Often considered one of the worst episodes of "Star Trek," "Spock's Brain" boasted a story wherein a species of low-intelligence aliens infiltrate the U.S.S. Enterprise, sedate everyone on board, and steal the grey matter belonging to Spock (Leonard Nimoy) for nefarious purposes. It will later be revealed that Spock's brain was required to power a super-computer on a nearby planet and that the computer could temporarily inject complex information and skills into people's heads. The crew of the Enterprise outfit Spock's brainless body with a temporary brain-like machine, and they can pilot him via remote control.
Eventually, Dr. McCoy (DeForest Kelley) will be injected -- via the supercomputer -- with knowledge of how to surgically return Spock's brain to his body. When McCoy runs out of knowledge partway through the operation, the now-conscious Spock talks him the rest of the way through. "Spock's Brain" is farfetched and silly,...
Eventually, Dr. McCoy (DeForest Kelley) will be injected -- via the supercomputer -- with knowledge of how to surgically return Spock's brain to his body. When McCoy runs out of knowledge partway through the operation, the now-conscious Spock talks him the rest of the way through. "Spock's Brain" is farfetched and silly,...
- 5/14/2024
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
Director J.J. Abrams' philosophy toward making his 2009 reboot of "Star Trek" likely involved a lot of uses of the words "high octane" and "kicked into overdrive." The characters in Abrams' "Star Trek" resemble the ones we all remember from the 1966 TV series, but electrified for a modern, action-hungry audience. Kirk (Chris Pine) is not just a captain who rules by instinct and occasionally snogs alien women (as William Shatner did), but a rash, skirt-chasing, destructive young punk who gets into bar brawls. Spock (Zachary Quinto) is not merely a logical scientist who, under rare circumstances, lets his human emotions slip through his stony visage (as Leonard Nimoy was), but a perpetually annoyed pill who, more regularly, is given to flights of rage and/or romance.
In the case of Sulu (John Cho), he is not merely a capable pilot with unusual hobbies, a great sense of humor, and a...
In the case of Sulu (John Cho), he is not merely a capable pilot with unusual hobbies, a great sense of humor, and a...
- 5/4/2024
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
In the "Futurama" episode "The Problem with Popplers", the Planet Express crew lands on a distant, uncharted planet hoping to find a fast food joint; the ship had run out of supplies and Bender (John Dimaggio) was only able to make a meal with baking soda and capers. They land on a Class-m planet which, as Leela (Katey Sagal) explains, should at least provide roddenberry bushes. What they find instead are craters stuffed with brown, crunchy, edible meat nuggets ... that are utterly delicious. Snarfing ensues.
No one has set foot on this planet before so the Planet Express crew packs up the morsels and takes them back to Earth to sell on street corners. It's not long before they attract the attention of fast food proprietor Fishy Joe (Maurice Lamarche), and turn the nuggets — nicknamed Popplers — into a global phenomenon.
Naturally, there is something unusual about the Popplers. While Leela eats,...
No one has set foot on this planet before so the Planet Express crew packs up the morsels and takes them back to Earth to sell on street corners. It's not long before they attract the attention of fast food proprietor Fishy Joe (Maurice Lamarche), and turn the nuggets — nicknamed Popplers — into a global phenomenon.
Naturally, there is something unusual about the Popplers. While Leela eats,...
- 4/12/2024
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
At a time when syndicated science fiction was just Star Trek series, it took some guts on Warner Bros’ part to try something darker and more experimental with J. Michael Straczynski’s Babylon 5, designed to tell a sprawling epic that was more political than it was space opera. The show arrived thirty years ago and was successful enough to spawn spin-off five telefilms and a short-lived spinoff, spanning 1993-2007.
The core of it, the 110 episodes from the original five-season series, have been remastered and collected on a nice Blu-ray box set from Warner Home Entertainment. Also included is the original pilot film.
Set in the 23rd century, the Earth Alliance has found its place among star-faring races, notably the Minbari and the Centauri. Some of these races are fine with humans; others wish them gone. Then there are the Vorlons, and no one knows what they want.
Babylon 5 is a gigantic,...
The core of it, the 110 episodes from the original five-season series, have been remastered and collected on a nice Blu-ray box set from Warner Home Entertainment. Also included is the original pilot film.
Set in the 23rd century, the Earth Alliance has found its place among star-faring races, notably the Minbari and the Centauri. Some of these races are fine with humans; others wish them gone. Then there are the Vorlons, and no one knows what they want.
Babylon 5 is a gigantic,...
- 12/19/2023
- by Robert Greenberger
- Comicmix.com
The world changed a lot in the 20 years that "Star Trek" was off-air. The Cold War was all but over when "The Next Generation" began airing in 1987. So, it made sense to reimagine the Klingons, who during "The Original Series" had been the Ussr stand-ins to the Federation's America. Mark A. Altman and Edward Gross' behind-the-scenes book, "The 50-Year Mission," details how the "Tng" writers did so.
David Gerrold, a writer on "Tos" who returned for "Tng," pitched a Klingon First Officer on the Enterprise-d. The parallels to Spock (Leonard Nimoy) would be obvious; producer Robert H. Justman even suggested the Klingon be half-human.
But wait, Worf wasn't the first officer on the Enterprise-d. That's because this idea was vetoed by "Trek" creator Gene Roddenberry. Roddenberry did not want to use the villains from "The Original Series" — his "Tng" production bible says Klingons and Romulans are verboten. Associate producer D.C. Fontana...
David Gerrold, a writer on "Tos" who returned for "Tng," pitched a Klingon First Officer on the Enterprise-d. The parallels to Spock (Leonard Nimoy) would be obvious; producer Robert H. Justman even suggested the Klingon be half-human.
But wait, Worf wasn't the first officer on the Enterprise-d. That's because this idea was vetoed by "Trek" creator Gene Roddenberry. Roddenberry did not want to use the villains from "The Original Series" — his "Tng" production bible says Klingons and Romulans are verboten. Associate producer D.C. Fontana...
- 8/20/2023
- by Devin Meenan
- Slash Film
Exclusive: Following the recent conclusion of Star Trek: Picard on Paramount+, Otoy and Roddenberry Entertainment have unveiled the next evolution of the Roddenberry Archive, a multi-decade collaboration with the Gene Roddenberry Estate to capture Star Trek franchise architect Roddenberry’s lifetime of works for future generations, with holographic immersion and in the most historically accurate sense possible.
The largest-ever collection of iconic Star Trek digital archive works will be made available for free for the first time through a new web portal bridging the legacies of all three major eras of Roddenberry’s Star Trek, with help from stars William Shatner (Star Trek) and John de Lancie (Star Trek: The Next Generation), as well as showrunner, writer and EP Terry Matalas (Star Trek: Picard).
The web portal will allow fans to virtually explore the many dozens of evolutionary iterations of the famous Starship Enterprise bridge, across every epoch of Star Trek‘s history,...
The largest-ever collection of iconic Star Trek digital archive works will be made available for free for the first time through a new web portal bridging the legacies of all three major eras of Roddenberry’s Star Trek, with help from stars William Shatner (Star Trek) and John de Lancie (Star Trek: The Next Generation), as well as showrunner, writer and EP Terry Matalas (Star Trek: Picard).
The web portal will allow fans to virtually explore the many dozens of evolutionary iterations of the famous Starship Enterprise bridge, across every epoch of Star Trek‘s history,...
- 4/27/2023
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
All products and services featured by Variety are independently selected by Variety editors. However, Variety may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.
The release of Denis Villeneuve’s “Dune,” arriving so quickly on the heels of “Apple’s Foundation” adaptation, shows and films that the lure of adapting so-called “unfilmable” books for the screen remains as strong as ever. No matter how successful — or not, as anyone who’s watched the “Breakfast of Champions” movie knows all too well — any adaptation of a book people believed couldn’t be done nonetheless appears to be such an accomplishment that filmmakers can’t help but look for subjects to aim their attention towards.
With that in mind, here are some of the few remaining untouched unfilmable masterpieces left in the world of genre literature to explore for yourself in their original form,...
The release of Denis Villeneuve’s “Dune,” arriving so quickly on the heels of “Apple’s Foundation” adaptation, shows and films that the lure of adapting so-called “unfilmable” books for the screen remains as strong as ever. No matter how successful — or not, as anyone who’s watched the “Breakfast of Champions” movie knows all too well — any adaptation of a book people believed couldn’t be done nonetheless appears to be such an accomplishment that filmmakers can’t help but look for subjects to aim their attention towards.
With that in mind, here are some of the few remaining untouched unfilmable masterpieces left in the world of genre literature to explore for yourself in their original form,...
- 10/25/2021
- by Graeme McMillan
- Variety Film + TV
The Dr. Seuss Enterprises lawsuit against us is finally over.
In August 2016, we put up a Kickstarter for Oh, The Places You’ll Boldly Go!, a mash-up of Star Trek and Dr. Seuss to be written by David Gerrold, drawn by Ty Templeton, edited by Glenn Hauman, and published by ComicMix LLC later that year. Dse sent us a cease and desist letter on September 27, 2016. Dse filed a DMCA motion to take down the Kickstarter campaign on October 7, and filed suit against us on November 10, 2016, alleging copyright infringement, trademark infringement, and unfair competition.
We put up a good fight. We defeated the trademark infringement and unfair competition claims, and that win was affirmed on appeal. We also won summary judgment on the claim of copyright infringement, though that was reversed on appeal. The court set a pretrial schedule in September 2021 and we were well positioned to have a jury resolve...
In August 2016, we put up a Kickstarter for Oh, The Places You’ll Boldly Go!, a mash-up of Star Trek and Dr. Seuss to be written by David Gerrold, drawn by Ty Templeton, edited by Glenn Hauman, and published by ComicMix LLC later that year. Dse sent us a cease and desist letter on September 27, 2016. Dse filed a DMCA motion to take down the Kickstarter campaign on October 7, and filed suit against us on November 10, 2016, alleging copyright infringement, trademark infringement, and unfair competition.
We put up a good fight. We defeated the trademark infringement and unfair competition claims, and that win was affirmed on appeal. We also won summary judgment on the claim of copyright infringement, though that was reversed on appeal. The court set a pretrial schedule in September 2021 and we were well positioned to have a jury resolve...
- 10/12/2021
- by Glenn Hauman
- Comicmix.com
Imagine there’s no VHS tapes. I wonder if you can. For the earliest Trekkies, the ability to own your favorite episode of Star Trek wasn’t difficult, it was impossible. This meant that some other media was required to record the true logs of the USS Enterprise. Enter books. The most reliable data storage device in history, and the first and possibly best destiny for Star Trek merch.
Since 1967, there have literally been thousands of officially licensed Star Trek books published. The question is, if fans only care about “real” canon do any of the Star Trek books actually qualify as part of the “real” story of the Final Frontier. The answer doesn’t fall into a simple binary. Star Trek books have been an integral part of the growth of the franchise since the very beginning. Here’s a quick and dirty guide to the mixed canonicity of the various Star Trek books.
Since 1967, there have literally been thousands of officially licensed Star Trek books published. The question is, if fans only care about “real” canon do any of the Star Trek books actually qualify as part of the “real” story of the Final Frontier. The answer doesn’t fall into a simple binary. Star Trek books have been an integral part of the growth of the franchise since the very beginning. Here’s a quick and dirty guide to the mixed canonicity of the various Star Trek books.
- 2/23/2021
- by Kayti Burt
- Den of Geek
In March 1968, the fans, cast, and creators of the NBC-TV series Star Trek were celebrating an unprecedented victory: a massive mail campaign by fans of the show, which directed more than 100,000 letters (if not more) to NBC executives, had resulted in the network deciding not to cancel the sci-fi program after two seasons but to instead extend it for a third year.
That Which Survives Cancellation
NBC’s public decision to renew the show — it even announced the news on the air at the end of the March 1 episode, “The Omega Glory,” with a brief voiceover statement — was unheard of in an era when fandom did not have social media to rant, rave, and otherwise kvetch about every little thing regarding their favorite franchises. This was a physical mobilization of Trekkers, led by superfans like Bjo and John Trimble, and tacitly encouraged (and perhaps even subsidized a little) by series creator Gene Roddenberry.
That Which Survives Cancellation
NBC’s public decision to renew the show — it even announced the news on the air at the end of the March 1 episode, “The Omega Glory,” with a brief voiceover statement — was unheard of in an era when fandom did not have social media to rant, rave, and otherwise kvetch about every little thing regarding their favorite franchises. This was a physical mobilization of Trekkers, led by superfans like Bjo and John Trimble, and tacitly encouraged (and perhaps even subsidized a little) by series creator Gene Roddenberry.
- 6/3/2020
- by Don Kaye
- Den of Geek
When a character grows popular enough to endure for decades, at the hands of more than one writer, the difference between sequels and fan fiction can get awfully blurry. Few writers understand that messy feeling better than Michael Chabon, the Pulitzer Prize-winning fanboy at the helm of Star Trek: Picard. In the new CBS All Access series premiering January 23rd, Sir Patrick Stewart reprises his Star Trek: The Next Generation role as Jean-Luc Picard, now a Starfleet retiree running the family vineyard in France.
A literary wunderkind for early novels...
A literary wunderkind for early novels...
- 1/18/2020
- by Alan Sepinwall
- Rollingstone.com
The appeal still grinds onward, Dr. Seuss hasn’t quit,
’cause they’ve got lots of moolah to indulge their… snit.
But we’re pleased to announce and happy to report
more people are taking our side in the court.
We fight to express, and these people agreed
the expressions created are something we need.
So let it be heard throughout the whole land
that these types of mashups ought not to be banned!
Many have helped us to fight shibboleths
So in no real order, we must thank (deep breaths…)
Philip Malone and his crew at Stanford,
and everyone on Otw’s board.
Hat tip, Dave and Mags! Grazie, Public Knowledge!
Thanks, Francesca Coppa from Muhlenberg College!
And Dogan and Gerhardt and Grinvald and Ramsey,
Tushnet and Litman and Loren and Lemley,
McGerevan, Grynberg, McKenna, and Sibley,
Samuelson, Stallman, and Uc at Berkeley,
and the scholars at Harvard Law’s Cyberlaw Clinic…...
’cause they’ve got lots of moolah to indulge their… snit.
But we’re pleased to announce and happy to report
more people are taking our side in the court.
We fight to express, and these people agreed
the expressions created are something we need.
So let it be heard throughout the whole land
that these types of mashups ought not to be banned!
Many have helped us to fight shibboleths
So in no real order, we must thank (deep breaths…)
Philip Malone and his crew at Stanford,
and everyone on Otw’s board.
Hat tip, Dave and Mags! Grazie, Public Knowledge!
Thanks, Francesca Coppa from Muhlenberg College!
And Dogan and Gerhardt and Grinvald and Ramsey,
Tushnet and Litman and Loren and Lemley,
McGerevan, Grynberg, McKenna, and Sibley,
Samuelson, Stallman, and Uc at Berkeley,
and the scholars at Harvard Law’s Cyberlaw Clinic…...
- 10/16/2019
- by Glenn Hauman
- Comicmix.com
Ryan Britt Oct 10, 2019
Did you catch all of the Star Trek references and Easter eggs in the Short Treks episode "The Trouble With Edward"?
For several decades, the most popular episode of the original Star Trek was, debatably, “The Trouble With Tribbles.”
Written by David Gerrold, the episode certainly has enduring charm, and created perhaps the cutest alien species of all time. And now, with the Short Treks episode “The Trouble With Edward,” Star Trek canon is reminding us that not only are tribbles cute, they’re also deeply weird.
read more: Short Treks Season 2 Episode 1 Easter Eggs
Starring H. Jon Benjamin as the titular Edward, “The Trouble With Tribbles” manages not only to reference all of tribble lore, but also makes some interesting connections to Deep Space Nine and the rest of Discovery. Also, wait a minute, was that a Section 31 badge?
Spoiler ahead for Short Treks’ "The Trouble With Edward.
Did you catch all of the Star Trek references and Easter eggs in the Short Treks episode "The Trouble With Edward"?
For several decades, the most popular episode of the original Star Trek was, debatably, “The Trouble With Tribbles.”
Written by David Gerrold, the episode certainly has enduring charm, and created perhaps the cutest alien species of all time. And now, with the Short Treks episode “The Trouble With Edward,” Star Trek canon is reminding us that not only are tribbles cute, they’re also deeply weird.
read more: Short Treks Season 2 Episode 1 Easter Eggs
Starring H. Jon Benjamin as the titular Edward, “The Trouble With Tribbles” manages not only to reference all of tribble lore, but also makes some interesting connections to Deep Space Nine and the rest of Discovery. Also, wait a minute, was that a Section 31 badge?
Spoiler ahead for Short Treks’ "The Trouble With Edward.
- 10/10/2019
- Den of Geek
Click here to go to our GoFundMe page to contribute!
In August of ’16, we thought up a plan
If we could get all of the language to scan
We’d mash up the book “Oh, The Places You’ll Go!”
Combine it with themes from that old Star Trek show
And demonstrate how they (with new illustrations)
Both seek out new life forms and new civilizations
As through endless journeys protagonists barreled
And so it was written up by David Gerrold
With lovely artwork drawn by Ty Templeton
They both made a book that could not be outdone!
We were very respectful, not lewd, rude, or crude.
We thought it was wonderful…!
…then we got sued.
Oh, the uses Seuss sued! There were fights to be picked!
There was art to suppress! Punishments to inflict!
Before the last drawing had seen final touches
Word made its way to the ears...
In August of ’16, we thought up a plan
If we could get all of the language to scan
We’d mash up the book “Oh, The Places You’ll Go!”
Combine it with themes from that old Star Trek show
And demonstrate how they (with new illustrations)
Both seek out new life forms and new civilizations
As through endless journeys protagonists barreled
And so it was written up by David Gerrold
With lovely artwork drawn by Ty Templeton
They both made a book that could not be outdone!
We were very respectful, not lewd, rude, or crude.
We thought it was wonderful…!
…then we got sued.
Oh, the uses Seuss sued! There were fights to be picked!
There was art to suppress! Punishments to inflict!
Before the last drawing had seen final touches
Word made its way to the ears...
- 6/21/2018
- by ComicMix Staff
- Comicmix.com
Before the Internet, fans got their movie news from magazines and one of the biggest sci-fi magazines in the 80s was Starlog. One of the cool things that Starlog did was provide fans with an outlet to share their feelings and speak their minds about the films and TV shows that they were passionate about. They basically published letters that were sent in by fans. It was the closest thing that fans had to an internet forum or social media in the 80s!
Archive.org has a whole collection of Starlog, and ArticleHit collected several of the fan letters that were published in issues #39-41 sharing their feelings on The Empire Strikes Back, which is a favorite Star Wars film among fans today. As it turns out, fans were torn on that movie much in the same way that fans are torn on Rian Johnson's The Last Jedi.
It's...
Archive.org has a whole collection of Starlog, and ArticleHit collected several of the fan letters that were published in issues #39-41 sharing their feelings on The Empire Strikes Back, which is a favorite Star Wars film among fans today. As it turns out, fans were torn on that movie much in the same way that fans are torn on Rian Johnson's The Last Jedi.
It's...
- 12/26/2017
- by Joey Paur
- GeekTyrant
On Friday, June 9, the United States District Court for the Southern District of California partially granted ComicMix LLC’s motion to dismiss the Dr. Seuss estate’s copyright and trademark infringement lawsuit over the book Oh, the Places You’ll Boldly Go! To prevent publication, Dr. Seuss Enterprises, LP filed the lawsuit in 2016 against the book’s publisher ComicMix, its author David Gerrold, illustrator Ty Templeton, and Glenn Hauman, ComicMix’s co-founder and vice-president.
United States District Judge Janis Sammartino dismissed the trademark claims under the doctrine of nominative fair use, and largely agreed with ComicMix’s position that fair use protects the book from copyright infringement claims. Judge Sammartino found that the book is “a highly transformative work that takes no more than necessary [from Dr. Seuss’s books] to accomplish its transformative purpose and will not impinge on the original market for Plaintiff’s underlying work.” She emphasized that the case has broader...
United States District Judge Janis Sammartino dismissed the trademark claims under the doctrine of nominative fair use, and largely agreed with ComicMix’s position that fair use protects the book from copyright infringement claims. Judge Sammartino found that the book is “a highly transformative work that takes no more than necessary [from Dr. Seuss’s books] to accomplish its transformative purpose and will not impinge on the original market for Plaintiff’s underlying work.” She emphasized that the case has broader...
- 6/12/2017
- by Martha Thomases
- Comicmix.com
This past weekend I found myself at a convention once again with Molly Jackson, but now joined by ComicMix’s own Glenn Hauman. It was an island getaway. Sure, it was Long Island, but it was still technically a getaway so I’m sticking to it.
The convention in question was I-con, and no, it is not a convention dedicated to the superhero Icon of Milestone Media fame, but he should really be used more over at DC and his original run written by Dwayne McDuffie and penciled by M. D. Bright should be collected in its entirely as it has never been before.
I-con is a long running non-profit science fiction, fact, and fantasy convention. This show was billed as I-con 32, but the convention was on hiatus after I-con 31 in 2012. This new iteration debuted at a new location, Suffolk Community College.
Having grown up on Long Island, I had...
The convention in question was I-con, and no, it is not a convention dedicated to the superhero Icon of Milestone Media fame, but he should really be used more over at DC and his original run written by Dwayne McDuffie and penciled by M. D. Bright should be collected in its entirely as it has never been before.
I-con is a long running non-profit science fiction, fact, and fantasy convention. This show was billed as I-con 32, but the convention was on hiatus after I-con 31 in 2012. This new iteration debuted at a new location, Suffolk Community College.
Having grown up on Long Island, I had...
- 3/21/2017
- by Joe Corallo
- Comicmix.com
David Gerrold, the writer best known for his script for the Star Trek episode “The Trouble With Tribbles”, for creating the Sleestak race on the TV series Land of the Lost, and for his novelette “The Martian Child”, which won both Hugo and Nebula awards and was adapted into a 2007 film, contributes a guest column about the trainwreck that was Marvelous Nerd Year’s Eve. For more, read the coverage at The Beat.
I was an invited guest at the “Marvelous Nerd Year’s Eve” Comic-Con held in Dallas over New Year’s weekend.
Apparently, it was a disaster of biblical proportions. Not just dogs and cats living together, but suing each other for palimony and custody of the kittens.
The convention organizers over-promised, under-budgeted, over-extended, under-performed, and committed what I consider acts of “criminal incompetence.”
Why do I use the adjective “criminal?”
Because people were hurt. Not just by the incompetence,...
I was an invited guest at the “Marvelous Nerd Year’s Eve” Comic-Con held in Dallas over New Year’s weekend.
Apparently, it was a disaster of biblical proportions. Not just dogs and cats living together, but suing each other for palimony and custody of the kittens.
The convention organizers over-promised, under-budgeted, over-extended, under-performed, and committed what I consider acts of “criminal incompetence.”
Why do I use the adjective “criminal?”
Because people were hurt. Not just by the incompetence,...
- 1/4/2017
- by David Gerrold
- Comicmix.com
One character in a Dr. Seuss book doesn't like green eggs and ham - at least according to witness Sam, I Am - but apparently the estate of the late children's author likes what they believe to be unauthorized uses of their work even less.Dr. Seuss Enterprises, the California company that owns the rights to all the works of author and illustrator Theodor S. Geisel - better known as Dr. Seuss - have sued a Connecticut-based comic book company, ComicMix, as well as the company's president for copyright and trademark infringement, and unfair competition. It's all over a book calledOh, the Places You'll Boldly Go!written by classicStar Trek scribe David Gerrold and illustrated by Ty Templeton.Gerrold, whose real name is David Jerrold Friedman, is best known for writing the popularStar Trek episode ...
- 11/13/2016
- GeekNation.com
Fifty years and one month ago, a new TV show came to the airwaves that was unlike anything ever really seen before – science fiction, but not childish stories of space cadets with their zap guns, only different from shoot-em-up westerns because they shot beams of light instead of bullets of lead. Star Trek was something different. Unique. And incredibly long lived. Star Trek has become part of the American story, with the original model of the U.S.S. Enterprise hanging in the Milestones of Flight section of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, right next to the Spirit of St. Louis.
David Gerrold, author of the episode “The Trouble With Tribbles”, recently wrote,
“From the beginning, Star Trek was a series of little morality plays. From the beginning, Star Trek was an examination of the human condition. From the beginning, Star Trek was a vision of a future...
David Gerrold, author of the episode “The Trouble With Tribbles”, recently wrote,
“From the beginning, Star Trek was a series of little morality plays. From the beginning, Star Trek was an examination of the human condition. From the beginning, Star Trek was a vision of a future...
- 10/3/2016
- by Glenn Hauman
- Comicmix.com
Fans, creators, actors, historians, licensees, Nasa and even the United States Post Office celebrated Star Trek’s 50th Anniversary last week at Manhattan’s Javits Center during Star Trek: Mission New York. This convention was a triumph of Geek Culture and how one man’s vision inspired so many others to create one of the most successful and enduring entertainment franchises.
Star Trek fandom has always been passionate and vocal. They’ve banded together to keep the Enterprise flying and have been holding conventions since the 70s. This convention, created by Reed Elsevier’s ReedPop division, was held in the same location as their New York Comic Con. That’s become such a behemoth that, by comparison, Star Trek: Mission New York seemed to embrace a more intimate vibe.
There are benefits to a smaller convention. This was so much easier to navigate than New York Comic Con.
Star Trek fandom has always been passionate and vocal. They’ve banded together to keep the Enterprise flying and have been holding conventions since the 70s. This convention, created by Reed Elsevier’s ReedPop division, was held in the same location as their New York Comic Con. That’s become such a behemoth that, by comparison, Star Trek: Mission New York seemed to embrace a more intimate vibe.
There are benefits to a smaller convention. This was so much easier to navigate than New York Comic Con.
- 9/12/2016
- by Ed Catto
- Comicmix.com
Stephen Harber Jul 14, 2016
Low on nightmare fuel? Fill up your tank by reliving your scariest memories from The Real Ghostbusters, a truly twisted 80s cartoon...
The Real Ghostbusters was a pretty messed-up cartoon sometimes. I think that’s one of life’s universal truths. I’m not quite sure why the world needed an unholy amalgam of anime, cheesy 80s synth music, and mind-bending eldritch horror with a chiselled version of Bill Murray on top. But it did, and it still feels so right to this day.
Video of The Real Ghostbusters: Intro and Closing (without credits) [HD]
Ah, Dic Enterprises. What would my childhood have been without you? Well, for starters, I suppose I wouldn't have been terrified of the cartoon demons you dreamt up in your Real Ghostbusters cartoon, you sadistic monsters!
Ahem. Sorry, I didn’t mean to snap. It’s just… Rgb (as the hardcore fans...
Low on nightmare fuel? Fill up your tank by reliving your scariest memories from The Real Ghostbusters, a truly twisted 80s cartoon...
The Real Ghostbusters was a pretty messed-up cartoon sometimes. I think that’s one of life’s universal truths. I’m not quite sure why the world needed an unholy amalgam of anime, cheesy 80s synth music, and mind-bending eldritch horror with a chiselled version of Bill Murray on top. But it did, and it still feels so right to this day.
Video of The Real Ghostbusters: Intro and Closing (without credits) [HD]
Ah, Dic Enterprises. What would my childhood have been without you? Well, for starters, I suppose I wouldn't have been terrified of the cartoon demons you dreamt up in your Real Ghostbusters cartoon, you sadistic monsters!
Ahem. Sorry, I didn’t mean to snap. It’s just… Rgb (as the hardcore fans...
- 7/13/2016
- Den of Geek
Llinos Cathryn Thomas Jul 11, 2016
Following the recent news from Star Trek Beyond, we look at Star Trek's track record when it comes to queer issues and characters
Many Star Trek fans are celebrating following the news that, in the upcoming movie Star Trek Beyond, Sulu is confirmed as being in a long-term relationship with another man. This kind of queer representation has been a long time coming for the Star Trek franchise.
The Original Series wasn’t afraid to tackle social issues, with a racially diverse cast and episodes dealing – literally or allegorically – with women’s rights, racial divisions and the futility of war, but the later installments in the franchise have shied away from taking the obvious next step of including queer characters.
In 1991, Gene Roddenberry made a statement on his plans to include gay characters in Star Trek: The Next Generation, but following his death shortly afterwards,...
Following the recent news from Star Trek Beyond, we look at Star Trek's track record when it comes to queer issues and characters
Many Star Trek fans are celebrating following the news that, in the upcoming movie Star Trek Beyond, Sulu is confirmed as being in a long-term relationship with another man. This kind of queer representation has been a long time coming for the Star Trek franchise.
The Original Series wasn’t afraid to tackle social issues, with a racially diverse cast and episodes dealing – literally or allegorically – with women’s rights, racial divisions and the futility of war, but the later installments in the franchise have shied away from taking the obvious next step of including queer characters.
In 1991, Gene Roddenberry made a statement on his plans to include gay characters in Star Trek: The Next Generation, but following his death shortly afterwards,...
- 7/10/2016
- Den of Geek
Have you ever wondered what could have been? What if Key West seceded from the mainland? If the state of Wyoming ended up in the middle of Pennsylvania? If freed slaves were given the state of Mississippi after the Civil War? Perhaps you would like a Brief Explanation as to how Budapest became the Taco Capital of the World? Or, if you prefer, there is one story that is a fight to the death between the governor of North Alaska, Sarah Palin, and the billionaire orange haired governor of South Alaska…
You can wonder all of these no longer with ‘Altered States of the Union: What America Could Be’; An American alternate history anthology (say that five times fast) that features a varied and fantastic line up of first time authors, New York Times best selling authors, and Hugo and Nebula award winning authors, coming all together with their own...
You can wonder all of these no longer with ‘Altered States of the Union: What America Could Be’; An American alternate history anthology (say that five times fast) that features a varied and fantastic line up of first time authors, New York Times best selling authors, and Hugo and Nebula award winning authors, coming all together with their own...
- 6/21/2016
- by Nikki Lyka
- Comicmix.com
Ryan Lambie Oct 19, 2017
Massive cost overruns, script rewrites and an angry Leonard Nimoy. Ryan charts the battle to make the original Star Trek movie...
After years in limbo, the rush to make a Star Trek movie suddely began in earnest on the 28th of March 1978. That day saw a lavish press conference arranged by Paramount president Michael Eisner, chairman Barry Diller and the entire cast of the original Star Trek series. Eisner announced to an assembled group of reporters that a film spin-off from the cult Trek TV show was finally going to be made. Its appropriately grand title - Star Trek: The Motion Picture.
See related Gunpowder: air date announced for Kit Harington's new show Game Of Thrones: the things Jon Snow does know 26 new TV shows to watch in 2017
The director, Eisner continued, would be Robert Wise - an industry veteran who was not only...
Massive cost overruns, script rewrites and an angry Leonard Nimoy. Ryan charts the battle to make the original Star Trek movie...
After years in limbo, the rush to make a Star Trek movie suddely began in earnest on the 28th of March 1978. That day saw a lavish press conference arranged by Paramount president Michael Eisner, chairman Barry Diller and the entire cast of the original Star Trek series. Eisner announced to an assembled group of reporters that a film spin-off from the cult Trek TV show was finally going to be made. Its appropriately grand title - Star Trek: The Motion Picture.
See related Gunpowder: air date announced for Kit Harington's new show Game Of Thrones: the things Jon Snow does know 26 new TV shows to watch in 2017
The director, Eisner continued, would be Robert Wise - an industry veteran who was not only...
- 3/16/2016
- by ryanlambie
- Den of Geek
Ryan Lambie Oct 11, 2017
In the late 1970s, an aborted feature film would have given the Klingons a striking movie outing...
It's March 1977, and there's a very odd party going on at Paramount. The champagne's flowing, the glasses are clinking, but the atmosphere's far from celebratory.
See related Arrow season 6: UK air date announced Arrow season 6: Rick Gonzalez interview Arrow season 5 episode 23 review: Lian Yu
Writers Alan Scott and Chris Bryant, who for the past six months had been working on a Star Trek movie script, have decided to leave the project following numerous rewrites and conflicted ideas from producers.
Susan Sackett, who was Star Trek creator Gene Rodenberry's personal assistant at the time, was one of several people at that party. "The occasion was one of celebration," Sackett wrote in the seventh issue of Starlog magazine, "yet touched with the sadness of saying 'au revoir' to old friends.
In the late 1970s, an aborted feature film would have given the Klingons a striking movie outing...
It's March 1977, and there's a very odd party going on at Paramount. The champagne's flowing, the glasses are clinking, but the atmosphere's far from celebratory.
See related Arrow season 6: UK air date announced Arrow season 6: Rick Gonzalez interview Arrow season 5 episode 23 review: Lian Yu
Writers Alan Scott and Chris Bryant, who for the past six months had been working on a Star Trek movie script, have decided to leave the project following numerous rewrites and conflicted ideas from producers.
Susan Sackett, who was Star Trek creator Gene Rodenberry's personal assistant at the time, was one of several people at that party. "The occasion was one of celebration," Sackett wrote in the seventh issue of Starlog magazine, "yet touched with the sadness of saying 'au revoir' to old friends.
- 3/14/2016
- by ryanlambie
- Den of Geek
Yo, fellow geeks! Are we holding our breaths? Can we squirm with anticipation for another day or two? Because, as you well know, this is the week. The latest Star Wars flick is about to open and hey! I thought the fuss surrounding the release of the last Batman movie was a big honking deal, but that, compared to the Star Wars fuss, was a third grade talent show.
At what point will we see it (and be assured that, despite our extreme maturity, we will see it because under our wrinkles live, well, geeks.) Will we be waiting at the 21-plex when its cute little machines and pleasant humans begin ticket-selling on Friday morning? Or will we exercise a little self-restraint and avoid the mall for another little while until the dust settles and maybe there’s a few more parking spaces? (But who am I kidding? It’s...
At what point will we see it (and be assured that, despite our extreme maturity, we will see it because under our wrinkles live, well, geeks.) Will we be waiting at the 21-plex when its cute little machines and pleasant humans begin ticket-selling on Friday morning? Or will we exercise a little self-restraint and avoid the mall for another little while until the dust settles and maybe there’s a few more parking spaces? (But who am I kidding? It’s...
- 12/17/2015
- by Dennis O'Neil
- Comicmix.com
Earth Alliance Issue #1 General Information Released by: Future Earth Entertainment @scifiwriter’s Twitter Account Written & Created by: Raymond C. Fields Art & Lettering Marc Olivent Color Rachel N. Ward Available On Amazon & iTunes Trailer Editorial Biases I'm a huge sci-fi fan and I love picking something fresh and different from what I'm used to reading. While I love everything Star Trek, Stargate, Star Wars and the like; it's nice to find something that isn't one of these three and has an identity all its own without having to be mashed in with any other sci-fi clichés. So whenever I see a new piece of sci-fi I pick it up and consume, consume, consume. Even if it's quote-unquote bad. I'll still give it a look to determine for myself if it is good for what I like to read. Right away when I received the request to review this piece I was...
- 7/9/2014
- ComicBookMovie.com
With Star Trek celebrating its 47th anniversary this month, now is the perfect time to reflect on what could have been. With 6 television incarnations, 12 movies and a seemingly never ending series of novels it could be argued that at somewhere or at sometime every story has been told in the Trek universe.
Au contraire gentle reader!
Today we take a look at stories that were envisioned, but never got past the conceptual stage…
Kongo
In Gene Rodenberry’s first draft proposal, “Star Trek is….” He proposed an episode called Kongo, where Uhura and Dr. McCoy encounter a planet where roles have been reversed and black people have enslaved whites. Star Trek writer David Gerrold said, “As a matter of fact, the idea was one that very definitely had been considered. A script version had even been written. And rewritten. And rewritten. The story involved a planet where blacks were the...
Au contraire gentle reader!
Today we take a look at stories that were envisioned, but never got past the conceptual stage…
Kongo
In Gene Rodenberry’s first draft proposal, “Star Trek is….” He proposed an episode called Kongo, where Uhura and Dr. McCoy encounter a planet where roles have been reversed and black people have enslaved whites. Star Trek writer David Gerrold said, “As a matter of fact, the idea was one that very definitely had been considered. A script version had even been written. And rewritten. And rewritten. The story involved a planet where blacks were the...
- 9/20/2013
- by Jamahl Simmons
- Obsessed with Film
The Wasteland:
Television is a gold goose that lays scrambled eggs;
and it is futile and probably fatal to beat it for not laying caviar.
Lee Loevinger
When people argue over the quality of television programming, both sides — it’s addictive crap v. underappreciated populist art — seem to forget one of the essentials about commercial TV. By definition, it is not a public service. It is not commercial TV’s job to enlighten, inform, educate, elevate, inspire, or offer insight. Frankly, it’s not even commercial TV’s job to entertain. Bottom line: its purpose is simply to deliver as many sets of eyes to advertisers as possible. As it happens, it tends to do this by offering various forms of entertainment, and occasionally by offering content that does enlighten, inform, etc., but a cynic would make the point that if TV could do the same job televising fish aimlessly swimming around an aquarium,...
Television is a gold goose that lays scrambled eggs;
and it is futile and probably fatal to beat it for not laying caviar.
Lee Loevinger
When people argue over the quality of television programming, both sides — it’s addictive crap v. underappreciated populist art — seem to forget one of the essentials about commercial TV. By definition, it is not a public service. It is not commercial TV’s job to enlighten, inform, educate, elevate, inspire, or offer insight. Frankly, it’s not even commercial TV’s job to entertain. Bottom line: its purpose is simply to deliver as many sets of eyes to advertisers as possible. As it happens, it tends to do this by offering various forms of entertainment, and occasionally by offering content that does enlighten, inform, etc., but a cynic would make the point that if TV could do the same job televising fish aimlessly swimming around an aquarium,...
- 7/22/2013
- by Ricky
- SoundOnSight
"No, there is another." This one line spoken by Yoda during "The Empire Strikes Back" set off three years of speculation before it was revealed in "Return of the Jedi" that Leia was Luke Skywalker's twin sister and, therefore, the "other" hope to defeat the Dark Side. Yet there was no Internet to post every hare-brained theory like there is today, so where did self-respecting nerds go for their dose of rumors? There's where the great "Starlog" magazine came in.
J.W. Rinzler's wonderful "The Making of Star Wars: Return of the Jedi" (to be released Oct. 1) recounts a disagreement between George Lucas and his collaborators over Luke Skywalker's new lightsaber -- basically, "how did he get it?" In the end, Lucas shrugged off the need an explanation, pointing out that the worst that could happen is that someone would write a letter to "Starlog."
Back in December, I went...
J.W. Rinzler's wonderful "The Making of Star Wars: Return of the Jedi" (to be released Oct. 1) recounts a disagreement between George Lucas and his collaborators over Luke Skywalker's new lightsaber -- basically, "how did he get it?" In the end, Lucas shrugged off the need an explanation, pointing out that the worst that could happen is that someone would write a letter to "Starlog."
Back in December, I went...
- 5/23/2013
- by Mike Ryan
- Huffington Post
Star Trek – and we’re talking the original 1966-69 series here – was a lousy TV show. I was 11 years old when the series debuted on NBC and I thought it was a lousy show then.
That’s why I couldn’t stand the Trekkies even back before there was a name for them. My first run-in with a pre-Trekkie Trekkie was Vincent DePalma. In seventh grade, Vincent had his mother make a sparkly Star Fleet emblem for a corduroy pullover to make it look like the uniform blouses on the show. He wore it to school which I thought was him begging to get his ass beat. He’d built a full-sized replica of the helm/navigation console from the Enterprise bridge in his basement. His father worked for Bell Telephone and had gotten him banks of light-up buttons that really worked. His dream was to eventually recreate the entire bridge in his basement.
That’s why I couldn’t stand the Trekkies even back before there was a name for them. My first run-in with a pre-Trekkie Trekkie was Vincent DePalma. In seventh grade, Vincent had his mother make a sparkly Star Fleet emblem for a corduroy pullover to make it look like the uniform blouses on the show. He wore it to school which I thought was him begging to get his ass beat. He’d built a full-sized replica of the helm/navigation console from the Enterprise bridge in his basement. His father worked for Bell Telephone and had gotten him banks of light-up buttons that really worked. His dream was to eventually recreate the entire bridge in his basement.
- 3/20/2013
- by Bill Mesce
- SoundOnSight
Comic fans are angry. Vocal homophobe Orson Scott Card -- Wired has a good summary of his outspoken anti-gay attitudes -- has been hired by DC to write a Superman story. Elliott Serrano at Redeye explains why this is problematic: Superman has always been about “Truth and Justice,” and the philosophies that Card espouses are antithetical to that. How can I - in good conscience - support someone who is now on the forefront of the Anti-lgbt movement? I view it the same as denying rights to people of color or religion. To me there is no difference. (Of course, plenty of believers in “the American way” figure that includes shaming gays and lesbians and ensuring that they don’t “ruin” marriage for “decent” people.) A petition has been organized to get DC to give Card the boot. Science fiction writer David Gerrold -- who is himself gay -- has...
- 2/19/2013
- by MaryAnn Johanson
- www.flickfilosopher.com
In space, no one can hear you scream. Bent-Con is betting that on Earth people can hear you launch your fundraising drive.
Bent-Con, the world’s largest gathering of Lgbtq geeks, nerds, fans, creators, industry and allies of genre pop-culture announced today the launch of their 2012 convention fundraising drive. This year, the third year of their event, Bent-Con is looking to raise $20,000 to better enhance, develop and expand their annual convention celebrating the gay contribution to the Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror genres, as seen in comics, movies, games, literature and technology.
Started in 2010 with a one-day gathering that blew past expectations when 500 guests crowded into a small, donated storefront, the event exploded in 2011, when 2000 people attended two day event, complete with vendors, panels, guests, movies and parties. This year, expectations and excitement are high, as Bent-Con has announced a stellar line-up of guests from across the genre landscape, industry...
Bent-Con, the world’s largest gathering of Lgbtq geeks, nerds, fans, creators, industry and allies of genre pop-culture announced today the launch of their 2012 convention fundraising drive. This year, the third year of their event, Bent-Con is looking to raise $20,000 to better enhance, develop and expand their annual convention celebrating the gay contribution to the Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror genres, as seen in comics, movies, games, literature and technology.
Started in 2010 with a one-day gathering that blew past expectations when 500 guests crowded into a small, donated storefront, the event exploded in 2011, when 2000 people attended two day event, complete with vendors, panels, guests, movies and parties. This year, expectations and excitement are high, as Bent-Con has announced a stellar line-up of guests from across the genre landscape, industry...
- 10/6/2012
- by The DoorQus Maximus
- doorQ.com
Christopher Rice, Jane Espenson, David Gerrold, Phil Jimenez, and Wendy Pini lead a stellar lineup of guests and speakers to Bent-Con 2012, the pop-culture con for gay fans of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Comics, Games, Movies, and Books!
Now in its third year, Bent-Con promotes, encourages, celebrates and appreciates Lgbt and Lgbt-friendly contributions to the comic-book, gaming, Science Fiction Fantasy and Horror mediums of artists, writers, creators, publishers, directors, actors, producers and fans, be they works targeted directly to Lgbt audiences or the larger realm of underground and mainstream pop-culture as a whole.
(But it’s just easier to think of it like a Comic-Con, only gayer!)
Headlining guests include:
Christopher Rice: Already the author of four Nyt best-selling novels, Christopher has been an openly queer author since the publication of his first novel, A Density of Souls. Christopher will be reflecting on his already impressive career, as well as previewing his new novel,...
Now in its third year, Bent-Con promotes, encourages, celebrates and appreciates Lgbt and Lgbt-friendly contributions to the comic-book, gaming, Science Fiction Fantasy and Horror mediums of artists, writers, creators, publishers, directors, actors, producers and fans, be they works targeted directly to Lgbt audiences or the larger realm of underground and mainstream pop-culture as a whole.
(But it’s just easier to think of it like a Comic-Con, only gayer!)
Headlining guests include:
Christopher Rice: Already the author of four Nyt best-selling novels, Christopher has been an openly queer author since the publication of his first novel, A Density of Souls. Christopher will be reflecting on his already impressive career, as well as previewing his new novel,...
- 9/14/2012
- by The DoorQus Maximus
- doorQ.com
You might think that with the hundreds, if not thousands, of books that have been written about Gene Roddenberry's moderately successful 1960s television show Star Trek, from memoirs to manuals, episode guides to encyclopedias, and all points in between, that the universe needs another one like the Enterprise needed another Tribble in the original Trek episode 'The Trouble With Tribbles'. It is precisely this question that author and screenwriter David Gerrold, who penned that classic story, asks in his foreword to Mark Clark's recently published Star Trek Faq tome (released in June 2012 by Applause Theatre & Cinema Books), and one that Clark has clearly thought long and hard about, as is evident by the answer he gives in his introduction.
Mr Gerrold's answer not only justifies Star Trek Faq's existence, but provides a solid argument as to why this one may just be the most useful of them all.
Mr Gerrold's answer not only justifies Star Trek Faq's existence, but provides a solid argument as to why this one may just be the most useful of them all.
- 8/13/2012
- Shadowlocked
Star Trek Faq: Everything Left to Know About the First Voyages of the Starship Enterprise is a new, non-fiction Star Trek book that is meant both for die-hard and casual fans of the original Star Trek series created in the 1960s. Despite the title, the book isn’t set up in a question and answer format, and the book has answers to some questions that have probably only occurred to a small number of people. This book is meant to be a distillation of information published elsewhere, but even at 413 pages, don’t expect technical details like an explanation of star dates or warp drive. There is an obligatory episode guide, but thankfully, the plot synopses are kept short. From my fan perspective, its pages do contain some interesting information that I wasn’t aware of. The author, Mark Clark, is a Star Trek fan, but he is also a film historian,...
- 5/23/2012
- by Reed
- FilmJunk
For the last couple of weeks Star Trek fans and bloggers attention has been focused on the actions of Star Trek executives to control the Star Trek universe.
First it was Star Trek movie producer J.J. Abrams’ effort to control information about the upcoming 2013 Star Trek reboot sequel. Upset at the leak of photos of Zachary Quinto (Spock) and Trek newcomer Benedict Cumberbatch engaged in a fight scene, Abrams placed a couple of dozen shipping containers around his production site in order to block further images of the film from appearing on the internet. Unlike some fans, I applaud Abrams for this decision because I want to be surprised and awed when I plop down my $20 at the midnight premiere of Star Trek 2 in May 2013. Raise the shields, J.J!
Abrams’ control of his multi-million dollar film is understandable, however, the decision of CBS executives to squash a fan-produced web film is less admirable.
First it was Star Trek movie producer J.J. Abrams’ effort to control information about the upcoming 2013 Star Trek reboot sequel. Upset at the leak of photos of Zachary Quinto (Spock) and Trek newcomer Benedict Cumberbatch engaged in a fight scene, Abrams placed a couple of dozen shipping containers around his production site in order to block further images of the film from appearing on the internet. Unlike some fans, I applaud Abrams for this decision because I want to be surprised and awed when I plop down my $20 at the midnight premiere of Star Trek 2 in May 2013. Raise the shields, J.J!
Abrams’ control of his multi-million dollar film is understandable, however, the decision of CBS executives to squash a fan-produced web film is less admirable.
- 4/4/2012
- by John Putman
- Obsessed with Film
If you're a Star Trek fan, then chances are you've seen one of several excellent fan productions online: "Star Trek: Phase II." Originally founded as "Star Trek: New Voyages," executive producer and star James Cawley spent tens of thousands of dollars of his own money to continue the original "Star Trek," and has brought in some big names (including David Gerrold, Eugene W. Roddenberry and George Takei) along the way. The popularity of "Phase II" and other similar productions like "Star Trek: Hidden Frontier" has put CBS Television in a tough spot. These fans are actively using characters, story lines and other intellectual property they own to produce their own work, but asking them to shut down would be a total public relations nightmare. So instead, as long as fans like Cawley ...
- 4/1/2012
- GeekNation.com
Now CBS, but once Paramount Pictures, have had little to say about the many internet fan series based on their property of Star Trek (Hidden Frontier, Intrepid, Farragut and New Voyages: Phase II to name just a few) over the years. They clearly saw a workable, symbiotic relationship with fan productions and the mainstream TV shows and movies. As long as the fans never changed the conical nature of the established main characters (be it Tos or its many spin-offs), they were given (a mostly) free rein to expand the Star Trek Universe. But recently, someone within CBS, or over at Paramount, have suddenly raised a red alert.
It all began back in October when a fan approached Norman Spinrad, who wrote the episode The Doomsday Machine, to autograph the script for another episode of Star Trek Gene Roddenberry commissioned him to write in 1967 called He Walked Among Us. The...
It all began back in October when a fan approached Norman Spinrad, who wrote the episode The Doomsday Machine, to autograph the script for another episode of Star Trek Gene Roddenberry commissioned him to write in 1967 called He Walked Among Us. The...
- 3/29/2012
- by spaced-odyssey
- doorQ.com
Star Trek: The Next Generation had to do a lot to convince fans of Gene Roddenberry’s trendsetting original series that it was the same vision, merely updated. By then, there had been two decades of just Kirk, Spock, McCoy and the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise. The fans felt a certain ownership having saved it from cancellation during the original network run and then created an unprecedented following that led to an animated series and four feature films. The notion of continuing the series and setting it 78 years in the future left people wary.
The turmoil surrounding the birth of Star Trek: The Next Generation and the haphazard production of the first season had fans even more concerned before the new show debuted in late September 1987. In those early Internet days, word still spread at warp speed as familiar names David Gerrold and D.C. Fontana joined and...
The turmoil surrounding the birth of Star Trek: The Next Generation and the haphazard production of the first season had fans even more concerned before the new show debuted in late September 1987. In those early Internet days, word still spread at warp speed as familiar names David Gerrold and D.C. Fontana joined and...
- 1/29/2012
- by Robert Greenberger
- Comicmix.com
For our money there's no greater convention in the entire world than Eliot Brodsky's incredible Monsterpalooza, is held each year in Los Angeles. What sets it apart from the rest is that it isn't about meeting celebrities (though there are plenty on hand both signing and just walking around enjoying the show) and getting autographs. This show is about one thing and one thing only: Monsters! Which is why we're nothing short of ecstatic that Brodsky is looking to expand his universe with Monsterpalooza Magazine.
From the Press Release
The premiere issue of Monsterpalooza Magazine, named after Eliot Brodsky’s Monsterpalooza Convention held annually in Burbank, California, is now available and ready to order direct from the publisher! Monsterpalooza Magazine brings you the best of classic and modern horror, fantasy and science fiction in film, literature, media, art, illustration, make-up and sculpture in its glossy print pages! 96 glorious pages — advertisement free!
From the Press Release
The premiere issue of Monsterpalooza Magazine, named after Eliot Brodsky’s Monsterpalooza Convention held annually in Burbank, California, is now available and ready to order direct from the publisher! Monsterpalooza Magazine brings you the best of classic and modern horror, fantasy and science fiction in film, literature, media, art, illustration, make-up and sculpture in its glossy print pages! 96 glorious pages — advertisement free!
- 11/1/2011
- by Uncle Creepy
- DreadCentral.com
In the Southern California area, Monsterpalooza is about the best genre convention you're going to find. Now, in addition to being a terrific annual event, the Monsterpalooza brand is extended into the realm of print with a new magazine. Published quarterly, the first issue is now available. Here's the lowdown on the premiere issue: Packed inside its 96 ad-free pages is Pierre Fournier.s story Dare You See It?, on the 80th Anniversary of the 1931 Frankenstein; David Gerrold (Star Trek, The Trouble With Tribbles) launches his regular column State of the Art; Anthony Taylor interviews sculptor Mike Hill; Ted Newsom contributed an in-depth career overview of the late Jimmy Sangster and his Hammer Film output; Joe Nazzaro honors the work of make-up maestro John Chambers; Jeff Baham...
- 11/1/2011
- shocktillyoudrop.com
Last week I did a piece on how early syndication of movies to TV provided a culturally unifying base for Baby Boomers. Most of us, however, probably think of syndication as being less about movies and more about recycling old TV shows. And, in time, so it became.
TV writer/producer/director Bill Persky remembers syndication being a movie-driven business in the medium’s early years since “…there weren’t that many series to syndicate…” By the 60s, however, TV production companies had amassed enough defunct TV shows to turn syndication into an increasingly profitable series-recycling business feeding a bottomless market. Independent stations filled their days with a patchwork quilt of old TV shows, old movies, local news and sports, and even network affiliates had hours to fill between blocks of network programming.
The recycling of old TV shows had the same impact on Boomers recycling old movies did; it...
TV writer/producer/director Bill Persky remembers syndication being a movie-driven business in the medium’s early years since “…there weren’t that many series to syndicate…” By the 60s, however, TV production companies had amassed enough defunct TV shows to turn syndication into an increasingly profitable series-recycling business feeding a bottomless market. Independent stations filled their days with a patchwork quilt of old TV shows, old movies, local news and sports, and even network affiliates had hours to fill between blocks of network programming.
The recycling of old TV shows had the same impact on Boomers recycling old movies did; it...
- 6/11/2011
- by Bill Mesce
- SoundOnSight
Wolfe Video has acquired the domestic rights to distribute "Judas Kiss," the first full-length independent feature from two filmmakers best known for their work in fan Star Trek productions. Wolfe will handle both video-on-demand and DVD rights for "Judas Kiss" in the United States and Canada. Another distribution company, Pro-Fun Media, will release the film to audiences in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. "Judas Kiss" stars Charlie David and one-time "Caprica" actor Richard Harmon. It centers around a washed up film producer who earns a chance to get things right in a way that would make "The Twilight Zone" proud. It was written by Carlos Pedraza (who worked with "Star Trek" Tribbles creator David Gerrold to adapt a failed "Star Trek: The Next Generation" script into a fan production) ...
- 5/15/2011
- GeekNation.com
Spoiler Alert – I’m going to spoil everything.
After a season that groped for, neared, but never quite reached last year’s stunning “Peter” ep, Fringe, my favorite bastard child of The X-Files, let loose with a tight, dramatic high point — “The Day We Died” – which sends poor Peter into the future.
Time travel stories are rife with pitfalls. Logistically silly, they’re nearly impossible to maneuver with grace. Fringe‘s challenge was more so. After all, Peter Bishop’s temporal two-step doubles-down on the dual universe played with from the beginning, giving us (count ‘em!) four versions of each character (i.e., Walter, Walternate, alternate future Walter, alternate future Walternate, ad absurdum.)
Even so, I was hooked. The pacing was electric, the variations fun, the acting, in spots, terrific. It reminded me why I watch the darn show, especially after Anna Torv’s painful vocal impersonation of Leonard Nimoy earlier this year.
After a season that groped for, neared, but never quite reached last year’s stunning “Peter” ep, Fringe, my favorite bastard child of The X-Files, let loose with a tight, dramatic high point — “The Day We Died” – which sends poor Peter into the future.
Time travel stories are rife with pitfalls. Logistically silly, they’re nearly impossible to maneuver with grace. Fringe‘s challenge was more so. After all, Peter Bishop’s temporal two-step doubles-down on the dual universe played with from the beginning, giving us (count ‘em!) four versions of each character (i.e., Walter, Walternate, alternate future Walter, alternate future Walternate, ad absurdum.)
Even so, I was hooked. The pacing was electric, the variations fun, the acting, in spots, terrific. It reminded me why I watch the darn show, especially after Anna Torv’s painful vocal impersonation of Leonard Nimoy earlier this year.
- 5/12/2011
- by Stefan Petrucha
- Boomtron
There’s a new Star Trek TV series in the works that includes two gay characters: a male main character and a secondary female character. But it is all just a pipe dream?
The proposed project, the work of a company called 1947 Entertainment, would continue the ongoing story of Star Trek from the original movies and TV series, not jumping forward or backward in time.
That said, according to a source closely involved in the project, it aims for a tone different from that of previous Star Trek TV series – more in keeping with that of director J.J. Abrams’ recent film franchise reboot: grittier and with more complicated characters and faster pacing.
But the project, which has been in the works since 2006, has not yet been pitched to CBS, who holds the TV rights to the venerable franchise. And, of course, since this is still in the proposal stage, all details are subject to revision.
The proposed project, the work of a company called 1947 Entertainment, would continue the ongoing story of Star Trek from the original movies and TV series, not jumping forward or backward in time.
That said, according to a source closely involved in the project, it aims for a tone different from that of previous Star Trek TV series – more in keeping with that of director J.J. Abrams’ recent film franchise reboot: grittier and with more complicated characters and faster pacing.
But the project, which has been in the works since 2006, has not yet been pitched to CBS, who holds the TV rights to the venerable franchise. And, of course, since this is still in the proposal stage, all details are subject to revision.
- 5/9/2011
- by Brent Hartinger
- The Backlot
Sure, all of this 3-D CGI animation is awesome and all, but how about some old school Filmmation flat, limited motion moving pictures? Of the Star Trek variety?
CBS.Com is now showing the 1973 animated Trek series. Featuring the original cast in quasi canonical adventures, the series is famous for first depicting the always-malfunctioning holodeck and depicting the crew’s second encounter with the tribbles, in David Gerrold’s “More Tribbles, More Troubbles.”...
CBS.Com is now showing the 1973 animated Trek series. Featuring the original cast in quasi canonical adventures, the series is famous for first depicting the always-malfunctioning holodeck and depicting the crew’s second encounter with the tribbles, in David Gerrold’s “More Tribbles, More Troubbles.”...
- 2/21/2011
- by The DoorQus Maximus
- doorQ.com
'Star Trek's unexplored final frontier? An openly gay character.
In all of its movies and iterations -- including 726 television episodes -- there never existed an openly gay character on 'Star Trek.' And now, the show's producer says he regrets the decision.
Speaking to AfterElton.com at a panel discussion, Brannon Braga said:
It was a shame for a lot of us that ... I'm talking about the Next Generation, Deep Space Nine and there was a constant back and forth about well how do we portray the spectrum of sexuality. There were people who felt very strongly that we should be showing casually, you know, just two guys together in the background in Ten Forward. At the time the decision was made not to do that and I think those same people would make a different decision now because I think, you know, that was 1989, well yeah about...
In all of its movies and iterations -- including 726 television episodes -- there never existed an openly gay character on 'Star Trek.' And now, the show's producer says he regrets the decision.
Speaking to AfterElton.com at a panel discussion, Brannon Braga said:
It was a shame for a lot of us that ... I'm talking about the Next Generation, Deep Space Nine and there was a constant back and forth about well how do we portray the spectrum of sexuality. There were people who felt very strongly that we should be showing casually, you know, just two guys together in the background in Ten Forward. At the time the decision was made not to do that and I think those same people would make a different decision now because I think, you know, that was 1989, well yeah about...
- 1/27/2011
- by Jordan Zakarin
- Huffington Post
When it comes to specific television shows and movies that have lacked gay visibility over the years, the Star Trek franchise has probably received the most scrutiny — and criticism — from AfterElton.com. After all, despite having produced more than a dozen feature films and 726 episodes over the course of six series (including the 22-episode animated series) the franchise has never managed to include an out gay character in a movie or series.
This despite the fact that in 1991 Gene Roddenberry told The Advocate that the fifth season of The Next Generation would at least show gay crewmembers as part of ship life. Unfortunately, Roddenberry died that year and none of the subsequent episodes featured gay people at all.
In 2008, the fan series Star Trek Phase II produced an online version of a gay-themed episode originally intended for The Next Generation and written by David Gerrold. And in 2008, I asked Roberto Orci...
This despite the fact that in 1991 Gene Roddenberry told The Advocate that the fifth season of The Next Generation would at least show gay crewmembers as part of ship life. Unfortunately, Roddenberry died that year and none of the subsequent episodes featured gay people at all.
In 2008, the fan series Star Trek Phase II produced an online version of a gay-themed episode originally intended for The Next Generation and written by David Gerrold. And in 2008, I asked Roberto Orci...
- 1/24/2011
- by Michael Jensen
- The Backlot
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.