The following is a selection of events and quotes which links Star Trek to Boston legal. It shows how writers and producer David E. Kelly uses William Shatner and Rene Auberjonois’s previous roles to provide intertextuality to his scripts which a majority of which will only be recognised by Star Trek fans.
William Shatner – [plays Denny Crane] previously known for his Role as Captain James Kirk on the original Star Ship Enterprise on Star Trek
Rene Auberjonois – [plays Paul Lewiston] known as security chief Odo in Star Trek Deep Space nine. Auberjonois also appeared in the film Star Trek VI: The undiscovered Country in the where he plays Colonel West. He also featured the episode Oasis on Star Trek: enterprise Ezral.
Characters from Star Trek in Boston Legal:
- Jeri Ryan plays Courtney Reese in the last two episodes of the second season. Denny Crane [william Shatner] depends her. Ryan played Seven of Nine, a Borg drone reformed in Star Trek: Voyager/
- Armin Shimerman guest stars in ‘new kids on the block’ in the third season. Shimerman played the role of Quark alongside Auberjonois in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. The two play a scene together and allude to the fact that they are old friends.
- In the third season several members who were regulars of Star Trek feature in the show together. William Shatner, Rene Auberjonois, Armin Shimerman [played the Ferengi barkeep Quark in DS9] and Ethan Phillips who played the character of Nelix in Star Trek: Voyager.
References to Star Trek and Shatner's previous Role.
Season One:
- Episode 14.
Alan makes reference to Paul establishing a dominion. Paul [Auberjonois’] character in Star Trek: DS9 was apart of a race who belonged to military regime called the dominion.
Season Two:
- Finding Nimmo.
Denny [Shatner] and Alan [Spader] are fishing in Nimmo Bay. Alan refers to a sea-lice ailment suffered by some local fish as ‘cling-ons’, Denny replies “Did you say Klingons?” who are of course a race from Star Trek.
- Cancer Man.
Denny opens his new mobile phone which makes the noise the communications on Star Trek do.
- There’s Fire.
Denny’s wife suggests they move to Hawaii to which Denny replies “What am I supposed to do? Beam myself to Boston every morning?”
In an argument between Denny and Paul over who controls the company most, Denny calls himself "Captain of the ship".
- Episode Nine.
Denny shoots a homeless man who's name is Kirk, a reference to Shatner's character on Star Trek who was named Kirk. Later Alan says Mr Kirk and is seemingly speaking to Denny at the time.
Season Three:
In the finale, while walking through a crowd of reporters clamoring for a quote, Denny Crane says he once captained his own spaceship, a reference to Captain Kirk's USS enterprise NCC-1701.
Shatner also uses the phrase "Lock and load" frequently which is a signature from Star Trek.
References:
Trivia taken from observation of watching Boston Legal and also Wikipedia, checked against episode for accuracy.
O'Shaughnessy & Stadler, 2005. Media and Society: An Introduction. 3rd Edition. Oxford University Press: Australia.
- Jeri Ryan plays Courtney Reese in the last two episodes of the second season. Denny Crane [william Shatner] depends her. Ryan played Seven of Nine, a Borg drone reformed in Star Trek: Voyager/
- Armin Shimerman guest stars in ‘new kids on the block’ in the third season. Shimerman played the role of Quark alongside Auberjonois in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. The two play a scene together and allude to the fact that they are old friends.
- In the third season several members who were regulars of Star Trek feature in the show together. William Shatner, Rene Auberjonois, Armin Shimerman [played the Ferengi barkeep Quark in DS9] and Ethan Phillips who played the character of Nelix in Star Trek: Voyager.
References to Star Trek and Shatner's previous Role.
Season One:
- Episode 14.
Alan makes reference to Paul establishing a dominion. Paul [Auberjonois’] character in Star Trek: DS9 was apart of a race who belonged to military regime called the dominion.
Season Two:
- Finding Nimmo.
Denny [Shatner] and Alan [Spader] are fishing in Nimmo Bay. Alan refers to a sea-lice ailment suffered by some local fish as ‘cling-ons’, Denny replies “Did you say Klingons?” who are of course a race from Star Trek.
- Cancer Man.
Denny opens his new mobile phone which makes the noise the communications on Star Trek do.
- There’s Fire.
Denny’s wife suggests they move to Hawaii to which Denny replies “What am I supposed to do? Beam myself to Boston every morning?”
In an argument between Denny and Paul over who controls the company most, Denny calls himself "Captain of the ship".
- Episode Nine.
Denny shoots a homeless man who's name is Kirk, a reference to Shatner's character on Star Trek who was named Kirk. Later Alan says Mr Kirk and is seemingly speaking to Denny at the time.
Season Three:
In the finale, while walking through a crowd of reporters clamoring for a quote, Denny Crane says he once captained his own spaceship, a reference to Captain Kirk's USS enterprise NCC-1701.
Shatner also uses the phrase "Lock and load" frequently which is a signature from Star Trek.
References:
Trivia taken from observation of watching Boston Legal and also Wikipedia, checked against episode for accuracy.
O'Shaughnessy & Stadler, 2005. Media and Society: An Introduction. 3rd Edition. Oxford University Press: Australia.
1 comment:
Great posts, effective choice of topic with lots of opportunity for critical thinking and academic references.
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