Jerry Doyle Movies

This two-part pilot episode for Babylon 5 was originally telecast as a single two-hour TV movie on February 22, 1993 (the "official" release date of March 8 refers to the film's Chicago TV premiere). Like the subsequent series, "The Gathering" takes place in the 23rd century, and was set on Babylon 5, a space station hovering in neutral territory which is used as a center of trade and diplomacy for a wide variety of friendly and hostile planets. As the space station becomes fully operational, the crew must deal with the attempting poisoning of Vorlan ambassador Kosh Naranek, for which B5 commander Jeffrey Sinclair is being held responsible. Complicating matters is the refusal of the Vorlans to allow any medical treatment for their ambassador. Written by series producer-creator J. Michael Straczynski, "The Gathering" features several actors who were supposed to have played recurring characters, but for various reasons were written out of the weekly version: Tamlyn Tomita as Lt. Cmdr. Laurel Takamisha, Blaire Baron as Caroline Sykes, Johnny Sekka as Dr. Benjamin Kyle and Patricia Tallman as Lyta Alexander. The pilot won an Emmy Award for special effects, and a Hugo nomation for "Best Dramatic Presentation" -- this in spite of almost universal damnation from mainstream TV critics. On January 4, 1998, the TNT cable network offered a re-edited version of "The Gathering", with a new musical score by Christopher Frake (replacing the one composed by Stewart Copeland), a handful of new computer-generated special effects, a number of judicious cuts, and several previously excised sequences, including a lengthy hostage-crisis subplot. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

David Warner guest-stars as Aldous Gajic, a futuristic "King Arthur" who has spent all his life searching for the Holy Grail. His arrival on B5 coincides with a plot hatched by Downbelow hoodlum Deuce (William Sanderson) to gain control of other people's minds. And what has all this to do with the erratic behavior of Ambassador Kosh? Written by Christy Marx, "Grail" first aired July 6, 1994, after nearly six weeks' worth of rerun episodes. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Garibaldi is forced to become a fugitive from justice when he is framed on charge of causing a tragic explosion in one of the fighter bays. His chief persecutor is Elaine Thomas (Lianna Kemmer), head of the President's security, who vengefully hopes to settle an old score. Will the experience push Garibaldi into hitting the bottle again? Originally titled "A Knife in the Shadows", "Survivors" was written by Marc Scott Zicree, author of the essential TV-history volume The Twilight Zone Companion. The episode was originally telecast on May 4, 1994. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Nearly a full year after the first telecast of the two-hour pilot, the weekly, 60-minute Babylon 5 series proper began on January 26, 1994 with "Midnight on the Firing Line." It is now 2258 AD; the Babylon 5 has become the target of increased attacks from enemy pirates, a situation exacerbated by a personal feud between Londo and G'Kar. Making matters even worse, a Narn attack on the peaceful agricultural colony of Ragesh 3 threatens to explode into all-out warfare unless Sinclair can put a lid on the crisis. Watch for cameo appearances by executive producer Douglas Netter and costume designer Ann Bruce. "Midnight on the Firing Line" was written by J. Michael Straczynski. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Susan discovers that her ex-lover Malcolm Biggs (Tristan Rogers) is a member of the Homeguard, a radical pro-Earth terrorist group. The Homeguard intends to rekindle old prejudices by assassinating Minbari poet/ambassador Shaal Mayan (Nancy Lee Grahn). Meanwhile, a young Centauri (Rodney Eastman) balks at the prospect of a tradtional arranged marriage. Written by Star Trek fixture D.C. Fontana, "The War Prayer" first aired on March 9, 1994. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The crew of Babylon 5 is thrown into a state of panic when Cmdr. Sinclair rescues an alien Soul Hunter (W. Morgan Sheppard). It is well known that the alien's avowed purpose is to capture people's souls at the moment of death. Thus, each crew member is terrified that he or she will be targeted as the alien's next "catch." Also known as "Amaranth", "Soul Hunter" was written by J. Michael Stracynski; the episode first aired on February 2, 1994. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Talia's former teacher and lover, rogue telepath Jason Ironheart (William Allen Young, arrives on B5 with the Psi Cops hot on his trail. The victim of a secret experiment, Ironheart now possesses artifically enhanced "psi" skills, enabling him to "think" people into oblivion. And in another development, Catherine Sakai (Julia Nickson) ignores G'Kar's warnings and heads for Sigma 957. Star Trek stalwart Walter Koening appears as Psi Cop Bester. First telecast on March 2, 1994, "Mind War" was written by J. Michael Straczynski. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Jonathan Charles Kaplan portrays an ailing alien youngster who desperately needs an operation. But the boys' parents (Tricia O'Neil and Stephen Lee) refuse to give Dr. Franklin permission to operate, citing their religious beliefs. Elsewhere on B5, Ivanova prepares to undertake a dangerous escort mission. "Believers" was written by science-fiction maestro David Gerrold, who manages to make brief but significant references to his own novels Under the Eye of God and Covenant of Justice. The episode first aired on April 27, 1994. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Russ Tamblyn guest-stars as Capt. Maynard, an old war buddy of Captain Sheridan's. Maynard's arrival prompts Sheridan to realign his priorities --- and then disaster strikes. On other fronts, Delenn runs afoul of the Delenn hierarchy, while Dr. Franklin tries to administer nutritional advice to some unwilling patients. The episode rushes to a conclusion with a desperate rescue mission, launched from hyperspace. Written by D.C. Fontana, "A Distant Star" was originally telecast on November 23, 1994. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Security Chief Garibaldi remains comatose after being shot while investigating the assassination of the Earth Alliance president. In hopes of saving Garibaldi's life, Dr. Franklin performs a forbidden alien medical procedure. Meanwhile, Delenn takes on an entirely new appearance after emerging from her cocoon, Sheridan's sister arrives to reopen the Commander's grief over the loss of his wife, G'Kar returns from the destroyed Quad 37 armed with new information about an old enemy of the Narn. Written by J. Michael Straczynski, "Revelations" first aired on November 9, 1994. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Garibaldi is forced to arrest Amis (Dwight Schultz), an unhinged war veteran who insists that Judgement Day is approaching. Amis is especially agitated when Earth woman Mariah Cirrus (Anne-Marie Johnson) is awakened from a 100-year cryonic slumber. Things take an even more frightening turn as Mariah likewise begins experiencing visions of doom. Originally broadcast on November 30, 1994, "The Long Dark" was written by Scott Frost. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The body of a legendary Minbari war hero disappears during a brief stopover on Babylon 5. As the threat of retaliatory action hangs heavily of the space station, Ivanova risks another crisis by sheltering teenage telepathic Alisa Beldon (Grace Una from the Psi Corps. Scripted by D.C. Fontana, "Legacies" was the only first-season Babylon 5 episode not based on a premise by series creator J. Michael Straczynski. The episode first aired on July 20, 1994. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide