Beam Me Up

I have been a lover of sci-fi. From Buck Rogers, “War of the Worlds”, “Time Machine” and “The Day the Earth Stood Still”, I was hooked. I was 15 when “Star Trek” first aired. I thought Gene Roddenberry wrote the series just for me. Obviously by the time “Star “Trek” hit syndication I was joined by millions of fans.

I only found out about Star Trek web series when an article ran in my local newspaper a year or so ago. The two series that were well funded stand out for the same reason. Both suggest their episodes were completing the 5-year mission. One started in 2003 and the other a couple of years ago. What I did not know until recently was that Vic Mignogna (The “Star Trek Continues” -the newer one- Captain Kirk & creator” was very involved with James Cawley (The “Star Trek New Voyages -the original one- Captain Kirk & creator”) were both involved with “Star Trek: New Voyages”. I only point this out because in any interview that Vic has done he acts as though his vision of completing the 5-year mission was his idea. A bit disingenuous, in my opinion.

This weekend James Cawley hosted “Trekonderoga”. As fans we got to spend all day on the set of the original. James built the set from the original plans. His attention to detail is extraordinary. At one point I was completely alone as I visited sick bay, Captain’s quarters, engineering. I will show more of the pics during the next week or so.

I sat in on talks of people like David Gerrold (“The Trouble with Tribbles” author) and later Eric Stillwell who was very involved in “The Next Generation.” I wanted to meet him because he wrote the TNG episode “Yesterday’s Enterprise”. Denise Crosby asking to somehow come back. He stated that had he known that they were going to have that episode bring Denise back as her own daughter (half Romulan yet) he had never done it.

Barbara Luna held a class (15 people at these seminars tops!). She had played the Captain’s girlfriend in “Mirror Mirror” where Kirk finds himself in an alternative universe. She was very funny and at one point on the set she winked at me. Seth Kenney who played Captain Pike in that wheelchair box told us he was writing a movie to bring back the Pike character. We talked alone for quite some time. Sally Kellerman (Hot Lips in the M*A*S*H movie) was in the second pilot for “Star Trek” and I ran into her at the hotel and helped her find her room. She asked my what “Bud” stood for. I told her about how I got the “Bud Weiser” moniker. She said the story was fascinating.

The first night there was a dinner dance. I was lucky enough to sit with James Cawley and his mother. Cawley could not have been a better host. This picture is on the bridge set and I’m with Scotty (Carl Sheldon) who was a friendly and interesting guy himself. Oh and a shout out to Dennis Hotston who got me my “VIP pass” and gave me a complete tour! I will post more. Until then, see you next time. Right here. Same timed. Same blog.