JMS on AOL: 12/10/95 PM thru 12/17/95 AM (SPOILERS) 1 of 2
b5jms-owner at cs.columbia.edu
b5jms-owner at cs.columbia.edu
Mon Dec 18 01:30:25 EST 1995
Forwarded message to B5JMS list.
Originally From: Lisa Freeman <lefreeman at sunbelt.net>
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
JMS on AOL: 12/10/95 PM thru 12/17/95 AM
CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR:
Babylon Squared
Divided Loyalties [major]
A Day in the Strife
Voices of Authority
Exogenesis
Dust To Dust
Messages from Earth
Point of No Return
Ceremonies of Light and Dark
[also "Passing through Gethsemane". No spoilers for "Voices of
Authority" through "Ceremonies" in this part. -- mod.]
____________________________________________________________________________
Subj: Story Arc
Date: 95-12-12 19:16:26 EST
From: Jms at B5
I just posted a lengthy reply to this basic thread over in the Season 3
topic (which is where I first encountered it). That says pretty much
everything I wanted to say on the issue.
This happens every season. Some people like shoot-em'ups and don't want
to see any other stories, deriding them as "filler" and let's get to the
blow-stuff-up stuff. They seem to think that anything else is "lead" which
has to be gotten out. Every season begins with standalone stories, from year
one to now. Year two has The Long Dark and A Distant Star and Soul Mates in
the first batch up. Then we hit the big arc stories, and everybody forgot
about the "lead."
In season one, we had six or seven strong arc stories. In season two,
there were about 9 really strong arc episodes. In season 3, as of right now,
there are 13-14 very strong arc episodes. In year 4, there will be about 17,
and in year 5 they're pretty much ALL arc episodes.
The series is moving as fast as possible, and as fast as intended.
jms
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Subj: Harlan Ellison Signs
Date: 95-12-11 03:56:20 EST
From: Jms at B5
To avoid duplication, check out the message in B5 Merchandising about
Harlan signing stuff on the West Coast this coming week.
jms
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Subj: The Last, Worst Hope for Bab5
Date: 95-12-12 09:08:12 EST
From: Posti
After starting the season late (despite having four of last season's episodes
held over) Babylon 5 has gone into reruns after showing only four new
episodes. Bad enough that this season started with mediocre scripts that
ruined the tension and excitement established by the 'lost" four episodes
from last season. Now we are expected to wait three months to see shows that
should have already been aired.
PigDog has chastised critics to be patient with the 'story arch' of Babylon
5's plot line, saying that great things were coming. Well, the 'arch' seems
to be more a strip tease than dramatic development: show a little, make 'em
beg for more.
I for one am tired of waiting - waiting for the show to reach the promised
level of action, waiting for 'background' epsiodes to end, and most of all -
waiting for new epsiodes. In my case, absense does -not- make the heart grow
fonder. It simply kills my interest.
When Babylon Five reappears in February, I may or may not bother to watch.
>From an avid fan and supporter of the series, I have been forced by bad
planning and scheduling to relegate the series to the "Could Have Been Great"
list - where it will share memorial space with "Earth 2" and "Seaquest DSV."
Subj: Re:The Last, Worst Hope for
Date: 95-12-13 01:48:45 EST
From: Jms at B5
Yeah, but it's very hard to do a story about preparation in the sense
you suggest. "Well, let's go check out the White Star."
"Well...sure is a fast ship, all right...so, what're the Rangers doing?
Keeping an eye on stuff? Good..good...so, what's for dinner?"
Each individual episode must be *about* something, must have a story
that can stand on its own, separate from the arc, while adding to it. For
what it's worth, "Voices of Authority," which was originally slated to run in
the first 4, *is* a preparation kind of story...it gets into how they should
be gearing up for what's coming, the accumulation of allies and resources,
all that. Had it run as planned as #4, this would be answered. But the
sheer volume of CGI required, which was pretty hideous, put it into the #5
slot, which we thought would still be in the first block of episodes. Then
we found that #4 was the cutoff point.
All I can tell you is that what you're asking for is *there*, plain as
can be, right in the very next batch of episodes. (Also, do bear in mind
that the "shadow war" referenced in the show operates as more than just
discussing the shadows themselves, but what's going on back home as well.)
jms
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Subj: Re:The Last, Worst Hope for
Date: 95-12-14 20:58:05 EST
From: VoxLumania
JMS,
I just wanted to say that I feel this past batch of episodes represents your
best work yet. There may be things that certain people want to see more of
(even myself) but just remember that you can't please everyone all the time.
(But thanks for trying!)
-vl
Subj: Re:The Last, Worst Hope for
Date: 95-12-15 02:21:31 EST
From: Jms at B5
Thanks. No, you can't please everyone, I learned that lesson a long
time ago. What you have to look at are the percentages. No matter *how*
wonderful the work, there will always be a certain portion who won't like it
because it isn't to their tastes. That simple. (I like bluegrass,
classical, Japanese music, celtic music, hard rock, and others...can't abide
straight-ahead country music or opera. That's just how I'm hardwired.) So
basically, a work of superior quality will get about 40% who love it, 50% who
think it's good, and 10% who hate it. A middle of the road work gets
30/30/30. A flop gets the first breakdown but in reverse. There's never
been a novel, story, song or painting that everyone on the planet thought was
nifty, without dissent. So as long as the percentages favor the notion that
we're doing right, I'm okay with it.
As far as the assessment of this latter stuff being my best work...god,
I hope so. I've been writing and selling since I was 17; in TV for a tick
over 10 years, and the absolute honest truth is that I think I'm just now
*starting* to get halfway decent as a writer. So many years you spend just
pumping out the bad stuff, the cliche characters, the implausible plots,
until you finally get to the good stuff. I write 7 days a week, 10 hours a
day, 52 weeks a year, except for my birthday, my spousal overunit's birthday,
christmas and new year's. I'm in constant battle with the English language,
slamming together different combinations of verbs and nouns and adjectives,
hoping to provoke an explosion whose flare can illustrate a notion, or incite
a moment of reflection. And half the time I feel like it's a losing battle;
the language beats you every time. But if script #152 is just 1% better than
script #151, well, that's progress.
And then I make the mistake of sitting down and watching something by
Serling or Chayefsky or Rose or Corwin, and conclude instantly that I should
get out of the profession before somebody discovers I'm a fake. THOSE guys
could WRITE. Hell, they didn't just write, they thunder'd and lightning'd
over the typwritten page, and the echoes have followed us down for decades.
So maybe someday, if I work hard, and write to the best of my ability, and am
sufficiently honest in what I write, I'll be good enough to carry their
pencil cases....
jms
____________________________________________________________________________
Subj: Re:The Last, Worst Hope for
Date: 95-12-15 21:19:03 EST
From: Kydreamer
My dear JMS; Your exposition was interesting, yet I am led to wonder what
interest can be sustained when the viewers' local station cancels Babylon 5.
this happened in Kentucky at the premiere of this season. Management gives no
explaination except that they have no interest in picking the show up again
despite a loyal following and good ratings.
Sincerely yours;
KyDreamer
Subj: Re:The Last, Worst Hope for
Date: 95-12-16 03:18:33 EST
From: Jms at B5
Kydreamer: what you have to remember is that the syndication marketplace
is undergoing *huge* changes right now, and has been for the last year. In
most markets, you're lucky if you've got even one or two independent stations
(non-CBS, NBC or ABC). Between the growth of Fox, and UPN, those stations
are now almost all locked down, and are required by contract to give
preference to programming made by their affiliated networks. Now you've got
2 hours a day that are available for prime-time programs, 8-10, that's it
(most indies usually show news from 10-11). That's a grand total of 14 hours
a week, and there are currently about 250 syndicated shows all competing for
those 14 available hours.
Usually, we rate between 30 and 50 overall, which is very good in that
crowd of 250, so in most cases holding onto the station isn't hard. But in
some markets, where the squeeze is on, and there's only one station
available, if UPN or FOX pushes hard enough...the show goes. This has,
however, happened in only about a handful of places out of something like 198
total stations, so we're still pretty solid. The problem comes when 15
people in one area all post messages that their station has dropped B5, and
what people tend to see is that there are 15 messages about this, so it must
be a big problem. (And in at least two, possibly three of those cases
another station, sometimes a *better* station, has leapt in to pick up B5's
contract.)
We've had a number of preliminary conversations with the folks at WB to
determine how best to adjust to this in the fourth season, which at this time
is looking very encouraging. Several notions have been suggested by them to
help counter or work with the changing syndication marketplace. Some of them
are quite interesting, though it's too early to comment much more than that.
jms
____________________________________________________________________________
Subj: Other Theme Possibilities
Date: 95-12-11 18:30:23 EST
From: OwlGrandma
Since religious themes have been pretty well covered, why not consider some
others? Here's my two cents worth:
1. What makes a leader in the B5 universe? What role does power play in
different leadership styles, as demonstrated by Sheridan and others? For
instance, Sheridan has rank, which gives him a certain power to order
things--but rank didn't get him command of the Rangers, and it doesn't play
in the way Ivanova, Garibaldi, and Franklin follow him in the "Conspiracy of
Light." For Sheridan, his tactical experience and demonstrated abilities
seem to come first; people then accord him power and trust. The bottom line
seems to be, as Garibaldi puts it, "He's the best chance we have to come out
of this alive." I didn't see year one eps, so don't know about Sinclair.
What kind of a leader was he? How about G'Kar? Londo? Lord Refa? And what
about everybody's favorate bad guy, Mr. Bester? How did he get power? and
what does he do with it?
2. What about the mind-body problems shown in B5? In Divided Loyalties I
noticed that all three female leads demonstrate some kind of match-up
difficulty. Talia has two (at least) personalities in contention for one
body. Delenn has one personality making a difficult transition between two
very different bodies (did she know how hard it would be?). Ivanova has "too
much" and must hide and deny a big part of herself to fit into the life she's
chosen; and how long can she do that? And then we have Brother Edward and
all the questions he brought up (with no final answers except the one that
was only for him). Where in the world is JMS going with this?
3. What else might be going on with the Shadows/Vorlons? Discussions so far
have covered the good vs evil aspects, so maybe we would drop down a notch or
two: What if the basic relationship is more predator/prey? Spiders are just
as much predators as wolves are. Maybe the Shadows are the wolves, humans
(and other races) are the sheep, and Vorlons consider themselves the
shepherds. If you're a sheep, hanging out with wolves is Not a Good Idea,
and the sheepherder (shepherd as biblical connotations I'd like to avoid)
offers short-term safety, better pastures, etc. But considering what
eventually happens to most sheep, the herder isn't all disinterested
benevolence, is he?
Just some themes I wouldn't mind discussing further; I'm sure there are many
others.
And that's only two cents worth.
OwlGma
Subj: Re:Other Theme Possibilities
Date: 95-12-12 18:42:08 EST
From: Jms at B5
Basically, any attempt to break down the B5 story into pure good vs.
pure evil is going to fall apart sooner or later. The thematic elements
point to greyer areas: will you lead, or will you be led by others? What is
your responsibility to the world around you, and how far will you go before
you do something drastically wrong? The key themes in this show are choice,
and responsibility.
How different would this story be if Londo had simply chosen *not* to go
the easy way and go to Mr. Morden? We are here because he made certain
choices, and now he has to live with them. Actions have consequences.
jms
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Subj: Oedipus Rex and Shadows
Date: 95-12-12 22:39:00 EST
From: Klancaster
JMS:
Have you ever read any C.J. Cherry? She deals with a similar themes that you
are dealing with in Babylon 5: How individuals are "forced" into hard
situations by the choices they make, and through their actions they show who
they are.
To my argument: I think Londo is going to become an Oedipus Rex figure for
the Centauri. He's going to realize the horror of what he has done too late,
and it will be his hubris that will bring him down, revealing how he is such
a tragic character. But part of the tragic figure comes from a dark side
repressed unconsciously. Londo has yet to fully see what he's doing -- he'll
have to be "blinded" before he painfully realizes his mistakes.
In some way this relates to the Shadows. I think in some ways they represent
the unconscious dark side of humanity, and even of the other species. They
represent the an evil, or hidden desires, that's been supressed trying to get
out of us all. Londo didn't really do anything bad until he gave permission
to unleash the powers of the Shadows against the Narns. We'll have to wait
and see what the Shadows have planned.
By the way, will there ever be scripts from the earlier season for sale,
anytime?
Subj: Re:Oedipus Rex and Shadows
Date: 95-12-13 01:43:47 EST
From: Jms at B5
Actually haven't read much if any of CJ's work, though I really should
have. The notion of hard choices, and responsibility, of course goes way
back through early literature and into myth.
Re: scripts...we do hope to make a limited number of them available
through the fan club, once that gets going, but that's about it.
jms
____________________________________________________________________________
Subj: Re:Other Theme Possibilities
Date: 95-12-14 13:54:37 EST
From: MAKagle
Another thing I'd like to point out is that NOBODY thinks they are evil
(except some mass murderers in prison). Everybody thinks they have a good
reason to do what they do.
What I am suggesting is that the Shadows have a good reason (in their eyes)
for wanting to take over the galaxy. I won't toss out any hypothetical
reasons so as to not step on jms, but I'm sure you can make some up on your
own.
Point being, good and evil are matters of perspective. They are also a
convenient tool for leaders to use to attack opponents without reason:
"Let's kill them!"
"Why?"
"Because... um... What they are doing is EVIL!"
If you read "The History of the World and Other Business" by Arthur Miller,
he talks about this a great deal.
Subj: Re:Other Theme Possibilities
Date: 95-12-14 17:11:48 EST
From: Jms at B5
Good point. The monster almost never sees a monster in the mirror.
There can be all kinds of justifications for what one does....
jms
____________________________________________________________________________
Subj: Re:Other Theme Possibilities
Date: 95-12-14 16:46:34 EST
From: AmberH
Here's one that's been on my mind for the past few weeks that I meant to
bring up - fate, destiny and free will. So much of what's been going on in
the arc storyline has to do with destiny and prophecy. Delenn transformed
because of a prophecy, Londo (and other Centauri) clearly have clairvoyants
(ie Lady Ladira) and know the time of their own deaths, etc. Even the
Vorlons seem to be going along with a predetermined pattern of history as in
Kosh's comment regarding the Narns and the Centauri being dying races. (If
anything, that one comment shows just how scummy the Vorlons *really* are
because clearly they knew of the coming war and did nothing to prevent it!!)
Even the future-Sinclair in B^2 tried to change something in the past (what,
we don't know yet but should by the end of this season) and couldn't. So
there is this whole concept of fate and being unable to change it. Yet,
Ladira told Sinclair that the things she saw in her visions were only things
that *might* be but they could be changed. So, how much of what will happen
is carved in stone? How much has been changed or will be changed do to the
course of actions of our Heroes and Heroines? From what some people have
speculated, all of Babylon Square's signs and portents read that Sinclair is
"the One" yet now Sheridan is in the hot seat and clearly being favoured by
Kosh. So has that part of the (a?) prophecy been changed? Is it for better
or not? How much free will is there within the confines of the story? (And I
don't mean JMS' part in it?) How much is predetermined and how much can be
altered? Should we believe all the signs and portents (whether prophecy,
Sheridan's and Londo's dreams, Garibaldi's flashs) as givens or just future
possibilities? And what messages/themes do you think jms-the-author are
trying to convey?
(You have one hour and two blue books to answer...:-D)
Subj: Re:Other Theme Possibilities
Date: 95-12-14 17:15:29 EST
From: Jms at B5
I think that in the larger scope, many things are going to happen
regardless...World War One would've almost certainly happened even without
the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand, but it might have happened later,
might have taken on a different form....
But there's a great deal over which we *do* have free will. Things
*can* be changed; if they can't, then there's not much point to living. The
characters like to think they have no choice to comfort themselves with the
decisions they've already made.
jms
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Subj: Beauty in the eye...
Date: 95-12-16 13:43:38 EST
From: AmberH
of the beholder...
Jms himself has stated several actions by the Vorlons (most recently in CtI
and PTG) are supposed to cast a little less light on them. They are *not*
good. We have been shown that the Shadows are evil, but we haven't heard
their side of the story yet, have we? Members of my family were
killed/tortured in WWII and I do think the Nazis actions were evil, not to
mention Hitler's (amongst others). However, how many of the Germans (and
Poles) thought what was going was right and what was happening was a good
thing? What is good and what is evil is all a matter of perspective. Even
within different cultures, taboos and beliefs vary and what the moral center
is varies with it. If/when we ever hear the Shadows side of things, perhaps
we will learn a thing or two. Plus I don't think the Vorlons are nice, warm
and fuzzy beings. They've been perpetrating a mind *TOS* on many races for
the past few millenia - even Sheridan says "we've been manipulated". Is it
because we are not "ready" for the real truth? Which reminds me, who invited
the Vorlons to be the keepers of morality and information in the galaxy?
They're always telling people we're not "ready". Sez who? *Them*? It's like
the current goings on re: obscenity on the internet. Certain political types
are trying to ban it - but who are they do say what I find obscene, or
someone else? Not to mention (again) that different groups have different
takes on what is perverse or obscene...who is the judge and who gave them
that authority? (and this is *not* to start a debate on obscenity here.
I'll start an Obscenity and Babylon 5 board if I wanna get into that
one...<g>)
The Vorlons may have an ideaology closer to our "heroes" in the story - then
again, they may not. For all we know, their agenda could be something worse
than we can imagine. Look at the kind of slavish attitude Lyta has around
them. Sorry, but it creeps *me* out.
Subj: Re:Beauty in the eye...
Date: 95-12-17 02:28:42 EST
From: Jms at B5
On the other hand, to say the Vorlons are not good may also be to miss
the point, which comes closer to the issue of control, and the question of
being led vs. leading.
jms
____________________________________________________________________________
Subj: Franklin and Ivanova
Date: 95-12-11 17:48:19 EST
From: KvonHaam
Rats, I thought F & I would be a couple. I don't care about the ethnicities
involved, I just want to see a couple develop on the show...maybe Sheridan
and Delenn.
Although Blacnight is over the top, it is true that having minority guest
stars is different having minority main characters. And what people see on
television does effect their sense of self, to a small amount--depending on
how much they watch TV versus paying attention to real world role models. I
am glad to see on STDS9 a black commander, also that he is a single father.
As far as minority aliens, my friend commented that while Earth is still
diverse in 2258, each of the alien groups have only one religion, one
government, one appearance--I don't know but if this is some comment by JMS
on our diversity is our difference from the other races, and what makes us
human. I wouldn't mind seeing more diversity within alien races.
In spite of all this, B5 is the best story on television today.
Subj: Re:Franklin and Ivanova
Date: 95-12-11 21:16:39 EST
From: Jms at B5
"...each of the alien groups have only one religion, one government, one
appearance...."
Actually, this is quite incorrect. It's been established that the
Narns have competing religions (G'Quan vs. G'Lan vs. other systems), the
Centauri have a whole pantheon of different deities -- I seem to recall the
number was in the 70s -- with each having their own household god, certainly
the Minbari have three very distinct castes (with some differences in
appearances, the warrior caste having more threateningly-spiked crests, vs.
more rounded for religious caste), so there are definitely differences within
our various alien races. And, of course, we've go the green drazi vs. purple
drazi situation to contend with, and accents vary as well...not every
Centauri has the same accent as Londo (which is more of the Old School of the
Centauri hierarchy), and not every Minbari speaks with Delenn's accent (which
is more from the southern region of the planet).
jms
____________________________________________________________________________
Subj: Re:THE REAL WORLD
Date: 95-12-12 04:15:57 EST
From: Blacnight9
You don't get it, I could care less about Baywatch and in fact the only time
that I hear about it is when they talk about the characters and the people on
other shows. The point is that this show and shows like it like Melrose are
seen around the world and they are consider the best of what America has to
offer in the way of beauty. Did you know that in Brazil there is more than
100 differant word that are used to say other than black when people
describle themselves when they took the census in Brazil because they see
black as ugly. And these shows make what they feel about black some how true
that being black is less than and that if they don't show them then American
think the same thing too. I mean that like some one saying that they saw
Jesus, unless they saw someone with skin like burnt copper and hair of wool
then I don't want to hear about. Did you know that racism took its first
breathe when the 16th chapel was painted?
And the thing about MTV is that they play mostly black music and then just
about every body on the network is white. How dose that work you have people
that ack like they were forged from the soul of Rap and R&B and they get the
jobs because they don't clash. And the comic this is that there are little
kids looking at these comic and they should see people working together from
every race not just white. They see the hero is alway some white guy that
saves the world from evil. Evil come in all color and so should heros come in
all colors and all genders. WHY DIDN"T ANYONE TOUCH ON THE CHOOSING OF THE
BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE. Couldn't any one come up with a reason that The sexist man
alive and the most beautiful people are all picked by one race of people.
Also the Sports ILL models are always white or the color concidered white by
the all white staff at the magazine. Racism will survive because it can, and
will always have a home in the hearts of the people that create show for the
people and the beliefs that they grow up with will shine through in
everything that they do.
Subj: Re:THE REAL WORLD
Date: 95-12-12 18:37:18 EST
From: Jms at B5
Blacnight...this is really becoming pointless. For one thing, you're
not listening to anyone else. You come on here, and point to A...people
answer you, and explain or respond to some of your concerns about A, but then
you've moved on, you don't even deal with the question of A anymore, you've
moved on to B...and people try to respond to B, and now you point over there
to C. You plainly have no interest in a conversation or a discussion, you
haven't answered any of the objections to your prior messages, you just come
in here to state and restate your position. You're all over the place.
First you bring up Baywatch, then you say you don't care about Baywatch, you
flip all over the place.
My bottom line, frankly, is that yes, of course there's racism in
society, nobody's debating that. If that's the point you're trying to
communicate, then nobody here is going to dispute it. But by speaking of all
caucasian people the same way, accusing them of all having the same behavior,
you are every bit as racist as those you complain about, and that's another
issue you've danced away from. If I came on here and said about african
americans the kinds of things you've said about caucasians I'd be branded a
racist, and they'd be right.
In an early episode of season one (at risk of actually mentioning B5 in
this conversation), Sinclair makes the comment that "when you become obsessed
with the enemy, you become the enemy." You have become obsessed with the
enemy.
Anyway, this is the last response you'll get from me. It's painfully
apparent by now, having given you every opportunity to show otherwise, that
you are not interested in a conversation, only in stating and restating your
position. So the exercise becomes pointless.
jms
____________________________________________________________________________
Subj: Well done, Michael
Date: 95-12-09 15:34:59 EST
From: TS Jessica
At Westercon in Phoenix, July 1992, I remember leaving early one of the
panels I was on, so I could get to your presentation on Babylon 5. You
hadn't sold it yet, but I knew you from GEnie and I remember thinking at the
time of the presentation, "If he gets this concept on TV, he'll own broadcast
science fiction."
See, I was right! Well done. -Jess
Subj: Re:Well done, Michael
Date: 95-12-10 21:22:00 EST
From: Jms at B5
I remember that presentation, and it shares something special with
LosCon right before that. At the time of the convention, all I had was my
word on the kind of show I wanted to do, my rep, and about 30 seconds of a
clip showing a ship docking at a beta version of B5. That's it. And even
though producers for TeeVee series are always coming in proclaiming that
their new show is the best thing since sliced bread, even though time and
time again we (speaking as a fan myself) it ends up being just another awful
show with genius kids and cute robots...even with all that, and so little to
show for what I had in mind...fans both in Phoenix and at LosCon sidled up to
the video clip, considered it, and the few other elements I brought to the
table...and said, basically, "Let's give the kid a chance." It speaks
volumes of the willingness of SF fans to extend themselves, despite getting
repeatedly burned, when most needed.
I've always been very moved by that, and whenever I've gone back (though
I forgot this last time), I've always asked, "Did I keep the promises I made
back then?" The answer has always been yes.
jms
____________________________________________________________________________
Subj: Miscellaney for Joe
Date: 95-12-09 16:11:16 EST
From: WSudderth
(1) Regarding the conversation in "A Day in the Strife" between Ivanova,
Garibaldi and Franklin concerning Sheridan's capability as B5's Captain: did
you intend that to be a response to the fans who are making noises about
wishing Sinclair would return in a more regular fashion? The "we need a
soldier, not a diplomat" line stood out.
(2) In "Divided Loyalties," was Garibaldi warned by the Rangers to be
present when Lyta's ship was brought in? It seemed just a bit too convenient
for Garibaldi to be there to confirm her identity; might he have been warned
that someone who needed protection was on the ship?
Your humble servant,
Will
Subj: Re:Miscellaney for Joe
Date: 95-12-10 21:23:31 EST
From: Jms at B5
No, Garibaldi was there because the ship's ID# didn't check out, as he
stated, and it could've been in the process of smuggling or who knows what.
The "soldier/diplomat" comment came more from shaping where this season is
going.
jms
____________________________________________________________________________
Subj: Mira's Past
Date: 95-12-09 22:51:50 EST
From: StarFuryD4
Joe,
I just saw "My Antonia", and Mira was in it. But when I looked for her
in the credits, I saw "Mira", but couldn't catch the last name. Has she been
married long? Acted under a different stage name? Or just decided to go by
Furlan for B5?
Three days of dish duty rides on her being in that movie, so any help would
be appreciated.
: )
Thanks,
Dave
Subj: Re:Mira's Past
Date: 95-12-10 21:24:19 EST
From: Jms at B5
No, her credit there reads Furlan; that's her name. Her husband's name
is Goran Gajic.
jms
____________________________________________________________________________
Subj: JMS: Spousal Overunit's name
Date: 95-12-10 02:06:20 EST
From: Horshutree
I remember reading somewhere you posted your SO's name, and that she too is a
writer. I can't recall what her name is, and I would like to recognize her
work if I ever chance to see something she wrote. Do I remember correctly
that she wrote an episode of B5? If so, can you comment on the experience?
Would you like to go through it again? You certainly don't have to answer
that last one!
RRS
Subj: Re:JMS: Spousal Overunit's n
Date: 95-12-10 21:27:40 EST
From: Jms at B5
Her name is Kathryn M. Drennan, and yes, she wrote "By Any Means
Necessary" for B5. She has written for other shows, mainly in the animation
area, and has worked as a journalist or feature reporter for newspapers and
magazines, including Twilight Zone Magazine, Women's World, and others.
It was difficult at times with her doing a B5 script because I kept
second-guessing myself too much on my reactions, and I ended up making her
jump through a lot of hoops that nobody else had to go through because I have
a real problem with even the *appearance* of nepotism, so she ended up
working twice as hard as was probably necessary. So far this season she
hasn't come across a story she'd like to write, so it's a moot point.
jms
____________________________________________________________________________
Subj: To Jms
Date: 95-12-10 12:12:03 EST
From: Mutate
what is the deal with some of the affiliate stations taking B5 off of their
schedules. Will this be forever.
Subj: Re:To Jms
Date: 95-12-10 21:28:59 EST
From: Jms at B5
Only a very few stations have dropped B5, mainly because there isn't
room any longer on their schedules due to an influx of UPN and FOX shows to
which they have prior commitments. These number less than about 5 or so out
of something like 198 stations, and in several cases other stations have
jumped in and happily picked up the contract.
jms
____________________________________________________________________________
Subj: actors
Date: 95-12-11 17:49:25 EST
From: Leathon
Are any of the actors online and reading the B5 messages or just you JMS? I
can't keep but wonder what some of their reactions are to the messages placed
here.
Leathon
Subj: Re:actors
Date: 95-12-11 21:05:49 EST
From: Jms at B5
Generally speaking, very few actors are online; Pat Tallman is over on
Compuserve here and there, Stephen Furst and one or two others come online
here from time to time...bits and pieces here and there. Mainly, if there's
a message of interest, cast members find out by its being posted on the News
>From The Nets wall over on stage A.
jms
____________________________________________________________________________
Subj: To JMS re.the women
Date: 95-12-11 19:30:49 EST
From: CrushaTroi
hello JMS... I do hope you'll answer this post...
1- will you be bringing in more women as lead characters? I really
appreciated having a decent percentage of women on B5 instead of making it
the boys' game that Star Trek and ST:TNG and even DS9 seemed to be hitting
on... With the female narn and Talia gone, there are only two main female
characters... Even with Lyta, there are only three, and there are also some
men who have recurring bit parts, and so sort of weigh out Lyta's presence..
2- Will you PLEASE answer the question re. Talia? I mean, I know you would
like to keep some sort of surprise to it (I s'pose), but so many people have
so many questions. I also really hope that Talia and Susan can have their
relationship... there are so many things unresolved about Talia and her
relationships with the other cast members, especially with Susan... Is
Andrea Thompson (or some other actress) going to come back as Talia?!
3- Also, even if Talia doesn't come back, are you going to have a gay
characters around as simply part of the tapestry of B5? I thought that was
going to happen...
,',',',',',',',',',',',',',',
', lefreeman at sunbelt.net ,'
',',',',',',',',',',',',','
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