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This story must begin with a prologue. Way back in 1989, TV guru J. Michael Straczynski had brought his idea for "Babylon 5" to Paramount, hoping the studio would produce it and turn it into a full-blown sci-fi show. He presented Paramount with a series bible, character bios, artwork, and even 22 brief story ideas that he intended to write for the show. The series was set in the mid-23rd century aboard a space station that was located in a neutral part of space. Many aliens would pass through, and the show's main characters, part of a peacekeeping military-like organization, had to tackle all the natural intrigue of being in that position. Paramount turned down "Babylon 5," but Straczynski ended up selling his pitch to Warner Bros. a few years later.

In a suspicious piece of timing, though, Paramount announced --...

Star Trek almost got a reboot from one of the greatest sci-fi creators of all time! Imagine how different things could have been with that!

In 1993, sci-fi fans were buzzing over the premiere of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. The spinoff took a different direction with the franchise, set on a space station and pushing more conflict than other Star Trek shows.

The series would of course become a beloved hit that became more epic with the Dominion War. However, its premiere was mirrored by the syndicated premiere of Babylon 5. Obviously, two shows set on a space station filled with alien life and later involving intergalactic war would be an odd coincidence for fans and reporters.

After a bit of a rough start, Babylon 5 soon became one of the hottest and most respected sci-fi shows around. Writer/creator J. Michael Straczynski was crafting a true five-season novel for television,...

The long-running Newport Beach Film Fest is set to launch a TV counterpart this June. The org revealed Wednesday that it will hold the inaugural Newport Beach TV Fest from June 5 to June 8 at the Lido Theater and The Port Theater in Newport Beach, Calif. The four-day event promises a “celebration of television artistry and creative achievements” whiling bringing together “industry professionals and audiences for a unique celebration of established and emerging talent, networks, and streaming services.”

Timing of the Newport Beach TV Fest is strategic to hit right before the Emmy nomination voting window, and as FYC events wrap up. According to the festival, it plans to attract “he largest gathering of Guild and Television Academy voters outside of Los Angeles or New York” and “honor creativity in television while offering a platform for innovative storytelling in front of a dynamic audience.”

Events and programs during the Newport Beach...

Let’s dream the crow black dream. I’m Niki Minter and this week on the Eric Draven files, we have The Crow: Stairway to Heaven. This is the first time we have a series that I feel lukewarm about. However, this is one that does have its fans and there’s a reason, aside from the upcoming reimagining, that we’re discussing it. This should be a fun time.

Okay, so, I caught Stairway on the Sci-Fi channel a few times here and there during its initial run. It caught my interest but never enough to start it from the beginning. What’s interesting about this is that it’s based on the 1994 movie adaptation which was pulled from James O’Barr’s original comic. Mark Dacascos would be the one and only person ever to fill the role once held by Brandon Lee. This is an interesting take, right?...

Exclusive: Bryce and Jackie Zabel’s Stellar Productions is teaming with fledgling La production and management firm Alta Global Media on TV series Captured, based on the landmark 1961 alien abduction case of Betty and Barney Hill.

The project will chart the story of the interracial couple from Portsmouth, New Hampshire, who said they were captured by a UFO on the night of September 19, 1961. The story of the black postal clerk and white social worker who claimed to have met extraterrestrials became a media sensation, and culminated in a 1975 made-for-tv film starring James Earl Jones and Estelle Parsons.

The project was previously set up by Zabel (Atlantis: The Lost Empire) with Gotham Group as a film but now has new life with Steven Adams (A Huey P. Newton Story) and Theo Dumont’s Alta, which launched earlier this year with clients including Pedro Alonso (Money Heist), Gary Dourdan (CSI), Tamara Tunie...

With his role as Peter Parker / Spider-Man in not only director Jon Watts' Spider-Man: Homecoming and Spider-Man: Far From Home but The Russo Brothers' Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, Tom Holland is quickly becoming one of Hollywood's most sought-after leading men.

And today we have word that the Captain America: Civil War and In the Heart of the Sea actor is being eyed for the lead role in Disney's planned upcoming live-action remake of their semi-hit animated film Atlantis: The Lost Empire.

Evidently, Disney intends to "stick fairly close to the animated film," and it seems that Holland is being eyed to play the role of geeky Smithsonian cartographer Milo Thatch, initially voiced by Michael J. Fox in the 2001 animated version.

While it might seem like a live-action remake of Atlantis: The Lost Empire is a strange plan for Disney, it could actually be one of their best ideas yet.

Updated: Shonda Rhimes is among the many paying tribute to Suzanne Patmore Gibbs, the head of Sony Pictures TV’s TriStar Television, who died suddenly at the age of 50.

Patmore Gibbs was passionate about providing more opportunities for female showrunners and directors and was regarded as a champion of distinctive writers and as an executive who nurtured younger and less experienced TV writers. Rhimes was one of those newcomers in the early 2000s. In a tweet, Rhimes wrote Patmore Gibbs was the first exec to say “maybe Shonda could write a TV show” and noted “she fought like hell to get us the chance to make the Grey’s Anatomy pilot. No way to describe this loss.”

Director Paris Barclay, Grey’s Anatomy showrunner Krista Vernoff and more also are remembering Patmore Gibbs. A selection of tweets follows below.

She was my very first champion at ABC Studios, the first...

She was the first TV executive to champion Shonda Rhimes as a series creator. She was “a class act” and “a brilliant executive” in the view of those who worked with Suzanne Patmore Gibbs during her tenures at ABC and Sony Pictures TV.

Many in the TV industry expressed shock at news of the death of Patmore Gibbs, the head of Sony’s TriStar Television banner who died suddenly on Thursday morning. She was 50.

Rhimes, director Paris Barclay and others took to social media to pay tribute to the executive who championed series ranging from “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Scandal” and “Desperate Housewives” to “The Blacklist,” “Masters of Sex,” “Good Girls Revolt,” and “Lost.”

She was my very first champion at ABC Studios, the first exec to say "maybe Shonda could write a TV show." Then she fought like hell to get us the chance to make the Grey's Anatomy pilot.

After documenting the groundbreaking research conducted by Dr. Bennet Omalu in Concussion, writer-director Peter Landesman ventured back in time for Felt, a period drama set to thrust Liam Nesson into the political cauldron of Deep Throat, Watergate and the crumbling Nixon administration. But Deadline is reporting that the filmmaker is ready to venture back further still – all the way back to the throes of World War II for The Last Battle.

Mining the story first told in Stephen Harding’s non-fiction novel The Last Battle: When U.S. And German Soldiers Joined Forces In The Waning Hours Of World War II In Europe, Landesman’s adaptation has set up shop at StudioCanal and The Picture Company. Before taking the formative steps into the film industry, Landesman made a living as an investigative reporter, and early intel for The Last Battle teases a match made in cinematic heaven.

Set during...

Exclusive: Peter Landesman has been set to direct The Last Battle for Studiocanal and The Picture Company. Landesman, the writer-director of Concussion, has wrapped Felt, the drama that has Liam Neeson playing Hoover’s #2 FBI man Mark Felt, whose “Deep Throat” intel toppled the Nixon Administration over Watergate. Landesman will do a rewrite on The Last Battle script by Bryce Zabel, with production to start this summer. Studiocanal last December acquired Stephen…...

StudioCanal has acquired the Stephen Harding's WW2 nonfiction thriller novel "The Last Battle".

Sounding like a more dramatic variation of Alistair MacLean's "Where Eagles Dare," the story is set weeks after Hitler's suicide but before the German surrender and at a castle high in the Austrian Alps.

The action follows a daring attempt by a small band of American soldiers to liberate French prisoners being held there, prisoners who could provide damning war crimes testimony and are to be executed by around two-hundred hardened Waffen SS troops hot on the heels of the Americans.

Bryce Zabel penned the script and will produce with Andrew Rona and Alex Heineman. No word on a production schedule as yet.

Source: Deadline...

A film adaptation based on the book "Captured! The Betty and nm3441111 autoBarney Hill[/link] UFO Experience: The True Story of the World's First Documented Alien Abduction" is in development by the producers of the upcoming "Maze Runner: Scorch Trials" - Bryce Zabel and Jackie Zabel of Stellar Productions. Written by Stanton Friedman and Kathleen Marden, the book gives readers an insider's look at Barney and Betty Hill, an interracial couple who claimed that they were abducted by extraterrestrials in rural New Hampshire, on September 19, 1961 through September 20, 1961. It was the first widely publicized report of alien abduction, adapted into the best-selling 1966 book...

Gotham/Principal and Stellar Productions are teaming for the alien-abduction story "Captured" about the first Americans to report that they were kidnapped by aliens.

The story deals with Betty and Barney Hill, an interracial New Hampshire couple who said they were captured by a UFO in 1961, studied by extraterrestrials, and then returned to Earth with missing memories later retrieved under hypnosis.

Bryce Zabel ("Dark Skies") and Jackie Zabel will produce the film which will incorporate the Cold War paranoia and race relations struggle into its narrative.

Source: Variety...

Maze Runner: Scorch Trials producers Gotham/Principal and WGA award winners Bryce Zabel and Jackie Zabel of Stellar Productions have announced a partnership to make the feature film Captured. It’s based on the book Captured! The Betty And Barney Hill UFO Experience: The True Story Of The World's First Documented Alien Abduction, by Stanton Friedman and Kathleen Marden. The film will follow Betty and Barney Hill, an interracial couple from Portsmouth, New Hampshire who…...

Betty and Barney Hill were the alleged victims of the world’s first documented alien abduction case Gotham/Principal, producers of this Friday’s Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials, has partnered with WGA award-winners Bryce Zabel and Jackie Zabel and their Stellar Productions to produce Captured, based on the rights to the first reported alien abduction that took place…

The post Famous Alien Abduction Report Heads to the Big Screen appeared first on Shock Till You Drop.

Gotham/Principal, producers of the upcoming “Maze Runner: Scorch Trials,” has partnered with WGA award-winners Bryce Zabel and Jackie Zabel and their Stellar Productions to produce “Captured,” based on the first reported alien abduction that took place 54 years ago this week. “Captured” tells the story of Betty and Barney Hill, an interracial couple from Portsmouth, New Hampshire who said they were captured by a UFO the night of Sept. 19, 1961. A black postal clerk and a white social worker, the Hills claimed that they had been studied by extraterrestrials and then returned to their lives with missing memories that...

The producers of this week’s release Maze Runner: Scorch Trials have partnered with Bryce Zabel and Jackie Zabel on the alien abduction thriller.

Captured is based on the rights to the first reported alien abduction that occurred 54 years ago this week and tells of Betty and Barney Hill, an interracial couple from New Hampshire, who claimed they were captured by a UFO in 1961.

Bryce Zabel will adapt the screenplay from the 2007 non-fiction book Captured! The Betty And Barney Hill UFO Experience: The True Story Of The World’s First Documented Alien Abduction.

Nuclear physicist Stanton Friedman co-wrote the book with Betty Hill’s niece Kathleen Marden. The film will be set in the context of Cold War paranoia and race relations.

Eric Robinson of Gotham/Principal negotiated the deal with Jason Leibovitch of Leibo Management on behalf of Stellar.

Exclusive: New full-service management and production company Leibo has opened in Los Angeles anchored by Jason Leibovitch, who most recently served as VP Distribution and Development for California Pictures (Scavengers, A Warrior’s Heart). Leibovitch’s client roster includes WGA-winning screenwriter Bryce Zabel (Pandemic, M.A.N.T.I.S., Dark Skies, The Crow, Mortal Kombat: Annihilation), who served as Chairman and CEO of the TV Academy from 2001-2003.

Leibo is also repping actor Shad Gaspard, the WWE wrestler-turned-actor who made over 100 WWE appearances and recently appeared on Nickelodeon’s Haunted Hathaways. Gaspard also has a role in Dan Pritzker’s Buddy Bolden biopic Bolden! and Warner Bros’ upcoming Will Ferrell comedy Get Hard.

The Film:

Mankind will rest… in peace! - Shao Kahn

At first glance, it’s easy to tear apart this sequel, especially since Paul W.S. Anderson delivered a heck of a 90-minute action film. While Mortal Kombat: Annihilation did open at number one at the box office, it’s certainly never come close to Anderson’s film. Character development is vacant. Dialogue wooden as dining room table. FX that can be done better on a PC. You know, the stuff of a bad sequel. Critics weren’t kind, and neither were fans. Reportedly, even star Robin Shou was displeased with the outcome of the film.

But if the intentions of the filmmakers were to create an easy-going, family friendly film, then they succeeded in those regards. But that just ain’t Mortal Kombat.

Nobody told me why Johnny had to die. – Sonya Blade

Shao Kahn offered a warning at the...

Roswell, N.M. - The aliens have returned! Maybe not returned so much as finally arrived on home video with the release of Dark Skies: The Declassified Complete Series on DVD. Startling enough, the show only lasted a season on NBC in 1996. It gained a large cult with an alternative history of America in the ’60s. “History as we know it is a lie” was the startling series slogan. John Loengard (Eric Close) went from plucky congressional aide to a member of the ultra creepy Majestic 12 run by Frank Bach (J.T. Walsh) to battle the alien menace. An equally bizarre transformation happens to his girlfriend, Kimberly Sayers (Megan Ward). She gets alien abducted and returned. The perky perfect sixties gal goes to dark side. Can he bring her back?

Megan Ward called up the Party Favors hotline for a brief chat about the series, being covered in cow guts,...

Created By: Bryce Zabel and Brent V. Friedman

Starring: Eric Close, Megan Ward, J.T. Walsh

It’s been fifteen years since Dark Skies first aired on TV and now fans of the short lived Sci-Fi and history hybrid can rejoice. Shout! Factory has done it again and pulled out all the stops to finally release the Dark Skies series on DVD.

An idealistic Congressional aide discovers evidence of aliens living among us. When he stumbles into the government’s longtime cover-up, his life changes forever. In the landmark television series Dark Skies, freedom fighter John Loengard (Eric Close) declares that “history as we know it is a lie”, and sets out to find the truth before it’s too late. He and girlfriend Kim Sayers (Megan Ward) embark on a cross-country crusade, attempting to derail plans by the sinister alien “Hive”. Majestic-12, a covert government agency assigned to secretly fight the aliens,...

Dark Skies: The Declassified Complete Series – Starring Eric Close and Megan Ward – Secrets and Conspiracies Spill from All 19 Original Riveting Episodes, Extensive DVD Bonus Content, Special Booklet and much more! Own The Collectible 6-dvd Box Set On January 18, 2011 From Shout! Factory

An idealistic Congressional aide discovers evidence of aliens living among us. When he stumbles into the government’s longtime cover-up, his life changes forever. In the landmark television series Dark Skies, freedom fighter John Loengard declares that “history as we know it is a lie,” and sets out to find the truth before it’s too late. He and girlfriend Kim Sayers embark on a cross-country crusade, attempting to derail plans by the sinister alien “Hive.” Majestic-12, a covert government agency assigned to secretly fight the aliens, monitors Loengard; and Capt. Frank Bach is ready to silence him—or quietly aid his quest. Call it alternative history or call it the unthinkable truth.

Dark Skies: The Complete Series

Stars: Eric Close, Megan Ward, J.T. Walsh | Created by Bryce Zabel & Brent V. Friedman | Directed by Rodman Flender, Tobe Hooper, Winrich Kolbe, Steve Beers, Michael Levine

An idealistic Congressional aide discovers evidence of aliens living among us. When he stumbles into the government’s longtime cover-up, his life changes forever. Dark Skies sees freedom fighter John Loengard declares that “history as we know it is a lie,” as he sets out to find the truth before it’s too late. He and girlfriend Kim Sayers embark on a cross-country crusade, attempting to derail plans by the sinister alien “Hive”. Majestic-12, a covert government agency assigned to secretly fight the aliens, monitors Loengard, with Majestic-12 head Capt. Frank Bach ready to silence him – or quietly aid his quest…

Dark Skies originally aired in 1996, following the success of The X-Files on Fox and was at the...

HollywoodNews.com: Fifteen years after “Dark Skies” first aired on network television, the entire series will finally be unleashed for the first time on DVD when Shout! Factory debuts the “Dark Skies: The Declassified Complete Series” DVD box set on January 18, 2011, marking the 50th anniversary of President Kennedy’s inauguration. Newly remastered, this collectible 6-dvd box set includes all 19 episodes, an international TV pilot, a special commemorative booklet featuring a behind-the-scenes essay by Zabel, and extensive bonus content. The show’s creators Bryce Zabel and Brent V. Friedman, along with stars Eric Close and Megan Ward, discuss the series and their roles in an intimate look back “Signal To Noise: Uncovering Dark Skies.” “Dark Skies: The Declassified Complete Series” is a must-have for fans of science fiction, mystery and intrigues.

In the landmark television series “Dark Skies,” freedom fighter John Loengard declares that “history as we know it is a lie,...

Diablo Cody's "Juno" took the prize for original screenplay, and Ethan and Joel Coen's adaptation of Cormac McCarthy's novel "No Country for Old Men" was the winner in the adapted screenplay category as the WGA, West and the WGA, East announced their annual awards Saturday night.

Because of the strike, the WGA, West did not hold its customary awards dinner, while the WGA, East held a scaled-back reception at the Hudson Theatre in New York.

Having also picked up awards from the DGA and the PGA, the Coens' "No Country" is now the front-runner heading toward the Academy Awards on Feb. 24.

The writers also recognized Alex Gibney?'s "Taxi to the Dark Side", an investigation into interrogation techniques, as best documentary screenplay.

On the TV side, the dramatic series honors went to HBO's "The Wire", written by Ed Burns, Chris Collins, Dennis Lehane, David Mills, George Pelecanos, Richard Price, David Simon and William F. Zorzi, while the comedy series kudos went to NBC's "30 Rock", written by Brett Baer, Jack Burditt, Kay Cannon, Robert Carlock, Tina Fey, Dave Finkel, Daisy Gardner, Donald Glover, Matt Hubbard, Jon Pollack, John Riggi, Tami Sagher and Ron Weiner.

Other winners:

New series: AMC's "Mad Men", written by Lisa Albert, Bridget Bedard, Andre Jacquemetton, Maria Jacquemetton, Tom Palmer, Chris Provenzano, Robin Veith and Matthew Weiner;

Episodic drama, "The Second Coming" episode of "The Sopranos", by Terence Winter;

Episodic comedy, "The Job" from "The Office", by Paul Lieberstein & Michael Schur;

Long form orginal: "Pandemic", by Bryce Zabel & Jackie Zabel;

Long form adaptation, "The Company: A Story of the CIA, teleplay by Ken Nolan, based on the novel by Robert Littell;

"Kill Gil Volumes 1&2," from "The Simpsons", ? by Jeff Westbrook;

Comedy/variety: "The Colbert Report", written by Bryan Adams, Michael Brumm, Stephen Colbert, Rich Dahm, Eric Drysdale, Rob Dubbin, Glenn Eichler, Peter Grosz, Peter Gwinn, Barry Julien, Jay Katsir, Laura Krafft, Frank Lesser, Tom Purcell and Allison Silverman

Daytime serial: "The Young & The Restless," written by Lynn Marie Latham, Scott Hamner, Jeff Gottesfeld & Cherie Bennet, Bernard Lechowick, James Stanley, Natalie Minardi Slater, Lynsey Dufour, Marina Alburger, Sara Bibel, Janice Ferri Esser, Eric Freiwald & Linda Schreiber, Joshua McCaffrey and Sandra Weintraub;

Children's episodic & specials: "Look Whose Not Talking" from "Flight 29 Down", by D.

The new guard at the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences has been officially elected, with Dick Askin taking the role of chairman, as anticipated (HR 7/18). Askin, president and CEO of Tribune Entertainment, stood unopposed for the chair, having previously served as vice chair. He replaces writer-producer Bryce Zabel, who chose not to run for a second term. Production designer John Shaffner now takes the role of vice chair. He previously served as second vice chair. The new officers were elected by the board of governors Wednesday night.

The British Academy of Film and Television Arts/Los Angeles, long the host of an annual Tea Party honoring Oscar nominees, is extending the tradition to Emmy hopefuls. It has teamed up with the U.S. Academy of Television Arts and Sciences to hail those nominated for the 2002-03 Emmy Awards. The inaugural TV pour -- or Tea Party -- is set for Sept. 20, during Emmy weekend, at the St. Regis Hotel in Century City. BBC America is the corporate sponsor of the event. "The unique British spirit is a trademark of our Tea Party, and we are delighted to provide this opportunity for the television industry to celebrate the contributions U.K. talent has made to television in the United States," BAFTA/LA chairman Gary Dartnall said. Bryce Zabel, chairman of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, said: "We're passing on our usual lattes and frappuccinos to take tea with our creative friends around the Commonwealth. Television increasingly passes through all national boundaries, and this is a good chance to focus on excellence wherever it originates."...

There will be no second term as chairman of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences for writer-producer Bryce Zabel. Zabel announced Wednesday that he has decided not to run for re-election in July. Dick Askin, president and CEO of Tribune Entertainment and first vice chair of ATAS, announced last week his intention to run for the position. Zabel said his decision was not influenced by Askin's announcement. "I have been leaning against running for quite some time," he said, "and with other candidates emerging, it seemed like the right time to make a definitive decision and to let people know."...

Dick Askin, president and CEO of Tribune Entertainment, has declared himself a candidate for chairman of the influential Los Angeles-based Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Current ATAS chairman Bryce Zabel said Wednesday that he had not yet decided if he will run again for the unpaid post in the August election. Askin is first vice chair of ATAS. Askin had been encouraged during recent months by leading academy figures to throw his hat into the election process. He confirmed his candidacy in a letter sent Tuesday to ATAS governor James Anderson. Both Zabel and his predecessor, Meryl Marshall-Daniels, are working producers in the TV industry. Askin is a highly regarded and successful executive in the syndication arena.

Cable sports outlet Fox Sports Net received more nominations than any of the local stations in the 55th Los Angeles Area Emmy Awards, with a total of 16 nominations for its local sports lineup. KCAL and KNBC tied with 15 nominations apiece, while KCBS and Fox O&O KTTV tied with 12 nominations each. Spanish-language Telemundo station KVEA received 10 nominations, according to an announcement Wednesday by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences chairman Bryce Zabel, who unveiled the 121 nominations in 32 categories. Other broadcasters receiving five or more nominations include KCOP (seven), KMEX (six), KTLA (five) and L.A. City View (five). The awards will be presented Sept. 16 at the Academy's Leonard H. Goldenson Theatre in North Hollywood, where the Los Angeles Governors Award will be presented to Los Angeles TV weatherman George Fischbeck. Fischbeck's weathercasts were a staple in Los Angeles for nearly 30 years on KABC Channel 7.

Timed to coincide with this year's tribute to U.S. television, the Banff Television Festival said it will give a special Rockie Award to the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Academy chairman Bryce Zabel will receive the award June 10 as part of that evening's gala tribute. Pat Ferns, president and CEO of the Banff Television Foundation, said in making the announcement Friday that the festival wanted to spotlight the academy for its role in helping create "the most successful popular culture the world has ever seen, and its breadth is astounding, from sitcoms and continuing series to science and investigative documentaries, from children's and animation to performance and arts programs." Zabel said in a statement, "Receiving an award for our own efforts is a whole new experience, and we are deeply grateful to the Banff Television Festival for turning the tables on us." Other special award winners at the upcoming Banff TV Festival include David Chase ("The Sopranos"), James Burrows ("Cheers"), Peter McGhee (WGBH Bostom) and Sheila Nevins (HBO). The 24th Banff TV Festival is set to run June 8-13 in the Canadian Rockies.

Todd Leavitt, the new president and chief operating officer of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, identifies runaway production, the future of the Emmy Awards and diversity in TV programming as a few of the issues that will now fill his working days. Confirmed Tuesday as the top-ranking staff member at ATAS, Leavitt will oversee the day-to-day activities of the academy and supervise staff, including the executives in charge of all the key departments. He will be based at the academy's North Hollywood headquarters and will report to chairman and CEO Bryce Zabel and the academy's executive committee. On matters concerning the ATAS Foundation, he will report to foundation chairman Tom Sarnoff. Leavitt's appointment had been widely anticipated (HR 8/23) and was confirmed in an announcement by Zabel. Zabel is an elected officer, while Leavitt's role is that of the academy's top salaried executive. "Runaway production is one great example of how we can work together," Zabel said. He pointed out that Leavitt's executive experience includes a long stint with Toronto-based Atlantis Communications. "And I shot three series in Canada, not through choice but through economics, so we both come to this from different places," Zabel said.