Since there’s not going to be a live feed on July 4th, and we neglected to address an email that we wanted to chat about.
Mitch wrote in:
Can we please have one single podcast that’s free of Jarsto and Edmund? They’ve taken over and this “captain jarsto” and “operative 6” thing is getting ridiculous. It’s making me regret downloading each podcast.
Tim responded:
thanks for the feedback. I’m sorry that you’re put off by their submissions; and perhaps there will be a show where we give it a rest. But we’ve been pleased with the content they’ve provided; I for one am impressed with the way they’ve managed to take hold of some implications of the show and spin those off into plot points of their own. It’s fanfic of high caliber, IMNSHO. So, you could try to stop listening once Summer announces it’s listener feedback time, or not.
And we wanted to talk about it a little bit on the show, because if one listener feels that way, maybe a few others share the same feelings. But we ran out of time, and Tim forgot to print out Mitch’s email so we could talk about it.
So, what do you say? Do you think the EAS Netherlands skits should be separate from the main show, say live in their own separate spinoff feed? Do you have another opinion? Let us know!
I vote to keep them! One…they are pretty entertaining, Two….listener contributions add a LOT to any show and THREE….nothing is stopping Mitch from sending in his own content.
I agree, I love fanfic. Gotta love people who have a talent for this and making it. It all adds flavor to the show.
keep them!
I vote keep them, but perhaps turn them into their own little segment so that people can skip them if so desired. Intro, Deep Geeking, Fancasts, Listener Feedback. If we always know where it is in the show then we can either look forward to it, or have an easier time skipping it.
Keep ’em in.
But be prepared to put out a separate “All Jarsto and Edmund” feed occasionally so new people can catch up easily.
Yup, just like LOST. 🙂
No doubt : Keep’em
and chiming in with Dan:
a special with fanfic is go for me , whenever there is sufficient material
I like ’em. Provide both a good story and a good chuckle as you try and work out what in the actual show Edmund & Jarsto are hinting towards.
One message from each of them each show would be enough (as part of the listener feedback) and that way, even if there’s more than one submission per week, you can spread them out…
And as Tim suggested, when there’s enough for a full episode, that can be re-released as a special edition audio fanfic story 🙂
As long as they don’t get too long and take over the show I think they’re fine.
Now if we only had a contributer/listener named Richard.
It would rock to add the adventures of Ranger Rick to the mix. 😉
I think it’s safe to say that there are others who can jump into the same playground, so there’s no exclusivity or “hijacking” taking place. I was equally annoyed by the apparent lack of alternative personalities last year, and decided that the best way to beat them was…well…to join them. And I’m having a lot of fun trying to up the ante!!!
And as always if one does not like certain content, they could stick their fingers in their ears and hum real loudly until it’s done. 😉
I think that it is a great story line! (Think this could be the next DVD?) Maybe Farpoint will have to spin off a fanfic show (sorry Mike – NOT!)
While I do love their content, I can understand how very different the podcast has become since they joined up. I think this a decision that Tim, Summer, and Jeffrey have to make as to the direction and feel they want the babcast to have. In someways I miss the more clinical dissection of the episodes, but the insanity is great fun. Moving their voice mails to their own segment when not related to the episode being discussed seems like a logical step.
I sent in short audio mix which was supposed to implied that we can’t even get rid of Jarsto even with PPGs, he will just keep coming back. From what I heard on the live feed it went over like a lead balloon. I happen to agree with Mitch that it is getting a bit much. Frankly, I don’t get it. But on the other hand it is Tim and Summer’s show and they can do with it what they want. That is the great thing about podcasting, you don’t have to get your content approved by anyone. I think that glindros said it best when he said “In someways I miss the more clinical dissection of the episodes…” There is a fast forward button if they want to continue this “storyline” it is their right, I will just skip over the parts that don’t interest me.
Gary, are you saying that we aren’t geeking as deeply as before?
Please, do tell what you think is missing or lacking now as compared to earlier shows.
It’s hard to put my finger on it Summer, but it seems like we have a little less of the nitty gritty that initially hooked me. Some details seem to get lost in all the excitment. I sometimes get the feeling a significant amount of time has passed since you guys watched the episode to be discussed, or the notes you take aren’t as in depth as they had been.
For example “There really is too much here to contain in one tiny podcast, but we do try to cover all bases”-ep#71 show notes. There was over 30+ minutes of show after the geeking, why not spend more time or the whole ‘cast geeking on such an important episode? Why not shelve the voicemail, etc.. for another show?
Of course I’m here to stay, but I worry about new listeners. I don’t know if I would have kept listening if the Jarsto / Edmund voice mail inundated shows were the very first thing I heard. It’s would not be what I expect from the “Last best hope for B5 discussion”.
Jarsto, Edmund, etc.. are talented and entertainging. Don’t get rid of them. A little tweaking to how they’re presented will make a world of difference.
Stopping the podcast as listener feedback starts, suggested by Tim doesn’t really work, as some valuable geeking happens when the feedback is about the episode discussion.
I wonder if the show shouldn’t be split. Calm Mike down, I’m not talking about 2 hours a week, but either 2 ~30min shows, or a hard break in the podcast to separate the two sections.
Pure deep geeking, and voice mail feedback on episodes, in one section, the second section a little more free form e.g. “and now … Rebo and Zooty time” : Jeffrey’s insights into B5, tequila, etal…, Jarsto, Edmund, T’john,non episode discussion, B5 news and non episode discussion voicemail.
Of course it is your decision Summer and I liked the show before, and continue to do so now.
Thanks for the opportunity to offer my thoughts and suggestions on something I really like.
I don’t mind pushing off the voicemail to a separate show. Some of the feedback I’d received seemed to indicate people didn’t like the all voicemail shows.
Now having a second voicemail only show may be a problem… we only have a certain amount of time per week to record shows, and adding another 30-60m for a second show might be problematic.
But it’s something we can discuss amongst ourselves 🙂
I think the real crux of the matter is, we all got hooked on this podcast because of the personalities of the hosts, and the amazing guest interviews.
Over the past few months we’ve had fewer guest interviews and you have obviously had to fill the time with extended listener feedback.
Jartso, Edmund and T’John have really been amazing with their contributions.
The problem seems to be around the amount of airtime the guys are getting. It sounds a bit like the green eyed monster is showing, we’d all like to think we could do the sort of stuff these guys do, but we cant.
Whilst these voicemails do not stick with what we originally started listening to the podcast for, they do add to the overall listening experience.
Shows mutate, year one of B5 is nothing like year 3, which in turn is nothing like year 5. If it where we wouldnt have kept tuning in week after week.
Its good to hear the podcast stretching its legs, I trust Mike, Jeff, Tim and Summer to spot when things arent right and fix them, right now, they’re doing a great job.
Keep it up.
Thanks everyone for your feedback. I think some of the nitty gritty that glindros mentions was provided by the interviews we had in the first year. We had a LOT of interviews. As you know, that’s Jeffrey’s department. And the Vorlon’s a busy guy. So even though the interviews have thinned a bit, I know Jeff’s doing all he can.
As for the DeepGeeking- we’ve been watching as we go, for the most part. The Listener Call Up Show was a result of both Summer and I frakking up on that week’s ep. So, viewing is fresh. On the other hand, I know I’ve had a lot on my mind personally, and I admit some of that has played with my concentration. I could take notes, I suppose, but I’m crappy with that sort of thing.
Recently I’ve been trying to pull away from simply recounting the episode in question, to trying to be a bit more analytical. The discussion Mike, Summer and I had regarding the nature of faith as regards to Londo’s character really engaged me, and is emblematic of what I believe Babylon 5 is about: forcing us to consider deeper questions about ourselves and our place in the universe. While that can’t happen with every episode, I personally would like more of that. But that’s just me.
Lastly, I’m humbled by all the responses Summer’s question has received. This podcast is a labor of love (and a blast to make) and I’m constantly amazed that people care enough to listen and respond.
>>>I don’t mind pushing off the voicemail to a separate show.
HEY now! Think of the poor guy that edits the show together…..ya trying to kill him off? 😛
Summer, I don’t think you need a completely second show, maybe just part one, and then part two with some bumper in the middle denoting the fanfic, etc….
Tim. I totally agree with the geeking of deeper issues. It was really good stuff.
i like the way the shows going, im a new fan of B5 so have been watching along with the “deepgeeking” i dont know where the shows going (i mean B5) but im loveing this show, if only other sci-fi shows could be this deep!!!!
i dont want you fine casters to be put of by the comments you have gotten from other people but honistly i wouldnt change a thing, whatever happens i will still be downloadding your pods, as a new fan it gives me an azming insight into the show and where its going as well as some hints that are keepig my watching, to be 100% honist i think without you guys i would have turned off after season 1 zzzzzzz but damnnnn the show is now my fav sci fi show ever, anyways just wanted to say keep up the good work, keep babcom (i lol everytime that stuff comes on) and dont change a thing
hugs and rubs from black shadow AKA chris (a uk fan)
P.S summers voice MMMMMMM drolling on my keybord !!
damn theres alot of spelling maistakes in that comment sorry 🙁 i tryed hope you can still read it
I happen to like the fancasts, but one solution might be to move the fancasts to the end of the podcast as a segment separate from the regular voicemail. That way, those who don’t want to listen to them can hit the “stop” button and the rest of us can continue on.
I say keep em! I enjoy them.
As an alternative. Make it a second show on the same feed as suggested in Fan Show #2