Commentary: Trek Stars 88: Wesley's Rosetta Stone

Wheaton, Part 1: Trek.

Few characters in Star Trek are as polarizing as Wesley Crusher. But love him or hate him, most fans are very fond of the actor behind the character, Wil Wheaton.

In this episode of Commentary: Trek Stars, Max and Mike begin a new series which looks at Wheaton's career as a television show host. In the first installment, we cover Wheaton's work in Star Trek. We discuss his growth as an actor over the course of The Next Generation, the progression of the character from "Where No Man Has Gone Before" to "Journey's End," and Wheaton's work as a voice actor on the 2009 Star Trek film.

Running Time: 50 minutes 30 seconds

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Hosts

Max Hegel and Mike Schindler

Topics

Wil Wheaton (1:12)
Wesley (10:29)
Favorite Wesley Episodes (25:24)
Star Trek 09 (34:09)
Wrap-up (39:31)

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As a Trek.fm listener you can get a free audiobook of your choice along with a 30-day trial to see just how great Audible is. So give it a try today, catch up on all those classic Star Trek books you’ve yet to read or that latest novel from you favorite author and support the network and our programming at the same time!

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Commentary: Trek Stars 87: Yes, And... An Interview with Patrick McKay & J.D. Payne

McKay & Payne.

Over the past fifty years, from Gene Roddenberry to Damon Lindelof, 369 people have written for Star Trek. In this episode of Commentary: Trek Stars, Mike and Max talk to the 370th and 371st Star Trek writers, Patrick McKay and J.D. Payne.

In the interview, we discuss McKay and Payne's Trek fandom, their screenplays which led to Trek, working with Robert Orci, and responding to the criticisms fans have of the last film. We also try to convince them to watch Deep Space Nine.

Running Time: 1 hour 3 minutes 25 seconds

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Hosts

Mike Schindler and Max Hegel

Guests

Patrick McKay and J.D. Payne

Topics

McKay & Payne (1:02)
Trek Fans (2:02)
Breaking In (12:32)
Writing Trek (28:23)
Influences (40:57)
Responding to Fan Criticism (43:21)
Final Thoughts (51:21)
Closing (52:26)

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As a Trek.fm listener you can get a free audiobook of your choice along with a 30-day trial to see just how great Audible is. So give it a try today, catch up on all those classic Star Trek books you’ve yet to read or that latest novel from you favorite author and support the network and our programming at the same time!

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Commentary: Trek Stars 85: Roddenberry's Rosebud

Roddenberry II: Pretty Maids All in a Row.

Despite having written dozens of hours of television, Gene Roddenberry is only responsible for writing one feature film. That film is Pretty Maids All In a Row, directed by Roger Vadim and starring Rock Hudson.

In this episode of Commentary: Trek Stars, Mike and Max are joined by film critic Todd Gilchrist to take a look at the film, which Roddenberry also produced. We discuss the social commentary present in an otherwise exploitational sex comedy, the simililarities between Roddenberry and Vadim as artists, and whether or not this film is the missing piece in understanding Roddenberry's personality. We also ponder why Quentin Tarantino calls it one of the best films of all time.

Running Time: 58 minutes 9 Seconds

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Hosts

Mike Schindler and Max Hegel

Guest

Todd Gilchrist

Topics

Roger Vadim (6:08)
Pretty Maids All in a Row (15:26)
A Roddenberry Production (22:56)
Quentin Tarantino (33:14)
Wrap-up (46:16)

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Sponsor

Audible is the premiere source for audiobooks with more than 150,000 titles to choose from, and new titles coming every week. From classics to current bestsellers, and even some of the most famous Star Trek books like Prime Directive, Federation, and Spock’s World, Audible has something for everyone.

As a Trek.fm listener you can get a free audiobook of your choice along with a 30-day trial to see just how great Audible is. So give it a try today, catch up on all those classic Star Trek books you’ve yet to read or that latest novel from you favorite author and support the network and our programming at the same time!

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Commentary: Trek Stars 84: Waiting for Gadot

Black II: Wonder Woman.

Over the past 50 years, there have been many successful comic book adaptations for both the big screen and small. But for some reason, the one marquee character which has failed to break through to the mainstream is Wonder Woman. Many writers have tried, with varying results. And the very first of these was Star Trek writer and producer, John D.F. Black.

In this episode of Commentary: Trek Stars, Max and Mike take a look at Black's 1974 Wonder Woman pilot, which starred Cathy Lee Crosby, and directly preceded the successful 1975 series starring Lynda Carter. We discuss the origins of the character, how Black's pilot rates among other adaptations, and whether or not current creators are on the cusp of a breakthrough with the character. We also ponder why comic book readers are generally unaccepting of the character.

Running Time: 59 minutes 52 seconds

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Hosts

Max Hegel and Mike Schindler

Topics

Wonder Woman (03:13)
The Character as an Icon (12:07)
The Pilot (22:23)
Other Incarnations (37:53)
Trek Collaborators (48:47)
Final Thoughts (50:27)

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As a Trek.fm listener you can get a free audiobook of your choice along with a 30-day trial to see just how great Audible is. So give it a try today, catch up on all those classic Star Trek books you’ve yet to read or that latest novel from you favorite author and support the network and our programming at the same time!

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Commentary: Trek Stars 83: We Have a Man on the Inside

Nemecek, Part 5: Stellar Cartography Recap.

Last year saw the return of author Larry Nemecek to the world of Star Trek non-fiction with his second book, Stellar Cartography. Featuring maps by Ian Fullwood, Ali Reis, and Geoffrey Mandel, Nemecek's companion essays offer a comprehensive look at the history of the future.

In this episode of Commentary: Trek Stars, Mike and Max are joined by Larry for the second part of their two-part interview. We discuss the genesis of the book, the challenges of completing such an ambitious project in a short period of time, and how Larry made sense of the Dominion War. We also ponder how big a sector is.

Running Time: 1 hour 5 minutes 16 seconds

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Hosts

Mike Schindler and Max Hegel

Guest

Larry Nemecek

Topics

Stellar Cartography (1:45)
Connecting the Dots (15:51)
Sectors (24:49)
The Dominion War (34:29)
Wrap-up (53:10)

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Audible is the premiere source for audiobooks with more than 150,000 titles to choose from, and new titles coming every week. From classics to current bestsellers, and even some of the most famous Star Trek books like Prime Directive, Federation, and Spock’s World, Audible has something for everyone.

As a Trek.fm listener you can get a free audiobook of your choice along with a 30-day trial to see just how great Audible is. So give it a try today, catch up on all those classic Star Trek books you’ve yet to read or that latest novel from you favorite author and support the network and our programming at the same time!

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Commentary: Trek Stars 82: How Many Doll Heads Are in the Sink?

Nemecek, Part 4: TNG Companion Recap.

For over a decade, Larry Nemecek chronicled the making of Star Trek in the Next Generation era. But what about the making of the making of?

In this episode of Commentary: Trek Stars, Max and Mike are joined Larry himself to discuss his career as an author. In the first part of a two-part interview, he discusses his work on The Next Generation Companion, as well as his Voyager episode, "Prophecy," and other episode pitches which he wrote for Voyager. He also blows Max and Mike's minds with the history of Voyager's development.

Running Time: 1 hour 26 minutes 25 seconds

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Hosts

Max Hegel and Mike Schindler

Guest

Larry Nemecek

Topics

Prophecy (3:55)
Voyager Pitches (9:50)
Companion Origins (21:40)
Writing the Companion (39:55)
Later Editions (53:55)
Reactions (1:03:23)
Wrap-Up (1:17:34)

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Audible is the premiere source for audiobooks with more than 150,000 titles to choose from, and new titles coming every week. From classics to current bestsellers, and even some of the most famous Star Trek books like Prime Directive, Federation, and Spock’s World, Audible has something for everyone.

As a Trek.fm listener you can get a free audiobook of your choice along with a 30-day trial to see just how great Audible is. So give it a try today, catch up on all those classic Star Trek books you’ve yet to read or that latest novel from you favorite author and support the network and our programming at the same time!

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Commentary: Trek Stars 81: His Name Was Bill, He Made the Planet Go Away

Nemecek, Part 3: Stellar Cartography.

Last year, Larry Nemecek returned to the world of Star Trek book publishing with Star Trek: Stellar Cartography, a collection of maps which chronicle the geography of the Trek universe. While the maps, created by Ian Fullwood, Ali Ries and Geoffrey Mandel, are the centerpiece of the collection, Nemecek's accompanying text is the hidden gem. It becomes a sort of history of the future, giving us a large-scale look at the events which have played out on a more personal level on the TV screen.

This week, Mike and Max are joined by Steve Roberts of Tribbles in Ecstasy to look at Nemecek's book. We discuss the artistry of the maps, the dense knowledge contained in the text, and how Steve is using the collection to teach his six-year old about Star Trek. 

Running Time: 45 minutes 1 second

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Hosts

Mike Schindler and Max Hegel

Guest

Steve Roberts

 

Topics

Stellar Cartography (7:39)
The Maps (9:58)
The Text (15:03)
Teaching Trek (24:40)
Wrap-up (35:24)

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Sponsor

Audible is the premiere source for audiobooks with more than 150,000 titles to choose from, and new titles coming every week. From classics to current bestsellers, and even some of the most famous Star Trek books like Prime Directive, Federation, and Spock’s World, Audible has something for everyone.

As a Trek.fm listener you can get a free audiobook of your choice along with a 30-day trial to see just how great Audible is. So give it a try today, catch up on all those classic Star Trek books you’ve yet to read or that latest novel from you favorite author and support the network and our programming at the same time!

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Commentary: Trek Stars 80: Larry Nemecek is My Spirit Animal

Nemecek, Part 2: The Next Generation Companion.

As we've said before, Larry Nemecek wrote the book on Star Trek: The Next Generation... literally. Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion is a comprehensive episode guide which offers a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the show.

This week, Max and Mike are joined by Phillip Gilfus of Earl Grey to talk about Nemecek's first Star Trek reference book. We discuss how we came to discover it, what makes it stand out from other books like it, and how it has impacted our lives on a personal level. We also discuss the hiring of Roberto Orci as the director of STAR TR3K.

Running Time: 54 minutes 56 seconds

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Hosts

Max Hegel and Mike Schindler

Guest

Phillip Gilfus

Topics

The Companion (4:32)
Discovery (11:31)
Thoughts on the book (19:21)
Influence (28:44)
Roberto Orci (36:43) 
Wrap-up (47:34)

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Sponsor

Audible is the premiere source for audiobooks with more than 150,000 titles to choose from, and new titles coming every week. From classics to current bestsellers, and even some of the most famous Star Trek books like Prime Directive, Federation, and Spock’s World, Audible has something for everyone.

As a Trek.fm listener you can get a free audiobook of your choice along with a 30-day trial to see just how great Audible is. So give it a try today, catch up on all those classic Star Trek books you’ve yet to read or that latest novel from you favorite author and support the network and our programming at the same time!

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Commentary: Trek Stars 79: What's a D7?

Nemecek, Part 1: Trek.

One of the greatest documentarian's of Star Trek's history is Larry Nemecek. The Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion is one of best books of its kind. Each and every issue of The Star Trek Communicator was must-read for fans of the franchise. And his new book, Stellar Cartography, is work of art unto itself. But Nemecek is not just a fan and historian of Star Trek. He's also a creator. Along with his wife, Janet, Nemecek wrote the story which was the basis of the seventh season Voyager episode, "Prophecy." 

This week, Mike is joined by Charlynn of To the Journey! to take a look at Nemecek's episode. We discuss the fan-friendly nature of Klingons in the Delta Quadrant, how the plot device of the Klingon illness could have been handled more effectively, and how the storyline was continued in the novels. We also wonder what the difference is between a D7 and a K'Tinga.

Running Time: 37 minutes 36 seconds

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Host

Mike Schindler

Guest

Charlynn Schmiedt

Topics

Larry Nemecek (2:00)
Thoughts on Prophecy (6:55)
Klingon Savior (15:48)
Final Thoughts (25:04)

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Sponsor

Audible is the premiere source for audiobooks with more than 150,000 titles to choose from, and new titles coming every week. From classics to current bestsellers, and even some of the most famous Star Trek books like Prime Directive, Federation, and Spock’s World, Audible has something for everyone.

As a Trek.fm listener you can get a free audiobook of your choice along with a 30-day trial to see just how great Audible is. So give it a try today, catch up on all those classic Star Trek books you’ve yet to read or that latest novel from you favorite author and support the network and our programming at the same time!

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