The podcast "Make It So" recommended by John from Russia (johnsemlak) is terrific!
If you like British imports and want a candid look into their culture, you'll love these Trek commentary's from our cousins across the big pond.
Be warned, the language can get a little rough. Still a nice addition to "Treks in Sci-Fi".
http://www.simplysyndicated.com/makeitso/index.html
"Join us every Monday for some of the most brutal discussion that Star Trek has ever had to endure. Three die hard fans and the Trek we love."
Dave
Yea...I would say the language is unnecessarily rough. They do have some interesting discussions though and I find some of the insights hilarious.
Kevin
I tried their podcast, before I found Rico's, and I didn't stick to it for that reason. Call me a prude but it's like someone scratching their nails on a chalkboard to me.
Same here Jen... didn't like all the Trek Bashing. I listen to Trek podcasts for the love of the show.. not for every little nitpicky fault. But to each his own...
If I remember right, somebody described "Treks in Sci-Fi" as similar to NPR. In comparison, "Make it So" is like talk radio in America. TiSF tries to inform an audience while MIS (Make it So) tries to provoke discussion on Star Trek, both the good and the bad.
The language in Make It So is crude but it is not Trek bashing. It takes a more critical view of Star Trek while admiring it.
Definitely room for both in the podcast-sphere. All try to keep the TREK dream alive!
P.S. Welcome Warren!
I gave it a try a week ago and though I'm a prude and still don't think the fbomb needs to be dropped I have found several of their episodes to be hilarious. Particularly their episode about crazy fans. Loved the rival costuming gangs idea.
They just mentioned this thread on their latest show and began listing the things they love about Star Trek.
Quote from: StarTrekFanatic5 on October 09, 2007, 10:55:02 AM
Same here Jen... didn't like all the Trek Bashing. I listen to Trek podcasts for the love of the show.. not for every little nitpicky fault. But to each his own...
I think they devoted this entire show to making it right with Kenny - ;)
Their "Movies You Should See" pod cast is real good too, and more family friendly
Quote from: davekill on November 06, 2007, 08:15:51 PM
I think they devoted this entire show to making it right with Kenny - ;)
Their "Movies You Should See" pod cast is real good too, and more family friendly
LOL... guess I should listen to it. What show number is it?
Episode 53..."Why do we love Star Trek". It just came out.
Well, since I did recommend this podcast, I suppose I'll defend it against some of its criticisms...
I sort of see where the 'trek-bashing' comment stems from, but honestly, probably 50-75% of the trek conversations I've had over the years, no matter how much love I have for the show, have involved comments like "I can't stand Wesley", or "That's so unrealistic", or "Not another time-warp episode", or some debate about whether an episode is consistent with ST continuity.
As someone said above it's a critical look at ST but with admiration.
As far as the language goes, I actually debated about whether to warn about the language when I recommended Make it So in my audio clip. It doesn't bother me on the slightest (in fact, I confess I like the swearing) but I understand it's a matter of taste. But really, I don't think there's much language in Make it So that that isn't common in standard Hollywood fare.
As always, to each their own.
Also, I really appreciate the non-American point of view. I suppose that's from having lived outside the US for so many years.
oops, mispost
Really it's more than just language... they have made some crude remarks as well. But their show is marked explicit for that purpose, so if people don't like that sort of thing they can avoid it. As I said, I find several of their episodes really funny. :)
I didn't know about them until they were mentioned on the podcast.
I get annoyed with their comentary episodes because they fear paramount legal and don't include any episode audio. They are wimps.
But I like their POV and subjects. And they can be really funny. I am a more of a fan of TNG and DS9 than the others and that is their focus.
I listen to Rico's the day it comes out and Make it so later in the week while comuting.
I guess that explains why they called me a "cheeky bastard" for all the audio I use. Honestly, there are Star Wars, other Trek casts, music shows, etc. all that use audio clips. I'm not worried at all. Most of these companies realize the fans that do these things are the best free advertising they have.
I thought they called you a "cheeky monkey". :D
Oh yeah ---- you're right Jen. In any case - I took it in a positive way. I've always been a bit "cheeky." Hehe!
If they are going to call Rico a "cheeky monkey" then we need think of something to call two british guys who fear the wrath of paramount legal!
Swearing doesn't necessarily bother me unless done to a completely useless excess. That said, I think it is worth noting that the Brits do not have the same view on swearing that we do. The f-bomb does not have near the stigma over there as it does here it seems.
I really don't like the F word when used as an adjective. What's the point? Say something else. When I write scripts, I think that I don't want to write that word very often because it makes it lose it's sting. What if I really want to give something a lot of punch? And if that is a word that hasn't been heard every minute of the movie, that might do it.
I saw a movie called student bodies, a horror movie, that was pretty tame until a news anchor broke in and explaned that R rated movies made more money than PG last year then used the word to ensure an R rating.
Quote from: Rico on November 08, 2007, 11:59:11 AM
Oh yeah ---- you're right Jen. In any case - I took it in a positive way. I've always been a bit "cheeky." Hehe!
Yea, your cheeky Rico, but we tolerate you....sorta ;)
King Linksr
I don't even know what cheeky means.
I guess for me, the use of the f-word is a bit of a grey area. I find a lot of times when it is used, that there is usually a better word that can be used, and it is really unnecessary and Juvenile. I don't have a problem with them letting it fly in a Kevin Smith or Judd Apatow movie as it seems appropriate, but I look on Sci-Fi movies and content about them differently, and feel that it is out of context. That said, In the Terminator, the few times it was used seemed fine and led to some memorable quotes ;) .When I first started listening to podcasts, I used to listen to Star Wars endirect, and I stopped listening because I really disliked the swearing as I felt it was out of context for a Star Wars podcast and did not represent Star Wars the way I felt it should. One of the reason I really enjoyed Ricos podcast so much was that there is no swearing. I have nothing against bad words being used(and I have used them more then I care to admit), I just feel there is a time and a place for them, and sci-fi podcasts to me is not the place for it. But that is just my opinion, I will have to try the make it so podcast some time, might not bother me, but I guess I will not know until I find out.
I think I have always felt that cussing is unintelligent. Like Jeff said, many times you can use different words that would be even more applicable. I also notice the more I hear those words, the more they roll around in my brain. I don't really think it is very classy to cuss, so when you are around it all the time, they sometimes just slip out. Thus, I don't listen to many podcasts with a lot of strong language in them because I personally don't want to feed myself verbal junk.
Ok, off my high horse!
The high school and college aged kids are saying the F word all the time an I think that makes them sound like idots.
Another word that I don't like that we are starting to hear often is the word "gay" used in places it doesn't fit.
Such as, "I think it's gay that the teacher gives us homework on party night." Or just saying, "That's gay."
My sisters friends say things like that all the time. Then they roll their eyes if I point out that what that have said makes no sense if you take those words literally. It annoys me. Have you all heard this? Does it bother you guys?
Sometimes I feel like the language is breaking down like in the movie idocracy. If you haven't seen it, watch it.
Quote from: Darth Gaos on November 08, 2007, 12:19:57 PM
Swearing doesn't necessarily bother me unless done to a completely useless excess. That said, I think it is worth noting that the Brits do not have the same view on swearing that we do. The f-bomb does not have near the stigma over there as it does here it seems.
Quote from: johnsemlak on November 07, 2007, 06:41:56 PM
As far as the language goes, I actually debated about whether to warn about the language when I recommended Make it So in my audio clip. It doesn't bother me on the slightest (in fact, I confess I like the swearing) but I understand it's a matter of taste. But really, I don't think there's much language in Make it So that that isn't common in standard Hollywood fare.
As always, to each their own.
Also, I really appreciate the non-American point of view. I suppose that's from having lived outside the US for so many years.
I don't know, swearing is unfortunately fairly accepted where I'm from—I've heard stuff that could make you're ears bleed. The more I hear profanity, the more I tend to accidently repeat it when I'm ticked-off or hurt. I don't want to, not only because it's considered unladylike here in the south, but I'm around little kids a lot and nothing's cute about a 3 year old mimicking that language. I've got a lot of friends who cuss...they know I don't and they respect that. And I don't bash them over the head with it. I just try to ignore it when they use it.
Personally, I think The Make It So guys should be able to say whatever they want—it's labeled "explicit" and that's fair enough warning. I like their show otherwise.
They keep bringing up that they are accused of hating star trek. Which I think they love TNG and DS9 and I don't know why people are saying that about them.
On the language thing, I have a double standard When it's just me, I don't mind it as much (Though I don't like mindless uses of the F word or uses of GD). If I have friends or family with me, I start wishing they would cut it out.
Oh that reminds me of a funny story. I would commute 45 minutes to school every morning and would listen to podcasts in the car through my FM transmitter. I was listing to Treks in Scifi the whole way up there. Later that afternoon I heard another commuter say that he found an unusual program on the radio and didn't now what it was but a guy was talking about a star trek episode in detail! He had never heard this kind of radio program before. The transmitter will go several feet and I guess he was in front of or behind me. Then it faded out and he couldn't get it back.
Quote from: Jen on November 08, 2007, 07:14:26 PM
Quote from: Darth Gaos on November 08, 2007, 12:19:57 PM
Swearing doesn't necessarily bother me unless done to a completely useless excess. That said, I think it is worth noting that the Brits do not have the same view on swearing that we do. The f-bomb does not have near the stigma over there as it does here it seems.
Quote from: johnsemlak on November 07, 2007, 06:41:56 PM
As far as the language goes, I actually debated about whether to warn about the language when I recommended Make it So in my audio clip. It doesn't bother me on the slightest (in fact, I confess I like the swearing) but I understand it's a matter of taste. But really, I don't think there's much language in Make it So that that isn't common in standard Hollywood fare.
As always, to each their own.
Also, I really appreciate the non-American point of view. I suppose that's from having lived outside the US for so many years.
I don't know, swearing is unfortunately fairly accepted where I'm from—I've heard stuff that could make you're ears bleed. The more I hear profanity, the more I tend to accidently repeat it when I'm ticked-off or hurt. I don't want to, not only because it's considered unladylike here in the south, but I'm around little kids a lot and nothing's cute about a 3 year old mimicking that language. I've got a lot of friends who cuss...they know I don't and they respect that. And I don't bash them over the head with it. I just try to ignore it when they use it.
Personally, I think The Make It So guys should be able to say whatever they want—it's labeled "explicit" and that's fair enough warning. I like their show otherwise.
I personally despise vulgar language. I will let it go of course if it slips or its once or twice. But if you use it naturally in a sentence, don't expect me to think your intelligent. You can talk in English without the use of "F**K". Its just not needed.
;)
King Linksr
Quote from: space_invader64 on November 08, 2007, 07:56:38 PM
Oh that reminds me of a funny story. I would commute 45 minutes to school every morning and would listen to podcasts in the car through my FM transmitter. I was listing to Treks in Scifi the whole way up there. Later that afternoon I heard another commuter say that he found an unusual program on the radio and didn't now what it was but a guy was talking about a star trek episode in detail! He had never heard this kind of radio program before. The transmitter will go several feet and I guess he was in front of or behind me. Then it faded out and he couldn't get it back.
THAT'S AWESOME!!! Rico's a Radio Pirate...sort of. :D
Very cool! We need more powerful radio transmitters in cars!
This is a very interesting thread indeed. I have been away from the forums for awhile but am still listening to the podcast every week. I was listening to "Make It So" last night, they mentioned this thread. In fact it was me who told them that they had been mentioned in Ricos Podcast, and i would like to defend the guys to the hilt.
Being a fellow Brit, It was nice to discover "Make It So" when they started just over a year ago, and since then, It has become one of my top five podcasts. I enjoy listening just as much as I do to Treks In Sci-Fi even though they are complete opposites. Richard and Mike are rather brash and It has to be said that pretty much all of their shows are not for the faint hearted. But I must also defend their intentions. Trust me guys, they love Star Trek as much as anybody on these forums, and just because they, along with me, like to poke fun at it sometimes and point out inaccuracies and inconsistencies, It does not mean they hate the show. Indeed If they hated the show, they wouldn't have done 53 episodes.
It is also totally different in content. Very little Trek news and sometimes the gaffs they make are rather embarrassing, but it comes from a good heart. They take a subject like "What if Star Trek" had swearing (which was a personal favourite) and they dedicate the whole show to discussing it.
As for the swearing, Yes it is very different to Rico and I have to admit to being quite shocked at first. But I soon grew to enjoy the whole "guys talking down the pub" thing and It would feel quite forced if they stopped being natural.
Somebody here said that they were "Wimps" for not using audio and being worried about Paramount? Come on, don't be so silly. It is a genuine worry on their side, they are worried about being sued or even forced to shut down, they are not being wimps, and any comment like that is obviously being made by someone who hasn't taken the time to actually listen to them. The guys have mentioned the audio problem and even talked about enjoying the fact that Rico used the real thing, the "cheeky monkey" remark was always a backhanded compliment.
So I just want to say that there is room for both these podcasts and I love them both dearly, each for different reasons and just because we like to swear a bit, It does not make us unintelligent or lost for words, we just sometimes want to talk naturally.
Okay, I have said enough, sorry for my lengthy post, but I just wanted to stake their claim and let you know that they really do put out a quality product and It would be a pity if they were judged just on the colourful language.
Cheers Guys
Well said. As I have mentioned, I'm all for variety. I think the language does bother some people and therefore they won't listen based on that. But they have to do the show the way they want to do it. That's the great part about podcasting. It's the Wild West of the airwaves. I hope they continue for a long while.
Thanks Rico. I have to admit I was a little nervous as to how you would react. I have found this Podcast and forum to be very friendly and we all get along and there is very rarely any negative posting here. "Make It So" differs only very slightly. Their forum contains nice people like this one and I post regularly, although in a totally different way. Over there I join in with the criticisms of Trek and use the bad language prevalent there, I would hate to thought of as unintelligent or lacking any vocabulary because I like to use bad language. Over here, I would never use the F word because It's not in keeping with Treks In Sci-Fi.
I hope others will see it your way Rico. My previous rant was not meant to upset anyone, I just felt that I had to put my point of view across. Anyway, I'm off to the other forum to swear, cuss and basically make fun of anyone who likes Westley Crusher and Harry Kim. ;D
Love to you all
Hhahahahahahahahah. Well, Trekkygeek, I have no issue with Make it So. I've even started listening in now. >.> Get the news on the enemy and that sort of thing ;)
lol jk
King Linksr
Good points Trekkygeek. I heard your name mentioned in several of their shows. I can tell they value you as a listener. And again, personally I think The Make It So guys should be able to say whatever they want—it's labeled "explicit" and that's fair enough warning. I like their show otherwise.
Hey Trekkygeek... loved your post, it had some very good points.
I just got done listening to there latest episode...let me say this for the record I don't think these guys hate Star Trek at all.. I mean they are doing a podcast about it, that's not the issue I have with the podcast. And honestly I don't mind the language it's not something I use but it doesn't bother me much.
I'm just the type of person that doesn't like to hear something that I very much enjoy get nitpicked to death. I'm not saying Star Trek if perfect.. there are some pretty bad episodes. And I understand that some folks enjoy making fun of them.. I'm just not one of them.
I'm also a big Voyager/Janeway fan and they seem to use that show as there punching bag... which is fine.. I know a lot of folks here don't like it. I just don't want to spend what little free time I have listening to people rip apart something I truly enjoy.
That's the great thing about podcasting... there are thousands of choice for all kind of people.
Maybe I shouldn't call them wimps, but I get totally lost by their comentary that has no show audio.
Yeah I can completely understand you there Space Invader, I personally don't enjoy the audio shows as much, you just can't follow it that well. That said, I have enjoyed reading everyones comments and all the different opinions.
I totally agree with Rick Moyers about cussing making people look unintelligent. Kind of like smoking sends the message that your not smart. Which may or may not be true. But those are two things people can avoid if you want people to think you are smart.
I like the freedom of podcasting to say anything you want but the discretion to only use words if there is some kind of point to be made or something unusual.
For example, I gave a presentation in college over Teri Schivo and her husband and the most powerful thing on it was when the husband asked a doctor "when is that (b-word) gonna die?" The reaction was really powerful. (That information came from a nurse who said she heard him say that.) In a college setting, I could say anything I wanted but holding back until there was a reason. And I totally think on TV and movies if they would just hold back the launguage people would be much more receptive when some words are used.
I'm not sure how different cussing is in the two countries. but, I was listening to one of their podcasts and they were explaining that some of the profanity in America and England is different. Like the word "ass", means the same thing in England that it does in the Bible, that it is an animal.
And the word "bollocks" isn't even the vocabulary of most Americans. Chief O'Brien said it on DS9 in the Molly went through a time cave and came out a wild woman episode. American audiences heard it but they had to censer that word in England. That word doesn't mean anything more to me than a Klingon curse. Which makes me wonder, is it profane if no one knows what it means?
In Britain we do indeed see "Ass" as a mule, we use "arse" to convey the same meaning as you guys with an emphasis on the R.
I actually hadn't realised O'Brien used the "B" word but I'm not surprised it was cut out over here, that word is seen as fairly rude. I also heard a rumour that in an episode of "The Simpsons", Bart used the "W" word to insult Homer (this word rhymes with banker). This was also cut out over here as it really is considered as bad language. I cannot remember hearing it used in American shows but I would be interested to know if its used over there.
I don't know what the B word even means. Don't tell me. I don't think I want to know. Should I not have used in on these fourms? And the w word? The word that means a woman with no morals? I didn't even know that was seen as profanity in England.
Star Trek certainly has a universal appeal.
I wonder who else is podcasting a trek related show abroad.
Although being limited to the English language - It would be fun to hear an Irish, Scottish, Australian, New Zealand or ?
I feel obliged to the Brits for their friendship and:
Bond movies
Beatles and The Stones
Jaguar, Triumph and MG
William Shakespeare, Lewis Carroll, Charles Dickens
Penicillin, RADAR and the jet engine
Their friendship
Glad they like our Star Trek...:)
I'd never seen this thread before, 2007 was waaaay before my time, but I was looking around idly for a Make It So thread simply because they seem to have run out of steam for a bit so are pulling the show at least until next year.
I picked it up fairly late - listend to a show about a year ago and immediately dropped it again because the subject matter and presentation just did nothing for me. I think it was the one on the topic of Riker's conquests.
I got back into it a little more recently, however, and it has been a good casual listen for the last few months. They do enjoy the shows in their own way and that comes across well over an extended listen.
Limiting themselves to Trek as they do (they have other 'casts for other subjects) I can see how it could get a little wearing with no new material to discusss, however.
I stopped listening when they dropped mike dawson he was the one who kept the show alive. The treatment he got was shocking and so i refuse to listen to it.
Quote from: HawkeyeMeds on September 08, 2009, 03:12:57 AM
I stopped listening when they dropped mike dawson he was the one who kept the show alive. The treatment he got was shocking and so i refuse to listen to it.
That was obviously before my time.
I was a big fan of this show for a long time. I don't mind swearing, and I enjoy a good, funny, adult discussion. I see why it would turn some people off, too. To each his/her own....
However, the show has really been in a rut for about a year now. It was increasingly disorganized (and a bit repetitive). So, I'm glad they're going on a break.
I agree that Mike Dawson was a big part of the show's success and the handling of his departure was immature to say the least. But I'd highly recommend those first 50 episodes or so to anyone who doesn't mind R-rated, not-so-serious content and enjoys a good laugh.
Quote from: Ryan F on September 08, 2009, 11:50:37 AM
I'd highly recommend those first 50 episodes or so to anyone who doesn't mind R-rated, not-so-serious content and enjoys a good laugh.
That's OK if you can get them but as they've been pulled from the feed and are now only available on CD, I'll probably pass on them.
Quote from: Feathers on September 08, 2009, 12:03:36 PM
Quote from: Ryan F on September 08, 2009, 11:50:37 AM
I'd highly recommend those first 50 episodes or so to anyone who doesn't mind R-rated, not-so-serious content and enjoys a good laugh.
That's OK if you can get them but as they've been pulled from the feed and are now only available on CD, I'll probably pass on them.
d'oh! I guess I was listening mostly in 2007-2008.
I was thinking about the whole swearing thing. I swear worse than a sailor. It's not that my intellect or vocabulary is in any way stunted, but words that I choose to use. I've always thought it was the hight of stupidity that any word could be a bad one. I've never understood the need for banning or labeling a word as bad when someone could do far more damage to someone by stringing together a seemingly harmless string of words that can be far more biting than any swear word that someone might utter.
I've personally made grown men, who have done something to disappoint me, cry by talking to them without any use of swear words. My father can do it far better than I can. I think when he actually swears it takes the sting out of what he's saying. It shows that there is some emotion other than total and utter disappointment.
I think any time you label a word as bad or something unacceptable, you give unnecessary power to that word and fuel the fires that make it seem like a bad thing. I think that all of my children know almost every swear word in the book. They don't use them. Not because it's a bad word or anything, but because the words aren't anything special.
Also, just from a science perspective, swearing actually reduces pain according to a few recent studies. I think one of the 60 second science podcast touches on that very research. And yet another reason why I'm not really offended by words.
Hey Chris I totally understand your view on swearing but to me swearing just makes you sound unintelligent, less educated. But to each their own, I don't swear and I don't like listening to people who do. That's the main reason I don't like this podcast.. besides the fact that they bash Voyager and Janeway... :)
I think one issue I had with this podcast when I listened to some of them was the language too. I'm ok with some swearing, but given it was about "Star Trek" it just seemed out of place to me. Trek has never been really like that. Even the most recent movie kept the swearing to a minimum. I guess I also try to not use it and certainly not on the podcast. I know it's just words and I also think if you tend to use foul language a lot that after awhile there's nothing left to use if you get really mad about something! ;)