I've stayed rather quiet on this, but I can't help but just shake my head at this whole deal. There's optimism and then there's naivete and this whole deal is simply naive as to how television works.
The legalities to accomplish this would probably eat up what meager amount they've saved to begin with. There's all the unforeseen costs that would crop up during production. There's so many variables that I don't think these people have even wanted to think about.
And yes, even $3 million is meager for these studios. They have the money already. Paramount is just no longer interested in producing Trek at this time. They know they've always have a hardcore loyal audience. The problem is they're not enough to keep the show going anymore. The constantly dropping ratings can only be blamed on so many other factors before coming back to the fact that the interest just isn't there.
Besides some of the self-righteous, back-patting of some involved (this drawn out attention-getting about the donation that was already well-known is the most recent example from people who seem to have zero experience in PR), there's also a streak of selfishness to the whole thing that smacks of absolute desparation that I find embarrassing.
I'm not too happy that Enterprise is being cancelled when it's getting good, but I've come to accept it and find those wanting this to keep going and going and going are coming across like addicts looking for another fix. Can't this be accepted with some dignity?
Take that 3 million and give it to Paramount to buy out Rick Berman's contract?
Or maybe you did say it and I didn't read it. sorry.
I don't have any millions (far less) but I'm gonna go do my part.
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"In every revolution, there's one man with a vision"
-- James T. Kirk
...and they never will.
Some people who read that donor statement will feel their spirits soar and understand exactly where those guys are coming from. They understand that Trek is not just a TV show, but an expression of human dreams and aspiration.Others will just see words and won't be moved, except to cynicism.
The cynics never built anything. They never left a legacy. They didn't write the history. Progress is made by dreamers, and those who dare to be try to change things for the better. It's easy to sit back and criticise every little thing; tear down people's hopes with sarcasm and dismissiveness. But criticism is fleeting and quickly forgotten.
If Enterprise does get renewed, as I hope it does, the cynics will be nowhere to be seen.
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JamesT
As someone that sits in a wheelchair due to Paralysis needing money for the Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation to cure all Paralysis! What's this say about spoiled American Society?
Perhaps someone can explain to me what exactly the money is for? Correct me if I'm wrong, but ENT wasn't canceled because Paramount ran out of money to pay for it. It was canceled because the ratings were poor.
And you know a major studio is not going to accept private funds to pay for a TV project. You know that, right?
Right?
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"It's fiction. It's not supposed to make sense." --a Trekweb poster defending Brannon Braga's scripts
...if Richard Branson was one of these "anonymous donors". I watched his show, Rebel Billionaire, and have to say that he is one very unique person. I like his take on integrity as the factor above all that drove his decision making. Too bad Trump has more weight to throw around because Branson is hands down the better person (at least in my eyes).
From seeing him on his show, I'm willing to bet this would be the kind of stunt he'd pull. He has a lot riding on commercial space flight. Not just money, but his dreams of every day people having space travel accessible to them. The cancellation of a show/franchise that has meant so much to the world and inspired many of the engineers and astronauts that have brought this within our grasp is horrible. Like the donor stated, if the ratings were all that mattered, Trek would have died back in 1968 as would most TV sci-fi, and who knows who would have failed to get off the couch and make a difference.
Well, I guess you never can tell whats going to happen. Perhaps The Donald is a fan of the show and upon seeing this article he will be moved to donated the remaining, what was it, $27,000,000? Gosh. It could happen! In the mean time though, I hope those other guys saved their reciepts...... by the way Trekkers and Trek posters..are all those F-bombs really necessary? I Thought this was a family show.
Here's to hoping they are successful at getting us a fifth season! The statement from the 'benefactors' summed up EXACTLY why I've been a ST fan for over 25 years. Couldn't have said it better myself!!
To those who think Enterprise sucks - stop watching. Seems the folks that don't like Enterprise are the most vocal on this BBS. I don't usually post as most of what I see here is a constant bash fest of Enterprise. Get's kinda old actually. Anyone who doesn't think that Enterprise has improved vastly since Coto took over is likely not even watching, and assuming what they like. Those of us who have been watching are impressed, and are very much looking forward to a fifth season should it happen.
To those who think it's a damn good show and are looking forward to more of Coto's work, let's keep our fingers crossed!
I have been a Trek fan for as long as I can remember and always follow the Trek-related news, etc. here on TrekWeb. This, however, will be my first post.
I haven't posted before because I really have no desire to become wrapped up in all of the absolutely senseless bickering, but, after reading the comments on this press release, well, I just can't keep it to myself.
WHAT THE FUCK IS WITH YOU PEOPLE!
I recoginze a good deal of the sigs in the comments here and realize that you are regular members of this community. However, not a single fucking one of you had ANYTHING positive regarding this news ... NOT A SINGLE THING!
Yes, the money could be used on other things which you might feel, in your opinion, would be more worthwhile, but these contributors are using THEIR money the way THEY see fit and probably give less than a shit about how YOU think they could spend THEIR money.
Don't worry about the tsunami victims or any other worthy cause you are going to mention in the numerous replies which I am sure will follow this comment. I say don't worry because, trust me, there's a ton of money going to those things and others. One of you mentioned that the $3M is still just a drop in the bucket compared to what is needed and that the money should have went elsewhere. Well, I got some bad news for you ... using the tsunami relief effort as an example, that $3M would also be a drop in the bucket compared to the money already being sent and donated. You act as if sending that money overseas would have solved everything.
What really pisses me off is the fact that the fans are working so hard to try various avenues in order to keep the show on, to get it's quality to keep improving and so on, but there are people like yourself on this board who seem to not find anything positive in any effort at all. Why do you even bother being a member of the community? My uncle used to say "If you don't have anything constructive to add or say, then just keep it to yourself."
Believe me when I say that I will be the first person to say that everyone is entitled to his/her own opinion ... I hate censorship in any fashion. Side note: Before you start on the "but you said keep it to yourself if you don't have anything constructive to add" tanget, let me say this: That philosophy is directly dependent on the context of the situation at hand. Anyway back to it... One of you stated that you felt the press release was fake because one of the contributors was quoted as saying something about the "superb theme song". Do you really think that because all Trek fans don't like the theme because it differs so much from the other series that everyone on the fucking planet should hate it as well? I personally really like the theme. The imagery and lyrics truly exemplify the spirt of space exploration and the fact that it has taken us a long time, and a lot of sacrafice, to get from where we started to where we are now. Didn't you stop for a second to think about the message behind the theme and the fact that it just might really appeal to someone in the private space industry who is putting their life into developing space travel? I guess that never crossed your mind.
I mean, really, if it bothers you that much that these people donated the money to saving Trek and you think they should have donated it elsewhere, don't tell us, tell them. Did you think that the people reading your comments would somehow be able to change where that money was going? If you are so concerned about using the money for other causes, start a campaign and start raising money jackass. I mean, really, did you see somewhere that the Trek United campaign was going to raise money for Trek, but that they would take part of it a use it for other purposes? I didn't think so. They set out with the sole purpose of raising money for Trek ... period! If you were so concerned about how the money would be used, why weren't you complaining about it when they had only raised a few thousand? I guess you thought that a puny amount of money like that wouldn't have helped anything. It's almost like once you saw that they had actually raised a VERY significant amount of cash that the purpose of raising that cash became wrong, but it was fine to raise money for it when not a lot was coming in.
Flame all you want, it won't get you anywhere with me as, like I stated at the beginning, I have no desire to get in a "comment war" here, but I couldn't keep MY opinion to myself any longer.
Ok, I will get down off my soapbox now, but I will leave you with a great quote from Bruce Willis in Die Hard 3.
"If you're not helping, you're being a part of the problem! Now ... stop being a part of the fucking problem and start being a part of the solution!"
Peace and Contribution Grease!
Digital1
And just a thought. How about we start a campaign to raise money in order to get you an in-operable tumor at the base of your spine :-)
...Now if someone had actually donated 30 million instead of three Paramount might actually take the offer seriously. A full season on the schedule for only a 3 million or so outlay on their own they could be pulling pure profit from it in a matter of weeks.
But this? It's ego stroking and fanboy fantasy to donate the money (a mere pittance compared to what would be needed) or to think it's going to do any good.
And we won't even get into what ELSE $3 mil could be used for.
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"No, no 'however'. Just be wrong. Just stand there in your wrongness and be wrong and get used to it."--President Josiah Bartlet, The West Wing
Quote:
TrekUnited.com, the fan campaign which ultimate goal is to raise over $30 million to pay for a fifth season of STAR TREK ENTERPRISE, just announced that three anonymous contributors have stepped forward with a $3 million pledge toward the campaign.
Like B&B, Brazeal and TrekUnited rely on gray matter scotoma in their audience. Their campaign pooh-poohs reality TV while name-dropping Richard Branson, who's the centerpiece for Fox's reality show THE REBEL BILLIONAIRE: BRANSON'S QUEST FOR THE BEST, produced by the same people (Bunim-Murray) who bring you Paris Hilton in THE SIMPLE LIFE. Their mention of "quality TV" is a Sweet Nothing for the soundbite generation, as these players will pimp dreck TV whenever it suits their agenda.
Paul Allen? He rode the coattails of Bill Gates, whose introduction to IBM and the PC was apron-stringed by his corporate lawyer mother. This proves that being in the right place at the right time can benefit even fools, as storied in FORREST GUMP and BEING THERE.
The "official pledge" smacks of a fanciful exploit by playboys who'll dump millions of dollars into pet projects, nothing that'll impress a Paramount and its stockholders. TrekUnited admits they'll not get a penny of the $3m unless Paramount signs a guaranteed deal, which is unlikely. Brazeal's campaign will continue to be bankrolled by hard coin solicited from common people who have more money than brains. Their misguided hero-worship is a bonus.
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Star Trek vets surmise the franchise
Well done! All hailing frequencies open! :-)
Are they sure they have three actual donors for this? Somehow that press release doesn't sound like it was written by someone with millions of dollars to blow. The one line that really struck me was the "superb theme song".
If this is true though, trekunited.com says that the money will be used for whatever will guarantee a 5th season. I think the only way that Paramount won't look bad at this point is if they accept the money and donate it some worthy cause and then Paramount makes the season anyway with their own money. Per what the release says, if I were Les, I would probably try and negotiate with trekunited to set up Trek scholarships for aeronautical engineering or medicine at a few universities across the country. That or donate to some worthy cause.
It would also be interesting if Bill Shatner donated a half million or so on behalf of Trek fans. Not because he wants to necessarily support Enterprise or Paramount, but wants to support the fans.
If I had $3million to blow, I think I would sponsor my own 5 year mission with Jolene Blalock and Linda Park. But that is just me.
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BRAIN and BRAIN, WHAT is BRAIN?
Get a Free iPod or a free Mac Mini!
Help a dude out, I only need 2 more folks to sign up to get the free ipod.
Can somebody pay me 3 million dollars instead?
I know there's people out that who can blow that kind of money. Do it and I'll be your love slave *no matter who you are!*
now show me the money
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"We're starfleet officers....weird is part of the job!"
RE: ...
by cooper2000 @ 12:17:27 on Mar 02
Enterprise is done...stop wasting your money. Let's get behind Paramount and push for a "good" Trek 11. Let the TV series rest awhile, come out with a decent movie in say 2007, and then a new TV series possibly in 2008.
Well, it thier cash to blow, so hey...
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An elephant never forgets . . .TO KILL!
I'd prefer they contribute to this -
http://www.hiddenfrontier.org/
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"That is the exploration that awaits you: Not mapping the stars and studying nebulae, but charting the unknown possiblities of existence." - Q, All Good Things...
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