The 'In Character' Blog
 
 

On Air: Mr. Spock

» Hear the 'Weekend Edition Sunday' story

Leonard Nimoy in a 'Star Trek' movie

Leonard Nimoy (right) as Spock and Jeffrey Hunter as Capt. Pike in the original Star Trek pilot episode.

 

Mr. Spock: You think he's smart, standoffish, and sexy. But at the very beginning, NBC didn't find him quite so appealing. In fact, as Neda Ulaby reports in her In Character profile for Weekend Edition Sunday, network suits told Gene Roddenberry to "lose the Martian."

We all know how that turned out.

In Neda's piece, Leonard Nimoy explains how Spock's signature line -- "Fascinating" -- came about. Plus expert commentary on the Vulcan's enduring appeal -- from a professor at MIT, no less -- and selected excerpts from your earlier conversation about Spock here on the blog.

It's all over there on the story page. Enjoy.

-- Trey Graham

6:00 AM ET | 06- 1-2008 | permalink

comments | |

6:00 AM ET | 06- 1-2008 | permalink

 

Comments

View all comments »

Add a Comment

Please note that all comments must adhere to the NPR.org discussion rules and terms of use. See also the Community FAQ.

NPR reserves the right to read on the air and/or publish on its Web site or in any medium now known or unknown the e-mails and letters that we receive. We may edit them for clarity or brevity and identify authors by name and location. For additional information, please consult our Terms of Use.

Uh, masculine for an alien... maybe. However as far as the human race is concerned; James T. Kirk has been and always will be "da man."

Sent by James Downing | 1:06 PM ET | 06-02-2008

Hahaha . . . I don't know if Kirk is that much more manly than Spock. They were often pretty intent on tearing each other's clothes off and staring intently into each other's eyes, after all.

Sent by Lindsay | 4:58 PM ET | 06-02-2008

They didn't bring up that Spock was probably the most three dimensional character on the original show. There was also an element of wish fulfillment about him. He's the ultimate square peg, but his best friend is the most popular guy there.

Sent by Joe Medley | 9:01 AM ET | 06-07-2008
   
   
   
null


 
Elizabeth Blair.

Elizabeth Blair

blogger

 
Trey Graham. Photo: Stan Barouh.

Trey Graham

blogger

 
 
 

Who Moves You?

Join the In Character conversation: Tell us about the fictional characters who've told you something about yourself or your world. Your essay may appear here on the blog — or even on the air.

 
 
 

Search 'The 'In Character' Blog'

Search for the word(s):
 
 

Recent Entries

 
 

Categories

 
 

Archives

 
 

What is 'In Character'?

The classic bad girl. The mad scientist. The wise-cracking sidekick. In Character is an NPR series exploring famous American fictional characters, from Atticus Finch to Ugly Betty. What do they say about society? About individual experience? About the comedy and complexity of who we are? Join us, online and on the air, as we ask what makes them tick — and what that means for us.

For more details on this project, read our FAQ and Discussion Guidelines. Or just go ahead and submit your own In Character essay.

 
 

Private Comments

You can contact the In Character team privately if you have comments or questions you do not want posted.

 
 
 

Related News Feeds

More about News Feeds »
 
 

Browse Topics

Services

Programs