Why do you think Beltran was/has been so critical?

[Nightdiamond]

Robert Beltran on his scenes -

"When you're given these throwaway scenes with not much thought put into who's saying it and its importance to the whole story - and I'm talking mostly about seasons five and six here - it just makes me feel like the writers don't care.

Therefore the producers don't care, therefore the show isn't that important, therefore why am I busting my ass trying to make this stupid scene worth anything?


Robert Beltran on his character -

"Although they come up with a scene here or there that's tolerable, I think the character has not progressed since season four. In fact, he may even have regressed a little."



Robert Beltran on the destruction of Kes in "Fury" that caused much fan outcry -

"What they asked her to do with her character, I didn't understand. I think our writers are that far from brain damaged. I don't get them. But we were happy to have her. She's great.

We love Jennifer. I wish she had never left the show; she's a really fine actress. But it was just the same old indication of our writers and producers having their head firmly up their collective ass. Sorry, kids. You see, this will all get back to them.

That's why I'm saying it. That's fine. Maybe they'll let me go by the middle of the season. I'll be a regular on ER or something."

"


The more I read them the more I laugh... I'm not used to seeing this type of honesty concerning a Trek series.

Maybe because he's stating what some of the viewers think as well.

 

[Destructor]

Love or hate the guy, you have to admit... he's got a lot of good points.

 

[Anthony Sabre]

I have to ask this question to anyone that can give proof in answering it:

When did the writers/producers ever state that the Maquis were supposed to cause conflict on the show as part of the shows primise? Only thing I've ever heard Voyager's primise to be is that they were lost in space, nothing more.

Page 134 of the DS9 Companion according to Jeri Taylor: "...we knew that we wanted to include a renegade element in Voyager, and that the show would involve a ship housing both Starfleet people and those idealistic freedom fighters that the Federation felt were outlaws [i.e. the Maquis]."http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maquis_(Star_Trek)#cite_note-0

Courtesy of Wikipedia since I don't have my Companion handy at the moment.

 

[exodus]

I have to ask this question to anyone that can give proof in answering it:

When did the writers/producers ever state that the Maquis were supposed to cause conflict on the show as part of the shows primise? Only thing I've ever heard Voyager's primise to be is that they were lost in space, nothing more.

Page 134 of the DS9 Companion according to Jeri Taylor: "...we knew that we wanted to include a renegade element in Voyager, and that the show would involve a ship housing both Starfleet people and those idealistic freedom fighters that the Federation felt were outlaws [i.e. the Maquis]."

Courtesy of Wikipedia since I don't have my Companion handy at the moment.

I guess it sounded better on paper and changed during actual execution of the project and before Trek got desperate to keep it's declining audience.

Thanks for info.

 

[Anwar]

Funny, when you consider that Taylor was one of the ones who WANTED them to integrate really fast.

 

[exodus]

Funny, when you consider that Taylor was one of the ones who WANTED them to integrate really fast.

Of course she did, she saw the numbers.
She saw that a TNG pulled more of an audience that DS9.
She wanted the show to be a success.

 

[Anwar]

I know, but she was also the one pushing for no arcs and more holodeck stories.

I can understand why for the holodecks: The props from TNG were easier to use and cost less.

If they just listened to Berman and made the show after DS9 then they could've easily just reused most of DS9's props (with some small changes) for alien equipment.

 

[exodus]

I know, but she was also the one pushing for no arcs and more holodeck stories.

I can understand why for the holodecks: The props from TNG were easier to use and cost less.

If they just listened to Berman and made the show after DS9 then they could've easily just reused most of DS9's props (with some small changes) for alien equipment.

..but DS9 wasn't pulling in an audience to use to launch the Las Vegas Experance and a new network. Paramount wanted to make a big splash. Paramount wanted a Trek as marketable as Star Wars.

 

[Anwar]

Ain't happening, Trek has never been nor will it EVER BE as marketable or mainstream as Star Wars.

 

[exodus]

Ain't happening, Trek has never been nor will it EVER BE as marketable or mainstream as Star Wars.

I know that & you know that, even Rick Berman knew it. Paramount doesn't.

 

[Nightdiamond]

Their best bet as far as pulling in a "mainstream" audience was with TNG.

TNG had the audience all to itself and didn't have to share the spotlight with other series.

There was also nothing to compare it with except TOS, so it spent its entire run almost criticism-free, at least until it became a little aged.



Robert wasn't the only one; there was also Garret Wang;

I think 99% of them would say “I agree with you that he didn’t take the risks he could have.”

That’s all I said and it was in reference to the fact that the man came in, took over from Gene Roddenberry, plugged in a formula and kept that same formula for “Next Generation,” every episode of “Deep Space Nine,” every episode of “Voyager” and after a while, you’re talking about 21 years worth of episodes.

Man, you better start changing your formula a little bit just to keep it fresh.

And of course Robert;

Robert Beltran on the series finale again -

"[...] The ratings are down because it’s not being seen by as many people in the world who could see "ER".

Then they took it out on us by saying 'This show’s no good. Let's get it over with as quickly as possible so we can fix it for the next one."

 

[Anwar]

Well, Wang isn't in much position to talk. If he were a better actor who put more effort into the show, then maybe...

 

[AuntKate]

I've often wondered if a more "ER" type format would work in Trek. I mean, crew members could easily come and go the way staff did on "ER."

 

[Shatnertage]

I've often wondered if a more "ER" type format would work in Trek. I mean, crew members could easily come and go the way staff did on "ER."

I've wondered that too, and I think it could work. If we ever see a Trek TV show again.

 

[teya]

I've often wondered if a more "ER" type format would work in Trek. I mean, crew members could easily come and go the way staff did on "ER."

Doubt it.


Just look at Kes & Seven and how well that worked out with the fans, not to mention the lead.


Would every new actor have to get the captain's approval? The fans' approval?


Personally, I like long-running shows where actors move in and out. But, from what I've seen on Trek BBs, I'm a minority among Trek fans.

 

[Nightdiamond]

I don't think anyone on that show, save Janeway and maybe Tuvok really got enough 'character time' on the show.

The whole series seemed..... rushed to me. This is a opinion as a viewer watching the show.

It's like everyone had real character, but yet wasn't a real character, if that makes sense.

 

[stj]

I'll be a regular on ER or something.

I take it back, Beltran is hysterically funny.

 

[kimc]

I'd be more interested in situations where his suggestion was both considered and trusted, as opposed to considered and summarily rejected.

How about this one? In Unimatrix Zero, Chakotay confronted her about her desire to go the Borg alone, and she changed her mind and took Tuvok and B'Elanna with her.

Another one: Janeway was going to go it alone in "Omega Directive" but Chakotay was able to convince her that given their situation the crew should be allowed to help.

Yet another one: When she wanted to be left behind in a shuttle alone in "Night".

Perhaps we should start a thread on the definitive "Chakotay talks Janeway into stuff" list.

 

[CaptJamesScott]

I can't really blame the actors on Voyager after Seven joined the show. As a writer, I understand the need to acquaint the audience with this new character and get them up to speed on her past, but when the character is pretty much a marketing tool to get a younger male audience to watch, I'm not interested. The first 3 seasons of Voyager were amazing. After that, the show became very predictable and shallow.

 

[exodus]

I've often wondered if a more "ER" type format would work in Trek. I mean, crew members could easily come and go the way staff did on "ER."

Doubt it.


Just look at Kes & Seven and how well that worked out with the fans, not to mention the lead.


Would every new actor have to get the captain's approval? The fans' approval?


Personally, I like long-running shows where actors move in and out. But, from what I've seen on Trek BBs, I'm a minority among Trek fans.

Exactly.

Swapping out Crusher for Pulaski didn't work.
Mixed results on trading up Jadzia for Ezri.
Fans to this day are still in a fit on how Kirk & Data died.

No, an "ER" type show for Trek won't work unfortunately because fans grow too attached to the characters.

However, I too would be thrilled at having a Trek with a rotating cast.