Heavy sigh ... Bob Justman (Star Trek producer) has passed on, too....

[Book Lover]

http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/california/la-me-justman1-2008jun01,0,3782931.story

Robert H. Justman, a producer who was one of the creative forces behind the original "Star Trek" television series of the 1960s as well as the 1980s-era "Star Trek: The Next Generation," has died. He was 81.

...

As associate producer, technical consultant and eventually co-producer, Bob Justman wielded considerable influence on "Star Trek" from its beginning in 1966 until 1969, when NBC canceled the series. He was involved in all facets of production and had a hand in casting, set design and props, as well as story lines and scripts.

...

Justman was a supervising producer on "Star Trek: The Next Generation," along with Rick Berman, who later became executive producer of that program as well as subsequent spinoffs.

"I can't tell you how nurturing this guy was to me," Berman told The Times. "He was like a mentor and a father. He was extraordinary."


He and Herb Solow cowrote a great book, Inside Star Trek, that should be required reading at the Academy. Check it out if you can to get "the suits'" perspective on making Star Trek.

[edbermac]

1. Damn! They're dropping all over the place.

Justman's death came within days of those of his "Star Trek" friends and colleagues Joseph Pevney, who directed some of the original series' most popular episodes, and Alexander “Sandy” Courage, who composed the series theme.

"There seems to be a big 'Star Trek' convention and everyone is going," Jonathan Justman said. "Everyone is getting beamed up."

[Book Lover]

3. I know

What a crappy memento mori...

[Deja Q]

2. Interesting guy.

In an interview about 60s Trek, he said coldly they were doing it for the money.

In a different interview about 80s Trek, he said they were updating the show to do all the things they never could with the original (separate ready room, more drama, holodeck, et al), and with no mention of money at all.

Of course, the interview for 60s trek took place long after the one he did for 80s trek, and he's right in either case... :)

Justman oversaw the first season of TNG. I'd much rather remember him for TOS, where he really shined.

[Book Lover]

4. Yes, let us indeed be silent regarding TNG's first season

Agreed :-)

[Book Lover]

5. kick