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.

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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.

My Birthday!

My Birthday is the day after tomorrow! To celebrate, my partner

Blinking Lights & Glowing Diagrams

There's a great Star Trek screensaver out there called System 47 from the folks over at mewho.com. It's been around for years and simulates a computer display on the U.S.S. Enterprise E circa Star Trek: First Contact. The graphics and animation are really nice (video below). I've had it on my Macbook for... well... as long as I've had my Macbook. (The program is also available for Windows for you PC lovers.) System 47 has served me well but I'm kind of bored with it now a days. What I really want is a TOS era screen saver! True, the special effects on the bridge of the original Enterprise aren't all that great by today's standards, but a screensaver that shows the computer displays from Lt. Uhura's Communications console would be pretty awesome! It can be animated more like the graphics on Star Trek: Phase II and have sound effects-- the whole works!

I've searched the net but no one has made this yet. I don't really understand how to but it wouldn't be too hard I think for someone who understands programing. I did find some pretty cool photos of the original bridge on Greg_Weir's Flickr Photostream. Below is a shot of Uhura's station from one of the Star Trek: The Exhibition. Come on computer people! Somebody make this! :)


Photo (c) Greg Weir


System47 Enterprise E Screensaver Demo:
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RaCP-sTXMlc]

"There's coffee in that nebula"

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I'm introducing Star Trek Voyager to my partner Tim. We're currently in season 6 of our marathon and Tim has come to love 7 of 9 (of course). Jeri Ryan is really talented and really ads a lot to the show. BTW- Ms. Ryan is obsessed with twitter (@JeriLRyan).

But getting back to our Voyager marathon, one thing sings out to me more now than it ever did before. Janeway is OBSESSED with coffee. It seems like she always has a cup in her hand. "Keeps you sharp" she says. Maybe she's right. We just got a Keurig coffee maker as a gift. Maybe I should pop in a pod whenever I watching an episode of Voyager. It can even be a drinking game. Take a shot of espresso every time you see Janeway drinking... or something like that.

It's obvious that our favorite Captain (in the delta quadrant) has an addiction. It's made me look at myself and ask if I have any similar crutches. I'm not a slave to caffeine. I don't take afternoon tea (earl gray. hot.) I do have quite a sweet tooth, however. Ice cream. THAT is my addiction! Summer will be here soon and I can't help but want a bowl of ice cream on a daily basis (at least). Still, it's no match for Janeway's need for coffee. Do you have any addictions?

Star Trek Slots in Atlantic City!

Even during a short escape to Atlantic City I somehow manage to Trek-out! We recently spent a night at the Trump Plaza Hotel & Casino in Fabulous Atlantic City and had a great time. We played the slots, had an nice walk in the boardwalk, and even enjoyed a "free" buffet. Our room had a cool ocean view too. It was a great get-a-way. But the highlight of the trip for me was playing a Star Trek slot machine!

These Trek themed gambling machines were first released in 2008 by the WMS company. I actually got a chance to play one in a recent visit to Las Vegas. It's loads of fun! The machine is based on the original series and incorporates sound effects, audio and video clips from the show. You can even create a profile and then print a ticket to scan at the next Star Trek slot machine you come upon and it will remember you and let you pick up where you left off. There are bonus rounds where you get to fight on multiple Klingon battle cruisers (each one you defeat has a different bonus $ amount. It's a penny slot machine so you can actually play for a while on just $20. According to Trek Movie the company is releasing a new Star Trek slot machine system this summer.

I'm sure you want to know how I did. Well.. let's just say it was a kobayashi maru kind of situation. But still- I had fun. :)

I did a little Youtube search and found this video. It gives you an idea of what the slot play looks like.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ounyd_n5RKE]

Star Trek Phase II

I have been a big fan of James Cawley and his online Star Trek fan series Star Trek Phase II for a long time. It's an all volunteer, all fan produced & fan acted TV show that's available for free download online. In my opinion, it is by far the best most professionally produced Trek fan series out there! Not only have they worked with veteran Trek actors like George Takei, Walter Koening & Denise Crosby, but they have also collaborated with great Trek writers and directors like David Gerrold and D.C. Fontana. Their production values, sets, costumes & CGI are top notch! It's really unbelievably well done.

Phase II has also pushed boundaries that the Paramount produced shows never have. Their last episode "Blood and Fire" featured an openly gay couple-- that of Captain Kirk's nephew Peter Kirk and a new character, Freeman. It's a simple love story that's is an integral part of the plot but doesn't detract from it. I highly recommend watching "Blood and Fire" as well as the other Phase II episodes here. Did I mention that IFT is also the official fan club of Phase II?

Now another episode is almost ready for download!
Here is the official press release from the Crawley folks:

Senior Executive Producer for Star Trek Phase II Mr. James Cawley has set a release date for the latest episode, "Enemy: Starfleet!" The episode is scheduled to be released via the Internet on Friday, April 22, 2011 ("Earth Day") at 5:01 pm (1701) Eastern Daylight Time.
"Enemy: Starfleet!" (written by Dave Galanter and Patty Wright, based on a story by Galanter and Greg Brodeur) is the seventh full-length episode produced by the Star Trek Phase II production team.
Veteran actress and Star Trek alumnus Ms. BarBara Luna ("Marlena Moreau" in the Star Trek original series episode "Mirror, Mirror") joins the cast of "Enemy: Starfleet!" as "Alersa," a space terrorist leading a faction of alien agressors who steal a starship and reverse engineer it, to create a marauding fleet--an "enemy Starfleet."
More details about where exactly to view this episode (streaming web sites, download websites, international mirror websites, YouTube, etc.) will be announced soon at our Facebook page and at:
http://www.startreknewvoyages.com/Episodes.html
In the meantime, the opening teaser and the first portion of Act I have been available for some time now. So if you're interested in viewing (or re-viewing) this first portion of "Enemy: Starfleet!" in the interim, you can find it here:
http://videos.startrekphase2media.com/Enemy/
Gregory L. Schnitzer
Co-Executive Producer
Star Trek Phase II

Here is the teaser from this exciting upcoming episode:

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKQ0WtfDTJU]

Enterprise Coming to New York!!

All Star Trek fans who can track their obsession back to the 1970's knows that back in 1976 NASA named their first prototype space shuttle "Enterprise" after our favorite starship. This real world fact was quickly incorporated into Trek history. You can see a photo of the shuttle in an "Enterprise Legacy" display in Star Trek The Motion Picture when Decker and Ilia are on the recreation deck. You can also see a sketch of the shuttle in Captain Archer's ready room and catch a glipse of the Enterprise in the opening credits of... Enterprise.

Some BIG NEWS came out yesterday that the Enterprise will soon be a part of the Intrepid Air & Space Museum's collection right here in New York City! If you haven't been down to the Intrepid, I highly recommend it. It's a fun educational experience! But I'd wait until the Enterprise arrives if I were you. I'll be sure to post more info about the Enterprise's voyage to the big apple as I learn it. :)

From the Wallstreet Journal:

"The NASA prototype used for test flights in the 1970s will arrive sometime next year at the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum on the Hudson River — likely on a mammoth Boeing 747 airplane, then a barge up the Hudson River, said Intrepid president Susan Marenoff-Zausner."

Twitter Trek

Some guys start their day with a cup of coffee and reading the morning newspaper. I start my day with a bowl of cereal and reading Star Trek News! I always check the news feed at the official CBS web page as well as checking a few blogs like Trek Movie. But what if that's not enough? I still have half a bowl of cheerios left and I'm all out of Trek news. Luckily some of my favorite Star Trek actors are active tweeters! It's a lot of fun to read actual thoughts and messages people like George Takei, William Shatner and others. Twitter makes these celebrities seem a little more "real". Unlike some famous people, these tweets aren't written by a PR firm or a marketing department. When you read Leonard Nimoy's tweets you're reading Leonard Nimoy's actual words. I think he likes connecting to his fans so directly. Spock isn't the only one either-- at last year's NJ convention Jeri Ryan told everyone in the crowd to follow her on Twitter.

Here are some of my favorite recent tweets from some familiar friends:

@GeorgeTakei

Family Guy gave me a hilarious "shout out" last night. Have you seen it? http://ow.ly/4y2g9 #TheSuluShow

@TheRealNimoy

Working on Transformers. Isn't it about time ??!! LLAP

@WilliamShatner

Another pic of tonight's stage in Auckland NZ. Show begins in a couple of hours. My best, Bill http://twitpic.com/4i6q5q

@JeriLRyan

7 of 9 Doctors agree you should be watching #bodyofproof tomorrow: http://bit.ly/dPSWnI The other 2 couldn't be reached for comment. ;)

@RealNichelle

Roses are also in bloom all over my neighborhood. I took a long walk just to admire the beauty that Spring brings.

@BrentSpiner

Now following @sarahksilverman She makes me laugh.

Here is a list of Star Trek related Twitter feeds:

Star Trek News/Blogs
@StarTrek
@TrekMovie@roddenberry

TOS Cast Members
@WilliamShatner (William Shatner)@TheRealNimoy (Leonard Nemoy)
@GeorgeTakei (George Takei)@RealNichelle (Nichelle Nichols)

TNG Cast Members@BrentSpiner (Brent Spiner)
@levarburton (LeVar Burton)@wilw (Wil Wheaton)

Voyager Cast Members
@JeriLRyan (Jeri Ryan)

Star Trek 2009 Cast Members@ZacharyQuinto (Zachary Quinto)
@simonpegg (Simon Pegg)@zoesaldana (Zoe Saldana)

If you want to follow me, I'm @themikejones. :)

Voyager thoughts..

First, let me say HAPPY FIRST CONTACT DAY!

Now on the main topic-
I've had the exciting experience of introducing Star Trek to my partner Tim. He had watched some Next Generation (TNG) as a child but didn't really remember much of it and he certainly didn't really consider himself a fan. However, since being with me we've watched all 176 episodes the TNG, all the feature films, and a few original series and animated series episodes. Now we've moved onto Star Trek Voyager. We're about 3/4 the way thru season 3. It's fun watching with Tim because has an outsider perspective. He's always making interesting observations and comments. Let me share a couple of them here:

1. Before diving into Voyager Tim warned me "I might not like it". He loved TNG but would make no promises about Voyager. Once we did start watching Voyager he realized "Well, this is just like Next Gen! Why didn't they just keep making that show?". Ya know, he's really right. There are a number of Voyager episodes that could easily be TNG stories. In some cases, the Voyager writers took unused TNG scripts and adapted them. What am I talking about? Well, Take the season 3 episode "Remember". A group of telepaths come on board and one of them forces his/her thoughts onto Torres. Wait a second... doesn't that sound like the TNG episode "Violations" where a group of a telepaths come on board and one of the forces his thoughts onto Troi? I know the similarities end there. "Remember" is ultimately about the Holocaust and "Violations" is about.. well.. violations. But still- the set up is very similar. There are other examples. Just take compare the Voyager episode "Ex Post Facto" with the TNG episode "A Matter of Perspective". Sometimes the "This is just like that Next Gen episode..." problem can be annoying when watching early episodes of the Voyager. Of course, TNG had this problem too. Do we need to talk about "The Naked Now"?

2. "Roxann Dawson is talented actress! Why haven't we seen more of her?" I totally agree with this observation! Upon some research, Ms. Dawson had a nice theatre career before Voyager. She must be a good dancer too because she was on Broadway in one of the most difficult dancing shows in the history of musical theatre-- A Chorus Line. But where is she now? Well, a little digging on IMDB shows that she's moved into the world of television directing. She's even directed episodes of Caprica and Lost. :)

Like I said, Tim and I are heading towards the end of Season 3 and you know what that means. The world is about to change! Voyager experienced a change in producers around season 4. Michael Piller left the show in 1996 and Jeri Taylor left in '98 just as Brannon Braga came onboard. Kenneth Biller joined the show in 2000. These changes really influnced the show. I think Voyager evolved nicely over it's run and just got better and better. TNG experienced a similar evolution. Oh! And we're just around the corner from 7 of 9!! Ok.. back to watching DVDs...

3 Fix All Solutions

I'm enjoying a free afternoon by watching some Star Trek. :) I started out with a couple episodes of Enterprise and have moved onto some Voyager. As I sit here and enjoy some of my favorite episodes I've come to a realization. There are 3 "fix all" solutions in the Star Trek world.

1. Reverse the polarity.

2. Initiate a tachyon beam.

3. Re-modulate.

If only real life were this simple!


- Lt. Jones

Star Trek Live: Review

The touring version of Mad Science's Star Trek Live came to New York City this weekend! (Please click those links and read more about the producing organization and the show!) As soon as I learned of this stop on their tour I made plans to go check it out! They performed at NYU's Skirball center as part of a children's programing series. The house was pretty full for this afternoon's performance. There were a lot of families with smart kids there along with a nice turn out of Star Trek fans. There were even several fans in uniform. I almost felt like I was at a convention!

The show was great! It basically uses Star Trek as the background for a science based educational program. It's set today, in 2011. Starfleet Academy has just been founded and the audience finds themselves enrolled in the very first Starfleet Academy class. They are met my Commander Sean Christoper, a Starfleet Academy trainer. But before the training can begin a Vulcan named Voula arrives from the future to warn us of a dangerous threat. A Romulan has traveled back in time from the late 24th century to destroy one of the 21st century's greatest scientific minds thus undermining our future. Commander Christopher and Voula must defeat this foe with the help of the new cadets in the audience. Along the way they have a lot of fun and teach the audience lots of things about NASA and science. It's really a very well written well planned production. It entertaining and educational. There's plenty for the hardcore Star Trek fan to latch onto as well! Everything from the accurate costumes and props to the pre-show Star Trek trivia fed my Star Trek loving heart!

From a production perspective it's a pretty simple show. For those of you who don't know, I'm a Stage Manager in real life and have done my fair share of touring educational theatre. The show has a unit set with a larger "hanger door" (that opens to reveal Voula's ship), another door, 2 flat screen TVs, what looked like two larger projection screens and several hatches to hind away the science equipment. The cast is small- just two actors. I'd bet they travel with no more than 5 people (2 actors, a stage manager, a company manager, and a technical director). The show is a bit prop heavy including a several pieces of scientific equipment for experiments, some familiar little furry creatures and Starfleet equipment like a tricorder and phaser. One nit-picky thing I noticed. Although Voula is wearing a Starfleet uniform from the 29th century she uses a Mark X Tricorder from the 24th century and a type 2 phaser from the 23rd century (from the new movie). Maybe Voula has an affinity for antiques.

Here is a little preview I found on YouTube. This video wasn't taking at the performance I attended today and the cast members are not the same. Actually I think the cast we saw in NYC today was MUCH better-- but you'll get some idea of what the show is like.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8P6rL1a6lnA]


Signing off--

Lt. Mike Jones
Communications Officer
U.S.S. Atlantia NFC-1846

I'm going to "Star Trek Live"!

I just purchased tickets to Star Trek Live: Starfleet Academy which will be playing at NYU's Skirball Center later this month. I can't wait to go see this educational and, I'm sure, entertaining show! I'll make sure to fill you all in with a complete report after the show.

Click HERE for the official web site. More info:

"Star Trek Live is an action-packed, interactive adventure based onone of the most popular science fiction franchises of all time. Members of the audience join the newly formed Starfleet Academy only to be unexpectedly whisked into an exciting adventure steeped in the grand tradition of Star Trek. With the help of a surprise visitor from the planet Vulcan, Starfleet Commander Sean Christopher and his team of rookie cadets must save planet Earth and stop a shocking invasion of Romulan forces from the future. The cadets will have to quickly master the intricacies of modern communications, space travel and NASA technology as they draw on 21st century achievements to try to defeat advancing alien adversaries.

With cutting-edge special effects, unmatched audience interaction and on-screen appearances from Captain Kirk and Spock themselves, Star Trek Live is an exhilarating and unforgettable journey through the universe. Be a part of Star Trek Live and boldly go where no one has gone before!"

Ensign Jones

Brannon Braga Speaks on the Topic: Why are there no gay characters in Star Trek?

I just came across a fascinating article on After Elton.com, a lgbt new blog. They interview Brannon Braga - one of the main writers and creative minds behind Star Trek TNG, DS9, & Voyager asking him why we never saw any gay characters in Star Trek. The author of the article points out that "in 1991 Gene Roddenberry told The AdvocateThe Next Generation would at least show gay crew members as part of ship life. Unfortunately, Roddenberry died that year and none of the subsequent episodes featured gay people at all."

Here is more of the fascinating interview:

AfterElton (AE): I'm very much a fan of Star Trek but unfortunately none of the series ever included a gay character. You were involved with writing two of the movies and produced or executive produced for The Next Generation, Voyager and Enterprise. Can you speak to why that never happened?

BB: 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 89, 90, 91. I have no doubt that those same creative players wouldn’t feel so hesitant to have, you know, have been squeamish about a decision like that.

AE: Why do you think science fiction, given that it’s so much forward looking, has done so poorly when it comes to being inclusive on American television?

BB: You know what’s funny is it was dealt with more metaphorically. Next Generation did a couple episodes you could say ... I worked on one for Deep Space Nine with Dax. I don’t know if I can speak to the whole genre of science fiction, certainly the Star Trek franchise as it existed at the time.

AE: Do you think 20 years ago there was a reluctance to do it because science fiction, wrongly or rightly, is perceived as being for young straight males? Were you guys concerned about that?

BB: I think it was, not so much a young man’s [issue], it was a syndicated family show, showing at six o’clock, you know, in Salt Lake City, so you had to deal with each separate affiliate rather than one network. And things like that.
It was not a forward thinking decision. Knowing the players involved, knowing the decision makers, knowing it was that they felt reluctant about, you know, we’re not saying “yes,” we’re not saying “no,” we’re not just not going to touch that right now.

AE: Do you think if the next iteration of the series or movie doesn’t go there, do gay fans have a right to be really upset at this point? After all this, if it still doesn’t go there in 2011 0r 2012...

BB: Well, I mean, the movie is such a different bird. If there were a TV series, I would agree with you. But for a movie, I personally wouldn’t. With a TV series you’re creating a whole world, you’re creating a whole. You were saying, if this is going to last for five years, and if you don’t go there, then yes you got some questions. A two-hour movie and you’re sitting there and you’re eating your popcorn, if doesn't fit ... if it’s not part of the story, it’s not part of the story. There are many things that aren’t part of the story, you know? That's my personal opinion.

Read the entire article here.

Thoughts On A Lost Doctor

Being sick has its bonuses. For example, recovering from this cold I've been able to marathon Star Trek The Next Generation on DVD. We started with season 2 on Saturday and now we're most of the way thru season 3. You may ask why we didn't start with Season 1-- this is because we already marathoned thru that last summer.

This look back at season 2 has given me the opportunity to reconsider a somewhat forgotten character in the Star Trek canon. Dr. Kate Pulaski as portrayed by Diana Muldaur. From what I understand, when the show as picked up for a 2nd season the producers failed to reach an agreement with Gates McFadden to reprise her role as Dr. Beverly Crusher. This left the Enterprise without a chief medical officer and the cast incomplete. The producers then reached out to veteran Star Trek actor Diana Muldaur who had appeared more than once in the original series. They wrote the part of Dr. Katherine Pulaski to serve as the new Chief Medical Officer. She's an interesting woman. She hates the transporter- much like Dr. McCoy did. She's stubborn- much like Dr. Crusher is. She also is given a chance for character growth. She starts off with a prejudice against Data, seeing him as a machine only and not a true lifeform. It takes a couple episodes but eventually she comes around and respects and cares for Data like the rest of us do. Muldaur does a great job playing Pulaski. To be frank, I didn't really find myself missing Dr. Crusher. It does seem strange that Wesley remains on board even though his mother has transferred to Starfleet Medical.

My biggest problem with Dr. Pulaski is how the writers wrote her out of the series. You see, they didn't. Her last episode is Shades of Gray-- an embarrassingly bad clip episode that focuses on Riker. Why couldn't Dr. Pulaski have appeared in the first episode of season 3, Evolution. We could have seen her transfer off the Enterprise with some exciting opportunity or promotion while welcoming Crusher back on board. But instead we are given NOTHING. They acknowledge that Crusher is back from her "year at Starfleet Medical" and that she missed her son Wesley while away. But there is no mention of our dear Kate. We are left wondering whatever happened to our lost Doctor, Kate Pulaski. Where oh where did she go??