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The Good News: CBS now has all of the original Star Trek episodes online!

The Bad News: You can't embed them into your blog!

Old media just doesn't get it — and the "it" is economics. On the web page views equal cash, so if nobody can find your video you won't do so well. You'd think with an army of Star Trek fanboys allowing embedding would be obvious, but to me it's just another sign of old media not understanding the medium. I also wish that CBS had done a deal with YouTube — as a brand CBS is dead to me because it's a TV network which is something I make it a point to skip when channel surfing (and I'm an old guy!). There's something quite sad when a show about the future is married to people stuck in the past.

The music of Alexander Courage set the mood for every Star Trek TV series and movie to come — the tone is clearly that of a swashbuckling naval adventure set in the stars. This is amazing when you think about the fact that that approach was so out of style by the 60s, and yet Courage manages to reinvent it. And if I do say so, the music holds up rather well — it doesn't feel dated, it's a real classic is every sense of the word (it's also important to note that he did this before Kubrick used classical music in 2001: A Space Odyssey in 1968). Alexander, thank you for being a special part of the soundtrack of my childhood:

'Star Trek' theme composer dies at 88

"His most famous work is undoubtedly the "Star Trek" theme, which he composed, arranged and conducted in a week in 1965. "I have to confess to the world that I am not a science fiction fan," Courage said in an interview for the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation's Archive of American Television in 2000. "Never have been. I think it's just marvelous malarkey. ... So you write some, you hope, marvelous malarkey music that goes with it."

Courage said the tune, with its ringing fanfare, eerie soprano part and swooping orchestration, was inspired by an arrangement of the song "Beyond the Blue Horizon" he heard as a youngster. "Little did I know when I wrote that first A-flat for the flute that it was going to go down in history, somehow," Courage said. "It's a very strange feeling."

Courage said he also mouthed the "whooshing" sound heard as the starship Enterprise zooms through the opening credits of the TV show."

As usual TrekMovie.com is doing some great coverage of the upcoming Star Trek film. However sadly the news is bad for us fanboys who grew up with William Shatner as Captain James T. Kirk. I think it's crappy how they've treated Shatner who played such a huge role in making the series what it was:

Shatner: JJ Abrams Never Called Me Back

Newsweek: What’s the latest on the upcoming “Star Trek” movie remake that J.J. Abrams is doing? Have you been hearing from him at all?
Shatner: I know nothing. I had a meeting a couple times with J.J. Abrams, who actually came down one time to where we shoot “Boston Legal” to visit with me—and I don’t know what it was about. He never called back, and I’m not in the movie. I’m disappointed.

Newsweek: Were you offended?
Shatner: I would have liked to have been in the revival of “Star Trek.” More than that I’m fascinated by the business decision of not including that popular character and the actor who has a lot of popularity still, as opposed to anybody else in the cast who’s either unknown or not in the public eye particularly.

Newsweek: Why do you think you were left out?
Shatner: They, in all likelihood, couldn’t solve the storytelling problem and decided to ignore it.

...would it hurt so much to give the guy a five minute walk on role? WTF!

What I've always liked about the original Star Trek series is that it represented a very progressive view of the world — not only could we travel to the stars, but all nations could be at peace and the world could be a better place. George Takei is an amazing man, at age 5 he was placed in an internment camp with his family during World War II and he's had exceptional longevity as an actor appearing in everything from two Jerry Lewis comedies to the action packed MacGyver TV series (and most recently on Heroes). So this fanboy wishes him and Brad Altman the very best:

Gay wedding for Star Trek's Takei

"US actor George Takei is to wed his long-term partner after California lifted its ban on same-sex marriage. Takei, 71, best known for playing Mr Sulu in Star Trek, said he and Brad Altman were going through the "delicious dilemma" of where to marry. The actor and 54-year-old Mr Altman have been together for 21 years. "We can have the dignity, as well as all the responsibilities, of marriage. We embrace it all heartily," Takei wrote on his website."

In 1967 Gold Key started publishing a series of Star Trek comic books. What I love about these early ones is that the designs look very and mod, not what you'd expect to see on the cover of a comic book. The use of colors is very psychedelic and they incorporate design elements which are reminiscent of op art and Andy Warhol. Shown above is issue 01-00 from 1967, below are issues 03-00 from 1968 and 04-00 from 1969.

Yes I know that there were quite a few talented folks who made Star Trek great, and I'll grant you that he has a huge ego — but I feel like William Shatner is being treated like crap by not including him in this upcoming Star Trek film. Don't tell me that they can bring back Nimoy for a leading role but they can't work a 5 minute future flashback into the damn script?

Adding insult to injury is the Star Trek Ultimate Captain Kirk 1:4 Scale Figure which looks like a bad cartoon sculpture of Shatner. Of course I'll grant you that Paramount has never had the same approach to quality merchandise that say Lucasfilm has had with Star Wars, but I think that they could do a little bit better on the small and big things that count to us fanboys.

It's funny but in the last few years I've found Google translation tools pretty handy for looking at various websites, but the the thought of being able to turn a cell phone into a Star Trek Universal Translator would change the world:

Star Trek's Universal Translator - Within Just a Few Years?

"Progress being made by European researchers on automatic speech-to-speech translation technology could help the EU tackle one of the biggest remaining boundaries to internal trade, mobility and the free exchange of information - language. Though the system still cannot match the accuracy of a human translator or interpreter, they're is convinced that, with further research a commercially viable automatic speech-to-speech translator will be feasible within a few years, at least for some simpler language pairs."

I just love the detailing on this vintage Star Trek replica, in fact I'd love to see some enterprising fanboys kitbash it with an iPod! But sadly you'll have to wait October to play doctor:

Star Trek Original Series Medical Tricorder Replica

"Based on the classic 23rd century design, the electronic Tricorder features silver highlights over a black finish, as well as light and sound effects taken from the classic Star Trek series. Also included is the removable scanner accessory - perfect for your next away mission! "

Just an old country Doctor! It's ironic to note that DeForest Kelley's first film was Time to Kill a Navy training film from 1945.

Found via Gawker.

Chief Engineer Michaelangelo, First Officer Donatello, Captain Leonard, and Chief Medical Officer Raphael: These are the continuing voyages of the Star Trek Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles! Shown above is a detail from the back of a Playmates package dating from 1994 (to check out Chief Engineer Michaelangelo go here).

Found via terrible2z.com.

The above clip almost looks more like a parody of a TV show from 1973 than an actual show, but it's the real deal — well almost, it's a failed pilot for a show called Baffled! which would have starred Leonard Nimoy. Here's the description:

"In the role Robert Wagner was born to play, Nimoy stars as All-American race car driver Tom Kovack who tackles mystery and adventure after he is endowed with psychic powers in a racing accident. A failed TV pilot, it is notable for it's fun, kitchy opening and totally kick ass theme song."

Ah yes the "good old days" of primitive 20th Century Earth! Back then before them there internets it was a strange world when Starship Captains were played by real men of grit and action like the Shat and we had quaint customs like buying our New Year's calendars in December. But now things are much better: We can order our New Year's calendars before Memorial Day!

Any way I do hope that William Shatner is getting a cut of the above Star Trek: 2009 Wall Calendar (because God knows he won't be getting any sort of pay check from the upcoming film from J.J. Abrams who claims to not be able to figure out a plot device like a cameo to include Bill — but no I'm not bitter about it). Shown below is the Star Trek: Ships of the Line: 2009 Wall Calendar for you hardware fanboys:

Shown above is a full-size replica of the classic Star Trek Communicator which was just released. While it won't replace your iPhone this collectible features blinking lights, a moving moire pattern to impress your hippy friends, and over twenty sound effects and phrases including "Scotty here, Captain!" Star Trek fanboys (and fangurls) can order it now at Amazon.com for about $25 (transporter fees not included):

Star Trek Original Series Communicator

If you're an old time Star Trek fanboy there's an amazing article at Scientific American on the reality of making a Transporter:

Beam Me Up Scotty? A Q&A about Quantum Teleportation with H. Jeff Kimble
Why the effect is nothing like Star Trek

"What's the biggest misconception about teleportation? That the object itself is being sent. We're not sending around material stuff. If I wanted to send you a Boeing 757, I could send you all the parts, or I could send you a blueprint showing all the parts, and it's much easier to send a blueprint. Teleportation is a protocol about how to send a quantum state—a wave function—from one place to another."

Shown above is an entertaining DIY video on how to build a classic Star Trek phaser using a mechanism from a Blu-ray player.

Video by Kipkay found via ValleyWag.

The folks behind the lolcat website I Can Has Cheezburger? now have a site for dogs! Being a Star trek fan I loved the loldog shot above from the episode The Enemy Within from 1966. As you'll recall the poor horned space puppy went red shirt in the episode when used for unethical transporter testing, causing Dr. McCoy to comment "It's dead, Jim". Arf! Arf!

Humans smile with so little provocation! It's 20th Century Earth and the Bangles need a director for their music video "Going Down To Liverpool" (a cover by Katrina & the Waves) and the choice is logical — Leonard Nimoy. Well that and also band member Susanna Hoffs knew Nimoy's son Adam (it's who you know in Hollywood sometimes). By the way Adam Nimoy would go on to direct episodes of Star trek the Next Generation and Babylon 5. And least we forget Leonard Nimoy's own musical roots:

Shown above is a 1966 interview William Shatner on the set of the Star Trek episode What Are Little Girls Made Of? Below is another segment with Leonard Nimoy:

Fascinating! I can slag J.J. Abrams for leaving Shat in the cold, but this viral website for the new film looks quite interesting:

www.ncc-1701.com

Shown above is the first teaser trailer for the upcoming Star Trek film - now I see that "Under Construction" is a reference to the building of the Enterprise. I love the early NASA and JFK references and I'm happy to hear Spock, but I'm also sad that there's no reference to Shatner. How can you have Nimoy without Shatner? That's like having Reese's Peanut Butter Cups without the chocolate and peanut butter!

To boldly post an "Under Construction" sign where no fan has gone before! Nothing real on this website yet, although you can sign up to be spammed by Paramount when the time comes...

Shown above is the Talking Translator, which in a crude way reminds me a bit of the Universal Translator from Star Trek. Although this primitive 21st Century version will only cost you about $70. Speaks and displays 12 languages, including French, German, Spanish, Italian, Russian, Japanese, Mandarin Chinese, Swedish, Portuguese, Dutch and Turkish but not Klingon. Silly humans!

Found via GeekAlerts.

Star Trek Minutiae has everything you ever wanted to know about Star Trek, and maybe just a few things you didn't want to know. Shown above are Starfleet cargo labels!

Found via Linkfilter.net.

Behind every great heating company there's a fanboy heading up the marketing department! I love this Star Trek themed parody/commercial from 1982. There's also a Star Wars reference when they introduce the robot slideshow.

Thanks to tvdays.com.

This is charming Star Trek parody inspired by George Melies, check out the entire film here.

Found via linkfilter.net.

This may be the best fan film since Hardware Wars!

The one thing that confuses me about this report is that Spock's mom (Amanda Grayson, shown above played by Jane Wyatt) was human not a vulcan. Although Winona would make a cute vulcan (although she'll have to work on he logic thing):

Winona Ryder joins 'Star Trek'
Actress to play Spock's mother in Abrams film

"Star Trek is beaming up Winona Ryder. Paramount Pictures and director JJ Abrams have set Ryder to play the Vulcan mother of a young Spock (Zachary Quinto). Scripted by Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci, the film revolves around the Starfleet Academy days of the crew of the Starship Enterprise. Chris Pine has been set to play Capt. Kirk, Simon Pegg will play Scotty, Karl Urban is Dr. McCoy and Eric Bana will play the villain, Nero."

...by the way for my money the BEST vulcan actress was Kirstie Alley as Lt. Saavik in the Wrath of Khan. Man I'll never understand why they won't let Nicholas Meyer touch Star Trek again!

Snarky Update: Variety revised the story to state that Spock's mom will be human. Although on second thought I do think that Winona would look cute with the pointy ears...

This is heartbreaking! William Shatner has gone on record in the above video to state that he hasn't been offered a role in the upcomig Star Trek film. If this was the good old days Star Trek fanboys (and fangurls) would flood Paramount with letters, petitions and even a few death threats demanding screen time for Shat. How can we go where no man has gone before without Shat on board the Enterprise?

I blame Star Trek: TNG for ruining the rabid nature of Trek fandom, I mean how can you care about anything when the Captain of the Enterprise is up there on the small screen sipping tea and singing Gilbert and Sullivan ditties? Sadly people care more about Ellen's dog being snatched than poor old seadog Kirk. It just isn't right! And don't even get me started on those bastards not including Lindsey Wagner in the Bionic Woman remake, they deserve to have their ratings tank.

I'd rather see "The Cage" (and show it with a scratchy 16mm print too) but this is still a pretty cool event:

Remastered "Menagerie" in Theatres!

"On Tuesday, November 13, the two-part Star Trek Remastered version of "The Menagerie” will beam onto the big screen in a special engagement with selected theatres. The screening — a first for episodic Star Trek on this scale — will be seen in nearly 300 venues across the U.S. and Canada. This one-night-only event will also feature a special introduction by Eugene "Rod” Roddenberry, son of Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry, plus an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the making of the Remastered series.

"The Menagerie" will be presented in its digitally remastered, high-definition format and in Cinema Surround Sound. The screening is in part to promote the HD-DVD/DVD release the following week (Nov. 20) by CBS Home Entertainment and Paramount Home Entertainment.

I found the Star Trek themed LOL Cat photo here at icanhascheezburger.com. It got me thinking how much the original Star Trek series has had an impact on popular culture. Well that and how much we'll miss seeing James Montgomery Doohan making a cameo on some future Star Trek movie or series.

Just a reminder that the remastered version of the classic Star Trek episode Galileo Seven will be on the air today (check your local station listings).

These classic Star Trek action figures are made for action! Nope you won't see a wussy Jean-Luc Picard figurine holding a cup of Earl Gray Tea with his pinky sticking out, nah this set features Kirk with a phaser set to kill and a Klingon pal ready to rumble:

Star Trek Retro Action Figures

"Ah, the 70s. So many things happened which affected Geekdom forever. Perhaps the most important thing to happen was the introduction and proliferation of Mego action figures. There were tons of cool figures to choose from, but the Star Trek figs held a special place in our hearts. And now the great folks at Diamond Select have made wonderful reproductions for a whole new generation of Mego fans."

Diamond Select Toys is taking pre-orders on the Star Trek Minimates Series 2 Case:

"The second series of Star Trek Minimates, this Classic Star Trek assortment features Battle Damage Kirk & Gorn, “The Cage” Spock & Uhura, Sulu & Chekov and the limited Swashbuckling Sulu!"

...Captain Pike fans will have to order Minimates Series 1.

The above chandelier from the “Novelty Collection” by Elk Lighting was inspired by the Enterprise from Star Trek and is available from LampsUSA.

Found via GeekAlerts.

Shown above is my attempt to do a Simpsonizeme version of Captain James T. Kirk. I admit that I changed the shirt color a bit, but it's pretty darned close. Simpsonizeme is a clever Simpsons movie tie in website sponsored by Burger King.

Sadly long time talk show host Tom Snyder passed away today. His interviews were always enjoyable because they gave you the feeling that out were hanging out with the stars and just having a good conversation. Here are some classic clips of him in the 70s interviewing the cast members of the original Star Trek series:

They also seem to be hinting that Shatner might still have a shot at it too:

Leonard Nimoy to have role in new 'Star Trek' film

"The 76-year-old actor will don his famous pointy ears again to play the role in an upcoming "Star Trek" film due out Christmas 2008. "This is really going to be a great movie. And I don't say things like that lightly," Nimoy told a gathering of 6,500 fans Thursday at Comic-Con, the nation's largest pop-culture convention. He greeted the crowd with a Vulcan salute. Nimoy was joined by the newly named young Spock, "Heroes" star Zachary Quinto, who bears an uncanny resemblance to Nimoy.

While the character of Captain Kirk has yet to be cast, Abrams said that William Shatner, who played the role in the original TV series, would likely also have a part in the film. "It has to be worthy, of him and of you," Abrams told fans, adding that production is slated to begin in November."

There's a great Photoshop competition at Worth 1000 with the theme If Trekkies Ruled the World. Shown abobe is 'Mr. President' by CocaCasta.

There are so many clever t-shirt shops it's hard to be impressed anymore, but I rather liked the fanboy reference in the above t-shirt which can be found at ThinkGeek.

How can they leave Shat out of the film? At least we get Nimoy, here's the description of the above video:

"William Shatner talks about the new Star Movie details with information from an inside source who has been cast in the movie."

There's a great article today in the LA Times on Star Trek fans films (shown above is the U.S.S. Odyssey from Star Trek: Hidden Frontier):

They just keep on Trekking
The 'Star Trek' franchise lives on through fan films, crafted by people outside the industry. In terms of money, it's a whole different universe.

"Fan films are movies made by people outside the entertainment industry who write or improvise a script set in a familiar universe (like "Star Trek" or "Star Wars" or "Batman" or "Harry Potter") and shoot it themselves. It's not illegal as long as nobody makes any money from it — although some companies, Marvel in particular, don't like their characters and worlds messed with. Anyone can do it, but it's not easy. Time-consuming. Costly. And if you want to do it really well, there are actors, special effects, props, background music, costumes, makeup and distribution to consider. That's when making a small fan film becomes a Herculean labor of love.

Rob Caves, creator and executive producer of "Hidden Frontier," wanted his series to be good. He's a diminutive 28-year-old with an almost unnervingly calm demeanor. As a kid watching "Star Trek: The Next Generation" with his father, and later "Deep Space Nine" on his own (he never liked the original series), he leaned less toward the usual "Trek" fan impulse of "I wish I lived there" and more toward "I want to make that"."

Set phasers on RANT!So you're telling me that Harrison Ford is still young enough to play mast moving Indiana Jones, but Williams Shatner is too old to play Admiral Kirk? Us Star trek fanboys should demand justice! Just take a look at Ford, they didn't even update his costume: It's now twenty years later (maybe the 1950's?) and he's still wearing the same clothing! We've lost so many of the original Star Trek cast, can't we have one more flick with Kirk and Spock? I'll settle for a small scene, or even a bit part...

Seen above is the 'Where No Man Has Gone Before' Enterprise is based on the debut episode of the classic Star Trek series from 1966 (shown below the model are two shots from that episode - seeing your name on a grave stone on an arid alien planet is always a good excuse for a fight!).

Anyway this classic collectable is put out by Diamond Select and is part of their Starship Legends series. The best part is that it will feature light and sound effects including the voice James T. Kirk. But sadly the headstone and 3D chess set won't be included...

Found via Toy News International.

Ohhhhh, Admiral Kirk you say? I say this film was Star Trek at it's best, so you can keep your Pepsi Generation tea sipping starship captains...

In 1965 William Shatner starred in a horror movie called Incubus. It's the only movie to be filmed completely in Esperanto. It's bizarre and now being released back onto home video for you Star Trek fanboys. Here's the trailer:

I hadn't realized just how much dancing and sword play was taking place in Star Trek!

In this 1982 commercial William Shatner is selling "the wonder computer of the 80s" which is the Commodore Vic20. I love how the commercial starts with him being beamed in, and better yet he's doing his Captain Kirk voice:

I do have to admit that the $300 price tag was a plus, I had a later version of the computer ( a C64) in the late 80s which was a great computer to start with even if it didn't have lower case letters and lacked a floppy disc!

The Shatner fanboy in me loves the Rocketman reference:

Richard Arnold, onetime assistant to Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry and a frequent writer and convention speaker on the franchise, said that his contacts have told him that J.J. Abrams will likely not direct Star Trek XI, but the film's budget has been increased, and the release date is postponed to autumn 2008.

Found via Sci Fi Pulse.

Above are new images from the remastered version of the classic Star trek episode Doomsday Machine (from StarTrek.com and found via TrekMovie.com).

I'd have to say that just seeing the above images brings back many a happy childhood memory of watching the show in glorious black and white on re-runs on WPIX in the 70s.

Two things made that episode great: The first was the powerful soundtrack by Alexander Courage. The music gave the planet eater a voice, and in many ways the soundtrack of Jaws owed quite a bit to Mr. Courage.

It's also funny because in many ways the planet eater is very much like Moby Dick character haunting poor Commodore Decker. Which brings me to the second thing that I love about that episode: William Windom may be the only man in the entire history of Star Trek who could out-over-act William Shatner!

Of course the best thing about this episode as a kid was that you could always buy your 2nd AMT Enterprise, change the name to U.S.S. Constellation and blow it up with firecrackers to give it that authentic "planet eater munch" treatment. Nope can't get any cooler than that...

This is a very cute video from a Star Trek fanboy in France who turns a computer diskette into a mini-model of the Starship Enterprise:

Leonard Nimoy will host "Star Trek: Beyond the Final Frontier" on the History Channel. The show will be a documentary that will take a look at the 40-year history of Star Trek. The special airs Feb. 19 at 9 p.m. ET/PT and will feature interviews with actors from the various incarnations of Trek, including Nimoy, Patrick Stewart, Kate Mulgrew and Avery Brooks. The documentary will also include footage from the Christie's auction of Trek costumes, props, set pieces and models last October.

Found via Sci Fi Wire.

At long last the Klingons are getting their very own comic book series!

Star Trek: Klingons: Blood Will Tell In April 2007

"While Starfleet personnel of the 24th century view Klingons as their allies, in the Star Trek universe of Captain Kirk’s time, the Klingons were always viewed as being on the wrong side of their struggles with the United Federation of Planets. As a species, they were allegedly responsible for some reprehensible acts (resulting in some classic TV episodes and movies), but were they really in the wrong? Or did they just not have a fair chance to present their side of the story?

Starting in April, they’ll get their chance. “Star Trek: Klingons: Blood Will Tell” is a new, five-part miniseries that will finally give the Klingons their due. In this special miniseries, we will see five historic Federation-Klingon incidents revisited through the eyes of the Klingon people. After this miniseries, you may never be able to look at episodes like “A Private Little War” or “The Trouble with Tribbles” in the same way again. These stories, viewed from the Klingon perspective, will explain much more of why the Klingon Empire functions the way it does."

You know it might not be such a bad idea to give them a television series too...

Here's a preview of the Delta Vega station from the remastered Star Trek episode ‘Where No Man Has Gone Before’ which airs this weekend (click on the image to see full size):

The History Channel will air a documentary narrated by Leonard Nimoy (Spock) next month about the Star Trek phenomenon. Produced to celebrate the franchise's 40th anniversary, "Star Trek: Beyond the Final Frontier" features interviews with many of the stars and crew from the four spinoff series, at look at the fandom, and its cultural impact.