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.

Comments

Great idea

[Fox_1]

The nice thing about JMS's work is how he weaves complex themes into the story arc, rather then exploring and discarding them in single episode blips. That was great for the original Star Trek and early science fiction on tv (time tunnel, that sub show, quantum leap, etc) but the work of series like Bab5 has raise sci fi on tv to a higher level - where they take advantage of the serial esque nature of weekly broadcasts.
I'm in.

Re:Great idea

[drsquare]

On the other hand, it makes it so that people who aren't obsessive TV viewers who religiously watch every single episode, all in order, can't get into it. If you sit down and watch a single episode, you won't understand it. That doesn't make it a better programme, it doesn't 'raise it to a higher level', it just narrows its appeal, and turns it more into a soap.

They lost it after DS9...

[bani]

..Voyager, and then Enterprise proved that the producers have completely lost their marbles, and totally lost touch with the core audience.

As soon as I heard the Enterprise opening theme, I knew it was dead.

I think trek needs to die, and stay dead for another 15 years or so. Only then will it be ready for another revival.

Such wasted effort on tripe like Enterprise, when stuff like Firefly is far more deserving.

Expensive Props and Poor Writing

[bfline]

Star Trek has suffered from poor writing since after TNG. Even Deep Space Nine still had some good plots that made you interested. Another problem with Enterprise is that they have bores like Trip and Malcom. I loved B5. Loved it. I am sure JMS would make sure that the writing wasn't lame. How? Because with little money to work with he concentrated on the storylines. I think they should stop spending so much money on the props, sets, makeup, etc., and start spending it on the writing. I also loved the original Trek which became classic because of the writing again, certainly not the props.