"Babylon 5" And Now for a Word (1995)

Director:

Mario DiLeo

Writers:

J. Michael Straczynski (creator) and
J. Michael Straczynski (writer)

TV Series:

"Babylon 5" (1994)

Original Air Date:

3 May 1995 (Season 2, Episode 15)

Genre:

Action | Drama | Sci-Fi

Plot:

ISN arrives on the station to film a documentary of the station and crew. |

Plot Keywords:

Space | Space Station | Saga | Empath | Head On Stake

Cast

Bruce Boxleitner	...	Capt. John Sheridan
Claudia Christian	...	Cmdr. Susan Ivanova
Jerry Doyle	...	Michael Garibaldi
Mira Furlan	...	Delenn
Richard Biggs	...	Dr. Stephen Franklin
Andrea Thompson	...	Talia Winters (credit only)
Stephen Furst	...	Vir Cotto (credit only)
Bill Mumy	...	Lennier (credit only)
Robert Rusler	...	Warren Keffer (credit only)
Mary Kay Adams	...	Na'Toth (credit only)
Andreas Katsulas	...	G'Kar
Peter Jurasik	...	Londo Mollari
Kim Zimmer	...	Cynthia Torqueman
Christopher Curry	...	Ronald Quantrell
Granville Ames	...	Psi Cop

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Trivia:

A subliminal phrase is flashed across the screen during the commercial for the Psi-Corps that reads, "THE PSI CORPS IS YOUR FRIEND. TRUST THE CORPS".

Goofs:

Continuity: Captain John Sheridan's middle name is given as David (his father's name, the name he eventually gives his son, and also the middle name of Commander Jeff Sinclair). In later episodes he is always referred to as "John J. Sheridan".

Quotes:

[first lines]
Announcer: We interrupt our regular evening schedule to bring you the following special program. September 16, 2259. The Interstellar Network News presents 36 Hours on Babylon 5 with your host, Cynthia Torqueman reporting live from the ISN News Center in Geneva.

A very nice change of pace and a darn clever episode

Structurally, this is one weird yet cool episode! Instead of the usual format, the episode begins like it's a special produced by the fictional "ISN"--a galactic news service much like CNN. An obnoxious reporter narrates the show and through the course of the episode, it's pretty obvious that ISN isn't exactly honest or as objective as they proclaim themselves to be--it's nice to see things really haven't changed in the 23rd century! Anyways, the reporter generally makes a nuisance of herself as she badgers and insinuates herself where she obviously doesn't belong and it's fun to watch Ivanova threaten the ISN employees throughout the show!! Considering that ISN seems bent on making Babylon 5 look bad, the fact that all heck breaks loose during the episode seems to be a great case of serendipity! The episode deserves big kudos for originality, fun and yet still focusing on the overall underlying plots that bind most of the episodes of this series into one coherent tapestry.

By the way, be sure to pay close attention to the fake commercial placed in this show. It is one trying to recruit youngsters for the Psi Corps and makes them look like a decent and wonderful civic organization! Plus, there is a noticeable "subliminal" message--slow down the DVD and read it. It's all done tongue-in-cheek and is a welcome bit of comedy that actually helps the overall plot of B-5.