To Tell The Truth was a popular American game show in the 1970′s. Contestants were presented with a moderately well-known but seldom-seen celebrity and two imposters. The goal was to identify the real McCoy (no pun intended) by asking a series of open-ended questions within a short amount of time. Above is Gene Roddenberry‘s appearance on the show.
If you’re reading this, we assume you spotted him right off the bat.
Legions of Trekkies would love to see Star Trek: The Next Generation in HD, including us. We’ve got good news and bad news for those fans. The bad is that Star Trek: TNG in HD is impossible. The good news is that it’s going to happen anyway.
Here’s the problem. The show was shot at a resolution that’s fine for HD. The actors, the physical sets and so on are good to go. The effects and post-production work, however, was done in standard definition. High def effects shots simply don’t exist. The only way to create a true HD episode of TNG would be to re-do every single special effect by hand.
And that’s exactly what’s being done.
LeVar Burton recently visited CBS to observe progress on the project, and reported that he was “#mindblown” via Twitter. The first release will be a four-episode sampler disc, which will include: Encounter at Farpoint” (1 & 2), “Sins of the Father” and “Inner Light.” Release is expected “before the end of this year,” so now you know what to put on your holiday shopping list.
One of the most prolific science fiction writers of the last 50 years was the late, great Charles Beaumont. He’s written many of my all-time favorite episodes of The Twilight Zone, including “The Howling Man,” “Prime Mover,” “Miniature,” “Living Doll” and “Number 12 Looks Just Like You.”
Shadow and Substance has a great post on Beaumont’s legacy, that I suggest you read. It’s well written and researched, about one of my favorite writers.
It was only yesterday that we were celebrating the availability of streaming Star Trek: The Next Generation on Netflix. Earlier this week, the first season of Next Gen disappeared. Oh no!
There’s no need to worry, Netflix says. The disappearance was due to a glitch in Brazil of all places. ”The Starship Enterprise has veered off course temporarily because of a blip in the system with the start of streaming in Brazil,” a spokesman said. “We will welcome the Enterprise and her crew back shortly.”
That’s good news. Someone tell me when it’s back. In the meantime, I’ll be in my Ready Room.
Forty-five years ago today, Thursday, September 8, 1966, Star Trek first aired on NBC. Who would have ever imagined what the future held for the Enterprise and her crew? After only two seasons the threat of cancellation loomed large. Fans engaged in a letter-writing campaign, and the network renewed the show. Unfortunately, it was moved to the dreaded “Friday night death slot.” Creator Gene Roddenberry limited his involvement in the third season as a protest, but to no avail. Star Trek was cancelled in its third season.
Forty-five years later, a show that barely finished three seasons is among the most iconic in television history. There have been six total TV series, 11 feature films (with number 12 in pre-production) and countless books, comics, games, etc. One could argue that Trek created the convention industry and is so entrenched in popular culture — internationally — that you’d be hard pressed to find someone who hasn’t even hear of the show, almost anywhere you are.
Suitably, my favorite episode is the original pilot (which didn’t air as the pilot), The Menagerie parts 1 and 2.
Let us say thank you to Gene and everyone involved in the original series. “Where no one has gone before” indeed.
Monday is Labor Day here in the United States, a holiday where workers kick back, grill some burgers and enjoy the last huzzah of the summer. This wonderfully candid shot comes from the private collection of Leonard Nimoy who posed it via Twitter a while back. Great to see these friends and co-workers enjoying themselves out of context.
If this little Duck Tape company had had the $$$ to run this TRON inspired commercial during the Super Bowl, it would have easily come away with the prize for best ad. All we can hear is “I want him in the games until he dies taping!” Nicely played guys.
Here’s a group of Teen Jeopardy finalists demonstrating that Voyager didn’t exactly resonate with the kids. Trekkies, and anyone over 35, will want to look away. Sigh.
As mentioned in episode 52, an official Futurama app for iPhone has been released. Futurama Head In A Jar (free) does just what the name implies: it lets you created a Futurama-style, disembodied head.
It’s more of a toy than a game, with lots of options for both creation and curation of your Head Museum. Fans will definitely want to check it out, and join the list of notables whose heads have appeared on Futurama, like Lucy Liu, Richard Nixon (The President of Earth!) Pam Anderson and George Washington. All that’s missing is an explanation of how one actually eats and breathes in there.
In any case, here’s my look at Futurama Head In A Jar for iPhone.
User Interface
Good news, everyone! It looks great. The app adheres to the feel and general color palate of the show. When first launched, you’ll get a scene depicting a demo head and a subtitle that changes with each launch, just as it does on the show. From there you reach the main menu, which features four buttons: Videos, Head Museum, More and Get Started. Each button is clearly labeled and legible. Let’s jump right to Get Started and leave the others for now.
Building A Head
Tap the button and a “door” opens, revealing the construction area. Your head-in-progress is in the center, while the main options are listed on the left. Each option has several sub-options. For example, your decision is whether to choose a human (male or female), robot or alien head. Many of the options look familiar, from a certain bending unit we all know to the first mate on the Nimbus. To make your choice, use your finger to swipe from on to the other inside the jar.
You’re a Futurama fan, right? Then do you know which character was devised to be the voice of the doubting fan, pointing out plot holes from week to week? Or the fourteen (at least) functions of Bender’s antenna? Plus, what does “Aloha, Mars!” have to do with the show, and what’s the real reason Leela wears a tank top? All of that and more is revealed in this great post by Kevin Fitzpatrick at UGO.
I won’t spoil the answers, so go and read for yourself. In the meantime, I’ll throw out a little Futurama trivia of my own. The first words Bender ever spoke on the show were, you guessed it, “Bite my shiny metal ass.”