i looked for a star trek thread & didn't see any, so i made one. i figure there must be some trek fans here. BGS is produced & written by ron moore, who wrote & produced for the star trek series; the next generation, deep space nine & voyager you know.
so use this tread to discuss the upcoming movie, the term trekkie vs. the term trekker, kirk vs. picard. would star trek: enterprise have gone 7 seasons if ron moore was involved?
anything trek related.
Full Version: the star trek thread
DS9 - Best Trek Eva!
Well at least to me =). I'm a huge fan of serialized TV shows, which was basically the whole Dominion arc.
Well at least to me =). I'm a huge fan of serialized TV shows, which was basically the whole Dominion arc.
I've liked all the Treks I've seen (which means all the TV shows minus the Animated Series, and assorted movies). I'm fondest of Voyager for Janeway, Enterprise for the opening theme (which I am convinced was written for the Doctor from Doctor Who), and TNG for the Borg and Q episodes. And give me a book, and I've wasted the next couple of hours.
I'm actually one of those that loved Enterprise. I really wish the trekies would have given it a chance. To many of them just didn't like the changes. Well hello, anything can change when time travel is involved.
I also loved Star Trek: Nemesis with the clone Picard. That Romulan dreadnaught was awesome. I'm just pissed they can't finish the Data arc, or his chance to come back.
I also can't wait till the new movie comes out.
I also loved Star Trek: Nemesis with the clone Picard. That Romulan dreadnaught was awesome. I'm just pissed they can't finish the Data arc, or his chance to come back.
I also can't wait till the new movie comes out.
Count me in as another DS9 junkie. The best of the bunch. (I still preferred Babylon 5, but DS9 came close to its greatness).
QUOTE(larocque6689 @ Mar 29 2008, 08:31 PM) 
(I still preferred Babylon 5, but DS9 came close to its greatness).
*High five* Loved Babylon 5. My favorite Sci Fi TV show.
TNG is my second favorite for Borg, Q, and Riker/Troi (come on, I'm still a girl lol). I actually remember watching the very first episode when I was 6 years old lol!
Liked Voyager because of Janeway. I'm a huge fan of kick ass female characters.
Liked Voyager because of Janeway. I'm a huge fan of kick ass female characters.
QUOTE(russant @ Mar 29 2008, 08:26 PM)
I'm actually one of those that loved Enterprise. I really wish the trekies would have given it a chance. To many of them just didn't like the changes. Well hello, anything can change when time travel is involved.
i agree with you there.
QUOTE
I also loved Star Trek: Nemesis with the clone Picard. That Romulan dreadnaught was awesome. I'm just pissed they can't finish the Data arc, or his chance to come back.
i'm not a fan of ST: 10, but i'm pissed about data too.
QUOTE(Darth Kat @ Mar 29 2008, 09:16 PM)
*High five* Loved Babylon 5. My favorite Sci Fi TV show.
Dittos here. B5 "changed my sci-fi religion" you might say.
But, as far as Star Trek goes, I stopped watching after the first couple episodes of Deep Space Nine. I know it got better, but by then I was working all kinds of odd shifts, and I just couldn't get into it. I remember catching the premier for Voyager and pretty much deciding not to bother making any further effort.
So, count me in as a TOS and TNS guy, primarily.
As for the movies, ST II is the best, followed by ST: Nemesis, followed by ST III.
netflix is a good on-line rental site if you want to catch-up on what you missed IMHO. i started with TOS & went on from there, even though i've seen all of them at least 3 times. my brother is like; "you've seen these!" i'm like "so what?" LOL i'm a die-hard trek fan.
I love the idea of trek... all of 'em... The concept of the future, where interstellar travel is possible... Which of course is Firefly's appeal...
There are other contributing factors, the characters being formost. Still... the idea of finding beings that don't resemble us-- to me a huge draw, that evolved out of the IDIC... Infinite Dirversity in an Infinite Cosmos. The concept of creation being a sea of vast diversity... that has always sounded good to me.
I grew up with Fireball XL5... anybody old enough to remember that? Marrionettes before the time of Team America.
That there might be advanced Robotics... Asimov's three laws... And, of course the Borg.
We are the Borg...
It remains a horrifying thought, And every time we get too big for our britches... I remember it again. We keep finding new life forms on the planet... it seems reasonable that we'll find new ones with an alternate biology once we get off-wolrd.
There are other contributing factors, the characters being formost. Still... the idea of finding beings that don't resemble us-- to me a huge draw, that evolved out of the IDIC... Infinite Dirversity in an Infinite Cosmos. The concept of creation being a sea of vast diversity... that has always sounded good to me.
I grew up with Fireball XL5... anybody old enough to remember that? Marrionettes before the time of Team America.
That there might be advanced Robotics... Asimov's three laws... And, of course the Borg.
We are the Borg...
It remains a horrifying thought, And every time we get too big for our britches... I remember it again. We keep finding new life forms on the planet... it seems reasonable that we'll find new ones with an alternate biology once we get off-wolrd.
i think that IDIC = infinite diversity in infinite combinations, but either way it's a concept that we should embrace on earth before we go "out there"
Drat and darn... it's old age, I tell ya!!
i hear there's a slightly longer trailer for the new movie out. & they changed the release date form dec. 25, 2008 to may 9, 2009
Maybe I'm in the minority, but I never thought "Enterprise" was a bad show.
Yeah, it did violate some cannon early on but they tried to fix that towards the end. If it had a problem it was that Paramount had done so much Trek it was getting hard to do something new.
I am looking forward to the new movie due out next year.
Yeah, it did violate some cannon early on but they tried to fix that towards the end. If it had a problem it was that Paramount had done so much Trek it was getting hard to do something new.
I am looking forward to the new movie due out next year.
My hubby and I are BIG trek fans. We have copies of all TOS and all the TNG's. As well as all the movies.
I love the idea of of the world living in harmony...and in peace with other planets.
Also, a lot of their technology has come to pass. It's all very cool.
I love the idea of of the world living in harmony...and in peace with other planets.
Also, a lot of their technology has come to pass. It's all very cool.
QUOTE(AlphaNova @ Apr 5 2008, 07:47 PM)
Maybe I'm in the minority, but I never thought "Enterprise" was a bad show.
Yeah, it did violate some cannon early on but they tried to fix that towards the end. If it had a problem it was that Paramount had done so much Trek it was getting hard to do something new.
Yeah, it did violate some cannon early on but they tried to fix that towards the end. If it had a problem it was that Paramount had done so much Trek it was getting hard to do something new.
i agree with you.
QUOTE(AlphaNova @ Apr 5 2008, 04:47 PM)
Maybe I'm in the minority, but I never thought "Enterprise" was a bad show.
Yeah, it did violate some cannon early on but they tried to fix that towards the end. If it had a problem it was that Paramount had done so much Trek it was getting hard to do something new.
I am looking forward to the new movie due out next year.
Yeah, it did violate some cannon early on but they tried to fix that towards the end. If it had a problem it was that Paramount had done so much Trek it was getting hard to do something new.
I am looking forward to the new movie due out next year.
Personally I'm not one of those that cares too much about the cannon stuff as long as they don't drift to far away. I just thought it was a good show.
QUOTE(herbsinger42 @ Mar 31 2008, 01:39 PM)
I love the idea of trek... all of 'em... The concept of the future, where interstellar travel is possible... Which of course is Firefly's appeal...
There are other contributing factors, the characters being formost. Still... the idea of finding beings that don't resemble us-- to me a huge draw, that evolved out of the IDIC... Infinite Dirversity in an Infinite Cosmos. The concept of creation being a sea of vast diversity... that has always sounded good to me.
I grew up with Fireball XL5... anybody old enough to remember that? Marrionettes before the time of Team America.
That there might be advanced Robotics... Asimov's three laws... And, of course the Borg.
We are the Borg...
It remains a horrifying thought, And every time we get too big for our britches... I remember it again. We keep finding new life forms on the planet... it seems reasonable that we'll find new ones with an alternate biology once we get off-wolrd.
There are other contributing factors, the characters being formost. Still... the idea of finding beings that don't resemble us-- to me a huge draw, that evolved out of the IDIC... Infinite Dirversity in an Infinite Cosmos. The concept of creation being a sea of vast diversity... that has always sounded good to me.
I grew up with Fireball XL5... anybody old enough to remember that? Marrionettes before the time of Team America.
That there might be advanced Robotics... Asimov's three laws... And, of course the Borg.
We are the Borg...
It remains a horrifying thought, And every time we get too big for our britches... I remember it again. We keep finding new life forms on the planet... it seems reasonable that we'll find new ones with an alternate biology once we get off-wolrd.
Fireball XL5. I loved that show...
Here is a link to an episode on YouTube
A Spy in Space
QUOTE(AlphaNova @ Apr 5 2008, 07:47 PM)
Maybe I'm in the minority, but I never thought "Enterprise" was a bad show.
Yeah, it did violate some cannon early on but they tried to fix that towards the end. If it had a problem it was that Paramount had done so much Trek it was getting hard to do something new.
I am looking forward to the new movie due out next year.
Yeah, it did violate some cannon early on but they tried to fix that towards the end. If it had a problem it was that Paramount had done so much Trek it was getting hard to do something new.
I am looking forward to the new movie due out next year.
i never understood why they thought going backwards was a good idea. roddenberry was all about moving forwards. if they felt like they had exhausted the nextgen 24th century universe, then the answer would have been to reboot in the 25th century. space the final frontier. these are the voyages of the starship enterprise, ncc1701-G. a new crew, a new time, same mission, to seek out and explore.
but nooooooo. america wants prequels, right? paramount knows its fans and they know we are dying for a bastardized kirk and spock at the academy. /sarcasm
Actually... I think a lot of us enjoy 'back story'--
the browncoat fan fic does boatloads of it... a part of the human animal
seeks to answer the 'why' question all the time... so why not the why
of the relationship between Bones and Kirk... the sparring between Spock and
Bones... and love of a boy and his truck/space ship from Scotty... I read like a
fiend... I like to fill in the holes... and I don't mind alternating approaches.
Now... as to what doesn't get the greenlight, vs. the shlock that we are often fed
from the silver screen... that is a valid argument. Still-- somebody does make the
choice, not me.
the browncoat fan fic does boatloads of it... a part of the human animal
seeks to answer the 'why' question all the time... so why not the why
of the relationship between Bones and Kirk... the sparring between Spock and
Bones... and love of a boy and his truck/space ship from Scotty... I read like a
fiend... I like to fill in the holes... and I don't mind alternating approaches.
Now... as to what doesn't get the greenlight, vs. the shlock that we are often fed
from the silver screen... that is a valid argument. Still-- somebody does make the
choice, not me.
This ST movie is the first one which I am not planning to see. Nemesis was... What it was. This, however, as has already been observed, is another prequel, this time to most of the ST series, with the exception of Enterprise. More fun with mangling the continuity, ignoring the existing canon, and *shudders to use the bad word* re-imagining the ST universe. Again.
And, for what? A chance to portray Kirk and Spock as "teen dream" cover boys? Anybody here remember Nimoy's earliest portrayal of Spock? He was VERY uncool. A younger version, to be accurate to the original, would have to be portrayed in such a way as to present him as a "space spaz." Not an attractive prospect. This never minding the fact that Rodenberry's original pilot didn't even include 1st Officer Spock, but, instead, a female character referred to simply as "#1." One supposes that Kirk might still have met Spock before the vulcan became his science officer, or, that #1's appearance, as an unused pilot, was not canon, but, it's still kinda thin, possible age differences notwithstanding.
Finally, let's say they make this film, in which Kirk and Spock "Wesley Crusher" some great crisis into submission between classes (Hmm... Harry Potter and the Great Bird of the Galaxy, anyone?), with some cameos of other youthful Trek characters for fun. Well, they can't exactly keep making these things; how much can our Starnamic Duo get away with accomplishing while in Starfleet Academy, without stressing the fabric of the believability continuum? It just doesn't make for a good, long-term prospect.
Paramount, et al, have simply gone back to the ST well too many times. They need either to:
A. Let the franchise rest fallow for ten or more years, allowing a new generation of sci-fi viewers to experience whatever they release (can we say ST:TOS remake?) with fewer pre-existing prejudices. One may hope that it would be handled better than Skiffy handled Flash Gordon, but, I digress...
B. Set a new movie/series/webcasts significantly farther in the future of even the most currently advanced ST series, and, leave behind a lot of the baggage of the previous incarnations, except as background history. Of course, handling the ghodlike technological advances might stress the writers, but then, they can always simply ignore the troublesome implications of mass-energy conversion technology (i.e., the hypothetical field of transporter medicine, suppressed by the transporter-phobic Admiral of Medicine McCoy) and other such troublesome elements by simply painting some scantily-clad females green (and, why not some green guys? Gotta keep the distaff demographic watching!), and distracting the audience that way.
or,
C. Can it, and put ST out to pasture, for good. Of course, most die-hard ST fans would not favor this, but, let's face it: If all that will be produced for ST from now until doomsday will be crap, anyway, why bother?
So, no, I don't care about this movie, didn't watch more than a couple episodes of Enterprise, and, frankly, have lost interest in this franchise. Mebbe I grew out of it. I like other sci-fi, but, Trek bores me, has for years, now. It needs freshening, but, I just don't see that coming.
Damn shame, too, considering what ST contributed to the genre.
-Raycheetah ='[.]'=
And, for what? A chance to portray Kirk and Spock as "teen dream" cover boys? Anybody here remember Nimoy's earliest portrayal of Spock? He was VERY uncool. A younger version, to be accurate to the original, would have to be portrayed in such a way as to present him as a "space spaz." Not an attractive prospect. This never minding the fact that Rodenberry's original pilot didn't even include 1st Officer Spock, but, instead, a female character referred to simply as "#1." One supposes that Kirk might still have met Spock before the vulcan became his science officer, or, that #1's appearance, as an unused pilot, was not canon, but, it's still kinda thin, possible age differences notwithstanding.
Finally, let's say they make this film, in which Kirk and Spock "Wesley Crusher" some great crisis into submission between classes (Hmm... Harry Potter and the Great Bird of the Galaxy, anyone?), with some cameos of other youthful Trek characters for fun. Well, they can't exactly keep making these things; how much can our Starnamic Duo get away with accomplishing while in Starfleet Academy, without stressing the fabric of the believability continuum? It just doesn't make for a good, long-term prospect.
Paramount, et al, have simply gone back to the ST well too many times. They need either to:
A. Let the franchise rest fallow for ten or more years, allowing a new generation of sci-fi viewers to experience whatever they release (can we say ST:TOS remake?) with fewer pre-existing prejudices. One may hope that it would be handled better than Skiffy handled Flash Gordon, but, I digress...
B. Set a new movie/series/webcasts significantly farther in the future of even the most currently advanced ST series, and, leave behind a lot of the baggage of the previous incarnations, except as background history. Of course, handling the ghodlike technological advances might stress the writers, but then, they can always simply ignore the troublesome implications of mass-energy conversion technology (i.e., the hypothetical field of transporter medicine, suppressed by the transporter-phobic Admiral of Medicine McCoy) and other such troublesome elements by simply painting some scantily-clad females green (and, why not some green guys? Gotta keep the distaff demographic watching!), and distracting the audience that way.
or,
C. Can it, and put ST out to pasture, for good. Of course, most die-hard ST fans would not favor this, but, let's face it: If all that will be produced for ST from now until doomsday will be crap, anyway, why bother?
So, no, I don't care about this movie, didn't watch more than a couple episodes of Enterprise, and, frankly, have lost interest in this franchise. Mebbe I grew out of it. I like other sci-fi, but, Trek bores me, has for years, now. It needs freshening, but, I just don't see that coming.
Damn shame, too, considering what ST contributed to the genre.
-Raycheetah ='[.]'=
QUOTE
Joal Ryan
Mon May 19, 9:37 AM ET
Los Angeles (E! Online) - George Takei is going ring shopping.
The Star Trek helmsman and his partner of 21 years, Brad Altman, are engaged to be married.
"This is something we've been passionately committed to, so, no, there's no cold feet," Takei told E! News today.
Altman proposed last Thursday, shortly after the California Supreme Court struck down a state law banning same-sex unions.
"I was planning on asking Brad, but he got down on one knee, and, of course, I said, yes," Takei said. "I told Brad, 'You beat me to it.' "
Congratulations have poured in from fans, his latter-day colleagues at The Howard Stern Show—and, yes, wedding planners.
Takei, who publicly came out in a magazine interview in 2005, announced his plans in a blog post Friday, the same day Ellen DeGeneres took to her talk show to announce her engagement to actress Portia de Rossi.
Takei, 71, said he and Altman, his business manager, would have taken the plunge years ago—if they'd been legally allowed to do so.
He said they resisted the urge to go to San Francisco, when that California city began marrying gay couples in 2004, because they wanted to be certain of their union's legality. (Ultimately, the San Francisco marriages were voided by court order.) And he said they resisted the urge to marry elsewhere, such as Massachusetts, because they wanted to marry in California, where Takei is a second-generation native son.
Right now, the couple has a date range, but not yet a date—sometime after mid-June, when same-sex marriages will become lawful in California, and sometime before November, when a measure seeking to ban such unions could be on the ballot.
If the antigay-marriage initiative does wind up on the California ballot, Takei promised to campaign against it "vigorously."
As things currently stand, Takei and Altman are consumed with the business of wedding planning.
"We are now going through the process of making those wonderful decisions," Takei said.
First stop: Arizona, where the couple will buy their rings.
Then, it'll be time to decide the where, the when and the how-many-to-invite.
At least one group seems assured of scoring seats.
Said the once and forever Lt. Sulu: "My Star Trek castmates are dear friends of many, many decades, so they are on the list."
Mon May 19, 9:37 AM ET
Los Angeles (E! Online) - George Takei is going ring shopping.
The Star Trek helmsman and his partner of 21 years, Brad Altman, are engaged to be married.
"This is something we've been passionately committed to, so, no, there's no cold feet," Takei told E! News today.
Altman proposed last Thursday, shortly after the California Supreme Court struck down a state law banning same-sex unions.
"I was planning on asking Brad, but he got down on one knee, and, of course, I said, yes," Takei said. "I told Brad, 'You beat me to it.' "
Congratulations have poured in from fans, his latter-day colleagues at The Howard Stern Show—and, yes, wedding planners.
Takei, who publicly came out in a magazine interview in 2005, announced his plans in a blog post Friday, the same day Ellen DeGeneres took to her talk show to announce her engagement to actress Portia de Rossi.
Takei, 71, said he and Altman, his business manager, would have taken the plunge years ago—if they'd been legally allowed to do so.
He said they resisted the urge to go to San Francisco, when that California city began marrying gay couples in 2004, because they wanted to be certain of their union's legality. (Ultimately, the San Francisco marriages were voided by court order.) And he said they resisted the urge to marry elsewhere, such as Massachusetts, because they wanted to marry in California, where Takei is a second-generation native son.
Right now, the couple has a date range, but not yet a date—sometime after mid-June, when same-sex marriages will become lawful in California, and sometime before November, when a measure seeking to ban such unions could be on the ballot.
If the antigay-marriage initiative does wind up on the California ballot, Takei promised to campaign against it "vigorously."
As things currently stand, Takei and Altman are consumed with the business of wedding planning.
"We are now going through the process of making those wonderful decisions," Takei said.
First stop: Arizona, where the couple will buy their rings.
Then, it'll be time to decide the where, the when and the how-many-to-invite.
At least one group seems assured of scoring seats.
Said the once and forever Lt. Sulu: "My Star Trek castmates are dear friends of many, many decades, so they are on the list."
http://news.yahoo.com/s/eonline/9db5152b_d...77_5fe4fadaff1a
Two Star Trek off-screen greats pass on:
http://www.syfyportal.com/
"Alexander Courage, 'Star Trek' Theme Writer, Dies
By MICHAEL HINMAN
May-28-2008
Alexander Courage, who would find fame as the man behind the theme to the original "Star Trek" who would later depart
the series over a royalty dispute with Gene Roddenberry, has died. He was 88. Courage had been living in the Sunrise assisted living facility in Pacific Palisades, Calif., when he passed away May 15, according to Film Music Society.
Courage got his start as an uncredited music composer for the 1950 film "Annie Get Your Gun" and later for "Show Boat." He also was an orchestrator for the classic film "Singing In the Rain" as well as "Oklahoma!" and "Guys and Dolls."
By the time he was asked to write the theme to "Star Trek" in the mid-1960s, he already had more than 30 composing
credits, and the fanfare from his theme would earn him credit in a number of later Star Trek films, including those that
involved the crew of "Star Trek: The Next Generation."
Born in Philadelphia, Courage played both the horn and the piano as a child, and would receive his degree form the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, N.Y. in 1941. He would join the Army Air Corps and would work as a bandleader at various bases in California and Arizona.
He would move over to CBS Radio following the war, working on a number of series, before taking on films.
Courage would end his association with Star Trek when Roddenberry wrote lyrics to his theme reportedly as a way for him to collect on half the royalties Courage would receive for writing the song. The lyrics would never be used in the series or later movies, and Courage was said to have felt he had been cheated by Roddenberry.
However, Courage did make somewhat of a return to Star Trek following Roddenberry' s death in 1991 doing orchestrations for "Star Trek: First Contact" and "Star Trek: Insurrection. "
Survivors include four stepchildren and six grandchildren. His third wife, Shirley Pumpelly, died in 2005.
Popular 'Star Trek' Director Joseph Pevney Dies
By MICHAEL HINMAN
Source: Los Angeles Times
Joseph Pevney, the director who brought to screen including the famous "Star Trek" episode "The Trouble With Tribbles," has died. He was 96.
Pevney directed a number of "Star Trek" episodes beginning with "Arena" that aired in January 1967. He would also direct "The Return of the Archons," "A Taste of Armageddon," "The Devil in the Dark," "The City on the Edge of Forever," "Amok Time," "The Apple," "Catspaw," "Journey to Babel," "Friday's Child," "The Deadly Years," "Wolf in in the Fold" and "The Immunity Syndrome."
Pevney's "Trouble With Tribbles" episode would be resurrected in 1996 in a special anniversary episode of "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" called "Trials and Tribble-ations. "
His first directing job was 1950's "Shakedown," an early movie work of Rock Hudson. He also directed "Bewitched," "The
Alfred Hitchcock Hour," "The Munsters," "The Fugitive," "Mission: Impossible," "Bonanza," "The Incredible Hulk," and "Trapper John MD" before retiring in 1985.
Only Marc Daniels directed as many episodes of "Star Trek" as Pevney.
"The first half ot eh second year of the show, when he was alternating with Marc Daniels, is regarded as the best part of the series," said Jeff Bond, editor of Geek Monthly. "That's when it hit its stride. There was more humor, it was more
adventurous, and the tone, I think, was lighter."
George Takei, who played Sulu in the series, told the Los Angeles Times that while he was "very precise in what he wanted," Pevney was also "very relaxed -- in fact, jovial -- in the way he directed. I enjoyed working with him."
Pevney began his career as a singer in vaudeville when he was just 12 years old. He would have a number of acting credits, and would later serve in the Army Signal Corps during World War II.
He is survived by his wife of six years, Margo, as well as sons Jay and Joel, daughter Jan Holt, two grandchildren and three great-grandchildren."
-Raycheetah =-[.]-=
http://www.syfyportal.com/
"Alexander Courage, 'Star Trek' Theme Writer, Dies
By MICHAEL HINMAN
May-28-2008
Alexander Courage, who would find fame as the man behind the theme to the original "Star Trek" who would later depart
the series over a royalty dispute with Gene Roddenberry, has died. He was 88. Courage had been living in the Sunrise assisted living facility in Pacific Palisades, Calif., when he passed away May 15, according to Film Music Society.
Courage got his start as an uncredited music composer for the 1950 film "Annie Get Your Gun" and later for "Show Boat." He also was an orchestrator for the classic film "Singing In the Rain" as well as "Oklahoma!" and "Guys and Dolls."
By the time he was asked to write the theme to "Star Trek" in the mid-1960s, he already had more than 30 composing
credits, and the fanfare from his theme would earn him credit in a number of later Star Trek films, including those that
involved the crew of "Star Trek: The Next Generation."
Born in Philadelphia, Courage played both the horn and the piano as a child, and would receive his degree form the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, N.Y. in 1941. He would join the Army Air Corps and would work as a bandleader at various bases in California and Arizona.
He would move over to CBS Radio following the war, working on a number of series, before taking on films.
Courage would end his association with Star Trek when Roddenberry wrote lyrics to his theme reportedly as a way for him to collect on half the royalties Courage would receive for writing the song. The lyrics would never be used in the series or later movies, and Courage was said to have felt he had been cheated by Roddenberry.
However, Courage did make somewhat of a return to Star Trek following Roddenberry' s death in 1991 doing orchestrations for "Star Trek: First Contact" and "Star Trek: Insurrection. "
Survivors include four stepchildren and six grandchildren. His third wife, Shirley Pumpelly, died in 2005.
Popular 'Star Trek' Director Joseph Pevney Dies
By MICHAEL HINMAN
Source: Los Angeles Times
Joseph Pevney, the director who brought to screen including the famous "Star Trek" episode "The Trouble With Tribbles," has died. He was 96.
Pevney directed a number of "Star Trek" episodes beginning with "Arena" that aired in January 1967. He would also direct "The Return of the Archons," "A Taste of Armageddon," "The Devil in the Dark," "The City on the Edge of Forever," "Amok Time," "The Apple," "Catspaw," "Journey to Babel," "Friday's Child," "The Deadly Years," "Wolf in in the Fold" and "The Immunity Syndrome."
Pevney's "Trouble With Tribbles" episode would be resurrected in 1996 in a special anniversary episode of "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" called "Trials and Tribble-ations. "
His first directing job was 1950's "Shakedown," an early movie work of Rock Hudson. He also directed "Bewitched," "The
Alfred Hitchcock Hour," "The Munsters," "The Fugitive," "Mission: Impossible," "Bonanza," "The Incredible Hulk," and "Trapper John MD" before retiring in 1985.
Only Marc Daniels directed as many episodes of "Star Trek" as Pevney.
"The first half ot eh second year of the show, when he was alternating with Marc Daniels, is regarded as the best part of the series," said Jeff Bond, editor of Geek Monthly. "That's when it hit its stride. There was more humor, it was more
adventurous, and the tone, I think, was lighter."
George Takei, who played Sulu in the series, told the Los Angeles Times that while he was "very precise in what he wanted," Pevney was also "very relaxed -- in fact, jovial -- in the way he directed. I enjoyed working with him."
Pevney began his career as a singer in vaudeville when he was just 12 years old. He would have a number of acting credits, and would later serve in the Army Signal Corps during World War II.
He is survived by his wife of six years, Margo, as well as sons Jay and Joel, daughter Jan Holt, two grandchildren and three great-grandchildren."
-Raycheetah =-[.]-=
You can't tell me Trouble with Tribbles man is dead. I was just talking about them the other day! (I don't remember when, or where, or why. I think it was relevant, and it might have involved Doctor Who.)
[Warning: this next paragraph isn't brilliantly written. I dunno what happened, but... you guys can forgive or not as is your penchant.] I love the Voyager opening sequence, though more for the images than for the music. If I'm in the room, and it's on, I'm watching that. The Enterprise theme, however, is amazing. It is. I'd have to say that TNG is my favorite series, but that's probably because I haven't seen all of it, Spike has custody, runs the show, and I appear to catch runs of episodes I've seen when I'm at home to watch it. It's like a favorite book that you keep misplacing but love as soon as you find it. Of TOS I haven't seen much, but what I did I liked.
Oh. And then the secret of the second time I cried for fiction: I listen to audio tapes. I have a penchant for pausing things when I get upset at them. (You should see me when I'm on a Who ep... eep. That's weird. And not relevant here.) Well, I was listening to ... um, Nemeisis, I think it was. (I hope so, or this is going to be really awkward.) Well, on the last tape or something, I thought Data had just died. Um. Well, I then paused and had to cry for a bit, because I liked Data. He didn't die. Yet. I came back later, and he hadn't died, and I felt all silly about it. Yup. MMhhm. Later, when he did die, well, ... I was fine. O.o;
[Warning: this next paragraph isn't brilliantly written. I dunno what happened, but... you guys can forgive or not as is your penchant.] I love the Voyager opening sequence, though more for the images than for the music. If I'm in the room, and it's on, I'm watching that. The Enterprise theme, however, is amazing. It is. I'd have to say that TNG is my favorite series, but that's probably because I haven't seen all of it, Spike has custody, runs the show, and I appear to catch runs of episodes I've seen when I'm at home to watch it. It's like a favorite book that you keep misplacing but love as soon as you find it. Of TOS I haven't seen much, but what I did I liked.
Oh. And then the secret of the second time I cried for fiction: I listen to audio tapes. I have a penchant for pausing things when I get upset at them. (You should see me when I'm on a Who ep... eep. That's weird. And not relevant here.) Well, I was listening to ... um, Nemeisis, I think it was. (I hope so, or this is going to be really awkward.) Well, on the last tape or something, I thought Data had just died. Um. Well, I then paused and had to cry for a bit, because I liked Data. He didn't die. Yet. I came back later, and he hadn't died, and I felt all silly about it. Yup. MMhhm. Later, when he did die, well, ... I was fine. O.o;
Star Trek was okay when there wasn't any other Sci-Fi on the telly, but as soon as other shows started coming out it went downhill, the last 2 series Voyager and Enterprise were a totally wasted oppotunities to inprove the franchise but instead the writers chicked out and wrote safe middle of the road rubbish. The forth season of Enterprise was where they tried to made differences but by then it was too late for the series.
QUOTE(RaiderDave2112 @ Jun 4 2008, 06:50 PM)
Star Trek was okay when there wasn't any other Sci-Fi on the telly, but as soon as other shows started coming out it went downhill, the last 2 series Voyager and Enterprise were a totally wasted oppotunities to inprove the franchise but instead the writers chicked out and wrote safe middle of the road rubbish. The forth season of Enterprise was where they tried to made differences but by then it was too late for the series.
Not a big Trekkie, but, enjoyed it for what I found it to be worth... Up until Voyager. Too much that didn't make any sense. Travelling at maximum warp to head home, and, yet, their entire first season was spent tussling with what amounted to an interstellar street gang who couldn't seem to find any water within the radius of that warp in one direction, yet they could keep up with Voyager? Puh-LEEZE!
I actually had some ideas when Voyager was first announced... Have a black woman captain... Uhura's granddaughter... That way, she could even consult with grandma on the holodeck (allowing for some wonderful cameos by Nichelle Nicholes) in times of stress. In fact, why didn't every Starfleet captain consult with a holodeck Kirk or Spock or Scotty? I guess that speaks of the limitations of the personality replications.
Loved the opening visuals and music on Voyager; hated the show, stopped watching after season 1. It might've gotten better, but, not according to what I heard.
I didn't even bother watching Enterprise, when I learned that they were gonna play fast and loose with the canon and history. But, I did manage to catch a couple of eps by accident, and was impressed with the show, as presented.
Oh, and, DS9? Sorry, I am firmly in the camp which holds it to have been a B5 ripoff, though it started to get much better in later seasons... They canceled it just when it was starting to get entertaining.
*Goes to hide behind couch to dodge thrown objects and disruptor blasts.*
-Raycheetah =^[.]^=
Oh. I totally forgot DS9. I think that hat I liked about that show was Odo. And it's probably quite telling that I don't remember it when I speak of Star Trek.
I find all the series good watching when at home to see it, but it's not the highest priority on television.
I find all the series good watching when at home to see it, but it's not the highest priority on television.
well DS9 started in 1993
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0106145/
and babylon 5 had a tv movie the same year
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0106336/
i heard that B5 fans sent viruses to DS9 writers' computers to ruin what they wrote. *shakes head* there's room for all kinds of sci-fi on tv.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0106145/
and babylon 5 had a tv movie the same year
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0106336/
i heard that B5 fans sent viruses to DS9 writers' computers to ruin what they wrote. *shakes head* there's room for all kinds of sci-fi on tv.
QUOTE(archersangel @ Jun 5 2008, 04:19 AM)
well DS9 started in 1993
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0106145/
and babylon 5 had a tv movie the same year
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0106336/
i heard that B5 fans sent viruses to DS9 writers' computers to ruin what they wrote. *shakes head* there's room for all kinds of sci-fi on tv.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0106145/
and babylon 5 had a tv movie the same year
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0106336/
i heard that B5 fans sent viruses to DS9 writers' computers to ruin what they wrote. *shakes head* there's room for all kinds of sci-fi on tv.
Yes but Babylon 5 was developed years before DS9, infact paramount started work on DS9 when they found out B5 had been given a green light for a TV movie. Also JMS has stated that as early as '89 he showed paramount his series bible and other stuff to them because he was trying to get the series made.
I've never heard anything like that about the Babylon 5 fans, where did you read that?
Plenty of discussion, debate, and also some documentary evidence of Paramount ripping off Babylon 5:
http://forums.scifi.com/index.php?showtopi...hl=deep+space+9
...Which is the source for these links:
http://en.allexperts.com/e/s/si/similariti..._space_nine.htm
http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/find/CompuServe/latest/31.html
http://www.midwinter.com/cgi-bin/lurkfind?...OPS=1&THE=0
So, no absolute smoking-gun proof, but plenty to think about, both from the discussion on the Skiffy thread, and from the links.
*Hides behind the sofa, again.*
-Raycheetah =^[.]^=
http://forums.scifi.com/index.php?showtopi...hl=deep+space+9
...Which is the source for these links:
http://en.allexperts.com/e/s/si/similariti..._space_nine.htm
http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/find/CompuServe/latest/31.html
http://www.midwinter.com/cgi-bin/lurkfind?...OPS=1&THE=0
So, no absolute smoking-gun proof, but plenty to think about, both from the discussion on the Skiffy thread, and from the links.
*Hides behind the sofa, again.*
-Raycheetah =^[.]^=
QUOTE(RaiderDave2112 @ Jun 5 2008, 12:14 AM)
I've never heard anything like that about the Babylon 5 fans, where did you read that?
it was a long time ago in people magazine or entertainment weekly. i was so shocked when i read that, that i had to read it twice. a DS9 writer said they'd already had some stuff ruined. this was towards the end of the series if i recall.
QUOTE(archersangel @ Jun 5 2008, 12:28 PM)
it was a long time ago in people magazine or entertainment weekly. i was so shocked when i read that, that i had to read it twice. a DS9 writer said they'd already had some stuff ruined. this was towards the end of the series if i recall.
Well, that's just shameful.
There's just no accounting for how a small segment of any group (or fandom) will behave.
-Raycheetah =-[.]-=
QUOTE(archersangel @ Jun 5 2008, 05:28 PM)
it was a long time ago in people magazine or entertainment weekly. i was so shocked when i read that, that i had to read it twice. a DS9 writer said they'd already had some stuff ruined. this was towards the end of the series if i recall.
As Ray said thats pretty bad, because Babylon 5 was the better show, it didn't need its fans to wreck DS9, the writers managed that all by themselves.
star trek the experience to close!
this from memory alpha:
2 July 2008
Cedar Fair and CBS Consumer Products has confirmed that Star Trek: The Experience at the Las Vegas Hilton will shut down on 1 September 2008. However, CBS has stated they are currently exploring several possibilities to keep The Experience running, possibly at another location.
link to the story at trekmovie.com
this from memory alpha:
2 July 2008
Cedar Fair and CBS Consumer Products has confirmed that Star Trek: The Experience at the Las Vegas Hilton will shut down on 1 September 2008. However, CBS has stated they are currently exploring several possibilities to keep The Experience running, possibly at another location.
link to the story at trekmovie.com
Oh, quit milking a dead, dry cow already, Paramount. Get over yourselves. Do something... daring... unheard-of... long forgotten...
HOW ABOUT SOMETHING NEW ALREADY?!?!?!?!?!?
HOW ABOUT SOMETHING NEW ALREADY?!?!?!?!?!?
If they're gonna do Trek, how about something besides the activities of the crew of a Federation starship? The setting is a whole gorram universe full of humans and aliens; Babylon 5 (sorry for going back to this on the Trek thread, but it's a good example) had 5 seasons of shows with a wide variety of elements, not only the big war, but the telepaths, the Narn/Centauri conflict, the technomages...
Trek is a gold mine of potentials which has been neglected in favor of formula.
How about interstellar espionage? Crime and legal drama, invoking the laws of a thousand worlds in a single interstellar court? Hell, how about the voyages of a civilian luxury liner, and all its alien ports of call? Now THAT would have some variety, and allow for a new cast of characters in a new setting every episode, though it needn't be so cheesy as The Love Boat.
Mix in a number of recurring plot elements, like mysterious mystics, power brokers, merchants... At least we might be able to see some different takes on the various races we know. How about a Klingon bartender? A Vulcan archeologist? A Ferengi doctor? They have to exist, so, why not go beyond the stereotypes, rather than inventing a new race every time an archetype needs to be invoked?
Just sayin'.
=^[.]^=
Trek is a gold mine of potentials which has been neglected in favor of formula.
How about interstellar espionage? Crime and legal drama, invoking the laws of a thousand worlds in a single interstellar court? Hell, how about the voyages of a civilian luxury liner, and all its alien ports of call? Now THAT would have some variety, and allow for a new cast of characters in a new setting every episode, though it needn't be so cheesy as The Love Boat.
Mix in a number of recurring plot elements, like mysterious mystics, power brokers, merchants... At least we might be able to see some different takes on the various races we know. How about a Klingon bartender? A Vulcan archeologist? A Ferengi doctor? They have to exist, so, why not go beyond the stereotypes, rather than inventing a new race every time an archetype needs to be invoked?
Just sayin'.
=^[.]^=
QUOTE(Raycheetah @ Jul 24 2008, 12:01 AM)
If they're gonna do Trek, how about something besides the activities of the crew of a Federation starship? The setting is a whole gorram universe full of humans and aliens; Babylon 5 (sorry for going back to this on the Trek thread, but it's a good example) had 5 seasons of shows with a wide variety of elements, not only the big war, but the telepaths, the Narn/Centauri conflict, the technomages...
Trek is a gold mine of potentials which has been neglected in favor of formula.
How about interstellar espionage? Crime and legal drama, invoking the laws of a thousand worlds in a single interstellar court? Hell, how about the voyages of a civilian luxury liner, and all its alien ports of call? Now THAT would have some variety, and allow for a new cast of characters in a new setting every episode, though it needn't be so cheesy as The Love Boat.
Mix in a number of recurring plot elements, like mysterious mystics, power brokers, merchants... At least we might be able to see some different takes on the various races we know. How about a Klingon bartender? A Vulcan archeologist? A Ferengi doctor? They have to exist, so, why not go beyond the stereotypes, rather than inventing a new race every time an archetype needs to be invoked?
Just sayin'.
=^[.]^=
Trek is a gold mine of potentials which has been neglected in favor of formula.
How about interstellar espionage? Crime and legal drama, invoking the laws of a thousand worlds in a single interstellar court? Hell, how about the voyages of a civilian luxury liner, and all its alien ports of call? Now THAT would have some variety, and allow for a new cast of characters in a new setting every episode, though it needn't be so cheesy as The Love Boat.
Mix in a number of recurring plot elements, like mysterious mystics, power brokers, merchants... At least we might be able to see some different takes on the various races we know. How about a Klingon bartender? A Vulcan archeologist? A Ferengi doctor? They have to exist, so, why not go beyond the stereotypes, rather than inventing a new race every time an archetype needs to be invoked?
Just sayin'.
=^[.]^=
Easy enough to understand. Paramount doesn't understand what they have. TV executives don't understand science fiction or the fans. To be fair, they generally don't understand viewers in general, but they are especially bad with respect to SF. All they know is that the shows based on Star Fleet have been popular. The fact that has been all they have done doesn't seem to have occurred to them.
As you point out there is so much potential. I'd like to see a colony set in the TOS era. Say, a multi-racial one. Human and Andorians could be fun. Or maybe a colony settled by a religious group who believe in simple technologies. Sort of Amish in the future.
As I have posted before, the suits should let the series rest for about 25 years or so then redo it, that way there is only going to be a small handfull of people who complain about the sacrilege you are doing to their favourite show.
QUOTE(CombJ @ Jul 26 2008, 03:03 PM)
Easy enough to understand. Paramount doesn't understand what they have. TV executives don't understand science fiction or the fans. To be fair, they generally don't understand viewers in general, but they are especially bad with respect to SF. All they know is that the shows based on Star Fleet have been popular. The fact that has been all they have done doesn't seem to have occurred to them.
As you point out there is so much potential. I'd like to see a colony set in the TOS era. Say, a multi-racial one. Human and Andorians could be fun. Or maybe a colony settled by a religious group who believe in simple technologies. Sort of Amish in the future.
As you point out there is so much potential. I'd like to see a colony set in the TOS era. Say, a multi-racial one. Human and Andorians could be fun. Or maybe a colony settled by a religious group who believe in simple technologies. Sort of Amish in the future.
Heh. Sounds like a rim planet from Firefly.
=^[.]^=
I'm on a Trek high now, watching DS9 on cable every weekday and TNG on DVD.
And I have a Riker crush at the moment...
And I have a Riker crush at the moment...
QUOTE(maneth @ Aug 16 2008, 12:26 AM)
I'm on a Trek high now, watching DS9 on cable every weekday and TNG on DVD.
And I have a Riker crush at the moment...
And I have a Riker crush at the moment...
Hmmm. I have been indulging in Voyager. New choices for fantasy.
Still... Johnathan is a fine looking man.
As is Avery Brooks... Brooks has the edge when one takes voice into concideration.
As does Patrick Stewart.
They can talk to me any time.
QUOTE(Raycheetah @ Apr 11 2008, 02:18 PM)
This ST movie is the first one which I am not planning to see. Nemesis was... What it was. This, however, as has already been observed, is another prequel, this time to most of the ST series, with the exception of Enterprise. More fun with mangling the continuity, ignoring the existing canon, and *shudders to use the bad word* re-imagining the ST universe. Again.
And, for what? A chance to portray Kirk and Spock as "teen dream" cover boys? Anybody here remember Nimoy's earliest portrayal of Spock? He was VERY uncool. A younger version, to be accurate to the original, would have to be portrayed in such a way as to present him as a "space spaz." Not an attractive prospect. This never minding the fact that Rodenberry's original pilot didn't even include 1st Officer Spock, but, instead, a female character referred to simply as "#1." One supposes that Kirk might still have met Spock before the vulcan became his science officer, or, that #1's appearance, as an unused pilot, was not canon, but, it's still kinda thin, possible age differences notwithstanding.
Finally, let's say they make this film, in which Kirk and Spock "Wesley Crusher" some great crisis into submission between classes (Hmm... Harry Potter and the Great Bird of the Galaxy, anyone?), with some cameos of other youthful Trek characters for fun. Well, they can't exactly keep making these things; how much can our Starnamic Duo get away with accomplishing while in Starfleet Academy, without stressing the fabric of the believability continuum? It just doesn't make for a good, long-term prospect.
Paramount, et al, have simply gone back to the ST well too many times. They need either to:
A. Let the franchise rest fallow for ten or more years, allowing a new generation of sci-fi viewers to experience whatever they release (can we say ST:TOS remake?) with fewer pre-existing prejudices. One may hope that it would be handled better than Skiffy handled Flash Gordon, but, I digress...
B. Set a new movie/series/webcasts significantly farther in the future of even the most currently advanced ST series, and, leave behind a lot of the baggage of the previous incarnations, except as background history. Of course, handling the ghodlike technological advances might stress the writers, but then, they can always simply ignore the troublesome implications of mass-energy conversion technology (i.e., the hypothetical field of transporter medicine, suppressed by the transporter-phobic Admiral of Medicine McCoy) and other such troublesome elements by simply painting some scantily-clad females green (and, why not some green guys? Gotta keep the distaff demographic watching!), and distracting the audience that way.
or,
C. Can it, and put ST out to pasture, for good. Of course, most die-hard ST fans would not favor this, but, let's face it: If all that will be produced for ST from now until doomsday will be crap, anyway, why bother?
So, no, I don't care about this movie, didn't watch more than a couple episodes of Enterprise, and, frankly, have lost interest in this franchise. Mebbe I grew out of it. I like other sci-fi, but, Trek bores me, has for years, now. It needs freshening, but, I just don't see that coming.
Damn shame, too, considering what ST contributed to the genre.
-Raycheetah ='[.]'=
And, for what? A chance to portray Kirk and Spock as "teen dream" cover boys? Anybody here remember Nimoy's earliest portrayal of Spock? He was VERY uncool. A younger version, to be accurate to the original, would have to be portrayed in such a way as to present him as a "space spaz." Not an attractive prospect. This never minding the fact that Rodenberry's original pilot didn't even include 1st Officer Spock, but, instead, a female character referred to simply as "#1." One supposes that Kirk might still have met Spock before the vulcan became his science officer, or, that #1's appearance, as an unused pilot, was not canon, but, it's still kinda thin, possible age differences notwithstanding.
Finally, let's say they make this film, in which Kirk and Spock "Wesley Crusher" some great crisis into submission between classes (Hmm... Harry Potter and the Great Bird of the Galaxy, anyone?), with some cameos of other youthful Trek characters for fun. Well, they can't exactly keep making these things; how much can our Starnamic Duo get away with accomplishing while in Starfleet Academy, without stressing the fabric of the believability continuum? It just doesn't make for a good, long-term prospect.
Paramount, et al, have simply gone back to the ST well too many times. They need either to:
A. Let the franchise rest fallow for ten or more years, allowing a new generation of sci-fi viewers to experience whatever they release (can we say ST:TOS remake?) with fewer pre-existing prejudices. One may hope that it would be handled better than Skiffy handled Flash Gordon, but, I digress...
B. Set a new movie/series/webcasts significantly farther in the future of even the most currently advanced ST series, and, leave behind a lot of the baggage of the previous incarnations, except as background history. Of course, handling the ghodlike technological advances might stress the writers, but then, they can always simply ignore the troublesome implications of mass-energy conversion technology (i.e., the hypothetical field of transporter medicine, suppressed by the transporter-phobic Admiral of Medicine McCoy) and other such troublesome elements by simply painting some scantily-clad females green (and, why not some green guys? Gotta keep the distaff demographic watching!), and distracting the audience that way.
or,
C. Can it, and put ST out to pasture, for good. Of course, most die-hard ST fans would not favor this, but, let's face it: If all that will be produced for ST from now until doomsday will be crap, anyway, why bother?
So, no, I don't care about this movie, didn't watch more than a couple episodes of Enterprise, and, frankly, have lost interest in this franchise. Mebbe I grew out of it. I like other sci-fi, but, Trek bores me, has for years, now. It needs freshening, but, I just don't see that coming.
Damn shame, too, considering what ST contributed to the genre.
-Raycheetah ='[.]'=
What Ray said.
QUOTE
Library Computer: Review - Star Trek 101 September 16, 2008
by John Tenuto ,
Pocket Books has just release Star Trek 101: A Practical Guide to Who, What, Where, and Why, which is different than past ‘companion’ books and more of an ‘Idiots Guide to Star Trek.’
The 101 on Star Trek 101
It has been more than five years since the last Star Trek episode guide from Pocket Books, Paul Ruditis’ Star Trek Voyager Companion. Without a new show and the unfortunate cancellation of Enterprise, it seemed unlikely new episode guide books would be forthcoming. However, venerable behind-the-scenes authors Terry J. Erdmann and Paula M. Block have written Star Trek 101: A Practical Guide to Who, What, Where, and Why.
A big caveat for this review is that "Star Trek 101" was originally written to coincide with the release of the JJ Abrams Star Trek film. It was to take advantage of the increased interest in Trek and help new and casual fans make sense of the sometimes daunting 42 years continuity and history of Star Trek.
With the feature film’s release date moved to May 2009, the book could be labeled a text in need of an audience. That is the challenge faced by Pocket Books with this guide. It doesn’t have the kind of in-depth analysis or trivia of other guidebooks because that would confuse the new fan. Yet, because it lacks that, does it have anything to offer fans already familiar with the show? With this audience issue in mind, to write a review of Star Trek 101, it is really necessary for this reviewer (and professor of Sociology) to adopt a bit of what scientist Max Weber labeled "sociological verstehen." Verstehen means to understand, to appreciate the feelings and experiences of others (it is the real world application of IDIC). I’ll need to look at the book imagining I am from different audiences to really understand its value.
Possible Audience #1: The New Fan
If the audience here is new fans, this is an excellent book. It is amazing that Erdmann and Block could condense more than 700 episodes and movies into a text that is accessible and fun to read. Anyone unfamiliar with Star Trek would indeed get an education as the name of the book suggests. Most helpful to the new fan is the structure of the book and the way it is organized. Each of the six television versions and all ten feature films are detailed, each given its own chapter. The television show chapters include the following sections:
Series Premise: a nice summary of the main themes of the show
The Ship (or in the case of DS9, The Station): a nice look at the starships and its crew with biographical summary of the main crews
Major Aliens: a discussion of the alien governments and characters important to the specific show
The Menagerie: a discussion of the various minor alien species featured
Ten Essential Episodes: this is a helpful section for those who wish to sample various shows before deciding if they wish to watch the entirety of the many seasons
What It Is…: a dictionary of important technology or other Trek argot
Episode Synopses: each episode summarized with narrative details
These sections are very helpful to the new fan as they navigate the world of Star Trek. In this way," Star Trek 101" is reminiscent of the 1979 book "Star Trek Catalog" edited by Gerry Turnbull which was timed with the release of Star Trek The Motion Picture and was meant to help fans learn about the actors and the episodes of TOS. Practicing verstehen, and thinking back to when I was a newbie to Trek, the Catalog was a true gift because it helped me learn about this wild world I had suddenly become passionate about, and "Star Trek 101" has the same potential to help those fans who are now finally seeing the light and the greatness of Star Trek in 2008.
The book is also very helpful to those fans who wish to share their passion with their girlfriends, boyfriends, family, or friends who just don’t get their love of Trek. For example, my wife loves Star Trek and she loves gymnastics. As her husband, I would appreciate a guide to gymnastics because I could better understand the jargon and ideas she tries to communicate to me. There may be audience then for this book for those girlfriends and boyfriends who are trying to practice their own kind of verstehen, understanding their significant others’ passion for Star Trek. Again, for this audience Star Trek 101 is perfect.
For the new fan (including the loved ones of committed fans), this is a VERY recommended title.
Possible Audience #2: The Casual Fan
There is much to like here for the casual fan, too. "The Ten Essential Episodes" sections have good commentary to help fans appreciate why these episodes are important to the themes of Star Trek, and there are many, many sidebars that include factoids and humorous asides that would be appreciated by casual fans. The book is also helpful for those who are fans of one version of Star Trek thinking of starting to sample other Trek shows. Although they do decide to dive deep into a new show, it would be recommended to eventually get the full ‘companion’ book for that series (except in the case of ENT, where 101 is all there is).
Possible Audience #3: The Committed Fan
Committed fans are the one problem audience for this book, which is indeed a problem because it is the committed fan who is most likely to buy a Trek book in the first place. Is there anything here for fans who already are very familiar with Star Trek? Yes, fellow Committed Fans, there is a Santa Claus.
There are several things about Star Trek 101 that give it value for serious fans. First, thank you to Pocket Books for FINALLY giving fans of Enterprise some kind of episode guide. While I will not stop in my tireless, although probably futile, endeavor to get Pocket Books to publish a proper companion to Enterprise (um, Pocket Books, even the Dukes of Hazzard has a companion book released 20 years after the show was canceled), at least Archer’s trek gets some respect here.
The book makes for a useful and handy encyclopedia and reference text. While there are online guides, I tend to agree with Samuel T. Cogley that there is something irreplaceable about books. This text is perfect for sitting next to the DVDs, and could be useful to even the most serious fan. There is also a great deal of humor in the book that serious fans could appreciate.
Bottom Line
Star Trek 101 may have lost its intended purpose, but with verstehen, it is easy to see that the book has utility. While it is best suited for new fans, there is much to appreciate for all kinds of audiences. This isn’t to say there are not problems with the text. Except for the Enterprise photos, most of the pictures in the book for example are often seen. It would have been good to utilize this occasion to include some really unique or unusual photos from the history of Star Trek. Also, the section on the feature films could utilize some improvement with more details. However, "Star Trek 101" is a good holiday gift for a variety of Star Trek fans, or perhaps even their family and friends who wish to learn more about Star Trek.
Star Trek 101, class dismissed.
by John Tenuto ,
Pocket Books has just release Star Trek 101: A Practical Guide to Who, What, Where, and Why, which is different than past ‘companion’ books and more of an ‘Idiots Guide to Star Trek.’
The 101 on Star Trek 101
It has been more than five years since the last Star Trek episode guide from Pocket Books, Paul Ruditis’ Star Trek Voyager Companion. Without a new show and the unfortunate cancellation of Enterprise, it seemed unlikely new episode guide books would be forthcoming. However, venerable behind-the-scenes authors Terry J. Erdmann and Paula M. Block have written Star Trek 101: A Practical Guide to Who, What, Where, and Why.
A big caveat for this review is that "Star Trek 101" was originally written to coincide with the release of the JJ Abrams Star Trek film. It was to take advantage of the increased interest in Trek and help new and casual fans make sense of the sometimes daunting 42 years continuity and history of Star Trek.
With the feature film’s release date moved to May 2009, the book could be labeled a text in need of an audience. That is the challenge faced by Pocket Books with this guide. It doesn’t have the kind of in-depth analysis or trivia of other guidebooks because that would confuse the new fan. Yet, because it lacks that, does it have anything to offer fans already familiar with the show? With this audience issue in mind, to write a review of Star Trek 101, it is really necessary for this reviewer (and professor of Sociology) to adopt a bit of what scientist Max Weber labeled "sociological verstehen." Verstehen means to understand, to appreciate the feelings and experiences of others (it is the real world application of IDIC). I’ll need to look at the book imagining I am from different audiences to really understand its value.
Possible Audience #1: The New Fan
If the audience here is new fans, this is an excellent book. It is amazing that Erdmann and Block could condense more than 700 episodes and movies into a text that is accessible and fun to read. Anyone unfamiliar with Star Trek would indeed get an education as the name of the book suggests. Most helpful to the new fan is the structure of the book and the way it is organized. Each of the six television versions and all ten feature films are detailed, each given its own chapter. The television show chapters include the following sections:
Series Premise: a nice summary of the main themes of the show
The Ship (or in the case of DS9, The Station): a nice look at the starships and its crew with biographical summary of the main crews
Major Aliens: a discussion of the alien governments and characters important to the specific show
The Menagerie: a discussion of the various minor alien species featured
Ten Essential Episodes: this is a helpful section for those who wish to sample various shows before deciding if they wish to watch the entirety of the many seasons
What It Is…: a dictionary of important technology or other Trek argot
Episode Synopses: each episode summarized with narrative details
These sections are very helpful to the new fan as they navigate the world of Star Trek. In this way," Star Trek 101" is reminiscent of the 1979 book "Star Trek Catalog" edited by Gerry Turnbull which was timed with the release of Star Trek The Motion Picture and was meant to help fans learn about the actors and the episodes of TOS. Practicing verstehen, and thinking back to when I was a newbie to Trek, the Catalog was a true gift because it helped me learn about this wild world I had suddenly become passionate about, and "Star Trek 101" has the same potential to help those fans who are now finally seeing the light and the greatness of Star Trek in 2008.
The book is also very helpful to those fans who wish to share their passion with their girlfriends, boyfriends, family, or friends who just don’t get their love of Trek. For example, my wife loves Star Trek and she loves gymnastics. As her husband, I would appreciate a guide to gymnastics because I could better understand the jargon and ideas she tries to communicate to me. There may be audience then for this book for those girlfriends and boyfriends who are trying to practice their own kind of verstehen, understanding their significant others’ passion for Star Trek. Again, for this audience Star Trek 101 is perfect.
For the new fan (including the loved ones of committed fans), this is a VERY recommended title.
Possible Audience #2: The Casual Fan
There is much to like here for the casual fan, too. "The Ten Essential Episodes" sections have good commentary to help fans appreciate why these episodes are important to the themes of Star Trek, and there are many, many sidebars that include factoids and humorous asides that would be appreciated by casual fans. The book is also helpful for those who are fans of one version of Star Trek thinking of starting to sample other Trek shows. Although they do decide to dive deep into a new show, it would be recommended to eventually get the full ‘companion’ book for that series (except in the case of ENT, where 101 is all there is).
Possible Audience #3: The Committed Fan
Committed fans are the one problem audience for this book, which is indeed a problem because it is the committed fan who is most likely to buy a Trek book in the first place. Is there anything here for fans who already are very familiar with Star Trek? Yes, fellow Committed Fans, there is a Santa Claus.
There are several things about Star Trek 101 that give it value for serious fans. First, thank you to Pocket Books for FINALLY giving fans of Enterprise some kind of episode guide. While I will not stop in my tireless, although probably futile, endeavor to get Pocket Books to publish a proper companion to Enterprise (um, Pocket Books, even the Dukes of Hazzard has a companion book released 20 years after the show was canceled), at least Archer’s trek gets some respect here.
The book makes for a useful and handy encyclopedia and reference text. While there are online guides, I tend to agree with Samuel T. Cogley that there is something irreplaceable about books. This text is perfect for sitting next to the DVDs, and could be useful to even the most serious fan. There is also a great deal of humor in the book that serious fans could appreciate.
Bottom Line
Star Trek 101 may have lost its intended purpose, but with verstehen, it is easy to see that the book has utility. While it is best suited for new fans, there is much to appreciate for all kinds of audiences. This isn’t to say there are not problems with the text. Except for the Enterprise photos, most of the pictures in the book for example are often seen. It would have been good to utilize this occasion to include some really unique or unusual photos from the history of Star Trek. Also, the section on the feature films could utilize some improvement with more details. However, "Star Trek 101" is a good holiday gift for a variety of Star Trek fans, or perhaps even their family and friends who wish to learn more about Star Trek.
Star Trek 101, class dismissed.
http://trekmovie.com/2008/09/16/library-co...-star-trek-101/
QUOTE
Deal In The Works To Bring Back Star Trek The Experience October 16, 2008
by Anthony Pascale , Filed under: Conventions/Events/Attractions , trackback
Just last month Star Trek The Experience closed its gate at the Las Vegas Hilton for the last time, but now there is new hope.
Back in July when CBS officially announced the closure they hinted they were working on bringing it back, and it appears that they may have succeeded in finding a new home for Trek’s premiere attraction.
The first word came this morning when Las Vegas mayor Oscar Goldman mentioned in passing at a press conference that a deal was in the works to move The Experience to the Neonopolis entertainment and shopping complex in downtown Vegas. The Las Vegas review Journal confirmed the statement with Rohit Joshi, the developer who owns Neonopolis, who stated there are "very serious negotiation" going on. Originally built in 2002, Neonopolis has struggled since its inception. Joshi purchased the development in 2006 and has since been trying to find ways of turning it around and he sees the Trek attraction as a way to do that. If the deal does go through then Cedar Fair (the current owners and operators) would not be involved, a spokesperson confirmed that their arrangement with CBS ends this year.
When contacted by TrekMovie, CBS would not comment on the deal. However sources have confirmed that the deal looks like it will go through and that material from The Experience is already being transferred from the Hilton over to Neonopolis. No confirmation yet on when The Experience would re-open but hopes are that it would be before the premiere of the new Star Trek movie in May of 2009.
Details are sketchy on what will be retained, but apparently the deal covers everything that was in the Hilton, including all the rides and Quark’s bar. In addition, the staff and likely to be given the opportunity to move to the new location. There is no word on if there will be any additions to The Experience. As noted in the TrekMovie ‘farewell review,’ Star Trek The Experience is showing its age and due for an update. This is especially true with the new movie coming out. As the new images released this week show, the new Star Trek has a new look that is not reflected in The Experience which is focused primarily TNG-era of Trek.
This is a developing story, so keep checking back with TrekMovie for updates, but for now things look good for a comeback for Star Trek The Experience.
by Anthony Pascale , Filed under: Conventions/Events/Attractions , trackback
Just last month Star Trek The Experience closed its gate at the Las Vegas Hilton for the last time, but now there is new hope.
Back in July when CBS officially announced the closure they hinted they were working on bringing it back, and it appears that they may have succeeded in finding a new home for Trek’s premiere attraction.
The first word came this morning when Las Vegas mayor Oscar Goldman mentioned in passing at a press conference that a deal was in the works to move The Experience to the Neonopolis entertainment and shopping complex in downtown Vegas. The Las Vegas review Journal confirmed the statement with Rohit Joshi, the developer who owns Neonopolis, who stated there are "very serious negotiation" going on. Originally built in 2002, Neonopolis has struggled since its inception. Joshi purchased the development in 2006 and has since been trying to find ways of turning it around and he sees the Trek attraction as a way to do that. If the deal does go through then Cedar Fair (the current owners and operators) would not be involved, a spokesperson confirmed that their arrangement with CBS ends this year.
When contacted by TrekMovie, CBS would not comment on the deal. However sources have confirmed that the deal looks like it will go through and that material from The Experience is already being transferred from the Hilton over to Neonopolis. No confirmation yet on when The Experience would re-open but hopes are that it would be before the premiere of the new Star Trek movie in May of 2009.
Details are sketchy on what will be retained, but apparently the deal covers everything that was in the Hilton, including all the rides and Quark’s bar. In addition, the staff and likely to be given the opportunity to move to the new location. There is no word on if there will be any additions to The Experience. As noted in the TrekMovie ‘farewell review,’ Star Trek The Experience is showing its age and due for an update. This is especially true with the new movie coming out. As the new images released this week show, the new Star Trek has a new look that is not reflected in The Experience which is focused primarily TNG-era of Trek.
This is a developing story, so keep checking back with TrekMovie for updates, but for now things look good for a comeback for Star Trek The Experience.
http://trekmovie.com/2008/10/16/deal-in-th...the-experience/
Well, looks like the whole "academy" thing is out the window, at least from the pics I've seen.
In the crew pic, we have Chekov (WTF?), Kirk, Scotty (WTF?), McCoy, Sulu, and Uhura.
Huh. Anyway, looks like wherever they start this (all together, despite the differences in class at the academy, if that's involved at all), they end up on the Enterprise.
Bully.
Oh, and Khan's comment in The Wrath of Khan about having seen Chekov aboard, despite his not joining the /cast/ until another season, is supported by his part in this. Though from the picture, I have NO idea how Khan would've recognized him.
=^[.]^=
In the crew pic, we have Chekov (WTF?), Kirk, Scotty (WTF?), McCoy, Sulu, and Uhura.
Huh. Anyway, looks like wherever they start this (all together, despite the differences in class at the academy, if that's involved at all), they end up on the Enterprise.
Bully.
Oh, and Khan's comment in The Wrath of Khan about having seen Chekov aboard, despite his not joining the /cast/ until another season, is supported by his part in this. Though from the picture, I have NO idea how Khan would've recognized him.
=^[.]^=
I've just read the plot of the film, and WTF, didn't the writers or producers watch Enterprise, as they are using the temporal cold war storyline from the series as the plot of the film, as it worked so well in the series, to be honest I would rather they just did a reboot of the series.
I do not support Paramount's -- nor anyone elses' -- desire to bring Star Trek back at this time. I feel they're just trying to milk a dry cow.
I wish Paramount would just "get it", but then again it is Paramount we're talking about here.
But why you folks are so surprised about any of this is simply beyond my comprehension.
I wish Paramount would just "get it", but then again it is Paramount we're talking about here.
But why you folks are so surprised about any of this is simply beyond my comprehension.
On a completely unrelated note...
Sometime in the recent past a video blog interview was done with William Shatner, who is promoting a book he's recently completed.
Now, normally I wouldn't give two shits vis a vis Bill Shatner, but in this interview he said something which is very, very prophetic and very true. Painfully true of and for all of us, actually. Watch the whole video, but pay particular attention to his answer to the question of what meaning he's found as a result of reconstructing his life from a series of reflections.
Sometime in the recent past a video blog interview was done with William Shatner, who is promoting a book he's recently completed.
Now, normally I wouldn't give two shits vis a vis Bill Shatner, but in this interview he said something which is very, very prophetic and very true. Painfully true of and for all of us, actually. Watch the whole video, but pay particular attention to his answer to the question of what meaning he's found as a result of reconstructing his life from a series of reflections.
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