Why did Paramount kill new Trek shows from Shatner and Frakes?
We haven't seen Star Trek on TV since Enterprise ended in 2005, and we had to wait four years until Trek came back into our lives in the form of J.J. Abrams' successful movie reboot of the venerable sci-fi franchise. But did you know there were a few attempts to bring back Star Trek to television that were literally crushed?
In an interview with UGO, Jonathan Frakes—who played Commander William T. Riker, Captain Jean-Luc Picard's (Patrick Stewart) first officer on the Enterprise in Star Trek: The Next Generation and four movies —made some startling revelations about a couple of proposed Star Trek TV series ideas that Paramount ended up rejecting.
"I had a Star Trek that I developed for TV, and we were told in no uncertain terms that they said no to Bryan Singer television Star Trek, they said no to a William Shatner television Star Trek. They feel at CBS/Paramount that they don't want to make the same mistake that's been made before, which was watering down the brand by having a TV show and a movie. That's what happened with Star Trek: Nemesis, and that's why I think Star Trek: Enterprise didn't last the way they expected to."
The First Contact director and actor then summed up Star Trek producer Rick Berman's franchise fatigue theory for the demise of Enterprise and the whole of Star Trek in 2005:
"It was the classic corporate greed of 'we've got something good, so let's continue to milk it' and we milked it so dry that the fans had no appetite for a movie. So I think what they've done by taking time off before the Abrams Star Trek, and they're doing it again because they haven't even begun to shoot the second one, is a much smarter business plan. Much to my chagrin! Not that wouldn't love the Titan, or the Rikers in Space, or any of those shows on the air."
Were Paramount right in refusing to bring back Star Trek to TV? Think we'll ever get a new series on the small screen now that J.J. Abrams has made Star Trek so successfull on the big screen? What do you think Shatner's Trek series was all about? And do you think that Star Trek: Titan—which is now a very successful ongoing book series about the adventures of Captain Riker and his crew on the U.S.S Titan— should get it's chance to shine on television?
I've heard these stories and a few others over the years. George Takei also tried for a Captain Sulu series as well. The truth is, the studios warned people that as the ratings declined for "Enterprise" that it was likely we wouldn't see Trek on TV for 10 years or more. And they are sticking to that. And truthfully, I'm not opposed to that scenario. Many fans had drifted away and there are only so many black marks a property can take before it might never come back. I still believe CBS (who owns TV Trek, Paramount is the movie Trek owner) will do another series at some point in time. Perhaps after 2012 if the next film is a big success.
Although I am dying for more Trek - I can see the sense of this plan.
An interesting story. It's nice to know attempts are still ongoing. As long as someone's pitching, there's a chance for one to be accepted one day.
I can see the logic behind the decision as well to just stick with movies, just really miss weekly Trek series. I always felt the TV series were the real gem to Star Trek for me, the movies were good, but the series is really where Star Trek came to life. I guess given how most Sci-Fi shows struggle on TV right now, probably not the best time to launch another Trek series on TV sadly.
i really hope there'll be a small screen series in the future. when that will be, i have no clue. but someday.
now probably isn't the right time, given that there'll be another movie in a little more than a year.
maybe (if there's no star trek 13 planned) just maybe then will be the time to make another series.
but now we wait. :-|
i think this quote fits the subject nicely:
"You may find that having is not so pleasing a thing, after all, as wanting. It is no logical, but it is often true"
Spock :vulcan- Amok Time
Quote from: jedijeff on April 08, 2011, 11:45:42 AM
I can see the logic behind the decision as well to just stick with movies, just really miss weekly Trek series. I always felt the TV series were the real gem to Star Trek for me, the movies were good, but the series is really where Star Trek came to life. I guess given how most Sci-Fi shows struggle on TV right now, probably not the best time to launch another Trek series on TV sadly.
I'm with you Jeff.. the movies are great.. but give me a Star Trek TV series over new movies any day.
Quote from: Geekyfanboy on April 08, 2011, 03:14:05 PM
Quote from: jedijeff on April 08, 2011, 11:45:42 AM
I can see the logic behind the decision as well to just stick with movies, just really miss weekly Trek series. I always felt the TV series were the real gem to Star Trek for me, the movies were good, but the series is really where Star Trek came to life. I guess given how most Sci-Fi shows struggle on TV right now, probably not the best time to launch another Trek series on TV sadly.
I'm with you Jeff.. the movies are great.. but give me a Star Trek TV series over new movies any day.
same.
well, i guess it depends on the movie and series. i'd rather have a great movie than a so-so series.
It's a head vs heart situation. I understand their view, they are a business afterall. But...
To me Star Trek is a TV entity, complimented by movies. Trek works best on TV, slowly developing arcs, one off tales, I miss it all!
we all do. but sometimes we need a little downtime. now just happens to be part of a downtime that's been going on since 2005.
this downtime may go on for many more years, but it will end sometime.
the only thing left to find out is when that sometime is.
Yeah but we will end up with reboot Trek TV shows by then.
I think unless there is a huge surge of renewed interest in Star Trek we are unlikely to see any new Trek on TV. The movies I'm pretty sure are a whole lot more profitable and they see the return on their investment rather soon. I recall reading that the TV shows did not make any profit until they reached syndication. That means several years of cranking out a show at a loss. Yea...they evnetually recover their investment and then some but not like they do with the movies. I would love to see Trek come back to the small screen but I just think it's unlikely in my lifetime now.
Kevin
Paramount should just officially help fan projects. They can fund the shows with a little money and maybe manpower to speed up production and put a pre-roll and post-roll add. Maybe let the fan projects sell dvds through official channels and make 50% of the revenue. I dunno. Just a thought that occured.
Quote from: Scott on April 23, 2011, 08:51:36 AM
Paramount should just officially help fan projects. They can fund the shows with a little money and maybe manpower to speed up production and put a pre-roll and post-roll add. Maybe let the fan projects sell dvds through official channels and make 50% of the revenue. I dunno. Just a thought that occured.
The problem with this idea is that if they support one of them, then all of the fan projects will expect Paramount to do something for them, so its fairly unlikely to happen.
King
Any sort of endorsement would surely work against the whole philosophy of 'time off' for the franchise. If that's the plan they're working to then supporting any sort of project could be nothing other than counter-productive from their point of view.
With Netflix going to start streaming all the shows soon, for us without the DVD's), maybe that will keep us happy till something new happens.
Quote from: Scott on April 23, 2011, 08:51:36 AM
Paramount should just officially help fan projects. They can fund the shows with a little money and maybe manpower to speed up production and put a pre-roll and post-roll add. Maybe let the fan projects sell dvds through official channels and make 50% of the revenue. I dunno. Just a thought that occured.
I would hate that idea. I'm always against fanfic taking the place of official story. Some of these shows can be good, but they are pretty much filmed fanfic that doesn't really fit into the true Trek universe.
Chris - I don't think Scott was talking about it taking the place of "official Trek" at all. Just suggesting that maybe they could support it in some way and maybe make some money for both at the same time.
Quote from: Rico on April 27, 2011, 06:41:19 AM
Chris - I don't think Scott was talking about it taking the place of "official Trek" at all. Just suggesting that maybe they could support it in some way and maybe make some money for both at the same time.
Here's the thing with that. As soon as Paramount or someone throws money into a project like that, it would by default become official in some sense. I also don't see why it would make more sense to throw money at fanfic when they don't want a series on the air yet.
If Paramount was to provide money and/or personnel to these projects, it would be money away from a future Trek project. They would also want to see a profit on their investment, so the format of web releases would have to dramatically change or they would be losing money. Most people unfortunately won't buy the cow if they can get the milk for free and at will.
I don't see how it would benefit Paramount in any way, but I do see how it could do more harm than good to the franchise, but that's just my two cents.
Consider that any money provided to producers of fan fic videos would obviously be an utter pittance compared to the marketing budget of a blockbuster like the upcoming Star Trek sequel, which could easily total 30 million or more. Anybody with common sense would see that it would be a great tool to fund and improve these people's creative works and use them at the same time to promote the upcoming film. Although this wouldn't necessarily be the promotional tool to replace a 60 second commercial during an episode of Glee, you'd still be hitting a huge target demographic for a fraction of the cost.
No, I think they wouldn't want to touch it with a barge pole. The moment it becomes 'semi-official' it completely breaks the stated aim of keeping Trek off the air for a bit.
I'm with X on this one.
Well, I'm just pointing out one potential benefit this kind of action would have for Paramount. Not to mention the enormous goodwill it would generate with Trek fans. I don't think it would ever happen, I'm just happy they continue to offer their tacit approval by not mercilessly hounding the producers of these great short films over licensing and copyright issues.
And the more I think about it, the more I think this idea could work. Look at the way they promoted the last film: the comic adaptation called Star Trek Countdown that led right into the movie was almost required reading if you wanted a full picture of what was going on in the film. It could have been even cooler, and hit more potential fans, to have that story told via the internet through the talents of those behind the best of the great fan made Star Trek serials.
Well, it's all kind of moot because it will never happen. Oh, and I just have to point out again it's CBS, not Paramount that will be the one to do a new TV series. They hold the TV rights - not Paramount.
Here's what should (but probably won't) happen: Paramount and CBS execs need to see the success of The Clone Wars on Cartoon Network, and realize that the best idea would be to do Star Trek like Star Wars. The latest film was already trying to inject some Star Wars action and pacing into the nerve of the film, why not an animated reboot as well? Just think of the possibilities... :luke
As much Trek i think going to the year 3000 would be a bit much, i mean fat lazy humans who ever heard of such a thing and the Klingons being diplomatic, by Kahless breath i think not lol.
Quote from: Jobydrone4of20 on April 27, 2011, 08:29:05 AM
And the more I think about it, the more I think this idea could work. Look at the way they promoted the last film: the comic adaptation called Star Trek Countdown that led right into the movie was almost required reading if you wanted a full picture of what was going on in the film. It could have been even cooler, and hit more potential fans, to have that story told via the internet through the talents of those behind the best of the great fan made Star Trek serials.
I think that you're also missing that several completed novels in the JJ universe were actually canceled and won't be published so as not to taint the JJ timeline.
I'm going to disagree with you again on this one. I cam imagine someone "attepmting" to bring that to life and I could imagine them totally failing and the damage it would have caused to the movie before it even left the gates.
Imagine if there was something out there that was endorsed by the studio before the movie aired and it totally sucked? They shouldn't take that sort of risk with a franchise that's just regaining it's feet and being profitable and widely accepted again.
I think that we're just going to have to agree to disagree on this one. I think the possible harm far outweighs the possible good. It also sets a very bad precedent on the nature of fan endeavors not to mention the lack of quality control in what is put out on the web.
I think Paramount is doing their best by allowing their works to be used in the fan stuff, which they aren't legally required to do. That should be the extent and the limit of their involvement IMHO.
Quote from: Obi-Wan Kovary on April 27, 2011, 10:20:07 AM
Here's what should (but probably won't) happen: Paramount and CBS execs need to see the success of The Clone Wars on Cartoon Network, and realize that the best idea would be to do Star Trek like Star Wars. The latest film was already trying to inject some Star Wars action and pacing into the nerve of the film, why not an animated reboot as well? Just think of the possibilities... :luke
that would be total gold! re-establish star trek as an animated series...
well i guess they did that a while ago... but then they didn't have the TNG people.
i think a TNG cartoon would be nice :)
If they ever did another cartoon series I bet it would be based on the TOS crew or the JJ universe crew. Of course a cartoon set in the TNG time would not "mess up" the JJ timeline. They could also pull stories from DS9 & Voyager.
Quote from: Obi-Wan Kovary on April 27, 2011, 10:20:07 AM
Here's what should (but probably won't) happen: Paramount and CBS execs need to see the success of The Clone Wars on Cartoon Network, and realize that the best idea would be to do Star Trek like Star Wars. The latest film was already trying to inject some Star Wars action and pacing into the nerve of the film, why not an animated reboot as well? Just think of the possibilities... :luke
A few years ago, they were actually working on an official sanctioned animated series for the web to come out via www.startrek.com (http://www.startrek.com). But soon after, the website personnel got dumped and it didn't go anywhere. I'll find a link for you.
Here you go:
http://zeroroom.squarespace.com/ (http://zeroroom.squarespace.com/)