Holy crap but Starfleet Acadamy bombed!

[Darkwind]

I love Omicron Ceti Three.

Damn Spock! I never knew what it took to get under that thick hide of yours!

It's a Mint Julep, Jim. That did not sound at all like Spock.

I think this was DC Fontana's breakout episode where she dared write an episode and get credit for it (as a woman).

Interesting factoid: the guy who plays Sandoval, the leader of the farming colony--- he DIED only about a month after they made or aired the episode. It was like the very last thing he ever did.

You know, I always wondered why I never caught him in anything else.

 

[hjmick]

Both the Star Trek and the Star Wars franchises are so diluted it would a veritable miracle to get a decent show or movie out of them these days.


At least Disney has put Indiana Jones out of his misery...

 

[toobfreak]

You know, I always wondered why I never caught him in anything else.

Yeah, Frank Overton was his name. They make reference to him towards the bottom under Production.

This Side of Paradise (Star Trek: The Original Series) - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[SaxonJackson]

Star Trek has been getting socially conservative panties into bunches since the day it first aired

 

[fncceo]

Too bad the older series had neither the budgets nor CGI to do the sets and special effects as well as those.

The DVD / Bluray release of TOS has re-mastered the exterior shot to improve the space ship and made them look like they're orbiting actual planet (not just candy colored balls of cloud)

They don't interfere with any of the interior shots or change the dialogue -- no phasers replaced with walkie talkies) -- the soul of the show (and Shatner's dramaturgic acting) remains intact.

 

[toobfreak]

The DVD / Bluray release of TOS has re-mastered the exterior shot to improve the space ship and made them look like they're orbiting actual planet (not just candy colored balls of cloud)

Yes! The weakest part of the original shows was that they were operating under a very limited budget already asking 2X 4X more than studios were used to paying on an impossible weekly timetable with photo effects studios that were not used to, nor set up to doing outer space shots of starships battling at warp six, which was all a brand new burgeoning industry back then without computers doing everything purely optically with camera and film.

They don't interfere with any of the interior shots or change the dialogue -- no phasers replaced with walkie talkies) -- the soul of the show (and Shatner's dramaturgic acting) remains intact.

They are commendable for that in that they didn't overdo anything, just looked at it from the POV of what they /would/ have done, what things might have looked like back then had money and time not had been a constant nagging ceiling.

Thankfully now with the rehashed video, every new planet they visit looks different, plus they add in many extra opticals of locations and stuff, sometimes they just add moving stars to a window or maybe some moving people, vehicles or aircraft in the backdrop of a scene. It doesn't take much.

In one episode with the Gorns, the episode was greatly enhanced just because they gave the Gorn realistic, lizard-like blinking eyes, something that would have been impossible back in 1966.

 

[Darkwind]

Robert Meye Bennet and company, all who have deep understandings of Star Trek and they talk about how Star Trek addressed social issues in a mature way. A good watch.

 

[MisterBeale]

 

[22lcidw]

There is an episode where they go back and discover the first Constitution class heavy cruiser (looks like the Enterprise) as some fantastic new weapon, but somehow I always miss the follow up episode to see what became of it!


I was 9 when Star Trek came on. My parents hated it. They always watched whatever crap was on some other channel. Space, Vulcans, ears, bleeck.


Voyager DOES have about 10-12 really good stories! I mean GOOD stories.


Towards the end, it devolved into formula TV instead of format (TV writing lingo) and got pretty bad, like the episode where Worf and his son revisited the Old West on the holodeck and had it our with gunslingers. My favorite was when Lt. Barkley became super smart, became part of the computer and took the Enterprise to the center of the galaxy to meet the Cytherians. How that never got spun into another episode or movie is beyond me.

Thank you, I couldn't remember their names.

You are right. Also, though each episode has a budget constraint. So, if any episodes run over budget, others have to run under budget.

 

[MostBoringManInTheWorld]

OK, DW, I made it into the first 26 seconds of the video before I turned it off. This is not Star Trek, it is just more woke bullshit co-opting the Star Trek platform to convey their ideas. There are no gay Klingons.


Of course, like everything else the hard left does, they know it's bad but double down on it anyway once they get something out there for as long as they can before getting shut off again.


BINGO. Everything the Left does they must ram it down your throat and you must confess to like it too or they will attack you. THESE are the people calling Trump a dictator fascist authoritarian totalitarian.

I'm a pretty big Star Trek fan and actually had occasion once to meet and speak at length with Gene's wife; none of this crap past maybe the first 3-4 seasons of ST: TNG would Gene have approved at all and really, the only true 'Star Trek' was the 1st season of the original Star Trek, maybe just the first half of the 1st season when Gene actually still produced the show with John DF Black.

After that, he went off to develop new ideas like Questar Tapes and Genesis II and Gene Coon stepped in to produce and pretty much reinvented Star Trek much to his (Roddenberry's) chagrin adding in all of the comedy elements like Kirk and McCoy ganging up on Spock making fun of him, Tribbles and stuff like that.

Some of it was good, some pretty funny, but it wasn't what GR had intended for Star Trek. GR was not at all into any of this crap and this stuff is just pure exploitation damaging (maybe killing) the legacy and future of the franchise.

GR had been a TV writer and an LA cop before that--- he was about as anti-woke as one could be.

Majel Barrett Roddenberry told you all of this?

So you only like the first half of the first season of the first Star Trek series?

Also, like Gene Roddenberry, do you dislike all of the Star Trek movies except for the one he produced, which was Star Trek: The Motion Picture?

Even if Gene was not involved in the day-to-day development and production of Star Trek, did he not have final say as the main or executive producer over content, especially elements he didn't approve of?

And if he was too busy developing The Questar Tapes and Genesis II to be fully involved in Star Trek, how did he have the time to develop and market the first pre-Paramount Star Trek merchandise, like the IDIC medallion and other IDIC-related trinkets?

By the way, do you like his concept of IDIC and his associated merchandise?

How did he also have the time to spearhead a letter-writing campaign to save Star Trek after it was initially not renewed for a third season?

And why would he bother if he was no longer involved or interested in Star Trek and it was beneath his dignity at that point?

 

[toobfreak]

You are right. Also, though each episode has a budget constraint.

Well, considering some of the weak stories they used in some of their motion pictures, one based on meeting up again or related to the Cytherians, or maybe a film based on more on the Iconians (that was the dead race that left behind the machine that took over the other galaxy-class starship's computer and it eventually self-destructed, leading Picard back to the dead planet whose machine you could step through to appear on vastly different locations around the galaxy--- either would have made a far more interesting story than Kirk flying around on his jetpack rock climbing in Yosemite while McCoy packed a lunch below.

 

[toobfreak]

Majel Barrett Roddenberry told you all of this?

Hell no, there are many credible sources which corroborate various details of the show.

So you only like the first half of the first season of the first Star Trek series?

Did I SAY that?

Also, like Gene Roddenberry, do you dislike all of the Star Trek movies except for the one he produced, which was Star Trek: The Motion Picture?

No, the weak one was ST V., but actually, even though the first movie gets criticized a lot, maybe for some valid reasons, I happen to like it a lot because unlike all the other movies which treated themselves as just a fictional continuation of the TV series, the first movie tried to treat Star Trek as though it were a real universe.

Even if Gene was not involved in the day-to-day development and production of Star Trek, did he not have final say as the main or executive producer over content, especially elements he didn't approve of?

You really should study these things for yourself starting with maybe the 30 or so big books I have on Star Trek rather than try to get people to stand on a pin and somehow download to you more than 50 years research on the subject. Then we might have a commonality of discussion. Yet you do know a few details like GR's IDIC medallion he made Nimoy wear in that one episode.

After Coon took over, GR went off working on other new projects as Star Trek was a done deal for him; as Exec, he was really only consulted on global matters to settle things they otherwise needed him for, but when he really came back to ST in the 2nd season to look in on his baby, and saw the lighthearted direction that Coon had taken it in, he was not happy. In the 3rd season, GR had basically kissed ST goodbye and was almost entirely out of the picture. No one was particularly happy with the 3rd season.

Getting back to the original point, the 1st season and particularly the earlier episodes, came closest to GR's original vision for the show, in fact, of the three original scripts he presented to the studio as a do-over, two of them were both in the 1st season (the 2nd pilot where they leave the galaxy, and Mudd's Women).

 

[MostBoringManInTheWorld]

Hell no, there are many credible sources which corroborate various details of the show.


Did I SAY that?


No, the weak one was ST V., but actually, even though the first movie gets criticized a lot, maybe for some valid reasons, I happen to like it a lot because unlike all the other movies which treated themselves as just a fictional continuation of the TV series, the first movie tried to treat Star Trek as though it were a real universe.


You really should study these things for yourself starting with maybe the 30 or so big books I have on Star Trek rather than try to get people to stand on a pin and somehow download to you more than 50 years research on the subject. Then we might have a commonality of discussion. Yet you do know a few details like GR's IDIC medallion he made Nimoy wear in that one episode.

After Coon took over, GR went off working on other new projects as Star Trek was a done deal for him; as Exec, he was really only consulted on global matters to settle things they otherwise needed him for, but when he really came back to ST in the 2nd season to look in on his baby, and saw the lighthearted direction that Coon had taken it in, he was not happy. In the 3rd season, GR had basically kissed ST goodbye and was almost entirely out of the picture. No one was particularly happy with the 3rd season.

Getting back to the original point, the 1st season and particularly the earlier episodes, came closest to GR's original vision for the show, in fact, of the three original scripts he presented to the studio as a do-over, two of them were both in the 1st season (the 2nd pilot where they leave the galaxy, and Mudd's Women).

I have read and own about approximately 20 to 30 books on Star Trek in the 1980s and 1990s as well as several magazine articles on the original series and the franchise in general.

I also talked to several actors from the original series and The Next Generation as well as several creatives, including Michael Piller and various directors from TNG, Deep Space Nine, and Voyager, on a professional level.

At this point, all I am interested in hearing from you is your thoughts on Gene Roddenberry's concept of IDIC.

But I don't expect an answer.

 

[toobfreak]

I have read and own about approximately 20 to 30 books on Star Trek in the 1980s and 1990s as well as several magazine articles on the original series and the franchise in general. I also talked to several actors from the original series and The Next Generation as well as several creatives, including Michael Piller and various directors from TNG, Deep Space Nine, and Voyager, on a professional level.

Then it really makes me wonder why you'd question my comments on GR and Gene Coon.

At this point, all I am interested in hearing from you is your thoughts on Gene Roddenberry's concept of IDIC.

I didn't like the IDIC, and those involved at the time thought it was a crass attempt by GR at commercial exploitation of Star Trek. Nimoy even fought including it in the episode. Who knows, maybe GR needed the money. Anyway, it was a complete bomb.

The very idea of the IDIC smacked of the same wokism and social equity that was supposedly part of the future world that resurfaced again in the 1st season of TNG that apparently caused a big rift between GR and DC Fontana when they brought back the new Star Trek. Many of the 1st season episodes of TNG got a little "preachy" between Picard and Beverly Crusher.

I always thought Dr. Polaski was a better character than Crusher anyway.

 

[BlueGin]

I just got finished binge watching Voyager and am starting on TNG.

The only new Trek I have watched is the reboots with Chris Pine. Which I liked.

The other stuff looks bad. So wasn’t interested. And this new show you are referring to looks like a cartoonish fan fiction where all the characters are snarky immature unlikeable twits.

 

[fncceo]

I always thought Dr. Polaski was a better character than Crusher anyway.

 

[toobfreak]

I just got finished binge watching Voyager and am starting on TNG.

Voyager had some killer stories, like the one where they rehabilitated a damaged robot who then blackmails them to likewise fix their entire fleet of robots so they can destroy a civilization. Or the one where they go into some strange dimension where the whole ship starts to bend and warp. Then there was the one where they find an unexploded missile and it turns out to be intelligent and now fixed again, resumes its mission to destroy a planet. Or the one where they find this super advanced starship with slipstream drive to take them home.

Or the one with George from Seinfeld as the head of a team of strange aliens who "solve problems" for others. Then most any episode centered around the holodeck doctor like the one where a race became enamored with his singing ability. Much better than it sounds.

Other than that, Voyager generally had a pretty weak cast.

Same with Enterprise: a generally very weak cast but they had a few good stories.

But Deep Space Nine really sucked. Everything was about the Ferengi bartender or the Cardassians or the Bjorans. All of no interest. Or the Dominion. Even the space station was uninteresting. Their battleship shuttle ship was dull. Reports are that even those shooting the series on set didn't like the show and there was poor morality on the sound stage who found the episodes tedious.

TNG was the best spin off, but after four seasons, they should have ended it. It was getting tired by the 5th season. Instead, they milked it for 2 more years.

 

[toobfreak]

View attachment 1211426

Hey, no pon far vulcan sex orgasm pictures here, please. This is a family forum.

 

[BlueGin]

Voyager had some killer stories, like the one where they rehabilitated a damaged robot who then blackmails them to likewise fix their entire fleet of robots so they can destroy a civilization. Or the one where they go into some strange dimension where the whole ship starts to bend and warp. Then there was the one where they find an unexploded missile and it turns out to be intelligent and now fixed again, resumes its mission to destroy a planet. Or the one where they find this super advanced starship with slipstream drive to take them home.

Or the one with George from Seinfeld as the head of a team of strange aliens who "solve problems" for others. Then most any episode centered around the holodeck doctor like the one where a race became enamored with his singing ability. Much better than it sounds.

Other than that, Voyager generally had a pretty weak cast.

Same with Enterprise: a generally very weak cast but they had a few good stories.

But Deep Space Nine really sucked. Everything was about the Ferengi bartender or the Cardassians or the Bjorans. All of no interest. Or the Dominion. Even the space station was uninteresting. Their battleship shuttle ship was dull. Reports are that even those shooting the series on set didn't like the show and there was poor morality on the sound stage who found the episodes tedious.

TNG was the best spin off, but after four seasons, they should have ended it. It was getting tired by the 5th season. Instead, they milked it for 2 more years.

I enjoyed Voyager. All of the episodes you listed as well. I also liked the episodes with the Borg children and finding out later on that the virus that destroyed their ship was genetically implanted into one of them by his parents and he was sacrificed to the Borg to infect them. I never watched much of Enterpise. I couldn’t get into it. I’ve seen all of DS9 I don’t remember much about it though.

 

[toobfreak]

I enjoyed Voyager. All of the episodes you listed as well.

I wish they had done more with Species 8462 (or whatever their name was).

I also liked the episodes with the Borg children and finding out later on that the virus that destroyed their ship was genetically implanted into one

They ruined the Borg. If you watch the original show, the Borg started out COMPLETELY DIFFERENT than how they morphed Borg into being. For instance, there was no Borg Queen. And a true Borg never would have been stopped by or harmed by any of the things the federation used to stop them. The Federation was utterly unprepared to deal with the Borg.

OTHER PROBLEM: The Borg were supposed to grow their own babies. Borg were Borg. Then they changed it to Borg being a collection of conquered species and races. Yet every Borg you ever saw, every one of them looked like a white caucasian human.

I never watched much of Enterpise. I couldn’t get into it.

Enterprise was pretty weak, but keep checking it out (it is on TV 6 days a week OTA). They have a few really good killer episodes like a spin off of 'Mirror Mirror' with good and evil officers who capture a Constitution class starship and use it to attack the Federation.

They also have some great episodes where they fight this militant race of reptile soldiers covered in metal wire armor. They even redo the Andorians and make their green antennae come alive and really move around like bug feelers.