The Ready Room: A Star Trek Podcast (general)
121: For the World Is Hollow and I Have Touched Spock’s Brain

Five Year Mission: Year Three.

At long last the wait is over. It’s been two years since Five Year Mission, the Indianapolis-based TOS tribute band, launched their sophomore effort, Year Two. Building on the great success of Year One, the second album highlighted the growth in sound and took FYM in new creative directions. So anticipation has been high for the band’s third album; and at last they’ve cleared all moorings. In this episode of The Ready Room we’re joined by Five Year Mission themselves for a preview of Year Three and find out how the album came together, how the process differed from the past, and what inspired the sound of each track. Plus, the band gives us live acoustic performances of four tracks: “The Gamesters of Triskelion,” “I, Mudd,” “Metamorphosis,” and “The Doomsday Machine.” We also get hints of what’s to come on Year Four, plus a “Spock’s Brain” EP and an apparent obsession over “For the World Is Hollow and I Have Touched the Sky.”

In news we run down some great gift ideas for the Star Trek fan on your holiday shopping list and discuss the recent StarTrek.com poll about favorite cliffhangers from the franchise.

Direct download: trr-121.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:00pm MDT

120: Continuum Childcare

The Squire of Gothos.

Dealing with powerful aliens, computers, and the temper tantrums of children are all in a day’s work for Kirk and the Enterprise crew. But how about rolling them all into one? That’s what happened when the mysterious planet Gothos found its way into the path of the Enterprise—or vice versa—in the “The Squire of Gothos.” In this episode of The Ready Room we’re joined by Charlynn Schmiedt, Drew Stewart, and John Mills to discuss Kirk’s run-in with the Paramount props department and General Trelane (retired), his assumption that a machine was behind all the tricks, the casting of William Campbell, and whether or not Trelane is a Q. We also choose the time periods that would be our own obsessions and uncover the true history of Earth’s salt vampire-infested past.

In news we check in on Syfy’s plans for a Thanksgiving-weekend Star Trek movie marathon, the release of Anthony Montgomery’s new film Chariot, full details on the Enterprise Season Three Blu-ray extras, and we preview two more tracks from Five Year Mission’s upcoming album Year Three. Plus, we remember Star Trek: The Motion Picture casting director Marvin Paige.

Direct download: trr-120.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:00pm MDT

119: Neutronic Wave Mode

The Catwalk.

One of the goals in writing for any series is to tell stories that can’t be told anywhere else. With its early technology and proximity to our own time, Enterprise had an opportunity to put characters into situations that the other series couldn’t. One great example is the idea of a ship lost at sea facing a terrible storm, and this challenge of early exploration was examined in the second-season episode “The Catwalk.” In this episode of The Ready Room we’re joined by Matthew Rushing and Larry Nemecek to discuss “The Catwalk,” how the crew of the NX-01 had to adapt when their technology was not advanced enough to save them, and how tough circumstances brought the crew together. We also delve into Human-Vulcan relationships, the sexual tension between T’Pol and Archer (or lack thereof), the relationship between T’Pol and Trip, and how it all leads to Amanda and Sarek.

In news we find out about Armin Shimerman’s new film project, Diani & Devine Meet The Apocalypse, Kate Mulgrew’s plans to write her memoirs, J.G. Hertzler’s election to office in New York state, and we answer some Questions from the Fleet. We also preview two tracks from Five Year Mission’s upcoming album Year Three.

Direct download: trr-119.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:00pm MDT

84: Holographic American History Month

The Killing Game.

The introduction of the Hirogen to Voyager brought an interesting and formidable new foe to challenge Janeway and her crew. In their fourth appearance, these hunters put the Voyager crew through a series of holographic challenges culminating in a reenactment of World War II. In this episode of The Ready Room we’re joined by Charlynn Schmiedt to discuss “The Killing Game,” getting the cast out of makeup, Harry Kim’s Magical Morphing Power Grid, the ethical dilemma of giving the Hirogen Federation technology, and the serious philosophical debate about the paths of society that is hidden carefully at certain points in the story. Oh, and we also reflect upon Jeri Ryan’s lips.

In news we look at La-La Land Records’ new 4-CD collection of music from DS9, upcoming TNG Blu-rays, the Best of Both Worlds theatrical event, the Star Trek Into Darkness iPhone app, and what we learned from the Into Darkness Super Bowl spot. Plus, we reveal the true reason that Chase Masteron has been seen wearing headphones in recording studios recently.

Direct download: trr-084.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:00pm MDT

60: Space Monkeys and Mimes

The Last Outpost.

When The Next Generation premiered the writers attempted to establish a new archenemy for the crew. Unfortunately, the introduction turned into a disaster. Reference to the Ferengi was made in the series pilot, but conflicting views on what this enemy should be like—and mindboggling choices by the director—turned what was meant to be fear and menance into comedic gold. It’s too bad, too, because the story that introduced the Ferengi had a lot of potential. In this episode of The Ready Room we’re joined by Charlynn Schmiedt to discuss “The Last Outpost,” where it succeeds in connecting with the best of Star Trek, and where it went terribly wrong.

In news we cover LeVar Burton’s gift to The Ready Room—an on-stage barrel roll—La-la Land Records’ upcoming 15-disc collection of TOS music, the CBS and Netflix renewal of Star Trek streaming, Larry Nemecek’s new “TREKLAND: On Speaker” interview collection, and Rod Roddenberry’s new podcast Mission Log. Plus our roving reporter Sara Van Cleve calls in live from Star Trek Las Vegas, and we debate what costume Greg should wear to next year’s con. 

Direct download: trr-060.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:00pm MDT

54: Drinking Balok's Kool-Aid

The Corbomite Maneuver.

Think Kirk and the first thing that comes to mind just might be fisticuffs. While this may have been his first course of action in many cases, Kirk was also a thinking man. This important characteristic of leadership—and the one that came to define him in the long term—was on display from the very start of The Original Series in “The Corbomite Maneuver.” Sure, Kirk could have beamed over and pounded Balok into submission, but instead he outmaneuvered the threat to his ship intellectually. By changing the game from chess to poker, Kirk gained the upper hand—and he didn’t even have to resort to “phaser weapons.” As an added bonus, he got a glass of tranya for his efforts. In this episode of The Ready Room we’re joined by Charlynn Schmiedt and Drew Stewart to discuss “The Corbomite Maneuver” and the quick start out of the gates by TOS. 

In news we cover the latest Star Trek London developments, Leonard Nimoy discussing The Wrath of Khan at the LA Film Festival, Jonathan Frakes on the evolution of Riker, the updated Communicator iPhone app from CBS, cast changes on Star Trek: Phase II, new uses from Star Trek drinkware from GiftTrek.Net,and some movie news and rumors. Plus Greg pulls out his guitar and performs his new song “Balok’s Ballad.”

Direct download: trr-054.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:00pm MDT

34: Borg School Dropouts

Regeneration.

As a prequel series Enterprise had to perform a delicate balancing act. While on the one hand it had to serve as a lead-in to everything we knew from TOS onward, it also had to be entertaining and not be so rigidly locked into the vast canon of Star Trek as to cripple the writers. The appearance of the Borg on the series in the second season set off a firestorm even before the episode aired. The move is easily dismissed as an attempt by writers devoid of new ideas to grab a popular element from the 24th century for their own benefit. In reality, however, this was a case of Enterprise fulfilling its purpose of tying up loose ends from other series. In this episode of The Ready Room we’re joined by Michael Fisher as we discuss the episode “Regeneration” and how it fits into the bigger Star Trek universe.

In news we cover Levar Burton receiving the Tufts University Eliot-Pearson Award, Patrick Stewart’s appearance on BBC “Hard Talk,” Scott Bakula signing on to Star Trek Las Vegas 2012, Jordan Hoffman’s One Trek Mind Top Tear-jerking Moments, and a bag full of movie news and rumors. Plus, we go where no dog has gone before. 

Direct download: trr-034.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:00pm MDT