Stillborn Sulu Show

[PCz911]

(Sorry for the alliteration). All the talk of Scott bakula and a show for him, combined with the vitrol over kurtzman trek , had me thinking about counterfactual scenarios….

Given all we know now, what are your thoughts on a stand alone Sulu TV show after The Undiscovered Country?

Observations:
- The TNG cast had essentially transitioned to the big screen by then
- the latter Berman Trek shows were “unsteady” in their writing and creativity.

Position:
I would argue that a TV show with some of the B team actors would have actually breathed some new life into the franchise. It would leverage existing and beloved characters and be a counter to the Berman burnout

What are your thoughts?

 

[Takeru]

No, George Takei is a mediocre actor, he could not have carried a show, it wouldn't have worked. This was never going to happen, if Paramount had wanted a 23rd century show they would have developed one without him.

 

[BillJ]

- the latter Berman Trek shows were “unsteady” in their writing and creativity.

This obviously torpedoes a Sulu series, because those same writers and producers would've been making the show.

Overall? No. Takei, no offense, simply doesn't have the chops to be a lead.

 

[Ssosmcin]

I thought it was about the never heard of other daughter he tried to have, but was stillborn. Damn, I thought, we're going dark here.

Turns out I just need therapy

 

[Kor]

...

What are your thoughts?

"Surely not!"

Kor

 

[Sketcher]

Someone would've griped about canon violations at one point or another.

 

[Pauln6]

Takei is a good actor, he just does intensity well, and Sulu isn't that intense. He was great in World Enough and Time. I think a trilogy of TV movies would have worked better than a series.

 

[Markonian]

We should’ve had a Star Trek: Excelsior series alongside Star Trek: Voyager. It is a sin that can never be rectified.

 

[Dukhat]

The Undiscovered Country was in 1991. If Paramount had seriously considered making a Sulu series after that, there would have been several years of preproduction, production and post-production before we ever saw it. That would take it to around 1993. Guess what premiered in 1993? Deep Space Nine.

So basically what you’re asking is, would I have rather had a Sulu series, or Deep Space Nine?

I know what my answer is.

 

[Allyn Gibson]

The Undiscovered Country was in 1991. If Paramount had seriously considered making a Sulu series after that, there would have been several years of preproduction, production and post-production before we ever saw it. That would take it to around 1993. Guess what premiered in 1993? Deep Space Nine.

So basically what you’re asking is, would I have rather had a Sulu series, or Deep Space Nine?

I know what my answer is.

Alternatively... there was zero story reason why Voyager had to be contemporary with TNG and DS9. It could have been about a movie-era ship getting pulled into the Delta Quadrant, a ship like, oh, I dunno, the Excelsior...

Production reason, on the other hand, Voyager was 24th-century for prop and costume reuse.

I think I'd have rather had a Harriman and the -B television series than a Sulu series in the mid-90s, though. Alan Ruck > George Takei.

 

[BillJ]

Alternatively... there was zero story reason why Voyager had to be contemporary with TNG and DS9. It could have been about a movie-era ship getting pulled into the Delta Quadrant, a ship like, oh, I dunno, the Excelsior...

Production reason, on the other hand, Voyager was 24th-century for prop and costume reuse.

I think I'd have rather had a Harriman and the -B television series than a Sulu series in the mid-90s, though. Alan Ruck > George Takei.

Yes to something from the Lost Era. No to Sulu or Harriman as the leads.

 

[Laura Cynthia Chambers]

Rand gets a captaincy?

 

[BillJ]

Rand gets a captaincy?

No. Just create a new character that fits the story you want to tell.

 

[Dukhat]

Alternatively... there was zero story reason why Voyager had to be contemporary with TNG and DS9. It could have been about a movie-era ship getting pulled into the Delta Quadrant, a ship like, oh, I dunno, the Excelsior...

Production reason, on the other hand, Voyager was 24th-century for prop and costume reuse.

I think I'd have rather had a Harriman and the -B television series than a Sulu series in the mid-90s, though. Alan Ruck > George Takei.

While I would have loved a Lost Era show, I would not have wanted either Takei or Ruck to be the star. If anything, I would have wanted the next captain after Harriman, or the captain before Rachel Garrett.

 

[Ssosmcin]

Rand gets a captaincy?

Lordy, no. Every single TOS crewmember does not need to become a captain.

Besides, Grace's performance in TUC was really stale. She wouldn't have been able to carry a series based on that work.

 

[drt]

"Flashback" had poorer ratings than the VOY episodes that flanked it, so Sulu wasn't that much of a draw - Berman was probably glad he never green lit a Sulu show after seeing those numbers.

 

[Ray Hardgrit]

"Flashback" had poorer ratings than the VOY episodes that flanked it, so Sulu wasn't that much of a draw - Berman was probably glad he never green lit a Sulu show after seeing those numbers.

It was the 6th most watched episode of season 3 in the US, below two Part Is and two Part IIs, and practically level with the Borg episode.

 

[Firebird]

No, George Takei is a mediocre actor, he could not have carried a show, it wouldn't have worked. This was never going to happen, if Paramount had wanted a 23rd century show they would have developed one without him.

Takei's always been a supporting actor, not a lead - something abundantly clear in his non-Trek work from the 50s and 60s. Unfortunately, the convention crowds boosted his ego into thinking he was on an equal level with Shatner, Nimoy, and Kelley, which he never was.

 

[Pauln6]

Lordy, no. Every single TOS crewmember does not need to become a captain.

Besides, Grace's performance in TUC was really stale. She wouldn't have been able to carry a series based on that work.

I adore Rand and I feel that to go from female lead to brief cameos was an egregious injustice but she was never captain material. She's an enabler, great at providing a steady level of support, not a leader. She's inventive in a crisis and a good judge of character but she's not sciency or smart. Let Rand be Rand. I was actually disappointed that they made her an officer. She rocks as a CPOin my view, and excels as a mentor for junior crew.

Takei's always been a supporting actor, not a lead - something abundantly clear in his non-Trek work from the 50s and 60s. Unfortunately, the convention crowds boosted his ego into thinking he was on an equal level with Shatner, Nimoy, and Kelley, which he never was.

Takei has done a lot of stage work, including leading roles, and can absolutely act. His TV work was rarely a passion project. Sulu is competent but the character is always hemmed in by the leads. His presence was more important than his performance. In fairness, the lead actors AND THEIR CHARACTERS work great together. Sulu just wasn't up there.

A huge missed opportunity was his relationship with Rand. Their scene in Man Trap is great. A few more appearances like that could have expanded both characters, given them their own niche and double act that was very different to Spock and McCoy. The way she is with the senior staff is completely different to Sulu.

I agree though, that Grace was no longer acting professionally by the time this came around. She'd also had a minor stroke and struggled to learn lines. The timing was wrong.

Still, if they need a sequel to SNW, they could do worse than a Sulu and Rand on Excelsior show, as long as the new actors are good.

 

[Firebird]

Takei has done a lot of stage work, including leading roles, and can absolutely act. His TV work was rarely a passion project. Sulu is competent but the character is always hemmed in by the leads. His presence was more important than his performance. In fairness, the lead actors AND THEIR CHARACTERS work great together. Sulu just wasn't up there.

I never said Takei couldn't act. What I did say was that he's not series lead material. Those aren't the same thing.

Besides, a professional actor shouldn't give a damn whether something is a "passion project," especially if they're in the first years in the industry. That's taking the responsibility off the actor. If you've gotten a role, it's your job to act to the best of your ability, whether you're #1 or #20 on the call sheet.