"Babylon 5: The Gathering" airs 1993

The television movie, Babylon 5: The Gathering, the episode that started it all, aired February 22, 1993. The series would start the following year in 1994, with some changes.  Written by J. Michael Straczynski, it starred Michael O'Hare (Commander Jeffrey Sinclair), Jerry Doyle (Michael Garibaldi), Mira Furlan (Delenn), Peter Jurasik (Londo Mollari), Andreas Katsulas (G'Kar), and Patricia Tallman (Lyta Alexander). Tamlyn Tomita appeared as Lt. Cmdr. Laurel Takashima, but was replaced by Claudia Christian (Lt. Commander Ivanova) in the series.  Andrea Thompson was a character added in the series as PsiCorps telepath Talia Winters.

It was a great look into a non-Roddenberry vision of space exploration and space travel.  The series lasted 5 seasons, and spawned a few spin-offs and television movies.

Remembering Mira Furlan (1955-2021)

Mira Furlan, Babylon 5 and Lost actress, passed away January 20, 2021.  I remember her best for her role as Ambassador Delenn on Babylon 5.  She provided the voice of Silver Sable in the animated Spider-Man series in 1997.  She won a Universe Reader's Choice Award from Sci-Fi Universe Magazine for her work in Babylon 5.  She won awards for her acting in her home country, the former Yugoslavia.

She passed away from complications from the West Nile Virus.

Babylon 5 episode "A Voice in the Wilderness" airs 1994

One of my favorite episodes of Babylon 5, A Voice in the Wilderness (Part 1) aired July 27, 1994.  The planet around which Babylon 5 is orbiting, has long been thought to be a lifeless rock.  All of a sudden, it comes alive and something under the surface awakens. 

Draal, an old friend of Delenn's, arrives on the station.  And a revolt on Mars breaks out, which has an effect on the crew.  Garibaldi asks Talia if she can find out about an old flame on Mars via her Psi-Corps connections.

The second part aired August 3.

I really miss that show!

Michael O'Hare born 1952

Actor Michael O'Hare, born May 6, 1952, is probably best known for his role as Commander Jeffrey Sinclair on Babylon 5 with Claudia Christian, Jerry Doyle, Andrea Thompson, Bill Mumy, Richard Biggs and Mira Furlan.  He had to leave the show after the first season due to his battle with illness.  He passed away September 28, 2012 from a heart attack.

"Babylon 5" premieres 1994

Another of my favorite television shows, Babylon 5, premiered January 26, 1994.  I found it to be an interesting, non-Roddenberry look at space exploration.  Babylon 5 won a Primetime Emmy in 1994 for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Makeup for a Series.

I particularly liked the Psi Corps, even though they were mainly portrayed as the bad guys.  Talia Winters was my favorite character and I was bummed when they got rid of her.  I still haven't seen that episode.  I've used the Psi Corps as inspiration for my own Psionic Corps novels featuring Corey Shaw and others.

Happy birthday, Mira Furlan!

Mira Furlan, the beautiful actress who played Ambassador Delenn on "Babylon 5", one of my favorite television shows of all time, celebrates her birthday today!

Here's just an example of Mira in action!

http://youtu.be/CHViV4HyObc