'Star Trek' Fans Protest Cancellation of Series

Started by Myxo, February 26, 2005, 02:37:24 AM

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Myxo



LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - "Star Trek" fans from around the world gathered at the gates of Paramount Studios in Hollywood on Friday to protest the impending cancellation of the television series "Star Trek: Enterprise."

Carrying signs reading "It's Not Just a Show, It's a Responsibility" and "18 Years of Loyalty and This Is the Thanks I Get?," more than 100 people massed at the gates of Paramount, where "Enterprise" is produced, to show support for a franchise that has perhaps the most loyal fan base in the world.

None wore costumes, however, in a departure from many gatherings of "Trekkies."

The UPN network, which like Paramount is a unit of Viacom Inc., said earlier this month it would end "Enterprise" in May after four seasons on air. But the fans are not letting it go quietly.

Paramount and UPN officials declined to comment.

"'Star Trek: Enterprise' ... is quality television, unlike a lot of the reality you see on TV today," said Candice McCallie, the Texas-based publicity director for Web site TrekUnited.com and an organizer of Friday's protest.

And organized it was -- attendees had professional laminated badges, posters and even permits from the L.A. Police Department to block the sidewalks around the studio.

Although the original series created by Gene Roddenberry ran only from 1966 to 1969, at least one version of "Star Trek" has constantly been on air since 1987 -- "The Next Generation," "Deep Space Nine," "Voyager" and now "Enterprise."

The current series is something of a prequel, set in the earlier days of human space exploration and the "Star Trek" universe, well before those other series took place.

"Enterprise" is tied for 150th place in ratings this season, according to Nielsen Media Research, but McCallie argued "Enterprise" peaked creatively this year.

"It's some of the best 'Star Trek' we've seen in the 18 years it's been on," she said.

Fans are so dedicated that TrekUnited has raised more than $48,000 to give to Paramount to potentially produce a fifth season of the show.

Kal


Sigur Rós

My brother was once a Star Trek nerd. He tried to make his room like the Enterprise.

pete

awww $48,000 to paramount!  that'll get the show somewhere!
"Tragedy is a close-up; comedy, a long shot."
- Buster Keaton

Pubrick

under the paving stones.

modage

i'm going to do this in may when they cancel arrested development.
Christopher Nolan's directive was clear to everyone in the cast and crew: Use CGI only as a last resort.

MacGuffin

Anonymous Donors Pledge $3 Million To 'Enterprise'

Fans wanting to keep "Star Trek: Enterprise" on the air have been figuring that if they were to raise the money themselves to fund the show, they would have to cough up $30 million.

One "Enterprise" campaign says they are 10 percent there after three anonymous donors have pledged $3 million toward a fifth season of the series, which was cancelled earlier this month by UPN.

According to officials of TrekUnited, three donors who also gave millions toward the commercial space flight industry through Space Adventures, have pledged the money toward another season of the show, the fifth in the Star Trek franchise.

According to their official statement: "We think Star Trek and especially its latest incarnation, Enterprise is the kind of TV that should be aired more often. The people responsible at Paramount think this is just a show and we want to tell them, it is not. We are in the commercial space flight industry and would like to testify that at least one out of two of all the actual entrepreneurs involved in this industry has been inspired by Star Trek; and we are not only good at watching TV sci-fi , we are also good at writing checks, big checks. Enterprise needs to be renewed, for the sake of fan loyalty, for being quality TV, for bringing imagination and hope for a better future to our homes, but over all that, for inspiring us so strongly that we have fought all our adult lives to bring that future closer to our children and to us."

"We are overwhelmed at the loyalty and proposed generosity of these fellow Star Trek fans," said Tim Brazeal, director of TrekUnited. "If this contribution can be ironed out, it will bring us much closer to our goal of funding a fifth season of 'Enterprise.'"

Brazeal told SyFy Portal that the pledge is real, and the contributors are serious about helping to keep the series on the air.

In the last three weeks, the campaign has raised more than $40,000. TrekUnited was founded by Brazeal, who founded the Save Enterprise campaign last year, to help organize fans to fund a fifth season.

The campaign is working on a premise that each episode of "Enterprise" costs $1.6 million, based on statements made by series co-star John Billingsley, who plays Phlox in the series. Brazeal said that if each of the 3 million weekly viewers of the show contributed just $12, they would have enough to fund a fifth season.

Paramount officials have not commented on the campaign, although some members of the show's crew have told fans to be careful about donating to campaigns. TrekUnited officials said that if a series doesn't come through, donations will be refunded to fans minus a 5 percent fee. Excess fees, they said, would be donated to help with tsunami relief efforts.
"Don't think about making art, just get it done. Let everyone else decide if it's good or bad, whether they love it or hate it. While they are deciding, make even more art." - Andy Warhol


Skeleton FilmWorks

Raikus

Quote from: Pubrickthe show is pretty good tho.

:shock:
:laughing: That's the funniest thing you've said in a while.
Yes, to dance beneath the diamond sky with one hand waving free, silhouetted by the sea, circled by the circus sands, with all memory and fate driven deep beneath the waves, let me forget about today until tomorrow.