JMS on CompuServe (Apr 29, 1997) *POSSIBLE SPOILERS*

[bbarrett at speedlink.com]

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 [ Summary of subjects in this section: ]
    Sb: #665383-#Battleground Earth ?
    Sb: #665500-<Lines of Comm.>
    Sb: #665532-<Strong Signals>
    Sb: #665604-#Battleground Earth ?
    Sb: #665609-#Who's the Boss?
    Sb: #665636->>Racing Mars<< worries


 #: 665383 S2/Star Trek: General
    28-Apr-97  11:12:46
Sb: #665298-#Battleground Earth ?
Fm: BRIAN PROTHERO

Joe,

Do you know if BATTLEGROUND EARTH is based on the two Gene Roddenbury pilots
GENESIS II and PLANET EARTH?  It was about a team of pacifists (from a
civilation called PAX) that find and thaw out a scientist who was placed in an
experimental suspended animation in Carlsbad Caverns and then forgotten for 200
years.  He joins PAX.  PAX wish to rebuild Earth and keep only the best from
the past (classical music, art, science, no violence, etc).  They travel the
newly reborn Earth in "subshuttles" (intercontinental subways) discovering, and
running into conflicts with,  small isolated and diverse civilations and
mutants.  The first pilot had PAX as the survivors of a former military and
science research base in Carlsbad Caverns.  The second pilot moved PAX to a
futuristic city and changed the actor who played the 20th century character.

I actually enjoyed the two pilots and had hoped they would make a series from
it.  So I am hoping that BATTLEGROUND EARTH is based on it.

BTW, any word on season 5 of B5 yet?  Thanks.  --Brian


 #: 665594 S2/Star Trek: General
    29-Apr-97  10:06:13
Sb: #665383-#Battleground Earth ?
Fm: J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI

       No, it's got nothing to do with either project.

                                                                       jms


 [ Summary: Asks if the flower-like design of the alien ships in "Lines of
   Communication" were specifically requested by JMS. ]

 #: 665595 S6/Babylon 5: Spoilers
    29-Apr-97  10:06:15
Sb: #665500-<Lines of Comm.>
Fm: J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI

       Yeah, I indicated a flower-like design.  With the lethalness behind
them, it seemed like a nice contrast.

                                                                       jms



 #: 665532 S6/Babylon 5: Spoilers
    28-Apr-97  21:46:41
Sb: #<Strong Signals>
Fm: BRENT BARRETT

Joe,

    A very good episode.

    I commented to you at the start of the fourth season that your episodes
were very content dense.  For a while there, starting around 408, they seemed
to get a little airy again.  Well, this one is back to that "I can't believe
it's only thirty minutes into the show!" mode. Wonderful.

    Poor Ivanova.  He makes her get up, get dressed, march down to the War Room
and then, after a two minute talk, he tells her to go get some sleep.  She's
right; someone oughta shoot the jerk.  :-)

    And I think that while Delenn's first mission out in command of a fleet
didn't start off terribly well, she seemed to survive the test of fire stronger
for the experience.  I think Sheridan would have been (and probably was) very
proud.

    As others have pointed out, Franklin and Marcus did little to counter
Garibaldi's claim of a "cult of personality."  Especially with Franklin's
comment about believing Sheridan if he said he had sprouted wings and was
flying to New York.

    And what a lovely closing scene between Delenn and Sheridan.  It actually
clarified something that had been bothering me for some time. I had wondered
why the hell those two had been so reluctant for two people who loved each
other more than their own lives.  Delenn's little bit about Sheridan's changes
since Z'Ha'Dum makes so much sense it could clear your sinuses.  And she's
right about him having to get dangerous. He has to embrace the power he's
inherited if he hopes to do the very messy work ahead.

    More talk of that famous line: "Minbari do not kill minbari."  I wonder why
that sounds like famous last words now, given the revelations of civil unrest
back on Minbar?  That messy work is coming for Delenn as well.

    All in all, a very good episode.  I've heard some of the spoilers for the
rest of the season, and I have to say that if this pace continues, we're all in
for one hell of a ride.

    Now, I'm off to get some rest.  I didn't get much sleep last night for some
odd reason.

Take care,

  -- Brent


 #: 665596 S6/Babylon 5: Spoilers
    29-Apr-97  10:06:16
Sb: #665532-<Strong Signals>
Fm: J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI

       Thanks, and good points.

                                                                       jms



 #: 665604 S2/Star Trek: General
    29-Apr-97  11:09:57
Sb: #665594-#Battleground Earth ?
Fm: BRIAN PROTHERO

Thanks for you reply.  Did you decline taking on the project because it was a
poor premise or story... or were you just too busy with your current projects?
Did the story idea for Battleground Earth sound promising?

I enjoy pretty much all science fiction and look forward to another show to
watch.  Although I feel your show is the best science fiction show on the air
and sat on pins and needles waiting for the new episode that just aired this
week (where Marcus and Franklin are on Mars).  The Mars scenes were very cool.
My only complaint is that they looked just a little to CGI; but the explosion
in the shuttle tub was very well done.  You have some great SFX and visual
artists working for you!

I recently watched TRON and THE STARFIGHTER, which both used a lot of CGI and
you can really tell how far technology has come since then.  I always thought
the computer generated visuals were fantastic in the two movies; but they are
laughable compared to the Amiga and VideoToaster systems you have and how your
artists have used the technology.

We are all keeping our hopes up that Babylon 5 will be renewed for another
season.

--Brian


 #: 665658 S2/Star Trek: General
    29-Apr-97  14:59:08
Sb: #665604-#Battleground Earth ?
Fm: J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI

       Thanks.  It was noted to me at the time that a Roddenberry/Straczynski
collaboration would be very commerical, but on looking at the material, I just
felt it wasn't strong enough; at least, I couldn't see where it could go, and
thus felt it better to leave it to others who potentially would not be limited
by that, and could find ways to make it work.

                                                                       jms



 #: 665609 S5/Babylon 5: General
    29-Apr-97  11:36:34
Sb: #Who's the Boss?
Fm: BRENT BARRETT

Joe,

    Well, your directorial debut should be over now, right?

    So, how did it go?  Or how is it going, if you're still doing it?

    Any cute stories or other interesting happening (no spoilers, obviously)?

    And, above all, did everyone cry?  :-)

Thanks,

  -- Brent


 #: 665659 S5/Babylon 5: General
    29-Apr-97  14:59:09
Sb: #665609-#Who's the Boss?
Fm: J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI

       I'm only on day 2 so far...long way to go yet before I can rest.

                                                                       jms



 #: 665636 S6/Babylon 5: Spoilers
    29-Apr-97  13:57:12
Sb: #665212-#>>Racing Mars<< worries
Fm: PHILIP HORNSEY

>>    Suffice to say some have taken it *very* personally and have sent some me
fairly abusive email.  But that's showbidness.


I suggest the following chain of events to justify this.

1) The Catholic Church reunites with the Eastern Orthodox Church (JPII is
currently trying to pull this off before he dies as his great legacy), it is
defined as the Eastern Rite of the Holy Catholic Church, and all the really
major Bishops of the Eastern church are created Cardinal.

2) With the addition of a 10th Rite to the Holy See (Eastern Rite above), which
allows married clergy, anyone who feels the call to both priesthood and
marriage is ordained as an Eastern Rite priest.

3) With the barrier to marriage quashed, the Anglican church, would likely be
next on the list for reunification. They are the closest dogmatically and
basically are Catholic, with the exception of divorce and female ordination.
With the precident for reunion set, we get an Anglican Rite of the Holy See in,
say, 2050.

4) With Female Anglican Rite priests and bishops, it would just be a matter of
time...Likely your female Pope is one of the first if not *the* first. If so,
she is probably a *very* formidable person, and very likely a living saint, if
not, she would never have been givent he opprotunity in an organization so
conservative.

Phil^^^^
FREE MARS!


 #: 665660 S6/Babylon 5: Spoilers
    29-Apr-97  14:59:10
Sb: #665636->>Racing Mars<< worries
Fm: J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI

       I find it vaguely frightening that you know all this that well, though
the scenario you paint is a good one, and I'll try to remember all that (though
it's sorta complex...the doctrinal version of long division).

                                                                       jms



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