Everything you want to know about Babylon 5/ JMS writing

[Righteous Bros]

Hi,

Since JMS has told us that over 1 million copies of Changleing have been sold it made me wonder if we ever got a figure for The Lost Tales?

Just being nosey

[Jan]

Originally Posted by Righteous Bros

Hi,

Since JMS has told us that over 1 million copies of Changleing have been sold it made me wonder if we ever got a figure for The Lost Tales?

Not that I know of. At the time a number of us were keeping an eye on the Amazon ranking and it was in the top 10 for a number of weeks but we don't know how that translated into sales. As I recall, the only input from JMS was that it was far beyond WBs expectations (so what else is new? ).

Jan

[Righteous Bros]

Hi

I see on the main page (Not very technical description I know) that JMS mentions that Babylon 5 people are not getting residuals becuase the show is not being shown anywhere...at all

So the question is why?

I have lord knows how many channels on my TV and I can spend all day watching various Star Treks and Stargates, I can even see some strange other Sci-Fi thing that finished years ago also written by Gene Roddenberry (Earth something).

Is there some legal reason why B5 is not being shown anywhere?

Just wondering and while I am wondering, does anyone else know why Sci-Fi Channel in Europe is sooo poooor.

R

[Jan]

Originally Posted by Righteous Bros

Is there some legal reason why B5 is not being shown anywhere?

Not that I know of. I'd love for it to be availalbe in reruns here in the US. Maybe people just need to let the stations know that it's what they want to see.

Jan
who doubts that the European Sci-Fi channel is much worse than the soon-to-be-called SyFy channel here.

[Marsden]

Originally Posted by Righteous Bros

Hi

I see on the main page (Not very technical description I know) that JMS mentions that Babylon 5 people are not getting residuals becuase the show is not being shown anywhere...at all

So the question is why?

I have lord knows how many channels on my TV and I can spend all day watching various Star Treks and Stargates, I can even see some strange other Sci-Fi thing that finished years ago also written by Gene Roddenberry (Earth something).

Is there some legal reason why B5 is not being shown anywhere?

Just wondering and while I am wondering, does anyone else know why Sci-Fi Channel in Europe is sooo poooor.

R

That is a good question, why isn't on anywhere? To help DVD sales?

[Jan]

As far as I know, it's available online in a few places but doesn't seem to be running on broadcast TV though I think somebody posted that it is running in their country-not sure which.

One of the main issues in the recent labor negotiations is that shows running on New Media (online/cell phone, etc.) didn't generate residuals at all.

AFAIK, not being in reruns wouldn't be to help DVD sales since WB is such a bunch of different, and competing, divisions and reruns/DVDs are certain to be in separate divisions.

Jan

[JoeD80]

On the note about online content, the show is on WB's "thewb.com" website, although they cycle through seasons by posting one and taking the other away. Currently they have season 2 up. The first two seasons are on hulu.com (and the original version of the pilot) but they haven't posted any other episodes.

As for TV, perhaps WB made the syndication package price too high? In the US I don't think it showed anywhere except PTEN, TNT, and Sci-Fi. Maybe the other channels couldn't afford it after Sci-Fi's rerun rights expired (if they have indeed expired - which could be another reason we don't see it on TV).

When you tell some one "thats not the one I want" you think of Zathraas saying in his voice

"Ah "NOT THE ONE" and you giggle

[RedEyeSky]

Originally Posted by Marsden

That is a good question, why isn't on anywhere? To help DVD sales?

I'm replying late to this one, since I just joined... I would have though showing it would boost sales, since it would remind people how good the show was, and those of us in the market for box sets of sci-fi would then want to see the whole arc in a shorter time period?

Also, kind of a question that probably doesn't need its own thread: how does B5 LOOK on a bigger screen TV?

I only have a smallish CRT set, but the film quality is actually pretty bad compared to other DVDs, does it hold up well on the massive HD-ready screens they make these days?

I'm concerned that when everyone moves to HD, it will look so poor that the whole series will fall out of circulation, including as DVDs. But I know little about this topic, so hope someone can set me straight on it?

RedEyeSky

[SmileOfTheShadow]

JMS shows on DVD Info. I combed through IMDB to see what has been released on DVD and what seasons they were in for easy purchase for JMS fans in another thread.

TV:
Babylon 5 Seasons 1 - 5
Babylon 5 TV Movies
Babylon 5 Legend of the Rangers
- Captain Power (there is a fan produced dvd or blu-ray set which someone dubbed from the out of print VHS from back in the day from captainpower.com)
Crusade The Complete Series
*He-man and the masters of the Universe Seasons 1 - 2 (9 Eps)
*Jayce and the Wheeled Warriors (13 episodes)
Jeremiah Season 1 - 2
Murder She Wrote Season 8-9 (7 Episodes)
*She-Ra The Princess of Power Season 1 Volume 2 (5 Episodes)
The New Twilight Zone Season 2-3 (12 Episodes)
Walker, Texas Ranger Season 1 (1 Episode)
*The Real Ghostbusters Complete Series (21 episodes)

Movies:
Changeling
Ninja Assassin (Out on the 15th of March)


* denotes that it's a cartoon.

Not able to find, need info if it's on DVD:
- The Murder She Wrote TV Movie A Story To Die For
- Jake And the Fatman (the first 2 seasons are out I've seen but JMS wrote seasons 3 and 4. Season 2 was released 5/5/2009. I don't know how long normal hiatus is between seasons if they're going to release them)
- Nightmare Classics (haven't heard of this)
- Captain Power: The Beginning (This is just a spliced together 'movie' of 4 episodes of captain power)
- Spiral Zone
- CBS Storybreak

[Hipapheralkuspo]

I don't know if someone know this page, but www.babylon5.info has quite large database of all books, comics or scripts. Lot of details are missing, but the pictures are nice

[Lady Marcus]

Does any one know where I can read the short stories that JMS wrote about Babylon 5 that were published in Amazing Stories? They are called "The Shadow of His Thoughts" about G'Kar and Leta, #597, Vol.71 #2; "Genius Loci" again G'Kar (I think) #599, Vol.71 #4 and "Space, Time and the Incurable Romantic" about Marcus and Susan, #602, Vol.72 #2 Summer 2000.

I would just like to be able just to read them! I can't find the magazines anywhere. Would someone trust me enough to mail them to me , allow me to read them then I'd send them back, unharmed. (no babies or dogs to destroy them) I would treat them with respect and honor! I am a book lover and take very good care of all books and magazines that I own. Please? Anyone?!

Hopefully....Lady Marcus

[Marsden]

I'd love to read those, too! Anywhere on the web, maybe?


I wouldn't trust myself to borrow someone's actual hard copy, it'd probably get damaged somehow.

[Jan]

Originally Posted by Marsden

I'd love to read those, too! Anywhere on the web, maybe?

If they're online it's bootleg and not authorized by WB or the writers. There are some good reviews/synopses of the novels and short stories here.

Jan

[Truth66]

Originally Posted by Righteous Bros

Hi

I see on the main page (Not very technical description I know) that JMS mentions that Babylon 5 people are not getting residuals becuase the show is not being shown anywhere...at all

So the question is why?

I have lord knows how many channels on my TV and I can spend all day watching various Star Treks and Stargates, I can even see some strange other Sci-Fi thing that finished years ago also written by Gene Roddenberry (Earth something).

Is there some legal reason why B5 is not being shown anywhere?

Just wondering and while I am wondering, does anyone else know why Sci-Fi Channel in Europe is sooo poooor.

R

My appologies for posting late to this thread because I've been very busy with school, work, new baby, etc., etc.
If I remember correctly, there's a stipulation given to any station/network that airs Babylon 5. That stipulation is that all of the episodes must be aired in order, due to the novel format structure of the series.
If so, then many of these stations/networks are not willing to commit to airing the series in chronological order. They may even have to pay a premium in order to do so.
As we all know, other shows like Trek, Stargate, etc., the episodes are rarely shown in order, even when it comes to a two part episode.