Talk Trek and Beyond

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Talk Trek and Beyond was a radio show for Star Trek fans in California.

It was created and hosted by Joyce Mason and Evelyn DeBiase who used it as an opportunity to discuss all things Star Trek because there was no other radio show talking about the shows.

The show was featured on the Cable Radio Network with nearly 2.5 million listeners from about 1990 to 1998. It was broadcasted on "KIEV 870 AM" in Los Angeles, California.

One co-host was Daren Dochterman.

A similar show was The Star Trek Review (1970s).

"Hello, Gentle Beings"

Joyce Mason began every episode of Talk Trek by saying “Hello, Gentle Beings.” It wasn’t just a greeting to her. She believed in the best of people and saw off in the distance, a day when the reality of Gene Roddenberry’s vision would take hold and humanity would elevate itself to a nobler status.

undated flyer, possibly issued by Anthony Lesnick, the president of the USS Intrepid, a fan club in Dearborn, Michigan

The Radio Voice of Fans

From a flyer that described this show, and also encouraged a letter campaign to have the show broadcast in other states:

The Radio Voice of Fans

TALK TREK, a call-in radio talk show for fans by fans, broadcasting from KIEV 870AM, Los Angeles, California every Friday from 10:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m., has taken the Los Angeles area by storm. In a city where glitter and glamour is common place TALK TREK stands out as a unique experience. Boldly going into the area that allows fans to really express themselves, to talk about Star Trek, it's present, it's past and to help fans unite their dreams for a Star Trek future, TALK TREK wants to reach into the very heart of America hut we can only do it with your help.

Be one of the first states outside of California to receive this show. Write letters to your local talk radio station and tell them you've heard about TALK TREK and would like very much to receive it in your area. Take up a petition. They did that in Detroit and we are now on the air there. REMEMBER, letters and petitions are powerful - they kept Star Trek on the air even after Paramount killed it.

For more information about TALK TREK write to Joyce Mason, P.O. Box 7401-725, Studio City, California 91604...

Some History

Joyce Mason described this show to fans in the third issue of The William Shatner Connection, a newsletter she edited:

Friday,November 8,1991,saw the birth of the William Shatner Connection's new and unique radio call-in show TALK Trek. The premise of the show is exactly what you would guess it to be. We literally talk Trek for one hour a week from 10:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. (PST). It's a convention of the air. The show has taken off way beyond our expectations. Everyone seems to love it, including us. We chat with the fans, argue among ourselves,tend to be a bit disrespectful of certain move makers now and then and we even have guests. Grace Lee Whitney, Spice Williams (Vixes in Star Trek V), Hugh Farrington (Inspector on TJ Hooker) have been among our earliest visitors. Michael Forest (Apollo) in Who Mourns for Adonis, was on recently and I must tell you he is just as handsome today as he was 25 years ago. We have some wonderful guests lined up for March including Ray Bradbury, Nichelle Nichols and the beautiful Ilia from Star Trek, The Motion Picture, Persis Khambatta. We will also be guesting TNG writers Eric Stillwell (Yesterday’s Enterprise) and several other staff writers, very exciting times to come. Evie De Biase and myself are co-hosts with Patti Byther, DJ Hinson, our in-house Android, Oxnard and Phil Wheland, whom many of you may remember from the William Shatner Fellowship. Phil has been in all six Star Trek movies, has been dialogue coach for Bill and stand-in for both Bill and De Kelley, so he has a lot of stories to share with us.

If you are interested in obtaining copies of the radio tapes send an SASE to the Club for a list of tapes.

Excerpts Used in "Trekkies"

Part of this show was used in the 1997 documentary Trekkies. In it, Denise Crosby appears with hosts Joyce Mason and Evelyn DeBiase.

From a Transcript: As Quoted in "Trekkies"

- I'm Joyce Mason.

- I'm Evelyn DeBiase.

We host a radio show called Talk Trek and Beyond.

One lunch hour at work, and we thought about Trek. It's something we do a lot of, so we decided it would be a great radio show.

I called the directory assistance for the number of a radio station.

- She asked me...

- "Which one?"

I didn't know, so I said, "Pick one," and she picked out KAV. We went over, two weeks later we were on the air!

- First time.

- Seven years ago!

And we're still on!

It's been a lot of fun.

We didn't know what we were doing

but... We still don't!

...convention on the air.

[...]

There's nothing like a bunch of Trek people sitting and talking.

They'll go for 24 hours or more.

That's why it's called Talk Trek, because it's not just about Trek, but it's a whole universe within itself.

Just like people talk French and German, we talk Trek.