The Ready Room: A Star Trek Podcast
9: Wesley and the Amazing Technicolor Sweater

Generations.

The first film to feature the TNG cast also served as a vehicle for passing the franchise torch once and for all from Kirk to Picard. The result was a story that felt part movie, part TV show, and part barrel roll. Yes, Geordi's greatest escape from engineering comes in this film. But more importantly Brannon Braga and Ronald D. Moore shook up the Star Trek universe with the death of the Enterprise-D and the death of James T. Kirk. In this episode of The Ready Room hosts Christopher Jones and Greg Harbin discuss the seventh Star Trek film, how the death of Kirk was handled, and how some things could have been written differently to deliver a more satisfying transition for the greater fandom.

In our news segment we look at the $5,000 QMx 1701-A replica, the final three convention appearances for Leonard Nimoy, Marina Sirtis bid to land a spot on Dancing with the Stars, preview Star Trek Las Vegas, learn about George Takei's induction into the California Hall of Fame, explain just what The Delphies are (listen up Enterprise fans!), find out when Trek Nation is coming to the Science Channel, get some details about TNG on Blu-ray, watch a new Five Year Mission video, hear what Roberto Orci has to say about possible changes to the Enterprise, take a peek at the new canon Enterprise 1701-F, and find the Voyager theme song closing out the shuttle era. 

Direct download: trr-009.mp3
Category:Movies -- posted at: 9:00pm MDT

8: The Great Tribble Hunt

Tribbles.

They're cute, they're cuddly, and they're the most furtile creatures in the known universe. Oh… and they're one of the few things that can instil fear in a Klingon warrior. They are, of course, tribbles! In this episode of The Ready Room hosts Christopher Jones and Greg Harbin clear out a space to sit and discuss tribbles from throughout Star Trek including appearances in The Original Series, The Animated Series, and Deep Space Nine. So grab your blood wine and join us for The Great Tribble Hunt!

In our news segment we discuss Google+ giving William Shatner the boot, James Darren’s interview with Star Trek.com, the science behind photon torpedoes, the Borg as a social network, Robot Chicken producer Matt Senreich's comments about Star Trek, the addition of Star Trek to Amazon's streaming service, the end of Star Trek: Vanguard, and we look at the 2011 Hallmark Keepsakes. 

Direct download: trr-008.mp3
Category:Special Features -- posted at: 9:00pm MDT

7: Frederickson's Squid Vendor

Deep Space Nine.

As The Next Generation began to approach the finish line and with fan support at an all-time high, Paramount knew that they needed to pass the television torch to another crew. In doing so they created a different kind of Trek that was embraced by many fans and shunned by others. In the episode of The Ready Room we're joined by Brian Finifter of Down In Front to take a look at DS9, how the series departed from the classic Star Trek mould, and how it enriched the franchise by telling stories and developing characters in a way we had never seen before.

In our news segment we discuss Mila Kunis’s love of Star Trek, take a look at a lost Larry Nemecek interview with Ira Steven Behr, hear what Mike and Denise Okuda have to say about their role in the new browser-based game Infinite Space, open our ears to a limited-edition collection of unreleased music from TNG, find out what is lined up for the Shore Leave con in Baltimore, look at a Kirk maquette, find out why Pegg is asking for patience on the Star Trek sequel, examine a new technology that may be the first replicator, and play with the new CBS Interactive PADD application for iPad.

Direct download: trr-007.mp3
Category:Deep Space Nine -- posted at: 9:00pm MDT

6: Prosthetic Spiner Heads

Final Frontier: The Animated Series.

As fans wait for a new TV series to appear, few know that we came very close to an animated one appearing online just before the J.J. Abrams reboot began. Three veterans of Star Trek production formed a studio called Zero Room and began developing an animated show called "Final Frontier." In this episode of The Ready Room we're joined by Dave Rossi, Doug Mirabello, and Jose Munoz to discuss the animated series they pitched to CBS and that came close to being picked up by StarTrek.com.

In our news segment we talk about Jonathan Frakes appearance on the Twitter stage, a 3D chocolate printer for Troi, Star Trek on Netflix, the possibility of Brent Spiner appearing in the next J.J. Abrams Star Trek film, Roberto Orci's thoughts on the Star Trek game-film connection, Star Wars vs. Star Trek, Star Trek Online and Steam, Shatner and NASA’s Shuttle documentary, the Tricorder X-Prize, and Ira Steven Behr talking DS9.

Direct download: trr-006.mp3
Category:Special Features -- posted at: 9:00pm MDT

5: Get Off My Bridge!

Encounter at Farpoint.

When Star Trek returned to television on September 28, 1987, no one knew for sure if this experiment was going to work. Could you really capture lightning in a bottle twice? While the ship still carried the same name, the cast was completely different—and the actors relatively unknown. What's more, the show was syndicated. That doesn't seem like a big deal now, but at the time it was unusual and not known as a recipe for success. In this episode of The Ready Room hosts Christopher Jones and Greg Harbin discuss "Encounter at Farpoint," which turned out to be the seed for all but 86 of the episodes and films in the world's most expansive science fiction franchise. 

In our news segment we wish a happy birthday to J.J. Abrams, say our farewells to composer Fred Steiner, tune in to Michael Giacchino as he talks to Collider about scoring Star Trek, find out what Simon Pegg has to say about Star Trek and Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol, find out more about the new Abramsverse comic series as The Comic Book Resources interviews IDW Chief Creative Officer Chris Ryall, turn the pages of a new Star Trek Trivia Book, and discuss the trailer of William Shatner's new documentary "The Captains."

Direct download: trr-005.mp3
Category:The Next Generation -- posted at: 9:00pm MDT

4: There Be Whales Here!

The Voyage Home.

After the heavy themes of The Wrath of Khan and The Search for Spock, the studio gave fans a lighthearted ending to the storyline that proved that Star Trek could laugh at itself—something that hadn’t happened since the original series episode “The Trouble with Tribbles.” The result was Star Trek's biggest box office pull ever, a record that stood until 2009. In this episode of The Ready Room we take a look at this whale of a film and find out why Chris feels its some of the most fun you'll have watching Trek while Greg would rather listen to a Catian's claws being run down a chalkboard.

In our news segment we see that, at long last, Walter Koenig is getting his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, celebrate Captain Picard Day, take a first look at a new IDW comic book series set in the Abramsverse, hear Anthony Montgomery and Garrett Wang speaking out about Enterprise and Voyager, peak into a starship development program at the US Department of Defense, find out more about the upcoming browser-based game Infinite Space, and get the scoop on more Star Trek 2 news. 

Direct download: trr-004.mp3
Category:Movies -- posted at: 9:00pm MDT

3: Planking Carbonite Quinto

TOS vs. the Abramsverse.

Few things have divided the Star Trek fan community like the J.J. Abrams reboot of Star Trek. Many embrace it as a needed shot in the arm that has revitalized the franchise. Others despise it to the point of calling J.J. a Denebian slime devil—or worse. Can there really be two Kirks and two Spocks? Or is TOS hallowed ground that should be left alone? In this episode of The Ready Room hosts Christopher Jones and Greg Harbin are joined by Trek.fm feature writer Lisa M. Lynch and Brian Finifter of Down In Front to debate the original Star Trek vs the reboot.

In our news segment we look at a new Abramsverse video game coming to consoles and PCs in 2012, J.J. Abrams talking Star Trek 2, the opening weekend results for Super 8, writers Roberto Orci and Damon Lindelof getting their planking fetish on, the science of J.J.’s Star Trek, the Hero Complex Film Festival, and some details about a new Star Trek TV Series pitched by William Shatner. Plus, we're joined by Five Year Mission for a live performance of tracks from their album "Year One," and a sneak peak at "Year Two."

Direct download: trr-003.mp3
Category:Special Features -- posted at: 9:00pm MDT

2: In the Year 3000

The Future of Trek on TV.

Fans may have had a blasé reaction to Enterprise, but with so many years of broadcast silence the one thing everyone is now clamouring for is new Star Trek on television. It will happen. There's no doubt about it. Just when that will be and what for it will take, however, are up for debate. In this episode of The Ready Room hosts Christopher Jones and Greg Harbin look at some of the concepts that have been proposed as well as some that fans have on their wish lists—Final Frontier, Federation, Titan, Star Trek Online, a series based on the adventures of the Enterprise-B, and one set in the Abramsverse.

In news we discuss Star Trek 2 vs. The Hobbit, TNG Remastered in HD, the Star Trek Red Sea Resort, the Trekathon event that screened and rated all 11 films in one sitting, an interview in which Malcolm McDowel gets all up in Kirk's face, the cancellation of $#*! My Dad Says, and Leonard Nimoy's appearance in Bruno Mars's new music video. Plus, Larry Nemecek joins us to discuss his current documentary project, The Con of Wrath.

Direct download: trr-002.mp3
Category:Special Features -- posted at: 9:00pm MDT

1: It's a One-Parter!

An Enterprise Retrospective.

It's the series Trek fans love to hate on. As the last incarnation of Star Trek on television, Enterprise often gets blamed for killing the franchise. Is that really a fair label? In this, the premiere episode of our general Star Trek discussion show, hosts Christopher Jones and Greg Harbin take a look at Enterprise to find out just what it brought to that future world that we love, and why fans who wrote it off at the time should give it a fresh look.

In our news segment we discuss possible villains for the next J.J. Abrams Star Trek film, look at the production schedule and possibility of J.J. directing, and find out why the studio is demanding 3-D. Plus, Lisa M. Lynch sits down with George Cordero to get the low down on the upcoming Frank and Son Star Trek Fan Day.

Direct download: trr-001.mp3
Category:Enterprise -- posted at: 9:00pm MDT