B5 v Star Trek

 Posted on 4/19/1996 by J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com> to CIS


{original post unavailable}

If I'd wanted Big Money, I'd've stayed on MURDER, SHE WROTE,
where I was paid *twice* what I get on B5, given that it's a top-ten
rated network show. But I left that to do this.

This isn't a random casting about for an idea that makes money.
For one thing, "ideas" don't make shows, characters do. Second, if
what you posit were true, I wouldn't have built the show so that it
self-destructs after 5 years. Finally, every season of this show for
three years plus the pilot for four has pushed the envelope completely;
we only have two years left. Not much time to settle into complacency,
wouldn't you say?

Maybe you should bea little less cynical and insulting about a
field about which you do not seem terribly well informed.

jms