TV Quote of the Week

On my planet, to rest is to rest. To cease using energy. To me, it is quite illogical to run up and down on green grass using energy instead of saving it.
--Leonard Nimoy, Star Trek, "Shore Leave"

TV Quote of the Week

All a girl needs is Don Juan.
--Emily Banks, Star Trek, "Shore Leave"

TV Quote of the Week

My dear girl, I am a doctor. When I peek, it's in the line of duty.
--DeForest Kelley, Star Trek, "Shore Leave"

TV Quote of the Week

Among my people, we carry many such words as this from many lands, many worlds. Many are equally good and are as well respected, but wherever we have gone, no words have said this thing of importance in quite this way. Look at these three words written larger than the rest, with a special pride never written before, or since, tall words proudly saying, "We the People". That which you call Ee'd Plebnista, was not written for the chiefs of kings, or the warriors or the rich or the powerful, but for ALL the people! Down the centuries, you have slurred the meaning of the words, "We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty, to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution". These words and the words that follow, were not written only for the Yangs, but for the Kohms as well! They must apply to everyone, or they mean nothing!
--William Shatner, Star Trek, "The Omega Glory"*

* A tip of the sombrero to John Kenneth Muir for suggesting this week's quote. Muchas gracias.

TV Quote of the Week

The sound of male ego. You travel half way across the galaxy and it's still the same song.
--Karen Steele, Star Trek, "Mudd's Women"

TV Quote of the Week

Be gentle. It's not a one-way street, you know. How you feel and that's all. It's how the girl feels, too.
--William Shatner, Star Trek, "Charlie X"

TV Quote of the Week

Earth. Mother of the most beautiful of woman in the universe. That at least has not changed.
--Michael Forest, Star Trek, "Who Mourns for Adonais?"

TV Quote of the Week

Mankind has no need for gods. We find the one quite adequate.
--William Shatner, Star Trek, "Who Mourns for Adonais?"

TV Quote of the Week

Out! We need no urging to hate Humans. But for the present, only a fool fights in a burning house. Out!
--Michael Ansara, Star Trek, "Day of the Dove"

TV Quote of the Week

There's no honorable way to kill, no gentle way to destroy. There is nothing good in war except its ending.
--Lee Bergere, Star Trek, "The Savage Curtain"

TV Quote of the Week

You may find that having is not so nearly pleasing a thing as wanting. It is not logical, but it is often true.
--Leonard Nimoy, Star Trek, “Amok Time”

To Boldly Go Where We Have Been Before

I liked Star Trek: The Original Series well enough when I was in my teens and I liked the Star Trek movies very much when I was in my twenties. But I never loved the series the way others seemed to love the series and I never got the appeal of watching certain episodes over and over again even though I had a number of favorite episodes I did not mind seeing more than once.

When the new Star Trek movie by Alias creator J.J. Abrams came out last summer, I found myself somewhat surprised by my indifference toward the new movie. Even my mother -- who was never much of a science fiction fan, much less a Star Trek aficionada -- was more interested in the new movie and while I will not pretend that watching the new movie was the equivalent of pulling out my fingernails, I cannot really pretend that it revived my interest in the series. At best it was a watchable -- but not particularly memorable -- movie which was good for an occasional Saturday night rental -- but not much else.

Why should this matter?

Because last year's Star Trek movie made enough money to already provoke rumors of a sequel. And while I must admit that I would rather see yet another Star Trek movie than another Hot Tub Time Machine or 40 Year Virgin, I cannot help but wonder about the projects that we will never see because of Hollywood's insistence that successful sci-fi = Star Trek. Or Star Wars. Or X-Files. Or any idea that has already been done before.

For example, what would be wrong with a new sci-fi movie that is not part of the Star Trek universe? (Or for that matter, the Star Wars universe, the X-Files universe, etc.)

Why not adapt a novel from author Philip Jose Farmer's classic Riverworld series? Or Robert Heinlein's Stranger in a Strange Land? Or Roger Zelazny's Lord of Light? Or better yet, some original sci-fi idea.

As much as I liked Star Trek, there is something about the endless chain of sequels, spin-offs and remakes of that series that turns me off. After all, the main appeal of science fiction has always been that of an universe where anything can happen. So why do so many fans of that genre seem to prefer going to the same old places over and over again? I will admit that Star Trek was one of the better sci-fi series to air on TV and I will even admit that Star Trek the movie was one of the better movies to come out last year.

But it was not that good.

And even if it were, is not it time to try something new? Or should we choose to boldly go where everyone and his cousin has already gone before?

TV Quote of the Week

Never underestimate an Irish hologram.
--Kate Mulgrew, Star Trek: Voyager, “Spirit Folk”

Hey, I Remember This Show: Star Trek

One of these days they really should make a movie based on this series. I bet it would be great...

Movie Quote of the Week

A keyboard. How quaint.
--James Doohan, Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986)

TV Quote of the Week

Mind your own business, Mr. Spock, I'm sick of your half-breed interference. Do you hear?
--William Shatner, Star Trek, “What Are Little Girls Made Of?”

Mother's Day Was All Greek to Me

I was actually able to take time off Sunday to celebrate a decent Mother's Day with my own mother and my siblings. We went to a Greek restaurant in Mesquite -- not exactly Detroit's Greektown but as close as we were going to find in this part of Texas -- and enjoyed ourselves immensely.

I even had a chance to sample Greek coffee for the first time. As much as I liked the food and service, though -- and I liked them a lot -- I doubt I'll be sampling Greek coffee a second time. The drink was too thick and powdery and I'm not really a big coffee drinker anyway. I did appreciate, however, the good humor our waitress showed in dealing with my family. Waitresses can't get enough praise for the way they put up with all the things they have to deal with in the course of their duties and yet it seems like the last cultural item that acknowledged this was the comic strip "Tina's Groove."

After our meal, my siblings and I took my mother to a movie. For some reason, she had her heart set on the new Star Trek movie, which surprised me since she never seemed to be a big fan of any of the various Star Trek series. I guess this mean I'll probably need to retract all the snarky comments I have been making about the movie as of late.

Anyway, it took a while to find a showing we could get into -- apparently going to see it on opening weekend and expecting to get in at the last minute were two very incompatible ideas -- but we finally got in and we all enjoyed it. At least my mother and my three siblings did.

I kinda enjoyed it but I can't really pretend I'm in a big hurry to see it again. And that's all I'm going to say about that.

Trick or Trek

Oh, rats. All weekend long, I was thinking about how much the trailers for the new Star Trek movie reminded me of The Muppet Babies -- and for that matter, of all the similar "baby"-oriented cartoons that were popular when Muppet Babies was on the air.

And before I could write about it, someone beat me to it. And probably wrote about it better, to boot.

Yes, I know. It's not like those trailers haven't been around for a long while. But still...