Audio commentaries

[t_smitts]

I've been wanting to get my hands on the Blu-ray sets for TNG and Enterprise for a while. Not really because of resolution or anything like that, but I'm always interested in the special features that are included that give an insight into production, first and foremost the accompanying audio commentary tracks. The Blu-ray sets are a little out of my price range, but I learned my library was ordering them (perhaps because I posted a suggestion on their website ). For some reason they've taken a couple of months to show up but season 2 finally arrived (still waiting on seasons 1, 3, and 4). I made a point of listening to some of the commentaries.

John Billingsley and Bonita Friedericy on "Regeneration" (the only season 2 commentary with actors) was a bit goofier than I expected, but there's still some funny moments. You don't learn much about the episode itself, but things like Billingsley dropping his pants at a convention in Germany, Jolene Blalock being "gassy" during the pon farr scene in "Bounty", or that Bonita once played the MOTHER of Melinda Page Hamilton, who played one of Phlox's wives. I suppose it's nice to see older married couples still having fun as they appear to.

The commentaries for "Carbon Creek", "Dead Stop", and "First Flight" were a bit more informative, with people like Mike Sussman, Chris Black, and the Okudas. They talked about creating the Carbon Creek town, the 2001-ish looking alien station interior, and the 602 Club (which was supposedly named for a bar in Rick Berman's home town). Mike Okuda also mentions sending D.C. Fontana a patch from the episode for the Earth-Saturn Probe (from "Tomorrow is Yesterday", which she wrote), which included her name as part of the crew, which she really appreciated. There's also a really strange story about fandom and the name "Duvall" on the "First Flight" commentary that you have to hear to believe. They also ask the amusing question of what did they end up doing with that dead Mayweather clone.

I do wish they'd gotten more of the actors to record some for the show. They never got Bakula, or Jolene Blalock to do one. Anthony Montgomery and Linda Park never did one either, and it would've been nice to get Jeffrey Combs for one of the Andorian episodes.

I've listened to some of the commentaries for some of the movies as well. (Nimoy and Shatner on ST4, Frakes on First Contact, and Braga and Moore on First Contact, which I think is one of the best). I haven't heard any of the TNG ones, but I'm interested what those sound like.

Were there any commentaries you thought were especially good or bad?

 

[svenden]

I just recently watched First Contact with Frakes' commentary on, and found it really disappointing actually. He did more "oh look at that" then "let me tell you what happened behind the scenes on that". Not sure I've listened to Moore and Braga on that film, perhaps I'll do that soon.

The one that sticks out most for me is Nick Meyer's commentary on the director's cut of TWOK. He really helped me appreciate the movie even more than I already did. I love Nick Meyer so much, because he was entirely new to Star Trek, but got it and made it better.

 

[t_smitts]

I just recently watched First Contact with Frakes' commentary on, and found it really disappointing actually. He did more "oh look at that" then "let me tell you what happened behind the scenes on that". Not sure I've listened to Moore and Braga on that film, perhaps I'll do that soon.

The one that sticks out most for me is Nick Meyer's commentary on the director's cut of TWOK. He really helped me appreciate the movie even more than I already did. I love Nick Meyer so much, because he was entirely new to Star Trek, but got it and made it better.

I think commentaries often work better with two or three people, as opposed to one. They ask each other questions and there actually another person there for them to point things out to.

I'll have to remember to listen to Meyer's commentary for II and VI again.

 

[Ethros]

The Moore & Braga ones on Generations & First Contact are the best; nice to hear them just been honest about the movies good and bad points.

I also liked any of the Ron Moore commentaries on the TNG set, and the Star Trek III one he did with Ira, even though they had nothing to do with the making of the movie


As for actors, the Connor Trinneer and Dominic Keating commentaries for Demons & Terra Prime were ok, but way too many silences for my liking. I get the feeling a lot of people who do commentaries (on any thing not just Trek) simply show up totally unprepared. If you can't think of much to say either get someone in with you to bounce off of or prepare some questions to ask. For example I like that in the Donnie Darko Directors Cut commentary at least Kevin Smith got some questions from his fans to ask Richard Kelly during it if things ever got slack.


I'll tell you who do annoy me though (and this goes for the Blu-ray interviews too) -Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens. Good good just let the other person speak!
They CONSTANTLY interrupt one another, overlapping everything they say, each getting about four words out before the other has to interrupt to continue the sentence, then four words later it happens again, over and over. I mean I know they say that's what married couples do, but man is it annoying to listen to.

 

[Iamnotspock]

The one that sticks out most for me is Nick Meyer's commentary on the director's cut of TWOK. He really helped me appreciate the movie even more than I already did. I love Nick Meyer so much, because he was entirely new to Star Trek, but got it and made it better.

It's my favourite DVD commentary, Trek or otherwise.

 

[svenden]

I think commentaries often work better with two or three people, as opposed to one. They ask each other questions and there actually another person there for them to point things out to.

That's a pretty good point, I'd never thought of it that way.

 

[eyeresist]

The one that sticks out most for me is Nick Meyer's commentary on the director's cut of TWOK. He really helped me appreciate the movie even more than I already did. I love Nick Meyer so much, because he was entirely new to Star Trek, but got it and made it better.

Sadly he didn't have much to add for the commentary on the theatrical version. In fact he forgot stuff or got stuff wrong, but then I guess he's not as much a nerd for this stuff as we are.

I'll tell you who do annoy me though (and this goes for the Blu-ray interviews too) -Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens. Good god just let the other person speak!

I don't remember that aspect. My recollection is that they are among the better commentors, as they give a lot of detail about canon connections and behind-the-scenes stuff, as opposed to describing what's on screen or exchanging boring gossip.

I would like to get the ENT blu-rays at some point as word is the extras are great. For those who recall the writers' commentary for GEN, I'd like something similar for TATV, with Berman and Braga (or else someone like Coto) giving a point-by-point mea culpa of where they went wrong.

 

[t_smitts]

I don't remember that aspect. My recollection is that they are among the better commentors, as they give a lot of detail about canon connections and behind-the-scenes stuff, as opposed to describing what's on screen or exchanging boring gossip.

Hmmm, I'll have to see for myself when I'm able to take out season 4 from the library.

I would like to get the ENT blu-rays at some point as word is the extras are great. For those who recall the writers' commentary for GEN, I'd like something similar for TATV, with Berman and Braga (or else someone like Coto) giving a point-by-point mea culpa of where they went wrong.

Don't hold your breath on that, but in the interviews on season 2 set, Berman, Braga, Billingsley, Chris Black, and David Goodman get REALLY candid about things that went wrong (especially Braga). I don't think I've ever seen special features interviews that honest. I actually came away from it with a bit more sympathy or respect for Braga.

And it's not TATV, but they all completely RIP into "Precious Cargo" (especially Braga and Goodman, who wrote it). I think Braga called it the worst episode ever.

They also talked about "Regeneration", which was understandably pretty controversial at the time, but I think turned out pretty well. I do wish they'd talked a bit about "Cogenitor", which might've been the best episode of the season.

 

[eyeresist]

^ Thanks.
"Precious Cargo" was possibly the worst episode, but its biggest problem was the guest actress. Without her I think it might have been acceptable. Did they address this?

 

[t_smitts]

^ Thanks.
"Precious Cargo" was possibly the worst episode, but its biggest problem was the guest actress. Without her I think it might have been acceptable. Did they address this?

Yes, they're quite specific about that. She's highly attractive and became a TV host and a few other things, but she's not an actress by trade. She didn't have the slightest bit of chemistry with Connor.

Now mind you, the concept of a classy, uptight woman who gets stuck in the jungle with a rugged, blue collar-type man, having her complain a lot, and having them hook up, has been done a million times (and they're still doing it, as anyone who saw "Jurassic World" will tell you), so there was no way this episode was ever going to be anything more than a so-so episode with a bit of a fun quotient. Unfortunately, that utter lack of chemistry ruined any chance of even being that much.

 

[eyeresist]

Now mind you, the concept of a classy, uptight woman who gets stuck in the jungle with a rugged, blue collar-type man, having her complain a lot, and having them hook up, has been done a million times (and they're still doing it, as anyone who saw "Jurassic World" will tell you), so there was no way this episode was ever going to be anything more than a so-so episode with a bit of a fun quotient. Unfortunately, that utter lack of chemistry ruined any chance of even being that much.

I wouldn't write off any story on the basis that it's been done before, but you are right, this particular kind of story DEMANDS excellent chemistry between the leads in order to be a success. "The African Queen" is of course the classic telling. Later, Harrison Ford did great versions as both Han Solo and Indiana Jones.

 

[t_smitts]

Okay, I managed to get in "Enterprise" season 3 the other day and have listened to a few of the commentaries so far. The one on "Impulse" with David Goodman and David Livingston was okay. They talk repeatedly how the episode was treated as a zombie movie, which includes doing things that wouldn't occur to most people, such as designing a raised set that included room for lights underneath, so you could have that "horror movie" lighting.

"Similitude" actually had two different commentaries recorded by Manny Coto. The first was an old one recorded for the DVD set. The new one was recorded along with Connor Trinneer. Between this and the "Regeneration" commentary, I'm starting to reconsider having the actors record commentaries. They tend not to remember things as well as writers (though to be fair, we're talking about episodes they shot ten years ago). There is an interesting moment where both men note that they didn't have children yet at the time of the episode and Coto said he might feel differently about the idea of doing what they do in the episode. Trinneer also notes that the day before he'd shot what sounds like the scene of losing baby Elizabeth in "Terra Prime", he'd found out his wife was pregnant, and was REALLY crying in that scene.

I noticed that LeVar Burton directed this episode, and noticing that he's directed several of the better "Enterprise" episodes (Fortunate Son, Cogenitor, First Flight, The Forgotten, etc.), it might've been interesting to get HIM recording a commentary.

For "North Star", we get Goodman again, plus Chris Black, who I think they said did an uncredited rewrite. I actually heard another commentary Goodman did on the episode for a podcast a while back (you can download it from trekcore.com). Both sound pretty intelligent and are just different enough not to sound redundant. There was one part that kind of annoyed me though, were Goodman was saying something about Glenn Morshower, who was a guest star in the episode, and Black kept interrupting Goodman until he lost his train of thought, so we never got to hear it. I actually shouted at the TV "Shut up! He's trying to say something!"

I'll probably listen to some of the other commentaries later this week. Hopefully, I get to take out the season 1 or 4 sets before I go out of town on Wednesday.

 

[Rarewolf]

I've been wanting to get my hands on the Blu-ray sets for TNG and Enterprise for a while.

There's the TVM versions of some of the TNG 2 parters too, they all have commentaries. I think they've come down in price.

I do find it odd across TNG you get writers, and maybe a guest actor, but next to nothing from the regular cast themselves, on the few commentaries there are. Perhaps I'm spoilt by 95% of Classic Doctor Who DVDs having a commentary as standard, with all sorts of people involved from both sides of the camera

 

[t_smitts]

I've been wanting to get my hands on the Blu-ray sets for TNG and Enterprise for a while.

There's the TVM versions of some of the TNG 2 parters too, they all have commentaries. I think they've come down in price.

I do find it odd across TNG you get writers, and maybe a guest actor, but next to nothing from the regular cast themselves, on the few commentaries there are. Perhaps I'm spoilt by 95% of Classic Doctor Who DVDs having a commentary as standard, with all sorts of people involved from both sides of the camera

Yeah, I've seen some of the 2-parters on ebay. I may buy one sooner or later. It would be nice if they had more commentaries, though I'm not sure how much it costs to bring in people to record a commentary, and how much that would drive up the price (which is already quite a bit for Star Trek series sets).

In terms of commentaries on other shows, the first season of "Robot Chicken" was really good about that. Matt Senrich and Seth Green, plus most of the writers and a lot of the great guest cast like Mark Hamill, Macaulay Culkin, Mila Kunis, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Freddie Prinze Jr., Linda Cardellini, Abraham Benrubi, and Rachel Leigh Cook.

"24" and the US version of "The Office" were both really good for having cast members, directors, producers, and writers for the first few seasons, but kind of petered out towards the end.

It had a really short run (only 13 episodes), but the series "Daybreak" was REALLY good for that. They at least one commentary on EVERY episode, with a couple of episodes, having two. It's definitely worth checking out if you get it.

Mind you, physical media is dying. People are already just downloading shows and movies from iTunes or streaming them on Netflix. I just hope that doesn't lead to these kinds of features being phased out.

 

[eyeresist]

I noticed that LeVar Burton directed this episode, and noticing that he's directed several of the better "Enterprise" episodes (Fortunate Son, Cogenitor, First Flight, The Forgotten, etc.), it might've been interesting to get HIM recording a commentary.

He also directed Extinction, one of the very worst ENT episodes!

I agree that actors aren't always the best commentors, though I'd like to hear a Bakula commentary, as he seems a pretty thoughtful guy, and also maybe a Dominic Keating commentary, as I imagine he could be quite amusing.


Commentaries for other shows: The commentaries for the original run of Futurama are great; I used to have them playing in the morning while I prepared for work. Not sure I want to hear the later ones, as the show itself went downhill after season 3.

There have been a few great commentaries for Supernatural, particularly the early seasons, but they don't do many and are pretty inconsistent.

 

[t_smitts]

I noticed that LeVar Burton directed this episode, and noticing that he's directed several of the better "Enterprise" episodes (Fortunate Son, Cogenitor, First Flight, The Forgotten, etc.), it might've been interesting to get HIM recording a commentary.

He also directed Extinction, one of the very worst ENT episodes!

Well, nobody bats a thousand.

I agree that actors aren't always the best commentors, though I'd like to hear a Bakula commentary, as he seems a pretty thoughtful guy, and also maybe a Dominic Keating commentary, as I imagine he could be quite amusing.

Dominic DID record a few commentaries (Broken Bow, Suttlepod One, Demons, and Terra Prime), though I haven't gotten to hear them yet.

So far, the Okudas seem to be really good, if only because they really know their stuff. David Goodman too, I think.

 

[t_smitts]

I was away for a week and had to leave the Blu-ray of season 4 at home, but I listened to the commentaries for "Observer Effect" and "Demons" before I had to give it back ("Terra Prime" and "In a Mirror, Darkly" will have to wait until next time).

"Observer Effect" gives us another commentary with the Okudas and the Reeves-Stevens. There's generally no bad commentaries with any of them, because there's probably no one who's professionally worked on Star Trek who knows it better than these four. That said, it's not the most memorable episode and probably not one I would've had them cover (you'd probably want another episode that the R-S's worked on, like "Divergence"). You don't really learn much all that new here, with one major exception: Apparently Manny Coto once tasked the R-S's with writing a Col. Green story, which they did, only to have Brannon Braga veto it for being too dark. Given that Braga's a known horror movie fan, signed off on an episode like "Impulse", and co-wrote "First Contact", which is arguably the darkest Trek movie, I'm admittedly very curious what he found too "dark".

"Demons" is a bit different. Connor Trinneer and Dominic Keating recorded one for this. As I've said before, the might not be the best choice for commentaries, since they tend to forget things or mix things up. Case in point, Dominic mentions that he'd worked with the actor who played Harris before (which he did in "Rogue Planet"), but seems to be thinking of a different episode (sounds like "Extinction"). Connor does talk about what an interesting fellow Peter Weller was to work with (and it's funny when he calls Paxton a "Tea Party member"). Still, it would've been nice to get a writer or director (in this case, LeVar) to go through this one with them.