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He's Dead Jim, Live Long And Prosper

Mar. 02, 2015 6:44 AM ETPARA, VIA-OLD
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To boldly go to the final frontier (2009), last Friday, February 27, 2015, Leonary Nimoy passed away from COPD. A short tribute follows...

Bruno Mars, Lazy Song music video starring Leonard Nimoy.

Mr. Nimoy's appearances on What's My Line; on Get Smart; $20,000 Pyramid with Dick Clark and William Shatner; Merv Griffin (1982) with William Shatner.

In Daily Variety's 35th anniversary edition, published Oct. 29, 1968, Mr. Nimoy wrote an 800-word essay titled "Thank God It's Friday", in which he laid out a case for why television should be respected as a creative medium and for improving the series production process. Here's an excerpt:

"Join me in Utopia for a moment. It's the fall of 1968. Network A contracts with producer B for 26 segments of his hour series C, to premiere in the fall of 1969. The commitment is firm. There can be no hedging, no reverse decisions from higher up, no "subject to whims of the sponsor" clauses.

The producer is now free (and funded) to fully develop an entire season of scripts. He can imme- diately assemble (or reassemble) his cast. Directors can be assign- ed. Once the scripts are completed, and only then, would they be submitted to "the committee." All the creative people would have their chance to contribute, to sift, to reevaluate.

The producer could plan set construction, pick locations for all the episodes, thereby saving huge chunks of time and money. He could avoid the needless, wasteful building, tearing down and re- building of sets necessitated by today's hand-to-mouth system.

In summary, all the logistics for the year would be mapped out. Everything creative, except actual filming, would be accomplished before a single camera turns. Once shooting begins, the six days allotted each segment would be devoted to nothing but putting fine performances on film.

Economically unfeasible? On the contrary, the reduction in production costs alone would more than defray the costs of longer-term salaries. Too risky for the network? I don't think so. By not committing early, by riding the ratings see-saw until the last second, by wasting weeks and month jockeying for position, the manip- ulators become the manipulated. The network and the series are on the ropes before the fight begins.

Time is the threat, exhaustion and pap the inevitable consequence. Let's stop treating television like a passing fad."

One could apply the bold sentence above to the legislative, executive and judiciary branches of government.

Mr. Nimoy's final TV interview Feb 10, 2015 on CNN - Piers Morgan. Mr. Nimoy's twitter page and final tweet:

A life is like a garden. Perfect moments can be had, but not preserved, except in memory. LLAP

- Leonard Nimoy (@TheRealNimoy) February 23, 2015

Live long and prosper, and a final tribute.

To boldly go to the Final Frontier (1982) - RIP

Jeffrey Hunter (1926 - 1969) Captain Pike

Gene Roddenberry (1921 - 1991) The Creator

Mark Lenard (1924 - 1996) Spock's Father

DeForest Kelley (1920 - 1999) Dr. McCoy (Bones)

James Doohan (1920 - 2005) Mr. Scott (Scotty)

Jane Wyatt (1910 - 2006) Spock's Mother

Majel Barrett (1932 - 2008) Nurse Chapel

Leonard Simon Nimoy (1931 - 2015) Mr. Spock

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