Is there anyone here who has seen Babylon 5 and Farscape?



I've heard a lot about both shows and curious as to anyone's opinions on them.



If they've both good, I'll check them out.

B5 was great, a 5 year plan that actually worked, reasonable sets and some actual acting



Not to mention the main reason for watching B5....Claudia Christian

Babylon 5 is usually cited as the height of what adult science fiction is capable of on the small screen. And Farscape is probably as good as you're going to see made in Australia.

hmm ok, both sound very good.



I'll watch them after I've finished watching the Stargate dvds someone got me.  I've been impressed with it so far, a smartly written show that doesn't take itself too seriously.

Now, can anyone explain to me the appeal of 'Lost In Space'? 



I watched an episode recently, and wasnt impressed at all.  I remember not liking it as a kid either.



Such a silly show - or is it just me??



Any fans out there care to correct me?

Probably the best thing about it was the music. John Williams' best.



Gene Roddenberry did a pitch for CBS. He told them about Star Trek, with examples from the pilot, for an hour. They said "Thanks. We've already got one."

Shows you what tv executives know!



I know a lot of people who love Lost In Space, but it always left me cold.



The film version wasn't that good either, although it must be said that Matt Le Blanc played his one dimensional character very well - no acting required!!!

I'm a lot more sympathetic towards executives than most fans-- largely becuase I'm sceptical about TV poducers and their self serving accounts.

Well some producers try to create the program they feel the executives want to see.



Look at the JNT era - a lot of the stories during that were attempts to please the 'higher ups'.  Especially the McCoy era, which had stories that were 'lighter', due to the direct demands of certain tv executives, to move away from the 'dark era' of the Colin Baker years.

All producers have to regard the progamme as a commodity, and the first sale has to be to their superiors. But I doubt any one in the BBC told JNT to make everything blled green!

Nor would they have told JNT to make Warriors of the Deep look like an advert for floodlights!!!



He became too obsessed with the marketing side of Dr Who and not the actual stories.



It was all very well trying to please the fans, but the problem was trying to get new people interested in the show.

It does seem that all JNT could think of was marketing...and men!



Davison was cast purely for marketing reasons.......he was 'advertised' as the 'dishy Doctor'.

cripes!!!!

what are you saying about JNT?

Not forgetting also, that with Tegan, Nyssa, & Adric, he had companions that never changed their wardrobe.  Making it easier to market toys in their likeness.



JNT seemed to be going to conventions more than concentrating on the show itself.  No wonder Eric Saward did his  head in!!!!

yeah but didnt the doctor lose half the Tardis in castrovala maybe the dressing room was amoung them. but not the laundry

No, only a quarter (of what?).



He made Tom change into a more uniform costume for marketing; Tom waited a couple of episodes and changed his shoes back!



Another strange marketing decision on JNT's behalf was...himself! Doctor Who producers had come and gone without much murmer (until those nasty big kids Holmes and Hinchcliffe had to be broken up and sent to different ends of the yard). UK fans complained about his focus on the US and particulalry his personal appearences there. As an interesting footnote, I've found an interview he did for the ABC in c1979...while he was still a lowly production unit manager! There's never been anyone like him attached to the show.

It could be said that Dr WHo merchandise came of age during the JNT era.



Quite a lot of the video specials of the 1990s were due to his input.



Whilst I agree that he was the right producer to shake things up a bit in the early 80s, he should have left much sooner than he did.



The ongoing personal conflict between him and Eric Saward did the show no favours at all.

Didn't do either man much either! JNT was at the end bitter about some of his treatment by fandom, and Saward. And  he made sure everyone knew!

It's interesting to note that Saward has been more vocal about his time on Dr Who since JNT's death.....

This is all news to me!



JNT is embarassing, so I've never bothered to read much about him.

> Though Axel F is right (again!) - JNT did do a lot for marketing the show after it went off TV in the 90s.........but if his production skills were good then, WHY DIDN'T HE USE THEM TO KEEP THE SHOW ALIVE IN THE 80s????????