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“The Apple” Remastered Review, Screenshots + Video

| March 3, 2008 | By: TrekMovie.com Staff 212 comments so far

REVIEW by Jeff Bond

“The Apple” might easily be retitled “Spock’s Bad Day”—over the course of this second season opus the Vulcan science officer is a.) shot in the chest with darts from a poisonous plant; b.) casually tosses an explosive rock, almost blowing up himself and the rest of the landing party; c.) is knocked on his ass by an alien force field; d.) is attacked by Vaal-worshipping natives; e.) is struck by lightning, and f.) is mercilessly teased by the Captain and Dr. McCoy as they not so subtly hint that he looks like Satan.

Like “The Gamesters of Triskelion,” “The Apple” can be held up as an example of all of Star Trek’s worst vices: ridiculous costumes and wigs, primitive aliens speaking like cavemen, hostile, society-controlling false gods easily overthrown by Kirk, and speeches about freedom and love standing alongside rock-‘em-sock-‘em stunt man fight scenes. The difference is that “Triskelion” manages to work as a celebration of Trek cheesiness and somehow be kind of moving at the same time. “The Apple,” on the other hand, is too transparent and follows too closely on the heels of the very similar “Who Mourns For Adonais?” (even incorporating much of the score from that episode) to make much of an impact. It does offer fans of cheese some entertaining moments, however—like future Starsky and Hutch star David Soul engaging in a classic Trek “what is this thing called ‘kissing’?” scene, and some amusing moments for Chekov and potential girlfriend Yeoman Landon (Celeste Yarnall), who herself executes what may be the only karate kick and judo throw ever performed by one of the Enterprise’s miniskirted yeomen. One has to think that Trek might have done better in the ratings had it only shown more of this sort of thing. You also have to love Spock and Chekov luring one of the residents of Gamma Trianguli VI (Keith Andes as Akuta) out from the bushes with a spirited fake argument (“Mr. Chekov, your tricorder readings are totally inefficient!”). It’s the show’s character-based humor that makes episodes like this, which would have been positively dire in other hands, at least mildly entertaining. Muscleman Andes is not one of Trek’s more memorable guest stars, but he does bring a convincing ironic innocence to moments such as the one in which he instructs his fellow children of Vaal on how to effectively crack open a man’s skull. David Gerrold once noted that because of the Enterprise crew’s advanced technology, in order to advance the story they either had to run into aliens of such superior ability that they would render the ship and its gadgets useless, or of such inferior ability that they would simply knock the crewmembers unconscious and take their gadgets away from them—in “The Apple” you get both.

There’s not a lot for CBS-D to work with as far as sprucing up the effects go. Interestingly, this episode was the one chosen as an example to break down Trek’s visual effects in Stephen Whitfield’s seminal “Making of Star Trek” book, with elements from a shot of a security guy getting zapped by lightning separated and displayed as an example of “getting zapped by a phaser.” Very few of these old-style optical effects on the planet surface get the CBS-D treatment—the work goes into constructing yet another earth-like planet (with a nice thin veil of red atmosphere to match the soundstage backdrop), one new shot of the Enterprise firing phasers in front of a pivoting camera perspective, and enhancements to the phaser fire impact on the Vaal statue that are very similar to what was done on “Who Mourns for Adonais?” But “The Apple” is such a mediocre example of Trek formula that gilding the lily with anything more elaborate than what was done would have been a little ridiculous.

Star Trek “The Apple” Remastered FX Reel

SCREENSHOTS

Remastered & Original

They could have made Vaal CGI, but those lazy mo-fo’s kept it as a big paper-mache lizard head!

Lame. CBS-D seems to be getting lazier and lazier as they go…

What they DID do looked good those…so SLAP ME.

interesting thought for the day,,

The Enterprise in the new movie will be differnt to the good old NCC 1701 in the new Star Trek look tv shows.

Congratulations, SirMartman!

The apple is not one of my favorites, but it looks like they did some good shots here for the remastering effort. Have not seen the broadcast yet.

Gawd awful episode. Someone should mash this with “Starsky & Hutch.”

I kind of liked the effects, but what kind of bothered me was some events in the episode. Respond if you agree or dissagree. Kirk and the landing party try to beam up to the ship after one of them dies. Vaal pretty much stops them from leaving and then they meet the inhabitants and start interfering, Vaal commands the inhabitants to kill the landing party because he feels they are threatening his rule. Now here is what I think is a bit awkward. Vaal prevented them from leaveing which pretty much started a chain reaction which lead to them interfering. If Vaal had just let them leave in the beginning and not disrupted the transporters, They never would have met the inhabitants and learned of their laws, therefore never would have tried to change them.

Width of the Ship’s phaser beams should have been wider at point of Impact

Hey,, I had first post,, I wonder why it got deleted !!

yeh,, I was just meaning at how it seems like a waste of time and effort to make the Enterprise look nice,because it doesnt fit in with the new Trek

( I wonder if they will work that in somehow)

I smell a hole new box set of Star Trek TV Dvds comming on with re-done “New” Enterprise copyed over the new Enterprise CGI thats masking the good old model of the real thing.

Why was the sky blue whenever they showed the storm clouds? I could have swore in the original those shots showed a red tinted sky. Did anyone else notice this?

If it wasn’t red why wouldn’t CBS correct this? I’m sure it would have been a very easy fix.

STILL HAS ONE OF THE BEST LINES IN THE SERIES…

Kirk: “Would you be more careful where you throw your rocks, Mr. Spock?”

“CBS-D seems to be getting lazier and lazier as they go…”

…Agreed. All of the shots were simply CGI copies of the original miniature ones, with the closeup of the E firing its phasers thrown in as the “token” update that was an update. They *are* getting lazy, and we need to be more vocal about it.

10. You are right!! The original episodes DID have red-tinted clouds; take a look at the screencaps at trekcore –http://tos.trekcore.com/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=59&page=7

Why did they go gack to blue for the remastered episode?? It was the most glaring mistake so far.

I have always liked this episode – sure it was filmed entirely on a soundstage with a paper-mache Vaal, but I think it holds up pretty well (that’s my opinion and I’m sticking to it…). Great interactions with the characters: Chekov has a girlfriend, Spock and Chekov get into a fake fight, Spock is asked by his captain to explain the birds and the bees to the landing party… They could have cut one of the physically painful “accidents” which befell poor Spock… As far as the Prime Directive is concerned, when a hostile alien machine is trying to pull your starship out of the sky and kill your crew, I think that’s grounds enough to wack ‘im.

#7, Wrong, the beam width itself would have been the same, the distance between the two beams at that point however would likely have been a continent apart. I have a 200mw green laser that, at night, you can see to the end of the sky, the beam width is the same.

#10, #13 You are right. To me, even the worst remastered stuff looks better than the old effects. But the sky is red, except for the shot of the clouds. Very sloppy.

There was no practical way to redo Vaal within the time and money constraints of this project. It would have taken an unbelievable amount of rotoscoping, since it appeared in so many moving shots, etc. You get what you pay for, and there isn’t enough money in this project to pay for that much work.

The storm clouds were always blue.

I’m glad they made sure the planet had no ice caps, to much the dialogue.

I always liked the effect of the phaser attack on Vaal’s force field, so I’m glad they only added some sparkle to that part. But the cleaned-up imagery makes the sparkler inside Vaal so obvious – I wish they had masked that with some added effects inside his mouth. And I remain disappointed that here, as in “A Taste of Armageddon,” we don’t see any visible sign of the attack on the Enterprise as she is in orbit. Showing some sort of ray or shield effect in both cases would have created more dramatic tension for the shipboard crisis.

“CBS-D seems to be getting lazier and lazier as they go…”

…I have a feeling that fans are going to start their own Remastering projects, fiddling with their own cgi effects. The folks making the fan films often display effects equal to or better than what CBS-D has been making.

I applaud the efforts of CBS-D but their budget, time-constraints and limited staff can only do so much. There’ve been some test images produced by Eden FX when they were trying to win the assignment — I assume they must’ve been ‘way too expensive for what Paramount/CBS was willing to spend — that were absolutely beautiful.

I’m glad the Remastering project has happened but I’m hoping that Paramount/CBS doesn’t go the cheap route when it comes time to Remastering TNG and DS9. Eventually TOS will get a Re-remastering…and then a re-re-remastering…ad infinitum…

17. The storm clouds were always blue.

Hate to disagree. Have a look here…

http://tos.trekcore.com/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=59&page=7

I ALSO LOVED THE SUBTLE HINTS…

…that Kirk seems to be annoyed with the fact that the female yeoman is falling all over Chekov and not HIM!

Anybody else notice that the impulse engines had no glow in this one?

One thing that I REALLY don’t like about the new effects is the phaser effects. In particular, the effects of where the phaser is impacting against the targeted object. The “glowy white blob” really doesn’t do it for me; I always liked how the original phaser shots would have a cool “sparks flying off” effect, and you actually saw where the phasers were impacting. The white blobs are really lame…and would they really be circular? Especially if you’re looking at them from the side…they should be more cone-shaped, at least. I hope I’m making sense!!

The new effect of Vaal’s energy shield is also very lame; I think the original way it stretched and grew as it became more and more strained under the heavy phaser fire was much more effective.

“Remastering” TOS is a good idea, but if you aren’t going to really put a lot of time and effort into it, they might as well not bother doing it. I’m really getting tired of this second-rate sh*t that isn’t half as effective as the old photographic effects were.

#18 I am performing the logistics of such a remaster myself.

I like the colorful planet. That’s something TOS-R has not done much of since “Mirror Mirror”

Other than that TOS-R is dead. Like SeanGH said, it just fizzled out.

#18: the company is called EdenFX, I’ve spoken volumes of them in the past 2 years.

I’m glad I didn’t stay up til 4 a.m. for that.

“There was no practical way to redo Vaal within the time and money constraints of this project. It would have taken an unbelievable amount of rotoscoping, since it appeared in so many moving shots, etc. You get what you pay for, and there isn’t enough money in this project to pay for that much work.”

See, that’s my point. They should find the money to do it, or just not do it. They should do it right or not do it at all. I’m really tired of the half-assedry of this project.

I’ve always liked this episode for what it was. A groovy young David Soul as one of the villagers and those groovy, naive village chicks. Love it. Keith Andes too as the leader Akuta. I hear he met a sad ending a year or two ago. Great voice.

Is Vaal supposed to be a representation of “The Serpent”?

I realized just how many refrences there are to The Garden Of Eden when I watched this yesterday. It occured to me that the producers intentionally wanted Vaal to have a (albeit paper mache) snake like appearance for methaphorical purposes.

Thoughts?/Comments?

Even Hutch had to make time for love. Someone said earlier that CBS is getting lazier and lazier. I agree. There seems to be no extra effort AT ALL! The same earth type planets!! The little splash of red! For what its worth, I hope they lower the price of season 2 remastered dvd’s! CBS-D, if anyone is out there reading this. Why not take a suggestions site from the fans and go from there.

I liked how they changed the music score when Vaal was being attacked! Since, I cant type it! The 1st time I heard the piece is from The Cage when Spock and the landing party are firing phasers to rescue, Pike!! Actually, that score was changed back in ’67. Sorry, CBS-D, I am giving you too much credit.

15. Illogical – March 3, 2008 #7, Wrong, the beam width itself would have been the same, the distance between the two beams at that point however would likely have been a continent apart. I have a 200mw green laser that, at night, you can see to the end of the sky, the beam width is the same.”

#15 Wrong. Compare the beam width at it’s origin point with Enterprise, especially the deck area around the emission point. Beam width there is more than a few feet thick. Compare with the impact point (Vaal). The beam might be a foot thick at best. I know about dispersal. This is a narrowing of the beam.

27. “Is Vaal supposed to be a representation of “The Serpent”?” —

Yep, that was the original intent. Subtle, huh?

#14 Denise. Yes, I forgot about that little tidbit. Spock and Chekhov getting into a fight. Not too mention the yeoman kicking the hell out of those guys on the planet! Captain Kirk gotinto a boxing stance often and then firing Scotty ,that poor engineer!! Ha HA!

regarding the clouds. I checked with CBS, they didn’t replace them

Funny how Spock doesn’t get vaporized from the lightning like poor red shirt guy. The music used for Vaal’s doom was the same score used when they fired their phaser to wipe out Apollo’s place.

God I loved that fanfare at the end as the Enterprise soars off. That’s the same one from A Piece of the Action, and alas does not yet exist on its own soundtrack. Come on, GNP Crescendo!

Re: # 30. Izbot

Yeah, this show never ceases to amaze me as to how many layers each story has. I mean I’ve been watching this episode for 30 years, & I just made the connection.

Thanks for the conformation.

32. regarding the clouds. I checked with CBS, they didn’t replace them

Then I’m confused, Anthony. I’m watching my copy of the un-Remastered episode on DVD right now and the clouds are red as they go soaring by during the ‘storm’ sequence. But in the Remastered version they are clearly white clouds against a blue sky! Were they color-corrected? By accident, like the infamous Orion slave girl makeup test??

One of CBS Digital’s better and more interesting Earth-like planets.

Sort of like the episode TNG: Juctice. (I think that’s the name?)

Batts#31- “Vhat do you vant, Mr. Spock? Violins?” AND that yeoman was the only female on TOS to defend herself in hand-to-hand combat against a guy – I hope the actress recognizes that distinction.

Steve#33- That Vulcan biology and green blood come in handy.

Absolutism is good for little other than as an excuse for never doing anything.

Anyhoo…

This is a fun episode, but definitely third-or-fourth tier – all “Star Trek” cliche, very little real thought.

Vaal rules and has ruled this entire planet from time immemorial. It controls weather on a planetary scale.

It can reach into space and drag a starship out of orbit.

And yet…if the small group of primitives living in David Soul’s village neglect to bring it fresh fruit for a day or so, it weakens to the point that it’s defenseless.

What a howler. :lol: :lol: :lol:

Dennis#40- I may be mistaken (I don’t think I am, however) – nowhere in the episode did the script refer to what kind of food Vaal needed, and when the villagers line up to feed him/it, you cannot tell what they have on the trays. I wondered about that and took a look at it years ago – because I like this episode, I’d like to think this “alien machine” needed some type of mineral found in the rocks, soil, etc. Sounds plausible anyway…

I hate to say it, but my enthusiasm for the remastered treks is gone. I even went to the theatre screening of the Menagerie. Now, unless it’s “The Ultimate Computer”, I just catch the video on trekmovie.

Albeit, I will double dip and buy these on Blue Ray in the future.

The story had potential but was made too cheesy in true TOS fashion. For all the great things I love about TOS the one thing that gets me irritated the most is the cheese…

Good points: The paradise factor. Jungle theme. Crewmen (Red shirts) dying from natural hazards (thorns shot from plants and exploding rocks) Chekov’s woman The banter between McCoy & Spock Naive natives. Breaking the Prime Directive The natives smashing the fruit with a piece of wood…

The Bad: Vaal died too easy… Vaal lives off fruit?! WTF?! The red sky which changes to blue in some shots and is not seen from the ships perspective. The bad landscape matting.

I liked this episode.

MrJ#43- His batteries were almost dead (and he did take a dramatically long enough time to die!). Vaal’s food source- see my post #41

off topic but fun… http://www.space.com/technology/top10-star-trek-tech.html

#41: ” I wondered about that and took a look at it years ago – because I like this episode, I’d like to think this “alien machine” needed some type of mineral found in the rocks, soil, etc. Sounds plausible anyway…”

Which it depends upon a small group of primitives to feed it every day or so, or it expires.

The Yahoo page has a blurb up right now about Trek tech and also makes mention of the movie.

“wack ‘im”

#43 – The red atmosphere *is* visible in all the orbital shots. It’s the red tinging you can see near the planet’s curvature.

The Apple – Episode 34

The Apple was the fifth episode of Star Trek’s second season to air, with a native population cruelly disrupted by a careless landing party. In this episode Gerry and Iain discuss disposable crewmen and mechanical deities.

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When redshirts start expiring at an alarming rate, Kirk encounters Akuta ( Keith Andes ), leader of the Feeders of Vaal. Taken back to his village others, including Makora ( David Soul ) and Sayana ( Shari Nims ) soon take an interest in the outsiders, particularly Chekov and Yeoman Landon ( Celeste Yarnall ).

Meanwhile Scotty fights to maintain the Enterprise’s orbit as it begins to suffer retaliatory interference from the surface. Kirk must ultimately decide whether to shatter a belief system to save his crew.

The Apple was directed by Joseph Pevney , the seventh of his fourteen Star Trek episodes. The writer was Max Ehrlich , his only story for he show.

In this episode Gerry and Iain considered leadership and the consequences of bad decisions.

The discussion continues in the comments below and please keep in touch with us on Twitter , Facebook and Instagram where we’re @trekpodcast.

You can listen to the show here on the website, on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , YouTube , Pocket Casts , TuneIn , Stitcher , Google or wherever you find your podcasts.

The Apple was released in 1967. It is 50 minutes long and originally aired on the NBC network. It can be viewed on CBS All Access in the United states, Netflix in the UK and is available on DVD and Blu Ray in other countries, including a comprehensive remastered set of all three seasons released by Paramount Home Entertainment.

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People of Earth

The star gazer.

In the episode “The Apple” of the Star Trek Original Series, the crew of the USS Enterprise, led by Captain James T. Kirk, is on a mission to the planet Gamma Trianguli VI, to investigate the disappearance of a Starfleet research crew. Upon their arrival at the planet, they discover that it is a primitive, primitively-developed world, populated by a humanoid race known simply as the “People of Vaal”.

The People of Vaal are led by a powerful alien being known as Vaal, who is worshipped by the natives as a god. Vaal is actually an energy-consuming machine, created by a long-forgotten alien race, and is responsible for the planet’s primitive development. Unbeknownst to the crew, Vaal is also responsible for the disappearance of the Starfleet research crew, having absorbed their life energies in order to sustain itself.

Kirk and his crew soon discover that the People of Vaal are held in servitude by Vaal, kept from advancing technologically. In order to free the people, Kirk and Spock devise a plan to destroy Vaal. They are aided in this endeavor by a native of Gamma Trianguli VI named Akuta, who helps them to breach the defenses of Vaal’s temple.

After a series of battles and daring escapes, Kirk and Spock are able to successfully disable Vaal, allowing the People of Vaal to reclaim their freedom. However, a new problem arises when the crew discovers that there is an apple tree at the center of Vaal’s temple. The apple tree is a powerful source of energy, and Vaal had been using it to sustain himself.

Kirk and Spock must now find a way to destroy the apple tree without destroying the planet. The solution is to send a shuttlecraft to the surface of the planet, filled with the crew’s own energy, and then detonate it upon the tree. The plan works, and the tree is destroyed, liberating the planet from Vaal’s tyranny once and for all.

The episode “The Apple” is an exciting story of adventure and triumph, demonstrating the courage and resourcefulness of Captain Kirk and his crew. By defeating Vaal and freeing the People of Vaal, they have enabled a new era of progress and hope on Gamma Trianguli VI. It is also a poignant reminder of how powerful technology can be, and the importance of using it responsibly.

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In the 23rd Century, Captain James T. Kirk and the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise explore the galaxy and defend the United Federation of Planets. In the 23rd Century, Captain James T. Kirk and the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise explore the galaxy and defend the United Federation of Planets. In the 23rd Century, Captain James T. Kirk and the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise explore the galaxy and defend the United Federation of Planets.

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Soul filmed his scenes between Thursday 20 July 1967 and Monday 24 July 1967 at Desilu Stage 10 .

After his appearance on Star Trek , he starred as the middle Bolt brother, Joshua, in the TV series Here Come the Brides along with other Original Series guest stars Robert Brown , as Bolt's older brother Jason, and Mark Lenard . (Bolt would in fact appear in the 1985 novel Ishmael , a crossover story in which Lenard's character is revealed to be an ancestor of Amanda Grayson , and therefore Spock as well.) He also played Rick Blaine in a short-lived TV series adaptation of Casablanca . Two of the five episodes made were directed by Ralph Senensky . In addition, he recorded a #1 single called Don't Give Up On Us .

In 1979, he starred as Ben Mears in the miniseries Salem's Lot based on the novel of the same name by Stephen King. It co-starred his fellow Original Series guest stars Elisha Cook , Julie Cobb , Reggie Nalder and Barbara Babcock .

His film roles include Officer Davis in Magnum Force (1973, with Mitchell Ryan and Wayne Grace ) and Heinrich Müller in the action drama Pentathlon (1994, with Daniel Riordan , Barry Lynch , Buddy Joe Hooker , Bobby Bass , Kristopher Logan , Lena Banks , Johnny Martin , and Melanie Hathorn )

He was formerly married to Julia Nickson who guest-starred in both Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine .

Soul's wife announced his 4 January 2024 death on 5 January 2024 . [1]

External links [ ]

• David Soul at the Internet Movie Database
• David Soul at Wikipedia
• 3 Ancient humanoid

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Kishida cracks jokes and invokes ‘Star Trek’ as he and Biden toast US-Japan alliance at state dinner

April 11, 2024 By Admin Leave a Comment

By Darlene Superville and Michelle Price

President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden pose for a photo with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and his wife Yuko Kishida by the Grand Staircase in the Cross Hall of the White House during a State Dinner at the White House, Wednesday, April 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

WASHINGTON (AP) — Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida cracked jokes and invoked a touchstone of American culture as he quoted from “Star Trek” at Wednesday’s state dinner, telling guests at the White House that he hoped the “unshakable relationship” between his country and the U.S. would “boldly go where no one had gone before.”

“I would like to propose a toast to our voyage to the frontier of the Japan-U.S. relationship with this word: boldly go,” Kishida said, quoting the iconic opening monologue of the original “Star Trek” series.

Kishida, who spoke in English, and President Joe Biden exchanged warm toasts to each other and the decades-long alliance between their nations as top figures from business, sports and politics—including an ex-president—looked on. The two leaders, who expressed a genuine friendship, pledged to continue to knit together their countries’ interests in the face of global challenges. Biden, 81, said he and Kishida, 66, came of age as their countries forged a strong bond in the decades after they were pitted against each other in World War II.

“We both remember the choices that were made to forge a friendship,” Biden said. “We both remember the hard work, what it has done to find healing.”

President Joe Biden makes a toast with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

“Tonight,” Biden continued, “We pledge to keep going.” As the White House served up a maximum dose of pomp to honor its close U.S. ally, notable guests included Bill and Hillary Clinton, who were on familiar turf for the event. The former president declared it “feels great” to be back before casting an appreciative eye at a portrait of his wife from her first lady days that was on display nearby.

Guests in bright spring colors and lots of shimmery gowns chatted politics and talked shop as they strolled in—that meant eclipse chatter from NASA Administrator Bill Nelson (“fabulous” view in Ohio!) and an assessment of Biden’s electoral prospects in Wisconsin from Gov. Tony Evers (looking good!). But on a day when the inflation news from Washington was less than encouraging, Federal Reserve Chairman Jay Powell shot past reporters without stopping to chat. Olympic figure skater Kristi Yamaguchi, in a purple gown, said she didn’t expect to be out campaigning for Biden but nonetheless seemed bullish on his reelection. Actor Robert De Niro supplied the night’s Hollywood quotient and seemed to channel one of his tough-talking characters when he was asked for his thoughts about the 2024 election.

“What do you think?” he retorted.

On a warm spring evening, the Bidens stepped onto the North Portico to welcome Kishida and his wife, Yuko, who stood out in a flowing royal blue gown on the red carpet.

Inside, Jill Biden, wearing a beaded sapphire gown, had transformed the State Floor of the White House into what she called a “vibrant spring garden” for the evening. The floor of the famous Cross Hall was decorated with images giving the nearly 230 guests the feel of walking over a koi pond, a nod to fish that symbolize “friendship, peace, luck and perseverance,” the first lady said at a media preview Tuesday.

Guests at the head table with the Bidens and Kishidas included the Clintons, De Niro and Japanese pop duo Yoasobi.

Kishida, in his toast at the dinner, enthused over the splendor.

“First and foremost, to be honest my breath is taken and I’m speechless in front of such a huge number of prominent American and Japanese guests,” he said.

A state dinner is a tool of U.S. diplomacy, an honor doled out sparingly and only to America’s closest allies. In the case of Japan, the president has granted that honor for just the fifth time to an ally that he sees as a cornerstone of his policy toward the Indo-Pacific region.

Kishida is on an official visit to the United States this week. The state dinner is Biden’s first this year.

The guests included plenty of Biden family members, including granddaughter Naomi and her husband, Peter Neal. Business moguls also were in force, including JP Morgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon, Apple CEO Tim Cook and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. Labor luminaries United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain and United Steelworkers President David McCall were also in attendance. Both unions have endorsed Biden for reelection.

Dry-aged rib eye steak, cherry blossoms and the music of Paul Simon were also part of the evening. Simon opened his after-dinner performance by playing guitar and singing two of his major hits, “Graceland” and “Slip Slidin’ Away.”

Guests dined on a meal that was designed to highlight the “bounty of spring” in Japan and the United States: a first course of house-cured salmon that was inspired by a California roll and an entree of rib eye with shishito pepper butter, fava beans, mushrooms and onions. Dessert was salted caramel pistachio cake with a matcha ganache and cherry ice cream.

Some of Jill Biden’s favorite flowers, including sweet peas, roses and peonies, were arranged alongside imported cherry blossoms to decorate a mix of round and rectangular dinner tables in the East Room in shades of pink. A few floral centerpieces topped out at 6 feet (1.8 meters) tall.

Tables were set with a mix of place settings representing the administrations of Presidents Lyndon B. Johnson and George W. Bush. Glass and silk butterflies danced over the tables.

Simon is one of Jill Biden’s favorite artists, the White House said, adding that she chose him as a special tribute to Kishida because the prime minister also admires his music.

Simon’s career spans six decades, including performing as part of a duo with his childhood friend Art Garfunkel. The 82-year-old New Jersey native has earned numerous accolades, including multiple Grammys and a place in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

Kishida is the fifth world leader Biden has honored with a state dinner following counterparts from France, South Korea, India and Australia.

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New santa monica science fiction museum joins beach city attractions.

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SCI-FI WORLD: The Experience, a new museum in Santa Monica, CA will display the bridge from the Star ... [+] Trek 1966 Original Series set, with statues of the crew. George Takei, "Sulu" from the original Star Trek series, makes a live cameo appears in this image.

Santa Monica, California is the site of a new museum devoted to science fiction. SCI-FI WORLD: The Experience , is arriving in the beach city May 27 th , bringing props, replicas and images from Star Trek, Star Wars, DC and Marvel films, Doctor Who, and more.

SCI-FI WORLD will be located inside the historic former Sears building at 302 Colorado Avenue, just a few blocks away from Santa Monica’s beach and entertainment pier. The non-profit museum is a 30,000 square feet collection of science fiction and fantasy props, sets and costumes.

The latest acquisition for the new museum is the “10 Forward” set from the Paramount+ show Star Trek Picard. The set was used in the opening of Picard episode one, season one, starring Sir Patrick Stuart and Brent Spiner. The original 10 Forward set was first seen in Star Trek: The Next Generation from 1989-1994. 10 Forward is the bar/restaurant where the Enterprise crew would often socialize, and discuss their problems with Guinan, played by Whoopi Goldberg.

The late Nichelle Nichols, "Uhvura" on the original STAR TREK, visits the Bridge on display starting ... [+] in May 2024 at SCI-FI WORLD: The Experience. The new museum is in Santa Monica, CA.

Some of the most iconic original props and replicas from TV shows and films include The Enterprise Bridge set from Star Trek: The Next Generation and the Star Trek 1966 Original Series set, with statues of the crew.

Why You Should Stop Sending Texts From Your iMessage App

See ‘shooting stars’ from halley’s comet as top meteor shower peaks, ukrolancet drones blitz russian air defenses.

The museum also promises artifacts from Doctor Who, Planet of the Apes, Lord of the Rings, an “Iron Man Hall of Armor” and a full-size Alien Queen and Powerloader from Aliens. Then there's a 35-foot Millennium Falcon bounce house, a 1980s arcade on free-play, and a “living” 17-foot Giganotosaurus dinosaur.

The mission of the museum’s parent organization, the Hollywood Science Fiction Foundation, is to teach and inspire people of all ages with an uplifting vision of the future found in science fiction media, art and literature. The goal is to teach “Real Science through Science Fiction.” This will include technology, ecology, engineering, computers, robotics, math, space travel and all aspects of filmmaking, via fun, interactive exhibits and programs.

The museum will have a Hall of Heroes, a Hall of Robots and exhibits dedicated to Star Trek and Star Wars. The upcoming Lucas Museum of Narrative Art in the Exposition Park, which will presumably be a house of Star Wars memorabilia, is not opening until 2025.

Tom Cruise starred in the dystopian world of OBLIVION in 2013. SCI-FI WORLD: The Experience has the ... [+] OBLIVION bubble ship and drones among its exhibits in Santa Monica, CA.

SCI-FI WORLD also has a hall named Oblivion. It’s named for the futuristic film Oblivion starring Tom Cruise, about the remaining humans left on a dystopic Earth trying to save the planet. The Oblivion Bubbleship and Drones are the full-sized props used in the film. The exhibit also include video from the cast, crew and scientists explaining how the props worked in the film and how they would work “in real life.”

Tickets for HSFM start at $20 for children, $30 for adults, with discounts for seniors, military and first responders, everyone under 6 or over 90 gets in free. Tickets available at www.scifiworld.com

When you’re done with SCI-FI WORLD, there’s plenty of other things to do in Santa Monica. A day in the beach city should of course include a trip to the Santa Monica State Beach .

In addition to putting the traditional blanket on the sand, you can check out the original Muscle Beach outdoor workout area. And with spring here and summer coming, what better time to fly down the Santa Monica beach bicycle path on a rental bike or skates? Watching the sun set is also popular.

Sophia Hafich, left, and Ryan Norris embrace as they watch the sun set under the Santa Monica Pier, ... [+] Monday, Aug. 26, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Main Street and the Third Street Promenade are great places to shop, while Santa Monica also boasts a farmer’s market on Wednesdays. Bergamot Station calls itself ‘the largest art gallery and cultural complex on the West Coast.’ In addition to its many art galleries it boasts restaurants and an innovative theater, City Garage .

The beach city is also the home of the iconic Santa Monica Pier , known to many around the world as the western end of Route 66.

The 100-year-old Pier has boardwalk games and attractions, a carousel, a roller coaster and Ferris wheel. There are numerous places to eat at the pier, whether you want French fries or a full meal, including, yes, Bubba Gump’s.

Carousel and building on Santa Monica Pier 100 years old. The building and carousel have been ... [+] operating since 1916. Sunday June 15 rides will cost the same as in 1916. One dime. on June 10, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by FG/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images)

Unsurprisingly, the Pier was one of the filming sites for Forrest Gump. Other films and TV shows shot there include The Sting, which features the iconic carousel, Beverly Hills Cop 3, Beverly Hills 90210, Iron Man, (a child on the carousel sees Iron Man flying overhead) NCIS, Hannah Montana: The Movie and a comedy favorite of mine, A Night at the Roxbury.

And if your interest in science fiction carries over to aviation, the Museum of Flying is located adjacent to the Santa Monica Airport. SMO is now for general aviation but was the home of Douglas Aviation in the 1930’s and 1940’s.

The museum (open 10-4PM Thursday through Sunday) boasts a static display of a Douglas DC-3, which was developed nearby, as well as a Sabre jet and many other mementoes of the history of flying.

Visitors look at the FedEx plane Britteny in which you can sit in the cockpit at the reopening ... [+] (after a nine-year hiatus) of the Museum of Flying at the Santa Monica Airport on February 25, 2012. It had a $4–million revamping. It was the birthplace of the Douglas World Cruisers which were the first aircraft to circumnavigate the globe. (Photo by Anne Cusack/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

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How to Watch ‘Star Trek: Discovery’ Season 5 Premiere on Apple TV, Fire TV, Roku & Mobile

C aptain Michael Burnham and the crew of the U.S.S. Discovery are ready to take fans on one last adventure to the final frontier. “ Star Trek: Discovery ” begins its fifth and final season on Thursday, April 4 on Paramount+ . This season, the crew of Discovery will have to seek out an ancient power before it falls into the wrong hands and threatens the entire galaxy. You can watch Star Trek: Discovery: Season 5 with a 7-Day Free Trial of Paramount Plus . You can also watch with Fubo or Paramount+ with SHOWTIME .

About ‘Star Trek: Discovery’ Season 5 Premiere

Even being thrown from the 23rd century into the 32nd cannot keep the crew of the U.S.S. Discovery from seeking out new life and exploring strange, new worlds. In a time where the Federation has retreated from all but a few planets and the Alpha Quadrant is a far different place from the one they left in the past, the ship’s crew must adapt and continue their mission while relying even more on each other.

This season, Discovery and its crew must unearth an ancient mystery which points the way to an alien power which has been deliberately hidden for centuries. The Federation is not the only entity in the galaxy that’s been made aware of this power, however, and the crew of Discovery must ensure they find it first if they want to ensure the safety of billions of lives.

Can you watch ‘Star Trek: Discovery’ Season 5 Premiere for free?

Paramount Plus offers a 7-Day Free Trial . With your free trial, you can watch Star Trek: Discovery: Season 5 on Paramount Plus .

You can watch ‘Star Trek: Discovery’ Season 5 Premiere with a free trial of Fubo or Paramount+ with SHOWTIME .

‘Star Trek: Discovery’ Season 5 Premiere Schedule

Paramount Plus will be airing ‘Star Trek: Discovery’ Season 5 Premiere on Thursday, April 4, 2024 and will continue with a weekly episode release until Thursday, May 30, 2024.

• Episode 1 : Thursday, April 4, 2024
• Episode 2 : Thursday, April 4, 2024
• Episode 3 : Thursday, April 11, 2024
• Episode 4 : Thursday, April 18, 2024
• Episode 5 : Thursday, April 25, 2024
• Episode 6 : Thursday, May 2, 2024
• Episode 7 : Thursday, May 9, 2024
• Episode 8 : Thursday, May 16, 2024
• Episode 9 : Thursday, May 23, 2024
• Episode 10 : Thursday, May 30, 2024

Can you watch ‘Star Trek: Discovery’ Season 5 Premiere offline?

Like most of the Paramount Plus catalog, you can download Star Trek: Discovery: Season 5 and watch offline with your linked devices.

What devices can you use to stream ‘Star Trek: Discovery’ Season 5 Premiere?

You can watch Star Trek: Discovery: Season 5 on Paramount Plus using Amazon Fire TV , Apple TV , Google Chromecast , Roku , Android TV , iPhone/iPad , Android Phone/Tablet , Mac , Windows , PlayStation , Xbox , LG Smart TV , Samsung Smart TV , Sony Smart TV , and VIZIO Smart TV .

‘Star Trek: Discovery’ Season 5 Premiere Trailer

Star trek: discovery: season 5.

The fifth and final season finds Captain Burnham and the crew of the U.S.S. Discovery uncovering a mystery that will send them on an epic adventure across the galaxy to find an ancient power whose very existence has been deliberately hidden for centuries. But there are others on the hunt as well … dangerous foes who are desperate to claim the prize for themselves and will stop at nothing to get it.

Paramount Plus

Paramount+ is a subscription video streaming service that includes on-demand access to 40,000+ TV show episodes from BET, CBS, Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon, Nick Jr. and more. The lineup includes “1883,” “Tulsa King,” “Star Trek: Discovery,” Nickelodeon’s “SpongeBob SquarePants,” and “PAW Patrol.” Subscribers can watch the NFL, college football, The Masters, college basketball, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa, Serie A, and NWSL. The service also offers the option to watch your live CBS affiliate. The upgraded ad-free package includes premium movies and shows from Showtime.

Subscribers can choose between the Essential Plan (which includes ads) for $5.99/month, or go commercial-free and add more movies with Paramount+ with SHOWTIME for $11.99/month.

Subscribers to the more expensive plan will also get access to your local CBS affiliate to stream your local news, prime-time lineup, and late-night. You will also be able to download offline and watch select shows in 4K.

With the lower-cost “Essential” plan, you will still be able to watch live NFL games, Champions League, and national news – but you will no longer get your local CBS affiliate.

With their new app, enjoy advanced recommendations, curated homepages, and new content categories while still being able to stream major live sports like NFL , College Football , College Basketball . Sports fans will also appreciate the service’s inclusion of NFL on CBS, PGA Tour, along with every match of UEFA Champions League and Serie A.

The service was previously called CBS All Access.

For a Limited Time, Get a Month of Paramount+ With Code: LODGE24 .

Screen Rant

Star trek: discovery season 5's callum keith rennie on captain rayner challenging burnham's authority.

Screen Rant interviews Callum Keith Rennie about how his new character, Captain Rayner, fits into Star Trek: Discovery season 5.

Warning: SPOILERS for Star Trek: Discovery Season 5

• Callum Keith Rennie brings a fresh dynamic to Star Trek: Discovery season 5 as Rayner, challenging Burnham's authority and mission.
• Rayner's complex backstory and reluctance to form connections add depth to his character and create a compelling conflict with Burnham.
• The final season of Star Trek: Discovery promises an epic adventure across the galaxy, with dangerous foes vying for an ancient power.

Callum Keith Rennie intriguingly shakes up Star Trek: Discovery season 5 as Rayner, the former Captain of the USS Antares who joins the USS Discovery as the new First Officer.

Although at odds with Captain Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green), Rayner accepts her offer to become Discovery's new Number One, so he can continue to hunt the villainous Moll (Eve Harlow) and L'ak (Elias Toufexis). Rayner also wants to fulfill his Red Directive mission and help Burnham find the ancient treasure of the Progenitors , which has the power to create life. But Rayner isn't looking to make friends or warm up to the USS Discovery's crew.

Star Trek: Discovery Season 5 Returning Cast & New Character Guide

Screen Rant spoke to Callum Keith Rennie about how he and Rayner fit into Star Trek: Discovery season 5, Rayner's unrevealed backstory, and where Star Trek ranks in his remarkable career of starring in several major franchises and hit TV shows.

Callum Keith Rennie Discusses How Rayner Fits Into Star Trek: Discovery Season 5

Screen Rant: Rayner is already one of the best foils for Burnham in Star Trek: Discovery . Tell me about Rayner and what makes him tick, from your point of view.

Callum Keith Rennie: I think he comes from a different time. I mean, from the creation of Rayner, he comes from a more authoritarian dictatorship-style shiip commander, and The Burn, and a kind of a warring Kellerun mentality. And his jam. And it's a little act first, think later style. Let's not have a conference. Let's just do stuff.

I love the friction between Burnham and Rayner. But I also love the counterbalance that's already been shown in the way they behave towards each other.

Callum Keith Rennie: Yeah, there's a bit of like he's holding his tongue. And he's trying. I mean, that's the part that I find interesting is that he knows he's maybe his last legs here. And so he's creating conflict.

What I find really interesting, too, about Rayner is that he's been a Captain in Starfleet for 30 years, and Burnham has been Captain for 2 years. But there's now this shift in the balance of power between them. What can Burnham learn from Rayner, and vice versa?

Callum Keith Rennie: I think Rayner is learning forgiveness, and second chances, and someone put a hand out and not to bite that hand. But he is still caught in who and what he has been, and how he's functioned for so long. It's hard for him to drop that. So I think through the process of the season, there's a bit more of an understanding, of listening, compassion, and a sense of camaraderie rather than man against alien, or against the galaxy, or one guy can do it all. And for Burnham to go, 'Oh, this wildcard and that kind of style of things can help too.' So there's an amalgamation of the two of them into a functioning unit.

Rayner is on the right ship if he's going to learn compassion, and cooperation, and empathy. That's kind of Discovery's deal.

Callum Keith Rennie: Yeah, and it's hard for him. That was the fun of playing this guy. 'I don't fit in here.' And coming into a show that was already very well established, you're the new kid in school. You don't know who your alliances are gonna be. You don't know how any of it works. And so you just have a chip on your shoulder, and just try to get through. And let's see what happens. So it was interesting.

There's More To Learn About Rayner In Star Trek: Discovery

I assume Rayner has a first name and a backstory we're going to find out at some point.

You may. There's a backstory that kind of lets you know why he's wired the way he's wired, and why the Moll and L’ak thing is getting him in a way that's wound him up, maybe.

One little backstory tidbit that has already been revealed is that Rayner and Admiral Vance (Oded Fehr) were friends , and they worked together back in the day. I think that's really cool. I would love to see flashbacks or something of Rayner and Vance in a previous Starfleet.

Callum Keith Rennie: There were things. I think there were lots of opportunities if it was moving on to another season. It was all set up in the way where you go, ‘Oh, let's throw in this and this.’ And then, if it had continued, then you would get backstory bits. You would have gotten a type of history that was completely different.

I'm so glad you brought that up because it was actually one of my questions. This is the final season. But were there ideas or plans for you to stay on so we get to explore Rayner if Discovery got a season 6?

Callum Keith Rennie: Yes… We assumed it was gonna continue. We weren't shooting [season 5] as ‘this is the final season.’ They'd left loose ends going because we can put that into next season, this and that, and blah, blah, blah, all of those pieces of the puzzle that showrunners and writers are very good at so. Because I finished the season and I went, ‘Well, okay. I learned a lot. And I can't wait to come back and do other things.’

How Will Captain Rayner Rank In The Star Trek Universe?

I don't know if you've watched Star Trek Picard, but Rayner has already been compared very favorably to Todd Stashwick playing Captain Liam Shaw . And it's a pretty big compliment. Because people hated Shaw at first, and they came to love him. He's now a beloved character. And I feel like Rayner is on that same trajectory.

Callum Keith Rennie: It's good to be [hated]. And I don't know that reference though I will look it up. But [Rayner] was like, 'I don't want to be liked.' Like, he was coming in and going, 'It's not my job to be liked. And it's not my job to be liked as the captain of a ship, either.' So it was fine. Like, I went, 'If I'm hated, that might be better.' (laughs) And then, through the writing, I go, 'Oh, I see this. They're creating places of understanding and connection.' There's a journey for him. It's not just one singular path.

In episode 3, Rayner meets Discovery's crew, and then you had one-on-one meetings with everybody. And you played everything very stone-faced, but was there anything the cast said or did that actually cracked you up in real life? Because some of the stuff they were saying was hilarious.

Callum Keith Rennie: No. That sequence was... there were some bits of it that... things change in editing. But I was like, 'Dismissed. Get out. Beat it. Quick, quick, quick, quick.' The edit actually made it a lot softer than it was. It is a lot harder.

Is there a scene or a moment in season 5 that has happened yet, or it's still to come, that you loved shooting, and you can't wait for everybody to see?

Callum Keith Rennie: I mean, on first viewing, there's always a kind of like a disconnect for me. I watched [episodes] three and four again last night, and I really dug it. I really dug parts of it that I hadn't seen before. I love specific moments and where Burnham and I ended up sometimes, and it's quiet, it's not a bunch of noise. But not a specific scene because sometimes you start a scene one way, and you think know what this will be, and you go, 'Oh, this was really nice'. But you kind of have to see it to go, 'Oh, I really dug that.' And so, last night watching 50, there were some really beautiful things between Burnham and Rayner that I really got a kick out of.

504 is incredible. Without spoiling, it's the best episode I've seen so far of season five. A fantastic Star Trek episode.

Callum Keith Rennie: We're all over the place. 503 was me going, 'I want what I want.' And I have to listen to the captain of the ship tell me how to meet people who I don't want to meet. And I want to follow Moll and L'ak, I want to get Moll and L'ak, I want to do my mission. And I'm used to doing my thing my way. I'm not gonna wander around [and] have people come to me. I don't care. Okay, next, beat it. And it's an episode of, 'Who is he on the ship left to his own devices?' He's going to do his own thing. So it was fun to play.

Callum Keith Rennie Has No Idea About Star Trek's Impact On His Legacy

You've been a part of a lot of franchises. You've been in Marvel, you've been Battlestar Galactica , your career is amazing. Where does Star Trek rank for you now?

Callum Keith Rennie: Where does it rank in all of that? It ranks as the last job. You know, you've been in this business for a long time. You've done a bunch of things. But I do often have to remind myself by looking at [my] resume and I go, 'Oh, yeah!' Because there's a part of me that forgets it. I like working, and I like doing stuff, but I always kind of forget the history of it until I look at it. It's like looking at old pictures: 'I remember that. I remember that. Oh, I remember her. I remember that. I remember that director. I remember that day. I remember that burrito. I remember all of that.' It's been an amazing career of lots of ups and downs and, some really great, solid shows like this one, and Battlestar, and Californication. Things I'm very, very proud of.

I hate to break it to you, but you're going to be known as Rayner forever now within Star Trek. And this is a fan base that follows you and will stay with you forever. Are you looking forward to doing conventions, meeting the fans, and being part of that?

Callum Keith Rennie: I've done one convention ever. And that was for Battlestar once in London, England, because somebody had dropped out, and then someone said, 'Do you want to?' and I'm like, 'I'm not sure'. This might have been 15-16, maybe 12 years ago. There's a place where I can see how participation in [Star Trek] is interesting. Again, I'm working on the show. I'm not thinking of any of that stuff. I actually don't know anything about it because I don't know the Star Trek world. Like the Battlestar world post-show I didn't participate in. So I did the show, the show is over, then you move on to the next thing. It was never holding on to history. But this one may be different just because I had no idea the volume of things that were going to show up, and the amount of people and interviews and all of that stuff. I'm just amazed.

About Star Trek: Discovery Season 5

The fifth and final season of Star Trek: Discovery finds Captain Burnham and the crew of the USS Discovery uncovering a mystery that will send them on an epic adventure across the galaxy to find an ancient power whose very existence has been deliberately hidden for centuries. But there are others on the hunt as well … dangerous foes who are desperate to claim the prize for themselves and will stop at nothing to get it.

Check out our other Star Trek: Discovery season 5 interviews here:

• Sonequa Martin-Green
• David Ajala and Doug Jones
• Wilson Cruz, Mary Wiseman & Blu del Barrio
• Alex Kurtzman & Michelle Paradise

New episodes of Star Trek: Discovery season 5 stream Thursdays on Paramount+

Source: Screen Rant Plus

*Availability in US

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Apple TV+ Reveals a First Look at Dark Matter , Your Next Sci-Fi Mystery Obsession

Blake crouch's best-selling novel gets the series treatment in an apple original starring joel edgerton, jennifer connelly, and alice braga..

First things first: this Dark Matter is not related to the cult-beloved Syfy series of the same name that ended its run in 2017. This new series is based on Blake Crouch’s 2016 novel Dark Matter , and despite that not-entirely-original title, the fact that it’s coming from Apple TV+— which has a proven track record for making obsession-worthy sci-fi series —bodes very well indeed.

Today, we have a first trailer for the series, which stars Joel Edgerton as a Chicago man who must travel across different dimensions—some very inhospitable—and take on an invasive version of himself if he wants to reunite with his family. The rest of the cast includes Jennifer Connelly, Alice Braga, Jimmi Simpson, Dayo Okeniyi, and Oakes Fegley.

Even his favorite bartender doesn’t recognize him! You know that’s bad news. If you’ve read the book by Crouch, who also wrote the source material for the Wayward Pines series a few years back, you can see that this appears to be a rather faithful adaptation. Crouch is credited as “creator, executive producer, showrunner, and writer;” star Edgerton is also one of the exec producers, alongside Matt Tolmach and David Manpearl.

Here’s the official description: “The series will follow Jason Dessen (played by Edgerton), a physicist, professor, and family man who—one night while walking home on the streets of Chicago—is abducted into an alternate version of his life. Wonder quickly turns to nightmare when he tries to return to his reality amid the mind-bending landscape of lives he could have lived. In this labyrinth of realities, he embarks on a harrowing journey to get back to his true family and save them from the most terrifying, unbeatable foe imaginable: himself.”

Dark Matter runs nine episodes, with the first two dropping Wednesday, May 8, followed by a weekly rollout through June 26.

Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel , Star Wars , and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV , and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who .