Hyperchannel 46: Redshirt Tribute

Seth MacFarlane Pledges $1 million to Reading Rainbow | TrekNews.Net wants to give you a Red Shirt

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Seth MacFarlane Pledges $1 million to Reading Rainbow

LeVar Burton's camaign to bring back Reading Rainbow has been nothing short of astonishing. While it might seem like a no-brainer to support something as important as children's literacy, the frantic pace at which donations have come in is still incredible. After blowing past the $1 million goal in half a day, Burton set a new goal of $5 million. With three days and roughly half a million dollars to go, Seth MacFarlane has stepped in and pledged to match all donations beyond the $4 million mark up to $1 million.

Support the Kickstarter to bring back Reading Rainbow for our children!
 

Like TrekNews.Net, Win a Red Shirt

No one wants to beam down wearing a red shirt. But when in the safe confines of your hometown, there's little risk in donning the bright color. In fact, you can even do so in honor of our fallen comrades from the future. Canadian illustrator Ian Wilding's new "Redshirt" design was available on TeeFury for just one day, June 27, but if you missed it there is still a way to get one. TrekNews.Net has received ten shirts from TeeFury and the Star Trek news site is giving these away to those who "like" the TrekNews.Net Facebook page. Winners will be drawn at random and all you need to do is click "like" and send you info to contest [at] trek news [dot] net.

See the shirt and find out more on TrekNews.Net.

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Hyperchannel 30: Passing the Bechdel Test

Trek comic righting social wrongs of Trek canon | Star Trek actors join Reading Rainbow Live

Running Time: 18 minutes 23 seconds

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Trek comic righting social wrongs of Trek canon

Star Trek is all about diveristy and inclusiveness, but what exactly those words means changes over time. Comic writer Mark Farinas aims to correcting many of what he sees as massive social oversights in Trek canon through his artwork and stories on trekcomic.com. The first serial, entitled "No Good Deed," is set at the end of the Earth-Romulan War and features an openly gay captain. However, the captain’s homosexuality is not a plot point; it’s only a piece of characterization. The  second serial, "Weapons of Mass Destruction," began last week and features a group of outlaws on the planet Tellar that is led by a woman.

Find out more and read the comics.
 

Star Trek actors join Reading Rainbow Live

Unless you are completely disconnected from the Internet—and perhaps reality—you know that LeVar Burton's Kickstarter campaign shattered its $1 million goal in 12 hours. Now the one-month campaign has passed $3.6 million with three weeks to go. The new stretch goal is now $5 million and today Burton announced a series of events called Reading Rainbow Live! that will feature fellow Star Trek cast members. The shows will be available as premiums for those who contribute to the Kickstarter and guests will include Jonathan Frakes, Brent Spiner, Michael Dorn, Robert Picardo, Kate Mulgrew, Marina Sirtis, Gates McFadden, Jeri Ryan, and... wait for it... William Shatner and Patrick Stewart.

Find out more and donate on the Reading Rainbow Kickstarter page.

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Hyperchannel 17: Even Devil Rays Like Star Trek

Shatner and Star Trek nominated for TCA Awards | Tampa Bay Rays to serve up Star Trek Night | Reading Rainbow funded in 12 hours

Shatner and Star Trek nominated for TCA Awards

Quick! Name one television show and one actor that have made a lasting impact on American culture—make that global culture. Did you answer Star Trek and William Shatner. If so, the Television Critics Association seems to agree. Star Trek: The Original Series has been nominated for the Heritage Award and William Shatner is up for the Career Achievement Award in the upcoming 30th Annual TCA Awards, which will be handed out on Saturday, July 19.

Find out and view all of the nominees. 
 

Tampa Bay Rays to serve up Star Trek Night

Every Deep Space Nine fan knows that Captain Sisko loves baseball. They also know that sport has died out on Earth by the 24th century. Luckily we still live in the 21st, and so on Friday, June 6, we can watch the Tampa Bay Rays take on the Seattle Mariners on what will be known as Star Trek Night at Tropicana Field. The night will include a showing of the "Chain of Command" Blu-ray trailer and free Star Trek-themed t-shirts.

Find out more and get your tickets.

Reading Rainbow funded in 12 hours

Sometimes a million-dollar goal on a Kickstarter campaign would be viewed as insane. But not when we're talking about the future of our children, literacy, and LeVar Burton. When Burton and Reading Rainbow launched their month-long funding campaign on Wednesday, May 28, they never expected to be funded before they could get started promoting it. In just 12 hours the goal of one million dollars was met, leaving Burton with a tear in his eye over the generosity of the contributors.

Watch LeVar Burton's response to the quick success.

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Hyperchannel 14: Rainbows and VISORs

Star Trek prop to help Reading Rainbow grow | Jonathan Frakes to direct new television series

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Star Trek prop to help Reading Rainbow grow

One of the most memorable props from Star Trek: The Next Generation is the VISOR worn by Geordi LaForge. And the actor who portrayed the blind engineer, LeVar Burton, is bringing the VISOR out of storage to help raise money to help revive his famous children's show Reading Rainbow. PBS stopped airing the show in 2009 after an amazing 26-year run, and since 2012 the program has existed in the form of an app for iPad and Kindle Fire. As part of a Kickstarter beginning May 28, you can actually try the VISOR on yourself.

Find out more about Burton's plans for Reading Rainbow.

Jonathan Frakes to direct new television series

Many Star Trek actors have gone on to direct both within the franchise and beyond. Jonathan Frakes has stayed busy behind the camera over the years as a director and a producer, and his hand will be seen once again later this year when TNT revives the Librarian trilogy as a new television series. Frakes, who directed the second and third parts of the trilogy, will direct a number of episode of the new show that stars Rebecca Romijn, Christian Kane, and John Larroquette.

Find out more about The Librarians.

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