Happy 4th of July to everyone Stateside!

 RAVEN GENERAL MEMBERSHIP COIN

Well folks, I just wanted to quickly post these photos here. I finally got the chance to inspect the new Raven Challenge Coin for the general membership. I have to say, it turned out pretty awesome.  Now these coins compared to the BFC Raven Command Challenge coin, is available to the general membership. Only 100 of these coins were made for now.

ENJOY!

~RAVEN ACTUAL

                                                                     RAVEN COMMAND CHALLENGE COIN

Well, what can I say!  The Raven Battle Group was very busy this past weekend.  The group was represented at two different conventions:

Convention Photos Link:  Raven Gallery

Houston Comicpalooza

Tulsa Comic Con

First off, I would like to thank the following people who helped at the Raven table:

Paul Oakley- Gunny was with me throughout the whole entire four days.

Steve Tweed- My XO who came all the way from Wisconsin and helped out for two days.  It was a pleasure to finally meet him in person.

Tim Riley- The Raven Cylon Command Centurion Member.  I was glad to see him doing what he love best once considering what he recently went through on a personal level. I know she is smiling down on you seeing you doing what you love doing with her.  As always, Tim attracts a lot of people as he walks around.

Tony and Cherie Leach-  What a surprise indeed was this for Cherie from her husband Tony.  He surprise her with coming to Comicpalooza to meet Jeremy Renner.  Thank you for coming all the way from Oklahoma and hanged out at the Raven table allowing me to enjoy a little bit of what the con has to offer.  I was able to meet and get Stan Lee's autograph and Jeremy Renner. So mission accomplished on my part on that aspect.  And Cherie and Tony, you both are a riot LOL!!!!  I was watching my oldest son during the first group dinner laugh at Tony as Tony tells stories about Cherie! :-)

Many thanks to all those who dropped in and said hello- new members George Mellis and his friends, Rob Tipton, Gayle Jackson and her family and others......

The Raven was also represented at the Tulsa Comic Con and was headed by Raven Communications Officer Shane "Ogre" Coble.  Shane just went through a recent shoulder surgery so I was a little reluctant him doing a lot of work manning the Raven table at the Tulsa Comic Con when I saw him make a post with in regards about the Tulsa Comic Con.  Shane and I spoke on the side that as much as I appreciate him wanting to represent the Raven at the Tulsa Comic Con, I rather not have him do it because he should be recovering from his shoulder surgery.  But he kept re-assuring me he can handle it.  So I finally said, okey....I will do what I can to support you. I made him promise that he will take it easy while doing it.  I then send him some promotional items for the Raven, BFC and Galacticon 4.  And it looks like it was a success as well. I would like to make a note per Shane's report to me, that special credit goes to Jill Horton for helping out at the Raven Tulsa table and she is not even a member.  To Jill, thank you very much for helping at the table! I agreatly appreciate that.   And to Chris Rowe, the convention director/promoter for the Tulsa Comic Con, thank you for inviting our group and having us at your con once again.

It was indeed a twin convention appearance for the Raven Battle Group this past weekend.  But the highlight between the two cons was everyone having fun, meeting new members in person, meeting my XO for the first time in person and my one and only good friend Miguel Rivera, coming down to surprise me the way he did.   I have not seen him in over two years since we saw each other last at Galacticon 3.  We were texting each other before I arrived at the convention site.  He was telling me and the kids to have fun.  But little did I know what is about to transpire.  I finally arrived at the Raven table with the rest of the display that is suppose to be put on the table.  Then as I was talking to everyone that was there, I heard someone say to me from my left side " Hi!"  It took me a little bit to realize that it was Miguel in the flesh.  When it finally dawn on me, I just dropped whatever I was doing and went towards him and gave him a hug.  Out of all the things I can find to hit him with for being sneaky, I ended up grabbing a ball cap hat LOL.  Him and I have been through a lot together in the science fiction community. We went through our own set of ups and downs together and our friendship was tested and even put to the limit.  But in the end along with time, we reforge a much stronger friendship which is solely based on our experience with science fiction political BS and drama.  We promise each other to never let scifi drama or scifi political BS, to ever put a wedge in our friendship ever again.  We both believe what we do on the side should be fun, not to be taken too seriously and should not let the ficticious rank get to ones head. It is only for the enhancement of ones experience in that scifi community.  We both know and have seen that there are a lot of people out there that are just like that.  And they take the fun out of things.  All of us have lives outside the virtual world of battlestars, cylon basestars, vipers and raptors.  And that real life event is more important than anything else.  Real life should not be mix with what is not real.  And that is what Miguel and I have learned through our unpleasant experience in the past.  We both swear that we will NEVER ever allow a repeat of that kind of experience ever.  A couple of beliefs him and I both share are as follows:

1.  We believe in quality vs. quantity in membership wise

2.  It is not all about the ficticious rank.  

3.  It is about the members

4.  It is about having fun

5.  It is about helping other members in need

The one highlight I will never forget that made my jaw dropped out of surprise was, being promoted to Rear Admiral by the BFC Fleet Admiral.  

( Thank you for the gorgeous RADM pins Miguel )

I was not expecting that at all.  I have always been the kind of person just satisfied being the behind the seen kind of person.  If you notice, I do not even use the rank that comes with being the CO of the Raven on my profile page.  I am quite content using DragonLady or Raven Actual.  I can just be as effective and do kickass work by just remaining simple.  I do not need long titles or signature lines for people to know who I am.  I am known through the scifi community as DragonLady.  And I am satisfied with that.  But like Sgt. Hillman said to me on the side, I better get used to the crew calling me Admiral DragonLady because that is who I am now. :-) :-)  All I can say is, I will try my best to get used to it and be worthy of that rank. :-)  

And to everyone who had a hand in the surprise celebration that took place for me over the weekend, THANK YOU SO MUCH from the bottom of my heart especially the POINT man, Iceworm! AHEMMM!!!!! And yeah, yeah!  You told me you were only following orders. :-)  I have to start keeping an eye on you LOL.  But thank you so much for everything.

( Iceworm, THANK YOU SO MUCH for this hat. The simpliest gift sometimes makes the best gift of them all. I am really tickled by this and cannot stop smiling at it :-) )

Miguel, thank you my friend for such a wonderful surprise.  I know you were only here for one day but to me, that is worth more because we made the best of the time we had together.  It was truely indeed a memorable weekend for me.  It felt like good old times when were together on the Aries going to conventions and manning the table together.  The Aries will always hold a special place in my heart for she was my first baby and creation when I was her CEO.  And that will never change even though I have the Raven now. The Aries and Raven will forever be linked together because of you and me.  The Aries will be the big older sister ship to the Raven. As far as the Raven group, everyone here sure knows how to have fun no matter where we are. This Memorial Day weeked, it was Houston and Tulsa  NOW OFF TO GALACTICON 4 for the Raven Battle Group!!!!

SO SAY WE ALL!!!!!

In Service,

~Raven Actual

This interview took place about 15 years ago between myself & Grace Lee Whitney & I'm dedicating this retooled version to her memory.

I think everyone will find that we had a very interesting talk!

You'll note that this has a very conversational look about it, because this is the direct transcript of our discussion (thanks to Joe Beaudoin from Battlestar Wiki for doing it!).

I don't think there is anything that I would have changed about it, except that I made some unflattering remarks about "Galactica 1980"...at least my thinking has revised a bit about that, though I by no means think it's Shakespeare, but I do think of it a little more fondly now, so apologies to any & all Galactica 1980 fans out there (if you exist!).

Otherwise we covered a lot of topics and I hope you enjoy...it was nice to haul this one out and give it something of a reboot!

This is in dedication to Grace Lee Whitney...Grace, you are going to be missed!

Shawn: How did you get started in the acting field?

Grace: Actually, I started as a performer more than an actor. I was a singer and a dancer at school; and I was also a writer, I wrote some lyrics for songs and stuff. I performed them at school, and got on the stage and I really loved it. So I've been pursuing stage and performing all my life, and I did theater a little theater while in school, and then started signing [stage] and performed there. Then I went to Chicago and became a model. Then, upon becoming a model, I did, again, a Miss Chicago Contest and had to sing and dance for that. And then went to New York and auditioned for George Abbot and got into a show called "Top Banana" with Phil Silvers as an understudy and that's when I started acting. I got taught by Jack Albertson and, actually, he was my first teacher. He worked tirelessly and I went on a couple of times for the leading lady, and I just loved it. I migrated a little bit west and got into film. My first film was "Some Like It Hot" with Marilyn Monroe, and that one became the movie of the century--the comedy of the century. So that was my first film endeavor, and I was spoiled from then on in.

I was introduced to Billy Wilder; Billy Wilder was the director, he got many academy awards for "Some Like It Hot", and then got several academy awards for "Irma la Douce" also. So he helped my career. He called several directors, and told them that I was a good bet; and to hire me to do different shows so I did about a hundred shows. But ninety shows, I guess, before I got "Star Trek". And then I got "Star Trek", before I got "Star Trek" I did "Outer Limits", which was also another classic, with Carroll O'Connor and Barry Morse of "The Fugitive". And that was a wonderful experience. I got with Gene Roddenberry in "The Lieutenant", and Gene found me and put me into another pilot that he did called "Police Story".

Not the one that got filmed, actually, but the "Police Story" that he did, but never got filmed-I mean, never picked up as a series. It was filmed, but DeForest Kelley and I were in that together. It was a different Doctor and a different Yeoman in "Star Trek", and when the show got picked up by NBC, they wrote the doctor out and put DeForest Kelley in and wrote the yeoman out and put me in. And that's how we got our roles in the show... and the rest is history, and I've been doing it ever since. I did Voyager--

Shawn: Right, the "Flashback" episode.

Grace: Yes, the "Flashback" episode, and we were trying to get the Excelsior off the ground. I talked to Bob Justman about it; and I talked to a lot of people about it. It was a brainstorm of mine when we were doing Voyager, and I said to George [Takei] that we ought to do a mini-series of the Excelsior and we can do it like every three months. Do one episode every three months, for the fans and bring in a guest star from one of the other shows. We thought that was a great idea, and have been pushing for it ever since. So, I don't know if it's ever going to go, but seems very good to me.

Shawn: Actually, I was going to ask you that question: How'd you rate the chances of an Excelsior series, even like a regular weekly series?

Grace: Well, I don't think we can do it weekly, because I think it wouldn't hold up weekly. But it would hold up monthly. You know like what they do with the mini-series.

Shawn: Like a tele-movie or something like that?

Grace: Yeah. And that way it would probably pick up a lot of ratings, because I wouldn't be every week, it would be every couple of months or every three months or something. I think they did that with other shows. It would kind of be like a soap opera.

Shawn: Exactly. Like an ongoing mini-series?

Grace: Like an ongoing saga of the Excelsior. The Excelsior Saga, you know. And have that and just keep going. But I don't know, Paramount is not open to that. I think Paramount wants "Star Trek: 90210".

Shawn: I heard that bandied around a little bit.

Grace: Or I call it "Melrose Space".

Shawn: I think a lot of people feel that way.

Grace: Yeah. The really young kids, but I don't know if that will get off the ground or not. I have a feeling it will. And, if it does, I'm very happy about that. I think the new blood in Star Trek is always good.

Shawn: Maybe even a mix of both [new and old blood]?

Grace: A mix of both-absolutely!

Shawn: Which is kind of the best of both worlds.

Grace: Yeah, why couldn't they do that? They could do that, and that would be just great.

Shawn: I think that probably what bothers people quite a bit, is that this also has happened with Battlestar Galactica, they want to see the original characters, and they don't see where the problem lies because the fans want that, and the studios have an impression that all young faces are what sells. And that is not necessarily true.

Grace: No it's not true. Not true at all.

Shawn: Also, I was going to ask about your book. That's of some interest there as well.

Grace: I'm trying to get a teleplay for the book. Actually, I missed it by a few years, there was an era where they did [stories of] women who were down and out and came back; and versus where women who were down and out and never did come back. Which they also did, and then they got sick of that and stopped doing it.

And that was right when my book came out. So I almost have to wait. You know, Oprah Winfrey was very interested in my book, and I almost got on her show as "Book of the Week". Then she decided to go with the golfer; I don't know if you ever saw that series she did on women down and out, women who have and fallen and come back. She did a series called "In The Spirit" and she did a whole lot of shows about women who found God and were resurrected, so-to-speak, from the gutter. And one of mine was one of those she chose [after] one of her readers said, "Read this book, it's very powerful." So she interviewed me, but she picked a young golfer, a pro golfer as the "Book of the Week". And did her interview instead of mine, and I was just devastated-because I came very close to being the pick of the week! And if I had, my goodness! You know, I'm sure I would've had a movie done already-with Heather Locklear. I've already sent the book to Heather Locklear, and I wanted her to play me. I called Bill Shatner and asked him, and he said, "Well, she can't shine your shoes, but she'll be good." Which I thought was a very nice compliment coming from Bill. So that's kind of where we are, and it still may be picked up. I wanted Leonard [Nimoy] to direct, but Leonard is just kind of getting to the point where he doesn't want to work that hard. You know people say to me, "What do you do with your time?" And I tell them, "Well, I'm kind of semi-retired. I do Star Trek conventions, but other than that, I just built my own house. I'm living very quietly, and very relaxing[ly] with my horses and animals, and nature. I'm kind of just retired. So it's a wonderful life I have, but I would go back to work if the Excelsior had a chance. Or, I hear that there's going to be some sort of remake of "Star Trek: The Motion Picture". So I'm kind of hoping to do a cameo in that They've already interviewed a couple of stars.

Shawn: Like just a totally different cast?

Grace: No, it's just going to be re-cut and redistributed. And that would be really nice for me to do a cameo, you know because I've come so far since 1979. I got sober in 1981, so my whole sobriety, which is almost 20 years, has been eventful. I have done a lot of work, and that would be really good for me to do a cameo on this side of my life, as opposed to the other side. The other side is very traumatic. So, I don't know, there's a lot of things in the work. I'm just open to everything. I'm all over the universe; I have invitations to go to every country there is. So it's a very exciting life. And George Takei is also doing the same thing. George is running all over the universe also; we do a lot of conventions together.

Shawn: There's actually one coming up very soon, September in New York.

Grace: Yeah, in New York and I've been with Tim Russ for the last two conventions. He's doing a lot of Trek conventions too. So it's a very nice life, and hopefully Star Trek will keep going and I'll get someone to write a script for my book, and I'll be able to submit it and see what happens. The timing may not be exactly right. So you have to kind of go with the flow.

Shawn: So, you see yourself going on Oprah at some point?

Grace: Definitely. They have kept it open. The producer told my publisher that they still have me in the file. They haven't thrown me out, by any means. That could be really good. So, we'll see, I'm just kind of like living a day at a time, and doing my thing; and doing conventions and speaking. I speak a lot all over at hospitals and where people are incarcerated for alcoholism and drug addiction. So I'm very busy. I'm into the mainstream of life. I see a lot of stars whenever I go. I was just in FantastiCon in LA. William Campbell [who played Koloth and Trelane in TOS] was there. I think Richard [Hatch] was there, no, I guess Anne [Lockart] was there; Jerry Doyle was there from Babylon 5. And Bruce Boxleitner was there-we didn't have many Star Trek people there for sure.

Shawn: That's unusual. Usually there are a few it seems at each show.

Grace: The Star Trek people are getting upset with the cons; they don't pay them anything. And they just don't want to do it for nothing anymore. It's not like they don't do it for nothing, you know, they get big bucks for this sort of thing, but this guy doesn't want to pay. So this particular one isn't going to get them. The Grand Slam in April and that had everybody, because they give us the speaker fee. And so you're able to get the stars to come out.

Shawn: You obviously had to recoup losses or at least make the trip worth their while.

Grace: My gosh, yes! Nobody is going to get on a stage and speak for an hour and sign autographs for nothing. The guys promoting them are making good money, they charge money to get in.

Shawn: Of course, you have people flying in from far away.

Grace: Well nobody, not in Grand Slam, as everybody lives in LA.

Shawn: That was close. But you do have situations, of course, where you might have the DragonCon in Atlanta where people actually have to fly in.

Grace: It cost big bucks just to fly everybody in from LA. That was a big con. That cost a lot of money!

Shawn: Well, at least, too, they cover the airline fees, and hotel, and that type of thing.

Grace: That just costs a lot of money. How did the promoter [Ed Kramer] do at DragonCon?

Shawn: I really don't know. I presume pretty well, it's pretty much a success every year.

Grace: Oh, good. I'll do it again next year. I hope I can com next year, because I sure did well.

Shawn: It's a good show, it seems like it's really a hit with the fans. Definitely brings a lot of business into it.

Grace: Yeah, and I got a chance to see Adam West [original Batman/Bruce Wayne] and my other friend, Yvonne Craig.

Shawn: This year Bill Mumy was there, Angela Cartwright, Andreas Katsulas was there, so just a lot of different faces. They have some basic--I shouldn't say basic people, but people that come there every year, then like every year change out a few people just to spice it up a little bit.

Grace: Well, it's great to see everybody from all the different shows. Gosh, it's the only time I ever meet the actors! I see them on the screen, but I never actually get to smooch with them. That's what's fun. I just love it. I love going to see all the actors and going around to the tables. June Lockhart and I do a lot of shows together, and it's just fun, lots of fun and Annie too. I see Richard many times, so it's good. I just think it's a great way to live.

Shawn: This might be of interest to people as well, now your addictions in the past and the coming to terms with that definitely had an impact in your life, as far as the way you look at things now.

Grace: Yeah, in your addiction your very focused on self, on medicating and getting away from the pain, or running from problems or not taking responsibility for your life; or this man did me wrong or this woman did me wrong.

You're very focused on that and I was very focused on my career, trying to get ahead and, which of course, would've been fine if I hadn't had the compulsive behavior. I had a lot of compulsive behavior, which was, I don't know, it's just something you do against your own will--you can't really control yourself. Once you become addicted, it's like if you've ever known cigarette smokers [that's what it's like]. I am totally baffled by people who smoke themselves to death. It's just the craziest thing, if you're going to do something booze yourself to death or use drugs--but cigarettes that seems like the stupidest thing to do. It's just crazy. I just didn't realize that alcohol had such a hold on my life, I was a party girl and I loved parties. And Hollywood thrived on it of course; we all know that Hollywood is probably the biggest party town in the world. We call it Hollyweird.

A lot of people out there [are into parties], and it is the place to go if you want to get into the fast lane. So, I had to come out of the fast lane, which was a big change in my life and go to a higher power and be compliant in order to get sober. The last 19 years has been going through that process a day at a time; not putting my career first, using my career as a privilege, it's a privilege to be an actor and a privilege to be part of Star Trek. But that's not who I am. Who I am is a child of God, who is seeking to do His will and help other people; and not be so centered on myself. And if I can get out of myself, off of myself, and into other people and help in the community, and help other alcoholics and other women, battered omen, women that are addicted to drugs--there's a lot of crack cocaine up here and amphetamines--[and] try to help these people find their own way. It counts. Everyday it heals me just a little more. And I've seen what it looks like and I don't want to go back there. Therefore, I stay sober one more day because it is a progressive illness. Once you cross the line, the disease progresses even though you don't drink, or you don't use prescription drugs--you know, we have a lot of women that are addicted to prescription drugs. So we have to find a way to get off of those things, and face life on life's terms. In other words, you have to deal with life in reality, and [that's] very hard to do for an actor.

Shawn: Because you, obviously, spend so much time acting.

Grace: It's all fantasy. I have such a vivid imagination that it just about kills me on a daily basis. And I have a vivid imagination because I'm an actor! So I have to try and find the difference between reality and fantasy, and turn one off and turn the other on, and vice versa. And before, I couldn't do that. I was totally into fantasy most of the time, most of my life! I was always dreaming in the other world. It was an interesting journey, very interesting. I'm glad that I had to go through it, because it's given me an outlet for my book, for being able to work well into my sixties. I don't have to sit home and retire because I have something to say based on my own experience.

And that allows me to go out and keep my speaking engagements going. I go out and speak in hospitals and schools. I bring the books in and I sign them. I go to bookstores--Barnes & Noble and Borders-- and they set up a speaking time for me; I speak from 7 to 8 at night and then I sign books, and fool around and talk o people, have coffee. It's really a lot of fun, because the Star Trek people are all over. And the fans have really supported me!

Shawn: I think they'd definitely like to see your character come back.

Grace: They would. Janice Rand has always been a favorite character, and she always will be. They [the Powers That Be] never killed her off or did anything. They may have zapped me out of the universe for a few hours or a few years, but they brought me back. I wasn't killed off, so I can surface anywhere. Especially as Commander Rand on the Excelsior, which would be a perfect place for me. We're hoping that maybe, even if we get a movie of the week, [it would be] very nice [to do] one episode. A one hour movie.

Shawn: That's like the way the Columbo thing goes. Maybe do it even quarterly.

Grace: Wouldn't that be great!?

Shawn: It would be! It would be very good. I think the fans would really enjoy that.

Grace: I think they would love it! And we can get some of the original crew in there before they all die. Before we all die, you know.

Shawn: Unfortunately, DeForest Kelley is gone.

Grace: I know.

Shawn: But James Doohan...

Grace: Well, Jimmy's getting ready. He's way up there. He's 80 years old. I just went to his birthday party.

Shawn: How's he doing?

Grace: He's doing great. He's had a baby.

Shawn: That's what I hear.

Grace: Which is kind of encouraging!

Shawn: Yeah, I guess so! If he can do that at 80 it is.

Grace: My goodness! That's pretty good for the engineer!

Shawn: Actually, most of the cast is there. It's kind of unfortunate that John Colicos, who was actually in Richard's trailer, [Battletstar Galactica: The 2nd Coming], hoping and wanting to reprise his role there [as Lord Baltar], passed away earlier this year. Which is really, really bad.

Grace: That's a shame.

Shawn: He was, I believe, 72.

Grace: That's not very old.

Shawn: He suffered I a series of heart attacks. And it is too bad, as obviously you want to see those people back in those roles again.

Grace: Sure! Of course!

Shawn: Which is kind of the point. I think people are so interested in these revivals, that they don't want to go 20-30 years and not see these people back. And when finally studios come around to it then, you know, people DO pass away. If you're talking 30 years then there's a difference, and I think that's the reason why there's such an urgency with a lot of people. At least with the fans to get these things done, whether it's for Star Trek or Battlestar Galactica or whatever.

Grace: Yeah, I hear ya! And I talk to the fans when I go to these conventions, [so] I know what you're saying. They REALLY want the original people.

Shawn: That's what I keep getting.

Grace: Because that's what they want! And I don't know why the studios are so stubborn. I think maybe because the studios are run, a lot of times, by such young people. And they just look at us as being "too old for the job". You know a lot of execs are very young.

Shawn: I guess you may know better than I do.

Grace: They're not old like they used to be pictured, with gray hair and glasses sitting there. They're young kids. It's kind of amazing!

Shawn: So you think that, maybe, their perspective on it is that "young sells"?

Grace: Yes, I do.

Shawn: Which is not really true, you know.

Grace: Well, I think that they'd like to keep it that way!

Shawn: They may think this, but that's not necessarily true. Maybe in some certain circumstances, but not with these shows. I think, again, that the original characters sell. But I don't know what it'll take to get that across to them.

Grace: There's definite interest in the original casts of these shows.

Shawn: Yes, oh yes. All over the place.

Grace: Even Batman and stuff like that?

Shawn: I think probably more in the sci-fi genre. Like there was a clamoring to see Bill Mumy in the Lost in Space movie, and that didn't happen. And a lot of people didn't like that. They saw the fact that they had a few people getting cameos and they would have rather seen more of the original cast and more substantive roles. And that just didn't happen, but I do see that a lot--and even hear it. As, obviously, the websites I participate in, I get a lot of e-mail from people saying, "You know, we want to see the original characters and we want to see it the right way." That theme is always played and, you know, time after time when we begin polling and that type of thing. When we talk about the alternative in doing, like with Battlestar, doing the show with the original cast, with maybe some new faces--as opposed to a whole new cast-- overwhelmingly the support goes to the first notion. They don't want to see other people taking those parts over. They see the characters as the person who played them.

Grace: Wasn't there a remake of Battlestar Galactica?

Shawn: Yep. The 1980 version, but, again, that went on air without the original cast. The only original cast members were Lorne Greene and Herb Jefferson. But their roles were kind of pushed to the side and they concentrated on the new characters who were, well, not the old ones, and that's what the people wanted. I think it went on for thirteen episodes and it was just awful.

Grace: Oh that's a shame!

Shawn: That's the whole thing, again that's an example.

Grace: At least when they redid us--The Next Generation--it became a hit.

Shawn: Right, and of course, you had completely separate characters, too. It wasn't--

Grace: --It wasn't the same characters, right.

Shawn: Right. And, in a way, this was almost- -

Grace: --Almost the same characters, I see with different faces.

Shawn: Yeah, it wasn't--

Grace: Oh, the same names?

Shawn: Not the same names, but they might as well have recast the characters. They reused the same character types. So they tried to get away with it a little bit differently that way. Yeah, two separate things, and that's what people want [the original characters]. The original cast and themes. They really do. It's entertainment, but I think people get well wound up about it mainly because they grew up watching this. So it's part of their childhood memories, I know it is for me. I grew up watching these shows and I'm very attached to them because of that.

STORY SYNOPSIS

As the infected pilots recover in the Galactica's infirmary, the maverick shuttle pilots brag up their victory in the Officer's Club. Starbuck and Apollo are relieved to hear that the bridge crew has detected an unknown blip trailing the Galactica fleet, just beyond tracking range. At first, Tigh approaches Apollo about leading a recon patrol to see what's out there. Then Serina appears and insists she is assigned as Apollo's wingman. In the confusion, Starbuck launches in Apollo's fighter. Apollo takes after Starbuck, followed by Serina.

The Cylon lure works. A slew of their raiders descend on Starbuck's ship before he knows what hit him. Without a shot fired, Starbuck is lost at the void's fringe. Aboard the Cylon Basestar, Lucifer and the Centurions escort their catch to Baltar. It is here that we learn of Baltar's plan to approach Adama with this new hostage as a peace offering. The encounter is as much a surprise to Lucifer as it is to Starbuck.

On the Galactica's bridge, Apollo cannot resist staring into the scanner, hoping to see Starbuck's Viper reappear. Serina consoles Apollo, but he still cannot accept that their comrade could disappear so suddenly. Serina presses on for marriage, saying that the predicament they are in may never end, and Starbuck would've wanted them to move on. As Adama performs the "sealing" ceremony on the Galactica's amphitheater deck, Tigh notices a star appearing. If Adama is right, the planet orbiting that star is Kobol: the birthplace of the human race.

Lucifer reports that the Galactica has been sighted approaching a dead planet orbiting a lone star. Baltar figures out what is happening and orders his personal craft readied. Lucifer cannot accept Baltar's confidence in approaching the humans with a peace plan.

On the planet's surface, Adama wants camp set up on a site of pyramids, a sphinx and other great ruins he suspects were once the thriving city of Eden, "the first to fall" on ancient Kobol. Apollo and Serina are grateful to have a dead planet to themselves for a honeymoon. As the warriors ready to bivouac among the ruins, Adama orders a guard to be posted.

As Adama, Apollo and Serina probe the pyramid "temple", which turns out to be the tomb of "the ninth Lord of Kobol," they discover an elaborate protective access system, which can only be opened by a Medallion from the Council of Twelve. Apparently, the ninth and final lord returned to Kobol to die after the thirteen tribes left to form new colonies beyond the void. The writings in the temple reveal the "last days" of this civilization. As Adama pays his respects to the dead, Baltar appears, wearing his own Medallion. When the traitor greets Adama as "old friend", the beleaguered Battlestar commander lunges for his enemy's throat.

Baltar insists he has been defamed by these treason charges. He tells of how he has seen the Cylon seat of power in chaos; how the Galactica could strike their capital and devastate the Cylons. Adama hisses to Baltar: "you have the tongue of an angel, and the soul of a serpent." Apollo takes Baltar into custody.

Back on the Basestar, a Centurion is paged to Baltar's throne room... to find Lucifer perched on the pedestal and ready to declare Baltar's peace envoy a failure. Though the Centurion is certain Baltar will deliver the Galactica fleet to Cylon, Lucifer is "thinking out loud" about why he was not chosen to be the new Imperious Leader over his "IL-group" competition; perhaps a military victory under his command might change his stature. "What is your command?" the Centurion asks.

On the planet's surface, the rookie warriors are enjoying their open-air evening on Kobol, when Starbuck appears. Apollo orders the warriors to ready themselves and demands that Baltar explain what is going on. When Apollo takes the traitor back into the tomb to talk to Adama, Serina notices that the sunlight is intensifying. As the light beams into the tomb, it is caught by Adama's Medallion. the focused rays activate the temple chamber's secret mechanism, and a deeper chamber is revealed. Once inside, Adama discovers more writings of what happened here. But then the tomb begins to shudder: the Cylons have begun a bombardment of the ruins.

Starbuck and Athena begin launching a counter-strike from the camp. On the Galactica, Boomer and some of his fellow warriors report for duty. "Lieutenant, obviously you can't even stand", Tigh warns Boomer. Boomer replies "The Viper is flown from the seated position, sir." Just when all seems lost for Starbuck and Athena, Boomer and company rout the Cylon attack. On Kobol, the Cylon attack nearly kills those left in the tomb. Adama is just about to learn of the thirteenth tribe when a Cylon attack shatters the tomb, leaving the writings destroyed and Baltar trapped under the rubble. While Adama's party try to free Baltar, they eventually give up and abandon him. The traitor vows to get even with Lucifer, "you have not heard the last of Baltar!"

Back on the surface, Adama, Serina and Apollo are reunited with Starbuck and Blue Squadron when Cylon infantry guns down Serina. She is mortally wounded but evac'ed to the Galactica before Apollo and Boxey say good-bye. Apollo now must rear the little boy on his own.

A Second Look
This BATTLESTAR outing makes splendid use of John Colicos as Baltar, and the phenomenal robot Lucifer, animated by Felix Silla and voice by Jonathan Harris. The duel of the titan egos on the Basestar takes a strange turn, mixing doses of comedy with treachery. The sight of the IL-Cylon on Baltar's throne approaches farce. But the show belongs to Colicos' Baltar, whose con-artist tour-de-force comes into full bloom on Kobol.

The notion of a star appearing overhead at the very moment when Apollo and Serina are sealed was well played, if a bit too coincidental. When later Baltar apologizes to the air for defiling the ancient crypt, and then begs Adama to "use your power... get us out of here", the whole Kobolian mystery is a bit over the top. It is not clear if the show's makers want us to believe that Adama is tracing the footsteps of history for a well-grounded cause, or if his quest is based on some magic from the dead. One good thing is clear: Adama's Medallion beat Indiana Jones' staff-jewel laser to the Well of Souls by a few years. :-)

Missing from the Sci Fi channel "syndicated" version of this episode was a nice shot of Starbuck's Viper on approach to the Basestar. Other scenes seem chopped down to allow for commercial time. The explanation for Boomer's sudden recovery isn't adequate, either. Way too abrupt. This detracts significantly from the serialization aspect of the series. Speaking of which...

This episode underscores the serialized, soap-opera nature of the series does work well when it is allowed in the oven for long enough, and with the right ingredients. "Part 2" capitalizes on all the events that came before and does well on its own.

Jane Seymour turns in an improved portrayal of Apollo's bride, Serina. Too bad it was her swan song in the role. She was really starting to make something with it. But what was she doing out there on recon probe? That whole scene almost made a farce out of Starbuck's abduction. It's like Mom insisted on following Dad on his trip outta town. "Can I have the keys to the station wagon?" More proof positive that the show's makers did not take the war and military aspects of the series as seriously as they should have.

Spectacle Value
Maren Jensen gives a nice cameo appearance as Athena, ready to fight the Cylons: fluffy hair, makeup and all. If Calvin Klein ever needed a female fighter pilot for a designer jeans ad campaign, Athena would be the lady. Speaking of ladies, at least the "girl" demeaning was toned down. Too bad they had to dub in those silly "Eeeee!" screams when the Cylons attacked the camp. Maybe showing one of the ladies hopping into the turret atop a land-ram would've been a better use of footage. They didn't even have to show the turret firing; just one lady ready to fend off the attackers while the others get clear to their fighters. But this was 1978, after all.

This two-part story cemented the status of Richard Hatch and Dirk Benedict as stars of the show. Make no mistake, even though some remember it as "BATTLESTAR PONDEROSA", Apollo and Starbuck are at the top of the characters list.

While this episode recycles some space and combat footage, the real spectacle is the focus of the plot: the ancient ruins. Every Kobol scene was effective, shot and performed better than anything thus far in the series. Even the Cylon attack worked beautifully. That great success also fuels the confusion behind what the series is trying to communicate about this quest for thirteenth tribe: the physical manifestations seem to suggest the quest is based on ancient heritage, while the magical/legendary aspect suggests mysticism.

The other great thing about GALACTICA is the music. The score here was much better than in "Part 1." This series championed the power of music, even freezing an occasional touch of Colonial pseudo-disco in time. It is a treat to listen to.

IF BATTLESTAR GALACTICA WERE NEW TODAY:

This episode would be the most viable. Even though the Cylons have definitely worn out their welcome by now, the quest and the pursuit are tightly bound in a drama that works well against the backdrop of ancient ruins. Despite this, I also just watched a STARGATE SG-1 rerun of "The Fifth Race," in which Colonel O'Neil is accidentally "programmed" to make contact with the Askard race in another galaxy by reconfiguring the Stargate portal. Ironically, STARGATE seems to borrow from BATTLESTAR's theme of ancient mystery, underdog exploring the unknown, and the serialization of drama. Maybe now, if the older franchise is revived, it can learn from its younger student. STARGATE goes a step further by layering its cosmic history. It isn't just found in ancient historical texts in one place or time. The cosmos is much bigger than that. "The Fifth Race" shows us multiple legacies that are ongoing and more complex. What if this thirteenth tribe branched off, settling in more than one place? Or what if the thirteenth tribe intermarried with another race, and turns out not to be human anymore? Or what if it turns out that the Galactica unknowingly is leading the thirteenth tribe, and will ultimately settle on Earth? Or what if Earth is humanity's point of origin, which then spread to Kobol, and lost track of its roots? (Maybe the Great Colonies are thousands of years in humankind's future.)

They would have to do a better job depicting the abyss.

If they ever got their hands on another casting coup like Jane Seymour, they had better not let go of her. Mistakus collossus!

They would have to be a little more clever with their allegories. Some say the series reminded them of the Mormon legacy. Others say it was derived from THE AENID by Virgil. There is also a whiff of the original American colonists arriving from England to escape persecution under the Crown. This was impossible to define in one year's slate of episodes. If a revival were to champion an agenda, it would have to choose a direction (or directions) to go in and be more thorough in defining them.

They would also have to be more careful how they treat regular characters, like Baltar and Lucifer. Even a non-serialized drama cannot show scenes like the one with Lucifer on the throne or the one where Baltar is trapped in the tomb without showing how they are reconciled. Irresponsiblus galacticus!

They should do what is necessary to lure Patrick MacNee back to the show, if only for brief appearances and/or voice-overs. The introductory "There are those who believe..." narrative is best kept alive, and delivered by him.

TIDBITS & NITPICKS

Neat: the Cylons are supposed to still be hidden in the void, yet there are stars everywhere.

Apollo's plea to Adama to flee Kobol "while the star is still dormant" makes it clear that Kobol is in the heart of the abyss, not its far edge. So why do we see so many stars there? Does the abyss mask a wormhole or something that sends the ships across hyperspace to emerge in a new galaxy, a la "The Long Patrol" and "The Hand of God"? This is never fully established, one way or another.

Kobol must have a peculiar rotation. When they go into the tomb, it is day, when Starbuck reappears, it is night. When Adama unwittingly opens the tomb's deepest chamber, it is as if mid-day is near. When the Cylons attack, it is night again. If these sudden changes occur because of the fluctuations in the star, it's a miracle this world isn't in an ice age.

It makes no sense...
... for Apollo to allow his green pilot-trainees to make planetfall with their Vipers. They don't need fighter-craft down there, much less that many pilots.
... for the Cylons to attack the ruins, not the Galactica first.
... for so many pilots to be with their ships on the planet, and then Boomer and his squadron launch with even more ships from the Galactica. I don't think they are supposed to have that many Vipers at this stage in the series.

Again, in order for the "endless" nature of this void to make any sense, all craft in the Galactica and Cylon fleets, especially fighters, must be capable of at least the speed of light, if not several times that speed. The generic term "lightspeed" must apply to varying magnitudes of faster-than-light travel.

Nice to see that Sara Rush's "Woman on Duty" is instead listed as Rigel. She made a nice little supporting cameo in "Part 1", and again in "Part 2". She delivers a professional sounding "launch when ready." Too bad we don't get to see more.

Even though Hatch's Apollo and Benedict's Starbuck get the top billing, everyone else still gets the best lines, from Athena needling Starbuck to get into battle, to Adama's parting shot to Baltar "It seems your friends have sealed your fate as well as ours." And the best scene in this episode was when Baltar first appeared in the tomb and Adama lunged at the traitor. Lorne Greene still had some action in him! :-)

You have to love the charitable nature of Adama and his family. There's Baltar, a guy who would make Hitler look like a pussycat, trapped under that rubble, and Adama, Apollo and Serina are risking their lives and giving themselves a hernia just to save that crazy, corrupt S.O.B. That's compassion of Biblical proportions!

I was saddened to hear of the passing of actress Grace Lee Whitney this past Friday as I'm sure all of you were.

She was unforgettable as Yeoman Janice Rand on the legendary & original Star Trek.

Of course she did more than Star Trek...matter of fact her first on screen performance was in the comedy masterpiece "Some Like it Hot" starring Marilyn Monroe.

Probably a lot out there might not know that she also appeared in the Batman television series with Adam West, but perhaps the role that we will always remember her by will be in Star Trek.

Having met & talked to her, I can see with all honesty that she was a truly nice lady...she was even my dinner partner in New York City!

Long story short on that one...we were both at the same Con back in 1999 & a group of us went out for dinner at a Japanese steak house & we were seated next to each other...totally interesting conversation.

That led to continued contact via phone and ultimately to a really great interview that I did with her about her career.

In the next couple of days I will share the transcript of that interview with everyone.

Needless to say she was a true winner, battled some demons in her life and overcame them and emerged a stronger person for it.

Grace, you will be missed!

“Second star to the right and straight on 'til morning. ”

It was a great pleasure to sit down with Mark Goddard (The original Major Don West) from Lost in Space.

Mark got his start on television with a role in the 1959  series Johnny Ringo.

Aside from his recurring role in Lost in Space Mark also appeared (among many other roles) on Perry Mason, The Mod Squad & The Fall Guy.

He also appeared in the rebooted film version of Lost in Space.

Shawn: What was your first Con experience?

Mark: In Georgia around 1985.

Billy Mumy couldn't make it so he recommended me to go in his place.

Shawn: How did it go?

Mark: Very well...as most cons do.

Shawn: How about the best Con you've been to?

Mark: I have always loved Chiller in New Jersey.

Shawn; How about the worst Con?

Mark: Never had a bad one as long as the fans are happy.

Shawn:: How about the strangest or most unusual fan you've encountered at a Con?

Mark: I guess the fan who wanted to cut a lock of my hair and I let him do it!

Shawn: Any actual bad experiences?

Mark: At Chiller one year, I was in a circus type tent when a mini tornado hit.

Pictures flying everywhere as artists got the heck out.
Shawn: What would you do differently if you were running a Con?

Mark: Just make sure the fans are well taken care of, and are treated with respect.

Shawn: Ever want to get an autograph?

Mark: I used to get some for my students when I taught school.

Shawn: What projects are you current!ly working on?

Mark: I am currently working on my second book.

The first was To Space and Back which has been very well received by my fans at MGAS on Facebook.

Shawn: What future projects do you have in mind?

Mark: Only to continue writing, as ideas come up!

A few years ago, I was contacted by a group called Wildlife Media an intrepid group of filmmakers, conservationists & businesspeople headed up by Bear biologist Chris Morgan.

It so happened that they were beginning an epic nature film called "Beartrek" that they asked Bear McCreary to collaborate on musically.

They, in turn, asked Bear if he knew of any groups online that he thought would embrace their message & he referred the Battlestar Galactica Fan Club as one of those he thought to be likely.

I'm grateful that Bear pointed them in mine & your direction, because I know this is something that Battlestar Galactica fans would readily embrace.

Why do I say this?

Simply put, someone once mentioned to me that Battlestar Galactica when all is told is the end of a story.

It is when you boil it down to it's basics, humankind, the totality of the race of man pushed to the point of extinction.

This is mirrored in the subjects that concern Wildlife Media...whole species on our planet...Bears one of them, whose very existence rests in the balance.

Every animal family on this planet is vital, as well as every plant family... their continued and rapid extinction across the board is doing this world terrible damage and we never know when the final keystone might be pulled...and that will lead up to mankind's own doorstep.

So please consider supporting Wildlife Media in their efforts to conserve our world.

Chris & the rest of the crew there are very hard working, very dedicated and I think very wonderful people.

Chris will be hosting a three part series on PBS called Animal Homes

Please take a moment & take a look at this video shorts:

Episode 1: The Nest

Episode 2: Location, Location, Location

Also be on the lookout for the last party of this trilogy:

Episode 3: Animal Cities

This is Chris Morgan on the Late Show with David Letterman

This is Chris in an open video letter to the members of the Battlestar Galactica Fan Club, explaining how Bear & Battlestar came together...

So Say We All!

The Raven Command Challenge Coin is filled with heraldry and symbols that express our creed, beliefs and values. The following are the descriptions of these symbols and what we hold each to represent.

Stars represent Excellence, and the numerous stars mean we expect effort and results in everything we do.

The laurel wreath signifies Success and Victory.

The Raven stands for Providence and Destiny. When over a globe with wings displayed it also signifies Dominion and Protection over all in our Charge.

The trident over a map shows Dominion over the Sea of Stars and Space we Sail.

The sword represents Strength, Justice and Honor. The lightning bolt stands for Swiftness and Power. The two crossed and pointed upwards represent Military Honor and that we are Ready for a Fight.

The Greek helmet signifies Wisdom, Strength and Leadership.

The colors signify: Gold – intelligence; Black – dependability; and Red – the Warrior’s color.

The words “BFC Raven Command” are our Ship, our Creed and our Responsibility. The very word “Raven” means “Strategist in Battle”.

The motto “NIL SATIS NISI OPTIMUM” means nothing but the best is acceptable, in word or deed.

The use of the BSG phrase demonstrates Respect for the Past, along with our ties and debt to it. “SO SAY WE ALL” reflects our commitment to our missions, our beliefs and to each other.

CTO of the graphic: Steve "Kreios" Tweed

I just wanted to take my time to wish each and everyone on Battlestar Raven, HAPPY 4th Year Chapter Anniversary to each and everyone of you. It has bee a long and hard journey for her considering her rough beginning.  But the success she is enjoying now, is because of each and everyone of her members ( both current or old timers should I say ;-) - and new ).  Your combine hard work got her to where she is now and she and leads with example.  The ownership, pride, friendship, comraderie, talent, fun and a sense of family that the Raven crew has, is something that makes her unique and strong. This is what will make her rise above anything.  We keep this group simple, fun, and NOT a competition. If there is anything I have learned from my experience being a part of a fan club that things so seriously, it takes the fun out of things and people end up going against each other.  Things will begin to crumble after that.  And that is something I am very thankful for that the Raven is FREE from.  And I will would like to keep it that way.  This group has work far too hard to get to where she is now.  So to all Ravens, keep showing your pride and loyalty which you have already done so. And the Raven will keep rising and soaring above.

To help celebrate the Raven's 4th Year Chapter Anniversary, we will announce the winner of the free round trip airfare and VIP ticket to Galacticon 4.  This was put together by me and my husband along with the collaboration of the other Raven Command Staff members.  We had to really think hard for months.  My husband and I decided to put this together because we both know and have been watching, that not everyone has the same financial capabilities to go to conventions.  And we got thinking to ourselves and combine forces, in making that one select person's dream come true. The person selected is someone that has been a part of the Raven crew since her beginning.  This individual has shown nothing but loyalty and integrity as part of the crew.  He once told me that he may not be as talented as the other members we have including myself but he will certainly do what he can and in what he is good at.  And he has just done that.  No failure. This individual is a very good motivator.  He has evolve from someone not knowing at first what he needs to do or what he can do, to someone that keeps wanting to learn, taking initiative of doing things.  And this individual has stuck with the Raven in bad times and in good times.  And this EVERYONE, is a characteristic that makes a group strong if you have people like this as part of the crew.

So without further ado, the winner of the Raven Battle Group free roundtrip airfare and VIP ticket to Galacticon 4 is Keith "Leonidas" Ranson.  One of the Galacticon 4 VIP tickets that I have in my possession,  will be immediately transferred to you and the roundtrip airfare ticket will be given to you on the side at the appropriate time due to some personal information that we might need to book you the ticket. Now if for some reason you are not able to go due to your work, then a second person will be chosen in your place.  But I am sure you would want to go ;-) 

Congratulation Leonidas!  You deserve it!   MORE TO COME EVERYONE AS ANOTHER THING WILL BE REVEALED! :-)

SO SAY WE ALL!!!!  " NIL SATIS NISI OPTIMUM!"  Get used to seeing that phrase from the Raven Battle Group! You will soon find out everyone why here shortly.  ;-) :-)

Bill has appeared in more than 400 television shows as well as 20 films, but one of those roles in particular that
really put him on the sci-fi radar was his part in the original Twilight Zone episode "It's a Good Life" (a role which he reprised on the second of two Twilight Zone revival's "It's Still a Good Life".

Of course he firmly solidified himself in the science fiction firmament with his iconic role as Will Robinson on the classic series "Lost in Space".
Bill has also played the role of "alien", appearing as the Minbari Lennier on Babylon 5.
He continues to act (including voice over) as well a being a working musician!

Bill has produced a number of albums (with a new one coming out soon) and is also a part of the comedy-rock duo "Barnes & Barnes" known for the novelty song "Fish Heads"!

Shawn: What was your first Con experience?

Bill: As a guest? Hmmmm... It was in the late 70's.
Probably '78 or '79.
I THINK the very first one was for a Creation Convention.
I did a bunch of those, for Adam Malin and Gary Berman.

Shawn: How did it go?

Bill: Great.
In the beginning of my convention experiences, I would be paid an appearance fee by the promoters and then sign autographs for free, which was very natural and comfortable for me.
This of course was like 35 years ago and things changed quickly in that arena... I felt uncomfortable charging people for my autograph for a long time.
I kept seeing Jimmy Stewart in my head, knowing he would never do that.

Shawn: Best Con you've been to?

Bill: Different cons for different reasons... Early San Diego Cons for hanging with people like Jack Kirby and Stan Lee... playing gigs with Seduction of the Innocent to legendary comic book creators... For sci-fi, I'd probably say the Shore Leave in Baltimore about twelve years ago was a great con.
Big enough to be profitable, yet small enough to be comfortable... my whole family went to that con and we had a great time.
I think Babylon 5 was still on the air.
Went to a few lovely cons with the cast of B5 in Blackpool,England that were really great... Jamming at Chiller in New Jersey was always a lot of fun... Very early WonderCon's up in Oakland were cool and I have some funny memories from those... And when the Lost in Space cast got together for the very first time to celebrate our 25th anniversary in 1990 in Boston, that was a really great time.
I've been to so many... the memories get blurred.
I enjoy them, it's flattering getting your ego stroked and seeing old friends... but they are definitely work... I always want people to feel they've had a positive experience when they meet me... But I am not comfortable flying on airplanes anymore though.
I do not enjoy going to airports and flying on planes.
That's the singular reason why I don't do many cons these days.

Shawn: Worst Con?

Bill: I went to a small toy type show on the east coast in the 90's and there was a blizzard and tons of snow and the event was pretty poorly attended and quite slow, and I spent the weekend sitting next to Pete Best, the original drummer in the Beatles.

He was super nice and fab, a true gentleman, but people just came up to him all weekend and talked to him like he was the greatest loser in the history of pop culture and it was uncomfortable to witness.
He was very generous and nice about it all, though.
But, that ranks up there in the worst.

Shawn: Strangest or most unusual fan you've encountered at a Con?

Bill: Ha! Countless... Right now at this moment, my mind goes to some creep in an elevator at DragonCon who insisted that I wish him into the cornfield... He wanted me to "act" for him and do the whole bit, and I was tired, it was the end of a long day and I was just trying to head up to my room, and this guy wouldn't stop, and he put his hands around my neck, like he was gonna strangle me... and I almost went Kung Fu on him.
Peter David was there at the time, we had just created "Space Cases" for Nickelodeon, and he couldn't believe the nerve of this guy, putting his hands on my neck!
I really did come close to hurting him.
I've also had a few people ask me to autograph parts of their body that they were going to have tattooed... I advised them against it, but I did do it... and so did they.

Shawn: Any actual bad experiences?

Bill: Well, The idiot in the elevator was not a good one... I also went to a con in New York once, after receiving death threats traced by the police to New York.
This was before I had kids.
My wonderful wife Eileen wanted me to cancel, but I refused to be run by fear at the time.
I went. But I wore a bullet proof vest the whole time!
Shaun Cassidy took me to a police gear store to get it.
It was winter, so... whatever.
No one shot me, but I was slightly uncomfortable the entire time.
Especially during the Q&A's.

Shawn: What would you do differently if you were running a Con?

Bill: I'd fly me first class and pay me more.

Shawn: Ever want to get an autograph?

Bill: Sure.
I have a lot of autographs. I can totally relate to the fan mentality.

I'm thrilled by some of my personal autographs.
"To Billy, Best wishes, George Harrison" or "To Bill Mumy, Lost in Space! Best Wishes, Bob Dylan"...
It makes me happy to know I was in their consciousness for a few seconds at least.
I get it.
When I was a kid, I always got autographs at the end of the tv shows and movies I did.
I have a ton of classics.

Shawn: What are you currently working on?

Bill: My new album, "Ten Days" is coming out in the next couple weeks on the GRA label... I've been working hard co-producing bonus material for the Lost in Space 50th anniversary Blu Ray box set as well... (Some REALLY cool stuff there!)...
I'm doing voice over work right now for the History Channel 4 part special; "The Civil War: In Color" and I'm honored to be voicing Abraham Lincoln's speeches...I've been gigging musically,  in a band & doing an album with Vicki Peterson and John Cowsill while the late Rick Rosas played bass on our tracks.

Hope to finish that up this year... and Angela Cartwright and I are putting the final tweakage on our fantasy novel,
"On Purpose"....It's a busy time for me.

 Shawn: Future projects?

Bill: Yes.

More.

Please.

Thank you!

Greetings Fellow Colonials!

Well, here they are..the wrap of Hero awards from 2014.

We are going to be putting the awards on a hiatus for a while...but ya never know when they might be back!

So without further ado...

Our first honoree is an actor who appeared in the original Battlestar Galactica, where he appeared as the recurring character of Lt. Giles, something else to note is that actor Larry Manetti is also the foster son of an entertainment legend...ole blue eyes himself, Frank Sinatra!

Congratulations Larry!

Our next honoree is a face well known to fans of the reimagined Battlestar Galactica...she played a character that was pivotal not only to the Cylons but overall to the show as well...you could call her a connection, a hybrid if you will...Tiffany Lyndall-Knight played exactly that part, the hybrid(s) that guided the Cylon basestars.

Congratulations Tiffany!

Finally our remaining person so honored is an actor who has also (among other things) appeared on both Arrow and Falling Skies...but for BSG fans he is better known as Marine Barnes on Battlestar Galactica: Blood and Chrome as Marine Baris...a round of applause for actor Tom Stevens!

As always, thanks for checking out this bit of news...and again, a big clapping of hands for those that made their characters come to life for all the fans of these shows.

So Say We All!

Shawn O'Donnell

President

Battlestar Galctica Fan Club

Battlestar Raven – Coming to Comicpalooza Houston – May 22-25

Building up to the big Galacticon 4 show in Seattle, the Raven Battle Group Crew will have booths at Comicpalooza Houston on May 22-25. Command Staff, Pilots, Cylons, Colonial Marines, villainous prisoners, and cosplayers from Classic and Re-imagined Series will be on hand. Memorabilia will be displayed, photos will be posed, give aways will be given, Galacticon 4 in Seattle will be promoted and all things Family fun will occur. Dress up, come down and join in.

http://www.comicpalooza.com/

http://battlestarfanclub.com/

http://www.galacticon.org/

https://www.facebook.com/BattlestarRavenBFC002

Bojay has been busy...and while this is a departure from what you might expect to see Jack do.

Being the bad guy always allows an actor to do just a little more (which means chewing extra scenery!) so check out this clip from the short film "Sons of Guns"...

This time out, we are talking with Jack Stauffer...who all fans of BSG know played the role of Bojay in the original series.

Jack has a long history in television (and film) along with a thriving stage career...beginning on television with his role on All My Children as Dr. Chuck Tyler, he has also appeared in The Partridge Family, Harry O, The Bionic Woman, The Fall Guy, &...well the list goes on.

Jack always brings his good sense of humor to any convention he graces & is a true fan favorite!

Shawn: What was your first convention experience?

Jack: I had no idea what a sci fi convention was. I was on a commercial audition one day late 97 or early 98 and ran into Annie (Lockhart). I was pissing and moaning about how little work there was and she asked why I didn't try to go to a few cons. I told her I had no idea what she was talking about. She asked if by any chance I had any pictures of me from the show. She came over to my house for coffee and i showed her the three original pix that I got from the publicity dept. at Universal when we all heard the show was canceled. Those are the black suit pictures and they were on the wall in my den. Annie went nuts because she did not know there were any pix of us in the black suits. She and I agreed to a swap. I gave her the picture of her and me and she introduced me to the con world.1st con I think was that Hollywood Show they do all the time in L:A. From there it was the big Creation Star Trek show in Pasadena. That was when we had more access to Creation. It was at the Pasadena Creation in 1998 that Richard and I reconnected and I agreed to help with "The 2nd. Coming". I then really started to go to cons with Richard when we were promoting the trailer. Sophie (LaPorte) packaged the two of us together.

Shawn: So how did it go, those first cons?

Jack: I think I discovered very early that I did not have nearly enough drawing power to pursue doing cons full time. Even in the beginning, the fact that I did the last four episodes and was not one of the BSG contract players meant that when it came time for fans to buy one of my pictures it was always after they had everyone else.

Shawn: What would you say was your best con?

Jack: Best con believe it or not was one of the Joe Motes cons in Orlando. Long before Megacon. Joe's cons attracted the fans who wanted autographs. They were Saturday Sunday events which he held two or three times a year. It wasn't that there were thousands of people attending. However, everyone was there to see the actors. Katy was with me and I remember we didn't have a line or anything. It was just a steady stream of one or two people. I didn't even know how much we made. On Saturday night she dumped the cash on the hotel bed and I was overwhelmed at how well we did. We did about half that amount on Sunday. The only other one that came close was a Toronto Trek where Richard and I sat together and kept the fans laughing all weekend. The US dollar was strong then and when I changed the currency from Canadian to US dollars I was surprised at how well we did. Interestingly, big cons like Dragoncon and Comic Con and Megacon where everyone said I would make a fortune were always disappointing because although there were thousands of people, there were too many actors from newer shows with big names and that's where people spent money.

Jack on Lois and Clark

Shawn: How about the worst con?

Jack: in terms of money would be one in Lubbock Texas at Texas Tech University. There was literally nobody there. I remember Jeremy Bulloch and I sat and swapped stories all weekend. I had no guarantee or anything and made $100. Other horrible one was the big Wizard con in Anaheim. All they gave us was a table but they promised thousands of fans. I drove down and got a hotel room at my expense. There were a lot of fans (over 5000) and also every actor who had ever been on a sci fi, horror, anime, etc. show. The big draw was all the actors from "Lost". I did get to sit next to Mickey Rooney all weekend.

Shawn: Strangest or most unusual fan you've encountered?

Jack: Craziest fan was the guy who kept giving me the dialogue and expecting me to remember what I said as Bojay.

Shawn: Any actual bad experiences?

Jack: I would never say I was treated badly by any con promoter. I have been left at the airport a couple of times. I have been stiffed by a con promoter twice when the con did not do well and I was given a check for my guarantee which bounced. I have always treated the fans with respect so I have not had a fan be overly rude to me. What I have always hated was schlepping my bod across the country, sitting behind a table for three days, and not making a dime. I always felt like I was begging like a merchant in a bazaar in some third world country.

Maybe it's better to say unfortunate experiences rather than bad experiences. What all of us from the original BSG have to realize is we are in way less demand these days. Firstly, the show has been gone for 35 years and any fan who might want one of my pictures probably has it. There are no new episodes with new pictures that somebody might want to add to a collection. There are also way too many newer shows with younger more prominent casts which appeal to a younger audience many of whom don't even know the original BSG. You also have more and more big names who are asking exorbitant fees for pictures ensuring that the fans are out of money before they get around to someone like me. I had a conversation with Dirk recently and he told me he was pretty much through with doing cons because of the reasons I have stated. Now I have sat next to Dirk for a weekend and watched him get wrist cramps from signing so many BSG and A Team pictures. If he feels his earning potential is worse, imagine how it affects me.

Shawn: What would you do differently if you were running a convention?

Jack: That's a broad topic.. In a nut shell - give the fans more than they usually get at an average con, make it convenient and reasonably priced for them to attend, and be thoroughly organized so you can make a profit. PROMOTE - PROMOTE - - PROMOTE!!!

What I personally would like to see in a con are options that would allow a promoter to invite a lower tier guest such as myself. As you know very well, I have always had a great reputation as being an exceptionally fan friendly guest. It has always been my policy, if I have been invited to a con, to be available to the con for the duration and to do everything I could to help the con be successful. I have comported myself and treated fans exactly the same way whether they bought pictures or just wanted to gab. I have kept my autograph prices below what many people are charging and I have never made a fan pay me if he or she just wanted a snapshot of me or of me and the fan.

What I can offer and what I would like to see a con offer is something other than an old actor sitting behind a table. That is why I came up with the Cabaret and lately why I have added the theatre seminar. This is entertainment and programming other than the old Q&A's with the same old questions. Why do you think Richard came up with his acting class?

Back in the early 2000's I found the cabaret got me into several cons that otherwise would never have invited me. Mostly they were smaller cons with fewer actors which allowed time for different programming. I had no idea whether or not sci-fi geeks would even relate or want to hear songs from Broadway shows wrapped around a few funny stories. I was amazed at how well it went over. I found it was easier to ask for a fee for me to provide evening entertainment rather than just ask for an overall guarantee. That way if not a lot of people wanted to buy autographed pictures I still came home with a few dollars in my pocket.

Guys, wouldn't you like to offer entertainment other than seeing "Rocky Horror Picture Show" for the millionth time?? That is what I bring. I can offer something to a con other than just an old actor hawking 35 year old pictures. I was so disappointed at SCI-CON and Geekonomicon when we had to cancel the cabaret because there weren't any people. I had spent quite a bit of time rehearsing it and polishing it and I was looking forward to doing it. I am an actor, and entertainer, and a teacher. I am a professional with 45 years of experience. I am good at what I do and I want to pay it forward. Make use of me. The only thing I ask for in return is a ridiculously small guarantee. Considering what other actors charge for just allowing you the privilege of being in their presence for a couple of hours a day, I am a bargain.

Shawn: Ever want an autograph from someone?

Jack:  I do not collect autographs

Shawn: What are you working on now?

Jack: I am working on trying to walk without pain.

Shawn: So how about future projects?

Jack:  Future plans - - General Douglas McArthur said: "Old soldiers never die. They simply fade away." I say: "Old actors never die. They always hope there is one more gig."

Another little tidbit from our friends at NBC!

Hello Everyone,

That time again...and as a matter of fact overdue!

These are the Heroes!

We have a few of 'em here...so let's get right to it...

Probably best known for his role on Emergency! this actor portrayed Michael in the TOS episode "Greetings From Earth"...Randolph Mantooth...

Also from the original series, an actor who was a familiar face on the bridge of the Battlestar Galactica, portraying Omega...David Greenan...

Moving to the reimagined Battlestar Galactica we salute an actress who played the role of the President's sister...Cheryl Roslin...the actress? Sarah Deakins...

Again from the reimagined series, another actor that you saw on the flight deck of the Galactica...Specialist Socinus...otherwise known as Alonso Oyarzun....

Finally (and as they say, last but not least) and rounding out our list, the actor who portrayed (again in the reimagined BSG) Viper pilot James "Jammer" Lyman....Dominic Zamprogna

There you have them folks...our Heroes of Battlestar Galactica!

So Say We All!

Shawn O'Donnell

President

Battlestar Galactica Fan Club

I just wanted to quickly take my time to wish all my Ravens and members of the Ravens Friends and Family Circle, a very HAPPY MERRY CHRISTMAS to you and your family!  As the year 2014 comes to an end in just a couple of days, I look back at what we have accomplished as a group this year on the Raven.  And I have to say, we keep outdoing and raising the bar each year for ourselves and surpassing it.  And 2015 I can guarantee you, will be another "YEAR OF THE RAVEN"!!!!  

So to all the new members we have aboard the Raven and Battlestar Galactica Fan Club as whole, welcome and a Merry Christmas to all of you and your family!  Thank you for joining us and our tight knit family of friends!!!!  And to ALL my Ravens out there, THANK YOU for all your hard work and another good year.  But most importantly, THANK YOU for your friendship!!!!!!!

2015, WATCH OUT!!!!!!!! THIS WILL BE ANOTHER YEAR OF THE RAVEN!!!!! GO RAVENS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

In Service,

"DragonLady"

Vice President of Battlestar Galactica Fan Club

Commanding Officer-Battlestar Raven-BFC 002

"Loadout: Going In Hot" is a sci-fi short inspired by the popular, hyper-violent, third-person shooter "Loadout" from Edge of Reality. Introducing viewers to Gaz, Captain of the HMS Loadout, and his loyal crew, the film delivers to viewers the same excitement, absurdity, and key gameplay elements that fans of the game have come to know and love.
Headlined by Richard Hatch (Battlestar Galactica, All My Children) who brilliantly portrays Captain Gaz, the film features a strong ensemble cast which serves to create a character-driven drama that doesn't ignore the fast-paced, high stakes action that are mainstays of the gaming experience.
Directed by Vincent Talenti (Red Star, Fallout: Nuka Break), the short film also stars Mattew Mercer (Resident
Evil 6, Iron Man: Rise of Technovore), Bonnie Bower (Fallout: Nuka Break, Escape), Jon Enge (Mars Rising
Films), Becca Hardy (Off-Season), and Circus-Szalewski (Fallout: Nuka Break, Conan O'Brien)
In a novel twist on the well-traveled sci-fi genre, "Loadout: Going In Hot" follows a group of "merchant marines in space" who compete with other local haulers in the highly profitable (and extremely dangerous) antiquities and curios shipping business. Gaz and his crew scramble to avert a ship-wide disaster; while racing against the clock and Gaz's arch nemesis, Mick, in their quest to retrieve a high value cargo payload. Like other critically acclaimed sci-fi properties (Firefly, Battlestar Galactica), "Loadout: Going In Hot" is peppered with genre action and violence while focusing on character development and interactions.

Tuesday, December 16
8am  The live-action short film "Loadout: Going In Hot" will be released on Machinima Prime's Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/user/MachinimaPrime 12-2 pm Live Stream Gameplay of the video game on Twitch tv. Richard will be playing Loadout, the video game, live! (more details on this later)
6-7pm  Twitter Party where we'll live chat with Richard Hatch and Loadout cast and crew. Follow @hmsloadout and @thumbfighter and #loadout to join the conversation.