urner Network Television did more than rescue Babylon 5 from certain oblivion when it picked up J. Michael Straczynski's now-famous series. It also gave the show a high-tech, official Internet presence to go along with the many excellent B5 fan Web sites already in existence. This new TNT-sponsored supplement offers extensive data on the series and its characters, along with unique programming and viewer-oriented information.
Every week the site showcases the current Babylon 5 episode airing on TNT with a brief plot outline, scheduling details and a few small images that can be enlarged. Similar facts about previously aired shows are also accessible, along with general background information about major characters, as well as the actors who portray them, and the overall Babylon 5 milieu. A calendar of upcoming air dates for both new programs and daily reruns is available, along with a link to the general TNT site for overall station details.
Web-exclusive text stories ostensibly filed by Interstellar News Network reporters augment the setup, spotlighting little-known individuals, locations and situations aboard the station. There is also a real-time chat room and an active bulletin board, a page featuring selective links to other Babylon 5 sites, and a media section that allows fans to download the opening credits for the current season and various promotional spots for the program.
In search of "Gray 17"
During the four-plus years that Babylon 5 has been on the air, series creator J. Michael Straczynski has generated a complex and highly detailed universe. This site nicely echoes that intricate environment, providing page after page of general programming information, behind-the-scenes articles and obscure minutiae that should satisfy armchair devotees and thrill true-blue enthusiasts.
From the transcript of a previously televised tour of the programs, soundstage to daily rerun synopses, there is so much data contained in this electronic dossier that even after an extensive examination, users will be afraid that they might have missed something. That fear is compounded by a grey button labeled 17 that enigmatically appears and disappears from time to time. This leads to a hidden area, which cannot be casually accessed, that features frequently updated material such as photos, information and downloads that are otherwise unavailable.
Although such attention to detail is certainly praiseworthy, there are still a few small glitches that need to be addressed. The user interface is well-designed, but a couple of the TNT-oriented links apparently do not work, and one of the two audio buttons seemed disabled during a recent visit to the site. These minor flaws aside, the site's engaging presentation and depth should ensure that it will soon become a regular stop for folks seeking an enlightening cyberspace outpost in the Babylon 5 universe.
