Director J.J. Abrams was joined by stars Zachary Quinto (“Spock”), Leonard Nimoy (“Spock Prime”), Zoe Saldana (“Uhura”), Karl Urban (“Bones”), John Cho (“Sulu”), Bruce Greenwood (“Capt. Christopher Pike”), Jennifer Morrison (“Winona Kirk”), Clifton Collins (“Ayel”), Faran Tahir (“Captain Robau”), Jacob Kogan (“Young Spock”) and Jimmy Bennett (“Young Kirk”).

Red carpet arrivals were followed by an elegant party under the stars where guests were able to fraternize with green girls, sample some red matter and get a close up look at the “final frontier” through the Observatory’s famous telescope.

Photos courtesy of Paramount

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When that pilot was deemed to serious for TV audiences, a second pilot was made with William Shatner in the lead. That is called “Where No Man Has Gone Before.”

According to The Live Feed, an alternate version of this pilot was made and up until now, has never been seen by the general public.

CBS says they were very excited to learn of the find. They remastered the rare film and they’re releasing it as part of the “Star Trek: Original Series – Season 3″ Blu-ray release due out December 15.

The Live Feed goes on to say that this piece of footage from YouTube is a widely circulated clip from that rare pilot.

Photo: Amazon

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Though they never said the ugly “C” word, Fox has officially stated that the show will not be given an order for new episodes but they will allow Joss to complete the order for 13, giving him time to wrap up the series in a satisfactory manner.

So 13 episodes will be produced for this season, but it doesn’t mean Fox will air them all. They’ve already pulled the series for the month of November and December is traditionally a month of reruns, so it’s unlikely we’ll see much there. What they could do is hold back the new episodes and turn it all in to one super final DVD loaded with the unaired material. As it stands now, we’ll likely see the show a bit here and a bit there which will play havoc with the continuity of this already complex show.

On a side note, ABC has canceled Eastwick. The witchy dramedy never pulled in an audience, which is a shame. It was a good idea but I don’t think the casting was as strong as it should have been. With a different trio of leads, this might have worked.

Photo: Fox

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That’s kind of the idea behind Ghost Hunters Academy, the latest spin-off series from the popular Ghost Hunters franchise. Spirit-chasing wannabes are shoved head-long into a ghost hunt and only the strong will survive.

In this case, strong doesn’t mean brave or even paranormally talented — it means hard-working, honest, passionate people who are interested in getting the job done even when they’re not on camera. In this group, I’d say you’re talking about one out of the five.

Ghost Hunters second’s Dave Tango and Steve Gonsalves are in charge of training the newbies. They take them to a hunt in a spiffy new camper that gives you the “living in one house” feel of other reality shows. And though Steve and Dave don’t curse or throw tantrums like Gordon Ramsey, they do express their disappointment when someone screws up.

In the first episode, which premieres this Wednesday, November 11 at 10:00 on Syfy, the group investigates Fort Mifflin in Philadelphia. TAPS has been here before with good results so it’s time to see if the newbies can find anything.

Karl Pfeiffer and Ben Smith were pretty interchangable for me. Ben is a little geekier but neither made an impression in a good or bad way. Chris McCune strikes me as a 15 minutes of fame guy. He’s not going to last long.  Both girls are a problem (in a good way, because that’s what makes this show interesting). Heathyr Hoffman claims to be a medium, something the TAPS people are very skeptical about. Because she’s a medium she asks for special treatment, going so far as to sit out the site tour at the top of the investigation so she isn’t “influenced” by what she hears. That’s simply not going to work in the long run. Not with the way these guys conduct their investigations.

Then there’s the appropriately named Susan Slaughter.  She’s hiding something and that lands her in hot water with the bosses by the end of the episode.

The best thing about the episode is the bullshit meter – seriously, they should have a graphic on the screen because it is deep in there. When one trainee started going on about, “wow man, that’s why you guys are the pros,” in response to a common sense tip, I thought, oh please. Then we switch to Steve talking to camera about how this guy is kissing ass big time. Hooray!

The best bit comes when Steve purposely sets out a line of nonsense to see if any of the trainees will take the bait. One does and Steve calls him on it instantly, leaving the kid floundering for an explanation as to why he agreed with something that made no sense. Lesson learned? I doubt it and therein lies the fun.

I’ve been watching Ghost Hunters since the series began and lately I’ve been feeling like it needed a shot in the arm. Ghost Hunters Academy is that shot. These fresh personalities mixed with the patented Ghost Hunters formula is making everything old look new again. And though they aren’t kicking anyone off at the end of the episode, there is that sense of competition that you get from other reality shows such as Hell’s Kitchen or America’s Next Top Model.

If you’ve become an infrequent viewer of Ghost Hunters, try this new incarnation. They’re still not photographing full-body apparitions but you never know. Maybe Heathyr the medium will redeem herself and be the first one to get a ghost to smile for the camera.

Ghost Hunters Academy premieres this Wednesday, November 11 at 10:00 on Syfy.

Dave Tango, Steve Gonsalves — Syfy Photo: Tommy Garcia

(l-r) Karl Pfeiffer, Heathyr Hoffman, Chris McCune, Ben Smith, Susan Slaughter — Syfy Photo: Michael Perez

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This interactive stage show due to run at theme parks and performing arts centers across the country, takes the audience through Starfleet Academy training combining the entertainment value of Star Trek with real educational materials aimed at upping scientific literacy.

The show is said to have “cutting-edge special effects, unmatched audience interaction and an exploration of real space-age technology.” And Kirk and Spock are supposed to be there, too.

Mad Science’s Managing Director and producer Leonard Lipes says, “So much of the Star Trek technology once considered science fiction has become a reality. Star Trek Live is going to explore many of these technologies as well as other sciences for a truly memorable experience resonating to audiences of all ages.”

Star Trek Live will debut in 2010 and travel throughout the United States and Canada.

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It happens tonight, October 19, at 9:30 on CBS.

Photo: Robert Voets//CBS
©2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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Star Trek: Enterprise

The series is an adaptation of  best-selling author Terry Goodkind’s Sword of Truth book series.  Blalock, who begins filming in New Zealand this week, will portray a mysterious Sister of the Dark who possesses very powerful magic — she not only threatens Richard’s (Craig Horner) quest to defeat evil forces, but her ultimate goal is to destroy Kahlan (Bridget Regan).

The second season of the series will premiere the weekend of November 7th.  Check your local listings for exact time and dates.

Photo: Newscom

Click through the cut to watch a scene from Legend of the Seeker: The Complete First Season, which is now available on DVD.

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As someone who’s watched Star Trek most of her life, it was a real thrill to talk with an actor whose voice carries so many memories. He was warm and thoughtful but the best part was his laugh, a sound he let loose right after he was asked the first question. I wish I had a tape of it to play for you, but you’ll just have to imagine that deep, vibrato as he chuckled over a question I’m sure he’s been asked many times.

Did you have any reservations on taking another role with the potential of such a fanatic following?

L. Nimoy: I love this question.  I can’t help but laugh because you’re absolutely right.  It’s an interesting set of circumstances.  What attracted me to it was several things.  J.J. Abrams, Bob Orci, and Alex Kurtzman, who I worked with on the Star Trek movie, I admire their talent and the work that they do. The series is at the very least to say intriguing.  The character was somewhat of a blank slate, but we began talking about it and, therefore, attracted because there’s an opportunity to build an interesting and unpredictable character.  I’m enjoying it a lot.

So lately it seems as if you’re J.J. Abrams’ muse of sorts.  Can you tell us a little bit more about your relationship with him?

L. Nimoy: Well, I first met him I guess about three years ago when he first contacted me about the possibility of working together, and I went to a meeting with he and Bob Orci and Alex Kurtzman and some of his production staff.  They told me a very good and strong and touching story about their feelings about Star Trek and specifically the Spock character.

It gave me a sense of validation after all these years.  I had been out of it for some time, as you’re probably aware.  There were several Star Trek series in which I was not involved and Star Trek movies in which I was not involved.  This was a re-validation of the work that I had done, the work that we had done on the original Star Trek.  I felt very good about it and went to work for them.

I had a great time working on the movie.  I think they did a brilliant job, and I think the audience response shows that that was the case and has reinvigorated the franchise.  And when they contacted me about working on Fringe—the same people, the same attitude, the same creativity, the same creative team—it was very enticing.

You had not been acting for awhile, and then you’ve done Star Trek and Fringe pretty recently together. Have your feelings about acting changed at all?

L. Nimoy:  Well, I’m enjoying it.  I’m very comfortable in the two offers that I’ve accepted.  The Star Trek movie was a joy to do.  I admire the production team that made the film.  I admire the new cast.  Zachary Quinto I thought was a great choice for the new Spock, and it was a pleasure to work with him and with all the other people on the project.

The Fringe character was intriguing because, as I’ve mentioned, it was kind of a blank slate and we had some very interesting and intense conversations about who and what he could be and how we should perceive him, what we might or might not learn about him, what we might or might not trust about him.  These are intriguing opportunities for an actor, and they came at a time when I … and from a group of people that I had respect for.  They piqued my interest and I went back to work.   I did not expect to, frankly, be acting so much at this time in my life.  My concentration was on my photography, but I’m having a wonderful time doing it.

Have they mentioned anything about their needs for you on an upcoming Star Trek movie?

L. Nimoy: No.  My understanding is they’re working on a script right now.  I expect there’s going to be some time before they really know exactly who they need and what they need.  I frankly, frankly doubt that I will be called upon again.

I think I was useful in his last film to help bridge between the original characters, the original actors, and the new cast.  They have a wonderful new cast in place, and I’m sure they’ll move ahead with them.  I don’t see, at the moment, why they would need me in the next film, although, if they called me, I’d be happy to have a conversation about it.

How do you feel about the current state of science fiction on TV and film?

L. Nimoy: Well, I’m concerned about the positioning of story in terms of importance.  When I see a lot of explosions and a lot of chases, I’m not terribly impressed.  I think there are three terribly important elements that must be given a priority position in science fiction as well as in any other kind of drama.  The first is story, the second is story, and the third is story.  Story, story, story, story, story.  If the story is compelling and interesting, I think all the rest will find its place.

We have great technology in our industry, and that technology can be overused at the expense of story.  And that’s a problem for me, but when the story is in place, I think the special effects can find their proper place.  I think Fringe uses the technology brilliantly, but in the service of excellent story-telling.

Have you found that there’s anything different in the way television is done these days?

L. Nimoy: I think it’s safe to say that what an audience is seeing today on screen in the television episode is far more complex than what we were doing when we were, for example, making the original Star Trek series in the ‘60s.  We were very, very heavy on pages and pages of dialogue and very little special effects, but because the technology has advanced so greatly, it’s possible to do some very complex and very exciting and very useful technical stuff on the shows these days, so we don’t have to rely quite so much on the story being told by the actors speaking.

On the other hand, there is a danger, as I mentioned earlier, of going too far with the special effects at the expense of story.  But if the story is well done, if the story’s in place strongly, the special effects can be enormously helpful to the actors, far more so than they were years ago when we were making the original Star Trek series.

Will we ever see a face off between William Bell and Walter Bishop?

L. Nimoy: Unpredictable at the moment.  In the episode tomorrow night, the scene in between myself and Olivia, I think we will learn a lot more than we have known in the past about what their relationship is all about and what William Bell’s intentions are, or at least we will be told what his intentions are.  We’re not really quite sure that everything that he says is accurate or true.

As William Bell, is there a particular character flaw or even something good that you would like to have highlighted in future episodes?

L. Nimoy: This is a wonderful question.  I’m really looking forward to this character unfolding in a very interesting kind of way.  I think you’ll see, tomorrow night, one very strong aspect of him and certain idiosyncrasies that are being developed.  But I do think there’s a long way to go.  I think there’s a lot to be discovered, and I’m looking forward to discovering it with the audience.

And the final question went to me:

What is still on your “to do” list?

L. Nimoy: Well, I’m looking forward to developing the William Bell character further.  I hope the writers are interested in working with the character.  I am.  I don’t know how much further we’ll go with it, but the character, so far, has been very intriguing and the whole Fringe company has been very good to me.  I’m delighted to be involved.

I am still actively involved with my photography work.  I’m working on a current project, which is called Secret Selves, which is about hidden or fantasy or private personalities that people bring for me to photograph.  And there will be an exhibition of that name, Secret Selves, at the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art opening next summer, a solo exhibition.  I’m excited about that.

Check out my Web site, LeonardNimoyPhotography.com.  Isn’t that an amazing title for a Web site?

It certainly is, Leonard. It certainly is.

Leonard Nimoy returns to Fringe tonight in Momentum Deferred. It starts at 9:00 on Fox.

CR: Liane Hentscher/FOX

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Here are my candidates for the top five scifi quotes to make it into the pop culture vernacular.

5. “The Truth is Out There”

Ever since Mulder and Scully gave us a glimpse into The X-Files, we’ve been determined to find the real truth about aliens, Bigfoot, Elvis and Lady Gaga. That single phrase has inspired millions to look beyond what is presented to us and that’s a good thing and thanks to Chris Carter, that phrase and The X-Files will always be associated with conspiracies of every kind.

4. “I’ll be back“

Usually when you hear this phrase, it’s uttered in a flat, deep voice with an “a” that sound more like Bach than back. It’s one of the most basic lines uttered by Arnold Schwarzenegger in Terminator and it’s been used in hundreds of TV shows and movies since, and even in reference to Schwarznegger’s political career. He’s never living that one down.

3. “He’s Dead, Jim.”

It’s become a running joke, but has anyone ever counted how many times Dr. McCoy ever actually says this phrase on an episode of Star Trek? Along with “I’m a doctor not a. . . (insert job title here)” and “Beam me up, Scotty,” this phrase is recognized by non-geeks, the world over, leaving actor DeForest Kelley to remark that the line will likely end up on his tombstone.

2. “Danger, Will Robinson, danger”

This quote comes from one of my favorite scifi classics, Lost in Space. The line was  uttered by the Robot as he tried to keep his young charge from heading off into trouble on an alien planet. It was  only once in this exact format but somehow it has gone on to be copied and parodied time and again, even making an appearance on The West Wing.

1. “Luke, I am your father”

There’s something about this dramatic line from Star Wars that makes people giggle when it’s heard out of context. Said this way, it’s actually a misquote as Darth says, “No, I am your father” with the emphasis on “I”, again, not the way it’s usually repeated.  Two of the best uses of the catchphrase are in Austin Powers 2 and Toy Story 2.

Do you have a favorite scifi quote that you like to toss in when the proper occasion arises? Tell me about it in the comments below!

Graphic from Stock.xchng

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What classic scifi show do you think this Time magazine reviewer was referring to? You’ll find the answer when you read Mark Phillips’ blog covering what the critics had to say about early scifi TV.

Mark and I “met” virtually when we both began pitching stories about Irwin Allen’s TV shows to magazines such as Starlog in the early 90’s. Since then, he’s made quite a career out of tracking down crew members and guest stars — just about everyone who ever worked on an Irwin Allen production as well as other classic shows.

Together with his partner Frank Garcia, Mark wrote an extensive encyclopedia covering 62 scifi shows always trying to be as objective as possible about the material. During his research, he uncovered tons of critiques written when these shows were new and now he’s publish bits of them on his blog.

From the critic who said Lost in Space star Jonathan Harris gave the worst single performance of the year to the one who said Star Trek was a “dreary mess” — check out Mark’s blog and don’t forget to tell him that Cynthia sent you.

Photo: Amazon

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