http://www.starshipexeter.com//
On You Tube by http://www.youtube.com/user/onlineequines/videos
Location is Austin, Texas 78749
The show NBC probably wished they were buying when they bought TOS. One complete episode ready for viewing.
Captain John Quincy Garrovick serves the Exeter, a starship the same class as the Enterprise in TOS. His crew are fresh recruits out of the academy. His bridge crew includes an Andorian, Lt. B'Fuselek, security officer Cutty, and his science officer and No. 1, Jo Harris.
This show is shot in a real set that closely resembles TOS set, and the actors can act. The story is more about facing meaningless hostiles than a typical TOS episodes. This may be the show NBC thought they were getting when they purchased TOS, except that, like the original pilot, the second in command is a woman... but not a very young one, an Englishwoman, Jo Harris. And unlike the original pilot, Jo Harris is a science officer, and isn't chafing or uncertain about her position. And her captain is even less uncertain of her than she is. It's a little clue that this show wasn't really made in the mid 1960s. Compare this to "Stories of the Century" with Matt Clark, Railroad Detective, a 1950s cowboy detective show with a very competent female detective. Like the old comic says, the female detective "gets no respect." The level of comfort of the white and black actors with one another is a second clue.
Aside from the role of blacks and women, it really does have the feel of a 1950s cowboy show. Good guys, bad guys. 1960s NBC would have run Eugene Roddenbury over trying to get this show instead if it had been available.
A Review of this series: The Tampa Bay Examiner
One episode is finished and ready for viewing:
"The Savage Empire" Score: 5
Part 1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vn2ynWESkw0 (3:51)
Part 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZCRy6V1bio (7:23)
Part 3 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0w88et2HFPY (9:33)
Part 4 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XRB68smxXU (9:45)
Part 5 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ksy770HP2Zg (4:28)
The Andorians have dropped out of communication when the Lexington, another starship, headed there, the only source of medicine to cure their crew. The Exeter is sent to investigate.
The Andorians, we learn, live underground to avoid disturbing nature on the surface of their planet. A rebel element has allied with the Klingons.
There are sets for the surface, as well as park scenes. The quality of production is similar to TOS. Fighting also includes all the elements. Parts of halls collapse, phasers, fistfights... right down to the ribbing jokes aimed at the Andorian crew member, which might have been slightly overdone.
A good show, well worth your time. On a scale of 1 to 5, this show scores a 5. Good quality fun. The exploration of ideas is sci fi, not social, but they explore how a civilization of insect like creatures might see their world.
This is available in with Portuguese subtitles on Your Tube:
Starship Exeter Savage Empire
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SULyzurtrog
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USzGpl2fU8o
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jfz41FXowQo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwblcTuIQe8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzMPVBMTQdQ
The second, and only other episode is not finished. Since they released a teaser more than five years ago, and released the next to last section more than three years ago, one can conclude they are taking their time releasing that final section. What's more, the website makes it unclear that this show is not complete, and ready to watch, and as such is misleading.
"The Tressaurian Intersection"
Only 3 of the 4 acts are completed and available for viewing:
The releases:
Teaser: Released July 1, 2005
Act 1: Released October 25, 2005
Act 2: Released February 24, 2006
Act 3: Released September 14, 2007
Act 4: Not yet released
The hostile reptilian aliens, the Tressaurians, have attacked before... a ship on which our Captain John Quincy Garrovick served as a cadet. They've killed HIS old captain. Our old friends, the Tholians, have created some kind of device the less intelligent reptilian Tressaurians have stolen. Clearly, written by anti-reptile bigots... seriously, though, there's no message here, just action. People sneer at each other, they fight, they win and lose. It's a nice sci-fi story, dangerous devices, fun and Trek-like. But they haven't released the ending. So I recommend you wait now to watch it, because once you start it, you'll want to watch it through to the end.
Here's another review with a similar complaint: The Logbook
On You Tube: INCOMPLETE!
Part 1 (5:09)
Part 2 (10:28)
Part 3 (6:00)
Part 4 (5:07)
Part 5 (6:00)
Part 6 (6:32)
INCOMPLETE!!!
Other reviews: Ordinarily, I link to review threads about the episodes. However, given the lack of activity in the Starship Exeter Forums, and the time since The Savage Empire was released, I have not found the appropriate thread with other people's reviews on it. However, since my own review is a rave, I don't feel bad about it.
Among the people involved with Starship Exeter are Dennis Bailey, who wrote two episodes of TNG, the amazing "Tin Man" and the episode (not the movie) "First Contact."
There also appears to be a comedy, "Night Shift" which is both a parody of this series and has the same actor play Captain John Quincy Garrovick, vis: Starship Exeter "Night Shift" parody http://www.livevideo.com/video/FC785AB3085840BD96C7C0E185634890/starship-exeter-fan-film-comed.aspx (3:44) This link did not work on Nov. 15, 2011.
It is available with Portuguese subtitles: http://startrekreviewed.blogspot.com/2009/06/224.html
Night Shift: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IsBf0gvlkVU
Here's a review of this short: Fan Film Friday: Holiday Special
Here's a humorous commentary on the delay in release: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SpWSd6r2jB0 (1:50)
Here are two behind-the-scenes videos which appeared on the Net in July 2010, 5 years to the month after the teaser for the incomplete episode was released:
Stan Ginsel Interview from "Starship Exeter, behind the scenes Makes some nasty comments about other TOS timed series... Phase II, are you listening... do you care?
Starship Exeter, behind the bridge special feature
Added September, 2010:
Starship Exeter, behind the bridge special feature Part II.
****
There are also these:
Fake Part IV trailer
Act III is not impossible trailer
Exeter, animated series, test 1
Exeter, animated series, test 2
Exeter, animated series, test 3
Review in Hebrew: http://www.starbase972.com/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=392
Only 3 of the 4 acts are completed and available for viewing:
The releases:
Teaser: Released July 1, 2005
Act 1: Released October 25, 2005
Act 2: Released February 24, 2006
Act 3: Released September 14, 2007
Act 4: Not yet released
The hostile reptilian aliens, the Tressaurians, have attacked before... a ship on which our Captain John Quincy Garrovick served as a cadet. They've killed HIS old captain. Our old friends, the Tholians, have created some kind of device the less intelligent reptilian Tressaurians have stolen. Clearly, written by anti-reptile bigots... seriously, though, there's no message here, just action. People sneer at each other, they fight, they win and lose. It's a nice sci-fi story, dangerous devices, fun and Trek-like. But they haven't released the ending. So I recommend you wait now to watch it, because once you start it, you'll want to watch it through to the end.
Here's another review with a similar complaint: The Logbook
On You Tube: INCOMPLETE!
Part 1 (5:09)
Part 2 (10:28)
Part 3 (6:00)
Part 4 (5:07)
Part 5 (6:00)
Part 6 (6:32)
INCOMPLETE!!!
Other reviews: Ordinarily, I link to review threads about the episodes. However, given the lack of activity in the Starship Exeter Forums, and the time since The Savage Empire was released, I have not found the appropriate thread with other people's reviews on it. However, since my own review is a rave, I don't feel bad about it.
Among the people involved with Starship Exeter are Dennis Bailey, who wrote two episodes of TNG, the amazing "Tin Man" and the episode (not the movie) "First Contact."
There also appears to be a comedy, "Night Shift" which is both a parody of this series and has the same actor play Captain John Quincy Garrovick, vis: Starship Exeter "Night Shift" parody http://www.livevideo.com/video/FC785AB3085840BD96C7C0E185634890/starship-exeter-fan-film-comed.aspx (3:44) This link did not work on Nov. 15, 2011.
It is available with Portuguese subtitles: http://startrekreviewed.blogspot.com/2009/06/224.html
Night Shift: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IsBf0gvlkVU
Here's a review of this short: Fan Film Friday: Holiday Special
Here's a humorous commentary on the delay in release: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SpWSd6r2jB0 (1:50)
Here are two behind-the-scenes videos which appeared on the Net in July 2010, 5 years to the month after the teaser for the incomplete episode was released:
Stan Ginsel Interview from "Starship Exeter, behind the scenes Makes some nasty comments about other TOS timed series... Phase II, are you listening... do you care?Starship Exeter, behind the bridge special feature
Added September, 2010:
Starship Exeter, behind the bridge special feature Part II.
****
There are also these:
Fake Part IV trailer
Act III is not impossible trailer
Exeter, animated series, test 1
Exeter, animated series, test 2
Exeter, animated series, test 3
Review in Hebrew: http://www.starbase972.com/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=392
A new Fan film, Starship Ajax, out of Oklahoma City, Ok (listed here: http://startrekreviewed.blogspot.com/2009/06/143.html (AB)) had acquired the Exeter bridge set and issued a call for assistance on Dec. 27, 2010. However, On Dec. 17, 2011, it became evident that there were major issues tearing this group apart, and I am therefore moving them to short term hold status, pending whether they regroup and continue or if the effort falls apart.
This was their message in Dec. 2010:
We are looking for volunteers to assist in restoration work on the Exeter bridge set and construction of additional set pieces to complete it. As well we are also needing volunteers to do carpentry work in new set construction for the corridors and briefing room and other needed sets for the Ajax production. Electrical knowledge is also desired since we need to rewire the bridge for the display and switch lighting.
Much Thanks to anyone even remotely interested. Based off recommendations I get we may set up a monthly work weekend at the hanger in restoration and additional set building. Suggested dates would be welcome.
Robert Simmons (Simmons left the group less than a year after posting this).
More information here: http://trekbbs.com/showpost.php?p=4620289&postcount=59
Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Starship-Exeter/109223289104251
Bits available on You Tube : http://www.youtube.com/user/ExTrekker
They really need to finish this episode up, so we can see future episodes of the Exeter and its crew. It's been too long and they really need to speed things up.
ReplyDeleteI agree the story should be finished. Heard they might have had filming or post-production problems with the final act? Whatever the issues are? It would be a great day in story telling if the final act gets released!
ReplyDeleteKent
Yeah, I check at least once a month to see if they've finished it, or even updated the web site! I like it but I'm inclined to believe that it's a wash. Prove me wrong, Exeter Studios!
ReplyDeleteOne thing I can tell you is that there had been a time when a certain hard drive had died? All I know is, we're ALL waiting for Act Last to come out. It'll be worth it.
ReplyDelete