TrekWeb.com - Brent Spiner Talks State of TREK Franchise and His Idea for Mixed-Crew TREK XI

Brent Spiner Talks State of TREK Franchise and His Idea for Mixed-Crew TREK XI

By GustavoLeao / 20:49, 29 January 2005 / Star Trek: Nemesis

The latest issue of the Star Trek Communicator, available now in the U.S., features an exclusive interview with TNG actor Brent Spiner, in which he talks about his guest role of 'Doctor Arik Soong' on STAR TREK ENTERPRISE and his opinions on the STAR TREK franchise. Here are a few excerpts :

What, in your opinion, is the state of STAR TREK these days ?

Spiner : I am not sure. I don't know if I have a solution for its future. Some people think it needs to be put to sleep for a while and then woke up again in about five to ten years with a new concept and design and a bunch of young new kids. There is something to be said for that but, at the same time, I personally just like the fact that it is on the air. I want it to be around always. It has now been on for 18 years solid. It has hardly ever been off the air since it started back in the 60s. [...] I think they are doing a pretty good job this year, thought. I think ENTERPRISE has hit its stride. That's something they need to be given credit for, because it takes a while to shake down. It wasn't so easy for us either. I think they have finally found their footing, and it just took a while to get it together.

Do you think mixing the crews from the five shows is a good idea ?

Spiner : I think it is a decent idea. John Logan and I actually had a idea for another film that followed NEMESIS that sort of did that in a way. It was a really cool idea. But, needless to say, nobody went to see NEMESIS, so Paramount wasn't likely to give us another movie.

You knew Gene Roddenberry well, Do you think he would be happy with what STAR TREK has become today ?

Spiner : For the most part, I think he would be happy with it. And I will tell you why : I can't tell you the numbers of times when we were doing the films that we wanted to do something and Rick Berman responded, "You know, that's really not Roddenberry, That's really not his vision of this, and I don't want to cross that line." People who say Rick has forgotten Gene's vision and tried to create his own STAR TREK are way off base. It is just not true and I have been privy to moments where he has stated the opposite, All you have to do is watch the shows - they are still about the same things. They are still about the hopeful vision of the future and the need for people to accept each other in whatever form.

And to read the full interview, get the latest issue of the Star Trek Communicator at your local newstand.

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RE: He's right and he's wrong | Report this post to moderator
By: Bella Oxmyx (Odo's file, contact) @ 14:20:24 on Jan 30, 2005

Hbasm, you're always defending the status quo in your posts. And while you try to defend your arguments from attack by saying "it's all subjective," you criticize the stuff you don't like in absolutist terms, such as "morally unacceptable." (By the way, that particular criticism has been leveled at every creative work that upsets hidebound reactionaries, including TOS).

Change doesn't always lead to destruction; sometimes change leads to growth. When Roddenberry created TNG, for example, there were fans who were outraged that a series was being contemplated without TOS cast. There were those who hated the idea of a bald Frenchman as captain of the Enterprise, and who scoffed at the idea of a Klingon ever serving aboard a Federation ship. But Roddenberry understood that merely cloning TOS would lead to stagnation, and at any rate he was ambitious enough to want to explore the concepts from the TOS in a more in-depth manner. The result was a show that was unique and had its own voice, but was still unmistakably Star Trek. And those elements of the show people at first disliked -- the French captain, the Klingon member of Starfleet -- have become two of the most beloved characters of the franchise.

Change is coming whether you want it to or not, Hbasm. Blaming "the fans" and moral decline isn't going to stop it from happening. I find your attitude curious, since one of Trek's messages is that we should embrace change, and act from a sense of optimism, not fear.

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RE: He's right and he's wrong by Hbasm @ 14:58:53 on Jan 30
    RE: He's right and he's wrong by Bella Oxmyx @ 21:38:50 on Jan 30
       RE: He's right and he's wrong by Hbasm @ 13:29:49 on Jan 31
          RE: He's right and he's wrong by Bella Oxmyx @ 15:35:59 on Jan 31

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RE: He's right and he's wrong | Report this post to moderator By: Bella Oxmyx (Odo's file, contact) @ 14:20:24 on Jan 30, 2005

RE: He's right and he's wrong | Report this post to moderator
By: Bella Oxmyx (Odo's file, contact) @ 14:20:24 on Jan 30, 2005