Majel Roddenberry Is Once Again With Her Husband

I haven't seen a "Star Trek" television episode or movie in a long time. Yet I was rather saddened when I learned that Majel Barrett Roddenberry, the widow of "Star Trek" creater Gene Roddenberry who played the former "Star Trek" character Nurse Chapel, died this week. (She was in her later seventies.) She also provided the voice of the "ship's computer" for most of the various "Star Trek" series and movies, and had recently provided the voice for the ship's computer in the new "Star Trek" film, which is set to open worldwide in 2009.

Leaving the cheesy sets (and William Shatner stumbling all over "the bridge" while simultaneously trying to keep his toupee on, in an attempt to look as though they were "under attack") aside for the moment, the original "Star Trek" was a wonderful show, not the least because it gave viewers of all ages a chance to check-in on a weekly basis with the pragmatic, conscientious main characters, whose bond was familial with each other (despite occasional off-camera personality clashes amongst some of the actors who played those characters). Just as importantly, their unique banter was instantly familiar and welcoming to us viewers.

That's really the point about "Star Trek"--the special effects were cheesy (and, in the more recent versions, they're still rather frowsy, at least in comparison to other modern science-fiction/fantasy shows and films), and the moralizing has always been a bit on the obvious and preachy side, but it doesn't matter. What matters is that those characters clearly meant more to each other than the fact that they were colleagues and friends--they were one another's family, as well.

I'm not embarrassed to say that it's a great feeling to check-in with an old episode from time to time. I think I'll do so again relatively soon in order to quietly thank Mrs. Roddenberry, as well as her husband.