Zenbock, Intergalactic Icon

"I am Zenbock. I am the son of Scone." So begins a press release introducing the East End's newest public access television personality. Anyone doubting the existence of aliens might want to tune into LTV one Thursday night to catch "Zenbock's Fantasy/Fi," a variety show which has an interesting hook - the host is a Vulcan.

Well, half Vulcan actually. Zenbock's mother was an earthling, and Zenbock (a.k.a. Barry Nijel) resides in the very earthly realm of Patchogue.

Launched on Jan. 17, the quirky show is beamed out each week from the bridge of Zenbock's "spaceship." Meanwhile, the Vulcan host beams himself out into the community to perform such tasks as buying a pizza or applying for a car loan. He also does interviews and plays music with a group called Zenbock and the Galactic Boogie Band.

All Ears

Zenbock and his producer, Russell DePhillips, were in an editing room last week polishing up the second episode when The Star caught up to them. Zenbock was uncharacteristically out of costume.

"Hold on, I have to ear-up!" he said and then disappeared down the hall. He returned 10 minutes later with the requisite pointy ap pendages, as well as a gray cape, a gray polyester-blend shirt, gray slacks, black boots, and some eye makeup.

There wasn't going to be any more shooting that day, but Zenbock seemed to be more comfortable in costume anyway. His persona may not be familiar yet on the public access circuit, but Zenbock is a household name at the numerous Star Trek and fantasy/science-fiction conventions he attends every year.

Convention Circuit

As a vendor, Mr. Nijel sells "earthly antiquities" at conventions up and down the East Coast. His company, Celestial Sights and Sounds, deals in a line of Egyptian art, notecards, postcards, statuettes, and other items, as well as Celtic art, T-shirts, and various novelties.

When night rolls around at the conventions, he brings out the Galactic Boogie Band - that is, Zenbock on blues guitar, vocals, and keyboards standing in front of a mural of backup aliens. The music sounds like a cross between Willie Dixon and Devo.

It was when he was playing music at the fantasy conventions that Zenbock's character was born. It happened about three years, ago, he said. "I wanted to play at these things, but everyone said I should develop a persona." He started hosting an open-microphone night, then went on to become his own act.

"They didn't know what to do with me, so they gave me my own segment," he said. "That's the way these conventions go. By Monday, you don't know who you are."

Zenbock keeps a convention photo album, which is filled with shots of him and various Romulons, Kling ons, elf maidens, and other sci-fi/fantasy buffs. "It's like a mobile family," he said of the group.

Hosting a television show seemed a logical step. A friend told him about LTV's state-of-the-art facilities and open-door policy, and he decided to inquire. Mr. DePhillips, LTV's chief engineer, was on board in no time. The show is fun to work on, he said, calling it "the best thing I've seen come across public access in a long time."

To Fierro's, Scotty

"I think I'd like some pizza," Zenbock says from the bridge of his ship on the inaugural episode Jan. 17. Without further ado he steps into the transporter and, with a B-movie special effect, suddenly reappears in front of Fierro's Pizzeria in East Hampton.

He orders a "Vulcan pizza" and a long segment of the pizza in progress ensues. Customers seem perplexed.

In another episode, Zenbock beams into Country Imports in Southampton to apply for a car loan. When "Star Trek: First Contact" opened at the East Hampton Cinema, he was on the scene interviewing fans outside the theater. Few seemed to realize they were speaking to the self-proclaimed half-brother of Dr. Spock: Zenbock says his 175-year-old father was also father to Spock.

Type Cast

One person slated to become a regular guest on the show is Zenbock's son, Tibock. "He's an earthly 8, but he's a very old son," said the proud father.

Though he said he has had a lot of encouraging feedback over the show (including from other restaurants interested in learning Vulcan cuisine), Zenbock is worried about being misunderstood. Dan's Papers referred to him as a "vampire" in a review of LTV's annual video festival.

"Do I look like a vampire?" he asked. And he fears that "Zenbock's Fantasy" will be dismissed as simply a "Star Trek" thing. "It's a little bit of everything," he said. "The theme is fantasy and fiction."

Alas, though, he sighed, "I'll probably get locked in as a Vulcan." If he had it his way, he'd ditch the pointy ears, but his producer insists they stay.

For those who don't mind, "Zenbock's Fantasy/Fi" is shown on LTV every Thursday at 7:30 p.m. and on Riverhead's public access TV Wednesdays at 4:30 p.m. Both can be found on Channel 27.