A real Corbomite Maneuver Alien

[Y2J]

You know that Star Trek episode "The Corbomite Maneuver"?
It's the one where Balok uses a pale blue alien as a puppet.

What would be the name of that particular alien (not Balok, the pale blue alien)?
Is there any episode where there's some real "Corbomite" aliens? I don't know what they're called exactly.
What are the real ones actually like? In the Star Trek series. I'd imagine they are a lot different than how Balok as presented them. That would be interesting.

The Original Star Trek series continues this day. If there aren't any "Corbomite" aliens yet, it would be cool if Star Trek added some in the upcoming series.

 

[Avro Arrow]

I don't think there's ever been an episode in any of the series that showed a "real" "Corbomite alien". It's possible Balok just made up a design, rather than basing it on any existing alien. Of course, since Balok represented the First Federation, it's possible that the blue aliens were another member of that federation. But we never saw or heard about the First Federation again, either, so who knows?

 

[The Old Mixer]

He was a Pu'pet from the Fakii system.

 

[Y2J]

He was a puppet of some kind of alien anyways. I wonder what would happen if that alien found out Balok made a puppet of him.

 

[scotpens]

I always assumed Balok created the puppet to look badass and menacing, without basing it on any particular "real" species.

As a side note, Clint Howard doesn't look too different today than when he played Balok (at age seven). Only now he doesn't need the bald skullcap.

 

[alensatemybuick]

As a side note, Clint Howard doesn't look too different today than when he played Balok (at age seven). Only now he doesn't need the bald skullcap.

Perhaps people here have already seen this clip of Balok from the Comedy Central William Shatner roast?

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[Warped9]

Maybe the puppet was based on an NBC exec experiencing heartburn, indigestion or the runs.

 

[telerites]

Based, perhaps, on this cult classic alien?

 

[Maurice]

When we were kids we called old puppet Balok "Old Ugly".

 

[urbandefault]

When I was a kid in the 60s, Ted Cassidy's voice was enough to make the Balok Puppet Head suitably scary.

 

[Ronald Held]

When we were kids we called old puppet Balok "Old Ugly".

Really! So did I.

 

[Shawnster]

I always thought he looked like an Andorian sans antenna

 

[Albertese]

I wonder if the original intent was that pure-bred Vulcans looked sorta like this puppet guy. Spock claims that he reminds him of his father, which, having later seen Mark Lenard in the role, we assume meant in personality type rather than appearance, yet in "Mudd's Women," Harry Mudd inspects Spock and asks if he's part Vulcanian. This always suggested to me that, when written, the assumption was that Spock looked like a human with some Vulcan characteristics, which tipped off Mudd. Mudd's line becomes a little weird after we learn that all Vulcans look exactly like Spock... why shouldn't Mudd have simply asked if he was a Vulcan, rather than of mixed heritage?

Ah well, that's clearly not the direction they went, but it's something I always wondered about.

--Alex

 

[J.T.B.]

I wonder if the original intent was that pure-bred Vulcans looked sorta like this puppet guy.

Well, if nothing else it would make Amanda a woman of very unique tastes indeed.

 

[Vger23]

I'm pretty sure Balok's puppet was nothing more than an avatar. One could assume it was created after the encounter with the cube...or after the initial scan of the Enterprise...based on human psychology and what our species might find intimidating.

 

[Albertese]

Well, if nothing else it would make Amanda a woman of very unique tastes indeed.

It would also add meaning to Scotty's line "May heaven help your mother.

--Alex

 

[Poltargyst]

Perhaps people here have already seen this clip of Balok from the Comedy Central William Shatner roast?

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Never saw that. That's funny.

 

[spockboy]

And here he is today...

Spockboy

 

[Antonovus]

Balok creeps me out way more than his avatar. Of course it is up to speculation, however, I agree that Balok's puppet is an amalgamation of aliens encountered or his (its) conception of what a menacing alien might well look like.

 

[Antonovus]

And here he is today...

Spockboy

Hasn't aged so well has he?