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Babylon 5 Creator Pitches Trek
pdawerks writes "According to Sci-Fi Wire, Babylon 5 creator J. Michael Straczynski told fans on a B5 Usenet group that he and Dark Skies creator Bryce Zabel have put together an idea for a new Star Trek series, which he said would revive the ailing franchise. 'I got together [with Zabel] and wrote a treatment earlier this year that specified how to save [Star Trek] and develop a series that would restore the series in a big way,' Straczynski wrote. 'I actually think it could be a hell of a show. Whether that ever goes anywhere with Paramount, who knows?'"
ANYTHING except this nonsense about history needing a DUMBASS. I mean really! Archer goes around, screwing up everything in his path, gets all "in-your-face" pissy over his stupid DOG, then somehow is a requirement to the founding of the FEDERATION? God! No wonder we haven't heard about Archer before! Everyone tried to forget the fact that HISTORY NEEDS A DUMBASS.
Javascript + Nintendo DSi = DSiCade
James T. Kirk doing a segment on Oprah would be better than any 9 minutes of TNG.
Uhh, no. JMS pitched B5 itself to Paramount, which happens to own ST. DS9 later appeared, most likely based on JMS's basic ideas.
Though you do acknowledge this in your first sentence, so I'm confused as to what you're saying.
By the way, this the one of the reasons I became disenchanted with DS9 -- when I found out that, at its core, it was a B5 ripoff. What clinched it for me was when they introduced the Dominion, which were obviously cloned from the Shadows. When B5's Shadow War ended so suddenly, DS9 felt as it it was left hanging. It then proceeded to menader aimlessley for its last few years before finally grinding to a halt. At least that was my impression, though I wasn't watching much of the last few seasons.
"Orthodoxy is unconsciousness" - Orwell
Personally I don't see JMS being able to play ball with Paramount. I think he'd last 3-6 months tops before he blew up at them and walked. He's just not enough of a political animial (his detractors would say he's too much of one) to be able to put up with it.
Suddenly I can see the future of this whole JMS+ST series. (Disclaimer, you need a really good working knowledge of Babylon 5 to get this, and even then it probably makes no sense at all.)
In season 1, we learn that JMS's Star Trek series is Gene Roddenberry's dream given new form, a self contained show located light years away from Rick Berman's tired cliches. It's a place for traders, adventurers, and all of their ilk. Despite a hint of tension between JMS and Paramount, not to mention that Star Trek/B5 fans gave the show in a 1 in million chance of surviving past three episodes, the network announces its intention to buy a second season. George W. Bush, reelected the year before, is assassinated 10 minutes after the "to be continued" of the first season cliffhanger.
In season 2, JMS tries to bring cohesion and direction to the previously haphazard story line. Network executives suggest that one of the female actors should be forced to strip naked during a decontamination scene, but JMS wisely shoots the idea down. Soon, studio security guards begin receiving bonus pay if they report back to Paramount about JMS's intended story arc.
In season 3, the whole situation spins out of control. Paramount sends armed guard to seize JMS's story notes, but the actors and creative staff choose to stay and fight. After a bloody struggle, most of the cast and crew are killed, but with financial support from millions of fans and the CG staff taking acting lessons, the show looks like it might have a fighting chance.
But it isn't over. By season 4, Cheney and his Haliburton company are nuking entire cities -- if they have been tainted by the slightest bit of terrorist influence. This includes San Diego. Civil liberties at an all time low, JMS leads an alliance of film producers, newspaper reporters, web site designers, and online file traders to huge protest along Pennsylvania Avenue. In a desperate act, JMS hands a note describing the details of the march to a sound effects guy, who then allows himself to be blown up by suicide bombers. It's horrible, but the terrorists take the bait, and, though he stands totally outgunned, JMS is able to convince both Cheney and the terrorists to retire on a remote resort and spend the rest of their lives together playing scrabble. Then JMS leads his newly formed alliance against Paramount.
JMS tricks Rick Berman into meeting him on the set of the bridge of the Enterprise. There, Berman is blasted by dozens of his exploding un-surge-protected consoles. But it isn't enough. Astounding everyone, the spirit of Gene Roddenberry rips out of JMS's body. Gene and Rick merge and explode in a massive ball of light.
JMS surrenders himself and his TV show to Paramount's lawyers. But wait! The voters elect JMS to the office of the President of the United States! Now immune to prosecution, JMS respects Paramount's right to continue to produce mindless drivel, even though he knows it will only lead to the production company's own undoing. Paramount replaces JMS with chick who is just as tough as he is and who worked for their side, but used to be his wife, and who might be willing to copulate with the director of the upcoming spinnoff episode. Undaunted, JMS's attention turns away from scriptwriting and toward the difficult task of rebuilding a nation destroyed by self-inflicted nuclear war.
Paramount continues living in its own deluded little world. Signs indicate the potential for more doom, but no one competent shows up to write a sequel. Years later, "JMS+ST: Legend of the Odd Storywriting Enterprise" has a disappointing ending.
Upstairs Dog, Downstairs People.