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)