Stewart BBC Interview Snippet: TNG Was Supposed To Fail
- Thread starter Shikarnov
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I read that somewhere recently as well. No one expected TNG to be anywhere as good or satisfying as TOS or TOS-centered features made up to that point. Ah well....what do critics know.
I can tell you that I heard Roddenberry speak at a convention just prior to the airing of TNG where he talked about it. We all told him there was no way TNG could beat TOS.
It was only after he said, "This is gonna be the Star Trek I intended to make" that we decided we'd give it a try.
It was only after he said, "This is gonna be the Star Trek I intended to make" that we decided we'd give it a try.
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Paramount designed TNG to be a series that would not lose them money if it didn't pan out. The studio committed to producing 26 episodes (per Mel Harris) only when financing was in place for overseas video and other revenues that would pretty much pay for the first year's production. The tentative plan, if it were to discontinue production after the first year, was to fold the 26 episodes into the TOS syndication package, hopefully charging a bit more for the now-106 episode package.
Supposedly a big practical reason that Paramount passed on the FOX TV deal that they'd been trying to negotiate earlier in 1986 was that the network would not guarantee them a full season.
Supposedly a big practical reason that Paramount passed on the FOX TV deal that they'd been trying to negotiate earlier in 1986 was that the network would not guarantee them a full season.
Sequel shows never worked before and rarely after. It was expected to be a failed show of a failed show (TOS). It was in syndication, which never had successful dramas. By sheer force of will and quality, they show managed to increase ratings in all markets, some by over 1000% over previous shows. Its wasnt just a sci fi ground breaker, it broke ground for every syndicated show, for sequels, remakes, marketing, studio practices, technical aspects...
Of course it was supposed to fail! 4 tv shows, 4 movies and many billions of dollars later STNG is still a tv/bluray tentpole and ST is still a movie tentpole for the studio(s).
Of course it was supposed to fail! 4 tv shows, 4 movies and many billions of dollars later STNG is still a tv/bluray tentpole and ST is still a movie tentpole for the studio(s).
I know it's a stretch, but it would be awesome if these blu-rays were a big enough hit that CBS decided they just HAD to do something new with TNG (cartoon, live-action spinoff, whatever).
If there's money in it, I don't see why not. A cartoon/CGI series would probably be the most likely option - I image Frakes and Sirtis would leap at the chance to do a Titan show, maybe with the odd cameo from others.
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