(Opening begins at the 0:36-end mark from the theme from the final season of American Gladiators' original run play. The camera pulls back to see James and everyone else on top of a slab with the words "The Last Of The Americans" on it before cutting to James in his office)
TLOTA:
I'm James Faraci The Last Of The Americans and the views that I'm about to express are that of my own and some of yours. We're all aware of the movie Galaxy Quest. Cut to the title card of Galaxy Quest, then to the movie clips as James does a voiceover.)
I'm James Faraci The Last Of The Americans and the views that I'm about to express are that of my own and some of yours. We're all aware of the movie Galaxy Quest. Cut to the title card of Galaxy Quest, then to the movie clips as James does a voiceover.)
TLOTA (V.O.):
And it is considered the definitive spoof of the Star Trek franchise; however, I think it is more of a semi-autobiographical look at the cast members of the original series! It surprises me every time how much I feel for the actors playing these actors who have to make a living dressed up as their characters just to make ends meet and when things get real, yeah, you could tell that they were fish out of water when real aliens ask them to play the characters for real. Now, don't get me wrong. I love Galaxy Quest, it's funny, but it is also where I discovered something that became more prevalent in Star Trek and many long-running series that have gained both infamy and an eternal fan base. I call this phenomenon Star Trek Syndrome. (Cut to James physically)
And it is considered the definitive spoof of the Star Trek franchise; however, I think it is more of a semi-autobiographical look at the cast members of the original series! It surprises me every time how much I feel for the actors playing these actors who have to make a living dressed up as their characters just to make ends meet and when things get real, yeah, you could tell that they were fish out of water when real aliens ask them to play the characters for real. Now, don't get me wrong. I love Galaxy Quest, it's funny, but it is also where I discovered something that became more prevalent in Star Trek and many long-running series that have gained both infamy and an eternal fan base. I call this phenomenon Star Trek Syndrome. (Cut to James physically)
TLOTA:
What is Star Trek Syndrome? Well, multiple elements are involved with this Syndrome; one of the better-known elements involves displeasure with their fellow cast members in one form or another. I call this element, "Shatner Shmuckdom"! (Cut to different clips of William Shatner as James does a voiceover.)
What is Star Trek Syndrome? Well, multiple elements are involved with this Syndrome; one of the better-known elements involves displeasure with their fellow cast members in one form or another. I call this element, "Shatner Shmuckdom"! (Cut to different clips of William Shatner as James does a voiceover.)
TLOTA (V.O.):
While it is clear that many, if not all, the surviving cast and crew members of the original Star Trek series have a hatred for William Shatner, and if they are still ambulatory and alive when Shatner finally kicks the cosmic bucket for real, they would love to piss on his corpse before lowering it into the ground or pissing on his ashes after he's cremated for all the perceived wrongs he's done and I am certain at least ninety-five percent of these have some basis of what really happened behind the scenes and also may have to do with the fact that, even though he like the rest of the cast was type cast, Another element of the Syndrome which I will get to later on in this editorial, he was able to get work in local diner theaters while actors like Walter Koenig and George Takei had to take anything they could to make ends meet, another part of the element of "Shatner Schmuckdom" is how the star feels about the fan base, one thing about Shatner very few know is that he is a prolific writer, no questions about it, but when you write a book called GET A LIFE! and direct it towards the fandom that helped you get to where you are, you forfeit most of your audience's sympathy especially when you can't make it to the funeral of someone who you called your best friend later on in life after causing the poor man to be drunk after dealing with you during a day of filming of the original Star Trek Series. Yeah, Shatner, I'm willing to bet Leonard Nimoy's family members still want to give you a kick in the Shatner sack at Warp Speed. (Cut to James physically)
While it is clear that many, if not all, the surviving cast and crew members of the original Star Trek series have a hatred for William Shatner, and if they are still ambulatory and alive when Shatner finally kicks the cosmic bucket for real, they would love to piss on his corpse before lowering it into the ground or pissing on his ashes after he's cremated for all the perceived wrongs he's done and I am certain at least ninety-five percent of these have some basis of what really happened behind the scenes and also may have to do with the fact that, even though he like the rest of the cast was type cast, Another element of the Syndrome which I will get to later on in this editorial, he was able to get work in local diner theaters while actors like Walter Koenig and George Takei had to take anything they could to make ends meet, another part of the element of "Shatner Schmuckdom" is how the star feels about the fan base, one thing about Shatner very few know is that he is a prolific writer, no questions about it, but when you write a book called GET A LIFE! and direct it towards the fandom that helped you get to where you are, you forfeit most of your audience's sympathy especially when you can't make it to the funeral of someone who you called your best friend later on in life after causing the poor man to be drunk after dealing with you during a day of filming of the original Star Trek Series. Yeah, Shatner, I'm willing to bet Leonard Nimoy's family members still want to give you a kick in the Shatner sack at Warp Speed. (Cut to James physically)
TLOTA:
Now I am not one to say that Shatner didn't have his low points in his career because we all do and it comes mostly from another element that has two versions in the Syndrome, in Hollywood terms, it is known as Typecasting, this is an element I call "Zerosight" (Cut to series that have had longevity after the series had ended as James does a voiceover)
Now I am not one to say that Shatner didn't have his low points in his career because we all do and it comes mostly from another element that has two versions in the Syndrome, in Hollywood terms, it is known as Typecasting, this is an element I call "Zerosight" (Cut to series that have had longevity after the series had ended as James does a voiceover)
TLOTA (V.O.):
The first version involves an enemy to all men, the Hollywood version. Apparently for an industry about "Inclusion of all people" & "Has a very open view of the world" it is amazing how Hollywood and the casting directors have such a narrow perspective, When the series Gilligan's Island was unceremoniously canceled by network execs who folded like wallets because the network's boss loved the series Gunsmoke and literally, no one, and I mean NO ONE, was able to work for years outside of minor roles and parodying themselves and Adam West had to embrace the campy insanity of his interpretation of Batman at one point he was shot out of a cannon at a state fair, it was at that moment he chose to find better representation that led to the roles he got! Even his role in Family Guy was because he decided to embrace a caricature of his past self and this is not an uncommon situation. Cast members of shows like Star Trek, Power Rangers, Baywatch, and other shows and movies earned the infamy, and the fan base seems to have cast members that can't get away from the characters they've been known for, and Hollywood Zerosight is relentlessly bad! (Cut to BH90210 as James does a voiceover.)
The first version involves an enemy to all men, the Hollywood version. Apparently for an industry about "Inclusion of all people" & "Has a very open view of the world" it is amazing how Hollywood and the casting directors have such a narrow perspective, When the series Gilligan's Island was unceremoniously canceled by network execs who folded like wallets because the network's boss loved the series Gunsmoke and literally, no one, and I mean NO ONE, was able to work for years outside of minor roles and parodying themselves and Adam West had to embrace the campy insanity of his interpretation of Batman at one point he was shot out of a cannon at a state fair, it was at that moment he chose to find better representation that led to the roles he got! Even his role in Family Guy was because he decided to embrace a caricature of his past self and this is not an uncommon situation. Cast members of shows like Star Trek, Power Rangers, Baywatch, and other shows and movies earned the infamy, and the fan base seems to have cast members that can't get away from the characters they've been known for, and Hollywood Zerosight is relentlessly bad! (Cut to BH90210 as James does a voiceover.)
TLOTA (V.O.):
This is something the short-lived series BH90210 tried to satire; the surviving members of the cast of Beverly Hills 90210 had an incident at a convention that caused them to reevaluate their personal and professional futures and had they kept their tongue-in-cheek humor about the situations they were in and put the drama on the backburner and not tried to recapture the series they had done, then not only would it have been better for the series in the long-run, it would've also lasted a lot longer, However, this is what happened when Hollywood gives actors who had been successful but then quickly gives them the boot after they had their success ends Cut to James physically)
This is something the short-lived series BH90210 tried to satire; the surviving members of the cast of Beverly Hills 90210 had an incident at a convention that caused them to reevaluate their personal and professional futures and had they kept their tongue-in-cheek humor about the situations they were in and put the drama on the backburner and not tried to recapture the series they had done, then not only would it have been better for the series in the long-run, it would've also lasted a lot longer, However, this is what happened when Hollywood gives actors who had been successful but then quickly gives them the boot after they had their success ends Cut to James physically)
TLOTA:
Then, of course, we have the version of "Zerosight" that we the fans have, and as much as Hollywood's version is terrible, Fans have the worst version of it, which I have called "Entitled Zerosight," Cut to all sorts of fans from different fandoms as James does a voiceover.)
Then, of course, we have the version of "Zerosight" that we the fans have, and as much as Hollywood's version is terrible, Fans have the worst version of it, which I have called "Entitled Zerosight," Cut to all sorts of fans from different fandoms as James does a voiceover.)
TLOTA (V.O.):
Don't get me wrong, I love my fans. If they want a photo, I will gladly give them a photo they want an autograph; I will sign whatever they want me to sign. I would gladly do everything within reason for my fans, but WOW, fans can turn at the drop of an idea, and it still is happening with Star Wars fans giving tsouris to actors and directors in the Disney Era Star Wars. Thank Anson Mount, AKA Black Bolt from the failed Inhumans series, and Captain Christopher Pike on Star Trek Strange New Worlds for defending the actress Moses Ingram in the new Obi-Wan Kenobi series on Disney Plus. When one fandom is saying to fans of another fandom you're going too far, things are really cuckoo. Still, there are fans of Mako Mermaids who liked the final season and agreed with my thoughts on the series. Still, for every fan like that, at least one thousand haters are screaming, "How dare that person, or those persons, or that company do something that I would like but I don't want to because it means I have to adapt what I want to their tastes." However, you need to change your attitudes with the times; I'm not saying you should give up the core of who you are. Just incorporate whatever new elements are coming and keep what works and if it doesn't suit you, then change that element to work for you (Cut to clips of Power Rangers Megaforce/Super Megaforce as James does a voiceover.)
Don't get me wrong, I love my fans. If they want a photo, I will gladly give them a photo they want an autograph; I will sign whatever they want me to sign. I would gladly do everything within reason for my fans, but WOW, fans can turn at the drop of an idea, and it still is happening with Star Wars fans giving tsouris to actors and directors in the Disney Era Star Wars. Thank Anson Mount, AKA Black Bolt from the failed Inhumans series, and Captain Christopher Pike on Star Trek Strange New Worlds for defending the actress Moses Ingram in the new Obi-Wan Kenobi series on Disney Plus. When one fandom is saying to fans of another fandom you're going too far, things are really cuckoo. Still, there are fans of Mako Mermaids who liked the final season and agreed with my thoughts on the series. Still, for every fan like that, at least one thousand haters are screaming, "How dare that person, or those persons, or that company do something that I would like but I don't want to because it means I have to adapt what I want to their tastes." However, you need to change your attitudes with the times; I'm not saying you should give up the core of who you are. Just incorporate whatever new elements are coming and keep what works and if it doesn't suit you, then change that element to work for you (Cut to clips of Power Rangers Megaforce/Super Megaforce as James does a voiceover.)
TLOTA (V.O.):
This is one of the reasons Power Rangers Megaforce/Super Megaforce FAILED miserably with both newer and old school fans. instead of trying to give us stories of the rangers and or how they connect to the past rangers and or how to develop the characters, story, or anything that had to do with making a series, let alone a Power Rangers series celebrating their 20th season on T.V.! (Cut to James physically)
This is one of the reasons Power Rangers Megaforce/Super Megaforce FAILED miserably with both newer and old school fans. instead of trying to give us stories of the rangers and or how they connect to the past rangers and or how to develop the characters, story, or anything that had to do with making a series, let alone a Power Rangers series celebrating their 20th season on T.V.! (Cut to James physically)
TLOTA:
And this leads to another element of Star Trek Syndrome, An element that involves producers and some of the most insane, if not impossibly, wholly unintelligible ideas known to man! I call this element "Executive Paranoiac" Cut to stills of George Lucas, Gene Roddenberry, and other creators as James does a voiceover)
And this leads to another element of Star Trek Syndrome, An element that involves producers and some of the most insane, if not impossibly, wholly unintelligible ideas known to man! I call this element "Executive Paranoiac" Cut to stills of George Lucas, Gene Roddenberry, and other creators as James does a voiceover)
TLOTA (V.O.):
Now, this is common with writers, producers, and directors. Gene Roddenberry quit after the second season as the showrunner and head writer on Star Trek. While he did write for the series and tried to do more, as much as what has come out about the guy, I have to say some of the problems that season had was because Fred Freiberger had other writers make edits to the scripts that would've been more unintelligible and possibly unwatchable because Gene was bitter over what was going. That bitterness may have led to the eventual degradation of his sanity. Now I believe that Roddenberry was a visionary but had his issues, which led to some of the ideas he had to put on the back burner until his passing, like Earth Final Conflict or Andromeda. However, his ideas for Star Trek movies after Star Trek The Motion Picture were outrageously insane, including the JFK Assassination and Klingons. There were even stories during times of the Original series. He wanted the cast to be predominantly female, not because he was a feminist but because he wanted to turn the Starship Enterprise into his own Orgy palace, if you vomited in your mouth as much as I did, then Mazel Tov, Star Trek lost a lot of its credibility And in Roddenberry's case, he was the most extreme version of this element, the least powerful version of the component involves, of all people, George Lucas (Cut to James physically)
Now, this is common with writers, producers, and directors. Gene Roddenberry quit after the second season as the showrunner and head writer on Star Trek. While he did write for the series and tried to do more, as much as what has come out about the guy, I have to say some of the problems that season had was because Fred Freiberger had other writers make edits to the scripts that would've been more unintelligible and possibly unwatchable because Gene was bitter over what was going. That bitterness may have led to the eventual degradation of his sanity. Now I believe that Roddenberry was a visionary but had his issues, which led to some of the ideas he had to put on the back burner until his passing, like Earth Final Conflict or Andromeda. However, his ideas for Star Trek movies after Star Trek The Motion Picture were outrageously insane, including the JFK Assassination and Klingons. There were even stories during times of the Original series. He wanted the cast to be predominantly female, not because he was a feminist but because he wanted to turn the Starship Enterprise into his own Orgy palace, if you vomited in your mouth as much as I did, then Mazel Tov, Star Trek lost a lot of its credibility And in Roddenberry's case, he was the most extreme version of this element, the least powerful version of the component involves, of all people, George Lucas (Cut to James physically)
TLOTA:
I know, I'm in shock as well, but just look at the original trilogy and the prequels of the Star Wars movies (Cut to clips of the Star Wars Original Trilogy and Prequels as James does a voiceover)
I know, I'm in shock as well, but just look at the original trilogy and the prequels of the Star Wars movies (Cut to clips of the Star Wars Original Trilogy and Prequels as James does a voiceover)
TLOTA (V.O.):
He knew what he wanted in those movies. He wanted to tell this story, he had his vision of these movies. Even when Irvin Kirshner had the director's chair for Empire Strikes Back and Richard Marquand took that chair in Return Of The Jedi, George had the final say on how the story of those movies because they told the stories of Luke Skywalker, his sister Leia Organa, The rogue Rebellion Captain Han Solo and the redemption of Anakin Skywalker after being a destructive evil known as Darth Vader. So when the prequels happened George knew what his plan was. Episode One, Introduces Anakin and the conflict that would ultimately start his change to becoming Darth Vader. Episode Two, Introduce the Clone Wars that would destroy the Republic and further the conflict that would send Anakin down the dark side. Episode Three had to show the destruction of the Jedi, Complete Anakin's fall to the dark side, Show the birth of both Luke & Leia and see the rise of the Galactic Empire. Did it do it well and effectively? Not really but as time has gone on and people who now do reactions to movies have seen the movies as better than those we gave them credit for. (Cut to the Disney Skywalker Trilogy as James does a voiceover.)
He knew what he wanted in those movies. He wanted to tell this story, he had his vision of these movies. Even when Irvin Kirshner had the director's chair for Empire Strikes Back and Richard Marquand took that chair in Return Of The Jedi, George had the final say on how the story of those movies because they told the stories of Luke Skywalker, his sister Leia Organa, The rogue Rebellion Captain Han Solo and the redemption of Anakin Skywalker after being a destructive evil known as Darth Vader. So when the prequels happened George knew what his plan was. Episode One, Introduces Anakin and the conflict that would ultimately start his change to becoming Darth Vader. Episode Two, Introduce the Clone Wars that would destroy the Republic and further the conflict that would send Anakin down the dark side. Episode Three had to show the destruction of the Jedi, Complete Anakin's fall to the dark side, Show the birth of both Luke & Leia and see the rise of the Galactic Empire. Did it do it well and effectively? Not really but as time has gone on and people who now do reactions to movies have seen the movies as better than those we gave them credit for. (Cut to the Disney Skywalker Trilogy as James does a voiceover.)
TLOTA (V.O.):
Plus they're a lot more coherent in terms of Story and Characters than how the Disney trilogy and the movie SOLO: A Star Wars Story. There wasn't so much a focus on the story or the old and new characters. Rather, there was a feeling of we'll put these characters we can't fit into anything else into this movie, put stories we couldn't fit into anything else, and see if we can fit the Star Wars Characters into these stories. The only exemptions from this problem is Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, The Mandalorian, Book Of Boba Fett, and Obi-Wan Kenobi. Maybe because there was more emphasis on the stories of main characters and how their stories go from where they began in the Star Wars movies to where they'd be in their own stories or in the case of The Mandalorian how that story can connect to the Star Wars movies. While Lucas isn't involved in what Disney is doing, he is aware of the "Entitled Zerosight" of what is known as the Fandom Menace. (Cut to Seth MacFarlane and The Orville as James does a voiceover)
Plus they're a lot more coherent in terms of Story and Characters than how the Disney trilogy and the movie SOLO: A Star Wars Story. There wasn't so much a focus on the story or the old and new characters. Rather, there was a feeling of we'll put these characters we can't fit into anything else into this movie, put stories we couldn't fit into anything else, and see if we can fit the Star Wars Characters into these stories. The only exemptions from this problem is Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, The Mandalorian, Book Of Boba Fett, and Obi-Wan Kenobi. Maybe because there was more emphasis on the stories of main characters and how their stories go from where they began in the Star Wars movies to where they'd be in their own stories or in the case of The Mandalorian how that story can connect to the Star Wars movies. While Lucas isn't involved in what Disney is doing, he is aware of the "Entitled Zerosight" of what is known as the Fandom Menace. (Cut to Seth MacFarlane and The Orville as James does a voiceover)
TLOTA (V.O.):
One of the things that keep many from the Roddenberry & Lucas ends of the spectrum and using their creative ideas to create genius productions is to have the right people help focus the creative on the right aspects. One person in the center of the spectrum is Seth MacFarlane. While yes his animated series Family Guy & American Dad have lost their luster, Seth keeps them going for the fans while venturing to new productions like The Orville, which has become one of my favorite Sci-Fi series in recent years and with the right people helping keep his series on track. He really is creative and knows to channel it into his work in the right ways. (Cut to James physically)
One of the things that keep many from the Roddenberry & Lucas ends of the spectrum and using their creative ideas to create genius productions is to have the right people help focus the creative on the right aspects. One person in the center of the spectrum is Seth MacFarlane. While yes his animated series Family Guy & American Dad have lost their luster, Seth keeps them going for the fans while venturing to new productions like The Orville, which has become one of my favorite Sci-Fi series in recent years and with the right people helping keep his series on track. He really is creative and knows to channel it into his work in the right ways. (Cut to James physically)
TLOTA:
So can fandoms and producers avoid Star Trek Syndrome? No, but there are signs that you can look out for. (Cut to clips of different series and movies as James does a voiceover.)
So can fandoms and producers avoid Star Trek Syndrome? No, but there are signs that you can look out for. (Cut to clips of different series and movies as James does a voiceover.)
TLOTA (V.O.):
For starters, you need to be aware of those who have the problems. You could confront the person by telling them that they're ruining the experience for you and that you are a fan or find someone who can help you because if those who suffer from this Syndrome are making the experience unbearable then you need to find different ways to enjoy what you like without being a part of the problem. And remember what every MYST-ie says best "It's just a show or a movie, I should really just relax". (Cut to James physically)
For starters, you need to be aware of those who have the problems. You could confront the person by telling them that they're ruining the experience for you and that you are a fan or find someone who can help you because if those who suffer from this Syndrome are making the experience unbearable then you need to find different ways to enjoy what you like without being a part of the problem. And remember what every MYST-ie says best "It's just a show or a movie, I should really just relax". (Cut to James physically)
TLOTA:
And speaking of relaxing, The Fourth of July is around the corner and I will now be enjoying some Rocky and Creed movies because I can. I'm James Faraci The Last Of The Americans and That's my opinion!
And speaking of relaxing, The Fourth of July is around the corner and I will now be enjoying some Rocky and Creed movies because I can. I'm James Faraci The Last Of The Americans and That's my opinion!
