LAS VEGAS — Welcome to
Creation Entertainment's 6th annual Official
Star Trek Convention in Sin City! Over the four days of this massive event, we will bring you on-the-spot coverage from the Vegas Hilton of the legion of celebrity appearances at this ultimate
Trek gathering. So with no further ado, let's get started!
Thursday, August 9
10:00 a.m. Suzie Plakson, Patty Yasutake
Adam Malin, co-CEO of Creation, mentioned in his opening remarks that the Vegas convention is mushrooming into five days next year. One reason? A 10 a.m. start time on opening day Thursday, two hours ahead of the norm, is one easy sign. The daily ticket line was still going strong outside the hall, but the early hour didn't dent the crowd for two ladies who, ironically, had never shared a Star Trek stage before, live or on set: Patty "Nurse Ogawa" Yasutake and Suzie Plakson, alter ego to numerous roles from the tragic K'Ehleyr to the Vulcan Dr. Selar to the Andorian Tarah — and even Mrs. Q.
You'd never know the two had just met for the first time backstage, the way they sparked and traded tales with the fans. Neither had been on the convention stage much recently, but that didn't stop the fan love and questions despite the lag since their actual days on the various shows dating back to TNG: "Thanks to all of you for keeping us alive, and embraced," Patty said.
On the recent front, Suzie was hip to talk about her new love, country music — inspired by her late father's lifelong passion for it — and her new CD "Good Luck Charm", with seven of its songs written by her. Patty asked fans to look for her recent commercials and a spot coming up on "The Unit." "I've gone from nurses to judges, so that's a good thing!" she quipped.
Suzie recalled that she worked several times on Star Trek and only knew Michael "Worf" Dorn in his Klingon guise, unaware of what he really looked like. "Ooooooo, too bad," Patty purred as both laughed about their handsome colleague.
One fan's question about embarrassing moments led Suzie to recall her stint on Enterprise and the Andorian prop guns that carried no built-in light or sound — cracking up the Vegas audience as she recalled unabashedly adding her own "buhuhuh buhuhuh" shooting sound noise during a firefight scene until the director yelled "Cut! Cut!" "It was then that I realized that for Star Trek acting, apart from all other roles, I don't use my head and training; I just got caught being a child." Patty agreed, recalling in "Ethics" how she was affected for her pal Dorn when Worf is paralyzed and undergoes spinal surgery while she "assists" Dr. Crusher. "I wanted him to live so much I was too far gone — I was all stressed," Patty told the crowd, pantomiming and laughing. "I heard the director yell, "Cut! Cut!' and then say, 'Uh, Patty — stabbing those buttons harder doesn't make them work better!"
Scarlett "Naomi Wildman" Pomers was originally scheduled to also be part of this session, but she was rescheduled for the afternoon to replace Louise Fletcher, who Adam told us cancelled due to a conflict.
11:15
Tim Russ
Our Voyager Vulcan has an almost infinite diversity of projects going on, from acting to directing to music (he performed at the Welcoming Party last night) and now publishing. Tim Russ announced that his audiobook of children's songs titled "Bugsters Tunes & Tales!" has been printed in hardcover, and he would be selling copies and signing them in the dealer's room over the weekend.
Tim also talked about the new fall sitcom that he will play a regular role on, the ABC show starring Christina Applegate, the first episode of which was directed by Robert Duncan McNeill. As Robbie had mentioned at Grand Slam in Burbank back in April, the original title of the show was "Sam I Am," but that had to be scrapped due to legal problems from the estate of Dr. Seuss. It was later announced the show would be titled "Samantha Be Good," but now Tim is calling it "Samantha Who?" (a quick check on IMDB.com confirms this). Tim plays "Frank the Doorman," who shares his "sidewalk philosophy on life" with the title character, an amnesia victim.
But the most exciting presentation Tim had for the Star Trek crowd was the latest trailer for the independent Internet production "Star Trek: Of Gods and Men," which played on the two large screens in the cavernous auditorium. You may have seen this trailer at the movie's website, www.startrekofgodsandmen.com, but watching it online doesn't compare to seeing it on the big screen. It comes across as highly professional and extremely dramatic.
Tim said he thinks Part 1 of the three-part miniseries will be available for download in September. Post-production has been drawn out because the unpaid volunteers doing the extensive CG work in the project are doing so in their spare time. But he assured, "It will be out, don't worry, be patient."
Tim also mentioned his recent work in the third "Die Hard" sequel, "Live Free or Die Hard." "They're already planning the next sequel," he said. "It'll be called 'Die Already!' Or, "Die, For Crying Out Loud!"
11:35
Bob Justman
The co-producer of the Original Series and supervising producer of The Next Generation received a warm welcome. "Friends, Romans, Vulcans, lend me your ears," he opened. "It's been a long time coming, but this has been one of the best times of my life. To be with people like you who believe in the same things I do."
Justman spent a portion of his time on stage showing a clip from a film made a few years ago by the National Air & Space Museum, which included interviews with Gene Roddenberry, DeForest Kelley, Harlan Ellison, William Shatner and others including himself, providing reflections on Star Trek as not so much "an action adventure as the network characterized it," but as "a morality play."
The 81-year-old then took a few questions from the audience members lined up on either side of the large stage, taking two at a time from each side so he wouldn't have to walk all the way across so many times.
He said that his work on the original Star Trek was emotionally the best time of his life. " But getting what we did get out of the product was debilitating; it was very difficult," he reflected. "It was truly an incredible effort and it took an incredible toll on us. Though we did have some good times. I particularly liked standing on Gene's desk waiting for the rewrites so I could take them to the crew ... After all was said and done, it was an effort that was worth it, and resounds today."
Asked his opinion on the new "Star Trek" movie from J.J. Abrams, Justman said, "I'm thrilled. I'm thrilled that it has such a long aftermath. I haven't read the material, but what has been dropped here and there I find very exciting and enticing ... I wish him the best and to be successful."
12:10 p.m.
Malachi Throne
Named after the 39th book of the Old Testament, Malachi Throne ("Jose Mendez," "Senator Pardek") talked a bit about how his stentorian voice got him certain types of acting jobs.
"Because of the sound of my voice, I was always behind a desk. The 'voice of authority.'"
His long career ("My career is about 66 years old now! I started when I was 11") has seen numerous roles in classic genre shows, including a Star Trek rival or sorts.
"I had a sword fight with Guy Williams (Professor John Robinson) on Lost in Space, and I loved that. But, I lost that fight."
But still, it all comes down to Star Trek: "Most people remember me as Commodore Mendez."
Page 2: Dwight Schultz, Scarlett Pomers, Catherine Hicks, LeVar Burton, Gates McFadden
