Back in December of 2003 I spent 5 weeks working field for the Dean campaign in Iowa. I was in region two - affectionately called “The Deuce” - which covered the southeast area of the state, and I organized Henry and Washington Counties. One of the towns I was responsible for in Washington County was Riverside.

mainphoto.jpg

The remarkable thing about Riverside is the big model of the starship Enterprise in the center of town. Years ago, someone in town decided that Riverside would be the future birthplace of Captain James T. Kirk from Star Trek. They have been milking it ever since. Despite this bizarre claim to fame, the people of Riverside were really nice - of course, I still giggled everytime I drove past the big spaceship.

Well, the folks of Riverside may want to forget they ever heard of Captain Kirk. This week on Spike TV, William Shatner visits the site of his most famous character’s future birth in Invasion Iowa. Bill and film crew go to Riverside on the premise that they are there to film a sci-fi movie. Only they aren’t. It’s all a big practical joke on the unsuspecting and Shatner-crazy town.

The producers are the same ones responsible for Joe Shmoe - an equally hysterical show. Invasion runs for two more nights and I am having a lot of fun pointing out all the places in town where I met with Dean supporters. So far I haven’t seen anyone I know, which is probably just as well, since I already feel a little conflicted watching these folks get punk’d.

And I still giggle everytime I see the spaceship.