Wil Wheaton and Rod Roddenberry On Abrams Trek February 6, 2008
by Anthony Pascale , Filed under: Comics, Star Trek (2009 film) , trackback
Our friends over at the On Network webshow “Bif Bam Pow Wow” have dedicated their most recent episode to all things Star Trek. Their focus is comics, but there are also interview snippets from last summer’s Vegas con with Rod Roddenberry and Wil Wheaton talking about the new Star Trek movie. Check it out below.
Oh and hey Bif Bam…thanks for the shoutout for TrekMovie.com…right back at ya
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First
Wheaton is the man!
Another Jeff agrees… Wheaton is the MAN!
lol, the host reminds me of the simpsons comic guy
What’s with Tom’s enunciation and big hand gestures? He’s like the geek version of Rachael Ray. ;)
Wil is the mack.
Good interviews; I’m really anxious to see how this turns out…either way I will definitely be in line on opening day!
I love that blond’s T-shirt! Where were girls like here when I was a teen-age Trekker?
you know I never really got why there was soo much animosity towards weatons character (crusher).. I never really had a problem with him.. and I liked the traveler stuff.. huh.. of course maybe that animosity was just from a very few individuals and it was blown up disproportionately…
#8 “you know I never really got why there was soo much animosity towards weatons character (crusher).. I never really had a problem with him.. ”
Same here, guess there will always be those grumpy types that just don’t like kids. It was his yawn-inducing mother that I had trouble with. Frankly they should have never EVER had families on the Enterprise. Bad move.
#9 fully agree on the “no families” policy. The other thing that would have to go is that damn holodeck - talk about heaven for the closet dysfunctional!
#8 and #9 — Wesley was not a well-written character. What *I* can’t understand is why people assume that Wil is equally lame. He is not. He is one of us, a geek through and through. Only he is funny and used to be on Star Trek. I suggest you make your way over to his site and judge for yourself:
http://wilwheaton.typepad.com/
Here is a recent entry:
‘I have a sticker on my car that says, “There is no place like 127.0.0.1″
I get to explain it to a lot of people, and I’m usually rewarded with a blank look, followed by a pitying look, followed by parents holding on tightly to their children as they move away slowly at first, then quickly, never turning their backs on me.
Such is the life of a geek among normals.’
See? One of us.
The problem with Wesley Crusher is that the writers used him assuming that geeky kids needed or wanted a surrogate character on the Enterprise as a point of entry to the show. Geeky kids don’t want to watch geeky kids, though. (They don’t call it escapism for nothing.) They want to watch Captains Kirk, Picard, et al.
#7
“I love that blond’s T-shirt! Where were girls like here when I was a teen-age Trekker?”
One possibility:
They weren’t, at that time — as in this case — pretending to like Star Trek. They were simply unaware of it or outright hostile toward it.
Re: #8 ensign joe and #9 star trackie
I think some people thought he was too “goodie-two-shoes” and I can see their point, but maybe some don’t stop to realize that not everyone was a brat or a rebellious teen like some (I definitely was, anyway). Some of my friends’ children were an absolute delight to be around and others were a nightmare.
I appreciated that he was a great kid and loved that they included children because, after all, we will still be having them in the future. And though, like some in the TNG episodes said, who would bring their kids along on a treacherous mission into space (was it the Ferengi?) I kind of like that you could. It would be heart-breaking to have to leave them (in real life — yes, I know it was a TV programme…).
Anyway, that’s my take.
kg
Wil, was superb.
Wesley…. inadvertently kneecapped the other characters on TNG as written. Picard and Riker were made to be fools, LaForge incompetent, and Data malprogrammed.
Notice how Wil talks up seasons 3, 4 and 5! Wesley left early in season 4!! IN other words, Wil is saying TNG was at its best mostly when his character wasn’t there. Fascinating.
#11 Wesley was not a well-written character.
I disagree. I haven’t critiqued the show or anything… nor have I watched tng episodes in the last 3 years.. but I can tell you that from what I remember I never had a problem with the writing for the character. Perhaps my ignorance is bliss?
# 12 Geeky kids don’t want to watch geeky kids, though. (They don’t call it escapism for nothing.) They want to watch Captains Kirk, Picard, et al.
Sorry Brian, I’m a computer programmer, was and am a geeky kid.. and I liked just about all the characters for different reasons.. if anything the character DID act as character to relate too.. not saying your idea doesn’t have merit… but I’m definitly an example to the contrary..
Why all the Wil love here? I didn’t think he said anything that warranted it.
But, I guess I’m one of the “very few” (#8) that couldn’t stand Wesley. He was SO OBNOXIOUS!!!
# 14 Katie G.
I can get behind that.
I want that “I
Oops! That should say:
I want that “I
Why do my posts keep getting cut off?!?!
#7—You could have been like me and kept your love of Trek to yourself—while you played sports, dated pretty girls, drank beer with the boys, etc., and who knows? She might have talked to you, or at least given you a second glance. I have been, my entire life, a closet geek. It has never once kept me out of social circles that I ever wished to interact in. I’m not the first Trek fan of that ilk, and probably not the last.
To each his own… I suppose.
“There is no place like 127.0.0.1″
LOL
I have on my desk
“there are 10 types of people who understand binary, those who do and those who don’t”
Will Wheaton Grows on me more and more - he is Definately not Crusher
#2
Yeah, I really like Will Wheaton. If they ever make another Next Gen Movie he’d make a great villain.
He was good in GTA!
Re: #17. richpit
Sorry, guess you are one of the few (of us here at least). I do know that there are a lot of people who didn’t like “Wesley” but don’t “shoot the actor” so-to-speak. He got stuck playing the part that was written for him. Anyway, I kinda liked him. But I totally get why you don’t.
Re: #21. Juli
Keep trying. I had to post one of my comments 3 times before it finally “stuck”. Don’t know what it is but Anthony has said that it happens at times and he doesn’t know what it is either.
Re: #11. Gravitic Yours
I hate to admit it, but I’m not familiar with this “127.0.0.1″ thing. I’m a huge Trek fan but I guess I’m not in the “inner circle”.
Anyone care to explain what “127.0.0.1″ stands for?
kg
#25 Katie G.
http://www.tech-faq.com/127.0.0.1.shtml
http://what-is-what.com/what_is/127.0.0.1.html
Your “home” computer. So there’s no place like “home.”
Esoteric and non sequiter to say the least, but I laugh because it makes me feel part of a tiny, inner circle of dorkdum.
Re: #23 maffc
Yes, I’ve seen that too. My husband showed me that joke because he knew I loved Trek and we had just seen the episode where the Binars hijacked the Enterprise (TNG). That I get. The 127 I don’t. Guess I don’t understand binary enough.
kg
Re: #26 ensign joe
Thanks. I’ll check it out.
kg
Re: #26 ensign joe
L M B O !!!
Got it. There’s no place like “home”. I’m such a newbie. And “The Wizard of Oz” is one of my favourite movies. Duh. You’d think I would have at least guessed what it was. I thought it was a Star Trek in-joke. But it’s a internet in-joke.
Thanks. Now I won’t look quite so dumb. Woohoo!
kg
Wes Crusher was more disposable of a character than Tasha Yar. I was glad to see that whining punk go.
I think Weaton should write a book called “Life of a has-been”. Altho, I did see him in a giant snake movie.
I think that Wheaton is right, this is definately Trek’s last chance, at least for a good long time. Even if this movie fails, there will probably be another series somewhere along the road. It might be 10, 20, or 30 years before another one is reached, but it’ll still live on.
Someone will one day in the future will pick up that old series called “Trek” that no one’s heard about in over 30 years, and will dust off the cover. After watching a few hundred episodes, they’ll realize that this is something worthwhile.
Even if this movie tanks, which hopefully it won’t, I have made it my personal goal to work my way up the ranks in order to reestablish the Trek universe myself. May Q stop me if he wishes, but it will be done. To hell with what anyone else thinks, it will always live on.
Plus, if this movie goes well, we might be looking at more movies, possibly another series (TOS remake??), and thousands of new fans.
May Trek live long and prosper, even moreso than it already has.
Re: #27. Red Shirt
Thanks! Your comment wasn’t posted yet when I checked. Guess I was following the link in #26 while you were typing. Those links are excellent. They explain things well. I’ll check your link out later. Gotta go make dinner… :-|
kg
#32 T’Juli
I got this idea when I was a kid.. pondering infinity.. about what would somebody do with all that time… how would you pass the time.. me, I’d make the Enterprise ;)
Wil Wheaton is the man.
I do actually, when it comes down to it, enjoy his character on TNG, but there’s no doubt he was terrible mishandled the first two seasons of the show and given some of the most godawful dialogue ever seen in Trekdom during that time, which kind of made it an uphill battle from there. Course, a lot of the characters (Picard even, to a great extent) were mishandled that first season, so I guess Wesley just gets most of the flack cause he was the easiest target. After all, he’s from Starfleet. They don’t lie.
Shame his Nemesis cameo was mostly cut-out. Course, extra time in the dune bungy-thing was much more important, so can we really blame them?
and? You want a medal
” 1. Michaer - February 6, 2008
First
“
Yeah, I was not a big Wesley Crusher fan either but time has mellowed me and he has a good attitude about Trek-dom. So I can cut him some slack.
He also mentioned the run from season 3 through 6 where the finest episodes of TNG were created IMO. Like the writing team was hitting on all cylinders.
Thanks again guys - another interesting interview made available by this site.
I’m in the ‘like Wheaton as a person, not so much as Wesley’ camp. He did rock in Stand By Me.
“…been burned over, and over, and over again with things that I love…”
And what have I been saying??
Good job, Wil. (Wesley, all is now forgiven!)
I think a lot of people got tired of Wes saving the day, again and again like some boy genius. The worst was when Wesley saved the Enterprise hijacked from spacedock with his new little girlfriend, something out of Scooby Doo, “If it weren’t for those kids, we woulda gotten away with a Galaxy class starship!”
But like Next Gen, Wesley just need to grow up. I got a new appreciation for him after the traveler. Its too bad we didn’t see more of the mature Wesley. On that note, Alexander was annoying in his own whiny little way till he grew up. The adult version on DS9 was also a great character.
#13 “They weren’t, at that time — as in this case — pretending to like Star Trek.”
I don’t think I’m misinterpreting what you’re saying, but believe me that neither Tom nor Mary are “pretending” to like Star Trek. They are for real, letting their geek flags fly high.
good interview…
I also like Will and his attitude but never did warm to his TNG character
On my iPhone - on holiday in south africa - in the loo again!
> “There’s no place like 127.0.0.1″
The bumper sticker (and more) are sold @ ThinkGeek
http://www.thinkgeek.com/brain/whereisit.cgi?t=127.0.0.1
( this post is just FYI, not commercial spam )
Every time I see more of Wil Wheaton, I like Wil Wheaton more. By now it’s up to quite a lot of liking.
I don’t think anything could warm me to Wesley Crusher, but that isn’t really his fault. If I ever meet Wheaton at a con, I’ll be full of praise for his fun voice-work on GTA: San Andreas instead, and just gloss right past the Trek. Maybe I’d toss in a nostalgic note about Stand By Me, or chuckle over the opening scene of that Lovecraft adaptation he was in (”so, what DID they make that manure out of?”). I like Wheaton, and I like some things he’s been in, too. Just not Crusher.
I don’t have a problem with geeky characters (I often love them with all of my geeky heart), but I do have a problem with the stereotypical know-it-all types, who seldom ring true as people.
#22… but, if you aren’t true to yourself, you’ll never attract someone that shares your interests.
No one in school knew I liked ST except my close friends… who happened to be Trekkers. I guess I never was one to be fake just to make social points.
I wasn’t the stereotypical nerd, I just wasn’t interested in the airheaded girls who only liked jocks. The shallow type didn’t do it for me.
I’m just sayin, it would have been nice to get to know a nice-looking one like that, who was smart enough to show she liked stuff like Trek.
#31 - I think Weaton should write a book called “Life of a has-been”. Altho, I did see him in a giant snake movie.
You know Wil has written 3 books. One of which (Just a Geek) starts off with his “Hooter’s Incident” that talks about life after Star Trek and lack there of roles that followed. It’s a good, but if you want to read a book to really get to know Wil read “Dancing Barefoot” (has a great story about a Trek Convention) or my favorite “The Happiest Days of Our Lives” (all about growing up geek).
For those of you who didn’t like Crusher don’t take it out on Wil until you get to know him through his books and blog. He seems really down to earth, though I haven’t met him yet he has been kind enough to respond to a couple of questions I’ve emailed him before.
#15 said:
“Wesley…. inadvertently kneecapped the other characters on TNG as written. Picard and Riker were made to be fools, LaForge incompetent, and Data malprogrammed.”
That’s a poor observation; not even vaguely accurate. The writers of the series, in fact, set up an arc for Wesley wherein he was basically a super-genius, so much so that he Traveller, a cosmic entity of some sort, feels the need to pop in and check on his progress. That character makes it obvious that Wesley has some sort of important destiny to play in mankind’s future.
With that mind, the fact that Wesley is occasionally able to out-perform other crewmembers is perhaps not that surprising.
Unfortunately, due to whining fanboys’ poor reaction to the character, Wesley’s arc never quite paid off. Personally, I’d like to see that taken into consideration if another post-Nemesis series is undertaken at some point in time.
Also, I have to say this . . . the host of the webshow this clip came from is about as annoying an onscreen personality since that guy who wears all the question marks and wants to tell me about government grants.
Were there any pans in those Picks n’ Pans?
It’s ok to not like Wesley Crusher. Wil doesn’t like him much either and often makes fun of how poorly written TNG was in it’s first seasons. I consider his blog required reading for the informed geek.
Star Trek: TITAN !!!
This needs to be made! Not a tv show, but a direct to DVD movie.
Riker
Troi
Tuvok
W. Crusher
does she have to say right all the time throughout the bloody interview.
My god. She actually says it 30+ times.
If they are gonna make it last, they will NEED to appeal to the younger audience prob teens more than us old skool ppl, the merchandising will appeal to them and so drive the popularity. Also the concepts will have to be young & fresh to draw in this generation. If not Trek will die for a long while..
#50: And it WILL be made! Just wait what happens after Trek XI…At the moment, CBS has promised Paramount not to produce any new Trek in order to increase people’s curiosity and hunger. I’m pretty sure that’s about to change when this movie is out, especially if it is a big hit…
I’m pretty sure that CBS are already planning out some DTV projects concerning the spin off shows. And a TITAN movie is a likely setting. I’m also still hoping we’re gonna see the Enterprise crew again, this time showing us the real Foundation of the Federation…
With ParPic enganged in blockbuster movies, CBS is certainly prepared to exploit their own rights. They just can’t announce it yet since this would harm the movie’s release.
DTV productions are quite common these days in the realms of SciFi. Just look at B5 or SG-1! Or Species 3+4! Don’t bother, CBS is just waiting for the right moment to move ahead in this area…
Nice interview!
I think most people actually liked Wesley, but still made fun of him because he’s a very obvious target.
I think that Wesley Crusher was actually very likable as a person — he just rarely got to be a hero. If you put Luke Skywalker aboard the Enterprise and never let him do anything heroic, people would probably hate that character even more.
The only people who would actually hate WILL are just ignorant, and not really very big TNG fans, or they would know how cool Will was.
I realised how cool Will Wheaton was when I read a certain suggestive comment he made about Doctor Crusher. ;) End of argument. Will is great!
(Sorry… ‘Wil’ not ‘Will’. Been a while since I wrote it!)
Oh, I may as well post what I’m talking about…
Read this and tell me Wil isn’t cool!
http://www.wilwheaton.net/2001/10/the_waiting_is_the_hardest_par.php
(click the link to the BBspot interview)
‘I have a sticker on my car that says, “There is no place like 127.0.0.1″ ‘
Sometimes, a loopback ping is the only thing that keeps us support rats from chucking the whole damn rig into the recovery bin………!
is will the new shatner? If it wasn’t for trek would we even care about him?
#57- Yeah.
I’ve pinged myself so many times, I’m starting to go blind…
Excellent video clip and loved the trekmovie.com shout out. Nice!
Wil guest reviewed a few TNG episodes a couple of years ago. Very funny (WARNING: colorful metaphors):
TNG: The Battle
http://www.tvsquad.com/2007/02/12/star-trek-the-next-generation-the-battle/
TNG: Justice
http://www.tvsquad.com/2006/12/05/star-trek-the-next-generation-justice/
TNG: The Big Goodbye
http://www.tvsquad.com/2007/07/11/star-trek-the-next-generation-the-big-goodbye/
Wil makes good-natured fun of the show and himself. This paragraph made me laugh:
‘The scene cuts to the Bridge, and Trekkies reach for their own pain killers and anti-nausea medication when newly-minted acting ensign Wesley Crusher, in his brand new gay pride space suit, storms into the Bridge, walks right up to Geordi’s console, and tells Riker, “Commander, you’ll soon be getting an intruder alert.” Riker’s irritation with Wesley is slightly less than the audience’s, and he says, “Uh, listen, kid, if you have a report –” but before he can finish, Wesley interrupts him, ignores him, and tells Geordi to use the sensors to scan heading something or other. While the audience picks themselves up off the floor, and the official scribes of fan fiction spontaneously devise seven thousand different ways to shove things up Wesley’s a** and kill him, Picard arrives.’
Well worth your valuable time.
Thanks for them. Interesting and hilarious!
Wesley just needs to get over his 15 minutes and get a real job.
#63 - Wesley was the character, not the actor. Now kindly STFU.
Will had a great final episode, “Journeys End” season 7.
Kicked ass.
#47 professed:
That’s a poor observation; not even vaguely accurate. The writers of the series, in fact, set up an arc for Wesley wherein he was basically a super-genius, so much so that he Traveller, a cosmic entity of some sort, feels the need to pop in and check on his progress. That character makes it obvious that Wesley has some sort of important destiny to play in mankind’s future.
Ummm, not to be rotten here… but how closely were you paying attention to the production of TNG back in 1987 and 1988. The writing staff was completely overhauled, and this is well documented. So, which “writers of the series” exactly are you talking about that “set up and arc for Wesley”? The eventual reappearance of the Traveler and the whole arc was developed by Ron Moore…. well AFTER 1990. So, forgive me for saying, your thesis is completely false.
http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/6952/ron47.txt
#47 also professed:
Unfortunately, due to whining fanboys’ poor reaction to the character, Wesley’s arc never quite paid off. Personally, I’d like to see that taken into consideration if another post-Nemesis series is undertaken at some point in time.
Whining fanboys? That’s a load of derision, which at the time of Wesley’s exit early in Season 4, wasn’t in any way due to “whining fanboys.” The writers that came on board by Season 3, already saw the writing on the wall. Wesley had become a one-note character, and as is well-documented was getting in the way of stories. Piller and his staff did the honorable and sent him off to the academy… and as I’ve mentioned earlier, Moore had the epiphany of bringing back the Traveler later on.
Wesley’s arc “never paid off”??? Of course first off, there never was an arc… it was Moore’s afterthought which actually made a lot of sense… and gave Wheaton a chance to redeem the character and add a few layers to Wesley that made sense. If that’s not an paying off… what exactly would have been? A graduated Ensign Wesley coming back to sit at Conn because Colm Meaney’s O’Brien had gone off to DS9? That would have been as bizarre as a never-promoted Ensign J-L Picard serving as a third-shift archaeologist in the sciences department.
Wesley could have been so much more than he was. It was only once he put on that red uniform that the writers began giving him a believable personality, and then he left the show. Had he stuck around until the last season, the character really could have grown.
That said, I’ve always liked him, and Wil seems to be a pretty kickass guy.
Uhhhh! just sign off!
Darth “Not another teen video blog” Ballz
What a great guy. Those reviews were hilarious, #61.
There has to be some sort of irony in the fact that Wil Wheaton is now the actor who most closely and easily relates to the Star Trek fan base.
#70: Yes, that’s a very good point :)
The Gold Key thing sounds great. Guessing it will be out of my price range, but would be fun to see.
Glad I am not a regular viewer of the “Bif Bam Pow Wow” though. Some good stuff presented there, but the presentation itself leaves something to be desired.
As for Mr. Wheaton, he seemed to have a good, cautious attitude towards the thing. So he has that going for him. Which is nice.
#61
That’s some funny stuff! Thanks for sharing!
I couldn’t stand Wes either, but this Wheaton kid, well, that’s just a whole ‘nother thing!
Peace. Live long and prosper.
The Vulcanista }:-|
Damn that guy is lame. I made it to where he said “…T-O-S as us hipsters like to call it”, and could stand no more.
Settle down dude, and stop talking like that. Jeez…
Wheaton is the man! He is funny and the most down to earth guy you’ll meet , my lady and I met him in Vegas and the Convention this last August . Click on my name and go into my pictures , My girl posed with him! He’s such a mack I didn’t mind trusting her with him for a minute …but only a minute!!! ;-) LOL
Did anyone see the Wil Wheaton movie “The last Prostitute”? Tango likes that movie. ;-)
Nice interview, although I disagree with this being ”Start Treks last chance”. Even if it bombed they’d still bring it back again in 10 years.
Interesting that this turned into a Wesley debate and no-ones talked about ‘Rod’s’ comments. They were quite ominous to say the least.
He looks a bit bitter about it all.
Has ‘Rod’ ever written his own Star Trek fan script?
-COOL!
#45–”but, if you aren’t true to yourself, you’ll never attract someone that shares your interests.”
Very true, however I never meant to imply that I wasn’t. Star Trek was “one” of my interests (no one else I knew was a Trek fan), but it hardly defined me. I WAS a jock (and I’m still a HUGE sports fan), and dare I say a fairly popular guy. If I had known someone who shared my interest in Star Trek, it would have made it more enjoyable, but I did not. In fact, in my whole life, I have never met a person who loved Trek as much as I do, yet still shared enough of my other interests to warrant becoming close to them. My wife laughs at my interest in Star Trek, but that’s okay. My kids like it, and that’s great! They have become the Trek friends I never had (although they cannot seem to get behind TOS, the way their dad does).
The Wesley character, was, perhaps burdened with Eugene WESLEY Roddenberry’s vision of what he remembered or wanted to remember about the “Boy genius” mythos (Like Tom Swift… etc)
Perhaps the myth it needed a bit of an update for the 80’s and 90’s
I think I remember seeing Will Wheaton way back in either an Outer limits or a Twilight Zone or something- good stuff.
I think Wil Wheaton is a genuinely talented individual and I enjoyed his work on TNG.
His character got off to a poor start, which is more to do with the writers. But he (Wesley) eventually ended up being much better developed. It was a shame that Wil left when he did, as I think it would have been interesting to see the full development of the character from child to man against the backdrop of the ST universe.
Hey! I think it would be a great idea to have a part for Wil as a bridge office on the new Star Trek movie.
What about it JJ? He could even be an ancestor of Wesley’s….. :)
I oughta be a producer or something you know. ;)
Or perhaps even a bridge officer…….. ;)
#25
I lost a first post a while back. Or maybe that was just Anthony editing it out since my comment was “First!”
Anyway, I’d like to point out that Wil Wheaton is the only man on the planet to have a copy of the Book of Exalted Deeds that is signed by all three of its authors. If that book sold as well as they tell us, that might actually mean something some day.
I too thought that Rod’s comments were a tad ominous….
Wil Wheaton sure seems like a nice guy.
I’ve never heard of Bif Bam before, but that was a great video… :)
People should really grow up.
When did Wesley start shaving? I must have missed that.
Wheaton made a lot of good points there. And I totally agree with this being Star Trek’s last chance. This definitely needs to be awesome if Star Trek is going to make any sort of comeback into the modern media.
I was never a fan of Wesley Crusher I hardly noticed when he left. when he did leave The Next Generation there wa’n't much of an outcry among the fans. at least none that I can recall hearing about. The sad part is that Will Wheaton can act, (does anybody remember Stand By Me?), but unlike other former trek alumni being typecast was not such a blessing. I haven’t seen him in anything substantial since his stint on The Next Generation. Which is to bad really.