By Steve Winter, video by Kenny Fried
WASHINGTON 鈥� There are dozens of reasons why “Trekkies” have flocked to the Rio Suites Hotel this week for Star Trek 50, but at the end of the day, it鈥檚 still the 鈥渟tar power鈥� that draws the numbers.
William Shatner, Walter Koenig, George Takei and Nichelle Nichols 鈥� the four surviving stars of 鈥淪tar Trek The Original Series鈥� 鈥� are still among the main attractions but so too are the top-credited talent from 鈥淣ext Generation,鈥� 鈥淒eep Space Nine,鈥� 鈥淰oyager鈥� and 鈥淓nterprise,鈥� most of whom are also in attendance in Vegas.
Joining those household-name actors are the handful of true high-profile celebrity guest stars that have populated the Star Trek screen through the years. That list includes such luminaries as Sally Kellerman, Kirstie Allie, James Darren, Neal McDonough and others, all of whom are highly noticeable and visible 鈥� all week long 鈥� mixing, mingling and interacting with fans … albeit at a cost.
While autograph and photo sessions with legendary comedic star-turned-鈥淣ext Generation鈥� regular Whoopi Goldberg will fetch $150 each, photo sessions with just about every other character run in the $40 range with Scott Bakula and the four 鈥淥riginal Series鈥� stars charging in the $80 to $100 range.
Autographs tend to run between $30 and $40 except for some of the bigger names, which could go as high as $100.
But ask those in attendance, and they鈥檒l tell you it鈥檚 an absolute no-brainer.
鈥淭his is the first time Whoopi has ever appeared at a 鈥楽tar Trek鈥� convention so for me it鈥檚 well worth paying $150 for a photo with her,鈥� said Andrea Sandoval of Hays, Kansas.
鈥淚t鈥檚 definitely a good value,鈥� said her husband Todd Sandoval, who noted that the couple has purchased photos sessions through the years with all the main characters including Shatner, Patrick Stewart, Leonard Nimoy and Avery Brooks.
Patrice Roy of Sumter, South Carolina, has adopted a similar philosophy.
鈥淭hese interview and photo sessions are extremely reasonably priced,鈥� she said. 鈥淎s fans, we understand the actors鈥� needs for compensation and fan purchases are the only way conventions can afford to secure the stars, so it鈥檚 truly a win-win for everybody.鈥�
For others, the opportunity to simply be in the same room is satisfaction enough.
鈥淚f I have a chance to meet some of the stars, that鈥檚 fine, but I鈥檓 just happy to hear them speak on stage,鈥� said Laura Harter from West Covina, California. 鈥淚鈥檓 turning 50 this year and this is the 50th Anniversary, so I鈥檓 just thrilled to be here.鈥�
The passion is mutual.
鈥淭he fans are the very best thing about Star Trek,鈥� said Connor Trinneer who plays Commander Trip Tucker on 鈥淪tar Trek Enterprise.鈥� 鈥淭hey are so knowledgeable, so passionate and so committed but they鈥檙e also gracious and welcoming. That鈥檚 perhaps the best thing about being here at the convention.鈥�
Given the prevailing mutual-admiration society, it鈥檚 truly appears to be a match made in 鈥� well, if not heaven, then at least Sto-vo-kor.
Watch a video about the celebrity appearances at the convention:
Steve Winter and Kenny Fried work for聽, a Sage Communications Company.
