# Remastered ST:TOS "The Ultimate Computer" to air this weekend **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 4, 2008, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remastered-st-tos-the-ultimate-computer-to-air-this-weekend/436186 "2008-02-04T05:56:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2008, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remastered-st-tos-the-ultimate-computer-to-air-this-weekend/436186/1 "2008-02-04T05:56:27Z")
Woo hoo! I’ll bet it’s gonna _rawk_. They did a great job remastering the SFX-heavy “The Doomsday Machine” last year, so I’d say “The Ultimate Computer” has the potential to be really cool, with the _Enterprise_ tearing into several other _Constitution_-class starships with phasers on full power. Damn you, M-5! Off to the giggle emporium with you, Dr. Daystrom! Can’t wait. Check your local listings, or [startrek.com](http://startrek.com). ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2008, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remastered-st-tos-the-ultimate-computer-to-air-this-weekend/436186/2 "2008-02-07T16:15:02Z")
::bump:: C’mon, you know it’s gonna be great! ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2008, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remastered-st-tos-the-ultimate-computer-to-air-this-weekend/436186/3 "2008-02-07T16:21:22Z")
It should be much better than just listening to Sulu and Spock describing what is happening. I hope they change the ‘battle formation’ as well. I hear, laughing behind my back at the boy genius all the while building on my work! BUILDING ON MY WORK! ---
**Author:** ![randwill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a3d4f5/32.png) [@randwill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/randwill)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2008, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remastered-st-tos-the-ultimate-computer-to-air-this-weekend/436186/4 "2008-02-07T16:28:46Z")
[QUOTE=Zebra] It should be much better than just listening to Sulu and Spock describing what is happening. [/QUOTE] I didn’t think they added additional shots, merely used enchanced versions to replace the existing older shots. ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2008, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remastered-st-tos-the-ultimate-computer-to-air-this-weekend/436186/5 "2008-02-07T16:34:14Z")
Almost makes me wish I had cable. Oh well, eventually the DVDs will come out. I guess I’m Doper Duncel. ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2008, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remastered-st-tos-the-ultimate-computer-to-air-this-weekend/436186/6 "2008-02-07T16:55:47Z")
I know I’ll draw scorn from dedicated fans, but . . . Refresh my memory by describing the plot of _The Ultimate Computer_ in a short sentence or two. For some reason, I’m drawing a blank. It’s not the one with the floating coffee grinder robot, is it? ---
**Author:** ![Lightray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightray/32/391_2.png) [@Lightray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightray)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2008, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remastered-st-tos-the-ultimate-computer-to-air-this-weekend/436186/7 "2008-02-07T17:07:39Z")
Daystrom installs super-computer on Enterprise, to test out in wargames. It goes predictably berserk. ---
**Author:** ![randwill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a3d4f5/32.png) [@randwill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/randwill)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2008, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remastered-st-tos-the-ultimate-computer-to-air-this-weekend/436186/8 "2008-02-07T17:07:49Z")
[QUOTE=teela brown] I know I’ll draw scorn from dedicated fans, but . . . Refresh my memory by describing the plot of _The Ultimate Computer_ in a short sentence or two. For some reason, I’m drawing a blank. It’s not the one with the floating coffee grinder robot, is it? [/QUOTE] That was Nomad and last week. This one’s about a scientist who has invented a super-computer that can pilot and make command decisions for starships. He tests it on the Enterprise and it works perfectly and the episode is over in 10 minutes. Ahhh, but we know better. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2008, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remastered-st-tos-the-ultimate-computer-to-air-this-weekend/436186/9 "2008-02-07T17:12:02Z")
I have it for 6pm on Sunday on WOR (channel 9) in the NYC market. "Kirk and a sub-skeleton crew are ordered to test out an advanced artificially intelligent control system that could potentially render them all redundant. " Hilarity ensues. Wait strike that, Chaos Ensues. Jim ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2008, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remastered-st-tos-the-ultimate-computer-to-air-this-weekend/436186/10 "2008-02-07T17:17:25Z")
[QUOTE=randwill] I didn’t think they added additional shots, merely used enchanced versions to replace the existing older shots. [/QUOTE] They have started to break that ‘rule’. For instance umm… “the one where Kirk Spock and McCoy get old” when the pencil pusher takes command he crosses into the neutral zone, thinking the Romulans won’t mind because of the medical emergency. Originally there was only a few view screen shots plus loads of shots of the interior of the Enterprise shaking. They added some exterior shots of the Warbirds, decloaking, firing and recloaking as they circled the Enterprise. ---
**Author:** ![Wheeljack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@Wheeljack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheeljack)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2008, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remastered-st-tos-the-ultimate-computer-to-air-this-weekend/436186/11 "2008-02-07T17:27:27Z")
My favorite thing about this episode was how when you addressed the computer it would respond with a metallic “ **M5!** ” It reminds me of a DOS prompt. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2008, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remastered-st-tos-the-ultimate-computer-to-air-this-weekend/436186/12 "2008-02-07T17:40:30Z")
Someone fight my ignorance. They’re remastering TOS. I’d heard that. Are they done yet, or is it a work in progress? Are they only on TV so far? No DVDs? Do the shows have a different name so you can identify them in a TV guide? ---
**Author:** ![randwill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a3d4f5/32.png) [@randwill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/randwill)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2008, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remastered-st-tos-the-ultimate-computer-to-air-this-weekend/436186/13 "2008-02-07T17:48:17Z")
[QUOTE=levdrakon] Someone fight my ignorance. They’re remastering TOS. I’d heard that. Are they done yet, or is it a work in progress? Are they only on TV so far? No DVDs? Do the shows have a different name so you can identify them in a TV guide? [/QUOTE] It’s ongoing with each newly remastered episode showing up (approx.) each weekend. DVDs of season one are out. Same episode titles. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2008, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remastered-st-tos-the-ultimate-computer-to-air-this-weekend/436186/14 "2008-02-07T17:52:37Z")
[QUOTE=Zebra] They have started to break that ‘rule’. For instance umm… “the one where Kirk Spock and McCoy get old” when the pencil pusher takes command he crosses into the neutral zone, thinking the Romulans won’t mind because of the medical emergency. Originally there was only a few view screen shots plus loads of shots of the interior of the Enterprise shaking. They added some exterior shots of the Warbirds, decloaking, firing and recloaking as they circled the Enterprise. [/QUOTE] My recollection is that there were shots like that in the original version (possibly reused from “Balance of Terror”) – are you sure this is an actual addition? ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2008, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remastered-st-tos-the-ultimate-computer-to-air-this-weekend/436186/15 "2008-02-07T18:39:02Z")
[QUOTE=Lightray] Daystrom installs super-computer on Enterprise, to test out in wargames. It goes predictably berserk. [/QUOTE] Yeah, that’s ringing a bell. I don’t think I’ve seen that one in decades, though. I’ll be sure to see if I can find a listing. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2008, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remastered-st-tos-the-ultimate-computer-to-air-this-weekend/436186/16 "2008-02-07T19:42:23Z")
[QUOTE=Steve MB] My recollection is that there were shots like that in the original version (possibly reused from “Balance of Terror”) – are you sure this is an actual addition? [/QUOTE] Oh yes, there was nothing like these shots in TOS. This was not a shot of the ‘view screen’ showing the Romulan decloaking and then you see the torpedo fire and slowly fill up the screen. Point of view was outside the Enterprise, you see Enterprise and several warbirds circling it all in one shot. I think their ‘rule’ now is to have the same ‘running time’ as the original episode. Why they do that I don’t know. ---
**Author:** ![randwill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a3d4f5/32.png) [@randwill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/randwill)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2008, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remastered-st-tos-the-ultimate-computer-to-air-this-weekend/436186/17 "2008-02-07T20:01:11Z")
[QUOTE=Zebra] I think their ‘rule’ now is to have the same ‘running time’ as the original episode. Why they do that I don’t know. [/QUOTE] Actually the running times would be less than the original broadcast running times, because scenes are cut or shortened in the remastered broadcast shows to fit in the hour and still allow for the much expanded commercial time we now have in any given hour of television. I hope that the footage is restored in the DVD releases of the remastered episodes. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2008, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remastered-st-tos-the-ultimate-computer-to-air-this-weekend/436186/18 "2008-02-07T20:47:12Z")
[QUOTE=randwill] Actually the running times would be less than the original broadcast running times, because scenes are cut or shortened in the remastered broadcast shows to fit in the hour and still allow for the much expanded commercial time we now have in any given hour of television. I hope that the footage is restored in the DVD releases of the remastered episodes. [/QUOTE] I think they run 90 minutes now. In my area they run pretty late on Sunday night/Monday morning. ---
**Author:** ![Pushkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ee59a6/32.png) [@Pushkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pushkin)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2008, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remastered-st-tos-the-ultimate-computer-to-air-this-weekend/436186/19 "2008-02-07T20:49:42Z")
[QUOTE=teela brown] It’s not the one with the floating coffee grinder robot, is it? [/QUOTE] There are two of those, “The Changeling” and “Requiem for Methuselah”. In a nutshell, “computer installed to run the Enterprise becomes psychopathic, Kirk talks it to death.” ---
**Author:** ![randwill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a3d4f5/32.png) [@randwill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/randwill)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2008, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remastered-st-tos-the-ultimate-computer-to-air-this-weekend/436186/20 "2008-02-07T21:05:59Z")
[QUOTE=Zebra] I think they run 90 minutes now. In my area they run pretty late on Sunday night/Monday morning. [/QUOTE] That’s interesting. I wish they did that in my area. Here, they are in a one hour slot and are missing some original footage. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remastered-st-tos-the-ultimate-computer-to-air-this-weekend/436186.md?page=2)