TOS will always be the archetype, the show that set the template for most of what followed, thus it'll always be remembered. They wouldn't keep showing it unless people kept watching it.
Is it time to retire TOS?
- Thread starter RAMA
- Start date
- Status
The day TOS is retired is the day all of Star Trek is retired.
You're still not making much sense, Who arranges for this "retirement"? The owners gonna withdraw the license to the broadcasters across the world? Why would they do that?
All the little Westerns from 50s and 60s are still around in this neck of the woods. Making pennies rather than churning out gold perhaps but they still there being watched nevertheless. And the typical Western isn't tethered to a huge franchise that's still current and making new stuff. People will always revert back to the original source material for curiosity and broadcasters will always be on hand to facilitate this - particularly as rolling out TOS is a cheap way for them to row in behind something that's current.
Is it time to retire RAMA's posts?
There is no doubt RAMA gains a few readers here and there but that's probably a small minority of new posters, and despite a new thread that went a long way to modernizing his profile, I find very little interest in reading RAMA's posts these days. I had a brief resurgence of interest around the first post of this thread, read a few replies, and nothing since...rarely before that date either. This from a fan who probably read his comments as much as anyone. Am I simply spent? Is he making idiotic arguments about a show he no longer likes? Or does RAMA just not tick off the boxes of modern interest?
There is no doubt RAMA gains a few readers here and there but that's probably a small minority of new posters, and despite a new thread that went a long way to modernizing his profile, I find very little interest in reading RAMA's posts these days. I had a brief resurgence of interest around the first post of this thread, read a few replies, and nothing since...rarely before that date either. This from a fan who probably read his comments as much as anyone. Am I simply spent? Is he making idiotic arguments about a show he no longer likes? Or does RAMA just not tick off the boxes of modern interest?
TOS also airs pretty much all day, every Friday on BBC America. Seems like the original show still has some mileage in it.
I practically swallowed my teeth when I saw this thread today. Seriously?
What do the following shows have in common? Star Trek: The Animated Series, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space 9, Star Trek: Voyager, Star Trek: Enterprise, Star Trek Continues and a whole host of Trek movies? The common denominator is Star Trek and the origin of Star Trek is TOS. Is TOS dated? Certain aspects of the series are bound to be after 50 years. Examples? Several references in episodes to events in the 1990s and early 2000s, the reference to "taped music" ("The Savage Curtain"), the sexism evident in numerous episodes, the set props and special effects compared to modern sci fi shows/movies, etc. Such things are bound to happen with the progression of time.
Two things I always admire about TOS is the professionalism of the crew and the wonderful way their diverse personalities function together to serve the common good. TOS is humor, humanity and great science fiction brought together.
Does anyone still watch TOS? M-a-n-y people all over the world still watch TOS!
A group of us on Twitter called TOSSatNight watch an episode together every Saturday evening at 9 (PST) on Netflix or whatever Internet or disc source they have access to and discuss episodes. And yes, most of us have seen these episodes so many times over the decades we can easily quote dialogue. But you know what? It's still fun! 
It's great to discuss episodes with others, whether on Twitter or other Trek websites, to gain new insights. I'm frequently amazed at technical or plot issues brought up by others that I may not have noticed before, and likewise I may bring up something that someone else hasn't noticed or thought about before. Good stuff! 
As quoted previously "The day TOS is retired all of Star Trek is retired." Well said!
This sounds like a you problem and not an everyone else problem. You make no case for TOS' "retirement" other than you personally are over it. Well, good for you. Is there any purpose to this thread other than to rile people up and be a blatantly obvious cry for attention?
Why would a series need to be retired in this day and age anyway when we have so many available TV and internet outlets and types of media to watch shows on? It's not a zero sum game where you have to make room for newer programs by getting rid of older ones across the whole spectrum of television content.
I was born after TOS' run and came of age during TNG, but I've been enjoying BBC-America's airing of the TOS-Remastered episodes quite a bit, and that's in addition to watching TNG on the same channel and all of the newer genre shows you mention above. That's the beautiful thing about a DVR, I can watch it at my own pace.
So no, I don't want to see TOS retired, thank you very much. Ridiculous thread.
Yeah gotta come down firmly on the side of "No" and "Seriously?"
Not sure what retiring the series would even entail. Like, people not talking about it anymore? CBS deciding not to sell TOS on Blu-ray/dvd?
I also disagree with the premise that TOS is either a.) outdated or b.) unappealing to newer audiences. I'm 28 (millennial wooooo) and TOS is far and away my favorite series and the one I come back to most often. TOS and the Triumvirate are not just timeless pop culture icons that gather dust on the shelf of tv history -- that show and those characters are still relevant and people still watch it.
We all have our own personal tastes and preferences. Some of us are TOS diehards (me), some of us are "Niners," some of us can't get enough of Voyager or Enterprise. But to come to the conclusion that one show isn't sufficiently popular enough to be, I dunno...considered ever, at all anymore, is just nonsense.
Not sure what retiring the series would even entail. Like, people not talking about it anymore? CBS deciding not to sell TOS on Blu-ray/dvd?
I also disagree with the premise that TOS is either a.) outdated or b.) unappealing to newer audiences. I'm 28 (millennial wooooo) and TOS is far and away my favorite series and the one I come back to most often. TOS and the Triumvirate are not just timeless pop culture icons that gather dust on the shelf of tv history -- that show and those characters are still relevant and people still watch it.
We all have our own personal tastes and preferences. Some of us are TOS diehards (me), some of us are "Niners," some of us can't get enough of Voyager or Enterprise. But to come to the conclusion that one show isn't sufficiently popular enough to be, I dunno...considered ever, at all anymore, is just nonsense.
Yes, let's do that. While we're here what other classic television/film/literature/music are you not as enthusiastic about anymore? We should probably retire those too. I don't notice many kids listening to the White Album anymore, let's pull all copies from the shelves, streaming services and radio rotations.
Yes and yes. And they wont blink either.
I'm 49. I've been watching classic Trek since I was 4. I've owned it in every commercial format. I have a Blu Ray running right now. I often listen to the Complete Soundtracks CD set. No matter how many times I've seen it, the original series never gets old to me.
Hell, the series was just rereleased in a fancy ass 50th anniversary BD box set. I'm sure someone aside from me bought a copy.
When I feel a show is spent, I stop watching it. Retire Star Trek? WTF? Because you're tired of it? Just don't watch it then. Move on. It happens. But don't base the public's appetite for the series on your waning interest.
It's probably doing as well as expected. If it weren't, if the rating were too low, then it wouldn't be on the air.
Hell, the series was just rereleased in a fancy ass 50th anniversary BD box set. I'm sure someone aside from me bought a copy.
When I feel a show is spent, I stop watching it. Retire Star Trek? WTF? Because you're tired of it? Just don't watch it then. Move on. It happens. But don't base the public's appetite for the series on your waning interest.
It's probably doing as well as expected. If it weren't, if the rating were too low, then it wouldn't be on the air.
Last edited:
Sounds like it, yeah.
- Status
Similar threads
