It's a streaming show that might get forgotten because the kids care more about what Santa is getting them, so when the show comes back, it still won't be on their mind because they have already moved on to something else.
Do you think this show will succeed in getting kids interested in Star Trek?
- Thread starter The Overlord
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It's a streaming show that might get forgotten because the kids care more about what Santa is getting them, so when the show comes back, it still won't be on their mind because they have already moved on to something else.
Nickelodeon seems fairly confident (they've ordered two seasons of twenty episodes).
That's not how kids work. They tend to be more cyclical in their interests.
At least you're not pipe dreaming, I think I'm in the demographic (YA - mid 20's) this series is attempting to cater to, none of my friends even know the thing exists. I say Disney + and off they go with Star Wars, and Marvel, and The Rock, because THOSE programs are aiming for ALL AGES, while Trek streaming services are getting a declining older fan base. I think the studio has done a lot of damage to their brand and these cartoons are not going to bring a younger base despite the goofy coloring palette and characters. At least Disney understands who's their audiences are and galvanizes on that approach.
True enough.
I will say that Prodigy is a favorite of my little dudes (8 and 10). They were actually legit bummed that the show is on a little hiatus. That said, I don't think there is anyone watching it who hasn't been "introduced" to it by a parent or other.
The series is meant for kids (the fact that Nickelodeon is a broadcast partner should tell you something).
Just like Prodigy.
Streaming and audience segmentation allows Trek to go places that weren't possible during the Berman era.
Trying to be all things to all people results in bland programming.
When I was a kid I tend to branch off to what my friends or what my siblings were interested in, not what my parents were watching. There are a lot of shows which are aimed for kids doesn't mean kids want to watch it. There shouldn't be an exclusive viewership for a brand like Star Trek, now there is one for kids which I believe more adults are watching. We have the live action series of shows where DISCO and PICARD described as the “Adult” STAR TREK, while the NICK series “for kids”. TOS, and TNG handled both ends of that spectrum just fine.
Yes, it should.
It's what sank Berman Trek in 2005.
Tastes change. After eighteen years, four series, and seven feature films, Trek had become stale and uninteresting.
Fuss over the kids too much, and you risk dumbing down the show for the adults. Far better to give kids their own space, their own toe hold into the franchise.
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I mentioned in the general Prodigy discussion thread a little while ago that when the show comes to Nickelodeon, they’re going to be playing it at least once every day, with the exception of Dec 24 & 25, Christmas & Christmas Eve, for over a week. It may run throughout the 2 weeks that nearly every kid in the US is off school, Nickelodeon listings are only available for the first 8 days it’s on the schedule at this time. They’re giving kids who aren’t being exposed to the show by preexisting Star Trek fans in their lives many chances to discover the show on their own terms, and develop an interest in it.
The people at Nickelodeon have been doing their thing a long time, and while everyone makes missteps, there is logic behind the current hiatus of new episodes, trying to get as many kid viewership-motivated subscriptions to Paramount+ as they’re able to out of Prodigy before the first season is over and the show begins to air on Nickelodeon regularly, where it will make ad revenue and continue to grow the viewship/act as a toy/merchandise generator (as recently reported by NickALive, they’re making a lot of toys and general merch to tie in to Prodigy down the line).
The people at Nickelodeon have been doing their thing a long time, and while everyone makes missteps, there is logic behind the current hiatus of new episodes, trying to get as many kid viewership-motivated subscriptions to Paramount+ as they’re able to out of Prodigy before the first season is over and the show begins to air on Nickelodeon regularly, where it will make ad revenue and continue to grow the viewship/act as a toy/merchandise generator (as recently reported by NickALive, they’re making a lot of toys and general merch to tie in to Prodigy down the line).
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Well, I think it was something more akin to creativity drainage that caused the problem.
Mind you, I liked Enterprise overall, and S3 and 4 were pretty good (better than the first 2 seasons if you ask me). Plus, things were just starting to heat up in S4 with the Romulans (a prelude to the War), so, its a shame that was never done to completion.
Too late, Discovery already did that in S3 and 4.
Kate definitely makes it more interesting to watch (but its not the sole reason I like Prodigy because the whole consistency and respect for what came before seems to be much better than what Disco did).
Admittedly, I liked VOY more than other Trek TV series of the Berman era, so from my POV its rather 'nice' to get a sort of 'continuation' with how Prodigy ties into it with use of previous cast members and of course now the latest tidbit with the Dauntless and Slipstream (which was confirmed the ship uses).
Plus, the overall storyline is better on Prodigy.
Was it The Original Series you found to look like shit, or all of the previous shows?
I'm in complete agreement, and I couldn't have said it better myself.
Well, for kids of Trek fans, it could potentially offer a bonding experience with their parents that other series might not. Something like...
Parent is streaming "Prodigy". Child enters the room, looks curiously at TV.
CHILD: "I didn't know you watched cartoons."
PARENT: "Well, this is a special cartoon. It's called Star Trek Prodigy."
CHILD: "I thought Star Trek shows were real life."
PARENT: "Well, there are a lot of Star Trek shows. Some are real life, but some are cartoons. This is the first one made for both grownups and kids."
KID: "Oh."
They watch for a bit, then something exciting happens, or Murf does something super cute, or something blows up. Kid thinks it's cool, so they go over to parent, settle down in their lap. They watch together. They laugh together. The kid asks questions ("why does Janeway keep appearing and disappearing?") and gets answers. It becomes a regular shared experience for them. And maybe, in time, the kid takes an interest in seeing the real Janeway. Watching Voyager leads to watching other Treks, and then, who knows?
Parent is streaming "Prodigy". Child enters the room, looks curiously at TV.
CHILD: "I didn't know you watched cartoons."
PARENT: "Well, this is a special cartoon. It's called Star Trek Prodigy."
CHILD: "I thought Star Trek shows were real life."
PARENT: "Well, there are a lot of Star Trek shows. Some are real life, but some are cartoons. This is the first one made for both grownups and kids."
KID: "Oh."
They watch for a bit, then something exciting happens, or Murf does something super cute, or something blows up. Kid thinks it's cool, so they go over to parent, settle down in their lap. They watch together. They laugh together. The kid asks questions ("why does Janeway keep appearing and disappearing?") and gets answers. It becomes a regular shared experience for them. And maybe, in time, the kid takes an interest in seeing the real Janeway. Watching Voyager leads to watching other Treks, and then, who knows?
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