Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 exptools 1/6/84; site ihlts.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!we13!ihnp4!ihlts!rjnoe From: rjnoe@ihlts.UUCP (Roger Noe @ N41:48:31, W88:07:13) Newsgroups: net.startrek Subject: Re: Star Trek pilot Message-ID: <344@ihlts.UUCP> Date: Mon, 6-Feb-84 11:22:43 EST Article-I.D.: ihlts.344 Posted: Mon Feb 6 11:22:43 1984 Date-Received: Thu, 9-Feb-84 02:45:23 EST References: <489@dalcs.UUCP> Organization: AT&T Bell Labs, Naperville, IL Lines: 29 I've seen Roddenberry bring "The Cage" to a few cons or other get-togethers. It's great to see the original, uncut, never aired version complete and without interruption. If you're lucky, you'll also get to see all three blooper reels (two from the TV series, one from ST-TMP). I suppose there is a blooper reel from ST-TWOK, but I've not yet been fortunate enough to see that. The blooper reels are the high point of these things, as far as I am concerned. Oh, it needs to be said: the actor playing Capt. Pike in "Menagerie" (the one in the wheelchair) is not Jeffrey Hunter although Hunter did play Capt. Pike in "The Cage". Also, "The Cage" was used as a basis for "Menagerie" because Roddenberry thought it was a damn good story, and not "too cerebral" for the typical TV viewer (that was the NBC execs' original objection to "The Cage"). One must be prepared for a bit of a shock when viewing "The Cage" (or, for that matter, "Menagerie"). Spock is not at all the personality here we've come to know in later episodes of ST. Majel Barrett (M. Leigh Hudec) is a dark-haired "Number One", second in command on the S.S. Enterprise under Pike. NBC jerks (executives) told Roddenberry that the viewing public "wouldn't believe a woman as second- in-command" and, to add insult to injury, said "And while you're at it, get rid of the guy with the ears." Fortunately, one of the two was saved. Spock retained his appearance, and inherited the composure (made even more extreme later) and rank of Number One. Barrett, of course, took on the role of Nurse (now Doctor) Chapel. Bring in Shatner as James Kirk (the T for Tiberius wasn't there until later--at first they used a different initial), guest stars and ship upgrades and you have the second pilot, "Where No Man Has Gone Before" featuring the infamous phaser rifle. But that's another story. My log recorder runneth over. Roger Noe ihnp4!ihlts!rjnoe