Oops!  Nearly forgot to mention this...

In the early Star Trek episode "The Cloud Minders" on SciFi earlier
today (or is it yesterday by now?) Jeff Corey as Advisor Plasus who ran
Stratos City in the clouds.

We remember Jeff as Justin in B5 episode 322 "Z'Ha'Dum", though many
didn't like him in that.  We know why that was, though -- the part was
written with a completely different style of actor specifically in mind,
so it was a mismatch.

I have always enjoyed watching Jeff Corey in various roles over the
years, and like him as a mid-range actor who tends to play parts at just
the right level -- not understated nor overstated.  This was the case in
the Trek episode, in which his part wasn't exactly challenging but it
did require quality, and we got it.  Now that /was/ good casting!

-- 
John M Ward, who nearly gave his first-ever solo performance of
~~~~~~~~~~~|  the B5 Season 4 opening sequence (with actions!) at
"VirCotto" |  the Sparkler Point 2001 -- but narrowly escaped  <*>
  on IRC   |  also see www.john-ward.org.uk/personal/john/television

John M Ward wrote:
[...]> We remember Jeff as Justin in B5 episode 322 "Z'Ha'Dum", though many
> didn't like him in that.  We know why that was, though -- the part was
> written with a completely different style of actor specifically in mind,
> so it was a mismatch.

That's not a story I know, and I can't find any information on it in 
TLG, so can you elaborate on this for me please?

On 17/12/07 12:02 pm, in article 47666556$0$508$bed64819@news.gradwell.net,
"Richard Tibbetts"  wrote:

> John M Ward wrote:
> [...]> We remember Jeff as Justin in B5 episode 322 "Z'Ha'Dum", though many

> 
> That's not a story I know, and I can't find any information on it in
> TLG, so can you elaborate on this for me please?

Going from a very dodgy memory the part was written for Patrick McGoohan of
Prisoner fame. For reasons that have been lost in time that didn't work out
and the other actor was a late replacement.

Unless anyone else can remember more?

Andrew

-- 
 Andrew Wright        andrew@stardock.evilcritter.co.uk
 Fry:                         What do we care, we live in the United States
 Leela:                     The United States is part of the world
 Fry:                         Wow, I have been gone a long time

All unsolicited email from unrecognised addresses automatically deleted

* Andrew Wright  wrote:
> 
> On 17/12/07 12:02 pm, in article 47666556$0$508$bed64819@news.gradwell.net,
> "Richard Tibbetts"  wrote:
> 
> > John M Ward wrote:
> > [...]> We remember Jeff as Justin in B5 episode 322 "Z'Ha'Dum", though many
> 
> > 
> > That's not a story I know, and I can't find any information on it in
> > TLG, so can you elaborate on this for me please?
> 
> Going from a very dodgy memory the part was written for Patrick McGoohan of
> Prisoner fame. For reasons that have been lost in time that didn't work out
> and the other actor was a late replacement.
> 
> Unless anyone else can remember more?

I remember the same thing, but I'm unable to find any references to back
it up. I've been able to find comments linking McGoohan to the role of
Knight One in the first season episode And the Sky Full of Stars, and
that they would try to get him for a future episode when that didn't
work out due to schedule crashes.

-- 
Lars Haugseth

"If anyone disagrees with anything I say, I am quite prepared not only to
 retract it, but also to deny under oath that I ever said it." -Tom Lehrer

On 19/12/07 2:05 pm, in article m1hcieaiex.fsf@vader.eiendomsnett.no, "Lars
Haugseth"  wrote:

 in time that didn't work out
>> and the other actor was a late replacement.
>> 
>> Unless anyone else can remember more?
> 
> I remember the same thing, but I'm unable to find any references to back
> it up. I've been able to find comments linking McGoohan to the role of
> Knight One in the first season episode And the Sky Full of Stars, and
> that they would try to get him for a future episode when that didn't
> work out due to schedule crashes.

Gods, I remember that too now.

Here's the Christmas Trivia quiz: what was McGoohan working on at the time
Z'ha'dum was filmed?

The prize to a successful winner; one stuffed piot.

Andrew

-- 
      Andrew Wright               andrew@stardock.evilcritter.co.uk
                     "I think if it's hard work, you shouldn't be doing it."
                                                             - Iain M. Banks

All unsolicited email from unrecognised addresses automatically deleted

Andrew Wright wrote:
> On 17/12/07 12:02 pm, in article 47666556$0$508$bed64819@news.gradwell.net,
> "Richard Tibbetts"  wrote:
> 
>> John M Ward wrote:
>> [...]> We remember Jeff as Justin in B5 episode 322 "Z'Ha'Dum", though many
> 
>> That's not a story I know, and I can't find any information on it in
>> TLG, so can you elaborate on this for me please?
> 
> Going from a very dodgy memory the part was written for Patrick McGoohan of
> Prisoner fame. For reasons that have been lost in time that didn't work out
> and the other actor was a late replacement.
> 
> Unless anyone else can remember more?

Ah, thanks.

In article
<C38D92A2.10403D%wobble@stardock.thatparticularlynastyISP.co.uk>,
   Andrew Wright  wrote:
> On 17/12/07 12:02 pm, in article 47666556$0$508$bed64819@news.gradwell.net,
> "Richard Tibbetts"  wrote:

> > John M Ward wrote: [...]
> > > We remember Jeff as Justin in B5 episode 322 "Z'Ha'Dum", though
> > > many
> > 
> > That's not a story I know, and I can't find any information on it in
> > TLG, so can you elaborate on this for me please?
>
> Going from a very dodgy memory the part was written for Patrick
> McGoohan of Prisoner fame. For reasons that have been lost in time
> that didn't work out and the other actor was a late replacement.

That is correct -- or at least what came to light at that time, which I
presume was accurate.  One can thus see that it really wasn't a suitable
part for Jeff Corey, at least not without a significant re-write.

Admittedly, I can't offhand think of someone else who would have handled
the material as well or as appropriately as McGoohan obviously would
have done.  Ben Kingsley, perhaps, or Alec Guinness, but that's about
all.

-- 
John M Ward, who nearly gave his first-ever solo performance of
~~~~~~~~~~~|  the B5 Season 4 opening sequence (with actions!) at
"VirCotto" |  the Sparkler Point 2001 -- but narrowly escaped  <*>
  on IRC   |  also see www.john-ward.org.uk/personal/john/television

John M Ward wrote:

> Admittedly, I can't offhand think of someone else who would have handled
> the material as well or as appropriately as McGoohan obviously would
> have done.  Ben Kingsley, perhaps, or Alec Guinness, but that's about
> all.
> 

Eddie Murphy?

;-)

* Andrew Wright  wrote:
> 
> On 19/12/07 2:05 pm, in article m1hcieaiex.fsf@vader.eiendomsnett.no, "Lars
> Haugseth"  wrote:
> 
>  in time that didn't work out
> >> and the other actor was a late replacement.
> >> 
> >> Unless anyone else can remember more?
> > 
> > I remember the same thing, but I'm unable to find any references to back
> > it up. I've been able to find comments linking McGoohan to the role of
> > Knight One in the first season episode And the Sky Full of Stars, and
> > that they would try to get him for a future episode when that didn't
> > work out due to schedule crashes.
> 
> Gods, I remember that too now.
> 
> Here's the Christmas Trivia quiz: what was McGoohan working on at the time
> Z'ha'dum was filmed?

It would have been either The Phantom or A Time to Kill, both of those were
released about the same time as Z'ha'dum first aired.
 
> The prize to a successful winner; one stuffed piot.

Ooh nice, haven't had one of those in ages!

(Should I win, I'd like to pass it on to whoever can tell me where to get
ahold of a digital version of the 1985 TV-remake of Jamaica Inn with
Jane Seymour and our Patrick McGoohan.)

-- 
Lars Haugseth

"If anyone disagrees with anything I say, I am quite prepared not only to
 retract it, but also to deny under oath that I ever said it." -Tom Lehrer

On 18-Dec-07 15:07:14, Andrew Wright said
>On 17/12/07 12:02 pm, in article 47666556$0$508$bed64819@news.gradwell.net,
>"Richard Tibbetts"  wrote:

>> John M Ward wrote:
>> [...]> We remember Jeff as Justin in B5 episode 322 "Z'Ha'Dum", though many

>>
>> That's not a story I know, and I can't find any information on it in
>> TLG, so can you elaborate on this for me please?

>Going from a very dodgy memory the part was written for Patrick McGoohan of
>Prisoner fame. For reasons that have been lost in time that didn't work out
>and the other actor was a late replacement.

>Unless anyone else can remember more?

That sounds familiar to me - although I think the guy who ended up in the
role did a brilliant job. It kind of added another dimension to the story
having a guy like him as the Shadow's liaison officer. I was not
disappointed - well maybe just a teeny bit with the spare gun ploy.  :)

                  All the best,
                        Angus Manwaring.       (for e-mail remove ANTISPEM)

I need your memories for the Amiga Games Database: A collection of Amiga
Game reviews by Amiga players http://www.angusm.demon.co.uk/AGDB/AGDB.html

On 20-Dec-07 16:32:46, Richard Tibbetts said
>John M Ward wrote:

>> Admittedly, I can't offhand think of someone else who would have handled
>> the material as well or as appropriately as McGoohan obviously would
>> have done.  Ben Kingsley, perhaps, or Alec Guinness, but that's about
>> all.
>>

>Eddie Murphy?

>;-)

or maybe Hank Marvin?


                  All the best,
                        Angus Manwaring.       (for e-mail remove ANTISPEM)

I need your memories for the Amiga Games Database: A collection of Amiga
Game reviews by Amiga players http://www.angusm.demon.co.uk/AGDB/AGDB.html