Tag Archives: Leonard Nimoy

My Weekly Spock (8/26/13) — Leonard Nimoy on The Flip Wilson Show

I recall way, way back when this first aired, (1974) I was not aware that Nimoy was a guest on The Flip Wilson Show that week, and I remember passing through the channels that night just in time to hear Flip Wilson say “…and thanks to my special guest, Mr. Leonard Nimoy!”  My pubescent heart screamed “Nooooooooo!”  (We had been watching  A Tree Grows in Brooklyn on the other channel)  and it didn’t occur to me that there might be a rerun of this Flip the following summer (this was in the before-times of no DVRs, On Demand,  Hulu, Netflix, or even VHS).

I was happy to see this skit some many years later on TVLand, but even this was an edited version of the original 60 minute broadcast  (Mr. Wilson had personally edited down his original show to 30 minute segments for syndication)  I know there were other skits on the show involving Nimoy, (for I had read about them in my LNAF Yearbook).  But these other skits may have been lost to posterity — I hope somewhere they still exist!  For now, enjoy these stills from the opening act of Flip!, where Flip wonders where the ear points are, and Nimoy goes into total Spock mode! The skit ends with Flip’s famous version of the High Five,(including the bump) – and of course, a Vulcan nerve pinch!

You can see the whole skit here.

My Weekly Spock 8/19/13 Night Gallery “She’ll be Company For You”

In a 1972 episode of Rod Serling’s Night Gallery, Nimoy played Henry Auden, a recent widower who isn’t too upset that his invalid wife Margaret has passed away.  Although he loved her, he can’t help feeling mildly relieved at his  freedom from his constant care of his late wife.  A creepy friend of Margaret’s gets him a cat who’ll ‘be company for him’, but Henry is slowly driven crazy between still hearing the bell his wife used to ring, and a sneaking suspicion that this little kitty is actually a wild cat out to kill him…  The episode also co-starred Kathryn Hayes, whom Trek fans will recognize as “Gem” from The Empath (I always like it when actors get to work more than once together in different venues).  Here, they argue and almost kiss. (It always seemed to be ‘almost’ or no kissing for Nimoy whenever he appeared in these ’70’s shows;  maybe the TV execs were afraid his fans would simultaneously combust a the sight…)  Even though Nimoy’s character here wasn’t the nicest, I couldn’t help but feel sorry for his fate.  Ironically, Nimoy’s always been an animal lover in reality, but not here!

#32 “Friday’s Child”

In the spirit of completely misleading 1960’s movie posters, it seemed logical to present Friday’s Child as a comedy! (This was totally inspired by the ridiculous REAL publicity picture of Kirk and Eleen!)   Two posters in two days, I guess I’m on a roll!  It also mildly references Three Men and a Baby, which as you know was directed by Mr. Nimoy in the 1980’s.

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My Weekly Spock 8/12/13 “Kid Monk Baroni” Part II

Here’s the rest of my stills from Kid Monk Baroni – Enjoy!

Baroni’s bummed at being ‘the gorilla’ who’s always beaten up in the ring, so Baroni’s girlfriend Emily helps him to get plastic surgery and boom- he’s Mr. Charming! But the good looks turn him into a jerk too — he cheats on Emily with floozie June,  and is too afraid to fight hard and wreck his pretty face!  He agrees to fight dirty to make ends meet again, but in the end, loses the fight but wins the respect of his old pal (Jimmy Olsen!–that is, Jack Larson as Angelo) and gets his girlfriend back.  Unfortunately, we only hear that he’s married his girlfriend, and the final scene is spent on silly sight gag of one of his former gang members who liked to hide stuff in his long coat!

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Baroni (and his astonishingly narrow hips) with his crooked manager

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Girlfriend Emily loves him for what he is

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But encourages him to get plastic surgery anyway, for his own happiness

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So he gets the surgery

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And he…

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gets,,,

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Gorgeous

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And immediately sets his sights on…

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…slutty cigarette girl June.

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blows all his money on her…

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Reluctantly agrees to fixed fight with his manager

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He likes what he sees…

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Uh…what was I saying?

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On with the fight

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Not looking good for the home team…

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Friends to the end

The Daily Scrapbook 8/7/13 The Trek-Centric “Media Spotlight” 1977

Here’s today’s flashback. On a Saturday in  1977, I recall walking into the Waldenbooks a the mall  and found a magazine I had never seen before, and there was Mr. Spock in all his glory on the front!   Naturally my purse opened itself up and the dollars flew out to have this glorious cover shot. (even though it had very little to do with the magazine itself!)

Media Spotlight was a thinly disguised Star Trek zine, kind of like a poor newsprint cousin to the glossier Starlog magazine. It basked in the glory of the ’70’s Trek rebirth (complete with publicity stills and hastily sketched drawings of the crew) and kept you in touch with the stars, writers, and fans associated with the show (including the late, great Joan Winston) It also reported on other sci-fi shows of the time (Space 1999!, The Six Million Dollar Man!) but the original Trek was it’s favorite nest egg.  I’ll be posting articles from this edition through this week and beyond. And btw, this was the first prize in our Spock Lookalike Contest earlier this year! (Hey Roy, how do you like your mag?)  Enjoy.

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My Weekly Spock 8/5/13 Kid Monk Baroni Part I

Nimoy’s first truly starring role: Kid Monk Baroni (1952)

All in all, not a bad picture – and a fine performance by a young actor still (pardon the pun) learning the ropes!  (and a big step up from Zombies of the Stratosphere. Nimoy plays a young gangster in the streets, Paul Baroni, who’s called “Monk” by his pals, short for ‘Monkey’ for his facial deformity.  Paul feels an outcast for his looks, but the friendly priest from the local church  gets him into boxing and Paul finds himself an amateur welterweight.  He’s still shy and self conscious of his looks, but he meets a nice girl who loves him for himself. His nasty manager wants him to fight dirty.  Yet Paul is still insecure and wants to quit the ring.  Will he find happiness?  Stay tuned for next week’s installment!

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My Weekly Spock 7/29/13 Zombies of the Stratosphere! (1952)

zombiescoverLet’s start at the very beginning, shall we?  Mr. Nimoy goes to Hollywood–he’s gonna be a star! Well, not just yet…And even though he’s seen prominently in the movie posters for the Republic Serial, Zombies of the Stratosphere (1952) (a.k.a.Satan’s Satellites), he’s not mentioned in the cast list there! (A remastered colorized DVD version remedies this great mistake!) Original black and while stills here, as well as highly colorized screen caps from the DVD. Gotta give the man credit for following his dream!  And it gave him practice to be an arch-eyebrowed- second-in-command member of a  spaceship!

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That’s Nimoy (as Narab) on the far left -yep, those are really secure seats!

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An original poster for zombies…

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And the still it was based on… Leonard is only 21 here! (bless him!)

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Now look menacing!

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I had a terrible dream I was in an awful serial… oh, right…

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*sniff!* I just wanted a decent speaking part!

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But where’s the Gamesters of Triskellion?

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You know it’s a bum rap when you have to carry the director’s luggage…

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Nimoy finally gets credit for this movie–(but would probably be okay without it!)

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My Weekly Spock: 7/22/13 Smilin’ Sixties Nimoy!

I would have called this week’s column “Smilin’ Sixties Spock” for the alliteration, but he’s just himself here. (Hard not to smile when he had a steady job for the first time in his career!) Keep Smiling! And as Nimoy said
“Get Involved!”

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My Weekly Spock: Gimme a Head with Hair…

Mr. Nimoy sure has certainly been blessed with excellent follicles all his life– (Is that the sound of Shatner envy?  ;-)) Who could forget the Spock’s silky black hair or Paris’ luscious waves? Here’s some of Mr. Nimoy’s greatest hair hits:

My Weekly Spock: 7/8/13 — Trek Photocall from 2009 by Gallo

I came across these splendid pictures from photographer Armando Gallo on Fanpop, and they’re so well taken you can almost hear the conversation during the shoot!  This was a Star Trek photocall from 2009 (hence the crew-cut).   I love how Gallo’s photos totally capture Nimoy’s engaging personality,and I’m sure Mr. Nimoy was pleased with them.  Enjoy, and I congratulate Mr. Gallo on these delightfully animated photos!