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Phase II - Your Opinions?

How do you think Phase II would have been, had it been made?

  • Good overall

    Votes: 45 71.4%
  • Bad overall

    Votes: 12 19.0%
  • Meh, neither

    Votes: 6 9.5%

  • Total voters
    63
Magicam did some great model work on the TMP models.

About 10 years ago, I almost got a guy named Joe Matza, who was one of the main Magicam guys and decades later ran Motion Control Rental Services, to talk about TMP with me. But he didn't want to do it over the phone, so I would have had to come into L.A. during business hours, and the magazine, which was already frowning on my attempts to moonlight, wouldn't let me go. Pissed me off pretty royally.

I had found a letter from him in an old STARLOG, around early 1980 issue I think, making it sound like the truth hadn't come out, and he was surprised anybody remembered (clearly didn't realize folks like us would exist.)
 
Magicam did some great model work on the TMP models.

About 10 years ago, I almost got a guy named Joe Matza, who was one of the main Magicam guys and decades later ran Motion Control Rental Services, to talk about TMP with me. But he didn't want to do it over the phone, so I would have had to come into L.A. during business hours, and the magazine, which was already frowning on my attempts to moonlight, wouldn't let me go. Pissed me off pretty royally.

I had found a letter from him in an old STARLOG, around early 1980 issue I think, making it sound like the truth hadn't come out, and he was surprised anybody remembered (clearly didn't realize folks like us would exist.)


Taylor mentioned Joe Matza in my interview with him.

Too bad you didn't get to interview Matza...would've been a good one!
 
I bring this up, because wouldn't Phase II rely a lot on Roddenberry? Would Justman, Fontana, Coon, etc. all be on board and help pull it together?

Coon was dead, Fontana was I'm pretty sure on BUCK ROGERS w/ Gerrold, Justman was not asked back and I think his calls were ignored (according to stuff he wrote anyway.) Kinda makes GR the go-to guy, don't it?

On Planet of the Titans in 76-77, the screenwriters and Jon Povill seem to think that director Kaufmann and GR had different visions for how to do the thing. Could be that Kaufmann was wrong with using trek for mythology (I think that becomes more clear as you become more soap opera with the characters in the films, that they are NOT the stuff of mythology, which is why I resent and dislike the 'destiny' approach of Abrams now.), and yet I still think Titans could have been a good fun movie. Yet GR interfered with that a bit (maybe hoping it would lead back to a series?)

I'd like to think Bob Goodwin, esp based on his X-FILES work, would have gotten the thing to run well a la Justman, but it's only guesswork considering all the obstacles.
 
I bring this up, because wouldn't Phase II rely a lot on Roddenberry? Would Justman, Fontana, Coon, etc. all be on board and help pull it together?

Coon was dead, Fontana was I'm pretty sure on BUCK ROGERS w/ Gerrold, Justman was not asked back and I think his calls were ignored (according to stuff he wrote anyway.) Kinda makes GR the go-to guy, don't it?

On Planet of the Titans in 76-77, the screenwriters and Jon Povill seem to think that director Kaufmann and GR had different visions for how to do the thing. Could be that Kaufmann was wrong with using trek for mythology (I think that becomes more clear as you become more soap opera with the characters in the films, that they are NOT the stuff of mythology, which is why I resent and dislike the 'destiny' approach of Abrams now.), and yet I still think Titans could have been a good fun movie. Yet GR interfered with that a bit (maybe hoping it would lead back to a series?)

I'd like to think Bob Goodwin, esp based on his X-FILES work, would have gotten the thing to run well a la Justman, but it's only guesswork considering all the obstacles.

Kaufman is a great director. Roddenberry's interference usually results in crap. Star Trek worked best when he got out of the way -- STV:TFF being an exception to that rule.
 
Kaufman is a great director. Roddenberry's interference usually results in crap. Star Trek worked best when he got out of the way -- STV:TFF being an exception to that rule.

I haven't seen all of his work, but I find his BODY SNATCHERS to be a terrific horror movie, a great example of the political paranoia sub-genre of the 70s and one of my favorite love stories as well. Between that, RIGHT STUFF and RISING SUN, I have a strong feeling he could have done something distinctive and memorable with TREK. Not saying it'd've been perfect, but I think it would definitely have been memorable.
 
Phase II was supposed to have a change of cast and new characters wasn't it?

No, everyone was back, including Rand, but Xon ("a young Michael York-type with pointed ears") was replacing Spock, and Ilia and Will Decker were added.

Shatner was refusing to commit beyond 13 episodes, but may have been tempted back to make Admiral Kirk appearances.
 
I've always been struck by how much Randolph Mantooth of 'Emergency' strongly resembled Leonard Nimoy. I wonder if he could have pulled off being the 'replacement Vulcan' on P2, given his age in the period...
 
Phase II was supposed to have a change of cast and new characters wasn't it?

No, everyone was back, including Rand, but Xon ("a young Michael York-type with pointed ears") was replacing Spock, and Ilia and Will Decker were added.

Shatner was refusing to commit beyond 13 episodes, but may have been tempted back to make Admiral Kirk appearances.
Give the way the Shat's career was going in the 70's, had Phase II been successful, he probably would've stuck around for more than 13. It's difficult to turn down a steady gig when you're an actor.
 
I've always been struck by how much Randolph Mantooth of 'Emergency' strongly resembled Leonard Nimoy. I wonder if he could have pulled off being the 'replacement Vulcan' on P2, given his age in the period...

Here is a picture of Randolph Mantooth from the "Emergency" TV Show. I just don't see the resemblance between him and Leonard Nimoy. I don't think "Star Trek: Phase II" would have done well in 1978. I am glad TMP was made instead. The only Science Fiction TV Show I enjoyed watching weekly during the 1970s in my youth was the first season of "Space: 1999", which ran in syndication only. The second season was horrible, in my opinion.


Navigator NCC-2120 USS Entente
/\
 
I've always been struck by how much Randolph Mantooth of 'Emergency' strongly resembled Leonard Nimoy. I wonder if he could have pulled off being the 'replacement Vulcan' on P2, given his age in the period...

Here is a picture of Randolph Mantooth from the "Emergency" TV Show. I just don't see the resemblance between him and Leonard Nimoy.

Well of course not, with such a bad picture. ;)

Try this one:


I think it's more visible there.
 
I've always been struck by how much Randolph Mantooth of 'Emergency' strongly resembled Leonard Nimoy. I wonder if he could have pulled off being the 'replacement Vulcan' on P2, given his age in the period...

Here is a picture of Randolph Mantooth from the "Emergency" TV Show. I just don't see the resemblance between him and Leonard Nimoy.

Well of course not, with such a bad picture. ;)

Try this one:


I think it's more visible there.

Your picture of Randolph Mantooth seems to have been deleted. I found some Phase II pictures at Trekcore, starting with Page 4 (at the bottom), here.

I believe this is a picture of the Enterprise's Engine Room for Phase II. Here is a close up picture of what I believe is the Enterprise's Warp Core for Phase II. In my opinion this Engine Room Set is far less impressive than TOS Engine Room Set. I am really glad Phase II did not happen.


Navigator NCC-2120 USS Entente
/\
 
I've always been struck by how much Randolph Mantooth of 'Emergency' strongly resembled Leonard Nimoy. I wonder if he could have pulled off being the 'replacement Vulcan' on P2, given his age in the period...

Nah, give me David Gautreaux any day. I remember seeing him opposite Shatner on an episode of "TJ Hooker" once, which was a buzz.

The poor guy did lots of research and meditation to prepare for his big career move, as Xon, and it all fizzled.
 
I think it would have been a hit (at least early on), if Paramount had nationwide coverage of their network. Star Trek was still doing good numbers in strip syndication, people would've been interested.
 
Phase II was supposed to have a change of cast and new characters wasn't it?

No, everyone was back, including Rand, but Xon ("a young Michael York-type with pointed ears") was replacing Spock, and Ilia and Will Decker were added.

Shatner was refusing to commit beyond 13 episodes, but may have been tempted back to make Admiral Kirk appearances.
Give the way the Shat's career was going in the 70's, had Phase II been successful, he probably would've stuck around for more than 13. It's difficult to turn down a steady gig when you're an actor.

"Hmm...Kingdom of the Spiders or Star Trek Phase II?" :lol:
 
I do not know if it would have been good or not, but (to echo a sentiment from TGT) I would gladly trade all televised Star Trek ever made since TOS (TNG, DS9, Voy, ENT) for one 13 episode order of Phase II.
 
I do not know if it would have been good or not, but (to echo a sentiment from TGT) I would gladly trade all televised Star Trek ever made since TOS (TNG, DS9, Voy, ENT) for one 13 episode order of Phase II.

I'm not greedy: I'd trade all that just to see Kitumba.
 
I do not know if it would have been good or not, but (to echo a sentiment from TGT) I would gladly trade all televised Star Trek ever made since TOS (TNG, DS9, Voy, ENT) for one 13 episode order of Phase II.

I'm not greedy: I'd trade all that just to see Kitumba.

Well, the good news is that you're going to get your chance--sort of....

kitumba_teaser-poster_mini.jpg


We'll be shooting in June.
 
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