Star Trek, love it or hate it, has held the test of time. Despite its declining popularity, it still remains the second longest running science fiction franchise. (I was reminded that Doctor Who is 45) Nothing can compare to the history and spinoffs of this property.And today, Star Trek turns 42, facing its own rebirth next year. Hopefully it will revitalize the fandom, but lets take a look at where Star Trek has been, Wikipedia gathers:
Star Trek (Also known as “TOS”, The Original Series) debuted in the United States on NBC on September 8, 1966. The show tells the tale of the crew of the starship Enterprise and that crew’s five-year mission “to boldly go where no man has gone before.”
The Original Series (1966 – 1969)
The Animated Series (1973 – 1974)
Phase II (failed return to TV – never aired or produced)
The Next Generation (1987 – 1994)
Deep Space Nine (1993 – 1999)
Voyager (1995 – 2001)
Enterprise (2001 – 2005)And the Feature Films
Star Trek: The Motion Picture 1979
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan 1982
Star Trek III: The Search for Spock 1984
Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home 1986
Star Trek V: The Final Frontier 1989
Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country 1991
Star Trek Generations 1994
Star Trek: First Contact 1996
Star Trek: Insurrection 1998
Star Trek Nemesis 2002
Star Trek 2009
I am really looking forward to the Star Trek reboot next year (and its gaining a lot of positive buzz). After the sting of Nemesis, the series has no future without leaping another 150 years and placing the “Next Generation” in the history books. However, going back to the beginning (part of the charm found in First Contact, but never quite captured by the Enterprise tv series) is a wise way to bring in new fans and have a new story that is both familiar to the fans, and still not constricted by canon.
The fanbase is dying, if not dead. At the recent FanExpo there were very little Trek represented. I had thought with the upcoming movie, there would be some buzz, but not really so much. The series needs something to revitalize it and bring in new blood as well as reinvigorating the remaining fans.
Happy Birthday Star Trek!
As a Doctor Who fan who went through the nineties with effectively a “dead programme” for company while being jealous of how well Star Trek was doing, I’m now delighted to see the roles reversed.
Star Trek looks like it’s trying to make a comeback too soon. Personally, I think it could do with a little rest… It would come back fresher than ever.
George, I can honestly say with the Star Trek movies, the last one, and the poorly receieved tv series (even though it did get three seasons) just were not enough. And you are right, the fans wont put up with it just because it says Trek on it.
Also, addressing your off topic comment, I need not appologize. I never said he WAS alive, just that if Hollywood wanted to, he didn’t have to be dead. No matter how “final” the script or anyone in an interview said. Doesnt mean they will, and I hope they never do. But I didnt say he was alive. Just that he COULD be. You never got that.
The thing with trek is there are a lot of fans out there. The movies used to make a ton of money so there is an audience. Its just that they are not going to accept any old shit that gets handed out to them. The movies got so terrible people even the fans stopped going. I love trek but the last 2 or 3 films looked so bad I never bothered seeing them.
I hope the new film is great.
by the way, off topic I know, but now that it has been confirmed that two face is in fact dead I accept your apology rodney and hope we can still be friends ;P
I didn’t think Nemesis was a bad movie but then again I wasn’t a hard core star trek fan.
Rodney, Phill Gee was quoting Bones from Wrath of Khan.
Its not a funeral, its a memorial. It died off a while ago, some are just clinging.
But fear not you faithful few, a ressurection is prophesied. May09
lol
“Dammit Trek what’s the matter with you? Everyone has birthdays, why are we treating yours like a funeral.”
At the third largest sci fi convention that supports fanbases like Star Trek I saw 3 costumes for Trek, NO booths showing star trek collectables, and two Trek Celebs, one of which stuck her nose up at the fanbase (Kate Mulgrew offered NO photos and NO personalized autographs) Even the much smaller “Toronto Trek” convention is now called Polaris and this year only had one Trek guest. The biggest Toronto Star Trek event cannot stay afloat on Star Trek alone.
I didn’t say there were NO fans left. And I like the movies and shows as much as anyone.
But compare the fan activity NOW to even 5-10 years ago, and its a dying breed. They need new blood, or even the die hards are just not going to bother anymore.
So when I say its dying or dead, your opinion hardly offers anything to counter that. I can find more fans of HeMan online.
kaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahn!
Hear! Hear!
And a salute to JJ Abrams et al. Here’s hoping you can take the franchise and lift it to the next level. It is going to be extremely interesting to see what can be done with the original characters and how they will fare when updated with today’s sensibilities and movie-making technology.
…the adventure continues…
Salute to Star Trek….2 quotes…
“As a matter of cosmic history, it has always been easier to destroy, than to create. ”
-Leonard Nimoy(Spock)
“We are the Borg. Lower your shields and surrender your ships. We will add your biological and technological distinctiveness to our own. Your culture will adapt to service us. Resistance is futile.”
– Borg
“The fanbase is dying, if not dead.”
Please, don’t make comments like that based off nothing. The various Star Trek forums have more participating members on them, then ANY other forum that I know of, and I’ve been to a couple Trek conventions (I myself am not a Trekkie, but I do like the shows, and most of my friends are hardcore Trekkies, so I went with them), and I’ve seen just as much attendance at those, as I have at Comic-Cons.
If the fanbase of Trek is dead, then we must all be in Hell, becuase it’s still one of the largest fanbases I know of.
Star Trek’s really not dead… as long as we remember it.
Live long and prosper!
Actually, Doctor Who is the LONGEST running sci-fi television show, having started broadcasting in 1963, with many breaks, just like Trek.
Who turned 45 this past July.