The Radio Times gave it a glowing review, the Times called it superior, the Evening Standard called it spiffing...Starburst has done one or two covers on the show, as has TV Zone (to whom I gave an interview while in London). In the US, Cinefantastique has given it the cover twice. Note that Starlog has not done so once. Personally, I won't have anything to do with the magazine, because of their tendency to get stuff wrong, and because they're primarily a ST/Paramount mouthpiece. The editor there has told people that even though they give covers to less highly rated shows like Highlander, they'll *never* do a B5 cover because it would piss off Paramount. And they never have. (Just one more reason why I won't in any way cooperate; I can't prevent, and wouldn't try to prevent, my cast from doing so, because it's a free country and they deserve the exposure. I don't think the second-rate treatment is appropriate, personally. Just shows you where their head is.) jms ------------ Category 18, Topic 12 Message 448 Thu Oct 20, 1994 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 00:23 EDT The grey-alien trial scene from "Grail" will be excerpted for a two-part "Sightings" on alien abduction. I'm *still* laughing. jms ------------ ************ Topic 17 Tue Jan 19, 1993 C.STOBBE [Colin] at 21:02 EST Sub: Babylon 5 - Merchandising A place to discuss all the neat Babylon 5 merchandising coming out (hopefully) soon 593 message(s) total. ************ ------------ Category 18, Topic 17 Message 568 Fri Oct 21, 1994 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 01:24 EDT BTW, for those interested, Chris Claremont is a *major* B5 fan (a man of impeccable taste); anybody who wants to lean on him to do one of the B5 arcs is more than welcome to do so.... jms ------------ Category 18, Topic 17 Message 574 Sun Oct 30, 1994 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 02:04 EDT Confirmed on the Galoob Micro-Machines. jms ------------ Category 18, Topic 17 Message 586 Mon Oct 31, 1994 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 02:45 EST Insofar as I know, the micros are coming out in sets, I think it's either 8 or 12 to a set. Don't know about any subsequent group boxes. jms ------------ ************ Topic 22 Fri Feb 12, 1993 R.FURR [Rob Furr] at 00:19 EST Sub: Governments and Trade in B5 Most SF shows simply posit a government of sorts, and blithely ignore it ever afterwards. You might see a freighter (with a big "shoot me!" sign on it) but no other mention of trade. How about B5? 179 message(s) total. ************ ------------ Category 18, Topic 22 Message 177 Tue Oct 18, 1994 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 00:44 EDT Talia is on retainer with B5, with Psi Corps paying her rent and food, and taking the majority of money from her commissions, which she generally is free to select, except in cases where they may insist. jms ------------ ************ Topic 25 Fri Mar 12, 1993 S.SHELLENBAR [>> SHANE <<] at 08:47 EST Sub: J. Michael Straczynski Speaks in Public This is the place to find out where and when JMS will be appearing next. JMS has honed his skills as a public speaker and is taking his act on the road. 376 message(s) total. ************ ------------ Category 18, Topic 25 Message 359 Tue Oct 25, 1994 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 01:04 EDT Johann...ah, was that you? Should've identified yourself. (BTW, I was rather nonplussed when, upon arriving at the con, I was told that my escort/runner/driver for the duration of the con was a fellow who went by the nickname Shadow (albeit spelled Shaddo). Sort of caught me up short, to say the least (they ARE everywhere). Nothing firmed up yet about other cast/crew at LosCon. jms ------------ Category 18, Topic 25 Message 366 Thu Oct 27, 1994 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 01:06 EDT Johann...you must understand that I have the worst memory for faces in the long history of mankind. jms ------------ Category 18, Topic 25 Message 372 Sat Oct 29, 1994 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 20:21 EDT #9. jms ------------ ************ Topic 29 Thu Jun 30, 1994 B.SHERRIS [Brett] at 00:03 EDT Sub: The Master Plan WARNING! THIS TOPIC MAY CONTAIN INFORMATION THAT IS VITAL TO THE FIVE YEAR STORY ARC OF BABYLON 5. DO NOT READ THIS TOPIC IF YOU DO NOT WISH TO POSSIBLY DISCOVER THE PURPOSE OF THE FIVE YEAR STORY ARC! 143 message(s) total. ************ ------------ Category 18, Topic 29 Message 139 Sat Oct 29, 1994 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 03:52 EDT Granted there is metaphor in the construction of the B5 story, but it's not point-for-point in any linear fashion. The coming conflagration will look a hell of a lot more like a cross between WW II and the breaking of the seals in "Revelations" than Vietnam. (Probably the Earth/Minbari War could be made the closest approximation of Vietnam; "peace with honor" and all that.) The point of metaphor, I think, is not to draw a straight parallel, but to tilt the mirror a bit, shift the focus and see how this change of perspective illuminates reality. jms ------------ ************ Topic 30 Mon Jul 04, 1994 D.KAUFFMAN5 [CyberDad] at 13:14 EDT Sub: Nods, In-Jokes, and References Post any nods, in-jokes, or references you have seen here. For example, Babylon 5 refers to the Babylon of ancient Earth; the location of B5 is at Grid Epsilon 470/18/22, the location of the original B5 topic on GEnie. 267 message(s) total. ************ ------------ Category 18, Topic 30 Message 255 Wed Oct 05, 1994 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 00:15 EDT Weren't her. jms ------------ Category 18, Topic 30 Message 257 Tue Oct 18, 1994 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 00:45 EDT *What* Piperism? jms ------------ Category 18, Topic 30 Message 262 Wed Oct 19, 1994 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 00:49 EDT Oh....*that*. Yeah, that's something we've done, but just because it seemed right. Never even considered Piper. Having met an african american named O'Reilly, and Irish-born Jews, and the like, it just seems this is gonna continue. So we just write the names of the characters, and cast whoever comes in the door as the best actor, regardless of ethnic background, but don't change the name. Gives us some interesting random combinations. jms ------------ ************ Topic 31 Sat Jul 09, 1994 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 20:23 EDT Sub: Really Stupid Questions from JMS Every so often, I need Information. (You won't get it!) Technical stuff, research or reference stuff...and given the brain trust here, I figured this could be a useful resource from time to time. With appreciation. 165 message(s) total. ************ ------------ Category 18, Topic 31 Message 151 Sat Oct 01, 1994 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 04:30 EDT What the hell happened to NVN? For the last few months, when I try to log on using the same script and number as ever, it goes halfway through the process, then just stops dead. jms ------------ ************ Topic 32 Sun Aug 14, 1994 J.DREW [C. Rift 17/6] at 10:21 EDT Sub: Babylon 5 Actors in Other Roles Post here when you see a B5 actor or guest star in another role, either television or movie. 43 message(s) total. ************ ------------ Category 18, Topic 32 Message 33 Sun Oct 02, 1994 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 19:03 EDT Sanderson also did a "Twilight Zone" for me, did an okay job. jms ------------ ************ Topic 35 Sun Sep 18, 1994 R.FELDMAN [Chats] at 17:15 EDT Sub: Softball in Grid Epsilon Here is where I'll report the results of the Babylon 5 Softball games. As we have no known Telepaths here, I'll have to wait until AFTER the games have taken place.... 33 message(s) total. ************ ------------ Category 18, Topic 35 Message 9 Mon Oct 03, 1994 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 00:44 EDT I think this is sorta unconscionable, spiking some poor old nanny at home base...hell, how could they not win up against a bunch of old ladies...? jm(oblivious and proud of it)s ------------ Category 18, Topic 35 Message 14 Tue Oct 04, 1994 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 03:50 EDT Mainly Narns, Drazi and a few Pak'ma'ra. Umpires are all Vorlons. But isn't that what we all kinda suspected anyway...? jms ------------ Category 18, Topic 35 Message 18 Wed Oct 05, 1994 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 03:18 EDT And Umpire-speak is certainly Vorlonish. "Strike." "Foul." "Safe." "Out." jms ------------ ************ Topic 16 Sun Apr 17, 1994 STARR [Arne] at 23:42 EDT Sub: #116 - "Signs And Portents" by JMS. Directed by Janet Greek. Co-starring Gerrit Graham. 291 message(s) total. ************ ------------ Category 19, Topic 16 Message 286 Tue Oct 04, 1994 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 00:34 EDT Bluescreen. jms ------------ ************ Topic 17 Sun Apr 17, 1994 STARR [Arne] at 23:45 EDT Sub: #114 - "By Any Means Neccessary" by Kathryn M. Drennan. Directed by Jim Johnston. Co-Stars John Snyder and Katy Boyer. 88 message(s) total. ************ ------------ Category 19, Topic 17 Message 86 Sat Oct 01, 1994 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 04:38 EDT Correct: B5 is a distribution point, and many objects are stored in the zero-G area and never brought into the station proper. Johanna: reality check. If I put in all the staff (or even most of the staff) you suggest, huge diplomatic staffs, trade envoys, political attaches, military, etc...and did this times 5 ambassadors...even totally leaving out the League of Non-Aligned Worlds...there wouldn't be any money left to actually make the show. You'd have all the cast you suggest, but no money for film, or cameras, or crew. Right now we have 14-16 regular and recurring characters, and another 8 or so who appear periodically (like Lou Welch). This is the biggest cast ever put together for an SF series, and we're straining as it is to accommodate all of this. To have more just to have them is pointless, and would bankrupt the show. jms ------------ ************ Topic 26 Mon Apr 18, 1994 STARR [Arne] at 00:03 EDT Sub: #112 - "Chrysalis" by JMS. Directed by Janet Greek. Season finale. 165 message(s) total. ************ ------------ Category 19, Topic 26 Message 9 Thu Oct 06, 1994 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 01:35 EDT Arne's seen it. jms ------------ Category 19, Topic 26 Message 34 Thu Oct 20, 1994 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 00:14 EDT It's a weird promo, because if you see it, it makes it look like season two starts next week (well, that's what it says), showing you Bruce and others...but if you tune in, you get "Chrysalis." Weird.... jms ------------ Category 19, Topic 26 Message 46 Fri Oct 21, 1994 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 13:56 EDT "Chrysalis" is more questions than answers; the next two episodes are more answers than questions. jms ------------ Category 19, Topic 26 Message 62 Tue Oct 25, 1994 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 00:53 EDT We used the LBJ swearing-in photograph in staging that shot; odd coincidence: the day we filmed that was the anniversary of the day that LBJ did this in real life. The mood on set that day was thus *very* weird. jms ------------ Category 19, Topic 26 Message 91 Thu Oct 27, 1994 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 03:13 EDT Phil: there *is* a parting resolution/explanation for the Sinclair situation in the first episode of next season. In two episodes, you will discover: a) what happened during the 24 hours missing from Sinclair's memory; b) why the Minbari surrendered at the Battle of the Line; c) what Delenn has turned into; d) what G'Kar found on his expedition; e) the fate of Garibaldi...and a bunch of other stuff. How's that for starters? jms ------------ Category 19, Topic 26 Message 164 Tue Nov 01, 1994 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 00:14 EST That's correct. "Chrysalis" was filmed last November, as episode #12. We are now, for instance, shooting #8, and will again be shooting around #11 or so in November. (We started shooting a few weeks later this year than last.) jms ------------ ************ Topic 27 Mon Aug 29, 1994 STARR [Arne] (Forwarded) Sub: #201 - "Points of Departure" by JMS. Directed by Janet Greek. 6 message(s) total. ************ ------------ Category 19, Topic 27 Message 5 Mon Oct 31, 1994 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 02:37 EST I agree about the theme this year; I kinda wanted it a little on the ominous side, something unsettling about it. Chris did a great job. jms ------------