Happy First Contact Day! Here’s a “golden oldie”—and a thought for today

Aside from “Star Trek (Birth)Day” every Sept. 8, our favorite stellar storytelling playground’s other main holiday is of course today — April 5, the day from 2063 that every schoolchild knows as First Contact Day! Sitting here in 2019 it’s fun for me to direct newer fans to my interview a couple years back (below) with Noelle Hannibal, the “first …

STV— LAlert: Sundays through April = ‘The Improvised Generation’ new season!

By now it’s a tradition— my annual chat with some of the intrepid crew of the USS McGinley, now in their fifth season of bringing the narrative improv style of fun and pathos to L.A. audiences in the best  TNG-era Trek style as “The Improvised Generation.” So check out our visit below this away team of  (from left) Paul Hungerford, …

STV: Olivia d’Abo brims with Trek cred, recalling her time as ‘True Q’ Amanda

So many interviews in the can— here’s another with the smart and sexy Olivia d’Abo, sharing the latest about her podcast, her music, her acting process and of course, oiur Trekland connection: Amanda Rogers from TNG‘s “True Q.” I had the great chance to sit down with her just a few minutes to recall those days— back in 1993!— when …

STV: Meet David Mack, NYT best-seller who pioneered the first Discovery novel

I’ve known David Mack for years long-distance until we can meet-up at cons and such, but what an honor for him to be chosen the first author of a new Trek series’ original novel, Desperate Hours, which went on sale two days after Discovery‘s US premiere. Especially this time, since Discovery is pioneering a closer connection than ever before between …

STV: Quick chats with our new Discovery cast & crew from San Diego Comic-Con

Finally— here’s most of my 20 minutes on video with the Discovery folks we were able to grab in the red-carpet rope line at DSC’s post-panel press events. We had no clue what had been said in the Ballroom 20 mass panel, but I wanted to get at my subjects with typically Trekland angles—or so I hoped. Enjoy! And just …

STV: Mike Westmore on his aliens *and* classic Hollywood on exhibit, Part 3

Such a great visit and personal tour that Star Trek makeup icon Mike Westmore gave us at his career retrospective at his alma mater that it took up three online visits! (See below the fold) But yes, even as the “Lifeforms” exhibit wraps April 30 at UC-Santa Barbara’s Art Design & Architecture Museum on campus, these online visits will live …

STV: Noelle Hannibal, 1st Vulcan woman on Earth*, says Happy First Contact Day!

Happy “First Contact Day!” Want to hear from a witness? I mean, it’s only 46 years until the T’Plana-Hath catches Zefram Cochrane’s pioneering warp trail while passing nearby to Sol, and its Vulcan crew decide they better check it out… and humanity’s first First Contact (on the record!) makes history. So here‘s a celebration today you weren’t expecting, (below the …

STV: Michael Westmore tours us through his exhibition at UC-Santa Barbara, Part 2

As promised, here’s Part 2 of our tour of the “Lifeforms” career retrospective of the Trek and non-Trek work of makeup legend Michael Westmore—led by the man himself! In this segment, you get everything facecast, android and Borg, with some never-before-displayed pieces from the series and films—and all with commentary from Mike. The exhibit remains on view through April 30 …

STV: Athena Massey ‘Remembers’ Jessen on Voyager in new vidchat

“Remember” was a slyly powerful little third-season Voyager episode about repressed cultural shame, and I had a chance last year to vidchat with the lovely and thoughtful Athena Massey about her pivotal guest role as Jessen in that episode. And about how fandom surprised her at first, though she’s now seen often at conventions and signing shows. Athena, as you …

STV: Michael Westmore walks us through his exhibition at UC-Santa Barbara, Part I

Finally! A new “Switching to Visual” vidchat…and what fun: Part 1 of a personal tour by Trek makeup legend Michael Westmore of “Lifeforms,” his career retrospective now on view at his alma mater, University of California at Santa Barbara, through April 30. Get there if you can! My thanks to Mike and to UCSB’s AD&A Museum assistant curator Rebecca Harlow …

If it’s Christmas, it must be Hallmark Trek ornament time with Kevin Dilmore!

No, it’s not too late to grab an official Trek ornament for the tree from Hallmark again this year. Most of all, it’s not too late to check in on our annual visit about all things Hallmark Trek with none other than Kevin Dilmore! I mean, Trekland growing pains and video tech issues are one thing… but it just wouldn’t …

STV: Happy 50th from Star Trek crews past

YES! Finally, new Trekland video—and a brand-new intro! But the 50th celebration has only just begun … for a whole year, yes? So here’s some faces and voices I’ve been holding back for the Happy 50th party—just the kind of behind-the-scenes insight that I love recording and revealing… from the TNG Companion where I met many of them, to our …

STV: Vic Mignogna & Todd Haberkorn: Star Trek Continues’ Kirk & Spock cut-ups

Let me introduce you to two of the best voice actors and most popular guests on the anime convention circuit—as well as a couple of all-around performers, directors and even editors: Vic Mignogna and Todd Haberkorn. With all that, you’re catching them at Trekland because Vic is the driving force—as producer, director, co-writer and Captain James T. Kirk—behind Star Trek …