Synopsis
Before the actors were cast, before the U.S.S. Enterprise was designed, before the phenomenon exploded, there were three men who set about creating the Star Trek legend. Gene Roddenberry died in 1991. Herb Solow and Bob Justman now remain the only two people on the planet Earth who really know what happened in those early, heady days.
Inside Star Trek is a comprehensive look at the development and life of a television and cultural phenomenon. It is also a story no one else could tell. Between them, Solow and Justman had a hand in virtually every aspect of the development and production of Star Trek - from the battles with NBC and the internal conflicts with studio executives to the behind-the-scenes decisions about actors and their characters, writers, scripts, directors, budgets, and the endless details of weekly television production.
Together, in this book, the two men debunk many of the myths that have developed around Star Trek in the last thirty years as they create new ones based on facts. At last, here is the simple, fascinating and accurate account of a unique television series launched against astronomical odds - a television series that transported millions of viewers into another world and into a unprecedented, thirty-year, multimedia, multibillion-dollar cultural phenomenon.
Reviews
A highly detailed account of the Star Trek phenomenon, written with affection but without zest by two men who were instrumental in the creation and production of that innovative show. Solow was ``responsible for the sale, development and production'' of the series; Justman served as Star Trek's co- producer. Together, they offer a chatty encyclopedia chronicling nearly every aspect of how the show was made. Fans of celebrity gossip will find some interesting (although generally familiar) material. For instance, the book explores, as it must, the brilliant yet flawed character of Star Trek's creator, Gene Roddenberry, and the competition between series stars William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy. But the bulk of this volume concerns the technological and commercial aspects of producing the show. Justman and Solow recount in fervent detail how the lighting, special effects, music, costumes, scripts, and sets of the series were created. Desilu Studios, Star Trek's home, was not a wealthy operation, and the show's first season was an especially harried one. Scenes often had to be reshot because the studio's ancient arc lights popped and squealed. Only a few sets for scenes on alien planets existed; the same props were ingeniously altered for each new show. We learn, as well, about the studio personnel, about the corporate rivalries and in-fighting that typified television production in general and Desilu Studios in particular. (The anecdotes about Lucille Ball are wonderful, as are Solow and Justman's descriptions of the manic day-to-day business of producing a series.) To their credit, the authors are not mean- spirited, rarely pompous, and seldom self-righteous. Unfortunately, the narrative is listless and without a distinctive personality. The bland prose coupled with almost numbing detail make it slow going. Still, despite its flaws, Star Trek completists and fans certainly will want to read this book. (First printing of 75,000) -- Copyright ©1996, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.
YA. A readable, fascinating look behind the scenes of Star Trek. The authors take readers from Gene Roddenberry's initial series idea in April 1964 through its demise in 1969. Solow, Roddenberry, and Justman boldly went where no one had gone before in the television galaxy. Well, as boldly as possible, besieged as they were by battles with NBC executives, squabbles within Desilu Studios, conflicts with the censors, budget constraints, production problems, personality conflicts, etc. This is "the real story," showing how a television show was conceived, developed, written, shot, edited, and finally aired. By taking off the rose-colored glasses, the authors give readers a glimpse into the human (though sometimes unflattering) side of the Star Trek personalities. A great choice for librarians that have a large "Star Trek" readership and also for those with a need for drama- or television-related materials.?John Lawson, Fairfax County Public Library, VA
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.
As told by Solow, Star Trek's co-producer, and Justman, the executive in charge of production, this is arguably the definitive history of the TV show. After Solow was hired by Desilu Studios to find properties to sell to the networks, he met an ex-cop named Gene Roddenberry who had an idea for a science fiction series called Star Trek. Roddenberry was signed to a development deal. We see the series's genesis as it went through two pilots; how the actors were selected; its problems going over budget; and its launch on NBC in 1966. Although its ratings were low, Star Trek was renewed and would last through the 1968-69 season. With plenty of behind-the-scenes material that will be of interest to Trek fans, this book puts a good deal of emphasis on the show's business side, elucidating production difficulties, cost overruns and the seemingly constant debate with NBC over the show's future. A look at a historical TV series that Trekkies are sure to enjoy. Photos not seen by PW. Simultaneous S&S audio release.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.
When the promised Star Trek memoirs of James Doohan (Mr. Scott, the engineer) and Majel Barrett (voice of the good ship Enterprise's ubiquitous computer and ST creator Gene Roddenberry's widow) arrive (soon), virtually all the most visible and audible members of the original ST crew will have deposed. Solow and Justman represent the space opera's behind-the-scenes cohorts, of whom far fewer have been heard. Solow was the Desilu studios vice-president who sold ST to NBC and oversaw production thereafter, while Justman was the series' associate producer (essentially analogous to the role of stage manager). Their take on the show is loaded with--surprise!--production details and trivia. The most amusing of the latter include Desilu owner Lucille Ball's early impression that ST was about entertainers doing a USO tour of the South Seas and NBC censors' many stern warnings about the open-mouthed smooches Captain Kirk laid on every curvaceous guest alien--stern warnings that Bill Shatner kept right on ignoring. The presentation of Solow and Justman's testimony is a little peculiar: each speaks in the first person in sections labeled "Herb" or "Bob" that are tied together by a third-person continuity that seems the work of neither of them. This is not, however, peculiar enough to dent the appeal the pair's recollections--more nuts-and-bolts than any of the actors' so far--bear for deep-dyed Trekkers. Stock up accordingly. Ray Olson
Another look at the legendary Star TrekR set from a production executive and coproducer, respectively, for the original TV series.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
