Newsletter Editor: Nancy P.

Asst. Editor: Jenni M.

Last year we held a "Name The Newsletter" contest. The result was "The Jackson Journal." This year we are pleased to announce a "Design Our Logo" contest. For the past year, we have been using the SEAL Trident and the JAG logo on the masthead of the Journal. Unfortunately, however sad it will make us to see it go, one day sooner or later JAG will no longer be on the air. So we thought it appropriate to come up with a logo for the Society. Anyone with a little creativity and an idea can enter. The logo can be anything you want to create. You can incorporate some of JAG elements into it, if you like, since JAG will always be one of JMJ’s best-known roles. Or you can do something entirely different. The only stipulation is it must be in jpeg or gif format in order to be submitted for consideration. So put your favorite JMJ movie in the VCR, relax, and let those creative juices flow. Send your entries to jmjas@hotmail.com by October 30. We’ll publish all entries in the November Journal for everyone to vote on and name the winner in our December Journal. As usual, we will be offering a SEAL Team 3 patch as a prize for the winner.

Website of the Month

This month’s featured website is The JAGnik Association site. The JAGnik Association is a group of fan clubs that got together to form an umbrella organization. This group is putting on the first ever JAG fan convention (see story below).

On The Jagnik Association site, you’ll find information about the show - episode reviews, information on production, character bios, etc. You’ll find information (or links to information) about the actors who star on JAG. You’ll find links to almost every JAG fan club or JAG site on the internet, and you’ll find information on the Convention - all the important stuff: who, what, when, where, why. They have tried to make sure that anything you want to know about JAG can be found here somewhere.

So if you have a few minutes to spare, check it out. You might find something new there.

PATTYOS@aol.com is our website feature editor. She will be scouting out JMJ (and JAG) websites and reviewing them so you'll know the best places on the web to go for your JMJ fix! If you know of a good JMJ or JAG site or if you yourself have a JMJ or JAG site, please let Patty know - yours may be next to be our Website of the Month.

Trivia Corner

Last month our trivia challenge was to name some men who have played the role of mentor or father figure to AJ. Two people correctly named his mentors. They were Admiral Bill Clancy and CIA agent Tim Fawkes.

Here’s this month’s trivia question: AJ says he’s never met a SEAL yet who didn’t like something. What was it? That’s good for two points. For an additional point, name the episode this came from.

To play our trivia game, e-mail your answers to admiralslady@oocities.com by September 30. Answers will be in the October issue of The Journal.

JMJAS Shirts!

We are pleased to offer to you the first official "unofficial fan club" merchandise - got that? We have JMJAS shirts that you can purchase for yourself or as a gift for a friend. The shirt is a Navy blue, medium-weight, polo shirt - very nice and very sturdy. Our source will purchase the shirt and then embroider the SEAL trident with "JMJAS" above it on the left chest area. Your name will go on the left sleeve.

The cost is $35/shirt, which includes shipping. Please send a money order only - no checks, please. You may send cash at your own risk! Each shirt is made to order, so please allow 6-8 weeks to receive your shirt. As with the SEAL merchandise, the JMJAS makes no money from the sale of this shirt - we have simply found a supplier. If you would like to order a shirt or would like more information about this shirt, please e-mail nu7nua@arrl.net. Or print out this newsletter and drop it in front of your "significant other" as a helpful hint for Birthday, Mothers' Day, Christmas or Anniversary shopping! Be sure to wear yours to the JAG Convention

From the Admiral's Desk

This is our book review section, where we let you know about interesting JAG-related books, both fiction and nonfiction. This month’s review comes to us from Chris West.

Combat Swimmer: memoirs of a Navy SEAL, By Captain Robert A. Gormly, USN (Ret), ISBN 0-525-94326-9. I found this book at my local Barnes and Nobel while I was shopping for a birthday present for my father. Since I was attempting to write a fanfic centered on AJ, I thought this would help me ‘get into his head.’

The book covers the author’s career as a Navy SEAL. In the preface, Capt. Gormly states: "I want to provide the reader not only with ‘war stories’ but with serious analyses of events in the evolution of SEALs into the best fighting force…" He does this by giving a first hand account of his training. He started out describing the UDT training. Reading those chapters, I could see how the SEAL teamwork is developed. He made it clear that this is the place where the SEAL develops the utter and complete trust in his team.

The first half of the book was devoted to his training and his missions in Vietnam. That was the most interesting part. The second half of the book was post-Vietnam and it did not move quite as quickly. I had the feeling that everything after Vietnam was an anticlimax. Of course, Capt. Gormly was also progressing in rank, so he was removed from participation in the missions to planning them. According to him, the best position is in a platoon.

All in all this is a good book. Would I recommend it? Yes. My copy has already made the rounds to my brother and father. Did Gormly achieve his goal as stated in the preface? I believe so. I’ll probably reread it as some point and glean more information from it.

If you have read a JAG-related (in one way or another) book that you think others might like, please send your review to us at moviesii@aol.com.

(From "Rivers Run" - Season 4)

Welcome New Members

We would like to extend a warm welcome to the following members who joined the fan club over the summer::

• Barb W.
• Dave M.
• Kathy A.
• Renata B.
• Wes
• Joan R.
• Jennifer H.
• Kelley P.
• Donna
• Runner O.
• Kim
• Carol B.
• Diane

Welcome aboard! We add yet another new country this month -- Scotland!

September Birthdays!

We would like to wish a Very Happy Birthday and a joy-filled year to the following members with September birthdays:

Tom F. - September 11

Sara B. - September 17

Sharon N. - September 20

M. Jean Frank - September 21

Mel Bostrom - September 23

Elaine Davis - September 25

Nancy - September 26

Meet Our Members

Hi all, my name is Dorthe Frimann.  I am 23 on May 13th, and I am from Denmark, Scandinavia.  I am a person filled with humor and many good laughs.  I take a huge interest in all the " good " things in life and I am just looking for a good time in everything that I do.  I am now in Denmark working at a real estate office, but later this summer I will be moving to Vancouver, Canada to try to make my dreams come true about becoming an actress. I have so many good inspirations when it comes to acting, but the cast of JAG and especially JMJ has a way to make me want to become a part of the industry sooner rather than later.- JMJ is a great actor and a great inspiration and I hope to get have the pleasure of working with him someday.  As for the rest of me, I am into nature and wildlife, I love people, movies, television and music.  I can truly say, that I had a short military carrier last year- the shortest in the world I believe-I was in The Royal Danish Air force for about 4 hours- ha ha.. don't ask what happened...

****

If you would like to introduce yourself to the group, please send a one-paragraph bio to Jenni at gypsy77@home.com. We'd love to get to know you.

Favorite Quote:

Bud: "Sir, just for the record, the man's a bit of a loose cannon."

AJ: "Yes, Lieutenant, but as far as I know, so are his attorneys."

From "The Guardian" - Season Two - AJ has just assigned Harm, Mac, and Bud to defend a former SEAL.

 

(From "Silent Service" - Season 4)

 

 

FanFic Forum

--Jenni Martin

BabySitting

Author: Packrat

Rating: G

Classification: S/Humor

Summary: AJ gets left holding the baby

Baby-sitting is an amusing story. It pairs the Admiral with Lil' AJ. It is very humorous what happens when an adult is with a baby and this is no exception. This story is relatively short and is a good read if you are in a mood for a laugh. This story is also takes a wonderful look at something a lot of fanfic writers ignore, AJ being a father. This is a look into his parenting skills, what they were like when Francesca was a baby and what they are now. It is great to see a story like this. With all the conspiracy, romance, and court room trials you miss what an average day is like for our favorite Admiral and his staff. This is one look and I hope to see more.

Interview

Where from: Florida, south of Sarasota. That's west coast, for the uninitiated, the lovely gold coast instead of the condominium canyon (east coast). Fewer hurricanes, too.

Watch JAG when: When it came on the air, of course. Not that I totally remember the first season, or even all of the second season, but my DH and I have always enjoyed it, both for the boys' toys and the legal drama. I became a rabid fan and started taping it about halfway through the third season.

Favorite character: I have several. I love how the writers have developed Bud, even though he's retained his essential sweetness. He can still be silly, but he also has more and more the ability to perceive holes in stories and discrepancies in information. I also admire Mac (in her stronger moments) because I think there need to be strong role models for girls on tv. The more capable, interesting women we have depicted, the more young girls will think they can do anything: consider what Uhuru did for young black girls. I loved Spock, but it still makes me mad that the original Star Trek producers wouldn't leave Majel Barrett in the position of first officer. Grrrrr! And obviously, I love the admiral. He is a hoot. Perhaps I didn't fully appreciate what the writers/producers had in mind when they introduced him, but the expansion in his character the last two seasons has been a joy to watch. He is far more rounded, a lot more dangerous, and much more of a real person. A lot of that has been done with little scenes here and there, like his willingness to put himself in the line of fire to defend Col. Farrow or the scene with the robot in "Jaggle Bells."

Favorite episode: Hard pick! I was extremely impressed with "Nobody's Child," and the effort made to give information about abused children. Both of the episodes featuring Big Bud have been excellent. I would have to choose, however, between "With Intent to Die" and "Soul-Searching," which are both Chegs episodes, since he is a favorite character and they have done a lot to expand on his integrity and honor.

JAG fiction: I wrote a story about the admiral and Congresswoman Latham last spring. Don't ask me where the idea came from -- I have no clue, aside from the fact that I ran into an article online that described the admiral as having forearms like Popeye and a kind of "starched white integrity." I liked the language; stole it shamelessly and used it in my story which came out all right to my utter surprise, since I usually write long form rather than short. "Baby-sitting" came out of speculating what might happen around JAG once little A.J. began to grow. Obviously big A.J. would want to have something to do with him, soooo.......

Other fanfic: Nada. Not a thing. I started writing when my kids were small because I was a stay-at-home mom and needed to do something before my brains turned into oatmeal. It was strictly for my own amusement, however. These days I'm usually buried in my job, and finding time to write is a big problem. I've got a longer story going right now but have no idea when I'll be able to get it done. Kaf is beta-reading for me and I beta-read for her. I told her I'm not too good at the humor thing while she has the admiral's evil sense of humor nailed, and she said of course she did -- her own was very like it. So if you see humor in the new piece, much of it is from her. Ain't friends grand!

A Salute To The Admiral

Who's walking toward me with that Navy stride,

That sexy walk that he could never hide?

I stare at him and watch those manly legs.

It can't be anyone else. It must be Chegs.

 

Who's looking at me with such gentle eyes

That I can gaze into with sweet surprise?

First stern, then tender in his special way,

It can be just one man. Must be A.J.

 

Who's speaking to me in that sexy voice?

The sound of him just makes my heart rejoice.

The sight of him brings tears into my eyes.

It is just one man, my passion, my love, my guy!

Hollie Simon

We’re departing from our usual information about the show or the background of AJ in this feature to bring you information on the first JAG Fan Convention. Since we know many of our members are not on any mailing lists on the internet, it is possible they are not aware of the Convention.

The JAGnik Invasion is produced by the JAGnik Association, a group of fans who decided to put on a fan convention. It will be held at the Burbank Airport Hilton just outside of Los Angeles, California, from Friday, October 15, through Monday, October 18, 1999. Of probably most interest to anyone reading this newsletter - John M. Jackson has said that he will attend the Convention!!

The Convention will start on Friday night with a Welcome Reception and Party, a trivia contest, JAGopoly game, and general socializing.

On Saturday morning, there will be a question-and-answer and autograph session with some of the guest stars from JAG. Confirmed (so far) to attend are Rex Linn (who played Mark Falcon aka Sokol), Anne-Marie Johnson (aka Congresswoman Bobbi Latham), and Michael Bellisario ("Mikey" Roberts). There will also be a seminar on Screenwriting with Rich Whiteside and Dana Coen (JAG writers) confirmed as panelists, a seminar on production, and a Director’s panel. If none of that appeals to you, learn to Swing Dance in preparation for the Charity Dance and Auction or watch continuous screenings of JAG episodes.

Saturday afternoon is "the Main Event." There will be a question-and-answer and autograph session with some of the permanent cast of JAG. So far, confirmed to attend Saturday afternoon are John M. Jackson (our favorite admiral), Catherine Bell, Patrick Labyorteaux, Karri Turner, Steven Culp, Trevor Goddard, and JAG’s creator and producer, Donald Bellisario. But if you’re not interested in that either, you can browse through the vendor booths or watch JAG episodes.

Saturday night is the Gala 1940s USO Dance and Charity Auction, a World War II-era USO dance featuring Pete Jacobs and The Wartime Radio Revue. This is a very popular band on the West Coast, and it should be a lot of fun. During the dance, they will hold the charity auction. This will benefit three charities - the Toys for Tots program, the American Red Cross, and the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Los Angeles. The JAGnik Association promises lots of goodies to be auctioned off.

Sunday morning is a fan appreciation Brunch with the Stars. This is open to members of a fan club only, and the proceeds for each table will go to that star’s favorite charity. So far, confirmed for brunch are John M. Jackson and Steven Culp. For those who don’t belong to a fan club or who don’t eat breakfast, there is "The Other Women of JAG" and "The Men We Love and the Men We Love to Hate" question-and-answer and autograph session. So far there are no confirmations for this session of the Convention. In the afternoon, there are a choice of off-site tours for those who want to get out. The choices are the matinee performance of Steven Culp’s play, a tour of Universal Studios, or a tour of the Queen Mary, Scorpion ship, and a submarine.

For those who plan on hanging around an extra day in Los Angeles, the Association is working on an all-day fan trip, but the final details have not yet been worked out, and no destination has been announced.

If you’d like more information about JAGnik Invasion ’99, visit the JAGnik Association website. Have fun everyone! And be sure to stop by the JMJAS booth and say hi. We’re looking forward to meeting you all.

In this feature, you - the viewer - get to be the critic. We invite you to review the JAG episodes and give them two ratings - one for the overall episode and one for the episode as a showcase for JMJ. Please rank them based on a system of 1-10 where 10 is the best. You can review every episode or just your favorites. You can write two sentences or two paragraphs or two pages. You can write about the plot (although you do not need to summarize the plot as we will have seen the episodes ourselves), the special effects, the acting, "bloopers," whatever aspect appeals to you. But do write! This is truly a case of "the more the merrier." This column is being compiled by HughesFan so send your reviews to HughesFan@aol.com. The subject line should read "JAG/JMJ Review." Please do not put anything else in the reference line. For the October Journal, you can review the Season 5 episodes that will air on September 21 and 28. The deadline for submissions will be September 30.

For this month we have some reviews submitted over the summer of some earlier episodes.

JAG: 9 AJ: 10

The character of AJ Chegwidden was introduced a little more than halfway through the first season. The first two episodes he was in, his presence was confined to a single scene each time. In his third appearance, we saw a little bit more of him, but he was still pretty much relegated to setting the stage for the episode and then appearing at the end to wrap things up. In "Black Ops," we have the very first of the "Action AJ" episodes. AJ gets out of the office and plays a material role in resolving the crisis. This is a good JAG episode and a great AJ episode, as we first begin to see hints of the AJ we have come to know and love.

It opens simply enough - a Naval aviator has died during a training exercise with a SEAL Team. AJ is understandably disturbed, and the situation is aggravated because the young aviator’s mother is a Senator, and she wants answers. So AJ sends Harm to Rosey Roads to investigate. Harm is joined almost immediately by Lt. j.g. Meg Austin, and a little later by the Admiral himself - accompanied by the Senator. As he tells the SEAL team, "Before I leave this hangar, I will know the how and the why of Lt. Douglas Marion’s death or Lt. Cmdr. Rabb will have your ass and I’ll own your soul."

What follows is a tale of a General’s greed and of his willingness to sacrifice the life of a young man rather than have his wickedness uncovered.

Here is where we first begin to see the AJ we have come to know and love, and the episode is chock full of wonderful AJ moments. We see his barely controlled anger when the Senator realizes he is a SEAL and tells him that is like letting the S.S. investigate Auschwitz. We see his wicked sense of humor when he tells the young SEAL lieutenant, "I like you, son. I’m probably going to hang you, but I like you." We see his understanding and compassion in his careful treatment and consideration of the grieving Senator and in his final presentation to her at her son’s funeral of a SEAL Trident.

If you are a true AJ fan, then "Black Ops" is a must-see episode for you.

JAG: 9 AJ: 9

Brief Synopsis: An f-14 apparently "vanishes" in the Bermuda Triangle. Harm, Mac, and Bud are sent to investigate.

It's cute how Bud takes the Bermuda Triangle rumors and legends so seriously. He seems like the type that would believe in UFO's. (I'll secretly admit here that I'm that type too. It's one of those things that's fun to keep an open mind about.) When we meet his Internet associates "Einstein" and "Oppenheimer," I kept expecting Mulder and Scully to show up.

I liked the scene in the hospital where AJ visits the RIO of the missing F-14. He does an excellent job of making the guy feel at ease. When the guy sounds intimidated by such a high-ranking officer visiting him, AJ gently reassures him: "Son, don't let these stars scare you. You just relax and tell me what you can remember; anything'll help." Very comforting. The guy proceeds to tell him a story that sounds UFO-ish. AJ listens to the story with an open mind, apparently giving the guy the benefit of the doubt. At the end of the visit, though, as an afterthought on his way out the door, he turns back to give the guy one humorous bit of advice: "If you get a visit from and strangers in black suits & sunglasses... don't talk to 'em." (An obvious reference to the movie "Men In Black") I love the wink that follows.

I got a kick out of the newspaper headlines AJ had Tiner fax to Harm & Mac. There are 2 serious headlines from reputable papers, plus a "National Enquirer" type thrown in for good measure. I can just see AJ in his office, reading the National Enquirer, adding that article to Tiner's pile for comic relief.

This is also the episode where we learn that Mac has a tattoo, though we don't get to know what or where it is. There is a nice, sweet "bonding" scene with Harm on the ship.

I did think Harm was just a bit self-righteous at the end, when he told the militia group leader there's no way Yankee would go through with pulling the trigger. He seemed a bit high and mighty in his conviction that all Naval aviators have perfect integrity. Even though he'd never met Yankee, he was convinced of Yankee's "inner goodness," based solely on his status as a Naval Aviator. Sure enough, he ends up being right (big surprise there). When he learns that he was right, he facetiously flicks a cigar butt at the militia leader and says "Never underestimate the integrity of a Naval Aviator." I like Harm, but I thought that was a bit much.

Number of AJ scenes in this episode: Two.

--1. Scene where he gives them their assignment

--2. Aforementioned hospital scene

Favorite AJ quote: (Other than the aforementioned "black suits" quote)

"Find out what happened and wrap it up before I have to watch it as the movie of the week."

JAG: 6 AJ: 7

Brief Synopsis: A North Korean plane is accidentally shot down by a Naval Aviator. Harm, Mac, and Bud are sent to investigate.

I found Mac to be very pushy in this episode. She's frustrated when people can't explain how the incident happened. She responds by bullying and verbally pushing them. It seems she could have used the advice AJ gave Harm in the "King Of The Fleas" episode: "I'd suggest coaxing instead of yanking. It'll get you farther."

In my humble opinion, this is one of those episodes where she does not come across as being very likeable. Harm gets tired of seeing her be so abrasive, and he tells her to cool it. "Mac, you're not going to get anywhere by bullying people." She, of course, does not take him seriously. This annoyed me. Later on, Harm talks to her about it again. Again, she doesn't take him seriously. This scene is one I particularly disliked. He and Mac are in the mess hall, about to have some coffee, and he counsels her against "bulldozing" people. She blows off his advice without even considering that he has a point. Instead of continuing the scene with her getting taken down a notch, the writers chose to leave it irritatingly unresolved as "Ensign Tuppany" accidentally pours hot coffee on Harm's crotch. As if that wasn't already bad enough, Mac adds insult to injury by snickering at him. I really hated this scene. Really.

One scene I liked was when Harm's checking in with AJ over the phone. AJ tells Harm to hurry up and finish the investigation because "SECNAV is all over my butt about this." But then he makes sure to ask Harm if there's anything he can do to help. Harm lists off a few things, and AJ dutifully writes each thing down, assuring Harm that it will be taken care of. This is a great example of the "protective" Admiral who makes sure his people have what they need.

I thought the last scene was funny, where Bud's on the phone with Harriet, trying to sound like a danger-loving stud, not realizing Harm & Mac are listening to his every word.

Number of AJ scenes in this episode: Three.

--1. Giving them their assignment

--2. Aforementioned scene on the phone with Harm.

--3. Scene on the phone with Mac.

Here are two looks at our favorite admiral in the 4th season ending episode, "Goodbyes."