Quinto’s Spock Is Funny? July 15, 2008
by Anthony Pascale , Filed under: ST09 Cast , trackback
And yet another update on Star Trek from yesterday’s TCA’s. E Online caught up with Star Trek (and Fringe) executive producer Bryan Burk who said of Zachary Quinto’s performance as Spock will “make you cry,” but it was additional comments from director JJ Abrams that raise an eyebrow, ‘fascinating’-style
JJ Abrams may be saying that his Star Trek is not a parody, but apparently his Spock is bringing the funny:
Zachary brought a gravity and an incredible sense of humor, which is a wonderful combination because the Spock character is deceivingly complicated. And the revelation for me in watching the movie was that he’s extraordinary. He was doing things I didn’t even realize while we were shooting. These amazing things that sort of track the story.
[E Online]
This might not be that surprising actually. Even though Vulcans are known for their stoicism, Leonard Nimoy probably gets some of the best laughs from both the Star Trek series and films. Of course not everyone appreciates Spock’s wit.
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And what about those communicators?! What is the deal with those? And what about those Tribbles?
Interesting can’t wait to see it
I would expect the part of Spock should be addrsssed with the same dry humor Nimoy instilled in the role.
I hope its the same dryness in his wit than he had with McCoy.
Hope he keeps the Vulcan mannnerisms
Technically, Spock *is* funny. Well, maybe not ‘funny’, but chuckle-worthy. His coolly delivered logical zingers and naivete when it came to emotions kept him from being boring.
Humor, when applied right, is very logical.
What’s the deal with starship food?
The universe is very… gassy.
…As long as the humor is not “kitschy’ it’ll be okay…
What is the deal with food dispensers? And what about those Transporters? And the Klingons! Who are those people?!
That’s Not What ‘kitschy’ means!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And I hope they don’t make Spock into a conversation piece – he should just be accepted at a regular character on the movie, not something to be nice to fans.
I still hope this will be an awesome movie.
Spock has always had a sense of humor, and a devastating one at that.
re: 11 KJTrek
I know what “kitsch” means . I was making an ill advised attempt at “humor” because of JJ’s recent comments:
“…… there’s a kind of kitschy quality that must go if it’s going to be something that you believe is real…Our Star Trek is not parody…”
( see http://trekmovie.com/2008/07/14/abrams-my-star-trek-not-kitchy-dissapointed-not-showing-at-comic-con/ )
Just kidding around… okay?
{*sigh, humans… )
I wonder if we’ll hear Spock’s guitar theme. They played every time he was on screen in TOS.
When did everyone start channelling Jerry Seinfeld? What is the deal with that?!
As long as there are no references to beans and whiskey being “an explosive combination.”
“It was SO hot on Vulcan today….”
HOW HOT WUZ IT?
Doesn’t Quinto ever shave?
“It was SO hot that I went deep into the Plak-Tow just to cool off!”
“Thank you! Thank you! I’ll be here all night!”
ByGeorge…
Yes, every 2 hours.
If I had a tomato you’d be sauced!lol
Spock is a smart guy. I bet his humor is all about equations and ratios and stuff like that.
I am deeply pleased to discover that Zachary Quinto’s Spock will have the oh so classical “Vulcan humor.”
I would hope he is every bit as capable of delivering “Spock humor” as his predecessor, and with Nimoy on set, I have never doubted that he will capture the essence of Spock (including that deceptively complicated personality and wit).
“A joke… is a story with a humorous climax.” — Spock
Of course Spock is funny…
Bones; “Logic? Medical men are trained in logic.”
Mr. Spock; “Really, Doctor, I had no idea they were trained. Watching you, I assumed it was trial and error.”
If I were human my response would be “Go to hell”.
One of my favorite Spockisms was his “beads and rattles” retort to McCoy. Watching Heros gives me hope that Quinto has the stuff to do Spock justice.
A vulcan, a scottsman, and a guy from Iowa go into a bar on Rigel and… stop me if you’ve heard this one….
I can’t hear the YouTube clip…
…because, apparently, I have “1 New Message!” And it’s chirping like a @%$&^#&^ cricket!!! Make it stop!
(Anyone else having this problem? That’s one ANNOYING ad up top, Anthony!)
Hey, #20! *I* laughed out loud. Very funny!
30. The Bova Effect – July 15, 2008
“A vulcan, a scottsman, and a guy from Iowa go into a bar on Rigel and… stop me if you’ve heard this one….”
Hey, I am from Iowa and I take offense to that….
;-)
Spock often had the funniest lines.
[to McCoy] “He was no doubt terrified of your beads and rattles.”
[to McCoy] “Nor have you, doctor, as your continued predilection for irrelevency demonstrates.”
[to Edith Keeler] “I am attempting, madam, to create a mnemonic memory circuit using stone knives and bearskins.”
[to no one in particular] “I’ve been dead before.”
“Anyone else having this problem? That’s one ANNOYING ad up top, Anthony!)”
I was looking for a cricket here under my desk before I figured it out! I’ve got tons of the danged little critters and they are always getting into my house.
As long as Spock doesn’t give Kirk a wedgie.
The best funny Spock line: any time he raised that eyebrow (or the other eyebrow, or both together…).
I think Spock is rubbish.
Lt. Kyle was clearly the funniest of the group.
Personally, I thought Nurse Chapel was hilarious!!!!
Aw, c’mon, didn’t YOU??
Harry#39- I know you were downing the vino last night, my darling, but what has been your drink of choice this evening…
I liked the part in Tribbles, where Spock is talking to Cyrano about breeding Tribbles in the wrong habitat, and Cyrano goes, “Of course, wha what did you say?”
Denise, I tend to have wine most evenings…..sometimes even to excess.
Harry#42- Put that wine glass down right now and devote yourself to the task at hand – being a scintilating conversationalist for moi.
As I understand it, Spock began to lighten up, and in due course was able to show his signature humorous side when Kirk became his commanding officer and offered his unconditional friendship. Now we’ll probably be told about the beginning of their friendship before the 5-year-mission. According to WNMHGB, Kirk was rather stiff then, a stack of books with legs. According to Spock’s mother in JTB, Spock was a very stiff guy then, too, as he was in constant struggle with his human half, not knowing where he belonged.
Can’t wait for them two funny guys trading jokes.
I love a deliciously dry wit like Spock’s – when you need some intelligence to get it.
Should make for some great back-and-forth between he and McCoy. ;-)
Can’t wait!!!
Spockfeld!
#42 n’ #43 Geez get a chat room
As long as he has the same dryness with Karl Urban than Leonard Nimoy had with DeForest Kelley I think this is really cool.
As long as he is not changing the essence of the character, it will be fine.
Sounds like Quinto will prob be great as Spock. He might honour Leonard Nimoy after all.
I take this as a very promising sign. Nimoy always played Spock with such a fun dry wit. If Quinto can pull that off as well, I’ll be in heaven.
I suppose you could get all three of the Spocks together to have a sitcom…
Leonard Nimoy, Zachary Quinto and Jacob Kogan in.. Two and a Half Vulcan Men.
But yes sense of humor is essentialy. Spock had very dry humor.. even when he wasn’t trying to be funny he could be. Star Trek: The Final Frontier campfire scene comes to mind.
“One damned minute Admiral.”
3 actors playing spock and we see him as a baby being born as well?
Its only 3 Spocks and a Baby
Spock was always funny, and Sarek also had a line in dry wit. I’m glad to hear that Spock keeps his sense of humour. Vulcans with a sense of humour is something the other Trek incarnations just seemed incapable of understanding.
Maquis#47- Do you specialize in being snarky for no reason at all?
Humor…
it is not logical.
Ahem… Pardon me…
“Humor. It is a difficult concept… it is not logical”
Gods do I feel sheepish misquoting that line.
Denise, that’s why he’s known as Maquis da Sad!
“Spock-feld” is filmed before a live studio audience.
TUVOK: Spock, how was your date last evening?
SPOCK: It was progressing quite well until I noticed her hair was .4 centimeters shorter than mine.
TUVOK: What is wrong with that?
SPOCK: I do not think I can date a woman with shorter hair than mine. it seems… disquietiing; almost more masculine than myself.
::: In bursts Spock’s neighbor, Sybok, almost tripping over his own feet :::
SYBOK: Sheeeesh! Spock, you know what your problem is? You’re an anti-follicle-ite! Yeah, you need hair help. Hey, buddy, gimmee a squeegee and some rum.
SPOCK: What exactly do you want with a squeegee and some rum?
SYBOK: Look, I got a lead on where paradise is, but no one believes me! So, I gotta knock people out to go with me. I figure I’ll sneak up behind them and Whamo! get them with a squeegee full of rum! Knock ‘em out cold, Spock!
TUVOK: You could merely apply a kneck pinch. Hey- perhaps I can do that when I wish to end a relationship.
:::phone rings:::
TUVOK: I will get it. It could be the gentleman who interviewed me earlier this day. (into phone) Hello, this is Vulcan-lay Industries…
:::enter T’Pol:::
SPOCK: Hey, T’Powie!
T’POL: Spock, weren’t you supposed to meet me at the movies? I waited in the rain for an hour. My city sombraro has become extremely water-logged.
– and so on until ya’ wanna strangle yerself wit’ a bagel…
Arrrrrr…
BND#57- Gotta’ love that Vulcan humour…
Humour with a “u”, eh?
Aw, Denise, don’t tell me that you’re Canadian after all this!!
Let’s remember that the Spock character is one that looks at humanity from the outside. Each of the series has had a similar character; Odo on DS9, 7 on Voyager, Data on TNG. At this point in Spock’s life, he probably should be the most ardently ‘Vulcan’ and less likely to embrace his human half at least until TMP. In TOS, he believes discipline and logic are the way to go..so I imagine this pre-TOS Spock would look at humanity in an almost cynical way. I hope they recreate some of the verbal tete between Spock and the Doctor seen in TOS.
#60
Got to agree with you here. At this point in Spock’s life/career he will probably have almost a disdain for humans and their emotions, considering what we know and can infer of his upbringing on Vulcan. Anyone expecting to see Spock behaving as he did in TOS is going to be somewhat disappointed I think.
But I have hopes this film will be, at the least, interesting, and dare I say it? Entertaining.
To no one in particular….
Please, no forced humour in this movie.
Actually the way I see Spock at this point in his life is naive to Earth and its emotional culture. I see him as younger and slightly less in control of his emotions due to both his youth and lack of experience in dealing with a culture that embraces emotions. Coming from a culture so very different than anywhere else, I see him as confused, naive, bewildered, and perhaps a little less controlled in his emotions than he will be when we see him in TOS.
One of the funniest exchanges in all of Star Trek, but the credit goes to James Doohan for the impeccable timing.
SPOCK: “Ah, Mr. Scott. I understand you’re having trouble with the warp drive. How much time do you require for repairs?”
SCOTTY: “There’s nothin’ wrong with the bloody thing!”
SPOCK: “Mr. Scott. If we return to Spacedock, the killers will find a way to dispose of their incriminating footwear, and we will never see the Captain or Dr. McCoy again.”
SCOTTY: “Could take weeks, sir.” (Exits)
#53 n’ #56 Sorry I just couldn’t take anymore of your “Wine-ing” BAHNG!!
#63
Perhaps it is just my interpretation of Spock, but I always thought that because of his half human side and the need to ‘please’ his Father, Spock in fact ‘Out-Vulcaned’ full Vulcans in order to prove he was as good or better than them. Which of course is doomed to failure as the drive to do this is based on an emotional need in the first place. He deliberately chose Starfleet over the Vulcan science academy, perhaps in an effort to prove that he could be placed among illogical, irrational Humans and not be any lesser a Vulcan for it. And he proobably chose this path because sub-concsiously he wanted to, in some way, rebel against his Father. Yet another Human trait. Phew!
Of course, I could just be talking a load of bollocks. :-)
Fun to debate this though, I never get to talk like this with friends or family, too geeky/nerdy for them I suppose!
proobably? There goes a half intelligent post out of the window (again) Sheesh!
For the love of god, please no potty humor in the movie.
[from ST:V] Kirk: “I have to sit down.” [presses a button and out from the wall pops the brig toilet]
#66
Many interpretations of Spock’s interior. I always thought he went into Star Fleet because he was effected by human elements in his personality – though he’d never admit it. Curiosity, restlessness, wanderlust, star struck, adventurousness come to mind. The Spock we know would be quite dissatisfied at 18 years old at the prospect of spending the next 150 years crunching numbers and doing some sterile research in a boring lab on Vulcan where he doesn’t really feel comfortable anyhow. He’s too energetic and active for that.
What I was referring to was the idea that it would be easy to be unemotional and logical if everyone around you was doing the same – like on Vulcan. However, it might not be so easy to be as perfectly unemotional when you are surrounded by people who are very emotional. Many aspects of emotion would be foreign to him. Dishonesty, manipulation, and competitiveness would be foreign to him but he would have to learn to deal with it. Pleasure, entertainment and relaxation are a huge part of Human culture as is lots of culture concerning dating, sexuality, romance etc. He would be struck with culture shock and logic could get confusing and undefined for him when faced with such mass amounts of emotionalism.
spock has had some of the best funny lines in trek.
im looking forward to quintos take on this. i hope he has the voice of spock
greg
UK