HAPPY THIRD BIRTHDAY, KOOL TV!

Image: CBS PARAMOUNT.

STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION's lovely ship's counsellor, Deanna Troi, loves KOOL TV so much, she's decided to become a celebratory third birthday cake that we can all share in! Looking forward to devouring my slice, Dee!

Back in the real world, a big THANK YOU to all the readers old and new out there in world cyberspace for supporting KOOL TV these past three years, as we reach tomorrow's big day. And there's still lots more to come features-wise on all types of classic TV.

Don't forget to "like" our (so far) small FACEBOOK page area, too, and check out its rare photos and other shared news content: KOOL TV

KOOL TV REVIEW: 'STAR TREK - THE VISUAL DICTIONARY'

New life and civilisations explored in STAR TREK: THE VISUAL DICTIONARY. Images: DORLING KINDERSLEY.

STAR TREK: THE VISUAL DICTIONARY

Written by Paul Ruditis

(Foreword by John de Lancie)

Published by DORLING KINDERSLEY

Reviewed by Scott Weller

Its TREK, Jim, but more than we know of it…

The iconic universe of Gene Roddenberry’s enduring stellar sci-fi opus, STAR TREK, finally gets the detailed visual biography it deserves courtesy of those always innovative people at DORLING KINFDERSLEY books.

Primarily charting the franchise’s television series roots rather than the eleven (so far) films, author Paul Ruditis gives us a briskly efficient and informative text that takes us on an epic jump back to the beginning of creation, presenting a detailed chronological look at the universe that spawned such heroes as Kirk, Spock, Data, Janeway and Sisko: from the birth of mankind and the final conquest of its greed and prejudices, to its indomitable rise to the stars after almost destruction with World War III- the formation of the inspiring United Federation of Planets alongside the emotionally restrained Vulcans, and the launch of the first deep-space exploration vessel, Enterprise, captained by Jonathan Archer.

From those early defining days we head forward at warp speed into the era of the legendary Captain Kirk and his interstellar troop- from the classic ORIGINAL SERIES that stated it all, plus the expansion of the Federation and continuation of the Enterprise family/starship linage with the shows further popular spin-offs, first seen-in by THE NEXT GENERATION and beyond.

The supporting heroes of STAR TREK:ENTERPRISE.

Following the pleasing to the eye, now classic design style that DK uses on this type of specialist book, THE VISUAL DICTIONARY lives up to the Vulcan edict of infinite diversity in infinite combination with its accompanying exploration of the shows many memorable and beloved accompanying ships, key planets, iconic scientific hardware and stunning weaponry that have graced the series in its now rapidly approaching fifty year anniversary-the rich tapestry that Roddenberry and the magic-in-a-bottle casts and behind the scenes teams have built with their genuinely humanist endeavours.

Perusing the vast range of imagery present, it’s intriguing to see how different a universe STAR TREK is to the likes of STAR WARS more fantasy inspired domain, though no less detailed and singularly unique in its serious and intellectually inspired attempts at realizing a believable set of cultures and special exploration - a mantra set down by Roddenberry from the very beginning with his regular dealings and correspondence with the likes of real-life talents and ground breaking pioneers at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and NASA, and in his talks/observations with respected scientists and authors like Isaac Asimov and Arthur C. Clarke. Obviously, with the success of the seventies emerging STAR WARS, the TREK universe, especially into its movie series incarnation, has adapted its realism so as to incorporate more fantastical, exciting elements to win over fresh audiences, which have been achieved through the rapid advances in today’s sophisticated production and special effects techniques that came into being from the late eighties onwards- our own real life evolution gaining ground to that prophesized by Roddenberry. One prime iconic example of this fusion, bringing wonder and danger to TREK in equal measure, must be the introduction of those incredibly successful, hard to beat super-baddies, the Borg, who truly made their mark with THE NEXT GENERATION.

Beyond the terrors of assimilation, classic regular enemies like the savage but noble Klingons and the treacherous Romulans also get some fine and deserved representation, adding further riches to the tapestry, as well as other icons, such as the reptilian Gorn and those blue skinned antenna’d warriors, the Andorians. Future modern series foes like the big-necked Cardassians, the evil Gamma Quadrant empire that is the merciless, all-encompassing Dominion (and their ground pounder Jem’Hadar soldiers) all prove standout entries, too.

The specially handled TREK prop photography of this far and wide universe covers everything from phasers and tricorders, from nanotechnology and Romulan disintegrators (even covering Dr. Soong’s early head for Lt. Data!), backed up with some rare photos alongside the now classic posed and episodic imagery.

Present from the shows early days, the Vulcans have made a strong impact on STAR TREK.

Led in by a warmly affectionate and inspiring foreword from popular actor John de Lancie, who played Q- the enigmatically tempestuous alien antagonist to the bold Captain Jean-Luc Picard, in and out of THE NEXT GERNATION’s seven very successful years, it amazes me that a book of this type has never been done before, especially after the success of other sci-fi and comic legends in this format, notably STAR WARS and BATMAN. STAR TREK: THE VISUAL DICTIONARY is a fun primer for fans old and new, what with the franchise’s five TV series evolving restoration onto digital Blu-ray, plus the coming soon, suitably epic new STAR TREK movie adventure taking us INTO DARKNESS...

Now firmly on the path- this book being a sure-fire success- we’ll likely see more specialized DK projects/visual dictionaries linked to the series-perhaps on the previous movies and/or the new, other modern TREK films emerging from the CBS PARAMOUNT/J.J. Abrams powerhouse combo, with their now different time lines and re-imagined heroes and villains.

Imagination, excitement, morality and a whole lot of heart are the prime ingredients that have made STAR TREK in all its guises so successful, and this visual dictionary tribute is an enjoyable embodiment and continuance of that legend.

To Boldly Go...

KOOL TV OVERALL RATING: Lots of history, technology and world-hopping adventure in a very pleasing visual package: 4 out of 5

GAINING MOMENTUM. 'STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION' SEASON TWO HD ARRIVES ON UK TV

Firmly into the Final Frontier. The cast of STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION. Images: PARAMOUNT.

Those technology acquiring terrors, The Borg, make their stunning HD TV debut on the UK's SYFY Channel soon, as the exclusive first run transmissions of the painstakingly remastered STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION boldly go into their second exciting season from tonight at 7pm. As well as the Borg, there were many other firsts this year, namely the introduction of several new characters to the U.S.S. Enterprise under the stern command of Jean-Luc Picard: playing Doctor Beverly Crusher the previous season, actress Gates McFadden sadly departed the show after behind the scenes tussles with then stubborn Co-Executive Producer Maurice Hurley, who replaced her with Diana Muldaur, another talented actress who already had links with the original CLASSIC TREK series (with two episodic appearances), as the newly arrived Doctor Kate Pulaski: a dedicated and passionate physician just like Crusher but whose crusty personality and way of dealing with patients is very familiar to fans who loved DeForest Kelly's wonderful and iconic performance as Leonard McCoy, sparring with Data (Brent Spiner), whom she is at first wary of, in a way not unlike "that old country Doctor" did with his highly intelligent and honest Vulcan antagonist, Spock. Celebrated film actress Whoopi Goldberg, at the peak of her career, also joins TNG for welcome special appearances from Season Two onwards, playing the ships other counsellor in many ways, as barkeep of the new Ten Forward bar/recreation area of the Enterprise, where the crew can get to unwind and the writers can develop our heroes off-duty personalities a bit better-a clever idea added to the show by Roddenberry, who still had a firm producer-ship hand on his baby at that point in time, of which the revolving door of incoming and outgoing writers still gained momentum, though Maurice Hurley remained the creators most successful storytelling ally. A lifelong fan and admirer of the original landmark TREK, Goldberg subtly shines as Guinan, becoming an essential part of the new shows continuing success, of which her scenes with Patrick Stewart as Picard shine brightly, especially in this first batch. Further adding to the show, series regulars Michael Dorn and LeVar Burton get new and improved job positions (Lt. Worf now security officer, and Geordi La Forge in charge of Engineering-finally a trusted pair of hands with the ships dilithium crystals!) and costume changes. Plus some mild and deserved set re-designs here and there, too. Even a new shuttlecraft!

Star Trek: The Next Generation on Blu-Ray - Season 2 Trailer #01 - YouTube

Picard (Patrick Stewart) defends Data (Brent Spiner) as a sentient being in The Measure of a Man. 

Klingon couple: Worf (Michael Dorn) and K'Ehleyr (Suzie Plakson) are reunited in The Emissary.

Data and Geordi (LeVar Burton) are the new Holmes and Watson in Elementary, Dear Data.

Creative and character improvements are noticed quickly, but opening episodes do start off a little shaky, due to a crippling writers strikes in 1988, which forces the production team to adapt unused scripts from the aborted seventies TREK series: PHASE II. But things pick up near the mid-point, as the season finally launches into its delayed creative stride. Old villains the Romulans, re-introduced at the end of Year One, continue to make a mark, as do the Klingons, building on a fine return as a now bearded Riker (Jonathan Frakes) becomes one of their officers in A Matter of Honour. Data (and his real-life alter-ego, Brent Spiner, having a good run of stories to play with this time) is put on trial by Star Fleet for reasons of ownership in the award-winning and intelligent The Measure of a Man, Picard meets his future self in the chilling Time Squared, and looks into the death of an old friend, and the discovery of a long lost time travelling civilisation, in Contagion, whilst Worf (Michael Dorn) meets his old flame, the striking K'Ehleyr (memorably played by Suzie Plakson) in near season ender The Emissary. Oh, and then there's that aforementioned Borg episode, the stunning Q Who? , originally planned as the Season Two premiere but delayed due to the strike, as the insidious and craftily omnipotent alien Q (the always wicked John de Lancie) sends the Enterprise light years across the galaxy to their first unsettling encounter with the assimilating foes, and paving the way for an epic Season Three adventure that will send the series into the stratosphere of critical acclaim and viewing figures.

Season Two of STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION was justifiably starting to prove itself as its own unique series, and was now, most definitely, here to stay...

Season Three of THE NEXT GENERATION in HD arrives on the UK SY FY CHANNEL sometime next year.

The first two seasons of STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION are also available on Blu-ray. Get them here:

Star Trek: The Next Generation - Season 1 Blu-ray Region Free: Amazon.co.uk: Film & TV

Star Trek: The Next Generation - Season 2 Blu-ray 1988 Region Free: Amazon.co.uk: Patrick Stewart, Jonathan Frakes, Brent Spiner, Michael Dorn, LeVar Burton, Marina Sirtis, Diana Muldaur, Wil Wheaton: Film & TV

'STAR TREK:THE NEXT GENERATION's UK FIREWORKS DAY RETURN!

Back at warp speed: the Season One cast of STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION. Image: CBS PARAMOUNT.

For die-hard fans completely drained of their money (and probable life savings!) by last week's fun but ultimately rip-off DESTINATION: STAR TREK LONDON convention (so expensive I'm surprised attendees weren't charged for breathing air!), probably unable to buy the recent Blu-ray high definition release of Season One of STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION, there's some good news on the horizon, as the entire remastered first season of Gene Roddenberry's late eighties phenomenon will now be getting it's exclusive premiere on UK digital satellite TV, courtesy of the SYFY CHANNEL, from 7pm November 5th onwards-probably the finest home you could get for the show these days, and an actual sci-fi series for the channel to screen that it is actually pure 100 per cent genre! Additionally, SYFY have also purchased the other modern TREKs, strangely bar ENTERPRISE, for exclusive airtime, of which, despite their non re-mastering (at the present time), they'll also look the best you can get them in HD. For TREK rerun addicts who can never get enough, and for new generations of fans-to-be tuning in, the 24th Century has never looked brighter or more streamlined...

Season Two of STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION, with its super episodes like the Data on trial The Measure of a Man and the Borg introduction QWho?, makes it's debut on Blu-ray from CBS PARAMOUNT in December.

Star Trek: The Next Generation on Blu-Ray - Trailer Season 2 - YouTube

Get it here: Star Trek: The Next Generation - Season 2 Blu-ray Region Free: Amazon.co.uk: Film & TV

KOOL TV REVIEW: 'STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION - 365' BOOK

Still boldly going, and boldly entertaining viewers 25 years on, the cast of STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION celebrate their on and off screen lives in the new 365 book from ABRAMS books. Image: ABRAMS/CBS PARAMOUNT.

STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION - 365

Published by Abrams

By Paula M. Block and Terry J. Erdmann 

Introduction by Ronald D. Moore

Reviewed by Scott Weller

With no signs yet of any cracked dilithium crystals to hamper their progress, Captain Jean-Luc Picard and his spirited crew of the starship Enterprise continue their warp speed lives within the 24^thcentury, as their 25^th Anniversary of television existence is celebrated in style with the release of this new book from Abrams, continuing the essential purchase format of their earlier hit STAR TREK: THE ORIGINAL SERIES book in the 365 days of a phenomenon portfolio tome which has proved such a success for the company over the last eight years. With STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION- 365 we have a far better book than what has gone before in this sci-fi classic franchise, and which also proves to be an even bigger treasure trove of material dug deep from the CBS PARAMOUNT vaults by dedicated authors Paula M. Block and Terry J. Erdmann-the new literary orators of the shows landmark history.

It’s a seven season period brimming with classic moments and iconography well represented in this book for its worldwide die-hard fan base to savour. Amidst tons of rare and distinctive colour and B/W episodic imagery that will delight readers- finally well printed and looking better than ever- classic stories get deserved extra page sections like Season Two’s Borg intro Q Who?,  the Data on trial drama, Measure of a Man, Darmok, The Inner Light and Chain of Command, as well as showing us the changing times the new series was made in and the things that both TREK incarnations could and couldn’t do, yet also how both pioneered in different or similar ways, too. Most importantly, we get an even clearer picture of the behind the scenes factors that got such episodes and the overall series made: how a little bit of luck and serendipity often played a part in its success through its 178 episodes and beyond as it carved out its own unique place in TREK and sci-fi history in general, as well as laying the all-important foundations for future United Federation of Planets based series to come…

Most of all, 365 is the story of how its creator, Gene Roddenberry, returned to his universe, and his attempts, sometimes fixation, to do take two of his vision for STAR TREK, so as to prove any naysaying critics wrong about his talents in inventing/producing the kind of storytelling, on bigger and better budgets, that the restrictive and all-empowering networks and film companies of the sixties and seventies couldn’t, or wouldn’t, previously allow him to realize with Captain Kirk and co. This is truly Roddenberry’s story, whose mighty legacy, if sometimes behind the scenes controversial in its overall vision, would be taken up by a core of equally talented, if not quite as iconic figures for the road beyond his passing in 1991…

Such eventful history-making is a great reading journey to undertake and discover, showing the fun and hard work by the shows overall ensemble teams in front of and behind the camera over the years, with classic anecdotes- some jolly, some bittersweet- all showing the dedication they had for the series, for Roddenberry and its weekly audiences. How the warm bonds of a family were forged which continue to this day from those beginning realities and problems of getting such a bold and, at first risky, venture made.

Patrick Stewart, in costume as Locutus of Borg, looks forward to the next script! 

Above image ® & © 2012 CBS Studios Inc. All Rights Reserved. STAR TREK and all related marks are trademarks of CBS Studios Inc.

The opening section of the book- the genesis of the premiere season- is by far one of its highlights, with some great newly revealed facts and info snippets on its its often troubled, also often inspired realization, backed up with rare photography and concept artwork, notes from the show evolving writers guide/bible, casting details (including the original choices considered for certain characters), and iconic contributions/fun anecdotes from many of the cast and crew (some of which were totally unprepared for how successful the new incarnation would be!). Alongside the creatively revitalized Roddenberry, we also get to see the emerging talent and presence of Co-Executive Producer Rick Berman on the series and TREK in general.

Particularly interesting in the book are the comments and memories linked to the sometimes difficult but resilient and talented writing team, headed by seemingly hard task master Michael Piller, that brought the series and characters to reality from their workstations, and how careers began with the likes Ronald D. Moore (who also provides a warm introduction to the book), whose spec script would soon launch him on a writing career that would make him a television power player with his work on NEXT GEN and the modern BATTLESTAR GALACTICA reimagining.

There’s explanations, too, about why some episodes would turn out better than others in its mighty period on the airwaves: sometimes because of individual errors, lack of budget, script problems, writers strikes and the like. Through all this we also get to chart the rise and rise of a popular series which, by its third season, broke free from early limitations, and the handicaps of being associated to an already famous institution, to become one of the most successful and perennially popular and intelligent sci-fi shows out there…

A stunning look at the original Enterprise-D model from the first season. 

Above image is ® & © 2012 CBS Studios Inc. All Rights Reserved. STAR TREK and all related marks are trademarks of CBS Studios Inc.

Further lovely and rare colour and black and white shots splendidly represent the show in its film-making heritage, showing the behind the scenes process in general, a look at the people and decision-makers who’d make such a mark on STAR TREKs to come, the often striking make-up, costume designs, rare and unused production designs for sets (like the ones for the newly designed and more futuristic looking Enterprise–D), the return and upgrading of various beloved and feared races like the Klingons and the Romulans, various newcomers like the Ferengi, and the iconic spaceships to have graced the series.

Plus, looks at the numerous guest stars and visitors to the set over its filming duration (President Ronald Regan no less!), rare memorabilia, location filming, deleted scenes (even an ultra-rare shot of the late David Rappaport in character as the alien collector Kevas Fajo in his uncompleted role of Season Three’s The Most Toys (the actor sadly taking his own life a short time afterwards)), crucial special effects notes and storyboards. Even Data’s poem to his beloved tabby cat-Ode to Spot-gets a celebration!

A labour of love and a worthy tribute of the show in its landmark pop culture status, STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION – 365 is a perfect compliment to this year’s continuing season releases on high-quality Blu-ray from CBS PARAMOUNT. Unpop that bottle of Chateau Picard and raise a toast to those fine adventurers of the Federation.

KOOL TV RATING: You must assimilate this into your collection immediately! 5 out of 5

The authors talk to STARTREK.COM about how the book came together: Star Trek Inside Look At TNG 365 With The Authors