Bakula captains the most.
Photo: Stephen Danelian/UPNTREKONOMICS
'STAR' STAR AUTOGRAPH RATES
HAVE OWN LOGIC
By LESLIE GORNSTEIN
August 17, 2006 -- WOULD you pay $169 for Scott Bakula's autograph?
In Las Vegas this weekend, hundreds of people will not only pay that price but also stand in line for the privilege. No hugs, no "Loved you in 'Quantum Leap' " - just the chance to approach unto Bakula, get his John Hancock and walk away. Set phasers on "stunned."
It may sound nuts, until you realize this is a "Star Trek" convention, and these are "Star Trek" fans - quite possibly the most rabid and loyal breed of autograph collectors in the world. Unlike signed baseball cards or scrawlings from other types of celebs, "Star Trek" scribbles have their own rules. And like dilithium crystals, they seem to defy every law of science.
" 'Star Trek' remains one of the few shows where [dealers] can name their own prices in autographs," says Howie Schwartz, CEO of Grandstand Sports & Memorabilia in New York. "We're talking about a cult with its own name. They aren't groupies. They're Trekkies."
An unusually high number of the franchise's actors are expected at this year's "Star Trek" convention in Vegas, starting today; 2006 marks the original show's 40th anniversary. Most charge a set appearance fee and let convention organizers determine autograph prices; that money is usually pocketed by the promoter. Demand is so high for signatures that fans must buy separate, advance tickets for them.
Signatures from legends such as George Takei, Nichelle Nichols and Walter Koenig are going for no more than $40 at the convention. Meanwhile, Alexander Siddig, who had a supporting role in "Deep Space Nine," is fetching the same price. And Bakula, star of the less memorable (and shorter-lived) "Enterprise," is fetching three figures. Jolene "T'Pol" Blalock, who was on the same show, is commanding $70 - the same rate as Trekkie kings Leonard Nimoy and William Shatner.
The seemingly limitless pocketbooks of "Trek" fans has not been lost on the actors.
"I believe that Bill Shatner once sold his pubic hair for thousands of dollars," says Walter Koenig, who played Chekov in the original series.
"I'm joking."
Here's the secret behind the numbers: rarity. According to Creation Entertainment, which put together the show and sets the autograph prices, Bakula has never attended a "Star Trek" convention before now. That makes his signature more precious than a shipful of gold-pressed latinum. Other stars may command more respect, but they have also done more conventions, making their autographs more common. Koenig says he will do about a dozen conventions this year alone.
"I've been around for so long and been to 300 or 400 conventions already since the mid-'70s," Koenig says. "I would think that would affect the price to some degree."
It does, says Creation Entertainment CEO Gary Berman.
"Autograph collectors are completists," says Berman, who is no relation to show producer Rick. "We had Joan Collins come to one of our 'Trek' conventions once, about four years ago. She was in one episode of the original series. It was surreal. She was shocked that people would pay $50 for her autograph."
TO BOLDLY SET PRICES
* Scott "Capt. Archer" Bakula: $169
* William "Capt. Kirk" Shatner: $70
* Leonard "Spock" Nimoy: $70
* Jolene "T'Pol" Blalock: $70
* Avery "Capt. Sisko" Brooks: $60
* Jonathan "Riker" Frakes: $60
* Kate "Capt. Janeway" Mulgrew: $50
* Brent "Data" Spiner: $50
* Denise "Tasha Yar" Crosby: $45
* Nichelle "Lt. Uhura" Nichols: $40
* George "Sulu" Takei: $20
http://www.nypost.com/entertainment/trekonomics_entertainment_leslie_gornstein.htm
Topic: TREKONOMICS .... (Read 1351 times)