Spocklight: A Star Trek Podcast

In our first podcast recorded since lockdown begun, the Spocklight crew gather together remotely to launch a whole new series of episodes focusing on Star Trek cast members appearances in various other television shows over the years beginning with George Takei’s guest spot on Miami Vice from 1987 (Season 3, Episode 20 - By Hooker by crook). For one episode only Spocklight transforms into ‘Miami Voice’, as we praise Vice as an early precursor to today’s era of cinematic TV before moving on to a full retrospective of Director (and Vice executive producer), Michael Mann’s career. Can you hear it coming in the air tonight?  You will.   As usual you can find SPOCKLIGHT on: TWITTER - @spocklightpod INSTAGRAM – @spocklightpod FACEBOOK – https://www.facebook.com/spocklightpod/ EMAIL - spocklightpod@gmail.com Please Follow, like, share and all that good stuff.   Our beautiful artwork was created by Stephen Trumble, see more at http://www.stephentrumble.com 

Liam and Matt are joined by James Dyer of the Pilot TV Podcast and Empire Magazine to discuss classic Star trek: The Next Generation 2-Parter, Chain of Command.     As usual you can find SPOCKLIGHT on: TWITTER - @spocklightpod INSTAGRAM – @spocklightpod FACEBOOK – https://www.facebook.com/spocklightpod/ EMAIL - spocklightpod@gmail.com Please Follow, like, share and all that good stuff.   You can find James @jamescdyer on Twitter and the Pilot TV Podcast on Apple Podcasts or wherever you catch your pods. Credit for our wonderful theme music goes to the incredibly talented, Adam Johnston’s, you can find more of his work at - https://adamjohnstonuk.bandcamp.com/ Our beautiful artwork was created by Stephen Trumble, see more at http://www.stephentrumble.com   

Frequent Spocklight guest, Stephen Trumble, returns to the podcast to help us dissect the Season 3 Finale and the Season 4 Premiere of Star Trek: The Next Generation, The Best of Both Worlds Parts 1+2. We make the argument for the classic 2-Parter being a Riker-centric story rather than a Picard-centric one, discuss the best and worst TV cliffhangers ever and (in what must be a first for any Star Trek podcast) sing the theme tune of 90s Snooker game show, Big Break. Wanna hear all this and much more?! Make it so by downloading now!   As usual you can find SPOCKLIGHT on: TWITTER - @spocklightpod INSTAGRAM – @spocklightpod FACEBOOK – https://www.facebook.com/spocklightpod/ EMAIL - spocklightpod@gmail.com Please Follow, like, share and all that good stuff. You can find Stephen @StephenTrumble on Twitter and his great Podcast, 50 Uses for the word Love @50Uses on Twitter and @50usesforthewordlove on Instagram   Credit for our wonderful theme music goes to the incredibly talented, Adam Johnston’s, you

CRIPES, IT'S SNIPES! The Spocklight crew are betting on black as Liam and Paul are joined by Sam Clements & Louise Owen of the '90 Minutes or Less Film Fest' Podcast to dissect Wesley Snipes actioner, Passenger 57 (coming in with a lean and mean running time of 84 minutes), written by David Loughery (Star Trek V: The Final Frontier).   Liam is disappointed by the film seemingly restraining Snipes' natural charisma, Paul is amazed by the fact that despite the film only being 84 minutes long it could easily still be 20 minutes shorter, while Sam reveals the possible origins of the film's most memorable line, "Charles Rane is not insane!" and Louise is surprised that the movie might just pass the Bechdel test.    As usual you can find SPOCKLIGHT on: TWITTER - @spocklightpod INSTAGRAM – @spocklightpod FACEBOOK – https://www.facebook.com/spocklightpod/ EMAIL - spocklightpod@gmail.com Please Follow, like, share and all that good stuff.   You can find Sam @sam_clements and Louise on Instagram @podclas

We welcome renowned Theatre Director, Andrew Keates, to the Spocklight bridge to discuss one of his favourite episodes of the Star Trek franchise, ‘In the Pale Moonlight’, from Deep Space Nine.   Andrew helps us unpick the homoerotic subtext to the episode, the political commentary of Deep Space Nine and Star Trek as Theatre, while also giving us the inside story on directing Marina Sirtis in hit Play, Dark Sublime.   As usual you can find SPOCKLIGHT on: TWITTER - @spocklightpod INSTAGRAM – @spocklightpod FACEBOOK – https://www.facebook.com/spocklightpod/ EMAIL - spocklightpod@gmail.com Please Follow, like, share and all that good stuff.   You can find Andrew on Twitter @andrewkeates and on Instagram @mrandrewkeates You can find more information about Andrew’s Podcast, The Show People Podcast @ShowPeopleUk on Twitter Credit for our wonderful theme music goes to the incredibly talented, Adam Johnston’s, you can find more of his work at - https://adamjohnstonuk.bandcamp.com/ Our beautiful artwork

New York... a city pushed to the edge. People pushed to the limit. And no one's got the guts to stop them… apart from Spocklight at the Movies! This episode, we’re covering ‘Death Wish 3’ (Star Trek connection: Marina Sirtis) with Daryl and Jeanette from smashing film podcast, Sudden Double Deep.   Liam decries the gleefully sadistic Death Wish 2, gets nostalgic for the videostore era, wonders how 64-year-old Charles Bronson's punches somehow rivals Superman's and chats up our recent trip to actually SEE Marina Sirtis in the brilliant play, Dark Sublime.   Matt is delighted with sightings of a young Alex Winter and a ridiculous plunger wielding punk, can't help but compare the main villain to Gob Bluth and discusses some of the many problematic details surrounding Sirtis' role as 'Maria'   And guests Daryl and Jeanette provide their expert knowledge on the history of Canon Films, wince at the iffy white saviour tropes, ill-conceived rape scene and depictions of extreme class warfare... and mostly try to

Star Wars Puppeteer, Derek Arnold, beams up to discuss his work on The Force Awakens, Rogue One, The Last Jedi, Solo and The Rise of Skywalker, as well as joining the Spocklight crew for an in-depth analysis of Episode VII itself.   Hear Derek’s very personal take on the film and the Star Wars franchise itself as he regales us with behind the scenes stories of bringing the Luggabeast, the Thala Siren, Vober Dand, the Nightwatcher Worm and many more to life.     As usual you can find SPOCKLIGHT on: TWITTER - @spocklightpod INSTAGRAM – @spocklightpod FACEBOOK – https://www.facebook.com/spocklightpod/ EMAIL - spocklightpod@gmail.com Please Follow, like, share and all that good stuff. You can find Derek at @ActorDArnold on Twitter Credit for our wonderful theme music goes to the incredibly talented, Adam Johnston’s, you can find more of his work at - https://adamjohnstonuk.bandcamp.com Our beautiful artwork was created by Stephen Trumble, see more at http://www.stephentrumble.com  

In the second ever Spocklight Christmas Special, we go to desperate measures to bring you Trek-based festive content, by covering ‘Christmas Eve’ starring Sir Patrick Stewart.   Liam dives into the formidable trend of faith based cinema, tries his best to stick up for the magnetic screen presence of Sir Patrick and gushes about he and Matt’s shared love for The Killers Christmas singles   Paul admits his admiration for two of the worst/best characters in the movie, is stunned by the hugely pervy, creepo photographer character and is forced to drop a never before seen (if not-so-surprising) final star rating   While Matt talks the sudden rise of recent cheesy Christmas movies given free reign by streaming services and is left confused by the wildest post-credits scene ever.   Put your feet baby (and listen to our latest episode), it’s Christmas Time!   As usual you can find SPOCKLIGHT on: TWITTER - @spocklightpod INSTAGRAM – @spocklightpod FACEBOOK – https://www.facebook.com/spocklightpod/ EMAIL

Liam, Matt and Paul return to the beginning of the Spocklight adventure for the 40th anniversary of ‘Star Trek: The Motion Picture’ as we dive into the 2001 Director’s edition of the film to find out, once and for all, if there truly is no comparison.   As usual you can find SPOCKLIGHT on: TWITTER - @spocklightpod INSTAGRAM – @spocklightpod FACEBOOK – https://www.facebook.com/spocklightpod/ EMAIL - spocklightpod@gmail.com Please Follow, like, share and all that good stuff.   Credit for our wonderful theme music goes to the incredibly talented, Adam Johnston’s, you can find more of his work at - https://adamjohnstonuk.bandcamp.com/ Our beautiful artwork was created by Stephen Trumble, see more at http://www.stephentrumble.com   

We’re joined by Trek newbies, Alex Petrovic and Joe Foster from awesome comedy podcast, ‘This Thing On?’, as we revisit Star Trek: The Next Generation with Liam, Matt and Paul picking an episode each to showcase the appeal of TNG.   We’ll be discussing the episodes (episode numbers as per Netflix):   Sins of the Father (Season 3, Episode 17) The Drumhead (Season 4, Episode 21) The Inner Light (Season 5, Episode 25)   Hear us talk VCR board games, a fat-shaming Nursemaid, the continuing political relevance of The Drumhead, whether Worf should have picked someone a bit harder than Picard for his cha’DIch and the history between those two characters, while Alex relates being a Romulan spy to playing for Nottingham Forest football club and tells us of his fateful meeting with Sir Patrick Stewart himself.   The cha’DIch will be silent and listen to this podcast by downloading now!   As usual you can find SPOCKLIGHT on: TWITTER - @spocklightpod INSTAGRAM – @spocklightpod FACEBOOK – https://www.facebo

We’re joined by comedian & host of the ‘Insane in the Men Brain’ Podcast, Rich Wilson, for our most sprawling and epic episode yet, talking everything from class representation in media, the importance of diversity, incel culture, classic comedy and... oh yeah, 1993's ‘Robin Hood: Men in Tights’   Liam examines how the gentle tone of early Mel Brooks' movies often make up for some of their more dated humour, thanks Sir Patrick Stewart's cameo appearance in Men in Tights for saving the movie and uncovers forgotten Frankie Howard flick, ‘Up the Chastity Belt’ complete with camp Robin Hood on his research deep dive.   Matt attempts to break down the various eras of the spoof genre, feels vindicated when 1998's 'Mafia' turns out to be a real movie after all and tells the story of his childhood stage acting debut and his own experience as a 'man in tights'.   While guest star, Rich Wilson tells us how his podcast encourages men to talk more openly about mental health & toxic masculinity, recalls the

Prepare to lock down and undergo the longest decontamination process of your life as we return to examining ‘Star Trek: The Motion Picture’ Director, Robert Wise's filmography with 1971 Sci-fi Horror Thriller, The Andromeda Strain, on another Spocklight at the Movies!   Liam admires the chilling effectiveness of the opening ghost town sequence but feels like they sacrificed entertainment value for rigorous authenticity and wishes the characters had more charisma than 'week one rejects in a reality show'   Paul gives us the skinny on original Author, Michael Crichton, finds the film to be an early precursor to the real-time stylings of 24 and the sci-fi nature of The X Files, praises Wise's technical prowess and dunks on the underground lab's undeniably shitty laser defence system   While Matt wishes the occasional sense of urgency was felt throughout the whole story, can't help but latch on to the potential for more paranoia-fuelled drama and is shocked by a certain monkey sequence that would surely cau

Spocklight at the Movies is on the run from our gambling debts and joining Tom Hanks, John Candy and Rita Wilson on a Peace Corps flight to Thailand, it’s Nicholas Meyer's 1985 comedy 'Volunteers'!   Liam reveals his somewhat recent appreciation for the late, great John Candy, discusses the history of THAT Coca Cola product placement and breaks down the problematic, white saviour tropes of the movie.   Paul talks up the shared comic sensibilities between the film and our own shorts from the mid 2000s (the 'Groovedoctor' oeuvre), chats the difficulties of nailing the landing in high concept comedies and ponders the potential of a contemporary remake.   While Matt talks Hank's character's inherent unlikeability and it's connections to the initial iteration of Woody in Toy Story, suffers from tonal whiplash as the film jumps for 4th wall breaking gags to sudden heads on pikes, and comes to the realisation that it’s close to being a slapstick version of Rambo.   Volunteer to mine the depths of this forgot

In a very special episode, Robert Sallin, the Producer of ‘Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan’ returns to the podcast to share more of the untold inside story of producing the most celebrated and iconic Star Trek film ever made.   Bob also tells us about the difficulties directing his first feature film, 1969’s ‘The Picasso Summer’ starring Albert Finney and Yvette Mimieux and achieving the incredible feat of helming over 2,000 commercials featuring such stars as Tom Selleck, Jack Lemmon, Joan Rivers, James Mason and Larry Hagman. We’re also lucky enough to be joined by his Wife, Sandra Sallin, who chimes in with the amazing story of attending the after party to a private screening of ‘E.T.’ with Steven Speilberg and George Lucas.   If you haven’t heard it, we strongly recommended listening to our first episode with Bob, Supplemental 4: Interview with Robert Sallin, published on September 21st 2017 still available on our feed as well for even more great in-depth anecdotes from the man himself.     As usua

The Man in Black fled across the desert, and The Gunslinger followed... and behind him came Liam and Matt to debate the 2017 cinematic interpretation of Stephen King’s magnum opus, The Dark Tower, adapted for the screen by ‘Star Trek: Discovery’ Writer, Director and Executive Producer, Akiva Goldsman.   Liam compares the film to ‘Last Action Hero’, hates on Jake's deadbeat parents and realises that we still haven't cracked the art of CGI flame hands, while Matt tells the tale of his not-so-epic quest to track down all the books in the series, breaks down the three cardinal sins of shitty exposition and struggles to synopsise this complex, genre-hybrid on a brain-meltingly hot day.   We also discuss the new TV reboot of the franchise and other King Properties and lament the lost Dark Tower adaptation from the team behind... LOST!   All hail the Crimson King, don't forget the face of your father and join us for our 3-year anniversary as we journey into Mid-World and beyond.     As usual you can find SP

Join us for an incredibly fun chat as we let loose and crank it up to 11 with the amazingly energetic, Michele Specht, best known as Dr. McKennah in ‘Star Trek Continues’ and one of the many voices of the ‘Star Trek Online’ game. Hear which Trek series was her gateway into the fandom and why she thinks Trek's focus on ethical, moral and spiritual storytelling really sets it apart. Discover the pressures she felt in doing the franchise justice, dealing with overwhelming fan (and original cast) reactions and finding the right level of theatricality when matching the aesthetic of the original series. We go pretty deep on this one, learning how unhealthy motivations, audition horror stories and the need to find her centred self all brought Michele to the brink of quitting acting altogether. Plus - insights into the world of voice recording for Star Trek Online & numerous anime shows, as well as the reveal of what Michele’s dream Star Trek: Discovery role would be.   As usual you can find SPOCKLIGHT on:

We're BACK with another Trek TV Revisited episode. This time we endure our return to Star Trek: The Animated Series, with special guest, Eliot J Fallows, of Chortle Awards nominated Podcast, ‘Heal Your Wounds’ and the fantastic ‘Sean & Eliot Read the Bible’, joining us to dissect the episodes:   1.02 Yesteryear 1.04 The Lorelei Signal 1.12 The Time Trap   Liam applauds the series (occasionally) using animation to it's advantage by adding more imaginative, gonzo characters, but blasts the emotionless line delivery of the majority of the main cast.   Paul can't believe the audacity of including a 45 second sequence of Scotty singing, laughs at director Hal Sutherland's overly flashy signature credit and generally thinks the show has all the animated prowess of a pop-up book.   Matt manages to appreciate some profound moments and wonders why this wasn't just a radio series thanks to the lack of actual 'animation' in this 'animated' show, while Eliot struggles to comprehend some (admittedly flawed)

In this special episode we’re joined by Shazad Latif, best known to Trekkies as Ash Tyler in ‘Star Trek: Discovery’ and to many others as Clem Fandango in ‘Toast of London’.   Hear the origins of Shazad’s dual role on Discovery, how he navigated one of the most challenging storylines in Trek history, what it meant to him being a half-Asian romantic lead in such a brilliantly diverse cast and how life has changed thanks to being part of the worldwide phenomenon that is Trek.   We also talk about what it was like to become a pop culture icon as Clem Fandango in Matt Berry and Arthur Matthews’ wonderful sitcom, ‘Toast of London’, getting to play Jekyll but not Hyde in ‘Penny Dreadful’, landing a regular role in ‘Spooks’ straight out of drama school and even the moral complexity of his role in ‘Ordinary Lies’.   Looking to the future, Shazad gives us the scoop on the forthcoming ‘The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance’ and ‘Departure’ while we speculate on Discovery Season 3 and Michelle Yeoh fronted Spin-off,

In a giant-size special for our 50th episode, Liam and Matt are joined by Daryl and Jeanette of the ‘Sudden Double Deep’ Podcast to dissect the first X-Men movie from the year 2000 starring Patrick Stewart, just in time for the release of the latest chapter in the franchise, ‘X-Men: Dark Phoenix’. We examine the dawn of today’s Superhero movie phenomenon in detail, unpick the Bryan Singer controversy, discuss the differences between blockbuster movies past and present while looking forward to the possible future of the X-Men movie franchise. All that and the unfortunate story of a Jimmy Savile tattoo! Magneto’s right; there is a war coming, make sure you’re on the right side by downloading this episode now! As usual you can find SPOCKLIGHT on: TWITTER - @spocklightpod INSTAGRAM – @spocklightpod FACEBOOK – https://www.facebook.com/spocklightpod/ EMAIL - spocklightpod@gmail.com Please Follow, like, share and all that good stuff.   You can find more information about Daryl and Jeanette's brilliant Film

Liam and Matt are joined by James Dyer of the Pilot TV Podcast and Empire Magazine as we dive right into Discovery Season 2 and try and have a little fun along the way in one epic Spoiler Special.  As usual you can find SPOCKLIGHT on: TWITTER - @spocklightpod INSTAGRAM – @spocklightpod FACEBOOK – https://www.facebook.com/spocklightpod/ EMAIL - spocklightpod@gmail.com Please Follow, like, share and all that good stuff.   You can find James @jamescdyer on Twitter and the Pilot TV Podcast on Apple Podcasts or wherever you catch your pods. Credit for our wonderful theme music goes to the incredibly talented, Adam Johnston’s, you can find more of his work at - https://adamjohnstonuk.bandcamp.com/ Our beautiful artwork was created by Stephen Trumble, see more at http://www.stephentrumble.com