From: dtgordon@vax1.tcd.ie
Subject: Re: The truth(?) about Deep Space Nine and Babylon Five
Organization: Trinity College Dublin
Date: Mon, 7 Sep 1992 14:10:02 GMT

In article <920907.012423@3Mail.3Com.COM>, Ric_Goldman_-C@hqops.3mail.3com.com writes:

		[ Stuff Deleted ]

> As to your points, regardless of whether Gene had control of the ST
> or spinoffs, DS9 was initially rejected and then brought back, and
> supposedly Piller *is* the driving force behind it. 

	Gene Roddenberry gave his O.K. about DS9 before he
	passed away, that is recorded fact. Anyone who tells you 
	different is wrong. Piller & Berman have an equal hand in
	getting DS9 off the ground.


> Privately they expect 
>>>   and will be glad when it dies, because its rejection will validate
>>>   Gene's vision of ST

	Rubbish, DS9 won't die, unless all the bigots get together
	and get it taken off the air. This show has the potential to
	make changes in TV, but if the 'fans' don't give it, their 100%  
	then we might as well call it a day on all the Star Trek shows.

>>
>>      Sorry if I'm bursting any bubbles but:
>>
>>          NOW HEAR THIS:  NOBODY LIKED GENE RODDENBERRY!
>>
>>          IN FACT, EVERYBODY - AND I MEAN EVERYBODY - HATED
>>          HIS GUTS!  HE WAS A DICTATORIAL, MEDDLESOME BASTARD
                                                        ^^^^^^^
	Anyone who has to resort to this sort of language clearly 
	doesn't know what they're talking about.
	 	There is so much garbage on the net about Star Trek, 
	from people who have NO idea what they are talking about that
	the truth get lost somewhere and that's what's happening here.
		People (Paramonut Execs, if they qualify ) may not have 
	respected Gene Roddenberry, but they sure the hell liked his product
	after all it did make A BIT of money for them.

>>          WHO STOLE HIS FAIR SHARE OF IDEAS TO GET TNG ON THE
>>          AIR -- AND STOLE THEM FROM LONGTIME FRIENDS (DC Fontana
>>          and David Gerrold, who were promised on a handshake -
>>          by Roddenberry - that they would receive co-creator
>>          credit).
>>
>>          Nobody gives a shit about "Gene's vision of Star Trek."
		Speak for youself !!
>>>  Anyway, Warner Bros. eventually *did* buy the idea.
>>>   However, Piller used the B5 treatise as the basis for his DS9
>>>   proposal.
>>
>>        THIS IS COMPLETELY UNTRUE.  COMPLETELY AND TOTALLY.
>>        That's like saying ALIEN is a rip-off of STAR TREK because
>>        both take place on spaceships.
>>
> 
> No it really isn't.  One scenario *could* have been the basis for the 
> other; there are situational similarities.  By the way, ALIEN *IS* a rip-
> off of STAR TREK (isn't it?  Wasn't the first title for ALIEN, Revenge 
> of the Mutant Gorns on Steroids?  :-)))) 
> 

	This is more rubbish, ever SF show since TOS is a rip off in
	some why or another of ST:TOS. If B5 was created before DS9 there
	has to be similarities because B5 has to be taking some 'inspiration'
	from TOS and TNG.

>>>4) The industry folk think there will be an initial good reaction to DS9
>>>   when it first comes out in January, but the fireworks will come in
>>>   February when B5 debuts.  They (no, I don't know which they 'they'
>>>   are :-), expect B5 to blow DS9 right off the air, once it's shown up
>>>   as a pale version of the real thing.
>>
>>     The "industry folk?"  How can the "industry folk" think anything
>>     since the pilot is only half-finished production?  Have these
>>     industry folk been attending dailies?  No.
>>     It is true, however, that Babylon5 is expected to make a huge
>>     impact... like BATTLESTAR GALACTICA, maybe?...  (Incidentally,
>>     I'm looking forward to B5, but this roundhousing of DS9 smacks
>>     just a little too much of the reaction to TNG 'lo those years
>>     ago...  think about whether there's any basis for your criticism,
>>     other than nervousness... and whether there's any basis in reality
>>     to some of these outlandish rumors (because it's so easy to discern
>>     whether most of them are true or false).
>>
> 
> Finally, as to the industry folk opinion, well the pundits don't always 
> have it right, but it's interesting to see what they think anyway.  And 
> although you may not realize from the info I passed on, *I* am actually 
> looking *forward* to *both* DS9 and B5, hoping against hope that they'll 
> both be worth watching, but reserving judgement 'till I actually see the 
> actual product. 
	Agreed.
--
* When he shall die, take him and cut him into little stars, and he will  *
* make the face of heaven so fine that all the world will be in love with *
* night, and pay no worship to the garish sun.  ** Romeo & Juliet **      *
* Gene Roddenberry (1921-1991)                                            *
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