Star Trek: TOS episode
"The Trouble With Tribbles"
Captain Kirk and the troublesome Tribbles, The Trouble With Tribbles.
Episode no.	44
Prod. code	044
Airdate	December 29, 1967
Writer(s)	David Gerrold
Director	Joseph Pevney
Guest star(s)	William Schallert William Campbell (film) Stanley Adams (actor) Whit Bissell Michael Pataki Ed Reimers Charlie Brill Paul Baxley David L. Ross Guy Raymond Eddie Paskey William Blackburn
Year	2268
Stardate	4523.3
Episode chronology
Previous episode	"Wolf in the Fold"
Next episode	"The Gamesters of Triskelion"

"The Trouble With Tribbles" is an episode of Star Trek: The Original Series, first broadcast on December 29, 1967 and repeated June 21, 1968. It was written by David Gerrold, directed by Joseph Pevney. It is one of the most popular Star Trek episode, and one of the most famous among non-fans, simply for the plot's bizarre and humorous nature. Image from Star Trek: The Original Series episode, The Trouble with Tribbles © 1967 Paramount Pictures, produced by Gene Roddenberry. ... December 29 is the 363rd day of the year (364th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 2 days remaining. ... 1967 (MCMLXVII) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar (the link is to a full 1967 calendar). ... Screenwriters, scenarists or script writers, are authors who write the screenplays from which movies and television programs are made. ... David Gerrold, born Jerrold David Friedman (January 24, 1944), is a science fiction author who started his career in 1966 as a college student by submitting an unsolicited story outline for the television series Star Trek. ... A television director is usually responsible for directing the actors and other taped aspects of a television production. ... Joseph Pevney (born September 15, 1911, New York City) is a prolific film and television director, with a directing career that spanned over 80 productions from 1950 to 1984. ... William Schallert (born July 6, 1922 in Los Angeles, California), is a very tall actor who has appeared in many movies and television series such as The Smurfs, Gunsmoke, and Get Smart. ... William Campbell in Blood Bath (1966) William Campbell (born October 30, 1926 in Newark, New Jersey) is an American actor. ... Stanley Adams as Cyrano Jones Stanley Adams (April 7, 1915 - April 27, 1977) was an American actor and filmwriter. ... Whit Bissell (born 29 October 1909, died 5 March 1996) was an American character actor. ... This article might not be written in the formal tone expected of an encyclopedia entry. ... Ed Reimers was an American actor in the 1950s and 60s who also served as the announcer for early Warner Brothers television shows such as Cheyenne and Maverick. ... Charlie Brill is an actor. ... Eddie Paskey-is an actor who is primarily known for playing the uncredited Lieutenant Leslie in the original Star Trek. ... William Blackburn was the leading prison architect of the Georgian Era. ... A year is the time between two recurrences of an event related to the orbit of the Earth around the Sun. ... Stardate is one of the dating conventions used in the fictional Star Trek universe. ... Wolf in the Fold is a second season episode of Star Trek: The Original Series. ... The Gamesters of Triskelion is a second season episode of Star Trek: The Original Series, first broadcast January 5, 1968 and repeated May 3, 1968. ... The starship Enterprise as it appeared on Star Trek Star Trek is a culturally significant science fiction television series created by Gene Roddenberry in the 1960s. ... December 29 is the 363rd day of the year (364th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 2 days remaining. ... 1967 (MCMLXVII) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar (the link is to a full 1967 calendar). ... June 21 is the 172nd day of the year (173rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 193 days remaining. ... 1968 (MCMLXVIII) was a leap year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1968 calendar). ... David Gerrold, born Jerrold David Friedman (January 24, 1944), is a science fiction author who started his career in 1966 as a college student by submitting an unsolicited story outline for the television series Star Trek. ... Joseph Pevney (born September 15, 1911, New York City) is a prolific film and television director, with a directing career that spanned over 80 productions from 1950 to 1984. ...

Quick Overview: Cuddly, but extremely prolific, little creatures invade a starbase and the Enterprise, and foil an enemy's plans. The early Earth starship Enterprise (NX-01) The original Federation starship Enterprise (NCC-1701) The second Federation starship Enterprise (NCC-1701-A) The third Federation starship Enterprise (NCC-1701-B) The fourth Federation starship Enterprise (NCC-1701-C) The fifth Federation starship Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) The sixth Federation starship...

On stardate 4523.3 Captain James T. Kirk and his crew are called to Deep Space Station K7 by a priority-one distress call. The station is near Sherman's Planet, a world in a sector of space disputed between the Federation and the Klingon Empire. The terms of the Organian Peace Treaty were that Sherman's planet would be awarded to whichever side demonstrates that it can manage it most efficiently. Stardate is one of the dating conventions used in the fictional Star Trek universe. ... James Tiberius Kirk, played by William Shatner, was captain of two starships Enterprise (NCC-1701 and NCC-1701-A) in the fictional Star Trek universe. ... A space station on the Klingon-Federation border, from the classic Star Trek episode The Trouble with Tribbles. ... Shermans Planet is a planet in the fictional Star Trek universe. ... In the Star Trek fictional universe, the United Federation of Planets (UFP) – widely referred to and known as merely the Federation – is an interstellar federal state of more than 150 member planets and thousands of colonies. ... Klingons (tlhIngan in the Klingon language) are a race of humanoids in the fictional Star Trek universe. ... The Organian Peace Treaty was the treaty of peace, imposed by the Organians, upon the United Federation of Planets and the Klingon Empire, on stardate 3199. ...

Kirk is furious when he later realizes the distress call was unwarranted, and the undersecretary in charge of agriculture in the sector, Nilz Baris, just wants someone to guard the shipments of quadrotriticale grain bound for Sherman's Planet. To annoy Baris, Kirk assigns a token two guards to the task after learning that Starfleet Command supported Baris's concerns enough to ignore his false alarm. A Klingon ship soon arrives at the space station and requests that its crew be granted shore leave. Kirk tells the Klingon leader Koloth that he can only bring members of his crew down 12 at a time, and that he will provide one security guard for each Klingon that beams down. Starfleet Command In the fictional world of Star Trek, Starfleet Command is the headquarters of Starfleet, the directorate of exploration and defense for the United Federation of Planets. ... Klingons (tlhIngan in the Klingon language) are a race of humanoids in the fictional Star Trek universe. ...

Meanwhile, amidst a few fist fights that break out between Klingons and Enterprise crew members, an independent trader, Cyrano Jones, sneaks some little furry animals called Tribbles onto the station, and starting with a sale to Uhura, they quickly find their way onto the Enterprise as adorable pets. The animals purr a relaxing trill that the crew find soothing. Klingons, however, find tribbles very annoying. Tribbles emit an ear-piercing shriek of aggression whenever they are around Klingons, so the feeling is mutual. Cyrano Jones, played by Stanley Adams, is a small-time merchant who deals in tribbles, among other things. ... Tribbles Tribbles are small, soft, gentle fictional animals in the Star Trek universe whose cute appearance and soothing purring endears them to every sentient race which encounters them — except Klingons. ... Lieutenant Uhura is a character from the fictional Star Trek universe and was played by Nichelle Nichols on Star Trek: The Original Series and the first six Star Trek movies. ...

The "trouble" with the tribbles is that they reproduce far too quickly; in the words of Dr. McCoy, "they are born pregnant" and threaten to consume the onboard supplies. The problem is aggravated when it is discovered that creatures are physically entering essential ship systems, interfering with their functions and consuming any edible contents present. Kirk realizes that if the tribbles are getting into the Enterprise's stores, then they are a direct threat to the grain stores aboard the station. However, upon examining the holds, Kirk learns the hard way that it is already too late; the tribbles have indeed eaten the grain. It appears the mission has ended in a fiasco. Leonard Horatio McCoy, M.D., nicknamed Bones (as in Sawbones, an old-fashioned colloquialism for a doctor or a surgeon), is a fictional character in the Star Trek universe, played by the late DeForest Kelley. ...

However, all the tribbles in the grain holds had died, alerting the Federation that the grain was poisoned. Furthermore, the tribbles also give away the identity of a Klingon agent who did the poisoning. The saboteur was the only humanoid the tribbles didn't like: Arne Darvin, Baris's own assistant. Upon a medical scan by Dr. McCoy, it is revealed that Darvin was indeed a Klingon in disguise. Thus the tribbles redeem themselves and enable the Federation to score a diplomatic victory against the Klingons. As for Cyrano Jones, who introduced the species to the station, he is ordered to remove the tribbles from the station or be imprisoned for 20 years for transporting a dangerous lifeform off its native planet, a clean-up task estimated to take 17.9 years.

Just before departing, all tribbles that were on the Enterprise are beamed onto the Klingon ship by Scotty, where, in his words, they will be "no tribble at all". Montgomery Scott, nicknamed Scotty, is a fictional character in the Star Trek universe. ...

Trivia

Gerrold wrote the character of Ensign Freeman with the intention of playing the part himself^[1]. However, Gene Coon nixed the idea, saying Gerrold was too skinny. Paul Baxley, William Shatner's frequent stuntman, was cast in the role. It has been suggested that William Shatner SciFi DVD of the Month Club be merged into this article or section. ...

James Doohan did most of his own stunts in this episode, including some of the punches in the bar fight. James Doohan as Scotty on Star Trek James Montgomery Doohan (March 3, 1920 – July 20, 2005) was an Irish-Canadian character and voice actor best known for his portrayal of Scotty in the television and movie series Star Trek. ...

The episode also marks the only time that Scott and Chekov have a conversation during the original series. Mr. Sulu does not appear at all, as George Takei was away filming The Green Berets, and lines written for him were reassigned to Chekov. Pavel Andreyevich Chekov (Cyrillic: Павел Андреевич Чеков), a character from the fictional Star Trek universe, was the Navigator and Weapons Officer on the Starship Enterprise under Captain James T. Kirk. ... George Hosato Takei (last name pronounced ) (born April 20, 1937 in Los Angeles, California) is a Japanese-American actor. ... The Green Berets is the title of a 1968 film starring John Wayne and featuring George Takei, David Janssen, Jim Hutton, and Aldo Ray. ...

Spock's self-referential line "He heard you; he simply could not believe his ears" was taken directly from MAD magazine's parody of the series, which had run a few months before. Harvey Kurtzmans cover for the first issue of the comic book Mad Mad is an American humor magazine founded by publisher William Gaines and editor Harvey Kurtzman in 1952. ...

Desilu's research department found similarities between this episode and the Martian flatcat chapter in Robert A. Heinlein's novel The Rolling Stones. Heinlein declined to take any legal action to stop the show or get credit, citing that the idea was not original even to him. Desilu Productions was a company jointly owned by American actors Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz. ... Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun in the solar system, named after the Roman god of war (the counterpart of the Greek Ares), on account of its blood red color as viewed in the night sky. ... In Robert Heinleins science fiction novel The Rolling Stones, flatcats are a species of emotional symbiotes native to Mars, with very adaptive metabolisms. ... Heinlein autographing at the 1976 Worldcon Robert Anson Heinlein (July 7, 1907 – May 8, 1988) was one of the most influential and controversial authors of hard science fiction. ... Daniel Defoes Robinson Crusoe; title page of 1719 newspaper edition A novel (from French nouvelle Italian novella, new) is an extended fictional narrative in prose. ... The Rolling Stones (also published under the name Space Family Stone in the United Kingdom) is a 1952 science fiction novel by Robert Heinlein June 1, 1952, Atheneum, library binding, ISBN 0684923033 June 13, 1985, Del Rey, paperback reissue edition, 256 pages, ISBN 034532451X May 12, 1977, Del Rey, paperback...

A sequel episode appeared in Star Trek: The Animated Series under the Title of "More Tribbles, More Trouble" to which Gerrold also wrote the script. Star Trek: The Animated Series is an animated science fiction television series set in the Star Trek universe. ...

This episode was later edited and spliced into the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode "Trials and Tribble-ations", in which it was revealed that the crew of Deep Space Nine were present to witness the events of this episode, via time travel. Gerrold was able to get his cameo appearance at last, this time as a gray-haired redshirt ensign in a corridor of the Enterprise. Space station Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (ST:DS9 or STDS9 or DS9 for short) is a science fiction television series produced by Paramount and set in the Star Trek universe. ... Trials and Tribble-ations is a fifth season episode of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine that was written as a tribute to the original series of Star Trek. ... Deep Space Nine (DS9) In the Star Trek fictional universe, Deep Space Nine (or DS9 for short) is a space station and primary setting for the television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. ... Time travel is a concept that has long fascinated humanity—whether it is Merlin experiencing time backwards, or religious traditions like Mohammeds trip to Jerusalem and ascent to heaven, returning before a glass knocked over had spilt its contents. ... 2002 Lincoln cent, obverse, proof with cameo Cameo is a method of carving, or an item of jewelry made in this manner. ... In the fictional universe of Star Trek, the USS Enterprise, (NCC-1701) was the ship in the original NBC TV series Star Trek, which chronicled the vessels most famous assignment, a five-year mission of exploration and diplomacy under Captain James T. Kirks command. ...

Tribbles also appear being handled by Starfleet personnel in the bar scene in Star Trek III: The Search for Spock while Dr. McCoy seeks illegal passage to the Genesis Planet. This has led to speculation among fans that the popularity of Tribbles has led to the breeding of a "sterile" batch that don't reproduce out of control, and are sold as pets. Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (Paramount Pictures, 1984; see also 1984 in film) is the third feature film based on the popular Star Trek science fiction television series. ... This article or section should include material from Project Genesis, eliminating duplication and integrating references. ...

"Sherman's Planet" was named after Holly Sherman, who was David Gerrold's girlfriend at the time. (This is noted in Gerrold's book about the episode^[2])

Gerrold is currently writing another sequel to this episode for the Star Trek: New Voyages fan film series.

Shatner was being purposely hit on the head by the prop man with tribbles during production of the "buried in tribbles" scene. It took an incredible number of takes to get the avalanche of tribbles to fall just right.

The fansub group Dattebayo included a small humorous subititle of the 185th episode of the Naruto anime series. After the opening intro, The Trouble With Tribbles is seen in parenthesis under the episode title. This is a reference to the Onbu and Onbaa creatures in the episode whom bear similarities to the Tribbles of Star Trek.

Notes

• ↑  David Gerrold (1973). Trouble with Tribbles: The Birth Sale and Final Production of One Episode. Ballantine Books. ISBN 0-34-523402-2.

External links

• The Trouble with Tribbles article at Memory Alpha, the Star Trek wiki