Entertainment
Star Trek's Boss Tried To Make Leonard Nimoy Hate Deep Space Nine
By Chris Snellgrove
| Published
One of the most complex figures in Star Trek history is Rick Berman, the executive producer who oversaw the Golden Age of the franchise. It’s undeniable that he helped transform Trek into a modern-day cultural phenomenon, building on Gene Roddenberry’s legacy and bringing a new generation of fans into the fold. At the same time, numerous Trek actors and creatives have accused him of intense homophobia that held the otherwise progressive franchise back, and Deep Space Nine star Terry Farrell accused him of rampant misogyny that caused her to ultimately leave the show altogether.
Recently, at the Trek Talks livestream telethon, DS9 showrunner Ira Steven Behr shared a fairly wild story involving Berman. When Behr and the show’s writers were working on “Trials and Tribble-ations,” which used footage from The Original Series, Berman urged him to call Leonard Nimoy and get the Spock actor’s blessing for the use of his old footage. Berman highly implied this would be a dramatic phone call and that Nimoy would have problems with the idea. Only after discovering how friendly Nimoy was and how much he loved the concept did Behr realize something startling: Berman had set him up and tried to turn him against Star Trek’s best actor.
A Very Logical Phone Call
When Ira Steven Behr told his tale during Trek Talks, it wasn’t immediately clear whether Paramount really would have faced any legal trouble if the Spock actor objected to Deep Space Nine re-using some of his footage from The Original Series episode, “The Trouble With Tribbles.” However, executive producer Rick Berman still thought it wise to seek Leonard Nimoy’s blessing. Behr claims that “Rick had prepared me like it was going to be a very prickly phone call.” Later, he clarified that Berman never played pranks and was obviously deadly serious, saying things like “I’m not making this call. You’re making this call. Don’t be surprised if he tells you to go, you know” before trailing off.
While Behr didn’t fully complete this thought, it sounds like Berman was worried that Nimoy might quote himself from Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country: “Go to hell.” Nonetheless, the showrunner steeled his nerves and gave the iconic Trek performer a call. When he mentioned the plan to merge Deep Space Nine actors with The Original Series footage, there was a long pause on the other end. Just when Behr thought the call was about to go sideways, Nimoy surprised him with his response: “What took you so long? Absolutely, yes. I’m all for it.”
After Leonard Nimoy gave such an enthusiastic response, Behr began wondering why Rick Berman had thought the call would go so poorly. “Whoa, Rick, what are you setting me up for?”, he thought. Years later, Behr and Nimoy had a three-hour lunch where they traded old Star Trek tales, and Behr admitted to the other man how that phone call made him nervous and how much he dreaded Nimoy’s response. With the incredulous grace of Mr. Spock himself, Nimoy asked, “Why would you be worried,” and asked Behr what he thought “I was going to give you a hard time about?” Lamely, Behr could simply reply, “Well, that’s what Rick said, he set me up.”
A Secret Star Trek Beef Revealed?
But why did Rick Berman think this call to Nimoy was going to be so intense in the first place? Prolific Star Trek writer and archivist Larry Nemecek was also in attendance at Trek Talks, and he offered a fairly compelling theory. When Paramount began to work on Star Trek: Generations (which was intended to pass the torch from The Original Series to the Next Generation crew), Leonard Nimoy wanted to direct the film.
After directing Star Trek III: The Search For Spock and Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, Nimoy seemed like a solid choice. However, Rick Berman had already hired David Carson to direct the new film, and he was apparently worried that this would have ruffled the feathers of the otherwise unflappable Nimoy.
Fortunately, all’s well that ends well. Nimoy wasn’t offended at all, and he gave his full blessing to Deep Space Nine’s “Trials and Tribble-ations.” Later, he helped pass the torch to a new set of actors when he starred in Star Trek (2009). Until his untimely passing, it’s fair to say the Spock actor did everything he could to help Star Trek succeed.
Protecting the legacy of the franchise that made him a household name? It’s only logical, captain!
Entertainment
Tons of Fitbits are on sale ahead of Prime Day
Best early Prime Day Fitbit deals at a glance:
Amazon’s Prime Day sales event is right around the corner (I can’t believe it’s that time of year again!), and I’m genuinely shocked by the deals we’re seeing this early in the game.
Usually, Amazon doesn’t put Fitbits on sale until the very last minute, and then they’re gone. (And some years, they don’t go on sale at all.) But right now, we’re seeing all-time lows on select Fitbit models, including the Charge 6.
Here are the best early Prime Day Fitbit deals you can shop right now:
Best deal overall
$99.95
at Amazon
$159.95
Save $60.00
Why we like it
The Fitbit Charge 6 isn’t the newest Fitbit on the market, but it still has (almost) everything you’d need in a smart wearable. (I say almost because the Fitbit Charge 6 doesn’t have an altimeter, but if you’re not a trail runner, this probably isn’t a deal breaker.)
The Charge 6 tracks your calories, steps, sleep, heart rate, and more. It also has built-in GPS, 40+ exercise modes, a seven-day battery life, and includes a three-month Google Health Premium (formerly Fitbit Premium) membership. Once the three months are up, you’ll need to either cancel or renew for $9.99 per month or $99.99 annually.
Mashable Trend Report
Right now, you can get the Fitbit Charge 6 for $99.95 at Amazon. This is the lowest price we’ve tracked on this model since its release in 2023.
Best runner-up deal
Why we like it
If you’re willing to spend a little bit more, the Fitbit Versa 4 is on sale for $149.95. This isn’t the lowest price we’ve seen (it was $104.96 in April 2024), but it’s still a pretty good deal.
Unlike the Charge 6, the Versa 4 has an altimeter and Bluetooth wrist calling. So, if you’re looking for a wearable that acts more like a smartwatch, the Versa 4 might be the better buy. That said, it doesn’t have the more “serious” health sensor that the Charge 6 does (e.g., ECG and EDA).
The Versa 4 also comes with three months of Google Health Premium.
Best budget deal
$79.95
at Walmart
$89.95
Save $10
Why we like it
If you’re just looking for something that’s affordable and efficient, the Fitbit Inspire 3 is your best option at $79.95.
It’s a no-frills fitness tracker that’ll give you the basic features you need to stay on top of your health. It can track your heart rate, steps, and stress levels. (It also offers menstrual health tracking, which is nice.)
You’ll also get 10 full days of battery life and, like the other models mentioned above, three free months of Google Health Premium.
Entertainment
20+ book deals Im sending to the group chat before Prime Day even begins
Table of Contents
The best early Prime Day book deals at a glance:
It’s nearly Amazon Prime Day, which officially runs from June 23 through 26, but if you don’t feel like waiting, there’s already plenty of live deals to shop.
Besides offering three free months of both Kindle Unlimited and Audible to new subscribers, Amazon also has some pretty great discounts on books themselves. I’m not usually one to recommend purchasing physical books via Amazon (support local book stores!), but it’s pretty hard to pass up a 50% price drop on a book you’ve had on your TBR.
Amazon Editors just dropped the 20 best books of 2026 (so far) — find out what made the list
I’m tracking some of the best deals on physical books and e-books at Amazon ahead of the official Prime Day kick off, but remember to check back for more once things start ramping up.
Best early Prime Day hardcover book deal
$14.67
at Amazon
$30
Save $15.33
with on-page coupon
Why we like it
Named one of the best books of 2026 so far by Amazon Book Editors, Crux is an “exhilarating, tender novel about an unlikely friendship forged through a shared love of rock climbing,” according to Amazon Editor Abby Abell. Thanks to an on-page coupon at Amazon, you can add the hardcover version to your home library for less than half its usual cost.
More hardcover book deals
Best early Prime Day paperback book deal
$7.50
at Amazon
$19.95
Save $12.45
Why we like it
A classic trope of two abducted girls, only one returns and one doesn’t, The Girl Who Was Taken is a psychological thriller by Charlie Donlea where nothing is as it seems. Typically around $20, you can pick up the paperback version for only $7.50 at Amazon ahead of Prime Day. That’s just a few cents away from its lowest price ever.
Mashable Deals
More paperback book deals
Best early Prime Day Kindle book deal
$2.99
at Amazon
$18.99
Save $16.00
Why we like it
I highly recommend grabbing this twisty psychological thriller from internationally best-selling author Steve Cavanagh while the Kindle version is only $2.99. Kill For Me Kill For You follows two women seeking revenge against the men who killed their daughters. Over drinks one night, they decide to swap murders, but things don’t go exactly as planned.
More Kindle book deals
Entertainment
Red Drink for Juneteenth
Amber Mayfield Hewett loves a good party. Not “good” in the sense that there were enough chairs and everyone liked the dip (though a killer dip and a place to sit definitely don’t hurt). To Amber, a good party is one where everyone in the room feels like they belong — no one feels like a plus-one or wonders if they should’ve stayed home. “In my early twenties, I was living in Harlem and working as an assistant at a TV network,” she explains in her new book, Your Turn to Host. “I loved going out, exploring the restaurant scene and private clubs… But something always felt missing. Even though I was surrounded by people all the time, I felt lonely.”
So, Amber started her own supper club, hosting dinners as a way to create community. “The first dinner was 24 people — roommates, co-workers, people I’d met out in the city,” she says. “Everyone walked in as strangers, but as the night went on, they were laughing and swapping stories like old friends.” Her supper club has since grown into a full-time career, and as of this week, a book — a guide to hosting meaningful gatherings of all kinds: Friendsgiving potlucks, Sunday suppers, and of course, cookouts.
“At the core, cookouts are a way for your village to come together,” Amber explains. “I keep an open-door policy for kids and friends of friends. And to me, cookouts are synonymous with freedom because of the holidays typically celebrated with them, including Juneteenth.” In her book, Amber offers a full guide for a Juneteenth cookout — everything from grilling tips to lawn games, as well as her own recipe for traditional Red Drink. “On Juneteenth, it’s customary to serve red foods and beverages,” she says. “Red is a symbol of the profound sacrifice and resilience of African American people.” Amber’s recipe starts with a classic sorrel-syrup base (“You can use the same technique to make other syrups, like lavender or elderflower”) and is spiked with a cup of rum. “You can easily omit the booze if you prefer a non-alcoholic version,” she adds. “The drink is delicious and refreshing on its own.” Here’s how to make it…
Red Drink
Serves 15
From Your Turn to Host by Amber Mayfield Hewett
Sorrel Syrup:
4 cups (1 L) water
1 1/2 cups (300 g) sugar
1 cup (1 1/2 oz/40 g) cut and sifted dried hibiscus flowers
2 cinnamon sticks
Punch:
2 (2 L) bottles club soda
1 cup (240 ml) dark rum
Juice of 2 large lemons
Ice cubes
4 lemons, sliced into wheels and seeded, for garnish
Make the syrup: In a medium pot, combine the water and sugar. Bring to a boil over a medium-high heat, stirring until the sugar has dissolved. Add the hibiscus flowers and cinnamon sticks, and stir until the flowers start to soften. Reduce the heat to medium to maintain a gentle boil. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the syrup is deep red in color and infused with a floral flavor (about 20 minutes). Remove from the heat and let stand for 5 minutes.
Strain the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl, pressing on the solids to extract all the liquid; discard the solids. Let the syrup cool completely before using or storing (about 30 minutes). The sorrel syrup can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.
Make the punch: In a large punch bowl, stir together the club soda, 1 cup (240 ml) of the sorrel syrup, rum, and lemon juice to combine. (Amber notes: “If you’re skipping the rum, and want a little more flavor, you can add a splash of lemonade or a berry-flavored sparkling water.”) Serve with ice and garnish with lemon wheels.
Big thanks to Amber for sharing this recipe with us! You can find TONS of party recipes and hosting tips in her book and newsletter.
P.S. Five easy party foods, and a monochromatic fruit salad.
(Top photo by Xiana Gutierrez. Excerpted from Your Turn to Host by Amber Mayfield Hewett, published by Artisan Books. Copyright © 2026.)
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