XPost: rec.arts.tv   
   From: Shadowalker@DeathsDoor.com.nospam   
      
   "Adam H. Kerman"  wrote:   
      
   >I've cut out the Doctor Who newsgroup from the crosspost, for what the fuck   
   >does this idiocy have to do with Doctor Who?   
      
   The link I was going include (but forgot to) referred to Doctor Who and   
   compared the assumed (at the time) reasons for O'Hare's departure to Colin   
   Baker's sacking after being told to play the part a certain way which wasn't   
   popular with the audience.   
      
   Also, the point about speculation and negative criticism is relevant to   
   stuff that's apparently gone down behind the scenes recently with Doctor   
   Who, although in that case it's been far more directed at the writers and   
   actors than the upper executives.   
      
   >Shadow Walker  wrote:   
   >   
   >>I just found out today Michael O'Hare, who 20 years ago played Commander   
   >>Sinclair on Babylon 5, passed away last year.  Earlier this year, JMS   
   >>revealed the truth about the actor's sudden departure from the lead role   
   >>after only one season.  At the time, most people assumed it was a decision   
   >>made or forced by the executives of the show, but it turns out they were   
   >>way   
   >>off the mark.   
   >>   
   >>It really got me thinking about how fans and fandom can sometimes latch on   
   >>to a piece of speculation about what goes on behind the scenes, which   
   >>doesn't have any basis in fact, and just run with it until it becomes   
   >>accepted as such.   
   >   
   >>In this case, the effect of that turned out to be a positive thing, for   
   >>the   
   >>sake of both the show and the actor involved, but that's not always the   
   >>case.   
   >   
   >Oh, you just found out about this, did you? It's not just sour grapes on   
   >your part to revive a long closed issue, is it?   
   >   
   >Funny how we had an extensive thread discussing this some time ago,   
   >5-29-2013.   
   >It was in rec.arts.tv and I'm sure other articles were separately posted to   
   >other newsgroups at the time. It quoted Jan's summary of Straczynski's   
   >remarks to a science fiction convention in Phoenix from JMSNews Forums,   
   >which she participates in (if she's not in charge).   
   >   
   >Subject: Babylon 5 producer JMS admits real reason for Michael O'Hare's   
   >    departure --- Will JMS now apologize to the people JMS trashed?   
      
   I wasn't online at that time, much less checking Usenet messages, so I   
   wouldn't have seen that.   
      
   >Oh, it really got you to thinking, did it, all those poor unnamed network   
   >and studio executives who were acused of disliking the actor enough that   
   >they didn't want him to star on the program in later seasons. Yeah,   
   >well, Straczynski's explanation decades ago sounded lame at the time, so   
   >some people assumed he was ordered by his studio not to besmirch their   
   >casting decision, because he has to continue to work with the studio.   
   >   
   >It wasn't the truth at the time, and it didn't fool anyone, but it was   
   >a distraction. It also wasn't his place back then to reveal personal   
   >information about Michael O'Hare that wasn't any of your fucking business.   
   >A Hollywood producer not trashing someone else's career prospects is   
   >pretty rare indeed.   
   >   
   >I wish to apologize to any network or studio executive who I wrongly   
   >assumed exhibited venal behavior. I know these are all honorable men   
   >that anyone who worked in any other business or industry would wish to   
   >work along side. I'm sure they'd all make very fine used car dealers or   
   >personal injury attorneys, and I wouldn't want to hurt their chances to   
   >go into another line of work.   
   >   
   >I apologize.   
   >   
   >Studio and network interference is, therefore, a complete myth. It's never   
   >happened. Casting choices are never overruled. Actors are never fired for   
   >the wrong reason. Programs never take sudden turns in creative direction.   
   >   
   >Earth: [spit] Final Conflict   
   >   
   >I am therefore starting a collection to assist wronged network and studio   
   >executives buy the public relations representation they need. Who among   
   >you will be the first to contribute? Give all you can.   
      
   Wow.  You're a fucking dick.   
      
   (Albeit a small one.)   
      
   Thanks for proving my point about jumping to conclusions and grabbing the   
   wrong end of the stick, though.   
      
   - Shadow   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)