The 13-year missionAfter it became clear that StarTrek: Voyager would reach its final destination in May 2001, Paramountsongoing mission has been to seek out new forms of Trek. Since 1987 theresbeen at least one new Star Trek series on the air and Paramount is determinedto keep it that way.
Star Trek producer Rick Berman hassaid that the new concept will be "be dramatically different" from previousTrek outings. As late as Monday, Star Trek: Voyager Brannon Bragaconfirmed that Paramount is testing a few early concepts with focus groups.
Federation beat out two othercontenders for series gold. According to sources close to Trek, the twoother pitches were:
- Starfleet Academy: known derogatorilyas Star Trek: 90210, this series would have dealt with a cast ofyoung cadets learning the Starfleet way. This idea was the original plotof Star Trek VI featuring a new cast as the young Kirk, Spock andMcCoy but fan outcry nixed the idea. The new concept was set in the sametime frame as the Next Generation movies.
- Star Trek: Special Forces: an eliteMission:Impossible team that secretly goes into Federation hotspots and resolvesissues.
Since CBS is currently mergingwith Paramount parent company Viacom, the new series will most likely airon that network. Ironically, nearly 40 years ago, CBS passed on the originalStar Trek. Now they have a chance to correct that mistake.Captain Sulu to the rescue?
Some fans are not pleased with Federation.
Instead they say the original navigatorof the Enterprise should lead the franchise into new territory. Fans arebacking George Takei (Captain Sulu) as their top choice as next Trek captain.
This Sulu series would take place abouttwo years after the events in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country.Kirk is presumed dead, but Uhura, Chekov, Scotty, Dr. Chapel, and Spockare still in fighting form.
Sulu, leading a new crew that may includea young ensign Tuvok(as seen in the Voyager episode "Flashback"), explore the galaxyin the time period after the movies and 70 years before the Next Generation.
The Excelsior campaign (named afterSulus ship in Star Trek VI) already has a worldwide following.At a recent news conference, the amazingly fit Takei -- who is not officiallyinvolved with the movement or its organizers, the International Federationof Trekkers -- worked a crowd of fans from Brazil, Germany, Italy and Englandlike he was leading a revival meeting..
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According to Takei "Paramount hasntcontacted anyone from the old series. They say it is unlikely. But whenwe were cancelled back in 69, Paramount said Star Trek was dead. The fansare really the owners of the Star Trek phenomenon."
The Excelsior campaign harkens backto the early days of the "Star Trek Lives!" grassroots movement in theearly seventies that resurrected the franchise with the first movie in1979.
In the first three weeks of the crusade,members of the Excelsior campaign sent 2,400 letters to Paramount. The"StarTrek Lives" campaign brought the franchise back with 10,000 letters.
In a call to action for Sulu activists,the Excelsior campaign will hold a rally at the front gates of Paramountstudios on April 22. For more details check out their website.
For his part, Takei would be "delighted"if Paramount called him back.
"We intend to knock your socks off,"he says.
Other Trek stars have their pitches
According to a light-hearted RobertPicardo, Voyagers holographic Doctor, Paramount has focus testedthe following series:
- The Voyagers doctor travels throughoutthe galaxy helping aging starlets reclaim their beauty through plasticsurgery in Star Trek: Botox
- The crew takes on a nasty polluting utilityin Star Trek: Brockovich.
- Muscledwarriors compete while busty women strut the stage in Star Trek:Smackdown.
- Sevenof Nine stars in Star Trek: Lap Dancer
- Neelixand Tuvok open a gay disco club in Star Trek: Fabulous
Marina Sirtis (Counselor Troi) joked thatthe next show will have Troi as captain of a ship of counselors givingcomfort to planets in trouble. "How long do you think that would last?About midway through the first episode."While a ship of counselors may notsound like a good idea, if Birth of the Federation tanks, Paramount mightbe giving her a call.
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