Anthony and Laurie have a lot of news to catch up on. They start with the cancellation of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, looking at statements from Paramount as well as reactions from both the cast and the show’s fans, and have a brief debate about whether or not that factored into the decision. Robert Picardo’s recent comments about Star Trek taking “a pause” sparked a broader discussion of what might happen next with the franchise both on TV and in movies. They also take a look at a new interview with Paul Giamatti about Academy‘s Nus Braka. They chat about Project Hail Mary author Andy Weir’s comments on this era of Trek, along with his subsequent apology to Alex Kurtzman, and Tony goes through the latest on new comics and games. They recap some of the Trek Talks panels, particularly the Deep Space Nine “Trials and Tribble-ations discussion where Ira talked about nervously calling Leonard Nimoy to get his approval and the Enterprise writers panel where they talked about their pitches for season 5. Laurie gives a full Trek Talks update and then urges everyone to go check out the footage and images from the Artemis mission.

This week, we have a special supplemental podcast recorded live at WonderCon last weekend in Anaheim (so forgive the suboptimal audio). Our friend TrekLand’s Larry Nemecek was hosting a panel with a variety of podcasters and Star Trek superfans as participants, including our own Anthony Pascale. The panel was originally going to cover  the online debates surrounding Starfleet Academy, but the show not getting picked up for a third season pivoted things. Here is the official description from the WonderCon schedule. Star Trek at 60: Starfleet Academy: Real Uniter or Faux Divider? Is it 2017 again? Star Trek turns 60 with a host of anniversary plans, but Starfleet Academy has bowed with more controversy than any recent series since Star Trek: Discovery’s heated first year. With SFA’s first season wrapped, “Dr. Trek” Larry Nemecek (The Trek Files, Portal 47) asks a host of Trek industry vets for their own takes on the series as well as the meta-reaction to it: Is that initial negative reaction by some critics and fans more about clickbait-chasing talkers and review-bombing than actual criticism and nuance? an we sense whether IRL armchair Trekkies feel as mainstream critics and activist fans do—in support? Panelists included Neal Hallford (DP, Con of Wrath), Matt Jennings (1701: A Blerd Story), Tony Kim (Hero Within), Giraffe (Strange New Pod), and Anthony Pascale (TrekMovie).

Anthony and Laurie and TrekMovie contributor Bobby Oler chat with John Billingsley, Star Trek: Enterprise‘s Dr. Phlox, to talk about Trek Talks 5, the all-day marathon of Star Trek panels on YouTube benefitting Hollywood Food Coalition that’s now in its fifth year. In their freewheeling discussion, they also dig deep into John’s experience on Enterprise and his work on other shows, his reasons for giving up social media, sitting on William Shatner’s lap, and why he’s not a fan of table reads, as well as the importance of the Hollywood Food Coalition and the way Star Trek fans and pros come together to do good in the world.

[Review starts at 22:37 / Interviews start at 59:27] Anthony and Laurie start with Anthony’s recap of his evening on the red carpet and in the press room at the Saturn Awards last weekend. After that, they dig into Alex Kurtzman’s comments about his ongoing discussions with Paramount Skydance, Henry Alonso Myers’ optimism for a Strange New Worlds spin-off (and news on the fate of its sets), Olatunde Osunsanmi’s optimism for more Starfleet Academy after season 2. Optimism! They also talk about the new Waze update that adds The Doctor’s voice to your driving directions. Then it’s time to get into the Starfleet Academy season 1 finale, “Rubincon,” which pulled together elements from across the season. They wrap up by playing the audio from Tony’s recent interviews with showrunners Alex Kurtzman and Noga Landau.

[Review starts at 23:46 / Interview starts at 59:59] Anthony and Laurie start with the buzziest news: The Paramount/Warner Bros. merger is moving forward. They talk about what this might mean for Trek, also noting that this is the first time in ten years we haven’t had any Star Trek shows in production or greenlit. They also discuss Seth MacFarlane’s new comments about The Orville season 4, and awards wins for Prodigy and Terry Matalas. Then it’s time to review Starfleet Academy‘s penultimate episode of season 1, “300th Night,” which delivered big on both action and emotion. They wrap things up with Tony’s new interview with “300th Night” director Jonathan Frakes.

[Review starts at 15:05 / Interviews start at 53:54] Anthony and Laurie start with breaking news: It looks like Paramount is going to win the bid to buy Warner Bros., instead of Netflix. (More on that next week as info comes in.) Also: Star Trek is receiving a Hall of Fame awards at the Saturns, a new comic sends Uhura back to 1963, and the Nimoy family is asking fans to help honor Leonard’s legacy. They cover the latest on Starfleet Academy, noting that the show has wrapped production on its second season and appreciating the note George Takei sent Karim Diané about playing Trek’s first gay Klingon. Then it’s time to review episode 8 “The Life of the Stars,” an emotionally intense episode with some great sci-fi and the return of Mary Wiseman’s Tilly to the franchise. They play Laurie’s interview with Mary and then Tony’s chat with showrunner Noga Landau and episode co-writer (and show creator) Gaia Violo. They wrap up with a quick look at William Shatner’s heavy metal album and LeVar Burton on Rob Lowe’s podcast.

[Review starts at 25:34 / Interviews start at 49:31] Anthony and Laurie talk through the latest news: The screenwriter of Star Trek: Nemesis says Data did NOT die in movie, there’s a new documentary out about George Takei, and IDW is launching new comic book series for Trek’s 60th anniversary. They also round up some Starfleet Academy news: That comic book in last week’s episode was not made by AI, Paul Giamatti has hopes for Nus Braka’s future, and Kate Mulgrew has choice words for anyone who insults Holly Hunter’s Chancellor Ake. Then it’s time to review “Ko’Zeine,” which Tony & Laurie both found to be a little weak, and play Tony’s new interviews with George Hawkins (Darem) and  Bella Shepard (Genesis).

[Review starts at  08:07] It’s our 250th episode! Anthony and Laurie cover the news: Jess Bush talked about Strange New Worlds at a convention, where she hinted that the Spock/Chapel relationship might not be as over as we think, and Robbie McNeill and Tim Russ are providing voices for the upcoming Voyager Across The Unknown game. Then they jump into their review of Starfleet Academy episode 6, “Come, Let’s Away,” appreciating the high stakes, the taut pacing, the character moments, and the intense performances of Holly Hunter and Paul Giamatti. Both hosts really liked the episode, but also had a handful of nitpicks to throw in, although the episode was still a hit. They wrap up with connections between Star Trek and Commodore 64 & Amiga, a Bluesky account about Worf’s emails, and a small Trek Talks update.

[Review starts at 4:09 / Interviews start at 58:03] Anthony and Laurie keep the news short this week, but do talk about a new comic series from IDW that covers the unexplored (and very dark) history of why the Klingons are refugees in the 32nd century. The rest of the podcast is dedicated to Starfleet Academy episode 5, “Series Acclimation Mil” and its loving tribute to Deep Space Nine and the Sisko family. As they discuss the episode, they play clips from various interviews with Tawny Newsome and Robert Picardo, then afterwards, the full interview Tony did with Tawny and Cirroc Lofton.

Anthony and Laurie start with awards news: Strange New Worlds is up for four Saturn Awards, and both SNW and Section 31 are up for some Canadian Costume Awards. They also talk about an upcoming Star Trek-themed episode of The Masked Singer, the arrival of a new batch of Scouts episodes, a new SFA comic, and some early intel on audience data for Starfleet Academy. Then they dig into their review of this week’s episode, “Vox in Excelso,” which they both found to be rich, layered, and very Star Trek. They wrap up with Tig Notaro’s Oscar nominatino, a first listen of the new podcast from Jonathan Frakes and Brent Spiner, and the answer to the all-important question: Why is William Shatner eating cereal in his car?

Anthony and Laurie start the podcast with a quick look at the Razzie Awards’ multiple nominations for the Star Trek: Section 31 streaming movie and some of the chatter around Starfleet Academy, which includes insults from blowhard politicians and excellent rebuttals from Gina Yashere on CNN and Whoopi Goldberg on The View. Then they review Starfleet Academy‘s third episode, “Vitus Reflux,” which definitely leans into the whole YA vibe. After that, they play Tony’s brand-new interview with Academy‘s Oded Fehr (Admiral Vance). Then Laurie gives a quick Trek Talks update and they both discuss the recent William Shatner-eating-cereal-in-his-car discourse.