There's a reason why some of us refer to the original "Star Trek" as Classic "Trek." Many of the episodes were, well, CLASSIC.

A prime example of this is "The Trouble With Tribbles," which is one of the re-mastered episodes I can't wait to see. For many years, it was the top-ranked Trek episode whenever a poll were taken.

This points out an interesting difference between "casual" sci-fi fans and the more "hardcore" devotees. The "casual" fans, those who like to read SF and maybe, once in a great while, tell someone they like it, simply adored this episode. On the other hand, "hardcore" aficionados, from those who know every bit of Trek trivia to wearing costumes to calling non-fans "mundanes," often hated this show. And their feelings centered on the core of "Tribbles" -- it was funny.

I've gone on previously about how humor has gotten a bad rap among "hardcore" SF fans. One thing bears repeating, though, and it's that "Tribbles" was vastly popular in the general public. I know some "hardcore" fans are already saying, "That's why SF should never be funny! We don't WANT the mundanes to have any excuse to call SF 'silly' or know what SF is all about!"

To me, the best science fiction can appeal to everyone, not just the "hardcore" among us.

The truth is that "Star Trek" knew how to laugh at itself and its characters, and that's part of the reason it remains such a classic even today, decades later.

Consider Scotty's (Jimmy Doohan) love for "his ship," the Enterprise, which won out over his respect for Capt. Kirk. The chief engineer couldn't have cared less what any Klingon said about Kirk (William Shatner), but call the ship a "garbage scow" and you got under his skin.

It's an odd thing to say when talking about science fiction, but this made Scotty all the more HUMAN to us, not more alien. That he had faults and foibles made him imperfect and interesting.

Perfect characters make dull television. Conflict is the essence of drama, which is why some SF shows struggle to draw audiences.

Of course, Mr. Scott wasn't the only imperfect member of the ship's crew. Chekov (Walter Koenig) bragging on Russian superiority was quite a risk given the era "Tribbles" first aired, with the Cold War in full swing, but his "arrogance" helped us understand the character better.

Also, Kirk's disdain for the station manager was hardly professional, but made him someone we could relate to more. We've all butted heads with supervisors who had no concept of dealing with reality. On the other hand, to keep Kirk's ego in check, he gets buried by Tribbles in one of the funniest sequences of the entire show.

Add some mystery (who's behind the poisoning of the grain) and you have an episode that works on several levels. It's funny, it's interesting and it's engaging, every pun intended.

Then, too, the tribbles themselves were a lesson SF often forgets. We see intricate, elaborate aliens with all sorts of antennae, bumpy foreheads and appendages in many science-fiction universes. But the tribble is the height of simplicity. The tribble is literally a ball of fur -- no head, arms or legs to be found. Many years after the splashier alien constructs have faded away, the simple tribble remains one of the most recognizable and beloved alien life forms ever seen on television.

Another thing that has always impressed me about "Tribbles" is the effect the episode has had on people.

Attend any Trek or SF con and you'll likely see someone carrying a toy tribble either through the dealers' room or during the costume contest.

Also, when the time came for "Deep Space Nine" to pay homage to "Star Trek," they filled in the gaps (including why some individual tribbles fell on Kirk after he was buried in them) in a labor of love called "Trials and Tribble-ations." I understand many of the technical people put in a great many extra hours just to make the episode the best possible out of love for the original show.

Of course, that kind of devotion is easy to understand when the episode is as classic as "The Trouble with Tribbles."

Wayne Hall is News Editor for Airlock Alpha, and is a member of the U.S.S. Chesapeake, an independent science-fiction and Star Trek club in the Washington, D.C., area.