When the Sci-Fi Channel obtained the rights to the Original Series, the cable channel set out to create a true Special Edition of the series, cleaning up many of the old prints and adding in introductions by several of the principal actors. Though many of these introductions were in fact not used, the work that went into them was of course still enourmous.

Salvador Nogueira, webmaster at Trek Brasilis, recently interviewed the executive producer of the special TOS editions, Bill Margol, talking about everything from the reason for the sudden ending of the special edition showings to the current state of Trek to the actor interviews. Here's a snippet from the English version of the interview, in which Margol talks about interviewing DeForest Kelley (Leonard McCoy):

SN: During the production of the Special Edition for the Sci-Fi Channel, you've had the opportunity to work closely to many Star Trek actors. Among them was DeForest Kelley. So little has come to the screen from him... how was he at the time?

BM: De was ill at the time. He had just been through some fairly serious surgery about a month or so before and at the time of the interview, he was thin, frail and even more soft spoken than his usual demeanor. In fact, he wasn't going to do the interview at all, but Leonard convinced him that it was important to the project and important to the legacy of Star Trek. I'm not sure, but I think it was De's last interview - it was definitely his last extended interview. It was one of the highlights of the project for me, and one that I will never forget. He was a sweet, gentle and intelligent man and he got along well with everyone.

Thanks go out to Gustavo Leao for this!

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