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Post by StarFuryG7 on Jun 13, 2012 19:59:33 GMT -5
Over at Blastr:Koenig says his Trek 'more personal, more human' than Abrams pics Article By trentmoore, Posted Mon, 11 Jun 2012 … star thinks the flashy new flicks are missing that special "something." Former Star Trek: The Original Series star Walter Koenig , who portrayed Pavel Chekov, said in a recent interview that he thinks the new Trek film depends a little too heavily … MORE >
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Post by captainbasil on Jun 17, 2012 9:54:55 GMT -5
I can't really argue with Koenig's assessment of the new film. Whether you are a fan of ST 2009 or not, he has a point about this film and many films made today. They are not enhanced by special effects, they rely on them. If you look at early television programs, people involved in the industry would tell you that the writers for say, Perry Mason or Twilight Zone were paid more than the actors.
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Post by CRAMBAM on Jun 17, 2012 16:17:26 GMT -5
I think Koenig is a big of a dick, but he's not wrong here.
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Post by StarFuryG7 on Jun 17, 2012 21:29:01 GMT -5
I think Koenig is a big of a dick, but he's not wrong here. What's your problem with Koenig? |
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Post by CRAMBAM on Jun 18, 2012 7:42:39 GMT -5
He gives off a very unfriendly vibe. Like an "I'm too good for you" attitude.
Here's an example...
Were you a fan of a show called Land of the Lost as a kid? You may have been too old to like the show at the time, but it was a kids show written by ex-Trek writers.
For what it was, it was awesome, and if they got a good writing staff, it's a show that could be remade today brilliantly.
But anyway, Koenig wrote a very good episode for that show, which introduced a character that would be one of the more important recurring characters for the rest of the series.
The DVD came out awhile ago, and Koenig did commentary for his episode.
It was one of the most pompous, obnoxious 20 plus minutes ever, where he came off like he was just too good to be doing commentary on this show. After that was over, I came away thinking, "what a douchebag."
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Post by StarFuryG7 on Jun 18, 2012 18:19:43 GMT -5
The DVD came out awhile ago, and Koenig did commentary for his episode. It was one of the most pompous, obnoxious 20 plus minutes ever, where he came off like he was just too good to be doing commentary on this show. After that was over, I came away thinking, "what a douchebag."
Back in the 90s Koenig did an interview for an online radio program that went by the name of Stein Online, and he was just as pompous and obnoxious to that interviewer as you make him sound here, but at the time I figured it was perhaps because he had felt duped, expecting to be heard by a lot of people live over the radio, only to find out when he had arrived that it was a show with a minimal audience being streamed over the Internet instead, and radio had not yet exploded on the Web back then, so it probably would have seemed pathetic to Koenig.
It's a shame when you feel predisposed to like a performer, only to realize that in real life they're a real schmuck. I came to realize that the hard way with J. Michael Straczynski, the head writer and creator of Babylon 5, who can be a real Class A A-Hole once you get to know him. You just have to put their personalities aside and enjoy their work to the extent you can, even if they do show themselves to be amongst the biggest dicks walking the Earth.
It's a shame you never got into "Babylon 5" though, because Koenig was also involved in that series, playing a recurring character named Alfred Bester, and he was great in that role.
But I wouldn't break a sweat trying to get his or Straczynski's autograph even if the opportunity arose. In fact, Straczynski can drop dead for all I care. I still enjoy a lot of his work in that series, but he turned me off to him personally as well as professionally because he's just another conceited jerk when you get right down to it who doesn't know how to appreciate fans either.
Apparently the two of them are cut from the same cloth. |
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Post by captainbasil on Jun 18, 2012 19:06:35 GMT -5
I had heard stories about Straczynski before but not Koenig. I must admit I'm not surprised. I understand how you feel, Cram. I just think it's a shame when people don't appreciate their fans. Without them you would have to get a real job. I love Babylon 5 and think it's one of the best shows ever made but I'm not going to be abused by its creator. Land of the Lost was a great show. I watched it years ago too. Looking back now , it was pretty sophisticated stuff for Saturday Morning TV.  |
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Post by CRAMBAM on Jun 19, 2012 7:03:14 GMT -5
Saturday mornings was a reason for all the repeats. The first season had 17 episodes. The last 2 had 13 each. Big difference between that and the 26 or so episodes a year prime time shows had at the time.
I think they figured kids had shorter attention spans and liked repeats. That may or may not be true. But Hollywood tends to underestimate children. For example, LOTL had something few kids shows had at the time--continuity.
And yes, I remember as a 5 year old that Chaka was hurt in one episode, and then a few episodes later, he still had a splint Rick Marshal gave him. I did know that.
Babylon 5 may have to be added to my netflix queue, but it will be a long time. Doing a Hercules and Xena run.
I don't know if Walter Koenig appreciates the fans or not. THAT I can't say. But he came off like a dick in that DVD commentary.
Land of the Lost was VERY sophisticated for Saturday morning TV--by design. The Kroffts get way too much credit for that show. David Gerrold was the guy who deserves to take the bow.
I loved that show--still do.
In fact, of the three fan fics I've ever written, 2 were in the LOTL universe.
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Post by gavin1701 on Jun 21, 2012 2:44:26 GMT -5
I met Koenig years ago at a con whilst B5 was still airing. It was a Star Trek convention and I'll never forget how he went on about how much B5 was better than Star Trek and his character was superior to Chekov. Kind of the wrong thing to say to an auditorium full of Trek fans, and a bit surprising considering he'd just filmed his cameo in Generations (and its an actors job to promote that movie) and boasted that he only took it because it was the highest paid cheque he'd ever received.
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