So J.J. Abrams’ version of Star Trek opened two weeks ago and was, both financially and critically, a rousing success. As I mentioned in my review on Playboy.com of the sneak preview of 20 minutes from the film that JJ Abrams hosted in November, this ain’t your daddy’s Star Trek. The film isn’t perfect – as Devin Farci on CHUD put it, it works in spite of itself. There was one major plot point that I felt was a ridiculous coincidence, even for Trek, but overall it was well-paced, action-packed and perfectly cast. Hell, my wife even liked it, which was Abrams goal – to open the franchise up to a new audience. So, I’m happy, my wife’s happy, moviegoers are happy, Paramount’s happy, EVERYBODY’S happy.
Except self-identifying Trekkies.
If you looked at Star Trek message boards, you’d think that the movie was two hours of Chris Pine singing “Rocket Man.” “Chain of command is not thought out at all!” cries one. “Worst Trek Ever,” cries another (sadly, this guy didn’t sign his name “Jeff Albertson”). “Star Trek XI: The Abramsdisaster!” slams even another. A good friend of mine nitpicked such obscure pieces of continuity such as “Kirk had a brother in the series but not in the movie!” and “The dog that Scotty makes a passing reference to has to be the same one in Star Trek: Enterprise yet the dog would be 150 years old! And that’s not even in dog years!” You’d think that J.J. Abrams was raping their childhoods, much as they claimed George Lucas did over a decade ago when he decided that Star Wars wasn’t quite “finished,” despite being released twenty years ago.
So to those naysayers, I’m going to throw two numbers at you 79 million and 42 million. The first number is what Star Trek ’09 made in its opening weekend. The second, $42 million, is what the previous installment, Star Trek: Nemesis, grossed in its entire run in theaters. Nemesis didn’t even open up at #1 at the box office – it came in at #2, behind J. Lo’s magnum opus Maid in Manhattan. It is the lowest-grossing installment of the franchise. Do you know what that means? It means that the most die-hard of a die-hard fanbase didn’t turn out for this movie. The franchise lost its fans. So why would Paramount want to continue with a formula that just wasn’t working anymore? Like it or not, making movies is a business. Despite what Max Bialystock may have taught us in theater, studios don’t make movies to lose money. So Paramount had a bright idea – they brought in J.J. Abrams, who is one of the hottest creative minds in Hollywood, to reinvent their franchise. And he did so, even while trying to cater to the die-hards who had already made up their minds that they were going to hate this movie. That’s the only reason why I can imagine bringing Leonard Nimoy and going with a time travel paradox instead of a straight reboot. And he succeeded. You do not get a $78 million opening without attracting new fans.
Fans need to face facts. Characters, concepts and franchises don’t belong to the fans. They belong to studios. Should George Lucas decide to come out with yet another “special edition” of Star Wars that explores the obviously homosexual relationship between C3-PO and R2-D2, then that’s his prerogative. I don’t think that Star Trek is a perfect movie – there are a number of plot points I had problems with – but boy, did I have fun. And if my wife – an avowed anti-Trekker – enjoyed it, then Abrams did exactly what he was hired to do.
I remember once I met William Shatner some years ago when I was working in television. I was excited and told him I had watched Star Trek since the age of four. He seemed nonplussed, so I added hastily “I don’t go to the conventions and I don’t wear the ears.” As much as I love the series, I cannot tell you what Chekov’s cabin number was, or what Scotty’s destruct sequence code was, or the coordinates for Ceti Apha V (although I can tell you what Spock’s mother’s maiden name is – Grayson). So while I’m a fan, I don’t feel that I need to, you know, “get a life.”* And you know what? If the die-hards do hate the movie, so what? There's always DVDs and airings of the original series out there. Whether the fans that do need to get a life realize it or not, this film ensures that Star Trek will "live long and prosper."
*As a side note, that famous Saturday Night Live sketch – one of the funniest in the history of the show – was written by Robert Smigel, who is better known these days as “Triumph the Insult Comic Dog.”
Friday, May 22, 2009
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Back In My Day...
With the recent cancelation of the long, long, long-running (an astounding 72 years on both radio and television) daytime serial Guiding Light, it occurred to me that, quite possibly, the soap opera – which was once as prevalent in the afternoon as high noon – may be on its last legs. I was discussing this with my friend Bryan, and we both offered up a number of reasons why. Silly storylines, less people having the time and effort to invest in following a five-day-a-week show, syndicated shows are cheaper for the networks and less women staying home today than, say, thirty or forty years ago all came up. Then Bryan asked me a question that made me think. He asked, of my two young children (ages three years and seven months), if there will be any true “watercooler moments” for them . Moments on television that you could guarantee everybody would be talking about the next day.
For me, the answer was quick and easy : No.
There are certain events, such as the Super Bowl, the Oscars or the World Series, that will get a vast audience. As far as “regular” television is concerned, though, I just don’t think that’s possible anymore. Back in the day, television viewing was a true family event, because you usually had one set in the house and if you didn’t like what Mom and Dad wanted to watch, tough - go read a book. As the number of TVs in households multiplied, viewing habits became more fragmented. On any given Friday in 1986, Dad could watch the local baseball game, Mom might decide on Scarecrow & Mrs. King (because Bruce Boxleitner is so dreamy!) and the kids could settle in with Webster and Mr. Belvedere. Television became less and less of a family event, much like dinner and church on Sundays (or synagogue on Saturdays or...).
Fast forward to the 21st century. With cable, there’s a channel for every interest. You like golf? Check out the Golf Channel. Like game shows? There’s GSN (formerly the Game Show Network). Want something that revs your engine? The Speed Channel’s got what you want. With the advent of DVRs, you can watch any show whenever you damn well feel like. With the internet and mobile technology, you can watch pretty much any show, anywhere, at any time. Sure, a lot of people might’ve seen the season finale of Lost, but you’re still going to have someone who says, “Oh, I DVR’d it and I’ll watch it this weekend” or “I’ll just catch it on Hulu” or “I’m going to watch it on my phone on the train ride home.” Hell, I was watching episodes of the original Star Trek while I was on the can recently (some people might call that too much information, but I call it blunt honesty). It’s why you’ll never ever see numbers like the M*A*S*H finale back in 1983. Over 60% of all televisions in use were turned on to that one program. 60%! You will never get a number like that ever again. By contrast, the season finale of Seinfeld, arguably one of greatest sitcoms of all-time, had over 41% of TVs tuned in back when Jerry and the gang bid adieu in 1998. As further contrast, Friends, probably the most mainstream and popular sitcoms of the 90s, had only 29.8% of the viewers watching in 2004. (And, for the record, no episode of American Idol – finale or otherwise – even cracks the top 45, or the top 20 for shows broadcast since 2000, for that matter)
There has been an erosion in television viewing being a family experience. It started slowly when homes started getting more than one TV sets. It continued during the cable boom of the 80s and 90s, when more and more specialized channels popped up, offering a near-infinite amount of alternatives in viewing. And it’s in effect today when there is not only choice in content, but in how you receive your content, truly turning viewing into a solitary experience.
Sigh. I’m only 37 years old, yet sometimes I think that things were better back when you had three broadcast networks, a couple of independent stations, a PBS station and a handful of fuzzy UHF stations. To quote a great poet, “those were the days.”
For me, the answer was quick and easy : No.
There are certain events, such as the Super Bowl, the Oscars or the World Series, that will get a vast audience. As far as “regular” television is concerned, though, I just don’t think that’s possible anymore. Back in the day, television viewing was a true family event, because you usually had one set in the house and if you didn’t like what Mom and Dad wanted to watch, tough - go read a book. As the number of TVs in households multiplied, viewing habits became more fragmented. On any given Friday in 1986, Dad could watch the local baseball game, Mom might decide on Scarecrow & Mrs. King (because Bruce Boxleitner is so dreamy!) and the kids could settle in with Webster and Mr. Belvedere. Television became less and less of a family event, much like dinner and church on Sundays (or synagogue on Saturdays or...).
Fast forward to the 21st century. With cable, there’s a channel for every interest. You like golf? Check out the Golf Channel. Like game shows? There’s GSN (formerly the Game Show Network). Want something that revs your engine? The Speed Channel’s got what you want. With the advent of DVRs, you can watch any show whenever you damn well feel like. With the internet and mobile technology, you can watch pretty much any show, anywhere, at any time. Sure, a lot of people might’ve seen the season finale of Lost, but you’re still going to have someone who says, “Oh, I DVR’d it and I’ll watch it this weekend” or “I’ll just catch it on Hulu” or “I’m going to watch it on my phone on the train ride home.” Hell, I was watching episodes of the original Star Trek while I was on the can recently (some people might call that too much information, but I call it blunt honesty). It’s why you’ll never ever see numbers like the M*A*S*H finale back in 1983. Over 60% of all televisions in use were turned on to that one program. 60%! You will never get a number like that ever again. By contrast, the season finale of Seinfeld, arguably one of greatest sitcoms of all-time, had over 41% of TVs tuned in back when Jerry and the gang bid adieu in 1998. As further contrast, Friends, probably the most mainstream and popular sitcoms of the 90s, had only 29.8% of the viewers watching in 2004. (And, for the record, no episode of American Idol – finale or otherwise – even cracks the top 45, or the top 20 for shows broadcast since 2000, for that matter)
There has been an erosion in television viewing being a family experience. It started slowly when homes started getting more than one TV sets. It continued during the cable boom of the 80s and 90s, when more and more specialized channels popped up, offering a near-infinite amount of alternatives in viewing. And it’s in effect today when there is not only choice in content, but in how you receive your content, truly turning viewing into a solitary experience.
Sigh. I’m only 37 years old, yet sometimes I think that things were better back when you had three broadcast networks, a couple of independent stations, a PBS station and a handful of fuzzy UHF stations. To quote a great poet, “those were the days.”
Friday, April 10, 2009
More To Come...
'Blog activity has been minimal, I know. I promise you things will pick up after April 30th, which is my final day at Playboy. I'll have plenty of time on my hands (and you better hope that's all on my hands).
In the meantime, I give you ANGELA LANSBURY EXERCISING!!!
In the meantime, I give you ANGELA LANSBURY EXERCISING!!!
Sunday, April 5, 2009
25 Random Things
Okay, I'm breaking my promise two posts in already and posting something personal about me. Actually, this is taken from my Facebook page (hit me up if you want). You know the drill - post 25 random things about you and blah blah blah. Anyway, here are some things you probably don't know about me:
1. Due to a wacky misunderstanding, I once represented Montana in the United States Senate from 1993-1999.
2. "Boogie Nights" is based on me (especially the last scene).
3. I can eat my weight in Count Chocula.
4. I am a former World Wrestling Federation Intercontinental Champion.
5. "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan" was based on me.
6. Was once briefly married to Liza Minnelli. Marriage collapsed when she found out I was straight.
7. Hosted "Soul Train" from 1974-1981.
8. Was Al Gore's first choice to be his running mate in 2000. Had I accepted, he would've won Florida thanks to my idea to name Matlock attorney general. ('Cause, y'know, Florida is filled with old people.)
9. In college, I roomed with the Kool-Aid Man. Had to switch rooms when he'd constantly crash through the wall shouting "OOOOHHHH YEAAAAHHHH!!!" instead of just using the door.
10. Alanis Morissette wrote the song "You Oughta Know" about me. That's right, I am Mr. Duplicity.
11. Once killed a manatee with my bare hands.
12. Performed open-heart surgery on Pat Morita.
13. Was rocketed to Earth from the planet Krypton, where I was raised by a pair of kindly farmers.
14. Hates Santa Claus. He knows why.
15. Worked in Willy Wonka's factory, disposing of dead Oompa-Loompas.
16. "The Wiz" was based on me.17. Was the original bass player for The Monkees. They were actually called "The Ronniees."
18. Has an autographed copy of The Bible.
19. Coined the phrase "Cleveland Steamer."
20. "The Lou Gehrig Story" was based on me.
21. Is a card-carrying member of The West Coast Avengers.
22. Although you don't know it, he actually is the handsomest man in the world.
23. Fathered the entire state of Nebraska.
24. Will probably stab you in the eye with a fork eventually.
25. Sat in between Dom DeLuise and Shelley Winters in a sauna and lived to tell the tale.
1. Due to a wacky misunderstanding, I once represented Montana in the United States Senate from 1993-1999.
2. "Boogie Nights" is based on me (especially the last scene).
3. I can eat my weight in Count Chocula.
4. I am a former World Wrestling Federation Intercontinental Champion.
5. "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan" was based on me.
6. Was once briefly married to Liza Minnelli. Marriage collapsed when she found out I was straight.
7. Hosted "Soul Train" from 1974-1981.
8. Was Al Gore's first choice to be his running mate in 2000. Had I accepted, he would've won Florida thanks to my idea to name Matlock attorney general. ('Cause, y'know, Florida is filled with old people.)
9. In college, I roomed with the Kool-Aid Man. Had to switch rooms when he'd constantly crash through the wall shouting "OOOOHHHH YEAAAAHHHH!!!" instead of just using the door.
10. Alanis Morissette wrote the song "You Oughta Know" about me. That's right, I am Mr. Duplicity.
11. Once killed a manatee with my bare hands.
12. Performed open-heart surgery on Pat Morita.
13. Was rocketed to Earth from the planet Krypton, where I was raised by a pair of kindly farmers.
14. Hates Santa Claus. He knows why.
15. Worked in Willy Wonka's factory, disposing of dead Oompa-Loompas.
16. "The Wiz" was based on me.17. Was the original bass player for The Monkees. They were actually called "The Ronniees."
18. Has an autographed copy of The Bible.
19. Coined the phrase "Cleveland Steamer."
20. "The Lou Gehrig Story" was based on me.
21. Is a card-carrying member of The West Coast Avengers.
22. Although you don't know it, he actually is the handsomest man in the world.
23. Fathered the entire state of Nebraska.
24. Will probably stab you in the eye with a fork eventually.
25. Sat in between Dom DeLuise and Shelley Winters in a sauna and lived to tell the tale.
Friday, April 3, 2009
WELCOME TO THE MACHINE
Hi all. Welcome to my blog. For those who don't know me, I'm Ron Motta - soon to be ex-senior research editor of Playboy magazine and contributor to The Playboy Blog. Like the title suggests, it's going to be a work in progress. I have no idea what shape this is going to take. I know what this won't be, though - you will not find all the minutia of my every day life (ie "Went to store. Bought Chef Boyardee Beefaroni. Killed a hobo for the sheer fun of it. Watched 'The Golden Girls' marathon"). I'll also be tinkering with the layout a bit.
In the meantime, I give you MONKEY WASHING A CAT!!!!
In the meantime, I give you MONKEY WASHING A CAT!!!!
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