TOS and purely comedic episodes

Discussion in 'General Trek Discussion' started by JT Perfecthair, Sep 3, 2013.

  1. JT Perfecthair

    JT Perfecthair Lieutenant Commander Red Shirt

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    Im thinking of works like Piece of the Action, Tribbles, I Mudd etc, something made to be a funny for the entire episode.

    While there were occasionally funny situations and exchanges between characters in the other series, did any of them have outright comedy episodes? The DS9 Tribble episode comes closest, but they are revisiting a TOS story. Even in the movies, the only one made as a comedy is Trek4, with the TOS Cast.

    The other series all had (mostly) talented actors, TNG especially had some funny people in its cast, Spiner had been on Night Court prior to Trek. So why are the comedies unique to TOS?
     
  2. Melakon

    Melakon Admiral In Memoriam

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    DS9: Little Green Men is a genuine farce.

    Star Trek didn't have a good comedy track record in the 24th century for some reason. About the only time they worked were the DS9 Ferengi shows but even those are hit or miss.
     
  3. Mario de Monti

    Mario de Monti Captain Captain

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    Since those comedic episodes all came in the second season of TOS, maybe Roddenberry & Co. tried to reach a broader audience with that approach. They constantly struggled to keep the show on the air, so they may have even been "urged" in that direction by studio/network officials. Just a possibility of course, that I´m sure someone here can confirm or deny.

    Mario
     
  4. Commishsleer

    Commishsleer Commodore Commodore

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    Surely TNGs "Outrageous Okona" wasn't meant to be taken seriously.
     
  5. jpv2000

    jpv2000 Captain Captain

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    That's what I always figured as well. The comedic episodes are my least favorite as I'm not a fan of comedies of any kind.
     
  6. The Wormhole

    The Wormhole Fleet Admiral Admiral

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    DS9, despite its reputation as the "dark Star Trek" was actually very comedic. There were the annual Ferengi comedy episodes, plus most episodes usually had comedic moments or brilliant one-liners.

    Although word is the other shows were actually discouraged by Paramount to have comedy (DS9 being the show they didn't care enough about to interfere with). I think I remember hearing once someone high-up at Paramount said a franchise like Star Trek which attracts actors of Patrick Stewart's calibre needs to be treated with a regal dignity and can't afford to do comedy.

    But hey, it's well known Paramount's suits just don't understand Trek.
     
  7. Greg Cox

    Greg Cox Admiral Premium Member

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    That was the first episode that came to mind, too. Great episode.

    A lot of the holodeck eps are basically comedies as well: "Bride of Chaotica," "A Fistful of Datas," "Our Man Bashir," etc.

    Fun stuff.
     
  8. Gojira

    Gojira Commodore Commodore

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    I was listening to the commentary on the tribble episode More Tribbles, More Trouble from the Animated Series by the writerof that episode and the Trouble With Tribbles Episode. He stated that they wanted to do the More Tribbles, More Trouble episode for season 3 of TOS. He was told by the guy who replaced Roddenbderry (can't remember the name) that Star Trek doesn't do comedy!
     
  9. R. Star

    R. Star Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    The Magnificent Ferengi. ;)
     
  10. Bry_Sinclair

    Bry_Sinclair Vice Admiral Admiral

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    Most of the stuff Archer says is funny (or cringy)--though that could just be because I can't take him seriously.
     
  11. R. Star

    R. Star Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    I could call most of Archer's behavior farce more than comedy.
     
  12. Melakon

    Melakon Admiral In Memoriam

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    I almost mentioned that one too, but didn't want to stack the plate with DS9. "I hate Ferengi." *plop*
     
  13. MikeH92467

    MikeH92467 Admiral Admiral

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    There's an old theater joke where a great actor is on his deathbed and his ever-loyal Dresser asks him if dying is hard. The old man replies, "No. Dying is easy. Comedy? That's hard!"

    Comedy takes an incredible amount of effort from the writers, cast and crew and under the stress of turning out a weekly product I can well imagine everyone involved just not wanting to go there.
     
  14. T'Girl

    T'Girl Vice Admiral Admiral

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    Scenes involving Spot were usually good for a laugh. Love it every time I see it when Worf sneezes full in Spot's little face.


    :)
     
  15. Nebusj

    Nebusj Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    Well, it certainly wasn't a laughing matter.
     
  16. R. Star

    R. Star Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    Yeah, Keevan got the excruciating death he deserved. I can't help but chuckle every time I watch that pleased grin of his at the end of Rocks and Shoals, knowing he'll get his in the end. :)

    I like to think he's still banging into that wall endlessly until his corpse rots.
     
  17. Kail

    Kail Commodore Commodore

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    How sad for you.
     
  18. jpv2000

    jpv2000 Captain Captain

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    Indeed. :vulcan:
     
  19. GNDN

    GNDN Commodore Commodore

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    As much as I like Tribbles, and I adore Trials and Tribble-ations, I'm very glad they didn't do another tribble ep in season 3. There are precious few TOS stories as there are to force a sequel to a self-contained story. More Tribbles was a bit light-weight even by TAS standards, and while it capitalized on the strengths of TOS, it didn't really add anything worthwhile in universe.
     
  20. Gojira

    Gojira Commodore Commodore

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    I agree. I like the DS9 tribute to the tribbles episode but I am glad that original episode is a stand alone episode. It makes it a little more special.