The TrekMovie.com Star Trek Podcast Network

Anthony and Laurie and TrekMovie contributor Bobby Oler chat with John Billingsley, Star Trek: Enterprise‘s Dr. Phlox, to talk about Trek Talks 5, the all-day marathon of Star Trek panels on YouTube benefitting Hollywood Food Coalition that’s now in its fifth year. In their freewheeling discussion, they also dig deep into John’s experience on Enterprise and his work on other shows, his reasons for giving up social media, sitting on William Shatner’s lap, and why he’s not a fan of table reads, as well as the importance of the Hollywood Food Coalition and the way Star Trek fans and pros come together to do good in the world.

[Review starts at 22:37 / Interviews start at 59:27] Anthony and Laurie start with Anthony’s recap of his evening on the red carpet and in the press room at the Saturn Awards last weekend. After that, they dig into Alex Kurtzman’s comments about his ongoing discussions with Paramount Skydance, Henry Alonso Myers’ optimism for a Strange New Worlds spin-off (and news on the fate of its sets), Olatunde Osunsanmi’s optimism for more Starfleet Academy after season 2. Optimism! They also talk about the new Waze update that adds The Doctor’s voice to your driving directions. Then it’s time to get into the Starfleet Academy season 1 finale, “Rubincon,” which pulled together elements from across the season. They wrap up by playing the audio from Tony’s recent interviews with showrunners Alex Kurtzman and Noga Landau.

[Review starts at 23:46 / Interview starts at 59:59] Anthony and Laurie start with the buzziest news: The Paramount/Warner Bros. merger is moving forward. They talk about what this might mean for Trek, also noting that this is the first time in ten years we haven’t had any Star Trek shows in production or greenlit. They also discuss Seth MacFarlane’s new comments about The Orville season 4, and awards wins for Prodigy and Terry Matalas. Then it’s time to review Starfleet Academy‘s penultimate episode of season 1, “300th Night,” which delivered big on both action and emotion. They wrap things up with Tony’s new interview with “300th Night” director Jonathan Frakes.

[Review starts at 15:05 / Interviews start at 53:54] Anthony and Laurie start with breaking news: It looks like Paramount is going to win the bid to buy Warner Bros., instead of Netflix. (More on that next week as info comes in.) Also: Star Trek is receiving a Hall of Fame awards at the Saturns, a new comic sends Uhura back to 1963, and the Nimoy family is asking fans to help honor Leonard’s legacy. They cover the latest on Starfleet Academy, noting that the show has wrapped production on its second season and appreciating the note George Takei sent Karim Diané about playing Trek’s first gay Klingon. Then it’s time to review episode 8 “The Life of the Stars,” an emotionally intense episode with some great sci-fi and the return of Mary Wiseman’s Tilly to the franchise. They play Laurie’s interview with Mary and then Tony’s chat with showrunner Noga Landau and episode co-writer (and show creator) Gaia Violo. They wrap up with a quick look at William Shatner’s heavy metal album and LeVar Burton on Rob Lowe’s podcast.

[Review starts at 25:34 / Interviews start at 49:31] Anthony and Laurie talk through the latest news: The screenwriter of Star Trek: Nemesis says Data did NOT die in movie, there’s a new documentary out about George Takei, and IDW is launching new comic book series for Trek’s 60th anniversary. They also round up some Starfleet Academy news: That comic book in last week’s episode was not made by AI, Paul Giamatti has hopes for Nus Braka’s future, and Kate Mulgrew has choice words for anyone who insults Holly Hunter’s Chancellor Ake. Then it’s time to review “Ko’Zeine,” which Tony & Laurie both found to be a little weak, and play Tony’s new interviews with George Hawkins (Darem) and  Bella Shepard (Genesis).