JMS: Apologies in advance... a TNT Question
Derek Beebe
'97 when B5 was disapeering off the airwaves at the end of the Fourth
Season... and I read the news and your posts about how wonderful it was
that TNT was saving B5 from cancellation, and I remember reading your
post about the "In the Beginning" ratings being higher than expected and
how happy TNT was, you said how a few TNT execs really stuck their neck
out for the show and god bless 'em.
I never heard any TNT horror stories throughout Season Five (except for
the marginal fact that TNT wanted Claudia for all 22 eps but hey that's
reasonable), and it seemed like you had the run of the series. Then I
hear TNT has bought Crusade for a full season, and might even buy it for
all 5 years up front. Wow! TNT is so wonderful!
THEN... we get to Crusade production. At first I hear after 5 eps
production was halted... for new money and new sets. Wow, how nice of
TNT to do this! Then I start hearing about rumors of cancellation, and
over the ensuing the months the crap begins to fly.
My question: what the hell happened? How did TNT change so much in
regards to B5/Crusade? From what little I know, it seemed that the
execs thought since it was a new series they could change it (unlike the
already established B5), but what happened?!
Jms at B5
>regards to B5/Crusade? From what little I know, it seemed that the
>execs thought since it was a new series they could change it (unlike the
>already established B5), but what happened?!
Simple answer: TNT Atlanta had never gotten involved before. Also, B5 was a
known commodity, it was never a question of getting input on the direction of
the show, we just kept doing what we'd been doing. Crusade was a new show, and
people who didn't understand SF wanted a hand in determining the direction of
the series.
jms
(jms...@aol.com)
B5 Official Fan Club at:
http://www.thestation.com
Mac Breck
TNT as being as B5-like as possible. Ties to the known commodity could only
have helped here (e.g. B5 actors guest appearing on Crusade often). The TNT
execs in Atlanta would have had no reason to meddle, the TNT execs in LA
would have left you alone or helped, the fan-base would have grown, and we
would probably still have Crusade.
Mac - Remember, Star Trek was sold as a western/wagon train to space.
Jms at B5 <jms...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:19991029061702...@ng-fz1.aol.com...
Jms at B5
>TNT as being as B5-like as possible. Ties to the known commodity could only
>have helped here (e.g. B5 actors guest appearing on Crusade often).
Except at first TNT said they wanted NO connection to B5, or as little as
possible, because they wanted it to be THEIR show...then, after they began to
realize that the connection made sense (well into the writing process, I might
add), they said no, no, it's OKAY to have B5 stuff going on...which is why
Lochley is gone for so long.
Rom...@bigfoot.com
>>My question: what the hell happened? How did TNT change so much in
regards to B5/Crusade? From what little I know, it seemed that the
execs thought since it was a new series they could change it (unlike
the already established B5), but what happened?!
> Simple answer: TNT Atlanta had never gotten involved before. Also, B5
was a known commodity, it was never a question of getting input on the
direction of the show, we just kept doing what we'd been doing. Crusade
was a new show, and people who didn't understand SF wanted a hand in
determining the direction of the series.
JMS,
It's a shame they tried adding so many cooks to the kitchen. In the
end, the soup would have been bad if you hadn't stuck up for your vision
of the show.
I was so amazed that the execs wanted to tinker with the show. You have
won awards for B5, proved you could write excellent shows, proved you
could get your 5 year story told on time and on budget. If TNT was
concerned about viewers, they already had a loyal following from B5.
The "newbies" would have caught up with the re-runs of B5, or found a B5
fan to explain it. This shows TNT's lack of respect for the intelligent
viewer, lack of respect for writer's, and lack of respect for it's
materials. LOL I'm sure if this had been Star Trek, they might not
have mucked it up so much.
This is my own personal view, since TNT dropped Crusade, there hasn't
been anything worthwhile watching (except the B5 reruns). I've found
other shows that I can enjoy. None of them on TNT.
Thanks for sticking to your guns JMS. At least we fans can speculate
and imagine what happens in B5's future. Nothing was wrapped up nice
and neat for us. I look forward to your future endeavors.
Dan S.
Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Before you buy.
Derek Beebe
> Except at first TNT said they wanted NO connection to B5, or as little as
> possible, because they wanted it to be THEIR show...then, after they began to
> realize that the connection made sense (well into the writing process, I might
> add), they said no, no, it's OKAY to have B5 stuff going on...which is why
> Lochley is gone for so long.
Wait, I thought they ALWAYS wanted no B5, but even if they wanted no B5 at the
start why did they ever agree to Lochely as a regular? (and Franklin appear to
appear in 105 but I know its after 105 that they really started getting nosy).
So JMS, if you could make CRUSADE just the way you wanted it, how much B5 would we
see? Would we see a B5 character guest-star like every few episodes? That would
have been great... Also I heard a rumor that maybe in Season Two we would see
Ivanova as a regular. Any truth to this now-pointless rumor?
C. Bradley
> Mac - Remember, Star Trek was sold as a western/wagon train to space.
Isn't that what TNT wanted out of Crusade: A 'Wrestling Meets Baywatch
In Space' show?
Ciaran Bradley
BRETNTRACI
>have been great...
According to Jeff Conaway at a convention he, Jerry and Tracy were all three
originally optioned for Crusade, but when TNT got in onit they cut Jeff and
Jerry out -- Tracy was kept because whe went to school with some TNT exec.
(Note he did not say the last part mean -- and stressed that he loved Tracy)
Derek Beebe
> According to Jeff Conaway at a convention he, Jerry and Tracy were all three
> originally optioned for Crusade...
As I heard it, Conaway was contracted for 17 of the 22, then for 22 of the
Second Season 22.