There's No Intelligent Life Down Here (Star Trek cancellation a mercy killing)

The London [ON] Free Press ^ | February 12, 2005 | Sean Twist

[JustAnAmerican]

For a real hoot watch "Galaxy Quest", no one can do a "Star Trek" satire like that movie.

[freedumb2003]

He's got a point, especially about the reset button.

All of the Star Treks after TOS (except maybe "Enterprise" of which I only saw 3 boring episodes) (ab)used Time Travel as a plot device to basically make any show with bad stuff into a version of Patrick Duffy's shower scene.

"Hey, it was different point in the space time continnuum -- it never really happened."

Lazy writing.

[Army Air Corps]

I also miss Babylon 5. The slow unfolding of the underlying narratives and the devleopment of the charatcers were, overall, well done.

[marajade]

ST lost it when they stopped following the character based model stoy telling. I believe that is why Ronald Moore is excelling with Battlestar Gallatica on Sci Fi Channel.

[freedumb2003]

For a real hoot watch "Galaxy Quest",

GQ was a ripoff of the much better Sci-Fi channel program Captain Zoom (which sadly did not last).

[marajade]

I didn't watch Crusade when they aired on TNT because Warner messed up. I bought it on DVD watched and fell in love with it. Too bad network execs don't know their fan base and screw up good programming. I would have loved to have seen Crusade for four more seasons.

[PzLdr]

John Collicos, who played the Klingon governor in the first Trek to use Klingons created the look When asked his concept of Klingons, for makeup. costumes, etc. He thought they were "Mongols in outer space". Since Next Generation, however, I saw them more as Vikings.

[Paul_Denton]

That is too bad. I liked Enterprise. I also liked that Japanese woman, Hoshi or some name like that.

[tob2]

"And the one where the fellow was half-black and half white."

Don't remember the title of that episode but the character was played by Frank Gorshen. Thought the half black half white face was a good way to show how silly some of our prejudice's are.

[Paul_Denton]

Okay, so he hates Star Trek. I continue to like Star Trek despite some stomach turning moments (e.g. the first season or so of Next Generation - blech). I also like Godzilla movies, anime, and other forms of Sci-Fi.

The first seasons of Star Trek The Next Generation may have been a bit corny, but Tasha Yar sure rocked. Too bad they killed her off.

[alley cat]

Start watching the new Battlestar Galactica series.

Yep, count me in as a fan of the new BG (I hated the previous one). It's intense!

My favorite series, though, remains Babylon 5... I really miss it.

[GiveEmDubya]

ST lost it when they stopped following the character based model story telling.

When watching the previous spinoffs, I used to able to say "This episode's about Picard" or Harry Kim or Odo or whatever. Enterprise...I dunno. Personally, I never connected with it. I thought the show lacked certain intanglible elements that enabled me to enjoy the characters more. It seemed a little too rigid (for lack of a better word) at first, which is why I lost interest.

The show needed some good-old-fashioned Kirk-style a$$-kickings in there.

[Army Air Corps]

Isn't odd that show that improve get nixed but "reality" TV shows with downward spiraling viewership stays-on ad infinitum? Just how many times can you watch someone eat an insect? If you want a real reality show that is inspiring and instructive, air live feeds of Americans whacking terrorists and rebuilding schools, hospitals, etc.

[GiveEmDubya]

Don't remember the title of that episode but the character was played by Frank Gorshen.

"Let That Be Your Last Battlefield" or some such.

[Paul C. Jesup]

The show needed some good-old-fashioned Kirk-style a$$-kickings in there.

Do you actually see the last half of the third season of Enterprise?

[JustAnAmerican]

Well now ya went and did it. Am going to have to search the Video stores to see if I can find it.

[Chef Dajuan]

I saw an old SNL re-run on cable where Shatner was on and went off on a Trekkie convention ending with an over-wrought "People...GET A LIFE!!!"

Definitely one of the funniest things I ever saw....

[longtermmemmory]

I think is was more the internal bickering that killed off Enterprise. Enterprise was supposed to be a move away from PC absurdity that nearly killed the francies as a result of voyager.

The problem was that PC still slipped in. The continuity conflict with "stigma" which was part of the paramount "suits" edict that all shows do something about AIDS infection education.

This last season has been pretty good. It is also worth noting that this writer appears to be canadian. Perhaps its objection to going back to the US centric principles.

(then again the new startgate spin off suffers from PC disease)

Perhaps SciFi will pick it up and hire new intentionally anti-PC writers.

[Paul_Denton]

I love all forms of sci-fi. From Star Wars and Star Trek to sci-fi anime (especially cyber-punk style animie such as Ghost in the Shell) to comedy (Spaceballs) and sleepers (Supernova, Event-Horizon, Pitch Black).

[Army Air Corps]

I agree. Hmm, the B'rel class ships as longboats...