(July 8th) We've had several episodes of Crusade now, and so far I'm enjoying it very much. Which is kind of a catch 22.......knowing that this has only the tiniest teenie-weenie small chance (if that) of ever continuing beyond the "baker's dozen" that is to air, I'd almost rather have not liked it, so I wouldn't feel so bereft when it dissappears.

Anyhow, some responses from JMS regarding questions posed about Galen. Apparently some fans have complained that there has been "too much" Galen in the preceding episodes and that the rest of the crew seemed to take a back seat. JMS explained that in actuality, if the series had been a full 22 eps, the Galen episodes we've seen would have been spaced out so he would have shown up only every second or third episode.

He also wrote this in CIS Forum regarding Galen:

"Actually, Galen has quite a secret he's carrying around with him. It formed the basis of scripts 114 ("To the Ends of the Earth") and 116 ("End of the Line," which would've been the cliffhanger). It's also a major element of the coming technomage novels. There's a very small reference to it in the episode airing this week, when Galen mentions that he and someone else have been "betrayed by our own kind."

It also ties into why they were in such a rush to get the hell out of known space during the shadow war."

(Jun 9th) I thought it was pretty good for a pilot episode. I'm still not crazy about the musical scoring (especially the intro music) but it wasn't quite as jarring as it was in "A Call To Arms". I liked all the actors/characters except for Max Eilerson but I guess we're not supposed to like him anyway so he's doing his job then. I find it amusing he picked up Drakh so quickly, but just put that down to plot convenience. I enjoyed Gideon except I still have to shake that annoying Mr. Brady vision I keep getting every now and then when he's talking. : ) The FX were superb as always, no complaints about ships, costumes, etc. And I must say I have a slight crush on the first officer, Matheson. Woowoo! (I was always partial to telepaths.)
The story was very good too, no complaints there either. All in all I give "War Zone" about an 8. And the best thing I can say is it wasn't boring. If you start watching the clock, which I did more than a few times during "A Call to Arms", you know you're in trouble. Thankfully I didn't and it wasn't. Good job JMS, crew, and cast.

(Feb. 12th) As reported by The Spoiler Junkies Page JMS has stated that TNT has NOT pulled the plug on Crusade as TNT does not produce the show. Warner Bros. does. TNT merely carries the show. But that does not preclude the fact that TNT has been pussy footing around with airing the show long enough, and JMS has stated other venues (station carriers) are being explored, and encourages people to perhaps write to Sci Fi Channel in support of their airing Crusade on their station. Not a bad idea.

Also on the Spoiler Junkie Page AND brought to my attention by an internet friend (Thank you, Pamela) it was reported that Bester WILL appear in Crusade and Koenig is set to shoot an episode soon. I KNEW they'd keep him. And after John Copeland gave me a heart attack a few months back in an interview saying Bester would probably not appear. For SHAME Mr. Copeland!

(Oct. 16th) Following is a post from JMS on the 14th. It alludes to the month-long break they took, some costume changes (guess they finally got the hint about the hideous costumes), and the fact that the show MAY start as late as March, instead of January 6th.

JMS POST ON CIS FORUM : "We're still set to go back into filming on October 19th. As I mentioned in a prior post, TNT felt the need for an actual introductory episode, one that sets the story by bringing together our characters together for the first time, more of a conventional pilot in that respect. "Racing the Night" was written to take place about 5 months after the Drakh attack, so that we got right into things. The "bringing people into the story" story will, therefore, take place shortly after the Drakh attack, two-three days later, to be precise.

Since we're doing a first introductory episode, TNT kinda wanted to have the new sets in place for the first few eps (though they can't appear in the first one for story reasons), and since we're making some wardrobe adjustments, they figured they may as well have those in place as well.

Nothing in the story has been changed. The five episodes already made will be aired, and you will see that the characters, the story, the feel of the show is *exactly* the same between those first 5 filmed, and those that follow. What it comes down to are some cosmetic changes, some new sets, and an episode that sets things in place.

As we come back, the first two episodes up to be shot will be scripts we already had in hand, then the new introductory episode, "War Zone," another one we already have, one new one, then another one from on-hand, which will take us through into the Christmas break.

No scripts are being thrown out, no episodes are being scrapped...none of that has taken place, or is taking place. The show is the show is the show.

(And on the costumes themselves...no, they're not going to be "skin tight" things; we're actually kinda going in the opposite direction. They're more typically military jumpsuits, black, neatly tailored, similar to some Air Force or Marine uniforms. And the only people who will be wearing these are the basic technical crew, Captain Gideon (Gary Cole) and Lieutenant John Matheson (Daniel Dae Kim); the others are civilians, and thus are not affected.

Regarding air dates...we have thus far not been told if they want to push for a January airdate or not. Part of the complication to all this is that if we make #8 in shooting order the first aired, we have to do a hideous amount of post-production on CGI to get it ready in time. Rather than make us rush it, they have said they might consider waiting until the February sweeps. Another option is to go in March, if they don't want to go up against the Network sweeps period (which is traditionally death for basic cable)...but the problem *there* is that you can only air 4 episodes and then TNT would go into the NBA playoffs, which means it would be another 6 weeks or so until any new eps could be shown.

So on that score, nobody's decided anything yet, we don't know and haven't been told because they haven't decided where will best serve us, so we hit the ground with the least network opposition.

Anyway, that's where things are. Hope this puts to rest some of the rumors out there.

(Oct. 1st) Here are some JMS forum posts regarding the memo that was from TNT btw, not WB as I mistakenly heard, (Hey..I told you it's a rumor page!), and the "ugly" Crusade uniforms.

Recent postings:

Regarding the memo:

From JMS: "The TNT memo was apparently real; however, the egregious points have now been withdrawn, and on top of that, TNT has allocated a big chunk of change to let us build some new sets and expand stuff."

Regarding the "ugly" uniforms:

From a poster: "...now all those old uniforms are going to go to waste more than likely, meanwhile, they're a hell of a lot better than that cheesier new design they've come up with; a pity."

From JMS: Funny, everybody said that about our Earthforce uniforms when the first pictures appeared. Now they're the preferred standard.

Further, those uniforms are specific to the mission of the Excalibur, as uniforms vary within the real military. The regular Earthforce uniforms are still very much in use in the Crusade universe.

Y'know, I'd've thought that, after learning the lessons on B5 about not judging things too quickly -- the costumes are stupid, who's the guy with the big hair -- that people would have learend to not prejudge things before they actually see them on film.

Guess I was wrong.

(Personal note) Well, I can see how he'd be pissed and all and he does have a point but those outfits really ARE ugly from the picture we've been shown. If they didn't want it seen before the show aired they shouldn't have released it.

Another posting:

Let me suggest that the photo does not show the uniforms off to best advantage. They are based strongly on West Point uniforms, with some variation. The photo is an awful photo, it looks like a polaroid, and makes them look pretty flat and unattractive. On actual film, lit well, they look very nice.

And yet another:

I've been looking at that photo some more, and the more I stare at it, the more it bugs me, because it's just awful in how it was taken: you can see the shadows from the flashbulb, it's not composed well, it looks like a snapshot taken by somebody non-professional, and the more I think about it, the more I'm not sure where the hell that shot came from. We sure as heck didn't provide it.

(Sept. 28th) Well.....seems the hubbub on the grapevine lately is that there was a certain memo being circulated thru WB execs that stated they wanted a revamp of the show to be more gritty, more showy, less sci fi and that WB should have more control. JMS basically said in forum that there WAS a memo but the intent of it was not what was being reported. Evasive like a true Vorlon, no? But hey...personally I don't care....as in the matter of Claudia Christian I really don't think it's our business and we oughta just shut up and let the man do his job.(jumps down from soapbox)

Also, perhaps because of said memo, perhaps not, production has been shut down for a month on the show. JMS says this is because WB has alotted them more money to build bigger and better sets, etc..and they are taking this time to do that. Take the money and run...not a bad policy. Never look a gift executive in the mouth.

(Sept. 24th) Here's the crew picture from T.V. Guide for those of you who haven't seen it..

JMS said it WAS a terrible picture that was printed but disputes the opinion the uniforms are "ugly" as apparently MANY forum fans have also commented. (So, it wasn't just me!) He stated they look better on screen and close up in full color and that the picture doesn't do them justice. He also commented that everyone hated the standard EA uniforms too when the show started and now everyone loves them. Hmm...we'll see....I still think they're ugly!

(Sept. 17th) You probably have seen it but if you haven't there's a small picture of Capt. Gideon and bridge crew in the Fall Preview T.V. Guide (Sept. 12th issue) in the "Cable" previews section. I don't know about you but.....I HATE those uniforms! YUCK! It looks like a "Wesley" jumpsuit from Next Gen and Lord knows those were hideous. And I've always loved all the uniforms on B5....ah well...here's hoping the Minbari give THEM some new ones. Egads....

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