The Ready Room: A Star Trek Podcast

The State of Star Trek 2022 We long called the 1990s the golden age of Star Trek. From 1993 to 1999, two series overlapped one another on the airwaves and, once The Next Generation left the small screen, we even got doses of three incarnations of Gene Roddenberry's vision from time to time. But it all came to an abrupt end in May 2005, with the final episode of Enterprise. J.J. Abrams would later step in and tease us through the fallow years until the battle among streaming services offered a financial incentive to dust off intellectual property and Discovery came along. And now, there is more Star Trek than ever. A new golden age is upon us. In this episode of The Ready Room, recorded as we end an unprecedented 48 consecutive weeks of new Star Trek content, hosts C Bryan Jones and Larry Nemecek take a look at the state of the franchise in 2022. We discuss each of the “modern” series—Strange New Worlds, Picard, Prodigy, Lower Decks, and Discovery—dig into the fan split over old and new, and imagine what new series might be on the horizon. We also debate the pros and cons of the streaming model for storytelling and talk about how Star Trek and Star Wars are pushing each other forward. Chapters Intro (0:00:00) The Mood at SDCC (00:05:13) Resurgent Franchise(s) (00:14:17) Pros and Cons of Streaming (00:20:34) The Modern/Classic Trek Division (00:26:50) Strange New Worlds (00:34:26) Picard (00:59:37) Potential Future Series (01:14:00) Lower Decks (01:24:41) Prodigy (01:34:19) Discovery (01:50:37) Closing (02:04:26) Hosts C Bryan Jones and Larry Nemecek Production C Bryan Jones (Editor and Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Renee Roberts (Associate Producer)

Star Trek: Lower Decks after two seasons. When it was announced that a Star Trek comedy was being developed—and that it would be animated—the news was met with a bit more trepidation than usual. Could Star Trek and comedy really mix? Was Rick and Morty-style humor really appropriate for Gene Roddenberry's vision of the future? In this episode of The Ready Room, hosts C Bryan Jones and Larry Nemecek take a broad look back at the first two seasons of Star Trek: Lower Decks and discuss how the series has connected with fans, why it has won over many early skeptics, and how it serves as a brilliant love letter to the franchise. Along the way we touch on many topics, including how the writing has matured, finding the perfect balance in storytelling, sprinkling in guest stars, selling commemorative plates, and adding texture to the universe. We also ask whether some moments are a rebuke of modern Star Trek. Hosts C Bryan Jones and Larry Nemecek Production C Bryan Jones (Editor and Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Renee Roberts (Associate Producer)

Marking our 10th anniversary. Many people say that time flies. Doctor Tolian Soran said that time is the fire in which we burn. Whichever you subscribe to, time moves forward and people—as well as their views—change. On May 31, 2011, we aired the first episode of The Ready Room. What began as a singular podcast hosted by two hew-mons—C Bryan Jones and Greg Harbin—evolved into the Trek.fm network and more than 30 shows. In this episode of The Ready Room, airing on the 10th anniversary of the premiere, C Bryan Jones and Larry Nemecek,—who first appeared on the show in episode 2 during a segment about his documentary The Con of Wrath and then made his first full-length appearance in episode 19 to discuss the Star Trek pendulum—mark a decade of discussion by returning to the key topics of those early podcasts from 2011. We deep-dive into Star Trek's return to television—and how the prospects and probable format seemed in 2011 vs. what we actually got—as well as which way the fan pendulum is swinging today. We also talk about screen vs. visual canon, whether Star Trek is an historical piece, dealing with toxic fandom, the status of The Con of Wrath, and more. Hosts C Bryan Jones and Larry Nemecek Production C Bryan Jones (Editor and Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Renee Roberts (Associate Producer)

Adil Hussain interview. We've all lived through extraordinary times over the past year, and we're still trying to find our way back to the world we remember. The same can be said for Michael Burnham and the crew of the USS Discovery after their jump from the 23rd to the 32nd century. In both cases, catastrophe turned life upside down. But when Burnham finally came in contact with remnants of the Federation she had left behind, she met a man of extraordinary patience, Aditya Sahil, who embodied all the ideals of Starfleet and Gene Roddenberry's vision. In this episode of The Ready Room, hosts C Bryan Jones and Larry Nemecek are joined by the man who portrayed Sahil—Adil Hussain—for a somewhat different episode as we take a look at a real-world crisis and how we can help those in need. Adil joins us from his home in New Delhi to talk about the Covid-19 situation in India, the art of acting and what inspired his portrayal of Sahil, as well as Star Trek and entertainment as a coping mechanism during difficult times. He also shares thoughts on how we might reach that more prosperous future that Gene Roddenberry envisioned. Chapters Intro (00:00:00) Covid Situation in India (00:03:34) How You Can Help (00:16:28) Patience (00:23:38) Entertainment as Remedy (00:40:17) Shooting the Discovery Scenes (00:47:38) Creating Sahil's Backstory (01:02:13) Finding Adil (01:09:17) Closing (01:21:21) Hosts C Bryan Jones and Larry Nemecek Guests Adil Hussain Production C Bryan Jones (Editor and Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Renee Roberts (Associate Producer)

Looking Back at Discovery Season Three. When Michael Burnham and the USS Discovery emerged from their Red Angel-created wormhole into the 32nd century, things didn't go quite as planned. Terralysium was not in the neighborhood and temporal wackiness left Michael and the ship a year apart. But once reunited, they set off on a grand adventure to find what was left of the Federation. They also had to solve an unexpected mystery: the cause of a disaster that put an end to the carefree days of easy faster-than-light travel. In this episode of The Ready Room, hosts C Bryan Jones and Larry Nemecek sit back in their programmable-matter lounge chairs and reflect on Star Trek: Discovery Season 3, discussing how the story played out compared with what we expected, how we feel about key plot points, and how it all fits into the overall Star Trek picture. We also look ahead to Season 4 and speculate on what the writers might have is store for us. Chapters Intro 00:00:00 Story Expectations 00:06:20 Programmable Matter Rabbit Hole 00:11:05 Detached Nacelles 00:22:03 Serialization Settling In 00:31:45 Unification III 00:37:20 Bopping Around 00:40:19 A Screaming Resolution 00:44:56 Identity and Found Families 00:55:05 The Past Is the Light 01:00:48 Look Beyond the Season 01:10:15 Georgiou's Detour 01:15:36 Die Trying 01:41:50 Getting Out of the Head 01:45:48 Expectations for Season Four 01:51:48 Closing 02:01:49 Hosts C Bryan Jones and Larry Nemecek Production C Bryan Jones (Editor and Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Renee Roberts (Associate Producer)

Discovery Season 3 preview. The third season of Star Trek: Discovery is finally here after a pandemic-induced delay. At least we didn't have to wait 930 years. That's how much time has passed for most people when the crew of the USS Discovery arrives in the Beta Quadrant after their jump to put the sphere data permanently out of reach of Section 31's Control AI. This temporal shift—along with a new logo—represents a reboot of sorts for the series going into its third season. In this episode of The Ready Room, hosts C Bryan Jones and Larry Nemecek get ready for their trip to the 32nd century by discussing the premise of Star Trek: Discovery Season 3, what the episode titles may reveal about the story, potential real world parallels, the addition of transgender and binary characters, and more. But first we discuss Kate Mulgrew's return to the franchise as Kathryn Janeway. Hosts C Bryan Jones and Larry Nemecek Production C Bryan Jones (Editor and Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Renee Roberts (Associate Producer)

Lower Decks midseason review.   After a long wait and much speculation on what an animated comedy take on Star Trek might mean, we're now halfway through the first season of Mike McMahan's Star Trek: Lower Decks. And in a short time, the adventures and banter of Beckett Mariner, Bradward Boimler, D'Vana Tendi, Sam Rutherford—and even Durango and Ron Emmanuel Docent, Jr. —have won over many fans, even some who were highly skeptical going in.   In this episode of The Ready Room, hosts C Bryan Jones and Larry Nemecek pay a visit to the insignificant little USS Cerritos as its journey reaches midseason to share our thoughts on this animated rendition of Star Trek, the comedic elements, recreation of the 24th-century aesthetic, nods to Trek past, and much more.   Chapters Intro 00:00:00   Initial Thoughts 00:03:11   Reference Density 00:10:03   Promoting Mariner 00:18:14   Character Pairings 00:23:39   Sometimes a Bit Sitcomish 00:25:44   Tendi and Rutherford … Sitting in a Tree 00:28:09   The Upper Deckers 00:32:17   Tropes 00:38:26   Prodigy Young-Adult Sidebar 00:46:34   Profane Break 00:49:09   Alien Diversity 00:56:37   Bland Names and Zany Lines 01:05:24   Fan Reception 01:09:27   Character Development 01:14:14   Second Contact 01:22:34   Envoys 01:35:59   Moist Vessel 01:44:24   Temporal Edict 01:50:30   Cupid's Errant Arrow 01:58:36   Final Thoughts 02:04:49   Hosts C Bryan Jones and Larry Nemecek   Production C Bryan Jones (Editor and Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Renee Roberts (Associate Producer)

Expanding the Star Trek universe. Star Trek content has been blossoming in recent years, and franchise showrunner Alex Kurtzman recently talked to Deadline and Variety about the rapid expansion. After years of no voyages on TV—and just a slow trickle on the big screen—the studio is showering fans with series after series, with more to come. In this episode of The Ready Room, hosts C Bryan Jones and Larry Nemecek use Kurtzman's interviews from the Star Trek Emmy promotion campaign as the basis for exploring Section 31, Lower Decks, Strange New Worlds, Prodigy, and the overall expansion of the Star Trek universe—including risks and rewards. We also discuss what the decision to air the first season of Star Trek: Discovery on CBS proper could mean for the future of Trek on television. Chapters Intro (00:00:00) Starfleet Intelligence Tangent (00:04:44) Discovery Season 1 to Air on CBS (00:09:07) Expanding the Star Trek Universe (00:21:31) Lower Decks Sidebar (00:32:06) Differentiating the Series (00:35:42) Risks of Rapid Expansion (00:46:32) Section 31 (00:54:23) Rumor Mill from Another Dimension (01:07:00) Strange New Worlds (01:14:07) Room for Optimism in Storytelling (01:25:35) Prodigy (01:38:27) Final Thoughts (01:42:12) Closing (01:50:17) Hosts C Bryan Jones and Larry Nemecek Production C Bryan Jones (Editor and Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Renee Roberts (Associate Producer)

Lower Decks pre-launch thoughts and Star Trek Emmy nominations. After almost five decades, Star Trek is returning to animation under the guidance of Mike McMahan, writer and producer of the Cartoon Network animated comedy series Rick and Morty and creator of the Hulu animated series Solar Opposites. What does he have in store for Star Trek fans? In this episode of The Ready Room, hosts C Bryan Jones and Larry Nemecek explore the upcoming series and what it could mesan for the franchise, as well their expectations for this excursion to the Lower Decks. We also discuss the Star Trek franchise's six Emmy nominations and how virtual cons are changing the nature of fan interaction in the age of coronavirus. Hosts C Bryan Jones and Larry Nemecek Production C Bryan Jones (Editor and Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Renee Roberts (Associate Producer)

Picard Recap and Strange New Worlds. The first season of Star Trek: Picard is behind us, and Jean-Luc Picard has a new body to carry him through Season 2. But before we speculate on what that might mean and where the La Sirena crew are headed, we must consider the broader impact of Patrick Stewart's return on the health of the franchise. In this episode of The Ready Room, hosts C Bryan Jones and Larry Nemecek look back at the full season of Star Trek: Picard and share our feelings on the story and creative work. We also take a first look at the recently announced Captain Pike series, Strange New Worlds. Chapters Intro (00:00:00) Thoughts on the Full Season (00:05:04) Commodore Oh Tangent (00:13:13) Back to Those Thoughts (00:16:23) Necessary Flashbacks (00:18:55) Pilot of the Past? (00:22:13) Manny Coto Tangent (00:26:55) Thoughts on the Conclusion (00:30:01) Pining over Data (00:40:11) Picard's Artificial Adventure (00:49:07) End of a Journey for Picard? (00:56:12) Casting Surprises (01:03:26) All That Romulan Hissing (01:06:15) What It Means for the Franchise (01:14:39) Strange New Worlds (01:21:43) Final Thoughts (01:36:16) Closing (01:42:03) Hosts C Bryan Jones and Larry Nemecek Production C Bryan Jones (Editor and Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Renee Roberts (Associate Producer) Zachary Fruhling (Associate Producer) Sam Piassick (Associate Producer) Kay Elizabeth Shaw (Associate Producer) Tim Robertson (Associate Producer) David Shuford (Associate Producer) Joo Kim (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager)

Midseason Picard. Seeing Patrick Stewart on screen once again in the role of Jean-Luc Picard has been a dream come true for fans—particularly those who grew up with Star Trek: The Next Generation. But while the opening scene brought us two familiar faces aboard a familiar ship, this new series is far from a return to TNG. Nearly twenty years after the film Nemesis, Picard finds himself in the midst of a mystery involving old enemies and Starfleet that is unlike the one in which he served. While some elements may be familiar, this is a modern take on Star Trek of old. In this episode of The Ready Room, host C Bryan Jones is joined by Matthew Rushing, his co-host from The Orb, to discuss the first half of Star Trek: Picard Season 1. We share our thoughts on the tone and direction of the new show, characters old and new, what happened in the first five episodes, what we feel has and has not worked in the writing and pacing, and where we would like things to go from here. Chapters Intro (00:00:00) Change of Heart (00:05:30) The Premise (00:12:26) Federation Gone Bad (00:15:40) Do You Need to Read The Last Best Hope? (00:19:35) Every Universe Has Its Own Rules (00:31:22) Romulan–Borg Disconnect (00:32:46) Laris and Zhaban (00:41:02) Dahj and Soji (00:47:39) Narek and Rizzo (00:51:07) Jurati (00:57:31) Raffi (01:05:12) Rios (01:11:53) Seven of Nine (01:15:40) For Mature Audiences Only (01:20:17) Episode Rundown (01:28:43) Where Is the Story Headed? (01:34:02) Are 10 Episodes Enough? (01:39:47) Final Thoughts (01:42:00) Closing (01:44:31) Host C Bryan Jones Guest Matthew Rushing Production C Bryan Jones (Editor and Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Renee Roberts (Associate Producer) Zachary Fruhling (Associate Producer) Sam Piassick (Associate Producer) Kay Elizabeth Shaw (Associate Producer) Tim Robertson (Associate Producer) David Shuford (Associate Producer) Joo Kim (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager)

Star Trek's second golden age. The mid-1990s were a glorious time for Star Trek fans. With The Next Generation transitioning from the small screen to big, Deep Space Nine paving the way for serialized storytelling on television, and Voyager taking us to the other side of the galaxy, fans were spoiled for choice. But such riches don't always last, and when Enterprise was cancelled in 2005, it seemed that Gene Roddenberry's vision of the future might well become part of TV's past. As we enter a new decade, however, almost 20 years after the final big-screen voyage of Captain Jean-Luc Picard and his crew, a second golden age of Star Trek is upon us—and it looks to be even richer than the first. In this episode of The Ready Room, hosts C Bryan Jones and Larry Nemecek look ahead to the flood of Star Trek new content headed to our screens in 2020. We discuss Picard, Discovery Season 3, the animated Short Treks, and more. But first, we take time to remember three members of the family who left us in recent months: Aron Eisenberg, Dorothy “D.C.” Fontana, and René Auberjonois. Chapters Intro (00:00:00) First Thoughts on New Star Trek (00:02:06) Remembering Aron Eisenberg (00:10:47) Remembering Dorothy Fontana (00:20:35) Remembering René Auberjonois (00:39:13) Getting Ready for the New Series (00:53:43) Too Much Content? (00:57:27) Flexible Format (01:09:55) Star Trek: Picard (01:14:46) Star Trek: Discovery, Season 3 (01:31:57) Animated Short Treks (01:52:57) Closing (02:05:48) Hosts C Bryan Jones and Larry Nemecek Production C Bryan Jones (Editor and Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Renee Roberts (Associate Producer) Zachary Fruhling (Associate Producer) Sam Piassick (Associate Producer) Kay Elizabeth Shaw (Associate Producer) Tim Robertson (Associate Producer) David Shuford (Associate Producer) Joo Kim (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Brandon-Shea Mutala (Patreon Manager)

Looking Back at Discovery Season Two. It never happened. Or so they say. But we watched it with our own eyes, and so talk about it we must. The second season of Star Trek: Discovery started off with a decidedly old-school flavor before taking us on a search for Spock and a mind-bending trip through time. In this episode of The Ready Room, hosts C Bryan Jones and Larry Nemecek look back at Star Trek: Discovery's sophomore mission as we discuss everything from the Burnham-centric nature of the universe and the use of Section 31 to the power of Pike and the fan–writer feedback loop; and, of course, the battle for attention among magical rocks. Chapters Intro (00:00:00) First Impressions (00:04:55) Name That Episode! (00:10:10) Too Many Arcs? (00:11:53) Season 1 vs. 2 (00:16:14) Can Every Season Be About Burnham? (00:24:25) Unintended Pike Spike? (00:33:56) The Not-So-Secret Section 31 (00:42:51) The Production–Consumption Gap (00:50:42) Fast, Old-School Start … and Then … (00:54:09) Alien Nation (00:57:49) Other Strong Moments (01:01:17) But Time Crystals Are Real! (01:04:46) I'll Raise You a Katra Stone (01:09:16) Spocklight and Shadows (01:12:49) Adding True Texture to Spock's Story? (01:16:42) Mum's the Word! (01:26:34) Spore Drive Misjumps (01:30:10) Who's That Airiam? (01:46:08) Production Bits and Writers' Room Churn (01:53:10) Final Thoughts … Lots of Them! (02:05:56) Closing (02:23:34) Hosts C Bryan Jones and Larry Nemecek Production C Bryan Jones (Editor and Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Renee Roberts (Associate Producer) Zachary Fruhling (Associate Producer) Sam Piassick (Associate Producer) Kay Elizabeth Shaw (Associate Producer) Tim Robertson (Associate Producer) David Shuford (Associate Producer) Joo Kim (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Brandon-Shea Mutala (Patreon Manager)

Future Trek. As Star Trek: Discovery returns for its second season, the ball is just starting to roll toward what could be a new golden age for the franchise. Shorts Treks have shown how versatile Star Trek can be, and a whole slew of new projects are either in production, preparing to start, or under series consideration. In this episode of The Ready Room, hosts C Bryan Jones and Larry Nemecek ride a subspace shockwave through a list of Star Treks to come, sharing their thoughts on Discovery season two, Short Treks, the return of Jean Luc Picard, Lower Decks and more possible animation, Georgiou and Section 31, Starfleet Academy, a Khan miniseries, and the slow demise of the Kelvin Timeline. Chapters Intro (00:00:00) Discovery Season Two (00:04:47) Short Treks (00:25:52) The Picard Series (00:39:01) Lower Decks (00:54:05) More Animation (00:58:01) The Section 31 Series (01:02:38) Starfleet Academy (01:12:51) The Khan Miniseries (01:19:26) The Demise of Star Trek 4 (01:26:12) Closing (01:37:37) Hosts C Bryan Jones and Larry Nemecek Production C Bryan Jones (Editor and Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Renee Roberts (Associate Producer) Zachary Fruhling (Associate Producer) Sam Piassick (Associate Producer) Kay Elizabeth Shaw (Associate Producer) Tim Robertson (Associate Producer) David Shuford (Associate Producer) Joo Kim (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Brandon-Shea Mutala (Patreon Manager)

Patrick Stewart's Return, Kelvin Trouble, and Discovery Changes. Few characters in Star Trek history are as widely loved as Captain Jean Luc Picard. When the final credits of Nemesis rolled in December 2002, fans thought they had seen the last of the The Next Generation's inspirational leader. So, when Patrick Stewart took the stage at this year's Las Vegas convention—nearly 16 years after after he strolled down the corridor of the Enterprise one last time for viewers to see—no one imagined that he would reveal a return to the franchise. But that's exactly what we're getting. Set 20 years after Nemesis, a new Star Trek television series will feature none other than Jean Luc Picard. In this episode of The Ready Room, hosts C Bryan Jones and Larry Nemecek share their thoughts on the announcement—including Larry's firsthand impressions from the floor of STLV—and discuss some of the other big news, including production troubles with the next JJ Abrams Kelvin Timeline film as Chris Pine and Chris Hemsworth walk away from the table over money, the release of Star Trek: Discovery season one on Blu-ray and DVD, and what we see as the maturation of CBS's approach to Star Trek. We also dig into some of the big revelations about and changes coming to Discovery in season two, such as the return of Doctor Culber, appearances by Captain Pike and Spock, retconning uniforms, and, of course, another redesign of the Klingons. Chapters Intro (00:00:00) Impressions from Star Trek Las Vegas (00:02:53) Patrick Stewart Returns (00:20:55) The Maturation of CBS (00:42:59) The Picard Creative Team (00:49:48) Chrises Cause Trouble for Star Trek 4 (00:56:53) Discovery on Blu-ray and DVD (01:10:15) Discovery Season 2: Culber Returns (01:19:32) Discovery Season 2: Pike and Spock (01:23:08) Discovery Season 2: Adjusting the Retcon (01:23:08) Discovery Season 2: Redesigning Klingons, Yet Again (01:19:32) Closing (01:51:33) Hosts C Bryan Jones and Larry Nemecek Production C Bryan Jones (Editor and Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Renee Roberts (Associate Producer) Zachary Fruhling (Associate Producer) Sam Piassick (Associate Producer) Kay Elizabeth Shaw (Associate Producer) Tim Robertson (Associate Producer) David Shuford (Associate Producer) Joo Kim (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Brandon-Shea Mutala (Patreon Manager)

The Expansion of Star Trek. When CBS announced in November 2015 that Star Trek would return to television, we all celebrated the light at the end of the tunnel. The fallow years were coming to an end and, soon, the voyages of our future selves would continue where they belong: on the small screen. But details were scarce, and it took some time before we knew what to expect. Almost three years later, we find ourselves in a similar position—only this time what may be coming our way is not just a new series or movie, but a tsunami of new content. In this episode of The Ready Room, C Bryan Jones and Larry Nemecek discuss some of the recent news surrounding the Star Trek franchise, including award nominations and wins for Discovery, the shake-up among that show's producers and writers, the possible return of Patrick Stewart, and Alex Kurtzman's new deal with CBS, what it could mean for the studio's plans to greatly expand the franchise, and whether they should. But before all that, we take time to look back at Harlan Ellison and his contributions to Star Trek and the genre. Chapters Intro (00:00:00) Remembering Harlan Ellison (00:03:44) Discovery Awards and Nominations (00:19:18) Producer Shake-up (00:33:47) Kurtzman's Five-Year Mission (00:45:48) Expansion of the Star Trek Franchise (00:52:36) The Star Wars Rethink? (00:59:48) The Return of Patrick Stewart (01:09:48) Closing (01:29:04) Hosts C Bryan Jones and Larry Nemecek Production C Bryan Jones (Editor and Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Renee Roberts (Associate Producer) Zachary Fruhling (Associate Producer) Sam Piassick (Associate Producer) Kay Elizabeth Shaw (Associate Producer) Tim Robertson (Associate Producer) David Shuford (Associate Producer) Joo Kim (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Brandon-Shea Mutala (Patreon Manager)

Proto-TNG and the Pike Memo. We've all heard the stories about how Star Trek: The Next Generation was created. Or have we? While rummaging through Gene Roddenberry's drawers, Larry Nemecek, John Champion, and Rod Roddenberry uncovered a long-lost memo from 1986 that presents a TNG that is very different from the one we know. The document, prepared by Paramount Network Television President John S. Pike, Greg Strangis, Jeff Hayes, and Rick Berman, outlines a premise, crew, and pilot for Star Trek's return to television that until now was unknown. In this episode of The Ready Room, C Bryan Jones and Larry Nemecek bring you an extended discussion about the document featured in episode four of Larry's podcast, The Trek Files. We imagine what the adventures of Captain Rhon, Cadet Commander Brik, the painfully beautiful Helen Joyce, and the USS Odyssey might have been like—and why the security of the galaxy might depend on young Klingon officer Mynk and a simple piece of paper. In our news segment, we look at Star Trek: Discovery's nomination for Outstanding Drama Series in the GLADD Media Awards, given by the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, a new book filled with lost scenes from The Original Series, and Larry shares his thoughts on a subject he's very passionate: Tellarites. News Intro (00:00:00) A GLADD Media Awards Nomination for Discovery (00:06:19) Those Discovery Tellarites (00:15:52) Star Trek Lost Scenes (00:25:18) Feature: Proto-TNG and the Pike Memo Background (00:35:45) The Purpose of the Memo (00:39:03) The TNG Announcement (00:46:02) Concept and Crew (00:49:36) Let's Remember 1986 (00:54:55) Character Parallels with Other Trek (01:02:54) Pilot Premise (01:12:41) Final Thoughts (01:22:39) Closing (01:35:08) Hosts C Bryan Jones and Larry Nemecek Production C Bryan Jones (Editor and Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Renee Roberts (Associate Producer) Zachary Fruhling (Associate Producer) Sam Piassick (Associate Producer) Kay Elizabeth Shaw (Associate Producer) Tim Robertson (Associate Producer) David Shuford (Associate Producer) Joo Kim (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Brandon-Shea Mutala (Patreon Manager)

DS9 at 25. It's been a quarter century since Benjamin Sisko arrived at one of the Federation's most remote outposts—Deep Space 9—and began a journey of self discovery that would turn the Star Trek model on its head. Overshadowed by The Next Generation and then Voyager, Deep Space Nine quietly flew under the radar and developed into a series that would later emerge as what many consider the franchise's crown jewel. It's a show that fans are rediscovering—and some are discovering for the first time—in this age of streaming and binge-watching. And it has stood the test of time in a remarkable way. In this episode of The Ready Room, C Bryan Jones and Larry Nemecek look back at 25 years of Deep Space Nine, discussing its development, premiere, the roles of Rick Berman and Michael Piller, why the love fans have for the show continues to grow, and much more. In our news segment, we consider the camaraderie of past Star Trek casts in light of Jonathan Frakes's comments about the crew of Discovery, check out the 4-disc La-La Land Records Deep Space Nine Volume 2 Limited Edition music collection, and remember Jon Paul Steuer, the actor who played young Alexander on The Next Generation. Plus, Larry has a special announcement about activity detected in Trekland. Chapters Intro (00:00:00) Remembering Jon Paul Steuer (00:04:16) How Close Were the Casts of Each Series? (00:10:02) La-La Land Records DS9 Volume 2 (00:18:53) The Trek Files (00:26:38) Feature: DS9 at 25 (00:41:06) Developing Deep Space Nine (00:46:19) Setting Up the Story (01:06:51) The Roles of Rick Berman and Michael Piller (01:21:59) TOS Nodes (01:30:35) Surprising Ira (01:33:01) Standing the Test of Time (01:35:47) Final Thoughts (01:53:06) Closing (01:48:32) Hosts C Bryan Jones and Larry Nemecek Production C Bryan Jones (Editor and Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Renee Roberts (Associate Producer) Zachary Fruhling (Associate Producer) Sam Piassick (Associate Producer) Kay Elizabeth Shaw (Associate Producer) Tim Robertson (Associate Producer) David Shuford (Associate Producer) Joo Kim (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Brandon-Shea Mutala (Patreon Manager)

Discovery Post-Premiere. After nearly two years of waiting—and much speculation—we're now well into the Star Trek: Discovery story. How does what we've seen compare to our expectations? What do we think of the writing and creative decisions so far? In this episode of The Ready Room, C Bryan Jones and Larry Nemecek revisit some the topics from their last discussion—including an ancient Klingon secret, a unique Vulcan story, and the business side of Discovery—and explore new topics such as the storytelling format, technology, Section 31, how Discovery is connecting with past Star Trek, and whether these connections might change the fan conversation over whether The Animated Series and the literary universe are canon. Chapters Intro (00:00:00) The Business Side of Discovery (00:05:39) Fall Season Extended (00:17:29) Ancient Klingon Secret Revisited (00:22:46) Sarek and Burnham's Vulcan Adventure Revisited (00:45:12) A Fourth Approach to Vulcans (00:55:47) Future Debate About Canon (01:08:11) Is Discovery a Section 31 Ship? (01:24:37) Spore Drive and Iconian Gateways (01:32:21) A Different Way of Telling a Story (01:39:40) Closing (01:48:32) Hosts C Bryan Jones and Larry Nemecek Production C Bryan Jones (Editor and Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Renee Roberts (Associate Producer) Zachary Fruhling (Associate Producer) Sam Piassick (Associate Producer) Kay Elizabeth Shaw (Associate Producer) Tim Robertson (Associate Producer) David Shuford (Associate Producer) Joo Kim (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Brandon-Shea Mutala (Patreon Manager)

Star Trek: Discovery Latest Details and Summer Con Preview. We're just two months away from the launch of Star Trek's seventh venture onto the small screen: Discovery. As summer heats up and convention season kicks into gear, news about the series, images from the set, and interviews with creators are bringing us new details and stirring the pot of speculation more feverishly than ever. In this episode of The Ready Room, C Bryan Jones and Larry Nemecek get together to discuss some of the latest tidbits, including an ancient Klingon secret, a unique (or as Alex Kurtzman calls it a very, very unique) Vulcan story, Riker on the set, the business side of Discovery, and much more. Plus, we make an exciting announcement about the Trek.fm podcast network. Chapters Intro (00:00:00) Star Trek: Discovery Premiere Schedule (00:05:12) The Business Side of Discovery (00:13:27) Ancient Klingon Secret (00:16:36) Sarek and Burnham's Vulcan Adventure (00:24:56) Jonathan Frakes Directs Discovery (00:00:00) Alex Kurtzman on Discovery's Story (00:34:55) Connecting to the Original Star Trek (00:39:11) How Discovery Respects Canon (00:50:24) Why We Still Need Roddenberry's Vision (00:57:17) Star Trek: Discovery and San Diego Comic-Con (01:02:21) Star Trek Las Vegas 2017 (01:10:14) A Network Announcement (01:23:39) Hosts C Bryan Jones and Larry Nemecek Production C Bryan Jones (Editor and Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Renee Roberts (Associate Producer) Zachary Fruhling (Associate Producer) Sam Piassick (Associate Producer) Kay Elizabeth Shaw (Associate Producer) Tim Robertson (Associate Producer) David Shuford (Associate Producer) Joo Kim (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Brandon-Shea Mutala (Patreon Manager)

The Cloud Minders. Kirk has a history of getting involved in the domestic disputes of other worlds and trying to set the locals straight. That's why the little Federation clean-up ship is always trailing the Enterprise. Of course, when the planet in question is a member of the Federation, is refusing to do its part to help another member world, and is torturing its own people, it's a lot easier to justify stepping in. That's what happened in the third-season episode “The Cloud Minders.” In this episode of The Ready Room, host C Bryan Jones is joined by Zachary Fruhling, Amy Nelson, and Justin Oser to discuss this story of a city in the sky, cave dwellers, the stratification of society, and deadly gas. Along the way we debate what it means to be part of the United Federation of Planets, how laws might apply to such a vast political organization, and why Spock is so flirty when his head is in the clouds. In our news segment, we examine Mike Okuda's new design for NASA's flight operations emblem, talk about the winners of the Qualcomm Tricorder XPRIZE, and explore what it will take to make a Star Trek-style medical tricorder a reality. News Intro (00:00:00) Mike Okuda Designs New NASA Flight Operations Emblem (00:03:05) How Close Are We to a Real Star Trek-Style Medical Tricorder? (00:12:39) Feature Initial Thoughts (00:23:33) Science Fiction Parallels (00:25:41) Federation Law and Member Worlds (00:32:34) Caste System (00:41:17) Flirty Spock (00:48:47) David Gerrold's Original Story (00:58:53) Manny Coto's Magic Bag of Hindsight (01:09:53) Caste Systems Revisited (01:16:38) Final Thoughts and Ratings (01:26:00) Closing (01:33:42) Hosts C Bryan Jones and Zachary Fruhling Guests Amy Nelson and Justin Oser Production C Bryan Jones (Editor and Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Renee Roberts (Associate Producer) Zachary Fruhling (Associate Producer) Sam Piassick (Associate Producer) Kay Elizabeth Shaw (Associate Producer) Tim Robertson (Associate Producer) David Shuford (Associate Producer) Joo Kim (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Brandon-Shea Mutala (Patreon Manager)

Vanishing Point. Sometimes it would be nice to have a transporter. What Star Trek fans hasn't had that thought? But would we really want to be disassembled atom by atom and put back together somewhere far away? Hoshi certainly didn't in the second-season Enterprise episode “Vanishing Point,” but it was her only way out of a deadly situation. In this episode of The Ready Room, host C Bryan Jones is joined by Justin Oser, Aaron Harvey, and Luke Weir to discuss Hoshi's eight-second mental adventure, her father's confusion, early transporter technology, the repetition of story concepts in Star Trek and, of course, the legend of Cyrus Ramsey. In our news segment, we explore the new video vault component of the Deep Space Nine documentary and take a trip through the Cosmos as LeVar Burton brings Carl Sagan's classic to life. News Intro (00:00:00) DS9 Documentary Update and Video Vault (00:02:38) LeVar Burton Reads Cosmos (00:17:02) Feature Initial Thoughts (00:25:01) ETP: Early Transporter Phobia (00:32:44) Only in Her Head (00:45:11) Overcoming Fears (00:54:05) I am Hoshi's Dad. I am Smart. (00:59:59) The Aliens that Weren't (01:10:46) Third Verse, Same As the First (01:20:51) Final Thoughts and Ratings (01:27:34) Closing (01:33:56) Hosts C Bryan Jones and Justin Oser Guests Aaron Harvey and Luke Weir Production C Bryan Jones (Editor and Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Renee Roberts (Associate Producer) Zachary Fruhling (Associate Producer) Sam Piassick (Associate Producer) Kay Elizabeth Shaw (Associate Producer) Tim Robertson (Associate Producer) David Shuford (Associate Producer) Joo Kim (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Brandon-Shea Mutala (Patreon Manager)

Workforce. We all want to escape from our lives sometimes. What if you could really do it? What if you couldn't remember the life you left behind? And what if it was all against your will? That's what happens to the crew of the Starship Voyager in the seventh-season episode “Workforce.” In this episode of The Ready Room, hosts C Bryan Jones and Larry Nemecek are joined by Kay Elizabeth Shaw of To The Journey and Bruce Gibson of Literary Treks to discuss this story of the Voyager crew's other life as employees of a power facility on the planet Quarra. In our extended news segment, Chris and Larry share their thoughts on the Star Trek: Discovery trailer presented at CBS upfronts, the international Netflix version of the trailer, the new look of the Klingons, and more. News Intro (00:00:00) The Star Trek: Discovery Trailer (00:01:48) Made for Upfronts (00:06:04) The Kelvin Look (00:13:43) Characters: Michael Burnham, Lt. Saru, and More (00:22:00) The Klingons (00:34:02) The Most Ambitious Star Trek Ever? (00:42:24) Feature Initial Thoughts (00:50:45) Personality Parallels (00:58:08) Backstories? (01:13:04) Janeway and Jaffen (01:18:20) A Meat By-product Tangent (01:24:18) Emergency Command Hologram (01:28:07) A Meandering Story? (01:30:55) Final Thoughts (01:49:45) Closing (02:08:28) Hosts C Bryan Jones and Larry Nemecek Guests Kay Elizabeth Shaw and Bruce Gibson Production C Bryan Jones (Editor and Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Renee Roberts (Associate Producer) Zachary Fruhling (Associate Producer) Sam Piassick (Associate Producer) Kay Elizabeth Shaw (Associate Producer) Tim Robertson (Associate Producer) David Shuford (Associate Producer) Joo Kim (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Brandon-Shea Mutala (Patreon Manager)

Star Trek: Discovery and a Look Back at 50. The premiere of the next Star Trek series may be delayed, but there's still plenty to talk about. In this episode of The Ready Room, host C Bryan Jones returns from medical leave and hops on mic with Larry Nemecek to discuss some of the news from the past eight months. Looking at Star Trek: Discovery, we delve into the time period, ships, stories, writers, characters, casting, production, delays … and imagine the return of a classic alien. We also recap some of the key moments from Star Trek's 50th anniversary year and how we're carrying the excitement into the 51st. Chapters Intro (00:00:00) About Chris's Absence (00:00:59) Star Trek: Discovery (00:08:39) Star Trek: Discovery - Time Period (00:10:38) Star Trek: Discovery - The Ships (00:12:28) Star Trek: Discovery - Stories and Writers (00:21:40) Star Trek: Discovery - Characters and Casting (00:25:00) Star Trek: Discovery - Production and Delays (01:02:10) Star Trek 50 - Conventions (01:17:46) Star Trek 50 - Star Trek Beyond (01:20:36) Star Trek 50 - Geek Nation Tours (01:24:12) Star Trek 50 - From There to Here (01:28:14) Star Trek 50 - The Roddenberry Vault (01:30:42) Star Trek 50 - Portal 47 (01:38:07) Star Trek 50 - Series Set Repackaging (01:42:40) Closing (01:49:41) Hosts C Bryan Jones and Larry Nemecek Production C Bryan Jones (Editor and Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Renee Roberts (Associate Producer) Zachary Fruhling (Associate Producer) Sam Piassick (Associate Producer) Kay Elizabeth Shaw (Associate Producer) Tim Robertson (Associate Producer) David Shuford (Associate Producer) Joo Kim (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Brandon-Shea Mutala (Patreon Manager)

Crossover. Sometimes actions can have unexpected consequences. Such was the case in The Original Series when Kirk convinced Mirror Spock to turn the Terran Empire from evil to good. Only he didn't know it. Kirk had the best intentions, but maybe there was a reason the Terrans were the way they were. We learned the result of Kirk's speech in the Deep Space Nine episode “Crossover,” the first of many trips to the Mirror Universe for the DS9 crew. In this episode of The Ready Room, we're joined by Zachary Fruhling, Rumman Chowdhury, and Brandon-Shea Mutala to discuss the first onscreen foray into the Mirror Universe since TOS. Beginning with Kirk's actions, we continue on to explore the disastrous consequences his words had for the humans of this universe, how oppression impacts lives, and how sexuality can be used to wield power over others. We also discuss various DS9 characters and their mirror counterparts, and how circumstances bring out different traits. Plus, in our news segment we discuss the lineup of events and panels scheduled for Star Trek: Mission New York. News Star Trek: Mission New York Rundown (00:03:20) Feature: Crossover Initial Thoughts (00:24:36) The Divergence (00:36:28) DS9's Take on the Mirror Universe (00:37:45) Odo: Same of Different? (00:44:59) Kira, The Intendant, and Sexuality (00:53:33) Mirror Garak (01:02:31) Kira Outsmarting Kira (01:10:23) Smiley and the Weight of Oppression (01:16:30) Final Thoughts (01:24:34) Hosts C Bryan Jones and Zachary Fruhling Guests Rumman Chowdhury and Brandon-Shea Mutala Production C Bryan Jones (News Editor and Producer) Matthew Rushing (Feature Editor and Executive Producer) Charlynn Schmiedt (Executive Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Renee Roberts (Associate Producer) Zachary Fruhling (Associate Producer) Sam Piassick (Associate Producer) Kay Elizabeth Janeway (Associate Producer) Tim Robertson (Associate Producer) David Shuford (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager)

Justice. The first rule of Rubicun III is don't play in the flowerbeds. No wait … that would be “run everywhere.” But staying away from the flowers is definitely rule number two. And if don't obey the rules, there's only one punishment: death. The boy, Wesley Crusher, learned this the hard way when Picard allowed his crew to go on shore leave on a pre-warp world. In this episode of The Ready Room, we're joined by Bruce Gibson and Luke Weir to discuss “Justice” … and why there can be none when laws are absolute. We also debate whether a system of absolute laws could actually work, the highly sensual nature of 1987 Star Trek, the obsession with god-like aliens, and more. Plus, in our news segment we discuss recent Star Trek: Discovery news and the forthcoming Deep Space Nine documentary. News Star Trek: Discovery Details (00:03:48) DS9 Documentary (00:19:51) Feature: Justice Initial Thoughts (00:30:20) The Boy, Wesley Crusher (00:38:30) Let's Get Racy! (00:40:25) An Eden-like Feel (00:49:27) Forbidden … Temporarily (00:52:36) Can Absolute Rules Work? (01:03:52) The God Thing (01:12:15) The Original “Justice” Concept (01:19:14) Final Thoughts (01:37:06) Hosts C Bryan Jones and Bruce Gibson Guest Luke Weir Production C Bryan Jones (News Editor and Producer) Matthew Rushing (Feature Editor and Executive Producer) Charlynn Schmiedt (Executive Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Renee Roberts (Associate Producer) Zachary Fruhling (Associate Producer) Sam Piassick (Associate Producer) Kay Elizabeth Janeway (Associate Producer) Tim Robertson (Associate Producer) David Shuford (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager)

Breaking Down the Latest Details. Bit by bit we've been learning what Bryan Fuller and CBS have in store for us when the seventh Star Trek series launches in January 2017. The initial reveal of the name and hints about the time period got fans talking, and then the reveal of the ship and a teaser turned up the heat. Now a batch of details, revealed by Fuller at CBS's All Access panel for the Television Critics Association in Los Angeles, has set a flurry of speculation in motion. In this special episode of The Ready Room, C Bryan Jones and Larry Nemecek join the crowd to break down 13 points about Star Trek: Discovery and what they might mean for the first new Star Trek on television in more than a decade. Chapters Intro (00:00:00) The Time Period and The Incident (00:09:27) Amanda Grayson and Story Structure (00:15:46) The Lead Character and Point of View (00:22:04) Crew Diversity (00:26:38) More Aliens! (00:29:36) Robots! (00:38:35) TOS Characters Return? (00:47:21) The USS Discovery (00:52:07) The Aesthetic of the Show (01:07:45) Closing (01:24:17) Hosts C Bryan Jones and Larry Nemecek Production C Bryan Jones (News Editor and Producer) Matthew Rushing (Feature Editor and Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Executive Producer) Charlynn Schmiedt (Executive Producer) Renee Roberts (Associate Producer) Zachary Fruhling (Associate Producer) Sam Piassick (Associate Producer) Kay Elizabeth Janeway (Associate Producer) Tim Robertson (Associate Producer) David Shuford (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager)

Star Trek Beyond. After Star Trek Into Darkness, many questioned whether there would be a third film set in the Kelvin Timeline. The road to Beyond was a rocky one that included a complete reset of script, writer, and director. But in the end, Simon Pegg, Justin Lin, and the cast and crew of this rebooted Star Trek delivered a film that celebrates the 50th anniversary of the franchise, and that has surprised fans and critics alike. In this episode of The Ready Room, Matthew Rushing takes over the captain's chair following news and is joined by John Mills and Bruce Gibson to discuss Star Trek Beyond: the characters, the story, the action … music, villain, and more. In our news segment, Chris and Matthew discuss the end of IDW's Ongoing comic series—plus the launch of a new one called Boldy Go—and the kick off of the 50th Anniversary Star Trek Art Exhibition “50 Artists. 50 Years.” News 50 Artists. 50 Years. The Star Trek Art Exhibition (00:04:48) IDW's Boldly Go Comics Pick Up the Pieces of Beyond (00:12:43) Sponsor: The Eaglemoss Official Star Trek Starships Collection (00:18:46) Feature: Star Trek Beyond Synopsis and Initial Thoughts (00:23:58) Character Growth (00:32:58) Jaylah (01:05:52) The Story and the Villain (01:09:48) The Music, Effects, and Design (01:22:46) The Action (01:29:09) The Very Last Question (01:33:31) Final Thoughts (01:37:52) Hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing Guests John Mills and Bruce Gibson Production C Bryan Jones (News Editor and Producer) Matthew Rushing (Feature Editor and Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Executive Producer) Charlynn Schmiedt (Executive Producer) Renee Roberts (Associate Producer) Zachary Fruhling (Associate Producer) Sam Piassick (Associate Producer) Kay Elizabeth Janeway (Associate Producer) Tim Robertson (Associate Producer) David Shuford (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager)

Plato's Stepchildren. Uncontrolled power will turn even saints into savages. This is what Captain Kirk explains to Parmen, the sadistic leader of the Platonians in “Plato's Stepchildren.” Despite saving the man's life, Kirk, Spock, and McCoy are held hostage and tortured—along with Uhura and Nurse Chapel—when they refuse to leave the doctor behind and accept some random gifts. In this episode of The Ready Room, we're joined by Aaron Harvey, Andi VanderKolk, and Mike Morrison to discuss this episode that—despite being amongst TOS's campiest—has been an inspiration to many since it first aired in 1968. In our news segment, Aaron shares a first-hand account of the Star Trek Beyond press conference held at the Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills on July 14, and his spoiler-free impressions of the movie, which was shown the day before at LA's Century City. We also discuss the news that there will be a fourth film set in the Kelvin Timeline and how they should handle the loss of Anton Yelchin. News Star Trek Beyond LA Press Conference (00:06:13) First (Spoiler-free) Impressions of Star Trek Beyond (00:16:21) A Fourth Film? Do We Want It? (00:20:52) Sponsor: The Eaglemoss Official Star Trek Starships Collection (00:28:17) Feature: Plato's Stepchildren Synopsis and Initial Thoughts (00:32:04) Alexander the Great (00:44:54) The Kiss (00:57:26) The Ministry of Silly Walks (01:08:16) A Problem of Pacing (01:11:28) Bitter Dregs (01:21:03) Final Thoughts (01:32:53) Hosts C Bryan Jones and Aaron Harvey Guests Andi VanderKolk and Mike Morrison Production C Bryan Jones (Editor and Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Executive Producer) Charlynn Schmiedt (Executive Producer) Renee Roberts (Associate Producer) Zachary Fruhling (Associate Producer) Sam Piassick (Associate Producer) Kay Elizabeth Janeway (Associate Producer) Tim Robertson (Associate Producer) David Shuford (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Will Nguyen (Content Manager)

Impulse. Some things never go out of style. Take zombies, for instance. They're wildly popular on 21st-century Earth, and they can be found in the 22nd-century Expanse as well. But what happens when you mix the living dead with logic? That's what Archer and the crew of the Enterprise had to find out when they stumbled upon a zombified Vulcan crew in “Impulse.” In this episode of The Ready Room, we're joined by Mike Morrison, Dennis Castello, and Phillip Gilfus to discuss this horror story from Enterprise's third season. We explore the Trellium-D conundrum, Jolene Blalock's portrayal of a Vulcan losing control, parallels to DS9's “Empok Nor,” and the importance of the coda that almost wasn't. We also discuss the episodes's amazing visuals and ponder the design of Starfleet's 22nd-century hospital garb. Plus, in our news segment, we look at details of the next Star Trek series as revealed by executive producer and showrunner Bryan Fuller, and we share our thoughts on Rihanna's “Sledgehammer” and the use of non-orchestral music in Star Trek. News Bryan Fuller Reveals Star Trek 2017 Details (00:04:53) Rihanna's “Sledgehammer” and Star Trek Beyond (00:29:26) Sponsor: The Eaglemoss Official Star Trek Starships Collection (00:34:45) Feature: Impulse Synopsis and Initial Thoughts (00:39:21) Vulcan Zombies (00:48:17) Jolene's Portrayal (00:54:39) The Trellium-D Conundrum (00:59:26) B-Plot Padding (01:09:39) Parallels to “Empok Nor” (01:16:42) A Nightmare Coda (01:26:24) The Visuals (01:31:12) Final Thoughts (01:37:12) Hosts C Bryan Jones and Mike Morrison Guests Dennis Castello and Phillip Gilfus Production C Bryan Jones (Editor and Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Executive Producer) Charlynn Schmiedt (Executive Producer) Renee Roberts (Associate Producer) Zachary Fruhling (Associate Producer) Sam Piassick (Associate Producer) Kay Elizabeth Janeway (Associate Producer) Tim Robertson (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Will Nguyen (Content Manager)

Distant Origin. Dinosaurs may have been smarter than we think. Some of them may still be. That's because they live in space and fly around in ships based on technology 65 million years more advanced than that of Starfleet. When that asteroid headed for Earth all those years ago, these hadrosaurs said sayonara to the planet's mammals. In this episode of The Ready Room, we're joined by Zachary Fruhling and Aaron Harvey to discuss one of Voyager's most unusual stories, “Distant Origin.” Does the science work? Does it even matter? We follow Voth scientists Gegen and Veer as they put together a galaxy-spanning puzzle made of 47 pieces. We discuss how the story parallels Galileo, Star Trek's evolutionary arrow, the holodeck as a scientific instrument, the mating rituals of mammals, and more. Plus, in our news segment, we debate the new name for the JJ Abrams rendition of Star Trek and take a look at the newly refurbished USS Enterprise model, now back on display at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. News The Kelvin Timeline (00:03:30) The Enterprise Returns to the Smithsonian (00:13:05) Sponsor: The Eaglemoss Official Star Trek Starships Collection (00:21:26) Feature: Distant Origin Synopsis and Initial Thoughts (00:26:40) The Science (00:38:06) Leaving Home (00:44:46) An Evolutionary Direction (00:49:29) Technological Advancement (00:51:59) Galileo's Lizard (01:00:00) The Design and Creative Elements (01:13:10) The Holodeck as a Scientific Tool (01:20:30) Final Thoughts (01:24:51) Closing (01:32:13) Hosts C Bryan Jones and Zachary Fruhling Guest Aaron Harvey Production C Bryan Jones (Editor and Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Executive Producer) Charlynn Schmiedt (Executive Producer) Renee Roberts (Associate Producer) Zachary Fruhling (Associate Producer) Sam Piassick (Associate Producer) Kay Elizabeth Janeway (Associate Producer) Tim Robertson (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Will Nguyen (Content Manager)

Things Past. We know that Odo has a colored past. He held the post of security chief under the regime of Gul Dukat during the occupation of Bajor. As an outsider, he would seem to be the ideal candidate to protect the Bajorans from unchecked Cardassian brutality. But while he sees himself as the voice of justice, a strict adherence to policy can lead to wrong decisions. That's what happened when he allowed three innocent Bajorans to be executed on his watch. In this episode of The Ready Room, we're joined Mike Schindler, Mike Morrison, and Brandon-Shea Mutala to discuss the delayed aftermath of that event in the episode “Things Past.” It's a unique semi-flashback story that puts Odo in the shoes of one of the executed men—along with Sisko and Garak. Join us as we discuss Odo's choices, how DS9 builds its mythology, Quark during the Occupation, Kira's powerful moment, and much more. Plus, in our news segment, we discuss the writing team for the new Star Trek television series as well as the many flavors of Star Trek Beyond that are headed to theaters—including IMAX, IMAX Laser, Dolby Cinema, and the very unique Barco Escape. News The Star Trek 2017 Writing Team (00:03:05) The Various Star Trek Beyond Film Formats (00:17:02) Feature: Things Past Synopsis and Initial Thoughts (00:28:24) A Glimpse of Terok Nor (00:37:27) Building the Mythology (00:41:49) Who's Talking to Whom? (00:45:39) All in My Head? (00:59:12) A Time Travel Workaround (01:09:00) Effectively Kira (01:20:15) Dukat Behaving Nicely (01:28:00) Final Thoughts (01:30:59) Hosts C Bryan Jones and Mike Schindler Guests Mike Morrison and Brandon-Shea Mutala Production C Bryan Jones (Editor and Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Executive Producer) Charlynn Schmiedt (Executive Producer) Renee Roberts (Associate Producer) Zachary Fruhling (Associate Producer) Sam Piassick (Associate Producer) Kay Elizabeth Janeway (Associate Producer) Tim Robertson (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Will Nguyen (Content Manager)

Suspicions. When you have a story that features both Ferengi and Klingon scientists, you know you're in for something unusual. Throw in a Takaran, and you may start to feel blue—especially if you've lost your job after causing an intergalactic incident. This is what happens to Dr. Crusher in “Suspicions.” In this episode of The Ready Room, we're joined Larry Nemecek, Sue Kisenwether, and Mike Morrison to discuss this episode of Murder, She Wrote in space and why it sometimes feels like the pieces don't quite fit together. Larry reveals some behind-the-scenes information you won't find anywhere else—at least not when we recorded this—and also makes a few bad Data jokes. So join us as Beverly Crusher violates orders, desecrates an alien corpse, and turns Nurse Ogawa into an accomplice … all to make Jessica Fletcher proud. Plus, in a super-sized news segment, we discuss the Star Trek 2017 teaser trailer, the second Star Trek Beyond trailer, Larry's experience at the Paramount fan event, and an unexpected twist in the Axanar lawsuit. News The First Star Trek 2017 Teaser Trailer (00:03:00) The Star Trek Beyond Fan Event (00:20:19) JJ, Lin, and the Axanar Lawsuit (00:48:32) Feature: Suspicions Synopsis and Initial Thoughts (01:00:17) Like a Scientific Diplomat (01:08:38) Not Just Your Average Doctor (01:15:37) Casting Scientists (01:18:40) A Klingon Scientist (01:26:14) The Limits Curse (01:33:17) Murder, She Wrote (01:46:28) Making Whoopi's Limits Work (01:54:55) Final Thoughts (01:59:13) Hosts C Bryan Jones and Larry Nemecek Guests Sue Kisenwether and Mike Morrison Production C Bryan Jones (Editor and Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Executive Producer) Charlynn Schmiedt (Executive Producer) Renee Roberts (Associate Producer) Zachary Fruhling (Associate Producer) Sam Piassick (Associate Producer) Kay Elizabeth Janeway (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Will Nguyen (Content Manager)

Return to Tomorrow. Having your body taken over by an alien is a risk every Starfleet officer takes. And, as Kirk has said, risk is our business. Being possessed of your own free will, however, isn't usually how it works. But when the disembodied voice of Jimmy Doohan asks a favor, it's hard to resist. That's what happens to Captain Kirk when the crew of the USS Enterprise visit a long-dead planet being used to store giant lightbulbs. In this episode of The Ready Room, we're joined by Brandon-Shea Mutala, Zachary Fruhling, and Phillip Gilfus to discuss the classic Star Trek episode “Return to Tomorrow.” Why did Kirk decide to let Sargon take over his body? Why was Doctor Pulaski so eager to be possessed as well? And how did Leonard Nimoy master the art of leaning at a 45-degree angle? Plus, what's with all the seed spreading? Join us to find out. In our news segment, we discuss details about the new TV series, straight from Les Moonves himself, and the stamp craze that has now spread to Canada. News Les Moonves Reveals Detail of the Next Star Trek Series (00:03:12) Star Trek Stamps Canada (00:17:40) Feature: Return to Tomorrow Synopsis and Initial Thoughts (00:32:17) A Questionable Decision (00:46:57) Disembodied Moments (00:55:28) Ancient Love Triangle (01:00:06) Where Did She Come From? (01:07:38) A Mechanical Life (01:10:33) Planting Your Seed (01:17:49) Biblical Acknowledgment (01:21:37) Katras and a Scheming Sargon (01:27:04) Oblivion … Together (01:33:22) The Music of “Return to Tomorrow” (01:43:24) Final Thoughts (01:45:36) Hosts C Bryan Jones and Brandon-Shea Mutala Guests Zachary Fruhling and Phillip Gilfus Production C Bryan Jones (Editor and Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Executive Producer) Charlynn Schmiedt (Executive Producer) Renee Roberts (Associate Producer) Zachary Fruhling (Associate Producer) Sam Piassick (Associate Producer) Kay Elizabeth Janeway (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Will Nguyen (Content Manager)

Reflecting on The Ready Room and Star Trek. It's hard to believe that it's been five years since the first episode of The Ready Room. Born of disaster, this show has evolved into a gathering place for the hosts of the network that grew up around it. The Trek.fm network has become an important part of the daily routine for many Star Trek fans, but there was a time when there was no network. There was just this show. So as we reach another milestone—200 episodes—we take a break from our usual format to quietly mark the occasion with a good friend who has been part of The Ready Room almost since the beginning: Larry Nemecek. But first, we start with a bit of the history behind both The Ready Room and the network … Chapters The History of The Ready Room (00:00:00) Larry Beams In (00:26:47) Where Was the Franchise in 2011? (00:39:38) Where We Are Now (00:54:31) Star Trek's Return to TV (01:02:25) Five Years of The Ready Room (01:18:03) The Changing Media Landscape (01:37:47) Fandom Triumphs (01:50:05) The Direction of the New Series (02:00:59) Final Thoughts (02:16:22) Host C Bryan Jones Guest Larry Nemecek Production C Bryan Jones (Editor and Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Executive Producer) Charlynn Schmiedt (Executive Producer) Renee Roberts (Associate Producer) Zachary Fruhling (Associate Producer) Sam Piassick (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Will Nguyen (Content Manager)

Silent Enemy. Most aliens in Star Trek are presented in terms that the human mind can understand. The Klingons, the Romulans, even the Borg. We can make sense of their actions and motives. But in reality, new life that we meet out in space will have a lot less in common with us. Enterprise attempted to address this truth midway through its first season in “Silent Enemy,” which pitted our crew against beings that only CGI could create—and who never spoke a word. In this episode of The Ready Room, we're joined by Zachary Fruhling, Brandon-Shea Mutala, and Dennis Castello to discuss this episode that includes not an alien mystery, but also a culinary one. Join us as we talk about the true nature of Malcolm Reed, Captain Archer's decision to tuck tail and run, the real reason the Enterprise needed phase cannons to be installed, and, of course, the infamous B-story: the search for Malcolm's favorite food. In our news segment, we discuss a new collection of the classic James Blish TOS novelizations, the results of the Strange New Worlds short story contest, and Simon Pegg's thoughts on the foundation of Star Trek. News Barnes & Noble Release “The Classic Episodes” Anthology (00:04:00) Simon Pegg on the Foundation of Star Trek (00:11:07) 2016 Strange New World Winners Announced (00:23:41) Feature: Silent Enemy Synopsis and Initial Thoughts (00:30:46) Aliens Unknown (00:43:09) Tucking Tail (00:52:37) The Search for Pineapple (01:05:17) Direction, Visuals, and Sound (01:23:52) Final Thoughts (01:38:18) Hosts C Bryan Jones and Zachary Fruhling Guests Brandon-Shea Mutala and Dennis Castello Production C Bryan Jones (Editor and Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Executive Producer) Charlynn Schmiedt (Executive Producer) Renee Roberts (Associate Producer) Zachary Fruhling (Associate Producer) Sam Piassick (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Will Nguyen (Content Manager)

Someone to Watch Over Me. When you live on a starship, you get to know your neighbors. Sometimes you get to know them well. Especially if you're Seven of Nine and you're taking an interest in interpersonal relations. Armed with Borg implants and 24th-century Starfleet technology, gathering data is easy. The only problem is that some of your subjects may not want to be part of the study. In this episode of The Ready Room, we're joined by Charlynn Schmiedt, Zachary Fruhling, and Phillip Gilfus to discuss “Someone to Watch Over Me.” Join us for the Dance of Conception as the Doctor teaches Seven how to land a date, sweep him off his feet … and break his arm … all while mastering the art of small talk. We also delve into the potential of a Doctor-Seven relationship, what happens when you leave Neelix in charge of caring for diplomats, and the exploits of Leisure Suit Kadi. In our news segment, we discuss Star Trek: The Animated Series coming to Blu-ray, supposed pre-production photos from the new series, and we debate the StarTrek.com poll that asked which was the best Star Trek relationship. News Star Trek: The Animated Series coming to Blu-ray (00:03:06) Star Trek 2017 pre-production photos? (00:11:51) Poll: Which was the best Star Trek romance? (00:26:24) Feature: Someone to Watch Over Me Synopsis and Initial Thoughts (00:31:29) The Setup: Peeping Seven (00:41:28) The B'Elanna-Seven Relationship (00:44:16) Lessons In Love (00:48:24) The Doctor's Motivations (01:00:09) Tom Paris: Audience Surrogate (01:05:35) The Most Awkward Date Ever (01:09:26) Leisure Suit Kadi (01:19:01) The Doctor-Seven Relationship (01:25:59) Final Thoughts (01:34:59) Hosts C Bryan Jones and Charlynn Schmiedt Guests Phillip Gilfus and Zachary Fruhling Production C Bryan Jones (Editor and Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Executive Producer) Charlynn Schmiedt (Executive Producer) Renee Roberts (Associate Producer) Zachary Fruhling (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Will Nguyen (Content Manager)

It's Only a Paper Moon. Events in Star Trek—even tragic ones—rarely have lasting consequences. Deep Space Nine changed that with arcs that took place during the Dominion War. In particular, in the final season, Nog's injuries in battle led to a deep exploration of the lasting impact of a single moment in time—and they did it with the usual DS9 mix of serious commentary and humor. In this episode of The Ready Room, we're joined by Zachary Fruhling and Matthew Rushing to discuss Nog's retreat to the holosuite, his struggle to come to terms with the physical and emotional damage of his experiences in “The Siege of AR-558,” and the counseling tag-team of Ezri Dax and Vic Fontaine who brought him back to reality. In our news segment, we discuss additional shooting (reported as reshoots by most media) for Star Trek Beyond, a special agreement between CBS and Paramount that dictated a six-month post-film waiting period for Star Trek's return to TV, and Rod Roddenberry joining the new series as Executive Producer. News Star Trek Beyond Reshoots (00:04:19) CBS-Paramount Agreement (00:12:44) Rod Roddenberry EP (00:26:24) Feature: It's Only a Paper Moon Synopsis and Initial Thoughts (00:34:46) Nog's PTSD (00:45:49) Counselor Ezri (00:56:25) Counselor Vic (01:09:15) The Original Concept (01:24:26) The Literary Universe Connection (01:36:21) Final Thoughts (01:37:27) Listener Feedback and Closing (01:44:54) Hosts C Bryan Jones and Zachary Fruhling Guest Matthew Rushing Production C Bryan Jones (Editor and Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Executive Producer) Charlynn Schmiedt (Executive Producer) Renee Roberts (Associate Producer) Zachary Fruhling (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Will Nguyen (Content Manager)

Captain's Holiday. Everyone gets a bit too stressed sometimes. And when that happens, it can be difficult to enjoy anything—even the negotiation of a successful trade agreement. When this happened to Captain Picard, the crew had to pull together to force him to take a vacation. But of course, a Picard vacation isn't quite like the ones you and I take. In this episode of The Ready Room, we're joined by Aaron Harvey, Matthew Rushing, and Mike Schindler to discuss “Captain's Holiday,” Jean-Luc and Vash, the prolific Max Grodenchek (he's everywhere!), Riker's counseling skills, and why you should be careful where you put your Horga'hn. In our news segment, we consider whether William Shatner's return as Captain Kirk would be a good idea or a bad one, debate the StarTrek.com poll that asked Star Trek pet you would want to have, and discuss the choice of Bryan Fuller as show-runner for the new Star Trek series premiering in 2017. News Shatner back as Kirk? (00:03:14) Poll: Which Star Trek pet do you want? (00:08:59) Bryan Fuller named Star Trek 2017 Show-runner (00:13:25) Feature: Captain's Holiday Synopsis and Initial Thoughts (00:31:58) The “Shore Leave” Connection (00:39:55) The Vashification of Jean-Luc Picard (00:42:23) Ira's Take on TNG (00:53:03) Thank You, Counselor Riker! (01:00:05) The Changing Flavor of TNG (01:05:21) Prosthetnic Vorgon Jeltz (01:10:04) Max Grodenchek is Everywhere! (01:17:17) A Few More Thoughts on Vash… (01:21:49) Final Thoughts (01:24:00) Hosts C Bryan Jones and Aaron Harvey Guests Matthew Rushing and Mike Schindler Production C Bryan Jones (Editor and Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Executive Producer) Charlynn Schmiedt (Executive Producer) Renee Roberts (Associate Producer) Zachary Fruhling (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Will Nguyen (Content Manager)

The Lights of Zetar. You probably already know that it's not a good idea to stare into a bright light. When there are many lights—and they're multi-colored—doing so becomes an even worse idea. You could damage your eyesight, or perhaps have you brainwave replaced by that of a group of alien minds searching for a body to call home. That's what happened to Lt. Mira Romaine in “The Lights of Zetar,” the third-season TOS episode that plays with character personalities, limited financial resources, and has a connection to a beloved children's show. In this episode of The Ready Room, we're joined by Larry Nemecek and Brandon-Shea Mutala to discuss Memory Alpha, Scotty in love, how you can blame anything on space, and why horses might not make the best engineers. We also delve into some Season Three trivia, production shortcuts, and remastered TOS elements. In our news segment, Chris and Larry discuss whether the ascension of Les Moonves to Chair of CBS Corp. will have an impact on Star Trek, when we'll hear first details about the Star Trek 2017 series, and the future of Star Trek on streaming services not called CBS All Access. Plus, Larry fills us in on the latest happenings in Portal 47. News Les Moonves new CBS Corp. Chair (00:05:33) When will Star Trek 2017 details be announced? (00:11:24) Star Trek's future on streaming services (00:15:40) Portal 47 update (00:25:07) Feature Synopsis and Initial Thoughts (00:32:41) Lamb Chop's (Creepy) Play-Along (00:43:16) Pacing, Message, and Cinematography (00:47:41) Scotty in Love (00:53:27) Production Shortcuts (01:05:22) Remastered Elements (01:11:51) We Don't Need No Stinkin' Shields (01:15:21) Farewell Engineering, and Other Zetar Trivia (01:22:04) Final Thoughts (01:24:44) Hosts C Bryan Jones and Larry Nemecek Guest Brandon-Shea Mutala Production C Bryan Jones (Editor and Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Executive Producer) Charlynn Schmiedt (Executive Producer) Rene Roberts (Associate Producer) Zachary Fruhling (Associate Producer) Sam Piassick (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Will Nguyen (Content Manager)

Shuttlepod One. Some of the best episodes of Star Trek are heavy on dialogue and light on action. But taking two characters and shoving them into a tiny space, from which they deliver incessant dialogue for 45 minutes, was a gutsy move for a new show trying to engage skeptical audiences in its first season. Did it pay off? In this episode of The Ready Room, we're joined by Matthew Rushing, Daniel Proulx, and Kevin Reitzel to discuss this very small bottle show, what it tells us about the characters, hope vs. pessimism, the deleted scene, and more. Oh … and we might mention T'Pol once of twice. In our news segment, we look back at 24 years of The Undiscovered Country, debate the StarTrek.com poll that asked which captain you would want to swap places with for a day, and discuss Star Trek Beyond piggybacking on Star Wars: The Force Awakens with a first trailer. News 24 Years of Star Trek VI (00:03:08) Poll: Swapping Places with a Captain (00:14:25) The Force Awakens Star Trek Beyond (00:20:18) Feature: Shuttlepod One Synopsis and Initial Thoughts (00:32:18) A (Very Small) Bottle Show (00:46:01) Jumping to Conclusions (00:53:11) Short Tempers (00:58:09) Hope vs. Pessimism (01:07:56) All Talk, No Action (01:13:43) Malcom's Fantasy Island (01:20:50) The Deleted Scene (01:28:54) Final Thoughts (01:34:25) Hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing Guests Daniel Proulx and Kevin Reitzel Production C Bryan Jones (Editor and Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Executive Producer) Charlynn Schmiedt (Executive Producer) Renee Roberts (Associate Producer) Zachary Fruhling (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Will Nguyen (Content Manager)

Deadlock. Voyager is known for telling stories that rely heavily on technobabble. Sometimes it supports the story, sometimes it doesn't. Season Two's “Deadlock” is one of those cases in which technobabble was inescapable, but also necessary. How else do you explain two Voyager's, two disheveled buns of steel, and Harry Kim's dopplegänger? In this episode of The Ready Room, we're joined by Larry Nemecek, Charlynn Schmiedt, and Brandon-Shea Mutala to discuss the oddity that is “Deadlock,” parallel universes, Vidiians, generational ships, Chakotay's weird baby comments, an inordinate number of script changes, and much more. In our news segment, we look back at 19 years of First Contact and 29 years of The Voyage Home, talk with Terrace Cassidy about Geek Nation Tours' new “Touch the Stars” program, and try to unravel the mysterious case of Enterprise stunt director Vince Deadrick's disappearing chair. News 29 Years of Star Trek IV (00:03:21) 19 Years of First Contact (00:13:23) Vince Deadrick's Missing Chair (00:21:12) GNT Touching the Stars (00:26:09) Holiday Gifts and Specials! (39:26) Feature: Deadlock Synopsis and Initial Thoughts (00:48:11) A Rainbow of Script Changes (00:56:54) Saving Ensign Harry (01:03:17) Parallel Universes (01:08:49) More of Brannon's “Weird Shit” (01:12:05) (Not) Having Chakotay's Baby? (01:17:07) Have Your Phase Variance 47 Ways (01:18:18) Padding Through Technobabble (01:22:41) Based on a Fake Story (01:32:44) A Generational Ship (01:35:24) Deus Ex Vidiian (01:43:07) Final Thoughts (01:54:44) Hosts C Bryan Jones and Larry Nemecek Guests Charlynn Schmiedt, Brandon-Shea Mutala, and Terrace Cassidy Production C Bryan Jones (Editor and Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Executive Producer) Charlynn Schmiedt (Executive Producer) Renee Roberts (Associate Producer) Zachary Fruhling (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Will Nguyen (Content Manager)

In the Hands of the Prophets. At the end of its first season, Deep Space Nine really began to take on the form that would define the series. The writers wanted to follow up the powerful “Duet” with something even better, even more layered. To do this, they brought together the Federation's scientific approach to the world and the Bajorans' religious one. The clash of philosophies tells us a lot about our own world as well as Gene Roddenberry's vision for Star Trek. And it introduced us to one of Star Trek's great villains. In this episode of The Ready Room, we're joined by Will Nguyen, Mike Morrison, and Ken Tripp to discuss DS9's first-season finale, “In the Hands of the Prophets,” the introduction of Winn and Bareil, handling religion on Star Trek, Keiko the grumpy, Sisko the mediator, and much more. In our news segment, we discuss the comments of Paramount's Motion Picture Group president Marc Evan about a possible grittier future for Star Trek, and Dayton Ward's upcoming travel guide that will get you ready for your visit to Vulcan. News Star Trek: Thirty Dark Zero or SEAL Team Six? (00:03:37) Hidden Universe Travel Guide to Vulcan (00:12:26) Feature: In the Hands of the Prophets Synopsis and Initial Thoughts (00:23:31) Setting the Tone (00:33:45) Representing Roddenberry's Vision (00:48:04) Handling a Sensitive Subject (00:53:47) The Thesis of Secularism (01:00:23) Winn and Kira: Religion vs. Spirituality (01:09:20) Introducing Fletcher's Winn and Anglim's Bareil (01:17:55) Final Thoughts (01:25:41) Listener Feedback (01:36:01) Hosts C Bryan Jones and Will Nguyen Guests Mike Morrison and Ken Tripp Production C Bryan Jones (Editor and Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Executive Producer) Charlynn Schmiedt (Executive Producer) Renee Roberts (Associate Producer) Zachary Fruhling (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Will Nguyen (Content Manager)

In Theory. The last person you'd expect to be looking for love on the Enterprise is Data. But that's just what happens in “In Theory.” Well, Data wasn't actually looking for love, but once it presented itself the prospect got its own subroutine … and the 1701-D became The Love Boat, filled with advice from corners both expected and not. In this episode of The Ready Room, we're joined by Charlynn Schmiedt, Andi VanderKolk, and Zachary Fruhling to discuss our robotic loverboy, the Riker book of moves, the future of human-android relations, and, unexpectedly, what cats do on starships. It's all part of the fun when we share our theory of “In Theory.” In our news segment, we discuss William Shatner's idea for a Star Trek musical, The Oatmeal's retelling of a famous Gene Roddenberry story, and some exciting news about our network. News Shatner interested in a Star Trek musical? (00:03:45) The Oatmeal tells Gene Roddenberry's story (00:13:45) Trek.fm merchandise now available! (00:21:52) Feature: In Theory Synopsis and Initial Thoughts (00:30:20) Robotic Loverboy (00:36:20) Geordi La Forge: Love Counselor (00:57:20) Random Observations (01:18:30) B-Plot Unnecessary? (01:25:33) Final Thoughts (01:33:00) Hosts C Bryan Jones and Charlynn Schmiedt Guests Andi VanderKolk and Zachary Fruhling Production C Bryan Jones (Editor and Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Executive Producer) Charlynn Schmiedt (Executive Producer) Renee Roberts (Associate Producer) Zachary Fruhling (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Will Nguyen (Content Manager) In Theory. The last person you'd expect to be looking for love on the Enterprise is Data. But that's just what happens in “In Theory.” We discuss our robotic loverboy, the Riker book of moves, and much more.

A Closer Look at CBS's Plans. It's been more than a decade since Star Trek left the air, and at long last CBS has answered the cries of fans. In January 2017, Star Trek will return to TV with an all-new series. But what form will it take? In this special episode of The Ready Room, we're joined by Larry Nemecek to take a closer look at the nuts and bolts of the CBS announcement, debate the setting—Prime Universe or Abramsverse—consider the format this Trek might take as a made-for-streaming show, explore Alex Kurtzman's Star Trek fandom, consider how CBS will handle the creation of a series in the age of social media, and, of course, touch on the controversial distribution method. Chapters Waking Up to the News (00:02:18) The Nuts and Bolts (00:07:00) Prime of J.J. Abrams (00:13:34) Movie vs. TV as an Origin Point (00:25:32) The Format (00:30:38) More About Kurtzman (00:45:53) The Development Process: What to Expect (00:51:26) Launching in the Age of Social Media (00:58:19) The Great Distribution Controversy (01:14:47) Hosts C Bryan Jones and Larry Nemecek Production C Bryan Jones (Editor and Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Executive Producer) Charlynn Schmiedt (Executive Producer) Renee Roberts (Associate Producer) Zachary Fruhling (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Will Nguyen (Content Manager)

Friday's Child. When fans think of Klingon episodes on TOS, they think of “Errand of Mercy,” “Day of the Dove,” and “The Trouble with Tribbles.” The second appearance of the classic villains was made in what is really a Bones story—they just happen to be there. “Friday's Child” gets overlooked by fans, yet it builds upon the Organian Peace Treaty and allows Dr. McCoy to step into the spotlight all at the same time. In this episode of The Ready Room, we're joined by Larry Nemecek, Charlynn Schmiedt, and Zachary Fruhling to discuss the other Vasquez Rocks show, those dastardly Klingons, wearing carpet in the desert, how Dorothy Fontana handles the symmetry between Kirk, Spock, and McCoy, and whether or not “Friday's Child” is the most undervalued TOS episode. In our news segment, we discuss the recent Beverly Crusher Day and upcoming Deanna Troi Day, more from the Star Trek Beyond Dubai set and its alien faces, and we discuss the StarTrek.com poll that asked which series has the saddest episodes. News #BeverlyCrusherDay + #DeannaTroiDay (00:02:59) Poll: The series with the saddest episodes is… ? (00:07:58) More Star Trek Beyond Dubai and Aliens (00:18:05) Feature: Friday's Child Synopsis and Initial Thoughts (00:23:06) The Most Undervalued TOS Episode? (00:34:38) Symmetry in Character (00:41:10) 1960s Campiness (00:48:24) Scotty In Command (01:02:23) The Other Vasquez Rocks Show (01:05:29) The Forgotten Klingon Story (01:08:55) Cultural Relativism + the Prime Directive (01:13:43) Final Thoughts (01:23:52) Hosts C Bryan Jones and Larry Nemecek Guests Charlynn Schmiedt and Zachary Fruhling Production C Bryan Jones (Editor and Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Executive Producer) Charlynn Schmiedt (Executive Producer) Renee Roberts (Associate Producer) Zachary Fruhling (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Will Nguyen (Content Manager)

E2. During Enterprise's third season, the crew's mission to find the Xindi superweapon took an unexpected turn when they encountered … themselves. Well, not exactly themselves, but their offspring. In a time travel story that had nothing to do with the Temporal Cold War, Archer stumbled upon a helping hand in the form of Trip and T'Pol's son. And along the way, the crew caught a glimpse of what their personal lives would—or could—become. In this episode of The Ready Room, we're joined by Norm Lao, Will Nguyen, and Mike Morrison to discuss how the story fits into the overall Xindi arc, the balance between temporal mechanics and character building, and, of course, what happens when you get two T'Pol's together in one room. In our news segment, we discuss some 50th anniversary Ships of the Line art prints, the Autobiography of James T. Kirk, the Star Trek Beyond Dubai set, and we debate the results of the StarTrek.com "Best Couple" poll. News Art prints and books (00:06:13) Poll: The Best Star Trek Couple is… ? (00:18:46) Star Trek Beyond Dubai (00:34:33) Feature: E2 Synopsis and Initial Thoughts (00:47:54) A Time Travel Story (01:00:18) A Generational Ship (01:16:45) Playing Vulcan, Playing Human (01:21:41) Trip and T'Pol (01:28:49) The T'Pol Tea Scene (01:36:13) Final Thoughts (01:49:26) Hosts C Bryan Jones and Norman C. Lao Guests Will Nguyen and Mike Morrison Production C Bryan Jones (Editor and Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Executive Producer) Charlynn Schmiedt (Executive Producer) Renee Roberts (Associate Producer) Zachary Fruhling (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Will Nguyen (Content Manager)

Mike Sussman talks Voyager Season Seven. As Voyager entered its final season, fans had a lot of questions. Would the crew get home? Would it happen before the finale? Would Neelix and Seven make the trip to Earth? Would Janeway and Chakotay finally hook up? Would Harry die one more time? Lots of questions. We know what we ultimately got on screen, but what went on behind the scenes? In this special episode of The Ready Room, we're joined by someone who was there in the writers room, Mike Sussman. After successfully selling the story that would become “Unimatrix Zero,” Mike then landed a spot of the writing staff for Voyager's final season, and would go on to become a writer and producer on Enterprise. Mike joins C Bryan Jones, Larry Nemecek, and Charlynn Schmiedt to discuss many moments and aspects of Season Seven, including “The Haunting of Deck Twelve,” “Prophecy,” “Repentance,” and of course “Unimatrix Zero” and the Borg. We also discuss writing The Doctor, stories pitched but not produced, the development of Enterprise while wrapping Voyager, and much more. In our news segment, we discuss a restoration project for the original Enterprise filming model, get an update on Portal 47, and look back at the impact of Robert Wise and The Motion Picture on Star Trek. News Red Shirt Diaries Season Two Premiere (00:01:54) Restoring the original Enterprise shooting model (00:08:09) Robert Wise and the impact of The Motion Picture (00:18:55) Portal 47 update (00:33:29) Feature: Voyager Season Seven with Mike Sussman Going from Fan to Staff Writer (00:44:59) Mike's Early Spec Scripts and Pitches (00:54:00) Joining the Voyager Staff (01:01:06) The Haunting of Deck Twelve (01:07:30) Third Chances and the Enterprise Transition (01:13:34) Voyager in the Shadow of Enterprise (01:18:20) Prophecy and Delta Quadrant Klingons (01:20:48) Unimatrix Zero and the Borg (01:28:48) Repentance (01:34:32) Writing the Doctor (01:38:49) A Talented Writing Team (01:42:06) Voyager's (Alternate) Ending(s) (01:44:20) Conflicts with Enterprise? (01:51:05) Looking Back as a Fan (01:54:11) Hosts C Bryan Jones and Larry Nemecek Guests Mike Sussman and Charlynn Schmiedt Production C Bryan Jones (Editor and Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Executive Producer) Charlynn Schmiedt (Executive Producer) Renee Roberts (Associate Producer) Zachary Fruhling (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Will Nguyen (Content Manager)

The Visitor. One of Deep Space Nine's most loved episodes is an enigma in and of itself. Focusing on just one main character, played by someone other than the normal actor, “The Visitor” highlights the power of DS9's concept to tell character-driven stories that transcend the usual Star Trek formula. This tale of Jake Sisko's life after losing his father in a freak accident tugs at the heartstrings for so many viewers—and the intensity of this effect depends on your own life experiences. In this episode of The Ready Room, we're joined by Will Nguyen, Phillip Gilfus, and Jeremy Reed to discuss the unusual concept, the performances of Tony Todd and Rachel Robinson, the father-son relationship between Benjamin and Jake Sisko, how Star Trek uses the future time frame, and much more. In our news segment, we discuss the VFX fixes found only in the Netflix version of TNG, and share our thoughts on the diverse and Star Wars-like aliens found in the Abramsverse.   Hosts C Bryan Jones and Nguyen   Guests Phillip Gilfus and Jeremy Reed   Editor and Producer C Bryan Jones   Executive Producers Matthew Rushing and Norman C. Lao   Associate Producers Renee Roberts and Zachary Fruhling   Production Manager Richard Marquez   Content Manager Will Nguyen   News TNG Visual Fixes for Netflix (00:06:57) The Aliens of the Abramsverse: Good or Bad? (00:17:03)   Feature: The Visitor Synopsis and Initial Thoughts (00:26:34) The Concept (00:38:40) Tony Todd as Jake Sisko (00:46:49) Mental Health in the Future (00:54:22) Remember (01:02:26) Jake's Path (01:08:11) Father and Son (01:12:49) Rachel Robinson (01:17:24) The Future Time Frame (01:22:46) Star Trek's Best? (01:32:24) Final Thoughts (01:39:28)   Send us your feedback! Twitter: @trekfm Facebook: http://facebook.com/trekfm Voicemail: http://www.speakpipe.com/trekfm Contact Form: http://www.trek.fm/contact Visit the Trek.fm website at http://trek.fm Subscribe in iTunes: http://itunes.com/trekfm   Support the Network! Become a Trek.fm Patron on Patreon and help us keep Star Trek talk coming every week. We have great perks for you at http://patreon.com/trekfm

Devil's Due. We've all heard the expression “selling your soul to the Devil.” The people of Ventax II took this perhaps a bit too literally when nature started getting restless and a con-artist with a claim to the planet showed up. Who can save the day? Well, Kirk, of course. We mean Picard. This is a TNG episode, after all. Only it isn't. In this episode of The Ready Room, we're joined by Daniel Proulx, Jarrah Hodge, and Zachary Fruhling to discuss all things Ardra, how the script for “Devil's Due” was repurposed for TNG from the aborted Phase II series, how societies fall into apocalyptic thinking, whether Picard's role would have worked better with Kirk, and much more. In our news segment, we discuss the first major update to the Star Trek Encyclopedia in 16 years, leaked photos from the next film, and who we think the Star Trek Beyond villain might be.   Hosts C Bryan Jones and Daniel Proulx   Guests Jarrah Hodge and Zachary Fruhling   Editor and Producer C Bryan Jones   Executive Producers Matthew Rushing and Norman C. Lao   Associate Producers Renee Roberts and Zachary Fruhling   Production Manager Richard Marquez   Content Manager Will Nguyen   News Star Trek Encyclopedia Due for Major Update (00:04:30) Star Trek Beyond Leaked Images and Villain (00:11:41)   Feature: Devil's Due Synopsis and Initial Thoughts (00:26:09) The TOS of it All: Adapting the Phase II Script (00:37:46) Picard/Data or Kirk/Spock (00:47:34) Apocalyptic Thinking (00:51:42) Ardra's Motivations (01:06:53) The Holodeck Setup (01:18:12) Final Thoughts (01:22:02)   Send us your feedback! Twitter: @trekfm Facebook: http://facebook.com/trekfm Voicemail: http://www.speakpipe.com/trekfm Contact Form: http://www.trek.fm/contact Visit the Trek.fm website at http://trek.fm Subscribe in iTunes: http://itunes.com/trekfm   Support the Network! Become a Trek.fm Patron on Patreon and help us keep Star Trek talk coming every week. We have great perks for you at http://patreon.com/trekfm

The Trouble with Tribbles. They're the cutest, most prolific aliens in the Star Trek universe—and also the furriest. They are, of course, Tribbles. And at six credits a head—or a body—they also make for good business. At least that's what Cyrano Jones thought … until the critters got hankerin' for some wheat. “The Trouble with Tribbles” remains one of the most beloved Star Trek episodes nearly 50 years after it aired, and in this episode of The Ready Room we're joined by Matthew Rushing, Andi VanderKolk, and Zachary Fruhling to discuss why that is. In our news segment, we discuss Nichelle Nichols's upcoming NASA flight, Shatner's mosaic tribute to Leonard Nimoy, and Creation's plans for Star Trek's 50th anniversary in Vegas. And, we also remember TOS guest star Yvonne Craig.   Hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing   Guests Andi VanderKolk and Zachary Fruhling   Editor and Producer C Bryan Jones   Executive Producers Matthew Rushing and Norman C. Lao   Associate Producers Renee Roberts and Zachary Fruhling   Production Manager Richard Marquez   Content Manager Will Nguyen   News Remembering Yvonne Craig (00:03:55) Nichelle Nichols to Fly with NASA's SOFIA (00:07:27) Shatner's Creates a Mosaic Tribute to Nimoy (10:40) Star Trek Las Vegas 2016 Dates Set! (00:15:19)   Feature: The Trouble with Tribbles Synopsis and Initial Thoughts (00:22:32) Blending Seriousness and Humor (00:32:49) Ecological Messages (00:44:10) The Proto Quark (00:49:30) Continuity in TOS? (00:52:55) There Be Klingons Here! (00:57:38) Different Perspectives (01:03:13) An Elegant Symmetry (01:10:26) Final Thoughts (01:19:54)   Send us your feedback! Twitter: @trekfm Facebook: http://facebook.com/trekfm Voicemail: http://www.speakpipe.com/trekfm Contact Form: http://www.trek.fm/contact Visit the Trek.fm website at http://trek.fm Subscribe in iTunes: http://itunes.com/trekfm   Support the Network! Become a Trek.fm Patron on Patreon and help us keep Star Trek talk coming every week. We have great perks for you at http://patreon.com/trekfm