| Babylon News Archive 1997 |
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Evidently Thirdspace is available in book format. As you know, Thirdspace is a future TNT movie waiting to come out. So if you need your fill, maybe you might want to take a trip to the local book store and pick up a copy.
I don't have it, but the Babylon 5 Information CD should be available by now. It should of been for a couple weeks now.
January 4, 1998:
January 5, 1998:
January 21, 1998:
Sorry there is such a gap between this bulletin and the last bulletin, but there hasn't really been much going on. I will post information as it becomes available. Here is some new info from TNT:
On December 28, 1997: There will be a 30 minute show called "What is Babylon 5." It will air 11:00pm ET and again at 2:00am ET.
There shouldn't of been any doubt that Babylon 5 would win its 2nd Hugo. Go down a couple of posts to see the details of who else was in the running. Congrats to JMS and the Babylon 5 crew!
Spoilers?
Well I'm sure many of you know by now that Ivanova (Claudia Christian) will not be in
season 5. Just to make sure you remember, Claudia was not fired and no one will
take Ivanova's place. But since B5 is one character short now, they did hire another
female. Supposedly she is getting along with everyone else. Rumor
has it that the new actor is Tracy Scoggins.
Click Here - to find out more her.
Remember Severed Dreams, that action packed Babylon 5 episode back in season 3? Well it has just been nominated for a Hugo? The Hugo is an award only Science Fiction shows/movies can receive. The Hugo is the top award of all science fiction awards. The award Babylon 5 is up for is Best Dramatic Presentation. Babylon 5's Severed Dreams will be going up against these formidable foes:
Babylon 5's War Without End and Z'ha'dum were also nominated but JMS declined so that there would be no splitting vote. This gives Babylon 5 a better chance at winning. Babylon 5 won this same award last year for Coming of Shadows. When I get more specifics I'll tell ya more, promise!
Good Luck and Congratulations to the Babylon 5 Cast and Crew ...and specially you JMS!!!
...for a change. I watched a late night talk show called VIBE. They had Bruce Boxleitner on there. Well they surprised him by bringing Mellisa Gilbert, his wife, down. Well she laid it out for us I'm tellin' you. She told the whole world what good ol happy go lucky Sheridan's nickname is.
She said ...get this [pausing to regain my composure] ...alright, she said his nickname was Captain Freakdaddy. ROFLOL
Now isn't that one of the funniest things you ever heard. When I heard that I was running around the room laughing, the audience was going crazy, the host was almost falling out of his chair. Cris Spencer (the host) kept calling him Captain Freakdaddy. You just had to see it. I don't think I will ever look at Sheridan the same way. Now he will always be Captain Freakdaddy... Give him one of those pimp daddy hats, a robe and a cane. Oooooh I better stop it.
Bruce made a very candid speach that I think everyon should check out. He was there when the whole Claudia situation went down. You can get to his statement by clickin the link below:
Bruce Boxleitner Comments on Claudia
In this weeks TV Guide (Aug. 16-22) page 4 Claudia Christian says "I needed time off for a movie. I make less than the men in our show. I'm the female lead, and I think I deserved this concession. The whole thing has left a pretty bad taste in my mouth."
This is what JMS said in response:
Without giving specifics of other actors' contracts, which would be a violation of their privacy, I can say plainly that Claudia's statement that "I make less than the men in our show" is false. Six other cast members make less per episode than she does, two female and four male.
jms
I was very dissapointed to see Claudia's comments. PERIOD.
The Babylon 5 TV Guide cover sold 12.5 million *newsstand* copies, not including the subscription base. This surpasses the X-Files cover on their last SF round up issue, and equalling their last regular X-Files cover.
TV Guide is talking about doing another Babylon 5 cover in December with more stories.
JMS, has written 53 consecutive (TV) hours of Babylon 5, and if you include the two TNT movies than it is 57. Now that is a record that won't be broken for a long time. Good work JMS ...now get some sleep!
Claudia Christian made another public post. To find out what she said, read the top portion of this page. It's a continuing saga.
We've finished the producers' cuts of the two TNT Movies, and have come through without notes. Everyone loves 'em, and agrees that while Thirdspace is very cool, In the Beginning is the best thing we've ever done. On every level: acting, writing, the directing, sets, costumes...everything. This one's got Hugo written all over it. (Which makes it hard to look at, but there you are.) Maybe even Ace.
I don't think this would really constitute as a spoiler, but if you want to be careful anyways then move on down to the next headline:
I will just post what JMS said:
The new character will appear in the first S5 episode. It had to be in that first episode due to when I have to get certain threads moving. Her name is Captain Elizabeth Lochley, and knowing that a number of fans are going to be suspicious of her, given the situation, I'm planning to capitalize on that in just the way I did some fans sense that Bruce was "too light" when he first came on, but in a very different approach.
First rule of Zen writing: use your opponent's force against them.
jms
Just so everyone gets it straight... The Ivanova character will *not* be killed off or replaced with another actor. Claudia can *not* come back as a special guest, but she *can* come back for the TNT movies.
Last I told you, that Season 5 of Babylon 5 would start in mid-January. I now have a specific date: January 19, 1998
Okay, here is how TNT will air Babylon 5:
The show will start on January 4th (Sunday) on TNT. First with a newly filmed prequel, In the Beginning, then the original pilot. The next day (Monday), starts from the very first episode of season one and goes straight through - Monday through Friday, 5 nights a week, at 7 p.m. Eastern time. The 5th season starts mid-January.
It will run through the entire first 4 seasons in 18 week cycles, so people like me will have the chance to catch up and see the whole thing.
Some of you know ...some don't. For those who don't I have created this page. I will just let the page explain it all.
I know some people (like myself) hate spoilers, but this *has* to be said. I am *not* revealing direct story info here, I am telling you 'bout Babylon 5's future as a TV show. If you are still head set about not wanting to know I suggest you leave now before you accidently read something you don't want to. Well warning has been given (why I'm still wondering)!
It appears there were some kind of communication difficulty with Claudia Christian and WB. It appears Claudia will not be in Season 5. The above post has more on this.
In case it really mattered to you, the official word has been given about Season 5 for Babylon 5. You can take a deep breath and relax now. The third movie is also official.
As it stands right now, the only way Americans will be able to see a 5th season of Babylon 5 is through TNT. Right now it is uncertain exactly how the UK/Canada/and other countries will see B5. JMS doubts very much that Warner Bros. (WB) will let the foriegn market go.
Before I got the impression that the only way B5 was going to get a 5th season was through TNT. WB wanted to do a 5th season for Babylon 5, but with all the new syndications coming out, the time slots were too slim. TNT provided that window for B5 ...through TNT, B5 will get its time slot. Warner Bros. & TNT will fund season 5 together. If I find out any more details I will be sure to let you know.
After this year... Columbia House will be releasing B5 tapes through mail order. There are still discussions as to whether B5 will be released on DVD or not.
I just found out a little more about Season 5...
It appears that the Sci-Fi Channel bidded with TNT for the Babylon 5 re-runs, but thanks to Brad Siegel's persistance on getting the re-runs for TNT and a 5th season we get to celebrate. If the Sci-Fi Channel would of got the rights, then most likely there would be no season 5 and no definate time slot ...so thank Brad Siegel that TNT got B5.
TNT will run the episodes straight through ...no re-runs, Monday-Friday around 6-7pm. In January 1998 on a Sunday, the first B5 TV made movie ("In the Beginning") will air along with the original B5 pilot movie; "The Gathering." So that will be four hours of Babylon 5 ...keep a look out (maybe around Jan. 19).
It does seem however though that Jerry Doyle (Garibaldi) will not be in the two TNT B5 movies, but he has signed on for a 5th season as well as a 3rd B5 TV made movie. The third is not official, but TNT indicated to the B5 crew that they want a 3rd movie.
Now try to keep in mind that most of this is still unofficial. Even though ET, TV Guide as well as Harlan saying season 5 is a go ...Warner Bros. still hasn't made its public announcment about the matter. So until then this news is unofficial.
It is not "official", but it appears TNT will be funding a 5th season for Babylon 5. Yes, you heard it right... And that does mean if you don't have cable or you don't live in the United States you won't be able to watch unless you can get someone to tape it for you. I assume this is the only way Babylon 5 could even get a 5th season, so that we should be thankful for ...even if it does mean many will be excluded. So I guess I'm bringing good news for many and bad news for many.
Personally I thought this would never happen, but Babylon 5 actually made it on to the cover of the July 5-11 edition of TV Guide. I really doubted this would ever happen, specially when I heard TV Guide changed the words of Scott Adams (creator of Dilbert). The Dilbert cover was orginally supposed to say:
Why does Dilbert watch TV? Two words: Babylon 5
Then it was changed to:
Why does Dilbert watch TV? Two words: Star Trek
All because they thought it would sell more copies of TV Guide. Well B5 made it. Actually I bet TNT had somethin' to do with it, I've heard everyone at TNT has been very enthusiastic about acquiring the show and very pleasant to the B5 crew.
This is just a rumor right now, but it appears TNT might fund a 5th season of Babylon 5. No specifics just yet, and remember this is just a rumor right now...
I have captured a quotation from JMS regarding the Official Babylon 5 Fan Club. The quoatation is too long to put here because JMS lays out what he wants to do with it. If you are a member or someone thinking of joining than I suggest you read on. It will contain information like: your membership being extended for FREE.
JMS's thoughts on the status of the Babylon 5 Fan Club
Just in case you didn't know... JMS and John Copeland will be directing the series finale (called production #422). This will be JMS's first directed episode. Now there is NO word yet as to whether there will be a 5th season or not, but *IF* there is not a 5th season than #422 will be the last episode of season 4. If there is gonna be a 5th season than #422 will be season 5's finale. So to make things clear, #422 ("Sleeping in the Light") is the SERIES finale. Since "Sleeping in the Light" will be the series finale I saved a quotation from JMS on what he thinks about the episode:
JMS's thoughts on: "Sleeping in the Light" (#422)
Its seems official: Babylon 5's "Severed Dreams" was nominated for a Hugo award. It will be facing fierce competition from: "Independance Day", "Star Trek: First Contact", "Mars Attacks", and DS9's "Trials and Trible-actions."
The list of nominees can be found here. The results will be stated by LoneStar Con 2 ( http://www.io.com/~lsc2/hugo/hugonom1.html ) around August 28 - September 1st.
Right now [4/5/97], we are in the middle of re-runs. But the new episodes of Babylon 5 will start airing soon. Between April 18th and June 13th the new episodes of Babylon 5 will be airing. These will be episodes 410-418.
JMS (writer & producer of Babylon 5) will be directing his first episode, something he thought he would never do. But Warner Bros. has asked him to this so he will. He will be directing Episode 422. There is no title currently for this episode; when one is avaible I will post here, most likely just updating this post.
Babylon 5 will wrap up the filming for Season 4 on May 5, and the two TNT movies on June 30th. Allow 52 days of post production for the end of the episodes. Since March started we are now in re-runs (here in the USA) ...look for the new episodes to start in May.
The second new episode ("Into the Fire") during sweeps (big tally of what people are watching) this Feburary showed that Babylon 5 got a 4.1 rating. The highest it has ever gotten before! This is important ...if Babylon 5 is going to continue to go onto a 5th season it must show that more and more are watching and it is continuing to make a profit. JMS said that if Babylon 5 didn't break the 4.0 barrier this Feburary than a 5th season was very doubtful. Lets hope this keeps up!
This one is not as glamourous as the Hugo, but it'll do. Babylon 5 has been nominated for the American Cinema Foundation's 1997 E Pluribus Unum Awards. The award honors a creative or performing talent in the industry which show who best "positively address values crucial to the civic health of America." It carries a $10,000 prize.
The TNT orginal movies of Babylon 5 are indeed confirmed. They and the re-runs will run after the main run of Babylon 5. So say if B5 finishes all its shows in November than the first TNT movie of B5 will run in the following January.
The skinny is that after the main run TNT will run the first of the Babylon 5 movies than the B5 pilot and onto the shows five nights a week around 6:00pm (EST) ...most likely. Once all the shows (season 1 thru season 4 or 5?) have aired than the 2nd TNT movie of Babylon will air. Then the cycle repeats itself.
The first movie will be about the Earth-Minbari War. JMS is keeping tight lids on the second one will be about.
Viacom has been giving Star Trek sites a warning. Evidently a fan of Star Trek can't have a site on the web because it breaks copyright laws. So people who own Star Trek webpages have been getting this warning to get pictures/sounds/files/etc. of Star Trek off their page. Warner Bros. thought of the same thing for the Babylon 5 pages, BUT JMS, John Copeland, and others fought for us. So Babylon 5 fans CAN have Babylon 5 related websites so as long as they attach the proper copyright info to any graphics or other material owned by Warner (and PTEN Corp.).
JMS sent out a message to the B5 community online on the rastb5m about the deal with Babylon 5. Whether or not it will see a 5th season. Fans concerns to whether or not the whole story will be told if Babylon 5 doesn't see a 5th season. If your a Babylon 5 fan, then I suggest you read it. Its kinda lengthy, but it clears up a few things:
JMS Quotation on the FATE of Babylon 5
It seems the Dilbert creater, Scott Adams, who is a big Babylon 5 will be making a guest appearence as a human in a B5 episode to air in May. I think the name of the episode will be "Moments of Transition."
I know many wanted to know what the title for season 4 is so I guess I'll tell ya all if you really want to know. Its "No Surrender, No Retreat".