Posted by Randy Barnett:
Star Trek Enterprise Cancelled:
I am a big fan of Star Trek Enterprise. The concept of the show is
that as a "pre-quel" to the original Star Trek showing how Earth first
ventured out into space, under the scrutiny of the Vulcans who are
also protaganists, and how the United Federation of Planets is
eventually established. I especially appreciated the lack of
technology familiar in later Star Trek series, which rendered
Enterprise more vulnerable in space, thereby increasing the drama of
its interactions with other species (though gradually the technology
is being introduced).
After a slow start, the serieshas really gotten good--especially
during the past two seasons. But now the series has been cancelled by
UPN, which is owned by CBS. Though resistance is probably futile, a
letter writing campaign to CBS, Paramount, and the Sci-Fi Channel is
being organized by [1]Enterprise Fans. The emphasis is on getting the
series picked up by the Sci-Fi Channel. [2]Here is an advertisement
they placed in the LA Times. And here are excerpts from an
[3]interview with Scott Bakula ("Capt. Jonathan Archer") who is
obviously disheartened by the news:
Michiel: Is there anything we can do to save Star Trek: Enterprise
from ending?
SB: I don't have a clear answer for that. Obviously we want
everyone to tune in and watch the last shows because we're
extremely proud of them and we're anxious to share them with the
fans. It would be a disappointment if there was a dropoff in
viewership because of the cancellation. But the reality is, as I
see it, we're a little bit like a ship in a storm with no safe
harbor. There really are no interested executives left at Paramount
or UPN or CBS who would be willing to fight for the show. Everyone
at Paramount who had history with the franchise is gone. So I
wouldn't even know who to tell you to complain to, because there's
not anyone who really is interested. We've fallen between the
cracks in the changing of the guard. . . .
Melc: What are the chances of the show being picked up by SpikeTV
or Sci-Fi?
SB: Specifically, to shop the show to another network, you have to
have someone from your studio have your show's best interests at
heart. To the best of my knowledge, and from reading the release
that Paramount put out, they seem very content to let the show go
and, I think, hoping that we would go out quietly.
They have a much bigger agenda and mandate from CBS to make new
television shows for CBS and UPN. And once again, we don't fit the
bill. It is ironic that with our numbers, and with our fan support,
we would be very successful on Sci-Fi Channell or USA Network or
almost any of the cablers.
But Paramount owns Star Trek, and somebody from here would have to
want to search that out. In terms of bombarding Les Moonves with
e-mails and letters, etc., knowing Les as I do, I would doubt very
strongly that could possibly change his mind.
I was, however, reminiscing yesterday about the good old days when
Quantum Leap was cancelled, or should I say, 'put on hiatus'
mid-season, and Warren Littlefield had the good sense and good
humor to run a commercial where he was having thousands of letters
dumped onto him in his office and the commercial was something
about "Enough already, we're putting Quantum back on the air!"
I got a good laugh out of that and I fondly remember Warren and his
openness to the fan support at that time.
If you like Enterprise, it cannot hurt to write.
References
1. http://www.enterprisefans.com/
2. http://enterprisefans.com/ad/final.pdf
3.
http://www.startrek.com/startrek/view/community/chat/archive/transcript/9564.html
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