PAVEL CHEKOV

'Pavel Andreievich Chekov', Cyrillic: Павел Андреевич Чеков), played by Walter Koenig and Anton Yelchin, is a Russian Starfleet officer in the fictional Star Trek universe.

Contents

Origin

Career

Gags

“Nuclear wessels”

Crediting things to Mother Russia

References

External links

Origin

Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry stated for the series' 25th anniversary special that he created Chekov's character in response to a ''Pravda'' article that noted that although the Soviet Union was a leader in space exploration, the international crew of the ''Enterprise'' lacked a Russian character. Including someone from Russia, the United States' long-time Cold War adversary, matched well with Roddenberry's vision of an ideal future in which the people of the Earth were united. (This story had actually been published in TV Guide after the character was introduced.)
In truth, evidence suggests that ''Pravda'' never published such an article.^[1] Koenig always denied the "Russian origin" story and said the character was added in response to the popularity of The Monkees' Davy Jones, and the character's hairstyle and appearance are a direct reference to this.

Career

Pavel Andreievich Chekov is a young and naïve ensign who first appeared on-screen in ’ second season as the ''Enterprise'''s navigator. However, established that he had been assigned to the ship sometime prior to the first season episode "Space Seed".
Chekov also substitutes for Mr. Spock at the science officer station when necessary. His promotion to lieutenant for '' brings with it his transfer as the ship's tactical officer and chief of security. By the events of '', Chekov has been promoted to commander and executive officer aboard the USS ''Reliant''. In that film, Khan Noonien Singh uses a creature that wraps itself around Chekov's cerebral cortex to control him and his captain. Chekov overcomes the creature's mind control and serves as ''Enterprise'' tactical officer in the film's climactic battle against Khan.
Chekov is an accomplice in Kirk's unsanctioned use of the ''Enterprise'' to rescue Spock ('') but is exonerated for his actions (''). He serves as navigator aboard the ''Enterprise''-A during the events of '' and ''. The character's final appearance is as a guest aboard the ''Enterprise''-B on its maiden voyage (''). The non-canon '' novel ''The Sundered'' posits that Chekov later serves as Hikaru Sulu's first officer aboard the USS ''Excelsior''. In Generations, he appears wearing the rank of Captain, implying that he eventually was awarded his own command.
Chekov (played by Walter Koenig) also appears in the fan series ''New Voyages'', in the episode "To Serve All My Days". On August 8, 2007, it was announced that Chekov will be portrayed by Anton Yelchin in the ''eleventh Star Trek film'', although the role the character will play in the movie is currently unknown.^[2]

Gags

“Nuclear wessels”

One of the most famous Chekov quotes comes from '': trying to find a nuclear-powered naval ship while stuck in the 20th century, he asks a policeman where to find "nuclear vessels", pronouncing the "v" as a "w"; pronouncing "vessel" as "wessel" has become a popular gag. The filming for Star Trek IV was completed in San Francisco in front of an unsuspecting and unscripted public for which the spontaneous and genuine reactions of the passersby can be attributed.
In the Futurama episode "Where No Fan Has Gone Before," Fry, after asking Walter Koenig to repeat something in Russian, he says "Now say 'nuclear wessels,'" to which Koenig replies with an emphatic, "No."

Crediting things to Mother Russia

A running joke involves Chekov's tendency to credit things to "Mother Russia". They include:

★ "The Russian Epic of Cinderella" ('')

★ Scotch being invented by "a little old lady from Leningrad" ("The Trouble With Tribbles")

★ The Garden of Eden being "just outside" Moscow. ("The Apple")

★ The grain quadrotriticale being a Russian "inwention" ("The Trouble With Tribbles")

★ The Cheshire cat from Alice in Wonderland being from Minsk ("Who Mourns for Adonais?")

★ Various star systems being charted by Russians ("The Trouble With Tribbles")

★ The old saying quoted by Scotty: "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me!" (Friday's Child)

★ Alexander the Great ( Chekov's missions module)

★ Homework being a Russian "Inwention" (The Novel "Doctor's Orders")

References

1. http://www.snopes.com/radiotv/tv/chekov.htm
2. http://www.aintitcool.com/node/33612

External links

★ "Pavel Chekov" at STARTREK.COM