Back in the 1966, yes it has been 40 years as of September 2006 that a TV series called Star Trek graced the small screen in homes across the country. 40 years, it’s hard to believe that a television series that was almost cancelled after 2 seasons lasted as long as it has. We have seen the recent reworked adventures of Kirk and Spock soaring thru the stars in search of new life, new civilizations and to boldly go where no man has gone before. The series only last three seasons! We all have seen the repeats of the episodes over and over. A series that ended before its time even thought we later saw it in animated episodes and six movies. Six movies with Kirk, Spock and the rest of the crew of the Enterprise, Who would have thought that they would produce a movie,
The 1980’s brought us Star Trek: The Next Generation. Most of the fans were hesitant about the new series since it did not feature Kirk and Spock. After a rocky first two seasons, the Next Generation went on for seven seasons and produced four feature films.
The Next Generation spun-off another series in the 80’s called Star Trek: Deep Space Nine which was based on a space station. Brought us new aliens such as the Dominion who wanted to conquer the Federation, Perhaps, this was a preview of what was to come in American history? Do we the Dominion want to conquer? Our governments choose to go to war and move into Iran to overthrow the Dictatorship of Sad am Hussein. The Dominion wanted to end the dominance of the Federation. The series ran seven seasons like the Next Generation.
Star Trek: Voyager followed after Deep Space Nine featuring a crew of a starship lost in another area of space. This was a series to feature the first woman to command a starship as well as the first female. It took long enough for our first woman Captain. It was suggested back in Kirks day that there was not many women Captains. The series ran seven seasons like the Next Generation and Deep Space Nine
Star Trek: Enterprise followed Voyager. Rick Berman, the man who took over the reins after Gene Roddenberry died went to the well once again. In my opinion, Berman went to the well one too many times. This series was set prior to Kirks time period and laid the groundwork for what became the Federation. This series ran four seasons just one year longer than the original Star Trek series.
Five televisions series and ten movies in forty years, who would have thought that it would have lasted as long as it has, it is my belief:
• The producers of Star Trek had gone to the well way too many times.
• Rick Berman unwillingness to go outside the ‘box’ for stories. Star Trek is about the future not the past and Enterprise was a mistake. I have nothing against the stars of the series and stories but Star Trek needed to move forward not backward.
• Berman in the first few seasons of Enterprise depended on writers from outside of the franchise that were unfamiliar with working in Trek.
In 2006, Paramount Studios announced that JJ Abrams from Alias and LOST fame will taking the helm of the Star Trek franchise. Abrams brings into the franchise what it has needed for a long time… new blood, new ideas and new adventures. Even though it is believed that the new movie will somehow involve Kirk and Spock, the change at the head of the franchise has been needed.