From: notreallyme@thisaddress.com (I.P. Freely)
Subject: The REAL TOS on Sci-Fi Info
Date: 1998/07/12
Message-ID: #1/1
Organization: Wizzer, Inc.
Reply-To: gogetstuffed@whereyouare.net
Newsgroups: fido.trek

I've got a close relative working at the Sci-Fi Channel and she's not happy with
what they'll be doing with the TOS:"Special Edition" episodes airing this fall.
She's a tried-and-true fan who'd hate to see what made The original Star Trek so
special go out the window for the sake of some $$$, but that's what seems to be
happening.

Since she and I share a last name, I can't reveal either her or my identity -
she'd very likely get the boot for letting this stuff leak out.  The network is
saving these "goodies" as a surprise for the fans, which is why their
advertising campaign has been so enigmatic and mysterious.

Here's what's supposedly in store, if she's heard correctly :

(1) Each episode will be presented in a 90-minute time slot.  All original
footage available will be restored into the broadcasts, so each episode itself
is likely to run about 52-54 minutes.  We'll also get to see the NBC preview
tags for each episode, just as they originally aired in the late 60's.  There
may also be some classic commercials from the era thrown on as well, but that's
just a rumor so far.

(2) New negatives, fresh video transfers, digitally remastered audio and video
for all 80 episodes.  It'll look better than it did when it originally aired on
NBC 30 years ago.

(3) There will be some new footage in most episodes.  Some new special effects
shots will be used - mostly the stock shots that we've seen hundreds of times in
these episodes (the E flying across the screen, the E in orbit, the E firing
photon torpedoes, etc.).  No new live-action stuff, though there will be live
action footage restored to the episodes that hasn't been seen on TV for many
years, due to the increase in commercial time in the late 70's and 80's.

(4) Leonard Nimoy will do commentary on the first run of the 80 episodes, then
the whole sequence starts over again with Bill "The Rug" Shatner doing the same
thing.  The rest of the cast will also film commentary spots, when appropriate.
So far, every major and some minor cast members are slated to do commentary
work.

(5) Once these two 80-episode runs are completed, TOS will go onto the shelves
for at least 5 years - nobody can show it again unitl at least 2003-2004.  Rumor
has it that the video tapes may also be discontinued after the first running.

(6) As least one source has evidence that some of the music will be re-recorded
with modern orchestra and re-mixed into the audio tracks.  Supposedly, we'll
never know the difference, except that it'll sound better thatn what we're used
to hearing, though that might just be more digital trickery and not actual new
music.  Not much to go on for this one, though.  Likely not to be true, but I
guess we'll see (or hear).

(7) Some plot lines have been re-worked so that Sulu dies in every episode
(McCoy : My GOD, Jim ... they've killed Sulu !  You b*stards !").

(8) The Enterprise gets blown up at the end of the last episode, just for kicks.

(9) Some digital special effects have been added so that all the female crew are
now wearing pants instead of the miniskirts; all hint of cleaveage has been
removed to appease the "politically correct" wackos.  In fact, "The Gamesters Of
Triskellion" has been edited down to Kirk's little speech with the three
fruity-colored, pulsing, plastic brains-in-a-tank.

(10) They've decided not to air "Spock's Brain".  Ever.  Thank the gods.

That's the scoop, Trekkers.  And every word of it is true ... but then again,
that depends on how you define "truth", now isn't it ???