Babylon 5 (franchise) – Page 6

Babylon 5 spinoff in trouble?

Crusade A memo from cable network TNT is leaked to the internet, revealing that the network’s programming executives are requesting an increase in sex and violence on the upcoming Babylon 5 spinoff series Crusade. A specific example from one episode is cited in which a telepath is lured into believing that a crewmember is a terrorist and acts rashly as a result; the network would prefer the telepath’s rash actions to be the result of a more straightforward (and less sci-fi-oriented) seduction scene. Series creator J. Michael Straczynski cryptically refuses to confirm or deny that the memo is real. The series has been in production for only four weeks, and won’t air until 1999.

Babylon 5: The Fall Of Centauri Prime

Cable channel TNT premieres the 106th episode of J. Michael Straczynski’s science fiction series Babylon 5.

Babylon 5: The Wheel Of Fire

Cable channel TNT premieres the 107th episode of J. Michael Straczynski’s science fiction series Babylon 5.

Babylon 5: River Of Souls

Cable channel TNT premieres River Of Souls, the third Babylon 5 TV movie produced for TNT. Ian McShane (Lovejoy) and Martin Sheen (The West Wing) guest star.

Babylon 5: Objects In Motion

Cable channel TNT premieres the 108th episode of J. Michael Straczynski’s science fiction series Babylon 5.

Babylon 5: Objects At Rest

Cable channel TNT premieres the 109th episode of J. Michael Straczynski’s science fiction series Babylon 5.

Babylon 5: Sleeping In Light

Cable channel TNT premieres the 110th and final episode of J. Michael Straczynski’s science fiction series Babylon 5. Claudia Christian returns as Ivanova in an episode filmed before the actress allowed her contract to lapse in 1997 (at a time when it appeared that Babylon 5 would end with its fourth season). Though further TV movies and direct-to-video movies are produced, as well as the spinoff series Crusade, this is the end of the main Babylon 5 storyline, and also marks the directorial debut of series creator J. Michael Straczynski.

Babylon 5: A Call To Arms

Cable channel TNT premieres A Call To Arms, the fourth and final Babylon 5 TV movie produced for TNT. The movie features a mixture of familiar Babylon 5 characters as well as new characters who would later appear in the spinoff series Crusade; A Call To Arms is effectively a two-hour pilot for Crusade, which would premiere later in 1999.

Babylon 5: Thirdspace (soundtrack)

Christopher Franke’s soundtrack to the Babylon 5 TV movie Thirdspace is released on Sonic Images Records.

Babylon 5 spinoff Crusade cancelled

Crusade Word leaks onto the internet that TNT, the network that salvaged Babylon 5 from syndication, has decided to cut its losses on the Babylon 5 spinoff Crusade and cancel the show before even a single episode has aired. Series creator J. Michael Straczynski confirms that production has halted as Warner Bros.’ television executives are shopping the show around to new venues, with a strong hint that the Sci-Fi Channel could be a likely new home for the show. TNT will air the 13 produced episodes later in 1999.

More about Babylon 5 and Crusade in the LogBook

Babylon 5: Falling Toward Apotheosis (soundtrack)

Babylon 5: Falling Toward Apotheosis soundtrack The fourth and final wave of “episodic” soundtracks from the series Babylon 5 is released by Sonic Images Records, including Christopher Franke’s complete score from the fourth season episode Falling Toward Apotheosis.

Babylon 5: Objects At Rest (soundtrack)

Babylon 5: Objects at Rest soundtrack The fourth and final wave of “episodic” soundtracks from the series Babylon 5 is released by Sonic Images Records, including Christopher Franke’s complete score from the fifth season episode Objects At Rest.

Babylon 5: Sleeping In Light (soundtrack)

Babylon 5: Sleeping In Light soundtrack The fourth and final wave of “episodic” soundtracks from the series Babylon 5 is released by Sonic Images Records, including Christopher Franke’s complete score from the fifth season (and series) finale episode Sleeping In Light.

Babylon 5: And The Rock Cried Out, No Hiding Place (soundtrack)

Babylon 5: And The Rock Cried Out, No Hiding Place soundtrack The fourth and final wave of “episodic” soundtracks from the series Babylon 5 is released by Sonic Images Records, including Christopher Franke’s complete score from the fourth season episode And The Rock Cried Out, No Hiding Place. This release is initially available only through Babylon 5 Magazine; a general release follows in 2001.

Sci-Fi Channel passes on Babylon 5 spinoff

Crusade Babylon 5 creator J. Michael Straczynski reveals online that the Sci-Fi Channel has decided to pass on the B5 spinoff/sequel series Crusade for budgetary reasons, effectively ending any chance that the show will bounce back from its cancellation by cable network TNT. Warner Bros. continues to try to find a new home for the series, which has yet to air a single episode, but with actors’ contracts expiring with the halt of production and Stracynzski considering offers to write and produce other projects, Crusade never progresses past its 13 completed episodes. TNT schedules those episodes for a summer run.

More about Babylon 5 and Crusade in the LogBook

Babylon 5: River Of Souls (soundtrack)

Christopher Franke’s soundtrack to the Babylon 5 TV movie The River Of Souls is released on Sonic Images Records.

Crusade: War Zone

Crusade TNT airs the first episode of J. Michael Straczynski’s short-lived Babylon 5 spinoff Crusade. Starring Gary Cole (Office Space) and Daniel Dae Kim (Lost), the series concerns an Earth ship scouring the galaxy for the cure to a biological weapon that has left Earth quarantined and the human race’s days numbered. Tim Thomerson guest stars.

Crusade: The Long Road

Crusade TNT airs the second episode of J. Michael Straczynski’s short-lived Babylon 5 spinoff Crusade. Edward Woodward (The Equalizer) guest stars as the mentor of Technomage Galen, played by Woodward’s real life son, series regular Peter Woodward.