I once-again quote myself, to Hyperion this time:
But don't grow pessimistic over Star Trek's future.? Enterprise might go on for a fifth season.? And even if it doesn't, we'll still have the novels, the past shows, the movies, the websites, etc.? Star Trek won't die out, and it's existance could be majorly fan-based.? I wonder however if the future of Trek is more of heading that way as we converse on this forum, with fanfilms such as Starship Exeter and Star Trek: New Voyages.? My main point here I'm trying to make is that Enterprise won't be Star Trek's death.? It might hurt, but like in Trek's World War III, it's not the end.? It's just a hurtle onto heading for a brighter future.? That's why I majorly like Star Trek; It's optimism.? People are really lacking it here, and I'm really disappointed.? Whether Enterprise is canceled or not, I believe Star Trek won't die out.? Not with a fan base as big as what Trek has.
Here's what I'm emphasizing here:
That's why I majorly like Star Trek; It's optimism.? People are really lacking it here, and I'm really disappointed.
I state that because I feel your message is overall not really optimistic, Hyperion. I mean no offense, but I just feel this way.
None taken, but eveything depends on the context in which "optimistic" and "optimisim" are used. I for onw who likes star trek and always have. Im gratefull that ive had the oppportunity to watch some very good epsidoes of the series and all of the movies which have been made.
Like i said im not complaning about any of it. Ive enjoyed it, even bad trek was worth watching compared to some of the series that have come and gone (Melrose place, Dallas, Baywatch, simple life etc, etc). But i do believe that the the franchise as a whole has been played out pretty much. If i can take an narrow anology. The Franchise is like a renewable resource. However for the last 17-18 years various people at paramount have simply squeezed that franchise until the only drips left leave a bad taste in a fans mouth.
If my optimism is to be found its not in the idea that William Shatner or Leonard nimoy will by thier very presence would have returned ST to its glory days. That was never and now will not ever happen. You can only have so many guest appearances for the novelty until it wears off. The optimism lies with simply giving it a break. Back in the sixties and 70's leading op to ST: TMP was the desire of the fans to see more ST. Unfortuntealy that fan base seems to have devolved to those who attends Sci-fi cons. Or at least the ones that make noise at Paramount.
For most of the public the reaction to ST has been "What?...more?...again?" and with good cause ,with a unbroken string of ST series since the late eighties. More and more people simply turned the channel, and it showed in advertsiing revenues for Enterprise. It's not the viewers fault they simply didnt get into it. And with "reality" TV and some honestly good shows out there (sopranos, desperate housewives, Six feet under etc etc) the competiton for the viewer was getting tighter and Enterprsie essentially failed to give the viewer something new. Whether that because of B&B or not isn't the issue , the end result is.
Do i hope that ST makes a comeback. Of course. but they are going to find it difficult. 18 years of ST shows has depleted the "resource" in a very real way. There are those who say that ST cannot ever die because of the "idea" of the Federation itself. Not so . Your average family is just that. You have a couple who both hold down jobs with two kids, who just want to be entertained. The dont want to have figure out what a klingon is or a romulan or vulcan or why the andorians have attanae on thier blue skinned heads whenthey have perfectly good eyes. More over they dont care.
Optimism is always a good thing to have , but it should be tempered for the reality of the modern viewing public. If pessimism is defined as simply a desire for orginality, based upon the fact the Enterprise ratings have gotten lower and lower then by all means, its pessmistic. But as far as Television and movies go, its not "fans" that make or break a show, its Mrs. & Mr Smith and the 2.5 little "smiths" that determine whats a hit or miss.
If i a man who made serious wishes, i would asked for a ST that were the Federation were a little less "perfect" Utopia that we were showwn. Where people failed sometimes and people died somtimes (and i dont mean the odd guest star) Show a Federation where officers and crew are "people" not just Marionettes with thier hand on the hearts spouting the prime directive, who actually have to make hard decision as to where thier real loyaltes lie. Or where whatever crisis comes up is solved by some technobabble and and special effects. In other words have something the general public can attach too.
"Enterprise" had the potential but they just couldnt pull it off
Hyp