Did anyone remember to catch last night’s History Channel special, Star Trek: Beyond the Final Frontier hosted by Leonard Nimoy? If so were you as geeked out as I was by the whole experience? What an incredible premise.
As part of the 40th anniversary of Star Trek, the company opened its warehouse to auction off 1000 items of memorablia through Christie’s auction house. The 2-hour documentary intercut thoughts and memories of both cast and fans of the show with footage of Mike and Denise Okuda, scenic designers on many of the Star Trek shows, as they went through the warehouse hand selecting items from the auction. The last part of the show included footage from the auction itself, interesting because of some of the incredible prices that certain items fetched.
If, like me, you grew up with Star Trek…or if you have only become a fan more recently…did you get a bit choked up by the whole thing? It may sound foolish, but the whole show was both exciting and a bit melancholy-inducing for me. Eventhough I was a bad fan and did not watch Enterprise, I miss the fact that there is not a Star Trek show on the air right now. I am a big fan of the original series, I became a fan of Next Generation after it had been on the air for several years (I think Mary and I watched many of the episodes from the last three seasons), and was most devoted to Voyager. Hearing the Voyager theme music during the show last night was bittersweet. I really enjoyed that show. Though each series and the films have vacillated between the poor and the fantastic, the franchise itself is much beloved by me and is a part of the fabric of my existence from as far back as I can remember.
I thought they did a really nice job with the documentary. I enjoyed hearing the thoughts of the various cast members regarding their experience with the show. I thought they did a really nice job of injecting humor into the show while not disrespecting the fans or the legacy of the various Star Trek incarnations.
For me the ultimate joy of watching the show was seeing the items chosen for auction. I have always been fascinated by the craft of model-making, a craft that is becoming something of a lost art in today’s digital film world. As they began cracking into cases and finding both small and large scale models for the ships, I was literally in awe…as were the people looking through the cases, their excitement was palpable. Several of the ships were one-of-a-kind items that would be a thrill to own not just because of their amazing craftsmanship, but also because of the sense of history that they represent. Oddly enough the model that excited me the most was the Deep Space Nine space station, a model from a show that I never watched. It was beautifully detailed. All of these pieces were a collector’s dream.
I will not spoil the show by revealing how much certain items went for. Suffice it to say that it was as pulse-quicking watching the footage from the auction as I imagine it would have been if you were there live.
I am so happy with the documentary. It was very well done. It brought to me a resurgence of Star Trek affection. Throughout the show all I could think of was how much I wanted to watch each series in its entirety, especially those that I have never seen. If only the DVD’s weren’t so dang expensive! Netflix, here I come. Kudos to The History Channel and to Christie’s auction house for putting together a fond and loving tribute to a science fiction phenomenon that has touched so many of our lives.
You can view information about the auction at Christie’s site here.
Oh, I hate that I missed that, I was planning on watching it. I’ve seen the movies over and over, even watching all three in a row before going to see the last one. I watched the series for awhile, then quit for some reason. Your blog was very nostolgic. There’s so much personal history that went, along with the release of each movie
I would have TiVo’d it had I known it was going to be on. Maybe they’ll show it again and I’ll have another chance to watch it. As a kid Mosker was a Kirk fan but I’m a Spock girl all the way.
I was busy finishing up Colleen’s book. LOL
But it sounds like it was pretty good.
I’ll be meeting & doing a photo op with both George Takei and Walter Koenig at the Grand Slam Convention in Burbank this April. I’m so geeked up!
Cool Angela! The show made me seriously think about going to the Tulsa Star Trek convention this year. Its been a long time.
Since it was a History Channel thing I’m sure they’ll show it again. I have it on tape Pat. I have a friend who doesn’t have cable so I taped it for him. If/when I get it back you are welcome to borrow it. The had the one hour Star Trek Tech show right after t his and I taped that too. Also very good.
Just checked and they are re-airing the two hour special on Saturday at 8 p.m. Eastern, 7 p.m. Central.
Did you know that is the Enterprise from ST2 The Wrath of Khan before it got toasted. …I spit my last breath…at thee”. Ricardo M. was sooooo dramatic. It was a battle of drama kings, Kirk and Khan.
Ohhhhh….I loved Khan.
Aww! I don’t get the History Channel (being in Canada and all), so I missed it! 🙁
Star Trek was one of the shows I grew up with – my dad loved it, and so it was always on. I think my favorite of the iterations is The Next Generation, though I have a bit of a soft spot for the original series’s gleeful campiness.
Did you watch the Trekkies documentaries? I find when I view them that I experience a strange sense of affection for the people they show us…I think perhaps I am meant to be horrified, but I just can’t be. The love of the fans is so sincere, even strangely pure-hearted…it’s hard to slam them for their devotion.
Being a fan myself and a veteran of several Star Trek conventions I too have a soft spot for those who go well beyond me in their devotion to Trek.
Tom, you ought to see how much that very Enterprise went for on the auction. Woo! I wish I had that kind of money to spend on collectibles!
For you sci fi, fantasy, and horror fans Night Shade Books is having a one day sale until midnight tonight. 50% off all books in stock, 4 book minimum order. If you want to take advantage the coupon code is NSB773
Dammit! I was planning on watching that and totally forgot that it was on last night. I’ve always had a special place in my heart for Star Trek 😉 Though I too didn’t watch Enterprise. TNG has always been my favorite. It just doesn’t get any better than that for me, though I’ve recently been more and more turned on by the original.
The last movie, Nemesis, was great. Did you see it? Lots of fanboy stuff in there.
I heard about the auction a few months ago and got very excited about it even though there’s no way in hell I could afford any of it. Some really cool stuff.
Did anyone notice someone missing on the auction show, like the ole Capt. Kirk. How come William Shatner was not on the program. Still, it was a very well made doc.
I can’t wait to see this. I’ve watched all the series with Deep Space Nine being my favorite but I truely enjoyed them all. I have fond memeories of growing up and watching reruns of the orginal series in the late 70’s during dinner time. I really looking forward to the next movie in 08′.
Have to confess, Jeff….I couldn’t resist the urge and picked up the first season of DS9 today to check out. Mary and I are almost through the 2 hour pilot. Really enjoying it! Just had to have me some Star Trek goodness!
My husband was involved with some of the planning for the original star trek conventions in New York back in the ‘seventies. It was indeed fun watching the special last night.
That is really cool, Jill! I’m sure he really had some nostalgic feelings going on as he watched last night.
Dude! I have season’s one and seven on DVD. I would have been happy to loan it to you to save you some bucks. Anyhoo! I hope you guys enjoy them as much as Keri and I. The first couple of seasons they are kind of finding there way but seasons 4 through 7 are great. When Sisko shaves his head and grows the goatee it really takes off. I also personnely like the Sisko/Jake relationship that grows over the years plus they bring Sisko’s father into the mix which is also adds another cool dynamic. I’m happy for you guys.
I already have enough of your DVD’s on loan that I’m working my way through. Got it cheap, it was discounted at B&N already plus I had other discounts. Mary and I watched the first disc (the 2 hour pilot and the next two episodes). Am loving the show already and I realize it is still going through the motions of letting the characters find their way. Very cool. Glad I’m getting to experience this and finding out why it is your favorite. Mary and I have 1 more episode to watch of Farscape and I’ll be ready to exchange on those as well. Am obviously in a huge sci fi mood right now!
Reading your blog through bloglines isn’t that great. I always miss the fabo art work.
Then come on over the old fashioned way so you can see the purty pictures, maggie! 😉
I used to be a Trekkie. I even went to a convention once, and one Halloween, I dressed up as Data, my favorite TNG character. I also used to build scale models of the Enterprise. And several months ago, I happened to catch a special on some channel where old episodes of Kirk Star Trek were shown. I’m surprised at how well the show holds up. And I like the movies (well, the odd-numbered movies, anyway), especially First Contact.
Incidentally, are you keeping up with the plans for the newest movie? I’ve heard that the guy behind Alias is supposed to be writing or directing. And I heard that it was supposed to follow Kirk and Spock through Starfleet Academy. Then it was supposed to feature an entirely new crew.
I don’t know much about the new film except the Kirk and Spock thing you mentioned. I hate the idea but will reserve judgement until it comes out. I have visions of Dumb and Dumberer in my head whenever I think about it though. There is the Next Gen cast, the Deep Space Nine cast, the Voyager cast, and the Enterprise cast to do movies with…I think the writers could have done something interesting with them rather than put different actors in the roles Shatner and Nimoy embodied. It seems very stupid to me.
I love that you think maybe I didn’t watch because I forgot to 🙂
You really make me smile.
Because you looooooove you some sci fi, don’t you Jay? 😉
I am by no means a Trekkie, though I can and do appreciate some of the shows (and movies). Voyager was okay, but it was no DS9. (I never watched Enterprise. No interest at all.) And overall, there’s just no touching the original series and Next Generation, in my opinion.
I am one of those who really loved Voyager. Although the original series will always be my favorite for what it is, Voyager was the show that kept me excited about the Star Trek franchise during the 90’s.
On Saturday nights at 6:00( I think) channel 62 or 29 has the original series playing. Last week Julian and I watched the episode where Spock had to go back to Vulcan to fight for his wife, who chose Kirk to be her champion and finally McCoy stepped in and gave Kirk some tranquilizer hypo that made Spock think he killed him. The best part was this is the only episode I remember where you see Spock emote while he’s in his right mind, (the spores episode doesn’t count). Anyway seeing the old Enterprise fire phasers and torpedoes is actually kind of cool still. I remember thinking TNG wouldn’t be any good but after watching the pilot I was hooked. I was hooked on any sci-fi at 17.
I was one of those who scoffed at the idea of Next Gen and actually didn’t start watching it until around the beginning of the 5th season. Really enjoyed it and wished I had seen more episodes. I may have seen some of the ones before than but not faithfully. My fav. Next Gen episode is the one where Picard is being tortured and is rescued at the very end but says he was prepared to give in…very powerful episode. I’m loving DS9 so far.
Hey Tom, I’m hearing from alot of people that BSG is going downhill. What are your thoughts on that, or anyone else who is watching the series.
For those of you who commented about missing it – this will be on again. Check your local History channel guide. On mine it will be replayed Saturday the 24, and Sunday the 25th, and March 3rd. I am going to TiVo it. Thanks, Carl, for blogging it.
Thanks for the heads up on all the other dates for the re-airing of the special.
I don’t know who’s saying that, I have liked every episode so far. I guess maybe some people can’t stand the sexual tension between the 2 main stars. If you can’t take the heat… They have about the best storylines in sci-fi today. I love how they have 2 hour cliffhangers all the time and they’re about ready to move into some great suspenseful ones. The acting has come a long way, and I really like Edward J. Olmos as Adamma (sp.?). Mary McDonnell is also really great. You can’t have every episode be blood and guts, you have to have some human interest storylines and that is where they are at now and maybe that’s boring to some. I find it immensely enjoyable and makes it seem more mature than your average sci-fi. It makes it so real, no phasers or aliens. They show that everyday logistics and overcrowding issues, sanitation, disease, etc. Karen and I just really like it and stay up late to watch it. It’s the only show we do that for.
I’m glad you’re still enjoying it. I know its getting lesser ratings and most of the complaints seem to stem around people feeling that the show has lost its way somewhat. I was just curious.
That’s an interesting way of putting the criticism since they are constantly trying to find their way…to Earth!
The show sounds great. I don’t have cable or netflix so will have to hope my local video store gets a copy of the DVD.
I don’t think BSG is going downhill. James and I really enjoy it. It’s a great sci fi show. I’d have to say that it’s been my favorite. I wish they’d get over the Starbuck and Apollo thing though. It’s getting annoying.
I will echo Tom’s and Julie’s comments on BSG. Keri and I continue to enjoy it every week. It’s one of those shows we save to watch together. I don’t think it has dropped in story quality at all this season. I think there’s just a minor vocal amount of people that just want everything action all the time and can’t appreciate the human moments on the show. It’s there loss. The show was just picked up for a fourth season last week by Scifi channel so atleast Scifi is happy with the ratings which is good news for us.
Glad you guys are still enjoying it, it will no doubt be one of the shows Mary and I get around to watching 10 years from now. By then we will probably be able to have the show directly downloaded into our heads, Matrix style…and aren’t you supposed to be working right now Jeff?!?!? Does Debbie know she’s paying you to read my blog? 😉