Talk:Redshirt (character)
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This article was nominated for deletion on 12/12/2006. The result of the discussion was keep and cleanup. |
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Redshirt (character) was featured in a "WikiWorld" cartoon: (click image to the right for full size version.) |
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[edit] Definitive Explanation
In at least one of the Trek memoirs (Nimoy's I Am Spock or one of Shatner's), someone in the costume department gave the definitive reason for the redshirt phenomenon. I no longer have my copy for reference, but if I recall, budget constraints limited the number of costumes available. The same amount of each color of cloth was ordered, and what was left over from producing uniforms for the main characters were used to make uniforms in a variety of sizes for extras and actors in minor roles. A few of every color were made, but there were significantly more sizes available in red than the other colors because fewer main characters needed red costumes. More often than not, the availability of costumes would dictate a minor character's field of expertise. If no blue uniform was available in the right size for a doomed medic, the actor would don a red shirt and become a security or engineering officer. As a result, at least for a while, it was somewhat more common for actors in minor roles (expendable characters) to wear red shirts than any other color. I hesitate to add this information to the main page until I have the reference available. Perhaps someone with access to the memoirs could look this up?
[edit] Amusing
This article made me laugh so hard I thought a tooth would fly out. Corvus 06:31, 25 June 2006 (UTC)
In the Star Wars series, Obi Wan Kenobi's R4 astrodoids keep getting destroyed, at least once in each of the two newest movies (as I recall); Obi Wan's astrodroids are always red. Also, in "A new Hope", the old R2 unit that explodes is also painted red. Can someone check these informations so they can added to the article?
[edit] Uses section
Looking at the "uses" section, this topic has gone beyond science fiction to a lot of other genres. Can we move this to maybe Redshirt (character)? --DropDeadGorgias (talk) 19:07, 15 September 2005 (UTC)
- Probably not a bad idea. Stillnotelf 19:48, 15 September 2005 (UTC)
The list of uses is becoming long and cluttered, and in my opinion it should be divided into categories. I propose a division into either science fiction/other or TV shows/comics/games or something like that. -Stefanf 19:28, 2 March 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Yellowshirts
I changed to the text in the article from "redshirts are known as yellowshirts" to "redshirts are sometimes known as yellowshirts". I've rarely heard the term yellowshirt, it's more common to refer to them as redshirts, despite the color discrepancy.--RLent 21:44, 6 March 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Occurrences
I just got finished cleaning up the newly-added TOS redshirts list, and I'm not sure if this article really needs such a list. I'll leave it there, because they're good examples of just how the redshirt works, but I'm open to comments. That said, a few of the descriptions need a bit more description. -- Wwagner 20:22, 17 March 2006 (UTC)
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- Is this list supposed to be of redshirt deaths in a general sense - meaning expendable crewmembers regardless of actual shirt color - or ONLY those literally wearing red shirts? "The Man Trap" is missing from the list, with crewmembers Darnell, Sturgeon, and Green all being killed off swiftly. Not all were in red shirts though. wikipediatrix 20:56, 23 March 2006 (UTC)
[edit] King Kong
The article makes mention of the 'first mate' wearing a red shirt and getting crushed. I find this wrong in two parts: a redshirt is a expendable character with little or no interaction with the greater plot nor main characters. That wasn't the case with the ship's first mate. Secondly, he didn't wear a red shirt. The fellow who wore the prominently red shirt in the film was the movie producer's right-hand man-- and he survived.
[edit] Zap Branigan?
I don't recall zap branigan ever saying "send in the redshirts", let alone something he said alot? Anyone have a link to a episode guide with this?
Don't remember either, he was known as someone in the series as a commander who would send in human wave attacks, that's the closest I can think of Alastairward 14:19, 23 July 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Subsequent occurences
Is it verified that all (or even most) of the "Subsequent Occurences" are references to Star Trek redshirts? For some (esp. parody) it's obvious. But the others should be sourced or excluded. --JChap 00:03, 1 June 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Kirk
Didn't Kirk wear a redshirt for awhile in the series? I guess they must of changed that when they decided to start zapping the security personnel Lord Sephiroth03:44, 1 June 2006 (UTC)
Allegedly because of lighting, the yellow shirt worn by command and control crew in Star Trek was more of a green-yellow colour. But Kirk's regular tunic was only ever yellow or green Alastairward 14:23, 23 July 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Redundancy?
"Appearances of redshirt characters" and "References to redshirts" are pretty much the same thing, aren't they? In fact, a few examples are duplicated on both lists. Maybe these should be merged? Or a better distinction drawn between the two, as there seems to be no difference. I'm guessing the second list is meant to refer to the shirts themselves, while the first list is supposed to refer to the characters wearing them, but it doesn't seem clear that there's any such division. --Lurlock 05:59, 29 August 2006 (UTC)
- I believe the first section is actual examples from Star Trek, while the second is places that the concept has been referenced. Powers T 23:18, 29 August 2006 (UTC)
- Not really. Take a look. There's some Star Trek references in there, but since that's where the concept originates, it's not surprising. The majority of those are just assorted references to red shirts or characters wearing them and meeting their doom (or not). There's not really much difference between the sections. You may be referring to the stuff above "Subsequent Uses". I'm talking about the two sections below that, which are pretty much equivalent. --Lurlock 03:37, 31 August 2006 (UTC)
- Sorry, it'd been a while since I looked at the article as a whole. You're right, there's not much difference. The first section should be actual examples from outside of Star Trek, while the second should be places that the concept is referenced. =) Powers T 14:40, 31 August 2006 (UTC)
- That section needs a big clean-up effort. "Appearances" should list notably expendable characters and "References" should list the comical jabs at the concept.—The preceding unsigned comment was added by 128.252.30.189 (talk • contribs) .
- I also like how there's a spoiler warning at the BOTTOM of the section, which just makes no sense at all. Think I'll move it. --Lurlock 13:53, 14 September 2006 (UTC)
- That section needs a big clean-up effort. "Appearances" should list notably expendable characters and "References" should list the comical jabs at the concept.—The preceding unsigned comment was added by 128.252.30.189 (talk • contribs) .
- Sorry, it'd been a while since I looked at the article as a whole. You're right, there's not much difference. The first section should be actual examples from outside of Star Trek, while the second should be places that the concept is referenced. =) Powers T 14:40, 31 August 2006 (UTC)
- Not really. Take a look. There's some Star Trek references in there, but since that's where the concept originates, it's not surprising. The majority of those are just assorted references to red shirts or characters wearing them and meeting their doom (or not). There's not really much difference between the sections. You may be referring to the stuff above "Subsequent Uses". I'm talking about the two sections below that, which are pretty much equivalent. --Lurlock 03:37, 31 August 2006 (UTC)
Oops, I just edited this before reading the talk page. I've added a new References subsection to the Subsequent uses section, and moved references which weren't literal appearances of the redshirt to there. An alternative would be to keep them merged and remove the subsection header, so that it isn't saying they are supposed to be actual appearances of the character type in TV shows or movies. --70.143.43.245 16:42, 20 February 2007 (UTC)
[edit] Red Shirt Legostar Galactica
Wow. No mention of Red Shirt from the webcomic Legostar Galactica? Go look it up. -66.204.73.130
- That's a rather rude way to suggest we include it. -- Zanimum 20:54, 13 December 2006 (UTC)
[edit] The Movie Boomerang
I believe the Family Guy reference may be picked up from Boomerang, where the characters played by Eddie Murphy and Halle Berry are watching "Elaan Of Troyius" and he makes reference to the inevitable death of the red shirt Ensign Ricky. I haven't seen the movie in a while, but I distinctly remember the Family Guy triggering memories of a similar observation in Boomerang, which may be one of the rare times in the early nineties that black characters admit more than a passing fascination with Star Trek.
urbanbohemian 21:28, 18 October 2006 (UTC)
- Speaking of Boomerang, I remember reading somewhere that Eddie Murphy was in talks to star in a Trek movie right about that time. Paramount apparently killed the idea because they didn't want Murphy to be geek-ified. Wl219 15:13, 18 December 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Vol episode?
Page 47 of 'Evil Super-Villains Need Love, Too ... and Other Important Wisdom talks about a Vol episode. Any ideas? -- Zanimum 20:54, 13 December 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Cleanup Test Page
I have gone ahead and created a test page in my user space in the hopes that we can clean up the article. You can access it at: User:EnsRedShirt/Redshirt (character) cleanup test. Feel free to add comment's there or here, or add to it or delete from it as we march toward a concensus. EnsRedShirt 07:11, 10 January 2007 (UTC)
- Okay barring any responce here I will copy edit the test page over to the main page Early Saturday morning.. EnsRedShirt 06:02, 18 January 2007 (UTC)
- Move over done.. EnsRedShirt 07:56, 20 January 2007 (UTC)
[edit] RedShirts in the '24' series.
I've been watching season 5 of the '24' TV series - all of their security officers wear red shirts with black cuffs and collars - just as in Trek, they are bit characters who die soon after their first appearance, have one-liners, no name - and are mourned by nobody when they are blown up, shot or poisoned.
This can't be an accident. Red is an odd choice for a 'rent-a-cop' uniform - they must have done this deliberately.
Anyway - I think this needs to be added to the article because unlike the other references, it's not just another StarTrek parody and it's a perfect example of the phenomenon - that they also wear red shirts is just a bonus!
SteveBaker 19:47, 20 January 2007 (UTC)
[edit] Sixth Man Syndrome
Sixth Man Syndrome redirects here, but there is no specific use of this term in the article (there is a mention that Guy Fleegman says "...I'm just 'Crewman Number Six.' I'm expendable..." in Galaxy Quest. If there is to be a redirect here, then some explanation is in order, perhaps including the observation that there are typically six transporter pads in a transporter room. --203.6.205.22 23:43, 28 February 2007 (UTC)
