Slashdot Mirror
Straczynski Offers To Re-Boot Star Trek [updated]
EvilMagnus writes "I just came across this thread over on usenet where J. Michael Straczynski, creator of Babylon 5 and Jeremiah, talks about the cancellation of Enterprise. It seems he and a collaborator have already written a series bible and treatment for a new version of Star Trek - but it's not been pitched to Paramount out of 'political considerations' (Berman refusing to give up his dead horse?). JMS calls for everyone who thinks a JMS-run Star Trek series would be a good idea to write Paramount and let them know." Along similar lines, yonnage writes "Last week there was an article posted here about Enterprise fans atempting to pay for the next season of Enterprise. It seems that all the efforts have been pulled together and a new website has been created and has started collecting contributions for Enterprise's next season." Update: 02/16 19:47 GMT by T : Read the rest of the thread to see JMS's followup; he's decided to at least postpone this endeavor.
This article should be from the "beating a dead horse department".
Seriously. Outside of The Next Generation, all Star Treks (including the original) are pretty lame, uninteresting, boring, cookie-cutter and about as sci-fi as "Little Wonder" with the robotic Vicki.
*yawn*
Honestly I feel that babylon 5 really lowered the bar for sci-fi. I know a lot of people liked it but I think it was a step backwards; an emphasis on ships and energy cannons more than the themes and purpose. I believe that during its run it really prompted a sort of "lowest common denominator" ratings war with other shows of its time, when it started getting popular other shows *cough* Deep Space Nine developed a similar tendency. I think the more cerebral approach to sci-fi the better, it's supposed to be about ideas and human nature. I really think Bab5 was sorely lacking in that department. (besides there were a lot of hammy performances) I don't mean to start a flame war, but I think if science finction's credibility were a car, Babylon 5 put a nasty dent in it's fender.
Yep, JMS's buildups and continuity were HIGHLY overrated. They flew right through "underwhelming" to "pointless", to "just plain dumb" briefly through "bizarre", crash-landing soon after in "this is stupid, i'm not watching this anymore". I gave B5 a massive amount of personal tether, and I realised that it was simply more fun to weed the garden or do my taxes.
Besides, continuity is everywhere now. 24, the new Galactica series, West Wing, hell even the Simpsons does it now and again. Trek's done it too, although not to such a degree, as they were always hunting the "undevoted viewer", rather than comic book guy and his overwhelmingly male buddies who had seen every episode and debated detox gel on usenet. Saying JMS will rebuild Trek with continuity is like saying he's going to rebuild Trek with those new special effects doohickeys.