View source for The Trouble with Tribbles

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{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2013}}
{{Infobox television episode
| image          = ST TroubleWithTribbles.jpg
 | image_size = 270
| caption        = Captain Kirk, up to his chest in ''tribbles''
| series         = [[Star Trek: The Original Series]]
| season         = 2
| episode        = 15
| production     = 042
| airdate        = {{Start date|1967|12|29}}
| writer         = [[David Gerrold]]
| director       = [[Joseph Pevney]]
| music          = [[Jerry Fielding]]
| photographer   = [[Gerald Finnerman|Jerry Finnerman]]
| guests         = * [[William Schallert]]{{snd}}Under-Secretary Nilz Baris
* [[William Campbell (actor)|William Campbell]]{{snd}}Captain Koloth
* [[Stanley Adams (actor)|Stanley Adams]]{{snd}}Cyrano Jones
* [[Whit Bissell]]{{snd}}Station Manager Lurry
* [[Michael Pataki]]{{snd}}Korax
* [[Ed Reimers]]{{snd}}Admiral Fitzpatrick
* [[Charlie Brill]]{{snd}}Arne Darvin
* [[Paul Baxley]]{{snd}}Ensign Freeman
* [[Eddie Paskey]]{{snd}}Guard
* David L. Ross{{snd}}Guard
* [[Guy Raymond]]{{snd}}Trader<ref name=gross>[[#grossaltman1993|Gross; Altman (1993)]]: p. 59</ref>
| prev           = [[Wolf in the Fold]]
| next           = [[The Gamesters of Triskelion]]
| episode_list   = List of Star Trek: The Original Series episodes
| season_article = Star Trek: The Original Series season 2
| alt            =
| editor         =
| release_date   =
| length         =
}}

"'''The Trouble with Tribbles'''" is the fifteenth episode of the [[Star Trek: The Original Series season 2|second season]] of the American [[science fiction]] television series ''[[Star Trek: The Original Series|Star Trek]]''. Written by [[David Gerrold]] and directed by [[Joseph Pevney]], it was first broadcast on December 29, 1967. In this comic episode, the [[starship]] ''[[starship Enterprise|Enterprise]]'' visits a space station that soon becomes overwhelmed by rapidly reproducing small furry creatures called "[[tribble]]s".

It is claimed the short story "[[Pigs Is Pigs]]" by [[Ellis Parker Butler]] inspired the episode,<ref>''Star Trek: the Original Series'', [[Blu-ray]] edition, Season 2, Disc 4: "The Trouble with Tribbles", CBS Home Video: Catalog No. 07176</ref> but strong similarities to sections of the novel ''[[The Rolling Stones (novel)|The Rolling Stones]]'' led the producers to seek a waiver from author [[Robert A. Heinlein]].

The original episode has had several produced follow-ups. The first, "[[More Tribbles, More Troubles]]", was originally pitched for the show's third season but not accepted;<ref name="torreview">{{cite web|url=https://www.tor.com/blogs/2010/04/lemgstar-treklemg-the-trouble-with-tribbles|title=Tribbles Week: Star Trek Re-Watch: 'The Trouble with Tribbles |last=Myers|first=Eugene|author2=Atkinson, Torie|date=April 12, 2010|publisher=Tor.com|access-date=March 30, 2013}}</ref><ref name="recalls2">{{cite web|url=https://www.startrek.com/article/david-gerrold-recalls-more-tribbles-and-bem|title=David Gerrold Recalls 'More Tribbles' and 'Bem'|date=March 10, 2011|publisher=Star Trek.com|access-date=March 30, 2013}}</ref> it was ultimately produced for ''[[Star Trek: The Animated Series]]''. To celebrate the 30th anniversary of ''Star Trek'' in 1996, the ''[[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine]]'' episode "[[Trials and Tribble-ations]]" used digital techniques to insert the ''Deep Space Nine'' actors into the events of "The Trouble with Tribbles".

==Plot==
The ''[[USS Enterprise (NCC-1701)|Enterprise]]'' is summoned to Deep Space Station K7 by undersecretary Nilz Baris to guard a shipment of quadro[[triticale]] [[grain]]. Captain [[James Kirk]] is annoyed at Baris's use of a high-priority distress call for a seemingly trivial matter, and complies minimally. The ''Enterprise'' crew enjoy [[shore leave]] on the station, as does the crew of a [[Klingon]] ship under the command of [[List of Star Trek characters (G-M)#Koloth|Captain Koloth]].

Interstellar trader Cyrano Jones arrives with goods for sale, among them purring balls of fluff called [[tribble]]s. He gives one to Lt. [[Uhura]], who takes it aboard the ''Enterprise''. On both the ''Enterprise'' and the station, the tribbles begin reproducing rapidly. They make soothing cooing noises and are loved by the ''Enterprise'' crew, even the stoic [[Spock]]. However, tribbles jump and screech in disgust when around Klingons.

On the station, a drunken Klingon insults the ''Enterprise'', her crew, and her captain. The resulting brawl between humans and Klingons forces Kirk to cancel shore leave. Baris is terrified of possible Klingon interference with the grain project, and suspects Jones of being a Klingon agent.

Doctor [[Leonard McCoy]] and Spock are concerned that the increasing number of tribbles threatens to consume all the food aboard the ''Enterprise''. Kirk realizes that the tribbles on the station could be a threat to the grain shipment. He is too late, however; when he opens an overhead storage compartment, he is buried chest-deep in grain-gorged tribbles. Spock and McCoy discover that many of the tribbles in the hold are dead or dying, suggesting the grain has been poisoned.

Infuriated, Baris vows to see Kirk punished for the fiasco, while an equally outraged Koloth demands an apology from Kirk for what he considers disrespectful treatment of his crew. Their arguments are cut short, however, when Baris's assistant [[Arne Darvin]] walks into the room and the tribbles react as if in the presence of a Klingon. McCoy reveals Darvin to be a Klingon disguised as a human; Darvin confesses to having poisoned the grain.

Jones is ordered to remove the tribbles from the station (a task that Spock estimates will take 17.9 years), or he may face charges for transporting dangerous life-forms. Just before the Klingons depart, all the tribbles aboard the ''Enterprise'' are [[Transporter (Star Trek)|transported]] onto the Klingon vessel by Chief Engineer [[Montgomery Scott|Scott]], where, in his words, "they'll be no tribble at all."

==Production==
===Writing===
[[Image:David Gerrold at DragonCon 2010.jpg|thumb|left|upright|"The Trouble with Tribbles" was the first sale of writer David Gerrold ''(photographed in 2010)''.]]

The episode was the first professional work of writer [[David Gerrold]], and went through a variety of drafts before it reached the screen. Because his typewriter used a less common, smaller size font, an approved [[screenplay]] version needed to be reduced by twenty pages before filming.

Gerrold had been a fan of science fiction since he was a child.<ref>[[#gerrold1973|Gerrold (1973)]]: p. 28</ref> When ''Star Trek'' was first broadcast, he was concerned that it might turn into something similar to ''[[Lost in Space]]'', which he has described as "one full-color hour of trash reaching into millions of homes".<ref>[[#gerrold1973|Gerrold (1973)]]: p. 39</ref> His first story outline was sent in to ''Star Trek'' after his agent suggested that he wait until the shows started to air under the theory that the show might drop an existing episode in favor of a better script.<ref name=gerrold42>[[#gerrold1973|Gerrold (1973)]]: p. 42</ref> The story was entitled "Tomorrow Was Yesterday" (not to be confused with the ''Star Trek'' episode "[[Tomorrow Is Yesterday]]") and concerned the ''Enterprise'' coming across a [[generation ship]] which had degenerated into a two-tier class system.<ref name=gerrold42/> His agent received a rejection letter from producer [[Gene L. Coon]] dated October 3, 1966. The letter stated that the "outline was by no means inadequate. It is, as a matter of fact, very adequate."<ref name=gerrold45>[[#gerrold1973|Gerrold (1973)]]: p. 45</ref> It went on to say that it would require a budget larger than that available to television, but would have made a good film treatment. Coon offered to meet with Gerrold and explain what they were looking for, because they were not purchasing scripts at that time.<ref name=gerrold45/>

Coon suggested that Gerrold should wait until the following February to see if the show was renewed for a second season. They also discussed several story ideas, including some small furry creatures that bred too quickly. Coon thought it was a cute idea but would be too expensive as they'd have to build each creature.<ref name="gerrold
48">[[#gerrold1973|Gerrold (1973)]]: p. 48</ref> In preparation for the second series submission, by January, Gerrold had put together five premises to pitch.<ref name=gerrold49>[[#gerrold1973|Gerrold (1973)]]: p. 49</ref> He had his best hopes on two treatments called "Bandi" and "The Protracted Man",<ref name=gerrold72>[[#gerrold1973|Gerrold (1973)]]: p. 72</ref> but decided to submit his fifth story despite Coon's earlier dismissal of the idea.<ref name=gerrold72/> It was called "The Fuzzies".<ref name=gerrold73>[[#gerrold1973|Gerrold (1973)]]: p. 73</ref> The idea was based on the introduction of [[rabbits in Australia]] in 1859, whose population grew extraordinarily fast owing to a lack of predators.<ref name=block208>[[#blockerdmann2010|Block; Erdmann (2010)]]: p. 208</ref>

The initial premise placed the story on a space station to avoid the ecological damage that the creatures would have on a planet. However, Gerrold's agent was concerned that requiring a miniature of the station to be built as well as the additional sets would cause it to be too expensive for a single episode.<ref name=gerrold74>[[#gerrold1973|Gerrold (1973)]]: p. 74</ref> Because of his agent's comments, Gerrold modified the pitch to place the action on a colony planet instead.<ref name=gerrold75>[[#gerrold1973|Gerrold (1973)]]: p. 75</ref> This pitch included the plot points such as the creatures getting into a poisoned grain storage, but omitted the Klingons; and Cyrano Jones was called Cyrano Smith.<ref name=gerrold85>[[#gerrold1973|Gerrold (1973)]]: p. 85</ref><ref name=gerrold78>[[#gerrold1973|Gerrold (1973)]]: p. 78</ref> The five pitches were submitted by Gerrold's agent in February 1967, and received a response in June. At the time the show had already purchased too many scripts for the second season, but story editor [[D. C. Fontana]] suggested that they should purchase the story and assign it to a staff writer as it was better than some of the other stories they already had.<ref name=gerrold88>[[#gerrold1973|Gerrold (1973)]]: p. 88</ref>

At the time that Coon got in touch, Gerrold had just been employed at [[CBS]] as a typist working on scripts such as the pilot of ''[[Hawaii Five-O (1968 TV series)|Hawaii Five-O]]''. As soon as he got the response, he quit the job.<ref name=gerrold89>[[#gerrold1973|Gerrold (1973)]]: p. 89</ref> Gerrold and Coon met once more,<ref name=gerrold91>[[#gerrold1973|Gerrold (1973)]]: p. 91</ref> and revealed that the network had recently made a request for more episodes based on other planets. Coon told Gerrold to work up a further pitch.<ref name=gerrold91/> This version of the story added the Klingons,<ref name=gerrold100>[[#gerrold1973|Gerrold (1973)]]: p. 100</ref> and moved the action from planetside to a space station.<ref name=gerrold96>[[#gerrold1973|Gerrold (1973)]]: p. 96</ref> During a visit to the set, Gerrold had the opportunity to speak to Leonard Nimoy and ask his advice on how to write for Spock and was allowed to watch the [[dailies]] from each day's shoot of the episode "[[The Doomsday Machine (Star Trek: The Original Series)|The Doomsday Machine]]" which was being filmed at the time.<ref name=gerrold144>[[#gerrold1973|Gerrold (1973)]]: p. 144</ref><ref name=gerrold145>[[#gerrold1973|Gerrold (1973)]]: p. 145</ref> This version of the story was entitled "A Fuzzy Thing Happened to Me...",<ref name=gerrold96/> which was purchased by Coon as a [[plot outline]].<ref name=gerrold150>[[#gerrold1973|Gerrold (1973)]]: p. 150</ref> He offered Gerrold a chance to write the script himself, by promising not to hand it to another writer for a month. However, Coon made it clear that he was not offering Gerrold a script assignment, but was giving him the option of submitting a draft.<ref name=gerrold151>[[#gerrold1973|Gerrold (1973)]]: p. 151</ref>

Gerrold turned around the first draft script in two and a half days.<ref name=gerrold152>[[#gerrold1973|Gerrold (1973)]]: p. 152</ref> Both Coon and associate producer [[Robert Justman]] gave feedback on the script, and pointed out a few gaps such as there needing to be some way in the plot for the crew to discover that Darvin was a Klingon agent.<ref name=gerrold153>[[#gerrold1973|Gerrold (1973)]]: p. 153</ref> The following draft had Cyrano Jones discover that Darvin was an agent, which Coon thought was not "punchy" enough.<ref name=gerrold159>[[#gerrold1973|Gerrold (1973)]]: p. 159</ref> It was then re-written so that the fuzzies were allergic to Klingons. Both Gerrold and Coon thought the idea was "trite... shtick... hokey" and "had been done before".<ref name=gerrold159/> but Coon agreed that it was the direction the story should go.<ref name=gerrold159/> The re-write of the script took a further week.<ref name=gerrold166>[[#gerrold1973|Gerrold (1973)]]: p. 166</ref>

[[Image:Nichelle Nichols, NASA Recruiter - GPN-2004-00017.jpg|thumb|right|upright|Nichelle Nichols said that she had never seen a script changed so much but stay the same.]]

On a further visit to the set, Gerrold was called into Coon's office. He was informed that he needed to change the name of the fuzzies, as the legal department was concerned about similarities in the name with [[H. Beam Piper]]'s 1962 novel ''[[Little Fuzzy]]''.<ref name=gerrold167>[[#gerrold1973|Gerrold (1973)]]: p. 167</ref> He subsequently came up with a variety of alternative names. Through a process of elimination, he ended up with the name "tribble".<ref name=lookback1>{{cite web|title=Trek Writer David Gerrold Looks Back - Part 1|url=https://www.startrek.com/article/trek-writer-david-gerrold-looks-back-part-1|publisher=Star Trek.com|date=January 24, 2011|access-date=March 30, 2013}}</ref> Gerrold's submitted script was within the standard page count for an episode, but, when it was retyped for distribution by the production's mimeo department, it ballooned from 60 to 80 pages due to Gerrold's having used a typewriter with 12-[[Pitch (typewriter)|pitch]] rather than the 10 characters per inch Pica standard of the TV and film industry.<ref name=gerrold179>[[#gerrold1973|Gerrold (1973)]]: p. 179</ref> This meant that some twenty pages needed to be cut from the script.<ref name=gerrold179/> Coon's participation in terms of suggestions and edits was such that Gerrold thought he should have been given a co-writing credit.<ref name="gerrold176">[[The Trouble with Tribbles#gerrold1973|Gerrold (1973)]]: p. 176</ref>

Scenes which were cut from the script included the ''Enterprise'' chasing after Jones in his vessel,<ref name=gerrold183>[[#gerrold1973|Gerrold (1973)]]: p. 183</ref> and resulted in the scene where Kirk has tribbles tumbling onto him while in the grain locker. Gerrold felt that this enforced editing process "tightened up the story and made for a better series of gags".<ref name="gerrold183"/> [[Nichelle Nichols]] said to Gerrold "I've never seen a script go through so many changes – and stay so much the same".<ref name=gerrold184>[[#gerrold1973|Gerrold (1973)]]: p. 184</ref>

During script development the Kellam de Forest Research firm<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.tft.ucla.edu/mediascape/blog/?p=737|title=Script Clearance and Research: Unacknowledged Creative Labor in the Film and Television Industry {{!}} Mediascape Blog|website=www.tft.ucla.edu|access-date=2017-01-17|archive-date=January 18, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170118054210/https://www.tft.ucla.edu/mediascape/blog/?p=737|url-status=dead}}</ref> cautioned that the tribbles and the events involving them strongly resembled the Martian [[flat cat]]s in [[Robert A. Heinlein]]'s 1952 novel ''[[The Rolling Stones (novel)|The Rolling Stones]],'' and suggested that the rights to the novel should be purchased. Gerrold became concerned that he had inadvertently plagiarized the novel which he had read fifteen years before.<ref name="gerrold271">[[The Trouble with Tribbles#gerrold1973|Gerrold (1973)]]: p. 271</ref> Coon phoned Heinlein, who, according to Gerrold, only asked for a signed copy of the script and later sent a note to Gerrold after the show aired to thank him for the script.<ref name="gerrold274">[[#gerrold1973|Gerrold (1973)]]: p. 274</ref> The producers liked the resulting script so much that Gerrold was later tasked with re-writing the script for "[[I, Mudd]]".<ref name="gerrold269">[[#gerrold1973|Gerrold (1973)]]: p. 269</ref>

Heinlein’s own recollections were at odds with this account. In his authorized biography Heinlein said he was called by Gene Coon who gave him a "sob story" about the issue and asked him to waive claim to the "similarity" to his flat cats. Heinlein states he agreed because he’d just been through one costly plagiarism lawsuit against [[Roger Corman]] and did not wish to embroil himself in another "chump's game". He had misgivings upon seeing the actual script but let it go, an action he later regretted: "If that matter had simply been dropped after that one episode was filmed, I would have chalked it up wryly to experience. But the 'nice kid' did not drop it; 'tribbles' (i.e. my 'flat cats') have been exploited endlessly… Well that’s one that did 'larn me.' Today if J. Christ phoned me on some matter of business, I would simply tell him: 'See my agent.{{'"}}<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7GttAwAAQBAJ&q=heinlein+If+the+matter+had+simply+been+dropped+after+that+one+episode+was+filmed%2C+I+would+have+chalked+it+up+wryly+to+experience.+But+the+%E2%80%98nice+kid%E2%80%99+did+not+drop+it&pg=PA290|title=Robert A. Heinlein, Vol 2: In Dialogue with His Century Volume 2: The Man Who Learned Bette|last=Patterson|first=William H.|publisher=Tor Books|year=2016|isbn=978-0765319630|pages=290, 291|quote="If that matter had simply been dropped after that one episode was filmed, I would have chalked it up wryly to experience. But the "nice kid" did not drop it; "tribbles" (i.e. my "flat cats") have been exploited endlessly… Well that’s one that did "larn me." Today if J. Christ phoned me on some matter of business, I would simply tell him: "See my agent."}}</ref>

===Filming===
[[Image:Star Trek William Shatner.JPG|thumb|right|upright|During the course of filming, William Shatner was covered with five hundred tribbles on eight occasions.]]

The use of live animals to represent the tribbles was immediately ruled out. According to Gerrold's account, as their similarity to Heinlein's flat cats was not yet discovered, the inspiration for the form of the tribble instead came from a fluffy keyring owned by Holly Sherman.<ref name=block208 /> Sherman's Planet in this episode was subsequently named after her.<ref name=gerrold272>[[#gerrold1973|Gerrold (1973)]]: p. 272</ref> The design came from [[Wah Chang]],<ref name=gerrold264>[[#gerrold1973|Gerrold (1973)]]: p. 264</ref> but they were individually sewn by Jacqueline Cumeré. She was paid $350 to sew five hundred tribbles from synthetic fur and stuff them with foam rubber.<ref name=block208 /><ref name=nobodyknows>{{cite news|last=Vinciguerra|first=Thomas|title=Nobody Knows the Tribbles He's Seen|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/16/arts/television/16vinc.html|access-date=March 30, 2013|newspaper=The New York Times|date=December 16, 2007}}</ref> Six ambulatory tribbles were made using the mechanisms of walking toy dogs, which were quite noisy and required the dialogue to be looped in during editing.<ref name=gerrold266>[[#gerrold1973|Gerrold (1973)]]: p. 266</ref> Other tribbles were created by Jim Rugg out of [[Bean bag|beanbag]]s for when it was required for one to sit on a person or object, and the breathing tribbles were hollow with surgical balloons inserted.<ref name=block208 /><ref name=gerrold266/> Some of these tribbles were later displayed at the [[Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum]] in Washington D.C. in 1992.<ref>{{cite news|last=Farrell|first=John Aloysius|title=The Smithsonian goes Trekkie|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-8731855.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140611022421/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-8731855.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 11, 2014|access-date=March 31, 2013|newspaper=The Boston Globe|date=February 29, 1992}}</ref> The sale at [[Christie's]] [[auction house]] in 2006 included tribbles from this episode as part of a larger ''Star Trek'' sale.<ref name=trail>{{cite news|title=On the Trail of Trek Tribbles|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/5403574.stm|access-date=March 30, 2013|newspaper=BBC News|date=October 5, 2006}}</ref> Because of the synthetic fur technology of the 1960s, relatively few original tribbles exist as of 2010 because the fur fell out over time and they went bald.<ref name=block210>[[#blockerdmann2010|Block; Erdmann (2010)]]: p. 210</ref> An original tribble was sold at auction in 2003 for $1,000.<ref>{{cite web|title=Original Tribble from the Star Trek Original Series Episode 'The Trouble with Tribbles'|url=http://startrekpropcollector.com/trekauctions/item.pl?i=P014-0143|publisher=Star Trek Prop Collector|access-date=May 15, 2013}}</ref>

Filming began during the second week of August 1967.<ref name=gerrold275>[[#gerrold1973|Gerrold (1973)]]: p. 275</ref> Three temporary sets and a portion of corridor were constructed for specific use in this episode, which included the large trading post set.<ref name=gerrold276>[[#gerrold1973|Gerrold (1973)]]: p. 276</ref> The chairs in that set were a problem, as the set designers wanted 24 matching chairs and decided that [[folding chair|folding]] ones would not do. [[John M. Dwyer]] sourced them from a local company, but the numbers required meant that they had to be pulled out of showrooms from all over the county. When it came to the fight scene in the episode, Dwyer warned director [[Joseph Pevney]] not to damage the chairs.<ref name=gerrold277>[[#gerrold1973|Gerrold (1973)]]: p. 277</ref> That scene was filmed twice after a cameraman with a handheld camera wandered onto the set.<ref name=gerrold277/> The scene where Kirk is covered with tribbles in the grain container needed to be filmed eight times, using all five hundred sewn tribbles.<ref name=gerrold268>[[#gerrold1973|Gerrold (1973)]]: p. 268</ref> Gerrold had expected that scene to be cut at some point during production, as he thought that William Shatner would not agree to it. He said that Shatner was the "consummate professional and I believe he was eager to show off his comic abilities".<ref>{{cite web|title=Gerrold on Trouble with Tribbles Origin|url=https://www.trektoday.com/content/2009/09/gerrold-on-trouble-with-tribbles-origins/|publisher=TrekNation|date=September 25, 2009|access-date=March 30, 2013}}</ref> The scene was later described as "solidifying 'The Trouble with Tribbles' in the pop culture lexicon".

Pevney was pleased with the outcome of the shoot, calling the episode "a delightful show from beginning to end".<ref name=gross/> In addition to directing, Pevney also sourced some of the parts to create the tribbles and was directly responsible for the casting of Stanley Adams.<ref name=gross/> He had pushed for the episode to be made as he recalled that there was some resistance at the time against making a comedy-style episode.<ref name=gross/> These types of episodes were unusual for the series, as only "The Trouble with Tribbles" and "[[A Piece of the Action (Star Trek: The Original Series)|A Piece of the Action]]" were considered to be comedic episodes from season two.<ref>{{cite news|last=Sutton |first=David |title=The Original Series Season Two Remastered |url=http://www.forteantimes.com/specials/star-trek/1678/the_original_series_season_two_remastered.html |access-date=May 15, 2013 |newspaper=Fortean Times |date=April 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130606014855/http://www.forteantimes.com/specials/star-trek/1678/the_original_series_season_two_remastered.html |archive-date=June 6, 2013 }}</ref> Pevney was one of the two most prolific ''Original Series'' directors alongside [[Marc Daniels]], and directed fourteen episodes of the show.<ref>{{cite news|title=Director brought levity to 'Star Trek' series|url=https://www.questia.com/read/1P2-16504028|access-date=March 31, 2013|newspaper=Pittsburgh Tribune-Review|date=May 29, 2008}}{{Dead link|date=June 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}{{subscription required}}</ref> The cast responded favorably to the script. Nichelle Nichols was particularly pleased as it allowed Uhura to be a woman and took her off the bridge.<ref name="gerrold266"/> It was one of her largest roles in any single episode in the series.<ref>[[#palumbo|Palumbo (1986)]]: p. 213</ref>

The special effects design for the K-7 Space Station in the episode was based on actual 1959 design by [[Douglas Aircraft Company|Douglas Aircraft Corporation]] for the space station.<ref>{{Cite web|title=How Star Trek Helped NASA Dream Big|url=https://www.airspacemag.com/space/how-star-trek-helped-nasa-dream-big-180976753/|access-date=2021-02-13|website=Air & Space Magazine|language=en}}</ref>

===Casting===
William Campbell had previously appeared in the first season episode "[[The Squire of Gothos]]" as [[List of Star Trek characters (T-Z)#Trelane|Trelane]].<ref name=hollyrepcampbell>{{cite news|last=Barnes|first=Mike|title='Star Trek' Favorite William Campbell Dies at 84|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/star-trek-favorite-william-campbell-183795|access-date=March 30, 2013|newspaper=The Hollywood Reporter|date=April 29, 2011}}</ref> In "The Trouble with Tribbles", he portrayed the Klingon Captain Koloth. At various points ''Star Trek'' creator Gene Roddenberry claimed it was his intention to bring back Koloth during the third season of ''The Original Series'', as Kirk's recurring Klingon adversary. Some internal production documents contradict this story. Although Koloth returned in ''[[Star Trek: The Animated Series]]'', Campbell did not voice the role.<ref name=cinefan/> He returned to the role in 1994 for an episode of ''Star Trek: Deep Space Nine'',<ref name=hollyrepcampbell/><ref>{{cite news|last=Fox|first=Margaret|title=William Campbell, Who Played 'Star Trek' Klingon, Dies at 87|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/04/arts/television/william-campbell-played-star-trek-klingon-dies-at-87.html|access-date=March 30, 2013|newspaper=The New York Times|date=May 3, 2011}}</ref> entitled "[[Blood Oath (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|Blood Oath]]".<ref name=cinefan>{{cite news|last=Powers|first=Tom|title=William Campbell, R.I.P|url=http://cinefantastiqueonline.com/2011/05/william-campbell-r-i-p/|access-date=March 30, 2013|newspaper=Cinefantastique|date=May 7, 2011}}</ref>

At the time of casting, William Schallert had just finished filming the [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] [[sitcom]] ''[[The Patty Duke Show]]''. He described himself not as a fan, and had not read any science fiction since 1948. He thought that the role of Nilz Baris was just another guest spot, and considered Baris to be just "a rather stuffy bureaucrat, not the most appealing character".<ref name=Schallertinterview>{{cite web|title=William Schallert Remembers Nilz Baris and Varani|url=https://www.startrek.com/article/william-schallert-remembers-nilz-baris-and-varani|publisher=Star Trek.com|date=July 12, 2011|access-date=March 30, 2013}}</ref> He did not remember the character's name, only learning it when he first attended a ''Star Trek'' convention at a hotel near [[Los Angeles Airport]], as the fans called it out when he entered the lobby.<ref name=Schallertinterview/> He was later cast in the role of the [[Bajoran]] musician Varani in the ''DS9'' episode "[[Sanctuary (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|Sanctuary]]".<ref name=Schallertinterview/>

[[Whit Bissell]], who played the station manager, Lurry,<ref name=gross/> was better known at the time in the main cast role of Lt. Gen. Heywood Kirk in the ABC science fiction television series ''[[The Time Tunnel]]''.<ref>{{cite web|last=Schultz|first=Paul|title=DVD Review: The Time Tunnel - Season 1, Vol. 2|url=http://www.the-trades.com/article.php?id=4403|publisher=The Trades|date=June 27, 2006|access-date=May 15, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061110073859/http://www.the-trades.com/article.php?id=4403|archive-date=November 10, 2006|df=mdy-all}}</ref> Michael Pataki, who portrayed the Klingon Korax, went on to play Karnas in ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation]]'' [[Star Trek: The Next Generation season 1|first season]] episode "[[Too Short a Season]]".<ref name=nemecek43>[[#Nemecek2003|Nemecek (2003)]]: p. 43</ref> Charlie Brill portrayed the Klingon agent Arne Darvin.<ref name=gross/> Brill had previously been a sketch comedy artist with his wife [[Mitzi McCall]], and had appeared on ''[[The Ed Sullivan Show]]'' when [[The Beatles]] made their first appearance.<ref>{{cite news|last=Barclay|first=Delores|title=1964: The year the Beatles took America|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=fIpGAAAAIBAJ&pg=2562,421756&dq=charlie-brill+beatles&hl=en|access-date=May 16, 2013|newspaper=The Evening News|date=February 4, 1984}}</ref>

==Reception==
While initial fan reaction to the episode was mixed, it was more popular with the general public. Critical response to the episode was positive, and it was nominated for the [[Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation]] which instead went to fellow ''Star Trek'' episode "[[The City on the Edge of Forever]]". It has since been included in several "best of" episode lists and features, including as part of the Best of [[DVD]] collection alongside three other episodes. It has also been released as part of the season two DVD box set.

===Broadcast===
"The Trouble with Tribbles" was first broadcast in the United States on December 29, 1967 on [[NBC]].<ref name=gerrold280>[[#gerrold1973|Gerrold (1973)]]: p. 280</ref> The initial fan reaction was undecided,{{Citation needed|date=January 2017|reason=The citation which follows this sentence is a 2009 retrospective which neither suggest that "initial" fan reaction was undecided, let alone provides any information to suggest that was the case.}} but the episode connected better with the mass market.<ref name="time">{{cite news|url=http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1896849_1896865_1896860,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090511074958/http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1896849_1896865_1896860,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 11, 2009|title=10 Best Star Trek Moments|last=Cloud|first=John|date=May 8, 2009|newspaper=Time|access-date=March 30, 2013}}</ref> This effect was later explained in 2012 when Jordon Hoffman on StarTrek.com described "The Trouble with Tribbles" as "quite possibly, the first episode of ''Star Trek'' you ever saw".<ref name=onetrekmind>{{cite web|last=Hoffman|first=Jordan|title=One Trek Mind #55: No Trouble With Tribbles|url=https://www.startrek.com/article/one-trek-mind-55-no-trouble-with-tribbles|publisher=Star Trek.com|date=December 27, 2012|access-date=May 15, 2013}}</ref> It entered [[popular culture]] and remained well-known to the public outside of the ''Star Trek'' community.<ref name=trekland>{{cite web|last=Nemecek|first=Larry|title=Trekland, Extra #14: Tribble True-Love Is Tremendous|url=http://www.startrek.com/article/trekland-extra-14-tribble-true-love-is-tremendous|publisher=Star Trek.com|date=December 28, 2012|access-date=May 15, 2013}}</ref>

===Retrospective critiques===
''[[The New York Times]]'' described the scene with Kirk and the tribbles in the grain container as one of the "best-remembered moments" of the series.<ref name="nobodyknows" /> ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' magazine ranked "The Trouble with Tribbles" as the sixth best moment in ''Star Trek''.<ref name="time" /> [[IGN]] ranked it as the fifth best episode of ''The Original Series'',<ref>{{cite news|url=http://uk.ign.com/articles/2009/04/16/igns-top-10-classic-star-trek-episodes?page=6|title=IGN's Top 10 Classic Star Trek Episodes|last=Collura|first=Scott|date=April 16, 2009|newspaper=IGN|author2=Pirrello, Phil|author3=Vejvoda, Jim|access-date=March 30, 2013}}</ref> while [[TechRepublic]] ranked it as the fourth best.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/geekend/the-five-best-star-trek-episodes-ever/8999|title=The five best Star Trek episodes EVER!|last=Garmon|first=Jay|date=February 17, 2012|publisher=TechRepublic|access-date=March 30, 2013}}</ref> ''The A.V. Club'' included "The Trouble with Tribbles" in a list of ten must-see episodes,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.avclub.com/10-must-see-episodes-of-star-trek-1798232845|title=10 must-see episodes of Star Trek|last=Handlen|first=Zack|date=August 15, 2012|newspaper=The A.V. Club|access-date=March 30, 2013}}</ref> and ''[[USA Today]]'' listed as one of the three best.<ref name="usatodaydvd">{{cite news|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/tech/products/gear/entertainment/2004-08-30-star-trek-dvds_x.htm|title='Trek' on DVD: A logical choice|last=Snider|first=Mike|date=August 30, 2004|newspaper=USA Today|access-date=March 30, 2013}}</ref> In 1998, "The Trouble with Tribbles" was listed as the eighth best cult moment of all time by ''[[The Times]]'' newspaper.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://find.galegroup.com/ttda/newspaperRetrieve.do?sgHitCountType=None&sort=DateAscend&tabID=T003&prodId=TTDA&resultListType=RESULT_LIST&searchId=R1&searchType=BasicSearchForm&currentPosition=2&qrySerId=Locale%28en%2C%2C%29%3AFQE%3D%28tx%2CNone%2C23%29%22trouble+with+tribbles%22%24&retrieveFormat=MULTIPAGE_DOCUMENT&userGroupName=hilling&inPS=true&contentSet=LTO&&docId=&docLevel=FASCIMILE&workId=&relevancePageBatch=IF500877747&contentSet=TDA&callistoContentSet=TDA&docPage=article&hilite=y|title=Top 100 Cult Moments|date=February 21, 1998|newspaper=The Times|issue=66131|page=24|access-date=April 1, 2013}} {{subscription required}}</ref> In a list of the top 100 episodes of the ''Star Trek'' franchise, "The Trouble with Tribbles" was placed sixth by [[Charlie Jane Anders]] at [[io9]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://io9.gizmodo.com/the-top-100-star-trek-episodes-of-all-time-1641565699|title=The Top 100 ''Star Trek'' Episodes Of All Time!|date=October 2, 2014|publisher=io9|last1=Anders|first1=Charlie Jane|access-date=February 22, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160222231419/http://io9.gizmodo.com/the-top-100-star-trek-episodes-of-all-time-1641565699|archive-date=February 22, 2016}}</ref>

Zack Handlen's July 2009 review for ''[[The A.V. Club]]'' gave the episode a grade of A.<ref name="avclubreview" /> Cyrano Jones was Handlen's least favorite part of the episode, and with the exception of that character, it was one of the better scripts seen in ''The Original Series''. He thought that despite the lack of a sense of real danger, the plot all comes together neatly and praised the story's effects on Kirk, saying "The way the episode unfolds means Kirk's constantly dealing with things he does not really want to deal with, and there's a surprising amount of enjoyment to be had in seeing him complain about it to Spock."<ref name="avclubreview">{{cite news|last=Handlen|first=Zack|title=The Trouble With Tribbles' / 'The Gamesters Of Triskelion|url=https://www.avclub.com/star-trek-the-trouble-with-tribbles-the-gamesters-1798206524|access-date=March 30, 2013|newspaper=The A.V. Club|date=July 2, 2009}}</ref>

Michele Erica Green, writing for [[TrekNation]] in March 2006, said she thought that the episode would have been dated, but found it was "as funny as ever." She thought that Scotty's lines were "unforgettable" and the scenes between McCoy and Spock were "priceless".<ref name="treknationreview">{{cite news|url=https://www.trektoday.com/reviews/tos/the_trouble_with_tribbles.shtml|title=The Trouble with Tribbles|last=Green|first=Michelle Erica|date=March 31, 2006|newspaper=TrekNation|access-date=March 30, 2013}}</ref> Eugene Myers and Torie Atkinson reviewed the episode for [[Tor Books|Tor.com]] in April 2010. They described it as "easily the most celebrated episode of the entire ''Original Series'' (if not the whole franchise)".<ref name="torreview" /> They went on to describe it as a "perfect episode", and both gave it maximum scores of six out of six.

In 2009, ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' rated "The Trouble with Tribbles" as one of the top ten moments of ''Star Trek'', including television series and films up to that time.<ref name=":0">{{Cite magazine|url=https://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1896849_1896865_1896861,00.html|title=10 Best Star Trek Moments|last=Cloud|first=John|date=2009-05-08|magazine=Time|access-date=2019-02-27|language=en-US|issn=0040-781X}}</ref> In 2017, [[Space.com]] ranked "The Trouble with Tribbles" the second best episode of all ''Star Trek'' television, including all ''Star Trek'' television series episodes prior to ''[[Star Trek: Discovery]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.space.com/38201-best-star-trek-episodes.html|title=The 10 Best 'Star Trek' Episodes Ever|last=Howell|first=Elizabeth|website=Space.com|date=September 20, 2017 |language=en|access-date=2019-03-26}}</ref> [[Io9]] ranked it as the sixth best episode of all ''Star Trek'' episodes, including later series, up to 2011.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://io9.gizmodo.com/the-10-best-star-trek-episodes-5797961|title=The 10 Best Star Trek Episodes|last=Anders|first=Charlie Jane|website=io9|date=May 10, 2011 |language=en-US|access-date=2019-06-04}}</ref>

In 2012, ''[[The A.V. Club]]'' ranked this episode as one of the top ten "must see" episodes of ''The Original Series''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.avclub.com/10-must-see-episodes-of-star-trek-1798232845|title=10 must-see episodes of Star Trek|last=Handlen|first=Zack|website=TV Club|date=August 15, 2012 |language=en-US|access-date=2019-06-29}}</ref>

In 2013, ''[[The Hollywood Reporter]]'' ranked Kirk being buried in tribbles as one of the top 15 key moments of ''The Original Series''.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/gallery/boldly-go-15-key-star-524734|title=To Boldly Go: 15 Key 'Star Trek' Moments|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=May 18, 2013 |language=en|access-date=2019-07-28}}</ref> They remark "the image of Kirk mired in a pile of adorable fur balls has solidified "The Trouble of Tribbles" in the pop culture lexicon."<ref name=":1" />

In 2012, ''[[The Christian Science Monitor]]'' ranked this the fourth best episode of the original ''Star Trek''.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.csmonitor.com/Technology/Tech-Culture/2012/0908/Star-Trek-The-Original-Series-The-10-greatest-episodes-video/The-Doomsday-Machine|title=Star Trek: The Original Series: The 10 greatest episodes (+ video)|date=2012-09-08|work=The Christian Science Monitor|access-date=2019-07-23|issn=0882-7729}}</ref>

In 2013, ''[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]]'' magazine ranked this episode one of the top ten episodes of ''The Original Series''.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.wired.com/2013/05/underrated-star-trek-episodes/|title=10 of the Most Underrated Episodes of the Original Star Trek Series|date=2013-05-15|magazine=Wired|access-date=2019-07-09|issn=1059-1028}}</ref>

In 2015, ''Wired'' recommended not skipping this episode in their binge-watching guide for ''The Original Series''.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.wired.com/2015/01/binge-watch-star-trek-tos/|title=WIRED Binge-Watching Guide: Star Trek|last=McMillan|first=Graeme|date=2015-01-28|magazine=Wired|access-date=2019-07-24|issn=1059-1028}}</ref>

In 2015, the [[New York Public Library]] described this episode as having Spock's sixth best scene in the show.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nypl.org/blog/2015/02/27/best-spock-moments-star-trek-tos|title=10 Best Spock Moments in Star Trek: The Original Series|website=The New York Public Library|access-date=2019-07-10}}</ref>

In 2015, this episode was included in [[Geek.com]]'s 35 greatest moments in ''Star Trek''{{mdash}} they ranked Kirk's getting buried in tribbles the 29th greatest moment of all ''Star Trek''.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.geek.com/geek-cetera/top-star-trek-moments-1611810/ |title=The top 35 moments in Star Trek history |access-date=July 19, 2019 |archive-date=January 4, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150104235022/https://www.geek.com/geek-cetera/top-star-trek-moments-1611810/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

2016 was the 50th anniversary of the first broadcast of ''Star Trek'', which triggered a large amount of press including ''[[TV Guide]]''{{'}}s review of top ''Original Series'' episodes.<ref name=":02">{{Cite web|url=https://www.tvguide.com/news/top-5-star-trek-original-series-episodes/|title=The Top 5 Star Trek: The Original Series Episodes {{!}} TV Guide|date=2016-09-08|website=TV Guide|language=en|access-date=2019-07-04}}</ref> They ranked this episode the 5th best of the series.<ref name=":02" />

In 2016, ''[[Business Insider]]'' ranked "The Trouble with Tribbles" the third best episode of ''The Original Series''.<ref name=bi/> In the same year, ''[[Newsweek]]'' ranked "The Trouble With Tribbles" as one of the best episodes of ''The Original Series''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newsweek.com/newsweeks-top-10-star-trek-original-series-410044|title=Newsweek's top 10 episodes from the original Star Trek series|date=2016-01-02|website=Newsweek|language=en|access-date=2019-03-27}}</ref>

In 2016, [[IGN]] ranked this episode the fifth best in a top ten list of ''The Original Series'' episodes.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2016/09/05/igns-top-10-classic-star-trek-episodes?page=2|title=The Top 10 Classic Star Trek Episodes|date=2016-09-05|website=IGN|language=en-US|access-date=2019-06-29}}</ref> They ranked it the ninth best out of all ''Star Trek'' series prior to ''[[Star Trek: Discovery]]''.<ref name=":12">{{Citation|title=Star Trek: The Top 25 Episodes - IGN|date=May 20, 2013 |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/star-trek-the-top-25-episodes|language=en|access-date=2019-08-05}}</ref>

[[Empire (film magazine)|''Empire'']] ranked "The Trouble With Tribbles" 8th out of the top 50 episodes of all ''Star Trek'' in 2016.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.empireonline.com/movies/features/best-star-trek-episodes/|title=The 50 best Star Trek episodes ever|date=2016-07-27|website=Empire|language=en|access-date=2019-07-02}}</ref> At that time, there were roughly 726 episodes and a dozen films released.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tomsguide.com/us/star-trek-binge-watching-guide,review-3635.html|title=How to Binge Watch 726 Star Trek Episodes (and 12 Movies)|last=Honorof|first=Marshall|website=Tom's Guide|date=May 17, 2016 |language=en|access-date=2019-07-02}}</ref>

In 2016, [[Vox Media|Vox]] rated this one of the top 25 essential episodes of all ''Star Trek''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.vox.com/2016/9/6/12363628/star-trek-explained-50th-anniversary|title=Star Trek, explained for non-Trekkies|last=Siede|first=Caroline|date=2016-09-06|website=Vox|access-date=2019-08-01}}</ref>

In 2017, ''[[Radio Times]]'' ranked this episode the fourth best episode of ''Star Trek'', especially for those unfamiliar with the franchise.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.radiotimes.com/news/2017-09-08/the-10-best-star-trek-episodes-on-netflix-for-someone-whos-not-a-star-trek-fan/|title=The 10 best Star Trek episodes on Netflix – for someone who's not a Star Trek fan|website=Radio Times|language=en|access-date=2019-07-02}}</ref> In 2016, ''Radio Times'' also ranked this episode as having the 13th best moment in all ''Star Trek'', pointing out several scenes, but especially the one where Kirk is buried under a mound of tribbles.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.radiotimes.com/news/2016-09-08/the-50-greatest-star-trek-moments-of-all-time/6/|title=The 50 Greatest Star Trek moments of all time - 6|website=Radio Times|language=en|access-date=2019-07-06}}</ref>

In 2017, [[Space.com]] ranked this episode the second best episode of all ''Star Trek'' franchise television, and praised the hilarity of the scene where Kirk gets a tribble shower.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.space.com/38201-best-star-trek-episodes.html|title=The 10 Best 'Star Trek' Episodes Ever|last=Howell|first=Elizabeth|website=Space.com|date=September 20, 2017 |language=en|access-date=2019-07-21}}</ref>

In 2017, ''Business Insider'' ranked "The Trouble with Tribbles" the third best episode of ''The Original Series''.<ref name=bi>{{Cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/best-star-trek-episodes-2016-9|title=Here are the 13 best original 'Star Trek' episodes, ranked|first1=Elena |last1=Holodny|first2=Andy|last2=Kiersz|website=Business Insider|access-date=2019-07-06|date=September 21, 2017}}</ref>

In 2017, ''[[Vulture (web site)|Vulture]]'' listed it as one of the best episodes of the original show, noting the episode's comedic elements.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.vulture.com/2017/09/the-star-trek-universe-a-beginners-guide.html|website=vulture.com|access-date=2019-07-28|title=A Beginner's Guide to the Star Trek Universe|date=September 25, 2017 }}</ref>

In 2018, ''[[Collider (website)|Collider]]'' ranked this episode the 5th best ''Original Series'' episode.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://collider.com/best-star-trek-episodes/|title=The 20 Best Episodes of 'Star Trek: The Original Series'|last=Lesnick|first=Silas|date=2018-08-14|website=Collider|language=en-US|access-date=2019-07-04}}</ref>

In 2018, ''[[PopMatters]]'' ranked this the 12th best episode of ''The Original Series''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.popmatters.com/star-trek-best-20-episodes-2586080116.html|title=The 20 Best Episodes of 'Star Trek: The Original Series'|date=2018-07-16|website=PopMatters|language=en|access-date=2019-07-08}}</ref>

A 2018 ''Star Trek'' [[binge-watching]] guide by ''[[Den of Geek]]'', recommended this episode as one of the best of ''The Original Series''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/star-trek-an-episode-roadmap-for-beginners/|title=Star Trek: An Episode Roadmap for Beginners|website=Den of Geek|date=September 8, 2018 |language=en|access-date=2020-07-03}}</ref>

In 2019, [[Comic Book Resources|CBR]] ranked this episode as one of the top eight most memorable episodes of the original ''Star Trek''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbr.com/star-trek-most-memorable-episodes-original-series/|title=Star Trek: The 8 Most Memorable Episodes The Original Series|date=2019-12-09|website=CBR|language=en-US|access-date=2020-01-16}}</ref>

In 2019, ''[[Screen Rant]]'' ranked this the ninth best episode of all ''Star Trek'' series produced up to that time.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://screenrant.com/best-episodes-star-trek-tv-history/|title=The 10 Best Episodes In Star Trek TV History, Ranked|date=2019-06-01|website=ScreenRant|language=en-US|access-date=2020-01-24}}</ref>

== Awards ==
The episode was nominated for Best Dramatic Presentation at the 1968 [[Hugo Award]]s.<ref name="Hugo69">{{cite web|url=http://www.thehugoawards.org/hugo-history/1969-hugo-awards/ |title=1969 Hugo Awards |publisher=World Science Fiction Society |access-date=March 29, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110507164610/http://www.thehugoawards.org/hugo-history/1969-hugo-awards/ |archive-date=May 7, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> All of the nominees that year were episodes of ''Star Trek'', with the award instead going to "[[The City on the Edge of Forever]]".<ref name="Hugo69"/> From the number of votes, "The Trouble with Tribbles" was placed second.<ref name=gerrold284>[[#gerrold1973|Gerrold (1973)]]: p. 284</ref>

==Home media release==
"The Trouble with Tribbles" was one of the first episodes to receive an official release by [[Paramount Home Media Distribution|Paramount Home Entertainment]]. In 1980, it was released on [[VHS]] on a two-episode tape alongside "[[Let That Be Your Last Battlefield]]".<ref>{{cite book|title=Star Trek: The Trouble with Tribbles; Let That be Your Last Battlefield|publisher=[[WorldCat]]|oclc=503191993}}</ref> It was re-released in 1991 as part of the first full-season release on VHS.<ref>{{cite web|title=Star Trek - The Original Series, Episode 42: The Trouble With Tribbles (VHS)|url=http://www.tower.com/star-trek-original-series-episode-42-trouble-with-william-shatner-vhs/wapi/109139312|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130412000110/http://www.tower.com/star-trek-original-series-episode-42-trouble-with-william-shatner-vhs/wapi/109139312|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 12, 2013|publisher=Tower Video|access-date=April 1, 2013}}</ref> This was re-released in 1993,<ref>{{cite book|title=Star Trek: Episode 42 The Trouble with Tribbles|publisher=[[WorldCat]]|oclc=51651562}}</ref> and was released on [[LaserDisc]].<ref>{{cite news|title=More DVD Scans|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=MH&s_site=miami&p_multi=MH&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=1050AF0C9AB1B879&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|access-date=April 1, 2013|newspaper=Miami Herald|date=September 10, 2004}}</ref> In 1998, a "Talking Tribble Gift Set" was released which contained both "The Trouble with Tribbles" and "Trials and Tribble-ations" on VHS.<ref>{{cite news|last=Myers|first=Randy|title=Pausing on a gift? Videos are easy and cheap|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=KC&p_theme=kc&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EAF467DD69401DB&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|access-date=April 1, 2013|newspaper=Kansas City Star|date=December 24, 1998}}</ref> The first [[DVD]] release was in 2000, when all of ''The Original Series'' episodes were released in individual releases of two episodes per disc.<ref>{{cite news|title='70 TV Favorites Find New Life on VHS|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=CO&s_site=charlotte&p_multi=CO&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB6D1E4140BBAE6&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|access-date=April 1, 2013|newspaper=Charlotte Observer|date=July 12, 2000}}</ref> The first season set that the episode was included in was a part of the season two DVD set released in the United States on November 2, 2004.<ref name=usatodaydvd/>

In 2009, it was included in a best of collection with three other episodes of ''The Original Series'' alongside "[[Amok Time]]", "The City on the Edge of Forever" and "[[Balance of Terror]]".<ref>{{cite web|last=Atkinson|first=Torrie|title=Tribbles Week: The Next Tribble-ation Contest|url=https://www.tor.com/blogs/2010/04/the-sttng-tribbles-contest-feel-free-to-edit|publisher=Tor.com|access-date=March 31, 2013|date=April 16, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=DVD Report|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-20518700.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130411020744/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-20518700.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 11, 2013|access-date=March 31, 2013|newspaper=The Boston Globe|date=May 10, 2009}}</ref> The re-mastered DVD sets were also re-launched to coincide with the release of the film, ''Star Trek''. The [[Blu-ray]] release included the un-changed scenes as alternative angles. Disc four of each set contained only "The Trouble with Tribbles" from ''The Original Series'' but otherwise contained tribble related extras. These included both "More Tribbles, More Troubles" and "Trials and Tribble-ations".<ref>{{cite web|last=Hunt|first=James|title=Star Trek: The Remastered Series Seasons 1, 2 & 3 review|url=https://www.denofgeek.com/dvd-bluray/8123/star-trek-the-remastered-series-seasons-1-2-3-review|publisher=Den of Geek!|date=May 20, 2009|access-date=March 31, 2013}}</ref>

==Legacy==
==="More Tribbles, More Troubles"===
"The Trouble with Tribbles" was originally intended to have a follow-up episode during season three, but after [[Gene Roddenberry]] stepped back from the production of the show after a time-slot change and further cuts in the budget, the idea was scrapped.<ref name="torreview" /><ref name=recalls>{{cite web|title=David Gerrold Recalls 'More Tribbles' and 'Bem'|url=https://www.startrek.com/article/david-gerrold-recalls-more-tribbles-and-bem|publisher=Star Trek.com|date=March 10, 2011|access-date=March 30, 2013}}</ref> In 1973, Gerrold had become friends with D. C. Fontana from their time spent on the ''Star Trek'' convention circuit together. He had heard about ''Star Trek: The Animated Series'', and offered to do an episode. Fontana responded that she wanted the tribble episode that was cut from season three.<ref name=recalls/> This episode was entitled "[[More Tribbles, More Troubles]]".<ref name=treknationreview/><ref name="torreview" /> The episode introduces the natural predator of the tribbles and genetically engineered tribbles which no longer reproduce but instead grow much larger.<ref>{{cite web|last=Myers|first=Eugene|author2=Atkinson, Torrie |title=Tribbles Week: Re-watching Star Trek: The Animated Series 'More Tribbles, More Troubles'|url=https://www.tor.com/blogs/2010/04/tribbles-week-re-watching-the-animated-lemgstar-treklemgs-more-tribbles-more-troubles|publisher=Tor.com|date=April 13, 2010|access-date=April 1, 2013}}</ref> As with his other ''Animated Series'' episode "[[Bem (Star Trek: The Animated Series)|Bem]]", he later explained that almost nothing was cut from the original pitches for the third season of ''The Original Series'' as animation played out quicker and so everything still fit into the episode despite the reduced running time.<ref name=tasinterview>{{cite web|title=The David Gerrold TAS Interview|url=http://www.startrekanimated.com/tas_david_gerrold.html|publisher=StarTrekAnimated.com|access-date=March 30, 2013}}</ref> Both of Gerrold's ''Animated Series'' episodes were novelized by [[Alan Dean Foster]], and Gerrold later said that he thought that he did "a fine job".<ref name=tasinterview/>

==="Trials and Tribble-ations"===
[[Image:QTXP 20121019 Destination Star Trek London MG 2144.jpg|thumb|left|Actors such as [[Avery Brooks]] were digitally inserted into scenes from "The Trouble with Tribbles" for the ''DS9'' episode]]

To celebrate the 30th anniversary of ''Star Trek'' in 1996, producers of ''[[Star Trek: Voyager]]'' and ''[[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine]]'' decided to incorporate elements of ''The Original Series'' into episodes. The ''Deep Space Nine'' homage, entitled "[[Trials and Tribble-ations]]", sent its characters back in time to the events of "The Trouble with Tribbles", digitally inserting the ''Deep Space Nine'' actors into footage from nineteen scenes in "The Trouble with Tribbles" and other episodes.<ref name="torreview" /><ref>{{cite news|title=Old Joins the New with Re-creation of Tribbles for 'DS9'|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-64674291.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130411023342/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-64674291.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 11, 2013|access-date=March 31, 2013|newspaper=Seattle Post-Intelligencer|date=October 19, 1996}}</ref> Charlie Brill also returned to the role of Arne Darvin to film new scenes set in the ''DS9'' timeframe.<ref name=block209>[[#blockerdmann2010|Block; Erdmann (2010)]]: p. 209</ref> The episode was nominated for three [[Emmy Award]]s and, like the original episode, the [[Hugo Award]] for [[Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation|Best Dramatic Presentation]].<ref name=emmydatabase>{{cite web|title=Primetime Emmy Award Database|url=http://www.emmys.com/award_history_search|publisher=Emmys.com|access-date=March 30, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=1997 Hugo Awards |url=http://www.thehugoawards.org/hugo-history/1997-hugo-awards/ |publisher=The Hugo Awards |date=September 1, 1997 |access-date=March 30, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110507164739/http://www.thehugoawards.org/hugo-history/1997-hugo-awards/ |archive-date=May 7, 2011 }}</ref>

As the 30th anniversary approached, Gerrold had heard rumors of a tribble sequel in the works but had only heard denials from executive producer [[Rick Berman]].<ref name=gerroldback>{{cite web|title=Trek Writer David Gerrold Looks Back - Part 2|url=https://www.startrek.com/article/trek-writer-david-gerrold-looks-back-part-2|publisher=Star Trek.com|date=January 25, 2011|access-date=March 30, 2013}}</ref> Following an interview request from ''[[The New York Times]]'',<ref name=gerroldback/> he telephoned Berman once more to ask what was happening as he did not want to say he did not know about the sequel episode and embarrass anyone if it actually was going to happen.<ref name=cultinterviewk7tods9/> Gerrold suggested that an acknowledgement of the creator of the tribbles might be in order and asked if he could be an extra.<ref name=gerroldback/> He appears in the episode as an ''Enterprise'' officer.<ref>{{Cite episode |title=Trials and Tribble-ations |series=Star Trek: Deep Space Nine |credits=Moore, Robert D.; Echevarria, René; Behr, Ira Steven; Beimler, Hans; Hewitt Wolfe, Robert |network=Broadcast syndication |date=November 4, 1996 |season=5 |number=6 |language=en}}</ref> While Gerrold was on set, he also advised director Jonathan West on the integration of new scenes into "The Trouble with Tribbles".<ref name=cultinterviewk7tods9>{{cite web|title=Interviews: David Gerrold: From K7 to DS9|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/st/interviews/gerrold/page3.shtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031212110218/http://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/st/interviews/gerrold/page3.shtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 12, 2003|work=BBC Cult|access-date=March 30, 2013}}</ref> Gerrold later said that "Trials and Tribble-ations" "turned out beautiful. I think it was the best episode of ''Deep Space Nine'' ever and possibly the best episode of ''Star Trek'' after the Original Series."<ref name=cultinterviewk7tods9/>

===Further appearances and parodies===
Tribbles have been further seen in other ''Star Trek'' episodes and films, including ''[[Star Trek III: The Search for Spock]]'' and the [[J. J. Abrams]]-helmed films ''[[Star Trek (2009 film)|Star Trek]]'' (2009) and ''[[Star Trek Into Darkness]]'' (2013).<ref name="torreview" /><ref>{{cite news|last=Pascale|first=Anthony|title=A Tiny Christmas Spoiler For The New Star Trek|url=https://trekmovie.com/2007/12/25/a-tiny-christmas-spoiler-for-the-new-star-trek/|access-date=March 30, 2013|newspaper=TrekMovie.com|date=December 25, 2007}}</ref> While on a visit to the set of ''Star Trek'', Gerrold was told by Abrams that the tribble had been deliberately "snuck in" to the scene.<ref name=gerroldback /> It appears in the scene where Kirk ([[Chris Pine]]) and Spock Prime (Leonard Nimoy) meet Scott ([[Simon Pegg]]) on the Vulcan moon.<ref>{{cite news|last=Caroll|first=Larry|title=Five Things You May Have Missed While Watching 'Star Trek'|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1611002/five-things-may-have-missed-while-watching-star-trek.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111007131915/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1611002/five-things-may-have-missed-while-watching-star-trek.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 7, 2011|publisher=MTV News|date=May 11, 2009|access-date=May 15, 2013}}</ref> "The Trouble with Tribbles" was also re-imagined in that timeline's [[Star Trek (IDW Publishing)|comic book series]] by [[IDW Publishing]] and entitled "The Truth About Tribbles".<ref name=trekland/><ref>{{cite web|title=TrekInk: March Star Trek IDW Previews + Catching up with Star Trek comics|url=https://trekmovie.com/2012/12/17/trekink-catching-up-with-star-trek-comics/|publisher=TrekMovie.com|date=December 17, 2012|access-date=May 15, 2013}}</ref>

In 2003, tribbles appeared in the ''Star Trek: Enterprise'' episode "[[The Breach (Star Trek: Enterprise)|The Breach]]". In that episode, Doctor [[Phlox (Star Trek)|Phlox]] ([[John Billingsley]]) uses them as food for his medicinal pets in sickbay.<ref>{{Cite episode |title=The Breach |episode-link=The Breach (Star Trek: Enterprise) |series=Star Trek: Enterprise |series-link=Star Trek: Enterprise |credits=Black, Chris; Shiban, John |network=UPN |date=April 23, 2003 |season=2 |number= 21 }}</ref>

Gerrold has been in discussions with the [[fan film|fan-created]] series ''[[Star Trek: New Voyages]]'' to bring back the tribbles for a further ''Original Series'' era episode.<ref name=gerroldback /> Both his ''Original Series'' pitch "The Protracted Man" and his ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation]]'' script ''[[Blood and Fire (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|Blood and Fire]]'' have been turned into episodes of ''New Voyages''.<ref name=nobodyknows/><ref name=gerroldback/>

Tribbles have been parodied in a variety of other television shows and types of media.  An episode of ''[[Partridge Family 2200 A.D.]]'', "The Roobits" features fuzzy alien creatures that multiply quickly.  This was also done in The Smurfs Season 1 episode "Fuzzle Trouble."<ref name="Smurfs">{{ASIN|B000XXWKFW|title=The Smurfs: Season 1, Vol. One|date=February 26, 2008}}</ref> ''Futurama'' featured a parody in the second season entitled "[[The Problem with Popplers]]", which included several ''Star Trek'' jokes. These include a reference to "Roddenberries" and features [[Zapp Brannigan]], whom the ''Futurama'' staff have said is intended to be a parody of Captain Kirk.<ref>{{cite web|last=Atkinson|first=Torrie|author2=Myers, Eugene |title=Tribbles Week: Re-watching Futurama's "The Problem With Popplers"|url=https://www.tor.com/blogs/2010/04/tribbles-week-re-watching-lemgfuturamaslemg-the-problem-with-popplers|publisher=Tor.com|date=April 15, 2010|access-date=March 30, 2013}}</ref> In 2000, a ''[[Drosophila]]'' (fruit fly) gene that blocks cell division was named ''tribbles'' ({{UniProt|Q9V3Z1}}) after the small, woolly, tribble-like cells with mutations in this gene. A review describing the discovery was named after this episode. Humans carry three [[homolog]]s of ''tribbles'', [[TRIB1]], [[TRIB2]], and [[TRIB3]].<ref name="pmid10898974">{{cite journal |last1=Johnston |first1=Laura A |title=Cell cycle: The trouble with tribbles |journal=Current Biology |date=June 2000 |volume=10 |issue=13 |pages=R502–R504 |doi=10.1016/S0960-9822(00)00559-5 |pmid=10898974 |pmc=10176495 |doi-access=free}}</ref> The parasprites in the ''[[My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic]]'' episode "Swarm of the Century" were also partially inspired by the tribbles.<ref>Sherilyn Connelly: ''Ponyville Confidential: The History and Culture of My Little Pony, 1981-2016'', pg. 104. McFarland & Company, Inc., Jefferson, NC, March 2017. {{ISBN|1-476-662096}}.</ref>

In the 2003 video game ''[[Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (video game)|Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic]]'', the player's ship becomes infested with a froglike species called Gizka, prompting the player to receive the quest "The Trouble with Gizka" in order to remove the pests.

Circa early 2013, an [[internet meme]] parody started circulating, featuring a still from "The Trouble with Tribbles", with the face of [[Paul McCartney]] superimposed onto the body of Captain who is surrounded by tribbles, accompanied by the quip "Yesterday: All my tribbles seemed so far away", parodying the first line of McCartney's signature [[Beatles]]' song "[[Yesterday (Beatles song)|Yesterday]]".  In 2013, singer Bob Robertson expanded the meme into a full parody of the song's lyrics, stating that he first saw the original meme in a posting by [[George Takei]].<ref>{{Cite web| author1=Robertson, Bob| author2=McCartney, Paul| date=April 24, 2013| title=Yesterday...All my tribbles seemed so far away| via=[[YouTube]]| url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVWoRJBpucU |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/sVWoRJBpucU| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live| access-date=2020-05-09}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web| title=Yesterday...All my tribbles seemed so far away| publisher=[[pinterest]]| url=https://www.pinterest.com/pin/99008891780612134/| access-date=2020-05-09}}</ref>

===Merchandising and adaptations===
Gerrold published a book describing his experiences in the creation of "The Trouble with Tribbles". Entitled ''The Trouble with Tribbles: The Birth, Sale and Final Production of One Episode'', it was published in 1973. The book was well-received by the former cast and crew of ''Star Trek'' and was used as a textbook for teaching screenwriting.<ref name=lookback1/> The episode itself was adapted for a children's book, ''Too Many Tribbles!'', in the [[Little Golden Books]] line with its content somewhat softened for its intended reading demographic.

A variety of tribble replicas have been made over the years,<ref name="moretroublesrecord">{{cite news|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-22522985.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140611022419/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-22522985.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 11, 2014|title=More Troubles with Tribbles|last=Beckerman|first=Jim|date=November 9, 1996|newspaper=The Record|access-date=March 31, 2013}}</ref><ref name=trail /> with the most recent licensed product coming from [[QMx]], released in 2013.<ref>{{cite web|title=FIRST LOOK: The Tribbles Are Coming! The Tribbles Are Coming!|url=http://www.startrek.com/article/first-look-the-tribbles-are-coming-the-tribbles-are-coming|publisher=Star Trek.com|date=March 28, 2013|access-date=March 30, 2013}}</ref> A plate to commemorate the episode was the first to be launched as part of an eight-plate ''Star Trek: The Commemorative Collection'' in 1986. It featured an image of Kirk with the tribbles in the grain compartment created by artist Susie Morton.<ref>{{cite news|title=The Trouble with Tribbles|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=rS5DAAAAIBAJ&pg=4641,4053856&dq=the-trouble-with-tribbles&hl=en|access-date=March 30, 2013|newspaper=The Albany Herald|page=43|date=November 23, 1986}}</ref> The first ''Original Series'' expansion for the [[Star Trek Customizable Card Game]] was launched in 2000. It was entitled "The Trouble with Tribbles" and was based on this episode and the associated episode of ''Deep Space Nine''. It also introduced the ''[[Tribbles (game)|Tribbles]]'' game which used only tribble-related cards.<ref>{{cite web|title=Official 'The Trouble with Tribbles' CCG Info|url=https://www.trektoday.com/news/310500_03.shtml|publisher=TrekNation|date=May 31, 2000|access-date=March 30, 2013}}</ref>

In 2010, two movie posters for "The Trouble with Tribbles" featuring Uhura and Spock being slowly covered in tribbles were created by Justin Ishmael for the art boutique attached to the [[Alamo Drafthouse Cinema]] in [[Austin, Texas]]. It was a follow-up to earlier posters created for the episode "[[Space Seed]]".<ref>{{cite news|last=Hart|first=Hugh|title=Exclusive: Tribbles Infest Alamo Drafthouse's New Star Trek Posters|url=https://www.wired.com/underwire/2010/07/star-trek-posters-tribbles/|access-date=March 30, 2013|newspaper=Wired|date=July 20, 2010}}</ref> Juan Ortiz later created a 1960s-retro style poster for each of the eighty episodes of ''Star Trek''. The "Trouble with Tribbles" poster made it appear that the warp nacelles of the ''Enterprise'' were sprouting tribbles which then bred rapidly as the ship flew on, creating a cloud of them behind the ship.<ref>{{cite news|last=Jensen|first=Jeff|title='Star Trek' fans: Want some retro-cool 'Trouble With Tribbles' on your wall? Sure you do!|url=http://popwatch.ew.com/2012/09/30/star-trek-trouble-with-tribbles-retro-poster/|access-date=March 30, 2013|newspaper=Entertainment Weekly|date=September 30, 2012}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Bibliography==
{{refbegin|40em}}
* {{cite book|last=Abbott|first=Stacey|title=The Cult TV Book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gA7qK_VhVH0C&q=star+trek+syndication+1970s&pg=PA138|year=2010|publisher=I.B. Tauris|location=London, New York|isbn=9781848850255|ref=abbott}}
* {{cite book|last=Block|first=Paula M.|author2=Erdmann, Terry J. |title=Star Trek: The Original Series 365|year=2010|publisher=Abrams|location=New York|isbn=9780810991729|ref=blockerdmann2010}}
* {{cite book|last=Gerrold|first=David|title=The Trouble with Tribbles: The Birth, Sale and Final Production of One Episode|year=1973|edition=2004 BenBalla|publisher=BenBalla Books|location=Dallas, TX|ref=gerrold1973}}
* {{cite book|last=Gross|first=Edward|author2=Altman, Mark A. |title=Captain's Logs: The Complete Trek Voyages|year=1993|publisher=Boxtree|location=London|isbn=978-1-85283-899-7|ref=grossaltman1993}}
* {{cite book|last=Nemecek|first=Larry|title=Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion|year=2003|edition=3rd|publisher=Pocket Books|location=New York|isbn= 0-7434-5798-6|ref=Nemecek2003}}
* {{cite book|last=Palumbo|first=Donald|title=Eros in the Mind's Eye|url=https://archive.org/details/trent_0116405831243|year=1986|publisher=Greenwood Press|location=New York|isbn=9780313241024|ref=palumbo|url-access=registration}}
{{refend}}

==External links==
{{Wikiquote|Star Trek: The Original Series#The Trouble With Tribbles|"The Trouble with Tribbles"}}
* {{StarTrek.com|trouble-with-tribbles-the|"The Trouble with Tribbles"}}
* {{IMDb episode|0708480}}
{{Memory Alpha|The Trouble with Tribbles (episode)|"The Trouble with Tribbles"}}
* [https://www.trekmovie.com/2006/11/05/the-trouble-with-tribbles-screenshots-debut-new-cgi-enterprise-model/ "The Trouble with Tribbles"] 2006 remastered side-by-side comparisons at [[TrekMovie.com]]
*[http://www.chakoteya.net/StarTrek/42.htm Star Trek transcript - The Trouble with Tribbles]

{{Star Trek: The Original Series episodes|2}}
{{Portal bar|Speculative fiction|Television}}
{{#related:More Tribbles, More Troubles}}
{{#related:Trials and Tribble-ations}}
{{#related:Tribble}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Trouble With Tribbles, The}}
[[Category:1967 American television episodes]]
[[Category:Star Trek: The Original Series season 2 episodes]]
[[Category:Television episodes directed by Joseph Pevney]]
[[Category:Television episodes written by David Gerrold]]