Bob Orci: Spoke with CBS about returning Trek To TV
- Thread starter SeerSGB
- Start date
Given that CBS owns the TV rights, if they wanted to premiere a new Star Trek show on one of their premium cable channels then it would likely be Showtime as that's owned by CBS.
SyFy is owned by NBC/Universal, so I don't see that happening soon. I would have been totally against another broadcast network because cable networks like AMC and HBO are a lot more creative friendly, at least in comparison. NBC however had impressed me with HANNIBAL, such a ballsy show for a broadcast network that I do hope ABC, FOX and CBS look into that, do shows that are not just cookie cutter fodder formula.
We should merge this with the Harry Mudd thread. If they do a new TV series, Harry Mudd is a must have. Along with Gary Mitchell, the Horta, the Doomsday Machine, Salt Vampire, and every other stock TOS staple us fans are going to demand.
Dark and gritty is overrated. I don't hate the concept, and certainly don't want things to be overly optimistic and utopian, but dark and gritty is becoming too much of a buzz word than anything meaningful.
I didn't really get the impression they were known. They were certainly bolder probably due to having Starfleet's Chief of Staff in their back pocket and may well have been preparing to have sort of official standing. But I don't think they're that different from their Prime counterparts.
Mudd, Mitchell, Horta, and Salt Vampire travel the galaxy within the Doomsday Machine. What crazy adventures will they get into this week?
It seemed a dire enough prospect five and a half years ago, when spy photos from the Lebec Energy Facility location shoot popped up on AICN. People saw the industrial setting and the not-so-shiny-looking shuttlecraft and were horrified, immediately forecasting doom, gloom, and a "dark and gritty" starship Enterprise. As one poster summed it up:
I refer you to "Breaking Bad." Although, that being said, this premise wouldn't work for anything else, especially Trek.
Well, here are always exceptions to every rule. But, Breaking Bad was a unique circumstance and as you say, wouldn't work for Trek.
However, Section 31 going around arranging assassinations, kidnappings, and genocides isn't really that fun a TV series to watch. Not to mention the reaction you'll get from the Roddenberry Purists...
I read here that Abrams made a proposal to CBS and they turned it down earlier. Maybe they didn't turn it down down so Orci thinks there might be a chance.
CBS is making heaps from Star Trek re-runs and merchandising without spending any money on new episodes (or their Star Trek website) so whats their motivation for a new series?
CBS is making heaps from Star Trek re-runs and merchandising without spending any money on new episodes (or their Star Trek website) so whats their motivation for a new series?
CBS probably thinks it's best to focus on remastering older stuff before doing any new material, as there's plenty of money to come from that. I do remember reading that they get 20 million dollars just for TOS merchandising alone every year. Plus, the longer the wait, the greater the anticipation. TNG really benefited that hype because of being the first Trek show in two decades. It happens for other franchises too, such as James Bond having a six year hiatus and then coming back with a roaring vengeance.
More money. Besides, that same argument can be used against doing another Trek movie.
In the case of the movie, I can't see Paramount turn down the opportunity of releasing it on the 50th anniversary of the franchise. James Bond and Dr. Who have done a good job of generating hype on that milestone.
CBS doesn't make the movies, they collect a fee from Paramount.
The argument can still be used against Paramount doing another movie. "Well, why should we? We're still making money off TWOK 30 years later. And that one with the whales."
Which proves the point I was making in such a sloppy manner: reason why CBS would want to do another Trek TV series.
Last I heard (through the Netflix ENTERPRISE effort), there is some 'internal adjusting' going on with the Trek IP.
This could mean anything really, but perhaps Paramount & CBS are attempting to get their act together.
When JJ said "the hell with it" over the movie merchandising, I'm sure somebody at both the main offices wanted to know 'who screwed the pooch'.
My guess is that they are working out a way to combine forces in order to maximize their returns.
God knows how long that will take though.
<shrug>
This could mean anything really, but perhaps Paramount & CBS are attempting to get their act together.
When JJ said "the hell with it" over the movie merchandising, I'm sure somebody at both the main offices wanted to know 'who screwed the pooch'.
My guess is that they are working out a way to combine forces in order to maximize their returns.
God knows how long that will take though.
<shrug>
Yeh but I don't see 5 hours of TWOK every day like I see of the various Star Trek series on the SciFi channel.
I mean maybe its not their motivation - who knows. Its shortsighted if it is. As someone so nicely posted those TOS fans are starting to die off. Soon the TNG ones will too.
They need to have a new series to attract a new audience.
