Babylon 5

Back when I was working at Warner Bros. producing the Official Babylon 5 Web Site, one of my favorite things to do, as you can imagine, was visiting the Babylon 5 set.   But besides the flashing lights, illuminated panels and duct tape, one of the main reasons was I always felt at home there, even though I was technically “a suit.”

A typical visit to the set would entail me entering through the main entrance and signing in at the window (in later seasons I had to have a guest name badge assigned to me for some reason.)   I would then go through a door and down the hallway, first stopping at Jeffrey Willerth’s narrow dwelling, then stopping in to say hi to John Copeland and his faithful companion who was usually there with tail wagging.   Then I would continue down and if I was feeling daring, stop at the last office on the right and say hi to Joe, aka “J. Michael Straczynski” aka “The Great Maker.”

Then I would usually find Jeff Conaway.

Jeff was one of those cast members who always had the time to say hi.  We had first met at one of those “live chats” where I conducted a conference online between him and Babylon 5 fans.   Ever since then, whenever I was on the set, he would always greet me with a big hello, handshake and smile.

Jeff was infectious.  Not with anything bad, but he was always fun to be around.  We’ve all seen television bloopers, but when Jeff made a mistake, either he would bust out laughing, or he would very honestly be upset that he blew the line.   I remember when I was first told his age, and at the time I couldn’t believe that a guy who looks so young could be over 50 and have grandchildren.   I couldn’t believe he was over 35.

In recent years, I have hated turning on the television, as the TV magazine shows have had a field day with Jeff.   From getting kicked off/quitting celebrity fit club, and then the awful video from Celebrity Rehab, we have been shown a very different Jeff Conaway.  Now he walks with a total chest/back brace as a result of lifting boxes – a far cry from the happy-go-lucky Zach Allen I remember from my visits to the set.

I haven’t spoken to Jeff since the series ended, but I have heard he is investigating Scientology as a way of dealing with his sobriety, drug use, and physical condition – no doubt thanks to John Travolta.   Whatever the reason, I’m glad to hear that Jeff is finally doing better.

Take care, Jeff.

Technorati Tags: jeff conaway, babylon 5, jeffrey willerth, john travolta

It lasted through elementary, middle and high school – my fascination, or apparent obsession – with Star Trek. Living in the midwest, the greatest thing that happened every 4 years or so was when Creation Entertainment brought a Star Trek convention to Des Moines.

Recently I was tagged by an old friend, J. Erik Potter, with his book meme, and more recently with a post about, well, Star Trek, and how I was always the epitome of a Trekker to him (but not a Trekkie).  The difference is more fully documented on wikipedia than what I can explain here.  Erik wrote that it surprised him what a Star Trek book wasn’t on my list of favorites.  I thought about it for a while and realized that my Star Trek enthusiasm died right around the time I graduated from high school, but started a few years earlier.

You see, Star Trek was fun.  And new.   With The Next Generation and Deep Space 9, there were always new episodes coming out, unlike Star Wars.  At one time I even had every Bantam/Pocket book too, before selling them at various garage sales.   But in 1991/92 I lost interest, and gained interest in a new science fiction show that promised to be more than just a “forehead/alien of the week” show… the show was Babylon 5.

Putting all of my Trek enthusiasm into B5 enthusiasm “paid off” in that I was eventually asked to move to Los Angeles to help promote the show with Warner Bros.  For someone who grew up idolizing Spielberg and Roddenberry, to move to L.A. to work on something you loved was an easy choice.

I have but one piece of my original Star Trek collection left, Danbury (or is it Hamilton) mint figures in a blue display case.  For a collection that once pushed several hundred, now there is very little, if anything, that gives evidence to my former fascination with Star Trek.

Technorati Tags: Star Trek, Star Wars, Troy Rutter, J.Erik Potter, Babylon 5, trekker, trekkie

While perusing the aisles of the local discount retail store attempting to find the latest Babylon 5 DVD, “The Lost Tales,” I just happened to glance down at the new releases and see a DVD i have been waiting YEARS to come out… Monster Squad.

Ok, this is one seriously dorky movie. But when it came out, I was around the same age (or younger) of the kids in the film, and I thought it was one of the greatest movies ever. The last time I saw it was on VHS, rented from the local movie place, with dropouts and blurry video. Even then I had to laugh at the “too 80’s” characters. The boys with their acid-washed, too faded jeans, and the girls sporting the latest madonna-esque fashions. And who can forget one of the most memorable lines of the film, “Wolfman’s got nards!”

This film easily fits in with “The Lost Boys” and “The Goonies” for the Ultimate 80’s Horror Teen Horror Flicks.

I can’t wait to get home to watch it.   Plus there are interviews with the cast – fantastic!

Technorati Tags: Monster Squad, Babylon 5, Lost Boys, Goonies, Wolfman

http://www.aintitcoolnews.com/display.cgi?id=23963

I STILL LOVE BABYLON 5!!!!

How lucky I was to work on the show. Too bad I didn’t take full advantage of it. I have a renewed vigor with the thing and am enjoying watching the DVDs again – LONG LIVE PRESIDENT SHERIDAN!

It’s sad to report that Andreas Katsulas, best known to SF fans as Ambassador/Citizen G’Kar of Babylon 5 has died of lung cancer. Andreas was a much beloved cast member who took his role very seriously. He will be missed.

p>I started rescanning some of the photos from my first trip to the set of Babylon 5 in May of 1995. This was only a few months before being offered the job to produce the web site with Warner Bros. Online.

I actually liked that striped shirt…

I will be posting more photos as I get time. For your amusement.

http://www.firstones.org/gallery/troyrutteronb5

Found some pics of my first visit to the Babylon 5 set (before I was hired by WB) – they are from just about exactly 10 years ago.

Egads.

I will have to scan them in again… I did once before when they were originally taken but I have misplaced them. Any comments about my awesome striped shirt will be deleted.