The hosts of A Star to Steer Her By take on Trek-adjacent topics, fanfic, movies, shows, and other exciting episodes!

Ten Forward: Recreational Facility

We're taking a break from DS9's Dominion War to focus on humanity's war against the Bug threat in 1997's "Starship Troopers"! Yes, it's the third entry in the Verhoeven sci-fi satire trilogy where everyone's favorite Mad Dutchman takes a genuinely fascist novel and turns its messages on its head to prove how stupid its ideals are! It's a harrowing tale of brutal violence, lost innocence, and co-ed showers!
Also this week: gender equality, poor advertising, and favorite bugs!

SSHB Ten Forwards

Ten Forward 18: Starship Troopers

Step right up one and all for the absolute sideshow that is "William Shatner Presents: Chaos on the Bridge"! In 2014 Captain Kirk decided he was the best man to help tell the story of the tumultuous first two years of TNG, and the result is a disjointed mess of angry, angry people hollering at a dead man who can't defend himself. Oh, and people laughing about wanting folks dead!
Also this week: uncomfortable cartoons, bitter Pike, and the meat sweats.

Ten Forward 19: William Shatner Presents: Chaos on the Bridge

With DS9 wrapped, it was finally time to sit down and check out the acclaimed, crowd-funded documentary "What We Left Behind". We muse on favorite bits, discuss the theoretical "Season 8" opener, and find ourselves shocked to our cores by the biggest reveal in the history of the franchise.
Also this week: a shocking writing process, a bingeing show 20 years early, and hate-watching.

Ten Forward 20: What We Left Behind

Wait, what's going on?! Well, we've mentioned it a few times before, but we've finally done it: it's our first Ten Forward, where we're going to go anywhere from slightly to VERY off-topic. This week, it's somewhere in the middle as we take a detour into "Star Wars" and its first anthology film, "Rogue One"! SPOILERS GALORE for that one. Seriously, we ruin the ending within 5 minutes. You've been warned. We also freely discuss a lot of the rest of the franchise, tho I don't THINK we give away anything earth-shattering.
Also this week: Jake gets mad at a prequel, Caitlin gets mad at attempted humor, Chris gets annoyed at lazy acting, and Ames doesn't get cross at anyone or anything, tho she might have regrets about having tried to take notes in a darkened theater.

Ten Forward 01 Rogue One

In our second Ten Forward, your stalwarts are engaging in the time-honored nerd tradition of fanfiction! We've broken into the House That Gene Built and we're pinching the best stuff inside to bring you tales of murder, mayhem, lust, and clouds! 
Content warning: implied domestic abuse, very sexually explicit imagery, questionable accents.

Timestamps: "Sentient Life" by Ames: 2:48; "The Heir" by Chris: 17:50; "Where No Man Has Gone Before" by Caitlin: 31:49; "Assignment: Terra" by Jake: 46:27

Ten Forward 02 Tales From The Holodeck 01

We've been talking about it since day one, and here it finally is: the TOS Love Letter episode of "Futurama," featuring almost all the then-surviving members of the cast reprising their roles and more references than you can shake a fing-longer at!
Also this week: Frakes' directing, Worf's dandruff, and Ames' reasons.

Ten Forward 03 Futurama - Where No Fan Has Gone Before

"Star Trek" is back! Well, maybe it is, depending on your definition. While we won't be covering the whole thing live, we're taking a break from our regularly scheduled programming this week to give our first impressions on "The Vulcan Hello" and "Battle at the Binary Stars"! Spoilers everywhere, as we're assuming you've watched them. If not, please come back as soon as you have!
Also this week: new (regrettable) streaming platforms, new Vulcan BS, and new Klingons!
[note: if you don't want to listen to us moan about CBS All-Access, that bit goes from 2:55 to 9:21]

Ten Forward 04 Discovery Premier

By Grabthar's hammer...what a movie! It's time for us to talk "Galaxy Quest," the definitive love letter to/paraody of "Star Trek!" Jason Nesmith, the washed-up, Shatner-esque lead of sci-fi series "Galaxy Quest" is unwittingly tasked by actual aliens who have based their entire society on his series to save their species from a genocidal alien warlord. He ropes his former castmates in, but they soon find that there's rather a big difference between playing and being space heroes. Boasting an impressive cast and a damn-near perfect script, "Galaxy Quest" has become a must-see for any "Trek" fan.
Also this week: whitewashing, original cast and crew, and the importance of fandom.

Ten Forward 05 Galaxy Quest

SPOILERS AHEAD! We take a break from our usual franchise to jump on the “Star Wars” bandwagon and talk “The Last Jedi”! It’s about as divisive amongst your stalwarts as it is general audiences, and we’ve another guest along for the ride to offer their opinion, as well! 
Also this week: subverting expectations; 15 ½ people, a toothpick, and a canoe; and where the hell is Lando?
Seriously, tho, spoilers for the entire “Star Wars” film franchise, not just “Last Jedi”. The only thing that’s safe is the “Clone Wars” series and “Rebels”, as none of us have seen them.
[also, yes, Chris realizes he misspelled Ahch-To in the episode, shh]

Ten Forward 06 The Last Jedi

Due to real life mucking up our scheduling, we were short a stalwart. Rather than press on with the project, we conned a guest into dropping by and taking a look at the "Black Mirror" episode "USS Callister" with us.
Also this week: debating dystopia, Sims cruelty, and the madness of Harlan Ellison [note: spoilers for "I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream from 58:23 to 59:04]

SSHB Ten Forward

Ten Forward 07 Black Mirror - USS Callister

Here we go again! The House of Mouse has churned out their fourth “Star Wars” outing since buying the franchise from George “Darth Plaid” Lucas, and it seems to have been a fairly bad speedbump in their stewardship. With a well-covered change of directors,  extensive reshoots, and VERY delayed marketing campaign, your stalwarts were going into this one very wary. What did we think of the origins – both literal and figurative – of Han Solo? Join us to find out!
Also this week: a big hello, failing women and POCs, and the prequels.
WARNING: assume if it’s “Star Wars” we’re going to spoil it. Seriously, even the TV shows this time.

SSHB

Ten Forward 08 Solo A Star Wars Story

It's SSHB's 2nd anniversary, more-or-less, and in celebration we're bringing you our 2nd fanfic episode featuring figures from 2 major sci-fi franchises! (Harvey Dent would be ALL OVER THIS if he was real). What happens when your stalwarts are forced to bring "Star Trek" and "Star Wars" together into a big, meaty lump of ludicrous? Probably much what you'd expect from us, really...
Spoiler Warning: Major "The Last Jedi" spoilers. For real, we ruin basically all of it

Timestamps: "The Solo Algorithm" by Ames: 4:19; "The Day the Nerds Stood Still" by Caitlin: 19:31; "Toast and Circuses" by Jake: 29:51; "The Last Program" by Chris: 45:20; post reading banter: 58:09

Ten Forward 09 Tales From the Holodeck II

We're going way off our usual path for THIS 10 Forward, as we discuss the 1987 satirical classic "RoboCop"! When officer Alex Murphy is killed in the line of duty, the evil Omni Consumer Products turns him into their new weapon/PR stunt for the City of Detroit Police Department. What follows is over-the-top violence and SO MANY "Trek" actors.
Also this week: can Bobby fly? When do b*tches leave? And what the hell do Batman and Sailor Moon have to do with all this?!

Ten Forward 10 RoboCop

Come back with us to a simpler time, when Marvel was going broke, DC had made a GOOD "Batman" movie, and no one thought it was controversial to punch Nazis. It's the heady days of 1991 and "The Rocketeer" launches into theaters, bringing a whole pile of "Trek" guest star alum along for the ride! Join your stalwarts as we revisit this piece from our childhood and find out, holy crap, it holds up shockingly well!
Also this week: Chekhov's Gum, The Business Plot, and strong crust opinions!
Note: spoilers for "Infinity War" and "Hot Fuzz"
Theme adapted from the US Navy Band's recording of the Overture from Ferdiand Hérold's "Zampa", available at musopen.org.

Ten Forward 11 The Rocketeer

Another series wrapped, and you know what that means! MFing FANFIC time! Some episodes back we all pulled names from hats and now you get to see the fruits of our labors! Thrill to tales of justice, of deceit, more deceit, and family!
Also this week: plugging famous podcasts, Jake's final outro, and an announcement!

Timestamps: "The Pulaski Maneuver" by Caitlin: 3:02; "Special Delivery" by Chris: 18:32; "Life-Sized Dolls" by Ames: 33:19; "Thank Hugh" by Jake: 55:55

Ten Forward 12 Tales from the Holodeck: 3 Soongs, a Doc, and a Pizza Place

SPOILERS AHOY! Your stalwarts have all finally gotten around to seeing "The Rise of Skywalker", the latest is Disney's attempt to MCU-ify George Lucas's iconic franchise and we're going to talk about it. Mostly we'll complain.
Also this week: fake diversity, bad stereotypes, and Chris is wrong about Endor.
Note: aside from spoiling everything about Episode IX, there's also some VERY minor "Mandalorian" spoilers

Ten Forward 13: The Rise of Skywalker

SPOILERS! Seriously, they are there from the off, so if you've not yet watched all of the first season of "Star Trek: Picard" and don't want to be spoiled skip this episode! We'll be back next week with more DS9!
Otherwise, kick back and chill with your SSHB friends as we do a very broad, slightly meandering overview of the first season of the latest "Trek" series. This isn't a deep dive, more a high-view impressions recorded MERE DAYS after the season one finale. If that sounds like fun, come check it out and find out which of your stalwarts was VERY unimpressed. You might be surprised by which one it is!
Also this week: no "Mandalorian" spoilers, fallen empires, and "Star Trek" remembers Hispanics exist.

Ten Forward 14: Picard Season 1

It's a surprise as big as Arnold hiding under a middle-aged lady's head! Welcome to the unexpected 15th Ten Forward, where we continue looking at the movies of Paul Verhoeven with "Total Recall"! In a future where memories of vacation and adventure can be implanted, everyday schlub Douglas Quaid decides to have some fake fun on Mars...until the memory process jogs some secret real ones loose! Or does it?
Also this week: Frakes v. Cruise, Dick needs assistance, and many Ahhhhhnold impressions.

Ten Forward 15: Total Recall

We've somehow been at this for four years, and we're celebrating with DS9 Fanfics! But unlike our previous stories, these ones have been put together in the form of mini-scripts and your favorite "Trek" podcasters are playing all the roles!  There's action, laughs, love, and a whole slew of impressions! Join us for the fun!
Caitlin's script: 02:51
Ames's script: 14:30
Jake's script: 37:07
Chris's script: 1:05:58
But let's be honest, if you don't listen to them all we'll find out and be VERY sad.

Ten Forward 16: DS9 Teleplay Fanfics

We're borderline topical this week as, just in time for season two to premier, we're taking a look at the first season of Disney+ juggernaut "The Mandalorian"! When an enigmatic bounty hunter finds a target too adorable to just hand over to creepy Imperial Werner Herzog, he finds himself on the run in search of solace and space bucks. Soon he is encountering old friends and foes, making new ones, and trying desperately to outrun the Easter Eggs. Oh, and of course, Baby Yoda is there.
Also this week: all the blurrg chat, so many comedians, and a TV that would make Millie Montag weak in the knees!

Ten Forward 17: The Mandalorian Season 1

New episodes every Thursday!

Podcasts: a frontier that isn't actually very final at all. These are the voyages of the podcast A Star to Steer Her By. Our continuing mission: to watch every single episode of Star Trek (even the dumb ones), to comment on and snark at whatever suits our fancy, to boldly split infinitives that no man has split before. 

Follow our crew of Chris, Jake, Ames, and Caitlin as we explore the universe of Trek, go on wild tangents, crack wise, and make more fart jokes than necessary.

Mature Content!