Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, January 17, 1995 TAG: 9501180025
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: IAN SPELLING
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
``Just a few weeks ago we were working on these sets for the first time,'' he says with his heavy German accent, surveying Doc Zimmerman's office and the adjacent, darkened sick-bay set on stage 9 of the Paramount Pictures lot.
Kolbe, who has directed episodes of ``Deep Space Nine'' and ``Next Generation'' (including the acclaimed ``Darmok'' and ``All Good Things ...'') was tapped by the creators of ``Star Trek: Voyager'' to direct the series' two-hour premiere, ``The Caretaker,'' which will air 8 to 10 p.m. Friday on WDBJ-Channel 7. (Thereafter, WDBJ will add ``Voyager'' to its late-night schedule Saturdays at 11:35 p.m., or Sundays, depending on its sports programming.)
As most Trekkers know, the pilot focuses on the Starfleet vessel Voyager, which is under the command of Capt. Kathryn Janeway (Kate Mulgrew). When the ship chases a rebel Maquis vessel through space, both wind up on the edge of the galaxy - a 70-year journey from home.
The crews reluctantly join forces aboard the Voyager to begin the long trek back. On board are: Janeway; First Officer Chakotay (Robert Beltran); pilot Tom Paris (Robert Duncan McNeill); chief engineer B'Elanna Torres (Roxann Biggs-Dawson); security officer Tuvok (Tim Russ); ops officer Harry Kim (Garrett Wang); handyman Neelix (Ethan Phillips) and his girlfriend Kes (Jennifer Lien); and the holographic Doc Zimmerman (Robert Picardo).
``One of the pilot's main functions is to introduce all of these characters,'' Kolbe says. ``It's sometimes a handicap for a pilot, having to make sure everybody has something worthwhile to do.
``You can't have a story where, let's say, Janeway does just about everything. You can do that in a regular episode, focus on just one person for an hour.
``We have to introduce everybody and everything in the `Voyager' pilot, and we do that person by person, piece by piece. There's a lot happening, and it happens quickly, but I think between the actors, writers, producers and myself we've somehow pulled it off.''
Kolbe, who is usually called Rick or the Baron (because of his accent), faced plenty of challenges. In addition to working with a fresh ``Trek'' cast and unfamiliar sets, he had to deal with the sudden departure of Genevieve Bujold from the Janeway role.
He also had a mandate to help make ``Voyager'' unique while retaining its ``Trek''-ness. This mission has been accomplished, Kolbe says.
``I think `Voyager' is very different from `TNG' and `DS9.' The Voyager and Maquis crews were just enemies and now they're thrown together, so there will always be some kind of conflict.
``We never had that on `TNG' and there's a different kind of conflict on `DS9.' Gene Roddenberry's vision of society was of a people who'd learned to reconcile their differences.
``Well, the world isn't quite that idealistic, unfortunately, and that's what we'll see in `Voyager.' It should be interesting, very interesting.''
Trek specs
LeVar Burton will be the director of ``Ex Post Facto,'' a ``Voyager'' episode scheduled to air in February. ... Fisher Space Pens offers``Trek''-themed pens, including ``Next Gen'' crew and photon pens ($15 and $30, respectively) and basic ``Trek''-classic pens ($5). Also available is a ``Next Gen'' Transporter set, which features the crew pen ``floating'' in a holder styled after the transporter bay ($54). Look for the products at Hammacher Schlemmer stores, in Paramount theme parks and in several ``Trek'' merchandise catalogs. ... Science fiction meets science fact in a ``New Explorers'' documentary, ``The Science of `Star Trek,''' airing Jan. 18 on PBS. (Check local listings.) Prominent scientists are interviewed, as are ``Trek'' actors, writers and production staffers, including Leonard Nimoy, Robert Picardo, Michael Okuda and Herman Zimmerman. ... Happy birthday to DeForest Kelly,who turns 75 on Jan. 20.
ATTENTION TREKKERS: INSIDE TREK WANTS YOU|
Trekkers' opinions of ``The Caretaker'' will be included in an INSIDE TREK column to run the week of Feb. 13. To take part in this special fan critique, beam your answer to the following question to INSIDE TREK:
How do you think ``The Caretaker'' compares to the previous``Star Trek'' series' pilots in terms of acting, plot, special-effects, etc.?|
Use warp speed! Responses must be received no later than Jan. 30. Mail your critique to: INSIDE TREK VOYAGER REVIEW, c/o The New York Times Syndicate, 122 E. 42nd Street, New York, N.Y. 10168. Or fax it to Ian Spelling at (212) 499-3373.
by CNB