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J. Michael Straczynski Says Paramount is Driving the Franchise into the Ground

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By GustavoLeao / 09:47, 6 June 2005 / Enterprise

BABYLON 5 creator/producer J. Michael Straczynski was a guest of honor at Wizard World Philadelphia convention, and talked about his current TV and comics projects, his future plans and his opinion on the current state of the STAR TREK franchise.



Straczynski said he still loves the original STAR TREK and would like to see the franchise regain its luster. "They're driving that franchise into the ground because they don't understand what it is," he said.

Straczynski said he and Bryce Zabel (creater of THE CROW and DARK SKIES television series) prepared a STAR TREK pitch, a treatment for a reboot of the franchise, but Paramount has a bad taste in their mouths over what has happened to the franchise over the years, so the studio is giving the franchise a couple years rest after the cancellation of ENTERPRISE. "When the door is open again, I'll be there, (not in a contractual sense, but willing to work if called)" he said.

As for BABYLON 5, he said that he told the story that he wanted to tell, and plans for a feature film based on the property never really came together. Right now, there are no plans for B5 for film, television, or books, according to the creator.

The full reports from the Straczynski panel can be found at Comics Continuum and Newsarama.



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RE: the kettle calling the pot | Report this post to moderator
By: Sennik (Odo's file, contact) @ 18:35:21 on Jun 08, 2005

In other words, some actors from Voyager and some from Babylon 5 have moved on and had careers after their respective shows. The question was "where's B5 people"? I was unaware of anyone from Voyager doing anything else since, other than Mulgrew. But it seems like both series are equal in that respect. Thanks for correcting me, but in the end all it means is that B5's actors seem to have had the same after-series success as Voyager's actors have.


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RE: the kettle calling the pot | Report this post to moderator
By: Sennik (Odo's file, contact) @ 18:33:02 on Jun 08, 2005 | Edit History (1)

Oops.


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Let's look at the merits of his criticism not him personally | Report this post to moderator
By: Polly_Scy (Odo's file, contact) @ 18:00:50 on Jun 07, 2005

He puts his finger on the real problem: Paramount and the BeeBees NEVER UNDERSTOOD the source of Trek's appeal or what made it work. No matter what you think of him or his work, he's absolutely right about that. You can't duplicate the success of the previous series if you don't understand WHY they were successful. You can throw in all the CGI, catsuits, and hardbodies you like, but that's not what made us love Trek.

But then most of the old timers like me have been saying that for years.


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New Writers | Report this post to moderator
By: shart (Odo's file, contact) @ 23:18:39 on Jun 06, 2005

There is no doubt that Star Trek needs new writers. I'm not sure that JMS is the right person, but maybe he deserves a chance. But maybe someone new is what is really needed... someone without any connections to past shows and bagage that goes with it. What is needed is a writer with real passion for the original Trek vision and the creativity to bring it back to life. Passion and creativity are much more important than his/her resume. Star Trek needs to start looking for new talent, there are lots a young writers out there they just need to start looking.


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5 Minute Flame-Bake Recipe | Report this post to moderator
By: Archangel (Odo's file, contact) @ 19:17:45 on Jun 06, 2005

1) Take large Star Trek based community.

2) Lightly sprinkle with the name "JMS".

3) Season with disparaging comments about Trek and how JMS could do it better.

4) Voila!

--------

"The weak and the cowardly have no place in shuffleboard."

--Phil Hartman ("Worf," SNL)



"Never hate your enemies -- it clouds your judgment."

--Don Corleone


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It'd be good | Report this post to moderator
By: Postdoc (Odo's file, contact) @ 19:05:29 on Jun 06, 2005

JMS deserves credit for creating a truly unigue show in B5. He basically created and SF novel for TV. All those enigmatic book covers you saw in the store but didn't read-- he brought that kind of stuff to life. I liked DS9, but B5's political plots and its relationships were heavy and entertaining stuff, much more mature and complex than most of DS9. Trek went for the glitz while B5 did some heavy stories. The PsiCorps alone was a great idea, as were the Shadows and Babylon 4. Who can forget the character Zathros?(sic) I don't know why he couldn't finish or why Sinclair disappeared. Anyhow, he'd be a good choice. Will they take somebody with a vision? Who knows.


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RE: It'd be good, not. by Sabotman @ 10:52:13 on Jun 07
    RE: It'd be good, not. by Sennik @ 12:01:32 on Jun 07

What will it be? | Report this post to moderator
By: Hugh Jass (Odo's file, contact) @ 15:47:27 on Jun 06, 2005

Has JMS ever announced what "his" Star Trek show would be? When would it set? Prequel? Sequel? How much wood would a wood chuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood? Just to many questions and not enough brain cells.

--------

Every time you masturbate, God kills a kitten. PLEASE….think of the kittens!


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RE: What will it be? by GaryCLT @ 17:57:49 on Jun 06
    RE: What will it be? by Bella Oxmyx @ 18:33:17 on Jun 06
    RE: What will it be? by Bella Oxmyx @ 18:33:16 on Jun 06
       RE: What will it be? by darkedgex @ 02:34:07 on Jun 08
          RE: What will it be? by Bella Oxmyx @ 08:29:29 on Jun 08
       RE: What will it be? by GaryCLT @ 19:52:03 on Jun 06
          RE: What will it be? by Bella Oxmyx @ 20:04:23 on Jun 06
RE: What will it be? by Meglo @ 17:02:11 on Jun 06
    RE: What will it be? by Sennik @ 17:12:52 on Jun 06

Gets my vote | Report this post to moderator
By: Scorpius (Odo's file, contact) @ 15:44:04 on Jun 06, 2005

I'm all for JMS taking over the Star Trek reigns once it's dead enough to oust Rick Berman.

Not unusual to see a large scale Trek fan denomination bashing his achievements with B5. There is still a significant number of Trek fans that refuse to watch or even attempt to appreciate anything in the B5 universe because, well, because it isn't Star Trek.

Talented people from other franchises that love the original Star Trek will do no harm. Coto was one such man; but as much as I appreciate Coto, his resume is nothing on JMS.

All hale King JMS...

Now all we wait for is the beheading of the Trek franchise under Rick and Mini-Rick... Let the JMS takeover begin then!

--------

"Men don't use sex to get what they want. Sex IS what they want" - Frasier


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RE: Gets my vote by Cap'n Calhoun @ 00:59:39 on Jun 07

JMS is an idiot | Report this post to moderator
By: Salter1701 (Odo's file, contact) @ 14:51:35 on Jun 06, 2005

He's spent all these years ripping the franchise apart, and now its over he wants to get his hands on it!!! $$$$$ He's a had a couple of failed series of his own which is probably why.

Paramount hasent Driven it into the ground, people have simply turned to other things (ie stargate, farscape etc) and all kinds of other TV competition on nowadays

There's nothing wrong with Voyager or Enterprise! I like all of the Trek series and believe me, as a huge Trek fan, there was nothing wrong with any of the Trek series.

If I met JMS i'd slap him with a Fish. He just want more money.

If you dont agree with me then fine, that is my opinion


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RE: JMS is an idiot by Sennik @ 16:44:15 on Jun 07
    RE: JMS is an idiot by Salter1701 @ 14:46:36 on Jun 08
       RE: JMS is an idiot by Sennik @ 18:25:33 on Jun 08

the kettle calling the pot | Report this post to moderator
By: Sabotman (Odo's file, contact) @ 10:46:34 on Jun 06, 2005

Why is it fans get all up when Joe sez something about Trek?
Where's B-5 people?
Where are any of the B-5 spin offs?
Is Paramount ruining Trek, yes & no.
Berman ran it down w/ Voyager & Enterprise & Paramount shelved it for a time. Be it to let Berman's contract run out or whatever.
Now let's look at Joe.
B-5 barly got a 5th yr [remember he wraped things up in season 4?].
How about the movie spin off, Exclaber-? Yup, w/ his X-Files rip-off ep, the complete take on DSN uniforms, please be glad the show died a quick end [maybe he should have given into the sex character].
Whatelse has Joe done? Jerimiah didn't even have a full 2nd yr [thanks to Joe].
Joe, before you start tring to clean up someone else's yard, make sure your trash is cleaned up too.


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RE: the kettle calling the pot by Sennik @ 13:17:14 on Jun 06
    RE: the kettle calling the pot by The Founder @ 17:46:09 on Jun 06
    RE: the kettle calling the pot by Sam Cogley @ 17:31:45 on Jun 06
    RE: the kettle calling the pot by Brikar @ 13:52:05 on Jun 06
       RE: the kettle calling the pot by Sennik @ 17:03:39 on Jun 06
          RE: the kettle calling the pot by Brikar @ 17:23:20 on Jun 06
             RE: the kettle calling the pot by SpiritOne @ 18:06:42 on Jun 06
    RE: the kettle calling the pot by Dmitri Andreyevich @ 13:43:24 on Jun 06

B5 Film... | Report this post to moderator
By: Meglo (Odo's file, contact) @ 10:38:38 on Jun 06, 2005

I think most people are glad the B5 film didn't come to fruition this time around. The idea was generally received with a "meh".

I get the feeling JMS doesn't want to tack on a story to the original B5 characters, but I think a movie about Sheridan's son is one of the few concepts that will fly.

--------

The supervisor is Verizon!


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RE: B5 Film... by BringBackKirk @ 16:37:02 on Jun 06
    RE: B5 Film... by Sennik @ 17:10:16 on Jun 06
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