Thursday, December 18, 2008

Majel Barret Has Gone to Sto-Vo-Kor


I am truly saddened.

Majel Barrett Roddenberry passed away today. Majel was probably best known as Gene Roddenberry's (the creator of Star Trek) wife. Majel was the voice of the Enterprise's Computer from the original series all the way through the new and yet unreleased Star Trek set to come out next summer.

Majel caused controversy in the 1960s. She was originally Kirk's "Number One" in the pilot, only to be replaced by Spock when the network didn't like having a woman second in command of the Enterprise. I always thought it was awesome that before Spock there was Majel.

Majel was also Nurse Chapel in the Original Series, and Lwaxana Troi on TNG (The Next Generation) and Deep Space Nine. She was always trying to get herself some Jean Luc. Then some Odo. Clearly she had a thing for reserved men that were completely overwhelmed by her.

Majel has been part of Star Trek since its inception and it is without irony that I say that the world has lost a pioneer and a great woman.

We'll miss you, Majel. You and Gene look so cute together in that picture, I hope you're finally together again.

Oh and for your Trek purists, yes, I know that Lwaxana was Betazoid, not Klingon, but damn, give me a break. Lwaxana was a warrior in her own way and didn't take shit from no one, so that's enough to make her an honorary Klingon in my book.