Spoo

Spoo is a fictional food product that served as a running joke within the "Babylon 5" science fiction television series. In the series' fictional universe, spoo is made from worm-like creatures of the same name and is generally regarded as the most delicious food in the galaxy; the creature itself, however, is regarded with contempt by most species. Despite appearing in only a few episodes, fans embraced spoo and it became part of the series' extended mythology.

Origins in "Babylon 5"

Spoo appeared in the first episode of the science fiction television series "Babylon 5", where it was briefly mentioned by the Narn Ambassador, G'Kar.Mentioned in the episode "Midnight on the Firing Line," by Straczynski.] J. Michael Straczynski, the show's creator, executive producer, and writer of the episode in question, was asked about spoo by fans on various internet message boards on which he frequently participated. [Straczynski's use of internet forums is well known. See, for instance: cite web|url=http://www.tv.com/j.-michael-straczynski/person/19536/biography.html |title= J. Michael Straczynski Biography|work=tv.com|publisher=CNET Networks |accessdate=2008-06-24] At first, Straczynski's responses were terse: "Spoo is."From a USENET post made January 27, 1994. Archived at [http://www.jmsnews.com/msg.aspx?id=1-13771 jmsnews.com.] Retrieved on 2008-06-24.] In another early post, he explained how he created the word: "Spoo is Oops spelled backward."From a USENET post made by J. Michael Straczynski, August 1, 1994. Archived at [http://www.jmsnews.com/msg.aspx?id=1-14526 JMSNews.com.] Retrieved on 2008-06-24.] He eventually noted that the taste of spoo is that of "Meat Jello. Served chilled."From a CompuServe post from December 18, 1996, archived at [http://www.jmsnews.com/msg.aspx?id=1-6932 jmsnews.com.] Retrieved on 2008-06-24.]

After years of speculation from "Babylon 5" fandom, Straczynski finally offered an extensive explanation of the origins and nature of spoo. He said spoo are tiny, pasty, mealworm-like creatures that travel slowly in herds. Their main behavior is sighing, which "can reportedly induce unparalleled bouts of depression" in other creatures. They are raised on ranches and harvested through "whacking." Spoo are regarded with contempt by most species in "Babylon 5"; they "are the only creatures of which the Interstellar Animal Rights Protection League says, simply, 'Kill 'em.'" Despite this, they are "generally considered the most delicious food in all of known space."The CompuServe post from the first week of January 1995 is archived in various places: See [http://www.frostjedi.com/vex/html/spoo.html frostjedi.com] , and [http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/guide/001.html#JS midwinter.com] for two examples. All retrieved on 2008-06-24.]

Appearances

The "Babylon 5" episodes in which spoo appears or is mentioned are "Midnight on the Firing Line," "The Geometry of Shadows," "Point of No Return," "And the Rock Cried Out, No Hiding Place," "A View from the Gallery," "A Tragedy of Telepaths," and "Meditations on the Abyss." Spoo also appears in the "Over There" segment of the ' episode "," where President Sheridan at one point jokes that the product is "Spoo: The other gray meat." From the ' episode "" by Straczynski.]

Although mostly relegated to a background role, spoo was once involved in a significant way in a plot. In the season 5 episode "A Tragedy of Telepaths," the fact that Narn prefer fresh spoo while the Centauri prefer it aged was the reason that G'Kar was able to figure out that there was another Narn in the Centauri Royal Palace."A Tragedy of Telepaths," written by Straczynski. See its Lurker's Guide page at [http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/countries/us/guide/098.html midwinter.com.] Retrieved on 2008-06-24.]

Real-world recipes

In 1998, Boxtree UK published a "Babylon 5" cookbook, officially licensed from Warner Bros. Presented as if written around the year 2260, the time when most of the "Babylon 5" series takes place, the book contains many recipes for the various foods mentioned and seen throughout the series. Included are recipes for Narn-style spoo and Centauri-style spoo, both using currently available ingredients, with sea scallops taking the place of spoo.cite book| title=Dining on "Babylon 5": Human Edition - The Ultimate Collection of Space Station Cuisine| first=Emerson| last=Briggs-Wallace| coauthors=Smith, Steve| id=ISBN 0-7522-1143-9| location=UK| month=June | year=1998] Straczynski claims that whilst in a restaurant a fan once offered him a plate of food they had christened "spoo."This anecdote was mentioned as an aside in a GEnie post from September 4, 1996. Archived at [http://www.jmsnews.com/msg.aspx?id=1-7751 jmsnews.com.] Retrieved on 2008-06-24.]

Before "Babylon 5"

Straczynski's own usage of the word predates "Babylon 5". Straczynski was a writer in the 1985 cartoon series "She-Ra Princess of Power". After a fan recalled a possible spoo reference from that show, Straczynski replied, "Yeah, I slipped some spoo in there once. A couple of real cute (as in wanna drop a truck on them cute)elf-types offer Skeletor a bowl of Spoo."From a GEnie post made by J. Michael Straczynski, July 7, 1994. Archived at [http://www.jmsnews.com/msg.aspx?id=1-8932 JMSNews] . Retrieved on 2008-06-24.]

In popular culture

Spoo is spoofed in the first "Babylon Park" parody short, "Spoohunter".The short can be accessed at [http://www.babylonpark.com/ Babylon Park.] Retrieved on 2008-06-24.]

In 2008, rap-filk artist Luke Ski recorded and released a parody of the Beastie Boys song "No Sleep till Brooklyn" called "No Sleep Till Babylon," which references spoo. [ The song was released to and can be heard at the [http://www.thefump.com/fump.php?id=1061 Funny Music Project] . Retrieved on 2008-06-24.]

ee also

*List of "Babylon 5" articles
*Shmoo, a fictional edible species from the comic strip "Li'l Abner".

References

External links

* [http://www2.hawaii.edu/~sable/thegroup/spoo.html The Temple of Spoo] : Spoo resources, recipes, humor, and fan fiction.
* [http://www.spoo.net/ Spoo] : Concise archive of JMS "Spoo" posts
*The Lurker's Guide to Babylon 5: [http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/lurker.html The definitive "Babylon 5" resource.]
* [http://www.jmsnews.com/ JMSNews] : The J. Michael Straczynski message archive.