RIP: Ricardo Montalban

To the last, I will grapple with thee...
From Hell's heart, I stab at thee!
For hate's sake, I spit my last breath at thee!



Ricardo Montalban died today, aged 88. He was widely known as Star Trek's best villain, Khan Noonien Singh and as Mr. Roarke on Fantasy Island, but in reality he really was Hollywood's most widely known latin performer of the 50s. He will be solely missed.

RIP Majel Barrett-Roddenberry

Majel Barrett-Roddenberry passed away yesterday at the age of 76.

Majel (wife of Gene Roddenberry, creator of Star Trek) appeared in the Original Series as Nurse Christine Chapel and in Next Generation as Lwaxana Troi (Deanna Troi's  mother) as well as providing the voice for the computer of the Enterprise. She also voiced the computer on most of the other Star Trek series (Deep Space Nine, Voyager) and was going to do the same for the new Star Trek movie (it's unclear if she had finished her recordings).


Majel Barrett-Roddenberry as Nurse Christine Chapel (left) and Lwaxana Troi (right)

May she rest in peace.

Star Trek 90210

I suppose that just about every geek in the known universe has seen the Star Trek trailer multiple times, scrutinizing every frame that could possibly violate the holy canon. Around the net, heated discussions take place concerning Enterprise's new look, the glossy revamped bridge, and of course Uhura's boobs (sex in Star Trek? Blasphemy!).

As Commander Sulu would say: "Oh my!"

But is that really the main point? I really don't care how the re-imagined ST looks, I care how it feels. And somehow it reminds me more of a Smallville/Top Gun/Star Wars crossover than the original series... ST wasn't about action and getting stuff blown up, it was more about ideas, optimism and, well, some silly looking aliens. Also, what's this thing that Hollywood has about origin stories recently (Young Hannibal anybody)? I've grown so tired of watching pretty little white boys posing as action stars! Give us the real thing!

Real men. Campy uniforms.