I didn't like the tailpipe remark when it first came out in TUC. Just wondered how many out there thought it was "natural"
Gotta have a tailpipe?
- Thread starter Captain Mike
- Start date
Huh?
I thought it was a harmless reference to how kids used to stick a potato into a car's tailpipe to make it backfire? Seems something an engineer would say, no matter the century.
Of course, ST VI was deliberately peppered with seemingly racist comments culled from old movies ("Would you like your daughter to marry one?", "Guess who's coming to dinner?", a comment about Klingon stench, and even the African American actor who'd played in "To Kill a Mockingbird"(?) repeating a line from that movie, but aimed at Klingons). But I didn't make any connection with "tailpipe". It's a mechanical term, isn't it?
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In certain Nichelle Nichol's interviews she stated that she thought it was racist..I am running on that assumption simce it is a primarily racist gag.
The hell? 
How is "tailpipe" racist?
How is "tailpipe" racist?
The hell?
Agreed.
How is tail pipe racist? I must be missing something... Some sort of slang I am not familiar with...
I'll admit that I thought that it was a pretty odd observation/statement to make, especially coming from Uhura, but I just assumed that the writer was trying to throw another line of dialog Nichelle Nichol's's way to get everyone in on the act.
I assumed that she was making the suggestion that the Klingon ship must have some point/area (like the tail pipe on an automobile)(which is an odd reference to 20th century technology for someone other than a future techno-history buff to make) where heat or gas or other emissions come out of the vehicle, which may be a vulnerable opening to inner workings (like the one meter wide exhaust port on the Death Star?) that could be detected.
That was my take on it at the time. I just didn't buy it, though. Seems like the Enterprise's sensors could have picked it up, but even so, that tailpipe/exhaust pipe would be shielded I would guess.
.... Again, what is the connection of the term tailpipe to racism? Is this a joke?
Next maybe we can talk about the homosexual implications of Picard wanting Earl Grey hot (not that there is anything wrong with it).....
I'll admit that I thought that it was a pretty odd observation/statement to make, especially coming from Uhura, but I just assumed that the writer was trying to throw another line of dialog Nichelle Nichol's's way to get everyone in on the act.
I assumed that she was making the suggestion that the Klingon ship must have some point/area (like the tail pipe on an automobile)(which is an odd reference to 20th century technology for someone other than a future techno-history buff to make) where heat or gas or other emissions come out of the vehicle, which may be a vulnerable opening to inner workings (like the one meter wide exhaust port on the Death Star?) that could be detected.
That was my take on it at the time. I just didn't buy it, though. Seems like the Enterprise's sensors could have picked it up, but even so, that tailpipe/exhaust pipe would be shielded I would guess.
.... Again, what is the connection of the term tailpipe to racism? Is this a joke?
Next maybe we can talk about the homosexual implications of Picard wanting Earl Grey hot (not that there is anything wrong with it).....
Actually, one of the books in the Klingon translation scene is "A Concise History of the Klingon Empire" by G.L. Coon.
http://www.proparchives.com/science...overed-country/uhuras-klingon-reference-books
Clearly the use of "Coon" is racist.
http://www.proparchives.com/science...overed-country/uhuras-klingon-reference-books
Clearly the use of "Coon" is racist.
I know there is an interview or discussion that Nichelle stated that she thought that the part of saying that was stereotypical...yet I can't find it on the net. I agreed with her at the time I read it. *** will hopefully post if I find it.
I think you're talking about the 'guess who's coming to dinner?' line, which I believe was originally written for Uhura but moved to Chekov when she refused.
That line is explained by a deleted scene from Star Trek IV.
EXT. SAN FRANCISCO STREET DAYTIME. UHURA, SULU AND CHEKOV ARE WALKING PAST A CONSTRUCTION SITE.
CONSTRUCTION WORKER: Hey baby, I'd like to stick my potato up your tailpipe!
UHURA: Excuse me?
SULU: He's referring to a prank involving the exhaust port of a motor vehicle.
CHEKOV: How de hell do you know thet?
SULU: I love the 20th Century. How do you think I know we need a Huey 204 to move the plexiglass.
CHEKOV: I don't know. His shout sounded like inuendo.
UHURA: I agree. (TURNS TO CONSTRUCTION WORKER) Hey buddy, double dumbass on you!
EXT. SAN FRANCISCO STREET DAYTIME. UHURA, SULU AND CHEKOV ARE WALKING PAST A CONSTRUCTION SITE.
CONSTRUCTION WORKER: Hey baby, I'd like to stick my potato up your tailpipe!
UHURA: Excuse me?
SULU: He's referring to a prank involving the exhaust port of a motor vehicle.
CHEKOV: How de hell do you know thet?
SULU: I love the 20th Century. How do you think I know we need a Huey 204 to move the plexiglass.
CHEKOV: I don't know. His shout sounded like inuendo.
UHURA: I agree. (TURNS TO CONSTRUCTION WORKER) Hey buddy, double dumbass on you!
That’s too bad. It would have been way funnier if Uhura had said it. You know, irony and all that.
Damn!!!!!! I am at a loss I have searched engined this for a few hours!! I know there was a segment or interview where Nichelle had trouble with the "Well the thing has gotta have a tailpipe" which she seemed to indicate that she was totally against it but Nick Meyer finally got her through the scene. If anyone could help it would be appreciated.
As for the tailpipe enuendo, I always thought it WAS a racial kind of thing in the U.S.
As for the tailpipe enuendo, I always thought it WAS a racial kind of thing in the U.S.
"The thing's gotta have a Tailpipe" comment was a direct reference to combustion engine emissions!
Remember that Spock said that the BoP emitted "gas". (We call it plasma...no matter the designation...gas, Captain)
Uhura then mentioned all the equipment Enterprise was carrying for detecting gaseous anomolies. When everyone looked a bit confused then Uhura said "Well the thing's gotta have a tailpipe!"
Then Spock and McCoy performed their "operation" on a photon torpedo and Kirk fired it. The torpedoe's new gaseous anomoly detecting equipment lead it straight to the cloaked BoP and thus forcing General Chang to spout Shakespear again!
Combustion engines use tailpipes for emitting the leftover gas from the combustion process. (some vehicles use smoke stacks -18 wheelers, some use smoke pipes -farm tractors.
Nichols refused to say "Look who's coming to dinner".
With all due respect I think you have your information channels crossed. (We am condemning food and such!)
Jus' Sayin'
p.s. please forgive any misspellings!
Remember that Spock said that the BoP emitted "gas". (We call it plasma...no matter the designation...gas, Captain)
Uhura then mentioned all the equipment Enterprise was carrying for detecting gaseous anomolies. When everyone looked a bit confused then Uhura said "Well the thing's gotta have a tailpipe!"
Then Spock and McCoy performed their "operation" on a photon torpedo and Kirk fired it. The torpedoe's new gaseous anomoly detecting equipment lead it straight to the cloaked BoP and thus forcing General Chang to spout Shakespear again!
Combustion engines use tailpipes for emitting the leftover gas from the combustion process. (some vehicles use smoke stacks -18 wheelers, some use smoke pipes -farm tractors.
Nichols refused to say "Look who's coming to dinner".
With all due respect I think you have your information channels crossed. (We am condemning food and such!)
Jus' Sayin'
p.s. please forgive any misspellings!
As for the tailpipe enuendo, I always thought it WAS a racial kind of thing in the U.S.
Meaning what? Had she been asked to say "big, black, m'fking tailpipe" perhaps, but I think you're misremembering.
Nichelle refused to say "Guess who's coming to dinner?", which was the same kind of ironic gag as that coming from Admiral Cartwright, ie. Brock Peters' slave character having been called "trash" in "To Kill a Mockingbird".
Two threads that went nowhere fast. At least now I finally know there's nothing racist about "tailpipe".
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