TrekLit in Television/Movies

[ICW]

Hey all,

This may seem like a really random topic but it's TrekLit related so here it goes:

I was watching an episode of Roseanne (titled Pretty in Black) and noticed that the character of Darlene Conner was reading an old TOS novel.

She can also be seen reading a different TOS novel (can't recall the title) in another episode.

Have you guys ever seen a character from either a television show and/or movie reading a Star Trek book? If so, have you read that particular book and what did you think of it?

If not, has that character influenced you into reading that Trek novel?

 

[Captaindemotion]

Not quite an answer to your question but in Father Ted in one occasion, the title character announced that he was (re)reading William Shatner's TekWar. The fact that he is reading this is basically meant to be funny of itself.

Later in the episode, on a quiz show, Ted correctly answers 5 out of 5 questions about TekWar but is unable to name the current Pope!

Here's the ep if you're interested

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzgSxYm3mvY&oref=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fresults%3Fsearch_query%3Dfather%2Bted%2Beoin%2Bmclove%26oq%3Dfather%2Bted%2Beoin%2Bm%26gs_l%3Dyoutube.1.0.0.14844.16120.0.17410.7.4.0.3.3.0.127.453.1j3.4.0...0.0...1ac.G5zqhxAQOTU&has_verified=1&has_verified=1

 

[DS9forever]

In an episode of The Dead Zone, unsold copies of the novelization of Star Trek Insurrection are seen.

 

[Christopher]

^Which, of course, was TDZ showrunner/INS scripter Michael Piller poking fun at himself.

 

[Dantheman]

I was watching an episode of Roseanne (titled Pretty in Black) and noticed that the character of Darlene Conner was reading an old TOS novel.

She can also be seen reading a different TOS novel (can't recall the title) in another episode.

Wouldn't surprise me none if the geeky touches that were given to Darlene were Joss Whedon's handiwork when he worked as a writer on Roseanne, before he was fired during one of Roseanne Barr's occasional writing staff purges. I mean, if the posters hanging on her bedroom wall were anything to go by, she read Neil Gaiman's Sandman, for crying out loud!

 

[TheAlmanac]

An issue from DC's first run of TOS comics can be seen on the comic book stand in The Lost Boys.

I added that tidbit to the issue's Memory Beta page, and I'd suggest these other appearances be added there, too (once the specific novels are identified).

 

[JD]

I'm honestly kind of surprised that we haven't seen any Trek comics in The Big Bang Theory. It seems like a no brainer to me that the characters (or at least Sheldon) would read them, since they love Trek and comics.

 

[Fer]

I've noticed that the majority of comics we see on Big Bang Theory are from DC (although I have noticed the occasional Dark Horse title in the comics shop). Not sure if there's a Warner Bros connection there or not. Perhaps it's because Trek is currently published by IDW? You would think with the extensive run of Star Trek comics that DC did that we might at least see some old issues laying around...

 

[Rush Limborg]

In an episode of The Dead Zone, unsold copies of the novelization of Star Trek Insurrection are seen.

^Which, of course, was TDZ showrunner/INS scripter Michael Piller poking fun at himself.

Mm-hmm! And of course--good old Johnny Smith ends up buying a lot of copies, as I recall....

 

[KRAD]

I'm honestly kind of surprised that we haven't seen any Trek comics in The Big Bang Theory. It seems like a no brainer to me that the characters (or at least Sheldon) would read them, since they love Trek and comics.

The only merchandise you see on The Big Bang Theory are items that are produced by one of the subsidiaries of the show's production company, Time Warner.

 

[Christopher]

^Wasn't there an episode involving a life-size standup of Spock? I guess they must've paid a license fee to CBS/Paramount for that, so it's not something they'd do all the time.

 

[Greg Cox]

^Wasn't there an episode involving a life-size standup of Spock? I guess they must've paid a license fee to CBS/Paramount for that, so it's not something they'd do all the time.

There was also that ep with the vintage Spock action figure and transporter set. And occasionally you see some STAR WARS merchandise.

But, yeah, most of the comic book stuff is from DC, athough the the dialogue occasionally contains references to the Hulk, Spider-Man, Wolverine, etc.

 

[Therin of Andor]

^Wasn't there an episode involving a life-size standup of Spock? I guess they must've paid a license fee to CBS/Paramount for that, so it's not something they'd do all the time.

I dunno. CBS/Paramount would get good publicity from those scenes. Fees, if owing, might have been waived. (Used "with kind permission".)

 

[ICW]

Hey all!

I have found the clip of Darlene reading a Star Trek novel. It's from the season 4 episode titled "Bingo", which you can see here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfQtr792nUM&feature=relmfu

At about 25 seconds, Darlene (who is seated at the table) flips over her book where you can see the words "STAR TREK" at the top of the novel as well as a picture of Captain Kirk and another figure I can't identify.

 

[CaseyF]

Looks like she was reading The Rift, by Peter David. If I'm correct, the other figure on the cover is a young {circa-The Cage} Spock.

 

[Paris]

^Wasn't there an episode involving a life-size standup of Spock? I guess they must've paid a license fee to CBS/Paramount for that, so it's not something they'd do all the time.

Isn't The Big Bang Theory on CBS? Would they still have to pay licensing fee's to Paramount?...or to Viacom?

 

[Christopher]

Oh yeah, there is that. The CBS connection is probably why they can include Trek stuff.

 

[Sci]

^Wasn't there an episode involving a life-size standup of Spock? I guess they must've paid a license fee to CBS/Paramount for that, so it's not something they'd do all the time.

Isn't The Big Bang Theory on CBS? Would they still have to pay licensing fee's to Paramount?...or to Viacom?

The Big Bang Theory does air on CBS, yes, but it's not produced or owned by CBS. It's produced by Chuck Lorre Productions and Warner Bros. Television; CBS actually pays them for the right to air the show on its network. So when they make an episode, if they need to pay a license fee for something, it's Warner Bros. Television and/or Chuck Lorre Productions who pay, not CBS. And when the show finishes its run, it will remain the property of its production companies, not of CBS; in 20 years, if you buy a Big Bang Theory Blu-ray or see it in syndication on TV, it will be those production companies who get the money from it, not CBS.

 

[Christopher]

^We posted at the same time, so I should clarify: yes, the show is owned by WB, but that doesn't invalidate what I just said. Since CBS airs the show, they'd presumably be okay with allowing it to include references to Star Trek, a CBS property.

 

[Sci]

^We posted at the same time, so I should clarify: yes, the show is owned by WB, but that doesn't invalidate what I just said. Since CBS airs the show, they'd presumably be okay with allowing it to include references to Star Trek, a CBS property.

Oh, sure -- I just wanted to specify the difference between CBS airing it and CBS making it or owning it.