Majel Barrett, First Lady of Star Trek, beams up…

Majel Barret Roddenberry as Christine Chapel in TOSMajel Barret Roddenberry, Star Trek actor and wife of Trek creator Gene Roddenberry, passed away on Thursday of leukemia at the age of 76. Known for her roles as Nurse Christine Chapel in the Original Series, Lwaxana Troi in The Next Generation, and the voice of the ship’s computer (of nearly all Starfleet and Federation vessels) in all the series and films of the franchise, including the upcoming JJ Abrams reboot.

Majel Barret on Memory Alpha, the Star Trek wiki.

Jawa’s note: I met Majel Barrett at a Star Trek convention in 1993, and though I really didn’t know who she was or who Lwaxana Troi was (not much of a Trek fan back then), she was really sweet to me.

George Lucas still talking about Indy IV

I know I’m not along in facepalming every time the man talks about Indy IV – and I swear, I was mildly entertained by Kingdom of the Crystal Skull – but he’s doing it again. Luckily, Coming Soon also asks him about Star Wars 3-D (don’t hold your breath,) Red Tails (in casting,) Samuel L. Jackson (we’ve heard it) and directing, to which:

I’m getting rid of all my development. Everything that I’ve ever developed is going to be finished in about a year, a year and a half or two, and then I’m going to go do my own films.

Oh, George. Perhaps Clark will finally get an answer on those Howard the Duck sequels.

In less winceworthy news, how about his student film? Racecars! Vroom vroom! Yeah!

In the news: Samuel L. Jackson, bailouts, copyright, hotels and a criminal Chewbacca

People: Samuel L. Jackson received the American Cinematheque award earlier this week, along praise from George Lucas, Denzel Washington and Justin Timberlake .

Even Artoo and Threepio showed up!

  • Har har har: The Los Angeles Times has a bailout plan for Star Wars. My only question is, does George have a private jet?
  • Books: Looking for some light reading? Lawrence Lessig’s Remix: Making Art and Culture Thrive in the Hybrid Economy touches at least a little on Star Wars copyright issues, according to The Mercury News review. In any case, it looks like a must-read for anyone with copyright concerns.
  • Crime: Chewbacca Calvin Johnson of Georgia is racking up quite a criminal record. (Thanks, Paula.)
  • Travel: Wired takes a look at geek hotels, starting with the Sidi Driss and continuing with some places a little closer to home.

Tartakovsky – How to make friends and influence people

Genndy Tartakovsky, creator of the Clone Wars cartoon (not that one, the first one), spoke at Rhode Island School of Design this past weekend.

Club Jader (and some-day-Pulitzer Prize winner), Caroline Sedano, attended and wrote up this great summary of the event for The Brown Daily Herald.

Club Jade wishes to note that we aren’t the least bit biased about the shining examples of Star Wars reporting done by its members.

Review: Carrie Fisher’s Wishful Drinking

Okay.  So a certain online bookseller apparently has the street date for Carrie Fisher‘s Wishful Drinking a wee bit early.  But I don’t care, as it has allowed me to get it and read it.

If you like snark, then this book is for you!

The interesting part about this book, compared to her other books, is that it is very blatantly autobiographical, as opposed to the psuedo-biographical nature of her fiction work.  And she just gets right down to it:  her family dysfunction, her brain’s dysfunction, the more interesting events in her life.

A bit disappointing to this Star Wars geek is the general lack of actual Star Wars stories.  She mentions getting the role and the oddness of being a collectible, but basically stays away from stories about the production or other behind-the-scenes tidbits.  But, then again, the way she describes her state of being at the time and episodes since then, one might have to forgive her.  She might not actually remember it!

In spite of that, this is a really intriguing look at mental illness and life in Hollywood.  And it’s nice to have some things cleared up that have been a bit obscured by tabloids and internet gossip.

And, when you get right down to it, it’s hilarious.  Her sarcastic wit and style of writing makes you feel like you’re right there having a conversation with her.  So the conversation rambles a bit.  And you come out understanding someone just a little better.

The pictures are enlightening and the captions even better  (Check out the tabloid headlines.  Brilliant!)  I laughed at least once a page.

Of note, this might not be the best book for those under high school age.  There is profanity.  There are some serious situations she has dealt with.  Parents might not be so thrilled with younger minds (and maybe not even high schoolers) reading it.

But if you do not fall into this age group, I’d highly recommend it.

Wishful Drinking is only a week away

Carrie Fisher’s memoir is due in bookstores next Tuesday, and the early copies are making their way into the hands of the media. There’s a hefty three-part except – Star Wars is the middle selection – in the Daily Mail. A shorter and less safe-for-work bit was highlighted by Jezebel last week.

Fisher will even be making at least one bookstore appearance – look for her at New York’s Lincoln Triangle Barnes and Noble on December 10th.

Drive-by movie news: Kilted men pandering soon to a theatre near you

fanboys posterLadies and gentlemen, the Fanboys movie poster. Mmm… derivative! And not in the good way.

Legend of the Seeker Premieres This Weekend

It’s fall here in the Northern Hemisphere.  Always a nice time to get into a fantasy story.  And since the rest of the genre shows seem to be tanking, let’s see if this one’s a good one?

Legend of the Seeker is a syndicated series (they still have those?) based on Terry Goodkind’s The Sword of Truth novels.  It looks to be from the same folks who brought us Xena and Hercules, so that might cloud or clear up your expectations.

Of interest to Star Wars Celebration fans is that our ever-charming Celebration host (and Captain Typho) Jay Lagai’aia is playing a big supporting role.

Come back after you’ve seen it and let everyone know what you think.