Batman Knows Santa Claus?

For some reason I'm in a Batman kind of mood today.  Maybe it's because we're deep into the Christmas season.  You see, when I was a kid, Christmas time usually meant it was time for me write a letter to Santa asking him for Batman action figures or other toys.  I've closely associated Christmas with the Dark Knight for years.  But this association goes back much farther than me.  Batman and Santa Claus are old friends!   Saint Nick appeared in a Batman comic book over 50 years ago.  (see the cover to the right)  He also made a cameo on the Batman TV show.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4_5jngpLkY]

Of course those examples are from a time with Batman was a little more light hearted.  But once Batman turned more serious, Santa stuck around:



I'm not sure if Kris Kringle is going to make an appearance in the current Batman comic books, but we have been given a little Bat-present this season!  The 2nd trailer for Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight Rises was just released.  Check it out----

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gFwvozMHR4]

I Got Legos for Christmas!!

A few weeks back I was shopping in Myrtle Beach with my parents when we came upon a toy store that sold Lego playsets.   This reminded me of a sore spot from my childhood.  I had once asked for Legos for Christmas but by Mom told me that "Legos are a pain!  Those tiny pieces will get lost in the carpet then mess up the vacuum cleaner!"  So instead of legos I got some pretty kick ass Thundercats figures and my very own Sword of Omens!  My little kid brain quickly forgot about my desire for legos since I was so happy with my other toys.  But later in life I'd occasionally get jealous of my friend's Lego masterpieces that they've saved over the years.  (Yes I have those kind of friends).    But I never asked my Mom for them again because I knew in my heart of hearts that she was right.  We had a thick shag carpet in our house-- dark green, light green, gold, & beige in splotches.  It was probably the ugliest carpet I've ever seen but it could hide a Kool-Aid stain and would surely also hide that essential Lego piece that would just ruin my Castle playset.

During this shopping trip I jokingly  reminded Mom about my desire for Legos as a child.  I said to her: "Remember how I always wanted legos but 'No, they'll get in the carpet' you used to tell me?" She didn't remember this but said that it sounds like something she would say and we laughed about it.  Fast forward to  yesterday when my parents and I exchanged gifts.  Guess what was waiting for me under the tree?  It was a lego playset!!   It was a small kit was for a speedboat with a cool little driver!  I didn't hesitate to tear open the box and packaging and spread all the tiny pieces out on the living room carpet and start building!  :) Mom thought it was hilarious and I couldn't be happier.

William Shanter Coming to Broadway!?

I woke up to some great news this morning!  All my NY news sources (i.e. Playbill) are saying that William Shatner is coming to Broadway!  The 80 year old TV and movie legend (and god to some Trekkies) is said to be bringing a one man show to the Music Box Theatre in February!  This should be no big surprise.  Shatner just ended his Canadian tour "How Time Flies: An Evening With William Shanter" that played in 6 cities in October & November of this year.   And back in April he was in Australia & New Zealand with another one man show called "Kirk, Crane & Beyond: William Shanter Live".  Clearly he was trying out material in preparation for a US run.  According to Playbill.com he's changed the title again calling it "Shatner's World: We Just Live in It."  The article goes on to say that "The Broadway engagement will kick off a 15-week national tour."  Smart. Very smart.   Shatner's official web site and twitter feed (@WilliamShanter) are silent on the topic.  I'm sure his people will make a more official announcement soon.

SOOO EXCITED!!!!!!!!

20 Years Ago....

I'm a very inconsistant blogger.  I know that.   My posting lapses often coincide with when I'm busy working.  Like right now I'm pretty busy with the Radio City Christmas Spectacular in Nashville TN.  (If you're in town, come check it out!)  But that's not really a good excuse.  I have 3 "1 show days" each week when I don't have to be at work until 6:30pm.  I could be blogging all day prior to that.  But, alas, I do not.  And I think I know why.  I think I see blogging as a way to interact with other people.  And when I'm working I get the chance to interact with lots of people every day at the theatre.  That being said, here I am... BLOGGING!   So, let's get to it!

Star Trek VI was released 20 years ago this week!  My god that makes me feel old!  The release of Star Trek VI coincides with the year that I became a hardcore Trekkie.  The stars were aligned back then.  The Next Generation was in their 4th (and arguably best) season.   The Original Series was airing on our local Fox affiliate 5 times a week-- and I was LOVING it.  And then that same amazing original cast came back for one more movie-- Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country.  Man, what a great movie!  Ah... life was so good 20 years ago!  I was in 7th grade and enjoying having little responsibility.    It was also around the same time as my first Star Trek convention!  John DeLance (Q) was the guest of honor, as I recall.  the convention was in downtown Knoxville in what is now the Knoxville Convention Center- near the Sun Sphere.  Star Trek VI wasn't out on VHS yet-- but you could pick up a bootleg copy at the convention.  Not that I did that!

Ok.  Nostalgia done.  Please return to your regularly scheduled programing.

Star Trek to begin filming....

I am SUPER EXCITED about this news.  TrekMovie.com is reporting that filming will begin on the next Star Trek movie on January 15th 2012!   The film is supposed to be released that same year, but I wouldn't be surprised if it gets pushed back to Summer 2013.  Still I'm taking this "official start date" as the first good news we've heard about Star Trek in a while.  JJ Abrams and team seemed to have put the project on hold while finishing and promoting Super 8 as w
For more details head on over to TrekMovie.  ell as tackling a number of other endeavors.  It sounds like 2012 will be their time to really dig into some Trek and make an great movie!   Here's hoping they redesign the engineering section of the ship so that doesn't look like a brewery anymore (I'll get off my soapbox now).  ;)

A Grand Ole Theatre

I'll never forget the first time I walked onto the stage at the Grand Ole Opry House.  It was during load in for the Radio City Christmas Spectacular in 2009.  I was a Production Assistant on the show and  Tim (my partner who also happened to be the Associate Company Manager on the show) was showing me around-- giving me a tour of the building that would basically be our home for the next 2 months.  As we walked thru the wings to the stage he asked me "Are you ready for this?".  I didn't know it at the time, but I wasn't ready.  Suddenly we were standing  in the center of a massive stage looking out onto a house filled with church pews.   "Oh my God!  I'm on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry House!"  I said.   Although they were covered by a dance floor for the show, I knew that I was walking on the same boards as legends like Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn, Johnny Cash, and many others.  Chills ran over my whole body.  Then Tim showed me a circle in the floor downstage center (that can be seen subtly thru our dance flooring).  That circle of wood is actually from the stage of the Ryan Auditorium.  So when I stepped into that circle I was standing on the same boards as even bigger legends like Patsy Cline, Elvis Presley, Hank Williams and many others!   I... was... speechless.

Not everyone has this reaction to the Opry House but I grew up listening to Country music.  As a 6th generation Tennessean, it's in my blood.  I was listening to greats like Conway Twitty, George Jones, & Tammy Wynette while in the womb.  To this day I have to pinch myself when I work at the Opry.   Whether I'm running the show backstage or calling the show from the wing, or just eating lunch in Studio A (once used to film Hee-Haw!) I feel SO LUCKY.

Here is a cool video of Dolly Parton performing on the stage at the Grande Ole Opry last month.  Isn't she just amazing?  You can really see the circle of wood from the Ryman in this clip too.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9eG9uKVtG4]

It's Almost Christmas!

In a couple days I fly down south and go back into rehearsal with the world famous Radio City Rockettes.  Over the next month we'll be preparing for the Radio City Christmas Spectacular at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, TN.  This will be the 10th year that the Rockettes have performed in Nashville--- quite a tradition that I'm happy to be a part of.

Check out this clip of the ladies performing at the Opryland Christmas Lighting ceremony last year.  Fast forward to 3:15. ;)

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ldPUd6E_s4]

Star Trek TNG in HD!

A while back I heard that CBS/Paramount was planning to release Star Trek The Next Generation on Blu-ray.  I wasn't too excited about this news since I've only owned the DVD's for a a year and a half.  I love the DVD's and am more sure I'm ready to go thru the expense of replacing them with Blu-ray so soon.  Plus, now that it's all on Netflix streaming it's easy for me to get my Trek fix while I'm on the road with no discs to lug around.

So, I don't have any plans to run out and buy this new edition-- but I do have to admit it's tempting.   They've completely remastered the show & cleaned it up for this new set.  I be it will look AMAZING!   According to the official press release:

Transferring STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION® to high-definition presented numerous challenges – The series was originally shot on film and then transferred to videotape, which was used to edit episodes together.  In order to create true HD masters, CBS is going back to the original uncut film negative – all 25,000 plus film reels of it – and cutting the episodes together exactly the way they originally aired. The visual effects were all shot on film and will be painstakingly recompositioned, not upconverted from videotape. The newly cut film will then be transferred to true high-definition with 7.1 DTS Master Audio. Denise and Mike Okuda are consulting on the project.

So, like I said... I'm not running out to buy them any time soon... but I might eventually own them.  :)

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=av35kFHdS50]

I Found Star Trek on Broadway??

Once a year theatre professionals, actors, stage managers, stage hands, dramatists, volunteers, retailers, theatre managers, etc pull their resources and hold a big ole yard sale for charity!  The annual Broadway Flea Market benefits Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids.

At this year's flea market (last weekend) I managed to have a Star Trek fueled geek-gasm.  At the Love, Loss, and What I Wore booth they were selling autographed playbills, posters, etc from the show's long celebrity filled run.  Of course, Kate Mulgrew was in the show for a stint last year.  That's right!  Star Trek Voyager's own Captain Janeway was in an Off Broadway show.   Unfortunately I was out of town during her time in the show so I didn't get to see her.  But thanks to the flea market now I have her autograph! Amazing, right? Hopefully she'll come back to the big apple soon and do another show so I can finally see her in person.  She's just amazing-- so tallented!

Kate's sig wasn't the only bit of Trek at the Broadway Flea Market.  There was a book booth that randomly had some Star Trek TNG coloring & activity books from 1997!  Hilarious, right?  Of course I had to have them.  I'm not sure if I should color them and recapture my youth, save them to give to some awesome kid (a niece/nephew or child of a friend) one day-- or just save them as collectable.  In any case, I'll totally scan them in and share soon!

Star Trek / Batman Crossover

Hello all!  I haven't had much time for blogging lately.   I got home from vacation (Disney World) just in time to jump into rehearsal for 4 shows or something like that.  But tonight I'm at home, making tacos, playing fetch with Lola and watching Batman The Animated Series.  A familiar voice just rang a bell in my head!  Is that Kate Mulgrew I hear?  YES!  IT IS!  Our very own Captain Janeway provided the voice for the Red Claw in a 2 part episode which also featured the introduction of Catwoman entitled "The Cat and the Claw".   I bet she had a lot of fun recording such a larger than life role.  Don't you just love it when geeky genres combine?! :)

Star Trek (2009) @ Movies on Market Square!

I'm back in Tennessee visiting my parents this week and I just heard some very good news for Trekies in Knoxville.  The Knox County Public Library announced the line up for their 2011 "Movies on Market Square" series.   For the past 9 years the library has shown movies on the Square as a way to highlight their movie collection-- available for checkout.

This year if Trek fans head down to Market Square on September 30th they'll get to see Star Trek on the big screen as part of the series!

Head over to WBIR.com for more info about this event. 

Gene Roddenberry

I let an important date slip by.  Star Trek creator and all around amazing guy, Gene Roddenberry would have been 90 years old on Friday.  I just want to pause for a moment to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY GENE!

Check out this really cool message from Gene himself.  It was recorded in 1991 not long before Gene passed away:

Batman & Robin Gay??

I read a fascinating blog the other day on the Comics Code Authority.  I HIGHLY suggest that you go over the Dork Forty Blog and read it!   You see, back in the 50's Dr. Frederic Wertham wrote a book called Seduction of the Innocent that was highly critical of the comic book industry and it's potential influence on the youth of America.  One of the many claims that he made in the book was that Batman & Robin's relationship implied an improper or homosexual intimacy and that Robin’s costume might stir gay feelings in young boys.  Well... I'm not saying that comic books made me gay, but I could say that as a gay kid I might have been drawn to Batman and other chiseled heros in tight tight costumes for a reason that I was totally unaware of at the time.

But, for the record,  Batman and Robin are certainly not gay!   But I can see how one might get a confused.  Taken out of context these clippings (mainly from the pre Comics Code era) do feed the imagination a little.  Check it out for a good laugh :)

Ok, so they tan together.  In Jersey this isn't gay at all.

Well.. Batman loves Robin.. right?  I mean.. well...

Haha!  I'm sure there's a reasonable explanation...

This one really makes me laugh!  I'm not sure what they're talking about but I think you can get it on Christopher St. In fact, I know you can.  ;)

Oh now they're getting Superman involved.  This seems like a very bad idea.  How old are those boys?

I have no explanation. Haha!

You'd think Wayne Manor would be big enough for Dick to have his own room!

It's um.. milk?

I.. I can't explain this.

My Life With Batman 1989-1992

Ok.  Confession time.  I've never been much a reader.  While I say things like "I always more of a DC comic book can than a Marvel reader when I was a kid", I honestly didn't read comic books at all until I was in 5th grade.  I was always much more interested in TV and grew up watching 80's cartoons like the Smurfs, the Thundercats, He-man, & Shera.   Why read comic books when there are all these awesome adventures on my TV every afternoon?  It took the introduction of Batman into my world to get me into reading comic books.  Here's the story. 

I was 10 years old in June of 1989 when Tim Burton's Batman was released in theaters.  But I didn't go down to our local 8 screen multiplex by Foothills Mall to see the movie that summer.   My parents stopped going out to the movies when they bought their first VCR back in the mid 80's.   But even if my parents had offered to take me to the movies back in '89 I would have asked them to take me to Ghostbusters II instead.   I was OBSESSED with the Ghostbusters at that point and watched The Real Ghostbusters cartoon every Saturday morning.    Whenever a commercial for Batman would pop up (it happened a lot while watching cartoons) I would scoff and say "Show me a Ghostbusters II commercial!!)  I had no interest in the Batman movie.

Lucky that opinion quickly changed and I have the TV to thank.  You see,  Michael Keaton wasn't they only Batman popping up on my parents 23" cabinet TV set that summer.   Adam Wests's iconic Batman series from the 1960's was making a come back!  I'm sure Fox was trying to cash in on the new movie by dusting off these classic TV shows and airing them on cable.  Well, I just fell in love this show!  I watched it every chance I could get and was soon recording it onto blank VCR tapes so I could watch it over and over again!


Fast forward a couple months and the Tim Burton movie came out on VHS, which my parents quickly rented from our local mom & pop video store down the road.  I remember my Dad warned me about the movie before we watched it.  "Now Mike, this Batman is really different from one on TV.  I've heard it's really a dark movie so you might not like it."  I wasn't discouraged.  I plopped down on the floor in front of the TV and commanded "Start the movie!!"  Of course I LOVED IT!  I learned a valuable lesson that day.  A really well crafted character like Batman can stand the test of wildly different interpretations and still be good!  I promised myself then that I'd see Batman Returns in the theater when it came out.  :)

I totally had this!!  Cool right?

I was soon begging my parents for Batman action figures and wearing my Dracula cape along with a improvised mask with Bat ears around the house claiming to be Batman's new assistant (who I named Batkid).  My 11th Birthday was sort of a Batman-Birthday.  I got the movie on VHS along with a Batman action figure (the one with the cool belt/retractable rope), the Joker, & the Penguin along with a really cool Batmobile that fired little rockets!  I wanted everything related to Batman that I could get my hands on. I did chores around the house, mowed my Grandmother's yard, fetched the newspaper for our neighbor-- all so I could earn some money to spend on Batman merchandise.  I had trading cards, cereal, magazines and... of course... comic books.  When shopping for Batman gear it doesn't take long to realize that the more economical thing to spend your allowance on is the comic book!

Death of Robin II (Jason Todd)

I remember the first Batman comic book I bought!  I was so excited to find more adventures of my favorite hero!  What I didn't know was that a lot had happened since the 60's.  Dick Grayson had out grown his Robin suit and was now fighting crime under the name Nightwing.  Bruce had taken on a new side kick named Jason Todd.  Todd was a scrappy kid on the edge of going down the wrong path when Batman caught him trying to steal the tires off the Batmoble.  He took in this orphan, trained him and made him the new Robin.  But the fans didn't like Jason as much as they had liked Dick (I mean, with a name like that what's not to love!) so DC did something monumental.  They let the fans vote on whether Robin should live or die.  Dark right?   The fans voted for the latter and the Robin II was killed off in a saga called "Death in the Family".

Robin III (Tim Drake)

Soon a new Robin was introduced.  His name was Tim Drake.  So, This is where I started reading Batman comic books.  During this whole transition between Robin #2 and Robin #3.    Can you imagine my shock?!  I was totally confused.  They killed Robin?!?!  Who is Jason Todd?  Where is Dick Grayson?  This IS NOT the Batman I know from TV or from the movie!  It took some time for me to sort it all out.  Luckily a story arc called "A Lonely Place of Dying" was a big help.  Here is a TV Guide style synopsis: "After Jason Todd's death, Batman begins to go on a rampage taking unnecessary risks and actions. Only Dick Grayson or a very young boy named Tim Drake can calm him."   I found these comic books to be an even more adult view of Batman than the 1989 movie.   I enjoyed these comics but in my heart of hearts, I preferred the campier TV version of Batman.  So I never really committed to buying every issue of Batman or of Detective Comics.  I became a casual reader, only picking up an issue a couple times a year.  

Lucky for me, there was more Batman on it's way to TV!  In 1992, Bruce Timm's Batman the Animated Series starting airing on Fox!   This show was somewhere in between the 60's TV show and the modern comics.  I was very happy that it featured Dick Grayson as Robin again.  And no one was going to die a horrific death the Fox Kids line up!  It was a fun show!  Dark, bruting, but ultimately a good kids show.  Timm and team were inspired by the Max Fleischer Superman cartoons from the 1940's and created a stylized look for Batman TAS that made it seem timeless.   These shows still hold up today.  As I mentioned in my last blog entry, I just picked up season 1 on DVD.  I can see the Warner Brothers animation style in those early episodes (think Anamaniacs).  But there is something very different about the overall feel of Batman TAS.  The artists painted onto black backgrounds-- something that was unheard of before then.  this made all the colors really pop off the page and made Gotham City look eerily dark.

I really can't write about my childhood bat-fandom without mentioning my favorite character.  One day I was sitting in front of the TV watching Batman (the 1960's TV show).   I had the opening title sequence memorized.  "Batman!! Nanananana Batman!!"  Something happened that surprised me.  Instead of seeing Batman punch the villians a 2nd time a new hero swung in a rope and kicked them.  WHO WAS THAT?!  I mind raced.  What is going on here?  Then, at the end of the title sequence a figure sped across the screen on a motorcycle.   It happened so fast I didn't get a good look at her.  I settled in and watched the episode entitled "Enter Batgirl, Exit Penquin".  I was suddenly in love with Batgirl-- in the only way a gay 10 year old boy could be.  I wanted to be her.  Forget "Batkid"-- the side kick I'd invented.  Batgirl was way cooler!

But why wasn't she in the comic books?!  What happened to this fabulous crime fighter?  It took some research, but I soon found out that Barbara Gordon / Batgirl was a character in the comic books.  But much like Robin, the comics weren't so nice to her.  She had been shot by the Joker long before I ever started reading comic books and had been confined to a wheel chair ever since.  This paralyzed Barbara Gordon continued to fight crime however, under the name "Oracle".  She used her amazing mind, photographic memory and librarian skills to become a computer wiz fighting crime one mouse click at a time.  Hmm.  Not quite as cool as Batgirl, huh?  I didn't want to read the adventures of Oracle-- I wanted more Batgirl!  So I had to seek out used comics and collected stories like "Batman in the 60's" to get my Batgirl fix.  The folks at DC introduced more Batgirls like they did more Robins over the yearss, but Barbara Gordon's Batgirl is still my favorite super hero.

So-- that sums it up.  That is a quick overview of  my childhood (pre high school) obsession with Batman, Batgirl, and the like.  As you can see it was 75% TV, 15% movies and maybe 10% comic books. Thoughts?  Please comment!

I Wanna Ride Batman!!

Tim is spending the day with Lauren at Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey!  He's been texting me photos of super hero inspired roller coasters like Superman: Ultimate Flight.   This coaster looks SCARY but I'm still kind of attracted to it!  Why?  Well, I love Superman.  I love comic book superheros!  But ultimately, I'm not a roller coaster fan so I'd probably never get on Superman: Ultimate Flight.  I just don't like the feeling of my stomach sinking as the coaster decends a drop and then goes into a roll.  Ugh.

This isn't to say that I hate all thrill rides!  I actually love simulator rides.  My favorites include Mission: Space at Epcot and Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey at Universal Studios, Florida.  These rides give me the thrill and exhilaration that some people get out of roller coasters without actually dropping me 60 feet or making me feel like I might die.   They actually do much more than that-- they immerse me in a totally believable adventure.  It's easy to believe that you are really flying on a broomstick behind Harry chasing a dragon!   And Harry Potter isn't the only hero with a cool simulator ride at Universal Studios.  The Amazing Adventures of Spiderman is another top notch ride and it has comic book appeal as well.  I've never been the biggest Spiderman fan though.  Don't get me wrong-- I read Spiderman comics as a kid but I was always much more into Batman.  But there is no Batman simulator ride at Universal.  This is mainly due to the fact that Universal Studios has a contract with Marvel (now owned by Disney) for their characters (Spiderman, Captain America, Hulk, Ironman).  Batman and his "super friends" like Superman, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman are all DC / Warner Bros. characters.

As far as I know, here in the US you can only find the DC characters in Six Flags parks.  Six Flags is known for their gut dropping / death defying roller coasters and NOT for simulator rides.  So instead of a Harry Potter or Spiderman like ride, there are only Batman Roller coasters like Batman: The Ride and The Dark Knight Coaster (both at Six Flags in New Jersey).   I did some internet research, however, and found that there IS a Batman simulator ride out there in the world!  Batman Adventure: The Ride 2 can be found at Warner Brothers Movie World in Austrailia!  Check out the video below of this really cool attraction!  The best part is that you're riding in a batwing piloted by Batgirl!!!  I wish I could ride it SO BAD!  But I'll just have to settle for watching Batman: The Animated Series (I just picked up season 1 on DVD).  Here is a bit of trivia.  The voice of Batman that you'll hear in the ride video below is Kevin Conroy.  He has voiced Batman since the early 90's and is best known for Batman: The Animated Series!  :)

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEKcAFVncKU]

New Star Trek Attraction & Resort!?

A couple good friends have recently e-mailed and facebooked me information about a new Star Trek attraction that is being built in Jordan.  The news seems to be spreading pretty quickly, and when my friends hear "Star Trek" they immediately think of me. :)  These messages usually start with "Do you know about this?"  Or "I thought you'd want to be the first in line!" 

This really is exciting development with a fascinating background, so I thought I'd share all I know about this Star Trek attraction.  Back in May, TrekMovie.com reported that "The Rubicon Group announced today they had signed a deal with CBS to include a Star Trek themed center as part of The Red Sea Astrarium (TSRA), a $1 Billion themed entertainment resort located in Aqaba, Jordan." 

This shouldn't be a big surprise.  His Majesty King Abdullah II of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is a well known Trekkie.  So much so that back in the 90's (when he still just Prince Abdullah) he made a  cameo appearance on Star Trek Voyager!  He was in the 1996 episode "Investigations".  It was a non speaking part due to SAG rules. 

Abdullah's cameo was actually arranged as a surprise for him by his US adviser. The prince said, "I would have been thrilled just to visit the set but this is too much." (TV Guide, 17-23 Feb., p. 26)

In 1999 Abdullah was crowned King and in 2011 he suggested that Star Trek become a part of a planned resort to be built on the Red Sea.  This is proof that "it's good to be King"!  Can you just imagine of other Trekkies had great power?  I'm envisioning the US congress all dressed in Starfleet dress uniforms!  A constitutional amendment with the prime directive!  Haha!

But more about the attraction, the Star Trek component is just part of the larger resort.  According to TrekMovie.com it will be based on the 2009 J.J. Abrams movie and is set to open in 2014.  The press release says:

[The Star Trek-themed center] will deliver a variety of multi-sensory 23rd-century experiences, culminating with a state-of-the art space-flight adventure that takes real-time immersive entertainment experiences to bold new heights. This exciting, world-class attraction will serve as the cornerstone of the TRSA sector’s world of tomorrow.

This is all very exciting right?  But why am I not happy?  I wish it was in the US!  Ever since the closing of Star Trek: The Experience in Las Vegas we've desperately needed a new Trek attraction!  I really loved The Experience and miss is terribly.  There was some talk of it re-opening in downtown Vegas, but those rumors have died down-- much to my disappointment.  I'd love it if there was a "Star Trek Island" at Universal Studios, Orlando.  Wouldn't that be amazing?? 

But, alas.  There doesn't seem to be any hope for us to get something like that here.  We'll have to either go to the Paramount park in Spain (which is supposed to get some kind of Star Trek presence) or go to Jordan.  Frankly, I doubt that I'll ever travel to Jordan.  I do want to travel abroad (my passport still has no stamps) but I'm sure that some other destinations will fall on my itinerary first.  I'd love to go to London, for example.  Oh, to see the Globe Theatre!  The RSC!  Theatre on the West End!  I'm sure this will happen long before I end up going to Jordan. 

Bewitched Returning to TV??

 

Rumor has it that CBS and SONY are considering rebooting the Bewitched TV show.  Now, they've just ordered a script so this is still in the very early stages.  It doesn't have a full green light and no casting as been announced or anything like that.  Part of me is very excited about this!  I loved the original TV show with Elizabeth Montgomery!  But I'm only very cautious.  Apparently producers of the Will Ferrell/Nicole Kidman movie are also involved with this new TV pilot.  I hated that movie!  It lacked all the magic of the original TV show.   I wanted them to just make a Bewitched movie-- about an advertizing exec who's wife happens to be a magical witch.  Instead what we got was a movie about a failed actor trying to revitalize his career by doing a re-make of a classic TV show and casting a beautiful woman in the role of the witch who just happens to be a magical witch.  Um... that's just dumb.  And not funny.  

Pardon the quality of this video I found on YouTube, but it sums up my thoughts on that 2005 Bewitched movie.  Let's hope this new TV show doesn't provide similar disappointment.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mRAqbAtQ5I]

Walt Disney World Podcast

Tim recently introduced me to the world of Walt Disney World podcasts.  His favorite (and now mine) is WDW Radio which can be found in iTunes or at wdwradio.com.  The podcast is hosted by Disney World guru Lou Mongello. 

Tim and I are really gearing up for our 2nd trip to Walt Disney World Resort this year.  We spent a week in Disney back in January with some dear friends and are going back for a few days in August just on our own.   This will be our last Disney vacation before our honeymoon next year!  So we'll be doing some gift registry stuff at Downtown Disney and honeymoon planning while we're there.  Other than that, it will be a nice relaxing trip before our work lives get busy in the fall. 

But getting back to the podcast, WDW Radio is helping get me in the mood for some Disney days!  But what is a Disney World podcast like?  Well, the website promotes WDW Radio as being "From Lou Mongello, author of the Walt Disney World Trivia Books, this unofficial Disney podcast focuses on Walt Disney World and features: Walt Disney World News, Rumors, Interviews, Disney Trivia, History, Vacation Planning, Attraction, Dining & Resort Reviews, Contests, Special Guests, & More!"  Mr. Mongello does a great job producing an entertaining and informative program.  I'm amazed at his wealth of WDW knowledge and am thankful that he's sharing that gift with all of us!  The podcast also features guests who range from other experts to Disney cast members.

These podcasts might not be for everyone.  If you've only been to Disney World once... back in the 90's... and walked away saying something like "It's cool but it's no Six Flags" then you might be bored listening to WDW Radio.  But if the Magic Kingdom is your happy place then you need to subscribe to this podcast!  First of all, he has the scoop on rumors for what's coming in the parks, what rides are getting upgrades, what new ideas Disney is testing (like "smart" refillable mugs that expire after you check out of the resort so you can't bring them back next year and not pay for Coke).  He also provides lists like "The top ten counter service meals in Disney" and advice on things not to miss in the parks.   He knows all kinds of little tidbits.  For example, there are all kinds of little sound bites that the average guest might miss.  Like, if you pick up the fake pay phone in Main Street USA. you can listen in on a "party line".  And if you pause to listen in front of the fake music studio (also on Main Street USA) you can hear someone getting voice lessons. :)  I just love the attention to detail that Disney puts into their parks.  And this podcast helps me enjoy that.  Geeky?  Yes.  Cool? Yes. 

New Directions (Glee pun intended)

Welcome to the new Hailing Frequencies Open. Previously this blog served two purposes. First and foremost it was my "Star Trek Blog". This is where I'd blog about all things Star Trek and how they relate to my life. Secondly, it was the official blog of the U.S.S. Atlantia, a chapter of the International Federation of Trekkers. This is the Star Trek fan club of which I am a member. But I've decided to disassociate the blog from the Trek fan club so that I can write about other things. I love Star Trek, but I want to write about things like the Captain America movie that I just saw (it was AMAZING btw) and how excited I am to be a beta tester for Pottermore! My geekdom cannot be limited to one franchise. So welcome and enjoy!

Pottermore

Back in June, Harry Potter fans were all a twitter (can we still use the word "twitter" like that?) at the news that J.K. Rowling was going to make a big announcement.  Of course those "in the know" were expecting her to make an announcement about "Pottermore" which she did.  Never challenge nerds in the know.  Pottermore is an online reading experience for Harry Potter fans who will have access to an interactive, illustrated companion to the books. All 7 books will be available as e-books for the first time ever via the site.  Some people are calling Pottermore a social networking site for Potter fans, but according to Pottermore Insider (their official blog) it isn't.  "Pottermore isn’t trying to compete with sites like Facebook or the Harry Potter forums and fan sites that are already out there. Once you’ve signed up to Pottermore you’ll be able to find and invite your Facebook friends (if you're over thirteen) and leave comments in your house common room and the Great Hall, but Pottermore isn't a social networking site where you can share personal information or chat in forums."

Pottermore will be open to everyone in October, but they've let 1 million fans in early as beta testers.  These beta testers had to play a little game last week.  Each day a trivia question was released at a certain time on the Pottermore site.  You had to be able to answer the question to get in and search for the magical quill.  For a complete list of the questions asked, just head over the the Pottermore Wikipedia entry.  On the first 3 days the question became available in the middle of the night and we missed it.  But on the 4th day the timing worked out and Tim and I got the answer right and finally got in!  My username is SnitchFeather144!  Fun, right?

So far we haven't actually been able to access the site.  They are only letting certain numbers of beta testers on at a time.  I feel very lucky to be one of these beta testers.  I also feel a small amount of guilt as I haven't actually read any of the books.  I mean, I still consider myself a Harry Potter fan (not as much as Tim of course) because I've seen all the movies and really do love them.  I also absolutely love the Harry Potter section of Universal Studios in Florida!  But, when I tried to read the first book earlier this year I just didn't finish it.  I kept imagining the movie which would then distract me from reading.  Eventually I just sat down and watched the first movie again because that's what I really wanted to do every time I picked up the book.  But Pottermore may inspire me to hunker down and actually read the books!  I'm sure they paint a much more detailed world than the movies and once I get past the first couple I won't be able to stop.  :)

Busy busy busy!

I have just been SWAMPED lately with my work. I'm currently Stage Managing a show up in Auburn, New York at the Merry Go Round Playhouse in their Downtown Series. It's called Cooking With The Calamari Sisters: Mangia Italiano! We just opened last week and run thru August 20th! So while I haven't had much time for my Star Trek addiction lately, I do think about Star Trek every night when we do the show. Why? Well.... if you come see the show (and please do!) watch for one of the main characters to bust out the Vulcan Nerve Pinch on her sister! And if you're really paying attention, there's even a quick reference to Lt. Ilia.

Hello world!

Welcome to WordPress.com. After you read this, you should delete and write your own post, with a new title above. Or hit Add New on the left (of the admin dashboard) to start a fresh post.

Here are some suggestions for your first post.

1. You can find new ideas for what to blog about by reading the Daily Post.


2. Add PressThis to your browser. It creates a new blog post for you about any interesting  page you read on the web.


3. Make some changes to this page, and then hit preview on the right. You can alway preview any post or edit you before you share it to the world.

I Met Uhura!

I'll blog more about this later, but I just had to share the pictures now. I met an idol of mine-- and the Queen of all us Communications Officers-- Nichelle Nichols (Lt. Uhura)!

Blast From The Past!!

I just stumbled onto this video blog I did back in 2009 (on my 30th birthday) when the J.J. Abrams Star Trek film came out! Enjoy. :)

Captain! There be whales here!!

Tim and I went on a whale watch today! It was loads of fun. The whales were very active and seemed happy to come up and give us a show. This one beautiful whale named Hornbill came up along the aft side of the ship and made a dive showing us all his fluke or tail fin. I got some shots of him (below). The whale watch guide (who looked so much like Zac Efron he had the same name) told us that Hornbill is a humpback whale! Of course I immediately thought of Star Trek IV. Seeing one of these amazing creatures up close gave me a whole new perspective on the movie. I never really understood how massive these animals really are. They can grow up to 52 feet long!

Here are a few photos I thought I'd share. If you ever get a chance to go on a whale watch I highly recommend it! I also highly recommend sunscreen and Dramamine. ;)

Happy Captain Picard Day!

Today is Captain Picard Day! How will you celebrate?

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPpOGTuMoig]

Star Trek Sightings!

There's a little game I like to play-- Find the Star Trek! This happens when you're out running errands or doing something completely not related to Star Trek and you find some fun bit of Star Trek merchandise or memorabilia. For example, finding Captain Kirk pez dispenser at the grocery store. I mean, a grocery store is the logical place to buy candy. But still when you walked into Stop & Shop you didn't expect to see James T Kirk's head in a bin along side Tweety Bird, right?

I recently had two fun findings at the movie theatre. Tim and I when we went to see Bridesmades at the local theater near his Mom's house in Danvers, MA. The halls of this particular multiplex are decorated with older movie posters. For example, you might walk past a poster for Free Willy on your way to see Thor. I knew this but I didn't know they had a Star Trek IV poster! I was very excited when I saw it! (photo below)

But the fun didn't stop there. They also have the Star Trek Voyager Arcade Game! I'd never actually played this first person shooter game before. I wasn't very good at it and died pretty quickly. It's basically a zombie game with the borg standing in for the living dead. You have to shoot them right in the chest several times. As soon as they adapt to your phaser you re-modulate by shooting off of the screen. Ok-- I made that up. In reality it's not a phaser. It's totally a gun and when you run out of bullets you reload by shooting off the screen. But... it's fun to pretend that the game designers knew something about Star Trek. :) I did a YouTube search and found a vid of the game to share with you. :)



[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAWMyrImuVw]

G'Morning!

A couple of weeks ago I wrote a blog entry about how Captain Janeway is OBSESSED with coffee. In that entry I said " I'm not a slave to caffeine." But since then I've had to re-examine myself a little. I drink a lot more coffee then I'd like to admit. I often pop into Dunkin Donuts for a "medium iced coffee with french vanilla, skim milk and two equals" when I'm out in the city. It gives me energy. Perks me up when I'm out running errands. I'd say I do this maybe twice a week. I also tend to drink coffee when I'm in rehearsal for a show. If I have 6 rehearsals in a week I'd say I go thru maybe 3 cups. And since getting the Keurig coffee pot at home (thanks to Gail) I'd say I brew a cup of my own a couple times a week as well. That puts me up to like 7 cups a week! This is a dramatic increase compared to a couple of years ago when I never drank the stuff. If I continue to increase my coffee intake I may soon be as addicted as Janeway herself! Then what will I be capable of?! Stay tuned to find out!!

Marina Sirtis Should Be the New Voice of the Computer!

Ever since the passing of Majel Barrett Roddenberry in 2008, there has been talk of who should voice the computer in in Star Trek 2012. Often called the First Lady of Star Trek, Ms. Roddenberry voiced the computer in every version of Star Trek dating back to the original series. She even recorded the computer voice for the J.J. Abrams film shortly before her death. Here is a You Tube movie with a compilation of her Computer Voice work:

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJfkYjrbPS4]

But who should take over where she left off? Who should be the new voice of the computer in the upcoming movie! For me there is an obvious answer. MARINA SIRTIS! She is best known for playing Counselor Troi in The Next Generation and Voyager. And Majel played her mother, of course. Not only would Ms. Sirtis do an amazing job-- it would keep the computer voice sort of "in the family". :)

I'm not the only want who wants Ms. Sirtis to be the new computer voice. There are online polls addressing the matter and Marina herself is talking about it! check out this recent interview from OMGWire.com:

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epCQR9QEdBg]

My Star Trek Birthday Party!

Sunday was my 32nd Birthday! Tim threw me a fun Star Trek themed birthday party and really went above and beyond! He made a kick-ass Enterprise Bridge Birthday Cake for me. :) Check it out below. He even added "Happy Birthday Mike" to the main viewer display. :) Very cool! BTW- there are Star Trek figures and playsets from the 2009 movie on clearance at Toys R Us in Queens right now. :)

In addition to eating delicious cake, my friends and I watched some of my favorite fun episodes of TOS and TAS, played some Star Trek Scene It and enjoyed some food even Neelix would approve of-- 5 different kinds of nachos! :)

I also got some pretty cool gifts including comic books like Star Trek: The Motion Picture Trilogy. It's a fascinating look at the three films. I also got a Star Trek bathrobe! It's gold and looks like Captain Kirk's command division uniform. Check it out over at thinkgeek.com.