Rebecca Eschliman <76072.2345@compuserve.com> asks:
> And, as you're preparing Crusade, are you aware of an optimum
> cast size, or is it that you see the story, and the story
> dictates the cast size? In other words, the main difference I've
> seen between B5 and other series attempting to establish long-
> term storylines is that other series seem to require continuing
> guest appearances -- so, how much was the larger cast size of B5
> (and presumably, Crusade) dictated simply by the story you wanted
> to tell or your awareness as someone experienced in TV production
> of the best regular cast-size to accomplish long-term
> storytelling?

There's really no best regular size. B5 generally had about 9-
11 regulars and recurring (i.e., in the main credits) actors in any
given season, which was necessary because you had 4 different,
competing forces, each of whom required some representation (Earth/B5,
Minbar, Narn, Centauri Prime). With an ambassador plus aide, that's 8
minimum, plus at least one or two others for station operations.

In Crusade, we're really dealing with one force encountering
others on a per-episode basis (mostly), so we've got 6 regulars/recurs,
with a subset of reappearing characters (a la Morden, Bester or Corwin
in B5). That feels about right to me.

jms