Monday, August 17, 2009

Awwwww. We lost our (admiral's) good hands

I had no idea he was still with us. But today comes word that Ed Rheimers, for Treklanders another of those flag-rank viewscreen guys—but one of the best known due to lucking out by drawing "The Trouble With Tribbles"—has passed away at the age of 96.

Rheimers is probably better known for what he didn't do on the air—but instead on scratchy faded film (check the 0:28 mark) ...



...that happened to be squirreled away and preserved as part of Star Trek's rebirth. I'm talking about the infamous blooper reels—back in the day when you didn't have to preface that with an acronym, especially "TOS"—and his seconds of fame when he mocked his own reassuring "good hands" Allstate persona of 22 years.

Will Dennis Haysbert ever top that record? We'll see. Maybe J.J. can get him into the gold cuffs, too.

But for now, Starbase Allstate will miss those mellifluous tones of Ed's.

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