Our idea: Mr. Spock's Musical Hour!

Rumor has it that the venerable old franchise is due for a creative shake-up.

November 9, 1999

Could it be that the almighty Star Trek franchise is hovering near death? If recent reports are to be believed, such a concept isn't as crazy as it sounds.

According to Coaxial News, rumor has it that Paramount has already rejected two concepts pitched to them by Trek head honcho Rick Berman and sidekick and Voyager producer Brannon Braga for the next series. The first concept is described as a Star Trek meets X-Files sort of thing involving time travel. Uh...great. Why not throw in some markers from even more genre shows? You know, vampires prowling the halls of Starfleet Academy, a wisecracking animated robot, maybe a Tia Carrere cameo or two... The second idea was supposedly a Trek prequel set before the birth of the Federation. Originally, it was reported that the next Trek series could debut as soon as Fall 2000, though that's looking more and more unlikely by the minute.

Though the fact that two concepts have been rejected doesn't necessarily mean that there won't be another Trek series, it does cast some doubt as to whether Berman/Braga will be at the helm. Recent fan rumblings have indicated a growing discontent towards the duo, and some speculate that Voyager's middling ratings and the weak box office take of Star Trek: Insurrection may mean that it's time for a shake up. "With two of their series ideas turned down, Paramount honchos beginning to publicly speculate on a change of direction in the franchise, a moribund feature franchise and anemic surviving series, Berman and Braga are beginning to feel quite under siege and insecure in their positions," writes Coaxial's anonymous tipper.

Meanwhile, SF Crowsnest has an update on yet another rumored concept. This one would focus on the USS Excellent, and, according to the update, would most likely feature an alien captain, lots of CGI, and a ship "about three time the size of the TNG Enterprise" (when in doubt, bigger = better!). The show would also introduce a new race of aliens for Paramount to make action figures of...er, for the crew to interact with. According to the article, "It is planned that although their technology is to be relatively primitive, they will follow a species philosophy of genetic enhancement similar to that banned by humanity and first outlined in the Wrath of Khan episodes. The tribes spawned from an Earth-type world that faced the same challenges as America in the early 21st century, but one whose Enhanced Princes maintained their hold on society and spread their feuding feudalism to the stars using whatever technology they could scavenge and steal."

Our response to all of this is a resounding..."huh?" Though we're concerned about the fate of Trek, all of these ideas sound like the powers that be are grasping at straws. Maybe that Starfleet Academy idea (with executive producer Kevin Williamson! Just kidding...) wasn't so bad after all.

Is Star Trek dead? Ask a question about this story or send us your opinion on it, and be sure to check in later for the responses!

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