Well, jper36 writes: "This is one of Trek's big slip-ups...". This could not be any more incorrect. In no way is this a "slip-up". When this episode was produced, these stupid "nitpicky" details about characters had yet to be finalized, so "James R. Kirk" can not be considered a mistake. In fact, since this was the first "Kirk" episode produced (being a pilot episode), it is more reasonable to state that EVERY succeeding reference to "James T(iberius) Kirk", is a "slip-up"!
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This is one of Trek's big slipups, along with the Klingon ridge thingy. I've seen two attempts to explain of this slipup, both in novels.
1) In the novel "Q-Squared", the idea is put forward that this was intended to show that Gary Mitchell, though becoming more and more godlike, wasn't perfect.
2) In the trilogy "Brother's Keeper", the idea is put forward that it's an inside joke about Kirk's middle name, as in "Racquetball? That's practically my middle name!" (Yes, racquetball, then rhinoceros, then some other r-word).
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Re:Tiberius
This name did not come into being until the Animated Series came along,until then it was just the letter "T" as in Harry S Truman (The S did not stand for anything, but was put in order to avoid confusion!)
Yours,Grimley
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It should also be pointed out that WNMHGB was the SECOND pilot for the series. We as fans can hardly expect that plans for even a first season's worth of details could be ironed out at the pilot stage. Perhaps a better question would be why they chose "Tiberius" as a middle name for ANYONE.
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