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On the Jazz - Vol 02 Issue 07
> ___ ____ ___ ___ _ ___ ___
> / / / \ / / /__ / /__ / /__\ / /
>/__/ / \/ / / / /___ /__/ / \ /___ /___
>
>The totally unofficial A-Team electronic mail newsletter
>***** Now in it's second year of publication !! *****
>
>Reflector submission address: onthejazz
>
>Administrivia: Nicole Pellegrini
> Please use the following address for subscribe/unsubscribe
> and back issue requests:
> pellegri
>
>*NOTE* It is now possible to subscribe JUST to the newsletter and
> not receive messages sent out through the reflector. If you wish
> to change your subscription type, just email address above.
>
>The A-Team Homepage: http://www.seas.upenn.edu/~pellegri/ateam.html
>The A-Team On the Web: http://www.xs4all.nl/~jmm/a-team/
>-------------------------------------------------------------
>DATE: January 1, 1996
>ISSUE: 7
>VOLUME: 2
>-------------------------------------------------------------
>
>Happy New Year everybody!
>
>And welcome to the first issue of On the Jazz for 1996. First, as always,
>in the administrivia department:
>
>A-TEAM NEWS / MAILING LIST NOTES
> While I'm back from winter break now, subscription status is still frozen
>until I hear that our umich-site administrator is back from break as well.
>New subscribers are on the list for the newsletter but are not yet on the
>message reflector, and unfortunately I still can't unsubscribe anybody from
>the reflector, but it won't be much longer. Thanks for all your patience.
>
> The big news of late, which our reflector-subscribers heard of before
>Christmas, is the unknown state of Mr. T's health. He has apparently pulled
>out of his scheduled appearance in Aladdin in the UK, but the exact cause of
>his ill-health has not been made clear (at least not to my knowledge yet.)
>Rumors tend to be that he either has some form of cancer or is suffering the
>effects of an "unnamed virus" - AIDS would be the one that seems to be hinted
>at.) One of our subscribers posted this article to the reflector, which seems
>to summarize the situation pretty well :
>-------------------------------------------------------------
>From: eilish (Eilish A. McCormick)
>Subject: Mr. T's health
>
>Okay, folks, this is from the STAR (12/26/95 issue), so take it with a grain
>of salt, but they don't make any wild claims, just more of the news that T's
>suffering from something, but no definite information. The accompanying B&W
>photo shows him in an American Airlines wheelchair holding crutches, but he
>doesn't look too sickly. I have done some editing of the article...(Please
>pardon any typos)
>
> Muscleman Mr. T is battling a mystery illness and could be facing the
>toughest fight of his life. [mentions cancellation of Brisith stage
>engagement] "He has been suffering a long-term health condition," his agent
>Peter Young told STAR. "It has worsened quite recently and he just isn't
>well enough to go to Britain. He isn't even well enough to make the
>journey. I don't know exactly what's wrong with him."
>
>[mention of a nameless British reporter who claimed T had cancer and was
>undergoing regular chemotherapy treatments.]
>
> His mother, Lee Tero, told STAR from her home in Chicago, "I called up his
>home yesterday and was told that he was ill, but I don't know exactly what's
>wrong with him. I'm worried about him."
>
>[T was to play the genie in a pantomime production of Aladdin at the Palace
>Theater in Manchester, England] Kate Parkes, spokeswoman for the theater
>told STAR the theater company didn't realize at first just how ill the actor
>was. "At first we tried to keep him to his contract," she said. "But then
>his agent made it quite clear that Mr. T is very sick....We even pointed out
>there are excellent medical facilities availabel in Manchester, but he still
>decided he had to stay. Now we realize his is in such a serious condition,
>all we can do is send our best wishes to him."
>
> The health scare comes at the end of a year in which Mr. T has been
>ravaged by a leg injury which forced him to cut back on numerous guest
>appearances. In addition, he has since spent thousands of dollars on
>exercise equipment to rebuild the muscles in his legs.
>
> "Yes, he did hurt his leg back in the summer during a bad fall," his mom
>confirmed.
>
>[general info on playing BA on the A-Team, being a boxer in Chicago and
>starring in Rocky III, as well as recent appearances as a celebrity guest at
>a WCW extravaganza]
>-------------------------------------------------------------
>I received another e-mail this week from a fan to forward on to the group
>concerning T:
>-------------------------------------------------------------
>Subj: Mr. T
>Date: Fri, Dec 29, 1995 6:32 AM EST
>From: marla
>X-From: marla (Marla Corinne R.)
>To: onthejazz
>
>I read on Saturday, December 24th via a Knight Ridder press release, in the
>Toronto Star that Mr. T was ill, with cancer, and therefore unable to fulfill
>his role in the Manchester England, Palace Theatre's production of Aladdin,
>this
>same month. I am beside myself with concern, as I have met him many times
>and he is without a doubt, the sweetest, most honorable and special man I have
>ever met.
>
>I have been trying to find a way to find him, as he is "missing in action" I
>would like to send him something from all his supporters, do you know his home
>
>address, or do you have anyone on this list in Chicago that can find it??
>
>I am hoping that this isn't true, or is exaggerated somehow, but knowing him
>rather well, I fear that it is, I can't imagine him condoning that kind of
>misinformation. The info came from his agent.
>
>Please PLEASE however, let's not go overboard, he is a private man, but if he
>is
>sick, I think a polite and thoughtfully planned gift or donation in his name,
>to
>the right charity, would be greatly appreciated, by him. (and by myself, his
>friend)
>
>Please let me know if any members of this list etc...can answer any questions
>and/or would like to participate in a demonstration of our
>appreciation for his work and the man himself.
>
>Sincerely, Marla
>-------------------------------------------------------------
>
>Personally I think it would be a wonderful idea for those who might be so
>inclined to work together on *something* for T...a group donation or gift,
>perhaps, or just a lot of "Get well soon" messages?
>
>As far as a home address...well, I've been holding onto a little piece of
>information for a few months, not really sure if it would be proper to post to
>a fairy open forum such as this, but given the situation I think it's about
>time I did. Someone sent me the following address, claiming that it was T's...
>I have no idea of its validity, but I also have no reason to doubt that it's
>a put-on either:
>
>>Mr. T's home address is 395 N. Green Bay Road, Lake Forest, IL 60645
>
>So, like the lady said, let's not go overboard, but let's do whatever we can
>to be supportive!
>
>TRIVIA QUESTION
>Last issue's question was:
>>In which A-Team episode did Face's corvette make its very first on-screen
>>appearance?
>
>We had one very close guess of the answer ("Steel"), but the actual first
>appearance of the 'vette was a few episodes ealier in "The Taxi-Cab Wars."
>
>This week we'll continue with a "last" question:
>>In which episode did Melinda Culea make her final appearance on the show?
>
>-------------------------------------------------------------
>STORY TIME
>Now, it's time for the conclusion of
>
> The Visitors vs the A-Team
> by Laura Michaels
> * * *
>
> The Resistance took the Team to their current base. They
>then started the introductions.
> "I'm Juliet Parrish. That's Willie." She motioned to the
>corner where someone was playing around with a blender. Just
>then, a young man came in to pick up some equipment.
> "Nice to steak you," Willie said to the Team. To the kid
>who entered the room he asked, "How'd your meat out go, Kyle?"
> "He all right?" B.A. asked.
> "Yes." Julie smiled. "That's steak out, Willie, and it's
>nice to meet you."
> "But I already know you," Willie replied uncomprehendingly.
> "No," Murdock said to Julie, "don't you get it, steak, meat.
>It makes sense."
> "You're crazy fool," B.A. told him, "and I think he's crazy
>too."
> Murdock went over to look at the contents of the blender.
>Several types of assorted foods, that generally don't go
>together, were being chopped up in it. "That's great, but I
>think you forgot the crickets and chocolate covered ants,"
>Murdock told him.
> "Oh no," replied Willie, "I'm a vegetarian."
> "Willie's with the Fifth Column," Julie explained.
> "The Visitor Resistance?" asked the lieutenant.
> She nodded.
> "Well that explains it." The lieutenant seemed relieved at
>the news.
> "I'm Kyle." He came over to shake their hands.
> "Kyle, do you want some help?" a girl called from outside.
> "No I'll be right out, Elizabeth. You'll have to excuse me.
>I have a party to go to."
> "Some of our people are going to highjack one of the
>Visitors' supply convoys," Julie told them.
> "That's where Chris is, but he'll be back soon," Ham told
>the Team.
> "I'm Mike Donovan," the man from the truck said. "I think
>you already know Ham Tyler."
> "His name fits him," the lieutenant said low enough that
>only Hannibal, B.A. and the girl could hear him.
> "Well," said the colonel, "I'm Hannibal Smith. This is
>Sergeant B.A. Baracus, Captain Murdock, and Lieutenant Peck.
>Your operation is impressive. I think I have a plan to put the
>Visitors out of business for you."
> "All right, Smith," said Tyler, "what is this great plan of
>yours?"
> "First, what we need is someone on the inside," Hannibal
>explained.
> "You mean an infiltrator?" asked Julie.
> "We could make contact with the Fifth Column," suggested
>Donovan.
> "No," Hannibal replied, "we can't. Too much risk involved.
>We can't ask them to do this."
> "Sounds like someone would have to be crazy to do what you
>have in mind," Ham stated.
> The A-Team was all staring at Lieutenant Peck. "Now wait a
>minute. Murdock's the crazy one. I'm not going near any of
>those Visitors without a gun pointed at them." He knew it
>wouldn't matter how much he argued, what he said, or how well he
>said it. It would do him no good. The Team had already made up
>their minds, especially Hannibal. When Hannibal had an idea, no
>matter how crazy, he couldn't be stopped from going through with
>it. Today just wasn't his day.
> "Face you know you're the logical one for this mission.
>You're the only one who has a chance of successfully completing
>it. Besides," Hannibal added reassuringly, "the Visitors won't
>kill you or anything. They'll want to know who you work for and
>what you know about the Resistance, first. You'll be fine."
> "Yeah, sure. They won't kill me, at first. They'll just
>torture me, or try that conversion thing, or experiment on me,"
>Face explained. "I should have stayed home in bed."
> "I'm glad you agree to accept this mission, Lieutenant,"
>Hannibal informed him.
> "I didn't accept!" Peck exasperatingly exclaimed. He
>sounded scared and desperate.
> Hannibal told him, "I accepted for you. You'll do fine,
>Face. Now the first thing to do is get a phony Visitors'
>uniform."
> The lieutenant cried out, "Now wait a minute...!"
> "I could create one," Murdock said with a somewhat phony
>French accent. "Willie will be my assistant. It will be a
>marvelous design...."
> "Ain't no way," B.A. started in, "we can put in the armor,
>Hannibal. We couldn't get that kinda material."
> The lieutenant was getting highly discouraged. This
>impossible job was turning out deadly, too. Maybe he should just
>leave and let them find another guinea pig. A poor choice of
>words, 'guinea pig', but he didn't realize it at the time. He
>knew he couldn't leave; he was needed. As immodest as it seemed
>he was probably the only one who could do this job. /Besides,
>the Team has never let me down yet. Well there was that time
>when.... Scratch that. Anyway, sooner or later I'll be up
>against the Visitors. Better to do it having back up, then
>alone,...and also better to get it over with./
>
> * * *
>
> He was on his own. He had to get up to the mother ship,
>infiltrate its ranks and find something they could use to defeat
>the Visitors. What that something was, Hannibal was
>unfortunately vague about in his plan.
> He knew the uniform the Team and the Resistance had provided
>him with, even though it might hold out under close
>scrutinization, wouldn't be good enough to get him through this
>job. He wanted something with a little more rank so he could get
>around easier and not have to worry about everyone elses' orders.
>He also desperately wanted something that could give him a little
>more protection. Visitor uniforms were supposed to be armored.
> He saw a Visitor standing guard alone. "This is more like
>it," he said to himself. The guy looked about the right height.
>What he had seen so far were either too many Visitors in one area
>to try to handle or Visitors that were too large he wouldn't fit
>the uniform.
> He got behind the Visitor and gave him a judo style blow to
>the neck. He wound up shaking his hurting hand, his arm sore as
>well. The Visitor turned around to see who wanted his attention.
>Before the alien could ask what the lieutenant wanted, Peck tried
>to hit him on the head with his gun. It had no effect. This was
>like a nightmare. He kicked the guy, with a knee to his most
>vulnerable section.
> The Visitor then got enough wits together to attack. He put
>his fist into the lieutenant's stomach.
> The lieutenant stumbled back and hit the wall, the wind
>knocked out of him from the punch. He didn't know what else to
>do. He couldn't fight. He brought up his gun and shot the
>lizard. It kept coming. He shot it twice more. This was worse
>than a nightmare. The alien picked him up, getting ready to
>throw him. He repeatedly clubbed at its head with his gun. It
>put him down only slightly affected. He used some judo tricks
>he'd watched Hannibal do before, and got the Visitor into a
>position whereby he could smash its head against the wall.
> Five minutes of smashing later, the Visitor was unconscious.
> /Oh man, these things are going to be hard to kill./
> He traded uniforms with the alien. At least it fit, even if
>it wasn't tailored. More importantly, he knew for sure now, it
>would stand up to bullets well.
> This was turning out to be one of the most awful missions he
>had ever been on. He decided he'd better make sure this Visitor
>didn't come to. The only way he could think of to handle him was
>to bring him to the hospital, and keep him drugged. He lugged
>the creature to the nearest one. It was a lot of hard work, and
>things seemed at their worst.
> When he got to the hospital, one nice thing happened to him.
>He ran into a pretty nurse who helped him get rid of the Visitor.
>They set up an I.V. at ten times normal human strength. He
>wanted to be sure the thing stayed unconscious. She promised
>she'd make sure it did. Then she gave him her address and phone
>number, and told him she hoped to see him again.
>
> * * *
>
> He got on board a shuttle headed for the mother ship as soon
>as he could. Once aboard, he and some other returning Visitors
>were getting assigned to work details.
> Lydia came by to inspect the troops. He could tell from her
>uniform she was one of the top brass. She noticed his uniform as
>well. "You run into a lot of trouble down there?" she asked with
>what he would swear was a slight English accent. She was
>referring to the gun shots he had put into his uniform.
> "Nothing I couldn't handle," he replied nonchalantly as he
>tried to give her his most charming smile. He had to keep
>telling himself these were lizards he was with, not pretty women.
> Lydia seemed satisfied with his answer even slightly
>impressed. That may have been a mistake. He went off to do the
>task he had been assigned. It wasn't long before two armed
>Visitor guards came for him. Lydia must not have remembered
>seeing him before. She probably ran a check on him and found out
>he wasn't one of them.
> He'd have to be more careful. He'd have to try to remember
>these weren't pretty women he was dealing with. What he was
>dealing with was trouble. They played rough and they played for
>keeps, or so he had heard.
> He was sent to Diana's quarters for questioning. He had his
>mind all made up and he was ready for anything. He was brought
>into the room. He saw the lizard lady and forgot everything he
>had just told himself. /Why couldn't they be human? I wonder
>if..../
> "Welcome to the mother ship," Diana greeted him cordially,
>temporarily interrupting his train of thought. "What is your
>name?"
> "Uh...uh...just call me Lieutenant," he stammered, afraid
>he'd say the wrong thing.
> "You really try to live your part," Diana replied. She was
>referring to the fact that he was wearing a Visitor lieutenant's
>uniform. "Well, Lieutenant,...."
> Just as Diana started getting to the subject uppermost in
>his mind, they were disturbed by a message. "Well it seems some
>of your friends have decided to join you. I'll be back to finish
>our conversation as soon as we have them in custody."
> /Great. Just when things were getting interesting..../
> A short time passed. Hannibal burst through the door with a
>machine gun in his hands. Behind him in the corridor Face could
>see B.A. with an M16 holding up rear guard.
> "Hannibal, what are you doing here?" he asked.
> "We're trying to save your hide. Let's go. Out of here."
>Hannibal motioned toward the door with his huge gun.
> "Why?" he asked rhetorically. "Why now? Things were
>finally getting partially decent again and you come runnin' in
>here and mess up everything."
> "Get moving, Lieutenant. That's an order," Hannibal said
>stiffly.
> "Move or I'll come get you and drag you outta there," B.A.
>growled.
> Face slowly walked out of the room.
> "Come on!" Hannibal urged testily.
> He got through the door, and saw Murdock down the hall with
>a Visitor laser gun in his hand and an M16 slung across his back.
> "You know Diana's kinda nice. Ruthless, psychotic,
>sociopathic, but nice."
> "Great, Face. You stay there much longer and she'd probably
>have you for dinner," Hannibal said sarcastically.
> "As a matter-of-fact, she did say something to that effect,"
>the lieutenant said as a joke.
> Murdock put in his two cents, matter-of-factly explaining,
>with a slight German accent occasionally cropping up. "Face,
>lizards do eat humans, for dinner, lunch time or anytime,
>including snack time. Besides, they don't eat the same kind of
>food you do. If you had a steak with Diana, you'd be eating it
>live. They eat mice, guinea pigs and stuff like that, you know."
>
> Face turned noticeably whiter. "Let's get out of here."
>Then a few seconds later, he added, "I was so busy keeping my
>attention on Diana, and my work, I didn't bother to remember
>their eating habits."
> The way he emphasized 'and my work', someone who didn't know
>the lieutenant better might believe his bluff that everything had
>been strictly business. Hannibal noticed it and knew better than
>that. He figured Face had been paying attention to Diana and had
>not even wanted to consider work. "We're not leaving," said
>Hannibal, "yet." He could tell Face didn't look too happy about
>it. "Now what did you learn?" he wanted to know, hoping Face had
>found the lead he needed to stop this operation.
> "Well, you know, it would help if you would tell me what I
>was looking for," the lieutenant answered Hannibal.
> "B.A. has perfected a device," Hannibal informed him, "that
>when hooked in to the right spot, will cause the computers to
>take the mother ship out of orbit and send it on a course back to
>its home world. What we need is the right place to attach it."
> "Well it just so happens," said the lieutenant happily, "I
>know a place." He took them to one of the places the Visitors
>had sent him to work maintenance. "Well?" he asked.
> "It'll do," said B.A.
> "The Resistance," Hannibal continued, "is working on getting
>more of these units built. Then they'll get the Fifth Column to
>install them. With this ship already taken care of, the rest of
>the work should be a snap."
> B.A. finished installing the device.
>
> * * *
>
> "Murdock, can you fly this thing?" the lieutenant asked as
>he got in the gleaming white shuttle.
> "No problem. I got it up here," Murdock replied.
> "But," he reiterated, "can you fly this thing?"
> "I get the feeling you don't have any confidence in me,"
>Murdock told him.
> "I get the feeling you don't want to answer my question."
>He ignored the usual procedure of strapping B.A. down, leaving it
>to Hannibal and Murdock. Instead, he fastened his own safety
>belts very carefully. This ride wasn't going to be fun; he just
>knew it.
> Murdock went forward to start the craft. Hannibal took over
>the job of strapping in, and purely as a precautionary measure,
>tying up B.A. If Sergeant Baracus woke up, it didn't matter
>whether Murdock could fly of not, they'd all be dead. B.A. would
>kill them for being forced to fly. He hated flying.
> The engines were fired up and Captain Murdock eased the
>shuttle out of the bay. Outside of the ship, just for fun, he
>started doing some acrobatics; barrel rolls, loops, and other
>assorted tricks. The lieutenant's stomach was killing him.
>Hannibal was obviously affected as well since he wasn't smoking
>his usual cigar. B.A. was unconscious. Murdock was having the
>time of his life.
> The mother ship decided to interrupt his fun by firing
>lasers at the shuttle. If Murdock hadn't been flying stunts,
>they would have been incinerated by the first shot. If everyone,
>except Murdock, was having a bad ride before, they were having a
>worse one now. When Murdock realized they were being shot at, he
>started pulling maneuvers one doesn't even see in T.V. spaceship
>dogfights. (In T.V. spaceship dogfights, they use maneuvers that
>can't be done in real life.) By now, even Murdock wasn't totally
>enjoying the trip.
> Hannibal called up forward, unable to get out of his seat.
>"Murdock, call the Resistance, and tell them to activate B.A.'s
>device," he hollered.
> "They're already on the line, Colonel," Murdock replied.
>"They'll have it activated in a few minutes. In the mean time,
>hold on." Everyone regretted those last words.
>
> * * *
>
> They got down safely, thanks to Murdock's crazy flying which
>left them all sick, and the fact that the mother ship had to stop
>firing since it was out of range.
> The lieutenant decided he wasn't so crazy about Diana.
>After all, he knew she was responsible for shooting at them.
>Maybe he should start thinking about the girl, Julie. After all,
>she was human. He didn't want to forget that nurse either.
> The Resistance had things well under control when they got
>back.
> "We ought to have a party to celebrate," said Murdock.
>"Willie and I can cook."
> That's one party the lieutenant figured he might skip. Well
>he didn't have to eat anything, and it would give him a chance to
>see Julie and the other ladies in the Resistance.
> "We still have a lot of work to do," Julie said. "A lot of
>things have to be cleaned up."
> /Time to leave,/ before Hannibal drafted him again, he
>thought.
> "We should have everything taken care of by tomorrow," Kyle
>stated.
> "And then," added Elizabeth, "we could have a celebration."
> "We'll see you tomorrow," Hannibal told them.
> The lieutenant didn't believe it. His luck was finally
>straightening out.
> "Take Murdock back to the V.A., Face."
> /There it goes again./ "Hannibal, I got him out," the
>lieutenant complained.
> "So," Hannibal replied, "you can take him back."
> "Oh no. I just remembered," he said in a very upset tone.
>"I left the T.V. running. Come on, Murdock, I'd better go home
>first and turn it off."
> "Don't worry about it, Face," Murdock told him. "I'll help
>you turn your T.V. off."
> The lieutenant's reply was a sarcastic, "Great."
> They got back to the lieutenant's apartment. He sat down.
>He picked up the phone receiver. He had left the phone off the
>hook too. He hadn't realized he was so tired. He hadn't slept
>in what...forty-eight hours?
> A loud noise jarred him awake. He couldn't remember what
>had happened. The T.V. was on. Oh yes, Murdock had told him he
>had to watch some supposedly great science fiction T.V. show, and
>he wouldn't leave him alone 'til he did. He had the phone in his
>hand. He vaguely recalled talking to Murdock. He hung up the
>phone. Then he remembered; the Visitors, the Resistance. "What
>a bad dream," he told himself.
> He heard another loud noise. He turned around and saw
>Murdock playing with the door. "What are you doing here?" he
>asked him.
> "Don't you remember?" was the reply. "I came over to help
>you turn your T.V. off."
>-------------------------------------------------------------
>
>...Next issue, some more original fiction, this time a reprint of
>"The A-Team Owns...Castle Greyskull?" by Tracy Revels.
>
>Finally this issue (yes, there's *still* more!), the first part
>of a recent interview with Dwight Schultz:
>
>"Secret Master of the Holodeck" from Starlog, Jan 1996
> by Stuart Banks
>
>Whether it's Barclay, Mad Murdock or Robert Oppenheimer, Dwight Schultz just
>likes to do the roles.
>
>There's no way to underline it -- Dwight Schultz, the acclaimed actor who shot
>to prominence as H.M. "Howlin' Mad" Murdock in 'The A-Team,' is *really* a
>science-fiction fan.
> Of course, STARLOG readers know him best as Reg Barclay, the brilliant
>Holodeck-obsessed engineer occaisionally seen on 'Star Trek: The Next
>Generation' and recently on 'Star Trek: Voyager' ("Projections"). He has also
>guested on 'Babylon 5' and 'The Outer Limits.' And he has his own surprising
>opinions on the craft of acting.
>
>STARLOG: Everyone has come to know about you mainly as Murdock from the
> 'A-Team.' What's your background in acting?
>DS: I've been an actor for almost 28 years now. I worked strictly in the
> theater for 15 years in the United States. I went from city to city --
>Houston
> for a year, Princeton for a year, St. Louis for a year, New Jersey for 2
>years,
> Baltimore, my home town, for a year. Then, I went to New York in 1976, and
> stayed there working on Broadway, until 1982 when I went to Los Angeles. In
> 1982-83, the first television work I ever did was 'The A-Team.'
>STARLOG: Are you a 'Star Trek' fan?
>DS: I'm a big 'Star Trek' fan.
>STARLOG: Even when you were younger?
>DS: Yes!
>STARLOG: Who wqas your favorite?
>DS: Out of the originals, I didn't have a favorite. I loved the relationship
> between -- and I *really* mean this -- Kirk, Spock and Bones. Those three.
> The balance of the relationship. The humanity, the failings, the fire that
> Kirk had. The sheer intellect of Spock. The passion the doctor had between
> the two of them. I don't think the show would have worked with one of them
> missing.
>STARLOG: How did you get the part of Barclay? Were you specifically chosen
>for
> it?
>DS: This is my belief that this is the way it went. I was making a movie with
> Whoopi Goldberg called 'The Long Walk Home,' and I told her what a big 'Star
> Trek' fan I was. I asked her what it was like to work with Patrick Stewart.
>I
> knew Brent Spiner from New York and she said, (at this point he mimics
> Goldberg) 'You gotta be on that show.' She went back and told them. Before I
> knew it, I got a call from my manager asking me if I would like to do it.
>STARLOG: Do you actually enjoy science fiction roles, as opposed to normal,
> straight acting roles?
>DS: I *love* science fiction. It's what I've *always* wanted to do. It's my
> favorite genre. I grew up seeing every science fiction and horror film that
> there was. I started off as a kid -- I've always wanted to be an actor. But
>I
> spent hours and hours in front of the mirror putting on makeup. I went
>through
> more rolls of toilet paper and glue. My parents, they still have photos of me
> as a kid as this monster or that monster. I had a box of clay and I used to
> sculpt every monster that I saw. So, I was into this. I don't know if you
> remember 'Famous Monsters of Filmland.' I collected those magazines each
> month. And this is it. This is what really got me into wanting to be an
> actor.
>STARLOG: Since 'The Next Generation,' you've gone on to appear in 'Babylon 5.'
>DS: That was really fascinating, because it's precisely the opposite of 'Star
> Trek.' 'Star Trek' is shot on this big studio backlot. Very classy.
> *Incredibly* classy sets. Huge budget. 'Babylon 5' is shot in this
>warehouse.
> And most of its effects are done on computer -- an Amiga, which I have. It's
> great. They're really neat people, particularly Jerry Doyle, a really
> interesting character. And 'Babylon 5' is the first thing he has ever done.
>He
> went from being a pilot, to a Wall Street broker, to an actor in a hit TV
> series.
>STARLOG: So, how do you rate 'Babylon 5,' say compared to 'Star Trek'?
>DS: How do I rate it? Well, I like it alot. It's right up there. It's the
> dark side, very different. It's very crowded, like 'Blade Runner.' With all
> these strange faces and strange noises and different cultures clashing and
> bashing. That, probably, is more realistic. But 'Star Trek' is idealistic.
> That's what is was meant to be: idealism. And there's room for that. I love
> 'Star Trek.' 'Babylon 5' sometimes doesn't do it for me. Sometimes I want to
> see 'Babylon 5.' Other times I want to see 'Star Trek: The Next Generation.'
> And sometimes I want to see the old 'Star Trek.' So it's like a feast, you
> know?
>
>...to be continued
>
>-------------------------------------------------------------
>Well, that's more than enough for this issue, see you again in 2 weeks!
>
>nicole
>-------------------------------------------------------------
>Quote of the Week:
>BA:You crashed this plane with me in it!
>
>Murdock:Don't be so cocky-I could have crashed this plane with or
> without you aboard.
> (from "Moving Targets")
>-------------------------------------------------------------
>
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