NationStates Jolt Archive


Majel Roddenberry dies + ST:TOS Gay episode airs online

Frisbeeteria
19-12-2008, 16:13
Two concurrent stories set in the world of Star Trek:

'First Lady Of Star Trek,' Majel Roddenberry, Dead At 76 (http://jezebel.com/5114055/first-lady-of-star-trek-majel-roddenberry-dead-at-76)
Majel Roddenberry, the widow of Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry, died of leukemia on Thursday at the age of 76. But don't think Roddenberry was your typical Hollywood wife.

Roddenberry was known as the "First Lady of Star Trek" and had been involved in Star Trek since the show's pilot, when she played brunette Number One, and later took on small roles in the original show, ranging from the blonde Nurse Christine Chapel to the voice of the ship's computer. She recently completed recording the voice of the USS Enterprise for the ship's computer in the upcoming Star Trek movie directed by J.J. Abrams.
I met her at a con once. Nice lady. The Star Trek movement will go on without her, but she'll be missed.

Long-Suppressed Gay Star Trek Episode Comes Out (http://io9.com/5113745/long+suppressed-gay-star-trek-episode-comes-out)

David Gerrold, famous for writing the "Trouble with Tribbles" Star Trek episode, also wrote an episode that included gay characters - but it was shot down by Paramount. Now you can watch it online.

To make the episode, Gerrold teamed up with the fan crew behind Star Trek: Phase II, a web series that's intended to be the fourth season of the original series. He dusted off his gay-themed script, called "Blood and Fire," and also directed it. Originally, "Blood and Fire" was written for Star Trek: TNG, and approved by series creator Gene Roddenberry, but executives at the network balked. Gerrold says they told him they were worried they'd lose their advertisers because "mommies" would call in to complain that they'd seen gay people on Star Trek.

The first half of "Blood and Fire" goes online this Saturday on the Star Trek: Phase II (http://www.startreknewvoyages.com/news20081120.html) website. The second half airs in February.
Gerrold wrote the story of contagion as a metaphor for the AIDS pandemic and the episode is dedicated to the gifted Star Trek alumni the world has lost to the disease: William Ware Theiss, Mike Minor and Merritt Butrick. It was also Gerrold's intention to challenge the apathy of the public regarding the small sacrifice, yet far reaching power, of blood donations. Based on an original TNG script that was shelved because of the mention of a gay crewman aboard the Enterprise, "Blood and Fire" for Star Trek New Voyages: Phase II honors Gene Roddenberry's vision of a non-judgmental future with the inclusion of a gay couple as part of the principle action of the story.

David Gerrold directed the episode which features guest stars Denise Crosby ("Tasha Yar" from TNG), Bill Blair and Evan Fowler; and reintroduces the character of Captain Kirk's nephew, Peter, played by Bobby Rice. The anticipated release of the conclusion "Blood and Fire: Part Two", episode 5, is expected in the near future.
JuNii
19-12-2008, 18:00
Rest In Peace.

I loved her as Lwaxana Troi in TNG. the only person that could make Picard cower in the Holodeck.
Klonor
19-12-2008, 18:50
Majel Roddenberry is gone? Wow, that's just..wow. Despite my tendency to live my life vicariously through media I've always been able to steer clear of any actual emotional atttachment to what I watch on the shiny screen, never quite succumbing to believing that I actually know the actors or characters, but I've been watching Majel for quite literally my entire life, ever since I was an infant and my dad would watch old episodes of Star Trek. She was the only actor/actress to appear in every installment of the canonized Star Trek media, from the original series, to the movies, to the TNG-era series, and apparently even to this new film.

She will be missed, not just by the Trekkies, but by anybody who saw one woman flirt with Spock, Picard, Odo, and also say "Working..." in that special way she could.

Rest in Peace.
No Names Left Damn It
19-12-2008, 18:51
Never heard of her, but what a name.
The Alma Mater
19-12-2008, 18:54
'First Lady Of Star Trek,' Majel Roddenberry, Dead At 76 (http://jezebel.com/5114055/first-lady-of-star-trek-majel-roddenberry-dead-at-76)

"Please specify how you would like to proceed miss"

Gerrold says they told him they were worried they'd lose their advertisers because "mommies" would call in to complain that they'd seen gay people on Star Trek.

They saw nazi's, gods, an evil being pretending to be the Christian God, a Russian on the bridge, a black woman on the bridge who once even kissed a white man (albeit a Vulcan), humans having relations with non-humans including machines... and they would whine about gays ? Sigh. Nice to see what was acceptable controversy and what wasn't.

Besides, TOS had gay icon Takei playing Sulu...
Nanatsu no Tsuki
19-12-2008, 19:09
May she rest in peace. Trekkies will surely miss her.
Inklingland
19-12-2008, 20:58
"Please specify how you would like to proceed miss"



They saw nazi's, gods, an evil being pretending to be the Christian God, a Russian on the bridge, a black woman on the bridge who once even kissed a white man (albeit a Vulcan), humans having relations with non-humans including machines... and they would whine about gays ? Sigh. Nice to see what was acceptable controversy and what wasn't.

Besides, TOS had gay icon Takei playing Sulu...

Takei hadnt come out at that point though.
Cannot think of a name
19-12-2008, 21:08
Takei hadnt come out at that point though.

Yeah, but he was hiding in a closet with a big glass door...
NERVUN
20-12-2008, 14:20
Goodbye, Number One. :(
Katganistan
20-12-2008, 15:29
"Please specify how you would like to proceed miss"



They saw nazi's, gods, an evil being pretending to be the Christian God, a Russian on the bridge, a black woman on the bridge who once even kissed a white man (albeit a Vulcan),
Nah. A black woman who kissed the over-sexed white captain. ;)

Interracial kiss was probably as far as they thought they could go -- gay was right out.

However..... wasn't AIDS pretty much unknown until Rock Hudson died of it in the 80s? And Gerrold's original script would have been written in 1968 at the latest? I guess he must have rewritten it to include the metaphors for AIDS deaths....

Today gays in space is kind of old hat... what with Captain Jack Harkness....
Ardchoille
20-12-2008, 16:13
She was one to bravely go.

And now, do her ashes at least get to go into space?
Ashmoria
20-12-2008, 17:02
Nah. A black woman who kissed the over-sexed white captain. ;)

Interracial kiss was probably as far as they thought they could go -- gay was right out.

However..... wasn't AIDS pretty much unknown until Rock Hudson died of it in the 80s? And Gerrold's original script would have been written in 1968 at the latest? I guess he must have rewritten it to include the metaphors for AIDS deaths....

Today gays in space is kind of old hat... what with Captain Jack Harkness....
if you read the OP carefully you will see that he made a mistake in the title. the episode was written for tng not tos.
JuNii
20-12-2008, 18:04
She was one to bravely go.

And now, do her ashes at least get to go into space?

I hope so.
The Brevious
21-12-2008, 12:09
Wow.
I think we got glimmers of what Gene saw in her, sometimes subtle, sometimes overt, and always with class and grace.

She will be missed.
Gauthier
21-12-2008, 12:11
Yeah, but he was hiding in a closet with a big glass door...

Like when the Drunk Virus struck?
The Brevious
21-12-2008, 12:16
Like when the Drunk Virus struck?As is quite often the case.