The early morning hours of Star Trek Las Vegas…quite a difference from what it would look like in an hour or so.
First off, I want to apologize to any readers who’ve been following my posts from Star Trek Las Vegas 2018 for the previous four days. I meant to file a post last night, the last night of the event, but I didn’t crawl back to my hotel room till around 8:30-9 pm and my arthritic old joints were killing me. I took a hot bath, ate a perfunctory imitation of a dinner, and crashed. This morning, I made ‘the voyage home’ back to California, so I haven’t really had a chance to catch my breath until now…and I really want to share with you everything that happened on a very intense final day at Star Trek Las Vegas, 2018.
First, here are the links to my previous four entries:
Sunday, Day 5 started out with me still feeling pretty worn out from the previous days (my wife noted my dark eye circles when we FaceTimed the previous night), but I was determined to get some work done. I’d been unable to get my interview with Aron Eisenberg (“Nog” from “Deep Space Nine”) on Saturday, as he was very busy with his fans, and I was determined not to interfere with that (that’s why he’s here).
Luckily, he and I finally settled on doing the interview on Sunday morning at his table in the Dealer Hall, before he got too much fan foot traffic. A window of opportunity opened around 9:45 or so, and we sat down to do the interview right then and there. I got a solid 20 minute interview with him, and he was simply terrific. A genuinely down to earth, witty guy. A real pleasure to talk with.
Aron Eisenberg (DS9’s “Nog”), the man behind the mask. An all-around great guy and a fine Ferengi!
Aron, if you’re reading this, the full transcription is nearly done and will be published both here and ontrekcore.com. And thank you SO much. You’re a fine Ferengi!
Afterward, I covered an event for Trekcore regarding the new Star Trek Online Discovery extension pack, “Age of Discovery.” I got my front-row press seating (yay!) and arrived at the event earlier than I expected. The moderator of the panel (Elio Leio, from Priority One) came out and introduced the game’s development team, Al Rivera, Bill Yeatts and Tom Marrone.
Star Trek Online “Age of Discovery” development team (Bill Yeatts, Al Rivera, Tom Marrone) and panel moderator Elio Lieo pose with Mary Wiseman (“Cadet Tilly”) and Rekha Sharma (“Lt. Landry”) of Star Trek: Discovery. Wiseman grabbed ahold of Rekha’s stuffed toy tardigrade, which was given to her as something of a gallows humor gift, since Sharma’s character was unceremoniously slaughtered by the giant ‘space tardigrade’ on the show. Sharma, with some help from Wiseman, named her new ‘pet’ Skipper’; in honor of the show’s “Ripper.”
The big surprise of the panel came via two guest stars from “Discovery”; Mary Wiseman (“Cadet Sylvia Tilly”) and Rekha Sharma (“Lt. Landry”). I wasn’t allowed to ask too many questions (CBS was being as tightlipped about the details an Aldebaran shell-mouth), but it was still a fun event. The renderings and detailing of the virtual sets/characters are exceptional, especially the CGI renderings of the Discovery interiors. As I’ve said before, I personally don’t really do a lot of gaming since I have the gaming reflexes of a sedated sloth. But I had a bit of fun with the backstage press access (!). As we asked a couple of post-panel followup questions of the development team backstage, most ofthe cast of “Star Trek: Discovery” quietly filed by us, as they were getting ready to surprise ambush a Discovery cosplay gathering. I might’ve gasped aloud… damn my fanboy nature!
Among the Star Trek: Discovery cosplayers are members of the cast, including (left to right) Sarah Mitich (“Airiam”), Rekha Sharma (“Lt. Landry”), Wilson Cruz (“Dr. Hugh Culber”), Mary Wiseman and Anthony Rapp (“Lt. Paul Stamets”).Sarah Mitich, Gersha Phillips, Wilson Cruz, Anthony Rapp and Sam Vartholomeos (“Ensign Danby Connor”).Star Trek: Discovery’s talented costume designer Gersha Phillips, as well as stars Wilson Cruz and Anthony Rapp. Not the best shots, I know, but again; you take the shots you can at these events…Gersha Phillips and Mary Wiseman take a few moments to meet and greet the cosplayers on the stage!Mary Wiseman (in her DISCO t-shirt, the same one I was wearing too!) greets a few cosplayers on her way backstage…Rekha Sharma (also of “Battlestar Galactica”; one of my favorite TV shows of all time) takes a minute to pose for a pic with two of the talented cosplayers (one dressed as mirror universe Emperor Georgiou; the other dressed as a Discovery crew member). That light/dark issue with the pic was a result of near-simultaneous flashes going off (not mine, as I rarely use flash). My apologies.
It was really neat, being backstage with the DSC cast too! Wiseman and Sharma were already there, but they were joined (backstage and onstage) by Sonequa Martin Green (“Michael Burnham”), Anthony Rapp (“Lt. Paul Stamets”), Wilson Cruz (“Dr. Hugh Culber”), Shazad Latif (“Ash Tyler”/“Voq”, or TyVoq?) and the talented series costume designer Gersha Phillips. I’d like to personally thank Phillips someday for creating the simplest Star Trek cosplay with the Discovery crew’s exercise wear; a navy blue “Disco” t-shirt and leggings. There were a group of cosplayers wearing them onstage, as were Wiseman & Cruz. There were also a gaggle of white-uniformed ‘Doctor Culbers,’ too!
Despite the irony of being at a Discovery cosplay event, I didn’t get too many other cosplay shots on Sunday, but I did manage to get a few before I limped back to my hotel room, ate a very rare hot lunch (chicken/cheese enchiladas; yum!) and started catching up on my correspondences as well as beginning my transcriptions of the Aron Eisenberg interview. I had a little time to kill before my next panel, so I thought I’d use my time wisely. Sadly, I didn’t finish before I had to leave in time for both the panel and to begin waiting in line for the Discovery cast autographs, but more on that in a minute…
A very well done “Sybok” (Spock’s half-brother from “Star Trek V: The Final Frontier”). I can almost feel his pain…it runs deep.The two Antedean delegates from Star Trek: The Next Generation’s “Manhunt.” I’ve photographed these two before, but they’re so well done they deserve as many shots as possible. I also loved the Star Trek-ish lighting of the corridor (called ‘the Promenade’ for the convention, in honor of DS9)A snappy officer’s uniform from “Star Trek Into Darkness”; not exactly my favorite Star Trek movie, but I loved the costume (even if it looks more “Starship Troopers” than Star Trek).This wonderful lady deserves a shoutout. I never caught her name (sadly) but she was cheerful to each and every entrant into the Dealer Hall. She gave her customary “Have a blessed day” to nearly every single person who walked through the doorway. To be on your feet all day long and keep up that kind of cheerfulness deserves recognition!The talented latter-day Lon Chaney, Doug Jones (who plays the Kelpien first officer “Saru” on Star Trek: Discovery). I’d actually had the pleasure of meeting Jones at San Diego Comic Con 2012, where I got his autograph. He is a delightful man, and was very kind to my wife and I.Anson Mount plays the new “Captain Christopher Pike” (a role previously played by the late Jeffrey Hunter in TOS Star Trek, and Bruce Greenwood in the first two Bad Robot produced Star Trek films). Pike will figure prominently in the forthcoming 2nd season of Star Trek: Discovery (coming in early 2019).Found these two troublemakers loitering around! Actress/comedian and all-around funny gal, Michele Specht (of “Star Trek Continues”, Star Trek Online’s “Victory is Life” expansion pack) and makeup artist Lisa Hansell (also of “Star Trek Continues”). I’ve seen Hansell work her makeup wizardry in person at IMATS (International Makeup Trade Show) in Pasadena a few times. I’ve met these ladies at so many conventions that I am proud to know them on a first name basis. And yes, I’m still wearing my DISCO t-shirt with my rainbow tribble that I got from the “Gaaays In Space” booth at WonderCon earlier this year.Screening and panel for arguably Deep Space Nine’s finest hour; “Far Beyond The Stars” (pictured above is a scene starring Penny Johnson and Avery Brooks). The original story was from Marc Scott Zicree, whom I had the pleasure of interviewing on the 2nd day of this convention, and I promise to publish that interview soon.
The post-screening panelists for Deep Space Nine’s “Far Beyond the Stars”; writer Marc Scott Zicree, actors Cirroc Lofton, Aron Eisenberg (whom I interviewed earlier in the day), writer/producer Ira Steven Behr, actors Marc Alaimo, Jeffrey Combs, Armin Shimerman, Terry Farrell, Nana Visitor, Rene Auberjonois and J.G. Hertzler. The actors didn’t play their usual characters in this atypical episode, and a few were out of their prosthetic makeups for the first (and only) time on the show.Writer Marc Scott Zicree, actors Cirroc Lofton, Aron Eisenberg (whom I interviewed earlier in the day), writer/producer Ira Steven Behr.Writer Marc Scott Zicree, actors Cirroc Lofton, and Aron Eisenberg. Lofton mentioned how the episode’s theme of racism is sadly still with us today.Actor Aron Eisenberg, writer/producer Ira Steven Behr, and actor Marc Alaimo.
Marc Alaimo, Jeffrey Combs and Armin Shimerman. Alaimo and Combs each mentioned how they didn’t like having to ‘beat the crap’ out of the star/director of the episode, Avery Brooks. (“Captain Benjamin Sisko,” as well as writer “Benny Russell”) Shimerman talked a bit about the episode’s gravitas and social importance.
Actors Terry Farrell, Nana Visitor, Rene Auberjonois and J.G. Hertzler. Most of the actors talked about the opportunity afforded by the episode to act outside of both makeup and character.Writer Marc Scott Zicree, actors Cirroc Lofton, Aron Eisenberg (whom I interviewed earlier in the day), writer/producer Ira Steven Behr, actors Marc Alaimo, Jeffrey Combs, Armin Shimerman, Terry Farrell, Nana Visitor, Rene Auberjonois and J.G. Hertzler.
After the panel, there was an onstage auction for merchandise, posters and collectibles. To be honest, I’m growing out of collecting posters, toys, etc. I’m more about getting books and autographs these days.
Speaking of autographs…
After waiting in relatively shorter autograph queues for Star Trek: Discovery stars Wilson Cruz, Anthony Rapp and Mary Wiseman, I then got into line for Sonequa Martin Green. I stood in SMG’s line for nearly two hours, but she’d already been signing there for nearly three.The wait was very much worth it! Sonequa Martin Green was delightful. She treated each and every fan with a personal greeting and a beaming smile. Goodness knows she even more exhausted than we were, but you’d have never known it by observing her. She was a real trouper. When I finally had my turn in the queue, I told her that my wife and I had seen her at a taping of the now defunct “Wil Wheaton Project” (2014), where she did a mock commercial taping. She laughed at the mention of it. I told her I remembered that she had terrific comedic timing. She thanked me, and gave a warm handshake.
After that, I called it a night, and well… you know the rest (see: opening paragraph).
My last night at the Rio hotel in Las Vegas…until next year, of course.
While this is the end of my day-to-day Star Trek Las Vegas 2018 coverage, I still have more material coming from this event, with my full Aron Eisenberg and Marc Scott Zicree interviews.
Mr. SciFi himself! Author/screenwriter/producer/director Marc Scott Zicree. Amazing guy!
Thanks for covering this awesome event and sharing all the great Star Trek photos 🙂
My pleasure!