BABYLON 5 – THE ZOCALO TODAY – March 4, 2006

What's New

I wanted to make sure you didn't miss a couple of things this week.
#1 the interview with Andreas Katsulas rebroadcast yesterday and this
week's Babylon Podcast. Both are worth a listen!

INTERVIEW WITH ANDREAS KATSULAS
For all of us who missed the broadcast of Howard Margolin's press
conference with Andreas at I-Con 2002 for Destinies-The Voice of
Science Fiction, you can go to the webpage CaptPhil maintains for
Destinies broadcasts at <http://captphilonline.com/Destinies.html>. It
can be listened to online or downloaded as an MP3 by using your right
click menu on your mouse. Thank you Captain Phil for passing along
this wonderful audio for us to share.

BABYLON PODCAST UPDATE

PODCAST #5
Interview: Kurt DeFilipps, Assistant Prop Master
Kurt talks with us about his time as a prop wrangler, making sure all
of those props were operational and on set on time, that the food used
on screen was in the right place and the right time, and the secret
recipe behind the Zocalo's spare drink collector. Kurt's also sent
some great B5 photos that he's letting Tim and Summer post on the
website later.

Then, Tim and Summer finish up their discussion and the picking of
nits of "The Gathering" (Pilot), including playing the opening
sequence from the original version of the pilot, with music by Stewart
Copeland.

PODCAST #4: Interview: Patricia Tallman ("Lyta Alexander").
Pat talks with us about a vast array of topics, including her days as
B5's resident telepath, her time adapting to Walter Koenig's pranks,
Lyta's relationship with G'Kar, being recognized because of B5, and
more. She also shares with us fond memories of the late great Andreas
Katsulas.

Then, Tim and Summer begin a long discussion about "The Gathering"
(Pilot). One long enough that it has "to be continued", and we end up
with another heartfelt honoring of Andreas' impact on the show and our
hearts.

Podcast #3 has Tim, Summer and Jeffrey (from the Hollywood Freeway)
discuss BABYLON 5 and "Midnight on the Firing Line". They have a
wonderful interview with Bear Burge, a prop fabricator for BABYLON 5.
Bear talks about making some of the props for the show, his favorites,
the most difficult, etc. I always thought Bear had the coolest job in
the world!

Given recent events, it is interesting to listen to the discussion,
especially when they talk about G'Kar and his relationship with
Sinclair and Londo.

Be sure to drop over to BabylonPodcast http://www.babylonpodcast.com
and listen to all of the editions up and available so far. Podcasts
are scheduled for every Wednesday, so be sure to listen when you have
a chance -- and send a comment or two.

SHARING MEMORIES

PHOTOS WANTED
I have fixed links to the convention photo page that were broken. I
thought it would be a terrific time to see if there are any fans who
want to share photos -- of any Babylon 5 cast members -- but
especially Andreas, Rick and Tim. Send them along and I'll post them.
Andreas' daughter Kate is reading your messages, so please do send
them along. I know she (and all of us) love reading how Andreas and
G'Kar affected our lives.

VIDEO TRIBUTES
Be sure to visit <http://www.zteamproductions.com/babylon5.html> to
see both of the wonderful videos created by John Hudgens for Andreas
and Rick Biggs.

I have collected messages received so far from fans talking about
Andreas Katsulas. If there are no objections, I will post them on a
fan tribute page so that everyone can share their memories of Andreas.
Some people have sent along artwork they have created to pay tribute
to Andreas as well. I will display those as well.

<http://www.isnnews.net/zocalo/katsulas.shtml>
<http://www.isnnews.net/zocalo/katsulas-fans.shtml>

KEEPING UP WITH CAST AND CREW

BRUCE BOXLEITNER
Bruce is busy at the Hallmark Channel. He will star in an upcoming
MYSTERY THEATER: Mystery Woman to debut March 18 at 9:00pm; 11:000m
and 1:00am and March 26 at 5:00pm.

J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI - APOCALYPSE AL
JMS was recently in CBC's Toronto studios co-producing (with
"Jeremiah" cohort Sara (Samm) Barnes) the first batch of 20-5 minute
episodes of his new radio drama "The Adventures of Apocalypse Al". The
title role is voiced of ex "Street Legal" lead Cynthia Dale. The CBC
hasn't yet announced air dates or time as of today, but that should be
forthcoming shortly at their website. You can see the interview at:
<http://www.spacecast.com/hypaspace.aspx>.

BABYLON 5: LEGEND OF THE RANGERS

The LEGEND OF THE RANGERS DVD will be released on March 14, 2006.
While it is sad that there are no extras with this DVD of the last
Babylon 5 project, it is still a wonderful way to spend a couple of
hours -- watching a somewhat familiar BABYLON 5 -- seeing Andreas as
G'Kar again.

Synopsis:
It's the year 2264. The peace of the universe is maintained by the
Interstellar Alliance who employ a military force to combat any
hostile intent. The military force consists of human and alien members.

DVD Description
The Shadow War has ended, leaving hundreds of civilisations devastated
by the conflict. It is up to the ISA, with the help of the Rangers, to
rebuild what the great war destroyed and to maintain peace among the
worlds of the ISA. The Legend of the Rangers pilot movie deals with
the Ranger crew of the Liandra, a semi-organic ship based on Minbari
technology. The Rangers encounter a previously unknown alien race,
called the Hand, whose lethal power is far greater than any force
previously known to Earth or any other world in the Interstellar
Alliance. The Legend Of The Rangers is a movie spin off from the
hugely popular Babylon 5 series.

NEW DVDS COMING
Warner Home Video has announced five Superman-related DVD collections
for release on June 20, just prior to the theatrical debut of SUPERMAN
RETURNS.

Following is a rundown:
* Lois & Clark: The Complete Third Season is a six-disc set that will
cost $59.98.
* Superman: The Animated Series Vol. 3 is a two-disc set that will
cost $26.90.
* The Adventures of Superboy: The Complete First Season is a four-disc
set that will cost $39.98.
* The Adventures of Superman: The Complete Third and Fourth Seasons
will be a five-disc set that will cost $39.98.
* Justice League: Season 2 will be a four-disc set that will cost $44.98.

I am a fan of this entire series. Dean Cain and Terry Hatcher are
great as Clark and Lois in this iteration of the old classic. The
animated series is wonderful. I just finished watching Volume 2 and I
enjoyed it very much. The stories are very good and great for children
to watch -- with their parents. There is some violence as Superman
tries to thwart the baddies, but he does prevail. The same holds true
of the ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN. I loved this show as a kid and can't
wait to see the Third and Fourth Season. Season Two was wonderful and
brought back some great memories. (I actually met George Reeves at
Kennywood Park in Pittsburgh a lot of years ago. It was a time when I
had a lot of heroes -- Roy Rogers, The Lone Ranger and Superman. Can't
get much better than that!)

The Justice League series has been superb. The writing is good and the
animation is very good. They have taken the Saturday-moring cartoon a
lot further and given us grown-ups something to watch as well.

WHAT'S NEW IN SCI FI:

THE ART OF SUPERMAN RETURNS
Amazon.com provides your first look at the cover for Daniel Wallace's
"The Art of Superman Returns," hitting stores on June 30. Here is how
the 160-page book is described:

The Man of Steel is back on the silver screen when Superman Returns
hits theaters June 2006. Directed by Bryan Singer (X-Men) and packed
with explosive action, this blockbuster film documents the super
hero's return—after a mysterious absence of several years—to a
troubled Metropolis, where he is compelled to face his destiny in a
world that has forgotten what it's like to have a hero. The Art of
Superman Returns is an in-depth celebration of the concept and
developmental art that served as an aesthetic foundation for the
highly anticipated film. Nearly 200 pieces of gorgeous art capture
all- new sets—a cosmopolitan, art deco Metropolis, a massive,
shimmering Fortress of Solitude, and a spectacular spaceship— and
showcase the film's inventive costumes and breathtaking locations. An
informed text that includes interviews with the director,
screenwriters, artists, and production and costume designers completes
this thoughtfully crafted deluxe hardcover. For the many Superman fans
anxiously awaiting his revival, The Art of Superman Returns is a
behind-the-scenes tour not to be missed.

Daniel Wallace is the author of more than a dozen books, including the
The DC Comics Encyclopedia and the New York Times best-seller Star
Wars: The New Essential Guide to Characters .

WONDER WOMAN

Over at Empire Online, you can read a new interview with Joss Whedon
and get an update on Wonder Woman:

I am still writing Wonder Woman. It is very awesome but incredibly
unfinished, but I should be finishing that in a little while and then
I'll have a better idea of which film is actually going into
production. But I can tell you that the film will be about introducing
you to Wonder Woman. She'll be wearing the outfit and there will be
the bracelets, the golden lasso and Greek gods. She comes from a
civilisation where she's rather perfect, so she's the opposite to
Buffy in many ways, but she's going through an adolescent rite of
passage because she's new to the world.

SPARROW
Variety reports that Warner Brothers has acquired the film rights to
the SF book THE SPARROW for Brad Pitt's Plan B and Industry
Entertainment to produce. Pitt has a long-standing interest in the
project, a potential starring vehicle for him. Michael Seitzman (North
Country) is adapting Mary Doria Russell's debut novel of the same
name, about a Jesuit priest who accompanies a crew of space travelers
to a distant planet after Earth receives its first communication from
an alien culture. The clergyman and crew befriend one of the planet's
two races, unwittingly provoking a bloody war and shaking the
foundations of the priest's faith. Producers are Pitt, Industry
Entertainment's Nick Wechsler and Brillstein-Grey's Cynthia
Pett-Dante, Pitt's manager. Warner and the producers are waiting to
see a draft of Seitzman's adaptation before moving ahead.

HARRY POTTER
Warner Home Video announced the launch of the online "Harry Potter and
the Goblet of Fire Giveaway" contest, timed to the March 7 DVD
release, for a chance to win a trip for four to the United Kingdom for
a behind-the-scenes tour of the Harry Potter and the Order of the
Phoenix movie set and a chance to meet members of the cast. Fans will
also have the opportunity to win hundreds of other prizes, collect
trading cards and send eCards, vote for their friends for "Champion,"
preview and order the Goblet of Fire DVD and more. Fans may register
for the promotion online or from their mobile phones by text messaging
"GOBLET" to 65579. Immediately after registering online, fans will
watch as their registration form is whisked into the virtual Goblet of
Fire. Once entered, they will also see if they have instantly won one
of more than 250 prizes, including collectibles and Harry Potter and
the Goblet of Fire Playstation 2 games. Every Friday, a select number
of participants will instantly win the Harry Potter and the Goblet of
Fire soundtrack and a portable digital media player. The promotion is
open to players aged 6 and older in the United States and Canada,
except Quebec. Mobile entry is restricted to those over 13 years of
age. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix opens in 2007.

X-MEN: THE LAST STAND
20th Century Fox has released the following synopsis for X-Men: The
Last Stand, coming to theaters on May 26:
In X-MEN: THE LAST STAND, the final chapter in the "X-Men" motion
picture trilogy, a "cure" for mutancy threatens to alter the course of
history. For the first time, mutants have a choice: retain their
uniqueness, though it isolates and alienates them, or give up their
powers and become human. The opposing viewpoints of mutant leaders
Charles Xavier, who preaches tolerance, and Magneto, who believes in
the survival of the fittest, are put to the ultimate test - triggering
the war to end all wars.
While this may be the last film in the "X-Men" trilogy, we still have
spinoffs Wolverine and Magneto to look forward to.

JERICHO
According to the Hollywood Reporter, Gerald McRaney has joined CBS'
drama pilot JERICHO, from CBS Paramount Network TV, which chronicles
the chaos that ensues in a small town when it becomes isolated from
the rest of the world after a nuclear disaster.

HEROES
Variety reports that Greg Grunberg (ALIAS) stars in and Dave Semel is
onboard to direct the NBC pilot HEROES, a drama about ordinary people
who discover they have superpowers. Semel is directing the pilot for
NBC Universal TV Studio through his overall deal there. Tim Kring is
behind the project, which also stars Ali Larter (Final Destination)
and Milo Ventimiglia. Semel directed the American Dreams pilot at NBC,
as well as the network's upcoming drama Windfall.

WEIRDSVILLE
According to Variety, Director Allan Moyle (Pump Up the Volume) will
direct the independent film WERIDSVILLE for the Toronto-based
production company Darius Films. Underworld: Evolution's Scott
Speedman, Wes Bentley and Taryn Manning will star in the dark comedy,
written by Willem Wennekers, about a pair of hapless teen slackers who
seek to bury the body of a friend who's overdosed at an abandoned
drive-in, but stumble on a satanic cult performing a ritual.

LOST
20th Century Fox's "Walk the Line" and ABC/Touchstone Television's
"Lost" took the top honors for film and television campaigns at the
43rd annual Publicists Guilds Awards. The publicity teams behind
"Line" and "Lost" took home the Maxwell Weinberg Publicist Showmanship
Awards at Wednesday's show, held at the Beverly Hilton. The Fox
publicity team was cited for "Line," while ABC publicist Jeff Fordis
and Touchstone Television publicist Erin Felentzer were recognized for
"Lost." Warner Bros. Pictures chairman and CEO Barry Meyer and
president and chief operating officer Alan Horn received the Motion
Picture Showmanship Award, which was presented to them by
Oscar-winning actress Hilary Swank. "I feel like the coach of the
athletic team that gets the award when in fact it's the
accomplishments of the team that earned it," Horn said.

* I hope you B5 fans have been watching LOST – Mira Furlan (Delenn)
has been having a larger role in these episodes. Don't forget Daniel
Dae Kim (Lt. Matheson from CRUSADE.

That's about it for now.
Have a great weekend.
Be safe!
Sandy

Sandra Bruckner
Editor/Publisher
ISN News: The Zocalo Today
http://www.isnnews.net