Age of The Nerd
Before Zoe Saldana was Uhura in J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek films, there was Nichelle Nichols. Nichols is known for her role as Uhura in the original Star Trek series. She forever solidified her place not only in pop culture but in this world when she shared the first televised interracial kiss with William Shatner (Captain Kirk). There once was a time where Nichols contemplated leaving the series until Civil Rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. urged her not to as he said he and his family were big fans of her and the show, and that she was a part of history. These days Nichols is still working hard and on space related projects.
I was honored to interview Nichelle Nichols at Wonder Con 2018, where she spoke all about her new project Noah’s Room and how TV is too much of the same these days.
AOTN: Can you tell me about Noah’s Room?
Nichelle Nichols: A black family takes in a white youth and essentially saves his life, and he goes on to be an astronaut.
AOTN: Oh okay, so there’s space and science fiction elements in it then?
Nichelle: Yes, yes.
AOTN: Where did you get the inspiration for Noah’s Room?
Nichelle: I was sitting at home…and the tv was on and I run and I turn it off because I was so tired of seeing the same old stuff. Why can’t they think of something new? And I’m thinking, talking to my friend and then this came up.
AOTN: I love that. Especially since you put science-fiction into it, it brought something that you’re very familiar with.
Nichelle: Yes.
AOTN: What is your plans to do with this project? A TV series, a movie?
Nichelle: When I first started, it was just something to do and develop, and the more I got into it, the more I was into it. So it developed into something, you know?
AOTN: Okay. Believe it or not, I have never seen a ‘Star Trek’ episode or film but the one clip I always seen since I was a kid was that kiss you shared with William Shatner.
Nichelle: [Laughs] Everyone always says that.
AOTN: It’s very iconic and it’s very meaningful in pop culture because it was something that was never done before. Can you tell me how that happened?
Nichelle: I don’t even remember anymore. You know, it’s like as much as it is, it’s part of what I do so I don’t think about it until I do it, and then I do it, and I’m thinking about the little things. That’s when I get into it you know?
Noah’s Room is currently in a bidding war with a number of companies interested in green-lighting Nichols bold hour-long tv series. The series will focus on an African American family who takes in a white youth that has been abused by the Foster Care system, changes his life through love, redemption and forgiveness, a second chance on life.
Be sure to stay tuned to Age of the Nerd for more news on Noah’s Room.
