By Steve Krutzler / 07:24, 6 February 2004 / Enterprise

Fans of STAR TREK: ENTERPRISE have rallied to save the show that officially isn't in jeopardy yet. It's no surprise when a popular series is cancelled after 13 episodes and an Internet petition immdiately crops up to champion its survival. In fact, it's a phenomenon that STAR TREK fans helped solidify with their historic letter-writing campaign to NBC in the late-1960s, winning a third season for the original STAR TREK series.

The lack of a major ratings turnaround and silence on the part of UPN network execs has fomented speculation in recent weeks that the newest STAR TREK series might make history of another kind and become the first since the original to go out early. UPN even reduced its order for the series from 26 episodes to 24 this season, confirming that the struggling network is pinching pennies. Recent rumors have ranged from cancellation at the end of this season, to the firing of producer Rick Berman, to the bittersweet theory of a final fourth year crafted only to improve a potential syndication deal.

One group of fans isn't waiting for the axe to fall, however. The ENTERPRISE Project collected donations last fall to run a full-page ad in the entertainment trade paper Hollywood Reporter, demonstrating support for the show. According to a new press release from the group, they've done it again. A second advocacy ad proclaiming fan support for ENTERPRISE will run in the February 24th edition of the paper.

"The campaign's purpose was to publish a collective letter to [UPN chiefs] Dawn Ostroff and Les Moonves, verifying that millions of fans consistently watch and highly value ENTERPRISE and look forward with anticipation to a fourth season and a long, successful run," writes group representative Anita Balestino in a release announcing the success.

"In only 16 days, Enterprise fans from across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Europe contributed enough funds to publish the letter on a full page in the Hollywood Reporter. They hope the publicized message to UPN's top executives will confirm the fact that audiences for ENTERPRISE are much larger than the current flawed ratings system reflects."

Tuesday's edition of the HR charges $3,385.00 for a full-page ad and the group says it has raised $3,664.80. Extra money will be donated to the The Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation and The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, in the names of Jerry Fleck and Kellie Waymire, ENTERPRISE's assistant director and guest actress who both passed away in 2003.

The ad, which is directed specifically to Ostroff and Moonves, reads in part: "Now, with new arc-driven stories that often examine the troubling issues of our own time, ENTERPRISE has reinvigorated its appeal to its audience, recaptured the praise of media critics and is reengaging the interest of former STAR TREK fans. The show has hit its stride and is gathering momentum to fulfill its enormous potential and emerge as a bona fide classic series."

You can learn more about the ENTERPRISE Project efforts here.

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ENTERPRISE Mission Schedule | Logs by Season: 1 2 3 4
Episode Number	Title	Airdate