Fri, 29 April 2016
Series Finale.
Running Time: 1 hours 32 minutes 33 seconds For the past three and a half years, Mike, John and Max have examined the work of Star Trek creators outside of Star Trek. From the series creator Gene Roddenberry to the director of Star Trek Beyond, Justin Lin, we have covered television shows, films, novels, and more from writers, directors and actors who have worked throughout the franchise. But all good things... In the final episode of Commentary: Trek Stars, Mike and John reflect on 182 episodes of podcasting. We discuss how the show came about, what our favorite works by Trek creators are, and what we regret not covering. We also reveal our plans for the future. Chapters Secret Origins (00:01:45) Favorite Works (00:29:48) Favorite Creators (00:50:42) What We Missed (01:01:26) Final Thoughts (01:10:13) Stage Nine (01:14:27) Thanks (01:25:58) Hosts Mike Schindler and John Mills Production Mike Schindler (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Charlynn Schmiedt (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Executive Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Will Nguyen (Content Manager) |
Fri, 22 April 2016
Lin, Part 8: Recap.
Running Time: 1 hour 3 minutes 21 seconds Throughout the course of Commentary: Trek Stars, we have covered thirty eight different people who have helped to create Star Trek. We began with the very first Star Trek creator, Gene Roddenberry, and we end with the current leader of the franchise, Justin Lin. In our penultimate episode, Mike and John recap their series on Lin's career as a film director. We look at all seven of his movies, including Better Luck Tomorrow, Annapolis, The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift, Finishing the Game, Fast & Furious, Fast Five, and Furious 6. We also discuss the news of J.J. Abrams' latest production, Kolma, and what the rumors of the new Trek series' format could mean for future creators. Chapters Lin's Early Films (00:01:11) Fast & Furious (00:18:35) News (00:41:55) Hosts Mike Schindler and John Mills Production Mike Schindler (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Charlynn Schmiedt (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Executive Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Will Nguyen (Content Manager) |
Fri, 15 April 2016
Lin, Part 7: Furious 6.
Running Time: 1 hour 21 minutes 34 seconds In 2013, Justin Lin directed his fourth and final installment of the Fast & Furious franchise, Furious 6. The film continues the franchise's trend of creating movies that are bigger and better than what has come before. This time around, the crew needs to stop an international criminal who is trying to steal a technology which could allow him to take over the world. In this episode of Commentary: Trek Stars, John and Mike are joined by Megan of Educating Geeks to look at Lin's most recent movie. We discuss how the film achieves its large scale, how it fits into the overall continuity of the franchise, and of course, the title. Chapters Furious 6 (00:08:33) Hand-To-Hand Combat (00:27:34) The Return of Letty (00:42:10) Final Thoughts (00:59:40) Hosts John Mills and Mike Schindler Guest Megan Calcote Production Mike Schindler (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Charlynn Schmiedt (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Executive Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Will Nguyen (Content Manager) |
Fri, 8 April 2016
Lin, Part 6: Fast Five.
Running Time: 59 minutes 33 seconds After reinvigorating the franchise with Fast & Furious, Star Trek Beyond director Justin Lin returned to helm the fifth film in the series, Fast Five. This installment acted as a reunion of sorts, as series regulars Vin Diesel and Paul Walker were joined by stars of the previous films, including Tyrese Gibson, Gal Gadot and Sung Kang for an Ocean's Eleven-style heist movie. In this episode of Commentary: Trek Stars, Mike and John continue their series on Lin's work as a director by looking at his sixth picture. We discuss how Fast Five builds on what has come before, Lin's continued collaboration with his crew, and what this film tells us about his ability to handle the large cast of Star Trek Beyond. We also discuss the trailer for Star Wars: Rogue One, because why not? Chapters Fast Five (00:00:45) Lin's Style (00:17:47) Sung Kang in Beyond? (00:29:07) Wrap-up (00:45:07) Hosts Mike Schindler and John Mills Production Mike Schindler (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Charlynn Schmiedt (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Executive Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Will Nguyen (Content Manager) |
Fri, 1 April 2016
Lin, Part 5: Fast & Furious.
Running Time: 1 hour 9 minutes 17 seconds
In 2009, Justin Lin returned to what would become his marquee franchise with Fast & Furious. The fourth film in the series was a return to basics, featuring a reunion of the original cast, including both Paul Walker and Vin Diesel, in an effort to revitalize the franchise.
In this episode of Commentary: Trek Stars, John and Mike are joined by Zach Moore of Always Hold On To Smallville to look at Lin's fifth film. We discuss the decision to bring Lin back after Tokyo Drift, the stylistic differences between the two films, and of course, the title. We also take a look at the career of Star Trek 2017's newest writer, Jesse Alexander.
Chapters Fast & Furious (00:05:40) Lin's Return (00:21:57) Final Thoughts (00:38:17) Jesse Alexander (00:45:15) Wrap-up (01:00:30)
Hosts John Mills and Mike Schindler
Guest Zach Moore
Production Mike Schindler (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Charlynn Schmiedt (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Executive Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Will Nguyen (Content Manager) |
Fri, 25 March 2016
Lin, Part 4: Finishing the Game.
Running Time: 48 minutes 22 seconds
After two consecutive Hollywood blockbuster, Justin Lin returned to the world of independent filmmaking with Finishing the Game. The film is unlike any other in Lin's filmography, a "mockumentary" about finding an actor to replace Bruce Lee in his final movie, The Game of Death.
In this episode of Commentary: Trek Stars, Mike and John take a look at Lin's fourth film. We discuss how it differs from the rest of his movies, what it says about Lin as an artist, and the impact which Bruce Lee had on the culture. We also touch on the upcoming Star Trek: 50 Artists, 50 Years exhibition.
Chapters Finishing the Game (00:01:39) The Style (00:18:24) 50 Artists, 50 Years (00:33:45) Wrap-up (00:36:43)
Hosts Mike Schindler and John Mills
Production Mike Schindler (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Charlynn Schmiedt (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Executive Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Will Nguyen (Content Manager) |
Fri, 18 March 2016
Lin, Part 3: The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift.
Running Time: 1 hour 24 seconds
Less than five months after the release of Annapolis, Justin Lin was handed the keys to the Fast and the Furious franchise. His first of four consecutive sequels was The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift. The film offers and interesting take on the franchise, expanding the mythology by focusing on entirely new characters instead of continuing the story established in the first two. Written by Chris Morgan, the movie features Lucas Black, Nathalie Kelley, Bow Wow, and Sung Kang.
In this episode of Commentary: Trek Stars, John and Mike are joined by Brandon of Melodic Treks to discuss Lin's third movie. We look at how it differs from the other films in the franchise thus far, the members of the crew who are joining Lin for Star Trek Beyond, and the return of Han from Better Luck Tomorrow. We also discuss news, including the release of J.J. Abrams' latest production, 10 Cloverfield Lane, and the casting of Shohreh Aghdashloo in Star Trek Beyond.
Chapters Tokyo Drift (00:02:54) Its Place in the Franchise (00:22:01) News (00:41:41) Wrap-up (00:52:14)
Hosts John Mills and Mike Schindler
Guest Brandon-Shea Mutala
Production Mike Schindler (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Charlynn Schmiedt (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Executive Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Will Nguyen (Content Manager) |
Fri, 11 March 2016
Lin, Part 2: Annapolis.
Running Time: 1 hour 27 seconds
After the success of Better Luck Tomorrow, Justin Lin was given the opportunity to work on big studio productions with substantially larger budgets. The first of these was Annapolis in 2006. The film, starring James Franco, Tyrese Gibson and Jordan Brewster, looks at a cadet's first year at the U.S. Naval Academy.
In this episode of Commentary: Trek Stars, Mike and John take a look at Lin's second film. We discuss how it effectively uses cliches, the similarities to J.J. Abrams' Star Trek, and how accurately it portrays the Academy. In news, we remember TNG and DS9 visual effects supervisor Gary Hutzel, discuss the hiring of Rod Roddenberry and Trevor Roth as executive producers on the new Star Trek series, and touch on the order of Doug Jung's new pilot, Scalped.
Chapters Annapolis (00:00:44) Accuracy (00:20:05) News (00:50:26)
Hosts Mike Schindler and John Mills
Production Mike Schindler (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Charlynn Schmiedt (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Executive Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Will Nguyen (Content Manager) |
Fri, 4 March 2016
Lin, Part 1: Better Luck Tomorrow.
Running Time: 1 hour 29 minutes 57 seconds
Over the course of its history, many artists have left their mark on the Star Trek franchise. Back in 1966, Gene Roddenberry was the first. 50 years later, Star Trek is in the hands of The Fast and the Furious director, Justin Lin.
In this episode of Commentary: Trek Stars, John and Mike begin their final series, looking at Justin Lin’s career as a feature film director. In Part 1, we are joined by Dennis Castello of Continuing Mission to examine Lin’s first film, Better Luck Tomorrow. We discuss the themes of the film, Lin’s distinctive style, and how the film is similar to George Lucas’ American Graffiti. Then, in a special news segment, we are joined by John Tenuto to discuss addition of Nicholas Meyer to the writing staff of Star Trek 2017.
Chapters Better Luck Tomorrow (00:06:00) John Cho (00:25:34) Final Thoughts (00:35:17) Nicholas Meyer (00:38:25) Star Trek VI (00:55:47) Wrap-up (01:16:10)
Hosts Mike Schindler and John Mills
Guests Dennis Castello and John Tenuto
Production Mike Schindler (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Charlynn Schmiedt (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Executive Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Will Nguyen (Content Manager) |
Fri, 26 February 2016
Abrams II, Part 7: Recap.
Running Time: 51 minutes 50 seconds
J.J. Abrams may not be returning as the director of Star Trek Beyond, but that should not suggest that his presence will not be felt as a producer. What do his past producing efforts suggest about his contribution to the upcoming movie?
In this episode of Commentary: Trek Stars, Mike and John recap their series looking at all of the films which Abrams has produced for other filmmakers. We discuss his work on The Pallbearer, The Suburbans, Joy Ride, Morning Glory, Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol, and Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation. We also hold a tournament to determine which picture in his impressive filmography is the crappiest.
Chapters The Early Years (00:02:08) Bad Robot (00:10:02) The Bracket (00:26:42) Wrap-up (00:36:40)
Hosts Mike Schindler and John Mills
Production Mike Schindler (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Charlynn Schmiedt (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Executive Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Will Nguyen (Content Manager) |
Fri, 19 February 2016
Abrams II, Part 7: Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation.
Running Time: 1 hour 19 minutes 54 seconds
After the unexpected success of Brad Bird's Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol, Bad Robot and J.J. Abrams were asked to return to produce a third installment of the Tom Cruise franchise. This time, Oscar-winning filmmaker Christopher McQuarrie was hired to write and direct Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation.
In this episode of Commentary: Trek Stars, John and Mike are joined by Krissy of Educating Geeks to look at the most recent film that Abrams has produced for another filmmaker. We discuss how it compares to the other films in the franchise, what McQuarrie brings to the film, and how Rogue Nation is intrinsically linked to Star Trek Beyond. We also discuss the news that Bryan Fuller has been hired as the showrunner of Star Trek 17.
Chapters Rogue Nation (00:08:47) Christoper McQuarrie (00:27:24) The Star Trek Beyond Connection (00:46:36) Bryan Fuller (00:53:06)
Hosts John Mills and Mike Schindler
Guests Krissy Lenz
Production Mike Schindler (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Charlynn Schmiedt (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Executive Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Will Nguyen (Content Manager) |
Fri, 12 February 2016
Abrams II, Part 6: Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol.
Running Time: 1 hour 10 minutes 10 seconds
Happy with the results of Mission: Impossible III, Tom Cruise and Paramount chose to continue their collaboration with J.J. Abrams and Bad Robot for the fourth film in the franchise, Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol. While Abrams would not direct the film himself, he would oversee it as producer. This production should be especially to fans of Star Trek, as it closely mirrors the relationship which Abrams has with the 50th anniversary movie, Star Trek Beyond.
In this episode of Commentary: Trek Stars, Mike and John are joined by Adam of The Red Shirt Diaries to look at Brad Bird's Ghost Protocol. We discuss how our thoughts have changed since its initial release, what Bird brought to the project as a director, and what this film tells us about Star Trek Beyond. We also profess our love for Robert Elswit.
Chapters Ghost Protocol (00:08:22) Abrams as Producer (00:36:41) Wrap-up (00:58:30)
Hosts Mike Schindler and John Mills
Guest Adam Drosin
Production Mike Schindler (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Charlynn Schmiedt (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Executive Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Will Nguyen (Content Manager) |
Fri, 5 February 2016
Abrams II, Part 5: Morning Glory.
Running Time: 47 minutes 35 seconds
After a successful reboot of the Star Trek franchise in 2009, J.J. Abrams put his producer hat back on the following year for Roger Michell's Morning Glory. The film stars Rachel McAdams as the producer of a daily morning news/talk show. In an effort to boost ratings, she hires a legendary reporter played by Harrison Ford to anchor the show, against his better judgment.
In this episode of Commentary: Trek Stars, John and Mike take a look at Morning Glory. We discuss how the movie differs from other Bad Robot productions, the filmmakers involved behind the scenes, and long-time collaboration between Abrams and Ford.
Chapters Morning Glory (01:09) A Bad Robot Production (22:28) Wrap-up (38:06)
Hosts John Mills and Mike Schindler
Production Mike Schindler (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Charlynn Schmiedt (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Executive Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Will Nguyen (Content Manager) |
Fri, 29 January 2016
Abrams II, Part 4: Cloverfield.
Running Time: 1 hour 9 minutes 6 seconds
After successfully launching his directing career with Mission: Impossible III, J.J. Abrams' name had become a brand. The first movie to be heavily marketed as a "J.J. Abrams Production" was Matt Reeves' Cloverfield.
Cloverfield, is a giant monster film in the vein of Godzilla, but with a twist: The entire film is seem through the camcorder of our unexacting protagonists.
In this episode of Commentary: Trek Stars, Mike and John take a look at the fourth picture in our series. We discuss the movie's marketing, the found-footage aesthetic, and what Abrams brought to the production. We also preview the upcoming sequel, 10 Cloverfield Lane.
Chapters The Marketing (00:02:15) Thoughts on the Movie (00:17:07) Abrams' Contribution (00:35:11) Wrap-up (00:58:17)
Hosts Mike Schindler and John Mills
Production Mike Schindler (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Charlynn Schmiedt (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Executive Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Will Nguyen (Content Manager) |
Fri, 22 January 2016
Abrams II, Part 3.
Running Time: 52 minutes 46 seconds
In 2001, the first Bad Robot production was released. Joy Ride tells the story of two brothers on a cross-country road trip who prank the wrong truck driver, with deadly results. The film stars Paul Walker, Steve Zahn and Leelee Sobieski. It was directed by John Dahl and co-written and co-produced by JJ Abrams himself.
I this episode of Commentary: Trek Stars, John and Mike look at Abrams' third production. We discuss the film's tried and true horror cliches, Abrams' range as a filmmaker, and why Joy Ride is important to Abrams' history. We also look at this year's Oscar-nominated Star Trek vets, and touch on the trailer for the next Abrams production, 10 Cloverfield Lane.
Chapters Oscars (00:55) Joy RIde (16:25) John Dahl (31:50) Wrap-up (44:42)
Hosts John Mills and Mike Schindler
Production Mike Schindler (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Charlynn Schmiedt (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Executive Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Will Nguyen (Content Manager) |
Fri, 15 January 2016
Abrams II, Part 2: The Suburbans.
Running Time: 54 minutes 21 seconds
In 1999, J.J. Abrams produced his second feature film, The Suburbans. The movie, directed by Donal Lardner Ward, looks at a one-hit wonder from the 80s which is attempting to stage a comeback in the 90s. The cast features Ward, Abrams favorite Tony Guma (who co-wrote the script with Ward), up-and-coming star Will Ferrell, and 90s icon Jennifer Love Hewitt.
In this episode of Commentary: Trek Stars, Mike and John look at this lost film from Abrams' pre-Bad Robot career. We discuss the historical context of the film, Abrams' motivations for making it, and how slang has changed over the years.
Chapters The Suburbans (00:01:55) Abrams' Contribution (00:21:25) Wrap-up (00:45:45)
Hosts Mike Schindler and John Mills
Production Mike Schindler (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Charlynn Schmiedt (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Executive Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Will Nguyen (Content Manager) |
Fri, 8 January 2016
Abrams II, Part 1: The Pallbearer.
Running Time: 48 minutes 14 seconds
As the trailer proudly states, Star Trek Beyond is produced by J.J. Abrams. We all know that Abrams directed the last two Star Trek films, and we all know that he is not directing this one. So what does it mean when we see that Abrams is producing the new movie?
We try to answer that question in this new series on Commentary: Trek Stars, where we will be looking at each of the films which Abrams produced for other filmmakers. In Part 1 of this series, John and Mike cover The Pallbearer, a film starring David Schwimmer and Gwyneth Paltrow which was directed by Cloverfield director Matt Reeves, and co-written by Reeves and Friday Night Lights creator Jason Katims.
We discuss the heavy influence of The Graduate on this film, its place in the history of Miramax, and the contribution of cinematographer Robert Elswit.
Chapters The Pallbearer (00:06:35) Miramax (00:20:55) Wrap-up (00:37:27)
Hosts John Mills and Mike Schindler
Production Mike Schindler (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Charlynn Schmiedt (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Executive Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Will Nguyen (Content Manager) |
Fri, 1 January 2016
Doug Jung: Confidence.
Running Time: 46 minutes 9 seconds
Much has been made of Simon Pegg's contribution to the screenplay for Star Trek Beyond. So much so, that people tend to forget that Pegg has a partner on the project, co-writer Doug Jung.
In this episode of Commentary: Trek Stars, Mike and John take a look at Jung's first movie, Confidence. We discuss the film's intricate structure, its similarity to other films from the time period, and what it tells us about Jung's contribution to Beyond. We also remember TOS writer George Clayton Johnson.
Chapters Doug Jung (00:01:39) Confidence (00:03:59) Ocean's Twelve (00:19:33) George Clayton Johnson (00:35:33)
Hosts Mike Schindler and John Mills
Production Mike Schindler (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Charlynn Schmiedt (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Executive Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Will Nguyen (Content Manager) |
Fri, 25 December 2015
Abrams, Part 5: Star Wars: Episode VII--The Force Awakens
Running Time: 1 hour 27 minutes 5 seconds
Many have criticized J.J. Abrams for turning Star Trek into Star Wars with his 2009 film. But what happens when Abrams make a Star Wars movie for real?
In this episode of Commentary: Trek Stars, John and Mike add a postscript to their series on J.J. Abrams with a look at his latest directorial effort, Star Wars: Episode VII--The Force Awakens. We discuss the movie on the whole, Abrams' direction in particular, and the work of other Trek veterans on the crew. We also give our thoughts on the first trailer for Star Trek Beyond.
Chapters The Force Awakens (00:01:12) Crying in Movies (00:19:57) Spoilers (00:48:29) Trek Collaborators (01:04:51) Wrap-up (01:17:31)
Hosts John Mills and Mike Schindler
Production Mike Schindler (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Charlynn Schmiedt (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Executive Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Will Nguyen (Content Manager) |
Fri, 18 December 2015
Pegg, Part 7: Recap.
Running Time: 1 hour 4 minutes 52 seconds
Over the course of the last decade, Simon Pegg has come to prove himself not only as a fine, but also as one of the best writers in the movie business.
This week on Commentary: Trek Stars, Mike and John take a look at each of the five films which Pegg has co-written, including Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, Run Fatboy Run, Paul, and The World's End. We also discuss Bad Robot's restoration of Phantasm.
Chapters Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, and Run Fatboy Run (00:01:10) Paul and The World's End (00:14:10) Conclusion (00:33:12) Wrap-up (00:48:24)
Hosts Mike Schindler and John Mills
Production Mike Schindler (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Charlynn Schmiedt (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Executive Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Will Nguyen (Content Manager) |
Fri, 11 December 2015
Pegg, Part 6: The World's End Running Time: 43 minutes 4 seconds Six years after the release of Hot Fuzz, Simon Pegg finally reteamed with Edgar Wright on the screenplay for the final film in the Cornetto Trilogy, The World's End. In this episode of Commentary: Trek Stars, John and Mike take a look at the film, which is last script to be penned by Pegg prior to the release of Star Trek Beyond. We discuss how Pegg has grown as both a writer and an actor, how this film fits in with the other two films in the Cornetto Trilogy, and how the Cubs haven't won a World Series in 107 years. Chapters Hosts Production |
Sat, 5 December 2015
Pegg, Part 5: Paul. Running Time: 47 minutes 13 seconds In 2011, Simon Pegg teamed with his on-screen partner, Nick Frost, to write his fourth screenplay, Paul. The film, directed by Greg Mottola, stars Pegg and Frost as two British sci-fi geeks who take a road trip across America to visit UFO hotspots. Along the way, they meet Paul, an alien played by Seth Rogen, who is on the run from government agents. In this episode of Commentary: Trek Stars, Mike and John take a look Paul. We discuss why the humor did or did not work for us, whether or not the character of Paul is likable, and how well Pegg fares without Edgar Wright. Chapters Hosts Production Editor and Producer Executive Producers |
Fri, 27 November 2015
Pegg, Part 4: Run Fatboy Run. Running Time: 56 minutes 33 seconds After the success of Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz, Simon Pegg became a sought-after commodity for both his acting and writing. David Schwimmer's Run Fatboy Run featured both of those talents. In this episode of Commentary: Trek Stars, John and Mike take a look at Pegg's third screenplay, which was co-written with Michael Ian Black. We discuss how accurately the film portrays a marathon, the changes that Pegg made to Black's original script, and why it's ultimately not very good. Chapters Hosts Production |
Fri, 20 November 2015
Pegg, Part 3: Hot Fuzz.
Running Time: 39 minutes 56 seconds
In 2007, Simon Pegg re-teamed with Edgar Wright to create the second film in the Cornetto Trilogy, Hot Fuzz. Much like its predecessor, Shaun of the Dead, is to Zombie movies, Hot Fuzz is an homage to Cop movies, in all their forms.
In this episode of Commentary: Trek Stars, Mike and John look at Pegg's second screenplay, which he co-wrote with Wright. We discuss how the film compares to Shaun of the Dead, how it utilizes sub genres, and how it was promoted with Hot Fuzztivals. We also debate the merits of Nicolas Cage movies.
Chapters Hot Fuzz (00:00:45) Sub Genres (00:19:03) Wrap-up (00:30:44)
Hosts Mike Schindler and John Mills
Production Mike Schindler (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Charlynn Schmiedt (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Executive Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Will Nguyen (Content Manager) |
Fri, 13 November 2015
Pegg, Part 2: Shaun of the Dead. Running Time: 52 minutes 25 seconds In 2004, the movie world was formally introduced to Simon Pegg. Not only did star as the title character in Edgar Wright's beloved film, Shaun of the Dead, he also co-wrote the screenplay. In this episode of Commentary: Trek Stars, John and Mike examine the first picture in the Cornetto Trilogy, and Pegg's career. We remember our first impressions of Pegg, discuss what we think about the film today, and try to determine why Pegg has become a geek icon. Chapters Hosts Production |
Fri, 6 November 2015
Pegg, Part 1: Trek.
Over the past few days, many of us here at Trek.fm have been discussing the news of a new Star Trek TV series, coming in January of 2017. But who is it that's making this show?
In the final season premiere of Commentary: Trek Stars, Mike and John discuss the series, specifically looking at executive producer Alex Kurtzman and his career in television and film. We discuss his previous work, what his role on the show may be, and speculate on who may write the series.
In this episode, we also begin a new series on Simon Pegg in which we look at his work as a writer. In Part 1, we discuss his portrayal of Scotty in the JJverse films.
We also remember TOS visual effects artist, Howard A. Anderson, Jr.
Running Time: 1 hour 3 minutes 38 seconds
Hosts Mike Schindler and John Mills
Editor and Producer Mike Schindler
Executive Producers Charlynn Schmiedt, Norman C. Lao, Matthew Rushing, and C Bryan Jones
Associate Producer Become one! Support Trek.fm and Commentary: Trek Stars at the $25/month level or plus! Visit http://patreon.com/trekfm http://patreon.com/trekfm
Production Manager Richard Marquez
Content Manager Will Nguyen
Chapters Howard A. Anderson, Jr. (00:01:04) New Trek Series (00:08:04) Our Thoughts (00:25:47) Simon Pegg (00:43:42) Wrap-up (00:56:49)
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Fri, 30 October 2015
Eric A. Stillwell. Every fan has dreamed of working on Star Trek. Few have made that a reality. Eric A. Stillwell is one of those few. In the sixth season finale of Commentary: Trek Stars, John and Mike are joined by Eric to look at his career working in Star Trek. We discuss how he got a job as a production assistant on The Next Generation, the work he did as a script coordinator on the series, and how that led him co-writing one the best episodes of the franchise, Yesterday's Enterprise. In this episode, We are also joined by Voyager writer/producer James Kahn, who gives us glimpse at his new movie, Wrongside Bob. Running Time: 1 hour 38 minutes 23 seconds Hosts Guests Editor and Producer Executive Producers Associate Producer Production Manager Content Manager Chapters Send us your feedback! Support the Network! |
Fri, 23 October 2015
Bloch & Stefano, Part 4: Psycho Comparison. You never know what might happen while recording a podcast. Your cat might run by and rip setup and rip your external hard drive out of your laptop. You might crack a tooth on a Nutri-Grain Bar. Or you might have to drive across town to purchase Star Wars tickets. If you're lucky, you will capture the unexpected on mic. Such is the case on this episode of Commentary: Trek Stars. Mike and John try to recap their look at Psycho by comparing Robert Bloch's novel to Joseph Stefano's screenplay. But in the process, tickets for Star Wars: Episode VII--The Force Awakens went on sale. This podcast is the result. Running Time: 59 minutes 19 seconds Hosts Editor and Producer Executive Producers Associate Producer Production Manager Content Manager Chapters Send us your feedback! Support the Network! |
Fri, 16 October 2015
Bloch & Stefano, Part 2: Psycho (Film). One year after the release of Robert Bloch's novel, Alfred Hitchcock adapted Psycho for the big screen. To complete this task, he enlisted the help of Joseph Stefano to write the screenplay. The result is one of the best movies ever made. In this episode Commentaty: Trek Stars, John and Mike take a look at Stefano's movie. we discuss the impact the film had on the culture, the similarities between the movie and Stefano's Star Trek work, and the validity of Gus van Sant's remake. Running Time: 1 hour 7 minutes 19 seconds Hosts Editor and Producer Executive Producers Associate Producer Production Manager Content Manager Chapters Send us your feedback! Support the Network! |
Fri, 9 October 2015
Bloch & Stefano, Part 2: Psycho (Novel). Everyone thinks of Psycho as a film by Alfred Hitchcock. But in fact, the story originated as a novel by future Star Trek writer, Robert Bloch. The book tells the story of a man who runs a secluded motel, and his relationship with his very controlling, and sometimes murderous, mother. In this episode of Commentary: Trek Stars, Mike is joined by Grace Moore from Women at Warp to look at Bloch's novel. We discuss point of view, character motivations, and connections between the novel and Bloch's Trek work. We also take a look at James Kahn's upcoming feature film, Wrongside Bob. Running Time: 49 minutes 19 seconds Hosts Guest Editor and Producer Executive Producers Associate Producer Production Manager Content Manager Chapters Send us your feedback! Support the Network! |
Sat, 3 October 2015
Bloch & Stefano, Part 1: Trek. In 1959, Robert Bloch wrote his most famous novel, Psycho. One year later, Joseph Stefano adapted that novel into a screenplay for Alfred Hitchcock. The rest is history. Years later, both Bloch and Stefano would go on to write for Star Trek. In this episode of Commentary: Trek Stars, Mike and John are joined by Grace Moore from Women at Warp to begin a new series looking at both Bloch and Stefano, and their work on Psycho. In Part 1, we examine their contributions to Trek, including Bloch's original series episodes, What Are Little Girls Made Of?, Catspaw, and Wolf in the Fold, and Stefano's Next Generation episode, Skin of Evil. Running Time: 1 hour 5 minutes 31 seconds Hosts Guest Editor and Producer Executive Producers Associate Producer Production Manager Content Manager Chapters Send us your feedback! Support the Network! |
Thu, 24 September 2015
Piller, Part 5: Recap. Michael Piller was a master of many things. But one particular area in which he excelled was as a writer of pilots. In this episode of Commentary: Trek Stars, John and Mike recap their look at Michael Piller's pilots. We discuss the first episodes of all five of his creations, including Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Star Trek: Voyager, Legend, The Dead Zone, and Wildfire. We also discuss the merits of young adult fiction. Running Time: 47 minutes 20 seconds Hosts John Mills and Mike Schindler Editor and Producer Mike Schindler Executive Producers Charlynn Schmiedt, Norman C. Lao, Matthew Rushing, and C Bryan Jones Associate Producer Become one! Support Trek.fm and Commentary: Trek Stars at the $25/month level or plus! Visit http://patreon.com/trekfm http://patreon.com/trekf Production Manager Richard Marquez Content Manager Will Nguyen Chapters Star Trek Pilots (00:00:49) Non-Trek Pilots (00:11:09) Final Thoughts (00:32:45) Wrap-up (00:35:58) Send us your feedback! Twitter: @trekfm Facebook: http://facebook.com/trekfm Voicemail: http://www.speakpipe.com/trekfm Contact Form: http://www.trek.fm/contact Subscribe in iTunes: http://itunes.com/trekfm Support the Network! Become a Trek.fm Patron on Patreon and help us keep Star Trek talk coming every week. We have great perks for you at http://patreon.com/trekfm |
Fri, 18 September 2015
Piller, Part 4: Wildfire.
Michael Piller may be known best for his science fiction work, but that by no means was the extent of his talent. His final television series, Wildfire, is about an eighteen year-old girl who is released from juvenile detention to work on a horse ranch. In this episode of Commentary: Trek Stars, Mike and John are joined once again by Star Trek writer and Wildfire associate producer Eric A. Stillwell to discuss Piller's work on the show. Eric tells us how the show came about, Piller's dedication to research, the challenges of shooting outside of California, and the impressive cast, which includes Nana Visitor. Eric also shares some more details of Michael Piller projects that went un-produced.
Running Time: 1 hour 1 minute 2 seconds
Hosts Mike Schindler and John Mills
Guest Eric A. Stillwelll
Editor and Producer Mike Schindler
Executive Producers Norman C. Lao, Matthew Rushing, and C Bryan Jones
Associate Producer Become one! Support Trek.fm and Commentary: Trek Stars at the $25/month level or plus! Visit http://patreon.com/trekfm http://patreon.com/trekfm
Production Manager Richard Marquez
Content Manager Will Nguyen
Chapters Research (00:01:48) The Premise (00:15:45) Collaborators (00:31:36) Final Thoughts (00:39:33) Wrap-up (00:49:22)
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Fri, 11 September 2015
Piller, Part 3: The Dead Zone.
In 2002, Michael Piller created his fourth television series, The Dead Zone. The show, which starred Anthony Michael Hall and Nicole de Boer, was adapted from Stephen King's novel about a man who develops the ability to see events in the future. In this episode of Commentary: Trek Stars, John and Mike are joined by The Dead Zone associate producer and Star Trek writer Eric A. Stillwell to look at Piller's work on the series. We discuss other projects that he was developing, his writing process, and the impact the he had on other writers.
Running Time: 1 hour 7 minutes 57 seconds
Hosts John Mills and Mike Schindler
Guests Eric A. Stillwell
Editor and Producer Mike Schindler
Executive Producers Norman C. Lao, Matthew Rushing, and C Bryan Jones
Associate Producer Become one! Support Trek.fm and Commentary: Trek Stars at the $25/month level or plus! Visit http://patreon.com/trekfm http://patreon.com/trekfm
Production Manager Richard Marquez
Content Manager Will Nguyen
Chapters Other Projects (00:03:00) The Dead Zone (00:10:20) Promoting the Show (00:28:25) Final Thoughts (00:43:43) Wrap-up (00:48:22)
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|
Fri, 4 September 2015
Piller, Part 2: Legend. A mere three months after creating the show which launched the network, UPN debuted Michael Piller's third television show, Legend. The series featured Richard Dean Anderson as a writer in the Old West whose fictional hero comes to life with the help of an inventor played by John de Lancie. In this episode of Commentary: Trek Stars, Mike and John take a look at Piller's first non-Trek show. We discuss the fun tone, de Lancie's under-utilized talent, and the fact that this show actually existed, despite what Max says.
Running Time: 46 minutes 23 seconds
Hosts Mike Schindler and John Mills
Editor and Producer Mike Schindler
Executive Producers Norman C. Lao, Matthew Rushing, and C Bryan Jones
Associate Producer Become one! Support Trek.fm and Commentary: Trek Stars at the $25/month level or plus! Visit http://patreon.com/trekfm http://patreon.com/trekfm
Production Manager Richard Marquez
Content Manager Will Nguyen
Chapters Legend (00:00:50) Piller's Pilots (00:11:34) Westerns (00:30:26) Wrap-up (00:36:10)
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Fri, 28 August 2015
Piller, Part 1: Trek
Few people have had a greater impact on the history of Star Trek than Michael Piller. In addition to turning The Next Generation around in Season 3, Piller also created both Deep Space Nine and Voyager. In this episode of Commentary: Trek Stars, John and Mike are joined by Larry Nemecek, author of The Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion, to begin a new series on Michael Piller which will look at each of his television pilots. In Part 1, we cover Piller's work in Trek. We discuss how he impacted Season 3 of The Next Generation, what he brought to the creation of Deep Space Nine and Voyager, and challenges he faced writing the third TNG movie, Insurrection. We also give our thoughts on the new Starfleet uniforms debuting in Star Trek Beyond.
Running Time: 1 hour 15 minutes 38 seconds
Hosts John Mills and Mike Schindler
Guest Larry Nemecek
Editor and Producer Mike Schindler
Executive Producers Norman C. Lao, Matthew Rushing, and C Bryan Jones
Associate Producer Become one! Support Trek.fm and Commentary: Trek Stars at the $25/month level or plus! Visit http://patreon.com/trekfm
Production Manager Richard Marquez
Content Manager Will Nguyen
Chapters The Next Generation (00:02:37) DS9 and Voyager (00:23:55) Insurrection (00:39:15) Wrap-up (00:51:02)
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Fri, 21 August 2015
Goldsmith, Part 2: The Omen.
In 1978, Jerry Goldsmith won the only Oscar of his career for composing the score to Richard Donner's The Omen. The film stars Gregory Peck as a man whose secretly adopted son is the child of Satan. Spoilers: They all live happily ever after. In this episode of Commentary: Trek Stars, Mike is joined by Marcelo from The Talk Film Society Podcast to look at The Omen. We discuss the film in general and Goldsmith's score in particular. We also touch on our favorite Goldsmith scores from throughout his career.
Running Time: 54 minutes 58 seconds
Host Mike Schindler
Guest Marcelo Pico
Editor and Producer Mike Schindler
Executive Producers Norman C. Lao, Matthew Rushing, and C Bryan Jones
Associate Producer Become one! Support Trek.fm and Commentary: Trek Stars at the $25/month level or plus! Visit http://patreon.com/trekfm http://patreon.com/trekfm
Production Manager Richard Marquez
Content Manager Will Nguyen
Chapters The Omen (00:03:45) The Score (00:15:15) Goldsmith's Career (00:23:07) Wrap-up (00:41:09)
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Sat, 15 August 2015
Goldsmith, Part 1: Trek.
When Star Trek made the jump to the big screen in 1979, it was important to the filmmakers that Star Trek: The Motion Picture was not just a big episode of the television show. It had to be a MOVIE. In order to reinforce this concept, Oscar winner Jerry Goldsmith was hired to compose the film's music. In this episode of Commentary: Trek Stars, John and Mike are joined by John Tenuto to look at Jerry Goldsmith's work on Star Trek. We discuss his score for The Motion Picture, his return to the franchise with The Final Frontier, his theme for Voyager, and his work on the Next Generation movies. We also talk a little bit about Generations. Because why wouldn't we?
Running Time: 1 hour 16 minutes 34 seconds
Hosts John Mills and Mike Schindler
Guest John Tenuto
Editor and Producer Mike Schindler
Executive Producers Norman C. Lao, Matthew Rushing, and C Bryan Jones
Associate Producer Become one! Support Trek.fm and Commentary: Trek Stars at the $25/month level or plus! Visit http://patreon.com/trekfm http://patreon.com/trekfm
Production Manager Richard Marquez
Content Manager Will Nguyen
Chapters The Motion Picture (00:01:53) The Final Frontier (00:23:35) Voyager (00:37:43) The Next Generation Films (00:42:45) Wrap-up (01:02:39)
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Sat, 8 August 2015
Horner, Part 2: Titanic.
In 1997, James Cameron's Titanic was the king of the world. It shattered box office records and won eleven Oscars, including Best Picture. Two of those Oscars went to James Horner for his work on both the score and the song "My Heart Will Go On". In this episode of Commentary: Trek Stars, Mike and John take a look at what is arguably the crowning achievement of Horner's career. We discuss our thoughts on Titanic on the whole, the score in particular, and, of course, that song. We also look at other highlights of Horner's career, including Aliens, Apollo 13, Braveheart, Willow, and his final film, Southpaw.
Running Time: 1 hour 1 minute 33 seconds
Hosts Mike Schindler and John Mills
Editor and Producer Mike Schindler
Executive Producers Norman C. Lao, Matthew Rushing, and C Bryan Jones
Associate Producer Become one! Support Trek.fm and Commentary: Trek Stars at the $25/month level or plus! Visit http://patreon.com/trekfm http://patreon.com/trekfm
Production Manager Richard Marquez
Content Manager Will Nguyen
Chapters Titanic (00:01:17) The Music (00:20:10) Other Work (00:33:41) Wrap-up (00:52:47)
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Sun, 2 August 2015
Horner, Part 1: Trek.
In an attempt to differentiate from Star Trek: The Motion Picture, and perhaps save a little money at the same time, the producers of Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan hired a new composer. James Horner was a young talent just starting to make his name in the business. No one knew that he would go on to win two Oscars, leaving his sonic stamp on the musical landscape. In this episode of Commentary: Trek Stars, John and Mike are joined by John Tenuto to discuss Horner's work in Star Trek. We look at what led him to The Wrath of Khan, why he stayed for The Search for Spock, and why he did not return for future installments. We also review the new Star Wars novel, Dark Disciple. Because why not?
Running Time: 1 hour 15 minutes 15 seconds
Hosts John Mills and Mike Schindler
Guests John Tenuto
Editor and Producer Mike Schindler
Executive Producers Norman C. Lao, Matthew Rushing, and C Bryan Jones
Associate Producer Become one! Support Trek.fm and Commentary: Trek Stars at the $25/month level or plus! Visit http://patreon.com/trekfm http://patreon.com/trekfm
Production Manager Richard Marquez
Content Manager Will Nguyen
Chapters James Horner (00:03:20) Thoughts on The Wrath of Khan (00:17:55) The Search for Spock (00:31:20) Final Thoughts (00:46:33) Wrap-up (00:52:42)
Send us your feedback! Twitter: @trekfm Facebook: http://facebook.com/trekfm Voicemail: http://www.speakpipe.com/trekfm Contact Form: http://www.trek.fm/contact Subscribe in iTunes: http://itunes.com/trekfm
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Fri, 24 July 2015
Hurley, Part 4: Recap.
Very few people have had a chance to talk to Maurice Hurley about his time on Star Trek: The Next Generation. One of them is Ben Robinson, the project manager for Star Trek: The Official Starships Collection. In this episode of Commentary: Trek Stars, Mike and John are joined by Ben to take a closer look at Hurley's work on Star Trek. We discuss How Hurley became the showrunner during Season One, what fell apart in Season Two, and his plans for the Borg were. We also recap our look at Hurley's last two movies, The Proposal and Groom Lake
Running Time: 1 hour 20 minutes 30 seconds
Hosts Mike Schindler and John Mills
Guest Ben Robinson
Editor and Producer Mike Schindler
Executive Producers Norman C. Lao, Matthew Rushing, and C Bryan Jones
Associate Producer Become one! Support Trek.fm and Commentary: Trek Stars at the $25/month level or plus! Visit http://patreon.com/trekfm http://patreon.com/trekfm
Production Manager Richard Marquez
Content Manager Will Nguyen
Chapters Recap (00:01:17) Ben Robinson (00:07:15) Season One (00:23:53) Season Two (00:35:23) The Borg (00:43:35) Final Thoughts (00:58:56) Wrap-Up (01:08:20)
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Fri, 17 July 2015
Hurley, Part 3: Groom Lake.
In 2002, Maurice Hurley teamed with director William Shatner to write the alien encounter movie, Groom Lake. The picture is about a dying woman, played by Amy Acker, who travels to an area famous for UFO sightings in an attempt to assure herself that there is more to the universe than life on Earth. In this episode of Commentary: Trek Stars, John and Mike discuss Hurley's final movie. We also touch on his television career, including Miami Vice. And in news, we take a look at the production team assembled by Justin Lin to make Star Trek Beyond.
Running Time: 1 hour 6 minutes 6 seconds
Hosts John Mills and Mike Schindler
Editor and Producer Mike Schindler
Executive Producers Norman C. Lao, Matthew Rushing, and C Bryan Jones
Associate Producer Become one! Support Trek.fm and Commentary: Trek Stars at the $25/month level or plus! Visit http://patreon.com/trekfm http://patreon.com/trekfm
Production Manager Richard Marquez
Content Manager Will Nguyen
Chapters Groom Lake (00:08:42) Miami Vice (00:25:45) Star Trek Beyond Production Team (00:49:00) Wrap-up (00:55:34)
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Fri, 10 July 2015
Hurley, Part 2: The Proposal.
In this episode of Commentary: Trek Stars, Mike and John look at our first Maurice Hurley film, The Proposal. Directed by Richard Gale, the film stars Nick Moran and Jennifer Esposito as two cops who must pose undercover as husband and wife. We discuss the budgetary restrictions, the quality of the other filmmaking elements, and how the script is representative of Hurley's other work. We also chat about the release of William Shatner's new documentary, Chaos on the Bridge, and the casting of Idris Elba in Star Trek Beyond.
Running Time: 56 minutes 40 seconds
Hosts Mike Schindler and John Mills
Editor and Producer Mike Schindler
Executive Producers Norman C. Lao, Matthew Rushing, and C Bryan Jones
Associate Producer Become one! Support Trek.fm and Commentary: Trek Stars at the $25/month level or plus! Visit http://patreon.com/trekfm
Production Manager Richard Marquez
Content Manager Will Nguyen
Chapters Chaos on the Bridge (00:01:06) Voicemail (00:14:38) The Proposal (00:20:07) Star Trek Beyond (00:40:00) Wrap-up (00:46:55)
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Fri, 3 July 2015
Hurley, Part 1: Trek.
Of all the contributors to Star Trek: The Next Generation's creation, none are as overlooked as Maurice Hurley. The writer and co-executive producer served and showrunner for the first two seasons of the series, helping to shape it into the show we know and love. And along the way, he also created the Borg. In this episode of Commentary: Trek Stars, John and Mike begin a new series looking at Hurley's work as a screenwriter. For the first part of the series, they are joined by the author of The Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion, Larry Nemecek, to break down Hurley's work on Star Trek. We discuss the behind-the-scenes climate of Season One, Hurley's contributions to the mythology, and his unused treatment for the film that would become Star Trek Generations. We also wonder when William Shatner's documentary, Chaos on the Bridge, will finally be released (spoilers, it came out this week).
Running Time: 1 hour 15 minutes 13 seconds
Hosts John Mills and Mike Schindler
Guest Larry Nemecek
Editor and Producer Mike Schindler
Executive Producers Norman C. Lao, Matthew Rushing, and C Bryan Jones
Associate Producer Become one! Support Trek.fm and Commentary: Trek Stars at the $25/month level or plus! Visit http://patreon.com/trekfm http://patreon.com/trekfm
Production Manager Richard Marquez
Content Manager Will Nguyen
Chapters Maurice Hurley (00:01:56) Season Two (00:12:25) The Borg (00:32:19) Hurley's Departure (00:41:52) Star Trek VII Treatment (00:48:42) Wrap-up (01:02:32)
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Fri, 26 June 2015
Lindelof, Part 7: Tomorrowland.
Some movies are based on books. Others, on comics. One or two (or twelve) draw their inspiration from television shows. And every so often, there's a movie adaption of a theme park. In this episode of Commentary: Trek Stars, Mike and John are joined by Darren of Earl Grey to discuss Tomorrowland, the new film co-written by Damon Lindelof. We discuss the movie on the whole, the writing in particular, and how the movie fits into Lindelof filmography. We also remember James Horner.
Running Time: 1 hour 2 minutes 48 seconds
Hosts Mike Schindler and John Mills
Guest Darren Moser
Editor and Producer Mike Schindler
Executive Producers Norman C. Lao, Matthew Rushing, and C Bryan Jones
Associate Producer Become one! Support Trek.fm and Commentary: Trek Stars at the $25/month level or plus! Visit http://patreon.com/trekfm
Production Manager Richard Marquez
Content Manager Will Nguyen
Chapters Tomorrowland (00:06:43) The Writing (00:20:43) Lindelof's Filmography (00:34:01) James Horner (00:48:30) Wrap-up (00:53:57)
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Fri, 19 June 2015
Bennett, Part 6: Recap.
Harve Bennett's career as a television series creator spanned 30 years, from 1968 to 1998. In this episode of Commentary: Trek Stars, John and Mike recap our look at five of Bennett's shows, including The Mod Squad, The Invisible Man, Time Trax, and Invasion America. We also discuss a George Takei movie we never knew existed.
Running Time: 53 minutes 37 seconds
Hosts John Mills and Mike Schindler
Editor and Producer Mike Schindler
Executive Producers Norman C. Lao, Matthew Rushing, and C Bryan Jones
Associate Producer Become one! Support Trek.fm and Commentary: Trek Stars at the $25/month level or plus! Visit http://patreon.com/trekfm
Production Manager Richard Marquez
Content Manager Will Nguyen
Chapters The Mod Squad (00:01:30) The Invisible Man (00:07:02) Time Trax (00:15:11) Invasion America (00:27:57) The Young Divorcees (00:34:03)
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Thu, 11 June 2015
Bennett, Part 5: Invasion America.
Thirty years after the premiere of his first television series, Harve Bennett's last television series was released. Invasion America was a primetime animated series about a high school boy who finds himself in the middle of an intergalactic civil war. In this episode of Commentary: Trek Stars, Mike and John take a look at Bennett's final series. We discuss his ability to adapt to the times, the bold nature of serialized cartoons, and his collaboration with TNG writer Michael Reaves. We also ponder the extent of Steven Spielberg's involvement with the show.
Running Time: 55 minutes 46 seconds
Hosts Mike Schindler and John Mills
Editor and Producer Mike Schindler
Executive Producers Norman C. Lao, Matthew Rushing, and C Bryan Jones
Associate Producer Become one! Support Trek.fm and Commentary: Trek Stars at the $25/month level or plus! Visit http://patreon.com/trekfm http://patreon.com/trekfm
Production Manager Richard Marquez
Content Manager Will Nguyen
Chapters Invasion America (00:00:51) Thoughts on the Show (00:11:52) Trek Collaborators (00:22:21) Final Thoughts (00:39:21) Wrap-up (00:44:55)
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Thu, 4 June 2015
Bennett, Part 4: Time Trax.
In the 1980s, Harve Bennett jumped to the big screen to write and produce Star Trek. After his run had ended, Bennett returned to television to create a new science fiction series, Time Trax. The show is about a police officer from the year 2193 who travels back in time to 1993 in an effort to catch future criminals hiding in the past. In this episode of Commentary: Trek Stars, John and Mike take a look at Bennett's fourth series. We discuss the television landscape at the time, the similarities to Quantum Leap, and the questionable use of CGI. We also learn who David McCallum is.
Running Time: 54 minutes 18 seconds
Hosts John Mills and Mike Schindler
Editor and Producer Mike Schindler
Executive Producers Norman C. Lao, Matthew Rushing, and C Bryan Jones
Associate Producer Become one! Support Trek.fm and Commentary: Trek Stars at the $25/month level or plus! Visit http://patreon.com/trekfm http://patreon.com/trekfm
Production Manager Richard Marquez
Content Manager Will Nguyen
Chapters Time Trax (00:01:09) Thoughts on the Show (00:16:29) The Future World (00:29:47) Listener Feedback (00:36:18) Wrap-up (00:44:20)
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Fri, 29 May 2015
Bennett, Part 3: The Invisible Man.
In 1975, Harve Bennett teamed with another future television legend, Steven Bochco, to create his second television show, The Invisible Man. Based on the book by H.G. Wells, the series was a modern retelling of the sci-fi classic, about a scientist who accidentally turns himself invisible. In this episode of Commentary: Trek Stars, Mike and John take a look at Bennett's second series. We discuss
Running Time: 44 minutes 24 seconds
Hosts Mike Schindler and John Mills
Editor and Producer Mike Schindler
Executive Producers Norman C. Lao, Matthew Rushing, and C Bryan Jones
Associate Producer Become one! Support Trek.fm and Commentary: Trek Stars at the $25/month level or higher! Visit http://patreon.com/trekfm
Production Manager Richard Marquez
Content Manager Will Nguyen
Chapters The Invisible Man (00:08:18) Changes to the series (00:21:30) Final Thoughts (00:31:44)
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Thu, 21 May 2015
Bennett, Part 2: The Mod Squad.
As Star Trek was entering its final season in 1968, another soon-to-be iconic series was just beginning. The Mod Squad, creator Harve Bennett's first television series, told the story of three young undercover police officers who were used to infiltrate criminal activity in an ever-changing world. In this episode of Commentary: Trek Stars, John and Mike take a look at The Mod Squad. We discuss the similarities and differences to other police shows at the time, how it reflected the changing television landscape, and the thematic parallels to Star Trek. We also try to figure out what's going on in the opening title sequence.
Running Time: 38 minutes 34 seconds
Hosts John Mills and Mike Schindler
Editor and Producer Mike Schindler
Production Manager Richard Marquez
Content Coordinator Will Nguyen
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Chapters The Mod Squad (00:01:14) Thoughts on the Show (00:12:53) Social Themes (00:22:38) Wrap-up (00:31:31)
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Fri, 15 May 2015
Bennett, Part 1: Trek.
On February 25th, 2015, the Star Trek family lost one of its most significant members, Harve Bennett. Bennett is largely responsible for revitalizing the Star Trek film franchise after the creative and financial missteps of The Motion Picture. It is impossible to imagine what Star Trek would look like today, had it not been for the work of Harve Bennett. In this episode of Commentary: Trek Stars, Mike and John begin a new series on Bennett, looking the television shows he created over a career spanning three decades. In the first part of our series, we examine his work on Star Trek, looking at all of the movies he produced and wrote, including The Wrath of Khan, The Search for Spock, The Voyage Home, and The Final Frontier. We also remember Grace Lee Whitney.
Running Time: 49 minutes 28 seconds
Hosts Mike Schindler and John Mills
Editor and Producer Mike Schindler
Production Manager Richard Marquez
Content Coordinator Will Nguyen
Associate Producer Become one! Support Trek.fm and Commentary: Trek Stars at the $25/month level or plus! Visit http://patreon.com/trekfm http://patreon.com/trekfm
Chapters The Wrath of Khan (00:02:57) The Search for Spock (00:08:46) The Voyage Home (00:17:14) The Final Frontier (00:24:03) Starfleet Academy (00:29:04) Grace Lee Whitney (00:38:33) Wrap-Up (00:41:18)
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Thu, 7 May 2015
James Kahn.
In this episode of Commentary: Trek Stars, John and Mike are joined by their very special guest, Star Trek: Voyager writer/producer James Kahn. We discuss Kahn's work on Voyager episodes such as "Critical Care" and "Lineage", as well as his Next Generation episode, "The Masterpiece Society". We also discuss Kahn's non-Trek work, including books such as The New World Trilogy, novelizations of films like Poltergeist and Return of the Jedi, and television shows, including Melrose Place and All My Children. We also find out about his upcoming film, Wrongside Bob.
Running Time: 55 minutes 54 seconds
Hosts John Mills and Mike Schindler
Guest James Kahn
Editor and Producer Mike Schindler
Production Manager Richard Marquez
Content Coordinator Will Nguyen
Associate Producer Become one! Support Trek.fm and Commentary: Trek Stars at the $25/month level or plus! Visit http://patreon.com/trekfm http://patreon.com/trekfm
Chapters Breaking In (00:01:48) The New World Trilogy (00:07:13) Novelizations (00:13:08) Star Trek (00:24:12) The Writers' Room (00:34:34) Wrongside Bob (00:42:14) Wrap-up (00:45:57)
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Thu, 30 April 2015
Nimoy, Part 5: Recap.
Leonard Nimoy had an extremely diverse career. He was photographer, a writer, a director, a producer, and even a singer. But of course, he was best known as an actor. Specifically, a television star. In the fifth season finale of Commentary: Trek Stars, Mike and John recap their series on Nimoy's work as a television actor. We look at each of the shows he starred in, including Star Trek (TOS), Mission: Impossible, Star Trek (TAS), In Search of…, and Ancient Mysteries. We also remember the writer of "Court Martial," Don Mankiewicz
Running Time: 36 minutes 58 seconds
Hosts Mike Schindler and John Mills
Editor and Producer Mike Schindler
Production Manager Richard Marquez
Content Coordinator Will Nguyen
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Chapters Fiction (00:01:12) Non-Fiction (00:14:25) Wrap-up (00:23:35)
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Sat, 25 April 2015
Nimoy, Part 4: Ancient Mysteries.
More than a decade after the end of In Search of…, Leonard Nimoy returned to the world of television show hosting with a very similar series, Ancient Mysteries. This show also focused on topics such as Bigfoot, the Loch Ness Monster, and Atlantis, but with a modern-day 1990s slant. In this episode of Commentary: Trek Stars, Max, John and Mike take a look at Leonard Nimoy's fifth television series. We discuss the similarities to In Search of…, the subtle differences in Nimoy's performance, and some of the reasons why Nimoy may have agreed to do such a show once again. We also read some listener mail and contemplate the supposed title of the new Star Trek movie
Running Time: 1 hour 56 seconds
Hosts Max Hegel, John Mills and Mike Schindler
Editor and Producer Mike Schindler
Production Manager Richard Marquez
Content Coordinator Will Nguyen
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Chapters Ancient Mysteries (00:01:25) Nimoy's Involvement (00:15:33) Final Thoughts (00:27:27) Star Trek Beyond (00:40:58) Wrap-up (00:48:44)
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Sat, 18 April 2015
Nimoy, Part 3: In Search of....
In addition to his work as an actor, Leonard Nimoy has also hosted two television shows. The first of which was In Search of…. The pseudo-documentary series looked at unexplained phenomena throughout history, touching on everything from UFO cover-ups and the Loch Ness Monster to Marilyn Monroe and Lee Harvey Oswald. In this episode of Commentary: Trek Stars, John and Mike take a look Nimoy's fourth television series. We discuss our nostalgic fondness for the show, the influence that it had on the television of the 80s and 90s, and speculate on why Nimoy chose to work on it. We also look at the recent additions to the crew of STAR TR3K.
Running Time: 45 minutes 28 seconds
Hosts John Mills and Mike Schindler
Editor and Producer Mike Schindler
Production Manager Richard Marquez
Content Coordinator Will Nguyen
Associate Producer Become one! Support Trek.fm and Commentary: Trek Stars at the $25/month level or plus! Visit http://patreon.com/trekfm http://patreon.com/trekfm
Chapters In Search of... (00:01:17) Nimoy's Involvement (00:17:35) STAR TR3K News (00:28:07) Wrap-up (00:38:29)
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Sat, 11 April 2015
Nimoy, Part 2: Mission: Impossible.
When Star Trek was cancelled in 1969, Leonard Nimoy wasted no time jumping onto another television series. The very next season, he joined the cast of another Desilu production, Mission: Impossible as Paris, a master of disguise. In this episode of Commentary: Trek Stars, Mike and John look at Nimoy's second starring television role. We discuss Mission: Impossible as a series, why it was a perfect fit Nimoy after Star Trek, how the movies stack up to the show, and the series' life-long connection to Star Trek. We also explain why Ant-Man should be the more anticipated than The Avengers: Age of Ultron.
Running Time: 1 hour 6 minutes 16 seconds
Hosts Mike Schindler and John Mills
Editor and Producer Mike Schindler
Production Manager Richard Marquez
Content Coordinator Will Nguyen
Associate Producer Become one! Support Trek.fm and Commentary: Trek Stars at the $25/month level or plus! Visit http://patreon.com/trekfm http://patreon.com/trekfm
Chapters Mission: Impossible (00:01:47) Nimoy's Performance (00:12:58) The Movies (00:24:13) The Star Trek Connection (00:34:45) Feedback (00:44:00) Wrap-up (01:01:26)
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Sat, 4 April 2015
Nimoy, Part 1: Trek. Few people have contributed more to Star Trek than Leonard Nimoy. As an actor, he co-created the character of Spock as we know him. And as a director, he made the first Star Trek film which crossed over into the main stream. In this episode of Commentary: Trek Stars, John and Mike begin a new series which examines Nimoy's career as a television star, in which we will look at his work on Mission: Impossible, In Search of... and Ancient Mysteries. In the first part of the series, we look at Nimoy's work on Star Trek, looking at his contribution to the series as both an actor and a director. We also piece together the 50 Cent Cinematic Universe.
Running Time: 45 minutes 37 seconds
Hosts John Mills and Mike Schindler
Editor and Producer Mike Schindler
Production Manager Richard Marquez
Content Coordinator Will Nguyen
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Chapters The TV Shows (00:02:17) The Movies (00:18:34) Directing (00:30:43) Wrap-up (00:37:37)
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Sat, 28 March 2015
Shatner, Part 7: Recap. Many people have played themselves in movies. Cecil B. DeMille in Sunset Blvd. Will Smith in Jersey Girl. 65 different people in The Player. But no one has built a fictional mythology for their on-screen alter ego quite like William Shatner. In this episode of Commentary: Trek Stars, Max, John and Mike recap their series on William Shatner, looking at each film in which he plays himself, including Free Enterprise, Festival in Cannes, Showtime, Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story, and Fanboys. We also listen to some voicemail.
Running Time: 53 minutes 32 seconds
Hosts Max Hegel, John Mills and Mike Schindler
Editor and Producer Mike Schindler
Production Manager Richard Marquez
Content Coordinator Will Nguyen
Associate Producer Become one! Support Trek.fm and Commentary: Trek Stars at the $25/month level or plus! Visit http://patreon.com/trekfm http://patreon.com/trekfm
Chapters Free Enterprise (00:01:31) Festival in Cannes (00:08:00) Showtime (00:13:21) Dodgeball (00:16:49) Fanboys (00:23:44) Final Thoughts (00:32:02) Wrap-up (00:39:09)
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Fri, 20 March 2015
Shatner, Part 6: Fanboys.
Many Trek.fm listeners may not know this, but there is another science fiction franchise which has gained a decent amount of popularity over the years. It's known as "Star Wars." The plot is insignificant. Basically, think Star Trek with magic. Regardless, from 1977 to 1983, three films were made as part of something which is now referred to as the "Original Trilogy." Then, the franchise disappeared for 16 years, before finally returning in 1999 with the first film in the "Prequel Trilogy." During those 16 years, a small but devoted group of fans eagerly anticipated the return of their beloved space opera. These fans are the subject of this episode's movie, Fanboys. In the film, four lifelong Star Wars fans travel across country to break into Skywalker Ranch and steal a print of Star Wars: Episode I--The Phantom Menace before it's released. Along the way, they are helped by many people, including William Shatner. In this episode of Commentary: Trek Stars, Mike and Max take a look at the final film in the Shatner Cinematic Universe. We discuss the long, complicated history of Fanboys, Shatner's role in advancing the plot of the film, and how it fits into the Shatnerverse. We also debate how excited we should be for Star Wars: Episode VII--The Force Awakens.
Running Time: 48 minutes x40 seconds
Hosts Mike Schindler and Max Hegel
Editor and Producer Mike Schindler
Production Manager Richard Marquez
Content Coordinator Will Nguyen
Associate Producer Become one! Support Trek.fm and Commentary: Trek Stars at the $25/month level or plus! Visit http://patreon.com/trekfm http://patreon.com/trekfm
Chapters Fanboys (00:05:15) Cameos (00:17:25) Shatner (00:29:12) Wrap-up (00:41:58)
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Fri, 13 March 2015
Shatner, Part 5: Dodgeball.
In 2004, William Shatner returned to the big screen for the fourth as himself in Rawson Marshall Thurber's Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story. The film stars Vince Vaughn and Ben Stiller as competing gym owners who face off in the Dodgeball World Championship. In this episode of Commentary: Trek Stars, John, Mike and Max look at Shatner's portrayal of himself as the Dodgeball Chancellor. We discuss the merits of the film's comedy, Shatner's performance, and whether or not this technically counts as an entry into the Shatner Cinematic Universe. We also remember Star Trek movie producer Harve Bennett.
Running Time: 53 minutes 31 seconds
Hosts John Mills, Mike Schindler and Max Hegel
Editor and Producer Mike Schindler
Production Manager Richard Marquez
Content Coordinator Will Nguyen
Associate Producer Become one! Support Trek.fm and Commentary: Trek Stars at the $25/month level or plus! Visit http://patreon.com/trekfm http://patreon.com/trekfm
Chapters Dodgeball (00:01:10) Shatner's Performance (00:16:46) Does it Fit in the Shatnerverse? (00:27:44) Harve Bennett (00:41:45)
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Fri, 6 March 2015
Hurley and Nimoy.
Last week, the Star Trek family lost two members whose contributions to the franchise were enormous, Maurice Hurley and Leonard Nimoy. Hurley was a writer/producer who ran Star Trek: The Next Generation through its first two seasons. Amongst his many contributions was the creation of the Borg. Nimoy was the face of Star Trek. His portrayal of Commander Spock on the original series set the tone for everything that has come since. Behind the camera, he directed two of the most popular TOS movies, Star Trek III: The Search for Spock and Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home. In this episode of Commentary: Trek Stars, Max, John and Mike take a look at the careers of Hurley and Nimoy both inside and out of Star Trek, and discuss how their art has impacted us personally.
Running Time: 1 hour 3 minutes 49 seconds
Hosts Max Hegel, John Mills and Mike Schindler
Editor and Producer Mike Schindler
Production Manager Richard Marquez
Content Coordinator Will Nguyen
Associate Producer Become one! Support Trek.fm and Commentary: Trek Stars at the $25/month level or plus! Visit http://patreon.com/trekfm http://patreon.com/trekfm
Chapters Hurley's Trek Work (00:02:15) Hurley's Other Work (00:18:48) Nimoy's Trek Work (00:23:27) Nimoy's Other Work (00:38:12) Final Thoughts (00:49:43)
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Fri, 27 February 2015
Shatner, Part 4: Showtime. One week after the release of Festival in Cannes, the third film in the Shatner Cinematic Universe made its way to the silver screen. Showtime features Robert De Niro and Eddie Murphy as two cops are forced to work together as part of a reality television show. Along the way, they receive tips on how to become TV cops, by none other than T.J. Hooker himself, William Shatner. In this episode of Commentary: Trek Stars, Mike, Max and John look at William Shatner as himself in Showtime. We discuss the quality of the movie, how Shatner's performance elevates the entire picture, and what the film adds to the mythology of the Shatnerverse. We also reveal Mike and Max's unhealthy obsession with William Shatner in the workplace.
Running Time: 39 minutes 57 seconds
Hosts Mike Schindler, Max Hegel and John Mills
Editor and Producer Mike Schindler
Production Manager Richard Marquez
Content Coordinator Will Nguyen
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Chapters Showtime (00:04:15) Shatner's Performance (00:17:49) Final Thoughts (00:30:27)
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Fri, 20 February 2015
Shatner, Part 3: Festival in Cannes.
In 1999, William Shatner attended the Cannes Film Festival to promote his work in Free Enterprise. While there, he ran into his old friend Maximillian Schell, who was filming the largely improvised film, Festival in Cannes. Their reunion appears in that film, making it a part of the Shatner Cinematic Universe. In this episode of Commentary: Trek Star, John and Mike take a look Festival in Cannes. We discuss the film on the whole, Shatner's performance, and how it fits into the Shatnerverse. We also wonder why Entrapment opened the festival in 1999.
Running Time: 43 minutes 14 seconds
Hosts John Mills and Mike Schindler
Editor and Producer Mike Schindler
Production Manager Richard Marquez
Content Coordinator Will Nguyen
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Chapters Festival in Cannes (00:01:00) Shatner's Appearance (00:18:38) Wrap-up (00:33:44)
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Fri, 13 February 2015
Shatner, Part 2: Free Enterprise.
In 1999, the "Shatnerverse" was created with the release of Free Enterprise. The film is about two Star Trek fans who are struggling to make it in Hollywood. During a time of personal crisis, they meet their idol, William Shatner (played by William Shatner), who may not be all that he appears to be. In this episode of Commentary: Trek Stars, Max, John and Mike look at the first film in which Shatner plays himself. We discuss our thoughts on the film, Shatner's performance, and whether or the movie successfully launches the "Shatnerverse". We also debate whether or not the film played at the Biograph Theater in Chicago.
Running Time: 44 minutes 39 seconds
Hosts Max Hegel, John Mills and Mike Schindler
Editor and Producer Mike Schindler
Production Manager Richard Marquez
Content Coordinator Will Nguyen
Associate Producer Become one! Support Trek.fm and Commentary: Trek Stars at the $25/month level or plus! Visit http://patreon.com/trekfm http://patreon.com/trekfm
Chapters Free Enterprise (00:00:57) Shatner's Performance (00:15:33) The Shatnerverse (00:22:49) Wrap-up (00:32:06)
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Fri, 6 February 2015
Shatner, Part 1: Trek.
William Shatner is excellent at what he does, which is everything. But one thing which he is the absolute best at is playing himself. In this episode of Commentary: Trek Stars, Mike, Max and John begin their new series which looks at the films of the "Shatnerverse," movies in which William Shatner plays himself. These include Free Enterprise, Festival in Cannes, Showtime, Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story, and Fanboys. In the first part of the series, we look at Shatner's work in Star Trek, as both an actor and director. We also get Max and Mike's opinions on the hiring of Simon Pegg and Doug Jung as writers of STAR TR3K.
Running Time: 52 minutes 34 seconds
Hosts Mike Schindler, Max Hegel and John Mills
Editor and Producer Mike Schindler
Production Manager Richard Marquez
Content Coordinator Will Nguyen
Associate Producer Become one! Support Trek.fm and Commentary: Trek Stars at the $25/month level or plus! Visit http://patreon.com/trekfm http://patreon.com/trekfm
Chapters William Shatner (00:02:05) Captain Kirk (00:12:36) Directing Star Trek V (00:24:51) Simon Pegg & Doug Jung (00:35:57) Wrap-up (00:45:16)
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Sun, 1 February 2015
Mulgrew, Part 2: Orange is the New Black. Up until recently, Kate Mulgrew was best known for her portrayal of Captain Janeway on Star Trek: Voyager. But in recent years, she has gained newfound popularity and acclaim for her role as Red on the hit series Orange is the New Black. In this episode of Commentary: Trek Stars, John is joined by Charlynn of To the Journey to look at Mulgrew's Emmy-nominated performance. We discuss the female-centric nature of the show, how Mulgrew's performance differs from that on Voyager, and the sympathetic nature of Red. We also discuss the new STAR TR3K writing team of Doug Jung and Simon Pegg.
Running Time: 52 minutes 9 seconds
Host John Mills
Guest Charlynn Schmiedt
Editor John Mills
Producers John Mills and Mike Schindler
Production Manager Richard Marquez
Content Coordinator Will Nguyen
Associate Producer Become one! Support Trek.fm and Commentary: Trek Stars at the $25/month level or plus! Visit http://patreon.com/trekfm http://patreon.com/trekfm
Chapters Orange is the New Black (00:02:15) Mulgrew's Performance (00:13:58) Sympathetic Red (00:23:21) Trek News (00:39:30) Wrap-Up (00:47:57)
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Thu, 22 January 2015
Mulgrew, Part 1: Trek. Twenty years ago, Star Trek: Voyager, the first (and only) Star Trek series to feature a female captain, debuted on the UPN. Captain Kathryn Janeway was brought to life on screen by Kate Mulgrew. This week on Commentary: Trek Stars, Mike and John are joined by Charlynn of To the Journey! to look at Mulgrew's work on Trek. We discuss the choice to have a female captain, the character of Janeway, and Mulgrew's performance. We also listen to some voicemail!
Running Time: 59 minutes 58 seconds
Hosts Mike Schindler and John Mills
Guests Charlynn Schmeidt
Editor and Producer Mike Schindler
Production Manager Richard Marquez
Content Coordinator Will Nguyen
Associate Producer Become one! Support Trek.fm and Commentary: Trek Stars at the $25/month level or plus! Visit http://patreon.com/trekfm http://patreon.com/trekfm
Chapters Kate Mulgrew (00:01:03) Kathryn Janeway (00:14:46) Mulgrew's Performance (00:24:48) Final Thoughts (00:41:39) Wrap-up (00:52:14)
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Fri, 16 January 2015
Burton, Part 4: Recap. It may be surprising to some, but LeVar Burton has been nominated for more Emmys than any other actor in Star Trek. Ten of those nominations resulted in wins. But what may be even more impressive is the diversity of the work for which those nominations were earned. In this episode of Commentary: Trek Stars, John and Mike recap their look at Burton's Emmy-nominated work. We discuss his performance in Roots, his active role in Reading Rainbow, and touch on some of his other work, both in front of and behind the camera. We also wonder whether or not Community and The Big Bang Theory take place in the same continuity.
Running Time: 43 minutes 19 seconds
Hosts John Mills and Mike Schindler
Editor and Producer Mike Schindler
Production Manager Richard Marquez
Content Coordinator Will Nguyen
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Chapters Roots (00:00:50) Reading Rainbow (00:12:50) Other Work (00:19:30) Wrap-up (00:35:10)
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Mon, 12 January 2015
Burton, Part 3: Reading Rainbow Years before barrel-rolling into our hearts as Geordi LaForge on Star Trek: The Next Generation, LeVar Burton was already very well established from years of work as the host and producer of Reading Rainbow. The PBS series encouraged children to read by offering book recommendations accompanied by filmed "field trips," which took a closer look at the real-world elements from the stories. Over the course of the show's sixteen seasons, Burton won twelve Emmy Awards. In this episode of Commentary: Trek Stars, Mike, Max and John take a look at Burton's work on Reading Rainbow. We discuss its impact on the youth of America, what it means to today's generation of kids, and how it has been relaunched as an interactive app.
Running Time: 39 minutes 34 seconds
Hosts Mike Schindler, Max Hegel and John Mills
Editor and Producer Mike Schindler
Production Manager Richard Marquez
Content Coordinator Will Nguyen
Associate Producer Become one! Support Trek.fm and Commentary: Trek Stars at the $25/month level or plus! Visit http://patreon.com/trekfm http://patreon.com/trekfm
Chapters Reading Rainbow (00:00:45) The TNG Episode (00:11:15) The App (00:20:52) Wrap-up (00:33:01)
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Fri, 2 January 2015
Burton, Part 2: Roots. LeVar Burton's first on-screen performance is also the first to earn him an Emmy nomination. At the age of twenty, he burst onto the scene in the television miniseries, Roots. The show looks at the history of an African American family over the span of a century, from slavery through liberation. Burton leads a huge cast of critically-acclaimed veteran actors, and received a Best Lead Actor nomination for his efforts. In this episode of Commentary: Trek Stars, John, Mike and Max look at Burton's work on Roots. We discuss the cultural impact of the series, Burton's performance, and how his portrayal of Kunta Kinte influenced people's perceptions of history. We also remember TOS director Joseph Sargent, and take a look at who's writing STAR TR3K.
Running Time: 46 minutes 17 seconds
Hosts John Mills, Mike Schindler and Max Hegel
Editor and Producer Mike Schindler
Production Manager Richard Marquez
Content Coordinator Will Nguyen
Associate Producer Become one! Support Trek.fm and Commentary: Trek Stars at the $25/month level or plus! Visit http://patreon.com/trekfm http://patreon.com/trekfm
Chapters Roots (00:00:53) Joseph Sargent (00:28:25) STAR TR3K Writers (00:30:48)
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Sat, 27 December 2014
Burton, Part 1: Trek. LeVar Burton is best known for his role as Geordi LaForge on Star Trek: The Next Generation. But his contribution to television on the whole goes well beyond that. In addition to a nomination for his performance in the acclaimed miniseries Roots, he has also won ten Emmy Awards for his work on the children's show, Reading Rainbow. In this episode of Commentary: Trek Stars, Max and Mike begin a new series in which we look at Burton's Emmy-nominated work. In this introduction, we discuss his work on Star Trek as both an actor and a director. We also discuss the hiring of Justin Lin as director of STAR TR3K.
Running Time: 56 minutes 25 seconds
Hosts Max Hegel and Mike Schindler
Editor and Producer Mike Schindler
Production Manager Richard Marquez
Content Coordinator Will Nguyen
Associate Producer Become one! Support Trek.fm and Commentary: Trek Stars at the $25/month level or plus! Visit http://patreon.com/trekfm http://patreon.com/trekfm
Chapters LeVar Burton (00:02:33) Acting (00:03:32) Directing (00:24:02) Justin Lin (00:37:40) Wrap-up (00:49:15)
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Fri, 19 December 2014
Taylor, Part 6: Recap.
Over the course of 15 years, Jeri Taylor worked as a writing producer in television. In that time, a definite progression of thematic elements can be seen running through each of her shows. Timely social issues, procedural crimefighers, and strong women are present all the way back in her episodes of Quincy, M.E., and come to the forefront in her final television creation, Star Trek: Voyager.
In this episode of Commentary: Trek Stars, John and Mike recap their series on Taylor's career. We look at her work on Quincy, M.E., Blue Thunder, Magnum, P.I., In the Heat of the Night, Jake and the Fat Man, Star Trek: The Next Generation, and Star Trek: Voyager. We also discuss the latest candidates for the STAR TR3Kdirector's chair.
Running Time: 1 hour 4 minutes 47 seconds
Hosts Mike Schindler and John Mills
Editor and Producer Mike Schindler
Production Manager Richard Marquez
Content Coordinator Will Nguyen
Associate Producer Become one! Support Trek.fm and Commentary: Trek Stars at the $25/month level or plus! Visit http://patreon.com/trekfm http://patreon.com/trekfm
Chapters Jeri Taylor (00:01:20) STAR TR3K Director Shortlist (00:38:58) Warp-up (00:56:57)
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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! |
Sat, 13 December 2014
Taylor, Part 5: In the Heat of the Night. After the completion of Magnum, P.I., Jeri Taylor joined the writing staff for the second season of In the Heat of the Night. The show, which was based on the Oscar-winning film and novel of the same name, looks at a small town in America's deep south, where a white police chief and a black detective try to put aside their differences and work as a team. In this episode of Commentary: Trek Stars, Mike and John discuss Taylor's contribution to the show, the similarities and differences between the show and the movie, and how the show compares to its contemporary series, Star Trek: The Next Generation. We also speculate on who may or may not be directing the next Star Trek movie.
Running Time: 1 hour 4 minutes 27 seconds Hosts Mike Schindler and John Mills
Editor and Producer Mike Schindler
Production Manager Richard Marquez
Content Coordinator Will Nguyen
Associate Producer Become one! Support Trek.fm and Commentary: Trek Stars at the $25/month level or plus! Visit http://patreon.com/trekfm http://patreon.com/trekfm
Chapters In the Heat of the Night (00:01:00) Thoughts on the Show (00:16:15) STAR TR3K's Director (00:34:24) Our Picks (00:46:44) Wrap-up (00:56:35)
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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! |
Mon, 8 December 2014
Taylor, Part 4: Magnum, P.I..
The three years following the cancellation of Blue Thunder were rather quiet in Jeri Taylor's career. Her sole credit was for a television movie entitled A Place to Call Home. But in 1987, Taylor returned to episodic television as a writing producer on the final season of Magnum, P.I.. In the show, Tom Selleck plays a Vietnam veteran who works as a private detective in Hawaii.
In this episode of Commentary: Trek Stars, John and Mike take a look at Taylor's third series. We discuss the elements which make Magnum a quintessential example of 1980s television, the ways in which Taylor brought her style into the show, and the variety which is demonstrated in her episodes.
Hosts John Mills and Mike Schindler
Editor and Producer Mike Schindler
Production Manager Richard Marquez
Content Coordinator Will Nguyen
Chapters Intro (00:01:09) Taylor's Episodes (00:12:58) Final Thoughts (00:30:34) Wrap-up (00:37:23)
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Sat, 29 November 2014
Commentary: Trek Stars 108: Airwolf is Stealing Our Blue Thunder!
Taylor, Part 3: Blue Thunder. After the cancellation of Quincy, M.E., Jeri Taylor began work on the writing staff of a new television series in 1984. Blue Thunder is a spinoff of a popular action film from the previous year about a high-tech police helicopter which is used to fight crime in Los Angeles. The series stared James Farentino as the lead, American football legends Dick Butkus and Bubba Smith as, essentially, themselves, and a pre-SNL Dana Carvey as the young computer-wiz. In this episode of Commentary: Trek Stars, Mike is joined by Tysto to look atTaylor's second television production. We discuss the 1980s TV trend of military-grade law enforcement, the bizarre casting, and the possible similarities between Blue Thunder and Star Trek: Voyager.
Hosts Mike Schindler
Guest Tysto
Editor and Producer Mike Schindler
Associate Producers Become one! Support Trek.fm and Commentary: Trek Stars at the $25/month level or higher! Visit http://patreon.com/trekfm
Chapters The Movie (00:02:09) The Series (00:07:02) The Pilot (00:17:39) The Cast (00:23:46) Taylor's Influence (00:29:20) Wrap-up (00:38:37)
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Fri, 21 November 2014
Taylor, Part 2: Quincy, M.E. After three years of work as a writer, Jeri Taylor was promoted to producer for the final season of Quincy, M.E.. The series, which starred Jack Klugman as a medical examiner who uses forensic medicine to solve crimes, was a precursor to shows like C.S.I.: Crime Scene Investigation and House, M.D.. In this episode of Commentary: Trek Stars, John and Mike discuss Taylor's work as a writer/producer on Quincy. We discuss how Taylor shaped the final season, how she was able to put her personal stamp on the show, and what her proposed spin-off, The Cutting Edge, may have been like.
Hosts Mike Schindler and John Mills
Editor and Producer Mike Schindler
Associate Producers Become one! Support Trek.fm and Commentary: Trek Stars at the $25/month level or higher! Visit http://patreon.com/trekfm
Chapters Quincy, M.E. (00:01:29) Baby Rattlesnakes (00:12:21) A Cry for Help (00:21:00) Quincy's Wedding (00:27:57) The Cutting Edge (00:32:45) Final Thoughts (00:43:33) Closing (00:48:00)
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Fri, 14 November 2014
Taylor, Part 1: Trek. In 1992, Michael Piller turned his attention towards his new Star Trek series, Deep Space Nine. This left a void in the Next Generation writer's room. That void was filled by Jeri Taylor. Under her guidance, the last two season of TNG produced some the best Trek of all-time, and earned the series its only Emmy nomination for Outstanding Drama. On the strength of that work, Taylor was given the task of creating the next Star Trek series, Voyager, which she also ran for the first four seasons. In this episode of Commentary: Trek Stars, we begin a new series which looks at Taylor's work as a television writer/producer. In our first part, Mike, Max, and John are joined by Charlynn Schmiedt of To The Journey to examine Taylor's work in Trek. We discuss her first episode, her TNG highlights, her work as a showrunner on TNG, and the creation of Voyager.
Hosts Mike Schindler, Max Hegel, and John Mills
Guest Charlynn Schmiedt
Editor and Producer Mike Schindler
Associate Producers Become one! Support Trek.fm and Commentary: Trek Stars at the $25/month level or higher! Visit http://patreon.com/trekfm
Chapters Jeri Taylor (1:31) The Next Generation (9:04) Voyager (27:12) Final Thoughts (54:53) Closing (58:50)
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Fri, 7 November 2014
Introducing John. The Original Series had Chekov. Deep Space Nine had Worf. Voyager had Seven of Nine. Sometimes your favorite shows need a little help. Commentary: Trek Stars is no exception. In our fifth season premiere, Mike and Max welcome John Mills from Words with Nerds as our third crew member. In his first episode as co-host, John tells us about his relationship with Star Trek, what he thinks about some of the creators we've already covered, and who he'd like to look at in the future.
Hosts Mike Schindler, Max Hegel, and John Mills
Editor and Producer Mike Schindler
Associate Producers Become one! Support Trek.fm and Commentary: Trek Stars at the $25/month level or higher! Visit http://patreon.com/trekfm
Chapters John and Trek (4:07) What John's Missed (10:43) What John Wants to Cover (21:06) Closing (28:30)
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Fri, 31 October 2014
Mack, Part 2: The Calling. In 2009, prolific Star Trek author David Mack published his first original novel. The Calling is a supernatural crime drama about a man who hears people's prayers. Before long, he is caught in a war between good and evil, with a young girl's life in the balance. In this episode of Commentary: Trek Stars, Max and Mike are joined by Mack to look at his novel, the origins of the story, the challenges and benefits of working outside of Trek, and the differences between writing for the page and for the screen. We also ponder the possibility of Jack Bauer existing in the Mirror Universe.
Hosts Mike Schindler and Max Hegel
Editor and Producer Mike Schindler
Associate Producers Become one! Support Trek.fm and Commentary: Trek Stars at the $25/month level or higher! Visit http://patreon.com/trekfm
Chapters The Calling (00:58) Page vs. Screen (10:40) Similarities and Differences to Trek (19:39) New York (31:13) Becoming a Novelist (37:10) Upcoming Projects (55:23) Closing (1:03:39)
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Fri, 24 October 2014
Mack, Part 1: Trek.
David Mack has written close to 30 Star Trek novels and stories over the course of his career. But before all of that, Mack had a hand in writing two Deep Space Nine adventures for the small screen. Along with his writing partner John J. Ordover, Mack wrote the fourth season episode, "Starship Down," and wrote the story upon which Ronald D. Moore's teleplay for season seven's "It's Only a Paper Moon" was based. In this episode of Commentary: Trek Stars , Mike and Max are joined by Matt of The Delta Quadrant and The Nerd Party to look at Mack's television work. We discuss "Starship Down," "It's Only a Paper Moon," and the original concept for that episode, "Everybody Goes to Quark's." We also preview Mack's original novel The Calling, which we will cover next week. Hosts Mike Schindler and Max Hegel
Editor and Producer
Mike Schindler
Associate Producers
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Chapters
Starship Down (3:35)
It’s Only a Paper Moon (17:32)
Everybody Goes to Quark's (24:40)
Final Thoughts (33:24)
Closing (36:48)
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Fri, 17 October 2014
Meyer IV: The Seven-Per-Cent Solution. When the decision was made to turn his successful novel The Seven-Per-Cent Solution into a movie, Nicholas Meyer took on the challenge of adapting it himself. The result was an Oscar nomination. The film, in which Sherlock Holmes meets Sigmund Freud, was as much of a critical success as the book which preceded it. In this episode of Commentary: Trek Stars, Max and Mike look at Meyer's work on the film directed by Herbert Ross and starring Nicol Williamson, Robert Duvall and Alan Arkin. We discuss the unusual tone of the film, the changes which were made for the screen, and how this Sherlock Holmes compares to other screen versions of the character. We also hope for a Sherlock Holmes crossover in Meyer's upcoming Sigmund Freud television series.
Hosts Mike Schindler and Max Hegel
Editor and Producer Mike Schindler
Associate Producers Become one! Support Trek.fm and Commentary: Trek Stars at the $25/month level or higher! Visit http://patreon.com/trekfm
Chapters The Seven-Per-Cent Solution (00:52) Adaptation (12:36) Final Thoughts (25:34) Closing (34:36)
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Fri, 10 October 2014
Moore, Part 8: Outlander. In the years since Battlestar Galactica, Ronald D. Moore has struggled to find another hit on television. That search has ended with his latest series, Outlander. Based on the novel by Diana Gabaldon, the show tells the story of an English nurse from 1945 who is thrown back in time to 1743 Scotland. In this episode of Commentary: Trek Stars, Mike and Max take a look at the first eight episodes of Moore's series. We discuss the strength of the characters, the use of time travel, and challenges of adapting a novel into a TV series. We also discuss the newest addition to the Star Trek family, Star Tr3k's cinematographer, Claudio Miranda.
Hosts Mike Schindler and Max Hegel
Editor and Producer Mike Schindler
Associate Producers Become one! Support Trek.fm and Commentary: Trek Stars at the $25/month level or higher! Visit http://patreon.com/trekfm
Chapters The Premise (02:00) Thoughts on the Show (09:42) Time Travel (27:14) Adaptation (30:38) Final Thoughts (39:51) Claudio Miranda (41:11) Closing (45:46)
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Fri, 3 October 2014
Wise, Part 2: Citizen Kane.
Robert Wise is best known to movie fans as the multi Oscar-winning director of The Sound of Music and West Side Story. He's best known to sci-fi fans as the man who brought The Day the Earth Stood Still and Star Trek: The Motion Picture to the big screen. But his most important contribution to the history of cinema came 38 years prior to going where no man had gone before. In 1941, Robert Wise edited Citizen Kane.
In this, the 100th episode of Commentary: Trek Stars, Max and Mike examine Wise's work on Orson Welles's masterpiece. We discuss what it is that an editor does, why Citizen Kane is so important to film history, and how Wise played an integral role in the picture's creation. Hosts
Mike Schindler and Max Hegel
Editor and Producer
Mike Schindler
Associate Producers
Become one! Support Trek.fm and Commentary: Trek Stars at the $25/month level or higher! Visit http://patreon.com/trekfm
Chapters
Editing (2:36)
Citizen Kane (13:25)
Editing Kane (29:07)
Trek Editors (45:44)
Wrap-up (49:53)
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Thu, 25 September 2014
Wise, Part 1: Trek. In 1979, ten years after the cancellation of the original series, Star Trek made the jump to the big screen. In an effort to pull out all the stops, Paramount hired Oscar-winning director Robert Wise to helm Star Trek: The Motion Picture. The rest is history. In this episode of Commentary: Trek Stars, Max and Mike are joined by Larry Nemecek to look at Wise's work on the film. We discuss Wise's place in film history, the atmosphere of fan culture leading up to the picture's release, and whether or not Wise was the right choice to direct the first Star Trek movie.
Hosts Max Hegel and Mike Schindler
Editor and Producer Mike Schindler
Associate Producer Become one! Support Trek.fm and Commentary: Trek Stars at the $25/month level or higher! Visit patreon.com/trekfm
Chapters Robert Wise (1:55) TMP Fan Culture (8:20) Fan Reaction to TMP (29:06) Was Wise the Right Choice? (40:37) Final Thoughts (1:00:44) Wrap-up (1:11:26)
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Fri, 19 September 2014
Meyer III: Houdini. Throughout his career, Nicholas Meyer has shown a fascination for the psychology behind larger-than-life historical figures. His new television mini-series, Houdini, is no exception. In this episode of Commentary: Trek Stars, Max and Mike take a look at the show, which was scripted by Meyer and stars Adrian Brody as the title character. We discuss the surprisingly high-end production value, the unusual formal qualities, and the Arthur Conan Doyle subplot. We also touch on the involvement of two Star Trek movie directors' fathers.
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Chapters Houdini (1:11) The Style (09:00) Doyle (25:20) Wrap-Up (38:49) |
Fri, 12 September 2014
Lindelof, Part 6: World War Z. Despite its enormous popularity, Damon Lindelof's television series, Lost, is often criticized for its ending. But that did not stop Marc Forster and his team from hiring Lindelof to rewrite the third act of the troubled Brad Pitt vehicle, World War Z. The movie went on to huge box office success, and much of the credit went to Lindelof and his co-writer, Drew Goddard. In this episode of Commentary: Trek Stars, Mike and Max are joined by John Mills of Words with Nerds to look at Lindelof's most recent cinematic endeavor. We discuss the similarities between the movie and the novel upon which it was based, the structural issues associated with the film, and how Lindelof and Goddard wrote the best ending possible for the movie. We also marvel at the cast of the audiobook.
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Chapters World War Z (1:45) Thoughts on the Film (12:44) The Ending (25:34) Final Thoughts (37:56) Wrap-Up (44:32) |
Fri, 5 September 2014
Lindelof, Part 5: Star Trek Into Darkness. Last year Max and Mike looked at the films that Damon Lindelof had written up to that point. Since then, Lindelof has written two more films. The first of these was Star Trek Into Darkness. In this episode of Commentary: Trek Stars, we return to Lindelof's body of work to examine his work as a Star Trek writer. We discuss the concept of "spectacle creep" and how it applies to Into Darkness, the similarities and differences between Into Darkness and Wrath of Khan, and the challenges of telling a small story on a big scale. We also remember the work of Next Generation director Robert Wiemer.
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Chapters The Parsec Awards (1:17) Into Darkness (5:13) Spock vs. Khan (15:57) Kirk's Sacrifice (27:01) Final Thoughts (32:29) Robert Wiemer (39:31) Wrap-Up (41:46) |
Fri, 29 August 2014
Abrams, Part 4: Recap. For someone held in such high regard by the film industry, J.J. Abrams has a fairly short resume when it comes to directing. As of now, he has only directed four features, including Mission: Impossible III, Star Trek, Super 8, and Star Trek Into Darkness. In this episode of Commentary: Trek Stars, Mike and Max recap their look at Abrams's directorial work. We also discuss his upcoming film, Star Wars: Episode VII, and answer a listener's questions about Max's opinion of Star Trek III: The Search for Spock. |
Fri, 22 August 2014
Abrams, Part 3: Super 8. In between Star Trek films, J.J. Abrams took a break from the franchise to direct his passion project, Super 8. The film, about a group of kids who accidentally film the wreck of a government train transporting an alien, is Abrams's homage to Spielberg-era sci-fi blockbusters. In this episode of Commentary: Trek Stars, Max and Mike are joined by John Mills of Words with Nerds to look at Abrams's most personal movie to date. We discuss the motivations of alien, what's inside the mystery box, and of course, lens flares. Max also answers a listener's question about what movies he thinks are good.
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Chapters Super 8 (3:40) The Alien (12:11) The Mystery Box (20:59) Lens Flares (30:45) Final Thoughts (40:28) Listener Mail (50:15) Closing (1:03:11) |
Fri, 15 August 2014
Abrams, Part 2: Mission: Impossible III. Before relaunching Star Trek, J.J. Abrams adapted another Desilu television show for the big screen with Mission: Impossible III. In this episode Commentary: Trek Stars, Mike and Max are joined by Tysto to look at Abrams's first feature. We discuss why Tom Cruise gave him the job, how it differs from the other Mission: Impossible films, and how it influenced his work in Trek. We also debate the merits of the script.
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Chapters Mission: Impossible III (4:22) The Show (10:21) The Movies (14:13) Similarities to Alias (23:43) The Writing (28:07) Final Thoughts (38:06) Wrap-up (39:19) |
Fri, 8 August 2014
Abrams, Part 1: Trek. In 2005, after eighteen consecutive seasons of television, Star Trek was suffering from "franchise fatigue." In an effort to revitalize the property, Paramount hired A-list filmmaker J.J. Abrams to direct a reboot of The Original Series. In this episode of Commentary: Trek Stars, Max and Mike begin a new series looking at Abrams's career as a feature film director. In Part 1, we are joined by Matthew Rushing of The Orb and Literary Treks to examine Abrams's work on Star Trek. We discuss the reasons behind hiring Abrams, our initial thoughts concerning his involvement, and what exactly his contribution to the franchise has been. We also examine the similarities between the 2009 film and The Motion Picture.
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Chapters Intro (02:00) Initial Thoughts (10:18) Continuity (22:18) The Mystery Box (33:13) Mainstream Trek (39:52) Final Thoughts (54:37) Closing (1:02:57) |
Fri, 1 August 2014
Wheaton, Part 4: Recap. Since his early days on Star Trek: The Next Generation, and all the way up to the present, Wil Wheaton has always been an entertainer, but he has never settled into one specific role. Instead, he has adapted to the changing media landscape and used whatever tools were best suited for the task at hand. And whether it has been acting, writing or blogging, he has always excelled. The same is true for his career as television producer/host. In this episode, Mike and Max recap their look at Wheaton's current television work. We discuss both Tabletop and The Wil Wheaton Project, as well as touch on some of Wheaton's other projects from throughout his career. We also debate the merits of Monopoly. |
Fri, 25 July 2014
Wheaton, Part 3: The Wil Wheaton Project. Wil Wheaton's history in Star Trek and presence in online media has made him a favorite among the sci-fi/fantasy crowd. His love for the genre, as well his comedic talent, made him the ideal host for SyFy's new talk show, coincidentally named The Wil Wheaton Project. In this episode of Commentary: Trek Stars, Max and Mike take a look at Wheaton's second series as a producer/host. We discuss the format of the show, the quality of the pre-produced segments, and Wheaton's talents as a comedian. We also fondly remember John Henson-era Talk Soup.
Chapters The Wil Wheaton Project (1:24) The pre-produced clips (10:53) Thoughts on the show (21:35) Wrap-up (28:15)
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Fri, 18 July 2014
Wheaton, Part 2: Tabletop. Wil Wheaton may have started his career as an actor, but he has since become a much larger creative force in the geek community. One outlet that he has used to express himself is through television production and hosting. In this episode of Commentary: Trek Stars, Mike and Max are joined by Drew of Standard Orbit to look at Wheaton's first television series, Tabletop. We discuss the show's unusual premise, the importance of good chemistry between the guests, and how it shows that Wheaton is truly a geek. We also spoil "Journey's End" for Drew.
Chapters Intro (1:09) Tabletop (7:37) Production Value (17:23) Favorite Episodes (25:23) Final Thoughts (32:46) Wrap-up (36:38) |
Fri, 11 July 2014
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, Max and Mike begin a new series which look 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. |
Mon, 30 June 2014
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. |
Fri, 27 June 2014
Benny Russell. In the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode "Far Beyond the Stars," Ira Steven Behr and his team explored the possibility that the events of the series had been created by a science fiction writer in the 1950s named Benny Russell. In this episode of Commentary: Trek Stars, Max and Mike are joined by Christopher Jones of The Orb to take a look at the character of Benny Russell. We discuss the quality of the episode on the whole, whether or not it's possible that Deep Space Nine was created by Russell, and what that would mean for the rest of the franchise. We also ponder whether or not the Prophets are Giants fans. |
Fri, 20 June 2014
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. |
Fri, 13 June 2014
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. |
Fri, 6 June 2014
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. |