Do we really need anymore TREK on television? In my opinion, TREK has run it's course on TV. Waiting 2 to 3 years is not enough time to remove the bad taste of lackluster and overexposed TV and movie products we have been getting over the years. And we ABSOLUTELY don't need a TREK TV series and a TREK movie series running concurrently. TREK is just not popular enough for that--and hasn't been for many, many years. Sure, they could get away with it during TOS-TNG era--and even then it was a foolish thing to do--but it makes no logically sense to put out both in the same media arena, especially given TREKs current declining popularity and image. This is nothing short of suicide and the greatest example of desperation and greed imaginable.
In regards to desperation, PARAMOUNT needs a hit movie and/or successful movie franchise; their movie division is in shambles and for that reason, I can at least see why they are planning on TREK features; TREK and MISSION IMPOSSIBLE are currently their only potentially big money tickets. I don't agree with producing anything TREK--it needs a break to build excitement, anticipation, hunger, interest, etc., and probably needs to be re-imagined, too. However, there is NO business reason to justify a return to TV. PARAMOUNT/VIACOM/CBS are doing great! The TV division doesn't need TREK and TREK doesn't need to return to TV.
Attempt after attempt has been made to recapture lighting in the bottle and/or find a series whose rating didn't decline year after year and it hasn't worked: the creative and quality of DS9 didn't work; the over-the-top action of VOYAGER didn't work; reusing the BORG, again and again on VOYAGER didn't work; returning once again--after DS9--to the overdone, star-ship-crew-exploring-the-galaxy concept didn't work; season-long story arcs didn't work; sex didn't work; fan-boy/TOS story gimmicks didn't work; top-notch production design didn't work; top-notch CGI didn't work; new creative writing head didn't work; better writing didn't work; etc.... How many times are TPTB going to keep this up? It's time to face it: TREK has run it's course on TV and probably at the movie theater as well.
The question is, has PARAMOUNT finally got it? I sure hope so. They seem to be at least rethinking their tactics. Planning a big, epic (possibly re-imagined with big stars, no small-thinking TV connections, big bucks, etc.) movie and/or movie series is a hugh risk, but I think it's really the only thing they can do with TREK at this point. PARAMOUNT is going to continue to rape the public over with TREK anyway--the movie division is desperate--so at least they are doing something business-wise, that makes a little sense, though still not very wise. They probably feel they have to gamble. A less-is-more direction a film series gives the TREK franchise is better than back-stepping once again with another overexposing, potentially mundane TV series.
Deep down, I know they are not really going to stop making TREK TV or movies. They will destroy whatever life that is left in it. That's just the corporate climate in this country right now: making money in the bottom line--whatever the cost, so why should I expect anything less from PARAMOUNT? So, go on and make the damn movie, but at least give yourself a fighting chance to create a hit and stay off TV while doing it. (Manny, I am grateful for what you have done with ENTERPRISE this season, but it's time for you to move on as well. The TV series 24 really needs you and you need them. However, we don't need another TREK series right now or 2-3 years from now.)
Question? What is this love affair the fans have with Coto? l like some of the things he has done this season; ENTERPRISE did improve, but I have not been THAT impressed. I still don't think this final season of ENTERPRISE even comes close to matching the best of TOS--seasons 1 & 2; TNG--seasons 3-5; DS9--seasons 4-7. The show is contrived and at times seems like a fan-boy exercise. Also, the characters still don't work for me. With TREK, character is...paramount, and Coto has just failed to deliver in this area.
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1. DS9 was a great show. Don't know what you're complaining about.
2. Coto has done some great stuff this season. If he had been involved from the start I think ENTERPRISE could have been a very fun and involving show. But even at that, he's writing for someone else's premise and someone else's characters. The prequel thing probably, and it seems won't be, HIS premise. That's great with me.
3. Saying Star Trek can no longer exist as a TV show is ridiculous. The medium isn't the issue. It's the show. It's the writing, the direction, the characters, etc. And 2 or 3 years might be plenty of time if television remains as crappy as it is now. But only if a new Star Trek show is a good show, period.
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First of all, anyone would have to be an idiot to not be able to see what Coto has done with the disaster that was Enterprise. People like Coto because for many fans, he has made Star Trek fun again. I'm not 100% happy with everything he's done, but I'm mostly happy with what I've seen, and when faced with the prospect of any more Star Trek being solely handled by Berman, I get ill. The reason ENT seems like a fanboy excercise is because he salvaged what was wrecked previously on Enterprise. If ENT had gotten a fifth season, I doubt that it would have been so heavy on the fanboy stuff, sprinkling smaller references here and there.
Enterprise shows and films need to head into unfamiliar territory more often. The past series have delved into a recycled mentality. And while it's true that there are not an endless supply of story ideas, they do have the benefit of being able to connect to already known facts from the other shows that can make events have a little more relevance, either to the series, or our experience of real life. For instance, "Let That Be Your Last Battlefield" still holds relevance. Yes, the makeup needs to be readdressed on that one, but the story is still very timely.
But you are right. There needs to be less quantity of Trek, and more quality. It's as if B&B were afraid that if they don't produce anything for a year that they would dry up and disappear, so they did the opposite, they flooded and saturated us with Star Trek on a non-stop basis. In their foolishness, they caused the fans to become hypercritical, and since there was so much material to be judged, they did themselves in this way. They gave bullets to the firing squad, so to speak. The Star Wars franchise was a bit smarter about it all. Although there is a lot of Star Wars material, they have done better by pacing themselves and acquiring smart licensing avenues and promotional opportunities.
Paramount would do well to keep any future Star Trek off of UPN. I wouldn't be surprised to find an army of monkeys with down's syndrome running the place judging by the way they conduct their business. Trek would do better on CBS or some other outlet.
And regarding Coto, I don't think we really got a fair chance to see what he can do, this was the tip of the iceberg and he was working with damaged goods. If he can fix what was so horribly broken, imagine what he could do with TREK unburdened by the constraints of two men who (in my opinion) can't tell the difference between their asses and a hole in the ground.
But there is some wisdom in what you say, I think we both agree that there is an issue with oversaturation. Trek needs a rest and a change-up in TPTB.
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To me, truth is not some vague, foggy notion. Truth is real. And, at the same time, unreal. Fiction and fact and everything in between, plus some things I can't remember, all rolled into one big 'thing.' This is truth, to me.
Well, it's gonna be a llllllllooooooooonnnnnnnnngggggggg wait til us fans here rumors at to what Coto's pitch is.
Two to three years for the most part seems like a long time. Yet, it's scary to think that it feels like yesterday I was watching the finales of TNG, DS9 and VOY.
Yeesh, just someone speed up the clock a little bit please...
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"My old friend, this song's for you. Cause a few simple verses was the least that I could do to tell the world that you were here. Cause the love and the laughter, will live on long after all of the sadness and the tears. We'll meet again, my old friend"
Tim McGraw "My Old Friend"
Dedicated To My Home..New Orleans
Coto also told The IESB that the break would be two to three years, and said that he thought it would be wise to move into the generation after that of Picard, Sisko and Janeway, and that he would love to work on it if and when it happens.
Gustavo
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TrekWeb.com Supervising Editor
gl2000@uol.com.br
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It'll be hard not having Star Trek around for 2 or 3 years(fortunately, Lost and Desparate Housewives will keep me busy), but deep down I think the hiatus should be 5 years, especially if it's going to be a 24th/25th century series, which could really benefit from better CGI technology and other advancements down the road. If it's done 2-3 years from now, a new Trek series won't look very different from what we have now and I think people will be turned away even faster than they were with Enterprise.
But I think going ahead one generation ahead in the 24th or 25th century would be an excellent idea as long as it's not "just another ship series".
Rather than descending into insults, why don't you tell us all what was so great?
Exactly. It was pap. Go F.Y.
We love you Manny!!!!!!
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"You're too late. We're everywhere."
Great news. Its positive that several people have expressed an interest in producing a future Star Trek series. William Shatner and the producer of Babylon5 springs to mind.
But I'm careful about "recommending" anyone. Getting a new leader involves a big risk. I don't know a thing about the Babylon5 producer, and I don't really like the "Starfleet Academy" concept, recently pitched by William Shatner.
Truth is, I don't know much about Manny Coto either. He has been working with Star Trek for 2 years, successfully, but in a team. But if I like his concept for a new series (once we hear about it) I see no reason why we shouldn't encourage him to go for it. I think he understands, that he will be carrying a great responsibility.
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Yes, a very well-balanced way to take the news. For me, it all comes down to the concept as well. If his 'big idea' sounds good, though, I say give him a shot.
However, The Babylon 5 producer has always impressed me because he really thinks a concept through from start to finish. Put that kind of diligence together with the budget and rich history of Star Trek, I really think he could pull out something clever as well.
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"What we leave behind is not as important as how we've lived."
~Picard
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I don't want JMS anywhere near Star Trek. Due to his rivalry with DS9, I doubt he'd give that series its due respect. I want a producer that can at least acknowledge that there were 5 Star Trek series(like Manny Coto), otherwise we'd be in no better a position than we were with B&B.
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I have to disagree. Yes, JMS is very egotistical. And there is a lot of bad blood because of the perceived similarities between DS9 and Babylon 5. But in all honesty, do you really think that Berman and Braga recognize DS9 as the great series it was? No. It made them look bad and they tend to ignore it. Also, from rumours I heard, Avery Brooks and Rick Berman do not get along so that's probably another facet of the whole thing.
JMS would not ignore DS9. He wouldn't ignore Voyager, or The Next Generation or even Enterprise. The thing is, we don't know what his premise was. But I am of the opinion that whatever his idea was, it wouldn't be tied to ANY of the previous series, let alone DS9. He'd acknowledge that they happened, but I wouldn't be looking for a cameo by Captain Janeway or Chief O'Brien. I think his series would stand on its own, and not use the "guest star" gimmick ratings grab that was prevailant during the Berman and Braga era.
JMS would bring a complete story to the table. Continuity within the series, much like DS9 had and both Voyager and Enterprise lacked. My only concern with Coto is the idea that it would be filled with "continuity porn" all the time. Like a fanboy writing where every episode has to have some tie to TOS, and no original plots being developed. Although I've also put forth the theory that Coto's constant references to TOS is simply because Berman and Braga told him early on that this would probably be the last year and to just go out and have fun and do whatever the f*ck he wanted. If in a few years, Coto put forth a series, and the premise sounded good, I'd be all for it. JMS, Coto, it really doesn't matter.
As long as Berman isn't anywhere near it, I'll be happy.
As Coto always seems to be aiming for a bigger plan (arcs for the whole season, 2 about the founding of the Federation...), I wonder what his idea is all about. It sure is good to hear he wants to come back, and hoping he will ask the Reeves-Stevens again. In 2-3 years, we will again be thirsty for Trek and the show will have taken some time to reinvigorate itself and can only come back stronger than it was, especially if Coto is leading.
As a side note, he is joining '24' as a producer? That's a huge change from Star Trek and Odyssey 5! I hope he can do some great work over there as he did with 'Enterprise'. And BTW, anyone thinks to hire a producer so late in the season means they are planning a 5th one?
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Lincoln Six-Echo: Who is 'God'?
McCord: You know when you really want something, you close your eyes and wish for it really hard? God is the guy that ignores you!
- The Island
Quote:
How long before the next series happens? "I would guess two or three years."
Rick Berman's contract expires at the end of 2006. Coincidence? I think not.
Sure this man's a genius.
The same genius that was responsible for last night's utter pap.
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Let's look at it this way.
Of the, what 24 scripts Manny is in charge of, how many were "not so great" and compare that to, well any season [heck even any random 24 episodes] of Enterprise or Voyager that B&B were in charge of.
I think Manny come out w/ a lot less "poor" scripts than B&B.
Just imagine if Manny had helmed season 3? Or got a season 5?
What Manny wants to do is bring us back to where our interest really are, the 24th century.
B&B were very wrong, there's a lot of stories still there, they just thought if they used the 22nd century they could "cleverly" pull off rip off episodes again [any season of Voyager...].
I don't like Shatner's idea. Harve Bennett offered this like 20yrs ago, we saw it already, it was called the Hieghts/Roswell/Smallville/Class of '96/Star Ship Troopers.
Really, a Dawsons Creek version of Trek?
Joe [the B-5 guy]. He wouldn't get 2 episodes done before the show gets chopped. The first time Paramount mentions something he'll fly off & get the show canned [anyone remember Babylon 5: Crusade-? how 'bout his other B-5 spin off or Jerimiah?].
This rocks!!!
I can't wait!!!
Everything will be fine, given enough time...
...did I mention that this rocks?
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To me, truth is not some vague, foggy notion. Truth is real. And, at the same time, unreal. Fiction and fact and everything in between, plus some things I can't remember, all rolled into one big 'thing.' This is truth, to me.
Obviously, MC knows it'll be a matter of timing.
Not at this point will there be a pitch because ENT is having its final days: give it as much limelight as possible.
Also, ST has de-valued in Hollywood standards because of ENT's 'failure' to attact a large audience, generate a for UPN, etc. Right now, we all have to wait for absence-making-the-franchise-grow-fonder to regain some of that worth amongst the Paramount management.
Lastly - Rick Berman's contract. It's possible MC wants to make the pitch when RB is not head of the franchise (sometime in 2006, right?)
But of course any new series is still 2-3 years away - minimum.
With MC's reputation as a writer and producer, his high praise amongst the fanbase: he'll get his day to make his pitch and he'll know when that time is right.
For now - best to MC on '24'.
Am I the only one who read this and then jumped off his chair screaming 'YES, YES' like a maniac?
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Yes I am Australian...AND NO I DO NOT OWN A KANGAROO! And it's typical that we were made the last ones to join the federation....
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It looks like you were so happy that you hit the "post" button twice in your unrestrained glee.
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To me, truth is not some vague, foggy notion. Truth is real. And, at the same time, unreal. Fiction and fact and everything in between, plus some things I can't remember, all rolled into one big 'thing.' This is truth, to me.
Am I the only one who read this and then jumped off his chair screaming 'YES, YES' like a maniac?
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Yes I am Australian...AND NO I DO NOT OWN A KANGAROO! And it's typical that we were made the last ones to join the federation....
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I'm starting to enjoy his ENT season 4 after a couple of dodgy early eps (Nazi's and vacation) the augments trilogy has been sound but i have missed the third ep in the UK.I'll tape it tonight.Can't wait to see the defiant.I think that he should be given the job of creating a new series.His plan for the 1st starbase for the cancelled season 5 was sound.No mighty federation to back it up,the starbase would have been a target for all the enemies of the future federation.
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It'll be called
Star Trek:Starbase One
or STSO for short...
hee hee hee...
it's gonna rock!
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To me, truth is not some vague, foggy notion. Truth is real. And, at the same time, unreal. Fiction and fact and everything in between, plus some things I can't remember, all rolled into one big 'thing.' This is truth, to me.
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