Smaller than a bread box...

[Dr Maturin]

What is the item that JMS says is in every SF show?

[Atanvarno]

Either some form of gun or communicator?

[Gormal]

Z'ha'dumDweller = Camilla Parker Bowles?

Can I put it in my mouth?

[Jan]

Re: Smaller than a bread box...

Originally posted by Z'ha'dumDweller
What is the item that JMS says is in every SF show?

I think what the entire clue was is that it's smaller than a breabox but larger than a Coke can.

Wonder if JMS found out after they were done?

Jan

[Gkar4ever]

Listen to what they say about it carefully...apparently JMS had *no* idea that this even existed until the commentaries, and found out while working on said commentaries.

[Andrew_Swallow]

Angle poise lamp?

[NotKosh]

Okay.

The item in every show is not intentional, and is not done purposefully but the creators/directors.

There is a prop business, nicknamed the Woodland Creatures, because the guys who run it go by the names of Bear, Dragon, etc. They specialize in SF and probably Fantasy, given their name. An in joke they do, is make sure a common prop is used wherever they work.

This is not a commonly used prop, like a weapon or piece of tech, since those obviously vary from show to movie, etc, and everyone doesn't want to be running around using phasers, etc.

This is a background prop, that would be put on a desk, shelf, table or something like that. Its not necessarily in every episode, but has appeared in a number of them.

Listen to the conversation during the voting on Sinclair for extradition scene in The Gathering. Iacovelli discovered it, wondered what it was and questioned the prop guys, and heard the history behind the item. JMS didn't know until the commentary.

The topic of reused props triggered Iacovelli's memory of this incident. He wasn't going to spill the beans and say what the item is.

[FuryPilot]

I had the same reaction as JMS did: "Dammit, tell me!!!!"

Where's the IRL equivalent of Brother Theo and the Monks when you need 'em?

This is going to keep me up at night... Until I forget about it, or someone else solves the puzzle for all of us.

FP

[frulad]

hehehehe, this reminds me of the joke in Airplane II where moon base commander William Shatnet is walking around the base, points to something and asks "What does this do?" to be told by an aid "Well, all we can figure out is that these lights go on and off" (or words to such effect.) I've seen that same prop, and those same angled, old school looking computer banks, in tons of things...

[NotKosh]

Originally posted by frulad
hehehehe, this reminds me of the joke in Airplane II where moon base commander William Shatnet is walking around the base, points to something and asks "What does this do?" to be told by an aid "Well, all we can figure out is that these lights go on and off" (or words to such effect.) I've seen that same prop, and those same angled, old school looking computer banks, in tons of things...

This has appeared to have been solved. See "The Mystery Object" thread.