Rick Berman's an ***hole
- Thread starter Turd Ferguson
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Re: Rick Berman's an asshole
Aw, shucks. Can I at least borrow GodBen's equipment? Mine is small and weak.
Re: Rick Berman's an asshole
His talks were never well attended; there was one where they gave him this massive ballroom, and he had about eight people show up. He sat in an armchair, read a little from his autobiography, and answered questions. It was the things that weren't about Star Trek that I found the most interesting, and he wept while talking about working with Ingrid Bergman on A Woman Called Golda.
I never knew that he had an alcohol problem -- or that Nimoy had an alcohol problem, for that matter -- and I found it touching that while the two men had professional differences, they still had a personal bond.
Getting to meet Harve Bennett at Farpoint a few years ago is a high point in my fandom.
His talks were never well attended; there was one where they gave him this massive ballroom, and he had about eight people show up. He sat in an armchair, read a little from his autobiography, and answered questions. It was the things that weren't about Star Trek that I found the most interesting, and he wept while talking about working with Ingrid Bergman on A Woman Called Golda.
I never knew that he had an alcohol problem -- or that Nimoy had an alcohol problem, for that matter -- and I found it touching that while the two men had professional differences, they still had a personal bond.
Re: Rick Berman's an asshole
I think it all depends on one's own experience, as to what rings false or not. It is certainly highly unusual, to have a group of people not have major issue over 7 years, but it doesn't ring false to me. If one is doing what one loves, and is psychologically balanced, more or less, then this is not an impossible thing.
I also disagree with your assement of the TNG writing.
And yet, the TNG actors themselves actually got along that well, and loved working together, and didn't seem to have any major friction between them. Stranger than fiction?
I think it all depends on one's own experience, as to what rings false or not. It is certainly highly unusual, to have a group of people not have major issue over 7 years, but it doesn't ring false to me. If one is doing what one loves, and is psychologically balanced, more or less, then this is not an impossible thing.
I also disagree with your assement of the TNG writing.
Re: Rick Berman's an asshole
I tried to reply to this, but everything I came up with was a warnable offence.
Re: Rick Berman's an asshole
During the The Next Generation episode "Sarek", the writers were not allowed to use the name "Spock" when talking about Sarek's son.
During the The Next Generation episode "Sarek", the writers were not allowed to use the name "Spock" when talking about Sarek's son.
Char Aznable
Lieutenant Commander
Re: Rick Berman's an asshole
I've always heard this and I remember that from the episode, but I've never really understood why. What's the point of providing fan service by having Sarek guest star if you won't go all the way with it? Thats like if they did that Tribbles DS9 episode, went to the Enterprise . . . but weren't allowed to show or make mention of Kirk. EVER.
I've always heard this and I remember that from the episode, but I've never really understood why. What's the point of providing fan service by having Sarek guest star if you won't go all the way with it? Thats like if they did that Tribbles DS9 episode, went to the Enterprise . . . but weren't allowed to show or make mention of Kirk. EVER.
Re: Rick Berman's an asshole
Wasn't that more of a Gene Roddenberry thing? He wanted to distinguish the new show from the old one as much as possible, and didn't want Picard and co. talking about Kirk if they could avoid it.
Wasn't that more of a Gene Roddenberry thing? He wanted to distinguish the new show from the old one as much as possible, and didn't want Picard and co. talking about Kirk if they could avoid it.
Re: Rick Berman's an asshole
But doesn't Picard cry out Spock's name during the mind-meld?
I do recall that the original, very different idea for "Sarek" would have involved the Guardian of Forever, which Berman dismissed as a "gimmick" from TOS. He and Braga both said on many occasions that they were not great fans of TOS (but then neither was Nick Meyer or even J.J. Abrams) and their comments suggested a certain disdain for a show they judged to be, on the whole, more "Spock's Brain" and "Gamesters of Triskelion" than "Balance of Terror" and "Journey to Babel."
But doesn't Picard cry out Spock's name during the mind-meld?
I do recall that the original, very different idea for "Sarek" would have involved the Guardian of Forever, which Berman dismissed as a "gimmick" from TOS. He and Braga both said on many occasions that they were not great fans of TOS (but then neither was Nick Meyer or even J.J. Abrams) and their comments suggested a certain disdain for a show they judged to be, on the whole, more "Spock's Brain" and "Gamesters of Triskelion" than "Balance of Terror" and "Journey to Babel."
Re: Rick Berman's an asshole
D.C. Fontana's idea for the second season opener was a story called "Return to Forever," which would have involved the Guardian and a movie-era Spock. Obviously, Fontana didn't stay with the series that long, and the WGA strike would have made trying to line Nimoy up (i.e., a script he was happy with) problematical.
I think that was from one of the ideas that was kicked around for "Yesterday's Enterprise," which would have had Sarek going back in time to become Surak. (Which, now that I type that, reminds me of Michael Moorcock's Behold the Man.)
D.C. Fontana's idea for the second season opener was a story called "Return to Forever," which would have involved the Guardian and a movie-era Spock. Obviously, Fontana didn't stay with the series that long, and the WGA strike would have made trying to line Nimoy up (i.e., a script he was happy with) problematical.
Re: Rick Berman's an asshole
Only god knows why they did that while remaking a TOS episode to put more sex in it, but hey, this wasn't a season known for its competent ideas.
That may have been a good call. I really liked "Sarek" in its current incarnation, and as plot devices go the Guardian is one just begging to be abused.
But yeah, B&B, not big fans of TOS. I like to think their attitue to TOS was summed up in "Flashback" - cracks about cowboy diplomacy, and the only area of TOS they were really willing to reference were the movies - heaven forbid someone try to go back to the actual series.
I liked "Trials and Tribble-ations" rather better, in tone as well as quality.
Yup. Ironically that's what I was thinking of - they made a point of not mentioning Kirk there even though the episode required them to bring up his starship.
Only god knows why they did that while remaking a TOS episode to put more sex in it, but hey, this wasn't a season known for its competent ideas.
That may have been a good call. I really liked "Sarek" in its current incarnation, and as plot devices go the Guardian is one just begging to be abused.
But yeah, B&B, not big fans of TOS. I like to think their attitue to TOS was summed up in "Flashback" - cracks about cowboy diplomacy, and the only area of TOS they were really willing to reference were the movies - heaven forbid someone try to go back to the actual series.
I liked "Trials and Tribble-ations" rather better, in tone as well as quality.
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Re: Rick Berman's an asshole
I would have loved to have seen that come about.Dorothy is great, and Spock and the Guardian, a favorite ST concept..oh yes. As for Berman, I am not pleased with every decision he's made, or perhaps Braga, depending, but, to me they brought about several series I am very fond of, along with folks like Jeri Taylor and Michael Piller, so I am grateful for their overall work.
Re: Rick Berman's an asshole
Tracy Tormé was the writer of that story, not Fontana who had left the production a few episodes into the first season. Her last contribution to TNG was "Too Short a Season."
Tracy Tormé was the writer of that story, not Fontana who had left the production a few episodes into the first season. Her last contribution to TNG was "Too Short a Season."
Re: Rick Berman's an asshole
"Too Short a Season," btw, is the only first season episode I unreservedly like.
"Too Short a Season," btw, is the only first season episode I unreservedly like.
Re: Rick Berman's an asshole
And speaking of quashing TOS influences, "Too Short A Season" was, if I'm not mistaken, originally going to be a story about Admiral Kirk. The planet they were revisiting at that stage was going to be the one from "A Private Little War."
Well, that or my memory's failed me. I always rather liked that idea, and the episode itself has some nice moments. "I only remember the gold."
And speaking of quashing TOS influences, "Too Short A Season" was, if I'm not mistaken, originally going to be a story about Admiral Kirk. The planet they were revisiting at that stage was going to be the one from "A Private Little War."
Well, that or my memory's failed me. I always rather liked that idea, and the episode itself has some nice moments. "I only remember the gold."
Re: Rick Berman's an asshole
Hmm. Possibly I'm conflating a different Fontana/Spock story with "Return to Forever"? Fontana was involved in a Spock story for NextGen; after "Unification" aired, she was quoted in an interview as saying that that proved that she did have the right take on the 24th-century after all, as Roddenberry had told her that she didn't understand it.
Re: Rick Berman's an asshole
Oh, I have no doubt that Fontana pitched a Spock story for TNG. After all, that's her favorite character and one she loves to write for.
Tracey Tormé discusses the "Return to Forever" script in this archived Trekweb article. He's also talked about it in greater detail in one of his old Starlog interviews (pre-Sliders).
Interesting sidenote: Harlan Ellison was asked to write for Deep Space Nine during the early stages of development, but declined because of his commitment to Babylon 5 and his friend JMS.
When DS9 premiered, Michael Pillar went on QVC for the shopping channel's Trek memorabilia show. He mentioned Ellison's proposed story arc, which would've had the DS9 folks traveling back through the Guardian into the actual events of "The City on the Edge of Forever" and helping Kirk and Spock on the sidelines. Sortuv like in the Strange New Worlds anthology story "Triptych."
Oh, I have no doubt that Fontana pitched a Spock story for TNG. After all, that's her favorite character and one she loves to write for.
Tracey Tormé discusses the "Return to Forever" script in this archived Trekweb article. He's also talked about it in greater detail in one of his old Starlog interviews (pre-Sliders).
Interesting sidenote: Harlan Ellison was asked to write for Deep Space Nine during the early stages of development, but declined because of his commitment to Babylon 5 and his friend JMS.
When DS9 premiered, Michael Pillar went on QVC for the shopping channel's Trek memorabilia show. He mentioned Ellison's proposed story arc, which would've had the DS9 folks traveling back through the Guardian into the actual events of "The City on the Edge of Forever" and helping Kirk and Spock on the sidelines. Sortuv like in the Strange New Worlds anthology story "Triptych."
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Re: Rick Berman's an asshole
And a lot like a tragic "Trials and Tribble-ations."
And a lot like a tragic "Trials and Tribble-ations."
Re: Rick Berman's an asshole
Yes. Although, I wonder if Ellison would've used the opportunity to resurrect aspects of his original draft, particularly the character of Trooper.
Yes. Although, I wonder if Ellison would've used the opportunity to resurrect aspects of his original draft, particularly the character of Trooper.
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