• "Trekkies" are the only
fans listed by name in the Oxford English Dictionary.
• "Star Trek" is seen in more than 100 countries
and has been translated into dozens of languages.
• Over thirty million fans watch "Star Trek"
programming around the world every week.
• There are hundreds of thousands of fan-club registered
"Star Trek" fans.
• "Star Trek" conventions are held every weekend
of every year, in at least three different cities, attracting
a million fans.
• More than 63 million "Star Trek" books are
in print and have been translated into more than 15 languages
including Chinese, Norwegian, Hungarian, and Hebrew.
• Since July 1986, every new classic "Star Trek"
novel published by Pocket Books has been a New York Times paperback
best-seller, making it the best-selling series in publishing
history.
• The average "Star Trek" fan spends $400 per
year on "Star Trek" merchandise.
• "Star Trek: The Next Generation" has made
over $500,000,000 in syndication and merchandising.
• According to a November 1992 issue of "California
Business" article, Paramount's annual first-run TNG gross
advertising revenues are about $90 million, with production
costs in the $31.2-$36.4 million range. Net annual advertising
profits are between $30 and $60 million, without even counting
the $70 million+ in licensing and affiliate station fees. TNG
airs in 217 markets, with a 99% national coverage. Weekly viewership
is in the 20 million range, bring in the most desirable of demographics.
• "Star Trek" products have elicited over a
billion dollars in retail sales in the last five years.
• Paramount has received five billion dollars from the
"Star Trek" franchise.
• The total RETAIL value of the entire "Star Trek"
franchise (movies, books, merchandise, licensing, theme rides,
etc.) has now exceeded one hundred billion dollars.
• The first U.S. Space Shuttle, the "Enterprise,"
was given its name after NASA received 400,000 requests from
STAR TREK fans.
• A 1993 study from Purdue University found that children
learn more about science from STAR TREK than from any other
source.
• Star Trek: Voyager is the only television show in TV
Guide history to be featured on the cover of the publication
before the editors could even see the show.
• With Star Trek: Voyager, there will be more than 325
hours of original Star Trek programming, including classic Star
Trek, the seven Star Trek feature films, Star Trek: The Next
Generation, and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. A person could watch
Star Trek programming eight hours a day, seven days a week,
for nearly six weeks before he would run out of original material.
• Geordi LaForge is named after a real Star Trek fan named
Jordan LaForge. Jordan LaForge died from muscular dystrophy
in 1975.
• Denise Crosby originally auditioned for the role of
Counselor Troi and Marina Sirtis auditioned for the role of
Security Chief Tasha Yar.
• Gene Roddenberry's full name is Eugene Wesley Roddenberry,
thus, in creating Wesley Crusher, Gene used his own middle name
and based the character on what he wanted to be like when he
was young.
• Industrial Light and Magic (ILM) did the special effect
shots only for "Encounter at Farpoint". However, they
get credit in every episode because of the extra stock footage
for Enterprise fly-bys and such. Even ILM stock footage isn't
used much anymore, except when the Enterprise enters Warp.
• TNG was, and Deep Space Nine & Voyager are filmed
in 35mm (primarily Kodak 7298, 500ASA) using Panavision cameras.
The film is transferred to videotape, and post-production is
done on video.
• William Riker and Deanna Troi are based upon Decker
and Ilia from "Star Trek: The Motion Picture".
• While "Skin Of Evil" was aired after "Symbiosis",
they were produced in the reverse order. Near the end of Symbiosis,
when the Ornarans and Brekkians beam off, Denise Crosby is seen
in the background, waving goodbye as the doors close.
• LeVar Burton, when shooting began for "The Best
of Both Worlds, Part II", was in the hospital for emergency
surgery. Colm Meany was used instead for several scenes, and
LeVar appeared in closeups during BOBW2 and was absent for several
episodes after that.
• LeVar Burton appeared on "Roots". He's not
the only one. Thalmus Rasulala, who played Captain Donald Varley
of the USS Yamato in "Contagion", played Omoro Kinte
in ROOTS. Also, Ben Vereen, who is also a Trek fan, also appeared
on Roots.
• While filming "The Wounded", there was a scene
in which Colm Meaney was serving Keiko steak and potatoes for
dinner. The potatoes had to get from the spoon to the plate
easily, while he continued with the dialogue, moved around,
served himself, etc. After about a zillion takes, it finally
worked, except that one small piece of potato bounced off the
plate and onto the table. So, Colm improvised, and quickly popped
it in his mouth. "Cut!" "What was wrong with
that?" "Well, you popped that potato in your mouth."
"Yeah, so?" "Well, you can't do that -- see,
this is a self-cleaning ship." "I got to it FIRST."
• Stephen Hawking was on the Paramount lot for the video
release of the film "A Brief History of Time". He
was given a tour of the set, and when they reached the bridge
set, he began tapping out something he wanted to say through
his voice synthesizer. After about a minute, it said "Could
you take me out of my chair and put me in the captain's chair?"
Now, Hawking *never* asks to be taken out of his chair, so this
was clearly a very big deal. Someone did, and a few days later
the idea of a quick cameo came up for "Descent".
• If you look closely at the Enterprise during the fly-by
in the opening credits, you can see someone walking past the
windows. According to Mike Okuda in the "Star Trek: The
Official Fan Club Magazine" (#60), this is Captain Picard.
• "The Child" and "Devil's Due" were
originally scripts for the proposed "Star Trek: Phase II"
television series. The "Star Trek: Phase II" series
idea was scrapped, and instead, the sets were used for the shooting
of "Star Trek: The Motion Picture"
• At the time of the filming of "Q Who", there
were two visual supervisors: Dan Curry and Rob Legato. They
each had their own specifications for the design of the Borg
ship: 1. Rob Legato - The Borg ship should be a ball with a
trench of detail around the middle. 2. Dan Curry - The Borg
ship should be a cube that looked smooth at a distance. As you
got closer and closer, more detail would be revealed. (Dan had
hired Special Effects for this job). Rob Legato team had some
problems, so Special Effects got the job and built the Borg
ship. It took 14 modelers two weeks to finish the job. That
is nothing short of amazing when you consider that while the
specifications called for only one side finished, Special Effects
supplied a Borg ship that was finished on all sides. In order
to achieve that level of detail, F/X put everything in they
could find, including R2-D2, toy soldiers, plastic model "rails",
and the F/X logo.
• The junkyard in "Unification II" consisted
mostly of ships dragged out from wherever Mike Okuda could find
'em. Some of the models included: models from the unmade "Star
Trek: Phase II" series, models from ILM that were never
used, models of the Enterprise that didn't come out of the mold
right, and a very unusual looking Enterprise. Some of the models
were designed by Greg Jein and Robert McCall.
• "A Matter Of Time" was written partially because
Robin Williams, a fan of the show, wanted to appear. However,
when the script was ready for shooting, Robin was unavailable,
so Matt Frewer was cast instead.
• That the shuttle Onizuka, which Data used in "Ensigns
of Command", was named in tribute to one of the Space Shuttle
"Challenger" astronauts.
• Gene died at the same time the crew was filming "Hero
Worship".
• The only episodes when William Riker was called Bill
was in "The Naked Now" and "Haven"?
• Gates McFadden's stunts in "Remember Me" were
done when she was pregnant but she did not know about it until
days later.
• For "Relics", it was impossible to re-use
the original bridge, partially because it was broken up and
destroyed after the original series. Instead, they used a captain's
chair and helm/navigation console build by a Star Trek fan named
Steve Horch. The only other part that was built was from about
a foot to the left of the turbolift to the end of Scotty's engineering
station, as well as the railing that separates that from the
center of the bridge. Also, the Con and Ops chairs were look-alikes,
and are tilted back more than the real ones. The rest was a
still from "This Side of Paradise", not "The
Mark Of Gideon". Also, the Aldebran Whiskey was actually
Hi-C Ecto Cooler.
• In "Booby Trap", the original name of the
holographic scientist was to be Leah Daystrom, who was the great-great-granddaughter
of Dr. Daystrom from TOS. However, after they cast Susan Gibney
for the part, they changed the name to Brahms, and only made
several references to The Daystrom Institute.
• In "Chain of Command", the thing inside the
eggs that Picard and the Cardassian ate were dead squids with
little machines under them to make them move.
• Andy Probert designed the Enterprise D, and owns the
designs to the Enterprise. Paramount is using his designs with
permission. You can see Andy in "Encounter at Farpoint",
in the post-atomic court. Andy is the spectator wearing "a
giant tribble", actually a very large fur hat.
• The original Wright plane was named.....BIRD OF PREY!
• The original 8-foot model of the Enterprise that was
built by Industrial Light and Magic isn't used much anymore.
For motion control work, the 4-foot model is much easier to
use, is much more detailed, and, for far away shots, it's easier
to make it seem far away. The original 8-foot model is used
only for extreme closeups or for saucer separations. The 4-foot
model was built by Greg Jein in the third season.
• The title "The Dauphin" comes from the French
term "Le Dauphin" used to designate the male heir
to the royal throne while the royalty was still in place in
France.
• In "Deja Q", they had some problems filimg
John DeLancie's nude scene. The director had him in a jockstrap,
but couldn't film around the indentations it made in his skin
because of the camera's perspective. Finally, he told everyone
who was offended by nudity to leave the set, dropped the jock
strap, and got the scene in one take. Incidentally, that scene
was filmed at 7 AM, and the mariachi band scene at midnight.
• "Family" "Liaisons" and "All
Our Yesterdays" are the only episodes in TOS, the movies,
and TNG which have no scenes filmed on the bridge.
• Not only did the original episode "All Our Yesterdays"
not have a scene on the bridge - it did not have one scene aboard
the ship! The entire episode takes place on the planet Sarpeidon
- the Enterprise is seen only in orbit.
• "Tin Man" was a life form borrowed from the
"Wild Card" book series.
• In order to prepare for the episode "Chain Of Command,
Part II", Patrick Stewart watched tapes from Amnesty International.
These tapes included statements of those who had been tortured,
and a long interview with a torturer who talked about what it
was like to be inflicting pain.
• Robin Curtis was originally slated to play the female
terrorist in "Starship Mine", but due to a conflicting
shooting schedule, was unable to play the part. She, instead,
appeared in "Gambit" as a Romulan.
• Sidney Poitier was originally wanted for the role of
Geordi LaForge's father, but, due to a conflict in schedules,
was unavailable. Ben Vereen, however, was available, and this
episode was the first time Ben and LeVar had worked together
since the mini-series "Roots."
• The transporter effect is accomplished as follows: 1)
Fill a canister with water. Add glitter and shine a light through
it. Stir briskly and tape. 2) Film the scene, first with the
actor, then without. (Or vice versa) 3) Transfer the scene to
tape, and use video technology to matte the glitter over the
actor. 4) Use a video wipe to 'streak down' the glitter.
• The translation from "11001001" after Riker
introduces them: Riker: (indicating) "Minuet. Minuet, Captain
Jean-Luc Picard." Minuet: "Enchantee, comme c'est
merveilleux de vous voir ici." / "Hi!, it's nice to
meet you." Picard: "Incoyable! Vous etes Parisienne?"
/ "You are from Paris?" Minuet: "Au fond, c'est
vrai nous sommes toutes Parisienne." / "Deep down
we're all from Paris." Picard: "Ah, oui, au fond nous
sommes tous Parisiens." / "Ah yes, deep down we're
all from Paris."
• The translation from "Time's Arrow": Data
(in English): "I am a Frenchman." Poker Player: "Ah,
mes parents sont originaires de Boubonnais. Je suis ne a la
New Orleans." / "Ah, my parents are from Boubonnais.
I was born in New Orleans." Data: "Alors nous sommes
presque freres. Je suis heureuz de vous connaitre." / "Then,
we are almost brothers. I am pleased to meet you." Poker
Player (in English): "Please sir..."
• On the bridge of the Enterprise-D, all of the control
panel buttons had the first two letters of the first and the
first three letters of the last names of all the actors on the
show and most of the behind the scenes crew. (e.g., DE CRO,
PA STE, BR SPI, etc.)
• Nichelle Nichols was going to quit Classic Trek half
way through, but Dr. Martin Luther King talked her back into
staying on the show.
• Genevieve Bujold, who was originally cast to play Captain
Janeway, walked out after the first week of filming The Caretaker.
• Not only did Data's cat, Spot, change sex during season
seven of ST:TNG, but he/she also changed breed! He/She is best
remembered as a marmalade tabby short-hair, but in a few episodes,
"In Theory" for instance, Spot is a longish haired
Somali cat.
• The first inter-racial kiss on TV was on Star Trek between
Kirk and Uhura.
• The NASA motto is "To boldly go.." as in Star
Trek.
• Majel Barrett appeared in "The Cage" as the
Enterprise's first officer; and a television set can be seen
in the Captain's quarters in this episode.
• Star Trek premiered on British TV in June of 1969, right
about the time of the Apollo moonshot.
• The city in "The City On The Edge Of Forever"
is New York. Notice the bridge shot over the water.
• Win95 spell check suggests "Trekkers" to replace
"Trekkies."
• In Star Trek 2: the Wrath of Khan, when Peter Preston
pushes his bloody hand against Kirk's jacket and Kirk grasps
his hand a bloody stain is left. After a few more shots it is
apparent that the stain is changing position, shape, and color.
• In Star Trek 2: The Wrath of Khan, Kirk tells everybody
to set their phasers on "stun". When Kirk, McCoy,
and Savvik beam down to Regula 1, McCoy sets his phaser on "kill".
• In STVI Kirk records in his log "I've never trusted
Klingons and I never will. I've never been able to forgive them
for the death of my boy." But when his log is played back
at his trial he says "I've never trusted Klingons and I
never will. I can never forgive them for the death of my boy."
• No one ever said, "Beam me up Scotty," on
an episode. (However, there was one "Beam me up, Scotty"
in the episode "The Infinite Vulcan" featured in the
animated Star Trek series.)
• Avery Brooks, LeVar Burton, Kate Mulgrew, and Tim Russ
all appeared in "Roots: The Gift."
• The voice of the computer on the Enterprise (TNG) is
Majel Barrett Roddenberry aka Troi's mother and of course wife
of Gene.
• In Japan Sulu's name was changed to "Kato",
which is a fairly common Japanese name. This is due to the well
known R/L problem--basically they are the same letter to the
Japanese. There are many verbs that are pronunced "suru"
(or "sulu") the most common meaning "do"
or "be".
New Trivia:
• In "The Wrath Of Kahn," when Checkov and his
Captain are on Ceti-Alpha 6, and Kahn first confronts them,
Checkov and Kahn immediately recognize each other. This is odd
because Checkov was not in the original "Space Seed"
episode and could never have met Kahn.
How about this...
I read the "Wrath of Khan" paperback edition when
the movie came out and in the book Chekov was an ensign on
the Enterprise and had a teenage crush on Lt. McGivers thus
explaining how he knew Khan and why he hated him so! - Miguel
Jimenez
Hmmm... cutting room floor?
• In Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan, Kahn is seen wearing
a medallion around his neck that is a broken belt buckle from
the starfleet uniforms seen in movies 2-6. However, when he
was exiled those uniforms were not in use.
• In TNG episode "Relics" when Scotty is rescued
from the transporter loop by Geordi he says, (something to
the effect) "I wouldn't be surprised if you were sent
out to rescue me by Jim Kirk himself." This doesn't make
sense because the last time Scotty would have seen him was
when Captain Kirk tried to save the Enterprise-B (in the film
"Generations) from the Nexus and presumably disappeared
and died for his trouble. Therefore as Scotty left for his
doomed retirement voyage, Captain Kirk was nothing but a memory.
• Leonard Nimoy was asked to star in the opening sequence
of Star Trek: Generations as well as direct the picture. But
he turned down the role, thinking that it would be damaging
to the character, which was also the reason DeForest Kelley
turned it down as well, causing them to use Jimmy Doohan and
Walter Koenig. Nimoy turned down the directing job, because
he was unhappy with the death of Kirk; and because Rick Berman
wouldn't let him change certain parts. Including Kirk's death.
• The character of Chekov was originally going to be
British, but the writers decided to make him Russian.
• Kate Mulgrew and Avery Brooks were both in "Roots."
• Star Trek did have the first Black-White kiss on television,
but it did not have the first inter-racial kiss. That was
on I Spy, in the episode 'The Tiger,' shown on 1/5/66. The
kiss was between Kelly Robinson (Robert Culp) and a Vietnamese
woman named Sam (France Nuyen), with whom Kelly had clearly
previously had a romantic relationship.
• On Star Trek Generations, Picard beams down to Veridian
3 without his communicator, but when he goes to the Nexus,
he is wearing his communicator. And when he goes back with
Kirk, he is not wearing it anymore, but Kirk still has his.
**
How about this for why maybe it isn't a goof. Things were
as Picard (and Kirk) "believed" they would be. Indeed,
Picard wasn't dirty after entering the Nexus either, though
he was pretty filthy just before it. Also and entire house,
family, and even front yard with a decorated tree appeared
for him. His self image, in uniform, included the communicator,
so it was there in the Nexus. When he left, it disappeared,
because it was never really there. Kirk, on the other
hand, did have his badge (not communicator) when he went in,
so he still had it when he came out.
• In TOS Episode with Kahn, when they board his sleeper
ship, Kirk used his phaser to break the observation window
to Kahn's bed. But Kirk dropped the phaser. If you watched
closely, McGivers looked at the director to see if the would
reshoot it. But glass was expensive and they didn't want to
spend the extra money.
• In Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, when Checkoff and
Uhura are asking people where the nuclear vessels were, Walter
Keonig and Nichelle Nichols questioned random people on the
street and they filmed whatever they got.
• The trading card series for Star Trek Generations
shows one scene not actually shown in the movie. Card #1 shows
Chekov, Scotty, and Kirk meeting before the christening and
tour of the new Enterprise-B. The card says that Kirk actually
refused to go. (But of course, something convinced him to
go anyway.)
• One episode of the classic series has never been seen
on German television because of its Nazi theme. The TV station
and Star Trek host Sat.1 (www.sat1.de) and the previous host
station ZDF, that brought Star Trek to Germany, still don't
want to air the episode, 'Patterns of Force' (Schablonen der
Gewalt). It is only available on VHS whith a relatively high
rating of ages 12 and above.
• In the episode 11:59 of the fifth season of Voyager,
Neelix shows Capt. Janeway a picture of her ancestors, he
claimed to have found in a Ferengi database. The bench in
the picture is the one in the Paramount Studios Lot in Los
Angeles.... the same on which Forrest Gump sat on!
• When Kirk and Uhura had the "first inter-racial
kiss" on the episode "Plato's Step-children",
I noticed that Kirk had his lips drawn back and his teeth
were showing. Uhura's head was towards the camera and it looked
like to me there really was no lip contact at all. I think
this
was done to placate the sponser's of the show; the 60's were
not as tolerable as people think.
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