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George Takei Wanted EXCELSIOR Movies, Says ENT is Not Roddenberry's Vision

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By GustavoLeao / 01:36, 6 December 2004 / General Star Trek

STAR TREK actor George Takei ('Captain Sulu') was a guest on the british GMTV's breakfast show last week, promoting the third season of TOS on DVD. After the show, George took part in a web chat on the GMTV web site and here are a few excerpts from the chat transcript.

Q : Mr Takei, are you still lobbying Paramount for a series based on the EXCELSIOR or is this something you're no longer interested in doing?

George Takei : No, actually the campaign began with a group called the International Federation of Trekkers. The leader is located in Cleveland Ohio. I was very flattered, these people had a tremendous strategy - they marshalled the powers of the Internet and began a global campaign. I thought surely Paramount would follow up STAR TREK VI (which I personally subtitled Captain Sulu to the Rescue) with a series of Captain Sulu movies or mini-series. Particulary after Paramount invited fan feedback! I'm baffled that Paramount after they invited the suggestions to have turned a blind eye to what the fans truly want.

Q : Are you going to be making any future STAR TREK guest appearances?

George Takei : Not that I know of, but Paramount has a way of surprising me . One day I got a phone call from a friend who called to congratulate me about a guest appearance and I said I knew nothing about that. I asked him where he heard about that and he said on the Internet. And I said it was most likely fans wishful thinking and then hung up. Nevertheless I phoned my agent to check it out and asked him whether I was doing a guest shot on VOYAGER and he said no, not that I know of. Two weeks later I was working on a TV thing in Canada and my agent rang to tell me that the Internet was correct and I was doing a guest shot on VOYAGER!!! So I've been checking the Internet ever since.

Q : What are your thoughts about the current STAR TREK series?

George Takei : I don't think it's Gene [Roddenberry]'s vision, because he was forward-looking and this show is going backwards. He loved the shock of the new, unkown lifeforms, discoveries, challenges, all that is lost when you go backwards.

Q : You have a very distinctive voice. How about doing an audio series of the further adventures of Captain Sulu?

George Takei: I would love to do it. Ive done five audio novels of the ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN SULU and a publisher looks interested in doing another one so fingers crossed.

Q : Are you amazed at how long STAR TREK has endured? Do you think it will continue to do so in the future?

George Takei : I am amazed because it was such a struggle to stay on when we first ran. They were threatening cancellation after the first season, but given a reprieve by the letter writing of the fans. This 3rd season I owe to the fans. Those who discovered us in the 2nd season has made this all possible. That's another reason I do conventions - to say thank you.

Read the full transcript here



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Silly | Report this post to moderator
By: zak (Odo's file, contact) @ 07:25:49 on Dec 07, 2004

So, tell me Roddenberry's great vision was for the Excelsior to rise up when things seemed to need some sort of perk (even if they didn't)

I find this story and the ongoing EXCELSIOR issue just silly. Maybe a TV movie if they ever decide to do those, but then if they did, there'd be lots that would be ahead... like a DS9 story or who knows what before the EXCELSIOR. C'mon George.


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RE: Looking backwards? | Report this post to moderator
By: Bean (Odo's file, contact) @ 17:46:49 on Dec 06, 2004

As I eluded to above, Takei seeme to be deluded about his importance and popularity within the Trek franchise. Sure, Sulu was a decent character, and the movies wouldn't have been the same without him. And it was even kind of cool to see him get a command of his own in TUC, but really, his character was as disposable as Welsey Crusher or Tasha Yar. That's what he doesn't realize. He thinks there are legions of fans that tuned in to see HIM every week.

Add ti that the fact that he really hasn't had a major career outside of Star Trek, and you have a man who is trying desperatley o prove to himself that he was as popular as he thought.

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"The cup may be half full, but there's something floating in it."


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L:et's think that through | Report this post to moderator
By: luckybucky (Odo's file, contact) @ 17:44:56 on Dec 06, 2004

1) Stories with Captain Sulu would themselves be prequels, since the series had advanced to the 24th Century by the time STVI came along.

2) STVI can also be said to be a departure from Roddenberry's vision as it was produced largely without him and released after his death without him seeing a final cut of the film.

3) ENTERPRISE is FAR closer to Roddenberry's vision than DS9, which is still my favorite of the series. Adhering to the creator's intent is one thing; growing beyond it whil eremaining true to its spirit is the task at hand.

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"Aha! Advancing on me only brings you closer to the cold wrath that is my spork!" - Bucky the Katt


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RE: L:et's think that through by GrapesOfWrathOfKhan! @ 23:56:58 on Dec 06

Would welcome Sulu | Report this post to moderator
By: CahnMan (Odo's file, contact, web site) @ 15:57:29 on Dec 06, 2004

Several points:

1. Yes, an Excelsior series would be a "look back" as someone else noted, as is Enterprise. However, I think Takei is looking at it as adventures continuing forward from Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country, as opposed to what Enterprise has done which is go all the way back to Starfleet's beginnings. Mind you, if (and a huge "if" at that) the powers that be producing a Takei - Excelsior show were to do so faithfully, I'd like to think there would be less chance to mess up continuity on such a show than one that's gone as far back as Enterprise. I like Enterprise well enough, but we all know what a headache that show's been on so-called Star Trek canon.

2. I don't believe this is sour grapes on Takei's part at all. I say that as someone who's both read his website entries here and there and actually corresponded with the man via e-mail on occasion. I think Takei's simply passionate about the TOS (movie) era of Star Trek. He's passionate about the character of Sulu. He's passionate about Roddenberry's vision of Star Trek and the positive future it represented. AND I think he's passionate about the fan base. I completely agree with his disenchantment over Paramount's handling of things regarding soliciting fans' input and then completely ignoring it. I was part of that, and I know I didn't like it very much.

3. Finally, just as Berman & Co. saw a chance for storytelling at Starfleet's beginnings, there are plenty of stories (some of which have been told in book form, etc.) from in between ST:VI and after the "current" timeline of Star Trek: Nemesis. There are stories from all over the Star Trek timeline that haven't been told that would make good series, movies -- what have you. An Excelsior series or movie might be no less a good story -- and possibly better -- than anything that's been told on Enterprise so far.

Anyway, I just wanted to tell the Takei-bashers that perhaps they should think about digging a little deeper with the man before getting on his case. While he may have played Sulu and have a vested interest in playing him again, I believe Takei just really cares that Star Trek fans -- even casual ones -- get what they've really asked for: Quality stories about a positive future where humans and other races work together, with technology as an aid, to make the galaxy an even more wondrous place to live.

--------

Martin L. Cahn


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FIVE SULU AUDIOS? | Report this post to moderator
By: Nicholas Roche (Odo's file, contact, web site) @ 12:35:01 on Dec 06, 2004 | Edit History (1)

I only knew about three of them: TRANSFORMATIONS,CACOPHONY and ENVOY. And I don't think his autobiography TO THE STARS qualifies as an "audio adventure". So what are the other two? Have they seen release in the US?

_NJR_ Wanting to be thorough...


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RE: FIVE SULU AUDIOS? by BWilliams @ 16:16:40 on Dec 06

New life forms | Report this post to moderator
By: Reklaw (Odo's file, contact) @ 10:18:35 on Dec 06, 2004

And why can't you introduce new life forms in a series that goes back in time? Sounds like sour grapes to me.

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'It was beautiful, we were selling rich women their fat asses back to them' - Tylor Durden


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A little off topic perhaps ... | Report this post to moderator
By: timmer33 (Odo's file, contact) @ 08:40:40 on Dec 06, 2004

... but it amazes me that there is such animosity toward Shatner from the rest of the original cast. Kirk was the star of the show - not Uhura, Sulu, Chekhov or Scotty. As someone posted below, "sour grapes" sounds like an accurate description to describe the situation. Who is the most popular and successful of all the original cast? Shatner.


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RE: A little off topic perhaps ... by cooper2000 @ 20:15:56 on Dec 07
    RE: A little off topic perhaps ... by zak @ 07:52:04 on Dec 08
RE: A little off topic perhaps ... by luckybucky @ 17:46:39 on Dec 06

is this A HABIT AT PARAMOUNT?! | Report this post to moderator
By: StarFleet Captain (Odo's file, contact, web site) @ 05:57:04 on Dec 06, 2004

they sign guest actors BEFORE the actors themselves are notified?

Sulu said someone else read online that he had a role and told him. And he didn't know.

Back when Nemesis was in pre production, I remember Kate Mulgrew(Janeway) saying that she was unaware that she had a role in Nemesis after being asked by someone who read in online.

I think whats going on is that parts of the script is being leaked before its finalized and the internet rumor mills goes crazy well before the actors and actresses know that they may have parts in a movie or episode.

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"I can't be President. I mean, I've abused cocaine and I've been arrested. Besides, its completely stupid to believe somebody can be President just because his father was."
--Charlie Sheen (Saturday Night Live 2000)


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RE: is this A HABIT AT PARAMOUNT?! by Dukat @ 11:07:19 on Dec 06

Looking backwards? | Report this post to moderator
By: Karaoke (Odo's file, contact, web site) @ 05:41:47 on Dec 06, 2004

As much as I would've loved to see and Excelsior TV series follow STVI, I find Mr. Takei's comment about ENT somewhat odd. While it certainly is a look "back," so to speak, wouldn't a Sulu show have been as well? For that matter, both STV and STVI were, too.

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Starfleet officers do it on impulse!


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RE: Looking backwards? by Majin Psyduck @ 07:33:24 on Dec 06
    RE: Looking backwards? by Terry212 @ 10:21:30 on Dec 06
RE: Looking backwards? by J2M @ 06:58:47 on Dec 06
RE: Looking backwards? by Bean @ 06:55:11 on Dec 06
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