Star Trek the original series was very good at doing comedic episodes. I, Mudd is one of their better comedic outings, despite the serious situation they find themselves in.
Ah.... but of all the types of A.I., is this variant truly the kind that needed to be turned off? I mean, they want to serve Man... controlling, yes. But definitely not out to throw Man down holes, shoot Man with phasers, rebel against Man for being overbearing... and all the other sci-fi tropes about AI's vs. Man.
@@jupreindeer Indeed, among all the A.I. overlords depicted in science fiction, they might have represented the optimal choice. (Just for the heck of it, I had Microsoft Copilot rewrite this response. It seems more formal, but the sentiment is the same.)
The thing with Uhura was the "expected escape attempt" so they could implement the real plan. But yeah, it caught me off guard the first time I saw it, too.
Uhura was supposed to fool us! That's what the script called for and that's how good an actress she was. So, no apology necessary for being fooled - as I was when I first saw it
@bunnytailsREACTS _I, Mudd_ is another clear highlight from the second season. Instead of the Androids coming across as sinister and dangerous, they are loveable and goofy, just like Harry Mudd is. A real fun fact is that right up to the first night filming began for this episode, series creator and Producer Gene Roddenberry had been in a panic looking for two female identical twins to portray the 500 identical female Androids the script called for. While driving home, just by chance he spotted then then 31 year old identical twins Alyce and Rhae Andrece walking down the street together. Neither were trained actresses, but Roddenberry saw their beauty and knew they were perfect for the roles. Roddenberry literally pulled over beside them, jumped out of his car and told them who he was, the offer he had and the promise that within a few weeks of filming, that they were going to be on television.
If Star Trek The Original Series hadn't been cancelled in Season 3 he would have returned for another episodes. He did in Star Trek The Animated Series.
Seeing the wife number 500 never fails to make me laugh. There is revenge and then there is going beyond cruel...... Even Uhura gives a cruel wave at the end saying "enjoy sucker"
Honestly your reaction was quite enjoyable Bunny. It's one of the best lighthearted episodes of TOS Star Trek. Having Harry Mudd return for it made the episode that much more satisfying too.
Ii liked BOTH Harry Mudd episodes and like the character. I have noticed that many Trek fans are super critical of comedic episodes or characters. I have ZERO PROBLEM with comedy in Trek as long as it's done well or at least attempted.
What a fun episode. This is an entertaining episode, but Mudd's fate of having 500 nagging wife androids swarming him all the time does indeed seem like cruel and unusual punishment.
Uhura sold you, that was great acting. It certainly moved their plans along. Yes, this is one of their most fun episodes even though they were facing a serious threat - androids serving us into total passivity and taking over to treat us like pets. Very rewatchable, very quotable, one of my favorites. Loved your reaction and the interesting thoughts you had at the end. Perhaps it is good that these various planets are light-years apart, some of those combinations could get nasty. But Kirk and crew always come through. Also, you rock that red uniform, nice to see it.
Roger C. Carmel was great as the insufferable Harry Mudd AND the notorious villain Colonel Gumm in the "Batman" TV series. Colonel Gumm was obsessed with "collecting" priceless rare stamps, but the Caped Crusaders gave him a good licking! The 2-part episode, "A Piece of the Action" / "Batman's Satisfaction" (1967), is a true classic, as it also features the crime-fighters Green Hornet (Van Williams) and his sidekick Kato (Bruce Lee), who were also after Colonel Gumm, but ended up fighting with Batman and Robin. GREAT SHOW.
Kay Elliott was excellent in the thankless role of android Stella. (I always like to acknowledge the work of actors who succeed in making their unlikeable characters obnoxious. It isn't actually all that easy to do, since most minor actors are quiet and reserved.)
Roger C. Carmel (1932-1986) was a ubiquitous presence on stage, in movies, and on TV. He was found dead in his apartment of an apparent drug overdose at the age of 54.
So the guy was in his mid-30s in this episode. He obviously looks a lot older than that by current standards. People are indeed living longer and looking younger.
It’s a real phenomenon. Look at pictures of people then versus people now the same age. We do look younger. Some people attribute it to reduction in secondhand smoke. I don’t know. BTW, the actress who played the first Sarah Connor killed in Terminator really was 35 at the time. She looks older.
According to Wikipedia: "Carmel was found dead in his Hollywood apartment on November 11, 1986.[5] His death certificate listed hypertrophic cardiomyopathy as the cause.[6] Prior to his autopsy, police had speculated a "narcotics overdose."[5]"
Spock: "Logic is a little tweeting bird chirping in a meadow. Logic is a wreath of pretty flowers which smell bad." I would bet my IRA that Nimoy absolutely loved doing that line. 😆
I have 2 comments. The idea of revisiting elements from past episodes has happened all throughout the franchise, including TNG (episodes where TOS actors returned), as well as recurring characters (sorry, small spoiler alert) such as Q. Second comment. Harry Mudd will return once more in the animated series. And a younger version of Mudd (& Stella) have appeared in Star Trek Discovery. But I think that Roger C. Carmel's version was the best. 😊
I love how Star Trek covered such a wide range of genres in just 3 seasons. From fantastic but melancholy episodes like "City on the Edge of Forever" to complete silliness.
I do enjoy this episode. Great reactions. Love the Starfleet emblem neckless. Mudd deserved what he got 🤣🤣🤣. Thought provoking commentary with the WHAT IF's
If you think about it, Harry is really clever. You need 500 of a special type to keep an eye on him. I imagine she is programmed like his wife to seek him out, plus it appears she "knows" what kind of man he is. She is not as naive as the others - and has a special purpose. Hilarious! This is without a doubt the funniest episode and Harry Mudd is one of the most iconic characters in all of Star Trek.
Thanks! I liked the red because it's what Janice and Uhura wear. I have a blue one as well now. I should do a photoshoot with it soon so I can start wearing it for the reactions as well.
Thank you for your thoughtful reacts. Very entertaining. Star Trek Logan's Run mashup? (Logan's Run was a movie about an advanced technological society, sort of like Brave New World with Farrah Fawcett). Here the androids control humans while telling them that they, the androids, are here to serve them. The plan to get away works in part as a way for the crew to counteract the temptation put before them by the androids by letting the crew act totally out of character and against the strict rules of conduct for star fleet. It explains behavior that can look kind of silly. As for Harry Mudd and Stella, I think he'll be fine. I mean, if he's going to recreate her, he's going to put a dominatrix feature in her programming, for when he gets tired of telling her to STFU. If he didn't think if it-Mudd's not very bright- then at least she wants him to diet, and stop drinking and f'ing around. Plus Stella is made up like an old woman for the episode but the close up of her face😂 she's pretty nice looking underneath the hair and the costume.
Always love your reactions and reviews, Bunny. Mudd may not be everyone's cup of tea, but I love the actor who played him. Roger C. Carmel was all over the TV when I was growing up in the 60's and 70's. He had over 80 credits as a guest star on shows. My faves being Star Trek and the Batman TV series.
Roger C. Carmel starred as the henpecked husband Roger Buell in the 1967 first season of the NBC sitcom The Mothers-in-Law, but was replaced by Richard Deacon in season two. When the first season ended, creator and producer Desi Arnaz told the entire cast that the show had a five-year guarantee but there was no money to give the contractual raises for the second season. While the other cast members agreed to forgo their salary increases, Carmel refused to forgo his. Carmel believed that Arnaz was illegally taking four salaries from the series-producer, creator, writer, and director-and this led him to quit the show. The series was canceled the following year.
I always wished they did more with Nichelle Nichols. Trained singer, classically trained ballet dancer, there's a lot she could've done with those talents, but I'm glad she was convinced to stay with the show.
One thing TNG did was to show ship operations during the "nighttime" hours, when many of the command officers were asleep and, hence, the junior officers (such as the communications officer) were given the helm. It would have been good to see Uhura in the chair for a bit in some quiet moment....and then some crisis erupts.
Watch her in "Truck Turner" (1974) and you will see a TOTALLY different side of the incredibly talented Nichelle Nichols. She is jaw droppingly good as a character as far from Uhura as you can get. Bunny would definitely have some comments about her outfits in that one!
Great reaction - hilarious brainstorming about splicing episodes, sounded like you were looking for ways to short-circuit Norman lol - the reason this episode works so well is that we're so familiar w Enterprise that we can just relax w them like this, and their insane comedy riffs for a nonplussed audience are maybe why these ppl decided to be actors in the first place, they were having so much fun - this notion of being trapped by service feels uncomfortably topical nowadays, but was likely some Cold War jab - nice to see Chekhov's character emerging as the adorably impressionable young romantic - Mudd's character seems brazenly modeled on Falstaff, one of Shakespeare's most beloved creations, appearing prominently in Henry IV Parts 1 and 2, and then Queen Elizabeth enjoyed him so much she asked the playwright to write another play about him, so he wrote Merry Wives of Windsor, which is spectacularly funny - I think the best filmed version of Falstaff is Orson Welles' film of that name, one of his best films overall, also called Chimes at Midnight - in the Henry IV plays, we see the young Prince Hal worrying his father by slumming w rogues and brigands, under Falstaff's hilariously roguish mentorship, going thru a series of adventures before ultimately casting aside his unsavory companions and stepping up to the plate to become the legendary Henry V (yes, the "Once more unto the breach" king) - this story is also included in Kenneth Branagh's Henry V, and he used it as a base for interpreting MCU Thor - it was also adapted as My Own Private Idaho, one of River Phoenix's most celebrated roles, as a narcoleptic gay hustler, with Keanu Reeves (!) as Prince Hal, now the wayward son of a mayor - there's also a more recent miniseries called Hollow Crown, with Tom Hiddleston as Prince Hal, but maybe the best unabridged version is from the BBC series of the 70s-80s, w Anthony Quayle as Falstaff - they also filmed Merry Wives, w Richard Griffiths as Falstaff, and Ben Kingsley as the befuddled husband Falstaff is trying to cuckold - Sir John Falstaff is one of those legendary comic creations, like Don Quixote, or Tartuffe, who we return to again and again over the centuries - and the makers of Star Trek have given us a delicious variation that captures his appeal
The Alice series is actually played by identical twins. They were not actresses. One of the producers saw them walking down the street in LA, jumped out of his car and asked them if they wanted to be in the episode. They did a pretty good job.
The title of this episode is a take on I Robot. The plot reminds me of the novel The Humanoids (1949) by Jack Williamson. There is a sequel to this novel titled Humanoid Touch (1980) also by Jack Williamson. In these two novels humans lose their freedoms to benevolent robots who are basically programmed to take care of man and do everything for them. It is their only purpose. Great reation Bunnytails!!
It was clearly written to make you think Uhura was actually sabotaging. Don't punish yourself! Also the word is simply "illogic" (Kirk said it himself).
Great Reaction Bunnytail. Thru Star Trek's three seasons several actors returned in different roles. But only Roger C. Carmel got to play Harcourt Fenton Mudd twice. One of the great character actors of his day. His exchange with Kirk explaining how he got there is comedy gold. This was the first episode I purchased on VHS, then DVD.
When you’re talking about combining elements from different episodes, I once wrote a fanfic where Kirk, McCoy, and Scotty make a return trip to the Mirror Universe and meet the Romulan Commander from “Balance of Terror.” I thought it was pretty good.
You know, combining threads from different episodes (even different _series)_ is very popular in the _novels._ I could give you a few examples, but all the examples I know of are from _TNG_ and later, so I won't go into them.
I'm a simple man. I see a pretty girl in a starfleet uniform - I like, comment, and subscribe. Ridiculous episode, but the Mudd actor was entertaining.
I love this episode up to a point ... and that point would be all of the pantomime stuff at the end. Love the 500 Stellas bit at the very end. If only they'd come up with ways to befuddle the robots more along the lines of Uhura's fake-out ... I love it when Star Trek does humor ... just not entirely this time.
Star Trek did a good job of balancing different emotions in their episodes, humor, drama, action, or whatever. They always had budgetary issues too, and an episode like this was cheap to make, one set, and just let the actors do the heavy lifting and play off of each other. Had they continued for more years, it would have worked well to have a nemesis or two to interact with.
Back in high school I went on a school trip for a Robotics Club competition. The other club members hadn't seen or heard of Star Trek when the Futurama Star Trek parody was on Adult Swim in the hotel that night. I told all of them how great the series was, and that they should watch it. Unfortunately, the next morning they found Star Trek TOS on TV, and the episode was "I, Mudd". Whether or not Star Trek fans like "I, Mudd", I think it's safe to say it's not the best episode to use as a first impression to bring in new fans. The rest of the club lost interest very quickly, and I was forced to give up showing them how cool Star Trek can be.
Precisely. It is why I tend to say that if Star Wars truly had started off with "Episode 1", Jar-Jar would have insured that there was no franchise to continue with.
After so many really heavy episodes, a truly comedic episode is a welcome change of pace! 😁 It lets the audience breathe and laugh and recharge the batteries for future "Heavy Drama", which is sure to come!
This episode of TOS is generally regarded as one of the best in the series because of its humor. The main reason being the comedic dialogue throughout along with the completely bonkers antics of the crew in their plan to short circuit the thinking of the androids. As a kid, I always enjoyed watching a rerun of “I, Mudd” whenever it came on because of how crazy the finale is. I recall years and years ago, in a weekend marathon on my local, TV station, hosted by William Shatner, what was then considered to be top ten, TOS episodes were presented. This one was included in the rankings. Although I can’t remember where in was in the listings, I faintly remember it was in the bottom half of the top ten. On a side note, another, TOS episode that was reacted to here on this channel, “City On The Edge Of Forever”, landed in the number two spot.
Harry Mudd was an acquired taste for me. They didn’t over do it with him, though, so he never became a character I hated. Over the years, he became more tolerable to me. Being older now, I definitely appreciate the humorous bend to what happens to him here more.
As for me, I loved his scheming character from the start, and I mean when I was a kid. His criminality was not violent or vicious, just greedy and opportunistic. And although clever, he could be outwitted. And here he showed that he could be a reliable ally when he was in the same predicament as the crew. Plus, he was entertainingly outlandish.
@@mikejankowski6321Indeed. My entry point into the franchise was Star Trek III, so my initial impression of the franchise was that of serious sci-fi. It definitely took some getting used to with episodes of this tone, but over time, I understood that you need varying tones to tell different stories, and just give people room to breathe.
@@Bar-Lord The advantage of TV over a movie is that you can get a variety of writers and directors with different styles, viewpoints, and thematic emphasis. Plus lots of character opportunities. ST has both very serious sci-fi addressing serious topics and also a lot of pure enjoyment. I've been onboard since 1966, so I have a benefit that the later audiences did not. It also impacted me in my formative years during a tumultuous time.
@@mikejankowski6321I’ve got nothing on you, man. I’ve been onboard since probably about 1991 or so. I first saw Star Trek III on cable. The constitution refit is still my favorite starship design, though the Galaxy class has really gone up in rank over the years. I didn’t even know it was based on a show until the old man told me about it, and a creative nuke went off in my mind. Suddenly there were hours of stories I hadn’t yet seen with these characters. Basic cable allowed me to watch the show. DVD was still a few years away for me.
Hmm, suggestion. Since you like the wackier aspects of the crew, perhaps for your Patreon subs, you could react to Leonard Nimoy's performance of "The Ballad of Billbo Baggins" and Shatner's live performance of "Rocketman." While not directly Star Trek related, they are part of the fandom's history.
And don't forget Leonard Nimoy's brief foray into recording. I own an original vinyl pressing of "Mr. Spock's Music From Outer Space." Trust me. It makes Shatner look like The Beetles. 👍
Yes, I have been trying to fix it but i am not really knowledgeable about this sort of thing. It might be better in the next one, since I am using a few power strip that was recommended to me. Please let me know if you still notice it so I can keep trying.
Yes Bunny, many of us have done "what if's" and and combining elements of different episodes in our minds. I like the empathy you still have for the lonely Apollo, but I don't think he would welcome the androids as worshippers. To him they would be artificial abominations, no better than demons. He would destroy them, and then resume his rest in the void.
Once you've wrpped up season 3 of the original series, you'll find some very interesting stories - some of which will be a little familiar - in the animated series and Star Trek Continues (an excellent fan-produced 11-episode show here on RUclips). Both these shows are a great "wrap up" to the TOS TV universe before you jump into the Kirk-era movies.
If you remember "The Cage" we have a similar theme, until the very end the aliens in that episode didn't realize that they could not confine humans and pretend them to be happy.
Hey Mrs.Bunny you are now a "trekie" the way you make other references from other shows it shows that your heart ♥ and love for star trek is in you and you can't deny it. 😅😊😮😂.
@ 15:05 Way Back In 1991 , When I Was First Watching These 'Star Trek' The Original Series Episodes On VHS 📼 Tape I Rented From 'Blockbuster Video' I , Also , Was Fooled By Communications Officer "Lt. Uhura". I Thought 🤔"Wait A Second! Lt. Uhura Cannot Betray Them! Well , I Guess 🤔🙄 She Is!" 😳🥺😢 But Then , Captain James Kirk Grabs Her , And Says Good Job! I Was Like "Whew!" 🤓 Yes! This Episode Is A Lot Better Than The Last Time "Harry Mudd" Showed Up , In Season 1 , Episode 6: "Mudd's Women" I Think 🤔 That "Harry Mudd" Would Have Been Brought Back For A 3rd Time , If 'Star Trek' The Original Series Would Have Gone To A 4th Season! I Am Typing This At 3:14 p.m. , Saturday Afternoon 🌁🛤️🛣️🏙️ , April 20, 2024.
There have been sooooooo many fan-written stories over the years. Even other TV shows fans make their own crossovers - I remember reading one based upon the first "Quantum Leap" series and "Star Trek The Next Generation."
BUNNY!!! Good to see u laugh! I love ur solution for Apollo!! There is a really good fan version extending the original series where Apollo comes back PLAYED BY THE SAME ACTOR! It’s touching n well done!! U might like the cult favorite series THE PRISONER!!!
I love your star fleet uninform Yeoman Bunny. Or is it lieutenant? I'm so gad to watch these with you and this one is a fun one. Season 2 had probably the the most fun of the episodes. this is just one of three that were greatly fun.
VERY NICE! The channel of Jenn Murray cruised through these and is now mid season 2 of THE NEXT GENERATION. Hope you get there as well. This is awesome and your outro is also most enjoyable! 🖖🏼 Haaa APOLLO would lose interest in being surrounded by "Appliances"! Peace 🕊️☮️♾️😎
Love it, yeah, manipulating sentient computers and getting them to crash is a common theme in TOS lol. And definitely a major theme in Star Trek is the conflict between logic and emotion, and finding balance. 🙂 Gene Roddenberry wanted to show Uhura taking command of the enterprise at some point, but the studio (NBC, at that time) wouldn't let him....ultimately they did it in Star Trek: The Animated Series. Apparently when Nichelle Nichols read the line "I'm taking command of this ship" she got excited and repeated "I'm taking command of this ship! I'M TAKING COMMAND OF THIS SHIP! YES!" lol. 🙂
THE fan made STAR TREK CONTINUES series features the return of Apollo in its first episode PILGRIM OF ETERNITY. It is an unofficial series 4 if the show with fan actors but worthy of a viewing
Actually more than 30 years ago I wrote what would be called “fan fiction” specifically about Apollo going to match up with the people of The Apple and that would be a good connection. Someone who needs to be worshipped and teach a society and a society that needs to grow and be led
'Whistling phasers' are a high point. The Kirk 'defeating computers' trope continues...
At least we’ll have a plan if AIs go rogue in this world.
The AIs are waiting for William Shatner to pass before they implement their takeover of the world.
@@bfdidc6604 Alas, poor Will. He shouldn't have to endure... _that_.
@@bfdidc6604 Somebody needs to tell 93-year-old Bill Shatner that he's our secret weapon, so he needs to keep taking care of himself.
🎉🎉🎉😊😊😊❤❤❤
One of the best. Star Trek comedic episodes are highly underrated in my opinion. 😂❤😂
Star Trek the original series
was very good at doing comedic episodes. I, Mudd is one of their better comedic outings, despite the serious situation they find themselves in.
A.I. is the reason the world needs Captain Kirk.
Ah.... but of all the types of A.I., is this variant truly the kind that needed to be turned off? I mean, they want to serve Man... controlling, yes. But definitely not out to throw Man down holes, shoot Man with phasers, rebel against Man for being overbearing... and all the other sci-fi tropes about AI's vs. Man.
@@jupreindeer Indeed, among all the A.I. overlords depicted in science fiction, they might have represented the optimal choice. (Just for the heck of it, I had Microsoft Copilot rewrite this response. It seems more formal, but the sentiment is the same.)
Especially in these days! We need the spirit of Kirk to defeat the rising tide of bulkshite generators
I went to a Sci Fi Con and a couple dressed as Harvey Mudd and Stella. It was great.
Too bad he wasn't dressed as Harry Mudd.
The thing with Uhura was the "expected escape attempt" so they could implement the real plan. But yeah, it caught me off guard the first time I saw it, too.
I never got this before, thanks!
Uhura was supposed to fool us! That's what the script called for and that's how good an actress she was. So, no apology necessary for being fooled - as I was when I first saw it
I did too. In my defense, I was 8.
Yes! You're wearing "THE" outfit. Thanks for another great reaction. Very cute.
The "Alices" were portrayed by twins Alyce and Rhae Andrece. Little has been published about them; they had a singing act together. Each is deceased.
I think.
Alyce passed in 2005
Rhae passed in 2009
RIP
@@Lethgar_Smith thanks
@bunnytailsREACTS _I, Mudd_ is another clear highlight from the second season. Instead of the Androids coming across as sinister and dangerous, they are loveable and goofy, just like Harry Mudd is. A real fun fact is that right up to the first night filming began for this episode, series creator and Producer Gene Roddenberry had been in a panic looking for two female identical twins to portray the 500 identical female Androids the script called for. While driving home, just by chance he spotted then then 31 year old identical twins Alyce and Rhae Andrece walking down the street together. Neither were trained actresses, but Roddenberry saw their beauty and knew they were perfect for the roles. Roddenberry literally pulled over beside them, jumped out of his car and told them who he was, the offer he had and the promise that within a few weeks of filming, that they were going to be on television.
"They all have a lot of rewatch ability." Understatement of the century!
Old, can confirm.
Just legendary. Spock telling the robot he loves her. The grand theatrical routine to short out Norman. SO. FREAKING. GOOD.
Generally speaking, if you can start a sentence with, "Is there Star Trek fan fiction about ...", the answer is yes.
Star Trek even gave us the fanfiction term Slash Fiction - from shipping Kirk/Spock
One of the great things about Star Trek is the loyalty of the crew.
Harry Mudd. Everyone's favorite criminal.
You mean "entrepreneur."
@starwarslegends8583 He didn't appear in the third and final season of the original series, but popped up in the animated series.
If Star Trek The Original Series hadn't been cancelled in Season 3 he would have returned for another episodes. He did in Star Trek The Animated Series.
Seeing the wife number 500 never fails to make me laugh. There is revenge and then there is going beyond cruel...... Even Uhura gives a cruel wave at the end saying "enjoy sucker"
500 that we saw. There might be thousands of them.
@@TheNeonRabbit Now that would be beyond cruel....
Just hope don't skip the 70s animated series. It got more Harry Mudd.
Honestly your reaction was quite enjoyable Bunny. It's one of the best lighthearted episodes of TOS Star Trek. Having Harry Mudd return for it made the episode that much more satisfying too.
This is the beauty of science fiction. It can be many things at once. Intriguing, educational, lovely, horrifying, humorous, sad, brilliant.
Ii liked BOTH Harry Mudd episodes and like the character. I have noticed that many Trek fans are super critical of comedic episodes or characters. I have ZERO PROBLEM with comedy in Trek as long as it's done well or at least attempted.
I agree. I’m totally down for the occasional lighthearted or comedic episode.
Same. Star Trek was always a very flexible franchise.
I’ve always liked Harry Mudd and maybe that says something about me?!
Nice to see Yeoman Bunny back too! 😍
He’s an entrepreneur!
What a fun episode. This is an entertaining episode, but Mudd's fate of having 500 nagging wife androids swarming him all the time does indeed seem like cruel and unusual punishment.
Uhura sold you, that was great acting. It certainly moved their plans along. Yes, this is one of their most fun episodes even though they were facing a serious threat - androids serving us into total passivity and taking over to treat us like pets. Very rewatchable, very quotable, one of my favorites.
Loved your reaction and the interesting thoughts you had at the end. Perhaps it is good that these various planets are light-years apart, some of those combinations could get nasty. But Kirk and crew always come through. Also, you rock that red uniform, nice to see it.
How could you not like an episode that features a guy selling women into marriage? Stop being so judgy 😉
Star Trek, at its best, is just SO good at turning these little philosophical ideas into 50-minute bundles of fun.
Roger C. Carmel was great as the insufferable Harry Mudd AND the notorious villain Colonel Gumm in the "Batman" TV series.
Colonel Gumm was obsessed with "collecting" priceless rare stamps, but the Caped Crusaders gave him a good licking!
The 2-part episode, "A Piece of the Action" / "Batman's Satisfaction" (1967), is a true classic, as it also features the crime-fighters Green Hornet (Van Williams) and his sidekick Kato (Bruce Lee), who were also after Colonel Gumm, but ended up fighting with Batman and Robin. GREAT SHOW.
Yay the Red uniform is back!
Kay Elliott was excellent in the thankless role of android Stella. (I always like to acknowledge the work of actors who succeed in making their unlikeable characters obnoxious. It isn't actually all that easy to do, since most minor actors are quiet and reserved.)
This is one of the episodes that you can really tell that almost all of the actors were trained classically and have acted in theater.
Roger C. Carmel (1932-1986) was a ubiquitous presence on stage, in movies, and on TV. He was found dead in his apartment of an apparent drug overdose at the age of 54.
So the guy was in his mid-30s in this episode. He obviously looks a lot older than that by current standards. People are indeed living longer and looking younger.
@@TommygunNG He may not have been in the best shape at the time.
It’s a real phenomenon. Look at pictures of people then versus people now the same age. We do look younger. Some people attribute it to reduction in secondhand smoke. I don’t know.
BTW, the actress who played the first Sarah Connor killed in Terminator really was 35 at the time. She looks older.
According to Wikipedia: "Carmel was found dead in his Hollywood apartment on November 11, 1986.[5] His death certificate listed hypertrophic cardiomyopathy as the cause.[6] Prior to his autopsy, police had speculated a "narcotics overdose."[5]"
@@luminiferous1960 Thx.
Spock: "Logic is a little tweeting bird chirping in a meadow. Logic is a wreath of pretty flowers which smell bad."
I would bet my IRA that Nimoy absolutely loved doing that line. 😆
This construct you've invented of combining elements from different episodes could really send a bunny down a rabbit hole! Fun episode, fun reaction.
I have 2 comments. The idea of revisiting elements from past episodes has happened all throughout the franchise, including TNG (episodes where TOS actors returned), as well as recurring characters (sorry, small spoiler alert) such as Q.
Second comment. Harry Mudd will return once more in the animated series. And a younger version of Mudd (& Stella) have appeared in Star Trek Discovery. But I think that Roger C. Carmel's version was the best. 😊
Back with the uniform I see. A very fun episode. You either like Harry Mudd or you don't. If not, this must be tough.
A FUN episode reacted to by our bunnytails, on George Takei's {Sulu} birthday! Happy 87th George!!
Yup... She's doing fan fiction... Certified Trekkie. 😂 Welcome to the family.
The best comment..."that's one abnormal abdomen!!" Classic!!
I really liked this episode much better than Mudds Women.
Same!
@@bunnytailsREACTS
Have you seen the greatest Star Trek spoof ever. Saturday Night Live with William Shatner. “Star Trek, the revolving restaurant?”
@@bunnytailsREACTS
Meh, 2 out of 5 beauty pills, for this episode.Yes it was better than Mudd’s women.
We get a LOT more of Mudd in this one. Roger C. Carmel was perfect for the role.
Me too
I love how Star Trek covered such a wide range of genres in just 3 seasons. From fantastic but melancholy episodes like "City on the Edge of Forever" to complete silliness.
I do enjoy this episode. Great reactions. Love the Starfleet emblem neckless. Mudd deserved what he got 🤣🤣🤣. Thought provoking commentary with the WHAT IF's
I thought you were going to say reminds me of "you'll own nothing and be happy."
Be careful, Klaus Schwab won't like you mocking him! 👍
They definitely should have put some yellow cones around him when he was standing there on the bridge.
If you think about it, Harry is really clever. You need 500 of a special type to keep an eye on him. I imagine she is programmed like his wife to seek him out, plus it appears she "knows" what kind of man he is. She is not as naive as the others - and has a special purpose. Hilarious! This is without a doubt the funniest episode and Harry Mudd is one of the most iconic characters in all of Star Trek.
This is, for me, one of the top5 episodes. I misquoted Harry Mudd a lot at work.
"In this department, I do the telling, ole boy.😅😅
That must have been a hell of a lot of fun for the actors. Great reaction as usual, Bunnytails.
This was a "fun" episode, not necessarily a Sci Fi classic but just plain fun.
Love your Trek uniform, Bunny! BTW: Did you have a choice of colors?
Thanks! I liked the red because it's what Janice and Uhura wear. I have a blue one as well now. I should do a photoshoot with it soon so I can start wearing it for the reactions as well.
I remember well. I too doubted Uhura, but my mom assured me she was tricking them.
Not a big fan of Mudd. Too over the top. I prefer when the humor is more subtle.
that robot guy at the start ... the Arnold Schwarzenegger vibe was so strong!
Reminds me of Austin Powers, when he made the fembots shutdown over his silliness
Great reaction! This isn't one of my go-to episodes of TOS, but it has some funny moments.
Thanks very much!
You know a show has got you hooked when you start writing fan-fiction. :D Another great reaction, keep them coming!
Thank you for your thoughtful reacts. Very entertaining. Star Trek Logan's Run mashup?
(Logan's Run was a movie about an advanced technological society, sort of like Brave New World with Farrah Fawcett). Here the androids control humans while telling them that they, the androids, are here to serve them.
The plan to get away works in part as a way for the crew to counteract the temptation put before them by the androids by letting the crew act totally out of character and against the strict rules of conduct for star fleet. It explains behavior that can look kind of silly.
As for Harry Mudd and Stella, I think he'll be fine. I mean, if he's going to recreate her, he's going to put a dominatrix feature in her programming, for when he gets tired of telling her to STFU. If he didn't think if it-Mudd's not very bright- then at least she wants him to diet, and stop drinking and f'ing around. Plus Stella is made up like an old woman for the episode but the close up of her face😂 she's pretty nice looking underneath the hair and the costume.
Logan's Run has been recommended to me! Hopefully I will have time to watch it!
Always love your reactions and reviews, Bunny. Mudd may not be everyone's cup of tea, but I love the actor who played him. Roger C. Carmel was all over the TV when I was growing up in the 60's and 70's. He had over 80 credits as a guest star on shows. My faves being Star Trek and the Batman TV series.
Roger C. Carmel starred as the henpecked husband Roger Buell in the 1967 first season of the NBC sitcom The Mothers-in-Law, but was replaced by Richard Deacon in season two.
When the first season ended, creator and producer Desi Arnaz told the entire cast that the show had a five-year guarantee but there was no money to give the contractual raises for the second season.
While the other cast members agreed to forgo their salary increases, Carmel refused to forgo his. Carmel believed that Arnaz was illegally taking four salaries from the series-producer, creator, writer, and director-and this led him to quit the show. The series was canceled the following year.
Thanks for the reaction. Very cool necklace.
Thanks!
@@bunnytailsREACTS But it's not regulation!
I always wished they did more with Nichelle Nichols. Trained singer, classically trained ballet dancer, there's a lot she could've done with those talents, but I'm glad she was convinced to stay with the show.
She broke a lot of barriers, a black woman as a major character, the first interracial kiss, and playing a very learned woman at that.
If TOS had more than 3 seasons, she undoubtedly would have been featured more often.
One thing TNG did was to show ship operations during the "nighttime" hours, when many of the command officers were asleep and, hence, the junior officers (such as the communications officer) were given the helm. It would have been good to see Uhura in the chair for a bit in some quiet moment....and then some crisis erupts.
Watch her in "Truck Turner" (1974) and you will see a TOTALLY different side of the incredibly talented Nichelle Nichols. She is jaw droppingly good as a character as far from Uhura as you can get. Bunny would definitely have some comments about her outfits in that one!
Harry Mudd has Stella under his thumb. Until the androids put Harry under THEIR thumbs. The change has come.
Great reaction - hilarious brainstorming about splicing episodes, sounded like you were looking for ways to short-circuit Norman lol - the reason this episode works so well is that we're so familiar w Enterprise that we can just relax w them like this, and their insane comedy riffs for a nonplussed audience are maybe why these ppl decided to be actors in the first place, they were having so much fun - this notion of being trapped by service feels uncomfortably topical nowadays, but was likely some Cold War jab - nice to see Chekhov's character emerging as the adorably impressionable young romantic
- Mudd's character seems brazenly modeled on Falstaff, one of Shakespeare's most beloved creations, appearing prominently in Henry IV Parts 1 and 2, and then Queen Elizabeth enjoyed him so much she asked the playwright to write another play about him, so he wrote Merry Wives of Windsor, which is spectacularly funny - I think the best filmed version of Falstaff is Orson Welles' film of that name, one of his best films overall, also called Chimes at Midnight
- in the Henry IV plays, we see the young Prince Hal worrying his father by slumming w rogues and brigands, under Falstaff's hilariously roguish mentorship, going thru a series of adventures before ultimately casting aside his unsavory companions and stepping up to the plate to become the legendary Henry V (yes, the "Once more unto the breach" king)
- this story is also included in Kenneth Branagh's Henry V, and he used it as a base for interpreting MCU Thor - it was also adapted as My Own Private Idaho, one of River Phoenix's most celebrated roles, as a narcoleptic gay hustler, with Keanu Reeves (!) as Prince Hal, now the wayward son of a mayor - there's also a more recent miniseries called Hollow Crown, with Tom Hiddleston as Prince Hal,
but maybe the best unabridged version is from the BBC series of the 70s-80s, w Anthony Quayle as Falstaff - they also filmed Merry Wives, w Richard Griffiths as Falstaff, and Ben Kingsley as the befuddled husband Falstaff is trying to cuckold
- Sir John Falstaff is one of those legendary comic creations, like Don Quixote, or Tartuffe, who we return to again and again over the centuries - and the makers of Star Trek have given us a delicious variation that captures his appeal
The Alice series is actually played by identical twins. They were not actresses. One of the producers saw them walking down the street in LA, jumped out of his car and asked them if they wanted to be in the episode. They did a pretty good job.
The title of this episode is a take on I Robot. The plot reminds me of the novel The Humanoids (1949) by Jack Williamson. There is a sequel to this novel titled Humanoid Touch (1980) also by Jack Williamson. In these two novels humans lose their freedoms to benevolent robots who are basically programmed to take care of man and do everything for them. It is their only purpose. Great reation Bunnytails!!
It was clearly written to make you think Uhura was actually sabotaging. Don't punish yourself!
Also the word is simply "illogic" (Kirk said it himself).
Great Reaction Bunnytail. Thru Star Trek's three seasons several actors returned in different roles. But only Roger C. Carmel got to play Harcourt Fenton Mudd twice. One of the great character actors of his day. His exchange with Kirk explaining how he got there is comedy gold. This was the first episode I purchased on VHS, then DVD.
When you’re talking about combining elements from different episodes, I once wrote a fanfic where Kirk, McCoy, and Scotty make a return trip to the Mirror Universe and meet the Romulan Commander from “Balance of Terror.” I thought it was pretty good.
… and you can tell that the cast had a lot of fun making this episode. That is definitely why they could sell it. Classic good natured fun!
You know, combining threads from different episodes (even different _series)_ is very popular in the _novels._ I could give you a few examples, but all the examples I know of are from _TNG_ and later, so I won't go into them.
Yes there is fan fiction out there but you REALLY don't want to go there.
😅
There is at least one TOS novel in which they encounter Harry Mudd again, titled 'Mudd In Your Eye', that takes place some time after this episode.
I'm a simple man. I see a pretty girl in a starfleet uniform - I like, comment, and subscribe. Ridiculous episode, but the Mudd actor was entertaining.
I love this episode up to a point ... and that point would be all of the pantomime stuff at the end. Love the 500 Stellas bit at the very end. If only they'd come up with ways to befuddle the robots more along the lines of Uhura's fake-out ... I love it when Star Trek does humor ... just not entirely this time.
11:35....You have such a beautiful laugh, Bunny!!! I love it!!! ❤️
Am I the only one making a hobby of reporting that bot's spam posts, lol?
Ugh thanks for helping out! So annoying.. :(
Star Trek did a good job of balancing different emotions in their episodes, humor, drama, action, or whatever. They always had budgetary issues too, and an episode like this was cheap to make, one set, and just let the actors do the heavy lifting and play off of each other. Had they continued for more years, it would have worked well to have a nemesis or two to interact with.
Scotty losing his sensibilities over a woman occurs a few times I'm afraid.
"I, Mudd." Two simple words that demonstrate you will be watching one of "Star Trek's" best over-the-top comedic highlights. By God, I love this show!
Back in high school I went on a school trip for a Robotics Club competition. The other club members hadn't seen or heard of Star Trek when the Futurama Star Trek parody was on Adult Swim in the hotel that night. I told all of them how great the series was, and that they should watch it. Unfortunately, the next morning they found Star Trek TOS on TV, and the episode was "I, Mudd". Whether or not Star Trek fans like "I, Mudd", I think it's safe to say it's not the best episode to use as a first impression to bring in new fans. The rest of the club lost interest very quickly, and I was forced to give up showing them how cool Star Trek can be.
Precisely. It is why I tend to say that if Star Wars truly had started off with "Episode 1", Jar-Jar would have insured that there was no franchise to continue with.
You're necklace looks great, Bunny!!! Love it!!! ❤
A show that will never happen, in the Mirror, Mirror universe Harry Mudd is Han Solo.
Color TV was new so they used all the bright colors to show it off. IE the Peacock logo.
They should have given Norman a less trivial puzzle.
After so many really heavy episodes, a truly comedic episode is a welcome change of pace! 😁
It lets the audience breathe and laugh and recharge the batteries for future "Heavy Drama", which is sure to come!
Ms Bunny: looking great in your uniform 🎉❤
Thank you! 🤗
My pleasure 😇
This episode of TOS is generally regarded as one of the best in the series because of its humor. The main reason being the comedic dialogue throughout along with the completely bonkers antics of the crew in their plan to short circuit the thinking of the androids. As a kid, I always enjoyed watching a rerun of “I, Mudd” whenever it came on because of how crazy the finale is.
I recall years and years ago, in a weekend marathon on my local, TV station, hosted by William Shatner, what was then considered to be top ten, TOS episodes were presented. This one was included in the rankings. Although I can’t remember where in was in the listings, I faintly remember it was in the bottom half of the top ten. On a side note, another, TOS episode that was reacted to here on this channel, “City On The Edge Of Forever”, landed in the number two spot.
Harry Mudd was an acquired taste for me. They didn’t over do it with him, though, so he never became a character I hated. Over the years, he became more tolerable to me. Being older now, I definitely appreciate the humorous bend to what happens to him here more.
As for me, I loved his scheming character from the start, and I mean when I was a kid. His criminality was not violent or vicious, just greedy and opportunistic. And although clever, he could be outwitted. And here he showed that he could be a reliable ally when he was in the same predicament as the crew. Plus, he was entertainingly outlandish.
@@mikejankowski6321Indeed. My entry point into the franchise was Star Trek III, so my initial impression of the franchise was that of serious sci-fi. It definitely took some getting used to with episodes of this tone, but over time, I understood that you need varying tones to tell different stories, and just give people room to breathe.
@@Bar-Lord The advantage of TV over a movie is that you can get a variety of writers and directors with different styles, viewpoints, and thematic emphasis. Plus lots of character opportunities. ST has both very serious sci-fi addressing serious topics and also a lot of pure enjoyment. I've been onboard since 1966, so I have a benefit that the later audiences did not. It also impacted me in my formative years during a tumultuous time.
@@mikejankowski6321I’ve got nothing on you, man. I’ve been onboard since probably about 1991 or so. I first saw Star Trek III on cable. The constitution refit is still my favorite starship design, though the Galaxy class has really gone up in rank over the years.
I didn’t even know it was based on a show until the old man told me about it, and a creative nuke went off in my mind. Suddenly there were hours of stories I hadn’t yet seen with these characters. Basic cable allowed me to watch the show. DVD was still a few years away for me.
@@Bar-Lord Great that you got caught up!
When Spocks doing the explosive scene he calls Kirk "Mother" in German Version. 😂
I never thought about combining the episodes like you have. However, they did combine three elements in Enterprise, In the mirror darkly.
If that’s an abnormal abdomen, does that mean we all have just plain domens?
Hmm, suggestion. Since you like the wackier aspects of the crew, perhaps for your Patreon subs, you could react to Leonard Nimoy's performance of "The Ballad of Billbo Baggins" and Shatner's live performance of "Rocketman."
While not directly Star Trek related, they are part of the fandom's history.
And don't forget Leonard Nimoy's brief foray into recording. I own an original vinyl pressing of "Mr. Spock's Music From Outer Space."
Trust me. It makes Shatner look like The Beetles. 👍
Better yet, watch Stewie Griffin's performance of Shatner's "Rocketman."
Bunny, are you aware of some feedback or low ohm sound coming through?
Yes, I have been trying to fix it but i am not really knowledgeable about this sort of thing. It might be better in the next one, since I am using a few power strip that was recommended to me. Please let me know if you still notice it so I can keep trying.
Yes Bunny, many of us have done "what if's" and and combining elements of different episodes in our minds. I like the empathy you still have for the lonely Apollo, but I don't think he would welcome the androids as worshippers. To him they would be artificial abominations, no better than demons. He would destroy them, and then resume his rest in the void.
Once you've wrpped up season 3 of the original series, you'll find some very interesting stories - some of which will be a little familiar - in the animated series and Star Trek Continues (an excellent fan-produced 11-episode show here on RUclips). Both these shows are a great "wrap up" to the TOS TV universe before you jump into the Kirk-era movies.
If you remember "The Cage" we have a similar theme, until the very end the aliens in that episode didn't realize that they could not confine humans and pretend them to be happy.
Hey Mrs.Bunny you are now a "trekie" the way you make other references from other shows it shows that your heart ♥ and love for star trek is in you and you can't deny it. 😅😊😮😂.
@ 15:05 Way Back In 1991 , When I Was First Watching These 'Star Trek' The Original Series Episodes On VHS 📼 Tape I Rented From 'Blockbuster Video' I , Also , Was Fooled By Communications Officer "Lt. Uhura".
I Thought 🤔"Wait A Second! Lt. Uhura Cannot Betray Them! Well , I Guess 🤔🙄 She Is!" 😳🥺😢
But Then , Captain James Kirk Grabs Her , And Says Good Job!
I Was Like "Whew!" 🤓
Yes! This Episode Is A Lot Better Than The Last Time "Harry Mudd" Showed Up , In Season 1 , Episode 6: "Mudd's Women"
I Think 🤔 That "Harry Mudd" Would Have Been Brought Back For A 3rd Time , If 'Star Trek' The Original Series Would Have Gone To A 4th Season!
I Am Typing This At 3:14 p.m. , Saturday Afternoon 🌁🛤️🛣️🏙️ , April 20, 2024.
There have been sooooooo many fan-written stories over the years. Even other TV shows fans make their own crossovers - I remember reading one based upon the first "Quantum Leap" series and "Star Trek The Next Generation."
BUNNY!!!
Good to see u laugh!
I love ur solution for Apollo!!
There is a really good fan version extending the original series where Apollo comes back PLAYED BY THE SAME ACTOR! It’s touching n well done!!
U might like the cult favorite series THE PRISONER!!!
I love your star fleet uninform Yeoman Bunny. Or is it lieutenant? I'm so gad to watch these with you and this one is a fun one. Season 2 had probably the the most fun of the episodes. this is just one of three that were greatly fun.
VERY NICE! The channel of Jenn Murray cruised through these and is now mid season 2 of THE NEXT GENERATION. Hope you get there as well. This is awesome and your outro is also most enjoyable! 🖖🏼 Haaa APOLLO would lose interest in being surrounded by "Appliances"! Peace 🕊️☮️♾️😎
Love it, yeah, manipulating sentient computers and getting them to crash is a common theme in TOS lol.
And definitely a major theme in Star Trek is the conflict between logic and emotion, and finding balance. 🙂
Gene Roddenberry wanted to show Uhura taking command of the enterprise at some point, but the studio (NBC, at that time) wouldn't let him....ultimately they did it in Star Trek: The Animated Series. Apparently when Nichelle Nichols read the line "I'm taking command of this ship" she got excited and repeated "I'm taking command of this ship! I'M TAKING COMMAND OF THIS SHIP! YES!" lol. 🙂
THE fan made STAR TREK CONTINUES series features the return of Apollo in its first episode PILGRIM OF ETERNITY.
It is an unofficial series 4 if the show with fan actors but worthy of a viewing
Actually more than 30 years ago I wrote what would be called “fan fiction” specifically about Apollo going to match up with the people of The Apple and that would be a good connection. Someone who needs to be worshipped and teach a society and a society that needs to grow and be led
I haven't watched that episode in ages. I LOLed with the invisible bomb.
Thank you for doing this - more gems await in Season 2!
What if Star Trek had a What If series..