Space Oddities Trivia Quiz

Answer: Neelix

Ethan Phillips played the part of the Talaxian hybrid (i.e., one-eighth Mylean), Neelix, on "Star Trek: Voyager" (1995-2001). The show was set in the 24th century. In the pilot episode, the Starship USS Voyager had been teleported to the Delta Quadrant. Neelix joined the Voyager's crew after his family had been killed in a war with the Haakonians.

He became the ship's cook and occasional counselor.

Answer: Lennier

"Babylon 5" (1994-1998) is a 5 mile long space station where we learn about the lives of the inhabitants who must deal with the stress of personal and professional issues, e.g., the war with the Minbari, Earth's slide toward a 'Big Brother' dictatorship, the evil Bester (Chekov), the telepath problem, the Vorlons and the Shadows, as well as the tension of the impending war between the Centauri and the Narn. Lennier is Minbari; he is the ambassadorial aide to Delenn, the Minbari ambassador to Babylon 5. Lennier is played by Bill Mumy, the veteran spaceman who appeared in "Lost in Space" (as Billy Mumy) as Will Robinson.

Answer: Phlox

Interestingly, although "Star Trek: Enterprise" (2001-2005) is one of the last Trek dramas to be aired on TV, i.e., the fifth installment, it is set in the 22nd century, 150 years before James T. Kirk and his crew. Scott Bakula made a 'quantum leap' and appeared as Jonathan Archer, Captain of Earth's first Warp 5 starship, NX-01.

The series deals with the 'intergalactic upheaval' which leads to the formation of the Federation. John Billingsley is Dr. Phlox, a Denobulan who becomes the Chief Medical Officer on the ship.

He was brought aboard to care for a Klingon, and applauds the diverse nature of the crew.

Answer: Teal'c

"Stargate SG-1" (1997-2007) gives us an ancient portal to other worlds. The SG-1 team is comprised of soldiers and scientists who go through the portal to explore new worlds, develop new ties with friendly civilizations and protect the Earth from hostile forces. One of the protagonists is Colonel Jack O'Neill played by Richard Dean Anderson (who used to be "MacGyver). Christopher Judge is a Jaffa and one of the Earth's leading authorities on the 'Goa'uld', a race which uses other bodies as hosts. Teal'c has a golden tattoo on his forehead (for Prime of Apophis), and his main goal is to defeat the Goa'uld.

Answer: Data

My personal favorite Trek series is "Star Trek: The Next Generation" (1987-1994). I found both the plots and the acting exceptional. Picard, 'Number One', Counselor Troi, Dr. Crusher and, of course, Lieutenant Commander Data, played by Brent Spiner. Data was the first android to enter Starfleet; he was an android created by Dr. Noonien Soong in the 2330s. Data's one wish was to be more human but his efforts did not succeed until the 'emotion chip' in 2371.

Besides his speed of thought and great strength, Data also had a cat named Spot.

Answer: Maya

In "Space: 1999 (1975-1977), a scientific research colony was housed on Moonbase Alpha to watch over Earth's atomic waste, stored on the dark side of the moon (cue Pink Floyd). An explosive chain-reaction of the waste (a cautionary tale?) caused the Moon to leave Earth's orbit and the solar system. Along their nomadic journey, the crew was joined by an alien woman, Maya, a shapeshifter who was able to change herself into any living creature. Maya was played by Catherine Schell, while the other protagonists, i.e., Commander Koenig and Dr. Russell were portrayed by Martin Landau and Barbara Bain, respectively (formerly of "Mission Impossible").

Answer: Odo

"Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" (1993-1999) is not a Starfleet ship but, rather, a space station located at the opening of a stable wormhole. The wormhole was discovered by Captain Benjamin Sisco, the head of the Deep Space Nine crew. Among the crew members are Major Kira - a Bajoran, Jadzia Dax - a Trill, and Constable Odo. Odo is a Changeling/shapeshifter who is Security Chief of the space station; he is played by Rene Auberjonois.

The space station's main opposition is the Dominion, joined by the Cardassians (with a 'C'), at the other end of the wormhole.

Answer: Dr. Smith

Let us go back to an earlier, simpler time, to get "Lost in Space" (1965-1968) on the Jupiter 2. The year is 1997 (yes, their future is our past). The Earth is massively overpopulated so Professor John Robinson, his family and Major Don West are selected to establish a colony on Alpha Centauri. Enter Dr. Zachary Smith (Jonathan Harris), an enemy agent sent to sabotage the mission.

He winds up becoming a stowaway and his extra weight causes the ship to veer off course and become hopelessly 'lost in space'. "Danger, Will Robinson"!

Answer: Spock

What can I say about the original "Star Trek" (1966-1969) created by the visionary Gene Roddenberry? Despite the fact that the original episodes were only aired for three seasons (79 episodes), the Enterprise became the prototype against which all that followed were measured.

The show featured a diversity unknown to TV at the time, e.g., Sulu, Chekov, Uhura and Spock. Spock (Leonard Nimoy), son of Sarek, was an alien Vulcan (although his mother was from Earth). He served as science officer and First Officer of the USS Enterprise, NCC-1701, on their five year mission "to explore new worlds...and to boldly go where no man has gone before".

Answer: Ming

"Flash Gordon" (2007-2008) featured John Ralston as Emperor Ming the Merciless from the planet Mongo. His appearance was quite different from the original Ming in the early Alex Raymond comic strips and the movie serials which portrayed him as a Fu Manchu-like villain.

In this version, the tyrant (now Caucasian) is an evil genius who controls Mongo through his monopoly on the production of clean water. Ming justifies his oppression by telling the populace he is maintaining order and preventing the chaos which preceded him.