Beam me up, Scotty
| Beam me up, Scotty | |
|---|---|
| Character | James T. Kirk |
| Actor | William Shatner |
| First used in | Star Trek |
"Beam me up, Scotty" is a catchphrase that made its way into popular culture from the science fiction television series Star Trek. It comes from the command Captain Kirk gives his chief engineer, Montgomery "Scotty" Scott, when he needs to be transported back to the Starship Enterprise.
Though it has become irrevocably associated with the series and movies, the exact phrase was never actually spoken in any Star Trek television episode or film, however Shatner has said a few similar phrases.
Precise quotations
Despite the phrase entering into popular culture, it is a misquotation and has never been said in any of the television series or films.[1] The complete phrase was eventually said by William Shatner in the audio adaptation of his novel Star Trek: The Ashes of Eden.
In the Original Series episodes "The Gamesters of Triskelion" and "The Savage Curtain", Kirk said, "Scotty, beam us up"; in the episode "This Side of Paradise," Kirk simply said, "Beam me up;" in the animated episodes "The Lorelei Signal" and "The Infinite Vulcan", when he said, "Beam us up, Scotty"; in Star Trek IV, saying, "Scotty, beam me up"; and in Star Trek Generations, by saying, "Beam them out of there, Scotty".
James Doohan, the actor who played Scotty, later chose this phrase as the title of his autobiography.[2]
Similar misquotations
"Beam me up, Scotty" is similar to the phrase, "Just the facts, ma'am", attributed to Jack Webb's character of Joe Friday on Dragnet, "It's elementary, my dear Watson", attributed to Sherlock Holmes, "Luke, I am your father", attributed to Darth Vader, or "Play it again, Sam", attributed to Rick in Casablanca and "We don't need no stinkin' badges!" attributed to Gold Hat in The Treasure of the Sierra Madre. All six lines are among the best known quotations from these works for many viewers, but not one is an actual, direct quotation.[3][4][5][6]
In popular culture
- In 1998, the movie "Armageddon", Rockhound says: "While I don't share his enthusiasm, you know me. Beam me up, Scotty!"
- In 1981, the song "Beam Me Up Scotty" by Tom Rush.
- In the 1987 novelty song Star Trekkin' by The Firm, Captain Kirk sings, "Scotty, beam me up!"[7]
- In 1988, the song "Waiting for the Great Leap Forwards" by Billy Bragg
See also
References
- ↑ "Beam Me Up Scotty". Sunday Mirror. April 1, 2007. Retrieved December 27, 2013. (subscription required)
- ↑ Thomas, Bob (July 20, 2005). "'Star Trek's' Doohan dies, immortalized for 'Beam me up, Scotty'". Associated Press. Retrieved December 27, 2013. (subscription required)
- ↑ The Holmes phrase originated in a radio play. See List of misquotations and "Elementary, My Dear Watson" at Snopes.com
- ↑ Webb did say: "All we want are the facts ma'am". See Just the facts, ma'am, List of misquotations and "Just the Facts" at Snopes.com
- ↑ Greatest Film Misquotes - Part 2, Tim Dirks at filmsite.org
- ↑ We Dont Need No Stinkin Badges! on YouTube
- ↑ The Firm (1987). ""Star Trekkin'"". Star Trek: Science Today, e-zine by Robert Muratore. Retrieved October 27, 2014.
Further reading
- Michael Quinion (August 6, 1996). "BEAM ME UP, SCOTTY!". World Wide Words.
- Barbara Mikkelson (December 31, 1998). "Beam Me Up, Scotty!". Urban Legends Reference Pages.
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