40 years of Star Trek - The Original Series is being enhanced with new effects

[Darkbeer]

Starting September 16th, a classic show will be shown with enhanced CGI effects, and other changes, such as the music in stereo...

http://www.tvguide.com/News/Insider/...}&cmsSrch=true

"We're taking great pains to respect the integrity and style of the original," says Michael Okuda, who spent 18 years as a scenic-art supervisor on Star Trek films and spin-offs. "Our goal is to always ask ourselves: What would Roddenberry have done with today's technology?" Okuda's teammates on the two-year project are his wife, Denise Okuda, with whom he's authored several Trek reference books, and 14-year Trek production vet David Rossi.

The upgraded episodes — to be shown out of order and one per week — will kick off with "Balance of Terror," a big fan favorite "that gives us a chance to really show off the ‘new' Enterprise," says Okuda. "The exterior of the ship now has depth and detail, and it will fly more dynamically." (Click here for a larger version of the image at left.) Painted backdrops will also be brought to life: Once-empty star bases will have CGI people milling about, while static alien landscapes have been given slow-moving clouds and shimmering water. Okuda notes that a view of Earth in the 1966 episode "Miri" has been "replaced with a more accurate image, now that we've gone into deep space and looked back at ourselves."

[penguinsoda]

Interesting idea. On one hand I have a fondness for the original version and the campyness of it. It was a hallmark of the time it was created in, and I think they will always stand on their own merit.

However, seeing the original with enhancements done with the current technology should be interesting, and I look forward to seeing them.

[Jessicalover]

I don't know I liked it just fine as it is. This sounds to much like Lucas. Hope they don't mess with the Klingons and leave them alone no need to make them look like they would later on in the movies and other series that would follow.
Glad I will be able to get my original theatrical releases of SW on Tuseday.

[Melonballer]

As long as the Gorn doesn't shoot first, I'll be ok with it.

[Jessicalover]

As long as the Gorn doesn't shoot first, I'll be ok with it.

[aimster]

Lucas wannabes.

[AlexLoup]

Some of it doesn't seem so bad, (like bloopers, updating Earth.)

This doens't seem like what Lucas did, they are not adding scenes, just adding people, etc.

[Darkbeer]

In the LA area, the series will air Sundays at Midnight (Well, technically Monday Morning at 12:05 AM) on Channel 4.

[Trekkie Dad]

I guess I'd better weigh in on this. I like the idea.

[sediment]

Sounds like more DVDs to sell, eventually. The ones at Costco are still too expensive.
I catch it on G4 (some cable channel). I prefer ST:TNG. The background white noise puts my wife to sleep.

[Darkbeer]

Here is a Trekkie site that has a list of all the US Stations airing the TOS series with the enhancements, along with the time shown.

http://trekmovie.com/tos-in-hd/hdtv-...s-channel-list

[MandaBella]

As long as they leave the tribbles alone....

I prefer TNG anyhow.

(did I just come out of the ST closet?)

[Lost Boy]

How strange that the network that had to be forced to continue the show past a first season is going to show this updated version. But are they doing this as revenge or hoping it will just fail? I mean, Sunday/Monday night/morning at 12:05am? Who can stay up that late when Monday is a work/school day? Sound like they want it to go away. Typical.

[RenMan]

Interesting. I'm watching through Babylon 5 now (for the first time) and can't help but wonder how the show would have been with better actors and a bigger effects budget (although the makeup really is pretty amazing). That would be an interesting show to see redone.

[Lost Boy]

It depends on which season of Babylon 5 you are on. The first season had a rather wooden captain who was replaced by Bruce Boxliener for the remaining 4 seasons. There are some surprises in the later seasons that I won't spoil for you, but to me this show is the best Science Fiction TV show ever done. Once it gets going it just becomes amazing. The acting gets so much better and the story brings true Science Fiction to the forefront. Michael J. Strazinsky wrote 98% of every script for the entire 5 year run. That is an amazing accomplishment for any TV show. But, please take you time with this show, stick with it, and when the 5 year story is finished, you will wish it could go on and on. Don't bother with the sequel though. It was not very good. B5 is hands down my favorite TV Science Fiction Show of all time.