Only When They Laugh

[Green Shirt]

Starship Polaris said:

AC84 said:
I sympathize with Spinrad. He didn't get the Doomsday Machine he wanted, nor the actor he wanted for Decker.

Of course he didn't. He was writing for television.

Hard to get Brando under those circumstances.

"I coulda bin a Admiral".

 

[JM1776]

Yeah, there are quite a few "Chuckles the Clown"-ish moments in Star Trek.

On the other hand, I've seen some pretty super-freaky gallows humor in my time.

I'm not sure I have a major problem with Sisko's reaction in "The Way of the Warrior." Granted, he's lost a subordinate ... but it's not as if he's joking with the young lady's grief-stricken relatives, or making a comment at her expense. The release of some tension mid-crisis can often allow people to operate more efficiently.

Sisko clearly cared about his people. I'm sure the letter to her nearest kin was eloquent, touching ... and entirely devoid of tacky commentary.

Others may see it differently, of course.

 

[Kegek]

I think it was Robert Ryan. Unfortunately I can't remember if Spinrad wanted Ryan or was asked to write the role with Ryan in mind.

I remember him speaking about this recently. He was told to write an episode that could come in on a small budget, i.e, a ship-in-a-bottle show. He was also told that Robert Ryan had expressed interest in appearing on the show and wrote the tortured, slightly demented Decker character with Ryan in mind (Ryan's career has a string of excellent performances in similar roles - a favourite of mine is They Clash By Night).

 

[Doug Otte]

I remember him speaking about this recently. He was told to write an episode that could come in on a small budget, i.e, a ship-in-a-bottle show. He was also told that Robert Ryan had expressed interest in appearing on the show and wrote the tortured, slightly demented Decker character with Ryan in mind (Ryan's career has a string of excellent performances in similar roles - a favourite of mine is They Clash By Night).

As much as I've enjoyed Windom's performance in this episode over the years, I can't help but think it would have been a perfect role for Ryan.

Doug

 

[IrritatingGameOfChess]

In that scene from "The Naked Time", when Sulu and Riley struggle for control of the knife from Tormolen, you gotta love how the rest of the crew in the longue looks on with bored and barely interested expressions.

That's a good one! It reminds me of "Requiem for Methuselah" where Flint is tossing Kirk around like a rag doll while both Spock and McCoy stand by and watch. Thanks for the help, guys!

 

[JM1776]

It reminds me of "Requiem for Methuselah" where Flint is tossing Kirk around like a rag doll while both Spock and McCoy stand by and watch.

You haven't exactly "won your wench" if your buddies have to bail you out in the midst of getting your ass kicked by the rival for her affections.

 

[AxelFoley]

Those moments in the show has never really bothered me, I think it's a part of the shows' charm. A bit goofy sometimes. In fact, I usually laugh when they do, maybe I should mourn the dead redshirts instead...

 

[AC84]

^^ That's very true. A lot of times those jokes do work, even if some red shirt was killed in the previous act. Occasionally I'll watch some of the episodes and will be surprised to find myself laughing out loud by certain flippant comments, which for all intents and purposes were meant to be humorous.

 

[MANT!]

^^ That's very true. A lot of times those jokes do work, even if some red shirt was killed in the previous act. Occasionally I'll watch some of the episodes and will be surprised to find myself laughing out loud by certain flippant comments, which for all intents and purposes were meant to be humorous.

They do work sometimes but it was a TV thing in the 60's and 70's ..Wild Wild West was full of them and the 70s shows really wore them out..(Starsky and Hutch, Hart to Hart, and Charlie's Angels come to mind)..in these days of television, the shows often ARE the jokes (American Idol, Survivor etc)..