thornton@kcl-cs.UUCP (ZNAC468) (10/24/85)
References:
Xpath: kcl-cs argon neon
Xref: ukc net.sf-lovers:5555 net.tv:225
Isn't it funny how the same old themes keep rearing their heads
(ugly or otherwise) in popular sf tv shows. It occured to me that one could
probably "distil" the most typical of these to form a resulting "gestalt"
episode from the essence.
Take, for example, the following gestalt "Star Trek":
A mysterious thingie made of energy of a type never before encountered
snares the Enterprise (which of course is made helpless) and takes it off to
a nearby planet. All the command crew beam/are beamed down and discover a race
of child-like innocents who compel them to stay against their will.
One of the not-quite-so-young innocents falls in love with Kirk
(as they have a habit of doing) and tells Kirk all she knows about her race.
Spock raises an eyebrow and says "interesting". Kirk does some theorizing
(which Spock should be doing) and convinces himself that the entire planet
is a computer and the only way to free his ship (which has by now almost
freed itself anyway) is to talk to it and hopefully make it explode as
most of them do whenever Kirk tries to confound them with his logic.
Spock raises an eyebrow and says "logical captain". Kirk then goes to a likely
spot and starts to talk to the computer which isn't interested.
Kirk asks the computer a question ,"WHY?",the computer responds
"WHY NOT?".(Sorry ,wrong series).
After a few minutes of related waffle the computer is convinced that
Kirk is its creator and gives a thirty second countdown to its own destruction.
All the crew is beamed up except for Kirk because a transporter malfunction has
occured.(20). Kirk turns to jelly.(15)...The transporter is made "partially"
functional...(10). Kirks stomach (most of him) is beamed aboard and split
into two identical gut buckets except that they have different temperaments.
One can't digest too much science..(5). Realising that having two stomachs in
command of a Starship was a non-functional idea, Spock puts the transporter
right and repatterns the whole of Kirk (1)..(0)..(-1)..Just in time Kirk is
beamed aboard with stomach. The whole planet explodes.
Kirk is hungry. Spock reminds him of the non-intervention policy.
Kirk finds a good reason why he interfered and caused so many megadeaths.
He then makes a witty comment about Spocks ears. The bridge explodes
with laughter. Spock retorts with some logic and raises an eyebrow quizically.
End Titles.
The episode wins a HUGO award.
Lets have some more.....
Andy T.
("Excess,my lord...Excess!")edward@ukecc.UUCP (Edward C. Bennett) (10/27/85)
In article <206@argon.kcl-cs.UUCP>, thornton@kcl-cs.UUCP (ZNAC468) writes: > > Isn't it funny how the same old themes keep rearing their heads > (ugly or otherwise) in popular sf tv shows. It occured to me that one could > probably "distil" the most typical of these to form a resulting "gestalt" > episode from the essence. Archetypal episode of "Amazing Stories" Opening credits....Steven Spielburg presents blah blah blah story by Steven Spielburg blah blah.... (30 minute nap) Closing credits....blah blah Steven Spielburg blah blah -- Edward C. Bennett UUCP: ihnp4!cbosgd!ukma!ukecc!edward /* A charter member of the Scooter bunch */ "Goodnight M.A."
barryg@sdcrdcf.UUCP (Lee Gold) (11/02/85)
Some years ago, some humorist at TV Guide amused himerself by summarizing Star Trek for several weeks as "The Enterprise encounters a seemingly idyllic planet, but Captain Kirk senses all is not well." This was followed by several weeks of episodes summariced as "The Enterprise gets into trouble and only Captain Kirk can save it." --Lee Gold
fishkin@degas.BERKELEY.EDU (Ken &) (11/05/85)
In article <2432@sdcrdcf.UUCP> barryg@sdcrdcf.UUCP (Lee Gold) writes: >Some years ago, some humorist at TV Guide amused himerself by summarizing >Star Trek for several weeks as "The Enterprise encounters a seemingly >idyllic planet, but Captain Kirk senses all is not well." This was >followed by several weeks of episodes summariced as "The Enterprise gets >into trouble and only Captain Kirk can save it." > >--Lee Gold There are also any number of episodes in which a variant of the following exchange occurs: Kirk: "What *is* it, Mr. Spock?" Spock: "A Strange Blend of Matter and Energy, unlike anything we've ever seen before" Off the top of my head: 1) the big amoeba thing, 2) Apollo, 3) the rock creature that ran the contest between good & evil, 4) the spirit of Jack the Ripper, 5) the creature that smelled of honey that Kirk was obsessed with Ken Fishkin Berkeley Computer Graphics Lab ucbvax!fishkin fishkin@berkeley
tom@utcsri.UUCP (Tom Nadas) (11/11/85)
A friend of mine swears he saw this listing in TV GUIDE:
Mr. Spock takes an old friend for a ride.
The episode being described? *The Menagerie*
RJS in Toronto
c/o
--
Tom Nadas
UUCP: {decvax,linus,ihnp4,uw-beaver,allegra,utzoo}!utcsri!tom
CSNET: tom@toronto