Paramount, and the parent company Viacom, have a dilemma. Their latest ST film, Nemesis, has dropped out of the top ten and has earned 34 million dollars at the domestic box office. Enterprise's last two new episodes are ranked last in the Nielsen ratings. There is a contractual agreement with Braga and, I think Berman, for their work on Star Trek for three years (2001-2004). This is a very bad time for the franchise which in the past earned money for Paramount. What options are available for the future of this franchise?
I have read on the internet a call for cancelation for this series. I do believe this is not an option. There is a contractual relationship existing with the executive producers and, I believe, the players. If the show is canceled, one or both may sue for contractual breach. (Or could Paramount ordered a severance of the contract on performance issues? Is there a clause in the contract which outlines such a step?)
Another proposal. Bring in new blood. I think this idea died at the box office. Logan, a new writer to Trek, and Baird, also new to Trek, couldn't create a product which had the staying power to compete against another sci-fi/fantasy work.
Those are two options I can think of at this time. Do you have other, more creative options for this franchise?
Posted by MrNeutron (Member # 524) on :
I'd b very surprised if UPN's contracts don't allow them to chancel a show. That's unheard of in the TV industry. Typically, it's the show staff that's under contract meaning that if the show is renewed for the length of their contracts, they're obligated to do the work. If the show is cancelled, well, then the obligation is severed. The only real variation would be if actors or staff had "pay or play" provisions in their contracts...which you have to have a lot of clout to get.
That's the way Hollywood works.
Posted by AndrewR (Member # 44) on :
Leave Star Trek alone for a few years.
I mean who here has seen EVERY episode at least TWICE!?! Once + repeat?
I'm sure one or maybe two - and we are die-hard Trekkies here.
I've seen nearly every episode once - I think I might be missing mostly TOS. I have only seen 2 episodes of TAS. I have seen TNG the most - several episodes over and over again. DS9 and Voyager I've seen EVERY episode at least once. I seen Season 1 and Season 2 DS9 multiple amounts of times.
PLUS there is now Enterprise.
There is enough Star Trek for a Trek Channel for crying out loud.
Leave it for a while. They should have done this before Enterprise.
Posted by Sol System (Member # 30) on :
A call on the internet? No force on Earth can oppose that.
Posted by Shik (Member # 343) on :
Abort, retry, fail?
Posted by Aban Rune (Member # 226) on :
Well... I haven't been *overly* disappointed with Enterprise, though I had hoped it would do better things. However, I'd hate for the series to simply be cancelled and leave us hanging right in the middle of everything. That wouldn't be good either.
After Enterprise, though... Star Trek definitely needs to be shelved for a bit. Think of it... 5 years... 10 years after Enterprise ends, all of us are nice and middle aged and we get to revel in the joy of a new Star Trek series.
Posted by PsyLiam (Member # 73) on :
quote:Originally posted by AndrewR: Leave Star Trek alone for a few years.
I mean who here has seen EVERY episode at least TWICE!?! Once + repeat?
I'm sure one or maybe two - and we are die-hard Trekkies here.
Yes, because not having any new episodes means we will see less repeats! Your logic is watertight!
Posted by Epoch (Member # 136) on :
Well I admit that I haven't been watching Enterprise. Not because I don't like it, but because it only runs at 6pm on saturday. Not the best time for any show(stupid Fox). It was a little early for a new trek series but that doesn't change the fact that Sci-fi shows never really do all that well in tv land.
Posted by Dukhat (Member # 341) on :
quote:However, I'd hate for the series to simply be cancelled and leave us hanging right in the middle of everything.
To be perfectly honest, I wouldn't mind having that happen at all.
The formation of the Federation is perhaps the single most important & interesting event in this show's fictitious history. Apparently, that was the original basis for having the prequel show in the first place. However, I highly doubt that we'll see that happen in this show. Whatever direction Enterprise had has now evaporated by UPN. They're not interested in showing the formation of the Federation. They're just interested in getting whatever ratings they can, which means, as your friend & mine Dawn Ostroff has stated, that the show will revolve strictly around the characters getting laid.
Posted by Jeff Raven (Member # 20) on :
The only TV show I watch any more is Enterprise.
Posted by Vogon Poet (Member # 393) on :
What? There's nothing else to whet your appetite? Not The Sopranos? 24? Six Feet Under?
Posted by Ritten (Member # 417) on :
SG1, Enterprise.... CNN, TWC....
Shit, I am boring....
In a few days I get my Farscape back for a bit... but that is a hollow happiness...
Posted by Matrix (Member # 376) on :
What I don't get is why they decided to put Trek before Lord of the Rings. Did they were really think Trek is in the same league? No.
I hate to see Trek go because of poor management.
Posted by AndrewR (Member # 44) on :
quote:Originally posted by PsyLiam:
quote:Originally posted by AndrewR: Leave Star Trek alone for a few years.
I mean who here has seen EVERY episode at least TWICE!?! Once + repeat?
I'm sure one or maybe two - and we are die-hard Trekkies here.
Yes, because not having any new episodes means we will see less repeats! Your logic is watertight!
WTF? How do you come about with that little bit of... logic?
No new trek = replace with repeats. Plus repeats are on all the time.
Posted by Ritten (Member # 417) on :
TNN, the new TNG Channel...
I do like the idea of The Trek Channel...
Posted by Proteus (Member # 212) on :
I'd be willing to give up Star Trek for SG1 completely now. SG1 is now already my favorite.
Posted by Snay (Member # 411) on :
Star Wrek?
Posted by Fleet-Admiral Michael T. Colorge (Member # 144) on :
I watch Alias more than Enterprise... maybe because I find the characters in Alias more interesting. They are complex as oppose to Archer and the gang. The writing should improve in Enterprise... because if it gets as bad as in Nemesis... I will join the dark side or SD6.
Posted by Sol System (Member # 30) on :
Complexity = red wigs? So noted! Hollywood success is in my future.
Posted by StarFire (Member # 748) on :
I so very rarely watch TV anymore, its kinda sad. I think my new TV gets lonely. Oh well...seriously, I never watched Voyager because they took that from us in St Louis for a while--then we got reruns...at 11pm weeknights. And now Enterprise gets patched into the Home Shopping Network on Friday evenings or something like that. I dunno anymore...St Louis TV basically sucks ass. I guess I really wouldn't miss Trek that much if they took it off the air for a while..so that they can get their effin act together. *shrug* I'd rather see no eppys than sad excuses for them...
Posted by PsyLiam (Member # 73) on :
quote:Originally posted by AndrewR:
quote:Originally posted by PsyLiam:
quote:Originally posted by AndrewR: Leave Star Trek alone for a few years.
I mean who here has seen EVERY episode at least TWICE!?! Once + repeat?
I'm sure one or maybe two - and we are die-hard Trekkies here.
Yes, because not having any new episodes means we will see less repeats! Your logic is watertight!
WTF? How do you come about with that little bit of... logic?
No new trek = replace with repeats. Plus repeats are on all the time.
I really, really hate to point out sarcasm, but, Andy my boy, that was sarcasm.
Posted by Styrofoaman (Member # 706) on :
We discussed this on another board. One idea that was brought up was "Lets make Star Trek More Like Other TV Shows. Take what's popular out there now and add trek to it!"
Ok...
Dharma And Trek
Third Trek From The Sun
SienTrek (Or Starfeld...)
Star Trek PD Blue
ER Trek
Star Friends
...
I think not. Imagain if they did that and made a Star Trek sitcom:
RIKER: That damn Packled stole my manhood!
PICARD: Like you ever had one! (cue laugh track)
DATA: Penis! (cue laugh track)
TROI: I have monkey! Look! Isn't it cute! (cue laugh track)
And so on.
Posted by AndrewR (Member # 44) on :
quote:Originally posted by Proteus: I'd be willing to give up Star Trek for SG1 completely now. SG1 is now already my favorite.
Oh indeed Proteus!!
I adore SG1. It holds me more than anything like Voyager or Enterprise has/did.
Haven't felt the excitedness over SG1 since DS9 or even TNG.
DS9 goes with B5, SG1 goes with TNG - if that makes sense.
4 great shows.
Posted by AndrewR (Member # 44) on :
quote:[/qb]
I really, really hate to point out sarcasm, but, Andy my boy, that was sarcasm. [/QB][/QUOTE]
OK.
Charles, I think the board is in need of a sarcasm emoticon! Posted by E. Cartman (Member # 256) on :
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
![[Roll Eyes]](rolleyes.gif)
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)