Treknobabble, meet iTunes

Kevin and Matthew have worked hard over the past year to produce insightful, witty commentaries on a number of Star Trek episodes from the Original Series and The Next Generation (my favorite). As of the time of this post, they've worked their way through Season 3 of TNG, including one of the best episodes of the series: Yesterday's Enterprise.

Given their admirable predilection for consistency, they've also reviewed all of the movies up to Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (because the next film, Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country, was only produced around TNG's fifth season). They'll get to the others as they move ahead. (I'm bracing for a particularly scathing review of Nemesis.)

Once they're finished with TNG, they'll move onto Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and Enterprise--all 727 unique productions of Star Trek. They're saving their strength already for their review of the latest Star Trek film from 2009.

Now, I have to confess I haven't listened to many of the podcasts, but I've read a few of their commentaries and have laughed out loud a lot, particularly when reading Matthew's captions to the images. I also found myself often thinking, "I didn't know that," when they mention some obscure bit of trivia. Also, I'm not entirely sure why they choose to podcast some episodes and not others. I would actually like to hear their commentary for episodes such as Measure of a Man.

All of this to let you know the big news: Beginning today you and I can catch up on all of Treknobabble's podcasts and automatically download new ones.

Treknobabble is now listed in the iTunes Music Store!

Treknobabble.net- Star Trek (The Original Series)

Treknobabble.net- Star Trek: The Next Generation

Treknobabble.net- Star Trek Movies

Click on the links above to be directed to each podcast series' iTunes page and to have the option to subscribe. Then, share them with your friends, post them on your Facebook pages, and tweet the living daylights out of them. We'll post new iTunes links when the boys begin covering new series.

Here's looking forward to listening to the past and future podcasts (probably on my bike)!

My Favorite Character, Essay #2: Kelly Therese Pollock

Characters are probably the single most important element of any TV series (or book or movie) for me. I can forgive a lot of flaws in plot, tone, and production values, as long as I care about the characters. I'm sure at some point we will discuss our favorite series, but it's no secret that Voyager is my favorite series, in large part because of the characters. I love the characters in every Trek series; naming my favorites is no easy task, but I'll give it my best shot. If you asked me to revisit this in a year, chances are that some of them would have changed. (Amusingly enough, it's now taken me almost a year to write this, and nothing's really changed!)

This isn't a hint to where I'm going with this essay. Really.

[Warning. This essay assumes full knowledge of all of the series. If you haven't seen a series, you may not want to read my walkthough of the characters. Don't say I didn't warn you.]

Trek Interviews: Andre Bormanis

Hi everyone! This is what we hope will be the first in a series of interviews with people who were involved with the production of Star Trek. To start off with, we have an interview with Andre Bormanis, the science consultant for the final season of TNG and the remainder of the television franchise. Our questions are in bold-face, while Andre's answers are in regular type.

See, kids, this is what a science degree can get you!

The Next Generation, Season 3: Transfigurations

The Next Generation, Season 3
"Transfigurations"
Airdate: June 4, 1990
72 of 176 produced
72 of 176 aired

Introduction

The Enterprise finds a crashed escape pod in a new sector they are charting. Dr. Crusher rescues one survivor. Through her care, the severely injured man makes a miraculous recovery. He remembers nothing before the crash, so Dr. Crusher calls him John Doe. Over his convalesence, she begins to feel a bond with John. But John begins to exhibit strange abilities, including the abilities to heal others and to imbue those close to him with a surge of confidence. Where is John from? What is happening to him? Will the Enterprise survive?

"Check out my nacelles, babe... I've been doing curls for weeks!"

The Next Generation, Season 3: Menage A Troi

The Next Generation, Season 3

"Menage A Troi"

Airdate: May 28, 1990

71 of 176 produced

71 of 176 aired

Introduction

The Enterprise is called to Betazed for some reason or other. For some other reason, the Ferengi are also present, and they have dastardly designs on Lwaxana Troi, daughter of the Fifth House of Betazed, the holder of the Sacred Chalice of Rixx, and Heir to the Holy Rings of Betazed. Hilarity fails to ensue.

Despite their nudity, Lwaxana and Deanna seem bored. So are we, ladies.

The Next Generation, Season 3: Sarek

The Next Generation, Season 3

"Sarek"

Airdate: May 14, 1990

70 of 176 produced

70 of 176 aired

Introduction

The Enterprise is to host the final sessions of diplomatic negotiations with a mysterious race known as the Legarans. The Federation's negotiator is none other than Vulcan ambassador Sarek. These negotiations are to be the crowning achievement of a career spanning two centuries. However, shortly after Sarek's arrival, the crew of the Enterprise start attacking each other at random. Complicating matters, Sarek's wife and staff seem to be overly protective of Sarek, but won't explain why. Is there a connection between Sarek and these outbursts of violence? What does it mean for the peace conference?

Picard, Riker, and that guy take in a Brahms concert with Ambassador Sarek.

The Next Generation, Season 3: The Most Toys

The Next Generation, Season 3

"The Most Toys"

Airdate: May 7, 1990

69 of 176 produced

69 of 176 aired

Introduction

Commander Data is the victim of a grievous tragedy when his shuttle explodes during a delivery of the volatile materials needed to purify an endangered colony's water supply. But things take a turn for the weird when Data wakes up amidst a room full of rare antiques and endangered animals.

Such as this guy.

The Next Generation, Season 3: Hollow Pursuits

The Next Generation, Season 3
"Hollow Pursuits"
Airdate: April 30, 1990
68 of 176 produced
68 of 176 aired


Introduction

A shy engineer, Reginald Barclay, is not adapting well to life on the Enterprise. He is constantly nervous and withdrawn and it's affecting his work. He retreats to the only safe place he knows: the holodeck. There he is commanding, powerful, and irresistible to women. But his fantasy world begins to collapse when the minor problems he has been tasked with fixing begin to threaten the ship, and the senior staff discover his somewhat unorthodox holodeck programs.

Let it not be said that Beverly Crusher wasn't a totally swinging dame...

The Next Generation, Season 3: Tin Man

The Next Generation, Season 3

"Tin Man"

Airdate: April 23, 1990

67 of 176 produced

67 of 176 aired

Introduction

The Enterprise is diverted to a sector of space that lies beyond their currently explored territory. The Vega IX deep space probe has discovered a space-borne organism of great power, nicknamed "Tin Man," with whom Starfleet wants to make contact. In order to facilitate such contact, mission specialist Tam Elbrun, an unstable but gifted Betazoid, is sent along. Will the Enterprise be able to beat the Romulans to Tin Man, and can they trust Tam Elbrun to do the right thing when they get there?

Tam prepares to dazzle the crew with one of his lesser known Betazoid abilities. 

Treknobabble. Now on your communicator.

Thanks to the crackerjack techies at Google, there is now a mobile version of the blog that looks better and is much easier to read on your smartphone or other handheld device. The interactive holo-version of the blog is soon to follow. :)

The Next Generation, Season 3: Captain's Holiday

The Next Generation, Season 3
"Captain's Holiday"
Airdate: April 2, 1990
66 of 176 produced
66 of 176 aired

Introduction

After a grueling two-week mediation conference, Captain Picard is mentally and physically exhausted. However, he stubbornly refuses to take time away from the Enterprise. Out of concern for his well being, the crew conspires to convince him to go. Finally yielding to the subtle (and not-so-subtle) hints, Captain Picard agrees to take shore leave on Risa, a planet known for its idyllic scenery and sybaritic outlook on life. Will the Captain finally be able to relax, or is the next crisis simply awaiting him on this seemingly peaceful world?

Folks, I think this image speaks for itself.

The Next Generation, Season 3: Allegiance

The Next Generation, Season 3

"Allegiance"

Airdate: March 26, 1990

65 of 176 produced

65 of 176 aired

Introduction

En route to a rendezvous with the USS Hood after a mission of humanitarian relief, the crew of the Enterprise must deal with their captain acting a little... off. He begins singing drinking songs, wooing his coworkers, and giving unusual orders which might end up threatening all of their lives. When will the other shoe drop, and how long can the crew last before mutiny becomes their only option?

Come, Beverly. Let's tease the absolute daylights out of the audience...

The Next Generation, Season 3: Sins of the Father

The Next Generation, Season 3
"Sins of the Father"
64 of 176 produced
64 of 176 aired
Aired: March 19, 1990

Introduction

A Klingon officer, Kurn, joins the crew of the Enterprise as part of an exchange program. This new officer soon reveals to Worf that he is the brother Worf never knew he had.  Kurn has come to Worf because the Klingon High Council has decreed that it was their father, Mogh, that betrayed the Klingons at Khitomer to the Romulans and precipitated the attack that orphaned Worf. Worf must now defend the honor of his father and his family, but he faces deadly consequences if he fails.

We'll definitely take the Emmy for art direction. But that doesn't exonerate you for the seven year-long acting snub, you jerks.