I started trying to watch B5 yesterday and I'm having trouble staying with it. I like both dark (BSG, SG:U) and lighter (SG-1, Atlantis) sci-fi, but the campiness (is that a word?) and Leave It to Beaver style over the top acting in B5 is just turning me off completely. I only got about 15 minutes in to the first episode of season 1. My question is, will it get better?

Yes, it gets much better. The acting still sometimes isn't the highest quality, but I think the worst acting offender goes away in the second season. I think it builds up nicely, although it doesn't resolve some things as well as I'd like.

The last 2 or 3 episodes of season 1 are good. Then season 2 and on are good. But the show is a little corny from time to time. I still liked it alot.

A resounding "yes" to your question. There are undoubtedly many rough spots with season 1 of the show and most of them are related to the very limited budget that the producers had. Most of the corny acting comes from the second and third rate guest stars and supporting actors that they could afford to hire and Michael O'Hare (Sinclair) wasn't really comfortable with his tv role since he came from a theater background and was used to that. You may have noticed that his acting is rather "wooden". Also, season 1 had a lot of "stand alone" episodes that didn't really tie in to the overall mythology and long-term story arcs that Babylon 5 became famous for. Some of those stand alone stories are can be somewhat dull or corny.

I guarantee you that season 2 will get much better and seasons 3 and 4 are amazing IMHO.

Once Boxleitner gets on there in season 2 and starts yelling at people and talking to himself you can't help but get into it. LOL Garibaldi gets a lot better too.
Season 1 is more or less necessary to learn the races, backtory and politics that serves you well later on. Some very light duty shows that might only had a tidbit or two towards the big picture, and some could be skipped.

Best thing you could do: rent or buy the backstory movie "In the Beginning" and watch it right away. It's about the war 10 years preceding the first season that it all gets built on. It was made to draw the audience in when the show moved to TNT. Really good sci fi, lots of action and fleshes out the history.

Season 2 seriously takes off. More aggressive and all characters use the backstory you learn to build some epic storylines. Acting is a lot better.

Looking at IMDB, the main ones in S1: ep 3, 5,6,8,11,13(big time),17 to 22 (end of season). Ep 20 is epic, but you don't get to fully appreciate it until sometime later. Shows how well thought out the show was.
Watch those, after In the Beginning (and the show premiere The Gathering on the same disc) and you could move on to S2.

Be patient and endure season 1. It will be rewarded in season 2 already.

That said, S1 of B5 was still a lot better than most TV series EVER manage...



The Jedi Master

I vehemently disagree with watching "In the Beginning" before watching season 1 because of the major spoilers with Sinclair. One of the strong points of season 1 is the mystery surrounding Sinclair but if you watch In the Beginning first that mystery is gone.

Perfect time to see it IMO. Plus seeing all of that gives you a taste of how the series will go and you can't help but get motivated from it.

I have to agree with Panzer; whatever you do, Don't watch "In the beginning" as it contains major spoliers, not only regarding Sinclair but about one of the arcs concerning Centauri Prime. Store it until you're ready to begin watching Crusade.

Having said that, when B5 first aired here, I had trouble concentrating on it for a major part of 1st season but viewing the whole series from beginning to end a couple of years back I gained new interest in season 1 and a greater appreciation of O'Hare's acting. He's actually pretty damn good in my opinion! Even better than Boxleitner.