How to save Star Trek

[Wolf13]

No one can argue that Star Trek is in quite a bit of a rut. Since First Contact and the end of Deep Space 9, nothing seems to come togeather despite anyone's best intentions.

I'm a long-time fan of the franchise (since I was born, seems like) and oddly enough for my generation, have a great deal of love for the Original series. Maybe as some suggest it is time for Trek to fade out for a while, but I stubbornly refuse to think that there isn't some way to restore Trek to its former glory.

After giving it a considerable amount of thought, I can see only one solution: A mini-series. A BIG, universe-shattering powerful miniseries that draws on all previous Trek material to revitalize the series and send it in a new direction. Give it >tons< of hype so people will be there, give it a considerable budget, draw characters from all time-frames from TOS to Voyager (if you must). Make it one week long, which gives you 5-10 hours, or maybe two or thee 2 hour parts or something. Budget per hour should be on par with maybe 2 episodes of a regular series... a lot, but certainly nothing that will bankrupt paramount.

I can list a lot of reasons why this would work.

1) It has a chance of being epic and very diferent from a series...its been getting hard to make the movies not feel like episodes.

2)Having a mixed cast will draw fans of each series. This could be done in two ways: either 1) have diferent time frames like "Taken" did, or 2) simply gather the cast in the TNG-Voyager timeframe. Option 1 gives you the chance to start things in the NX-01, however.

3)A lot of people want to see Kirk return, if only to give him a decent/cool death unlike the crap he was given. If this is to happen, this would be the way. Having 10 hours of plot means you can bring back Kirk without having to make the story about him. No "Search for Kirk" which would just be lame.

4)It would be a first. Trek has never been done in this format and that would automaticaly make it refreshing. An entirely diferent kind of plot can be done in a miniseries, much more complex than a movie or a TV two-parter. DS9 had long continuing plots, but like Babylon 5 it suffered because it was hard to keep up. Since a miniseries is shown all at once with one ep right after another, it'd be much simpler to do so.

Ok, so Trek fans, what do you think? And please, if you hate Star Trek don't stop by and tell us so. I know its not for everyone.

[CAG]

It could work (but IMHO I don't think a return of Kirk is what should be done-too stereotypically Trekkie), but it dodges the bigger issue.

NEW CREATIVE BLOOD NEEDS TO BE PUT IN CHARGE.

Why 'save' the franchise only to have the tools in charge serve up another crap-fest series afterwards. John Logan really let me down with Nemesis. I could see where he took the best scenes of II and FC and rearranged them with some new bridging scenes to make it coherent. (Mind you, I still thought the movie was enjoyable....just not as good as it should have been).

I loved DS9, because it was different and took dramatic risks. Enterprise is suffering from planet of the week syndrome. Moreover, there's no real sense that this is humanity's first big push into space. Its boring, corny, and predictable. We saw how long this whole 'no transporters' thing worked out because the writers are lazy and unimaginable.

Until new people get put in charge, I don't think Trek can be saved. I'll have to console myself with the DS9 box sets....that and I think that Alex Siddig (Dr Bashir) is gonna guest-star on MI-5 next week.

[JsARCLIGHT]

It's too late, Star Trek is circling the bowl and no one wants to put their hand in to stop it from going down. IMHO Star Trek died with Gene Roddenberry, everything that has come after has been just the milk of the cash cow.

Put a fork in it, it's done.

[Pat Payne]

3)A lot of people want to see Kirk return, if only to give him a decent/cool death unlike the crap he was given. If this is to happen, this would be the way. Having 10 hours of plot means you can bring back Kirk without having to make the story about him. No "Search for Kirk" which would just be lame.

I'm pretty sure that a return of the original TOS cast (with the exception of Sulu, Chekov and Uhura) is out of the question. Bill Shatner doesn't seem to be showing any interest, Leonard Nimoy has retired and is doing only very short (one day at most) jobs, and James Doohan (sadly:( ) doesn't seem long for this world (They had a reunion of the TOS cast at the Nick at Nite awards a few months back, and he could barely walk or talk.)

What I'd do, if I were the new writers is do something like this: Make a plotline where the Borg are going to steamroll the Alpha Quadrant (the Borg Queen's finally fed up with Earth's stubborness), and the Trek crews (who are still living) have to finally put an end to it. But make it, as you suggested, EPIC. Not an action film, but an adventure, perhaps a (aw, crap, it's gonna sound like a geeky fanboy) Star Trek version of "Lord of the Rings," or something like that. What killed the last few movies (primarly Insurrection and Nemesis) were that they were action movies first and Trek Movies second.

[Agent ONE]

It's too late, Star Trek is circling the bowl and no one wants to put their hand in to stop it from going down. IMHO Star Trek died with Gene Roddenberry, everything that has come after has been just the milk of the cash cow.

Put a fork in it, it's done.

what he said!

[Khyron]

Get rid of the boring epsiodes when they just blab on about crap. Just stick to what everyone wants to see, action. Spacebattles and fights on the ships. The more ships blowing up the better.

[usagiz]

Trekkies 2 is coming out soon? wont that help??? B)

[Lightning]

Gene Roddenberry died? when? (god, it's no wonder that ST's been goin downhill....)

[JsARCLIGHT]

Gene Roddenberry died? when?

Old Genie bit it on October 24, 1991... some of his ashes where put into a small capsule and shot into orbit for six years... after which they burned up returning to earth from their deteriorating orbit... apparently along with Star Trek. After his death, many people said that Star Trek "changed" as he was sort of the "driving and controlling force" behind all angles of the property and when his wife got ahold of the rights she pretty much sold them all out like Krusty the Klown. Gene's death spelled the jump in crazy commercialism of Star Trek and the beginning of the end of the property... after all, what would Macross be without Kawamori or Star Wars without King George? Just another mass market cash cow that lost it's soul and eventually withers and dies.

[Agent ONE]

All this is true, but I also believe there can be too much of a good thing. Even if Gene were around, the world can only handle just so much of one story before it gets passé.

[Abombz!!]

How to save Star Trek? Kill it... and let what was good stay in the fans memories, and whats bad fade away.

[bandit29]

I have no idea on how to save Star Trek.... It's been floundering around for so long maybe its time to take a break for awhile... and take time to develop a series instead of just throwing them out there one after another with no real direction or substance.

Wasn't there talk of a show with Riker as captain, if and when Enterprise is cancelled?

[bsu legato]

Trekkies 2 is coming out soon? wont that help??? B)

Oh dear God no! The first one was barely watchable, and not because it was a bad documentary. After peering into the lives of some of those losers, I just felt so uncomfortable and dirty. Dirtier than even the Star Wars Hoiday Special made me feel.

[Abombz!!]

Trekkies 2 is coming out soon?  wont that help???    B)

Oh dear God no! The first one was barely watchable, and not because it was a bad documentary. After peering into the lives of some of those losers, I just felt so uncomfortable and dirty. Dirtier than even the Star Wars Hoiday Special made me feel.

Ah! I still need to look for the Holiday special! B)

[bsu legato]

Ah! I still need to look for the Holiday special! B)

Yeah, you go ahead and do that. Just don't come bitching to me when you're in therapy for the next 5 months.

[Skippy438]

Star Trek: Excelsior! Make a friggin Capt. Sulu show, and if Takei doesn't want a part of it, then make a show in that time frame. There's alot of history just before, and just after that time frame, but alot of it is unexplored. It would be alot easier than a prequel like Enterprise because there is already a partial foundation, and as long as they don't try to step on too much continuity I think it would be enjoyable. The problem with Enterprise is that they're trying to do too much too quickly (like the Borg in an ep of Enterprise, what the hell is that!) In that time frame, you have the Romulans, beginnings of peace with the klingons, so much unexplored stuff between Star Trek VI and the first ep of TNG

[Anubis]

DS9 rocked. Voyager had it's moments, but just wasn't as good as the others. Enterprise has potential, though they had a lot of slow moments or rushed plots in the past. They are making changes for this season. What has been said for it sounds promising, and hopefully they can make it work this time. The addition of a Marine unit opens new avenues they can take the show. Elite Force Hazard team type stuff. The series could prove to be very good if they do it right. The older time period removes the magic "we'll reconfigure the deflector dish to do blah blah blah" crap they did so often in Voyager.

Star Trek isn't dead, it just has not had new good material for a while. I have hopes for the coming Enterprise Season. If that fails then I will give up.

IMO Nemesis was pretty good, but had so many dry, boring speeches and conversations it ruined it. It could have been spared half the useless crap if they got rid of the whole clone business. It wasn't necessary. A Reman bad-ass commander staging a coup would have been fine. The battles were good, but the slow parts took away from it.

[Anubis]

Star Trek: Excelsior! Make a friggin Capt. Sulu show, and if Takei doesn't want a part of it, then make a show in that time frame. There's alot of history just before, and just after that time frame, but alot of it is unexplored. It would be alot easier than a prequel like Enterprise because there is already a partial foundation, and as long as they don't try to step on too much continuity I think it would be enjoyable. The problem with Enterprise is that they're trying to do too much too quickly (like the Borg in an ep of Enterprise, what the hell is that!) In that time frame, you have the Romulans, beginnings of peace with the klingons, so much unexplored stuff between Star Trek VI and the first ep of TNG

I agree, an Excelsior show would also be good, too. Or at least another show in that time period has potential.

Any show taking place after Voyager should have a deep space exploration/expeditionary unit going through the Gamma Quadrant. Multiple ships. At least one big cruiser, Sovereign or otherwise, couple Science vessels, and 2 Defiant-class Vessels. A different approach than usual. Maybe a Romulan ship in addition, testing thew new relationship water some. Just my opinion.

[David Hingtgen]

ST: Excelsior would have so rocked. Takei was VERY willing to do it, as was Grace Lee Whitney (Lt Rand--comm officer). It was further along than most proposed projects. Now it's too late, but 10 years ago--would have been WAY better than Voy. (And they still could have stuck Jeri Ryan in later)

[the white drew carey]

I felt the biggest shame was when Patrick Stewart and Brent Spiner made a concerted move to grab control of the franchise from Berman and Bragga, but failed.

I'm curious to see what two incredibly smart and talented actors could've done for Star Trek.

Don't get me wrong, I've liked ST in every incarnation it's been in (including Enterprise). But I've always felt that ST is a character-driven show and is only as good as the actors who interpret the sometimes lazy and bad writing.

[VF-19]

While I think a Mini-series would be great, please, absolutley no borg! They're way overused, and they've lost their terrifyingess... They've been reduced to pansies... Come on... If you were going to do a mini-series, do it on something completely different. You could do it about the Enterprise C or B. There's lots of room to write a story there...

[Philo Beddoe]

Maybe they should have an inspired, solid plan before a cast is even assembled, instead of making it up as they go along. Also they should have a complete "been done" list and refuse any ideas, no matter how small, from there when creating the episodes.

[rocco_77]

I felt the biggest shame was when Patrick Stewart and Brent Spiner made a concerted move to grab control of the franchise from Berman and Bragga, but failed.

I'm curious to see what two incredibly smart and talented actors could've done for Star Trek.

I didn't know that they tried to do that!? Is there an article or something I can get more information about that? Do you know more details of what happened?

I have LOVED Star Trek since the first time I saw it... And that was the original series... I hope it continues... I do agree though that Enterprise could be better, but it has kept me entertained.... I thought Voyager was good.

DS9 was great though... especially toward the end of the series....

[DestroidsRage]

Star Trek is always about the most advanced ship in the fleet. Its getting repetative.

We need a show that focuses on an inferior, but very cool, ship. A ship that could never match the Lead Dogs of star trek in firepower, but which has an awesome crew, and goes around doing all the jobs no one else wants to do. That would be cool.

-BEN-MAN-

[GreenGuy42]

I remember seeing some factions beginning developing in the Federation during DS9, some later TNG shows, and the movies. I would like to see something develop from that. I'm not a HUGE Trek fan (a bit too idealized for my taste...) but I still enjoy watching it occasionally. Let's see some sort of political infighting, near and/or complete civil war, or some other discontent. The Feddies control HOW many alien planets with few representitives serving in the military? There seems to be so much potential for intrigue but it's rarely explored...

Edit: Typos

Also Edit: I completely agree with DestriodsRage. Perhaps said cruiser could be some no name, taking its part in said civil war. I would watch that.

Edited September 6, 2003 by GreenGuy42

[David Hingtgen]

Hey, the Excelsior's still around. (As in, "now" as TNG/DS9/VOY goes--what, 2378 last time or something?) It's still an awesome-looking ship, just not nearly as fast or powerful as current stuff. We could still have an Excelsior show--just how it is *now*. Wouldn't that be cool? Probably on its 3rd reactor, 6th bridge, 4th set of torp tubes, etc. A bit old and patchy by now, but still a proud, well-taken-care-of ship.

[GreenGuy42]

Hey, the Excelsior's still around. (As in, "now" as TNG/DS9/VOY goes--what, 2378 last time or something?) It's still an awesome-looking ship, just not nearly as fast or powerful as current stuff. We could still have an Excelsior show--just how it is *now*. Wouldn't that be cool? Probably on its 3rd reactor, 6th bridge, 4th set of torp tubes, etc. A bit old and patchy by now, but still a proud, well-taken-care-of ship.

Wasn't the Enterprise B a shoddy, old Constellation class? I mean, old, beaten up ships have mucho character and just.. rule...

[Isamu Atreides 86]

ST should take the B5 route and have a comprehensive, long term goal in mind when developing a series. the way B5 played out with someone or something from one episode playing a part way down the line with lasting effects of all action. if not, then like somene suggested, just let it die.

[uminoken]

Star Trek is always about the most advanced ship in the fleet. Its getting repetative.

We need a show that focuses on an inferior, but very cool, ship. A ship that could never match the Lead Dogs of star trek in firepower, but which has an awesome crew, and goes around doing all the jobs no one else wants to do. That would be cool.

-BEN-MAN-

ala the Starfleet Corps of Engineers? They have had some interesting stories and ideas in the book set. And yeah it would be nice to see how the "bottom rung" ships and crew deal with whatever lies out there.....

[azrael]

ohh... the number of times I've seen "How can we save Star Trek" threads/quotes/articles/etc. Just let it ride itself into oblivion.

[David Hingtgen]

Uh, no. Ent-B was brand-spanking-new when we saw it--Modified Excelsior class. Just like the Lakota. (Only 2 modified Excelsiors have ever been seen, and those are it).

[UN Spacy]

I'm curious to see what two incredibly smart and talented actors could've done for Star Trek.

IMHO I think Patrick Stewart and Brent Spiner's involvement WITH the production process totally hindered The Next Generation movies. In the TNG television series it was ALL the crew. By the time TNG's movies rolled around it turned into the freaking Picard and Data show. Leaving the table scraps for Riker, Worf, and Troi. While Crusher and LaForge gets nothing but bones.....

It was Patrick Stewart's (he was credited with Associate Producer status) involvement with Insurrection that made it go soooooooooo wrong (which was one of the main reasons for the failure of Nemesis).

It was Brent Spiner's involvment with Nemesis that made it go sooooooooo wrong. Hence we have the horrid B4/duplicate android storyline. It was indeed a nod to The Wrath of Khan, the movie was full of the heart but something went wrong. If Data dies then you shouldn't have a clone replacing him at the end of the movie.

[Captain of the SDF-1 Macross]

Wasn't the Enterprise B a shoddy, old Constellation class? I mean, old, beaten up ships have mucho character and just.. rule...

The Enterprise-B is an Excelsior-class vessel. The only changes to the Excelsior's exterior are paint apps and a few add-ons and that varient reappeared for DS9's two-parter "Homefront" and "Paradise Lost".

The Constellation-class is the four-engine ship roughly the same size as the Enterprise-nil and Enterprise-A. Captain Picard once commanded the Constellation-class USS Stargazer until he was forced to leave the wreck after destroying a Ferenghi cruiser. What pissed me off was that Picard left the wreck mostly intact (and got off the resulting court-martial), which will later be stolen by the Ferenghi Bok to be repaired and reprogrammed as his instrument of revenge against Picard.

[UN Spacy]

when? (god, it's no wonder that ST's been goin downhill....)

Actually....IMHO Roddenberry turned over the reigns to Rick Berman by the time Season 3 rolled around (and I think everyone knows that when the series started to turn into the gem we all know). Personally, I could have done WITHOUT Voyager and DS9.......we all know that the cash cow lies in the stories of the Enterprise.

Hence....we're going to get a mixed cast for Star Trek 11.

Admiral Janeway (with a cameo from Captain Picard and/or Captain Sisko)

Captain Riker

Colonel (Commander) Nerys

Lt. Cmdr. LaForge

Counselor Troi

Chief Engineer Torres

Doctor Bashir

Science Officer 7 of 9

[Captain of the SDF-1 Macross]

I felt the biggest shame was when Patrick Stewart and Brent Spiner made a concerted move to grab control of the franchise from Berman and Bragga, but failed.

I'm curious to see what two incredibly smart and talented actors could've done for Star Trek.

I also heard that William Shatner wanted to control ST as well, because after Generations had sent his acting career into a slump and also felt that his departure as Kirk was a mistake.

Before his work The Final Frontier ended up as a movie bomb alongside Insurrection, he wanted it to be dark, gritty and an action movie. The problem was that the Powers that Be yanked most of the control and put the original script into the blender. Yet, Bill put a lot of influence into the design department, such as the shuttles, some of the crew wearing leather bomber jackets and the phasers being modeled to look like .45 automatics complete with a loading magazine into the handle.