James Fanson

RIP Walter Koenig. You were an inspiration.

Fun to listen to them speak about the Enterprise restoration’s obsession with hull grid lines, even up to the latest Smithsonian restoration. Don’t know why they couldn’t stick to Matt’s original vision for a smooth surface. We owe so much to this man.

Here are some of the fine compositions Canadian director Harvey Hart gave us for MUDD’s WOMEN. He combined excellent placement of movement of the actors with camera movement. Reminds me of Michael Curtiz. #TOSSatNight

The idea that this physical transformation is the result of positive thinking is wack-a-doodle. #TOSSatNight

Is this Grace Lee Whitney wearing Eve’s costume? #TOSSatNight

The sound design for the lithium crystal circuits burning out is fabulous. #TOSSatNight

Nimoy is also great in this episode. He’s both stoic and smug. #TOSSatNight

Shatner is so good in this scene. #TOSSatNight

Bill Theiss at his finest again. #TOSSatNight

Love the blocking and camera work in this episode by director Harvey Hart. #TOSSatNight

I like this episode a lot, but the business about the Venus drug and the colored gelatin simply makes no sense. There, I’ve said it. #TOSSatNight

Time for Leo Walsh and his “cargo.” #TOSSatNight

“Mr. Trump’s order to federalize the National Guard ‘exceeded the President’s statutory authority and encroached on Congress’s’ power, the ruling said, and was therefore unconstitutional.” www.nytimes.com/2026/10/24/u...

Michael Forest and Leslie Parrish, departed from us but always in our memories. #TOSSatNight

This set had a big impact on me as a young child. #TOSSatNight

Composer Fred Steiner scores the battle between the Enterprise and Apollo by alternating musical themes when the Starship fires its phasers and Apollo his lightning bolts. It’s just fantastic. #TOSSatNight

Another example of the Enterprise crew rejecting a “paradise” way of life. And rejecting slavery occurs regularly, starting with the first pilot episode—The Cage. #TOSSatNight

One of Bill Theiss’ most beautiful gowns. #TOSSatNight

It’s painful that we’ve lost both Michael Forest and Leslie Parrish in the past year. They were excellent together. #TOSSatNight

No one wore gold lamée better than Forest. #TOSSatNight

So I gather that this planet is actually the ancient Olympus, which the gods departed to come to Earth, and then returned and faded away one at a time until only Apollo was left waiting for our crew. #TOSSatNight

Somehow I don’t think that stressing the hull of a ship would increase the air pressure inside. Someone failed their high school physics class. #TOSSatNight

Here are some photos of Palamas’ duty uniform I snapped at the Gregg Jein auction in 2023. It’s a season 2 velour uniform, but done on the diagonal seam pattern that would become standard in season 3. #TOSSatNight

This is a personal favorite episode, but I must say that the sexist lines of dialogue are cringeworthy. #TOSSatNight

Mike Okuda shared this photo of Michael Forest. Given his performance in this episode, I’m surprised that Forest didn’t become a bigger star in Hollywood. He was great! #TOSSatNight

I will not make tonight’s episode, but the loss of Michael Forest hits hard. He will forever be Apollo to me. But as was said, the time is past; there is no room for gods. #TOSSatNight

Took a ride on the Hiawatha between Chicago and Milwaukee last week. Beautiful ride. Unfortunately, the sky top lounge cars are no longer in use. Pity.

Risk is our business! #TOSSatNight

Enter Clint Howard. #TOSSatNight

One of the truly impressive visual effects—the pulsing ginormous mother ship. #TOSSatNight

Hello Balok! #TOSSatNight

Green leaves and cigarettes. #TOSSatNight

Love the double-layer doors on the turbo lift. #TOSSatNight.

Love the space buoy. #TOSSatNight

Here we go with the first production episode, intended to be the network premier, with a great script and visual effects. I love these early productions. #TOSSatNight

RIP Margaret Hamilton, who coined the term “software engineering.” While working at the MIT Instrumentation Lab, she programmed the Apollo Command and Lunar Module guidance computers to achieve the moon landings during the 1960’s. #realengineers

James RoyKirk #TOSSatNight

The phaser rifle makes its only appearance in this pilot. It’s such a cool prop, I would have liked to see it in regular use. #TOSSatNight

Eugenics again. I regular trope. #TOSSatNight

Sally Kellerman would be nominated for an Academy Award five years later for her portrayal of “Hot Lips” Houlihan in Robert Altman’s M*A*S*H. Star Trek had the best guest stars. #TOSSatNight

It’s interesting that Gary Lockwood, within four years, would co-star in the Star Trek pilot that sold he series, and in Kubrick’s 2001: a space odyssey, a landmark film. He was a cool dude. #TOSSatNight

Shatner nails Captain Kirk from the first frame. He’s fully fleshed out. More humor yet more gravitas than Jeff Hunter’s Captain Pike. #TOSSatNight

Andrea Dromm replaced Laurel Goodwin as the Captain’s Yeoman, and she was replaced in the production series by Grace Lee Whitney. Grace was great in the role (until they sacked her) but I wonder what it would have been like if Goodwin had remained. #TOSSatNight

The 3-D chess board is one of the most iconic props of the original series. The second pilot used heavy chess pieces that were too large for the board and later replaced by Peter Ganine pieces for the production series. #TOSSatNight

William Shatner helping Sally Kellerman relax back stage. #TOSSatNight

Laurel Goodwin made her screen debut with Elvis Presley in 1962 with Girls! Girls! Girls!, so she was well known by the time she acted in THE CAGE in 1964. #TOSSatNight

The real Vina. #TOSSatNight

Building the original bridge set. #TOSSatNight