JMS on CompuServe (Apr 10, 1996) *POSSIBLE SPOILERS* 3/3

Brent Barrett brent.barrett at 24stex.com
Wed Apr 10 11:42:18 EDT 1996


 [ Continued from previous section -- BB ]


 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WARNING !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 The following posts may contain SPOILERS for
 upcoming Babylon 5 episodes.

 Continue at your own risk.

 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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 THE FOLLOWING MATERIAL IS THE COPYRIGHT OF THE
 RESPECTIVE MESSAGE AUTHORS AND CANNOT BE 
 REPRODUCED IN ANY FORM WITHOUT THE EXPRESSED
 PERMISSION OF THE AUTHOR.  
 
 Note that JMS has expressed his public permission 
 that all of his messages may be reproduced freely.

 I give permission for my summaries to be reposted in
 any form, however I reserve all rights to them and
 the right to revoke this permission at any time.



 #: 483994 S6/Babylon 5: Upcoming
    08-Apr-96  19:13:57
Sb: #SD: The Roanoke
Fm: BERNARD F. DOWDY, J

I finally got to see "Severed Dreams" Saturday night.  All I can say is just
when you think the show can't reach any higher, it does!  It was so good that I
had to rewind the tape and watch it again immediately (a first for me).  Many
thanks to you, the cast and crew for the BEST sci-fi episode EVER.

How did the Earth Alliance destroyer, Roanoke come by its name?  Since I live
near Roanoke, Virginia I'm curious.


Bernie


 #: 484182 S6/Babylon 5: Upcoming
    08-Apr-96  23:11:22
Sb: #483994-#SD: The Roanoke
Fm: J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI

      Well, Roanoke is a place rich with history.  Some of it a little odd,
given the colony's disappearance, but rich nonetheless.  (Clark has edged away
from giving Omega class destroyers and others names from Greek mythology and
history, toward more conventional names like the Clarkstown and the Roanoke.)

                                                                      jms

 [ Summary: Loved "Severed Dreams," and thanks JMS for killing off 
   Hague. ]

 #: 484183 S5/Babylon 5: General
    08-Apr-96  23:11:24
Sb: #484009-#Outstanding job
Fm: J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI

      Thanks.

      Re: Foxworth...it was really the only thing to do.  I'd created the
character *specifically* to have him available for this episode, after which
he'd basically fade away while others took up his standard.  It was all leading
up to this.  Without being in this episode, there was nothing more to do with
Hague, hence I felt quite comfortable with his fate, it changed nothing.

                                                                          jms


 #: 484034 S5/Babylon 5: General
    08-Apr-96  20:18:28
Sb: #Ed Wasser
Fm: JAMES R. KAPESIS

Since Mr. Morden wearing a crystal was Ed Wasser's idea and not yours, will the
crystal have any importance to the character in the future?


 #: 484184 S5/Babylon 5: General
    08-Apr-96  23:11:27
Sb: #484034-Ed Wasser
Fm: J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI

      Nope.

                                                                    jms


 #: 484136 S5/Babylon 5: General
    08-Apr-96  21:44:33
Sb: #Star Furies
Fm: RUTH SPRADLIN

Severed Dreams was *great* -- you guys sure do know how to put on a show!
There's just one thing troubling me.  How does everyone tell enemy Furies from
friend Furies? Don't they all look the same?


 #: 484185 S5/Babylon 5: General
    08-Apr-96  23:11:28
Sb: #484136-Star Furies
Fm: J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI

      FOF...Friend Or Foe systems on board the furies.

                                                                      jms


 #: 484150 S5/Babylon 5: General
    08-Apr-96  21:57:29
Sb: #Mechanical evolution?
Fm: ROWAN KAISER

Do you design your ships so that the more advanced they get, the more
animal-like they become?  Kind of like backwards evolution, we start out
animal-like, then become more mechanical, then the mechanics become
animal-like?

Sin wreak-oar Mistie, Montie, PITAS, Emperor of SPAMM and Kidism Patroler
"It's just something grown-ups invented to scare kids, like the boogey-man or
Michael Jackson."
        -Bart Simpson


 #: 484186 S5/Babylon 5: General
    08-Apr-96  23:11:30
Sb: #484150-Mechanical evolution?
Fm: J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI

      Certainly as they get more sophisticated, when just *doing it* isn't the
main goal, a certain level of aesthetics comes into play.  Compare an early
Model T to a modern Corvette, for instance.

                                                                     jms

 [ Summary: Wonders why the warrior caste is being so isolationist. ]

 #: 484187 S6/Babylon 5: Upcoming
    08-Apr-96  23:11:33
Sb: #484095-<Severed Dreams>
Fm: J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI

         Basically, the warrior caste doesn't think it's their war; there's
also a certain amount of resentment in it, I think...they *led* the last war,
they *did* their job, and got yanked back and forced to surrender.  That was a
terrible blow to their pride, caused in part by an alien race, so their
attitude now tends to be more or less, "Screw 'em."

                                                                       jms

 [ Summary: A five foot, ten inch tall "stocky and very butch" man, a 
   "manly man" says that he cried when the Narns sacrificed themselves
   at the boarding. ]

 #: 484188 S6/Babylon 5: Upcoming
    08-Apr-96  23:11:35
Sb: #484133-#<Severed Dreams>
Fm: J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI

      Thanks.

      But really, can *anyone* under 6'2" *really* be a manly man?

                                                              jms (6' 4-1/2")


 #: 484068 S6/Babylon 5: Upcoming
    08-Apr-96  21:04:19
Sb: #481105-#General Hague <Spoiler>
Fm: RANDALL A. SCHANZE

Just read the "Can B5 be saved" artical in SF Universe.
It painted a fairly dim picture for the future of the show, which
understandably disturbed me.

My question is this: did the story portray things as they are now, or things as
they were several months ago. Is the show in great danger now, or did the story
just happen to be written at a time of some chaos, which has now passed?

Paranoiacaly yours,
Admiral Randy


 #: 484189 S6/Babylon 5: Upcoming
    08-Apr-96  23:11:38
Sb: #484068-General Hague <Spoiler>
Fm: J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI

      The article portrayed, and somewhat overstated, the events of last year.
(I take some of the blame for this; I may have spoken unwisely in a few
places.)

      The main problem overall right now, for *every* syndicated show, is that
the available time slots are just totally disappearing, thanks to committments
to WBN, UPN and Fox.  They just yanked Lonsesome Dove even though the ratings
were good, and the show was a good show, simply because they couldn't find
enough berths on independent stations to make it worth it for the national
advertisers.

      It's certainly a dark cloud on the horizon; we'll just have to see
whether it blows past harmlessly or not.

                                                                        jms

 [ Summary: Points out an article stating that all PTEN shows have been 
   cancelled and that WB decided *not* to renew B5's contract. ]

 #: 484194 S6/Babylon 5: Upcoming
    08-Apr-96  23:25:08
Sb: #484027-#B5 Cancellation RUMOR
Fm: J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI

      Okay, Horse's Mouth time.

      We have not, repeat, not been canceled.  Right now, WB has bought covers
of newspaper TV magazines in over 80 cities that'll debut over the next couple
of weeks; they've also invested a huge amount of money in a series of radio and
TV spots that'll be airing on cable and indie stations over the next 6 weeks.
They're currently running the B5 contest.  Several stations have announced that
they're going to go back to double-running B5 twice a week.

      Do you think they would do this for a show that's been canceled?

      They don't.  They cut their losses and run like hell.

      This is a jumble of information.  Yes, PTEN seems to be going away; I've
been saying this on the nets for the last several months, and that we're going
to move into straight syndication.  Someone has apparently taken this and blown
it all out of proportion.

      Every season, somebody announces that they've heard it on absolutely firm
grounds that we've been canceled.  Hasn't happened yet.  We've had our ups and
downs, like any other show, but we're still here.

                                                                       jms


 #: 484265 S5/Babylon 5: General
    09-Apr-96  02:37:36
Sb: B5 FAN CLUB INFO!
Fm: J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI


The following information has just been released by Jim Lochett,
coordinator for the OFFICIAL BABYLON 5 FAN CLUB.  (Note to
convention organizers: the address given below can now be used
as a central clearing house for invitations to cast and crew.)

                                ***

                  THE OFFICIAL BABYLON 5 FAN CLUB

Join today and you will receive the Official Membership Kit, including:

     A Subscription to The Universe Today: The Official Newsletter of the
     B5FC filled with exclusive interviews, news about Babylon 5, and
     exciting merchandise offers.
     An 8x10 Cast Photo
     Full Color Babylon 5 Mini-Poster (13"x20")
     B5 Fan Club Button & Full Color Sticker
     Membership Certificate (Signed by the show's Executive Producers, J.
     Michael Straczynski and Douglas Netter)
     Membership ID Card granting you discounts on merchandise, conventions,
     etc., as well as access to the Members Only section of TheStation.com,
     the B5 Fan Club Web-site (to be up May 1996).
     Plus as a bonus, the first 100 people to join get:
     A Limited Collection Sticker of the alternate B5 Logo as designed by
     artist Peter Ledger.
================

To Give a Membership as a Gift, simply make a copy of the entry form, fill
in the name of the person you wish to make a member, and send it off.
(Don't forget to include your name on the Suggestions line, so that we can
include a gift card.)

Each year the Renewal Kit will offer new and different goodies, savings,
and of course another year's subscription to The Universe Today.

Remember, this is more than just your run of the mill fan club; the Babylon
5 fans time and time again have gone that extra step for the show, and the
Babylon 5 Fan Club is our way of giving something back to those who've been
so loyal to us.

------------------  CLIP OR COPY AND GIVE TO A FRIEND  --------------------

YES!  I want to join The Official Babylon 5 Fan Club.  Please send my
membership kit to:

Name:     ________________________________________________________________

Age:      __________

Address:  ________________________________________________________________

City:     _____________________________ State:  ___________ ZIP:  ________

Country:  _____________

e-mail address:  _________________________________________________________

Local Station you watch B5 on:  __________________________________________

Suggestions:  ____________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________


_____ I am already on the mailing list.

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Enclosed is $12.95 for a U.S. membership; $14.95 for a Canadian membership;
and $19.95 for Foreign memberships.  Orders must be in U.S. funds. Send
check or money order (DO NOT send cash) made payable to:

Babylonian Productions/Fan Club

Mail to:  The Official Babylon 5 Fan Club
          PO Box 856
          North Hollywood, CA 91603

Please allow 5-6 weeks for delivery.  Foreign and Canadian orders are
shipped surface, please allow additional time for shipping.

All returned checks are subject to a $15.00 service charge.

----------------  CUT HERE FOR THE END OF THE FORM  -------------------




 [ Summary: Wonders if the CGI used for PPG blasts has changed recently,
   as he remembered them being much brighter and fuller than was seen
   in "Severed Dreams." ]

 #: 484267 S6/Babylon 5: Upcoming
    09-Apr-96  02:43:13
Sb: #484204-<Severed Dreams>
Fm: J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI

       That was because there were so MANY of them; our PPG bursts usually take
a great deal of work.  If we'd given all of them in this scene that amount of
work, we'd still be doing them.

                                                                       jms




 #: 484208 S5/Babylon 5: General
    08-Apr-96  23:34:47
Sb: #B5 Previews
Fm: BRENT BARRETT

A quick question: Do you know why WB/PTEN isn't bothering to put previews for
the next new episode at the end of B5 anymore?  Their absence really bugs me,
as I always look forward to that little extra at the end to get me excited
about next week.  What gives?

Thanks.


 #: 484268 S5/Babylon 5: General
    09-Apr-96  02:43:14
Sb: #484208-B5 Previews
Fm: J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI

       The space usually taken by the B5 preview is now being used up by the WB
B5 contest.

                                                                       jms



 [ Summary: Asks JMS about Delenn's choice of wearing brightly colored garb
   to the Grey Council when she used to always dress, well, grey for such
   visits. ]

 #: 484269 S6/Babylon 5: Upcoming
    09-Apr-96  02:43:16
Sb: #484209-<SD, visual images>
Fm: J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI

       Actually, this is the second time she's appeared before them in more
colorful garb.

                                                                       jms



 [ Summary: Wonders if it is "the taller, the manlier."  Wonders why his
   six foot seven inch tall son isn't dating yet if that's the case. ]

 #: 484270 S6/Babylon 5: Upcoming
    09-Apr-96  02:43:17
Sb: #484243-<Severed Dreams>
Fm: J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI

       Because anything over 6'6" is unnatural.

                                                                       jms




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