Star Trek: A Piece of the Action Rewatch
June 6, 2015 5:47 AM - Season 2, Episode 17 - Subscribe
The Enterprise travels to a planet suffering from cultural contamination from an earlier expedition. The society is modeled after Chicago gangsters of the 1920s because of a single book left behind by a Federation starship, the Horizon, a century before.
"A Piece of the Action" was first broadcast on January 12, 1968; its repeat on August 30, 1968, was the last episode to air in the 8:30 pm time slot on Friday nights. It is episode #46, production #49, written by David P. Harmon and Gene L. Coon, and directed by James Komack.
Memory Alpha Link
AV Club Review
The episode can be viewed on Netflix and YoutTube.
"A Piece of the Action" was first broadcast on January 12, 1968; its repeat on August 30, 1968, was the last episode to air in the 8:30 pm time slot on Friday nights. It is episode #46, production #49, written by David P. Harmon and Gene L. Coon, and directed by James Komack.
Memory Alpha Link
AV Club Review
The episode can be viewed on Netflix and YoutTube.
Who's interferin'? We're... takin' over!
posted by happyroach at 10:32 AM on June 6, 2015
posted by happyroach at 10:32 AM on June 6, 2015
So, last weekend I ran a panel at AwesomeCon, here in DC, which had seemed like a GREAT idea when I suggested it several months ago: a Galaxy Quest panel in which we, the panelists, never break character as fans of the nonexistent Galaxy Quest TV show.
My co-panelist and I did end up pulling it off successfully, but even with preparation there had to be a certain amount of on-the-fly improv. I am proud to say that one of the biggest laughs I got was when I referenced "that episode where someone left a copy of Quadrophenia on the planet generations ago and now they're all mods."
posted by nonasuch at 2:08 PM on June 6, 2015 [4 favorites]
My co-panelist and I did end up pulling it off successfully, but even with preparation there had to be a certain amount of on-the-fly improv. I am proud to say that one of the biggest laughs I got was when I referenced "that episode where someone left a copy of Quadrophenia on the planet generations ago and now they're all mods."
posted by nonasuch at 2:08 PM on June 6, 2015 [4 favorites]
It's been many years since I read How Much for Just the Planet?, but, I have a vague memory that Ford used some of the mobsters in it. Memory Alpha didn't mention it though, so, maybe I'm wrong.
Still love this goofball episode, so many good comedic bits.
posted by oh yeah! at 3:35 PM on June 6, 2015
Still love this goofball episode, so many good comedic bits.
posted by oh yeah! at 3:35 PM on June 6, 2015
I've always thought this one strains for the funny a little bit (or a lot bit) but it's cute stuff. The name "Jojo Cracko" is so delightfully off. It's the perfect name for a space mobster played by Vic Tayback.
posted by Ursula Hitler at 5:34 PM on June 6, 2015
posted by Ursula Hitler at 5:34 PM on June 6, 2015
The Iotians show up in the Star Trek comic by DC at least once, during a court martial of Kirk for violating the Prime Directive. The fact that they come loaded with the Fed's take does not help much.
Also, "I'd advise ya to keep dialin, Oxmyx" is one of my favorite Spock lines of all time. Love this episode.
posted by fifteen schnitzengruben is my limit at 10:51 PM on June 6, 2015 [1 favorite]
Also, "I'd advise ya to keep dialin, Oxmyx" is one of my favorite Spock lines of all time. Love this episode.
posted by fifteen schnitzengruben is my limit at 10:51 PM on June 6, 2015 [1 favorite]
Actually, all of the mobster names in this episode sound like the names of Steve Ditko characters.
posted by wittgenstein at 7:01 AM on June 7, 2015
posted by wittgenstein at 7:01 AM on June 7, 2015
Metafilter: Dey can't move 'til dey quit sparklin'.
posted by Herodios at 7:57 AM on June 7, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Herodios at 7:57 AM on June 7, 2015 [1 favorite]
Just watched this. The opening scene on the bridge was very interesting - I thought it might have been all one shot, but on re-watch it's two. The camera stays on Kirk the whole time as he moves around the bridge in a continuous take, except for a part in the middle where it cuts to a close up of Checkov for no particular reason. When it cuts back to Kirk, the camera is in the same position as before the cut away. It feels like they wanted to do it all in one shot, but didn't have a good take all the way through and had to cover.
In any event, a very fun scene to watch. I particularly liked when Kirk swivels in his chair and the camera tracked him.
posted by vibratory manner of working at 10:36 PM on September 15, 2016
In any event, a very fun scene to watch. I particularly liked when Kirk swivels in his chair and the camera tracked him.
posted by vibratory manner of working at 10:36 PM on September 15, 2016
Also, they never actually gave the kid anything.
posted by vibratory manner of working at 10:37 PM on September 15, 2016
posted by vibratory manner of working at 10:37 PM on September 15, 2016
This was stupid but entertaining! Question: How do you get a terrible Chicago accent from a book?
posted by acrasis at 3:08 PM on March 17, 2021
posted by acrasis at 3:08 PM on March 17, 2021
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Right!
posted by wittgenstein at 7:23 AM on June 6, 2015 [1 favorite]