Date: Sun, 22 Nov 92 08:56:40 -0600
From: techy@iastate.edu
Message-Id: <9211221456.AA27983@iastate.edu>
To: b5@iastate.edu

C) 1992 JMS, Used By Permission

 ------------
Category 18,  Topic 2
Message 629       Sat Nov 21, 1992
AQUILA [Aql]                 at 18:11 EST
 
I just received the February issue of Cinefantastique (the B5 issue) today. 
Wow!  LOTS of stuff-and that's just the pictures and diagrams (I glanced
through it right before signing on here).  There are pictures of the major
characters, and there are these sidebar articles in the margins of some of the
pages on the various alien ambassadors.  Included in those is info on various
little things like the "Welcome to Babylon 5" sign, the alien written
languages, graphic design-the front page of UNIVERSE TODAY is shown (headlines
include "Vorlons to make Contact", "Oxygen Breather Bias on B5?" and "Narn
Protest of E.A.'s B-5 Admin Heats"), and the locator signs. In the sidbar on
Sinclair are the various insignia of the E.A. command branches (Command,
Technical, etc.).  There's also Graphic Artist Ted Haigh's schematic of the
station.

Major sub-articles included are on Warner's Prime Time Network, on Joe
himself, on Foundation Imaging, on the cast, on Production Designer John
Iacovelli, on Criswell Productions-the makeup design group, on Costume
Designer Catherine Adair, on the Video Toaster, and on the future of CGI.

The whole thing runs for 24 pages.
 ------------
Category 18,  Topic 2
Message 630       Sat Nov 21, 1992
STRACZYNSKI [Joe]            at 20:17 EST
 
     Yeah, it's quite an involved article (or series of articles).  Some funny
stuff, too.

     To the question before...yes, the actors are signed (via option) to do
the series; yes, I am writing material that will be used in the series.  Re:
the series pickup...I know more than I can say, and as a rule it seems I say
more than I should.  Something official probably can be said after December
2nd.  That's all I can say.  For now.

                                                               jms
 ------------
Category 18,  Topic 2
Message 635       Sat Nov 21, 1992
J.HALL79 [Jeff]              at 23:15 EST
 
Is December 2 the day the final mix gets delivered to Warner's?

And if you get the "GO" announcement then, will you have enough time to launch
the series soon after the movie is premiered?

(Yes, I know it's badgering. But it's *polite* badgering!)

Jeff
 ------------
Category 18,  Topic 2
Message 636       Sun Nov 22, 1992
STRACZYNSKI [Joe]            at 01:39 EST
 
     No comment.

     (But it's a *polite* no-comment!)

                                                           jms
 ------------
Category 18,  Topic 8
Message 52        Sun Nov 22, 1992
STRACZYNSKI [Joe]            at 02:27 EST
 
     Now that we're moving into a new phase on B5, there's one very important
lesson that I've been trying to drive into my skull, and it's simply this:
"Shut Up."  Yes, it's completely possible for me to spill the beans on
everything in this show...and sure, that'd satisfy your curiosity...but now
what's left for the series?  What surprises are left?

     And it little serves to put ideas out there in the public eye before
you've done them, on the off-chance they wind up elsewhere.

     I have to be circumspect about a few things.  Problem right now is, I
have to be circumspect about a *lot* of things.  We go through phases of that;
between the last day of filming, and the start of real post production, there
was a lull...then it picked up.  There was a lull just before we started
filming, lots of "Well, we had another meeting" messages.  In between was
chaos and lots of interesting info from behind the scenes (at least, that's
what I like to think).  We'll be coming into a new phase soon enough.

                                                                  jms
 ------------
Category 18,  Topic 8
Message 53        Sun Nov 22, 1992
P.POSNER [Phil]              at 05:11 EST
 
I'd like to jump in here and support Joe on this.  I know I've gently chided
for information as much as anyone else here, but only about what others here
have seen.  I can think of many good reasons for Joe to hold back information
at this time, for everyone's good, and I'm not about to second guess him.

I consider myself extremely fortunate to have been witness to this process for
the past year (happy anniversary, all), and I value very highly any insight or
knowledge I may have gleaned as a result of my acquaintance, through this
digital ether, with JMS.
 ------------
Category 18,  Topic 10
Message 27        Sat Nov 21, 1992
STRACZYNSKI [Joe]            at 20:23 EST
 
     As it happens, I was trying to get to sleep last night, and this question
was rolling around in my head.  (I spend so much time with these characters
every day that when it comes time to collapse, they're still running around
and chatting in my head, and I have to finally yell WILL YOU PLEASE SHUT THE
HELL UP SO I CAN SLEEP HERE??

     (Not that they listen, of course....)

     Anyway, I was running the question of how to introduce this aspect, and
suddenly it came through.  I think I've twigged to a means of doing it that'll
satisfy everyone.  Subtle, but unmistakeable and to the point.

     And fun.

                                                                   jms
 ------------
 
From: Lee_Whiteside-P14942@email.mot.com
Date: 23 Nov 92 15:40:28 GMT
To: b5@iastate.edu
Subject: B5 FAQ Posted to USENET
Message-Id: <00035B93.MAI*/G=LEE/S=WHITESIDE-P14942/PRMD=AZDA/ADMD=MOT/C=US/@ilbe>

I went ahead and posted the latest version of the Babylon FAQL to
rec.arts.sf.tv and rec.arts.tv on Sunday.     It is in two parts, with the
real world info in part one (behind the scenes, casting, etc) and the story
info in Part II (which hasn't really changed much since I first put the FAQL
together.)
 
As I mentioned in the associated post to USENET, Joe will be appearing at
LosCon 19 in Los Angeles on Saturday, Nov 28th.  He is planning on having some
of the behind the scenes people there (director, designer, etc.) and possibly
some of the cast.  Plus, chances are good that a significant amount of the
pilot will be shown.  How much has yet to be announced, but it appears Joe
may be attempting to get permission from Warners to show the whole thing in a
publicly announced showing (that's my opinion).  Since LosCon 18 was the first
con Joe presented info on B5 at and there is likely to be a lot of the local
pro's there to see his presentation.  Other guests to be at the con (as if Joe
and B5 isn't enough) are Ray Bradbury (friday panel), Larry Niven, Jerry
Pournelle and many, many more.
 
Date: Mon, 23 Nov 92 12:17:55 -0600
From: techy@iastate.edu
Message-Id: <9211231817.AA18747@iastate.edu>
To: b5@iastate.edu
Subject: new software...

Im looking to actually getting some real software to manage the mail list...
Hopefully I will get a reply to my requests today... which means the 
mail list may be down anywhere from toay through next Monday.  I will post
a message an hour before I take it down so it will be relayed all right.
  Then again, it may not have to be down at all.. depends on the software.
  -Troy
 
Date: Mon, 23 Nov 92 23:12:29 -0600
From: techy@iastate.edu
Message-Id: <9211240512.AA03836@iastate.edu>
To: b5@iastate.edu

Well... your the first ones to hear this.. you should be honored... below
is JMS's response to my inquiry about LosCon.  He mailed this to me
before he made the announcement on the other services.  I also gave him the
email address of the list in case he got bored. ;D

From: "J. Michael Straczynski" 
Subject: Re: Gotcha
Apparently-To: <techy@iastate.edu>

     Thanks for the info.  And yes, as I'm going to be announcing over on 
the SF forum, we'll be showing the entire B5 pilot at LosCon, minus sound
effects and music, which aren't finished yet.  Saturday from 4-6 p.m.

									jms

From: Lee_Whiteside-P14942@email.mot.com
Date: 24 Nov 92 15:29:20 GMT
To: b5@iastate.edu
Subject: B5 on E! and at LosCon 19 info
Message-Id: <0003615A.MAI*/G=LEE/S=WHITESIDE-P14942/PRMD=AZDA/ADMD=MOT/C=US/@ilbe>

Here's a few things of interest:
 
The B5 Special on E! television will air:
 
November 25th at 8:30am Pacific/11:30am Eastern.
 
December 2nd at 2:30pm Pacific/5:30pm Eastern.
 
(Thanks to Katherine (GEnie SF-ASST) for tracking down the info).
 
Here's Joe's announcement message on GEnie (I'm looking into round trip
airfare from Phoenix....).  Those of you who were at Wishcon take note
of the last sentence.
 
-------------
(copyright 1992 J. Michael Straczynski)
 
Category 18,  Topic 2
Message 657       Mon Nov 23, 1992
STRACZYNSKI [Joe]            at 22:12 EST
 
                        *** Announcement ***
 
      The most current edition of BABYLON 5, the full two hours, will
      be shown at LosCon on Saturday, November 28, from 4-6 p.m.  The
      cut in question has been color-corrected and includes all of the
      EFX scenes and other visuals, but still lacks the sound effects
      and Stewart Copeland's soundtrack (though I may find a way to at
      least indicate some of what it will sound like).
 
      Insofar as I know, this will be the ONLY preview to be shown at
      a convention on the west coast prior to broadcast.
 
      The room only seats about 300, so if you're in LA and plan on
      attending Loscon (at the Los Angeles Airport Marriot), you may
      want to get there early.
 
      Oh...and those who saw the Wishcon presentation are now free to
      discuss it at length, but please try and keep the discussion in
      the B5 spoilers topic.
 
                                                                jms
 ------------
 
And from Compuserve, here's a post from Jim Shaun Lyon on LosCon 19
with info on other guests.
 
#: 372314 S16/Conventions/Fandom
    15-Nov-92  22:06:31
Sb: #LOSCON 19
Fm: SysOp Jim Shaun Lyon 72571,3002
To: All
 
Remember, only 11 more shopping days until LOSCON 19, the Los Angeles
Regional Science Fiction Convention.
 
We have great guests!  Barbara Hambly, Mike Glyer, David Hartwell,
Don Maitz are our GoH's.  And to name a few more: Larry Niven, Jerry
Pournelle, Janny Wurts, Steve Barnes, David Brin, Dave Trowbridge,
Kathryn Cramer, Raymond E. Feist, John Vornholt, Mel Gilden, Harry
Turtldove, Bill Rotsler, Brad Lineaweaver, Vernor Vinge, Arthur Byron
Cover, Chris Bunch, Leslie Fish, the L.A. Filkharmonic and Windsong,
Daffyd ab Hugh, Bill Kreisler and a special one-hour Friday panel
with Special Guest Ray Bradbury.
 
We have some great panels.  Joe Straczynski, executive producer, gives
you a special look at the upcoming SF series Babylon Five.  Folks from
NASA and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory give you an inside look at
NASA' s plans for the next twenty years. The Costumers Guild West hosts
a special Costume Exhibits Room full of the best fashions on the West
Coast.  The L.A. Filkharmonic, Windsong and Leslie Fish are featured in
filksinging concerts.  We have SF film previews, two 24 gaming rooms,
Japanimation, a Casino Night and much, much more.
 
It's Thanksgiving Weekend, November 27-29, 1992, at the Los Angeles
Airport Marriott on Century Blvd., one block east of LAX Airport.
Memberships are a mere $30 at the door.  Come join us.
 
Cheers!
 
[ Information phone number is (818) 767-9234.  There is also supposed
to be a preview of the CBS series "Space Rangers" on Sunday. ]
 
From: Lee_Whiteside-P14942@email.mot.com
Date: 24 Nov 92 18:36:26 GMT
To: b5@iastate.edu
Subject: E! Television? answer
Message-Id: <000362B1.MAI*/G=LEE/S=WHITESIDE-P14942/PRMD=AZDA/ADMD=MOT/C=US/@ilbe>

E! Television is a cable channel delivered by satellite that is basically a
24 hour version of Entertainment tonight (E! is short for Entertainment!).
It is not on many cable systems (like Comedy Central and the Sci-Fi Channel).
For those with sat dish access, check your sat guides for where it is.
Those with a cable system that carries a lot of channels (50-60), you may have
it.  As a side note, Howard Stern is going to be doing a half hour interview
show for E! (not sure when it starts).
 
Date: Tue, 24 Nov 92 12:56:23 -0800
Message-Id: <9211242056.AA20679@eagle.is.lmsc.lockheed.com>
From: chris@univrs.decnet.lockheed.com (Chris Rhode, LPARL VAX Software Support Lead)
To: "b5@iastate.edu"@eagle.decnet.lockheed.com
Cc: CHRIS@eagle.is.lmsc.lockheed.com
Subject: Whew!

Lee, thanks for letting us know the "real" story.  Unfortunately it sounded all
too believeable.  I figured maybe Warners was getting concerned about the
similarity between B5 and DS9 and decided they needed to make it "different"
somehow for the show to survive.  I think it is unconscienable for "the people
in power" to summarily throw somebody out of a project that he has spent years
working on just because they are worried about the money-making capacity of the
show, but I'd believe readily that it could happen.  I would hope that Joe has
some legal rights to the show/concept if such a thing were to happen and could
get the whole thing canned until he was able to find somebody else to let him
proceed with his dream the way -he- wanted to, but I don't know if that is
realistic.

When I sent in my "subscription" to the B5 newsletter, I asked Christy Marx to
let us know via the newsletter how we can show our support for JMS and the
show, e.g. by writing to Warners, planned advertising sponsors of the movie,
etc.  It is important to let the right people know that there is a contingent
of us who believe in the show concept as it stands, especially since the
initial almighty ratings will probably not reflect our support.

 -Chris Rhode
  Palo Alto, CA USA
  chris@lmsc.lockheed.com
 
Date: Tue, 24 Nov 92 11:48:36 EST
From: msy@cadillac.siemens.com (Marcus S. Yoo)
Message-Id: <9211241648.AA09081@cadillac.siemens.com>
To: b5@iastate.edu
Subject: E! television - what is it?

I've never heard of E! except in the context of B5.
Could some kind soul enlighten me on this? Can some
one let me know if there is a list of E! stations?
Better yet, can some one tell me which channel it
is in philly area (or NY's channel 9/11 - I get them
through my cable)? Thanks.
--
Marcus S. Yoo (msy@siemens.siemens.com) | My thoughts are not for Tasha but for
Siemens Corporate Research, Inc.        | myself.  I keep thinking how empty it
755 College Rd. E.,   tel: 609-734-3313 | wll be  without her  presence.  Did I
Princeton, NJ 08540   fax: 609-734-6565 | miss the point?      --  Data, ST:TNG
 
Date:    Tue, 24 Nov 92 12:00 EST
From: "Todd Bobenrieth" <TAB129@psuvm.psu.edu>
Subject: Re: E! television - what is it?
To: msy@cadillac.siemens.com
Cc: b5@iastate.edu
In-Reply-To:  msy AT cadillac.siemens.com   -- Tue, 24 Nov 92 11:48:36 EST

I believe it is a local New York station. Howard Stern mentioned that his
show was now going to be on the E! Channel and that not many received it.
Bummer. Luckily, Babylon 5 is going to be on WWOR TV-9 out of Secaucus, NJ
and I get it... ha ha ha.
 
Date: Tue, 24 Nov 92 13:08:52 -0500
From: mab@buphy.bu.edu (Michael Burstein)
Message-Id: <9211241808.AA16142@buphy.bu.edu>
To: b5@iastate.edu
Subject: JMS gone?

I just read the following on the USENET. Can anyone confirm this?
------------------------------------------------------------------
From bu.edu!olivea!uunet!cs.utexas.edu!asuvax!ennews!telesys!wierius!memalph!system Tue Nov 24 13:06:11 EST 1992
Article: 4954 of rec.arts.sf.tv
Path: bu.edu!olivea!uunet!cs.utexas.edu!asuvax!ennews!telesys!wierius!memalph!system
From: system@memalph.UUCP (Woody Harper)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf.tv,rec.arts.startrek.current
Subject: New Babylon 5 Production Crew
Message-ID: <6uoPuB1w165w@memalph.UUCP>
Date: 23 Nov 92 21:43:28 GMT
Organization: Memory Alpha BBS - Phoenix, AZ -
Lines: 17
Xref: bu.edu rec.arts.sf.tv:4954 rec.arts.startrek.current:17796

Just out of the latest Variety:

Straczynski OUT Kricfalusi IN!
Warner Brothers, parent of the upcoming Prime Time Network has announced 
the replacement of Joe Straczynski as the head of the new science fiction 
teledrama Babylon 5. Straczynski's replacement will be John Kricfalusi, 
formerly of the Nicelodeon channel owned by HBO productions. Executives 
at Warner Brothers said that the decision to sack Straczynski was based 
on "artistic" and "directional" differences. John Kricfakusi is expected 
to bring a nouveau, surreal edge to the show in an attempt to capture the 
Twin Peaks, Northern Exposure audience. There have been no public 
comments by Straczynski since the announcement and John Kricfalusi was 
unavailable for comment.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Memory Alpha BBS (memalph.UUCP), Phoenix, AZ   
                    -= The Sum of All Knowledge =-


---------------------------------------------------------------------
Michael A. Burstein
Physics Department, Boston University         mab@buphy.bu.edu
590 Commonwealth Ave.                         (617) 353-9437 (o)
Boston, MA 02215                              (617) 735-9433 (h)

Date: Tue, 24 Nov 92 12:19:24 -0600
From: techy@iastate.edu
Message-Id: <9211241819.AA10553@iastate.edu>
To: b5@iastate.edu
Subject: Re: JMS gone?

Well,
    I talked to him last night and he said he was still working on some specs that might be included in the series if there is one. 
for the series if there is one...  I just sent him the message that was
posted on Usenet and to the group...  and I should get a reply by 2:00
my time.  Thats when he usually reads his mail. ;D
   -Troy

From: fils@iastate.edu
Message-Id: <9211241750.AA09920@iastate.edu>
To: b5@iastate.edu
Subject: JMS problems?
Date: Tue, 24 Nov 92 11:50:56 CST

Babylon 5 group,

	I just pulled this off the net;

_______________________________________________________________________
Article 19255 of rec.arts.startrek.current:
Xref: news.iastate.edu rec.arts.sf.tv:5654 rec.arts.startrek.current:19255
Path: news.iastate.edu!destroyer!caen!uunet!cs.utexas.edu!asuvax!ennews!telesys!wierius!memalph!system
From: system@memalph.UUCP (Woody Harper)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf.tv,rec.arts.startrek.current
Subject: New Babylon 5 Production Crew
Message-ID: <6uoPuB1w165w@memalph.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 23 Nov 92 14:43:28 MST
Organization: Memory Alpha BBS - Phoenix, AZ -
Lines: 17

Just out of the latest Variety:

Straczynski OUT Kricfalusi IN!
Warner Brothers, parent of the upcoming Prime Time Network has announced 
the replacement of Joe Straczynski as the head of the new science fiction 
teledrama Babylon 5. Straczynski's replacement will be John Kricfalusi, 
formerly of the Nicelodeon channel owned by HBO productions. Executives 
at Warner Brothers said that the decision to sack Straczynski was based 
on "artistic" and "directional" differences. John Kricfakusi is expected 
to bring a nouveau, surreal edge to the show in an attempt to capture the 
Twin Peaks, Northern Exposure audience. There have been no public 
comments by Straczynski since the announcement and John Kricfalusi was 
unavailable for comment.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Memory Alpha BBS (memalph.UUCP), Phoenix, AZ   
                    -= The Sum of All Knowledge =-

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Does anyone here have the ability to look into this on GEnie?
It would be nice to know if I just was sucker enough to read this and
think it might be true, or if it really is true.

Thanks
Doug

From: Lee_Whiteside-P14942@email.mot.com
Date: 24 Nov 92 19:25:20 GMT
To: b5@iastate.edu
Subject: Ignore the Variety Report! Totally False
Message-Id: <00036307.MAI*/G=LEE/S=WHITESIDE-P14942/PRMD=AZDA/ADMD=MOT/C=US/@ilbe>

The posting on USENET is totally false!  Troy, send a followup message to Joe
so that he doesn't have to worry about it.
 
In actuality, I know the person who posted that message and he was obviously
posting something to see the reaction to it.  Someone with immediate USENET
access please post a follow up to the net saying it is totally false.
 
I think I'm going to have a talk with Woody next time I see him.....
 
(Posts about the rumor have been lost for some reason.. nothing too exciting, really anyway...) 
 
Date: Sat, 28 Nov 92 22:24:18 -0600
From: techy@iastate.edu
Message-Id: <9211290424.AA00336@iastate.edu>
To: b5@iastate.edu
Subject: Digests

Group,
   Im putting together Digests of posts... they are done on a weekly basis
to the following:

bab001:  October posts
bab002:  November 1-7
bab003:  November 8-14
bab004   November 15-21
bab005:  November 22-28

Please do not request copies of digests until im done editing out
headers, etc....  which should be by Dec. 1
  -Troy
