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George Takei shuts down racist criticism of new 'Star Trek' series
Avi Selk, The Washington Post
First posted: Monday, May 29, 2017 11:57 AM EDT | Updated: Monday, May 29, 2017 12:09 PM EDT
George Takei was first cast in "Star Trek" two decades after World War II, when American racism against his Japanese ancestry still burned strong.
Takei is also gay, and he played Lt. Sulu - who was revealed to be gay last year, 50 years into a series that has always celebrated diversity in its cast and stories, as Michael Cavna noted in The Washington Post.
So who better than Takei to respond to a spate of racist and race-tinged criticism that greeted a trailer for the series' new installment, "Star Trek: Discovery," featuring high-ranking black and Asian officers - women, to boot.
NextShark collected a choice sampling of comments below the trailer: "oh great a woman captain again"; "The captain looks like she was affirmative action'ed onto the bridge"; "BLM black." There were plenty of racist slurs.
MSNBC brought Takei on Sunday to get his take - probably knowing that, aside from his Trekkie history, the actor has loudly protested Hollywood's history of "whitewashing" American entertainment.
"People are finding the time to hate on 'Star Trek' for having diversity," host Joy Reid prompted. "What?"
Well you know - today, in this society, we have alien life-forms that we call trolls," Takei replied.
He explained: "And these trolls carry on without knowing what they're talking about and knowing even less about the history of what they're talking about. And some of these trolls go on to be presidents of nations."
Yeah, Takei was going to bring alien analogies and President Donald Trump into this space fight.
The president actually hadn't said anything about the new show, at least not in public. But Takei is no fan of Trump. He even wrote for The Post last year about how Trump's threats to ban Muslims from the United States recalled the Japanese internments through which his family suffered during World War II.
Which came up again on MSNBC.
"These people claiming 'Star Trek' is racist genocide, or whatever, 'white genocide,' don't know what they're talking about," Takei said. "They're equal to the president of the United States."
"Discovery" actually features plenty of white, male characters - enough that some fans were criticizing it for not being diverse enough, before the trailer brought on the troll attack.
As Metro noted, the series' casts have always looked more diverse than those of most contemporary shows: from the '60s-era run with Takei and a black female lieutenant, to later installments where a woman and a black man commanded star ships (as Michelle Yeoh will in "Discovery").
Not all the critics of appearances by Yeoh and Sonequa Martin-Green (as the captain's first officer) in the trailer resorted to racism.
As NextShark wrote, one commenter noted that the new series is a prequel to the original run - and there's this fan theory that no women were allowed to captain star ships before Kathryn Janeway flew one in "Voyager."
Never mind race or diversity, the commenter argued - the female captain in "Discovery" isn't canon.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_xhb-mGU2w
www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLOz7crPuus
George Takei shuts down racist criticism of new 'Star Trek' series | Celebrities
Avi Selk, The Washington Post
First posted: Monday, May 29, 2017 11:57 AM EDT | Updated: Monday, May 29, 2017 12:09 PM EDT
George Takei was first cast in "Star Trek" two decades after World War II, when American racism against his Japanese ancestry still burned strong.
Takei is also gay, and he played Lt. Sulu - who was revealed to be gay last year, 50 years into a series that has always celebrated diversity in its cast and stories, as Michael Cavna noted in The Washington Post.
So who better than Takei to respond to a spate of racist and race-tinged criticism that greeted a trailer for the series' new installment, "Star Trek: Discovery," featuring high-ranking black and Asian officers - women, to boot.
NextShark collected a choice sampling of comments below the trailer: "oh great a woman captain again"; "The captain looks like she was affirmative action'ed onto the bridge"; "BLM black." There were plenty of racist slurs.
MSNBC brought Takei on Sunday to get his take - probably knowing that, aside from his Trekkie history, the actor has loudly protested Hollywood's history of "whitewashing" American entertainment.
"People are finding the time to hate on 'Star Trek' for having diversity," host Joy Reid prompted. "What?"
Well you know - today, in this society, we have alien life-forms that we call trolls," Takei replied.
He explained: "And these trolls carry on without knowing what they're talking about and knowing even less about the history of what they're talking about. And some of these trolls go on to be presidents of nations."
Yeah, Takei was going to bring alien analogies and President Donald Trump into this space fight.
The president actually hadn't said anything about the new show, at least not in public. But Takei is no fan of Trump. He even wrote for The Post last year about how Trump's threats to ban Muslims from the United States recalled the Japanese internments through which his family suffered during World War II.
Which came up again on MSNBC.
"These people claiming 'Star Trek' is racist genocide, or whatever, 'white genocide,' don't know what they're talking about," Takei said. "They're equal to the president of the United States."
"Discovery" actually features plenty of white, male characters - enough that some fans were criticizing it for not being diverse enough, before the trailer brought on the troll attack.
As Metro noted, the series' casts have always looked more diverse than those of most contemporary shows: from the '60s-era run with Takei and a black female lieutenant, to later installments where a woman and a black man commanded star ships (as Michelle Yeoh will in "Discovery").
Not all the critics of appearances by Yeoh and Sonequa Martin-Green (as the captain's first officer) in the trailer resorted to racism.
As NextShark wrote, one commenter noted that the new series is a prequel to the original run - and there's this fan theory that no women were allowed to captain star ships before Kathryn Janeway flew one in "Voyager."
Never mind race or diversity, the commenter argued - the female captain in "Discovery" isn't canon.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_xhb-mGU2w
www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLOz7crPuus
George Takei shuts down racist criticism of new 'Star Trek' series | Celebrities
Yea his posts are like looking at an Ocular Blackhole and they sometimes cause headaches.
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'Star Trek: Discovery' was delayed 9 months to maintain quality: Producer
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
First posted: Wednesday, August 02, 2017 09:58 AM EDT | Updated: Wednesday, August 02, 2017 10:06 AM EDT
LOS ANGELES — The premiere of “Star Trek: Discovery” on CTV, Space and CBS’ subscription streaming service, CBS All Access, was postponed nine months to maintain the quality of the brand.
Executive producer Alex Kurtzman told the Television Critics Association Tuesday that they “spent a lot of time” discussing how to create this new world for TV that felt authentic to the “Star Trek” universe.
Also during that time, executive producer Bryan Fuller decided to exit the series as showrunner to focus on other projects.
Kurtzman said “it became clearer and clearer” that the targeted January debut would “compromise the quality of the show,” so it was pushed with the blessing of CBS Chairman and CEO Leslie Moonves.
“Star Trek: Discovery” stars Sonequa Martin-Green of “The Walking Dead,” as central character, First Officer Michael Burnham. She’s the foster daughter of the Vulcan Sarek, who is Spock’s father.
“We are telling a story that we believe in. Everyone is so passionate. The craftsmanship here in our entire company, behind the camera and in front of the camera, is nothing short of stellar,” said Green.
Kurtzman also debuted the theme song for “Star Trek: Discovery” performed by a 60-piece orchestra. It plays homage to the original theme and the entire song will play under a credit sequence in each episode.
The timeline for the series is 10 years prior to the original series, or TOS, as Trekkies say.
Executive producer Akiva Goldsman said, “We are going to cross paths with components that ‘Trek’ fans are familiar with, but it is its own standalone story with its own characters and its own unique vision of ‘Trek.”’
“Star Trek: Discovery” also stars Jason Isaacs, Michelle Yeoh and Shazad Latif.
The series premiere will broadcast on CTV and CBS Sept. 24. Immediately following, the first and second episodes will stream on CBS All Access. New episodes going forward will be available on Sundays.
Executive producers Akiva Goldsman, from left, Heather Kadin, Gretchen Berg, Aaron Harberts and Alex Kurtzman and actors James Frain, Sonequa Martin-Green, Mary Chieffo and Jason Isaacs participate in the "Star: Trek Discovery" panel during the CBS Television Critics Association Summer Press Tour at CBS Studio Center on Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2017, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
'Star Trek: Discovery' was delayed 9 months to maintain quality: Producer | TV |
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
First posted: Wednesday, August 02, 2017 09:58 AM EDT | Updated: Wednesday, August 02, 2017 10:06 AM EDT
LOS ANGELES — The premiere of “Star Trek: Discovery” on CTV, Space and CBS’ subscription streaming service, CBS All Access, was postponed nine months to maintain the quality of the brand.
Executive producer Alex Kurtzman told the Television Critics Association Tuesday that they “spent a lot of time” discussing how to create this new world for TV that felt authentic to the “Star Trek” universe.
Also during that time, executive producer Bryan Fuller decided to exit the series as showrunner to focus on other projects.
Kurtzman said “it became clearer and clearer” that the targeted January debut would “compromise the quality of the show,” so it was pushed with the blessing of CBS Chairman and CEO Leslie Moonves.
“Star Trek: Discovery” stars Sonequa Martin-Green of “The Walking Dead,” as central character, First Officer Michael Burnham. She’s the foster daughter of the Vulcan Sarek, who is Spock’s father.
“We are telling a story that we believe in. Everyone is so passionate. The craftsmanship here in our entire company, behind the camera and in front of the camera, is nothing short of stellar,” said Green.
Kurtzman also debuted the theme song for “Star Trek: Discovery” performed by a 60-piece orchestra. It plays homage to the original theme and the entire song will play under a credit sequence in each episode.
The timeline for the series is 10 years prior to the original series, or TOS, as Trekkies say.
Executive producer Akiva Goldsman said, “We are going to cross paths with components that ‘Trek’ fans are familiar with, but it is its own standalone story with its own characters and its own unique vision of ‘Trek.”’
“Star Trek: Discovery” also stars Jason Isaacs, Michelle Yeoh and Shazad Latif.
The series premiere will broadcast on CTV and CBS Sept. 24. Immediately following, the first and second episodes will stream on CBS All Access. New episodes going forward will be available on Sundays.
Executive producers Akiva Goldsman, from left, Heather Kadin, Gretchen Berg, Aaron Harberts and Alex Kurtzman and actors James Frain, Sonequa Martin-Green, Mary Chieffo and Jason Isaacs participate in the "Star: Trek Discovery" panel during the CBS Television Critics Association Summer Press Tour at CBS Studio Center on Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2017, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
'Star Trek: Discovery' was delayed 9 months to maintain quality: Producer | TV |
Your posts are sometimes shorter them his
but then he has you beat on content
By making this statement a political one by including the president, makes ol toke eye a troll too...
the more on...
'Star Trek: Discovery’ looks beyond just appealing to Trekkies
Bill Brioux, THE CANADIAN PRESS
First posted: Friday, September 22, 2017 12:57 PM EDT | Updated: Friday, September 22, 2017 01:55 PM EDT
TORONTO — As the fifth spin-off of a TV series, “Star Trek: Discovery” is about to boldly go where no franchise has gone before.
It hasn’t exactly been happening at warp speed. Originally scheduled to premiere in January 2017, the launch was pushed to May, then delayed indefinitely as showrunners waited for their all-important First Officer — Sonequa Martin-Green — to exit “The Walking Dead.”
Martin-Green was humbled to have been former showrunner Bryan Fuller’s first choice for this lead role. She sees leaving “The Walking Dead” for “Discovery” as going “from a story that’s on the ground, to a story that’s in the stars.”
Now, after eight months of production in Toronto — and 51 years after the original debuted — the series is finally ready to explore new worlds and reach new audiences.
“Discovery” premieres Sunday on CTV, sandwiched between two “Star Trek” themed episodes of “The Big Bang Theory.” An hour later, the second episode premieres on Bell’s specialty network Space, home to all future episodes.
In the U.S., the series will bow simultaneously on CBS, and follow on digital streaming service CBS All Access. Canadians will also be able to stream episodes on CraveTV. The rest of the world can watch on Netflix.
The season’s 15 hours — to be split into September and January half-seasons — reportedly pushed budgets to US$8 million to US$8.5 million per episode.
The “Discovery” set, spread over six massive soundstages at Toronto’s Pinewood Studios, showcases lavish interiors, including flashy transporter rooms, flight decks and officers’ quarters along with signature, tube-like, twisting corridors.
Executive producer Aaron Harberts praises the Canadian crew who built and assembled the sets, props and costumes. The interior of a Klingon ship — not part of the tour when several international reporters got a sneak peek last month — is supposedly the real eye-opener.
“The first time I walked in, I thought, ‘Is this really a set?”’ says Malaysian actress Michelle Yeoh (“Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon”), who captains two starships on the series. “It looks like a gothic cathedral!”
Fans are anxious to beam aboard after all the hype and delays. But will their phasers be set for stun?
“I just hope that I’m doing it justice,” says Martin-Green, who plays Michael Burnham, lieutenant commander of the USS Discovery. Her human character was raised and trained as a Vulcan.
“I hope I make the Trekkies proud, I hope we make folks that aren’t in the Trek universe proud, I hope I make my son proud.”
The 32-year-old says she’s delighted to be part of the franchise’s diverse casting legacy. She says Nichelle Nichols, who played original “Star Trek” communications officer Uhura, reached out to her on social media.
Martin-Green met former “Star Trek: The Next Generation” cast member Jonathan Frakes when he came to Toronto to direct two episodes. “We enjoyed him so much, we didn’t want him to leave.”
Yeoh sees her character as a mentor to Martin-Green’s First Officer, teaching Burnham that “everything is not just logical.”
The new series is set 10 years before Kirk, Spock and the Enterprise. The Federation is bracing for a major battle with the oft-warring Klingons. Into the mix steps combative “Discovery” skipper and rival Captain Gabriel Lorca, played by Jason Isaacs.
“He’s a good war-time leader,” says the Liverpool native, a busy actor best known for his role as Lucius Malfoy in the Harry Potter films.
Isaacs says that as a child, he and his brothers fought over control of the TV set, except when the original “Star Trek” came on. Giving his first order to “Energize” was a kick, he says.
He’s already well aware, as part of the “Harry Potter” universe, just how much these shows mean to the fans.
“We live in some very troubled times,” says Isaacs, who was joined by his Canadian-born wife and children while shooting “Discovery” in Toronto.
“Not that any television series could ever counteract that — there’s other action we all need to take — but at least I can go to work and think I’m not making it worse. I’m part of a story that was born out of troubled times and is about holding forth a vision of unity and inclusion and diversity.
“It’s nice to have a tiny, positive impact — however flickering the light is of optimism.”
— Bill Brioux is a freelance TV columnist based in Brampton, Ont.
[youtube]5rtzB5O8uz0[/youtube]
'Star Trek: Discovery
Bill Brioux, THE CANADIAN PRESS
First posted: Friday, September 22, 2017 12:57 PM EDT | Updated: Friday, September 22, 2017 01:55 PM EDT
TORONTO — As the fifth spin-off of a TV series, “Star Trek: Discovery” is about to boldly go where no franchise has gone before.
It hasn’t exactly been happening at warp speed. Originally scheduled to premiere in January 2017, the launch was pushed to May, then delayed indefinitely as showrunners waited for their all-important First Officer — Sonequa Martin-Green — to exit “The Walking Dead.”
Martin-Green was humbled to have been former showrunner Bryan Fuller’s first choice for this lead role. She sees leaving “The Walking Dead” for “Discovery” as going “from a story that’s on the ground, to a story that’s in the stars.”
Now, after eight months of production in Toronto — and 51 years after the original debuted — the series is finally ready to explore new worlds and reach new audiences.
“Discovery” premieres Sunday on CTV, sandwiched between two “Star Trek” themed episodes of “The Big Bang Theory.” An hour later, the second episode premieres on Bell’s specialty network Space, home to all future episodes.
In the U.S., the series will bow simultaneously on CBS, and follow on digital streaming service CBS All Access. Canadians will also be able to stream episodes on CraveTV. The rest of the world can watch on Netflix.
The season’s 15 hours — to be split into September and January half-seasons — reportedly pushed budgets to US$8 million to US$8.5 million per episode.
The “Discovery” set, spread over six massive soundstages at Toronto’s Pinewood Studios, showcases lavish interiors, including flashy transporter rooms, flight decks and officers’ quarters along with signature, tube-like, twisting corridors.
Executive producer Aaron Harberts praises the Canadian crew who built and assembled the sets, props and costumes. The interior of a Klingon ship — not part of the tour when several international reporters got a sneak peek last month — is supposedly the real eye-opener.
“The first time I walked in, I thought, ‘Is this really a set?”’ says Malaysian actress Michelle Yeoh (“Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon”), who captains two starships on the series. “It looks like a gothic cathedral!”
Fans are anxious to beam aboard after all the hype and delays. But will their phasers be set for stun?
“I just hope that I’m doing it justice,” says Martin-Green, who plays Michael Burnham, lieutenant commander of the USS Discovery. Her human character was raised and trained as a Vulcan.
“I hope I make the Trekkies proud, I hope we make folks that aren’t in the Trek universe proud, I hope I make my son proud.”
The 32-year-old says she’s delighted to be part of the franchise’s diverse casting legacy. She says Nichelle Nichols, who played original “Star Trek” communications officer Uhura, reached out to her on social media.
Martin-Green met former “Star Trek: The Next Generation” cast member Jonathan Frakes when he came to Toronto to direct two episodes. “We enjoyed him so much, we didn’t want him to leave.”
Yeoh sees her character as a mentor to Martin-Green’s First Officer, teaching Burnham that “everything is not just logical.”
The new series is set 10 years before Kirk, Spock and the Enterprise. The Federation is bracing for a major battle with the oft-warring Klingons. Into the mix steps combative “Discovery” skipper and rival Captain Gabriel Lorca, played by Jason Isaacs.
“He’s a good war-time leader,” says the Liverpool native, a busy actor best known for his role as Lucius Malfoy in the Harry Potter films.
Isaacs says that as a child, he and his brothers fought over control of the TV set, except when the original “Star Trek” came on. Giving his first order to “Energize” was a kick, he says.
He’s already well aware, as part of the “Harry Potter” universe, just how much these shows mean to the fans.
“We live in some very troubled times,” says Isaacs, who was joined by his Canadian-born wife and children while shooting “Discovery” in Toronto.
“Not that any television series could ever counteract that — there’s other action we all need to take — but at least I can go to work and think I’m not making it worse. I’m part of a story that was born out of troubled times and is about holding forth a vision of unity and inclusion and diversity.
“It’s nice to have a tiny, positive impact — however flickering the light is of optimism.”
— Bill Brioux is a freelance TV columnist based in Brampton, Ont.
[youtube]5rtzB5O8uz0[/youtube]
'Star Trek: Discovery
its too bad they give the klingons so much air time.
Klingons have a certain stick-to-it-ness ...
The "Next Generation" Star Trek series of a couple of decades ago was an interesting inner journey but they wrung the concept out and the successors have become increasingly lame. They dumbed it down to keep pace with the new audiences they were trying to attract.
My wife got into it not too long ago. So I rewatched it with her. Even after so long it has been almost like watching it new again. Very good acting and deep stories. So much better then Star Wars.
Yes so much good sci fi, but not enough. Can also go back to star trek after, cause there is so much of it.
Gregory Peck's grandson to play Spock on 'Star Trek: Discovery'
WENN - World Entertainment News Network
Published:
August 14, 2018
Updated:
August 14, 2018 5:40 PM EDT
Ethan Peck attends the Aldo LA Nights 2018 at The Rose Room on June 13, 2018 in Venice, Calif. (Photo by )John Sciulli / Getty Images for Aldo
The 32-year-old grandson of acting legend Gregory Peck will become the latest actor to try on Mr. Spock’s ears for the second season of new Star Trek TV franchise, Discovery.
Ethan Peck has been cast as the half-Vulcan-half-human character in the series, which is set a decade before the original Star Trek hit TV screens in the 1960s.
The role was originated by the late Leonard Nimoy and played by Zachary Quinto in the most recent big screen Star Trek movies.
In the new series, Spock is the foster brother of Sonequa Martin-Green’s Michael Burnham character.
Announcing the casting on Tuesday, Discovery executive producer Alex Kurtzman told Deadline, “Through 52 years of television and film, a parallel universe and a mirror universe, Mr. Spock remains the only member of the original bridge crew to span every era of Star Trek.
“The great Leonard Nimoy, then the brilliant Zachary Quinto, brought incomparable humanity to a character forever torn between logic and emotion. We searched for months for an actor who would, like them, bring his own interpretation to the role. An actor who would, like them, effortlessly embody Spock’s greatest qualities, beyond obvious logic: empathy, intuition, compassion, confusion, and yearning.
“Ethan Peck walked into the room inhabiting all of these qualities, aware of his daunting responsibility to Leonard, Zack, and the fans, and ready to confront the challenge in the service of protecting and expanding on Spock’s legacy. In that spirit, we’re thrilled to welcome him to the family.”
The arrival of Mr. Spock won’t be the only thing Star Trek fans will be looking forward to when season two of Discovery launches early next year — Patrick Stewart has revealed he will be reprising his role as U.S.S. Enterprise Captain Jean-Luc Picard.
http://torontosun.com/entertainment...grandson-to-play-spock-on-star-trek-discovery
WENN - World Entertainment News Network
Published:
August 14, 2018
Updated:
August 14, 2018 5:40 PM EDT
Ethan Peck attends the Aldo LA Nights 2018 at The Rose Room on June 13, 2018 in Venice, Calif. (Photo by )John Sciulli / Getty Images for Aldo
The 32-year-old grandson of acting legend Gregory Peck will become the latest actor to try on Mr. Spock’s ears for the second season of new Star Trek TV franchise, Discovery.
Ethan Peck has been cast as the half-Vulcan-half-human character in the series, which is set a decade before the original Star Trek hit TV screens in the 1960s.
The role was originated by the late Leonard Nimoy and played by Zachary Quinto in the most recent big screen Star Trek movies.
In the new series, Spock is the foster brother of Sonequa Martin-Green’s Michael Burnham character.
Announcing the casting on Tuesday, Discovery executive producer Alex Kurtzman told Deadline, “Through 52 years of television and film, a parallel universe and a mirror universe, Mr. Spock remains the only member of the original bridge crew to span every era of Star Trek.
“The great Leonard Nimoy, then the brilliant Zachary Quinto, brought incomparable humanity to a character forever torn between logic and emotion. We searched for months for an actor who would, like them, bring his own interpretation to the role. An actor who would, like them, effortlessly embody Spock’s greatest qualities, beyond obvious logic: empathy, intuition, compassion, confusion, and yearning.
“Ethan Peck walked into the room inhabiting all of these qualities, aware of his daunting responsibility to Leonard, Zack, and the fans, and ready to confront the challenge in the service of protecting and expanding on Spock’s legacy. In that spirit, we’re thrilled to welcome him to the family.”
The arrival of Mr. Spock won’t be the only thing Star Trek fans will be looking forward to when season two of Discovery launches early next year — Patrick Stewart has revealed he will be reprising his role as U.S.S. Enterprise Captain Jean-Luc Picard.
http://torontosun.com/entertainment...grandson-to-play-spock-on-star-trek-discovery