Babylon 5
- Thread starter Kail
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Unlike most shows, B5 did their opening and closing titles in-house so they were able to do that. I'm sure that you probably fast-forward through them but you might keep one eye on them.
It's no spoiler to say that the show is about choices and consequences and process. That's what makes it so good!
This is correct. Due to prior drug and alcohol problems, Jeff's career had pretty much gone down the tubes so he auditioned for a part that would have ordinarily have gone to far less experienced actors. He asked for a chance and JMS gave it to him and his part grew. Alas, we know that the sobriety didn't last forever but at that point he was sober and ready to rebuild his career. JMS told that story at the 'Promise' panel in Phoenix in 2013 if you want to google that on YouTube. His tribute to the departed actors was...amazing.
Jan
She really is. Really loved everything about Claudia and her portrayal of Ivanova from this point forward.
I agree, I thought it was cool the way they brought Conaway into the show. Especially being not just an actor, but an actual fan of B5 .
I
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Kind of interesting to see actors on B5 who were already familiar from other shows. Conaway, of course. (I thought of Conaway's character as the deputy, and Garibaldi as the sheriff).
Trek alumni, particularly Walter Koenig as a semi-regular.
I first noticed Bill Mumy on Lost in Space. It was commented in a biography that Mumy tried to get a guest role on DS9, but didn't want to play an alien. Mumy finally got to play a human in the episode "The Siege of AR-558"
Trek alumni, particularly Walter Koenig as a semi-regular.
I first noticed Bill Mumy on Lost in Space. It was commented in a biography that Mumy tried to get a guest role on DS9, but didn't want to play an alien. Mumy finally got to play a human in the episode "The Siege of AR-558"
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And on a completely unrelated matter: Was there any explanation ever given for Londo's accent?
I mean, obviously B5 doesn't have a universal translator, so when characters speak English, they really are speaking it. At first I thought Londo just had a bad English teacher or something, but then why does Vir speak perfect English? Londo's even more "important" in Centauri society, so why doesn't he speak as well as Vir? I would think that somebody as well connected as Londo would have access to the very best teachers and tutors.
I mean, obviously B5 doesn't have a universal translator, so when characters speak English, they really are speaking it. At first I thought Londo just had a bad English teacher or something, but then why does Vir speak perfect English? Londo's even more "important" in Centauri society, so why doesn't he speak as well as Vir? I would think that somebody as well connected as Londo would have access to the very best teachers and tutors.
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Maybe Londo is just lazy and didn't put forth as much effort to learn English as Vir did. 
Well he has the accent when he is talking to other Centauri, so either everyone is always speaking English. Or his regional accent is so ingrained that it comes through regardless of the language he is speaking.
though that makes me wonder what language he is using when talking to G'kar, English or Centauri.
though that makes me wonder what language he is using when talking to G'kar, English or Centauri.
Either one could be true. Or even both. It's like in The Hunt for Red October, when Russian crewmen are talking to each other - they're actually speaking Russian, but we hear it as English - and the actors still have accents.
Watching the episode with the bombings. Some great writing here. Some great humorous moments. Like the drunk talking to Lennier while he is waiting on Delenn. That's a scene that didn't have to be there, just added for fun. Also, when Londo and G'Kar are trapped in the elevator. Hilarious stuff. Londo shouting "Can anybody hear me?!" with G'kar giggling "I hear you." Great stuff.
As I recall, the actors initially spoke Russian, then switched to English.
^ Yes, but when they DID switch to English, they weren't "really" doing it. They were still speaking Russian, we just heard it as English because of dramatic license. When they did that, most of the actors still had Russian accents.
And when the American sailors come aboard at the end, the Russians actually do talk to them in English, also with the very same accents.
And when the American sailors come aboard at the end, the Russians actually do talk to them in English, also with the very same accents.
In-universe, JMS said that it was more of an old-school court accent:
Refa's accent was somewhat similar, if you recall.
In real life, it's just an accent that Londo made up. The story I've heard (but never verified) is that somebody had recently turned him down for a part saying that whatever that part was wouldn't have that kind of accent. Peter figured that nobody could say that a Centauri wouldn't have a certain accent!
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The way languages work on B5 is that if aliens are speaking English in-front of a human, they're actually speaking English (having learned it.) But if they're speaking English when only in the presence of their own kind, then they're (probably) actually speaking their own language.
What they might speak when shown talking to members of another race and no humans are present is anyone's guess. Interlac, possibly.
I like to think that in the case of Londo and G'Kar, neither would ever speak to the other in their own language, even though they both understand the others'. So if we were to remove the TV-land illusion in one of their scenes together, we'd hear Londo shouting at G'Kar in Centauri and G'Kar arguing back in Narn.
IIRC that elevator scene evolved drastically from it's original conception, mostly (or entirely) due to Katsulas deciding that it would make more sense for G'Kar to be very pleased with the prospect of watching Londo die rather than (as was intended) for them to briefly overcome their differences and work together to save themselves.
What they might speak when shown talking to members of another race and no humans are present is anyone's guess. Interlac, possibly.
I like to think that in the case of Londo and G'Kar, neither would ever speak to the other in their own language, even though they both understand the others'. So if we were to remove the TV-land illusion in one of their scenes together, we'd hear Londo shouting at G'Kar in Centauri and G'Kar arguing back in Narn.
IIRC that elevator scene evolved drastically from it's original conception, mostly (or entirely) due to Katsulas deciding that it would make more sense for G'Kar to be very pleased with the prospect of watching Londo die rather than (as was intended) for them to briefly overcome their differences and work together to save themselves.
Was Interlac some sort of Esperanto?
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