First Time Watching ALL of Star Trek - Episode 46: A Piece of the Action (TOS S2E17)

[@fredrikcarlstedt393]

Kirk is giving this planet an offer they cannot refuse .

[@sarahfullerton6894]

You mean, "Koik"?

[@Siddh4rtha]

Waiting for the big reveal of Kirk and Spock in full gangster attire and seeing Alex's reaction was priceless.

[@tonyadler1319]

Is the idea slightly corny? Maybe. Is it awesome? Yes, it is.

[@timothyserabian5103]

“Slightly”? 😂

[@tranya327]

Ten years ago, I named my adopted kittens 'Jojo' and 'Kracko' - based on this episode. :D ...The actor who plays Krako, Vic Tayback, was a character actor back in the day. He's most famous for playing Mel, the boss/owner of Mel's Diner on the old sitcom, "Alice.' (Mel had a personality very similar to Krako; he was always telling his waitress employees something like: "You don't HAVE a lunch hour! You have a lunch •• HALF •• hour!!" ) •••• The man most responsible for the comedy 'lean' during Star Trek's second season was Gene Coon (showrunner for one year, ending at the midpoint of season 2), and a co-writer of this episode. We have episodes like "I, Mudd," "The Trouble With Tribbles" and "A Piece of the Action" thanks to him. A difference in creative visions led to Coon being dismissed as showrunner by Roddenberry, and Coon left the show, but continued to write several more episodes under his pen name, "Lee Cronin." The creative differences were precisely over this issue: Does Star Trek have room to have some episodes that are straight-up comedies, or must they ALL be dramas? Coon's involvement was the high point in the series, and the show never really recovered after Coon's departure - a tragic outcome for everyone.

[@donovanbradford8231]

And the crazy thing was is many fans wouldn't know about how important Gene Coon was because Gene Roddenberry would take the lion share of the credit on things in interviews and at early conventions. It wasn't until many of the cast and crew started to write the biographies about their careers and that you individuals like Shatner saying Coon was a very important figure for the series and giving examples like certain episodes and styles if writing that many fans loved.

[@aprilstewart5929]

"Lee Cronin" is responsible for "Spock's Brain". Think about it.

[@aprilstewart5929]

The show was *excellent* without him, though his contribution is very much respected- but the show had been eviscerated by the network. NBC fought Roddenberry every inch of the way for every penny, threatened to cancel ST (resulting in a major backlash from fans!) and then gave it a seriously terrible time-slat for its 3rd season. According to Majel Barrett, Roddenberry realized, as soon as the new time-slot was announced, that ST was over, and there was nothing he could do about it. So he mostly withdrew as an executive producer. This made things very dificult for the actors, especially because they all know some of the episodes they were making were really bad. In fact, I, at the age of 12, realized ST had been shot in the face, as soon as NBC announced the new time-slot for it. I also assumed this was deliberate, though I can't prove that. But yeah...NBC constantly fought Roddenberry about every penny. It's amazing to me that the show lasted as long as it did, considering all this. But then....it went into re-runs....and the rest is history. :)

[@vincentsaia6545]

It's one of my favorite episodes, especially the fizbin scene

[@3dbadboy1]

They even have a Fizbin deck of cards in Star Trek Online lol.

[@robabiera733]

Back in the 1970's there was a group called the Star Trek Welcommittee that named their newsletter after this episode. Their main purpose was to facilitate networking and community among fans and fan groups around the country. This was way before the internet, of course. Also, fizbin was huge among Star Trek fans back in the day.

[@ajclements4627]

I can remember ordering items back in the day from Lincoln Enterprises and Starlog magazine.

[@robabiera733]

@@ajclements4627 I loved Starlog!

[@leftcoaster67]

What's hilarious is Nimoy often played heavies earlier in his career.

[@racookster]

Yes, and DeForest Kelley was typecast as a western outlaw. The network wasn't crazy about Roddenberry hiring either one of them.

[@allyourmoney]

Nimoy is actually from Boston & had a thick accent growing up. He sounded like he was from The Departed.

[@chriscma1]

Nimoy even played a heavy out to get Shatner on the Man from UNCLE.

[@wyrmshadow4374]

In non canon apocrypha, i think in a book called Worlds of the Federation, it was filled with maps of all the worlds the shows visited. One of them was this world after MCCoy left his communicator. The next time it was visited the Federation they found a fully functioning Starbase in orbit and everyone wearing TOS uniforms.

[@Swiftbow]

Lower Decks needs to go there and show that.

[@BruceCarroll]

As I understand it, the Prime Directive states that the Federation may not interfere with cultures which have not developed warp drive. One writer said, "The Prime directive was invented by the show's writers to be broken." Also, "Dammit, Josh, he's a doctor not a mob boss" is your best moment in this series so far. Keep up the good work!

[@greenmonsterprod]

A later episode ("Bread & Circuses") includes a scene where they spell out a couple of dos and don'ts re: the Prime Directive. It's interpretation varies, though. Kirk felt in applied to a planet's "normal" development, which gave him leeway, while Picard in TNG was far stricter in obeying it. And Gene Roddenberry figured that, even if the crew witnessed an absolute atrocity on a pre-warp world, they had to shrug their shoulders and not react. So, David Gerrold was right in that it was, indeed, made to be broken in TOS, at least.

[@richelliott9320]

The old mob boss who got beamed over from the phone was also the hobo who gets killed by McCoys phaser in city on the edge of forever

[@aqrxv]

Piece of the Action and Trouble with Tribbles are my two favorite original series episodes for humor; I'd put Piece in the top 10 easily. As you say in the reaction, the concept is very "logically" justified and at the top of the "we must use the backlot" examples. When Star Trek was only watched on reruns, it was always a treat whenever this came around.

[@heinleinreader]

I would add I, Mudd for the triumvirate of perfection. That bit when they tell Norman that he must listen carefully, that everything Harry Mudd says is a lie, and Mudd says, "Now pay close attention Norman. I am lying" and watching Norman's response to that is wonderful. Watching that whole escape plot is fantastic. When Spock explains what logic is, that is a riot. And Spock telling the one female android he likes her, but telling her twin that he doesn't like her. Chekov has a great bit too. They all do. And the baseball game/bomb creation bit was a riot. Harry Mudd was one of my favorite characters. Dr McCoy in Trouble With Tribbles saying that as near as he can figure out they are born pregnant. Then it devolves from there. Cyrano Jones was another great character. And the DS-9 episode Trials and Tribbleations was a favorite from DS-9 along with the one where Quark, Rom and Nog wind up back on Earth circa 1950. And the one where the DS-9 crew find themselves as the writing staff of a 1950s sci-fi magazine. Assignment: Earth was a really good TOS episode. Teri Garr was great early in her career.

[@markfilla9305]

Yeah! I've been waiting for this episode since you started this project! One of my all-time favorites. I only wish you had included the scene where Kirk calls Mr. Spock "Spocko". That scene has always made me laugh 😃 😀. Nice reaction guys!

[@sarahfullerton6894]

And the part where "Spocko" says to Bela Oxmyx, "I'd advise yuz to keep dialing, Oxmyx"!, and points the "heater" at him.

[@maxshenkwrites]

One of my favorites when I watched the show originally and I'd forgotten how out-and-out fun it is, but never CAMPY because, as you pointed out, the writing (again!) is just top notch. The writers of the show never seemed to go for the obvious easy takes in any of the shows. Glad you two enjoyed it, and thanks for reminding me how great this episode was (I may just cue it up later this afternoon; I bet it's been 20 years since I saw it).

[@OpenMawProductions]

This doesn't spoil anything, but at one point for the 25th anniversary, one of the shows was planning their special episode and they planned to revisit this planet, only to find it had basically turned into a fan convention of TOS cosplayers. A neat idea, but what they ultimately did was a lot funner. You'll see when you get there in the years to come. Here's to getting to that 5000 mark! Love ya guys.

[@ajclements4627]

DC’s Star Trek had an appearance by Bela at the trial of Captain Kirk, then Admiral in the time frame between ST 3 and 4 if I’m remembering correctly.

[@dupersuper1938]

@@ajclements4627 The trial was actually between 5 and 6, and the Spock/Sarek exchange when Bela's on the stand is priceless.

[@ajclements4627]

@@dupersuper1938 Thx, I have Swiss cheese memory lol.

[@scottbassitt1452]

There was a book in the 90's called "Worlds of the Federation" that had descriptions for a bunch of alien races from Star Trek and was set in the Next Generation era. It included the Sigma Iotians and it detailed that they did take apart McCoy's communicator and had started mimicking Starfleet - they had Original Star Trek era uniforms and had built like a starbase or something. It was all non-canon, but still kinda cool that they reference that episode and culture.

[@VieVentar]

Here's an amusing thought. Those cars they were driving were, at the time, around 30 years old. It would be like a modern Trek episode using 1990's cars.

[@matthewmckinnon-gray9957]

And thus the “You’ll never be as cool as Gangster Spock” meme was born

[@bfdidc6604]

The actor who played Cracko was later quite famous for playing Mel, of Mel’s Diner, on the 70s sit-com Alice.

[@Esl1999]

“Mel…kiss my grits”. You can’t help but think that Flo line when ever I saw Vic Tayback on screen. Of course, there’s Mel’s favorite words to call them “Dingy broads”

[@clearsmashdrop5829]

As a kid I saw Alice before I saw this episode. So, it was hard for me to not think of Cracko as Mel.

[@bfdidc6604]

@@clearsmashdrop5829 Or "smelly Melly with the jelly belly," as kids used to call him.

[@theworldofron2712]

I love the fact that they based their civilization around Mafia but were able to reconstruct working period automobiles.

[@Fast_Eddy_Magic]

That's in chapter 42 of The Book.

[@frankb3347]

I like how since Vulcans can't lie Spock finds ways of answering Kirk's bluff questions in a ways that he's never technically lying. Like saying he's never calculated the odds of winning the made up game.

[@davidsandy5917]

Vulcan's can't lie but they can exaggerate.

[@mikejankowski6321]

It's like with poker in The Corbomite Maneuver...Kirk was improvising and Spock had to as well, something he is not adept at.

[@vincentsaia6545]

"I would advise yas ta keep dialin', Oxmyx."

[@stevencasteel6799]

Glad to see someone brought that one up. My favorite line😂👏

[@jamesclapp6832]

I loved the look on the mobster's face when Spock put the pinch on him in the doorway. Comic perfection.

[@Analog_Mind47]

This was one of my First Episodes of Star Trek, it was part of a 4 episode dvd of the CGI remaster, that my Aunt got me for Christmass after we saw the 2009 JJ Abrams film. The set had "where no man has gone before", "Space Seed" , & "Journey to Babel" which was a great introduction to the series for me. & I really liked mid century stuff, old cars Tommy guns etc, so this episode was a great way to draw me into this series & was tied with "Journey to Babel" as my favorite out of the 4. And yes the "Fizbin" bit was mostly improv on Shatner's part

[@MrDeadstu]

This episode is one of my fun favorites, not too serious. I used to have that picture of Kirk and Spock dressed as gangsters as my PC wallpaper for years. I can't wait for you guys to watch "Patterns of Force"

[@PsychedelicChameleon]

In one of the early non-canon Star Trek technical manuals, there is description of the Ionians as they appear a generation later: The are nearly identical to Federation Starfleet personnel in dress, disposition, and responsibilities, and they've even built a fully functional star base. They were re-discovered by the Federation after a Starfleet vessel pulled into the Ionian star base for maintenance and repairs.

[@Dmarcoot]

That’s so cool.

[@sarahfullerton6894]

*Iotians*

[@PsychedelicChameleon]

@@sarahfullerton6894 Thank you Sarah

[@sarahfullerton6894]

@@PsychedelicChameleon you're welcome, aka, "de nada"!

[@Adam-bp7kw]

Great episode and review. And Alex, your new fade looks great

[@davidsandy5917]

There was a proposal for a sequel episode, to this one, in which the entire planet based their culture on the Star Trek Original Series. Everyone was dressed in Star Fleet Uniforms, carried communicators, etc. Many people would have had Vulcan ears. That proposal was rejected. Instead, Deep Space 9 did a sequel to "The Trouble with Tribbles." A really good episode you should watch.

[@PsychedelicChameleon]

Thank you David Sandy! This proposal was probably based off of the description of future Ionians in one of the earliest Star Trek Technical manuals, which I've just described in another comment.

[@davidclough3951]

Another favorite episode. Must admit that I don't watch the episodes much anymore as watching them dozens of times or more does that. But fun to watch well made reactions to them.

[@nancyomalley6286]

That guy who first pulled his rifle on Kirk & Co. had my birthday, Jan 19th!

[@chrismacphail7041]

The cook from Mel's dinner. hilarious

[@ER-ec4uq]

I read an interview with a TV writer once who said that in order to write a great 30-60 minute episode of TV you need to basically sacrifice with an idea good enough for its own feature film. I think your praise of this episode evokes that comment because there's so much potential here for expansion - the idea of a fledgling society that got corrupted, the complex way it occurred sociologically, the ramifications later on for the Federation, etc etc. By the way, there's an episode coming up that's very similar to this one conceptually but it's another very interesting one. Maybe they couldn't quite let go of this idea because it was indeed just so good!

[@kschneyer]

There is a later episode this season where something similar happens (alien planet imitates a period of Earth history), but it is not light-hearted at *all*, but deadly serious. I will be interested in your take on that one.

[@slimjimnyc270]

Quinton Tarantino, who is a big fan of the TOS, wrote a Star Trek movie script based on A Piece of the Action. Could you imagine how awesome that would have been?

[@karidrgn]

There's a comic where Kirk is on trial in the Federation, and they bring Bela for it as a character witness because of Kirk's unorthodox solutions. Bella brings Kirk's personal cut that he's skimmed right off the top for him. That its really hefty amount since kirk never came by to collect.

[@MrHeretrix]

One of my favorite Treks of them all. Vic Tayback REALLY wanted those "Heaters".

[@christopherleodaniels7203]

Director, James Komack, was brought in because he knew comedy from every angle - as a producer, writer, actor, and producer, having directed Get Smart, My Favorite Martian, The Monkees, and The Dick Van Dyke Show. Roddenberry, at that point, was clashing heavily with Producer/Writer Gene Coon over too many episodes in a season being this comedic and was writing terse inter office memos to that effect. Coon wasn’t just any writer. He was a world-builder, and episodes he wrote introduced The Klingons, The United Federation Of Planets, The Prime Directive, Khan, and Zefram Cochrane, and many aspects of Trek lore that are being milked to this day on the films and subsequent series. Gene Coon died in 1973, at only 49, and Roddenberry gladly and almost immediately went on the lecture circuit and absorbed sole credit in the public imagination for much of Coon’s contribution to the franchise.

[@donovanbradford8231]

Well said and because earlier conversations and cons had only Gene Roddenberry there was no one to fact check him so for many years much of the gandom believed Roddenberry did so much and it wasn't until cast and crew started writing their biographies that people like Shatner and others started to tell they versions of events and really give Gene Coon his do credit.

[@Daniel-Strain]

There are two parts to the Prime Directive. The first part is about not letting a culture know there are aliens until they have achieved warp drive. The second part is a more general rule about trying to stay out of the internal affairs of other cultures. The second part applies even to Romulans and Klingons, etc. The first part no longer applies even to primitive cultures, once the 'cat is out of the bag'. So, the earlier Starfleet ship arrived before the Prime Directive existed. In this case, because they had already made contact, the first part didn't therefore matter (which is why they just beamed down in the street). The second part would have applied, except that it is ok to intervene in order to correct previous interference.

[@benner1828]

A note about color TV and Star Trek. Kirk's "sweater vest" Green shirt. Was an reaction to how Color TV and filming it was new. The command "yellow shirts" are in reality, green in the TOS. Because of the combination of the lights and the film they turn yellow when it was broadcast. (every now and then you can see a green tint in shots. ) since Rodenberry and the costume designer wanted command personnel to wear green... they came up with Kirk's alternative shirt, wich is a darker green to compensate for the film and lights.

[@MJE-riffs]

Worth remembering that Star Trek was made by Desilu, the same production company responsible for the very expensive TV show The Untouchables, set during prohibition. Most of the costumes and props are probably leftovers from that show.

[@danjsilve]

Regardless of the concept, the acting. I can’t help but think most people would come away from this episode with an enormous feeling of warmth for not just this episode but the show as a whole. It’s a true family show.

[@sftommy01]

there are about 10 or 12 episodes in my top 5 - this is one of them

[@mikejankowski6321]

One of my favorites, a fun time dealing with a serious problem. The Prime Directive is basically non-interference with pre-warp cultures, which was not the rule at the beginning of the Federation. Hence, revealing themselves and leaving behind a cultural artifact was a contamination committed by the earlier ship from a time when that was not prohibited. Kirk was right that it was their responsibility to clean up the mess. The crew had to improvise to deal with all the unfamiliar situations and eventually adapt to play the game by the mobster's rules. Kirk did it brilliantly, Spock did it awkwardly, and Scotty stumbled. Fizzbin. Fancy heaters. Find my iPhone. Yes, they can beam point to point on a planet. A starship can indeed lay waste to a planet, or pick off select targets. Enjoyed your reaction so much.

[@ChrisS-no3ft]

Alex, Josh….Ive been noticing your volume is a bit low on your videos. Any chance you can turn it up a notch or two during editing maybe? Just an observation. Love the videos though! You guys are awesome! A Piece of the Action is a fun episode. A solid B grade in my book! Great job.

[@gregoryclemen1870]

welcome back to the streets of "MAYBERRY"!!!!, the out takes on this episode are priceless too!!!!!

[@libertubey2199]

Great critique of this great episode. I don't know if you noticed, but you always knew when a commercial break was coming whenever you hear a machine gun trigger being pulled back.

[@arturocostantino623]

They were filmed with Technicolor film instead of video which is why the colors were so bright.

[@jch13213]

That one boss is Mel, owner of Mels diner on the sitcom "Alice"

[@jameswentzkershawn001]

When you're finding youreselve smiling the whole time; you know it's good.

[@scgreek1114]

Love this episode. They stated at the beginning that the Prime Directive (we'll, more of a suggestion and only when it's convenient, really) didn't apply because the previous encounter already altered the natural development of the planet, hence the premise of them having to reverse the contamination. Point-to-point beaming happens on occasion, like if someone is seriously injured and needs to be transported directly to sick bay.

[@joerogers9413]

The Prime Directive has a "grandfather" clause that allows the Federation to deal with planets where first contact was made before the PD. So this and some other episodes aren't PD violations.

[@ojpete]

I wouldn't say it's one of my favorite episodes, maybe a second from the top in the tier rankings. It's fun, it's lighthearted, it's something to watch and take your mind off of your daily problems, assuming your daily problems don't revolve around the mafia or space travel. Thanks for your reactions, it's also enjoyable.

[@johnsavard7583]

No doubt this episode provided at least some of the inspiration for the movie "Galaxy Quest".

[@bad-people6510]

He means to set the ship's phasers to stun. Which by the way, is the only time in the entire Star Trek franchise in which a starship's phasers are put on stun.

[@ice-iu3vv]

josh and alex made us wait a few extra days for this one. they really had us on ice. what were they playin fizzbin? what are the odds of a royal fizzbin? we waited for a piece of the action because we knew these feds got some fancy heaters. i prefer this episode over the tribbles for "best comedy episode in the series".

[@kschneyer]

This episode was, I'm pretty sure, based on a series of short stories from the 1950s by Poul Anderson about a species called the Hoka. They looked like large teddy bears with opposable thumbs, they could speak human language, and they *loved* imitating human culture whenever they could get their hands on some. So each story involved the Hoka pretending to be cowboys, gangsters, space-opera astronauts, Victorian detectives, wizards, etc., etc. Once they were into one of their imitations, the Hoka were 100% COMMITTED to it, almost like Method actors, and it was impossible to dislodge them. So the hapless human assigned to be the ambassador to the Hoka, Alex Jones, would have to find ever more clever ways to get them to do what he needed them to do *within* the strictures of their fiction. It was hilarious. It happens that we got our first color television just before Season 2 of TOS came out, and I remember being *mesmerized* by the brightness of the colors, especially the glowing phasers.

[@kschneyer]

100 years is more like 4 generations. When Oxmyx and Krako were born, their grandparents had had been in this world since their own childhoods.

[@chrisc3616]

Absolutely classic episode that makes Star Trek one of the best series ever. Great insight again guys. :-)

[@edgreene4394]

I vaguely remember reading that William Shatner made up the fizbin game on the spot during the take.

[@TheSlysterII]

Great video as always guys, and I am glad you got "A Piece of the action!"

[@Sagitarria]

There are kind of two different ideas about how the transporters work. the way most people think of it is that you are taken apart and then reassembled, maybe with different matter in the new locations. But there is plenty of evidence through star trek to suggest a different tech. the basic idea is that the transporter makes matter light-like temporarily so it can then be sent, received, and turned back into matter-like. most of the transporter accidents like duplication merging of people, etc makes more sense with this approach

[@mcbeezee2120]

IMO, one of the most......entertaining episodes of the original series. Love the scene with the kid on the street running interference for Kirk and Spock.

[@MichaelJShaffer]

The joke by the fans about this episode and a follow-up was that, since the planet was so adaptive and mimicked other cultures, the entire planet became a bunch of Star Trek fans. An entire planet of Trekkers, complete with uniforms, and all the proper equipment.

[@cleekmaker00]

08:00 "... Brought to you by 'Bang Bang', the sweetest little Automatic around."

[@dngillikin]

In a late eighties/early nineties STAR TREK comic set between the fifth and sixth movies, Kirk is put on trial for his Prime Directive violations. Samuel T. Cogley and Areel Shaw from "Court-Martial" are Kirk's defense counsels, Anan-7 from "A Taste of Amageddon" is one of the prosecution's witnesses, and then Bela Oxmyx and the Iotians show up to defend Kirk . . . and bring along Kirk's accumulated cut (skimmed right off the top) almost sinking Kirk's defense.

[@dngillikin]

Oh, and before someone starts shrieking "COMICS AREN'T CANON!" at me. Yeah, I know, but they can make fun reading.

[@komradewirelesscaller6716]

One of the best of the original series!

[@krunkcleanup2949]

I want a picture of Spock holding up both "heaters" with a caption that reads: Go ahead, be illogical. I dare you.

[@allyourmoney]

This is the episode where NO ONE watches their back. How many times did the gangsters/Kirk get the drop on each other??? 😂

[@mikeclemens795]

I grinned from ear to ear the moment I saw the thumbnail on my feed.

[@GandalfTheWise0002]

First ST episode I ever saw broadcast live on an old B&W TV as a kid.

[@Omegafire17]

My favorite line of this episode has, and always will be, "I'd advise ya's ta keep dialin', Oxmyx." XD

[@GeraldWalls]

From a transcript. I like the commercial: [Radio station] (A woman is about to put the needle onto a record when Spock neck-pinches her.) MCCOY: You do that very well. Now, how are you with primitive radio equipment? SPOCK: Very simple. Amplitude modulation transmission. I simply adjust the frequency, throw this switch, and the Enterprise should answer. VOICE [OC]: That was the Jailbreakers with their latest recording on Request Time, brought to you by Bang-Bang, the makers of the sweetest little automatic in the world SPOCK: Fascinating. MCCOY: And very simple. SPOCK: Let me see. (throws a few more switches and picks up the microphone.) Enterprise, this is Mister Spock. UHURA [OC]: Lieutenant Uhura here, Mister Spock.

[@kengascoigne5946]

2:42 It's Mayberry (The Andy Griffith Show)

[@torresilk4277]

A fun episode. 👍🏼 Mind you, did the book somehow describe the Chicago mob accent? How does that work? 😂

[@dolphinsrr]

Maybe their was a chater of how they talk in the book

[@allyourmoney]

They had phonograph players in the episode. Earlier the boss said the Federation gave them radio sets & other stuff. Probably a record player or two with some records, then they figured out what the Chicago people sounded like.

[@brianalambert1192]

You just know that the actors were having the time of their lives on episodes like these

[@hollywoodguy70]

This is one of the many episodes that had "sequels" in the expanded fiction. Since the Iotians were incredible mimics, they eventually became model citizens of the Federation after reverse engineering the communicator. They even wore Starfleet uniforms as a fashion statement which I always thought was a funny idea.

[@sageantone7291]

Oh, this is an all-time classic. One of the funnest eps.

[@papalaz4444244]

One of the best oddball episodes of Trek. The premise is ridiculous but somehow this is so well written that it's a joy to watch :)

[@carlosvergara4132]

Leonard Nimoy was a taxi driver before being on Trek, related to that comment Spock makes about Kirk being a lousy taxi driver.

[@jamesodonnell3636]

Great reaction, fellows! This episode is indeed a great fusion of thinky and campy : )

[@alanr4447a]

This episode was based on one of the story pitches Roddenberry submitted to Desilu Studios in 1964 to get them interested in producing the series: "President Capone" was a serious-themed idea based on the notion of "parallel development" gone askew - a planet where the "Chicago mobs" of the 1920s had totally taken over. By mid-second season of production, though, the idea of so many "parallel developments" had been sidelined as implausible and silly, and the explanation of "cultural contamination" from Earth itself was substituted, as well as the tone being shifted from serious to comedic.

[@MatthewCaunsfield]

Absolutely my favourite of the three "comedy" episodes of season 2

[@SYLTales]

In the beginnings of _Star Trek_ fandom, there was a clearing-house fan club that one could join called the Star Trek Welcommittee. There were many local fan clubs, my own being Star Base Andromeda -- which amazingly still exists today. Everyone was in some way connected to the Welcommittee, and its monthly newsletter was called _A Piece of the Action_ . This being pre-Internet, they were typed, photocopied, stapled newsletters that you'd receive in the mail. _A Piece of the Action_ was considered the pre-eminent source of new _Star Trek_ information -- this being the period between the end of the series in 1969 and the first film in 1979. Every local fan club had its own newsletter and fanzine, those being amateur magazines produced by fans. The local newsletter tended to mirror some of the info from _A Piece of the Action_ as well as local news. Those tended to be handed out to almost anyone who seemed interested in _Star Trek_ and might want to join the local fan club. The fanzines had original short-stories and artwork that ranged from amateurish to near-professional. In fact, some writers and artists who would go on to work on future _Star Trek_ projects had their beginnings in fanzines. As I mentioned, my local club was Star Base Andromeda. The name of its newsletter was _The Andromedan Log_ , and its fanzine was _The Kelvan Outpost_ . The origins of these names will become clear in an episode you're soon to watch. Fans would then get together at conventions, but not the kind we think of today. There were no massive ComiCons. Each local club would attempt to get enough money together to hold a con anywhere they could -- in our case, it tended to be at the Student Union of a local university. The bigger cons (and the ones I remember were in Kansas City) would pay cast members to come and give talks, show popular episodes (in 16mm formats) have costume contests (we didn't call it cosplay back then), and hold evening costume balls (yes, with fans dancing with each other). They'd sometimes have other movies showing. I saw _Forbidden Planet_ for the first time at our local club's con. The cons also had dealer's rooms, though these were all run by fans from other clubs hawking their members' work. In this way, fanzines moved around the country in droves. They sold fan-made props and costumes because there were no big companies making these things. Some of the artwork was amazing. I will never forget the gigantic, hand-woven mural of Spock's wedding from "Amok Time" at Star Trekon '76 in Kansas City. It was a thing of beauty. At that same con, one of our members who was morbidly obese went as a giant tribble. Imagine a time when 5'2", 300lb woman was not only welcomed, but was secure enough in her own weight to make light of it by wearing a giant tribble constume for three days. She won the costume contest. Not all cons could book big guests. The actor who plays Mr. Kyle, the transported chief, was an occasional guest at smaller cons. Fans ate up any and every anecdote they could get from these actors, no matter how trivial. The biggest cons in NYC could book the main cast. These were too far for me to attend, but you always read the highlights in _A Piece of the Action_ . Our local cons were the Rigel series, and it was at Rigel IV that I discovered fandom for the first time, joined Star Base Andromeda, and began getting active in fandom. Mind you, this was about 1975. There were also panels on things like Filk Songs. These were often original songs written and performed by fans who'd formed small bands for the purpose. The most famous of these is probably Leslie Fish's "Banned From Argo." This song was ultimately recorded and released on vinyl along with other filk songs she'd written. If you search KZbin for "Banned From Argo," you'll find it. You're far enough into the series that there are no spoilers but you'll appreciate the song. Interestingly, while it's Leslie Fish's most famous song, she always hated it. It was written the night before they were to record a vinyl LP, when the record company told her they needed another four minutes to have enough to fill the record. It's still pretty hilarious if you know TOS the way you do now. And that's how things worked back in the ancient mists of time, pre-Internet, pre-home videotape recorders, and when the cutting edge were 8-track and cassette tapes. I could go on at some length, but it's really a good subject for a book. Maybe I ought to write it? After all, I got to see if all evolve to what it is today with my own two eyes. Hm. Maybe I should write it. It's just about the only thing about _Star Trek_ that _doesn't_ have multiple tomes on Amazon.

[@pcjamoke]

Variety Magazine said that Quentin Tarantino's Star Trek movie script was based on this episode. The Nerdist KZbin channel has an incredible trailer for a conceivable Tarantino Star Trek film, you guys really need to check it out after watching all of TOS.

[@randallwong7196]

McCoy is surprisingly competent in a hand to hand fight here.

[@bradchoi9679]

Doctor's know where all the nerve pressure points are.

[@MikePhillips-pl6ov]

I can't describe to you what it was like in the 1970s - a period after Star Trek but before Star Wars. It was a strange time. No Internet. All we had were science fiction magazines and Star Trek model kits and toys. ST was gospel! And mob bosses had molls....

[@Dmarcoot]

There has yet to be a action figure of Spock in a pin striped suit holding a machine gun… there needs to be

[@mego73]

Nope, Playmates once made both Kirk and Spock in the Piece Of The Action suits.

[@clasicradiolover]

Fizbin is mentioned much later in Star Trek

[@Adam_Le-Roi_Davis.]

This episode is just great fun, but it isn't too silly it still has an edge, with great characters too, the title of the episode says it all 'A Piece of The Action',!

[@wiseguymaybe]

I have to agree with you guy, this is one of my favorite second season episodes, even better than Trouble With Tribbles, which was a very popular with Trekers over the years. Love your reaction to this one.

[@kurtb8474]

On the Prime Directive: I've watched each episode of this series hundreds of times and I never saw any intentional violation of the Prime Directive. In this episode, the Horizon visited the planet before there was a Prime Directive. So, any of Kirk's interference with the culture isn't a violation. I wish I could've seen your reaction to Spock saying "I'd advise you'se to keep dialin' Oxmyx." with a Tommy gun. That is about the funniest line in the whole episode.

[@benjaminrupe5930]

This is probably in my top 5 favorite episodes.

[@openfor45]

Watched this episode countless times, still have not yet learned how to play fizbin, maybe you both can teach us!

[@frankandstein8618]

Your remark at the beginning about color TV reminded me that when I watched TOS, 57 years ago, I saw it in black and white. At that time almost none of my friends had color TV. The first time I saw Devil in the Dark in color, a decade later, I was shocked at how bright and colorful the Horta was. A Piece of the Action is one of the best episodes. Beware of season 3.

[@rumblebars]

Care for a hand of 7 card FizBin, Suicides Wild? One of the keepers of this season. You still had a playful creative staff, and when Lord Gene wasn't looking they could slip in gems like this.

[@lillymsf5946]

This episode is conclusive proof that when it comes to exploring a new and weird planet with Kirk, Spock is willing to try *ANYTHING* 🤣🤣🤣

[@jathygamer8746]

From now on you have to call him Spocko Live long and prosper... and gimme a piece of the action 📺 💓 🖖🏻

[@susanfox6666]

This was another fave of mine. A lot of fun.

[@koretmulder6316]

You two would really enjoy watching the only TOS Blooper reel.

[@Dmarcoot]

This episode is just pure fun

[@Bjy001]

Would love to see what Quentin Tarantino would do with this. Perhaps a sequel dealing with the consequences of Bones leaving his communicator behind.

[@donovanbradford8231]

I've heard Tarantino's pitch but do we really want a hard R version of this wonder piece of comedy.

[@mariovaccarella6854]

Great Video, as usual, guys. I love this Episode. It's My 3rd Favorite & My Favorite of The Comedy Episodes, along with I, Mudd. Character Actors, Vic Tayback & Anthony Caruso were Great, as JoJo Rocko & Bela Oxmix, respectively. The 1920s Chicago Ganster Mob thing was Great & The Humor was Sensational. The Kid was Great for a brief appearance & stole the scenes.