The Last Voyage of the Starship Enterprise
Encyclopedia
"The Last Voyage of the Starship Enterprise" is a comedy sketch that first aired during episode 22 of the first season of The NBC variety show, Saturday Night Live
on May 29, 1976. The twelve-minute sketch, written by Michael O'Donoghue
, became an instant cult classic hit among Star Trek
fans as well as science fiction fans.
(played by Chevy Chase
) as a 1968 Chrysler Imperial
with a tinted windshield and retractable headlights.
Captain Kirk
(played by John Belushi
) orders the ship to outrun the strange craft. Unable to outrun it, he orders phasers and photon torpedoes to destroy the craft. Unfortunately, all the ship's equipment fails without reason. Shields fail to operate and the Enterprise's systems break down. Suddenly, Dr. Leonard McCoy
(played by Dan Aykroyd
) runs onto the bridge saying the aliens are on the ship. He says the aliens did not beam aboard
, but merely walked out from behind the curtain and there they were on the ship.
It turns out that the aliens are NBC executive Herb Goodman (played by Elliot Gould) and his associate, Curtis (played by Garrett Morris
). They announce that the Star Trek series has been cancelled. Captain Kirk orders the crew to fire their hand phasers on the aliens but nothing happens. Mr. Spock assumes that the aliens have a type of weapons deactivator and tries to employ his famous Vulcan nerve pinch
on him, but that does not work either. The executive says, "Nimoy, I'm sorry we have to take back those ears," and quickly removes Mr. Spock's pointed ears. Mr. Spock then mind-melds with Herb Goodman only to discover, as he describes, "His mind is dark and empty inside...there are mice in the corner and spider webs."
Other NBC executives and staff show up and dismantle the Enterprise set.
Other crew members as actors accept this proclamation, but William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy try to hang on to their Star Trek personas as Kirk and Spock. However, Nimoy is eventually reduced to a sobbing nervous wreck, and is carried off the set. Shatner defiantly remains in the captain's chair, as Herb Goodman mentions a phone call from a margarine company. (At the time this sketch was transmitted, William Shatner
was a commercial spokesman for Promise Margarine.) Finally, the set is completely dismantled, and Shatner as Captain Kirk makes a final entry into his log in his Captain's chair, where he recalls his previous three years of space exploration, concluding: "And except for one television network, we have found intelligence everywhere in the galaxy." Raising his hand in the Vulcan salute, he goes on, "Live long and prosper." Then he brings his fingers together, his hand still raised, and adds, "I Promise."
Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live is a live American late-night television sketch comedy and variety show developed by Lorne Michaels and Dick Ebersol. The show premiered on NBC on October 11, 1975, under the original title of NBC's Saturday Night.The show's sketches often parody contemporary American culture...
on May 29, 1976. The twelve-minute sketch, written by Michael O'Donoghue
Michael O'Donoghue
Michael O'Donoghue was a writer and performer. He was known for his dark and destructive style of comedy and humor, was a major contributor to National Lampoon magazine, and was the first head writer of Saturday Night Live.-Childhood:O'Donoghue was born Michael Henry Donohue in Sauquoit, New York...
, became an instant cult classic hit among Star Trek
Star Trek
Star Trek is an American science fiction entertainment franchise created by Gene Roddenberry. The core of Star Trek is its six television series: The Original Series, The Animated Series, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and Enterprise...
fans as well as science fiction fans.
Synopsis
The starship U.S.S. Enterprise sensors pick up a strange alien spacecraft following in high pursuit of the ship which was identified by Mr. SpockSpock
Spock is a fictional character in the Star Trek media franchise. First portrayed by Leonard Nimoy in the original Star Trek series, Spock also appears in the animated Star Trek series, two episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation, seven of the Star Trek feature films, and numerous Star Trek...
(played by Chevy Chase
Chevy Chase
Cornelius Crane "Chevy" Chase is an American comedian, writer, and television and film actor, born into a prominent entertainment industry family. Chase worked a plethora of odd jobs before moving into comedy acting with National Lampoon...
) as a 1968 Chrysler Imperial
Chrysler Imperial
The Chrysler Imperial, introduced in 1926, was the company's top of the range vehicle for much of its history. Models were produced with the Chrysler name until 1954, and again from 1990 to 1993. The company tried to position the cars as a prestige marque that would rival Cadillac and Lincoln...
with a tinted windshield and retractable headlights.
Captain Kirk
James T. Kirk
James Tiberius "Jim" Kirk is a character in the Star Trek media franchise. Kirk was first played by William Shatner as the principal lead character in the original Star Trek series. Shatner voiced Kirk in the animated Star Trek series and appeared in the first seven Star Trek movies...
(played by John Belushi
John Belushi
John Adam Belushi was an American comedian, actor, and musician, best known as one of the original cast members of the NBC sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live, The Star of the Films National Lampoon's Animal House and the The Blues Brothers and for fronting the American blues and soul...
) orders the ship to outrun the strange craft. Unable to outrun it, he orders phasers and photon torpedoes to destroy the craft. Unfortunately, all the ship's equipment fails without reason. Shields fail to operate and the Enterprise's systems break down. Suddenly, Dr. Leonard McCoy
Leonard McCoy
Leonard "Bones" McCoy is a character in the Star Trek media franchise. First portrayed by DeForest Kelley in the original Star Trek series, McCoy also appears in the animated Star Trek series, seven Star Trek movies, the pilot episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation, and in numerous books,...
(played by Dan Aykroyd
Dan Aykroyd
Daniel Edward "Dan" Aykroyd, CM is a Canadian comedian, actor, screenwriter, musician, winemaker and ufologist. He was an original cast member of Saturday Night Live, an originator of The Blues Brothers and Ghostbusters and has had a long career as a film actor and screenwriter.-Early...
) runs onto the bridge saying the aliens are on the ship. He says the aliens did not beam aboard
Transporter (Star Trek)
A transporter is a fictional teleportation machine used in the Star Trek universe. Transporters convert a person or object into an energy pattern , then "beam" it to a target, where it is reconverted into matter...
, but merely walked out from behind the curtain and there they were on the ship.
It turns out that the aliens are NBC executive Herb Goodman (played by Elliot Gould) and his associate, Curtis (played by Garrett Morris
Garrett Morris
Garrett Gonzalez Morris is an American comedian and actor from New Orleans. He was part of the original cast of the sketch comedy program Saturday Night Live, appearing from 1975 to 1980.-Early life and career:...
). They announce that the Star Trek series has been cancelled. Captain Kirk orders the crew to fire their hand phasers on the aliens but nothing happens. Mr. Spock assumes that the aliens have a type of weapons deactivator and tries to employ his famous Vulcan nerve pinch
Vulcan nerve pinch
In the fictional Star Trek universe, the Vulcan nerve pinch is a technique used mainly by Vulcans to render unconsciousness by pinching a pressure point at the base of the victim’s neck...
on him, but that does not work either. The executive says, "Nimoy, I'm sorry we have to take back those ears," and quickly removes Mr. Spock's pointed ears. Mr. Spock then mind-melds with Herb Goodman only to discover, as he describes, "His mind is dark and empty inside...there are mice in the corner and spider webs."
Other NBC executives and staff show up and dismantle the Enterprise set.
Other crew members as actors accept this proclamation, but William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy try to hang on to their Star Trek personas as Kirk and Spock. However, Nimoy is eventually reduced to a sobbing nervous wreck, and is carried off the set. Shatner defiantly remains in the captain's chair, as Herb Goodman mentions a phone call from a margarine company. (At the time this sketch was transmitted, William Shatner
William Shatner
William Alan Shatner is a Canadian actor, musician, recording artist, and author. He gained worldwide fame and became a cultural icon for his portrayal of James T...
was a commercial spokesman for Promise Margarine.) Finally, the set is completely dismantled, and Shatner as Captain Kirk makes a final entry into his log in his Captain's chair, where he recalls his previous three years of space exploration, concluding: "And except for one television network, we have found intelligence everywhere in the galaxy." Raising his hand in the Vulcan salute, he goes on, "Live long and prosper." Then he brings his fingers together, his hand still raised, and adds, "I Promise."
Cast
- John BelushiJohn BelushiJohn Adam Belushi was an American comedian, actor, and musician, best known as one of the original cast members of the NBC sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live, The Star of the Films National Lampoon's Animal House and the The Blues Brothers and for fronting the American blues and soul...
as Captain Kirk/William ShatnerWilliam ShatnerWilliam Alan Shatner is a Canadian actor, musician, recording artist, and author. He gained worldwide fame and became a cultural icon for his portrayal of James T... - Chevy ChaseChevy ChaseCornelius Crane "Chevy" Chase is an American comedian, writer, and television and film actor, born into a prominent entertainment industry family. Chase worked a plethora of odd jobs before moving into comedy acting with National Lampoon...
as Mr. Spock/Leonard NimoyLeonard NimoyLeonard Simon Nimoy is an American actor, film director, poet, musician and photographer. Nimoy's most famous role is that of Spock in the original Star Trek series , multiple films, television and video game sequels.... - Dan AykroydDan AykroydDaniel Edward "Dan" Aykroyd, CM is a Canadian comedian, actor, screenwriter, musician, winemaker and ufologist. He was an original cast member of Saturday Night Live, an originator of The Blues Brothers and Ghostbusters and has had a long career as a film actor and screenwriter.-Early...
as Dr. McCoy/DeForest KelleyDeForest KelleyJackson DeForest Kelley was an American actor known for his iconic roles in Westerns and as Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy of the USS Enterprise in the television and film series Star Trek.-Early life:...
and the voice of ScottyMontgomery ScottMontgomery "Scotty" Scott is a Scottish engineer in the Star Trek media franchise. First portrayed by James Doohan in the original Star Trek series, Scotty also appears in the animated Star Trek series, seven Star Trek movies, the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode "Relics", and in numerous...
on intercom - Elliot Gould as Herb Goodman, NBC Executive
- Garrett MorrisGarrett MorrisGarrett Gonzalez Morris is an American comedian and actor from New Orleans. He was part of the original cast of the sketch comedy program Saturday Night Live, appearing from 1975 to 1980.-Early life and career:...
as Curtis, Head NBC stage crew - Akira Yoshimura as Mr. Sulu/George TakeiGeorge TakeiGeorge Hosato Takei Altman is an American actor, author, social activist and former civil politician. He is best known for his role in the television series Star Trek and its film spinoffs, in which he played Hikaru Sulu, helmsman of the...
- Doris Powell as Lt. Uhura/Nichelle NicholsNichelle NicholsNichelle Nichols is an American actress, singer and voice artist. She sang with Duke Ellington and Lionel Hampton before turning to acting...