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Dateline 20
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9202.15 DATELINE: STARFLEET #20
Reporting for Duty!
-------------------
Greetings! Welcome to a very busy issue. Lots of news and
stuff this month -- partly because of the little bombshell Paramount
dropped called "Deep Space Nine". |) But there's other good dirt on
this and that right down in the next section. And then there's the
section after that, etc. So get busy!
News from Over the Hailing Frequencies....
------------------------------------------
First up, for your convenience, a reprint of one of the many
press notices about the upcoming new ST series:
...
PARAMOUNT PICTURES TO LAUNCH NEW "STAR TREK" TV SERIES
LOS ANGELES (JAN. 20) UPI - Paramount Pictures announced Monday
it will launch "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" television series early
next year, a "Wild West"-style version of the durable "Star Trek"
series.
"If, as (the late) Gene Roddenberry often said, 'Star Trek' is
'Wagon Train' in space, then 'Deep Space Nine' can be compared to a
wild west town on the edge of the frontier with all the excitement
and adventure that kind of locale can generate," said Michael Piller,
who is co-executive producer on "Star Trek: The Next Generation" and
the new show.
"Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" will revolve around a new cast of
Starfleet officers who take command of a remote alien space station
near a strategically located "wormhole," or a shortcut through space.
Paramount said "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" will begin airing
next January with a two-hour premiere movie, followed by 19 one-hour
episodes. Shooting will begin in June at Paramount's soundstages in
Hollywood.
As a result, the new series will air concurrently with
Paramount's "Star Trek: The Next Generation," currently in its fifth
year and consistently in the top three of syndicated television
shows. Both series are set in the 24th century.
"Setting 'Star Trek: Deep Space Nine' during the same time as
'Star Trek: The Next Generation' will allow an exchange of characters
and occasional story lines between each show," said Rick Berman,
Piller's co-executive producer.
"Star Trek: The Next Generation" has one year left on its
contract after it completes the current season. Speculation has
arisen the characters from that show may then do a seventh "Star
Trek" movie because the stars of the previous movies have indicated
that the sixth movie - "Star Trek: The Undiscovered Country" would be
their last.
...
Some other "Deep Space Nine" notes:
Among the rumored cast of characters: a single parent commanding
officer and his young son; an alien who can change into humanoid
forms, but whose natural shape is like a blob of jello; a being from
a low-gravity world, who is thus confined to a wheelchair while on
the station in order to move about; the O'Briens and Ensign Ro from
TNG may be spun off into the "Deep Space Nine" cast.
The budget is being reported at $1.3 million, only slightly less
than TNG's budgets.
Discussing what this means for the future of TNG, an "Electronic
Media" article on the new series had this tidbit: "'Star Trek, The
Next Generation' is expected to remain on the air through its seventh
season, about 18 months after 'Deep Space Nine' premieres, said John
Pike, president of Paramount Network Television."
From the January 27th issue of "Broadcasting Magazine": "Viewers
who tune in next January for the launch of Paramount's 'Star Trek:
Deep Space Nine' will see a show with considerably more action than
the current reincarnation of the 1960's series. According to
Paramount sources, the show will more closely resemble Star Wars than
Star Trek. 'It'll be more fun with action. We'll have more freedom
because they won't be confined to the ship.'"
The new series will debut in January for its 20 episode season;
the 2nd season, a full 26 episodes, is scheduled for an October
premiere.
The upcoming TNG schedule (brief plot notes for some of these
shows were in "Dateline" #19) is as follows. I have not confirmed
all dates and episodes after "Cause and Effect" and they should thus
be treated with suspicion.
week of 02/03/92 - "Violations"
02/10/92 - "The Masterpiece Society"
02/17/92 - "Conundrum"
(amnesia affects the entire crew)
02/24/92 - "Power Play"
(aliens take over the Enterprise)
03/02/92 - "Ethics"
(a risky medical procedure is all that stands between Worf and
permanent paralysis)
03/09/92 - "A Matter of Time" rerun
03/16/92 - "The Outcast"
03/23/92 - "Cause and Effect"
(the Enterprise crew is caught in a time loop)
03/30/92 - new episode, title unknown
04/06/92 - "New Ground" rerun
(return of Worf's son, Alexander)
04/13/92 - "Hero Worship" rerun
(young boy idolizes Data)
04/20/92 - new episode, title unknown
04/27/92 - new episode, title unknown
05/04/92 - new episode, title unknown
05/11/92 - new episode, title unknown
05/18/92 - new episode, title unknown
05/25/92 - "Violations" rerun
06/01/92 - new episode, title unknown
06/08/92 - "The Masterpiece Society" rerun
06/15/92 - new episode, title unknown - end of season
Some rumored episodes (emphasizing again, all unconfirmed) are:
"Paradise": this episode may have become "The Masterpiece
Society".
"Distant Relations": the Enterprise accidentally takes sides
against Starfleet while mediating a war.
"I, Borg": the long rumored episode about a solitary Borg
soldier.
"The Rivals": supposedly to focus on Geordi.
"Rascals"
"Invisible Friend": is a little child's imaginary friend REALLY
imaginary, or is he/she/it real?
"The Cost of Living": the Lwaxana Troi episode, also to include
Worf's son Alexander.
"Dueling Q's": guess what this one is supposed to be about....
Upcoming ST novel notes:
Peter David has reportedly expressed interest in doing a novel
focusing on Captain Sulu and the Excelsior. (Sulu and the Excelsior
may also begin to turn up in the "Star Trek" comic.)
Two TNG hardcovers are in the works. Carmen Carter is working
on one due out in the spring of 1993; working titles are "The Devil's
Heart" or "The Bloodstone". Diane Duane is also planning a TNG
hardcover, called "Through a Glass, Darkly", that revolves around the
"Mirror, Mirror" universe -- but in TNG time this time.
TNG novel #22 is currently scheduled to be "Imbalance" by V.E.
Mitchell. The novels focuses heavily on the Jarada, the strange race
that Picard had to give a greeting to very precisely in their
language -- otherwise they would have been greatly offended -- back
in the 1st season episode "The Big Goodbye".
The US Navy may decommission the aircraft carrier Enterprise as
part of the continuing effort to cut the Pentagon budget and save
money. Such an action would result in an immediate savings of $700
million dollars, because they wouldn't have to spend that money to
finish an overhaul that the ship is currently engaged in.
While the proposed decommissioning is only in the talking stage,
there is (naturally) a campaign trying to gear up to keep the ship in
service. Those wishing to register an opinion on this may write to:
The Secretary of the Navy, Department of the Navy, Washington DC
20350. Or you can call (703) 545-6780 and ask for the office of the
Secretary of the Navy.
Editorial: Deep Space 9 -- Why Not?
by Bill Mason (Data1701D)
-----------------------------------
OK, so I guessed wrong. The new ST series isn't about the
Enterprise-B. These things happen. |)
"Deep Space Nine" is already being written off by some fans.
Most of the critics hold the opinion that changing the Star Trek
format from Gene Roddenberry's vision of the "voyages of the
Enterprise" will doom the series.
Well, possibly. But on the other hand, it might be the best
idea of all.
Consider: we are now in the Post-Roddenberry stage of Star Trek.
But current Trek tales, in the Next Generation, are essentially
carrying on the vision of Star Trek that he created. That's only
natural. And there's no reason to doubt that after 5 years of doing
it, continuing without Roddenberry will not be an insurmountable
hurdle for the TNG producers to overcome.
But we all knew that sooner or later, someone would try to take
Star Trek into a new non-Classic, non-NextGen venue. Something not
directly derived from Roddenberry's Trek. (Have to admit though,
that "Deep Space Nine" came along a lot faster that I would have
guessed.)
Many fans assumed (or preferred) that a new Trek would be a
derivation of Roddenberry's adventures. Something like the pre-Kirk
Enterprise, or the Enterprises B/C, or some such. The theory was
that the voyages of the Enterprise -- whichever one -- would
continue.
Rejecting this idea and turning instead to "Deep Space Nine" is
daring, is chancy, but may turn out to be pretty smart.
For twenty-five years we've had the voyages of Roddenberry's
Enterprise; that was the definition of Star Trek. Other people have
had major roles in the production of these Treks, but the creations
(both Classic and NextGen) were Roddenberry's.
And as much as some would have preferred a series about Sulu and
the Enterprise-B, getting away from that legacy of Roddenberry's is,
in my opinion, a good idea.
Obviously, there are other who can produce a good Enterprise
adventure story, either for Classic or TNG. But if we're determined
to do a new Star Trek, why not step aside and do something different?
Why do what the master creator has been doing for 25 years?
Especially when everyone is going to be looking at an all-new,
non-Roddenberry Trek with a magnifying glass! In this case, trying
to imitate Roddenberry's work -- no matter how good it could turn out
to be -- because there will be those who will just look at it and say
"Roddenberry wouldn't have done that".
Of course, Roddenberry may not have done a "Deep Space Nine"
either -- we don't know how much, if any, he contributed to its
creation. But if you're going to create new Trek, then create
something that is unique and your own -- not derived right from the
works of Roddenberry. That, to me, sounds much more interesting than
the Enterprise-B (sorry, Sulu fans).
Star Trek continues to look forward.
Book Review: the Starlog TNG Technical Manual
by Bill Mason (Data1701D)
---------------------------------------------
Just out recently from Starlog is their own TNG Technical
Manual, written by Shane Johnson. And it's a pretty effort. The
diagrams of the Enterprise interiors/exteriors, equipment, uniforms,
as well as the one for non-Federation beings, are all nicely done.
And I really like the map of the Galaxy. The photos aren't bad,
either. A few too many photos are from the 1st and 2nd seasons,
though, for my personal taste.
Put next to the "TNG Technical Manual" from Pocket Books, the
Starlog book is a nice "visual supplement", if you will, to its
sister manual. When looking at the texts, though, the Starlog manual
really doesn't say much new. But it is concisely written and the
whole book has a mercifully few, very minor errors.
I definitely would recommend the Starlog manual, to keep right
by your Pocket Books manual. If I have one significant complaint
about the book, it's about Starlog's advertising -- which I would
politely describe as misleading. Some selections from the ad:
"Exterior views of the vessels of Starfleet": only the
Enterprise and her shuttles are to be found here.
"Shipboard procedures": you'll find a lot more in the Pocket
Books manual.
"Exterior views of Klingon vessels and shuttlecraft": only the
Klingon Bird of Prey is shown inside.
"Exterior views of Romulan and alien vessels": only the Romulan
scout ship from "The Defector" is shown.
The Starlog manual may have wanted to be a more broad view of
the Star Trek universe, but it's basically a Federation work. But if
you can live with that, it's worth the 7 bucks. |)
Radio Influences
by Tripp Frohlichstein
----------------------
Bill Mason's monthly magazine focusing on Star Trek: TNG has
given many of us much reading pleasure. Being a fan of Bill and his
views, I felt there should be a way for more people to hear from him.
Being a television critic on KMOX radio (1120 AM in St. Louis), I
took advantage of the opportunity and asked Bill to write a piece on
why Star Trek: TNG might appeal to new viewers. He was generous
enough to respond.
The following is the text of the piece that aired on January 11,
1992 and was heard by nearly 100,000 people:
Last September, Star Trek, The Next Generation entered its 5th
season. New programs are currently airing on Channel 4 at 10:30
Saturday nights. Reruns of the newer series run on Channel 30
weeknights at 10:30 with the original series airing on Channel 30 at
10:30 Sunday nights. The new show has a large following, being the
most successful syndicated adventure show currently airing. It's so
popular, in fact, that those of us who use computer bulletin boards
often discuss the series. One fan is so enthralled with Star Trek,
the Next Generation, that he publishes a monthly newsletter on
several computer services. I thought his material was so good, I
asked him to write a bit about the series from his point of view that
I could pass on to you.
His name is Bill Mason although his computer name is Data1701D.
He gets the name from the android character DATA and the number of
the Star Ship Enterprise in the series. Bill works as a clerk for
the EDS corporation in Pennsylvania. What I am about to read was
written for those of you who have not yet watched but might think
about giving it a try.
Mason says "Welcome to one of the better series on television
today! I'll try to tell you what to expect from this show.
"The major distinction of Next Generation is its 'non-violent'
approach to dealing with the issues it examines each week. Oh yes,
there are dangerous aliens, some starship battles, and the occasional
slugfest. But Next Generation has shifted its approach from its
predecessor, the original Star Trek series.
"If the original show was action-adventure oriented, the Next
Generation is much more of a drama. Next Generation focuses heavily
on the characters of the ship, and the people they meet. Despite the
old saying, To boldly go where no one has gone before, Next
Generation does not emphasize exploring the planet-of-the-week.
Character interaction is the keynote of the show. To that end, Next
Generation features many more recurring characters and episodes that
are sequels to previous shows. But don't let that put you off!
Generally speaking, you can watch these shows and appreciate them
without seeing the previous episodes." Mason talks about the
blending of the old and new series when this year Mr. Spock, the
pointy eared Vulcan played by Leonard Nimoy, showed up on the Next
Generation. I should mention it was a fine moment for a Star Trek
fan to hear Spock mention Captain Kirk's name for the first time on
the new series. Kirk, of course, was played by William Shatner.
Mason says "with this episode, the bond was complete -- the Star Trek
universe merged into one broad, wonderful, entertaining entity. A
confirmation that Star Trek lives long and prospers." Mason has one
final message for you. "I hope you all come to enjoy it as much as
I" he says.
So do I Bill. And that's Tripp on TV on the radio for today.
I'm Tripp Frohlichstein.
Happy Birthday!
---------------
February 16: LeVar Burton
February 23: Majel Barrett
March 3: James Doohan
Club Happenings
---------------
The "Starfleet Academy" games in PEOPLE CONNECTION have come
over to the Club! The Academy's PEOPLE CONNECTION bulletin boards
are now cross-linked to the Club -- you can access them from either
place.
And while I'm on the subject: anyone with any questions,
concerns, disputes, or suggestions that concern the Academy should
not send them to me. I do not run or have any jurisdiction over
anything that goes on at the Academy, including its bulletin boards.
For any Academy concerns contact Adl Nogura, who is running the show
there.
Lately, I've gotten a few files uploaded to the "Star Trek
Record Banks" that weren't about Star Trek. (These ones were about
Star Wars and space exploration.) Please remember that this is a
Star Trek forum -- and we need the space we have for Star Trek stuff.
Files on other SF or real-life space topics, alas, cannot find a home
here. But there are other forums! For general SF, try the "Science
Fiction and Fantasy" area (keyword: sf). For space, wander over to
the "National Space Society" forum (keyword: nss).
Trek-related Products/Happenings
--------------------------------
Comics news, from DC Comics.... In "Star Trek" #30, part one of
"Veritas", by Howard Weinstein -- Sulu's and Uhura's shore leave is
interrupted by violence and planetary politics. Over in "Next
Generation" #30, it's "The Rift" part one (no relation to the Classic
Trek novel of the same name) by Michael Jan Friedman -- will Riker's
Away Team be lost on the wrong side of an interdimensional rift?
Comics news, from Personality Comics.... "New Crew" #5 is a
biography of Denise Crosby, while "Original Crew" #6 looks at George
Takei.
"Cinefantastique" vol 22 #5 is devoted heavily to Star Trek,
with stories on Star Trek VI, its special effects, and the prequel
film that wasn't made. Also includes interviews with William
Shatner, James Doohan, Michael Dorn, ST VI director Nicholas Meyer,
producer Ralph Winter, and screenwriter Denny Martin Flinn.
"Starlog" #177 also focuses on Trek, with these interviews:
Nicholas Meyer, writer Don Mankiewicz ("Court Martial"), director Leo
Penn ("The Enemy Within"), and Elizabeth Dennehy (Cmdr. Shelby).
Score Board Inc. of Cherry Hill NJ has acquired a 2 year license
from Paramount to produce a "limited edition trivia game based on
Star Trek". The game, to be based on TOS and the movies, will be
marketed by the Classic Games Inc. division of Score Board. It will
be sold through retail outlets and on cable home-shopping networks.
Coming out from a publisher known as Library Services will be
"Star Trek: The Annotated History of Everything". From a publicity
release: "An annotated hardcover guide to the phenomenon, the people,
the television series, the films, the novels, and the recordings.
With listings of 1,300 English language articles about every aspect
of Star Trek."
Cartoon Corner returns, with the January 19th "Outland":
The players: the wheelchair-bound Cutter John, as Kirk
the famous Opus the Penguin, as Spock
Kirk: "Ahead warp whatever!!"
[looks about in confusion]
Kirk: "Spock! Where's the crew?!"
Spock: "We've been retired, Captain. It was...time. 25 years."
Kirk: "Nonsense!" Where's Dr. McCoy?"
Spock: "Checked himself down to planet Betty Ford."
Kirk: "And Uhura? Scotty?"
Spock: "Planet Liposuction."
Kirk: "And YOU, Spock...you're -- ?"
Spock: "...Getting ear implants Tuesday. They're sagging."
Kirk [bouncing around in his wheelchair in a frenzy]: "NO! I'M
NOT RETIRING! I'M CAPTAIN KIRK AND I'M NOT OLD! I'M NOT! I'M NOT!
I'M NOT!"
[Kirk calms down again]
Kirk: "You...think I'm acting badly."
Spock: "No. I think you're BADLY ACTING. But you always did,
sir."
[Pause as Kirk holds his head in his hand sadly.]
Kirk: "I hurt inside, Spock."
Spock: "Your colon, Jim. Let's get you to planet Roughage."
William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy have plans to go on stage
together in a play titled "Harry and Arthur". The play, based on a
novel coming out this June, is about a fictional meeting between
escape artist Harry Houdini and Sherlock Holmes author Sir Arthur
Conan Doyle. Shatner would play Houdini to Nimoy's Doyle.
Whoopi Goldberg won the Best Actress award at the 24th annual
NAACP Image Awards, for her role in the film "The Long Walk Home."
Also in the awards area, Kirstie Alley was a Golden Globe
nominee on January 18th -- Best TV Actress (Musical or Comedy) -- for
her role on "Cheers". Ms. Alley lost to Candice Bergen of "Murphy
Brown".
More with Whoopi Goldberg: her filming on the movie "Sarafina!"
in South Africa continues without the protests like those that
followed Paul Simon on his recent tour. One protest group had
"declared war" on her for coming to film the movie, but the issue was
resolved in closed-door meetings. Whoopi has not commented on the
whole matter.
Other doings: Whoopi will be hosting the 34th Annual Grammy
Awards on February 25th. She is also considering a screenplay about
Jacklean Davis, a New Orleans resident who overcame being raised by a
prostitute, raped by a sailor, sexually molested by an uncle, and
being pregnant -- all by age 16 -- to become the New Orleans' police
department best detective in its history.
And last on the Whoopi front: she'll again be cohosting "Comic
Relief" when its fifth annual show airs on HBO on May 16th.
Laurence Luckinbill (Sybok of Star Trek V) has been performing
in his own one-man play, "Lyndon", about President Lyndon Johnson.
He recently added 2 new scenes to the play to refute insinuations
made in the movie "JFK" that Johnson was involved in a conspiracy to
kill John Kennedy.
"Premiere" magazine took a census of various "official"
celebrity fan clubs, and found that the one for New Kids on the Block
was the largest, with 200,000 members. Star Trek (presumably,
Paramount's "Star Trek: The Official Fan Club"?) came in with 72,000.
Personal Logs, Stardate Today
-----------------------------
A Global Shield.... Against What?
Whatever Ronald Reagan had, it was catching. Our own president,
George the Flexible, is now a true believer in Star Wars, the Gardol
shield to protect us from missles. Even the fall of the Soviet Union
has not swayed his faith. We now need to spend more billions on
protection in case somebody starts catapulting Volkswagens from
Manitoba.
Now Boris Yeltsin's caught the bug. He favors Star Wars, too.
He favors the United States spending gazillions in case some
previously undiscovered ethnic group gets the bomb and starts tossing
it at Russians. At least his motivation is clearer.
Both men, of course, forget the same annoying facts Reagan
forgot. The damn thing doesn't work and isn't likely to. The likely
adversaries are too broke (and, in the case of the Soviet Union, too
dead) to get into a fight.
Their mutual determination to blow more money on protecting the
entire earth from missle attack can only mean one thing:
The great leaders of our planet are fearful that our treaties
with the Klingon Empire will break down.
[From the "Philadelphia Daily News" Opinion page, 3 February
1992. The editors ever saw fit to include a picture of Gowron with
the editorial. The picture had the exciting caption "Klingon".]
And In Conclusion...
--------------------
For any Starfleet International members out there with a copy of
"Communique" #49 (February/March): yes, that's me with a honorable
mention in the Fiction category of the recently completed
writers'/artists' contest! (Sorry, I had to get that off my chest.)
Dateline #21 (blackjack!) will be out on March 15th.
Credits where Credits are Due
-----------------------------
"Dateline: Starfleet" -- edited by Bill Mason (Data1701D), ID#
WPHM91A on Prodigy.
The Away Team of Contributors -- TR3
Copyright and Trademark Notice: In no case is use of any
copyrighted material and/or trademarks without identifying symbols
intended as a claim of ownership to those copyrights and/or
trademarks. "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. Just tell 'em where you got it from!
If you read all this: pItlh!