B-5 Easter Egg Hunt

[bakana]

As most of us know, JMS liked to stick "easter eggs", fanboy references and the occasional Trek Gotcha into B-5 episodes, particularly during the first 3 seasons.

Like the Starliner Asimov.

How many of them can you Identify?

Let's start with PsiCop Al Bester.
What's significant about him?
(And, no, I don't mean that Walter Koenig was once on Trek.)

Or an even more obscure one:

In the episode, A Spider In The Web, the Mars rep, Amanda Carter, is asked how her grandfather, John, is doing.

'Splain that?

[mike_9000]

First of all, hi everyone - I have been lurking for quite a while, & found I just could not resist answering this question.

Bester's name is a homage to the science fiction author author Alfred Bester ("Tiger Tiger", "The Demolished Man" et. al.). The latter specialised in gothic tales often including dangerous telpaths.

The derisory tern Bester uses for non-telpaths ("Mundanes") was once current among some hardcore scence fiction fans to describe outsiders.

Bester's farewell: "Be seeing you" (Including the 'salute' gesture) is lifted straight out of the 60's series "The Prisoner"

As for the significance of John Carter of Mars, I'm not sure. I'm gong to have to ask my friend Dejah Thoris.

[Dr Maturin]

I always thought the baseball thing with Sheridan and Garibaldi was a subtle blow to DS9, but I can't be sure.

[SpooRancher]

Carter

John Carter, Amanda's grandfather, is a reference to the book series "John Carter of Mars" by Edgar Rice Burroughs, the same author who brought us "Tarzan".

http://www.johncarterofmars.com/

Other references?

[Dr Maturin]

Let's see...

Dan Randall may be a warping of Dan Rather.

There is Elric's utterance about wizards being subtle and quick to anger. Not really an Easter egg, but there you have it.

I always thought the scene in (Hunter, Prey?) where Kosh gives Sheridan on moment of perfect beauty was similar to where Yoda sends Luke into the cave, albeit with different intentions/results. Is that some kind of mythical standard? Maybe the "Teacher Sends Student Into Enclosed Area for a Spiritual Experience."

[Capt.Montoya]

fan boys

and what about the reference to "fen"?

"They're barely sentient. They're attracted to bright, shiny objects, but they lose interest quickly."

Galen in "The Well of Forever"


The Hyperion cruiser was named in homage to the original domain name for the Lurker's Guide to Babylon 5... they had to change it to midwinter due to a legal dispute (is that Midwinter a reference to William Gibson's cyberpunk novels?)

I always thought that "easter egg" referred only to hidden features on software (and now on DVDs), BTW...

[NotKosh]

The name Elric. Michael Moorcock wrote the Chronicles of Elric of Melnibone

[Dr Maturin]

<< always thought that "easter egg" referred only to hidden features on software (and now on DVDs), BTW...>>

I've seen it used in this fashion before, though.

[iamsheridan]

Re: fan boys

Originally posted by Capt.Montoya
and what about the reference to "fen"?

"They're barely sentient. They're attracted to bright, shiny objects, but they lose interest quickly."

Galen in "The Well of Forever"

I thought that was because of the Executives wanted aliens having sex... And they got it!

And how about the "We are dreamers, shapers, singers, and makers." line? I hated it when I first heard it, but when you think about it - in two hundred years it's probably completely forgotten and therefore sounds mysterious and deep.

/IamS

[NotKosh]

As for the starliners, I think I repeatedly heard SF writers names.

I am fairly sure I heard Bradbury and Clarke. I don't know about Heinlein, but I would be shocked if he wasn't worked in there somewhere.

In some episode, Ivanova was reading Harlan Ellison's book.

[Dipper]

Not sure if this fits here, but still:

In Grey 17 is missing there's a lot of links to Jeremiah.

"Welcome to the End of The World. My name is Jeremiah" and the name Ezekiel (sp?) was mentioned too.

I don't know what's the gag with this one. Just noticed it when Jeremiah aired for few episodes and then I rewatched Grey 17 is missing and was quite astonished.

If anyone can explain this I would greatly appreciate it.

-Dip

[B5_Obsessed]

They're biblical names, as are the oft used David and Sarah.
I think JMS just likes the sound of 'em. He introduced an Ezekial character into The Amazing Spiderman as well.

Fen - plural of fan. The joke works on two levels. Yes, it's JMS giving TNT what they wanted, but not HOW they wanted it. And it's also JMS's way of poking fun at fan culture.

One more: Bester tells Garibaldi that he put "an Asimov" in his head. This is the block that will not allow Garibaldi, either as a deliberate act or by willful inaction, to allow harm to come to Bester. That's basically Robot Law #1.

[colonyearth]

Originally posted by B5_Obsessed
They're biblical names, as are the oft used David and Sarah.
I think JMS just likes the sound of 'em. He introduced an Ezekial character into The Amazing Spiderman as well.

Fen - plural of fan. The joke works on two levels. Yes, it's JMS giving TNT what they wanted, but not HOW they wanted it. And it's also JMS's way of poking fun at fan culture.

One more: Bester tells Garibaldi that he put "an Asimov" in his head. This is the block that will not allow Garibaldi, either as a deliberate act or by willful inaction, to allow harm to come to Bester. That's basically Robot Law #1.

Actually, the "Asimov" he puts on Garibaldi incorporates all three of the robotic laws.

Actually, there are several slams on B&B's era of Trek...but for some reason...I'm drawing a complete blank at the moment.

CE

[Jan]

[Actually, there are several slams on B&B's era of Trek...but for some reason...I'm drawing a complete blank at the moment.

CE [/B]

You mean like, "This isn't some deep space franchise, this station is *about* something!"? There All Honor Lies by Peter David.

Jan

[bakana]

The greatest Trek Zinger Ever:

"Good luck, Captain. I think you are about to go where everyone has gone before."

-- Ivanova to Sheridan in Babylon 5:"Voices of Authority"

The Harlan Ellison book is even funnier than you might think: The book title was "The Last Dangerous Visions".

Harlan's fans (and a few enemies) have been waiting over 20 years for the book to come out.

Stories were written and Harlan Paid the authors for them.
But the actual book has failed to materialize.

Remember that Harlan Ellison & JMS have been friends for years. And, of course, Harlan was the "creative consultant" for the show.