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George Takei & Nichelle Nichols at the 2009 GLAAD Awards
We have a very special segment shaping up on tonight's edition of The Last Word. Two cast members from the original Star Trek, George Takei (Captain Sulu) and Nichelle Nichols (Lieutenant Uhura), will be joining us to talk about the final NASA shuttle launch. Both have worked with NASA for years helping with recruitment and diversity initiatives. As Mr. Takei told me when I talked to him earlier, "It's funny because they think we're the heroes. But to me, they've always been the real heroes."
The two also feel America will be better in the future with NASA fully-funded because so many everyday things have come from our nation's quest to reach for the stars (cell phones, the computer mouse, your favorite pair of Converse shoes). Ms. Nichols told me, "This is the end of an era. But it is not the end of NASA." During our discussion before tonight's show, I also asked Mr. Takei what he thought would help get America really interested in space travel, again. He paused and said, "We need another Gene Roddenberry."
Also joining us tonight will be veteran space and science journalist, Miles O'Brien, who's now the Science Correspondent for PBS Newshour. You can see his latest report online right here. But to see all three of these amazing people on the air at once... you'll have to tune in to tonight's edition of The Last Word!
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**Bonus video: Elmo was at today's shuttle launch**
Leave a Comment:
That lady would not shut up. Wow that became really awkward television.
I am a public speaker. I would love to come on TV to talk about achieving one's dreams. Well, okay, I didn't become an astronaut but I did work at NASA-JSC and met astronauts from every U.S. space program. I also met all of the cast of the original Star Trek series. I have been an eyewitness to and participant in history. CNN vetted several of my space program photographs. I am on the main page of CNN U.S. edition.
Your blog announces your Spotlight Segment as "awesome." Hyperbole is one of the reasons viewers no longer trust the media. Perhaps you could lighten up.
So long as Elmo speaks in the third person, Elmo is not likely to become a teacher... I mean, outside of the southeast maybe.