What would Roddenberry think?

[Itisnotlogical]

Considering how he practically went into his grave complaining about how he didn't like the direction Star Trek was heading in, I don't think he'd really like the way Star Trek is today. What do you think he'd say? About Enterprise? Voyager? XI? Something tells me he's rolling around in his grave, but I wouldn't know, being among the living...

 

[JustKate]

I don't think he would have liked the latter seasons of TNG, either - and I very much doubt if he would have liked DS9 at all.

But you know what? While I honor him for his contribution and for coming up with the idea, and I love TOS, the show that was closest to his vision, I think his concept of Humanity's Glorious Future (overcapitalization done deliberately here) was simply too constrictive. So while I love TOS, and while I would never want Trekdom to forget completely his optimism - that is one of the things that makes Trek Trek - I don't want to go back to the days when humans were as thoroughly "evolved" as Gene envisioned. It's not realistic, but more importantly, it's too dull.

 

[Nerys Myk]

"Did the check clear?" Was probably his last thoughts on Star Trek,

 

[plynch]

Didn't that perfectibility really come out in TNG?

In TOS it seems more assumed rather than in your face, plus the crew argues more, which was forbidden pretty much on TNG.

I think he stated he didn't want an ongoing war story, so DS9 would be out. Having read his story memos, I think the plotholes and character motivation gaps in Trek XI would have frustrated him.

 

[JustKate]

Didn't that perfectibility really come out in TNG?

For a while? Sure - although even early on there were glimpses of...exceptions. For the entire run of the show? Definitely not. Can you imagine GR approving "The Drumhead" or allowing one of his captains to be assimilated by the Borg? Maybe I'm dead wrong, but I can't.

 

[Chrisisall]

IMO, Roddenberry was one of those amazing creative types that worked best under restraints and/or pressure. Given absolutely free reign, he'd have been another George Lucas, poluting his own pool eventually. But Trek became a comittee production in many ways, the other end of the dumass spectrum.
I am SO thankful for what was good, what worked, and for how long it did in it's many incarnations, that The great Bird Of The Galaxy will always have my appreciation.

 

[Chrisisall]

Can you imagine GR approving "The Drumhead" or allowing one of his captains to be assimilated by the Borg?

Absolutely not.

 

[trevanian]

Didn't that perfectibility really come out in TNG?

For a while? Sure - although even early on there were glimpses of...exceptions. For the entire run of the show? Definitely not. Can you imagine GR approving "The Drumhead" or allowing one of his captains to be assimilated by the Borg? Maybe I'm dead wrong, but I can't.

I think he must have approved those. The only firsthand I have of his involvement was from when I pitched there at the end of 1990, but he was having some kind of fit over the season 4 cliffhanger with Worf and klingons, so if he was involved to that degree then, he'd've had say on those other earlier ones as well.

It was a big enough deal that Piller couldn't take my pitch and had to go placate him and I got shunted off to Jeri Taylor. The only real detail I remember was Piller telling the secretary, 'you don't give him the early outlines' or words to that effect.

 

[Chrisisall]

The only firsthand I have of his involvement was from when I pitched there at the end of 1990

I guess I'm late to the party here, did you actually work on TNG, Trev???

 

[Commander Rabbit]

Didn't that perfectibility really come out in TNG?

Can you imagine GR ... allowing one of his captains to be assimilated by the Borg? Maybe I'm dead wrong, but I can't.

That one I can imagine his approving, because, in the end, Picard was rescued, survived and recovered. But if assimilation were the end of that story, I would agree w/ you.

 

[barnaclelapse]

I think he would have been reasonably pleased with Enterprise, Voyager and XI. I always thought Voyager was a sort-of effort to get back to go back to some of Star Trek's fundamentals, especially in the early seasons.

Of course, Enterprise really was going back to the beginning.

XI is a little iffy, I guess, but I still think it did the job of moving forward while celebrating the timeless aspects of Star Trek.

 

[Chrisisall]

I always thought Voyager was a sort-of effort to get back to go back to some of Star Trek's fundamentals

Not always successful, but much appreciated by me.

 

[Starbreaker]

I think he would enjoy all the money.

 

[C.E. Evans]

Speculating on what Gene Roddenberry would have liked or not liked about Trek since his passing seems to be a favorite pastime, often colored by folks' personal perception of the man...

All that being said, I'll throw in my 0.02--I think Roddenberry would have been pleased that Trek is still around in 2009 and seems to have a future. He might have had different opinions on individual productions, but as a whole, he probably would love the idea that his creation is still ticking and is still celebrated by fans.

Anything else is usually the general trappings of doing business in Hollywood with disagreements with the studio over creative decisions and control, giving credit where credit is due, etc., and Gene Roddenberry was by no means the only one to have done stuff like that and to sometimes come out villainized by it, IMO...

 

[Mr. B]

"That's not gone well."

 

[Chrisisall]

I think Roddenberry would have been pleased that Trek is still around in 2009 and seems to have a future.

Imagine something you make that continues to capture the interest of the more intelligent contingent of the public outliving you.
That's immortality.

 

[Crazy Eddie]

I always thought Voyager was a sort-of effort to get back to go back to some of Star Trek's fundamentals, especially in the early seasons.

I always thought Voyager was being produced by people who had no idea what Star Trek's fundamentals were. Too much emphasis on technobabble and special effects, both of which were somewhat poorly thought out.

 

[Chrisisall]

I always thought Voyager was being produced by people who had no idea what Star Trek's fundamentals were.

Talented producers can't replicate the past, sadly.

 

[trevanian]

The only firsthand I have of his involvement was from when I pitched there at the end of 1990

I guess I'm late to the party here, did you actually work on TNG, Trev???

No, just pitched once. A really bad 40 or 45 minutes, in terms of expectation vs result, thought to be honest, I felt very good about what I presented, then and now.

 

[T'Girl]

Roddenbery would have liked the diversity of a black commander, female ship captain, native american first officer and a dim-rod captain with a fem-vulcan. The entire war story line on DS9 would of shamed him. And remember Roddenberry WAS the god thing.