Discovery Showrunners fired; Kurtzman takes over

[StCoop]

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/l...covery-showrunners-alex-kurtzman-take-1120416

"Insiders also stress that Berg and Harberts became increasingly abusive to the Discovery writing staff, with the latter said to have leaned across the writers' room table while shouting an expletive at a member of the show's staff. Multiple writers are said to have been uncomfortable working on the series and had threatened to file a complaint with human resources or quit the series altogether before informing Kurtzman of the issues surrounding Berg and Harberts. After hearing rumors of HR complaints, Harberts is said to have threatened the staff to keep concerns with the production an internal matter."

How charming!

 

[MvRojo]

I didn't have major problems with their direction of the show creatively, but I'm glad they were removed if they were being abusive to the staff.

The article also notes that Akiva Goldman isn't working on the show anymore either.

 

[Xerxus]

The show could probably use less cooks in the kitchen.

 

[Agony_Boothb]

Whoa did not see that coming. Good on Kurtzman for clearly taking the complaints seriously and dealing with it. Also kudos to getting rid of Akiva Goldsman as well.

 

[Nightowl1701]

Are Rod and Meyer gone too? If Kurtzman kept them on, maybe there's hope.

EDIT: "Sources say the budget for the season two premiere ballooned, with the overages expected to come out of subsequent episodes from Discovery's sophomore run." They had to build sets/uniforms for the Discoprise, and not out of recycled Shenhzou either - what the hell did the studio expect??

 

[Jadeb]

So much for smooth sailing for the sophomore season. Wonder how different the show will end up.

if they were going to blow the budget, I'm glad it was on the Enterprise eps. Hope they're awesome.

 

[Gibberish]

To hell with the both of ‘em. Have to say I didn’t really care for the way they came across in interviews so it’s not surprising that they would be shitbags to their coworkers.

Hopefully this’ll mean GOOD things for the second season. :fingers crossed:

 

[Lord Garth]

I don't think the second season will change too dramatically. It's already shooting and Alex Kurtzman has been around the whole time, so it's more of an internal change, plus the article says the change has less to do with creative and more to do with operation.

Either way, it's nice to see that not everyone can just be a total asshole and get away with it.

 

[CorporalClegg]

It's no secret I wasn't a fan of Harberts. But that was when I just thought it was pretty clear he was in over his head and unqualified as a leader. I had no idea about the abuse, obviously. I don't really know enough about Berg, but it sounds like she wasn't much better.

I don't know if they are really assholes, or if they both knew they weren't qualified for the job they were given and couldn't handle the stress. Probably a little of both, I suppose.

 

[Nightowl1701]

To hell with the both of ‘em. Have to say I didn’t really care for the way they came across in interviews so it’s not surprising that they would be shitbags to their coworkers.

Gotta agree, Gibberish. That 'For Your Consideration' thing two weeks ago was a real turn-off.

 

[Agony_Boothb]

I don't know if they are really assholes, or if they both knew they weren't qualified for the job they were given and couldn't handle the stress. Probably a little of both, I suppose.

That's kind of my take as well. They always seems frazzled and tired in interviews. Berg was came across as decent but I always got a weird vibe from Harberts. Considering their lack of experience with producing a tv series, my guess is they collapsed under the strain and took it out on others.

 

[Fateor]

I am highly amused that people are believing CBS's claims.

 

[tomalak301]

I did not see the staff mistreatment thing coming. Wow maybe instead of hoping Discovery is great in season 2, maybe Stability is the first step.

 

[Mudd]

Any day Goldsman exits is a good day.

 

[Christopher]

Are Rod and Meyer gone too? If Kurtzman kept them on, maybe there's hope.

Rod Roddenberry is not a creative producer; his production company is more on the business/financial side of things. He's credited as an executive producer on DSC for contractual reasons, as I understand it, and isn't part of the writing staff.

Nicholas Meyer was merely a consulting producer, which is someone who isn't on the writing staff proper but is just an advisor available to answer questions or provide insight. The credit is often used for series creators after they leave the series, and is sometimes just honorary. And Meyer doesn't seem to have had any real involvement with DSC since Bryan Fuller left. He did a draft of the script for episode 2, but none of it was kept in the final version.

 

[Kane_Steel]

Not surprised by the news. You could tell that there were major creative disagreements behind the scenes given how messy STD S1 was.

The great news is Harberts and Berg are gone. I've been asking for this for a while now. They are terrible showrunners. With their departure, the last connection to the Fuller vision for STD is gone. The show can basically go a new direction at this point. My guess is the heavy "future is female" aspects of the series and extreme left politics will be toned down as well, with their departure. We might actually get some hetro male heroes on the series now., maybe hopefully Isaacs back as Prime Lorca. We'll see.

I feel a bit better about this show handling Pike and Spock if Harberts and Berg weren't involved.

The bad news is Kurtzman is still the showrunner. He is mediocre. After Star Trek Into Darkness, this guy should not have been given any more Trek properties to work on.

Bottomline is I'm glad at least that significant changes are being made. We'll see if it pays off.

So much for smooth sailing for the sophomore season. Wonder how different the show will end up.

Hopefully drastically.

 

[CorporalClegg]

It will be interesting to see if Kurtzman intends to stay in it for the long haul or if it's just a temporary solution and plans on hiring someone else ASAP. He has his hands in a lot of cookie jars and I always get the impression he's ready to commit to one thing full-time. The tinfoil hat on my head can't help but wonder if maybe he's thinking of holding on for a season and seeing what Fox decides to do with Orville next year.

But if I had to wishful thinking pick one person to take over, I'd have to go with Dawson. I think she'd be perfect. She's familiar enough with the material; she's more than proven herself as a leader, both as a director and upper-level producer on high-profile series; and her established place within the lore really blends with the show's "women are the future" motif (especially as a woman of color). Plus, I just really like her and want her to get her shot.

 

[Lord Garth]

It will be interesting to see if Kurtzman intends to stay in it for the long haul or if it's just a temporary solution and plans on hiring someone else ASAP. He has his hands in a lot of cookie jars and I always get the impression he's ready to commit to one thing full-time.

I think -- and this is only open speculation on my part -- that Alex Kurtzman will be the showrunner until he gets an opening to pause and then will either promote someone from within the staff or look for someone else to be the new permanent showrunner before the third season.

It won't happen but I'd love to see Ron Moore as the showrunner for Discovery.

 

[CorporalClegg]

Moore is a one-trick pony. And everyone's seen behind the curtain.

No thanks.

 

[RedAlert]

I just hope that all the changes will be for better, and If H&B did set the tone for S1, i'm possitive that will be.