Letters to Calendar: ‘Star Trek’ music, Au Fudge and sending off Garry Shandling

tFamiliar sound to that ‘Trek’ motif

Regarding the music of “Star Trek” as discussed in the article by John Burlingame [“‘Ultimate Voyage’ Concert Goes Where Few Have Gone Before,” March 27], there can be no doubt that much original music has been composed for the series and its various spin-offs and feature film descendants, but it is questionable whether Alexander Courage’s familiar fanfare is among them. The interested reader would do well to listen to the score for Raoul Walsh’s “Captain Horatio Hornblower,” whose music by English composer Robert Farnon eerily resembles Courage’s “Star Trek” motif. You don’t have to unearth the charming film (Gregory Peck and Virginia Mayo), as the score is available on CD and, for all I know, elsewhere. I believe it is well known that Gene Roddenberry was a big fan of Capt. Hornblower.

Nicholas Meyer

Director “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan” and “Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country”

Bone to pick with Au Fudge

Regarding “Eat, Play, Naturally” [March 27], where to begin dissecting the reasons the Au Fudge article probably alienated a huge percentage of your readers? Was it the A-list moms preferring to “meet fellow moms at Bouchon, Thomas Keller’s pricey French restaurant”? Maybe it was the marketplace stocked with “bespoke candy necklaces from Paris,” or the air-headed assumption that families congregate at airports all the time? Or the coordinated Zimmerman outfits?

Gisela Alves

Mission Viejo

Even Shandling would approve

That was a splendid column on Garry Shandling [“An Appreciation: He Filled the Space in Between,” by Robert Lloyd, March 26]. The last sentence gave me that sort of “wow” where you eventually catch yourself staring off, when time stops for a bit. Excellent writing.

Stephen Chupaska

New York City

Walk, not run to exotic delights

Regarding “Running for Food, Watching Where We Go” [March 27], at 72, I am no longer able to “run,” but I’m still upright and enjoy walking to places to eat that are not on my daily bus routes. I read a review or search out a restaurant I want to try within the comfort zone of my feet and caloric intake and take off. I’ve explored much and consumed exotic delights. And there’s always the takeout bag for what I don’t consume: much easier to carry when you walk.

Ruth Kramer Ziony

Los Feliz

A flat note to this review

In “Perfect Tone and Timing: ‘Born to Be Blue’” [March 25], Noel Murray shows us how to review a movie about an important musician without saying one word about the soundtrack.

Ray Sherman

Duarte

Count him out as a true believer

Justin Bieber? Really? Trying to figure out what’s more laughable: your writer attending and reviewing a Bieber concert [“He’ll Make a Believer Out of You,” March 22], or the idea that Bieber’s fans read The Times.

Robert Langelier

Temecula

Diversity issue on ‘Bachelor’

Regarding “‘Bachelor’ and ‘Bachelorette’ Go Looking for Love in All the White Places,” March 26], I was so annoyed by the article by Meredith Blake that I decided to finally cancel my subscription to The Times. “The Bachelor” is a perfectly fine show as it is with many millions of people who enjoy watching it. Why do you have to bring in the issue of diversity, like it’s racially prejudiced simply because the show is not trying to force racially mixed dating? If we are striving for a color-blind society, then why make such issues over color?

Katherine Stewart

Los Angeles