Contents
Introduction
The Guide to Babylon 5
"In the Beginning"
"The Gathering"
Season 5
Seasons 1-4
The TNT B5 Web Site
Introduction
In January 1998 Turner Network Television will become the exclusive home to one of the hottest science fiction shows on television today, Babylon 5. B5 was conceived by television writer J. Michael Straczynski nearly a decade ago and is, in his own words, "the story of a five-mile long tin can floating in the dead of space, filled with a quarter million wildly different life forms, human and alien, and with the strange, compelling, funny or dramatic stories they bring with them." The show aired on broadcast television during its first four seasons and became a hit with fans, earning the Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation in 1996 and 1997. But marginal ratings and other problems nearly forced B5's cancellation, until the series was rescued at the 11th hour by the cable channel TNT. Now TNT plans on airing not only the fifth and final season of the series, but also a B5 telefilm, a guide to the series, the original four seasons in chronological order, and the B5 pilot, "The Gathering."
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"The Guide to Babylon 5"
- Jan. 3 - 5:30 p.m. ET
- Jan. 4 - 12 a.m., 2:30 a.m., 5:30 a.m. ET
- Jan. 21 - 5:30 a.m. ET
The "Guide" is a half-hour TNT special designed to bring B5 newcomers up to speed on the series. It's hosted by B5 star Bruce Boxleitner (pictured) and features a look at the various characters and cultures that are integral to the Babylon 5 story. It also has behind-the-scenes footage of the show, interviews with the cast, crew and Straczynski, a look at the special effects and costumes, and more. It's a great place to start for those new to the show, and it offers some fun inside facts for veteran B5 viewers.
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"In the Beginning"
- Jan. 4 - 8 p.m. ET
- Jan. 5 - 12:30 a.m. ET
- Jan. 10 - 8 p.m. ET
- Jan. 14 - 10 p.m. ET
This is the first of at least three B5 telefilms that were created especially for TNT. "In the Beginning" takes place in the year 2278, as Centauri Emperor Londo Molari recounts the events that led up to the Earth/Minbari war 35 years earlier. The movie serves as a prequel to the show and, according to Straczynski, "sets into place everything you need to know for the series. It pulls together the entire five years of the series into one neat package--past, present and future." The movie will appeal to B5 fans, but it's probably a bit over-written and over-directed for anyone who's just looking for a good stand-alone SF flick.
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"The Gathering"
This is the original two-hour Babylon 5 pilot that has been re-edited to include "never-before-seen scenes" and new special effects. The pilot also features a new score by series composer Christopher Franke. Straczynski says, "TNT gave us an amazing opportunity to re-create this film with the vision we always had for it. The new effects are visually stunning, while the new score infuses the film with powerful emotions." The pilot takes place in the year 2257, when alien ambassadors convene on the newly-created station Babylon 5 to negotiate a peace treaty. But one of the ambassadors has been poisoned, and the evidence points to B5's commanding officer, Jeffery Sinclair.
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Season 5
- Jan. 21 - 10 p.m. ET (Premiere)
- Airs - Wednesdays, 10 p.m. ET
- Encores - Saturdays, 7 p.m. ET
As season five begins, Captain Sheridan is getting ready to assume the mantle of President of the newly formed Interstellar Alliance, while Captain Elizabeth Lochley (played by Tracy Scoggins, pictured) is getting set to assume control of the Babylon 5 station itself. Lochley was handpicked by Sheridan to head the station, even though her allegiance during Earth's civil war is questionable. She's a competent but strict soldier who will face her first test on B5 almost as soon as she arrives, first by a mysterious threat to station security and then by a strange group of humans seeking sanctuary aboard B5. Meanwhile, Sheridan will have his own problems to deal with, including finding someone to write his inauguration speech and dealing with a possible assassination attempt. Viewers will also learn why Sheridan washes his own socks!
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Seasons 1-4
- Jan. 5 - 7 p.m. ET (Premiere)
- Airs - Mon-Fri, 7 p.m. ET
TNT will be airing the first four seasons of Babylon 5 in chronological order to allow fans of the show to catch any episodes they missed and to give B5 neophytes a chance to see the series from the beginning.
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The TNT B5 Web Site
This is the official TNT Babylon 5 Web site, with breaking news about the series, a guide to all things B5 on TNT, links to other B5 sites and more. The trailers for "In the Beginning" were recently added to the site, as was a B5 tour by former cast member Claudia Christian.
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