quark@cs.utexas.edu (Jeff Ingram) (02/05/91)
Not that I make a habit of watching afternoon TV, but there was a show called "Instant Recall" (I think) that happened to be doing a story on the 25th anniversary of star trek. I watched it out of curiosity, not expecting any revelations (I had expected a mention of a new movie, but not a word was said of it, nor a single word of the next generation series, either). The interviewer talked with Takai, Nichols, Kelley and a few others (I wasn't watching too closely, just listening). What really surprised me was a short exchange with Nichelle Nichols concerning her desire to leave the show, and how she was persuaded out of doing so by a discussion she had with Martin Luther King, Jr. She related how he had praised her for being such a non-stereotypical black actress, and after informing her that she was going to leave the show, he had said "You can't do that." Apparently, this was a good enough reason for her, for we all know she didn't leave the show. Not earth-shattering news, but I find it interesting in light of how "advanced" the show was at the time socially, in that it could make comments about the world situation at that time, and how star trek represents an ideal society which could be looked forward to. <hesitates from making political comment concerning Bush's "New World Order" and a "kinder, gentler nation" stuff, comparing with present war situation...> So, can we expect more social and political commentary from ST:TNG concerning our current situation? I know there has been some, but perhaps a little more comparison might be in store (perhaps a reference in the show to how as a result of a great war in the late 20th century caused a shift of energy use away from oil to other things?). cq, just commenting <no cute trailer, just gripe to cq@cs.utexas.edu> -- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Edited by Jim "The Big Dweeb" Griffith - the official scapegoat for r.a.s.i. Email submissions to trek-info@dweeb.fx.com, and questions to trek-info-request@dweeb.fx.com