Crisis on Babylon 5: CRUSADE!? from www.aint-it-cool-news.com
WWS
interested. I spent some time looking at this site, and it's links -
several people have accused Glen of being a troll and of
planting or of falling for misinformation. He, however, defends
his sources vigourously. He is staking a lot of his personal
credibility on this story, so there might be something to it.
This started yesterday, and it is growing fast enough that TNT
or someone from Crusade needs to go public and make an
official statement.
(BTW, Glen says he can document the story about the "Jesus"
series)
AMF B5 wrote:
>
> This showed up on the www.aint-it-cool-news.com website today.
>
> http://www.aint-it-cool-news.com/display.cgi?id=2060
>
> Tuesday, September 8, 1998Crisis on Babylon 5: CRUSADE!?!?!?!?!
>
> Glen here…
>
> Boy, did *this* pick the wrong day to come in. You ever had a day that
> was just plain *stupid*. A day in which everything around you seemed so
> hopelessly misaligned with good judgment and common sense that you began
> to wonder if maybe *you* were the irregular element in the scheme of
> things, and the rest of the world was just fine? Well, that’s the kind
> of day this has been. Case and point, the following message, sent in by
> THE SHADOW OF TECHWOOD. SHADOW indicates that TNT is toying with the
> idea of making some rather substantial - and horrifying - changes to
> BABYLON 5’s forthcoming spinoff series CRUSADE. BELOW: the message.
> Please read my comments beneath SHADOW’s message.
> _______________________________________
>
> "My brother was at (name of mammoth broadcasting entity deleted by Glen)
> and bagged a memo saying the network is trying to force Crusade to be a
> mindless sex-and-violence program.
>
> Among the stuff they're demanding: to lose all references to the B5
> universe because they think it'll confuse viewers - that episodes should
> often have aliens beaming into the ship and getting in "wild west" kinds
> of fist-fights, taking any excuse at all to have these fights, whether
> they make sense or not...that there should be "horny aliens" getting
> onto the ship and screwing the human characters...that there should be
> more technobabble that will make the ship sound more advanced.
>
> He says they also want to have at least one regular series character be
> a "sexual explorer," whose job is to have sex with every alien race they
> meet to better understand them...they want a virtual brothel /
> holodeck...they want to set up the universe so that the entire human
> race off Earth when the Drakh plague is released start copulating like
> mad (religiously, kind of like a cult) to repopulate the human race, so
> they can constantly have people having sex round the clock.
>
> He also told me they want to change to the Star Trek style close-fitting
> uniforms rather than real military uniforms to show off everyone's body.
>
> Nothing has been set yet though, so if you run this and folks have an
> opinion on this, they may want to let it be known on the TNT site
> (follow the BabCom links) before it gets locked down."
> _______________________________________
>
> Glen here again. Okay, folks. For a while now, BABYLON 5 fans have
> worshiped TNT. After all, it saved BABYLON 5, enabling series creator J.
> Michael Straczynski to produce a much coveted fifth season, and a series
> of television movies based on the Babylon 5 concept. For the first time,
> the series was put into re-runs on a national network and was broadly
> advertised. For the first time, BABYLON 5 was being treated as a "real"
> show. But even the best relationships can have problems. Maybe it *was*
> too good to be true. Do I believe the above information re: TNT’s plans
> is correct? Yep - sure do. A few months back, TNT was taking some hits
> in Variety because a Eurpoean producer had come to TNT to pitch an
> ambitious miniseries based on the life of Jesus. He fled in horror,
> after learning of the network’s desire to turn Jesus into a dude who
> would fly around, and *supposedly* hurl lightening bolts out of his
> hands. So, yeah - it sounds like the same mentality is at work in this
> case. In CRUSADE, TNT purchased a show that is very much the product of
> a man with a vision. And now that vision isn’t good enough? To
> understand the dynamics of such a circumstance, all one has to do is go
> to a Barnes and Noble and scoop some books off the shelf about the
> history of the original STAR TREK series. Sit down and read about all
> the trouble Gene Roddenberry had getting that show going…keeping that
> show going…in the face of ideas such as those allegedly being hurled
> towards CRUSADE by TNT. Ideas advanced by people who have no
> understanding of the genre with which they are dealing. And after you’ve
> read all those lousy ideas, look at the original TREK series as a final
> product…and find the lousy and disruptive ideas suggested by those NBC
> executives back in the 60s. You won’t find them easily, because most of
> them aren’t there. Because Roddenberry and his associates did all they
> could to stay close to concept as it was originally conceived…the
> original vision NBC cared enough to back and support at one at one point
> in time. And thirty something years later, the series is a classic. A p
> erfect example that sometimes, the over-all payoff and future rewards
> FAR outweigh the value of an immediate…but short lived…cash cow. I’m not
> saying Roddenberry was a perfect visionary - not by any means. Not
> saying Straczynski is either. But these circumstances seem eerily
> similar, and those who don’t learn from history… CRUSADE *can* work. But
> it will not work if forced to become something it was never meant to be.
> So, good fans, if any of this makes any sense to you - or moves you in
> any way - go to the message boards at TNT THROUGH THIS LINK (THEN FOLLOW
> THE BABCOM LINKS), and let them know what you feel. Be direct, be
> pointed, but *always* be polite. This is important. A hint from Glen:
> voicing your opinions to TNT on this matter is *strongly* advised. And
> remember, *never* start a fight, but always finish it.
>
> This site is © 1998 by Harry Jay Knowles
--
____________________________________________WWS_________
Scott Andrews
> <snip>
> >several people have accused Glen of being a troll and of
> >planting or of falling for misinformation. He, however, defends
> >his sources vigourously. He is staking a lot of his personal
> >credibility on this story, so there might be something to it.
> >This started yesterday, and it is growing fast enough that TNT
> >or someone from Crusade needs to go public and make an
> >official statement.
I've corresponded with Glen and he insists he's had this story reliably
confirmed. I posted an ATTN JMS message to rec.arts.tv.sf.babylon5.moderated
and said...
"Fans speculation seems to be running away with itself all over the Net
after Ain't It Cool News's, admittedly horrifying, report about
interference on Crusade by TNT.
I think if you wanna calm the waters you're going to have to comment,
otherwise TNT could be bombarded with emails and snail mails protesting
something which may not even be true.
I think, Joe, you've gotta settle this down. I would certainly consider,
rightly or wrongly, a prolonged silence on your part to be a tacit
admittance of the truth of these reports."
We'll see if Joe, or anyone in a position of importance, replies...
Scott Andrews
thecr...@my-dejanews.com
to do such a thing after he made this commitment.
================================ "It will show more diversity in it's
exploration of alien worlds, civilizations and cultures than has ever been
done before for television; it's characters will grow and change and become
more than they thought possible; the science will be some of the most
accurate yet in how we present those worlds (thanks to the intercession of
some of the most brilliant minds in space research who have recently enlisted
in the cause of providing technical support for Crusade); it will continue to
be written for adults while attempting to awaken the sense of wonder that is
part and parcel of classic science fiction; there will continue to be no cute
robots or teenage wizkids; it will not talk down to the audience; and it will
continue to present questions that have no easy answers and no quick
solutions. And the show you will see at the end of what we will be a full
five year run in 2003... will not be the same show that you began with in
1999. I have something sneaky in mind." - JMS
=========================================
- The Crusader
"The Excalibur is the last, best hope for Earth"
Visit The Crusade @ http://members.xoom.com/thecrusade
-----== Posted via Deja News, The Leader in Internet Discussion ==-----
http://www.dejanews.com/rg_mkgrp.xp Create Your Own Free Member Forum
Joseph Cochran
Scott Andrews <scott....@alcs.co.uk> wrote:
>WWS wrote:
>> <snip>
>> >several people have accused Glen of being a troll and of
>> >planting or of falling for misinformation. He, however, defends
>> >his sources vigourously. He is staking a lot of his personal
>> >credibility on this story, so there might be something to it.
>I've corresponded with Glen and he insists he's had this story reliably
>confirmed. I posted an ATTN JMS message to rec.arts.tv.sf.babylon5.moderated
>and said...
My theory is that there is SOME truth to this, but that it's
been exaggerated. I have no doubt TNT wants more action and sex, and
I also understand the idea of playing down the B5 links. But I doubt
they've done more than suggest these things, especially as the first
few scripts are already in production, past the point where such
changes would have been implemented. And given that it HAS gone into
production with JMS at the helm (because I seriously doubt JMS would
stay with a series like the one described above), I'm guessing the
rumors are overdramatized. Anyway, that's my opinion.
--
This is a .sig proxy.
js...@bev.net
*--Joe--*
Scott LeGrand
Joseph Cochran <js...@bev.net> wrote:
>In article <35F6AC2C...@alcs.co.uk>,
>Scott Andrews <scott....@alcs.co.uk> wrote:
>>WWS wrote:
>>> <snip>
>>> >planting or of falling for misinformation. He, however, defends
>>> >his sources vigourously. He is staking a lot of his personal
>>> >credibility on this story, so there might be something to it.
>
>>confirmed. I posted an ATTN JMS message to rec.arts.tv.sf.babylon5.moderated
>>and said...
>
> My theory is that there is SOME truth to this, but that it's
>been exaggerated. I have no doubt TNT wants more action and sex, and
>I also understand the idea of playing down the B5 links. But I doubt
>they've done more than suggest these things, especially as the first
>few scripts are already in production, past the point where such
>changes would have been implemented. And given that it HAS gone into
>production with JMS at the helm (because I seriously doubt JMS would
>stay with a series like the one described above), I'm guessing the
>rumors are overdramatized. Anyway, that's my opinion.
>
>--
>This is a .sig proxy.
>js...@bev.net
>*--Joe--*
To be totally fair to that mostly horrifying story, some of the
ideas really were kind of interesting. So sue me if I >LIKE<
the idea of a character that wants to boff every conceivable
alien life form possible. Imagine what fun one could have
with network censors and such scenarios. So call my lawyer
and scream if I consider the idea of some wacky religious
cult wanting to breed like crazed weasels to fight the plague
dooming the Earth to be a fairly believable response to the
thing. From that point on (tight form fitting Seven of
Nine uniforms, aliens beaming on the ship left and right,
etc) it goes into the crapper, but like most roads to hell,
it sounds like they started out with some reasonable ideas.
Ah well, if JMS doesn't get some sleep between now and full
Crusade mode, I expect it to be about as coherent as season
5, but a life form can hope. So far, it just seems like
rehashed Starship Yamato to me.
Aubrey W. Adkins
Some at WB had apparently managed to sell the decisionmakers that it was
a dead program with no apparent real future. The story is done. TNT
wanted the fifth season badly enough to pay for its production. That
must have pissed off some WB suits. If that didn't, JMS' little message
at the end of "Deconstruction of Falling Stars" surely did. I can
envision small minded jerks in suits trying to sabotage "Crusade" for
the purpose of revenge. Since TNT is footing the bill WB has nothing to
lose. There are bastards all over the place who would stoop that low and
Hollywood is their major playground.
Aubrey
Scott LeGrand wrote:
>
> In article <6t6rdl$2i3$1...@solaris.cc.vt.edu>,
> Joseph Cochran <js...@bev.net> wrote:
> >In article <35F6AC2C...@alcs.co.uk>,
> >Scott Andrews <scott....@alcs.co.uk> wrote:
> >>WWS wrote:
> >>> <snip>
> >>> >several people have accused Glen of being a troll and of
> >>> >planting or of falling for misinformation. He, however, defends
> >>> >his sources vigourously. He is staking a lot of his personal
> >>> >credibility on this story, so there might be something to it.
> >
Scott LeGrand
A card-carrying member of the Narn Bat Squad(tm) who
doesn't even need a bat, eh?
Heck
thinking with:
>In article <35F6AC2C...@alcs.co.uk>,
>Scott Andrews <scott....@alcs.co.uk> wrote:
>>WWS wrote:
>>> <snip>
>>> >several people have accused Glen of being a troll and of
>>> >planting or of falling for misinformation. He, however, defends
>>> >his sources vigourously. He is staking a lot of his personal
>>> >credibility on this story, so there might be something to it.
>
>>I've corresponded with Glen and he insists he's had this story reliably
>>confirmed. I posted an ATTN JMS message to rec.arts.tv.sf.babylon5.moderated
>>and said...
>
> My theory is that there is SOME truth to this, but that it's
>been exaggerated. I have no doubt TNT wants more action and sex, and
>I also understand the idea of playing down the B5 links. But I doubt
I understand Katsulas's part in Crusader is massive.
Heck
_@invocation of the Emergency Summarization System
On Wed, 09 Sep 1998 20:08:56 GMT, thecr...@my-dejanews.com engineered
thinking with:
>Here is the text of JMS's pledge for Crusade - I severely doubt he'd allow TNT
>to do such a thing after he made this commitment.
>
>================================ "It will show more diversity in it's
>exploration of alien worlds, civilizations and cultures than has ever been
>done before for television; it's characters will grow and change and become
>more than they thought possible;
This time, I fully anticipate drastic, incontrovertible demands to
drop or add characters, change the casting and remake the story to fit
the demographics.
> the science will be some of the most accurate yet in how we present those
> worlds (thanks to the intercession of some of the most brilliant minds in space
> research who have recently enlisted in the cause of providing technical
> support for Crusade);
A heretofore unknown PhD agreed to let us use his name as an
imprimatur of veracity and accurate thinking. For perusing a few rough
drafts and envelope-scribbled notes, he gets 15 minutes of fame. It was
our wish and his desire that he keep his day job, space researcher.
> it will continue to be written for adults while attempting to awaken the sense
> of wonder that is part and parcel of classic science fiction;
The management of TNT and I agree, this time, on where the money is.
> there will continue to be no cute robots or teenage wizkids;
I retain my overwhelming creative authority,
> it will not talk down to the audience;
and I continue to take a lofty moral high road
> and it will continue to present questions that have no easy answers and
> no quick solutions.
while reserving for myself plenty of leeway with the story.
> And the show you will see at the end of what we will be a full
> five year run in 2003... will not be the same show that you began with in
>1999. I have something sneaky in mind."
It's not a bug, it's a feature. I am proudly confident in my ability
to keep the demographic entertained and the show going for five years.
I have learned it is without merit to commit even to a story, much less
to an arc.
> - JMS
The method for this is that I have made a name for myself.
>=========================================
>
>- The Crusader
This_continues to have been_an_@_z __@_+
_@invocation of the Emergency Summarization
System@_z +_@__ q_@ @_g_____@_o@_
Heck
engineered thinking with:
>>I understand Katsulas's part in Crusader is massive.
>
>A card-carrying member of the Narn Bat Squad(tm) who
>doesn't even need a bat, eh?
Yeah. BTW, slip of the tounge. I was thinking Crusade but writing with
a reference to Crusader Rabbit. Katsulas provided the inspiration for
CR's lance. He was something like 13 at the time.
The Mule
re: Glen's report on Ain't It Cool News
> I've corresponded with Glen and he insists he's had this story reliably
> confirmed. I posted an ATTN JMS message to rec.arts.tv.sf.babylon5.moderated
> and said...
>
> "Fans speculation seems to be running away with itself all over the Net
> after Ain't It Cool News's, admittedly horrifying, report about
> interference on Crusade by TNT.
> I think if you wanna calm the waters you're going to have to comment,
> otherwise TNT could be bombarded with emails and snail mails protesting
> something which may not even be true.
> I think, Joe, you've gotta settle this down. I would certainly consider,
> rightly or wrongly, a prolonged silence on your part to be a tacit
> admittance of the truth of these reports."
>
> We'll see if Joe, or anyone in a position of importance, replies...
JMS has replied on this issue:
> At this time, officially, I cannot confirm or deny the report.
>
> jms
>
Reading between the lines...line... I would say that Straczynski has
pretty much confirmed that there is some sort of problem going on.
Now whether it is bad as the report said is an open issue...
--
"Any sufficiently badly-written science is indistinguishable from magic."
- Aaron Allston
WWS
>
> Scott Andrews <scott....@alcs.co.uk> wrote:
>
> re: Glen's report on Ain't It Cool News
>
> > I think if you wanna calm the waters you're going to have to
> > comment, otherwise TNT could be bombarded with emails and snail
> > mails protesting something which may not even be true.
> > I think, Joe, you've gotta settle this down. I would certainly
> > consider, rightly or wrongly, a prolonged silence on your part
> > to be a tacit admittance of the truth of these reports."
> >
> > We'll see if Joe, or anyone in a position of importance, replies...
>
> JMS has replied on this issue:
>
> > At this time, officially, I cannot confirm or deny the report.
> >
> > jms
> >
>
> Reading between the lines...line... I would say that Straczynski has
> pretty much confirmed that there is some sort of problem going on.
> Now whether it is bad as the report said is an open issue...
Damn. You don't even have to read in between any lines to get
that message loud and clear. He always chooses his words carefully -
notice how he puts the word "officially" in that response?
If this had been false, he would have flown off the handle at
someone slamming TNT like that - instead, he read the reports,
and said "No Comment". That's as much of a confirmation as you
ever get in this business.
Time to start flooding those TNT mailboxes, boys and girls!
--
_____________________________________________WWS_________________
On the other hand, they might put Flying Jesus in Crusade.
Bryan Lambert
>Scott Andrews <scott....@alcs.co.uk> wrote:
>
>re: Glen's report on Ain't It Cool News
>
>> I've corresponded with Glen and he insists he's had this story reliably
>> confirmed. I posted an ATTN JMS message to rec.arts.tv.sf.babylon5.moderated
>> and said...
>>
>> "Fans speculation seems to be running away with itself all over the Net
>> after Ain't It Cool News's, admittedly horrifying, report about
>> interference on Crusade by TNT.
>> I think if you wanna calm the waters you're going to have to comment,
>> otherwise TNT could be bombarded with emails and snail mails protesting
>> something which may not even be true.
>> I think, Joe, you've gotta settle this down. I would certainly consider,
>> rightly or wrongly, a prolonged silence on your part to be a tacit
>> admittance of the truth of these reports."
>>
>> We'll see if Joe, or anyone in a position of importance, replies...
>
>JMS has replied on this issue:
>
>> At this time, officially, I cannot confirm or deny the report.
>>
>> jms
>
>Reading between the lines...line... I would say that Straczynski has
>pretty much confirmed that there is some sort of problem going on.
>Now whether it is bad as the report said is an open issue...
Yep. I spent some time today reading through the "Talkback" section on
AICN about this report. Came away with the definite impression that
-something- skunky is floating in the river (of souls?).
One would think that "Witchblade" would pretty much fill the entire
sex and violence kick TNT needs. Aside from providing the bucks and
occasionally putting crap shows out of their misery, there are very
few instances of Suit Interference being a "good thing".
It'd be reeeeal interesting, though, from a "cultural" standpoint if
this season, three different producers (Cassidy, JMS, and the people
behind 'Brimstone') ended up walking thanks to excessive crap from the
suits.
Bryan "For it to teach 'em a lesson, they'd have to be capable of
learning, though" Lambert
<bryn...@minn.net>
RATMM's Official Biggest Wuss, Keeper: "Modern Space Ghost FAQ"
Daily fake news at The Messy Canvas, http://www1.minn.net/~bryncthy
----------------------------------------------------------------------
"How could we be lying, if we're on television?" - Olly
Scott Andrews
re: Glen's report on Ain't It Cool News
> JMS has replied on this issue:
>
> > At this time, officially, I cannot confirm or deny the report.
> >
> > jms
> >
>
> Reading between the lines...line... I would say that Straczynski has
> pretty much confirmed that there is some sort of problem going on.
> Now whether it is bad as the report said is an open issue...
Oh s**t. I was SO hoping he'd blaze into the newsgroups, grinning and telling us
all not to be so stupid and gullible. His guarded response and its brevity are
very worrying indeed.
Scott
Ben Hallert
> > JMS has replied on this issue:
> >
> > > At this time, officially, I cannot confirm or deny the report.
> all not to be so stupid and gullible. His guarded response and its brevity are
> very worrying indeed.
> Scott
Come on, you hosers, he said he can neither confirm nor deny. This does NOT
mean that he is confirming it, read his post again if you're all too
numb-skulled to see that, it means that he isn't insulting us by posting an
immediate denial and THEN trying to figure out what's going on at TNT.
If this thing IS an internal memo there, then there is no reason why he would
have any special info about it until they spoke to him in regards to it.
"The sky is falling! The sky is falling!" - (paraphrasing many of the posters
on this subject)
--
/Ben Hallert/ChairBoy 13340687 Tenser said the Tensor. Tenser said the Tensor\
\DoD#2081 - <*> Be seeing you! Tension, apprehension and dissension have begun/
Captain Infinity
Ben Hallert wrote:
>Scott Andrews wrote:
>> > JMS has replied on this issue:
>> >
>> > > At this time, officially, I cannot confirm or deny the report.
>> Oh s**t. I was SO hoping he'd blaze into the newsgroups, grinning and telling us
>> all not to be so stupid and gullible. His guarded response and its brevity are
>> very worrying indeed.
>> Scott
>
>Come on, you hosers, he said he can neither confirm nor deny. This does NOT
>mean that he is confirming it, read his post again if you're all too
>numb-skulled to see that, it means that he isn't insulting us by posting an
>immediate denial and THEN trying to figure out what's going on at TNT.
At this time, officially, I cannot confirm or deny the rumor that I think
you're a fanboy.
**
Captain Infinity
Plain and Simple Cronan
>Come on, you hosers, he said he can neither confirm nor deny. This does NOT
>mean that he is confirming it, read his post again if you're all too
>numb-skulled to see that, it means that he isn't insulting us by posting an
>immediate denial and THEN trying to figure out what's going on at TNT.
Captain Infinity wrote
>At this time, officially, I cannot confirm or deny the rumor that I think
>you're a fanboy.
Unofficially, I have information that implicates you in unpaid, unrewarded
propagandizing.
P&SC
..I've always preferred an air of unofficiality.
Troy_...@hotmail.com
> Yep. I spent some time today reading through the "Talkback" section on
> AICN about this report. Came away with the definite impression that
> -something- skunky is floating in the river (of souls?).
JMS has already said that Crusade would have more action than B5, so TNT's
request for "action" seems redundant. As for more sex, although some thought
the Lyta/Byron scene was offensive, for myself I would not mind more scenes
like that. People make love. That's reality. Also, I'd like to see more
gore. More dead bodies (as done in Severed Dreams) or torture (like G'Kar or
a better view of Morden's severed head). Again, more realism.
http://www.geocities.com/~videonovels
Captain Infinity
I would like to state, officially, that I did not start the rumor about the
TNT memo about the dumbing-down of Crusade.
**
Captain Infinity
...however, I *did* start the rumor that I started the rumor.
Aubrey W. Adkins
I found an item you boys(?), will love. It is the new Popeils hand
operated slice and dice keyboard for those who want maximum carnage and
flame output for minimum energy input. It is only $39.95 and is platform
independent. It works with PCs, MACs, Amigas and Alpha-Decs. Literature
didn't mention Sun workstations. If you are interested, I will try to
dig up the website.
Aubrey
Plain and Simple Cronan wrote:
>
> Ben Hallert wrote:
>
> >Come on, you hosers, he said he can neither confirm nor deny. This does NOT
> >mean that he is confirming it, read his post again if you're all too
> >numb-skulled to see that, it means that he isn't insulting us by posting an
> >immediate denial and THEN trying to figure out what's going on at TNT.
>
> Captain Infinity wrote
> >At this time, officially, I cannot confirm or deny the rumor that I think
> >you're a fanboy.
>
> Unofficially, I have information that implicates you in unpaid, unrewarded
> propagandizing.
>
Plain and Simple Cronan
>>Unofficially, I have information that implicates you in unpaid, unrewarded
>>propagandizing.
>>
>
>TNT memo about the dumbing-down of Crusade.
I would like to make something clear: in no way am I, officially, accussing
Capt. Infinity of being involved with the production of "The Babylon Project:
Crusade."
>Captain Infinity
> ...however, I *did* start the rumor that I started the rumor.
I wish to deny this statement, officially
P&SC
Reverend Sean O'Hara
>
>
> >I would like to state, officially, that I did not start the rumor about the
> >TNT memo about the dumbing-down of Crusade.
>
> I would like to make something clear: in no way am I, officially, accussing
> Capt. Infinity of being involved with the production of "The Babylon Project:
> Crusade."
>
Cap'n Infinity of having any involvement with the "Babylon Project:
Crusade".
> >Captain Infinity
> > ...however, I *did* start the rumor that I started the rumor.
>
> I wish to deny this statement, officially
>
> P&SC
And I deny reading the statement Cronan is denying.
And while we're at it, I deny ever masturbated Monica Lewinski with
a cigar.
--
Reverend Sean O'Hara
You two can be an ordained minister: http://ulc.org/ulc
"I will fight for the right to be right,
I will kill for the good of the fight for the right to be right."
David Bowie, "Cygnet Committee"
The Mule
> Scott Andrews wrote:
> > > JMS has replied on this issue:
> > >
> > > > At this time, officially, I cannot confirm or deny the report.
> > Oh s**t. I was SO hoping he'd blaze into the newsgroups, grinning
and telling us
> > all not to be so stupid and gullible. His guarded response and its
brevity are
> > very worrying indeed.
> > Scott
>
> Come on, you hosers, he said he can neither confirm nor deny. This does NOT
> mean that he is confirming it, read his post again if you're all too
> numb-skulled to see that, it means that he isn't insulting us by posting an
> immediate denial and THEN trying to figure out what's going on at TNT.
[...]
If this was completely false, JMS would been able to deny it period.
He had done so many times when these sort of questions come up when
B5 was in syndication.
I been reading that man's post since 1993 and you get an idea of how
he posts online. From his "eep"s when B5 is renewed but he can't say
it yet, he has been willing to allow us to read between his lines and
his extremely forthright denials of interference in the past speaks volumes.
Now I will repeat that it not yet clear how serious it is and what has
been resolved. But it is very reasonable to say that the report is
not a lie or mere rumor and that there is some sort of truth behind it.
The Mule
> JMS has replied on this issue:
>
> > At this time, officially, I cannot confirm or deny the report.
> >
> > jms
> >
This came from the Compuserve reposts in the moderated group.
The same message appeared at site Ain't It Cool News resulting
in people claiming that it was a fake JMS. I just want to
make it clear, assuming someone does not have JMS's CIS password,
that it really did come from him.
Pat Luther
Did anyone actually *read* that memo?
It's a joke, people.
Respond if you must, but I strongly urge you to read the memo
first, or you'll make a fool of yourself. Do you really believe
a corporate executive would really write something like "the episodes
should often have aliens beaming into the ship and getting into
wild-west style fistfights, *whether it makes sense or not* ??!
(No matter how stupid an executive's ideas are, they would never
consider the possibility that they don't make sense!)
??pat
(then again, I would have said the same thing about remaking the Love
Boat.....)
--
--
Pat Luther t_p...@qualcomm.com http://www.cs.pdx.edu/~pluther
"Reality? Illusion? One thing I've learned is to always present
a moving target." -Jack Flanders
Pat Luther
:JMS has replied on this issue:
:: At this time, officially, I cannot confirm or deny the report.
::
:: jms
::
:Reading between the lines...line... I would say that Straczynski has
:pretty much confirmed that there is some sort of problem going on.
:Now whether it is bad as the report said is an open issue...
Kind of like when Bill Gates could neither confirm nor deny that Microsoft
had bought the Catholic Church a couple of years ago?
I doubt JMS is taking this seriously at all.....
??pat
(Then again, when I was first told about the existence of BayWatch, I
assumed the person was joking, too....)
Berserker
> Scott Andrews wrote:
> > > JMS has replied on this issue:
> > >
> > > > At this time, officially, I cannot confirm or deny the report.
> > Oh s**t. I was SO hoping he'd blaze into the newsgroups, grinning and
> telling us
> > all not to be so stupid and gullible. His guarded response and its brevity
> are
> > very worrying indeed.
> > Scott
>
> Come on, you hosers, he said he can neither confirm nor deny. This does NOT
>
> mean that he is confirming it, read his post again if you're all too
> numb-skulled to see that, it means that he isn't insulting us by posting an
> immediate denial and THEN trying to figure out what's going on at TNT.
Oh, so he has our best interests at hear. You're forgetting one thing, hoser:
the memo exists
>
>
> If this thing IS an internal memo there, then there is no reason why he
> would
> have any special info about it until they spoke to him in regards to it.
Right, which is one of the reasons he canot confirm or deny.
>
>
> "The sky is falling! The sky is falling!" - (paraphrasing many of the
> posters
> on this subject)
"Iceberg? Where?" - paraphasizing another
Bryan Lambert
>bryn...@minn.net wrote:
>> Yep. I spent some time today reading through the "Talkback" section on
>> AICN about this report. Came away with the definite impression that
>> -something- skunky is floating in the river (of souls?).
>
>JMS has already said that Crusade would have more action than B5, so TNT's
>request for "action" seems redundant. As for more sex, although some thought
>the Lyta/Byron scene was offensive, for myself I would not mind more scenes
>like that. People make love. That's reality. Also, I'd like to see more
>gore. More dead bodies (as done in Severed Dreams) or torture (like G'Kar or
>a better view of Morden's severed head). Again, more realism.
Troy, you ignorant (wannabe) slut.
That's not what this is about. That's so not what this is about that
if anybody else had posted this, I'd have actually been surprised.
First, I, and I'd guess nobody else, gives a damn how much
decapitation and fucking YOU want to see in Crusade. I, similarly,
don't care how much actual decapitation and fucking there is in B5.
However, if there's going to be decapitation and fucking in Crusade,
it'd damn well better be because that's JMS' idea, and not TNT's.
And this whole thing is about the possibility that TNT is trying to
put a lot more decapitation and fucking into Crusade than JMS wants.
Whether one likes B5 or not, and you obviously seem to adore it, the
fact is that B5 is the product of a single, focused, creative vision
that has been, essentially, left the hell alone to do their jobs.
After all your professed love of B5, and your criticism of Trek as a
suit-run, committee-led, focus-group-blowing franchise, the fact that
you'd actually post what amounts to a defense of TNT on this thread
means either you don't know what's going on, or you've been somehow
blinded by fanboy fervor.
Bryan "I'd call it 50/50" Lambert
Podkayne Fries
<xazq...@norfolk.infi.net> wrote:
>Cap, P&SC,
> I found an item you boys(?), will love. It is the new Popeils hand
>operated slice and dice keyboard for those who want maximum carnage and
>flame output for minimum energy input. It is only $39.95 and is platform
>independent. It works with PCs, MACs, Amigas and Alpha-Decs. Literature
>didn't mention Sun workstations. If you are interested, I will try to
>dig up the website.
Your offer is very kind, Aubrey, but this sort of thing usually ends
up in Odd Lots for about ten bucks.
Regards, Podkayne Fries
Born to count beans.
RWWells
>request for "action" seems redundant. As for more sex, although some thought
>the Lyta/Byron scene was offensive, for myself I would not mind more scenes
>like that. People make love. That's reality. Also, I'd like to see
more
>gore. More dead bodies (as done in Severed Dreams) or torture (like G'Kar or
>a better view of Morden's severed head). Again, more realism.
Well, if that is what JMS wants to do, he can certainly do it. Guess I shall
avoid Crusade then, if JMS decides to resort to same cheap gimmicks used by all
those other TV series these days. I am puzzled why JMS would want to emulate
Brannon Braga, especially since Thirdspace showed JMS is not very good at it.
Richard Wells
S.Knight
Troy_...@hotmail.com wrote:
> bryn...@minn.net wrote:
> > Yep. I spent some time today reading through the "Talkback" section on
> > AICN about this report. Came away with the definite impression that
> > -something- skunky is floating in the river (of souls?).
>
> request for "action" seems redundant. As for more sex, although some thought
> the Lyta/Byron scene was offensive, for myself I would not mind more scenes
> like that. People make love. That's reality. Also, I'd like to see more
> gore. More dead bodies (as done in Severed Dreams) or torture (like G'Kar or
> a better view of Morden's severed head). Again, more realism.
It's no surpise considering B5's falling ratings, TNT is obviously
concerned. Time to fall back to the lowest common denominator. More
sex and violence.
Dan
How far have B5's ratings fallen? I was under the impression that ever
since the initial "In the Beginning" movie they have held rather steady.
Dan
Terry L. Smith
: On Fri, 11 Sep 1998 17:43:36 -0400, "Aubrey W. Adkins"
: <xazq...@norfolk.infi.net> wrote:
I have a Popiel's Pocket Rodent. It is a little squirrely-looking thing
covered with (rabbit?) fur, with a long fluffy "tail" - it appears to
have been devised as someone's loopy idea of a charming key-ring
fob. It has a little squeaker inside that makes a noise if you squeeze
the "body."
The general idea in and of itself (not to mention the exquisite execution)
was such that I almost felt called upon to acquire one for that reason
alone.... However, as I was wasting Yet More Valuable Time idly
squeezing these little horrors in the store, I made a Discovery: Their
"voices" varied considerably. Most went "squeek" - but some went
"SQUEEK," some even said "*SQUEEE*-k," and a few, in astonishing contrast
to their petite size, went "* HONK *."
But one - ONE of them - *just* one of them - when squeezed, said
" Po-PEEL!" (second syl an octave or so above the first,
just as in the old TV commercials)
Po-peel? Po-PEEL! ??!? I squeezed lots more of the nasty little
things, but there was only ONE that proclaimed its origins so obviously.
" Po-PEEL! "
I had to buy it. I just *had* to, you understand.
I think I will keep it in my pocket (where all Good Popeil Pocket
Rodents should be kept), and whenever I'm watching a B5 re-run, and
"Byron" app0ears on the screen, I will squeeze the livin' daylights
outa that little squirrel. And the Pocket Rodent, too.
That seems entirely appropriate.
"Oh I discovered a ! ! !, right before my eyes!
.....
Get out of here with that ! ! !, before I call a cop!
.....
Get out of here with that ! ! !, and don't come back no more!"
- C. R. Grean, "The Thing"
"I will have the things that I desire
And my passion flow like rivers through the sky
And after all the loves of my life ...
I'll be thinking of you
And wondering why."
- Jimmy Webb
"It's no wonder that I feel abused;
I never get a thing that ain't been used.
I'm wearing second-hand hats,
Second-hand clothes;
That's why they call me
Second-hand Rose... "
- A L, "Second-hand Rose"
"Save all the waltzes for me."
- Little Nemo
- M.Q.S., Cdr. C'mell, KPS AKA The Lady in Green
~~~ USENET Thuggess ~~~
...i think that Pocket Rodent is a Mutant Peep, that's what I think.
A very annoying one, with lots and lots of pretty flowing hair.
just like "Byron." that's what I think.
--
*--------------------------------------------------------------------*
| M.Q.S. c/o T.L.S | "Don't play with that! You have no idea where |
| tls...@netcom.com | it's been..." -- Speaker to Elevators |
*--------------------------------------------------------------------*
Plain and Simple Cronan
>(Then again, when I was first told about the existence of BayWatch, I
> assumed the person was joking, too....)
When I saw the TV Guide that first indicated the existence of not only "Team
Knight Rider" but also Seven of Nine I had to check the cover to see if it
was an April's Fool's Day issue or something.
P&SC
Aubrey W. Adkins
Aubrey
Plain and Simple Cronan wrote:
>
Captain Infinity
Bryan Lambert wrote:
>Whether one likes B5 or not, and you obviously seem to adore it, the
>fact is that B5 is the product of a single, focused, creative vision
>that has been, essentially, left the hell alone to do their jobs.
>After all your professed love of B5, and your criticism of Trek as a
>suit-run, committee-led, focus-group-blowing franchise, the fact that
>you'd actually post what amounts to a defense of TNT on this thread
>means either you don't know what's going on, or you've been somehow
>blinded by fanboy fervor.
Or, he could be trolling you in a remarkably successful manner.
**
Captain Infinity
...the funniest jerk is a kneejerk.
Morgan le Fee
"I did not have sexual affairs with that woman" -- Bill Clinton
we can all read between the lines :)
Captain Infinity
Morgan le Fee wrote:
>"I did not have sexual affairs with that woman" -- Bill Clinton
>we can all read between the lines :)
She's really a man?
**
Captain Infinity
...confused. and staying that way, TYVM!
The Mule
> mu...@ou.edu (The Mule) writes:
>
> :JMS has replied on this issue:
>
> :: At this time, officially, I cannot confirm or deny the report.
> ::
> :: jms
> ::
>
> :Reading between the lines...line... I would say that Straczynski has
> :pretty much confirmed that there is some sort of problem going on.
> :Now whether it is bad as the report said is an open issue...
>
> Kind of like when Bill Gates could neither confirm nor deny that Microsoft
> had bought the Catholic Church a couple of years ago?
>
> I doubt JMS is taking this seriously at all.....
Not confirming or denying an absolutely ridiculous item which is
an obvious joke is not exactly the same thing. But historically, JMS has
stomped down at the suggestion that studio people were trying
to control his show. It not just the current statement, but how he
has historically replied to such things in the past that is scary.
I suspect that something is going on. It not unusual for suits to
start making "suggestions" for shows.
But that JMS has not resigned is a good sign. It might be that the suggestions
were made but were rejected in the end. We don't know.
Berserker
> mu...@ou.edu (The Mule) writes:
>
> :JMS has replied on this issue:
>
> :: At this time, officially, I cannot confirm or deny the report.
> ::
> :: jms
> ::
>
> :Reading between the lines...line... I would say that Straczynski has
> :pretty much confirmed that there is some sort of problem going on.
> :Now whether it is bad as the report said is an open issue...
>
> Kind of like when Bill Gates could neither confirm nor deny that Microsoft
> had bought the Catholic Church a couple of years ago?
>
> I doubt JMS is taking this seriously at all.....
>
That's why he hasnt responded to the flood of posts...
Berserker
> Scott Andrews <scott....@alcs.co.uk> writes:
>
> Did anyone actually *read* that memo?
> It's a joke, people.
> Respond if you must, but I strongly urge you to read the memo
> first, or you'll make a fool of yourself. Do you really believe
> a corporate executive would really write something like "the episodes
> should often have aliens beaming into the ship and getting into
> wild-west style fistfights, *whether it makes sense or not* ??!
> (No matter how stupid an executive's ideas are, they would never
> consider the possibility that they don't make sense!)
>
The memo may not have said that... we're dealing with a tertiary source here
The Mule
> Pat Luther wrote:
>
> > I doubt JMS is taking this seriously at all.....
> >
>
> That's why he hasnt responded to the flood of posts...
Actually he has: he refused to officially confirm or deny it.
A denial would ended the flood.
TMB
Fries) wrote:
>On Fri, 11 Sep 1998 17:43:36 -0400, "Aubrey W. Adkins"
><xazq...@norfolk.infi.net> wrote:
>
>>Cap, P&SC,
>> I found an item you boys(?), will love. It is the new Popeils hand
>>operated slice and dice keyboard for those who want maximum carnage and
>>flame output for minimum energy input. It is only $39.95 and is platform
>>independent. It works with PCs, MACs, Amigas and Alpha-Decs. Literature
>>didn't mention Sun workstations. If you are interested, I will try to
>>dig up the website.
>
>
>Your offer is very kind, Aubrey, but this sort of thing usually ends
>up in Odd Lots for about ten bucks.
>
>
>Regards, Podkayne Fries
I thought it was already marketed months ago as WEBTV. Oh well, learn
something new everyday...
Rat & Swan
>
> JMS has already said that Crusade would have more action than B5, so TNT's
> request for "action" seems redundant. As for more sex, although some thought
> the Lyta/Byron scene was offensive, for myself I would not mind more scenes
> like that.
IF they fit into a plot context! The Lyta/Byron scene was required to
allow Byron (and the viewers) to see INTO Lyta's memories. Byron had to
be the POV plot explanation focus. Lyta's statements on telepath sex
made this possible. It wasn't a "Pant pant, let's have 'em shag, now"
decision.
> People make love.
People also get food poisoning. Do we need to witness every retch and
heave? Don't we already *have* the Starr Report?
> That's reality. Also, I'd like to see more
> gore. More dead bodies (as done in Severed Dreams) or torture (like G'Kar or
> a better view of Morden's severed head). Again, more realism.
How many dead bodies did you see on your way home from work? Even as an
S/M Dominant (my other hobby) I have to say I have never really
witnessed torture, as the political action instead of the sexual
CONSENSUAL sort, have you? Except for forays into the darker corners of
the Web, I've never EVER seen a single severed head in reality. Closest
thing I've come to that is viewing Tutankhamon's gold funerary mask on
exhivition in Los Angeles.
Realism, as you call it, would seem to dictate an even more humdrum sort
of day to day thing, if most people's 'realistic' lives dictate.
Torture, dead bodies, severed heads, blood and gore are not *realistic*
in the context of our lives, but *hyperreal* an amped up, high color,
zip-zing overreality that in itself is unreal.
I have my doubts, and I have my suspicions, regarding that TNT memo.
JMS' failure to comment could be viewed as ominous or reassuring. On the
one hand, he might be fighting the fight of his professional LIFE,
battling TNT tooth and nail, with NO time to respond to fans' fears,
OTOH, he may be seriously considering resigning and taking the show
elsewhere. Can he? It ALL depends on WHETHER TNT or JMS has ownership
of the show(s)! If TNT owns a controlling share... we're in for a
shitstorm. If JMS owns a controlling share, we can be CERTAIN he will
fight this with every OUNCE of creative energy he possesses!
Why am I sure? Because aside from JMS' promises (which I believe
because he has kept them sofar) he has ONE motivating force stronger
than all the Vorlons in the universe... He has Harlan Ellison as a
friend and advisor. And HARLAN would REAM him out with a razorblade
crusted BASEBALL BAT before he would allow JMS to cave in!
I don't know JMS personally, but I DO know Harlan Ellison personally,
have known him since 1976 and while H.E. and I have many differences of
opinion... I would trust his integrity and fighting spirit and I
literally would stake my very life and existence on Harlan's refusal to
give up, give in or give out!
So we wait. Wait until JMS is ABLE to answer us. Answer us, he WILL.
And if he doesn't... HARLAN ELLISON WILL!
Ask ANYone who has known or worked with Ellison. And then relax.
Swan
Psi Corps
Lane Walker
know I am. I really want to see the new eps. I would at least like to
see something of the "Fall of Centari Prime" on the Lurker's guide. The
time change hurts rating also. The Chief Pervert and his ilk are farily
interesting on the news and many will watch the the perv's friends
squirming when they have already seen the B5 that is on against it. I
think we ought to ban neckties, they reduce bloodflow to the brain and
slowly make executives braindead. (That explains MOST of the world's
problems)
Lane
nospam
On Sun, 13 Sep 1998 11:37:04 -0700, Rat & Swan <lab...@pacbell.net>
wrote:
S.Knight
Dan <dan...@erols.com> wrote:
> S.Knight wrote:
> >
> > In article <6tbml5$35r$1...@nnrp1.dejanews.com>,
> > Troy_...@hotmail.com wrote:
> > > bryn...@minn.net wrote:
> > > > Yep. I spent some time today reading through the "Talkback" section on
> > > > AICN about this report. Came away with the definite impression that
> > > > -something- skunky is floating in the river (of souls?).
> > >
> > > request for "action" seems redundant. As for more sex, although some thought
> > > the Lyta/Byron scene was offensive, for myself I would not mind more scenes
> > > gore. More dead bodies (as done in Severed Dreams) or torture (like G'Kar or
> > > a better view of Morden's severed head). Again, more realism.
> >
> > concerned. Time to fall back to the lowest common denominator. More
> > sex and violence.
> >
> > -----== Posted via Deja News, The Leader in Internet Discussion ==-----
> > http://www.dejanews.com/rg_mkgrp.xp Create Your Own Free Member Forum
>
> How far have B5's ratings fallen? I was under the impression that ever
> since the initial "In the Beginning" movie they have held rather steady.
They've fallen about 50% since In the Beginning. However, if you listen
to JMS, B5 has 11 million core viewers in the US alone. No cable
show has that many viewers so I'm not sure how JMS came up with that
number.
S.Knight
The Mule
> They've fallen about 50% since In the Beginning. However, if you listen
> to JMS, B5 has 11 million core viewers in the US alone. No cable
> show has that many viewers so I'm not sure how JMS came up with that
> number.
The 11 million figure is clearly wrong since it is 4.4% of the population.
But it certainly not surprising that the ratings of season five
do not match that of a highly promoted movie-of-the-week which was
the #4 cable show the week it aired. No one should expect B5's ratings to
have matched that on a regular basis even if the early season 5
stuff was not disappointing and B5 was not against a very popular show. Were
you really expecting B5 to be a top-ten show every week?
_USA_Today_ last July said that B5's young male ratings were up 40%
from last year.
A simple common sense: _Crusade_ was given an official go (signing
on the dotted line) after they saw a few months of B5's rating
on TNT. If B5's ratings were so fallen as to cause such tremendous
concerns, the spin-off would not have been approved.
Matthew Murray
> In article <35FA38...@erols.com>,
> They've fallen about 50% since In the Beginning. However, if you listen
> to JMS, B5 has 11 million core viewers in the US alone. No cable
> show has that many viewers so I'm not sure how JMS came up with that
> number.
Where (and when) did you read this? I don't remember hearing him
say this...
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Matthew A. Murray | Over 185 computer game reviews covering
mmu...@cc.wwu.edu | games from 1977 to the present!
http://www.wwu.edu/~mmurray | http://www.wwu.edu/~mmurray/Reviews.html
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pat Luther
>A simple common sense: _Crusade_ was given an official go (signing
>on the dotted line) after they saw a few months of B5's rating
>on TNT. If B5's ratings were so fallen as to cause such tremendous
>concerns, the spin-off would not have been approved.
Common sense? common sense??!
This is USENET, you heretic!
??pat (who weighs the same as a duck)
Matthew Murray
> In article <Pine.SOL.3.96.980913...@titan.cc.wwu.edu>,
> Matthew Murray <mmu...@cc.wwu.edu> wrote:
> > On Sun, 13 Sep 1998, S.Knight wrote:
> >
> > > In article <35FA38...@erols.com>,
> > > They've fallen about 50% since In the Beginning. However, if you listen
> > > to JMS, B5 has 11 million core viewers in the US alone. No cable
> > > show has that many viewers so I'm not sure how JMS came up with that
> > > number.
> >
> > Where (and when) did you read this? I don't remember hearing him
> > say this...
>
> The official B5 magazine just recently.
Well, it's entirely possible, then. God forbid I should get that
where I live...
S.Knight
Matthew Murray <mmu...@cc.wwu.edu> wrote:
> On Sun, 13 Sep 1998, S.Knight wrote:
>
> > In article <35FA38...@erols.com>,
> > They've fallen about 50% since In the Beginning. However, if you listen
> > to JMS, B5 has 11 million core viewers in the US alone. No cable
> > show has that many viewers so I'm not sure how JMS came up with that
> > number.
>
> Where (and when) did you read this? I don't remember hearing him
> say this...
The official B5 magazine just recently.
-----== Posted via Deja News, The Leader in Internet Discussion ==-----
SDA
> This is USENET, you heretic!
>
> ??pat (who weighs the same as a duck)
BURN HER! BURN HER! She's a WITCH!
Bat
<we...@concentric.net> wrote:
>
> It's no surpise considering B5's falling ratings, TNT is obviously
> concerned. Time to fall back to the lowest common denominator. More
> sex and violence.
I think another problem (aside from the delay to the new 5th episodes) is
that the story /did/ begin to not really get boring, but weaker once the
Shadows were dispensed with.
The entire Shadows/Vorlon's premise was kind of like doing the best
possible senario without perchance, building to that in the first 4
seasons... ya know... expand on the entire control of the Shadows of the
worlds through President Clark, Brandon, etc... and leave it as the
absolute climax....
It just seems that all these other aliens just don't compare to the
shadows as even those aliens were supposably influenced by the shadows at
one point. Some aliens were supposed to have us believe they were more of
a threat then the shadows, but they weren't... The Shadows were built up
so heavily that to rebuild such suspense might take another 2 seasons,
which we haven't got and aren't going to get so it seems.
The other thing about B-5 however is that JMS seems to write with an
honest and specific moral effect which is very effective and thus, an
episode or episodes that may seem boring or dragged out usually contain a
very strong message that goes un-noticed by most of the 'Sex and Blood and
Blow Things Up' viewing public. (Not that those things aren't fun!)
Bat
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MindSpring User
>JMS' failure to comment could be viewed as ominous or reassuring. On the
>one hand, he might be fighting the fight of his professional LIFE,
>battling TNT tooth and nail, with NO time to respond to fans' fears,
>OTOH, he may be seriously considering resigning and taking the show
>elsewhere. Can he? It ALL depends on WHETHER TNT or JMS has ownership
>of the show(s)! If TNT owns a controlling share... we're in for a
>shitstorm. If JMS owns a controlling share, we can be CERTAIN he will
>fight this with every OUNCE of creative energy he possesses!
1. I cannot confirm or deny the existence of a memo of the nature that has
been rumored
lately on the Internet and Usenet. It may exist; it probably doesn't.
2. The story that was posted on AICN is BULLSHIT!!!
I work at TNT, people. The chances of that story being true are about 1
million to one.
Memos DO NOT get left around for any Joe Shmuck to just come in and look
at. IT...
DOESN'T...WORK...LIKE...THAT!
3. The only thing TNT owns is airing rights. That's it. Warner Bros. owns
the show and,
I believe, is the worldwide distributor (as opposed to just the North
American distributor.)
TNT can only chose to air or not air the show. THEY CANNOT FORCE
CHANGES!
ONLY JMS can change the show. If Warner doen't like it, they don't have
to buy and
distribute the show. If TNT doesn't like it, they don't have to air the
show. If YOU don't
like it, blame JMS. As the exec producer he is the only person
responsible for content.
WWS
MindSpring User wrote:
> r & s wrote:
> >I have my doubts, and I have my suspicions, regarding that TNT memo.
> >JMS' failure to comment could be viewed as ominous or reassuring. On the
> >one hand, he might be fighting the fight of his professional LIFE,
> >battling TNT tooth and nail, with NO time to respond to fans' fears,
> >OTOH, he may be seriously considering resigning and taking the show
> >elsewhere. Can he? It ALL depends on WHETHER TNT or JMS has ownership
> >of the show(s)! If TNT owns a controlling share... we're in for a
> >shitstorm. If JMS owns a controlling share, we can be CERTAIN he will
> >fight this with every OUNCE of creative energy he possesses!
>
(Snip 1, it's moot now)
> 2. The story that was posted on AICN is BULLSHIT!!!
> I work at TNT, people. The chances of that story being true are
> about 1 million to one.
Here's What JMS said about it, Officially, Yesterday
(guess that million to one shot paid off)
>
> Subject: Re: A word to the wise.
> Date: 19 Sep 1998 18:09:34 -0600
> From: jms...@aol.com (Jms at B5)
> Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf.tv.babylon5.moderated
>
> The TNT memo was apparently real, from within the network to others in
> the network. But the egregious points have gone away.
>
> Not only that, but they've allocated a huge chunk of change for us to
> upgrade sets and add a bunch of new sets to the series, stuff we'd been
> planning to do later, but can do now instead.
>
> jms
> Memos DO NOT get left around for any Joe Shmuck to just come in and
> look at. IT... DOESN'T...WORK...LIKE...THAT!
>
Apparently they did this time. I know it's hard to face the fact that
Joe Shmuck's brother-in-law has better access to inside info than you do.
Work on improving your access.
AICN & Glen, 2 points - TNT, Zero. (But a thank you for killing the memo
and hopefully the person who wrote it, and doing The Right Thing in the end)
We'll probably never know everything that went on behind the scenes on this
one. Or what JMS said to get the extra money thrown in. Or maybe I'll
believe that TNT just said "Hey! A lot of money's here, what can we do with
it? Let's give it JMS! Just because we're in a Good Mood today!"
--
<*>
__________________________________________________WWS_____________
Scott Andrews
><snip>The story that was posted on AICN is BULLSHIT!!!</snip>
Oh come one MindSpring, pull the other one. JMS has **confirmed** that the memo
existed and that the report on AICN was substantially correct. Do you seriously
expect us to take your word over that of JMS!?!? Dissing AICN when their stories
are unproven is supportable, I suppose, although I prefer to wait for
confirmation before rushing to judgement. But once the story is **corroborated**
and **confirmed** continuing to call their stories "bullshit" is mind bogglingly
stupid and self defeating, since no one is going to believe you or take you
seriously from here on in.
Scott
Marcelo de Oliveira Coutinho
> In article <6td3os$jkp$1...@nnrp1.dejanews.com>, S.Knight
> <we...@concentric.net> wrote:
> ...
> The other thing about B-5 however is that JMS seems to write with an
> honest and specific moral effect which is very effective and thus, an
> episode or episodes that may seem boring or dragged out usually contain a
> very strong message that goes un-noticed by most of the 'Sex and Blood and
> Blow Things Up' viewing public. (Not that those things aren't fun!)
>
> Bat...
Very fortunate your comments indeed. Even though here in Spain they have just
started putting the 3rd. season, after a one year gap from the second season,
I am buying the videos (up to season 4 #7) and I suppose it's very difficult
to JMS to write stuff with a higher climax after the end of the
shadows/vorlons war. Actually, the end of the war was some kind of hurried up.
So, the action is expected to slow down a bit. By what I've seen up to now I
don't feel disappointed nor bored. I really like the way JMS writes and I do
prefer his way to lots of sex, blood and violence. When I want this stuff it's
only a matter of going outside or play Quake. Also, I think that issuing "In
the beginning", that explains all the stuff going on the first season,
probably decreases the thrill for the ones that are watching the reruns.
Mortis
>lots of sex, blood and violence. When I want this stuff it's
>only a matter of going outside or play Quake.
Yep, everytime i want to have sex, i just step outside. Works every
time.
Mortis
Master of the Unknown, KPS
TMB
>Marcelo de Oliveira Coutinho <MOCou...@atos-ods.com> wrote:
>>lots of sex, blood and violence. When I want this stuff it's
>>only a matter of going outside or play Quake.
>
>Yep, everytime i want to have sex, i just step outside. Works every
>time.
>
Oh stop bragging...