9407.15 DATELINE: STARFLEET #49 From the Big Chair ------------------ Mailing lists; they're not just jobs, they're adventures. Mail continues to increasingly go haphazardly between my two E-mail addresses, with the result that a great deal of frustration is breaking out on the receiving end here. Forthwith (and hopefully to end the problem for good), here is what you should where when sending a mail concerning "Dateline" or its mailing list: To "datelined@aol.com" = Requests to be added to the mailing list. Requests to be deleted from the mailing list. To "data1701d@aol.com" = EVERYTHING ELSE (comments, problems, questions, and including changing your address on the mailing list). The receiving end at "datelined" is set up in Daemon-like fashion to expect only additions or deletions. Anything else landing there tends to gum the works significantly. Because the point of no return has pretty much been reached, any mail reaching "datelined" that is *not* an addition or a deletion will be dumped unread. Note please especially that "datelined" is not expecting address changes. It's just not set up to do it, and address changes sent there will probably wind up putting you on the mailing list twice for both your addresses. Send those to "data1701d". And please send anything else to "data1701d" -- I love getting comments, but they have to be aimed at the right mailbox! ;) --Bill News from Over the Hailing Frequencies.... ------------------------------------------ RESTARTING THE ENGINES DS9 went into production for season three on July 11. The season-opener is going to be a two-part episode, with Jonathan Frakes directing the second part. These opening episodes are expected to continue the Dominion storyline. According to a Knight-Ridder News Service report, we can also expect this year to see a ship, USS Defiant, permanently assigned to DS9. The ship would do double duty: Gamma Quadrant exploration and firepower if needed vs. the Dominion. (Posted to AOL by Maniac 1) ALSO IN JULY Patrick Stewart is set to be in a film version of the play "Jeffrey," a Paul Rudnick play. Filming is scheduled to begin in July. (Posted on AOL by Bhecht) NON-VOYAGER In "Starlog" magazine, Michelle Forbes denied that she would be a regular in the Voyager cast. VOYAGERS! But the first expected to be reasonably correct character list has begun to appear in lieu. ;) This list is compiled from a variety of sources, all of whom agree that it is probably not complete and/or is still subject to change at this point, and that it probably contains some inaccuracies. Spelling of names is also in doubt in some cases! With that warning, here's the list: Captain Elisabeth Janeway: A Human, CO of the USS Voyager, a captain very much cut in the Captain Kirk mold. Tom Paris: Either the First Officer or the Conn Officer on Voyager. Possibly the formerly-discharged Starfleet officer brought back to duty for his knowledge of the Maquis. Harry Kim: Voyager Operations officer, in his 20s. Chokate: Pueblo Indian, possibly the leader of the Maquis personnel in the series. Elana Torez/Tor-Rof (depending on what rumor you read): Half-Human, Half-Klingon female. Possibly an engineer, possibly to be played by a Hispanic actress. Tolak: Vulcan Security Chief on Voyager. Possibly to be played by an African-American actor. Elix/Nelix (your pick again): a conman, rogue, trader. Dr. Zimmerman: Female, Voyager's holographic doctor. Solid on holodeck but not on rest of ship. One report is that this person was once normal but attained this condition in a transporter accident. Kess: Female member of a new alien race (the Ocampa). Individuals of this race have a life-span of nine years. There has also been a report from the Shore Leave 16 convention that the series format will establish that the newly-commissioned Voyager is marooned five years travel-time from the Federation by a "warp tidal wave". TNG AND DS9 SCHEDULES From the rec.arts.startrek newsgroups: TNG (dates are week of dates) 07/10: Eye of the Beholder (270R) 07/17: Genesis (271R) 07/24: Journey's End (272R) 07/31: Firstborn (273R) 08/07: Bloodlines (274R) 08/14: Emergence (275R) 08/21: Preemptive Strike (276R) 08/28: Phantasms (258R) 09/04: All Good Things, Part I (277R) 09/11: All Good Things, Part II (278R) For DS9 (again, week of dates): 07/10: Shadowplay (436R) 07/17: Profit and Loss (438R) 07/24: Blood Oath (439R) 07/31: The Maquis, Part I (440R) 08/07: The Maquis, Part II (441R) 08/14: Second Sight (429R) 08/21: The Wire (442R) 08/28: Crossover (443R) 09/04: The Collaborator (444R) 09/11: Tribunal (445R) 09/18: The Jem'Hadar (446R) 09/25: THIRD SEASON PREMIERE (447; part 1 of 2) 10/02: NEW EPISODE (448; part 2 of 2) RATINGS REVIEW For the week ending June 12, TNG's "Homeward" rerun was fourth with an 8.2. DS9's "Tribunal" was fifth at 7.7. The week ending June 19, TNG and DS9 tied for fourth with a 7.7. TNG aired the "Sub Rosa" rerun, while DS9 showed its season finale "The Jem'Hadar." (Variety) PARAMOUNT NETWORK LIST Anchorage = KYES; Charlotte = WJZY; Chicago = WPWR; Cleveland = WUAB; Dallas/Fort Worth = KTXA; Denver = KTVD; Detroit = WKBD; El Paso/Las Cruces = KZIA; Evansville = WAZ; Fort Meyers = WNPL; Fresno = KAIL; Honolulu = KFVE; Houston = KTXH; Indianapolis = WTTV; Little Rock = KASN; Los Angeles = KCOP; Louisville = WFTE; Miami = WDZL; Memphis = WLMT; Minneapolis/St. Paul = KMSP; Mobile = WJTC; Naples FL = WNPL; Nashville = WXMT; New York = WWOR; Norfolk = WGNT; Oklahoma City = KOCB; Philadelphia = WTXF; Phoenix = KUTP; Portland (OR) = KPTV; Raleigh/Durham = WLFL; Salt Lake City = KJZZ; San Antonio = KRRT; San Diego = KUSI; San Francisco = KBHK; Santa Barbara/Oxnard = KADY; St. Louis = KDNL; Tampa = WTOG; Tulsa = KTFO; Tucson = KTTU; Washington DC = WDCA FANS IN HIGH PLACES In the "Washington Post," a report on a new FCC commissioner named Rachelle Chong noted that the new commissioner is a huge Star Trek fan. A religious watcher of TNG, she came to the press conference that introduced her wearing a communicator badge. YOU CAN'T ESCAPE... ...conversation about O.J. Simpson. The rumor mill is awash with, well, rumors, that Michael Dorn is being considered by two networks to star in a TV movie about O.J. Michael has not been approached officially by anyone. Editorial: The Fourth Annual Trekkies (part II) by Bill Mason ---------------------------------------------- The Trekkie Awards (don't leave home without them) continue with a look at some of the IMHO highlights and lowlights of DS9's second season: The Garak Award: Awarded to the best, most interesting character named Garak, it goes this year to...Garak. ;) A character that saw a fair amount of air time, and deserves a fair amount more. Just keep some of the mystery to him, please! Best Flashback: One of the most gripping episodes of the season was "Necessary Evil." The look back at Odo's first investigation for the Cardassians was priceless, enhanced by the completely different look DS9 took on for that episode. Best Character: We'll just skip to this since we've mentioned Odo anyway. He had several excellent episodes for him (especially the aforementioned "Necessary Evil" as well as "The Alternate"). And even when the episode is not focusing on Odo specifically, Rene Auberjonois seems to bring a new facet of Odo to the surface with every scene he does. Simply a marvelous character. |) Even so, Kira Nerys cannot go unmentioned. She too had some fine outings, from the opening three-part story arc to the amazing performance Nana Visitor gave in.... The Crossover Award: "Crossover" marks a tremendous individual performance by Nana. She brought her alternate-self to life almost instantly! Still Looking: Sisko and Dax were given some good episodes, but each character needs to be stretched some more to get the most out of them. They're both in danger of becoming the Commander Rikers of DS9: giving a great performance when the material is there ("The Homecoming"/"The Circle"/"The Siege", "Paradise", and "Blood Oath" to pick examples), but rarely getting the material in the first place. But There Was No Material: "Melora" gave it a good shot overall, but still felt lacking somehow by the end (but let's not forget the Klingon restaurant scene!), and "Second Sight" was lost to sight quickly. The Traditional End of Article Thumbs-Up: To "The Homecoming" et al, "Necessary Evil," "Paradise," "Blood Oath," "The Wire," and "Crossover"! The Final...Final Frontier by VAdmAntare -------------------------- This week we'll skip poking fun at Elvis Watching Aliens whose Dogs can Sing...and other Geraldo-like topics, and discuss the end of an era. The U.S.S. Enterprise is sailing into spacedock, for the final time in the small screen Final Frontier. Say what you will about Star Trek, and its incarnation Star Trek: The Next Generation, but the program ranks as the highest syndicated series ever broadcast and new episode viewing far outpace anything the four (including FOX) commercial networks can field. Star Trek in all incarnations is a phenomenon of galactic proportions and partaking of that phenomenon are ordinary people: doctors, lawyers, government officials, journalists... students, home makers... there's not enough space on this page to finish the list. But what we all share, and I say "we" with considerable pride, is a vision of a future far brighter than our present. Star Trek: The Next Generation, is ending its seven year run. Millions of words have already been written in "Time" magazine, "TV Guide," and other publications about the end of a television era. One more monumental than all the "I Love Lucy" and "General Hospital" episodes rolled into a single package. TNG became an icon of a new generation. Most of its viewers are of a different generation than those who watched the exploits of Kirk, Spock and McCoy during the 60's, and an infinite times more since. But to them, as well as "we" hard core Trekkers, they've been entertained, informed, enlightened and amazed, all in the space of a single hour before the tiny screen. I don't have to read trade publications to reminisce about the first Star Trek episode in 1966. It was a camp, almost sophomoric romp into space that somehow, grew on its viewers. In 1987, we eagerly awaited TNG, out expectations built upon by a highly successful movie series featuring the cast of TOS. When "Encounter at Farpoint" aired, we were stunned, not so much by the dazzling special effects, tremendous musical score and interleaved plotlines, but by the fact that after 15 minutes of the two-hour pilot, we had stopped drawing the "obvious" parallels and comparisons and decrying the differences between TNG and TOS. And, as the movies kept coming, and with the advent of DS9, we looked upon the new generation of Trekdom as a natural progression. The comparisons ended and little was ever said again. But why Star Trek? Why not "Star Wars," or "Lucy," or "Matlock," or "Married With Children"? That's hard to say unless one considers that every week fans were treated to a morality play so deeply wrapped inside a candy coated shell of fun and fantasy that not only did we come away amazed and amused, but all the better for the lessons that Gene Roddenberry's visions of the Final Frontier showed us. Those fantasy slices of our future also gave us a look at how things "could be" if we, the human inhabitants of this fragile planet, logically progress for our betterment and not for the political goals of the few. Once the shock of seeing the Klingon Worf, vision impaired Geordi or android Data had settled to familiarity, we began to understand concepts such as prejudice and avarice in terms that made it easier to fathom the repercussions. On my wall is a large book case. Half of it is filled with model airplanes and rockets. The other half, with ships of Star Trek, Star Trek books and videos, and other Trek mementos. A few of those items have mutated into true investments. My TNG tie generates fewer snickers than legitimate inquiries. "Where can I get one of those?" Trekkers love their most favorite interest. Conventions and catalogs bring the world of Star Trek alive for them. And while many are hard core, we're not prone to going off the deep end a la one young man whose passion for rod and reel prompted him to petition for a legal name change to "Fly Fishing in America." I'll admit we are committed fans, and I would be upset if my grandchild were named Worf, but it wouldn't be a bad name for the dog. The Next Generation is coming to an end. Others will continue "some" of the legacy, as will the planned movies to follow. But for the past seven years (four years longer than TOS) it became a comfortable and anticipated activity to climb aboard the USS Enterprise every week and for at least an hour, explore the cosmos of space and the final frontiers of humanity, boldly going where none had gone before and where few television programs "dared" to venture. It's like the end of a long-term relationship, one we had hoped would last forever. Perhaps the loss of a close friends because we came to know the characters like our best pals. Even the dialogue of Trek has become embedded in world culture. Warp Speed, "Beam Me Up", "Make it so", "Live Long and Prosper"...even, "He's Dead, Jim" have become catch phrases in every day speaking. The mythical phaser has become a real-life device, tricorders are the precursors of modern medical scanning devices. Even the command bridge of the Enterprise was mapped by military strategists in the 70's for a prototypical Navy vessel design. An acquaintance once said, of "MY" USS Enterprise, "... Oh, that Star Trek crap." He's entitled to his opinion and to his interests (his being guns and senseless slaughter of unarmed, furry animals in the forest) and I... or "we"... ours. But as Star Trek has become realized as a true societal force, even the closet-Trekkers (those who saw the original 1966 episodes -- Trekkies are "late comers") have come into the light. And they're keeping some good company. Star Trek: The Next Generation is ending. I'll miss my weekly visits with Jean-Luc Picard, Will Riker and the lot, and I'll wait like a kid on Christmas Eve for the movie to be released, but somehow it won't seem like the same, familiar Monday night without the image of that magnificent Galaxy Class starship filling my television screen and Patrick Stewart's baritone voice inviting me aboard the USS Enterprise for a another voyage "...to boldly go where no one has gone before." I guess I'll start answering the phone again during that time slot, although I've got 7 years of videotape I can watch. I Can't Stands No More by Bill Mason ---------------------- After one-too-many go-arounds of hearing it, reading it, or otherwise experiencing it, I overloaded. I can't take it anymore, so I have to say it. The William Shatner/Captain Kirk bashing deserves to die a quick death. I cannot remember when it came into vogue to verbally beat the daylights out of this guy and his alter ego. Probably having another Enterprise captain to compare with Kirk started it, and the pothole called Star Trek V aggravated it. But the amusement factor of it (I admit it, I laugh at Shatner toupee jokes too) is dwindling. This has become a guy who deserves a break already! Debate TOS vs. TNG all you wish, but there is always going to be the simple fact that for many years, Captain Kirk was The Man. Our intergalactic hero. A captain who faced down all sorts of cosmic threats and characters every week. And hey, he did it with some pizzazz! Throwing those flying kicks around. (C'mon, I loved the flying kicks!) Outmaneuvering other starships. Master of the well-timed bluff. And a diplomat, albeit sometimes an unorthodox one. Did Kirk do some things that today aren't looked upon as favorable in analyzing the character? Well, sure. The romance every other episode, the beaming-down into the thick of it over and over -- these facets aren't going to be looked upon today the same as they were almost 30 years ago. (No doubt in 30 years people will look at aspects of TNG and wonder what we were thinking.) But Captain Kirk was, overall, an admirable, heroic, and moral character. And he was the linchpin of Star Trek (no offense to Spock fans out there). The stories were around him, his actions, and his starship every week. If he's cut of a different mold that Jean-Luc Picard, so what? The character has worked, and it still works. And then there's William Shatner. He is forever put down for his acting, probably in large part because nothing he's done since ST has come close to the popularity of his Kirk. But again, we had no complaints (for the most part) before Patrick Stewart came along to give us another take on the starship captain. Surprise, but Shatner wasn't trying to play a Jean-Luc Picard. And by the same token, I don't know if I'd want to see Stewart playing a James Kirk. The existence of one actor/role doesn't make the other one invalid. Just different. But lest we confine ourselves to acting, we also have Shatner's co-writing and directing of Star Trek V. Yes, this movie was a dud. Yes, his choice of plot was ill-advised. But we'll probably never get a real take on his ability to direct ST because the plot was such that nothing he did as a director would have saved the story from fandom's wrath, and after the ST V experience he'd never get another shot at directing from Paramount. The point is that Shatner is not the first -- and he won't be the last -- writer or director to turn in a bad effort, for whatever reasons. Certainly by flaming out on a movie, he's one of the most visible. That, I suppose, is inescapable. All in all, though, Shatner's contribution to the Star Trek legacy deserve more than being summarily dismissed. Come on, admit it, you weren't watching "City on the Edge of Forever" because you were a Joan Collins fan in 1967. Happy Birthday! --------------- July 26: Nana Visitor July 29: Wil Wheaton August 7: Cirroc Lofton September 14: Walter Koenig Trek-related Products/Happenings -------------------------------- Check out Whoopi Goldberg as the voice of one of Scar's hyena sidekicks in Disney's "The Lion King." Two noteworthys on video have been released. Number one is "Deep Red," costarring John de Lancie. "Deep Red" is an SF movie about a woman being hunted because her blood can make people immortal (rated R). The other is "Model By Day," co-starring Famke Janssen (Kamala from TNG's "The Perfect Mate.") Janseen plays a cop alongside Shannon Tweed (not rated). (Philadelphia Inquirer) The comic book world marches on with: "Star Trek" #63 (DC): Kirk is lost in time on an alien world. "Next Generation" #63 (DC): The Enterprise finds a Romulan as the sole survivor on a destroyed Cardassian ship. By Michael Jan Friedman. "Next Generation Special" #2 (DC): Contains three stories. Chris Claremont brings Jamie Finney ("Court Martial") into the TNG timeframe; Michael Jan Friedman writes an Ensign Ro story, and then offers a story about Captain Bateson and the USS Bozeman (from "Cause and Effect"). "Deep Space Nine" #12 (Malibu): The crew tries to cope with taking care of an abandoned Bajoran infant (wasn't this a M*A*S*H episode)? "DS9: Hearts and Minds" #2 (Malibu): A Klingon ship disappears in the Gamma Quadrant. Meanwhile, an alien threatens to kill Quark if he doesn't sell the bar to her (what a day). Personal Logs, Stardate Today ----------------------------- Communications--the final frontier. These are the voyages of Commissioner Chong, whose three-year mission is to seek out new communications life forms, new services to improve civilization, and to boldly surf the Internet where no commissioner has gone before. (New FCC commissioner Rachelle Chong, providing a unique job description for her FCC duties. From the "Washington Post," June 17th.) Credits where Credits are Due ----------------------------- "Dateline: Starfleet" -- edited by Bill Mason. Comments and submissions are invited via any of these avenues: America Online (E-Mail to Data1701D), Internet (send to 'data1701d@aol.com'), or the US Postal Service (753 Rively Ave, Glenolden PA, 19036-1118). "Dateline: Starfleet" originates from the America Online "Star Trek: The Club" forum. 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"Dateline: Starfleet" is a non-profit production reporting and commenting on the universe of Star Trek. STAR TREK is a Registered Trademark of Paramount Pictures. All other copyrighted material, trademarks, and/or service marks cited herein are registered to their respective owners. Readers are granted permission to reproduce this file wherever they think there's an interest. I make no copyright claims on this file and encourage public distribution, as long as you identify the original source. If you read all this, was it better than the World Cup? Dateline #50 will be out August 15th.