The Projection Booth Podcast Star Trek: The Motion Picture

[Kamdan]

A good listen featuring new interviews with Alan Dean Foster, Jon Povill, and Walter Koenig. The Povill portion of the show was particularly of interest of me for the high level of passion he described of the elongated V’Ger cloud scene and how it was supposed to be more than just clouds, but something more dangerous and menacing. It made me imagine if they were traveling through something like the H.R. Giger inspired designs for Alien. Something I felt like I never heard until this point. Anyways, here’s the podcast to share. Enjoy!

https://www.projectionboothpodcast.com/2022/07/star-trek-motion-picture-1979.html?m=1

 

[Daddy Todd]

Less than 20 minutes into a 3+ hour podcast, the podcasters dismiss an entire book for the error of saying "Robert" instead of "John" Kennedy.

Then proceed, moments later, to uncritically repeat Star Trek myths (MLK being a "huge fan" of Star Trek, and personally convincing Nichelle not to quit.) My dudes, if you're going to freak out over a mistake in one book, you really, REALLY need to make sure your facts are, you know, FACTS. And not Cash Markman-level ahistorical embrodery.

So, I'm bailing at 21:44. Sorry guys.

 

[Kamdan]

Less than 20 minutes into a 3+ hour podcast, the podcasters dismiss an entire book for the error of saying "Robert" instead of "John" Kennedy.

Then proceed, moments later, to uncritically repeat Star Trek myths (MLK being a "huge fan" of Star Trek, and personally convincing Nichelle not to quit.) My dudes, if you're going to freak out over a mistake in one book, you really, REALLY need to make sure your facts are, you know, FACTS. And not Cash Markman-level ahistorical embrodery.

So, I'm bailing at 21:44. Sorry guys.

Eww, glad I skimmed past the hosts segments just to get to the interview portions. The interviewer did ask at one point in the Povill portion if it was Robert or John Kennedy and he gave him the correct information. Go to 31:06 for the Foster interview and 53:36 for the Povill interview.

 

[McCoy's Disco Collar]

Then proceed, moments later, to uncritically repeat Star Trek myths (MLK being a "huge fan" of Star Trek, and personally convincing Nichelle not to quit.) My dudes, if you're going to freak out over a mistake in one book, you really, REALLY need to make sure your facts are, you know, FACTS. And not Cash Markman-level ahistorical embrodery.

You're going to have to supply evidence to discount that story before you ridicule other people for repeating it.

 

[Daddy Todd]

You're going to have to supply evidence to discount that story before you ridicule other people for repeating it.

At least I can point to Star Trek Fact Check and Fact Trek. Which is a lot more than the podcasters did in terms of providing evidence for their claim that MLK was a “huge fan” of Star Trek.

 

[Maurice]

The only evidence that MLK was any sort of fan of Star Trek is Ms. Nichols say so.

I too could only stomach the interview segments. Too often the discussion outside was ill-informed.

I think Foster has it wrong as regards the story about Michael Eisner: reportedly it was the Livingston script that Eisner help up, not Foster's outline. Admittedly Foster says he got this story second hand.

The Genesis II "Robot's Return" story outline that Foster developed into "In Thy Image" already had many of the story elements in it, right now to a a giant machine intelligence ship coming to Earth looking for N'SA, and a female character (Harper Smythe) being grabbed and replaced by a mechanical duplicate. If he deserved Story By credit, frankly so did Roddenberry.

Povill's forgotten the plot as regards the cloud. They fly through it before encountering the very solid V'ger. As to his thought that the inside of V'ger should be claustrophobic, well, that's what RA&A were aiming for, but a cramped interior doesn't sell the immensity of the vessel, does it?

 

[McCoy's Disco Collar]

The only evidence that MLK was any sort of fan of Star Trek is Ms. Nichols say so.

Yes, but the fact that neither Coretta Scott King nor any of the King family debunked the story is at least in some small measure evidence to support it.

Either way, calling it an established "myth" not worthy of repeating is pretty far out there.

 

[Maurice]

Yes, but the fact that neither Coretta Scott King nor any of the King family debunked the story is at least in some small measure evidence to support it.

Either way, calling it an established "myth" not worthy of repeating is pretty far out there.

If they are even aware of it. And, what, they're going to shoot down an uplifting story that may or may not have happened? Coretta wasn't always with her husband when he traveled and wouldn't be privy to his every idle conversation. And if the story is true, he could have just been being nice and not actually a "fan".

BTW, @Harvey reached out to an MLK scholar who basically had no idea who Nichols was. I think fans have an unrealistic idea of how "famous" Trek people are in the general populace.

We are pretty sure she did meet him, tho, as Ande Kindryd (nee Richardson), Gene Coon's former secretary, told us that she remembers Nichols telling her about meeting MLK shortly after it happened, though she doesn't recall the particulars.

 

[dupersuper]

The only evidence that MLK was any sort of fan of Star Trek is Ms. Nichols say so.

That's good enough for me...

 

[Maurice]

That's good enough for me...

Unsurprising.

 

[Kaelef]

The only evidence that MLK was any sort of fan of Star Trek is Ms. Nichols say so.

Does she ever actually say that MLK was a fan? I thought she said he simply encouraged her to stay on the show because it was a rare case of an African American woman playing something other than a maid or a slave. That's not the same as saying he was a fan of the show.

Yes, but the fact that neither Coretta Scott King nor any of the King family debunked the story is at least in some small measure evidence to support it.

That's not correct. If that's true, than my saying MLK absolutely loved my grilled cheese sandwiches is supported by the fact that neither Coretta Scott King nor any of the King family has debunked that statement.

 

[mb22]

https://www.trekbbs.com/threads/the...elle-nichols-meeting-mlk-with-sources.304468/

 

[Kamdan]

Does she ever actually say that MLK was a fan? I thought she said he simply encouraged her to stay on the show because it was a rare case of an African American woman playing something other than a maid or a slave. That's not thesame as saying he was a fan of the show.

According to these iterations of the story, Nichols says that MLK was her “biggest fan” and that he was a “Trekker.” It sounds like you’re mixing up the accurate story of Whoopi Goldberg seeing her on the television and making a similar exclaim.

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[McCoy's Disco Collar]

If that's true, than my saying MLK absolutely loved my grilled cheese sandwiches is supported by the fact that neither Coretta Scott King nor any of the King family has debunked that statement.

If you can ever demonstrate that you had the opportunity to feed the Reverend Doctor King one of those sandwiches, then sure. You would be in a good position to make that statement.

Nichols has at least that going for her.