KoshN
Super Moderator
...at Sci-Fi Weekly!!! /forums/images/icons/grin.gif /forums/images/icons/grin.gif /forums/images/icons/grin.gif
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Babylon 5 Should Be Kept Alive
The purpose of science fiction is twofold. First we use science fiction to build the imagination of youth, getting them to dream and turning those dreams into reality. The second is to sequester yourself into another universe where earthly matters are of no importance. The latter can be summarized in one word: escape.
Science fiction provides millions of people with an escape from the toils of daily life. I, myself, use it quite often. Once in a while there are mediums created to help us escape that are truly thought-provoking, entertaining and all-consuming. Babylon 5 is such a jewel. And a rare and precious one indeed. To all Babylon 5 fans (fanatics like myself or fair-weather fans alike) please unite to keep the Babylon project going. This " ... dream given form ... " takes the level of sci-fi quality to the next level. Did not your mouth drop open as each piece of the puzzle was revealed? Were you not crushed as the fourth season came to an end and only the SCI FI Channel, in all its reverence and glory, made it possible for [J. Michael Straczynski] to finish the series?
There are so few relics found in any form of entertainment these days with a few notable exceptions ( Farscape, Stargate SG-1 ). So when that rare artifact in unearthed we humans should unite behind the discovery and hold on to it as if it were more precious than a telepath aboard your Whitestar in battle against Shadows.
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SCI FI Should Crusade for More B5
Roger Long's recent letter ( "B5 is SCI FI's Last, Best Hope") detailing why Babylon 5, Legend of the Rangers and/or Crusade would make an excellent series to fill the SCI FI Channel's hunt for "new" series is excellent. We who think that not Farscape (which has jumped the shark) but the original B5 was the best science fiction on television hunger for more of an entertaining, intelligent, multilayered storylines that build and don't dumb down explanations or plots for inattentive viewers.
Legend of the Rangers would allow the stories to literally span the galaxy. Let's have more, more, more!
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Good SF Has a Solid Foundation
It gladdens my heart to see letters promoting Babylon 5 ( "B5 is SCI FI's Last, Best Hope". What out-of-touch executive killed the best sci-fi series other than Deep Space 9? It's nice to have continuity. Even this season of Farscape is losing its continuity and getting weirder instead of better (hint, hint). Storylines are what keep me interested and B5 ranks No. 1 in that category.
On another note, it's nice to see good book series such as Dune and Lord of the Rings come to the movie screen, but when is someone going to have the expertise, foresight, not to mention guts, to do Isaac Asimov's Foundation series?
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Yes, I've already sent in a correction to the Sci-Fi being the one who gave us Babylon 5's fifth season /forums/images/icons/rolleyes.gif . My letter is below:
Regarding Scott Chavin's "Babylon 5 Should Be Kept Alive"...
It was TNT, NOT the Sci-Fi Channel that made Babylon 5 Season 5 possible. Just wanted to set the record straight. This is one of the positive things that TNT did. Another positive thing TNT did, was to produce the 1/2 hour "Guide to Babylon 5" which is an excellent and fun intro. to the series. Then, everything went to Hell when TNT got their hands on, and thoroughly messed with Crusade. I will NEVER forgive them for that.
With all the meddling (notes, uniform changes, looping, etc.), TNT made it so that there is no possible correct airing order for Crusade's existing 13 episodes (only 12 of which were ever supposed to exist). Were it not for "War Zone" (intro. episode demanded by TNT), "To the Ends of the Earth" would have been filmed! That was one of the two JMS-written blockbusters, and would have made sense of the uniform changes, but no, TNT makes sure we get "War Zone" instead. Ugh!!!
Sci-Fi had the chance to set things right, but instead went for Rangers. Instead of starting something new, why not FINISH the story that's already been started? That story is CRUSADE. That story MUST be completed.
Regarding Jim Roberts' "SCI FI Should Crusade for More B5"...
Babylon 5 indeed was the best science fiction on television, and we do hunger for more of an entertaining, intelligent, multilayered storylines that build and don't dumb down explanations or plots for inattentive viewers. For me, the way to do that is to re-start Crusade. That's something that should have been done long ago, back when Sci-Fi first got the re-run rights. Now, the major stumbling block is Gary Cole's new series for the WB, "Family Affair."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Babylon 5 Should Be Kept Alive
The purpose of science fiction is twofold. First we use science fiction to build the imagination of youth, getting them to dream and turning those dreams into reality. The second is to sequester yourself into another universe where earthly matters are of no importance. The latter can be summarized in one word: escape.
Science fiction provides millions of people with an escape from the toils of daily life. I, myself, use it quite often. Once in a while there are mediums created to help us escape that are truly thought-provoking, entertaining and all-consuming. Babylon 5 is such a jewel. And a rare and precious one indeed. To all Babylon 5 fans (fanatics like myself or fair-weather fans alike) please unite to keep the Babylon project going. This " ... dream given form ... " takes the level of sci-fi quality to the next level. Did not your mouth drop open as each piece of the puzzle was revealed? Were you not crushed as the fourth season came to an end and only the SCI FI Channel, in all its reverence and glory, made it possible for [J. Michael Straczynski] to finish the series?
There are so few relics found in any form of entertainment these days with a few notable exceptions ( Farscape, Stargate SG-1 ). So when that rare artifact in unearthed we humans should unite behind the discovery and hold on to it as if it were more precious than a telepath aboard your Whitestar in battle against Shadows.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SCI FI Should Crusade for More B5
Roger Long's recent letter ( "B5 is SCI FI's Last, Best Hope") detailing why Babylon 5, Legend of the Rangers and/or Crusade would make an excellent series to fill the SCI FI Channel's hunt for "new" series is excellent. We who think that not Farscape (which has jumped the shark) but the original B5 was the best science fiction on television hunger for more of an entertaining, intelligent, multilayered storylines that build and don't dumb down explanations or plots for inattentive viewers.
Legend of the Rangers would allow the stories to literally span the galaxy. Let's have more, more, more!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Good SF Has a Solid Foundation
It gladdens my heart to see letters promoting Babylon 5 ( "B5 is SCI FI's Last, Best Hope". What out-of-touch executive killed the best sci-fi series other than Deep Space 9? It's nice to have continuity. Even this season of Farscape is losing its continuity and getting weirder instead of better (hint, hint). Storylines are what keep me interested and B5 ranks No. 1 in that category.
On another note, it's nice to see good book series such as Dune and Lord of the Rings come to the movie screen, but when is someone going to have the expertise, foresight, not to mention guts, to do Isaac Asimov's Foundation series?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yes, I've already sent in a correction to the Sci-Fi being the one who gave us Babylon 5's fifth season /forums/images/icons/rolleyes.gif . My letter is below:
Regarding Scott Chavin's "Babylon 5 Should Be Kept Alive"...
It was TNT, NOT the Sci-Fi Channel that made Babylon 5 Season 5 possible. Just wanted to set the record straight. This is one of the positive things that TNT did. Another positive thing TNT did, was to produce the 1/2 hour "Guide to Babylon 5" which is an excellent and fun intro. to the series. Then, everything went to Hell when TNT got their hands on, and thoroughly messed with Crusade. I will NEVER forgive them for that.
With all the meddling (notes, uniform changes, looping, etc.), TNT made it so that there is no possible correct airing order for Crusade's existing 13 episodes (only 12 of which were ever supposed to exist). Were it not for "War Zone" (intro. episode demanded by TNT), "To the Ends of the Earth" would have been filmed! That was one of the two JMS-written blockbusters, and would have made sense of the uniform changes, but no, TNT makes sure we get "War Zone" instead. Ugh!!!
Sci-Fi had the chance to set things right, but instead went for Rangers. Instead of starting something new, why not FINISH the story that's already been started? That story is CRUSADE. That story MUST be completed.
Regarding Jim Roberts' "SCI FI Should Crusade for More B5"...
Babylon 5 indeed was the best science fiction on television, and we do hunger for more of an entertaining, intelligent, multilayered storylines that build and don't dumb down explanations or plots for inattentive viewers. For me, the way to do that is to re-start Crusade. That's something that should have been done long ago, back when Sci-Fi first got the re-run rights. Now, the major stumbling block is Gary Cole's new series for the WB, "Family Affair."
