Robert: Boy, talk about trying to breathe some fresh air into a dying franchise. Just when you thought Star Trek was down for the count Paramount does the unexpected and gives it to Abrams.
Actually this is not news to us but as we are sworn to secrecy at times we have to bite the bullet and not say a word. A few months ago as I crept through the underbelly of Hollywood (actually I was having lunch with a friend) I was told there were a couple of competing pitches to revive Star Trek. One would take Trek back to the small screen and go where it's never gone before. The pitch was one of the best concepts that I have ever read and it involved some of the biggest names in Hollywood.
The most important part is that it would not go down a road that had been so thoroughly traveled. No Mr. Spock, no Captain Kirk and none of the pitfalls of trying to maneuver around storylines or timeframes that would limit a writer's imagination.
I didn't know too much about Abrams' approach with the exception that he was actively pursuing the franchise.
Brace yourself. Abrams and his gang of Trekkies are going to bring back Kirk and Spock. Not good.
In my opinion, you do not bring back classic characters that have become part of our pop culture with recasted actors. William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy will forever be Kirk and Spock. It's too difficult to accept anyone else in those roles. Besides, you have a very limited storyline. Everything is known about the 23rd and 24th century timeline based on comics, books and over 700 TV episodes and 10 feature films.
Perhaps Paramount has not learned from their mistakes of the past, like Enterprise, (cough cough) their last attempt to revitalize the franchise.
After 100 episodes and syndication guaranteed, the struggling show was finally cancelled. The truth is the show should have never been made.
It had a decent concept but horrible execution. It failed fans and the studios in every way possible. If Abrams is not careful, he and his merry gang of trekkers will indeed put the last nail in the coffin of Star Trek.
On a side note, Variety labeled Abrams the next Rodenberry...bad call Ripley, bad call. The fans will decide who the next Rodenberry will be, not the trades.
With so much at stake, what is one to do? Hope is all we have left, ...wait there is another...Galactica.
J.T. Hookirk:
My “letter to the editor”
This new “movie” is being produced by Abrams and his Lost TV producers. I smell a big screen back-door pilot. If it works, bet your last buck they are taking this to series. And that means only one thing…
TOS “remake”.
After all, why take an entirely original approach (it's not like Star Trek TV has had an original premise since TNG anyway, ahem) when they can just do the one thing they were trying to do all along...
“Maintain the franchise. Maintain the gravy train. Milk those cash cows…er, fans.”
This is a studio (and don't forget the network) that played it safe by putting the accountant that Roddenberry hated in charge of the franchise with the intention of “milking this cow as long as you can.” Berman did that. Every time Trek had a chance to do something original, to break new ground, Berman killed it…
“Not Trek enough” was his mantra of mediocrity. “Retread, rehash…it's safer.”
That's why you, the loyal fans, got almost two decades of stale Wagon Train reruns and a blatant B5 rip-off instead of good television. Be clear, the studio feels fine about having played it safe. They made money. Ironically, they'd have made a LOT more if they'd have done a good job with Star Trek, but that would have meant taking RISKS. And studio executives who take risks don't keep their jobs long.
Now, this can be done right, witness the new Battlestar Galactica. Unfortunately, there is a HUGE difference between remaking a sentimental favorite show that never even completed one season before croaking and remaking an American Cultural icon like the original Star Trek has become.
I loved the original Galactica and I was so upset it took me a half a season and a hundred recommendations from friends before I (fortunately) gave the new series a chance. How upset do you think people are going to be about THIS?!
The plan is as infantile as it is obvious. The movie will show young Kirk and Spock meeting, ahem, before they met for the first time on the Enterprise (continuity alert: Captain Pike and Spock anyone?!). And I guarantee the series will pick up right after that and basically tread over the exact same ground we've already seen. And then they'll go back to movies after that. Hmm, I wonder if they'll remake Wrath of Khan too? Grrrrr.
So let me be clear…and I don't think I am alone here.
I don't want another Kirk.
I don't want another Spock.
I don't want Bones “re-imagined” as a cigar smoking alien transvestite empath, or whatever Abrams (arguably very talented) team is thinking.
I like them just the way they were and are. You know why? Because no matter how bad New Trek got (Enterprise?!), no matter how hard they tried to screw it up (Kirk dies as a fat man falling in a hole?!), they couldn't ruin the pure original Star Trek episodes.
As for me, I think I'll stick with Galactica. It's new. It's one of the best written shows on television. It's real sci-fi. And doesn't piss on anything I really care about.
