24 Hours in the Life of A Trekkie
Of course, there was real news on Tuesday and Wednesday, including the skyrocketing price of sugar! But I spent most of those days living every Star Trek fan’s dream, and other things. NO SPOILERS!
Thanks for staying up late with me on this Wednesday, April 19 for the West Coast, and now Thursday, April 20, 2023 for all of us here on the East Coast. And “hi” to everybody in between!
From Warsaw to Waco, Oklahoma City to Columbine, these two days in history have been full of memorable milestones, most of them tragic. Please, take a moment to look? I encourage you to click the hyperlinks to learn more.
Here Now (Some) News:
NOT SO SWEET! SUGAR PRICES AT 11-YEAR HIGH, AND COULD GO HIGHER: CNBC
DeSANTIS ALLIES GO TO WAR AGAINST DISNEY: Insider
CHRIS CHRISTIE KNOCKS DeSANTIS AS HE CONSIDERS RUN FOR WHITE HOUSE: The New York Times
CHRISTIE ISN’T THE ONLY REPUBLICAN CRITICIZING DeSANTIS: NYT
SCOTUS DELAYS ABORTION PILL DECISION: BBC
AFTER FOX NEWS SETTLED WITH DOMINION, NOW IT FACES ANOTHER DEFAMATION LAWSUIT: CNBC
ONE IN FOUR STUDENTS ABUSE ADHD MEDICATION: NBC News
MORE PEOPLE COME FORWARD TO ACCUSE ACTOR JONATHAN MAJORS OF ABUSE: Variety
Star Trek Corner
WHAT A WHIRLWIND! The last 24 hours have been nothing short of incredible and exhausting, but it’s so fulfilling. And truth be told, his roller coaster ride actually started on Monday, when my screener arrived from Paramount+ for the finale of Star Trek Picard, Part 10, titled, The Last Generation.
Have no fear! There are no spoilers ahead. If you wish, click here to watch!
My review of this episode will appear here next Monday. As before, I’m sharing the spotlight with my bestie, Melody Maia Monet.
Click here to watch our review of part nine of Picard from last week.
Click here to watch our collaboration as we interviewed the stars of the show just prior to the start of season three.
I had hoped to record our Zoom chat in front of the Times Square billboard that displays an animated Starship Enterprise.
Unfortunately, my timing was off last night, and the night before. Or was that tonight? I having trouble remembering. Thursday night at 8 p.m. is the last time it’ll appear on Broadway at West 46th Street, conveniently located across the street from the Paramount+ building and Marriott Marquis hotel.
But what’s unforgettable is that during my Zoom chat with Maia, we welcomed a special guest. Our friend, Terry Matalas, the show runner, executive producer, writer, and Director of Star Trek Picard finale.
Again: no spoilers here! At least, not until Monday. Subscribe to my YouTube channel to make sure you don’t miss it!
Earlier today, or maybe it’s yesterday by now, Paramount+ released the trailer for Star Trek Strange New Worlds!
Also on Wednesday, I had the privilege of speaking to Jin Maley, the nonbinary classicly-trained actor cast in a small part, communications officer Ensign Kova Rin Esmar, but as it turns out, they play a big role in the last few episodes of Picard, including the finale.
I wasn’t aware of this going in, but Jin told me they’ve never shared their coming out story with a reporter before. We had a very moving conversation which I will publish on YouTube on Sunday night as well as in the Bedtime Stories edition of this newsletter.
Wrapping up this very special week in my 45-year love affair with Star Trek was an unexpected invitation today (Wednesday) from my longtime friend, Hannah Simpson, to join her in Manhattan at the world’s largest IMAX screen, to view a special screening of Star Trek Picard parts nine and 10. Can you tell she’s a Trekkie?
Hannah got a lot of laughs from fellow fans standing in line with us when she declared, “The line must be drawn here, no father!” That’s a quote from Star Trek First Contact, directed by Jonathan Frakes.
Even though I had seen the finale episodes multiple times on my 50-inch television, watching these shows, larger than life in a theater with other fans was a surreal experience. Plus, it was free! They gave everybody popcorn, and a special commemorative bucket! Drinks for free, too1 We even got a commemorative poster on the way out. and I found a ladies room that didn’t have a super long line going out the door.
Before the screening, I asked fans to join me in shouting one of Jean-Luc Picard’s most famous catchphrases: “Make It So!”
After the episodes, which were greeted by raucous applause by the 600 or so fans who joined me on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, Paramount+ treated us all to a live panel discussion among the show’s stars, EP Terry Matalas and franchise honcho Alex Kurtzman.
Reflections
New York City is an incredible, wonderful, sometimes scary but always amazing place, and that is not just because I was born there.
Yes, I complained Tuesday night about missing the Star Trek Picard billboard, and the swarm of tourists infesting Times Square, there were also some Only In Nu Yawk magical moments:
Bumping into and getting to shake the hand of Guardian Angels founder Curtis Sliwa (no, I didn’t ask him to pose for a selfie);
Being recognized in the line to the ladies room by one of my favorite people, Rabbi Marisa Elana James!
And enjoying all of the cosplayers dressed up in Starfleet uniforms and as Star Trek characters for this incredible night of fandom. How often do you get to see the equivalent of a major motion picture seated between a Borg Queen and a transgender lieutenant from The Original Series?
If you couldn’t tell, I dictated this newsletter while driving home to Connecticut using my iPhone, and cleaned it up upon arriving here from Manhattan, a 2+ hour drive. Yep, I’m exhausted. Hard to believe I used to make that roundtrip drive five days a week for seven years, up until nine years ago.
While I miss the six-figure salary of working at ABC News, and I am proud of the many historic headline stories I’ve had a hand in telling over the last four decades, some of the biggest news events of our lifetime… I know I would not have the opportunities to do this kind of work, interviewing Hollywood stars who intersect my LGBTQ+ identity with my passion for the Star Trek franchise.
What I lost in my transition was great, but what I gained in coming out and living my authentic life is a thousand fold more satisfying and important to me!
And now that it’s after 3 a.m. EDT, I’m scheduling this newsletter, climbing into bed and pressing “play” on the finale of Star Trek Picard, one more time. Click here to join me! Also: Rolling Stone has a story about a special offer that lets you view episodes pf Star Trek and other shows and movies on Paramount+ for free!
That’s all for tonight, I mean this morning, whatever. I’ll be back Sunday night with your Bedtime Stories to prepare you for Monday and the week ahead. Until then… Live Long and Prosper!
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