the popularity of trek actors

[frenchman]

hi everyone

the organizer of the fedcon said something disturbing : he said he could see a rapid decline of the popularity of the entreprise actors. (thanks, by the way, for his honesty). by example : he had almost canceled the appareance of Dominic Keating because the autograph sell was no good.
i think the people go to new show (bsg, stargate), but still...

so according to you, have you noticed a decline of popularity of our actors, or is it a decline of all trek actors?

what do you think?

 

[El Chupacabra]

The show only lasted four years and was cancelled. Its the least popular of the shows, along with Voyager. Plus, there are now, what, 50 Star Trek primary cast members out there? I think these days, at least until the new movie reinvigorates the franchise, its mainly the iconic actors, like the TOS cast, or Captains/fan favourites that are going to generate good crowds.

 

[ChristopherPike]

Bad promotion. Not sure whether I'm talking about most conventions I've been to here, or the way Enterprise was handled. Either way, a resurgence in Star Trek interest from the media, does raise the profile of just about anyone who ever appeared in it. That should result in a change of forture by this time next year.

Somebody like CBS using their rights to TV Trek would've helped way more though. Dusting off Enterprise's syndicated run (the best 26 episodes, mostly S4 which were pulled back in 2006) and shown right now on a Network would result in some naysayers reassessing their old prejudices, I'd wager.

 

[Deckerd]

I think TNG was the last really big show in regards to public awareness (and even then it didn't come anywhere near the cultural significance of Star Trek). So the actors from those shows are better known. The exception is Scott Bakula of course. It depends on the gigs they get after the Trek shows stop, to a certain extent too.

 

[TEH BABA]

Enterprise female actors no where near as hot as bsg actresses. Might have to be the greased up fighter pilot thing

 

[SFRabid]

I think some of the Enterprise actors may be over exposed. (Just look at Jinx's avatars.) Seriouslly, some of them seem to appear at ever convention going. How many times is someone going to buy Dominic's autograph?

 

[Middleman]

I think some of the Enterprise actors may be over exposed. (Just look at Jinx's avatars.) Seriouslly, some of them seem to appear at ever convention going. How many times is someone going to buy Dominic's autograph?

Over exposed, maybe, but they still draw crowds. I think Enterprise's audience has grown in syndication justifying the convention appearances. (IMO)

 

[JiNX-01]

Well, I don't know that that is true. I attended Creation Vegas last summer and Scott, Jolene, Connor, Dom and Anthony packed the house. And the autograph and photo op lines were pretty long.

The dining room was packed for the The "Boys of Enterprise" luncheon (at $85 a head).

I know quite a few people who won't even register for a convention unless Connor is signed (yup, including me, of course!).

 

[commodore64]

I've said this in other threads, I think there's a real chance of them being typecast. I mean, it's happened to pretty much all the other actors of every single other Star Trek show. I think the chances it could happen to the Enterprise crew is a real and present danger.

If I were the actors, I'd try to get out of science fiction and show I had versatility, which is why I think -- for example -- Keating did a nice job with being the agent of a chimp. (Uhm, you'd have to see it.) It shows, "I'm not just this obscure sci-fi actor, I can do comedy or big-money commercials." I also think exposure is a problem. The only one who's been in a big named film in a major role is Bakula. (Then again, I think QL typecasts him more than Star Trek.)

It's too bad, I think the actors of Enterprise were very good -- especially John Billingsley.

 

[Skywalker]

Billingsley has been working steadily since ENT's cancellation, and he had been even before he'd joined the show. With good reason.

 

[JiNX-01]

I think some of the Enterprise actors may be over exposed. (Just look at Jinx's avatars.)

 

[The Master of Tarquin Hill]

Enterprise female actors no where near as hot as bsg actresses. Might have to be the greased up fighter pilot thing

Yeah, I think thats it.

 

[SFRabid]

With that coming from FedCon I have a question. Is Enterprise shown in Europe as much as it is in the United States? Could that be part of it?

 

[Deckerd]

It was shown when it was current.

I think Virgin still shows an episode once a week or something.

 

[frenchman]

With that coming from FedCon I have a question. Is Enterprise shown in Europe as much as it is in the United States? Could that be part of it?

i was asking me the same question !!!!!

for example : in France, Enterprise is barely unknown! it was aired on Sci Fi channel France this year. and before that, in 2006, on a cable network who doesn't even exist any more now.

by the way, i think too that fedcon, now, is not a star trek con any more. i mean, it was a time when star trek shows were the only sci fi shows. now, there are BSG (which put the level very high) and stargate (very powerful franchise). so....

in my country, Connor Trinneer is known for his role on SGA only (which make people to watch enterprise). john billingsley for his role on Prison Break. scott bakula for quantum leaps.

 

[ChristopherPike]

I think Virgin still shows an episode once a week or something.

Yep, Virgin 1. Fridays at 9pm. Repeated Saturday at 7pm. For this week only, it's on later tonight at 10pm because they're showing DS9 "Trials and Tribble-ations". A tenuous link to the new film. Enterprise aired the epic "Azati Prime" last week and finishes "Damage" today.

I think Sky 2 repeat Enterprise, but I don't know as I committed to Freeview, once they had no new episodes for me to subscribe for.

In my time, I've written to BSKYB, Virgin 1, Channel 4... you name it... in an effort to get the show some decent screentime. The holy grail is undoubted the BBC. Free from adverts and decently trailed like Heroes, Mad Men and other US shows. Enterprise being the only show, never shown on the channel (with the exception of TOS-R). I'd love to see perhaps Enterprise paired with Remastered Trek, shown on BBC2 or Four in a double-bill every week. But persuading schedulers to come around to my way of thinking, that's the problem... that and stumping up cash from the licence fee to pay CBS.

 

[Hoshi's sis]

Virgin 1 also shows Enterprise daily as well. Its just starting on Season 2 now. Its generally on after Voyager and The Next Generation at 4pm and repeated at 5pm on Virgin 1+
I've enjoyed seeing it all over again.

I'm not sure if Trek popularity is declining, fan favourites like Connor and Billingsley are still well received in conventions and sought after. Though it might also be because these two have kept up steady guest appearances on shows - so maybe that is maintaining their popularity.

 

[Deckerd]

Enterprise was regarded niche when it started and didn't really pick up from there. Channel 4 made a reasonable fist of advertising the first season and putting it on at a peak time, but it never got the viewers and later seasons moved it to the Sunday afternoon geek slot. It was actually announced as finished for ever after the last episode of season 3, despite the fact it clearly ended on a to be continued (what an uttlerly crap ending to the Xindi story, btw). I don't think the BBC were interested then and they certainly won't be now, since Heroes is haemorrhaging viewers.

If anything, they might rerun some of the more popular stuff on the back of the new movie, but I doubt it.

 

[Count Zero]

Enterprise never gained any widespread popularity in Germany, I think. Most people here know the TOS and the TNG crews, the other crews are less well known.
That said, Enterprise is currently being aired by Kabel 1, which regularly shows repeats of all things Trek (at the moment they're having Star Trek month, anyway). So it won't be forgotten anytime soon.
I never warmed to the dubbed version, though, but seen too little of it to judge it. Since its first run here came with more than two years delay, I originally watched the show by other means.
Among people interested in Trek, Enterprise is well known, but let's just say that it doesn't have a good reputation. Just recently, I had this conversation in a chat:
"Oh, Kabel 1 is showing Enterprise."
"Yeah, that's so awful."

Somehow I suspect that's rather symptomatic. *sigh*

 

[Mr.bobo]

I follow only what Scott Bakula works and records. And since the end of the recording, Enterprise it is busy over the head. He also acted in several films, a guest on several series, acted in theater, was on Quantum Leap convention. Always something doing.