CBS should bring back TNG like Fox did w/X-Files

[VOODOOXI]

After the tremendous ratings success of the X-Files revival, tptb at CBS would be absolutely foolish to not consider taking a similar approach with TNG.

TNG has as big if not bigger (perhaps much bigger) following than the X-Files. I don't think that TNG could carry a major motion picture at this point, but i do feel equally confident that if the series were to return in a limited run/mini series it would be a huge ratings winner and a nice shot in the arm to Star Trek moving forward...I know it's too late at this point, but what would have been a better way to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Star Trek?

There is a huge and loyal fanbase that would love to see the return of the TNG cast. Quite frankly I think the interest would dwarf that of the upcoming program (that nobody is going to watch as you will have to pay for it) in 2017.

All original cast members have said they would return. Michael Dorn as gone as far as pitching his own series to CBS...With revival tv (X-Files, Gilmore Girls, Full House, Dallas etc..) becoming more and more popular, I think TNG's return in some fashion in a limited run is an absolute no brainer. I think it would be the most successful show of them all.

Any thoughts?

P.S. Please don't mention bringing back Voy, ENT and to lesser extent DS9 as they simply were not popular enough with the general audience to consider bringing back.

 

[Dukhat]

P.S. Please don't mention bringing back Voy, ENT and to lesser extent DS9 as they simply were not popular enough with the general audience to consider bringing back.

And TNG isn't going to be popular enough with today's general audience either. The "huge and loyal fanbase" is only a tiny fraction of a percentage of that general audience.

And by your comparison to the X-Files, I take it your idea is to bring back the original cast. That's not going to happen. Please find me the quote where they all said they would return, because either it's not true or they're in la-la land. Stewart, Spiner, Frakes, McFadden, and Burton are done with Star Trek. Dorn, of course, is possibly still in denial that he has a shot at returning, but now that "Captain Worf" is history, maybe he's got his head back on straight. And Sirtis would come back to Trek in a heartbeat since she has no career, but that's not going to happen either.

 

[Relayer1]

And TNG isn't going to be popular enough with today's general audience either.

I take it your idea is to bring back the original cast.

Sadly not nearly popular enough. Also, bringing back the entire main cast of seven would be way more expensive than the X-Files huge main cast of...two.

I had an idea ages ago of how to get a miniseries onto TV - a teaser using stock footage, clever camerawork and C.G. with newly recorded dialogue of the TOS or movie crew finding some threatening space mcguffin. They check the database and find an entry from Archers Enterprise about it befor the 'thing' eludes them. The credits play and the show opens in the 24th century with it turning up again. The next few episodes show a mixed 24th century cast from TNG, DS9 and Voyager (whoever was available and affordable) dealing with it, with a couple of flasbacks to the records of Archers encounter with it.

All eras covered, an affordable cast (probably those that turn up in Asylum movies) and plenty of fan service.

Pure fantasy of course...

 

[feek61]

No, they shouldn't.

 

[BillJ]

For the love of God, no.

 

[hux]

A bunch of fat, saggy arsed, balding characters constantly pulling their tops down to cover their enormous guts as they spill out of their uniforms, still all working in the same jobs after 30 years and a captain who can't find his underpants because he accidentally beamed them into space.

Yeah, I'd definitely watch that.

 

[STEPhon IT]

Oh God NO! They're too old.

 

[drt]

That being said, TNG is still probably more viable as a property than the adventures of an unknown crew on Enterprise-F/G/whatever, so it wouldn't surprise me if the Fullerverse ends up being a TNG reboot.

 

[STEPhon IT]

Hunh???

 

[Jedi_Master]

Nope.

The cast is too old, and the key members (meh, who are we kidding the key member Patrick Stewart) wouldn't want to return, the peace/love/unity vibe of TNG is woefully outdated and wouldn't appeal to today's audiences, CBS is already creating a new TV show, and TNG has already shown that it has diminishing value thanks to several terrible films.

 

[AviTrek]

If there was no new show, a 50th anniversary miniseries 2-3 night event combining the casts could have worked. But with a new series happening, there is no way CBS is confusing the marketing and splitting the viewers by making a show with the old cast.

 

[drt]

Hunh???

Sorry, wasn't responding to you specifically, but the thread in general.

Basically agreeing that a continuation of TNG is a non-starter per the reasons mentioned by others, but the OP perhaps wasn't too off the mark thinking that TNG as a property still has a fair amount of value, however, the only way to do it would be as a reboot.

 

[VOODOOXI]

Why are they too old?

Harrison Ford is 73 years old. Did I mention that his recent film (you may have heard of it) has made over $2 billion worldwide and is currently at $920 million domestically + counting. Did I mention that it's the all time domestic box office champion? I hardly think people cared how old Han Solo was. It was Han f***ing Solo back on the screen. Nobody, cared what his age was...Sylvester Stallone is going to win an Oscar this Sunday for playing Rocky. If someone had said he was too old that great performance would never have happened.

Age didn't matter for Star Wars and it wouldn't matter for ST. Unless you are a person who believes that people have no value once they hit 40 years of age. Ageism, from ST fans is pathetic...That's not to say that you couldn't cast younger people in major roles. The X-Files did. Star Wars did. TNG could as well.

It's nonsense to say it's not popular enough. You can't look at things in a vacuum. Yes, the last couple of TNG films flopped, but there were reasons for that. First off they were god awful films. Secondly, there were already two ST series on the air as the films were in theaters. People were just taking the series for granted. It had become an extremely oversaturated market and a very watered down product...The entire series needed a break. It has rested long enough.

Don't underestimate the popularity of TNG...TNG along with TOS are cultural icons. People will tune it. Consider the box office mega flop that was X-Files: I Want to Believe in 2008. It didn't make the top 100 films of the year. It grossed a pathetic $20,982,478. compared to the first X-Files film that when adjusted for inflation made roughly $400 million world wide and $155 domestic...Franchise fatigue and a bad film destroyed the theatrical version of the show. Very similar to TNG.

That said look at the tremendous reception/ratings the new version of the X-Files is getting
http://www.ew.com/article/2016/01/25/x-files-ratings TNG would do just as well. It could very well do much better than The X-Files.

As for the cast not returning. Give me a break. With the exception of Patrick Stewart, none of the main actors are major (Not to diminish them. They all have solid careers in their own right) stars. They would jump at the chance to return to their roles. Michael Dorn has tried to get his own Worf series on the air for years.

Patrick Stewart is on record as saying he would return to play Picard as late as 2015
http://www.blastr.com/2015-1-23/pat...reks-capt-jean-luc-picard-again-one-condition

This is an absolute no brainer. An X-Files like return would bring in HUGE ratings and give the series the ending it deserves. I always thought it was unfortunate that the series went out with a whimper with the terrible ST: Nemesis.

I'd bet my life that someone at CBS after looking at the success of the X-Files is thinking the same thing about TNG.

 

[Jedi_Master]

A fan's personal enthusiasm for a particular series does not translate into evidence that a revival or "special presentation" of said series would be well received by the public in general.

 

[Shikarnov]

I think it could work.... But they'd really need to let the characters grow up and move on a bit.

Whatever may be said about 24th Century lifespans, Patrick Stewart is too old to be playing a captain. Promote him off the bridge and the miniseries can open with Admiral Picard learning of some new threat -- maybe the Conspiracy aliens have finally gotten around to responding to that homing beacon -- that's so sensitive that only people he trusts implicitly could be brought in (much like Captain Keel felt).

That sets up a reason for a reunion... Riker commanding Titan, Worf commanding Enterprise, Laforge commanding Challenger, and Crusher commanding Pasteur.

If it's a five episode miseries, you could have the first episode setting up the threat, an episode for each of the four ships and crews and their unique contribution to crisis, and short final act in the fifth episode to tie it all up. Who knows... maybe it'd lead to a spinoff if one of the crews proved to be popular.

 

[Jedi_Master]

For every instance of fan service that were to be included in a potential TNG "special event" you could knock a percentage point off of its total viewing audience.

 

[VOODOOXI]

A fan's personal enthusiasm for a particular series does not translate into evidence that a revival or "special presentation" of said series would be well received by the public in general.

Yes, but I'm giving you real life examples of similar franchises that faced similar issues where it did work.

Also, you mentioned that Patrick Stewart would not return (your opinion) I gave you a quote from him from last year stating the exact opposite of your opinion of his willingness to return.

As for TNG being outdated, TNG had many different facets to it. It is true that some of it wouldn't work today, but updated/modern versions of episodes like Yesterday's Enterprise or Best of Both Worlds would fit in quite well with the 2016 landscape.

 

[Jedi_Master]

Han Solo is an iconic character. Perhaps Spock or Kirk could be compared to his appeal, but I doubt it.

Harrison Ford is a far more popular and "major" actor and even he played what could arguably be considered a subsidiary/advisor role in TFA.

I am glad that Patrick Stewart would return if asked - but I don't see him being asked.

Again, when the studio looks at the returns of the most recent work associated with "TNG" what do they see? Crap. The last time that TNG was a cultural phenomenon was well over 20 years ago.

Also - If i am not mistaken, the TNG Blu-Rays sold so poorly that it convinced TPTB to not make any more. "

 

[Dukhat]

OP, if you think bringing the TNG cast back is a great idea, fine. By all means keep thinking that if it's what makes you sleep good at night.

But that's not what CBS is going to do. It's simply not as interesting to them as you seem to think it is. Because if it was, they'd have done it a long time ago. And as someone else said above, the lackluster sales of TNG blurays pretty much sealed the deal for that show and its cast to ever return to the screen.

 

[JoeZhang]

Yes - there was pent-up demand for Han Solo and Star Wars more generally - there is no pent up demand for 'that guy with the beard who sat on chairs in a funny way' or 'the one who over time gave up on doing an accent'.