SciFi Surplus Podcast #050
June 24, 2008
Topics: Babylon 5, Battlestar Galactica, Terminator, Dark Knight, Christian Bale, Spider-man, G.I. Joe
Thank you for taking your valuable time to listen to us. This is show number 50 on the feed June 24th, 2008. The Council of Great Relevance will be “A Focus on Babylon 5.” In the news is a Terminator-Dark Knight connection, aSpider-man 4 release date, and some sequel speculation about G.I. Joe. We’ll also be going in-depth about Battlestar Galactica with spoilers.
Casey: SciFi Surplus is presented by the University of Phallox. Distance education with a focus on the personal touch. Every enrolled student receives a free data implant designed for their species. Some of the most popular programs of study include Archaic Media, and Android Diagnostics and Repair. The University of Phallox. Download your future today!
Casey: You can make contact with SciFi Surplus using the Temporal Temps Hotline by calling 801-938-5525. Our Skype username is “scifisurplus.” For all of this information again or send and email go to scifisurplus.com and click “talk to us.”
Casey: I’m Casey and joining me on the show today is:
Randy
John
Jess
Jeromy
Now that the introductions are out of the way, Let’s get our geek on!
Anti-witness News
Jeromy: Ain’t it Cool News is saying a teaser trailer for Terminator: Salvation will be attached to The Dark Knight. The actual content of the trailer is still up in the air but Christian Bale is expected to be quite visible in it. The Dark Knight also stars Bale and hits theaters this summer on Friday, July 18th, 2008.
Jeromy: Next year’s G.I. Joe movie is setting up for a sequel before it even begins. This speculation is based entirely on the new title for the film, G.I. Joe: Rise of Cobra, and the fact that the recently leaked script makes it clear that this is only the beginning of the story.
Casey: Let’s take a minute to give our sponsor some time. The University of Phallox has been helping people reach their vocational goals for nearly a millenium. Did you know that you don’t have to go to an Academy to get the skills you need to work on a starship. There are many possibilites. Engineering Assistant, Security, Ram-scoop Operations Tech, Catering Assistant, and Janitorial Staff. Learning is easy when all you have to do is download the information to your free data implant. While you’re sleeping, you’re gaining valuable skills and on the job training. The University of Phallox. Download your future today!
Casey: Comedian, Writer, and Actor, George Carlin has passed away. Carlin was a big part of Bill & Teds Excellent Adventure and Kevin Smith’s Dogma. He’s was known most for his Seven Words You Can Never Say on TV comedy routine. The Supreme Court of the United States ruled 5 to 4 that it was indecent but not obscene. Carlin was a wordsmith and an observer of the human condition. He used comedy to entertain but society has gained so much more from his wisdom. Carlin was 71.
Jeromy: Spider-man 4 has a tentative release date despite not having a script, star, or director. Neither Actor Tobey McGuire and director Sam Raimi have contracts for another Spidey flick. The proposed release is for May 2011 a very busy month for big movies. Also schedule are “The First Avenger: Captain America,” and “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows Part 2.”
The Council of Great Relevance - Focus on Babylon 5
It was the dawn of the third age of mankind – ten years after the Earth-Minbari War. The Babylon Project was a dream, given form. Its goal: to prevent another war, by creating a place where humans and aliens can work out their differences peacefully. It can be a dangerous place, but it’s our last best hope for peace.
This was how the story of the last Babylon Station began in 1993. 15 years later we reminisce about a television series that used many themes, realistic physics and gigantic story arcs to convey messages of hope, despair, love, and loss.
- The use of religion was paramount to understanding the alien species on Babylon 5. The Centauri and Narn had a long history of war due in part to their religious differences.
- Visions and dreams were used extensively as prophetic story devices, and season one was even subtitled “Signs and Portents.”
- War is used as a common theme throughout the B5-verse. We have the Shadow War, the occupation of the Narn Homeworld yby the Centauri, and of course the civil war with the divison of the Earth Allicance planets and the Babylon station
- One unique thing about B5 was the writing. J. Michael Straczynski wrote 92 of the 110 episodes, including all of season three and season four. This enabled him to create and tie-up gigantic story arcs that were unique to this series.
- The show was greatly affected by the threat of cancellation, and was actually cancelled between seasons 4 and 5. This made season 4’s ending feel rushed and used up many of the story lines that would have been used in a fifth season.
- B5 was filmed in 16:9 aspect so as to prepare for HD even though it was several years away.
- Pitch to John - There was much controversy at the time that DS9 and B5 were copied off of one another. 15 years later, how do we see this statement?
- Casey: B5 was a set-builder’s dream or nightmare. I’m referring to how many different kinds of doors they have on the station.
Voicemail: Dan, Portland, Flagrant Praise
Voicemail: Thomas, Seattle, BSG New Initiate, Props to Steph
Casey: We have made it abundantly clear that you should be caught up on your Battlestar Galactica. We are just dying to talk about the happenings of the Colonial Survivors and the Cylons. Galactica is now at the half-way point of its final season. The 10 final episodes will air sometime early in 2009 but we are ready to irresponsibly speculate on where the story should go and ultimately where it could end.
- Cylons and Humans seem to now be working together.
- Casey: If Galactica were over, I would be happy. Earth was the destination they set out for and they found it.
- We have no idea if there is any life on Earth but surely someone lead them there.
Casey: Make sure you watch the 1927 silent film “Metropolis.” We need all your email and feedback about it no later than Sunday June 29th. We’re going to talk about it on the ‘cast that hits the feed Tuesday, July 1st 2008. We want this to be a cooperative effort that includes you so send us voicemail, email, or post in the forum at the facebook group. In the U.S., the temporal temps hot-line is (801) 938-5525. I’m sorry but it costs too much money for me to get a phone number that spells out something cool.
Casey: Thanks go out to John, Jess, Randy, and Jeromy. Great job everyone! If you like SciFi Surplus and you’d like to help out, please take the time to make a donation at SciFi Surplus dot com. Even a dollar or two helps. We want to keep this ‘cast on the feed as long as possible and we need your support. Just find “Support SciFi Surplus” on our website. For everyone here, I’m Casey and we’ll talk to you next time!
