Pitching Star Trek Toys

The Playmates line of Star Trek action figures and other playsets/ships/fan stuff was the height of Trek toys in the 1990s. This year Playmates has revived an initial small offering of Trek action figures, leading the trio to ask, "What Trek toys should be made for the current series?" Join us in the proverbial board room as we pitch what would work to capitalize, er, enhance fan enjoyment of "Discovery," "Prodigy," "Picard," "Lower Decks," and "Strange New Worlds." What did and didn't work with toys in the past? What does a new generation of fans (and old fans/collectors) want to see in the virtual toy aisle? Let us know what you would buy from our newly created selection.

Deep Space Nine's version of "Star Trek: Lower Decks"

As the animated series "Lower Decks" continues its third season, the trio asks: What would be the Deep Space Nine version of a "Lower Decks"-type crew? We've seen examples of the other series in (titled appropriately enough) "Lower Decks" (TNG) and "Good Shepherd" (VOY), but what about everyone's favorite space station? We examine life on the "lower pylons" and what crew would populate the bottom rung of the Starfleet/Bajoran militia-led crew. From errant Ferengi to annoyed ensigns to inter-pylon rivalries, we populate a new DS9 animated series. What hijinx will our crew get up to? Tune into "Lower Pylons"!

A New Star Trek: The Experience

For Trek fans in the late 90s and early 2000s, there was a chance to experience our favorite franchise in person. From 1998 to 2008, "Star Trek: The Experience" lived at the Las Vegas Hilton, allowing visitors to walk through a Trek "museum", visit shops, and have drinks in a recreation of Deep Space Nine's promenade, including chatting with Ferengi, Borg, and other characters. The two main "rides" were "Klingon Encounter" and "Borg Invasion 4-D", where you could visit the bridge of the Enterprise-D or avoid Borg assimilation near the Delta Quadrant. 

In the 2020s, no such place exists, outside of the recreation of the TOS sets in Ticonderoga, NY. What would a "Star Trek: The Experience" look like today? How would we include the 21st Century Trek series? How do you balance 20th Century "legacy" Trek attractions with current/new series? How many sets do you build? What's realistic with a venue's budget? The trio pitches their new attraction for Trek fans - let us know what you would include!

Creating a Trek "After Show"

The concept of an "after show," a panel discussion following a specific episode, became popular during "The Walking Dead" with "The Talking Dead." The concept would continue in various genre shows, eventually culminating in the current era of Star Trek with first "After Trek" and then the "The Ready Room" on Paramount+. Does that format work? And how are they different from podcast episode reviews? The trio pitch separate formats for "after shows" for the current Trek shows "Discovery," "Lower Decks," "Picard," "Prodigy," and "Strange New Worlds." Do you enjoy after shows? What would you like to see for this type of behind the scenes discussion for Star Trek?

The Continuing Character of Nyota Uhura

Nichelle Nichols died in July 2022, leaving a legacy in both Star Trek and in the real world of space exploration. The documentary, "Woman in Motion," captures Nichols' legacy - which the trio explored previously in Ceti Alpha 3 - 222. 

In this episode, the trio examine the character of Uhura, from The Original Series, The Animated Series, the TOS-era movies, the Kelvin-verse movies, and the continuing adventures in "Strange New Worlds". How has this character evolved? What makes her so captivating? What does she stand for? How did her Starfleet career span? Join our discussion on the past and current role of the character of Uhura.