Spoo (food)
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 races. 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.[1] 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.[2] At first, Straczynski's responses were terse: "Spoo is."[3] In another early post, he explained how he created the word: "Spoo is Oops spelled backward."[4] He eventually noted that the taste of spoo was that of "Meat Jello. Served chilled."[5]
After years of speculation from Babylon 5 fandom, Straczynski finally offered an extensive, humorous 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."[6]
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 Lost Tales episode "Voices in the Dark," where President Sheridan at one point jokes that the product is "Spoo: The other gray meat."[7]
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.[8]
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 were recipes for Narn-style spoo and Centauri-style spoo, both using currently available ingredients, with sea scallops taking the place of spoo.[9] At a restaurant, a fan once offered Straczynski plate of food they had christened "spoo."[10]
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."[11]
In popular culture
Spoo is spoofed in the first Babylon Park parody short, Spoohunter.[12]
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.[13]
See also
- List of Babylon 5 articles
- Shmoo, a fictional edible species from the comic strip Li'l Abner.
References
- ^ Mentioned in the episode "Midnight on the Firing Line," by Straczynski.
- ^ Straczynski's use of internet forums is well known. See, for instance: "J. Michael Straczynski Biography". tv.com. CNET Networks. Retrieved 2008-06-24.
- ^ From a USENET post made January 27 1994. Archived at jmsnews.com. Retrieved on 2008-06-24.
- ^ From a USENET post made by J. Michael Straczynski, August 1 1994. Archived at JMSNews.com. Retrieved on 2008-06-24.
- ^ From a CompuServe post from December 18 1996, archived at jmsnews.com. Retrieved on 2008-06-24.
- ^ The CompuServe post from the first week of January 1995 is archived in various places: See frostjedi.com, and midwinter.com for two examples. All retrieved on 2008-06-24.
- ^ From the Lost Tales episode "Voices in the Dark" by Straczynski.
- ^ "A Tragedy of Telepaths," written by Straczynski. See its Lurker's Guide page at midwinter.com. Retrieved on 2008-06-24.
- ^ Briggs-Wallace, Emerson (June 1998). Dining on Babylon 5: Human Edition - The Ultimate Collection of Space Station Cuisine. UK. ISBN 0-7522-1143-9.
{{cite book}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help)CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) CS1 maint: year (link) - ^ This anecdote was mentioned as an aside in a GEnie post from September 4 1996. Archived at jmsnews.com. Retrieved on 2008-06-24.
- ^ From a GEnie post made by J. Michael Straczynski, July 7 1994. Archived at JMSNews. Retrieved on 2008-06-24.
- ^ The short can be accessed at Babylon Park. Retrieved on 2008-06-24.
- ^ The song was released to and can be heard at the Funny Music Project. Retrieved on 2008-06-24.
External links
- The Temple of Spoo: Spoo resources, recipes, humor, and fan fiction.
- Concise archive of JMS "Spoo" posts
- The Lurker's Guide to Babylon 5: The definitive Babylon 5 resource.
- JMSNews: The J. Michael Straczynski message archive.