The Ready Room: A Star Trek Podcast
14: Sybok's Magic Stare

The Final Frontier.

Yes, that’s right. Star Trek V. It’s a movie many fans pretend doesn’t exist. But if you look closely you can find some good moments in this mess of a film, especially in the relationships between Kirk, Spock, and McCoy. In this episode of The Ready Room we take a look at Shatner’s masterpiece and call it out where needed, praise it in those spots where it deserves it, and admire the beautiful menace that is Captain KLAA!!!!!

In our news segment we discuss the most underrated series, the most underrated TOS movie, the J.J. sequel and possible TV series, Star Trek: The Exhibition at Kennedy Space Center, hear David Warner recount his Trek adventures, look at the science of tractor beams, and check in on Patrick Stewart's panel at Chicago Comic Con.

Direct download: trr-014.mp3
Category:Movies -- posted at: 9:00pm MDT

13: It's Kind of Like that Iron Curtain Thing

Romulans.

They're an offshoot of the Vulcans who chose conflict over logic. As one of the two original enemy empires from The Original Series, the Romulans have remained almost as mysterious to us as they were to Kirk and Spock. Despite their increased use on TNG and DS9, the Romulans were never fleshed out enough to realize their potential. In this episode of The Ready Room we take a look at this scheming race to uncover what we do know about them, from their first appearance in "Balance of Terror" to their use in the first J.J. Abrams film.

In our news segment we cover Will Decker and The Office, a fan edit of The Motion Picture that creates what would have been the pilot for Star Trek Phase II, “In Thy Image,” the appearance of Star Trek on Amazon Prime, get a preview of IDW’s November 2011 comics, play a round of Klingon and Ferengi Monopoly, check in on the possibility of Vulcan coming back in the next movie, learn about a proposed David Foster Star Trek Series, debate Trek's toughest villains, choose our favourite Enterprise design, and wish a happy birthday to the late great Gene’s birthday. 

Direct download: trr-013.mp3
Category:Special Features -- posted at: 9:00pm MDT

12: Patrick, Brent, Worf ... and Laverne

Nemesis.

The final Star Trek movie set in the prime timeline saw the TNG era fizzle out with surprising rapidity. After the excitement of First Contact, many felt that Insurrection was just the natural lull of the odd-numbered films. With the long-than-usual gap between releases, fans were expected Nemesis to be incredible. Instead Paramount delivered a film that didn't feel quite right and that stumbled at the box office. After just four outings, Picard and his crew sailed off into the box theatrical sunset. In this episode of The Ready Room hosts Christopher Jones and Greg Harbin take a close look at Nemesis to find out if it is really as bad as many fans claim and try to come to terms with the early end of Star Trek's most successful era.

In our news segment we're joined by TrekNews.Net's Brian Wilkins for a recap of Star Trek Las Vegas 2011. Dominic Keating and Connor Trinneer talk Enterprise, a new world record is set for Star Trek costumes, and Leonard Nimoy says goodbye to Vegas.

Direct download: trr-012.mp3
Category:Movies -- posted at: 9:00pm MDT

11: Sisko's Blue Beard

The Captains.

Kirk. Picard. Sisko. Janeway. Archer. Every Star Trek fans has their favourite, and each captain has their own unique command style. Sometimes it's hard to put one ahead of the other when ranking Starfleet's leaders, but in this episode of The Ready Room we're joined by Brian Finifter of Down In Front to discuss each of these captains, their pros and cons, and reveal under whom we'd prefer to serve.

In our news segment we look at some new Mego-style retro action figures from Diamond Select Toys and Art Asylum, StarTrek.com’s interviews with Terry Ferrell and Connor Trinneer, a Technorati interview with Alice Krige, a possible animated series from Roberto Orci, and Five Year Mission’s “Year Two.”

Direct download: trr-011.mp3
Category:Special Features -- posted at: 9:00pm MDT

10: Chakotay's Stockholm Syndrome

Year of Hell.

When Voyager wandered into Krenim space, the events foreshadowed in "Before and After" came to pass with devastating consequences for Janeway and her crew. It's a plotline that should have lasted an entire season, but it still presented some interesting challenges and provided one of the more meaningful looks into the mind of Chakotay. In this episode of The Ready Room we're joined by Anthony Davis and Down In Front's Brian Finifter to discuss the two-parter, where it succeeds and where it fails, what we would have handled differently, and why those devastating consequences were ultimately meaningless thanks to the classic Voyager reset button.

In our news segment we look at the first IDW Comic based on the Abramsverse, the IDW Star Trek-Legion of Super-Heroes crossover, the Star Trek VI sequel novel "Cast No Shadows," Star Trek.com’s interview with Jeffrey Combs, Wil Wheaton and Jeri Ryan on Eureka, Netflix's expansion into Latin America and Canada, and the humorous TNG review podcast Dork Trek. 

Direct download: trr-010.mp3
Category:Voyager -- posted at: 9:00pm MDT

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