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OnlineHost: Copyright 1994 America Online, Inc. All rights reserved.
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OnlineHost: Center Stage is the largest gathering place on the service,
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bringing celebrity guests right into your home, and offering a host of
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entertainment events led by a team of talented emcees. It's capable of
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accommodating hundreds of guests and is truly the showplace of the
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service.
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OnlineHost: Your host tonight is CSEmcee3 (Rusti I).
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OnlineHost: Experiment with the menu. You'll find many powerful options,
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including one which permits you to interact with other members present in
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the auditorium. The interaction "rows" text is prefaced by a number shown
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in parentheses (1), etc., which is followed by the text sent by members in
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that row. Unless a row is being "broadcast" your hosts cannot see
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interactive text. Try it. You can't break anything!
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OnlineHost: Millions of Star Trek fans around the world know him not as
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Walter Koenig, but simply as "Chekov."
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What millions of Star Trek fans might not know, however, is that Koenig is
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more than an actor. He's an author whose diary about the shooting of Star
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Trek was published as "Chekov's Enterprise."
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OnlineHost: He has also authored several teleplays including episodes of
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"Class of '65,", "Family," "The Incredible Hulk," and "The Powers of
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Matthew Star." Added to his impressive list of credits are the feature
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films "Moontrap" and "The Deadly Weapon," and the telefilms "The Questor
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Tapes" and "Goodbye Raggedy Ann."
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OnlineHost: On the stage he appeared in the Mark Taper Forum Production of
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"The Deputy" and he toured nationally in "Actors" and "The Boys of
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August."
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OnlineHost: Koenig is currently filming "Generations" for Paramount. In
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the film he reprises the role fans have come to love, that of "Chekov."
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The film is due out on November 18. And now, America Online is pleased to
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present the host of the Star Trek Club online, and his special guest,
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Walter Koenig!
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W Koenig: Good evening, everyone.
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CSEmcee3: Welcome to The Globe, Walter Koenig and guests.
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Data1701D: Hello everyone! And thank you for packing the Globe here
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tonite!;)
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W Koenig: Thank you. It's nice to be here.
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CSEmcee3: Are you ready for some questions?
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W Koenig: Sure!
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CSEmcee3: Ok. Here's our first question:
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Question: Do you plan on making any further appearances on the wide or
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small screen as Chekov?
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W Koenig: Although I wouldn't rule out anything, since you should never
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say 'never', I think it's highly unlikely that I'll be invited to reprise
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the role. I really do think that the new Star Trek film is the last time
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you'll see Chekov.
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OnlineHost: Please do NOT Instant Message our on-stage guests. Thank you.
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Question: Do you find America's obsession with Star Trek strange?
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W Koenig: Not really. After all, we all have our heroes and it's really
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not that far removed from the days of early television. We've all seen
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fandom in some capacity, be it with Davy Crockett or Superman, or any
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number of other TV programs. People need people they can look up to, and
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I'm pleased to have been a part of that in some way.
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Question: I enjoyed George Takei's autobiography, "To the Stars". Will you
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be writing an autobiography one day?
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W Koenig: I'm sooooooooooo glad you asked! I've been working on my
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autobiography, as a matter of fact. Although it hasn't been optioned yet,
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I'm hopeful it'll be on the shelves eventually. And I hope they let me
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keep the title: "Beaming Up & Getting Off". Think they'll let me keep it?
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Question: Out of all your Star Trek films, which is your favorite?
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W Koenig: I have two of them. I really enjoyed Star Trek II and Star Trek
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IV, in equal measure. Working with Ricardo Montalban was a pleasure, as
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was working with Paul Winfield. And all the action/adventure hijinks in
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Star Trek IV were really fun! That was also the only time Chekov's part
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was written distinctly for his Russian character. It was fulfilling to be
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recognized in that fashion.
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Question: Walter, how much have you contributed to screenplays of Star
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Trek episodes and do you plan to move into that area of movie making?
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W Koenig: Back then, as actors we really didn't have a lot of say in
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either the TV scripts or the films. However, I have had two screenplays
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optioned -- non-Star Trek -- and it's been my goal to see at least one of
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those screenplays produced. Only time will tell.
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OnlineHost: Please do not Instant Message our speakers. It keeps them from
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seeing your questions. Thank you.
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Question: Walter, what are the pros and cons of being involved in a
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cultural legacy like "Star Trek"?
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W Koenig: The pros are that it's very rewarding to hear that I've been an
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indirect -- but positive -- influence on people's lives. (Astronomy,
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physics, etc.) And it's been good meeting so many people over the years,
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since Star Trek has touched almost everyone's life in some way. As for the
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cons, well, there aren't many. I've been concerned about that, as have
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many of my peers in the industry. But it looks like Babylon 5 has helped
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break that tendency.
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Question: How many onscreen minutes do you have. Do you feel the "Classic
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Trek" crew were treated fairly?
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W Koenig: Not too many, I'm sorry to report. I think we were treated
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'fairly', but that we simply didn't figure into this plot as much as we
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hoped we would.
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Question: I am a very big trekkie. But, I have heard, that over the years,
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there has been a conflict between the crew and Will Shatner; is this true?
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W Koenig: :::putting on tap shoes, for the fancy dance:::
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W Koenig: I really don't have a lot to say about Bill, except that there
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was a nice moment or two for Chekov and his 'keptin' in the film -- which
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may or may not have hit the cutting room floor.
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W Koenig: On a side note, although I deeply appreciate the sentiments
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being expressed via Instant Message, it's making it harder to chat with
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everyone. I'd appreciate it if you'd please not send us all messages
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during this talk. Thanks, everyone.
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Question: Mr. Koenig it is a pleasure to talk to you! I have always been
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and will be a Star Trek fan! What do you think of the new Star Trek TV
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Shows? Did you get along with cast of the The Next Generation while
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filming "Generations"?
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W Koenig: Although I had reservations about ST:TNG when it debuted, it
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became a good show and one that I enjoyed watching from time to time. I
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never have had a chance to watch Deep Space Nine, since it airs opposite
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other shows that I usually watch. I think Voyager has potential, and we'll
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have to wait and see how the fans accept it. I think it will become as
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much a part of the legend as everything that's come before it. And we all
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got along fine, the The Next Generation cast was wonderful to us.
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W Koenig: ::::putting on black PsiCorp uniform::::
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W Koenig: You in the front row... ::::dragging thought from your mind:::
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Yes, you, the one with the dark hair.
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WKIntl: oops...look out! It's;...it's Bester!
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W Koenig: You wanted to know about me, didn't you? Of course you did ...
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I'm Bester and I'll be making another visit to Babylon 5. The Commander
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hasn't heard the last from me. I haven't even started to make his life
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miserable. I'll be entering his thoughts during the last week of January,
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in an episode titled, "A Race Through Dark Places."
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Question: What was your relationship with Gene Roddenberry, and do you
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approve Kirk's death in "Generations"?
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W Koenig: Gene and I became close friends over the course of the series,
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and afterward with the making of the Star Trek films. He was a kind man,
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who always thought about how best to treat people. He tried to be as
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equitable as he could with everyone, and that's been the most lasting
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impression I've taken from my association with him. As for Kirk's death,
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well ... I'd rather comment on that after the movie's been out.
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Question: What was it like doing the show Babylon 5?
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W Koenig: Babylon 5 was a wonderful experience, each time. I've always
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been very impressed with the writing, the effects, and the way in which
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the cast is allowed to think for themselves. I've been free to give Bester
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whatever edge I'd like, and you'll see that he continues to be even more
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charming -- and sinister. They're a great bunch! I always have fun over
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there.
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Question: Have you read Uhura's book, and what did you think?
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W Koenig: I have read it and must say that Nichelle did an excellent job.
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Of course, she told tales on me just a bit :::laughing:::, which brought
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back some memories. I enjoyed reading it and hope I do as well at relating
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anecdotes as she did.
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Question: How do you feel about the success of "Moontrap"?
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W Koenig: I have mixed feelings about it, in some ways. I had hoped that
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the film would see a theatrical release, since it's always gratifying to
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have something non-ST on the resume. At the same time, it became a sort of
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'sleeper' hit on video and did quite well in the international markets.
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Overall, I was pleased with how everything developed. There was talk a few
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times about a sequel, but nothing has come of it.
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Question: Do you plan on doing any more Babylon 5 episodes?
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W Koenig: I don't want to lead you all on, but let's just say we probably
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haven't seen the last of Bester. That much evil is hard to contain.
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Question: How many Babylon 5 episodes do you expect to be in?
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W Koenig: As I just said, it's really too early to tell. It's not a
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situation where I can ask to be included. Rather, it has to be because
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they want the character back, as part of their overall plan for the show.
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So, we'll see.
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OnlineHost: Please do not send Instant Messages to our speakers. It keeps
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them from seeing your questions. Thank you.
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WKIntl: Walter, I'm sure everyone would like to know about whether you
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will be doing any more performances of "The Boys In Autumn" with Mark
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Lenard ... care to enlighten us?
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W Koenig: Certainly! Mark and I will be doing the play again this
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February, in Thousand Oaks, (CA). We're looking forward to returning to
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the characters of Tom and Huck, since we had a wonderful time while
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reprising those roles on tour at conventions.
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Question: I've also enjoyed your comic book Raver and have all three
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issues published by Malibu. Are there plans to continue the series?
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W Koenig: There has been some talk of it, yes. I'm hoping everyone will
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see a graphic novel of Raver in the spring.
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Question: Is "Generations" going to be the last Star Trek movie with the
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original cast?
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W Koenig: In my opinion, yes.
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OnlineHost: Please do not send Instant Messages to our speakers. It keeps
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them from seeing your questions. Thank you.
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Question: Both the characters of Chekov & Sulu were just coming into their
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own right as commanding officers. Will you or do you desire to write any
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books on how Chekov's career went after Star Trek 6? Wish they would make
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a movie about that!
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W Koenig: Although that's an interesting premise and I've seen a lot of
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fan fiction on that very topic, I personally don't have any plans to
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continue Chekov's character in the literary sense. Although George has had
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some success in that arena, by recording a Captain Sulu adventure for
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Simon & Schuster.
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Question: Do you consider acting or writing more satisfying?
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W Koenig: That's very much like comparing apples and oranges, since I
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enjoy both but for different reasons. Acting gives me the ability to wear
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someone else's coat for a while, to see how they react to certain
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situations, etc. Especially in the case of stage work, where the
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adrenaline runs high and you can't make a mistake. And if you do, you have
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to find a quick, credible way out of it. :::laughter::: With writing, it's
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more cerebral. I enjoy the control of putting other characters into the
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mix, then seeing how they react to various situations. So, okay, it's a
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lot like playing God, but it's fun!
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Question: How do you feel about the new movie and the fact that some of
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the old cast is back in it and some not?
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W Koenig: I think the jury is still out on the new movie. I do feel it's
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time we passed the torch, and it's time to look ahead.
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OnlineHost: Please do not send Instant Messages to our speakers. It keeps
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them from seeing your questions. Thank you.
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W Koenig: I'd like to thank you for coming here to talk with me tonight. I
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had a good time answering your many questions, and hope you'll enjoy the
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new Star Trek movie.
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WKIntl: I'm sure everyone will enjoy "Generations", Walter.
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CSEmcee3: I'd like to thank you all for being here. Are there any closing
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remarks from our speakers?
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Data1701D: A big thank you to Walter for coming. |)
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WKIntl: If anyone would like further information on Walter's club, you can
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just e-mail me.
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W Koenig: It was a pleasure being here ... thanks for inviting me.
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WKIntl: (a note from the mystery woman in the corner).
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OnlineHost: All good things must come to an end. Time is up for this
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event.
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OnlineHost: Our thanks to "Data1701D" (Bill) and his guest, "Chekov"
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(Walter Koenig) for a fascinating glimpse into an impressive career. Be
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sure to watch for Koenig's new film "Generations" in which "Chekov"
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appears once more. For a transcript of tonight's event, please return to
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Center Stage (Keyword: "CENTER STAGE") within 24 hours. Thank you and good
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night!
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(C) 1994 America Online. All rights reserved.
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Transmitted: 95-06-11 00:03:27 EDT
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