Greetings Earthers!! Some GREAT news for all SPACE CASES fans! NICKELODEON is not planning to stop showing the reruns in the near future AND they've finally listened to us all and are planning to air the first season episodes!! Here's what NickOpTery, the current NickOp for the AOL SPACE CASES board, had to say:

Now, we don't know why NICK chose to not air the episodes in order, but at least we're FINALLY getting the first season episodes!! So get those VCRs tuned up and lay in a supply of tapes!

We're coming down to the wire on the first meeting with the SciFi Channel -- and it was YOUR letters that made the difference -- keep it up, folks -- you've done a WONDERFUL job and you should all be very, very proud of how you've stuck with it!! Keep writing those terrific letters!! Here's the addresses:

The letter writing campaign is going extremely well!! You folks are really making an impact! Here's what Bill and Peter had to say this week:
From Bill Mumy:

May 3, 1997

HI EVERYONE!
Sorry for yelling, but I'm very excited. I just received the following e-mail from Peter David (and also heard the same news from Bill Mumy) and I just HAD to pass it right along.
Now it is VERY important that we step up the mail and support. Tell the SciFi Channel how old you are, how your family and friends watch SPACE CASES, and tell them *what* you like about it. Give them a review or two -- let them know what's captured your imagination about the show -- be constructive so they know there's real support here.
Here's the SciFi address again:

Zabagabe!
Eileen
Navigator
ZaBaGaBe!! The Unofficial Online SPACE CASES Fan Club

After doing preliminary investigation, Sci-Fi Channel's interest in picking up SPACE CASES has grown. We've sent them even more info about the show, including our bible, and a thick sheaf of positive reviews from when the series first debuted. And I strongly suspect that the flood of supportive letters going to the SFC have also had a major effect. For that matter, it occurs to me (particularly if they want to see reviews) that if fans are producing fanzines, web pages and such, that they should be sending print-outs of those as well to SFC, just to show them the amount of support and excitement the series generates. Basically, we want to show them that the series has the same beginnings of support that eventually grew into tidal waves of support for such series as "Trek" and "B5"...and, for that matter, MST3K. PAD

HEY! Listen Up! The letter writing campaign is DEFINATELY having an effect!! Here is what Peter David has recently said about this letter-writing business:

I'm getting a ton of people asking me whether writing in to Nickelodeon could do anything to help the series or change their minds. The answer is: I don't know. That's the type of thing that has happened in the past, but only on very rare occasions, because it takes so many letters to even get a network's attention. But the bottom line is that fan support brought TREK back. Fan support has been what has kept B5 and X-FILES on the air until such time that the general public finally caught up with the series. X-FILES took three years to become a genuine TV-measurable success; same with B5. And that's three years of 22 episodes each. We had two seasons of 13 episodes each, during which we were moved five times, and pre-empted--sometimes for sSun.al weeks in a row.

I don't want to tell you what to say because I don't want to come across as if I'm instigating anything here (I'm not) nor do I want the letters all to sound like pull-quotes from me. But I've been deluged with e-mail questions, and so I'm responding in as straight-forward a manner as possible. The bottom line is that *if* Nick will listen to anyone, it will be you. E-mail gets little-to-no attention. You'd have to take the time to print out a letter and mail it to: Nickelodeon, 1515 Broadway, NY NY 10036.

And yes, there is supposed to be a series of SPACE CASES books, although I'm unclear of the status on that since Nick pulled the plug. Which is a shame considering that Bill and I were supposed to write some of them.

If you want to write, write. It's a longshot at best. But as they say in the lottery: Hey. You never know.

PAD

Hello Space Casers --
Yes, NICKELODEON has made it's decision and it's not the one we want to hear -- They have chosen to NOT renew Space Cases :( --
WHOA!! I'm just as upset as you are, but there are things we can do about this. First, get out those pads of paper again and BURY Nickelodeon in POLITE letters telling them just how very disappointed you are that they have cancelled this wonderful show, and that you' hope they will go ahead with the planned books based on the series. Also, would they consider doing an hour special to finish up the story, or, better yet, consider Space Cases as one of their next feature film projects. Point out how very hot science fiction is right now, with the re-release of the Star Wars trilogy.
Also, send a copy of your letter to Herb Scannell, the President of Nickelodeon. He just did an interview in TV Guide saying how much he wants original programming and positive role models, especially for girls. How much more positive can it get than 5 kids running the ship and solving the problems each episode? Let him know how you feel about it.

Okay, don't put away that pen yet. Now, write to the SciFi Channel and suggest that they pick up the show. Tell them how excellently it will fit into their programming and how the show is the work of Bill Mumy and Peter David. Tell them what you like about the show and how much you'd love to see it become part of their original programming lineup. Mention other SciFi Channel shows you watch, like The Odyssey and MST3K, and how much you like their programming.

Here are the addresses you need:

You can also e-mail the SciFi Channel -- they seem to be more apt to listen to their e-mail -- but be sure you write LOTS of letters, too -- send e-mail to:

Lastly, we are NOT closing up shop here at ZaBaGaBe!! -- we still love this show and its cast and crew and especially enjoy being with all of you. We will continue to have newsletters, interviews, reviews, comments and all sorts of fun stuff. And we want to continue hearing from you!
We've got to work hard and get all of our friends to join in the campaign so the show doesn't die! It *IS* possible -- several shows have transferred over to the SciFi Channel and Space Cases is just perfect for them -- keep at it!

Okay -- letLODEstart by saying it's just great to see everyone so involved! Now is the time to put your energy and passion for Space Cases to good use!
I've been involved for YEARS (remember, I'm an ancient adult here <g>) with science fiction and fantasy fandom. I was part of the now-almost-legendary campaign for the third season of the original Star Trek series, and, most recently, helped get a third season of another show, Forever Knight, on the air -- so, please listen to what I have to say because I've done this before and know it can work.
First, DON'T WRITE HATE MAIL! This doesn't help anything. It only makes Space Cases and the fans look bad.
Okay -- that out of the way, here's the best thing you can do: WRITE LETTERS!!! I'm not talking about e-mail or petitions. as Peter David said:

• "Keep in mind that if the kids are going to write, they should send snail mail rather than e-mail: the latter carries no weight, really. And it should be addressed to 'Executive in Charge of Production'."

I've been told by a friend who sells TV advertising, that each hand-written letter can represent the opinion of 1,000 people to the networks and sponsors. So, get out your pens and paper and write polite, neatly-written (or printed) letters. Don't have a lot of people sign them. Have everyone write their own. Tell the people how much you love Space Cases, that you want to see more Space Cases and would love to have Space Cases books, actions figures, and so on. I've put the addresses for Nickelodeon below, so you can address your letters to the right people. And you can write more than one letter, just mail them separately.
Another letter you can write is to the advertisers of Space Cases on Nickelodeon. This past Sunday, during "Runaway", the advertiser was Post Cereals. I've included the address of Post's company offices and of their advertising agency. Write to them and tell them you love Space Cases and you saw the ads for their cereal on the show and hope they'll continue to advertise there. Mention Sunday's episode and the commercials for Waffle Crisp and Cocoa Pebbles. And, if you happen to have any Post cereals on your shelf, send them the proof of purchase or box top off the package.
You will most likely get "form letters" in return. These are computer generated letters saying, basically, "Gee, thanks for writing." But don't be discouraged. Nickelodeon and Post get THOUSANDS of letters every day and this is the only way they can reply. But your letters will count!
Okay -- enough fo me telling you what to do -- get out there and write those letters! Show them all just how many Space Casers are out there and how much we love the show!

Zabagabe!!
Eileen

Write to any or all of the following:

1. Majorie Cohn, Executive in Charge of Production
2. Adam Bonnett, Executive in Charge of Production
3. Viewer Services

and the address to follow each is:

Space Cases
Nickelodeon
1515 Broadway
New York, NY 10036

The Post Cereal addresses are:

• Consumer Affairs
  Post Cereal Division
  Kraft Foods, Inc.
  1 Kraft Court
  Glenview, IL 60025
• Post Cereals
  c/o Grey Advertising
  777 Third Avenue
  New York, NY 10017

• My feelings are as follows:

  It's no secret that SF series take longer to build an audience. Nick has known this going in. Hopefully the increasing interest in the series will prompt them to renew the series. Whether we're in SNICK or not isn't that important to me; indeed, if the 6:30 slot makes the show more accessible to younger viewers, fine.

  PAD

• Ostensibly, they're now telling me that RUNAWAY is next weekend...except the cable guide lists "A STAR IS BORING." But they're now telling me that "STAR" is scheduled to run in the third weekend of January...which is incredibly wrong, because Goddard is supposed to be in the last two episodes, "DOUBLES" and "FRIEND." If they run them out of order, Goddard is going to appear and disappear without explanation.

  PAD

UPDATE: Several fans, including myself, wrote letters to Nick concerning the absence of Paul. With so many letters rolling into Nick's offices, they sent out a generic reply to everyone.
I've included the reply that I received here for future reference. -Robert