Was "Spock's Brain" really an intentional parody?

[T'Bonz]

Which has got what to do with what people believed?Or are you still trying to get Bonzie riled?

You know, I told both Warped and Omaha to stop the personal stuff. They didn't, as a perusal of the thread showed, so they get warned. I meant what I said.

Don't bother with MA either, guys, as I'm the one to whom the final appeal goes. I'm so annoyed at both of you, for tuppence I'd toss both your asses off of the board. One trolls constantly (Omaha) and the other doesn't know when to let things go and takes this Star Trek fandom too seriously.

Anyone else wanting a warning, just go ahead. Make my day.

 

[Captain Robert April]

So, anyone have any idea what the hell's happened to the Rangers?

 

[Forbin]

I don't know, I don't follow tennis.

Anyhoo, sort of back on topic, I was fairly sure the reason I thought the episode was an intentional spoof was that I read it somewhere - in a magazine or in someone's tell-all book - at some point in the last 40 years. Simple as that. I totally accept new information stating better-known facts.

 

[Sky]

I also remember reading something like that. To me it sounded like they watched the thing after it was finished, went 'WTF did we create here???' and decided to call it a parody to cover their arses.

Wish I remembered where I read it though.

 

[Doug Otte]

Anyone else wanting a warning, just go ahead. Make my day.

Oooh! Can I have one? I've never gotten one, and to have one from T'Bonz would be an honor.

I've never had a speeding ticket either, but I finally got a ticket for running a red light last year. I didn't actually run it; it was turning red, and I was turning right, but those cameras with their millisecond photos don't lie, I suppose.

My daughter's school soccer coach told the team that she wanted a red card, and she got one, too. The idiot ref refused to acknowledge a handball in the opponent's penalty box, so after the game she marched out and gave him what fer, so he flipped her the red.

Sorry.
Doug

 

[number6]

Which has got what to do with what people believed?Or are you still trying to get Bonzie riled?

You know, I told both Warped and Omaha to stop the personal stuff. They didn't, as a perusal of the thread showed, so they get warned. I meant what I said.

Don't bother with MA either, guys, as I'm the one to whom the final appeal goes. I'm so annoyed at both of you, for tuppence I'd toss both your asses off of the board. One trolls constantly (Omaha) and the other doesn't know when to let things go and takes this Star Trek fandom too seriously.

Anyone else wanting a warning, just go ahead. Make my day.

Who the hell is Omaha?

 

[Ssosmcin]

I don't know, I don't follow tennis.

Anyhoo, sort of back on topic, I was fairly sure the reason I thought the episode was an intentional spoof was that I read it somewhere - in a magazine or in someone's tell-all book - at some point in the last 40 years. Simple as that. I totally accept new information stating better-known facts.

Exactly, that's how I got the "information" as well. Once I learned of the earlier drafts, I was more than happy to know the actual story. as soon as Roddenberry died, all sorts of myths began to dissolve. What fun it's been.

And it's not tennis, it's bowling.

 

[alchemist]

I have the original publicity materials in my files for this episode -- as released by both the studio and the network -- and they don't advertise Spock's Brain as a "comedy." Of course, they don't call it out as a "serious drama" either, per se, but I'm inclined to believe that they believed it was the latter.

Here are some newspaper clips from that era (not to scale obviously, but sized for viewing):

1. From the Seattle Times, Sept. 15, 1968:

2. From the Milwaukee Journal, Sept. 15, 1968:

3. From TV Guide, Sept. 20, 1968:

Fun to look at again.

FWIW.

 

[Shatnertage]

I like any sentence that starts off with, "Enraged by the theft of Mr. Spock's brain..."

Pretty much what I got from those clips was that
a) the female guest star was hot
b) at the time, the writers considered the "bizarre search" a bit silly

 

[number6]

I like any sentence that starts off with, "Enraged by the theft of Mr. Spock's brain..."

Pretty much what I got from those clips was that
a) the female guest star was hot
b) at the time, the writers considered the "bizarre search" a bit silly

The writer of the TV guide thought the "bizarre search" was a bit silly.

 

[Shatnertage]

I like any sentence that starts off with, "Enraged by the theft of Mr. Spock's brain..."

Pretty much what I got from those clips was that
a) the female guest star was hot
b) at the time, the writers considered the "bizarre search" a bit silly

The writer of the TV guide thought the "bizarre search" was a bit silly.

^Yeah, I was referring to the writers of the clips. Don't know what other people thought, but I'm of the view that in general the production staff didn't treat the show as...reverently as some do today.

 

[T'Bonz]

Who the hell is Omaha?

That's what happens when I have two threads open at once. I typed his name instead of yours.

 

[Nerys Myk]

Maybe I'm dense, but what would it be a parody of? Star Trek? Science Fiction?

 

[Mr. Adventure]

Interesting that all cast members are listed in those clippings.

 

[JustKate]

Thanks for posting those clips, Alchemist - cool-a-rama!

 

[Forbin]

Maybe I'm dense, but what would it be a parody of? Star Trek? Science Fiction?

A jab at Spock's oft-mentioned superior intelligence?

 

[Mr. Adventure]

Maybe I'm dense, but what would it be a parody of? Star Trek? Science Fiction?

Maybe those lurid movies that always seemed to involve people's brains?

Like this one:

or this one :

 

[Potemkin_Prod]

Herb Evers listed above is aka Jason Evers who played Rael in "Wink of an Eye."

 

[CommanderRaytas]

Well, I certainly would take Spock's Brain over the worst of VOY or ENT certainly. At least its fun to watch with a few drinks and friends to laugh with you.

Its also better than The Way to Eden or The Alternative Factor.

Matter of opinion, much? Because I don't think it is. I don't think it's any better than And The Children Shall Lead, too.... to me one of the most retarded Trek episodes of all time.

And people get worked up over A Night in Sickbay, which to me was nowhere near the abyss that was And The Children Shall Lead.

And btw, I think retconning it into a parody is just a way to feel less embarrassed about it. Because it is awful. It's unintentionally cringe-worthy.

 

[Captain Robert April]

Worst episode of all time: "Threshold," for the simple reason that they had no bloody excuse for that piece of crap. Even Braga has apologized for it.