It seems there is a reason for the visual reboot and the producers aren't being honest about it.
- Thread starter Smoked Salmon
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Would that be Ass-namnesis?Oh but she sat in it. It has the er.. imprint memory
<snicker>
My recollection is that it has to do with Matt Jeffries having been an employee of Desilu, whereas Theodore Sturgeon, who created the character of T'Pau, was a freelancer under contract (to continue using that specific example).
Kate Mulgrew did say in a convention appearance that the set crew were tearing up and removing her Captain's chair even while she was filming her last scenes as Janeway. It was pulled up from the soundstage floor and I'm getting the impression that it no longer sits on a flat base. If it has one I imagine that it was added to the chair after Paramount pulled the VOY sets.
Writers are entitled by the WGA basic agreements to residuals for their work and payment for its reuse. This applies to writers who are employees on a project as well. Artists generally have no such agreement and are not - and yeah, I think that sucks.
The chair did not have the base when I saw it two years ago. It wasn't recognizable really and had to be pointed out to me. It didn't help that it had some stuff piled on it!
I feel like I should point us toward the most recent episode of the Greatest Discovery, in which the hosts begin by discussing in passing some tensions behind the scenes on Discovery. Apparently the production is less ready than during season one. Ben and Adam are, I would say, reliable sources, active in the industry, and generally strong supporters of the show--so we're not dealing with Midnight's Edge-style nonsense.
As much as I really do like this show and find it promising, I wonder if such statements hint at broader issues among the parties who make Discovery. It's hard not to look at them as part of a picture alongside contradictory remarks discussed above. Frustrating, because I really do like this show and want it to be great.
As much as I really do like this show and find it promising, I wonder if such statements hint at broader issues among the parties who make Discovery. It's hard not to look at them as part of a picture alongside contradictory remarks discussed above. Frustrating, because I really do like this show and want it to be great.
The way I sort of look at it is the show has no showrunner to speak of, which is the main issue. A strong showrunner has a vision for the series, the chutzpah to stand up to the suits when necessary, and the ability to lead competing "factions" within the production. Fuller might have had a vision, but given the trail of dropped projects he's left in his wake, it's pretty clear to me even if he stayed on many of the problems would have remained. But it's worse in his absence, because it's pretty clear that everyone is just approaching this as a business venture rather than a creative endevor.
I hope Season 2 is better, but I don't have high hopes right now. I maintain they need to bring in someone from the outside - preferably with Trek experience - to right the ship. Dunno who it would be. I think Ira Steven Behr has stopped being involved with Outlander (Moore is still busy with it) - he would be a logical choice to bring in. Maybe Micheal Taylor - he's had some experience with showrunning in recent years, but doesn't seem busy now.
Do you have sources for the idea that those involved consider this only a business venture? Because I'm not aware of any evidence that those involved are anything less than aware of Trek's legacy and even passionate about the project--in addition to the blunt fact that it is, yes, a job.
And I would prefer anyone associated with Trek to stay far, far away from this show unless they're willing to deconstruct and rewrite what Trek is. To my mind, most of what seem like less favorable elements seem to have originated with Fuller, who ostensibly knows Trek. No, I think the show is developing quite nicely--I just hope season two allows the show to slip its doctrinal bonds and just be excellent TV.
Unless they are talking directly to ST D production staffers, I put their 'insights' on the same level as those claiming CBS was so unhappy with S1 pre production that S1 WOULD NEVER AIR and they'd already tapped Nicholas Meyer to do another Star Trek series that would stream in ST D's place
^^^
And yes, these were the rumors flying around and being reported by a few groups as ST D S1 was in production.
It's just my impression of course. But even though some of the pre-DIS PR played up the extent to which the writers team and the production crew were fans, I don't think outside of Kirsten Beyer they really are. The way I look at it is the primary goals of the show now seem to be just to "get it done" and to retain and grow the viewership. The CBS executives want more and more people to watch (which execs always want, of course) and those involved in actual creation just want to break the stories, create the props, do the VFX, ect. But if there's not a head to the production who is tying it all together it's going to be messy product, and not going to really go anyplace in particular. IMHO this is particularly dangerous because the show is serialized - they want to tell an ongoing story, but they have no clear idea what that story is.
I wouldn't want Brannon Braga touching it with a ten-foot-pole, but Ronald Moore has been clear what his dissatisfactions were with the Berman-era straitjacket. NuBSG was basically what he wanted to do to Voyager. If he were in charge of a modern Trek I'm sure he'd deconstruct it.
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OMG. I remember the blue Golden Gate Bridge. I forgot about Hillary, lol. Eeevil universe indeed.
I don't think it is a clear as you think it is.
I agree that Fuller leaving left somewhat of a void, but I also think that Discovery has suffered from Season 1 growing pains that many shows suffer from, even without the BTS drama. Also, I'm hoping that with S1 done, and CBS seemingly happy enough with the numbers that they will be less concerned and allow more freedom.
I don't really watch much modern TV outside of sci-fi. Can you give me an example of a successful, high-concept show that lost its showrunner early on and didn't flounder? It sure seems to me like most "peak TV" is basically helmed by 1-2 people with a very strong vision for the entirety of its run (maybe handing it off to someone else in the final season or two if they lose interest but the network wants to continue it).
I can't, because I don't really watch TV. But, with Star Trek, with a pre-established world, there is at least some consistency there.
But, I'm not worried or concerned about Star Trek being "peak TV' or whatever. I'm just waiting for someone to step in to the captain's chair, as it were.
Besides TNG?
It doesn't happen too often, probably because a show has to be about something besides the creator's vision in order to not be simply canceled if there's a problem with the creator/ first showrunner. John Wells stopped running E.R. after three seasons, but he was till producing and there was continuity of vision. J.J. Abrams exited Lost early on, but Damon Lindelof stayed on.
It'll be interesting to see how things go for American Gods.
I dunno. I feel like Trek is best when there's a "steady hand" at the till. For TOS this was the Gene Coon era. For TNG it was gaining Micheal Piller in its second season. DS9 was under the guidance of Pillar and Ira Steven Behr for its whole run. In contrast the "chaos" era for Trek - the first two seasons of TNG - was clearly not a good time for the franchise. There was more churn in terms of showrunners on VOY and ENT as well, although I don't think that's why they failed per se. In those cases it might have more to do with the showrunners lacking the power to stand up to the networks (even Berman, who actually wrote directly for Trek for the first time on Enterprise, couldn't actually win over the network all the time by that point).
I generally agree. I'm just in the "wait and see" rather than worried over who will run the show right now. They clearly have moved in to Season 2 with gusto so there might be some vision there.
They have?? Please God let that black badge thing be a non event.
Hey, you know what would be cool? If anyone working on this show:
- Had any apparent interest in doing that; and/or
- Had any fucking clue how to do that.
Sadly, neither is true.
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