{original post had no questions}

"That's where I'm hopeful...that we can let the studios know our hopes
to see her in any future movies or Crusade. Encourage other fans to
write, but to pair enthusiasm with courtesy...<G>."

Two things:

1) It wasn't the studio's choice in the first place, it's not
like they wanted her gone...she left, so there's not much point in
writing them.

2) It's not their call in many ways on future projects in ANY
event; they basically let me write whatever I want, so it's my call.

What the fans need to know...is that by constantly bugging me
about this and haranging me and hassling me about it...they are not
leaving me well disposed toward that prospect. I have a tendency, when
pushed and generally honked off, to go in the exact opposite direction
of where I'm being pushed.

Yeah, it's probably stupid and immature, and I should deal with
such hassling better...but I'm human, rumors to the contrary...and in
that respect, writers are like violins...finely tuned and highly
strung. Don't mess with the strings.

jms

Susan <100537.1517@compuserve.com> asks:
> do you read the files in here?
> Will this never end?
> So what would be the point of bringing Claudia back?
> If Claudia really wanted to stay, why did she demand more money
> for less work then, while everyone else accepted a cutback due to
> the reduced budget (caused by the shift to TNT)? Losing Sinclair
> didn't take away from the show, did it? Don't you think that he
> can create more interesting characters? That the new character
> played by Tracy Scoggins will probably turn out to be equally
> interesting - didn't Sheridan turn out to be a good character?
> I guess you are a "Babylon 5" fan, aren't you? Or rather a Claudia
> Christian fan?

"If Claudia really wanted to stay, why did she demand more money for
less work then, while everyone else accepted a cutback due to the
reduced budget (caused by the shift to TNT)?"

One of the annoying tragedies of this whole thing is that the
above misinformation has gotten coin. Nobody was asked to, or
accepted, a cutback in salary. Every cast member got their salary
bumps this year. The ONLY change in that respect is that series
produced for cable operate on a different residuals structure than
network (big residuals) or syndication (medium residuals)...in cable,
the amount an actor receives over double-scale is applied as an advance
against royalties. Once that advance is burned through, which in the
case of some actors on B5 happens in just a few runs of the show, the
residuals kick in again.

Thanks again for standing up for the facts.

jms

Susan <100537.1517@compuserve.com> asks:
> do you read the files in here?
> Will this never end?
> So what would be the point of bringing Claudia back?
> If Claudia really wanted to stay, why did she demand more money
> for less work then, while everyone else accepted a cutback due to
> the reduced budget (caused by the shift to TNT)? Losing Sinclair
> didn't take away from the show, did it? Don't you think that he
> can create more interesting characters? That the new character
> played by Tracy Scoggins will probably turn out to be equally
> interesting - didn't Sheridan turn out to be a good character?
> I guess you are a "Babylon 5" fan, aren't you? Or rather a Claudia
> Christian fan?

"If Claudia really wanted to stay, why did she demand more money for
less work then, while everyone else accepted a cutback due to the
reduced budget (caused by the shift to TNT)?"

One of the annoying tragedies of this whole thing is that the
above misinformation has gotten coin. Nobody was asked to, or
accepted, a cutback in salary. Every cast member got their salary
bumps this year. The ONLY change in that respect is that series
produced for cable operate on a different residuals structure than
network (big residuals) or syndication (medium residuals)...in cable,
the amount an actor receives over double-scale is applied as an advance
against royalties. Once that advance is burned through, which in the
case of some actors on B5 happens in just a few runs of the show, the
residuals kick in again.

Thanks again for standing up for the facts.

jms

{original post had no questions}

"Sorry got that mixed up...."

Not your fault.

jms

{original post unavailable}

The part of Lochley is very different from any of those roles;
it was almost certainly the character you were responding to. Having
now seen her in a number of episodes, I think she's one of the best
additions we've had on the show, quite honestly. And she's going to be
very popular...though in an offbeat sort of way, because of who *this*
character is.

jms

(blocked) asks:
> Does Tracy have an e-mail box at thestation?

I'm not sure; if not, she will soon. We've been trying to get
her online officially...I know she lurks about, and has an eye on AOL
and others, but I kinda need to nudge her out into the light a bit.

jms

{original post unavailable}

Thanks...the spinoff is still in negotiations, but going well
there.

And I can't wait for January either.

jms

{original post unavailable}

Tracy Scoggins, but it's a very different role.

jms

{original post unavailable}

Trap doors have always been in place for all the characters.

jms

Michael L. Wonch <73373.3533@compuserve.com> asks:
> Assuming Sheridan and his wife will still be main characters????

Oh, Sheridan and Delenn will definitely be sticking around.

jms

Michael L. Wonch <73373.3533@compuserve.com> asks:
> I can't remember his real world name(sin of sins, I know), but
> when Seridan replaced Sinclair, was that planned from the
> beginning? I mean, did the actor leave the show, for some reason?

No, that's something that developed over time.

jms

(blocked) asks:
> Why did Sinclair leave and Sheridan take over B5?

Check the library...I've answered this question a zillion times,
and some kind souls have archived it all in the library.

jms

Frank McCloy <74541.3464@compuserve.com> asks:
> Hmmm, They must have ironclad contracts, hey?

"I, for one, would like to see the Ivanova character return. I don't
know if it's possible, but I would still like to see it."

a) Wasn't my decision, b) given that I'm writing 522 right now,
I'd say that the odds are zero, barring "Sleeping in Light," shot last
year and held over to this one.

jms

Brent Barrett <75063.3305@compuserve.com> asks:
> Are we gonna see/hear about little David before Sleeping in
> Light? Any chance?
> Pretty please?

Sorta kinda.

jms

Robert A. Matern <70012.3660@compuserve.com> asks:
> Did you have to "adjust" anything to explain her sudden
> reappearance...?

"Did you have to "adjust" anything to explain her sudden
reappearance...?"

Nope.

jms

Shane Shellenbarger <104305.3404@compuserve.com> asks:
> Joe, What are your feelings, now that the final episode of your
> "brainchild" is stored in your computer, and nearing birth?

I'm so caught between different emotions, I can't even begin to
sort them all out.

jms