{original post unavailable}

"But then I never watched B 5 even if Chekov was on it. I always
thought of it as a copy of DS9 because DS9 was in the works longer."

Just to correct: DS9 was not developed until about 1991/1992
(I'll have to go check which one for sure)...B5 was being shown around
town in full pilot-script and artwork form dating back to 1987.

jms

{original post unavailable}

The show starts the weekend of January 4th on TNT, first with a
newly filmed prequel, "In the Beginning," then the original pilot, then
the next day, Monday, it 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. The fifth season starts mid-January.

With the new airings on TNT, we will run through the entire
first 4 years in 18 week cycles, so everyone will have a chance to
catch up and see the whole thing.

But this thread more properly belongs in the B5 section, so any
further questions should probably go there.

jms

{original post unavailable}

Yes, that would be me...and the finale's been filmed, so it's
out of my encrypted file at last. Look for it at the end of season 5.

jms

{original post unavailable}

B5 was created in 1987; the pilot was shot actually before the
DS9 pilot was shot, but they rushed their version out before B5 could
air. There were only a few weeks between the airing of the two pilots.

jms

{original post unavailable}

"Originally, the creators of B5 went to the ST folks with the concept.
They thought it would be easier to launch the B5 concept in the ST
Universe. However, after much talk, the Trek folks turned it down.
Soon after, DS9 was launched."

This has been repeated elsewhere and needs to be corrected.

1) B5 was *never* at any time submitted to anyone at Star Trek.

2) B5 was *never* considered by me, or anyone involved with B5,
or discussed with anyone, as taking place in the ST universe. This
story could flatly and simply not take place within the confines of the
ST universe as set up and maintained.

3) B5 was *never* turned down by the ST folks for reasons 1 and
2 above.

4) B5 *was* submitted (treatment, artwork, series bible, pilot
screenplay) to Paramount Television, which did review the material for
some time before deciding to try other avenues.

Just to clarify....

jms

{original post unavailable}

Actually, the concept for DS9 was not put forth to Paramount
until about 2 months after the announcement was made in the trades
about B5 going into production as a pilot. The B5 material was in
Paramount's hands in 1989. Just trying to keep the timeline straight.

jms

{original post unavailable}

I believe that some development execs at Paramount may have
guided the development process along parallel lines, without those at
ST knowing what was going on.

jms

{original post unavailable}

Actually, this is not "a stupid rumor," in that Paramount did
have the material dating back well before DS9 was conceived. It's a
rumor if it comes from somebody outside. It's my show, I was there.

jms

{original post unavailable}

I was irritable about it at first. Very much so, since it
jeapordized B5 ever being picked up as a series. We had a huge battle
to fight on the premise that there was room enough for two space SF
series (virtually all the studios had conceded that one), then to say
that there was room for, and the market could sustain, two *space
station* SF series, well, suffice to say it caused us a lot of hassle.

But in the final analysis, you come down to some basic
fundamentals. First, it comes down to making a good show. I'd rather
compete in the marketplace of free ideas; if we make a good show, it'll
succeed...if not, not, and it's a moot point. Second, as much as I may
suspect that the development of DS9 was guided by some of the execs at
Paramount who had access to all our material, I don't *know for sure*
that it was...and if you're going to be fair you *have* to allow for
the possibility of simultaneous, independent creation. So I'm fairly
sanguine about it, as much as can be, anyway.

jms

{original post unavailable}

And of course there's the red-headed Leeta on DS9, and the
red-headed Lyta on B5....

jms

{original post had no questions}

"I am looking forward to this season's arc on retaking DS9."

From a conversation I had the other day with a DS9 actor, this
thread is resolved by episode 6, so it won't go a season, but duration
is not the issue, the quality of approach is what matters.

jms

{original post had no questions}

"I think B5 has had a similar effect on science fiction. And the
viewer like myself has benefited."

This has been our clarion call for the last 4-5 years. I have
felt strongly from the beginning that the more SF on television, the
more there is competition, the less shows can rest on their laurels.
Everybody will have to work hard to produce the best show possible when
there is competition, and the ultimate beneficiary of that is the
viewer.

jms