[FPSPACE] Art transcends life

[DwayneDay]

-----Original Message-----
From: Allen Thomson <thomsona at flash.net>
Sent: Sep 1, 2004 5:08 AM

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/31/arts/television/31trek.html?8hpib

Just one indication of "Star Trek's" intersection with real life came at the
convention on Saturday night, when the featured speaker at the banquet
honoring Mr. Doohan [Scotty] was Neil Armstrong, the first human to walk on
the moon.

Ending a talk full of "Star Trek" references, including a wish for a
Federation starship for his next command, Mr. Armstrong addressed Mr.
Doohan: "From one old engineer to another: thanks, mate."

http://graphics7.nytimes.com/images/2004/08/31/arts/31trek.span.jpg

*************

That was a nice touch at the end.  Jimmy Doohan is in his eighties and I think he fathered a child at 82.  He's always been a rather, er, irrascible character, probably the least easy-going of the original stars.

The article has some problems.  It was not a "letter writing campaign" that saved the current series from cancellation, it was a major price cut by Paramount to save the show so that they could market it on DVDs and in syndication.  Unless the ratings improve, the show is in bad shape.

For anybody who has even a moderate interest in this subject, check out the documentary "Trekkies."  It's a lot of fun.  It pokes gentle fun at the weirdness of Star Trek fans, but also notes that they're just engaging in a hobby.  While a lot of people think they're weird, they're not hurting anybody.  And how is being a Trekkie any weirder than building model trains in your basement or putting on a Red Sox jersey and supporting a hopeless cause?




DDAY