...I'm gonna personally fly to LA and slap him. The trouble is, he really thinks it was, which leads him to believe that the reason it didn't do well is 'franchise fatigue'.
Rick - Nemesis was a BAD movie. No really, it was! We're not just saying that. Get it through your thick head.
Trek does NOT need reinvention! It needs intelligent, creative writers like Manny Coto who understand that character development and human stories and meaningful, relavant storylines must come first. It needs someone who understands the essence of Star Trek - what it means and the purpose it serves - namely, to make us dream, aspire, and realise that we can be more than the sum of our parts.
This is what Trek has failed to do for a long time under the beige, stollid, lacklustre, constipated helmsmanship of Rick Berman, a man whose creative talents and vision it could be said are roughly equivalent to those of a bowl of rice pudding.
Star Trek at its best has always moved us. It has made our hearts swell with hope and our imaginations race with possibilities. It has made us laugh and cry. We have tentatively looked forward to a future where humanity is united, peaceful and acceptant of difference. Enterprise has begun to shine in Season 4. It must be given the chance to let Star Trek move us once more.
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JamesT
Berman's arrogance is totally obvious. He really thinks he can do Star Trek better than the original vision.
His version of Trek is just a joke, except for the show where he had least creative input(DS9). The rest were just ripoffs of the original series- sometimes the plots were just directly lifted with little modification.
The only other Trek that has been real good is this season of ENT, where his involvement was once again minimal.
Want to revive the franchise? Get rid of this imbecile with the monstrous ego and the minute skill and creativity.
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psp1
"...and if a film goes forward, it will be the first that won't be based on already established TV characters."
Berman might as well not bother, then. Unless it's a DS9 movie or mixed cast(involving DS9), I'm not interested.
Here's a friggin' suggestion: Berman's got a great series in Enterprise now. He should abandon the damn film project and concentrate on keeping Enterprise on the air. He should be as committed as Manny Coto is to keeping it on the air, but he's not. For the first time in that series' life, it deserves to be renewed. (and if I sound agitated, sorry-I'm just very frustrated about the way the franchise is being handled right now.)
...it just needs Berman gone and maybe Braga to be either gone as well, or demoted (Braga has done some good, it's just rare). As much as I enjoy BSG, I'd hate to see Trek just wipe the slate clean and start over from scratch-- there's too much history in the franchise to just start from scratch.
I'd be more interested in seeing a new take on Trek set in the existing universe (or at least, the same timeline). A show set around Section 31 perhaps, or, as I've suggested in the past, a JAG-type show. In other words, instead of focusing on space, exploration and so forth, give that facet of the show a break so other areas of the universe can be explored. There'd be just as many opportunities to touch on traditional Trek storytelling, but with a twist that keeps it from being the same old re-hashed story.
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I think when people say re-invention they need to clarify what they're talking about. Berman threw that out there, and JMS threw out a similar word, and everyone now (thanks to BSG) gets images of a new Star Trek: The Original Series with new actors as Kirk and Spock and McCoy and so on. When they say re-invention, as Berman has here, I really doubt he's talking about starting over from scratch. I think he's referring to a fresh approach to a series. Changing the "new ship new crew" approach to something different. A new take on it, as you've put it.
Now, having said that, I really doubt Berman is capable of coming up with a new take on Star Trek. The man is devoid of any fresh ideas whatsoever. JMS could come up with a fresh take on it, I'm sure.
A Section 31 series sounds cool in theory, but it wouldn't be Star Trek. Where's the "new life new civilizations. Boldly going where no one has gone before" aspect? Part of what makes Star Trek what it is is the exploration of the universe part. Having humans exploring the universe as a backdrop for stories that explore what it's like to be human. The parallel between the two is there. A series that has a character or two who work for Section 31, and occasionally draws in the other characters into a Section 31 mission would be a good idea. Sort of an extrapolation of Reed on Enterprise being a Section 31 operative as well. Then you explore the sort of darker facets of being human with the Section 31 guys, and you've got the other parts as well. I don't know, I'm not paid big bucks to come up with new series ideas.
My point is that I think Berman is talking about the same thing you are. A new type of series, in the same universe. I just don't think Berman's capable of such a drastic change, because he's as stale as week old bread.
I think the mistake was to rest the film portion for as long as they did. For developing first person shooter games instead of adventure games . . . anyone remember TNG: Final Unity. To date, best Trek game ever. Mistake, not doing telemovies. You don't want to do a series, fine. Throw a VOY telemovie in the mix, or a DS9 telemovie, or a ENT telemovie.
I have to admit, I think creating a movie based on the Romulan Wars would be a cool idea. Put Scott Bakula in the movie for crying out loud. They say that they want to do a movie where people can come in fresh. Well, if the ratings are as bad as they say, then they wont have to worry about it. I say, throw a bone to the fans that have continued to follow the franchise to date, through in a big name actor into the mix if you have to, but for crying out loud, give us a movie that is thoughtful, well written, alittle heady, and ultimately trek.
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Quote:
give us a movie that is thoughtful, well written, a little heady, and ultimately trek.
With Berman involved, fat chance of that. And if they go ahead with this ridiculous notion of bringing in a bunch of new characters for a motion picture it's going to bomb big time. Enterprise brings in maybe 3 million viewers a week. Where are they going to get the people who will spend $10 each to see the next Berman Trek in theatres? They wouldn't even do it with Picard, Data, Riker, Worf, etc etc etc. You expect them to come out for Captain So-and-so and Commander Such-and-such? PLEASE. A motion picture is going to kill the franchise once and for all. The franchise needs to go back, and take babysteps. If that means no new Star Trek movie for 5 or 10 years, so be it. A movie should be the cumulation of many years of TV adventures. Like TNG did. TOS started on TV, got popular in reruns, and they made movies after that. TNG had 7 seasons on TV, then did 4 movies. TNG films suffered from actors getting involved in stories (Spiner and Stewart) and poor choices by Berman and Braga, but they did get 4 films. First Contact was a major hit for Paramount. But the franchise needs to start the whole process at the beginning again.
A two or three night miniseries event. Dealing with some major event that takes place in the Star Trek universe after the events of Nemesis. And it becomes a launching point for a new series. This miniseries, if it's ratings are good, gets picked up for a 13 episode first season to see how it does. Yes, I'm following the Battlestar Galactica format. But I think it's a good idea for a series just testing the waters. Which, let's face it, after Voyager and Enterprise, Star Trek isn't a guaranteed success anymore. If Berman and Braga are not involved with this at all, and good writers are allowed to be creative (something I think Berman's involvement hinders rather than helps), we'll get a good show.
A big budget movie will kill Star Trek, pure and simple.
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I'm inclined to agree with you, which was why I suggested that they bring in a big name actor to the movie. It's a risky maneuver because it's going to increase the production budget to level seen in Nemesis, with Insurrection type special effects. Which is fine, but from a business stand-point, its a gamble. If it fails, you lose big, if it succeeds, it wins big. It's a rough position, but if they get rid of the small screen entirely then your left with nothing else. Paramount is desperate now, because they have no franchise they can really milk now outside of Mission Impossible. They're in the mood to gamble on films, but not on TV????? That's the stupid thing that I don't get. "Let's risk 60 million on production for a new trek film, plus 35 million on marketing the film, but 35 million to produce and heavily market a series . . . oh, no, that's just wayyy too much money" In my opinion they've really dropped the ball here. But it wouldn't be the first misstep by the powers that be in paramount studios management.
They're dead set to make a movie, I just hope that don't do it half-cocked. Do it all the way, bring in a big-name (just not John Travolta, not after his disaster in the sci-fi space), keep the budget at an appropriate level, and keep the fans happy by throwing in familiar characters.
But yeah, I totally agree with your miniseries idea. I think that's the way to go, I just don't agree with your time-frame. You let it rest, you let it die. ST coming back from death was a miracle, to say "oh, it'll happen again no problem" is alittle niave.
They all seem to fail understanding that it's not Star Trek per se, or that Sci Fi has become unpopular. It's that great stories sell, and if they actually write something worthwhile -- regardless of the "universe" setting -- they will make mullah.
Unfortunately, it also requires marketing. This season of Enterprise has been a vast improvement. But building a better mousetrap won't make you rich unless people know it's for sale.
They're talking about franchise fatigue...and they're doing another movie right away? What the fuck kind of idiot reasoning is that?
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"Worlds may change, galaxies may disintegrate, but a woman always remains a woman."
--James Kirk, "The Conscience of the King"
"Vulcan children are never late with their sehlats' dinner."
--T'Pol, "The Forge"
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That's because "franchise fatigue" is the latest excuse Berman is selling for the poor ratings his produced series has been getting. The mere fact that they're already in the early stages of producing and writing Star Trek XI is indicitive of the fact that even Berman doesn't buy his own rhetoric. And this nonsense of a new movie with a new cast is absolute garbage. That movie will bomb. I remember, after First Contact, commenting to a friend that a Star Trek movie now is like a reunion with old friends that happens once every few years. You know the characters, and you go to see them again in a new adventure. Berman is going to absolutely destroy Star Trek, and any chance it has of coming back, by bringing out some new cast new crew Star Trek XI movie. TNG cast is done. After Nemesis I don't think any of them are really interested in doing another. I actually wouldn't even do another motion picture. You need to build the fan base again, and you do that on TV. A 2 night miniseries event. Or, if the story warrants it, a 6 or 8 hour series that tells one story over the course of 6 or 8 weeks. Something. A movie is a movie. And it'll bomb big time if there's a bunch of unknowns, in an unknown ship, and produced by Berman again.
My God I just have this sinking feeling that Star Trek is going to die a horrible death. It doesn't sound like Berman's letting go, and it sounds like Paramount isn't getting rid of him. A movie, even just in pre-production, is a major mistake.
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I loved those reunions and lived for them in the eighties. But I'm not sure that kind of Star Trek is possible anymore. I think rethinking the whole formula is the way to go. That probably means a whole new cast, though not necessarily. All I mean is that obviously if the cast was the only thing—or even the most important thing in making a Star Trek movie great—then the last two TNG films would have been much, much better. A familiar cast may not be the most important thing anymore. Getting good new actors who can help reinvigorate Star Trek could be far more valuable.
But I haven't seen or heard anything that leads me to believe that Berman is dumping former casts for any of the reasons that might be acceptable ones. I think he wants to get a hot young cast who fill their uniforms in all the right places. And that's just more of the same flawed cosmetic thinking that won't amount to anything approaching a re-realization of the Star Trek mythos (which is what it needs).
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"It doesn't sound like Berman's letting go, and it sounds like Paramount isn't getting rid of him."
Rick Berman is 60 years old. He will not live forever. As for Paramount not getting rid of him, Star Trek was at the height of its popularity in 1994 (Generations had just opened; TNG had just ended a great 7-year run, DSN was in its 3rd, successful season, and Voyager was in the works). Things didn't really go downhill, profit-wise, until 1999 or so. Paramount has been in a state of denial since then, thinking things would come around (after all, Star Trek has been the franchise that could not be killed; was the first TV show for which a second pilot was ordered; the first TV show that was basically "discovered" in syndication; the first and fifth movies would have put any other film series to death; etc. - who could blame the powers that be for being in denial - for thinking the slump would turn around?)
However, the powers that be only had a right to be in denial for a time. The handwriting is now on the wall. Enterprise's ratings are in the toilet; the last movie bombed. Rick Berman's "creative" fingers are over both of these endeavors. While Enterprise has gotten better in the last year, alas, this fact has not erased a slow start, which featured a slew of dreadful episodes written mostly by Berman.
Now that Star Trek is off the air and off the screen, Paramount will have an opportunity to do something it has never had to do since Roddenberry picked Berman as his successor: evaluate why Star Trek has gotten to this point. If Paramount is serious about this evaluation (and I believe that it will be; it wants to preserve its cash cow for the future), it will conclude, somehow, some day, that Berman is part of the problem. In the meantime, all of the energy that so many fans are expending now trying to resurrect Enterprise - energy being spent in vain - would be better spent, I think, writing to Paramount telling it that Rick Berman is responsible for why Star Trek has gotten to the pathetic state that it is in, and that any future Star Trek TV show/mini series/movie/whatever would be best served by other people at the helm - people such as Ira Behr or Ron Moore, for example. Even Gene Roddenberry eventually conceded control/was forced out (as of The Motion Picture), so to all of the fans who say that Berman can't be forced out, you're wrong. Anything's possible. Overbearing producers eventually write their own death sentences, and Berman is spoiling to write himself out of Star Trek's future. Here's hoping he doesn't start wrriting fast enough!
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Quote:
Even Gene Roddenberry eventually conceded control/was forced out (as of The Motion Picture), so to all of the fans who say that Berman can't be forced out, you're wrong. Anything's possible. Overbearing producers eventually write their own death sentences, and Berman is spoiling to write himself out of Star Trek's future. Here's hoping he doesn't start wrriting fast enough!
First, Roddenberry was very much involved in TNG which came after TMP. He might not have been involved in the film part of the franchise, but he certainly wasn't completely booted out of television part either until the PTB put Piller and Berman in the forefront after season 3 (also corresponding with his worsening health issues).
As I have written over and over and over again. Berman's contract is up in 2006. And interestingly enough, I and a number of others have a gut feeling that some of the comments coming from Moonves (who is ultimately in charge of all things "Domestic television" for Viacom, including Paramount Studios television division, which he has personally merged with CBS's studios) seems to have hinted that a renewal is not in order - or at least in terms of Berman being involved in Trek. His repeated use of "rest a season or two" places the theoretical timeframe after 2006.
The bigger issue that some of us have is whether they will let the entire franchise wither away. The publishing end of it has already announced a scaling-back of product (although I would agree that it shouldn't just churn out drivel but should be more proactive in the variety) and this whole ST XI thing seems really iffy at best - almost like soon-to-be vaporware IMHO, not unlike all the work on Phase II in the '70s that suddenly got dropped and transformed into TMP.
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"I think the show talked to people through the characters. They're stories that speak to the heart. They talk about love, they talk about friendship, they talk about loyalty, they talk about patriotism, exploration, curiosity, reaching out... And I think all those things still touch people. Even when you look at a 30-year old show, it still has something to say." - D.C. Fontana, Sci Fi Channel Special Edition TOS 1998
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"If the season finale involves the re-built USS Reliant coming back in time to the 21st Century crewed by Moogie, Dr. Selar, Morn, Transporter Chief Kyle, and the Salt Vampire, then we'll know that Coto has gone too far." - tomba1701
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I didn't know Berman's contract was done in 2006. That certainly reveals some light on this whole 2 or 3 year break thing we've been getting from Paramount. I read that article you linked, and it implies that Rick Berman Productions (original name there Ricky) is going to look into things beyond the Star Trek universe. Maybe, when the next contract is signed (because I doubt Paramount is going to throw him on the street) it'll be for only new productions that have nothing to do with Star Trek. Like "Rick Berman Productions signs a new multi-year deal which sees the former head of Star Trek remain with Paramount to produce and develop new and original series and films for the studio." And a few weeks later we get, "Paramount signs a multi-year deal with [insert name here] to begin pre-production on a new Star Trek series to air in fall of 2007."
It all makes sense now. Thanks for the insight on Berman's contract. I have some hope for the franchise now. I hope Paramount doesn't give his Star Trek XI idea any merit, lets his contract expire, and that's that.
I was a little disappointed in the novel end. Only one new novel a month? They've got like 15 different spin-offs now. It looks like only one DS9 novel a year from here on out. Pity because those were awesome.
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A new movie with a new cast? Who wants to see that? People go to the Trek movies to see their favorite characters in a big epic story. Something they didnt get with the last two movies.
If they do what they said, it will bomb for sure.
As long as Rick is gone, people will come back but does Paramount know that?
Actually, Redshirt, you couldn't be any closer to the truth with the Thanksgiving and turkey analogy. If you remember the film "A Christmas Story", there's a line toward the end of the film that best sums up the whole oversaturation of ST (I may get some of the words wrong, but the essence is as follows):
"The heavenly aroma lingered over the kitchen, as the sudden realization began to sink in. No more turkey! All gone! No more turkey sandwiches, no more turkey leftovers, turkey hash, turkey salad, turkey gravy, turkey a la king, or gallons of turkey soup! All gone!"
Once you keep distilling the turkey, you get so tired of it that you want a break from it.
Another classic line comes to mind at this point from the "Adam's Ribs" episode of MASH, spoken by Hawkeye Pierce, that also sums up the ST oversaturation:
"I didn't hear you say that, because it's impossible. The Geneva Convention forbids the killing of our taste buds. I cannot simply eat the same thing day after day! Fish, liver, day after day! I've eaten a river of liver and an ocean of fish! I've eaten so much fish, I'm ready to grow gills! I've eaten so much liver, I can't make love unless I'm smothered in bacon and onions. Are we going to let them do this to us? Are we going to sit for this? No, I say, no! We're not going to eat this dreck anymore! WE WANT SOMETHING ELSE! WE WANT SOMETHING ELSE! WE WANT SOMETHING ELSE!"
As much as I love ST, we definitely need a break for a few years.
I beg Paramount to let Berman go.
Rick Berman is the wrong choice to 're-invent' Trek - he tried to 're-invent' it in 2001 with a show called 'Enterprise', a show that was cancelled last month.
The single obstacle in Star Treks' way is Mr Rick Berman.
Give him his big fat pension and politely tell him to go.
The longer Rick Berman remains, the more I think Paramount have gone insane.
Let JMS/Ron Moore/Ira Behr come up with something.
Now that BRANNON BRAGA is gone, perhaps Rick Berman can leave delusions of being a writer and go back to being the executive producer that he once was...create budgets, hire the poeple, do the dirty work behind the scenes and let the creative talent (i.e. Manny Coto, Garfield-Stevens, Sussman, Moore, Behr) do the story development and writing.
It worked on TNG and DS9
When Berman writes, look at ENT early seasons...
Maybe, he learned his lesson and hired some good talent for Star Trek XI and the next series.
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"We're standing by to beam your survivors aboard our ship. Prepare to abandon your vessel."
"No – no, that is not our way. I regret that we meet in this way. You and I are of a kind. In a different reality, I could have called you friend."
"What purpose will it serve to die?"
"We are creatures of duty, captain. I have lived my life by it. Just... one more duty... to perform."
- Kirk and Romulan Commander
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You're forgetting the simple fact that an executive producer, while they may not write an episode, are directly responsible for what goes into production. That's the big problem. The man has no idea of what fans want to see. As an executive producer, he can veto any idea he deems is too risky for the series, or the franchise, or the characters. Berman plays it safe, and right now Star Trek needs something way different than the safe bet. He will continue to play it safe in any Star Trek project he is involved in. You can't have an executive producer who just sits there, figures out budgets, and hires people. That's not the position of executive producer. They also shape and mold the series or film to what their vision of it is. I, and many others, are tired of what Berman's vision of Star Trek should be. The man needs to go, pure and simple.
So Manny Coto, Garfield-Stevens, and Sussman are out of a job after producing a brilliant Season 4 of ENTERPRISE...
but Rick Berman is still producing Star Trek movies??
The guy who bombed Star Trek X and created ENT that got cancelled???
And they give him Star Trek XI??? And he may produce a NEW Star Trek series 3 years from now???
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Are people at Paramount THAT DENSE?
This article makes me fear Star Trek is going to continue to get pimped.
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"We're standing by to beam your survivors aboard our ship. Prepare to abandon your vessel."
"No – no, that is not our way. I regret that we meet in this way. You and I are of a kind. In a different reality, I could have called you friend."
"What purpose will it serve to die?"
"We are creatures of duty, captain. I have lived my life by it. Just... one more duty... to perform."
- Kirk and Romulan Commander
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If this idiot is allowed to go forth with a Star Trek XI idea, and it is made, it will bomb. And what will happen then is Star Trek will be put away for about 10 or 15 years. Berman has no clue whatsoever. He has decimated the fan base to the point that the last 2 films were bombs, and he thinks third time's the charm? After Enterprise's cancellation, Paramount should be looking at it and shuffling Berman out the door. I don't believe they could be as dense as to give him a multi-million dollar budget to make another Star Trek film that will bomb. And just because there are new people involved, that doesn't mean it will be good. John Logan was new blood for Nemesis. I don't remember who directed Nemesis, but he was new and also blew it. Berman can't hire people, can't write, has no good vision for the franchise. Get this idiot out of there before he kills what's left of Star Trek!
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Sadly, yes, they ARE that dense. If you're going to do something fresh you need to bring in fresh blood. Harve Bennet was brought in for Star Trek II and the rest, as they say, is history.
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Ironically, even the Great Bird himself wasn't immune to getting sidelined during the 1980s when they realized they needed "fresh blood" for the film franchise. All we see in the later Star Trek movies was Gene Roddenbery: Creative Consultant.
After the debacle that was Star Trek IX, X, VOY, and ENT, I'd hope they'd take clues and make Berman a "creative consultant."
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"We're standing by to beam your survivors aboard our ship. Prepare to abandon your vessel."
"No – no, that is not our way. I regret that we meet in this way. You and I are of a kind. In a different reality, I could have called you friend."
"What purpose will it serve to die?"
"We are creatures of duty, captain. I have lived my life by it. Just... one more duty... to perform."
- Kirk and Romulan Commander
Quote:"Each time we started something else, we were competing against the previous shows, so as the number started to accumulate, we started to see franchise fatigue," glums Rick Berman.
The last time I checked Berman was only involved in 4 Trek films. The last 2 sucked major ass. The only person Berman was ever competing with was "Nicholas Meyer and Harvey Bennett". Two men whos one little film called "STII" MADE the Star Trek franchise come alive! Berman could never outdo STII because he has no talent! So he can piss and moan all he wants. His Trek films are just shit. For Paramount to give this asswipe STXI only shows you how stupid Paramount really is. STXI will bomb. It will suck. Guaranteed!
Quote:" "You could see it with the performance of the last film, which was a wonderful movie.
All I saw was a lousy movie made by people going through the motion. Berman should stop be such a hypocrite. He has said since STX was made how great it was blah blah blah. Now he turns around and makes this comment. Once again Rick Berman has shown the world how much of fucking idiot he really is.
Quote:"You can only squeeze so many eggs out of a golden goose."
With that attitude then lets get rid of Berman as well.
Quote:'Downbeat results for STAR TREK: NEMESIS have curbed the studio's appetite to move quickly on more features.
Look the movie sucked but the fact that they do NO PROMOTION for it and put it out against 3 major films was the major reason. For God's sake I only saw ONE commerical for Nemesis on UPN. UPN!! dammnit!
Quote:"Dismal ratings prompted UPN to pull the plug on ENTERPRISE.
Due to a piss poor writting of the first 3 seasons. Take a bow Berman...you asswipe!
Quote:"Berman tells Variety that the whole TREK concept has been so exposed that it needs to be re-invented.
Bullshit!
Quote:'Another series would be at least three years away;
A rest was needed but we don't need another Berman series.
Quote:"and if a film goes forward, it will be the first that won't be based on already established TV characters.
It is going to bomb! Guaranteed!!!!!!!!!!!
Quote:""I think we're unique in Hollywood in people working here for 12, 15 even the full 18 years, so that's the sad part -- the family we've had here splitting up," frets Berman,
Oh boo hoo boo hoo.
Quote:"who has teamed with Jordan Kerner and Kerry McCluggage to create an 11th feature now at the early stages of development; Eric Genderson has signed on as writer.
HAHAHAHAH.........So it is true the "Inspector Gadget" and Miami Vice guy are going to do the film. MY GOD is it going to suck!
I did some research on this and found out that Brannon Braga is no longer welcome at the studio. Never the dummy, he looked into the wayback machine and found some old dude called Gene L. Coon who wrote some stories as Lee Cronin. Braga figures that he will kill two birds with one pen name. That's right, Brannon Braga = Eric Genderson. Not only will it make him a better writer like Gene Coon, but it will give him a new ID to get on the lot.
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Now how many of you just crapped your pants? Ha Ha!
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Based on the previous posts, it is a stretch, yet feasible possibility.
Can Lansing (or her successor) just kill Berman's plan now before we're subject to what is 95% likely to be a crappy dénouement for Berman's tenure?
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"I'm astounded that your organization [the MSHSAA] tries to regulate what these kids do in their free time. Would you tell them they couldn't watch Star Trek or eat potato chips?"
-Missouri State Rep. Bryan Stevenson, R-Joplin
Hmmm.
There is no Eric Genderson listed on IMDB, nor any other Genderson. A Google search only revealed one mention of Eric Genderson - the same Variety article. There are lots of references to an Eric GUnderson - but the first 20 hits were all Baseball.
Could Variety have spelt the name wrong? Pretty sloppy editing for the offical Hollywood trade mag!
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"Don't use Nutscrape. It's fucked."
Smoking Astronaut's unique contribution to the Browser debate.
"If women all have ovaries, why do so few men have underies?"
Smoke ponders the BIG questions.
"Gitch is having my babies, and Ro is their Godfather."
A surprising but touching proposition from Smoke.
Words of Wisdom from the one and only Smoking Astronaut.
You will be missed Sir.
Who's that guy? Eric Genderson. Unless he's got a kick ass story or something, they should give it to Manny Coto, Sussman, or the Reeves-Stevenses. Hell, get Braga and Moore.
Let go Rick! Please for the love of God!
In the immortal words of the immortal Captain Kirk, "I ... have had ... enough of ... YOU!"
and who the hell is Eric Genderson?
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"What we leave behind is not as important as how we've lived."
~Picard
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On that point again, I looked up Jordan Kerner on IMDB and discovered that he has been the producer on quite a few films. Much of his work seems to be children's stuff:
# Charlotte's Web (2006)
# George of the Jungle 2 (2003)
# "A Wrinkle in Time" (2003)
# Inspector Gadget 2 (2003)
# Snow Dogs (2002)
# Inspector Gadget (1999)
Maybe their going with the old Starfleet Academy stuff if they got a producer who usually works on younger audience pictures. Maybe it's a CGI Star Trek like Shrek or something. Anyways, that's about the limit of my wild and baseless speculation at how Berman plans to re-invent Star Trek in his next debacle.
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"What we leave behind is not as important as how we've lived."
~Picard
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This is it everyone. If this Star Trek XI happens, with Berman at the helm, it will be the warp core breach in the Star Trek franchise. From what I understand one of these new blood producers has done mainly children's movies. That's sort of fitting since for the most part Star Trek Voyager and Enterprise have had plots a 9 or 10 year old could grasp easily, and actually write probably. Berman's just taking the next progression. The fan base is gone, his idea of new adult viewers didn't work, so let's try the kids. Turn the Star Trek franchise into a children's comedy kind of series, and hopefully get the 5 to 13 year olds to see it with their parents.
I feel so disappointed now and have the serious sense that the end is near. This will be Star Trek's last run at it, and it'll bomb big time, and the franchise will die for a good long time.
For the love of God, Berman... let the franchise go! Please man. You have been killing it for years. LET IT GO.
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Trek will actually be behind the curve...
Trekkie Babies! That's right, the crew of the Enterprise (pick which one) gets shrunk to become a bunch of two year olds. They go off on missions like getting the Romulans off the swingset (amazing!), exploring the unknown frontier called behind the washing machine (Shields up! Dust bunnies off the starboard bow!), and stopping the Ferengi from buying out their daycare (insane!)
We're screwed.
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"I'm astounded that your organization [the MSHSAA] tries to regulate what these kids do in their free time. Would you tell them they couldn't watch Star Trek or eat potato chips?"
-Missouri State Rep. Bryan Stevenson, R-Joplin
Hey, this Eric Genderson who's signed on to write the script. Anyone know anything about him, good, bad or otherwise?
Geeez. I hate to get my hopes up. They've been talking about trek 11 for some time now, and now we get the writer's name.
Part of the reason for the break must be to allow Rick Berman's contract to expire. Let Trek have some new blood and fresh ideas. That can't happen as long as Berman is involved. I hope Paramount gets that, and I hope that Berman's talk of his involvement in an 11th film is just more denial and wishful thinking on his part.
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Walter Koenig, a.k.a. "Chekov" in the original series, also believes it will be back eventually. "I really don't think that the series cancellation is its ultimate demise, although that may be just a reflex on my part," he says. "At some point, everything loses a little bit of its glow but STAR TREK has shown an uncanny ability to survive."
Pretty supportive language. Hasn't he tried to publicly distance himself from the Franchise in the past? (Bester frakin' rocks!) That was pretty cool of him.
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"A billion robot lives are about to be extinguished! Oh, the Jedis are going to feel this one..."
-Hubert Farnsworth (Futurama: Crimes of the Hot)
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"The Andorian Mining Consortium runs from no one!"
-Shran (ENT: Proving Ground)
Does Rick Berman have pictures of Paramount execs playing golf with Satan? Just fire him for Pete's sake!
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The supervisor is Verizon!
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That's the real information we get in this story.
Rick Berman is still in charge!
And how is it that they are letting the franchise rest from this terrible fatigue that Berman sees if they are moving forward with a flick?
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"Now the Senate is looking for moderate judges, mainstream judges. What in the world is a moderate interpretation of a constitutional text? Halfway between what it says and what we'd like it to say?" - Justice Scalia
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You said it!
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Berman, who has teamed with Jordan Kerner and Kerry McCluggage to create an 11th feature now at the early stages of development; Eric Genderson has signed on as writer
The only real information in that entire article, IMO, was that Berman is still holding creative reins on future developemnts.
For the love of God, no. Someone at Paramount buy a clue and fire him. Please.
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"If Tyranny and Oppression come to this land, it will be in the guise of fighting a foreign enemy."
-James Madison
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His contract is up at the end of 2006.
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"I think the show talked to people through the characters. They're stories that speak to the heart. They talk about love, they talk about friendship, they talk about loyalty, they talk about patriotism, exploration, curiosity, reaching out... And I think all those things still touch people. Even when you look at a 30-year old show, it still has something to say." - D.C. Fontana, Sci Fi Channel Special Edition TOS 1998
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"If the season finale involves the re-built USS Reliant coming back in time to the 21st Century crewed by Moogie, Dr. Selar, Morn, Transporter Chief Kyle, and the Salt Vampire, then we'll know that Coto has gone too far." - tomba1701
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It's a little like after you've eaten Thanksgiving dinner, you really don't want any more turkey. There's been so much, for so long, that the feeling is that it's OK to take a pause.
You have to admit it, Nygard has a point.
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"Take a Romulan chill pill and have some faith!"
-Erik Jendresen, writer of Star Trek: The Beginning
"No bastard ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country."
-General George S. Patton Jr.
"I am NOT Scorned."
-Scorned as Gage/Gage_2
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You have to admit it, Nygard has a point.
Yeah, but if he combs his hair right, no one will notice. ;-)
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"Be seeing you."
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What Star Trek needs is FRESH BLOOD. Just look at season four, and the difference Coto and the Reeves-Stevens' have made.
Like others have pointed out, there are many decade-spanning (or close to that) shows out there: Dr. Who, M*A*S*H, Law & Order, Friends, and Frasier. Why were/are they on the air for so long? Interesting, compelling stories. Period. If people are entertained and/or engaged, they will watch.
As for maintaining freshness and originality, even the most creative mind(s) can get tired/burned out. Hense the need for fresh blood after awhile. New minds bring new ideas and new approaches to the table.
Star Trek doesn't need a break. It's caretakers, e.g. B&B need a break.
LLaP
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THAT is the Exploration that awaits you: not mapping stars or studying nebulae, but charting the unknown possibilities of Existence.
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I whole-heartedly agree. I think the problem isn't "franchise" fatigue, rather it is "creative" fatigue. They really need to get new creative people involved, especially new producers.
A total reinvention like BSG isn't necessary, but Star Trek does need to be leading edge. It used to be unique, but now it's too much like every other average sci-fi show out there.
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"Be seeing you."
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I will say this--I have absolutely no interest in seeing a Trek movie produced by Rick Berman. Unless James T. Kirk is involved, I will never watch a Rick Berman production again.
He ruined this franchise, and all he does now is run his mouth.
I can't believe this guy is still employed.
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'Doctor Who', which lost a lot towards the end of its original run (inspiration, ratings... the old spark) only continued to survive, surprise and impress through most of its TWENTY SIX YEAR RUN because of the Producer & Co. changing every three years or so. It was when the show's final producer (John nathan Turner) ended up sticking around for nine years (after a strong start) when things started to really dry up (although he still managed to pull the odd one out of the hat that impressed.)
Any of this sound familiar?
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The Doctor Who analogy is completely apt. Honestly, I think that if we're lucky Trek will go through a compressed version of what happened to Doctor Who in the 1990s: a nice long break in which talent can be fostered through stories told in other media, and then a talented producer with a vision can come in and start (relatively) fresh. Doctor Who is coming back next month, written & produced by one of Britain's top television writers, Russell T Davies. I hope that Star Trek can have something similar happen in, say, five years. I don't know whether Trek should come back as another TV series, or a film, or a TV movie, or miniseries. But the key is to let the creative ground lie fallow for a while, and then hand the keys over to a new, talented creative team.
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I would guess (As a Brit) that most Americans eat a Traditional Thanksgiving Meal with Turkey, Yams (what are they) and Pumpkin Pie. Forgive me if this is a gross stereotyping. I can guess that a lot of people overindulge (I know I do at Christmas), but the following year people will look forward once again to their traditional Thanksgiving meal.
What I'm saying is that there is always likely to be an 'appetite' for Star Trek given a little time.
However, what I don't want to see is a re-invetion of Star Trek, so large that the Thanksgiving meal ends up being Chiken Fajitas, Egg Fried Rice followed by Chocolate sponge and Custard. It would not be the same.
Again apologies for those of you who enjoy Fajitas, Egg Fried rice and sponge and custard for Thanksgiving. I only use these to continue the food analogy.
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No. I don't have to admit anything of the sort. If there's a well written story being told every week why should it be? After all if each episode is an origional episode, then it isn't really at all like eating a big turkey meal. Instead it's like having something different for each course. In my opinion there is plenty of room in the ST Universe for a gazillion more courses then there are in even the most extravagant Thanksgiving meal. The problem in my opinion is that the episodes have gotten too similar--so it feels like the end of Thanksgiving, even though there is so much more the writers could try.
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"Time is a face on the water."
-Stephen King, The Dark Tower Series-
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I agree with Nygard, especially considering the number of people that've been working on Trek non-stop for 18 years now - how could they help but start putting out shows with a sense of "sameness" after a while?
But it sure doesn't help when the last several portions of the turkey have been bad. The ability of Berman and others to apparently believe in all honesty that Nemesis was a great film and Enterprise a great series is uncanny. It's not just franchise fatigue!
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Jesus Saves... no one dares charge him full price
(4)
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