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Enterprise Fans Buy Full-Page Ad In LA Times

jangobongo writes "SciFiWire.com reports that fans of Star Trek Enterprise have succeeded in placing a full-page ad in the LA Times. The ad will urge someone to pick up the show for a fifth season. According to the official fan site, a Star Trek Enterprise fan working for the LA Times has arranged a special deal for a discounted ad. Donations collected to date have covered the cost of the ad which will be located in the "A" section of the paper on Feb. 21."

69 of 440 comments (clear)

  1. Come on by mr_null · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Let it die already!

    1. Re:Come on by nuclear305 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      "Let it die already!"

      I wouldn't consider myself a fan at the level of doing anything to save the series, but ...really; I'm sick of seeing all the "Let it die!" comments. On the other hand I'm sure all those who dislike Enterprise are tired of the "Save Enterprise!" campaigns--in which case I wish they'd just ignore them rather than complain about them.

      Anyway, to the point...is it worth saving? Yes, I think so. I think I can safely say without a doubt that Season 4 gets better as each episode passes (Minus the time-traveling space nazi aliens)

      From the preview of upcoming episodes it seems they're finally going to mix things up and add some actual drama to the show rather than psuedo-drama that seems almost forced from Bakula.

    2. Re:Come on by redcone · · Score: 2, Interesting

      I agree. Let it die. I was a Star Trek fan for many years, but Voyager, DS9, and now Enterprise conspired to suck the life out of a great idea. Enterprise could have been a great series had they just went with the idea of chronicling the early days of space exploration and forgot all the time travellers from the future trying to destroy the federation before it even began.

      --
      http://redcone.net
    3. Re:Come on by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

      I know it's common on Slashdot to think Star Trek should die. Let me tell let you in on a little secret: You don't have to watch it. Seriously. I like it, I want to watch it. How does it harm you if it's on?

      For example, I don't care that Stargate plays. Personally, I think I could create a better show based off of the contents of my toilet. Do I constantly complain about it and say that Stargate should die? No. Live and let live.

    4. Re:Come on by The+Bubble · · Score: 2, Interesting

      I have mixed feelings. On one hand, I'd hate to see a Star Trek series die like this, especially when there is no alternative (in the Star Trek universe) to take its place. I am one of the few who enjoy Enterprise; it has something that most of the others have lost out on: contiguous storylines. The 'Brady Bunch' syndrome of Voyager really got annoying.

      Still, I'm afraid of what would happen if someone takes pity on the series. I am reminded of Stargate SG-1, the MGM masterpiece that turned quick-and-dirty sci-fi. I would hate for Enterprise to start reminding me of Andrommeda.

    5. Re:Come on by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful
      There were some classic characters introduced in DS9:

      Quark and the rest of the Ferengi provided comic relief and poked fun at capitalism - clearly in the Rodenberry tradition.

      Odo and his struggles with individuation vs. his "natural" collectivism.

      Dukat and Kira - explorations of nationalism and how personal identity can be bogged down in it.
      DS9 had characters that served a purpose, and they were generally better written than the Enterprise characters.

    6. Re:Come on by felis_panthera · · Score: 2, Insightful

      I think the baldness caused the coolness... the goatee and the Defiant were also essential in curing DS9 of it's suckiness... just like the dominion wars cured the series of its "what can we turn the shapeshifter into this episode"ism...

      Enterprise is also lacking, IMHO, a "freak" character... what I mean is the totally non-human character through whom we all learn more about ourselves... TOS had Spock (which means the vulcan thing was already done, as much as I like T'pol, she's not a freak)... TNG had Data (Worf's purpose was to introduce us to Klingon culture rather than act as a lens to view humanity through)... DS9 had Odo (who never did a great job of reflecting humanity)... Voyager tried to do it with 7 of 9, but really was just trying to add sex appeal and so I couldn't take her seriously as such...

      Enterprise... hmm... neither Floxx nor T'pol seem to me to be anything but eye candy...

      that said, I enjoyed what I saw of 3rd season enough to start making an effort to watch it in 4th season, which has just been getting better and better... the longer story arcs (while most likely just an attempt to draw people in) are great, and I think the series as a whole has near limitless potential...

      maybe captain Beckett should shave his head...

      --

      The chains are broken
      Loki is free
      Ragnarok is at hand...
    7. Re:Come on by toddestan · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Enterprise gets some of the hardcore trekkies into a dilemma - they eat and breathe Star Trek, so naturally they must watch everything Trek. They've seen every movie, every TOS episode, every TNG episode, DS9, Voyager - certainly more than once. But they also find Enterprise painful. So do they:

      1. Endure watching Enterprise for sake of completeness?
      -or-
      2. Don't watch Enterprise cause it stinks, but miss out on this corner of the Star Trek universe?

      The easiest way to get around this delimma is to have Enterprise canceled. That way they won't have to endure any more episodes if they chose option 1, or if they chose option 2 - they can stop worrying about what they might of missed.

      I also must note that a simular problem exists for Star Wars fans, and the upcoming Episode III.

    8. Re:Come on by Asgorath · · Score: 2, Interesting

      This just makes me realise in what a privaliged, wonderfull world we live. If your biggest problems and concerns consists of dilema's like this.... you really need to praise yourself lucky for leading such a wonderfull, protected and good life.

      Having said all that, here in the Netherlands they are just at the start of season 3 and Enterprise is the only Star Trek show that doesn't physically hurt to watch. Well except the original, but that's more because that one is just hilariously funny.

      I will always be amazed how people actually enjoy shows like TNG and Voyager and the first few seasons of DS9. Horrible, horrible space-soaps. DS9 only became good when it started to steal idea's from B5 in my humble opinion.

      I am amazed at that Enterprise actually managed to become a decend series that has some real humanbeings and not this fake "oh this planet has been at war for 10.000 years. Lets talk it out in 30 minutes and peace shall reign forever" or "I've got a crush on crewman x and really don't know what to do with it" or "teach me how to be more human captain Janeway. and do my boobs show up enouth in this suit?" or my ultimate favorite "we as actors and writers are bored and out of idea's, I know... lets go to an alternate reality where we can all act really poorly for the eppisodes running time acting out different charcters. And if that doesn't work, how about getting stuck on the holodeck?", etc. etc...

      The irony is that I can remember trekkies even bitching like hell about series like Voyager. Now however all these series are good because they found a new Star Trek series to hate. Why do Trekies actually like Star Trek? Seeing as how much they complain about it?

      Mind you, all that time traveling nonsense in Enterprise. But thank god for nomore holodecks and whiny whiny eppisodes that feel like "As the world turns.. in spaccceeeeee".

  2. That suggests something by gid13 · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I wonder when the demand for some shows will become great enough that fans will be able to finance entire shows DIRECTLY. Could probably save a pretty penny by not having to pay so many executives too.

    1. Re:That suggests something by Dachannien · · Score: 3, Funny

      What, are you some sort of Slashdot editor or something?

    2. Re:That suggests something by Quarters · · Score: 3, Insightful
      The "pay for the show" fantasy is the biggest uneducated pipe-dream group-think that's ever occured, imho. Their "$13/person = we get our crappy show back" idea only works if UPN is a charity. It doesn't work when UPN is a for-profit business.

      Unless the geniuses behind this idea can come up with ((($13 * 3MilViewers) + n) * 22) where 'n' is an obscene amount of money equal to the maximum amount UPN can expect to make in advertising for the time slot then there's no chance whatsoever that UPN would re-up the show. Of course, if the fans did come up with the per-show costs + advertising revenue for a full 22 episode season then they'd want a full 60 minutes of show per week (since they paid for the advertising slots). That ups the per show costs and then their lump sum falls short.

      Enterprise got cancelled because it can't draw advertising revenue due to its low viewer numbers. UPN can slot something else on Friday nights with a much higher profit margin owed to advertising.

    3. Re:That suggests something by ceejayoz · · Score: 2, Informative

      Yeah - the Lost pilot cost $10 million for two hours, and that was the most expensive pilot in TV history. It had blowing up aircraft engine and such, too.

      I've heard $60-$80 million for an entire SEASON of Enterprise, which gives us $4 million an ep or so.

    4. Re:That suggests something by drsquare · · Score: 2, Funny

      Where the hell does the money go? It can't be in the acting, or the writing, or direction, or editing, or sets, or special effects, or anything related to the quality of the programme.

    5. Re:That suggests something by IgnoramusMaximus · · Score: 2, Funny
      Where the hell does the money go? It can't be in the acting, or the writing, or direction, or editing, or sets, or special effects, or anything related to the quality of the programme.

      * with the corporate-media telepathic-remote-viewing-clairvoiance hat on*

      Err... executive salaries?

  3. Re:NYT? by pangloss · · Score: 2, Funny

    It was cheaper to subtract.

  4. Huh? by Black+Parrot · · Score: 5, Funny


    Is this story an ad for an ad?

    --
    Sheesh, evil *and* a jerk. -- Jade
  5. Add by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    The entire open source community could hardly gather money for the Firefox add in 3(?) months, but a few Star Trek fans gather for an LA Times add in 2(?) weeks?

    omfg.

    1. Re:Add by MrNonchalant · · Score: 2, Informative

      Uh. No. Firefox took 1 week to get the money and got way more money than they needed. Plus they were paying normal rates. It did, however, take 3 months for the ad to run. This angered many. Get your facts straight.

  6. Paaaa-thetic by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    They should have taken out an ad instead calling for the involuntary euthanasia of Rick Berman. I'd eat Alpo for a month to come up with the money to get behind that.

    1. Re:Paaaa-thetic by NOLAChief · · Score: 3, Insightful
      Not to defend Berman or anything (he is a fuckwit), but I don't think the entire blame can be laid on him. I think the faceless (and brainless) network suits are at least partially to blame.

      Think about it, the three incarnations that have aired as part of a network lineup have either sucked, been cancelled early, or both. The ultimate reason is ratings. Network suits care only about ratings, because they are in a brutal competition to be the first to the bottom of the barrel. The two incarnations that aired in syndication, though, were actually quite good (or at least respectable). Because it's airing as filler for a station (yes it sounds bad, but bear with me) they aren't as worried about ratings, so there's less meddling by suits in order to get a short-term ratings boost.

      To illustrate, TOS was simply killed because it wasn't getting enough ratings. NBC had other stuff to work with, so no stupid stunts (and it was the '60s, we were much closer to the top of the barrel). Voyager wasn't too bad, but it was UPN's only show that was worth anything at the time, so they wanted to boost it's ratings (and cross-promote its other shows) any way they could to make the network look good. Unfortunately that led to the travesty of an episode guest starring the Rock and the "hey, CBS is doing a miniseries about an asteroid hitting earth this week, how quickly can we air an asteroid episode too?" insult that was the episode "Rise". Then, with Enterprise, they continued the ratings boost shenanigans from the beginning, alienating fans and leading to a horrible show. This time, because of the WWE deal, UPN can afford to abandon the ST franchise. Anyone else notice that when they put it in the Friday night deathwatch slot, the show got a far sight better?

  7. The difference between Enterprise and other shows by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

    That have had similar campaigns is that the vast majority of the audience believed in the people behind them. Whether it was Angel, or Farscape, or even the original Star Trek, people respected the person(s) in charge of making the show happen, and they were upset with how a studio/channel treated them unfairly.

    This is different, though. No one has been more vocal about the problems with B&B than the fans. Why support them? Why raise money for them to make another season? Let them take the fall on this one even if it means an end to Star Trek right now. It'd be better to start a campaign to raise money on the condition they were gone from the Star Trek helm.

  8. ENOUGH! by Turn-X+Alphonse · · Score: 2, Interesting

    This needs to not become a habit. If loads of people get full page adverts in magazines for every little fanbase then it will become meaningless.

    Enterprise has been a rather poor series from the start. It didn't follow the Star Trek theme at all, it didn't feel like Star Trek. It seemed more of a parody which could of been named "Hicks in space".

    I'm not a HUGE Trekkie, but I'll happily watch anything EXCEPT Enterprise. Where as I can't even stand to watch a full episode of the "new" series. I understand fans want to keep it around, but if it dies (and no offence to anyone but lets hope it does), we might get a real series. No more "Oh no we met a new race who think we're all hicks, lets make friends with them and save the universe!" and alot more "Well.. lets go look at that thing no one understands and go "WTF" when everything goes wrong or someone is taken over by an alien/warp entity thing.

    Hell as far as I know they don't even have a Holo-deck, surely that cuts the series length in half without the "OMG SAFEY HAS BEEN REMOVED" episodes.

    --
    I like muppets.
    1. Re:ENOUGH! by Sponge+Bath · · Score: 4, Funny
      ...could of been named "Hicks in space"

      Captain: Cletus, engage that warp thangy.
      Cletus: I caint! Thar's possums in the warp drive!

    2. Re:ENOUGH! by kongjie · · Score: 3, Insightful
      Turn-X Alphonse said:
      It seemed more of a parody which could of been named "Hicks in space".
      Well, before you accuse people of being hicks just because their English sounds different than your English, perhaps you should hit the books. There is no such phrase "could of"; what you mean is "could have," usually contracted as "could've" and thus sounding like "could of."
  9. Re: Why? by Black+Parrot · · Score: 5, Funny


    > Enterprise is by far the worst Star Trek series of all time, why save it?

    They want to postpone the start of the next series, which will be even worse.

    --
    Sheesh, evil *and* a jerk. -- Jade
  10. This won't succeed by bigtallmofo · · Score: 4, Funny

    My campaign to save Webster in the late 80's didn't succeed and I don't see why this campaign will either.

    Emmanuel Lewis, one day, you'll be back if it's the last thing I do.

    --
    I'm a big tall mofo.
  11. PDF of advert by jong99 · · Score: 5, Informative
    1. Re:PDF of advert by still_sick · · Score: 4, Funny

      Uhhh... Does anyone else see a slight logistical problem with the left-most coupon?

      --
      ...Also, I didn't know Buggalo could fly.
    2. Re:PDF of advert by dbullock · · Score: 3, Funny

      Your people call it a replicator.

      Our people call it a xerox copier.

      --
      http://www.bullnet.com
  12. If Enterprise is to be killed off... by blcamp · · Score: 4, Funny


    At least save T'Pol.

    There are "logical" reasons for this.

    No, really. Honest...

    --
    The problem with socialism is that they always run out of other people's money. - Margaret Thatcher
  13. Worse than shutting the barn door when the horses by saskboy · · Score: 5, Insightful

    ...have long gone.

    Paramount owns Star Trek, and will not let the show continue on anything but UPN, and they've probably already filled Enterprise's time slot with some crud on Friday nights at UPN.

    --
    Saskboy's blog is good. 9 out of 10 dentists agree.
  14. Re:How can Star Trek Succeed? by Scrameustache · · Score: 3, Insightful

    The problem with Enterprise is

    The problem with Trek, in two words: Rick Berman.

    --

    You can't take the sky from me...

  15. Re:How can Star Trek Succeed? by TheKidWho · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Get off your high horse and start watching the newest season of enterprise. It by far kicks major ass.

    Watch it Pink Skin.

  16. What does the ad say? by Tibe · · Score: 2, Funny

    Help save Star Trek.

    New writers needed.

  17. Re:How can Star Trek Succeed? by ArsSineArtificio · · Score: 2, Insightful
    Enterprise should take homosexuality or Tibet and frame those issues in a big metaphor and give the punch line at the end.

    I'm not sure that The Tiresome, Preachy Metaphor Show would be any more successful than The Tired Premise Sci-Fi Western Show.

    --
    All employees must wash hands before seeking equitable relief.
  18. Re:La Times?????? by CrazyTalk · · Score: 2, Informative

    No offense - but RTFA. They wanted USA Today, but couldnt afford it.

  19. I have an idea by earthforce_1 · · Score: 5, Funny

    How about covering the hull of the enterprise in ads like a formula 1 race car?

    Seeing a big Viagra ad splayed across the top of the saucer section would be worth watching the show again...

    --
    My rights don't need management.
    1. Re:I have an idea by liquidsin · · Score: 4, Funny

      Shouldn't the Viagra ads go on the thrusters?

      --
      do not read this line twice.
    2. Re:I have an idea by eclectro · · Score: 4, Funny

      How about covering the hull of the enterprise in ads like a formula 1 race car?

      That would be too obvious. Instead they could have product placement by having products mysteriously warp into the future and appear on Archer's desk.

      --
      Take the cheese to sickbay, the doctor should see it as soon as possible - B'Elanna Torres, "Learning Curve"
    3. Re:I have an idea by Zoop · · Score: 2, Funny

      Shouldn't the Viagra ads go on the thrusters?

      No, those are where the Beano ads go.

  20. Re:Put in something better.... by nuclear305 · · Score: 2, Funny

    "Put in something better...."

    Like what, Sibling Swap? Survivor 32? American Idol: Reloaded Ad Nauseum? CSI: Buffalo?

    I can't possibly see what would be a better use of a timeslot. Enterprise may not be all that great, but rest assured they'll replace it with something worse and redundant.

  21. Re:But enterprise sucks! by fm6 · · Score: 2, Interesting
    ...little more than a container for P.C./lefty proselytization...
    Which pretty much describes Star Trek in general, or indeed anything with Gene Roddenberry's name on it. I mean, St. Gene was pretty much a stereotype of the Big L Liberal. If "PC" bothers you, why did you ever watch Star Trek in the first place?
  22. Re:How can Star Trek Succeed? by cnettel · · Score: 2, Interesting
    I like Star Wars because it has excellent acting and dealt with good versus evil. Star Wars is essentially a medieval tale (of knights and a princess) shrouded in sci-fi props: lasers, spaceships, etc.
    And that is why we have to be really careful about Trek. I do NOT want it to deteriorate into a we-are-good-because-we-are-good story. ST is about people with ideals. SW is more about, well, people.

    In addition to the acting, what I couldn't find in Enterprise were those ideals. Sure, Archer talks about them sometimes, but I simply don't get that impression. Even Voyager could give me some of that. In fact, I think parts of DS9 got too much of "epic tale of good against evil" sometimes, while Voyager at its worst just got boring. I think I, for one, can prefer boring.

  23. Jumping by vistic · · Score: 3, Funny

    Please stop, the shark is tired now.

  24. Shouldn't this read... by kuzb · · Score: 2, Insightful

    ...Enterprise Fans Waste Money On Full-Page Ad In LA Times

    While I respect the fact that some want it to continue, it's a truly futile effort which is not going to go anywhere. Save your money to pay for the service to watch whatever Star Trek incarnation comes along next.

    --
    BeauHD. Worst editor since kdawson.
  25. Re:The ship should self destruct at the season end by strelitsa · · Score: 2, Funny
    STAR TREK ENTERPRISE: Scene 55, Final Day:

    A darkened cabin aboard this vessel.. Two figures lie in bed.

    Zoom in on the perspiring figure of Captain Robert April, tossing and turning in a fitful sleep. Having consumed entirely too much Arcturian rarebit at dinner the night before, April suddenly sits bolt upright in bed, screaming "YAAAAHHHHH!!! in sheer terror, the result of a particularly long and horrible nightmare. Wife Sarah, rubbing the sleep from her own eyes, rolls over looking at him with concern and says, "Honey, what's wrong? What's wrong?"

    Slow fade to black, roll credits.

    --
    No mod points, no meta-moderating/Firehose/all the other free work Slashdot wants me to do.
  26. Re:Good Luck by krisp · · Score: 2, Informative

    I liked how UPN taunts Enterprise fans. Half way through the show they ran an add that said "Enterprise is coming to an end. These are the last episodes!"

    I doubt UPN will uncancel it.

  27. enterprise's problem by Squeezer · · Score: 5, Insightful

    the problem with enterprise isn't the show, its ha da great 3rd and 4th series that tie the episodes together. (unlike TNG where enterprise just flew around the galaxy doing whatever and none of the episodes tied anything together)

    Anyway, getting back to my point, the problem is that its shown on UPN. who watches UPN? nobody, look at their ratings on every show. If enterprise was on Fox the ratings would be through the roof. Heck where I live, there is no local UPN station (so I can't get with with my satalite subscriber or on a antenna) so I have to download the copy from usenet the morning after the new episode airs.

    but here we do have local fox, abc, cbs, nbc, and wb (bleh) affiliates. for gods sake, show enterprise on anything other then UPN and you'd have great ratings. The problem isn't enterprise, the problem is that nobody watches UPN, no matter what UPN has on tv.

    --
    Does the name Pavlov ring a bell?
    1. Re:enterprise's problem by Bambi+Dee · · Score: 3, Insightful
      (unlike TNG where enterprise just flew around the galaxy doing whatever and none of the episodes tied anything together)

      That's why I actually ended up watching it, though. Sure, you had to figure out who's who and such, but episodes like Thine Own Self, The Inner Light or Emergence didn't require you to know much about Star Trek politics, alliances, factions, wars. They just used the ST universe as a vehicle for a couple quite original stories (by TV standards) that didn't have much of an effect on future episodes - which is unfortunate, yes, but OTOH I'm not sure the ST universe would have lasted long had every new week's weirdness followed the Enterprise around.

      My impression was that whenever ST develops drawn-out story arcs they tend to focus on these more conventional, more 'adventure story'-like aspects of the Star Trek universe, aspects that kinda require you to already "care". And while I liked DS9, it wasn't thanks to the, hm, execution rather than the Bajor/Cardassia/Prophets and Dominion stuff.

      Okay, I don't know how to get back on topic from here...

    2. Re:enterprise's problem by Mattintosh · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Viacom owns both Paramount and CBS. They could step in and force the sub-companies to play nice and trade shows.

      CBS could let UPN have a CSI in exchange for ST:E. Yay! Alphabet soup!

  28. What does this mean? by chrysrobyn · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Let's look at this story another way. Enterprise fans (who are among the most rabid bit torrent users, many because of UPN's limited audience) don't believe they're spending enough money on the show through eyeballs (commercials) and uploading. They feel the need to tell the studios that they're willing to pay more, so they took out an ad.

    Do we need more evidence that current copyright law is hindering the progress of science and useful arts?

    "Congress shall have Power [...] To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries."

    Studios, the Internet is there for more than just commercials served as web pages. We're willing to pay for content. We're ready for you. You will lose money if you stand in the way of progress, just like the US Constitution foretold 200 years ago. You can either help with something like iTunes or sue dead grandmothers until teenagers teach their parents how to take care of this themselves.

    We have the technology to allow the market to directly tell you what they want. We want Firefly (just count those DVD sales). We want Family guy. Yet the studios count the millions who watch the Superbowl just for the commercials the same as a rabid fan base who will pay through the nose for a series on commercial free DVD. (Here's a tip, I don't like menus or "special features", I just want to use my DVD player like a CD player hooked up to the TV.)

    [karma whore]Wait, this is Slashdot. Nobody likes Enterprise. How much did both Enterprise fans have to contribute for the full page ad?[/karma whore]

  29. Orginal ending? by Rai · · Score: 2, Funny

    How about crashing the ship into a planet? Hold up, that's been done. How about ramming it into an enemy ship? No wait... What about a phasing cloak where it gets stuck in an...no, dammit! Uh, time travel...assimilation...green animal women... Oh, the hell with it.

  30. Re:Put in something better.... by nuclear305 · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Actually I have seen BSG; and frankly I find it a far superior series in many ways.

    However--BSG isn't looking for a timeslot, it already has one. My point was that no matter what new show they come up with it's probably just going to be something that already has 10 variations currently airing on other networks. If they fill it with reruns of some other show...same deal.

    A crappy Trek series is a better use of the timeslot it was in because I seriously doubt anything truly unique and creative will take its place, and reruns are just that...reruns, I'd rather watch new episodes of a mediocre series.

  31. Alluring Theme Tune by zootm · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Right. Enterprise. I'm sure it's a perfectly good show. Maybe even good. But am I the only one who instinctively turns their TV off before the end of the theme tune?

    It could be the worst theme on television. Ever.

  32. Re:Bizarre Priorities by Chandon+Seldon · · Score: 2, Insightful

    You sir are the sorry one.

    I don't care what the "horrible disaster of the day" is, it doesn't make spending money on anything but charity an evil selfish act.

    Apparently some people believe that Enterprise is a good enough TV show that it is worth their money to try to save it. I'm not sure that a newspaper ad is the correct way to spend that money, but supporting something you enjoy is a perfectly reasonable and appropriate thing to do.

    --
    -- The act of censorship is always worse than whatever is being censored. Always.
  33. What enterprise did well.. by xC0000005 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    (No, not "suck and die") but attract non star trek fans. I know many trek lovers at work. All of them hate Enterprise. Then there's the dedicated non SF crowd, like my wife, who actually likes Enterprise. She likes the characters more. Likes the lower tech "high tech." And she's not alone. The other Enterprise watchers I know didn't really like Trek before Enterprise. Enterprise's downfall? It isn't really working as a gateway drug. I don't know people who have moved off of enterprise onto harder SF. (Unlike firefly, which began soft and smooth, but I know people who live their social lives in the social equivalent of an abandoned building, straining shows like Andromeda through bread to get a SF high). Enterprise hasn't built a following of people who would watch another show from the same series. Contrast TNG, which made so many addicts that they were willing to watch a show about a space station that boldly sat in one place year after year.

    --
    www.voiceofthehive.com - Beekeeping and Honeybees for those who don't.
  34. Enterprise lacks sex appeal by zymano · · Score: 2, Funny

    f enough sci-fi fans thought it was good enough then it would get ratings.

    An idea to spice up the show would be new uniforms . Have ALL the women including the hot vulcan in tight miniskirts just like in the original series. Remember the Vulcan in the StarTrek movie ? Hell make them even smaller skirts. Why not add some eroticism instead of staying stale and puritan.

    I WOULD DEFINITELY WATCH THEN.

    1. Re:Enterprise lacks sex appeal by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Having Jolene Blalock in a shower once per episode is Puratin?

      They're pretty much already doing that, and it's not working.

  35. What is WITH Slashdotters? by Genghis+Cohn · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I love the articles here, but any time I venture into the comments section, I wind up irritated and depressed at humanity's future prospects.

    Slashdot commentators seem to combine the arrogance and incivility of your average adolescent with the cantankerous anger of a bitter old man. Most of you don't seem to love anything, and if you do stumble across someone expressing appreciation or admiration for anything, you just DUMP ALL OVER IT.

    That's my general statement. Now about this topic in particular:

    I LIKE Enterprise. Yes, it has taken a few years to hit its stride. This seems to be the pattern for these Berman-produced Trek vehicles. They get better as they go along. I thought this one would be particularly challenging for them to pull off, because writing a past history for any established storyline is just hard. You have to work within the strictures of what has already been plotted, not violate any rules already laid down, but still keep things fresh and unpredictable. Furthermore, since they are working in a reality that is lacking quite a few of the standard Star Trek devices (meaning both technology and plot devices), they can't just fall back on old storylines like holodecks (not invented yet), Q continuum (won't meet them for centuries), the Borg (likewise), or even original Trek conventions like the Klingon War or the Romulan Neutral Zone (yet to happen/be established.)

    I wasn't wild about the Temporal Cold War plotlines, but there is an ongoing theme, well established during Voyager, that Temporal violations are possible and certain organizations work hard to prevent that from happening. The TCW plots at least establish some of the "history" (slippery word when you're talking about time travel) that led to that sort of management.

    And this season, I think they are really getting to the meat of the plots, the establishment of much of what we first came to like about Star Trek: The Federation (and Humans central role in bringing it about), the battles with the Romulans that will lead to the Zone, the roots of the Klingon/Terran conflict, the moral dilemmas that necessitate the Prime Directive, reliable Transporter technology, and so on. Between the First Contact movie and Enterprise, the Zefram Cochrane/Warp Drive/Vulcan first contact plot line has really been fleshed out, and now seems like a genuine part of Trek history.

    Those are reasons why I like it. I don't demand that YOU do. But why do so many people around here WANT it to die? This isn't 1975, with just three big TV networks and very limited programming space. It's 2005, there are dozens of networks and hundreds of channels. There's plenty of room for both Trek and Battlestar Galactica, and whatever else. If you don't like Trek, don't watch it. I'll admit that plenty of people have made that choice, and that's why the show is in peril. But ferchrisakes, don't demand that it be taken off just because it doesn't appeal to YOU. And if those of us who do enjoy it make some effort to keep it on, please try not to savage us, or disparage the attempt. I'm much more turned off by apathy than by people earnestly trying to do something, even something a little silly.

    Better to tilt at windmills than to just sit home in your underwear and type snide comments at people you haven't (and probably never will) meet.

    1. Re:What is WITH Slashdotters? by hotshot2000 · · Score: 5, Interesting

      The problem with your argument is that you assume the presence of Enterprise doesn't affect those who dislike it. That is false.

      1) Aired Trek becomes canon, that is, it becomes part of the mythos that needs to be factored in by, e.g., Trek novels -- those who dislike Enterprise also dislike the fact that future series and books will need to take its presence into account, and spend at least some energy addressing the (in their opinion) contradictions and dubious elements it introduces into the mythos.

      2) The resources being used on Enterprise (squandered, according to those who dislike it) could be put to better use on better Trek if Enterprise was off the air.

      Please realize that at least some of those who advocate the cancellation of Enterprise are not mean-spirited folk who want to take away your enjoyment, but rather equally earnest people trying to ensure the future of Trek they enjoy, in the same way that Enterprise supporters believe themselves to be acting.

  36. Re:Priorities by porcupine8 · · Score: 3, Insightful
    What are you doing wasting time on slashdot? Shouldn't you be spending every spare minute you have (when you're not working for minimum wage at a nonprofit) raising money for this disaster?

    Oh, wait, you sometimes spend your time and money in ways that benefit you and not others? Hypocrite.

    --
    Warning: Apple/Nintendo fangirl. Likes her electronics cute & cuddly. May be rabid.
  37. SpreadFirefox ad got... by kcb93x · · Score: 5, Informative

    When we placed the ad with the NY Times, we got a discount for taking it when they (the NY Times) wanted to within a two week window. With this one, they've got a guy who works for the LA Times, so he probably got the discount as well as the chance to pick his/her own date.

    --
    There are 4 boxes to use in the defense of liberty: soap, ballot, jury, ammo. Use in that order. Starting now.
  38. Fan made episodes by cbr2702 · · Score: 3, Informative

    Have you seen this? Two new episodes of TOS, with more on the way.

    --


    This post written under Gentoo-linux with an SCO IP license.
  39. Good luck by anethema · · Score: 2, Interesting

    A friend recommended me to watch the pilot of Battlestar Galactica. After seeing that (then of course watching the entire season1), I have this to say to enterprize fans: Good luck.

    This is obviously just my humble personal opinion, but from what ive seen, ST:E has absolutly -nothing- on BSG.

    --


    It's easier to fight for one's principles than to live up to them.
  40. The Enterprise storyline had an ending all along. by wrench+turner · · Score: 2, Informative
    The end of the story arc is in the can and they've already started airing it.

    The most recent episode made clear how Archer was integral to the creation of the Federation.

    Soon I'll bet we get an episode about the Suliban and the cold war. I expect they'll let us know who that holographic time lord was and re-kindle that sub-plot that'll lead to the next series/spin-off.

    They've still got to explain the glaring differences between the Enterprise and Start Trek TOS universes. i.e. Why Archer and this Enterprise history isn't known by the Kirk and Spock gang.

    They're preparing the setting and cast for the next show. I figure that's why Trip's going to the Columbia, why Flox get's kidnapped.

    I dig the show and I look forward to the next series. Wow, T'Pol, what a babe, my favorite character.

    If you really want to know you can read the pre-production report of the final episode.

  41. Re:Good luck by MtViewGuy · · Score: 2, Insightful

    If you've seen my post on this topic, you know that Paramount dearly misses Ronald D. Moore, who was involved in some of the very best episodes of ST:TNG and ST:DS9. If Moore were involved with ST:E I think the series would have far higher ratings.

  42. Re:Priorities by porcupine8 · · Score: 2, Insightful
    Time maybe, but then again, I have just returned from a month's voluntary stint out there.

    That is absolutely wonderful. However, I'm sure there are a couple dozen equally-worthy charities out there that you haven't spent five minutes or a dollar on. You have no right to dictate where others put their energies.

    Re money: I loved the Clerks animated series, for example. I'd dearly love to see a return to our screens. However, I'd rather donate towards a worthwhile cause, than a full page newspaper ad requesting this.

    Did you buy Clerks on DVD? Or have you ever bought anything on DVD? Couldn't that money have been better spent on the tsunami victims, or whoever had suffered a disaster that year?

    Yes, we're talking about different magnitudes of money here. But how do you know that those people don't regularly give much more to charity than what they spent on the ad?

    Sorry, but one of my pet peeves is people who get on a high horse and think that they are the arbiters of what is a worthwhile cause and where others should spend their time and money. Most people donate either time or money to charity. Everyone chooses different causes, and chooses to allocate different percentages of their time and money to those causes. Until you are living a completely luxury-free life and donating equally to all charities, you're in a glass house.

    --
    Warning: Apple/Nintendo fangirl. Likes her electronics cute & cuddly. May be rabid.
  43. Star Trek dead? by thaum1el · · Score: 2, Informative

    Well, one can discuss in absurdum wether or not Enterprise was worthwhile.

    The question of wether or not the death of Enterprise is a good thing, is a completely different thing.

    Concidering the hardcore fans has complained about how the series have developed ever since they made an episode that was not TOS, especially the Voyager and Enterprise series, can we really be sure that Paramount will actually go for another series? Or will they fear that it is too unsecure a step to take from an economic standpoint?

    --
    War doesn't determine who is right, only who is left.