> I haven't met Ellison, but he seems feisty in his interviews.
I agree. He has (or had, anyway... been awhile...) a very quick wit, which
is always a plus with me.
> I don't blame him for bemoaning the state of Star Trek. Any true science
> fiction fan would do the same, and has done the same.
Here I have to disagree, if for no other reason than the all-encompassing
sentiment that everyone feels this way. While not embracing every
incarnation (especially DS9), I have found episodes of great merit in every
one.
> Trek could have been so much better than it was, if only a little concern
> had been paid to making it more realistic. Banked turns in space? Sound
> effects in space? Gangster planets? Hippies? Nazis?
Since you're specifically targeting TOS here, that's what I'll address. It
was the mid-60s and LONG before a 4th network/channel would come along. The
studio suits and the network wielded even more power then than they do now.
If Gene wanted to stay on the air, compromise was a must. He knew there were
no sounds in space... and the General Lee's tires wouldn't squeal on the
dirt roads of Hazzard County... but SOMEBODY decided that the viewing public
wouldn't share this knowledge. Sure, it was an erroneous decision, but its
been a long-standing staple of entertainment that "you'll never go wrong
underestimating the intelligience of the American public".
As to "Piece Of The Action" et al, Gene was primarily dealing in concepts
and ideals, trying to weave morality plays into stories the general public,
who neither know nor appreciate science fiction, would understand, accept
and enjoy. I am in the camp that believe Gene Roddenberry to be a "one-trick
pony" who kept going to the same well too often and, yeah, I hated the
hippies episode too... since I was one at the time...
> Ellison wanted Trek to be better than it was.
I don't know the man, so I can't speak to fact, but in every interview of
his I've read or watched, Ellison gives me personally the impression that he
didn't so much want Trek to be better than he wanted deification for having
touched it. He seems to crave worship and unquestioning devotion... which
Gene didn't give him. It was only years later, when I assume someone told
him how petty he was sounding, that his tune changed to "I only wanted Trek
to be bettter than it was!"
>So did I. When I started watching Trek I was reading Heinlein, Asimov,
>Clarke, Simak, Sturgeon. Believe me, after you read that, Star Trek is a
>definite step down in quality of ideas. But it didn't have to be, and
>that's the point Ellison was probably making.
Well, yeah, it DID have to be a step down in quality! Look at your
comparison curve! The heaviest hitters in scifi literature who have little
more than one (probably highly intimidated) editor to keep them from writing
anything they felt strongly about... and you compare them to a berated,
budget-constrained, network hamstrung episodic TV series being produced in
the mid-60s! The quality of ideas were there (once you get past Spock's
Brain) with emphasis on the positive nature of humanity... at that time,
Superman and Trek were our prime examples of aliens NOT trying to take over
the planet and subjugate humanity.
Brudduh, after reading Heinlein, Asimov, and Clark, anything short of the
Word of God is going to be a letdown!
> Shatner is a second-rate actor, I'll give him that much, but he has no
> literary talent at all. When he opens his mouth, stupidity comes out. This
> is more noticeable when he talks about science, science fiction, or Star
> Trek.
I really have no way to reply to this part of your message. Everything
leading up to this was discussable, but your obvious dislike of Shatner
isn't something I or anyone else can contend with. I worked in summer-stock
with him in 1970 in "Arsenic & Old Lace", I've watched nearly everything
he's done and love that man (in a totally non-gay way ;-) ) The Man From
UNCLE, Twilight Zone, Nurrenburg (sp?), all the dramatic work as well as all
the off-the-wall screwball comedy and his incredible work in Boston Legal
stands as a formidable legacy. I was as ready as anyone to laugh at "Has
Been" and was amazed at the intensity of his lyrics... now, it has a
permanent spot on my iPod! He has worked with different collaborators on
different series, yet his writing style remains the same throughout... and I
would assume that he uses them to facilitate the fact that he's 76 years
old, starring on a weekly series, touring with Ben Folds, doing conventions,
hosting charity horse shows, and writing! I daresay he's busier than you and
I combined!
When I hear him speak, I've never once heard "stupidity"... I've heard charm
and I've heard flirting that bordered on creepy, I've heard jokes that
worked and jokes that fell flat, and I've heard wit, tenderness and
concern... but, never stupidity. I'm sorry you've only heard what you
have... you're missing out on an incredible entertainer.
