The emails come flying my way this morning, and I believe this story is excellent news.

Via an article at Hollywood Reporter, JMS is writing a new version of Forbidden Planet:

J. Michael Straczynski, the writer of the Clint Eastwood-directed “Changeling,” is penning a long-in-the-works update of sci-fi classic “Forbidden Planet” for Warner Bros. Joel Silver is producing via Silver Pictures.

Warners picked up the project on the down-low earlier this year. As late as last year, it was set up at DreamWorks with David Twohy attached to direct. Prior to that, New Line had it. James Cameron, Nelson Gidding and Stirling Silliphant have been associated with the remake over the years.

Now I’m sure everyone here who listens to Slice of SciFi knows that I’m not a fan of remakes, but some of them I’m willing to give a chance, depending on a lot of factors. If JMS and Joel Silver stay involved with the project through completion, I’m more than happy to keep an open mind about it.

Even better news for Tim, the article mentions that he is still working on the Lensman project, with Ron Howard.

Welcome to Show #135!

Put me in coach, we’re ready to play, today! Of course, since it’s the first day of the World Series, we have to put in our predictions for who we’ll think will win, or who we hope will win. Summer is rooting for Philly, but Jeffrey’s hating on the Fightin’ Phils! Summer just wants Philadelphia’s championship curse to end, and thinks this is a great chance for them to do so.

And, we have a moment of silence to mourn the decision to by Coors to discontinue Zima production. Could it be a Shadow plot? Let the silly speculation run rampant… that’s what we’re here for!

Call to Action: While we haven’t set a definite travel date yet, it’s time to start requesting donations to help fund Summer’s road trip into Vorlon Space, currently around mid-November, to catalog the items in Jeffrey’s storage locker, so we can help him consolidate his storage needs. Please donate, and make a notation that it’s earmarked for the Excursion into Vorlon Space, and those who donate will get first crack at items, before they’re made available to auction to the live feed listeners, and then to the general public.

Deep Geeking: This week, Tim and Summer delve into discussion about “No Surrender, No Retreat”. We talk about the decision to ask the League to stay on the sidelines until the fighting’s done; the timing of some of the events in the course of the episode; the difference between Sheridan choosing a philosophical solution to end the Shadow War versus resorting to a shooting fight to free the colonies that were under siege; and more.

Want more? Visit Deep Geeking, and if you want to contribute a geeking essay, send a note to Summer.

Discussion: Jeffrey’s spent his time digging up Zima ads on YouTube. Because he could. Why is Zima now linked with zombies in Summer’s mind? Is Zima an undiscovered zombie repellent? Do we want to find someone from Zima to talk about the “good old days” when B5 was on the air?

Chris from England wonders if the relationship between Lise and Edgars might have been influenced by Psi Corps ahead of time, in support of the plot involving Garibaldi’s programming; and he surmises that the Med Bay might be near the fighter bays, to get wounded pilots to treatment quicker.

World Series Predictions (made on 10/22): Tim says Tampa in 7, Mike says Tampa in 5, Summer says Philadelphia in 5, and Jeffrey says Philadelphia in 5.

Go to Podcast Awards and vote for Brad’s show The Geek Spin… help Brad collect another award!

Second Life Info: FarPoint Media’s Second Life space is now the penthouse suite of Third Life Books. You can find the castle at http://slurl.com/secondlife/beraudes/203/151/49. Come see the castle roof pool, and more!

Babylon 5 Information Gathering: If you know of a dead or abandoned B5 related website that may be in need of a new home, let Summer know! Maybe we can mirror it here or house it on a sister site.

If you can, please Donate… moving the studio took a big hit, and Mike needs to replenish the coffers.

Promo: Strangely Literal: Original Fan Fiction from the Firefly, Buffy and Angel universes
Promo: Steampunk Spectacular

 

 Babylon Podcast: Show #135 [1:02:02m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (1780)

Okay, the time has come for me to venture into Vorlon space, and brave whatever dangers may lie in those regions.

I mentioned this on the live feed last week, and it’ll be in this week’s show, but here’s the gist: I need to get to Los Angeles to help excavate the lost treasures that might be hiding there (huh… so when exactly did I join IPX?)

So, if you want dibs on some of the B5 stuff before we auction it off to clear out some space for Jeffrey, please donate. Just click the button on the site, and make sure to put something Vorlon Field Trip in the notation, so that Mike knows what that fundage is for. That way I can get a rental and some supplies for the trip. I don’t think I’m going to need night vision goggles, but then again, I have no idea how big this Vorlon cave might be!

Help me help a Vorlon get organized.

Welcome to Show #134!

Why did this turn into a discussion about the behavioral tendencies of cats?

Gary from Jacksonville is still here, having succumbed to the temptation of Mike’s stores of scotch, and because he really had a lot of angst about his voicemails being edited by Tim, and the dearth of B5 related interviews lately.

Call to Action: While we haven’t set a travel date yet, it’s time to start requesting donations to help fund Summer’s road trip into Vorlon Space, to catalog the items in Jeffrey’s storage locker, so we can help him consolidate his storage needs. Please donate, and make a notation that it’s earmarked for the Excursion into Vorlon Space, and those who donate will get first crack at items, before they’re made available to auction to the live feed listeners, and then to the general public.

Deep Geeking: This week, Tim, Summer and special guest Gary discuss “Moments of Transition”. There’s some disagreement on the perceived speed of Neroon’s change of heart, some great appreciation of Ivanova’s performance in the final scene, and more.

What are the chance that Gary won’t call in any voicemails on this episode? No it doesn’t matter that he’s sitting here with us…

Want more? Visit Deep Geeking, and if you want to contribute a geeking essay, send a note to Summer.

Discussion: John in New England reminds us that the comic “In Valen’s Name” tells us what happened to B4 after the previous Shadow War, which leads to a discussion about the construction and design of B1-B3 and B4.

Second Life Info: FarPoint Media’s Second Life space is now the penthouse suite of Third Life Books. You can find the castle at http://slurl.com/secondlife/beraudes/203/151/49. Come see the castle roof pool, and more!

Babylon 5 Information Gathering: If you know of a dead or abandoned B5 related website that may be in need of a new home, let Summer know! Maybe we can mirror it here or house it on a sister site.

If you can, please Donate… moving the studio took a big hit, and Mike needs to replenish the coffers.

Promo: Marc Gunn’s Irish and Celtic Music Podcast
Promo: PodCulture: Equal Opportunity Geekness

 

 Babylon Podcast: Show #134 [53:49m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (1869)

The second season kicks off Oct. 23 at 10 pm Eastern on VH1 and will be aired 15 times as well as on the show website.

On hand for this round are Jeff Conaway (Zack Allen on B5), Jeff’s girlfriend Vikki, Amber Smith (model, actress), Nicki McKibbin (American Idol finalist), Sean Stewart (son of singer Rod Stewart), Rodney King (beaten by Los Angeles PD), Tawny Kitaen (model/actress) and Steve Adler (Orignal drummer for Guns N’ Roses)

Jeff Conaway had to drop out of season one and has since had multiple surgeries trying to fix his back. He and Vicki still have some issues to deal with.

Our own Jeffrey Willerth was Field Producer this season. He knows quite a bit but he has to keep the details hidden behind the shower curtain. Not just to avoid spoilers, those involved also have to respect the rights of the patients to keep some things private. He is as inscrutable as Kosh. All information here is obtained from other sources.

If you didn’t see the first season, be advised this material is very tough to watch. We wish all the patients as full a recovery as they can find and future happiness and success.

For official details see official site.

Welcome to Show #133!

Are you sick and tired of Tim editing down your audio comments before sending them to Mike? Then do what Gary does and just come on by to sit in!

Interview: B5 fans have always been creative. This week, we are happy to introduce you to the “League of Non-Aligned Knitters”… B5 Fans Who Knit.

Tim, Summer, and Jeffrey chat with Catherine, Heather, Laura, Amanda, and Elizabeth about the convergence of Babylon 5 viewing and knitting (and other scifi shows). There are practical applications for scifi fans to know how to knit… you’re going to have to make your own clothing after the zombie apocalyse, ya know.

Be forewarned, the puns flow freely in this session… and there’s a knitted Dalek. How cool is that?

Knitter’s Links:
JenLa
Fibercrack’d

Want more? Visit Deep Geeking, and if you want to contribute a geeking essay, send a note to Summer.

Discussion: It is really fun to find out that more people are still coming to Babylon 5 because of interests in other things, having never seen the show before and falling in love with it, keeping the fandom alive and growing.

We also discuss true options for scifi themed reality programming, something with more appeal to the average scifi fan than WWE Raw, and we talk to Gary to get the scoop on the voicemail madman.

And for some reason, the knitting puns still keep coming.

Second Life Info: FarPoint Media’s Second Life space is now the penthouse suite of Third Life Books. You can find the castle at http://slurl.com/secondlife/beraudes/203/151/49. Come see the castle roof pool, and more!

Babylon 5 Information Gathering: If you know of a dead or abandoned B5 related website that may be in need of a new home, let Summer know! Maybe we can mirror it here or house it on a sister site.

If you can, please Donate… moving the studio took a big hit, and Mike needs to replenish the coffers.

Link: Ravelry: an online knitting and crocheting group
Link: Legion VI Victrix Roman Reenactors
Promo: Mitt Zombie 2008
Promo: Der Geek: Speaking German for Geeks

 

 Babylon Podcast: Show #133 [55:48m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (1841)

My Babylon 5 kung fu is starting to feel weak. I found yet another book I didn’t know about… my self-esteem as a compulsive completist may be starting to waver!

The Babylon 5: Crusade Episode Guide. An Unofficial, Independent Guide with Critiques by Sandy Van Densen and Loriann DeGiacomo.

Quoting: “This unofficial, independent episode guide contains plot synopses, guest star and production crew credits, original airdates, production numbers and extremely detailed hard-hitting critiques of each Crusade episode, including the film that began it all: A Call to Arms. Join us in a trip through J. Michael Straczynski’s thought-provoking universe.”

This book came out 6 years ago, November 2002, and once again, I never knew about it until now. It seems to be still in print and still in stock at Amazon, so I may have to put this one on my wish list for now.

Anyone seen or read this book? Comments?

Just a small reminder, there won’t be a recording or a live feed going out this week. The regular shows will be going out this week and next, and there will be a live feed next week.

It’s the book Babylon 5 fans have waited years to own:

“But In Purple…I’m Stunning: Quotations from Babylon 5” compiles everyone’s favorite quotes into one comprehensive book. For easy reference, the quotes are broken down by character (who said it, and to whom) and by theme. J. Michael Straczynski has written 8 introductions, one for each themed section in addition to his foreword.

THEMED SECTIONS: Faith, Hope and a Little Charity, The Characters of Babylon, Relationships, War, Psi Corps, Power, Slapstick and Vox Populi.

CHARACTER SECTIONS: Sinclair, Sheridan, Ivanova, Garibaldi, Franklin, Londo, G’Kar, Delenn, Marcus, Lennier, Vir and Kosh.

“But In Purple…I’m Stunning: Quotations from Babylon 5” is the only book of Babylon 5 quotations ever to be published and contains 473 quotes from all 5 seasons. Each quote is annotated with its episode title, and all the quotes have been meticulously compared to the original scripts for accuracy.

This 317 page compilation will become a trusted resource when you’re making a speech or toast, writing a paper, or looking for a fresh viewpoint for a newsletter, blank greeting card or important email. (B5 quotations have previously shown up in wedding vows, prayer services, webpages, and is one of the biggest sources of sig lines on the net.)

Best of all, “But In Purple…I’m Stunning” is an instant connection that keeps you in touch with the Babylon 5 principles and philosophy.

Rediscover favorite quotes you’ve forgotten and quickly find the ones important to you. Best of all, flipping through “But In Purple…I’m Stunning” lets you relive your favorite moments from Babylon 5, one after another.

Click here to Order $24.95 until October 16; $29.95 after.

Welcome to Show #132!

Jeffrey called in a voicemail to ask folks to take a moment to remember Norwegian B5 fan Vidar Nilsen, who was also a contributor to Galactic Gateway, and there’s a forum thread where you can post memories and condolences.

Deep Geeking: Tim and Summer chat about “Rumors, Bargains and Lies”. Everyone on B5’s playing an angle, but who’s really running the game and who’s being played?

Want more? Visit Deep Geeking, and if you want to contribute a geeking essay, send a note to Summer.

Second Life Info: FarPoint Media’s Second Life space is now the penthouse suite of Third Life Books. You can find the castle at http://slurl.com/secondlife/beraudes/203/151/49. Come see the castle roof pool, and more!

Babylon 5 Information Gathering: If you know of a dead or abandoned B5 related website that may be in need of a new home, let Summer know! Maybe we can mirror it here or house it on a sister site.

If you can, please Donate… moving the studio took a big hit, and Mike needs to replenish the coffers.

Link: Babylon 5 ISN News
Promo: Morevi Remastered
Promo: Geek Pantheon and Your Moment of Kim

 

 Babylon Podcast: Show #132 [1:00:14m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (2039)