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William Shatner Pitches 'Starfleet Academy' Show

Tycoon Guy writes "TrekToday reports that William Shatner recently pitched an 'Academy' show to Paramount. The series would feature teen versions of the Classic Star Trek characters Kirk, Spock and McCoy, and be set at Starfleet Academy. The studio turned Shatner down, but he's not letting go of the idea: Pocket Books has asked him to write a two-novel series based on the 'Starfleet Academy' concept. Also, Shatner apparently went over the head of Trek head honcho Rick Berman to pitch his idea straight to the head of Paramount - maybe after Enterprise ends and Berman leaves the franchise, the studio will be more inclined to listen to Shatner?"

46 of 564 comments (clear)

  1. I can just imagine by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Beer me up Scotty!

    1. Re:I can just imagine by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      I wish someone would just tell Shatner to get a life.

    2. Re:I can just imagine by frankenbox · · Score: 2, Funny

      C'mon, "In search of" was the X files of the 70's! You have to figure, if anyone ever was great for a role, it was Nimoy. Starting with the cage... Screaming at the top of his lungs to Jeff Hunter. "Firing laser beams Captain!!!" Took a few episodes to chill him out. Don't think they can work spock into the "Ridgmont High - Starfleet Acadamy" scenerio. I could see him cooking up some Vulcan Methamphetamine in the Dorm. Big Explosions, end of show. Ooops....

  2. Tekwars by Neon+Spiral+Injector · · Score: 5, Funny

    I wonder if Shatner will use the same ghost writer this time?

  3. Academy.. by ackthpt · · Score: 4, Funny
    William Shatner recently pitched an 'Academy' show to Paramount.

    Um.. I read this and immediately had a disturbing vision

    The series would feature teen versions of the Classic Star Trek characters Kirk, Spock and McCoy, and be set at Starfleet Academy.

    Ah, not what I thought, but not exactly a thrilling concept.

    The studio turned Shatner down, but he's not letting go of the idea: Pocket Books has asked him to write a two-novel series based on the 'Starfleet Academy' concept. Also, Shatner apparently went over the head of Trek head honcho Rick Berman to pitch his idea straight to the head of Paramount - maybe after Enterprise ends and Berman leaves the franchise, the studio will be more inclined to listen to Shatner?"

    Maybe if he pitched it as a reality show, a la The Apprentice. That might be entertaining...

    --

    A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
    1. Re:Academy.. by wankledot · · Score: 5, Funny
      "Maybe if he pitched it as a reality show, a la The Apprentice. That might be entertaining..."

      Nowthat qualifies as a disturbing vision. What would a bunch of trekkies be fighting for the chance to be? Captain of an imaginary starship? Chance to date a woman? A shower? Associate producer of the next doomed Trek series?

      --
      My sig is blank, I typed this by hand.
    2. Re:Academy.. by hawk · · Score: 3, Funny

      > What would a bunch of trekkies be fighting for the chance to be?

      Transporter test subjects, of course . . .

      think of it as evolution in action . . .

      hawk

    3. Re:Academy.. by Gilmoure · · Score: 2, Funny

      Wil Wheaton

      --
      I drank what? -- Socrates
  4. Hey Bill? by AKAImBatman · · Score: 3, Funny

    Just let Kirk die already!

    1. Re:Hey Bill? by bill_mcgonigle · · Score: 3, Funny

      The episode that firmly established Pike's command before Kirk's only bolsters the feeling that Kirk inherited Spock instead of hand picking him as he probably did with Bones.

      Bones is ~20 years older than Kirk. Maybe he got held back alot at SF academy?

      --
      My God, it's Full of Source!
      OUTSIDE_IP=$(dig +short my.ip @outsideip.net)
    2. Re:Hey Bill? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      Dammit Jim, I'm a doctor, not a StarFleet Academy student!

  5. huh. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

    good ol' bill shat.

  6. first thing that came to mind by kin_korn_karn · · Score: 3, Funny

    "They're tiny, they're toony,
    they're all a little loony"

  7. Oh God.. by doormat · · Score: 4, Funny

    The OC meets Star Trek. May God save us from such garbage.

    (Its not like the women's starfleet uniforms are all that revealing anyways)

    --
    The Doormat

    If you're not outraged, then you're not paying attention.
    1. Re:Oh God.. by mmkkbb · · Score: 2, Funny

      That can be changed. Ever heard the word "retcon"?

      --
      -mkb
    2. Re:Oh God.. by Erbo · · Score: 2, Funny
      Well my first thought was, "Oh, spiffing! Now it's Star Trek: 90210! Could they possibly run the franchise any farther into the ground?"

      Fortunately, WFS got turned down...someone at Paramount must have had a sudden onset of senile sanity.

      --
      Be who you are...and be it in style!
  8. So by aftk2 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Which one of them will be doing all of the crazy sound effects? And what about the crazy gun nut? "Tackleberry!"

    On a more sobering note, I find it deeply disturbing that I was able to remember this much about Police Academy, at a moment's notice.

    --
    concrete5: a cms made for marketing, but strong enough for geeks.
  9. Oh boy! by nizo · · Score: 1, Funny

    I can't wait to see scenes of their youth, like Kirk giving Spock a wedgie in gym class as well as the true origin of McCoy's nickname (something about him and a knothole in a fence next to the soccer field).

  10. Re:God love that manwhore! by Timesprout · · Score: 5, Funny

    yet he's not even remotely afraid to take chances

    Based on some of the things he's done I think thats more complete lack of an embarassment gene rather than lack of fear.

    --
    Do not try to read the dupe, thats impossible. Instead, only try to realize the truth
    What truth?
    There is no dupe
  11. A Train Wreck, but... by Snap+E+Tom · · Score: 2, Funny

    I'm surprised Paramount turned this down. Sure, it'll be 90210 set in space, and it will be crap to Trekkies. However this is the exact type of teenage soap opera drama they run on UPN all the time.

  12. I'd like to see a "Star Trek" reality show by erroneus · · Score: 2, Funny

    I think it'd be hilarious. Let's get a bunch of Star Trek addicted weirdos together in a trailer home or something like that and watch them interact and stuff. I think it'd be utterly memorable and hilarious. And when they start speaking in Klingon, there could always be subtitles right?

  13. Oh boy. by RedA$$edMonkey · · Score: 1, Funny

    So now we get to see Kirk beat the Kobayashi Maru simulator?

    The only memories I have of starfleet academy are the ones with Wil Wheaton, and they still haunt my nightmares.

  14. Romulan Ale. by MrJerryNormandinSir · · Score: 4, Funny

    Frat parties with green slave girls and rumulan ale.

  15. Re:Star Trek 90210 by snuf23 · · Score: 2, Funny

    Why do you think Kirk left Earth? All the REALLY hot women are out in space!
    They don't let Orion slave girls into the Federation.

    --
    Sometimes my arms bend back.
  16. SpaceBalls? by Emperor+Foo · · Score: 2, Funny

    Also, Shatner apparently went over the head of Trek head honcho Rick Berman to pitch his idea straight to the head of Paramount

    Dark Helmet: You went over my helmet!!!!!

  17. Official Statements by Ducati_749S · · Score: 3, Funny

    While top officials at Paramount were unavailable for comment at press time, William Shatner has released this official statement in regards to Paramount's dismissal of his show concept:
    "KHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAN"

    --
    What about the twinkie? - Dr. Peter Venkman, PHD
  18. Pitch Man by scottennis · · Score: 2, Funny

    I heard that one of the futuristic features of the Starfleet Academy was that you could name your own price for tuition.

  19. Shatner wants MORE Trek? by Nastard · · Score: 5, Funny

    I can't get behind that.

  20. Re:yea!!! by Rei · · Score: 5, Funny

    Come.. now......... It has long been.. recognized.. that William Shatner is an actor, of amazing... talent, a talent that simply dwarfs... all of the rest of his contemporaries. Who.. else.. could have figured out that the way to display.. ultimate.. pain, is to half kneel, and thrust your elbows as far forward as... physically.. possible.. ?

    --
    I once listened to a Philip Glass record for an hour and a half before I realized it was skipping.
  21. It's like Muppet Babies. by EarwigTC · · Score: 5, Funny

    It's like Muppet Babies. Only preachy and more farfetched.

    --
    Promote civility: mod down any post starting with 'ummm'.
  22. Re:Shatner is copying Smallville by jmcwork · · Score: 2, Funny

    Are you insinuating that someone would actually get tired of looking at teen girls? That is like saying "Logic is a wreath of pretty flowers which smell bad"

  23. I can see it now by The_Whole_Fn_Show · · Score: 2, Funny

    Must......study for.......midterm.

    KHAAAAAAAAAN!!!!!!

  24. Cancelled Out! the ultimate reality show... by tyroneking · · Score: 2, Funny

    ...would see the casts of cancelled shows (both past and present) battling it out to win a new show with Paramount.
    Enterprise vs. TOS vs. B5 vs. etc; with a special bye for Futurama - naturally the whole thing would be rigged in favour of Futurama because we all know cartoons are so much better than real-actors.
    The end of each show would see a team eliminated and sent to a community theatre for a year to act out classic plays such as Death of a Salesman or classic TV series such as Magnum and Tour of Duty ... in some foreign US-hating country like Iraq or N Korea (US-hating Europe would be exempt but UK's Manchester would not because they have guns). The show would then spawn multiple spin-offs following the fortunes and hilarious misfortunes of the various expelled casts as they struggle with the lack lustre material, lazy stage hands, and random assasination squads. Yes, I did say random.
    As an added bonus each cast memeber who ever tried to resurrect their original TV show will be required to accompany the local US ambassador where ever s/he goes but without a bullet proof vest.
    It would be very funny and allow us to let go of cancelled TV shows that should be treated like sleeping dogs and stop old actors from trying to resurrect old TV shows.
    I say this having just recovered from the first Ep. of the new Dr Who (I knew Billy Piper liked older men but this is getting ricockulous).

  25. I want to see it by goreking · · Score: 2, Funny

    O.K. I suck...but I want to see this show. Uhura in tight, booty-showing capri-pants. Nurse Chambers when she was just plain old Betty. Yum..

    --
    No...it's okay...I wasn't using my Civil Liberties anyway
  26. Tiny Toon Adventures! by Tackhead · · Score: 5, Funny
    > "They're tiny, they're toony,
    they're all a little loony"
    And Sunday afternoony,
    We're invading UPN!
    Rick Berman's adventures,
    Complying with the censors,
    With schedule misadventures,
    It's Starfleet Academy!

    So here's UPN, where crappy bling bling makes for art,
    Black sitcoms and reality shows - it's like FOX, but dark!
    We're spitting invective, the phasers are defective,
    The franchise isn't dead, Jim, but it's lost. it's. heart.

    (Kirk's toupee's from Wal-mart.)

    1. Re:Tiny Toon Adventures! by ColGraff · · Score: 2, Funny

      Thank you, man. That made my day.

      Incidentally - was it Animaniacs or Tiny Toons that introduced Pinky and the Brain? I'd think the Brain would make an acceptable Trek villain. Hell, look at "Nemesis" and "Insurrection" - compared to that tripe, he'd make a *superb* villain.

      --
      I'm the stranger...posting to /.
  27. Let It Go... by JohnPerkins · · Score: 2, Funny

    It's dead, Jim.

  28. Denny Crane! by Grendel+Drago · · Score: 2, Funny

    "Now that, my friend, is a rabbit. Denny Crane."

    If I weren't already a human being, that show would make me want to go out and sign up for lawyering school.

    --grendel drago

    --
    Laws do not persuade just because they threaten. --Seneca
  29. Finally by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    maybe the show will finally explain how he got that speech im[sleep(3)][2x fast]pediment

  30. Who's this "Kirk" guy people talk about? by sgant · · Score: 4, Funny

    Did Shatner play him or something in an obscure show and it's an "in" thing to bring it up? Kind of like bringing up Cat from Zero Wing?

    I mean, come on! Shatner will always be known for one character and one character only: Denny Crane!

    --

    "Leo Fender was in a 'state of grace' when he designed the Stratocaster." -- Paul Reed Smith
    1. Re:Who's this "Kirk" guy people talk about? by Gilmoure · · Score: 2, Funny

      "There was a monster on the wing!"

      "The same thing happened to me!"

      Dick Soloman (John Lithgow) and the Big Giant Head (Bill Shatner) comparing flights into Ohio.

      --
      I drank what? -- Socrates
  31. Off topic by Get+Behind+the+Mule · · Score: 3, Funny

    Just found this: An endless loop of Shatner shouting you-know-what.

    Just open it up in a separate window and let it play in the background all day long.

  32. Anyone seen Star Trek V lately? by MrMagooAZ · · Score: 3, Funny

    If Shatner's efforts at Star Trek V are any indication, he should stay far, far away from the creative process of any show.

  33. However... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    I can't understand how Lex knows clark so much and later he might not know that he IS superman. After all, in smallville, Clark does NOT use glasses!

    This has always intrigued me.

  34. Re:Let J. Michael Straczynski (B5) have a go by Nick+of+NSTime · · Score: 2, Funny

    Like wise I would like to see Jose Whedon thoughts

    Is that the Mexican non-union equivalent of Joss Whedon?

  35. Re:Not impossible, very very simple. by NanoGator · · Score: 2, Funny

    "The problem is that Hollywood isn't interested in that format for TV. They want it episodic so there's always room to wiggle and try to squeeze more money out of it."

    Actually, no. The reason that Hollywood doesn't do that is that they want TV show audiences to grow. If episode 5 requires watching Episode 2 to understand, they've alienated new people to their audience. A novel-like beginning and end forces that scenario. Who'd want to catch it in the middle?

    --
    "Derp de derp."