Dr. Leonard H McCoy is by far one of my top favorite characters of all of Star Trek. Deforest Kelly was a great actor. God rest his soul. I was glad they were able to have him make a cameo in TNG as admiral Leonard H McCoy head Starfleet medical.
KellEy was about the only TOS actor I never met, although I only saw (did not really meet) Nimoy and can say the same for Shatner so far. I have heard nothing but good things about the way he loved and respected the fans.
He's one of my favorite characters too ! It seemed that Bones , Spock , and Kirk were great friends and worked really well as fellow crewmembers together .
@@loulfw2513 I was glad to have met him. He was as Southern as the actor who met him: DeForest Kelley. I too doubted that Dr. Phlox attended Starfleet Academy. De was quite a warm actor. My sister and some friends rented a house in Decatur, Ga. across the street where De once lived when he was young. De used to sing for WSB radio before he moved to Ca.; he could sing better than Shatner and did so in "ST:5", even if it was just "Row, Row Your Boat". I also got to meet James Doohan at the same convention in Atlanta in '75. He was also a kind person and was a great singer too-at the conventions party. RIP, De, James, Leonard, Majel, Mark, and Nichelle.
It made me very upset and gave me pause. My father, a career US army NCO Infantry/F.Artillery [23 years], suffered from untreated PTSD during his service and civilian life after fighting and surviving the Korean and Vietnam Wars. When he succumbed to his illnesses I was serving as a US Army Combat Medicalist. This one scene made me mature faster than any other scene in the franchise with honorable mention to the episode "Empath". The movie's scen prepared me for my father's passing and reminded me how brave he was and why he was my hero. He never complained, never worried about himself, and was a gentlemen, a mentor, and a role model. He was my 'dah'. The strange thing is Dr. McCoy is my favorite character from the original series just above Lt. Uhura. The characters of Roy and Johnny from the TV show "Emergency!" inspired me to pursue a career as a military medic. I've often wondered, in the strangeness of the universe, if that one scene was ment for me. I think I'll keep looking at the stars for an answer.
I have long liked DeForest Kelly in various westerns, and at least one crime drama. Karl Urban pegged the McCoy character perfectly. He has the look, the mannerisms, the voice.... it's like he's channeling Kelly's spirit.
From Deep Space Nine, Dax mentions that one of her previous hosts, the gymnast, had a brief affair with McCoy while he was in medical school and she was on earth judging some gymnastics competitions. It’s implied that Jadzia Dax still had some residual feelings for Dr McCoy
Fun fact: In German his nickname is "Pille" wich means pill. Also in the scene of 09 after telling Kirk about his divorce he says:"it's a bitter pill to swallow" wich is a saying in German. So they implied the origin in the dub too instead of just directly translating it.
Personally, I feel that an ad-libbed line from an actor outside his usual comfort zone makes for a solid explanation. That said, nicknames are given, not invited: it's possible both are true - pine-kirk was already thinking of this southern alcoholic as "sawbones" ([{(alcoholism = primitive] + southern states) + [medic X sterilising alcohol]} = sawbones), then L.Horatio dropped the 'bones' line, cementing the nickname. Any mathematicians, please feel free to correct the equation herein: I'd love to see it represented correctly
The #6 point, “Angel and Devil”, you mentioned is really the Ethos (Kirk), Pathos (McCoy) and Logos (Spock). It’s a dynamic brought about similarly in that Logos appeals to reason, building and supplying logical arguments. Pathos appeals to the emotions, like anger or sympathy. Ethos, then, appeals to the protagonists status or authority, and how he ultimately balances his empathy and logic.
I had no idea Karl Urban came up with that explanation. I loved it (and his portrayal of McCoy) - the best part of the reboot. I'm glad someone came up with an explanation.
I agree with the fact that Bones was a nickname derived from "Sawbones", particularly because of a scene in the original series episode, "A Piece of the Action". The conversation goes as follows: MCCOY: Where are they? OXMYX: Knowing Krako, he'll probably send them back on a blotter. KIRK: Wrong again, Oxmyx. MCCOY: Jim. KIRK: Knock it off, Sawbones. I want to talk to this creep. Now listen, I'm getting tired of playing pattycake with you penny-ante operators. OXMYX: What do you mean, penny-ante operator? KIRK: You're a penny-ante operator. Sit down. All right, Spocko, cover him. Now listen, sweetheart. The Federation's moving in, taking over. You play ball, we'll cut you in. You don't, you're out. All the way out. You know what I mean?
@@StarFleet_Tech1701 to be fair, it's a STANDARD car with a clutch. Even my 20th century body could not figure it out. My girlfriend and her family are about the only people I know who can drive standard today.
Chris, you reazolie that McCoy was csalled Bones in the first season of Trek as well, right? So how could his nickname be derived from an episode in the second season? For that matter, the fact that "Koik" (why he tiold Scotty that I have no idea) called him that, ONCE, in front of the Iotians to fit in, does not, to me, connect the dots making Bones a derivation. As one of my country's classic Treksperts, I am not convinced. Think of me as being from your Missouri. Actually, no, that doesn't quite work either.
@@loulfw2513 the nickname doesn't derive from the episode, but Kirk going to that name so quickly could imply that he already considered McCoy to be a saw bones, and that is where he got the nickname from. It shows that he already associated the already antiquated term with McCoy to be able to draw it out so quickly.
I see it as two roads leading to the same nickname: The Klingon War likely created a pressing need for surgeons within Starfleet. So he joins up *as* a sawbones. In the Kelvin timeline, his divorce cleans him out and he joins up because he's got nothing but the clothes on his back and a medical degree.
I’ve seen most of Trek’s cast members at various cons but DeForrest Kelly was, by far, my favorite. He was a great storyteller and had many funny and charming stories about Trek and his career before Trek.
Dr. McCoy's nickname, "Bones," is indeed from the 1800's term Sawbones for a doctor. This appears over and over from TOS sources behind the scenes, including the show bible and Gene's comments, IIRC. It predates the 2009 reboot film by far. So the line in the 09 film is specific to that alternate universe, not the original TOS through VOY timeline. McCoy was also supposed to have had a messy, painful divorce with his wife, and she may have later been killed in some colony incident, I don't recall now. Yes, Joanna was supposed to have appeared but never did, just the known mention.
Thank you so very much for the video, as always. I'd love to see a "10 things you didn't know about..." the rest of the Original Star Trek crew. Kirk, Spock, Scotty, Sulu, Uhura, Checkov, Rand, and Chapel.
To be fair, much of his backstory was not allowed to be included, during production of TOS. The writers had meant to portray him as quite a bit older than Kirk -- with a grown daughter --- but this was left out. The network, apparently, decided to leave all that out. So, his family life and divorce --- although part of his story in the "extended universe" --- was never explicitly mentioned. To be fair, at the time of TOS, the private lives of characters often didn't come up, at all, in many drama shows.
DeForest Kelly's performance as Dr McCoy was incredible, the fact that he was considerably older than Nimoy and Shatner just gave more authenticity to his character. Urban's portrayal was very good but I always thought Gary Sinise would have been a better choice.
I had SUCH a crush on 'Bones' when I was a teenager! If I were throwing a dinner party for Star Trek characters, he'd be first on the list. (Followed by Picard, Troi, Sisko, Kira and Janeway. Now, there's an exciting ensemble!)
Great video on Bones, Ms. Breecher. Dr. McCoy’s daughter Joanna was featured prominently in the Star Trek novel Crisis on Centaurus by Brad Ferguson. I much prefer the military term ‘sawbones’ as the origin of Dr. McCoy’s nickname. One thing about Bones not cited was that He, NOT Dr. Crusher or the EMH, was the one who devised a cure for a bio plague in William Shatner’s Trek novel Avenger, which was set in the 24th century. Classic Trek always was better. 🖖
In the TOS episode "Spectre of the Gun", McCoy becomes Tom McLaury, a member of Clanton's gang. It was only years later when I re-watched "Gunfight at the OK Corral" that I realised that Morgan Earp was played by... DeForest Kelley.
McCoy's health was a principle aspect of the storyline of the ST: TOS episode "For the Earth is Hollow and I have touched the Sky" and there is a connection, to (the Alan Dean Foster novelization of) ST: The Motion Picture, where tech from the Fabrini world ship had been integrated into the refurbished Enterprise medical systems - via McCoy's actions.
I have read several of the in-canon books, another fun fact about McCoy is that he has beaten Spock in Chess. McCoy is appearently something of a master stratagist and his intimate knowedge of Spock and his triggers along with his biases allowed him to handly beat Spock while hiding his manuvers as Spock was intent on teaching McCoy a lesson when challnged. Also this was single board traditional chess not Trek 3D chess.
I have never read any Star Trek books. Except when I was a kid I read an "off-canon" story of Spock's youth. It seems more like a dream of Spock's than something that really happened. Thanks for sharing.
McCoy was a badass when Khan had him by the throat and McCoy said with attitude either choke me or cut my throat. Make up your mind. Khan eventually told him I like a brave man
The relationship among the three has always been an examination of the roles of emotion and logic in leadership and the importance of a balance of both, not only one.
Funnily enough, the Star Trek 2009 reveal makes more sense for German Trekkies. In the German dub version, McCoys nickname is not bones but „Pille“ or „pill“ to be exact. So when McCoy mentions that his wife got a planet during the divorce proceedings (which is also a bit of a small known fact), in German he responds that „this was a hard pill to swallow“, thus introducing the German nickname with a slight change of translation instead „all I have left are my bones“.
There's some weird thing with TOS, the sequence they are on Netflix vs their original air date don't always match up. I think TC take the original air date.
That's true--I prefer to watch the first couple series in production order instead, just because I can see the details developing naturally. It means lots of disc-jumping, but once one gets to TNG, most out-of-order filming was done for good reasons (especially Leonard Nimoy's availability) and a few episodes were adjusted so they work. TOS had problems with production like not being able to finish effects-heavy episodes in time, as well as network executives wanting to start the series with a "creature feature" that would grab everyone's attention.
This video makes me want to search for his appearances in westerns where he was said to usually play a bad guy. Everything I've seen him do was pure gold!
The Crucible series is a must read! Spock's tricorder, which had recorded much of the alternate timeline was now stored in a Supermax Strorage area. Someone ( I forget who) was accessing it to see that timeline. I've got to dig out those vowels and reread them...
I thought the retcon for "Bones" one of the first good things about the film reboots. Shuddering to think of where he'll be coming from on TV after being played by Karl Urban, a first-rate actor.
I really liked the Star Trek Book "Doctor's Orders", written by Diane Duane, in which McCoy is forced to take command of the Enterprise and faces a crisis situation. A great book for McCoy fans!
Also Bones was a cursing machine. Yes, he didn't drop the F Bomb, but that it was in the 60s, so he couldn't. But he drops so many "what the devil"s, that is basically the 60s equivalent of an F Bomb. I always point that out, when haters, that obviously never watched the original series, complain about cursing in the "New Trek".
Although it can be debated if cannon or not the Star Trek Novel Shadows on the Sun looks at McCoy's earliest assignment. As well as his relationship with ex wife and daughter Joanna. The Encounter at Farpoint novel has Joanna still alive in 2364 as an elderly Admiral McCoy tours the Enterprise D.
Agreed. That novel opened a piece of McCoy's history. The fist time I read it I was shocked by the death of a character I won't name in case any fan out there hasn't read it. (And with that said, if you can't find a copy, I can lend mine, if I can rummage around long enough to locate it.)
And if anyone is interested in learning more about the history of the Vulcans, read "Spock's World". Please don't confuse this with a novel titled "Vulcan" a good read but totally different.
I also enjoyed "The Better Man", which has a lot of the same story elements as "Shadows on the Sun". I have only read each of them once each and tbh I found the former more compelling, but Shadows on the Sun has had a significant influence on fanworks and in that way sort of feels more 'canon' to me than some of the other novels.
I always thought the term "Bones" was centered towards DeForest Kelley's physique. I became a Star Trek fan after DeForest Kelley joined the series, have been a fan of him since the "westerns". He always appeared to be such a kind person. Star Trek did a great job casting him a Dr. Leonard H. "Bones" McCoy!!!!
I have always like the Kelvin timeline explanation for the Bones's nickname. I understood the sawbones association in TOS, but it always left me flat. It seemed a big stretch for Kirk to refer to McCoy with a 300 years out dated nickname. In the Kelvin timeline, when McCoy talks about his devorce, I grinned ear to ear saying (quietly), "yeah, that makes sense."
Of course, McCoy often refers to himself as "an old country doctor". Obviously an in-joke between himself and Kirk, as his deep medical and scientific knowledge is shown in use many times.
When you said "McCoy didn't invent the expression", I thought you were going to tell us a real life example of it in media outside of Star Trek, not a technicality from the prequel show that was, in fact, referencing McCoy.
Aye, I always thought DeForest invented that and everyone else from writers to actors used that as an homage. It would be neat to see if there are other earlier examples because I always loved those lines!
How he became an Admiral: Starfleet Medical appointed him to a purely administrative role in some far-flung sector and he protested, saying "I'm a doctor, not an Admiral." So out of spite they promoted him.
I always thought that Doctors were sometimes called Bones because of the skeletons they often have in their offices in family clinics. (The Saw Bones idea is a new one to me.)
Hey TrekCulture! I have a suggestion. How about top 10 secondary reoccurring characters for each series. Examples: Mudd, Q, Barkley, Moriarty, Ogawa, Hugh, Echeb, etc...
@@waynemarvin5661 McCoy is captured by the Romulans in the novel and a deep cover spy is required to help get him free. They showed the book in the video.
I loved this video. Not everybody I knew liked Mccoy but I always did because he was a dedicaited Physician and was a character with depth. I also loved this video because Brie from Trek culture has got to be the prettiest Treker I have ever scene.
The civil war description of a doctor not enough to be a nickname in the 24th century a joke he cracked when they first meet not enough for a whole nickname but you put the two together and it's perfect.
When the character's name was first being developed, Gene Roddenberry and the other producers couldn't decide between Leonard McCoy or Jeb Hatfield. There was quite a feud over that one.
He (DeForest) also appeared in at least 2 Silent Service Episodes (the only one I remember the Title of is: The Spearfish Delivers. This is one of two actual missions that were shown in the Gary Grant & Tony Curtis comedy: Operation Petticoat. (The other, minus DeForest, was Cargo for the Crevalle.)
I personally like the difference in the origin of the nick name between AOS and TOS i think in this Kirk is a frickin history nerd and it's based on sawbones, it makes sense in character that's how it came to be. In AOS we get much less of a vibe that Kirk is a history nerd in the same way but is a smart yet possibly neglected kid and trouble maker, so having the nickname come from a different place but still the same nickname i think is a.) Cute and b.) Showing that there are some great parallels between the different universes while still allowing for some differences
I just had to go back and watch this again after seeing at the end who edited this video. The list of McCoys catchphrases had Liker and Subscriber listed - that's funny. I didn't spot that on the first go. I didn't spot any other gags. I saw lots of empty table tops though. What did I miss?
Hi Dan, yes I'm back after a bit of a break. I shall give some clues, the NX-01 is in the Kelvin timeline and the Horgon is found with someone who the video isn't about.
@@BuhurtUK I don't know I missed that NX01 in the Kelvin Raise a Glass scene. I had actually paused it there. And I can't believe I missed that horgon behind Spock. But it is really nicely done. It blends in so smoothly. It even has a shadow matching the other shadows. I did spot the S is for Ship, C is for Captain thing but I don't get the reference?
@@FirstDan2000 I was just struggling to come up with something for that part. And I was like OK back to basics, what's similar, ships, captains, and I was thinking about how to present it. I couldn't just go 'ship' so I went for something from a kids book. I think it was desperation at that point 😂 the Hero Ships ranked is my other one. Not been well lately, maybe that explains the weird 🤦♂️ Well I need to try and blend them in otherwise it would be too jarring.
@@BuhurtUK Weird is good. Hero ships. I've seen that. I must have been listening too intently to Sean to notice. I'll go for another watch and find some gags.
I do believe the term, "Bones" goes father back than the American Civil War. Aboard British Naval ships, where doctors served aboard, doctors were slang termed by sailors as, "Saw Bones" shortened to just, "Bones".
Sawbones is also a term for those who practice medicine without a license, generally underground, where you needed a medical procedure no questions asked. I had to do that with basic first aid against potentially fatal injuries.
The reason he was called "Bones" was, back in my grandmothers day (around WWI) doctors, especially surgeons, were called "Saw-Bones" because their main fix (especially in war) for catastrophic injuries was to simply "saw the injured limb off", hence many doctors had the nick-name of "Bones". This was explained in an interview on tv with the cast and crew of Star Trek and in one of the many "documentary" style books in the '70's
I would like to see you do a video on enlisted personnel commissioning as officers.I would be interested in what your views and opinions on this would be.
Leonad Nimoy said that he teared up watching Karl Urban's portrayal of McCoy because his acting was so much like DeForest Kelley's.
I was really skeptical when I first heard about this casting (the dude from Doom?), but he really did pull it off nicely
He's definitely the best recasting of the Kelvin films!
I was FLOORED when I discovered Urban was not American, or even NORTH American.
@@loulfw2513 He hides his accent so well.
Dr. Leonard H McCoy is by far one of my top favorite characters of all of Star Trek. Deforest Kelly was a great actor. God rest his soul. I was glad they were able to have him make a cameo in TNG as admiral Leonard H McCoy head Starfleet medical.
KellEy was about the only TOS actor I never met, although I only saw (did not really meet) Nimoy and can say the same for Shatner so far. I have heard nothing but good things about the way he loved and respected the fans.
He's one of my favorite characters too ! It seemed that Bones , Spock , and Kirk were great friends and worked really well as fellow crewmembers together .
@@loulfw2513 I was glad to have met him. He was as Southern as the actor who met him: DeForest Kelley. I too doubted that Dr. Phlox attended Starfleet Academy. De was quite a warm actor. My sister and some friends rented a house in Decatur, Ga. across the street where De once lived when he was young. De used to sing for WSB radio before he moved to Ca.; he could sing better than Shatner and did so in "ST:5", even if it was just "Row, Row Your Boat". I also got to meet James Doohan at the same convention in Atlanta in '75. He was also a kind person and was a great singer too-at the conventions party. RIP, De, James, Leonard,
Majel, Mark, and Nichelle.
This just makes me wish even more than ever that the reboot didn't exist.
McCoy was always my favorite character of TOS. The emotional heart of the classic trio, the gruff advocate for moralism and humanity among the stars.
He deserved his own episodes, and would have gotten them in any post-TOS/TAS series
I love both versions of the Trekian Triad. They really did a marvelous job recreating the vibes been Kirk, Spock and Bones in the Kelvin universe.
I enjoyed the '"all I got left is my bones" origin of McCoy's nickname. So, I'm happy leaving it at that!
Karl Urban really did the part justice, great actor.
Agreed. I love that he is a Star Trek fan and I love the ad-lbbed line.
Loved him since the first time I saw him in Xena.
Almost unbelievable that he's the same guy who played the executioner in Thor: Ragnarok. Such enormous range as an actor! 🙂
@@jasontoddman7265 and Dredd and Billy Butcher (another part he totally owns)
Yeah!!!
Quite possibly the best thing about STV was that scene with Bones and Sybok, and it really showed Deforrest Kelley's range as an actor.
One of my favorite TOS episodes is "For the World Is Hollow, and I Have Touched the Sky."
Ypoud be surprised but he spent some time in the early 60's playing bad guys on TV westerns.
It made me very upset and gave me pause. My father, a career US army NCO Infantry/F.Artillery [23 years], suffered from untreated PTSD during his service and civilian life after fighting and surviving the Korean and Vietnam Wars. When he succumbed to his illnesses I was serving as a US Army Combat Medicalist.
This one scene made me mature faster than any other scene in the franchise with honorable mention to the episode "Empath".
The movie's scen prepared me for my father's passing and reminded me how brave he was and why he was my hero. He never complained, never worried about himself, and was a gentlemen, a mentor, and a role model. He was my 'dah'.
The strange thing is Dr. McCoy is my favorite character from the original series just above Lt. Uhura. The characters of Roy and Johnny from the TV show "Emergency!" inspired me to pursue a career as a military medic.
I've often wondered, in the strangeness of the universe, if that one scene was ment for me. I think I'll keep looking at the stars for an answer.
I have long liked DeForest Kelly in various westerns, and at least one crime drama.
Karl Urban pegged the McCoy character perfectly. He has the look, the mannerisms, the voice.... it's like he's channeling Kelly's spirit.
He is perfect, hu? The only thing missing was the eye color.
DeForest Kelley was a guest on the kid's show Wonderama on which he explained the nickname bones came from the Civil War term "sawbones".
not official
Kirk called him SawBones once too, in A Piece of the Action, perhaps.
From Deep Space Nine, Dax mentions that one of her previous hosts, the gymnast, had a brief affair with McCoy while he was in medical school and she was on earth judging some gymnastics competitions. It’s implied that Jadzia Dax still had some residual feelings for Dr McCoy
I'm surprised that tidbit didn't make the list.
Ah, that's why he's called 'Bones'... :p
@@majuuorthrus3340
Fun fact: In German his nickname is "Pille" wich means pill. Also in the scene of 09 after telling Kirk about his divorce he says:"it's a bitter pill to swallow" wich is a saying in German. So they implied the origin in the dub too instead of just directly translating it.
A bitter pill to swallow is used in just about every English speaking country too... and the Kelvin films aren't Prime Canon so they don't count
Oh, interesting! I like it when translators get creative.
@@insomniacbritgaming1632 sorry, they implied the Kelvin origin of his Kelvin nickname 👍
@@thebricknerd8599 Kelvin timeline can suck a d1ck lol
Personally, I feel that an ad-libbed line from an actor outside his usual comfort zone makes for a solid explanation. That said, nicknames are given, not invited: it's possible both are true - pine-kirk was already thinking of this southern alcoholic as "sawbones" ([{(alcoholism = primitive] + southern states) + [medic X sterilising alcohol]} = sawbones), then L.Horatio dropped the 'bones' line, cementing the nickname. Any mathematicians, please feel free to correct the equation herein: I'd love to see it represented correctly
Dr McCoy is my FAVOURITE Star Trek character ever! "I'm a Dr not an Escalator is my favourite phrase he said" hahahaa
The #6 point, “Angel and Devil”, you mentioned is really the Ethos (Kirk), Pathos (McCoy) and Logos (Spock). It’s a dynamic brought about similarly in that Logos appeals to reason, building and supplying logical arguments. Pathos appeals to the emotions, like anger or sympathy. Ethos, then, appeals to the protagonists status or authority, and how he ultimately balances his empathy and logic.
Always loved McCoy. Rest in peace, De.
I had no idea Karl Urban came up with that explanation. I loved it (and his portrayal of McCoy) - the best part of the reboot. I'm glad someone came up with an explanation.
I agree with the fact that Bones was a nickname derived from "Sawbones", particularly because of a scene in the original series episode, "A Piece of the Action". The conversation goes as follows:
MCCOY: Where are they?
OXMYX: Knowing Krako, he'll probably send them back on a blotter.
KIRK: Wrong again, Oxmyx.
MCCOY: Jim.
KIRK: Knock it off, Sawbones. I want to talk to this creep. Now listen, I'm getting tired of playing pattycake with you penny-ante operators.
OXMYX: What do you mean, penny-ante operator?
KIRK: You're a penny-ante operator. Sit down. All right, Spocko, cover him. Now listen, sweetheart. The Federation's moving in, taking over. You play ball, we'll cut you in. You don't, you're out. All the way out. You know what I mean?
@@StarFleet_Tech1701 to be fair, it's a STANDARD car with a clutch. Even my 20th century body could not figure it out. My girlfriend and her family are about the only people I know who can drive standard today.
Chris, you reazolie that McCoy was csalled Bones in the first season of Trek as well, right? So how could his nickname be derived from an episode in the second season?
For that matter, the fact that "Koik" (why he tiold Scotty that I have no idea) called him that, ONCE, in front of the Iotians to fit in, does not, to me, connect the dots making Bones a derivation.
As one of my country's classic Treksperts, I am not convinced. Think of me as being from your Missouri. Actually, no, that doesn't quite work either.
@@loulfw2513 the nickname doesn't derive from the episode, but Kirk going to that name so quickly could imply that he already considered McCoy to be a saw bones, and that is where he got the nickname from.
It shows that he already associated the already antiquated term with McCoy to be able to draw it out so quickly.
Better than the Romulans in the 'Vulcan's Forge' novel thinking that "Makhoi" got it from performing experiments on patient's bone marrow.
I see it as two roads leading to the same nickname:
The Klingon War likely created a pressing need for surgeons within Starfleet. So he joins up *as* a sawbones.
In the Kelvin timeline, his divorce cleans him out and he joins up because he's got nothing but the clothes on his back and a medical degree.
I’ve seen most of Trek’s cast members at various cons but DeForrest Kelly was, by far, my favorite. He was a great storyteller and had many funny and charming stories about Trek and his career before Trek.
My favorite TOS character. Thank you for shining some light on a very underrated character.
Dr. McCoy's nickname, "Bones," is indeed from the 1800's term Sawbones for a doctor. This appears over and over from TOS sources behind the scenes, including the show bible and Gene's comments, IIRC. It predates the 2009 reboot film by far. So the line in the 09 film is specific to that alternate universe, not the original TOS through VOY timeline. McCoy was also supposed to have had a messy, painful divorce with his wife, and she may have later been killed in some colony incident, I don't recall now. Yes, Joanna was supposed to have appeared but never did, just the known mention.
In the Gernan dub, they call him "Pille" (pill) which was a alang term for Doctors at the time.
Thank you so very much for the video, as always.
I'd love to see a "10 things you didn't know about..." the rest of the Original Star Trek crew. Kirk, Spock, Scotty, Sulu, Uhura, Checkov, Rand, and Chapel.
To be fair, much of his backstory was not allowed to be included, during production of TOS.
The writers had meant to portray him as quite a bit older than Kirk -- with a grown daughter --- but this was left out. The network, apparently, decided to leave all that out. So, his family life and divorce --- although part of his story in the "extended universe" --- was never explicitly mentioned.
To be fair, at the time of TOS, the private lives of characters often didn't come up, at all, in many drama shows.
Bones was called "Bones" because of yes, "saw bones". Kirk actually refers to McCoy as Sawbones in A Piece of the Action
DeForest Kelly's performance as Dr McCoy was incredible, the fact that he was considerably older than Nimoy and Shatner just gave more authenticity to his character. Urban's portrayal was very good but I always thought Gary Sinise would have been a better choice.
Should have added his relationship with one of the Dax incarnations as referenced in DS9
I had SUCH a crush on 'Bones' when I was a teenager! If I were throwing a dinner party for Star Trek characters, he'd be first on the list. (Followed by Picard, Troi, Sisko, Kira and Janeway. Now, there's an exciting ensemble!)
Great tribute to one of the best loved characters in sci-fi. Thanks.
Great video on Bones, Ms. Breecher.
Dr. McCoy’s daughter Joanna was featured prominently in the Star Trek novel Crisis on Centaurus by Brad Ferguson.
I much prefer the military term ‘sawbones’ as the origin of Dr. McCoy’s nickname.
One thing about Bones not cited was that He, NOT Dr. Crusher or the EMH, was the one who devised a cure for a bio plague in William Shatner’s Trek novel Avenger, which was set in the 24th century. Classic Trek always was better. 🖖
He may not be a bricklayer, but that is my favorite episode!
"Paaaaaiaiaiian!"
Dr. McCoy was, and will always be, my favorite character. Worf is a close second.
In the TOS episode "Spectre of the Gun", McCoy becomes Tom McLaury, a member of Clanton's gang. It was only years later when I re-watched "Gunfight at the OK Corral" that I realised that Morgan Earp was played by... DeForest Kelley.
McCoy's health was a principle aspect of the storyline of the ST: TOS episode "For the Earth is Hollow and I have touched the Sky" and there is a connection, to (the Alan Dean Foster novelization of) ST: The Motion Picture, where tech from the Fabrini world ship had been integrated into the refurbished Enterprise medical systems - via McCoy's actions.
I have read several of the in-canon books, another fun fact about McCoy is that he has beaten Spock in Chess. McCoy is appearently something of a master stratagist and his intimate knowedge of Spock and his triggers along with his biases allowed him to handly beat Spock while hiding his manuvers as Spock was intent on teaching McCoy a lesson when challnged. Also this was single board traditional chess not Trek 3D chess.
Fun Fact: 3d chess is actually at least 200 years old. It didn't originate in Star Trek.
I have never read any Star Trek books. Except when I was a kid I read an "off-canon" story of Spock's youth. It seems more like a dream of Spock's than something that really happened.
Thanks for sharing.
I didn't think there were any canon novels! Now I've got to go look them up
Bones and Scotty were my favorite from 1966, when I started watching The Original Series
My favorite character from the franchise and one of my favorite characters of all time.
McCoy was a badass when Khan had him by the throat and McCoy said with attitude either choke me or cut my throat. Make up your mind.
Khan eventually told him I like a brave man
The relationship among the three has always been an examination of the roles of emotion and logic in leadership and the importance of a balance of both, not only one.
I miss Dee. May he be aboard the Enterprise with the others who have crossed over.🙏
My favorite from the original series. Loved him and DeForest Kelley.
The "Kelvin" theory on Bones name is a good one
It plays to how McCoy thought of the crsppy divorce he just had
Great list Brie. Nice Tribute to "Bones" Mccoy.
Bones was the man! Love him!♥️
Funnily enough, the Star Trek 2009 reveal makes more sense for German Trekkies. In the German dub version, McCoys nickname is not bones but „Pille“ or „pill“ to be exact. So when McCoy mentions that his wife got a planet during the divorce proceedings (which is also a bit of a small known fact), in German he responds that „this was a hard pill to swallow“, thus introducing the German nickname with a slight change of translation instead „all I have left are my bones“.
His first appearance was in the first episode of season 1 The Man Trap, He was in seven episodes before The Corbomite Maneuver
There's some weird thing with TOS, the sequence they are on Netflix vs their original air date don't always match up. I think TC take the original air date.
That's true--I prefer to watch the first couple series in production order instead, just because I can see the details developing naturally. It means lots of disc-jumping, but once one gets to TNG, most out-of-order filming was done for good reasons (especially Leonard Nimoy's availability) and a few episodes were adjusted so they work.
TOS had problems with production like not being able to finish effects-heavy episodes in time, as well as network executives wanting to start the series with a "creature feature" that would grab everyone's attention.
"He's not a bricklayer, an engineer, or a coal miner." LOL, yet totally fits.
I liked Urban's implication of the origins of the nickname. Solo's is more clumsy, but McCoy's would be much more subtle.
This video makes me want to search for his appearances in westerns where he was said to usually play a bad guy. Everything I've seen him do was pure gold!
Kirk even called McCoy "Sawbones" in "A Piece of the Action," so I would go with history-buff-Kirk giving him the nickname.
Dr Leonard McCoy is definitely my favorite Star Trek character!!! 🖖🎄
The Crucible series is a must read!
Spock's tricorder, which had recorded much of the alternate timeline was now stored in a Supermax Strorage area. Someone ( I forget who) was accessing it to see that timeline. I've got to dig out those vowels and reread them...
And by "vowels" I assume you meant "novels".
Yeah! My phone's spelchik being hepfil...
@@joerider3769Dat catchy eek
Highly illogical.
Shut up Spock. You too Jim!
I finally got the last bird. I mean herd. Absurd.
Oh hell.
I thought the retcon for "Bones" one of the first good things about the film reboots. Shuddering to think of where he'll be coming from on TV after being played by Karl Urban, a first-rate actor.
I really liked the Star Trek Book "Doctor's Orders", written by Diane Duane, in which McCoy is forced to take command of the Enterprise and faces a crisis situation. A great book for McCoy fans!
Also Bones was a cursing machine. Yes, he didn't drop the F Bomb, but that it was in the 60s, so he couldn't. But he drops so many "what the devil"s, that is basically the 60s equivalent of an F Bomb.
I always point that out, when haters, that obviously never watched the original series, complain about cursing in the "New Trek".
Wish that deleted scene of space seed was on blu ray but I'm glad I found it on TH-cam
Thank you for this. I've always been a Bones Babe. I thought he was great.
Although it can be debated if cannon or not the Star Trek Novel Shadows on the Sun looks at McCoy's earliest assignment. As well as his relationship with ex wife and daughter Joanna. The Encounter at Farpoint novel has Joanna still alive in 2364 as an elderly Admiral McCoy tours the Enterprise D.
Agreed. That novel opened a piece of McCoy's history. The fist time I read it I was shocked by the death of a character I won't name in case any fan out there hasn't read it. (And with that said, if you can't find a copy, I can lend mine, if I can rummage around long enough to locate it.)
@@iamme453 re-read it not that long ago really enjoyed it. This and Sarek bridge in a way the gap between The Undiscovered country and Generations.
And if anyone is interested in learning more about the history of the Vulcans, read "Spock's World". Please don't confuse this with a novel titled "Vulcan" a good read but totally different.
I also enjoyed "The Better Man", which has a lot of the same story elements as "Shadows on the Sun". I have only read each of them once each and tbh I found the former more compelling, but Shadows on the Sun has had a significant influence on fanworks and in that way sort of feels more 'canon' to me than some of the other novels.
I always thought the term "Bones" was centered towards DeForest Kelley's physique. I became a Star Trek fan after DeForest Kelley joined the series, have been a fan of him since the "westerns". He always appeared to be such a kind person. Star Trek did a great job casting him a Dr. Leonard H. "Bones" McCoy!!!!
I really liked that doctor said he only had his bones. He had complained before about his woes of marriage.
Karl really dives into Bones McCoy. Best actor to follow-up on DeForest Kelley.
Kirk, Spock and McCoy are great together and have the best chemistry and keeps the ball rolling.
I knew all of those things - but tbf I love Bones, he's my favourite over all character in Trek
Dr. Leonard McCoy is my second favorite Star Trek character after Montgomery "Scotty" Scott.
Some of that I did not know. Thank you. :)
I have always like the Kelvin timeline explanation for the Bones's nickname. I understood the sawbones association in TOS, but it always left me flat. It seemed a big stretch for Kirk to refer to McCoy with a 300 years out dated nickname. In the Kelvin timeline, when McCoy talks about his devorce, I grinned ear to ear saying (quietly), "yeah, that makes sense."
Of course, McCoy often refers to himself as "an old country doctor". Obviously an in-joke between himself and Kirk, as his deep medical and scientific knowledge is shown in use many times.
@@OldManYellsAtClouds OK
When you said "McCoy didn't invent the expression", I thought you were going to tell us a real life example of it in media outside of Star Trek, not a technicality from the prequel show that was, in fact, referencing McCoy.
Aye, I always thought DeForest invented that and everyone else from writers to actors used that as an homage. It would be neat to see if there are other earlier examples because I always loved those lines!
@General Sod
I actually liked the pun, it just didn't make much sense in context, it's the sort of thing that would work in a spoof or parody though.
McCoy attended the Academy in the alternate universe because the writers didn't bother to learn about his origins in TOS.
The mention of T'Ana made smile imagining how she and McCoy in his prime would interact if they ever met thanks to time shenanigans.
Great episode.
How he became an Admiral: Starfleet Medical appointed him to a purely administrative role in some far-flung sector and he protested, saying "I'm a doctor, not an Admiral." So out of spite they promoted him.
I always thought that Doctors were sometimes called Bones because of the skeletons they often have in their offices in family clinics. (The Saw Bones idea is a new one to me.)
The most important thing I know about McCoy is that he has the hands of a surgeon. At least according to Dax.
Hey TrekCulture! I have a suggestion. How about top 10 secondary reoccurring characters for each series.
Examples: Mudd, Q, Barkley, Moriarty, Ogawa, Hugh, Echeb, etc...
I actually like the 09 origin of the nickname more than the prime origin. "Sawbones" feels a lot like that medieval medicine McCoy notoriously hates.
The Romulan Way and its sister novels contain the best depiction of Romulans I’ve seen.
How does that relate to Dr. McCoy?
@@waynemarvin5661 McCoy is captured by the Romulans in the novel and a deep cover spy is required to help get him free. They showed the book in the video.
Awesome video.
I knew all these, but the presentation was amusing.
Favorite tv character of all time
My Favorite caracther in Star Trek. Bones McCoy. Without it, some episodes were boring.
I thought DeForest Kelley's scene with his father in Star Trek 5 were the only truly saving moments of the film.
I loved this video. Not everybody I knew liked Mccoy but I always did because he was a dedicaited Physician and was a character with depth. I also loved this video because Brie from Trek culture has got to be the prettiest Treker I have ever scene.
I loved Urbans his adlib scene. I thought it was a much better reference than the "sawbones" explanation.
The civil war description of a doctor not enough to be a nickname in the 24th century a joke he cracked when they first meet not enough for a whole nickname but you put the two together and it's perfect.
When the character's name was first being developed, Gene Roddenberry and the other producers couldn't decide between Leonard McCoy or Jeb Hatfield. There was quite a feud over that one.
🤣
Theres only the real mcCoy.
Phasers on fun.
I liked the one episode when Kirk and Spock were in sick bay and bones gets the last word in
I think Kelly would have loved and appruved of Urbans McCoy
He (DeForest) also appeared in at least 2 Silent Service Episodes (the only one I remember the Title of is: The Spearfish Delivers. This is one of two actual missions that were shown in the Gary Grant & Tony Curtis comedy: Operation Petticoat. (The other, minus DeForest, was Cargo for the Crevalle.)
My all time favourite Star Trek character
I personally like the difference in the origin of the nick name between AOS and TOS i think in this Kirk is a frickin history nerd and it's based on sawbones, it makes sense in character that's how it came to be. In AOS we get much less of a vibe that Kirk is a history nerd in the same way but is a smart yet possibly neglected kid and trouble maker, so having the nickname come from a different place but still the same nickname i think is a.) Cute and b.) Showing that there are some great parallels between the different universes while still allowing for some differences
You forgot the ring. But great anyway. Thank you for the video.
"Not one of your French girls". Nice touch! :D
Yeah it was fun trying to come up with things that weren't already on the list. I started with things we've seen him do and then went a bit 4th wall 😂
9:07 You left out that McCoy responds that he never says that.
I just had to go back and watch this again after seeing at the end who edited this video.
The list of McCoys catchphrases had Liker and Subscriber listed - that's funny. I didn't spot that on the first go.
I didn't spot any other gags. I saw lots of empty table tops though.
What did I miss?
Hi Dan, yes I'm back after a bit of a break. I shall give some clues, the NX-01 is in the Kelvin timeline and the Horgon is found with someone who the video isn't about.
@@BuhurtUK I don't know I missed that NX01 in the Kelvin Raise a Glass scene. I had actually paused it there.
And I can't believe I missed that horgon behind Spock. But it is really nicely done. It blends in so smoothly. It even has a shadow matching the other shadows.
I did spot the S is for Ship, C is for Captain thing but I don't get the reference?
@@FirstDan2000 I was just struggling to come up with something for that part. And I was like OK back to basics, what's similar, ships, captains, and I was thinking about how to present it. I couldn't just go 'ship' so I went for something from a kids book. I think it was desperation at that point 😂 the Hero Ships ranked is my other one. Not been well lately, maybe that explains the weird 🤦♂️
Well I need to try and blend them in otherwise it would be too jarring.
@@BuhurtUK Weird is good.
Hero ships. I've seen that. I must have been listening too intently to Sean to notice.
I'll go for another watch and find some gags.
@@FirstDan2000 good hunting! I think that one was more cool edits/transitions.
For real insanely underrated character
Something that you missed was that Dr. Mccoy and Deforrest Kelly were both born in Atlanta, Georgia
The one thing I most certainly know about Bones is that he's a doctor, not some other occupation you want him to be, dangit!!
I do believe the term, "Bones" goes father back than the American Civil War.
Aboard British Naval ships, where doctors served aboard, doctors were slang termed by sailors as, "Saw Bones" shortened to just, "Bones".
Sawbones is also a term for those who practice medicine without a license, generally underground, where you needed a medical procedure no questions asked. I had to do that with basic first aid against potentially fatal injuries.
Thanks! 🖖
At 5:47, I see what you did on the corner of the medical bed. Lol
We all know what's going on between those two.
The reason he was called "Bones" was, back in my grandmothers day (around WWI) doctors, especially surgeons, were called "Saw-Bones" because their main fix (especially in war) for catastrophic injuries was to simply "saw the injured limb off", hence many doctors had the nick-name of "Bones". This was explained in an interview on tv with the cast and crew of Star Trek and in one of the many "documentary" style books in the '70's
I would like to see you do a video on enlisted personnel commissioning as officers.I would be interested in what your views and opinions on this would be.