Babylon 5

[MacLeod]

Zathras was one of my favourite characters.

Which Zathras? There was more than one.

 

[Gov Kodos]

Which Zathras? There was more than one.

I liked the quiet one.

 

[Ion]

Which Zathras? There was more than one.

Zathras, of course.

 

[Reverend]

The thing about fandom is that there are usually differing opinions depending on one's race, gender, sequel orientation, or demographic.

It's interesting because one of the things that turned me off TNG was the lack of diversity that changed after it's first season. Not too mention the way they handled LaForge.

Yeah, sure, the Admirals that showed up every now and then were usually non-white...and old. Still, they were unmemorable guests...not leads.

For example, what if Picard was a dark-skinned individual who was still an Franco-Brit who had a relationship with the attractive Beverly Crusher, still portrayed by Gates McFadden?

While admirable in giving us our first female lead, VOY still had a questionable female captain with an Asian ensign who was usually whiny.

ENT had background of extras that was mainly white, with a token black helmsman and an attractive Asian female communications officer that was usually paired or grouped with the white leads, particularly the white male leads.

While there were certain issues with TOS, looking at the show from a 21st century lens, it had some progressive stuff with having Sulu (sans any stereotypical accent) on the bridge as well as a black woman (who was looked at as eye candy and also seen as tech savvy)...as well as a Russian...Scot...all together exploring space.

Of course, TOS tried to have a female lead initially but the politics behind that decision didn't allow that for very long.

I did not intent to propose that Trek in general or TNG in particular is objectively as diverse as it could have possibly been. Clearly, the majority of the cast is white and/or male. The point is that by the standards of the day (and alas, even by today's standards) it was indeed a relatively diverse show.

As for the extras, the thing with that is that they're generally pulled from the local acting pool and unless the casting director makes a conscious effort to positivly discriminate (which may be against union rules for all I know), the ethnic diversity is going to broadly reflect the make-up of said talent pool.
If there's any discrimination going on there at all, it seems more likely to be at the agency referral end of things, not studio side.

Which Zathras? There was more than one.

Zathras, of course.

No, not Zathras. I believe the one you're thinking of is Zathras.

 

[RJDiogenes]

I know I'm in the minority, but I always preferred Zathras.

I believe "A View From The Gallery" was written by Harlan Ellison.

 

[Gingerbread Demon]

Which Zathras? There was more than one.

"not the one, not the one"

I liked the one that looked after the Great Machine

 

[Jan]

I believe "A View From The Gallery" was written by Harlan Ellison.

He got story credit but JMS wrote the episode - after much nagging from Harlan.

Re: Casting for diversity - that's one of the reasons why the show changed casting directors after the second season.
http://jmsnews.com/msg.aspx?id=1-15296

Jan

 

[Jan]

By the way - it was January 26, 1994 when 'Midnight on the Firing Line" aired for the first time. I'd missed the pilot but did catch all of the episodes (but one) as they aired. I was lucky in that it showed twice per week in my market.

Jan

 

[Marsden]

By the way - it was January 26, 1994 when 'Midnight on the Firing Line" aired for the first time. I'd missed the pilot but did catch all of the episodes (but one) as they aired. I was lucky in that it showed twice per week in my market.

Jan

I remember watching that, but I couldn't have told you the date to save my life. I remember watching the Gathering about 4 or 5 times and then nothing for about a year. Then it was on and I was there.

 

[Tim Walker]

Book, copyright 2010, What Technology Wants by Kevin Kelly. The author considered the problem of needing to build tools...to build tools. Apparently, historically, technology in different cultures followed similar sequences. For example, early metallurgy preceded electricity.

The author concluded that it is very difficult to leap frog ahead. You may need to invent new materials or new tools to reach the next step.

 

[Ryan Thomas Riddle]

By the way - it was January 26, 1994 when 'Midnight on the Firing Line" aired for the first time. I'd missed the pilot but did catch all of the episodes (but one) as they aired. I was lucky in that it showed twice per week in my market.

Jan

In a lot of ways, "Midnight on the Firing Line" is a much tighter, better introduction to the series than "The Gathering."

 

[Gingerbread Demon]

"Sleeping in light" was a good finale. For a week after that episode I got up to watch the sunrise.

 

[Aeon]

Funny, I'm rewatching right now and realized that you don't see hyperspace until the second season. I'm slow like that sometimes.

 

[Forbin]

"Sleeping in light" was a good finale. For a week after that episode I got up to watch the sunrise.

A while after Dad passed away, Mom had mentioned to me that they used to get up and watch the sun rise together sometimes, and she missed that. Now I get even more choked up at that scene.

 

[RandyS]

By the way - it was January 26, 1994 when 'Midnight on the Firing Line" aired for the first time. I'd missed the pilot but did catch all of the episodes (but one) as they aired. I was lucky in that it showed twice per week in my market.

Jan

Yes, you were lucky. In my area, the TV guide had it listed Sunday mornings at 3:30am. For two years I left a tape to auto-record that timeslot, only to find the last half hour of a movie, and then an informerical. After two years of that, was convinced that Babylon 5 was a one-off movie that aired in Febuaury 1993, (the only episode I ever saw new) and the series itself was a hoax. It wasn't until TNT aired season five, and the reruns of the first four years in 1998 that I discovered otherwise.

 

[Marsden]

That's sad. I remember only 1 of my local stations had B5 and it was like a Sunday at 1:30am deal. Thanks to cable at the time I was lucky to have WOR 9 in NJ, WPIX 11 in NY and WPHL 17 from Philly to watch it. And I think 9 had it on Wed evening and Sat. afternoon, so sometimes I actually did watch it 2 or 3 times in a week.

 

[Forbin]

I don't remember the times it was on any more, but I do remember having to chase it around to find it.

 

[Kail]

I've started on season 2. The production values have certainly improved. The acting can still be sketchy. I was just getting use to Sinclair, but Boxleitner seems Ok. I'm very disappointed in Londo. Plot wise things seem to be heating up with this dark new ancient threat. Looks like I'm in for the long haul.

 

[B.J.]

I'm very disappointed in Londo.

Disappointed how? With the character's portrayal, or his choices?

 

[Kail]

His choices. The actor is wonderful, and I really liked him, he was funny. But his condoning the destruction of the Narn outpost made him seem not quite so funny any more.