Conference ljsrv1::tv_chatter

I thought the pilot was amazingly good.  Usually pilot episodes suffer from
trying to cram too many introductions (both of people and of the "world") 
into a short time, while still trying to have some type of drama.  Certainly
the ST:TNG pilot suffered from this (IMHO "Journey to Farpoint" is virtually
unwatchable, while many of the later episodes were excellent).

But "Caretaker" did not have this problem.  The characters were introduced,
their backgrounds taken care of, and we still had a decent episode.

If this is the quality of the writing on this show, count me in...

-- Ken Moreau

    
    I liked it very much.  There was the usual problem of the writers not
    being able to be consistent about the capabilities of 24th century
    technology, but since it was either that or seriously mess with the
    fundamental premise of the show, they probably came down on the right
    side for the majority of viewers.  I'll probably make the effort to at
    least tape this for a while, which is more than I ever did for The Next
    Generation and Deep Space Nine.
    
    They were wise to simply bury the nuisance of the Prime Directive in
    the first episode.
    
    DFW
    
    

	Here is a small update on lastnight's Star Treck: Voyager.
	I picked this up on the net.

	I enjoyed the show very much, I think even non-trekies will
	enjoy it to - if they keep up the great FXs and good storylines.

	Lou




From: [email protected] (Vidiot)
Newsgroups:
rec.arts.startrek.info,rec.arts.startrek.misc,rec.arts.startrek.current
Subject: UPN Press Release - VOY - #721: Caretaker
Followup-To: rec.arts.startrek.misc
Date: 9 Jan 1995 20:32:13 GMT
Organization: Vulcan Science Academy, Tau Ceti Sector
Lines: 69
NNTP-Posting-Host: xcf.berkeley.edu
Originator: [email protected]


STAR TREK: VOYAGER

TITLE:      "CARETAKER"
EPSIODE:    Pilot #40841-101 & 102
AIRDATE:    Monday, January 16, 1995
TIME:       8:00 - 10:00 P.M. ET/PT

LOG LINE: The USS Starship Voyager, captained by renowned Starfleet commander
Kathryn Janeway (Kate Mulgrew), is sent on a mission to rescue a renegade
Maquis ship from "The Badlands", a dangerous region of space.  An inexplicable
force transports both ships to a distant, uncharted region of space.  After
the Maquis ship is destroyed, the two different crews must learn to work
together in order to find their way home.

SYNOPSIS: It's the 24th Century, and a renegade band of freedom fighters known
as the Maquis are operating outside of Federation guidelines.  When one of
their ships gets stranded in an area of space known as "The Badlands," the
Federation decides to send the USS Starship Voyager, captained by Kathryn
Janeway (Kate Mulgrew), to its rescue.  Upon arriving in "The Bandlands,"
both the Maquis vessel and Voyager are swept up in a bizarre phenomenon that
catapults them 70,000 light years away to a previously uncharted area of space.

The two crews must band together to escape the clutches of an alien force they
come to know as "The Caretaker."  Along the way, the Maquis ship is destroyed,
and its crew must board Voyager to survive.  These two crews encounter several
new alien lifeforms, and ultimately invite two -- Neelix (Ethan Phillips)
and Kes (Jennifer Lien) -- to join them aboard the ship.  Together, this
disparate group of people must work together to find their way back home.

CAST:
Captain Kathryn Janeway		Kate Mulgrew
Chakotay			Robert Beltran
B'Ellana Torres			Roxann Biggs-Dawson
Kes				Jennifer Lien
Lt. Tom Paris			Robert Duncan McNeill
Doc Zimmerman			Robert Picardo
Neelix				Ethan Phillips
Tuvok				Tim Russ
Henry Kim			Garrett Wang

GUEST CAST:
Carey				Josh Clark
Lt. Stadi			Alicia Coppola
Ocampa Doctor			Bruce French
Mark				Stan Ivar
Cavit				Scott Jaeck
Daggin				Eric David Johnson
Banjo Man			Basil Langton
Rollins				Scott MacDonald
Human Doctor			Jeff McCarthy
Jabin				Gavin O'Herlihy
Ocampa Nurse			Jennifer Parsons
Aunt Adah			Angela Paton
Gul Evek			Richard Poe
Farmer's Daughter		Keely Sims
Toscat				David Selburg
Quark				Armin Shimmerman

Story by:			Rick Berman & Michael Piller & Jeri Taylor

Teleplay by:			Michael Piller & Jeri Taylor

Directed by:			Rick Kolbe

-- 
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Selected by Jim "The Big Dweeb" Griffith.                Email submissions to
[email protected], questions to [email protected]

I liked it alot. A few comments:

1. I do think that the Vulcan security officer and the Captain take the show
   spirit back to the Kirk/Spock days.
2. The American Indian Maquis Captain turned Voyager first officer is a very
   strong character which I particularily like.
3. The Tom Paris character and the holgraphic doctor also play their parts well.

I'll be watching it from now on...
Craig.

I was glad to see Robert Picardo show up again. I always enjoyed his work
in China Beach. He's a versitle actor and can bring off drama and comedy
equally well. He plays "the Doctor" btw.

I agree with an earlier note that this pilot avoided most of the usual pilot
pitfalls. It has the usual drawbacks that any Trek series has to live with.
Generally bad science and lots of technobabble.

Kate Mulgrew is a good choice for a female captain but I think Berman, et all
erred in insisting that the new captain must be female. I think the series
would have been better served by using the best actor/actress for the role
instead of some kind of TV affirmative action selection where the role must
be filled by a particular gender. Mabye Mulgrew would have been the best
choice, we'll never know.


Randy

    My socks didn't get knocked off, and I have some trouble digesting a
    couple of the characters on the show (the captain, for some reason, got
    on my nerves), but I rather liked some of the other characters quite a
    bit.  I won't go out of my way to watch this show--I don't go out of my
    way to watch anything, really--but I'll try to tune in when it's on to
    see if it keeps my interest.
    
    
    
    Cheers,
    
    
    kim

    
    For those of us who missed this, it will be repeated on Saturday at
    4pm, I think, the Globe TV guide was a little muddle in it's
    explanation and I haven't gone to Saturday's listings to check it.
    

    Re: .5
    
    >I think the series would have been better served by using the best 
    >actor/actress for the role instead of some kind of TV affirmative 
    >action selection where the role must be filled by a particular gender
    
    I'm rather tired of this "point" so I'll be brief:
    
    1.  They did test men, after Bujold jumped, but came back to four
        women candidates.
    
    2.  Did you write letters of protest when ST:TNG only considered a man
        for the role of captain?  If not, then you've no grounds to
        complain now.

    
    Great show,even the beginning intro was nice to watch.
    
    Glad it came along, DS9 just doesn't fill the void of ST:TNG even
    though I tune in all the time.
    
    Dave
    
    
    

re .8

    >Re: .5
    
    >>I think the series would have been better served by using the best 
    >>actor/actress for the role instead of some kind of TV affirmative 
    >>action selection where the role must be filled by a particular gender
    >
    >I'm rather tired of this "point" so I'll be brief:
    >
    >1.  They did test men, after Bujold jumped, but came back to four
    >    women candidates.
    >
    >2.  Did you write letters of protest when ST:TNG only considered a man
    >    for the role of captain?  If not, then you've no grounds to
    >    complain now.

From what I heard they did test a few men after Bujold at UPN's insistence
but they were never really seriously considered. The decision had been made
to cast a woman.

No, I didn't write letters of protest about ST:TNG's casting but neither did
I about ST:V. I don't write letters of protest about televison casting, what
would that have to do with my questioning thier decision. It's just my opinion
after all, isn't that the purpose of this notesfile? 

ST:TOS was very gender biased (while breaking new grounds racially) and I'm
glad the subsequent series have been less so. But I do feel that casting a
part by starting with the assumption that it must by a particular gender or
race or religious preference or species, etc, is a mistake unless the part
calls for it. You then severely limit your choices. This has nothing to do
with Mulgrew (although I would have preferred Linda Hamilton) or her gender,
I just think this way of making casting decisions is a mistake.


Randy

    Re: .10
    
    The point is, if you're against gender-specific casting decisions,
    you should have been equally outraged by the fact they only considered
    men for the leads in both TNG and DS9.  If you weren't (or aren't now) 
    equally outraged, then I get to question the depth of your convictions 
    against gender-specific casting.
    
    >But I do feel that casting a part by starting with the assumption that 
    >it must by a particular gender or race or religious preference or 
    >species, etc, is a mistake unless the part calls for it.
    
    Precious few parts do.  Do you realize how much longer it would take to
    cast anything without winnowing down at least some characteristics? 
    _Every_ actor would be up for _every_ part.

re .11

    >The point is, if you're against gender-specific casting decisions,
    >you should have been equally outraged by the fact they only considered
    >men for the leads in both TNG and DS9.  If you weren't (or aren't now) 
    >equally outraged, then I get to question the depth of your convictions 
    >against gender-specific casting.


Actually I'm not outraged in either case, it's not that important to me.
I think we are dealing with two different situations here though. In the
case of ST:TNG there was no assurance that the series would make it (sure
it had fan support but that's not enough alone) so they had to be more
cautious in the casting. But with ST:VOY it's about as close to a sure
thing as television gets. My objection to this type of casting has nothing
to do with some sort of political depth of conviction. I just think that
it's not the best thing to do if you want to get the best actor for the
part.

    >Precious few parts do.  Do you realize how much longer it would take to
    >cast anything without winnowing down at least some characteristics? 
    >_Every_ actor would be up for _every_ part.

Good point. But not every actor would be up for the Captain's role. The part
calls for a certain type of personality, age, voice, presence, etc.


Randy

    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
	Stroy line for January 23rd, behind a form feed
    
    
    
    	are you sure you want to see?
    
    
    
TITLE:      "PARALLAX"
EPISODE:    #40841-103
AIRDATE:    January 23, 1995
TIME:       8:00 - 9:00 P.M. ET/PT

LOG LINE: The Starship Voyager encounters a quantum singularity and what 
appears to be another ship in jeopardy. In their attempts to rescue the 
vessel, the crew comes to realize that it is they who are trapped, and 
the race begins to free themselves before the ship is destroyed. 


SYNOPSIS: As they try to find their way back to known Federal Space, the 
crew of the Starship Voyager finds itself faced with a unique situation. They 
come upon a quantum singularity -- a star that has collapsed in upon itself 
thereby creating a powerful energy field that surrounds it.  They believe 
another ship to be in jeopardy, and begin the task of saving it from 
destruction

After several unsuccessful attempts, Captain Janeway and B'Ellana Torres 
discover that it isn't another ship caught in the distortion, it is just a 
mirror-image of the Voyager. They must find the rip in the singularity that 
they entered through and pass out of it before it collapses, forever
trapping them. Because of her efforts in helping the save the Starship, 
B'Ellana Torres is promoted to Chief of Engineering. 

GUEST CAST:

Carey                           Josh Clark
Seska                           Martha Hackett
Jarvin                          Justin Williams

Story By:                       Jim Trombetta
 
Teleplay By:                    Brannon Braga
 
Directed By:                    Kim Friedman




--



TITLE:      "TIME AND AGAIN"
EPISODE:    #40841-104
AIRDATE:    January 30, 1995
TIME:       8:00 - 9:00 P.M. ET/PT

LOG LINE: The Starship Voyager experiences a shock wave in space, a wave set 
off by a huge explosion on a nearby planet. When they beam down to 
investigate, they discover all life has been eradicated. In addition, they 
discover subspace fractures which ultimately transport Captain Janeway and 
Lt. Paris back in time to right before the explosion. They must discover a way 
to avert the catastrophe to save their lives

SYNOPSIS: When the Starship Voyager encounters a huge shock wave in space, 
the crew goes to investigate ans stumbles upon a planet capable of supporting 
human life, but that is mysteriously barren. The away team discovers that an 
incredible explosion has occurred, wiping out all life on the planet in an 
instant. During their investigation, Lt. Paris discovers a subspace fracture 
that allows him a glimpse of life on the planet before the explosion. After 
returning to his companions, both Janeway and Paris are caught in another, 
larger fracture, and are this time actually transported back in time to the 
planet right before the explosion. 

Even though it goes against the Federation's prime directive, both Janeway 
and Paris must warn a group of dissenters that it may very well be their 
actions that jeopardizes the entire planet. 

Their actions are ultimately successful. The planet is spared annihilation; 
the crew is reinserted back into the ship at the moment before they 
previously encounter the shock wave, and the planet is passed by because it 
is not advanced enough to take to an official visit. 


GUEST CAST:

Latika                          Brady Bluhm
Shopkeeper                      Ryan MacDonald
Teria                           Joel Polis
Guard                           Jerry Spicer
Makull                          Nicolas Surovy
Officer                         Steve Vaught

Story By:                       David Kemper
 
Teleplay By:                    David Kemper
                                Michael Piller
 
Directed By:                    Les Landau

    
	Sneek peek on Jan 30th show, behind ff
    
    
    
    	are you sure again?
    
    
    
    
TITLE:      "TIME AND AGAIN"
EPISODE:    #40841-104
AIRDATE:    January 30, 1995
TIME:       8:00 - 9:00 P.M. ET/PT

LOG LINE: The Starship Voyager experiences a shock wave in space, a wave set 
off by a huge explosion on a nearby planet. When they beam down to 
investigate, they discover all life has been eradicated. In addition, they 
discover subspace fractures which ultimately transport Captain Janeway and 
Lt. Paris back in time to right before the explosion. They must discover a way 
to avert the catastrophe to save their lives

SYNOPSIS: When the Starship Voyager encounters a huge shock wave in space, 
the crew goes to investigate ans stumbles upon a planet capable of supporting 
human life, but that is mysteriously barren. The away team discovers that an 
incredible explosion has occurred, wiping out all life on the planet in an 
instant. During their investigation, Lt. Paris discovers a subspace fracture 
that allows him a glimpse of life on the planet before the explosion. After 
returning to his companions, both Janeway and Paris are caught in another, 
larger fracture, and are this time actually transported back in time to the 
planet right before the explosion. 

Even though it goes against the Federation's prime directive, both Janeway 
and Paris must warn a group of dissenters that it may very well be their 
actions that jeopardizes the entire planet. 

Their actions are ultimately successful. The planet is spared annihilation; 
the crew is reinserted back into the ship at the moment before they 
previously encounter the shock wave, and the planet is passed by because it 
is not advanced enough to take to an official visit. 


GUEST CAST:

Latika                          Brady Bluhm
Shopkeeper                      Ryan MacDonald
Teria                           Joel Polis
Guard                           Jerry Spicer
Makull                          Nicolas Surovy
Officer                         Steve Vaught

Story By:                       David Kemper
 
Teleplay By:                    David Kemper
                                Michael Piller
 
Directed By:                    Les Landau

    Re: .12
    
    >In the case of ST:TNG there was no assurance that the series would
    >make it
    
    I mentioned both TNG and DS9.
    
    >But with ST:VOY it's about as close to a sure thing as television gets
    
    Which gives them the freedom to make changes, rather than sticking to
    some formula.  If you have no reason to make the captain male, and you 
    have never had a female captain as a regular, then you have _some_ 
    reason to make the captain female.  Some is better than none, so the 
    preference is for a female captain.
    
    >if you want to get the best actor for the part.
    
    "Best actor for the part" is a fallacy.  The reality is, you most
    frequently have multiple actors who would be just as good in their
    individual ways.  For example, it was a very close race for the role of
    Data, and Eric Menyuk (the Traveller) almost got it.  Though it's
    difficult for us to conceive of anyone else doing Data as well as Brett
    Spiner, Eric Menyuk would have.  It would have been different, but it
    would have been good, too.  Same with the role of the captain.  There
    are a lot of good actors out there.
    

    In general, I liked the pilot episode but I found a few things that
    just didn't make any sense.
    
    1. The group that was trying to break into the Ocampa (sp) underground
    dwelling space doesn't have enough water and wants the technology of
    the replicator in exchange for helping the Voyager people. Yet at the
    end of the show, they have spacecraft that are powerful enough to give
    the Voyager a run for their money? They have the technology to build
    this kind of spacecraft but can't figure out how to make their own
    water?
    
    2. Somewhat follows number one. At first we're led to believe that they
    don't possess either the tools or weapons to break into the Ocampa
    living space but they have spacecraft and weapons that will allow them
    to board the array and take it over? Why not just blast away at the
    Ocampa entry points with the spacecraft?
    
    3. The Maquis, by definition, hate the Federation but are seamlessly 
    integrated into the Voyager's crew without any protest or problem? Or
    is this just a setup for future conflicts?
    
    Like I said, on the whole I liked it. ST:TNG took a few years to 'get
    it's legs' so I don't expect too much in the beginning. I hope this
    series does well and provides us with interesting stories for years to
    come.

    Re: .16
    
    >They have the technology to build this kind of spacecraft but can't 
    >figure out how to make their own water?
    
    Different types of technology.  Consider:  we have the technology to
    produce nuclear weapons, but not transporters.
    
    >they have spacecraft and weapons that will allow them to board the 
    >array and take it over?
    
    My impression is that the array didn't have much in the way of
    defensive shielding.  No one had any trouble beaming over whenever they
    wanted to.
    
    >The Maquis, by definition, hate the Federation
    
    "Hate" is too strong, I think.  They hate the Cardassians, they resent
    the Federation.
    
    >is this just a setup for future conflicts?
    
    Yes.

RE         <<< Note 330.16 by AWECIM::MCMAHON "Living in the owe-zone" >>>
                            -< Just a few nits... >-

>    1. The group that was trying to break into the Ocampa (sp) underground
>    dwelling space doesn't have enough water and wants the technology of
>    the replicator in exchange for helping the Voyager people. Yet at the
>    end of the show, they have spacecraft that are powerful enough to give
>    the Voyager a run for their money? 

  I think the array had put up some type of shield that neither they nor
the Voyager could penetrate. Remember, everyone had to find holes in the
screen.

>    2. Somewhat follows number one. At first we're led to believe that they
>    don't possess either the tools or weapons to break into the Ocampa
>    living space but they have spacecraft and weapons that will allow them
>    to board the array and take it over? 

  Well they couldn't board while the entity was still alive. He had set the
thing to self-distruct once he died which suggests that it could be boarded
at that point.

>    3. The Maquis, by definition, hate the Federation but are seamlessly 
>    integrated into the Voyager's crew without any protest or problem? Or
>    is this just a setup for future conflicts?

  The Maquis have a squabble with the Federation over the control of planets
in the demilitarized zone between Federation and Cardiassian space. Many
Maquis, including the ones on this show, seem to be former Federation officers
who feel sympathy for colonists on those planets.

  Being removed from that problem by 70,000 light years and having only been
fighting against the federation for a few years their hostility is somewhat
limited. 

>    Like I said, on the whole I liked it. ST:TNG took a few years to 'get
>    it's legs' so I don't expect too much in the beginning. I hope this
>    series does well and provides us with interesting stories for years to
>    come.

  I agree, they seemed a bit awkward and like ST:TNG the 1st show consisted of
everyone standing around on the bridge but I think they'll work that out as
they build more sets and get into story lines involving individuals. Also as
they go on they will find out what works for various characters and what does
not work.

  George

> My impression is that the array didn't have much in the way of
> defensive shielding.  No one had any trouble beaming over whenever they
> wanted to.

	That seemed to be a plot hole as well.  When they first got
	there they couldn't even probe/scan the array!

	Please don't try to justify the plot holes, sometimes we
	just have to accept (or ignore may be the better word)
	so that we can enjoy everything else.

	It was pretty obvious the surface dwellers were originally
	being portrayed as a tech. obsolete group, and then suddendly
	they had this powerful tecnology (shields, phasers, etc that
	are more powerful than federation tech).

>   Well they couldn't board while the entity was still alive. He had set the
> thing to self-distruct once he died which suggests that it could be boarded
> at that point.

	The Federation boarded the array twice on their own power
	(while the entity was still alive)

    I'd guess the array let them board so the caretaker could search for
    people to take and use....just a guess

RE              <<< Note 330.19 by NETRIX::michaud "Lenny Nimoy" >>>

>	It was pretty obvious the surface dwellers were originally
>	being portrayed as a tech. obsolete group, and then suddendly
>	they had this powerful tecnology (shields, phasers, etc that
>	are more powerful than federation tech).

  Yeah I got a chuckle out of that. The way those surface dwellers reacted
seemed pretty hostile. Could you see a bunch of them sitting around in the
bowls of a giant defense contractor arguing about the physics necessary to keep
a dyalithiam core from breaching. 

  "And I believe that if you take the cube root of the integral of f of x
   dx as i goes from one to infinity you'll find that the bazilliam compound
   resulting from the tracion beam will ...

  "OH YEAH, TAKE THIS CUBE ROOT ***CRUNCH*** ***BLAM*** ***SPLASH***"

  "DAM THE WATER COOLER!!!"

  "SO WHAT WE DON'T HAVE ANY WATER ANYWAY!!!"

  "OH YEA SAYS YOUR MO..."

  ***CRUNCH*** ***BLAM*** ***SPLASH***

  George

> I'd guess the array let them board so the caretaker could search for
> people to take and use....just a guess

	Bad guess :-)  Remember that the caretaker had "already" taken
	then aboard for it's purpose.  Also remember one of the times
	they showed up on their own (magically this time seeing they
	couldn't do it originally) the caretaker said something like
	"you again, go away, I haven't got the time".  Obviously not invited.