I am convinced that if hardcore Trekkies (sorry, "Trekkers"—there, your masculinity is still intact) had made the "Star Trek" reboot they wanted, it would have sucked hard.  It would have skipped re-introducing the characters, moved into heavy-handed and transparent social commentary combined with cheesy references and eye-rolling cameos.   The devoted would have loved the film and it would have killed the franchise for yet another generation.

And so I am grateful to screenwriters Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci for what they've done with both "Transformers" and now "Star Trek".  They took two properties with ridiculous fanbases and put the focus on fun and characters while doing their best not to alienate the faithful.  These films work in spite of psychotic audience members and they've reaped films that were better than most in the mainstream expected. 

Which is why you should totally berate them with annoying questions that speak more to your bias than what's actually in the film.  You'll have that chance on Tuesday, May 26 - 7:30-9:30pm at the Writers Guild Theater (135 S Doheny Dr., 90211).  LA residents who choose to attend can also try to find different ways to ask what the writers have in store for the sequel, what they have planned for "Transformers", and what they're planning for the second season of "Fringe". Also, be on the lookout for the one person who has a question related to their previous work on "Hercules", "Xena", or "Alias".  Bonus points if they try to get Kevin Sorbo's phone number.