Babylon 5: The Lost Tales is a DVD I just purchased on a road trip to Sioux Falls with some friends from work. As a huge fan of the sci-fi epic tv series from the mid-late 1990's, I saw it for dirt cheap at Best Buy, so I bought it. The DVD came out a year ago, but either I would need to order online, or go to Sioux Falls to get it.

 

It's direct to DVD, and a feeler for interest for more B5 stories that creator  Joe Michael Straczynski created when the show was made first run. I liked what I saw. I want more, JMS!

 

What I think was fantastic, however were two special featurettes revolving around the deaths of two of the main principles of the original tv-show. Richard Biggs (Dr. Stephen Franklin) simply woke up one morning in 2004, got out of bed, and died of a brain anyeurism. He was 44.

 

The second tribute was to Andreas Katsulas, the alien G'Kar. He died in 2006 just short of his 60th birthday of lung cancer. Bruce Boxleitner has a wonderful story about Andreas holding his and Melissa Gilbert's child while Andreas was in full makeup.  They show the photo, and it's charming..:)

 

The stories for the show are very solid.  It's broken into three parts of 20 minutes each. They're not action packed, but they don't need to be, really.  JMS wants to make more of these little gems. You'd need to see the entire series to really understand it all.

I just read on Ain't It Cool News that Don S. Davis, the man who played General Hammond in Stargate: SG-1 died.  No word in the article on what he succumbed to, but...

 

This sucks.

 

Granted, SG-1 is really the only show I saw this actor in, but he had a cool character in the series.

 

Sad time, this is.

It's rather fun that I'm kind of re-discovering some of my childhood.

 

I grew up with Star Wars, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, and Battlestar Galactica. I have those in my collection.

 

I add a new childhood memory.  Buck Rogers and the 25th Century. A few years back, I saw it at the Wally in Mitchell, but I didn't have the money.  As I was perusing, I saw the set for $20, and I bought it.

 

I haven't seen the show in years, but all I can say is that it was total cheese with effects that ruled.  The James Bond theme type entro was great..the song sucked, but was cool.

 

See you in the 25th Century...

 

 

 

 

My dad sent me these links, and I simply cannot believe this.  This guy is incredible.

 

 

I'll let the videos do the talking.

 

I was watching Hannity and Colmes on FoxNews tonight, and the featured guest was former NBC newscaster, Tom Brokaw.  He was promoting his new book, Boom! Voices of the Sixties.  Mostly, the topic (since H&C is a political debate show) focused on how the Sixties gave rise to the Reagan presidency, and how it applies to our political situation, and how things today are mirroring that time.

 

I saw him receive an award in the mid 1990's at the University of South Dakota, and managed to chat with him for a small time.  I simply asked him, "What was the most significant news story you have ever covered?"

 

His reply was the fall of the Berlin Wall.  Of course, that was before 9-11, and modern times.

 

Shawn Hannity and Alan Colmes were very respectful, and many references to his mid-western upbringing (he's from Yankton, South Daktoa) were mentioned about his fabulous reporting career.  The man is very engaging to listen to, still.  He commented on the presidential race, and he was objective.  He said that both parties must keep in mind that back in the 2004 race, Howard Dean's implosion in Iowa, it basically caused a train wreck for the whole Democratic party.

 

He says everything can change if something major happens in the war on terror, good or bad.  The candidates should be mindful of this possibility.  I think his lesson is unpredictability.

 

He even talked about his advice to Katie Couric on going to CBS, but of course, he was plugging his book.

 

I would like to see Dan Rather in this type of forum.  I admit, that I do not agree with him on many issues, but I would like to hear his views, and also be treated with upmost respect that I feel Mr. Brokaw was given.

 

I remember when Walter Cronkite retired.  Elder statemen inanely have that drive to talk about the events around them, even if they are retired from on-air reporting.

 

In this insane 24/7 news cycle, they could give valuable insight, provided the questions are hard, but not softball types.  Thoughtful, but relevant to the issue being discussed.   After all, they know the game.  Maybe we need Tom Brokaw.

 

Opine. 

 

The writers' strike in Hollywood did what Viktor Drazen,  Peter Kingsley, Stephen Saunders, Habib Marwan, Charles Logan, and Jack's own father, Phillip Bauer could not do.  Stop Jack Bauer.

 

As of this week, the production The Jack Bauer Power Hour has ceased until a resolution is made.

 

NOOOO!!!

 

DAMMIT!

 

 

 

 

For those who do not know, this week marks the 20th anniverssary of Star Trek: The Next Generation.  You may wonder why I am going to write about another science fiction show, as opposed to Star Trek.

 

Well, it's called parallels.  Back in 1966, Gene Roddenberry's Star Trek made history for what it did.  It was such a groundbreaking show, with memorable characters.  Of course, it spawned some movies before a second series with much criticism from some fans, embraced by others.  And the Trekkie in me remembers the first impression of the new series.

 

Enter 1993-1994.  Star Trek: The Next Generation was in its final season, and a movie was in the works.  Another science fiction show called Babylon 5 was broadcasting in syndication, much like how TNG began.  However, the concept behind it was unique:

 

Creator Joseph Michael Straczynski (aka J. Michael Straczynski, or JMS for short) had a five year story arc for the entire series.  I saw a few early episodes, and didn't care for it.

 

However, during late season two, I was staying a friend's place over spring break while at USD.  It seemed he got hooked onto the show, and I was so against watching it.  But I got hooked with the episode, "And Now For A Word".  During the commercial breaks, my friends did their best to get me up to speed.  Thank GOD for re-runs.  I got caught up as much as I could.

 

Season three was the first time one person wrote an entire season of a television show, and frankly, it's the best of the series.  Period.

 

There are so many actors and actresses who have made appearances in this show...I'll just name a few:

 

Bruce Boxleitner  Scarecrow and Mrs. King

Melissa Gilbert  Little House on the Prarie

Walter Koenig  Star Trek

Brad Dourif Dune (1985) and Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

Sarah Douglas Superman II

Michael York Lone Runner

Martin Sheen (in Babylon 5: River of Souls TV movie)

 

I could go on.

 

Shows like House, Lost, 24, Prison Break, anything that revolves around a basic theme and/or storyline; fans of those shows should take a peek at Babylon 5. 

 

This is how our current TV drama cycle began, IMHO.  Just like Star Trek and its offsprings lead the way for drama.  Shows like Law and Order and CSI do follow this formula.

 

That's my take.

Welp, it's official.  Drew Carey has big BIG shoes to fill.

 

He's the new host of The Price Is Right.  Which I think is cool.  Unlike the rumor of Rosie O'Donnell supposedly taking over, Drew is at least an interesting character.  Interesting in the fact that he doesn't offend anyone, unlike Rosie, who seems to offend everyone.

 

I hope Bob Barker has a great retirement.  Besides George McGovern, he's probably the most famous South Dakotan (well, Catherine Bach is too, but that's a guy thing) out there.

 

Shame I work when it's on.  I'd like to see how Drew handles it.

Given that I love this minor show called 24, I have some thoughts.

 

I read that this season would really touch on some very contraversial topics.  It has.

 

Concentration camps for Muslims. I hate saying this, but Gitmo is this.  Do I hate Musilms?  No I do not.  In 1990-1991, a little war we call the Gulf War occured.  I made peace with a Muslim friend of mine named Tariq.  I have lost contact with him, but I will say that when there were civilians killed from bombings in Baghdad, he was extremely vocal.  At the time, I was vocal on the fact.  Extremely vocal.

 

And yet, I hugged him when it was over, and apologized.

 

And now that little mess is the current mess.  Televison, print, and the internet always seem to find a way to spread disinformation.

 

24 allows us to briefly to have a sense of un-reality...but..

 

It does talk about our reality.

 

Scary.

It's amazing that a single "day" sucks up an hour (well, this week it will be four) of my time.  This one "day" is honestly the only TV show that I've watched regularly in years that wasn't either news based, History Channel based, or sports based.

 

But tommorrow, 24 returns. And it doesn't look good for Jack and company.

 

Last year, it seemed that members of the Robocop universe showed up for a reunion (Peter Weller, Paul McCrane, Ray Wise), and at least two members of the Star Trek universe pop up in this season that I know of, Alexander Siddig (aka Dr. Julian Bashir from Deep Space Nine) and James Cromwell (who played a rather interesting take of Zephram Cochrane in Star Trek: First Contact).

 

You know where I'll be at 7PM central...:)

I finally bought Day 5 of 24, and rumor had it that there was not going to be a prequel of Day 6.

 

Wow.  Was it a prequel.

 

Like last year, Toyota appearantly sponsored it.  And it shows what Jack goes through in China.  Kiddies, Jack Bauer got the Jack Bauer treatment.  It's kind of a great counterpoint on the whole series.  Jack stops at nothing to get information, whether it's torture, or subterfuge.  If you've followed this series, you'll know what I mean.

 

It's interesting to see it happen to himself.

 

I hear Jack has one HELL of a day in front of him starting on January 14th, 2007.  And from what I hear, it's not good.

 

IS IT ON YET???!

 

DAMMIT!

I bought the Time Travel box set of Star Trek.  Basically, it's got every story involving the subject (except any from Enterprise).

 

My first comment is, Paramount it extremely greedy on their pricing of the DVD series.  It's basically why I hadn't purchased any of the shows.  The sets for the Original series was (up until recently) going for $100 a pop.

 

Sorry, I can't afford that.  I mean, I DO like Trek, but not enough justify paying that amount.  Face it, Paramount, I'm glad you're taking a break on the series and the movies.  Star Trek: Nemesis was horrid.  I only went to see it so I could say that I saw each Trek film in the theater.

 

Conversely, they've done a good job with making box sets affordable on basic themes.  Like the box set I purchased on all the time travel episodes.

 

Honestly, I never cared for Star Trek:Voyager, but maybe I might like the episodes on this set.

 

I'm watching ...All Good Things  which I thought was a great ending for TNG.  Supposedly, it was going to be the first TNG movie, if I remember.  Shame.  Because that would have been better than Generations.   (Btw, one of the first spoilers I read on the internet EVER for how Kirk dies in Generations.  I liked that more than the death he had in the film.)

 

Of all of the series of Star Trek, I like The Next Generation the most, although Wesley Crusher must die..LOL!

 

The final episode of Next Generations was really fun.  How it was tied back to Encounter at Farpoint.  (Yes, I am a VERY big fan of Q).

 

To me, those are the strongest stories, because we all make coices in our lives.  It also gives you the idea of..."What if?" factor.

 

That's fun...:)

In 1994, a movie starring Kurt Russell was the star of an amazing movie called Stargate.  I didn't see the film until 1996, when a friend of mine borrowed me the VHS.  I thought it was a very well done movie with some cool special effects and a really compelling story.

 

If I recall, Stargate: SG-1 started out on Showtime Movie channel.  It ended up on syndication, and that's when I caught my first glimpses of the show.  Of course, I never really had the chance to watch an entire season.  Basically, the whole premise of the movie (and show; along with the wonderful spinoff of Stargate: Atlantis) is a mixture of two of my favorite things:  Science Fiction, and History.

 

For those who've watched the film and the shows, you all know the appeal and intelligence of them.  For those who are not, here's a basic synopsis.

 

In the 1920's, a mysterious find was discovered in Egypt.  It was not anything of this Earth.  Years later, Dr. Daniel Jackson, and expert on ancient Earth cultures (Egyptology among others) is ridiculed by the academic community for some of his theories.  However, they are useful when he is recruited by the United States government to decipher markings on what becomes known as the Stargate.

 

Now it is the only thing that will save Earth...

 

Now, back to watching SG-1..

This was a show created by two writers of The X-Files in the mid-1990's.  What saddens me is that it was one of those shows that was shuffled around in its schedule (kinda like what happened with Commander in Chief).  My friends and I personally think Chris Carter (at the time he was one of the most powerful people at Fox) sabotaged the show because the creators of this show Glen Morgan and James Wong were the best writers of X-Files.

 

First of all, the premeire has R. Lee Emery as the gunny seargant.  He's awesome.  I love Roll Call on The History Channel.  Secondaly, the whole beginning of Stanley Kubrick's Full Metal Jacket just rocks.  I honestly don't watch much of the movie after the whole boot camp sequence (which is approximately half of the movie) because to me, it's the most entertaining part.

 

The show was different from other sci-fi shows because it actually showed the "war" from the perspective of the grunts. 

 

For my fellow 24 fans, James Morrison (aka Bill Buchanon) is the hard-nosed LT-Colonel of the Saratoga, which is the focus of the show.

 

It had an ending (not sure if it was planned for story, or due to the show getting cancelled) that made you care.  It's rough and hardcore.  And definately sad, because characters you care about DIE.

 

See, I like shows like that.  Because it's boring if everyone lives all the time.

 

Which is why I never understood the whole outcry about this season of 24.  Yes, the deaths of Palmer, Michelle, Tony and Edgar sucked..but I understood the reasons.

 

Oh well.  If you like Sci-fi, and gritty, check out Space: Above and Beyond.

 

After watching the episodes for Season 5 of 24, here's my comments.

 

 

 

The Chinese are gonna work him over big time.

 

My question is:  6:00AM-7:00AM was supposed to be crappy.  Especially the end.  My verdict?

 

It's gonna be interesting.

20 minutes without a commercial.  Two characters get waxed by Jack!

 

Aaron + Martha!

 

Chloe.....nuff said.

 

Hour One is almost done.

 

MAH CHLOE WAS MARRIED????

 

Will Wayne show back up?

 

Bee-Boop  Bee-Boop Bee-Boop Bee-Boop

 

Now hour two!

 

Gary Itzen (President Logan) is just awesome.

 

NOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

I wanna bash Logan.  Gary Itzen, you are one fine actor.

 

YES!

 

The Chinese???

 

 

The Ending Rocks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yes, I am counting down.

 

Ok, 15 hours...I forgot to look at mah Clock.

 

Bee-boop Bee-boop Bee-boop.

 

 

 

Ok, I don't BUUUT

 

Jack will need one, soon.

 

Tonight's episode of 24 rocked.

 

Down to the wire.

 

That's how this show works it's magic so much.