Final Five Episodes of Season 3 - |
Since Channel 4 in the UK broadcast B5 in a continuous run, and given the April start date of season 3, it's been looking like the UK would see the Final Five episodes of season 3 before the US, since the US rerun/sweeps system means that these episodes have been delayed till September/October time in the US.
However, this was put in doubt by a message from jms on Compuserve:
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#: 524543 S5/Babylon 5: General
14-Jun-96 21:45:51
Sb: #524188-B5 TV Schedule - UK
Fm: J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI
BTW, I heard today from the chain of command that the UK might *not* be
broadcasting the final 5 prior to the US, at the insistence of WB.
Won't be able to track this down any further until next week.
jms
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The UK newsgroup's trusty bloodhound ( ;-) ), Paul Harper, has been on the phone to his contact at Channel 4 to find out more:
I have just finished talking to Nicky Wood of the Purchased Programmes department at Channel 4, and they are as yet unsure what the situation is. The head of that department is meeting with the senior American people this week, and Channel 4 are definitely pushing for a continuous flow all the way through. As we all know, they deliberately delayed the start of the season so that this wouldn't happen, and now it looks as though the effort might have been in vain. What Channel 4 didn't expect to happen is that the US would go into a massive series of re-runs without showing the end of the season. This is a new trend that frankly I would find insulting if I were an American viewer. I have yet to be convinced that it makes business sense either - what's the point of building in a cliffhanger (which Joe says is what we have at the end of this season) if the resolution's just a week away? You're also losing viewer interest by stopping the show in mid-flow. In any case, it is very much out of Channel 4's hands, so there really is no point whatsoever bombarding them with complaints (not least of all since we don't know yet that we have anything to complain about). After all, you wouldn't want me to have to go onto Right to Reply again, would you ! :-) I agreed with Nicky that I would call her again on Monday of next week to get the latest news, and that I would let you lot know as soon as I do. In the past, she has been good enough to call me, so it might be earlier if there's anything to report. She did mention that Channel 4 have bought a new SciFi series called "Dark Skies" which sounds like the X-Files but with a continuous plot line. It has, apparently, very high production values, and starts in the Kennedy era and moves through to the present day. All manner of "Forest Gump" type techniques have been used to merge the plot line into real-life happenings. Sounds good to me ! More news as soon as I get it. Regards, Paul. -- -- From "Twinkle Butt" -- A .sig's all well and good, but it's no substitute for a personality. -- If you want something GO FOR IT. If you don't want something to happen -- GO FOR IT and make sure it doesn't. But in all things, GO FOR IT.
Paul was back on the phone again this week, also checking out a rumour that Channel 4 might lose B5 at some point, wither to Sky or to a new Warner Bros. satellite TV channel:
I've just come off the phone to Nicky Wood of Channel 4 purchased programmes department asking about a) The final five and b) Season 5. a) The Final Five (tm) ---------------------- ... in particular with reference to Robert McGovern's post to the group this afternoon that on rastb5 JMS is reported as saying at a convention that we will NOT get the final five before the States. This was the first news Channel 4 had heard - officially or otherwise. They are still awaiting a response from Warner's in L.A. about this issue, but have had nothing yet. If anyone knows of Warner's LA e-mail address, or (better still) FAX number, my I suggest a little group harmony and pile some pressure on them? No point trying it on with Channel 4 as they have been dumped in the excrement over this issue, and are likely to have their hands full if it goes badly anyway ! b) Season 5 ----------- Channel 4 have options on Babylon 5 for the entire series - including season 5. These options have to be renewed on an annual basis (which I didn't know) and Season 4 has just been paid for as a definite. Season 5 is still there as an option, and presumably once Babylonian get the go- ahead for it, Channel 4 will confirm in the same way they have with next season. That's it - not much in the way of news, but Nicky did promise to get back to me as soon as the find out anything, and believe me - you will know as soon as I do ! Right - I'm off home to do a transcript of last night's missing South West dialog. Catch you later, Regards, Paul. -- -- From "Twinkle Butt" -- A .sig's all well and good, but it's no substitute for a personality. -- If you want something GO FOR IT. If you don't want something to happen -- GO FOR IT and make sure it doesn't. But in all things, GO FOR IT.
Finally, however, jms has confirmed that the UK will see the Final Five first!:
From: jmsatb5@aol.com (Jms at B5) Newsgroups: uk.media.tv.sf.babylon5 Subject: From jms: UK not delayed! Well, we just heard that the UK will *not* have to wait for the final 5 episodes, as it seemed it might for a bit. So you'll get ahead of the US viewers sometime in August, I believe. The show will be aired straight through, no delays (except in the event of the occasional pre-emption if needed by C4). I think it's great that C4 pressed the issue and will be showing the series straight through. I'm dying to let people see what happens in the balance of the season, and waiting until October was tough. So congrats to the UKers.... jms
Channel 4 have finally heard directly from Warner Bros (as opposed to umtsb5!) - this is from Nicky to Paul (5 July):
: Just to let you know that C4 has received confirmation from Warner Bros that we : WILL be able to show the episodes before the States. I'm sure this will make : everyone's day - we're certainly very pleased! : Best wishes : Nicky : -- End e-mail --
According to this anonymous note reposted by Sarah Baker, there may be a further one week delay over the Bank Holiday:
"...Channel 4 says there are no problems and the episodes will go out as planned. The first of these goes out on 18th August...A deliberate one week gap takes place over the August Bank Holiday weekend..." Which means we get to see the last episode on 22nd September.
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