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YOU!!! Great Bird

I would leave "new Trek" on hold for the next 10 years.

Trek needs some stability.

I would create a TOS CGI animated show.

It's the incarnation with most mainstream appeal.

It would be non-canon (more creative freedom)

Set between the end of the original series and beginning of Star Trek VI
 
I like your idea, Fire, but I just don't see them going back to the Berman shows. I think TNG's collapse, and Enterprise's lack of any real TV ratings, pretty much killed the golden goose, where it concerns all Bermanized Trek shows.

I would write the Trek myself ;) and i'd make it more appealing to a new audience, all Trek needs is to become something people recognise, in other words cut down on the treknobabble (I dont mean entirely) and alter the way people talk. That was the beauty of the last 3 seasons of DS9, it was far less liberal than any of the other shows and seasons and was more '21st century' like, not only that it appealed due to the comedy, how many other trek series was as funny? the ferengi episodes were especially funny.
Also we'd need to cut down on the repetitive storylines, no more 'stranded on planet with hallucinagenic plants' episodes which are stale and boreing, no more entire episodes of 'concentrate on character development only episodes', those kind of eps need to be a mix of character development and intense action. People nowadays want action, laughter and something they can understand, thats the way trek needs to go to survive, we dont have to destroy the foundation of what trek is about but it can do with some changes.

I'd have to agree on that. Technobabble is thinly disguised padding, and I think it's better to just show the engineer working on the problem rather than have him spend ten minutes franticaly yelling bout the Quantum Boson Restriction Valve. Just. Frelling. Fix. The. Ship. I'm kind of a minimalist about a lot of technology -- Most of the time it's background anyway. I don't need to know how they work anymore than I need to understand logic gates to check my email.

I think it's better to let the characters be the focus. They shouldn't all be there for the same reason. They should have something in their past that makes them intersting. I don't think a show where all the characters show up with no background is interesting -- real people don't hatch from eggs at 45 years old. They've made mistakes, they've got fears and regrets and hopes and dreams. I'm sure somebody has a boy/girlfriend or a spouse back on Rigel 353. Maybe somebody only signed up for Starfleet to make moeny -- he's not going to be nearly as gung-ho as a lifetime starfleet officer on command track.
 
^ Necropost, much?

I'd reboot TNG, which was really just a reboot of TOS in the first place (someone on this board pointed that out to me, and it was a revelation? Starship Polaris? I don't remember). I would intentionally confuse the stardate system and make all dating vague--a return to TOS's "between the 22nd and 28th centuries" confusion. I would make a concerted effort to contradict the Star Charts on-screen (Klingon-Tzenkethi border, anyone?). The warp scale would also be formally abolished, and my Writer's Bible would read, under the heading "WARP SPEEDS": "Warp 1 is light speed. Warp 9 is Ludicrous Speed. Your mileage may vary." Technology capability would vary based on the needs of a given episode, so one week I might be incapable of declaring someone dead using a tricoder ("The Passenger" [DS9]) despite it being a perfectly good tool for declaring people dead in every other episode. Other than the complete absence of dates, technological consistency, and proper mapping, the remainder of canon would remain. However, it would be referenced only rarely. I do not believe any of the old Trek villains would appear in my show, although, like G.R. in TNG, I leave the door open to the possibility.

Rather than write the episodes myself or using a dedicated writing staff for very much, I'd do my best to make Trek a showcase for new ideas in science fiction. Trek always had a literary streak that even great shows like Galactica lack entirely. Thusly, I would attempt to bring in as many writers and novelists from the science fiction community as possible to do one-off episodes. Clearly, then, this would be an episodic series.

After several years at this, I would write and produce my own Deep Space Nine movie. I have been outlining this movie for years now, and it would be excellent. Of course, I may be the only person who thinks it's excellent, but, hey, I'm the Great Bird, I get to write movies, so I'm the only one who counts.
 
I would leave "new Trek" on hold for the next 10 years.

Trek needs some stability.

I would create a TOS CGI animated show.

It's the incarnation with most mainstream appeal.

It would be non-canon (more creative freedom)

Set between the end of the original series and beginning of Star Trek VI

Sounds like a winner; utilizing bleeding edge FX, and featuring truly alien aliens. TOS done CGI sounds pretty cool!


Wowbagger wrote:

Rather than write the episodes myself or using a dedicated writing staff for very much, I'd do my best to make Trek a showcase for new ideas in science fiction. Trek always had a literary streak that even great shows like Galactica lack entirely. Thusly, I would attempt to bring in as many writers and novelists from the science fiction community as possible to do one-off episodes. Clearly, then, this would be an episodic series.
This would clearly be a winning idea. Trek does its best when it explores literary and cultural themes, as only artists with a little free license can do (like what Theodore Sturgeon did for Vulcans in "Amok Time").

Artists invent, and these inventions become conventions. It's time to move Trek back into invention, and this requires vision, freedom, and even whimsy.


What I would not do is attempt to create a BSG or - remember the SG1 "200" skit when they tried to make it an "edgier" show, by turning all the characters into contemporary pretty people?

I would also introduce the concept of cultural complexity; but not from a completely relativistic standpoint; like the TOS crew, I would give my crew values they were prepared to defend. I would also have them learn and change.

The short answer:
More characterization, more ship maneuvers.
 
If Paramount had an open call, right now, for the next "Great Bird of The Galaxy" and you got the job...what would you do with the STAR TREK TV FRANCHISE.

Return to TOS era - but NOT on the Enterprise.

TOS era is the baseline experience for any ST fan. Regardless of your sentiments for or against any of the subsequent series or features, everyone has an affection for the series that started it all. I would to go back to it and look at the young Federation again, with a new perspective.

There were dozens of races and billions of sapient beings in the Federation of TOS. The Federation itself was still wrestling with the changes from an object oriented consumer society to a post capitalist, post communist, post socialist era of unlimited plenty for all.

There are a trillion stories in the Naked Federation. Even so, the new series wouldn't be an anthology. It would be based on a new ship, with a new crew, and a new mission.

A mission distinctly different than that of the NCC-1701.
 
^ Necropost, much?

I'd reboot TNG, which was really just a reboot of TOS in the first place (someone on this board pointed that out to me, and it was a revelation? Starship Polaris? I don't remember). I would intentionally confuse the stardate system and make all dating vague--a return to TOS's "between the 22nd and 28th centuries" confusion. I would make a concerted effort to contradict the Star Charts on-screen (Klingon-Tzenkethi border, anyone?). The warp scale would also be formally abolished, and my Writer's Bible would read, under the heading "WARP SPEEDS": "Warp 1 is light speed. Warp 9 is Ludicrous Speed. Your mileage may vary." Technology capability would vary based on the needs of a given episode, so one week I might be incapable of declaring someone dead using a tricoder ("The Passenger" [DS9]) despite it being a perfectly good tool for declaring people dead in every other episode. Other than the complete absence of dates, technological consistency, and proper mapping, the remainder of canon would remain. However, it would be referenced only rarely. I do not believe any of the old Trek villains would appear in my show, although, like G.R. in TNG, I leave the door open to the possibility.

Rather than write the episodes myself or using a dedicated writing staff for very much, I'd do my best to make Trek a showcase for new ideas in science fiction. Trek always had a literary streak that even great shows like Galactica lack entirely. Thusly, I would attempt to bring in as many writers and novelists from the science fiction community as possible to do one-off episodes. Clearly, then, this would be an episodic series.

After several years at this, I would write and produce my own Deep Space Nine movie. I have been outlining this movie for years now, and it would be excellent. Of course, I may be the only person who thinks it's excellent, but, hey, I'm the Great Bird, I get to write movies, so I'm the only one who counts.


This was actually a cool post. And I am with you 100%...Mr. Bird.

Rob
Scorpio
 
First of all, I would hire some decent writers like some of those who have written the Star Trek pocket books. Many of those writers have showed a great compassion and understanding for the characters and the whole Star Trek premise and come up with some good stories as well.

Then I would take Star Trek back to the 24th century, starting with a movie which would include some of the characters from TNG, DS9 and Voyager. That would be a good way to attract fans from all those shows.

The events in the movie would take place shortly after the events in "Nemesis". It would include a new threat to the federation, a new main enemy (maybe the Furies from the Invasion books) or maybe a return of the Kelvans, the Dominion or the Cardassians in some way.

The movie would also introduce a new crew for an upcoming series in which some of the events in the movie wouold continue. The new heroes which was introduced in the movie would be the main characters in the new series but characters from TNG, DS9 and Voyager would show up from time to time.

I would also stick to the best qualities of Star Trek which is telling good stories and have good characters who the fans can like and identify with. I would not sell out to temporary trends but stick as much as possible to the premise of Star Trek which is presenting the dreams of a better future for mankind.

I would also hire someone who could take a look at forums like this and who could have a dialogue with the fans (if I didn't have the time myself). The former people in charge did some horrible mistakes which annoyed many loyal fans of the show and were neglecting the fans in the worst possible ways. Since the show are depending on its fans for success, it's essential to have a good relatisonship with those who actually pay the wages.

OK, I know that it's impossible to please them all but it would be possible to please most of them.
 
I just think that with such tools as forums and conventions at your disposal you could get a good idea for what fans want to see. After all isn't it all about pleasing the fans? We're the ones that keep the shows on the air, we're the ones that buy the dvds and merchandise. If it wasn't for us fans Star Trek wouldn't still be around 40 years later
 
I say why screw with a winner.

I'd go back to the original original concept. Before Kirk. I think the concept is pretty sound, and really most of the objections the studio had at that point aren't true anymore. Really, audiences can't accept a woman in charge? Hillary anyone? Not enough action? CSI, House, etc.

So dust off the first version of the show notes, hire a bunch of stellar writers, and go to town. I'd deal with more contemporary issues -- terrorism, health care, environmental stuff, and more realistic scifi stuff like nanobots and AI. Another thing, aliens will be weird again -- no more Californias with latex foreheads. They could be millions of years ahead of us, they might be so far ahead that they might not even consider us sapient at all. Space itself should be dangerous -- not in the particle of the week way, but ion storms, asteroids, nebulas of hydrogen that could blow up a ship with a single spark of static electricity. Nanobots that try to use the ship as spare parts. Who knows -- space is a big place.

I say have Bruce Campbell split the difference b/t Kirk and Pike ;-)

though that would be fun for a web episode or something non serious
 
Here's mine:

A light, comedic take on Trek more in line with the Peter David New Frontier novels and Star Trek IV.

It's during the TOS timeframe. There's a small, old, and run-down science vessel, the U.S.S. __________. Her crew is made up mostly of scientists and a lot of civvie researchers.

Her captain is killed, and since she's near the end of her operational lifetime, Starfleet considers recalling her from deep space exploration and scrapping her. However, Starfleet Intel receives word that a few diplomats from a world that has annexed itself from the Federation want asylum. The U.S.S. __________ is the only ship in the area that can pick them up. No problems, though: it's just a matter of intercepting the ship and getting it aboard...

Starfleet sends a young buck who's just been promoted to captain and hoping for a grand ship. Instead, he gets the U.S.S. ___________ and this mission.

The young captain gets there, instantly loathes his lot in life, and then proceeds with the mission, hoping that if he does it well, he'll get a transfer.

That's when the Klingons attack...

\S/
 
^ Sounds like Captain Sisko joins SG-1. ;)

That being said, I'd watch it.
 
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I just think that with such tools as forums and conventions at your disposal you could get a good idea for what fans want to see. After all isn't it all about pleasing the fans? We're the ones that keep the shows on the air, we're the ones that buy the dvds and merchandise. If it wasn't for us fans Star Trek wouldn't still be around 40 years later

Judging from this place, we want:
1.) Naked Hoshi
2.) Lots and lots of ships.
3.) technobabble
4.) getting every cast back together in a big azz movie
5.) No frelling Time Travel
6.) Shatner must be in it
7.) If Shatner is in it, we're all boycotting
8.) TOS
9.) DS9
10.) Challenging scifi
11.) don't mess with anything

I'm telling you, giving the fanboys what they want is ratings GOLD
 
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