JMS on CompuServe (May 12, 1998) POSSIBLE SPOILERS

Tue May 12 23:20:49 EDT 1998

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 [ Summary of subjects in this section: ]
    Sb: #32598-#San Diego Comic-Con?
    Sb: #32632-#Thanks/Regrets
    Sb: #WB Home Video Does B5
    Sb: #32589-New Show
    Sb: #32618-< Kosh Poison>
    Sb: #32863-#CC Debate: Over

 #: 32598 S2/Bab 5: General
    09-May-98  06:56:00
Sb: #32189-San Diego Comic-Con?
Fm: SHANE SHELLENBARGER

Joe, thanks for the reply, although it's not what I wanted to hear. I had 
figured you'd be doing a Post-B5, Pre-Crusade presentation that would top all 
of your previous shows. While I'll miss your talk, I look forward to your work 
on the screen.

Best,
	Shane

 #: 32663 S2/Bab 5: General
    10-May-98  00:48:12
Sb: #32598-#San Diego Comic-Con?
Fm: J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI

      Again, that's not 100% sure yet, it's all kind of in a state of flux. 
What's the latest the folks at SDCC would have to know either way on this?

                                                                    jms

 #: 32632 S2/Bab 5: General
    09-May-98  19:11:13
Sb: #Thanks/Regrets
Fm: REBECCA ESCHLIMAN

Before 'JMS Excellent On-Line Adventure" winds down I just wanted to let you 
know how grateful I am for the unique experience you provided.

As an official GIC (Guy-in-Charge), you let us see the nuts-n-bolts of the 
joys-n-frustrations of both launching and maintaining a TV series, unfiltered 
through media editorial requirements.  (No slam to magazine articles, but they 
are, necessarily, edited.)

You allowed us to hurl the GIC brickbats (as well as the GIC lingerie of 
praise).

You gifted us with humorous 1-sentence volleys on one hand and more lengthy 
posts on issues about which you felt deeply on the other.

On the regret side, it's sad that being online added the dual discomforts of 
deification/demonization to the more prosaic discomfort of lack of sleep.

But back to to thanks side, thanks for keeping yourself available online even 
through the regrettable <because you're here, we *own* you> Usenet slush.  In 
the long run, all this back-and-forth will be no more than the ghosts of 
phosphor-dots, but it's been remarkable while the phosphor-flare has lasted.

-rje- Never look a gifted horse in the mouth.

 #: 32664 S2/Bab 5: General
    10-May-98  00:48:12
Sb: #32632-#Thanks/Regrets
Fm: J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI

      Thanks...there's been much that was annoying in the online conversation, 
but more that was positive and enjoyable, and in the long run, that's what 
matters.  I don't regret having made the decision to stick with it and stay 
accessible.  It's been a trial, no mistake...but I'm glad I did it.

                                                                    jms

 #: 32662 S2/Bab 5: General
    10-May-98  00:48:12
Sb: #WB Home Video Does B5
Fm: J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI

      Victories come in all sizes; in some ways, this is a small one, in other 
ways this is a big one.

      For four years, we bugged Warner Bros. Home Video about releasing B5 on 
videocassette in retail outlets.  But WB has never released a series before on 
tape, it's not something they *do*, not sufficiently prestige when compared 
with their big movies.  Eventually they were persuaded to let Columbia House 
try it for mail-order, for the first season.

      And CH was *swamped* with orders.  Phones rang off the hook, and tapes 
were back-ordered to try and fill the demand.

      And Warner Bros...noticed.

      And this month, they made a big announcement about the coming release of 
Babylon 5 on video through retail outlets all over the country.  I've seen the 
cover designs for the first batch, and they're extremely good looking 
montages, each specifically designed for that tape.  They're putting a lot of 
thought and effort and time into this, and a big campaign.  I believe the 
first batch hits the stands in July or August, somewhere in there.

      This is a big victory for us.  On a grand scale, it may seem minor, but 
it's the most direct statement of "you were right" we've ever had from WB, and 
they were sufficiently mensches to say so, and act on it.

      If these go well, they're also talking laserdisks and DVDs down the 
road, and should THAT happen, I'm going to push like hell to have them release 
the widescreen versions.

      But that's the next campaign.  For now, this is a big victory for us, 
and we're mighty pleased.

                                                                    jms

 [ Summary: "The new issue of SFX has a tentative report (of a tentative 
   rumour) that JMS and his B5 crew are to begin work on a new show based 
   on the Sean Connery 'High Noon' update Outland." ]

 #: 32666 S3/Bab 5:International
    10-May-98  00:52:00
Sb: #32589-New Show
Fm: J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI

      That's the funniest rumor I've seen in months.

      Where do they GET these things?  And why on earth don't they just ASK ME 
before printing something as silly as this?

      It's not like I'm hard to find....

                                                                    jms

 #: 32618 S4/Seas. 1-4 SPOILERS
    09-May-98  13:40:14
Sb: #31950-#< Kosh Poison>
Fm: WILL CARAWAY

Joe,

	Thanks for the answer; in fact thanks for all the points I couldn't 
get that you have cleared up over the years.  I know you get beat up alot 
because of how available you make yourself, so I just wanted to take a minute 
to state for the record that there are those of use that do truely appreciate 
it.

	Following up on my Kosh question, had Kosh learned what was coming 
from Valen?

	Regards,

	Will

 #: 32665 S4/Seas. 1-4 SPOILERS
    10-May-98  00:48:12
Sb: #32618-< Kosh Poison>
Fm: J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI

      Thanks...and there are some questions I'd like to pass on for now.

                                                                    jms

 [ Summary: "Don't feel you have to defend your position any longer." ]

 #: 32865 S2/Bab 5: General
    11-May-98  23:40:06
Sb: #32863-#CC Debate: Over
Fm: J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI

      No, I don't feel I need to defend it...but a lot of people made a big 
deal about who you should believe...and now it's clear what was going on at 
the time was what I said it was...and a few folks are saying, "Well, now it 
doesn't matter."  Well, it does matter, when it's my integrity and honesty 
that's at issue.  If the original question was worth some folks making a big 
deal out of it, then getting the facts straight should merit as much 
attention.

                                                                    jms

[END]

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JMS on CompuServe (May 12, 1998) *POSSIBLE SPOILERS*

JMS on CompuServe (May 12, 1998) POSSIBLE SPOILERS