richard@aplvax.UUCP (06/15/83)
As everyone knows, many star trek episodes contain scientific errors and anachronisms. After all, no one is perfect, not even Spock. I'm a little embarassed to say that I don't remember the details of my favorite error, except that it involves Kirk or Spock exclaiming that something is "greater than one to the fourth power" (or something like that). Other episodes contain dialogue or actions that are just not in character for our heroes (notwithstanding the influence of sinister forces). Why not post your favorite star trek errors, anachronisms or pet peeves? You may find that not everyone agrees with you! Rich Greenberg Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
dje@5941ux.UUCP (06/15/83)
The "one to the fourth power" goof came in the episode "Courtmartial"
when the ship's computers and a white noise device were used to detect
the heartbeats on ship of Ben Finney (who had been presumed dead).
The context was a speech by the Captain to his courtmartial board:
"Gentlemen, this ship has an auditory sensor. It can, in effect, hear
sounds. By installing a booster, we can increase that capability on
the order of one to the fourth power."
I don't know if the error was in the script or whether Shatner simply misread
the line. If somebody has a script, they can find out for sure.
Dave Ellis / Bell Labs, Piscataway NJ
...!harpo!npoiv!npois!houxm!5941ux!dje
...!{ariel,lime}!houti!hogpc!houxm!5941ux!djesjt@duke.UUCP (06/16/83)
The mentioned Court Martial episode had an error that bothered me. I would think that the auditory sensor would pick up other noise, such as breathing, besides a heart beat. In one episode Kirk is giving order ( or something ) and he uses the term "two o'clock" for spacial orientation. Do you suppose that the analog model of the clock ( or a digital representation of it) would still be used, or is this a goof ?
woods@hao.UUCP (06/16/83)
There are lots of things that are not really "errors", but are pretty hard
to swallow anyway, even if you accept the existence of all the unbelievable
technology. The instance I am thinking of occured in the episode where
one of Kirk's academy buddies (Gary Mitchell) becomes a "super-esper", with
abilities like telekinesis and even the ability to rearrange molecules (at one
point he creates an oasis in the middle of the desert). First, Kirk blasts
him with a phaser rifle, which has no effect on Mitchell. However, Mitchell is
eventually killed by a boulder falling on him. I find it odd that a man who
can withstand a phaser blast and create an oasis in the middle of the desert
can't even deflect a rock from falling on his head!
GREG
{ucbvax!hplabs | allegra!nbires | decvax!brl-bmd | harpo!seismo | menlo70}
!hao!woods
P.S. The ship's doctor in this episode is Dr. Piper, whom I've never seen
before or since, and there is no trace of McCoy. Plus, the uniforms and
Spock's make-up look a lot different. Anyone know what the story is on this
episode? Was it the pilot or something? (I always thought that "The Managerie"
was the pilot episode)alb@alice.UUCP (06/17/83)
The episode Greg refers to is ''Where no Man has Gone Before'' It was, I believe, the third episode, and was another pilot that was thrown out.
esj@ihuxl.UUCP (06/17/83)
I think NBC ran "Where No Man Has Gone Before" because Roddenberry(sp?) and company found themselves running behind and couldn't get the third episode done on time.
ee163ht@sdccsu3.UUCP (06/17/83)
The episode is indeed 'Where no man has gone before', but instead of the pilot that was thrown out, it was the pilot that got the series on the air. The Cage was the first pilot (the one that was turned down). Later, NBC wanted a *second* pilot, and they were given 'Where no man has gone before'. The Cage was later expanded upon to become The Menagerie. (The Cage parts are the supposed ten-year previous footage with Captain Pike). Allyn Fratkin UC San Diego
CSvax:Pucc-H:Physics:crl@pur-ee.UUCP (06/17/83)
#R:duke:-329700:pur-phy:11900007:000:237 pur-phy!crl Jun 17 11:42:00 1983 I believe the reason why Mitchell was killed by the boulder is that his ESP powers had been temporarily drained in the battle with his woman companion (whose name I cannot remember). Charles LaBrec pur-ee!Physics:crl purdue!Physics:crl
ecn-pa:swc@pur-ee.UUCP (06/17/83)
Yes! That's right! She was Dr. .... er, I forget, too. However, she did get the nickname of the "walking freezer unit" as she reacted coldly towards Mitchell early in the show (when he was at the Navigators post?). Seems to me that's scientific for "refrigerator", eh? Guess they didn't want to be too archaic! Recall when Mitchell was scanning the ships manuals on the display in Sick Bay (Sickbay?). I wouldn't mind being capable of that when it comes to reading my texts in some of the less interesting classes. I would like to hear peoples opinion of "City On The Egde Of Forever". Written by Harlan Ellison (who?), I found it to be very powerful esp. near the end when he had to let Edith Keeler (Joan Collins, no relation). get run over. His expression of numbness when they returned to the planet with the Gateway really got to me. Imagine returning after leaving "just a moment ago" (Scotty, again, no relation) and yet having so much happen in that time period. What a neat plot. I confess, it brought a tear to my eye... Scott(y) Collins pur-ee.swc
porges@inmet.UUCP (06/18/83)
#R:aplvax:-11900:inmet:8500003:000:373 inmet!porges Jun 17 22:54:00 1983 I like "Devil in the Dark", where Kirk and Spock are following a tunnel looking for the thingy. They come to a fork in the tunnel. Kirk says, "You go down the left path" (as he points to his right) "and I'll take the right path" (pointing to his left). Of course it was done this way so that it would make sense from the viewer's point of view, as we are facing K & S.
cfv@packet.UUCP (06/19/83)
This may seem a little forward, but can all of you star trek people put
all of your star trek stuff in your star trek topic and NOT double post
it to net.tv as well so that all of us who like TV but could really
care less about seeing this star trek stuff trek past our screen again and
again and have unsubscribed to net.startrek don't have to see it anyway?
--
>From the dungeons of the Warlock:
Chuck Von Rospach
ucbvax!amd70!packet!cfv
(chuqui@mit-mc) <- obsolete!david@tekid.UUCP (06/21/83)
Also in the "Devil in the Dark" episode, I believe it is Spock who says the tunnels join "a few thousand yards ahead", with a dangerous thingy around would you split up for over a MILE?
bcc@mhtsa.UUCP (06/22/83)
Anybody for the theory that the sweet Edith Keeler gets revenge by being reincarnated as the nasty witch of "Dynasty" Alexis Carrington Colby? (Joan Collins portrays both characters.)
ecn-pc:swc@pur-ee.UUCP (06/22/83)
Could be. Maybe Kirk got to her after all and gave her a taste of what sin could really be... (beam me up) Scott(y)
john@hp-pcd.UUCP (06/22/83)
#R:aplvax:-11900:hp-pcd:13100001:000:188 hp-pcd!john Jun 21 12:11:00 1983 How about in The Wrath of Khan where Khan recognizes Ensign Checkov when he first sees him. Checkov was not on board during the original TV episode about Khan. John Eaton -------------
eric@aplvax.UUCP (06/23/83)
I heard from a reliable source that the official explanation is that Chekov was on board, just not on the bridge crew at the time. What happened was that Kahn was waiting to use the men's room after a bad case of motion sickness, and well, had to wait a long time. Eventually, Chekov stepped out of the facility, and Kahn is reported to have said (in a nasty voice) "I will remember you!" eric ...!umcp-cs!aplvax!eric
ld@hpda.UUCP (06/24/83)
#R:aplvax:-11900:hpda:15200001:000:585
hpda!ld Jun 17 21:00:00 1983
The episode which contained Dr. Piper was indeed a pilot, the
second. The first was never shown as a pilot (or so I under-
stand), but was re-arranged into two flashback episodes
after the series was established. The actor who played Cap-
tain Christopher Pike (whose name, I am ashamed to say, has
slipped my mind) was not available for the series because of
previous commitments. Of all the actors, Nimoy was the only
one to be in all the pilots and became a regular.
Larry Dwyer
Hewlett Packard
ucbvax!hpda!ldstarner@psuvax.UUCP (06/24/83)
The female doctors name in "Where No Man Has Gone Before" was
Dr. Elizabeth Dehner(sp?).
Mark Starner
The Pennsylvania State University
{allegra,burdvax}!psuvax!starner