Best Singer in Trek

[Zeke]

Buncha philistines. TOS is great television.

[Nate the Great]

Of course it is!

[mudshark]

Originally Posted by Zeke

Buncha philistines. TOS is great television.

It is, and using the quality of the effects (or Shatner's acting or even the bright colors of the set design) as an excuse not to watch is really a cop-out.

Originally Posted by Infinite Improbability

Kevin Riley. He was a recurring background character in TOS, kinda like Barclay or Vorik. Proud Irishman. Bowling afficianado.

He appeared exactly twice.

[Chancellor Valium]

I never said I didn't watch it.

It's still a great show, despite the rubbish effects, stories, plots, dialogues, two-dimensional characters, lack of character development, reliance on ideas that were cliches then and use of catchphrases, simplistic attempts at messages etc etc...

Is that your argument?

[Nate the Great]

Hey, two episodes is still "recurring." One appearance is a cameo. Some of the most memorable characters in Trek appeared in two episodes or fewer. All of Susie Plakston's roles come to mind, Moriarty, Selea, and so on.

[Kristina]

Yep, Susie's great fun - both as K'Ehleyr and "Suzi Q" (to quote Jim Wright). To get back *on* subject: I'm surprised I'm the only one who's voted for Data here. Where are all the Brent Spiner fans?

[mudshark]

When did Data sing, anyway? I'm having trouble recalling.

[Chancellor Valium]

^Too often?

[mudshark]

Whistle? Check.

Play violin? Check.

Recite dirty limericks? Check.

But singing? Still not recalling it.

(I understand there's something of the sort in Nemesis, but I haven't seen that yet.)

[ijdgaf]

Originally Posted by Chancellor Valium

I never said I didn't watch it.

It's still a great show, despite the rubbish effects, stories, plots, dialogues, two-dimensional characters, lack of character development, reliance on ideas that were cliches then and use of catchphrases, simplistic attempts at messages etc etc...

Is that your argument?

Here's my argument.

1) The acting was fun. It wasn't always good (particuarly in season three), but you could tell the actors cared about what they were saying, and were having fun filming. There was a certain passion in the way Shatner and McCoy delivered their lines that was pretty much missing from most of the latter day Trek actors, save maybe for Stewart and Brooks. Several of the better guest actors -- particularly the Klingons -- had this as well.

2) The shows were fun. When the newer Trek series tried to do fun, it was often more miss than hit. The majority of TNG bored me (particularly its "fun" episodes). DS9 was epic and groundbreaking... but rarely fun. VOY had its own charm I suppose... but often its fun was hokey. And when it wasn't, it felt somewhat out of place in terms of its situation. ENT... its fun fell almost entirely in the hokey camp, IMO.

3) The original series had science fiction writers interested in penning shows. That didn't really happen in the newer shows. Thus the science, while sometimes shoddy and corny, felt unique and ambitious. For the same reason, I am a huge fan of Phillip K. Dick and his works.

4) The characters on this series were archetypes. Not so much later on. You've got the hero captain, the methodical first mate, the passionate doctor... When you're the personalities of your characters are so rigidly defined, it's hard to write them out of character. And everybody can easily relate to them. This is why everybody knows who Kirk and Spock is, and practically nobody knows who Harry Kim or Travis Mayweather are. IMO, of course.

Sorry Valium, for me the whole series just screams "classic". You can point out flaws, sure. But it's sort of like poking fun at an old man in a nursing home who craps his pants. He can't help it. He's an old man. And the younger kids with their continence and splashy special effects are bastards for pointing and laughing at him. Besides, this guy fought in World War II and saved the Federation from Klingon plots. What did these guys do? Shave their heads when Cobain died? Get their asses handed to 'em by fraking holograms?

Please.

[Nate the Great]

Instances where Data has Sung, a Partial List.

Star Trek Nemesis: Blue Skies.
Star Trek Insurrection: A British Tar.
Star Trek Generations: Life Forms.

[mudshark]

Originally Posted by Infinite Improbability

Star Trek Nemesis: Blue Skies.

As I believe I mentioned, I haven't seen that.

Star Trek Insurrection: A British Tar.

This I have seen, but there are bits of it I seem to be blocking, the singing part apparently among them. Well and good, I suppose.

Star Trek Generations: Life Forms.

This... [mess], I have also seen, and seem to be succeeding in blocking almost completely. Excellent!

Nothing in the TV show, though?

[Nate the Great]

Oh, was that the original point? Well, he whistled in Encounter at Farpoint, does that count?

[mudshark]

*looks at title of poll*

*whistling = singing?*

No. No, I don't think it does, really.

[Nate the Great]

The title of the poll is "Best Singer in Trek." The movies are Trek. I don't understand what your point is supposed to be.

[Nate the Great]

Well, I suppose Doc won. Not surprised in the slightest.

[Zeke]

But... but Vic! Vic, man!

As admin, I hereby declare that my vote is worth 47 of everyone else's.

[Nate the Great]

Um, how do you respond to that? Really.

[Zeke]

I don't, because I said it. (This strategy may not work for everyone.)

[Nate the Great]

Your mileage may vary...