STAR TREK FANS AND FOES: MARK APRIL 22 ON YOUR CALENDAR THAT'S THE DAY WHEN FANDOM TAKES TO THE STREETS IN WHAT THEY SEE AS THE MOST CRUCIAL MISSION YET: TO SAVE THE SERIES FROM ITSELFSulu fans and foes, mark your calendars! Fandom takes to the streets April 22 in what they see as their most crucial mission yet -- saving Star Trek from itself.
Two decades ago, Trek creator Gene Roddenberry's philosophy changed
Russ Haslage's life. Following a telephone conversation with Roddenberry, Haslage founded the International Federation of Trekkers, a fan club based on the example of the Enterprise crew -- like Kirk, Spock and company, "members go places to help people."
Unlike most media fan clubs, the IFT is a global service organization, with chapters ranging from Sarajevo to Haslage's own Ohio, devoted to the enrichment of humanity.
"Our members really get involved with civic efforts like blood drives, tree planting campaigns, fund raising for civic and charitable activities, disaster relief, and much more," the group's information packet for new members announces.
Is Sulu the future?
Now Haslage is trying to avert another kind of disaster: the collapse of the show he loves.
"We have episodes of
Voyager of the franchise."Rick Berman has actually admitted in a bunch of interviews in the last couple of months that the future of Star Trek is very tenuous," he told SPACE.com. "It's on the verge of total death. And the only thing that can save it in his opinion is a good series. And we're offering him a heck of an idea for a good series."
Haslage's "good series" is the heart of his Excelsior campaign -- an alliance of thousands of fans he founded to send a signal to Paramount: give us a series starring Sulu or face the death of your cash cow. With news spreading through Internet sites and mailing lists, the campaign has hit a raw nerve.
"We've gotten thousands of fans and thousands of letters," he said.
"It's probably going to happen"
As for Takei, he's delighted by the show of support.
"I am amazed," he told SPACE.com. "I think it's an incredible commentary on the Star Trek phenomenon. But then, I really shouldn't be amazed, because the 35-year-long history of Star Trek has really been directed, shaped and formed by the Star Trek fans, not the so-called powers that be."
Will we see Takei as captain of the Federation starship Excelsior in the near future? After decades at the heart of the Star Trek phenomenon, the actor is resigned to optimism.
"I feel confident that because of the history of the fans determining what happens with the Star Trek franchise that it's probably going to happen."
Paramount is not so sanguine on the prospect. Voyager executive producer Brannon Braga has flatly denied the campaign's chances, telling SCIFI Wire that "there is no plan for a Sulu series at the moment."
And the captain of the Excelsior Campaign, Russ Haslage, just hopes Paramount will give him a new Trek series that hold true to Roddenberry's philosophy.
[inset]
"If there isn't something there for people to believe in, it's just an hour of vegetating time."
Excelsior supporters will march on
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